cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plant Species Richness, Productivity, and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Limitations across a Snowpack Gradient in Alpine Tundra, Colorado, U.S.A.

The extent to which nutrient limitation affects species composition, abundance, and productivity of the alpine tundra is an ongoing area of ecological inquiry. At Niwot Ridge in the Front Range of Colorado, plant species richness and foliage production were studied with respect to N and P additions in three alpine communities varying in snowpack depth and duration. These effects were also measured in conjunction with a snowpack enhancement experiment. Measurements of plant responses were made 4 yr following the initiation of the manipulations. The addition of either N or P enhanced plant foliage productivity (P = 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively). Nitrogen additions had a negative effect on the species richness censused in 1-m2 plots (P 0.60). Snowpack did not affect foliage productivity (P = 0.20), but species richness was negatively affected (P < 0.001). Snowpack also appeared to mediate species-specific responses to N and P additions. In the alpine, the relationship between species diversity and plant productivity is mediated by species-specific traits. After 4 yr, the increased production by plant species sensitive to P additions did not reduce species richness. This suggests that production-induced competitive exclusion is not a generalization that can be used to explain the decline in species richness. Moreover, the reduction in species richness due to N addition occurred across all of the tundra communities studied here.
The magnetic polarizability of thin shells

The ability to detect and dispose of buried mines requires effective means by which to discriminate between hazardous targets and benign clutter. In that regard, wide-band electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors have shown significant promise in their ability to classify buried metallic objects based on their response to illumination by a time-varying magnetic field. A target's scattered response may be expressed compactly in its magnetic polarizability dyadic, a form that describes the reaction of the scatterer to an arbitrary magnetic field. More specifically, a singularity expansion of the polarizability dyadic has been shown to allow for robust target discrimination. Eddy currents in a 2D surface may be expressed using a scalar stream function, an approach which is powerful since the solenoidality of the current density is enforced trivially. Using this formulation, it is possible to arrive at a modal eigenvalue expansion for the magnetic polarizability that is in the form of the singularity expansion.
Optimizing post-silicon conformance checking

Virtual prototypes of hardware devices, a.k.a, virtual devices, are increasingly used to enable early software development before silicon prototypes/devices are available. In previous work, we presented a post-silicon conformance checking approach to detecting interface state inconsistencies between a silicon device and its virtual device. In this paper, we present an optimization, adaptive concretization, to reduce the overhead incurred by symbolic execution, a key technique used in our conformance checking approach. We have evaluated our optimized approach on three Ethernet adapters and their virtual devices. The results demonstrate that it is effective and efficient: 21 inconsistencies are discovered and time usages are reduced by an order of magnitude, comparing to the previous approach.
A density functional theory study on the effect of Ge alloying on hydrogen desorption from SiGe alloy surfaces

We have used density functional theory to investigate hydrogen desorption from SiGe alloy surfaces, and the effect of Ge alloying on the kinetics of hydrogen desorption via the prepairing and interdimer mechanisms. We find that the calculated activation barriers of the prepairing mechanism are affected by the surface atom bonded to the desorbing hydrogen atoms. On the other hand, our calculations show that the activation barrier for hydrogen desorption via the 2H interdimer mechanism is affected by all four surface atoms of the two neighboring dimers. For the 4H interdimer mechanism, we have shown that the activation barrier for hydrogen desorption is not significantly higher than the endothermicity of hydrogen desorption. We also find that the calculated activation barriers of the interdimer mechanisms are generally lower than those of the prepairing mechanism. In addition, our calculations show that surface Ge atoms on neighboring dimers on SiGe alloy surfaces have a minor effect on the calculated activation barriers of both the prepairing and interdimer mechanisms, which indicates that the effect of Ge alloying on hydrogen desorption is local in nature. We also discuss the effects of cluster size and constraints on the calculated reaction energies and activation barriers of hydrogen desorption via the two mechanisms.
The role of thiols in ATP-dependent transport of S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione by rat liver plasma membrane vesicles.

Abstract The effect of thiol/disulfide exchange on ATP-dependent S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione (GS-DNP) transport was studied in sodium nitrate treated rat liver plasma membrane vesicles. Transport followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km of 9.6 μM for GS-DNP and 124 μM for ATP. 5,5′-Dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) (DTNB) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) efficiently inactivated GS-DNP transport activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Half-maximal inactivation occurred in 10 min at 40 μM for DTNB and 550 μM for NEM. Inactivation by DTNB was reversed by dithiothreitol. S-(N-Ethyl)maleimyl glutathione and/or ATP-Mg2+, but neither S-(N-ethyl)maleimyl cysteinylglycine nor oxidized glutathione could protect transport activity from inactivation by NEM or cystamine. These results suggest that reactive thiols are located near the active site of the transporter and that S-alkyl and the γ-glutamyl residues of glutathione are important for protection. Biological disulfides which were tested included cystine, oxidized glutathione, oxidized Coenzyme-A, oxidized lipoic acid, and oxidized lipoamide; cystamine was the most potent reversible inactivator. Molecular oxygen also inactivated transport activity, which was recovered on addition of dithiothreitol, suggesting intramolecular disulfide formation by vicinal thiols. We interpret these results to indicate that the ATP-dependent GS-DNP transporter contains two or more thiols which are necessary for the maintenance of transport activity. The reversible inactivation of the activity by biological disulfides suggests that the transporter may be regulated by thiol/disulfide exchange in vivo.
Comparison of laboratory methods for assessing numbers of apple rust mite (Aculus schlechtendali) overwintering on apple.

During the winter of 1980/81 apple shoots from the preceding season's growth were collected from 19 orchards in Kent and East Sussex. Five buds from each of 10 shoots per orchard were dissected under a stereoscopic microscope at × 30 magnification and apple rust mites (Aculus rchlechtendali) were counted. These dissected buds were then used to test a more rapid method of extraction and counting. The buds were added to methanol and mixed with a vibrating machine, mites were then collected in sieves and counted. Counts of mites by this method were similar to those of the first method when there were fewer than 100 mites on 50 buds, but there was greater variation when mites were more numerous. An even more rapid method using five other buds from the same 10 shoots was also tested; the buds were bisected, then vibrated in methanol, and the mites were collected in sieves and counted. Results were comparable with those obtained by the dissection/methanol method and can be used with similar confidence in advisory work on apple rust mite.
Development of biosensors based on carbon nanotube nanoelectrode arrays

he fabrication, electrochemical characterization, and sensing applications of low-site density carbon nanotubes based nanoelectrode arrays (CNT-NEAs) are reported in this work. Spin-coating of an epoxy resin provides a new way to create the electrode passivation layer that effectively reduces the current leakage and eliminates the electrode capacitance by sealing the side-wall of CNTs. The CNT-NEAs fabricated in our work effectively use the open ends of CNTs for electrochemical sensing. The open ends of the CNTs have fast electron transfer rates similar to a graphite edge-plane electrode, while the side-walls present very slow electron transfer rates similar to the graphitic basal plane. Cyclic voltammetry showed the sigmoidal shape curves with low capacitive current and scan-rate-independent limiting current. The successful development of a glucose biosensor based on CNT-NEAs for the selective detection of glucose is also described. Glucose oxidase was covalently immobilized on the CNTs tips via carbodiimide chemistry by forming amide linkages between the amine residues and carboxylic acid groups on the open ends of CNTs. The biosensor effectively performs selective electrochemical detections of glucose in the presence of common interferences.
System design via small mobile robots

In the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, USA, an upper-level course has been developed that focuses on the creative design and implementation of a complete engineering system. In this course, the students design small mobile robots to perform a task specified at the beginning of the quarter. The designs are evaluated by how well they complete the specified task. The mobile robot systems are developed through a sequence of subsystem design projects. These subsystems are developed and demonstrated in the laboratory component of the course. The lectures focus on providing the information required to design the system, on the more practical aspects of engineering practice, and on showing how more theoretical concepts learned in other courses can be applied in practice. This course has been offered twice and we deduce from the students' designs and evaluations that it has been successful.
Will a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration lead to an increase or a decrease in water consumption by crops

Abstract Simulations with a soil/vegetation/atmosphere (SVAT) model for normal midlatitude summertime conditions were made for corn and soybeans in order to assess the effect of doubling CO 2 concentration on transpiration. A second purpose of this short communication is to emphasize that feedback processes present in the plant canopy but absent in the laboratory can lead to divergence between experimental and simulated results. In contrast with results reported by Cure and Acock (1986), increases in stomatal resistance commensurate with a doubling of CO 2 concentration produced negligible changes in simulated transpiration. When we take account of the effect of biomass increases brought about by a CO 2 doubling, a small seasonal increase in transpiration is indicated.
Fluctuations in prey density: effects on the foraging tactics of scolopendrid centipedes

Abstract Foraging animals are faced with the problem of acquiring information about prey populations and utilizing that information in making foraging decisions. In this paper the effect of variation in prey density on the search tactics and mechanisms of prey density assessment in the centipede Scolopendra polymorpha are examined. Centipedes exhibited a prey density-dependent repertoire of search tactics. After 50 min of exposure to high prey density, centipedes switched from active search to ambush-like tactics, while maintaining a high rate of search at the lowest prey density. An initial period of sampling of prey density was involved in the switch in search behaviour and it is suggested that the encounter rate with prey was the key element in density assessment. When the prey density was changed from low to high, centipedes switched from active search to ambush tactics and when prey density was changed from high to low centipedes switched from ambush to active search within 40 min. Such behaviour may decrease the unreliability of sampling information and the risk involved in foraging decisions in variable environments.
On the road to immortality: hTERT upregulation in cancer cells

Telomere attrition limits the replicative potential of most somatic cells. In contrast, tumor cells acquire immortality by continuous telomere maintenance which is predominantly due to the transcriptional upregulation of the limiting component of telomerase, hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase). Recent findings have provided mechanistic insight into how oncogenic activation as well as derepression, often due to the inactivation of tumor suppressors, stimulate the hTERT promoter. Knowledge gained from the study of hTERT transcriptional regulation may prove instrumental in the development of cancer therapies directed at the suppression of telomerase activity in tumor cells.
Does nighttime exercise really disturb sleep? Results from the 2013 National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America Poll

Abstract Objective To assess the relationship between sleep, time of exercise, and intensity of exercise in a large American sample. Methods The 2013 National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America Poll was a cross-sectional study of 1000 adults stratified by age (23–60years) and US geographical region. Sleep outcomes included self-reported sleep quality, total sleep time, sleep latency, and waking unrefreshed. Exercise timing was characterized as morning (>8h before bed), afternoon (4–8h before bed), or evening ( Results After adjustment for confounders, evening moderate or vigorous exercisers did not differ in any of the reported sleep metrics compared to non-exercisers. Morning vigorous exercisers had the most favorable sleep outcomes, including greater likelihood of reporting good sleep quality (OR=1.88, p p =.03). Most individuals who performed vigorous evening exercise believed that their sleep was of equal or better quality (97%) and duration (98%) on days they exercised. Conclusion Evening exercise was not associated with worse sleep. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that sleep hygiene recommendations should not discourage evening exercise.
A Low Inductance 120 KV Energy Storage Module

A low inductance 120 kV energy storage module has been developed at the Naval Research Laboratory. Fifty of these modules operating in parallel will form the 300 kJ capacitor bank for the fast reversal field of the SWAP experiment. The module comprises two 60 kV, 1.85 ?F capacitors operating as a modified Marx-type circuit. The self-inductance of the module, including the output switch and cable terminations, is approximately 110 nH. This arrangement has the advantage of using 60 kV power supplies, charging circuit and capacitors for a 120 kV capacitor bank and eliminates one of the series fast synchronized switches with a concomitant inductance reduction. The bank construction cost has been drastically reduced by the module physical arrangement. The second stage capacitor is mounted upside down directly on the first stage capacitor. The first stage capacitor therefore acts as both the support and insulator for the second stage capacitor whose case rises to 120 kV above ground at discharge.
Effects of threshold retrievals on estimates of the aerosol indirect radiative forcing

[1] Empirical estimates of the aerosol indirect radiative forcing often rely on threshold cloud retrievals applied to multispectral satellite imagery data. In such retrievals, pixels having radiances that surpass prescribed thresholds are assumed to be overcast even if they are only partially cloud covered. This assumption leads to cloud visible optical depths that are underestimated and droplet radii that are overestimated. As regional cloud cover increases, overcast pixels become more common and the biases in cloud properties decrease. Because aerosol optical depths derived from cloud-free pixels also increase with regional cloud cover (Loeb and Manalo-Smith, 2005), the biases in threshold-derived cloud properties can be mistakenly interpreted as being evidence for the effects of aerosols on clouds. Because of the biases, threshold retrievals of cloud properties are likely to lead to overestimates of the aerosol indirect forcing. A retrieval scheme that accounts for fractional cloud cover within an imager pixel is used to estimate the enhancement in the indirect radiative forcing that arises from threshold cloud retrievals. The enhancements prove to be relatively small, approximately 20%. If cloud liquid water is held fixed to estimate the forcing, the biases in threshold-derived droplet radii and in the sensitivity of droplet radii to changes in aerosol nearly cancel so that the estimates are almost the same for threshold and partly cloudy pixel retrievals.
Tartrate dehydrogenase, a new member of the family of metal-dependent decarboxylating R-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases.

Abstract The gene encoding tartrate dehydrogenase has been cloned from Pseudomonas putida and sequenced. The gene is 1098 nucleotides long and encodes a protein 365 amino acids in length with a calculated M r of 40,636. The gene and the protein encoded by it show strong homology to prokaryotic isopropylmalate dehydrogenases and, to a lesser extent, isocitrate dehydrogenase. Thus, tartrate dehydrogenase is the third member to be identified of the family of metal-dependent decarboxylating R -hydroxyacid dehydrogenases which have an evolutionarily distinct NAD + -binding domain. The poor catalytic properties of tartrate dehydrogenase suggest that it has not been under strong selective pressure to maximize its ability to turn over (+)-tartrate for very long; the homology with isopropylmalate dehydrogenase makes it an attractive candidate for a recent progenitor of tartrate dehydrogenase. β-Isopropylmalate is a substrate for tartrate dehydrogenase with a K m of 14 ± 2 μM; it is turned over with a V max that is 35% of V max in the (+)-tartrate reaction. The gene encoding tartrate dehydrogenase has been expressed in Escherichia coli and large quantities of soluble enzyme can be obtained.
2-Vinylquinoline, a reagent to determine protein sulfhydryl groups spectrophotometrically.

Abstract A reagent has been sought for the selective derivatization of protein sulfhydryl groups that will allow the spectrophotometric determination of the cysteine and cystine content of intact proteins. 2-Vinylquinoline appears to be that reagent. Protein sulfhydryl groups were reacted with 2-vinylquinoline to yield the protein-linked S -2-(2-quinolylethyl)- l -cysteine (Qe-cysteine). After urea and other excess reagents were removed, the modified proteins were examined spectrophotometrically. The extinction coefficient (10,000) and absorption maximum (318 mμ) of the protein-linked vinylquinoline derivatives were identical to those of the model Qe-cysteine. Optimum conditions for the reaction require an equimolar concentration of 2-vinylquinoline to all sulfhydryls and a 4 hr reaction period. The total cysteine and cysteine contents of the proteins, when determined under these conditions, were in excellent agreement with standard literature values.
Is There Any Value to Arthroscopic Debridement of Ankle Osteoarthritis and Impingement

This article summarizes the current literature regarding the use of arthroscopy for the various types of ankle osteoarthritis with impingement symptoms. Discussion includes the role of diagnostic arthroscopy and adjunctive use of arthroscopy with other modalities. The section on the authors' preferred technique describes our current operative and perioperative strategies in detail.
Potential problems with selective pulses in NMR imaging systems

Most nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)imaging systems require pulses whose frequency spectrum is shaped so as to selectively excite a given plane in the presence of a magnetic field gradient. We demonstrate by both computer simulation and experiment that linear Fourier transform theory is not a reliable guide to the uniformity of flip angle in the slice. We show by simulation that the nonuniformity can have serious implications for the measurement of relaxation timeT 1 if selective 180° pulses are used; the exact results depend also on the details of data analysis and criteria for adjusting the rephasing gradients. We describe an experiment and a phantom in which the axial nonuniformity can be demonstrated on clinical NMR imaging machines.
Improving cognitive interaction through computational collaboration agents

We propose that some of the knowledge management challenges incurred by computer-mediated collaboration be addressed by leveraging the computational resources inherent in that same collaboration to more directly serve it through Computational Collaboration Agents (CCAs). CCAs and the approach advocated here are motivated by the theory of Interactive Team Cognition which posits that team cognition can be observed in team interactions. CCAs observe and assess individual and collaborative events, analyse those events, interpret the analysis, and intervene as needed to improve collaboration. Because the CCAs are able to leverage events and actions that take place in the context of the collaboration technology, they have the advantage of operating in real-time without interfering with task performance.
Image Blending and View Clustering for Multi-Viewer Immersive Projection Environments

Investment into multi-wall Immersive Virtual Environments is often motivated by the potential for small groups of users to work collaboratively, yet most systems only allow for stereographic rendering from a single viewpoint. This paper discusses approaches for supporting copresent head-tracked users in an immersive projection environment, such as the CAVETM, without relying on additional projection and frame-multiplexing technology. The primary technique presented here is called Image Blending and consists of rendering independent views for each head-tracked user to an off-screen buffer and blending the images into a final composite view using view-vector incidence angles as weighting factors. Additionally, users whose view-vectors intersect a projection screen at similar locations are grouped into a view-cluster. Clustered user views are rendered from the average head position and orientation of all users in that cluster. The clustering approach minimizes users' exposure to undesirable display artifacts such as inverted stereo pairs and nonlinear object projections by distributing projection error over all tracked viewers. These techniques have the added advantage that they can be easily integrated into existing systems with minimally increased hardware and software requirements. We compare Image Blending and View Clustering with previously published techniques and discuss possible implementation optimizations and their tradeoffs.
Three New Mutations in a Gene Causing Hermansky–Pudlak Syndrome: Clinical Correlations

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) consists of oculocutaneous albinism, a platelet storage pool deficiency, and ceroid lipofuscinosis. HPS is common in northwest Puerto Rico, where affected individuals are homozygous for a 16-bp duplication in the gene HPS. Two other homozygous frameshift mutations in HPS were previously identified among non-Puerto Rican patients. Eighteen non-Puerto Rican HPS families were studied and HPS mutations in three of them identified. One mutation, T322insC, has been previously described. However, three additional mutations, E133X, T322delC, and S396delC, have not been reported. Two families exhibited compound heterozygosity for these mutations, although most previously reported HPS patients have been homozygous for a particular mutation. All the newly described mutations were associated with decreased or undetectable levels of HPS RNA by Northern blot analysis of fibroblasts, and all had significant pigment dilution. To date, all mutations in HPS result in a truncated protein, suggesting that the C-terminal portion of the HPS protein is functionally important.
Long-term survivors after preoperative pelvic radiation therapy for locally unresectable rectal and sigmoid carcinoma: an assessment of late results.

From 1972 to 1976, 11 patients received moderate-dose pelvic preoperative radiation therapy (4500–4600 rad ±500 rad boost) for initially unresectable rectal or sigmoid carcinoma. Of six patients subsequently explored, five had radical surgery and are alive without disease at least five years later. Comparison of the present long-term follow-up series with prior (short-term follow-up) series suggests that moderate-dose preoperative pelvic radiation therapy can convert many of these lesions to being resectable ones for which long-term survival-without-disease can be achieved. Attention to irradiation dose and field size is stressed, and a suggestion is made that patients whose tumors at final pathology still demonstrate extrarectal extension receive postoperative small-field boost irradiation.
Observations on the critical micellar concentration of 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and a series of its homologs and analogs

In a study designed to explore the physical chemical characteristics of platelet activating factor (PAF), or 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, the critical micellar concentration of this compound, as well as the propionyl, butyryl and hexanoyl homologs was determined. In addition, an analogous series of compounds, in which the 1-O-alkyl was replaced by a 1-O-hexadecanoyl or a 1-O-octadecanoyl group, were examined for their critical micellar concentration. A variety of analytical techniques including NMR, gas liquid chromatography, infra-red spectrometry, thin layer chromatography, phosphorus, choline, glyceryl ether and fatty acid analyses were used to confirm the high purity of the individual derivatives. A dye binding assay and a surface tension technique were compared as to their suitability for determination of the critical micellar concentration of these compounds. Whereas the dye binding method proved highly variable, the surface tension procedure proved to be a facile, reproducible technique and was the assay of choice. The critical micellar concentration of the 1-O-alkyl and the 1-O-acyl derivatives showed comparable values for each short chain substituent at carbon 2, with values, in μM, ranging from 1.3 ± 0.03 for 1-O-hexadecanoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1.1 ± 0.10 for 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine to 0.22 ± 0.01 for 1-O-hexadecyl-2-hexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The data show that at the molar concentration usually employed in biological studies with these compounds, i.e., 1 × 10−7 to 10−11 M,one can assume that they will be present as monomolecular species. Thus, it seems unlikely that the widely diverse biological activities of these compounds can be explained by this physical parameter.
Makisterone A: Its distribution and physiological role as the molting hormone of true bugs

Makisterone A, a 28-carbon (C-24 alkyl) hexahydroxy steroid, has been identified by mass spectrometry as the major ecdysteroid in last-stage larvae of the large milkweed bug,Oncopeltus fasciatus, a phytophagous hemipteran. Similarly, it is a major molting hormone in 2 phytophagous and 1 predacious species of Hemiptera belonging to the group, Pentatomomorpha. It is not, however, a major ecdysteroid in another group of Hemiptera, the Cimicomorpha, where 1 predacious and 2 hematophagous species contain ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone as their major molting hormones.
Isolation and biophysical study of fruit cuticles.

The cuticle, a hydrophobic protective layer on the aerial parts of terrestrial plants, functions as a versatile defensive barrier to various biotic and abiotic stresses and also regulates water flow from the external environment.1 A biopolyester (cutin) and long-chain fatty acids (waxes) form the principal structural framework of the cuticle; the functional integrity of the cuticular layer depends on the outer 'epicuticular' layer as well as the blend consisting of the cutin biopolymer and 'intracuticular' waxes.2 Herein, we describe a comprehensive protocol to extract waxes exhaustively from commercial tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit cuticles or to remove epicuticular and intracuticular waxes sequentially and selectively from the cuticle composite. The method of Jetter and Schaffer (2001) was adapted for the stepwise extraction of epicuticular and intracuticular waxes from the fruit cuticle.3,4 To monitor the process of sequential wax removal, solid-state cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning (CPMAS) 13C NMR spectroscopy was used in parallel with atomic force microscopy (AFM), providing molecular-level structural profiles of the bulk materials complemented by information on the microscale topography and roughness of the cuticular surfaces. To evaluate the cross-linking capabilities of dewaxed cuticles from cultivated wild-type and single-gene mutant tomato fruits, MAS 13C NMR was used to compare the relative proportions of oxygenated aliphatic (CHO and CH2O) chemical moieties. Exhaustive dewaxing by stepwise Soxhlet extraction with a panel of solvents of varying polarity provides an effective means to isolate wax moieties based on the hydrophobic characteristics of their aliphatic and aromatic constituents, while preserving the chemical structure of the cutin biopolyester. The mechanical extraction of epicuticular waxes and selective removal of intracuticular waxes, when monitored by complementary physical methodologies, provides an unprecedented means to investigate the cuticle assembly: this approach reveals the supramolecular organization and structural integration of various types of waxes, the architecture of the cutin-wax matrix, and the chemical composition of each constituent. In addition, solid-state 13C NMR reveals differences in the relative numbers of CHO and CH2O chemical moieties for wild-type and mutant red ripe tomato fruits. The NMR techniques offer exceptional tools to fingerprint the molecular structure of cuticular materials that are insoluble, amorphous, and chemically heterogeneous. As a noninvasive surface-selective imaging technique, AFM furnishes an effective and direct means to probe the structural organization of the cuticular assembly on the nm-μm length scale.
ON REACHABILITY AND SAFETY IN INFINITE-STATE SYSTEMS

We introduce some new models of infinite-state transition systems. The basic model, called a (reversal-bounded) counter machine (CM), is a nondeterministic finite automaton augmented with finitely many reversal-bounded counters (i.e. each counter can be incremented or decremented by 1 and tested for zero, but the number of times it can change mode from nondecreasing to nonincreasing and vice-versa is bounded by a constant, independent of the computation). We extend a CM by augmenting it with some familiar data structures: (i) A pushdown counter machine (PCM) is a CM augmented with an unrestricted pushdown stack. (ii) A tape counter machine (TCM) is a CM augmented with a two-way read/write worktape that is restricted in that the number of times the head crosses the boundary between any two adjacent cells of the worktape is bounded by a constant, independent of the computation (thus, the worktape is finite-crossing). There is no bound on how long the head can remain on a cell. (iii) A queue counter machine (QCM) is a CM augmented with a queue that is restricted in that the number of alternations between non-deletion phase and non-insertion phase on the queue is bounded by a constant. A non-deletion (non-insertion) phase is a period consisting of insertions (deletions) and no-changes, i.e., the queue is idle. We show that emptiness, (binary, forward, and backward) reachability, nonsafety, and invariance for these machines are solvable. We also look at extensions of the models that allow the use of linear-relation tests among the counters and parameterized constants as "primitive" predicates. We investigate the conditions under which these problems are still solvable.
Bank credit risk disclosure in Japan

The study reviews the disclosure practices of Japanese banking organisations and analyses the quality of disclosed information about the banks’ lending assets. The investigation reveals the strong and weak sides of the present disclosure regime and delivers insight into what is needed to improve bank transparency in lending activities. The study also leads to the formulation of policy lessons that banking regulators of other nations could learn from, by leveraging Japan’s experience with bank disclosure.
Presence of Alexandrium catenella and paralytic shellfish toxins in finfish, shellfish and rock crabs in Monterey Bay, California, USA

The central California coast is a highly productive, biodiverse region that is frequently affected by the toxin-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella. Despite the consistent presence of A. catenella along our coast, very little is known about the movement of its toxins through local marine food webs. In the present study, we investigated 13 species of commercial finfish and rock crabs harvested in Monterey Bay, California for the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and compared them to the presence of A. catenella and PSTs in sentinel shellfish over a 3-year period. Between 2003 and 2005, A. catenella was noted in 55% of surface water samples (n = 307) and reached a maximum concentration of 17,387 cells L−1 at our nearshore site in Monterey Bay. Peak cell densities occurred in the month of July and were associated with elevated shellfish toxicity in the summers of 2004 and 2005. When A. catenella was present, particulate PSTs were detected 71% of the time and reached a maximum concentration of 962 ng STXeq L−1. Of the 13 species tested, we frequently detected PSTs in Pacific sardines (Sardinops sagax; maximum 250 μg STXeq 100 g−1), northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax; maximum 23.2 μg STXeq 100 g−1), brown rock crabs (Cancer antennarius; maximum 49.3 μg STXeq 100 g−1) and red rock crabs (C. productus; 23.8 μg STXeq 100 g−1). PSTs were also present in one sample of Pacific herring (Clupea pallas; 13.3 μg STXeq 100 g−1) and one sample of English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus; 4.5 μg STXeq 100 g−1), and not detected in seven other species of flatfish tested. The presence of PSTs in several of these organisms reveals that toxins produced by A. catenella are more prevalent in California food webs than previously thought and also indicates potential routes of toxin transfer to higher trophic levels.
Police satisfaction with their jobs: arresting officers in the District of Columbia

Over three hundred police officers from the District of Columbia were surveyed as they waited for court appearances. Although police officers were satisfied with their jobs, morale was low. Background and situational variables did not adequately predict satisfaction levels. Satisfaction levels were better predicted given an officer’s attitudes toward their fellow officers, their superiors, and the race‐relations/promotion process within the Department.
The transfer of copper from ewes with Border Disease to their lambs

Abstract The transfer of 64Cu and copper to their lambs was measured in late pregnancy in normal ewes and in ewes infected with Border Disease. The differences previously observed between copper concentrations in the central nervous systems of normal and infected lambs were confirmed, but there were no differences between the rates of transfer of 64Cu or copper from ewes to lambs. The different copper concentrations were due to the smaller weights and dry matter contents of the tissues of infected lambs. Evidence was obtained that the time-course of deposition of copper in the cerebrum was different from that in the spinal cord.
Direct evidence for a steep geotherm under conditions of rapid denudation, Western Himalaya, Pakistan

Recent fluid-inclusion and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar cooling-age data show that currently exposed basement rocks in the Raikhot glacier valley of the Nanga Parbat-Haramosh massif, Pakistan Himalaya, were at temperatures of 350 ± 50 °C at depths of 6 ± 2 km (hydrostatic pressure correction). These data imply the presence of a steep thermal gradient in the upper crust at 1 Ma (29-100 °C/km) and denudation rates over the past 1.0 m.y. of 3-6 mm/yr, providing independent corroboration of previous estimates of rapid denudation at Nanga Parbat (4.5 mm/yr over 3.3 m.y.). Our data provide direct documentation of near-surface compaction of isotherms under conditions of rapid denudation, a result that has long been supported by thermal modeling.
Spatially Dependent Polya Tree Modeling for Survival Data

With the proliferation of spatially oriented time-to-event data, spatial modeling in the survival context has received increased recent attention. A traditional way to capture a spatial pattern is to introduce frailty terms in the linear predictor of a semiparametric model, such as proportional hazards or accelerated failure time. We propose a new methodology to capture the spatial pattern by assuming a prior based on a mixture of spatially dependent Polya trees for the baseline survival in the proportional hazards model. Thanks to modern Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, this approach remains computationally feasible in a fully hierarchical Bayesian framework. We compare the spatially dependent mixture of Polya trees (MPT) approach to the traditional spatial frailty approach, and illustrate the usefulness of this method with an analysis of Iowan breast cancer survival data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute. Our method provides better goodness of fit over the traditional alternatives as measured by log pseudo marginal likelihood (LPML), the deviance information criterion (DIC), and full sample score (FSS) statistics.
Some data-analytic modifications to Bayes-Stein estimation

The usual Bayes-Stein shrinkages of maximum likelihood estimates towards a common value may be refined by taking fuller account of the locations of the individual observations. Under a Bayesian formulation, the types of shrinkages depend critically upon the nature of the common distribution assumed for the parameters at the second stage of the prior model. In the present paper this distribution is estimated empirically from the data, permitting the data to determine the nature of the shrinkages. For example, when the observations are located in two or more clearly distinct groups, the maximum likelihood estimates are roughly speaking constrained towards common values within each group. The method also detects outliers; an extreme observation will either the regarded as an outlier and not substantially adjusted towards the other observations, or it will be rejected as an outlier, in which case a more radical adjustment takes place. The method is appropriate for a wide range of sampling distributions and may also be viewed as an alternative to standard multiple comparisons, cluster analysis, and nonparametric kernel methods.
Theft in Nursing Homes: An Overlooked Form of Elder Abuse

ABSTRACT This research provides the first national data on the understudied topic of nursing home theft. Survey data were collected from nursing home employees, family members of patients, and administrators in 47 nursing homes. The findings indicate that a substantial proportion of employees reported seeing or suspecting their co-workers of stealing from patients. Almost one-fifth of family members suspected that their relatives' possessions had been stolen by nursing home employees. A small minority of employees self-reported that they had stolen from patients, and most had done this more than once. Our analyses lend support to the widespread allegation that nursing home theft is extensive.
System for filing urologic literature.

Abstract A system for filing urologic information is presented. The framework and its adaptability to all surgical specialties are stressed. Our responsibility as physicians to stay abreast of changes in our field is the underlying theme and impetus behind the construction of a method for systematic retrieval of information.
A comparison of categorical beliefs about foods in children and young adults

Previous research has shown that foods often have reputations for weight gain that are not reflected in their calorie content. Categorical (good versus bad) beliefs concerning the weight-gain potential of foods have been shown in adults of all ages but have yet to be examined in children. In the present study, judgments of the weight-gain potential of common “healthy” and “unhealthy” foods were assessed in a group of children (mean age 11.1) and compared with those of college students (mean age 18.6). Results indicated that the children have assimilated categorical beliefs concerning ordinary foods and that fat content is the only nutrient characteristic that predicted weight-gain ratings. However, the children have not acquired these categorical beliefs to the degree of the college students that were examined. Specifically, the children (compared to the college students) showed a strong tendency to consider foods with more healthy reputations as greater weight-gain promoters. Perhaps children, whose beliefs about foods are still being shaped, may be more receptive to compensatory instruction by health care professionals concerning the weight-gain potential of foods.
Principal component analysis of flexible systems--Open-loop case

A generic class of flexible systems, characterized by finitely many lightly damped harmonic oscillators, is analyzed by means of the "open-loop principal component analysis," that is, singular value analysis and Gramian balancing. As the main result, it is shown that, as the damping ratio goes to zero, the balanced state coordinates are decoupled and coincide with the modal coordinates. Further, simple formulas expressing the "asymptotic singular values" as functions of the modal parameters are derived.
Statistics of Zero Power Nuclear Reactors

In a zero power nuclear reactor operating in steady state fluctuations in the neutron population about the average neutron population are observable. These fluctuations are related to the dynamic parameters of the reactor and may be of interest in measurements of dynamic parameters or in the analysis of sensitive experiments in which the characteristics of this population fluctuation are important. In this paper equations are developed for the autocorrelation function and the power spectral density function for zero power, point reactor fluctuations. An equation is also derived for the ratio of the variance to the mean of the integrated value of the noise as a function of time interval. The derivation of these equations uses the concepts of noise analysis common to optimum design theory. The effects of delayed neutrons and of source neutrons are included. A typical experimental curve for the variance to mean ratio taken on the Ford Nuclear Reactor at the University of Michigan is shown which displays the form of this function.
WWW to DICOM interface

In this paper we discuss the implementation and use of a WWW interface to a DICOM PACS that allows users to select, move, and display images that are currently available in the PACS and to view their corresponding radiology reports. This system allows our users to query the archive from any workstation (such as Unix, DOS, and Mac) that supports a WWW browser. To use this system, the user first runs a WWW browser such as Mosaic, Netscape, or Lynx and specifies a URL on one of our Unix workstations. This URL refers to an HTML file that contains a query form. This query form contains a number of fields such as patient name and medical record number. The user may specify any or all fields as well as wildcards in fields such as the name field. Once the form is completed, the user presses a button to submit the request. The HTML form submits the query to a C program that executes on the Unix server. This program accepts as input the form field values that the user specified. This program then communicates with the archive via DICOM requests to determine those patients that match the search criteria. The user may then choose a patient which in turn causes the studies for this patient to be displayed. Finally, the user may select a study which causes those images to be retrieved from the archive and displayed via the Web browser. The result of this system is an easy to use interface to a DICOM PACS with the option to query and move images from the PACS. In summary, a system that integrates the ease of use of WWW browsers with a DICOM PACS is discussed. We are currently incorporating information from our RIS as well. This allows us to obtain extensive patient demographics, exam information, and textual radiological reports and associate this information with information from the PACS.
Acid excretion in young and adult Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Wistar Kyoto rats (WKy), the most widely accepted control for SH rats, show an inability to excrete acid appropriately when compared to another normotensive strain, SD. Coupled with the fact that KWy also develops ‘sodium-sensitive’ hypertension, this makes them a more complex control than realized. At very young ages (<10-week-old), neither SH nor WKy show any deficiency in acid excretion.
Centaurus: a framework for intelligent services in a mobile environment

In an age where wirelessly networked appliances and devices are becoming commonplace, there is a necessity for connecting them to work together for a mobile user. The design outlined in the paper provides an infrastructure and communication protocol for providing 'smart' services to these mobile devices. This flexible framework allows any medium to be used for communication between the system and the portable device, including infra-red, and BlueTooth. Using Extensible Markup Language (XML) for information passing, gives the system a uniform and easily adaptable interface. We explain our trade-offs in implementation and through experiments we show that the design is feasible and that it indeed provides a flexible structure for providing services. Centaurus provides a uniform infrastructure for heterogeneous services, both hardware and software services, to be made available to the users everywhere where they are needed.