cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CORONARY MR ANGIOGRAPHY

Coronary MR angiography is a new noninvasive diagnostic method in rapid evolution. It has the potential to combine structural information with functional assessment of coronary blood flow. Advances in technology will undoubtedly lead to enhanced resolution, improved accuracy, and shorter scan times. It is certain that coronary MR angiography will be a prominent diagnostic clinical tool in the years to come.
Inflow Disk Generator for Open-Cycle MHD Power Generation

A feasibility study of the inflow disk MHD generator for baseload applications was performed. Each design element, i.e., the combustor, inlet flow path, generator channel, diffuser, and magnet, was studied in detail in order to provide a comprehensive assessment of the overall system. Based on these results, the performance of the inflow disk generator was calculated for three different thermal inputs: 1250, 2000, and 2500 MW(. It was shown that the performance of the inflow disk generator is similar to that of the diagonal generator within the uncertainty of the analysis.
Production of A1, A2, and B mesons in high-energy π±p interactions☆

Abstract We have compiled data on multiple meson production in pion-proton collisions in an attempt to observe the direct production of A1, A2, and B mesons without imposing selection criteria of any kind on the data.
Orthostatic Tremor, Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia, and Twinkle

Importance Orthostatic tremor (OT) is a high-frequency (13-18 Hz) leg tremor occurring in standing position. Orthostatic tremor has an unknown pathophysiologic mechanism. It is thought to be sporadic but siblings with OT from 3 unrelated families were reported. No mutations have been reported in OT. We describe a patient with OT carrying a C10orf2 TWINKLE mutation to highlight the possible association of OT with mitochondrial dysfunction and mutations in the mitochondrial replicative helicase Twinkle. Observations A man in his late 60s had ptosis and tremor on standing for 30 years, followed by development of progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Polygraphic recordings revealed an orthostatic synchronic tremor with 17.5-Hz frequency. Electromyography/nerve conduction studies showed evidence for a mild myopathy and associated mild axonal sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy. Muscle biopsy revealed ragged red fibers; mild cerebral atrophy was evident by magnetic resonance imaging. Molecular analysis revealed a novel heterozygous missense mutation at an evolutionarily conserved residue of the C10orf2 TWINKLE gene. Conclusions and Relevance Although the incidental association of OT and C10orf2 TWINKLE mutation is possible, the simultaneous onset of OT and eyelid ptosis at a much younger age than usually observed for OT raises the possibility of mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of mitochondrial DNA integrity in the pathogenesis of OT.
Lipid membrane adhesion and fusion driven by designed, minimally multivalent hydrogen-bonding lipids.

Cyanuric acid (CA) and melamine (M) functionalized lipids can form membranes that exhibit robust hydrogen-bond driven surface recognition in water, facilitated by multivalent surface clustering of recognition groups and variable hydration at the lipid−water interface. Here we describe a minimal lipid recognition cluster: three CA or M recognition groups are forced into proximity by covalent attachment to a single lipid headgroup. This trivalent lipid system guides recognition at the lipid−water interface using cyanurate−melamine hydrogen bonding when incorporated at 0.1−5 mol percent in fluid phospholipid membranes, inducing both vesicle−vesicle binding and membrane fusion. Fusion was accelerated when the antimicrobial peptide magainin was used to anchor trivalent recognition, or when added exogenously to a preassembled lipid vesicle complex, underscoring the importance of coupling recognition with membrane disruption in membrane fusion. Membrane apposition and fusion were studied in vesicle suspensions u...
Assaying the ability of diffusible signaling molecules to reorient embryonic spinal commissural axons.

Dorsal commissural axons in the vertebrate spinal cord1 have been an invaluable model system in which to identify axon guidance signals. Here, we describe an in vitro assay, "the reorientation assay", that has been used extensively to study the effect of extrinsic and intrinsic signals on the orientation of commissural axons2. This assay was developed by numerous people in the laboratories of Jane Dodd, Thomas Jessell and Andrew Lumsden (see acknowledgements for more details) and versions of this assay were used to demonstrate the reorientation activities of key axon guidance molecules, including the BMP chemorepellent in the roof plate3,4 and the chemoattractive activities of Netrin15 and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)6 in the floor plate in the spinal cord. Explants comprising 2-3 segments of the dorsal two-thirds of spinal cord are dissected from embryonic day (E) 11 rats and cultured in three dimensional collagen gels7. E11 dorsal spinal explants contain newly born commissural neurons, which can be identified by their axonal expression of the glycoprotein, Tag18. Over the course of 30-40 hours in culture, the commissural axon trajectory is recapitulated in these dorsal explants with a time course similar to that seen in vivo. This axonal trajectory can be challenged by placing either test tissues or a COS cell aggregate expressing a candidate signaling molecule in contact with one of the lateral edges of the dorsal explant. Commissural axons extending in the vicinity of the appended tissue will grow under the influence of both the endogenous roof plate and signals from the ectopic lateral tissue. The degree to which commissural axons are reoriented under these circumstances can be quantified. Using this assay, it is possible both to examine the sufficiency of a particular signal to reorient commissural axons3,4 as well the necessity for this signal to direct the commissural trajectory9.
An optically pumped K2 supersonic beam laser

Abstract We report the use of potassium dimer as the active medium in an optically pumped supersonic beam laser. The supersonic beam source provides a medium of high gain and broad line tunability. Lasing on transitions in the B-X system beginning on v′=8 and ending on 17, 16, 15, 12, 5, 3 and 2 are observed when pumping the Q(11) line of the (8, 0) band. Collisional energy loss is found to be responsible for limiting the performance of K2 lasers in equilibrium sources.
Vitamin E therapy in IgA nephropathy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

IgA nephropathy is the world's most common primary glomerulonephropathy. Recent evidence in a rat model implicated excessive production of oxygen-free radicals in the pathogenesis and suggested that vitamin E-treatment ameliorated progression. We studied this antioxidant therapy on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), proteinuria and hematuria in biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy in children. The duration of treatment or placebo was 2 years, with vitamin E treatment consisting of 400 IU/day in children weighing 30 kg. We measured GFR at entry, midpoint and exit. At baseline and at 4-month intervals after randomization, urinary protein/creatinine ratios and urinalysis were examined. The mixed model procedure with log transformation was used in data analysis to test treatment difference as well as the potential time effect. Fifty-five patients were randomized and 38 completed at least 1 year of follow-up. At entry, the clinical characteristics were not different between the treatment and placebo groups. There was a trend toward better preservation of GFR in vitamin E-treated versus placebo patients, 127±50 vs. 112±31 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively (P=0.09). The urinary protein/creatinine ratio was significantly lower in the vitamin E-treated group vs. placebo; 0.24±0.38 vs. 0.61±1.37 (P<0.013). However, there was no difference in the prevalence of hematuria between the groups. Vitamin E treatment in our study patients was associated with significantly lower proteinuria, but no effect on hematuria. While there was a trend toward stabilization of GFR in the vitamin E-treated patients, long-term treatment and follow-up are needed to determine whether antioxidant therapy is associated with preservation of renal function in IgA nephropathy.
The effect of soil burial exposure on some geotechnical fabrics

Abstract Commercial geotechnical fabrics have been exposed to accelerated soil burial testing for up to 7 years and the recovered nonwovens then examined for changes using burst strength testing, optical microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. By analytical testing the test specimens were shown to be based on monofilaments of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (three samples) and a mixture of polypropylene and bicomponent fibres (polyamide-coated polypropylene filaments) respectively. None of the samples showed a significant decrease in burst strength outside of the deviation of the experimental data. The polypropylene-monofilament geotextile showed a slight trend of decreasing burst strength with increasing burial time, but no detectable oxidation products by infrared spectroscopy. The polyamide coating on the bicomponent filaments showed distinct signs of delamination after seven years' exposure.
Landscape irrigation scheduling efficiency and adequacy by various control technologies

Automated residential irrigation systems tend to result in higher water use than non-automated systems. Increasing the scheduling efficiency of an automated irrigation system provides the opportunity to conserve water resources while maintaining good landscape quality. Control technologies available for reducing over-irrigation include evapotranspiration (ET) based controllers, soil moisture sensor (SMS) controllers, and rain sensors (RS). The purpose of this research was to evaluate the capability of these control technologies to schedule irrigation compared to a soil water balance model based on the Irrigation Association (IA) Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT) testing protocol. Irrigation adequacy and scheduling efficiency were calculated in 30-day running totals to determine the amount of over- or under-irrigation for each control technology based on the IA SWAT testing protocol. A time-based treatment with irrigation 2 days/week and no rain sensor (NRS) was established as a comparison. In general, the irrigation adequacy ratings (measure of under-irrigation) for the treatments were higher during the fall months of testing than the spring months due to lower ET resulting in lower irrigation demand. Scheduling efficiency values (measure of over-irrigation) decreased for all treatments when rainfall increased. During the rainy period of this testing, total rainfall was almost double reference evapotranspiration (ETo) while in the remaining three testing periods the opposite was true. The 30-day irrigation adequacy values, considering all treatments, varied during the testing periods by 0–68 percentile points. Looking at only one 30-day testing period, as is done in the IA SWAT testing protocol, will not fully capture the performance of an irrigation controller. Scheduling efficiency alone was not a good indicator of controller performance. The amount of water applied and the timing of application were both important to maintaining acceptable turfgrass quality and receiving good irrigation adequacy and scheduling efficiency scores.
Probing charge alteration in the π-mediated rearrangement of 1-indanylchlorocarbene

Abstract The ‘phenyl’ carbon migration of 1-indanylchlorocarbene is accelerated by appropriate aromatic methoxyl substitution in accord with a π-mediated rearrangement mechanism.
White Shark Offshore Habitat: A Behavioral and Environmental Characterization of the Eastern Pacific Shared Offshore Foraging Area

BACKGROUND Although much is known about the behavior of white sharks in coastal regions, very little is known about their vertical movements offshore in the eastern Pacific where they spend up to five months. We provide the first detailed description of the offshore habitat use of white sharks in the eastern North Pacific. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This study uses 2-min data from four recovered pop-up satellite archival tags deployed at Guadalupe Island (2002 and 2005). Deployments ranged from 5.4 to 8.2 months. Two predominant vertical patterns were described. The first was a bimodal vertical pattern with time spent at the surface and at depth, which was observed while traveling. The second was a repetitive oscillatory diving mode displayed by sharks in the Shared Offshore Foraging Area (SOFA). For all four datasets the average maximum daily dive depths ranged from 442.5 to 492.8 m and were typically associated with dissolved oxygen concentrations of above 1.7 ml L(-1). Although infrequent, occasional dives to near 1000 m with a minimum temperature of 3.9 degrees C and a minimum O(2) level of 0.3 ml L(-1) were observed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Recovered pop-up satellite tags from Guadalupe Island white sharks advance our understanding of the vertical habitat use of white sharks while offshore. The bimodal vertical pattern during traveling is most likely related to geolocation. The oscillatory dive pattern is likely associated with foraging. While feeding is not documented, foraging is likely occurring in association with the deep scattering layer. Diving depths were not limited by temperature but were constrained by O(2) levels below approximately 1.5 ml L(-1). While oxygen may limit the extent of sharks' vertical movements, it will also impact prey distribution. Consequently, the shallow oxygen minimum zone in the SOFA may act to concentrate prey, thus enhancing foraging opportunities in these oligotrophic waters.
Characteristics of pullout failure in conical and cylindrical pedicle screws after full insertion and back-out.

Abstract Background context: Biomechanical studies show that bone-mineral density, pedicle morphology, and screw thread area affect pedicle screw pullout failure. The current literature is based on studies of cylindrical pedicle screw designs. Conical screws have been introduced that may provide better "fit and fill" of the dorsal pedicle as well as improved resistance to screw bending failure. However, there is concern about loss of fixation if conical screws must be backed out after insertion. Purpose: To determine that conical screws have comparable initial stiffness and fixation strength compared with standard, cylindrical screws, and to assess whether conical screw fixation deteriorates when screws are backed out from full insertion. Study design/setting: This biomechanical analysis compared pullout strength of cylindrical and conical pedicle screw designs, using porcine lumbar vertebrae in a paired testing format. Methods: Porcine lumbar vertebrae were instrumented with conical and cylindrical pedicle screws with the same thread pitch, area and contour, and an equivalent diameter at the pedicle isthmus, 1.2 cm distal to the hub. Axial pullout was performed at 1.0 mm/minute displacement. Pullout loads, work and stiffness were recorded at 0.02-second intervals. Conical versus cylindrical screws were tested using three paired control configurations: fully inserted, backed out 180 degrees and backed out 360 degrees. Fully inserted values were compared with each set of back-out values to determine relative loss of fixation strength. Screw pullout data were analyzed using a Student's t test. Results: Pullout loads in these porcine specimens were comparable to data from healthy human vertebrae. Conical screws provided a 17% increase in the pullout strength compared with cylindrical screws ( P P Conclusions: Conical screws offer improved initial fixation strength compared with cylindrical screws of the same size and thread design. Our results suggest that appropriately designed conical screws can be backed out 180 to 360 degrees for intraoperative adjustment without loss of pullout strength, stiffness or work to failure. Intraoperative adjustments of these specific conical screws less than 360 degrees should not affect initial fixation strength. These results may not hold true for screws with a smaller thread area or larger minor diameter.
IFA Proof of Principle Experiments

IFA proof of principle experiments are discussed. Controlled beam front motion experiments are reported, which demonstrate that accurate IFA programming of the motion of the potential well at the head of an IREB has been achieved. The status of IFA ion experiments is also discussed.
The misuse of statistical techniques in evaluating sampling data

The article points out that a large proportion of primary research being carried out in at least one functional area of business may be suspect because of the casual procedures being used to gather data. Specifically, many researchers in their attempts to facilitate the problems and costs of amassing data are abandoning procedures that guarantee randomness of the elements being selected for investigation. The article reviews the more typical types of errors being made, and concludes with an example of how such procedural errors can lead to large statistical biases and unjustified conclusions.
A Note on a Stata Plugin for Estimating Group-based Trajectory Models:

Group-based trajectory models are used to investigate population differences in the developmental courses of behaviors or outcomes. This note introduces a new Stata command, traj, for fitting to longitudinal data finite (discrete) mixture models designed to identify clusters of individuals following similar progressions of some behavior or outcome over age or time. Normal, Censored normal, Poisson, Zero-inflated Poisson, and Logistic distributions are supported.
Subcritical Crack Growth in Soda–Lime Glass under Mixed‐Mode Loading

Subcritical crack growth in glasses and ceramics has been studied extensively under Mode I loading. In this study, subcritical crack growth in soda–lime glass under mixed-mode loading has been determined, using the double cleavage drilled compression (DCDC) specimens with a hole offset from the center line. With this test configuration, cracks are nucleated at the pole of the hole and propagated parallel to the centerline of the specimen under mixed-mode loading. Under mixed-mode loading, subcritical-crack-growth rates are significantly less than those under Mode I loading at the same energy-release rates. Possible mechanisms for this increased resistance to subcritical crack growth under mixed-mode loading are discussed.
Platinum Coated Nickel Nanowires As Oxygen Reducing Electrocatalysts

Platinum (Pt)-coated nickel (Ni) nanowires (PtNiNWs) are synthesized by the partial spontaneous galvanic displacement of NiNWs, with a diameter of 150–250 nm and a length of 100–200 μm. PtNiNWs are electrochemically characterized for oxygen reduction (ORR) in rotating disk electrode half-cells with an acidic electrolyte and compared to carbon-supported Pt (Pt/HSC) and a polycrystalline Pt electrode. Like other extended surface catalysts, the nanowire morphology yields significant gains in ORR specific activity compared to Pt/HSC. Unlike other extended surface approaches, the resultant materials have yielded exceptionally high surface areas, greater than 90 m2 gPt–1. These studies have found that reducing the level of Pt displacement increases Pt surface area and ORR mass activity. PtNiNWs produce a peak mass activity of 917 mA mgPt–1, 3.0 times greater than Pt/HSC and 2.1 times greater than the U.S. Department of Energy target for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell activity.
Parvalbumin Corrects Slowed Relaxation in Adult Cardiac Myocytes Expressing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-Linked α-Tropomyosin Mutations

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations A63V and E180G in α-tropomyosin (α-Tm) have been shown to cause slow cardiac muscle relaxation. In this study, we used two complementary genetic strategies, gene transfer in isolated rat myocytes and transgenesis in mice, to ascertain whether parvalbumin (Parv), a myoplasmic calcium buffer, could correct the diastolic dysfunction caused by these mutations. Sarcomere shortening measurements in rat cardiac myocytes expressing the α-Tm A63V mutant revealed a slower time to 50% relengthening (T50R: 44.2±1.4 ms in A63V, 36.8±1.0 ms in controls; n=96 to 108; P<0.001) when compared with controls. Dual gene transfer of α-Tm A63V and Parv caused a marked decrease in T50R (29.8±1.0 ms). However, this increase in relaxation rate was accompanied with a decrease in shortening amplitude (114.6±4.4 nm in A63+Parv, 137.8±5.3 nm in controls). Using an asynchronous gene transfer strategy, Parv expression was reduced (from ≈0.12 to ≈0.016 mmol/L), slow relaxation redressed, and shorteni...
Behavioral/Environmental Intervention Improves Learning After Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischemia in Rats

Background and purpose In premature infants, many of whom experience ischemic brain insults, the environment of rearing influences cognitive outcome. We developed a model to evaluate the effect of rearing conditions on learning after unilateral cerebral hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in 7-day-old (P7) rats. We hypothesized that neonatal handling would benefit rats recovering from an episode of HI. Methods Seventeen litters of P7 Long-Evans rats underwent either HI (right carotid ligation followed by 1.5 hours in 8% O(2)) or control procedures. From P8 to P14, randomized litters were either handled (15 minutes of separation from dam per day) or nonhandled. After P55, learning was tested in the Morris water maze. To evaluate injury severity, hippocampal, cortical, and striatal volumes were measured. Results In water-maze performance, ANCOVA revealed an interaction between handling and severity of hippocampal damage. Among HI rats, handled rats learned faster when hippocampal damage was moderate (P Conclusions These observations suggest the beneficial cognitive effect of neonatal handling was limited to animals with moderate damage. Neonatal handling in post-HI rats may be a useful model in which to study mechanisms underlying the benefits of post-HI developmental intervention.
High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the measurement of atovaquone in plasma.

A rapid and efficient isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the measurement of atovaquone in plasma has been developed and validated. The drug was extracted from plasma with organic solvents, assayed on a C1 column with a mobile phase of methanol—0.1% acetic acid (70:30, v/v), and detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm. Recovery of atovaquone from plasma was greater than 85%. Intra- and inter-assay variability were less than 8%, and the average accuracy of the assay (expressed as % bias) ranged from −7.4 to +2.2%. The upper and lower limits of quantitation were 100 and 0.25 μg/ml, respectively. Measurement of atovaquone in spiked plasma control samples during routine runs of clinical trial samples confirmed the reliability of the assay.
Short-distance and short-time structure of a unitary Fermi gas

We consider the operator product expansions for unitarity fermions. We compute the dynamic structure factor $S(\mathbf{q},\ensuremath{\omega})$ at large frequency and wave number away from the one-particle peak. The overall normalization of $S(\mathbf{q},\ensuremath{\omega})$ is determined by Tan's contact parameter, and the dependence on $\mathbf{q}$ and $\ensuremath{\omega}$ is obtained in closed analytic form. We also find energy deposited into the system by small, rapid variations of the inverse scattering length.
Bears, Pigs, and Plio-Pleistocene Hominids: A Case for the Exploitation of Belowground Food Resources

Belowground plant parts were important potential food resources in the habitats associated with Pliocene and early Pleistocene hominids. The food gathering and dental adaptations of three groups of modem mammals — bears, pigs, and humans — testify to the earlier convergence of these animals on this resource. Since belowground food reserves are relatively unaffected by the factors controlling aboveground food supply (fire, drought, and grazing stress), exploitation of this stable nutritional bank had distinct energetic and behavioral advantages for hominids.
Cost effectiveness of moderate to severe psoriasis therapy with etanercept and ustekinumab in the United States.

Background Limited information is available on the cost effectiveness of ustekinumab and alternative biologic treatments in a United States (US) setting. Given the recent head-to-head clinical trial study of ustekinumab and etanercept, an economic model comparing the two treatments can be constructed. Etanercept and ustekinumab are indicated for the treatment of chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy.
Analytical Solutions to Evaluate the Stream Tube Approach for Field‐Scale Modeling of Evaporation

Quantifying upward flow across larger areas of the landscape is important for water resources management and research involving global exchange processes. The stream tube or parallel column model may be used for this purpose. Columns should be narrow enough to account for variability of local parameters and wide enough to minimize the effect of lateral flow. To provide guidance with the selection of minimum column width, an approximate analytical solution was obtained for steady flow in a medium composed of two vertical soil columns. The normalized matric flux potential, Φ was used as a dependent variable. The two-dimensional solution consisted of a one-dimensional term and a perturbation term to ensure continuity in water flux and soil pressure head, h. Comparison of two-dimensional and one-dimensional stream tube results showed little difference in h and Φ, except near the interface. The greatest effect was found for finer textured soils. An analytical expression for the lateral flux was obtained from the solution for Φ. For "wet" conditions involving a shallow water table and high surface water contents, the lateral flux was found to be no more than 5% of the evaporative flux. For "dry" conditions with miniscule fluxes, the evaporative and lateral fluxes may be of the same order of magnitude; application of the stream tube model could involve considerable error. The analytical solutions are convenient to evaluate the impact of stream tube width for different evaporation scenarios and also to verify more elaborate numerical schemes.
Brain Work and Brain Imaging

Functional brain imaging with positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging has been used extensively to map regional changes in brain activity. The signal used by both techniques is based on changes in local circulation and metabolism (brain work). Our understanding of the cell biology of these changes has progressed greatly in the past decade. New insights have emerged on the role of astrocytes in signal transduction as has an appreciation of the unique contribution of aerobic glycolysis to brain energy metabolism. Likewise our understanding of the neurophysiologic processes responsible for imaging signals has progressed from an assumption that spiking activity (output) of neurons is most relevant to one focused on their input. Finally, neuroimaging, with its unique metabolic perspective, has alerted us to the ongoing and costly intrinsic activity within brain systems that most likely represents the largest fraction of the brain's functional activity.
Learning about protein folding via potential functions.

Over the last few years we have developed an empirical potential function that solves the protein structure recognition problem: given the sequence for an n-residue globular protein and a collection of plausible protein conformations, including the native conformation for that sequence, identify the correct, native conformation. Having determined this potential on the basis of only some 6500 native/nonnative pairs of structures for 58 proteins, we find it recognizes the native conformation for essentially all compact, soluble, globular proteins having known native conformations in comparisons with 104 to 106 reasonable alternative conformations apiece. In this sense, the potential encodes nearly all the essential features of globular protein conformational preference. In addition it “knows” about many additional factors in protein folding, such as the stabilization of multimeric proteins, quaternary structure, the role of disulfide bridges and ligands, proproteins vs. processed proteins, and minimal strand lengths in globular proteins. Comparisons are made with other sorts of protein folding problems, and applications in protein conformational determination and prediction are discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Woody Regeneration in a Southern Appalachian Quercus Stand Following Wind Disturbance and Salvage Logging

ABSTRACT In the eastern United States, the practice of salvage logging is common to reclaim economic losses and/or reduce fuel loading following a natural disturbance. A current hypothesis states that two disturbances in rapid succession (i.e., compounded disturbance) have a cumulative severity of impact and may displace the successional trajectory further than either disturbance occurring separately. On 20 April 2011, Bankhead National Forest in Alabama was affected by an EF1 tornado with accompanying straight-line winds. Much of the damage was salvaged, however adjacent disturbance in a Wilderness Area was not harvested. A unique set of conditions allowed for comparisons of woody regeneration within a single stand, reducing uncontrolled variables to test the compounded disturbance hypothesis at a fine spatial scale. After two growing seasons, species richness, species evenness, and Shannon diversity of seedlings and saplings did not significantly differ by disturbance class. We found seedling density si...
Fertilizing western rangelands for ungulate conservation: An assessment of benefits and risks

Intensive natural gas development causes habitat loss that reduces nutritional carrying capacity for ungulates and other species of conservation concern. To offset habitat loss from energy development, wildlife managers are experimenting with large-scale sagebrush fertilization on western public rangelands. We synthesize what is known about basic sagebrush ecosystem biogeochemistry and ungulate nutritional ecology to anticipate the benefits and risks of this emerging mitigation tool. Under some environmental conditions, fertilization can temporarily increase sagebrush biomass, and potentially, the nutritional carrying capacity of mule deer limited by digestible energy. However, nitrogen additions are costly and pose environmental risks when applied to arid and semi-arid systems. Fertilization may promote weed invasions, changes to biogeochemical cycles, and potentially irreversible ecosystem shifts that reduce shrub communities. Fertilization also creates excess nitrogen at 2–8 × natural background levels and increases greenhouse gases, ozone pollution precursors, downwind nitrogen deposition, and freshwater degradation. Considering these risks and recognizing that potential benefits are short-term, uncertain, and expensive to achieve, the practice of sagebrush fertilization may pose a net conservation cost. © 2015 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by The Wildlife Society.
Radiation Therapy Options in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

(2000). Radiation Therapy Options in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer. Cancer Investigation: Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 66-77.
In-situ characterization of tip electronic structure in scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract The problem of determining and understanding the role of tip electronic states is one of the central and critical scietific problems in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS). In this paper, we described a theory and a practical method for in-situ characterization of the tip electronic states. The method consists of a deconvolution procedure, from which the density of states (DOS) of the tip is recovered from the measured tunneling spectra. The tip DOS, obtained from deconvolving an experimental tunneling spectrum, can be compared with predictions of first-principle numerical calculations of various realistic tip structures, or independent measurements, for example, field emission spectroscopy and photoemission spectroscopy. The reference tunneling spectrum of the sample can be obtained using a flat-DOS blunt tip, for example, following the tip-treatment process described by Feenstra et al. Using the deconvolution method, we analyzed the STM and STS data published by Pelz. The results indicates that the W tip picked up a Si cluster in the middle of a scan on a Si sample. To further clarify the role of tip electronic states in STM imaging process, a set of new experiments is proposed.
Fundamental understanding of conductivity establishment for electrically conductive adhesives

Use of Electrically conductive adhesives has been considered an environment friendly interconnection technique, one of the two potential alternatives. Fundamental understanding of conductive adhesives has lagged far behind their commercial utilization. For isotropically conductive adhesives (ICAs), the conductive particles in the adhesives are responsible for the electrical interconnection, while the polymer matrix mainly provides the mechanical interconnection. We have found from our previous studies that there is obvious relationship between the polymerization shrinkage of epoxy curing and the electrical conductivity finally established with the material. In this paper, several epoxy resin based curing systems were used as the matrices for the ICAs. They exhibited different curing peak temperatures, which would enable us to investigate the effects of curing process upon the resultant bulk resistivity of the ICAs. To eliminate the complex effect of lubricants in silver flakes, a spherical silver powder was used as the conductive filler. The experimental results indicated a strong correlation between bulk resistivity and curing temperature or curing kinetics, which could be explained by a proposed mechanism on the establishment of electrical conductivity of ICAs during the curing process.
Self-Assembly of Metal Nanoclusters in Block Co-Polymers

This paper describes the formation of cobalt and iron metal nanoclusters in various polymeric domains. The size of the particles, their size distribution and their geometry is controlled by the extent of the interfacial interactions between the polymeric phase and the growing metal fragments. Iron oxide particles are shown to exhibit various geometries as a function of the polymer medium and the temperature at which they are formed. The selective phase separation and particle confinement of cobalt clusters in the presence of PS25300-b-PMMA25900 block co-polymer was achieved due to the different reactivities of the functional groups in the blocks towards the metal fragments. Transmission electron micrographs showed that cobalt clusters aggregated primarily in the poly(methyl methacrylate) block, while no cobalt nanoclusters were observed in the polystyrene block, thus creating a patterned distribution that coincided with the morphology of the block copolymer.
Current Levels of Perceived Stress among Mental Health Social Workers Who Work with Suicidal Clients

Mental health social workers are at increased risk of being confronted with fatal and nonfatal client suicidal behavior (CSB). Research has documented personal and professional reactions to CSB; however, empirical evidence describing the potential long-term effects is scarce. This study examined current reactions of perceived stress and continual thoughts of the CSB in 285 social workers. Results from multiple regression suggested that higher levels of secondary traumatic stress immediately following CSB predicted higher levels of current perceived stress, and the more time that had passed since the CSB predicted lower levels of perceived stress. Predictors of current level of thinking about the CSB included time since the CSB and whether the social worker completed the grieving process. Implications for social work practitioners, supervisors, and educators are discussed.
Light-induced drift in semiconductor heterostructures: Microscopic theory

of LID in quantum wells, which should be experimentally observable. These features are singularity in the spectrum associated with collision-induced transitions in the well and possible reversal of the LID current with temperature and photon energy. The Baym-Kadanoff-Keldysh’s technique also solves a principal problem caused by time-dependence of the electromagnetic part of Hamiltonian. An oscillating optical field generates a strongly nonequilibrium state that renders equilibrium field-theoretical techniques 11 inapplicable.
Coupling between middle and upper atmospheric NO: Constraints from HALOE observations

Observations of NO, NO2, and CH4 from the HALOE instrument on the UARS satellite are used to investigate the transport of thermospheric NO into the middle atmosphere. By comparing the variation of NO and NO2 with simultaneous measurements of a long lived stratospheric tracer like CH4, regions of enhanced odd nitrogen can be quantified. Our results indicate substantial enhancement of NO in the high latitude winter mesosphere extending from thermospheric altitudes down to about 55–60 km. We also see evidence of substantial equator ward mixing of mesospheric NO. Occasional enhancements of NOx are seen extending down into the upper stratosphere in winter; however, they do not appear to persist. Observations by HALOE at latitudes up to 75–80 degrees in early spring show no evidence for enhanced NOx. This suggests that the effect of thermospheric NO on high latitude upper stratospheric O3 may be less than previously thought.
Minireview: The OPG/RANKL/RANK system

The identification of the OPG/RANKL/RANK system as the dominant, final mediator of osteoclastogenesis represents a major advance in bone biology. It ended a long-standing search for the specific factor produced by preosteoblastic/stromal cells that was both necessary and sufficient for osteoclast development. The initial cloning and characterization of OPG as a soluble, decoy receptor belonging to the TNF receptor superfamily was the first step that eventually led to an unraveling of this system. Soon thereafter, the molecule blocked by OPG, initially called OPG-ligand/osteoclast differentiating factor (ODF) and subsequently RANKL, was identified as the key mediator of osteoclastogenesis in both a membrane-bound form expressed on preosteoblastic/stromal cells as well as a soluble form. RANKL, in turn, was shown to bind its receptor, RANK, on osteoclast lineage cells. The decisive role played by these factors in regulating bone metabolism was demonstrated by the findings of extremes of skeletal phenotypes (osteoporosis vs. osteopetrosis) in mice with altered expression of these molecules. Over the past several years, work has focused on identifying the factors regulating this system, the signaling mechanisms involved in the RANKL/RANK pathway, and finally, potential alterations in this system in metabolic bone disorders, from the extremely common (i.e. postmenopausal osteoporosis) to the rare (i.e. familial expansile osteolysis).
Ecological and Evolutionary Aspects of Dispersal

One of the most fascinating challenges in ecology involves the statistical description of movement, and the understanding of population distributions in terms of the behavior of individuals. Knowledge of plant and animal dispersal patterns is fundamental to an understanding of basic and applied issues ranging from the evolution of life history traits to the spread of genetically engineered organisms. The spatial and temporal structure of environment, and its effects upon the movements of individuals, are central issues in ecological and evolutionary theory. Seed and pollen dispersal, together with germination of dormant seeds and released growth of understory plants, play important roles in secondary successional patterns of forest communities following disturbance. Dispersal is key to the maintenance of gene flow among populations, the dynamics of pest outbreaks, the recovery of disturbed areas, and the optimal spatial design of agricultural systems and natural reserves.
Chacma baboon tactics during intertroop encounters.

Intertroop conflicts occur regularly in populations of chacma baboons ( Papio ursinus ) in a desert canyon in the Namib Desert of South West Africa and in the Okavango Swamps of Botswana. These interactions range from peaceful mingling of juveniles to violent chases by adult males. Encounters may involve face-offs, coordinated group charges into the ranks of the opposing troop, intratroop herding by adult males, and vocalizations. Encounters between the desert canyon troops vary for the same troop, depending upon the alien troop encountered. In the desert, intertroop dominance was correlated with large troop size and the number of large males per troop. In the swamp, where neighboring troops shared more stable troop boundaries, intertroop interactions were more frequent and their character less variable. Adult females generally withdraw or are chased from encounter sites. When troops come together juveniles may initiate play or groom members of alien troops. Male baboons dominate intertroop encounters and are hostile in their interactions.
The antihypertensive and diuretic effects of amiloride and of its combination with hydrochlorothiazide

The hypotensive effect as well as changes in serum electrolytes and uric acid of amiloride (AM) and of its combination with hydrochlorothiazide (HC) were studied. In five hypertensive patients over a five-day period, AM and HC administered together produced more natriuresis than either alone. Potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate concentrations in the serum showed a smaller alteration from normal with the combination than with HC alone. Twelve additional outpatients with moderate hypertension were followed for twelve weeks with the use of randomized Latin squares in double-blind fashion. A blood pressure-lowering effect of AM by itself or when added to HC was not seen. AM had no discernible effect on serum glucose, uric acid, or chloride concentrations.
Dorsal Fracture Dislocations: Biomechanics and Management Principles

Dorsal proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint fracture dislocations represent difficult injuries to manage and are frequently missed on initial evaluation. During dorsal fracture dislocations of the PIP joint, the volar plate is either disrupted or remains attached to the volar fragments of the middle phalangeal base; thus resistance to dorsal subluxation hinges on the integrity of the bony volar articular buttress of the middle phalanx. Appropriate treatment depends on recognition of dorsal instability, if present, on lateral radiographs and maintenance of reduction throughout the healing process. Anatomic reduction of the articular surface remains less important than maintenance of stability and prevention of dorsal subluxation. As such, the most commonly utilized classification scheme divides these injuries according to the amount of volar middle phalangeal base involved in the fracture dislocation in order to guide treatment. Stable injuries involve less than 30 % of the volar middle phalangeal base and are treated with nonoperative means, typically by buddy taping or with dorsal block splinting. Unstable injuries involve more than 50 % of the volar articular base and necessitate operative intervention to prevent dorsal subluxation. Surgical strategies include open reduction and internal fixation, percutaneous pinning, external fixation, or arthroplasty. Tenuous injuries involve 30–50 % of the volar articular base and appropriate management is less clear.
I Tell You a Mystery: From Hidden to Revealed in Sethian Revelation, Ritual, and Protology

This chapter offers the treatment of the concept of revelation in the Sethian literature from Nag Hammadi in particular as a designation for the movement from thiddent to ?trevealedt or tmanifestt in two contexts. First as the transmission of some kind of cognitive content or ritual action essential to the enlightenment and salvation of the recipient, and second as a fundamental ontogenetic concept in the protological metaphysics and mystical epistemology of Sethian. The chapter first treats the notion of revelation as an epistemological category, as the transmission of discursive information - even though it is sometimes said to be "inefffable" and "unknowable" - with special attention to the Trimorphic Protennoia . It then explores revelation or "manifestation" mainly as an ontogenetic concept but also in the epistemological context of mystical union with the primordial source of all reality in the Sethian Platonizing treatises Zostrianos and Allogenes . Keywords:Nag Hammadi; Sethian Revelation; Sethian ritual; Trimorphic Protennoia
Information Behavior Research: Where Have We Been, Where Are We Going?

A quantitative content analysis of recently published research in information behavior is compared with previous analyses to create a 30-year profile of work in the field. Variables of particular interest include research methods employed, user groups studied, relative interdisciplinarity, theoretical frameworks applied, attention to affect, and attention to systems design. Une analyse quantitative de contenus de recherches sur le comportement informationnel publies recemment a ete comparee a des analyses realisees precedemment afin d’aboutir a un profil sur trente ans du travail accompli dans le domaine. Les variables offrant un interet particulier comprennent : les methodes de recherche utilisees, les groupes d'utilisateurs etudies, une relative interdisciplinarite, les cadres theoriques appliques, l’attention aux affects, et l’attention aux conceptions de systemes. *** Awarded Best Overall Conference Paper ***
Recovering Infectious HIV from Novel Syringe-Needle Combinations with Low Dead Space Volumes.

Abstract This study determines if detachable syringe–needle combinations redesigned to reduce their dead space volume may substantially reduce the burden of exposure to infectious HIV among people who inject drugs. Two novel, low dead space (LDS) syringe–needle designs—one added a piston to the plunger (LDS syringe) and the other added a filler to the needle (LDS needle) to reduce their dead space—were compared to standard detachable needle–syringe combinations and to syringes with fixed needles. LDS and standard syringes attached to LDS and standard needles of 23-, 25-, and 27-gauge size were contaminated with HIV-infected blood in the laboratory. The proportion of syringe–needle combinations containing infectious HIV was analyzed after syringes were (1) stored up to 7 days at 22°C or (2) rinsed with water. Detachable syringes attached to 25-gauge needles yielded comparable proportions of syringes with infectious HIV, whether the needle was standard or LDS. Among needles of greater diameter (23 gauge), L...
Effects of Form of Parenteral or Dietary Selenium Supplementation on Body Weight and Blood, Liver, and Milk Concentrations in Beef Cows12

Abstract In a 365-d study, the effects of form and method of Se supplementation on blood, milk, and tissue Se in grazing beef cows were evaluated. Forty-three Angus cows (115 to 130 d gestation) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments and received either no Se supplementation (control), one 9-mL barium selenate injection at the initiation of the study, one 5-mL sodium selenite injection + 68 IU vitamin E at the initiation of the study and every 4 mo thereafter, or free-choice minerals containing 26 mg/kg Se as sodium selenite or Se yeast. Cows grazed bahiagrass pastures and most calved during early January 2003. Body weight and plasma and liver Se were measured at d 0 and 365. Whole blood and milk samples were taken at calvingand 30, 90, and 205 d postpartum. Cows receiving Se in free-choice minerals were heavier and had a greater increase (P 1200 μg/kg) and greater (P 100 μg/L) for all treatment groups at calving and at 30 and 90 d postpartum. At 205 d post-partum, cows receiving injectable selenate and both free-choice treatments were adequate in whole blood Se, whereas controls and cows receivingin-jectable selenite had inadequate whole blood Se. Cows receiving Se yeast produced greater (P