cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Response of Incubating Laughing Gulls (Larus Atricilla L.) To Calls of Hatching Chicks

Observations on Laughing Gulls suggest that calls emanating from pipping eggs are responsible for several behavioural changes typical for the transition from incubation to parental behaviour. In order to study the role of vocalisations unconfounded by tactile stimuli provided by pipping eggs, calls recorded from a hatching chick were played to incubating birds from underneath the nest-cup and their effects were observed. Incubating gulls responded to such calls by an increase in the frequency of the following behaviour patterns: looking down, rising-resettling, shifting the eggs, quivering while sitting and calling. Qualitatively new, parental behaviour patterns were not quantitatively recorded, but were seldom observed in response to the calls. In contrast to earlier experiments with tactile stimuli, nest-material manipulations and the proportion of incomplete settling movements were not significantly affected by these auditory stimuli. An inverse relationship was found between the strength of responsiveness to chick-calls and the number of nest-building movements performed during the experiment. Tests carried out at different stages of the incubation period revealed that the responsiveness to chick-vocalisations increases as a function of progressing incubation. A preliminary experiment was performed to test for the selectivity of the response. Incubating birds responded more strongly to the calls played to them at normal speed than at half the speed (which changes the calls' pitch, frequency modulation and temporal characteristics).
Ordering policies for the cyclical replenishment problem given leadtime-dependent discounts

Abstract This paper addresses a problem encountered by retailers who experience cyclical replenishment. Frequently these retailers are provided incentives for placing orders before the end of a cycle and they have to ‘wrestle’ with the questions of when to order, how many times to order, and how many units to order. The complexity of this problem arises from having to balance the reduction in unit costs with the increases in ordering costs, and in some cases deal with storage and shortage costs. It is argued that the decrease in unit cost can be directly related to the enhancement of manufacturing efficiency due to longer production leadtimes, while the increase in storage and shortage costs is a result of the increase in uncertainty due to a representation and the cost function will be used to derive the parameters (i.e., frequency-of-orders, order level, etc.) that minimize this cost function.
P-899 - How to explain the tie between the spirits and human people in mental disease

By utilizing mediumnistic techniques and doctor-mediums we uncover and understand the spiritual aspects of each case of patients suffering of every kind of mental disease. In an unpublished work we have come in contact with spirits or discarnated people in the spiritual world around us and related to the medical cases being treated for our team. Because the good results and recovery of many cases we try to understand the possible mechanisms of their influence to the patients with mental pathology. The main characteristic of mind is the though. Neurophysiologists and physicists are trying to put in evidence the true mechanisms of thinking and its importance to general life of human kind. We consider the model of the though like an electromagnetic wave irradiation from the mind source of the spirits being received by the mind of the patients by magnetic induction, a well known phenomenon of the classical electromagnetism described by James Clerk Maxwell. The second model of the relationship between the mind of the spirits and that of the patients is the Jacobo-Grimberg-Zylberbaum experiment, the non-local phenomenon of quantum mechanics of model of conscience and though. Both mechanisms may coexist in each case. The psychotherapy in this healing approach is accomplished by finding the spirits and talking with them and disrupting the mental ties between them and the patients.
Variation of Lyapunov′s Method for Dynamic Systems on Time Scales

Abstract A new comparison theorem that connects the solutions of perturbed and unperturbed dynamic systems in a manner useful to the theory of perturbations is given and this comparison theorem is employed as a stability criterion to compare the asymptotic behaviors of perturbed and unperturbed systems. It is further shown by means of both theory and numerical computation that time scales do offer a unification in order to emphasize the better asymptotic behavior of perturbed systems in both continuous and discrete cases.
Influencing retirement behavior: A key issue for social security

Recent trends toward earlier retirement threaten future supplies of labor and the financial stability of many of our public and private pension systems. One of the few federal efforts now in place to reverse this trend has been the 1977 law outlawing mandatory retirement before age 70 for most American workers. This legislation by itself will have little effect on retirement patterns, because strong financial incentives to retire remain imbedded in the system. Changes in the Social Security Act enacted this year begin to recognize these incentives but are highly controversial and at best will not begin to go into effect until 1990. To be successful, efforts of policymakers to increase work at older ages must focus on the financial incentives at the heart of retirement plans rather than on merely attempting to weaken mandatory retirement constraints.
A prototype point-of-use assay for measuring heavy metal contamination in water using time as a quantitative readout

This Communication describes a prototype quantitative paper-based assay that simultaneously measures the levels of Pb2+ and Hg2+ in water. The assay requires only measurements of time to yield a quantitative readout, and the results are independent of sample volume, humidity, and sample viscosity.
Improving clay content measurement in oxidic and volcanic ash soils of Hawaii by increasing dispersant concentration and ultrasonic energy levels

Abstract Quantifying clay content is a fundamental step in predicting and managing soil behaviors such as nutrient and water retention. However, clay measurements are underestimated when using standard methods of dispersion in soils rich in oxides and volcanic ash-derived non-crystalline minerals. Increasing levels of the chemical dispersant and ultrasonic energy are two simple techniques found to increase dispersion and clay measurements in temperate soils, but their effects are less known for oxidic and volcanic ash soils. In this study we investigated the effects of increasing dispersion concentration and ultrasonic energy on clay measurements for a range of oxidic and volcanic ash soils from Hawaii. While doubling and tripling the standard sodium hexametaphosphate concentration of 0.441 g L − 1 did not increase estimates of clay content, increasing levels of ultrasonic energy up to 1600 J mL − 1 significantly increased measured clay content for all oxide and volcanic ash soils. The response to ultrasonication was dependent on soil carbon, oxide content, and surface charge, with more energy needed to disperse soils higher in carbon, oxides, and positive charge. Scanning electron microscopy revealed damage to the sand fraction in some soils when ultrasonicated, but the extent of this damage was viewed as negligible. Porous sand-sized particles resembling pumice grains were also observed in some soils, suggesting that conventional particle size analysis and clay interpretations may not adequately describe surface related behaviors.
Complexation of aldehydes and ketones by trimeric perfluoro-ortho-phenylene mercury, a tridentate Lewis acid

A series of adducts formed by the interaction of trimeric perfluoro-ortho-phenylene mercury (2) with various organic carbonyls including acetaldehyde, acetone, acetophenone, and benzophenone have been characterized. The crystal structures of [2·μ3-acetaldehyde] (3) and [2·μ3-benzophenone] (7), respectively, reveal the formation of 1:1 complexes in which one molecule of the organic carbonyl is concomitantly coordinated to the three mercury centers of 2 via the oxygen atom. In the benzophenone adduct 7, one of the phenyl rings of the coordinated benzophenone molecule engages in an intramolecular arene−fluoroarene interaction with a tetrafluorophenylene ring of 2 (intercentroid distance: 3.687 A). When 2 is combined with acetone and acetophenone, adducts [2·(acetone)(μ3-acetone)2] (4) and [2·(μ3-acetophenone)2] (6) are obtained. In both cases, two molecules of the ketone are positioned on each side of the planar trifunctional Lewis acid and are complexed via their respective oxygen atom to the three mercury...
Effect of glycerol treatment on transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction

Exposure of frog skeletal muscle to a Ringer solution made hyperosmotic with glycerol, followed by return of the preparation to a normal Ringer, results in an irreversible uncoupling of the mechanical activity of the muscle. This technique for preventing muscle contraction has often been used to study neuromuscular transmission under normal or high levels of release without interference from muscle contraction. Little was known, however, about the effects of glycerol treatment on the process of transmitter release. In this paper we report the results of a study in which we examined the effects of glycerol treatment on transmitter release during repetitive stimulation at the frog sartorius neuromuscular junction. We found that glycerol treatment altered the stimulation-induced changes in end-plate potential (EPP) amplitude normally observed during repetitive stimulation at this synapse. This effect, which increased progressively with time for up to 8 h following removal of glycerol, could be accounted for by presynaptic changes in the amount of transmitter released.
Increased frequency of the LRRK2 G2019S mutation in an elderly Ashkenazi Jewish population is not associated with dementia

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 gene (LRRK2) have been associated with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), as well as pleomorphic neurodegenerative pathology, including Alzheimer's disease. One specific LRRK2 mutation, G2019S, was reported in 18% of people with PD of Ashkenazi descent, supporting a founder effect in this population. To determine if this mutation is also associated with dementia in the Ashkenazim, we screened 192 elderly Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) individuals in a longitudinal aging and cognition study, of whom 49 (25.5%) had dementia. Two non-demented individuals harbored the mutation (2/143, 1.4%), but no individuals with dementia. Neither person with the mutation had Parkinson's disease. Therefore, the LRRK2 mutation has a relatively high frequency in the AJ population, is not fully penetrant for parkinsonism in the elderly, and does not appear to be commonly associated with late-onset dementia.
A Fetching Model Organism

The creation of the domestic dog and its many breeds has been an ongoing experiment in the rapid evolution of form and function. Now, advances in genomics have made Canis familiaris genetically tractable and poised to offer insights into evolution, development, and behavior.
Influence of Synaptic Vesicle Position on Release Probability and Exocytotic Fusion Mode

Neurotransmission depends on movements of transmitter-laden synaptic vesicles, but accurate, nanometer-scale monitoring of vesicle dynamics in presynaptic terminals has remained elusive. Here, we report three-dimensional, real-time tracking of quantum dot-loaded single synaptic vesicles with an accuracy of 20 to 30 nanometers, less than a vesicle diameter. Determination of the time, position, and mode of fusion, aided by trypan blue quenching of Qdot fluorescence, revealed that vesicles starting close to their ultimate fusion sites tended to fuse earlier than those positioned farther away. The mode of fusion depended on the prior motion of vesicles, with long-dwelling vesicles preferring kiss-and-run rather than full-collapse fusion. Kiss-and-run fusion events were concentrated near the center of the synapse, whereas full-collapse fusion events were broadly spread.
Effects of 30 days of undernutrition on plasma neurotransmitter precursors, other amino acids, and behavior

Abstract As part of a 30-day field exercise, 17 soldiers consumed a calorie-deficient, lightweight ration (1946 kcal/day) while 17 others consumed a calorie-adequate control ration (2782 kcal/day). Mean energy expenditure for both groups was 3200 to 3300 kcal/day. Plasma amino acid levels were assessed at the start, after 14 days, and at the completion of the study. Behavioral testing was conducted at the start and completion of the study. Alanine, which is used for gluconeogenesis, fell from 389 to 323 nmol/mL over the trial among those who consumed the calorie-deficient diet, whereas it increased in the control group. Plasma tyrosine also fell significantly, from 70 to 52 nmol/mL, as did tryptophan (from 62 to 55 nmol/mL) in the calorie deficient group. The ratio of tyrosine to other large neutral amino acids, an indicator of tyrosine transport to the brain, also fell in the deficient group (from 0.104 to 0.084). At the completion of the study, plasma tryptophan ratio was significantly lower in the calorie deficient group (0.091) compared with the control group (0.103). Decrements in tryptophan, but not tyrosine, ratio were associated with impairments in simple and choice visual reaction time (r = −0.4415, P = 0.009; r = −0.4029, P = 0.018, respectively). Therefore, changes in plasma amino acids occurring during a controlled form of undernutrition can be substantial; some of these alterations may be related to the functional consequences of undernutrition.
Synthesis and biological characterization of protease-activated prodrugs of doxazolidine

Doxazolidine (doxaz) is a new anthracycline anticancer agent. While structurally similar to doxorubicin (dox), doxaz acts via a distinct mechanism to selectively enhance anticancer activity over cardiotoxicity, the most significant clinical impediment to successful anthracycline treatment. Here, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a prodrug platform designed for doxaz release mediated by secreted proteolytic activity, a common association with invasiveness and poor prognosis in cancer patients. GaFK-Doxaz is hydrolyzable by the proteases plasmin and cathepsin B, both strongly linked with cancer progression, as well as trypsin. We demonstrate that activation of GaFK-Doxaz releases highly potent doxaz that powerfully inhibits the growth of a wide variety of cancer cells (average IC50 of 8 nM). GaFK-Doxaz is stable in human plasma and is poorly membrane permeable, thereby limiting activation to locally secreted proteolytic activity and reducing the likelihood of severe side effects.
The action of lysozyme on several blue-green algae.

Abstract The extraction of biliproteins from some varieties of blue-green algae is greatly facilitated by treating the algae with lysozyme (Berns, Crespi and Katz, 1962) . Fuhs (1958) previously had found lysozyme treatment to cause extensive disintegration of the filaments of Oscillatoria amoena , and envisaged the use of lysozyme to prepare algal protoplasts. In view of our work and Fuhs (1958) we have made systematic studies with lysozyme and have been successful in producing algal protoplasts.
Increasing Programme Effectiveness through Parent Empowerment: The Getting Ready for School Project in Tajikistan.

Within the development studies framework, empowerment involves increasing individual agency vis-a-vis the formal and informal opportunity structure. The Open Society Foundation's Early Childhood Programme developed the Getting Ready for School programme specifically for parents of preschool-age children to use at home in the year before school to build early math and literacy skills in their children. In Tajikistan, parents met on a regular basis with teachers in their local schools to learn activities to use with their children at home. Focus group reports indicated that parents gained knowledge and self-confidence as a result of programme participation, considered foundational aspects of the empowerment process. Responses also demonstrated that parents displayed characteristics of empowerment as they used programme activities and skills not only with their six-year-old child, but with siblings, extended family members and community children. They also shared the skills they learned with family members a...
Technology, politics, and e-commerce: Internet sales tax and interstate cooperation

Abstract Since the advent of the internet, state governments have been challenged to balance the forces of technological change against fundamental decisions about governance and administration. This research examines that balance in the case of electronic commerce and its relationship to state budgets and revenue raised by sales tax. Under the voluntary Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement of 2002, states can cooperate with one another and with sellers to collect sales tax on internet sales, yet only about half the states that levy sales tax have initiated this policy change. This research tests rival explanations for state membership in this interstate administrative agreement and implementation of its provisions from 2003 through 2007. State participation is enhanced by existing technological capacity and frustrated by requirements for shared governance and shared administrative responsibilities. Participation is fostered by more extensive implementation of e-commerce and certain political factors. State fiscal factors and e-Government implementation are not significant. Moreover, state legislative professionalism inhibits state participation in this agreement. These findings have implications for understanding the influence of future technological change on government practices and for intergovernmental relationships weighted toward shared governance.
A framework for estimating complex probability density structures in data streams

Probability density function estimation is a fundamental component in several stream mining tasks such as outlier detection and classification. The nonparametric adaptive kernel density estimate (AKDE) provides a robust and asymptotically consistent estimate for an arbitrary distribution. However, its extensive computational requirements make it difficult to apply this technique to the stream environment. This paper tackles the issue of developing efficient and asymptotically consistent AKDE over data streams while heeding the stringent constraints imposed by the stream environment. We propose the concept of local regions to effectively synopsize local density features, design a suite of algorithms to maintain the AKDE under a time-based sliding window, and analyze the estimates' asymptotic consistency and computational costs. In addition, extensive experiments were conducted with real-world and synthetic data sets to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.
Functions of the LE sensory neurons in Aplysia

Mechanosensory neurons which innervate the siphon and have their cell bodies in the LE cluster of the abdominal ganglion ofAplysia have revealed many cellular and molecular processes that may play general roles in learning and memory. It was initially suggested that these cells are largely responsible for triggering the gill-withdrawal reflex evoked by weak siphon stimulation, and that most of this effect is mediated by their monosynaptic connections to gill motor neurons. This implied a simple link between plasticity at these synapses and modifications of the reflex during learning. We review more recent studies from several laboratories showing that the LE cells are not activated by very weak tactile stimuli that elicit the gill-withdrawal reflex, and that an unidentified population of siphon sensory neurons has lower mechanosensory thresholds and produces shorter latency responses. Furthermore, the direct connections between LE cells and gill motor neurons make a minor contribution when the reflex is elicited in pinned siphon preparations by light stimuli that weakly activate the LE cells. Because weak mechanical stimulation of the unrestrained siphon causes little or no LE cell activation, it is unlikely that, under natural conditions, sensitization or conditioning of reflex responses elicited by light siphon touch depends upon plasticity of LE cell synapses onto either motor or interneurons.
Llama single domain antibodies specific for the 7 botulinum neurotoxin serotypes as heptaplex immunoreagents.

Background There are currently 7 known serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) classified upon non-cross reactivity of neutralizing immunoglobulins. Non-neutralizing immunoglobulins, however, can exhibit cross-reactivities between 2 or more serotypes, particularly mosaic forms, which can hamper the development of highly specific immunoassays, especially if based on polyclonal antisera. Here we employ facile recombinant antibody technology to subtractively select ligands to each of the 7 BoNT serotypes, resulting in populations with very high specificity for their intended serotype.
AniAniWeb: a wiki approach to personal home pages

This article reports on my dissertation research on personal home pages. It focuses on the design of AniAniWeb, a server-based system for authoring personal home pages. AniAniWeb builds on a wiki foundation to address many of the limitations of static technologies used to author personal home pages. This article motivates the technical hypotheses behind AniAniWeb and reflects on these hypotheses, based on a two year study of adopters using AniAniWeb in academia, a prominent vocational setting where personal home pages are important. In particular, I reflect on two broad categories: 1) the usefulness of wiki features (wiki authoring, wiki mark-up, and interaction / collaboration) to authoring personal home pages; 2) the other features (structure, designing looks, and access control) needed to make a wiki approach to personal home pages viable.
Repair inhibition of potential mutations of ultraviolet-irradiatedEscherichia coli by chloroquine and quinacrine

The frequency of ultraviolet(UV)-induced mutations drops rapidly whenEscherichia coli Hcr+ cells (strains WP-2 Hcr+; B/r) are incubated on phosphate-buffered agar (PBA), but is reduced only slightly if chloroquine or quinacrine are incorporated into the medium. The excision-deficient WP-2 Hcr− strain shows little reduction in the number of mutants when incubated on PBA. During postirradiation incubation on PBA, cell viability was relatively unaffected by the presence of the chemicals in the PBA (25 μg/ml quinacrine; 50 μg/ml chloroquine). When cells were given optimal doses of photoreactivating light, no further decline in mutations was obtained during subsequent incubation on PBA. Approximately 64% of the mutants seen when cells are treated with UV-PBA-chloroquine and 90% seen with UV-PBA-quinacrine can be repaired if cells are incubated on PBA. When these chemicals were added to the PBA, both excision-proficient strains (WP-2 Hcr+; B/r) demonstrated a marked reduction in the repair of UV-induced mutations to streptomycin resistance. Our results indicate that these chemicals interfere with the excision of UV-induced pyrimidine dimers, a process that normally occurs during postirradiation incubation on PBA.
Comparison of traps and baits for censusing small mammals in Neotropical lowlands.

Snap-traps, live-traps, and baits affect the ability to capture small mammals, but few previous studies have involved sampling communities of small mammals in tropical environments. We tested differences in captures of small marsupials and rodents by Victor snap-traps versus Sherman live-traps and by two types of bait in lowland rainforest at Reserva Cuzco Amaz6nico, southeastern Peru. Snap-traps took ca. 3.5 times as many individuals as live-traps. Snap-traps also captured more species (and more rare species), but we attribute this to more numerous captures overall because the relative proportions of species captured by the two traps generally were the same. Type of bait had little impact on our trapping results.
New insights into one of nature's remarkable catalysts, the ATP synthase.

Abstract In the August 10, 2001 issue of Cell , Menz et al. report the crystal structure of a novel inhibited form of the bovine mitochondrial F 1 -ATPase at 2 A resolution, with all three catalytic sites occupied by nucleotide, one of which binds ADP in preference to ATP.
Influence of Water Exchange and Dissolved Oxygen in Redds on Survival of Steelhead Trout Embryos

Abstract A field study of spawning gravel conditions affecting the survival of steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) embryos was conducted in two small streams in the Alsea River Basin in Lincoln County, Oregon, from February to June 1959. Holes 10 inches deep, approximating natural redds, were dug in arbitrarily selected spawning locations. Plastic mesh sacks containing gravel and 100 fertilized trout eggs were placed in the upstream end of each hole. A stand-pipe was placed in the lower end of each excavation about 10 inches away from the eggs, and the hole was filled with gravel to the streambed level. Periodically, determinations were made of gravel permeability and of the apparent velocity and dissolved-oxygen content of the intra-gravel water. A month after calculated hatching times, the bags were removed from the stream-bed, and the fry contained in them were counted and preserved. The permeability of the spawning gravel fluctuated while embryos were in the gravel. During this period mean gr...
Neovascular glaucoma: a historical perspective on modulating angiogenesis.

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) occurs when new fibrovascular tissue develops on the iris surface and angle structures, usually in response to retinal ischemia induced by a variety of etiologies. NVG mo...
An ELID-cutting saw

Abstract A commercial diamond saw was modified to add features of electrolytic in-process dressing (ELID). The tangential force during cutting, the depth of cut and the voltage and current of ELID were all recorded using LabView. It is found that the French–Preston law holds for sawing and that the cutting rate is proportional to the cutting power. ELID increases cutting efficiency and can be used continuously during sawing.
Seasonal variations in infiltration rate under no-till and conventional (disk) tillage systems as affected by Lumbricus terrestris activity

Abstract Lumbricus terrestris activity can improve water flow into soils, but the effects of L. terrestris (nightcrawlers) on infiltration and runoff rates throughout the growing season have not been quantified. Our objective was to quantify and describe the effects of L. terrestris on infiltration rates under an established no-till and a disk tillage system on a silt loam Alfisol (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Aquollic Hapludalf) in west central Indiana. Under each tillage practice there were areas within the field that had L. terrestris activity and other areas that had no activity, as indicated by the presence or absence, respectively, of middens. Infiltration was measured using a portable sprinkling infiltrometer which delivered 7 cm of water h−1 to a 1.4 m2 area. Infiltration was measured five times during the growing season, for the disk tillage treatment: (1) before any spring field work began; (2) immediately after tillage but before planting; (3) immediately after planting; (4) 3 weeks after planting; and (5) after harvest. For no-till treatments, the measurement times were the same as times 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the tilled site. Results showed that in early spring before any tillage was performed, the tilled treatment without middens had the highest infiltration rate and the tilled treatment with middens had the lowest. Immediately after planting and 3 weeks after planting, no-till with middens had the highest infiltration rates, but disk tillage treatments had the lowest infiltration rates. Measurements after harvest showed that no-till with middens again had the highest infiltration rates. The presence of L. terrestris, as indicated by the presence of middens, appears to have increased infiltration rates in a no-till system on this soil. In the disk system, however, the activity of L. terrestris and the presence of their middens apparently was not persistent enough to affect infiltration rates, and the amount of surface residue cover may be a more important factor in this system.
Advanced development of time-domain BEM for two-dimensional scalar wave propagation

An improved formulation for solving 2D transient scalar wave propagation problems by the Boundary Element Method (BEM) is presented. The kernels presented are simpler and better behaved than those that have appeared in the published literature. An appropriate set of temporal shape functions for linear variation is used. For spatial variations isoparametric quadratic elements are used. All of these represent significant improvements over the present level of sophistication in the analysis of 2D transient scalar problems. The algorithm is implemented in a general purpose boundary element code known as GPBEST.
Synthesis of Metallo-Organic Compounds for Mod Powders and Films

This paper gives the synthesis of several metallo-organic (MO) compounds. The MO compounds have been synthesized so that thermal decomposition produces fine metal oxide powders, or films ⋍0.1 to 0.3 μm thick without going through the powder stage. The Metallo-organic decomposition (MOD) process differs from the SOL-GEL process in that a gel is never formed, and the compound requirements are considerably different. Ferroelectric BaTiO3 and PbTiO3 powders were formed at 600°C and 450°C respectively, which are much lower temperatures than those required by conventional techniques. Defect free tetragonal PbTiO3 films have been formed 1 to 2 μm thick over an area of 1 cm × 1 cm at ⋍470°C, which is 20 to 30°C below its Curie Temperature.
Spontaneous medial rectus hemorrhage in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia.

The ophthalmic manifestations of leukemia are many and varied. In addition to direct leukemic infiltration of virtually any ocular structure, secondary ophthalmic manifestations such as intraretinal, subconjunctival, or vitreous hemorrhages can occur. We report a unique case of acute proptosis secondary to nontraumatic, spontaneous hemorrhage within an extraocular muscle in a patient with pancytopenia secondary to acute myelogenous leukemia.
Asymptotic theory of irradiance fluctuations in a beam propagating in a random medium

We consider the irradiance fluctuations in a finite gaussian beam propagating in a random medium. We obtain a solution for the strong-scattering case (i.e., the characteristic diffraction length is large compared to the characteristic scattering length) as the product of plane-wave portion and a finite-beam correction. We obtain an analytic expression for the finite-beam segment, and make explicit calculations for a modified Kolmogorov spectrum. The plane-wave part is shown to depend on a single parameter. If the plane-wave solution for the variance of the irradiance fluctuations approaches a constant value, the normalized variance for the beam diverges at a rate proportional to z3, where z is the propagation distance. The unnormalized variance approaches zero at a rate proportional to 1/z3. We conjecture that the solution obtained is valid for all ratios of characteristic diffraction length to characteristic scattering length, in the limit z → ∞.
The relative contributions of the abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat depots to cardiometabolic risk in youth.

Objective Evaluate the association of abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat, independent of total body fat, with cardiometabolic risk factors and insulin resistance among youth.
Why Do Insurgencies Fail? Causes and Effects, Governance and Military Force in Counterinsurgency Strategies

With U.S. combat forces out of Iraq and scheduled to draw down and depart from Afghanistan by 2014, scholars, policy analysts, and military planners alike are struggling to explain both the success...
Response of rat intracranial 9L gliosarcoma to microbeam radiation therapy.

Radiotherapeutic doses for malignant gliomas are generally palliative because greater, supposedly curative doses would impart clinically unacceptable damage to nearby vital CNS tissues. To improve radiation treatment for human gliomas, we evaluated microbeam radiation therapy, which utilizes an array of parallel, microscopically thin (<100 microm) planar beams (microbeams) of synchrotron-generated X rays. Rats with i.c. 9L gliosarcoma tumors were exposed laterally to a single microbeam, 27 pm wide and 3.8 mm high, stepwise, to produce irradiation arrays with 50, 75, or 100 microm of on-center beam spacings and 150, 250, 300, or 500 Gy of in-slice, skin-entrance, single-exposure doses. The resulting array size was 9 mm wide and 10.4 mm high (using three 3.8-mm vertical tiers); the beam's median energy was -70 keV. When all data were collated, the median survival was 70 days; no depletion of nerve cells was observed. However, when data from the highest skin-entrance dose and/or the smallest microbeam spacings were excluded, the median survival time of the subset of rats was 170 days, and no white matter necrosis was observed. Others have reported unilateral single-exposure broad-beam irradiation of i.c. 9L gliosarcomas at 22.5 Gy with a median survival of only -34 days and with severe depletion of neurons. These results suggest that the therapeutic index of unidirectional microbeams is larger than that of the broad beams and that an application for microbeam radiation therapy in treating certain malignant brain tumors may be found in the future.
In Situ TEM Imaging of Defect Dynamics under Electrical Bias in Resistive Switching Rutile-TiO2

In this study, in situ electrical biasing was combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to study the formation and evolution of Wadsley defects and Magneli phases during electrical biasing and resistive switching in titanium dioxide (TiO2). Resistive switching devices were fabricated from single-crystal rutile TiO2 substrates through focused ion beam milling and lift-out techniques. Defect evolution and phase transformations in rutile TiO2 were monitored by diffraction contrast imaging inside the TEM during electrical biasing. Reversible bipolar resistive switching behavior was observed in these single-crystal TiO2 devices. Biased induced reduction reactions created increased oxygen vacancy concentrations to such an extent that shear faults (Wadsley defects) and oxygen-deficient phases (Magneli phases) formed over large volumes within the TiO2 TEM specimen. Nevertheless, the observed reversible formation/dissociation of Wadsley defects does not appear to correlate to resistive switching phenomena at these length scales. These defect zones were found to reversibly reconfigure in a manner consistent with charged oxygen vacancy migration responding to the applied bias polarity.
Published evidence relevant to the diagnosis of impingement syndrome of the shoulder.

Background: Acromioplasty for impingement syndrome of the shoulder is one of the most common orthopaedic surgical procedures. The rate with which this procedure is performed has increased dramatically. This investigation sought high levels of evidence in the published literature related to five hypotheses pertinent to the concept of the impingement syndrome and the rationale supporting acromioplasty in its treatment. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of articles relevant to the following hypotheses: (1) clinical signs and tests can reliably differentiate the so-called impingement syndrome from other conditions, (2) clinically common forms of rotator cuff abnormality are caused by contact with the coracoacromial arch, (3) contact between the coracoacromial arch and the rotator cuff does not occur in normal shoulders, (4) spurs seen on the anterior aspect of the acromion extend beyond the coracoacromial ligament and encroach on the underlying rotator cuff, and (5) successful treatment of the impingement syndrome requires surgical alteration of the acromion and/or coracoacromial arch. Three of the authors independently reviewed each article and determined the type of study, the level of evidence, and whether it supported the concept of the impingement syndrome. Articles with level-III or IV evidence were excluded from the final analysis. Results: These hypotheses were not supported by high levels of evidence. Conclusions: The concept of impingement syndrome was originally introduced to cover the full range of rotator cuff disorders, as it was recognized that rotator cuff tendinosis, partial tears, and complete tears could not be reliably differentiated by clinical signs alone. The current availability of sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthroscopy now enable these conditions to be accurately differentiated. Nonoperative and operative treatments are currently being used for the different rotator cuff abnormalities. Future clinical investigations can now focus on the indications for and the outcome of treatments for the specific rotator cuff diagnoses. It may be time to replace the nonspecific diagnosis of so-called impingement syndrome by using modern methods to differentiate tendinosis, partial tears, and complete tears of the rotator cuff. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The vibration-rotation hamiltonian

A method is given for deriving a hamiltonian for a polyatomic molecule in generalized coordinates. By this technique, one may treat linear and nonlinear molecules in the same way. It is shown that the proof which asserts that the determinant of the moment of inertia tensor for a linear molecule vanishes is fallacious and, as an example, a hamiltonian for a linear triatomic molecule is derived and discussed.
Longitudinal Shear Deformation of Composites II Stress Distribution

An exact analytical expression is given for the stress distribution in the matrix for a case of longitudinal shear deformation of an uni directional fiber reinforced composite. The expression takes into account non-uniform spacing between fibers, which can have dif ferent radii, and possible variations in shear modulus from fiber to fiber. For the case of a regular array of equal fibers, the expression simplifies considerably. Detailed results are presented for rectangular and diamond arrays of fibers.
Intracellular Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Male Urethral Epithelial Cells: Importance of a Hexaacyl Lipid A

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a strict human pathogen that invades and colonizes the urogenital tracts of males and females. Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) has been shown to play a role in gonococcal pathogenesis. The acyl transferase MsbB is involved in the biosynthesis of the lipid A portion of the LOS. In order to determine the role of an intact lipid A structure on the pathogenesis of N. gonorrhoeae, the msbB gene was cloned and sequenced, a deletion and insertion mutation was introduced into N. gonorrhoeae, and the mutant strain was designated 1291A11K3. Mass spectrometric analyses of 1291A11K3 LOS determined that this mutation resulted in a pentaacyl rather than a hexaacyl lipid A structure. These analyses also demonstrated an increase in the phosphorylation of lipid A and an increase in length of the oligosaccharide of a minor species of the msbB LOS. The interactions of this mutant with male urethral epithelial cells (uec) were examined. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy studies indicated that the msbB mutants formed close associations with and were internalized by the uec at levels similar to those of the parent strain. Gentamicin survival assays performed with 1291A11K3 and 1291 bacteria demonstrated that there was no difference in the abilities of the two strains to adhere to uec; however, significantly fewer 1291A11K3 bacteria than parent strain bacteria were recovered from gentamicin-treated uec. These studies suggest that the lipid A modification in the N. gonorrhoeae msbB mutant may render it more susceptible to innate intracellular killing mechanisms when internalized by uec.
Assuring Information Relevance: The Effects of Management Accounting Experience and Problem Information Content

As information advisors, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) can be viewed as information quality assurers who independently improve the relevance of information for decision-makers. Relevance improvement advice may depend on the advisor's background as well as the problem information content of the initial decision problem presentation. This study reports results of an experiment in which accountants with various levels of management accounting experience received materials with problem information content based on either historical net income or historical cash flow data. Results indicate that relative managerial accounting experience significantly increases experienced accountants' tendencies to incorporate decision-relevant opportunity cost information in their recommendations. Furthermore, problem information content significantly affects accountants' choice of method for analyzing information for a decision which, in turn, affects their selection of relevant information as the basis for their recommendations.
Renal tubular dysgenesis in twins

In a fetal autopsy series, we have explored the occurrence of renal tubular dysgenesis in twins. Renal tubular dysgenesis was found exclusively among those monozygotic twins with evidence of twin transfusion syndrome, particularly in those donor twins with oligohydramnios and growth restriction. We infer that hypotension in the donor twin of the twin transfusion syndrome pair is responsible for the failure of proximal convoluted tubule differentiation, and the disturbance of renal function is manifested as oligohydramnios prenatally, and either oliguria or tubular dysfunction postnatally.
Tailoring the optical gap of silicon quantum dots without changing their size

The absorption of photons through the direct generation of spatially separated excitons at dot-ligand interfaces is proposed as a promising strategy for tailoring the optical gap of small silicon quantum dots independent of their size. This removes a primary drawback for the use of very small dots in broad range of applications. For instance, the strategy can be applied to solar energy technologies to align the absorption of such dots with the peak of the solar spectrum. The key is to establish both a Type-II energy level alignment and a strong electronic coupling between the dot and ligand. Our first principles analysis indicates that connecting conjugated organic ligands to silicon quantum dots using vinyl connectivity can satisfy both requirements. For a prototype assembly of 2.6 nm dots, we predict that triphenylamine termination will result in a 0.47 eV redshift along with an enhanced near-edge absorption character. Robustness analyses of the influence of oxidation on absorption and of extra alkyl ligands reveal that the control of both factors is important in practical applications.
Rethinking Service Delivery for Students With Significant Learning Problems Developing and Implementing Intensive Instruction

Despite recent advances in the development of instructional interventions, many students with significant learning problems do not benefit from them. This includes 25% to 50% of students with learning disabilities (LD). In this article, we identify five limitations of current instructional programs that may help to explain students’ inadequate responsiveness. The first of these is that the instructional programs often fail to address the difficulty students experience when transitioning from the primary grades to the intermediate grades. Second, many of the programs lack sufficient comprehensiveness in the strategies or the skills they address. Third, they typically do not teach for transfer. Fourth, they do not adequately address the linguistic and cognitive limitations of many struggling students. Fifth, they do not make use of implementation features that can optimize the intensity of instruction. We describe these limitations and explain how researchers might modify their instructional programs to mak...
Nanoscale resolution fluorescence microscopy using electromagnetically induced transparency

We suggest a type of scanning fluorescence microscope that is capable of resolving nanometer-size objects in the far field. The key idea is to use the spatial sensitivity of the dark state of electromagnetically induced transparency and localize an atomic excitation to a spot much smaller than the wavelength of light.
Role of core promoter sequences in the mechanism of swarmer cell-specific silencing of gyrB transcription in Caulobacter crescentus.

Each Caulobacter crescentus cell division yields two distinct cell types: a flagellated swarmer cell and a non-motile stalked cell. The swarmer cell is further distinguished from the stalked cell by an inability to reinitiate DNA replication, by the physical properties of its nucleoid, and its discrete program of gene expression. Specifically, with regard to the latter feature, many of the genes involved in DNA replication are not transcribed in swarmer cells. We show that for one of these genes involved in DNA replication, gyrB, its pattern of temporal expression depends upon an 80 base pair promoter region with strong resemblance to the Caulobacter crescentus σ73 consensus promoter sequence; regulation does not appear to be affected by the general strength of the promoter activity, as mutations that increased its conformity with the consensus did not affect its cell-cycle expression pattern. Transcription from the gyrB promoter in vitro required only the presence of the σ73 RNA polymerase (from E. coli) and the requisite nucleoside triphosphates, although a distinct binding activity, present in crude whole-cell extracts, formed a complex gyrB promoter DNA. We also assayed the effect on gyrB expression in strains containing mutations in either smc or dps, two genes encoding proteins that condense DNA. However we found there was no change in the temporal pattern of gyrB transcription in strains containing deletions in either of these genes. These experiments demonstrate that gyrB transcription does not require any auxiliary factors, suggesting that temporal regulation is not dependent upon an activator protein. Swarmer-specific silencing may not be attributable to the observed physical difference in the swarmer cell nucleoid, since mutations in either smc or dps, two genes encoding proteins that condense DNA, did not alter the temporal pattern of gyrB transcription in strains containing deletions in either of these genes. Rather a repressor that specifically recognizes sequences in the gyrB promoter region that are also probably essential for transcription, is likely to be responsible for controlling cell cycle expression.
Towards a simple robotic theory of mind

Theory of mind (ToM) is a cognitive function in which an agent can infer another agent's internal state and intention based on their behaviors. Can robots realize ToM like humans? There are many issues to be tackled to address this challenging problem, such as the representation, discovery and exploitation of an actor's self models. In this paper we study how robots can represent other's self with artificial neural networks and an evolutionary learning mechanism. This framework was tested with simulated and physical robots and a novel prey-predator scenario was introduced to measure the performance of ToM learning. Experimental results showed that the proposed ToM approach can recover other's self models successfully.