cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate change, aerobiology, and public health in the Northeast United States

The epidemiological implications with respect to climate change and public health (e.g., shifts in disease vectors) are beginning to be acknowledged. Less recognized however, are the potential links between climate, plant biology and public health. In addition to being affected by climate (e.g., temperature determines plant range), carbon dioxide (CO2) represents the raw material needed for photosynthesis and its rapid increase in the atmosphere is expected to stimulate plant growth. While there are a number of means by which plant biology intersects with human health (e.g., plant nutrition), one of the most widely recognized is aerobiology; specifically, the ability of plants to both produce pollen and to serve as a substrate for molds/fungi (e.g., sporulation). The current review represents an initial attempt to coalesce what is known regarding the likely impacts of climate/CO2 on plant pollen/fungal spores and associated allergic disease that are, or could be, specific to the Northeast United States. Although the current results indicate a number of potentially unfavorable effects, we wish to stress that the current data are based on a small number of experiments. Additional data are crucial to both reduce epidemiological uncertainty and to derive a robust set of mitigation / adaptation strategies.
Some aspects of the relationship between chemical structure and melanocyte-stimulating properties of several peptides related to adrenocorticotropin.

Abstract The melanocyte-stimulating activity of several synthetic peptides whose amino acid sequences correspond to partial structures of ACTH has been determined. The duration of the response of frog melanocytes to these pepetides in vivo was studied, and two. ACTH and a synthetic nonadecapeptide, were found to have longer-lasting effects than native melanotropins. Heating with NaOH solution prolonged the melanocyte-expanding response to α-MSH and larger peptides. This treatment also incresed the potency of ACTH and of two synthetic peptides, a decapeptide and a nonadecapeptide. Evidence to suggest that the N-terminal serine may be implicated in the potentiating action of NaOH is presented.
1.5-μm optical up-conversion: wafer fusion and related issues

Imaging devices working in the near infrared (NIR), especially in the so-called eye-safe range, i.e., around 1.5 mm, have become increasingly important in many military and commercial applications; these include night vision, covert surveillance, range finding and semiconductor wafer inspection. We proposed a new approach in which a wafer-fused optical up-converter, combined with a commercially available charged coupled device (CCD), functions as an infrared camera. The optical up-converter converts incoming infrared light into shorter wavelength radiation that can be efficiently detected by the silicon CCD (cutoff wavelength about 1 mm). An optical up-converter with high efficiency at room-temperature is critical for low cost and large-area infrared imaging applications. A prototype 1.5 mm optical up-converter based on wafer fusion technology has been successfully fabricated. The device consists of an InGaAs/InP pin photodetector and a GaAs/AlGaAs light emitting diode. Experimental results show that the end-to-end up-conversion efficiency is 0.0177 W/W at room-temperature, corresponding to an internal quantum up-conversion efficiency of 76%. In this paper, the design, fabrications and characterization of the optical up-conversion devices is presented. Issues related to device optimization, such as improving internal and external up-conversion efficiency, are addressed. Preliminary results demonstrate the room-temperature up-conversion imaging operation of a pixelated wafer-fused device.
Stereotactic brain biopsy: Single center retrospective analysis of complications.

Objective: Stereotactic biopsy is a widely used surgical technique for the histological diagnosis of intracranial lesions. Potential risks of this procedure, such as hemorrhage, seizure, and infection have been established, and different risk factors have been characterized. However, these risks have been addressed by only few studies conducted in Asian countries. Materials and methods: The study group is comprised of 299 consecutive stereotactic biopsy procedures by 11 neurosurgeons between 2004 and 2007. The pre-operative medical conditions, methods of biopsy and postoperative complications were analyzed. Result: The overall diagnostic yield was 90.64%. Complications were observed in 7.36% of the cases, with symptomatic hemorrhages occurring in 4.35% of the cases, and the overall mortality rate in this study population was 1.34%. Patients with liver cirrhosis were at a higher risk of hemorrhage. Other clinical, radiological, or histological variables were not associated with an increased risk of complications. Conclusion: Stereotactic brain biopsy is a safe and reliable way to obtain a histological diagnosis. Based on our recent clinical experiences, the data suggests that more attention should be paid to liver cirrhotic patients, since the chance on hemorrhage is significantly larger.
Current Occupational Therapy Publications in Home Health: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE. Recently, home health services have been a topic of increasing interest. Occupational therapy practice and utilization patterns in home care have not been the subject of recent research. METHOD. I examined 65 publications addressing current occupational therapy practice in U.S. home health. Articles were analyzed to uncover factors influencing occupational therapy utilization and practice. RESULTS. Results indicate that research has looked at a variety of typologies and efficacy measures for occupational therapy in home care. However, occupational therapy utilization and practice patterns in home health do not appear to be entirely consistent with research. I identify factors explaining this inconsistency and make research and practice recommendations. CONCLUSION. Results suggest that system challenges limit the utilization and practice of occupational therapy to deliver expected outcomes in home health practice.
A model for the reversible washout of sulfur dioxide, ammonia and carbon dioxide from a polluted atmosphere and the production of sulfates in raindrops☆

Abstract A model has been developed to describe the washout of trace atmospheric gases and the production of acids in rain. The model is applied to washout of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and ammonia and incorporates reversible mass transfer of the trace gases, ionic equilibria of the compounds in solution and catalyzed oxidation of the dissolved sulfur species to sulfates. The significance of ammonia and carbon dioxide on the raindrops' capacity for sulfur and on sulfate production based solely on bisulfite oxidation are explored in detail. The influence of raindrop size, rainfall intensity, cloud-base height, the presence of oxidation catalyzing compounds in the atmosphere and the initial composition of the raindrops as they enter the polluted atmospheric layer on the detailed chemical composition of rain at ground level and the time scale for gaseous sulfur dioxide removal are evaluated. Illustrative model simulations demonstrate that when simultaneous mass transfer of SO2 and NH3 are involved, the effective driving force for the transport of both gases can be reduced. This results in much longer relaxation times for the absorption process, and may shift conditions to a point where mass-transfer is the rate controlling step in the SO2 oxidation process. Carbon dioxide was found to have little effect on the concentration transients or the approach to equilibrium composition of raindrops as they fall through the mixed layer. Ammonia, however, considerably increases rain's capacity for sulfur and may cause the chemical composition of even small droplets (light rainfalls) to be mass-transfer rate limited in extremum conditions. In addition, the effect of a background non-volatile base (such as NaOH) on the transient composition of rain was found to be quite different than the effect of a volatile base, (NH3)g. The presence of a non-volatile base in the atmosphere may be causitive to occurrence of a bimodal pH distribution in raindrop size spectra.
Reactions of iridium hydride pincer complexes with dioxygen: new dioxygen complexes and reversible O2 binding

The reaction of molecular oxygen with iridium pincer hydride complexes, (tBuPCP)Ir(H)(X) [tBuPCP = κ3-C6H3(CH2PtBu2)2, X = Ph, H, CCPh], results in O2 induced reductive elimination and formation of the novel dioxygen complexes (tBuPCP)Ir(O2)n [n = 1 (7), 2 (6)].
Cellular Graded Responses and Ventricular Vulnerability to Reentry by a Premature Stimulus in Isolated Canine Ventricle

Background The cellular mechanism by which a point strong premature stimulus (S2) induces reentry is unknown. We hypothesized that cellular graded responses induced by an S2 mediate and control tissue vulnerability to reentry. Methods and Results Reentry is induced in normal canine ventricular epicardial slices (30×38×2 mm, n=30) by an S2 at intervals shorter than the effective refractory period. The S1 is applied at the edge and the S2 at the center of the tissue. The line connecting the S1-S2 sites is parallel to the long axis of the fiber orientation. Isochronal activation maps were constructed with 56 to 480 bipolar electrodes, and the activation pattern was visualized dynamically. Reentry induced by an S2 is mediated by the graded responses as follows: The induced graded responses propagate with decrement toward recovered cells. When the amplitude of the propagated depolarizing graded responses reaches threshold relative to the recovering cells, an action potential is initiated along the fiber 2 to 3...
Saphenous nerve entrapment at the adductor canal

A retrospective study of 30 patients who met the clinical criteria for saphenous nerve entrapment at the adductor canal is described. Patients experienced symptoms, usually anterior knee pain, for an average of 36 +/- 7 months. Each patient received an average of 1.9 +/- 0.4 saphenous nerve blocks at the adductor canal during treatment. Baseline pain level (measured by the visual analog scale) was 6.4 +/- 0.3. Final pain level at followup was significantly decreased (2.8 +/- 0.5, P less than 0.001). Eighty percent of patients had improved after a series of blocks. Age, medications taken, number of blocks performed, and length of followup were unrelated to outcome. Length of symptoms did significantly correlate with final pain level (r = 0.39, P less than 0.05). The diagnosis of this syndrome, description of the saphenous nerve block at the adductor canal, and the possible etiology are presented.
Optimal design of the tubular microporous membrane aerator for shear-sensitive cell cultures.

In this paper, a theoretical analysis of oxygen transport across the tubular microporous membrane is described. This analysis has provided some insight into the optimal design of the membrane aerator. It was found in this study, at fixed inlet pressure, that the overall membrane oxygen transfer rate increases with increased tubing length only up to a certain length, i.e., the "critical length". When a large membrane surface area is required, the fiber should be divided into parallel segments to increase the overall oxygen transfer rate. A manifold or a gas distributor can then be used to distribute gas into segments of tubing. The length of each segment cannot exceed the critical length. In addition, shorter tube segments should give a higher oxygen transfer rate per unit tube length; however, this advantage is counterbalanced by the fact that gas distribution into huge numbers of parallel tubings may not be uniform.
Order‐based statistics and monotonicity: A family of ordinal measures of association*

This paper reviews standards for measures of association. In particular, standards for order‐based measures are examined. The concept of monotonicity is shown to be ambiguous as it has been applied in this area, and it is clarified. The result is the specification of three — instead of the usual two — kinds of monotonic relations. These three monotonic models provide the basis for defining three non‐arbitrary measures of ordinal association. Eleven order‐based measures are reviewed in the light of measurement standards as extended by the clarification of monotonicity. Eight are shown either to embody non‐order‐based elements or to contain ad hoc characteristics. The remaining three are shown to be members of a single family of monotone based ordinal measures that can be applied where ever their particular monotone models are appropriate.
Could +1/3e stable particles be consistent with present observations

A Comment on the Letter by G. S. LaRue, J. D. Phillips, and W. M. Fairbank, Phys. Rev. Lett. 46, 967 (1981).
How Can Seismic Hazard around the New Madrid Seismic Zone Be Similar to That in California

With the increasing use of probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) in building codes, bridge design, loss studies, setting of insurance premiums, etc., it is evident that an improved understanding of this method and its implications would be helpful to nonpractitioners. In this article I explain one result of PSHA that has caused confusion: how seismic hazard at low probability levels can be similar, for some ground-motion parameters, in the vicinity of the New Madrid seismic zone in the central U.S. to the hazard in parts of California, despite the different earthquake recurrence rates in the two areas. The short answer is that one also has to consider the ground shaking generated by each earthquake, which is expected to be larger for central U.S. earthquakes of a given magnitude than California earthquakes of the same magnitude. The similarity in seismic hazard between the New Madrid area and California was questioned by Stein et al. (2003) and justified in a reply by Frankel (2003). Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment provides estimates of the probability of having ground shaking larger than a certain amount (see Cornell, 1968). This is described in a seismic hazard curve, the essential product of PSHA. The probabilities can be expressed as annual probabilities or as probabilities over a specified number of years. Historically, probabilities have often been expressed in terms of 50 years, which is frequently quoted as the effective lifetime of a typical building. The term “seismic hazard” is used here in two senses: (1) to describe the annual probability of having a ground motion larger than a specified value or (2) to describe the ground motions with a specified probability of being exceeded. The following arguments apply to both uses of the term. ### Hazard from a Single Source To see how seismic hazard can be similar between New Madrid and California, …
Teacher Decision Making in the Selection of Educational Programming Priorities for Severely Handicapped Children

Special education teachers of severely handicapped children are expected to identify appropriate educational priorities from among multiple programming needs. While such decisions are initially formulated with parents and other professionals at the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting, little is known regarding decisions teachers themselves are most likely to make on behalf of handicapped children. Study 1 investigated the relative importance attributed to various reasons for selecting target behaviors by teachers in comparison with ratings of naive subjects and clinical psychology doctoral students. A factor analysis suggested possible decision dimensions reflecting professional education practices. Study 2 presented special education teachers with a simulated but realistic IEP experience in which they were asked to formulate and rank their annual goals and objectives based upon a child's diagnostic and assessment data. The frequency of the child's excess behaviors had significant impact on the...
Morphologic and mitogenic responses of rabbit synovial fibroblasts to transforming growth factor β require transforming growth factor α or epidermal growth factor

We tested the hypothesis that normal synovial fibroblasts might proliferate in response to transforming growth factors (TGFs), peptides that are extracted with acid-ethanol from bovine kidney or salivary gland and that cause anchorage-independent growth of normal cells. A 72-hour exposure of confluent monolayers of rabbit synovial fibroblasts in 10% fetal calf serum to partially purified TGF-beta in the presence of TGF-alpha gave a 2- to 5-fold increase in incorporation of 3H-thymidine, protein content, and cell number. Similar results were obtained with high pressure liquid chromatography-purified TGF-beta in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) (a type of TGF-alpha). By itself, purified TGF-beta was not mitogenic; it depended absolutely on EGF. However, only TGF-beta along with EGF, and not EGF alone, induced a marked morphologic change: a piling up of cells into foci resembling those commonly seen in primary cultures of rheumatoid synovial cells. Mitogenic responses induced by the TGF-beta-EGF combination were prevented by all-trans-retinoic acid but not by indomethacin or dexamethasone. The data indicate that TGF-beta, a peptide extracted from normal cells, can act in concert with EGF to cause proliferation and piling up of synovial cells and raise the possibility that these factors may play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other proliferative but nonmalignant diseases as well.
The structure of the near-tip field during transient elastodynamic crack growth

Abstract T he process of dynamic crack growth in a nominally elastic malerial under conditions of plane strain or plane stress is considered. Of particular concern is the influence of the transient nature of the process on the stress field in the immediate vicinity of the crack tip during nonsteady growth. Asymptotically, the crack tip stress field is square root singular at the crack tip, with the angular variation of the singular field depending weakly on the instantaneous crack tip speed and with the instantaneous stress intensity factor being a scalar multiplier of the singular field. However, for a material particle at a small distance from the moving crack, the local stress field depends not only on instantaneous values of crack speed and stress intensity factor, but also on the past history of these lime-dependent quantities. A representation of the crack tip field is obtained in the form of an expansion about the crack up in powers of radial coordinate, with the coefficients depending on the time rates of change of crack tip speed and stress intensity factor. This representation is used to interpret some experimental observations, with the conclusion that the higher-order expansion provides an accurate description of crack tip fields under fairly severe transient conditions. In addition, some estimates are made of the practical limits of using a stress intensity factor field alone to characterize the local fields.
Effects of soil compaction and water‐filled pore space on soil microbial activity and N losses

Abstract Soil compaction is a significant production problem for agriculture because of its negative impact on plant growth, which in many cases has been attributed to changes in soil N transformations. A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil compaction and water‐filled pore space on soil microbial activity and N losses. A hydraulic soil compaction device was used to evenly compress a Norfolk loamy sand (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Kandiudults) soil into 50 mm diameter by 127 mm long cores. A factorial arrangement of three bulk density levels (1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 Mg/m3) and four water‐filled pore space levels (60, 65, 70, 75%) was used. Fertilizer application of 168 kg N/ha was made as 1.0 atom % 15N as NH4NO3. Soil cores were incubated at 25°C for 21 d. Microbial activity decreased with both increasing water‐filled pore space and soil bulk density as measured by CO2‐C entrapment. Nitrogen loss increased with increasing bulk density from 92.8 to 334.4 g N/m3 soil at 60% wa...
Automatic Summarization of Changes in Biological Image Sequences Using Algorithmic Information Theory

An algorithmic information-theoretic method is presented for object-level summarization of meaningful changes in image sequences. Object extraction and tracking data are represented as an attributed tracking graph (ATG). Time courses of object states are compared using an adaptive information distance measure, aided by a closed-form multidimensional quantization. The notion of meaningful summarization is captured by using the gap statistic to estimate the randomness deficiency from algorithmic statistics. The summary is the clustering result and feature subset that maximize the gap statistic. This approach was validated on four bioimaging applications: 1) It was applied to a synthetic data set containing two populations of cells differing in the rate of growth, for which it correctly identified the two populations and the single feature out of 23 that separated them; 2) it was applied to 59 movies of three types of neuroprosthetic devices being inserted in the brain tissue at three speeds each, for which it correctly identified insertion speed as the primary factor affecting tissue strain; 3) when applied to movies of cultured neural progenitor cells, it correctly distinguished neurons from progenitors without requiring the use of a fixative stain; and 4) when analyzing intracellular molecular transport in cultured neurons undergoing axon specification, it automatically confirmed the role of kinesins in axon specification.
In vivo stability of nitrite and nitrosamine formation in the dog stomach: effect of nitrite and amine concentration and of ascorbic acid

Formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) from the precursors nitrate and dimethylamine has been studied in the chronically fistulated dog stomach. Measurements have also been made as a function of time for nitrite stability and gastric pH, and a nonabsorbable marker has been used to correct for gastric emptying and dilution. In the fasting animal NDMA forms within minutes after addition of the reactants if the pH is below 5. The presence of food in the stomach slows the reaction, and the additional presence of ascorbic acid greatly depresses the amount of NDMA formed. The concentration of nitrite in gastric juice declines rapidly after its introduction, but the concentration of NDMA declines even more rapidly than nitrite. This suggests that NDMA is probably rapidly absorbed directly from the dog stomach, in contrast to earlier results in rodent experiments.
Colorimetric determination of chlorobutanol in injections via the Fujiwara reaction

A colorimetric assay based on the pink color produced in the Fujiwara alkali–pyridine reaction is described for chlorobutanol in parenteral dosage forms. Accuracy is adequate, and the procedure is rapid and selective.
Peroneus Brevis Tendon Tears: Pathophysiology, Surgical Reconstruction, and Clinical Results

Chronic peroneus brevis tendon tears are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed. They are a more common problem than previously noted. Twenty patients were reviewed in the largest clinical series of...
Carrying Matters Too Far? Mandeville and the Eighteenth-Century Scots on the Evolution of Morals

Mandeville offers an evolutionary explanation of norms that pivots on the power of praise to affect individuals. Yet this sort of account is not mentioned by Hume or Ferguson, and only indirectly noted by Smith. Nonetheless, there are various similarities in the thought of Mandeville and these philosophers. After delineating some resemblances, the essay takes up the objection Hume poses to Mandeville: praise fails to motivate if individuals take no pride in moral conduct. To this challenge there is a Mandevillean response that emphasizes how, in the evolutionary emergence of norms, the original praise need not be understood in moral terms.
PREDETONATOR TO THRUST TUBE DETONATION TRANSITION STUDIES FOR MULTI-CYCLE PDE APPLICATIONS

A series of studies of the phenomena involved in the transition of a detonation from a pre-detonator to a tube of larger cross sectional area, for a geometry in which a significant area change occurs, was investigated. The application of the work is to further the understanding of the conditions that allow establishing a detonation in the thrust tube of a hydrocarbon fueled Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE), using a compact pre-detonator operating with air under dynamic fill conditions. Three sets of experiments were performed to explore the use of overdriven detonation waves to initiate a main chamber detonation and to establish design criteria for compact pre-detonators. The proposed design strategy is as follows. The region containing the pre-detonator obstacles should be long enough to accelerate the deflagration wave up to the C-J deflagration velocity and should terminate at this point. In addition, the distance between the last obstacle and the entrance to the transition section should be chosen so that an overdriven detonation wave enters the transition section. The results obtained support the proposed design strategy, although some intermittency in successful detonation transitioning was noticed when a short pre-detonator was employed. The results also show that generating an overdriven detonation wave in the pre-detonator is a key parameter for obtaining a thrust tube detonation.
Parameter reference immutability: formal definition, inference tool, and comparison

Knowing which method parameters may be mutated during a method's execution is useful for many software engineering tasks. A parameter reference is immutable if it cannot be used to modify the state of its referent object during the method's execution. We formally define this notion, in a core object-oriented language. Having the formal definition enables determining correctness and accuracy of tools approximating this definition and unbiased comparison of analyses and tools that approximate similar definitions. We present Pidasa, a tool for classifying parameter reference immutability. Pidasa combines several lightweight, scalable analyses in stages, with each stage refining the overall result. The resulting analysis is scalable and combines the strengths of its component analyses. As one of the component analyses, we present a novel dynamic mutability analysis and show how its results can be improved by random input generation. Experimental results on programs of up to 185 kLOC show that, compared to previous approaches, Pidasa increases both run-time performance and overall accuracy of immutability inference.
Survey of virtual machine research

The complete instruction-by-instruction simulation of one computer system on a different system is a well-known computing technique. It is often used for software development when a hardware base is being altered. For example, if a programmer is developing software for some new special purpose (e.g., aerospace) computer X which is under construction and as yet unavailable, he will likely begin by writing a simulator for that computer on some available general-purpose machine G. The simulator will provide a detailed simulation of the special-purpose environment X, including its processor, memory, and I/O devices. Except for possible timing dependencies, programs which run on the “simulated machine X” can later run on the “real machine X” (when it is finally built and checked out) with identical effect. The programs running on X can be arbitrary — including code to exercise simulated I/O devices, move data and instructions anywhere in simulated memory, or execute any instruction of the simulated machine. The simulator provides a layer of software filtering which protects the resources of the machine G from being misused by programs on X.
Transcriptional Up-Regulation and Activation of Initiating Caspases in Experimental Glaucoma

In glaucoma, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) die by apoptosis, generally attributed to an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). We now describe the impact of elevated IOP in the rat on expression of caspase 8 and caspase 9, initiators of the extrinsic and intrinsic caspase cascades, respectively. Activation of both caspases was demonstrated by the presence of cleaved forms of the caspases and the detection of cleaved Bid and PARP, downstream consequences of caspase activation. Surprisingly, the absolute level of procaspase 9 was also elevated after 10 days of increased IOP. To examine the cause of increased levels of the procaspase, we used laser capture microdissection to capture Fluorogold back-labeled RGCs and real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure mRNA changes of initiating caspases. The mRNA levels of both caspase 8 and caspase 9 were increased specifically in RGCs. These data suggest that elevated IOP activates a transcriptional up-regulation and activation of initiating caspases in RGCs and triggers apoptosis through both extrinsic and intrinsic caspase cascades.
Applications of a nursing knowledge based system for nursing practice: inservice, continuing education, and standards of care

A knowledge base of nursing theory supports computerized consultation to nursing service administrators and staff about patient care. Three scenarios portray different nurses utilizing the system for inservice development, continuing education, and development of standards of care or protocols for practice. The advantages of the system including cost savings are discussed.
Large cancellation, due to ozone recovery, of future Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation trends

Received 7 January 2011; accepted 26 January 2011; published 25 February 2011. [1] The role of stratospheric ozone recovery in the Southern Hemisphere climate system, in the coming decades, is examined by contrasting two 10‐member ensembles of Community Atmospheric Model (CAM3) integrations, over the period 2000–2060. Model integrations in the first ensemble are conducted with a complete set of forcings: greenhouse gas concentrations from the A1B scenario, SSTs from corresponding ocean‐atmosphere coupled model integrations, and ozone starting with severe depletion over the South Pole and recovering by mid‐century. The integrations in the second ensemble are very similar to the first, except that only the transient ozone forcing is specified, and all other forcings are kept at year 2000 levels. Specifying ozone recovery in isolation allows us to determine unambiguously how it impacts the atmospheric circulation. We find that, in DJF, most key indices of atmospheric circulation show significant trends in the second ensemble, due to the closing of the ozone hole. In the first ensemble, however, trends are found to be statistically insignificant for nearly all key circulation indices. This suggests that ozone recovery will result in a nearly complete cancellation (and possible reversal) of the atmospheric circulation effects associated with increasing greenhouse gases, in Southern Hemisphere summer, over the coming half century. Citation: Polvani, L. M., M. Previdi, and C.Deser(2011),Largecancellation,duetoozonerecovery,offuture Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation trends, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L04707, doi:10.1029/2011GL046712.
Design of a multiwavelength network with dynamic channel sharing

In this paper, we design and analyze a multiwavelength network with dynamic channel sharing. Traffic in the network is categorized into a real-time and a non-real-time classes. The network blocking performance with and without channel sharing is analyzed and compared. Results show that the proposed dynamic channel sharing protocol can substantially improve the network performance without increasing the implementation complexity. The proposed network has the following features: (1) fully dynamic channel sharing; (2) many-to-one connections; (3) small and bounded packet delay for real-time traffic; and (4) high network throughput. We also study the tradeoffs in determining a minimum number of control channels and in choosing a traffic scheduling or a non-scheduling scheme for a practical network.
Fluorocarbon Resist for High‐Speed Scanning Probe Lithography

Quick as a flash: High-speed scanning probe lithography in perfluorooctane leads to direct deposition of fluorinated amorphous carbon at velocities in the cm s-1 range. Features as small as 27 nm are fabricated on 100-m2 areas within seconds. The nanoscale patterns are characterized by using photoelectron emission microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry.
A comparison of the performance of statistical and fuzzy algorithms for unexploded ordnance detection

We focus on the development of signal processing algorithms that incorporate the underlying physics characteristic of the sensor and of the anticipated unexploded ordnance (UXO) target, in order to address the false alarm issue. In this paper, we describe several algorithms for discriminating targets from clutter that have been applied to data obtained with the multisensor towed array detection system (MTADS). This sensor suite includes both electromagnetic induction (EMI) and magnetometer sensors. We describe four signal processing techniques: a generalized likelihood ratio technique, a maximum likelihood estimation-based clustering algorithm, a probabilistic neural network, and a subtractive fuzzy clustering technique. These algorithms have been applied to the data measured by MTADS in a magnetically clean test pit and at a field demonstration. The results indicate that the application of advanced signal processing algorithms could provide up to a factor of two reduction in false alarm probability for the UXO detection problem.
Change in Food Security Status and Change in Weight Are Not Associated in Urban Women with Preschool Children

Cross-sectional studies have suggested that food insecurity leads to obesity in women. The objective of this longitudinal study was to determine whether changes in women’s food security status were associated with changes in their body weight. In 20 large U.S. cities, 1707 mothers of preschool children were followed for 2 y. At baseline (2001–2003) and followup (2003–2005), women’s height and weight were measured and food security status was assessed with the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Those with no positive responses on the food security items were considered fully food secure and those with any positive responses were considered not fully food secure. Seventy-one percent were unmarried and 45% had incomes below the U.S. poverty threshold. At baseline, 41% were obese (BMI $30 kg/m 2 ) and 31% were not food secure. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and baseline BMI, there were no significant differences in 2-y weight increases between 4 groups that differed in food security status: food secure at both time points (n ¼ 1000), 1.7 kg (95% CI ¼ 1.1–2.3); food secure at baseline, but not at follow-up (n ¼ 183), 2.1 kg (95% CI ¼ 0.7–3.5); not food secure at either time point (n ¼ 257), 1.7 kg (95% CI ¼ 0.5–2.9); and not food secure at baseline but food secure at follow-up (n ¼ 267), 1.9 kg (95% CI ¼ 0.7–3.0). In this population of urban women, changes in food security status over 2 y were not significantly associated with changes in weight. These findings do not support a causal association between food insecurity and obesity. J. Nutr. 137: 2134–2139, 2007.
The Eag Family of K+ Channels in Drosophila and Mammals

ABSTRACT: Mutations of eag, first identified in Drosophila on the basis of their leg-shaking phenotype, cause repetitive firing and enhanced transmitter release in motor neurons. The encoded EAG polypeptide is related both to voltage-gated K+ channels and to cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels. Homology screens identified a family of eag-related channel polypeptides, highly conserved from nematodes to humans, comprising three subfamilies: EAG, ELK, and ERG. When expressed in frog oocytes, EAG channels behave as voltage-dependent, outwardly rectifying K+-selective channels. Mutations of the human eag-related gene (HERG) result in a form of cardiac arrhythmia that can lead to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Electrophysiological and pharmacological studies have provided evidence that HERG channels specify one component of the delayed rectifier, IKr, that contributes to the repolarization phase of cardiac action potentials. An important role or HERG channels in neuronal excitability is also suggested by the expression of these channels in brain tissue. Moreover, mutations of ERG-type channels in the Drosophila sei mutant cause temperature-induced convulsive seizures associated with aberrant bursting activity in the flight motor pathway. The in vivo function of ELK channels has not yet been established, but when these channels are expressed in frog oocytes, they display properties intermediate between those of EAG- and ERG-type channels. Coexpression of the K+-channel b subunit encoded by Hk with EAG in oocytes dramatically increases current amplitude and also affects the gating and modulation of these currents. Biochemical evidence indicates a direct physical interaction between EAG and HK proteins. Overall, these studies highlight the diverse properties of the eag family of K+ channels, which are likely to subserve diverse functions in vivo.
A Pilot Study of a Thermal Display Using a Miniature Tactor for Upper Extremity Prosthesis

We have been developing a miniature multi-function haptic device - a tactor - that generates the sense of pressure, vibration, shear force, and temperature for upper extremity amputees, especially those who have undergone targeted nerve reinnervation surgery. This paper discusses first the design of the thermal display portion of the tactor, second a pilot study of a thermal display using the tactor.
Hormonal Therapy in Endometrial Carcinoma

Hormonal therapy began to be used for endometrial carcinoma after Kelley and Baker (1961) reported that endometrial cancer responded to progestational therapy. Multiple empirical trials of progestational agents in the treatment of this disease were reported during the next two decades. Various response rates were recorded, most between 30% and 50% (Bonte et al. 1978; Geisler 1973; Malkasian et al. 1971; Piver et al. 1980; Rozier and Underwood 1974; Smith et al. 1966; Wait 1973). At least part of the variability in these rates undoubtedly reflected differences in how stringently tumor response was defined. Although complete resolution of systemic disease (for example, multiple pulmonary metastatic lesions) for extended periods can occur with hormonal therapy, such responses unfortunately are exceptions to the norm.
PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FEEDING HABIT AND THE STRUCTURE OF TIIE MOUTH‐PARTS OF MARINE COPEPODS1

The feeding of 6 copepods (Calanus finmarchicus, Acartia tonsa, Centropages hamatus, C. typicus, Labidocera aestiva, and Tortanus discaudatus) was examined with 3 different foods—a) diatoms (Thalassiosira fluviatilis) alone, b) diatoms plus Artemia nauplii, and c) Artemia alone—and compared with the structure of their mouth-parts. Calanus finmarchicus is predominantly an herbivore, but in absence of plant food can definitely capture small motile animals. Acartiatonsa is a typical omnivore which can cat either plant or animal food efficiently. Centropages hamatus and C. typicus are also omnivorous, but both prefer an animal diet. Although Labidocera aestiva is predatory, some setae used for filtering food are found at the base of the second maxillae. Finally, Tortanus discaudatus is a typical predatory copepod. There is close relationship between the structure of the mouth-parts and the feeding habits of these species. In herbivorous species (Calanus finmarchicus), the 2nd antennae, mandibular palps, 1st maxillae, and maxillipeds are well developed to produce a pair of “feeding swirls.” The 2nd maxillae are also formed as efficient filtering nets. The cutting edges of the mandibles are provided with grinding teeth. In predatory species (Tortanus discaudatus), the mouth-parts have few setae and are on the whole much simpler. The 1st maxillae, 2nd maxillae, and maxillipeds are modified as prehensile appendages. The cutting edges of the mandibles have very sharp teeth. In omnivores, these appendages generally have a structure intermediate between those of the two previous types; the 2nd maxillae are used partly for filtering and are partly prehensile. The teeth are heavier than those of the herbivores, but they are not as stout as for predators.
New capital accumulation in transition economies: implications for capital-labor and capital-output ratios

This paper investigates the impact of new capital accumulation on capital-labor and capital-output ratios in 26 transition economies (TE) of Central and Eastern Europe and former USSR. Using a perpetual inventory method, we estimate the amount of capital accumulated in these countries since the start of market reforms and compare it to results for developed countries and largest emerging market economies. We found that on per worker basis, capital accumulation in TE is lagging far behind that of their mature market neighbors in European Union. Disparities in capital-output ratios were not as pronounced, as higher capital-labor ratios were reached in economies with higher levels of GDP per capita. Regression analysis indicates that capital per worker was accumulated faster in TE having higher saving rates, relatively higher priced labor, closer proximity to Western Europe, and higher manufacturing share in the economy. The K/Y levels were influenced by the same determinants except for relative input costs.
Brachiopods from the extreme South Pacific and adjacent waters

Sixteen genera and 27 species of Recent brachiopods are reported from the far southern Pacific Ocean and adjacent parts of the South Atlantic and southern Indian Ocean. These specimens extend the known geographic ranges of at least 10 species and the known bathymetric ranges of at least seven species. The new material gives greater support to the idea that many Recent brachiopod species have a wide geographic range and calls into question the very limited geographic ranges of many species known only from the fossil record. Puncta density appears to be a useful character for distinguishing Neothyris compressa and N. lenticularis. At least nine different types of geographic distribution are represented among the species studied for this paper. Areas of moderate depth on seamounts, particularly along oceanic ridges and on oceanic rises, may form important geographic areas of distribution, avenues of dispersal, and barriers to brachiopods. Four examples of polytypic species are cited. The new specimens lend additional support to the notion that one polytypic species of Liothyrella extends, with clinal morphological changes, from southernmost South America to Antarctica. Students of modern brachiopods are urged to consider large-scale geographic variation within species and not to hide it with finely delimited taxa. This approach has the potential to lead, in both modern and ancient brachiopods, to a taxonomy with fewer and more meaningful species and genera. Progenetic changes seem to be a common adaptive strategy in brachiopods on largely soft substrates and in deep water. The progenesis may be short term within a single species or long term involving evolution of new species and genera.
Mushrooms use convectively created airflows to disperse their spores

Thousands of basidiomycete fungal species rely on mushroom spores to spread across landscapes. It has long been thought that spores depend on favorable winds for dispersal--that active control of spore dispersal by the parent fungus is limited to an impulse delivered to the spores to carry them clear of the gill surface. Here we show that evaporative cooling of the air surrounding the pileus creates convective airflows capable of carrying spores at speeds of centimeters per second. Convective cells can transport spores from gaps that may be only 1 cm high and lift spores 10 cm or more into the air. This work reveals how mushrooms tolerate and even benefit from crowding and explains their high water needs.
How well can aerosol instruments measure particulate mass and solid particle number in engine exhaust

ABSTRACTAerosol instruments provide more informative engine exhaust particulate matter (PM) data than the gravimetric filter and solid particle number methods prescribed by regulations. Yet their lack of conformity to the regulatory methods can limit their acceptance for vehicle development. This article examines the ability of the Dekati Mass Monitor (DMM), Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer (EEPS), and Micro Soot Sensor (MSS) to measure PM2.5 mass and solid particle number relative to current motor vehicle PM emissions standards. Simultaneous PM measurements are made by these three instruments and the two regulatory methods for 50 tests of six gasoline direct injection and two port fuel injection vehicles over the U.S. Federal Test Procedure. DMM and EEPS determinations of PM mass correlate well to gravimetric values (regression slopes of 1.06 ± 0.04 and 0.98 ± 0.08) down to a few mg/mile, below which filter weighing variability becomes problematic. The MSS exhibits a lower slope of 0.79 ± 0.03 consistent wi...
The Wireline Network in M-ICT

In the M-ICT era, with the convergence of IT and CT,"fast, simple and open"are the three characteristics. "Fast" refers to the comprehensive speedup of the network layers and segments; "simple" refers to simplification, virtualization and intelligence of network; "open" refers to drive network service innovation, and software defined network(SDN) and(NFV) are the key technologies. These two technologies complement each other and eventually achieve the innovation environment of wireline network.
Study on methods of preventing pollution flashover and wet flashover for 750 kV lines in high altitude area

The first 750 kV transmission line was built up in northwest China,and the most parts of this line lain in high altitude area.The artificial pollution test was carried out on a kind of 35 kV composite insulator,two kinds of cap and pin insulators and a kind of post insulator with and without RTV coating in different pressure condition corresponding to the altitude from 0 m to 3 000 m.The results show that,though the flashover voltage of composite insulator and RTV coated insulator decreases with the increase of altitude,which is similar to normal porcelain insulator,the anti-pollution flashover ability of them are much better than those of porcelain insulators.According to the latent climate and environment in high altitude area,the hydrophobicity of silicone rubber was also studied in the conditions of low temperature,low pressure and high humidity.It is found that the influences of low temperature and high humidity are much severer than that of low pressure.Further more,the paper analyzed the common characteristics of insulators,on which wet flashover happened.Some suggestions on improving the ability of preventing wet flashover were given.