cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria

Bacterial spores are specialized cells that are exceptionally resistant to environmental stress. Spores convert back to actively growing cells, a process called germination, upon nutrient detection. The most common, initial step in the germination process is the recognition of small molecule germinants by germination (Ger) receptors. Ger receptors are inner-membrane heterocomplexes formed by three distinct protein products, the A-, B-, and C-subunits. In this review, we discuss and contrast published reports on representative Ger receptors from different Bacilli and Clostridia. We also present evidence for unrecognized germination pathways independent of Ger receptors. We further emphasize the function of L-alanine as a universal germinant. We also comment on biochemical aspects of germinant recognition and interaction between Ger receptor proteins. We propose that there are six general strategies used by Bacilli and Clostridia to integrate multiple germination signals. The use of different germinant recognition strategies results in germination response flexibility. Consequently, sporulating bacterial species that use the same biomolecules as germination signals can have different germination profiles. Finally, we discuss future directions for understanding the function of Ger receptors.
Neurotransmitter Systems in the Central Nervous System

In a simplistic fashion, one might surmise that the entire purpose of neuronal development is to construct the mechanisms for interneuronal communication. Since interneuronal communication in mammalian systems involves chemical transmission, one might reason further that the ultimate purpose of central nervous system development is to develop mechanisms for the synthesis, storage and release of the substances which effect this interneuronal communication, the transmitters. The dynamics of neurotransmitter metabolism in the adult peripheral nervous system is quite well understood. At least in some systems we are beginning to develop very considerable knowledge of neurotransmitter mechanisms in the adult central nervous system. In this introduction to our session on development of neurotransmission, I shall briefly review the dynamics of neurotransmitter metabolism in, and the neuropharmacology of, a few of these systems. The development of these systems will be discussed in more detail by the principal speakers of this session.
The Value of Transparency and the Cost of Complexity

It is clear that some firms are more forthcoming about their financial affairs than other firms, and that the financial statements of a few firms are designed to obscure rather than reveal information. While differences in accounting standards across countries was viewed as the primary culprit for this lack of transparency until recent years, the convergence in accounting standards globally has made it clear that no matter how strict accounting standards are, firms will continue to use their discretionary power to spin and manipulate the numbers that they convey to financial markets. The questions we face in valuation are significant ones. How do we reflect the transparency (or the opacity) of a firm's financial statements in its value? Should we reward firms that have simpler and more open financial statements and punish firms that have complex and difficult-to-understand financial statements? If so, which input in valuation should be the one that we adjust? This paper begins by examining the phenomenon of opacity in financial statements and why some firms choose to be opaque. It follows up by considering some of the empirical evidence on whether markets discount the value of complex firms to reflect the difficult faced in valuing them. It closes by evaluating some of the ways in which we can adjust discounted cash flow valuation models for this difficulty.
Initial expectations, interactions, and beyond with social robots

Abstract The current study builds upon our previous research on the human-to-human interaction script, which suggests that people expect to interact with other humans when encountering an initial interaction. This expectation impacts the initial impressions people have when interacting with social robots. The current experiment examined how short interactions might change those initial impressions. Participants were less uncertain and perceived greater social presence after a single brief interaction with a humanoid social robot. Social presence decreased after a short interaction with a human. These data suggest that initial impressions based on the human-to-human interaction script may impact actual interaction and the impressions that result from it. Open-ended responses suggest the potential for hyperpersonal communication in human-robot interaction. These findings are further discussed, as are limitations and directions for future research. The paper concludes with an agenda for applying constructivist interpersonal communication frameworks to human-robot interaction studies.
Turbulent Aeroheating Measurements on a 7-Deg Cone in High-Enthalpy CO2 Flow

A database of heating and pressure measurements on a 7 deg half-angle cone in a high-enthalpy expansion tunnel in CO2 has been generated to support development and validation of computational model...
Is Conversion of a Failed IPAA to a Continent Ileostomy a Risk Factor for Long-term Failure?

BACKGROUND:A continent ileostomy may be offered to patients in hopes of avoiding permanent ileostomy. Data on the outcomes of continent ileostomy patients with a history of a failed IPAA are limited.OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to assess whether a history of previous failed IPAA had an effect on conti
The relation between standardized test scores and NCLEX-RN failure

First time pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) are the desired outcome of Schools of Nursing across the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relation between standardized testing scores and NCLEX-RN failure among students in a baccalaureate nursing program. This study utilized a retrospective correlational design to identify relations between the dependent variables NCLEX-RN failure and the independent variables. The 16 Independent Variables were: Fundamentals of Nursing Practice and Repeat, Adult Health Nursing and Repeat, Mental Health Nursing and Repeat, Pediatric Nursing and repeat, Obstetrical Nursing and Repeat, Community Health Nursing and Repeat, RN Exit Exam and Repeat, and Pharmacology and Pharmacology Repeat. The statistical tests utilized for data analysis were: logistic regression, multiple logistic regression model, and Pearson’s χ 2 cross-tabulations. Significant findings identified students “at risk” for NCLEX-RN failure. Faculty intervention early on and throughout the students’ nursing program will help improve student outcomes, NCLEX-RN success, and ultimately helping to alleviate the nursing shortage.
Stability and convergence analysis of rotational velocity correction methods for the Navier–Stokes equations

The velocity correction method has shown to be an effective approach for solving incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. It does not require the initial pressure and the inf-sup condition may not be needed. However, stability and convergence analyses have not been established for the nonlinear case. The challenge arises from the splitting associated with the nonlinear term and rotational term. In this paper, we carry out stability and convergence analysis of the first-order method in the nonlinear case. Our technique is a new Gauge–Uzawa formulation, which brings forth a telescoping symmetry into the rotational form. We also provide a stability proof for the second-order method in the linear case. Numerical results are provided for both first- and second-order methods.
Moths use a fuzzy muffler to deaden bat sonar

![Graphic][1] The night skies are a dangerous place for moths: they make tasty, nutritious snacks for hungry bats. But first the agile mammals must detect their prey, guided in for the capture by the high-pitched sounds they emit, which reflect off objects back to their ears when hunting in
Trait affective differences influence behavioral flexibility in virtual spatial and non-spatial discrimination tasks

Abstract Affect and cognitive control processes are closely related, however, most studies have assessed state affect or affective disorders. The current study investigates the relationship between individual differences in trait affectivity and flexibility in spatial navigation and stimulus discrimination tasks. Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Positive and Negative Affectivity Scale (PANAS) were given to 82 participants followed by an intradimensional/extradimensional (ID/ED) set-shifting task in which navigation was reinforced based on visual stimuli colocalized with a goal or based on the spatial location of the goal. Higher BDI and NA predicted greater trials-to-criteria during ED shift, but not initial learning or ID shifting. Participants who failed to meet criteria during either ID or ED set-shifting (N = 16) had significantly higher scores for NA, BDI, and BAI compared to individuals who successfully met criterion (N = 56) with this relationship being primarily observed in males. The current findings indicate that negative affectivity is associated with poor performance in behavioral flexibility.
Developing Reflective Literacy Leaders: A Case Study of Action Research in a Graduate Reading Specialist Certification Program.

The purpose of this single-site case study was to examine the experiences of graduate teachers enrolled in a Reading Specialist Certification (K–12) program who engaged in literacy-related action r...
Restriction to Specific Fields

International medical graduates (IMGs) are an essential component of the US workforce, comprising nearly a quarter of licensed physicians in the USA. The trend of IMGs in training programs in the USA is projected to increase, particularly in primary care specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine and psychiatry. Acceptance into more competitive training programs such as higher tier general surgery programs, surgical subspecialties, dermatology, and neurosurgery requires academic excellence as well as additional measures to improve chances of a successful match. This includes clerkships/observerships and research experience in the USA with the goal of performing well and securing strong letters of support from mentors. Herein, the authors provide a perspective on how competitive some specialties are for IMGs such as surgical subspecialties and dermatology, the obstacles they may face when applying to them, as well as potential solutions to overcome these barriers.
The academic experience in distance (virtual) rounding and education of emergency surgery during COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Background To cope with COVID-19 pandemic control precautions, many surgical residency programs have adopted a Declared Health Emergency rotation to minimize exposure to the COVID-19. We evaluated the experience and educational value of virtual education activities by reviewing the perceptions of the Declared Health Emergency rotation participants through survey questionnaire analysis. Methods Participants of the Declared Health Emergency rotation virtual educational activities were asked to complete a survey questionnaire describing their perception and experience. Results The survey response rate was 100% (faculty, n = 13; residents, n = 8; nurse practitioners/physician assistants, n = 4). The majority reported that virtual activities required minimal technical skills (n = 17, 68%). Compared to the traditional in-person conferences before the pandemic, the majority reported that they participated in virtual rounds more often or the same (n = 22, 88%), that the overall level and quality of interactions were the same or better (n = 19, 76%), and that the knowledge gained was the same or more (n = 22, 88%). All respondents reported that virtual conferences educational objectives were met. Conclusion The quality of education and the knowledge gain during the virtual educational activities are equivalent or better than in the traditional face-to-face activities. The use of technology in virtual educational activities is a practical and convenient approach to achieve the desired educational objectives during and potentially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upgraded CRISPR/Cas9 tools for tissue-specific mutagenesis in Drosophila

CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as a powerful technology for tissue-specific mutagenesis. However, tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas9 tools currently available in Drosophila remain deficient in three significant ways. First, many existing gRNAs are inefficient, such that further improvements of gRNA expression constructs are needed for more efficient and predictable mutagenesis in both somatic and germline tissues. Second, it has been difficult to label mutant cells in target tissues with current methods. Lastly, application of tissue-specific mutagenesis at present often relies on Gal4-driven Cas9, which hampers the flexibility and effectiveness of the system. Here, we tackle these deficiencies by building upon our previous CRISPR-mediated tissue-restricted mutagenesis (CRISPR-TRiM) tools. First, we significantly improved gRNA efficiency in somatic tissues by optimizing multiplexed gRNA design. Similarly, we also designed efficient dual-gRNA vectors for the germline. Second, we developed methods to positively and negatively label mutant cells in tissue-specific mutagenesis by incorporating co-CRISPR reporters into gRNA expression vectors. Lastly, we generated genetic reagents for convenient conversion of existing Gal4 drivers into tissue-specific Cas9 lines based on homology-assisted CRISPR knock-in. In this way, we expand the choices of Cas9 for CRISPR-TRiM analysis to broader tissues and developmental stages. Overall, our upgraded CRISPR/Cas9 tools make tissue-specific mutagenesis more versatile, reliable, and effective in Drosophila These improvements may be also applied to other model systems.
Characterizing Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Among Medicaid Recipients in a Nonexpansion State.

Background: The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are on the rise in the United States, especially in the South, which has a heavy chronic disease burden and large number of Me...
A Debrisless Laser-Plasma Source for EUV and XUV Generation

Interest in debris-free sources of short-wavelength EUV radiation has risen in recent years due primarily to anticipated needs in the area of projection lithography, where smaller feature sizes and increased production rates are targeted for the near-future in the semiconductor industry. Consequently, laser-plasmas have come to the forefront as attractive source candidates for such lithography systems. As compact, modular, and highrep-rate sources, laser-plasmas have already demonstrated the required minimum efficiency[1,2]. The water-droplet laser-plasma source[3] offers the additional advantages of low-cost (~$10−6/shot), continuous, debris-free operation that future lithography systems require. Broadband emission from solid-target laser-plasmas created from high-Z materials, which can lead to off-band heating by absorption of the primary collection optics[3], is another problem that is circumvented with the narrow-band droplet laser-plasma. In addition, solute-doped droplet targets are promising candidates for generating debris-free XUV radiation having, in general, the same advantages as the water droplet EUV source.
A practical, quantitative method for assessing the psychological environment of children

Quantitative differences in the reported behavior of mothers of 93 disturbed and 299 healthy boys were identified by a statistical comparison of the responses made by these parents to items contained in a self-administered, multiple-choice questionnaire. The controlling, disapproving pattern which characterized the behavior of the disturbed boys' mothers remained constant throughout the 6 through 14 years of age range of the sample. The finding of a significant, positive relationship between the intensity of control and disapproval, reported by the mother, and the likelihood of behavioral abnormalities in her child, raises the question as to the presence of critical limits of tolerance for these psychologic factors.
A General Coding Scheme for Two-User Fading Interference Channels

A Han-Kobayashi based achievable scheme is presented for ergodic fading two-user Gaussian interference channels (IFCs) with perfect channel state information at all nodes and Gaussian codebooks with no time-sharing. Using max-min optimization techniques, it is shown that jointly coding across all states performs at least as well as separable coding for the sub-classes of uniformly weak (every sub-channel is weak) and hybrid (mix of strong and weak sub-channels that do not achieve the interference-free sum-capacity) IFCs. For the uniformly weak IFCs, sufficient conditions are obtained for which the sum-rate is maximized when interference is ignored at both receivers.
Comparison of time domain and frequency domain assessments of arterial wave reflections

Several methods have been proposed to assess the effective magnitudes and sites of wave reflections in the arterial system. There is no general consensus as to the merit of each. The authors compared two methods based on the same information derived from measured pressure and flow waveforms. Results show that wave reflections can be equally accurately quantified from either the time or the frequency domain, but the time domain method provides a better visual interpretation of the magnitudes and sites of wave reflections.
Challenges of Detecting Bioterrorism Agents in Complex Matrices

This chapter offers an overview of the shift from the use of mass ­spectrometry for studying purified bioterrorism agents to the development of methods for rapid detection thereof in environmental and clinical samples. We discuss the difficulties of working with such complex matrices and present methods for quickly and effectively reducing complexity through sample preparation. Finally, we examine a success story wherein the common pathogen and potential bioterrorism agent norovirus is detected at clinically relevant levels in human stool.
Smart avatars in JackMOO

Creation of compelling 3-dimensional, multi-user virtual worlds for education and training applications requires a high degree of realism in the appearance, interaction, and behavior of avatars within the scene. Our goal is to develop and/or adapt existing 3-dimensional technologies to provide training scenarios across the Internet in a form as close as possible to the appearance and interaction expected of live situations with human participants. We have produced a prototype system, JackMOO, which combines Jack, a virtual human system, and LambdaMOO, a multiuser; network-accessible, programmable, interactive server: Jack provides the visual realization of avatars and other objects. LambdaMOO provides the Web-accessible communication, programmability, and persistent object database. The combined JackMOO allows us to store the richer semantic information necessitated by the scope and range of human actions that an avatar must portray, and to express those actions in the form of imperative sentences. We describe JackMOO, its components, and a prototype application with five virtual human agents.
Computer Versus In-Person Intervention for Students Violating Campus Alcohol Policy

In this study, the authors evaluated the efficacy of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) and a computerized program for reducing drinking and related problems among college students sanctioned for alcohol violations. Referred students (N = 198, 46% women), stratified by gender, were randomly assigned to a BMI or to the Alcohol 101 Plus computer program. Data obtained at baseline, 1, 6, and 12 months were used to evaluate intervention efficacy. Planned analyses revealed 3 primary findings. First, women who received the BMI reduced drinking more than did women who received the computer intervention; in contrast, men's drinking reductions did not differ by condition. Second, readiness to change and hazardous drinking status predicted drinking reductions at 1 month postintervention, regardless of intervention. Third, by 1 year, drinking returned to presanction (baseline) levels, with no differences in recidivism between groups. Exploratory analyses revealed an overall mean reduction in drinking immediately after the sanction event and before taking part in an intervention. Furthermore, after the self-initiated reductions prompted by the sanction were accounted for, participation in the BMI but not the computer intervention was found to produce additional reduction in drinking and related consequences.
Multidimensional utility models for risky and riskless choice

Abstract Subjects evaluated 27 hypothetical job offers using both riskless rating scale and risky utility response modes. These preference judgments were then analyzed using both statistical and conjoint measurement procedures. Additive statistical models provided excellent approximations to both the riskless and risky responses of every subject. Nonetheless, half of the subjects showed statistically significant, and in some cases, substantial departures from additivity. Despite the predictive success of the additive and multiplicative models studied, the conjoint measurement analysis revealed that several subjects substantially violated the ordinal properties shared by both additive and multiplicative models. In addition, all subjects showed some minor violations of the conjoint measurement axioms. A simple numerical analysis showed, however, that most of these minor violations may have been due to random error.
The Leapfrog Initiative: a potential threat to surgical education.

Abstract Purpose The Leapfrog Initiative was established in January 2000 by the Business Roundtable (BRT) in response to the Institute of Medicine report on quality and safety of medical care. The BRT is composed of chief executive officers of U.S. corporations representing more than 28 million employees. Leapfrog has proposed 3 hospital safety measures—computerized physician order entry, intensive care unit physician staffing standards and evidence-based hospital referral, which states that hospitals must meet certain volume/year criteria. Three of these criteria are pertinent to general surgery. They are abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair greater than or equal to 30/year, carotid endarterectomy (CE) greater than or equal to 100/year, and esophageal cancer surgery (ECS) greater than or equal to 7/year. Hospitals failing to meet these requirements would not be eligible to treat patients employed by BRT corporations. Methods Data were obtained from the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for Surgery Resident Statistics Summary for 1999 to 2001. Comparisons were made between the numbers of the Leapfrog index cases required and the actual number of cases performed by each graduating chief resident. Data from the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) for fiscal year 2000 were also analyzed. Outcomes for procedures at The Stamford Hospital were reviewed. Results Data obtained from the RRC reveal that the mode numbers for each of the 3 evidence-based standards for each graduating chief resident in 2000 and 2001 are 5 and 3 for AAA, 15 and 17 for CE, and 0 in both years for ECS. Extrapolation using the mode for each procedure reveals that hospitals with 5 or 6 graduating chief residents may be ineligible to treat patients for AAA and CE. Hospitals with less than or equal to 5 chief residents would be excluded from performing CE. Very few institutions are performing adequate numbers of ECS. Only 4 of 31 CT hospitals would be allowed to perform AAA, and only 3 of 31 could perform CE. Only 1 Connecticut hospital performed more than 7 ECS cases in FY 2000. It is apparent that Leapfrog standards will have serious economic impact on many hospitals, as well as displacing patients to other cities for care. Conclusions Surgical chairs and program directors should be aware of the Leapfrog standards and assess their own programs and institutions for compliance. Performance improvement and outcomes data for all evidence-based standards should be reviewed.
The use of organosilicon polymers in multilayer plasma resist processing

Abstract The unique resistance of organosilicon polymers to oxygen plasmas has led to their widespread use in multilayer resist processing. A study of their etching properties shows a correlation between their structure and etching characteristics. Often, these characteristics are obtained by means of laser interferometric techniques. Using a model of this laser signal we have identified various processes which combine to form an oxygen plasma resistant layer atop these organosilicon polymers. In particular, we have discovered that the etching characteristics of these polymers is relatively independent of the specific structure. Rather, the silicon content of these polymers plays the dominant role in providing resistance to these plasmas. For polymers having a high silicon content, the laser signal is regular and sinusoidal; for lower concentrations (
Briggs on antirealist accounts of scientific law

Rachel Briggs’ critique of “antirealist” accounts of scientific law— including my own perspectivalist best-system account—is part of a project meant to show that Humean conceptions of scientific law are more problematic than has been commonly realized. Indeed, her argument provides a new challenge to the Humean, a thoroughly epistemic version of David Lewis’ “big, bad bug” for Humeanism. Still, I will argue, the antirealist (perspectivalist and expressivist) accounts she criticizes have the resources to withstand the challenge and come out stronger for it. Attention to epistemic possibilities, I argue, shows a number of advantages to a perspectivalist account of scientific law.
An activity-based approach for evaluating strategic investments in manufacturing companies

Abstract The methodology presented in this paper is a non-traditional approach for evaluating capital-intensive advanced manufacturing technology (AMT). More specifically, this methodology is developed to evaluate AMT investments that are heavily influenced by non-financial considerations and that also present significant financial and operational risks to the firm. This approach is formulated based on operationalizing state-of-the-art investment management principles. with an objective of selecting and implementing AMT investments that provide the greatest improvement to production-related activities as measured by critical success factors. A knowledge-based expert system, SAAMI, is also developed to guide decision makers through this new approach. The results of the alpha test site case study highlight the acceptance of the results of this methodology by several prominent US organizations. The methodology produces new dimensions of information that complement and/or substitute traditional justification techniques for evaluating AMT investment proposals.
Challenges of preoperative chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Surgical extirpation of a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents an individual's best opportunity for cure. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of patients present with surgically resectable disease. Many patients are diagnosed with tumor confined to the thorax but which is technically unresectable. In the setting of locally advanced disease, combination chemotherapy is capable of effecting tumor shrinkage in a majority of cases. When this occurs, it is tempting to subject the patient to thoracotomy in an attempt to resect the previously unresectable lesion. Use of chemotherapy in this manner is generally referred to as neoadjuvant or preoperative chemotherapy. Recently, several groups have demonstrated that such an approach is feasible but the impact on patient survival remains ill defined. Further studies designed to ascertain the feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy are no longer warranted. It is time for a prospective, randomized trial designed to determine the true potential of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The optimal design of such a trial is a matter of debate but several options are reasonable. This article will review the available data on preoperative chemotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer and will review areas of controversy.
A Patient With Severe Hyponatremia and Hypokalemia: Osmotic Demyelination Following Potassium Repletion

evere hyponatremia is a rare, but important, omplication of thiazide diuretics. This often is ssociated with hypokalemia and other metaolic abnormalities, including hypophosphatemia nd metabolic alkalosis. Treatment of hyponatreia requires in-depth understanding of the mechaisms leading to these metabolic disorders, espeially the role of hypokalemia in the development f hyponatremia. We present a challenging paient with severe hyponatremia and hypokalemia ho, despite careful management, developed osotic demyelinating syndrome. We review the athophysiologic characteristics of this disorder nd lessons learned from this unfortunate incience.
Initial characterization of exstrophy bladder smooth muscle cells in culture.

Purpose: Previous studies have suggested that exstrophic bladder smooth muscle cells grown in culture show contractility similar to that of normal bladder smooth muscle cells. Despite this similar contractility, other cellular characteristics may vary between exstrophic and normal bladder smooth muscle cells.Materials and Methods: Primary cultures of bladder smooth muscle cells were established from patients with bladder exstrophy (14) and vesicoureteral reflux as a control (10). Expression of smooth muscle specific α-actin and heavy chain myosin was determined with immunohistochemistry. Response of smooth muscle cells to high potassium Krebs solution or acetylcholine (0.1 mM) was assessed using a calcium sensitive fluorescent dye. Intracellular calcium concentration was measured after 48 hours in basal media. Cell migration in basal media during 24 hours was determined using transwell assays. Baseline proliferation and response to 10% fetal bovine serum were assessed with bromodeoxyuridine incorporation ...
Seasonal temperature acclimation of a prickly-pear cactus in south-central Arizona.

Carbon dioxide exchange patterns of prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia phaeacantha var. discata) were studied throughout the year to determine temperature influences on and seasonal responses of the process. Cacti exhibit CAM which permits nighttime carboxylation of CO2 to malate and daytime decarboxylation of malate to CO2. The gas exchange studies were done on plants harvested near Mesa, Arizona, and placed in an open CO2 exchange analysis system. Carbon dioxide exchange rates varied with temperature and season. Greatest CO2 influx rates were at low temperatures while efflux rates were greatest at high temperatures. A shift in season caused a change in CO2 exchange rates at any one temperature. Equal rates were shown at increasing temperatures as CO2 analyses progressed from winter to summer showing seasonal temperature acclimation. A comparison of the CO2 exchange temperature compensation point (the temperature at which the plant shows zero CO2 exchange usually due to the shift from net influx to net efflux or the opposite) with air temperatures shows the months of November through February to have the greatest potential for a large net CO2 influx while the summer months may actually exhibit a small net CO2 loss. This loss is much less than would occur if the cacti did not exhibit temperature acclimation. Thus, with a large net CO2 influx in the cool months and a small net CO2 efflux during the warm months, prickly-pear cacti maintain a net CO2 exchange gain for the year.
Advances in the chemical conversion of surplus energetic materials to higher value products

The demilitarization of nuclear and conventional munitions in Russia and the West is producing millions of pounds of surplus energetic materials. Historically, energetic materials (high explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics) have been disposed by open burning/open detonation (OB/OD). The use of OB/OD is becoming unacceptable due to public concerns and increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Our goal is to develop environmentally sound and cost-effective alternatives to OB/OD. We have investigated the use of recycled high explosives as raw materials for producing a variety of higher value products. In this paper, we review chemical conversion activities with an emphasis on recent work from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
Cutaneous melanoma in Japan and the United States: comparative prognostic factors.

The ability to predict outcome for an individual patient with melanoma is important not only for the prognostic interests of the particular patient involved, but also for the design and accurate interpretation of surgical and adjuvant therapy studies. Comparison of prognostic studies between centers in the United States and Japan may result in understanding biologic differences between the disease as it manifests in whites and mongoloids. Studies from the Melanoma Clinical Cooperative Group (U.S.A.) and from Tohoku University (Japan) show some significant similarities and some differences. Overall five-year survival is quite different for clinical state I patients, 85% and 65%, respectively. However, when five-year survival for lesions on the hands and feet in the U.S. series is compared with the mainly acral melanomas in the Japanese series, the results show five-year survivals of 63% and 73%, respectively. Comparison of five-year survivals for clinical stage I acral lentigenous melanoma of the soles subdivided by thickness would establish whether data from the large series collected in the United States can be extrapolated to melanoma behavior in Japan.
Assessing the mechanical properties of tissue-mimicking phantoms at different depths as an approach to measure biomechanical gradient of crystalline lens

We demonstrate the feasibility of using the dominant frequency of the sample surface response to a mechanical stimulation as an effective indicator for sensing the depthwise distribution of elastic properties in transparent layered phantom samples simulating the cortex and nucleus of the crystalline lens. Focused ultrasound waves are used to noninvasively interrogate the sample surface. A phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography system is utilized to capture the surface dynamics over time with nanometer scale sensitivity. Spectral analysis is performed on the sample surface response to ultrasound stimulation and the dominant frequency is calculated under particular loading parameters. Pilot experiments were conducted on homogeneous and layered tissue-mimicking phantoms. Results indicate that the mechanical layers located at different depths introduce different frequencies to the sample surface response, which are correlated with the depth-dependent elasticity of the sample. The duration and the frequency of the ultrasound excitation are also investigated for their influences on this spectrum-based detection. This noninvasive method may be potentially applied for localized and rapid assessment of the depth dependence of the mechanical properties of the crystalline lens.
Oral sex as infidelity-detection

Abstract An evolutionary history of human female infidelity and consequent sperm competition may have caused the evolution of male counter-adaptations. The infidelity-detection hypothesis for oral sex proposes that men perform oral sex to gather information about their partner’s recent sexual history. We tested this hypothesis with data secured from 231 men in committed, sexual, heterosexual relationships. We found support for two derivative predictions: men at a greater recurrent risk of sperm competition expressed greater interest in, and spent more time performing, oral sex on their partner, even after controlling statistically for relationship length, relationship satisfaction, and sexual intercourse duration. The discussion addresses limitations of this research and highlights directions for future research, including distinguishing empirically the infidelity-detection hypothesis from alternative hypotheses for oral sex.
Shedding "UV" light on endogenous opioid dependence.

Excessive sun tanning can result in addictive behavior. In this issue of Cell, Fell et al. utilize a combination of behavioral pharmacology and transgenic mice to demonstrate that chronic UV light exposure recruits p53 signaling in keratinocytes, subsequently increasing β-endorphin signaling at opioid receptors, and produces an endogenous opioid-dependent state.
Falls in persons with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible risk factors for falls in a group of patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
Characterization Of Asymmetric Self-Defocusing And Centrosymmetric Scattering In Barium Titanate

Asymmetric and centrosymmetric scattering are investigated in barium titanate. The dependence of scattered intensity on beam diameter is experimentally derived and shown to be in agreement with the existing theory of stimulated photorefractive scattering (SPS). Observations on the spatial aspects of asymmetric self-defocusing within the crystal are also presented and compared with theory.
Facilitating intermediate node discovery for decentralized offloading in High Performance Computing centers

Modern high-performance computing applications use large scale simulations to facilitate scientific discovery, such as studying the impact of sub-atomic interactions or searching for a cure for diseases. These applications increasingly use data that is growing exponentially in size. Thus, management of data at High Performance Computing (HPC) centers is a critical problem, and addressing data-related issues is considered a major step towards realization of efficient resource usage. Result-data offloading is a promising technique that can improve efficiency of HPC centers by moving the application result data quickly to user-specified remote locations. This also increases the overall center serviceability. However, identifying suitable remote locations for use in such decentralized offloading remains an open problem. In this paper, we explore several methods for locating intermediate nodes using peer-to-peer techniques. We facilitate node discovery at each level of the offload, and structure the discovered nodes to support efficient data transfer that can satisfy the Service Level Agreements between the HPC center and the job submission site. Our evaluation, using realistic simulations and actual measurements on the PlanetLab distributed test-bed, shows that, compared to a naive random discovery, controlled routing-table-based advertisements offer an efficient and effective method for discovering appropriate resources: it discovers 211% more nodes in total, and achieves quick discovery by finding 184% more nodes in less than 27% of the time compared to a random-broadcast based approach. Thus, this work provides promising node discovering mechanisms that can facilitate the HPC data offloading process.
A temporal analogy to imaging with coherent diffuse illumination

Abstract An experiment is described in which an amplitude modulated electrical signal, having a spectrum too broad to pass through a narrow band pass filter, is passed when random phase modulation precedes the amplitude modulation and the resulting signal is envelope detected. This technique is analogous to the case of diffuse illumination in an imaging system.
76 Systolic blood pressure growth in us children and adolescents

Abstract PURPOSE: Rapid height and weight changes occur from infancy throughout adolescence. The rate of weight and height changes contributes markedly to blood pressure change during children's physical growth. Longitudinal assessment of systolic blood pressure (SBP), using growth modeling, has not been described in the U.S. This study evaluates the differences in SBP growth among four gender-ethnic groups: African American boys, African American girls, Caucasian boys, and Caucasian girls. METHODS: Subjects were 6 to 9 years old at entry, and were followed up for 12 years. A total of 19 semi-annual and annual SBP measurements were made. The population was restricted to subjects with a minimum of 5 timed measurements (n = 1,302). Repeated SBP measures were analyzed using the Gompertz growth model. RESULTS: Two parameters of SBP growth were evaluated: (1) the initial SBP level at study entry, and (2) the asymptote level (e.g., the level at which SBP growth diminishes). The average age of children at entry was 7.72 (±0.7) years. The mean and standard error of the initial SBP level (millimeters of mercury or mmHg) was highest in Caucasian boys (102.8 ± 0.5), followed by African American boys (99.4 ± 0.8), Caucasian girls (84.9 ± 0.7), and African American girls (82.2 ± 0.8). The asymptote level (mmHg) was highest among Caucasian boys (111.1 ± 0.4), followed by African American boys (110.6 ± 0.5), African American girls (107.1 ± 0.5), and Caucasian girls (105.3 ± 0.4). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that longitudinal changes in SBP differ among children in the four gender-ethnic groups.
Psychiatry Morbidity and Mortality Rounds: Implementation and Impact

Objective This study assessed the implementation of psychiatry morbidity and mortality rounds (M&Ms) on the clinical and educational practice in a children’s hospital.
Establishing Thermal Processes for Products with Broken‐Heating Curves from Data Taken at Other Retort and Initial Temperatures

Heat penetration data were obtained at high and low retort temperatures and at high and low product initial temperatures in two can sizes for five products displaying broken heating in a still retort. Extrapolation of data to a higher retort temperature was found to be an acceptable (conservative) practice for process establishment. For 300 × 400 cans of corn in brine predicted processing time was 9.7 min for a 128°C process on the basis of data obtained at 116°C. The actual required time was 8.5 min. Conversely, data extrapolated to a lower retort temperature were not acceptable. Initial temperature influenced processing times by as much as 50% for some products; the highest initial temperature intended for establishment of the process must be used for the heat penetration test.
Financial Issues and Relationship Outcomes among Cohabiting Individuals.

Few studies have examined how financial relationship issues are associated with cohabiting individuals' risk of union dissolution or marriage. Competing-risks Cox regressions using the cohabiting data in the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 483) found that financial disagreements predicted union dissolution, whereas disagreements about housework, spending time together, sex, and parents did not. Perceived unfairness in finances also predicted union dissolution. Although perceived housework unfairness also positively predicted dissolution, this effect was moderated by gender. Interestingly, neither financial issues nor the other normative problems predicted the likelihood of marriage. These findings suggest that the relationship problems associated with financial issues are particularly salient to cohabiting individuals' decision to end their unions.
A Simple Power Meter for Measuring Outputs from a High Power Continuous Wave (CW) CO2 Laser

The design of a power meter for measuring continuous wave (CW) outputs is presented. The principle of the operation is to measure the temperature rise at the surface of an aluminum slab that absorbs the energy of the incident 10.6 micron radiation. In order to make effective absorption, the surface is covered with a layer of Al203 of a few microns in thickness. Linear response to the incident power up to 200 W and allowable power density of more than 500 W/cm2 are attained.
Discriminative stimulus properties of m-chlorophenylpiperazine.

Abstract Stimulus control was established in a group of 10 rats using a dose of m -chlorophenylpiperazine (MCPP) of 0.8 mg/kg, administered IP, 15 min before training. A two-lever operant task using a fixed-ratio 10 schedule of sweetened milk reinforcement was used. Based upon a criterion for the presence of stimulus control of five consecutive sessions during which 83% or more of all responses were on the appropriate lever, a mean of 27 sessions was required to reach criterion performance. Response rates were significantly suppressed by the training dose of MCPP (14 responses/min) as compared with saline sessions (38 responses/min). Subsequent to the establishment of stimulus control, tests of generalization were conducted with m -trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), 6-chloro-2-(1-piperazinyl)-pyrazine (MK-212), and 5-methoxy-3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridinyl)-1 H -indole (RU-24969). MCPP generalized completely to MK-212 and TFMPP at doses of the latter drugs of 0.7 and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively. Maximum generalization to RU-24969 was 67% at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg but only 4 of 10 subjects completed the test session. The present results indicate that MCPP is efficacious as a discriminative stimulus. In addition, because of MCPP's relative selectivity for the 5-hydroxytryptamine C (5-HT 1C ) receptor subjects trained with MCPP may prove valuable in assessing the respective functional contributions of 5-HT 1C sites to the actions of a variety of serotonergic agents.
Early Learning and the Recognition of Conspecific Cocoons by Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.)

Groups of newly-eclosed workers of two carpenter ant species (Camponotus floridanus and C. tortuganus) were reared in the presence of conspecific cocoons, cocoons of the other species, or were kept without cocoons. Groups of older workers (> 20 days), previously exposed to conspecific brood in their natal nest, were familiarized with either conspecific or heterospecific cocoons. After 14 days of exposure, groups were subjected to short-term (5 min) and long-term (10 day) preference tests. Young and older workers retrieved and retained many cocoons of both species, familiar and unfamiliar. However, a pattern of non-exclusive discrimination emerged: (1) Young workers exposed to conspecific cocoons picked up and retrieved conspecifics before unfamiliar heterospecifics, and retained conspecifics longer. (2) Young workers generally required experience with conspecifics to develop this preference, as those exposed to only heterospecifics and those deprived of cocoons were impartial in short-term tests. However, in long-term tests (5–10 days), naive young workers significantly preferred unfamiliar conspecifics. (3) Older workers preferred conspecific cocoons, whether familiar or unfamiliar, in short-term tests, but their tolerance for heterospecifics in the longer term (5 days) could be increased by recent familiarization. In no case did young or older ants significantly prefer familiar heterospecifics to conspecifics. These results confirm a role for early learning in brood recognition by carpenter ants, but suggest that it is less important than in Formica species studied by previous authors.
A clinically practical electron cone for the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of the work was to develop a practical electron cone and to compare its dosimetry with that of the conventional applicator collimation system. Methods and Materials: The electron cone consists of the upper part of a manufacturer-supplied electron applicator and an institution-built rectangular extension tube which produces a 12 cm × 6 cm field at 100 cm SSD while maintaining an air gap of 5 cm between the patient. Results: The compact size of the cone allows electron irradiation without having to reposition the patient after photon treatment. The radiation field is very similar to that of a standard 15 cm × 15 cm applicator with a 12 cm × 6 cm field restricting insert. Radiation leakage at the surface of the special cone is typically less than 1% of the useful beam at d max . During 12 years of clinical use the special cone proved itself very practical in the treatment of more than 300 patients. Conclusion: An electron cone practical for clinical use with dosimetry comparable to the conventional applicator was developed.