cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Properties of Rabbit Sperm Membranes in Contact with Electrode Surfaces

In dilute suspensions of sperm cells there is electrode noise due to the changes in the electrical double layer during contacts of the suspended cells with the electrode surface. The noise frequency, the number of current fluctuations above one nanoampere per unit time, depends upon the concentration of cells, the potential at the electrode surface and the presence of adsorbed material at the electrode. We have studied the electrode noise due to suspensions of rabbit sperm cells, and have obtained information about the properties of the cell membranes and their ability to adsorb or interact with substances in the environment. The observed differences in the noise frequency between ejaculated and epididymal sperm cells indicate that the ejaculated sperm cell does not adsorb material as readily. The titration of sperm cell suspensions with Zn++ ions shows a lower negative surface charge on the epididymal sperm cell, in agreement with published values on cell electrophoresis. The experiments reported here demonstrate that there are significant changes in the membranes of sperm cells at the later stages of maturation which are independent of membrane charge and affect the ability of the cells to adsorb material. Such adsorption processes could be the first stages of physiological processes (e.g. “sperm capacitation”, “acrosome reaction”) that are known to occurin vivo, and that play important roles in fertilization.
ALDH marks leukemia stem cell

In this issue of Blood , Gerber et al use aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity to further subdivide the CD34+CD38− compartment in the bone marrow of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. They identify a unique population with intermediate ALDH activity (ALDHint) that contains leukemia stem
Correspondences and Approximation Properties for von Neumann Algebras

The notion of the amenability of a locally compact group has been extended in various ways. Two weaker versions of amenability, weak amenability and the approximation property, have been defined for locally compact groups (by Haagerup and Haagerup and Kraus, respectively) and Bekka has defined a notion of amenability for representations of locally compact groups. Correspondences can be viewed as a generalization of representations of such groups. Using this viewpoint, Ananthraman–Delaroche has defined a notion of (left) amenability for correspondences. In this paper, we define notions of weak amenability and the approximation property for correspondences (and representations of locally compact groups), and obtain various results concerning these notions. Ananthraman–Delaroche showed that if N ⊂ M is an inclusion of von Neumann algebras, and if the associated inclusion correspondence is left amenable, then various approximation properties of N (semidiscreteness, the weak* completely bounded approximation property, and the weak* operator approximation property) are shared by M. We show that if this correspondence has the (weaker) approximation property, then if N has the weak* operator approximation property, so does M. An application of this result to crossed products is also given.
Radiation collection by an optimized fixed collector

Abstract A model for determining, on the average, the angular distribution and intensity of solar radiation at the site of a solar collector as a function of the irradiance on a horizontal surface and the time of day and year is presented. The model is then used to study radiation collection by a collector whose design has been approximately optimized. The variation of radiation collection by this collector with changes in the clearness index KT, operating temperature, ambient temperature, acceptance angle, tilt angle, selective absorber properties and window reflection is studied. This indicates how to further optimize the collector design. The performance of this optimized collector is then compared with that of other existing fixed collector designs.
Single Cell Detection and Analysis with Asynchronous Rotation of Driven Magnetic Microspheres

The nonlinear rotational response of a magnetic micropshere, suspended in a viscous fluid, occurs when a driving magnetic field, used to rotate the magnetic particle, exceeds a critical frequency. Above this critical frequency, the particle is asynchronous with the external field. Shifts in this nonlinear rotational frequency of the magnetic microsphere offer a dynamic approach for the detection (see Appl. Phys. Lett. 2007 91, 224105) and analysis of bacterial cells (i.e. growth and response to chemical agents).FigureSchematic of the asynchronous (nonlinear) rotation rates of an antibody-coated magnetic microsphere with (a) no bacteria, (b) a single bacterium and (c) growth of the attached bacterium.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Practical low-cost stereo head-mounted display

A high-resolution head-mounted display has been developed from substantially cheaper components than previous systems. Monochrome displays provide 720 by 280 monochrome pixels to each eye in a one-inch-square region positioned approximately one inch from each eye. The display hardware is the Private Eye, manufactured by Reflection Technologies, Inc. The tracking system uses the Polhemus Isotrak, providing (x,y,z, azimuth, elevation and roll) information on the user''s head position and orientation 60 times per second. In combination with a modified Nintendo Power Glove, this system provides a full-functionality virtual reality/simulation system. Using two host 80386 computers, real-time wire frame images can be produced. Other virtual reality systems require roughly $250,000 in hardware, while this one requires only $5,000. Stereo is particularly useful for this system because shading or occlusion cannot be used as depth cues.
Some theorems in classical elastodynamics

This investigation is concerned with various fundamental aspects of the linearized dynamical theory for mechanically homogeneous and isotropic elastic solids. First, the uniqueness and reciprocal theorems of dynamic elasticity are extended to unbounded domains with the aid of a generalized energy identity and a lemma on the prolonged quiescence of the far field, which are established for this purpose. Next, the basic singular solutions of elastodynamics are studied and used to generate systematically Love's integral identity for the displacement field, as well as an associated identity for the field of stress. These results, in conjunction with suitably defined Green's functions, are applied to the construction of integral representations for the solution of the first and second boundary-initial value problem. Finally, a uniqueness theorem for dynamic concentrated-load problems is obtained.
Introductory Medical Statistics, 3rd edition

Introductory Medical Statistics, now in its third edition, is an introductory textbook on basic statistical techniques. It is written for physicians, surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiographers, hospital administrators, medical statisticians in training, biochemists, and other professionals allied to medicine. It is suitable
Coupling-Constant Sum Rules

Coupling-constant sum rules are derived assuming that the violation of unitary symmetry transforms like the eighth component of unitary spin. This parallels the derivation of the mass sum rule. (auth)
A SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN INVENTORIES AND SALES OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS

In this study cross-spectral methods are used to test the hypothesis that inventory investment leads sales of merchant wholesalers through the short-term, seasonal frequencies, but sales lead inventories through the long-term, cyclical frequencies. An intuitive explanation and a time-domain, generating model for the reversal phenomenon are given.
Compact shielded exposure system for the simultaneous long‐term UHF irradiation of forty small mammals II. Dosimetry

A four-antenna collinear array in an electromagnetically shielded chamber was designed and constructed to preferentially irradiate the brains of a large number of small mammals using cellular telephony microwave signals. Ten animals in special restrainers were positioned symmetrically around a centrally located antenna. These restrainers are resting on a circular structure made of acrylic plastic called a “carousel.” Four carousels are stacked vertically, forming the array, inside a microwave anechoic chamber called a “chamberette.” (Details of the design of this irradiator and of a 12-chamberette irradiation facility are given in a previous article.) In this article, the dosimetry on rats is reported. Both thermometric and thermographic measurements were performed. The average specific absorption rate (SAR) in brain tissue measured thermometrically was 0.85 ± 0.34 W/kg per watt of net input power into the radiating antenna. This range agrees with the SAR levels reported in the literature for cellular telephones. Thermographic evaluation using splittable phantoms showed that most of the energy absorbed by the rats is concentrated in and around the brain. Moreover, it was found that the SAR in brain tissue can vary considerably for rats of similar weights, depending on position of the rats' heads inside the restrainers, and that there exists a significant dependence of SAR on animal weight. These variations may be of importance in the interpretation of results of life-long studies. The data presented clearly show that the chamberette is, dosimetrically, a suitable irradiation system for electromagnetic bioeffects studies in the cellular communication frequency range, especially when a large number of laboratory animals is required. Bioelectromagnetics 20:81–93, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Beyond the macho approach of artificial intelligence: empower human designers — do not replace them

Designers deal with ill defined and wicked problems that are characterized by fluctuating and conflicting requirements. Traditional design methodologies that are based on the separation between problem setting (analysis) and problem solving (synthesis) are inadequate for the solution of these problems. The supporting of design with computers requires a cooperative problem-solving approach that empowers designers with integrated, domain-oriented, knowledge-based design environments. The paper describes the motivation for the latter approach, and introduces an architecture for such design environments. It focuses on the integration of specification, construction, and a catalogue of prestored design objects in those environments to illustrate how such integrated design environments empower human designers. The Catalog Explorer system component, which is described in detail, assists designers in the location of examples in the catalogue that are relevant to the task at hand, as partially articulated by the current specification and construction. Users are thereby relieved of the tasks of forming queries or navigating in information spaces. The last part of the paper discusses the relationship of the work with the conceptual framework developed by Donald Schon.
Calcium is a key constituent for maintaining the in vitro properties of platelets suspended in the bicarbonate‐containing additive solution M‐sol with low plasma levels

BACKGROUND: Commercially available additive solutions (ASs) require 30% to 35% plasma for optimal storage of platelets (PLTs). PLTs suspended in M-sol, a bicarbonate-based experimental platelet additive solution (PAS), maintain in vitro PLT properties during storage with low levels of plasma (≤5%). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Four different formulations of M-sol were prepared at the optimal pH (6.1): M-sol, M-sol without calcium, M-sol without citric acid, and M-sol without calcium and citric acid. Apheresis PLT units (100% plasma) were equally divided into five 50-mL aliquots in PL732 containers, centrifuged, and resuspended to prepare units suspended in the four different PASs (95%) with 5% plasma and 1 unit in 100% plasma. Units (n = 10) were stored under standard conditions and assayed for in vitro properties on Days 1, 5, and 7. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance for repeated measures (n = 10, p < 0.001). RESULTS: On Day 5 of storage, PLTs suspended in the M-sol formulation containing calcium but lacking citric acid had similar pH, extent of shape change (ESC) values, and percentage of CD62-positive PLTs and greater hypotonic shock response (HSR) and percentage of discoid PLTs compared to those of PLTs suspended in 100% plasma. In contrast, PLTs suspended in the M-sol formulation lacking calcium had lesser ESC values, greater percentage of CD62-positive PLTs, and similar HSR values and percentage of discoid PLTs compared to those of PLTs suspended in 100% plasma on Day 5 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium plays an important role in maintaining CD62-negative PLTs and relatively high ESC in 5% plasma. The removal of citric acid from M-sol may improve PLT storage properties with low plasma levels.
Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes on acidic zeolites: Mechanistic connections to monomolecular alkane dehydrogenation reactions

Abstract Bronsted acid sites in zeolites (H-FER, H-MFI, H-MOR) selectively hydrogenate alkenes in excess H2 at high temperatures (>700 K) and at rates proportional to alkene and H2 pressures. This kinetic behavior and the De Donder equations for non-equilibrium thermodynamics show that, even away from equilibrium, alkene hydrogenation and monomolecular alkane dehydrogenation occur on predominantly uncovered surfaces via microscopically reverse elementary steps, which involve kinetically-relevant (C–H–H)+ carbonium-ion-like transition states in both directions. As a result, rate constants, activation energies and activation entropies for these two reactions are related by the thermodynamics of the overall stoichiometric gas-phase reaction. The ratios of rate constants for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions do not depend on the identity or reactivity of active sites; thus, sites within different zeolite structures (or at different locations within a given zeolite) that favor alkane dehydrogenation reactions, because of their ability to stabilize the required transition states, also favor alkene hydrogenation reactions to the exact same extent. These concepts and conclusions also apply to monomolecular alkane cracking and bimolecular alkane–alkene reaction paths on Bronsted acids and, more generally, to any forward and reverse reactions that proceed via the same kinetically-relevant step on vacant surfaces in the two directions, even away from equilibrium. The evidence shown here for the sole involvement of Bronsted acids in the hydrogenation of alkoxides with H2 is unprecedented in its mechanistic clarity and thermodynamic rigor. The scavenging of alkoxides via direct H-transfer from H2 indicates that H2 can be used to control the growth of chains and the formation of unreactive deposits in alkylation, oligomerization, cracking and other acid-catalyzed reactions.
The ingroup favorability bias in the minimal groups situation.

Abstract In the present study limits to the ingroup favorability bias in the minimal intergroup situation were examined. A sample of students from the United States received either positive or negative information about either one or both of their ingroups. The amount of information provided about the ingroup was also varied. Consistent with the experimental hypothesis, students were least favorable in their evaluations of the ingroup when negative information was provided and was applicable to both of their ingroups, compared to when the same negative information applied to only one of those ingroups. The findings support Turner's (1975) position that the ingroup favorability bias is motivated by a need to maintain or enhance a positive social identity.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Impact of Prenatal Substance Exposure on Children’s Health, Development, School Performance, and Risk Behavior

In the United States, exposure to maternal use of drugs and alcohol, pre- and/or postnatally, is one of the most common risk factors associated with children’s negative behavioral and developmental outcomes. Despite evidence linking alcohol and tobacco to fetal damage and warnings from public health campaigns, currently, at least 10% of women drink alcohol during pregnancy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004) and 11% smoke cigarettes (Martin, Kochanek, Strobino, Guyer, & MacDorman, 2005). Although these reported rates have declined in recent years, they may not reflect exposure early in the pregnancy before women know they are pregnant. For instance, recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2004) reported that over 50% of women of childbearing age who were not using birth control drank alcohol and were, therefore, at risk for pregnancy complicated by fetal risk. Maternal substance use also includes marijuana, “hard drugs” (heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines), and prescription medications, either through medical advice or misuse. As evidence has accumulated about the teratogenic risk associated with such use, professionals and the public have become aware of the need to understand the impact on pregnancy outcomes and children’s development. Initial concerns regarding the presumed, but undocumented, effects of substance exposure on children’s development have given way to a more balanced approach that examines how substances interact with environmental factors to influence children’s development. Information from current studies demonstrates the importance of developing strategies to promote the health and development of exposed children, to implement effective prevention programs, and to avoid the unnecessary anxiety that can stigmatize mothers and children. The knowledge base regarding the effects of prenatal exposure to substances of abuse is growing, often in response to interest by scientists and the support available from federal funding sources. Research on the effects of prenatal exposure to substances of abuse has occurred in response to the scientific awareness of the dangers to children, as when fetal alcohol syndrome was first described in 1973 (Jones and Smith, 1973), and to public health concerns regarding “epidemics” of drug use, such as heroin in the 1960s, and cocaine and crack in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Currently, there is a great deal of attention being paid to the effects of pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco and to methamphetamines. Much of the recent research on the effects of prena
Wide-band modulation of 1.3 mu m InGaAsP buried crescent lasers with iron- and cobalt-doped semi-insulating current blocking layers

The performance characteristics of 1.3- mu m InGaAsP semi-insulating buried-crescent (SIBC) lasers with Fe- and co-doped InP current blocking layers are compared. Threshold currents as low as 10 mA (Fe) and 8 mA (Co) at room temperature, total differential quantum efficiency of 60%, high-temperature operation up to 100 degrees C, high-power output of 42 mW/facet (Fe) and 30 mW/facet (Co), and 3-dB modulation bandwidth of 11 GHz have been achieved. These results indicate that both Fe and Co-doped InP layers grown by low-pressure metalorganic chemical-vapor deposition (LPMOCVD) provide effective current confinement for high-performance semi-insulating buried-crescent lasers (SIBC) lasers. A detailed model based on experimental data for SIBC lasers is also presented for the analysis of intrinsic and parasitic effects on the frequency response of the lasers. The model is then used to design lasers with larger modulation bandwidth. >
The Role of Pollinator Shifts in the Floral Diversification of Iochroma (Solanaceae)

Differences in floral traits among plant species have often been attributed to adaptation to pollinators. We explored the importance of pollinator shifts in explaining floral divergence among 15 species of Iochroma. We examined four continuously varying floral traits: corolla length, nectar reward, display size, and flower color. Pollinator associations were characterized with a continuously varying measure of pollinator importance (the product of visitation and pollen deposition) for four groups of pollinators: hummingbirds, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. A phylogenetic generalized least squares approach was used to estimate correlations between pollinator groups and floral traits across a sample of Bayesian trees using different models of trait evolution. Multivariate analyses were also employed to identify suites of traits associated with each pollinator group. We found that nonphylogenetic models typically fit the data better than phylogenetic models (Brownian motion, Ornstein-Uhlenbeck), and thus results var ied little across trees. Our results indicated that species with high nectar reward and large displays are significantly more likely to be pollinated by hummingbirds and less likely to be pollinated by all groups of insects. Corolla length and flower color did not show any consistently significant associations with pollinator groups. For these two traits, we discuss alternative evolutionary forces, including phylogenetic inertia and community-level factors.
Attitudes of African-American Baptist ministers toward AIDS

Results from a survey of the attitudes of African-American Baptist ministers (N = 92) toward acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) revealed that most of the clergy did not perceive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as being a significant risk to their communities. Ministers who had previous HIV prevention/education training felt more comfortable counseling a person with AIDS and were more likely to sponsor workshops and training sessions for their members than were ministers who had not had previous HIV training. Ministers who held professional or college degrees were more likely to not believe that AIDS was a punishment by God and that people with AIDS deserved their illness than were their counterparts with less formal education. Older ministers tended to hold more pejorative attitudes toward homosexuals, HIV, and individuals infected with the virus than did their younger peers.
Development of a Shock & Vibration Spec for 300mm Wafer AMHS Handling

In this work, a technique is presented for establishing and verifying safe vibration and shock limits for preventing cross-slotting of 300mm wafers in FOUPs during AMHS handling. This technique includes establishing the safe limits using a shaker table, calibrating these limits for a particular portable accelerometer, and then using this portable accelerometer to check an AMHS for compliance to these limits
Statistical Overfitting and Backtest Performance

In the field of mathematical finance, a “backtest” is the usage of historical market data to assess the performance of a proposed trading strategy. It is a relatively simple matter for a present-day computer system to explore thousands, millions or even billions of variations of a proposed strategy, and pick the best performing variant as the “optimal” strategy “in sample” (i.e., on the input dataset). Unfortunately, such an “optimal” strategy often performs very poorly “out of sample” (i.e., on another dataset), because the parameters of the invest strategy have been overfit to the in-sample data, a situation known as “backtest overfitting”.While the mathematics of backtest overfitting has been examined in several recent theoretical studies, here we pursue a more tangible analysis of this problem, in the form of an online simulator tool. Given a input random walk time series, the tool develops an “optimal” variant of a simple strategy by exhaustively exploring all integer parameter values among a handful of parameters. That “optimal” strategy is overfit, since by definition a random walk is unpredictable. Then the tool tests the resulting “optimal” strategy on a second random walk time series. In most runs using our online tool, the “optimal” strategy derived from the first time series performs poorly on the second time series, demonstrating how hard it is not to overfit a backtest. We offer this online tool to facilitate further research in this area.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway mediates DBP-maf-induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Vitamin D-binding protein-macrophage-activating factor (DBP-maf) is derived from serum vitamin D binding protein (DBP) by selective deglycosylation during inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of DBP-maf on RAW 264.7 macrophages and the underlying intracellular signal transduction pathways. DBP-maf increased proapoptotic caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities and induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 cells. However, DBP, the precursor to DBP-maf did not induce apoptosis in these cells. Cell cycle analysis of DBP-maf-treated RAW 264.7 cells revealed growth arrest with accumulation of cells in sub-G(0)/G(1) phase. We also investigated the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in the DBP-maf-induced apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells. DBP-maf increased the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK1/2, while it decreased the ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Treatment with the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB202190, attenuated DBP-maf-induced apoptosis. PD98059, a MEK specific inhibitor, did not show a significant inhibition of apoptosis induced by DBP-maf. Taken together, these results suggest that the p38 MAPK pathway plays a crucial role in DBP-maf-mediated apoptosis of macrophages. Our studies indicate that, during inflammation DBP-maf may function positively by causing death of the macrophages when activated macrophages are no longer needed at the site of inflammation. In summary, we report for the first time that DBP-maf induces apoptosis in macrophages via p38 and JNK1/2 pathway.
Three‐dimensional structure of a fluorescein–Fab complex crystallized in 2‐methyl‐2,4‐pentanediol

The crystal structure of a fluorescein-Fab (4-4-20) complex was determined at 2.7 A resolution by molecular replacement methods. The starting model was the refined 2.7 A structure of unliganded Fab from an autoantibody (BV04-01) with specificity for single-stranded DNA. In the 4-4-20 complex fluorescein fits tightly into a relatively deep slot formed by a network of tryptophan and tyrosine side chains. The planar xanthonyl ring of the hapten is accommodated at the bottom of the slot while the phenylcarboxyl group interfaces with solvent. Tyrosine 37 (light chain) and tryptophan 33 (heavy chain) flank the xanthonyl group and tryptophan 101 (light chain) provides the floor of the combining site. Tyrosine 103 (heavy chain) is situated near the phenyl ring of the hapten and tyrosine 102 (heavy chain) forms part of the boundary of the slot. Histidine 31 and arginine 39 of the light chain are located in positions adjacent to the two enolic groups at opposite ends of the xanthonyl ring, and thus account for neutralization of one of two negative charges in the haptenic dianion. Formation of an enol-arginine ion pair in a region of low dielectric constant may account for an incremental increase in affinity of 2-3 orders of magnitude in the 4-4-20 molecule relative to other members of an idiotypic family of monoclonal antifluorescyl antibodies. The phenyl carboxyl group of fluorescein appears to be hydrogen bonded to the phenolic hydroxyl group of tyrosine 37 of the light chain. A molecule of 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD), trapped in the interface of the variable domains just below the fluorescein binding site, may be partly responsible for the decrease in affinity for the hapten in MPD.
The impact of speeding up critical sections with data prefetching and forwarding

While shared-memory multiprocessing offers a simple model for process synchronization, actual synchronization may be expensive. Indeed, processors may have to wait for a long time to acquire the lock of a critical section. In addition, a processor may have to stall for a long time waiting for all of its pending accesses to complete before releasing the lock. To address this problem, we target well-known optimization techniques to specifically speed-up accesses to critical sections. We reduce the time taken by critical sections by applying data prefetching and forwarding to minimize the number of misses inside these sections. In addition, we prefetch and forward data in exclusive mode to reduce the stall time before lock release. Our evaluation shows that a simple prefetching algorithm is able to speed-up parallel applications significantly at a very low cost. With this optimization, five Splash applications run 20% faster on average, while one of them runs 52% faster. We also conclude that more complicated, forward-based optimizations are not justified.
Hard magnetic two-phase Co-Cu thin films

The magnetic properties of sputtered films of 25 Co-75 Cu and 50 Co-50 Cu before and after annealing were investigated. In the as-sputtered state the films exhibit the structure of a metastable fcc solid solution. Annealing at 500 to 700°C causes decomposition into two phases, Cu and fcc 89 Co-11 Cu. The decomposition supposedly occurs by heterogeneous nucleation at the grain boundaries, and growth by grain boundary diffusion. The 89 Co-11 Cu phase exists in the form of small particles with magnetic single domain behavior. The films have coercivities up to 280 Oe. Squareness ratios between 0.7 and 0.9 were found. No strain sensitivity of the magnetic properties could be detected. This material is regarded to be suitable for magnetic recording.
Food storage and carrion feeding in the fiddler crab Uca lactea

Food hoarding is an adaptive strategy that enhances survival and reproductive success in food-scarce environments. It has been assumed that food hoarders, especially vertebrates, have the ability to cache food based on their current requirements and expected reproductive success. The present study provides empirical evidence that food storage in aquatic invertebrates is dependent on the availability of food and semilunar intertidal rhythms. The white-clawed fiddler crab Uca lactea, which inhabits food-scarce sandy mudflats, usually feeds on organic materials in sediment and occa- sionally on animal carrion, including conspecifics. This food is brought by the fiddler crabs into their burrows, presumably to be consumed during flood tides or heavy rains when the crabs cannot emerge to feed at the surface. When food was supplemented in the sediment every other day, females tended to store food-enriched sediment into their burrows. This behavior peaked around spring tides, when females were reproductively most active (i.e. mate-searching and mating). These results suggest that females may increase their reproductive effort by storing food.
The economic growth debate: What some economists have learned but many have not

One thing economists should have learned from the economic growth debate is the importance of defining the term “growth.” By “growth” I mean quantitative increase in the scale of the physical dimensions of the economy; i.e., the rate of flow of matter and energy through the economy (from the environment as raw material and back to the environment as waste), and the stock of human bodies and artifacts. By “development” I mean the qualitative improvement in the structure, design, and composition of physical stocks and flows, that result from greater knowledge, both of technique and of purpose. Simply put, growth is quantitative increase in physical dimensions; development is qualitative improvement in non-physical characteristics. An economy can therefore develop without growing, just as the planet Earth has developed (evolved) without growing. Neoclassical growth models notwithstanding, there is good evidence that neither the Earth’s surface nor the flux of solar energy grows at a rate equal to the rate of interest! In fact they seem not to grow at all. Yet qualitative evolution occurred and continues to occur. Two general classes of limits to “growth” in the above-defined sense can be further distinguished: biophysical limits and ethicosocial limits. In both cases it is growth, not development, that is limited. There may or may not exist limits to development, but that is another topic. Standard neoclassical economics was built on the assumption that the economy is far from both limits; i.e., that it is always biophysically possible and ethicosocially desirable for aggregate product to grow. As Abramowitz [l] put it, echoing Pigou:
Enhanced differentiation of retinal progenitor cells using microfabricated topographical cues

Due to the retina’s inability to replace photoreceptors lost during retinal degeneration, significant interest has been placed in methods to implant replacement cells. Polymer scaffolds are increasingly being studied as vehicles for cellular delivery to degenerated retinas. Previously, we fabricated poly(methyl methacrylate) thin film scaffolds that increased survival and integration of implanted retinal progenitor cells (RPCs). Additionally, these scaffolds minimized the trauma and cellular response associated with implantation of foreign bodies into mouse eyes. Here, we demonstrate that biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) thin film scaffolds can be fabricated with integrated microtopography. Microfabricated topography in a PCL thin film enhanced the attachment and organization of RPCs compared to unstructured surfaces. Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction we also observed that attachment to microtopography induced cellular differentiation. RPCs grown on PCL thin films exhibited an increase in gene expression for the photoreceptor markers recoverin and rhodopsin, an increase in the glial and Muller cell marker GFAP, and a decrease in SOX2 gene expression (a marker for undifferentiated progenitor cells) compared to cells grown on unmodified tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS).
The nature, distribution, and origin of gas hydrate in the Chile Triple Junction region

Abstract A bottom simulating reflector (BSR) is regionally distributed throughout much of the Chile Triple Junction (CTJ) region. Downhole temperature and logging data collected during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 141 suggest that the seismic BSR is generated by low seismic velocities associated with the presence of a few percent free gas in a ∼ 10 m thick zone just beneath the hydrate-bearing zone. The data also indicate that the temperature and pressure at the BSR best corresponds to the seawater/methane hydrate stability field. The origin of the large amounts of methane required to generate the hydrates is, however, problematic. Low total organic carbon contents and low alkalinities argue against significant in situ biogenic methanogenesis, but additional input from thermogenic sources also appears to be precluded. Increasing thermal gradients, associated with the approach of the spreading ridge system, may have caused the base of the hydrate stability field to migrate 300 m upwards in the sediments. We propose that the upward migration of the base of the stability field has concentrated originally widely dispersed hydrate patches into the more continuous hydrate body we see today. The methane can be concentrated if the gas hydrates can form from dissolved methane, transported into the hydrate zone via diffusion or fluid advection. A strong gradient may exist in dissolved methane concentration across the BSR leading to the steady reabsorbtion of the free gas zone during the upward migration of the BSR even in the absence of fluid advection.
Laser-Phase-Insensitive Coherent Control of Photoion Product States In 2-photon vs. 2-Photon Ionization of Atomic Barium

The use of coherent control techniques in atomic and molecular processes offers new possibilities for controlling the outcome of optical interactions, as well as new insights into fundamental interactions between laser fields and atomic and molecular systems. These processes are based on the explicit exploitation of the coherence properties of laser fields and the atomic and molecular interactions they induce. The advances we have witnessed over the past several years have been exciting indeed, and have continued the hope that laser phase might be the key necessary to open new doors of physics, chemistry, and applications based on these principles. Since the expertise of the participants of this workshop is so widely varied, we will start our discussion of coherent control with a brief review of the field and a general introduction to this new class of laser physics. We will include in this introduction a discussion of the fundamental principles of coherent control, and outline some of the experimental difficulties one might expect to encounter when observing coherent control processes in the laboratory. We will then describe in detail a series of investigations we have carried out in which we have observed the strong capability for controlling the photoionization products of atomic barium using the interference between two different two-photon ionization processes. The results we will describe are insenstive to the phase of the laser fields, and therefore offer a great simplification in the experimental techniques required to observe or use this interference.
Phosphorus Model of Muskegon Wastewater System

A mathematical model is used to project the phosphorus concentration in soil solution for several durations of wastewater application at the Muskegon County land application wastewater treatment system. Results, under three different hydraulic conditions, are presented for the two principal soil types found on the project. The studies indicated that no problems in phosphorus removal should be encountered with application rate of 5 cm/week. However, management techniques may be required to achieve the design criteria for application rates of 10 cm/week.
Pitch Canker in California Mediterranean Conifer Systems

Fusarium circinatum, the cause of pitch canker in pines, is a recent introduction to California, most likely on seeds from the southeastern United States. The most common symptom of pitch canker is branch dieback that results from a lesion, usually within one or two whorls of a branch tip, that girdles and kills the affected branch distal to the point of infection. The success of F. circinatum as a pathogen of pines in coastal California can be attributed to: (1) an abundance of highly susceptible host trees, (2) a climate that provides conditions suitable for infection throughout much of the year, and (3) a relationship between the pathogen and native insects that can transport the fungus and create infection courts. Systemic induced resistance (SIR) to pitch canker has been documented in P. radiata. Trees in areas where pitch canker was well established were significantly less susceptible to the disease than trees in areas where pitch canker was a more recent occurrence. SIR may be an important part of the explanation for stabilization of pitch canker in Monterey pine forests and can help to explain, how long-lived perennials have survived infection by parasitic microbes that have generation times orders of magnitude shorter than their host plant.
Spain -- Sources of State Practice in International Law

This chapter describes treaty formation in Spain, and addresses issues related to treaty succession, ratification and implementation. It also provides an annotated bibliography of sources for researching treaties and state practice in Spain.
DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS

Timely recognition and management of risk factors in acute pancreatitis can prevent catastrophic outcomes.
The Quixotic Search for Consensus on the U.S. Supreme Court: A Cross-Judicial Empirical Analysis of the Rehnquist Court Justices

I n this first systematic and extensive application of cross-judicial methodology, we examine the members of the Rehnquist Court (1986-94 terms) with prior appellate court experience to discern any correlation with their Supreme Court behavior in terms of nonconsensual opinion writing and voting. We find that they become less consensual as justices than they were as judges in the lower court. Importantly, this finding holds after controlling for such institutional differences between the two court levels as size, ideology, case types, stare decisis, and norms. Consistent with the neoinstitutionalperspective, we surmise that this behavior change is due to the modem Supreme Court being unique, a court on which the members feel it is desirable, necessary, and possible to express policy disagreements with the majority via separate opinions and votes. W~~hen John Marshall was appointed chief justice
The Kirton Adaption Innovation Inventory, Faking, and Social Desirability: A Replication and Extension

Data from 138 college students showed that responses to the Kirton Adaption Innovation Inventory are unaffected by social desirability (r = .03). A subsample of 47 students also completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory Lie scale. The low correlation reported by Kirton for these two instruments was successfully replicated.
Community assembly in temperate forest birds: habitat filtering, interspecific interactions and priority effects

Recent attempts to understand the processes governing community assembly have increasingly focused on patterns of phylogenetic relatedness and functional similarity among co-existing species. Considerations of the species pool, the number and identity of functional traits and the metrics used to identify patterns have come under scrutiny as possible influences on the detection of non-random patterns. Most mechanistic explanations of community assembly based on functional and phylogenetic approaches rely on deterministic explanations, while ignoring the role of stochastic processes and historical contingency, despite the prominent historical role of both types of explanations of species coexistence. We evaluated the phylogenetic and functional structure of 20 temperate forest bird assemblages in northeastern North America. We compared three approaches for characterizing the functional structure of assemblages. Regardless of approach, assemblages were generally no different than expected by chance. In contrast, phylogenetic structures of bird assemblages were overdispersed, clumped or consistent with random assembly depending on the site. Nonetheless, we found little evidence for differences in phylogenetic structure arising as a consequence of the identity of the species pool. We identified a strong relationship between the proportion of residents and phylogenetic relatedness that was unrelated to the species richness of assemblages. Our results suggest that different assembly mechanisms may structure resident and migratory subsets of temperate breeding bird communities. Resident assemblages are likely structured by interspecific interactions and habitat filtering prior to arrival of migrants. In contrast, the composition of migrant assemblages may be a consequence of priority effects in which the presence and abundance of residents and earliest arriving species affect the ability of subsequent migrants to colonize sites. This phenomenon enhances the likelihood of multiple alternative community structures in similar environments.
Determination of lead content in food by ID-ICP-MS

Objective:An accurate method was developed for the determination of trace amount of lead in food samples.Methods:Isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ID-ICP-MS) method was employed for the determination of lead in food samples of FAPAS.Experimental parameters were optimized.Results:Under optimized conditions,lead in three types of FAPAS samples(Vegetable Puree,Infant Cereal,Chili Powder) was accurately determined using the developed method.Influence of the matrix effect,signal fluctuation and instrument instability were eliminated.In addition,the effects of the loss and non-quantitative separation of lead in the sample pretreatment were also overcome.Conclusion:Isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is an accurate and precise method for the determination of trance amount of lead in food samples.
Efficacy and safety of intravenous esmolol and diltiazem for controlling rapid atrial arrhythmias

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous esmolol and diltiazem for controlling rapid atrial arrhythmias. Methods A total of 65 patients with rapid atrial arrhythmias were randomized to receive, intravenous esmolol(n=30) and diltiazem(n=35),respectively.Result The total efficacy rate were 83% and 85%,with a mean decrease in heart rate by 29.3% and 27.6% compared to baseline and mean response times were (10.0±3.9)min and (10.0±3.9)min, respectively. Conclusion Two drugs are all effective,rapidly and safe in acutely slowing of rapid ventricular rate in patients with rapid atrial arrhythmias.
Visualizing toll-like receptor-dependent phagosomal dynamics in murine dendritic cells using live cell microscopy.

Dendritic cells are professional phagocytes that are highly specialized to process and present antigens from internalized particles to prime naive T cells. To achieve their functions, the phagocytic machinery and membrane dynamics of these cells have been adapted to optimize presentation of antigens from phagocytosed particles that bear ligands of pattern recognition receptors, such as toll-like receptors (TLRs), and that are thus perceived of as “dangerous”. We have recently shown that phagosomes that are engaged in TLR signaling in dendritic cells emit numerous long tubules that facilitate content exchange with other signaling phagosomes and favor presentation of particle-derived antigens. This chapter describes the methods used to study the formation of these tubules, which we refer to as “phagotubules”, by live cell imaging of mouse dendritic cells after the phagocytosis of fluorescent latex beads. We also describe methods to assess the effect of TLR signaling on this process.
Evaluating the appropriateness of electronic information resources for learning.

Objectives: Current US medical students have begun to rely on electronic information repositories—such as UpToDate, AccessMedicine, and Wikipedia—for their pre-clerkship medical education. However, it is unclear whether these resources are appropriate for this level of learning due to factors involving information quality, level of evidence, and the requisite knowledgebase. This study evaluated appropriateness of electronic information resources from a novel perspective: amount of mental effort learners invest in interactions with these resources and effects of the experienced mental effort on learning. Methods: Eighteen first-year medical students read about three unstudied diseases in the abovementioned resources (a total of fifty-four observations). Their eye movement characteristics (i.e., fixation duration, fixation count, visit duration, and task-evoked pupillary response) were recorded and used as psychophysiological indicators of the experienced mental effort. Post reading, students’ learning was assessed with multiple-choice tests. Eye metrics and test results constituted quantitative data analyzed according to the repeated Latin square design. Students’ perceptions of interacting with the information resources were also collected. Participants’ feedback during semi-structured interviews constituted qualitative data and was reviewed, transcribed, and open coded for emergent themes. Results: Compared to AccessMedicine and Wikipedia, UpToDate was associated with significantly higher values of eye metrics, suggesting learners experienced higher mental effort. No statistically significant difference between the amount of mental effort and learning outcomes was found. More so, descriptive statistical analysis of the knowledge test scores suggested similar levels of learning regardless of the information resource used. Conclusions: Judging by the learning outcomes, all three information resources were found appropriate for learning. UpToDate, however, when used alone, may be less appropriate for first-year medical students’ learning as it does not fully address their information needs and is more demanding in terms of cognitive resources invested.