cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Classicalization of Nonclassical Quantum States in Loss and Noise - Some No-Go Theorems

The general problem of performance advantage obtainable by the use of nonclassical transmitted states over classical ones is considered. Attention is focused on the situation where system loss is significant and additive Gaussian noise may be present at the receiver. Under the assumption that the total received state is classical, rigorous output density operator representations and their trace distance bounds are developed for classical and nonclassical transmitted states. For applications with high loss in all modes, a practical NoGo theorem is enunciated that rules out the possibility of significant advantage of nonclassical over classical states. The recent work on quantum illumination is discussed as an example of our no-go approach.
Mohs surgery and margin control in the treatment of melanoma

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), a surgical and histopathological technique that permits histologic analysis of the entire deep and superficial tumor margin, has been used successfully to treat many types of cutaneous malignancy. MMS results in cure rates as high as 99% for nonmelanoma skin cancer and is particularly useful in areas where standard surgical margins would result in cosmetic and functional deficits. The use of MMS for the treatment of melanoma has been controversial. This controversy stems from the perceived difficulty of diagnosing melanoma in frozen sections and a lack of prospective studies documenting equivalence or superiority to standard wide excision. We review the Mohs technique, detail the challenges facing MMS in the treatment of melanoma and discuss the evidence supporting its use. Despite the challenges, we find evidence of the effectiveness of MMS in the treatment of melanoma, particularly lentigo maligna of the face.
Is “relative quantum phase” transitive?

I discuss the question: Is it possible to prepare, by purely thermodynamic means, an ensemble described by a quantum state having a definite phase relation between two component states which have never been in direct contact? Resolution of this question requires us to take explicit account of the nature of the correlations between the system and its thermal environment.
Rupture and particle velocity during frictional sliding

Laboratory measurements of rupture and particle velocity are in surprisingly good agreement with seismic values, providing further evidence that stick-slip friction is a suitable mechanism for shallow earthquakes. A simple theory is developed to explain the linear relationship observed between average particle velocity and stress drop for stick-slip events. Both stick-slip ruptures and cracks in brittle material commonly propagate at velocities roughly comparable to the S wave velocity of the material. Rupture normally begins relatively slowly and accelerates to a steady velocity in a few centimeters. Observations suggest that stick-slip ruptures can propagate at S wave speeds or occasionally greater and that cracks in pre-stressed glass can also propagate faster than the S waves. Fracture and thus rupture velocity of intact rock specimens is greatly influenced by the inhomogeneous structure of rock. Fracture may be modeled by coalescence of many cracks rather than growth of a single crack.
Validation of a Verbally Administered Numerical Rating Scale of Acute Pain for Use in the Emergency Department

Objectives: Verbally administered numerical rating scales (NRSs) from 0 to 10 are often used to measure pain, but they have not been validated in the emergency department (ED) setting. The authors wished to assess the comparability of the NRS and visual analog scale (VAS) as measures of acute pain, and to identify the minimum clinically significant difference in pain that could be detected on the NRS. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of a convenience sample of adults presenting with acute pain to an urban ED. Patients verbally rated pain intensity as an integer from 0 to 10 (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain), and marked a 10-cm horizontal VAS bounded by these descriptors. VAS and NRS data were obtained at presentation, 30 minutes later, and 60 minutes later. At 30 and 60 minutes, patients were asked whether their pain was “much less,”“a little less,”“about the same,”“a little more,” or “much more.” Differences between consecutive pairs of measurements on the VAS and NRS obtained at 30-minute intervals were calculated for each of the five categories of pain descriptor. The association between VAS and NRS scores was expressed as a correlation coefficient. The VAS scores were regressed on the NRS scores in order to assess the equivalence of the measures. The mean changes associated with descriptors “a little less” or “a little more” were combined to define the minimum clinically significant difference in pain measured on the VAS and NRS. Results: Of 108 patients entered, 103 provided data at 30 minutes and 86 at 60 minutes. NRS scores were strongly correlated to VAS scores at all time periods (r= 0.94, 95% CI = 0.93 to 0.95). The slope of the regression line was 1.01 (95% CI = 0.97 to 1.06) and the y-intercept was −0.34 (95% CI =−0.67 to −0.01). The minimum clinically significant difference in pain was 1.3 (95% CI = 1.0 to 1.5) on the NRS and 1.4 (95% CI = 1.1 to 1.7) on the VAS. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the verbally administered NRS can be substituted for the VAS in acute pain measurement.
Malrotation discovered during routine radionuclide gastric emptying study

In infants with recurrent vomiting, and especially bilious vomiting, the algorithmic approach is to perform conventional barium upper gastrointestinal radiography to rule out malrotation and midgut volvulus, which are surgical emergencies. However, children with protracted vomiting and failure to thrive are candidates for medical treatment. These children are often evaluated by radionuclide gastric emptying studies to assess gastric emptying. Three patients are presented in whom the radionuclide gastric emptying study revealed the presence of a malrotation anomaly which had been undetected by antecedent barium gastrointestinal radiographic studies.
A comparison of manufacturing and remanufacturing energy intensities with application to diesel engine production

Climate change reports and policies relating to end-of-use products, CO2 emissions, and energy are causing manufacturers to examine their operations closely. Several reports have touted the economic and environmental benefits of remanufacturing, including claims of significant reductions in terms of energy and CO2 emissions. However, large-scale remanufacturing of heavy equipment engine components has not been closely examined and no standard procedure exists to quantify the benefits of remanufacturing. A methodology is presented for determining the energy intensity and benefits of remanufacturing as compared to new manufacturing, and this is applied to a diesel engine example. These findings are used to estimate the embodied manufacturing/remanufacturing energy across multiple use cycles. 2008 CIRP.
Silver Nanoplate Contrast Agents for in Vivo Molecular Photoacoustic Imaging

Silver nanoplates are introduced as a new photoacoustic contrast agent that can be easily functionalized for molecular photoacoustic imaging in vivo. Methods are described for synthesis, functionalization, and stabilization of silver nanoplates using biocompatible ("green") reagents. Directional antibody conjugation to the nanoplate surface is presented along with proof of molecular sensitivity in vitro with pancreatic cancer cells. Cell viability tests show the antibody-conjugated silver nanoplates to be nontoxic at concentrations up to 1 mg/mL. Furthermore, the silver nanoplates' potential for in vivo application as a molecularly sensitive photoacoustic contrast agent is demonstrated using an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Results of these studies suggest that the synthesized silver nanoplates are well suited for a host of biomedical imaging and sensing applications.
The formation and polymerization behavior of Ni(II) α-diimine complexes using various aluminum activators

Abstract Several Ni(II) α-diimine complexes have been synthesized and examined for ethylene and propylene polymerization in combination with different aluminum co-catalysts. The precatalysts used in the study were [ArNC(Nap)C(Nap)NAr]NiBr2 (Nap=1,8-naphthdiyl) (1, Ar=2,4,6-trimethylphenyl; 2, Ar=2-tBu phenyl; 3, Ar=2-iPr phenyl). These complexes were synthesized via a one-pot reaction where the ligand is formed via an acid catalyzed condensation followed by direct addition of nickel(II) bromide. The complexes were also prepared by a two-step procedure where the ligand was first formed by condensation between the appropriate aniline and acenaphthoquinone, and the resulting ligand was then allowed to react with (1,2-dimethoxyethane) nickel(II) dibromide. X-ray structural studies of complexes 1 and 2 have been carried out. Diethylaluminum chloride (DEAC), and 1,3-dichloro-1,3-diisobutyldialuminoxane (DCDAO) show higher activities for ethylene and propylene polymerizations in combination with these Ni(II) α-diimine complexes than does polymethylaluminoxane (MAO). The molecular weight of the resulting polymers as well as their respective polydispersities and Tms are also presented. The polypropylenes obtained with 1/DEAC and 2/DEAC at 0 °C show similar rr triad percentage as previously reported for polypropylenes generated by MAO activated Ni(II) α-diimine complexes.
Black carbon radiative heating effects on cloud microphysics and implications for the aerosol indirect effect 1. Extended Köhler theory

[1] Black carbon (BC) aerosol absorbs sunlight that might have otherwise been reflected to space and changes the radiative heating of the atmosphere and surface. These effects may alter the dynamical and hydrological processes governing cloud formation. A new, microphysical, effect of BC on climate is identified here, in which solar heating within BC-containing cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) slows or prevents the activation of these CCN into cloud drops. Solar-heated BC-containing droplets are elevated in temperature by fractions of a degree above the ambient, thus raising the droplet vapor pressure and inhibiting activation of the most absorptive CCN. This paper develops the theory describing the alteration of the Kohler curve (i.e., the equilibrium vapor pressure over a droplet as a function of water uptake) as a function of CCN size and BC fraction. The effect is most significant in those CCN that contain volumes of BC larger than a 500 nm diameter sphere. For an aerosol population with 10% BC mass fraction per particle, solar heating can cause a 10% reduction in the CCN concentration at 0.01% critical supersaturation. On the other hand, the effect of heating by BC absorption on CCN activation above ∼0.1% critical supersaturation is negligible.
Quantum-Frequency Algorithm for Automated Identification of Traffic Patterns

Knowledge of the normal traffic flow pattern is required for a number of transportation applications. Traditionally, the simple historic average has been considered as the best way to derive the traffic pattern. However, this method may often be significantly biased by the presence of incidents. One solution to avoid this bias is through visual inspection of the data by experts. The experts could identify anomalies caused by incidents and thereby identify the underlying normal traffic patterns. Three main challenges of this approach are (a) the bias introduced because of subjectivity, (b) the additional time required to analyze the data manually, and (c) the increasing sizes of the available traffic data sets. To address these challenges and also to exploit the potential of information technology, new data analysis tools are essential. In this research, a new tool, the quantum-frequency algorithm, was developed. This algorithm can aid in the automated identification of traffic flow patterns from large data sets. The paper presents the algorithm along with its theoretical basis. Finally, in the case study presented in the paper, the algorithm was able to identify a reasonable traffic pattern automatically from a large set of archived data. When compared with the historic average, it was found that the pattern identified by the quantum-frequency algorithm resulted in 39% lower cumulative deviation from the pattern identified manually by experts.
Psychometric evaluation of the Children's Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form in preschool children using parent and teacher report

Abstract Temperament is a developmentally important construct, hierarchically comprised of several lower-order dimensions subsumed under effortful control, negative affectivity, and surgency. The Children's Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form (CBQ-VSF) was developed as a brief measure of the higher-order factors of temperament to aid researchers in understanding the relation between these factors and other developmentally important constructs. In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the CBQ-VSF in preschool children ( N = 277) using teachers and parents as informants. Several dimensions of temperament emerged independently of the three higher-order factors. Comparing the extracted factors to other measures of temperament revealed limited convergent and discriminant validity. Further, similar teacher and parent report factors did not correlate. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the CBQ-VSF be refined to better reflect core dimensions that comprise the higher-order factors.
Marking fleas with 59Fe: uptake and retention of a tag acquired from the natural host.

Xenopsylla cheopis fleas, allowed to feed on laboratory rats injected with iron-59 citrate, retained the isotope tag from 10 to more than 20 days depending on their sex, exposure level, and subsequent blood meals. The loss of the marker from the rats' blood occurred at a predictable rate, and fleas were successfully tagged after exposure to blood containing as little as 0.22 μCi/ml. Female fleas were found to take larger blood meals than males and to lose the tag at a faster rate when starved. Radioactive fleas allowed to feed on a non injected host retained less of the isotope than those which were starved after exposure.
Maladaptive behaviour in children and adolescents with Down's syndrome

Background Although children with Down's syndrome (DS) are at lower risk for psychopathology than others with intellectual disability, they do show more problems than typically developing children. However, age-related trends in these problems remain unclear. Methods The present authors examined age-related changes in the maladaptive behaviours of 211 children and adolescents with DS aged between 4 and 19 years (mean = 9.74 years). Most participants (n = 180) were recruited from families residing in the greater Los Angeles area, California, USA, while a minority (n = 31) were patients from a clinic specializing in the psychiatric management of people with DS. The participants were divided into four age groups: (1) 4–6 years, (2) 7–9 years, (3) 10–13 years and (4) 14–19 years. Results Externalizing behaviours were lower across both the community and clinic samples, while internalizing behaviours were significantly higher in older adolescents aged between 14 and 19 years. Increases were found in withdrawal, seen in 63% of community-based adolescents, and 75% of clinic adolescents. Conclusions Older adolescents with DS may show decreased externalizing symptoms and subtle increases in withdrawal. Possible relationships are discussed between these shifts and increased risks of later-onset depression and Alzheimer's disease in adults with DS.
Dirichlet processes and an intrinsic characterization of renormalized intersection local times

Abstract We show that the n th order renormalized self-intersection local time γ n ( μ ; t ) for the symmetric stable process in R 2 , where the n -fold multiple points are weighted by an arbitrary measure μ , can be characterized as the continuous process of zero quadratic variation in the decomposition of a natural Dirichlet process. This Dirichlet process is the potential of a random measure associated with γ n −1 ( μ ; t ).
Reproductive Success of Worm‐Eating Warblers in a Forested Landscape

(Askins et al. 1990; Hagan & Johnston 1992; Finch & Stangel 1993). Although there is debate about the overall direction and geographic extent of these trends (James et al. 1992; Askins 1993), some species have undergone significant population declines (Sauer & Droege 1992; Askins 1993, 1995). One suggested cause of population declines is anthropogenic fragmentation of breeding habitat and consequent lowered reproductive success (Askins et al. 1990; Faaborg et al. 1993). Previous studies have shown that the following were correlated with increased levels of forest fragmentation: (1) reduced pairing success (Wander 1985; Gibbs & Faaborg 1990; Villard et al. 1993); (2) reduced fledging success or increased nest predation (Hoover 1992; Porneluzi et al. 1993; Robinson et al. 1995); and (3) increased brood parasitism by Brownheaded Cowbirds (Molothrus ater, Temple & Cary 1988; Robinson et al. 1995). Furthermore, many species of forest birds are less abundant in small isolated patches of forest than in large continuous forests (Askins 1994). However, forest fragmentation can occur on many spatial scales and on a continuum of severity, and the consequences of fragmentation are highly dependent on the species or ecosystem in question (Pearson 1993; Villard et al. 1992, 1993; Robinson et al. 1995). We investigated the reproductive performance of the Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus), a single-brooded, ground-nesting species. It is one of many species of forest-breeding Neotropical migrants considered "area sensitive" (e.g., Hayden et al. 1985; Askins et
Evaluation of a modified atmometer for estimating reference ET

Evaluation of a modified Bellani cup atmometer was done in two steps; theoretically to verify that it can be used as a physical model of plant transpiration, secondly and empirically, four different atmometers were compared to determine the variability among different instruments and the agreement between atmometer water loss and Penman ET. Variability among atmometers was small and the response of the instrument water loss to variations in weather conditions was similar to that predicted by the Penman equation. It was concluded that the atmometer can be used to estimate reference ET for irrigation scheduling purposes.
Vacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopy of dialkyl polysilanes

We present here a complete experimental determination of the optical properties and electronic structure of the polymers poly(di-n-pentylsilane) and poly(di-n-hexylsilane) from 2 to 44 eV. The electronic structure revealed by these measurements is consistent with the assignment of the higher-energy transitions to the carbon-based sidechains and the lower-energy transitions to the silicon backbone. The transitions attributed to the silicon backbone correlate well with predictions by an independent band-structure calculation using the local-density approximation.
Observations on the nature of transfer functions for control of piezoelectric laminates

In this paper, some fundamental relationships for beams incorporating piezoelectric film actuators and sensors are examined. The differential equation of motion for a beam with piezoelectric film bonded to both sides is used to develop Laplace domain transfer function models of the system. These transfer functions are exact Laplace domain representations of the system equations of motion. The transfer functions are cast into a closed rational form using Maclaurin series expansions representing a specific number of modes. In this form, the transfer functions lend themselves to classical control analysis. It is shown that the transfer function relating a voltage applied to a full coverage actuating layer, to the voltage induced in a full coverage sensing layer on the opposite beam face, be haves like a classic colocated system with alternating poles and zeros and accordingly the system is easy to stabilize with low order compensation. In contrast to this result, it is shown that in spite of the effective co...
Beyond interfaces: Pragmatic development vs. syntactic deficiencies in the L2 acquisition of reverse psychological predicates

By analyzing the empirical data from two experiments that test Spanish psych-verb properties (e.g. gustar ‘to like’), this article assesses the empirical adequacy of the Interface Hypothesis (IH), which claims that external interfaces (i.e. interfaces between a linguistic module and a cognitive module) are more problematic for learners than internal interfaces/narrow syntax (Sorace & Filiaci, 2006; Sorace, 2011; inter alia). Because my findings were inconsistent with the IH (i.e. target-like pragmatics knowledge can precede syntactic awareness of the same construction), I turned to the Integrative Model of Bilingual Acquisition (Pires & Rothman, 2011), which accounts for non-native divergence by resorting to the interplay of a series of factors (i.e. formal complexity, L1-L2 parameter mapping, processing resources, and PLD). This more articulated model is not only able to account for the patterns in these experiments but it also constitutes a more integrated explanation for the intricacies of the acquisition process.
Spatial and dose-response analysis of fibrotic lung changes after stereotactic body radiation therapy

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is becoming the standard of care for early stage nonoperable lung cancers. Accurate dose–response modeling is challenging for SBRT because of the decreased number of clinical toxicity events. As a surrogate for a clinical toxicity endpoint, studies have proposed to use radiographic changes in follow up computed tomography (CT) scans to evaluate lung SBRT normal tissue effects. The purpose of the current study was to use local fibrotic lung regions to spatially and dosimetrically evaluate lung changes in patients that underwent SBRT. Methods: Forty seven SBRT patients treated at our institution from 2003 to 2009 were used for the current study. Our patient cohort had a total of 148 follow up CT scans ranging from 3 to 48 months post-therapy. Post-treatment scans were binned into intervals of 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months after the completion of treatment. Deformable image registration was used to align the follow up CT scans with the pretreatment CT and dose distribution. Areas of visible fibrotic changes were contoured. The centroid of each gross tumor volume (GTV) and contoured fibrosis volume was calculated and the fibrosis volume location and movement (magnitude and direction) relative to the GTV and 30 Gy isodose centroid were analyzed. To perform a dose–response analysis, each voxel in the fibrosis volume was sorted into 10 Gy dose bins and the average CT number value for each dose bin was calculated. Dose–response curves were generated by plotting the CT number as a function of dose bin and time posttherapy. Results: Both fibrosis and GTV centroids were concentrated in the upper third of the lung. The average radial movement of fibrosis centroids relative to the GTV centroids was 2.6 cm with movement greater than 5 cm occurring in 11% of patients. Evaluating dose–response curves revealed an overall trend of increasing CT number as a function of dose. The authors observed a CT number plateau at doses ranging from 30 to 50 Gy for the 3, 6, and 12 months posttherapy time points. There was no evident plateau for the dose–response curves generated using data from the 18, 24, 30, and 36 months posttherapy time points. Conclusions: Regions of local fibrotic lung changes in patients that underwent SBRT were evaluated spatially and dosimetrically. The authors found that the average fibrosis movement was 2.6 cm with movement greater than 5 cm possible. Evaluating dose–response curves revealed an overall trend of increasing CT number as a function of dose. Furthermore, our dose–response data also suggest that one of the possible explanations of the CT number plateau effect may be the time posttherapy of the acquired data. Understanding normal tissue dose–response is important for reducing toxicity after SBRT, especially in cases where larger tumors are treated. The methods presented in the current work build on prior quantitative studies and further enhance the understanding of normal lung dose–response after SBRT.
Special needs of the chronically ill child during middle childhood: Application of a stress-coping paradigm

Abstract The “tween years” are often challenging for both the children experiencing this period of development and their families. Adding to this challenge could be the stress of a chronic illness. This compounded dilemma can alter the achievement of normal developmental milestones and disrupt quality of life. This article addresses the special challenges of children with chronic illness during the tween years and proposes a conceptual framework based on a stress/coping paradigm relating chronic illness, coping resources for adaptation, and quality of life for research and practice. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Dust jets produced by a dust-discharge instability

We report observations of an instability that occurs in a dc glow discharge (anodic plasma) dusty plasma when a floating plate with a 5 mm aperture is placed in front of the anode. The instability is characterized by periodic quenching and reignition of the discharge. When the discharge is quenched, the dust is ejected from the aperture at speeds on the order of the dust-acoustic speed. The ejected dust remains partially charged and retracts back to the aperture when the discharge spontaneously redevelops.
Bayesian hierarchical modeling of means and covariances of gene expression data within families

We describe a hierarchical Bayes model for the influence of constitutional genotypes from a linkage scan on the expression of a large number of genes. The model comprises linear regression models for the means in relation to genotypes and for the covariances between pairs of related individuals in relation to their identity-by-descent estimates. The matrices of regression coefficients for all possible pairs of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by all possible expressed genes are in turn modeled as a mixture of null values and a normal distribution of non-null values, with probabilities and means given by a third-level model of SNP and trait random effects and a spatial regression on the distance between the SNP and the expressed gene. The latter provides a way of testing for cis and trans effects. The method was applied to data on 116 SNPs and 189 genes on chromosome 11, for which Morley et al. (Nature 2004, 430: 743–747) had previously reported linkage. We were able to confirm the association of the expression of HSD17B12 with a SNP in the same region reported by Morley et al., and also detected a SNP that appeared to affect the expression of many genes on this chromosome. The approach appears to be a promising way to address the huge multiple comparisons problem for relating genome-wide genotype × expression data.
Biomphalaria glabrata (Gastropoda): Effect of urethane on the morphology and function of hemocytes, and on susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni (Trematoda)

Abstract Urethane (ethyl carbamate) anesthesia of Biomphalaria glabrata resulted in several rapid changes to the snail's blood picture. At 2 hr postexposure (PE) to the drug, there was an elevation in the prevalence of acid phosphatase (APase)-positive hemocytes, a significant increase in the number of APase granules per cell, a three fold increase in circulating blood cell number, and a decrease in the percentage of hemocytes expressing a cell subpopulation-specific surface membrane epitope (BGH 1 ). However, urethane had little effect on erythrophagocytosis by host hemocytes. All of the observed changes returned to control levels by 12 hr PE to the drug. Blood cells cultured with various concentrations of the anesthetic in vitro did not exhibit any alterations in the parameters described above. Since circulating hemocytes represent the primary effector component involved in internal defense reactions, the effect of urethane-induced changes in the composition of circulating blood cells on susceptibility to a larval trematode, Schistosoma mansoni , was examined. Such changes had no apparent effect on host susceptibility since the rate of infection for urethane-exposed snails (88.2%) was the same as for nonurethane-treated B. glabrata (82.4%). However, the effects of urethane-induced changes in hemocyte number and composition on other invading organisms is not known. Therefore, it is suggested that such alterations should be considered when internal defense reactions are studied in snails exposed to this drug and other commonly used anesthetics.
The effect of perch availability during pullet rearing and egg laying on the behavior of caged White Leghorn hens

Abstract Enriched cages, compared with conventional cages, allow egg laying strains of chickens to meet some behavioral needs, including a high motivation to perch. The objective of this study was to determine if perch availability during rearing affected perch use as adults and if perch presence affected eating and drinking in caged White Leghorn hens. Chickens were assigned to 14 cages each with and without 2 round metal perches from hatch to 16.9 wk of age. At 17 wk of age, pullets were assigned to laying cages consisting of 1 of 4 treatments. Treatment 1 chickens never had access to perches (controls). Treatment 2 chickens only had access to 2 round metal perches during the laying phase (17 to 71 wk of age). Treatment 3 chickens only had access to 2 round perches during the pullet phase (0 to 16.9 wk of age). Treatment 4 chickens had access to the perches during both the pullet and laying phase. Each treatment during the adult phase consisted of 9 cages with 9 birds/cage for a total of 36 cages. Automatic infrared cameras were used to monitor behavior of hens in each cage for a 24-h period at 19, 24, 29, 34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59, 64, and 69 wk of age. Behavior was also recorded twice weekly by an observer in the room where the hens were housed during photophase from 25 to 68 wk of age. Behavioral data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures and the MIXED model procedure. A greater proportion of hens without perches as pullets used the rear perch more during both photophase and scotophase than hens with prior pullet perching experience. Eating and drinking activities of caged adult Leghorns were not impaired by their prior experience to perches as pullets or by the presence of perches in laying cages. It is concluded that providing perches in cages to White Leghorns during pullet rearing did not facilitate use of perches as adults.
The spectral class of the quantum-mechanical harmonic oscillator

The purpose of this paper is to study the so-calledspectral classQ of anharmonic oscillatorsQ=−D2+q having the same spectrum λn=2n (n≧0) as the harmonic oscillatorQ0=−D2+x2−1. Thenorming constants\(t_n = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \uparrow \infty } \ell g[( - 1)^n {{e_n (x)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{e_n (x)} {e_n }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {e_n }}( - x)]\) of the eigenfunctions ofQ form a complete set of coordinates inQ in terms of which the potential may be expressed asq=x2−1−2D2 lgϑ with $$\theta = \det \left[ {\delta _{ij} + (e^{ti} - 1)\int\limits_x^\infty {e_i^0 e_j^0 :0 \leqq i,j,< \infty } } \right],$$ en0 being thenth eigenfunctionQ0. The spectrum and norming constants are canonically conjugate relative to the bracket [F, G]=∫ΔFDΔGdx,to wit: [λi, λj=0, [ti, 2λj]=1 or 0 according to whetheri=j or not, and [ti,tj]=0. This prompts an investigation of the symplectic geometry ofQ. The function ϑ is related to the theta function of a singular algebraic curve. Numerical results are also presented.
A model for topoisomerase I-mediated insertions and deletions with duplex DNA substrates containing branches, nicks, and gaps

The ability of DNA topoisomerase I to promote insertions and deletions in vitro has been studied at nucleotide resolution for structurally diverse DNA substrates that uncouple the cleavage and ligation reactions of the enzyme. Topoisomerase I-mediated ligations afforded DNA duplexes having deletions and insertions with "branched" substrates and deletions up to 18 nucleotides in length with substrates containing nicks or gaps. In addition, a number of the acceptor substrates altered the preferred site of DNA cleavage, thereby increasing the diversity of accessible ligation products. Also demonstrated by the production of two "recombinant" duplexes from a single set of reactants was the potential for amplification of such alterations. These findings illustrate plausible mechanisms by which topoisomerase I-mediated illegitimate recombination may obtain at a molecular level.
Microstructural study of the titanium alloy Ti-15Mo-2.7Nb-3Al-0.2Si (TIMETAL 21S)

A relatively new titanium alloy, TIMETAL 21S (Ti-15Mo-2.7Nb-3Al-0.2Si-0.15O (in wt pct)), is a potential matrix material for advanced titanium matrix composites for elevated temperature use. In order to develop a perspective on the microstructural stability of this alloy, the influence of several commonly used heat treatments on the microstructure of TIMETAL 21S was studied using optical and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Depending on the specific thermal treatment, a number of phases, includingα,ω- type, and silicide, can form in this alloy. It was found that both recrystallized and nonrecrystallized areas could be present in the microstructure of an annealed bulk alloy, but the microstructure of annealed sheet alloy was fully recrystallized. The mixed structure of the bulk alloy, developed as a result of inhomogeneous deformation, could not be removed by heat treatment alone at 900 °C. Athermalω-type phase formed in this alloy upon quenching from the solution treatment temperature (900 °C). Silicide precipitates were also found in the quenched sample. Thermal analysis was used to determine theβ transus and silicide solvus as close to 815 °C and 1025 °C, respectively. In solution-treated and quenched samples, a high-temperature aging at 600 °C resulted in the precipitation ofα phase. The precipitation reaction was slower in the recrystallized regions compared to the nonrecrystallized regions. During low-temperature aging (350 °C), the ellipsoidalω-type phase persisted in the recrystallized areas even after 100 hours, whereas a high density ofα precipitates developed in the nonrecrystallized areas within only 3 hours. The observed behavior in precipitation may be related to the influence of substructure in the nonrecrystallized areas, providing for an enhanced kinetics during aging. Theα precipitates (formed during continuous cooling from the solution treatment temperature, low-temperature aging, and high-temperature aging) always obeyed the Burgers orientation relationship. With respect to the microstructure, TIMETAL 21S is similar to other solute-lean, metastableβ titanium alloys.
Aseptic meningoencephalitis following iohexol myelography

We report a case of aseptic meningoencephalitis complicating iohexol myelography and compare this case with previous reports of neurotoxicity from intrathecal contrast media.
Highly active mixed-metal nanosheet water oxidation catalysts made by pulsed-laser ablation in liquids.

Surfactant-free mixed-metal hydroxide water oxidation nanocatalysts were synthesized by pulsed-laser ablation in liquids. In a series of [Ni-Fe]-layered double hydroxides with intercalated nitrate and water, [Ni1–xFex(OH)2](NO3)y(OH)x−y·nH2O, higher activity was observed as the amount of Fe decreased to 22%. Addition of Ti4+ and La3+ ions further enhanced electrocatalysis, with a lowest overpotential of 260 mV at 10 mA cm–2. Electrocatalytic water oxidation activity increased with the relative proportion of a 405.1 eV N 1s (XPS binding energy) species in the nanosheets.
Climate-induced fluctuations in sea level during non-glacial times

DURING periods of time when the Earth supports ice caps, sea level fluctuates periodically at intervals of 104–105 yr, with amplitudes of tens to more than 100 metres. These fluctuations result from expansions and contractions of continental ice sheets that occur in phase with the Milankovitch periodicities of the Earth's orbit1,2. Smaller-amplitude sea-level fluctuations associated with Milankovitch periodicities are also evident during warm periods, such as the Late Triassic3–5, which lack strong evidence for continental glaciation6. We argue here that, in times of limited ice volume, periodic climate-induced changes in lake and groundwater storage have the potential to produce small fluctuations in sea level. This mechanism could contribute a small component of the sea-level change observed in the Quaternary period, and may dominate the Milankovitch eustatic sea-level signal during earlier periods with limited ice volume6. We present evidence of contemporaneous Milankovitch periodicities in Late Triassic lake sediments7 and sea-level fluctuation3–5 which support the causal link between lake water storage and eustasy.
The Pediatric Symptom Checklist: Support for a role in a managed care environment

Objectives: To gather data based on studies of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist, identify risk factors associated with high levels of dysfunction in primary care pediatric settings, and explore the relationship between common risk factors and psychosocial problems identified by pediatricians. Design: Retrospective review and cross-sectional, case-referent survey. Setting: Subjects were selected from three primary care pediatric clinics in Massachusetts: a private practice in a predominantly white, middle-class suburb, an urban health maintenance organization clinic, and an inner-city clinic. Participants: Of 423 outpatients aged 6 to 12 years screened for psychosocial problems, 72 children and their families were seen for in-depth structured and clinical interviews (24 from each site). Interventions: None. Measurements/Main Results: Children with a single parent and/or those who were economically disadvantaged were significantly more likely to show psychosocial impairment. The specificity of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist was 100% in samples with a lower socioeconomic status compared with 68% in middle-class samples, and sensitivity was 95% in middle-class samples compared with 80% in lower-class samples. Pediatricians identified psychosocial problems in eight of 15 children with a history of familial mental illness or substance abuse and seven of eight children with a history of physical or sexual abuse, but only six of 17 cases from single-parent families and four of 11 cases from poor families. Conclusions: Pediatricians should be sensitive to psychosocial dysfunction especially in single-parent and low-income families. Use of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist for psychosocial screening in a managed health care delivery system could target capitated resources efficiently by providing early identification and secondary prevention of psychosocial morbidity. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:740-746)
Bmi-1 promotes neural stem cell self-renewal and neural development but not mouse growth and survival by repressing the p16Ink4a and p19Arf senescence pathways

Bmi-1 is required for the post-natal maintenance of stem cells in multiple tissues including the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). Deletion of Ink4a or Arf from Bmi-1-/- mice partially rescued stem cell self-renewal and stem cell frequency in the CNS and PNS, as well as forebrain proliferation and gut neurogenesis. Arf deficiency, but not Ink4a deficiency, partially rescued cerebellum development, demonstrating regional differences in the sensitivity of progenitors to p16Ink4a and p19Arf. Deletion of both Ink4a and Arf did not affect the growth or survival of Bmi-1-/- mice or completely rescue neural development. Bmi-1 thus prevents the premature senescence of neural stem cells by repressing Ink4a and Arf, but additional pathways must also function downstream of Bmi-1.
The Nup153-Nup50 Protein Interface and Its Role in Nuclear Import

Interactions between Nup50 and soluble transport factors underlie the efficiency of certain nucleocytoplasmic transport pathways. The platform on which these interactions take place is important to building a complete understanding of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. Nup153 is the nucleoporin that provides this scaffold for Nup50. Here, we have delineated requirements for the interaction between Nup153 and Nup50, revealing a dual interface. An interaction between Nup50 and a region in the unique N-terminal region of Nup153 is critical for the nuclear pore localization of Nup50. A second site of interaction is at the distal tail of Nup153 and is dependent on importin α. Both of these interactions involve the N-terminal domain of Nup50. The configuration of the Nup153-Nup50 partnership suggests that the Nup153 scaffold provides not just a means of pore targeting for Nup50 but also serves to provide a local environment that facilitates bringing Nup50 and importin α together, as well as other soluble factors involved in transport. Consistent with this, disruption of the Nup153-Nup50 interface decreases efficiency of nuclear import.
Phase I three-dimensional conformal radiation dose escalation study in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 98-03.

Purpose To evaluate in a Phase I trial the feasibility and toxicity of dose-escalated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) concurrent with chemotherapy in patients with primary supratentorial glioblastoma (GBM). Methods and Materials A total of 209 patients were enrolled. All received 46 Gy in 2-Gy fractions to the first planning target volume (PTV 1 ), defined as the gross tumor volume (GTV) plus 1.8 cm. A subsequent boost was given to PTV 2 , defined as GTV plus 0.3 cm. Patients were stratified into two groups (Group 1: PTV 2 3 ; Group 2: PTV 2 ≥75 cm 3 ). Four RT dose levels were evaluated: 66, 72, 78, and 84 Gy. Carmustine 80 mg/m 2 was given during RT, then every 8 weeks for 6 cycles. Pretreatment characteristics were well balanced. Results Acute and late Grade 3/4 RT-related toxicities were no more frequent at higher RT dose or with larger tumors. There were no dose-limiting toxicities (acute Grade ≥3 irreversible central nervous system toxicities) observed on any dose level in either group. On the basis of the absence of dose-limiting toxicities, dose was escalated to 84 Gy in both groups. Late RT necrosis was noted at 66 Gy (1 patient), 72 Gy (2 patients), 78 Gy (2 patients), and 84 Gy (3 patients) in Group 1. In Group 2, late RT necrosis was noted at 78 Gy (1 patient) and 84 Gy (2 patients). Median time to RT necrosis was 8.8 months (range, 5.1–12.5 months). Median survival in Group 1 was 11.6–19.3 months. Median survival in Group 2 was 8.2–13.9 months. Conclusions Our study shows the feasibility of delivering higher than standard (60 Gy) RT dose with concurrent chemotherapy for primary GBM, with an acceptable risk of late central nervous system toxicity.
The illegal alien work force, demand for unskilled labor, and the minimum wage

Estimates of the illegal alien work force, employment, and the number employed below the legal minimum wage are not available, but are often required for the study of a variety of public policy issues, e.g., immigration and refugee policy, and policy towards the monitoring of minimum wage laws. This paper attempts to fill this void by developing estimates of these quantities. Of equal importance, however, is determining what light this and other related evidence throws upon the oft-expressed view that the demand for unskilled labor at below-legal-minimum wage rates is virtually inelastic. Evidence is presented which contradicts this belief.
Effects of Long-Chain Acyl-Coenzyme A′s on the Activity of the Soluble Form of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-Specific Isocitrate Dehydrogenase from Lactating Bovine Mammary Gland

Abstract The cytosolic form of NADP + :isocitrate dehydrogenase, a primary source of the NADPH required for de novo fatty acid synthesis in lactating bovine mammary gland, was studied to determine possible mechanisms of regulation by fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA). The reduction of NADP + by the enzyme is inhibited by palmitoyl-CoA. In steady-state experiments, when added enzyme is used to start the reaction, analyses of velocity versus palmitoyl-CoA concentration as a binding isotherm, following the assumptions of Wyman′s theory of thermodynamic linkage, suggested that binding of palmitoyl-CoA produced two different inhibitory effects on the enzyme. This analysis suggested inhibition first through binding to sites with an average dissociation constant of 3.3 μM, then by binding to sites with an average dissociation constant of 294 μM. When the enzyme is preincubated with palmitoyl-CoA there is an induction of a significant lag-burst reaction rate (hysteretic kinetics). Preincubation of the enzyme with its substrate, metal-isocitrate complex, nearly abolished the lag time and decreased the degree of inhibition. Changes in lag time and percentage inhibition as a function of concentration of palmitoyl-CoA followed patterns, similar to those observed in steady-state reactions, where the enzyme is not preincubated. Examination of the effect of acyl chain length at 300 μM demonstrated that only long-chain CoA′s with carbon numbers >14 have pronounced effects on kinetics. CoA alone has little or no effect, while stearoyl-CoA completely inhibited the enzyme. Other C 18 acyl groups produced varying effects depending on the degree of unsaturation and cis-trans isomerism. NADP + :Isocitrate dehydrogenases, from other sources including that from Escherichia coli , do not show such sensitivity to acyl chain character under these conditions. Concentration ranges observed for these transitions are compatible with physiological conditions. This suggests that complexes of acyl-CoA′s and NADP + :isocitrate dehydrogenase, in tissue rich in the cytoplasmic form of the enzyme, could be related to cytoplasmic events in the synthesis and secretion of lipid and possibly protein, since palmitoyl-CoA is known to promote secretory processes through acylation reactions which lead to vesicle fusion.
Evaluation of an Ion Adsorption Method to Estimate Intragravel Flow Velocity in Salmonid Spawning Gravel

Abstract Intragravel water exchange provides oxygenated water, removes metabolic waste, and is an essential factor in salmonid embryo survival. Measurements of intragravel flow velocity have been suggested as an index of gravel quality and also as a useful predictor of fry emergence; however, proposed methods for measuring velocity in gravel are problematic. We evaluate an ion adsorption technique that uses natural streamwater solute chemistry, which therefore does not require introduction of a dye or solute tracer. However, the method requires an access tube for placing an ion exchange resin bag in the substrate. Our studies suggest that the ion adsorption technique is sensitive and reproducible for measuring velocity in free-flowing water but has little utility for measuring velocity in gravel beds. Fine sediment provided a relatively high flux density of adsorbed cations that exchanged readily with the resin, leading to spurious high apparent velocities.