cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors Related to Employment Outcomes for Vocational Rehabilitation Consumers with Visual Impairments: A Systematic Review:

Introduction:The purpose of this article was to conduct a systematic review of peer-reviewed studies on factors related to employment in consumers who are visually impaired using Rehabilitation Ser...
Pilot feasibility study examining the effects of a comprehensive volume reduction protocol on hydration status and blood pressure in hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION Chronic volume overload is a persistent problem in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of comprehensive volume reduction protocol on HD patient's hydration status and blood pressure (BP). METHODS Twenty-three HD patients (age = 55.7 ± 13.3 years) completed a 6-month comprehensive volume control protocol consisting of: reducing postdialysis weight; reducing BP medication prescriptions; and weekly intradialytic counseling to reduce dietary sodium intake and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG). The primary outcome was volume overload (VO) measured by bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy. Secondary outcomes included: IDWG, postdialysis weight, estimated dry weight (EDW), dietary sodium intake, BP and BP medication prescriptions. FINDINGS From baseline (0M) to 6 months (6M), significant improvements were noted in: VO (0M 3.9 ± 3.9 L vs. 6M 2.6 ± 3.4 L, P = 0.003), postdialysis weight (0M 89.4 ± 23.1 kg vs. 6M 87.6 ± 22.2 kg; P = 0.012), and EDW (0M 89.0 ± 23.2 vs. 6M 86.7 ± 22.5 kg., P = 0.009). There was also a trend for a reduction in monthly averaged IDWG (P = 0.053), and sodium intake (0M 2.9 ± 1.6 vs. 6M 2.3 ± 1.1 g/d, P = 0.125). Neither systolic BP (0M 162 ± 27 vs. 6M 157 ± 23 mmHg, P = 0.405) nor diastolic BP (0M 82 ± 21 vs. 6M 82 ± 19 mmHg, P = 0.960) changed, though there was a significant reduction in the total number of BP medications prescribed (0M 3.0 ± 1.0 vs. 6M 1.5 ± 1.0 BP meds; P = 0.004). DISCUSSION Our volume reduction protocol significantly improved HD patient's hydration status. While BP did not change, the reduction in prescribed BP medication number suggests improved BP control. Despite these overall positive findings, the magnitude of change in most variables was modest. Comprehensive changes in HD clinics may be necessary to realize more clinically significant results.
National Security, Self-rule, and Democratic Action

Most discussions of the relationship between liberty and security focus on the idea that enhancing citizens’ security may require imposing constraints on their civil liberties (e.g., freedom of association, of movement, of communication, and so on). This paper explores the question of how measures to enhance security stand vis a vis the idea of political liberty, i.e. the idea of citizens’ collectively directing the power of their state. It distinguishes two models whereby citizens might enact that ideal of self-rule and argues that with respect to issues of national security, the less direct model, which entrusts political agents to make decisions beyond direct democratic input, will often be more appropriate. It argues as well that various practices often seen as fundamentally at odds with the ideal of rule by the people (e.g., government deception, lack of transparency, covert action) are in fact consistent with a reasonable construal of that ideal. It concludes by outlining various criteria that would have to be met for such practices to be morally permissible in democratic states.
Erroneous Beliefs and Political Approval: Evidence from the Coronavirus Pandemic

Are politicians rewarded for good performance as implied by models of retrospective voting? This requires that public perceptions of performance are accurate. We examine the case of the coronavirus pandemic – during which surveys on governor approval abounded and objective measures of state outcomes were readily available. We conduct an incentivized survey in which respondents estimate how pairs of states have performed relative to one another in terms of deaths per-capita. We find that perceptions are only modestly more accurate than random guessing, and we find little to no evidence of partisan in-group bias. We find evidence, using data from SafeGraph and the Understanding America Survey, that these erroneous beliefs about state performance distort social-distancing behavior, suggesting both that our measure of beliefs is accurate and that erroneous beliefs come at a cost to society. Furthermore, running regressions with governor approval ratings as the outcome, we find that it is not the actual death rate – but rather beliefs about the death rate – that drive governor approval. This remains true after controlling for perceptions of how well states should have performed, setting aside factors of leadership/political competence. We replicate these findings in both an identical follow-up survey later in the pandemic and in a survey experiment.
Importance of Trauma-Informed Practice in Evaluation of Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

CASE As part of a multidisciplinary adoption support clinic, Erin, a 5-year-old girl, adopted approximately 6 months before the clinic visit, presents for postadoption evaluation. Erin was born at full term. Her birth history was significant for reported maternal treatment for liver failure during pregnancy. Her previous medical history included hospitalization for a viral illness at age 2 months, recurrent ear infections, and a fractured forearm. Family history was significant for a maternal history of bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and concern for substance abuse; a paternal history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression; and full biological brother with a history of ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder. Erin and her brother lived with their parents until she was approximately 3 years old. At that time, there were concerns for poor hygiene, inconsistent medical care, poor school attendance for her brother, financial instability, and significant neglect. Erin was reportedly confined to her crib for hours at a time. She and her older brother were removed from the home because of concerns for significant neglect and placed into foster care. Approximately 3 months after foster placement, Erin underwent testing because of concerns for abnormal behaviors and possible developmental delays. Symptoms included poor sleep, repetitive behaviors such as head banging, delayed speech that primarily involved grunting, and lack of toilet training. She was hyperactive and aggressive and had poor caregiver attachment. On evaluation, she was small for age, poorly groomed, and easily distracted with poor eye contact and did not tolerate interactions with examiners. Neuropsychological testing consisted of symptom checklists and caregiver interview only because she did not tolerate diagnostic testing. She was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and global developmental delay with intellectual and language impairments. Over the following year, Erin was transitioned to a second foster family and was subsequently adopted. She received speech, occupational, and physical therapy, along with trauma-informed therapy. She made significant gains in multiple domains and was able to graduate from trauma-informed therapy after 1 year. On examination, Erin greets you with appropriate eye contact and reports that she is feeling "good." She is verbal and interactive with her brother and parents. She looks to parents for support when asked to participate in the physical examination. She does not display any significant repetitive behaviors. Erin's parents are concerned that her initial diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and global developmental delay do not accurately reflect her current level of functioning and are afraid she may have been misdiagnosed. How would you proceed with next steps to address these diagnoses?
The Role of Children's PTSD Symptomatology in Non-Offending Caregivers' Secondary Traumatic Stress Symptomatology Following Disclosures of Sexual or Physical Abuse

This research examined factors influencing levels of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in non-offending caregivers (NOCs) of children with histories of sexual or physical abuse. These factors included the nature of the abuse, NOCs’ relationships with the initiators of the abuse, children’s ages and genders, NOCs’ trauma histories, and the elapsed time between children’s disclosures of abuse and their trauma assessments. As a secondary objective, this research examined the interactions between children’s self-reports of their own posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology, NOCs’ estimates of their children’s PTSD symptomatology, and NOCs’ self-reports of their own STS symptomatology. Participants from a clinical sample (N = 300, children = 150, NOCs = 150; child age M = 9.89, SD = 4.08; NOC age M = 37.87, SD = 9.23) completed structured intake interviews, the PTSD Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS; Child-Report and NOC-Report). Analytic strategies included point-biserial correlation coefficient calculations, linear regression analyses, and Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVAs). NOCs’ levels of STS were impacted by their relationships with the initiators of the abuse and their own trauma histories. NOCs’ self-reported STS symptomatology mirrored their estimates of their children’s PTSD symptomatology. The discrepancy scores between children’s self-reports of their PTSD symptomatology and NOCs’ estimates of children’s PTSD symptomatology were impacted by children’s ages and genders. Clinical practitioners should note the importance of examining children’s PTSD symptomatology and NOCs’ STS symptomatology concurrently when making recommendations for trauma-informed evidence-based treatments.
Thermal history of alfalfa leafcutting bees affects nesting and diapause incidence.

Variable spring temperatures may expose developing insects to sublethal conditions, resulting in long-term consequences. The alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata, overwinters as a prepupa inside a brood cell, resuming development in spring. During these immobile stages of development, bees must tolerate unfavorable temperatures. In this study, we tested how exposure to low temperature stress during development affects subsequent reproduction and characteristics of the F1 generation. Developing male and female M. rotundata were exposed to either constant (6°C) or fluctuating (1 h day-1 at 20°C) low temperature stress for 1 week, during the pupal stage, to mimic a spring cold snap. Treated adults were marked and released into field cages, and reproductive output was compared with that of untreated control bees. Exposure to low temperatures during the pupal stage had mixed effects on reproduction and offspring characteristics. Females treated with fluctuating low temperatures were more likely to nest compared with control bees or those exposed to constant low temperature stress. Sublethal effects may have contributed to low nesting rates of bees exposed to constant low temperatures. Females from that group that were able to nest had fewer, larger offspring with high viability, suggesting a trade-off. Interestingly, offspring of bees exposed to fluctuating low temperatures were more likely to enter diapause, indicating that thermal history of parents, even during development, is an important factor in diapause determination.
Can Autonomous Vehicles Solve the Commuter Parking Problem

This paper investigates how autonomous vehicles (AVs) may change the morning commute travel pattern and improve downtown parking. We develop a continuous-time traffic model that takes into account key economic deterrents to driving, such as parking fee and traffic congestion, and characterize the departure time and parking location (downtown or outside downtown parking area) patterns of commuters in equilibrium. To illustrate our results, our model is calibrated to data from Pittsburgh. For the calibrated model, our analysis shows that all AV commuters choose to park outside downtown, increasing both vehicle hours and vehicle miles traveled as compared to the case with all human-driven vehicles. This change increases the total system cost and suggests a potential downtown land-use change (e.g., repurposing downtown parking spots to commercial and residential areas) in Pittsburgh after mass adoption of AVs. To reduce the total system cost, a social planner may be interested in regulating commuters’ decisions by adjusting parking fees and/or imposing congestion tolls as a short-term measure, or adjusting infrastructure, e.g., converting downtown parking spaces to curbside drop-off spots for AVs. Our results indicate that these measures can reduce the total system cost substantially (e.g., up to 70% in our calibrated model).
Laughing Together: Comedic Theatre as a Mechanism of Survival during the Holocaust

iv Introduction 1 Chapter 1: The Role of Comedic Theatre in the Holocaust The Cabaret of Life 5 Laughing in Warsaw 14 A Fortress of Laughter 25 Comedy of the Conquered 32 Chapter 2: Survival Through Laughter 35 Chapter 3: Should Laughter Still Sound? 44 Bibliography 61 Vita 66
Sulfur-Containing Molecules Observed in Hydrophobic and Amphiphilic Fractions of Dissolved Organic Matter by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

Four fractions of dissolved organic matter (DOM) (hydrophobic acids, HPO-A; hydrophobic neutrals HPO-N; amphiphilic acids, AMP-A; and amphiphilic neutrals, AMP-N) were identified using electrospray ionization coupled to ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. The fractions were isolated from an off-stream Colorado River water reservoir in Arizona, USA. A great portion of heteroatom-containing (i.e., N, S, P) formulas were identified in the neutrals. Only 3.8% of the identified molecules were common between four fractions. The neutral fractions showed a high portion of high-intensity S-containing molecules which can be attributed to textile surfactants (i.e., linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, etc.) and their biodegradation and biotransformation derivatives indicating anthropogenic input on-site.
ESTIMATES OF USSR POPULATION BY REPUBLICS, 1951–73

Data from the publication Naseleniye SSSR are used to derive population estimates for Union republics during 1951–73.
HIPER-TEATRALIZACIÓN E INTERCULTURALIDAD: THE LAST CARNIVAL DE DEREK WALCOTT Y QUÍNTUPLES DE LUIS RAFAEL SÁNCHEZ

La cultura caribena ha contenido siempre un material semiotico de extremada densidad donde multiples discursos etnicos, esteticos, y politicos se relacionan continuamente. Derek Walcott y Luis Rafael Sanchez ejemplifican una de las maneras en que el teatro ha intentado enfrentar y matizar esta complejidad. Walcott, en The Last Carnival (1983), y Sanchez, en Quintuples (1984) proponen una poetica de hiper-teatralizacion en la que lo performativo se vuelca sobre si mismo, produciendo una crisis de la mimesis dramatica. El resultado de esta estrategia es un tipo de teatro que cuestiona y desmantela las premisas del 'gestus' brechtiano, naturalizando al maximo los efectos de mediacion con que el teatro epico aspiraba a crear una reaccion critica.
Quantitative Aspects of the Interaction of Carrageenan with Cationic Substances

SUMMARY Using the interaction of carrageenan (Seakem type 5) with cetylpyridinium chloride as the type example, investigation was made of optimum conditions for the precipitation of carrageenan and its fractions by quaternary ammonium detergents. Found to be very critical factors for quantitative precipitation were the temperature and pH of the reaction medium. Comparatively, the amount of detergent cation bound by a particular sulfated hydrocolloid is indicative of its degree of sulfation.
[31] Coaggregations among oral bacteria

The oral bacterial community appears to use coaggregation as a major mechanism for interbacterial adhesion and colonization of the host. Methods for measuring and evaluating the specificity of adhesion vary from the visual observation of the phenomenon to quantitative analyses. Not only is aggregation specificity reflected in the choice of partners but also in the fact that many are inhibited by galactosides and sialic acid. Each coaggregation between any two partners within a multigeneric coaggregate is independent of the others and can be shown to be distinct by using the radioactivity-based assay. By using the visual assay, it has been shown that members of the 17 genera of most frequently isolated oral bacteria exhibit coaggregation. With the exception of oral streptococci and a few oral actinomyces, the 17 genera do not exhibit intrageneric coaggregation. As a dynamic population, oral bacteria are in a constant flux of accretion and detachment, which are coupled to growth and death. This ecological community is amenable to intensive study, and the coaggregation assays described here are particularly suited to enhance progress in this study.
The effect of corticotropin on mouse spleen colony-forming cells.

Several investigators have reported a reduction in the number of colony-forming units (CFU) in the spleens of mice exposed to hypoxia and have postulated that this is secondary to a direct toxic effect of hypoxemia on the CFU. To test the hypothesis that at least part of this effect could be secondary to the stress of the hypoxic exposure, mice were given 12 consecutive daily injections of corticotropin (ACTH), and the number of spleen and marrow CFU were assayed by the spleen colony technique. There was a marked decrease in spleen CFU in these mice when compared with control animals, but marrow CFU were not reduced. These tesults indicate that part of the effect of hypoxemia on CFU may be secondary to the stress of the exposure and suggest that spleen CFU are sensitive to steroid hormones. Further investigation of this and other differences between spleen and marrow CFU could lead to a better understanding of stem cell differentiation.
Conformational basis of energy transformations in membrane systems: III. Configurational changes in the mitochondrial inner membrane induced by changes in functional states

Abstract The cristae of the inner membrane of mitochondria have been shown to exist in three configurational states: nonenergized, energized, and energized-twisted. Electron transfer and hydrolysis of ATP are the two enzymic means of generating the energized state. The transition from the energized to the energized-twisted configurational state of the cristae is induced by inorganic phosphate in sucrose-containing media and by salts in sufficiently high concentrations in media that do not contain sucrose. The electron microscopic identification of the three configurational states is simplified by the diagnostic characteristics of the respective membranes. The configurational states are assumed to be gross expressions of the conformations of the repeating units in the nonenergized, energized, and energized-twisted states. The energized-twisted state is discharged by ADP (leading to oxidative phosphorylation), by divalent metal ions (leading to translocation), by monovalent salts (leading to energized swelling), and by uncouplers. Reagents which inhibit electron transfer or those which inhibit hydrolysis of ATP prevent the generation of the energized state by substrates and by ATP, respectively. The speed of configurational change in the cristae appears to be consistent with the thesis that the primary event in mitochondrial energy transformations is Conformational change of the repeating units. It is proposed that there are no high energy intermediate compounds; also, that the readily demonstrable energized states of the inner membrane are the functional equivalents of the elusive high-energy intermediates.
A Survey of and Evaluation Methodology for Fiber Composite Material Failure Theories

The long-standing problem of characterizing failure for fiber composite materials will be reviewed. Emphasis will be given to the lamina level involving nominally aligned fibers in a matrix phase. However, some consideration will also be given to laminate failure using the lamina form as the basic building block along with the concept of progressive damage. The many different lamina-level theories will be surveyed along with the commitment necessary to produce critical experimental data. Four particular theories will be reviewed and compared in some detail, these being the Tsai-Wu, Hashin, Puck, and Christensen forms. These four theories are reasonably representative of the great variety of different forms with widely different physical effects that can be encountered; also, for comparison, the rudimentary forms of maximum normal stress and maximum normal strain criteria will be given. The controversial problem of how many different individual modes of failure are necessary to describe general failure will receive attention. A specific and detailed methodology for evaluation of all the various theories will be formulated.
Understanding Inpatient Cost Variation in Kidney Transplantation: Implications for Payment Reforms.

Objective To examine the magnitude and sources of inpatient cost variation for kidney transplantation. Methods We used the 2005-2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify patients who underwent kidney transplantation. We first calculated the patient-level cost of each transplantation admission and then aggregated costs to the hospital level. We fit hierarchical linear regression models to identify sources of cost variation and to estimate how much unexplained variation remained after adjusting for case-mix variables commonly found in administrative datasets. Results We identified 8866 living donor (LDRT) and 5589 deceased donor (DDRT) renal transplantations. We found that higher costs were associated with the presence of complications (LDRT, 14%; P <.001; DDRT, 24%; P <.001), plasmapheresis (LDRT, 27%; P <.001; DDRT, 27%; P <.001), dialysis (LDRT, 4%; P <.001), and prolonged length of stay (LDRT, 84%; P <.001; DDRT, 82%; P <.001). Even after case-mix adjustment, a considerable amount of unexplained cost variation remained between transplant centers (DDRT, 52%; LDRT, 66%). Conclusion Although significant inpatient cost variation is present across transplant centers, much of the cost variation for kidney transplantation is not explained by commonly used risk-adjustment variables in administrative datasets. These findings suggest that although there is an opportunity to achieve savings through payment reforms for kidney transplantation, policymakers should seek alternative sources of information (eg, clinical registry data) to delineate sources of warranted and unwarranted cost variation.
Photonic crystal structures with large densities of optical states

Our work on photonic crystal structures exhibiting large densities of optical states, including high-quality nanocavities and two-dimensional coupled nanocavity arrays, is presented. Applications ranging from nanoscale and nonlinear optics to quantum information processing are discussed
CAE or CAD/CAM? a must]

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes some of the problems which arise in the process of developing a CAD/CAM/CAE curriculum in a school of engineering. It presents the endeavor of the Civil and Industrial Engineering and Applied Mechanics (CIAM) Department in the School of Engineering and Computer Science at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) to build an integrated CAD/CAM/CAE/ICG program. Aspects of an Engineering Graphics course for freshmen are discussed.
Isolation and Characterization of Frankia sp. Strain FaC1 Genes Involved in Nitrogen Fixation.

Abstract Genomic DNA was isolated from Frankia sp. strain FaC1, an Alnus root nodule endophyte, and used to construct a genomic library in the cosmid vector pHC79. The genomic library was screened by in situ colony hybridization to identify clones of Frankia nitrogenase (nif) genes based on DNA sequence homology to structural nitrogenase genes from Klebsiella pneumoniae. Several Frankia nif clones were isolated, and hybridization with individual structural nitrogenase gene fragments (nifH, nifD, and nifK) from K. pneumoniae revealed that they all contain the nifD and nifK genes, but lack the nifH gene. Restriction endonuclease mapping of the nifD and nifK hybridizing region from one clone revealed that the nifD and nifK genes in Frankia sp. are contiguous, while the nifH gene is absent from a large region of DNA on either side of the nifDK gene cluster. Additional hybridizations with gene fragments derived from K. pneumoniae as probes and containing other genes involved in nitrogen fixation demonstrated that the Frankia nifE and nifN genes, which play a role in the biosynthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor, are located adjacent to the nifDK gene cluster.
Oxygen isotope fractionation between aragonite and seawater: Developing a novel kinetic oxygen isotope fractionation model

Oxygen isotope fractionation factors between aragonite and seawater are studied at T = 25–55 °C and pH = 7.4–8.1 in a set of ‘free-drift’ precipitation experiments with various CO2-degassing rates (0–75 cc/min). The measured fractionation factors correlate weakly with degassing rate, but strongly with temperature in the following form (R2 = 0.998): 1000lnαaragonite–seawater=22.5(±0.5)(103/T)-46.1(±1.6) where α is the fractionation factor and T is the temperature in Kelvin. Along with results from previous studies, these experiments help calibrate two extreme cases of a new kinetic model – extremely fast (e.g., during spontaneous precipitation) and slow aragonite precipitation processes (e.g., during slow ‘free-drift’ precipitation experiments) – at pH >7.5, T = 0–55 °C and salinity = ∼5–39.6‰. The model assumes little isotopic fractionation between DIC species and aragonite during their attachment and detachment on aragonite surfaces at low temperatures and the δ18O value of aragonite equals the average δ18O value of all contributing DIC species. During the fast precipitation of aragonite, the contribution of each DIC species to the δ18O value of aragonite is proportional to its concentration, whereas in a slow precipitation process when the system reaches a steady state, the contribution is determined by both its concentration and a modifying factor. Although the physical meaning of this modifying factor depends on the method of derivation and other assumptions made, three different derivations based on precipitation/dissolution kinetics, isotope exchange reactions, and isotope disequilibrium among DIC species all lead to the same formulation. At pH >7.5, the natural logarithm of the modifying factor (kHCO3-) for adjusting the contribution of the bicarbonate ion relative to the carbonate ion is calibrated, using experimental data covering a range of temperature, salinity, pH, and precipitation rate, as follows: lnkHCO3-=(2.22±0.08)×(pH-pH0)+(846±78)·S-(40.3±2.1)×103RT-(0.30±0.03)·S-(4.7±1.2) where S is the salinity, R is the gas constant, pH0 is the pH difference between free scale and the scale used to calculate the concentration of DIC species. Quantitative evaluation of these two extreme cases using our model suggests that oxygen isotope fractionation between aragonite and water varies significantly with a pH change between 7.5 and 10 (e.g., ∼4‰ at 25 °C), but little with a salinity change between 5‰ and 35‰ (<0.1‰ at 25 °C) during extremely fast precipitation, whereas during slow precipitation little variation occurs with pH varying between 7.5 and 10 at a given salinity (<0.3‰ in δ18O at T = 0–55 °C). This model connects aragonite precipitation kinetics with oxygen isotope fractionation between aragonite and water, and provides a framework to reconcile the discrepancy among experimental calibrations of aragonite–water fractionation in different labs and empirical calibrations using biogenic aragonites by variations in precipitation conditions (including pH, salinity and precipitation rate).
Using Lamm-Equation Modeling of Sedimentation Velocity Data to Determine the Kinetic and Thermodynamic Properties of Macromolecular Interactions

The interaction of macromolecules with themselves and with other macromolecules is fundamental to the functioning of living systems. Recent advances in the analysis of sedimentation velocity (SV) data obtained by analytical ultracentrifugation allow the experimenter to determine important features of such interactions, including the equilibrium association constant and information about the kinetic off-rate of the interaction. The determination of these parameters is made possible by the ability of modern software to fit numerical solutions of the Lamm Equation with kinetic considerations directly to SV data. Herein, the SV analytical advances implemented in the software package SEDPHAT are summarized. Detailed analyses of SV data using these strategies are presented. Finally, a few highlights of recent literature reports that feature this type of SV data analysis are surveyed.
Low-cost, high-throughput, automated counting of bacterial colonies†‡

Research involving bacterial pathogens often requires enumeration of bacteria colonies. Here we present a low-cost, high-throughput colony counting system consisting of colony counting software and a consumer-grade digital camera or document scanner. We demonstrate that this software, called “NICE” (NIST's Integrated Colony Enumerator), can count bacterial colonies as part of a high-throughput multiplexed opsonophagocytic killing assay (MOPA) used to characterize pneumococcal vaccine efficacy. The results obtained with NICE correlate well with the results obtained from manual counting, with a mean difference of less than 3 %. NICE is also rapid; it can count colonies from multiple reaction wells within minutes and export the results to a spreadsheet for data processing. As this program is freely available from NIST, NICE should be helpful in bacteria colony enumeration required in many microbiological studies, and in standardizing colony counting methods.
Double-exposure materials for pitch division with 193nm lithography: requirements, results

We present the results of both theoretical and experimental investigations of materials for application either as a reversible Contrast Enhancement Layer (rCEL) or a Two-Stage PAG. The purpose of these materials is to enable Litho- Litho-Etch (LLE) patterning for Pitch Division (PD) at the 16nm logic node (2013 Manufacturing). For the rCEL, we find from modeling using an E-M solver that such a material must posses a bleaching capability equivalent to a Dill A parameter of greater than 100. This is at least a factor of ten greater than that achieved so far at 193nm by any usable organic material we have tested. In the case of the Two-Stage PAG, analytical and lithographic modeling yields a usable material process window, in terms of reversibility and two-photon vs. one-photon acid production rates (branching ratio). One class of materials, based on the cycloadduct of a tethered pair of anthracenes, has shown promise under testing at 193nm in acetonitrile. Sufficient reversibility without acid production, enabled by near-UV exposure, has been achieved. Acid production as a function of dose shows a clear quadratic component, consistent with a branching ratio greater than 1. The experimental data also supports a acid contrast value of approximately 0.05 that could in principle be obtained with this molecule under a pitch division double-exposure scenario.
Modeling time-coincident ultrafast electron transfer and solvation processes at molecule-semiconductor interfaces

Kinetic models based on Fermi's Golden Rule are commonly employed to understand photoinduced electron transfer dynamics at molecule-semiconductor interfaces. Implicit in such second-order perturbative descriptions is the assumption that nuclear relaxation of the photoexcited electron donor is fast compared to electron injection into the semiconductor. This approximation breaks down in systems where electron transfer transitions occur on 100-fs time scale. Here, we present a fourth-order perturbative model that captures the interplay between time-coincident electron transfer and nuclear relaxation processes initiated by light absorption. The model consists of a fairly small number of parameters, which can be derived from standard spectroscopic measurements (e.g., linear absorbance, fluorescence) and/or first-principles electronic structure calculations. Insights provided by the model are illustrated for a two-level donor molecule coupled to both (i) a single acceptor level and (ii) a density of states (DOS) calculated for TiO2 using a first-principles electronic structure theory. These numerical calculations show that second-order kinetic theories fail to capture basic physical effects when the DOS exhibits narrow maxima near the energy of the molecular excited state. Overall, we conclude that the present fourth-order rate formula constitutes a rigorous and intuitive framework for understanding photoinduced electron transfer dynamics that occur on the 100-fs time scale.
Effect of distension on ADH-induced osmotic water flow in toad urinary bladder

We recently described a method by which the resistance to water flow of the luminal membrane of ADH-stimulated toad bladder can be quantitatively distinguished from that of barriers lying in series with it. This method requires estimates of both total bladder water permeability (assessed by transbladder osmotic water flow at constant gradient) and luminal membrane water permeability (assessed by quantitation of the frequency of ADH-induced luminal membrane particle aggregates). In the present study we examined the effect of bladder distension on transepithelial osmotic water flow before and during maximal ADH stimulation. Base-line water flow was unaffected by bladder distension, but hormonally stimulated flow increased systematically as bladders became more distended. Distension had no effect on the frequency of ADH-induced intramembranous particle aggregates. By comparing the relationships between aggregate frequency and hormonally induced water permeability in distended and undistended bladders, we found that distension appeared to enhance ADH-stimulated water flow by decreasing the resistance of the series permeability barrier while the apparent water permeability associated with each single luminal membrane aggregate was unaffected. In that bladder distension causes tissue thinning, the series resistance limiting ADH-stimulated water flow appears to be accounted for by deformable barriers within the bladder tissue itself, probably unstirred layers of water.
The “insulation” layer in the cocoons of Argiope aurantia (Araneae: Araneidae)

1. 1. The capacity of the flocculent silk “insulation” layer within the cocoons of A. aurantia to control fluctuations in internal temperature was examined in the laboratory and in the field. 2. 2. Results indicate that the cocoon buffers changes in ambient temperature. However, the flocculent layer plays no insulatory role; it is the outer cocoon cover and the air space it creates which apparently acts as insulation. 3. 3. The mass of eggs or spiderlings in the cocoon also contributes to thermal damping, and the combined effect of this mass and the cocoon provide a significant buffer against temperature fluctuations caused by short-term radiation loads. 4. 4. Control of absolute internal cocoon temperature is probably achieved through maternal positioning of the cocoon at the habitat or microhabitat level, and is probably most effective during the early part of the reproductive season when the ambient air temperature is high and insolation is most direct.
Modeling gas-phase flow in porous media

Abstract In this communication, the equations and methodology for modeling convection and both ordinary and Knudsen diffusion of gases in a porous medium are described. Parallels between our development and that of the dusty-gas model are made. Our derivation results in a self-consistent description of the various transport mechanisms and is more robust for numerical solutions, especially for conditions involving different flow regimes or where the regime is not known a priori. Along with the equation development, some limiting cases are examined and discussed with respect to the benefits and differences of our methodology versus that of the dusty-gas model.
Language and enlightenment: The Berlin debates of the eighteenth century

For the past few decades, scholars desiring an English-language analysis of eighteenth-century European debates about the origins of language, and particularly of Johann Gottfried Herder's prize-wi...
Commentary: The Flexnerian Legacy in the 21st Century

AbstractThe climate of academic medicine today was shaped in part by Abraham Flexner's recommendations in 1910's Medical Education in the United States and Canada. At the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Flexner Report, however, some wonder whether the times require another look at our co
Technology Transfer Around the Corner

This paper will describe how the Oil and Gas industry can become involved in shaping a new national program to aid in the transfer of technology from a variety of sources to the hands of the local independents. Technology Transfer has been a ``buzzword`` in the Oil and Gas Industry for some time now. Most of them might admit that it has been more of a ``buzzword`` and less of an activity. While most of the operators in the Appalachian Basin want to apply the latest in technology to their exploration and production activities is has quite often been difficult to find the appropriate technology. The Department of Energy, realizing that much of the technology which exists involving Oil and Gas is seldom applied by those who work so hard to produce it efficiently, has instigated the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC). The PTTC will be a national ``umbrella`` organization formed by the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), in cooperation with the state and regional oil and gas producer associations, the Gas Research Institute (GRI), the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGGCC), and other groups. The mission of the PTTC is to foster the effective transfer of explorationmore » and production technology to domestic producers in all regions of the country. One of the most important functions of the program will be to provide a feedback loop so that the needs and concerns of producers can be communicated effectively to the entire research community and to the Department of Energy.« less
Genetic Effects of X-Rays and Cathode Rays on Oocytes of Habrobracon.

This paper is concerned with the problem of difference in dose rate. Are genetic effects the same, or different, when dose rates are widely different, but total dose accumulated the same ? A conventional 124 kv x-ray machine was used for the low dose rate work; an electron beam generator which yielded a rate as high as 5000 r per second was the source of high dose rates. The materials irradiated were Habrobracon oocytes in first meiotic prophase and metaphase stages. These were studied for hatchability or presence of dominant and recessive lethals. F/sub 1/ virgin females were reared from prophase oocytes treated with 12,000 r. These were tested for heterozygosity with respect to recessive lethals. The data so accumulated indicate that with these materials, when total doses of x rays and cathode rays are the same, the wide difference in dose rate has no significant effect. (auth)
Self-assembling of nanocavities in TiO2 dispersed with Au nanoclusters

There has been considerable research effort on tailoring the nonlinear optical properties of dielectric materials by dispersing nanometer-sized metallic clusters in them. It has been proposed that the optical response of this type of material is related to the quantum antidots (vacancy clusters), which is spatially located at the interface between the metal cluster and the dielectric matrix. In order to clarify the vacancy clustering behavior as well as its correlation with Au clustering, single crystal TiO{sub 2} has been implanted with Au ions at 975 K and subsequently annealed at 1275 K for 10 h. A characteristic self-assembling of nanocavities along the boundary between the region of Au clusters and the free surface has been observed in the present system. These cavities are faceted along TiO{sub 2}(110) and have a size of {approx}10 nm. High angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging in an aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) revealed that vacancy clusters of {approx}2 nm in size also exist in the Au populated regions. Formation of cavities in Au-irradiated TiO{sub 2} strongly indicates that vacancy clustering processes prevail over Frenkel-pair recombination. Furthermore, the Au atoms substitution for Ti in TiO{sub 2} is also directly observed by STEM-HAADF imagingmore » and by channeling Rutherford backscattering spectrometry.« less
DC susceptibility measurements on the quasi binary Tb2−xGdxAu compounds

Abstract DC magnetic measurements on a random mixture of the ferromagnet Gd2Au and antiferromagnet Tb2Au indicate the existence of a magnetic phase around 1.0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1.2 with characteristics of spin glass.
Highly stable non-polar p-type Ag-doped ZnO thin films grown on r-cut sapphire

Abstract Non-polar p-type Ag-doped ZnO thin films were grown on r-cut sapphire substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Films deposited at a substrate temperature above 250 °C were shown to be ( 11 2 ¯ 0 ) oriented (a-plane) according to X-ray diffraction, and maintained p-type behavior after one year according to Hall-effect measurements. Hole carrier concentrations lie in the range of 3.1×1016–5.3×1017 cm−3, mobilities in the range of 0.3–1.5 cm2 V−1 s−1, and resistivities in the range of 43 – 136 Ω cm . Optical transmittance measurements indicate a decrease in band gap of ∼ 0.07 – 0.08 eV for the p-type films. Characteristic stacking fault features were observed along the ( 01 1 ¯ 2 ) plane in the p-type films by transmission electron microscopy.
Ethernet-based flash ADC for a plant PET detector system

We have developed a flash analog to digital (ADC) based read out system to be used for a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) system. The custom designed 16 channel 12-bit Ethernet-based flash ADC (EFADC-16) unit operates at 250 MHzls/channel utilizing a gigabit Ethernet interface to parse time-stamped event signals. Each unit allows the user to define a custom coincidence table for triggering. Each EFADC-16 unit can digitize four H8500 position sensitive photomultiplier tubes (PSPMT) equipped with a Jefferson Lab designed 4 channel resistive readout (a total of 16 channels). We present initial performance results of the EFADC-16 with four PET detector modules in a plant biology application to acquire tomographic images of the translocation of 11C within an oak seedling.
WE‐C‐BRB‐01: Does IMRT Treatment Plan Complexity or Mismatched Dosimetry Data Contribute to Dose Delivery Errors Detected Using an IMRT H&N Quality Assurance Phantom?

Purpose: Investigate whether increased intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT)treatment plan complexity or mismatched accelerator dosimetry data are responsible for or contribute to failures with the Radiological Physics Center's IMRT H&N QA phantom. Methods: Eight H&N IMRT plans with a range of total MU (1460–3466), number of segments (54–225), and modulation complexity scores (MCS) (0.181–0.609) were created in Pinnacle v.8 and delivered to the RPC's H&N phantom on a single Varian Clinac. One of the IMRT plans (1851 MU, 88 segments, and MCS=0.469) was equivalent to the median H&N plan from ∼1000 RPC H&N phantom irradiations. This average IMRT plan was also delivered on four matched Varian Clinac machines and the dose distribution calculated using a different 6MV beam model. Radiochromic film and TLD within the phantom were used to analyze the dose profiles and absolute doses. Results: Increasing the treatment plan complexity by varying the MU, number of segments, or the MCS resulted in no clear trend toward an increase in dosimetric error using either ±7%/4mm or ±5%/3mm gamma index criteria. Varying the delivery machines as well as the beam model (use of a Clinac 6EX 6MV beam model vs. Clinac 21EX 6MV model), also did not show any clear trend towards an increased dosimetric error using the criteria indicated above. Conclusions: Accurate IMRTdose delivery requires a complicated chain of events involving numerous steps, each of which might contribute to dose delivery errors. IMRT modulation complexity and mismatched dosimetry data have been postulated as contributing to IMRTdose delivery errors but our results indicate otherwise. Other components of the IMRT delivery chain such as MLC performance and modeling uncertainty in setup, machine mechanical integrity, etc. should be investigated to determine whether they contribute significantly to IMRTdose delivery errors. Work supported by PHS CA010953 and CA081647, awarded by NCI, DHHS.
Prostaglandin E1-Induced Hyperostosis: Clinicopathologic Correlations and Possible Pathogenetic Mechanisms

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) causes skeletal hypertrophy, a phenomenon noted when it is administered for several weeks to maintain ductus arteriosus patency in neonates with congenital heart disease. This effect, a dose-dependent and reversible hyperostosis, was described radiologically as bone within bone, but skeletal histopathology was not studied. We compared postmortem gross, radiological, and histological bone findings for untreated controls and term gestation infants after 4, 27, and 56 days of continuous 0.1-0.2 μg/kg/min PGE1. Bone was not significantly different from controls after 4 days of PGE1. Radiographs were negative after 27 days, but femoral cortex showed early periosteal osteoblast proliferation. At 56 days of PGE1, there was severe, radiologically apparent neocortex formation in tubular, rib, and scapular bones. Corresponding sections of femoral shaft revealed distinctive histopathology with thickened periosteum and fibrocartilage-like tissue covering an exuberant neocortex of closely align...
Network Integrity in Mobile Robotic Networks

Most coordinated tasks performed by teams of mobile robots require reliable communications between team members. Therefore, task accomplishment requires that robots navigate their environment with their collective movement restricted to formations that guarantee integrity of the communication network. Maintaining this communication capability induces physical constraints on trajectories but also requires determination of communication variables like routes and transmitted powers. This problem is addressed here using a distributed hybrid approach. Continuous distributed motion controllers based on potential fields interact with discrete distributed optimization of communication variables to result in a multi-robot network ensuring communication integrity. The definition of network integrity differs from existing approaches in that it is not based only on the topology of the network but also on metrics that are of interest to the performance of communication between robots and a fixed infrastructure. Specifically, integrity is defined as the ability of the network to support desired communication rates. The ability of the hybrid controller to guarantee communication integrity while robots move to accomplish their task is studied theoretically and numerically.
Ossification of the yellow ligament and spondylosis and/or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic and lumbar spine.

Abstract Combinations of varying degrees of spondylosis and/or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL) contribute to thoracic and lumbar neural compression in North Americans. Preoperative magnetic resonance and computed tomography examinations dictated the surgical approaches used to address spondylosis/OPLL in 11 patients, OYL in 12 patients, and spondylosis/OPLL and OYL in 3 patients. Myelopathy (4 patients), radiculopathy (13 patients), and cauda equina dysfunction (11 patients) were observed, 2 patients showing combined deficits. Outcomes (Odom's criteria) after laminectomy (24 patients) and circumferential thoracic procedures (2 patients) were good to excellent in the 73% of patients with spondylosis/OPLL, in 83% with OYL, and excellent for all 3 with spondylosis/OPLL and OYL. Full recognition of thoracic or lumbar spondylosis/OPLL and OYL ensure optimal surgical planning and outcomes.