cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Uses of Ultrasound to Assess Kidney Mechanical Properties

Ultrasound is a key imaging tool for the evaluation of the kidney. Over the last two decades, methods to measure the mechanical properties of soft tissues have been developed and used in clinical practice, though the use in the kidney has not been as widespread as for other applications. The mechanical properties of the kidney are determined by the structure and composition of the renal parenchyma as well as the perfusion characteristics. As pathological processes change these factors, the mechanical properties change and can be used for diagnostic purposes as well as monitoring treatment or disease progression. Ultrasound-based elastography methods for evaluating the mechanical properties of the kidney use focused ultrasound beams to perturb the kidney and then high frame rate ultrasound methods are used to measure the resulting motion. The motion is analyzed to estimate the mechanical properties. This review will describe the principles of these methods and discuss several seminal studies related to characterizing the kidney. Additionally, an overview of the clinical use of elastography methods in native and kidney allografts will be provided. Perspectives on future developments and uses of elastography technology along with other complementary ultrasound imaging modalities will be provided.
Synthesis of Safe Pointer-Manipulating Programs (Invited Talk)

Low-level pointer-manipulating code is ubiquitous in operating systems, networking stacks, and browsers, which form the backbone of our digital infrastructure. Unfortunately, this code is susceptible to many kinds of bugs, which lead to crashes and security vulnerabilities. A promising approach to eliminating bugs and reducing programmer effort at the same time is to use program synthesis technology to generate provably correct low-level code automatically from high-level specifications. In this talk I will present a program synthesizer SuSLik, which accepts as input a specification written in separation logic, and produces as output a provably correct C program. SuSLik is the first synthesizer capable of generating a wide range of operations on linked data structures (such as singly- and doubly-linked lists, binary trees, and rose trees) without additional hints from the user. It is also the first synthesizer to automatically discover recursive auxiliary functions required for nested data structure traversal. To make this possible, SuSLik relies on a novel proof system - synthetic separation logic - to derive correct-by-construction programs directly from their specifications. Program proofs generated by SuSLik can be automatically translated into three foundational verification frameworks embedded in Coq: Hoare Type Theory (HTT), Iris, and Verified Software Toolchain (VST).
Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of nitriles: A step toward electrification of amine production

In this issue of Chem Catalysis, Zhang et al. describe a method to electrochemically hydrogenate nitriles to primary amines on nanostructured copper electrocatalysts. Through the implementation of CO2-saturated electrolytes, the primary amines are reversibly converted to carbamic acids or carbamates, which prevents their condensation into secondary or tertiary amines.
An analysis of transactions data for the Toronto Stock Exchange

Abstract Using transactions data for all stocks traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, this study shows that returns and number of shares traded have a U-shaped pattern when plotted against time of the trading day. These results confirm that the findings of Wood, Mclnish and Ord (1985), Harris (1986), Mclnish and Wood (1988) and Jain and Joh (1989) for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) also hold for both another exchange and another country and are not due to peculiarities of United States securities markets. Further, evidence is provided to support the view of Harris (1989) and Terry (1986) that these relatively high end-of-day returns are due, at least in part, to an increase in the proportion of trades at the ask relative to trades at the bid.
Explaining recent metals price swings: Exchange rates and structural considerations

Abstract Movements of metals prices in the 1980s have often appeared to be ‘out of synch’ with economic developments. A model relating metals prices to exchange rates in industrial consumer countries and developing producer countries is presented. Structural supply and demand responses are considered. The diverse exchange rate movements and structural supply-demand adjustments help to explain the fall of prices in the first seven years of the decade and, more recently, the run up of the dollar prices of copper and other non-ferrous metals.
Polynomial integrality gaps for strong SDP relaxations of Densest k-subgraph

The Densest k-subgraph problem (i.e. find a size k subgraph with maximum number of edges), is one of the notorious problems in approximation algorithms. There is a significant gap between known upper and lower bounds for Densest k-subgraph: the current best algorithm gives an a O(n1/4) approximation, while even showing a small constant factor hardness requires significantly stronger assumptions than P ≠ NP. In addition to interest in designing better algorithms, a number of recent results have exploited the conjectured hardness of Densest k-subgraph and its variants. Thus, understanding the approximability of Densest k-subgraph is an important challenge.In this work, we give evidence for the hardness of approximating Densest k-subgraph within polynomial factors. Specifically, we expose the limitations of strong semidefinite programs from SDP hierarchies in solving Densest k-subgraph. Our results include:• A lower bound of Ω(n1/4/log3n) on the integrality gap for Ω(log n/log log n) rounds of the Sherali-Adams relaxation for Densest k-subgraph. This also holds for the relaxation obtained from Sherali-Adams with an added SDP constraint. Our gap instances are in fact Erdos-Renyi random graphs.• For every e > 0, a lower bound of n2/53−e on the integrality gap of nΩ(e) rounds of the Lasserre SDP relaxation for Densest k-subgraph, and an nΩe(1) gap for n1−e rounds. Our construction proceeds via a reduction from random instances of a certain Max-CSP over large domains.In the absence of inapproximability results for Densest k-subgraph, our results show that beating a factor of nΩ(1) is a barrier for even the most powerful SDPs, and in fact even beating the best known n1/4 factor is a barrier for current techniques.Our results indicate that approximating Densest k-subgraph within a polynomial factor might be a harder problem than Unique Games or Small Set Expansion, since these problems were recently shown to be solvable using neΩ(1) rounds of the Lasserre hierarchy, where e is the completeness parameter in Unique Games and Small Set Expansion.
Battling Infection, Fighting Stagnation

Why are some countries mired in poverty and ill health? Can policy facilitate their transition to sustained growth and better living standards? We offer answers using a dynamic model of disease and development. Endogenous transmission of infectious disease generates non-ergodic growth where income alone cannot push a country out of a low-growth development trap. Policy interventions, for example external aid, can successfully accelerate growth only when directed towards improving health and eliminating the burden of infectious disease. Prioritizing improvements to adult mortality over morbidity is better for development.
Security and Testing

Test interfaces are present in nearly all digital hardware. In many cases, the security of the system depends on the security of the test interfaces. Systems have been hacked in the field using test interfaces as an avenue for attack. Researchers in industry and academia have developed defenses over the past 20 years. A diligent designer can significantly reduce the chance of system exploitation by understanding known threats and applying known defenses.
Marker-free site-specific gene integration in rice based on the use of two recombination systems.

Summary Transgene integration mediated by heterologous site-specific recombination (SSR) systems into the dedicated genomic sites has been demonstrated in a few different plant species. This approach of plant transformation generates a precise site-specific integration (SSI) structure consisting of a single copy of the transgene construct. As a result, stable transgene expression correlated with promoter strength and gene copy number is observed among independent transgenic lines and faithfully transmitted through subsequent generations. Site-specific integration approaches use selectable marker genes, removal of which is necessary for the implementation of this approach as a biotechnology application. As SSR systems are also excellent tools for excising marker genes from transgene locus, a molecular strategy involving gene integration followed by marker excision, each mediated by a distinct recombination system, was earlier proposed. Experimental validation of this approach is the focus of this work. Using FLPe-FRT system for site-specific gene integration and heat-inducible Cre-lox for marker gene excision, marker-free SSI lines were developed in the first generation itself. More importantly, progeny derived from these lines inherited the marker-free locus, indicating efficient germinal transmission. Finally, as the transgene expression from SSI locus was not altered upon marker excision, this method is suitable for streamlining the production of marker-free SSI lines.
Genetic Interactions Between Naturally Occuning Alleles at Quantitative Trait Loci and Mutant Alleles at Candidate Loci Affecting Bristle Number in Drosophila melanogaster

Previously, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting response to short-term selection for abdominal bristle number to seven suggestive regions that contain loci involved in bristle development and/or that have adult bristle number mutant phenotypes, and are thus candidates for bristle number QTL in natural populations. To test the hypothesis that the factors contributing to selection response genetically interact with these candidate loci, high and low chromosomes from selection lines were crossed to chromosomes containing wild-type or mutant alleles at the candidate loci, and the numbers of bristles were recorded in trans heterozygotes. Quantitative failure to complement, detected as a significant selection line*cross effect by analysis of variance, can be interpreted as evidence for allelism or epistasis between the factors on selected chromosomes and the candidate loci. Mutations at some candidate loci (bb, emc, h, Dl, Hairless) showed strong interactions with selected chromosomes, whereas others interacted weakly (ASC, abd, Scr) or not at all (N, mab, E(spl)). These results support the hypothesis that some candidate loci, initially identified through mutations of large effect on bristle number, either harbor or are close members in the same genetic pathway as variants that contribute to standing variation in bristle number.
Actuator and kinematic redundancy in biological motor control

A task must be specified in terms of both the position and stiffness of the limb before muscle forces and activations are unambiguously assigned. To illustrate this, we begin with the problem of how to control an inverted pendulum with a pair of muscles. An active state model of the frog’s gastrocnemius is used to derive three criteria for the stiffness characteristics of the system during posture and movement. The differential equation representing this model is solved to indicate the relationship between force and stimulation frequency. This result leads to an interesting prediction of muscle forces in a minimum stiffness equilibrium point control scheme: neural activity in the agonist muscle should decrease as the joint rotates the limb against gravity. For the case where the number of joints exceeds the task’s degrees of freedom, an algorithm for mapping end-effector position and stiffness to the lengths of the muscles is considered. We show that a previously proposed algorithm for control of multi-joint limbs (Berkinblit et al. 1986a, Hinton 1984) is in fact a special case of this mapping. We contend that these kinematic maps must be augmented by a mechanism that takes into account the dynamics of the muscle-load-feedback system. We suggest an adaptive control scheme where the derived kinematic relationships are used to set the bias of the stretch reflex feedback loop, while a learning mechanism produces a virtual equilibrium trajectory that compensates for the second order dynamics of the load, as well as the dynamics of the muscles.
Efficiency of Treatments for Internal Parasites

Abstract AFTER four years’ experience in performing autopsies of hundreds of Arkansas fowls, it is evident to the authors that no single factor in any way compares in economic importance with infestation of internal parasites. Fully 90 percent of Arkansas fowls that are autopsied are found to harbor intestinal worms and in considerably more than 50 percent of the birds autopsied (the current year 58.1 percent) parasitism was found to be the most evident cause of death. These birds had either died and were autopsied in order to determine the cause of death or were destroyed because of unthriftiness or on account of paralysis. The loss due to internal poultry parasites is emphasized in results of studies, made by Stafseth and Boyd (1929) and by Dearstyne (1929), who shows that about eighteen percent of total mortality of adult chickens is caused directly by intestinal parasites. This eighteen percent is especially significant . . .
Supernovae effects on the terrestrial atmosphere

The first effects of a nearby (10 parsec) supernova on the earth's atmosphere will be caused by ultraviolet radiation dissociating molecular oxygen. The event will be of about one month's duration. Several months later nuclear gamma radiation may arrive, causing a decrease in atmospheric ozone. Cosmic radiation from the supernova remnant will not intercept the earth for at least 1000 years at which time ozone will be seriously depleted. Supernova ultraviolet radiation increases column ozone and atomic oxygen. Atmospheric thermal structure is modified with a large temperature increase in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere and a decrease at higher altitudes caused by enhanced heat loss due to atomic oxygen radiation and conduction.
Natural uranium and strontium isotope tracers of water sources and surface water-groundwater interactions in arid wetlands: Pahranagat Valley, Nevada, USA

Summary Near-surface physical and chemical process can strongly affect dissolved-ion concentrations and stable-isotope compositions of water in wetland settings, especially under arid climate conditions. In contrast, heavy radiogenic isotopes of strontium (87Sr/86Sr) and uranium (234U/238U) remain largely unaffected and can be used to help identify unique signatures from different sources and quantify end-member mixing that would otherwise be difficult to determine. The utility of combined Sr and U isotopes are demonstrated in this study of wetland habitats on the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, which depend on supply from large-volume springs north of the Refuge, and from small-volume springs and seeps within the Refuge. Water budgets from these sources have not been quantified previously. Evaporation, transpiration, seasonally variable surface flow, and water management practices complicate the use of conventional methods for determining source contributions and mixing relations. In contrast, 87Sr/86Sr and 234U/238U remain unfractionated under these conditions, and compositions at a given site remain constant. Differences in Sr- and U-isotopic signatures between individual sites can be related by simple two- or three-component mixing models. Results indicate that surface flow constituting the Refuge’s irrigation source consists of a 65:25:10 mixture of water from two distinct regionally sourced carbonate-aquifer springs, and groundwater from locally sourced volcanic aquifers. Within the Refuge, contributions from the irrigation source and local groundwater are readily determined and depend on proximity to those sources as well as water management practices.
Restructuring Schools To Be Math Friendly to Females

Recent reports indicate that although girls enter school more math- ready than boys, many are outdistanced by mates in math achievement by the time they graduate. Why is this? What happens to girls as they go through school that puts them at a math disadvantage? How can we change schools so that the lifelong impact of mathematics coursework can work in girls' favor?
Moderately Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (Atypical Carcinoid) of the Parotid Gland: Report of Three Cases with Contemporary Review of Salivary Neuroendocrine Carcinomas

Primary neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) of the salivary glands are rare. Most reported NECs in that region are small cell carcinomas with few cases of large cell undifferentiated carcinoma and typical carcinoid tumors. Only two moderately differentiated NECs (atypical carcinoid tumors) have been previously reported. In the current series, the authors report three additional moderately differentiated NECs (atypical carcinoid tumors) of the parotid gland; two occurred in women and one in a man. All patients were initially treated with parotidectomy, with selective lymph node excision in one, and radiation therapy in another. Follow-up was available for two cases (18 and 79 months). One patient had two local recurrences, developing lymph node and liver metastases requiring further surgery and chemotherapy. Currently, she is alive with disease, on supportive care. The second patient is alive with no signs of recurrence. Patients’ work-up excluded the possibility of metastatic NECs to the salivary glands in all cases. Histologically, the tumors demonstrated infiltrating nests, cords and trabeculae of round, oval to spindle shaped cells with moderate to focally abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, small to prominent nucleoli and chromatin stippling. Scattered rosette-like structures were prominent in one tumor. The highest mitotic counts for the three tumors ranged from 5 to 8 mitotic figures/10hpfs. Necrosis, focal but distinct, was noted in two tumors, vascular invasion in two tumors and perineural invasion in one tumor. Immunohistochemical staining was diagnostic of neuroendocrine carcinoma, showing uniform positive labeling with broad-spectrum cytokeratin (with a paranuclear punctuate pattern in one case), chromogranin and synaptophysin antibodies. CK20 was negative in two tumors and stained rare cells (<1 %) in the third.
SU‐E‐I‐150: Cone‐Beam Artifacts in Dedicated Breast CT

Purpose: Cone‐beam CT with circular trajectory is susceptible to cone‐angle related artifacts that affect quantitative imaging. These artifacts were quantified under conditions relevant to dedicated breast CT for full and short‐scans. Methods: Three sets of numerical phantoms (0.2‐mm voxels) were used: (1) cylindrical Defrise phantom of 14‐cm diameter and 10.6‐cm length inclusive of 2‐mm skin, with alternating 4‐mm coronal layers of fixed (0.15) and variable (0 to 1, in steps of 0.1) glandular fraction breast tissue; (2) semi‐ellipsoidal Defrise phantom with dimensions matched to the cylindrical phantom for a realistic pendant‐breast geometry; (3) 20 surgical mastectomy specimens based numerical phantoms. Source‐to‐rotational axis and source‐to‐detector distances of 65‐cm and 100‐cm, respectively, were used. Noise‐free simulations were performed at 30‐keV, with the phantoms co‐aligned to rotational axis, using an ideal detector (0.4‐mm pixels), and without the confounding effects of focal spot blur (point source) and x‐ray scatter. Constant angular sampling of 1.2‐degrees was used resulting in 300 and 165 projections for full‐scan and short‐scan (198‐ degrees). Reconstructions were performed using Hamming‐windowed FDK‐algorithm with short‐scan using Parker weights. For the Defrise phantoms, the cone‐angle dependence of the artifacts was analyzed using percent difference at the rotational axis between the reconstructions and phantoms, and by visual inspection. For the mastectomy specimens, power spectral analysis was performed. Results: For Defrise phantoms, increasing attenuation difference between layers resulted in higher inaccuracies (artifacts). Cylinder resulted in higher inaccuracies compared to semi‐ ellipsoid particularly near maximum cone‐angle. Visual inspection and power spectral analysis indicate that the spatial distribution of these artifacts is different between full and short‐scans. Conclusions: Cone‐beam artifacts at breast CT relevant conditions are observed. They depend on object shape, and attenuation difference of the tissues within the object. These artifacts must be remediated as they may impact task‐specific assessment and can profoundly affect quantitative imaging. Supported by NIH/NCI R01CA128906. The contents are sole responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of the NIH or NCI. SG: Research contract with Toshiba Medical Research Institute.
Glycoalkaloid and calystegine contents of eight potato cultivars.

Diverse procedures have been reported for the separation and analysis by HPLC of the two major glycoalkaloids present in potatoes, α-chaconine and α-solanine. To further improve the usefulness of t...
THE RECOMBINATION ACTIVATING GENE 2 (RAG2) OF THE RAINBOW TROUT ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS

We have previously described the isolation and expression ofRAG1 in trout to provide an initial understanding regarding the tissues involved inV(D)J recombination of antigen receptors in this teleost. Here we report that the recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2) of rainbow trout has now been cloned and characterized. The rainbow trout genomicRAG2 gene (1602 base pairs) displays an average of 60% and 75% similarity at the nucleotide and amino acid level when compared with clones from other species and was found to contain an acidic region in the carboxyl terminal end, which is typical ofRAG2 sequences. The proximity ofRAG1 and −2 within this teleost is similar to that found in other vertebrates. The genes are convergently transcribed and share a 3′ untranslated (UT) region [2.8 kilobases (kb)] which is much shorter than that found in higher vertebrates (6–8 kb). The entire 3′ UT region was also sequenced and used in conjunction with cDNA clones to identify the polyadenylation sites for bothRAG genes. Northern blot analysis of one-year-old trout demonstrated strong expression ofRAG2 in the thymus, with a much weaker signal being detected in the pronephros. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we detected the highest expression of bothRAG1 and −2 in the thymas followed by the pronephros, with much fainter signals being observed in the spleen, mesonephros, and liver. Finally, both genes are expressed in embryos begining at approximately day 10 post-fertilization. Taken together, these findings indicate that the thymus and pronephros most likely serve as the primary lymphoid tissues in trout, based uponRAG expression. In addition, the trout sequences may provide further insight into the evolution and origins of theRAG genes as well as that of the immune system itself.
Modelled three-dimensional suction accuracy predicts prey capture success in three species of centrarchid fishes

Prey capture is critical for survival, and differences in correctly positioning and timing a strike (accuracy) are likely related to variation in capture success. However, an ability to quantify accuracy under natural conditions, particularly for fishes, is lacking. We developed a predictive model of suction hydrodynamics and applied it to natural behaviours using three-dimensional kinematics of three centrarchid fishes capturing evasive and non-evasive prey. A spheroid ingested volume of water (IVW) with dimensions predicted by peak gape and ram speed was verified with known hydrodynamics for two species. Differences in capture success occurred primarily with evasive prey (64–96% success). Micropterus salmoides had the greatest ram and gape when capturing evasive prey, resulting in the largest and most elongate IVW. Accuracy predicted capture success, although other factors may also be important. The lower accuracy previously observed in M. salmoides was not replicated, but this is likely due to more natural conditions in our study. Additionally, we discuss the role of modulation and integrated behaviours in shaping the IVW and determining accuracy. With our model, accuracy is a more accessible performance measure for suction-feeding fishes, which can be used to explore macroevolutionary patterns of prey capture evolution.
Comments on Vogel

Subjunctivitis is a condition afflicting epistemologists, a tendency to employ subjunctive conditionals in their accounts of knowledge. Jonathan Vogel identifies two common strains of subjunctivitis one featuring the subjunctive conditional, sensitivity, and the other, safety and he offers families of counterexamples to each. His cases are ingeniously crafted and highly intuitive. They demonstrate that modalizing in epistemology is not a painless ordeal. But my goal here is damage control; subjunctivitis, I think, may prove to be worth its side effects. I will argue that, for reasons both thematic and specific, the counterexamples are not so compelling as to force the abandonment of modal epistemology. First, while the intuitive force of Vogel's examples is especially acute, much of that force derives not specifically from modal nature of the analyses, but from the familiar and perfectly general paradoxes of skepticism and of the lottery. Thus, one should draw broader lessons from the counterexamples only if an independent and more satisfying solution to the paradoxes is available. Second, under scrutiny the cases reveal certain ambiguities, the resolution of which opens up space for subjunctive conditional accounts to form responses. Third, the extension of Vogel's case against sensitivity to contextualist theories relies partly upon a confusion of use and mention. In what follows, I will briefly review the notions of sensitivity and safety as well as their applications to some epistemic problems, then present Vogel's counterexamples with my rejoinders.
Assessment of Treatment Outcomes in a Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Network: Newark, New Jersey

A comparative evaluation outcome model designed to aid in referral of clients to appropriate drug abuse treatment centers was developed for a multimodality drug abuse rehabilitation network in Newark, New Jersey. The model analyzes retention rates and treatment dropout outcome to assess impact, and graduate outcome to assess the effectiveness of the various drug abuse treatment centers. Study of 3,943 addicts found a number of demographic and psychosocial variables that correlated with retention in specific programs; retention of some subgroups in specific treatments was substantially longer than overall retention rates. One year retention rates of 65% in methadone maintenance; 22, 16, and 8.5% in the three therapeutic communities; and less than 5% in two outpatient drug-free programs suggested a study of treatment dropouts outcome. Significant reduction in criminality and drug use were found for all treatment dropouts including a “no-treatment” comparison group; however, significantly larger improvements...
Rheology of a dilute suspension of axisymmetric Brownian particles

Abstract Explicit results are presented for the complete rheological properties of dilute suspensions of rigid, axisymmetric Brownian particles possessing fore-aft symmetry, when suspended in a Newtonian liquid subjected to a general three-dimensional shearing flow, either steady or unsteady. It is demonstrated that these rheological properties can be expressed in terms of five fundamental material constants (exclusive of the solvent viscosity), which depend only upon the sizes and shapes of the suspended particles. Expressions are presented for these scalar constants for a number of solids of revolution, including spheroids, dumbbells of arbitrary aspect ratio and long slender bodies. These are employed to calculate rheological properties for a variety of different shear flows, including uniaxial and biaxial extensional flows, simple shear flows, and general two-dimensional shear flows. It is demonstrated that the rheological properties appropriate to a general two-dimensional shear flow can be deduced immediately from those for a simple shear flow. This observation greatly extends the utility of much of the prior Couette flow literature, especially the extensive numerical calculations of Scheraga et al. (1951, 1955). The commonality of many disparate results dispersed and diffused in earlier publications is emphasized, and presented from a unified hydrodynamic viewpoint.
Effect of the Grain Boundary Thermal Expansion Coefficient on the Fracture Toughness in Silicon Nitride

The effect of thermal expansion mismatch stress between silicon nitride and different grain boundary phases on the fracture toughness of silicon nitride was investigated. Different sintering aids in the Y-Mg-Si-Al-O-N system produced silicon nitride specimens with very similar microstructures but different grain boundary phase compositions and different values of fracture toughness. The fracture toughness of the silicon nitride increased as the thermal expansion coefficient of the grain boundary phase increased. The presence of tensile residual stress at the grain boundary caused by thermal expansion mismatch between the silicon nitride and the grain boundary phase enhanced crack deflection and grain bridging.
Teleconnection between the Arctic Oscillation and Hudson Bay river discharge

[1] Rising surface air temperatures in response to anthropogenic forcing are intensifying the global hydrologic cycle. Some of the more dramatic signs of climate change are increasing precipitation, evaporation, and freshwater discharge in continental river basins draining to high-latitude oceans. At regional scales, however, an acceleration of the hydrologic cycle is not always detected. In contrast to its major Eurasian counterparts, the North American Hudson Bay Basin experienced a 15% decline in river runoff between 1964 and 1994. It is shown that the Arctic Oscillation explains with statistical significance up to 90% of the recent variability in Hudson Bay river discharge. This study reveals the important role of large-scale atmospheric phenomena such as the Arctic Oscillation in regulating the terrestrial hydrologic budget. The ability of weather and climate models to represent these interannual to decadal scale phenomena governs their predictions of the surface water budget's future state in a changing climate.
Ion Pairing Techniques: Compatibility with On-Line Liquid Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry

The mass spectrometric properties of a series of model ion pairs were examined. In the cases studied it was possible to vaporize the ion pair consituents and to produce spectra corresponding to those of the unpaired materials. These findings offer a convenient means for derivatizing certain ionic compounds and demonstrate the feasibility of analyzing ionic species by on-line liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Feature issue introduction: mid-IR photonic materials

The mid-infrared (mid-IR, 2.5 to 10 μm wavelengths) is a strategically important spectral band for an array of applications such as thermal imaging, chem/bio sensing, spectroscopy, infrared countermeasures, and free space communications. Mid-IR photonics have emerged as an active area of investigation in recent years, largely spurred by the rapid progress of cascade laser sources, uncooled detectors, and specialty mid-IR optical fibers. The 27 papers of this feature issue focus on the leading enabling material technologies for mid-IR photonics, and encompass recent advances in both active (lasers and detectors) and passive (fibers and waveguides) components. Linear and nonlinear photon-matter interactions in the mid-IR are also covered.
Neogene molluscan stages of the West Coast of North America

Abstract Neogene marine sediments of the West Coast of North America were deposited in a series of widely spaced basins that extended geographically from the western and northern Gulf of Alaska (60°N) to southern California (33°N). Rich molluscan faunas occur extensively throughout these deposits and form the basis for biostratigraphic schemes that are useful for correlating within and between individual basins. Early biostratigraphic work was concerned with faunas from particular horizons and with the stratigraphic range of diverse taxa, such as Pecten and Turritella , without reference to other fossil groups. Succeeding work increasingly dealt with the relationships of molluscan zones to benthic and, later, planktonic foraminiferal stages. In recent years the age limits of Neogene molluscan stages have become better documented by reference to planktonic microfossils from dated DSDP cores and onshore faunas. Neogene molluscan faunas from California, the Pacific Northwest states (Oregon and Washington), and southern Alaska have been treated separately due to differences in faunal composition and geographic isolation. As a result, a different biostratigraphic sequence has been described for each region. Pacific Northwest stages have been formally named and defined, and their names are also used informally for Alaskan faunas. California Neogene stages were proposed early in this century, are in need of redescription, and their usage is informal. Precise correlations between the three regional sequences have not yet been achieved, due to the low number of co-occurring species and the general lack of planktonic microfossils in these largely shallow-water faunas. The objectives of ongoing research include: fuller documentation of the faunas of California and Pacific Northwest stages; formal description of California stages; improved correlation between regional stage sequences; refinement of age estimates for stage boundaries; and, establishment of Neogene stages for Alaskan faunas.
STUDIES ON UROBILIN PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY IV. UROBILIN AND THE DAMAGED LIVER.

A variety of evidence is presented, all of which supports the view that in the uninfected animal the intestinal tract is the only place of origin of urobilin, not merely under normal circumstances, but when there is biliary obstruction. Animals rendered urobilin-free by collection of all of the bile from the intubated common duct remain urobilin-free even after severe hepatic injury. In our experiments urobilinuria was never found after liver damage except when bile pigment was present in the intestine. Thus, for example, it appeared during the first days after Ugation of the common duct, but disappeared as the stools became acholic. When this had happened a small amount of urobilin-free bile, given by mouth, precipitated a prompt urobilinuria. After obstruction of the duct from one-third of the liver, mild urobilinuria was found, but no bilirubinuria. In animals intubated for the collection of a part of the bile only, while the rest flowed to the duodenum through the ordinary channels, liver injury caused urobilinuria, unless indeed it was so severe as to lead to bile suppression, when almost at once the urobilinuria ceased, though the organism became jaundiced. The evidence here presented, when taken with that of our previous papers, clearly proves that urobilinuria is an expression of the inability of the liver cells to remove from circulation the urobilin brought by the portal stream, with result that the pigment passes on to kidney and urine. Urobilinuria occurs with a far less degree of liver injury than does bilirubinuria. Our work has, for the most part, been carried out with animals having uninfected livers and bile passages. But the influence of cholangitis with infection has been briefly discussed in the light of some preliminary observations. The influence of infection on the place of formation of urobilin and on the occurrence of urobilinuria will form the subject of another communication.
Structural change in federal spending and deficits: Legislative and cyclical influences

This paper analyzes the behavior of federal expenditures and budget deficits since 1955. It is found that growth in these series is well described by two simple step functions allowing for three discrete increases in the means of the variables. When adjusted for the changes in means, both series are stationary with no significant time trend. It is found that the increases in means are associated with government attempts to implement countercyclical fiscal policy during recessions. Also, the increases in means coincide well with specific legislative acts which increased the budgetary power of individual members of Congress and ended the ability of the president to use impoundment as a substitute for a line-item veto.
Information as commodity and economic sector: its emergence in the discourse of industrial classification

In a critical analysis of the recent development and deployment of the North American Industry Classification System, this article focuses on the discourse surrounding the creation of the system's "information" category. A close reading of the relevant government documents suggests that the category functions simultaneously to position information as a major sector of the economy and to organize data about information as a commodity. The discourse also points to the continuing complexities involved in conceptualizing information as a measurable object.
Structural elicitation and computational issues faced when solving complex decision making problems with influence diagrams

Abstract Influence diagrams have become a popular tool for representing and solving decision making problems under uncertainty (Shachter, Operations Research 1986;34:871–82). We show here some practical difficulties when using them to construct a medical decision support system. Specifically, it is hard to tackle issues related to the problem structuring, like the existence of constraints on the sequence of decisions, and the time evolution modeling; related to the knowledge-acquisition, like probability and utility assignment; and related to computational limitations, in memory storage and evaluation phases, as well as the explanation of results. We have recently developed a complex decision support system for neonatal jaundice management — a very common medical problem — , encountering all these difficulties. In this paper, we describe them and how they have been undertaken, providing insights into the community involved in the design and solution of decision models by means of influence diagrams. Scope and purpose Decision Analysis is a very well-known discipline that deals with the practice of Decision Theory (Clemen, Making hard decisions: an introduction to decision analysis, 2nd ed. Pacific Grove, CA: Duxbury, 1996). It comprises various steps usually implemented in a decision support system: definition of the alternatives and objectives, modelization of the structure of the decision problem, as well as the beliefs and preferences of the decision maker. The recommended alternative is the one with maximum expected utility, once all the assignments have been refined via sensitivity analyses. However, there are a number of difficulties faced in practice when solving large problems, that require an attentive study.
Molecular-Beam Electric-Resonance Optothermal Spectroscopy Study of the Rotational Spectrum of the Less Stable Conformer of Methyl Vinyl Ether.

Abstract The pure rotational spectrum of the less stable conformer of methyl vinyl ether has been measured in an electric-resonance optothermal spectrometer. Analysis of the microwave spectrum shows that the less stable conformer is effectively planar with a low barrier between two gauche forms of the conformer. The rotational constants for the high-energy conformer, obtained from a least-squares fit to a threefold barrier internal rotation Hamiltonian are A = 39 192.490(26) MHz, B = 4527.5496(39) MHz, and C = 4181.2146(43) MHz. The threefold barrier to internal rotation is determined to be V 3 = 427.516(71) cm −1 . The dipole moment for the conformer has been measured using the Autler–Townes splitting of states in a strong, resonant microwave field. The dipole moment is μ tot = 1.9(2) D [μ a = 1.3(1) D, μ b = 1.4(1) D]. The effectively planar structure of the conformer and the magnitude of the dipole moment are in good agreement with previous ab initio calculations. The experimentally determined threefold barrier to methyl rotation of the present study also agrees well with the value calculated from ab initio methods, 515 cm −1 .
Utilizing Situational Awareness for Efficient Control of Powertrain in Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicles

An optimal power management strategy is the key to benefit from hybridization of a vehicle powertrain. Designing such a strategy requires knowledge of the vehicle energy requirements during its drive cycle. Therefore, information available through Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) can play a critical role in designing such an optimal powertrain management. To avoid the implementation and practical issues of global optimal solutions, sub-optimal methods such as Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy (ECMS) have been introduced for the power distribution in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV). However, the dependency of ECMS on prior knowledge about the driving cycle is a deterring effect for real-time implementation. Accordingly, on-line decision making about the equivalent factor value used in ECMS, which translates the electrical energy into the equivalent fuel energy, is the challenge captivating researches'' attention. In this paper, an adaptive method for enhancement of the ECMS based on the prediction of driving conditions is proposed. Using the approximated future energy requirement of the vehicle over the prediction time horizon, the sub-optimal value of equivalent factor is updated. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method to decrease fuel consumption while charge sustainability is satisfied.
A formal description of Arabic syntax in Definite Clause Grammar

Arabic has some special syntax features which lead to complex syntax structures. We have developed a formal description of Arabic syntax in Definite Clause Grammar. This grammar is characterized by its high descriptive power due to its dual formulation in terms of functions and in terms of grammatical categories. The developed grammar has a high coverage of Arabic language and has context sensitive capabilities. It is suitable for the advanced applications of natural language processing.
Agriculture for Development in Africa: Business-as-Usual or New Departures?

The world of agriculture is in a state of crisis. And nowhere is this more important than for Africa, where economies depend heavily on agriculture and hunger is on the rise. Agriculture is in the headlines, but for the wrong reasons: failures instead of successes. It is receiving rare political attention and financial commitments by governments and donors. This creates unique opportunities in using agriculture for development. But will opportunities be seized? Governments and donors have increasingly turned their backs on agriculture over the last 20 years, contributing to the current food crisis. Will African governments and donors respond by successfully using agriculture for development, or, after a brief concern with agriculture motivated by food riots and human distress, are we to witness a return to business as usual? This paper attempts to answer that question, identifying causes that have led to the crisis, opportunities for new departures and forces that could be mobilised in order to avoid the business-as-usual scenario and promote instead the agriculture-for-development outcome. Copyright The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press and the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.
Virus-Like Symptoms in a Termite (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) Field Colony

The concept behind the use of biological control agents against termites was based on the assumption that epizootic events can occur naturally in a termite colony. However, no reports ever mentioned the occurrence of epizootic in natural field conditions in any termite species. We here describe what could be the first report of a viral epizootic in a field colony of Neotermes jouteli . El concepto detras de la utilizacion de agentes de control biologico contra las termitas se basa en la suposicion de que eventos de epizooticas pueden ocurrir de forma natural en una colonia de termitas. Sin embargo, no se conocen informes que hayan mencionado la aparicion de epizooticas en condiciones naturales de campo en especies de termitas. Se describen lo que podria ser el primer informe de una epizootia viral en el campo de una colonia de Neotermes jouteli . View this article in BioOne
Syntheses with stable isotopes: DL‐valine‐13C3

The synthesis of DL-2-amino-3-methyl-13C-butanoic-3,4-13C3 acid (DL-valine-13C3) is described. Acetonitrile-2-13C was converted to 2-methyl-13C-2-thiazoline, which was dialkylated with methyl-13C iodide to give 2-(isopropyl-13C3)-2-thiazoline. Subsequent reduction and hydrolysis of the isopropylthiazoline afforded 2-methyl-13C-propanal-2,3-13C2, which was isolated as the bisulfite addition product. A modified Strecker synthesis with the bisulfite compound gave DL-valine-13C3 in good overall yield.
Derivation and properties of recombinant Fab antibodies to coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls.

Recombinant Fab antibodies (rFabs) specific for coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were derived from a hybridoma cell line (Chiu et al. Anal. Chem. 1995, 67, 3829−3839). Immunoglobulin VH-CH1 and VL-CL sequences from S2B1 messenger RNA were amplified by PCR and cloned into the M13 phagemid vector pComb3H. Phage displaying rFab were enriched by panning on a PCB hapten conjugate and expressed as soluble rFabs in Escherichia coli XL-1 Blue. Two rFab clones competitively bound PCBs 77 and 126 with half-maximal inhibition (I50) of 10−13 ppb in indirect and direct enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), with selectivity nearly identical to that of whole S2B1 IgG and its Fab fragments prepared by papain digestion. These results, and comparison of N-terminal amino acid sequences of MAb S2B1 and the rFab, indicated that rFab S2B1 is a functional copy of the MAb. The rFab S2B1 sequences have 75−89% sequence identity with antibodies that bind nitrophenyl haptens and are being used to construct a three-dimensional computa...
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) reveals depth-resolved dynamics during functional brain activation

Optical intrinsic signal imaging (OISI) provides two-dimensional, depth-integrated activation maps of brain activity. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides depth-resolved, cross-sectional images of functional brain activation. Co-registered OCT and OISI imaging was performed simultaneously on the rat somatosensory cortex through a thinned skull during forepaw electrical stimulation. Fractional signal change measurements made by OCT revealed a functional signal that correlates well with that of the intrinsic hemodynamic signals and provides depth-resolved, layer-specific dynamics in the functional activation patterns indicating retrograde vessel dilation. OCT is a promising a new technology which provides complementary information to OISI for functional neuroimaging.