cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrode resistance in the electrochemical cell; Analysis of size effect theory with the specific adsorption of Br− and I− on polycrystalline gold films

The effects of specific adsorption on the in situ resistance measurement are studied using polycrystalline gold film electrodes of various thicknesses. A differential technique is developed where the instantaneous changes in the electrode resistance are correlated to the voltammetric current in linear sweep voltammetry. With the successful separation of the interfacial processes on these measurements, it is shown that the electrode resistance has a linear response to the coverage of the specifically adsorbed Br− and I− ions, independent of the electrochemical parameters. While the sensitivity of the resistance to adsorption depends strongly on the intrinsic properties of the gold film, it is shown that the ratio of the resistance responses to these halides on the same electrode is invariant. In the framework of the scattering hypothesis of Wedler and Wissman, the apparent scattering cross section of iodide on gold is approximately 0.015 nm2 as determined by an extrapolation of the resistance response to infinite thickness. With the electrosorption valency of bromide as −0.81, the corresponding apparent scattering cross section is accurately determined to be 0.66 times that for iodide.
Effect of pH on the denitrifying enzyme activity in pasture soils in relation to the intrinsic differences in denitrifier communities

The effects of pH on denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) and on the ratio of the denitrification products, N2O and N2, were determined in three pasture soils differing in cattle impact. The linkage between intrinsic differences in the denitrifying communities and pH effects on relative N2O production was also assessed. Soil pH values were adjusted just before DEA determination to obtain soil slurries with a range of pH values. The intrinsic differences in the denitrifier communities were assessed by measuring the kinetic constants of NO 3 – and N2O reductions. DEA for all three soils was highest at pH 8.4, regardless of native soil pH. Because DEA has typically been measured at native soil pH, our results suggest that DEA might have been underestimated in many previous studies. Further, relative N2O production at different pH values did not differ among the soils, even though the denitrifier communities differed in their intrinsic capability to reduce NO 3 – all the way to N2, suggesting that the ratio of denitrification products (N2O and N2) is pH-specific rather than soil-specific. This suggests that manipulations of soil pH will alter N2O fluxes from agricultural soils.
Wavelet detection of clustered microcalcifications

An automated method for detecting microcalcification clusters is presented. The algorithm begins with a digitized mammogram and outputs the center coordinates of regions of interest (ROIs). The method presented uses a non-linear function and a 12-tap least asymmetric Daubechies (LAD12) wavelet in a tree structured filter bank to increase the signal to noise level by 10.26 dB. The signal to noise level gain achieved by the filtering allows subsequent thresholding to eliminate on average 90% of the image from further consideration without eliminating actual microcalcification clusters 95% of the time. Morphological filtering and texture analysis are then used to identify individual microcalcifications. Altogether, the method successfully detected 44 of 53 microcalcification clusters (83%) with an average of 2.3 false positive clusters per image. A cluster is considered detected if it contains 3 or more microcalcifications within a 6.4 mm by 6.4 mm area. The method successfully detected 13 of the 14 malignant cases (93%).© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Resonance Raman studies of the 1La state of 1,2,3-trisubstituted benzene derivatives: Lack of an induced transition moment

Abstract Resonance Raman spectra of 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene and 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene obtained with excitation in the region of the 1 L a electronic state exhibit the pattern of a vibronically induced transition similar to that observed for benzene and symmetric 1,3,5-trisubstituted derivatives in contrast to the allowed ( B -type) pattern observed for monosubstituted and 1,4-disubstituted species. This behavior is consistent with early ideas of Sklar, Platt, Forster, Moffitt and Petruska of the perturbative vector nature of the allowed intensity component resulting from substituent effects in benzene derivatives. The present work represents the first quantitative demonstration of the applicability of these ideas to the 1 L a state of benzene derivatives.
A Gesture Model and Its Applications in Risk Assessment for Misrecognition

Before the gesture recognition is to be widely used as a new method for human-robot interface, some measurements are required for risk assessment and for risk reduction to assure safety, especially if the interface is to be used in action control for the robot working in human-robot cooperation style. In order to assess and to reduce the risk from misrecognition of gestures, a quantitative 3D model was proposed for representing gestures, and a quantitative measurement, called gesture distance, was proposed for the evaluation about how much the difference between gestures are. As the example of using the gesture distance, the method to implement the gesture recognition based on the gesture distance was briefly described, and then the risk assessment for a gesture recognition system was given based on the anthropometric data in Japanese Anthropometric Database.
Endogenous Financial Dollarization and Exchange Rate Policy

We develop a simple model of an economy in which domestic agents borrow and lend from each other in either home or foreign currency. Nominal wage rigidity implies that portfolios are chosen to offset the real variability of labor income. Portfolio choices, in turn, affect the potency of monetary policy, and the mapping from exogenous shocks to aggregate outcomes. The model sheds light on the determinants and implications of financial dollarization, its interaction with monetary policy, and other current issues.
Characterization of an adenylate cyclase-linked serotonin (5-HT1) receptor in a neuroblastoma X brain explant hybrid cell line (NCB-20).

Clonal cell line NCB-20 (a hybrid of mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 and Chinese hamster 18-day embryonic brain explant) expressed both high- (KD 180 nM) and low-affinity (greater than 3000 nM) binding sites for [3H]serotonin (5-HT) which were absent from the parent neuroblastoma. The low-affinity binding site was eliminated by 1 microM spiperone. The order of drug potency for inhibition of high-affinity [3H]5-HT binding was consistent with a 5-HT1 receptor (5,6 - dihydroxytryptamine = 5-HT = methysergide = 5-methoxytryptamine greater than cyproheptadine = clozapine = mianserin greater than spiperone greater than dopamine = morphine = ketanserin = norepinephrine). [3H]5-HT binding was inhibited by guanine nucleotides (e.g., GTP and Gpp(NH)p), whereas antagonist binding was not; ascorbate was also inhibitory. A 30-min exposure of cells to 1-2 microM 5-HT or other agonists produced a three- to fivefold stimulation of cyclic AMP levels. The order of potency for 5-HT agonist stimulation of basal cyclic AMP levels and 5-HT antagonist reversal of agonist-stimulated levels was the same as the order of drug potency for inhibition of high-affinity [3H]5-HT binding, suggesting linkage of the 5-HT1 receptor to adenylate cyclase in NCB-20 cells.
Center line algorithm for virtual endoscopy based on chamfer distance transform and Dijkstra's single-source shortest-path algorithm

Successful applications of virtual endoscopy often require the generation of centerlines as flight paths for fly-through examinations of anatomic structures. Criteria for design of effective centerline algorithms should include the following: (1) tracking of the most medial path possible, (2) robustness to segmentation errors, (3) computational efficiency, and (4) minimum of user interaction. To satisfy these design goals, we have developed a centerline generation algorithm based on the chamfer distance transform and Dijkstra's single-source shortest path algorithm. The distance transformation is applied to a segmented volume to determine the distance from each object voxel to the nearest background voxel -- a 'medialness' measure for each voxel. From a user specified source voxel, the distance and path from each object voxel to the source voxel is determined using Dijkstra's single-source shortest path algorithm, with the 'medialness' measure used as the weighting or distance factor between voxels. After execution of the algorithm is complete, paths from all voxels in the object to the source can be easily computed, a feature that is useful for all implementations of virtual endoscopy, but particularly for virtual bronchoscopy, which involves branching. The algorithm runs in O[2n(1 + f)] time, where n is the number of voxels in the volume, and f is the ratio of object voxels to total voxels in the volume. The algorithm is efficient, requiring approximately 90 seconds for a 60 megabyte dataset containing a segmented colon, and is robust to noise, segmentation errors, and start/end voxel selection. The only user interaction required is choosing the starting and ending voxels for the path. We report on objective and subjective evaluations of the algorithm when applied to several mathematical phantoms, the Visible Human Male Dataset and patient exams.
N‐substitution in the 2‐amino‐ and 2,7‐diaminophenoxazin‐3‐one ring system. Application to the preparation of actinomycin D analogs

A method is described for the direct N2-monoalkylation of the 2-aminophenoxazin-3-one system by treatment with dimethylsulfonium methylide in DMSO-THF, which acts as a base by abstracting a proton from the 2-amino function to form a stabilized anion, which is then alkylated by reaction with an alkyl halide. Selective N7-monoalkylation of the 2,7-diaminophenoxazin-3-one system can be accomplished by reaction with aromatic aldehydes in glacial acetic acid to give Schiff bases, which are then reduced with dimethylamine borane. These reactions have been applied to the preparation of N2-benzyl- and 7-benzylaminoactinomycin D.
Rotating hydraulics of strait and sill flows

Theoretical and laboratory models of certain types of strait and sill flows are discussed. Specifically, we consider a two‐layer rotating fluid; the upper layer is at rest and the lower layer flows from one large basin to another via a connecting channel. The flow is assumed to be principally in a down‐channel direction. The cross‐channel balance is therefore geostrophic and the Bernoulli and potential vorticity equations are simplified. We further invoke the usual non‐rotating hydraulic principle of maximum transport in flow over a weir—here the end of the channel—and thereby calculate relations between transport, rotation rate, and upstream interface height. One of these relations is tested experimentally with favorable results. A nonsteady decaying flow in the same system is analyzed similarly and also compares well with experiment, as does a flow in both layers driven by an initial density imbalance. Some connections with oceanic strait and sill flows are discussed.
A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC KNOWLEDGE DISCOVERY SYSTEM IN DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT

This paper describes an automated query discovery system for retrieving common characteristic knowledge from a database in a distributed computing environment. The paper particularly centers on the problem of discovering the common characteristics that are shared by a set of objects in a database. This type of commonalities can be useful in finding a typical profile for the given object set or outstanding features for a group of objects in a database. In our approach, commonalities within a set of objects are described by database queries that compute the given set of objects. We use the genetic programming as a major search engine to discover such queries. The paper discusses the architecture and the techniques used in our system, and presents some experimental results to evaluate the system. In addition, for the performance improvement, we built a distributed computing environment for our system with clustered computers using the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). The paper briefly discusses our clustered computer architecture, the implementation of distributed computing environment, and shows the overall performance improvement.
A Neurologist's Guide to Common Subjective and Objective Sleep Assessments

Sleep medicine has been evolving over the past few decades and methods of patient evaluation have changed. Given the strong overlap between neurologic disorders and sleep disorders, neurologists should be familiar with currently available tools in sleep medicine to best care for their patients. This article lists some of the most common assessments that a neurologist might use in clinical practice to evaluate patients with sleep complaints. Both subjective and objective tools have important roles in a complete sleep evaluation; however, knowing when and how to use these assessments is also essential.
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a cure for multiple sclerosis?

Evaluation of: Muraro PA, Douek DC, Packer A et al.: Thymic output generates a new and diverse TCR repertoire after autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis patients. J. Exp. Med. 201(5), 805–816 (2005). This study sought to determine the basis for the long-term suppression of inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who receive autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). The authors studied seven subjects who were clinically diagnosed with MS and who demonstrated neurological progression during the year prior to the study. Extensive fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis for phenotype, as well as spectratyping and clonotyping of T cells, were performed in order to examine the size, composition and diversity of the T-cell pool throughout a 2-year post-transplantation period. They found that the suppression of inflammation in the brain, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging studies, was not due to persistent lymphopenia, but rather due to the de novo re...
International Assistance to the Former Soviet Union: Conditions and Transitions1

Since the demise of the Soviet Union the newly independent states (NIS) have attempted the wholesale reform of their economic, political, and social institutions. With varying levels of success they have sought to create new institutions or reorganize old institutions, often so as to mirror similar institutions in western Europe and North America. Many nations and international organizations have sought to influence these transitions with technical assistance, foreign aid, concessional loans, and trade/investment promotion programs. In this article we attempt to bridge the conceptual, analytic, and empirical gaps between those who argue that external influences remain unimportant and those who believe that international organizations and foreign governments can support reforms. Specifically, we argue that although external assistance can play a positive role in the successful consolidation of political and economic reforms, the contribution of external assistance to the post-Soviet transitions has been limited by the institutional arrangements, technical proficiency, and political motivations of the aid providers. We thus analyze patterns of foreign assistance to demonstrate that implicit conditionalities imposed by aid donors upon recipient countries—with regard to geographic distribution, program priorities, timing, and graduation criteria—often force recipients to comply with reform agendas that may or may not be favorable for the recipient.
Boundary layer wind parameterization for use in a lagrangian trajectory model

Abstract Parameterization of mean boundary layer flow over two contrasting types of terrain for unstable (day) and stable (night) atmospheric conditions is developed and incorporated in a Lagrangian trajectory puff model. Boundary layer observations, classified and analyzed through the method of least squares, provide a wind formulation which in effect reduces the wind speed and backs the wind direction relative to surface geostrophic flow. Model sensitivity to the wind modification is determined qualitatively through comparison of modified and original model trajectories to plume observations from the Cross-Appalachian Tracer Experiment (CAPTEX 83). Results indicate that in this particular application (i.e. short-term), both techniques have limitations. Modified trajectories, however, appear to more closely define the plume domain near the source, but lag the observed flow in terms of distance traveled.
Photochromic cross-linked copolymer containing thermally stable fluorescing 2-indolylfulgimide

A new photochromic cross-linked copolymer composed of PMMA and fluorescing 2-indolylfulgimide is synthesized which can be converted photochemically into two forms which are found to be thermally stable; the spectroscopic properties and quantum yields of photochemistry and fluorescence are also measured.
INCORPORATING INPUT SATURATION FOR SURFACE VESSEL CONTROL WITH EXPERIMENTS

This paper presents a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) for trajectory tracking of an underactuated surface vessel. The physical control inputs to the vessel are a propeller speed and a rudder angle. The limits of these control inputs are incorporated as input saturation limits. The controller is designed based on a three-degree-of-freedom nonlinear dynamic model of the vessel. The NMPC predicts control inputs by optimizing a cost function. The optimization is done by considering the input constraints. Tests for the identification of the vessel’s dynamic model are performed on a small robotic vessel and the model is verified. The performance of the designed controller is tested via experimentation with the robotic vessel on an outdoor pond. The result shows that under extreme manoeuvres where the saturation of inputs occurs, the control inputs of the vessel stay within the specified limits and the vessel converges towards the desired trajectory after recovering from saturation.
Muscle-targeted deletion of VEGF and exercise capacity in mice.

Methods to study exercise are evolving from classically integrative organ approaches towards the more fundamental cellular reactions. While in vitro cellular and molecular methods are well established, only recently has in vivo molecular manipulation been widely used. This review discusses two complementary methods for determining in vivo the significance of one gene thought important to exercise: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Because VEGF deletion is embryonically lethal, its study requires conditional and/or organ-targeted strategies. We inactivated the muscle VEGF gene in two ways: (A) targeting a tissue volume of a few hundred cells in one muscle in VEGFloxP mice by local delivery of cre recombinase. LoxP sites, small fragments of DNA flanking a region of VEGF exon 3, are recognized by cre recombinase, which results in recombination and inactivation of the VEGF gene expression. The effects on VEGF and muscle capillarity were subsequently studied immunohistochemical analysis. (B) VEGF was deleted lifelong, but only in muscle, by crossbreeding VEGFloxP mice with mice expressing Cre driven by the muscle creatine kinase (MCK) promoter. Effects on exercise capacity and development of compensatory pathways were studied. Both approaches reduced muscle capillarity 65%, showing no alternative angiogenic pathways to restore vascularity. Treadmill endurance time was only ∼20% of normal, demonstrating functional significance of VEGF. Muscle structural and functional responses to exercise training were not apparent. Thus, single gene molecular manipulation can be performed in intact mice and a range of physiological processes studied.
PERIVASCULAR ACTION OF THE LOCAL ANAESTHETIC, LIDOCAINE, ON PIAL TERMINAL ARTERIOLES: DIRECT OBSERVATIONS ON THE MICROCIRCULATION

Considerable controversy currently exists with respect to whether or not local anaesthetics exert direct action on cerebral arteriolar tone. In situ experiments were therefore undertaken on pial terminal arterioles of rats to determine whether or not perivascular application of lidocaine exerts any action on such cerebral vessels. Vessel size was assessed with an image-splitting television microscope recording system. The vessels studied ranged in size from 25 to 30 micron. Lidocaine was applied in artificial CSF in dosages of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 mg. Significant dose-dependent dilatation (i.e., 15.7-45.3% increases in lumen sizes) of the pial terminal arterioles was observed. The results are discussed in light of current developments concerning the mechanism whereby local anaesthetics alleviate increased intracranial pressure and cerebral vasospasm.
Biological availability of dissolved organic carbon along the Ogeechee River

Quality of dissolved organic C (DOC) from main-stem and tributary sites along the Ogeechee River was compared to that of chemically defined organic C substrates in terms of biological availability. Availability was determined by measuring bacterial growth on natural river water (collected at high and low discharges) and defined organic substrates (humic standards and high-quality sources of C). Availability of DOC to the natural (native) stream bacterial assemblage was compared to that of a defined bacterial inoculum, selected for ability to readily utilize high-quality substrates. Availability of DOC declined downriver, and DOC in highly colored tributaries was of lower quality than DOC from other sites. In most cases, quality of DOC decreased at high discharge.
A simple procedure for the isolation of seven abundant muscle enzymes.

Abstract The present work describes procedures in which seven major muscle enzymes and serum albumin can be simultaneously isolated from chicken skeletal muscles. The seven enzymes isolated were: phosphorylase, enolase, creatine-P kinase, aldolase, glyceral-dehyde-3-P dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate mutase, and triose-P isomerase. The proteins isolated by these methods were judged to be greater than 97% pure on the basis of electrophoretic analysis in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. The procedure is applicable for isolation of the enzymes from large (greater than 100 g) or small (less than 0.5 g) amounts of muscle tissue and the entire procedure can be completed within two days. Particulars useful features of the procedures are: (1) preferential solubilization of the enzymes from myofibrils by extraction of muscle specimens in solutions of different ionic strength; (2) specific precipitation of phosphorylase, creatine-P kinase, and glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate dehydrogenase from solutions of spe...
The Integration of Cognition and Emotion during Infancy and Early Childhood: Regulatory Processes Associated with the Development of Working Memory.

This study was an attempt to integrate cognitive development (i.e., cognitive control) and emotional development (i.e., emotion regulation) in the first years of life. The construct of temperament was used to unify cognition and emotion because of its focus on attentional and regulatory behaviors. Children were seen at 8 months and 412-years of age in a study designed to examine the correlates of working memory development. Frontal brain electrical activity and temperament predicted working memory performance at 8 months. Similarly, frontal brain electrical activity, temperament, and language predicted working memory at age 412-years. Temperament in early childhood mediated the relation between infant temperament and early childhood working memory performance. These associated temperament characteristics highlight the value of early-learned regulatory and attentional behaviors and the impact of these early skills on later development.
Compositional Analysis and Advanced Distillation Curve for Mixed Alcohols Produced via Syngas on a K-CoMoSx Catalyst

The distillation behavior of mixed alcohols was studied by use of the Advanced Distillation Curve (ADC) methodology. Crude mixed alcohols (oxygenates) were generated from syngas over a potassium-promoted cobalt–molybdenum-sulfide catalyst and assayed for major and minor products. Distillation (boiling) curves were generated for the crude mixed oxygenate products and composition channel data were collected. The crude mixed alcohols consisted primarily of methanol with significant quantities of ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, methyl acetate, and ethyl acetate. These six species constitute 93.7%–95.8% (mass/mass) of the total product. Ester, ether, and aldehyde impurities were identified, as well as thiols and organic sulfides. Considering just the alcohol products without impurities, these can be blended into gasoline at 8.5% (v/v) and meet the requirements of the Octamix waiver if an appropriate corrosion inhibitor were also included (the blend would contain 3.0%–3.4% methanol, >2.5% higher alcohols (v/v),...
H-alpha images of the Cygnus Loop - A new look at shock-wave dynamics in an old supernova remnant

Attention is given to deep H-alpha images of portions of the east, west, and southwest limbs of the Cygnus Loop which illustrate several aspects of shock dynamics in a multiphase interstellar medium. An H-alpha image of the isolated eastern shocked cloud reveals cloud deformation and gas stripping along the cloud's edges, shock front diffraction and reflection around the rear of the cloud, and interior remnant emission due to upstream shock reflection. A faint Balmer-dominated filament is identified 30 arcmin further west of the remnant's bright line of western radiative filaments. This detection indicates a far more westerly intercloud shock front position than previously realized, and resolves the nature of the weak X-ray, optical, and nonthermal radio emission observed west of NGC 6960. Strongly curved Balmer-dominated filaments along the remnant's west and southwest edge may indicate shock diffraction caused by shock wave passage in between clouds.
Heavy elementary fermions and proton stability in unified theories

Abstract The construction of renormalizable unified theories of the strong, electromagnetic and weak interactions requires the existence of thus far unobserved elementary fermions. Their properties are abstracted from a large class of unified theories. It is pointed out that fermion doubling is a general feature of unified theories.
Therapeutic Hypothermia and Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in a Child with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Neurologic outcomes following pediatric cardiac arrest are consistently poor. Early initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation has been shown to have positive effects on both survival to hospital discharge, and improved neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. Additionally, the use of therapeutic hypothermia may improve survival in pediatric cardiac arrest patients admitted to the intensive care unit. We report a child with congenital hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, in whom the early initiation of effective prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation and subsequent administration of therapeutic hypothermia contributed to a positive outcome with no gross neurologic sequelae. Continuing efforts should be made to promote and employ high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which likely contributed to the positive outcome of this case. Further research will be necessary to develop and solidify national guidelines for the implementation of therapeutic hypothermia in selected subpopulations of children with OHCA.
A framework for applet animations with controls

A generic Java™ applet animation with controls is presented in this paper. This framework implementation promotes software reusability in terms of applying modularity and factorization using inheritance, delegation, and template classes with cohesive methods. It can be used either as an example or a project in a typical object-oriented design and analysis class.
Key strategic issues for German companies

Abstract Technological progress and the exacerbation in competition spurred by innovation call for important strategic corporate decisions on products, manufacturing processes and location structure for the 1990s. This, in turn, emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and innovation management—on the one hand with regard to the forecast potential of economic, technological and social trends and, on the other hand, with regard to the ability to plan and introduce future products and production processes.
Effects of a Future Care Planning Workshop for Aging Parents of the Mentally Ill

This article presents a future care planning workshop for aging parents of adult children with severe mental illness and also presents workshop effects including parents' knowledge gains of future ...
Providing cost information as a tool to change physician behavior

Study objectives: Emergency physicians are required to provide cost-effective care for their patients. We determine whether providing education materials to emergency physicians will improve their cost awareness and enhance their confidence to make better cost-benefit decisions. Methods: This was a pre- and postintervention survey in an urban Level I trauma center/teaching hospital. Participants were all full-time emergency medicine staff, residents (postgraduate year [PGY] 1, PGY2, PGY3), and physicians' assistants. Providers were excluded if they were not working in the ED during the study. A table of charges for common laboratory tests, studies, and treatments was displayed in physician charting areas. All providers were surveyed before and 30 days after the charge information was made available. The survey included a table with 45 various laboratory tests, studies, and treatments, which was completed by the provider. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the providers' confidence in their knowledge of costs. Data were analyzed using t test and analysis of variance. Results: Fifty-three (100%) eligible providers were enrolled, and 100% of the surveys were completed. Before intervention, physicians' accuracy overall was 27.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.8% to 32.0%) and was significantly improved to 44.9% (95% CI 39.9% to 49.9%; P =.02) after the intervention. Improved accuracy was found in 26 (58%) of 45 tests. Physicians rated their overall knowledge of charges using a VAS. The mean VAS before intervention was 29.0 (95% CI 23.0 to 35.0) and increased to 49.6 (95% CI 44.7 to 54.4; P =.01) after the education. Conclusion: Cost knowledge, accuracy, and physician confidence in their knowledge improved by displaying charge information.
Transient Microwave Conductivity Studies of Poly (3-alkyl thiophene)s and Blends with PCBM

Using flash photolysis, transient microwave conductivity we report some preliminary results on two polythiophene derivatives and compare the results with the ubiquitous poly(3-hexylthiophene). The data provide an insight into the efficiency of exciton dissociation into free charge carriers; a result that is of importance to bulk heterojunction, photovoltaic solar cells that are a construct of a blend of polymers of this type with the soluble fullerene, [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, (PCBM).
Dopamine as an anorectic neuromodulator in the cockroach Rhyparobia maderae.

SUMMARY Insects, including cockroaches, self-select a balanced diet when faced with different nutrient choices. For self-selection to be carried out effectively, insects possess neuroregulatory systems to control their food intake. In the present study, we examined the role of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) in the feeding regulation of the Madeira cockroach ( Rhyparobia maderae ). When R. maderae nymphs were injected with 20 μl of 100 mmol l –1 DA, they showed an 83.3% reduction in sucrose intake and a 78.9% reduction in total intake compared with saline-injected controls. The DA agonist, 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (6,7-ADTN) (100 mmol l –1 in 1 μl), caused a significant reduction in sucrose feeding, reducing feeding by 47.3% compared with saline-injected controls. Protein feeding was also significantly reduced by 6,7-ADTN to 62%. Rhyparobia maderae nymphs injected with the DA antagonist chlorpromazine (100 mmol l –1 in 1 μl) did not differ significantly from control nymphs in their feeding behavior. Interestingly, R. maderae nymphs injected with 2 μl or 5 μl chlorpromazine (100 mmol l –1 ) showed significantly increased mortality rates of 47.5% or 66.7%, respectively. The DA antagonist, spiperone (100 mmol l –1 in 1 μl), caused a significant feeding response, showing an increase in feeding in both sucrose (310.6%) and total intake (236.3%). Casein feeding in R. maderae nymphs was also elevated (70.8%) but this was not statistically significant. The experiments with DA, the DA agonist 6,7-ADTN and the DA antagonist spiperone strongly suggest that the neurotransmitter DA is involved in regulating feeding in the cockroach R. maderae .
Effect of Irradiation and Pre-Irradiation Treatments on Beef Muscle Proteins

SUMMARY Changes in texture resulting from soaking beef steaks in an equal weight of distilled water for 72 hrs at 38°F, heating to an internal temperature of 160°F, and irradiating to a level of 4.5 Mrads are not due to the loss of the acidic and basic groups of the muscle proteins. The pH-hydration curves of the soaked samples indicate that soaking causes a shift of the isoelectric region of the meat to a pH higher than that of the control samples. Severe precipitation of the meat proteins occurs when the soaked meat is cooked, resulting in a firmer texture than that possessed by the cooked unsoaked meat. The shift in the pH-WHC curve of the meat by soaking appears to be caused by diminution of the muscle anions and/or partial denaturation of some of the muscle proteins. Thermal inactivation of the enzymes also tends to increase the firmness of meat, by causing a tightening of the meat structure, whereas irradiation-sterilization may exert only a slight tightening of muscle structure, by increasing the number of the relatively weak hydrogen or electrostatic bonds. When meat was heated and then irradiated, however, the effect of cooking was dominant. The electrophoretic data suggest that the reported fragmentary action of irradiation upon meat proteins may be on the fractions not extracted by the glycine-NaOH buffer.
Measurement of the interlayer between aluminum and silicon dioxide using ellipsometric, capacitance-voltage and auger electron spectroscopy techniques

Abstract Ellipsometric and capacitance-voltage measurements were combined to detect both the AlSiO 2 interlayer and the SiSiO 2 interlayer for the Si/SiO 2 /Al system. The AlSiO 2 interlayer was characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), combined with argon ion sputter profiling, of the Al/SiO 2 /Si structure and also of the remaining SiO 2 /Si structure after the aluminum had been chemically removed. An effective interlayer thickness is defined as the product of the interlayer thickness and the fractional change in the dielectric SiO 2 constant. The results of these experiments indicate that the Alz.sbnd;SiO 2 effective interlayer thickness has a range of 0.1–0.5 nm. The AES data can be readily interpreted if it is assumed that collision cascade mixing and recoil implantation occur as a consequence of sputter depth profiling through the aluminum.
QSIP: phase imaging made possible in a bright field microscope

Quantitative structured-illumination phase microscopy (QSIP) uses a conventional bright field microscope to quantitatively measure the optical path length profiles of homogenous phase-only objects. The illumination in QSIP is structured with a predetermined pattern by placing an amplitude mask in the field diaphragm of the microscope. From the image of the amplitude mask, a numerical algorithm implementing a closed form analytical solution calculates the object's optical path length profile. In this paper, we investigate the accuracy of the numerical algorithm used and show that it can be made arbitrarily accurate by using numerical optimization. We then analyze the effect of the system's numerical aperture (NA), and show that QSIP can be used with a wide range of NAs for objects with small phase gradients, and can be used with relatively lower NAs for objects with large phase gradients.
Evaluation of the Learning Curve in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: Comparison of Right-Sided and Left-Sided Resections

Objective: To provide a multidimensional analysis of the learning curve in major laparoscopic colonic and rectal surgery and compare outcomes between right-sided versus left-sided resections.
Conflicting results in clinical research: is the proof in the P value, the study design, or the pudding?

In this issue of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Williams and colleagues present data from a previously-published clinical investigation in which subjects undergoing outpatient anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) received 1 of 3 postoperative treatments in a randomized, double-masked fashion: (1) a femoral “block” with saline followed by a continuous femoral infusion also of saline; (2) a femoral block with levobupivacaine (0.25%) followed by a continuous femoral infusion of saline; and (3) a femoral block with levobupivacaine (0.25%) followed by a continuous femoral infusion of levobupivacaine (0.25%).1 In the present report, the authors retrospectively analyze prospectively-collected data and conclude, “the addition of a femoral nerve block to the described multimodal technique was not associated with NVR [nausea, vomiting, retching] or quality of sleep-restfulness.”2 As noted by the authors, this lack of association is the opposite finding of multiple previously-published randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled investigations involving ambulatory continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) that did find a strong association between CPNB and decreased nausea/vomiting and sleep disturbances.3-5 With differing conclusions, what should practitioners expect for their patients with CPNB—in essence, what is the “take-home” message from this newly reported data?
An infrared reflectance spectroscopic study of a pH-tunable network of nanoparticles linked by hydrogen bonding

This paper presents novel findings of the pH-tunable structural properties of a hydrogen-bonded nanoparticle network using an infrared reflectance spectroscopic (IRS) technique. Gold nanoparticles encapsulated with thiolates and alkylthiols terminated with carboxylic groups were utilized as building blocks and molecular linkers, respectively, for assembling the network film. The IRS bands associated with the reactivities of the carboxylic acid groups on the nanoparticles allowed us to analyze the structures during surface titration of the network thin films. IRS data have revealed that the network, linked by predominantly head-to-head hydrogen bonding, could be reversibly tuned between the neutral protonated and the ionic deprotonated states. This protonation/deprotonation process was also found to exhibit membrane-type properties, as supported by open-circuit potential measurement of the membrane. These findings have important implications to designing nanoparticle-based functional nanostructures for molecular recognition.
New customers, new challenges, new structure: realigning support to survive massive growth

The Community Network was established at Oregon State University as an efficiency measure to provide contractual desktop support. The move of information technology support functions from staff employed by individual departments to a centralized model resulted in immediate, across the board economies of scale. Nevertheless, operationally the Community Network has continued the "departmental" model of support. Currently there are four main desktop support groups and each supports, for the most part, several departments of similar functionality. While this model has traditionally afforded a high comfort level among supported users, recent growth indicates that it is not the most efficient or cost effective solution. Each group performs numerous redundant functions and over time, each group has developed their own set of operational procedures. The result of this "group independence" has made it difficult to respond to critical events with a quick re-shifting of technical staff. The proposed model is a phased revision from the current departmental model to a functional team based model, which eliminates many redundant functions. The first phase, centralization of the help desk and queue management functions, will help eliminate most redundancies allowing us to meet an ever-expanding customer base with fewer new staff hires. It will also provide us with a method to implement uniform operational procedures throughout the groups, giving us more flexibility in staff deployment. In the second phase the departmental teams will be restructured into functional desktop support, application support, and emergency response teams.
Some roads lead to Rome

Mira Liehm. Passion and Defiance: Film in Italy from 1942 to the Present. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984. 396 pp. $29.75 cloth.
Risk of starting to smoke tobacco cigarettes in the United States: Estimates for foreign-born vs. U.S.-born young people, 2002–2009

lected from the American Community Survey and the Area Health Resources Files. Methadone dosage rates were measured by percentage of patients receiving dosages below 40, 60 and 80mg/day. Results: County density and median income were positively associated with methadone program income; median county income formed a positive relationship with expenditures per patient, after controlling for program income and total patients. Patient methadone dosage levels were significantly related to a county’s unemployment rate and median income. High county population density is associated with lower methadone dosages. However, increased county unemployment rates and program incomewere found tobe associatedwith increased rates of patients receiving higher dosages, controlling for total number of clients. Conclusions: Area-level attributes and program resources are important determinants of variation in program treatment practices. The significant relationship between these factors and concentrated racial and ethnic populations may be significant contributors in predicting the likelihood of patients receiving recommended dosage levels. Future studies should define causal pathways and specify the effects of area-level characteristics on program resources and treatment. Financial support: KL2 TR000081, R01DA030459.
Ovarian Reserve in Women Treated for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia or Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Chemotherapy, but Not Stem Cell Transplantation

Purpose. It is well known that chemotherapy regimens may have a negative effect on ovarian reserve, leading to amenorrhea or premature ovarian failure. There are little data regarding the effects of leukemia chemotherapy on ovarian reserve, specifically in women who received the chemotherapy as adults and are having regular menstrual periods. Our primary objective was to determine if premenopausal women with a history of chemotherapy for leukemia, without subsequent stem cell transplantation, have decreased ovarian reserve. Materials and Methods. We measured ovarian reserve in five women who had been treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and compared them to age-matched control women without a history of chemotherapy. Results. There appeared to be a trend towards lower antimullerian hormone and antral follicle counts and higher follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the leukemia group. Conclusion. Our results indicate that chemotherapy for AML or ALL without stem cell transplantation may compromise ovarian reserve. Although our results should be confirmed by a larger study, oncologists, infertility specialists, and patients should be aware of the potential risks to ovarian function and should be counseled on options for fertility preservation.
Electromigration in SnPb and Pb-free solder bumps

Electromigration is the movement of metal atoms in the direction of current flow. It is caused by the transfer of momentum from the passing electrons to atoms in the lattice. First discovered in thin-film aluminum conductors some thirty years ago, electromigration is a significant concern for solder bumps on chip scale packages (CSP). As the understanding of solder electromigration expands, new opportunities for risk mitigation have emerged. This paper addresses the physics of electromigration in solders with particular emphasis on the time and temperature dependant factors that affect accelerated testing. Pb-based solders are contrasted with Pb-free solders by realizing that the microstructures of these solders are substantially different and the risks from electromigration are different as well. Results of recent experiments on the electromigration of Pb-free solder bumps are reviewed and theories explaining the results are presented in this update on prior work.
Web services, Web searches, and cultural algorithms

Cultural algorithms, a form of evolutionary programming, employ a dual inheritance mechanism at population and knowledge levels to support problem solving, reasoning, and knowledge extraction. Domain knowledge is extracted and separated from individuals within a population and is placed in a belief space. Hierarchical structures employed in the belief space help to accelerate and guide population evolution. The structure of the cultural algorithm lends itself well to a data rich, but knowledge poor distributed environments. Current research, as reported in this paper, is directed toward implementing the belief and population space components as agents interacting with Web services, Web pages, and users. The cultural algorithm framework becomes a mechanism to evolve and refine meaningful search queries that extract significant and useful primary and peripheral information.
Satisficing search algorithms for selecting near-best bases in adaptive tree-structured wavelet transforms

Satisficing search algorithms are proposed for adaptively selecting near-best basis and near-best frame decompositions in redundant tree-structured wavelet transforms. Any of a variety of additive or nonadditive information cost functions can be used as the decision criterion for comparing and selecting nodes when searching through the tree. The algorithms are applicable to tree-structured transforms generated by any kind of wavelet whether orthogonal, biorthogonal, or nonorthogonal. These satisficing search algorithms implement suboptimizing rather than optimizing principles, and acquire the important advantage of reduced computational complexity with significant savings in memory, flops, and time. Despite the suboptimal approach, top-down tree-search algorithms with additive or nonadditive costs that yield near-best bases can be considered, in certain important and practical situations, better than bottom-up tree-search algorithms with additive costs that yield best bases. Here, "better than" means that, effectively, the same level of performance can be attained for a relative fraction of the computational work. Experimental results comparing the various information cost functions and basis selection methods are demonstrated for both data compression of real speech and time-frequency analysis of artificial transients.
Superior imaging quality of scanning helium-ion microscopy: A look at beam-sample interactions

D. Cohen-Tanugi and N. Yao Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, Princeton, NJ 08544 Scanning Helium-Ion Microscopy (SHIM) offers high-resolution imaging at the sub-nanometer scale. SHIM is characterized by the high brightness of its ion source, its high secondary electron yield as well as the deep penetration of He