cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Civic Engagement in the Community: Undergraduate Clinical Legal Education

The Community Legal Information Center (CLIC) of California State University, Chico, provides a unique civic engagement program designed to serve the legal service needs of Northern California. Founded in 1969, CLIC is now a 12-program, on-campus law clinic staffed by up to 125 undergraduate students each semester and is the most extensive undergraduate legal clinic in the nation. Although free legal clinics are not unusual at law schools, they are very rare at the undergraduate level. We discuss how CLIC successfully provides students with the opportunity to serve the legal needs of their community while also applying what they have learned through traditional classroom learning. Research on successful undergraduate civic engagement programs is significant because civic engagement and service-learning are often perceived as lacking educational quality and merit. Further, legitimate questions surrounding civic engagement programs, such as the proper educational methodology to be used in such programs, sti...
Regulation of Herbal Dietary Supplements: Is There a Better Way?

This article outlines the importance of herbal dietary supplements regulation by providing a brief overview of history of supplement regulation in the US with emphasis placed on passage of the 1994...
Melatonin, but not Auxin, Affects Postnatal Reproductive Development in the Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys palustris)

Melatonin and the plant hormone auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) have some structural similarity and, may thus exert comparable physiological effects on reproduction and growth. To test this possibility, I examined the effects of melatonin and auxin administration on reproductive and non-reproductive organ development in an animal model, the marsh rice rat Oryzomys palustris. Juvenile males housed under 14L:10D conditions were injected daily for four weeks with saline, melatonin, auxin, or melatonin and auxin, and the development of the testes and other organs was assessed. Melatonin alone significantly inhibited the development of the testes, seminal vesicles, Harderian glands, and overall somatic growth, but not the spleen. Auxin did not affect any endpoint measured. When melatonin was administered simultaneously with auxin, the melatonin effects dominated in suppressing reproduction and growth. The administration of melatonin or auxin in the drinking water produced results similar to the effects of melatonin and auxin injections reported herein. Lastly, both melatonin and auxin in the drinking water failed to alter any short photoperiod-induced reproductive inhibition. These data suggest that structural similarities between melatonin and auxin do not result in similar postnatal effects on reproductive and non-reproductive organ development on a long photoperiod and further suggest that melatonin and auxin do not operate through a common physiological mechanism.
Evaluation of algorithms for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

The development of new diagnostic tests for diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) has not yet resulted in any single algorithm being universally accepted. It is at least partially due to the perception by the clinicians ordering the tests that insufficient weight is given to the actual mortality and morbidity costs of pulmonary angiography in comparison to those associated with PE and its treatment. It also becomes more difficult to intuitively integrate all of the competing factors (e.g., sensitivity, specificity, costs, morbidity, mortality) for the different algorithms to choose the most cost-effective sequence. We evaluated the algorithm recommended by the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) investigators, designated by V, and compared it to pulmonary arteriography (A), MR angiography (M), and CT angiography (C) which directly visualize the pulmonary arteries. Using standard economic approaches to loss of life and morbidity to determine the possible costs, we compared the different algorithms for all possible prevalence values. The sensitivity and specificity rates used in making these comparisons were the average values reported in the literature. We found that the recommended algorithm, V, had the lowest cost, provided that economically reasonable morbidity and mortality costs were used. It seems that this algorithm provides sufficient sensitivity and specificity to compensate for the risks of angiography as compared with the other algorithms that avoid these risks. Neither M nor C can compete with this standard algorithm despite their lower mortality and morbidity costs, and the costs of A alone are too high. In the future, however, the inclusion of venous studies with M and/or C may improve the results sufficiently to become more cost-effective than V.
Examining the Heuristic Value of Models of International Public Relations Practice: A Case Study of the Arla Foods Crisis

When a Danish newspaper published cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in 2005, Danish food company Arla Foods saw its rapid growth in the Middle East halt and sales plummet in the region. Using Arla Foods as a case study, this article tests a critical cultural approach to international public relations through the cultural–economic model, based on the circuit of culture. The article summarizes limitations of the Western neoliberal model of international practice as a segue into the cultural–economic model. By using critical discourse analysis techniques to analyze communications materials from Arla and subsequent news coverage, the study extends international public relations theory and provides suggestions for international public relations best practices.
Determination of the Branching Ratios for the Reaction of Hot H Atoms with BrCN and ClCN

The relative rates for the reaction of translationally energetic H atoms with XCN to yield HNC + X, HCN + X, and HX + CN, where X is Br or Cl, have been determined using time- and frequency-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The H atoms were created with an average translational energy of 92 kJ mol-1 by the laser photolysis of CH3SH at a wavelength of 248 nm. The measurements were carried out at a total pressure of several torr. The dominant channel for each reaction system was the production of hydrogen isocyanide, HNC. The relative branching ratios for H + BrCN and H + ClCN were determined to be 0.85/0.13/0.017 and 0.74/0.25/0.01 for the HNC/HCN/HX + CN channels, respectively. The ratio of the total reaction cross sections, σXCN, was found to be σBrCN/σClCN = 0.84.
Prey size and prey density affect meal patterns of rats in depleting and nondepleting patches.

We examined meal-ending decisions by rats feeding in depleting patches (where the rate of return decreased during a meal) and nondepleting patches (where the rate of return was constant) in a closed-economy, laboratory setting that allowed the precise measurement of feeding rates and meal patterns. The rats were free living in an environment where costs were imposed with bar-press requirements for (1) travelling to a patch to begin a meal and (2) earning prey during the ensuing meal in that patch. The prey in each patch were large or small, and dense or sparse. In both depleting and nondepleting patches, meals were larger as travel price increased. In nondepleting patches, meal size (in grams) was unaffected by the rate of return within the patch, but in depleting patches, meals were larger where the rate of return was higher. In depleting patches, the rats ate the same number of small and large prey per meal, suggesting that meals end when the rate of return reaches some level relative to a comparison value; however, the end-of-meal rate was lower than the average rate (calculated over foraging and feeding time), and thus meals were too large to maximize rate or minimize cost. No obvious rule of thumb explained meal size in both depleting and nondepleting patches.
A comparison of computers

A routine simulating the operation of an analog computer was constructed for use on a digital computer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This code, called DEPI,1 as an abbreviation for ?differential equations pseudocode interpreter,? provides much of the flexibility and ease of operation associated with analog computer operation. A study was made in which the speed, accuracy, and flexibility of the DEPI system were compared with those attributes in a digital differential analyzer, an analog computer, and a digital computer. The vehicle of comparison was a zero-lift, zero-angle-of-attack missile-trajectory problem. The results of this comparison are presented here in tabular and graphical form. Because of variations which exist among commercial models of each type of computer used in the study, the salient features of the particular models are described.
Increased self-administration of d-amphetamine by rats pretreated with metergoline.

Abstract Rats trained to self-administer d -amphetamine were pretreated with metergoline, a long-acting 5-hydroxytryptaminergic antagonist, and immediately placed in self-administration cages for 8 hours. During the first 3 hours after metergoline the normal pattern of d -amphetamine self-administration was unaltered, but thereafter the rate of self-injections was increased. Between 4 and 6 hr the self-injections in metergoline-treated rats were increased in a regular fashion and subsequently (7–8 hr) in a stereotyped manner, i.e., rapid bursts of lever presses with little space between injections. In amphetamine-naive rats the levels of striatal and nucleus accumbens dopamine metabolites, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, rose with time after metergoline injection. Levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid remained unchanged in these brain areas. The neurochemical results suggest a correlation between the dopaminergic actions of metergoline and d -amphetamine self-administration.
148. Acute bipolar disorder depression is associated with immune activation

Recent studies indicate that immune activation may be an important component of the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. The study sample consists of 40 patients admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute bipolar depression. Blood samples were drawn at 3 time points: at time of hospital admission, during the acute hospital stay, and at a six month follow-up. Inflammatory markers were measured including C-reactive protein (CRP), Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), and antibodies to infectious agents. The markers in the bipolar depressed patients were studied over the 3 time points and also compared to those in other groups: 60 hospitalized for acute mania; 69 with recent onset psychosis; 246 with multi-episode schizophrenia; 98 with bipolar disorder not selected for mania or depression; and 222 non-psychiatric controls. The bipolar depressed patients had elevated levels of CRP at all 3 time points. The bipolar depressed patients also had elevated levels of PTX3 at hospital admission which were reduced during the hospital stay and at follow-up. The bipolar depressed group also had elevated levels of antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein of the SARS strain of coronavirus, while elevated levels of these antibodies were not found in the other groups. Our study indicates that bipolar disorder depression is associated with immune activation, particularly during acute exacerbations. These findings may lead to the development of new methods of prevention and treatment.
Cricket frogs maintain body hydration and temperature near levels allowing maximum jump performance.

Abstract One goal of this study was to determine the combination of hydration and temperature in the northern cricket frog Acris crepitans that allowed maximum jump distance in the laboratory. Second, environmental variables in the field were measured to determine the best predictor(s) of mean body temperature and hydration and to determine whether frogs maintain levels of temperature and hydration yielding maximum jump distance. Laboratory data revealed that hydration and the hydration‐temperature interaction significantly affected jump performance. Frogs at 95% and 85% hydration jumped significantly better than frogs at 75% hydration, but frogs at 95% hydration at 15°C jumped significantly poorer than those at 95% hydration at 30°C. Animals at 85% hydration at 30°C and 85% hydration at 15°C jumped just as well as those at 95% hydration at 30°C. Mean body temperature of 55 frogs in the field was 28.0°C, and hydration was 97.4%. Sky condition (sunny, cloudy, or partly cloudy) was the best predictor of fro...
Recent Results from BLAST

The Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid experiment, BLAST, at the MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator Laboratory is designed to study in a systematic manner the spindependent electromagnetic interaction in few-nucleon systems at momentum transfers below 1 GeV/c. Utilizing a polarized electron beam, highly polarized internal gas targets of H and D, and a symmetric detector configuration, BLAST is able to make simultaneous measurements of several reaction channels for different combinations of beam helicity and target polarization (vector for H, both vector and tensor for D). BLAST will provide new data on the nucleon and deuteron form factors as well as study few body physics and pion production. Preliminary results are presented.
Tectorial membrane: a possible effect on frequency analysis in the cochlea

Mathematical analysis and computer and network simulations of the cochlea show that, given appropriate values of specific physical constants, radial shear motion between the tectorial membrane and the reticular lamina may provide the sharpening of frequency analysis observed in cochlear nerve fibers in comparison with the mechanical amplitude distribution on the basilar membrane. According to the analysis, the sharpening occurs through an interaction of the longitudinal mechanical propagation constant of the tectorial membrane with the wavelength on the basilar membrane.
Immunocytochemical identification of laticifers

sensitive immunocytochemical method for the identification of laticifers has been developed. Frozen sections of various laticifer-bearing plant material, mounted on slides, were first flooded with the IgG fraction of rabbit anti-latex antiserum, prepared using whole latex ofAsclepias syriaca, then flooded with fluorescein-conjugated IgG fraction goat anti-rabbit IgG to visualize laticifers. Positive fluorescence was observed for laticifers in shoots and embryos ofA. syriaca andStapelia bella and embryos ofA. tuberosa. Laticifers did not fluoresce in shoots ofA. tuberosa andEuphorbia tirucalli, in embryos ofE. marginata, or in petioles ofMusa paradisiaca andCichorium intybus. Controls prepared with uninjected rabbit serum were negative (no fluorescence).
Personal digital assistant‐based drug reference software as tools to improve rational prescribing: Benchmark criteria and performance

h f t a a a c p p p p b p a t r c w e e m p t t t r n d p URRENT NEED FOR TOOLS TO IMPROVE ATIONAL PRESCRIBING The need for rational prescribing, that is, the selecion of the most appropriate therapeutic regimen for a pecific patient, is greater than ever. For example, a ecent study identified physicians’ poor prescribing perormance as the source for over 70% of clinically ignificant medication errors in a tertiary-care setting. his may not be surprising given that physicians are xpected to incorporate vast amounts of critical inforation on an ever-increasing number of prescription edications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, nd herbal supplements into prescribing in real time. ew data on genetically determined differences in drug ction and drug metabolism become available on a aily basis. The problem is further confounded by an ging population with multiple medical problems takng multiple drugs, vitamins, and herbal preparations. imitations imposed by formulary requirements of ealth insurance plans and hospital systems further omplicate the matter. At the same time, public aware-
A safer vaccine for Alzheimer's disease?

Abstract Recent reports indicate that amyloid-β (Aβ) vaccine-based therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be on the horizon. There are, however, concerns about the safety of this approach. Immunization with Aβ1–42 may not be appropriate in humans because it crosses the blood–brain barrier, can seed fibril formation, and is highly fibrillogenic. Aβ1–42 fibrils can in turn cause inflammation and neurotoxicity. This issue is of a particular concern in the elderly who often do not mount an adequate immune response to vaccines. Our findings show that vaccination with nonamyloidogenic/nontoxic Aβ derivative may be a safer therapeutic approach to impede the progression of Aβ-related histopathology in AD. Although the site of action of the anti-Aβ antibodies has been suggested to be within the brain, peripheral clearance of Aβ may have a greater role in reducing cerebral amyloid plaques in these animals and eventually in AD patients. Antibodies in general are predominantly found outside the central nervous system (CNS) and will, therefore, primarily clear systemic Aβ compared to brain Aβ. This disruption of the equilibrium between central and peripheral Aβ should then result in efflux of Aβ out of the brain, and subsequent removal of plaques. Aβ therapy can be targeted to the periphery, which may result in fewer CNS side effects, such as inflammation. Future Aβ derived vaccines should include Th epitopes, carriers and/or lipid moieties to enhance antibody production in the elderly, the population predominantly affected by AD.
Distribution, Classification, and Ages of Martian Impact Crater Lakes

Paleolakes in impact craters on Mars are characterized at global scale using the Viking Orbiter data. We identified 179 paleolakes in impact structures formed by the influx of water and sediment derived from valley networks and channels that can be classified into three different fluviolacustrine systems: closed, open, and lake-chain systems. We show the hydrogeologic implications for each of the three systems and their significance in terms of duration of fluviolacustrine activity. This study provides a catalog of areographic, physical, and physiographic data for each of the studied impact crater lakes, associated with the description of the sedimentary structures observed. It also identifies environments where life and/or precursors to life could have found favorable conditions to evolve.
High-Resolution Infrared-Vacuum Ultraviolet Photoion and Pulsed Field Ionization-Photoelectron Methods for Spectroscopic Studies of Neutrals and Cations

We show that by scanning the frequency of a single mode infrared (IR) optical parametric oscillator (IR-OPO) laser to excite the molecular species of interest and fixing the frequency of a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser to photoionize the IR excited species, high-resolution IR spectra of polyatomic neutrals can be obtained with high sensitivity. The fact that this IR-VUV-photoion (IR-VUV-PI) method is based on VUV photoionization probe, and thus, allows the identification of the neutral IR absorber, makes it applicable for IR spectroscopy measurements of isotopemers, radicals, and clusters, which usually exist as impure samples. The highly resolved IR-VUV-PI measurements achieved using the single mode IR-OPO laser have made possible the selection of single rovibrational states of CH3X (X = Br and I), C2H4, and C3H4 for VUV-pulsed field ionization-photoelectron (VUV-PFI-PE) measurements, resulting in rovibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra for these polyatomic molecules. These experiments show that the signal-to-noise ratios of the IR-VUV-PI and IR-VUV-PFI-PE spectra obtained by employing the high-resolution IR-OPO laser are significantly higher than those observed in previous IR-VUV-PI and IR-VUV-PFI-PE studies using a low-resolution IR-OPO laser. Further improvement in sensitivity of IR-VUV-PI and IR-VUV-PFI-PE measurements by using the collinear arrangement of IR-VUV lasers and molecular beam is discussed.
Hands-on training in relational database concepts

Abstract Accounting has often been criticized for providing summarized information that satisfies only a limited number of information views. Relational database models can facilitate the collection of an extensive amount of disaggregated data beyond what is available in the traditional accounting model. The ability to query the database provides the decision maker with more types of information, while avoiding the overload that can occur when too much information is presented that is irrelevant to the decision process of a certain group. This article presents a simple hands-on illustration in Microsoft Access that can be used in accounting courses to provide students with the fundamentals of using the relational database model in meeting the information needs of organizational decision makers.
Cirurgia vídeolaparoscópica: precauções e recomendações

O desenvolvimento da cirurgia videolaparoscopica incentivou os cirurgioes a uma atualizacao para melhor compreensao das alteracoes fisiologicas provocadas pela utilizacao do pneumoperitonio com gas carbonico. E de grande relevância o conhecimento de tais alteracoes assim como tambem de medidas para evitar sua progressao para complicacoes de solucao as vezes dificil. Embora a cirurgia laparoscopica tenha se difundido com mais intensidade a partir da decada de 80, maior atencao tem sido dada as suas aplicacoes em um numero crescente de procedimentos cirurgicos, antes realizados exclusivamente pela via aberta, laparotomica ou convencional. No entanto, ha necessidade de mais estudos e pesquisas para um melhor entendimento e manuseio de tais alteracoes. Os autores fazem uma revisao da literatura com enfoque nas alteracoes fisiologicas causadas pelo pneumoperitonio, nas condicoes que interferem nas indicacoes da videocirurgia, principais indicacoes atuais do metodo, suas limitacoes e complicacoes. Chamam a atencao para a ocorrencia de complicacoes relacionadas com o treinamento deficiente.
Very low voltage InGaAlAs/InAlAs MQW core electro-optic modulators fabricated with conventional processing

Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulators with MQW cores fabricated using conventional processing techniques without bonding and substrate removal are reported. Under 10 V reverse bias push-pull V π is 1.1 V and insertion loss can be under 6 dB.
How to structure clinical practice guidelines for continuous quality improvement

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relevance of available practice guidelines to clinical quality improvement programs. A sample of 19 guidelines was evaluated in four prominent primary care areas. Two research assistants independently coded the clinical conditions and recommended/not recommended procedures abstracted from the guidelines (Cohen's kappa .67 and .50, respectively). An average of 35.1 (±25.8) medical conditions and 48.4 (±41.5) clinical procedures were defined by the guidelines. Most conditions were defined by using ICD-9-CM, age/sex group, or therapy, but 29% of definitions included symptoms which are not coded routinely. CPT codes alone were unable to identify most procedures. AHCPR guidelines mentioned significantly more procedures (p < .001) and fewer symptoms (p < .001) per clinical condition than other guidelines. The difficulty of finding codes for conditions and procedures, the high rate of non-codable items, and the lack of recommended measures limit the applicability of published clinical practice guidelines to continuous quality improvement programs.
Dispersion functions and factors that determine resolution for DNA sequencing by gel electrophoresis

The number of bases that can be read in a single run by a DNA sequencing instrument that detects fluorophore labeled DNA arriving at a ``finish-line`` located a fixed distance from the starting wells is influenced by numerous parameters. Strategies for improving the length-of-read of a DNA sequencer can be based on quantitative models of the separation of DNA by gel electrophoresis. The dispersion function of the electrophoretic system--the relationship between molecular contour length and time of arrival at the detector--is useful in characterizing the performance of a DNA sequencer. We adapted analytical representations of dispersion functions, originally developed for snapshot imaging of DNA gels, (samples electrophoresed for constant time), to finish-line imaging, and demonstrated that a logistic-type function with non-integral exponent is required to describe the experimental data. We use this dispersion function to determine the resolution length and resolving power of a LI-COR DNA sequencing system and a custom built capillary gel electrophoresis system, and discuss the factors that presently limit the number of bases that can be determined reliably in a single sequencing run.
Mantle cloak: Invisibility induced by a surface

The exotic wave interaction of metamaterials has been recently applied to various cloaking applications, but the metamaterial realization in practical cloaks is still far from ideal. Current fabrication techniques are inherently based on the volumetric properties of metamaterials, which require a non-negligible electrical thickness. I introduce here the idea of surface cloaking, showing that a patterned metasurface may produce similar cloaking effects in a simpler and thinner geometry. The currents induced on a passive surface are tailored to drastically suppress the visibility of a given object.
Development and in-vivo evaluation of ondansetron gels for transdermal delivery

AbstractNausea and vomiting are some of the major side effects caused by certain drug therapies, e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy and general anesthesia. Because of the nature of the symptoms, oral delivery is inappropriate, while intravenous administration may be unpractical. The aim of the present study was to develop a transdermal gel (2% Klucel®) for ondansetron, a first line 5-HT3-receptor-antagonist antiemetic. The effects of the penetration enhancer camphor and isopropyl-myristate (IPM) were first investigated in-vitro using modified Franz diffusion-cells and then tested in-vivo in a rabbit model by measuring skin and plasma concentrations. Since a disadvantage of transdermal delivery is a prolonged lag-time, the effect of skin treatment with a micro-needle roller was tested. The in-vitro permeation studies through excised porcine ear skin showed that the presence of 2.5% camphor or IPM increased steady state flux by 1.2- and 2.5-fold, respectively, compared to the control gel. Ondansetron was not d...
Minocycline inhibits the enhancement of antidromic primary afferent stimulation-evoked vasodilation following intradermal capsaicin injection

Neurogenic inflammation is induced by inflammatory mediators released in peripheral tissue from primary afferent nociceptors. Our previous studies suggest that neurogenic inflammation induced by intradermal injection of capsaicin results from the enhancement of dorsal root reflexes (DRRs), which involve antidromic activation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Numerous studies have reported the important role of glial modulation in pain. However, it remains unclear whether glial cells participate in the process of neurogenic inflammation-induced pain. Here we tested the role of DRG satellite glial cells (SGCs) in this process in anesthetized rats by administration of a glial inhibitor, minocycline. Electrical stimuli (ES, frequency 10 Hz; duration 1 ms; strength 3 mA) were applied to the cut distal ends of the L4-5 dorsal roots. The stimuli evoked antidromic action potentials designed to mimic DRRs. Local cutaneous blood flow in the hindpaw was measured using a Doppler flow meter. Antidromic ES for 10 min evoked a significant vasodilation that could be inhibited dose-dependently by local administration of the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist, CGRP8-37. Pretreatment with capsaicin intradermally injected into the hindpaw 2 h before the ES enhanced greatly the vasodilation evoked by antidromic ES, and this enhancement could be reversed by minocycline pretreatment. Our findings support the view that neurogenic inflammation following capsaicin injection involves antidromic activation of DRG neurons via the generation of DRRs. Inhibition of neurogenic inflammation by minocycline is suggested to be associated with its inhibitory effect on SGCs that are possibly activated following capsaicin injection.
Propofol directly depresses lumbar dorsal horn neuronal responses to noxious stimulation in goats

Purpose: We tested the hypothesis that propofol, acting in the brain, would either enhance, or have no effect, on lumbar dorsal horn neuronal responses to a noxious mechanical stimulus applied to the hindlimb. We recorded the response of lumbar dorsal horn neurons during differential delivery of propofol to the brain and torso of goats.
Heterodyne-detected fifth-order nonresonant Raman scattering from room temperature CS2.

One of the major unsolved questions in ultrafast liquid dynamics is how diffusive dynamics (i.e., those involving structural change) emerge from the fluctuations of individual molecules around their equilibrium positions. This question is intimately related to that of energy flow between different degrees of freedom in the liquid and ultimately to the flow of energy between solutes and solvents which initiate chemical reactions and stabilize products once barriers are crossed. The challenge of developing a spectroscopic technique that can probe the intermolecular frequencies characteristic of liquid motions, and their couplings with each other, has proved technically demanding. The need for a nonresonant form of photon echo spectroscopy, capable of eliminating the ensemble average broadening inherent in linear spectroscopy, was recognized by Tanimura and Mukamel, who proposed a fifth-order Raman measurement, initially as a probe of spatial heterogeneity [1,2]. In the experiment, two pump pulses prepare a vibrational coherence. After a time t1 ,a second set of pulses transfers this vibrational coherence to a second vibrational coherence. After a time t2, the second coherence is probed. It was quickly realized that this measurement also probes couplings between different nuclear motions and thus possesses the potential to provide qualitatively new insights into the anharmonic dynamics of liquid motion. The technique has, in principle, wide applicability to condensed phase dynamical problems, such as the question of spatial heterogeneity of liquids near the glass transition, or determination of biopolymer structure (with femtosecond time resolution) through space coupling of specific vibrational modes. The full potential of nonlinear optical spectroscopy is realized only when the full signal field, rather than the signal intensity, is measured, since only then can sign changes be determined and linear combinations of different signals be created to characterize the response [3]. In this Letter, we report actively phase-locked heterodyne detection of the fifth-order Raman signal from liquid CS2. We believe that this is the first measurement to obtain the fully nonresonant R 5 response, avoiding complications from the presence of either R 3 and absorptive portions of third-order cascade
Analytic and finite element solutions for bending and buckling of orthotropic rectangular plates

Abstract This paper presents a critical review of analytic solutions for bending and buckling of flat, rectangular, orthotropic thin plates. Considered are plates with all edges simply supported, two edges simply supported and two edges clamped, and all edges clamped. An orthotropy resealing technique is employed to simplify the analysis. The material orthotropy is characterized by two non-dimensional parameters, λ = ( D 22 / D 11 and η = ( D 12 + 2 D 26 )/√ D 11 D 22 . When η ≈ 1, many solutions for orthotropic plates can be obtained directly from the corresponding isotropic results. Systematic comparisons with finite element solutions are made for the critical buckling load of a plate under in-plane compression, and for deflection and stresses in a plate under out-of-plane uniform pressure. It is found that for plates with all edges clamped, the analytic solution for critical buckling load is neither accurate nor conservative; a better solution needs to be developed for design purposes. The validity of the thin plate theory solutions over a range of plate thicknesses is also examined.
Potential-dependent phase partitioning of fluorescent hydrophobic ions in phospholipid vesicles

Fluorescent, dansyl derivatives of triphenylalkylphosphonium ions have been synthesized and exhibit fluorescence intensities in small sonicated phospholipid vesicles that are dependent upon transmembrane potentials. The voltage-dependent fluorescence changes are a result of changes in quantum yield that accompany a voltage-dependent phase partitioning of the probe. This phase partitioning is easily quantitated by calibrating the intensities of totally membrane-associated and aqueous probe. The voltage-dependence is well accounted for by a simple thermodynamic model and allows an estimation of potentials from fluorescence intensities in small vesicle systems.
Comparative Physical Mapping of the Apospory-Specific Genomic Region in Two Apomictic Grasses: Pennisetum squamulatum and Cenchrus ciliaris

In gametophytic apomicts of the aposporous type, each cell of the embryo sac is genetically identical to somatic cells of the ovule because they are products of mitosis, not of meiosis. The egg of the aposporous embryo sac follows parthenogenetic development into an embryo; therefore, uniform progeny result even from heterozygous plants, a trait that would be valuable for many crop species. Attempts to introgress apomixis from wild relatives into major crops through traditional breeding have been hindered by low or no recombination within the chromosomal region governing this trait (the apospory-specific genomic region or ASGR). The lack of recombination also has been a major obstacle to positional cloning of key genes. To further delineate and characterize the nonrecombinant ASGR, we have identified eight new ASGR-linked, AFLP-based molecular markers, only one of which showed recombination with the trait for aposporous embryo sac development. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones identified with the ASGR-linked AFLPs or previously mapped markers, when mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization in Pennisetum squamulatum and Cenchrus ciliaris, showed almost complete macrosynteny between the two apomictic grasses throughout the ASGR, although with an inverted order. A BAC identified with the recombinant AFLP marker mapped most proximal to the centromere of the ASGR-carrier chromosome in P. squamulatum but was not located on the ASGR-carrier chromosome in C. ciliaris. Exceptional regions where synteny was disrupted probably are nonessential for expression of the aposporous trait. The ASGR appears to be maintained as a haplotype even though its position in the genome can be variable.
Receptor heterodimerization : a new level of cross-talk

Most G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) probably exist as homodimers, but it is increasingly recognized that GPCRs may also dimerize with other types of GPCRs and that this physical interaction may affect the function of either receptor. A study in this issue of the JCI demonstrates how heterodimerization between prostaglandin E receptors and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (beta(2)ARs) in airway smooth muscle cells results in uncoupling of beta(2)ARs and a diminished bronchodilator response to beta(2)AR agonists (see the related article beginning on page 1400). This illustrates what we believe to be a novel mechanism of receptor cross-talk and highlights the potential importance of GPCR heterodimerization in diseases such as asthma and how this could lead to the development of more specific therapies in the future.
Ceramic electrodes for photoelectrolytic decomposition of water

Abstract In the last decade a number of semiconducting oxides have been identified which serve as essential components in the photoassisted electrolytic decomposition of water to produce hydrogen fuel. To date, this attractive process still suffers from relatively low solar energy conversion efficiencies. In this paper we outline the operating principles characterizing photoelectrolytic cells, and discuss those materials properties which appear most relevant to their efficient operation. Recent data obtained for BaTiO 3 and other photoelectrodes are presented which illustrate the importance of materials preparation.
Statistical aspects of ultracold resonant scattering

Compared to purely atomic collisions, ultracold collisions involving molecules have the potential to support a much larger number of Fano-Feshbach resonances due to the huge amount of ro-vibrational states available. In order to handle such ultracold atom-molecule collisions, we formulate a theory that incorporates the ro-vibrational Fano-Feshbach resonances in a statistical manner while treating the physics of the long-range scattering, which is sensitive to such things as hyperfine states, collision energy, and any applied electromagnetic fields, exactly within multichannel quantum defect theory. Uniting these two techniques, we can assess the influence of highly resonant scattering in the threshold regime, and in particular its dependence on the hyperfine state selected for the collision. This allows us to explore the onset of Ericson fluctuations in the regime of overlapping resonances, which are well known in nuclear physics but completely unexplored in the ultracold domain.
From Adolescent Angst to Adulthood: Substantive Implications and Measurement Dilemmas in the Development of Teacher Efficacy Research

Founded in social cognitive theory, teachers' self-efficacy beliefs have been repeatedly associated with positive teaching behaviors and student outcomes. However, teacher efficacy has developed a storied history regarding construct validity and measurement integrity. Study of teacher efficacy now stands on the verge of maturity, but such developmental growth will likely be contingent on development of strong theoretical models and effective instrumentation to assess theoretical constructs. The purpose of this article is to (a) briefly review the theoretical foundation of teacher efficacy and critically evaluate historical attempts to measure teacher efficacy, (b) discuss important substantive implications stemming from efficacy research that may advance the field, (c) present recent measurement advances, and (d) highlight several methodologies that have been underutilized in development of teacher efficacy instruments.
Penile agenesis associated with urethral and bilateral renal agenesis

Penile agenesis is a rare anomaly, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 30 million. Most cases are compatible with life but require early surgical intervention. This case is unusual in that there was an associated agenesis of the kidneys and urethra leading to fatal oligohydramnios sequence with pulmonary hypoplasia.
Kinetic modeling of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in differently pretreated fibers from dairy manure.

A kinetic model incorporating dynamic adsorption, enzymatic hydrolysis, and product inhibition was developed for enzymatic hydrolysis of differently pretreated fibers from a nitrogen-rich lignocellulosic material—dairy manure. The effects of manure proteins on the enzyme adsorption profile during hydrolysis have been discussed. Enzyme activity, instead of protein concentration, was used to describe the enzymatic hydrolysis in order to avoid the effect of manure protein on enzyme protein analysis. Dynamic enzyme adsorption was modeled based on a Langmiur-type isotherm. A first-order reaction was applied to model the hydrolysis with consideration being given for the product inhibition. The model satisfactorily predicted the behaviors of enzyme adsorption, hydrolysis, and product inhibition for all five sample manure fibers. The reaction conditions were the substrate concentrations of 10–50 g/L, enzyme loadings of 7–150 FPU/g total substrate, and the reaction temperature of 50°C. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 441–451. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fast Discovery of Spectrum Opportunities in Cognitive Radio Networks

We address the problem of rapidly discovering spectrum opportunities for seamless service provisioning for secondary users (SUs) in cognitive radio networks (CRNs). Specifically, we propose an efficient sensing-sequence that incurs a small opportunity-discovery delay by considering (1) the probability that a spectrum band (or a channel) may be available at the time of sensing, (2) the duration of sensing on a channel, and (3) the channel capacity. We derive the optimal sensing-sequence for channels with homogeneous capacities, and a suboptimal sequence for channels with heterogeneous capacities for which the problem of finding the optimal sensing-sequence is shown to be NP-hard. To support the proposed sensing-sequence, we also propose a channel-management strategy that optimally selects and updates the list of backup channels. A hybrid of maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference is also introduced for flexible estimation of ON/OFF channel-usage patterns and prediction of channel availability when sensing produces infrequent samples. The proposed schemes are evaluated via in-depth simulation. For the scenarios we considered, the proposed suboptimal sequence is shown to achieve close-to-optimal performance, reducing the opportunity-discovery delay by up to 47% over an existing probability-based sequence. The hybrid estimation strategy is also shown to outperform the ML-only strategy by reducing the overall opportunity-discovery delay by up to 34%.
Barriers to Water Conservation in the Rio Grande Basin1

The Rio Grande basin shares problems faced by many arid regions of the world: growing and com- peting demands for water and river flows and uses that are vulnerable to drought and climate change. In recent years legislation, administrative action, and other measures have emerged to encourage private investment in efficient agricultural water use. Nevertheless, several institutional barriers discourage irrigators from investing in water conservation measures. This article examines barriers to agricultural water conservation in the Rio Grande basin and identifies challenges and opportunities for promoting it. Several barriers to water conserva- tion are identified: clouded titles, water transfer restrictions, illusory water savings, insecure rights to conserved water, shared carry-over storage, interstate compacts, conservation attitudes, land tenure arrangements, and an uncertain duty of water. Based on data on water use and crop production costs, price is found to be a major fac- tor influencing water conservation. A low water price discourages water conservation even if other institutions promote it. A high price of water encourages conservation even in the presence of other discouraging factors. In conclusion, water-conserving policies can be more effectively implemented where water institutions and pro- grams are designed to be compatible with water's underlying economic scarcity. (KEY TERMS: water economics; irrigation; institutions; water policy; water conservation; sustainability.)
Textunderstanding in LILOG - Sorts and Reference Objects

The main objective of the project LILOG (Linguistic and Logic Methods) is to develop concepts and methods for understanding German texts and dialogs. ‘Understanding’, in this context, refers to the construction of a semantic representation of a piece of text or of a dialog statement, that is a (partial) model of the situation described in the text. This representation is held in a computer memory and is used by the knowledge processing component, e.g., for extracting information to augment a knowledge base, or for answering questions about the text, etc. As a prerequisite, appropriate means for constructing such a model must be available in a permanent knowledge base. These means must be retrieved and applied to the actual situation by appropriate processes.
High-precision visual control of mobile manipulators

In this paper, we present a high-precision visual control method for mobile manipulators called mobile camera-space manipulation (MCSM). Development of MCSM was inspired by the unique challenges presented in conducting unmanned planetary exploration using rovers. In order to increase the efficacy of such missions, the amount of human interaction must be minimized due to the large time delay and high cost of transmissions between Earth and other planets. Using MCSM, the rover can maneuver itself into position, engage a target rock, and perform any of a variety of manipulation tasks all with one round-trip transmission of instruction. MCSM also achieves a high level of precision in positioning the onboard manipulator relative to its target. Experimental results are presented in which a rover positions a tool mounted in its manipulator to within 1 mm of the desired target feature on a rock. MCSM makes efficient use of all of the system's degrees of freedom (DOF), which reduces the required number of actuators for the manipulator. This reduction in manipulator DOFs decreases overall system weight, power consumption, and complexity while increasing reliability. MCSM does not rely on a calibrated camera system. Its excellent positioning precision is robust to model errors and uncertainties in measurements, a great strength for systems operating in harsh environments.
Variation in Arthropod Communities in Response to Urbanization: Seven Years of Arthropod Monitoring in a Desert City

Continuous monitoring is essential to understand dynamics of biological communities in response to urbanization, and to provide guidance in landscape planning for conserving urban biodiversity. Arthropods serve this purpose because they are abundant and diverse in urban areas, and relatively easy to collect. Over seven years, in the Central Arizona Phoenix area, arthropod communities in three urban habitat categories were collected and compared to arthropods in natural desert using pitfall traps and non-parametric analyses. First, we tested for differences in arthropod composition, abundances, and diversity across habitats and years. Second, we examined how conclusions about arthropod diversity vary with level of taxonomic resolution. We found that arthropod community composition varied among the four habitats at all taxonomic levels tested. In particular, urban mesic habitats had generally lower diversity than natural desert habitats, although with some exceptions. In contrast, mesic habitats had higher arthropod abundance than all habitats, and fluctuations in abundance were completely independent from changes in precipitation. Taxonomic shortcuts gave overall good impressions of community differences, but finer taxonomic resolutions on certain groups of arthropods revealed distinctly different responses to urbanization (e.g., higher beetle and ant diversity in the urban habitats). Urban areas have great potential for arthropod diversity, but community composition and dynamics are notably different from natural habitats. Institutions, local governments and homeowners can make an impact in arthropod conservation by choice of landscaping, and we recommend that remnants of natural habitats within cities receive further attention in urban planning.[The original abstract for this article contains images that cannot be displayed here. Please click on the link below to read the full abstract and article.]
Electrode initiated proton-coupled electron transfer to promote degradation of a nickel( ii ) coordination complex

A Ni(II) bisphosphine dithiolate compound degrades into an electrode-adsorbed film that can evolve hydrogen under reducing and protic conditions. An electrochemical study suggests that the degradation mechanism involves an initial concerted proton–electron transfer. The potential susceptibility of Ni–S bonds in molecular hydrogen evolution catalysts to degradation via C–S bond cleavage is discussed.