cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory for a quantum modulated transistor

We present a theoretical study of semiconductor T‐structures which may exhibit transistor action based on quantum interference. The electron transmission through a semiconductor quantum wire can be controlled by an external gate voltage that modifies the penetration of the electron wavefunction in a lateral stub, affecting in this way its interference pattern. The structures are modeled as ideal two‐dimensional electron waveguides and a tight‐binding Green’s function technique is used to compute the electron transmission and reflection coefficients. The calculations show that relatively small changes in the stub length can induce strong variations in the electron transmission across the structure. Operation in the fundamental transverse mode appears to be important for applications. We also show that a bound state of purely geometrical origin nucleates at the intersection between waveguide and stub. The performance of the device can be improved by inserting additional stubs of slightly different lengths. ...
A genetic screen for vegetative gene expression in the micronucleus of Tetrahymena thermophila.

. The presence of a micronucleus with at least a small portion of the micronuclear genome appears to be indispensable for vegetative viability in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. A genetic screen was devised to detect evidence of expression of essential genes in the vegetative micronucleus by identification of thermosensitive-lethal mutations expressed in the absence of nuclear reorganization. Although control experiments demonstrated the efficacy of the method for induction and recovery of thermosensitive lethal mutations in micronuclear genes, no expressed mutations were recovered in the absence of nuclear reorganization. This finding complements the existing lack of convincing biochemical evidence for gene expression in the vegetative micronucleus and suggests that the essential function may involve genomic DNA sequences for which thermosensitive mutant alleles are not recoverable, or perhaps a non-genomic component of the organelle.
Luminescence of U3+ in LaBr3∗

Abstract The luminescence behavior of the M-level of U 3+ in LaBr 3 (18 388 cm -1 ) has been studied with time resolved tunable dye laser techniques. Multiplesites have been detected. A unique site is identified; its inhomogeneous width and the temperature dependence of the fluorescence lifetime have been measured.
Silver‐complexed dicyanobiphenyl‐substituted polymethylsiloxane encapsulated particles for packed capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography

High nitrile content cyano-substituted polymethylsiloxane encapsulated particles were prepared for double bond selectivity in packed capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Silica particles were deactivated with 50% cyanopropyl-substituted polymethylhydrosiloxane, and coated with 25% o,p-dicyano-p-biphenyl-substituted polymethylsiloxane (o,p,p-DCBP), and 25% m,m-dicyano-p-phenyl-substituted polymethylsiloxane (m,m,p-DCBP) stationary phases. Argentation of the particles was carried out by complex formation between silver ions and the cyano groups on the particles. Unsaturated fatty acid methylesters (FAMEs) were used to investigate the selectivity of these packing materials to double bonds using packed capillary column SFC. Separations were performed according to the degree, position, and geometrical configuration of the double bonds. The effect of temperature on selectivity was also investigated. The stability of the packing materials was evaluated by monitoring the loss in selectivity of the oleate/elaidate isomers after washing the column with supercritical CO2 at 300 atm and 85°C. The separation of FAMEs in a commercial fish oil was compared using capillary columns packed with DCBP coated and silver-complexed particles.
On Bayes estimation for mixtures of two Weibull distributions under type I censoring

Abstract A failure population need not be homogeneous. It can be a mixture of two or more distinct subpopulations. In this paper a population which can be divided into two subpopulations each representing a different cause of failure, is considered. The subpopulations each follow a Weibull distribution. Maximum likelihood estimators, Bayes estimators with respect to proper priors, and with respect to improper priors for the population parameters and the reliability function are derived. All analysis is based on samples censored at a predetermined test termination time. A comparison of the Bayes estimation and the maximum likelihood estimation is made through Monte Carlo simulation.
Between Algeria and France: The origins of the Berber movement

The Berber uprisings of April 1980 in Algeria constitute the culmination of two decades of activism and militancy in France and Algeria. The militants’ objective was twofold: first, to raise awareness among Berber people, and second to force the Algerian state to recognise the specificity of Berber culture (and language) and acknowledge it as a component of Algerian identity. This article identifies the different factors in France and Algeria that led to the Berber uprisings and provides an insight into one of the most vibrant and creative, but also repressive, decades in Algerian postcolonial history. The factors I address here are the process of Arabisation; the role of the Berber Academy in Paris along with the influential presence and work of Taos Amrouche and Mouloud Mammeri; the function of the Kabyle radio station Chaine 2 in Algeria, and the development and impact of the new Kabyle song.
The effects of salinity and temperature on the in vitro metabolism of the organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion by the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

Abstract The in vitro metabolism of fenitrothion [ O,O -dimethyl- O -(3-methyl-4-nitrophenyl)phosphorothioate] by subcellular fractions prepared from the hepatopancrease of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus , which had been acclimated to either 22°C, 34‰ (parts per thousand); 22°C, 17‰; or 17°C, 34‰ seawater was investigated. In the microsomal fraction, fenitrothion was metabolized to fenitrooxon and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol. Fenitrothion was metabolized to desmethyl fenitrothion in the cytosolic fraction. The rates of formation of the detoxification products, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol and desmethyl fenitrothion, were greater in subcellular fractions prepared from crabs which had been acclimated to the lower salinity seawater. The rate of formation of the more toxic metabolite fenitrooxon was greater in the microsomal fraction prepared from crabs which had been acclimated to higher salinity water. All three of these metabolites were formed at considerably faster rates in subcellular fractions from crabs acclimated to and incubated at 22 than at 17°C. These results suggest that enzyme activity contributes to the increased in vivo toxicity of fenitrothion to blue crabs at elevated salinities and temperatures. Also, the observed differences in the rate of formation of the oxon have a greater effect on toxicity than differences in the rate of formation of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol and desmethyl fenitrothion.
Flight test planning and parameter extraction for rotorcraft system identification

The present study is concerned with the mathematical modelling of aircraft dynamics on the basis of an investigation conducted with the aid of the Rotor System Research Aircraft (RSRA). The particular characteristics of RSRA make it possible to investigate aircraft properties which cannot be readily studied elsewhere, for example in the wind tunnel. The considered experiment had mainly the objective to develop an improved understanding of the physics of rotor flapping dynamics and rotor loads in maneuvers. The employed approach is based on a utilization of parameter identification methodology (PID) with application to helicopters. A better understanding of the contribution of the main rotor to the overall aircraft forces and moments is also to be obtained. Attention is given to the mathematical model of a rotorcraft system, an integrated identification method, flight data processing, and the identification of RSRA mathematical models.
Prior Activation of Kappa Opioid Receptors by U50,488 Mimics Repeated Forced Swim Stress to Potentiate Cocaine Place Preference Conditioning

Repeated forced-swim stress (FSS) produced analgesia, immobility and potentiation of cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP) in wild-type C57Bl/6 mice, but not in littermates lacking the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) gene. These results were surprising because kappa agonists are known to produce conditioned place aversion and to suppress cocaine-CPP when coadministered with cocaine. The possibility that disruption of the kappa system blocked the stress response by adversely affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary axis was examined by measuring plasma corticosterone levels. However, disruption of the dynorphin/kappa system by gene deletion or receptor antagonism did not reduce the FSS-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone levels. A second explanation for the difference is that kappa receptor activation caused by FSS occurred prior to cocaine conditioning rather than contemporaneously. To test this hypothesis, we measured the effects of the kappa agonist (trans)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide (U50,488) administered to mice at various intervals preceding cocaine conditioning. The results showed that the interaction between the kappa system and cocaine reinforcement depended on the timing of the drug pairing. Mice given U50,488 60 min prior to cocaine showed a robust, nor-BNI-sensitive potentiation of cocaine-CPP, whereas administration 15 min before cocaine significantly suppressed cocaine-CPP. In the absence of cocaine, U50,488 given 60 min prior to saline conditioning produced no place preference, whereas administration 15 min before saline conditioning produced significant place aversion. The results of this study suggest that kappa receptor activation induced by FSS prior to the cocaine-conditioning session may be both necessary and sufficient for potentiation of the reinforcing actions of cocaine.
Iterative root approximation in p-adic numerical analysis

The standard way to compute a p-adic zero @a of a univariate polynomial f is to use Newton's method. In classical (real and complex) numerical analysis, however, one often prefers other algorithms, because they avoid derivatives or use fewer iterations. Our goal is to initiate the systematic study of these other algorithms in the p-adic context. We determine explicit convergence regions for the secant method and Halley's method. We also investigate the computational cost of refining a root to precision m, under the simplifying assumption that both p and the degree of f are large. We show that both of these methods can be implemented so that their cost matches that of Newton's method. Finally, we show that none of these three methods is optimal, by exhibiting two methods with lower asymptotic cost.
Diffusive isotopic contamination of mafic magma by coexisting silicic liquid in the muskox intrusion.

Shifts in ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr and ^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd ratios measured in cumulates from the upper levels of the Muskox mafic intrusion indicate that isotopic and bulk chemical exchange were decoupled across a mafic-silicic liquid interface during crystallization of the intrusion. Modeling of diffusive exchange between liquid layers demonstrates that isotopic compositions of silicate liquids in layered magma chambers may be strongly affected by this process on time scales of 10^3 to 10^4 years. Diffusive contamination can be used to place constraints on the physical processes and time scales of magmatic systems.
Gastrointestinal cancer staging by endoscopic ultrasound: Esophagus and gastric

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the latest major innovation in gastrointestinal endoscopy. The coupling of ultrasound with endoscopy allows visualization of the gastrointestinal mucosa and adjacent structures in such exquisite details heretofore unavailable with any other imaging modalities. EUS has made major impact on the practice of digestive diseases, particularly in the evaluation of esophageal and gastric cancer. EUS is now universally accepted as the imaging modality of choice for precise local-regional staging of these 2 malignancies. The application of EUS in esophageal and gastric cancer are described.
Radiation Reaction as a Retarded Self-Interaction

It is shown that the exact Lorentz-Dirac equation of motion for a strictly point charge is nothing more than the usual Lorentz force law when the retarded self-field of the particle is properly taken into account, as required for the very consistency of the idea of energy-momentum localization in the field.
The Development of an Occupational Therapy Interview/Therapy Set Procedure

Emphasis on returning patients quickly to the community requires staff in acute psychiatric settings to maximize therapeutic efforts within limited time frames. To satisfy standards for practice, therapists must constantly apply time management techniques to their therapeutic endeavors. Despite patient stays as brief as 10 days, practitioners continue to evaluate, treat, and plan for the discharge of each patient referred to their service. This led to a reassessment and restructuring of the initial occupational therapy interview in one psychiatric setting. The objectives of the interview, with particular emphasis on therapy set, are reviewed. These objectives were incorporated into a three-part procedure of interview/therapy set. The forms that structure the procedure are discussed as adaptable tools for use in similar settings.
Facial nerve anatomy, dissection and preservation in lymphatic malformation management.

Summary Objective To describe facial nerve anatomy and surgical techniques used for safe lymphatic malformation resection of malformation involving the facial nerve. Methods Design: retrospective case series. Setting: tertiary pediatric hospital. Subjects: record review of lymphatic malformation patients after facial nerve dissection, from 1996 to 2005. Data collected included: facial nerve function, relationship of lymphatic malformation to facial nerve, facial nerve anatomy, dissection extent and clinical outcome. Results Sixteen patients who met inclusion criteria underwent a total of 21 facial nerve dissections. Mean age at dissection was 48 months (range 1–72 months). Mean follow-up was 38 months (range 8–144 months). Pre-operative lymphatic malformation stage by patient: II = 7/16, III = 4/16, IV = 2/16 and V = 3/16. Higher stage lymphatic malformations required more extensive dissections (p = 0.026). Pre-operative facial nerve function was House-Brackmann grade (HBG)-1 in 20, and HBG-6 in 1. Eight months postoperatively, facial nerve function was HBG-1 in 18, HBG-2 in 1, and HBG-6 in 2. The facial nerve was surrounded by lymphatic malformation in 10/21, deep to the lymphatic malformation in 5/21, superficial to the lymphatic malformation in 4/21, and not identified in 2/21. Imaging studies predicted facial nerve position in 15/21 procedures. Antegrade nerve dissection was performed in 10/21, retrograde in 7/21 and not done in 2/21. Abnormally elongated facial nerve was identified in 11/21 cases and required more extensive dissection (p = 0.040). Facial nerve monitoring was used in 15/21 dissections. Clinical outcomes were felt to be good in 19/21 dissections. Conclusions In lymphatic malformation surgery, the facial nerve is often abnormally elongated and encompassed by malformation. Pre-operative imaging, facial nerve identification and dissection allow excellent postoperative facial nerve function.
Characterization of fig operon mutants of Francisella novicida U112

Francisella species secrete a polycarboxylate siderophore that resembles rhizoferrin to acquire ferric iron. Several of the Francisella siderophore synthesis genes are contained in a Fur-regulated operon (designated fig or fsl) comprised of at least seven ORFs including fur. Reverse transcriptase-PCR showed transcriptional linkage between figD and figE and between figE and figF. Mutations were constructed in four of these ORFs (figB, figC, figD, and figE) in Francisella novicida U112. All four of these new mutants and a F. novicida figA mutant grew at rates comparable to that of wild type under iron-replete conditions but growth of all five mutants was stunted in iron-limiting media. When ferric rhizoferrin was added to the iron-limited media, growth of the figA, figB, figC, and figD mutants was restored to levels similar to those obtained in iron-replete media. However, this exogenously added siderophore could not rescue the figE mutant. When Chrome Azurol S assays were used to measure siderophore production, the figA, figB, and figC mutants were markedly deficient in their ability to synthesize siderophore whereas the figD and figE mutants produced siderophore at levels equivalent to the wild-type parent strain.
Operator Formalism in Statistical Mechanics

We consider the configuration partition function, ZN, of a classical imperfect gas of particles having rigid cores. The rigid cores result in a geometric simplification which makes it possible to find a finite recursion relation between ZN and ZN−1. From this, it is possible to express ZN in terms of the vacuum expectation value of a finite Boson operator raised to the Nth power, N being the number of particles.
Vacancy condensation phenomenon in a copper-silicon alloy

Abstract Formation of vacancy condensation pits on the surface of a copper-4.8 per cent silicon alloy during cooling and their disappearance during reheating has been observed. Note has been taken of the effects of the atmosphere in contact with the specimen, of the temperature of pit formation and dissolution, of pit morphology, of the effects of successive heating and cooling cycles on pit development and of the effect of cooling rate on pit formation. Analysis of the results indicate that such pitting develops at specific locations where dislocations intersect the observation surface.
Angiogenesis on the optic tectum of albino Xenopus laevis tadpoles

Developing blood vessels were observed directly on the dorsal surface of the optic tectum of anesthetized, transparent albino Xenopus laevis tadpoles, stages 41-54. Case histories of individual tadpoles indicated that pial capillaries developed by the classical mechanism of sprouting of endothelial cells from existing blood vessels. 'Deep sources' appeared on the tectal surface during development. These were sites of upwelling blood cells from capillaries within the nervous tissue of the tectum into vessels on the surface. Few 'deep sinks' were observed in the dorsal tectum of normal tadpoles. The earliest deep sources were probably formed by sprouts from the surface vessels through the basement membrane and into the nervous tissue; later ones may also have formed from internal sprouts back to the surface. Maps of deep sources and of surface vessels in case histories indicated that neural tissue and blood vessels in the caudal half of the tectum grew faster than in the rostral half. The medial venules on the dorsal tectum originated as ordinary-sized rostrocaudal capillaries. They enlarged in diameter as they drained the increasing flow of blood from the tectum into the choroid plexus over the 4th ventricle. Some capillaries disappeared or regressed during development. Our observations on the tectum were consistent with the classical sequence of loss of flow, narrowing, collapse of the lumen, and retraction of endothelial cells into adjacent vessels. Likely sites for regression were upstream from a deep source and at crosslinks between transverse vessels on the lateral tectum. Morphometric parameters for tectal angiogenesis were (a) surface density (mm-1) calculated as total length of surface vessels divided by the dorsally projected surface area, and (b) density of deep sources (mm-2) calculated as total number divided by surface area. From stages 41/42 to 50 average surface density approximately doubled, and average density of deep sources increased about 5-fold. Some of the factors which might be expected to alter brain angiogenesis include nervous activity, availability of O2, and metabolic rate. Removal of one eye deprived the contralateral tectum of direct retinal inputs, while the ipsilateral side was a control in the same animal. Anterograde labeling of retinal axons with diI18 from the remaining eye confirmed projections only to the opposite side. No significant differences in densities of surface vessels or of deep sources were observed between the contralateral and ipsilateral sides of the tectum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Estimating tiger Panthera tigris populations from camera-trap data using capture--recapture models

The applicability of capture-recapture models for estimating tiger Panthera tigris numbers from camera-trap data was investigated in a part of Nagarahole National Park, India during 12 months (387 trap-nights) in 1991-92. Camera-traps were placed along regular travel routes of tigers to obtain 31 photographic ‘captures’ of individual tigers in a 15 km2 study area, during nine sampling occasions. Tigers could be identified unambiguously from photographs, and capture histories of 10 different animals were obtained. The data were analysed in the conceptual framework of capture-recapture theory, using probabilistic models. The results suggest that the closed capture-recapture model Mh which allows for heterogeneity of capture probabilities among individual animals was appropriate for estimating tiger population size. The mean tiger numbers and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated at 11 (10–22) and 10 (10–15), respectively, with the Mh (Jackknife) and Mh (Chao) estimators. Considering the prey biomass available in the study area, the mean tiger densities of 13.3–14.7 adult/subadult tigers per 100 km2 estimated from the above data appear to be reasonable. Capture-recapture models using camera-trap data offer scope for estimating objectively parameters such as size, density, survival, and recruitment for populations of tigers and other secretive animal species.
A density functional theory calculation of the electronic properties of several high-spin and low-spin iron(II) pyrazolylborate complexes.

Density functional theory has been used to study the electronic spin-state properties of low-spin Fe[HB(pz)3]2, high-spin Fe[HB(3-Mepz)3]2, high-spin Fe[HB(3,5-Me2pz)3]2, and high-spin Fe[HB(3,4,5-Me3pz)3]2 complexes that exhibit very different iron(II) electronic spin-sate crossover behaviors with changing temperature and pressure. Excellent agreement is obtained between the experimentally observed Mossbauer-effect quadrupole splittings and isomer shifts of these complexes and those calculated with the B3LYP functional and various different basis sets for both the high-spin and low-spin states of iron(II). The calculations for Fe[HB(pz)3]2 that use the LANL2DZ, 6-31++G(d,p), and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets for iron all lead to very similar electric field gradients and thus quadrupole splittings. The initial calculations, which were based upon the known X-ray structures, were followed by structural optimization, an optimization that led to small increases in the Fe−N bond distances. Optimization led to at mo...
The Limitations of Standard Deviation as a Measure of Bond Portfolio Risk

The standard deviation of investment returns is widely accepted as the best, and perhaps only commonly used indicator of portfolio risk in the investment management business. However, its usefulness is actually quite limited. In fact, relying on it can often produce misleading and inaccurate conclusions, particularly when applied to fixed-income portfolios. Though he demonstrates a number of flaws associated with relying on the standard deviation of returns as a risk measure, the author states that standard deviation does provide some insight, and in many circumstances is in fact meaningful. As always, the key is to understand what goes on behind the numbers.
Optimal Lot-Sizing Algorithms for Complex Product Structures

Lot sizing of products that have complex bills of materials plays an important role in the efficient operations of modern manufacturing and assembly processes. In this paper we develop algorithms for optimal lot sizing of products with a complex product structure. We convert the classical formulation of the general structure problem into a simple but expanded assembly structure with additional constraints, and solve the transformed problem by a branch-and-bound based procedure. The algorithm uses a Lagrangean relaxation and subgradient optimization procedure to generate tight lower bounds on the optimal solutions. In computational experiments, a code based on this method was able to solve single end product problems with up to 40 stages in the product structure. The model is extended to handle problems with multi-end items in the product structure, but with less favorable computational results.
Topic detection and interest tracking in a dynamic online news source

Digital libraries in the news domain may contain frequently updated data. Providing personalized access to such dynamic resources is an important goal. In this paper, we investigate the area of filtering online dynamic news sources based on personal profiles. We experimented with an intelligent news-sifting system that tracks topic development in a dynamic online news source. Vocabulary discovery and clustering are used to expose current news topics. User interest profiles, generated from explicit and implicit feedback are used to customize the news retrieval system's interface.
Fluid flow regulates E-selectin protein levels in human endothelial cells by inhibiting translation.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism with which fluid flow inhibits endothelial E-selectin expression. Methods: Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were stimulated with inflammatory agonists (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin-1β, oncostatin M, or phorbol ester) in the presence or absence of fluid flow (peak shear stress, ~12 dynes/cm 2 ) imposed with an orbital shaker. E-selectin expression was assessed with ribonuclease protection assay, immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or metabolic labeling as appropriate. Results: All agonists caused human umbilical vein endothelial cells to express E-selectin protein. Fluid flow inhibited E-selectin protein levels by about 50% in response to TNF-α but had no effect on total E-selectin messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. Flow inhibited E-selectin protein production even after initiation of E-selectin transcription. Flow did not cause E-selectin to be shed from the cell surface nor was E-selectin degradation accelerated. Although fluid flow did not reduce total cellular E-selectin mRNA levels in response to TNF-α, the amount of E-selectin mRNA present in the actively translated polysome fraction was markedly attenuated. Conclusion: These findings indicate that E-selectin expression is subject to translational and transcriptional control. Fluid mechanical forces can regulate endothelial phenotype by targeting translational control points. (J Vasc Surg 2003;37:161-8.)
Two-dimensional finite element simulation and stress analysis of a full bridge DC-DC power converter

The power MOSFETs used in DC-DC converters undergo excessive electrical and thermal stress as a result of higher switching frequency operation for size and cost reduction. The next generation of power MOSFETs have to be designed and optimized at the application level, which involves identification of tradeoffs among critical circuit and device performance and reliability parameters. This paper presents the results obtained from measurements and two-dimensional (2-D) finite element simulations conducted to evaluate the various electrical stresses applied to a power MOSFET in a 350V - 3.5V, 225A full-bridge (FB) phase-shifted ZVS DC-DC converter. MOSFETs were found to fail under no-load converter operation in the field.
Studies on cellular adhesion in tissue culture: XII. Some effects of cytochalasins and colchicine☆

Abstract The attachment of Ehrlich ascites cells to glass and plastic surfaces in vitro, was studied in the presence of cytochalasins B, E or A, or colchicine. The cytochalasins inhibited cell adhesion, and the protrusion of fine peripheral processes, lending weight to the hypothesis that adhesion is at least partially mediated by the extension of cellular probes, due to the action of cytochalasin-sensitive microfilaments. Colchicine was without effect on adhesion, suggesting that microtubules are not involved in the adhesion process.
Vowel-Related Differences in Laryngeal Articulatory and Phonatory Function

The purpose of this investigation was to study the interaction between the supralaryngeal and laryngeal components of the speech mechanism by examining vowel-related effects for a variety of vocal ...
Physical Activity of Young Overweight and Obese Children Parent Reports of Child Activity Level Compared With Objective Measures

The purpose of this study was to compare objectively measured physical activity (PA) and parent-reported assessments of the children's PA in an overweight/obese child sample. A total of 67 child-parent dyads were recruited for study participation. Child anthropometric measures and parent-reported questionnaires were completed, and then PA was measured by accelerometers for 48 consecutive hours. These children demonstrated moderate-to-vigorous PA for 17.32 min per day on average. The children spent 86.7% of their time in sedentary activities. Parents' reports of hyperactivity were significantly related to the objectively measured PA; however, the parents significantly overestimated the average amount of time children spent in each activity level. These findings suggest that although parents may be able to generally characterize their child's PA, they may not be able to accurately report specific information and thus may struggle to identify clear activity goals for their child and/or be unable to assess intervention effects.
Absence of Transplacental Transmission of Lyme Disease Spirochetes from Reservoir Mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to their Offspring

Lyme disease spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi) are naturally maintained in an enzootic cycle mainly by vector ticks (Ixodes dammini) infesting white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Suggestions that mice may become infected without exposure to ticks prompted a study to evaluate whether mice could transmit spirochetes transplacentally to their offspring. Mice were live-captured in two Massachusetts sites where Lyme disease spirochetes are intensely enzootic. Pregnant females were housed separately in the laboratory through delivery, and mothers and their offspring were caged together until weaning. Each female and two offspring were then examined for evidence of infection serologically and by tick xenodiagnosis. All 14 mother mice examined produced infected ticks and exhibited serum antibodies to B. burgdorferi. However, none of 28 offspring tested produced infected ticks and only a few had evidence of circulating antibody. In a separate experiment, no young CD-1 mice, born of infected mothers, had IgM antibody to B. burgdorferi. It would appear that immature mice are not transplacentally infected with spirochetes and must be exposed to infected ticks before becoming infected and infective themselves.
The Mutual Enrichment of Basic and Applied Research in Psychological Science and Practice

Dealing with the problems of substance abuse requires both an appreciation of clinical reality and an understanding of basic psychosocial principles Each of the conference presentations of theory and research most of them nonapplied in nature, created a welcome and rare occasion for experimental and clinical psychologists (and hybrids) to reflect together on the applied implications of some basic research and on the research implications of some applied professional activities Among the issues found especially noteworthy by this discussant were the following the return of cognition and rational decision making as legitimate and critical foci in behavior therapy, the role of exposure to aversive events in reducing their fearsomeness, the advantages of not working doggedly to achieve goals that are better approached with a nonachievement attitude the possibility that the difficulty in altering pathological behavior derives from the properties of human language, appreciation of individual differences in psyc...
SIDEWALK CROSS-SLOPE DESIGN: ANALYSIS OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Current and proposed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines offer no specific guidance on acceptable maximum cross slopes where constraints of reconstruction prohibit meeting the 2% maximum cross-slope requirement for new construction. Two types of sidewalk test-section data across a sample of 50 individuals were collected, were combined with an earlier sample of 17 individuals, and were analyzed, with an emphasis on cross slopes. These tests examined heart-rate changes and user perception of discomfort levels, and they relied on a random-effects model and an ordered-probit model, respectively. Model estimates were used to deduce critical or unacceptable cross slopes for critical conditions and critical populations of persons with disabilities. Predicted values for the most severe or constrained cases ranged from 5.5% to 6% cross slope. These cases included 5% primary slope (main grade) and 45-ft-long sections; the sections were traversed by cane, crutch, or brace and manual wheelchair users who...
Ontology services for curriculum development in NSDL

We describe our effort to develop an ontology service on top of an educational digital library. The ontology is developed by relating library holdings to the educational concepts they refer to. The ontology system supports basic services like ontology-based search and complex services such as comparison of multiple curricula.
THE STRUCTURE OF VORTEX BREAKDOWN

The term 'vortex breakdown', as used in the reported investigation, refers to a disturbance characterized by the formation of an internal stagnation point on the vortex axis, followed by reversed flow in a region of limited axial extent. Two forms of vortex breakdown, which predominate, are shown in photographs. One form is called 'near-axisymmetric' (sometimes 'axisymmetric'), and the other is called 'spiral'. A survey is presented of work published since the 1972 review by Hall. Most experimental data taken since Hall's review have been in tubes, and the survey deals primarily with such cases. It is found that the assumption of axial-symmetry has produced useful results. The classification of flows as supercritical or subcritical, a step that assumes symmetry, has proved universally useful. Experiments show that vortex breakdown is always preceded by an upstream supercritical flow and followed by a subcritical wake. However, a comparison between experiments and attempts at prediction is less than encouraging. For a satisfactory understanding of the structure of vortex breakdown it is apparently necessary to take into account also aspects of asymmetry.
Introduction: W(h)ither Ideology?

The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas: i.e., the class which is the ruling material force of society is at the same time its ruling intellectual force. —Karl Marx and Fr...
Gigascale integration (GIS) in the 21st century

Summary form only given. Opportunities for incorporation of more than one billion transistors and associated interconnections with a single silicon chip or for gigascale integration (GSI) are governed by a hierarchy of limits whose levels can be codified as fundamental, material, device, circuit, and system. Each level of this hierarchy includes both theoretical and practical limits. Theoretical limits are determined solely by physical principles. Practical limits are strongly influenced by manufacturing technology and markets and can be described in terms of the minimum feature size, the square root of die area, and the packing efficiency (defined as the number of transistors or components per minimum feature area). The singular metric that reveals the efficacy of a technology for GSI is the chip performance index (CPI) defined as the quotient of the number of transistors per chip (N) and the associated power-delay product (Pt/sub d/) or CPI=N/Pt/sub d/. The CPI increased by about 10/sup 13/ from 1960 to 1990 and is projected to increase by another factor of 10/sup 6/ from 1990 to 2020. >
Far field radiated emission prediction from magnetic near field magnitude-only measurements of PCBs by Genetic Algorithm

A Genetic Algorithm is used in this paper for predicting far field radiated emission of Ethernet switch and ADSL modem boards from near field magnitude-only measurements. The magnetic near field data are measured by EMSCAN, and the electric far field prediction is compared with the measurements in an anechoic chamber.
Extinction Thresholds for Species in Fractal Landscapes

Predicting species' responses to habitat loss and fragmentation is one of the greatest challenges fac- ing conservation biologists, particularly if extinction is a threshold phenomenon. Extinction thresholds are abrupt declines in the patch occupancy of a metapopulation across a narrow range of habitat loss. Metapop- ulation-type models have been used to predict extinction thresholds for endangered populations. These models often make simplifying assumptions about the distribution of habitat (random) and the search for suitable habitat sites (random dispersal). We relaxed these two assumptions in a modeling approach that combines a metapopulation model with neutral landscape models of fractal habitat distributions. Dispersal success for suitable, unoccupied sites was higher on fractal landscapes for nearest-neighbor dispersers (moving through adjacent cells of the landscape) than for dispersers searching at random (random distance and direction be- tween steps) on random landscapes. Consequently, species either did not suffer extinction thresholds or extinc- tion thresholds occurred later, at lower levels of habitat abundance, than predicted previously. The exception is for species with limited demographic potential, owing to low reproductive output ( R 9 o 5 1.01), in which ex- tinction thresholds occurred sooner than on random landscapes in all but the most clumped fractal land- scapes ( H 5 1.0). Furthermore, the threshold was more precipitous for these species. Many species of conserva- tion concern have limited demographic potential, and these species may be at greater risk from habitat loss and fragmentation than previously suspected.
Effect of single-chain ovine gonadotropins with dual activity on ovarian function in sheep.

We examined the half-life and biological activity of two single-chain proteins that combined portions of ovine FSH and LH. We proposed the hypothesis that these chimeric proteins would display LH and FSH activities and would promote follicle maturation in ewes. Estrus activity was synchronized using progestogen-impregnated vaginal pessaries. To negate the impact of endogenous LH and FSH, animals received serum-containing antibodies against GNRH 1 day before pessary removal (PR). At PR sheep (five animals per group) received a single injection (10 IU/kg, i.v.) of either the ovine-based (oFcLcα) gonadotropin analog, an ovine-based analog containing oLHβ truncated at the carboxyl terminus (oFcL(ΔT)cα), or a human-based gonadotropin analog (hFcLcα). Control animals received a comparable amount of gonadotropin-free protein. Ovulation was induced 3 days after PR using human chorionic gonadotropin (1000 IU, i.v.). Ovaries were collected 11 days after PR. Neither estradiol (E2) or progesterone (P4) production, development of preovulatory follicles or corpora lutea (CL) were noted in control animals receiving gonadotropin-free protein. Significant increase in the synthesis of E2 and P4 was noted in sheep receiving the dually active gonadotropin analogs. The number of CLs present 11 days after PR was significantly increased in sheep receiving the chimeric glycoproteins compared with control animals. The magnitude of the secretory and ovarian responses did not differ between hFcLcα and oFcLcα or between oFcLcα and oFcL(ΔT)cα. Immunoactivity of LH and FSH was low in control animals, but was significantly elevated in sheep receiving the gonadotropin analogs. In conclusion, ovine-based gonadotropin analogs are functionally active in sheep and a single injection is adequate to induce the development of multiple ovulatory follicles.
Pharmacokinetic and metabolic effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in healthy volunteers receiving the HIV protease inhibitor indinavir

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among HIV-infected patients to reduce the toxicity of antiretroviral therapy. Ginseng has been used for treatment of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, a common side effect of some HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PI). However, it is unknown whether American ginseng (AG) can reverse insulin resistance induced by the PI indinavir (IDV), and whether these two agents interact pharmacologically. We evaluated potential pharmacokinetic interactions between IDV and AG, and assessed whether AG improves IDV-induced insulin resistance. After baseline assessment of insulin sensitivity using the insulin clamp technique, healthy volunteers received IDV 800 mg q8 h for 3 days and then IDV and AG 1g q8h for 14 days. IDV pharmacokinetics and insulin sensitivity were assessed before and after AG co-administration. There was no difference in the area-under the plasma-concentration-time curve after the co-administration of AG, compared to IDV alone (n = 13). Although insulin-stimulated glucose disposal per unit of insulin (M/I) decreased by an average of 14.8 ± 5.9% after 3 days of IDV (from 0.113 ± 0.012 to 0.096 ± 0.014 mg/kgFFM/min per μU/ml of insulin, p = 0.03, n = 11), M/I remained unchanged after co-administration of IDV and AG. IDV decreases insulin sensitivity, which is unaltered by AG co-administration. AG does not significantly affect IDV pharmacokinetics.
Frequency and time resolved coherent Stokes Raman scattering in CS2 using incoherent light

Abstract A frequency and time resolved coherent Stokes Raman scattering signal from CS2( l ) using noisy light (I(2) CSRS) is presented. A broad range of frequencies are simultaneously sampled at each interferometric delay, allowing acquisition times that are at least two orders of magnitude shorter than previous single frequency detected interferometry experiments. Sub-picosecond time resolution of radiation/matter beats called Rabi detuning oscillations is achieved by controlling the relative delay between twin nanosecond broadband pulses.
Re-imagining the Diaspora : History, Responsibility, and Commitment in an Age of Globalization

The past two decades have witnessed the intensification of globalization and the unprecedented exodus of Africans to developed countries. The two trends have profound implications for the North and South and also for Africans and their relationship to their homeland. This paper examines the relationship and explores the challenges of engaging, interrogating and re-imaging the notion of Diaspora.
Non-invasive Soccer Goal Line Technology: A Real Case Study

In this paper, a real case study on a Goal Line Monitoring system is presented. The core of the paper is a refined ball detection algorithm that analyzes candidate ball regions to detect the ball. A decision making approach, by means of camera calibration, decides about the goal event occurrence. Differently from other similar approaches, the proposed one provides, as unquestionable proof, the image sequence that records the goal event under consideration. Moreover, it is non-invasive: it does not require any change in the typical football devices (ball, goal posts, and so on). Extensive experiments were performed on both real matches acquired during the Italian Serie A championship, and specific evaluation tests by means of an artificial impact wall and a shooting machine for shot simulation. The encouraging experimental results confirmed that the system could help humans in ambiguous goal line event detection.
Tall and skinny QR factorizations in MapReduce architectures

The QR factorization is one of the most important and useful matrix factorizations in scientific computing. A recent communication-avoiding version of the QR factorization trades flops for messages and is ideal for MapReduce, where computationally intensive processes operate locally on subsets of the data. We present an implementation of the tall and skinny QR (TSQR) factorization in the MapReduce framework, and we provide computational results for nearly terabyte-sized datasets. These tasks run in just a few minutes under a variety of parameter choices.
A novel divergence measure for hidden Markov models

In this paper, a novel divergence measure for hidden Markov models (HMMs) is introduced. The widely used distance measure between two HMMs is the Kullback-Leibler divergence (KLD). The Monte-Carlo method is usually applied to calculate the KLD, whose computational complexity is prohibitive in practical applications. Numerical examples show that the proposed divergence measure closely approximates the KLD with a saving of hundreds of times in computational complexity.
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Meningitis Successfully Managed with Linezolid: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Enterococci cause serious illness in immunocompromised patients and severely ill, hospitalized patients. Resistance to vancomycin has increased in frequency during the past few years. Limited therapeutic options are available for vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infections and the optimum therapy has not been established. We report a case of nosocomial vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium meningitis in the setting of hyperinfection with Strongyloides stercoralis that was successfully treated with linezolid. We also review the previously reported cases of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium meningitis.
Electrolyte Disorders in Cancer Patients

The spectrum of fluid and electrolyte disorders in oncology patients has some important and distinct features when compared to those of the general population. For example, the constellation of hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperkalemia due to massive release of intracellular contents as seen in tumor lysis syndrome, is observed only in cancer patients. Moreover, hyponatremia is observed with greater frequency in oncology patients, and it’s pathogenesis in this population can be exclusive to the malignancy itself, the chemotherapy given to treat the disease, or rarely, to both. Similarly, hypomagnesemia exclusive to chemotherapeutic agents like cisplatin, ifosfamide, and cetuximab is only seen in cancer patients. This chapter describes the frequency of the most commonly observed electrolyte disorders in the oncology patient and delves into the unique cancer- or chemotherapy-related etiology of these clinical problems.