cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adenosine 5'-triphosphate's role in bradycardia and syncope associated with pulmonary embolism.

Adenosine 5′-triphiosphate (ATP) is released from cells under physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. Extracellular ATP acts as an autocrine and paracrine agent affecting various cell types by activating cell surface P2 receptors (P2R), which include trans-cell membrane cationic channels, P2XR, and G protein coupled receptors, P2YR. We have previously shown that ATP stimulates vagal afferent nerve terminals in the lungs by activating P2X2/3R. This action could lead to bronchoconstriction, cough and the local release of pro-inflammatory neuropeptides. In addition, ATP markedly enhances the IgE-dependent histamine release from human lung mast cells. Thus, we have proposed for the first time that extracellular ATP plays a mechanistic role in pulmonary pathophysiology in general and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute bronchoconstriction in asthma in particular. The present review examines whether ATP could also play a role in bradycardia and syncope in a subset of patients with pulmonary embolism.
A Microcomputer Aided Design of Technical Systems

The main ideas of the microcomputer aided design of technical systems have been presented. A mathematical model of the problem has been formulated. The author’s own approach to the problem — including the concept of an increasing sequence of macromodels, block frontal algorithms in the hypermatrix algebra and a database approach to the CAD/CAM systems — has been pointed out. The challenge of computational mechanics as well as this of expert systems have been called. The reliability of engineering design using computers and a validation of Finite Element systems have been cited. Some remarks on international associations for CAD/CAM have been included.
Stress-intensity factors for corner cracks in rectangular bars

Stress intensity factors are presented for a wide range of quarter-elliptical corner cracks in a rectangular bar. The bars were subjected to remote tension, out-of-plane bending, or in-plane bending loading, and the stress intensity factors were calculated from a three-dimensional finite element analysis using the nodal-force method. For all loadings considered, smaller width bars produce higher normalized stress intensity factors than the larger width bars. For tensile loading, quarter-circular corner cracks give higher stress intensity factors near the free surfaces and lower values in the interior. The results are compared with data in the literature for remote tensile loading.
Research on Control System-Level Hardware-in-the-Loop Experimental Verification Platform Based on Componentized Reconfiguration

The characteristics of China ultra-high-voltage AC/DC power grid change significantly after the ultra-high-voltage project’s operation. The system protection is proposed by State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) which is supposed to meet the operation’s need of the district power grid such as several technological innovations. The comprehensive verification, effectiveness and reliability of the system protection are very important to ensure the security and stability of power grid. In this paper, a construction scheme for control system-level hardware-in-the-loop experimental verification platform based on component reconfiguration is proposed. By combing the function and the structure of the experimental devices, optimizing the layout of interface modules and the inter-station communication devices, the disadvantages of traditional “one experiment, one platform” including large workload, low recycled, long development period and difficult maintenance are effectively improved. The technical solution has been applied in the System Protection Laboratory of SGCC, and the effectiveness has been verified by the hardware-in-the-loop real time simulation experiments. This work is supported by State Grid Corporation of China.
Creating Reliability and Fidelity in Measuring Head Control

Date Presented 04/05/19 Primary Author and Speaker: Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth Additional Authors and Speakers: Ashley Sinnappan Contributing Authors: Jodi Thomas, Roy St. Laurent
Trends in Mortality, Morbidity and Healthcare Utilization: Does It Make Sense to Use Healthcare As a Proxy for Health?

Medical utilization, such as a count of hospitalizations, is routinely used as a health proxy for both policy and research purposes. Over time, trends in how medicine is practiced has impacted this relationship, as technological improvements or policy changes have altered hospitalizations at the same level of health. In this work, we document how hospitalizations have evolved as a marker for subsequent health (mortality and morbidity) and subsequent utilization (hospitalizations, emergency department visits, physician visits, and others). We assess these trends in the DI population (both fee-for-service and managed care), the aged Medicare fee-for-service population, and a commercial managed care population. We find that hospitalizations continue to predict subsequent mortality well, but that the relationship is more nuanced for morbidity. We find that hospitalizations are declining over time, but that they decline less for those with a prior hospitalization. Other types of utilization are increasing with time, with mixed evidence of the relationship with prior hospitalizations. We conclude that the relationship between hospitalizations and health continues to evolve and that the utility of this proxy depends on what measures of health one is assessing
Emergency Management of Acute Psychosis

The competent management of an acutely psychotic patient who is agitated requires skill and experience. This chapter describes the clinical approach to agitation in acute settings, particularly the importance of non-pharmacological interventions such as verbal de-escalation and early use of oral medications in order to avoid behavioral escalation and prevent injury to patients and staff. To achieve the goal of a calm patient who can be evaluated, clinicians can chose from a variety of medications to treat agitation rapidly and effectively, including second-generation antipsychotics and inhaled loxapine. The chapter ends with a discussion of patient disposition including discharge from the acute setting.
The Study of Pain in Rats and Mice

Pain is a clinical syndrome arising from a variety of etiologies in a heterogeneous population, which makes successfully treating the individual patient difficult. Organizations and governments recognize the need for tailored and specific therapies, which drives pain research. This review summarizes the different types of pain assessments currently being used and the various rodent models that have been developed to recapitulate the human pain condition.
A High Gain and Wideband Narrow-Beam Antenna for 5G Millimeter-Wave Applications

A wideband antenna with a high gain and narrow beam-width for future 5G communication systems is presented in this research. The antenna operates in 28 GHz 5G band with a large 35.53% bandwidth ranging from 23.41-33.92 GHz. The array has 4-elements arranged in a linear fashion to attain a high gain of 10.7 dBi. It radiates along its end-fire direction and provides a very narrow beam-width of 14.6° in its H-plane. A corporate feed network specifically designed for thin substrates was used in order to excite the array elements. It is built upon thin 0.254 mm Rogers substrate to minimize transmission losses and attain high radiation efficiencies of more than 90% throughout its operating frequency range. It has a compact structure bearing low cost and is easy to fabricate. This antenna fulfills necessary requirements of 5G communication and is therefore a good candidate to be used in the millimeter-wave range.
Chapter 35 – Caste

Publisher Summary This article explores the diversity of ways in which the concept of caste has been used and the array of important phenomena it encompasses in different insect societies. A fully social or eusocial group is generally understood to exhibit reproductive division of labor. In eusocial insects, the helpers comprise the worker caste and reproductive females are referred to as queens. Termite colonies possess long-lived royal couples (a queen and a king), whereas in eusocial Hymenoptera, males are sometimes referred to as drones. Males in the order Hymenoptera rarely work for their colonies and typically die soon after mating. In contrast, male eusocial thrips (Thysanoptera) and termites (Isoptera) comprise part of the worker force and participate fully in colony labor. Social insect species vary according to whether the group's members are permanently relegated to reproductive versus worker roles and in the degree of fecundity differences between reproducers and workers. There is a general evolutionary trend toward increased reproductive caste specialization as more complex, larger societies evolve from simpler, smaller ones. In some ants, workers lack reproductive organs and are permanently sterile. In most species, however, workers can achieve limited direct reproduction under some conditions.
Vitamin D and Wellbeing beyond Infections: COVID-19 and Future Pandemics.

In a recently published study in JACN, (“Correlating Circulating Vitamin D3 with Aspects of the Metabolic Syndrome and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Healthy Female Volunteers”), Preuss et al...
Temporal, spatial, and genetic constraints contribute to the patterning and penetrance of murine neurofibromatosis-1 optic glioma.

BACKGROUND Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors of childhood, but little is understood about the factors that influence their development. Pediatric low-grade gliomas in particular display unique temporal and spatial localization associated with different genetic mutations (eg, BRAF genomic alterations, mutations in the neurofibromatosis type 1 [NF1] gene) for reasons that remain unclear. NF1 low-grade gliomas typically arise in the optic pathway of young children as optic pathway gliomas (OPGs), likely from a cell of origin that resides within the third ventricular zone (TVZ). However, the factors that contribute to their distinct temporal patterning and penetrance have not been adequately explored. METHODS TVZ neuroglial progenitor cells (NPCs) were analyzed over the course of mouse brain development. Progenitors isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) were assessed for functional and molecular differences. The impact of different germline Nf1 mutations on TVZ NPC properties was analyzed using genetically engineered mice. RESULTS We identify 3 individual factors that could each contribute to Nf1 optic glioma temporal patterning and penetrance. First, there are 3 functionally and molecularly distinct populations of mouse TVZ NPCs, one of which ("M" cells) exhibits the highest clonogenic incidence, proliferation, and abundance during embryogenesis. Second, TVZ NPC proliferation dramatically decreases after birth. Third, germline Nf1 mutations differentially increase TVZ NPC proliferation during embryogenesis. CONCLUSIONS The unique temporal patterning and penetrance of Nf1 optic glioma reflects the combined effects of TVZ NPC population composition, time-dependent changes in progenitor proliferation, and the differential impact of the germline Nf1 mutation on TVZ NPC expansion.
Evaluation of Suicide Mortality Among Sexual Minority US Veterans From 2000 to 2017.

Importance Identification of subgroups at greatest risk for suicide mortality is essential for prevention efforts and targeting interventions. Sexual minority individuals may have an increased risk for suicide compared with heterosexual individuals, but a lack of sufficiently powered studies with rigorous methods for determining sexual orientation has limited the knowledge on this potential health disparity. Objective To investigate suicide mortality among sexual minority veterans using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) electronic health record data. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective population-based cohort study used data on 8.1 million US veterans enrolled in the VHA after fiscal year 1999 that were obtained from VHA electronic health records from October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2017. Data analysis was carried out from March 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020. Exposure Veterans with documentation of a minority sexual orientation. Documentation of sexual minority status was obtained through natural language processing of clinical notes and extraction of structured administrative data for sexual orientation in VHA electronic health records. Main Outcomes and Measures Suicide mortality rate using data on the underlying cause of death obtained from the National Death Index. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates were calculated for all-cause death and death from suicide among sexual minority veterans compared with the general US population and the general population of veterans. Results Among the 96 893 veterans with at least 1 sexual minority documentation in the electronic health record, the mean (SD) age was 46 (16) years, 68% were male, and 70% were White. Of the 12 591 total deaths, 3.5% were from suicide. Veterans had a significantly higher rate of mortality from suicide (standardized mortality ratio, 4.50; 95% CI, 4.13-4.99) compared with the general US population. Suicide was the fifth leading cause of death in 2017 among sexual minority veterans (3.8% of deaths) and the tenth leading cause of death in the general US population (1.7% of deaths). The crude suicide rate among sexual minority veterans (82.5 per 100 000 person-years) was higher than the rate in the general veteran population (37.7 per 100 000 person-years). Conclusions and Relevance The results of this population-based cohort study suggest that sexual minority veterans have a greater risk for suicide than the general US population and the general veteran population. Further research is needed to determine whether and how suicide prevention efforts reach sexual minority veterans.
Approaching Subwavelength Terahertz Imaging Using Photo-Induced Coded Apertures on Mesa-Array Structures

We report a novel approach for potentially achieving subwavelength terahertz (THz) imaging using photo-induced coded apertures on mesa-array structures. The proposed structure consists of a two-dimensional array of semiconductor mesas, which results in free carriers being confined inside each mesa, and consequently much refined photopatterns being generated for achieving subwavelength imaging resolution. A Si mesa-array structure was fabricated and tested. A modulation depth of ~22 dB was obtained in the frequency range of 740–750 GHz under a light intensity of ~9 W/cm2. Initial imaging experiments were performed and the results indicate a great potential of achieving subwavelength resolution. The advanced PI-CAI technique utilizing mesa-array structures provides a novel solution for approaching subwavelength-resolution THz imaging.
Engineered yeast tune down gut inflammation.

A yeast strain engineered to regulate levels of pathogenic metabolites in the gut provides protection against colitis in mouse models.
A Best-Response Algorithm with Voluntary Communication and Mobility Protocols for Mobile Autonomous Teams Solving the Target Assignment Problem.

We consider a team of mobile autonomous robots with the aim to cover a given set of targets. Each robot aims to select a target to cover and physically reach it by the final time in coordination with other robots given the locations of targets. Robots are unaware of which targets other robots intend to cover. Each robot can control its mobility and who to send information to. We assume communication happens over a wireless channel that is subject to fading and failures. Given the setup, we propose a decentralized algorithm based on decentralized fictitious play in which robots reason about the selections and locations of other robots to decide which target to select, whether to communicate or not, who to communicate with, and where to move. Specifically, the communication actions of the robots are learning-aware, and their mobility actions are sensitive to the success probability of communication. We show that the decentralized algorithm guarantees that robots will cover their targets in finite time. Numerical simulations and experiments using a team of mobile robots confirm the target coverage in finite time and show that mobility control for communication and learning-aware voluntary communication protocols reduce the number of communication attempts in comparison to a benchmark distributed algorithm that relies on communication after every decision epoch.
Effect of Antitumor Diarylsulfonylureas on in Vivo and in Vitro Mitochondrial Structure and Functions

Diarylsulfonylureas are novel oncolytic agents shown to have therapeutic activity against both rodent solid tumors and xenografts of human tumors in mice. Previous studies have shown that diarylsulfonylureas localize in mitochondria and cause morphological changes in these organelles. We have investigated the mechanism of action of diarylsulfonylureas, namely, N-(5-indanylsulfonyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl)urea (ISCU) and the N-4-methyl analogue (MPCU), by studying their effect on mitochondrial morphology and uptake of rhodamine 123 in GC3/c1 cells in culture and the oxidative phosphorylation in isolated mitochondria from mouse liver, using pyruvate-malate and succinate as substrates. Morphometric analysis of mitochondria in GC3/c1 cells exposed to ISCU showed that ISCU (165 microM) doubled the mitochondrial size after 24-h exposure in culture. Also, ISCU (100 microM), like 40 microM carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, significantly reduced the rhodamine 123 uptake by GC3/c1 cells studied by flow cytometry. In isolated mitochondria both ISCU and MPCU uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation at 50 microM, with pyruvate-malate as substrate, as was indicated by a significant increase in the State 4 oxygen consumption. This resulted in the loss of ADP phosphorylation and, therefore, the ADP/oxygen ratio was reduced to zero and the respiratory control ratio to one. The succinate oxidation was also significantly impaired by ISCU, causing some decrease in ADP phosphorylation. On the other hand, MPCU did not exhibit any significant effect on the oxidation of succinate. At concentrations of lower than 50 microM, both of these compounds exhibited a deleterious effect, causing damage to mitochondrial functions in the presence of pyruvate-malate as substrates. These data confirm, through morphometric analysis, our previous qualitative observations of abnormal mitochondrial morphology observed in GC3/c1 cells grown in the presence of high concentrations of ISCU and MPCU and further suggest that diarylsulfonylureas, by uncoupling mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, may lower cellular ATP. It is probable that this mechanism contributes, at least partially, to cytotoxicity in GC3/c1 cells exposed to high concentrations of ISCU for relatively brief periods (2 to 4 h) and possibly contributes to cytotoxicity at drug concentrations that can be achieved in rodents.
Double-binary-pulsar test of Chern-Simons modified gravity

Chern-Simons modified gravity is a string theory and loop-quantum-gravity inspired effective theory that modifies general relativity by adding a parity-violating Pontryagin density to the Einstein-Hilbert action multiplied by a coupling scalar. We strongly constrain nondynamical Chern-Simons modified gravity with a timelike Chern-Simons scalar through observations of the double-binary-pulsar PSR J0737-3039A/B. We first calculate Chern-Simons corrections to the orbital evolution of binary systems. We find that the ratio of the correction to periastron precession to the general relativistic prediction scales quadratically with the semimajor axis and inversely with the square of the object's radius. Binary pulsar systems are thus ideal to test this theory, since periastron precession can be measured with subdegree accuracies and the semimajor axis is millions of times larger than the stellar radius. Using data from PSR J0737-3039A/B we dramatically constrain the nondynamical Chern-Simons coupling to ${M}_{\mathrm{CS}}\ensuremath{\mathrel{:=}}1/|\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \textperiodcentered \fi{}}{\ensuremath{\vartheta}}|g33\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{meV}$, approximately a hundred billion times better than current Solar System tests.
Imperfect rent dissipation with unionized labor

Traditional rent-seeking theory focused only on socially wasteful expenditures by firms competing for restrictive regulations. More recently, rent-defending expenditures by consumers have also been taken into account. This paper extends the analysis by adding rent-sharing expenditures by organized labor. The paper merges the Tullock lottery model and the monopoly union model and considers both a costless and a costly wage bargaining mechanism. The participation of consumers and workers in the distributional contest is shown to reduce, rather than increase, the social cost of restrictive regulations. The participation of consumers and workers also raises the probability of deregulation.
Naïve Encounters with Chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo

We describe the behavior of an unhabituated population of chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. We encountered chimpanzee parties on 218 occasions during two field seasons (February 1999–December 1999, June 2000–June 2001). Overall contact rate was 0.63 contacts per day in the field (n = 347). During the first 5 min of observation, we recorded individual responses as curious, ignore, hide, or depart. In contrast to other unhabituated chimpanzees, curiosity was the most common response (84%) of individuals in the Goualougo Triangle. However, the responses were deeply integrated in the group's reaction to our arrival and behavior throughout an encounter. Based on the behavior of the majority of individuals in a group, we categorized entire contact events as naive, ignore, nervous, or depart. Naive contacts accounted for 69% of all encounters. Other contacts types occurred much less frequently: nervous (12%), depart (11%), ignore (8%). Naive contacts were characterized by chimpanzees that continued to exhibit curiosity throughout the encounter, the arrival of other individuals at the contact location, and relatively prolonged contact with observers (average duration: 136 min). It is likely that the high frequency of curious responses and naive contacts are due to the remote location of the Goualougo Triangle and the chimpanzees's lack of experience with humans. Documentation of this naive phenomenon has been successfully used to lobby for the protection of the chimpanzees and their habitat.
Placental acetylcholine in induction of premature labor.

Abstract Placental acetylcholine equivalents were measured in patients having second trimester spontaneous abortions, patients having therapeutic abortions with intra-amniotic hypertonic saline, and patients having therapeutic abortions with intra-amniotic hypertonic saline to which methylene blue was added. Placental acetylcholine equivalents of patients receiving methylene blue were less than those of the others and those with midtrimester abortions were highest. This observation correlates with the prolonged latent period that is frequently observed with patients having therapeutic abortions induced with intra-amniotic hypertonic saline containing methylene blue.
A Crucial Door to the Mast Cell Mystery Knocked In

The mast cell is a type of myeloid lineage hematopoietic cell. These cells originate from progenitor cells in the bone marrow, enter the circulation, and become mature mast cells after entering destination tissues under the influence of the local microenvironment ([1][1]). The traditional wisdom
Suppression and Immunotherapy of the Guinea Pig Line-10 Hepatocarcinoma Mediated by Nonviable Staphylococcus aureus

Suppression of growth of the line-10 guinea pig hepatocarcinoma was achieved after the simultaneous injection of line-10 cells and heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus. Growth of tumor was also suppressed when line-10 cells were injected alone, contralaterally, at the same time as the vaccine mixture. Immunity developed to subsequent line-10 cell challenges but not to other syngeneic tumors. Similar results were obtained with the use of protein A-rich or -deficient strains of S. aureus. Multiple intratumor injections of heat-killed S. aureus were therapeutically effective against 6-day tumors. The antitumor effects of nonviable S. aureus were similar in many ways to those of living BCG or bacterial products suspended in oil droplets.
Fear of conflict and empathic buffering : Two explanations for the inflation of performance feedback

Abstract Although considerable research attention has been given to the topic of performance rating inflation, comparatively less attention has been paid to the issue of performance feedback inflation. In two laboratory experiments, poorly-performing confederates were evaluated and given feedback using either a direct (face-to-face) or indirect (tape-recorded) feedback medium. In both studies the direct-feedback medium resulted in more positive performance feedback than the indirect-feedback medium, and participants were more likely to document their ratings when they anticipated providing face-to-face feedback. The second experiment revealed that low trait empathy was actually associated with greater rating inflation when raters anticipated face-to-face feedback sessions. We conclude that fear of interpersonal conflict is a primary motivator of feedback inflation.
Coordination Specification for CIRSSE Robotic Platform System Using Petri Net Transducers

A formal model based on Petri net transducers has been developed to specify the coordination and communication among the various task units in the CIRSSE platform system for robotic construction in space stations. The specification guarantees a mechanism of coherent control and communication for the effective cooperation among the different task units, and outlines the major steps toward the integration of the robotic platform system. The model is based on a coordination structure consisting of one dispatcher and three coordinators representing, respectively, the motion, vision, and gripper units of the platform system. The coordination structure insures some desired process properties for the system, such as boundedness, liveness, and reversibility, and easier translation from the formal specifications to the program codes based on Petri net transducer models. The model also assists with the system development in many ways, including (i) reducing the number of errors introduced while converting specifications to codes; (ii) assisting the developers in program implementation and verification (iii) allowing quicker adaptation to changed specifications; and (iv) allowing easier testing of the results for specification modifications. Therefore, it provides a useful tool for the design, simulation, performance evaluation, and implementation verification of the CIRSSE robotic platform system.
Motor learning using a kinematic-vibrotactile mapping targeting fundamental movements

In this paper, we present a novel approach for teaching motor skills through the use of vibrotactile stimulation. We propose a kinematic-vibrotactile mapping that targets fundamental movements (basic building blocks of human motion) using saltatory vibration patterns where vibrations are delivered and interpreted as movement through a conceptual mapping. Two conceptual mappings are explored: the "follow me" concept and the push/pull metaphor. A user study, approved by a local ethics committee, was conducted to explore how these conceptual mappings affect learnability, recognition accuracy, response time and naturalness. Results show the approach to work effectively with a combination of vibration patterns under each conceptual mapping providing the most useful design.
Effects of acute systemic 3-nitropropionic acid administration on rat activity and acoustic startle.

Spontaneous activity, acoustic startle, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle were measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats 3-5 h after 0, 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg i.p. 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a mitochondrial toxin. Mean activity was significantly influenced by the 3-NP dose due to decreased activity for 20 mg/kg. Mean startle amplitude was not significantly affected by the 3-NP dose. Means of PPI for prepulses 6 and 12 dBA above background were smaller than means for respective 0 mg/kg doses, but the main effect of 3-NP dose did not reach statistical significance in ANOVA. The changes in measured exploratory-type activity and, possibly, in startle PPI parallel the occurrence of clinical signs exhibited at 3-5 h after 3-NP injection. Neural processing involved in these quantitative behavioral endpoints seems to be affected as energy stores are depleted and degenerative processes are beginning.
LEED/electrochemical analysis of Au single crystals: Stability of the UHV prepared surfaces of Au(111) and Au(100) in aqueous electrolyte

Ultrahigh vacuum preparation (including Ar + sputtering and thermal annealing) of Au(111) and Au(100) single crystals produced reconstructed surfaces identified as (111)−(3×22) and (100)−(5×20) by previous workers. The stability of these reconstructed surfaces with respect to environmental changes and potentiodynamic cycling in aqueous HF electrolyte were studied in a coupled UHV-electrochemical system. The atomic-scale structural changes induced by either method were identified by low energy electron diffraction (LEED). The (5×20) reconstruction on the (100) surface did not survive exposure to Ar gas/aqueous HF vapor environment, and transformed to the bulk termination (1×1) structure. The ( 3 x 22 ) overlayer was stable in the same environment, but transformation of the (3×22) structure to a (1×1) structure occurred upon electrolyte contact. Thus, the UHV reconstructed surfaces of either the (111) or (100) crystal were found to be unstable with respect to contact with aqueous electrolyte in our apparatus. The effect of adventitious impurities in the electrolyte on the stability could not, however, be precluded. LEED spot profile analysis indicated the (100)−(1×1) surface in contact with electrolyte initially has a nominally flat surface decorated with uniformly sized islands ∼30 A in diameter. Anodic oxidation of either the (100)−(1×1) or the (111)−(1×1) surface to a charge of ∼250 μC/cm 2 (equivalent to a monolayer of OH − ) did not produce a change in structure observable by LEED. The critical amount of anodic charge to cause the onset of roughening observable by LEED was ∼300 μC/cm 2 , corresponding to the completion of a monolayer of OH − and the formation of a significant fraction of a(+II) “oxide” layer. Place-exchange appears to be the mechanism by which the transition from chemisorption of OH − to formation of (+II) “oxide” is accomplished.
Does the Density of Invasive Rusty Crayfish Affect Stream Macroinvertebrates

Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) have invaded streams of the upper Susquehanna River catchment (New York, USA), replacing native crayfish and probably increasing overall crayfish density. Crayfish are important consumers and agents of disturbance in aquatic communities, so the introduction and expansion of rusty crayfish could affect the invaded community through the change in crayfish species composition, the increase in crayfish density, or some combination of the two. Other macroinvertebrates are prey of, competitors with, or subject to disturbance by crayfish and so are likely to be affected by changes in the crayfish assemblage. We conducted correlative field sampling and an enclosure experiment to investigate the effects of invading O. rusticus on the abundance, diversity, and composition of the stream macroinvertebrate assemblage. We sampled crayfish and macroinvertebrates at 13 sites on 4 streams in the upper Susquehanna River catchment that varied in crayfish species composition and density. Total macroinvertebrate abundance, taxon richness, diversity, and density of individual taxa were not significantly correlated to either total crayfish density or the relative abundance of O. rusticus. We also conducted an experiment in stream enclosures to test the effects of O. rusticus density on the macroinvertebrate assemblage. Increasing crayfish density caused a significant decrease in total macroinvertebrate density but did not significantly affect macroinvertebrate taxon richness or diversity. The density of some individual taxa were also significantly affected by crayfish density. Our experiment shows that rusty crayfish density can affect the stream community; the mechanism of these effects, and whether they differ from those of native species, remain to be determined.
Symmetry as a method of proof

This paper is a logical study of valid uses of symmetry in deductive reasoning, of what underlying principles make some appeals to symmetry legitimate but others illegitimate. The issue is first motivated informally. A framework is then given covering a fairly broad range of symmetry arguments, and the formulation of symmetry provided is shown to be a valid principle of reasoning, as is a slightly stronger principle of reasoning, one that is shown to be in some sense as strong as possible. The relationship between symmetry and isomorphism is discussed, and finally the framework is extended to a more general model-theoretic setting.
Non-contact photoacoustic tomography and ultrasonography for biomedical imaging

ABSTRACT Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and ultrasonography (US) of biological tissues usually rely on ultrasonic transducers for the detection of ultrasound. For an optimum sensitivity, tr ansducers require a physical contact with the tissue using a coupling fluid (water or gel). Such a contact is a major drawback in important potential applications such as surgical procedures on human beings and small animal imaging in research laboratories. On the other hand, laser ultrasonics (LU) is a well established optical technique for the non-contact gene ration and detection of ultrasound in industrial materials. In this paper, the remote optical detection scheme used in industrial LU is adapted to allow the detection of ultrasound in biological tissues while remaining below laser exposure safety limits. Both non-contact PAT (NCPAT) and non-contact US (NCUS) are considered experimentally using a high-power single-frequency detection laser emitting suitably shaped pulses and a confocal Fabry-Perot interferome ter in differential configuration. It is shown that an acceptable sensitivity is obtained while remaining below the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) of biological tissues. Results were obtained ex vivo on chicken breast specimens with embedded inclusions simulating blood vessels optical properties. Sub-mm inclusions are readily detected at depths approaching 1 cm. The method is expected to be applicable to living tissues. Keywords: biomedical imaging, photoacoustic tomography, ultras onography, laser ultrasonics, laser safety limits, tissue imaging, chicken breast
Visual Input Improves the Speedometer Function of the Vestibular Nuclei in the Goldfish

The studies of Steinhausen [10] and electrophysiolog ical work on fishes [7] and frogs [5, 8, 9] supported the concept of the cupuI~ endolymph system as an overdamped torsion pendulum which responds to changes in angular velocities. Within a limited frequency range it integrates acceleration over time, thus measuring velocities of angular head movements. The system, however, is deficient as a speedometer since it lacks information about constant velocities. The lack of steady state discrimination results in the system's failure to discriminate between decelerati3n from constant velocity, and acceleration in the opposite direction from zero velocity. For motion control therefore, the vestibular system is deficient, and supplementary sensory information is required, The experiments described sngges~ that in the goldfish this supplementary information about constant velocity movement of the body is provided by the visual sense. Only the interaction of visual and vestibular information during combined stimulation of both sensory organs results in accurate velocity information. Methods Single unit activity was recorded with tungsten micro-electrodes from the vestibular nuclei of the goldfish (Carassius auratus). The floor of the fourth ventricle was exposed, and the microeteetrode was inserted under visual control with ~he aid of a mierescop~. The correct position of the electrode was verified by histology. Experiments were carried out with an enc@hale isol6 preparation, relaxed with Flaxedil, but without general anaesthesia. Animals were placed on a turn-table (TSnnies), The two sensory inputs were separately tested by either rotating the animal in the dark (exclusive vestibular stimulation) or rotating the visual surround with the animal stationary (visual stimulation). This was provided by projecting a pattern of black and white stripes onto the inner walls of a cylinder that surrounded the turn-table. Movement of the projected visual scene was opposite to the direction of body movement as it would be for normal rotation. The interaction of the two sensory inputs was tested when the animal was rotated in the light with a stationary visual environment.
Nano-and Micro-Actuations of Hard Disk’s Head Positioning System: Actuator Design and Evaluation of Performance

High-density magnetic hard disks are key components in information storage. In high-density hard disk drives (HDD), both super fast track seeking and extremely accurate positioning of the read/write head are required. A new multiDOF piezoelectric micro-actuator with nano-transverse and micro-lateral control of the head positioning system for highdensity hard disk drives is proposed. For the track following control of a head positioning system in the HDD, proper modeling of the system including the voice coil motor (VCM), suspension, slider, and gimbal system is very important. Before further comprehensive analysis of the whole assembly, the design concept and the evaluation of the micro-actuator are focused on in this paper. First, design of the new piezoelectric micro-actuator is illustrated. The design of the new micro-actuator is based on the axial deformation of piezoelectric elements for lateral motion control and the bimorph actuation of piezoelectric elements for transverse nm motion control. Next, mathematical models of the micro-actuator system are defined. Lastly, the micro-actuator system is modeled using the commercial finite element package ANSYS. The results from analytical analysis and FE analysis are compared. Static response of the micro-actuator system is evaluated first, followed by analysis of dynamic response analysis. Static actuations of the new actuator system satisfy both lateral (±0.1μm) and transverse (15nm) specifications. Dynamic analysis of the ultra-precision system suggests that the new piezoelectric micro-actuator improves performance of highdensity hard disk drives by increasing servo bandwidth and decreasing flying height.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The synergistic application of CBR to IR

In this paper we discuss a hybrid approach combining Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) and Information Retrieval (IR) for the retrieval of full-text documents. Our hybrid CBR-IR approach takes as input a standard symbolic representation of a problem case and retrieves texts of relevant cases from a document collection dramatically larger than the case base available to the CBR system. Our system works by first performing a standard HYPO-style CBR analysis and then using the texts associated with certain important classes of cases found in this analysis to “seed” a modified version of INQUERY's relevance feedback mechanism in order to generate a query composed of individual terms or pairs of terms. Our approach provides two benefits: it extends the reach of CBR (for retrieval purposes) to much larger corpora, and it enables the injection of knowledge-based techniques into traditional IR. We describe our CBR-IR approach and report on on-going experiments.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Applied to Diffusion of Mn2+ in MgO

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure the diffusion rates of Mn/sup 2 +/ in MgO single crystals at 1200 to 1520 K. It is shown that the spectral components of Mn/sup 2 +/ must be separated into one due to a high concentration and a set due to a low concentration of Mn/sup 2 +/ ions in the diffusion samples. It was found that the data fit a simple ion-diffusion model in which the activation energy E = 2.1 +- 0.25 eV and D/sub 0/ = (9.4 +- 2.8) x 10/sup -6/ cm/sup 2/ s/sup -1/.
Regional and Seasonal Estimates of Fractional Storm Coverage Based on Station Precipitation Observations

Simulated climates using numerical atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) have been shown to be highly sensitive to the fraction of GCM grid area assumed to be wetted during rain events. The model hydrologic cycle and land-surface water and energy balance are influenced by the parameter bar-kappa, which is the dimensionless fractional wetted area for GCM grids. Hourly precipitation records for over 1700 precipitation stations within the contiguous United States are used to obtain observation-based estimates of fractional wetting that exhibit regional and seasonal variations. The spatial parameter bar-kappa is estimated from the temporal raingauge data using conditional probability relations. Monthly bar-kappa values are estimated for rectangular grid areas over the contiguous United States as defined by the Goddard Institute for Space Studies 4 deg x 5 deg GCM. A bias in the estimates is evident due to the unavoidably sparse raingauge network density, which causes some storms to go undetected by the network. This bias is corrected by deriving the probability of a storm escaping detection by the network. A Monte Carlo simulation study is also conducted that consists of synthetically generated storm arrivals over an artificial grid area. It is used to confirm the bar-kappa estimation procedure and to test the nature of the bias and its correction. These monthly fractional wetting estimates, based on the analysis of station precipitation data, provide an observational basis for assigning the influential parameter bar-kappa in GCM land-surface hydrology parameterizations.
Correlated input-port, matter-wave interferometer: Quantum-noise limits to the atom-laser gyroscope

I derive the quantum phase-noise limit to the sensitivity of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which the incident quantum particles enter via both input ports. I show that if the incident particles are entangled and correlated properly, then the phase sensitivity scales asymptotically like the Heisenberg-limited $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\varphi}=O(1/N),$ for large $N,$ where $N$ is the number of particles incident per unit time. (In a one-input-port device, the sensitivity can be at best $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\varphi}=1/\sqrt{N}.$) My calculation applies to bosons or fermions of arbitrary integer or half-integer spin. Applications to optical, atom-beam, and atom-laser gyroscopes are discussed---in particular, an atom-laser can be used to obtain the required entanglements for achieving this Heisenberg-limited sensitivity with atomic matter waves.
Tissue distribution and development of some cartilage enzymes

The two “cartilage enzymes,” UDPG-4-epimerase and UDPG-dehydrogenase, are present in the 15-day chick embryo sternum at levels about 25 times higher than those found in noncartilage tissues. The “ubiquitous” enzyme, phosphoglucose isomerase, on the other hand, shows a remarkably uniform distribution in all tissues. The normal development of the cartilage enzymes relative to the ubiquitous enzyme was studied beginning with the 2-day embryo. The epimerase is found in all early tissues at the same low level as in the 15-day noncartilage tissues. About the fourth incubation day it begins to rise in whole somites, but not in nonchondrogenic tissues. By using mild sonication to break off the softer perichondrial mesenchyme, it was possible to obtain and assay pure chondrified sternal tissue beginning with the 9-day sternal plates. Both cartilage enzymes, but not the isomerase, increase steeply during the histological maturation of sternal cartilage between days 9 and 16. This maturation phase of the development of the cartilage enzymes is probably due to the cessation of cell division, since interstitial growth in the sternum is gradually halted during this period.
Safari books online: currency, usage and book release policies of an e‐book database

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the overall currency of electronic books in the Safari database; to determine currency and release policies of the individual publishers who contribute books to the Safari database; to compare the usage patterns of Safari books to their print counterparts at Texas AM and to discuss the impact of the Safari e‐book collection and chosen purchase model upon collection management at the university.Design/methodology/approach – To determine currency of titles in Safari, the availability of the most recent edition of a title in the Safari database was checked against the availability of the print edition on the publisher's website. To determine the publishers' release policies, a questionnaire was developed and e‐mailed to them.Findings – Of the titles in the Safari database 98.4 percent were the most current edition available. Release policies of the major Safari publishers (O'Reilly and Pearson) indicate that the electronic version of a title is...
The Hartley transform

The author describes the fast algorithm he discovered for spectral analysis and indeed any purpose to which Fourier Transforms and the Fast Fourier Transform are normally applied.
Metabolic abnormalities in impaired glucose tolerance

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a state in which there is postprandial hyperglycemia (> 7.8 mmol/L, or 140 mg/dL) with minimal elevations of fasting plasma glucose (> 5.5 100 < 140 mg/dL). This condition generally precedes the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) by several years. However, in IGT many of the metabolic abnormalities of DM are already present and provide insight into the pathogenesis of DM. Impaired early insulin release is the most consistent defect almost universally observed. Insulin resistance, attributable mainly to obesity, decreased physical fitness, or glucose toxicity, is also often present. The main reason that postprandial hyperglycemia occurs in IGT is impaired suppression of endogenous (hepatic and renal) glucose release; this can be largely explained by impaired early insulin release and impaired suppression of glucagon release. Postprandial glucose disposal is normal or increased, the result of hyperglycemia and delayed hyperinsulinemia. Postabsorptive (fasting) rates of glucose release and disposal and circulating levels of free fatty acids, glycerol, ketone bodies, lactate, and alanine are generally normal.