cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inelastic processes from vibrationally excited states in slow H + +H 2 and H+H + 2 collisions: Excitations and charge transfer

A comprehensive study is presented of the scattering of protons on ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}({\ensuremath{\nu}}_{i})$ and of hydrogen atoms on ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}({\ensuremath{\nu}}_{i}),$ where ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{i}$ is any vibrationally excited state of the relevant molecules. Cross sections for charge transfer and excitation have been calculated in the range of center-of-mass energies 0.6--9.5 eV using a fully quantal, coupled-channel approach. An extensive vibrational basis set, defined in a large configuration space of the reactants, is used, including a large number of discretized vibrational continua. A detailed picture is produced of all inelastic processes that involve two lowest, nonadiabatically coupled electronic surfaces of the ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}^{+}$ molecule. The rotational dynamics of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ are treated within the sudden approximation. The cross sections obtained are compared with the sparse data available from literature.
Certain bacteria, some of medical interest, associated with the slug Limax maximus.

Abstract The isolation and identification of microorganisms from the surface and the intestinal tract of the slug Limax maximus are presented. Of the isolates identified from the surface of the slug, coliforms predominated. Identified as possible pathogens for human beings were Escherichia coli, serogroups 3, 25, OX36, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From the intestinal tract, the coliforms were most prevalent. The most likely pathogens identified from the tract were Escherichia coli, serogroups 3, 26, 73, 83, 139, OX36, 144 OX44 , Clostridium perfringens, and Streptococcus faecalis. It appears that this slug serves as a carrier and possible transmitter of pathogenic microorganisms.
Analysis of patients with supratentorial primitive neuro-ectodermal tumours entered into the SIOP/UKCCSG PNET 3 study

The SIOP PNET 3 study was designed to determine whether 10 weeks of moderately intensive chemotherapy given after surgery and before radiotherapy (RT) would improve the outcome for patients with primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs) compared with RT alone. Patients with a histological diagnosis of supratentorial PNET (StPNET) and no radiological evidence of metastatic disease were initially eligible for randomisation to either chemotherapy followed by craniospinal RT 35 Gy in 21 fractions with a boost of 20 Gy in 12 fractions to the primary site, or RT alone. In respect of the increasing recognition that StPNET were high-risk tumours, randomisation for this group closed in November 1999. This analysis includes both randomised and non-randomised patients with StPNET entered into the study database. Sixty-eight patients aged 2.9-16.6 years (median 6.5 years) were included in the analysis (chemotherapy+RT: 44, RT alone: 24). Fifty-four patients (79%) had a non-pineal and 14 (21%) a pineal site. At a median follow-up of 7.4 years, for all patients overall survival (OS) at 3 and 5 years was 54.4% and 48.3%, respectively. Event-free survival (EFS) at 3 and 5 years was 50.0% and 47.0%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in OS or EFS according to treatment received. OS (P=0.05) and EFS (P=0.03) were significantly better for patients with pineal primary sites. EFS for pineal tumours were 92.9% at 3 years and 71.4% at 5 years and for non-pineal primaries 40.7% at 3 years and 40.7% at 5 years. This study confirmed the relatively good survival for non-metastatic pineal PNETs but poor survival of non-pineal StPNETs. There was no evidence that pre-radiation chemotherapy improved outlook. Future treatment programs should be directed at the particular natural history of these tumours, to further define prognostic factors and to explore further biological characteristics.
A unique approach to foreign body retrieval

Clinical Presentation: A 46 year old morbidly obese male presented to the emergency room with acute onset of dysphagia to solid food after having lunch. Patient was only able to swallow small quantity of liquid. Patient denied excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, hematemesis, abdominal pain or chest pain. Past medical history was significant for recent laparoscopic band ligation for weight reduction. There was no previous history of achalasia or reflux symptoms. He was not taking any medications. He was neither an alcoholic nor a smoker. Physical exam revealed a morbidly obese male in no acute distress. Endoscopic examination was performed which revealed mildly dilated esophagus with moderate amount of saliva. A grape was noted in the distal esophagus. It appeared to cause intermittent distal esophageal obstruction. Attempts at pushing the grape through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) with the scope were hampered by the slithering of the grape along the side of the scope. Attempts to grasp the grape with tripod forceps were unsuccessful due to slippery surface of the grape. A unique approach was adopted to retrieve the grape. An esophageal band ligator was applied to the tip of the scope. The grape was suctioned and anchored into the barrel and removed successfully.
Hormonal regulation of translation inhibition requiring RNA synthesis.

Abstract The control of the translation inhibition of germination mRNAs during cotton embryogenesis has been studied by determining the events necessary to remove the translation inhibition during precocious germination. The results indicate that the plant hormone abscisic acid may control translation inhibition by a mechanism involving RNA synthesis.
Osteopontin (Eta-1) in cell-mediated immunity: teaching an old dog new tricks

Abstract Previously regarded as an adhesive bone matrix protein, recent studies suggest that osteopontin (Eta-1) is also a novel RGD-containing cytokine that regulates early cell-mediated immunity. Proteins related to the extracellular matrix may function as important modulators of immune responses.
Anatomy of an Article: The Peer-Review Process as Method

ABSTRACT In this article, we provide an unprecedented insider view of the peer-review process. Specifically, we highlight how an author (Vora) revised a manuscript submitted to American Anthropologist in a manner that resulted in its eventual publication in the journal. This included responding in various revisions of the manuscript to comments from the editor (Boellstorff), as well as a reviewer who has agreed to reveal her identity (Karen Ho). By showing examples of this revision process, we explore the “anatomy of an article,” illustrating how a deeper understanding of the peer-review process can contribute to anthropological professionalization and successful publishing.
Endogenous erythropoietin varies significantly with inflammation-related proteins in extremely premature newborns

Introduction Erythropoietin, a pluripotent glycoprotein essential for erythropoiesis, fetal growth, and development, has recently been implicated in innate immune regulation. Data from the ELGAN Study allowed us to evaluate relationships between endogenous erythropoietin and 25 inflammation-related proteins in extremely premature newborns.
Birth cohort and sex differences in the age of gambling initiation in the United States: evidence from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication

Youth gambling has become a significant public health concern, and it appears that individuals are gambling at younger ages than they did in earlier generations. We tested this question by examining birth cohort differences in the age of onset of gambling in a national epidemiologic survey. Data were drawn from the United States National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a nationally representative general population survey of adults born 1904–84. Individuals were divided into four birth cohorts. The cohorts were compared on their lifetime gambling involvement and age of onset of gambling. Significant birth cohort and sex differences were found in the age of gambling initiation, with more recently born cohorts starting to gamble at progressively earlier ages, and men starting to gamble at younger ages than women. The mean age of onset of gambling for individuals born before 1942 was 32.9 years, and for those born between 1973 and 1984 it was 16.9 years. The overall mean ages of onset of gambling were 20.8 f...
The combined effects of pregnanolone and porphyrinogenic agents on hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase in mice.

Abstract The possible role of the 5-beta-H steroid metabolite, pregnanolone, in the regulation of porphyrin-heme biosynthesis has been investigated in a mammalian system, the laboratory mouse. The effect of this steroid metabolite has been assessed by its ability to increase the level and/or activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALAS) in the livers of mice concomitantly administered a chemical substance which increases porphyrin-neme formation. The porphyrinogenic agents employed were allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) and 1,4-dihydro-3,5-dicarbethoxy-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (DDC). In additional experiments, the hypocholesterolemic agent, trans-1,4-bis-(2-chlorobenzylaminomethyl)-cyclohexane dihydrochloride, AY-9944, with and without the porphyrinogenic agent and with and without pregnanolone, was used. In all experiments, the administration of pregnanolone along with the porphyrinogenic agent, AIA or DDC, resulted in a significantly greater increase in hepatic ALAS level/activity than that obtained with the porphyrinogenic agent alone. The administration of the hypocholesterolemic agent, AY-9944, prevented the induction of ALAS by AIA. The simultaneous injection of pregnanolone, however, reversed the inhibitory effect of AY-9944, the specific activity of hepatic ALAS increasing toward the high level induced by AIA alone. An interesting, as yet unexplained, inhibitory effect on hepatic ALAS levels/activity was observed following the administration of the solvents, propylene glycol or ethanol, in control experiments. The present results thus suggest that the 5-beta-H steroid metabolite, pregnanolone, may be a regulatory factor in porphyrin-heme formation in a mammalian species as was indicated in earlier studies for an avian system.
A New Control Approach for Platoon Operations during Vehicle Exit/Entry

SUMMARY A new platoon control concept is introduced, called Back Control, in which the controller of a given vehicle utilizes state information from the lead, preceding, and following vehicles, as well as the vehicle itself. Simulations are carried out on two non-steady state platoon operations - vehicle exit and vehicle entry from a platoon. A previously developed longitudinal controller is utilized as a reference to the proposed Back controller and a ride quality index is used to assess passenger comfort in these simulations. It is shown that the Back controller has advantages over the reference controller in these two operations and that it is therefore worth examining as a candidate controller of vehicular platoons, especially in non-nominal operations.
Adrenal medullary tissue transplants in the rat spinal cord reduce pain sensitivity

Adrenal chromaffin cells contain and release several neuroactive substances which induce analgesia when injected directly into the spinal cord (e.g. opioid peptides and catecholamines). Furthermore, the release of these substances can be induced by nicotine. In order to determine whether adrenal medullary tissue transplanted to the spinal cord can produce alterations in pain sensitivity, pieces of dissected rat adrenal medulla were placed in the subarachnoid space of rat spinal cords. Stimulation by a low dose of nicotine induced potent analgesia in animals with adrenal medullary transplants, but not in animals with control transplants. Furthermore, this analgesia was reversed to pre-nicotine levels by the opiate antagonist naloxone. Thus adrenal medullary transplants in the spinal cord may provide a permanent and locally available source of opioid peptides for the relief of intractable pain.
Thirty-One Flavors of Drosophila Rab Proteins

Rab proteins are small GTPases that play important roles in transport of vesicle cargo and recruitment, association of motor and other proteins with vesicles, and docking and fusion of vesicles at defined locations. In vertebrates, >75 Rab genes have been identified, some of which have been intensively studied for their roles in endosome and synaptic vesicle trafficking. Recent studies of the functions of certain Rab proteins have revealed specific roles in mediating developmental signal transduction. We have begun a systematic genetic study of the 33 Rab genes in Drosophila. Most of the fly proteins are clearly related to specific vertebrate proteins. We report here the creation of a set of transgenic fly lines that allow spatially and temporally regulated expression of Drosophila Rab proteins. We generated fluorescent protein-tagged wild-type, dominant-negative, and constitutively active forms of 31 Drosophila Rab proteins. We describe Drosophila Rab expression patterns during embryogenesis, the subcellular localization of some Rab proteins, and comparisons of the localization of wild-type, dominant-negative, and constitutively active forms of selected Rab proteins. The high evolutionary conservation and low redundancy of Drosophila Rab proteins make these transgenic lines a useful tool kit for investigating Rab functions in vivo.
Afferent projections to the hypothalamus in ranid frogs.

Hypothalamic afferents were examined following applications of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase in the infundibulum of bullfrogs ( Rana catesbeiana ). Neuronal populations
Efficacy of Ofloxacin vs Cefazolin and Tobramycin in the Therapy for Bacterial Keratitis: Report From the Bacterial Keratitis Study Research Group

Purpose: To compare ofloxacin solution with a combination of fortified antibiotic cefazolin sodium and tobramycin sulfate solutions in the treatment of bacterial keratitis. Methods: Patients under care at any one of 28 participating clinical centers who had an eye with suspected bacterial keratitis were randomly allocated in a double-masked manner to treatment with 0.3% ofloxacin solution or a combination of the fortified antibiotics (1.5% tobramycin and 10.0% cefazolin solutions). Main Outcome Measures: Time to healing defined as complete re-epithelization, accompanied by a nonprogressive stromal infiltrate for two consecutive visits. Secondary outcome measures included patient symptoms and signs of infection and adverse reactions to study medications. Only patients with a positive bacterial corneal culture were included in most analyses. Results: A positive bacterial corneal culture was obtained in 140 (56%) of the 248 enrolled patients. The time to healing was similar among the 73 patients receiving ofloxacin and the 67 patients receiving fortified antibiotics (P=.70). By 7 days after study entry, the keratitis in 37% of the ofloxacin group and 38% of the fortified antibiotics group had healed. By 28 days, keratitis in 89% of the ofloxacin group and 86% of the fortified antibiotics group had healed. Two patients receiving ofloxacin and one receiving fortified antibiotics discontinued study medication because of lack of efficacy. Patients receiving ofloxacin reported substantially less burning and stinging on instillation than the patients receiving fortified antibiotics (P Conclusions: The efficacy of ofloxacin solution in treating bacterial keratitis is equivalent to that of the fortified cefazolin and tobramycin solutions. The reduced frequency of ocular toxic effects and the relative ease of preparation of ofloxacin are additional considerations.
Pulmonary and systemic induction of SAA3 after ventilation and endotoxin in preterm lambs.

Serum amyloid A (SAA), an acute phase reactant (APR) protein, is induced in liver during systemic inflammation. Serum amyloid A3 (SAA3), an isoform of SAA, is induced in both liver and extra hepatic sites in response to proinflammatory stimuli such as cytokines. Previously, we showed a modest increase in plasma cytokine levels in a preterm lamb model of lung injury. The study objective was to determine the relative contributions of lung and liver to the acute phase response during postnatal lung injury. Preterm (130d) and near term (141d) newborn lambs (term = 150d) were randomized to either no ventilation (controls), ventilation + intratracheal (IT) endotoxin (endo) or ventilation + IT saline. A group of near term lambs were exposed to ventilation + IV endotoxin. In the lungs, ventilation alone increased SAA3 mRNA 3- and 13-fold while ventilation + IT endotoxin increased SAA3 mRNA 64 and 366-fold above controls in preterm and near term lambs, respectively. In the liver, SAA3 mRNA was induced by ventilation alone (three-fold) and ventilation + IT endotoxin (45-fold) above controls in both preterm and near term animals. Ventilation + IV endotoxin caused the highest increase in SAA3 mRNA (212-fold) in the liver of near term animals. A different isoform, identified as SAA-Liver inducible was maximally induced in liver by ventilation alone with minimal further response to endotoxin. Lung SAA3 mRNA expression was detected primarily in airway epithelium, bronchial glands, perichondrium of bronchial cartilage and vascular smooth muscle cells. Our experiments show rapid induction of an APR gene in lung in response to proinflammatory stimuli.
Minimum volume ellipsoid scaled to contain a tangent sphere, with application to integrity monitoring

An ellipsoid bound is introduced and proven to be a tight and conservative approximation of a sphere to which it is tangent. The bounding ellipsoid is constructed with a fixed shape that can be scaled arbitrarily (so, for example, the ellipsoid shape matches the contours of a given probability density function). The ellipsoid bound is proven conservative in that the bound always contains the sphere to which it is tangent. The ellipsoid bound is proven tight in that its volume is the minimum guaranteeing conservative bounding. Applications for the ellipsoid bound include analysis of vector integrity monitors with nominally chi-square distributions.
ANOMALOUS DIFFUSION: A DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE

This paper investigates whether spontaneous, stationary velocity fluctuations can lead to deviations from the regular Fickian diffusion. A kinematic analysis reveals that anomalous diffusion, both fast and slow, arises from long-tailed velocity auto-correlation functions (VACF). This infinite span of interdependence of the random velocity leads to the breakdown of the central limit theorem for particle displacements. A generalized Langevin equation, which features a retarded friction, has been used to describe the particle dynamics in the long-time limit. The analysis reveals that simple power-law decay models for the friction kernel are adequate to yield the pathological VACFs which imply anomalous diffusion. The fluctuation dissipation theorem is invoked to infer that a fractional noise gives rise to anomalous diffusion. Such a Langevin equation represents a mean-field description of disorder effects and the friction kernel then becomes a constitutive property of the medium.
CE50: quantifying collision induced dissociation energy for small molecule characterization and identification.

Survival yield analysis is routinely used in mass spectroscopy as a tool for assessing precursor ion stability and internal energy. Because ion internal energy and decomposition reaction rates are dependent on chemical structure, we reasoned that survival yield curves should be compound-specific and therefore useful for chemical identification. In this study, a quantitative approach for analyzing the correlation between survival yield and collision energy was developed and validated. This method is based on determining the collision energy (CE) at which the survival yield is 50% (CE50) and, further, provides slope and intercept values for each survival yield curve. In initial experiments using a defined set of homologous compounds, we found that CE50 values were easily determined, quantitative, highly reproducible, and could discriminate between structural and even positional isomers. Further analysis demonstrated that CE50 values were independent of cone potential and orthogonal to compound mass. Experimentally determined CE50 values for a diverse set of 54 compounds were correlated to Molconn molecular structure descriptors. The resulting model yielded a statistically significant linear correlation between experimental and calculated CE50 values and identified several structural characteristics related to precursor ion stability and fragmentation mechanism. Thus, the CE50 is a promising method for compound identification and discrimination.
Visualization and Mechanism of Assembly of a Glucocorticoid Receptor·Hsp70 Complex That Is Primed for Subsequent Hsp90-dependent Opening of the Steroid Binding Cleft

A minimal system of five proteins, hsp90, hsp70, Hop, hsp40, and p23, assembles glucocorticoid receptor (GR)·hsp90 heterocomplexes and causes the simultaneous opening of the steroid binding cleft to access by steroid. The first step in assembly is the ATP-dependent and hsp40 (YDJ-1)-dependent formation of a GR·hsp70 complex that primes the receptor for subsequent ATP-dependent activation by hsp90, Hop, and p23. This study focuses on three aspects of the GR priming reaction with hsp70. First, we have visualized the primed GR·hsp70 complexes by atomic force microscopy, and we find the most common stoichiometry to be 1:1, with some complexes of a size ∼1:2 and a few complexes of larger size. Second, in a recent study of progesterone receptor priming, it was shown that hsp40 binds first, leading to the notion that it targets hsp70 to the receptor. We show here that hsp40 does not perform such a targeting function in priming the GR. Third, we focus on a short amino-terminal segment of the ligand binding domain that is required for GR·hsp90 heterocomplex assembly. By using two glutathione S-transferase (GST)/ligand binding domain fusions with (GST/520C) and without (GST/554C) hsp90 binding and steroid binding activity, we show that the priming step with hsp70 occurs with GST/554C, and it is the subsequent assembly step with hsp90 that is defective.
Linaclotide: A Novel Therapy for Chronic Constipation and Constipation- Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are functional gastrointestinal disorders that significantly affect patients’ quality of life. Chronic constipation and IBS are prevalent—1 2% of the US population meet the diagnostic criteria for IBS, and 1 5% meet the criteria for chronic constipation— and these conditions negatively impact the healthcare system from an economic perspective. Despite attempts at dietary modification, exercise, or use of over-the-counter medications, many patients have persistent symptoms. Alternative treatment options are limited. This article describes linaclotide (Linzess, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals/Forest Pharmaceuticals), a new, first-in-class medication for the treatment of chronic constipation and constipation-predominant IBS.
The Role of the Consultant in Creating Organizational Change in Union Settings

Organizational change in union settings has never been easy. The institutional relationship between labor and management, the long history of conflict and mistrust, management's need to continually...
Geospatial intelligence analysis via semantic lensing

Geospatial displays typically contain many data layers ranging in type and level of detail that often result in dense, occluded, and cluttered map displays. We investigated a localized, "detail on-demand" filtering strategy called semantic lensing that in certain situations provides a more efficient and desirable approach than global filtering for mitigating clutter and occlusion.An initial formal user study with these semantic lenses has shown their significant value, expediency, and desirability in aiding decision making during real-world tasks. Completion times of geospatial analyses are significantly faster when using lenses and workloads are significantly lower. The research suggests that using lenses may also improve analysts' accuracy when completing complex time-critical geospatial intelligence analyses. Continued work will evaluate additional features and task-specific applicability. Successful evaluation will propose the distribution of such a lens tool to geospatial intelligence analysts.
Teaching Physical Geography with Toys, Household Items, and Food.

“Learning is not a spectator sport.”—Chickering and Gamson (1991)Thinking back to their undergraduate training in geography many years ago, many people have to admit that their memories are rather ...
REACTION OF OSMIUM REAGENTS WITH AMINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS: Reactivity of Amino Acid Residues and Peptide Bond Cleavage

We report a study of the relative reactivity of the common amino acids and of their residues in lysozyme with osmium tetroxide, the osmium tetroxide-pyridine reagent, and with the oxo-osmium(VI)-pyridine reagent. With free amino acids, the osmium(VIII) reagents are most reactive with Met, Cys, His, Thr, Ser, Trp, Lys, and Pro; the osmium(VI) reagent only reacts significantly with His, Met, Cys, Thr, and Ser. In lysozyme, only Cys, Met, and Trp react extensively with the osmium(VIII) reagents; with the osmium (VI) reagent, Cys and Met are most reactive. We also note evidence both for cross-linking of proteins and for peptide bond cleavage, which appears to have considerable specificity for tryptophanyl residues.
Differences in Career and Life Planning Between African American and Caucasian Undergraduate Women

Women, especially African American women, have traditionally been in low-paying careers. This exploratory study examined how career aspirations are affected by future career and family plans. Results revealed that African American undergraduate women had higher career aspirations than Caucasian undergraduate women and also planned for multiple roles in the future. Las mujeres, sobre todo las mujeres Afroamericanas, han desarrollado tradicionalmente sus carreras en trabajos de menor remuneracion. Este estudio exploratorio examino como las aspiraciones de carrera son afectadas por los planes futuros de carrera y familia. Los resultados revelaron que las estudiantes universitarias Afroamericanas tenian aspiraciones de carrera mas elevadas que las estudiantes Caucasicas, y tambien planeaban tener multiples roles en el futuro.
Working and Nonworking Mothers with Infants: Perceptions of Their Careers, Their Infants' Needs, and Satisfaction with Mothering

This study examines the attitudinal differences and commonalities of working and nonworking mothers of 3-month-old infants. Fifty-nine working and 71 nonworking mothers participated in the study. Interviews and an attitude scale were used to obtain information about mothers' perceptions of infant needs, their beliefs about their own career-related needs, and their satisfaction with mothering. Significant group differences were determined on separation-related issues: Working mothers perceived less infant distress at separation, were less anxious about separation, and were less apprehensive about other care givers. Career orientation and maternal satisfaction were related to beliefs about infant needs in both working and nonworking groups.
BROOD PARASITISM IN A HOST GENERALIST, THE SHINY COWBIRD: I. THE QUALITY OF DIFFERENT SPECIES AS HOSTS

ASSTRACT.--The Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) of South America, Panama, and the West Indies is an obligate brood parasite known to have used 176 species of birds as hosts. This study documents wide variability in the quality of real and potential hosts in terms of response to eggs, nestling diet, and nest survivorship. The eggs of the parasite are either spotted or immaculate in eastern Argentina and neighboring parts of Uruguay and Brazil. Most species accept both morphs of cowbird eggs, two reject both morphs, and one (Chalkbrowed Mockingbird, Mimus saturninus) rejects immaculate eggs but accepts spotted ones. No species, via its rejection behavior, protects the Shiny Cowbird from competition with a potential competitor, the sympatric Screaming Cowbird (M. rufoaxillaris). Cross-fostering experiments and natural-history observations indicate that nestling cowbirds require a diet composed of animal protein. Because most passerines provide their nestlings with such food, host selection is little restricted by diet. Species-specific nest survivorship, adjusted to appropriate values of Shiny Cowbird life-history variables, varied by over an order of magnitude. Shiny Cowbirds peck host eggs. This density-dependent source of mortality lowers the survivorship of nests of preferred hosts and creates natural selection for greater generalization. Host quality is sensitive to the natural-history attributes of each host species and to the behavior of cowbirds at nests. Received 4 June 1984, accepted 26 June 1985. VARIATION in resource quality can have great ecological and evolutionary consequences. Obligate brood parasites never build nests but leave the care of their eggs and young to other species, their hosts. The parental behavior of hosts is a critical and quantifiable resource to brood parasites. The first task in understanding the use of resources is to ascertain the quality of each alternative. I surveyed the quality of various passerine species as hosts of the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Host quality is tractable to analysis because selection is spatially and temporally focused at nests. Dimensions of host quality examined include response to parasitic eggs, nestling diet, and characteristic survivorship of each species' nests. This is the only systematic attempt to characterize the quality of an array of species for any brood parasite. The Shiny Cowbird is widely distributed throughout South America (Friedmann 1929). It is an extreme host generalist, known to have
Severe urticaria after laser treatment for hair reduction.

Laser hair reduction uses long-pulse lasers emitting visible and infrared radiation in the millisecond domain to target melanin pigment contained in hair shafts, resulting in heating of the hair shafts and transfer of this heat to the hair follicle. Heating of the follicle results in an inflammatory response that triggers anagen follicles to enter a prolonged telogen phase, causing shedding of the terminal hair and its replacement by a vellous hair that is not visible to the naked eye. Lasers in the red or infrared wavelengths, specifically the 755-nm alexandrite, the 810-nm diode, and the 1,064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser are used because they penetrate deeply into the skin and are not appreciably absorbed by competing chromophores such as hemoglobin or water. Because the bulge and bulb cells of the hair follicle are located deep within the skin, nontarget epidermal melanin pigment can be protected using surface cooling while still enabling targeting of the key structures in the follicle that cause it to enter the telogen phase. Surface-cooling strategies include forced cool air, a dynamic cooling device using cryogen spray, and contact cooling using chilled sapphire crystals or metal plates. These devices protect the epidermis, which heats up during laser treatment because of absorption of laser energy by epidermal melanin pigment. After laser treatment, an urticarial papule develops around each treated follicle that contained a pigmented hair shaft. This urticarial response is usually confined to the immediate area surrounding the hair shaft, with a more subtle urticarial response occurring in the entire treatment site. The latter response is usually mild and most often lasts from a few minutes to 24 hours after laser treatment. This general urticarial response is seen after treatment with virtually any laser used to treat skin for a variety of conditions using wavelengths from the visible to the infrared range and is rarely clinically significant. In this article, we report a severe urticarial response immediately after laser treatment for hair reduction in four subjects lasting many days after laser treatment. In three of the four cases, the subjects had received prior laser treatment for hair removal without incident. No subject had a prior history of urticaria from cold, heat, sunlight, or any other cause.
Work in progress — Bring green computing to CS core curriculum with a portable lab

Underdevelopment is novel reusable labware for computer science (CS) core curriculum. This labware contains a relatively inexpensive portable Wireless Sensor Network kit in a Box (WinBox), along with a variety of predesigned labs ranging from fundamental to advanced concepts in CS core curriculum. Exemplary projects are depicted to show how this WinBox can be reused in several CS core courses. With its portability, the WinBox makes feasible to offer on-line lab intensive courses. Much of our effort is made on inculcating CS students in greening computing due to its increasing importance. By bringing green computing experience to students and instructors through the hands-on projects, we aim to promote students' innovation in pervasive green computing. This pedagogical model harnesses a wide range of wireless hardware/software co-design skills in CS education to address a need in embedded system workforces. This affordable WinBox renders an educational resource for budget limited institutions.
Identifying Risk Factors for Disrupted Family Reunifications Following Short-Term Shelter Care.

Youth discharged from a short-term residential facility and reunified with their parents were contacted between I and 3 years after discharge to determine whether or not the youth had a subsequent placement following reunification. Of the 148 youth who reunified with their parents, 110 (74%) were contacted. Risk factors were identified by using survival analysis techniques to analyze differences in the time to the first subsequent placement. The number of self-reported personal problems reported at intake significantly predicted a shorter time to subsequent placement disruption.There was also a trend (p = 12) for the number of prior formal placements to predict future placements.
Fault healing inferred from time dependent variations in source properties of repeating earthquakes

We analyze two sets of repeating earthquakes on the Calaveras fault to estimate in-situ rates of fault strengthening (healing). Earthquake recurrence intervals tr range from 3 to 803 days. Variations in relative moment and duration are combined to study changes in stress drop, rupture dimension, rupture veloc, ity, and particle velocity as a function of t,. Healing rates and source variations are compared with predictions of laboratory- derived friction laws. Two interpretations of event duration z' are used: one in which : is given by the ratio of slip to particle ve- locity and one in which it scales as rupture dimension divided by rupture velocity. Our data indicate that faults strengthen during the interseismic period. We infer that source dimension de- creases with t r due to aseismic creep within the region surround- ing the repeating events. Stress drop increases 1-3MPa per dec. ade increase in twhich represents an increase of a factor of 2-3 relative to events with tbetween 10 and 100 days. This rate of fault healing is consistent with extrapolations of laboratory meas- urements of healing rates if fault strength is high, on order of 60MPa, and stress drop is roughly 10% of this value.
Robotic Partial Nephrectomy Versus Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Single-Surgeon Analysis of >100 Consecutive Procedures

OBJECTIVES To compare a single-surgeon experience of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RPN) in 102 consecutive patients. METHODS The clinical, pathologic, and follow-up information from 102 consecutive procedures (40 RPNs and 62 LPNs) was reviewed. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found between the groups with regard to age, body mass index, or American Society of Anesthesiologists score. No significant difference was found between the estimated blood loss (136 vs 173 mL), tumor size (2.5 vs 2.4 cm), need for pelvicaliceal repair (56% for both), and positive margin rate (1 vs 1 patient) between RPN and LPN, respectively. The mean total number of trocars in the robotic group was greater than the laparoscopic group (4.6 vs 3.2, P = .01). The mean total operative time (140 vs 156 minutes, P = .04), warm ischemia time (19 vs 25 minutes, P = .03), and length of stay (2.5 vs 2.9 days, P = .03) were significantly shorter for RPN than for LPN, respectively. CONCLUSIONS RPN can produce results comparable to LPN but has disadvantages, such as cost and assistant control of the renal hilum. Additional randomized trials are needed.
Naturalizing Or Demythologizing Scientific Inquiry: Kitcher’s: Science, Truth and Democracy

In Science, Truth and Democracy, Philip Kitcher has argued that science ought to meet both the epistemic goals of significant truth and the nonepistemic goals of serving the interests of a democrat...
Geochemical traces of CO2-rich fluid flow along normal faults in central Italy

SUMMARY We studied the oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of fault rocks, as well as fractured and fragmented platform carbonates, along large basin-bounding normal fault zones in central Italy. The internal architecture of the principal fault segments found in these zones consists of faulted and brecciated Quaternary sediments in the hanging walls, and of four different carbonate structural domains (A‐D) in the footwalls. In the footwall damage zones, we identified fractured and fragmented platform carbonates (domain A) and pulverized carbonates (domain B). Within the fault cores, we recognized both matrix-supported (domain C) and cement-supported fault rocks (domain D). The latter structural domain is located primarily along the main slip surfaces of the fault cores. Analysing the geochemistry of powder samples of fault rocks, fractured and fragmented platform carbonates, Quaternary basinal sediments, and platform carbonate host rocks we observed two different trends in δ 18 O‐δ 13 C space. These two isotopic trends are interpreted as the signatures of two different fault fluids. The first, and most prominent, isotopic trend is related to a meteoric-derived fluid, the second one to a groundwater-derived fluid originated from the local South Marsica aquifer. Although we do not have any laboratory data on the T/P conditions of fluid mineralization, based on the isotopic difference between the fluid sources and the precipitated solutes, we predicted a mineralization temperature of ∼25 ◦ for the meteoric-derived fluid, and ∼100 ◦ for the groundwater-derived fluid. The stable isotope composition of the four structural domains shows the focussing and compartmentalization of the meteoric-derived fluid primarily at the hanging wall/footwall contacts. The groundwater-derived fluid also moved through the fragmented carbonates associated with small, intracarbonate normal faults to the east of the southernmost studied normal fault zone. Considering the high CO2 content of the South Marsica aquifer, we suggest that pockets of high pCO2 fluids may have formed within the fault cores during exhumation and ongoing normal faulting.
Size- and Orientation-Dependent Strain Effects on Ballistic Si p-Type Nanowire Field-Effect Transistors

The size- and orientation-dependent uniaxial strain effects on ballistic hole transport in nanowire field-effect transistors are investigated using an sp3d5s*-based tight-binding formalism coupled with a compact electrostatics model and a semiclassical transport model. It is found that the strain-induced reduction of the valence band density of states leads to an increased ballistic hole current. This is explained by the product of a small reduction in hole density and a significant increase in the average ballistic hole velocity under uniaxial compression. While uniaxial compressive strain is beneficial for both 〈110〉 and 〈100〉 devices, the strain response of 〈110〉 nanowires is much larger than their 〈100〉 counterparts. Ultrascaled 〈110〉 nanowires have the highest hole drive current under both strained and unstrained conditions, despite the reduction of strain-induced ballistic hole current enhancement for narrower devices.
Factors in organic farmers' decisionmaking : Diversity, challenge, and obstacles

This research promotes our understanding of organic farmers' decisionmaking through individual farmers' experiences. A twofold survey was conducted to investigate characteristics of certified organic farmers in Colorado. Data from a mail survey (26 responses to 49 surveys sent) reveal patterns of farm operations and attitudes among this group of farmers. These questionnaires focused on land use, land tenure, operational change, and personal characteristics. In-depth interviews of five case study farmers provide additional insight into farmers' agricultural decisionmaking. These interviews were conversations that the farmers guided toward topics of relevance to them. Taken together, the mail and interview surveys provided information about on-farm operational factors and personal characteristics. Quantitative analysis and qualitative data reduction techniques were used to identify factors in organic farmer decisionmaking. The following eight factors help us understand organic agriculture in this region: diversity, challenge, change, businesslike approach, no formal agricultural education, love of the land, anti-”radical environmentalist,” and obstacles.
Thermal managerment of high power memory module for server platforms

This paper demonstrates an approach for thermal solution development of high power memory module for computer system platforms. A lumped thermal resistance equation is adopted to consider the coupling between register/buffer and DRAMs. Comprehensive thermal analysis is done to characterize the thermal resistances under various memory thermal conditions in different system configurations. Memory thermal gap is identified and addressed with efficient and low cost thermal solutions such as full DIMM heat spreader (FDHS). Structural consideration is further discussed to address FDHS air gap risk related to height differences between DRAM and register/buffer packages. The thermal solution development approach is applicable to memory modules such as registered DIMM (RDIMM) or fully buffered DIMM (FBD).
Social Patterns and Norms in Lebanon and the United States

This study reports selected respondents' views of the norms and patterns generally present in the contemporary societies of Lebanon and the U.S.A. Employing an instrument initially developed by Miller in the comparison of Ibero-Latin-American societies with those of the Anglo-American culture complex, it is possible to compare judgments of Lebanon and the U.S.A. on a number of characteristics, to consider indications of recent changes in American society, and to observe several interesting similarities between Lebanon and other societies which share in the tradition of the circum Mediterranean culture area.
Cost-effectiveness of risk-based screening for cervical length to prevent preterm birth.

Background Despite much debate, there is no consensus on whether women without a history of prior spontaneous preterm birth should receive universal cervical length screening. Risk-based screening has been proposed as an alternative to universal cervical length measurement and may represent a more cost-effective approach to preterm birth prevention. Objective We sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of risk-based screening compared to universal cervical length screening or no screening for preterm birth prevention in low-risk women. Study Design A decision analytic model compared the cost and effectiveness of 3 cervical length screening strategies in a population of women with no prior preterm birth. Risk-based screening, universal screening, and no screening were compared using cost, probability, and utility estimates derived from the existing literature and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for each strategy were calculated. Results In the base-case analysis, risk-based screening and universal screening were more effective and less costly than no screening. In comparison to the risk-based strategy, universal screening of the United States population of women without a prior preterm birth (N = 3.5 million annually) would result in 2.19 million more transvaginal ultrasounds, 11,027 more women treated with vaginal progesterone, 913 fewer preterm births Conclusion In women without a prior spontaneous preterm birth, universal cervical length screening is cost-effective in comparison to both risk-based screening and no screening.
Memristive behavior in BaTiO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 heterostructures integrated with semiconductors

Ferroelectric materials such as BaTiO3 have been studied for emerging non-volatile memory applications. However, most of the previous work has been focused on this material when it was deposited on insulting oxide substrates such as SrTiO3. Unfortunately, this substrate is not suitable for CMOS-based microelectronics applications. This motivated us to carry out the present work. We have studied the resistive switching behavior in BaTiO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (BTO/LSMO) heterostructures integrated with semiconducting substrates Si (100) using MgO/TiN buffer layers by pulsed laser deposition. Current-Voltage (I-V) measurements were conducted on BTO (500nm)/LSMO (25nm) devices at 200K. We have observed a broad hysteresis in forward and reverse voltage sweeps which is an important property for memory applications. Secondly, the RON/ROFF ratio is estimated at ~ 150, consistent with the reported numbers (30-100) in the literature. Thirdly, the device is stable at least up to 50 cycles. However, we found that hysteretic behavior was suppressed upon oxygen annealing of the device at 1 atmospheric pressure, 200o C for 1hr, inferring the important role of oxygen vacancies in the resistive switching behavior of BTO/LSMO device. Future work will focus on investigating the correlation between ferroelectricity and resistive switching in these devices using local probe technique piezo force microscopy (PFM) technique.
Quantitative ultrastructural study of cat abducens interneurons

Abducens interneurons project to the medial rectus subdivision of the contralateral oculomotor nucleus and have a role in the mediation of horizontal conjugate gaze. Two types of interneurons have been reported based on shape (fusiform and circular) and differences in organelles. In this study, 41 abducens interneurons from three young adult cats were examined in the transmission electron microscope and were classified, on the basis of eccentricity (e), as circular (e less than 0.82; N = 18) or fusiform (e greater than or equal to 0.82; N = 23). The volume fraction of nucleus, nucleolus, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, polyribosomes, and Golgi complex and the number of synaptic profiles per 100 microns of membrane were determined. Although there is a qualitative difference in these cell types, statistical analyses indicate no significant differences in organelle content, mean area, number of synaptic profiles per 100 microns of membrane, or diameter. While the differences in shape may possibly indicate different functional groups, this notion is not supported by the variables examined or by physiological studies.