cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variation in penaeid shrimp growth rates along an estuarine salinity gradient: Implications for managing river diversions

Abstract Freshwater inflows from river diversions may affect nekton populations by altering the salinity and temperature of estuarine waters. To investigate the influence of these environmental variables on the growth and survival rates of brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus and white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus, we conducted field experiments in May and September 2007 to expose experimental animals to the range of different combinations of salinity and water temperature that commonly occur in an estuarine environment. Growth rates for shrimp held in mesocosms for approximately 7 days were compared among four locations and three treatments; locations were identified by the dominant marsh vegetation and distance from the Gulf of Mexico (low to high salinity: Intermediate, Brackish, Saline UE = Saline Up Estuary, Saline DE = Saline Down Estuary). At each location, the treatments were replicated four times and included shallow water with additional food, shallow water without food added, and deeper water (an attempt to expose animals to lower temperatures). Our experiments were designed to test the null hypothesis that shrimp growth and survival rates did not differ by location or treatment. Both brown shrimp and white shrimp grew more slowly at the Intermediate than higher salinity locations. Potential prey (benthic infauna) biomass was relatively low at both the Intermediate and Brackish locations in May, and both shrimp species consistently grew faster in mesocosms where food was added. We conclude that reduced growth in low salinity environments is likely due to the combined effects of increased metabolic costs and less food in these areas. River diversions that reduce estuarine salinities over a large portion of available habitat during peak recruitment periods may reduce overall growth rates and shrimp productivity in the affected areas.
The Trade Wind Field Over the Pacific Ocean

Abstract The trade wind field over the Pacific Ocean between 30°N and 30°S has been studied on the basis of five million wind observations made from ships. Data were sorted by quadrangles of 2° latitude and 10° longitude to resolve north-south gradients in the wind field adequately. Maps of the surface wind stress vector for February and August are presented and the development of the field throughout the year is discussed. The trade wind regime in each hemisphere is largest and strongest during the respective winter and spring. The area covered by northeast trades is smaller than the area covered by southeast trades, but the northeast trades have a stronger mean wind stress and a larger annual variation both in area and mean stress. The computed divergence of the wind velocity revealed a little known area of convergence in the southeastern Pacific near the equator. The curl of the wind stress and the meridional profile of zonal wind stress vary considerably during the year. The minimum in zonal stress be...
Design and calibration of an electrostatic energy analyzer-time-of-flight mass spectrometer for measurement of laser-desorbed ion kinetic energies.

The design of a hybrid electrostatic energy analyzer-time-of-flight mass spectrometer for measurement of ion kinetic energies produced by laser desorption ionization is presented. The need for experimental evaluation of the calibration and performance of the instrument is discussed and a novel laser multiphoton ionization technique, which allows experimental calibration of the energy bandpass of the electrostatic energy analyzer, is described. Laser multiphoton ionization at varying electric field strengths also allows the effects of electric field distortions on energy resolution of the instrument to be probed. Measurement of the translational energies of ions produced by 266-nm laser desorption ionization at 48 mJ/cm2 of material adsorbed to a stainless steel probe by using this instrument also is presented. Ion translational energies of +19±5, +10±5, and +10±5 eV are found for adsorbed Na+, K+, and m-xylene M+, respectively.
Tissue site and modification of a bacteria-induced coagulation protein from Manduca sexta

Isolated naive and immune tissues of M. sexta larvae were extracted, electrophoresed and immunoblotted to screen for the presence of a bacteria-induced coagulation-initiating protein termed M13. Immunoblots developed with anti-M13 antiserum show that M13 (36K) can be detected in naive hemolymph, and in hemolymph, epidermis and midgut tissues isolated from immune insects. M13 was not detected in the hemocytes or fat bodies from either naive or immune insects. A lower molecular weight (33K) cross-reactive protein termed 33K-CRP was also detected in hemolymph and epidermis samples, and data suggest that it may represent a partial proteolysis product of M13. The apparent conversion of M13 to 33K-CRP in cellular extracts and a comigrating 27K cross-reactive fragment resulting from the CNBr digestion of both M13 and 33K-CRP, suggest that 33K-CRP is derived from M13.
A recombination laser from cooled hydrogen plasma (plasma dynamic laser)

Abstract Using our time-dependent model we calculate the inversion density and gain for a visible line (6563 A) from hydrogen as a result of rapid cooling of a plasma. A visible plasma dynamic laser is shown to be possible under certain conditions.
Decreased adenosine deaminase (ADA) and 5'nucleotidase (5NT) activity in peripheral blood T cells in Hodgkin disease.

The purine metabolic enzymes adenosine deaminase (ADA), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), and 5'nucleotidase (5NT) play an important role in normal lymphocyte differentiation. Abnormal levels of one or all of these enzymes have been associated with immunodeficiency diseases and lymphoproliferative disorders. ADA, PNP, and 5NT activity was measured in peripheral blood T cells from 24 patients with Hodgkin disease (HD) (12 in complete remission and 12 with active disease) to determine whether an association existed between enzyme abnormalities and the decreased cellular immune function previously described in this disorder. HD patients had a significantly decreased absolute lymphocyte count (1,618 +/- 1107/mm3; mean +/- SD) compared to controls (2,320 +/- 980; p less than .001). ADA, PNP, and NT activity was assessed in lymphocyte extracts by measuring the conversion of radiolabeled substrates to products over time. ADA activity expressed as mean +/- SEM nanomoles/10(6) lymphocytes/hr was significantly decreased in T cells from HD patients (84.6 +/- 7.5) compared to controls (128 +/- 12.3; p less than 0.025). Likewise, 5NT was significantly decreased in HD patients (12.7 +/- 1.3) compared to controls (24.0 +/- 3.6; p less than .005). There was not a significant difference in PNP activity between both groups. Low 5NT activity was present irrespective of whether patients had active disease (12.1 +/- 1.5) or were in unmaintained complete remission (14.5 +/- 2.4). These findings suggest that biochemical abnormalities may be responsible for or related to the persistent abnormalities in T-cell function noted throughout the clinical course of HD.
Nonlinear Seismic Analysis of Circular Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Members and Frames

Accurate nonlinear formulations are necessary for the assessment of structures under seismic and other extreme loading. In this work, a three-dimensional distributed plasticity beam element formulation for circular concrete-filled steel tubes has been developed for nonlinear static and dynamic analyses of composite seismic force resisting systems. A mixed basis for the element formulation was adopted to allow for accurate modeling of both material and geometric nonlinearities. The formulation utilizes uniaxial cyclic constitutive models for the concrete core and steel tube that account for the salient features of each material, as well as the interaction between the two, including concrete confinement and local buckling of the steel tube. The accuracy of the formulation was verified against a wide variety of experimental results. The verification confirms the capability of the formulation to accurately produce realistic simulations of element and frame behavior.
The Bicomponent Pore-Forming Leucocidins of Staphylococcus aureus

The ability to produce water-soluble proteins with the capacity to oligomerize and form pores within cellular lipid bilayers is a trait conserved among nearly all forms of life, including humans, single-celled eukaryotes, and numerous bacterial species. In bacteria, some of the most notable pore-forming molecules are protein toxins that interact with mammalian cell membranes to promote lysis, deliver effectors, and modulate cellular homeostasis. Of the bacterial species capable of producing pore-forming toxic molecules, the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most notorious. S. aureus can produce seven different pore-forming protein toxins, all of which are believed to play a unique role in promoting the ability of the organism to cause disease in humans and other mammals. The most diverse of these pore-forming toxins, in terms of both functional activity and global representation within S. aureus clinical isolates, are the bicomponent leucocidins. From the first description of their activity on host immune cells over 100 years ago to the detailed investigations of their biochemical function today, the leucocidins remain at the forefront of S. aureus pathogenesis research initiatives. Study of their mode of action is of immediate interest in the realm of therapeutic agent design as well as for studies of bacterial pathogenesis. This review provides an updated perspective on our understanding of the S. aureus leucocidins and their function, specificity, and potential as therapeutic targets.
On the asymptotic non null distribution of some tests for homogeneity of variances and related results

This paper presents a unified approach to find the asymptotic non null distribution of some statistics used to test the homoge-neity of variances of independent normal populations and the equality of scale parameters of independent gamma random variables. The asymptotic distribution of sample variance ratios under a sequence of local alternatives is first obtained and it is then used to derive the asymptotic distribution of a general class of test statistics, which includes the ones proposed by Bartlett (1937), Foster (1964) and Samiuddin (1978). All the tests in this class are proved to be asymptotically equivalent under a sequence of local alternatives. It is shown how the results for homogeneity of variance may be derived starting from the asymptotic distribution of a fixed number of independent gamma random variables divided by their sum, as the scale parameters tend to a common value and the shape parameters tend to infinity. Finally, this is used to find the asymptotic behavior of a class of tests f...
Observation of self-pulsing in singly resonant optical second-harmonic generation with competing nonlinearities

We predict and experimentally observe temporal self-pulsing in singly resonant intracavity second-harmonic generation under conditions of simultaneous parametric oscillation. The threshold for self-pulsing as a function of cavity tuning and phase mismatch are found from analysis of a three-component mean-field model. Analytical mean-field calculations of the self-pulsing frequency as well as numerical simulations including the effects of a time-dependent pump pulse agree with the experimentally observed frequencies.
Problem-focused, integrated psychotherapy for complicated grief

Therapy for complicated grief is predicated on a thorough working knowledge of normal grief and its maladaptive complications. Knowledge of attachment theory, traumatic stress theory, and theoretical concepts of depression and anxiety disorders are also particularly useful. This background is used for psychoeducational purposes and integrated with therapeutic strategies from established psychotherapies. To illustrate this approach, the authors present a case of complicated grief in a woman whose mother and son died within 10 months. She was treated with brief, problem-focused, integrated psychotherapy aimed at alleviating symptoms or clarifying underlying psychological processes engendered by the losses. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
In vitro culture of epithelial cells from normal hamster cheek pouch mucosa

Abstract Using appropriate techniques the hamster cheek pouch can provide both normal and pathologic tissue for cell culture purposes. The present article deals with the growth of normal pouch mucosa in culture. A modified plasma clot explant culture technique is described. Using Sykes-Moore culture chambers, 94 of 96 biopsies taken from normal hamster cheek pouch mucosa produced epithelial cells within the first three days after explantation. Epithelial cell sheets developed and degenerated in a characteristic pattern. Relative cell size was used with success to determine the length of the growth period of the epithelial cell sheets. Although fibroblasts were present in a majority of cultures, these cells appeared later than the epithelial cells and did not compromise epithelial cell growth. The method described is now being used to compare cultures of cells from normal and tumour tissue. The technique has obvious value in providing cells for other studies.
Examination of the flap-lag stability of rigid articulated rotor blades

A critical examination of flap-lag stability of a centrally hinged, spring-restrained rigid blade in both hover and forward flight is presented. Several differences in the equations of motion for blade flap-lag stability in the existing literature are identified. A rigorous and systematic development of these equations for a rigid articulated blade in forward flight shows the existence of some linear aerodynamic coupling terms associated with blade steady-state flapping and lagging in the perturbation equations. The differences identified are shown to be associated with whether or not the lag hinge flaps with the blade. The implications of these differences on stability are examined, and it is shown that the pitch-lag coupling terms associated with a hinge arrangement in which the lag hinge flaps with the blade have a marked influence on flap-lag stability, depending on the system parameters.
A low energy future for the United States

Abstract Because of ongoing structural shifts to less energy-intensive activities in the economy and opportunities to make more efficient use of energy, it is technically and economically feasible to reduce U.S. per capita energy use by a factor of two while per capita GNP doubles, 1980–2020. Pursuit of such a course would free up economic resources that are now directed to the energy system. It would also provide flexibility in energy planning; with low future energy demand it becomes possible to avoid overdependence on the more troublesome energy sources. The energy future described here is radically different from most forecasts and would probably not come about without new public policy initiatives. But what would be required is the coordinated use of familiar policy instruments rather than radical institutional changes.
Improvements in Remote Cardiopulmonary Measurement Using a Five Band Digital Camera

Remote measurement of the blood volume pulse via photoplethysmography (PPG) using digital cameras and ambient light has great potential for healthcare and affective computing. However, traditional RGB cameras have limited frequency resolution. We present results of PPG measurements from a novel five band camera and show that alternate frequency bands, in particular an orange band, allowed physiological measurements much more highly correlated with an FDA approved contact PPG sensor. In a study with participants (n = 10) at rest and under stress, correlations of over 0.92 (p 0.01) were obtained for heart rate, breathing rate, and heart rate variability measurements. In addition, the remotely measured heart rate variability spectrograms closely matched those from the contact approach. The best results were obtained using a combination of cyan, green, and orange (CGO) bands; incorporating red and blue channel observations did not improve performance. In short, RGB is not optimal for this problem: CGO is better. Incorporating alternative color channel sensors should not increase the cost of such cameras dramatically.
Snow White: Critics and Criteria for the Animated Feature Film

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) is one of the most-discussed films in animation studies, and one of the most historically significant films of all time. Leonard Maltin notes, “There is no wa...
Frame Dominance in Infants With Hearing Loss

Purpose According to the frames then content (f/c) hypothesis (P. F. MacNeilage & B. L. Davis, 1990), the internal structure of syllables with consonant plus vowel structure (CV) during canonical b...
Assessing the structure of nonverbal interaction

A method for assessing the structure of verbal interaction was applied to the study of nonverbal communication. Based on video‐tapes taken of dyadic conversations, distributions were established for frequency and duration of specific nonverbal acts. Comparisons were made of distributions for subjects differing on the basis of Speech Anxiety scores, Duration of Speech, and Sex. Differences caused by Speech Anxiety were recorded in the distributional structure of nonverbal communication.
From Dewey to Gates: A model to integrate psychoeducational principles in the selection and use of instructional technology

The purpose of this article is to propose a model to integrate educational mastery principles that emphasize cooperative and learner-centered instruction in higher education with the new advances of instructional technology, and to present a pilot case study to exemplify the model. It is clear that in spite of tremendous efforts by colleges and universities to introduce instructional technology in the classroom, many faculty remain skeptical of the new technologies. It is suggested that in order for instructional technology to be widely accepted and used by faculty, the value of this technology to improve classroom instruction has to be proven. It is proposed that this can be achieved by applying learner-centered principles, in which the instructional objectives of the class are directly linked both to the needs of the student and the role of the instructor in the classroom, which in turn determine the appropriate type and use of instructional technology. It presents a pilot case study in which a technology was used to teach a basic psychology concept.
Pretreatment of Corn Stover with Twin-Screw Extrusion Followed by Enzymatic Saccharification

Pretreatment of biomass before subjecting it to enzyme saccharification is crucial with regards to facilitating access of enzyme to biomass. Extrusion, as a continuous and cost-effective pretreatment method, combines heating with high shear and mixing opening cell walls at the microscopic scale, thus largely increasing the specific surface area (SSA) of biomass for enzyme adsorption. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of extrusion as a pretreatment method and the underlying factors ruling the improvement of sugar yields. The optimum glucose, xylose, and combined sugar recoveries were 48.79%, 24.98%, and 40.07%, respectively, at 27.5% moisture content and 80 rpm screw speed. These yields were 2.2, 6.6, and 2.6 times higher than those for untreated corn stover. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystallinity index was not a good indicator of sugar yield. However, scanning electron microscopy showed that the cellulose network was exposed due to the destruction of the lignin sheath. The Langmuir adsorption model was shown to be an effective tool for the estimation of the SSA of corn stover. The SSA of pretreated samples was significantly amplified over the control, revealing that extrusion can open the cell wall at the microscopic scale, which was especially favorable on sugar yields.
Daylight Saving-Time Changes Increase Traffic Accidents:

The frequency of traffic accidents for the State of California for the week preceding and the week subsequent to the fall and spring DST changes were analyzed for the years 1976, 1977, and 1978. Regardless of season of the year, DST change was associated with a significant increase in traffic accidents during the post-change weeks.
Non-neutral dynamics of splay states in Josephson-junction arrays.

We study the effect of the phase dependent conductance on the splay state dynamics of series Josephson arrays. In most cases, the splay states are destabilized, and the array evolves into a more coherent state, e.g., the in-phase state. A smaller parameter range exists where the splay state becomes attracting.
Lambda-doubling in the C1Πu state of H2

Abstract The Λ-doubling of the H2 C1Πu state rovibronic energy levels by interaction with the B 1 Σ u + state is calculated. The present calculation seeks to improve on the similar work of Julienne (1) in three respects (1) The pure precession approximation is not made. (2) Stwalley's B-state potential curve (8) is used and the B- and C-state zero-order eigenvalues are more accurately positioned. (3) The effect of the B-state vibrational continuum is included. The Λ-doubling values agree with experiment to within 1.0 cm−1 for J = 1, 2, and 3, and to within 1.5 cm−1 for J = 4 and 5. It is shown that the Λ-doubling coupling matrix elements provide a sensitive test of electronic potential energy curves. In particular, the inaccuracy of the left limb of the B-state RKR curve is demonstrated.
Children with Special Health Care Needs: Patterns of Safety Restraint Use, Seating Position, and Risk of Injury in Motor Vehicle Crashes

OBJECTIVES: Special health care needs associated with behavioral conditions may influence a child's safety in motor vehicle crashes. The aim of this study was to describe and compare variation in restraint use, seating position, and injury risk in motor vehicle crashes among children with and without special health care needs likely to affect behavior. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study uses data collected between December 1, 1998, and November 30, 2002, in a cross-sectional study of children <16 years of age who were involved in crashes of State Farm-insured vehicles in 15 states. Parent reports via a validated telephone survey were used to define precrash special health care needs, restraint status, seating position, and the occurrence of clinically significant injuries by using a previously validated survey instrument. RESULTS: Complete data were collected for 14654 children aged 4 to 15 years, representing 171633 children in crashes. Of these, 152 children were reported to have a special need likely to affect behavior, representing 1883 children. A greater proportion of children with special needs likely to affect behavior were appropriately restrained, particularly among children aged 4 to 8 years. Drivers of children with special needs likely to affect behavior were more often restrained and more often were the child passenger's parent. There were no differences in the rates of front-row seating. There was no significant association between the presence of a special need likely to affect behavior and risk of injury, after adjustment for child/driver characteristics and crash severity. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a greater proportion of children with special needs likely to affect behavior using proper vehicle restraint, their injury risk was similar to that of children without these special needs. Primary care pediatricians providing best practices for vehicle safety should consider the unique riding experience and risk of injury among children with special health care needs likely to affect behavior. Language: en
Thermodynamics of phase equilibria in aqueous-organic systems with salt

A semiempirical thermodynamic method is developed to establish a framework for calculating vapor-liquid and liquid-liquid equilibria in ternary systems containing water, an organic solvent, and a salt. Careful attention is given to precise definition of standard states. Short-range ion-solvent forces are taken into account primarily by a chemical-equilibrium method based on stepwise ion solvation; however, physical contributions also contribute. Water-cosolvent nonideality is described by an extended equation of the van Laar form. Long-range electrostatic forces between ions are taken into account by an extended Debye-Huckel equation with corrections for transferring from a McMillan-Mayer to a Lewis-Randall framework. The new method is illustrated with results for several systems including saturated aqueous mixtures of LiBr or LiCl with methanol where the salt concentration exceeds 20 molal. The method developed here is of particular interest for process calculations in extractive crystallization, a low-energy operation for producing salt from aqueous solution.
Nonlinear Heat Conductions in Rarefied Gases

ONLINEAR problems of thermal conduction in monatomic rarefied gas confined within two concentric cylinders and spheres are studied by the four-moment method coupled with the bimodal two-stream distribution function of Beck. Finite temperature difference between the two boundary surfaces is included in the present theory. Therefore, present results are presumed to be complete solutions obtainable by the fourmoment technique with the assumed velocity distribution of the gas. Content Recently, Lees' four-moment approach1 for heat conduction problem in rarefied gases was further extended by Lou and Shih2 to investigate nonlinear problems. Instead of linearizing the problem, they employed the technique of series expansion. It was shown that the nonlinear solutions could be obtained in analytic forms. In principle, their method is suitable for any temperature difference. However, as the temperature difference is getting larger, the solutions will have to include more higherorder terms in the series; hence, they become cumbersome. In order to overcome this inconvenience, another modified fourmoment approach is proposed. Let us consider the steady heat conduction problem in a rarefied Maxwellian gas confined between two concentric cylinders, or spheres. The surface of the inner cylinder (or sphere) with radius Rf is maintained at a uniform constant temperature 7}; and the inner surface of the outer cylinder (or sphere) with radius Rn is maintained at Tu. The velocity distribution function of gas molecules f(V9 R) is assumed to be the two-steam bimodal distribution function.3 In region 1
Metamaterials with custom emissivity polarization in the near-infrared

Metamaterials have been previously studied for their ability to tailor the dispersive infrared (IR) emissivity of a surface. Here, we investigate metamaterial coatings based on an electromagnetic band-gap surface for use as near-IR emitters with custom polarization selectivity. A genetic algorithm is successfully employed to optimize the metamaterial structures to exhibit custom linear, circular, and elliptical polarization. A study is also conducted on a bi-anisotropic slab, showing that anisotropic chirality is required in the metamaterial structure in order to achieve circular or elliptical emissivity polarization.
Linear time-varying impulse optimization for data association

This paper extends recent work in linear switching-time optimization to a class of impulsive systems. It is shown that for cases with and without reference the first derivative of a cost function over an arbitrary number of impulse times can be calculated by computing two or three total integrals respectively, which can be done offline. This makes it possible to numerically optimize a cost function online algebraically. A simulated example drawn from data association to which impulse optimization methods are applied is provided.
Venom regeneration in the centipede Scolopendra polymorpha: evidence for asynchronous venom component synthesis.

Abstract Venom regeneration comprises a vital process in animals that rely on venom for prey capture and defense. Venom regeneration in scolopendromorph centipedes likely influences their ability to subdue prey and defend themselves, and may influence the quantity and quality of venom extracted by researchers investigating the venom's biochemistry. We investigated venom volume and total protein regeneration during the 14-day period subsequent to venom extraction in the North American centipede Scolopendra polymorpha. We further tested the hypothesis that venom protein components, separated by reversed-phase fast protein liquid chromatography (RP-FPLC), undergo asynchronous (non-parallel) synthesis. During the first 48 h, volume and protein mass increased linearly. Protein regeneration lagged behind volume regeneration, with 65–86% of venom volume and 29–47% of protein mass regenerated during the first 2 days. No additional regeneration occurred over the subsequent 12 days, and neither volume nor protein mass reached initial levels 7 months later (93% and 76%, respectively). Centipede body length was negatively associated with rate of venom regeneration. Analysis of chromatograms of individual venom samples revealed that 5 of 10 chromatographic regions and 12 of 28 peaks demonstrated changes in percent of total peak area (i.e., percent of total protein) among milking intervals, indicating that venom proteins are regenerated asynchronously. Moreover, specimens from Arizona and California differed in relative amounts of some venom components. The considerable regeneration of venom occurring within the first 48 h, despite the reduced protein content, suggests that predatory and defensive capacities are minimally constrained by the timing of venom replacement.
Active Vibration Control of a Flexible Beam Using a Buckling-Type End Force

In this paper, we explore the use of end forces for vibration control in structural elements. The process involves vibration measurement and observer-based estimation of modal amplitudes, which are used to determine when to apply an end load such that it will remove vibration energy from the structure. For this study, we consider transverse vibration of a cantilever beam with a buckling-type end load that can be switched between two values, both of which are below the buckling load. The stability of the control system is proven using Lyapunov stability theory and its effectiveness is demonstrated using simulations and physical experiments. It is shown that the effectiveness of the approach is affected by the bandwidth of the actuator and the attendant characteristics of the filter, the level of the control force, and the level of bias in the end force. The experiments employ a beam fitted with a cable mechanism and motor for applying the end force, and a piezoelectric patch for taking vibration measurements. It is shown that the first two modes of the beam, whose natural frequencies are less than the bandwidth of the motor, are very effectively controlled by the proposed scheme.
Sensitivity analysis of critical parameters in microbial maintenance-energy models.

Overestimates of microbial biomass and high maintenance rates have caused calculations of annual maintenance requirements to exceed annual C inputs to soil ecosystems. An integrated approach is needed to resolve this inconsistency in the literature. In the present study a mechanistic model for soil microbial systems was used to calculate the maintenance-energy requirements of the soil microbial biomass. This model is base on product formation rather than substrate use and describes an active and sustaining population, with cryptic growth and necromass recycling. Several assumptions, such as death rates, the percentage of active population, and the yield, are required to calculate the maintenance energies, and the sensitivity of these estimated parameters on the maintenance-rate calculation was tested. The total biomass and the yield factor had the greatest effect on the calculated maintenance value. The fraction of active organisms, the death rates, and the different maintenance values for each population had little effect on the maintenance value.
A "Brick"-architecture-based mobile under-vehicle inspection system

In this paper, a mobile scanning system for real-time under-vehicle inspection is presented, which is founded on a "Brick" architecture. In this "Brick" architecture, the inspection system is basically decomposed into bricks of three kinds: sensing, mobility, and computing. These bricks are physically and logically independent and communicate with each other by wireless communication. Each brick is mainly composed by five modules: data acquisition, data processing, data transmission, power, and self-management. These five modules can be further decomposed into submodules where the function and the interface are well-defined. Based on this architecture, the system is built by four bricks: two sensing bricks consisting of a range scanner and a line CCD, one mobility brick, and one computing brick. The sensing bricks capture geometric data and texture data of the under-vehicle scene, while the mobility brick provides positioning data along the motion path. Data of these three modalities are transmitted to the computing brick where they are fused and reconstruct a 3D under-vehicle model for visualization and danger inspection. This system has been successfully used in several military applications and proved to be an effective safer method for national security.
Public Perceptions of Traumatic Events and Policy Preferences During the George W. Bush Administration: A Portrait of America in Turbulent Times

The American policy landscape during the George W. Bush administration was shaped by a series of traumatic events that confronted the nation and people of the United States. These included the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001, the anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001, military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the threat of a flu pandemic in 2005 and 2006, the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports, and the financial collapse of 2008. The results of the 2008 presidential election appear to be a rejection of the Bush administration’s major policy responses to these events, but the variation in type and level of public support among different groups suggests a much more varied and dynamic portrait of America in turbulent times. Using a multiyear panel survey, an interdisciplinary team of political scientists and psychologists analyzed the behavior and political responses to the events by the American public. The findings suggest that even seven years after the events of 11 September 2001, people with higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptomatology related to 9/11 have significantly different interpretations of the threat of terrorism and the appropriate policy responses to it than do others. Perceptions of threat, the political salience of terrorism and other traumatic events, the level of support for political leaders and assessments of the government’s actions vary over time and across different groups within society based on the psychological, political and social, and personal characteristics of the respondent. These results help to open the black box of aggregate public opinion by providing a detailed portrait of how psychological, social, political, and personal factors affected perceptions and political behavior during the George W. Bush administration.
Micro-Optics for Photonic Networks

This PDF file contains the editorial “Micro-Optics for Photonic Networks” for JM3 Vol. 2 Issue 04
Towards usable cyber security requirements

Security has become a primary and prevalent concern for software systems. The past decade has witnessed a tremendous increase in not only the sheer number of attacks but also the ease with which attacks can be performed on systems. In this paper we exemplify the usage of a novel technique for developing security requirements, by demonstrating each step in the technique when applied to an example usage scenario. Furthermore, this new technique also provides support for deriving testing artifacts from the specified security requirements. We believe that in order to protect a system against harm (intended or not), attention must be given to its requirements. Similar to other system properties and quality attributes, security must be considered at the requirements.
Alteration of Mammalian-Cell Toxicity of Pesticides by Structural Iron(II) in Ferruginous Smectite

The ultimate concern over pesticides in the environment is their toxic impact on nontarget organisms, including humans. Soil clays are known to interact with pesticides in ways that decrease the concentration of the parent compound in the soil solution (adsorption, sequestration, degradation). These phenomena are generally regarded as beneficial, but toxicological verification is lacking. In this study, mammalian-cell cytotoxicity of four commonly used agricultural chemicals (2,4-D, alachlor, dicamba, and oxamyl) was assessed after exposure to either reduced or oxidized ferruginous smectite (SWa-1). Results revealed that treatment with reduced smectite produced differential effects on mammalian-cell viability, depending on the pesticide. Oxamyl and alachlor reacted with reduced SWa-1 showed a significant decrease in their overall cytotoxic potential. Dicamba reacted with the reduced-clay treatment and generated products that were more toxic than the parent pesticide. Finally, no differences were observed ...
IMP 5 magnetic field measurements in the high latitude outer magnetosphere near the noon meridian

IMP 5 magnetic field measurements at high geomagnetic latitudes to observe broad depressed field region centered on polar or dayside cusp
3 rd generation 1280 x 720 FPA development status at Raytheon Vision Systems

Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) has developed and demonstrated the first-ever 1280 x 720 pixel dual-band MW/LWIR focal plane arrays (FPA) to support 3rd-Generation tactical IR systems under the U.S. Army's Dual-Band FPA Manufacturing (DBFM) program. The MW/LWIR detector arrays are fabricated from MBE-grown HgCdTe triple-layer heterojunction (TLHJ) wafers. The RVS dual-band FPA architecture provides highly simultaneous temporal detection in the MWIR and LWIR bands using time-division multiplexed integration (TDMI) incorporated into the readout integrated circuit (ROIC). The TDMI ROIC incorporates a high degree of integration and output flexibility, and supports both dual-band and single-band full-frame operating modes, as well as high-speed LWIR "window" operation at 480 Hz frame rate. The ROIC is hybridized to a two-color detector array using a single indium interconnect per pixel, which makes it highly producible for 20 μm unit cells and exploits mature fabrication processes currently used to produce single-color FPAs. High-quality 1280 x 720 MW/LWIR FPAs have been fabricated and excellent dual-band imagery produced at 60 Hz frame rate. The 1280 x 720 detector arrays for these FPAs have LWIR cutoff wavelengths ≥10.5 μm at 78K. These FPAs have demonstrated high-sensitivity at 78K with MW NETD values < 20 mK and LW NETD values <30 mK with f/3.5 apertures. Pixel operability greater than 99.9% has been achieved in the MW band and greater than 98% in the LW band.
The efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on human pancreatic cancer cell lines1

Abstract Background We attempted to determine potential therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer by performing microarray analysis and targeted chemotherapy on three human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Materials and methods We used a microarray to screen 847 genes involved in cytokine signaling, signal transduction, and transcription. Tyrosine kinases represented a common target driving proliferation among the three cell types. We tested the ability of Gleevec (STI-571), Lavendustin, Herbimycin, and Genistein to inhibit the proliferation of cells in culture as assessed by the MTT assay. Results Eighteen genes were found to be commonly expressed by the three cell lines. Of these, six (33%) included tyrosine phosphorylation signaling as part of the pathway. The most highly expressed common transcript was the EphB3 receptor, which is a tyrosine kinase. Herbimycin and Genistein were able to inhibit the proliferation of all three cell lines in a dose dependent manner, with a mean IC50 of 1.71 μM and 223 μM, respectively; whereas Lavendustin and Gleevec were ineffective in the inhibition of proliferation. Conclusions Transcriptional profiling yielded common targets and insights into the biology of cells in culture. Herbimycin- and Genistein-based kinase inhibitors may offer potential and should be tested in other in vivo models for their ability to inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer.
Have class, will travel (abstract only)

At many schools, various disciplines offer travel courses to enhance the knowledge of the student. How can we introduce such courses to computer science departments across the country? This BOF will provide a time of sharing ideas for such courses and discuss travel courses that have been successfully taught. This will include not only the material for the course but also discussion concerning the additional planning overhead that must be considered when traveling - cost, insurance, itinerary, safety, etc.
Matrix Vesicles in Atherosclerotic Calcification

Matrix vesicles, small extracellular membranous structures, are known to be the initial loci of calcification of cartilage, bone, and dentin. Calcification is an important complication of atherosclerosis. Using histologic, ultrastructural, and cytochemical techniques, the present study has demonstrated that matrix vesicle-like structures are involved in the calcification of atherosclerotic lesions, as well as in arterial medial calcification. In aortas from autopsied humans and from rabbits and chickens on atherogenic diets, the matrix vesicles appear to be derived from intimal and medial cellular components, mainly smooth muscle cells.
Isobutane dehydrogenation on chromia/silica-titania mixed oxide and chromia/γ-alumina catalysts

Isobutane dehydrogenation was studied on chromia supported on mixed oxides of silica and titania catalysts. The catalyst supports, silica−titania mixed oxides, were prepared by three different methods: a modified sol−gel method, a mechanical mixing of silica and titania, and a calcination of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) intercalated crystalline titanate. Chromia supported on the mixed oxide (Si:Ti mole ratio = 0.36) prepared from TEOS intercalated crystalline titanate is the most active among these chromia supported mixed oxide catalysts. The isobutylene yield of this catalyst was about 60% of Girdler G-41 catalyst, comparable to that of the in-house chromia/γ-alumina catalyst, 2 times as much as that of the chromia/titania catalyst, and 6 times as much as that of the chromia/silica catalyst.
A survey of knowledge-based systems research in decision sciences (1980–1995)

Research in knowledge-based systems (KBS) has become an important area of inquiry within decision sciences. In this paper, we present the results of an extensive survey of research papers published on this topic. We determined frequency counts of papers and we also performed a content analysis of the papers we surveyed. The results indicate that there are a large number of studies informing us of the design and development issues relating to KBS. However, there seems to be less research examining issues relating to the management and impact of KBS on individuals and organisations. We summarise our key findings and identify avenues for future research.
Clinical Response of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Pulmonary Fibrosis to Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibition

Treatment options for patients with pulmonary fibrosis associated with rheumatoid disease are limited. We report a case of a 71-year-old man with a 3-year history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) referred to the pulmonary clinic because of progressive pulmonary symptoms associated with radiographic fibrosis that was progressive in spite of corticosteroid treatment. In an attempt to control his articular symptoms and alter the course of his pulmonary fibrosis, treatment with IV infusion of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitor infliximab was initiated. Following 1 year of therapy with this agent, the patient reported sustained improvement in dyspnea, cough, and exercise tolerance, in addition to improvement in joint symptoms. Stabilization of pulmonary function was indicated by repeat pulmonary function test findings. This report suggests that inhibition of TNF-α may be of significant benefit to patients with fibrosing lung conditions in the setting of RA.
Changes occurring in fat autoxidation

A general pattern of chemical changes has been observed to accompany the oxidative destruction of a fat during the accelerated development of rancidity in the presence of oxygen at 110° C. During a variable period of time (the “induction period”) no detectable changes occur. However, at the time when peroxide formation increases appreciably, several chemical changes appear simultaneously: linoleic acid decreases, the total unsaturation (as measured by the iodine value) decreases and the mean length of the carbon chain of the acids decreases. The formation of conjugated unsaturation in an autoxidizing edible fat or oil seems probable. It has been demonstrated that a fat may become quite rancid and still retain at least 90% of its original octadecadienoic, “linoleic” acid. These chemical changes have been observed consistently irrespective of the fat or oil under study, the length of its induction period, or the presence of added antioxidant or synergist.
Hierarchical distance-vector multicast routing for the MBone

The exponential growth of the Multicast Back-bone (MBone) has resulted in increased routing overhead and processing costs. In this paper we propose a two-level hierarchical routing model as a solution to this problem. This approach involves partitioning the MBone into non-overlapping regions using DVMRP as the inter-region routing protocol; intra-region routing may be accomplished by any of a number of existing multicast protocols. Our design is flexible enough to accommodate additional levels of hierarchy, and protocols other than DVMRP at the higher levels. The unique feature of this approach is the independence of the higher level routing protocol from the subnet addresses, which allows for easy incremental deployment with small changes to existing intra-region protocols.
Hedgehog pathway inhibition and the race against tumor evolution

Dependence of basal cell carcinomas and medulloblastomas on the Hedgehog pathway provides an opportunity for targeted or "personalized" therapy. The recent effectiveness and FDA approval of the first Smoothened inhibitors validates this class of agents, but has revealed drug-resistant tumor variants that bypass Smoothened inhibition. Here, we summarize the effectiveness of Hedgehog pathway inhibitors and highlight promising areas for the development of next generation drug antagonists for Hedgehog-dependent cancers.
Biomaterials for Cell-Based Therapeutic Angiogenesis

Stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells are increasingly studied for use in therapeutic angiogenesis to treat ischemic tissues and critical-sized tissue defects because of their potential to sustainably express multiple angiogenic factors and also differentiate to endothelial cells. These cells are often incorporated into a variety of biomaterials which can function as a provisional matrix to localize or deploy cells and also to regulate cellular phenotypic activities at a transplantation site. This chapter will summarize previous and current efforts to design cell-laden biomaterials in order to improve therapeutic efficacy of transplanted cells to stimulate revascularization. Finally, it will discuss future strategies of biomaterial design that can further elevate the quality of the cell-based revascularization therapy.
Environmental Ethics and Medical Ethics: Some Implications for End-of-Life Care, Part II

In Part 1 of this essay, I raised the following question: How would our care of the dying patient change if environmentally inspired theories of ethics, like deep ecology, were imported into current Western norms of patient care?