cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Irrigation in the American West: Area, Water and Economic Activity

This article examines irrigation in the American West based on consistent Federal data sources. Irrigation is discussed using three measures: irrigated area, water use in irrigation, and the sales value of crops produced. We find that irrigation accounts for about three-quarters of the value of crops sold from about one-quarter of the harvested cropland in the West. In accomplishing the higher sales, irrigated agriculture accounts for three-quarters of the water withdrawn and most of the water use in the West.
Who are online shoppers

Data from 180 respondents indicated that there was a consistent attitude–action pattern which distinguished online shoppers from non–shoppers. Internet users showed a consistent pattern in seeking information from the Internet and making online purchases. While the predictors of purchasing 15 different items online were not altogether consistent, psychological factors played a significant role in predicting positive and negative attitudes toward online purchasing and in predicting actual online purchases respectively.
Factors Influencing Mortality and Nesting in Managed Populations of the Sunflower Leafcutter Bee (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Modified nesting units were field tested to determine effect on egg and larval mortality of Eumegachile pugnata (Say). Units covered with aluminum foil to reflect sunlight reduced within-nest temperatures. Mortality in foil-covered units was significantly lower (6.5%) than in uncovered ones (14.2%).
Reply to comment by Y. Fialko on “Deformation of compliant fault zones induced by nearby earthquakes: Theoretical investigations in two dimensions”

[1] Fault zone structure and properties may contain important information about past earthquake rupture and subsequent healing processes. Damaged fault zones are observed geologically in the field [e.g., Chester and Chester, 1998; Ben-Zion and Sammis, 2003]. Seismic studies have revealed the existence of low-velocity fault zones around active faults [e.g., Li et al., 1998; Ben-Zion et al., 2003]. Compliant fault zones are inferred from InSAR observations of the displacement field of recent earthquakes [e.g., Fialko et al., 2002; Fialko, 2004]. However, the width and depth extent of fault zones are still under debate in the community. [2] Duan et al. [2011] conduct detailed theoretical investigations of the response of compliant fault zones to nearby earthquakes using spontaneous rupture models with offfault elastoplastic rheology in a 2-D plane-strain framework, built upon an earlier study by Duan [2010]. They call for a reexamination of existing observations, based on possible constraints on the in situ stress state by the inelastic response of compliant fault zones revealed by their theoretical studies, and possible deficiencies in previous studies in deducing the structure and properties of compliant fault zones. Fialko [2011] (hereafter referred to as Fialko11) provides a comment to Duan et al. [2011] and refutes the call. Although primarily defending the previous studies [Fialko et al., 2002; Fialko, 2004] which considered only the elastic response of compliant fault zones to static stress changes, Fialko11 also downplays significance of the possible inelastic response of compliant fault zones to dynamic stress changes. I will first discuss significance of both the previous studies on elastic response to static stress changes and the recent studies on inelastic response to nearby ruptures. Then I will reply in some details to the comments made by Fialko11.
The PR-Set7 binding domain of Riz1 is required for the H4K20me1-H3K9me1 trans-tail ‘histone code’ and Riz1 tumor suppressor function

PR-Set7/Set8/KMT5a is the sole histone H4 lysine 20 monomethyltransferase (H4K20me1) in metazoans and is essential for proper cell division and genomic stability. We unexpectedly discovered that normal cellular levels of monomethylated histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me1) were also dependent on PR-Set7, but independent of its catalytic activity. This observation suggested that PR-Set7 interacts with an H3K9 monomethyltransferase to establish the previously reported H4K20me1-H3K9me1 trans-tail 'histone code'. Here we show that PR-Set7 specifically and directly binds the C-terminus of the Riz1/PRDM2/KMT8 tumor suppressor and demonstrate that the N-terminal PR/SET domain of Riz1 preferentially monomethylates H3K9. The PR-Set7 binding domain was required for Riz1 nuclear localization and maintenance of the H4K20me1-H3K9me1 trans-tail 'histone code'. Although Riz1 can function as a repressor, Riz1/H3K9me1 was dispensable for the repression of genes regulated by PR-Set7/H4K20me1. Frameshift mutations resulting in a truncated Riz1 incapable of binding PR-Set7 occur frequently in various aggressive cancers. In these cancer cells, expression of wild-type Riz1 restored tumor suppression by decreasing proliferation and increasing apoptosis. These phenotypes were not observed in cells expressing either the Riz1 PR/SET domain or PR-Set7 binding domain indicating that Riz1 methyltransferase activity and PR-Set7 binding domain are both essential for Riz1 tumor suppressor function.
Meltdowns and Containments Constructions of Children at Risk as Complex Systems

Throughout the past decade, calls for experimentation and innovation in children's services have proliferated in the US. The current tide of reform in children's services is linked not only to shifting social welfare structures but also to transformations in conceptions of the nature of childhood and children's needs. Using illustrations from one demonstration project of `wraparound' services, I suggest that these emerging programs may embed notions of children as `complex systems' - ideas that differ significantly from accounts of child development as a linear, staged and goal-oriented progression.
Bayesian estimates of the prevalence of β-thalassemia trait in voluntary blood donors of central India: a survey.

Early detection of β-thalassemia (β-thal) trait is important. Voluntary blood donors represent an important group who are accessible and cooperative for this purpose. However, the usefulness of this population in β-thal trait detection programs has not been studied in India. We conducted a hematological survey of 5,045 blood donors who visited the Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre, Bhopal in central India. Using robust Bayesian methods, we estimated the prevalence of β-thal trait. The overall prevalence of β-thal trait in the study population was 9.59% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 8.78–10.4%]. The prevalence of β-thal trait varied across the states of origin and within the state of Madhya Pradesh. We observed a cline effect for β-thal trait prevalence in relation to the latitude (p = 0.024). We conclude that blood donors offer an attractive adjunct to β-thal trait detection in national programs. Our study also offers insights into the β-thal trait gene flow and migration in India.
A method for the control of gas pressure in the xenon laser

In order to facilitate measurements of the behavior of a xenon laser over a range of gas pressures, we have developed a method for controlling the pressure in a sealed-off tube.
Gender-Role Conflict and Self-Esteem: Factors Associated With Partner Abuse in Court-Referred Men

This study investigated the relationship between gender-role conflict, self-esteem, and domestic violence. Seventy-four men entering a domestic violence treatment program completed self-report measures of gender-role conflict, self-esteem, and abusive and controlling behavior. Regression analysis revealed that high gender-role conflict with respect to success, power, and competition was positively related to physical abuse. Restrictive emotionality and self-esteem both negatively related to use of intimidation and threats. Finally, restrictive affectionate behavior between men was positively related to using isolation.
Cytochemical localization of Ca2+-ATPase activity in peripheral nerve

We used an electron microscopic cytochemical method to determine the localization of Ca2+-ATPase in rat peripheral nerve. We found that reaction product occurred along most cytoplasmic membranes in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Unmyelinated axons demonstrated reaction product on the axolemma diffusely along their length. Myelinated fibers, in contrast, had reaction product limited to the axolemma in the paranodal region. Internodal axolemma never showed reaction product and nodal axolemma was only occasionally stained, usually in sections reacted for the maximum times. Schwann cell plasma membranes uniformly showed reaction product. The restricted localization of Ca2+-ATPase to the paranodal region of myelinated fibers suggests that calcium efflux may occur principally at those sites.
Extrema of quadratic forms and statistical applications

Khatri and Rao gave a bound to the ratio of the determinants . Where X is an n x k matrix of rank k, and B, C are commutative matrices. In this paper, we provide bounds to the ratios of the determinants and a general result then that of Khatri and Rao. The results can be applied to some problems In statistics
Al-V-graphite interface reactions: an XAFS study of the reactions in a composite interface system

The high temperature reaction properties of a metal matrix composite interface have been observed in this research by X-ray reflectivity and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) coupled to Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). This study was taken from the vantage point of the vanadium diffusion barrier interfacial layer in a model aluminum-graphite metal-matrix laminate composite. The interfacial couple of aluminum and vanadium was analysed to ascertain the reaction species at temperatures between 200 and 350 °C. X-ray reflectivity and glancing angle XAFS showed that the initial Al-V reaction occurred at 325 °C where the aluminum-rich intermetallic Al3V formed. Small angle XAFS was used to analyse the higher temperature interfacial changes in the temperature range of 300–500 °C. Further interactions occurred at 500 °C, where interdiffusion of Al, C and O occurred leading to phase formation of the vanadium, dependent on the graphite basal plane orientation. AES, used to determine the initial compositions and those resulting from the high temperature heat treatments, complemented the XAFS results.
Transvaginal absorption of estrogens through irradiated mucosa

Serum concentrations of unconjugated estrone (E1) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) have been measured in eight patients before and after 1.25 mg of conjugated estrogens administered intravaginally. The measurements were repeated using 2 mg of micronized estradiol administered intravaginally 1 week later to six of the women and 7 months later in one. All the patients had completed a full course of irradiation for pelvic malignancy at least 8 months prior to the study. Baseline, 1/2, 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, and 24-hr samples were analyzed. After conjugated estrogens mean serum E2 increased 4.5-fold to peak at 163 pg/ml at 2 hr while serum E1 increased 3.2-fold to peak at 222 pg/ml at 2 hr. After micronized E2 mean serum E2 increased 89.3-fold to peak at 1250 pg/ml at 1 hr while E1 increased 3.1-fold to peak at 416 pg/ml at 2 hr. These data indicate that rapid absorption of E1 and E2 occurs through irradiated vaginal mucosa.
The effects of apomorphine and D-amphetamine on striatal c-Fos expression in Sprague-Dawley and Long Evans rats and their F1 progeny.

Abstract We previously reported that Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats are significantly more sensitive than Long Evans (LE) rats to disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex by the dopamine agonists, apomorphine (APO) and d -amphetamine (AMPH). This susceptibility is inherited through F1 (SD × LE) and N2 backcross (F1 × SD) generations via an orderly pattern (SD > N2 > F1 > LE). Here we examined systemic APO (0.5 mg/kg) and AMPH (4.5 mg/kg) modulation of neural activity in four regions of the striatum suspected to be involved in the dopaminergic regulation of PPI – dorsolateral (dlCPu) and medial (mCPu) caudate/putamen and core (NACc) and medial shell (NACms) regions of nucleus accumbens – under conditions that mimicked those used to assess PPI. Immunohistochemical quantification of c-Fos protein expression was used as the surrogate measure of neural activity in SD and LE rats and their F1 crosses. Vehicle-treatment showed significant regional differences in Fos expression, particularly between the dlCPu and the other three areas, but no strain-related differences were observed. Three of four brain areas examined (dlCPu, mCPu and NACc) exhibited drug-induced changes in Fos expression—APO decreased and AMPH increased Fos expression in each region. The aggregate effect across these three regions revealed Fos expression to be significantly greater in LE compared to SD rats for both drugs, with F1 rats intermediate. This pattern of inheritance (LE > F1 > SD) reveals an inverse relationship between striatal Fos expression and PPI sensitivity for these drugs; and a positive relationship with reported heritable differences in D2-linked G-protein binding in the CPu and NACc, and with locomotor activation/suppression by AMPH and APO.
Temporal dynamics and decay of coarse wood in early seral habitats of dry-mixed conifer forests in Oregon’s Eastern Cascades

Abstract Early seral forest habitats are increasingly valued for the unique structural resources they provide in many western US forests. Coarse woody detritus (CWD) are a significant feature of this developmental stage and are highly dynamic, suggesting these environments exhibit temporally diverse structural conditions prior to forest canopy closure. In dry-mixed conifer forests, snags are hypothesized to decay slower than logs making long-term dynamics in these forests dependent on snag fall, breakage and the decay rates of both standing and surface CWD. We estimated snag fall and breakage rates for Pinus ponderosa , Abies sp., P. menziesii and P. contorta snags in three diameter classes ( 41 cm) from 6057 snags across a 24-year chronosequence of early seral environments. Snag and log decay rates were estimated by felling 60 Abies sp . and 60 P. ponderosa snags, and sampling 40 P. ponderosa logs. Half-life estimates for snags 41 cm were 7, 12, and 17 years for Pinus sp., 10, 15, and 20 years for Abies sp., and 11, 17, and 23 years for P. menziesii . Breakage rates were lowest for small snags and not significantly different for medium and large snags, but did vary across species. We estimated an Abies sp . snag decomposition loss-rate constant of k = 0.0179 yr −1 (SE = 0.00533, p -value = 0.0014) but P. ponderosa snags did not exhibit statistically significant decay ( k = 0.0024 yr −1 , SE = 0.00518, p -value = 0.6414). P. ponderosa logs had an estimated decomposition loss-rate constant of k = 0.0243 yr −1 (SE = 0.0073, p -value = 0.0023), confirming reduced decay rates in snags and variation among species. Following high-severity fire, dry-mixed conifer stands experience relatively rapid temporal changes in CWD resources largely dependent on snag species and diameter-at-breast-height (DBH). Variation in fall, breakage and decay rates among species and DBH suggests maintaining a diverse selection of snag species and diameters would meet multiple ecological needs across a broader temporal scale. Additionally, given the rapid temporal changes in CWD, defining early seral habitat as the period immediately following disturbance until canopy closure may not adequately account for the diversity in habitat structures and resources available over time.
Sost downregulation and local Wnt signaling are required for the osteogenic response to mechanical loading.

Abstract Sclerostin, the Wnt signaling antagonist encoded by the Sost gene, is secreted by osteocytes and inhibits bone formation by osteoblasts. Mechanical stimulation reduces sclerostin expression, suggesting that osteocytes might coordinate the osteogenic response to mechanical force by locally unleashing Wnt signaling. To investigate whether sclerostin downregulation is a pre-requisite for load-induced bone formation, we conducted experiments in transgenic mice (TG) engineered to maintain high levels of SOST expression during mechanical loading. This was accomplished by introducing a human SOST transgene driven by the 8 kb fragment of the DMP1 promoter that also provided osteocyte specificity of the transgene. Right ulnae were subjected to in vivo cyclic axial loading at equivalent strains for 1 min/day at 2 Hz; left ulnae served as internal controls. Endogenous murine Sost mRNA expression measured 24 h after 1 loading bout was decreased by about 50% in TG and wild type (WT) littermates. In contrast, human SOST, only expressed in TG mice, remained high after loading. Mice were loaded on 3 consecutive days and bone formation was quantified 16 days after initiation of loading. Periosteal bone formation in control ulnae was similar in WT and TG mice. Loading induced the expected strain-dependent increase in bone formation in WT mice, resulting from increases in both mineralizing surface (MS/BS) and mineral apposition rate (MAR). In contrast, load-induced bone formation was reduced by 70–85% in TG mice, due to lower MS/BS and complete inhibition of MAR. Moreover, Wnt target gene expression induced by loading in WT mice was absent in TG mice. Thus, downregulation of Sost/sclerostin in osteocytes is an obligatory step in the mechanotransduction cascade that activates Wnt signaling and directs osteogenesis to where bone is structurally needed.
Active filtering of the amplitude noise of a mode-locked fiber laser

Summary form only given. Many applications today require an ultrastable optical clock such as multigigabit digital communications, analog communications, and radar. There has been a lot of recent work to reduce the timing and amplitude variation in modelocked fiber lasers to provide a suitable optical clock. Previously we have presented the reduction of phase noise (timing jitter) to below 10 fs for a source operating at 10 GHz, integrating the noise from 100 Hz to 1 MHz. We summarize initial work on reducing the amplitude fluctuations of the laser and find that not only can active filtering reduce the fluctuations by as much as 25 dB within the bandwidth of the active filter, but provides insight into the measurement of the ultralow phase noise measurements as well.
Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of α-11 giardin from Giardia lamblia

α-11 Giardin, a protein from the annexin superfamily, is a 35.0 kDa protein from the intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia which triggers a form of diarrhea called giardiasis. Here, the cloning, expression, purification and the crystallization of α-11 giardin under two different conditions and in two different space groups is reported. Crystals from the first condition diffracted to 1.1 A and belong to a primitive orthorhombic space group, while crystals from the second condition, which included calcium in the crystallization solution, diffracted to 2.93 A and belong to a primitive monoclinic space group. Determination of the detailed atomic structure of α-11 giardin will provide a better insight into its biological function and might establish whether this class of proteins is a potential drug target against giardiasis.
Automated microassembly using precision based hybrid control

Microassembly is an enabling technology for micro manufacturing that offers well-known pathways to building heterogeneous microsystems with a higher degree of robustness and more complex designs than monolithic fabrication. The success of assembly in micro domain, however, is directly related to the level of precision automation employed. Control and planning are two defining factors for the microassembly yield and its cycle time. Assembly at the microscale harbors many difficult challenges due to scaling of physics, stringent tolerance budget, high precision requirements, limited work volumes, and so on. These difficulties warrant new control and planning algorithms, different than their macro-scale counterparts. In this paper, we use precision metrics to formalize a hybrid controller for automated MEMS assembly. In the past, we formulated the “high yield assembly condition (HYAC)”, which gives a quantitative condition for the success and failure of compliant microassembly. Using this quatitative tool, we formalize a precision-adjusted hybrid controller switching between open, closed, and calibrated operation in the microassembly cell. Simulation and experimental results for the assembly of a microspectrometer are presented to indicate that the proposed hybrid controller lead to high yields at faster cycle times than traditional precision control methods.
Evidence for the Historical Occurence of Klipspringer and Mountain Reedbuck on Kilimanjaro: Reply to Grimshaw, Cordeiro and Foley

Grimshaw, Cordeiro, and Foley (1995) have published an updated summary of the mammals on Kilimanjaro. In this useful review, they provide a revised account of mammalian extinctions on Kilimanjaro that differs from the conclusions reached earlier (Newmark et at., 1991; Newmark, 1996). The authors conclude that the historical occurrence of klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus on Kilimanjaro is questionable and that mountain reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula was not found historically on the mountain. In contrast to their conclusions, I fmd evidence for the historical presence of both species overwhelming and present this evidence below. I also conclude that both species are currently locally extinct within Kilimanjaro National Park. Both the historical and current occurrence of any species can only be documented unequivocally through the presence of a specimen. However due to ethical, legal, methodological, and storage constraints, workers are frequently unable to collect and deposit in curated musewn collections many species, such as large mammals occurring in protected areas. Researchers are thus required, in many circwnstances, to document the status of species through sightings as we (Newmark et at., 1991) and more recently Grimshaw et al. (1995) have done in verifying the current status of virtually all large mammal species found within Kilimanjaro National Park/Forest Reserve/Game Reserve. Establishing the "validity" of earlier sighting records is a challenge for any scientist. This is especially true if all workers agree that a species does not currently occur in an area but for which there are published sightings in the past. I suggest that there are three important lines of evidence that can be used to interpret the "validity" of a sighting. These are: (1) the professional experience of the observer(s); (2) the appropriateness of the habitat in which the species was sighted; and (3) the local distribution of the species in relationship to the location of the sighting. These three lines of evidence all support the historical presence of klipspringer and mountain reedbuck on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Stimulus intensity and the visual generalization gradient to wavelength in the pigeon

Visual generalization gradients to wavelength in the pigeon have been measured with stimuli differing in both wavelength and intensity. The gradient attributed to changes in wavelength may be due to differences in intensity. The original Guttman-Kalish experiment was duplicated essentially, but using test stimuli at two intensities at each wavelength. The gradients for the two intensities are nearly identical. Visual generalization gradients may be attributed safely to wavelength.
Clinical correlates of histopathology in pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background & aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disease in American children. Noninvasive means to discriminate between NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) might diminish the requirement for liver biopsy or predict those at increased risk for progression. Methods Data obtained prospectively from children (age, 6-17 y) enrolled in the NASH Clinical Research Network were analyzed to identify clinical-pathologic correlates of pediatric NAFLD. All participants underwent liver biopsy within 6 months of clinical data that were reviewed by a central pathology committee. Results A total of 176 children (mean age, 12.4 y; 77% male) were eligible for inclusion. By using ordinal logistic regression analysis, increasing aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level (odds ratio [OR], 1.017 per U/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.004-1.031) and gamma-glutamyltransferase level (OR, 1.016 per U/L; 95% CI, 1.000-1.033) were associated independently with increasing severity of NASH. Increasing AST level (OR, 1.015 per U/L; 95% CI, 1.006-1.024), increasing white blood cell count (OR, 1.22 per 1000/mm(3); 95% CI, 1.07-1.38), and decreasing hematocrit (OR, 0.87 per %; 95% CI, 0.79-0.96) were associated independently with increasing severity of fibrosis. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for a model with AST and alanine aminotransferase was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.66-0.84) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.63-0.85) for distinguishing steatosis from more advanced forms of NASH and bridging fibrosis from lesser degrees of fibrosis, respectively. Conclusions Certain components of routine laboratory tests are predictive of NAFLD pattern and fibrosis severity, but do not have adequate discriminate power to replace liver biopsy in evaluating pediatric NAFLD.
Asymptotic behavior of solutions to certain nonlinear Schrödinger-Hartree equations

The asymptotic behavior of solutions to the Cauchy problem for the equation $$i\psi _\imath = \frac{1}{2}\Delta \psi - \upsilon (\psi )\psi , \upsilon = r^{ - 1} *|\psi |^2 ,$$ and for systems of similar form, is studied. It is shown that the norms $$\parallel \psi (t)\parallel _{L_2 (|x| \leqq R)}^2 + \parallel \nabla \psi (t)\parallel _{L_2 (|x| \leqq R)}^2 $$ are integrable in time for any fixedR>0, from which it follows that $$\mathop {\lim }\limits_{t \to \infty } \parallel \psi (t)\parallel _{L_2 (|x| \leqq R)} = 0.$$ \] Nevertheless, it is established that anL2-scattering theory is impossible.
Calcium and photosynthetic oxygen evolution in cyanobacteria.

Calcium activation of oxygen evolution from French-press preparations of Phormidium luridum is largely reversible upon removal of added Ca(2+). Activation occurs via a first-order binding with a dissociation constant of 2.8 mM. An 8-fold increase in oxygen evolution rate observed upon Ca(2+) addition is accounted for by a 4-fold increase in the number of active photosynthetic units, and a doubling of turnover rate. While both Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) stimulate turnover, unit activation is Ca(2+) specific. Under optimal conditions, 30% of the units functioning in the intact cell can be recovered in the Ca(2+) -activated preparation. The Ca(2+) requirement of P. luridum preparations is not relieved by proton-carrying uncouplers, or by rate-saturating concentrations of the Hill acceptor, ferricyanide. Taken together with the reported stimulation by Ca(2+) of oxygen evolution in the presence of DCMU (Piccioni, R.G. and Mauzerall, D.C. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 423, 605--609) these observations strongly suggest a site of Ca(2+) action within Photosystem II. The pronounced specificity of the Ca(2+) requirement appears in preparations of other cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae and Anacystis nidulans) but not in the eucaryote Chlorella vulgaris. While milder cell-disruption methods bring about some Ca(2+) dependence in P. luridum, French-press treatment is required for maximal expression of Ca(2+) -specific effects. French-press breakage causes a release of endogenous Ca(2+) from cells, supporting the view that added Ca(2+) restores oxygen evolution by satisfying a physiological requirement for the cation.
Infantile phosphofructokinase deficiency with arthrogryposis: Clinical benefit of a ketogenic diet

Abstract We report a 2-year-old boy with phosphofructokinase deficiency presenting in the newborn period with congenital arthrogryposis and severe myopathy, who has had significant improvement on a ketogenic diet since its institution at 4 months of age. We provide a rationale for use of this treatment and hypothesize it may be beneficial in other patients with phosphofructokinase deficiency and progressive muscular involvement. Confirmation awaits further clinical trials in carefully selected patients. (J Pediatr 1997;131:932-4)
A Medical Student Experience: Adding Value and Emotional Support to Patient Interactions

A few weeks later, I called to check on Calvin after he had undergone a recent paracentesis. He seemed upset. It was not his first paracentesis; he typically had them done at the gastroenterology (GI) office. This time, however, the GI group was not available and instead he was offered an appointment with a different department at the main hospital. He got a little choked up on the phone, and excused himself.
Rating Scales for the Evaluation of Academic Advisors.

Comprehensive evaluation of academic advisors' styles and skills should incorporate ratings by consumers of such services (students) as well as peers and supervisors. This article offers multidimen...
Belief in information flow

Information leakage traditionally has been defined to occur when uncertainty about secret data is reduced. This uncertainty-based approach is inadequate for measuring information flow when an attacker is making assumptions about secret inputs and these assumptions might be incorrect; such attacker beliefs are an unavoidable aspect of any satisfactory definition of leakage. To reason about information flow based on beliefs, a model is developed that describes how attacker beliefs change due to the attacker's observation of the execution of a probabilistic (or deterministic) program. The model leads to a new metric for quantitative information flow that measures accuracy rather than uncertainty of beliefs.
Cysteine Catabolism and Cysteine Desulfhydrase (CdsH/STM0458) in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Cysteine is potentially toxic and can affect diverse functions such as oxidative stress, antibiotic resistance, and swarming motility. The contribution of cysteine catabolism in modulating responses to cysteine has not been examined, in part because the genes have not been identified and mutants lacking these genes have not been isolated or characterized. We identified the gene for a previously described cysteine desulfhydrase, which we designated cdsH (formerly STM0458). We also identified a divergently transcribed gene that regulates cdsH expression, which we designated cutR (formerly ybaO, or STM0459). CdsH appears to be the major cysteine-degrading and sulfide-producing enzyme aerobically but not anaerobically. Mutants with deletions of cdsH and ybaO exhibited increased sensitivity to cysteine toxicity and altered swarming motility but unaltered cysteine-enhanced antibiotic resistance and survival in macrophages.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFENDING FREQUENCY (λ) OF IMPRISONED AND FREE OFFENDERS

In the public debate over incarceration policy, there is considerable disagreement about what value of individual offending frequency (λ) is appropriate to use in estimating incapacitative effects. This article provides an approach for estimating the mean values of λ for diverse subsets of the total offender population, with particular emphasis on subsets generated by filtering through various stages of the criminal justice system. Sharp differences in offending frequency are displayed between robbery and burglary inmates, across three states, and particularly between resident inmates and free, active offenders. Free offenders average 1 to 3 robberies and 2 to 4 burglaries per year, while resident inmates have λ values 10 to 50 times higher. Differences result from the underlying levels of criminal activity and the sanction Levels that offenders face. A highly heterogeneous distribution of offending frequency in the total population of offenders combines with relatively Low imprisonment levels to lead to substantial selectivity of high-λ offenders among resident inmates and a correspondingly low mean value of λ among those offenders who remain free. These results have important implications for estimating incapacitative effects of an increase in incarceration, since the additional inmates will be drawn from free offenders whose mean λ is at least an order of magnitude Lower than that of the current inmate population.
Effect of nitric oxide on staphylococcal killing and interactive effect with superoxide

The role of reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) such as nitric oxide (.NO) in host defense against pyogenic microorganisms is unclear, and the actual interactive effect of RNI and reactive oxidative intermediates (ROI) for microbial killing has not been determined. Since, in nature, ROI and RNI might be generated together within any local infection, we evaluated the separate and interactive effects of .NO and O2- on staphylococcal survival by using a simplified system devoid of eukaryotic cells. These studies showed that prolonged exposure of staphylococci to .NO does not result in early loss of viability but instead is associated with a dose-related delayed loss of viability. This effect is abrogated by the presence of hemoglobin, providing further evidence that the effect is RNI associated. Superoxide-mediated killing also is dose related, but in contrast to RNI-mediated killing, it is rapid and occurs within 2 h of exposure. We further show that the interaction of .NO and O(2)- results in decreased O(2)--mediated staphylococcal killing at early time points. .NO, however, appears to enhance or stabilize microbial killing over prolonged periods of incubation. This study did not produce evidence of early synergism of ROI and RNI, but it does suggest that .NO may contribute to host defense, especially when ROI-mediated killing is compromised.
Learning models for object recognition

We consider learning models for object recognition from examples. Our method is motivated by systems that use the Hausdorff distance as a shape comparison measure. Typically an object is represented in terms of a model shape. A new shape is classified as being an instance of the object when the Hausdorff distance between the model and the new shape is small. We show that such object concepts can be seen as halfspaces (linear threshold functions) in a transformed input space. This makes it possible to use a number of standard algorithms to learn object models from training examples. When a good model exists, we are guaranteed to find one that provides (with high probability) a recognition rule that is accurate. Our approach provides a measure which generalizes the Hausdorff distance in a number of interesting ways. To demonstrate our method we trained a system to detect people in images using a single shape model. The learning techniques can be extended to represent objects using multiple model shapes. In this way, we might be able to automatically learn a small set of canonical shapes that characterize the appearance of an object.
Evolved Controllers for Simulated Locomotion

We present a system for automatically evolving neural networks as physics-based locomotion controllers for humanoid characters. Our approach provides two key features: (a) the topology of the neural network controller gradually grows in size to allow increasingly complex behavior, and (b) the evolutionary process requires only the physical properties of the character model and a simple fitness function. No a priori knowledge of the appropriate cycles or patterns of motion is needed.
Role of Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation

Study objectives To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU. Methods Retrospective review of all patients in the medical and surgical ICUs from February 1999 to July 2001 who underwent TBNA while receiving mechanical ventilation. Results A total of eight histology (19 gauge) and eight cytology (22 gauge) TBNAs were performed on eight patients (four men and four women). TBNA yielded a definitive pathologic diagnosis in five of eight patients (62.5%). Diagnoses were posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder, large cell carcinoma, poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Among patients with negative TBNA results (n = 3), two patients underwent mediastinoscopy. Results of mediastinoscopy were non-small cell carcinoma and inflamed tissue. TBNA led to management changes in five of these patients. Excluding one patient in whom a negative TBNA result could not be further confirmed, TBNA yielded a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 50%. The overall accuracy of the procedure was 75%. There were no complications following any of the TBNAs. Conclusions In this small group of patients, TBNA was safe and had a high diagnostic accuracy in selected patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU.
Dual-Loop System of Distributed Microregulators With High DC Accuracy, Load Response Time Below 500 ps, and 85-mV Dropout Voltage

A dual-loop architecture employs eight distributed microregulators (UREGs) to achieve load response times below 500 ps in 45-nm SOI CMOS. The trip point of an asynchronous comparator inside each UREG is tuned for high DC accuracy with a local charge pump, which receives UP/DOWN currents from a slow outer feedback loop. The feedback through the charge pumps also ensures balanced load sharing among the UREGs. Two techniques are introduced to reduce the output ripple generated by switching the pMOS passgate on and off: hybrid fast/slow passgate control (in which the DC portion of the load current is supplied by a parallel output device with slew-rate-limited gate drive) and pMOS strength calibration (which adjusts the active width of the passgate to compensate for PVT variations). The distributed regulator system is integrated into a DDR3 I/O core and supplies power to CMOS delay lines used for clock-to-data deskewing. Each of the eight UREGs is sized to provide up to 5.3 mA of load current and occupies an area of 55 × 60 μm2. The measured DC load regulation is better than 10 mV down to an 85-mV dropout voltage. Jitter readings of the CMOS delay lines indicate output noise close to 28 mVpp.
The influence of ontogeny, physiology, and behaviour on the target strength of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)

Variability in echo intensities from aquatic organisms is caused by physical factors associated with the transmission of sound through water, and by biological factors associated with the ontogeny, physiology, and behaviour of targets. Acoustic-based density estimates depend on accurately characterizing reflected or backscattered sound from any species of interest. Digitized lateral and dorsal radiographs of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) were used to characterize intra-specific variability among young-of-theyear, juvenile, and adult life-history stages. Kirchhoff-ray mode (KRM) models were used to quantify variability in backscatter intensities at 38 and 120 kHz. At these geometric scattering frequencies, swimbladder surface areas influence echo intensities. Dorsal swimbladder surface areas were proportionate to fish lengths and decreased after fish were fed. Corresponding changes in backscatter were not proportionate to the reduction in dorsal surface area. The ratio of dorsal to lateral swimbladder surface areas was consistent among gravid and non-gravid fish. Walleye pollock tilt angles were centred at 90 � and did not differ among densities or between light and dark cycles. Target strength–length regressions and KRM-predicted backscatter models closely matched in situ target-strength measurements for walleye pollock in the Bering Sea. Backscatter variability can be minimized through judicious deployment of equipment and equipment-parameter settings, but the relative influence of biological factors on backscatter amplitude has not been determined.
Observations on the Injury Mechanism of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Skiers

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the uniqueness of the injury mechanism for acute complete tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in recreational alpine skiers by using patterns of osseous injury as de tected by magnetic resonance imaging. We treated 42 patients (average age, 32 years) who met the following criteria: 1) acute complete anterior cruciate ligament tear incurred during skiing, 2) no history of knee injury, 3) magnetic resonance imaging within 30 days of injury, and 4) arthroscopy and anterior cruciate ligament re construction or both for documentation of all intraarticu lar injury. An osseous injury detected by magnetic reso nance imaging was seen in the lateral femoral condyle in 17 (40%) of the patients and was located over the terminal sulcus in 15 of these patients; only 1 had ar throscopic evidence of chondral injury. Four (10%) of the 42 patients had a bone bruise on the medial femoral condyle; all were located at the extreme posterior mar gin. Thirty-four patients (81 %) h...
Effects of Team-Initiated Problem Solving on Decision Making by Schoolwide Behavior Support Teams

The authors examined the problem-solving practices of school teams engaged in implementing and improving schoolwide behavior support implementation. A multiple baseline design across 4 elementary school teams was used to assess the effects of the Team-Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS) training program (1 day of team training plus 2 coached meetings). A direct observation data collection protocol—Decision Observation, Recording, and Analysis—was used to index if teams followed “meeting foundations” practices for effective problem solving (e.g., predictable agenda, stable participants, clear roles for facilitator, minute taker, data analyst) and “thorough problem solving” practices for building interventions (e.g., problem definition, use of data, solution development, action planning). Direct observation results indicate that 3 of the 4 teams demonstrated improved meeting foundations and problem-solving skills after TIPS training. The fourth team also performed well, but documented baseline patterns that we...
An updated micromouse competition

The original micromouse competition in which miniature robots compete for the title of best speed and intelligence was first started around 1978. Over the years it became one of the few student competitions among engineering schools around the world. Nevertheless, the participation rate had never reached a significant level. Furthermore, since the competition's debut, no major changes on the game rules which were designed around the technology almost 20 years ago had been made. In this paper an updated micromouse competition is proposed. The updated game is designed to achieve the following goals: (1) Generating high participation rate from engineering students; (2) Promoting multidisciplinary undergraduate engineering activities; (3) Encouraging the use of current technologies; (4) Lowering the overall costs an managing the competition by engineering schools and on building the micromouse by students. This paper presents an updated micromouse game plan and competition rules. A micromouse design example developed at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) for the new game is also included.
RELM: Developing a Serious Game to Teach Evidence-Based Medicine in an Academic Health Sciences Setting

Gaming as a means of delivering online education continues to gain in popularity. Online games provide an engaging and enjoyable way of learning. Gaming is especially appropriate for case-based teaching, and provides a conducive environment for adult independent learning. With funding from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region (NN/LM PNR), the University of Washington (UW) Health Sciences Library, and the UW School of Medicine are collaborating to create an interactive, self-paced online game that teaches players to employ the steps in practicing evidence-based medicine. The game encourages life-long learning and literacy skills and could be used for providing continuing medical education.
Landowner willingness to participate in a Texas brush reduction program

Because most of Texas consists of privately owned land and the amount of brush cover on rangelands may affect off-site water yields, there has been increasing interest in publicly funded brush clearing programs aimed at increasing water yield. The Pedernales River was selected as 1 of 8 watersheds to determine the feasibility of implementing such a program. A survey questionnaire was mailed to 720 landowners in Blanco and Gillespie County (containing most of the Pedernales watershed) in June 2000 to identify factors that influence their interest in participating in a brush reduction program. The sample consisted of equal numbers of landowners with 4-20, 21-202, and > 202 ha of land. Fifty eight percent of the survey participants responded, 82% of whom answered questions about their willingness to enroll at least part of their land in a brush reduction program. Property size and income from wildlife were found to be significant positive determinants and level of satisfaction with brush a significant negative determinant of respondents' willingness to enroll. To optimize public investments, it may be preferable to maximize the area enrolled in a brush removal program by targeting larger landowners who appear to be willing to enroll larger portions of their land without requiring compensation that exceeds their net cost of enrollment. Because land in the Edwards Plateau is being subdivided and purchased by people who do not depend on land-based income and who may be more tolerant of brush, public funds required to encourage landowner participation may increase over time.
Rigidity for non-compact surfaces of finite area and certain Kähler manifolds

We first consider the rigidity of the marked length spectrum for non-compact surfaces of finite area.
Relaxed primer specificity associated with reverse transcriptases encoded by the pFOXC retroplasmids of Fusarium oxysporum.

The pFOXC mitochondrial retroplasmids are small, autonomously replicating linear DNAs that have a telomere-like repeat of a 5-bp sequence at their termini. The plasmids are possible evolutionary precursors of the ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase, as they encode an active reverse transcriptase (RT) that is involved in plasmid replication. Using an in vitro system to study reverse transcription, we show that the pFOXC RT is capable of copying in vitro-synthesized RNAs by use of cDNA primers or extension of snapped-back RNA templates. The ability of the pFOXC RT to use base-paired primers distinguishes it from the closely related RTs encoded by the Mauriceville and Varkud mitochondrial retroplasmids of Neurospora spp. Reaction products are similar, but not identical, to those obtained with conventional RTs, and differences reflect the ability of the pFOXC RT to initiate cDNA synthesis with loosely associated primers. The pFOXC RT can also copy DNA templates and extend 3′ mismatched DNA oligonucleotide primers. Analysis of pFOXC in vivo replication intermediates suggests that telomeric repeats are added during reverse transcription, and the ability to extend loosely associated primers could play a role in repeat formation by mechanisms similar to those associated with telomerase and certain non-long-terminal-repeat retrotransposons.
Survival Probabilities of Disoriented Chiral Domains in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

Disoriented chiral condensates (DCC) were recently proposed as potential signatures for chiral symmetry restoration [1, 2, 3, 4]. In the theory of DCC formation, the explicit chiral symmetry breaking which occurs during the phase transition from a plasma phase, where all masses are zero, to normal nuclear matter, where particles have mass, is accompanied by the formation of extended domains in which the chiral field is misaligned with respect to the true vacuum direction.