cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cracking the omega code: hydraulic architecture of the cycad leaf axis.

Background and aims The leaf axis of members of the order Cycadales ('cycads') has long been recognized by its configuration of independent vascular bundles that, in transverse section, resemble the Greek letter omega (hence the 'omega pattern'). This provides a useful diagnostic character for the order, especially when applied to paleobotany. The function of this pattern has never been elucidated. Here we provide a three-dimensional analysis and explain the pattern in terms of the hydraulic architecture of the pinnately compound cycad leaf. Methods The genus Cycas was used as a simple model, because each leaflet is supplied by a single vascular bundle. Sequential sectioning was conducted throughout the leaf axis and photographed with a digital camera. Photographs were registered and converted to a cinematic format, which provided an objective method of analysis. Key results The omega pattern in the petiole can be sub-divided into three vascular components, an abaxial 'circle', a central 'column' and two adaxial 'wings', the last being the only direct source of vascular supply to the leaflets. Each leaflet is supplied by a vascular bundle that has divided or migrated directly from the closest wing bundle. There is neither multiplication nor anastomoses of vascular bundles in the other two components. Thus, as one proceeds from base to apex along the leaf axis, the number of vascular bundles in circle and column components is reduced distally by their uniform migration throughout all components. Consequently, the distal leaflets are irrigated by the more abaxial bundles, guaranteeing uniform water supply along the length of the axis. Conclusions The omega pattern exemplifies one of the many solutions plants have achieved in supplying distal appendages of an axis with a uniform water supply. Our method presents a model that can be applied to other genera of cycads with more complex vascular organization.
Scale-up of industrial microbial processes

Scaling up industrial microbial processes for commercial production is a high-stakes endeavor, requiring time and investment often exceeding that for laboratory microbe and process development. Omissions, oversights and errors can be costly, even fatal to the program. Approached properly, scale-up can be executed successfully. Three guiding principles are provided as a basis: begin with the end in mind; be diligent in the details; prepare for the unexpected. A detailed roadmap builds on these principles. There is a special emphasis on the fermentation step, which is usually the costliest and also impacts downstream processing. Examples of common scale-up mistakes and the recommended approaches are given. It is advised that engineering resources skilled in integrated process development and scale-up be engaged from the very beginning of microbe and process development to guide ongoing R&D, thus ensuring a smooth and profitable path to the large-scale commercial end.
A Dungeon of Dangerous Practices

American hospitals are sometimes unsafe. This is not news to the staff at Santiago Health. In fact, the leadership at Santiago Health, a three-hospital system with one large hospital campus and two smaller satellite hospitals, is keenly aware of the indictments of the quality of current medical practices published by the Institute of Medicine. When it comes to medication use, Santiago Health’s leaders know they have to solve many safety and billing problems. The organization attempts to mobilize its staff to create a multidisciplinary team to address medication safety. The system’s organizational value of achieving excellence bolsters this work.
Crystallography in the Classroom—Modeling Silicates without Silicate Models

I propose two alternatives to the traditional ball-and-stick model for teaching silicate chemistry and crystallography in the classroom. The first model uses fresh fruits of varying sizes to demonstrate the basic silicon-oxygen tetrahedral structure, and to show how covalent and metallic bonding can reduce the negative charge balance, ultimately creating viable silicate minerals. The second uses students to represent large mobile silicon tetrahedra in a truly hands-on approach to understanding silicate minerals and magmas. The two methods used together and supplemented with active in-class discussion provide for optimal learning, even in large classes.
Tyrosine kinase activation by PAF leads to downstream gene expression.

Developments in the past decade have highlighted the complexity of signal transduction pathways activated by PAF receptor (PAF-R) (Shukla, 1992; Shimizu et al.,1992). Molecular details and identities of individual components involved in these signalling steps have yet to be resolved. In a broader perspective, PAF receptor activates two major pathways (a) mediated via phospholipases (of types C, D, and A 2) and (b) protein kinases (i.e., PKC, tyrosine kinase, MAP kinase). Further, Ca 2+ mobilization (intracellular release, influx) also play important roles (James-Kracke et al.,1994). How these multiple pathways lead to expression of genes induced by PAF is the topic of this article.
Two Cases of Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury With Complete Spinal Cord Injury.

Background Traumatic brachial plexus injury (BPI) in patients with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) such as paraplegia or tetraplegia is a very rare and debilitating combined injury that can occur in high-energy traumas. Management of a BPI should be aimed at regaining strength for self-transfers and activities of daily living to restore independence. However, brachial plexus reconstruction (BPR) in this unique patient population requires considerable planning due to the combined elements of upper and lower motor neuron injuries. Methods We present 2 cases of traumatic complete SCI with concomitant BPI with mean follow-up of 42 months after BPR. The first patient had a left C5-7 BPI with a T2 complete SCI. The second patient sustained a left C5-8 BPI with complete SCI at C8. Results The first patient underwent BPR including free functioning muscle, intra- and extraplexal nerve transfers, and tendon transfers resulting in active elbow flexion and active elbow, finger, and thumb extension, but no recovery of shoulder function. While the second patient underwent extra-plexal nerve transfer to restore elbow flexion yet did not recover any function in the left upper extreimty. Conclusions Because extensive upper and lower motor neuron injuries are present in these combined injuries, treatment strategies are limited. Expectations should be tempered in these patients as traditional methods to reconstruct the brachial plexus may result in less than ideal functional outcomes due to the associated upper motor neuron injury.
A multispecies, multifluid model for laser–induced counterstreaming plasma simulations

Abstract The interpenetration of counterstreaming plasmas is an important phenomenon in several application areas, such as astrophysical flows, design of controlled fusion devices, and laser–induced plasma experiments. Multispecies “single-fluid” codes are unable to model this phenomenon due to the single velocity representation for all the species/fluids. Kinetic codes, though capable of modeling interpenetration, are computationally prohibitive for at-scale simulations. In this paper, we propose a multifluid model that solves the fluid equations for each ion fluid or stream. This allows distinct flows that interact with each other through electrostatic and collisional forces. We introduce and describe our code, EUCLID, that uses a conservative finite-difference formulation to discretize the governing equations in space. The 5th-order Monotonicity-Preserving WENO scheme is used for the upwind approximation of the hyperbolic flux, and the explicit 4th-order Runge–Kutta scheme is used for time integration. The code is verified for several benchmark cases and manufactured solutions. We simulate one- and two-dimensional interactions of counterstreaming plasmas in vacuum as well as in the presence of gas fill, where the setups are representative of laser-induced plasma experiments.
Rolling the Windows Up: On (Not) Researching Violence and Strategic Distance

ABSTRACTIn this article, I reflect on my experience conducting fieldwork in some of the violent neighbourhoods of urban Honduras. Using examples from ethnography conducted in and around San Pedro S...
Genetic risk assessment in psychiatry

Most psychiatric disorders of pediatric and adult onset are caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors. Risk assessment in genetic counseling is correspondingly complicated. Outside of neurodevelopmental conditions, genetic and genomic testing has not achieved clinical utility. Genetic counselors most often base risk assessment on the client's medical and family history and empiric recurrence risk data. In rare cases significant familial risk may arise from variants of large effect. New approaches such as polygenic risk scores have the potential to inform diagnosis and management of affected individuals and risk status for at-risk individuals. Research on the genetic and environmental factors that increase risk for schizophrenia and etiologically related disorders are reviewed, guidance in determining and communicating risks to families is delivered, and new opportunities and challenges that will come with translating new research findings to psychiatric risk assessment and genetic counseling are anticipated.
Decrements of body mass index are associated with poor outcomes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.

Background The processes that result in progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remain enigmatic. Moreover, the course of this disease can be highly variable and difficult to accurately predict. We hypothesized analyses of body mass index (BMI), a simple, routine clinical measure, may also have prognostic value in these patients, and might provide mechanistic insights. We investigated the associations of BMI changes with outcome, plasma adipokines, and adaptive immune activation among IPF patients. Methods Data were analyzed in an IPF discovery cohort (n = 131) from the University of Pittsburgh, and findings confirmed in patients from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (n = 148). Plasma adipokines were measured by ELISA and T-cell phenotypes determined by flow cytometry. Results Transplant-free one-year survivals in subjects with the greatest rates of BMI decrements, as percentages of initial BMI (>0.68%/month), were worse than among those with more stable BMI in both discovery (HR = 1.8, 95%CI = 1.1-3.2, p = 0.038) and replication cohorts (HR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.2-5.2, p = 0.02), when adjusted for age, baseline BMI, and pulmonary function. BMI decrements >0.68%/month were also associated with greater mortality after later lung transplantations (HR = 4.6, 95%CI = 1.7-12.5, p = 0.003). Circulating leptin and adiponectin levels correlated with BMI, but neither adipokine was prognostic per se. BMI decrements were significantly associated with increased proportions of circulating end-differentiated (CD28null) CD4 T-cells (CD28%), a validated marker of repetitive T-cell activation and IPF prognoses. Conclusions IPF patients with greatest BMI decrements had worse outcomes, and this effect persisted after lung transplantation. Weight loss in these patients is a harbinger of poor prognoses, and may reflect an underlying systemic process, such as adaptive immune activation.
Synaptic Inhibition of Medial Olivocochlear Efferent Neurons by Neurons of the Medial Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body

Medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent neurons in the brainstem comprise the final stage of descending control of the mammalian peripheral auditory system through axon projections to the cochlea. MOC activity adjusts cochlear gain and frequency tuning, and protects the ear from acoustic trauma. The neuronal pathways that activate and modulate the MOC somata in the brainstem to drive these cochlear effects are poorly understood. Evidence suggests that MOC neurons are primarily excited by sound stimuli in a three-neuron activation loop from the auditory nerve via an intermediate neuron in the cochlear nucleus. Anatomical studies suggest that MOC neurons receive diverse synaptic inputs, but the functional effect of additional synaptic influences on MOC neuron responses is unknown. Here we use patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings from identified MOC neurons in brainstem slices from mice of either sex to demonstrate that in addition to excitatory glutamatergic synapses, MOC neurons receive inhibitory GABAergic and glycinergic synaptic inputs. These synapses are activated by electrical stimulation of axons near the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). Focal glutamate uncaging confirms MNTB neurons as a source of inhibitory synapses onto MOC neurons. MNTB neurons inhibit MOC action potentials, but this effect depresses with repeat activation. This work identifies a new pathway of connectivity between brainstem auditory neurons and indicates that MOC neurons are both excited and inhibited by sound stimuli received at the same ear. The pathway depression suggests that the effect of MNTB inhibition of MOC neurons diminishes over the course of a sustained sound.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons are the final stage of descending control of the mammalian auditory system and exert influence on cochlear mechanics to modulate perception of acoustic stimuli. The brainstem pathways that drive MOC function are poorly understood. Here we show for the first time that MOC neurons are inhibited by neurons of the MNTB, which may suppress the effects of MOC activity on the cochlea.
Emotion Regulation Training in a First-Year Experience Course: A Qualitative Analysis of Students’ Experiences

The transition to college is a stressful time that can present many emotional challenges and demands. One way to help ease this transition is through the implementation of emotion regulation skills...
Contrasting hydrogen peroxide- and persulfate-driven oxidation systems: Impact of radical scavenging on treatment efficiency and cost

Abstract For the first time, the fate of radicals generated in heterogeneous chemical oxidation treatment systems has been accounted for and used to assess treatment performance in three reaction compartments; reaction with the target compound, rhodamine B (RhB), the aqueous phase scavengers, and the solid phase scavengers. Radicals formed during the ultra-violet (UV) activation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (UV-AHP) and persulfate (S2O82−) (UV-APS) include hydroxyl (•OH) and sulfate radicals (SO4•−), respectively. •OH and SO4•−, used in oxidation treatment systems to degrade a broad spectrum of environmental contaminants, may also react with non-target chemical species (scavengers) that limit treatment efficiency. UV-AHP and UV-APS treatment systems were amended with solid phase alumina to assess scavenging by solid surfaces. The overall rate of reaction and rate of radical scavenging was greater for •OH than SO4•−. Scavenging by dissolved constituents was dominated by the oxidant used (H2O2, S2O82−); and the rate of radical scavenging by alumina was greater than the rate of RhB oxidation in all cases. Treatment efficiency was lower in the UV-AHP than in the UV-APS treatment system and was attributed to greater aqueous and solid phase scavenging rates. The cost of commercially available H2O2 ($0.031 mol−1) and PS ($0.24 mol−1) was used in conjunction with the overall treatment efficiency to assess specific cost of treatment. The specific cost to treat the probe compound with UV-AHP was greater than UV-APS and was attributed to the much lower treatment efficiency with UV-AHP. The much-desired high reaction rate constants between •OH and environmental contaminants, relative to SO4•−, may come at the cost of greater combined scavenging rates, and consequently lower treatment efficiency.
Semigroups for One-Dimensional Schr\"odinger Operators with Multiplicative Gaussian Noise

Let $ H:=-\tfrac12\Delta+V$ be a one-dimensional continuum Schrodinger operator. Consider ${\hat H}:= H+\xi$, where $\xi$ is a translation invariant Gaussian noise. Under some assumptions on $\xi$, we prove that if $V$ is locally integrable, bounded below, and grows faster than $\log$ at infinity, then the semigroup $\mathrm e^{-t {\hat H}}$ is trace class and admits a probabilistic representation via a Feynman-Kac formula. Our result applies to operators acting on the whole line $\mathbb R$, the half line $(0,\infty)$, or a bounded interval $(0,b)$, with a variety of boundary conditions. Our method of proof consists of a comprehensive generalization of techniques recently developed in the random matrix theory literature to tackle this problem in the special case where ${\hat H}$ is the stochastic Airy operator.
Did surgical delay due to COVD-19 affect the short- and longer-term mental health of patients?

Objectives: At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Surgeon General ordered the cessation of all elective surgical procedures. We evaluated the mental health impact of COVID-19 related surgical delay on patients awaiting procedures for benign, pre-malignant and malignant conditions. We sought to understand the short term impact of surgical delay and to identify potential longer term mental health affects after completion of the delayed procedure. Methods: All patients over age 18 awaiting surgery for benign, pre-malignant or malignant conditions in the gynecologic oncology, surgical oncology and colorectal services at Northwell Health were eligible. Upon enrollment, participants completed a baseline survey consisting of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and Brief-Illness Patient Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Six weeks after their surgery, participants were sent a second survey consisting of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale in addition to the GAD-7, PSWQ, and B-IPQ. Results: 56 patients underwent their procedure and completed the follow-up survey. Patients with suspected benign conditions had a longer delay in scheduling their surgery than patients with suspected/confirmed cancer or pre-malignant conditions (101.4d vs 66.3d, p Conclusions: Many patients experienced distress surrounding surgical delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This extended to their postoperative period. Gynecologic oncology patients did not experience decreased post-operative worry, while surgical oncology and colorectal patients did. There was no significant difference in the incidence of post-operative depression by specialty or post-operative diagnosis.
Teach Me If You Can: Teaching Political Science Majors Statistics at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

Teaching an introductory statistics class can be challenging and frustrating. This was especially the case when I taught such a course for the first time in 2016. Since then, I have revisited my pedagogy and developed ways to enhance students’ understanding of statistics and its application to real-world situations. The challenges were not only about teaching statistical concepts, but about fighting against students’ lack of motivation and teaching myself to be a good instructor. In the borderland of South Texas, due to the struggle to balance school life with work and family obligations, my students naturally adopt the following attitude: “I don’t have time for this. Teach me if you can.” Understanding my students’ situation was the key to overcoming this challenge.
Normal Stress Measurements in Low-Elasticity Liquids

Recent results obtained for lubricating oils containing polymer additives will be described. Pressure distributions measured in a Truncated-Cone & Plate apparatus yield values for N3 = N1 + 2N2. The SEISCOR/Lodge Stressmeter, a new slit-die apparatus, yields values for hole pressure P, wall shear stress σ, and wall shear rate s. According to the Higashitani-Pritchard-Baird theory, Nl - N2 = 3 dP/dσ. N1 and N2 denote the first and second normal stress differences in unidirectional shear flow.
Nuclear power plants transient diagnostics using LVQ or some networks don't know that they don't know

A nuclear power plant's (NPP) status is monitored by a human operator. Any classifier system used to enhance the operator's capability to diagnose the NPP status should classify a novel transient as "don't know" if it is not contained within its accumulated knowledge. In particular, a neural network classifier needs some kind of proximity measure between the new data and its training set. Multilayered perceptron (MLP) networks do not have that measure, while Kohonen self-organizing maps (SOM) and learning vector quantization (LVQ) networks do. This measure may also serve as an explanation to the network's decision the way case-based reasoning expert systems do. Applying an "evidence accumulation" technique by using a transient's classification history can enhance the network's accuracy as well as its consistency. >
Mobile Computations and Trust

From a security perspective, the most relevant attribute of mobile computations is that they can cross security domain boundaries. This is important since security policies and mechanisms are often location-sensitive. When boundaries are crossed, trust relationships can change and hence trust decisions can no longer be made statically. For instance, a host’s trust in an agent may change as the agent migrates through other potentially-hostile hosts.
Let's Save Retirement

Unlike workers in many developed nations, far too few American workers today can look forward to financial independence as they age. As a result, many will be compelled to work much later into their lives, some into their 70s. Social Security provides only a floor of retirement income. For many years defined benefit (DB) plans provided the core of retirement security, but today most DB plans in the private sector are closed to new employees, and those in the public sector are dramatically underfunded. A patchwork of defined contribution (DC) retirement plans – such as 401(k), 403 (b), and IRA – now serve as the primary retirement saving vehicles in the private sector, but they are complex, costly, and challenging for employers and employees to manage. This paper recommends a single private DC pension system that can cover all working Americans, with a single set of rules. A key part is the creation of broadly diversified Trusteed Retirement Funds (TRFs), whose sponsors are trustees, with fiduciary responsibilities. Payroll deduction of every employee’s salary will automatically go into a broadly diversified TRF unless the employee either opts out or selects a preferred TRF (and unless the employer already sponsors a defined benefit pension plan). TRF’s will relieve employers from fiduciary responsibility for all future DC contributions. To protect retirees from the risks of inflation, longevity, and the unpredictability of the stock and bond markets, retirees will be encouraged to use their TRF savings to buy either an immediate or deferred indexed annuity. A Federal Longevity Insurance Administration will enable private insurance companies to provide cost-effective annuities. All TRFs and annuities will be without marketing costs. Tax deductions will be designed to stay within our nation’s current tax expenditures for retirement. This paper offers a basis for near-term action by Congress and the Administration to help resolve the growing problem of funding workers’ retirement.
Risks Associated with Consumption of Herbal Teas

Plants have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries (Larkin 1983). The writings remaining from the ancient civilizations of Sumer, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, China, and Rome describe the use of plants believed to possess medicinal qualities. The first comprehensive list, or Materia Medica, of all known medicinal herbs dates to the days of the Roman Empire (Larkin 1983). Tea, originating in China, is one of the world’s oldest known prepared beverages. In the early years of the twentieth century, many herbals were tested for activity and eliminated as ineffective or replaced by synthetic products. However, during the past 20 years there has been a resurgence of interest in “natural” products such as herbal teas and supplements with medicinal or nonmedicinal purposes. With concerns about the possible ill effects of consuming beverages containing caffeine, health-oriented individuals are turning to herbal teas as alternatives to traditional low calorie, caffeinated beverages such as coffee, cocoa, and tea. The popularity of herbal tea consumption has acquired such dimensions that during 1985 the sales of herbs and herbal teas in health food stores exceeded $190 million in the United States (Tyler 1987). Hundreds of different herbal teas are sold in health food stores as varied mixtures of roots, leaves, seeds, barks, or other parts of shrubs, vines, or trees.
Two Methods of Early Memories Data Collection: An Empirical Comparison of the Projective Yield

This study addresses a methodological issue regarding the preferred method of collecting early memories data—using an interpersonal administration to collect the data, or using a written procedure in which subjects are asked to record their early memories privately. Early memories from clinical and nonclinical control groups from two experimental conditions were scored on the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale (SCORS). The results support the superiority of the interpersonal administration over the private, written condition in differentiating clinical from nonclinical controls. The results are discussed in the context of contemporary trends in personality assessment, which attempt to limit interpersonal contact with the patient during the assessment process, in order to save time and money. The authors contend that this practice may yield less complex and less fertile projective data than the traditional interpersonal testing context.
Direct and indirect effects of climate change on projected future fire regimes in the western United States

We asked two research questions: (1) What are the relative effects of climate change and climate-driven vegetation shifts on different components of future fire regimes? (2) How does incorporating climate-driven vegetation change into future fire regime projections alter the results compared to projections based only on direct climate effects? We used the western United States (US) as study area to answer these questions. Future (2071-2100) fire regimes were projected using statistical models to predict spatial patterns of occurrence, size and spread for large fires (>400 ha) and a simulation experiment was conducted to compare the direct climatic effects and the indirect effects of climate-driven vegetation change on fire regimes. Results showed that vegetation change amplified climate-driven increases in fire frequency and size and had a larger overall effect on future total burned area in the western US than direct climate effects. Vegetation shifts, which were highly sensitive to precipitation pattern changes, were also a strong determinant of the future spatial pattern of burn rates and had different effects on fire in currently forested and grass/shrub areas. Our results showed that climate-driven vegetation change can exert strong localized effects on fire occurrence and size, which in turn drive regional changes in fire regimes. The effects of vegetation change for projections of the geographic patterns of future fire regimes may be at least as important as the direct effects of climate change, emphasizing that accounting for changing vegetation patterns in models of future climate-fire relationships is necessary to provide accurate projections at continental to global scales.
Percutaneous Sacroiliac Screw Fixation of the Posterior Pelvic Ring

Percutaneous sacroiliac (SI) screw fixation is indicated for unstable posterior pelvic ring injuries, sacral fractures, and SI joint dislocations. This article provides a review of indications and contraindications, preoperative planning, imaging techniques and relevant anatomy, surgical technique, complications and their management, and outcomes after SI screw insertion.
Tracheal Resection and Reconstruction

Tracheal surgery requires close teamwork between the ­anesthesia and surgical teams in both planning and execution, with ongoing communication throughout, as they “share the airway.” Critical aspects of anesthetic management particular to tracheal resection/reconstruction (TRR) are (1) preservation of a patent ­airway with inductionand (2) safe ventilation while the airway is divided.
On frame-indifference and iterative procedures in the kinetic theory of gases

Abstract The frame-dependence of higher order approximations to the response functions in the kinetic theory of gases is examined. It is shown that this frame-dependence is in no way a characteristic of the kinetic theory but results from defects in the Chapman-Enskog and Maxwellian iterative procedures. A concise proof is given to show that the kinetic theory of gases is consistent with the Principle of Material Frame-Indifference of modern continuum mechanics.
Deterrence and the Morally Committed

The deterrence literature suggests that perceptions of the threat of legal sanctions influence the extent of involvement in illegal behavior only among those individuals who have not internalized legal norms. Individuals who are morally committed to a norm will not violate it, regardless of their perceptions of the certainty and severity of legal sanctions. We argue that this hypothesis relegates coercion to a position of secondary importance in a theory of social control; and we offer a rationale for an alternative hypothesis that perceived sanction threat has a deterrent effect at all levels of moral commitment. Our analysis, using refined measures of the variables which have emerged in recent research, supports our alternative hypothesis.
Structured light systems for dent recognition: lessons learned

This paper describes the results from a feasibility analysis performed on two different structured light system designs and the image processing algorithms they require for dent detection and localization. The impact of each structured light system is analyzed in terms of their mechanical realization and the complexity of the image processing algorithms required for robust dent detection. The two design alternatives considered consist of projecting vertical or horizontal laser stripes on the drum surface. The first alternative produces straight lines in the image plane and requires scanning the drum surface horizontally, whereas the second alternative produces conic curves on the camera plane and requires scanning the drum surface vertically. That is, the first alternative favors image processing against mechanical realization while the second alternative favors mechanical realization against image processing. The results from simulated and real structured light systems are presented and their major advantages and disadvantages for dent detection are presented. The paper concludes with the lessons learned from experiments with real and simulated structured light system prototypes.
In vitro screening procedure for osmotic tolerance in Prunus

Significant growth differences (p≤<0.01) were observed for two micropropagated Prunus accessions after 14 days in culture when 685 mM mannitol was included in Quoirin and Lepoivre nutrient medium. While there was an 11% growth increase in fresh weight during the 28-day culture period for accession K537-067, explants from New Jersey Plumcot No. 3 increased fresh weight an average of 123%. Similar tests were conducted to determine the repeatability of this short term in vitro screening procedure. Explants of Mananna 2624 were subjected to two levels of mannitol, 275 mM and 550 mM, included in the Quoirin and Lepoivre nutrient medium. Three successive 28-day tests were conducted. Explants were examined at both 14 and 28 days after the onset of the experiment for net growth changes. Addition of mannitol to the nutrient medium at concentrations of 275 mM and 550 mM decreased explant fresh weights of Marianna 2624 to 36% and 28% of controls, respectively, at 28 days past initial culture. Initial fresh weight and fresh weight changes at day 14 were significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) between tests. No significant differences existed between tests with regard to weight changes at 28 days past initial culture. This information may aid Prunus breeders in the choice of procedures for inducing drought stress and screening large numbers of plant accessions.
Effects of crystal fields on the scaling behavior of the magnetic susceptibility in Ce(NixCu1−x)2Si2

Abstract From measurements of the magnetic susceptibility χ vs temperature T evidence is provided that in the system Ce(Ni x Cu 1− x ) 2 Si 2 crystal field effects vanish above a certain Ni-concentration. Once crystal fields are no longer important a one energy parameter scaling of χ vs T is observed for all x , while the cerium valence, v , increases with x up to v =3.2 for CeNi 2 Si 2 at room temperature, as determined by L III X-ray absorption measurements.
In vitro selection of a single-stranded DNA molecular recognition element specific for bromacil.

Bromacil is a widely used herbicide that is known to contaminate environmental systems. Due to the hazards it presents and inefficient detection methods, it is necessary to create a rapid and efficient sensing device. Towards this end, we have utilized a stringent in vitro selection method to identify single-stranded DNA molecular recognition elements (MRE) specific for bromacil. We have identified one MRE with high affinity ( nM) and specificity for bromacil compared to negative targets of selection and other pesticides. The selected ssDNA MRE will be useful as the sensing element in a field-deployable bromacil detection device.
Young adult former ever smokers: the role of type of smoker, quit attempts, quit aids, attitudes/beliefs, and demographics.

Objective Young adults who smoke are often nondaily users who either quit or transition into dependent smokers. Further, this age group often has been considered an extension of the adult population. This study aims to examine young adult former ever smokers to understand factors associated with their stopping smoking.
Transition from airy stress function to state space formulation of elasticity

Abstract The transition between the Airy stress function and the state space approach to elasticity is established. It is shown that a formulation based on a state vector that consists of the Fourier transforms of the Airy stress function and its spatial derivatives has advantages due to the simpler nature of the matrix involved. The approach is used as an intermediate step in obtaining the transformed stresses and displacements. The Flamant problem is used as an application. In contrast to previous studies, it is shown that one of the displacement components contains an integral that diverges in the classical sense, but converges in the sense of generalized functions or distributions.
A Unified Set of Analysis Tools for Uterine Cervix Image Segmentation

Segmentation is a fundamental component of many medical image-processing applications, and it has long been recognized as a challenging problem. In this paper, we report our research and development efforts on analyzing and extracting clinically meaningful regions from uterine cervix images in a large database created for the study of cervical cancer. In addition to proposing new algorithms, we also focus on developing open source tools which are in synchrony with the research objectives. These efforts have resulted in three Web-accessible tools which address three important and interrelated sub-topics in medical image segmentation, respectively: the Boundary Marking Tool (BMT), Cervigram Segmentation Tool (CST), and Multi-Observer Segmentation Evaluation System (MOSES). The BMT is for manual segmentation, typically to collect “ground truth” image regions from medical experts. The CST is for automatic segmentation, and MOSES is for segmentation evaluation. These tools are designed to be a unified set in which data can be conveniently exchanged. They have value not only for improving the reliability and accuracy of algorithms of uterine cervix image segmentation, but also promoting collaboration between biomedical experts and engineers which are crucial to medical image-processing applications. Although the CST is designed for the unique characteristics of cervigrams, the BMT and MOSES are very general and extensible, and can be easily adapted to other biomedical image collections.
“Between-group psychotherapy outcome research and basic science” revisited

Case studies involving the measurement of every plausibly causal variable and every important outcome variable and covering the widest possible range of cases in terms of these variables are the highest priority for psychotherapy research. Such case studies looked at together will give us the best initial understanding of what variables are probably causal and what treatments yield the best results for particular kinds of patients, therapists, and settings. The accumulation of such case studies will show us where we would benefit by doing comparative controlled experiments of distinct therapies or by employing optimum-seeking designs for a particular therapy. Collaboration by the practitioner community will be needed to do this. The truly difficult and necessary work of applied psychotherapy research still lies ahead of us, hardly touched.
Big Sites, Small Sites, and Coastal Settlement Patterns in the San Juan Islands, Washington, USA

ABSTRACT In this article we examine prehistoric coastal settlement patterns in the San Juan Islands, Washington by integrating dating work with erosion studies, accumulation rate analysis, and paleoenvironmental data. Dating work draws on previously published radiocarbon dates from big sites and new radiocarbon dates from both big and small sites. We find that an increase in abundance of sites at 650–300 cal BP is amplified but not created by site destruction caused by coastal erosion. We hypothesize that prehistoric peoples established more permanent settlements on the San Juan Islands after 650 cal BP during a wetter climate regime. By calculating accumulation rates for shell midden sites and considering climate change and access to freshwater, we test this hypothesis and discuss differences between temporal patterns in the San Juan Islands and southwestern British Columbia.
Photoprocesses of eosine and rose bengal ion pairs with cationic surfactant in non-polar solvent: application in photosensitization studies

Abstract The anionic dyes (D) eosine (Eo) and rose bengal (RB) form hydrophobic ion pairs (DS 2 ) with cationic surfactants (S) which are soluble in non-polar solvents (Bilski et al., J. Phys. Chem. , 95 (1991) 5784). The solubility of DS 2 in non-polar solvents increases with increasing size of the surfactant cation. We have studied the photoproperties of ion pairs formed between RB or EO and the dimethyldioctadecylammonium cation (RBS 2 and EoS 2 ) in isooctane, CCI 4 , toluene and Ch 2 CI 2 . No significant concentration-dependent aggregation occurred in the dye solutions at room temperature. However, some features of initially formed “loose” aggregates developed in isooctane, CCl 4 and toluene, which in CH 2 CI 2 all DS 2 spectra were characteristic of the monomeric dyes. DS 2 showed a red shift in absorption/fluorescence and low-temperature phosphorescence which is characteristic of xanthene chromophores placed in an aprotic enviroment. The fluorescence intensity was also high in Ch 2 CI 2 owing to its aproticity and the lack of aggregation. By contrast, aggregation lowered the fluorescence of the dyes in isooctane. Transient absorption measurements in degassed toluene indicated of a triplet state (λ max =630 nm for RB and 600 nm for Eo) which was self-quenched giving rise to transient absorbances at 380 and 460 nm, probably due to the formation of the dye radical anion and cation respectively. We found no evidence for photoredox reactions between the ion pair constituents, S + and D 2- . In aerated solutions, strong 1 O 2 phosphorescence at 1268 nm was detected; we have compared the efficiency of 1 O 2 phosphorescence emission by the DS 2 ion pair with that of tetraphenylporphine zinc complex. The quantum yield of photodepletion of 1,3- diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) sensitized by RBS 2 (7 μM) in toluene was 0.89. The quantum yield of oxygen consumption during this reaction was 0.75; Eo was about three times less efficient as a sensitizer. The photostability of hydrophobic EoS 2 and RBS 2 ion pairs, as well as the photosensitization in non-polar solvents, are similar to those in H 2 O for both dyes. DS 2 may be the photosensitizer of choice in some non-polar solvents.
Gap Geometry Measurements in Oil-Filled Gaps Using Laser Diffraction Techniques

This paper describes an experimental investigation of utilizing laser diffraction method for gap geometry measurements of oil-filled gaps with gap widths in the range of a few hundred microinches up to 0.03 inches, with applications to research areas, such as journal bearings, seals, and EHD lubrication. Diffraction patterns are obtained for various gap widths and depths of gaps for dry gaps and oil-filled gaps with different kinds of lubricating oils in the gaps. It is shown that, for dry gaps, a good correlation is obtained between diffraction patterns and gap widths, for narrow depth of gaps. An increase in depth of gap yields significant differences between experimental results and classical theoretical results, probably due to internal reflections of the light beam within the deeper gaps. For oil filled gaps, experimental results yield smaller gap widths than those calculated from simple diffraction theory, because of distortion of diffraction patterns due to the presence of oil in the gaps. Correcti...
Assessment of regional change in nitrate concentrations in groundwater in the Central Valley, California, USA, 1950s–2000s

A regional assessment of multi-decadal changes in nitrate concentrations was done using historical data and a spatially stratified non-biased approach. Data were stratified into physiographic subregions on the basis of geomorphology and soils data to represent zones of historical recharge and discharge patterns in the basin. Data were also stratified by depth to represent a shallow zone generally representing domestic drinking-water supplies and a deep zone generally representing public drinking-water supplies. These stratifications were designed to characterize the regional extent of groundwater with common redox and age characteristics, two factors expected to influence changes in nitrate concentrations over time. Overall, increasing trends in nitrate concentrations and the proportion of nitrate concentrations above 5 mg/L were observed in the east fans subregion of the Central Valley. Whereas the west fans subregion has elevated nitrate concentrations, temporal trends were not detected, likely due to the heterogeneous nature of the water quality in this area and geologic sources of nitrate, combined with sparse and uneven data coverage. Generally low nitrate concentrations in the basin subregion are consistent with reduced geochemical conditions resulting from low permeability soils and higher organic content, reflecting the distal portions of alluvial fans and historical groundwater discharge areas. Very small increases in the shallow aquifer in the basin subregion may reflect downgradient movement of high nitrate groundwater from adjacent areas or overlying intensive agricultural inputs. Because of the general lack of regionally extensive long-term monitoring networks, the results from this study highlight the importance of placing studies of trends in water quality into regional context. Earlier work concluded that nitrate concentrations were steadily increasing over time in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, but clearly those trends do not apply to other physiographic subregions within the Central Valley, even where land use and climate are similar.
Brain CD8+ and cytotoxic T lymphocytes are associated with, and may be specific for, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 encephalitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

CD8+ T cells infiltrate brains with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) encephalitis (HIVE) and related animal models; their perineuronal localization suggests cytotoxic T cell (CTL)-mediated neuronal killing. Because CTLs have not been identified in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) brains, the authors identified their cytotoxic granules in autopsy AIDS brains with HIVE and without HIVE (HIVnE) plus controls (7 to 13 cases/group) and determined gene expression profiles of CTL-associated genes in a separate series of cases. CD3+ and CD8+ T cells were significantly increased (P < .01) in perivascular spaces and inflammatory nodules in HIVE but were rare or absent in brain parenchyma in HIVnE and control brains. Eight HIVE brains contained granzyme B+ T cells and five contained perforin+ T cells. Their T-cell origin was confirmed by colocalization of CD8 and granzyme B in the same cell and the absence of CD56+ natural killer cells. The CTLs directly contacted with neurons, as the authors showed previously for CD3+ and CD8+ T cells. CTLs were rare or absent in HIV nonencephalitis (HIVnE) and controls. Granzyme B and H precursor gene expression was up-regulated and interleukin (IL)-12A precursor, a maturation factor for natural killer cells and CTLs, was down-regulated in HIVE versus HIVnE brain. This study demonstrates, for the first time, CTLs in HIVE and shows that parenchymal T cells and CTLs are sensitive biomarkers for HIVE. Consequently, CD8+ T cells and CTLs could mediate brain injury in HIVE and may represent an important biomarker for productive brain infection by HIV-1.
Entering into strategic alliances: an empirical test of the direct and interaction effects of managers' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control

Extant research has largely ignored the role that managers play in alliance formation. On the basis of the theory of planned behavior, the author examines the determinants of the direct causes of managerial intention, and whether or not the policy variables influence managerial intentions. Behavioral beliefs pertaining to competitive advantage interacted with the managers' evaluation of the motives for alliance formation. Hypotheses testing was performed using multiple regression and hierarchical regression analysis. Limitations and future research is presented.
The Impact of Conflict Types and Location on Trade

This article investigates the impact of interstate and intrastate conflict on trade. Analyses rely on a pooled time-series cross-sectional dataset with observations for 134 countries from 1979 to 2000. Results show that intrastate conflict has a larger negative impact on trade than interstate conflict; conflict in the exporting country has a more negative impact on trade than conflict in the importing country; and, finally, conflict's destructive effects go beyond the borders of the countries that directly experience it, as trade flows are also negatively influenced by conflict in neighboring countries.