cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Removal of carbon and nanoparticles from lithographic materials by plasma assisted cleaning by metastable atom neutralization (PACMAN)

System cleanliness is a major issue facing the lithographic community as the prospects of integrating EUV lithography into integrated circuit manufacturing progress. Mask cleanliness, especially of particles in the sub-micron range, remains an issue for the implementation of EUV lithography since traditional mask cleaning processes are limited in their ability to remove nanometer scale contaminants. The result is lower wafer throughput due to errors in pattern transfer to the wafer from the particulate defects on the mask. Additionally, carbon contamination and growth on the collector optics due to energetic photon interactions degrade the mirror and shortens its functional life. Plasma cleaning of surfaces has been used for a variety of applications in the past, and now is being extended to cleaning surfaces for EUV, specifically the mask and collector optics, through a process developed in the Center for Plasma-Material Interactions (CPMI) called Plasma Assisted Cleaning by Metastable Atom Neutralization (PACMAN). This process uses energetic neutral atoms (metastables) in addition to a high-density plasma (Te ≈ 3 eV and ne ≈ 1017 m-3) to remove particles. The PACMAN process is a completely dry process and is carried out in a vacuum which makes it compatible with other EUV related processing steps. Experiments carried out on cleaning polystyrene latex (PSL) nanoparticles (30 nm to 500 nm) on silicon wafers, chrome coated mask blanks, and EUV mask blanks result in 100 % particle removal with a helium plasma and helium metastables. Removal rates greater than 20 nm/min have been achieved for PSL material. Similar removal rates have been achieved for the PACMAN cleaning of carbon from silicon wafers (simulating collector optic material) with 100% removal with helium plasma and helium metastables. The PACMAN cleaning technique has not caused any damage to the substrate type being cleaned either through roughening or surface sputtering. Current results of cleaning various particle types from surfaces through the PACMAN process are presented.
Taking Nomos: Carl Schmitt's Philology Unbound

Carl Schmitt famously drew a distinction between what he called nomos and what we usually think of as law (Gesetz in German, lex in Latin). The latter, he explained, is a positivist legal order based on normative thinking, where the highest law would still only be a historically contingent norm. In contrast, nomos—though commonly translated from the Greek as “law”—is the total concept of right that precedes and makes possible all such laws, and “comprises a concrete order and community” (Nomos of the Earth, p. 20). One might think that “right” (German Recht) itself could fulfill this conceptual and terminological role; indeed, as Thomas Schestag notes, Schmitt consistently and without comment translated nomos as Recht in his early writings. But for Schmitt the origin of right and laws is inextricably tied to the land and, more specifically, to originary events of land appropriation, which engender first spatial and then political, social, and religious orders. He thus defines nomos as “the measure by whic...
Schedule the Short Procedure First to Improve OR Efficiency

ABSTRACT •OPERATING ROOM MANAGERS are hampered in their efforts to optimize OR efficiency by surgical procedures that last a longer or shorter time than scheduled. The lack of predictability is a result of inaccuracy in scheduling and variability in the duration of procedures. •SCHEDULING SHORT PROCEDURES before long procedures theoretically limits this variability. •MONTE CARLO SIMULATION of ORs scheduled with various combinations of short and long procedures supports this concept's validity. •RESULTS INDICATE that scheduling short procedures first can improve on-time performance and decrease staff member overtime expense without reducing surgical throughput. AORNJ 78 (October 2003) 651–657.
CallSim: Evaluation of Base Calls Using Sequencing Simulation

Accurate base calls generated from sequencing data are required for downstream biological interpretation, particularly in the case of rare variants. CallSim is a software application that provides evidence for the validity of base calls believed to be sequencing errors and it is applicable to Ion Torrent and 454 data. The algorithm processes a single read using a Monte Carlo approach to sequencing simulation, not dependent upon information from any other read in the data set. Three examples from general read correction, as well as from error-or-variant classification, demonstrate its effectiveness for a robust low-volume read processing base corrector. Specifically, correction of errors in Ion Torrent reads from a study involving mutations in multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus illustrates an ability to classify an erroneous homopolymer call. In addition, support for a rare variant in 454 data for a mixed viral population demonstrates “base rescue” capabilities. CallSim provides evidence regarding the validity of base calls in sequences produced by 454 or Ion Torrent systems and is intended for hands-on downstream processing analysis. These downstream efforts, although time consuming, are necessary steps for accurate identification of rare variants.
A mild synthesis of substituted furans from γ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated ketones

The acid-catalyzed cyclodehydration of (Z)- and (E)-γ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated ketones to furans is described. In the case of E olefins, photochemical trans- to cis- olefin isomerization was found to accelerate the reaction.
The protective effect of aminoguanidine on erectile function in diabetic rats is not related to the timing of treatment.

OBJECTIVE To assess the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat cavernosal tissue, and to determine whether the protective effect of aminoguanidine (AG) on erectile function is related to the timing of treatment, as the accumulation of AGEs in the penis may be important in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction, and prolonged treatment with AG (a selective AGE inhibitor), prevents erectile dysfunction in this situation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups 1-4, i.e. age-matched controls; STZ diabetic rats (60 mg/kg intraperitoneal) given free access to water; STZ diabetic rats treated with AG (1 g/L per day in the drinking water) immediately after inducing diabetes; and STZ-diabetic rats treated with AG 1 month after inducing diabetes, respectively. Two months after inducing diabetes the intracavernosal pressure was measured after cavernosal nerve stimulation, and cavernosal AGE (5-hydroxy methyl furfural, 5-HMF) levels assessed. RESULTS Cavernosal tissue 5-HMF levels from groups 2 and 4 were significantly higher than in group 1 (control). The expression of 5-HMF in group 3 was similar to that in group 1. Diabetic rats had significantly lower erectile function than controls, while groups 3 and 4 (treated with AG) had normal erectile function, as measured by cavernosal nerve stimulation. CONCLUSIONS The effect of AG on AGE levels seems to be time-dependent; that the 1-month treatment with AG improved erectile function with no change in AGEs suggests that AG has protective effects on the penile vasculature through alternative pathways.
Intracranial tuberculosis in children: CT appearance and clinical outcome.

We retrospectively evaluated the CT studies of 9 children who presented with intracranial tuberculosis during 1981–1987, and compared their radiographic appearance with the clinical outcome. The most common radiographic findings were: 1) ventriculomegaly (7/9), 2) tuberculoma formation (6/9), and 3) infarction (4/9). Of 7 patients with ventriculomegaly, 3 required a ventricular shunt and 2 had spontaneous resolution of ventricular dilatation. Four children with ventriculomegaly were moderately or severely retarded, one had cognitive dysfunction, and one was neurologically normal. Four of six children with tuberculoma also had infarction and/or ventriculomegaly; of these four children, three were moderately or severely retarded. Two patients with tuberculoma as the only intracranial abnormality had complete resolution of the granuloma with normal neurologic outcome following antituberculous therapy. The four children with large vessel infarction also had ventriculomegaly; three had poor clinical outcome. The presence of tuberculoma alone is not necessarily predictive of poor neurologic outcome; age less than 20 months, infarct, and/or ventriculomegaly are usually associated with sequelae.
A comparison of ranking and rating procedures for value system measurement

Compared the validity and reliability of 2 value measurement techniques. 296 Ss (161 females and 135 males) in introductory psychology filled out the 2 measurement techniques and an attitude survey. The Rokeach Value Survey instructed Ss to separately rank 2 sets of 18 values in order of importance. A rating version of the Value Survey instructed Ss to rate the same 36 values from 1 to 99. 236 Sreturned 6 weeks later and again filled out both measurement techniques. Results of the multimethod factor analysis indicate very good convergent validity among the 4 measures of a given value (2 techniques × 2 sessions) and very good discriminant validity between measures of different values. Probably due to the ipsative nature of the ranking procedure, the test-retest reliabilities were higher for the ranked measurements than for the rated measurements. The construct validity of both measurement techniques, as determined by multiple regression and analysis of variance, were similar. Despite criticisms of ranking procedures, both the ranked and the rated versions were of equal reliability and validity.
Absence of lethal radiation effects following massive oral administration of plutonium.

THE International Commission on Radiological Protection in its recommendations1 assumed that radiation damage to the gastrointestinal tract from unabsorbed radioisotopes will be the critical factor in determining the maximum permissible concentration for many of these isotopes. Among the isotopes for which the gastrointestinal tract is considered the critical organ are a number of alpha-emitters. Since it seemed quite conceivable that the radiosensitive cells of the gastrointestinal tract might lie beyond the range of alpha-particles originating within the contents of the tract, experiments were initiated to determine the effect on the tract of an orally administered alpha-emitter.
X-ray absorption studies of vanadium valence and local environment in borosilicate waste glasses using vanadium sulfide, silicate, and oxide standards

X-ray absorption spectroscopic data were collected and analyzed to characterize vanadium in borosilicate glasses used for immobilization of sulfur-containing nuclear wastes. Data are presented for borosilicate glasses, some with and some without sulfur, that have V2O5 concentrations as high as 12 wt%, and for the sulfides: sulvanite and patronite, the silicates: cavansite, hadaraite, and roscoelite, and the oxide: vanadinite. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data for the glasses have no sulfur dependent features, but do show changes that parallel various redox conditions for the corresponding melts. EXAFS data for the glasses indicate V–O distances near 1.70 A that are considerably shorter than typical V–S distances found in the sulfides. Both XANES and EXAFS indicate that most or all vanadium in these glasses is in the form of V5+O4 tetrahedra; glasses synthesized under reducing conditions can have penta-coordinated V4+ populations up to approximately 20–25% of all vanadium present.
Direct and Indirect Effects of Fish on Invertebrates and Tiger Salamanders in Prairie Pothole Wetlands

Hydrologic changes have facilitated increased fish abundance in wetlands of the North American prairie pothole region (PPR). Declines in PPR wetland condition have been attributed to fish-generated changes in trophic state, and reduced abundance and diversity of plants, invertebrates, and non-fish vertebrates. We sought to gain insight into mechanisms for fish impacts on wetland condition by evaluating their direct and indirect effects on invertebrates and salamanders. We quantified relationships among trophic state variables (chlorophyll a, nitrogen, phosphorus, total suspended solids, turbidity); fish and larval tiger salamander biomass; plant cover and taxon richness; and invertebrate density, biomass, and taxon richness in 34 continuously-flooded wetlands in Iowa. Path analysis results supported hypotheses that fish indirectly caused declines in invertebrate taxon richness by increasing turbidity, which in turn reduced plant cover. Path analysis results also supported the hypothesis that fish directly reduced salamander biomass by predation. Fish biomass increased with increasing water depth. Therefore, deeper wetlands were generally in poorer condition than relatively shallow ecosystems. Our findings support conclusions of previous investigators that regardless of other management strategies, actions limiting fish biomass in PPR wetlands (e.g., eliminating surface-water connections to other aquatic systems) are essential to restore health and functions of these ecosystems.
Transport abnormalities from single-breath dynamics of Ar, CO2 and O2.

Abstract A model framework is developed for analyzing non-invasive measurements of Ar, CO2, O2, and lung volume during a single exhalation from healthy and diseased lungs. The objective is to distinguish ventilation inhomogeneity from gas exchange limitations associated with alveolar-capillary transport and processes within the blood. Several practical, quantitative indices are compared to provide distinction and physiological interpretation in terms of rate-determining transport processes. Some indices arise from a model in which the composition in the alveolar space differs from that of the exhaled gas. Other indices are computed from the effective dead-space volumes for Ar, CO2, and O2. Ventilation inhomogeneity is accounted for by the Ar dynamics. Values of these indices were computed from experiments with human subjects having normal lungs, restrictive pulmonary disease, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These three groups are clearly distinguished by a pair of indices: one reflects ventilation inhomogeneity, while the other reflects dysfunction associated with the alveolar-capillary transport and capillary blood flow and distribution.
Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.

Purpose of reviewVestibular evoked myogenic potential testing is the only clinically feasible way to measure function of the saccule. Interest in this test has exploded in recent years because of its potential utility in diagnosing third-window disorders and in diagnosing and monitoring Meniere's di
Statistical Associating Fluid Theory. 2. Estimation of Parameters To Predict Lube-Ranged Isoparaffin Properties

Building on part 1, we present a method by which statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) parameters can be generated for any isoparaffin structure. The SAFT parameters that characterize a pure component are linked to functional relationships based on a number of easily computed topological indices. Simple relationships for the effective number of segments, m, and segment volume, v 00 , are formalized based on observed trends in regressed parameters in the previous work. We also employ a simulated annealing procedure to develop an accurate equation for u 0 /k, the segment interaction energy. The robustness of the parameter estimation method is demonstrated by comparing the quality of the equation of state predictions to the performance of the original SAFT parameter set determined in part 1. Perhaps most importantly, this approach opens the door for quantitative structure-property relationship studies, with particular emphasis on how branching affects specific properties. This is demonstrated by examining the influence of branching on the normal boiling point for a variety of lube-ranged isoparaffins.
Nonlinear Dynamic Finite Element Analysis of Thick Transversly Flexible Sandwich Panel on Elastic Foundation with Account of Damage Progression in Time. Part 1. Three-Dimensional Formulation and Two-Dimensional Plate Theory

In order to construct a plate theory for a thick transversely compressible sandwich plate with composite laminated face sheets, the author makes simplifying assumptions regarding distribution of transverse strain components in the thickness direction. It is assumed that the transverse strains, i.e., exz, eyz, and ezzdo not vary in the thickness direction within the face sheets and the core, but can be different functions of the in-plane coordinates in different sublaminates (the face sheets and the core). An algorithm, which takes account of damage progression in dynamic problems, is incorporated into the computational scheme based on the geometrically nonlinear formulation, and is applied to failure analysis of a sandwich plate under ground impact.
An agent based modeling approach for determining optimal price-rebate schemes

Abstract Delayed incentives in the form of cash mail-in rebates have become very popular. While some research has been conducted on consumer perception and behavior toward rebates, little research has been undertaken with respect to a seller’s optimal rebate strategy. We use an agent-based modeling approach for jointly determining optimal price and rebate value. This approach has been previously applied to pricing and can capture some aspects of the problem which are difficult to analyze using traditional mathematical modeling. The model indicates that rebates are much more profitable when their values are jointly determined with price. In addition, the profitability of rebates at a given time depends on past consumers’ experience with rebates and that consumers’ memory of their past rebate redemption behavior plays an important role in determining the profitability of rebates. Also, the analysis shows that agent-based modeling may provide an alternative method for analyzing problems in which interactions between participants in the systems, i.e. consumers, sellers, and regulating agencies, are important in determining the overall behavior of the system.
Coherent optical processor for image-quality metric measurement

Image quality metrics that can be obtained optically using coherent optical systems are discussed. Coherent optical processing to measure these image quality metrics includes several steps: (a) transformation ofthe image plane intensity distribution into a phase modulation ofthe coherent wave using a liquid crystal television; (b) diffraction of the phase modulated wave over a specified distance to enhance particular image spatial frequencies; (c) a secondary intensity-phase transformation; and (d) application of an image quality analyzer based on speckle field statistical properties. We present experimental results, along with corresponding numerical simulations, that demonstrate the effectiveness ofthese technique for adaptive correction of phase-distorted extended source images.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Vacuum ultraviolet postionization of aromatic groups covalently bound to peptides.

Experiments demonstrate that peptides with ionization potentials (IPs) above 7.87 eV can be single-photon-ionized in the gas phase with a molecular fluorine laser following prior chemical derivatization with one of several aromatic tags acting as chromophores. 4-(Dimethylamino)benzoic acid, 1-naphthylacetic acid, and 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid (denoted Benz, Naph and Anth, respectively) behave as chromophores, allowing single-photon ionization for vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser light by lowering the IP of the tagged peptide. Anth-tagged peptides that are laser-desorbed from a substrate and subsequently postionized produce mass spectra dominated by the intact radical cation, although protonated ions and fragmented species are also observed. Electronic structure calculations on Anth-tagged peptides indicate that in addition to lowering the ionization potential, the presence of the aromatic tag increases charge localization on and delocalization across the ring structure, which presumably stabilizes the rad...
A probabilistic analysis of episodic preferential flow into superheated fractured rock

The amount of water seeping into waste emplacement tunnels is important for the long-term performance of the proposed geologic nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The repository site is located in thick, partially saturated fractured tuff that will be heated to above-boiling temperatures as a result of heat generation from the decay of nuclear waste. Since water infiltrating down towards the repository will be subject to vigorous boiling for a significant time period, the superheated zone (i.e. rock temperature above the boiling point of water) may form an effective vaporization barrier that reduces the possibility of water arrival at emplacement drifts. In this paper, we analyze the behavior of episodic preferential flow events that penetrate down into the hot fractured rock zone, and evaluate the impact of such flow behavior on the effectiveness of the vaporization barrier. The characteristic features of episodic preferential flow are estimated from laboratory experiments and described by appropriate probability distributions. A semi-analytical solution is utilized to determine the complex flow processes in the hot rock environment. The solution is applied at several discrete times after emplacement, in order to cover the time period of strongly elevated temperatures at Yucca Mountain.
A new forward spectrometer for PHENIX

In the last decade PHENIX has accessed via longitudinal double spin asymmetries the gluon helicity inside the proton, started probing flavor dependent valence and sea quark helicity distributions and started to explore the proton transverse spin structure. A major upgrade is planned for the next decade that will provide an increased acceptance and additional tracking and electromagnetic plus hadronic calorimetry in the forward region. Here, the layout of the new forward detector system will be discussed, together with the new insights in the proton spin structure that the new forward PHENIX spectrometer will provide.
Quantum opto-mechanics: from rotation to Coriolis force detection

We consider an opto-mechanical effect that is related to the appearance of additional optical phase due to motion of an ultra-dispersive medium, the enhanced Fizeau effect. We have theoretically shown that the enhanced Fizeau effect on a single atom in a cavity can be observed. It has been shown that the change of phase is sensitive to the mechanical motion and can be applied to measurement of possible displacements as small as cm Hz. One of application can be the detection of weak forces exerted on a single atom.
Nonlinear optical effects in N-type four-level atom-cavity systems

We experimentally study the nonlinear optical behaviors of N-type four-level atomic systems inside an optical cavity. These nonlinear effects include two-photon absorption, splitting of dark polariton, modified self-Kerr nonlinearity, Raman amplification, and white-light cavity.
Use of 95 per cent Ethyl Alcohol as a Solvent for Ultra-Violet Spectroscopy

IN connexion with a problem on the determination of the ultra-violet absorption spectra of organic molecules dissolved in 95 per cent ethyl alcohol1, it was necessary to determine the suitability of the alcohol as a solvent in the region of 2000 A. There is a report2 that carefully purified 95 per cent ethyl alcohol3 is suitable for the region of 2000 A., although no experimental results were given. Observations in this region have been reported by MacLean, Jencks and Acree4 for ordinary commercial 95 per cent ethanol, and they find that unpurified alcohol is completely opaque in this region.
Pressure broadening, lineshapes, and intensity measurements in the 2←0 band of NO

Abstract Lineshape and intensity measurements were made on the overtone band (v = 2 ← 0) of nitric oxide (NO) using a tunable difference-frequency laser system. Self- and N2-pressure broadening coefficients were obtained at 296 K, and a small amount of collisional, or Dicke, narrowing (which reduces the Doppler width by ∼9% at 50 Torr) was also evident. The pressure broadening observed for the 2 Π 3 2 transitions was larger than that of the 2 Π 1 2 for corresponding J by about 7%, so an empirical scaling law model was fit to the broadening coefficients to determine the role of interstate (spin-flipping) collisions. A small collision-induced asymmetry in the Λ-doublet transitions of the 2 Π 1 2 level was also observed. The measured line intensities yield an integrated band intensity of 1.878(−40+90) cm−2 atm−1 at 296 K and a Herman-Wallis F factor which determines the relative signs of terms in the dipole moment expansion.
Networks and Exchanges: Ephesians 4:7-16 and the Community Function of Teachers:

Though often recognized as part of a discussion on unity, Ephesians 4:7-16 is seldom considered for its contributions to that discussion. Deviating from the usual focus on possible leadership structures in post-Pauline churches, this study focuses attention on what the passage says about the function of certain individuals in promoting unity. When social network and exchange theories are brought to bear on Ephesians 4:7-16, they illuminate strategies in the passage that underscore the role of teachers who protect the community from "false" information on the one hand and strengthen the community with "true" information on the other. Those strategies coordinate with the overt behavioral message of the passage. When community members respond as they should to those teachers, they are said to promote beneficial behavior that results in a more unified community. The net effect of such analysis is to de-emphasize Ephesians 4:7-16 as a reflector of ecclesiastical practices while re-focusing attention on what th...
Development of the diencephalon in the rat. IV. Quantitative study of the time of origin of neurons and the internuclear chronological gradients in the thalamus.

Groups of pregnant rats were injected with two successive daily doses of 3H-thymidine from gestational days 13 and 14 (E13+14) until the day before birth (E21+22). With this progressively delayed comprehensive labelling procedure we determined the time of origin of neurons in the nuclei of the epithalamus, thalamus, and ventral thalamus. The zona incerta, subtha- lamic nucleus, reticular nucleus, posterior nucleus, and ventral lateral genicu- late nucleus are composed of the earliest arising neurons (E13, or before, to E15). The neurons of the lateral habenular nucleus are produced between days E13-16. The neurons of the medial geniculate and lateral geniculate nuclei, the ventrobasal and ventrolateral complexes, and the nucleus lateralis, pars poste- rior, arise rapidly on days E14-15; the medial geniculate nucleus with a peak on day E14, the others with a peak on day El5 Neurons of a group of nuclei, with ill-defined boundaries medial to the sensory relay nuclei, arise apparently on days E15-16, with a peak on day E15; these may represent the intralaminar nu- clei. The next group is generated on days E15-16 but with peak formation time on day E16: this includes the anteroventral, anterodorsal, anteromedial and mediodorsal nuclei. The rhomboid, reuniens and paratenial nuclei, and the paraventricular nucleus, pars anterior, arise next (E16-17). The medial haben- ular nucleus forms last and over a protracted period (E15-19). With their lengthy generation time the lateral and medial habenular nuclei resemble more the nuclei of the hypothalamus than the nuclei of the dorsal thalamus. In three preceding papers of this series (Altman and Bayer, '78a,b,c) we dealt with the time and site of origin of neurons of the hypothalamus and of the cells of its special- ized ventricular linings. The time of origin of cells in different regions of the hypothalamus was determined quantitatively in adult rats that were tagged with 3H-thymidine from the early embryonic through the early postnatal period. Internuclear and intranuclear gradi- ents in autoradiographic labelling patterns were noted and interpreted as directional "ar- rows" that point to the possible site of origin and route of dispersion of the settled cells. This information obtained in adult rats was then used, in an attempt to identify the neuro- epithelial source and early differentiation of various components of the hypothalamus, in a series of normal and X-irradiated rat embryos
The Mind of the Modernist

Georg Simmel is known for his ‘formal’ sociology and discussion of interaction using spatial imagery. Responding to the standard view of Simmel, this article investigates his equally important ideas about time and temporality. In his philosophical and sociological writings Simmel explores the nature of knowledge of the past, mechanistic and organic conceptions of temporality, and the experience and social construction of time-consciousness. The modern money economy encourages a dynamic acceleration and compression of time, while cultural modernity ushers in an ‘eternal present’. Simmel's interpretation of time and temporality are central to his thought and contribute to his significance as a social theorist.
Testing the Hydration Status of the Shaker-K Channel Voltage Sensor Domain with Sugars

Voltage gated K-channels are formed by two well defined domains: the Pore Domain (PD), which is responsible for the K+ ions conduction process, and the Voltage Sensor Domain (VSD), which sense the transmembrane potential due to the presence of several charged moieties. VSD moves upon activation such that ∼4 net positive charges translocate across the membrane. The molecular details of such movement have been subject of intense controversy. We asked if part of the charges are hydrated at the resting and activated states, and if they change their hydration status during voltage activation. We measured the gating currents of a constitutively closed Shaker-V478W in macro patches of Xenopus oocytes in the presence of internal, external, or symmetric 2M Sucrose to reduce the water availability for eventual VSD hydration. Our results are consistent with the idea that some charged residues are hydrated when exposed to the cytosol at resting, dehydrate before translocation and rehydrate externally in the activated conformation. These suggest that water plays an important role stabilizing charged moieties in both, the resting and active conformation, revealing a novel role for water in the voltage sensing process.ID-F is a MECESUP Fellow. We thank to Iniciativa Cientifica Milenio (P09-022-F) and Fondecyt 1120819.
Cold War landscapes: towards an environmental history of US development programmes in the 1950s and 1960s

This essay examines the environmental history of US development programs during the early Cold War. The first part of the essay revisits Point Four programs, arguing that resource development was an essential, but now frequently overlooked component. The rest of the article reviews several recent scholarly works about development to examine changes in three crucial parts of the global environment: river systems, agriculture, and human health. These recent works show how central environmental manipulations were to American development programs. I stress the importance of looking not just at the ideas behind a project, but also what happens ‘on the ground,’ especially the meanings local residents attach to environmental changes.
Emerging trends in the enterprise data analytics: connecting Hadoop and DB2 warehouse

Enterprises are dealing with ever increasing volumes of data, reaching into the petabyte scale. With many of our customer engagements, we are observing an emerging trend: They are using Hadoop-based solutions in conjunction with their data warehouses. They are using Hadoop to deal with the data volume, as well as the lack of strict structure in their data to conduct various analyses, including but not limited to Web log analysis, sophisticated data mining, machine learning and model building. This first stage of the analysis is off-line and suitable for Hadoop. But, once their data is summarized or cleansed enough, and their models are built, they are loading the results into a warehouse for interactive querying and report generation. At this later stage, they leverage the wealth of business intelligence tools, which they are accustomed to, that exist for warehouses. In this paper, we outline this use case and discuss the bidirectional connectors we developed between IBM DB2 and IBM InfoSphere BigInsights.
Evaluation of Daily Creel and Minimum Length Limits for Black Crappie and Yellow Perch in Wisconsin

AbstractHarvest regulations for Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens in the northern USA and Canada have not been thoroughly evaluated, and specific guidance regarding where minimum length limits (MLLs) might improve these fisheries is lacking. We examined whether: (1) transitioning from an aggregate statewide daily creel limit of 25 panfish to species-specific daily creel limits of <25 fish or implementing statewide MLLs could reduce harvest of Black Crappie and Yellow Perch in Wisconsin by ≥25%, and (2) MLLs would improve yield by ≥10% and mean TL of harvested fish by ≥25 mm in Wisconsin fisheries. Creel surveys indicated that ≥94% of Wisconsin anglers did not harvest a Black Crappie or Yellow Perch, and ≤0.12% of anglers harvested a daily creel limit of 25 fish. Daily creel limits would need to be ≤7 fish/ angler to reduce harvest by ≥25%. Statewide MLLs would need to be ≥229 mm for Black Crappie and ≥203 mm for Yellow Perch to reduce harvest by ≥25%, but predicted res...
Donor-to-host transmission of Candida albicans after corneal transplantation.

Abstract PURPOSE: To report donor-to-host transmission of Candida albicans after penetrating keratoplasty. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 15-year-old boy who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus with donor tissue from a drowning victim developed keratitis and a lenticular abscess 26 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Candida albicans was cultured from the donor rim and the recipient cornea. Antifungal sensitivity profiles were identical for the two isolates. DNA profiles were identical for both isolates, confirming the donor as the source of the infection. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the value of routine culture of corneal donor rims and the advisability of close follow-up and possible antifungal prophylaxis when donor rims are positive for fungus.
The English Auction with Differentiated Commodities

Abstract We study economies (with indivisibilities) that satisfy the gross substitutes (GS) condition. We define an excess demand set with the property that increasing the prices of all goods in excess demand eventually leads to the smallest Walrasian prices. This procedure is a generalization of the auction studied by G. Demange, D. Gale and M. J. Sotomayor, Polit. Econ. 94 (1986), 863–872. In our auction, truthful revelation of demand is a perfect Bayesian equilibrium if the smallest Walrasian prices correspond to the Vickrey–Clarke–Groves payments. However, no dynamic auction can reveal sufficient information to implement the Vickrey mechanism if all GS preferences are allowed. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D4, D44, D5, D51.
Evaluation of triacetyloleandomycin, alpha-naphthoflavone and diethyldithiocarbamate as selective chemical probes for inhibition of human cytochromes P450.

Abstract A variety of chemicals, including triacetyloleandomycin (TAO), α-nasymphthoflavone (ANF), and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), are widely used as inhibitory probes for select individual human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, despite the fact that the selectivity of these inhibitors has not been rigorously evaluated. In the present study we take advantage of recent advances in cDNA-directed human P450 expression to evaluate directly the P450 form selectivity of TAO, ANF, and DDC, using a panel of 10 individual cDNA-expressed human P450s. Under experimental conditions known to yield maximal TAO complexation with P450 hemoproteins, TAO (20 μM) inhibited the catalytic activity of expressed CYPs 3A3, 3A4, and 3A5, whereas it did not affect CYPs 1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, or 2E1 activity. ANF inhibited not only CYPs 1A1 and 1A2 (IC 50 = 0.4-0.5 μM), but it was also similarly effective against CYPs 2C8 and 2C9. Increasing the concentration of ANF to 10 μM led to inhibition of CYP2A6 and CYP2B6. Although a previous study suggested that DDC is a selective inhibitor of CYP2E1, the present investigation shows that at concentrations required to inhibit CYP2E1 (IC 50 ≍ 125 μM when preincubated with NADPH), DDC also inhibited CYPs 1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 3A3, and 3A4. Decreasing the concentration of DDC to 10 μM, however, led to inhibition of CYP2A6 (65% inhibition) and CYP2B6 (50% inhibition), but none of the other p450s examined, including CYP2E1. Overall, these results establish that (a) TAO is a selective inhibitor of the human CYP3A subfamily; (b) ANF potently inhibits CYP2C8 and CYP2C9, in addition to CYPs 1A1 and 1A2; and (c) DDC cannot be employed as a diagnostic inhibitory probe for CYP2E1.
Linkage between pulmonary tumours and vestigial tail in the house mouse.

THE occurrence of pulmonary tumours in the mouse has been shown to be controlled by multiple genetic and non-genetic factors, the tumours appearing when the combined effect of these factors surpasses a physiological threshold1. Tests for linkage2,3 have demonstrated association between the occurrence of pulmonary tumours and the genes, lethal yellow (Ay), flexed tail (f), hairless (hr), and the linked genes shaker-2 (sh-2) and waved-2 (wa-2). There was evidence that the relationship to Ay was due to the positive effect of the gene itself upon susceptibility to this type of tumour. Whether or not the relationship to the other genes represented true linkage was not ascertained; but certain evidence suggested secondary effects.
Grey and multigroup radiation transport models for two-dimensional stochastic media with material temperature coupling

Abstract Current theories for approximating the effects of stochastic media on radiation transport assume very limited physics such as one dimension, constant grey opacities, and no material energy balance equation. When applied to more complex physical problems, the standard theory fails to match the results from direct numerical simulations. This work presents the first direct numerical simulations of multigroup radiation transport coupled to a material temperature equation in a 2D stochastic medium that are compared to closures proposed by various authors. After extending it from grey to multigroup physics, one closure that is not commonly used successfully models the results in dilute systems where one material comprises less than 5% of the total. This closure is more accurate for related grey transport problems than it is for the multigroup problem. When the specific heats are material- and temperature-dependent, it is much more difficult to fit the direct numerical solutions with an approximate closure.
To flock or fight: Neurochemical signatures of divergent life histories in sparrows

Many bird species exhibit dramatic seasonal switches between territoriality and flocking, but whereas neuroendocrine mechanisms of territorial aggression have been extensively studied, those of seasonal flocking are unknown. We collected brains in spring and winter from male field sparrows (Spizella pusilla), which seasonally flock, and male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), which are territorial year-round in much of their range. Spring collections were preceded by field-based assessments of aggression. Tissue series were immunofluorescently multilabeled for vasotocin, mesotocin (MT), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, tyrosine hydroxylase, and aromatase, and labeling densities were measured in many socially relevant brain areas. Extensive seasonal differences are shared by both species. Many measures correlate significantly with both individual and species differences in aggression, likely reflecting evolved mechanisms that differentiate the less aggressive field sparrow from the more aggressive song sparrow. Winter-specific species differences include a substantial increase of MT and CRH immunoreactivity in the dorsal lateral septum (LS) and medial amygdala of field sparrows but not song sparrows. These species differences likely relate to flocking rather than the suppression of winter aggression in field sparrows, because similar winter differences were found for two other emberizids that are not territorial in winter—dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), which seasonally flock, and eastern towhees (Pipilo erythropthalmus), which do not flock. MT signaling in the dorsal LS is also associated with year-round species differences in grouping in estrildid finches, suggesting that common mechanisms are targeted during the evolution of different life histories.
Elevation of a collagenase generated type II collagen neoepitope and proteoglycan epitopes in synovial fluid following induction of joint instability in the dog

Abstract Clinical relevance Measurement of markers of cartilage pathology in synovial fluid may provide clinical rheumatologists and osteoarthritis (OA) researchers important information for early diagnosis of OA as well as a method for monitoring disease progression and response to treatment. This study demonstrates the value of this approach in an established model of OA (cranial cruciate ligament rupture) at a point distant enough from the original surgical manipulation so as to have little to no effect on the marker concentrations. Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether measurement of markers of cartilage collagen cleavage and proteoglycan turnover in synovial fluid from a canine model could be used to detect cartilage changes following the onset of joint instability during the development of OA. Design A model of joint instability that develops OA was created in 18 mature dogs using monopolar radiofrequency energy (MRFE). MRFE was arthroscopically applied to one cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) while the contralateral CCL was sham treated. The treated CCLs ruptured approximately 8 weeks (55±1.6 days) after MRFE treatment. Synovial fluid was collected at time zero prior to MRFE treatment, 4 weeks after MRFE treatment, and at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after CCL rupture. Synovial fluid concentrations of the neoepitope COL2-3/4C long (type II collagen cleavage by collagenase) and epitopes 3B3(−) (proteoglycan aggrecan sulfation) and 846 (associated with aggrecan synthesis) were analyzed. Results Compared to sham treated joints, the synovial fluid concentrations of COL2-3/4C long and 3B3(−) were significantly increased 2.2 fold and 2.9 fold, respectively, in joints with MRFE treated CCLs following CCL rupture. Concentrations of the 846 epitope in synovial fluid showed a trend toward an increase, which was not significant, after CCL rupture. Conclusions Concentrations of the collagenase-cleaved type II collagen neoepitope and 3B3(−) epitope in synovial fluid were significantly increased by 4 weeks and remained elevated for at least 16 weeks after CCL rupture. This suggests that in dogs the COL2-3/4C long neoepitope and 3B3(−) epitope are sensitive markers for changes in joint cartilage turnover in joints that are developing OA. Copyright 2002 OsteoArthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .
Clinical evaluation of a dried commercially-prepared microdilution panel for antifungal susceptibility testing

A commercially-prepared dried broth microdilution panel (Sensititre) was compared with a reference microdilution method for antifungal susceptibility testing of two reference yeast strains and 98 clinical isolates of Candida spp. The antifungal agents tested include 5-fluorocytosine (5FC), fluconazole, itraconazole, and D0870. Microdilution testing was performed according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) recommendations. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) endpoints were read visually after 48 hours of incubation and were assessed independently for each microdilution panel. The MICs for the reference strains were within published control limits for both reference and Sensititre microdilution panels. Discrepancies among MIC endpoints of no more than two dilutions (two wells) were used to calculate the percent agreement. An acceptable level of agreement between Sensititre and reference panels was observed for all antifungal agents when tested against the 98 clinical isolates. Agreement ranged from 83% for itraconazole to 93% for 5FC. The Sensititre dried microdilution panel appears to be a viable alternative to inhouse prepared microdilution panels and to the NCCLS macrodilution reference method.
Spectral and Temporal Measures in Hybrid Cochlear Implant Users: On the Mechanism of Electroacoustic Hearing Benefits

OBJECTIVE Compare auditory performance of Hybrid and standard cochlear implant users with psychoacoustic measures of spectral and temporal sensitivity and correlate with measures of clinical benefit. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Tertiary academic medical center. PATIENTS Hybrid cochlear implant users between 12 and 33 months after implantation. Hybrid recipients had preservation of low-frequency hearing. INTERVENTIONS Administration of psychoacoustic, music perception, and speech reception in noise tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Performance on spectral-ripple discrimination, temporal modulation detection, Schroeder-phase discrimination, Clinical Assessment of Music Perception, and speech reception in steady-state noise tests. RESULTS Clinical Assessment of Music Perception pitch performance at 262 Hz was significantly better in Hybrid users compared with standard implant controls. There was a near significant difference on speech reception in steady-state noise. Surprisingly, neither Schroeder-phase discrimination at 2 frequencies nor temporal modulation detection thresholds across a range of frequencies revealed any advantage in Hybrid users. This contrasts with spectral-ripple measures that were significantly better in the Hybrid group. The spectral-ripple advantage was preserved even when using only residual hearing. CONCLUSION These preliminary data confirm existing data demonstrating that residual low-frequency acoustic hearing is advantageous for pitch perception. Results also suggest that clinical benefits enjoyed by Hybrid recipients are due to improved spectral discrimination provided by the residual hearing. No evidence indicated that residual hearing provided temporal information beyond that provided by electric stimulation.