cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constructing verb paradigms in French: adult construals and emerging grammatical contrasts

Children acquiring French at first use just one form of each verb, where the meaning identifies only the event-type. How and when do they add additional forms, with the appropriate meanings? In this paper, we explore the information available to children from adult reformulations of these early verb-form uses, and show how adult construals contribute to children’s learning to distinguish between the homophonous infinitival (donner ‘give-Inf’) and participial (donne ‘give-PP’) forms, both /done/, of class 1 verbs. We argue that conversational exchanges, with the construals adults contribute, enable children to differentiate the meanings of homophonous forms, and so begin to construct verb paradigms.
Radiation Thresholds for Synthetic Elastomers

Synthetic elastomeric materials, when used in systems that must operate in radiation fields, frequently comprise the weakest link for materials. The results of a comprehensive tabulation of mechanical response data are summarized in graphical form useful to designers. General information on elastomers is given along with electrical, outgassing and thermal response data.
Using Transformational Learning Principles to Change Behavior in the OR

Abstract Achieving the goal of "best practice" in the perioperative field requires continuous education and reflection. Applying transformational learning principles can improve perioperative nursing practice by allowing staff members to reflect on their current practices, discover faulty assumptions, and revise them. Using a proactive approach, leaders can apply transformational learning principles on a case-by-case basis to build professional teams that are effective and efficient. Leaders who use transformational principles and act as role models can influence other staff members to be accountable for their own practice and self-development. If leaders are effective and inspirational, individual practice and even departmental or institutional cultures can be changed. AORN J 89 (May 2009) 851–860. © AORN, Inc, 2009.
Influence of Stoichiometry on the Optical and Electrical Properties of Chemical Vapor Deposition Derived MoS2

Ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) of Mo and W show great potential for digital electronics and optoelectronic applications. Whereas early studies were limited to mechanically exfoliated flakes, the large-area synthesis of 2D TMDCs has now been realized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) based on a sulfurization reaction. The optoelectronic properties of CVD grown monolayer MoS2 have been intensively investigated, but the influence of stoichiometry on the electrical and optical properties has been largely overlooked. Here we systematically vary the stoichiometry of monolayer MoS2 during CVD via controlled sulfurization and investigate the associated changes in photoluminescence and electrical properties. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is employed to measure relative variations in stoichiometry and the persistence of MoOx species. As MoS2-δ is reduced (increasing δ), the field-effect mobility of monolayer transistors increases while the photoluminescence yield becomes nonuniform. Devices fabricated from monolayers with the lowest sulfur content have negligible hysteresis and a threshold voltage of ∼ 0 V. We conclude that the electrical and optical properties of monolayer MoS2 crystals can be tuned via stoichiometry engineering to meet the requirements of various applications.
Cubic spline representation of the two‐variable cumulative distribution functions for coherent and incoherent x‐ray scattering

In Monte Carlo simulation of energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysers, one must account for both x-ray scattering effects and photoelectric absorption. To access the required random values of differential coherent and incoherent scattering angles, two-variable cubic spline representations of the appropriate cumulative distribution functions are developed and their use is demonstrated. In this approach the scattering angle is taken to be the dependent variable while the two independent variables are the x-ray energy and the normalized cross-sections. Cubic spline coefficients for the elements from sodium to nickel have been obtained for x-ray energies from 1 to 150 keV for all scattering angles for both coherent and incoherent scattering. Compared with the commonly used method of numerically integrating tabular values of coherent and incoherent cross-sections to produce a table of values for subsequent interpolation, use of cubic spline representations gives a 90% reduction in storage space and a 25–80% reduction in the amount of computer time required for equal accuracy.
On the origins of sudden adhesion loss at a critical relative humidity: examination of bulk and interfacial contributions.

The origins for abrupt adhesion loss at a critical relative humidity (RH) for polymeric adhesives bonded to inorganic surfaces have been explored using a model poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film on glass. The interfacial and bulk water concentrations within the polymer film as a function of D2O partial pressure were quantified using neutron reflectivity. Adhesion strength of these PMMA/SiO2 interfaces under the same conditions was quantified using a shaft loaded blister test. A drop in adhesion strength was observed at a critical RH, and at this same RH, a discontinuity in the bulk moisture concentration occurred. The moisture concentration near the interface was higher than that in the bulk PMMA, and at the critical RH, the breadth of the interfacial water concentration distribution as a function of distance from the SiO2/PMMA interface increased dramatically. We propose a mechanism for loss of adhesion at a critical RH based upon the interplay between bulk swelling induced stress and weakening of the interfacial bond by moisture accumulation at the PMMA/SiO2 interface.
Coefficient inequalities for a subclass of starlike functions

A function f(z) = z − ∑∞n = 2 anzn, an ⩾ 0, analytic and univalent in the unit disk, is said to be in the family T∗(a, b), a real and b ⩾ 0, if ¦(zf′f) − a¦ ⩽ b for all z in the unit disk. A complete characterization is found for T∗(a, b) when a ⩾ 1. Also, sharp coefficient bounds are determined for certain subclasses of T∗(a, b) when a < 1; however, examples are given to show that these bounds do not remain valid for the whole family.
The Occurrence of B Chromosomes in Linanthus Pachyphyllus

SUMMARYB chromosomes are reported to occur in populations of Linanthus pachypbyllus (Polemoniaceae). They appear in pollen mother cell meiosis as univalents, occasionally dividing at anaphase I. Number of B chromosomes per cell varies from 0 to 3. The presence of B chromosomes apparently does not affect greatly either phenotypic or recombinational features of this species; however, B chromosomes may suggest types of patterns of chromosomal evolution in L. pachypbyllus.
SU-E-I-79: Correction of Dark Current and Image Lag in Multi-Source Carbon Nanotube Imaging Systems.

Purpose: To correct for dark current and detectorimage lag in multi‐source carbon nanotube(CNT) based imagingsystems.Methods:CNTs can be used as a novel electron source for X‐ray generation. Here a small (∼2 kV) gate voltage induces a large electric field at the CNT tip that causes field emission as opposed to thermionic emission. This enables faster switching times and allows miniaturization which aids in the development of stationary multi‐source systems. These systems may encounter two key problems: dark current in non‐active sources and detector lag. In damaged and perhaps end‐of‐life devices, sources may develop significant electron output without gate voltage, interfering with images from non‐active sources. Although the output is small, it is constant, and continuous integration of detectors compared with small X‐ray exposure time magnifies its contribution to the signal. A method based on binary multiplexing is developed to mitigate the dark current contributions possibly extending device lifetime. Having discrete sources, these multi‐source systems have coarser angular sampling than rotating systems. This coarser sampling means that the detector signal changes more in adjacent projections than rotating systems exacerbating the effect of detector lag. Since flat panel detectors have a capacitive behavior, readout only removes some charge from pixels. As a result, a device dependent amount (6.6% in our device) of the signal from the current image contributes to the subsequent image. A fast, stable inverse filter separating detector lag has been developed. Results: Projection data were simulated based on parameters measured from a multi‐source CNTsystem. Incorporating dark current and image lag phenomena into reconstruction improves contrast to noise ratio. Conclusions: These correction methods can be easily implemented on clinical multi‐source systems to improve image quality and extend the device's usable lifetime. Supported in part by Siemens Medical
Intramolecular Vinylsilane−Oxocarbenium Condensations: Concise Assembly of Cis-Bicyclic Ether Arrays†

Lewis acid-mediated intramolecular attack of vinylsilanes at tethered oxonium precursors 1 results in a rapid assembly of the cis-fused bicyclic ether species 3, with complete regio- and stereospecific control, and in some cases near-quantitative yield. Continued investigation suggests a general approach to a variety of such ether frameworks.
Age-related changes in oxygen consumption by guinea pig paramedian cortex.

Abstract Oxygen consumption by the paramedian cortex was measured in guinea pigs between 2 days of age and adulthood (i.e. > 50 days old) in an oxygen metabolic chamber in order to asses the age-related changes in oxygen metabolism in the developing brain. Brain slices of 2–10-day-old neonates exhibited the highest rate of oxygen utilization, with aging cortex exhibiting a linear decrease in oxygen metabolism. A plateau in oxygen utilization occurred between 40 and 50 days of age which was maintained throughout adulthood. These data indicate that the cortex of the guinea pig neonate demands a greater oxygen supply than that of the adult animal, which suggests that metabolic changes in oxygen utilization are developmentally related in the brain of the guinea pig.
Automatic selection of tube potential for radiation dose reduction in CT: A general strategy

Purpose: To optimize radiation dose efficiency in CT while maintaining image quality, it is important to select the optimal tube potential. The selection of optimal tube potential, however, is highly dependent on patient size and diagnostic task. The purpose of this work was to develop a general strategy that allows for automatic tube potential selection for each individual patient and each diagnostic task. Methods: The authors propose a general strategy that allows automatic adaptation of the tube potential as a function of patient size and diagnostic task, using a novel index of image quality, “iodine contrast to noise ratio with a noise constraint (iCNR_NC),” to characterize the different image quality requirements by various clinical applications. The relative dose factor (RDF) at each tube potential to achieve a target image quality was then determined as a function of patient size and the noise constraint parameter. A workflow was developed to automatically identify the optimal tube potential that is both dose efficient and practically feasible, incorporating patient size and diagnostic task. An experimental study using a series of semianthropomorphic thoracic phantoms was used to demonstrate how the proposed general strategy can be implemented and how the radiation dose reduction achievable by the tube potential selection depends on phantom sizes and noise constraint parameters. Results: The proposed strategy provides a flexible and quantitative way to select the optimal tube potential based on the patient size and diagnostic task. The noise constraint parameter α can be adapted for different clinical applications. For example, α = 1 for noncontrast routine exams; α = 1.1 – 1.25 for contrast-enhanced routine exams; and α = 1.5 – 2.0 for CT angiography. For the five thoracic phantoms in the experiment, when α = 1 , the optimal tube potentials were 80, 100, 100, 120, 120, respectively. The corresponding RDFs (relative to 120 kV) were 78.0%, 90.9%, 95.2%, 100%, and 100%. When α = 1.5 , the optimal tube potentials were 80, 80, 80, 100, 100, respectively, with corresponding RDFs of 34.7%, 44.7%, 54.7%, 60.8%, and 89.5%. Conclusions: A general strategy to automatically select the most dose efficient tube potential for CT exams was developed that takes into account patient size and diagnostic task. Dependent on the patient size and the selection of noise constraint parameter for different diagnostic tasks, the dose reduction at each tube potential, quantified explicitly with the RDF, varies significantly.
Possession Episodes in Young Children's Social Interactions

Abstract This naturalistic study examined the relationships between possession episodes and other social behaviors. Twenty children were observed in 240 social interactions that occurred during free play in their preschool classroom. The interactions were analyzed for behaviors related to possession, affiliation, prosociability, and aggression. The findings suggest that possession episodes are positively associated with agonistic behaviors and negatively related to positive social responses both situationally and dispositionally. First, disputes following possession claims frequently resulted in the termination or disruption of the social interaction. Moreover, a comparison between children's behaviors in interactions that contained a possession episode and in those that did not revealed that more aggression and fewer prosocial and affiliative behaviors occurred in the possession interactions. Second, in an analysis of individual social patterns, children who frequently engaged in possession disputes enga...
Phase structure of antisymmetric tensor gauge fields

The phase structure of lattice gauge theories of antisymmetric tensor fields is studied by means of Monte Carlo techniques. It is found that the A/sub munu/ field is confined in four or less dimensions, and the A/sub munulambda/ field is confined in five dimensions or less.
Image search—from thousands to billions in 20 years

This article presents a comprehensive review and analysis on image search in the past 20 years, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities brought by the astonishing increase of dataset scales from thousands to billions in the same time period, which was witnessed first-hand by the authors as active participants in this research area. Starting with a retrospective review of three stages of image search in the history, the article highlights major breakthroughs around the year 2000 in image search features, indexing methods, and commercial systems, which marked the transition from stage two to stage three. Subsequent sections describe the image search research from four important aspects: system framework, feature extraction and image representation, indexing, and big data's potential. Based on the review, the concluding section discusses open research challenges and suggests future research directions in effective visual representation, image knowledge base construction, implicit user feedback and crowdsourcing, mobile image search, and creative multimedia interfaces.
Smarter board: a community-oriented communication tool

In this demo we present the Smarter Board, a platform designed to facilitate the creation of a community-focused social network, with a special focus on groups of people with disabilities. The communication is based on text messages, which makes the system easy to use and more accessible to communities where network connections are not well-developed and where the people do not have much experience with more advanced technological tools. The solution also provides a manage interface, through which administrators are able to mediate the messages and the users. We also implemented a matching procedure for the identification of related posts (e.g., it can check if there are compatible car ride offers and car ride requests) in order to make users aware of what is being posted and, even more important, adopt the technology.
The microstructure and swelling of neutron irradiated tantalum

Abstract Electron microscopy of tantalum that was irradiated to 2.5 × 1022 neutrons/cm2 (⪢0.1 MeV ) at temperatures between 425 and 1050°C established that this temperature range effectively brackets the swelling temperatures of tantalum. No voids were detected after irradiation at 425°C. The temperature for maximum swelling was inferred to be near 600°C, and the swelling at ~1000°C was very small. At 585 and 790°C a high concentration of small voids resulted in technologically significant levels of swelling, 0.5 to 2.5%.
DNA Methylation in Promoter Region as Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer

The prostate gland is the most common site of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Recent emerging molecular biological technologies help us to know that epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation within the regulatory (promoter) regions of genes are associated with transcriptional silencing in cancer. Promoter hypermethylation of critical pathway genes could be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for prostate cancer. In this chapter, we updated current information on methylated genes associated with the development and progression of prostate cancer. Over 40 genes have been investigated for methylation in promoter region in prostate cancer. These methylated genes are involved in critical pathways, such as DNA repair, metabolism, and invasion/metastasis. The role of hypermethylated genes in regulation of critical pathways in prostate cancer is discussed. These findings may provide new information of the pathogenesis, the exciting potential to be predictive and to provide personalized treatment of prostate cancer. Indeed, some epigenetic alterations in prostate tumors are being translated into clinical practice for therapeutic use.
Parametric identification of systems using a frequency slice of the bispectrum

A parametric approach, based on sums of cumulants, is proposed for the identification of linear shift-invariant systems. The identification of the autoregressive parameters of the system is related to the rational approximation of a frequency slice of the output bispectrum. For a causal or a noncausal system it is shown that it is sufficient to solve Hankel-type matrix equations. The procedure can be efficiently implemented by means of recursive Pade approximants or modified least-squares rational approximations algorithms. The moving-average parameters of the system are calculated by solving some nonlinear equations. Examples illustrating the procedure and its advantages are given. >
Supporting Asymmetric Traffic in a TDD/CDMA Cellular Network via Interference-Aware Dynamic Channel Allocation and Space–Time LMMSE Joint Detection

In a time-division duplexing (TDD)/code-division multiple-access (CDMA) cellular network with asymmetric data traffic, dynamic channel allocation (DCA) enhances resource utilization compared with fixed channel allocation (FCA). However, it also induces base-to-base and mobile-to-mobile crossed-slot intercell interference, which can severely degrade system performance. To deal with this problem, a decentralized scheme is proposed, which combines an interference-aware DCA algorithm with space-time linear minimum-mean-square-error (LMMSE) joint detection at the base and mobile stations. The former assigns active links to timeslots in a way that crossed-slot interference is mitigated, while the latter suppresses the remaining intercell interference (along with intersymbol and intracell interference), exploiting its spatio-temporal autocorrelation statistics. The performance of this scheme is evaluated in terms of downlink and uplink signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) outage and average throughput via analytical approximations and Monte Carlo simulations, and it is compared with that of benchmark random DCA (RDCA) and FCA schemes. The cases of single- and dual-antenna reception with perfect and imperfect channel state information are examined. It is shown that the proposed scheme achieves higher average throughput than FCA (particularly for dual-antenna reception) as well as RDCA (for heavy traffic loads). These throughput gains are more significant in uplink than in downlink.
Human Lineage‐Specific Gene Inactivation

Pseudogenes are nonfunctional vestiges of genes. Investigating genes that were inactivated specifically on the human lineage or within humans can reveal the genetic basis of interspecies differences between humans and chimpanzees and interindividual differences within humans. It can also help understand the selective pressures that altered during human evolution or vary among human populations. Recent genome-wide surveys showed that human-specific pseudogenisation events occurred much more frequently to chemosensory and immune response genes than to other genes. Although nondeleterious pseudogenisation events were traditionally considered to be neutral, emerging evidence suggests that some of them are beneficial. One well-characterised case is the human CASP12 locus, where the null allele decreases the incidence of sepsis and has apparently been selected for in human evolution. Exploration of roles of pseudogenisation in genome evolution and phenotype evolution has started. Key Concepts: Pseudogenes in our genome can be (1) shared with other species, (2) functional only in non-human species or (3) functional in some but not all humans. According to the ‘less-is-more’ hypothesis, human-specific pseudogenes that are functional in related primates reveal insight into how gene loss helped shape human evolution. Large-scale human genetic variation databases reveal hundreds of segregating pseudogenes, suggesting individual and population differences in functional gene content. Although most gene-disrupting variants are under negative selective pressure, some population genetic studies of segregating pseudogene loci reveal signatures of positive selection for the disrupted allele, suggesting that gene loss can be beneficial. Among fixed and segregating human-specific pseudogenes, chemoreception and immune response are over-represented functional categories. Keywords: human; evolution; chimpanzee; pseudogene; positive selection
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) Is Essential for Maintaining the Integrity of the Seminiferous Epithelium

Sertoli cells provide the microenvironment necessary for germ cell development and spermatogenesis; disruption of Sertoli cell morphology or function can lead to germ cell aplasia, which is observed in testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Mutation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene has been associated with various human cancers, including testicular cancer, but its involvement in nonmalignant testicular pathologies has not been reported. We have developed a mouse model (APC(cko)) that expresses a truncated form of APC in Sertoli cells. Despite normal embryonic and early postnatal testicular development in APC(cko) mice, premature germ cell loss and Sertoli cell-only seminiferous tubules were observed in mutant testes without affecting Sertoli cell quiescence, apoptosis, or differentiation, which were confirmed by the absence of both proliferating cell nuclear antigen, DNA strand breaks, and anti-Mullerian hormone, respectively. We show that mutant Sertoli cells lose their apical extensions, which would normally enclose germ cells during various stages of spermatogenesis, and were unable to maintain the blood-testis barrier because of disrupted expression of junctional proteins. We also observed an up-regulation of Snail and Slug, markers suggestive of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the Sertoli cells, but tumorigenesis was not observed. No comparable phenotype was observed with Sertoli cell-specific loss-of-function mutations in β-catenin, leading us to speculate that truncation of APC in Sertoli cells results in progressive degeneration of the seminiferous tubules by a mechanism that disrupts the integrity of Sertoli cell junctions independently of APC-regulated β-catenin activities and leads to development of a Sertoli cell-only phenotype.
On the excitation of the earth's polar motion

Reference is made to recent studies by Barnes et al. (1983) and Hide (1984) in which a conclusion is made that atmospheric excitation alone is sufficient to account for the earth's polar motion over the studied periods. It is then shown through a physical 'thought' experiment and a numerical simulation that this conclusion is unjustified since the information about the Chandler wobble presented in these papers is insufficient. Whether the conclusion is true or not, however, remains an open question.
A Little Good

My grandmother used to say, “If a little’ll do a little good, a lot’ll do a lotta good.” Unfortunately, it is not that simple with antiplatelet agents. Article see p 1656 Many relevant facts are well established. In identifiable subgroups of patients who present with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or minor strokes, the risk of a subsequent stroke is high.1–3 Most of this risk is incurred during the first few days after a warning event.2 Aspirin and other antiplatelet agents can lower the risk of secondary stroke by ≈12–22%.4,5 In patients with acute coronary syndromes, another thrombotic disorder, dual antiplatelet therapy, offers a greater risk reduction than aspirin alone, at the expense of increased hemorrhagic risk.6 In symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin is better than aspirin alone in reducing microembolic signals detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasound as evidence of plaque-related embolism.7,8 The extended use of aspirin plus clopidogrel confers an increased risk of moderate-to-severe hemorrhage when compared with either agent alone.9–11 Early trials of dual antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention have shown either no benefit or a benefit that was counterbalanced by the increased risk of significant hemorrhage.9,10,12 Dual antiplatelet therapy was a component of a successful regimen of secondary prevention in patients with symptomatic intracranial stenosis in the recent Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent …
Le Restatement: Les Etats-Unis Entre Tradition Civiliste Et Tradition De Common Law (Restatements: The United-States Between Civil and Common Law Traditions)

Le restatement est une technique juridique originale de droit americain, developpee par l’American Legal Institute. Reformulation des differents domaines du droit positif americain, elaboree a partir de l’etude meticuleuse de la jurisprudence, les restatements viennent au secours du juge americain dans l’elaboration de sa decision. Proche d’une entreprise de codification, les restatements sont autant de ponts avances entre tradition civiliste et tradition de common law. Leur etude permet de mettre en lumiere les correspondances entre le raisonnement du juge americain et celui du juge francais.Restatements are original legal tools of American Law, developed by the American Legal Institute. Restating various fields of American the law, and made through comprehensive studies of the case law, the Restatements often help American justices in the making of their opinions. Close to a codification process, Restatements are advanced bridges between Civil law tradition and Common law tradition. Their study allows bringing to light correspondences between French and American judges.
Four-level neutral point clamped converter with reduced switch count

This paper presents a new topology of four-level neutral point clamped (NPC) converter that is primarily targeted for high-power applications. The proposed topology is favorably compared to the conventional four-level NPC converter topology due to the desired feature of reduced switch count. Furthermore, in relation to the active NPC topology that generates three-level output voltages, the proposed topology features increased number of output voltage levels. For the high-power medium-voltage applications, for which the NPC topology has been consistently chosen as the workhorse, either reduced switch count or increased number of voltage levels bears substantial practical importance in light of the reduced cost, improved reliability, superior waveform quality and minimized filtering requirement. The operating principle of the proposed topology is analyzed in detail. The effectiveness of the modulation and control of the proposed topology is verified by high-fidelity numerical simulation conducted via Sabertrade.
A psychoendocrine study of premenstrual tension syndrome: A model for endogenous depression?

Abstract We studied 42 women with severe Premenstrual Tension Syndrome (PMTS) and compared their clinical features and adrenocortical function with those seen in major depressive disorders. Self-report scales demonstrated that PMTS was very distressing, but the disturbance did not meet the RDC for Major Depressive Disorder — endogenous subtype. Twenty-four hour urinary free cortisol estimation did not indicate cortisol hypersecretion and abnormal Dexamethasone Suppression Test results occured much less frequently than is usual in endogenous depression. Adrenocortical function did not differ significantly between follicular and premenstrual phases. PMTS does not appear to be a psychoendocrine model for endogenous depression.
The role of spatial and ontogenetic morphological variation in the expansion of the geographic range of the tropical brown alga, Turbinaria ornata.

Synopsis Like many reefs worldwide, reefs in French Polynesia are experiencing a shift from coral-dominated to algal-dominated systems. The macroalga Turbinaria ornata comprises the majority of the increasing algal biomass on the barrier reefs surrounding these islands, and its distribution is increasing throughout this region. Aspects of the ecomorphology of Turbinaria make it ideally suited to thrive under the physical conditions found across barrier reefs throughout French Polynesia. Spatial morphological variation allows Turbinaria to produce morphotypes that are suited either to the calm, unidirectional, slowly flowing water in the backreef or to the high-energy wave-driven flow of the forereef. Backreef plants are flexible and produce airbladders that make them buoyant, whereas forereef plants are not buoyant, but strong and stiff. Production of bladders and resulting buoyancy has been found to be a phenotypically plastic trait in response to movement of water and confers advantages to backreef plants and plays an important role in dispersal. Ontogenetic variation of buoyancy, material properties, and reproductive capacity is part of a dispersal strategy whereby fertile, buoyant fronds drift between oceanic islands and form new populations, thereby contributing to the recent expansion of range of T. ornata across French Polynesia.
An estimate of above-ground carbon stock in tropical rainforest on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea

Forest carbon emission mitigation schemes seek to protect tropical forest, combat effects of climate change, and offer potential cash and development opportunities. Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) projects based on a foundation of accurate carbon stock assessment provide such an opportunity for Papua New Guinea. The objective of this study was to quantify the carbon stock of the central forests of Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, and identify factors that underpin any observed variation within it. We employed the Winrock Standard Operating Procedures for Terrestrial Carbon Measurement for plots and associated measurements. In 75 variable-radius nested plots (total area = 14.4 ha), we assessed above-ground and total carbon stock of stems ≥5 cm diameter at breast height via general linear models in a model-selection framework. The top models described variation in average carbon stock at 95% lower and upper confidence interval in above-ground biomass solely in terms of forest type: primary hill forest 165.0 Mg C ha–1 (148.3–183.7, n = 48), primary plain forest 100.9 Mg C ha–1 (78.0–130.6, n = 10) and secondary hill forests 99.7 Mg C ha–1 (80.9–122.9, n = 17). To a lesser extent, above-ground carbon stock increased with slope and varied idiosyncratically by the nearest village. Our estimates are comparable with published studies for Papua New Guinea and the wider tropical region. These data should strengthen pre-existing knowledge and inform policies on carbon accounting for REDD+ projects in the region.
Artificial Recharge in South Platte River Basin

A reconnaissance level study of the potential for artificially recharging the alluvial aquifer along 110 miles (180 km) of the South Platte River from Fort Morgan to Julesburg, Colorado, was made based on published hydrologic and geologic information. Analyses were made to determine the availability of water for recharge; anticipated infiltration rates; potential storage capacity of the ground-water reservoir; the degree of ground-water mounding beneath potential recharge sites; the magnitude of annual drain-out loss to the river; possible water quality problems; and the potential effects on the South Platte River flows. Artificially recharging the alluvial aquifer appears to be technically feasible. Waterlogging conditions are likely to develop in areas that lie within 1 mile or 2 miles (1.6 km or 3.2 km) of the river. Due to the high dissolved solids concentration of the recharge water, the quality of the ground water in some areas may deteriorate and preclude its use for domestic and municipal water supplies.
Coupling of excited molecules and nanocrystals with photonic atoms (microspheres) and photonic molecules

Spherical dielectric microparticles have been called "photonic atoms"' because of their ability to confine photons in a similar form to the confinement of an electron in an atom, and because of their newly demonstrated ability, when joined, to mimic molecular states ("photonic molecules"2).
Damage Function Analysis for the Rice Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

The effect of the rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.), on rough rice yield, head yield, and peck was investigated during 3 yr of experiments at Beaumont and Eagle Lake in the Texas Rice Belt. Natural infestations of rice stink bugs were manipulated by varying planting date and applying control measures at selected rice grain maturation stages. Data were subjected to linear, quadratic, and square root functions to obtain best-fit relationships. Damage functions were characterized as nested or nonnested models to facilitate statistical test selection. Nested models were statistically evaluated using the Schwarz criterion; nonnested models were subjected to the Cox test. In the case of peck, damage that manifests itself as discolored spots on the rice kernel and thus reduces quality, we detected no statistical differences in explanatory power between a model including both nymphs and adult rice stink bugs and a model with only adult rice stink bugs. Head yield (the percentage of whole grains after milling) was not affected by nymphal populations. Linear models best fit the damage relationships between adult rice stink bug densities at various grain maturation stages. Peck varied across grain maturation stages, with a low of 0.019% in milk to a high of 0.033% in hard dough per observed adult rice stink bug. Data also suggest that a significant level of peck was unaccounted for by rice stink bug populations in the milk and later grain maturation stages, indicating monitoring of rice stink bug populations should begin during panicle exsertion. Rough rice yield was not affected by nymphal or adult rice stink bug populations encountered in the experiments.
Application of Accelerometer Data to Mars Odyssey Aerobraking and Atmospheric Modeling

Aerobraking was an enabling technology for the Mars Odyssey mission even though it involved risk due primarily to the variability of the Mars upper atmosphere. Consequently, numerous analyses based on various data types were performed during operations to reduce these risk and among these data were measurements from spacecraft accelerometers. This paper reports on the use of accelerometer data for determining atmospheric density during Odyssey aerobraking operations. Acceleration was measured along three orthogonal axes, although only data from the component along the axis nominally into the flow was used during operations. For a one second count time, the RMS noise level varied from 0.07 to 0.5 mm/s2 permitting density recovery to between 0.15 and 1.1 kg per cu km or about 2% of the mean density at periapsis during aerobraking. Accelerometer data were analyzed in near real time to provide estimates of density at periapsis, maximum density, density scale height, latitudinal gradient, longitudinal wave variations and location of the polar vortex. Summaries are given of the aerobraking phase of the mission, the accelerometer data analysis methods and operational procedures, some applications to determining thermospheric properties, and some remaining issues on interpretation of the data. Pre-flight estimates of natural variability based on Mars Global Surveyor accelerometer measurements proved reliable in the mid-latitudes, but overestimated the variability inside the polar vortex.
Immunophenotypic identification of Sezary cells in peripheral blood

Despite anecdotal literature that Sezary cells express the CD4+ CD7- immunophenotype, no formal validation has been published establishing the use of this immunophenotype for clinical or experimental purposes. Consequently, the only method presently available for Sezary cell identification is nuclear contour analysis, a labor-intensive procedure not generally available at most major medical centers. In this study, the accuracy of CD4+ CD7- subset quantitation for the identification of Sezary cells was examined. The study found that the percentage of CD4+ CD7- cells is elevated in many Sezary syndrome/MF patients relative to normal, healthy individuals. In addition, CD4+ CD7- enumeration correlates with enumeration by nuclear contour analysis in most patients (11 of 15) with elevated CD4/CD8 ratios. The CD4+ CD7- subset also correlates with the expression of other aberrant immunophenotypes, such as CD3low or CD4low. Lastly, CD4+ CD7- subset quantitation correlates with the number of clonal T lymphocytes, as measured using V beta-specific T-cell receptor monoclonal antibodies. The study found this method to be exceptionally accurate, with two caveats: (1) the absence of an expanded CD4+ CD7- subset in patients with a normal CD4/CD8 ratio is uninformative; and (2) in approximately 25% of patients with an elevated CD4/CD8 ratio, the Sezary cells are CD7+.
Resource conflict and cooperation between human host and gut microbiota: implications for nutrition and health

Diet has been known to play an important role in human health since at least the time period of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. In the last decade, research has revealed that microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract, known as the gut microbiota, are critical factors in human health. This paper draws on concepts of cooperation and conflict from ecology and evolutionary biology to make predictions about host-microbiota interactions involving nutrients. To optimally extract energy from some resources (e.g., fiber), hosts require cooperation from microbes. Other nutrients can be utilized by both hosts and microbes (e.g., simple sugars, iron) in their ingested form, which may lead to greater conflict over these resources. This framework predicts that some negative health effects of foods are driven by the direct effects of these foods on human physiology and by indirect effects resulting from microbiome-host competition and conflict (e.g., increased invasiveness and inflammation). Similarly, beneficial effects of some foods on host health may be enhanced by resource sharing and other cooperative behaviors between host and microbes that may downregulate inflammation and virulence. Given that some foods cultivate cooperation between hosts and microbes while others agitate conflict, host-microbe interactions may be novel targets for interventions aimed at improving nutrition and human health.
What constitutes our understanding of a patient

A number of approaches to the search for methodology in the human sciences are reviewed. Heidegger's use of Husserl's phenomenology led to his exploration of the background practices on which he believed all our understanding is based. This use of phenomenology was adopted by Sartre and R. D. Laing, and existential psychiatrists and psychoanalysts in their emphasis on the here-and-now encounter between the patient and the therapist, along with various embellishments and emendations on Heidegger's notion of what it meant to live authentically or inauthentically. Foucault maintained that there is a politics embedded in all the human sciences such as psychiatry and psychoanalysis, and this politics revolves around the use of power and its operations, including the actual use of the human sciences in the culture and what the different theories imply in the way of an ideology. Lacan emphasized this when he challenged the prevailing ideology of United States psychoanalysis, in which adaptation was seen as the crucial task of the ego. The existence of background practices and outer horizons required for any understanding in the human sciences leads to a situation that questions the use of empirical methods to establish what is accepted as "truth" in the human sciences. A predominant alternative, that of hermeneutics, has gained acceptance by eminent analysts such as Gill and certain interpersonal theorists. But the term hermeneutics is used in many ways by many authors and runs the danger of a relativism and a nihilism. This leads to a discussion of the value of various philosophical positions in throwing light on our search for a methodology in the human sciences. A review of arguments invoking the "end of philosophy" such as those of Rorty reveals that they are paradoxical and based on premises which in turn represent a philosophy. This debate remains unresolved. In general the postmodern view sees "truth" as more relative and emphasizes the role of social and cultural aspects of prevailing ideologies in constituting and determining what we call truth and understanding, including the "understanding" of a patient in psychotherapy. An example of the postmodern blend of philosophy and psychoanalysis is presented by Arlow's emphasis on unconscious fantasies and his insightful comments on how these unconscious fantasies organize and determine what we experience from the very beginning of life. This I believe is most consistent with Rescher's philosophical notion of "conceptual idealism," also briefly reviewed in this paper.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Different Divalent Cations Alter the Kinetics and Fidelity of DNA Polymerases

Abstract Divalent metal ions are essential components of DNA polymerases both for catalysis of the nucleotidyl transfer reaction and for base excision. They occupy two sites, A and B, for DNA synthesis. Recently, a third metal ion was shown to be essential for phosphoryl transfer reaction. The metal ion in the A site is coordinated by the carboxylate of two highly conserved acidic residues, water molecules, and the 3′-hydroxyl group of the primer so that the A metal is in an octahedral complex. Its catalytic function is to lower the pKa of the hydroxyl group, making it a highly effective nucleophile that can attack the α phosphorous atom of the incoming dNTP. The metal ion in the B site is coordinated by the same two carboxylates that are affixed to the A metal ion as well as the non-bridging oxygen atoms of the incoming dNTP. The carboxyl oxygen of an adjacent peptide bond serves as the sixth ligand that completes the octahedral coordination geometry of the B metal ion. Similarly, two metal ions are required for proofreading; one helps to lower the pKa of the attacking water molecule, and the other helps to stabilize the transition state for nucleotide excision. The role of different divalent cations are discussed in relation to these two activities as well as their influence on base selectivity and misincorporation by DNA polymerases. Some, but not all, of the effects of these different metal ions can be rationalized based on their intrinsic properties, which are tabulated in this review.
4562 Assessment of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the evaluation of pancreatic masses.

Background: Limited data comparing EUS FNA with other biopsy modalities for pancreatic masses are available. Aims: To compare the accuracy of EUS FNA with abdominal CT, ERCP and pathological findings at surgery in evaluating pancreatic masses. Methods: Retrospective patient chart review identified all patients (pts) with pancreatic masses who underwent EUS FNA between March 1994 and 1999. In total, 211 pts with pancreatic masses were evaluated with EUS FNA; 205 (97%) were evaluated with abdominal CT [65 had CT-guided biopsy before EUS], 93 (44%) were evaluated with ERCP [45 had brushings/biopsy before EUS]. Results: One patient suffered a complication post EUS FNA (mild pancreatitis, 0.5%, 95% CI 0-1%). CT completely failed to detect the pancreatic mass in 78 (38%) pts. There were 169 pts (80%) who had confirmed pancreatic malignancy on EUS FNA [155 adenocarcinomas, 12 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), 2 lymphomas]. Of the 44 patients that proceeded to surgery 33 (75%) had malignancy [4 NETs]. Using surgical findings as the gold standard, sensitivity of EUS FNA is 88% (95% CI: 77%-99%); specificity is 100% (95% CI: 94%-100%) and accuracy is 91% (95% CI: 86%-96%). Of the 10 pts who had benign CT-FNA and went to surgery, 5 were found to have malignant disease (diagnostic accuracy, 50%). Similarly, of the 10 pts who had benign ERCP sampling and went to surgery, 5 were found to have malignant disease (accuracy also 50%). Of the 33 patients with malignancy who underwent surgery, 17 were resectable (6 correctly classified by CT, 16 by EUS) and 16 patients were unresectable (1 correctly classified by CT, 14 by EUS). For determining resectability/unresectability CT had a sensitivity of 35%, specificity of 100%, accuracy of 67% and EUS had sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 100%, accuracy of 97% (p=0.009). Of the 62 patients with negative CT-guided biopsies, 50 (80%) patients were subsequently identified to have malignancy on EUS FNA (23% agreement). Of the 40 patients with negative ERCP samples, 32 (80%) patients were subsequently identified to have malignancy on EUS FNA (18% agreement). Maximal tumor size as determined by EUS correlated strongly with size at surgery (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.8, p=0.002). Conclusion: Assuming the pathological findings at surgery are a gold standard, EUS FNA is a safe and superior diagnostic technique in the evaluation of pancreatic masses when compared to CT and ERCP. EUS is also superior in assessing tumor size and detecting resectability compared to CT.