cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Micromagnetic simulations of absoption spectra

Abstract Further development of a previously introduced method for numerically simulating magnetic spin waves is presented. Together with significant improvements in speed, the method now allows one to calculate the energy absorbed by the various modes excited by a position- and time-dependent H1 field in a ferromagnetic body of arbitrary shape in the presence of a (uniform or non-uniform) static H0 field as well as the internal exchange and anisotropy fields. The method is applied to the case of the single vortex state in a thin disc, a ring, and various square slabs, for which the absorption spectra are calculated and the most strongly excited resonance modes are identified.
Attitudes and practices regarding the use of methadone in US state and federal prisons.

In the United States, vigorous enforcement of drug laws and stricter sentencing guidelines over the past 20 years have contributed to an expanded incarcerted population with a high rate of drug use. One in five state prisoners reports a history of injection drug use, and many are opiate dependent. For over 35 years, methadone maintenance therapy has been an effective treatment for opiate dependence; however, its use among opiate-dependent inmates in the United States is limited. In June 2003, we conducted a survey of the medical directors of all 50 US states and the federal prison system to describe their attitudes and practices regarding methadone. Of the 40 respondents, having jurisdiction over 88% (n=1,266,759) of US prisoners, 48% use methadone, predominately for pregnant inmates or for short-term detoxification. Only 8% of respondents refer opiate-dependent inmates to methadone programs upon release. The results highlight the need to destigmatize the use of methadone in the incarcerated setting, expand access to methadone during incarceration, and to improve linkage to methadone treatment for opiate-dependent offenders who return to the community.
The glycerol utilization operon of Streptomyces coelicolor: genetic mapping of gyl mutations and the analysis of cloned gylDNA.

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gylB) mutations (which cause glycerol sensitivity), and presumed gylcerol kinase (gylA) and/or regulatory mutations eliminating both glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glcerol kinase activities, map close to the argA locus of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Using the plasmid vector pIJ702 and restriction enzymes Bg/II and SstI, extensively overlapping S. coelicolor DNA fragments of 2.74 kb and 2.84 kb were isolated, either of which could restore the wild-type phenotype to gylB and some gylA mutants. Genetic and biochemical analyses of mutants carrying the cloned gylDNA suggested that a functional gyl promoter had not been cloned, and that restoration of the Gyl+ phenotype was achieved by recombination between the cloned and chromosomal gyl DNA sequences. After subcloning parts of this DNA into the phage vector ϕC31 KC400, “gene disruption” analysis was carried out, which confirmed the absence of the gyl promoter, and indicated that a polycistronic mRNA traverses gylA and then gylB.
Latex allergy in health-care workers in an English district general hospital

Immediate hypersensitivity to latex protein is a serious and potentially life-threatening problem. This study found that eight of 867 (0.9%) medical and nursing staff in a district general hospital were allergic to latex with resultant hand eczema and/or urticaria. Wheezing occurred when latex became airborne, adsorbed to starch powder. Sensitized individuals are at risk of anaphylaxis when they themselves become patients. Measures to prevent latex sensitization include pre-employment advice regarding hand care and glove use, particularly for atopics, who are at increased risk. Gloves made from synthetic latex must be available for a sensitized individual, both to use at work and when undergoing medical examinations, surgery and dentistry. Increased awareness of the problem by health-care workers is important in order to recognize those at risk.
A role for organic petrology in integrated studies of mudrocks: examples from Devonian black shales of the eastern US

Abstract Over the years, the study of mudrocks has lagged far behind that of other lithologies, a circumstance that is in part due to their fine-grained nature, and in part due to economic realities. Yet, within petroleum systems mudstones are usually the main source of hydrocarbons and typically are also important as hydrocarbon seals. Recent work on Late Devonian mudstones from the eastern US shows that much progress can be made through an integration of outcrop study, macro- and micropaleontology, ichnofossils, gamma ray spectroscopy, microscopic examination of thin sections in transmitted and reflected light, electron microscopy (SEM, BSE), electron microprobe, carbon and sulfur isotopes, and organic geochemistry. Erosion surfaces within this black shale succession have been traced over large distances and provide the foundation for a sequence stratigraphic re-interpretation of these rocks. Evidence of storm wave reworking of the seabed, as well as the realization that benthic colonization was much more widespread than previously believed, suggest that anoxic conditions in the water column were not a controlling factor in the accumulation of the large quantities of organic matter found in these shales. These distal Devonian shales accumulated slowly and allowed accumulation of large proportions of organic matter. In modern settings of abundant organic matter accumulation, the original material is broken down by bacteria within a matter of months into a mass of largely unidentifiable organic particles and extracellular bacterial slime. Although one can still find identifiable material within this mass, slime and amorphous material strongly dominate. After burial and maturation this material turns into the various organic macerals that organic petrologists are accustomed to describe. One might wonder in this context, how much information about the origin of a given mudstone unit can we hope to extract through organic petrology? In order to illustrate how organic petrology of mudrocks can contribute to their better understanding, Late Devonian black shales of the eastern US will be examined from a sedimentological perspective. Combining sedimentologic and geochemical data with basic observations on organic petrology, illustrates how the latter can contribute to more realistic scenarios of black shale genesis.
Data acquisition and processing parameters for concrete bridge deck condition assessment using ground-coupled ground penetrating radar: Some considerations

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive geophysical technique that is widely used to determine the relative condition of reinforced concrete. This paper presents case studies from Missouri, USA, where a ground-coupled GPR system was used to assess the condition of eleven concrete bridge decks. The main goal of this paper is to develop appropriate acquisition and processing parameters in order to conduct rapid, efficient, and cost-effective assessment of bridge decks. To accomplish this goal, the GPR data sets were collected with slightly different acquisition parameters and processed using different parameters. The quality of the results and the time required for each bridge deck survey are analyzed. Additionally, several experimental data sets were collected across a 12th concrete bridge deck to examine the influence of weather conditions on reflection amplitude values, since amplitude analysis is used in this study. Based on the authors' experience and findings, appropriate GPR acquisition and processing parameters are suggested and described for use of the ground-coupled GPR method for bridge deck assessment.
Characterization of proliferin-related protein.

Proliferin-related protein (mPRP) is a member of the PRL/GH family in the mouse. We have generated an antiserum against mPRP expressed as a bacterial fusion protein; this antiserum detects mPRP in the conditioned media of placental tissue cultures as a heterogenous population of glycoproteins. We have also expressed mPRP in mammalian tissue culture cells and purified the secreted protein. N-terminal sequence analysis of the purified protein reveals that it is secreted as a 214 amino acid protein after removal of a 30 amino acid signal polypeptide. An antiserum raised against the purified protein detects high levels of mPRP in maternal serum during gestation. The site of synthesis of this protein has been localized by in situ hybridization to the basal zone of the day-10 mouse placenta, which is distinct from the site of synthesis of other placental proteins in this family
Aggregate intersectoral relationships in urban areas: A study of localized employment for SMSAs

This paper attempts to explain localized employment in a cross section of SMSAs using selected economic aggregates rather than “basic” employment. A model is postulated where a city's localized employment depends on population, per capita income, and the position of a city within an urban hierarchy. This formulation is successfully estimated using regression analysis. The estimated coefficients are then used to explore implications concerning intercity differences in the propensity to spend locally and other aggregate relationships.
A study of the creep properties of a NiFe metallic glass

Abstract Tension creep tests of METGLAS (R) 2826 in the temperature range 523–573 K at stresses from 620 to 1620 MPa have demonstrated that the strain rate-stress relationship for this material is non-linear. The data can be described by a power law relationship, with the stress exponent varying from 7 at 573 K to 10 at 523 K. Macroscopic tensile strains up to 20% have been recorded. Examination of the fracture surfaces of specimens which failed during creep reveal that this material is capable of necking to a chisel edge. Accordingly even greater macroscopic ductility may result from the elimination of detrimental surface defects.
Coherence of power series rings over pseudo-Bezout domains

Abstract We provide a large class of coherent domains whose rings of formal power series are not coherent, by proving that if R is a pseudo-Bezout domain and R [[ X ]] is coherent, then R is completely integrally closed; this generalizes a theorem of Jondrup and Small's for valuation domains. We also obtain a large class of completely integrally closed pseudo-Bezout domains R for which R [[ X ]] is not coherent; in particular, if R is a rank one valuation domain whose group of divisibility is a proper dense subgroup of the reals, then R [[ X ]] is not coherent.
Apolipoprotein A-IV, a putative satiety/antiatherogenic factor, rises after gastric bypass.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGBP) leads to improvements in satiety and obesity-related comorbidities. The mechanism(s) underlying these improvements are not known but may be revealed in part by discovery proteomics. Therefore, fasting plasma was collected from 12 subjects (mean BMI >45) during RYGBP and during a second procedure ∼17 months later. Body weight, obesity-related comorbidities, and medication use were decreased after RYGBP. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis was performed on a subset of seven samples using isobaric isotope-coded affinity tags (four plex iTRAQ). Initial proteomic analysis (n = 7) quantified and identified hundreds of plasma proteins. Manual inspection of the data revealed a 2.6 ± 0.5-fold increase in apolipoprotein A-IV (apo A-IV, gene designation: APOA4), a ∼46-kDa glycoprotein synthesized mainly in the bypassed small bowel and liver after RYGBP. The change in apo A-IV was significantly greater than other apolipoproteins. Immunoblot analysis of the full longitudinal sample set (n = 12) indicated even higher increases (8.3 ± 0.2 fold) in apo A-IV. Thus iTRAQ may underestimate the changes in protein concentrations compared to western blotting of apo A-IV. Apo A-IV inhibits gastric emptying and serves as a satiety factor whose synthesis and secretion are increased by the ingestion of dietary fat. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic properties. Based on these functions, we speculate changes in apo A-IV may contribute to weight loss as well as the improvements in inflammation and cardiovascular disease after RYGBP. In addition, the findings provide evidence validating the use of iTRAQ proteomics in discovery-based studies of post-RYGBP improvements in obesity-related medical comorbidities.
Human cortical mechanisms of visual attention during orienting and search

Functional anatomical studies indicate that a set of neural signals in parietal and frontal cortex mediates the covert allocation of attention to visual locations across a wide variety of visual tasks. This frontoparietal network includes areas, such as the frontal eye field and supplementary eye field. This anatomical overlap suggests that shifts of attention to visual locations of objects recruit areas involved in oculomotor programming and execution. Finally, the fronto-parietal network may be the source of spatial attentional modulations in the ventral visual system during object recognition or discrimination.
Effects of Microinjection of the D2 Dopamine Antagonist Raclopride Into the Ventral Tegmental Area on Ethanol and Sucrose Self‐Administration

From previous microinjection studies, a reciprocal feedback between the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been implicated in the reinforcing stimulus actions of ethanol and sucrose. In these studies, the effects of self administration of ethanol or sucrose solutions on maintained responding were similar when a dopamine antagonist was injected in the nucleus accumbens or a dopamine agonist was injected into the VTA. Our study was performed to determine if the effects on responding that had been observed when a dopamine agonist was injected into the nucleus accumbens would occur after an injection of a dopamine antagonist into the VTA. Male, Long-Evans rats were initially trained to lever press using either 10% ethanol or 75% sucrose solutions as the reinforcers. Bilateral guide cannulae were implanted to allow microinjection into the VTA of differing doses of the dopamine D2 antagonist, raclopride. Only at the highest dose tested (10 microg) was any effect observed on responding maintained by either reinforcer. The effect was minimal and different from that observed after the microinjection of a dopamine agonist into the nucleus accumbens. This suggests that either the actions of the nucleus accumbens agonist manipulation involved other processes or that the level of enhanced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens from the VTA antagonist injection was not sufficient to mimic the effect of the nucleus accumbens agonist injections.
The Value of Computer-Assisted Data Review in the Clinical Development Process

Two years ago, Amgen Clinical Data Management implemented a computer edit check system to detect data problems (such as data inconsistencies and missing data) in its clinical trials databases. The benefits of this system were recently evaluated on three large clinical trials databases (with a total of 156,783 case report forms) to determine its impact on operations and, in particular, on the number of staff required to perform data review and finalization activities. It was found that the use of the computer edit check system resulted in a 37.5% productivity increase. For the three clinical trials evaluated, this productivity resulted in a total of six clinical data associate staff-years saved.
Resilient X10: efficient failure-aware programming

Scale-out programs run on multiple processes in a cluster. In scale-out systems, processes can fail. Computations using traditional libraries such as MPI fail when any component process fails. The advent of Map Reduce, Resilient Data Sets and MillWheel has shown dramatic improvements in productivity are possible when a high-level programming framework handles scale-out and resilience automatically.We are concerned with the development of general-purpose languages that support resilient programming. In this paper we show how the X10 language and implementation can be extended to support resilience. In Resilient X10, places may fail asynchronously, causing loss of the data and tasks at the failed place. Failure is exposed through exceptions. We identify a {\em Happens Before Invariance Principle} and require the runtime to automatically repair the global control structure of the program to maintain this principle. We show this reduces much of the burden of resilient programming. The programmer is only responsible for continuing execution with fewer computational resources and the loss of part of the heap, and can do so while taking advantage of domain knowledge.We build a complete implementation of the language, capable of executing benchmark applications on hundreds of nodes. We describe the algorithms required to make the language runtime resilient. We then give three applications, each with a different approach to fault tolerance (replay, decimation, and domain-level checkpointing). These can be executed at scale and survive node failure. We show that for these programs the overhead of resilience is a small fraction of overall runtime by comparing to equivalent non-resilient X10 programs. On one program we show end-to-end performance of Resilient X10 is ~100x faster than Hadoop.
Leading Process Branch Instability in Lis1+/− Nonradially Migrating Interneurons

Mammalian forebrain development requires extensive migration, yet the mechanisms through which migrating neurons sense and respond to guidance cues are not well understood. Similar to the axon growth cone, the leading process and branches of neurons may guide migration, but the cytoskeletal events that regulate branching are unknown. We have previously shown that loss of microtubule-associated protein Lis1 reduces branching during migration compared with wild-type neurons. Using time-lapse imaging of Lis1+/− and Lis1+/+ cells migrating from medial ganglionic eminence explant cultures, we show that the branching defect is not due to a failure to initiate branches but a defect in the stabilization of new branches. The leading processes of Lis1+/− neurons have reduced expression of stabilized, acetylated microtubules compared with Lis1+/+ neurons. To determine whether Lis1 modulates branch stability through its role as the noncatalytic β regulatory subunit of platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase 1b, exogenous PAF was applied to wild-type cells. Excess PAF added to wild-type neurons phenocopies the branch instability observed in Lis1+/− neurons, and a PAF antagonist rescues leading process branching in Lis1+/− neurons. These data highlight a role for Lis1, acting through the PAF pathway, in leading process branching and microtubule stabilization.
Altered distribution of mannose-binding lectin alleles at exon I codon 54 in women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.

Objectives: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is active in the innate immune defense against microorganisms. In this study, we determined whether vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, a disorder of unknown etio ...
Emergence of Carbapenemaseproducing Klebsiella Pneumoniae of Sequence type 258 in Michigan, USA.

The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in our hospital increased beginning in 2009. We aimed to study the clinical and molecular epidemiology of these emerging isolates. We performed a retrospective review of all adult patients with clinical cultures confirmed as CPE by positive modified Hodge test from 5/2009-5/2010 at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Clinical information was obtained from electronic medical records. Available CPE isolates were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA encoding gene and blaKPC locus . Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to characterize Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. Twenty six unique CPE isolates were obtained from 25 adult patients. The majority were Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=17). Other isolates included K. oxytoca (n=3), Citrobacter freundii (n=2), Enterobacter cloacae (n=2), Enterobacter aerogenes (n=1) and Escherichia col i (n=1). Molecular characterization of 19 available CPE isolates showed that 13 (68%) carried the KPC-3 allele and 6 (32%) carried the KPC-2 allele. Among 14 available K. pneumoniae strains, 12 (86%) carried the KPC-3 allele and belonged to a common lineage, sequence type (ST) 258. The other 2 (14%) K. pneumoniae isolates carried the KPC-2 allele and belonged to two unique STs. Among these ST 258 strains, 67% were isolated from patients with prior exposures to health care settings outside of our institution. In contrast, all CPE isolates carrying the KPC-2 allele and all non ST 258 CPE isolates had acquisition attributable to our hospital. Molecular epidemiology of carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae suggests that KPC-3 producing K. pneumoniae isolates of a common lineage, sequence type (ST 258), are emerging in our hospital. While ST 258 is a dominant sequence type throughout the United States, this study is the first to report its presence in Michigan.
Craniosynostosis: Caring for Infants and Their Families

Craniosynostosis is a developmental anomaly with premature closure of the cranial sutures causing an abnormally shaped skull in an infant. Recommended surgical treatment involves cranial vault reconstruction to open the closed suture, increase intracranial volume, and allow the brain to grow normally. Parents work with a multidisciplinary team during the evaluation process and face various preoperative and postoperative stressors. Critical care nurses can improve the care of the infants and their families by being knowledgeable about the anatomy, assessment, and surgical and nursing management of infants with this anomaly and its impact on the patients' families. This article discusses the definitions, diagnosis, and treatment of craniosyn- ostosis and support for parents of infants with this malformation. (Critical Care Nurse. 2013;33(4):39-51)
Fully micromachined finite-ground coplanar line-to-waveguide transitions for W-band applications

A fully micromachined finite-ground coplanar (FGC) line-to-waveguide transition for W-band applications has been designed, fabricated, and tested. The transition utilizes a printed E-plane probe, inserted into the broad sidewall of a micromachined waveguide. This type of transition plays an important role in many applications where coupling between the popular FGC line and a waveguide is required. Excellent performance across the entire W-band of such a transition is presented in this paper. The investigated waveguide, micromachined in silicon using the deep reactive ion etching technique, demonstrates its potential as an alternative to costly conventional waveguides at high frequencies. A similar transition with a micromachined waveguide formed via bulk micromachining using a wet etchant is also demonstrated. The free-standing probe utilized in this second transition proves the potential of such transitions to be applicable well into the submillimeter and terahertz range.
Direct Excitation of High-Amplitude Chirped Bucket-Bgk Modes

Summary form only given. For the first time, high amplitude (Deltan/nap40%), high Q (up to 100,000) Bernstein, Greene, and Kruskal modes have been controllably excited in a non-neutral electron plasma with a spatially localized electrostatic drive. The modes are created by sweeping an excitation voltage downwards in frequency, thereby dragging a phase space "bucket" of low density into the bulk of the plasma velocity distribution. The modes have no linear limit and differ markedly from plasma waves and Trivelpiece-Gould modes. Excitation behavior responds predictably to tailoring of the electron plasma distribution function. Preliminary experiments using a fixed-k drive will be discussed.
Evaluation of the Quality of Four Commercially Available Natural Enemies

The post-shipment quality of four species of natural enemies, Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Eulo- phidae), Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenop- tera: Trichogrammatidae), Chrysoperla carnea (Ste- phens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and Hippodamia convergens Guerin (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), was evaluated from shipments from 10 companies ordered over 2.5 years at three locations. Evaluations included the numbers received, emergence rates, sex ratio, survivorship, species identity, reproduction, and para- sitism. In general, natural enemies arrived on time in protective shipping containers. There were consider- able differences in the numbers received, depending on the company supplying the natural enemy and time of year. There were also differences among companies for survivorship and emergence rates of some natural enemies. Chrysopids other than C. carnea were shipped and cannibalism by larvae reduced the numbers re- ceived. Approximately 20% of coccinellids were found to be parasitized. Using average characteristics of H. convergens shipments, an estimated 75-508 reproduc- tively active females would be received from an order of 1000 beetles. If confirmed by further study, informa- tion such as this could provide customers an ''industry standard'' for the expected number of natural enemies in a given reproductive or other physiological
The effects of thermal capsulorrhaphy of medial parapatellar capsule on patellar lateral displacement

The effectiveness of thermal shrinkage on the medial parapatellar capsule for treating recurrent patellar dislocation is controversial. One of reasons why it is still controversial is that the effectiveness is still qualitatively measured. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively determine the immediate effectiveness of the medial parapatellar capsule shrinkage as in clinical setting. Nine cadaveric knees were used to collect lateral displacement data before and after medial shrinkage or open surgery. The force and displacement were recorded while a physician pressed the patella from the medial side to mimic the physical exam used in clinic. Ten healthy subjects were used to test the feasibility of the technique on patients and establish normal range of lateral displacement of the patella under a medial force. The force applied, the resulting displacement and the ratio of force over displacement were compared among four data groups (normal knees, cadaveric knees before medial shrinkage, after shrinkage and after open surgery). Displacements of the cadaveric knees both before and after thermal modification were similar to normal subjects, and the applied forces were significantly higher. No significant differences were found between before and after thermal modification groups. After open surgery, displacements were reduced significantly while applied forces were significantly higher. No immediate difference was found after thermal shrinkage of the medial parapatellar capsule. Open surgery immediately improved of the lateral stiffness of the knee capsule.
Anomaly-Based Hyperspectral Image Compression

We propose a new lossy compression algorithm for hyperspectral images, which is based on spectral principal component analysis (PCA), followed by JPEG2000 (JP2K). The approach employs an anomaly-removal model in the compression process to preserve anomalous pixels. Results on two different hyperspectral image scenes show that the new algorithm not only provides good post-compression anomaly-detection performance but also improves rate-distortion performance.
Queering the Fertility Clinic

A sociologist examines contemporary engagements of queer bodies and identities with fertility biomedicine. Drawing on social science, media culture, and the author's own empirical research, three questions frame the analysis: 1. In what ways have queers on the gendered margins moved into the center and become implicated or central users of biomedicine's fertility offerings? 2. In what ways is Fertility Inc. transformed by its own incorporation of various gendered and queered bodies and identities? And 3. What are the biosocial and bioethical implications of expanded queer engagements and possibilities with Fertility Inc.? The author argues that "patient" activism through web 2.0 coupled with a largely unregulated free-market of assisted reproduction has included various queer identities as "parents-in-waiting." Such inclusions raise a set of ethical tensions regarding how to be accountable to the many people implicated in this supply and demand industry.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Cidofovir as a Topical Ophthalmic Antiviral for Ocular Canine Herpesvirus-1 Infections in Dogs

Abstract Purpose: The effects of cidofovir were investigated against canine herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1) in vitro and in dogs with experimentally induced recurrent ocular CHV-1 infection, a host-adapted pathogen animal model of ocular herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection. Methods: The cidofovir EC50 was determined for CHV-1 and HSV-1. A randomized, masked vehicle-controlled trial was performed using beagles with experimentally induced recurrent ocular CHV-1 infection. Dogs received 1 drop of 0.5% cidofovir solution or 0.9% sodium chloride solution (vehicle) in both eyes 2 times daily for 14 days. Dogs were monitored at intervals for 30 days by a clinical ophthalmic examination, in vivo confocal microscopy of the cornea and conjunctiva, ocular sample CHV-1 polymerase chain reaction assay, hemogram, and serum biochemistry panel. Clinical ocular disease scores were calculated and infiltrating leukocytes detected by in vivo confocal microscopy quantified. Results: Cidofovir displayed similar in vitro antiviral a...
A novel field evaluation of the effectiveness of distance and independent observer sampling to estimate aural avian detection probabilities

Summary 1. The validation of field sampling techniques is a concern for applied ecologists due to the strong model assumptions implicit in all methods. Computer simulations make replication easy, but they do not give insights into how much bias occurs in real populations. Testing sampling methods on populations of known size can establish directly how well estimators perform, but such populations are very hard to find, and replicate, and they may have unusual attributes. 2. We present a field validation of distance and double-observer methods of estimating detection probabilities on aural avian point counts. Our research is relevant to conservation agencies worldwide who design thousands of avian monitoring programmes based primarily on auditory point counts. The programmes are a critical component in the management of many avian species. 3. Our validation used a simulation system which mimics birds calling in a field environment. The system allowed us to vary singing rate, species, distance, the complexity of points, and other factors. 4. Distance methods performed poorly, primarily due to large localization errors, and estimates did not improve for simplified points. 5. For the double-observer method, two pairs of observers tended to underestimate true population size, while the third pair tended to double-count birds which overestimated the population. Detection probabilities were always higher and population estimates lower when observers subjectively matched birds compared to an objective rule and showed a slight negative bias and good precision. A simplified 45-degree matching rule did not improve the performance of double-observer estimates which had a slight positive bias and much lower precision. Double-observer estimates did improve on the simplified points. 6. Synthesis and applications . We encourage ecologists working with sampling methods to develop similar methods of working with simulated populations through use of technology. Our simulated field evaluation has demonstrated the difficulty of accurately estimating population size when limited to aural detections. Problems are related to limitations in the ability of observers to localize sound, estimate distance, and accurately identify birds during a count. Other sources of error identified are the effects of observers, singing rate, singing orientation and background noise.
Identification of hydrocarbon precursors to diamond in chemical vapor deposition using carbon monoxide reagent

Diamond films were grown by microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition using mixtures of 13CH4 and CO. Mass spectrometry was used to identify CO, CH4, and C2H2 as the stable gaseous products in the reactor exhaust gas. By comparing gaseous 13C compositions with that of the diamond films, the efficiency of diamond growth from methane (possibly via the methyl radical) is found to be about two orders of magnitude higher than that for carbon monoxide. Most of the diamond that is formed from the CO reagent results from the conversion of CO to hydrocarbons. The conversion of CO to hydrocarbons is attributed to activation of CO by high-energy electrons in the plasma.
Subthreshold voltage high-k CMOS devices have lowest energy and high process tolerance

Evolving nanometer CMOS technologies provide low power, high performance and higher levels of integration but suffer from increased subthreshold leakage and excessive process variation. The present work examines the 45nm bulk and high-k technologies. We evaluate the performance of a 32-bit ripple-carry adder circuit for the entire range of supply voltages over which it displays correct function. Lowering voltage increases delay, reducing the maximum clock cycle rate. We use the maximum permissible clock rate and the energy per cycle at that clock rate as two performance criteria. The minimum energy per cycle operation occurs at a subthreshold voltage. For minimum energy, the bulk technology has a very low performance (∼7 MHz). However, high-k technology works at a much higher 250 MHz clock. Faster clock rate reduces the leakage energy making high-k almost twice as energy efficient compared to bulk. The energy per cycle versus supply voltage is a U-shaped curve whose bottom, the minimum energy point, provides a stable equilibrium against speed and energy deviations due to process related parametric variations for different technologies. These deviations can be expected to be lower for high k technology compared to those circuits designed in bulk technology that are commonly in use. These deviations are also lower compared to those at higher supply voltages that are commonly in use. Although we expect the clock rate to further improve and energy per cycle to reduce for 32 nm and finer technologies, some projections indicate that energy per cycle could increase with a move towards finer technologies. However, those studies were conducted on bulk technologies and further investigation should ascertain the performance of the high-k technology.
Understanding overlay characteristics of a large-scale peer-to-peer IPTV system

This article presents results from our measurement and modeling efforts on the large-scale peer-to-peer (p2p) overlay graphs spanned by the PPLive system, the most popular and largest p2p IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) system today. Unlike other previous studies on PPLive, which focused on either network-centric or user-centric measurements of the system, our study is unique in (a) focusing on PPLive overlay-specific characteristics, and (b) being the first to derive mathematical models for its distributions of node degree, session length, and peer participation in simultaneous overlays.Our studies reveal characteristics of multimedia streaming p2p overlays that are markedly different from existing file-sharing p2p overlays. Specifically, we find that: (1) PPLive overlays are similar to random graphs in structure and thus more robust and resilient to the massive failure of nodes, (2) Average degree of a peer in the overlay is independent of the channel population size and the node degree distribution can be fitted by a piecewise function, (3) The availability correlation between PPLive peer pairs is bimodal, that is, some pairs have highly correlated availability, while others have no correlation, (4) Unlike p2p file-sharing peers, PPLive peers are impatient and session lengths (discretized, per channel) are typically geometrically distributed, (5) Channel population size is time-sensitive, self-repeated, event-dependent, and varies more than in p2p file-sharing networks, (6) Peering relationships are slightly locality-aware, and (7) Peer participation in simultaneous overlays follows a Zipf distribution. We believe that our findings can be used to understand current large-scale p2p streaming systems for future planning of resource usage, and to provide useful and practical hints for future design of large-scale p2p streaming systems.
Dissociation of the store-operated calcium current ICRAC and the Mg-nucleotide-regulated metal ion current MagNuM

Rat basophilic leukaemia cells (RBL-2H3-M1) were used to study the characteristics of the store-operated Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ current (ICRAC) and the magnesium-nucleotide-regulated metal cation current (MagNuM) (which is conducted by the LTRPC7 channel). Pipette solutions containing 10 mm BAPTA and no added ATP induced both currents in the same cell, but the time to half-maximal activation for MagNuM was about two to three times slower than that of ICRAC. Differential suppression of ICRAC was achieved by buffering free [Ca2+]i to 90 nm and selective inhibition of MagNuM was accomplished by intracellular solutions containing 6 mm Mg.ATP, 1.2 mm free [Mg2+]i or 100 μm GTP-γ-S, allowing investigations on these currents in relative isolation. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ caused both currents to be carried significantly by monovalent ions. In the absence or presence of free [Mg2+]i, ICRAC carried by monovalent ions inactivated more rapidly and more completely than MagNuM carried by monovalent ions. Since several studies have used divalent-free solutions on either side of the membrane to study selectivity and single-channel behaviour of ICRAC, these experimental conditions would have favoured the contribution of MagNuM to monovalent conductance and call for caution in interpreting results where both ICRAC and MagNuM are activated.
Inferring ant evolution in the age of molecular data (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Molecular data have revolutionized our understanding of ant evolution and systematics by making available large quantities of data and providing an independent character set to infer phylogenetic relationships. Although the first ant phylogeny from molecular sequence data was published less than 15 years ago, the field has grown rapidly with implications for all levels of ant biology. Not only has molecular data helped resolve the phylogenetic relationships of many ant groups, but with well-resolved phylogenies inferences about the evolution of morphology, ages of clades, diversification, associations with mutualists, behavior, development, and other areas of research in ant biology have benefited from this active avenue of research. Questions of speciation, population genetics, phylogeography, systematics, biogeography, and many other active lines of ant research are now routinely addressed with molecular data. With the ease of generating large amounts of sequence data increasing and costs decreasing the next frontier in myrmecology will be to insure that future ant biologists are able to take advantage of this important tool while still being trained in basic ant biology and taxonomy.
Enhanced transport of novel crystalline calcium-phosphonate scale inhibitor nanomaterials and their long term flow back performance in laboratory squeeze simulation tests

In this study, novel crystalline phase calcium-phosphonate scale inhibitor nanomaterials were prepared from amorphous silica templated calcium-phosphonate precipitates. The transport of the nanomaterial suspension (nanofluid) was investigated in calcium carbonate and sandstone formation media using laboratory column breakthrough experiments. The nanomaterials were transportable through these formation media and the transport data can be interpreted using an advection–dispersion equation and a classical colloidal filtration theory. By preflushing the formation media prior to nanofluid injection, the nanofluid experienced enhanced migration in the column breakthrough tests. This observation can be explained by the calculation results of interaction energy of the nanomaterials with the formation medium particles by using Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The long term flow back performance of the crystalline nanomaterials was evaluated in laboratory squeeze simulation tests where the crystalline materials were first attached to the formation medium surfaces and then gradually returned phosphonates into the brine solution during flow back. Due to the low solubility of the crystalline nanomaterials, a long return profile with relatively stable phosphonate return concentrations can be observed in both calcium carbonate and sandstone media, suggesting of the potential advantage of applying these crystalline inhibitor nanomaterials in oilfield operations.
IPO Ii V. Commissioner and the Allocation of an Lcc's Recourse Liabilities

IPO II v. Commissioner concerned the proper allocation of an LLC's recourse liabilities under code section 752. In IPO II, the Tax Court held that 100 percent of the liability was allocable to the only member that had guaranteed the liability. At first blush, says Kalinka, the Tax Court's opinion seems to be correct because the other member of the LLC did not guarantee or assume any other payment obligation for the liability. However, she explains, the facts in IPO II are unusual and do not fit comfortably within the rules of the code section 752 regulations for allocating an LLC's recourse liabilities between or among the LLC's members. This article discusses IPO II, suggests other possible methods of allocating the liability between the LLC's members, and offers some suggestions for avoiding the trap into which the members of the IPO II LLC fell.
An Exact Decentralized Cooperative Navigation Algorithm for Acoustically Networked Underwater Vehicles with Robustness to Faulty Communication: Theory and Experiment.

This paper reports on an exact real-time solution for server-client cooperative localization over a faulty and extremely bandwidth-limited underwater communication channel. Our algorithm, termed the origin state method, enables a ‘server’ vehicle to aid the navigation of multiple ‘client’ vehicles via a novel representation of the server’s pose-graph that is robust to communication packet loss. This transmitted pose-graph can be used in conjunction with a decentralized extended information filter on the client to reproduce the corresponding two-vehicle server-client centralized result exactly. We present a full comparative evaluation for the first-ever real-time field implementation of the proposed algorithm for a multi-agent autonomous underwater vehicle network using underwater acoustic modems to communicate in a synchronous-clock transmission framework.
Quality and Variability of Online Available Physical Therapy Protocols From Academic Orthopaedic Surgery Programs for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Purpose To assess the quality and variability found across anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rehabilitation protocols published online by academic orthopaedic programs. Methods Web-based ACL physical therapy protocols from United States academic orthopaedic programs available online were included for review. Main exclusion criteria included concomitant meniscus repair, protocols aimed at pediatric patients, and failure to provide time points for the commencement or recommended completion of any protocol components. A comprehensive, custom scoring rubric was created that was used to assess each protocol for the presence or absence of various rehabilitation components, as well as when those activities were allowed to be initiated in each protocol. Results Forty-two protocols were included for review from 155 U.S. academic orthopaedic programs. Only 13 protocols (31%) recommended a prehabilitation program. Five protocols (12%) recommended continuous passive motion postoperatively. Eleven protocols (26%) recommended routine partial or non–weight bearing immediately postoperatively. Ten protocols (24%) mentioned utilization of a secondary/functional brace. There was considerable variation in range of desired full-weight-bearing initiation (9 weeks), as well as in the types of strength and proprioception exercises specifically recommended. Only 8 different protocols (19%) recommended return to sport after achieving certain strength and activity criteria. Conclusions Many ACL rehabilitation protocols recommend treatment modalities not supported by current reports. Moreover, high variability in the composition and time ranges of rehabilitation components may lead to confusion among patients and therapists. Level of Evidence Level II.
Iron Doped II-VI ternary and quaternary semiconductors for mid-IR laser applications

We report on crystal-field engineering of solid-state laser gain media based on new transition metal Iron doped II-VI Ternary and Quaternary semiconductor materials for mid-IR tunable laser applications.
Plasma fibrinogen levels and fibrinogen β gene polymorphism in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura

Objective To investigate the correlation between fibrinogen β gene(FGB)polymorphism,FGB-455G/A,-148C/T,-448G/A,and plasma fibrinogen levels in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP).Methods FGB-455G/A,-148C/T,-448G/A gene types were detected by using restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)in 528 children with HSP and 180 healthy children.The plasma levels of fibrinogen in 158 children with HSP and in 100 healthy children were measured by CA-530 automatic blood analyzer.Results Genotype of GG in FGB-455G/A gene site and the genotype of GG in-448G/A site in children with HSP were significantly higher than that in healthy children(P 0.01).Frequency of occurrence of allele G in FGB-455G/A site,allele C in FGB-148C/T site,and allele G in FGB-448G/A site in children with HSP is significantly higher than that in healthy children(P 0.05).HSP OR was 2.39(95%CI,1.66-3.39)of GG genotype in FGB-455G/A site.Plasma fibrinogen level of children with HSP was significantly higher than that of healthy children.In children with HSP,the average level of plasma fibrinogen of GG genotype was much higher than that of AG + AA genotype.Conclusions Gene polymorphism of FGB-455G/A,-448G/A may be correlated with HSP.GG genotype of FGB-455G/A may be the risk gene of HSP in children.
A Ten-Year Survey of Incompetency Hearings in Forsyth County, North Carolina

In 51% of the almost 400 incompetency hearings in Forsyth County, North Carolina, from 1998 to 2007, there was no input from a medical or psychological professional, nor were there medical records, in the public files. Given the enormous consequences of incompetency hearings, the process needs to be transparent, and those who make the decisions need to be accountable. Far more professional input must be used, and it must be inserted in the public records.
A Method for the Establishment and Long-Term Maintenance of In Vitro Monocytic Cultures With Functional and Morphological Homogeneity

The tendency of monocytes to develop into morphologically heterogeneous and often multinucleated populations is a source of difficulty in studying and particularly of quantitating monocytic functions in vitro. By testing various combinations of media and sera used in previous studies for the culture of monocytes from blood and marrow, we have established and maintained morphologically and functionally homogeneous cultures of monocytes derived from human peripheral blood in vitro for up to 3 mo.