cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antagonistic Regulation of Synaptic Vesicle Priming by Tomosyn and UNC-13

Priming of synaptic vesicles (SVs) is essential for synaptic transmission. UNC-13 proteins are required for priming. Current models propose that UNC-13 stabilizes the open conformation of Syntaxin, in which the SNARE helix is available for interactions with Synaptobrevin and SNAP-25. Here we show that Tomosyn inhibits SV priming. Tomosyn contains a SNARE motif, which forms an inhibitory SNARE complex with Syntaxin and SNAP-25. Mutants lacking Tomosyn have increased synaptic transmission, an increased pool of primed vesicles, and increased abundance of UNC-13 at synapses. Behavioral, imaging, and electrophysiological studies suggest that SV priming was reconstituted in unc-13 mutants by expressing a constitutively open mutant Syntaxin, or by mutations eliminating Tomosyn. Thus, priming is modulated by the balance between Tomosyn and UNC-13, perhaps by regulating the availability of open-Syntaxin. Even when priming was restored, synaptic transmission remained defective in unc-13 mutants, suggesting that UNC-13 is also required for other aspects of secretion.
Cannibalism as the cause of an ontogenetic shift in habitat use by fry of the threespine stickleback.

In Crystal Lake, British Columbia, small fry (≤15 mm SL) of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are concentrated in vegetation while larger fry are not. Because fry in all size classes feed primarily on zooplankton, even when in vegetation, we hypothesized that size-limited predation was responsible for the observed shift in habitat use with size. The major predators on fry in Crystal Lake are adult threespine stickleback, the water scorpion, Ranatra sp. (Hemiptera: Nepidae), backswimmers, Notonecta spp. (Hemiptera: Notonectidae), and dragonfly naiads of the genus Aeshna (Odonata: Aeschnidae). On the basis of distribution and hunting behavior we excluded the insects Ranatra sp., and Notonecta sp. as causal agents for this shift in resource by fry in water >0.25 m deep. Ranatra was found almost exclusively near the shoreline in water 15 mm SL that would be expected if size-limited predation by this insect was responsible for the observed shift in resource use by fry. Adult stickleback only fed on fry 15 mm SL were found outside of vegetation more often than in control treatments. The probable cause of this result is that adults become aggressive toward fry at this size, and often could be seen chasing large fry from vegetation during the experiments. Dragonfly naiads (Aeshna spp.) spent most of their time in vegetation in the experimental pools. Both size classes of fry spent less time in vegetation in the presence of dragonfly naiads than they did in control treatments, an apparent reflection of their similar vulnerabilities to these naiads. The presence of vegetation in pools reduced predation rates by adult stickleback on small fry. Because the experiments presented here indicate that fry are capable of rapidly assessing predation risk and of altering their behavior adaptively, we conclude that small fry occupy vegetation as a refuge from cannibalism. Once fry have reached the size-threshold at which they are no longer vulnerable to adult conspecifics they are able to forage farther from vegetation thereby reducing risk of predation by insects in vegetation and possibly acquiring more abundant food resources.
Binding of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate to cultured myoblasts.

The tumor promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) binds in a rapid (maximal at 30 min), reversible, and non-saturable manner to cultured embryonic chick myoblasts. Serum was not required for binding, although it promoted the release of PMA from the cells. This appears to be due to PMA binding to serum proteins. At any concentration tested, approx. 10% of the total PMA was bound at 5 min and 30% was bound at 30 min. It is estimated that a PMA concentration in the cell membrane of only 1 molecule of PMA5000 molecules of membrane lipid elicits maximal biological responses in these cells.
On the Nongeostrophic Baroclinic Instability Problem

Abstract The conventional balance-equation treatment is found to be undesirable for the purpose of filtering out internal gravity waves when the Richardson number is of order unity. A generalized formulation for such purpose is established. The nature of nonseparability in the ageostrophic baroclinic instability problem for a channel model is closely examined. It is found that there exist auxiliary boundary conditions which have to be explicitly satisfied in order to uniquely pose the eigenvalue problem. These conditions become greatly simplified if the proper filtering procedure is applied. The eigenfunction then becomes separable in its dependence on the height and cross-channel coordinates under fairly general conditions. An algorithm is then formulated to solve the highly ageostrophic baroclinic instability problem in a channel model. The effects of the meridional walls are conclusively established by closely examining the three-dimensional structure of the unstable mode. Quasi-symmetric instability m...
Isoforms of α-Actinin from Cardiac, Smooth, and Skeletal Muscle Form Polar Arrays of Actin Filaments

We have used a positively charged lipid monolayer to form two-dimensional bundles of F-actin cross-linked by α-actinin to investigate the relative orientation of the actin filaments within them. This method prevents growth of the bundles perpendicular to the monolayer plane, thereby facilitating interpretation of the electron micrographs. Using α-actinin isoforms isolated from the three types of vertebrate muscle, i.e., cardiac, skeletal, and smooth, we have observed almost exclusively cross-linking between polar arrays of filaments, i.e., actin filaments with their plus ends oriented in the same direction. One type of bundle can be classified as an Archimedian spiral consisting of a single actin filament that spirals inward as the filament grows and the bundle is formed. These spirals have a consistent hand and grow to a limiting internal diameter of 0.4–0.7 μm, where the filaments appear to break and spiral formation ceases. These results, using isoforms usually characterized as cross-linkers of bipolar actin filament bundles, suggest that α-actinin is capable of cross-linking actin filaments in any orientation. Formation of specifically bipolar or polar filament arrays cross-linked by α-actinin may require additional factors that either determine the filament orientation or restrict the cross-linking capabilities of α-actinin.
Neuronal uptake of 3H-thymidine.

Abstract A pronounced incorporation of 3 H nucleotides into mitochondrial DNA in isolated suspensions of mitochondria has been demonstrated recently for a number of cell types. Although it is generally assumed that the multiplication of mitochondria is accompanied by replication of their DNA, pronounced incorporation of 3 H-thymidine into the mitochondria of higher organisms in vivo has yet to be shown. In the present study, uptake has been measured of 3 H-thymidine into neurons of mouse spinal ganglia, cockroach nerve cord ganglia and goldfish retina. The frequency of 3 H-thymidinc incorporation into neuronal mitochondria precludes in vivo fractionation of a labelled population. Less than 1% labelling of axonal mitochondria is observed. Although neuronal mitochondria have a high half life and several hundred pass a fixed point along an axon in one day in a unidirectional flow, failure to observe a significant mitochondrial uptake leaves open the problem of the nuclcotide pool serving mitochondrial DNA.
Overexpression of Neprilysin Reduces Alzheimer Amyloid-β42 (Aβ42)-induced Neuron Loss and Intraneuronal Aβ42 Deposits but Causes a Reduction in cAMP-responsive Element-binding Protein-mediated Transcription, Age-dependent Axon Pathology, and Premature Death in Drosophila

The amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) peptide has been suggested to play a causative role in Alzheimer disease (AD). Neprilysin (NEP) is one of the rate-limiting Aβ-degrading enzymes, and its enhancement ameliorates extracellular amyloid pathology, synaptic dysfunction, and memory defects in mouse models of Aβ amyloidosis. In addition to the extracellular Aβ, intraneuronal Aβ42 may contribute to AD pathogenesis. However, the protective effects of neuronal NEP expression on intraneuronal Aβ42 accumulation and neurodegeneration remain elusive. In contrast, sustained NEP activation may be detrimental because NEP can degrade many physiological peptides, but its consequences in the brain are not fully understood. Using transgenic Drosophila expressing human NEP and Aβ42, we demonstrated that NEP efficiently suppressed the formation of intraneuronal Aβ42 deposits and Aβ42-induced neuron loss. However, neuronal NEP overexpression reduced cAMP-responsive element-binding protein-mediated transcription, caused age-dependent axon degeneration, and shortened the life span of the flies. Interestingly, the mRNA levels of endogenous fly NEP genes and phosphoramidon-sensitive NEP activity declined during aging in fly brains, as observed in mammals. Taken together, these data suggest both the protective and detrimental effects of chronically high NEP activity in the brain. Down-regulation of NEP activity in aging brains may be an evolutionarily conserved phenomenon, which could predispose humans to developing late-onset AD.
Elevated erythrocyte calcium in sickle cell disease.

CUMULATIVE membrane damage and loss is thought to occur in the erythrocytes of individuals homozygous for haemoglobin S (refs 1–4). The culmination of this process seems to be the formation of irreversibly sickled cells (ISC), which will not resume normal biconcave disk shape, even when the haemoglobin which they contain is in the sol (oxygenated) state5–7. Although the processes responsible for the formation of ISC have not yet been fully elucidated, it is clear that a change in the structure or composition of the membrane has occurred, such that cellular plasticity and ability to resume normal shape upon oxygenation have been lost. Weed et al.8 report a similar loss of plasticity, a diminished ease of ingress into glass microcapillaries, when calcium is placed inside resealed membrane “ghosts” made from normal human erythrocytes. In whole red cells, diminished filterability was also found to occur concomitantly with progressive loss of ATP. ATP-depleted red cells, however, retained most of their plasticity if EDTA were added to the incubation mixture to prevent calcium accumulation8. These results indicate that increased calcium alone may markedly reduce red cell plasticity.
Reducing the computer memory requirement for 3D reverse-time migration with a boundary-wavefield extrapolation method

ABSTRACTReverse-time migration (RTM) using the crosscorrelation imaging condition requires that the forward-propagated source wavefield and the backward-propagated receiver wavefield be accessible within the imaging domain at the same time step. There are two categories of methods to balance the computer memory requirement and the computational complexity of RTM: checkpointing methods and source-wavefield reconstruction methods. We have developed a new source-wavefield reconstruction method to improve the balance between the computer memory requirement and the computational complexity of RTM. During the forward simulation of the source wavefield, we stored boundary wavefields only at one or two layers of spatial grid points and reconstructed the back-propagated source wavefield at the same time step as that of the back-propagated receiver wavefield, using a high-order wave-equation extrapolation scheme. One conventional RTM method uses boundary wavefields stored at multiple layers of spatial grid points a...
Growth hormone-induced alteration of morphology and tubulin expression in 3T3 preadipose cells.

Summary Effects of growth hormone on morphology and cytoskeletal protein expression were examined in 3T3-F442A preadipocytes in serum-free medium. Between 2 and 5 days of culture 2 nM methionyl human growth hormone converted 3T3-F442A cells from a flat fibroblastic morphology to a rounded form with numerous membrane convolutions. Growth hormone treated cultures manifested a 30–40% reduction in cell volume. Growth hormone induced changes in morphology and volume preceded and were independent of lipogenesis. In cells treated with growth hormone, expression ofα andβ-tubulin as determined by Western blotting was found to increase approximately 50% within 72 h as compared to untreated cells. After 7 days, tubulin levels in growth hormone treated cells were approximately 40% of control levels. This indicated that morphological changes and alteration of tubulin expression were signatures of growth hormone action on 3T3-F442A cells.
Space use of woodchucks across an urbanization gradient within an agricultural landscape.

Rapidly increasing urbanization creates novel environmental conditions for mammals even in already humandominated, agricultural landscapes. Previous research on the behavioral responses of mammals to urbanization has focused on carnivores. Herbivores may respond to similar factors as carnivores, but herbivores also could respond to landscape alterations that generate variation in predation risk. We examined movements of 35 radiomarked, adult woodchucks (Marmota monax) located across an urbanization gradient within an agricultural landscape in central Illinois from 2007 to 2008. As predicted, home-range size was related negatively to urbanization. Home-range size of woodchucks in urban areas was ,10% of that of rural woodchucks. Urbanization had stronger effects on home-range sizes of males compared to females. Woodchucks are multiple central-place foragers, and their use of burrows within home ranges also was influenced by urbanization, with number of burrows per individual decreasing with urbanization. Because number of burrows was not scaled proportionally to home-range size, however, distances between burrows decreased in urban areas, and predation risk during interburrow movements should be reduced for urban woodchucks. Our results demonstrate the ability of woodchucks to exhibit substantial behavioral plasticity in response to urbanization and provide insights into how space use by multiple central-place foragers relates to predation risk. DOI: 10.1644/09-MAMM-A-254.1.
The 11th world conference on Titanium (Ti-2007)

The International Conference on Titanium was begun in 1968 to assess the national significance attached to the development of titanium in relation to the technical needs of the countries participating in this conference. The conference, held every four years, attracts strong international participation. This article reviews the 11th World Conference on Titanium, hosted by the Japan Institute of Metals and held in Kyoto, Japan, 3–7 June 2007.
Comparative distribution and persistence of disparlure in woodland air after aerial application of three controlled-release formulations.

Disparlure, the gypsy moth sex pheromone, was aerially applied to three plots, using a different controlled-release formulation-gelatin microcapsules, flakes of plastic laminates, or hollow fibers-in each plot. Disparlure concentrations in air were measured intermittently over a 34-day period after application. Measurements were made at four heights above ground: 0.3,2,5, and 10m. Wind speed and air temperature were measured concurrently. Disparlure was emitted from the microcapsules and fibers at very high levels for the first day or two; thereafter, all three formulations produced gradually decreasing aerial concentrations. After 32–34 days, concentrations in all plots ranged from 1.5% to 15.5% of those on the first day, although most of the pheromone remained in the formulations. Results suggest that the effective life of all three formulations for mating disruption by atmospheric permeation would be near 30 days under the test conditions, with fibers likely to have the shortest life. Concentrations varied diurnally throughout the experiment, with highest levels generally between 1400 and 2200 hr each day. Concentrations were highest at the 10-m height with microcapsules and at the 0.3- and 10-m heights with flakes, but were similar at all heights with fibers. Biological implications of the results are presented.
The historical origins and growth of programs to prepare school psychologists in the United States.

Abstract A study of the growth of school psychology preparation programs reveals their rapid increase since 1950. With somewhat obscure origins related to professional growth in generic education and psychology, preparation has gained increasing clarity and stature that are consistent with the identify of school psychology in general.
Soil Nitrogen Dynamics under Dryland Alfalfa and Durum–Forage Cropping Sequences

Forages grown in rotation with or without cereals to sustain dryland soil water content and crop production may influence N dynamics. We evaluated the effect of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and durum (Triticum turgidum L.)-annual forage cropping sequences on above- (stems + leaves) and belowground (roots) biomass N, dryland soil total N (STN), particulate organic N (PON), microbial biomass N (MBN), potential N mineralization (PNM), NH 4 -N, and NO 3 -N contents at the 0- to 120-cm depth in northeastern Montana from 2002 to 2005. Cropping sequences were continuous alfalfa (CA), durum-barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) hay (D-B), durum-foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) hay (D-M), durum-Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L.)/barley mixture hay (D-P/B), and durum-fallow (D-F). From 2002 to 2005, total above- and belowground biomass N was 20 to 97 kg N ha ―1 greater under CA than other treatments. In 2005, STN, PON, and PNM were 7 to 490 kg N ha ―1 greater under CA than D-M, D-B, and D-P/B at 0 to 30 cm but varied by treatment at other depths. In contrast, MBN at 0 to 15 cm and NH 4 -N content at 30 to 90 cm were 23 to 37 kg N ha ―1 greater under D-B than D-M and D-F. The NO 3 -N content at 0 to 120 cm was 65 to 107 kg N ha ―1 greater under D-P/B than other treatments. Even though haying removed a greater amount of N, alfalfa increased surface soil N storage and mineralization and reduced the potential for N leaching compared with durum-annual forages, probably due to increased root growth or N 2 fixation. Durum-pea/barley hay, however, increased N mineralization and availability in subsoil layers, probably due to greater root N concentration or downward movement of water-soluble N.
Wind noise under a pine tree canopy.

It is well known that infrasonic wind noise levels are lower for arrays placed in forests and under vegetation than for those in open areas. In this research, the wind noise levels, turbulence spectra, and wind velocity profiles are measured in a pine forest. A prediction of the wind noise spectra from the measured meteorological parameters is developed based on recent research on wind noise above a flat plane. The resulting wind noise spectrum is the sum of the low frequency wind noise generated by the turbulence–shear interaction near and above the tops of the trees and higher frequency wind noise generated by the turbulence–turbulence interaction near the ground within the tree layer. The convection velocity of the low frequency wind noise corresponds to the wind speed above the trees while the measurements showed that the wind noise generated by the turbulence–turbulence interaction is near stationary and is generated by the slow moving turbulence adjacent to the ground. Comparison of the predicted wind noise spectrum with the measured wind noise spectrum shows good agreement for four measurement sets. The prediction can be applied to meteorological estimates to predict the wind noise under other pine forests.
A stochastic locomotor control model for the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum

The locomotor behavior of the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is characterized by 17 variables (frequency and ratios of left, right, and total turns; their radians; straight paths (steps); distance travelled; and velocity) Within each of these variables there is an internal time dependency the structure of which was elaborated together with an improved statistical model predicting their behavior within 90% confidence limits. The model allows for the sensitive detection of subtle locomotor response to sensory stimulation as values of variables may exceed the established confidence limits within minutes after onset of the stimulus. The locomotor activity is well described by an autoregression time series model and can be predicted by only seven variables. Six of these form two independently operating clusters. The first one consists of: the number of right turns, the distance travelled and the mean velocity; the second one of: the mean size of right turns, of left turns, and of all turns. The same clustering is obtained independently by a cluster analysis of cross-sections of the seven time series. It is apparent that, among a total of 17 locomotor variables, seven behave as individually independent agents, presumably controlled by seven separate and independent centers. The output of each center can only be predicted by its own behavior. In spite of the individual of the seven variables, their internal structure is similar in important aspects which may result from control by a common command center. The shark locomotor model differs in important aspects from the previously constructed for the goldfish. The interdependence of the locomotor variables in both species may be related to the control mechanisms postulated by von Holst for the coordination of rhythmic fin movements in fishes. A locomotor control model for the nurse shark is proposed.
Global inequality, power and the unipolar world Implications for social work

EnglishFollowing the collapse of the Soviet Union, neoconservative intellectuals and policy makers have promoted a unipolarist position which prescribes a new, unilateral role for the government of...
Ion propulsion system design and throttling strategies for planetary missions

This paper describes recent advances in ion propulsion system design which promise to increase the propulsion system reliability by reducing the overall system complexity. The greatest simplification in the overall propulsion system operation is accomplished through a change in the ion engine throttling strategy. By using three grid optics it is possible to effect engine throttling at a constant beam curent over at least a 3.8 to 1 variation in input power. Throttling at a constant beam current results in a single discharge chamber operating point and eliminates the need for active propellant flow controllers and complex engine throttling software. Detailed mission analysis calculations for a CNSR mission performed using this constant beam current throttling strategy indicate only a small reduction in delivered payload and increase in required propellant relative to a conventional throttling profile based on varying the beam curent.
Truth, reconciliation and justice

After decades of bitter struggle, in April 1994 the anti‐apartheid liberation movements and the South African government joined forces to launch a new non‐racial democracy, which resulted in a configuration known as the Government of National Unity (GNU). This political settlement was reached after years of negotiations and compromises. One of the thorniest issues the coalition government has had to face is the question of accountability for past human rights abuses: abuses perpetrated not only by the forces of the former ruling party, but by various other political movements, including the African National Congress (ANC), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and the right‐wing Afrikaner neo‐nazi group, Afrikaner Weerstand Beweging (AWB)—the Afrikaner Resistance Movement. Establishing a fair process to account for systematic gross violations of human rights carried out under a former regime—a process that is deemed acceptable to both the victims of these abuses, as well as t...
Selected Antimicrobial Essential Oils Eradicate Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms

Biofilms are difficult to eliminate with standard antimicrobial treatments due to their high antibiotic resistance relative to free-living cells. Here, we show that selected antimicrobial essential oils can eradicate bacteria within biofilms with higher efficiency than certain important antibiotics, making them interesting candidates for the treatment of biofilms.
Pulse-compression probing of small signal characteristics for nonlinear systems in dynamic operating conditions

This paper is concerned with real-time monitoring of a nonlinear system using pulse-compression probing, which evaluates the pulse response produced by compressing a small elongated random probing sequence around an operating point. The focus is to study the extent and the condition under which the pulse-compression principle is upheld when the system undergoes transients between equilibria. The paper uses an incremental, linear time-varying representation of the nonlinear system not only to establish the validity of the pulse-compression principle under the uniform bounded-input bounded-output condition, but also to assist in determining the parameters of probing signals. Using the incremental representation, probing outputs are accurate regardless of knowledge about the trim condition. The results from pulse-compression probing in the longitudinal axis dynamics of the NASA Generic Transport Aircraft Model (GTM) are reported. The probing algorithm proves effective during changing operating conditions caused by a thrust command and by stuck faults in the outer elevators.
Interruption of the Maintenance Phase Of Established Hypertension by Ablation of the Anteroventral Third Ventricle (AV3V) in Rats

Ablation of tissue surrounding anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) was studied in three models of hypertensive rats. Lesions were placed in the AV3V at one and six weeks following the initiation of one kidney Grollman renal hypertension. At one week the rise in blood pressure was arrested and water intake was reduced; at six weeks arterial pressure returned to prehypertensive levels in animals surviving the post-lesion hydrational crisis. In two kidney (one clip) Goldblatt animals lesioned two weeks post-clip, arterial pressure was significantly reduced but did not become fully normotensive. Finally, the AV3V was also lesioned in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-Okamoto strain) with established hypertension. The lesion did not reduce arterial pressure in adult SHR although characteristic initial adipsia and weight loss occurred. Ablation of the AV3V thus altered the course of maintenance of renal hypertension; however, the arterial pressure of SHR was not affected.
Electronic Medical Records and the Efficiency of Hospital Emergency Departments

This study examined the relationship between electronic medical records (EMR) sophistication and the efficiency of U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs). Using data from the 2006 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, survey-weighted ordinary least squares regressions were used to estimate the association of EMR sophistication with ED throughput and probability a patient left without treatment. Instrumental variables were used to test for the presence of endogeneity and reverse causality. Greater EMR sophistication had a mixed association with ED efficiency. Relative to EDs with minimal or no EMR, fully functional EMR was associated with 22.4% lower ED length of stay and 13.1% lower diagnosis/treatment time. However, the relationships varied by patient acuity level and diagnostic services provided. Surprisingly, EDs with basic EMR were not more efficient on average, and basic EMR had a nonlinear relationship with efficiency that varied with the number of EMR functions used.
Online Advertising, Identity and Privacy

For individuals, the basic architecture of computing is changing. That is obviously about the device itself, with the desktop or laptop computer now being supplemented with other computing devices such as the smartphone and the netbook. That switch, coupled with ubiquitous wireless access, means that many people have access to computing power whenever and wherever.The way in which we use these devices has changed. We have switched from the freestanding world of the desktop computer and the next stage of surfing the Internet net to consume provided content to a world in which users interact with each other. This is the world of Web 2.0, the world of Google, Facebook and Twitter. This is not just a change in use, but also a change in the organization of computing power and storage, cloud-computing in phrase.This is also a world of identity, often direct actual real me, on Facebook and Twitter; an authenticated identity to access my data stored in the cloud when I use Google Reader or Gmail or another cloud-based mail service; and a browser-identity when I use a search service. And this is also a world of advertising. Web 2.0 and cloud-computing services are often free to individuals, but they have to be paid for somehow, at that is usually through advertising. Advertising is also increasingly important in a world in which the integrity of the copy itself has weakened and the copy may no longer serve as a reliable means of organizing payment for content.This combination of identity and advertising means that this will be targeted advertising, that is, advertising directed to some version of me, perhaps actual me as Facebook sees me or browser-me as Google sees me. Regulators are now confronting this intersection of commerce and identity. Individuals have a real interest in seeing targeted advertising work. That advertising supports the free services and content that we have all come to expect on the Internet. But individuals also have a strong interest in controlling their identities.Regulators, especially in the European Union, are moving towards what they regard as "privacy friendly" default settings for information tracking by Web 2.0 providers. To date, default settings have usually put the burden on individuals to opt out of information tracking. An EU privacy-friendly approach would seem to reject that. But Web 2.0 providers and cloud-providers have strong tools for inducing opt in and, indeed, their ability to provide different levels of their services for different individuals should make it possible for them to assess quite carefully what it takes to get individuals to opt in to targeted advertising. So long as those service providers are not blocked from providing different levels of service to individuals who have not elected to receive targeted advertising, moving towards the EU's privacy-friendly defaults may have the virtue of pushing us away from an often not-so-meaningful default opt in towards more meaningfully calibrated opt ins exchanged for higher quality services, such as seeing fewer, better matched ads.
Solute rejection by porous glass membranes. II - Pore size distributions and membrane permeabilities.

Abstract The pore size distributions of porous glass hyperfiltration membranes were calculated from nitrogen desorption isotherm data. Pore volume distributions of unused porous glass membranes peaked sharply between 19 and 22A pore radius. Membranes from batches with higher solute rejection appeared to have sharp cut-offs of the pore volume distribution tail for larger pores and median pore radius under 20 A. The small differences may include “skin” effects, as it was found that etching of membrane-effluent solution interface greatly reduced solute rejection, although etching of the membrane-feed solution interface had no effect on rejection. A permeability equation with a tortuosity term was used to relate porous glass membrane permeabilities to the pore size distributions. Tortuosities of 2.6–3.4 allowed such agreement for new membranes. Membranes that lost solute rejection capability during hyperfiltration life tests with sodium chloride and urea feed solutions showed a marked broadening of the pore volume distribution and, in the case of the test with sodium chloride feed, a new pore volume distribution peak at 60–80 A radius. The addition of 1.7 gm/liter aluminum chloride to a 10 gm/liter sodium chloride feed solution minimized changes in pore size distribution during a hyperfiltration life test. Electron micrographs showed apparent flow paths of the right order of tortuosity and surface area calculated from particle dimensions were less than BET areas for unused membranes but equivalent to BET areas after hyperfiltration testing.
Inheritance of resistance to Acarapis woodi (Acari: Tarsonemidae) in crosses between selected resistant Russian and selected susceptible u.s. honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

The pattern of inheritance of tracheal mite resistance in selected Russian bees was determined in bioassays and in samples from field colonies. Resistant colonies of Russian origin and colonies selected for high susceptibility in the United States were used to generate divergent parental populations. Seven groups of F1 colonies were produced by crossing queens and drones from these selected resistant Russian and selected susceptible populations. In a series of bioassays with young workers exposed in infested colonies, average mite abundance (female mites per worker) in F1 colonies was intermediate (1.04 ± 0.13 [mean ± SE]) and significantly different from that of both resistant Russian (0.74 ± 0.13) and selected susceptible (1.57 ± 0.13) colonies. Colonies representing the three populations were established in two apiaries in July 2005. Colonies surviving with original queens after 10 mo had mite prevalences supporting the findings of the bioassay. All three resistant colonies had undetectable mite levels, whereas prevalences in four F1 colonies ranged from 0 to 53%, and in 10 susceptible colonies ranged from 0 to 90%. Tracheal mite resistance in Russian bees is likely polygenic, but there may be a number of genes with major dominance interacting with minor genes. Use of selected Russian queens mated with Russian drones or with drones from unknown sources is beneficial for beekeeping in areas with persistent problems with tracheal mite infestation.
Optimizing the Strength and Size of Preformed Particle Gels for Better Conformance Control Treatment

Abstract A newer trend in gel treatments is using preformed particle gel (PPG) to reduce fluid channels through super-high permeability streaks/fractures and thus to decrease water production and increase sweep efficiency for mature oilfields. The success of a PPG treatment mainly depends on whether or not the PPG can effectively reduce the permeability of the channels to an appropriate level. This work sought to determine what factors significantly influence the blocking efficiency of PPG in fluid channels. A transparent filtration model was designed to observe the compression of gel particles in fluid channels at several differential pressures and to study the effect of various parameters, such as brine concentrations and particle sizes, on PPG blocking efficiency. The results suggested that rather than fully blocking the channel, a permeable gel pack was formed in the fluid channel by gel particles, and its permeability was dependent on the gel strength, particle size, and load pressure. The gel pack permeability decreased as the gel strength, particle size, and load pressure increased. Thus, the blocking efficiency of the particle gel on a channel is increased if large sizes or/and strong particles are used. The gel pack permeability was a few hundred millidarcies before the load pressure was applied; it decreased to less than 10 md when the load pressure rose. The results also indicated that the PPG pack was compressible and its compressibility decreased as the load pressure increased. These results can be effectively used to optimize a PPG design. A gel pack that has a desired permeability can be devised by selecting the proper gel strength and particle size corresponding to the reservoir pressure. This is essential for a successful gel treatment so as to reduce the permeability to a manageable preplanned degree.
The Relative Importance of Management Fraud Risk Factors

In an exploratory study, we report how 140 auditors rate the relative importance of 25 risk factors (red flags) identified in SAS No. 82. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to produce a decision model for each subject, and mean decision models are reported for groups of subjects. The results indicate that management characteristics and influence over the control environment red flags were approximately twice as important as operating and financial stability characteristics red flags and about four times as important as industry conditions red flags. The three single most important red flags account for almost 40 percent of the total decision weight. A particularly interesting finding is that the mean decision models of 43 Big 5 auditors, 50 regional/localfirm auditors, and 47 internal auditors were not significantly different from each other.
Polycrystalline silicon carbide for surface micromachining

Polycrystalline silicon carbide (poly-SiC) films have been deposited on polysilicon-coated, 4-inch silicon wafers in an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) reactor using parameters similar to those developed by our group for single crystal SiC growth. With highly-oriented (110) polysilicon films as substrates, poly-SiC films of the same preferred crystalline orientation have been grown. Characterization of the substrate before and after deposition by X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals that the orientation of the polysilicon substrate changes from predominantly (110) before SiC deposition to a mixture of (110) and (111) during the high-temperature (e.g., 1300/spl deg/C) film growth. This change has no affect on the overlying poly-SiC film. Surface profilometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to characterize the surface of the deposited films. Lateral resonant devices are surface-micromachined from the poly-SiC films using a single mask process. Devices with lateral dimensions of up to 500 /spl mu/m and free of residual-stress-induced deformations have been successfully fabricated. These microactuators exhibit actuation voltages as low as 30 V and resonant frequencies in the 20-60 kHz range.
Fast Selection of Linear Features in Image Data

Identifying a small number of useful features for learning from images requires processing large amounts of data and may be very time consuming. The standard approach is to compute many features from training data and then select a subset of the features that is useful for the task at hand. We propose an algorithm for selecting these features efficiently for the case in which the features are linear. Our approach is based on Principal Components dimensionality reduction applied to the training data. It is shown that the computation of linear features as well as the task of pruning redundant features can all be performed in a compact, reduced representation. Specifically, redundant features are detected and removed using the classic Factorization algorithm, applied in the reduced space.
A comparison of sliding mode fuzzy controller and fuzzy sliding mode controller

Sliding mode control and fuzzy logic control have been combined together in a variety of ways. One approach taken by many researchers is to use fuzzy logic to smooth the chattering in sliding mode control. Another unusual approach taken by few researchers is to use sliding mode control in a fuzzy logic controller. This paper presents the details of both approaches and compares their respective properties. The paper concludes that the first approach has little technical value, if not totally useless, and the second approach is technically applicable.
Simulating Electric Double Layer Capacitance of Mesoporous Electrodes with Cylindrical Pores

This paper aims to numerically assess the effects of electrolyte properties and electrode morphology on the capacitance of electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) made of mesoporous electrodes consisting of ordered cylindrical pores in non-aqueous electrolytes. Simulations solved a three-dimensional modified Poisson-Boltzmann model. They accounted for the finite size of ions and field-dependent electrolyte permittivity while the pores were perpendicular to the current collector. The effects of pore radius, porosity, effective ion diameter, and electrolyte field-dependent permittivity on the diffuse layer gravimetric capacitance were investigated systematically in order to determine key parameters affecting EDLCs’ performance. The simulations showed that reducing the ion effective diameter and the pore radius resulted in the strongest increase in diffuse layer gravimetric capacitance up to a critical radius below which the capacitance reaches a plateau. Increasing the electrode porosity also increased the diffuse layer gravimetric capacitance. Accounting for more realistic field-dependent permittivity was found to significantly reduce the predicted diffuse layer gravimetric capacitance. Finally, accounting for the contribution of the Stern layer to the total capacitance was essential in predicting experimental data for a wide range of porous activated carbon electrodes and non-aqueous electrolytes.
Progression of Endometriosis in Non-medically Managed Adolescents: A Case Series

Abstract Background Endometriosis is considered a progressive disease that can cause chronic pelvic pain and infertility. A combined medical-surgical approach is the best method to slow the progression of endometriosis. Adolescents who are not maintained on a medical regimen postoperatively may be at risk for disease progression. Cases This is a case series of three adolescent patients who presented at 13 to 16 years of age with complaint of severe pelvic pain and were diagnosed with stage 1 endometriosis at the time of laparoscopy. They were then prescribed menstrual suppressive therapy but did not remain compliant with their regimens. Results and Conclusions Each patient returned to the operating room and underwent a second laparoscopy which revealed that each patient’s disease had progressed to a higher stage. Without combined surgical-medical management, disease worsens, and places patients at risk for severe chronic pelvic pain as well as infertility.
Mass Redistribution Causes the Structural Richness of Ion-Irradiated Surfaces

We show that the "sputter patterning" topographical instability is determined by the effects of ion impact-induced prompt atomic redistribution and that erosion--the consensus predominant cause--is essentially irrelevant. We use grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering to measure in situ the damping of noise or its amplification into patterns via the linear dispersion relation. A model based on the effects of impact-induced redistribution of those atoms that are not sputtered away explains both the observed ultrasmoothening at low angles from normal incidence and the instability at higher angles.
Measures of Expressions of Love

This study developed scales for Chapman's five expressions of love: quality time, receiving gifts, words of affirmation, physical touch, and acts of service (two dimensions). A total of 338 student respondents were surveyed resulting in 321 usable surveys (95%). Of this total, 177 were women and 144 men, with a median age of 24 yr.
Board-level diagnosis by signature analysis

Board-level diagnostic techniques by signature analysis based on single-error-correcting Hamming codes over GF(2/sup M/) (where M is the number of outputs per chip) are presented. Two techniques are considered: the space-time compressor technique for the case when responses from N chips on the board are wired to the compressor; and the time compressor technique for the case when test responses from each chip are transferred to the compressor via system bus. Assuming a single-faulty-chip model, a faulty chip on the board under test is located by an analysis of the relationship between the distortions in the obtained signatures. Both techniques for board-level diagnosis require less hardware than the straightforward diagnostic techniques using a built-in signature analyzer for every chip or selective testing of each chip via the system bus, hence offering an efficient approach for a design of a built-in-self-test board for for manufacturing testing. >
Alcoholic Subjects with Anxiety Disorder: Characteristics of Completers and Noncompleters in a Pharmacologic Study

Data from a 6-month placebo-controlled, double-blind study of buspirone in alcohol-dependent subjects with generalized anxiety disorder were examined to determine if study completers and noncompleters differed on any identifiable characteristics. Twenty (299%) of 67 male veterans completed the 26-week protocol. An equal number (n = 10) of the completers were from each treatment condition. The completers had significantly fewer prior treatments and detoxifications and less heavy drinking in the month before the study than the noncompleters. Characteristics related to the severity of alcoholism may influence retention and medication compliance of alcohol-dependent subjects in pharmacologic treatment studies.
The impact of a “fuse blow” scheme on overhead distribution system reliability and power quality

this paper addresses the impact of a fuse blow philosophy on long lines commonly found in rural electric utilities as well as shorter lines which are ubiquitous in more urban areas. It also assesses the differences in the impact of these schemes in terms of both power quality (momentaries) and reliability issues. Detailed analysis of the impact on the utility system is presented and discussed.
Quasi 2-D Field Reconstruction Using the Conjoint Cylindrical Wave Expansion

Off-the-horizon propagation severely degrades the accuracy of any field reconstruction technique that presupposes a two-dimensional (2-D) wireless channel. Therefore, employing the 2-D cylindrical wave expansion (CWE) to interpolate perimeter channel measurements into a planar region often yields poor results. Here, the CWE is adapted for real-world radio channel measurements by selectively combining the basis functions from two similar CWEs. Using both simulated and experimental measurement data, it is shown that this conjoint CWE yields a more accurate reconstruction than the conventional CWE yet requires no additional measurements. Thereby, this field reconstruction-based channel imaging technique will enable more complete investigations of the wireless channel's spatial behavior and allow researchers to isolate and characterize the actual mechanisms underlying radio wave propagation.
The Role of Water in the Radiation Response of Wet and Dry Oxides

We report results of first-principles calculations that explain why radiation-induced interface-trap density increases at a slower rate in wet versus dry oxides in the initial stages of interface-trap buildup. Similar effects are observed in MOS devices after exposure to elevated humidity and temperature or after non-hermetic aging. We explore the possible reactions responsible for passivation of dangling bonds near the Si/SiO2 interface by water and elucidate a new energetically favorable path of the reaction. Prior to irradiation, the passivation of the dangling bonds happens either with formation of Si-H bonds and release of OH complexes, or with formation of Si-OH bonds and the release of H atoms. Both reactions have activation energies of ~ 0.9 eV and occur rarely at room temperatures. The OH complex is quite mobile, and can migrate along the interface and passivate dangling bonds via the formation of Si-OH bonds. After irradiation and release of protons, the Si-OH and SiH bonds may be formed with lower activation energy through passivation of a positively charged dangling bond by a water molecule. The presence of a hole at the dangling bond causes the resulting passivated SiOH bond and proton to have a lower energy than the initial water and dangling bond, and favors passivation of the dangling bonds. We discuss the relevance of the reactions for modeling the radiation response of wet and dry oxides, aging of MOS devices, and pre-irradiation elevated temperature stress.