cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endotracheal cardiac output monitor in a patient with severe tricuspid regurgitation.

DURING CARDIAC SURGERY, the accurate measurements: of cardiac output (CO) and intracardiac pressures an assist in guiding anesthetic management. The balloonipped pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) was introduced in 9701 and became the gold standard for measuring CO via thermodilution. Many hemodynamic values are obtained from this type of monitoring, including intracardiac pressures, pulmonary artery pressures, pulmonary artery occlusion pressures, CO, and mixed venous oxygen saturation. This technique is invasive, and many factors can lessen its accuracy, including disease processes that increase pulmonary vascular resistance, changes in intrathoracic and intrapleural pressures, variability in pulmonary blood flow, cardiac valvular abnormalities, and intracardiac shunting. Doppler echocardiography, which was developed in the 1970s, allows a more accurate estimation of cardiac values and has the advantage of allowing direct visualization of cardiac function. Impedance cardiography, which was first described in 1991, provides further advances over earlier modalities in that it provides continuous calculation of CO and cardiac index (CI). Impedance cardiography offers a less invasive alternative to the thermodilution technique for the determination of continuous CO in comparison with PAC, which often is criticized because of its uncertain risk-to-benefit ratio.2-4 The endotracheal cardiac output monitor (ECOM) is an endotracheal tube with 6 electrodes distributed evenly on the surface of the balloon positioned in proximity to the ascending aorta in order to measure CO (Fig 1).5,6 The electrodes produce mA of alternating current at 100 kHz and measure the hanges in electrical impedance caused by pulsatile blood flow n the aorta.6 The field current is produced between the balloon lectrodes and a ground electrode located on the shaft of the ndotracheal tube.6 The electrodes are used to measure impednce signals in 3 planes.6 The 3-dimensional impedance fields
Simultaneous and sequential solution of a stiff differential equation system

For the two-point boundary-value problem considered here with its system of stiff ordinary differential equations, the solution obtained by sequential computation is faster than that obtained by simultaneous computation with no loss in accuracy. In all cases, the equations are integrated by Gear's method using identical data and program control parameters.
Video thoracoscopy for masses of the posterior mediastinum

Video thoracoscopy has evolved rapidly over the last 2 years. Improvements in technique and instrumentation allow for the diagnosis and treatment of diverse posterior mediastinal masses including neurogenic tumors, esophageal leiomyomata, paravertebral abscesses, and bronchogenic cysts.
Structure of monatomic steps on the Si(001) surface.

The atomic and electronic structure of the stepped Si(001) surface is investigated by ab initio molecular dynamics. All configurations considered by us are unstable with respect to the buckling of the surface dimers. The ground state reconstruction depends on the type of the step and, in some cases, is different from that of the flat surface. The observed differences between the filled-state and the empty-state scanning tunneling microscopy images are due to differences in wave function shapes rather than tip-induced reconstruction.
UV Pre-Ionized Rail-Gap Switch for Stacked Blumlein Pulse Generators

Stacked blumlein pulse generators comprised of parallel-plate transmission lines are potentially a useful pulse-power architecture for high-gradient, compact, electron-beam accelerators and other applications. Such pulse generators require a low-inductance, fast (<5ns) switch per stage to erect the stack and produce the desired output pulse. We are developing a rail-gap switch tightly integrated with the stack for this application. We employ ultraviolet light (UV) to pre-ionize the switch, which facilitates prompt, low-jitter, and potentially multi channel operation. A novel aspect of our switch is that the source of the UV is a conventional Xenon flashlamp. This allows variation of the switch pressure and gas without affecting the flashlamp operation. We can operate our switch in either triggered or self-breaking mode. Here we present initial results of a two-stage, stacked blumlein operating in self-break mode. We compare the switch performance to gas-switch scaling laws with respect to resistive-phase risetime and trigger delay as a function of gas density, gap-length, and gap-voltage.
Kava and Prohibition in Tanna, Vanuatu

Summary The drinking of kava is widespread and frequent among adult men on Tanna, Vanuatu (formerly the New Hebrides). Effort to prohibit use of kava created a split between the majority of the people and Western missionary and government influences. The story of prohibition reflects different moral and cultural practices coming in conflict. A declining role of Western influence has led to a resolution of the differences in favour of continued kava use.
Rapid aneurysmal degeneration of a Stanford type B aortic dissection in a patient with Loeys-Dietz syndrome

utations in the genes encoding transforming growth factor (TGF ) receptors 1 and 2 (TGFBR1, TGFBR2) have recently been associated with an autosomal dominant syndrome of aortic aneurysms and abormal craniofacial, neurocognitive, and skeletal development Loeys–Dietz syndrome, LDS). Clinical evidence suggests that uch patients are at high risk of aortic dissection and aneurysmal upture at a young age even when the aorta is small. We report
Do critical point exponents depend upon the strength of second neighbor interactions

Abstract The universality hypothesis predicts that critical point exponents should be independent of the ratio R′≡J2/J1, where J1 and J2 are the nearest-neighbor and next-nearest neighbor exchange parameters, respectively, while some recent calculations have suggested that perhaps γ(R′) decreases with R′ for small R′. We present calculations that tend to support the universality prediction for the Ising, plane rotator, and classical Heidelberg models.
Thermal conductivity of solid neon

The thermal conductivity of solid neon samples was measured from 0.5 to 10 K. An isotopically purified $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ sample and a $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ sample with 0.15-at.% $^{4}\mathrm{He}$, as well as a sample with the natural isotopic mixture, were studied. Measurements were made at molar volumes between 13.4 and 12.89 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole. The conductivity is found to increase rapidly with decreasing molar volume. The conductivity is determined primarily by the intrinsic phonon scattering above about 4 K. Normal and Umklapp phonon scattering terms are found to be necessary to make reasonable fits to the data using the Callaway relaxation-rate theory. The functional form of the three-phonon Normal processes can be represented best by ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{N}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}{B}_{N}{x}^{2}{T}^{4}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, where $x=\frac{\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}}{\mathrm{kT}}$, $\ensuremath{\omega}$ is the phonon frequency, and ${B}_{N}$ is a constant. These fits show that the enhancement of phonon scattering from isotopic defects due to differences in zero-point energy decreases with molar volume.
Natural and Experimental Infections of Centrarchid Fishes by the Digenetic Trematode Proterometra macrostoma: Detection of New Infections and Host Histopathology

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were (1) to use egg development in the adult worm of Proterometra macrostoma as a means to delineate new infections of centrarchid fishes with this digenean and (2) to assess histopathology associated with infection of the fish host. An equal mix of adult worm ages/types based on eggs stages was produced by exposing individual hatchery-reared bluegill to the same number of cercariae at weekly intervals. These results confirmed the use of egg stages for differentiating recent vs. older infections in fishes from North Elkhorn Creek, Scott County, Kentucky, during June and July 2002. Between 50.5% and 74.4% of worms recovered from naturally infected warmouth, bluegill, and longear sunfish lacked eggs or possessed eggs in early cleavage with a large vitelline mass implicating summer as a period for new infections of fishes with this worm. A proportionately smaller number of P. macrostoma containing eggs in late cleavage (11.4–20.5%) or with miracidia (14.6–29.7%) was also...
TU‐E‐211A‐02: New Member Symposium/Meet the Experts

A time of challenges is a time of opportunities, especially for young people in a discipline. Never have there been more opportunities for young medical physicists. The technologies of imaging, intervention and treatment are expanding at an unprecedented rate. The same technologies are being targeted as examples of technology overutilization and excessive costs in the healthcare system. Scientists are encouraged to be more entrepreneurial in their research so that the economic competitiveness of the nation is enhanced. Physicians are demanding that medical physicists be better teachers, and graduate students are looking for mentors in medical physics. Young medical physicists have the potential to address all of these opportunities, but first they have to identify their own particular interests, talents and needs as medical physicists. Learning Objectives: 1. Appreciate the challenges of technology evolution in health care. 2. Understand how these challenges present opportunities for medical physicists. 3. Identify the knowledge and skills that enable medical physicists to respond to technology opportunities. 4. Project how these knowledge and skills can support career development of medical physicists.
MR studies of retinal oxygenation.

Abstract In this paper, we summarize the development and application of two novel magnetic resonance based measurements of retinal oxygenation in experimental models of retinopathy, including diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. We use 19 F-NMR and a small (μl) perfluorocarbon drop positioned in the preretinal vitreous space to make PO 2 measurement of the inner retina. In addition, we use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to accurately and non-invasively measure the change in the preretinal PO 2 (ΔPO 2 ) following the shift from breathing room air to a hyperoxic inhalation challenge. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed. New applications of these techniques in the newborn rat and adult mouse are presented. We expect such studies to motivate future MRI oxygenation studies of human retinopathy, including diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity.
Research and Teaching About the Deep Earth: Understanding the Deep Earth: Slabs, Drips, Plumes and More; Virtual Workshop, 17–19 February and 24–26 February 2010

Images and models of active faults, subducting plates, mantle drips, and rising plumes are spurring new excitement about deep-Earth processes and connections between Earth's internal systems and plate tectonics. The new results and the steady progress of Earthscope's USArray across the country are also providing a special opportunity to reach students and the general public. The pace of discoveries about the deep Earth is accelerating due to advances in experimental, modeling, and sensing technologies; new data processing capabilities; and installation of new networks, especially the EarthScope facility. EarthScope is an interdisciplinary program that combines geology and geophysics to study the structure and evolution of the North American continent. To explore the current state of deep-Earth science and ways in which it can be brought into the undergraduate classroom, 40 professors attended a virtual workshop given by On the Cutting Edge, a program that strives to improve undergraduate geoscience education through an integrated cooperative series of workshops and Web-based resources. The 6-day two-part workshop consisted of plenary talks, large and small group discussions, and development and review of new classroom and laboratory activities.
Corrosion-resistant behavior of amorphous and crystallized FeNiCrW alloys

Abstract The corrosion-resistant behavior of sputter-deposited amorphous and thermally crystallized FeNiCrW alloys was studied in chloride solutions using polarization methods. The amorphous alloys had excellent resistance to pitting in both neutral and acidic solutions. More significantly, the corrosion resistance of the alloys was preserved after heat treatment at the crystallization temperature. This was attributed to a two-stage crystallization process; thus, the amorphous matrix protects the alloy from corrosion of the crystallized phase.
Editorial: Coupling technology to national needs

This PDF file contains the editorial “Editorial: Coupling technology to national needs” for OE Vol. 32 Issue 04
Maternal Characteristics Associated with Television Viewing Habits of Low-Income Preschool Children

Few studies have examined maternal characteristics associated with heavy or inappropriate television viewing on the part of their children. We investigated the relationship between children’s television viewing habits and maternal depressive symptoms and parenting beliefs. The participants were 175 low income children (mean age = 62.1 months) and their mothers who participated in a larger national study of Early Head Start eligible children. Our sample included families from two predominantly rural sites. Mothers completed a survey about the amount of time their children spend watching television during the week and on the weekend, and the types of programs they watch, as well as questionnaires related to maternal depression and parenting attitudes. According to mothers’ report, most of the young children in our sample exceeded the total viewing time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (maximum 2 h per day), and the majority watched at least some programming designed for adult audiences. Maternal depressive symptoms and beliefs about parenting were associated with heavier viewing on the part of the child, as well as with viewing of age-inappropriate content.
More effective Lagrangians

Abstract The ad hoc Skyrme model is generalized to an all-order sum of a class of chiral invariant Lagrangians suggested by Marleau. The imposition of physical constraints leads to relative stable results for the properties of both single baryons and dense matter. In particular, under the assumption that the Lagrangian scales like the non-linear sigma model at low densities and like the free quark gas at high densities, a chiral phase transition must occur.
A Bayesian approach to the estimation of ancestral genome arrangements.

We describe a Bayesian approach to estimate phylogeny and ancestral genome arrangements on the basis of genome arrangement data using a model in which gene inversion is the sole mechanism of change. While we have described a similar method to estimate phylogenetic relationships in the statistics literature, the novel contribution of the present work is the description of a method to compute probability distributions of ancestral genome arrangements. We assess the robustness of posterior distributions to different specifications of prior distributions and provide an empirical means to selecting a prior distribution. We note that parsimony approaches to ancestral reconstruction in the literature focus on the development of computationally efficient algorithms for searching for optimal ancestral genome arrangements, but, unlike Bayesian approaches, do not include assessment of uncertainty in these estimates. We compare and contrast a Bayesian approach with a parsimony approach to infer phylogenies and ancestral arrangements from genome arrangement data by reanalyzing a number of previously published data sets.
Change in ecosystem service values in the San Antonio area, Texas

San Antonio is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the USA. Urban sprawl may significantly impact ecosystem services and functions but such effects are difficult to quantify and watershed-level estimates are seldom attempted. The objective of the study reported here was to determine whether LANDSAT MSS could be used to quantify changes in land-use and ecosystem services due to urban sprawl in Bexar County, TX, in which San Antonio is centered. The size of six land cover categories in the summer of 1976, 1985, and 1991 were estimated in the 141 671 ha of three watersheds in Bexar County. Coefficients published by Costanza and co-workers in 1997 [Nature 387 (1997) 253] were used to value changes in ecosystem services delivered by each land cover category, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the effect of manipulating these coefficients on the estimated values. Although we estimated that there was a 65% decrease in the area of rangeland and a 29% increase in the area of urbanized land use between 1976 and 1991, there appeared to be only a 4% net decline in the estimated annual value of ecosystem services in the study area (i.e. $5.58 ha − 1 per year, with a 15-year cumulative total value of $6.24 million for the whole study area). This relatively small decline could be attributed to the neutralizing effect of the estimated 403% increase in the area of the woodlands, which were assigned the highest ecosystem value coefficient. When we assumed that the shift of rangelands to woodlands produced no net change in the value of ecosystem services per hectare, the estimated annual ecosystem service value declined by 15.4% ($23.22 ha − 1 per year) between 1976 and 1991. When conducting time-series studies of ecosystem services, it is important to identify parallel changes in land cover types in order to quantify the potentially neutralizing influence of positive land cover changes on the negative effects of urban sprawl on ecosystem services. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Rotavirus-associated hospitalization and emergency department costs and rotavirus vaccine program impact.

Objectives To determine the medical costs of laboratory-confirmed rotavirus hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits and estimate the economic impact of the rotavirus vaccine program.
Mating Frequency in Caged Populations of Wild and Artificially Reared (Normal or γ-Sterilized) Olive Fruit Flies

When females reared in the laboratory on artificial diet were gamma sterilized (LS) they became more receptive to the second mating than did normal ones (L), However sterilization reduced male effectiveness in second mating. Wild (W) females were found to mate more often when caged with LS males than when caged with W males. In mixed populations of W and LS flies, the latter tended to mate with each other at the first mating, but successive matings were more numerous between W females and LS males. After the first mating, ca. 0.21 matings per ♀-day were recorded between W females and LS males, as compared with 0.01 to 0.05 in each of the other three possible mating combinations during a 10-day period. It appears that, under laboratory conditions, W females were more receptive than LS females and LS males were more effective than W males to repeated mating. During first mating, W flies were always found to mate primarily in the last 2 h before scotophase, whereas L or LS flies mated in similar numbers during the 4 h before scotophase. After the first mating, mating activity in all fly types concentrated in the last 2 h before scotophase.
Effect of pressure on the electronic structure of CeFe2

Abstract We have studied the intermetallic compound, CeFe 2 in the Laves phase, using a discrete variational method. The calculated Ce and Fe moments are anti-parallel. The total density of states and the l-projected density of states are utilized to study the optical transitions and the nature of 4f-3d hybridization. The effect of applied pressure on the magnetic moments is investigated and it is predicted that the material becomes paramagnetic for a percentage compression of 6 to 7.
The effects of glucagon and epinephrine on two preparations of cardiac mitochondria.

Abstract The effects of in vivo administration in epinephrine on calcium uptake were measured in two preparations of heart mitochondria, intermyofibrillar (IMF) and subsarcolemmal (SSL) using either 45Ca2+ or murexide to follow calcium movement. The administration of either hormones resulted in an increased calcium uptake in both preparation of mitochondria subsequently isolated. This increase might be the consequence of the increased State 3 respiration, also evoked by hormones. The possibility is raised that the inotropic actions of glucagon and epinephrine might be partially mediated by mitochondria.
Short-time Fourier transform and wavelet transform with Fourier-domain processing

We discuss the semicontinuous short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and the semicontinual wavelet transform (WT) with Fourier-domain processing, which is suitable for optical implementation. We also systematically analyze the selection of the window functions, especially those based on the biorthogonality and the orthogonality constraints for perfect signal reconstruction. We show that one of the best substitutions for the Gaussian function in the Fourier domain is a squared sinusoid function that can form a biorthogonal window function in the time domain. The merit of a biorthogonal window is that it could simplify the inverse STFT and the inverse WT. A couple of optical architectures based on Fourier-domain processing for the STFT and the WT, by which real-time signal processing can be realized, are proposed.
Inferring steady state single-cell gene expression distributions from analysis of mesoscopic samples

Background: A great deal of interest has been generated by systems biology approaches that attempt to develop quantitative, predictive models of cellular processes. However, the starting point for all cellular gene expression, the transcription of RNA, has not been described and measured in a population of living cells. Results: Here we present a simple model for transcript levels based on Poisson statistics and provide supporting experimental evidence for genes known to be expressed at high, moderate, and low levels. Conclusion: Although the model describes a microscopic process occurring at the level of an individual cell, the supporting data we provide uses a small number of cells where the echoes of the underlying stochastic processes can be seen. Not only do these data confirm our model, but this general strategy opens up a potential new approach, Mesoscopic Biology, that can be used to assess the natural variability of processes occurring at the cellular level in biological systems.
Verb agreements during on-line sentence processing in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia☆

An on-line "word detection" paradigm was used to assess the comprehension of thematic and transitive verb agreements during sentence processing in individuals diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD, n=15) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD, n=14). AD, FTD, and control participants (n=17) were asked to listen for a word in a sentence. Unbeknownst to the participants, the target word followed an agreement involving a verb's transitivity or thematic role component. Control participants took significantly longer to respond to a target word only when it immediately followed a violation of a thematic role agreement or a transitivity agreement, relative to target word detection immediately following the corresponding correct agreement. AD patients were selectively insensitive to thematic role agreement violations, although they demonstrated a normal processing pattern for transitivity agreements. This is consistent with previous observations showing selective difficulty with the thematic role component of a verb in AD. FTD patients were insensitive to violations of thematic role and transitivity agreements. FTD patients' impairment for both transitivity and thematic role agreements may reflect a broader degradation of verb knowledge that involves both grammatical and semantic representations, or difficulty processing sentence structure that also causes a thematic role deficit.
Course of Action Analysis in a Cultural Landscape Using Influence Nets

Since 1992 the nature of military operations has changed. The type of objectives that the military has to address has expanded well beyond those of traditional major combat operations. As military operations become other than conventional war - whether against transnational terrorist threats or conducting stabilization operations - the need to broaden the focus of models that support effects based planning and operations has become critical. One major present weakness is the absence of socio-cultural attributes in the models used for course of action selection and effects based planning. This paper illustrates an approach that enables analysts to evaluate a complex situation in which an adversary is embedded in a society from which it is receiving support. The paper describes a layered modeling approach that enables the analysts to examine and explain how actions of the military and other entities may results in desired or undesired effects, both on the adversary and on the population as a whole, and shows several techniques for comparing contemplated courses of action
Krylov type subspace methods for matrix polynomials

We consider solving eigenvalue problems or model reduction problems for a quadratic matrix polynomial Iλ 2 − Aλ − B with large and sparse A and B. We propose new Arnoldi and Lanczos type processes which operate on the same space as A and B live and construct projections of A and B to produce a quadratic matrix polynomial with the coefficient matrices of much smaller size, which is used to approximate the original problem. We shall apply the new processes to solve eigenvalue problems and model reductions of a second order linear input-output system and discuss convergence properties. Our new processes are also extendable to cover a general matrix polynomial of any degree. AMS Classifications: 65F15; 65F20; 15A18
Necessary conditions for optimality in a general class of non-linear mixed boundary value control problems.

Systematic application of Pontryagin's maximum principle to a general class of nonlinear mixed boundary value control problems yields necessary conditions for optimal control. Also, the features of certain pathological situations including the abnormal case and singular control are clearly revealed in this treatment.
The Expanded Biology of Serotonin

Serotonin is perhaps best known as a neurotransmitter that modulates neural activity and a wide range of neuropsychological processes, and drugs that target serotonin receptors are used widely in psychiatry and neurology. However, most serotonin is found outside the central nervous system, and virtually all of the 15 serotonin receptors are expressed outside as well as within the brain. Serotonin regulates numerous biological processes including cardiovascular function, bowel motility, ejaculatory latency, and bladder control. Additionally, new work suggests that serotonin may regulate some processes, including platelet aggregation, by receptor-independent, transglutaminase-dependent covalent linkage to cellular proteins. We review this new “expanded serotonin biology” and discuss how drugs targeting specific serotonin receptors are beginning to help treat a wide range of diseases.
Magnetically suspended balance beam with disturbances: A test rig for nonlinear output regulation

This paper presents an experimental test rig for nonlinear output regulation. This experimental setup consists of a beam free to rotate on a pivot at its center of mass, and stabilized by two active electromagnets located at each end of the beam. The rotation of the beam is measured by a non-contacting displacement sensor. A motor with unbalance weight is mounted on a track on top of the beam. This mounted motor serves as an exosystem in the problem of output regulation. By moving the motor position along the track and adjusting the motor rotational speed, constant and sinusoidal disturbances of different frequencies and magnitudes can be imposed on the system to test controllers. The input output characteristics of the active electromagnets are nonlinear and are difficult to be determined precisely. The air gaps between the beam and the electromagnets are narrow. These properties of the setup make it a good platform for testing nonlinear output regulation controllers, including robust output regulation and output regulation under the actuator and state constraints.
Role of calcium regulation in pathophysiology model of schizophrenia and possible interventions.

Recent advances into the neuroscience research related to pathophysiology of schizophrenia have been impressive. While some are based on pre-existing theories and models, others have explored on a molecular level attempting to integrate the concepts of the past and present. However, given the complex multifactorial etiology of schizophrenia attempts to improve the current treatment modalities raise more questions than answers. In the cascade model of the hypotheses, the focus will be on a common factor/marker for the disease, to address the possible stepwise correlation between the various theories. Homeostasis of calcium, its relation to the release of glutamate, dopamine and nitric oxide will be discussed in detail with the potential for interventions aimed at every stage. Although this hypothesis emphasizes the role of calcium as a common factor, other potential causes such as autoantibodies to the receptors, such as NMDA (and GABA) cannot be ruled out.
Growth of (100) oriented diamond thin films on ball structure diamond-like particles

The morphology of typical CVD diamond thin films has been shown to be controlled by the concentration of methane during deposition. For example, for CH4 concentrations c < 0.4% the (111) faces dominate, while at 0.4% < c < 1.2% (100) faces dominate. Here we showed that the (100) oriented diamond films can be grown on top of the microcrystalline ball-like particles under suitable conditions. These (100) oriented diamond films are grown under the condition of 1.5% methane in hydrogen, substrate temperature of 680 °C–750 °C, and pressure of 30–80 Torr. The bombardment of the diamond thin films by ions in the plasma is believed to be an important factor for the formation of (100) oriented films on top of the ball-like particles. SEM, Raman, and x-ray techniques were used to characterize the deposited (100) oriented diamond thin films.
The E-Z reader model of eye-movement control in reading: comparisons to other models

The E-Z Reader model (Reichle et al. 1998; 1999) provides a theoretical framework for understanding how word identification, visual processing, attention, and oculomotor control jointly determine when and where the eyes move during reading. In this article, we first review what is known about eye movements during reading. Then we provide an updated version of the model (E-Z Reader 7) and describe how it accounts for basic findings about eye movement control in reading. We then review several alternative models of eye movement control in reading, discussing both their core assumptions and their theoretical scope. On the basis of this discussion, we conclude that E-Z Reader provides the most comprehensive account of eye movement control during reading. Finally, we provide a brief overview of what is known about the neural systems that support the various components of reading, and suggest how the cognitive constructs of our model might map onto this neural architecture.
Quality Assurance in Private Higher Education in China

The economic modernization drive of the 21st century has not only fostered the growth of a market economy but has also created the need for a structural change in education (Zha, 2006). Mok (2009) explains that when the Chinese government realized that the state alone could not keep up with the increasing demand for higher education, it allowed non-governmental institutions to get involved. However, with the fast expansion of the private higher education system, maintaining educational quality and integrity has not been a priority. Administrators have been rather incompetent in hiring qualified faculty and staff. They have minimum or no experience in curriculum and program development. Laboratory facilities and technological services are insufficient and living and learning conditions for students, staff, and faculty are far from satisfactory. Chinaâ€™s private higher education needs a major overhaul even from the start.
Thermal stability and composition of the amylose–iodine complex

Amylose–iodine blue complex (absorbance band at 615 nm) was studied at different temperatures to examine the thermal stability and composition of the complex. Our direct experiment with amylose–iodine complex for composition determination suggests that with every 2.75 glucose units of amylose helix there is an iodine unit involved. The average I—I distance in the complex is found to be 3.0 A, which is in excellent agreement with the value obtained from x-ray diffraction study of model compounds (3.1 A). As the temperature increases above 15°C, the observed decrease in concentration of the complex is primarily due to dissociation of iodine from the amylose helix.
The state-of-the-art power electronics technologies and future trends

Power electronics and related power processing technologies constitute an "enabling infrastructure technology" with a significant potential impact on US industrial competitiveness. This is manifested through the increased energy efficiency of equipment and processes using electrical power, and through higher industrial productivity and higher product quality, which results from the ability to control precisely the electrical power for manufacturing operations. Sales of power electronics equipment exceed $60 billion each year, and affect another $1 trillion in hardware electronics sales. Improvements in the technology of such a dynamic market is an exciting endeavor. Industrial firms are under constant pressure to produce power electronics products that are more powerful dependable and durable, smaller in size, lighter in weight, and less costly to the consumer. Power electronics products, to date, are essentially custom-designed, with a long design cycle time. The equipment is designed and manufactured largely using nonstandard parts. Thus, manufacturing processes are labor-intensive, resulting in high cost and poor reliability. Consequently, the US is losing its manufacturing base to global competitors, especially in those regions where labor costs are significantly lower than those of the US. This paper discusses the limitations in power semiconductor devices, passive components, power electronics packaging, power electronics modules, motor drives, and new generation computer/telecommunication equipment. The technology advancements needed are then discussed.
Selected Issues of Collecting Forensic Evidence with a Mobile Robot

The aim of this paper is to present the approach to the problem of collecting the forensic evidence within the CBRN contaminated crime scene with the use of teleoperated mobile robot. The idea of the whole system is presented first. While presenting a holistic approach to the problem is not feasible within a single paper, the article focuses on two selected solutions elaborated in R&D project entitled “Design of mobile platform for supporting forensic surveys in places where CBRN threats may occur”. The first solution is intended to gather chemical samples with the use of the SPME (Solid Phase Microextraction) adsorber. The second solution is designed to reveal the forensic evidence with the use of luminol solution deployed by the mobile robot. Conclusions, major issues addressed by described system and development trends are presented at the end of the paper.
Prognostic significance of location of positive margins in radical prostatectomy specimens

OBJECTIVES Cancer at the resection margin is associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) even after adjusting for other known clinical and pathologic risk factors. In this study, we assessed the prognostic significance of sites of positive surgical margins (+SMs) in RP specimens. METHODS We reviewed the data from 2442 patients with clinical Stage T1-T3 prostate cancer treated with RP from 1983 to 2004 who had had tumor maps generated from whole mount sections. The site of +SMs was assigned to six different areas (apex, bladder neck, seminal vesicle, anterior, posterolateral, and posterior). RESULTS Of the 2442 patients, 201 (8.2%) had a +SM at a single site and 74 (3.0%) had a +SM at multiple sites in the RP specimen. The posterolateral and apex sections were the most commonly involved sites for a +SM. Those with a +SM had a greater risk of biochemical recurrence than those with negative surgical margins (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.004 to 1.92; P = 0.047). We found that a +SM at the posterolateral site was significantly associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence (hazard ratio 2.80 for +SMs versus negative SMs at the posterolateral region; 95% confidence interval 1.76 to 4.44). CONCLUSIONS The effect on biochemical recurrence was influenced by the site of the +SM, with a posterolateral location having the most significant effect on prognosis. This heterogeneity of margin status has implications for predictive modeling, as well as the recommendation for adjuvant radiotherapy.
Intake and use of milk nutrients by rat pups suckled in small, medium, or large litters

We investigated the extent to which the altered weight gain of rat pups suckled in litters of varying sizes (4, 10, and 16 pups/litter) is attributable to differences in milk nutrient intake. Milk intake was estimated from the rate of dilution over 2 days of a dose of 3H2O administered at 4, 8, and 14 days of age after correction for the water and milk carbon deposited in body tissues over the measurement period. Protein and energy intakes were estimated from the volume of milk consumed by individual pups and the composition of milk from each dam. Significant effects of litter size on milk fat and protein concentration were observed. Weight gain was highly correlated with energy intake in pups suckled in litters of 4 and 10 but not 16. These findings were attributed to a higher energy expenditure of pups less than 10 days old suckled in litters of 16; specifically these pups had higher maintenance energy needs than pups suckled in litters of 4 and 10 and a higher energy cost of tissue synthesis. The latter was ascribed to an ability of immature pups to maximize the efficiency of protein utilization, thereby blunting the deleterious effects of a reduced nutrient intake on protein deposition.
Nonlocal quantum numbers in field theory

We discuss the presence in free-field theories of conserved nonlocal quantum number operators. We discuss their relevance to interacting theories.
The Evolution of Vertebrate Color Vision

Color vision is conventionally defined as the ability of animals to reliably discriminate among objects and lights based solely on differences in their spectral properties. Although the nature of color vision varies widely in different animals, a large majority of all vertebrate species possess some color vision and that fact attests to the adaptive importance this capacity holds as a tool for analyzing the environment. In recent years dramatic advances have been made in our understanding of the nature of vertebrate color vision and of the evolution of the biological mechanisms underlying this capacity. In this chapter I review and comment on these advances.
Diversifying Science Intervention Programs Moderate the Effect of Stereotype Threat on Motivation and Career Choice

Stereotypes influence academic interests, performance, and ultimately career goals. The long-standing National Institutes of Health Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) training pr...
Environmental Parameters Associated With Stable Fly(Diptera: Muscidae) Development at Hay Feeding Sites

Substrates composed of hay residues, dung, and urine accumulate around winter hay feeding sites in cattle pastures, providing developmental habitats for stable flies. The objective of this study was to relate physiochemical and microbial properties of these substrates to the presence or absence of stable fly larvae. Properties included pH, temperature, moisture, ammonium concentration, electrical conductivity, and numbers of coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli , and Enterococcus bacteria. Each physiochemical sample was classified as a function of belonging to one of the three 2-m concentric zones radiating from the feeder as well as presence or absence of larvae. In total, 538 samples were collected from 13 sites during 2005–2011. Stable fly larvae were most likely to be found in moist, slightly alkaline substrates with high levels of ammonium and low temperature. The probability of larvae being present in a sample was the highest when the moisture content was 347% relative to dry weight and the average pH was 8.4. Larvae were recovered within all zones, with a nonsignificant, but slightly higher, percentage of samples containing larvae taken 2–4 m from the center. All methods used to enumerate bacteria, except total coliform, indicated decreasing concentrations in hay bale residue throughout the summer. In addition to the environmental parameters, cumulative degree day 10°C had a significant effect on the probability of observing stable fly larvae in a sample, indicating that unidentified seasonal effects also influenced immature stable fly populations.
Heritable Generational Epigenetic Effects through RNA

Abstract Heritable transgenerational epigenetic effects are observed in many species, where they are detected as phenotypic differences inherited in the absence of alterations in the genome sequence. Despite their widespread nature, the molecular mechanism underlying the observed inheritance patterns is often not understood. DNA methylation and chromatin structure (histone modifications) are known to mediate transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Recent studies of the various small RNA silencing pathways suggest that RNA should also be considered a candidate mechanism for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. RNA is a very attractive candidate molecule because it potentially has targeting ability through base pairing with homologous sequences in other RNAs or DNA. Several classes of small RNAs participate in epigenetic pathways, and mutant analyses link the small RNA pathways to several transgenerational epigenetic phenomena. In addition, RNAs of various kinds are present in the gametes, indicating that they may be transmitted to the zygote. This review explores the evidence in support of heritable generational effects mediated by RNA.
Relations of Surface Tension to Bacterial Phenomena

It is now a well established fact that changes in the physical conditions under which bacteria grow may markedly affect their activities. The effects of variations in temperature, concentrations of various ions, osmotic pressure and numerous other factors have been investigated. There is one physical force, however, which has not been adequately studied, namely, the force that arises from the mutual attraction between molecules and manifests itself as surface tension. Bacteriologists are coming more and more to the belief that an explanation of many hitherto little understood phenomena may rest on a knowledge of the action of surface forces. According to MacCallum,1 "surface tension is the most powerful and most important of all forces concerned in the life of animal and vegetable cells."
Morphology of Ultra-Thin Metal Films Using Infrared Reflection Adsorption Spectroscopy

The adsorption of carbon monoxide on ultra-thin films of Cu, Ni and Co on Rh(100) and Mo(110) substrates has been studied using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). The CO vibrational frequency on Cu/Rh(100) and Cu/Mo(110) at low Cu coverage (∼0.1 ML) shows a blue-shift relative to its gas phase stretching frequency (2143 cm-1). This blue-shift is explained as arising from CO adsorbed on well-dispersed Cu adatoms which are either slightly positively charged due to charge transfer from Cu to the substrate or self-polarized because of a strong Cu-substrate interaction. It is further shown that three-dimensional Cu clusters, well-ordered pseudomorphic two dimensional Cu islands and single Cu atoms are distinctively characterized by the CO IR peaks at 2074 cm-1, 2095 cm-1, and 2162 cm-1, respectively. In addition, it is found that IR spectra of CO adsorbed on Ni/Mo(110) show a remarkable sensitivity to surface structural phase transitions at the Ni-Mo interface.
A Scheme for Blocking Non-Specific Antibody Binding on Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes have many unique properties such as high surface area, hollow cavities, and excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Interfacing carbon nanotubes with biological systems could lead to significant applications in various disease diagnoses. Significant progress in interfacing carbon nanotubes with biological materials has been made in key areas such as aqueous solubility, chemical and biological functionalization for biocompatibility and specificity, and electronic sensing of proteins. Bioconjugated nanotubes combined with the sensitive nanotube-based electronic devices would enable sensitive biosensors toward medical diagnostic. Furthermore, recent findings of improved cell membrane permeability for carbon nanotubes would also expand medical applications to therapeutics using carbon nanotubes as carriers in gene delivery systems. One of the main issues in nanobio systems is the specificity, which requires biofunctionalization of nanomaterials for recognition of only one type of target biomolecule. This study presents an effective functionalization scheme for preventing non-specific antibody binding on nanotubes. Non-specific antibody binding on nanotubes was successfully prevented by co-adsorption of a bio-compatible polymer PEG and a surfactant (NaDDBS) on nanotubes. Optical studies through confocal microscopy revealed very minimal non-specific antibody binding on the PEG/NaDDBS-coated nanotubes (WCC 0.80), as determined by weighted co-localization coefficients (WCC). In addition to the confocal microscopy studies, electronic detection studies revealed that PEG/NaDDBS pretreated devices exhibited very little conductance change due to antibody adsorption compared to the devices without any PEG/NaDDBS pretreatment. These findings indicate that the PEG/NaDDBS pretreatment is a very effective functionalization scheme in preventing non-specific antibody binding on nanotubes.