cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nocifensive reflex-related on- and off-cells in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, cuneiform nucleus, and lateral dorsal tegmental nucleus

Cholinergic projections from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) to the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) have been implicated in nociceptive modulation. The goal of this study was to identify neurons with nocifensive reflex-related activity in the mesopontine tegmentum including the PPTg. This study used the same behavioral neurophysiological classification system to identify neurons as has been extensively described in the RVM. Extracellular microelectrode recording was conducted in lightly anesthetized rats. Changes in firing associated with the noxious heat-evoked tail flick reflex were used to classify neurons as "on-cells" (displayed a burst in neuronal activity associated with the reflex), "off-cells" (displayed a pause in activity), and neutral cells (showed no response). Of 188 neurons studied in 23 rats, 77 were classified as on-cells, 14 as off-cells, the remainder as neutral cells. Recordings during periods without noxious stimulation found that some of the on- and off-cells displayed spontaneous transitions between active and silent periods termed cell cycling. The distribution of on- and off-cells in the mesopontine tegmentum overlapped and included the cholinergic PPTg and lateral dorsal tegmental nucleus identified by NADPH diaphorase staining, as well as the cuneiform nucleus and periaqueductal gray. The mesopontine tegmentum thus contains nocifensive reflex-related neurons with neurophysiological characteristics similar to those reported in the RVM. Neurons showing reflex-related activity were frequently encountered in the cholinergic PPTg and LDTg. Further studies will be required to determine whether these neurons modulate nociception through a link to the RVM.
Micromechanical machining of high aspect ratio prototypes

Micromechanical machining uses physical cutting tools in high precision machines to fabricate parts with micrometers features and sub-micrometer tolerances. An advantage of this process is the ability to use any machinable material, quick process planning and material removal, and three-dimensional geometry only limited by the machine and tools used. Disadvantages are that forces are placed on micro cutting tools causing deflection and possible breaking. Deflection reduces process precision and tool breakage results in repeated set up, slower production, and poorer tolerances. Nevertheless, these processes have created many diverse prototypes ranging from biomedical to space applications.
Salt Domes of Bienville Parish: ABSTRACT

The salt domes of Bienville Parish, Louisiana, are classic examples of the shallow or piercement-type dome, and have been prominent in the geologic literature of the Gulf Coast since the discovery of Cretaceous fossils at King's Dome in 1867. Detailed surface mapping shows the domes to be round to oval in plan, with progressively younger sediments exposed in concentric rings outward from a central depression. Rim synclines and partial rim anticlines are also evident. Deformation of Pleistocene deposits serves to date the last period of uplift on most of the domes. Neither the ring of upturned sediments nor the adjoining anticline has been adequately explored by drilling on most of the domes, so they may still be considered as potential producers. End_of_Article - Last_Page 904------------
The kinetics of primate quadrupedalism: "hindlimb drive" reconsidered

Abstract Since Kimura et al.'s (1979) analysis of ground reaction forces during quadrupedal walking, primates are commonly pictured as being "hindlimb driven" compared to "forelimb driven" nonprimate mammals. Hindlimb dominance in primates has subsequently been interpreted as a preadaptation to human bipedalism. However, given its considerable influence, surprisingly little data are available to support this putative contrast in limb dominance. In this reconsideration of locomotor kinetics in primates, we have collected force plate data on two chimpanzees, one orangutan, two vervet monkeys, and two cats for a range of gaits and speeds. The peak vertical forces acting on the limbs as well as the braking and propulsive impulses exerted by the limbs are examined. Forces and impulses are highly variable and change with speed, gait, and the differential use of asynchronously or asymmetrically placed limbs. Peak vertical forces increase with speed. The faster gaits (trot, gallop) have, on the average, higher forces than the walk. However, there is no major change in force magnitudes at gait transitions. The mean vertical forces are higher on the hindlimbs than on the forelimbs of the primates. This difference is most pronounced in the suspensory orangutan and least pronounced in the quadrupedal vervets. Cats, on the other hand, generate higher forelimb than hindlimb vertical forces. Although our results support the overall conclusion of Kimura et al. (1979) that peak vertical forces are relatively low on the primate forelimb, they also show some variation most probably related to locomotor mode. In the majority of primate cases, the major propulsive thrust is also generated by the hindlimbs. However, in the galloping vervets, the trailing limbs are propulsive and the leading limbs braking, no matter whether these are forelimbs or hindlimbs. A similar, although less pronounced, asymmetry between trailing and leading limbs was observed in a galloping chimpanzee. Not only are primates variable with regard to the roles of the limbs in propulsion, they are also not unique among mammals in being predominantly hindlimb driven. Our cats, as well as all other nonprimate mammals so far analysed, generate greater propulsive thrust with their hindlimbs; i.e. they are also "hindlimb driven".
Anomalously high uplift rates along the Ventura—Santa Barbara Coast, California—tectonic implications

Abstract The NW—SE trending segments of the California coastline from Point Arena to Point Conception (500 km) and from Los Angeles to San Diego (200 km) generally parallel major right-lateral strike-slip fault systems. Minor vertical crustal movements associated with the dominant horizontal displacements along these fault systems are recorded in local sedimentary basins and slightly deformed marine terraces. Typical maximum uplift rates during Late Quaternary time are about 0.3 m/ka, based on U-series ages of corals and amino-acid age estimates of fossil mollusks from the lowest emergent terraces. In contrast, the E–W-trending segments of the California coastline between Point Conception and Los Angeles (200 km) parallel predominantly northward-dipping thrust and high-angle reverse faults of the western Transverse Ranges. Along this coast, marine terraces display significantly greater vertical deformation. Amino-acid age estimates of mollusks from elevated marine terraces along the Ventura—Santa Barbara coast imply anomalously high uplift rates of between 1 and 6 m/ka over the past 40 to 100 ka. The deduced rate of terrace uplift decreases from Ventura to Los Angeles, conforming with a similar trend observed by others in contemporary geodetic data. The more rapid rates of terrace uplift in the western Transverse Ranges reflect N—S crustal shortening that is probably a local accommodation of the dominant right-lateral shear strain along coastal California.
Implementing the unthinkable: the demise of periodical check-in at the University of Nevada

Librarians generally assume that serial check-in is an essential function. The authors challenge this assumption, maintaining that the practice does not stand up to thoughtful scrutiny. The check-in process does make possible such practices as routine claiming, binding, and the tracking of title and frequency changes, but many of these ancillary functions do little to help library patrons gain access to journal content; the functions can be accomplished by other, less time-intensive means. The authors believe that in the vast majority of cases, staff time currently devoted to check-in could be much more effectively utilized and patrons better served if check-in were eliminated in favor of a much more abbreviated and pragmatic process. Librarians at the University of Nevada, Reno, have conducted a year-long experiment in eliminating serial check-in, and found that doing so enabled them to reallocate staff time in ways that significantly enhance patron access to serial content without any appreciable negative impact on patron access to print issues.
Scientific research must take gender into account

From car design to drug discovery, the failure to acknowledge sex differences can be costly and even lethal, argues Londa Schiebinger.
Evidence-based practice and research utilization activities among rural nurses.

Purpose: To identify the extent to which rural nurses utilize evidence-based practice guidelines from scientific research in their practice; to describe both previous and current research utilization activities in which they have participated, and to identify the specific barriers they face in their practice settings. Design and Methods: Data for this descriptive study were collected through questionnaires with open-ended questions focused on (a) current utilization of nursing research findings, (b) previous involvement in nursing research activities, and (c) participation in medical research activities. The participants were 106 nurses from various practice areas in six rural counties of a southwestern state in the United States. Findings: Results revealed that only 20.8% of the participants stated they were currently involved in research utilization, and they were mostly nurses with bachelor's degrees. The two most common areas of current research utilization were pain management and pressure ulcer prevention and management. Barriers to research utilization, such as rural isolation and lack of nursing research consultants, were identified. Conclusions: The types of research utilization activities identified by these nurses indicate how much the facilities in which these nurses work in the rural areas are striving with the utilization of available scientific evidence. Rural nurses face unique barriers related to situational and geographic factors, with implications for nursing administrators, researchers, and educators.
Distribution of exotic monk parakeets across an urban landscape

Monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) are the most abundant and widely distributed of the naturalized parrots in the United States. Their presence is simultaneously encouraged by some humans (through use of bird feeders) and discouraged by others (through removal of their nests) and, as a result, they show an interesting spatial distribution across urban areas. We used an online public survey and field surveys to examine the influence of human activities and land use on the distribution of this exotic species around Chicago, IL (USA). These efforts resulted in detection of 249 nesting structures and approximately 778 birds across the region. A CART analysis successfully separated nesting sites from random sites and correctly classified 90 % of the nesting sites. The most important factor in the model was land use, with nests typically found in areas with less than 84 % residential zoning. We found nests on a wide variety of substrates including trees, cell phone towers, and stadium lights. Spatial point pattern analysis indicated that nests in trees and nests in built substrates were significantly dissociated with each other at all scales. Nests on built substrates were closer to railroads and highways or in areas with lower human population density, suggesting either a difference in substrate availability or human tolerance between these settings. While humans may have a positive effect on distribution of monk parakeets at large spatial scales, at the scale of this study we see a potentially negative effect of too many humans on the distribution of monk parakeet nests.
Some investigations and simulation studies of canonical analysis

There exist many experimental situations where one has a set of observation vectors from a number of different experimental groups and the investigator is interested in determining what differences may be present among the groups. A univariate statistical analysis on each observed random variable ignores the dependence existing between variables which may well be a source of differentiation. Canonical analysis is one of the statistical techniques available for the analysis of muitivariate data. In this article results from a simulation study of canonical analysis are given in order to display this muitivariate technique and see how it is able to differentiate among muitivariate populations under various distributional assumptions. In addition, an example is presented in which canonical analysis is applied to the investigation of a set of data arising from research in the ecological sciences studying the effect of water temperature ana recovery time on the blood sera of fish.
Screening for Cervical Cancer

The Policy Forum by Cain and Howett ([1][1]) has helped initiate a dialogue on whether human papillomavirus (HPV) testing should be incorporated into cervical cancer screening programs. We are concerned, however, that certain statements in the article are potentially misleading. Cain and Howett
The workaholic family: A clinical perspective

Abstract This article describes the family dynamics of the workaholic family, based on emerging research and the families the author has seen in treatment. A case study is presented as an illustration, followed by structural and dynamic characteristics of the workaholic family and treatment recommendations. It is suggested that family members also are negatively affected by workaholism and may develop a set of mental health problems of their own.
Homes on the Range: Cooperative Conservation and Environmental Change on California's Privately Owned Hardwood Rangelands

AbstractThis essay describes the conservation history of California's hardwood rangelands: a vast region of oak woodland, grassland, and chaparral vegetation that occurs almost entirely on private ...
Cancer stem cells—clinical relevance

Therapeutic advances over the past three decades now allow most cancer patients to achieve major clinical responses. Although clinical responses can clearly decrease side effects and improve quality of life, most cancer patients still eventually relapse and die of their disease. Many cancers have now been shown to harbor cells that are phenotypically and biologically similar to normal cells with self-renewal capacity; these so-called cancer stem cells (CSC) typically constitute only a small fraction of the total tumor burden, but theoretically harbor all the self-renewal capacity. Moreover, the CSC appears to be relatively resistant to standard anticancer therapies by co-opting normal stem cells' intrinsic defense mechanisms, such as quiescence, efflux pumps, and detoxifying enzymes. However, the clinical importance of CSC, if any, remains unproven. Nevertheless, emerging evidence suggests that initial responses in cancer represent therapeutic effectiveness against the bulk cancer cells, while the rare CSC is responsible for relapse. Better understanding of the biology of CSC, as well as reexamining both our preclinical and clinical drug development paradigms to include the CSC concept, has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of many cancers.
Possible linkage between Group‐Specific Component (Gc protein) and pure depressive disease

Genetic linkage was studied in pure depressive disease, a subgroup of unipolar depression defined by absence of familial alcoholism and/or antisocial personality. Rigorous research criteria were used for diagnosis and the diagnoses were made blind, i.e. without the knowledge of the genetic marker results. Under the assumptions of full penetrance and of all examined individuals' having passed the risk period, two out of eight families investigated showed a possibility of linkage, using the lod score method, with the Group- Specific Component (Gc protein) locus, one of the 17 polymorphic markers tested. The results, being based on a small amount of data, are presented as a hypothesis only; important possible implications for Psychiatry, however, indicate the desirability of testing the hypothesis.
DECISION THEORY FOR DESIGN ECONOMICS

ABSTRACT The traditional engineering design process ends too abruptly when economic or “nontechnic”factors must be considered. Leaving decisions about tradeoffs between cost and quality to marketing, accounting and management personnel has resulted in products that do not compete well in the usaional marketplace. Marketing personnel can determine customer preferences, but are poorly equipped to translate those preferences into product and manufacturing process specifications. Within a manufacturing company, engineers are the ones who possess the analytic capabilities required for true concurrent design decision making. This paper reviews our work on integrating decision analysis into the design process. We describe a method which will help engineers broaden the realm of their analysis to treat economic factors with the same respect they traditionally accord only to “technical” factors. Our approach is to integrate formal, mathematically rigorous methods for multiattribute utility decision-making witb conv...
Space-Range Adaptive Processing for waveform-diverse radar imaging

Waveform-diverse radar arrays have been proposed as a method to facilitate single pulse imaging as well as to potentially enable simultaneous multi-mode operation. Transmitting different waveforms on the elements of a uniform linear array consequently raises the spatial and temporal sidelobes of the receiver matched filter. In this paper a recursive minimum mean square error based receiver design denoted as Space-Range Adaptive Processing is presented. The new method is capable of mitigating space range sidelobes thereby providing enhanced sensitivity for this transmission scheme.
Structural studies of human Naked2: a biologically active intrinsically unstructured protein.

Abstract Naked1 and 2 are two mammalian orthologs of Naked Cuticle, a canonical Wnt signaling antagonist in Drosophila. Naked2, but not Naked1, interacts with transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) and escorts TGFα-containing vesicles to the basolateral membrane of polarized epithelial cells. Full-length Naked2 is poorly soluble. Since most functional domains, including the Dishevelled binding region, EF-hand, vesicle recognition, and membrane targeting motifs, reside in the N-terminal half of the protein, we expressed and purified the first 217 residues of human Naked2 and performed a functional analysis of this fragment. Its circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra showed no evidence of secondary and/or tertiary structure. The fragment did not bind calcium or zinc. These results indicate that the N-terminal half of Naked2 behaves as an intrinsically unstructured protein.
Treating the b quark distribution function with reliable uncertainties

The parton distribution function for a b quark in the B meson (called the shape function) plays an important role in the analysis of the B -> X_s gamma and B -> X_u l nu data, and gives one of the dominant uncertainties in the determination of |Vub|. We introduce a new framework to treat the shape function, which consistently incorporates its renormalization group evolution and all constraints on its shape and moments in any short distance mass scheme. At the same time it allows a reliable treatment of the uncertainties. We develop an expansion in a suitable complete set of orthonormal basis functions, which provides a procedure for systematically controlling the uncertainties due to the unknown functional form of the shape function. This is a significant improvement over fits to model functions. Given any model for the shape function, our construction gives an orthonormal basis in which the model occurs as the first term, and corrections to it can be studied. We introduce a new short distance scheme, the 'invisible scheme', for the kinetic energy matrix element, lambda_1. We obtain closed form results for the differential rates that incorporate perturbative corrections and a summations of logarithms at any order in perturbation theory, and present results using known next-to-next-to-leading order expressions. The experimental implementation of our framework is straightforward.
Filamentous fungi assisted bio-flocculation: A novel alternative technique for harvesting heterotrophic and autotrophic microalgal cells

Abstract The energy intensive harvesting of tiny microalgae cells (1–70 μm) from culture broth accounts for at least 20–30% of total costs of algal biomass production. The aim of this study was to develop an alternative fungus pelletization assisted bioflocculation method for harvesting microalgae using pellet-forming fungal strain (Aspergillus oryzae) isolated from municipal wastewater sludge. Facultative heterotrophic microalga Chlorella vulgaris UMN235 was used as a model species. Under heterotrophic growth condition, the key factors including spore inoculums, organic carbon concentration in medium as well as pH variation had significantly positive effects on fungus–algae pellet formation. The process parameters of 1.2 × 104 spores/mL, 20 g/L glucose, and pH ranged from 4.0 to 5.0 were found optimal for efficient fungus–algae pellet formation. For autotrophic growth, when pH of culture broth was adjusted to 4.0–5.0 with organic carbon addition (10 g/L glucose), almost 100% harvesting efficiency of microalgae was obtained. Moreover, it was observed that diameter and the concentration of fungus–algae pellets were affected by the shaker rotation. The novel harvesting technology developed in this study might reduce the microalgae harvesting cost and will have potential to be applied to all types of microalgae species as alternative to other traditional harvesting methods.
Hybrid integrated metro ring node subsystem on a chip

We report on a hybrid integrated metro ring node subsystem on a chip that consists of an array of four independent reconfigurable optical add-drop circuits, each with power monitoring and automatic load balancing, and supporting shared and dedicated protection protocols in two-fiber metro ring optical networks. The four-channel metro ring node chip has polymeric optical waveguiding circuitry, thermally actuated with heaters consisting of resistive strips of metal. Photodiode arrays are flip-chip mounted on top of 45° mirrors cut in the waveguides of optical power taps. The mirrors are fabricated by Excimer laser ablation of the polymer followed by smoothing and metalization. The non-integrated implementation of a metro ring node uses 48 discrete elements, namely 8 1×2 switches, 8 2×2 switches, 8 VOAs, 12 taps, and 12 photodiodes. The proposed integrated solution is an exemplary embodiment of the benefits of optoelectronic integration as it provides, when compared to the discrete solution, significant cost reduction, space savings, lower electrical power consumption, higher reliability (fewer devices, runs cooler), and fewer board-level fiber interconnects.
Foraging behaviors and the interaction of alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus , and bloater, Coregonus hoyi

Alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, and bloater, Coregonus hoyi, are common planktivores in Lake Michigan. Both alewife and bloater use a variety of feeding modes. Alewives can filter, gulp and particulate feed; bloaters can only gulp and particulate feed. We examined handling time per prey and probability of capture for alewife and bloater particulate feeding on Mysis relicta. Using these estimates and available data for filtering alewives, cost curves were derived for alewife and bloater particulate feeding and for alewife using all three modes of feeding. Alewives filter small prey relative to their own body size and particulate feed on larger prey. Feeding mode appears to be dependent on prey size and density and shifts in feeding mode are apparently based on maximizing biomass eaten per time. The ability to filter confers a competitive advantage on alewife when small prey are abundant as they were in the mid 1960s in Lake Michigan. If the zooplankton are large, bloater young-of-year do not suffer this relative disadvantage. In fact, large bloaters can consume prey on the bottom not available to alewife. This shifting competitive balance may explain, in part, the observed dynamics of alewife and bloater.
Development and clinical implementation of a universal bolus to maintain spot size during delivery of base of skull pencil beam scanning proton therapy.

Purpose To report on a universal bolus (UB) designed to replace the range shifter (RS); the UB allows the treatment of shallow tumors while keeping the pencil beam scanning (PBS) spot size small. Methods and Materials Ten patients with brain cancers treated from 2010 to 2011 were planned using the PBS technique with bolus and the RS. In-air spot sizes of the pencil beam were measured and compared for 4 conditions (open field, with RS, and with UB at 2- and 8-cm air gap) in isocentric geometry. The UB was applied in our clinic to treat brain tumors, and the plans with UB were compared with the plans with RS. Results A UB of 5.5 cm water equivalent thickness was found to meet the needs of the majority of patients. By using the UB, the PBS spot sizes are similar with the open beam ( P >.1). The heterogeneity index was found to be approximately 10% lower for the UB plans than for the RS plans. The coverage for plans with UB is more conformal than for plans with RS; the largest increase in sparing is usually for peripheral organs at risk. Conclusions The integrity of the physical properties of the PBS beam can be maintained using a UB that allows for highly conformal PBS treatment design, even in a simple geometry of the fixed beam line when noncoplanar beams are used.
The effects of the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase on angiogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective The release of nitric oxide by tumor cells, through the stimulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, may play a critical role in ovarian cancer progression. In this study we have sought to determine the effects of inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase on angiogenesis that was induced by 2 ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV and MDAH2774. Study design Real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques were used to determine the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor in the ovarian cancer cell lines in response to treatments with l -NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, and SNAP, and nitric oxide donor. Ovarian cancer–induced angiogenesis was assessed in vitro with an established assay that is based on the ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to form a tubular network in response to angiogenic agents. Results SKOV and MDAH2774 cell lines exhibited over-expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and have high baseline nitric oxide levels. This was associated with high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor production and angiogenesis induction. Treatment of the ovarian cancer cell lines with l -NAME significantly reduced vascular endothelial growth factor levels production and completely inhibited angiogenesis. In contrast, treatment with SNAP significantly increased vascular endothelial growth factor levels and increased angiogenesis in both cell lines. Conclusion Our data suggest that the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase may form a basis for a novel therapeutic treatment option for ovarian cancer therapy.
The 1.1-Ga Midcontinent Rift System, central North America: sedimentology of two deep boreholes, Lake Superior region

Abstract The Midcontinent Rift System (MRS) of central North America is a 1.1-Ga, 2500-km long structural feature that has been interpreted as a triple-junction rift developed over a mantle plume. As much as 20 km of subaerial lava flows, mainly flood basalts, are overlain by as much as 10 km of sedimentary rocks that are mostly continental fluvial red beds. This rock sequence, known as the Keweenawan Supergroup, has been penetrated by a few deep boreholes in the search for petroleum. In this paper, two deep boreholes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are described in detail for the first time. Both the Amoco Production #1-29R test, herein referred to as the St. Amour well, and the nearby Hickey Creek well drilled by Cleveland Cliffs Mining Services, were 100% cored. The former is 7238 ft (2410 m) deep and the latter is 5345 ft (1780 m) deep. The entirety of the stratigraphic succession of the Hickey Creek core correlates very well with the upper portion of the St. Amour core, as determined by core description and point-counting of 43 thin sections selected out of 100 studied thin sections. Two Lower Paleozoic units and two Keweenawan red bed units—the Jacobsville Sandstone and the underlying Freda Sandstone—are described. The Jacobsville is largely a feldspatholithic sandstone and the Freda is largely a lithofeldspathic sandstone. Below the Freda, the remaining footage of the St. Amour core consists of a thick quartzose sandstone unit that overlies a heterogenous unit of intercalated red bed units of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, and shale; black shale; individual basalt flows; and a basal ignimbritic rhyolite. This lower portion of the St. Amour core presents an enigma, as it correlates very poorly with other key boreholes located to the west and southwest. While a black shale sequence is similar to the petroleum-bearing Nonesuch Formation farther west, there is no conglomerate unit to correlate with the Copper Harbor Conglomerate. Other key boreholes are distributed over a 1300-km distance along the better known southwest arm of the triple-junction MRS, and can be correlated rather well with the units that are exposed in the Lake Superior region. However, a definitive explanation of the anomalous, deeper St. Amour stratigraphy is elusive and any explanation is tenuous. A possible explanation for this anomalous stratigraphy may be the geographic proximity of the St. Amour borehole to the Keweenawan Hot Spot (mantle plume), the suggested thermal force behind the development of the MRS. Similarly, a drastic change in structural architecture may be explained by this geographic relationship. Thus, within the locale of this rifting center, complexities of expansion tectonics may well be responsible for igneous and sedimentary sequences that differ considerably from those found farther west along the rift arm.
Remote measurements of ambient air pollutants with a bistatic laser system

The ambient air pollutants ozone, nitric oxide, and ethylene have been monitored in the Pasadena area with a bistatic IR laser apparatus. These pollutants were measured with a differential absorption technique, using selected wavelengths in the 9.5-, 5.2-, and 10.5-micron regions, respectively. The transmitted laser radiation was detected using both direct and heterodyne detection techniques. In the direct detection case, cube corner retroreflectors provided the return, and the heterodyne detection responded to scattered radiation from various rough surfaces, ranging from 400 m to 1.9 km in distance from the apparatus. Significant departures from ambient background concentration levels were noticed in the region near a local freeway during periods of moderate and heavy traffic.
Regional problems need integrated solutions: Pest management and conservation biology in agroecosystems

Ecosystems produce goods and services that are essential for the wellbeing of humans and other organisms. The earth’s expanding human population is altering both pattern and process in ecosystems, and hence is impacting the provision of ecosystem goods and services at a variety of scales. Food production and other ecosystem services, such as the many benefits provided by forests, are not exclusive of one another at a regional scale. Although it is becoming obvious that uncoordinated local management is inadequate to address regional ecosystem changes in the face of regional drivers of change, few regional governments have addressed the need for holistic landscape management of regional ecosystem services. We compare and contrast two regional programs, the agricultural agenda of integrated pest management (IPM) and an as-yet hypothetical, fragmentation-oriented conservation agenda that we term ‘Regional Fragmentation Management’ (RFM). IPM has a strong practical foundation but is weak on theory. RFM has a stronger theoretical base, but is weak on practice and has mainly focused on protected areas. Both programs address only a small subset of the larger question of how to effectively maintain regional production of regional ecosystem services. Some of the successes of IPM practitioners in building institutions and achieving societal acceptance for their program, particularly in relation to regionally coordinated (‘areawide’) pest management, suggest that regional ecosystem management is plausible. IPM offers some ingredients of an institutional role model for a broader, more ambitious program that seeks to manage regional ecosystem services and processes in a sustainable manner. As the looming crisis of global climate change brings a potential window of opportunity for the introduction of novel approaches for managing deforestation, closer synergies between conservation and agriculture at regional scales seem not only possible, but essential.
Bolivia 2006: reforma estatal y construcción del poder

Bolivia, en el 2006, inicio una etapa nueva en su historia. Por primera vez un lider de origen aymara, Evo Morales Ayma, asumia constitucionalmente la Presidencia del pais. Durante este ano el Presidente emitio politicas destinadas a reformar el Estado y a recuperar el control estatal de los recursos naturales. El proceso de cambio de la Constitucion politica del Estado se abrio con el llamado a la Asamblea Constituyente y con el referendum autonomico, procesos paralelos que estan hasta la fecha redefiniendo la nueva configuracion politico-administrativa del pais.
Viscoelastic properties of multiwalled carbon nanotube solutions

We have prepared solutions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in very low vapour pressure solvents (a mixture of chlorinated biphenyls). The solutions are stable and show no sign of precipitation for six months. Rheological measurements using a modified Birnboim apparatus with annular and Sogel-Pochetino geometries have been performed. Using time-temperature superposition we obtained the real and imaginary part of the complex viscosity coefficient in a frequency range covering eight orders of magnitude and a temperature range from 5 to 50 ○C. The data shows unexpected changes in the solution with temperature: for T below 30 ○C there appears to be some reorganization or clustering. This self-organization could result in a useful technique to improve the electronic properties of polymer/carbon nanotubes composites used in organic electronic devices.
Development of a laser absorption diagnostic for shock tube studies of CH

Abstract A sensitive and quantitative diagnostic for CH based on cw laser absorption has been developed for CH kinetics experiments in a shock tube. A number of transitions in the A2 δ(ν = 0) ← X2Π(ν = 0) band and C2Σ+(ν = 0)← X2Π(ν = 0) band which are promising for accurate CH detection were considered, leading to the selection of 431.1311 nm (vac.) as the wavelength of maximum absorption over a range of temperature from 1500 to 4000 K. This corresponds to the coincidental overlap of the Q1d(7) and Q2c(7) transitions. Reflected shock experiments involving the pyrolysis of highly dilute mixtures of ethane or methane in argon were used to verify details of the spectroscopic modelling and to investigate the sensitivity of the method for monitoring CH. The detection limit for single-pass absorption (14.3 cm) was found to be below 0.2 ppm at 2000 K for post-shock pressures of 1 atm. This new diagnostic is well suited for studies of elementary reactions involving CH.
SU‐GG‐I‐30: Magnitude of Scattered Radiation and Dose Efficiency in Volume‐Of‐Interest (VOI) Cone Beam CT

The magnitude of scattered radiation and dose efficiency inside and outside the VOI was investigated for VOI cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) technique. For experiments, a bench‐top CBCT system with a flat‐panel digital detector was constructed. Two cylindrical polycarbonate phantoms (11 cm and 15 cm in diameter) were used to simulate breasts. To implement the VOI scanning technique, a lead filter with a rectangular opening was placed between the x‐ray source and the phantoms. The x‐ray tube voltage setting was 80 kVp. The phantoms were imaged without and with the VOI filter for the open filed and the VOI field, respectively. Slot scanning technique with varying slot width was used to measure SPR values at the detector plane. Dose measurement was performed using TLD dosimeters at five different locations for the 11‐cm phantom and six locations for the 15 cm phantom. The results showed that the SPR value inside the VOI were about 0.37 and 0.039 for the open field and the VOI field, respectively, for the 11 cm phantom. This indicates that the SPR can be reduced by a factor of 9 inside the VOI. The results also showed that dose increases from the center toward to the edge for the open field, but decreases for the VOI field. The dose can be reduced by a factor of 3 or more outside the VOI and by a factor of 1.6 at the center of the phantom for the 11 cm phantom (this work was supported in part by a grant CA104759 from the NCI and a research grant EB00117 from the NIBIB).
A New Correlation for Determination of the Effective Knudsen Diffusivity of a Gas in a TAP Reactor

The analytical solution for the mean residence time of a nonreacting gas in a three-zone TAP reactor packed with nonporous pellets is presented. It is shown that the mean residence time is a sum of products of the weighting coefficient and reciprocal of the gas diffusivity of each zone. The weighting coefficients depend on the geometrical characteristics, i.e., lengths and fractional voidages of the three zones. This simple equation is useful for determination of the unknown gas diffusivity in the second zone (catalyst zone) from an experimental diffusion response when diffusivities in the inert-material zones (zone 1 and 3) are known.
Infancy predictors of preschool and post-kindergarten executive function.

Little is known about factors that promote optimal development of executive function skills. The focus of this study was associations among early maternal behaviors, infant frontal brain electrical activity, and child executive functions at age four and following kindergarten. Infant frontal electroencephalogram was collected from 56 infants at 10 months of age and maternal positive affect was observed. Children completed executive function measures in the research laboratory at age four; parental-reported executive function was obtained following children’s kindergarten year. Maternal positive affect and infant frontal brain electrical activity measured when the children were 10 months jointly and uniquely predicted both preschool and post-kindergarten executive function. Findings suggest parenting behavior and brain development in infancy are precursors of later self-regulatory executive function abilities.
Equalization techniques for high-density magnetic recording

The advent of digital computers spurred the development of magnetic tape and disk-drive storage systems capable of storing large amounts of digital information. Since the early development of such systems in the 1950s, we have experienced a phenomenal growth in the use of digital storage systems and an equally large increase in storage capacity and storage density. Over the past four decades, the major factor contributing to the large increases in storage density and capacity has been the continuous technological improvements in the design and development magnetic media and heads. As the storage densities increase, signal processing becomes an important tool in the reconstruction of the digital information in the readback process. We present a tutorial treatment of signal-processing techniques for combating intersymbol interference inherent in high-density digital magnetic recording systems. We focus primarily on magnetic disk systems. We observed that the optimum detector for the ISI-corrupted signal is a maximum-likelihood sequence detector (MLSD) that can be efficiently implemented by means of the Viterbi algorithm.
FATAL PNEUMONIA OF BIGHORN SHEEP FOLLOWING ASSOCIATION WITH DOMESTIC SHEEP

During 1979–1980 acute fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia resulted in high mortality or total loss of herds of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in California and Washington. Contact with domestic sheep occurred shortly before the onset of disease in each case. Circumstantial evidence indicated that the apparently healthy domestic sheep transmitted pathogenic bacteria to the bighorns, resulting in mortality. Pasteurella multocida and Corynebacterium pyogenes were isolated from pulmonary tissue of dead bighorns. The presence of domestic sheep may have been an important stress which initiated or compounded the disease.
Saddlepoint Approximation for Multivariate Cumulative Distribution Functions and Probability Computations in Sampling Theory and Outlier Testing

Abstract Four multivariate distributions commonly arise in sampling theory: the multinomial, multivariate hypergeometric, Dirichlet, and multivariate Polya distributions. Second-order saddlepoint approximations are given for approximating these multivariate cumulative distribution functions (cdf's) in their most general settings. Probabilities of rectangular regions associated with these cdf's are also approximated directly using second-order saddlepoint methods. All the approximations follow from characterizations of the multivariate distributions as conditional distributions. Applications to outlier discordancy tests and slippage tests are discussed.
The Inability of Sodium Bicarbonate to Induce an Improvement in Eggshell Quality in the Presence of Sulfanilamide

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to investigate the possible interaction of sulfanilamide and sodium bicarbonate on eggshell quality. In Experiment 1, two levels of sodium bicarbonate (0 and .4%) and of sulfanilamide (0 and .03%) were fed. In Experiment 2, two levels of sodium bicarbonate (0 and 1.6%) and sulfanilamide (0 and .01%) were fed. Sulfanilamide at .03% in the diet depressed egg production. Specific gravity, egg weight, and shell weight were significantly depressed at both .03 and .01% sulfanilamide in the diet. In Experiment 3, laying hens that had previously been fed 0 and .01% sulfanilamide were dosed on two consecutive days at 1800 hr with 10 ml of a solution that contained .8 g sodium bicarbonate. No interaction was found between sulfanilamide and sodium bicarbonate.
Initial Conditions and the Outcome of Economic Reform

Abstract This paper studies how initial conditions affect the outcome of reform using the case of trade liberalization as an example. The paper illustrates empirically and theoretically the seemingly paradoxical case of larger impact of reform when initial conditions are poorer.
Effects of aging and caloric restriction on the genotoxicity of four carcinogens in the in vitro rat hepatocyte/DNA repair assay

The effects of aging and chronic caloric restriction (CR) on the genotoxicity of four carcinogens, representing four different classes of chemicals, in the in vitro rat hepatocyte/DNA repair assay were investigated. Hepatocyte cultures were isolated from young, middel-aged, and old male Fischer (F344) rats which were maintained on either an ad libitum (AL) or a CR diet (60% of AL). Hepatocyte cultures from old AL rats, treated with 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), exhibited age-related decreases in DNA repair as compared to young AL rats. By contrast, cultures from young CR rats exhibited significant diet-related decreases in DNA repair with 2-AAF, AFB1, DMBA and DMN, when compared to results from young AL diet-fed rats. Old CR F344 rat derived cultures exhibited no significant age-related dose-dependent decrease in the DNA repair response with any of the chemicals tested. However, in cultures from old CR rats 10.0 μM AFB1 produced an age-related decrease in DNA repair from the response observed in young CR rats. When hepatocytes were isolated from Aroclor 1254-induced rats, increases in DNA repair were observed. These data indicate an age- and diet-related decrease in DNA repair and/or DNA damage and suggest that this decrease is due to a decrease in metabolic activation of these carcinogens to genotoxic species.
TU‐G‐213CD‐01: Risks and Realities of Radiation Dose in Medical Imaging

Several publications over the past few years have predicted thousands of cancers and cancer deaths in the US population caused by radiation exposures from medical imaging. The predictions are derived from risk estimates in the National Academy of Sciences BEIR VII report. These risk estimates are highly speculative with wide confidence intervals, and the BEIR VII committee has warned against using them to estimate cancer risks to individuals or populations. They are based on risk models derived from the linear no‐threshold hypothesis of radiation risk at low doses, a hypothesis that has been challenged by experiments at the cellular and animal levels as well as by data of cancer incidence in medically‐, occupationally‐, and environmentally‐exposed individuals. The main source of data for the BEIR VII risk estimates are the survivors of the Japanese A‐bomb explosions, a population greatly different from the US population that was exposed to radiation conditions greatly different from those of medical imaging. Collectively, the uncertainties in the derivation of the BEIR VII risk estimates, and the intrinsic speculative nature of the risk estimates themselves, cause predictions of cancers and cancer deaths to be more hypothetical than real in populations exposed to medical imaging. Unfortunately, these hypothetical predictions are themselves a health risk, because they create anxiety in patients resulting in a reluctance to undergo medical imaging procedures prescribed for their benefit.
Critical heat flux in subcooled flow boiling of fluorocarbon liquid on a simulated electronic chip in a vertical rectangular channel

Abstract Experiments are performed to correlate and model CHF during subcooled flow boiling of dielectric fluorocarbon (FC-72) liquid on a smooth 12.7 × 12.7 mm2 simulated electronic chip inside a vertical rectangular channel. Two distinct CHF regimes are established based on flow visualization and experimental data. At low flow velocities, CHF is accompanied by the formation of a continuous vapor blanket and the dryout of a liquid sublayer between the blanket and the chip. Higher velocities reduce the thickness of the vapor blanket and maintain partial contact of subcooled liquid from the core with the chip, leading to the formation of discrete vapor blankets much smaller than the boiling surface of the chip. Experimental data obtained in the lower velocity regime display excellent agreement with predictions of a new CHF model which accounts for the effects of the liquid velocity profile, liquid subcooling and flow geometry.