cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-invasive neonatal vital acquisition unit

The NIH categorizes premature infants as neonates born prior to 37 weeks of gestation. Due to the necessity for constant monitoring of biosignals, these infants will have a multitude of contact electrodes across their fragile skin, often causing abrasions, tears, and future scarring. The objective of this project is to design and build a smart vest for neonates that use non-adhesive electrodes to collect vital biosignals, eliminating the need for skin damaging adhesive. Electrodes for the detection of an electrocardiogram will be placed on the dorsal aspect of the smart vest in a triangle support structure made of silicone. Within the vest, a piezoelectric respiratory effort band will be integrated below the ribcage allowing for the continuous monitoring of respiratory effort without the use of adhesive electrodes. A pulse oximetry sensor will also be designed and constructed for integration into a bracelet attached to the sleeve of the vest. All of these components will be integrated into the vest and made compatible for use with the GE Dash 4000 cardiac monitor, which is commonly used in neonatal intensive care units. A large-scale version of the vest will be designed, built, tested, and optimized using adult human subjects.
Application of the Baxter Model for Hard Spheres with Surface Adhesion to SANS Data for the U(VI)−HNO3, TBP−n-Dodecane System

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) data for the tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP)−n-dodecane, HNO3−UO2(NO3)2 solvent extraction system have been interpreted using the Baxter model for hard spheres with surface adhesion. The increase in the scattering intensity in the low Q range observed when increasing amounts of HNO3 or UO2(NO3)2 are transferred into the organic phase has been interpreted as arising from interactions between solute particles. The SANS data have been reproduced using a 12−16 A diameter of the hard sphere, dhs, and a 5.6kBT−7.1kBT stickiness parameter, τ-1. When in contact with an aqueous phase, TBP in n-dodecane forms small reverse micelles containing three TBP molecules. Upon extraction of water, HNO3, and UO2(NO3)2, the swollen micelles interact through attractive forces between their polar cores with a potential energy of about 2kBT and an effective Hamaker constant of about 4kBT. The intermicellar attraction, under suitable conditions, leads to third-phase formation. Upon phase splittin...
The First Islamist Republic: Development and Disintegration of Islamism in the Sudan (Review)

In this careful and engagingly written analysis of Hasan al-Turabi's decade in power, Abdullahi A. Gallab concludes that the experience of Sudan during the "first Islamist republic" (1989-99) serves as a warning against "ideological entrapments" (p. 167) of all kinds, and leads to the "realization that Islamism, like all other isms, can be and should be contested" (p. ix). Drawing upon extensive interviews with Sudanese Islamists, as well as upon Arabic and English studies, Gallab summarizes the Islamist experiment in dismal terms. He variously calls it a "reign of terror," a "trauma," a source of "despair," "an open-ended system of oppression," the product of a wide "range of deceits," a vehicle for the "violent suppression of other religious systems" and political voices, and a "charade" (pp. 4, 15, 78, 137). In Gallab's account, Turabi emerges as a manipulator and a megalomaniac (albeit a suave one) who entertained the creation of a "personality cult" (p. 112) around him. Disciplines Islamic World and Near East History | Near and Middle Eastern Studies | Near Eastern Languages and Societies | Political History
Perinatal Acidosis and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in Preterm Infants of 33 to 35 Weeks’ Gestation

Objectives To determine the frequency of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in preterm infants of 33 to 35 weeks' gestational age on the basis of physiological screening for perinatal acidosis and neurological assessment of encephalopathy and to correlate neurodevelopmental outcomes with brain magnetic resonance imaging findings. Study design This retrospective cohort study included all inborn infants of 33 to 35 weeks' gestation admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Parkland Memorial Hospital with perinatal acidosis from October 2005 to September 2008. Their medical records were reviewed, and pertinent data were recorded. Results Of 1305 newborns, 2.5% (n=33) had perinatal acidosis, and 27% (n=9) of these had HIE (2, mild; 4, moderate; 3, severe). Persistence of metabolic acidosis on the first arterial blood gas obtained in the first hour of age was significantly associated with HIE ( P Conclusion Screening criteria for HIE that use biochemical and neurological assessments as performed in term newborns can be applied to preterm infants of 33 to 35 weeks' gestation.
Comparing Employees in Traditional Job Structures vs Telecommuting Jobs Using Herzberg's Hygienes & Motivators

AbstractAre the factors motivating present telecommuting employees the same motivating factors found for the workers of the Industrial Revolution according to Herzberg's Two-Factor theory? Herzberg concluded that motivating factors increasing job satisfaction are: achievement, recognition, work itself, responsibility, advancement, and growth. By survey of telecommuters, this article shows that telecommuters are motivated by the same Herzberg factors. Additionally, their newfound flexibility and control over their work, schedule and personal life motivates telecommuters, and that work overload has become a serious “dissatisfier” for the telecommuter.
Factors Affecting Songbird Nest Survival in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie

Factors associated with the nest survival of mixed-grass prairie passerines are not well known, especially in the context of contemporary grassland management. We documented the nest survival of clay-colored sparrows (Spizella pallida), savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), and bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) in managed prairie in northwestern North Dakota, USA. We used logistic exposure models and an information-theoretic framework to estimate nest survival and evaluate support for mechanisms (grazing, temporal factors, nest parasitism, nest-site vegetation, and nest-patch factors) relevant to nest survival. Survival for the entire nesting interval (23–28 days) was low for clay-colored sparrow (18.2%), savannah sparrow (15.5%), and bobolink (3.5%). We found support for a cubic effect of nest age; survival of savannah and clay-colored sparrow nests was greatest during mid-incubation and least during the mid-nestling period. Parasitized clay-colored sparrow and bobolink nests had greater survival rates than nonparasitized nests. Nest survival of clay-colored sparrows increased with increasing vegetation height and density. For savannah sparrows, nest survival was lower when cattle were present than when cattle were absent. Characteristics of the nest patch did not have strong effects based on model coefficients and confidence intervals, though they appeared in many of the most supported models. Positive effects of vegetation height and density on nest survival of clay-colored sparrows and negative effects of cattle presence on nest survival of savannah sparrows suggest some detrimental effects of grazing. However, the need to restore and maintain intact prairies likely warrants the continuation of cattle grazing on conservation lands.
Isolation, sorting, and characterization of uni- and binucleate tapetal protoplasts from anthers of normal and Texas cytoplasmic male-sterile Zea mays L.

A cytological study of Texas cytoplasmic male sterile (Tcms) and normal (N) anther tapetal protoplasts ofZea mays was undertaken to determine whether there were any differences prior to Tcms male cell abortion not noted in previous published studies. Squash preparations, tapetal protoplast separation via flow cytometry, image analysis, and electron microscopy were utilized. Chemically preserved tapetal protoplasts from both lines were prominently angular in shape and typically smaller than any other cell type in the anthers. The tapetum from both lines consisted of a mixture of uninucleate and binucleate protoplasts. The Tcms tapetum consistently had a higher proportion of binucleate protoplasts during all stages of microsporogenesis prior to abortion. The size of Tcms uniand binucleate tapetal protoplasts was more variable than the N tapetal protoplasts and was largest during the microspore stage when male cells abort. Tapetal nuclear size in both lines was less variable. Uni- and binucleate tapetal protoplasts from each line could be separated from the other anther cells and from each other by filtration and then by flow cytometry, based on intensity of nuclear fluorescence. These results suggest that Tcms uninucleate tapetal protoplasts have a higher level of DNA than N uninucleate tapetal protoplasts. Both fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy confirmed pure populations of intact uni- and binucleate tapetal protoplasts using flow cytometry. The results from this study indicate that the methodology presented here could be used for a variety of further studies to better understand the cellular and molecular basis of male sterility in maize, and in other taxa, where the tapetum is the primary target that leads to male sterility.
Effect of pre-feeding ammonium acetate on food intake of rats fed high protein diets.

Abstract The effect on intake of a 75% casein diet after prefeeding for one week a 6% casein basal diet with additional 0%, 2%, 5%, 8% or 15% ammonium acetate was examined in rats trained to eat in three hours per day. Food intake was measured from 0–15, 15–30, 30–90, and 90–180 minutes for the first two days that the ammonium acetate diets were presented. Rats eating 5% and 8% or 15% ammonium acetate diet depressed their intake significantly for one day and for four days respectively. Rats eating 2%, 5%, 8%, or 15% ammonium acetate diets depressed their intake significantly from 0–30 minutes. When presented with the 75% casein diet, rats prefed 0% to 5% and 8% and 15% ammonium acetate diets ate 55% to 58% and 72% and 94% of their respective baseline intakes. It is suggested that prefeeding 15% ammonium acetate apparently induces sufficient metabolic adaptation to ammonia intake so that the rat is able to offset the metabolic consequences of intake of the 75% casein diet, thus preventing the usual food intake depressing effect of the high protein diet.
High Fidelity Conversion of NURBS Curves for Data Exchange

AbstractThis paper presents a method for converting a NURBS curve of any degree to a non-rational Bspline curve of any other degree. The conversion is parametric rather than geometric, i.e. the geometry as well as the parametrization are approximated. The algorithm contains straightforward computations only, i.e. it does not rely on discrete sampling, guess points or iterative techniques. The error is computed precisely using symbolic operators allowing the application of maximum as well as average error conditions. High fidelity approximations up to 10 10− relative tolerance have been computed in real time using standard windows work stations.
Bait Units for Collection of House Flies

Lurtox™4 is a proteinaceous attractant for Musca domestica L. and other synanthropic Diptera (Mulla et al. 1973: Willson and Mulla 1973a) and is easily mixed with commercial poison sugar baits. The mixture of Lurtox and dichlorvos sugar bait (50:50 by wt) can be administered in measurable quantities into compact bait units where dead flies can be easily recovered for counting and for other studies. While developing Lurtox for control of Hippelates eye gnats, Mulla et al. (1973) found that moisture was essential for the emanation of the volatile attractants contained in the bait. Therefore, if the prevalent humidity level is not sufficient to activate the attractant, the bait unit designed for use with the bait mixture should include a moisture source.
The influence of geometry on recirculation and CO 2 transport over forested hills

Flow distortion over a forested hill is asymmetric, forming a recirculation region on the lee slope that increases the complexity in understanding atmosphere–biosphere interaction. To understand the complexity, we examine the effect of the geometry of forested hills on recirculation formation, structure, and related CO2 transport by performing numerical simulations over double-forested hills. The ratio (0.8) of hill height (H) to half length (L) is a threshold value of flow patterns in the recirculation region: below 0.8, sporadic reversed flow occurs; at 0.8, one vortex is formed; and above 0.8, a pair of counter-rotating vortices is formed. The depth of recirculation increases with increasing H/L. The contribution of advection to the CO2 budget is non-negligible and topographic-dependent. Vertical advection is opposite in sign to horizontal advection but cannot exactly offset in magnitude. Height-integrated advection shows significant variation in fluxes across hills. Gentle slopes can cause larger advection error. However, the relative importance of advection to CO2 budget is slope-independent.
MODIS time-series imagery for forest disturbance detection and quantification of patch size effects

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250 m single day surface reflectance (MOD09GQK) and 16-day composite gridded vegetation index data (MOD13Q1) were used to detect forest harvest disturbance between 2000 and 2004 in northern Maine. A MODIS multi-date Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) forest change detection map was developed from each MODIS data set. A Landsat TM/ETM+ change detection map was developed as a reference to assess the effect of disturbed forest patch size on classification accuracy (agreement) and disturbed area estimates of MODIS. The MODIS single day and 16-day composite data showed no significant difference in overall classification accuracies. However, the 16-day NDVI change detection map had marginally higher overall classification accuracy (at 85%), but had significantly lower detection accuracy related to disturbed patch size than the single day NDVI change detection map. The 16-day composite NDVI data achieved 69% detection accuracy and the single day NDVI achieved 76% when the disturbed patch size was greater than 20 ha. The detection accuracy increased to approximately 90% for both data sets when the patch size exceeded 50 ha. The R2 (range 0.6 to 0.9) and slope (range 0.5 to 0.9) of regression lines between Landsat and MODIS data (based on forest disturbance percent of township) increased with the mean disturbed patch size of each township. The 95% confidence intervals of forest disturbance percent estimate for each township were narrow with less than 1% of each township at the mean MODIS forest disturbance level.
Evidence that kynurenine pathway metabolites mediate hyperbaric oxygen-induced convulsions.

Metabolism of tryptophan (TRP) through the kynurenine (KYN) pathway in brain, liver, and kidney produces intermediates including the neuroactive agonist quinolinic acid (QA) and the antagonists kynurenic acid (KA) and anthranilic acid (AA) for N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the central nervous system. We hypothesized that elevated concentrations of QA, KA, or AA can moderate the convulsions that are observed during exposure of rats to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). We found that i.p. administration of TRP or KYN (both of which cross the blood-brain barrier) had no effect on HBO-induced seizures. However, AA (administered i.p.) or gavage administration of the KYN pathway blocking drug Ro 61-8048, both of which enter the brain from the circulatory system, affect the time to first convulsion and/or coma during HBO in a manner consistent with a modulatory role for seizure activity.
Physical fatigue during intense exercise: Integration and compensation of physiological systems

Intense exercise performed to exhaustion stresses numerous bodily systems and produces task failure. Although the locus of fatigue appears to be primarily myocellular, this does not minimize the im...
Controlled dissolution of silicon dioxide layers for depth resolved multielement analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Abstract Dissolution procedures were developed to control the number of surface layers removed, in an attempt to achieve depth resolved analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). NIST 612 glass was chosen because it is a homogeneous material with many elements at interesting concentrations, ~ 50 ppm. Varying dissolution time and HF concentration resulted in the reproducible removal of SiO2 layers as thin as 70 A deep. Dissolved trace metals were determined after dilution by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with a magnetic sector instrument. The amount removed was determined from the concentration of a major element, Ca. With the exception of Zn, trace metal concentrations agreed reasonably well with their certified values for removal depths of 500, 300 and 150 A. Zinc concentration was significantly high in all dissolutions indicating either a contamination problem or that Zn is removed at a faster rate than Ca. For the dissolutions that removed 70 A of SiO2, Cr, Mn, Co, Sr, Cd, Ce, Dy, Er, Yb and U recovery results agreed with their certified values (~ 50 ppm); Ti, As, Mo, Ba, and Th could not be determined because net intensities were below 3σ of the blank; and measured concentrations for Cu, Pb and Zn were well above the certified values.
Brain feminization requires active repression of masculinization via DNA methylation

The developing mammalian brain is destined for a female phenotype unless exposed to gonadal hormones during a perinatal sensitive period. It has been assumed that the undifferentiated brain is masculinized by direct induction of transcription by ligand-activated nuclear steroid receptors. We found that a primary effect of gonadal steroids in the highly sexually dimorphic preoptic area (POA) is to reduce activity of DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) enzymes, thereby decreasing DNA methylation and releasing masculinizing genes from epigenetic repression. Pharmacological inhibition of Dnmts mimicked gonadal steroids, resulting in masculinized neuronal markers and male sexual behavior in female rats. Conditional knockout of the de novo Dnmt isoform, Dnmt3a, also masculinized sexual behavior in female mice. RNA sequencing revealed gene and isoform variants modulated by methylation that may underlie the divergent reproductive behaviors of males versus females. Our data show that brain feminization is maintained by the active suppression of masculinization via DNA methylation.
Abstract LB-323: Deficiency of Kruppel-like factor KLF4 in mammary tumor cells resulted in inhibited tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis accompanied by compromised recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Increasing evidence indicates that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) negatively regulate immune responses during tumor progression, inflammation and infection. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of their development and mobilization remain to be fully delineated. Kruppel-like factor KLF4 is a transcription factor that has an oncogenic function in breast cancer development, but its function in tumor microenvironment, a critical component for tumorigenesis, has not been examined. By using a spontaneously metastatic 4T1 breast cancer mouse model and an immunodeficient NOD/SCID mouse model, we demonstrated that KLF4 knockdown delayed tumor development and inhibited pulmonary metastasis, which was accompanied by decreased accumulation of MDSCs in bone marrow, spleens and primary tumors. Mechanistically, we found that KLF4 knockdown resulted in a significant decrease of circulating GM-CSF, an important cytokine for MDSC biology. Consistently, recombinant GM-CSF restored the frequency of MDSCs in purified bone marrow cells incubated with conditioned medium from KLF4 deficient cells. In addition, we identified CXCL5 as a critical mediator to enhance the expression and function of GM-CSF. Reduced CXCL5 expression by KLF4 knockdown in primary tumors and breast cancer cells was correlated with a decreased GM-CSF expression in our mouse models. Finally, we found that CXCL5/CXCR2 axis facilitated MDSC migration and that anti-GM-CSF antibodies neutralized CXCL5-induced accumulation of MDSCs. Taken together, our data suggest that KLF4 modulates maintenance of MDSCs in bone marrow by inducing GM-CSF production via CXCL5 and regulates recruitment of MDSCs into the primary tumors through the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis, both of which contribute to KLF4-mediated mammary tumor development. Citation Format: Fang Yu, Daping Fan, Walden Ai. Deficiency of Kruppel-like factor KLF4 in mammary tumor cells resulted in inhibited tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis accompanied by compromised recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-323. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-323
Refuse pollution of seas and oceans

Refuse pollution of seas and oceans is not visible and the effects are difficult to assess. Attention to this problem has emerged seriously only since the 1980s. Marine scientists and environmental groups have been obtaining various data, however, and have indicated serious problems on a global scale to human values. Health, ecology, fisheries, commerce, recreation, etc., are areas of concern. The Black Sea may be as polluted as the world seas as a whole. Refuse concentration of the oceans globally and of the Black Sea was estimated by the materials balance principle. A conceptual model, based upon the entropy principle, provides a means to estimate the energy of refuse cleanup. The model provides a rationale as to why the strategy for control must be containment of refuse.
Tolerance of cutaneous or mucosal flaps placed into a radiation therapy field in dogs.

Objective— To determine the clinical outcome and factors affecting cutaneous or mucosal flaps in dogs treated with radiation therapy (RT). Study Design— Longitudinal clinical study Animals— Twenty-six client-owned dogs Methods— Dogs entered in the study had a flapping procedure and RT as part of their treatment. The sequence of flapping and RT included: (1) planned preoperative RT, (2) postoperative RT, and (3) flapping as a salvage procedure for management of complications or local tumor recurrence after RT. Flap complications were defined as necrosis, local infection, dehiscence, and ulceration. The risk and severity of flap complication were analyzed independently. Results— Twenty (77%) dogs had a complication; 6 dogs required an additional flapping procedure; and 4 dogs had an unresolved complication. Flapping procedures performed to correct a complication, or failure of RT, had a significantly greater risk for complication; however, postoperative RT decreased the severity of complication. A dose per fraction of 4 Gy compared with 3 Gy was prognostic for increased severity of complications, whereas the head and neck location was prognostic for decreased severity of complication. Conclusions— Although morbidity was substantial, cutaneous or mucosal flaps were used successfully in an RT field in 85% of the dogs. Flaps that were part of the planned therapy as opposed to those used to correct a complication or failure of RT had a better clinical outcome. Clinical Relevance— Cutaneous or mucosal flaps can be part of the treatment of dogs with tumor when adjuvant or neoadjuvant RT is to be used.
A New Cirolanid Isopod (Crustacea) from the Cretaceous of Lebanon: Dermoliths Document the Pre-Molt Condition

Abstract Discovery of a single specimen of cirolanid isopod from the Late Cretaceous of Lebanon permits definition of a new species, Cirolana garassinoi. Preservation with the ventral surface exposed is unique among isopod fossils. The evidence of a thin, apparently transparent cuticle and three pairs of dermoliths suggests that the specimen died while in the pre-molt condition. The ability to sequester calcium and possibly other mineral salts in a marine isopod may indicate a preadaptation to terrestrial lifestyles where the process is common in extant forms.
Present status of radio atmospheric disturbances

Our knowledge concerning atmospheric disturbances is still very meager. In addition to the well-known relations between disturbance intensity and wave-length, time of day, season of year, etc., it is now recognized that a large number of disturbances come from definite centers, such as mountain ranges, rain areas, and thunderstorms, that a considerable portion are oscillatory in character, though some are of the nature of untuned pulses, and it is also thought that atmospheric crashes are sometimes heard simultaneously at stations thousands of miles apart.
Temporal and spatial regulation of developmentally expressed genes in Caulobacter

Fundamental problems in developmental biology, such as the generation of asymmetry, differential transcription, and the execution of positional information, are all exhibited by a prokaryotic system, the Caulobacter cell cycle. Progeny cells resulting from each cell division have different developmental programs with respect to patterns of transcription and the initiation of DNA replication. The binary fission that yields dissimilar progeny results from asymmetry generated in the parent cell. An aspect of this fundamental developmental event is the temporally-controlled biogenesis of a polar flagellum. Several flagellar promoters require the histone-like protein, integration host factor (IHF) for transcription activation. IHF introduces bends in DNA resulting in the reorganization of the higher-order structure of the promoter region. These promoters appear to be transcribed from the chromosome in the swarmer pole of the predivisional cell. The newly replicated chromosomes in the predivisional cell differ in sedimentation coefficient and in the ability to initiate replication in the progeny cell. We hypothesize that the differential higher order structure of the two chromosomes contributes to both replication potential and transcription specificity.
The frequency and etiology of intraoperative dural tears in 110 predominantly geriatric patients undergoing multilevel laminectomy with noninstrumented fusions

Study design A retrospective analysis of the frequency and etiology of dural tears (DT), defined as an unintended incidental intraoperative durotomy, occurring in 110 predominantly geriatric patients undergoing multilevel laminectomies with noninstrumented fusions. Objective To document the frequency and etiology of DT occurring in these older patients. Summary of background data The frequency and etiology of DT occurring in older patients are not well documented. Methods The clinical (including comorbidities), neurodiagnostic, surgical procedures, and Short-Form 36 outcomes (questionnaires administered preoperatively, and 3, 6, 12 mo postoperatively) were retrospectively analyzed for these 110 patients with/without DT. Results Intraoperative DT occurred in 10 of 110 patients. These patients were typically older (average 74 y with fistulas vs. 69 y old without fistulas), included a higher percentage of females (90% vs. 76%), and had undergone somewhat more extensive laminectomies (5.5 vs. 5.0 levels) with noninstrumented fusions (1.8 vs. 1.6 levels). Three factors seemed to contribute to DT. Marked ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL), documented in all 10 patients with DT, extended to and through the dura in 3 patients. For the 100 patients without DT, 57 exhibited moderate/hypertrophied yellow ligament and 22 showed marked OYL. Synovial cysts with marked OYL were observed in 5 of 10 patients with DT, whereas only 8 of 100 without DT had synovial cysts. Prior surgical scar, originally anticipated to be a major contributing factor to DT, was found in only 2 of 10 patients with DT (also with marked OYL) compared with 10% without DT. Short-Form 36 outcome data revealed improvement on 4 or 5 Health Scales over the first postoperative year for both populations. Conclusions Ten of 110 patients undergoing multilevel laminectomies and noninstrumented fusions developed unintended incidental DT attributed to OYL extending to/through the dura (3 patients), postoperative scar/marked OYL (2 patients), and synovial cysts/marked OYL (5 patients).
Microbiology of the dry valleys of antarctica.

The dry valleys of South Victoria Land, Antarctica, together with a few other ice-free areas on the perimeter of the Antarctic continent, form what is generally considered to be the most extreme cold-desert region of the earth. During the past S years, we have been interested in the dry valleys as a model environment for investigating questions connected with the biological exploration o£ Mars. The extraordinary aridity of the region, its low temperature, and its geographical isolation give it a quasimartian character, although it is to be understood that the actual martian environment is still more hostile than that of the valleys. With our associates, we have investigated the kinds, numbers, and distribution of soil microorganisms in the valleys in order to gain insight into the practical problems of searching for life in an extreme environment. Detailed results of these studies have been published by Cameron and co-workers (1-5). In this-article, we review the major findings of our own and of other groups of investigators in this region, especially as they apply to martian exploration.
Plasma assisted synthesis of hollow nanofibers using electrospun sacrificial templates

In this work, we describe the synthesis of nanostructured polymeric materials of controlled tubular geometries using oxygen plasma and polysiloxane-grafting onto electrospun fiber sacrificial templates. The fibers were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to determine the extent of grafting, graft chemistry and the influence of plasma treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the morphology and size of the electrospun fibers and nanotubes. The average diameter of the electrospun fibers employed ranged between 300 nm and 1500 nm. The micrographs revealed differences that are dependent on the type of grafting chemistry as well as plasma treatment times. The template synthesis of polysiloxane nanotubes using polyester track-etched membranes also shows that the technique is applicable to different substrates.
Probability distribution function for the gradient of a passive scalar diffusing in isotropic turbulence: Mapping-closure model

A mapping-closure model is used to derive the probability distribution function (PDF) for the gradient of a passive scalar diffusing in isotropic turbulence. This PDF describes the non-Gaussian features observed in experiments.
Photo-induced ion transfer across the liquid/liquid interface.

Traditional studies of ion transfer across the interface between two immiscible liquids involve the establishment of a steady-state ion current across the interface. The data obtained from these studies are used to develop models of the interfacial kinetic. However, this approach, while straightforward to implement experimentally, is not sensitive to the microscopic structure of the interface region, which is only a few nanometers in size. We propose and examine the feasibility of a more direct approach to elucidating the ion dynamic by reporting the results of equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics calculations in which an iodine ion is created at the interface between water and CCl4 by photodissociation of an adsorbed I2−. In this paper, we describe the model, examine the associated free energy curves and discuss the recombination of the parent molecule and its vibrational relaxation as a competing process for the ion transfer process.
Non-anemic iron deficiency, oral iron supplementation, and oxidative damage in college-aged females

Oxidative damage, as indicated by protein carbonyl and lipid hydroperoxide concentrations, was assessed in the plasma of college-aged females with adequate iron status and with non-anemic iron deficiency before and after eight weeks of iron supplementation. At baseline, the mean serum ferritin, iron, transferrin saturation, and total iron binding capacity of the iron deficient group (n = 13) was significantly different from the iron adequate controls (n = 24). Mean plasma lipid hydroperoxide and protein carbonyl concentrations did not differ between groups at baseline. Following eight weeks of iron supplementation, the mean serum ferritin, iron, and transferrin saturation significantly increased and the total iron binding capacity significantly decreased in the iron deficient group. No significant differences in plasma lipid hydroperoxide or protein carbonyl concentrations were found between groups at the end of the study period. When plasma lipid hydroperoxide and protein carbonyl concentrations of subjects within groups were compared at the start versus at the end of the study, no significant differences were found for either group. Neither non-anemic iron deficiency nor its treatment with oral iron supplements is associated with oxidative damage in the plasma of college-aged females.
Values: the invisible “ante” in information literacy learning?

Purpose – The ACRL Competency Standards related to learners' values and value systems has not been interrogated in relation to information literacy theory or practice. This paper aims to analyze the inclusion of values in these and other guidelines and seeks evidence of the development of this topic in the literature.Design/methodology/approach – A comparative review of information literacy standards related to values/value systems was conducted. An analysis of the literature engaging issues related to personal or community values related to information was completed. Suggestions for continued work were based on these findings.Findings – Competency standards related to values/value systems are out of place in guidelines designed to assist in the assessment of information literacy instruction. Instead, it is more likely that information literacy development is a form of values education.Research limitations/implications – Further research is needed to locate specific personal and community values related t...
Regulation of components of the ubiquitin system by insulin-like growth factor I and growth hormone in skeletal muscle of rats made catabolic with dexamethasone.

To investigate whether the anabolic effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and GH are mediated through regulation of the ubiquitin (Ub) pathway, we examined the effect of IGF-I (0.35 μg/100 g) and/or GH (0.3 mg/100 g BW) on the expression of Ub and Ub-conjugating (E2) enzyme messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in skeletal muscle of rats made catabolic by treatment with dexamethasone (Dex; 0.5 mg/100 g BW) for 3 days. Dex caused a significant loss of body and gastrocnemius weight (14% and 25%, respectively) concurrent with an increase in the 2.8- and 1.2-kb transcripts of Ub (14.3- and 12-fold increases, respectively), the 1.8- and 1.2-kb transcripts of 14-kDa Ub-conjugating enzyme (E2–14 kDa; 5.6- and 7.7-fold increases, respectively), the 4.4- and 2.4-kb transcripts of Ub-E2G (6.5- and 8.2-fold increases, respectively), and the 2E isoform of the 17-kDa E2 mRNA (3.5-fold increase). Injections of IGF-I in Dex-treated animals ameliorated the body weight loss, and the gastrocnemius tended to be heavier. This imp...
Impedance of a fibrin clot in a cylindrical tube: Relation to clot permeability and viscoelasticity

By use of an impedance to quantify the pressure-to-flow relation for a clot-filled tube, a simple model is developed that encompasses both viscoelastic and porous properties of the clot. Measurements over a range of frequencies are used to separate the role of clot permeability from clot matrix elasticity. The theoretical impedance model consists of a series resistance and capacitance (representing structural flow) in parallel with a resistance (representing permeating flow). The viscoelasticity of the matrix, permeability and effective pore size are related to these three impedance elements. The validity of the model has been verified for a range of vessel sizes approximating small arteries (1 to 3 mm in diameter). The presence of dextran T40 in clotted fibrinogen solutions changes the clot impedance by increasing clot permeability and decreasing clot viscoelasticity. Because the flow contains two components, the behavior of a clot in vivo under pulsatile pressure cannot be predicted from the viscoelastic properties obtained from non-tube flow instruments nor from steady flow permeation measurements; a combination of the two as provided by oscillatory tube-flow measurements is required.
A phase I study of concurrent 9-nitro-20(s)-camptothecin (9NC/Orathecin) and radiation therapy in the treatment of locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Abstract Background and purpose In vitro studies have suggested that 9-nitro-20(s)-Camptothecin (9NC/Orathecin/Rubitecan) can enhance the effects of radiation. We conducted a phase I study to assess the toxicity and determine the maximum tolerated dose of 9NC when combined with radiation in patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Patients and methods Eleven patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas received 9NC, orally during radiation. Radiation therapy consisted of 45Gy in 25 fractions given over 5 weeks. The starting dose of 9NC was 1mg/m 2 /day. Results Eight patients received 9NC at a dose of 1mg/m 2 /day and three patients received a dose of 1.25mg/m 2 /day. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as ≥grade 3 non-hematologic toxicity and ≥grade 4 hematologic toxicity. Dose-limiting toxicity of grade 3 nausea/vomiting developed in one patient at the first dose level. At dose level 2, two of three patients developed DLT. Both developed grade 3 nausea, fatigue, and anorexia. Additionally, one of these patients had grade 3 dehydration and the other had grade 4 leukopenia, grade 3 vomiting, and grade 3 weakness. Conclusions 9NC, 1mg/m 2 /day, can be given concurrently with radiation with acceptable toxicity.
Does Rational Learning Lead to Nash Equilibrium in Finitely Repeated Games

Abstract A stage game is played for many periods. Each player maximizes discounted expected payoffs, given updated beliefs about opponent's strategies. For the case of infinitely repeated games, Kalai and Lehrer [8, 9] show that, under absolute continuity, rational learning leads to Nash equilibrium. Absolute continuity, however, does not ensure convergence to approximate Nash equilibrium play in games of long (but finite) horizon. I show that asymptotic continuity is equivalent to absolute continuity in infinitely repeated games and ensures convergence to Nash equilibrium in finite horizon games. These results unify the learning theory in finitely and infinitely repeated games.Journal of Economic LiteratureClassification Number: D83 Learning.
Open access ready reference suites

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to examine open access ready reference suites.Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses various reference sources represented in the open access domain of the web.Findings – The paper finds that, in spite of the variety of open access reference suites mentioned, it is still advisable to be on the lookout for new developments, as some highly relevant sources are not available in any of them, especially some of the best open access subject encyclopaedias in the sciences and social sciences.Originality/value – The paper provides useful reviews of various open access reference sources.
Position offsets in curved-channel microchannel plate detectors.

Microchannel plate detectors are widely used for ultraviolet (UV) and extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) observations. Curved-channel microchannel plates, or C plates, provide an electron gain of ≈106 in a single plate because the curved channels prevent ion feedback. However, offsets between input and output in curved-channel microchannel plates produce slight distortions in the spatial or spectral scale of the detector, complicating the use of such detectors for high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy. We have examined the image distortion caused by nonconstant curvature of the channels by (a) observing spectral nonlinearities in an EUV spectrometer, (b) measuring the positions of several plugged channels of a typical plate and comparing the positions of the channels on both the input and the output sides, and (c) mapping input versus output of typical plates, using a mechanically scanned spot of UV light. We find that a typical C plate with 25-μm-diameter pores exhibits ±25-μm image distortion across the plate. Calibration of this image distortion as reflected in the spectral nonlinearity of our EUV spectrograph improves the spectral line positions by a factor of 4, permitting solar-emission-line Doppler shift determination of ±2 μm (±1 km/s).
Learning to open new doors

We consider the problem of enabling a robot to autonomously open doors, including novel ones that the robot has not previously seen. Given the large variation in the appearances and locations of doors and door handles, this is a challenging perception and control problem; but this capability will significantly enlarge the range of environments that our robots can autonomously navigate through. In this paper, we focus on the case of doors with door handles. We propose an approach that, rather than trying to build a full 3d model of the door/door handle—which is challenging because of occlusion, specularity of many door handles, and the limited accuracy of our 3d sensors—instead uses computer vision to choose a manipulation strategy. Specifically, it uses an image of the door handle to identify a small number of “3d key locations,” such as the axis of rotation of the door handle, and the location of the end-point of the door-handle. These key locations then completely define a trajectory for the robot end-effector (hand) that successfully turns the door handle and opens the door. Evaluated on a large set of doors that the robot had not previously seen, it successfully opened 31 out of 34 doors. We also show that this approach of using vision to identify a small number of key locations also generalizes to a range of other tasks, including turning a thermostat knob, pulling open a drawer, and pushing elevator buttons.
A soft-polymer piezoelectric bimorph cantilever-actuated peristaltic micropump

A peristaltic micropump was fabricated and characterized. The micropump was fabricated using soft lithography, and actuated using piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers. The micropump channel was formed by bonding two layers of PDMS, mixed at 5 : 1 and 30 : 1 ratios. The channel was fabricated in the 5 : 1 layer using replica molding (REM), where a very simple and inexpensive template was made by straddling a 75 μm wire over a glass substrate, followed by covering and smoothing over the wire with a piece of aluminium foil. Not only was this template inexpensive and extremely simple to fabricate, it also created a rounded cross-sectional geometry which is favorable for complete valve shutoff. The cantilevers were driven at Vp = ±90 V with amplified square wave signals generated by a virtual function generator created in LabVIEW. Connections to the micropump were made by placing capillary tubes in the channel, and then sealed between the two layers of PDMS. Machined aluminium clamps were adhered to the tips of the cantilevers with general purpose adhesive. These clamps allowed for aluminium valves, with finely machined tips of dimensions 3 mm by 200 μm, to be held firmly in place. The variables characterized for this micropump were flow rate, maximum attainable backpressure, free cantilever deflection, valve shutoff, and valve leakage. Three actuation patterns with phase differences of 60, 90, and 120° were compared for flow rate and maximum backpressure. It was determined that the 120° signal outperformed the 60° and 90° signals for both maximum flowrate and maximum attainable backpressure. The maximum and minimum flowrates demonstrated by the micropump were 289 nL min−1 and 53 nL min−1, respectively. The maximum backpressure attained was 35 300 Pa. It was also demonstrated that the valves fully closed the channels upon actuation, with minimal observed leakage.
Use of Aptitude to Understand Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student Attrition and Readiness for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse

Attrition is a serious issue among Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students with attrition rates around 50% nationwide. To help minimize BSN student attrition, many nursing programs use commercially available standardized nursing aptitude tests as adjuncts to scholastic aptitude data, usually operationalized as pre-nursing grade point average, to select students for admission. Little is known regarding the usefulness of scholastic and nursing aptitude data for predicting long-term retention in a BSN program and readiness for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the relationships among scholastic aptitude, nursing aptitude, BSN student attrition prior to the final semester of the curriculum, and BSN student readiness for the NCLEX-RN. This study's findings, along with other findings in the literature, suggest the need for a parsimonious explanatory model of BSN student attrition that can be used to guide admission and progression policies, and ensure that students ready for the NCLEX-RN are the ones graduating from BSN programs.
The SNP Endgame: A Multidisciplinary Approach *

I would like to thank Dr. Rosenberg and the ASHG Awards Committee for this exceptional honor. It is a particular privilege to receive this award from Dr. Rosenberg, who played such a significant role in my career development by recruiting me to Yale 20 years ago. When Lee first contacted me regarding the Curt Stern Award, he told me that the best part of being chair of the Awards Committee is being able to inform the award recipients. Well, as he found out, informing me turned out to be no modest task.
Distinguishing familiarity from list search responses in a reaction time task

This experiment tested the claim of the model proposed by Atkinson and Juola (in press) that recognition responses in an RT task are a mixture of fast responses on the basis of the item’ s familiarity and slower responses based on a list search for the item. All Ss had to learn two 16-word lists (A and B). Then they had to respond alternately to “Is the following a List A word? ” and “Is the following a List B word? ” In the control task, the members of one list served as distractors for the other. Hence, the familiarity values of the targets and distractors were equal, and the only basis for response was a list search. In the experimental task, the distractors were not list words. Hence their familiarity was lower, and familiarity responses could be made. There were no differences between two groups of Ss when they all responded in the control task. But when half the Ss were switched to the experimental task, they responded significantly faster than the Ss who continued in the control task. In the experimental task, distractors were rejected quicker than targets were identified, but in the control task, the reverse was true. These results support the hypothesis that the control task required a list search while a familiarity judgment was possible in the experimental task.