cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consciousness as Reflexive Shadow: An Operational Psychophenomenological Model

Starting from the position of Searle's critique of theories of consciousness cast in an objective ontological frame and using James's notion of Radical Empiricism, an ontologically neutral, operational notion of conscious experience (awareness) is developed. This empirically based model incorporates a systems approach to conscious states, but eschews duality and unnecessary ontological ascriptions as found in many other theoretical proposals. The model is, in effect, non-epistemic and avoids the usual category error implicit in neurophysiological or quantum physical reductions. It does this by casting all human knowledge as experiential creations arising from operationally generated reflexive attention. From this point of view both objective and subjective ontologies are understood to be explicate constructs of an experiential implicate order.
The medial pain system: Neural representations of the motivational aspect of pain

In this article, we propose that the pathways mediating the motivational aspect of pain originate in laminae VII and VIII of the spinal cord, and in the deep layers of the spinal trigeminal complex, and projections from these areas reach three central structures where pain motivation is represented, the ventrolateral quadrant of the periaqueductal gray, posterior hypothalamic nucleus, and intralaminar thalamic nuclei. A final representation of the motivational aspect of pain is located within the anterior cingulate cortex, and this representation receives inputs from the intralaminar nuclei. Outputs from these representations reach premotor structures located in the medulla, striatum, and cingulate premotor cortex. We discuss pathways and structures that provide inputs to these representations, including those involved in producing involuntary (innate) and instrumental responses which occur in response to the recognition of stimuli associated with footshock and other nociceptive stimuli.
Thermoelectric Properties of Magnesium Silicide Deposited by Use of an Atmospheric Plasma Thermal Spray

The thermoelectric properties of magnesium silicide (Mg2Si) samples prepared by use of an atmospheric plasma spray (APS) were compared with those of samples prepared from the same feedstock powder by use of the conventional hot-pressing method. The characterization performed included measurement of thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and figure of merit, ZT. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to assess how phase and microstructure affected the thermoelectric properties of the samples. Hall effect measurements furnished carrier concentration, and measurement of Hall mobility provided further insight into electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. Low temperature and high velocity APS using an internal-powder distribution system achieved a phase of composition similar to that of the feedstock powder. Thermal spraying was demonstrated in this work to be an effective means of reducing the thermal conductivity of Mg2Si; this may be because of pores and cracks in the sprayed sample. Vacuum-annealed APS samples were found to have very high Seebeck coefficients. To further improve the figure of merit, carrier concentration must be adjusted and carrier mobility must be enhanced.
Reformulating and calibrating COCOMO

Abstract A methodology is presented which can be used to calibrate the Constructive Cost Estimation Model (COCOMO) developed at TRW by Barry Boehm. The approach can be used to completely and automatically calibrate COCOMO to development environments beyond that on which it was constructed, and considers not only the nominal coefficients, but also all cost-driver multipliers simultaneously. Also presented is a reformulated structure of the model which possesses added statistical properties unavailable within COCOMO which can be used as a framework for developing generalized and potentially dynamic models. Of primary importance is the groundwork laid for the use of statistical methods which, to date, have not been utilized to their fullest potential with respect to problems of software cost estimation.
Limitations of infra-red stimulated luminescence in dating high Arctic marine sediments

Abstract The accuracy of infra-red stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dating was evaluated for modern, late glacial (11 to 13 ka) and older (70 ± 10 ka and 125 ± 10 ka) nearshore marine sediments from west Spitsbergen. Despite the increased sensitivity of the IRSL signal to solar reduction compared with thermoluminescence, the IRSL signal of these sediments was not totally reset, resulting in overestimates of a few 1000 to 10,000 years. Subtraction of residuals determined after 10 or 60 minutes of filtered light exposure (wavelengths
Mechanism of serum cholesterol reduction by oat bran

Nine normolipidemic young men consumed a constant diet for 2 mo into which oat bran was incorporated during the second month so that we might test the hypotheses that oats lower serum cholesterol concentrations by decreasing bile acid and fat absorption and increasing bile acid synthesis. Bile acid kinetics were determined by measuring the 13C enrichment of serum cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids. Oat bran consumption decreased serum cholesterol levels (p < 0.01) and cholic acid pool size (p < 0.05). Deoxycholic acid pool size (p < 0.01) and the synthesis and fractional turnover rates of both primary bile acids (p < 0.05) increased. Total bile acid pool size did not change. Fecal excretion of total bile acids, the two secondary bile acids and fat increased significantly. The results demonstrate that oat bran lowers serum cholesterol levels in part by altering bile acid metabolism. In addition, the substantial increase in the proportion of the total bile acid pool that was deoxycholic acid is consistent with the hypothesis that oat bran also decreases cholesterol synthesis.
Male mate choice by the lizard Anolis carolinensis: a preference for novel females

Laboratory and field manipulations tested whether male Anolis carolinensis lizards and discriminate preference for novel females over resident females. In 16 laboratory trials, we videotaped social interactions between paired males and females during baseline session (male and resident female housed together 1–3 weeks), resident-female session (male and reintroduced resident female), and novel-female session (male and novel female with resident female removed). We examined 22 behavioural variables. Male behaviours did not differ significantly between baseline and resident-female sessions, nor did female behaviours differ significantly between baseline, resident-female and novel-female sessions. However, between resident-female and novel-female sessions, males significantly increased display rate (320%), volleys of repetitive displaying (300%) and volley length (150%), and significantly decreased the distance (375%) and number (430%) of movements travelled away from the female. We concluded that males discriminate novel females from resident females independently of female behavioural or chemical cues. In each of 18 field trials, we first videotaped baseline social interactions of the resident male and females in a naturally occurring, polygynous, breeding group. The next day, we released two novel females into the territory (so at least one female remained) and videotaped subsequent social interactions. In comparison to baseline observations, males significantly increased the proportion of time spent in female-directed activities (from 5% towards resident females to 53% towards the novel female) and the proportion of displays directed towards novel females (from 6% towards resident females to 51% towards the novel female), and significantly decreased the proportion of time spent in territorial activities (from 75% to 19%) and the proportion of displays used in territorial activities (from 94% to 44%). Data from both experiments indicate that males appear to distinguish among individual females, and use this ability to increase reproductive success by identifying and preferentially pursuing novel females over previously inseminated resident females. From the perspective of cognitive ethology, we suggest a model by which males control mating decisions within their territories.
Six Cases of Scleritis Associated With Systemic Infection

Isolated scleritis (without keratitis) associated with infections is uncommon, and correct diagnosis and appropriate therapy for it are often delayed. Six patients with infection-associated scleritis were seen at our institution between May 1983 and May 1990 (these patients represented 4.6% of all patients with scleritis [six of 130 patients] in that period). Three of these cases were associated with systemic infections. One was associated with syphilis, one was associated with tuberculosis, and one was associated with toxocariasis. Three cases resulted from local infections. One was associated with infection with Proteus mirabilis, one was associated with infection with herpes zoster virus, and one was associated with infection with Aspergillus. The Aspergillus infection developed after trauma and the P. mirabilis-induced infection developed after strabismus surgical procedures. Four of the six cases were initially misdiagnosed and inappropriately managed. Correct diagnosis was made seven days to four years after onset of symptoms. Review of systems, scleral biopsy, culture, and laboratory investigation were used to make the diagnosis. Differential diagnosis of scleritis must include infective agents.
Lumbricid Prey and Potential Herpetofaunal Predators of the Invading Terrestrial Flatworm Bipalium adventitium (Turbellaria: Tricladida: Terricola)

Abstract Bipalium adventitium Hyman, an exotic terrestrial planarian invading North America, is an aggressive predator on earthworms. The spread and ecological impact of this flatworm will be determined in part by the its interactions with potential predators and prey. In laboratory trials, we tested the ability of B. adventitium to prey upon earthworms of different species and sizes. We also tested the predatory responses of six salamander species and two snake species to the flatworms. Bipalium adventitium attacked and ate members of all earthworm species offered and attacked earthworms over 100 times their mass. However, flatworm predatory success was related to the relative size of the prey. The largest prey eaten in our study was 12.1 times the mass of the flatworm that killed it. When attacking, B. adventitium often used a previously undescribed behavior of capping the anterior end of the earthworm, causing subdued escape behavior. None of the amphibians and reptiles tested as predators treated B. a...
Hemorrhoidectomy with self-retaining retraction

Hemorrhoidectomy is one of the most effective treatments for significantly symptomatic hemorrhoids. By placing the patient in the Sims' position and appropriately using the Hill-Ferguson retractor and towel clip, the surgeon can get good exposure and perform a Ferguson closed hemorrhoidectomy without any assistance.
Quantitating staphylococcal enterotoxin B in diverse media using a portable fiber-optic biosensor.

Abstract A new, portable fiber-optic biosensor has been used to detect staphylococcal enterotoxin B, a causative agent of food poisoning, at levels as low as 0.5 ng/ml in buffer. The toxin (SEB) can also be detected and quantitated in other relevant media: human serum, urine, and aqueous extract of ham. The level of toxin, from 5 to 200 ng/ml, can be accurately predicted in these media by calibrating each fiber and by comparing results to a single standard curve based on toxin in buffer. The quantitative fluorescent sandwich immunoassay provides results in 45 min; qualitative results are provided in 15–20 min. Using a blender and a benchtop centrifuge, fast, simple aqueous extracts of contaminated ham samples were prepared and tested. Ham spiked with 5 or 40 μg SEB per 100 g food resulted in biosensor readings indicative of 11 or 69% recovery of the toxin, respectively. Finally, the SEB assay is highly specific; SEA and SED give only 2–3% of the signal at 5000 ng/ml as SEB gives at 1000 ng/ml. This specific, sensitive assay for SEB on the portable fiber-optic biosensor permits easy monitoring of clinical samples or on-site analysis of suspect food samples.
On the Transport of Privileges

In a system based on authorization, the power that a subject has to operate on the system is a function of the privileges which he possesses. In this paper we introduce a mechanism for the transport of such privileges. The control provided over the transport of privileges by this mechanism has two notable properties. The control is local, in the sense that every movement of privileges into the domain of a given subject, and out of it, must be authorized by privileges already in this domain. The control is selective, in the sense that it permits the creation of transport-channels which allow for the movement of only certain types of privileges. We show that the proposed, ao called, Send-Receive transport mechaniam supports local analysis which allows one to evaluate the potential power of a given subject, independently of the rest of the system. This property s considered essential for effective modularlzation.
A method to determine particle size distribution in soils with gypsum

Abstract Gypseous (> 40% gypsum) and gypsiferous (1 to 40% gypsum) soils are estimated to comprise from 100 million to 200 million ha globally including over 1 million ha in the U.S. More intensive land use on these soils has resulted in greater demand for information on distribution, properties, and behavior of these soils. Common laboratory methods for determining particle size distribution of soils involve pretreatment to remove gypsum and more soluble salts since they interfere with sample dispersion and establishment of a stable clay suspension. Thus, particle size measurements using standard methods with pretreatment to remove gypsum only reflect the size distribution of essentially insoluble, dominantly silicate minerals, and do not reflect the size distribution of the whole soil including gypsum. Forcing results into a silicate–mineral basis in moderate to high gypsum soils can profoundly distort analytical results. The objective of this project was to develop and evaluate an alternative method of particle size measurement for soils with gypsum that includes size distribution of gypsum particles. Three disaggregation methods for estimation of total sand and sand separates were evaluated: 1) drying sieving, 2) shaking in a 7:3 ethanol:water solution, and 3) sonication in a 7:3 ethanol:water solution. Evaluation of samples with and without gypsum indicated that the sonication method was the most effective for disaggregation as indicated by sand fraction distribution and microscopic grain evaluations. Application of the method to samples from three gypseous pedons yielded grain-size distributions that better agreed with hand textural class estimates than conventional grain-size analysis by standard methods that included pretreatment to remove gypsum. Comparison of CEC/clay and 1500 kPa water/clay ratios for the samples between the two methods also suggested that the proposed method yielded clay contents more consistent with other property data for the same horizons. Improved particle size evaluations for soils containing gypsum, especially those with high gypsum contents, will improve the understanding and ability to interpret and predict behavior of these unique soils.
A Multidimensional Model of Information Resource Management

The management of the information systems function, especially as represented by the information resource management IRM concept, is of growing importance to today's organizations. Developments in IS technology, end user applications, and the strategic use of information systems are driving a search for better ways to use and manage the information system resources of an organization. This paper explores some of the developments shaping the IRM concept, various views of IRM, and some of the research which reveals industry perceptions of IRM
SiSe2 glass: A molecular dynamics study

Abstract We report the results of a molecular dynamics (MD) study of molten and glassy SiSe2 using an effective interparticle interaction. Results for the partial pair-correlation functions, partial structure factors and bond-angle distributions are reported. Results are in good agreement with the neutron diffraction and inelastic scattering experiments.
Estrogen Deficiency Accelerates Progression of Glomerulosclerosis in Susceptible Mice

Estrogen deficiency may contribute to the development and progression of glomerulosclerosis in postmenopausal women. The responsiveness to estrogens could be controlled by genetic traits related to those that determine the susceptibility to glomerular scarring. This study was undertaken to determine whether the intensity of the sclerotic response was modified by the estrogen status in sclerosis-prone ROP Os/+ mice. Ovariectomized ROP Os/+ mice developed more severe renal dysfunction and glomerulosclerosis than intact, ie, estrogen sufficient age-matched female mice. Ovariectomized ROP Os/+ exhibited increased accumulation of extracellular matrix, predominantly of laminin, and a marked distortion of the glomerular architecture. We found an increase in macrophage infiltration in the mesangium of ovariectomized ROP Os/+. Estrogen deficiency decreased glomerular estrogen receptor expression in ROP Os/+ mice, which we had previously found to be low in the parental ROP strain. Thus, although physiological estrogen levels in young ROP Os/+ mice could not prevent the development of glomerulosclerosis, estrogen deficiency accelerated the progression of glomerular scarring in this mouse strain. This suggests that estrogen replacement will slow but not prevent the progression of glomerulosclerosis. It underscores the importance of the genetic composition of individuals that determines the susceptibility to diseases as well as the response to treatment.
Compositional Explanatory Relations and Mechanistic Reduction

Recently, some mechanists have embraced reductionism and some reductionists have endorsed mechanism. However, the two camps disagree sharply about the extent to which mechanistic explanation is a reductionistic enterprise. Reductionists maintain that cellular and molecular mechanisms can explain mental phenomena without necessary appeal to higher-level mechanisms. Mechanists deny this claim. I argue that this dispute turns on whether reduction is a transitive relation. I show that it is. Therefore, mechanistic explanations at the cellular and molecular level explain mental phenomena. I make my case in part by noting that mechanisms at higher levels are composed of mechanisms at lower levels. Compositional relations are transitive. In addition, they are explanatory. I conclude that there are explanatory linkages from cellular and molecular mechanisms to mental phenomena within a hierarchy of nested mechanisms.
In situ measurements of stress evolution for nanotwin formation during pulse electrodeposition of copper

In situ stress measurements were performed during high frequency pulse electrodeposition of nanotwinned Cu thin films. Periodic stress changes during pulse-on and pulse-off periods were observed. The stress profile showed an abrupt increase in tensile stress to about 400 MPa during the pulse-on period and a stress relaxation during the pulse-off period. First-principles calculations predict that a complete relaxation of the tensile stress allows the formation of nanotwins separated by 28 nm or more. This is in good agreement with the results obtained from microstructural analysis of the Cu films fabricated during in situ stress measurements.
Obesity Stigma: A Failed and Ethically Dubious Strategy

One of six commentaries on “Obesity: Chasing an Elusive Epidemic,” by Daniel Callahan, from the January-February 2013 issue.
Another approach to generic pole assignment

The method used in showing that min (n+q, (q+1) m+q) closed loop poles of an nth order linear time invariant system (m outputs, l inputs, m > l and equal controllability indecies can be generically arbitrarily assigned by employing a linear time invariant, proper, output feedback compensator of order q, is extended to the case of unequal controllability indecies. It is also shown how additional poles can be assigned by suggesting a sequential procedure.
A modified mass balance method for predicting NH3 emissions from manure N for livestock and storage facilities

Ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions at animal-production facilities have significant health and environmental impacts. In addition, recent EPA rulings restricting NH 3 emissions are affecting the profitability and growth of the livestock industry. The accurate measuring of NH 3 emissions is important to avoid unnecessary requirements being placed on livestock producers. Determining NH 3 emissions is expensive and challenging using the current approach of engineering measurement of NH 3 concentrations and air exchange rates. This paper presents a modified N-balance method, which, although it does not distinguish for losses of N as N 2 , NH 3 or NO x 's, it does determine accurately the upper limit on NH 3 -N emissions for both forced and naturally ventilated livestock facilities. The method is based on nitrogen and ash contents and ratio of the inputs (feed, bedding, water, and animals) and outputs (products and waste) of the animal-production systems and does not require measuring total masses of manure from the system. Generalised equations for all classes of livestock operations are presented. This N-balance method was simple, low cost and accurate in predicting the upper limits on NH 3 emissions in the air, leaving a 1.6-million-caged-layer poultry facility with two types of manure management: belt/composting and deep pit. Results from the study showed belt/composting had less than half the total emissions of conventional deep-pit caged-layer systems.
Abnormal duplex findings at the proximal anastomosis of infrainguinal bypass grafts: does revision enhance patency?

Using color duplex ultrasound (CDU) surveillance of autogenous infrainguinal bypasses, a peak systolic flow velocity (PSFV) ratio of greater than 3 to 1 within the graft relative to adjacent PSFV has been accepted as predicting significant stenosis mandating revision. At the proximal anastomosis, where significant vessel diameter differences and turbulent flow exist, the validity of these criteria is less clear. Our purpose was to review our experience with proximal anastomotic abnormalities in a CDU surveillance protocol. Routine CDU surveillance for all infrainguinal bypass gratis consisted of evaluation in an accredited vascular laboratory at 1 month postoperatively, every 3 months for the first year, every 6 months in the second year, and annually thereafter. Grafts with a PSFV ratio of > 3 at the proximal anastomosis on any CDU study were included in this review. From our results we conclude that currently accepted CDU criteria for graft-threatening stenosis may not be valid for abnormalities at the proximal anastomosis of infrainguinal grafts. Regression of these abnormalities is common. Better CDU criteria are needed for predicting not only severity of proximal anastomotic stenosis but also likelihood of graft thrombosis.
Selection of Treatment Modalities or Observation of Arteriovenous Malformations

This article provides management guidelines for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Management options include observation, surgical excision, endovascular embolization, and radiosurgery. Each of these can be used individually or combined for multimodal therapy based on the characteristics of the lesion. The article stratifies each lesion based on the AVM and patient characteristics to either observation or a single or multimodal treatment arm. The treatment of an AVM must be carefully weighed in each patient because of the risk of neurologic injury in functional areas of the brain and weighed against the natural history of hemorrhage.
Mid-latitude ionospheric fluctuation spectra due to secondary E×B instabilities

Abstract The most spectacular night of mid-latitude spread F ever recorded at Arecibo is analyzed and compared with barium cloud observations made in the 1970s and with equatorial spread F. Strong evidence is found for a secondary instability driven either by a poleward electric field and a westward density gradient (both presumably due to a primary Perkins instability), or by a zero-order eastward wind flowing across the westward gradient. Spectra computed from the incoherent scatter density profiles of this event are very similar to the spectra of both barium striations and equatorial spread F. Estimates of the strength of the radar wave scattering expected from the fluctuation spectra are in good agreement with the VHF observations from that night. Finally, a poleward-surging, mid-latitude plasma bubble is seen to bifurcate in a manner similar to equatorial spread-F simulations.
Specific versus General Instructions: Initial Performance and Later Transfer

Two experiments demonstrated that people who receive specific instructions (SI subjects) for using a word processor are able to accomplish initial tasks more quickly than people who receive more general instructions (GI subjects). Experiment 1 found, however, that SI subjects were unable to do a novel transfer task unless they received hints while GI subjects had no trouble with the transfer task. A production rule analysis was used to guide a revision of the specific instructions so that those instructions promoted generalization. Experiment 2 used these revised specific instructions and found that SI subjects were now able to do a novel transfer task about as well as GI subjects. These results suggest that a production system is a useful tool for analyzing instructions and predicting user performance and that specific instructions designed to promote generalization may be the most effective type of instructions.
Overall kinetic mechanism of saccharopine dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Kinetic data have been measured for the histidine-tagged saccharopine dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suggesting the ordered addition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) followed by saccharopine in the physiologic reaction direction. In the opposite direction, the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) adds to the enzyme first, while there is no preference for the order of binding of α-ketoglutarate (α-Kg) and lysine. In the direction of saccharopine formation, data also suggest that, at high concentrations, lysine inhibits the reaction by binding to free enzyme. In addition, uncompetitive substrate inhibition by α-Kg and double inhibition by NAD and α-Kg suggest the existence of an abortive E:NAD:α-Kg complex. Product inhibition by saccharopine is uncompetitive versus NADH, suggesting a practical irreversibility of the reaction at pH 7.0 in agreement with the overall Keq. Saccharopine is noncompetitive versus lysine or α-Kg, suggesting the existence of both E:NADH:saccharopi...
Efficient Synthesis and In Vivo Incorporation of Acridon-2-ylalanine, a Fluorescent Amino Acid for Lifetime and Förster Resonance Energy Transfer/Luminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Studies

The amino acid acridon-2-ylalanine (Acd) can be a valuable probe of protein conformational change because it is a long lifetime, visible wavelength fluorophore that is small enough to be incorporat...
Medicaid expansions for the working age disabled: Revisiting the crowd-out of private health insurance

Disabled individuals under 65 years old account for 15% of Medicaid recipients but half of all Medicaid spending. Despite their large cost, few studies have investigated the effects of Medicaid expansions for disabled individuals on insurance coverage and crowd-out of private insurance. Using an eligibility expansion that allowed states to provide Medicaid to disabled individuals with incomes less than 100% of the federal poverty level, I address these issues. Crowd-out estimates range from 49% using an ordinary least squares procedure to 100% using two-stage least-squares analysis. This potentially large degree of crowd-out could have fiscal implications for the Affordable Care Act which has greatly expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2014.
Mechanisms Regulating Mercury Bioavailability for Methylating Microorganisms in the Aquatic Environment: A Critical Review

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin for humans, particularly if the metal is in the form of methylmercury. Mercury is widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems as a result of anthropogenic activities and natural earth processes. A first step toward bioaccumulation of methylmercury in aquatic food webs is the methylation of inorganic forms of the metal, a process that is primarily mediated by anaerobic bacteria. In this Review, we evaluate the current state of knowledge regarding the mechanisms regulating microbial mercury methylation, including the speciation of mercury in environments where methylation occurs and the processes that control mercury bioavailability to these organisms. Methylmercury production rates are generally related to the presence and productivity of methylating bacteria and also the uptake of inorganic mercury to these microorganisms. Our understanding of the mechanisms behind methylation is limited due to fundamental questions related to the geochemical forms of mercury that persist in an...
Pediatric surgical workload during the past decade: impact on clinical activity and hospital finance at a children's hospital.

Abstract Purpose: The authors hypothesized that there are significant differences in clinical effort among the faculty of the various departments at an academic Children's Hospital, and that the clinical workload of surgeons has increased over the past decade. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical practice and financial performance of the five departments (anesthesiology/critical care medicine, pathology, pediatrics, radiology, and surgery) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from 1987 to 1997 was performed including clinical activity parameters (admissions, discharges, clinic visits), departmental faculty rosters, number of operations for the department of surgery as a whole and for individual surgeons in each pediatric surgical specialty, and professional and hospital financial data. Results: Pediatric surgical specialists represented 15% of the total full-time physicians throughout the decade. In 1997, surgeons were responsible for 29% of hospital admissions, 28% of total outpatient visits at all clinical care sites, 37% of total professional fee revenue, 39% of hospital-based revenue, and a substantial portion of the hospital margin. Compared with 1987, the department of surgery in 1997 had a 60% increase in outpatient visits and a 58% increase in total operative case load (10,265 to 16,266). In terms of individual surgeon's workload during the decade, the outpatient visits per surgeon increased 45% and the operations per surgeon increased 27%, yet total reimbursement per surgeon slipped 16%. Conclusions: For the Children's Hospital that was studied, pediatric surgical specialists are doing more clinical work compared with 10 years ago, which may impact teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities. Surgeons have a greater responsibility than nonsurgeons for the hospital's clinical activity and financial health.
Arabidopsis irregular xylem8 and irregular xylem9: Implications for the Complexity of Glucuronoxylan Biosynthesis

Mutations of Arabidopsis thaliana IRREGULAR XYLEM8 ( IRX8 ) and IRX9 were previously shown to cause a collapsed xylem phenotype and decreases in xylose and cellulose in cell walls. In this study, we characterized IRX8 and IRX9 and performed chemical and structural analyses of glucuronoxylan (GX) from irx8 and irx9 plants. IRX8 and IRX9 are expressed specifically in cells undergoing secondary wall thickening, and their encoded proteins are targeted to the Golgi, where GX is synthesized. 1 H-NMR spectroscopy showed that the reducing end of Arabidopsis GX contains the glycosyl sequence 4-β-d-Xyl p -(1→4)-β-d-Xyl p -(1→3)-α-l-Rha p -(1→2)-α-d-Gal p A-(1→4)-d-Xyl p , which was previously identified in birch ( Betula verrucosa ) and spruce ( Picea abies ) GX. This indicates that the reducing end structure of GXs is evolutionarily conserved in woody and herbaceous plants. This sequence is more abundant in irx9 GX than in the wild type, whereas irx8 and fragile fiber8 ( fra8 ) plants are nearly devoid of it. The number of GX chains increased and the GX chain length decreased in irx9 plants. Conversely, the number of GX chains decreased and the chain length heterodispersity increased in irx8 and fra8 plants. Our results suggest that IRX9 is required for normal GX elongation and indicate roles for IRX8 and FRA8 in the synthesis of the glycosyl sequence at the GX reducing end.
New density measurements on carbonate liquids and the partial molar volume of the CaCO 3 component

Density measurements on nine liquids in the CaCO3–Li2CO3–Na2CO3–K2CO3 quaternary system were performed at 1 bar between 555 and 969 °C using the double-bob Archimedean method. Our density data on the end-member alkali carbonate liquids are in excellent agreement with the NIST standards compiled by Janz (1992). The results were fitted to a volume equation that is linear in composition and temperature; this model recovers the measured volumes within experimental error (±0.18% on average, with a maximum residual of ±0.50%). Our results indicate that the density of the CaCO3 component in natrocarbonate liquids is 2.502 (±0.014) g/cm3 at 800 °C and 1 bar, which is within the range of silicate melts; its coefficient of thermal expansion is 1.8 (±0.5)×10−4 K−1 at 800 °C. Although the volumes of carbonate liquids mix linearly with respect to carbonate components, they do not mix linearly with silicate liquids. Our data are used with those in the literature to estimate the value of % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSn0BKvguHDwzZbqefeKCPfgBGuLBPn % 2BKvginnfarmWu51MyVXgatuuDJXwAK1uy0HwmaeHbfv3ySLgzG0uy % 0Hgip5wzaebbnrfifHhDYfgasaacH8srps0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbb % f9v8qqaqFr0xc9pk0xbba9q8WqFfea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq % -He9q8qqQ8frFve9Fve9Ff0dmeaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeWaea % aakeaadaqdaaqaaiaadAfaaaWaaSbaaSqaaiaadoeacaWGpbWaaSba % aWqaaiaaikdaaeqaaaWcbeaaaaa!3D20! $$ \overline V _{CO_2 } $$ in alkaline silicate magmas (≥20 cm3/mol at 1400 °C and 20 kbar), where CO2 is dissolved as carbonate in close association with Ca. Our volume measurements are combined with sound speed data in the literature to derive the compressibility of the end-member liquids Li2CO3, Na2CO3, and K2CO3. These results are combined with calorimetric data to calculate the fusion curves for Li2CO3, Na2CO3, and K2CO3 to 5 kbar; the calculations are in excellent agreement with experimental determinations of the respective melting reactions.
Cue Conditions and Wayfinding in Older and Younger Women

This study examined how varying the salience and complexity of environmental cues affects place learning in older versus younger women. Place learning is a critical cognitive function for wayfinding in new or changed environments that becomes impaired with age in many people. Environments such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities typically have poorly differentiated environments. Environmental modifications that influence how older adults learn places more effectively are not known. It was hypothesized that salient cues (prominent and distinctive) are particularly important to place learning. The Computer-Generated Arena was used to test this hypothesis in 20 healthy older (age 65+) women and 6 healthy younger (ages 18 to 35) women. Analyses of the data showed differences in place learning with respect to cue salience, complexity, and age, with younger women being much more proficient in the place learning task and with the best overall learning in the salient and complex cue conditions.
Wavelength Modulated Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy of Water in the 1.37 μm Region

We describe the performance of a high-sensitivity wavelength modulated cavity enhanced infrared tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer for the detection of water vapor in the 1.37 μm region. The spectrometer can measure a fractional absorption of ∼10−5 for an absorption path length of a few kilometers. The instrument's sensitivity is more than sufficient to detect water isotopomers (H216O, H218O, HDO) at Martian atmospheric concentrations. The instrument is amenable to miniaturization, so a future compact, multiple-species version of the spectrometer will be highly suitable for in situ planetary exploration.
Comparison of plasma and gas driven permeation of deuterium through titanium diboride

Abstract Plasma driven and gas driven permeation of deuterium through Kovar and TiB2 coated Kovar membranes have been measured. The transport of deuterium through the coated surface was found to be fundamentally different for the two drivers. For gas driven permeation, essentially no deuterium diffuses through the coating, but a significant quantity reaches the Kovar substrate through microcracks in the coating. The permeation rate is thus determined by the extent to which the coating masks the substrate. For plasma driven permeation, on the other hand, the ions are implanted into the coating and diffuse through to the substrate. The data were used to determine the diffusivity of deuterium in TiB2 at 500°C. The implications for tritium permeation through coated components in fusion reactors are discussed.
A transceiver-aware routing framework for on-chip nanophotonic integration

A variety of issues such as increasing interconnect resistivity, low bandwidth and serious cross talks have limited the usage of copper interconnect in the deep submicrometer node. On-chip optical waveguide emerges as a promising replacement material for copper interconnect. The deployment of on-chip optical integration in modern VLSI design certainly needs the advanced CAD tools. This work proposes a novel transceiver-aware tree construction algorithm for on-chip optical waveguide routing. The new algorithm is dedicated to on-chip nanophotonic integration which features the optimization of curved routing and nanophotonic energy loss. Experimental results on 500 timing critical nets demonstrate the effectiveness and the efficiency of our techniques. The transceiver-aware on-chip optical tree construction algorithm can reduce the energy demand by 2.1× compared to a natural minimum spanning tree heuristic. Our constructed optical trees can improve the timing by about 2× compared to copper trees.
Effect of Plasma Amino Acid Replacement on Glucagon and Substrate Responses to Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia in Humans

A defective glucagon response impairs glucose recovery from insulin-induced hypoglycemia in some insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic patients. Our objective was to determine whether the glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia could be stimulated in nondiabetic humans. Because insulin reduces plasma amino acid concentrations, and amino acids are known to stimulate glucagon secretion, we investigated the effect of amino acid replacement during insulin infusion on the glucagon response to hypoglycemia in six healthy nondiabetic subjects. In two separate studies, blood glucose was clamped at the postabsorptive level during a constant infusion of insulin (0.05 U.kg-1.h-1) for 3 h. Blood glucose was then reduced to 45 mg/dl over 20 min. Hormone and substrate concentrations during recovery from hypoglycemia were monitored for 2 h. In the control study, normal saline was infused, and in the other study, an amino acid mixture was infused to prevent the insulin-induced fall in plasma amino acids. Amino acid replacement did not change the basal glucagon levels but resulted in a more robust glucagon response to hypoglycemia (from 184 +/- 24 to 292 +/- 36 pg/ml) than in the control study (from 176 +/- 30 to an average 229 +/- 32 pg/ml, P less than 0.01). Plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, and growth hormones increased during hypoglycemia, but the magnitude of the response was not different between the control and amino acid-replacement studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Landsat-7 ETM+: 12 Years On-Orbit Reflective-Band Radiometric Performance

The Landsat-7 ETM+ sensor has been operating on orbit for more than 12 years, and characterizations of its performance have been ongoing over this period. In general, the radiometric performance of the instrument has been remarkably stable: 1) noise performance has degraded by 2% or less overall, with a few detectors displaying step changes in noise of 2% or less; 2) coherent noise frequencies and magnitudes have generally been stable, though the within-scan amplitude variation of the 20 kHz noise in bands 1 and 8 disappeared with the failure of the scan line corrector and a new similar frequency noise (now about 18 kHz) has appeared in two detectors in band 5 and increased in magnitude with time; 3) bias stability has been better than 0.25 DN out of a normal value of 15 DN in high gain; 4) relative gains, the differences in response between the detectors in the band, have generally changed by 0.1% or less over the mission, with the exception of a few detectors with a step response change of 1% or less; and 5) gain stability averaged across all detectors in a band, which is related to the stability of the absolute calibration, has been more stable than the techniques used to measure it. Due to the inability to confirm changes in the gain (beyond a few detectors that have been corrected back to the band average), ETM+ reflective band data continues to be calibrated with the prelaunch measured gains. In the worst case, some bands may have changed as much as 2% in uncompensated absolute calibration over the 12 years.
Structural insights into the assembly of a monomeric class V myosin

Motor proteins are a vital contributor to life, where they manifest themselves in the directed movement of organisms, in cell division, and in the transport of organelles, proteins, and nucleic acids. The “Big Three” superfamilies of linear motor proteins consist of myosin, kinesin, and dynein, which move along actin or microtubules. Over the past 60 y, since the discovery of the sliding filament model for muscle contraction and the identification of myosin as the active component, considerable effort has been devoted to understanding the molecular properties of the motor domains that generate directed movement. In contrast, considerably less is known about the structural interactions of these motors with their partners, which is ironic because motors only exist to move or apply force to something! Not surprisingly, this is a rich area for investigation that is now yielding an understanding of not only the structural themes but also the regulation of motors by their cargoes. An example of this is seen in PNAS, where Shi et al. (1) reveal how the budding yeast myosin Myo4p, a class V myosin, interacts with its partners She3p and She2p to facilitate transport of mRNA. The report by Shi et al. provides structural insight into how cargo binding efficiently regulates this myosin through oligomerization rather than through a disruption of a direct head-tail inhibitory interaction as often seen in many myosins (2) and members of the kinesin superfamily (3, 4).
Load transfer at imperfect interfaces––dislocation-like model

A dislocation-like model describing the boundary conditions of a partially debonded interface is verified experimentally. The effect of the imperfect interface on the load transfer is studied by photoelastically measuring the elastic deformation in bimaterials due to an inclusion with dilatational misfit strain. The boundary conditions to be modeled are that the radial and the tangential tractions are continuous across the interface and the displacements may be discontinuous from one solid to another. The discontinuity of displacement across the interface is assumed linearly proportional to the displacement at the interface of the constituent where the stress source is. The maximum shear stress distributions measured from the isochromatic fringe patterns are in good agreement with the theoretical calculations. The results show that an imperfect interface could be viewed as a continuum entity with interface rigidity as proposed by the dislocation-like model.
Human performance and embedded intelligent technology in safety-critical systems

Information technology continues to evolve rapidly. We see this particularly in the evolution of embedded intelligent systems--knowledge-based systems deployed in larger hosts with real-time response requirements, which provide real-time advice, guidance, information, recommendations and explanations to their users. These systems have recently been deployed in safety-critical large-scale systems, where humans and technology are jointly responsible for executing tasks, monitoring operations, and providing system safety. Thus, human interaction with intelligent technology in safety-critical systems has important implications. Those interactions can enhance or reduce system efficiency, enhance or compromise safety, and augment or negate the other benefits that technology provides. In this paper, we focus on interactions between human operators and embedded intelligent systems. We first consider the role of technology in safety-critical systems, and discuss studies of the impact of technology on human operators in such systems. We then describe embedded intelligent systems, and studies of their impacts on human operators. To illustrate these points, we consider the case of embedded intelligent technology introduction in one such setting, and the results of an empirical investigation of the impact of the technology on human performance in that system. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the study and of the importance of understanding the impact of embedded intelligent technology on human operators in safetycritical systems.
Challenging Lorentz noninvariant neutrino oscillations without neutrino masses

We show that the combined data from solar, long-baseline and reactor neutrino experiments can exclude the generalized bicycle model of Lorentz noninvariant direction-dependent and/or direction-independent oscillations of massless neutrinos. This model has five parameters, which is more than is needed in standard oscillation phenomenology with neutrino masses. Solar data alone are sufficient to exclude the pure direction-dependent case. The combination of solar and long-baseline data rules out the pure direction-independent case. With the addition of KamLAND data, a mixture of direction-dependent and direction-independent terms in the effective Hamiltonian is also excluded.
Progress and Future of Carbon-Based Electronics

In the last few decades, the semiconductor industry has been able to maintain steady improvements of device performance by the scaling of silicon-based devices. However, this approach will soon meet both scientific and technical limits, and there have been tremendous efforts to seek alternative device technologies. Some approaches involve moving away from traditional charge-based electronics, such as spin-based transport or nano-mechanical switches. Another approach maintains the operating principle of current technology with the emphasis on new materials that provide superior performance. In this respect, carbon-based nanomaterials, including one-dimensional carbon nanotubes and two-dimensional graphene, are probably the most promising candidate[Ph. Avouris et al. (2007)].