cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reading Poverty in America

In this book Shannon’s major premise remains the same as his 1998 Reading Poverty: Poverty has everything to do with American public schooling–how it is theorized, how it is organized, and how it runs. Competing ideological representations of poverty underlie school assumptions about intelligence, character, textbook content, lesson formats, national standards, standardized achievement tests, and business/school partnerships and frame our considerations of each. In this new edition, Shannon provides an update of the ideological struggles to name and respond to poverty through the design, content, and pedagogy of reading education, showing how, through their representations and framing, advocates of liberal, conservative, and neoliberal interpretations attempt the ideological practice of teaching the public who they are, what they should know, and what they should value about equality, civic society, and reading. For those who decline these offers, Shannon presents radical democratic interpretations of the relationship between poverty and reading education that position the poor, the public, students, and teachers as agents in redistribution of economic, cultural, and political capital in the United States.
CT-ER-Dose and Cost and What to Do About It

It had to happen. First there was the CT revolution. We are still in it. It started in the mid-1990s when CT was then thought to be at the end of its developmental skein with its limits seemingly defined and appreciated, especially when compared with exciting advances disclosed with regularity in MR. But unanticipated yet substantiated advances in CT, particularly the advent of multidetector units, revitalized CT putting it at the forefront of radiology with respect to clinical versatility and widespread adoption. MDCT generated faster scans which enabled studies to be done on the young, the enfeebled and the injured. Not only anatomy could be discerned. Now physiological processes could be assessed and even quantitatively evaluated. Moreover, vascular investigations could be accomplished with venous infusions producing information as relevant as could be done intrusively, arterially with conventional interventional procedures.
Simple is not easy

I review and challenge the views on simplicity and its role in linguistics put forward by Ludlow (The philosophy of generative linguistics, 2011). In particular, I criticize the claim that simplicity—in the sense pertinent to science—is nothing more than ease of use or “user-friendliness”, motivated by economy of (cognitive) labor. I argue that Ludlow’s discussion fails to do justice to the diversity of factors that are relevant to simplicity considerations. This, in turn, leads to the neglect of crucial cases in which the rationale for simplification is unmistakably epistemic, as well as instances where simplicity is part of the content of substantive, empirical hypotheses. I illustrate these points with examples from the history of generative linguistics, such as: (a) the shaping influence exerted by simplicity, via its involvement in the notion of “linguistically significant generalization”, (b) its methodological and substantive contribution to the goal of explanatory adequacy, and (c) its central role in the Minimalist Program’s search “beyond explanatory adequacy”.
Physician interpretation and quantitative measures of electrocardiographic ventricular fibrillation waveform.

Objectives. The characteristics of the ventricular fibrillation (VF) waveform may influence treatment decisions and the likelihood of therapeutic success. However, assessment of VF as being fine or coarse and the distinction between fine VF and asystole are largely subjective. The authors sought to determine the level of agreement among physicians for interpretation of varying VF waveforms, and to compare these subjective interpretations with quantitative measures. Methods. Six-second segments of waveform from LIFEPAK 300 units were collected. Fifty segments, including 45 VF and five ventricular tachycardia (VT) distracters, were graphed to simulate rhythm strips. These waveforms were quantitatively described using scaling exponent, root-mean-squared amplitude, and centroid frequency. Thirty-two emergency medicine residents were asked to interpret the arrhythmias as VT, “coarse” VF, “fine” VF, or asystole. Their responses were compared with the qantitative measures. Interphysician agreement was assessed w...
Understanding Mature Customers in the Restaurant Business: Inferences from a Nationwide Survey

Summary The study reported here examined die differences between intangible service experiences of mature and younger customers in quick-service, casual, and fine-dining restaurants. The authors used ten unpleasant service experiences to identify the significant experiences that can impede satisfaction in three types of restaurants. No unpleasant service experiences were significant for either mature or young customers. However, in the casual dining restaurants, the (1) lack of product knowledge and (2) inattentive servers created significantly unpleasant service experiences for mature customers. In the quick service restaurant, the (1) lack of product knowledge, (2) inattentive servers, (3) rudeness, and (4) lack of cleanliness produced significantly unpleasant service experiences which in turn impeded the satisfaction for the mature customer. The reasons for these findings are discussed, and the authors suggest that the restaurant industry pay more attention to the mature population in order to increase...
Interspecies Pharmacokinetic Scaling and the Prediction of Human Pharmacokinetics Using Animal and Cell Models

The allometric scaling is an empirical method developed based on cross-species similarities in anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, with a power function correlating physiological parameters with body size (Y = aWb). This method has been used successfully to describe a number of physiological and anatomical properties and has been applied to the projection of human pharmacokinetic (PK) for small-molecule drugs and therapeutic proteins. However, for most small-molecule drugs with high cross-species variability in hepatic metabolism, this method may not work well in the extrapolation of hepatic metabolic clearance from laboratory animals to humans. To improve the predictability of metabolic clearance in humans, several modified scaling methods using (i) maximum life span potential (MLP), (ii) brain weight (BRW), or (iii) liver blood flow (LBF) as a correction factor, or (iv) integration of the in vitro data into the power function by normalizing the in vivo clearance with in vitro metabolic clearance as correction factors have been recommended and tested. These modified scaling methods have improved the accuracy of prediction to some extent and are reviewed in this chapter. In recent years, there is an increasing interest in physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) and cell-based pharmacokinetic (CBPK) pharmacokinetic modeling. Both approaches are developed based on the similar assumption that PK properties could be scaled up from animals to humans according to fundamental physiological principles. These advanced methods allow the integration of input information from different sources (e.g., physiological and physicochemical properties of a drug molecule, permeability and binding affinity from in vitro experiments, PK profiles from animal tests and clinical trials). In addition to the prediction of PK parameters (e.g., clearance, volume of distribution), the PBPK and CBPK models could also predict the concentration–time profiles in human blood as well as in tissues associated with efficacy and/or toxicity. The utility of PBPK and CBPK modeling goes beyond the prediction of “first-in-human trial,” as it has the potential to be continuously updated with new information (physiological and drug related). Some of the tools and techniques employed in PBPK and CBPK modeling are discussed in the second half of this chapter. Keywords: interspecies scaling; prediction of human pharmacokinetics; binding to subcellular components; cell-based pharmacokinetic model; modelling and simulation
Improving the iteration bound of finite state machines

A description is given of a general approach to improve beyond the given iteration bound the speed of an arbitrary synchronous finite-state machine (FSM) or a discrete-time finite-state Markov process. The methods proposed can be implemented with pipelined arrays of simple hardware modules, achieving a throughput rate on the order of the reciprocal of a single-gate delay or latch setup time, whichever is limiting, at the expense of latency. Combining the pipelined arrays and modules in parallel further increases the throughput, which is theoretically unbounded. The implemented concurrent FSM is fully efficient and has minimal overhead, where the complexity grows only linearly with the speedup. The approach is practical for FSMs with a small number of states, or other special structures. >
Effects of spaceflight on rat pituitary cell function

The secretory capacity of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) cells prepared from rats flown in space on the 12.5-day mission of COSMOS 1887 and the 14-day mission of COSMOS 2044 was evaluated in several postflight tests on Earth. The results showed statistically significant and repeatable decrements in hormone release, especially when biologic (rather than immunologic) assays were used in the tests. Significant and repeatable intracellular changes in GH cells from the flight animals were also found; most important were increases in the GH-specific cytoplasmic staining intensities and cytoplasmic areas occupied by hormone. Tail suspension of rats for 14 days, an established model for mimicking musculoskeletal changes in rats flown in space, resulted in some changes in GH and PRL cell function that were similar to those from animals flown in space. Our results add to a growing body of data that describe deconditioning of physiological systems in spaceflight and provide insights into the time frame that might be required for readaptation of the GH/PRL cell system on return to Earth.
Urinary Claudin-2 Measurements as a Predictor of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Pilot Study.

Background: Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) affects 5-10% of NICU patients where initially patients may have only nonspecific clinical findings. A noninvasive tool for detection would aid in diagnosis. Increased urinary claudins have been associated with active adult inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Neonatal intestinal tissue samples were obtained from patients with and without NEC. Immunofluorescence analysis of claudin-2 was performed on the intestinal tissue. Thirty two urine samples were collected from 6 NICU patients. Proteins were extracted and urinary claudin-2 expression was measured using Western Blot Analysis. All sample concentrations were normalized to urinary creatinine. Differences were analyzed with ANOVA or Student’s T-test. Findings were correlated to the patient’s clinical status. Results: Neonatal intestinal immunofluorescence analysis revealed that claudin-2 is present in healthy intestinal epithelium and is decreased in NEC intestinal tissue (p=0.0001). Of the six patients evaluated, three patients had NEC. All 3 patients with NEC had spikes in urinary claudin-2 levels (p<0.001, p<0.001, p 0.0598 respectively). Spikes did not appear to correlate with other etiologies of neonatal sepsis, medication use or need for mechanical ventilation. Levels during active NEC were almost twice that of NEC-free periods (p<0.0001). Conclusion: A tool for early detection would facilitate early intervention and potential prevention of severe NEC. Preliminary findings indicate that urinary claudin-2 may represent a potential biomarker for NEC worth further investigation.
The human hippocampus contributes to both the recollection and familiarity components of recognition memory

Despite a substantial body of work comprising theoretical modeling, the effects of medial temporal lobe lesions, and electrophysiological signal analysis, the role of the hippocampus in recognition memory remains controversial. In particular, it is not known whether the hippocampus exclusively supports recollection or both recollection and familiarity—the two latent cognitive processes theorized to underlie recognition memory. We studied recognition memory in a large group of patients undergoing intracranial electroencephalographic (iEEG) monitoring for epilepsy. By measuring high-frequency activity (HFA)—a signal associated with precise spatiotemporal properties—we show that hippocampal activity during recognition predicted recognition memory performance and tracked both recollection and familiarity. Through the lens of dual-process models, these results indicate that the hippocampus supports both the recollection and familiarity processes.
An experimental evaluation of the descriptive validity of lottery-dependent utility theory

This article compares the performance of the expected utility (EU) and lottery-dependent expected utility (LDEU) models in predicting the actual choices of experimental subjects among risky options. In the process, we present two approaches for calibrating the LDEU model for an individual decision maker. The results indicate that while LDEU exhibits a higher potential for correctly predicting choice, the version of the model calibrated by indifference judgments does not outperform EU. We suggest a functional form for the parametric functions that defines the LDEU model, and discuss ways in which this function can be incorporated into choice-based assessment approaches to improve predictions.
Solid-State Structural Analysis of the “Naked” Isodicyclopentadienide Anion

The crystallographically determined structural features of Na(isodiCp)(15-crown-5) and [K-cryptand(2.2.2)]+(isodiCp)- are compared to those of the corresponding Li(TMEDA) complex and the sandwich dimer involving Li+ (cocrystallized with Li(12-crown-4)2). The features of the potassium salt are distinctively different from those of its congeners. As a consequence of the encapsulation of the K+ ion by the cryptand, no interaction occurs with the isodiCp anion, which is “naked”. Notwithstanding the complete dissociation that exists, the stand-alone isodiCp anion exhibits appreciable folding about the bond that it shares with the norbornyl framework. The dihedral angle is 8.3(1)° in a downward direction away from the exo surface. This unrivaled opportunity to observe the free isodicyclopentadienide anion is shown to be in agreement with the results of HF−SCF calculations.
A severe illness associated with EBV infection of T and NK cells

There has been much uncertainty regarding the identity of chronic active EBV infection and where it fits into the spectrum of EBV-associated disorders. Clinical observations and laboratory studies had defined it on the basis of 3 features: severe illness that begins as a primary EBV infection or
Low measured auto-positive end-expiratory pressure during mechanical ventilation of patients with severe asthma: Hidden auto-positive end-expiratory pressure

ObjectiveTo describe the occurrence of low measured auto-end-expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP) during mechanical ventilation of patients with severe asthma.DesignObservational clinical study.SettingMedical intensive care unit of a university-affiliated county hospital.PatientsFour mechanically ventila
Electronic model for superconductivity.

We consider a model of strongly correlated electrons that exhibits supcrconductivity. It differs from the Hubbard model by nearest-neighbor interactions. We find the ground-state wave function (in one, two, or three dimensions) and show it to be superconducting for attractive and moderately repulsive on-site interaction
Economics at the FTC: The Google-DoubleClick Merger, Resale Price Maintenance, Mortgage Disclosures, and Credit Scoring in Auto Insurance

Economics at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) supports both the competition and consumer protection missions of the agency. In this year’s essay we discuss competition activity with a summary of our work on the Google-DoubleClick merger and recent activity on resale price maintenance, an area in which FTC economists had done significant prior research. On the consumer policy front, we discuss our study of ways to improve mortgage disclosures to facilitate consumer shopping and competition. Finally, we discuss our study of the effects of credit scoring on prices paid for auto insurance with a focus on the effects of scores on different racial and ethnic groups.
Mouse embryonic cardiac metabolism under euglycemic and hypoglycemic conditions.

Children of mothers with insulin-dependent diabetic mothers (IDDM) have a 2–4 times higher incidence of congenital birth defects as compared to the general population, including cardiac abnormalities, of unknown etiology. Using rodent embryos to explore potential teratogenic factors of the altered IDDM metabolism, it has been shown that exposure to hypoglycemia in vitro results in a variety of defects, including cardiac malformations. Since pregnant diabetics experience frequent episodes of low blood glucose, it was hypothesized that hypoglycemia may play a role in the generation of heart abnormalities seen in children born to IDDM mothers. Several studies have indicated that during embryogenesis the heart is dependent on glucose for energy production such that, under hypoglycemic conditions, insufficient amounts of ATP may be produced resulting in abnormalities. To test this hypothesis, cardiac ATP content was monitored in D10–D12 (plug day = D1) hearts. In addition, the contribution of glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to ATP production was monitored. D10 hearts exposed to euglycemic control conditions were found to be primarily dependent on glycolysis for ATP production from glucose before switching to the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation for energy production from this substrate on D11. Exposure to hypoglycemia did not alter the timing of this maturation process or deplete cardiac ATP content. However, cardiac lactate levels increased approximately twofold in the presence of hypoglycemia on D10. Since increased concentrations of lactate are harmful to many tissues and have been shown to be detrimental to the adult rat heart, lactic acidosis may explain the origin of cardiac defects produced by hypoglycemia, and not a deficiency of ATP. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Clinical Comparison of Tolerance to Elemental or Polymeric Enteral Feedings in the Postoperative Patient E. G. FORD, S. F. HULL, M. JENNINGS, R. J. ANDRASSY Journal of the American College of Nutrition 11:11–16, 1992

Controversy exists in the literature regarding the optimal enteral formula for use in the initial postoperative period: presently, clinicians use either an elemental formula because it is easiest to digest or a polymeric formula because it more closely approximates a normal diet. The authors of this study compared differences in gastrointestinal tolerance, nitrogen balance, and blood chemistry values in postoperative surgery patients randomly assigned to receive either an elemental diet (Vivonex TEN) or a polymeric diet (Osmolite HN).Thirty consecutive patients between the ages of 19 and 71 years undergoing abdominal operations with concomitant placement of a feeding jejunostomy were included in the study. Pancreatic cancer (n = 5) and gunshot wound to the abdomen (n = 4) were the two primary indications for surgery. The remaining patients had a variety of upper gastrointestinal, biliary, hepatic, and pancreatic disorders and intestinal perforation. Tube feeding was initiated with .5 kcal/mL at 50 mL/h on...
Approximate Green's functions and a boundary element method for electro-elastic analyses of active materials

Abstract A boundary element method (BEM) for the analysis of two-dimensional, time independent problems of linear electro-elasticity is presented. Emphasis is given to the derivation of representation formulas and fundamental solutions as well as to the construction of an efficient numerical algorithm. The method is particularly suitable for studying the behavior of active materials such as electrostrictive, ferroelectric and piezoelectric ceramics. Two numerical examples with direct impact on the structural safety and reliability of piezoceramics are provided to demonstrate the virtues of the new BEM.
Experimental determination of the valid time range for Kerr electro-optic measurements in transformer oil stressed by high-voltage pulses

Knowledge on the electric field distribution in an insulating liquid is helpful for the improvement of its electrical breakdown strength. Kerr electro-optic field mapping measurements are taken in the present work to measure the electric field and space charge distributions between parallel-plate electrodes in transformer oil, a low Kerr constant dielectric liquid. With the use of a high-sensitivity CCD camera, we can directly record the light signal variation due to the electric field induced birefringence, while traditional Kerr electro-optic measurements with transformer oil needed ac modulation and could not work under high voltage pulses. Our experimental setting is a linear polariscope (without wave plates) with crossed polarizers. When there is no electric field in the gap, there should be no transmitted light in principle. However, weak light signal can be registered by the CCD camera with single photon detection capability. By increasing the output power of the pulsed laser, we can make this `leaked' light intensity (zero-field level) higher than the noise level (environment light fluctuation, camera internal error, etc) and thus distinguish the two. The transmitted light intensity will be even higher when high voltage is applied across the gap. Differentiating the light intensities with and without high voltage, we can evaluate the corresponding electric field at each pixel in the gap. The pulsed laser is triggered with various delays from the start of the high voltage pulses (pulse duration of 20 ms, rise time of 250 μs, and peak voltage of 30 kV). The experiment results and analysis will be presented in this paper. We find that, there exists a time range beyond which the mapped electric field distribution is no more accurate. This is due to the disturbance of flow induced by field stress or current heating. The flow disturbance will break the validity of Kerr electro-optic measurement principle in which no such effect is considered. An extreme example is that even when the high voltage pulse has already passed (e.g. 25 ms delay), the detected light intensity is still several times higher than expected.
Sensitivity of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall and its interannual variation to model time step

Abstract The sensitivity of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) and its interannual variation (IAV) to model time step is investigated using NCAR-Community Atmosphere Model version 3 (CAM3). A set of multiyear numerical experiments is performed using the atmospheric model inter-comparison project (AMIP) protocol with observed sea surface temperature (SST). The default value of time step for 64 × 128 horizontal resolution with semi-Lagrangian dynamical core is 60 min. The model overestimates the mean and underestimates the standard deviation. The mean and standard deviation of ISMR systematically decrease with decrease of time step size. With respect to observations, the mean becomes more reasonable but standard deviation becomes less reasonable. There is a decrease in precipitation over the Saudi Arabia, Maritime Continent, and northwestern Arabian Sea with decrease in time step, while over the Eastern Indian Ocean, Eastern Arabian Sea, and Eastern Bay of Bengal there is an increase in precipitation. The pattern correlation of precipitation with observation systematically increases with decrease of time step. In regard to the IAV of ISMR, simulation with 20 min time step outperforms the other time steps i.e. 60, 40, 30, and 05 min. When it is decreased to 20 min, the model bias in precipitation climatology is reduced and the low-level westerly jet over the Indian peninsular becomes more realistic. There is an overall improvement in the climatology of rainfall and winds in the vicinity of Indian summer monsoon region with 20 min time step.
Ups and Downs in Auditory Development: Preschoolers' Sensitivity to Pitch Contour and Timbre

Much research has explored developing sound representations in language, but less work addresses developing representations of other sound patterns. This study examined preschool children's musical representations using two different tasks: discrimination and sound-picture association. Melodic contour--a musically relevant property--and instrumental timbre, which is (arguably) less musically relevant, were tested. In Experiment 1, children failed to associate cartoon characters to melodies with maximally different pitch contours, with no advantage for melody preexposure. Experiment 2 also used different-contour melodies and found good discrimination, whereas association was at chance. Experiment 3 replicated Experiment 2, but with a large timbre change instead of a contour change. Here, discrimination and association were both excellent. Preschool-aged children may have stronger or more durable representations of timbre than contour, particularly in more difficult tasks. Reasons for weaker association of contour than timbre information are discussed, along with implications for auditory development.
Computer Classes for Job Seekers: LIS Students Team with Public Librarians to Extend Public Services

Graduate library and information students provided a series of computer classes for job seekers at a main public library. Classes covered job searching on the Internet, cover letter writing, resume writing, interviewing skills, and social networking. Patron attendees reported a high satisfaction with the courses, students reported gaining confidence and valuable experience, and the public library staff valued the option of extending services through a ready pool of volunteers.
Stability of a two-phase process in an elastic solid

This work investigates the linear stability of an antiplane shear motion which involves a steadily propagating normal planar phase boundary in an arbitrary element of a family of non-elliptic generalized neo-Hookean materials. It is shown that such a process is linearly unstable with respect to a large class of disturbances if and only if the kinetic response function—a constitutively supplied entity which relates the normal velocity of a phase boundary to the driving traction which acts on it—is locally decreasing as a function of the appropriate argument. This result holds whether or not inertial effects are taken into consideration, demonstrating that the linear stability of the relevant process depends entirely upon the transformation kinetics intrinsic to the kinetic response function. The morphological evolution of the interface is then, in an inertia-free setting, tracked for a short time subsequent to the perturbation. It is found that, when the kinetic response function is non-monotonic, the phase boundary can evolve so as to qualitatively resemble the plate-like structures which are found in displacive solid-solid phase transformations.
Nosocomial or Healthcare Facility-Related Pneumonia in Adults

Nosocomial or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a dynamic disease with multiple etiologic agents and a changing natural history. The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens is a current concern. Because of the parallels between HAP and pneumonia occurring in patients in subacute or chronic care facilities, we suggest the use of a more inclusive term for these patients: healthcare facility-related pneumonia. This article focuses on current controversies in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, management, and prevention of bacterial HAP in adults. We endorse early, appropriate antibiotic therapy based on disease severity and the use of strategies to prevent infection, improve patient outcome, and reduce hospital costs.
Mass-limited, debris-free laser-plasma EUV source

Abstract The development of a laser-plasma EUV line emission source based on frozen water droplet targets which is essentially debris-free and capable of continuous, high-repetition-rate (>1 kHz) operation is described. Created by modest (
Biography Building To Insure The Future: Women's Negotiation Of Gender Relevancy In Medical School*

In this paper I focus on how women in their first year of medical school build biographies of fitness as a means of negotiating the status of peer in a male-dominated group. Their goal is to negotiate a master status and primary identity as medical student. They do this by making gender, a key characteristic, both irrelevant and relevant. I also discuss the technique of using interview data to provide a particular perspective on the medical students' situation and their use of the interview as a vehicle for identity building. I conclude that women's apparent success in maintaining identities as successful people and in negotiating barriers to the collegia! status stem both from their numbers and from using situationally appropriate vocabularies of motives to build past and future biographies of fitness.
Diagnosis of blunt carotid injury in patients with facial trauma.

Abstract Objectives. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical and diagnostic findings associated with blunt carotid artery injury, provide information related to clinical outcome, and report the findings of a retrospective study comparing patients with nonpenetrating and penetrating carotid artery injuries and the attendant facial injuries. Study design. Twenty-one patients admitted to the hospital nonelectively with a subsequent diagnosis of penetrating (11 patients) or nonpenetrating (10 patients) carotid artery injuries were included in the study. Records were analyzed for demographic data, mechanism of injury and time to diagnosis, neurologic status, presence of facial injuries, and outcome. Results. Five patients had facial injuries associated with a blunt carotid artery abnormality; six patients had penetrating carotid wounds. Time from carotid injury by all mechanisms to diagnosis was 20 minutes to 12 hours (mean 4 hours). Seventeen patients survived their injury. Conclusion. Patients with completely asymptomatic head injuries and severe closed-head injuries must be given careful initial evaluation and subsequent secondary evaluation. The relatively high frequency of facial injuries associated with blunt carotid injury should alert the maxillofacial surgeon to consider the diagnosis.
Impact wear of multiplated electrical contacts

Abstract Multiplated electrical contacts often undergo repeated dynamic loading. In the present study, a pivotal hammering impact wear tester was used to inflict wear scars on typical layered contact configurations. The wear life was observed to consist of three main stages: the plastic deformations stage; the zero wear stage; the measurable wear stage. Experimental observations of the wear behavior aided the formulation of a predictive engineering analysis method for impact wear life.
ADC-based serial I/O receivers

Digital receiver frontends have emerged as a possible solution for the next-generation serial I/O receiver design in advanced CMOS technologies. The challenge is to achieve low power dissipation so that the I/O links can be integrated in large ASICs. With a power budget of <; 20 mW/Gb/s, the feasibility of an ADC-based receiver is limited by the high-speed analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and complex digital processing in current fabrication technologies. In this paper, various designs and architectures for each component of an ADC-based receiver and their performance trade-offs are discussed. The design requirement of an ADC and digital processing can be relaxed with the aid of simple mixed-mode circuitry. More complex digital processing techniques are becoming feasible with the scaling of CMOS technology. However, the improvement from scaling is limited by the substantial leakage current, and the rate of improvement is slowing beyond 32 nm technology node.
A differentiated estimate of oil and gas prospects of Western Siberia based on a complex of geological information

Objectives and problems of geochemical investigations and their principal trends during exploration for oil and gas are examined. These trends include an estimate of the potential reserves of hydrocarbons in petroleum-bearing basins and a forecast of the qualitative composition of the phase state of the hydrocarbon accumulations. Theoretical premises for petroleum prospects are considered on the basis of the north of the West Siberian Lowland; and a separate forecast is provided for oil occurrences, gas occurrences, and amounts of condensate. 2 tables.
Large-Scale Automated Identification and Quality Control of Exfoliated and CVD Graphene via Image Processing Technique

Graphene, a monolayer of carbon atoms, is a high-interest material in the research community and semiconductor industry due to its extraordinary electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties. Graphene layer identification is very important since its intrinsic properties change drastically between each 0.34-nm thick layer. Current methods of identification rely on restrictive small-area microscopy techniques, the most robust being micro-Raman spectroscopy. Here we present a new method for a large-area graphene layer identification characterized by low cost, high accuracy, high throughput, complete automation, and scalability. Our metrology tool is based on a fast image processing algorithm, which analyzes optical contrasts between single-layer, bi-layer, and few-layer graphene used for exfoliated, transferred, or grown graphene flakes on large wafers verified by micro-Raman spectroscopy.
The seventh mass extinction: Human-caused events contribute to a fatal consequence

Abstract This paper presents a scenario in a written narrative that describes the events that could lead to the extinction of humans as well as other biological entities as living species on the Earth. The scenario is built upon historical evidence and speculations of the causes of past extinctions, but it also describes emerging actions by humans that could contribute to the hypothesized extinction. The scenario takes place from 2010 to approximately 2080 and leads to an extinction that is precipitated by human-caused activities, the global warming of the Earth (leading to famine, flooding, and resource wars), the release of a series of fatal genetically engineered organisms (precipitating from a new world order and heightened terrorism), and finally an impact cataclysm (leading to earthquakes, tsunamis, more famine and flooding, and ultimately bringing on glaciation).
Reduction of HAuCl4 by Na2S revisited : The case for au nanoparticle aggregates and against Au2S/Au core/shell particles

The reaction of sodium sulfide with chloroauric acid has been surrounded by a controversy over the structure of the resulting product. The original report proposed a Au2S/Au core/shell structure based on strong near-IR resonance and limited transmission electron microscopy. Subsequent reports used the same model without further attempts to determine the structure of the products. With a significant body of experimental work compiled over a period of several years, we have shown that the major product of this reaction is aggregated spherical nanoparticles of gold with a minority component consisting of triangular and rod-like structures. This is in contradiction to the core/shell structures as originally proposed. Recently, there have been additional reports that again suggest a Au2S/Au core/shell structure or irregularly shaped Au nanoparticles as an explanation for the near-IR resonance. To help resolve this issue, we have carried out further experiments to determine how the reaction products may depend ...
Quantitative Evaluation of SERS-Active Ag Film Nanostructure by Atomic Force Microscopy.

The reliability of an image analysis algorithm for atomic force microscopy (AFM) of thin metal films was evaluated by comparison with manual analysis of images and transmission electron micrographs of Ag films deposited on Formvar-coated Cu grids. In order to extract quantitative nanostructural information using the algorithm discussed herein, the optimal fitting parameters were found to be low-pass filtering to reject high-frequency noise, a 5 × 5 point grid for identification of particle maxima, and a linear least-squares fit to a hemispheroidal model of particle shape. Metal particle dimensions were defined from the height and radius of the hemispheroid fit. Due to the close spacing of particles in these Ag films, tip geometry causes the greatest error in the height measurements, rather than width measurements. In addition, the effect of scanning parameters such as scan rate and size, applied load, and humidity on particle count and dimensions was examined. Increasing the scan rate reduced the number o...
Transcellular degradation of axonal mitochondria

It is generally accepted that healthy cells degrade their own mitochondria. Here, we report that retinal ganglion cell axons of WT mice shed mitochondria at the optic nerve head (ONH), and that these mitochondria are internalized and degraded by adjacent astrocytes. EM demonstrates that mitochondria are shed through formation of large protrusions that originate from otherwise healthy axons. A virally introduced tandem fluorophore protein reporter of acidified mitochondria reveals that acidified axonal mitochondria originating from the retinal ganglion cell are associated with lysosomes within columns of astrocytes in the ONH. According to this reporter, a greater proportion of retinal ganglion cell mitochondria are degraded at the ONH than in the ganglion cell soma. Consistently, analyses of degrading DNA reveal extensive mtDNA degradation within the optic nerve astrocytes, some of which comes from retinal ganglion cell axons. Together, these results demonstrate that surprisingly large proportions of retinal ganglion cell axonal mitochondria are normally degraded by the astrocytes of the ONH. This transcellular degradation of mitochondria, or transmitophagy, likely occurs elsewhere in the CNS, because structurally similar accumulations of degrading mitochondria are also found along neurites in superficial layers of the cerebral cortex. Thus, the general assumption that neurons or other cells necessarily degrade their own mitochondria should be reconsidered.
Artificial ectomycorrhiza formation on roots of air-layered Pinus densiflora saplings by inoculation with Lyophyllum shimeji.

Saplings of Pinus densiflora were grown us- ing an air-layering procedure which produced roots without mycorrhizal infection. The plants successfully formed ectomycorrhizal roots when planted in clay pots containing inocula of Lyophyllum shimeji myce- lia. Light and electron microscope observation of the mycorrhizae showed a hyphal mantle covering the root surface, Hartig nets in the intercellular spaces of the root cortex, and starch grains accumulated in the cells of the vascular cylinder of the roots. Mycelia isolated from the mycorrhizae and incubated for about two mo in pure culture formed fruiting bodies of L. shimeji. Ten months after inoculation, fruiting
Persistent activity of doramectin injectable formulation against experimental challenge with Haemonchus placei in cattle.

Abstract Two studies were conducted in North America to evaluate the persistent activity of doramectin injectable formulation against experimental challenge with Haemonchus placei . In both studies, calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups ( n = 10 per group) or a larval viability group ( n = 2). Calves were treated subcutaneously in the lateral midline of the neck with saline (1 ml/50 kg) on Day 0, or with doramectin (200 mg/kg = 1 ml/50 kg) on Day 0, 7, or 14. Animals used to assess larval viability did not receive any treatment. Beginning on Day 14 and continuing through Day 28, each of the 40 treated calves were given approximately 300 infective larvae of H. placei per os. The two larval viability animals received approximately 10,000 larvae as a single dose on Day 28. Approximately two weeks later, all animals were slaughtered and the abomasum from each calf processed for nematode recovery. A 2% aliquot of abomasal contents plus wash was examined for enumeration and identification of nematodes. Geometric mean H. placei counts were calculated from the log ( H. placei count + 1) and used to estimate percentage reduction. Overall, doramectin was ≥96.9% efficacious in reducing infection with H. placei when challenged daily 14–28 days after treatment.
Cyclin D3 Is Rate-limiting for the G1/S Phase Transition in Fibroblasts

D-type cyclins are induced in response to mitogens and are believed to control progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle by activating their corresponding kinase partners (cyclin-dependent kinases). To investigate the function of individual D-type cyclins we have constructed rat fibroblast lines that allow controllable overexpression of a human cyclin D3 cDNA. Overexpression of cyclin D3 led to accelerated passage through G1 in actively proliferating cells with no effect on the overall population doubling time. In cells re-entering the division cycle from a quiescent state, cyclin D3 caused an even more dramatic advancement of S phase entry. Accelerated progression through G0/G1-to-S correlated with premature phosphorylation of the pRb tumor suppressor protein and its relatives, p107 and p130. We conclude that cyclin D3 can act as a rate-limiting G1 cyclin and that this effect involves, in part, the premature phosphorylation of critical substrates.
Environmental Governance: The Role of Institutions in Causing and Confronting Environmental Problems

This article describes and explains in accessible terms major findings arising from the work of the long-term international research project on the Institutional Dimensions of Global Environmental Change (IDGEC). In analyzing the roles institutions play in both causing and confronting environmental problems, the project directs attention to three analytic themes – known as the problems of fit, interplay, and scale – and seeks to illuminate these concerns through empirical studies of marine, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems. IDGEC science has highlighted the pervasiveness of institutional misfits and begun to identify the reasons why misfits often prove difficult to eliminate, even when their existence becomes widely known. Research conducted under the auspices of the project demonstrates the growing impact of national and even international institutions on the effectiveness of local resource regimes. Similarly, IDGEC research has identified reasons why policy instruments that work well at the national level (e.g., tradable permits) are frequently difficult or impossible to transfer to the international level. To make the discussion of these findings concrete, the project has explored the problem of fit with particular reference to the performance of Exclusive Economic Zones, the problem of interplay through an analysis of the fate of tropical forests, and the problem of scale through an account of the limits of emissions trading as a policy instrument in the climate change regime.
RAPID HOST RANGE EVOLUTION IN A POPULATION OF THE PHYTOPHAGOUS MITE TETRANYCHUS URTICAE KOCH.

The question of what determines the number and specific identity of the host plants fed on by an herbivore species has been discussed frequently in the last twenty years. At this point, the proximal determinants of host range for many herbivore species are rather well understood (e.g., Waldbauer, 1962; Hsiao and Fraenkel, 1968; Beck, 1974), but there is little detailed information on the evolutionary factors which mold these proximal physiological and behavioral determinants. Ehrlich and Raven's (1964) general survey of butterfly host ranges led them to conclude that present herbivore host ranges were the outcome of a stepwise coevolutionary process in which plants evolved to resist the attack of herbivores and herbivores evolved to overcome this resistance. They felt that this process occurred over a geological time span and resulted in a pattern of herbivore host ranges that reflected the taxonomic affinity of plant species. As interesting and useful as this idea has been, it would be unjustified to conclude that most herbivore host ranges are the outcome of such coevolution. Indeed it is possible that the present diversity of plant defenses was generated in response to relatively few "enemies" (i.e., herbivores, pathogens, and competing plants) and that most herbivores subsequently evolved to survive within an already established matrix of defenses (see Jermy, 1976, for an extreme viewpoint). Moreover, it is possible that herbivore diets expand to include unrelated species of plants, especially if these plants are found in geographical and ecological association (Janzen, 1968). As these plant associations
Intracellular Na+ measurements using sodium green tetraacetate with flow cytometry

Intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) can be measured using SBFI with image analysis or spectrofluorometry. However, SBFI cannot be used with most flow cytometry systems, due to its requirement for dual excitation in the UV range. Recently a new sodium indicator, Sodium Green, was developed which can be used with flow cytometry to measure [Na+]i. Adequate staining of cells with Sodium Green is dependent upon both dye and cell concentration, time and temperature of loading, use of the non-ionic detergent Pluronic, and the cell line used. Both Sodium Green and SBFI give similar calibration curves using the ionophore gramicidin. Sodium Green has a small pH dependence, but this should not affect most applications. Since a fluorescence ratio technique cannot be used with Sodium Green, we used a ratio of dye fluorescence to forward angle light scatter to normalize for cell size variations in the population. The basal [Na+]i obtained using the Sodium Green technique in CHO ISI cells was 19 mM, in reasonable agreement with previous studies using SBFI in other cells.
Lithium abundance and lithium isotope variations in mantle sources: insights from intraplate volcanic rocks from Ross Island and Marie Byrd Land (Antarctica) and other oceanic islands

Abstract The Li abundances and isotopic compositions of lavas from the McMurdo Volcanic Group (MVG) and the Crary Mountains, Antarctica and selected oceanic islands show Li is sensitive to both the mantle sources of basalts, and the open-system processes that occur during magmatic differentiation. Basaltic MVG lavas have uniform Li isotopic signatures, whereas more evolved lavas have variable δ7Li indicating inputs of altered crustal materials. MVG basalts and those of the Crary Mountains have similar δ7Li, and have compositions broadly consistent with mixing between a MORB-source mantle reservoir and a probable HIMU reservoir with elevated δ7Li. δ7Li values in ocean island basalt (OIB) samples examined range from +3‰ to +7‰; only two ocean islands were distinguishable from MORBs. None of our OIB samples showed the anomalously low δ7Li that Nishio et al. (2004) have contended is indicative of the EM1 mantle reservoir. Mixing of plume material with a MORB-like upper mantle can serve to mask extreme Li isotopic signatures to a degree, but it may also be the case that the mantle is heterogeneous in δ7Li on the fine scales represented by xenolith hand samples, but relatively homogeneous on the scales of hotspot melting anomalies.