cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Novel Soft Ionization Process and Applications in Imaging Mass Spectrometry

A motivation of our research is to make inroads in the daunting task of chemical analysis of the brain's composition and temporal changes. We recently introduced a new soft ionization process for use in mass spectrometry (MS). This new technique called laserspray ionization (LSI) has advantages of speed of analysis, high spatial resolution for imaging, mass range extension, and improved fragmentation common with multiply charged ions. We have interfaced LSI with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) for separation of gas phase ions from mixtures by charge and cross-section (size/shape) and, in a second dimension, with high resolving power by mass-to-charge permitting powerful deconvolution of sample complexity, even with identical masses (isomers), directly from surfaces. LSI interfaced with mass spectrometers having electron transfer dissociation (ETD) capabilities produces similar backbone fragmentation as ESI as demonstrated for the protein ubiquitin as well as for peptides directly from tissue. We have extended LSI to vacuum mass spectrometers and determined that ionization occurs with vacuum or thermal assistance without the need of voltage or lasers. LSI imaging of mouse brain tissue sections is demonstrated to determine the location of gadolinium-based complexes synthesized for use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents. Conventional MALDI failed. The LSI images are complemented by MRI and microscopy results of the same mouse brain and, additionally, provide a molecular view of the endogenous chemical composition. MS images of mouse brain tissue from a clozapine treated mouse are compared with results obtained for endogenous lipids, peptides and small proteins in the same tissue. Protocols are being developed for high spatial resolution LSI imaging.
The Three-Pole Electromagnet

A standard piece of demonstration apparatus in the second half of the 19th century was the horizontal electromagnet. Figure 1 shows a pair of them from the 1860 era in my personal museum. The coils were wound on mandrels about 7 mm in diameter, which were then removed after the turns were glued together. With no core, or a brass rod as a core, it will support only a few ferrous objects from each end. With a ferrous metal core, strands of small iron objects (washers or paper clips) can be supported. It is hard to imagine how amazing this demonstration must have been to students when they first saw it in the 1840s. Perhaps our students today can recreate this amazement when given a single-turn, hollow-core solenoid, an iron rod that can fit into the core, a power supply, and a supply of paper clips—with no prior hints as to what will happen.
Decreasing Disparities in Breast Cancer Screening in Refugee Women Using Culturally Tailored Patient Navigation

BACKGROUND Patient navigator (PN) programs can improve breast cancer screening in low income, ethnic/racial minorities. Refugee women have low breast cancer screening rates, but it has not been shown that PN is similarly effective.
A Cognitive Typology of Alcoholism: Implications for Treatment Outcome

The present study related patterns of alcohol-related cognitive deficits to the adjustment of the alcoholic at 2-year posttreatment follow-up. Patterns of cognitive control, based on the extent to which the individual utilized information concerning contemplated action (i.e., internal scanning), were studied within a sample of 42 male alcoholics shortly after the beginning of treatment. Adjustment scores at 2-year follow-up were determined by the subject's level of functioning in a variety of life-functioning domains (based on phone interviews with subjects and collateral sources). More effective internal scanning proved to be predictive of better adjustment 2 years following the assessment. In addition, alcoholics less aware of internal cues, defined as narrow internal scanners, more often reported drinking to reduce tension than did broad scanning alcoholics. The narrow internal scanning alcoholics also were slower learners at an electromyographic biofeedback training task than were the broad internal s...
An AB initio study of the [1,2] proton transfer from phosphine oxide to phosphinic acid

Abstract Large basis set, well-correlated ab initio electronic structure calculations have been performed on the H3PO isomers, phosphine oxide and phosphinic acid. The difference in equilibrium stabilities is less than 3 kcal mol and the barrier to unimolecular rearrangement was found to be 68 kcal mol .
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Models Show Their Age

The lack of appropriate animal models has hampered efforts to develop therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A new mouse model lacking both dystrophin and telomerase (Sacco et al., 2010) closely mimics the pathological progression of human DMD and shows that muscle stem cell activity is a key determinant of disease severity.
Certain change: multi-democratic movements punctuate the tyrannical paradigm in Africa

Massive unemployment, increasing dissension and despotic and corrupt authorities have created an ideal environment for the emergence of civil and democratic movements whose main objectives are to create and foster democracy. African spring is seeking to facilitate an equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. The organisations have generated geopolitical tensions and pressure to dispose despots who have amassed personal fortunes at the expense of the public. The discussion includes how African citizens can present a united force and deploy peaceful demonstrations, drawing on socio-technical systems approach as a strategy complimented by an active media to make effective democratic amendment. Important historical events are analysed to facilitate an understanding of the critical success factors necessary in advancing equality in fluid post-colonial contexts.
Purine-Excretory Nature of Refractile Bodies in the Marine Ciliate Parauronema acutum*

SYNOPSIS. A method was developed for the isolation and purification of crystalline, highly refractile bodies found in the cytoplasm of a symbiote-free strain of the marine hymenostome ciliate, Parauronema acutum, strain 110–3. Chemical analysis of the purified refractile bodies revealed an abundance of the purines, hypoxanthine and guanine. It was evident from studies involving the use of 14C-labeled precursors that both hypoxanthine and guanine are derived from higher purine derivatives. We postulate that these bodies are excretory in function and that guanine and hypoxanthine are major endproducts of purine metabolism of P. acutum.
Restructuring Human Infrastructure: The Impact of EHR Deployment in a Volunteer-Dependent Clinic

Non-profit organizations (NPOs) are often resource-restricted and rely on volunteers to function. As such, their human infrastructure - the social system supporting work - is different from conventional organizations, and technologies that function in a traditional organization with a stable workforce may not work in NPOs. Through an investigation of the deployment of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in a safety-net free clinic serving underprivileged populations, we report how the EHR disrupted the human infrastructure - namely, the work typically enacted by volunteers. Specifically, there was a mismatch between the technological and human infrastructures leading to diminished volunteer roles, an increased workload for paid employees, and a negative impact on the quality of patient care. In turn, employees acted to reconcile the disrupted human infrastructure by creating new work roles for volunteers, re-establishing the quality of patient care, and developing workarounds for volunteers to resume their volunteer work. Finally we discuss how the commercial EHR system failed to support the fluid volunteer-based human infrastructure of the free clinic.
Analysis in vivo of Factors Affecting the Control of Transcription Initiation at Promoters Containing Target Sites for Trp Repressor

An investigation of repression in the trp system of Escherichia coli was undertaken using operon fusions and plasmids constructed via recombinant DNA technology. The promoters of the trp operon and the trpR gene were fused to lacZ, enabling the activity of these promoters to be evaluated under various conditions through measurements of β-galactosidase production. In confirmation of earlier studies, the trpR gene was shown to be regulated autogenously. This control feature of the trp system was found to maintain intracellular Trp repressor protein at essentially invariant levels under most conditions studied. Increasing the trpR + gene dosage did not significantly elevate Trp repressor protein levels, nor did the introduction of additional operator “sinks” result in significantly decreased levels of Trp repressor protein. Definite alterations in intracellular Trp repressor protein levels were achieved only by subverting the normal trpR regulatory elements. The placement of the lacUV5 or the lambda PL promoters upstream of the trpR gene resulted in significant increases in repression of the trp system. Substituting the primary trp promoter/operator for the native trpR promoter/operator resulted in an altered regulatory response of the trp system to tryptophan limitation or excess. The regulation of the trpR gene effectively imparts a broad range of expression to the trp operon in a manner finely attuned to fluctuations in intracellular tryptophan levels.
Can amphipathic helices influence the CNS antinociceptive activity of glycopeptides related to β-endorphin?

Glycosylated β-endorphin analogues of various amphipathicity were studied in vitro and in vivo in mice. Opioid binding affinities of the O-linked glycopeptides (mono- or disaccharides) and unglycosylated peptide controls were measured in human receptors expressed in CHO cells. All were pan-agonists, binding to μ-, δ-, or κ-opioid receptors in the low nanomolar range (2.2–35 nM Ki’s). The glycoside moiety was required for intravenous (i.v.) but not for intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) activity. Circular dichroism and NMR indicated the degree of helicity in H2O, aqueous trifluoroethanol, or micelles. Glycosylation was essential for activity after i.v. administration. It was possible to manipulate the degree of helicity by the alteration of only two amino acid residues in the helical address region of the β-endorphin analogues without destroying μ-, δ-, or κ-agonism, but the antinociceptive activity after i.v. administration could not be directly correlated to the degree of helicity in micelles.
Mono-substitution of iron pentacarbonyl metal hydride: facilitation

Abstract Controlling the degree of substitution of iron pentacarbonyl with neutral ligands has usually been difficult. Conditions are reported whereby considerable control may be exercised over the substitution of iron pentacarbonyl; with PPh 3 the ratio of mono-/disubstitution may be varied over a range of 50. The substituted iron carbonyl complexes were obtained by treating iron pentacarbonyl with lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride in refluxing THF in the presence of a variety of neutral ligands. The method is particularly useful for a simple high yield synthesis for monosubstituted iron carbonyls.
Genomic selection in loblolly pine - from lab to field

Background Tree breeding is logistically complex and expensive, and breeders have long sought to use molecular markers to accelerate breeding. A candidate gene approach based on testing for association between the presence of DNA sequence variation in or near candidate genes, and phenotypic variation in a population has long been explored [1,2]. However, using candidate gene approach (QTLs) has not been successful in breeding [3,4]. QTL-trait associations detected in one genetic background are often not observed in other families, because of recombination of genes during the segregation and low levels of linkage disequilibrium in the population. A new technology called genomic selection (GS) is revolutionizing dairy cattle breeding. In GS, marker effects are first estimated in a large training population (>500) with both phenotypic and genotypic data. Subsequently, estimated marker effects are used to predict breeding values in validation populations for which marker genotypes but not phenotypes are available [4]. Several dairy cattle breeding companies now routinely use GS to select and market bulls. The success of GS in cattle breeding is largely based on bovine genome sequencing and discovery of thousands of SNP markers. GS application, if successful, will have a great impact on forest tree breeding because of their complex and logistically difficult breeding programs. Although, there have been several simulation studies examining the effective population size, linkage disequilibrium, and heritability on the predicted accuracy of GS in tree breeding [5], GS has not yet been demonstrated for forest trees using empirical markers data, mainly due to lack of sufficient dense markers. Methods Biallelic SNP markers provided by the CTGN project (http://dendrome.ucdavis.edu/ctgn/) were used for genotyping. A population of 149 cloned full-sib offspring of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) was phenotyped. Fitting 3406 informative SNP markers simultaneously, we estimated genome-wide breeding values and compared them with breeding values based on pedigree model. Variances explained by the marker additive and dominant effects were obtained.
Spontaneous Dissection of the Superior Mesenteric Artery

We describe a case of spontaneous dissection and thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery in a 54-year-old man who presented with new onset of hypertension and epigastric pain. Initial unsuccessful treatment with catheter-directed thrombolysis was followed by surgical intervention. In cases in which an extensive intimectomy is performed, early institution of antiplatelet therapy or anticoagulation may be necessary to preserve vessel patency due to the presence of a prothrombotic surface and compromised outflow.
Behavioral effects of neonatal and adult excitotoxic lesions of the mediodorsal thalamus in the adult rat.

We examined in the rat, the effects of neonatal (postnatal Day 7) and adult excitotoxic lesions of the mediodorsal thalamus (MDT), a brain area innervating the prefrontal cortex and implicated as a site of neuropathology in schizophrenia. Previous studies showed that rats with neonatal excitotoxic damage of the ventral hippocampus (VH), used as an animal model of this disorder, display in young adulthood a variety of abnormalities reminiscent of schizophrenia, including hyperactivity to stressful stimuli and amphetamine. It has been speculated that behavioral abnormalities of the neonatally VH lesioned animals are mediated through MDT projections to the prefrontal cortex. We tested if rats with ibotenic acid (1.5 μg per hemisphere in neonates, 2 μg in adults) lesions of MDT exhibited motor hyperactivity in the same experimental conditions (i.e. in response to novelty, saline injections and amphetamine administration) as rats with the VH lesions. We found that, in contrast to rats with VH lesions, neonatally lesioned MDT rats showed reduced vertical activity in response to amphetamine and no changes in locomotor activity to novelty, saline or amphetamine injections 7 weeks postlesion. Adult lesioned MDT rats exhibited no changes in motor activity as compared to controls at 7 weeks postlesion. These results indicate that neonatal or adult excitotoxic lesions of MDT do not produce behavioral changes analogous to those seen after neonatal VH lesions and do not appear to reproduce animal model-like features of schizophrenia.
Effects of spider presence on Artogeia rapae and host plant biomass

Manipulated field experiments were conducted during two seasons to evaluate the impact of spiders on the survivorship of the cabbage white butterfly, Artogeia rapae, inhabiting broccoli plants. The proportion of A. rapae egg cohorts surviving to their first and fifth (final) instar stages were evaluated during two and three field seasons, respectively. The treatments included check (spider removal) or spiders (spider present). During 1 year of the study, the proportion of A. rapae eggs surviving to the first instar stage was significantly reduced on spider compared to check treatment plants. The percentage of A. rapae eggs surviving to fifth instar stage was significantly reduced on spider compared with check treatment plants during each field trial. During the three field trials, opportunity for survival to the fifth instar stage was increased 1.7, 2.7, and 1.3 folds, respectively, on check compared to spider plants. Additionally, by experiment completion, vegetative plant biomass of spider “protected” plants was increased by 80, 121, and 28% contrasted with check plants.
Common Ground: The Development of a Support Group for Survivors of Homicide Loss in a Rural Community

ABSTRACT Losing a loved one from human-perpetrated violence can lead to a debilitating process of stigma-generated isolation and trauma. Layers of social services are needed to support surviving family members, all secondary victims of homicide. Although urban populations have enriched access to victims-of-crime services, rural-bound populations often do not. This article describes homicide-specific trauma and the development of a community support group for rural-bound persons suffering homicide loss. The support group process offers potential for real help in areas where few trauma-informed options exist. The authors chronicle their journey of group-work practice with underserved persons coping with homicide loss.
Maximum likelihood reconstruction for cone beam SPECT with camera tilt

Iterative maximum-likelihood (ML) reconstruction techniques are extended to the cone-beam SPECT (single-photon-emission computed tomography) geometry with the camera head tilted relative to the axis of rotation. The resulting code is an extension of a previous cone-beam ML code for the untilted case. The details of the code development, which included the variable camera sensitivity but excluded resolution, attenuation, and scatter, are described. The code is tested as a function of iteration in comparison with an existing tilt-angle filtered-backprojection (FBP) code, which has known distortions due to an incomplete theory. For a variety of point sources, as well as for a brain phantom, the tilt-angle cone-beam ML code (TCBML) performs visually and quantitatively better than cone-beam FBP (CB-FBP), and it removes the distortions inherent in CB-FBP. The TCBML code requires substantial computation time, which depends on the source geometry being reconstructed and varies in the present work from 3.5 to 50 times longer than the CB-FBP code. >
A new proof of a theorem of Littlewood

In this paper we give a new combinatorial proof of a result of Littlewood [D.E. Littlewood, The Theory of Group Characters, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1950], p. 124: S"@m(1,q,q^2,...)=q^n^(^@m^)@?"s"@?"@m(1-q^h^"^@m^(^s^)), where S"@m denotes the Schur function of the partition @m, n(@m) is the sum of the legs of the cells of @m and h"@m(s) is the hook number of the cell s@?@m.
Auditory Perception, Reading and the Initial Teaching Alphabet

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of the i.t.a. reading program for children with auditory perceptual disturbances. The children studied were ten boys who were administered a specific, structured reading program. The Gray Oral Reading Test was employed both prior to and following completion of the program in order to measure reading improvement. Results of this investigation revealed that the ten children were reading significantly better at the conclusion of the forty-week program. Implications of the results are discussed.
Planning for change in small towns or trying to avoid the slaughterhouse blues

Abstract Rural farming communities throughout the Prairies and Great Plains have sought to reverse decades of slow economic decline by attracting value-added processing of agricultural products as a means of economic development. The meatpacking industry has been attracted to the region by the availability of fed cattle. It has created thousands of low-paying jobs and boosted local agricultural economies by increasing the demand for animals and feedstuffs, while at the same time impairing water quality and bringing a host of social problems to packinghouse communities. This article examines how the town of Brooks, Alberta prepared and dealt with these challenges over a two year period following the expansion of a beefpacking plant. Despite the advance warning of the social changes that would accompany the hiring of additional workers the town failed to meet the housing needs of newcomers recruited to work at the plant and experienced a significant increase in a variety of social disorders. The study concludes that preparing for change begins with the recognition that social and environmental impacts are inevitable with the arrival of a new industry. A pro-active response to protecting the environment and ensuring that basic human needs are met is better for a community and its workforce than having changes thrust upon it by an industry whose only interest is in maximizing profits.
Potentiation of Regulatory Volume Decrease by a P2-Like Receptor and Arachidonic Acid in American Alligator Erythrocytes

This study examined the role of a P2 receptor and arachidonic acid (AA) in regulatory volume decrease (RVD) by American alligator red blood cells (RBCs). Osmotic fragility was determined optically, mean cell volume was measured by electronic sizing, and changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration were visualized using fluorescence microscopy. Gadolinium (50 μM), hexokinase (2.5 U/ml), and suramin (100 μM) increased osmotic fragility, blocked volume recovery after hypotonic shock, and prevented a rise in intracellular Ca2+ that normally occurs during cell swelling. The P2X antagonists PPADS (50 μM) and TNP-ATP (10 μM) also increased fragility and inhibited volume recovery. In contrast, ATPγS (10 μM), α,β-methylene-ATP (50 μM) and Bz-ATP (50 μM) had the opposite effect, whereas 2-methylthio-ATP (50 μM) and UTP (10 μM) had no effect. In addition, the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitors ONO-RS-082 (10 μM), chlorpromazine (10 μM), and isotetrandrine (10 μM) increased osmotic fragility and blocked volume recovery, whereas AA (10 μM) and its nonhydrolyzable analog eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA, 10 μM) had the reverse effect. Further, AA (10 μM), but not ATPγS (10 μM), prevented the inhibitory effect of a low Ca2+-EGTA Ringer on RVD, whereas both AA (10 μM) and ATPγS (10 μM) caused cell shrinkage under isosmotic conditions. In conclusion, our results are consistent with the presence of a P2-like receptor whose activation stimulated RVD. In addition, AA also was important for volume recovery.
Dual OCT/spectroscopy system for identification of vascular pathology

An imaging system combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy has been built. The system produces both cross-sectional images of tissue structure and fluorescence spectra of surface features. The system has been used to image ex vivo canine aorta with the goal of identifying differences in anatomy and fluorescence between normal canine aorta and canine aorta with an endovascular stent graft. The OCT portion of the system is based on a fiber optic Michelson interferometer. The OCT system measures the intensity of back-reflected infrared light in order to build up images of the subsurface tissue structure. The LIF portion contains a helium cadmium laser, which is used to excite fluorescence in the tissue. Excitation light is guided to the tissue and fluorescence is captured by the addition of a cold mirror into the OCT sample arm optics. The wavelength of 442 nm emitted by the laser is well suited for exciting the main fluorophores in aorta, namely elastin and collagen. It is expected that canine aorta with and without a stent will differ in the relative composition of these fluorophores and can thus be differentiated using LIF spectroscopy. This group has previously used OCT to measure the thickness of different layers in the arterial wall of a porcine model of atherosclerosis. In this paper, we investigate the ability of our combined system to differentiate normal from implanted canine aorta by combining OCT with spectroscopy. We note features of the endovascular stent graft in the OCT image and subtle differences between normal and implanted aorta in the LIF spectra.
An Adaptive MIMO-OFDMA Relay System

We consider multi-input multi-output (MIMO) antennas relay systems under time-varying channels and propose a joint relay, antenna, subband, and MIMO transmission mode adaptation scheme which enables antenna selection to exploit channel state information (CSI) at the beginning of transmission and switch to space-frequency block coding (SFBC) when CSI becomes outdated. Moreover, we propose temporal power and bit loading for the cascaded source-relay-destination link with/without inter-hop power allocation to further enhance the system performance.
Estimation Of Coronary Artery Boundaries In Angiograms

An algorithm for the detection of the boundaries of coronary arteries in coronary angiograms is presented. The algorithm constructs a parametric model of the film density along the lines perpendicular to the vessel image and estimates the parameters at each perpendicular line along the vessel, based on the observed density values. The parameters of the model include the vessel diameter and centerpoint, and account for the structure of the background as well as the distortions introduced by the imaging system. The spatial continuity of the vessel is also incorporated into the model and significantly improves the accuracy of the estimation procedure. The algorithm has been tested on synthetic data, on x-rays of contrast-medium-filled cylindrical phantoms obtained over a wide range of radiographic conditions, and on real coronary angiograms. This algorithm has better performance than methods which find the points of maximum slope of the film density at each perpendicular line.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Climate-vegetation-fire interactions and their impact on long-term carbon dynamics in a boreal peatland landscape in northern Manitoba, Canada

[1] Climate warming may increase the size and frequency of fires in the boreal biome, possibly causing greater carbon release that amplifies warming. However, in peatlands, vegetation change may also control long-term fire and carbon accumulation, confounding simple relationships between climate, fire, and carbon accumulation. Using 17 peat cores dating to 8000 cal years B.P. from northern Manitoba, Canada, we addressed the following questions: (1) Do past climate changes correlate with shifts in peatland vegetation? (2) What is the relationship between peatland vegetation and fire severity? (3) What is the mean return interval for boreal peat fires, and how does it change across fires of different severities? (4) How does fire severity affect carbon accumulation rates? (5) Do fire and long-term carbon accumulation change directly in response to climate or indirectly though climate-driven changes in vegetation? We measured carbon accumulation rates, fire severity, and return intervals using macroscopic charcoal and changes in vegetation using macrofossils. Climate and vegetation changes covaried, with shifts from wetter fen to drier, forested bog communities during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM). Fires became more severe following the shift to forested bogs, with fire severity peaking after 4000 cal years B.P. rather than during the HTM. Rising fire severity, in turn, was correlated with a significant decrease in carbon accumulation from ∼6000 to 2000 cal years B.P. The Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age affected vegetation composition and permafrost, further impacting fire and carbon accumulation. Our results indicate that long-term changes in fire and carbon dynamics are mediated by climate-driven changes in vegetation.
Des Marais & Rausher reply

Replying to: T. Barkman & J. Zhang , 10.1038/nature08663 (2009) Barkman and Zhang 1 level two criticisms at our report of escape from adaptive conflict (EAC)2. The first criticism is that our evidence of repeated adaptive substitution in the DFR-A/C lineage is consistent with either EAC or neofunctionalization in that lineage. As indicated in our original report2, we do not disagree with this claim, but believe it misses the point that the hallmark of EAC is the adaptive improvement of function in both duplicate lineages. The repeated positive selection in the DFR-A/C lineage simply demonstrates improvement of some as yet unspecified function in that lineage.
The utility of individual supportive psychodynamic psychotherapy for substance abusers in a therapeutic community.

*Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., and National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. New York. I would like to thank Allen Wilkes, Nick Haslam, Tina Tan, Terry Rosenberg, and the members of the Behavioral Sciences Training program for their constructive feedback on earlier drafts of this article. In addition, this research was conducted in part while the author was a postdoctoral fellow in the Behavioral Sciences Training in Drug Abuse Research Program sponsored by Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., and National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (5 T32 DA07233-09). It should also be noted that points of view and opinions in this paper do not necessarily represent the official positions of the United States Government, Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., and National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.
Study of a theoretical model for the measured gate moments resulting from correlated detection events and an extending dead time

Abstract Neutron emissions from fissioning nuclear material are temporally correlated. The detection of these correlated neutrons is frequently used to quantify plutonium (Pu) and other fissile materials for international nuclear safeguards and related activities. However, detector dead time affects the observed rates of correlated neutrons in a non-trivial manner, and must be accounted for to obtain accurate results. A major simplification made in the most widely used dead time corrections is that the neutron detections are occurring randomly in time. A few previous attempts at providing a dead time model for correlated neutrons have been limited in scope, have made simplifying assumptions early in the derivation, and have, in general, not been implemented in the broader safeguards community. This paper provides an exact dead time model for correlated neutron detections in a single channel system assuming an updating dead time, and therefore a paralyzable system. This dead time model includes the assumption that a single exponential, with one characteristic decay constant, can describe the system neutron die-away profile. An exact model for the effects of dead time on measured gate moments is derived which is extendable to an arbitrary order of neutron correlation. This dead time model predicts the measured gate moments based on the dead time and underlying detection rates, including the effects from detection rates with an arbitrarily high order of correlation. The effects of dead time on the apparent singles, doubles, triples and quadruples rates using either event triggered, random or mixed gate structure is also derived. Either the equations for the measured gate moments or the apparent multiplicity rates can be numerically inverted to find the dead time corrected multiplicity rates. Although the model has been explicitly solved for rates up to and including quadruples, it is directly extendable to any order of correlation. This model is presented from the perspective of neutron counting. However, the model is mathematically applicable to any series of events which are temporally correlated through an exponential probability distribution and which are subject to a dead time-like filter.
Alga-Produced Cholera Toxin-Pfs25 Fusion Proteins as Oral Vaccines

ABSTRACT Infectious diseases disproportionately affect indigent regions and are the greatest cause of childhood mortality in developing countries. Practical, low-cost vaccines for use in these countries are paramount to reducing disease burdens and concomitant poverty. Algae are a promising low-cost system for producing vaccines that can be orally delivered, thereby avoiding expensive purification and injectable delivery. We engineered the chloroplast of the eukaryotic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to produce a chimeric protein consisting of the 25-kDa Plasmodium falciparum surface protein (Pfs25) fused to the β subunit of the cholera toxin (CtxB) to investigate an alga-based whole-cell oral vaccine. Pfs25 is a promising malaria transmission-blocking vaccine candidate that has been difficult to produce in traditional recombinant systems due to its structurally complex tandem repeats of epidermal growth factor-like domains. The noncatalytic CtxB domain of the cholera holotoxin assembles into a pentameric structure and acts as a mucosal adjuvant by binding GM1 ganglioside receptors on gut epithelial cells. We demonstrate that CtxB-Pfs25 accumulates as a soluble, properly folded and functional protein within algal chloroplasts, and it is stable in freeze-dried alga cells at ambient temperatures. In mice, oral vaccination using freeze-dried algae that produce CtxB-Pfs25 elicited CtxB-specific serum IgG antibodies and both CtxB- and Pfs25-specific secretory IgA antibodies. These data suggest that algae are a promising system for production and oral delivery of vaccine antigens, but as an orally delivered adjuvant, CtxB is best suited for eliciting secretory IgA antibodies for vaccine antigens against pathogens that invade mucosal surfaces using this strategy.
Prioritizing conservation targets in a rapidly urbanizing landscape

We used an optimization modeling framework to devise spatially explicit habitat acquisition and restoration strategies for 19 remnant-dependent butterflies in a rapidly urbanizing county in the Chicago area. We first identified the smallest sets of protected sites that would contain at least one population of each species, and two populations for species present in multiple sites. We then identified undeveloped properties contiguous with these sites whose acquisition would further enhance conditions for focal species. Next, we considered parcels in the surrounding landscape that could potentially be acquired and restored to provide additional habitat. Assuming that the conservation value of additional habitats would increase with their proximity to protected sites, we examined tradeoffs between distance to sites and the cost of acquisition and restoration. The tradeoff curves generated by the model represented choices among sets of reserves that varied widely with regard to cost and distance. Among the non-dominated solutions for a given total area budget, the best solutions depend on the decision makers preference for these two objectives. Sets along the frontier of these curves differed in total cost due to the variation in the number of wetlands per parcel, the number and cost of parcels that must be acquired to provide sufficient habitat, and restoration costs. Several parcels appeared in all solutions and should be prioritized for acquisition. Our general approach is readily adaptable to other locations and planning objectives, but the models would need to be modified to accommodate different target species and their habitat requirements.
Statistical Machine Translation for Query Expansion in Answer Retrieval

We present an approach to query expansion in answer retrieval that uses Statistical Machine Translation (SMT) techniques to bridge the lexical gap between questions and answers. SMT-based query expansion is done by i) using a full-sentence paraphraser to introduce synonyms in context of the entire query, and ii) by translating query terms into answer terms using a full-sentence SMT model trained on question-answer pairs. We evaluate these global, context-aware query expansion techniques on tfidf retrieval from 10 million question-answer pairs extracted from FAQ pages. Experimental results show that SMTbased expansion improves retrieval performance over local expansion and over retrieval without expansion.
Multiple measures of laterality in Garnett's bushbaby (Otolemur garnettii)

Behavioral laterality, a common measure of hemispheric specialization of the brain, has been examined in multiple tasks across several species of prosimian primates; however, there is inconsistency among findings between and within species that leaves many questions about laterality unanswered. Most studies have employed few measures of laterality, most commonly handedness. This study examined multiple measures of laterality within subjects in 17 captive-born Garnett's bushbabies (Otolemur garnettii) to assess the consistency of lateralized behaviors and to examine possible influences such as age, posture, novelty, and arousal to elucidate the relations between direction and strength of laterality. We measured reaching, turning bias, scent marking, tail wrapping, leading foot, side-of-mouth preference, and hand use in prey capture. Because autonomic arousal has been invoked as a determinant of strength of lateralization, we included multiple tasks that would allow us to test this hypothesis. All subjects were significantly lateralized on simple reaching tasks (P<0.01) and tail wrapping (P<0.01). Moreover, the number of animals lateralized on turning (P<0.01), leading limb (P<0.05), mouth use (P<0.01), and prey capture (P<0.01) was greater than would be expected by chance alone. There was consistency in the strength and direction of hand biases across different postures. Tasks requiring hand use were more strongly lateralized than tasks not involving hand use (P<0.001). The data do not support the assumption that arousal (as subjectively categorized) or novelty strengthens lateralized responding. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the effects of arousal, posture, and age on lateralized behavior. Am. J. Primatol. 72:206–216, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hemodilution with low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch after experimental focal cerebral ischemia in rabbits

Newly developed colloid volume-expanding agents with mean molecular weights lower than currently available agents may improve outcome after stroke with fewer allergic and coagulation system side effects. The smaller molecule, however, may exacerbate ischemic cerebral edema if it accumulates in areas where ischemia has damaged the blood-brain barrier. We administered low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch to rabbits after embolic infarction and measured specific gravity and total water content. We found evidence of ischemic edema in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the embolic arterial occlusion, but the measures of edema were not different in treated and control groups. Of those rabbits suffering severe neurologic deficit, mortality was 2 of 13 in the treated compared with 7 of 12 in the control groups (p less than 0.01). Thus, hemodilution with low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch did not exacerbate cerebral edema and may have improved survival in this model.
Delirium in Palliative Care Patients: Focus on Pharmacotherapy:

Patients receiving palliative care often possess multiple risk factors and predisposing conditions for delirium. The impact of delirium on patient care in this population may also be far-reaching: affecting not only quality of remaining life but the dying process experienced by patients, caregivers, and the medical team as well. As palliative care focuses on comfort and symptom management, the approach to assessment and subsequent treatment of delirium in palliative care patients may prove difficult for providers to navigate. This article summarizes the multifactorial nature, numerous predisposing medical risk factors, neuropsychiatric adverse effects of palliative medications, pharmacokinetic changes, and challenges complicating delirium assessment and provides a systematic framework for assessment. The benefits, risks, and patient-specific considerations for treatment selection are also discussed.
In vivo β-cell function at the transition to early non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus☆

Impaired insulin secretion occurs at some stage in the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), possibly during impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or early NIDDM. To assess insulin secretion at these critical stages, we measured the first-phase insulin response (to glucose and arginine), maximal secretory capacity, and glucose potentiation slope for insulin secretion in Pima Indians with normal glucose tolerance (n = 20), IGT (n = 9), and mild (fasting glucose < 7.8 mmol/L) NIDDM (n = 7). We also measured oral glucose tolerance and insulin action. Subjects with IGT were more insulin-resistant (P < .05) than normals. A wide range of insulin secretion was noted, although as a group, no significant impairment was detected. Subjects with mild NIDDM were similarly insulin-resistant, but they also had impaired insulin secretion. The first-phase response to glucose was markedly reduced in absolute terms (P < .001), but all secretion indices were impaired relative to the degree of insulin resistance (P = .05 to P < .0001). These results suggest that in Pima Indians, impairment of insulin secretion, especially the first-phase response to glucose, is associated with mild NIDDM. Insulin secretion in IGT is variable and, overall, seems intact, although a subtle defect in the first-phase insulin response to glucose could not be ruled out in this study. Glucose sensing for first-phase secretion may be one of the early secretory defects in the progression of glucose intolerance and seems to be critical at the transition from IGT to early NIDDM.
Optimizing the Patient-Centered Environment Results of Guided Tours With Health Care Providers and Employees

Objective:To examine providers’ perspectives on the care environment and patient-centered care (PCC) through the eyes of the veteran patient, using guided tours qualitative methodology.Background:E...
Photophysics of ANS III: Circular dichroism of ANS and anilinonaphthalene in I-FABP

We investigate the circular dichroism of the I-FABP system with the ligands ANS (1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate) and AnN (anilinonaphthalene) as previously reported in our earlier publications in the series (referred to as I and II here) on ANS photophysics. We employ our semi-empirical calculated spectral functions (from II) to compute the actual CD spectra, without any additional assumptions or data except what we have previously presented with respect to binding geometry (in I). The common mechanisms fail to produce the observed spectra. However, we identify a novel mechanism of induced CD activity, which does succeed. This new mechanism also suggests how it is that near UV CD can often show extreme sensitivity to local 'order' effects.
Using Cloud collaboration for writing assignments by students with disabilities: a case study using action research

Though separated by geographical distance, a student with disabilities, his advisor, and his writing coach consorted in the Cloud using Google applications to achieve a writing goal. Our scenario demonstrates how emerging technologies can bridge transactional distance and “virtually” supplant face-to-face conferencing around a college writing assignment. Individual levels of technical acumen with digital technology evolved to bridge the psychological and communication space between the student and his instructors. As a result, the telecollaborators developed an efficient coaching process adaptable for all students who need assistance in revising college writing assignments at a distance. Action research frames our discussion of the Cloud collaboration and provides a scaffold for student autonomy. The advantages as well and disadvantages of Cloud collaboration are outlined with reference to the National Institute of Standards of Technology definition of Cloud Computing and the Seven Principles of Universal Course Design.
Analytic models for the latency and steady-state throughput of TCP Tahoe, Reno, and SACK

Continuing the process of improvements made to TCP through the addition of new algorithms in Tahoe and Reno, TCP SACK aims to provide robustness to TCP in the presence of multiple losses from the same window. In this paper we present analytic models to estimate the latency and steady-state throughput of TCP Tahoe, Reno, and SACK and validate our models using both simulations and TCP traces collected from the Internet. In addition to being the first models for the latency of finite Tahoe and SACK flows, our model for the latency of TCP Reno gives a more accurate estimation of the transfer times than existing models. The improved accuracy is partly due to a more accurate modeling of the timeouts, evolution of cwnd during slow start and the delayed ACK timer. Our models also show that, under the losses introduced by the droptail queues which dominate most routers in the Internet, current implementations of SACK can fail to provide adequate protection against timeouts and a loss of roughly more than half the packets in a round will lead to timeouts. We also show that with independent losses SACK performs better than Tahoe and Reno and, as losses become correlated, Tahoe can outperform both Reno and SACK.
Effects of resonant tunneling in electromagnetic wave propagation through a polariton gap

We consider tunneling of electromagnetic waves through a polariton band gap of a one-dimensional chain of atoms. We analytically show that a defect embedded in the structure gives rise to the resonance transmission at the frequency of a local polariton state associated with the defect. Numerical Monte Carlo simulations are used to examine properties of the electromagnetic band arising inside the polariton gap due to finite concentration of defects. @S0163-1829~99!03418-9#
Efficient trace data compression using statically selected dictionary

Post-silicon validation and debug have gained importance in recent years to track down errors that have escaped the pre-silicon phase. Limited observability of internal signals during post-silicon debug necessitates the storage of signal states in real time. Trace buffers are used to store these states. To increase the debug observation window, it is essential to compress these trace signals, so that trace data over larger number of cycles can be stored in the trace buffer while keeping its size constant. In this paper, we propose several dictionary based compression techniques for trace data compression that takes account of the fact that the difference between golden and erroneous trace data is small. Therefore, the static dictionary selected based on golden trace data can provide notably better compression performance than the dynamic dictionaries selected in the current approaches. This will also significantly reduce the hardware overhead by reducing the dictionary size. Our experimental results demonstrate that our approach can provide up to 60% better compression compared to existing approaches, while reducing the architecture overhead by 84%.