cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of interfacial water to arsenate adsorption on corundum (0 0 1) surfaces: Effects of pH and adsorbate surface coverage

Abstract The interaction of water with metal oxide mineral surfaces affects chemical reactions that are important to many natural processes. Previous studies demonstrate that the various functional groups on mineral surfaces control ion adsorption as well as the ordering of interfacial water, but the effect of water structure on the reactivity and dynamics of interfacial reactions has not been systematically investigated. In this study, surface X-ray scattering measurements on corundum (0 0 1) surfaces with and without arsenate over a range of pH conditions have been used to determine the response of interfacial water structure to arsenate adsorption. In the absence of arsenate, the structure of interfacial water near this surface varies little over the pH range of 5–9, suggesting that surface charging from protonation-deprotonation under the conditions studied is inadequate to induce extensive restructuring. In contrast, interfacial water undergoes substantial restructuring upon arsenate adsorption, indicating that charged surface complexes substantially perturb the arrangement and order of interfacial water on this surface. The overall interfacial water structure also varies proportionally with arsenate surface coverage, with adsorbed water layers moving closer to the surface and the extended layering of interfacial water showing reduced positional disorder as arsenate surface coverage increases. Systematic variations in interfacial water properties with increasing arsenate concentration at each pH value are consistent with the coexistence of two distinct water structures (in the absence and presence of adsorbed arsenate) that vary in proportion with adsorbate surface coverage. These observations demonstrate that the adsorption of arsenate alters the structure of interfacial water near corundum (0 0 1) surfaces, possibly through the modification of the charge state of surface sites or by providing new sites to which water may hydrogen bond. Such adsorbate-induced restructuring of interfacial water may contribute to the energetics of chemical reactions at mineral-water interfaces.
Controlling the number of layers in graphene using the growth pressure

Monolayer graphene is commonly grown on Cu substrates due to the self-limiting nature of graphene synthesis by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Consequently, the growth of multilayer graphene by CVD has proven to be relatively difficult. This study demonstrates that the number of layers in graphene synthesized on a copper substrate can be precisely set by controlling the partial pressure of hydrogen gas used in the CVD process. This study also shows that a pressure threshold exists for a distinct transition from monolayer to multilayer graphene growth. This threshold is shown to be the boundary where the graphene growth process on Cu by CVD is no longer a self-limiting process. In addition, the multilayer graphene synthesized through the pressure control method forms in the Volmer-Weber mode with an AB stacking structure.
Evolving Techniques and Indications in Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Pain

Peripheral nerve stimulation is the direct electrical stimulation of named nerves outside the central neuraxis to alleviate pain in the distribution of the targeted peripheral nerve. These treatments have shown efficacy in treating a variety of neuropathic, musculoskeletal, and visceral refractory pain pathologies; although not first line, these therapies are an important part of the treatment repertoire for chronic pain. With careful patient selection and judicious choice of stimulation technique, excellent results can be achieved for a variety of pain etiologies and distributions. This article reviews current and past practices of peripheral nerve stimulation and upcoming advancements in the field.
Disulfide bond of Mycoplasma pneumoniae community‐acquired respiratory distress syndrome toxin is essential to maintain the ADP‐ribosylating and vacuolating activities

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the leading cause of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia among hospitalised children in United States and worldwide. Community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin is a key virulence determinant of M. pneumoniae. The N-terminus of CARDS toxin exhibits ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) activity, and the C-terminus possesses binding and vacuolating activities. Thiol-trapping experiments of wild-type (WT) and cysteine-to-serine-mutated CARDS toxins with alkylating agents identified disulfide bond formation at the amino terminal cysteine residues C230 and C247. Compared with WT and other mutant toxins, C247S was unstable and unusable for comparative studies. Although there were no significant variations in binding, entry, and retrograde trafficking patterns of WT and mutated toxins, C230S did not elicit vacuole formation in intoxicated cells. In addition, the ADPRT domain of C230S was more sensitive to all tested proteases when compared with WT toxin. Despite its in vitro ADPRT activity, the reduction of C230S CARDS toxin-mediated ADPRT activity-associated IL-1β production in U937 cells and the recovery of vacuolating activity in the protease-released carboxy region of C230S indicated that the disulfide bond was essential not only to maintain the conformational stability of CARDS toxin but also to properly execute its cytopathic effects.
An Exploration of Brand Biographies in India

A brand biography, not unlike a human biography, chronicles a brand’s emergence, its experiences, and its evolution. We speculated that brand biographies might be influenced by culture. To test this speculation, we explored the brand biographies of fifty companies in India, across a variety of industries, using a grounded theory approach. We identified six brand biography patterns, which seemingly reflect three core cultural values of Indian society.
LithoGAN: End-to-End Lithography Modeling with Generative Adversarial Networks

Lithography simulation is one of the most fundamental steps in process modeling and physical verification. Conventional simulation methods suffer from a tremendous computational cost for achieving high accuracy. Recently, machine learning was introduced to trade off between accuracy and runtime through speeding up the resist modeling stage of the simulation flow. In this work, we propose LithoGAN, an end-to-end lithography modeling framework based on a generative adversarial network (GAN), to map the input mask patterns directly to the output resist patterns. Our experimental results show that LithoGAN can predict resist patterns with high accuracy while achieving orders of magnitude speedup compared to conventional lithography simulation and previous machine learning based approach.
Detection and characterization of tree shrew retinal venous pulsations: An animal model to study human retinal venous pulsations

Spontaneous retinal venous pulsations (SRVPs), pulsations of branches of the central retinal vein, are affected by intraocular pressure (IOP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) and thus convey potentially-useful information about ICP. However, the exact relationship between SRVPs, IOP, and ICP is unknown. It is not easily feasible to study this relationship in humans, necessitating the use of an animal model. We here propose tree shrews as a suitable animal model to study the complex relationship between SRVPs, IOP, and ICP. Tree shrew SRVP incidence was determined in a population of animals. Following validation of a modified IOP control system to accurately and quickly control IOP, IOP and/or ICP were manipulated in two tree shrews with SRVPs and the effects on SRVP properties were quantified. SRVPs were present in 75% of tree shrews at physiologic IOP and ICP. Altering IOP or ICP produced changes in tree shrew SRVP properties; specifically, increasing IOP caused SRVP amplitude to increase, while increasing ICP caused SRVP amplitude to decrease. In addition, a higher IOP was necessary to generate SRVPs at a higher ICP than at a lower ICP. SRVPs occur with a similar incidence in tree shrews as in humans, and tree shrew SRVPs are affected by changes in IOP and ICP in a manner qualitatively similar to that reported in humans. In view of anatomic similarities, tree shrews are a promising animal model system to further study the complex relationship between SRVPs, IOP, and ICP.
Revealing paraphyly and placement of extinct species within Epischura (Copepoda: Calanoida) using molecular data and quantitative morphometrics.

Abstract Epischura (Calanoida: Temoridae) is a Holarctic group of copepods serving important ecological roles, but it is difficult to study because of small range sizes of individual species and widespread distribution of the genus. This genus includes Tertiary relicts, some endemic to single, isolated lakes and can play major roles in unique ecosystems like Lakes Baikal and Tahoe. We present the first molecular and morphological analysis of Epischura that reveals their spatio-temporal evolutionary history. Morphological measurements of mandibles and genetics estimated phylogenetic relationships among all species represented in Epischura, including E. massachusettsensis, whose extinction status is of concern. Analyses used three gene regions for six previously unsequenced species to infer highly-resolved and well-supported phylogenies confirming a split between Siberian and North American species. Previously published age estimates and sequence data from broad taxonomic sampling of calanoid copepods estimated divergence times between the two Epischura groups. Divergence time estimates for Epischura were consistent with earlier molecular clock estimates and late-Miocene cooling events. Additionally, we provide the first taxonomically broad estimates of divergence times within Calanoida. The paraphyletic nature of the genus Epischura (and the family Temoridae) is apparent and requires the resurrection of the genus Epischurella (Smirnov, 1936) to describe the Siberian species.
A cornerstone of complex crystals.

Frank–Kasper phases are topologically close-packed structures typically found in ordered mixtures of ‘hard particles’ such as metallic alloys. Now, a shape amphiphile has been shown to self-assemble into a Frank–Kasper Z phase, which had so far remained elusive in soft materials.
Classical theism and the multiverse

Some analytic philosophers of religion argue that theists should embrace the hypothesis of the multiverse to address the problem of evil and make the concept of a “best possible creation” plausible. I discuss what classical theists, such as Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas, might make of the multiverse hypothesis including issues such as: the principle of plenitude, what a classical theist multiverse could look like, and how a classical theist multiverse could deal with the problem of evil and the question of a best possible creation.
Relative expression of protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) mRNA in rat Schwann cells remains stable following PAR-1 activation

Protease-activated Receptor-1 (PAR-1) is a G protein-coupled receptor activated by the serine protease thrombin. Neurons and glial cells express PAR-1, and dysregulation of thrombin and/or PAR-1 is implicated in inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and spinal cord injury. We confirmed PAR-1 localization on rat Schwann cells using immunocytochemistry and confirmed gene expression with RT- qPCR (reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR). We hypothesized that PAR-1 activation may involve a feedback mechanism, by which initial activation modulates PAR-1 mRNA levels, protein expression, and therefore future sensitivity of the cell to PAR-1 activation. Schwann cells were treated with 100 nM of the synthetic peptide SFLLRNP to activate PAR-1, and RT- qPCR was conducted for PAR-1 mRNA following incubations of 0, 4, 8, or 12 h. We demonstrate that PAR-1 mRNA levels are stable following PAR-1 activation in Schwann cells, indicating that other mechanisms may be responsible for the PAR-1 mRNA dysregulation observed in injury and disease. Our results also suggest that, in Schwann cells, there is no de novo synthesis of PAR-1 to replace internalized receptors in the period soon after (∼30 min after) extended periods of activation. Understanding the mechanisms underlying PAR-1 expression is essential since disruption of PAR-1 signaling in the nervous system can contribute to disease states.
Prevalence and location of Indoor tanning among high school students in new jersey 5 years after the enactment of youth access restrictions

Importance Several state governments have enacted bans on the use of indoor tanning beds at tanning salons among minors, but studies of the association of such restrictions with tanning behavior have produced mixed results. Little is known about the prevalence of tanning in nonsalon locations that are typically not covered by restrictions. Evidence that age bans are associated with a reduction in tanning bed use is needed to support policy makers’ efforts to expand tanning regulations. Objective To determine the prevalence and location of indoor tanning among New Jersey youths after a 2013 statewide indoor tanning ban for minors younger than 17 years. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study comprised 4 biennial (2012-2018) and representative cross-sectional surveys conducted among 12 659 high school students (grades 9-12) in New Jersey. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was the frequency of indoor tanning in the past year. Location of tanning bed use (ie, tanning salons or nonsalon locations, such as private residences or gyms) was also assessed. Results Survey responses from a total of 12 659 high school students (6499 female [51%]; mean [SD] age, 15.8 [1.3] years) were analyzed across the 4 survey waves. Tanning prevalence among students younger than 17 years (ie, younger than the legal tanning age) was 48% lower in 2018 compared with 2012 (adjusted odds ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.81;P = .002). Tanning prevalence was 72% lower among female students 17 years or older (adjusted odds ratio, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.18-0.44;P Conclusions and Relevance This study suggests that the prevalence of tanning in New Jersey has begun to decrease among all youths younger than the legal tanning age and among female students of legal age in the 5 years after a statewide tanning ban. These findings provide valuable evidence to policy makers to support ongoing state-level efforts to enact age-specific bans on indoor tanning. The unique assessment of tanning location demonstrates the need for both greater enforcement of existing tanning salon regulations to ensure compliance and broadening restrictions to cover nonsalon tanning locations.
LI-RADS treatment response algorithm after first-line DEB-TACE: reproducibility and prognostic value at initial post-treatment CT/MRI

To evaluate the inter-reader reproducibility and prognostic accuracy of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) treatment response algorithm (LR-TR) at the time of initial post-treatment evaluation following drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This retrospective study included patients with HCC who underwent first-line DEB-TACE between January 2011 and December 2015. Six readers (three fellowship-trained radiologists and three radiology trainees) independently assessed lesion-level response in up to two treated lesions per LR-TR and modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)-target criteria, as well as patient-level response per mRECIST-overall criteria, on the initial post-treatment CT/MRI. Inter-reader agreement was calculated by Fleiss’ multi-reader κ. We tested whether LR-TR, mRECIST-target, and mRECIST-overall response were associated with overall survival using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard model analyses. A total of 82 patients with 113 treated target lesions were included. Inter-reader agreement was moderate for LR-TR and mRECIST-overall (κ﻿ range 0.42–0.57), and substantial for mRECIST-target (κ﻿ range 0.62–0.66), among all three reader-groups: all readers, experienced readers, and less-experienced readers. LR-TR and mRECIST-target response were not significantly associated with overall survival regardless of reader experience (P > 0.05). In contrast, mRECIST-overall response was significantly associated with overall survival when assessed by all readers (P = 0.02) and experienced readers (P = 0.03), but not by the less-experienced readers (P = 0.35). Although LR-TR algorithm has moderate inter-reader reproducibility, it alone may not predict overall survival on the initial post-treatment CT/MRI after first-line DEB-TACE for HCC.
Well-posedness of the two-dimensional Abels–Garcke–Grün model for two-phase flows with unmatched densities

We study the Abels–Garcke–Grun (AGG) model for a mixture of two viscous incompressible fluids with different densities. The AGG model consists of a Navier–Stokes–Cahn–Hilliard system characterized by a (non-constant) concentration-dependent density and an additional flux term due to interface diffusion. In this paper we address the well-posedness problem in the two-dimensional case. We first prove the existence of local strong solutions in general bounded domains. In the space periodic setting we show that the strong solutions exist globally in time. In both cases we prove the uniqueness and the continuous dependence on the initial data of the strong solutions. Lastly, we show a stability result for the strong solutions to the AGG model and the model H in terms of the density values.
Novel Clinical Therapies and Technologies in Dialysis Vascular Access

Abstract The hemodialysis population continues to grow. Although procedures for dialysis have existed for >60 years, significant challenges with vascular access to support hemodialysis persist. Failure of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) to mature, loss of AVF and graft patency, thrombosis, and infection hinder long-term access, and add extra health care costs and patient morbidity. There have been numerous innovations over the last decade aimed at addressing the issues. In this study, we review the literature and summarize the recent evolution of drug delivery, graft development, minimally invasive AVF creation, and stem-cell therapy for hemodialysis access.
Neighborhood Normalization for Robust Geometric Feature Learning

Extracting geometric features from 3D models is a common first step in applications such as 3D registration, tracking, and scene flow estimation. Many hand-crafted and learning-based methods aim to produce consistent and distinguishable geometric features for 3D models with partial overlap. These methods work well in cases where the point density and scale of the overlapping 3D objects are similar, but struggle in applications where 3D data are obtained independently with unknown global scale and scene overlap. Unfortunately, instances of this resolution mismatch are common in practice, e.g., when aligning data from multiple sensors. In this work, we introduce a new normalization technique, Batch-Neighborhood Normalization, aiming to improve robustness to mean-std variation of local feature distributions that presumably can happen in samples with varying point density. We empirically demonstrate that the presented normalization method’s performance compares favorably to comparison methods in indoor and outdoor environments, and on a clinical dataset, on common point registration benchmarks in both standard and, particularly, resolution-mismatch settings. The source code and clinical dataset are available at https://github.com/lppllppl920/NeighborhoodNormalization-Pytorch.
$$L^p$$ L p and $$H^1$$ H 1 Boundedness of Oscillatory Singular Integral Operators with Hölder Class Kernels

For oscillatory singular integrals with polynomial phases and Holder class kernels, we establish their uniform boundedness on $$L^p$$ spaces as well as a sharp logarithmic bound on the Hardy space $$H^1$$ . These results improve the ones in (Pan in Forum Math 31: 535–542, 2019) by removing the restriction that the phase polynomials be quadratic.
Combination of Nano-CuO/Silica Sol Preservative with Various Post-treatments to Improve the Compressive Strength, Water Resistance, and Thermal Stability of Wood

A nano-CuO/silica sol wood preservative was obtained by dispersing CuO nanoparticles in propylene glycol and silica sol. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and compressive tests were conducted to investigate the effects of different post-treatments, i.e., steaming at 100 °C and freezing at -30 °C, on the variations in microstructure, mechanical, physical, and thermal stability properties of the preservative-impregnated wood. The results revealed that the mechanical properties, water resistance, and thermal stability of the impregnated specimens were greatly ameliorated. The steaming treatment resulted in a more uniform and dense distribution of the preservative in the blocks. The steaming treatment performed better in terms of enhancing the compressive strength of the specimens, while the freezing treatment was more effective in improving the thermal stability of the specimens. Both the steaming and freezing treatments can considerably improve the water resistance of the specimens. The different post-treatments retain the basic properties of the wood; however, they differ in the improved wood properties and provide a basis for their selection in the industrial production of nano-preservatives.
Role of dissipative effects in the quantum gravitational onset of warm Starobinsky inflation in a closed universe

A problematic feature of low-energy-scale inflationary models, such as Starobinsky inflation, in a spatially closed universe is the occurrence of a recollapse and a big crunch singularity before inflation can even set in. In a recent work, it was shown that this problem can be successfully resolved in loop quantum cosmology for a large class of initial conditions due to a nonsingular cyclic evolution and a hysteresislike phenomenon. However, for certain highly unfavorable initial conditions, the onset of inflation was still difficult to obtain. In this work, we explore the role of dissipative particle production, which is typical in warm inflation scenario, in the above setting. We find that entropy production sourced by such dissipative effects makes hysteresislike phenomena stronger. As a result, the onset of inflation is quick in general, including for highly unfavorable initial conditions where it fails or is significantly delayed in the absence of dissipative effects. We phenomenologically consider three warm inflation scenarios with distinct forms of dissipation coefficient and from dynamical solutions and phase-space portraits find that the phase space of favorable initial conditions turns out to be much larger than in cold inflation.
Laparoscopic microwave thermosphere ablation of malignant liver tumors: an initial clinical evaluation.

Microwave ablation (MWA) has been recently recognized as a technology to overcome the limitations of radiofrequency ablation. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new 2.45-GHz thermosphere MWA system in the treatment of malignant liver tumors. This was a prospective IRB-approved study of 18 patients with malignant liver tumors treated with MWA within a 3-month time period. Tumor sizes and response to MWA were obtained from triphasic liver CT scans done before and after MWA. The ablation zones were assessed for complete tumor response and spherical geometry. There were a total of 18 patients with an average of three tumors measuring 1.4 cm (range 0.2–4). Ablations were performed laparoscopically in all, but three patients who underwent combined liver resection. A single ablation was created in 72 % and overlapping ablations in 28 % of lesions. Total ablation time per patient was 15.6 ± 1.9 min. There was no morbidity or mortality. At 2-week CT scans, there was 100 % tumor destruction, with no residual lesions. Roundness indices A, B and transverse were 1.1, 0.9 and 0.9, respectively, confirming the spherical nature of ablation zones. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a new thermosphere MWA technology in the laparoscopic treatment of malignant liver tumors. The results demonstrate the safety of the technology, with satisfactory spherical ablation zones seen on post-procedural CT scans.
Validation of ICD-9 Codes for Stable Miscarriage in the Emergency Department

Author(s): Quinley, Kelly E.; Falck, Ailsa; Kallan, Michael J.; Datner, Elizabeth M.; Carr, Brendan G.; Schreiber, Courtney A. | Abstract: Introduction: International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis codes have not been validated for identifying cases of missed abortion where a pregnancy is no longer viable but the cervical os remains closed. Our goal was to assess whether ICD-9 code “632” for missed abortion has high sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) in identifying patients in the emergency department (ED) with cases of stable early pregnancy failure (EPF).Methods: We studied females ages 13-50 years presenting to the ED of an urban academic medical center. We approached our analysis from two perspectives, evaluating both the sensitivity and PPV of ICD-9 code “632” in identifying patients with stable EPF. All patients with chief complaints “pregnant and bleeding” or “pregnant and cramping” over a 12-month period were identified. We randomly reviewed two months of patient visits and calculated the sensitivity of ICD-9 code “632” for true cases of stable miscarriage. To establish the PPV of ICD-9 code “632” for capturing missed abortions, we identified patients whose visits from the same time period were assigned ICD-9 code “632,” and identified those with actual cases of stable EPF. Results: We reviewed 310 patient records (17.6% of 1,762 sampled). Thirteen of 31 patient records assigned ICD-9 code for missed abortion correctly identified cases of stable EPF (sensitivity=41.9%), and 140 of the 142 patients without EPF were not assigned the ICD-9 code “632”(specificity=98.6%). Of the 52 eligible patients identified by ICD-9 code “632,” 39 cases met the criteria for stable EPF (PPV=75.0%).Conclusion: ICD-9 code “632” has low sensitivity for identifying stable EPF, but its high specificity and moderately high PPV are valuable for studying cases of stable EPF in epidemiologic studies using administrative data.
Energy scaling in 3 micron erbium-based lasers

Laser emission in the 3-/spl mu/m region is particular interest for clinical applications because of strong absorption in liquid water and hydroxyapatite, two of the major components that account for as much as 60-80% of the bulk composition of soft and hard (i.e. bones, enamel in teeth) tissues, respectively. For surgical application, short pulses on the order of few tens of nanoseconds are desirable in order to minimize the thermal damage to the surrounding tissue. In addition to clinical applications, Q-switched 3-/spl mu/m lasers are also of great interest for some military applications where the 3-/spl mu/m lasers can act as the pump sources for OPOs to generate continuously tunable emission in the 3-14 /spl mu/m region.
Challenging History: Educating the Public about the Japanese Canadian Experience in British Columbia

ABSTRACT This paper argues that a shared reluctance to confront the causes and consequences of historical injustices endured by ethno-cultural minorities has hampered efforts by educators and activists in British Columbia to inform the public about Japanese Canadian internment during World War II. This reluctance was felt keenly by internment survivors, whose sense of trust in the wider civic community has not yet been re-established. Meanwhile, a desire to “turn the page” on past wrongs — for fear that drawing attention to such episodes generates inter-ethnic tension rather than promotes unity amongst Canada’s multicultural populace — has hindered federal and provincial involvement in educational activities related to WWII internment. Yet as this study suggests, refusal to participate in collective renegotiations of public memory about historical injustices does little to repair the relationship between the wronged group and wider public, or to prevent similar injustices from occurring again in the future. RESUME Cet article decrit les efforts entrepris par des educateurs et des activistes pour informer la population de la Colombie Britannique au sujet de l’internement des Canadiens d’origine japonaise pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Ils durent faire face a une forte resistance du public qui refusait de confronter les causes et les consequences des injustices subies par les minorites ethnoculturelles a cette epoque. Les victimes de l’internement ont ressenti vivement cette denegation d’autant plus qu’ils n’ont pas reussi a retablir completement la confiance au sein de la collectivite. En meme temps, l’envie de « tourner la page » sur les maux du passe — motivee par la crainte que le fait d’attirer l’attention sur de tels episodes genere de la tension interethnique au lieu de promouvoir l’unite dans une population multiculturelle — a fait obstacle aux activites educatives mises en place par les gouvernements provincial et federal quant a l’internement. Mais, comme le suggere cette etude, le refus collectif d’affronter ces injustices historiques ne peut que nuire au rapprochement entre le groupe lese et la societe toute entiere ainsi qu’a la prevention de telles injustices dans l’avenir.
The Role of Diffusion in Mathematical Population Biology: Skellam Revisited

R.A. Fisher [F] and the famous troika of Kolmogorov, Petrovskii, and Piscunov [KPP] studied diffusion models in population dynamics as early as 1936. However, the first really systematic attempt at a critical examination of the role of diffusion in population biology was begun by J.G. Skellam in his 1951 paper [S1] and essentially completed in his 1973 paper [S2]. Skellam’s work fits my definition of the truly classic, that is, work which is often cited but seldom read. It is my object in this lecture to pay homage to J.G. Skellam and to expound some of his ideas. In particular, I want to discuss how the form of the diffusion operator in a diffusion model is determined by the behaviour patterns of the dispersing animals. My hope is that some members of the “we want the beasties to move so lets slap on a Laplacian” — school of diffusion modeling will be inspired to read Skellam and mend their ways. An elegant exposition of Skellam’s ideas (and a great deal more) can be found in Okubo’s monograph [O]. My presentation will differ somewhat from both [S2] and [O] because I want to emphasize the underlying discrete process and delay as long as possible the passage to the diffusion approximation.
TERATOSPERMIC AND NORMOSPERMIC DOMESTIC CATS: EJACULATE TRAITS, PITUITARY-GONADAL HORMONES, AND IMPROVEMENT OF SPERMATOZOAL MOTILITY AND MORPHOLOGY AFTER SWIM-UP PROCESSING

Electroejaculate traits, testicular volume, and circulating FSH, LH, and testosterone concentrations were compared between two populations of domestic cats consistently producing either a high (greater than 60%, normospermic) or low (less than 40%, teratospermic) incidence of structurally normal spermatozoa/ejaculate. The effects of semen dilution in Biggers, Whitten and Whittingham (BWW) or modified Krebs Ringer bicarbonate (mKRB) medium and swim-up processing on sperm viability and duration of motility in vitro also were assessed. Ejaculate volume, percent sperm motility, sperm progressive motility, motile spermatozoa/ejaculate, testes volume, and mean serum FSH and LH concentrations were similar (P greater than 0.05) between normospermic and teratospermic cats. However, sperm concentration/ml of ejaculate was greater and circulating testosterone levels were lower in teratospermic males. Swim-up processing increased (P less than 0.05) percent sperm motility, progressive motility, and the number of structurally normal sperm cells recovered and also prolonged the duration of sperm motility in both cat populations. In teratospermic ejaculates, swim-up separation increased the proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa recovered by more than two-fold. Diluting cat semen with either BWW or mKRB increased flagellar bending in both normospermic and teratospermic cats. The sperm motility characteristics of only the teratospermic ejaculates were influenced by medium type; mKRB increased percent sperm motility and progressive motility whereas BWW had no effect. Compared with undiluted raw ejaculates, the duration of sperm motility was improved 18- to 24-fold by diluting semen in either BWW or mKRB medium followed by swim-up processing. This study demonstrates that the electroejaculate characteristics of domestic cats vary markedly and that some males consistently produce high proportions of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. Diminished serum testosterone concentrations and normal pituitary secretion of FSH and LH in teratospermic males suggest that there is an inverse relationship between gonadal androgen production and pleiomorphic spermatozoa in the domestic cat. The swim-up procedure is effective for recovering motile, structurally normal spermatozoa from teratospermic cats.
Applying hotelling's T2 statistic to batch processes

The usefulness of Hotelling's T2 statistic for monitoring batch process in both Phase I and Phase II operations is discussed. For Phase I operation where the focus is on detecting and removing outliers, consideration is given to batch processes wh..
Digitalis in experimental acute myocardial infarction. Differential effects on contractile performance of ischemic, border and nonischemic ventricular zones in the dog.

The effects of digoxin (priming dose of 0.04 mg/kg body weight followed by infusion of 0.02 mg/kg per min) on local tension and length characteristics of the nonischemic, border and ischemic left ventricular zones were studied in 30 dogs using Walton-Brodie strain gauge arches and mercury-in-Silastic segment length gauges. Total tension in the nonischemic zone increased to 130.9 ± 5.3 percent (P < 0.001) of the control level in association with parallel changes in preejection and ejection tension and rate of rise of tension when infusion of digoxin was instituted 15 to 30 minutes after ligation. Consistent increases in tension variables were noticed when infusion of digitalis was initiated 45 to 60 minutes or 2 to 3 hours after ligation. Segment length remained unchanged. In the border zone, total tension decreased to 68.9 ± 5.9 percent (P < 0.01) 15 to 30 minutes after coronary occlusion and increased to 106.8 ± 9.7 percent (P < 0.01) after infusion of digitalis. When infusion of digitalis was instituted 45 to 60 minutes or 2 to 3 hours after occlusion, similar increases in total tension and other tension variables were seen. Segment length again showed no significant changes. There was an increase in total tension in 5 of the 12 ischemic zones studied when digitalis was infused 15 to 30 minutes after coronary arterial ligation, whereas a consistent (3 to 5 percent) decrease in tension was observed when infusion of digitalis was instituted 45 to 60 minutes and 2 to 3 hours after coronary occlusion. There was no increase in segment length. In summary, digitalis uniformly increased contraction of the nonischemic and border zones after coronary arterial ligation, but the effects on contraction and aneurysmal bulging in the ischemic zone were minimal.
Improved Distributed Simulation of Sensor Networks Based on Sensor Node Sleep Time

Sensor network simulators are important tools for the design, implementation and evaluation of wireless sensor networks. Due to the large computational requirements necessary for simulating wireless sensor networks with high fidelity, many wireless sensor network simulators, especially the cycle accurate ones, employ distributed simulation techniques to leverage the combined resources of multiple processors or computers. However, the large overheads in synchronizing sensor nodes during distributed simulations of sensor networks result in a significant increase in simulation time. In this paper, we present a novel technique that could significantly reduce such overheads by minimizing the number of sensor node synchronizations during simulations. We implement this technique in Avrora, a widely used parallel sensor network simulator, and achieve a speedup of up to 11 times in terms of average simulation speed in our test cases. For applications that have lower duty cycles, the speedups are even greater since the performance gains are proportional to the sleep times of the sensor nodes.
The merging of liquid crystal electrooptics with silicon CMOS technology to enable high information content, large screen displays

I describe a new technology which promises to provide displays with unprecedented performance. This new display concept combines the liquid crystal electrooptics familiar in flat panel displays on laptop computers and silicon CMOS technology, with a reflective optical projection system. Very small reflective liquid crystal "light valves" are fabricated on a silicon chip and are then illuminated and optically magnified and projected to provide a large screen, high fidelity image. Products based on this technology are already beginning to appear in the market place.
The search for excellence — a modest proposal for schoolwide change

Change is easier when there is a policy, a plan, and a group of people who are responsible for making change happen.
Functional data analysis of backpropagating action potentials

Voltage propagation through neurons is a complicated process dependent on the concentrations and kinetics of ion channels, as well as the morphology of the dendrites. The task of recording the level of activation within different parts of the neuron is challenging, given the small size of the constituent structures, and the fast timescale of the signals. Recently, a fast 3D scanning microscope has been developed to address this question, with the use of fluorescent calcium indicators [1]. The resulting dataset consists of fluorescent traces from up to 50 locations with a temporal resolution upward of 1kHz. Our stimulation paradigms are generally trains of action potentials, initiated at the soma, which propagate backwards through the dendrites. Each back-propagating spike results in a fluorescence transient, the amplitude of which represents the relative degree of activation at each location. Our analysis of this dataset consists of two stages: First, the extraction of the amplitudes of the fluorescent transients from the noise corrupted signal. The extraction is done both by a Bayesian linear model, and more appropriately, a Sequential Monte Carlo particle filter, which takes into account the non-gaussian noise profile of the microscope’s photodetector. The second phase of analysis performs the fitting of the transient amplitudes to a function representing the level of activation across the whole visible tree. To do this, we have extended existing methods in functional data analysis to branched domains. This allows the entire dataset to contribute to a single functional representation on a domain that matches the physiology of the recorded neuron. These analysis methods, as applied to fluorescent traces from CA1 pyramidal neurons, reveal several interesting behaviors. First, we see a clear decrease in the amplitude of the fluorescence transient with distance from the soma. This has been seen previously, and attributed to a decremental propagation of the spike. Second, a decrease in the distance of back-propagation with successive spikes in a train is also seen. This is attributed the slow-inactivation of sodium channels in the dendrites given repetitive activation. Furthermore, our data also shows a large effect of paired pre-synaptic stimulation in extending the range of the back-propagating spike, the magnitude and range of which is dependent on the position of the spike in the train.
Comparative anatomy of the mandible of the fourth instar mosquito larva (Diptera: Culicidae).

The mandible of the fourth stage mosquito larva has been examined comparatively for at least one species in each of all but 3 of the known genera. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of each mandible examined are illustrated. Representatives of one genus of Dixidae and of 2 genera of Chaoboridae are included. Homologies of mandibular substructures are derived and used for the development of a structural terminology suitable for use in taxonomic studies.
Isolation and Expression Analysis of Peanut Chlorotic Streak Caulimovirus (PClSV) Full-Length Transcript (FLt) Promoter in Transgenic Plants

A promoter fragment from peanut chlorotic streak caulimovirus (PClSV) full-length transcript (FLt) was identified and later modified to have duplicated enhancer domain. The FLt promoter with its single or double enhancer domains, fused with the GUS reporter gene to form chimeric gene constructs, showed a high level of expression of these genes in cells and transgenic plants. The FLt promoter with its double enhancer domain gives an average threefold greater expression of genes compared to the FLt promoter with its single enhancer domain in transgenic plants. In young seedlings the expression was in the order root > leaf > stem. The histochemical GUS assay in young seedlings showed more activity in root tips and leaf midribs, veins, and other vascular tissues. The expression from the PClSV FLt promoter was compared with that from the figwort mosaic virus promoter in transgenic plants. These constitutive promoters were comparable in respect to GUS expression level.
A Novel Approach to Synthesis of FePt Magnetic Nanoparticles

Chemical reduction of ferric acetylacetonate (Fe(acac)3) and platinum acetylacetonate (Pt(acac)2) using polyol as a reducing agent as well as an effective surfactant, has successfully yielded monodisperse FePt nanoparticles with a size of approximately 2 nm. When annealed samples were compared to FePt nanoparticles synthesized using oleic acid and oleylamine as the surfactants under identical conditions, nearly 30% increase in coercivity (Hc) was achieved with the new, simple and economic method.
KINETICS OF VACANCY MOTION IN HIGH-PURITY ALUMINUM

It is shown that in very high-purity aluminum, ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{II}}$, the rate of vacancy annealing depends on vacancy concentration and annealing temperature but is independent of the temperature ${T}_{i}$ of vacancy injection per se. The rate can be described as the sum of first and second order components. The first order component becomes most prominent at a monovacancy concentration estimated to be ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ atom fraction. It is shown that the results are consistent with the Koehler-Seitz-Bauerle dissociative mechanism. The activation energy for diffusion of monovacancies in ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{II}}$ is found to be 0.65\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06 ev. This, combined with earlier results on the formation energy of vacancies, gives 1.44\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.11 ev for the activation energy for self-diffusion in aluminum by a monovacancy mechanism.In zone-refined aluminum, ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{I}}$, of lesser purity the rate of vacancy annealing depends upon ${T}_{i}$ per se and falls off more rapidly with decreasing vacancy concentration than in ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{II}}$. Two hypotheses for the impurity effects are considered, namely: (1) trapping of vacancies by impurity atoms and (2) inhibition of dislocation climb by adsorbed impurities.
Somatostatin inhibition of teleost growth hormone secretion

Abstract Pituitary glands of a teleost, tilapia ( Sarotherodon mossambicus ), were incubated in vitro in the presence or absence of synthetic somatostatin. After a 4-hr incubation period, the growth hormone (GH) concentration of the incubation medium was determined using a highly specific homologous radioreceptor assay. The presence of somatostatin in the incubation medium at concentrations of 0.1 to 2.0 μg/ml produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the spontaneous release of GH. These results suggest that GH secretion in teleosts may be influenced by a somatostatin-like peptide which acts to suppress the release of GH from the pituitary.
Oxidative chemistry of fluorescent dyes: implications in the detection of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species

HE (hydroethidine), a widely used fluorescent dye for detecting intracellular superoxide, undergoes specific oxidation and hydroxylation reactions. The reaction between HE and O 2 •− (superoxide radical) yields a diagnostic marker product, 2-hydroxyethidium. This is contrary to the popular notion that O 2 •− oxidizes HE to form ethidium. HE, however, undergoes a non-specific oxidation to form ethidium in the presence of other oxidants (hydroxyl radical, peroxynitrite and perferryl iron) and other dimeric products. The mitochondria-targeted HE analogue Mito-SOX® undergoes the same type of oxidative chemistry to form products similar to those formed from HE. On the basis of the oxidative chemical mechanism of HE and Mito-SOX®, we conclude that flurorescence microscopy or related techniques are not sufficient to measure the superoxide-specific hydroxylated products. HPLC methodologies are required to separate and identify these products. Peroxynitrite reacts rapidly and stoichiometrically with boronates to form specific products. Assays using fluorescent-based boronate probes will be more reliable for peroxynitrite determination than those using either dichlorodihydrofluorescein or dihydrorhodamine.
Modeling the processes of development via latent variable growth curve methodology

Recent advances in statistical methodology, in particular, latent growth modeling, allow for the testing of complex models regarding developmental trends from both an inter‐ and intraindividual perspective. An example application of latent growth curve methodology, analyzing the effects of gender and parental monitoring on developmental change in adolescent alcohol consumption, is presented. Furthermore, the analyses are conducted within a cohort‐sequential design, incorporating an approach to the analysis of missing data due to attrition. Findings are discussed with particular reference to the utility of latent growth curve models for assessing developmental processes at both the inter‐and intraindividual level across a variety of behavioral domains.
A minimal set-valued strong derivative for vector-valued Lipschitz functions

A set-valued derivative for a function at a point is a set of linear transformations whichapproximates the function near the point. This is stated precisely, and it is shown that, in general, there is not a unique minimal set-valued derivative for functions in the family of closed convex sets of linear transformations. For Lipschitz functions, a construction is given for a specific set-valued derivative, which reduces to the usual derivative when the function is strongly differentiable, and which is shown to be the unique minimal set-valued derivative within a certain subfamily of the family of closed convex sets of linear transformations. It is shown that this constructed set may be larger than Clarke's and Pourciau's set-valued derivatives, but that no irregularity is introduced.