cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A General Theory of Motion Planning Complexity: Characterizing Which Gadgets Make Games Hard.

We build a general theory for characterizing the computational complexity of motion planning of robot(s) through a graph of "gadgets", where each gadget has its own state defining a set of allowed traversals which in turn modify the gadget's state. We study two families of such gadgets, one which naturally leads to motion planning problems with polynomially bounded solutions, and another which leads to polynomially unbounded (potentially exponential) solutions. We also study a range of competitive game-theoretic scenarios, from one player controlling one robot to teams of players each controlling their own robot and racing to achieve their team's goal. Under small restrictions on these gadgets, we fully characterize the complexity of bounded 1-player motion planning (NL vs. NP-complete), unbounded 1-player motion planning (NL vs. PSPACE-complete), and bounded 2-player motion planning (P vs. PSPACE-complete), and we partially characterize the complexity of unbounded 2-player motion planning (P vs. EXPTIME-complete), bounded 2-team motion planning (P vs. NEXPTIME-complete), and unbounded 2-team motion planning (P vs. undecidable). These results can be seen as an alternative to Constraint Logic (which has already proved useful as a basis for hardness reductions), providing a wide variety of agent-based gadgets, any one of which suffices to prove a problem hard.
Trends in Substance Use by Gender Among Participants in a Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program: 1998-2016.

Understanding trends in substance use by gender among jail-based treatment program participants can inform policies and programs tailored to this population. Preprogram assessment data from 3509 individuals entering a jail-based substance use disorder treatment program in Missouri between 1998 and 2016 were analyzed. Primary outcome was program participants' strongly preferred substances. Demographic covariates and drug preferences were compared between males and females. Average yearly trends in preferred substances were calculated. While 25.8% of the sample preferred heroin, it was more strongly preferred by women (36.4%) than men (22.0%, p < 0.0001). Alcohol and marijuana were preferred more by males. Overall, preferences for heroin and methamphetamine increased over time while alcohol, marijuana, and other stimulants decreased. Women being more likely to prefer heroin and the increasing preference for heroin over time are consistent with national trends. Offering evidence-based treatment like pharmacotherapy and gender-sensitive approaches can help address the needs of this vulnerable population.
Craniopharyngioma: Neuroendocrine Evaluation and Management

Abstract Neuroendocrine dysfunction is exceedingly common in patients with craniopharyngiomas and is associated with substantial morbidity and, potentially, mortality. Both anterior and posterior pituitary hormone deficiencies may be present at the time of diagnosis or develop as a result of tumor growth, surgery, and/or radiation therapy. In addition to hypopituitarism, hypothalamic dysfunction may be present, including hypothalamic obesity or impaired thirst. In addition, abnormal temperature or sleep cycle regulation may occur, leading to substantial impairment. All patients with craniopharyngiomas require careful neuroendocrine evaluation and lifelong follow-up in order to detect and replace pituitary hormone deficiencies and manage the manifestations of hypothalamic dysfunction, the latter often representing a considerable diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Additional studies are needed in order to identify means of prevention of hypothalamic/pituitary damage as a result of therapy and optimize the early detection and management of neuroendocrine dysfunction in patients with these rare, but often debilitating, tumors.
Otherness and resilience in bilateral relations: the cases of Israel‒Germany, India‒Russia, and India‒Israel

Why do some bilateral relationships have the ability to become strong, stable and amicable but others do not even when they have incentive to develop higher resilience? This article proposes that perceived relational identity differences between two states, or otherness, shapes and limits resilience in their relationship. Drawing on the existing IR identity literature, the article develops a conceptual and operational definition of otherness and proposes a useful and replicable framework that can be used to capture the complexity of bilateral ties. The article illustrates this framework with two types of cases. First, two historical “least-likely” cases (Germany–Israel, 1949–1973; India–USSR, 1947–1970) of higher resilience, in which one would not expect the resilient relationships that developed. Second, a most likely contemporary mini-case (India–Israel 1992–2012), which uncovers lower than expected resilience. The article then concludes with the implications of this framework for further academic research and policy analysis.
Advances in the simulation of space-charge effects

Author(s): Qiang, J | Abstract: The nonlinear space-charge effects are an important topic in high intensity accelerator beam dynamics and have been extensively studied using macroparticle tracking simulations. In this paper, we report on recent advances in the simulation of space-charge effects using a symplectic multiparticle space-charge model. The transverse space-charge limit was explored for a periodic focusing and defocusing lattice. The artificial numerical emittance growth in the macroparticle space-charge simulation was analyzed using a one-dimensional model.
Twice a “housewife”: On academic precarity, “hysterical” women, faculty mental health, and service as gendered care work for the “university family” in pandemic times

Extensive research has explained women's pandemic‐related workforce exodus as driven by the presumed pressures of gender disparate private, domestic burdens. The impact of gender asymmetries in academic labor on faculty well‐being is less understood. We examined the effects of job‐related factors on faculty mental health, a critical measure of precarity during the initial Spring 2020 “lockdown” and transition to remote work. Faculty (n = 345) were recruited via social media to participate in a survey on their work/life pandemic experiences. Women were over‐represented in our sample, yet respondents at both the highest and the most tenuous ranks were underrepresented. Gender, teaching load, having dependents, and greater financial concerns were associated with higher depression and anxiety. Critically, women's heightened mental health risk was not explained by the other predictors. Results indicate women faculty's well‐being and career advancement are threatened by disparate, obscured service burdens both within the academy and at home during the pandemic.
Comparing Pain Intensity Using the Numeric Rating Scale and Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale in Patients Revisiting the Emergency Department.

Objective To determine the relationship between Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) as pain intensity measures, we compared pain scores to sociodemographic and treatment data in patients revisiting the emergency department (ED). Methods After Institutional Review Board approval, 389 adults presenting within 30 days of an index visit were enrolled. Pain scores were classified as follows: 0-3 (mild), 4-7 (moderate), and 8-10 (high). Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. Wilcoxon rank-sum test measured the association of pain score with gender. Pain scales were correlated using Spearman correlation coefficient. Pain scale association with opioid treatment was tested via ordinal logistic regression controlling for gender, home opioid use, and if ED revisit was for pain. Results Average patient age was 49. Most patients were African American (68.4%), male (51.2%), and returned for pain (67.0%). As continuous measures, both scales were positively correlated with each other (p<0.0001). Pain score severity categories were distributed differently between the two scales (p=0.0085), decreasing by 8% in patients reporting high pain severity when using DVPRS. For both scales, the proportion of patients (1) administered opioids (p=0.0009 and p≤0.0001, respectively) and (2) discharged with opioids (p=0.0103 and p=0.0417, respectively) increased with pain severity. Discharge NRS (p=0.0001) (OR=3.2, 1.780-5.988) and DVPRS pain score categories (p<0.0001) (OR=2.7, 95% CI=1.63-4.473) were associated with revisits for pain. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate a link between NRS and administration of opioid medications and suggest that DVPRS may better differentiate between moderate and high levels of pain in the ED setting.
Modeling human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase mutations using C. elegans GSPD-1

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an X-linked, recessive condition that causes intermittent jaundice or hemolytic anemia because of low NADPH levels in red blood cells. We performed steady-state enzyme kinetics with the recombinant C. elegans ortholog of human G6PD, GSPD-1, and two mutants containing amino acid changes found in human patients. The KM values for glucose-6-phosphate were 100 ± 27 µM, 80 ± 22 µM, and 1000 ± 300 µM for the wild-type, D60N, and R252L GSPD-1 enzymes, respectively. The specific activities of the D60N and R252L mutants were 59% and 11%, respectively, of the wild-type value. Protein homology modeling suggested that the R252L mutation was more severe because the mutation caused a shift in the position of some active site residues. The D60N mutation may have affected the conformation of an outer loop of the enzyme. These data demonstrate that GSPD-1 is a promising model for human G6PD deficiencies, with the advantage that potential treatments could be studied in vivo in C. elegans.
Modernity is incompatible with planetary limits: Developing a PLAN for the future

Abstract This age of modernity is characterized by consistent growth in energy use, economic activity, and resource consumption, and a generally increasing standard of living—albeit inequitably distributed. All currently living humans, and most academic disciplines, have developed in this age, which appears normal and indefinite to us. But modernity has been enabled by the rapid and accelerating expenditure of our one-time inheritance of fossil fuels, and by drawing down the resources and ecosystems of our finite Earth—none of which can be sustained as we transition from a resource-rich frontier to a human-dominated planet. Climate change is often singled out as modernity’s existential crisis, but it is only one of a series of interlocking challenges constituting an unprecedented predicament that must be understood and mitigated in order to live within planetary limits. While energetic and technological challenges attract significant attention, arguably the greatest challenges are conceptual or even cultural. In particular, as we review in this Perspective, today’s political economy has been designed to value short-term financial wealth over the real treasure of Earth’s functioning ecosystems, to discount the future at the expense of the present, and to demand infinite exponential growth…which is simply impossible on a finite planet. Given all this, humanity should view its present overshoot-prone trajectory with tremendous suspicion, humility, and concern. We call for the establishment of a transdisciplinary network of scholars from across the entire academic landscape to develop a global understanding of planetary limits and how humanity can adapt to the associated realities. We present a set of foundational principles to serve as a starting point to anchor this network and drive a new area of focused inquiry to develop a shared vision of viable future paths.
Algorithms in modern mathematics and computer science

The life and work of the ninth century scientist al-Khwarizmi, "the father of algebra and algorithms," is surveyed briefly. Then a random sampling technique is used in an attempt to better understand the kinds of thinking that good mathematicians and computer scientists do and to analyze whether such thinking is significantly "algorithmic" in nature. (This is the text of a talk given at the opening session of a symposium on "Algorithms in Modern Mathamatics and Computer Science" held in Urgench, Khorezm Oblast'', Uzbek S.S.R., during the week of September 16-22, 1979.)
An efficiency-constrained application of a modified Bernstein polynomial for conformal array amplitude excitation optimization

This paper starts by reviewing a generalized definition of aperture efficiency appropriate for conformal arrays with directional radiating elements. A modified Bernstein polynomial, defined with just five parameters, is introduced which provides a flexible method to specify a variety of smooth unimodal amplitude distributions that are shown to give good side lobe levels and aperture efficiencies. By using particle swarm optimization of the modified Bernstein polynomial parameters constrained to provide a specified aperture efficiency, a family of aperture distributions and corresponding far field patterns is produced mat allows aperture efficiency to be traded for sidelobe level for conformal arrays
High p_T Phenomena in Heavy Ion Collisions at s^1/2=20 and 200 AGeV

Jet quenching as observed via high p_T hadron production is studied in the HIJING1.35 model. We test the model on recent WA98 data on 160 AGeV Pb+Pb -> pi0 up to 4 GeV/c. The results depend sensitively on the model of the Cronin effect. At (RHIC) collider energies (s^1/2 > 200 AGeV), on the other hand, semi-hard hadron production becomes insensitive to the above model and is thus expected to be a cleaner probe of jet quenching signature associated with non-Abelian radiative energy loss.
Products Formed from Analogues of 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-Bis(p-Chlorophenyl) Ethane (DDT) Metabolites by Pseudomonas putida

Cultures of Pseudomonas putida growing in solutions with diphenylmethane as sole carbon source formed 1,1,1′,1′-tetraphenyldimethyl ether. The product was identified by gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. The formation of benzophenone, benzhydrol, and phenylglycolic acid was established by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Similar techniques also revealed that phenylacetic acid was a major metabolite. Resting cell suspensions converted benzhydrol to phenyl-glycolic acid and products tentatively identified as hydroxybenzhydrols and a hydroxybenzophenone. Cell suspensions of the bacterium also converted the tetraphenyldimethyl ether to benzhydrol and benzophenone. Possible pathways for the degradation of these analogues of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) metabolites are discussed
Controlling Emesis in Patients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy

Over the past several years, the appropriate use of antiemetics has increased, as has the ability to control chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting. With greater use of chemotherapy and with the development of newer agents in which emesis is a major side-effect, the need for improved control of nausea and vomiting has become an important consideration in medical oncology and in supportive care. The primary objective of this paper is to provide a practical guide that discusses some of the major issues in the antiemetic approach to the patient receiving chemotherapy.
Addressing: Direct and Indirect

Addressing modes, a key component of instruction set architectures, is a mechanism machine instruction use to specify operands in general-purpose registers and memory. The text gives an overview of the most frequently used data and control-flow addressing modes and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. Keywords: memory models; data operands; data addressing modes; control-flow addressing
Denitrification in Aquifer Soil and Nearshore Marine Sediments Influenced by Groundwater Nitrate

We estimated rates of denitrification at various depths in sediments known to be affected by submarine discharge of groundwater, and also in the parent aquifer. Surface denitrification was only measured in the autumn; at 40-cm depth, where groundwater-imported nitrate has been measured, denitrification occurred consistently throughout the year, at rates from 0.14 to 2.8 ng-atom of N g−1 day−1. Denitrification consistently occurred below the zone of sulfate reduction and was sometimes comparable to it in magnitude. Denitrification occurred deep (14 to 40 cm) in the sediments along 30 km of shoreline, with highest rates occurring where groundwater input was greatest. Denitrification rates decreased with distance offshore, as does groundwater influx. Added glucose greatly stimulated denitrification at depth, but added nitrate did not. High rates of denitrification were measured in the aquifer (17 ng-atom of N g−1 day−1), and added nitrate did stimulate denitrification there. The denitrification measured was enough to remove 46% of the nitrate decrease observed between 40- and 14-cm depth in the sediment.
Localized Scene Interpretation from 3D Models, Range, and Optical Data

How an object appears in an image is determined in part by interactions with other objects in the scene. Occlusion is the most obvious from of interaction. Here we present a system which uses 3D CAD models in combination with optical and range data to recognize partially occluded objects. Recognition uses a hypothesize, perturb, render, and match cycle to arrive at a scene-optimized prediction of model appearance. This final scene-optimized prediction is based upon an iterative search algorithm converging to the optimal 3D pose of the object. During recognition, evidence of terrain occlusion in range imagery is mapped through the model into the optical imagery in order to explain the absence of model features. A similar process predicts the structure of occluding contours. Highly occluded military vehicles are successfully matched using this approach.
Friedman on immigration and the measurement of economic growth

Milton Friedman recently warned that a bias exists when per capita income is used to measure economic growth over a period marked by substantial immigration ["A Bias in Current Measurhag of Economic Growth," Journal of Political Economy, March-April 1974]. Friedman framed his argument in terms of the 1870-1914 immigration experience of the United States. Although immigrant achievements over the period were substantial, noted Friedman, these gains entered negatively in the growth calculation since the below average immigrant skill levels reduced 1914 measured per capita income below what it would have been in the immigrants' absence. Raising the measured growth rate to more accurately reflect immigrant achievements is best accomplished, suggested Friedman, by excluding immigrants from the terminal year income data, although the resulting higher growth refers only to native gains. Note that the presence of diminishing returns suggests another reason for a lower measured growth rate, with interesting implications for other beneficiaries of the immigration whose gains are also not captured in the growth data. Given that the immigrants increase the laborcapital ratio above what it otherwise would have been, the measured growth rate falls below its counterfactual alternative. However, a portion of the additional output consequent upon the immigrants' presence accrues to capital owners in the form of an increased scarcity return to capital. Assuming capital owners are natives, this native gain is as hidden in the growth data as are the immigrant achievements which Friedman focuses on. These native achievements, moreover, are (1) distinct from the capital-labor redistribution that occurs with the immigration, and (2) equivalent to the net gain labor scarce countries realize by importing from labor abundant countries. To the extent that the diminishing returns phenomenon is operative, Frie dman's immigrant exclusion adjustment zeroes directly in on the latter hidden achievements. A total exclusion of immigrant contributions to output would generate a higher terminal year income statistic, but the number would understate the actual native improvement over the period. Were the exclusion to apply solely to immigrant wage receipts, as practicality reasons suggest, then the adjusted per capita income figure would accurately measure native gains over the period, gains partially attributable to the immigration itself.
Interconnect Challenges in a Many Core Compute Environment

It is already established that going forward, the roughly 2x/2yr performance improvements delivered over the last two decades will primarily come through parallelism rather than increasing clock frequencies due to associated power challenges. Provided software and tools continue to scale well with core and thread count, large core counts bring serious challenges both in the memory hierarchy and interconnect bandwidth both on-die, within the package, and off package. Simulations on anticipated future workloads help isolate where specific bottlenecks are likely to occur. New technologies both in die stacking and package- to-package interconnects will be required. These solutions will bring dramatic changes in the physical layer that may well break backward compatibility. Furthermore, these potential approaches are segment specific and involve complex tradeoffs of performance, cost, and power. This presentation will explore several approaches highlighting potential solutions and bandwidth requirements driven by likely future applications.
A Power-Saving algorithm combing power management and power control for multihop IEEE 802.11 ad hoc networks

Power-saving is a major aspect of mobile network research. MAC level power-saving schemes can be classified into two categories. One is power management, which maximises the number of stations that can be put into sleep node. The other is power control, which minimises the transmission power by controlling the transmitting range. In this paper, the proposed algorithm combines and balances both of these schemes to get maximal power conservation. Using power consumption figures measured and reported by other researchers, a simulation of three algorithms has been set up and results are presented.
The role of behavioural heterogeneity on infection patterns: implications for pathogen transmission

Animals infected with pathogens often differ in behaviour from their uninfected counterparts, and these differences may be key to understanding zoonotic pathogen transmission. To explore behavioural heterogeneity and its role in pathogen transmission, we studied deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, under field conditions. Deer mice are the natural host of Sin Nombre virus (SNV), a zoonotic pathogen with high human mortality. We live-trapped mice in May, July and September of 2009 and 2010, marked captures with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, recorded physical characteristics and collected blood samples for SNV analysis. For 4 nights after each trapping session, we observed behaviour with a novel surveillance system of nine camera stations, each consisting of a foraging tray, infrared camera, PIT antenna and data logger. We found that deer mice infected with SNV (30.0%) engaged more frequently in behaviours that increased the probability of intraspecific encounters and SNV transmission than did uninfected deer mice. When deer mice were categorized as bold (31.7%) or shy (68.3%) based on these behaviours, bold behaviour was predictive of positive SNV status. Bold deer mice were three times more likely to be infected with SNV than were shy deer mice. These results suggest that a small percentage of bold individuals are responsible for a majority of SNV transmission events, and that behavioural phenotype is an important consideration in transmission dynamics of zoonotic diseases.
GEOMETRY IN QUANTUM NON-INTEGRABILITY

We present a framework within which the way classical behavior emerges from arbitrary quantum dynamics can be studied systematically. This behavior is characterized by a quenching (topological) index Ξ, which controls the quenching of quantum correlations and signals the existence or the lack of classical limit. The compactness of geometry distinguishes two classes of quantum systems. The kick examples given in this letter suggest that quantum correlation suppresses chaos for compact geometry, while the opposite is found in the non-compact case.
Effects of gamma irradiation for sterilization on aqueous dispersions of length sorted carbon nanotubes

There is currently great interest in the potential use of carbon nanotubes as delivery vessels for nanotherapeutics and other medical applications. However, no data are available on the effects of sterilization methods on the properties of nanotube dispersions, the form in which most medical applications will be processed. Here we show the effects of gamma irradiation from a 60Co source on the dispersion and optical properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes in aqueous dispersion. Samples of different length-refined populations were sealed in ampoules and exposed to a dose of approximately 28 kGy, a level sufficient to ensure sterility of the dispersions. In contrast to literature results for solid-phase nanotube samples, the effects of gamma irradiation on the dispersion and optical properties of the nanotube samples were found to be minimal. Based on these results, gamma irradiation appears sufficiently non-destructive to be industrially useful for the sterilization of nanotube dispersions.
Contributions of the sympathetic nervous system, glutathione, body mass and gender to blood pressure increase with normal aging: influence of heredity.

Contributions of the sympathetic nervous system, glutathione, body mass and gender to blood pressure increase with normal aging: influence of heredity
Ligand binding to heme proteins. VI. Interconversion of taxonomic substates in carbonmonoxymyoglobin

The kinetic properties of the three taxonomic A substates of sperm whale carbonmonoxy myoglobin in 75% glycerol/buffer are studied by flash photolysis with monitoring in the infrared stretch bands of bound CO at nu(A0) approximately 1967 cm-1, nu(A1) approximately 1947 cm-1, and nu(A3) approximately 1929 cm-1 between 60 and 300 K. Below 160 K the photodissociated CO rebinds from the heme pocket, no interconversion among the A substates is observed, and rebinding in each A substate is nonexponential in time and described by a different temperature-independent distribution of enthalpy barriers with a different preexponential. Measurements in the electronic bands, e.g., the Soret, contain contributions of all three A substates and can, therefore, be only approximately modeled with a single enthalpy distribution and a single preexponential. The bond formation step at the heme is fastest for the A0 substate, intermediate for the A1 substate, and slowest for A3. Rebinding between 200 and 300 K displays several processes, including geminate rebinding, rebinding after ligand escape to the solvent, and interconversion among the A substates. Different kinetics are measured in each of the A bands for times shorter than the characteristic time of fluctuations among the A substates. At longer times, fluctuational averaging yields the same kinetics in all three A substates. The interconversion rates between A1 and A3 are determined from the time when the scaled kinetic traces of the two substates merge. Fluctuations between A1 and A3 are much faster than those between A0 and either A1 or A3, so A1 and A3 appear as one kinetic species in the exchange with A0. The maximum-entropy method is used to extract the distribution of rate coefficients for the interconversion process A0 A1 + A3 from the flash photolysis data. The temperature dependencies of the A substate interconversion processes are fitted with a non-Arrhenius expression similar to that used to describe relaxation processes in glasses. At 300 K the interconversion time for A0 A1 + A3 is 10 microseconds, and extrapolation yields approximately 1 ns for A1 A3. The pronounced kinetic differences imply different structural rearrangements. Crystallographic data support this conclusion: They show that formation of the A0 substate involves a major change of the protein structure; the distal histidine rotates about the C(alpha)-C(beta) bond, and its imidazole sidechain swings out of the heme pocket into the solvent, whereas it remains in the heme pocket in the A1 A3 interconversion. The fast A1 A3 exchange is inconsistent with structural models that involve differences in the protonation between A1 and A3.
Some Physico-chemical Properties of Deciduous Enamel of Children with and Without Pre-natal Fluoride Supplementation (PNF)

Physico-chemical investigations of enamel from deciduous teeth of a small number of children with and without pre-natal fluoride supplementation (PNF) exhibited the following differences between the PNF and non-PNF enamel, with the former showing: (a) more homogeneous and less extensive patterns of acid-etching; (b) denser crystal populations in intra-prismatic regions; (c) larger prism dimensions; (d) greater total mineral density (wt% ash); (e) higher degree of crystallinity; (f) smaller a-axis dimensions; and (g) more fluoride and less carbonate contents. On the basis of these preliminary findings, further studies with larger numbers of samples would seem appropriate.
Waste not, want not? Evaluating the urban sustainability implications of centralized versus decentralized wastewater treatment in Tijuana, Mexico

Rapid, unregulated urbanization in Tijuana, Mexico outpaces the city’s wastewater treatment capacity. Efforts to incorporate water reclamation and resource recovery technologies into the city’s treatment network present an opportunity to improve regional public and environmental health without relying solely on the region’s limited water resources. I compare two sustainable wastewater treatment technologies used in Tijuana to better understand their contributions to the city’s attempts to increase economic, social, and environmental sustainability. A sustainable indicator analysis reveals that both facilities utilize water reuse technologies and support reforestation programs. While the smaller-scale, alternative plant makes important contributions to reforestation, slope stabilization, and community education programs, it lacks the capacity and treatment standards of the large-scale, centralized plant to meet the current and future needs of Tijuana. However, I argue that if the final water quality produc...
Influence of sample surface condition on chemical analysis using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy

The influence of sample surface condition on chemical analysis was investigated when using laser ablation sampling with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The ablated mass quantity and composition were found to be significantly different from original vs. pre-ablated surfaces. The ablated mass quantity from original surfaces was much greater than that from pre-ablated surfaces, and the ablation rate (mass per unit area and time) was constant or independent of power density below 0.3 GW/cm2. For pre-ablated surfaces, the mass ablation rate follows exponential behavior in the same power density region. The measured composition of the ablated mass was found to be dependent on the surface condition and laser power density, for both original and pre-ablated surfaces. Understanding the influence of laser energy and surface conditions on mass ablation is essential for accurate and precise chemical analysis.
The differential effects of prazosin and hydralazine on sympathoadrenal activity in conscious rats

Abstract The ability of the vasodilator hydralazine and the α 1 -adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin to increase sympathoadrenal outflow was compared by measuring plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine and epinephrine concentrations, norepinephrine clearance and norepinephrine spillover rate into plasma in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Even though vasodepressor effect of 1 mg/kg (i.p.) of prazosin (−23 mm Hg) was significantly less than that caused by 1 mg/kg (i.p.) of hydralazine (−31 mm Hg) in normotensive rats, the increases in plasma norepinephrine concentration and norepinephrine spillover rate were significantly larger in prazosin-treated rats. In conscious SHR, 0.5 mg/kg (i.p.) of prazosin and 0.3 mg/kg (i.p.) of hydralazine lowered blood pressure to the same extent (−22 mm Hg), but prazosin again produced significantly larger increases in plasma norepinephrine concentration and norepinephrine spillover rate. Neither prazosin nor hydralazine affected norepinephrine clearance, and only prazosin elicited a significant rise in plasma epinephrine concentration. This differential effect of prazosin and hydralazine on sympathoadrenal activity is best explained by the differing effects of these drugs on veneous return and thus the afferent activity of the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors.
Lidar: A new atmospheric probe

Pulsed-light techniques of probing the atmosphere have been greatly extended by employing lasers as energy sources in instruments called ‘lidars.’ Because of the nature of laser energy and the manner in which it is used in current and proposed systems, lidar is best discussed in terms of radar. Apart from the basic capabilities of lidar for detecting backscattering from atmospheric constituents, possibilities exist for more sophisticated techniques based on the wave nature of the energy. The basic capabilities of lidar, however, make it possible to observe the atmosphere with previously unknown resolution and sensitivity. Apart from providing new information about clouds, lidar has shown that the concentration of the particulate matter content of clear air is highly variable and that such variations can indicate the structure and motion of the clear atmosphere. These capabilities have applications in atmospheric and meteorological research and various operational activities.
Evaluating a correlation between volatile suspended solid and adenosine 5′-triphosphate levels in anaerobic treatment of high organic suspended solids wastewater

Abstract Methods were developed to correlate volatile suspended solids (VSS) with adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) concentrations in the treatment of cheese-processing wastewater. Two different physiological conditions where the maximum rates of acetate and butyrate production occurred, which were pH 7·01 at 36·2°C (condition A) and pH 7·26 at 36·2°C (condition B), respectively, were tested in batch mode. The ratios of ATP to volatile suspended solid (VSS) concentration were constant at exponential growth and decay phases for conditions A and B, which were 4·03 mg ATP/g VSS and 3·20 mg ATP/g VSS, respectively.
Thrombospondin 2 Potentiates Notch3/Jagged1 Signaling

Extracellular thrombospondins (TSP or THBS) and the Notch family of transmembrane receptors share a role in multiple, overlapping cellular functions and participate in developmental signaling and pathological reactions to tissue injury. We demonstrate that TSP2, but not TSP1, enhances the potency of Notch3 signal transduction. In addition, TSP2 reduces cancer cell proliferation in a Notch-ligand dependent fashion. The loss of TSP2 in knock-out mice reduces Notch target gene expression. TSP2 binds directly to Notch3 and Jagged1. TSP1 also binds to Notch3 and Jagged1; however, only TSP2 augments the interaction between Notch3 and Jagged1. These studies demonstrate that the diverse functions of TSP2 may also include a role as an intermediary protein that facilitates transcellular receptor-ligand interactions.
Efficacy of Bacteroides Measurements for Reducing the Statistical Uncertainty Associated with Hydrologic Flow and Fecal Loads in a Mixed Use Watershed

This paper presents an analysis of the occurrence and uncertainty of source-specific Bacteroides and Escherichia coli in a stream in a mixed land-use watershed with human, cattle, and wildlife fecal inputs located in a karstic geologic region during baseflow conditions. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the occurrence, hydrologic significance, and source of fecal mass in the stream using assays for total Bacteroides (AllBac) and bovine-specific Bacteroides (BoBac), and then to compare these measurements with E. coli densities and loads. Samples were collected during baseflow conditions over several months at seven different main channel sites in the Stock Creek watershed, a 49.3 km2 basin located in Knoxville, TN (USA). We determined instantaneous loads for total fecal loads, bovine fecal loads, and E. coli from measured flow rates and the representative Bacteroides fecal masses and/or E. coli densities. The study indicated a strong correlation between total fecal load (kg d(-1)), bovine fecal load (kg d(-1)), E. coli load rate (CFU d(-1)), 7-d antecedent precipitation, and turbidity. The various datasets were used to establish parameter correlations and spatial dependencies throughout the watershed. The data analysis demonstrated two prevalent patterns throughout the watershed: (i) a runoff-dominated transport and occurrence; and (ii) potential groundwater-dominated transport and occurrence.
The Effect of First Metatarsophalangeal Arthrodesis on Transverse Plane Deviation of the Second Toe: A Retrospective Radiographic Study

The purpose of this retrospective, radiographic study was to examine the effect of first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis on the transverse plane deviation of the second metatarsophalangeal joint. Sixty-nine patients (76 feet) were separated into 3 groups based on preoperative diagnosis: group 1, hallux valgus; group 2, hallux rigidus; and group 3, rheumatoid forefoot deformity with concomitant lesser metatarsal head resection. Intermetatarsal, hallux abduction, and second metatarsophalangeal angles were measured on preoperative and follow-up anteroposterior radiographs. Multivariate analysis found a significant postoperative change ( P r = .330; P = .004) between the amount of change in the hallux abduction angle and the amount of change in the second metatarsophalangeal angle. A lack of change in the second metatarsophalangeal angle in patients with hallux valgus and hallux rigidus suggests that the creation of a stable medial buttress may protect the lesser digits. However, in patients with rheumatoid, this lack of change denotes a postoperative recurrence of lateral deviation of the second toe despite lesser metatarsal head resection and stabilization of the hallux.
Type V collagen is increased during rabbit medial collateral ligament healing

To understand the reparative process of medial collateral ligament (MCL), fibrillar collagen and their relative ratios in healing MCL with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction were analyzed. Skeletally mature New Zealand white rabbits were subjected to a mop-end tear of MCL without repair with ACL reconstruction. Rabbits were killed 6 and 52 weeks after injury. Ligamentous tissues from the injury site and sham controls were soaked in 0.5 M acetic acid for 24 h, minced, and treated with pepsin to solubilize collagen. Pepsin solubilized about 80% of the total collagen as determined by hydroxyproline analysis of the pepsin residues. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the solubilized collagen revealed presence of fibrillar collagen types I, III, and V. Densitometric scanning of the protein bands corresponding to types I, III, and V collagen indicated that in sham controls types III and V collagen represented about 8% and 12%, respectively, of the type I collagen whereas the healed MCL ligaments at 6 weeks showed significant increase in type III and V collagen to about 19% and 24%, respectively. By 52 weeks type III collagen in the healed MCL had returned to that of sham controls while type V collagen remained elevated at approximately 18%. These data suggest that presence of type V collagen in high concentration in healing ligaments may have an influence on collagen fibril diameters seen in healed ligament and should be included in the analysis when evaluating ligament healing.
Psychosocial Adjustment in Multiple Sclerosis

The findings of this study suggested that length of prediagnosis period, employment or school attendance status, and duration of multiple sclerosis did not significantly influence psychosocial adjustment. Significant differences were found between adjustment scores of clients in remission and scores of those who were not.
Evaluation of Febrile, Nonneutropenic Pediatric Oncology Patients with Central Venous Catheters Who Are Not Given Empiric Antibiotics

Objective To evaluate the practice of empiric antibiotics for febrile, nonneutropenic pediatric oncology patients with a central venous catheter (CVC) in place. Study design Episodes of fever without neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] ≥500 cells/mm 3 ) were reviewed retrospectively in pediatric oncology patients with a CVC undergoing chemotherapy. Characteristics and symptoms were compared between patients with bacteremia and patients without bacteremia. Results A total of 392 episodes of nonneutropenic fever in 138 subjects (52 females; 38%) were reviewed. In this cohort, the median age at an episode was 7 years, and the majority of patients had a diagnosis of acute leukemia (54%). Median ANC was 3100 cells/mm 3 (IQR, 1570-5980 cells/mm 3 ). Median temperature was 38.7°C (IQR, 38.3-39.2°C). Twenty-four infectious episodes (6%) occurred in 18 subjects, and 5 CVCs required removal; all patients requiring removal admitted and received antibiotics owing to chills. There were no significant difference in age, sex, or ANC between patients with bacteremia and those without bacteremia; however, mean temperature was higher in the patients with bacteremia (39.4°C vs 38.7°C; P = .003). No deaths due to sepsis occurred, and no CVCs were removed because antibiotics were not administered empirically. Conclusion Our practice of observing pediatric oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy with CVCs who are not neutropenic does not appear to lead to increased serious adverse outcomes and avoids antibiotic exposure for >90% of patients without a bacterial infection.
Fabrication of Micro-Optical Systems with Deep X-Ray Lithography

Preassembled, prealigned microlens systems have been fabricated in PMMA using Deep X-ray Lithography (DXRL)1. These systems consist of crossed cylindrical lenses with ≈0.3-mm apertures. Lithographically defined masks and two exposures from a synchrotron beam can produce arrays of micro- imagers, micro-spectrometers, etc.
Identification of mine and UXO target features using computational electromagnetics

Wideband (approximately 0-2000 MHz) electromagnetic scattering from mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) is considered using a method of moments (MoM) analysis for general targets in a layered medium, with the lossy, dispersive layers representing the typical layered character of many soils. We examine wave phenomenology to identify target features that may be exploited in target detection algorithms. Accordingly, we examine the target signature in both the frequency and time domain, as well as in the SAR image domain. For this study, we restrict ourselves to a single UXO target, i.e., a 155 mm shell, an arbitrary cylindrical metal mine, and a cylindrical plastic mine (TM- 62P3 anti-tank mine). Results show that for the UXO, a strong correlation exists between the target signature in the frequency domain and the target orientation. For the rotationally symmetric mines, despite their small size, results show that these targets contain isolated scattering centers due to the wide bandwidth of the incident pulse. Further, these scattering centers can be used to deconstruct the backscattered time waveform into closely spaced simple wave objects that leads to an observable interference pattern in the frequency domain. This relatively simple scattering deconstruction lends itself well to target detection and discrimination.
Eye Movements and Eye-Hand Coordination During Typing

Typing from text (copytyping) is part of a family of complex skills that require the coordination of vi sual encoding and manual perfor mance. What distinguishes typing from other eye-hand coordination tasks is its complexity and the con tinuous nature of the performance. The perceptual task requires the encoding of linguistic symbols, and manual performance involves all fingers of both hands, which must execute spatially calibrated and precisely timed (ordered) move ments over extended periods. De velopment of the skill requires con siderable amounts of practice, and performance continues to im prove over months?and often years?of practice. Despite the complexities of copytyping, the perceptual-motor processes in volved are relatively amenable to study, as perception and manual movements are confined to small and well-defined spaces, a to-be typed segment of text and a key board, respectively. Furthermore, perceptual processes can be di rectly related to manual move ments, as the encoding of a particu lar letter, word, or word sequence is followed by manual movements to corresponding keys. The vast majority of typing studies have examined manual movements (for reviews, see Soech ting, Gordon, & Engel, 1996; Vivi ani & Terzuolo, 1983). Results from these studies converge, showing that typists plan sequences of manual movements at several lev els, ranging from lexical units (words) to individual key presses (e.g., Gentner, Larochelle, & Gru din, 1988; Gordon, Casabona, & Soechting, 1994; Inhoff, 1991; Shaf fer, 1973; Sternberg, Monsell, Knoll, & Wright, 1978; Viviani & Laissard, 1996; Viviani & Terzuolo, 1983); that execution of planned movements is a function of the bio
Culture, Gender Roles, and Sport The Case of Korean Players on the LPGA Tour

The success of multiple Korean women on the LPGA tour a decade ago was unheard of; today it is the norm. In the past 5 years, Koreans have joined the tour as rookies of the year, won major championships, and topped money lists. The timing of the success of Korean female golfers has been dependent on golf’s emerging popularity and prestige in Korea and a divergence in traditional gender roles after the Korean War. At the core of their success are several traits that are consequences of their cultural upbringing: a work ethic that is the envy of the tour, a devotion to the game that is unparalleled, and indomitable mental toughness. These traits and certain aspects of the Korean psyche, culture, and family help explain why female Korean golfers on the LPGA are thriving. Recent showings by Korean American golfers foretell an even stronger generation of golfers.
Some factors that influence the release of iodine from the thyroid gland.

NUMEROUS attempts have, in the past, been made to determine the rate of delivery of iodine or thyroid hormone to the circulation from the thyroid gland under varying experimental conditions. The early attempts were indirect dealing largely with thyroid histology or metabolic rate. More recently, sufficiently reliable chemical methods have become applicable to this purpose and it was possible to follow the changes in the total or thyroxine iodine in the gland (Chaney 1938, 1950; Taurog and Chaikoff, 1946a). Thus it was found that administration of thyrotropin led to marked decreases in total thyroid iodine (Loeser, 1931; Houssay et al., 1932; Closs et al., 1932; Grab, 1932) and in thyroxine iodine (Foster et al., 1932; Chaikoff et al., 1947). Indeed, it has been suggested that the iodine depletion in the thyroid gland be used as an assay for thyrotropin. Furthermore, Astwood and Bissell (1944) have shown that a similar depletion occurs in the thyroid iodine of rats treated with thiouracil.