cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multispectral thin film biosensing and quantitative imaging using 3D plasmonic crystals.

This work provides plasmonic crystal platforms for quantitative imaging mode biosensing and multispectral immunoassays, establishing and validating both the optical and equilibrium bases for their operation. We investigated the distance-dependent refractive index sensitivity of full 3D plasmonic crystals to thin polymeric films formed using layer by layer (LbL) assembly of polyelectrolytes as a model system. LbL was also used to determine the preferred gold thickness and plasmonic crystal design rules (nanowell diameter and periodicity) for improved thin-film sensitivity, and full 3D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations were used to quantitatively model and confirm the experimentally observed thin film sensitivities. The integrated multispectral response of the crystals increases approximately linearly with film thickness for values <70 nm, which enables the use of molecular rulers with known thicknesses (such as self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols on gold) to calibrate these optics for...
Using weak impulses to suppress traveling waves in excitable media.

Here we propose mechanisms for suppressing non-steady-state motions---propagating pulses, spiral waves, spiral-wave chaos---in excitable media. Our approach is based on two points: (1) excitable media are multistable; and (2) traveling waves in excitable media can be separated into fast and slow motions, which can be considered independently. We show that weak impulses can be used to change the values of the slow variable at the front and back of a traveling wave, which leads to wave front and wave back velocities that are different from each other. This effect can destabilize the traveling wave, resulting in a transition to the rest state.
In vivo analysis of dopamine and its metabolites in the caudate nucleus during euthermia and hibernation.

Abstract Golden-mantled ground squirrels (Citellus lateralis) were chronically implanted with a unilateral push-pull cannula in the caudate nucleus. Perfusates obtained in these unanesthetized, unrestrained animals during the euthermic (non-hibernating) and hibernating states were analyzed for dopamine (DA) and its metabolites (homovanillic acid (HVA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethanol (MOPET) using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The data revealed clear differences in the performance of the caudate DA system in the two states. During the euthermic state, DA metabolism was indicative of a constant and high turnover rate. Free DA was not detectable in the majority of samples, HVA was detected at consistently high levels, and DOPAC and conjugated DA were present at low levels. By contrast, DA metabolism was sharply altered during hibernation. Free DA was present at high concentrations and HVA concentrations were low. DOPAC was not detected in any sample whereas MOPET was present in all samples. Conjugated DA was present ay high concentrations during the second half of the hibernation bout. The shift in the post-release disposition of DA could enhance the stability of DA receptors (i.e. prevent supersensitivity) during the prolonged periods of reduced neural activity typical of hibernation.
Multiplicative Errors-in-Variables Models with Applications to Recent Data Released by the U.S. Department of Energy

Abstract In an errors-in-variables model, the predicting variables are observed with errors. Traditionally, the errors are assumed to be additive. In this article, I consider the case in which the error is multiplicative, a situation that arises when analyzing some recent data released by the U.S. Department of Energy. A consistent estimator is provided for regression coefficients β by correcting the asymptotic bias of the least squares estimate. It is shown that , after being normalized by an estimate of its covariance, is asymptotically normally distributed. This can, therefore, be used to construct approximate tests and confidence sets for β. The results are essentially nonparametric.
A functional testing method for microprocessors

A method is presented for functional testing of microprocessors. First, a control fault model at the RTL (register transfer language) level is developed. Based on this model, the authors establish testing requirements for control faults. They present two test procedures to verify the write and read sequences, and use the write and read sequences to test each instruction in the microprocessor. By utilizing k-out-of-m codes, they use fewer tests to cover more faults, thereby reducing the test generation time. >
Expression and activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in growth plate chondrocytes

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a nuclear hormone receptor that is involved in a wide range of cellular processes. Although it is known that PPAR-gamma plays an important role in cell cycle control, inflammation, apoptotic cell death, and other cellular processes, the role of PPAR-gamma in the normal and pathological function of growth plate chondrocytes has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine if PPARs are expressed in growth plate chondrocytes and to describe the biological effect of PPAR activation in these cells. The results demonstrate the presence of three PPAR isoforms (alpha, delta, and gamma) in growth plate cartilage. Activation of PPAR-gamma by ciglitazone in growth plate chondrocytes inhibits T(3) induced terminal differentiation and promotes apoptosis through increased levels of caspase 3/7 activity and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.
Measurement and Testing for Equality of Foreign Price and Consumer Price Index Transmission in Russia

This paper tests for segmentation of retail meat markets in Russia before and after the financial crisis of 1998. Using monthly prices of pork and beef in 80 regions of Russia from 1994 to 1999, we measure the short-run response of regional prices to changes in foreign prices and domestic inflation. We find that changes in both foreign prices and domestic inflation have distinct impacts on the prices of these commodities in different Russian cities, indicating that the markets are segmented in the short run. An analysis of the effect of the financial crisis shows that the response to the crisis was mixed, with some regions showing more evidence of segmentation than others. Cet article mesure le degre de segmentation des marches de details des viandes en Russie avant et apres la crise financeere de 1998. Utilisant des prix mensuels des viandes de baeeuf et de porc dans quatre-vingts regions de Russie entre 1994 et 1999, nous mesurons la reponse a court-terme des prix regionaux aux changements des prix exterieurs et de l'inflation domestique. Nous trouvons que des variations des prix exterieurs comme celles de l'inflation domestique ont des impacts distincts sur les prix de ces produits dans differentes villes de la Russie; ce qui indique que les marches de ces produits sont segmentes a court terme. Une analyse de l'effet de la crise financeere montre que la reponse a la crise etait mixte, avec quelques regions montrant l'evidence plus prononcee de segmentation par rapport aux autres.
The development of bicuculline-induced epileptiform discharges in embryonic turtle cortex.

Abstract The appearance of bicuculline-induced epileptiform discharges was studied in embryonic turtle cortex using extracellular recording techniques. Drug-induced discharges occurred at an early stage of cortical plate formation, suggesting that mechanisms for synchronizing neuronal discharges are functional at this stage. Discharges originated in the medial cortex and increased in amplitude and decreased in frequency with development. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing neurons and functional GABA receptors are present in advance of excitatory synchronizing mechanisms and may have a non-synaptic role in corticogenesis.
Demagnetization experiments on some promising new compounds for very low-temperature refrigeration

We have performed demagnetization experiments on spherical specimens of silver chloride-bonded, compacted powders of four different compounds. Pure and lanthanum-diluted cerium magnesium nitrate (CMN) was studied along with two new compounds formed from cerium iodide and antipyrine and from cerium thiocyanate and triphenyl phosphine oxide. The magnetic temperaturesT* were determined from measurements of the magnetic susceptibility perpendicular to the axis of the initial magnetizing field. Both the lanthanum-diluted CMN and the triphenyl phosphine oxide compounds yielded significantly lower values ofT* than that obtained with CMN. The problem of thermal equilibrium within the demagnetized sample is considered.
Orai1, a critical component of store-operated Ca2+ entry, is functionally associated with Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and plasma membrane Ca2+ pump in proliferating human arterial myocytes.

Ca2+ entry through store-operated channels (SOCs) in the plasma membrane plays an important role in regulation of vascular smooth muscle contraction, tone, and cell proliferation. The C-type transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels have been proposed as major candidates for SOCs in vascular smooth muscle. Recently, two families of transmembrane proteins, Orai [also known as Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channel modulator (CRACM)] and stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1), were shown to be essential for the activation of SOCs mainly in nonexcitable cells. Here, using small interfering RNA, we show that Orai1 plays an essential role in activating store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in primary cultured proliferating human aortic smooth muscle cells (hASMCs), whereas Orai2 and Orai3 do not contribute to SOCE. Knockdown of Orai1 protein expression significantly attenuated SOCE. Moreover, inhibition of Orai1 downregulated expression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger type 1 (NCX1) and plasma membrane Ca2+ pump isoform 1 (PMCA1). The rate of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration decay after Ca2+ transients in Ca2+-free medium was also greatly decreased under these conditions. This reduction of Ca2+ extrusion, presumably via NCX1 and PMCA1, may be a compensation for the reduced SOCE. Immunocytochemical observations indicate that Orai1 and NCX1 are clustered in plasma membrane microdomains. Cell proliferation was attenuated in hASMCs with disrupted Orai1 expression and reduced SOCE. Thus Orai1 appears to be a critical component of SOCE in proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells, and may therefore be a key player during vascular growth and remodeling.
Dynamic reconfiguration of optically interconnected networks with time-division multiplexing

Abstract Routing performance of optical interconnection networks is limited by both switch complexity and network connectivity. One way to overcome these limitations is to allocate the network bandwidth in a time-division multiplexed (TDM) fashion. With this technique, an appropriate subset of input-to-output connections can be established during a time slot and all possible connections can be established over several time slots. Emulating a fully connected network, however, requires a large multiplexing degree, and thus introduces latencies which may be prohibitive. As a solution, we propose a technique called reconfiguration with time-division multiplexing (RTDM). With RTDM, only a subset, as required by applications, of all possible connections needs to be multiplexed in the network by letting the network go through a sequence of configurations. Network reconfiguration with TDM can be done either statically or dynamically. Static RTDM is applied when communication requirements of an application are known a priori. This paper deals mainly with dynamic RTDM, which requires run time control to accommodate dynamic connection requests. We show that reconfiguration overhead can be amortized over a sequence of configurations. In particular, we describe how the complexity of a dynamic reconfiguration control algorithm can be reduced through pipelined processing of requests. Our simulations show that dynamic RTDM allows for fair and fast allocation of network resources to connection requests. As a result, network service time decreases and communication efficiency increases.
Solanidine in potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber tissue disrupted by Erwinia atroseptica and by Phytophthora infestans

Abstract Solanidine has been isolated and identified from potato tuber tissue disrupted by Erwinia atroseptica , and by Phytophthora infestans , in a compatible interaction. Tuber varieties, resistant to P. infestans in which cellular disintegration was not apparent, did not produce the aglycone. The evidence supports the view that solanidine is formed in disrupted tissue through the activity of hydrolytic potato enzymes on the glycoalkaloids.
Genetic Analysis of a Cryptosporidium parvum Human Genotype 1 Isolate Passaged through Different Host Species

Cryptosporidium parvum TU502, a genotype 1 isolate of human origin, was passaged through three different mammalian hosts, including humans, pigs, and calves. It was confirmed to be genotype 1 by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein gene, direct sequencing of PCR fragments of the small subunit rRNA and β-tubulin genes, and microsatellite analysis. This isolate was shown to be genetically stable when passaged through the three mammalian species, with no evidence of the emergence of new subpopulations as observed by a genotype-specific PCR assay. TU502 oocysts from different sources failed to infect gamma interferon knockout mice, a characteristic of genotype 1 isolates. The genotypic and phenotypic characterization of TU502 is significant since it is the isolate selected to sequence the genome of C. parvum genotype 1 and is currently used in several research projects including human volunteer studies.
Re-Examining the Core Features of Autism: A Comparison of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are both characterized by social difficulties, but overall clinical descriptions of the two disorders are different. Method: Twenty-nine children with autism and 33 children with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) were compared to 29 children with FASD of equivalent age and full-scale IQ. To isolate social deficits that are most unique to ASD, all participants were administered the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Parents of the children completed the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Results: Difficulties in initiating social interaction, sharing affect, and using nonverbal communication were common in children with ASD but rare in children with FASD. Socially inappropriate behaviors and difficulty with peers were common in both groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that whereas propensity for social interaction appears to be a differentiating factor between children with ASD and those with non-spectrum disorders, impaired quality of social interaction may be less diagnostically discriminative.
Interspecies response to carcinogens and oestrogens

Abstract Carcinogenic chemicals produce specific malignancies in a wide variety of animal species and in a high proportion of the treated animals. Oestrogens do not demonstrate a carcinogenic profile, producing malignancies in a limited number of animal species and in a low proportion of the treated animals. The effect of oestrogens depends on both species and strain.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy for primary prevention of sudden death after alcohol septal ablation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) on ventricular arrhythmias among patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), as measured by appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) discharges. Background Alcohol septal ablation is an effective therapy for patients with symptomatic HCM. However, concern has been raised that ASA may be proarrhythmic secondary to the iatrogenic scar created during the procedure. The impact of ASA on ventricular arrhythmias has not been well described. Methods This prospective study included 123 consecutive patients with obstructive HCM who underwent ASA and had an ICD implanted for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The ICDs were implanted based on commonly accepted risk factors for SCD in the HCM population. Data from ICD interrogations during routine follow-up were collected. Results Nine appropriate ICD shocks were recorded over a mean follow-up of 2.9 years in the cohort, which had a mean of 1.5 ± 0.9 risk factors for SCD. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the estimated annual event rate was 2.8% over 3-year follow-up. There were no significant differences in the incidence of risk factors between patients who did and did not receive appropriate shocks. Conclusions The annual rate of appropriate ICD discharges after ASA is low and less than that reported previously for primary prevention of SCD in HCM. This suggests that ASA is not proarrhythmic. Traditional SCD risk factors did not predict ICD shocks in this cohort.
Sensory neuron N-type calcium currents are inhibited by both voltage-dependent and -independent mechanisms

The voltage dependence of γ-aminobutyric-acid- and norepinephrine-induced inhibition of N-type calcium current in cultured embryonic chick dorsal-root ganglion neurons was studied with whole-cell voltage-clamp recording. The inhibitory action of the neurotransmitters was comprised of at least two distinct modulatory components, which were separable on the basis of their differential voltage dependence. The first component, which we term “kinetic slowing”, is associated with a slowing of the activation kinetics — an effect that subsides during a test pulse. The kinetic-slowing component is largely reversed at depolarized voltages (i.e., it is voltage-dependent). The second component, which we term “steady-state inhibition”, is by definition not associated with a change in activation kinetics and is present throughout the duration of a test pulse. The steady-state inhibition is not reversed at depolarized voltages (i.e., it is voltage-independent). Although the two components can be separated on the basis of their voltage dependence, they appear to be indistinguishable in their time courses for onset and recovery as well as their rates of desensitization following multiple applications of transmitter. Furthermore, neither component requires cell dialysis, as both are observed using perforated-patch as well as whole-cell recording configurations. The co-existence in nerve terminals of both voltage-dependent and -independent mechanisms to modulate calcium channel function could offer a means of differentially controlling synaptic transmission under conditions of low- and high-frequency presynaptic discharge.
Job shop scheduling with alternative machines

SUMMARY In this paper we investigate the problem of minimizing the mean flow time in a general job shop type machining system with alternative machine tool routeings. An analytical formulation of the problem as a mixed integer programming is developed. An efficient algorithm based on this formulation is developed to solve the problem by decomposing it into subproblems that are easier to solve. The algorithm solves large problems in relatively short time. A second algorithm based on the SPT rule is developed and its performance is compared with the first algorithm. A greedy procedure is also developed for the case when a penalty cost is associated with adding alternative machines. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the use of the above algorithms.
Black face, white voice: Rush Limbaugh and the 'message' of race

In the first two and a half months of 2008, conservative American radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh declared a state of “race war” in the United States. According to Limbaugh, the primary combatants were Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, who (at the time of writing) were competing to become the Democratic nominee in the 2008 race for President. As the most successful African-American presidential candidate in American history, then-Senator Obama was the subject of racially-charged comments and the target of racially-motivated mud-slinging. Despite his professed neutrality in what he portrayed as a purely internecine affair, however, Limbaugh was an enthusiastic enlistee in this war, fighting on what appears to be both sides in the service of the greater message. This paper uses an interdisciplinary framework, drawn from linguistic anthropology, social psychology, and Goffman’s (1981) study of participant roles, to analyze the strategies which Limbaugh deployed in the earliest days of the Democratic primary season to discuss race while reinforcing the playful, prescient, and persecuted “message”-persona (Silverstein 2003) which has made him synonymous with American conservatism today.
Riparian evaluation and site assessment in Arizona

Abstract The Agua Fria River in Arizona (USA) is examined, focusing on an evaluation method for riparian areas. The evaluation method, modeled after the US Soil Conservation Service's agriculture land evaluation and site assessment system, provides a means to rank river segments based on natural functions, values, and benefits. The evaluation method may also be used to determine appropriate buffer widths for stream corridor protection. Ten transects of the river are field checked to provide data for the evaluation method. The discussion includes a summary of previously used riparian classification and recommended buffer widths for stream corridor protection.
DMD as a diffractive reconfigurable optical switch for telecommunication

Digital micro-mirror devices (DMD) by their high switching speed, stability, and repeatability are a promising devices for fast, reconfigurable telecommunication switches. However, their binary mirror orientation is an issue for conventional redirection of a large number of incoming ports to a similarly large number of output fibers like with analog MEMS. We are presenting here the use the DMD as a diffraction based optical switch, where Fourier diffraction patterns are used to steer the incoming beams to any output configuration. Fourier diffraction patterns are computer generated holograms that structures the incoming light into any shape in the output plane. This way, the light from any fiber can be redirected to any position in the output plane. The incoming light can also be split to any positions in the output plane. This technique has the potential to make an "any to any", true non-blocking, optical switch with high port count, solving some the problems of the present technology.
Tit-for-Tat: Type VI Secretion System Counterattack during Bacterial Cell-Cell Interactions

The bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a dynamic organelle that bacteria use to target prey cells for inhibition via translocation of effector proteins. Time-lapse fluorescence microscopy has documented striking dynamics of opposed T6SS organelles in adjacent sister cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Such cell-cell interactions have been termed "T6SS dueling" and likely reflect a biological process that is driven by T6SS antibacterial attack. Here, we show that T6SS dueling behavior strongly influences the ability of P. aeruginosa to prey upon heterologous bacterial species. We show that, in the case of P. aeruginosa, T6SS-dependent killing of either Vibrio cholerae or Acinetobacter baylyi is greatly stimulated by T6SS activity occurring in those prey species. Our data suggest that, in P. aeruginosa, T6SS organelle assembly and lethal counterattack are regulated by a signal that corresponds to the point of attack of the T6SS apparatus elaborated by a second aggressive T6SS(+) bacterial cell. PAPERFLICK:
Sindbis virus as a model for studies of conformational changes in a metastable virus and the role of conformational changes in in vitro antibody neutralisation.

Sindbis virus has long been the prototypical alphavirus used in the study of assembly of icosahedral viruses which contain membranes. Much is known about the assembly pathway and molecular architecture of this virus, and models of mechanisms of infection and release of the viral RNA have been proposed. This review will focus on the structural aspects of in vitro antibody neutralisation of a metastable alphavirus, Sindbis virus, which results from antibody induced conformational changes. For the alphaviruses, structures of in vitro antibody induced conformational neutralisation for Sindbis virus, and receptor occlusion for Sindbis and Ross River virus (RRV) have been reported. A model is presented which could extend the mechanism of antibody induced conformational neutralisation to any metastable virus structure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A systolic algorithm and architecture for image thinning

In this paper, we describe a new special purpose VLSI architecture for image thinning. The architecture is systolic and is based on an algorithm that achieves a high degree of parallelism. The proposed algorithm computes the skeleton of multiple objects in an image in linear time by making 2 scans over the 4-distance transform of the image. The algorithm is mapped onto a linear systolic array of simple processing elements (PEs) and for an N/spl times/N image, the architecture requires N PE's. The entire array can be realized in a single VLSI chip. The proposed hardware can perform thinning on a 512/spl times/512 image in 2.59 msec and on a 256/spl times/256 image in 0.327 msec. Currently, a prototype CMOS VLSI chip implementing the proposed architecture is being designed and built at the University of South Florida.
Modeling of failure mode in knee ligaments depending on the strain rate

The failure mechanism of the knee ligament (bone-ligament-bone complex) at different strain rates is an important subject in the biomechanics of the knee. This study reviews and summarizes the literature describing ligament injury as a function of stain rate, which has been published during the last 30 years. Three modes of injury are presented as a function of strain rate, and they are used to analyze the published cases. The number of avulsions is larger than that of ligament tearing in mode I. There is no significant difference between the number of avulsions and ligament tearing in mode II. Ligament tearing happens more frequently than avulsion in mode III. When the strain rate increases, the order of mode is mode I, II, III, I, and II. Analytical models of ligament behavior as a function of strain rate are also presented and used to provide an integrated framework for describing all of the failure regimes. In addition, this study showed the failure mechanisms with different specimens, ages, and strain rates. There have been several a numbers of studies of ligament failure under various conditions including widely varying strain rates. One issue in these studies is whether ligament failure occurs mid-ligament or at the bone attachment point, with assertions that this is a function of the strain rate. However, over the range of strain rates and other conditions reported, there has appeared to be discrepancies in the conclusions on the effect of strain rate. The analysis and model presented here provides a unifying assessment of the previous disparities, emphasizing the differential effect of strain rate on the relative strengths of the ligament and the attachment.
A program for least squares analysis of reassociation and hybridization data

A computer program is described for the rapid calculation of least squares solutions for data fitted to different functions normally used in reassociation and hybridization kinetic measurements. The equations for the fraction not reacted as a function of Cot follow: First order, exp(–kCot); second order, (1+kCot)–1 ; variable order, (1+kCot)–n; approximate fraction of DNA sequence remaining single stranded, (1+kCot)–44; and a function describing the pairing of tracer when the rate constant for the tracer (k) is distinct from the driver rate constant kd): exp{kL1-(1+kdCot)1–nJ/Lkd(1-n)J}. Several components may be used for most of these functional forms. The standard deviations of the individual parameters at the solutions are calculated.
Physical etching/deposition simulation with collision-free boundary movement

We demonstrate that accurate and robust physical simulation of etching and deposition in the semiconductor manufacturing technology can be achieved by using the collision-free boundary movement method. Constraints for preserving physical accuracy, treatment of multiple junctions, adaptive gridding by quad/oct-tree meshes and experimental corroboration of void and stringer formation in 2D and 3D structures will be presented.
Food Safety in the Biotech Era

top of this, there have been warnings about the need to safeguard the country's food supply from poisoning by terrorists. Added to this anxiety is the ongoing contro versy here and abroad over the safety of genetically modified foods. Other evidence of this high interest in the topic of food safety is the extensive media coverage being received by Marion Nestle following the publica tion of her new book Safe Food: Bacteria, Biotechnology, and Bioterrorism, (Univ. of California Pr., 2003). Nestle's provocative book has been stirring up considerable controversy as she takes food companies, government agencies, and the scientific community to task. Food safety is a timely topic that is of importance to libraries serving the general public, the food industry, and academic programs ranging from food science to restaurant management. However, locating informa tion on food safety is complex because of the myriad government agencies involved in the regulation of food production, processing, and distribution. Given the controversial nature of this subject, it is particularly im portant that librarians scrutinize information closely to ensure that it is not biased. This guest column assists librarians in sorting out the key agencies responsible for this fragmented oversight and in identifying the most credible sources of information on this highly politicized subject. Although a fair number of interest ing books in addition to Nestle's Safe Food have been published on the topic, this column's focus is on sources most useful for reference service. Additionally, while there are a number of relevant research institutes, their inclusion is beyond the scope of this column. The guest columnist is well qualified to write on this topic. Nabe serves as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Librarian at the University of Connecticut. He earned his library degree from the University of Illi nois and holds a bachelor of science degree in zoology from Southern Illinois University. In between earning these degrees, Nabe worked for the Forest Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Coincidentally, the latter agency plays a role in food safety as it con ducts seafood inspections. Nabe has published on top ics as wide ranging as the literature of evolution, building biology collections, the impact of the Web on information services for the sciences, and the impact of e-journal bundling on academic libraries.?Editor
The effect of behavioral skills training with general-case training on staff chaining of child vocalizations within natural language paradigm

This study used behavioral skills training (BST) and general-case training (GCT) in which the experimenter simulated child performance to teach three staff to conduct NLP and response chaining to increase three-link vocal chains in three children with autism. Staff increased their correct NLP performance during post-training in comparison to baseline. Two of three children emitted more vocal chains following training. This study demonstrated that BST and GCT were effective in training NLP and response chaining. When assessing social validity, both Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and teachers did not indicate an increase in staff members' teaching skills. Future research should develop effective technologies to chain vocal behavior and to teach staff and parents to implement response chaining. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The renewal of population loss in the nonmetropolitan great plains

An analysis of population trends in 293 nonmetropolitan Great Plains counties [of the United States] from 1950 to 1990 reveals that the population turnaround of the 1970s has indeed ended. During the 1980s 84 percent of these nonmetropolitan counties had total population declines a proportion greater than any other decade studied. A majority of counties had natural population increase but such increases were offset by net outmigration as 96 percent of the counties had such losses during the 1980s....The most important variable in producing positive population trends was the ability of the county to attract retirement migrants. (EXCERPT)
INCOME SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED: ISSUES AND OPTIONS

The report reviews the performance of various income support systems for the unemployed, and provides guidelines for developing and transition economies. It finds that: a) Unemployment insurance enables a high degree of consumption smoothing, performs well under various types of shocks, and acts as an automatic stabilizer. But it also creates reemployment disincentives, and wage pressure which increase the equilibrium unemployment rate, contributing to persistent unemployment. b) Unemployment assistance, while enabling more effective targeting, may not bring savings in comparison to unemployment insurance, and may well prove fiscally unsustainable. c) Unemployment insurance savings accounts, internalize the costs of unemployment benefits, and thus avoid the moral hazard inherent in traditional unemployment insurance, given the weak monitoring capacity of developing countries, an important advantage. d) Public works program is effective in reaching the poor, can attract informal sector workers, and provides flexible, fast responses to shocks. Despite its high non-wage costs, and possible stigmatization of participants, it is found suitable for developing countries, particularly as a complementary program. e) Severance pay offers few advantages - it adversely affects efficiency, produces high litigation costs, and offers limited risk-pooling.
Protein adsorption into polymersomes: effect of chain length on circulation time in vivo

The adsorption of immunoproteins onto drug-carrying nano-particles such as liposomes enables their recognition by reticuloendothelial cells which mediate the clearance process in vivo. The attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains to the liposomes has been shown to reduce protein adsorption and enhance circulation time in vivo. Previous analysis of the effect of PEG on protein adsorption focused on supported monolayers or bilayers, thereby ignoring one of the essential features of bilayers, namely, self-assembly. We show here that bilayer reorganization significantly affects the equilibrium concentration of proteins in bilayers, elucidating the effect of the chain length and concentration. In this study, we present a simple model of proteins embedded or adsorbed onto polymeric bilayers as a function of the polymer chain length (N). We find that the probability of protein adsorption into the bilayer peaks at a specific bilayer thickness, which, most likely, corresponds to natural bilayers' dimensions. As a result, we predict that the concentration of proteins decreases and in vivo circulation time increases as a function of polymer molecular weight. Fitting our results to a power law yield a relationship where circulation time roughly scales as N/sup 0.4/.
Direct Cardiac Effects of Dopamine

The cardiac effects of dopaminie, an epinephrine precursor, were studied in 20 dog heart-lung preparations. In 8 uncontrolled rate preparations. dopamine, 0.5 to 1 mg., increased the heart rate an average of 18 pet cent. In controlled rate preparations. dopamine, 100 to 500 µg., consistently increased ventricular contractile force, cardiac output and blood pressure; there was a consistent decrease of right and left atrial pressure. Comparable hemodynamic effects were produced by 1 to 5 µg. of levarterenol, except that the effects of dopamine tended to be of longer duration and were less likely to be followed by cardiac depression. It is concluded that doparnine has significant positive inotropic and chronotropic effects in the dog heart-lung preparation.
Optimal decompositions of matrices with grades

We present theoretical results regarding decomposition of matrices with grades, i.e. matrices I with entries from a bounded ordered set L such as the real unit interval [0, 1]. If I is such an n times m matrix, we look for a decomposition of I into a product A omicron B of an ntimesk matrix A and a ktimesm matrix B with entries from L with k as small as possible. This problem generalizes the decomposition problem of Boolean factor analysis which is a particular case when L has just two elements 0 and 1. The product we consider is a supt-norm product of which the well known max-min product of Boolean matrices as well as max-min and max-min product of matrices with entries from [0, 1] are particular examples. I, A, and B can be interpreted as object times attribute, object times factor, and factor times attribute matrices describing degrees of expression of attributes on objects, factors on objects, and attributes on factors. In this interpretation, a decomposition I into A omicron B corresponds to discovery of k factors explaining the original data I. We propose to use formal concepts of I in the sense of formal concept analysis as factors. The formal concepts are fixed points of a particular closure operator and can be seen as particular submatrices of I. We prove several results regarding such a decomposition including a theorem which says that decompositions using formal concepts as factors are optimal in that they provide us with the least number of factors possible. Based on the geometrical insight provided by the theorem, we propose a greedy approximation algorithm for finding optimal decompositions. We provide examples illustrating the concepts and implications of the results.
Modeling high-power RF accelerator cavities with SPICE

The dynamical interactions between RF accelerator cavities and high-power beams can be treated on personal computers using a lumped circuit element model and the SPICE circuit analysis code. Applications include studies of wake potentials, two-beam accelerators, microwave sources, and transverse mode damping. This report describes the construction of analogs for TM mno modes and the creation of SPICE input for cylindrical cavities. The models were used to study continuous generation of kA electron beam pulses from a vacuum cavity driven by a high-power RF source.
On the assumptions contained in semiconductor yield models

It is shown that the form of semiconductor yield models, and their predictions, are to a large extent affected by the size distribution of all defects and the spatial distribution of fatal defects. As the effects of these and other assumptions on yield models are rarely described in the literature, the author examines them and develops scaling rules for the average number of fatal defects per chip. To trace differences in the predicted yield to the various assumptions, the treatment compares a simple Poisson model with a compound Poisson model and shows that, when appropriate scaling rules are used, yield predictions of the simple Poisson model are accurate for a new product with chips with areas up to an order of magnitude larger than chips of existing products. >
Direct determination of motional correlation times by 1D MAS and 2D exchange NMR techniques

Abstract One- and two-dimensional static and magic-angle spinning (MAS) exchange NMR experiments for quantifying slow (τ c > 1 ms) molecular reorientation dynamics are analyzed, emphasizing the extent to which motional correlation times can be extracted directly from the experimental data. The static two-dimensional (2D) exchange NMR experiment provides geometric information, as well as exchange time scales via straightforward and model-free application of Legendre-type orientational autocorrelation functions, particularly for axially symmetric interaction tensors, as often encountered in solid-state 2 H and 13 C NMR. Under conditions of MAS, increased sensitivity yields higher signal-to-noise spectra, with concomitant improvement in the precision and speed of correlation time measurements, although at the expense of reduced angular (geometric) resolution. For random jump motions, one-dimensional (1D) e xchange- i nduced s idebands (EIS) 13 C NMR and the recently developed ODESSA and time-reverse ODESSA experiments complement the static and MAS two-dimensional exchange NMR experiments by providing faster means of obtaining motional correlation times. For each of these experiments, the correlation time of a dynamic process may be obtained from a simple exponential fit to the integrated peak intensities measured as a function of mixing time. This is demonstrated on polycrystalline dimethylsulfone, where the reorientation rates from EIS, ODESSA, time-reverse ODESSA, and 2D exchange are shown to be equivalent and consistent with literature values. In the analysis, the advantages and limitations of the different methods are compared and discussed.
Ecological diversity and biodiversity as concepts for conservation planning: comments on Ricotta.

Ricotta argues against the existence of a unique measure of biodiversity by pointing out that no known measure of α-diversity satisfies all the adequacy conditions that have traditionally been set for it. While that technical claim is correct, it is not relevant in the context of defining biodiversity which is most usefully measured by β-diversity. The concept of complementarity provides a closely related family of measures of biodiversity which can be used for systematic conservation planning. Moreover, these measures cannot be replaced by summary statistics but must rely on inventories of biodiversity surrogates at candidate sites for conservation.
Stress inconthence and detrusor instability/urge incontinence

The overall incidence of detrusor instability in 603 women with stress incontinence was 30%. One hundred seventy-two women had detrusor instability and/or urge incontinence preoperatively . Twenty-three additional women developed detrusor instability and/or urge incontinence only after operation. By eight weeks after operation 4% of the entire group or 14% of those who had detrusor instability or urge incontinence at any time pre- or postoperatively still had the difficulty with incontinence. These findings indicate that a small number of women with both stress incontinence and detrusor instabilty and/or urge incontinence will still have symptomatic urinary loss as a result of persistent detrusor abnormalities at eight weeks after operation.
Effect of Orally Administered Fat on the Utilization of Intravenous Fat Emulsions

greatly retards the removal of the artificial particles from the blood.9 10 reported that the removal of such fats in fasted rabbits was not as rapid as in fed animals and that this could be overcome by giving the fasted animals calcium alone.
A Phase I Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Study of Intravenous Calcitriol in Combination with Oral Gefitinib in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Purpose: In preclinical models, calcitriol and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib are synergistic and modulate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and Akt pathways. Therefore, we conducted a phase I study of calcitriol and gefitinib to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of this combination. Experimental Design: Calcitriol was given i.v. over 1 h on weeks 1, 3, and weekly thereafter. Gefitinib was given at a fixed oral daily dose of 250 mg starting at week 2 (day 8). Escalation occurred in cohorts of three patients until the MTD was defined. Pharmacokinetic studies were done for calcitriol and gefitinib. Serial skin biopsies were done to investigate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway pharmacodynamic interactions. Results: Thirty-two patients were treated. Dose-limiting hypercalcemia was noted in two of four patients receiving 96 μg/wk of calcitriol. One of seven patients developed dose-limiting hypercalcemia at the MTD 74 μg/wk calcitriol dose level. The relationship between calcitriol dose and peak serum calcitriol ( C max ) and systemic exposure (AUC) was linear. Mean (±SD) serum calcitriol C max at the MTD was 6.68 ± 1.42 ng/mL. Gefitinib treatment inhibited EGFR, Akt, and Erk phosphorylation in the skin. Calcitriol did not have consistent effects on skin EGFR or its downstream elements. The combination of gefitinib and calcitriol did not modulate tumor EGFR pathway in patients with serial tumor biopsies. Conclusions: High doses of weekly i.v. calcitriol can be administered safely in combination with gefitinib. Calcitriol concentrations achieved at the MTD 74 μg calcitriol exceed in vivo concentrations associated with antitumor activity in preclinical models.
Comparative analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa penicillin-binding protein 7 in the context of its membership in the family of low-molecular-mass PBPs

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa pbpG gene encoding penicillin-binding protein 7, a homologue of the Escherichia coli gene encoding a DD-endopeptidase, was cloned and sequenced. pbpG was located immediately downstream of the phenylalanine hydroxylase (phh) operon. DNA sequencing revealed an open reading frame of 936 bp (starting with a GTG codon) which encodes a protein of 34115 Da. N-terminal amino acid sequencing confirmed the presence of a cleavable N-terminal signal peptide of 23 amino acids. Verification that the protein is a penicillin-binding protein was directly demonstrated by labelling with 125l-labelled penicillin X. Inactivation of P. aeruginosa pbpG by interposon mutagenesis resulted in no obvious phenotypic changes, but when P. aeruginosa PbpG was overexpressed in E. coli using a T7 expression system, cell lysis resulted. P. aeruginosa PbpG resembled E. coli PbpG in being associated with the membrane fraction. Two additional members of the PbpG subfamily were identified in the database. P. aeruginosa PbpG shows 63% identity with E. coli penicillin-binding protein 7 (PbpG) and 60% identity with Vibrio cholerae PbpG, but only 23% identity with Haemophilus influenzae PbpG. The PbpG subfamily and three other subfamilies constituting the low-molecular-mass PBP protein family were analysed by multiple alignment of 26 sequences. PbpG exhibited the consensus motifs of other penicillin-binding proteins. Ten anchor residues were identified that are conserved at the family level within the superfamily of serine-active-site penicillin-interacting proteins.