cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum dot photonic crystal lasers

Coupled cavity designs on two-dimensional square lattice photonic crystal slabs were used to demonstrate optically pumped indium arsenide quantum dot photonic crystal lasers at room temperature. Threshold pump powers of 120 and 370 μW were observed for coupled cavities including two and four defect cavities defined in optimised photonic crystals.
Subliminal light control of dark adaptation kinetics in Phycomyces phototropism.

Abstract— The dark adaptation kinetics of Phycomyces phototropism depend critically on the experimental protocol. When sporangiophores that had been light-adapted to a fluence rate of 1 W m 2 at 447 nm were exposed to dim unilateral light, the adaptation kinetics showed exponential decay (6 min time constant). However, when light-adapted sporangiophores were kept for variable intervals in darkness (i.e. in presence of traditional red safelight) and then exposed to dim unilateral test light, the decay kinetics of adaptation were biexponential with a rapid decay during the first minute (1 min time constant), followed by a slow recovery (11 min time constant). Thus, the dim subliminal light given after the sporangiophores had been adapted to 1 W m-2, was actually perceived, and exerted control over the dark-adaptation process. The observed acceleration of dark-adaptation kinetics constitutes a novel light effect of the sporangiophore. At wavelength 383 nm this effect was not observed. Because a β-carotene lacking mutant, L91 (genotype carB), was unmodified in dark-adaptation kinetics measured in the presence or absence of subliminal light, it appears that β-carotene is not involved in the photocontrol of adaptation.
The "problem" of dreaming in NREM sleep continues to challenge reductionist (two generator) models of dream generation (Commentary)

The “problem” of dreaming in NREM sleep continues to challenge models that propose a causal relationship between REM mechanisms and the psychological features of dreaming. I suggest that, ultimately, efforts to identify correspondences among multiple levels of analysis will be more productive for dream theory than attempts to reduce dreaming to any one level of analysis.[Hobson et al. ; Nielsen]
Analysis of wave spectrum for submerged bodies moving near the free surface

Abstract The ocean environment is complicated and changing. In ocean engineering, the flow physics around the underwater moving vehicles has been an important research topic. To understand the physical phenomena of submerged bodies in underwater movement and their effect on free surface motion during the moving process, this study treated large submerged bodies, such as submarine and whale, as the research subjects, and integrated dynamic grid technology, volume of fluid method, and finite volume method, to complete their dynamic flow field simulation involving the free surface effect. The dynamic flow simulation of submerged body showed that, the free surface disturbance arising from the moving body is closely related to configuration, dimension, moving speed and submerged depth of the body. Therefore, signal processing technology could be employed to further analyze the characteristics of the disturbed free surface, so as to learn the relationship between the wave spectrum and moving submerged body's geometric and kinematic factors. The proposed research method could not only contribute to analyze the influences of the above mentioned factors on the underwater resistance computation of the marine vehicle, but also allow to further establish the surface wave spectrum database of moving submerged bodies with specific geometric configuration, so as to track and to position the submerged body stealthily.
Evaluation of an Inexpensive Temperature Datalogger for Meteorological Applications

Abstract Recent advances in electronics miniaturization have allowed the commercial development of sensor/datalogger combinations that are sufficiently inexpensive and appear to be sufficiently accurate to deploy in measurement arrays to resolve local atmospheric structure over periods of weeks to months. As part of an extended wintertime field experiment in the Columbia Basin of south-central Washington, laboratory and field tests were performed on one such set of battery-powered temperature dataloggers (HOBO H8 Pro from Onset Computer, Bourne, Massachusetts). Five loggers were selected for laboratory calibration. These were accurate to within 0.26°C over the range from −5° to +50°C with a resolution of 0.04°C or better. Sensor time constants were 122 ± 6 s. Sampling intervals can be varied over a wide range, with onboard data storage of more than 21 000 data points. Field experiences with a set of 15 dataloggers are also described. The loggers appear to be suitable for a variety of meteorological applic...
Choosing nuclear arsenals: Prescriptions and predictions for new nuclear powers

This article examines the attributes of the available delivery systems, develops selection criteria based on the proliferants' security situations, and proposes notional arsenals given various stages of proliferant stockpile development. It then discusses the implications for the international system and United States (US) policy. US participation in the international non-proliferation effort is the best example of its disinterested intervention in proliferant matters. Its utility as an example comes not only from its familiarity, but from the lessons it teaches about reasonable expectations of success for other disinterested intervention regimes. The chapter then discusses the nine countries: India, Pakistan, Israel, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa. All either have nuclear weapons they will not admit having, or are aggressively pursuing the capability. Of these, only Pakistan and Israel have been accused of having the capability to make small nuclear warheads, but that capability are discussed for all nine.
Personality feedback and situational norms can control stereotyping processes.

Impressions are influenced by motivations stemming primarily from the target (e.g., interdependence), 3rd parties (e.g., accountability or time pressure), or the self. The current studies investigate motivations stemming primarily from the self. In Study 1, Ss were given dispositional feedback about their abilities to categorize or to individuate. In Study 2, they were given situational information about the appropriate norms to categorize or to individuate. As predicted, dispositional feedback influenced low self-monitors, and situational information influenced high self-monitors. Both altered attention to potentially individuating category-inconsistent attributes as well as requests for additional information. Causal models further illuminated the mediating processes. These results suggest that people's flexible self-concepts are an important source of motivation in impression formation.
Further analysis of physicochemical and immunologic properties of herpes simplex virus precipitating antigens.

Evidence was obtained indicating that fresh antigen preparations of herpes simplex virus contained a number of antigenic components, which formed precipitates with human anti-herpes sera. Many of these were quite labile and lost during fractionations by DEAE cellulose chromatography. Several precipitating antigens with relative stability were further analysed by density gradient centrifugation and zone electrophoresis. Most of the antigen fractions thus obtained were found to contain subunits of surface antigens of the virus, which were capable of inducing virus neutralizing antibodies by immunization of animals and combiningin vitro with neutralizing antibodies. There were some special antigens with cathodic migration in electrophoresis and stability at pH 2 which were incapable of producing neutralizing antibodies in animals or combining with themin vitro.
Choice of Geographical Location as Governance Strategy in Outsourcing Contracts: Localized Outsourcing, Global Outsourcing, and Onshore Outsourcing

Outsourcing, which involves business-to-business arm’s-length exchanges with suppliers to supplement in-house activities, has grown internationally in scope with the advent of offshore outsourcing in which firms outsource business processes to be executed by suppliers in other countries. In spite of the dramatic growth in outsourcing, managerial governance concerns about controlling and coordinating suppliers’ activities are prevalent. We propose that the geographic location (i.e., localized outsourcing, global outsourcing, and onshore outsourcing) from where the outsourced task is performed by the supplier should influence the degree of relational governance achievable, i.e., degree to which informal relationships and implicit norms of behavior are established among clients and suppliers. We apply transaction cost economics to suggest that depending on the degree of relational governance required for an outsourced task, firms might benefit by outsourcing the task to specific geographic locations. We use an event study to investigate shareholder perceptions of the mode of 185 outsourcing announcements of Fortune 500 multinational corporations during 1996–2004. The results from a model that accounts for the endogeneity of the choice of geographic locations show that for most outsourced ventures global outsourcing is a more effective relational governance strategy than onshore outsourcing or localized outsourcing.
Ethical assessments of brain death and organ procurement policies: a survey of transplant personnel in the United States.

The Questionnaire on Prolonging and Shortening Life was developed to assess the views of medical personnel regarding brain death, organ procurement policies, and related issues. The questionnaire was completed by 189 transplant physicians, 197 clinical coordinators, 150 medical students, and 70 nursing students. Ninety-five percent supported the so-called dead donor rule. What this rule means in practice appeared unclear among the population. More than 60% supported procuring organs from anencephalic and "higher brain-dead" patients, although patients in both groups are not dead by current legal standards. Performance on items relating to so-called non-heart-beating organ donation suggested that 75% of the group do not support non-heart-beating organ donation without assurance that the donors are brain-dead before procurement begins. Given that current recommendations to increase organ donation look to non-heart-beating organ donation rather than to anencephalic patients and those in a persistent vegetati...
Hormonally active gynecologic tumors

Hormonally active gynecologic tumors include gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and some of the primary ovarian tumors. The presenting symptoms in patients with these tumors are frequently related to their endocrine activity. The main hormone produced by gestational tropho-blastic disease is human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and the main symptoms are those associated with a normal pregnancy, except they are frequently exaggerated. The endocrinally active ovarian tumors are mainly those of the sex—cord stromal group and these may produce any of the sex steroids (estrogens, androgens, or progestins). Some germ cell tumors of the ovary are hormonally active because they contain syncytio-trophoblastic cells which produce HCG. There are two specialized types of mature teratomas that are discussed: struma ovarii, which produce thyroid hormones, and carcinoids, which produce serotonin.
Clinical Commentary: The Challenges of Genetic Medicine to the Patient-Physician Relationship

Author explores the interface between the current clinical reality for patients and evolving genetic research results, noting how knowledge about various genetic disorders is posing a major challenge to the patient-physician relationship.
Common Pain Syndromes in Stroke Patients: Review of Two Cases

Due to multiple neurological and musculoskeletal factors, stroke patients are at significant risk for the development of disabling pain syndromes. This article provides examples of two commonly encountered clinical situations, poststroke shoulder and poststroke hip pain. Appropriate use of imaging, medications, modalities, and injections are discussed for the purpose of enhancing management strategies that decrease pain and increase overall function.
Synthesis of transition-metal-incorporated nickel phosphate molecular sieves TMI-VSB-1

Nanoporous nickel phosphate, VSB-1, offers very versatile structural properties for isomorphous substitution and accommodates a high concentration of various transition metal ions with not only oct...
Optogalvanic Spectroscopy-Application To Combustion Systems

This paper reviews the application of optogalvanic spectroscopy to flames. Optogalvanic spectroscopy is a method of obtaining absorption spectra of atomic and molecular species in flames and electrical discharges by measuring voltage and current changes upon laser irradiation. The technique alleviates problems associated with optically monitoring either small absorptions or weak fluorescence in the presence of strong laser light. Optogalvanic spectroscopy in discharges has been useful in characterizing laser linewidths as well as provid-ing a convenient frequency calibration for tunable dye lasers. In addition, opto-galvanic signals have been used to frequency stabilize continuous-wave dye lasers. Optogalvanic spectroscopy has also been possible on some molecular species which exist only in flame or discharge environments. Analytical flame spectrometry utilizing the optogalvanic effect for trace metal detection shows significant promise for many metallic elements. The optogalvanic effect can also serve as a probe of ionization effects in flames. Ionization cross sections and ion mobilities may be determined from an analysis of optogalvanic signals. This technique has been extended to include determination of mobilities for soot precursor species. Flow velocities may also be determined in laminar flames by following the residual depletion of neutrals due to laser-enhanced ionization.
Patterns of methamphetamine use vary by age and HIV serostatus

Author(s): Montoya, Jessica; Cattie, J; Morgan, Erin E; Woods, S; Moore, D; Atkinson, J; Grant, I
Resistance gene analogue markers are mapped to homeologous chromosomes in cultivated tetraploid cotton

Degenerate primers designed from conserved motifs of known plant resistance gene products were used to amplify genomic DNA sequences from the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) resistance genetic source, Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) cultivar Auburn 634 RNR. A total of 165 clones were isolated, and sequence analysis revealed 57 of the clones to be novel nucleotide sequences, many containing the resistance (R)-protein nucleotide-binding site motif. A cluster analysis was performed with resistance gene analogue (RGA) nucleotide sequences isolated in this study, in addition to 99 cotton RGA nucleotide sequences already deposited in GenBank, to generate a phylogenetic tree of cotton R genes. The cotton RGA nucleotide sequences were arranged into 11 groups and 56 sub-groups, based on genetic distances. Multiple sequence alignments were performed on the RGA sequences of each sub-group, and either the consensus sequences or individual RGA sequences were used to design 61 RGA-sequence-tagged site primers. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of cultivated tetraploid cotton was genotyped using RGA-specific primers that amplified polymorphic fragments between the two RIL parents. Nine RGA markers were mapped to homeologous chromosomes 12 and 26, based on linkage to existing markers that are located on these chromosomes.
Energy Constraints on the Evolution of Gene Expression

I here estimate the energy cost of changes in gene expression for several thousand genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A doubling of gene expression, as it occurs in a gene duplication event, is significantly selected against for all genes for which expression data is available. It carries a median selective disadvantage of s > 10 - 5 , several times greater than the selection coefficient s = 1.47 × 10 - 7 below which genetic drift dominates a mutant's fate. When considered separately, increases in messenger RNA expression or protein expression by more than a factor 2 also have significant energy costs for most genes. This means that the evolution of transcription and translation rates is not an evolutionarily neutral process. They are under active selection opposing them. My estimates are based on genome-scale information of gene expression in the yeast S. cerevisiae as well as information on the energy cost of biosynthesizing amino acids and nucleotides.
Biosynthesis of rat growth plate proteoglycans in diabetes and malnutrition

Insulin is an important growth factor in man and mammals. In the present investigation, we have studied the incorporation of (35S)-sulfate into growth plate proteoglycans in normal, diabetic, insulin-treated diabetic, and marasmic rats. We found that diabetes leads to an all-but-total stop in the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans. The glycosaminoglycan chains actually synthesized were shorter than in normal rats. The proteoglycan monomers were smaller and did not form large aggregates in vitro. Marasmic rats and insulin-treated diabetic rats were intermediate between normal and diabetic rats with respect to sulfate uptake by cartilage, incorporation of cartilage sulfate into glycosaminoglycans, and the chain length of glycosaminoglycans. We conclude that insulin and nutrition play important but different roles in the biosynthesis of growth plate proteoglycans and thus for the longitudinal growth of skeletal bones.
A possible source of monochromatic photons below 100 MeV

Abstract It is suggested that positron and electron beams which interact while moving in the same direction with nearly equal energies could be a source of monochromatic photons. The idea is explored by assuming that 30 MeV positron and electron currents of 1 and 10 A respectively are circulating in a storage rings 10 m in circumference. The beams are assumed to overlap for 1 m in a vacuum of 10 −11 Torr. The resulting photon spectrum consists of e + , e − annihilation photons with twice the energy of the individual beams and a bremsstrahlung spectrum due to the interaction of the beams with the residual gas of the vacuum whose end point energy is one-half the annihilation photon energy.
New polarized light microscope with precision universal compensator

A new type of polarized light microscope ('new pol-scope') for fast and orientation-independent measurement of birefringent fine structure has been developed. The design of the new pol-scope incorporates a precision universal compensator made from two liquid crystal variable retarders. A video camera and digital image processing system provide fast measurements of specimen anisotropy (retardance magnitude and azimuth) at all points of the image forming the field of view. The images document fine structural and molecular organization within a thin optical section of the specimen. The sensitivity of the current instrument is 0.1 nm of specimen retardance, measured with data gathered in 0.43 s at all 640 x 480 image points. Examples of birefringence measurements in biological (microtubule arrays) and industrial (magneto-optical disc substrate) specimens are presented.
Retinoic acid and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate alter release of glycoproteins from mouse fibroblast BALB/C 3T6 cells

Treatment of mouse fibroblast BALB/c 3T6 cells with the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate or the antipromoter retinoic acid affects the release of several glycoproteins into the medium. The phorbol ester decreases the secretion of a 180-kd and 160-kd glycoprotein and increases the release of a 38-kd glycoprotein. In contrast, retinoic acid affects these glycoproteins in the opposite way. Moreover, retinoic acid enhances the level of a 55-kd and 60-kd glycoprotein. The 180-kd and 160-kd glycoproteins appear sensitive to collagenase and after pepsin treatment are converted to bands which comigrate with collagen alpha 1 (I) and alpha 2 (I). These glycoproteins are tentatively identified as being pro alpha 1 (I) and pro alpha 2 (I). The 38-kd glycoprotein appears to comigrate with the major excreted protein. Retinoic acid appears to reduce significantly the incorporation of mannose into secreted glycoproteins whereas treatment with the phorbol ester induces an enhancement in mannose incorporation. Our results indicate that both phorbol esters and retinoids alter the release of several glycoproteins from 3T6 mouse fibroblasts. These changes appear to relate to the influence of these compounds on the expression of the transformed phenotype of these cells.
Ethanol consumption and taste preferences in C57BL/6ByJ and 129/J mice

Mice of the C57BL/6ByJ (B6) and 129/J (129) strains were offered different concentrations of taste solutions in 48-hr, two-bottle choice tests. In comparison with the 129 strain, the B6 strain had higher preferences for ethanol, sucrose, and citric acid. They had lower preferences for NaCl and similar preferences for capsaicin and quinine hydrochloride. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the higher ethanol intake by B6 mice depends, in part, on higher hedonic attractiveness of its sweet taste component.
Online aggression: The influences of anonymity and social modeling

Behavioral temptation to aggress and participant blog responses following a group word unscrambling game were examined in situations of anonymity and positive or negative social modeling. Anonymous participants were more aggressive than non-anonymous participants. Also, social modeling seemed to moderate the effect of anonymity on behavioral temptation to aggress as well as verbal aggression via blog posts. Specifically, anonymous participants responded more aggressively when they viewed aggressive models following failure in a team word unscrambling game. These findings suggest that although anonymity may increase the likelihood that individuals will aggress, social modeling may influence aggressive outcomes.
Improved polysilicon surface-micromachined micromirror devices using chemical-mechanical polishing

ABSTRACT Surface polysilicon micromachined micromirrors require ultra-flat surfaces for advance optical applications such asadaptive optics. This paper details the planarization of micromirrors using chemical-mechanical polishing. We show that theincrease in topography is due to a high temperature anneal step downstream from the CMP process itself. Two processalternatives were investigated: (1) perform a CMP step after the high temperature anneal step, and (2) perform a CMP stepon the final polysilicon mirror surface. Both process alternatives produced acceptable flatness requirements for micromirrorapplications.Keywords: micro-optical components, micromirrors, planarization, chemical-mechanical polishing, CMP, adaptive optics.Optical MEMS. 1. INTRODUCTION Micro-optical mirror elements have widespread applications in optical systems such as flat panel displays, opticalinterconnects, adaptive optical arrays, scanners, optical beam steering, etc.17 Recently, silicon and polysiliconmicromachining technologies have been applied to optical micromirror component fabrication. Advantages for an opticalsystem are lower mass, lower operating power, compact design, and the potential for large arrays of micro-optical elements.Micromirror devices can be designed to transmit light intensity with or without phase information. As the applicationbecomes more complex, the quality of the mirror surface and the ability to reproduce desired wavefronts becomes moreimportant such as with adaptive optics 8
DOES GRADE INFLATION DECREASE THE RELIABILITY OF GRADES

A progressive rise in undergraduate grade-point averages (GPA's) in American colleges and universities since the mid-1960's has been documented by several recent studies (Scully, 1974; Suslow, 1976) and has been the object of critical media attention by, for example, the Wall Street Journal and conservative columnist George F. Will. GPA's in fifteen leading universities studied by Suslow (1976) increased from 2.49 in 1963 to 2.94 in 1974; and A's and B's accounted for 71% of the letter grades assigned in 1974. Such grade inflation has alarmed many observers, particularly since a declining trend has been noted in students' scores on standardized tests. Grading systems have been labeled "unreliable" and "corrupt" (White, 1975), as instructors are said to abdicate the evaluator role or apply lower standards in order to appease students. It has also been claimed that employers and admission committees are relying less upon grades as measures of academic achievement (Davidson, 1975), replacing grades with other measures such as test scores. Grade inflation is seen to result in lowered validity of grades, as A's and B's become "so common that the best students are no longer easily distinguishable from the mediocre" (Davidson, 1975, p. 1). Are the critics' judgments about the adverse effects of grade inflation supported by evidence? As is the case with the causes of grade inflation (Scully, 1975), the effects of grade inflation have received more comment than research attention. The basic claim is that grade inflation decreases the reliability and validity of grades. Since reliability is a necessary (but not sufficient) condition for validity, it is the prior consideration, and will be the primary issue dealt with in this paper. As we will show, if grading is considered as a scaling problem, then it follows that the effects of grade inflation may not be as simple and direct as many believe. In assigning a grade, an instructor is rating a student's performance on a scale whose points are labeled from A to F. Psychometricians have found that the reliability of a rating scale is, under certain conditions, directly related to the number of response categories (Komorita & Graham, 1965; Masters, 1974). Grade inflation results in a decrease in the number of functional grading categories, as instructors limit the range of grades they actually assign in significant numbers to A-C. Consequently, increases in GPA may well be associated with reductions in the reliability of grades. However, the reliability of a rating scale seems to be relatively constant if the scale has 5-7 points or more (Masters, 1974). Thus, if plus and minus grades in addition to straight letter grades are available and are used by instructors, the
Conformational studies of cyclopropylmethyl isothiocyanate from temperature-dependent FT-IR spectra of rare gas solutions and ab initio calculations.

Variable temperature (−55 to −150 °C) studies of the infrared spectra (3200−100 cm-1) of cyclopropylmethyl isothiocyanate, c-C3H5CH2NCS, dissolved in liquefied rare gases (Xe and Kr), have been carried out. The infrared spectra of the gas and solid, as well as the Raman spectrum of the liquid, have also been recorded from 3200 to 100 cm-1. By analyzing six conformer pairs in xenon solutions, a standard enthalpy difference of 228 ± 23 cm-1 (2.73 ± 0.27 kJ·mol-1) was obtained with the gauche−cis (the first designation indicates the orientation of the CNCS group with respect to the three-membered ring, the second designation indicates the relative orientation of the NCS group with respect to the bridging C−C bond) rotamer the more stable form, and it is also the only form present in polycrystalline solid. Given statistical weights of 2:1 for the gauche−cis and cis−trans forms (the only stable conformers predicted); the abundance of cis−trans conformer present at ambient temperature is 14 ± 2%. The potential ...
Calorie restriction modulates age-dependent changes in the retinas of Brown Norway rats.

The present study examined the effect of a 40% reduction in caloric intake (CR) versus ad libitum (AL) feeding on retinal aging. CR- and AL-fed Brown Norway (BN) rats were obtained at 12, 24 and 30 months of age from the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR). Age-dependent declines in outer nuclear layer (ONL=photoreceptor) cell densities, ONL height, inner nuclear layer (INL) cell densities, and thicknesses of the inner retina and whole retina were quantified in thick sections at six loci across the circumference of the sensory retina (four peripheral, two central). Data were analyzed by repeated measures, general linear models. Aging in both diet groups was associated with declines in ONL cell density, ONL height, peripheral INL cell density and total retinal thickness (P≤0.05). However, ONL cell densities, ONL height and retinal thickness were significantly greater in the CR versus AL diet group at all three ages (P≤0.005). CR was also associated with a trend for greater peripheral INL cell density (P=0.06) and with greater INL thickness at 30 months (Bonferroni P=0.03). Elevated ONL cell densities in the CR-12 cohort relative to the AL-12 cohort could be explained by diet-associated differences in retinal length, i.e. delayed retinal growth in response to CR. Enhanced ONL cell density, ONL height, INL cell density, INL thickness and total retinal thickness in the CR-30 cohort appear to be as a result of reduced rates of retinal cell loss between 24 and 30 months. However, the protective effect of CR in retinas of older animals may also reflect the initial growth-associated enhancements which were observed in 12 month-old animals. The rat retina may provide a useful model for elucidating the neuroprotective mechanism(s) of CR.
A spatially explicit model to predict future landscape composition of aspen woodlands under various management scenarios

Abstract Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is declining across the western United States. Aspen habitats are among the most diverse plant communities in this region and loss of these habitats can result in shifts in biodiversity, productivity, and hydrology across a range of spatial scales. Western aspen occurs on the majority of sites seral to conifer species, and long-term maintenance of these aspen woodlands requires periodic fire. Over the past century, fire intervals, extents, and intensities have been insufficient to regenerate aspen stands at historic rates; however the effects of various fire regimes and management scenarios on aspen vegetation dynamics at broad spatial and temporal scales are unexplored. Here we use field data, remotely sensed data, and fire atlas information to develop a spatially explicit landscape simulation model to assess the effects of current and historic wildfire regimes and prescribed burning programs on landscape vegetation composition across two mountain ranges in the Owyhee Plateau, Idaho. Model outputs depict the future structural makeup and species composition of the landscape at selected time steps under simulated management scenarios. We found that under current fire regimes and in the absence of management activities, loss of seral aspen stands will continue to occur over the next two centuries. However, a return to historic fire regimes (burning 12–14% of the modeled landscape per decade) would maintain the majority of aspen stands in early and mid seral woodland stages and minimizes the loss of aspen. A fire rotation of 70–80 years was estimated for the historic fire regime while the current fire regime resulted in a fire rotation of 340–450 years, underscoring the fact that fire is currently lacking in the system. Implementation of prescribed burning programs, treating aspen and young conifer woodlands according to historic fire occurrence probabilities, are predicted to prevent conifer dominance and loss of aspen stands.
Ventricular rotation is independent of cardiac looping: a study in mice with situs inversus totalis using speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Background The authors conducted an ultrasound interrogation of a mutant mouse model with a Dnah5 mutation to determine whether cardiac mechanics may be affected by reversal of cardiac situs. This mutant is a bona fide model of primary ciliary dyskinesia, with surviving homozygous mice showing either situs solitus (SS) or situs inversus totalis (SI). Methods High-frequency ultrasound interrogations of 27 neonatal and infant Dnah5 mutant mice, 16 with SS and 11 with SI, were conducted using an ultra-high-frequency biomicroscope. Electrocardiographic and respiratory gating were used to reconstruct high-resolution two-dimensional cines at 1,000 Hz, with speckle-tracking echocardiography used to further analyze midchamber and apical rotation. Results All SS mice exhibited the expected counterclockwise apical rotation as viewed caudocranially, and surprisingly, the same counterclockwise motion was also observed in SI mice. Speckle-tracking analysis confirmed counterclockwise systolic rotation in both SS and SI mice, and this increased in magnitude from the subepicardium to the endocardium and from the papillary muscles to the apex. The magnitude of apical endocardial rotation was not different for SS and SI mice (5.64 ± 0.75° and 5.76 ± 1.90°, respectively, P = .93). The anatomic segments responsible for the largest components of apical endocardial systolic rotation differed between the SS and SI hearts ( P = .004). In both, the two largest contributors to rotation were offset 180° from each other, but the anatomic regions differed between them. In SS hearts, maximal regional rotation occurred at the anterior mid-septum and posterolateral free wall, while in SI hearts, it was derived from the posterior septum and the anterolateral free wall. Analysis by episcopic fluorescence image capture histology of representative SI and SS mice showed normal intracardiac and segmental anatomy ({S,D,S} or {I,L,I}) without intracardiac defects. Conclusions These results show that mirror-image cardiac looping did not result in mirror-image rotation of the morphologic left ventricle. These findings suggest that further studies are warranted to evaluate whether fiber orientation and cardiac mechanics may be abnormal in individuals with reversal of cardiac situs. The results of this study indicate that cardiac looping and myofiber orientation may be independently regulated.
Measuring Exocytosis in Neurons Using FM Labeling

The ability to measure the kinetics of vesicle release can help provide insight into some of the basics of neurotransmission. Here we used real-time imaging of vesicles labeled with FM dye to monitor the rate of presynaptic vesicle release. FM4-64 is a red fluorescent amphiphilic styryl dye that embeds into the membranes of synaptic vesicles as endocytosis is stimulated. Lipophilic interactions cause the dye to greatly increase in fluorescence, thus emitting a bright signal when associated with vesicles and a nominal one when in the extracellular fluid. After a wash step is used to help remove external dye within the plasma membrane, the remaining FM is concentrated within the vesicles and is then expelled when exocytosis is induced by another round of electrical stimulation. The rate of vesicles release is measured from the resulting decrease in fluorescence. Since FM dye can be applied external and transiently, it is a useful tool for determining rates of exocytosis in neuronal cultures, especially when comparing the rates between transfected synapses and neighboring control boutons.
On Approximately Realizing and Characterizing Pure Mode-I Interface Fracture Between Bonded Dissimilar Materials

Bimaterial systems in which two dissimilar materials are adhesively joined by a thin adhesive interlayer have been widely used in a variety of modern industries and engineering structures. It is well known that interfacial fracture is the most common failure mode for these bimaterial systems. Particularly, the interface fracture is a mixed mode in nature mode-I (pure peel) and mode-II (pure shear) due to the disrupted symmetry by the bimaterial configuration. Obviously, characterizing individual fracture modes, especially mode-I fracture, is essential in understanding and modeling the complex mixed mode fracture problems. Meanwhile, the J-integral is a highly preferred means to characterize the interfacial fracture behaviors of a bimaterial system because it cannot only capture more accurate toughness value, but also facilitate an experimental characterization of interfacial traction-separation laws (cohesive laws). Motivated by these important issues, a novel idea is proposed in the present work to realize and characterize the pure mode-I nonlinear interface fracture between bonded dissimilar materials. First, a nearly pure mode-I fracture test can be simply realized for a wide range of bimaterial systems by almost eliminating the mode-II component based on a special and simple configuration obtained in this work. Then, the concise forms of the J-integral are derived and used to characterize the interfacial fracture behaviors associated with classical and shear deformation beam theories. The proposed approach may be considered as a promising candidate for the future standard mode-I test method of bimaterial systems due to its obvious accuracy, simplicity, and applicability, as demonstrated by the numerical and experimental results.
Scientific creativity: A short overview

This article gives a condensed overview of important findings, methods, and theories related to scientific creativity. The topics discussed are grouped into the fourfold classification of the creative product, the creative person, the creative process, and the creative situation. Methods for evaluating the impact and creativeness of the creative product are citation analysis and rating inventories. The section in the creative person presents findings on the presonality of creative scientists and research productivity across the life span. The section on the creative process revies a stage theory of the creative act. Remarks on the creative situation include of summary of factors conducive to creative achievement and a discussion of the problem of multiple discoveries. In one of two additional sections, a comprehensive theory of scientific creativity-simonton's chance configuration theory—is reviewd. The second additional section presents recommendations for further research on scientific creativity.
Dual Role of Medial A10 Dopamine Neurons in Affective Encoding

Increasing evidence suggests that the activation of medial A10 neurons mediates positive affective encoding. However, little is known about the functions of the inhibition of midbrain dopamine neurons. Here we show evidence suggesting that the inhibition of medial A10 neurons mediates a negative affective state, leading to negative affective encoding, whereas blunting the activation of medial A10 neurons disrupts positive affective encoding involving food reward. We used a microinjection procedure, in which the D2 dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole was administered into the cell body region of the dopamine neurons, a procedure that reduces dopamine cell firing. Microinjections of quinpirole into the posteromedial ventral tegmental area, but not its more lateral counterparts, led to conditioned place aversion. Quinpirole administration to this site also decreased food intake and basal dopamine concentration in the ventromedial striatum, a major projection area of medial A10 neurons. In addition, moderate quinpirole doses that did not lead to conditioned place aversion or disrupt food intake abolished food-conditioned place preference, suggesting that blunting dopamine impulse activity in response to food reward disrupts positive affective encoding in associated external stimuli. Our data support the hypothesis that activation of medial A10 dopamine neurons mediates a positive affective state, leading to positive affective encoding, while their inhibition mediates a negative affective state, leading to negative affective encoding. Together with previous findings, we propose that medial A10 neurons are an important component of the mechanism via which animals learn to avoid negative incentive stimuli.
The transport of Northwest Providence Channel

Abstract A series of direct transport measurements in the Northwest Providence Channel were made during the period March 20–22, 1966. Easterly flow was observed on the southern side of the channel and westerly flow on the northern side with a net addition to the Florida Current of between 1·5 and 2·5 × 106 million m3/sec.
VI. Studies on Autodigestion. Digestion of Living Tissues by Trypsin

SummaryThe legs of living pithed frogs immersed for a short period of time in HCl or pepsin-HCl without any visible digestion resulting therefrom, can then be digested by trypsin. Primary exposure of the frogs legs to pepsin-HCl induces a shorter subsequent tryptic digestion time than primary exposure to HCl alone. Therefore, “peptonisation”11 must play an important role in the preparation of these tissues for tryptic digestion. The above experiments demonstrate that tryptic digestion of living tissues can take place under appropriate conditions.
Tailoring the interface in graphite-reinforced polycarbonate

Abstract : Pronounced effects of thermal treatment on the properties of graphite fiber/ polycarbonate and glass fiber/polycarbonate composites have been demonstrated and explained. At 20 volume percent loading of random-in-a-plane, discontinuous fibers, both specimen strength and modulus in both fiber systems were found to increase dramatically upon molding above 260-265 C, whereas only the graphite system was further improved by subsequent annealing. In the latter case, property improvement is due to generation of a crystalline inner layer at the interface, which apparently transfers the stresses more effectively from fiber to fiber. Regardless of the type of fiber, molding at 275 C (slightly above 260-265 C, the melting point of crystalline polycarbonate) results in improved properties due to better wetting of the fibers by the resin. Hot forming of graphite reinforced polycarbonate composites between the molding and annealing steps takes advantage of the higher process-ability of the unannealed material in addition to providing increased modulus and strength in the final molded article.
The acquired preparedness model of risk for bulimic symptom development.

The risk process for eating disorders can be understood as consisting of both dispositional characteristics of individuals and of learning processes that are specific to eating and dieting. Our intent with this paper is to test a model, adapted from the basic science literature on person-environment transaction theory (Caspi, 1993), describing a transactional process between broad disposition and specific learning that influences eating disorder risk. In person-environment transaction theory, learning is not just a function of experience; rather, one’s dispositional characteristics help shape one’s learning experiences, and one’s learning in turn influences one’s behavior. As a result, the influence of disposition on behavior is mediated by psychosocial learning. We applied this model to eating disorder risk, and tested one developmental implication of it: that individual differences in disposition at the start of middle school predicted subsequent high-risk learning, which then predicted increased eating disorder symptomatology. The dispositional characteristic we studied was ineffectiveness, which has been associated with eating disorder risk and which can be understood to refer to feelings of general inadequacy and ineffectiveness, insecurity, worthlessness, emptiness and lack of control over one’s life (Garner, 1991). Items representing the ineffectiveness construct include such statements as “I wish I were someone else” and “I feel ineffective as a person.” To represent learning processes related to risk for eating disorder, we relied on eating disorder expectancy theory. Essentially, eating disorder expectancy theory holds that individuals vary in their learned expectancies for reinforcement from eating and from dieting/thinness, and that individual differences in expectancies influence eating disorder risk (Hohlstein, Smith, & Atlas, 1998). Here we focus on the set of expectancies that “dieting and thinness lead to overgeneralized life improvement.” We introduce this study by first reviewing evidence that ineffectiveness and dieting/thinness expectancies each appear to operate as risk factors for eating disorders. We then summarize person-environment transaction theory and specify our application of this theory to eating disorder risk. We then report a test of the following core hypothesis from this theory. Among middle school girls, ineffectiveness predicts subsequent increases in expectancies for overgeneralized life improvement from dieting/thinness; the expectancies, in turn, predict increases in binge eating and purging behavior; and the predictive relationship between ineffectiveness and symptoms is mediated by dieting/thinness expectancies.
Angling vulnerability of black crappies, white crappies, and their naturally produced hybrid in Weiss Reservoir, Alabama, USA

We examined differences in angling vulnerability among black crappies Pomoxis nigromaculatus, white crappies Pomoxis annularis, and their naturally produced hybrid offspring in Weiss Reservoir, Alabama, USA, during spring and fall of 1992 and 1993. Proportions of crappie phenotypes (determined by starch-gel electrophoresis) in the reservoir were estimated from trapnet and electrofishing collections. We collected angled crappies from local resort owners and crappie tournaments during spring and fall 1992 and 1993 to determine relative proportions of crappie phenotypes in angler catch. The proportion of black crappies caught by anglers was higher (P < 0.05) and the proportion of white crappies caught by anglers was lower (P < 0.05) compared to their proportions in trapnet and electrofishing catches from the reservoir. Although first-generation (F1) hybrids recruited to the minimum harvestable size (254 mm total length) earlier than either parental, these fish were not overly abundant in angler catches compared to their abundances in the reservoir. In fact, we found that in the fall of 1992 F1 hybrid crappies were less abundant in angler catches compared with their abundances in the reservoir. Black crappies were more vulnerable to angling than the other phenotypes, yet the proportion of this species did not decrease over time, likely because of moderate rates of crappie exploitation in Weiss Reservoir. Results of this study suggest that stocking of hybrid crappies for sport fishing purposes may not be as beneficial as once thought because they do not always contribute to the sport fishery relative to their abundance.
What can White faculty do

White faculty members, even those who desire to participate in institutional change, are often unsure what role they can play in making their campuses places where American racial minority students want, and are able, to learn. Knowing what they can do may be the first step for White faculty members to begin making changes that can positively affect the racial climate of the campus and the educational experiences of minority students. By means of two stories from the author's institution, the paper points toward causes of, and possible solutions to, deeply entrenched faculty practices that contribute to an academically unwelcoming and difficult atmosphere for minority students.