cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ammonite Zonation in Condensed Zone, Middle Ozan Formation (Taylor Group, Upper Cretaceous) in Northeast Texas: ABSTRACT

Recognition of condensed zones is important because they may be marker horizons that are useful in exploration. Such a zone is demonstrated by the occurrence of ammonites belonging to 12 species and 9 genera from the middle Ozan Formation (lower Taylor Marl) in northeast Texas. The 1-foot (0.3-m) thick bed of bioturbated glauconitic biomicrite contains many specimens of disarticulated vertebrates, molluscs, remanie fossils (blackened phosphatic internal molds), and hiatus concretions. Four of 6 midcontinent ammonite range zones proposed by Cobban and others appear to be represented in the fauna, in ascending order, by Baculites aquilaensis Reeside, Delawarella delawarensis (Morton) (= zones of two unnamed species of Baculites), Baculites obtusus Meek, and Trachyscaphites piniger porchi Adkins (= zones of Baculites mclearni and B. asperiformis). Young may be correct in assuming that the occurrence of Delawarella delawarensis and Baculites aquilaensis in the Ozan Formation may mean that rocks of the upper Austin Group and parts of the lower Taylor Group are the same age. If correlation with the midcontinent zonation is correct, then the sediments that formed the condensed zone slowly accumulated from 81 to 79 m.y. (mid early Campanian to early late Campanian). Several species of the fauna are preserved as both normal and remanie fossils, indicating that members of these species lived in the area for an extended period of time, perhaps as a relict fauna. The fauna includes a mixture of cosmopolitan and endemic species (indicating open shelf environment) wit several types of heteromorphs (indicating moderate water depths). End_of_Article - Last_Page 473------------
Screening models for batch process development. Part I. Design targets for reaction/distillation networks

Screening formulations for batch process development are introduced. Screening models bound the dynamic performance of batch distillation and reaction tasks with algebraic models. The discrete design decisions related to the structure of the processing network and the assignment of equipment are considered simultaneously with the dynamic decisions concerning the operating policies of the tasks within a convex mixed-integer model that yields a rigorous lower bound on the cost of the design. These formulations not only provide design targets to measure the potential for improving existing designs, but also perform aspects of the process synthesis such as selection of separation structures and solvents from a list of candidates. The derivation of the screening models and the way in which they can be used to enhance existing techniques for batch process development are discussed.
Improved in vivo human carotid artery wall T2* estimation

Abstract T 2 ⁎ quantification has been shown to noninvasively and accurately estimate tissue iron content in the liver and heart; applying this to thin-walled carotid arteries introduces a new challenge to the estimation process. With most imaging voxels in a vessel being along its boundaries, errors in parameter estimation may result from partial volume mixing and misregistration due to motion in addition to noise and other common error sources. To minimize these errors, we propose a novel technique to reliably estimate T 2 ⁎ in thin regions of vessel wall. The technique weights data points to reduce the influence of expected error sources. It uses neighborhoods of data to increase the number of points for fitting and to assess lack of fit for automated outlier detection and deletion. The performance of this method was observed in simulations, phantom and in vivo patient studies and compared to results obtained using a pixelwise linear least squares estimation of T 2 ⁎ . The new proposed method showed a closer match to the expected results, and a 4.2-fold decrease in interobserver variability for in vivo studies. This increased confidence in estimation should improve the ability to reliably quantify iron noninvasively in the arterial wall.
Variation of the polarizability of the hydrogen molecule ion and the hydrogen molecule with internuclear separation

The variation of the polarizability of H and H2 with internuclear separation R = 1.6 – R = 2.4 a.u. for H and R = 1.0 – R = 2.0 a.u. for H2 is determined using a variational method suggested by Das and Bersohn. From these data, values of 〈α〉0,J for which nuclear motion due to zero point vibration and centrifugal stretching is taken into account, are calculated at 300°K. The relative percent increases of the motion averaged values compared to the equilibrium values are as follows: 10.50% for H and 6.52% for H2.
A graph-theoretic approach to process plant design

Abstract Somewhere between the almost mindless computer simulation of process plants and the tedious circuit analysis of process plants lies the graph-theoretic approach to process plant design. This approach permits a visual understanding of process plants while providing for sufficient mathematical rigor to obtain realistic plant designs. The graph-theoretic approach, unlike some computer simulation programs, involves the designer in the intelligent decision-making activities of process plant design. This approach offers the advantage of being able to be used with sophisticated optimization strategies, of being able to be computerized when designing large process plants, and of also offering a very rapid non-algebraic solution and sensitivity analysis when working on smaller process problems.
Inverse scattering theory with stochastic initial potentials

Abstract Most applications of Inverse Scattering Theory assume that the initial potential is a well defined quantity. In applications concerning laser pulse propagation through nonlinear media, this is frequently not the case, since the input pulse may have stochastic properties. We consider here the effect on the scattering data when the phase of the initial pulse varies randomly.
Thermal Tumor Ablation in Clinical Use

Although a surgical procedure is performed by visual inspection with histopathological assessment of the excised tumor and margins, percutaneous and noninvasive thermal ablation is performed strictly with the aid of imaging. Applicator guidance into the target zone, treatment monitoring and verification, and clinical follow-up rely on effective imaging. Detailed discussion of imaging is beyond the scope of this article, but the influence of imaging on the choice of thermal ablation or procedural approach will be discussed as needed. More information on imaging for interventional therapies can be found in other articles in this issue of IEEE Pulse.
Thalamic glutamatergic afferents into the rat basolateral amygdala exhibit increased presynaptic glutamate function following withdrawal from chronic intermittent ethanol

Amygdala glutamatergic neurotransmission regulates withdrawal induced anxiety-like behaviors following chronic ethanol exposure. The lateral/basolateral amygdala receives multiple glutamatergic projections that contribute to overall amygdala function. Our lab has previously shown that rat cortical (external capsule) afferents express postsynaptic alterations during chronic intermittent ethanol exposure and withdrawal. However, thalamic (internal capsule) afferents also provide crucial glutamatergic input during behavioral conditioning, and they have not been studied in the context of chronic drug exposure. We report here that these thalamic inputs express altered presynaptic function during withdrawal from chronic ethanol exposure. This is characterized by enhanced release probability, as exemplified by altered paired-pulse ratios and decreased failure rates of unitary events, and increased concentrations of synaptic glutamate. Quantal analysis further implicates a withdrawal-dependent enhancement of the readily releasable pool of vesicles as a probable mechanism. These functional alterations are accompanied by increased expression of vesicle associated protein markers. These data demonstrate that chronic ethanol modulation of glutamate neurotransmission in the rat lateral/basolateral amygdala is afferent-specific. Further, presynaptic regulation of lateral/basolateral amygdala thalamic inputs by chronic ethanol may be a novel neurobiological mechanism contributing to the increased anxiety-like behaviors that characterize withdrawal.
Land-cover change and environmental impact analysis in the Greater Mankato area of Minnesota using remote sensing and GIS modelling

Land use and land-cover (LULC) data provide essential information for environmental management and planning. This research evaluates the land-cover change dynamics and their effects for the Greater Mankato Area of Minnesota using image classification and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) modelling in high-resolution aerial photography and QuickBird imagery. Results show that from 1971 to 2003, urban impervious surfaces increased from 18.3% to 32.6%, while cropland and grassland decreased from 54.2% to 39.1%. The dramatic urbanization caused evident environmental impacts in terms of runoff and water quality, whereas the annual air pollution removal rate and carbon storage/sequestration remained consistent since urban forests were steady over the 32-year span. The results also indicate that highly accurate land-cover features can be extracted effectively from high-resolution imagery by incorporating both spectral and spatial information, applying an image-fusion technique, and utilizing the hierarchical machine-learning Feature Analyst classifier. This research fills the high-resolution LULC data gap for the Greater Mankato Area. The findings of the study also provide valuable inputs for local decision-makers and urban planners.
Mortality plateaus and directionality theory

Recent large scale studies of senescence in animals and humans have revealed mortality rates that levelled off at advanced ages. These empirical findings are now known to be inconsistent with evolutionary theories of senescence based on the Malthusian parameter as a measure of fitness. This article analyses the incidence of mortality plateaus in terms of directionality theory, a new class of models based on evolutionary entropy as a measure of fitness. We show that the intensity of selection, in the context of directionality theory, is a convex function of age, and we invoke this property to predict that in populations evolving under bounded growth constraints, evolutionarily stable mortality patterns will be described by rates which abate with age at extreme ages. The explanatory power of directionality theory, in contrast with the limitations of the Malthusian model, accords with the claim that evolutionary entropy, rather than the Malthusian parameter, constitutes the operationally valid measure of Darwinian fitness.
Misaligned mechanical ultrasound transducer contributes to carotid puncture

This report describes a complication from the use of a mechanical ultrasound transducer and needle guide to perform internal jugular cannulation. Misalignment of the probe led to an inability to visualize the needle and accidental carotid puncture. Placement of the central line was successful with landmark technique, and there were no sequelae. The transducer design explains how such misalignment may occur if the crystal oscillation is not symmetric. The manufacturer recommends periodic testing for probe alignment, and awareness of this potential problem may help other users avoid patient injury with this type of ultrasound transducer.
A writing assignment extended: An occasion for young people to construct writer identities

Becoming a successful writer is an important skill for the young because it predicts academic success, supports and extends learning, provides opportunities to participate in civic and community life and fulfils expectations of the workforce to create clear and concise documents. Many secondary students in the US, however, struggle to gain basic academic literacy skills that meet the demands of higher education and the workforce. This qualitative study explored how a specific writing genre, occasional papers, opened opportunities for students to situate themselves and each other as authors in an 11th-grade English classroom. The paper argues that high school students need more opportunities to construct their identities as lifelong authors, who write to make sense of themselves and the world around them and write to promote dialogue with an audience if they are to succeed at high-stakes exams and writing as a member of the workforce. Suggestions for how to integrate such writing within a standardized curr...
One- and two-photon excitations of σ-conjugated chains

Abstract The Sandorfy C model of alternating transfer integrals t(1 ± δ) for σ conjugation in (SiRR′)n polymers is extended to include Coulomb interactions. The resulting Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) models are solved exactly for oligomers with n⩽6 and extrapolated to polymers. Increasing alternation δ reverses the position of the one-photon excitation to 1 1B and two-photon excitation to 2 1A for PPP parameters appropriate to either polyenes with δ⩽0.10 or polysilanes (PS) with δ ≈ 1 3 . The PS excitation to 1 1B is about 1 eV below the 2 1A level due to exciton formation. The corresponding states are essentially degenerate in Hubbard models restricted to on-site interactions U=2t for δ>0.10. The dimer limit (δ ≈ 1) relates PPP or Hubbard models and their microscopic parameters to bond, charge-transfer, and triplet excitons and rationalizes the numerical results for arbitrary δ.
Obtaining nonlinear aerodynamic stability coefficients from free-angular motion of rigid bodies

An extension of the method of Kryloff and Bogoliuboff is employed to obtain an approximate solution of the nonlinear differential equations of motion for the complex angle of attack. The primary objective is to obtain, from the angular motions of rigid bodies, the nonlinear restoring, damping, and Magnus moment stability coefficients. Using representative values of these coefficients and initial conditions, angular motions are simulated by numerical integration of the complete equations of motion. A nonlinear data reduction procedure is applied to the integrated data in order to evaluate the nonlinear theory. This evaluation indicates that the nonlinear aerodynamic stability coefficients could be accurately determined. A three-degree-of-freedom subsonic wind tunnel testing technique has been used to obtain experimental angular data for an Apache sounding rocket model. From the application of the nonlinear theory to the wind-tunnel data, it is shown that the aerodynamic stability coefficients are highly nonlinear functions of angle of attack.
Critical response of shielded plates subjected to hypervelocity impact

Abstract A ballistic limit equation for hypervelocity impact on thin plates is derived analytically. This equation applies to cases of impulsive impact on a plate that is protected by a multi-shock shield, and is valid in the range of velocity above 6 km/s. Experimental tests were conducted at the NASA Johnson Space Center on square aluminum plates. Comparing the center deflections of these plates with the theoritical deflections of a rigid-plastic plate subjected to a blast load, one determines the dynamic yield strength of the plate material. The analysis is based on a theory for the expansion of the fragmented projectile and on a simple failure criterion. Curves are presented for the critical projectile radius verus the projectile velocity, and for the critical plate thickness versus the velocity. These curves are in good agreement with curves that have been generated empirically.
Genotoxicity of vanadium pentoxide in Chinese hamster V79 cells

Workers in many mining and manufacturing industries are potentially exposed to vanadium. Inhalation of dust containing vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), a pentavalent compound of vanadium, has been reported to cause lung diseases. Information related to the genotoxicity and potential carcinogenicity of V2O5, however, is still limited. In this study, the effect of V2O5 on mitosis, sister-chromatid exchange (SCE), micronucleus formation (MN), and gene mutation in Chinese hamster V79 cells was determined. Cells were treated with varying concentrations of V2O5 for 24 h. The results showed that no significant increases in the frequencies of SCE or gene mutation occurred in V2O5-treated cultures. However, dose-related increases were noted for micronucleated cells in cultures exposed to this compound, and the number of binucleated cells in the presence of cytochalasin B was found to decrease with increasing V2O5 concentrations. Since the micronucleated cells induced by V2O5 contained kinetochore-positive micronuclei, their induction appears to be due to damage to the spindle apparatus. These results indicate that V2O5 is cytotoxic and aneuploidogenic to V79 cells.
Extinction mechanisms of near-limit premixed flames and extended limits of flammability

The response of near-flammability-limit, weakly burning, counterflow premixed flames as a function of stretch rate has been studied computationally with detailed chemistry and transport properties. The limit mechanisms and extinction phenomena are found to be strongly influenced by the combined effects of flame stretch, mixture non-equidiffusion, and radiative loss. For subunity Lewis number flames such as those of lean methane/air, the combined effects of mixture non-equidiffusion and positive stretch elevate the combustion intensity such that steady burning persists beyond the fundamental flammability limit defined for the one-dimensional planar flame. Furthermore, the flame response to stretch rate variations exhibits a dual-extinction, turning-point behavior in that flame extinction occurs not only for sufficiently large stretch rates and minimal radiative heat loss, but also for sufficiently small stretch rates and relatively substantial heat loss. Consequently, for a given mixture strength, steady combustion is possible only within a finite range of the stretch rate. This range steadily diminishes with decreasing mixture strength such that there exists a critical equivalence ratio, the extended flammability limit, beyond which steady burning for the stretch-enhanced flame also ceases to be possible. For lean propane/air flames, however, the mixture Lewis numbers are greater than unity such that the combined stretch and non-equidiffusion effects always diminish the burning intensity. Consequently, the transition from stretch-dominated extinction to loss-dominated extinction is monotonic in terms of the equivalence ratio, and the fundamental flammability limit is the proper flammability limit. The present results agree well with the recent experimental observations of near-limit, lean methane/air and propane/air flames, obtained under microgravity conditions needed to eliminate the influence of buoyancy, which could severely affect the response of these weakly burning flames. Implications of the present understanding on the experimental determination of flammability limits using the counterflow flame technique are also discussed.
The Time-Skill-Frequency (TSF) Unit for Reporting Laboratory Work-Load

The concept that the number of tests performed is an accurate measure of the laboratory work-load may be misleading. On the premise that a system based on technician time would be superior, the time-skill-frequency (TSF) unit was devised. The TSF unit is the length of time necessary for an average analyst to perform a single determination, multiplied by factors based on the length of time necessary to do duplicate determinations, the skill involved, and the frequency with which the test is performed in the laboratory. Ideally such units should be calculated for the methods and conditions of each individual laboratory.
A Matter of Trust: Patient Barriers to Primary Medication Adherence.

Primary medication adherence occurs when a patient properly fills the first prescription for a new medication. Primary adherence only occurs about three-quarters of the time for antihypertensive medications. We assessed patients' barriers to primary adherence and attributes of patient-provider discussions that might improve primary adherence for antihypertensives. In total, 26 patients with incomplete primary adherence for an antihypertensive, identified using their retail pharmacy claims, participated in four focus groups. Following a moderators' guide developed a priori, moderators led patients in a discussion of patients' attitudes and experiences with hypertension and receiving an antihypertensive medication, barriers to primary adherence, and their preferences for shared decision making and communication with providers. Three authors analysed and organized data into salient themes, including patients' anger about and suspicion of their hypertension diagnosis, the need for medication and providers' credibility. A trusting patient-provider relationship, shared decision-making support, full disclosure of side effects and cost sensitivity were attributes that might enhance primary adherence. Developing decision support interventions that strengthen the patient-provider relationship by enhancing provider credibility and patient trust prior to prescribing may provide more effective approaches for improving primary adherence.
Mapping the epithelial-cell-binding domain of the Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans autotransporter adhesin Aae

The Gram-negative periodontopathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) binds selectively to buccal epithelial cells (BECs) of human and Old World primates by means of the outer-membrane autotransporter protein Aae. We speculated that the exposed N-terminal portion of the passenger domain of Aae would mediate binding to BECs. By using a series of plasmids that express full-length or truncated Aae proteins in Escherichia coli, we found that the BEC-binding domain of Aae was located in the N-terminal surface-exposed region of the protein, specifically in the region spanning amino acids 201–284 just upstream of the repeat region within the passenger domain. Peptides corresponding to amino acids 201–221, 222–238 and 201–240 were synthesized and tested for their ability to reduce Aae-mediated binding to BECs based on results obtained with truncated Aae proteins expressed in E. coli. BEC-binding of E. coli expressing Aae was reduced by as much as 50 % by pre-treatment of BECs with a 40-mer peptide (201–240; P40). Aae was also shown to mediate binding to cultured human epithelial keratinocytes (TW2.6), OBA9 and TERT, and endothelial (HUVEC) cells. Pre-treatment of epithelial cells with P40 resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in binding and reduced the binding of both full-length and truncated Aae proteins expressed in E. coli, as well as Aae expressed in Aa. Fluorescently labelled P40 peptides reacted in a dose-dependent manner with BEC receptors. We propose that these proof-of-principle experiments demonstrate that peptides can be designed to interfere with Aa binding mediated by host-cell receptors specific for Aae adhesins.
Ultrashort pulse laser-produced Al/Si plasma

The X-ray emission from an ultrashort-pulse laser incident on a solid aluminum and a layered aluminum/silicon slab is investigated with a non-LTE radiation-hydrodynamics model coupled to a Helmholtz wave equation for P-wave polarization. A fraction of the absorbed energy is expended in the production of fast electrons, which are transported and deposited in the cold material. These electrons create K-shell vacancies that produce characteristic K α line radiation. A time history of the emission spectra, including the K α lines and continuum radiation, is presented for a laser intensity of 10 17 W/cm 2 .
The Impact of Payer-Specific Hospital Case Mix on Hospital Costs and Revenues for Third-Party Patients

Competition among hospitals and managed care have forced hospital industry to be more efficient. With higher degrees of hospital competition and managed care penetration, hospitals have argued that the rate of increase in hospital cost is greater than the rate of increase in hospital revenue. By developing a payer-specific case mix index (CMI) for third-party patients, this paper examined the effect of hospital case mix on hospital cost and revenue for third-party patients in California using the hospital financial and utilization data covering 1986---1998. This study found that the coefficients for CMIs in the third-party hospital revenue model were greater than those in the hospital cost model until 1995. Since 1995, however, the coefficients for CMIs in the third-party hospital revenue model have been less than those in hospital cost models. Over time, the differences in coefficients for CMIs in hospital revenue and cost models for third-party patients have become smaller and smaller although those differences are statistically insignificant.
MIT.EDU: system architecture for real-world distributed multi-user applications in classroom settings

In this paper we describe the MIThril mobile-IT education (MIT.EDU) platform, an innovative architecture that allows for the rapid prototyping of wireless mobile multi-user applications for use in classroom settings. MIT.EDU is a proven, accessible system that combines inexpensive, commodity hardware, a flexible sensor/peripheral interconnection bus, and a powerful, light-weight distributed sensing, classification, and interprocess communications software architecture to facilitate the development of distributed real-time multi-modal and context-aware applications. We demonstrate the power and functionality of the MIT.EDU platform by describing a number of system deployments of real-world applications in a number of educational settings.
Are Hospitals an Export Industry? Empirical Evidence From Five Lagging Regions

Hospitals make substantial contributions to local and regional economies through the purchase of goods and services and the employment of large numbers of workers. In addition, research hospitals a...
Differential Effects of Melatonin on the Testes of Photoperiodic and Nonphotoperiodic Rodents

Administration of melatonin via subcutaneous Silastic capsules caused a marked reduction in testicular weight, and suppressed spermatogenesis in two species of photoperiodic rodents: golden hamsters and grasshopper mice. In marked contrast, melatonin failed to exert any demonstrable effect on testis weight or spermatogenesis in two species of nonphotoperiodic rodents: laboratory rats and house mice. These findingssuggest that melatonin, and by implication the pineal gland, may play a more importent role in regulating testicular function of rodents whose reproductive activity is markedly dependent upon seasonal changes in day length than of rodents whose reproductive performance is relatively insensitive to photoperiodic cues.
The Necessity of Creativity Development in Adult Learners for Lifelong Learning

Attaining a creative achievement is not a one-shot affair; it is instead a life span trajectory. This necessity implies that creative action is a lifelong learning. The concept of creativity has been well documented in the literature. Research illustrated that creativity activities could enrich psychological states of adults, which in turn improves quality of life and well being. Therefore, it is hypothesized that, especially for adult educators, the conceptualization of creativity could serve as a useful adult pedagogy to promote lifelong learning in adults. Being equipped with creative thinking, adults could compensate for or accommodate the unavoidable age-related losses, which in turn explore their unfinished journeys with satisfaction.
Common Gastrointestinal Complaints in Older Adults

Medication effects and specific dietary factors, such as acid and foods lowering esophageal sphincter pressure, require special attention in older adults with esophageal and gastric disorders. The high prevalence of atrophic gastritis in older adults increases the risk for vitamin B12 malabsorption and deficiency. Evaluation of both diarrhea and constipation requires a thorough history (paying attention to diet, activities, and bowel habits) and a careful physical examination (including a digital rectal exam). Hepatitis is more common among older adults than originally appreciated and is often secondary to medications or hepatitis C exposure. Evaluation of anemia in older adults should include assessment of iron stores, copper, zinc, B12, and folate levels.
Scalable addressing of M2M terminals in 4G cellular wireless networks

Demand for Machine to Machine (M2M) communication over cellular wireless network has recently seen a rapid growth. This growth resulted in extra demand for the limited numbering and addressing resources used in the cellular wireless networks. The two main, potentially, limiting resources for the rising demand for M2M communication in the cellular wireless networks are the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and the Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN). Each device communicating over the 4th Generation (4G) cellular wireless network is allocated an IMSI to uniquely identify it in the network and at least one MSISDN that is used for terminating calls to the device. This paper addresses the numbering and addressing impact on M2M communication over the 4G cellular networks. We present a solution, based on the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) of the 4G cellular networks, to extend the use of IMSI to accommodate the projected growth in the M2M communication.
New quantum phase in the heavy fermion superconductor CeRhIn5

Pressure dependence on the specific heat of CeRhIn5 has been studied for magnetic field perpendicular to the ab-plane. Similar to the field parallel to the ab-plane [T. Park et al., Nature 440 (2006) 65], magnetic field reveals hidden magnetism in the mixed superconducting state above 1.75 GPa where antiferromagnetism disappears at zero field. The specific heat anomaly at Tc is initially suppressed with increasing field, but becomes enhanced with further increasing field, indicating that the nature of the superconducting (SC) transition may have changed from second to first order. Together with the coexisting phase of the field-induced magnetism and superconductivity, the first-order like SC transition in CeRhIn5 may provide insight to the inhomogeneous SC state (or FFLO state) observed in CeCoIn5. 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Targeting angiogenesis with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor small-molecule inhibitors: novel agents with potential in lung cancer.

The treatment of lung cancer remains a significant challenge. Although chemotherapy remains the standard approach, a plateau has been reached in its efficacy. The development of novel targeted agents, particularly those targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, has given us another approach. Developments with antiangiogenesis agents hold promise as new approaches in lung cancer therapy. Much of the work to date has focused on the anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab. In this article we will focus on the tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the VEGF receptors. These compounds, including sunitinib (SU11248; Sutent™), vatalanib (PTK787), ZD6474, AZD2171, GW786034, sorafenib (BAY 43-9006), CP-547,632, and AG013736, are still at an early stage of development. We present phase I data (and phase II/III data when available) of these compounds and discuss their potential development in the treatment of lung cancer.
Non-rigid Image Registration Using Geometric Features and Local Salient Region Features

We present a novel feature-based non-rigid image registration algorithm using a small number of automatically extracted points and their associated local salient region features. Our automatic registration is a hybrid approach co-optimizing point-based and image-based terms. Motivated by the paradigm of the TPS-RPM algorithm [6], we develop the RHDM (Robust Hybrid Deformable Matching) algorithm by alternatively optimizing correspondences and transformations for registration. The local salient region features and the geometric features, together with the softassign and deterministic annealing techniques, are used for solving correspondences. Thin-plate splines are used for generating a smooth non-rigid spatial transformation. Our algorithm is built to be extremely robust to feature extraction errors. A new dynamic outlier rejection mechanism is described for rejecting outliers and generating accurate spatial mappings. A local refinement technique is used for correcting non-exactly matched correspondences arising from image noise and irregular deformations. In contrast with the TPS-RPM algorithm, which can handle only outliers in one point set, our algorithm is able to handle a considerable number of outliers in both point sets. The experimental results demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of our algorithm.
E and P Selectins Are Not Required for Resistance to Severe Murine Lyme Arthritis

Borrelia burgdorferi-induced arthritis in mice is characterized by tendonitis, synovitis, and inflammatory-cell infiltrate, predominantly of neutrophils. Because genetic deficiency in E and P selectins results in delayed recruitment of neutrophils to sites of inflammation, mice with this deficiency were tested for their response to infection with B. burgdorferi. E and P selectins were not required for the control of B. burgdorferi numbers, nor did deficiency in E and P selectins result in alteration of arthritis severity.
Fine root chemistry and decomposition in model communities of north-temperate tree species show little response to elevated atmospheric CO 2 and varying soil resource availability

Rising atmospheric (CO2) has the potential to alter soil carbon (C) cycling by increasing the content of recalcitrant constituents in plant litter, thereby decreas- ing rates of decomposition. Because fine root turnover constitutes a large fraction of annual NPP, changes in fine root decomposition are especially important. These responses will likely be affected by soil resource avail- ability and the life history characteristics of the domi- nant tree species. We evaluated the effects of elevated atmospheric (CO2) and soil resource availability on the production and chemistry, mycorrhizal colonization, and decomposition of fine roots in an early- and late- successional tree species that are economically and eco- logically important in north temperate forests. Open-top chambers were used to expose young trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) trees to ambient (36 Pa) and elevated (56 Pa) atmo- spheric CO2. Soil resource availability was composed of two treatments that bracketed the range found in the Upper Lake States, USA. After 2.5 years of growth, sugar maple had greater fine root standing crop due to relatively greater allocation to fine roots (30% of total root biomass) relative to aspen (7% total root biomass). Relative to the low soil resources treatment, aspen fine root biomass increased 76% with increased soil resource availability, but only under elevated (CO2). Sugar maple fine root biomass increased 26% with increased soil re- source availability (relative to the low soil resources treatment), and showed little response to elevated (CO2). Concentrations of N and soluble phenolics, and C/N ratio in roots were similar for the two species, but aspen had slightly higher lignin and lower condensed tannins contents compared to sugar maple. As predicted by source-sink models of carbon allocation, pooled con- stituents (C/N ratio, soluble phenolics) increased in re- sponse to increased relative carbon availability (elevated (CO2)/low soil resource availability), however, biosyn- thetically distinct compounds (lignin, starch, condensed tannins) did not always respond as predicted. We found that mycorrhizal colonization of fine roots was not strongly affected by atmospheric (CO2) or soil resource availability, as indicated by root ergosterol contents. Overall, absolute changes in root chemical composition in response to increases in C and soil resource avail- ability were small and had no effect on soil fungal bio- mass or specific rates of fine root decomposition. We conclude that root contributions to soil carbon cycling will mainly be influenced by fine root production and turnover responses to rising atmospheric (CO2), rather than changes in substrate chemistry.
The role of extraocular photoreceptors in newt magnetic compass orientation: parallels between light-dependent magnetoreception and polarized light detection in vertebrates.

Theoretical models implicating specialized photoreceptors in the detection of the geomagnetic field have been the impetus for studying the effects of light on magnetic compass orientation. Magnetic orientation in flies, amphibians and birds has been found to be influenced by light, and in all these groups a shift of approximately 90 ° in the direction of magnetic compass orientation has been observed under certain wavelengths and/or intensities of light. In the eastern red-spotted newt Notophthalmus viridescens, wavelength-dependent effects of light on magnetic compass orientation appear to result from an antagonistic interaction between shortwavelength (￻ 450 nm) and long-wavelength (♢500 nm) photoreception mechanisms. We have demonstrated that at least the short-wavelength input to the newt’s magnetic compass is mediated by extraocular photoreceptors located in or near the pineal organ, and here we present new findings that indicate that the putative longwavelength mechanism is also associated with pineal photoreceptors. Interestingly, the amphibian pineal organ mediates orientation to both the e-vector of planepolarized light and the magnetic field. Although the wavelength-dependence of the polarized light orientation in amphibians has not been studied, polarization sensitivity in fishes appears to be mediated by two antagonistic photoreception mechanisms that have similar spectral characteristics to those of the newts’ magnetic compass response. These parallels, along with similarities in the types of receptors that are expected to be involved in light-dependent magnetoreception and polarized light detection, suggest that similar photoreception mechanisms may mediate the light-dependent magnetic and polarized light compasses. Summary
Hardware and software for tachistoscopy: How to make accurate measurements on any PC utilizing the Microsoft Windows operating system

Methods for automated stimulus display and accurate response time measurement with IBM­ compatible PCs are of great importance in cognitive research designs. Accurate measurements of re­ action times are required to interpolate other measures, such as speed of mental processing. We present a description of hardware and software that displays stimulus images and performs reaction timing that is not dependent on PC performance characteristics. This is accomplished by electronically bypassing timing errors normally inherent to the operation of the computer. Ahigh-precision external timer mea­ sures the time betweenstimulus onset and a subject's push-button response while a video blanking cir­ cuit controls the video presented to the monitor screen. Two options for accurately detecting stimulus onset are presented: (1) Aphotodetector can be used to sense the actual onset ofthe stimulus on a sec­ ondary video monitor screen; (2) the video blanking circuit can provide a signal coincident with the ini­ tiation of video to the monitor. Both methods result in a system timing accuracy of 100 usee. Psychological research often requires the accurate mea­ surement of reaction times in response to visual stimuli. In many cases, reaction time measurements are used to give an indication of subject involvement in the task, to evaluate the performance of the subject, and to help dis­ criminate among various brain functions. Currently, the visual stimuli for projects performed in our laboratory include words, simple geometric figures, and complex fractal images. Future projects will most certainly involve such images as digitally rendered photographs or other more complex images in three dimensions or in motion. Computer-based methods for displaying images and mea­ suring response times are desirable, because ofthe degree ofautomation that is available and because ofthe ease of modifying the stimulus through, simple programming. IBM PC-compatible computers have found widespread use and provide a reasonable platform for laboratory measurements. However, computer-based methods for providing stim­ uli and for measuring response times have various limi­ tations, many ofwhich have been described in the litera­ ture (Dutta, 1995; Gabrielsson & Jarvella, 1990; Mogg & Bradley, 1995; Palya, Walter, & Chu, 1995; Paredes, Miller, & Creeger, 1990; Rodgers, Schneider, Pitcher, & Zuccolotto, 1995; Segalowitz & Graves, 1990). The major
"One Grand Pursuit": A Brief History of the American Philosophical Society's First 250 Years. 1743-1993 by Edward C. Carter II. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 1993

The American Philosophical Society (APS) was founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin (then only 37 years old) and is North America's oldest scholarly organization. The archaeological interests of Thomas Jefferson, who became its third president in 1797, are not mentioned in this history but it is worth noting that besides his well known pioneering excavation of a burial mound in 1784 he sent out a circular letter for the APS to secure information on archaeological remains, stating, "The American Philosophical Society have [sic] always considered the antiquity, changes, and present state of their own country as primary objects of their research".
ALD growth of a mixed-phase novel barrier for seedless copper electroplating applications

A novel plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD)-grown mixed-phase/nano-laminate barrier has been developed which combines the robust barrier properties of TaN with direct plate characteristics of Ru. It was observed that the mixed phase barrier as thin as 2-5 nm can be designed to act both as robust copper barrier and as a copper direct plating layer by modulating the Ru: Ta ratio in the deposited films. The filling characteristics in sub-50 nm features were found to be equivalent to those of conventionally copper-seeded interconnect structures.
Age-related reduction in functional MRI response to photic stimulation

Many functional imaging studies have demonstrated age-related alterations in cerebral blood flow during the resting state. However, few studies have addressed possible differences in functional response to cerebral activation. We assessed the response of visual cortex to photic stimulation in 9 normal elderly subjects and 17 normal younger subjects with blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. We found that the amplitude of response in elderly subjects was significantly decreased compared to younger subjects (2.5 +/- 1.0% versus 4.0 +/- 1.6%, p = 0.01), suggesting a reduction in functional activation or an age-related alteration in the coupling of blood oxygenation to focal activation.
The Colors of the Rainbow in Snorri's Edda

In the second part of his Edda, the Gylfaginning, Snorri Sturluson gives a systematic account of Norse mythology from the creation of the world to its end. The story is presented in the form of a dialogue, which involves three kings, who answer questions put to them by a certain King Gylfi of Sweden, who wishes to find out about the AEsir. One of Gylfi’s many questions concerns the way to heaven from earth. It is explained to him that Bifrƒst, the rainbow, is what links earth and heaven, that is has three colors, and that one of the colors is red (rau›r). The two other colors are not named in Snorri’s Edda nor are they specified anywhere else in Old Norse-Icelandic literature with the exception of Hauksbok, which describes the appearance of the rainbow in rather unclear terms. The article seeks to determine through an examination of Old Norse-Icelandic color terminology and an analysis of studies of the rainbow by medieval writers what Snorri might have had the three kings tell Gylfi, if Gylfi had asked for an identification of the other two colors of the rainbow. It is demonstrated that Snorri’s idea of the three colors of the rainbow is most likely derived ultimately from Aristotle’s Meteorologica and that the two unidentificed colors in the Edda are probably green (grœnn) and blue (blar).
Optimization of Pheromone Deployment for Effective Mating Disruption of Oriental Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Commercial Blueberries

Cost is a potential limiting factor in the adoption of mating disruption to control oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). A 3-yr study was conducted in 1-ha blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L., plots to test the possibility of lowering cost by reducing the number of point-source dispensers and pheromone [(Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one] concentrations, while maintaining mating disruption. Trap shutdown, as measured by the disruption index (DI), caged females, and sentinel potted-plants with tethered females were used to assess the success of mating disruption. Disrupted plots had DI values of > or = 93% in all years, and a lower percentage of mated females, compared with control plots. However, DI values were > or = 95% at > or = 50 dispensers per ha. When 25 dispensers containing 0.05 g of active ingredient (AI) were used per hectare, the numbers of males in female cages and larvae in sentinel pots were similar to controls. Thus, dispenser density was critical for successful mating disruption of oriental beetles. Male oriental beetles approach the dispensers at all times of the day according to field observations, indicative of competitive attraction as a potential mechanism for mating disruption. However, at peak activity, greater male attraction was observed to dispensers containing 0.1 g of pheromone than 0.05 or 0.025 g, demonstrating the importance of pheromone rate. Although dispensers continued to emit pheromone for at least 7 wk in the field, emission rates dropped to levels close to 0 after 3 wk. We conclude that deployment of > or = 50 dispensers/ha at > or = 0.1 g (AI) per dispenser is the most effective rate for mating disruption of oriental beetle in blueberries.
Exogenous nitrate attenuates nitrite toxicity to anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria.

Abstract Anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria (anammox) can be severely inhibited by one of its main substrates, nitrite ( NO 2 − ). At present, there is limited information on the processes by which anammox bacteria are able to tolerate toxic NO 2 − . Intracellular consumption or electrochemically driven (transmembrane proton motive force) NO 2 − export are considered the main mechanisms of NO 2 − detoxification. In this work, we evaluated the potential of exogenous nitrate ( NO 3 − ) on relieving NO 2 − toxicity, putatively facilitated by NarK, a NO 3 − / NO 2 − transporter encoded in the anammox genome. The relative contribution of NO 3 − to NO 2 − detoxification was found to be pH dependent. Exposure of anammox cells to NO 2 − in absence of their electron donating substrate, ammonium ( NH 4 + ), causes NO 2 − stress. At pH 6.7 and 7.0, the activity of NO 2 − stressed cells was respectively 0 and 27% of the non-stressed control activity ( NO 2 − and NH 4 + fed simultaneously). Exogenous NO 3 − addition caused the recovery to 42% and 80% of the control activity at pH 6.7 and 7.0, respectively. The recovery of the activity of NO 2 − stressed cells improved with increasing NO 3 − concentration, the maximum recovery being achieved at 0.85 mM. The NO 3 − pre-incubation time is less significant at pH 7.0 than at pH 6.7 due to a more severe NO 2 − toxicity at lower pH. Additionally, NO 3 − caused almost complete attenuation of NO 2 − toxicity in cells exposed to the proton gradient disruptor carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone at pH 7.5, providing evidence that the NO 3 − attenuation is independent of the proton motive force. The absence of a measurable NO 3 − consumption (or NO 3 − dependent N2 production) during the batch tests leaves NO 3 − dependent active transport of NO 2 − as the only plausible explanation for the relief of NO 2 − inhibition. We suggest that anammox cells can use a secondary transport system facilitated by exogenous NO 3 − to alleviate NO 2 − toxicity.