cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Techniques for fisheye lens calibration using a minimal number of measurements

A method is discussed describing how different types of Omni-Directional fisheye lenses can be calibrated for use in robotic vision. The technique discussed will allow for full calibration and correction of x,y pixel coordinates while only taking two uncalibrated and one calibrated measurement. These are done by finding the observed x,y coordinates of a calibration target. Any Fisheye lense that has a roughly spherical shape can have its distortion corrected with this technique. Two measurements are taken to discover the edges and centroid of the lens. These can be done automatically by the computer and does not require any knowledge about the lens or the location of the calibration target. A third measurement is then taken to discover the degree of spherical distortion. This is done by comparing the expected measurement to the measurement obtained and then plotting a curve that describes the degree of distortion. Once the degree of distortion is known and a simple curve has been fitted to the distortion shape, the equation of that distortion and the simple dimensions of the lens are plugged into an equation that remains the same for all types of lenses. The technique has the advantage of needing only one calibrated measurement to discover the type of lens being used.
CHEMICAL PROTECTION AGAINST LETHAL EFFECTS OF NITROGEN MUSTARD IN RATS.

Summary1. A dose-mortality curve for nitrogen mustard (HN2) given intraperitoneally to 150 Wistar rats gave an LD50 of 1.9 ± S.E. = 0.02 mg of HN2 per kg body weight. Mean survival times for groups of rats killed by moderate doses of HN2 (LD10 through 2 × LD50) were of the order of 4 days. Acute toxic doses (above 7 × LD50) killed in 2 days or less. 2. Methyl and propyl paraben mixed into the saline solution used for injecting sub-lethal doses of HN2 had no effect upon either survival time or mortality of the rats. These additives apparently have no adverse effect on the action of HN2 in clinically acceptable doses. 3. A 600 mg% diet of parabens fed to rats receiving sublethal doses of HN2 increased survival time, but did not reduce mortality. Survival time of rats injected with acute toxic doses of HN2 was increased as much as 1 1/2 days by parabens dissolved in the saline vehicle, with no change of mortality. 4. Pre-feeding of a 5% succinylsulfathiazole diet prolonged survival time of rats treated with ...
Chaperonins – keeping a lid on folding proteins

Two classes of chaperonins are known in all groups of organisms to participate in the folding of newly synthesized proteins. Whereas bacterial type I chaperonins use a reversibly binding cofactor to temporarily sequester folding substrate proteins within the cylindrical chaperonin cavity, type II chaperonins in archaea and the eukaryotic cytosol appear to have evolved a built-in lid for this purpose. Not entirely surprisingly, this has consequences for the folding modes of the two types of chaperonins.
Bupivacaine infiltration of the mesosalpinx in ambulatory surgical laparoscopic tubal sterilization.

Bupivacaine infiltration of the mesosalpinx was compared to lidocaine, normal saline or no injection for pain relief in women having elective laparoscopic tubal sterilization by Yoon fallopian ring application, One hundred women were assigned randomly to four groups. In a double-blind study, the mesosalpinx was infiltrated in three groups: Group I - lidocaine one per cent; Group II - bupivacaine 0.5 per cent; Group III - normal saline. Group IV (control) received no injection. Pain intensity was reported at four study times by the patients on a self-assessment pain intensity scale. Responses were compared using the Kruskall-Wallis H-Test and Wilcoxen’s Rank-Sum Test. Both tests indicated significant differences in pain intensity levels at various study times. The amount of supplemental fentany I given was used as a secondary measure of effectiveness. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple-Range Test showed the bupivcaine group to receive significantly less fentanyl (p < 0.05) in the postanesthesia care unit.
Herradura: A New Lava Flow Feature

Lava ridges which are horseshoe-shaped in plan occur on the flanks of several volcanic cones in the La Mesa Basalts, Quaternary alkaline olivine basalts in south-central New Mexico. I propose to call these newly described features herradura (Spanish: horseshoe). They formed by extrusion of lava through an already existing sloping crust of lava.
Effects of Gamma Radiation on Cerium-Bearing Phosphate Glasses

A series of cerium-bearing phosphate glasses were investigated before and after exposure to gamma radiation in doses of 106, 107, and 108r. Measurements were made on the magneto-optic (Faraday effect) rotations exhibited by the glasses at liquid helium temperatures and in magnetic fields ranging to 70 kgauss. Absorption curves were also taken before and after exposure and also after annealing. No changes in Faraday rotation were observed, indicating that the cerium remained in the cerous state, but the height of a radiation-induced absorption peak, located at 3200–3400 A, was found to be inversely proportional to the amount of cerium present. A qualitative explanation of a possible mechanism is presented.
Neurochemical modulators of sleep and anesthetic states.

The regulation of consciousness is a fundamental question that has a long and storied association with philosophy. Today, consciousness studies command a central position in contemporary neuroscience1-3. The complexities of consciousness studies and the pressing demands of clinical care have led most anesthesiologists to focus on research problems with pragmatic outcomes. Yet the ability to accurately assess and manipulate states of consciousness with anesthetic drugs is the ultimate concern for every surgical patient and anesthesia provider. This volume recognizes consciousness studies as a legitimate and accessible concern for anesthesiology. This chapter considers the relationship between molecules known to regulate the loss of consciousness during anesthesia and molecules that regulate the loss of consciousness during physiological sleep. Sleep neurobiology has been shown to provide unique insights into the study of consciousness4-6. The proposal7,8 that neuronal networks that evolved to generate states of sleep and wakefulness also contribute to the generation of anesthetic states has been supported by many laboratories9-19. There is evidence that the loss of consciousness during sleep is caused, in part, by the loss of functional connectivity and information processing20. Functional connectivity is critically dependent on neurochemical transmission. Therefore, this chapter focuses on intravenous and volatile anesthetics that have been shown to alter endogenous neurotransmitters known to regulate states of consciousness. Reviews on sleep from an anesthesiology perspective are available elsewhere8,21-24. The present overview is derived from a September 2007 PubMed title search of peer-reviewed papers linking 10 commonly used anesthetics with 11 endogenous molecules known to regulate states of consciousness. The list of intravenous anesthetics includes propofol, pentobarbital, ketamine, etomidate, and midazolam. The list of volatile anesthetics includes isoflurane, sevoflurane, nitrous oxide, xenon, and desflurane. The 11 endogenous molecules known to regulate sleep/wake states25 include acetylcholine (ACh), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, adenosine, dopamine, histamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, hypocretin/orexin, glycine, and galanin. This 10 by 11 matrix was searched from 1950 to 2007 and identified 660 references. A search of the last 10 years (1997 to 2007) revealed a total of 192 references (Tables 1 and ​and22). Table 1 Intravenous Anesthetic Agents and Sleep-Related Neurotransmitters Table 2 Volatile Anesthetic Agents and Sleep-Related Neurotransmitters
Steroid management in newly diagnosed glioblastoma

Glucocorticoids ameliorate neurologic symptoms in patients with glioblastoma, but their adverse effects limit long-term use. This study sought to identify factors associated with steroid taper success or failure in the early stages of glioblastoma treatment. We retrospectively reviewed steroid prescribing practices from date of surgery until one month following radiotherapy (RT) completion among 85 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who were treated on a prospective clinical trial with RT and temozolomide. Sufficient information on steroid dosing was available in 72 patients included in the final analysis. The mean age was 54 years, and 65 % were men. Thirty-nine percent had a gross-total resection. Fifteen patients (21 %) tolerated steroid taper without requiring dose increase during the study. Men and patients with Karnofsky performance scale 90-100 were more likely to have a successful steroid taper. The most common symptom of taper failure was headache, but the reason for steroid increase differed among the different time intervals examined: worsening neurologic deficit in the early post-operative period, headache and non-focal symptoms during RT, and headache and seizure post-RT. Of the 50 patients in whom steroid use during RT was known, 36 (72 %) underwent dose reduction and of those, 21 (58 %) required an increase. The successful early taper of steroids in glioblastoma was associated with male gender and better functional status. Steroids are often tapered during RT, but there is frequent taper failure with this approach. A prospective trial with standardized steroid dosing regimens would be needed to verify these findings.
Effect of the Interfacial Chemical Environment on In-Plane Electronic Conduction of Indium Tin Oxide: Role of Surface Charge, Dipole Magnitude, and Carrier Injection

Reaction of the indium tin oxide (ITO) surface with Bronsted acids (bases) leads to increases (decreases) in its in-plane conductance as measured by a four-point probe configuration. The conductance varies monotonically with pH, suggesting that the degree of surface protonation or hydroxylation controls the surface charge density, which in turn affects the width of the n-type depletion layer and ultimately the in-plane conductance. Measurements at constant pH with a series of tetraalkylammonium hydroxide species of varying cation size indicate that surface dipoles also affect ITO conductance by modulating the magnitude of the surface polarization. Modulating the double layer with varying aqueous salt solutions also affects ITO conductance, though not to the same degree as strong Bronsted acids and bases. Solvents of varying dielectric constant and proton donating ability (ethanol, dimethylformamide) decrease ITO conductance relative to H2O. In addition, changing solvent gives rise to thermally derived con...
Evanescent-Wave Cavity Ring-Down Investigation of Polymer/Solvent Interactions

Evanescent-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (EW-CRDS) is used to measure interfacial phenomena when methanol or water is placed in contact with a film of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), which is attached to the face of a fused-silica prism that constitutes part of a ring cavity. In the first few minutes after contact, the uptake of methanol is slower than that of water, but after this initial period the methanol diffuses more rapidly in the film than water does. Bulk weight-gain measurements confirm this result and yield diffusion coefficients of (25.1 ± 0.7) × 10-7 cm2/s for methanol in PDMS and (7 ± 2) × 10-7 cm2/s for water in PDMS. The interfacial optical losses found in the EW-CRDS measurements result primarily from scatter. In particular, we find that delamination of the film from the fused-silica substrate dominates the optical losses in the case of methanol. This conclusion is confirmed by separate surface plasmon resonance experiments.
Do strategic groups exist? an economic framework for analysis

This paper offers a framework and methodology for resolving the question regarding the existence of strategic groups. We say that a strategic group exists if characteristics of the group affect firm performance independently of firm-level and industry-level effects. We argue that group-level effects are a byproduct of strategic interactions among members, and develop an empirical testing model, based on the ‘New Economics of Industrial Organization,’ to distinguish true group effects from spurious effects. From this model, we derive a series of logically consistent propositions, suggesting that while strategic interactions are critical for a group-level effect on profits, mobility barriers are necessary to preserve both groups and their effects over time. A review of prior empirical studies of strategic groups suggests that the inconclusive nature of prior research has been due more to the lack of a theoretical foundation for empirical analysis than to the nonexistence of groups. To the extent that our methods have been employed, there is limited evidence that a rigorous search for strategic groups may prove fruitful. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Torsion-freeness and non-singularity over right p.p.-rings

Abstract A right R-module M is non-singular if x I ≠ 0 for all non-zero x ∈ M and all essential right ideals I of R. The module M is torsion-free if Tor 1 R ( M , R / R r ) = 0 for all r ∈ R . This paper shows that, for a ring R, the classes of torsion-free and non-singular right R-modules coincide if and only if R is a right Utumi-p.p.-ring with no infinite set of orthogonal idempotents. Several examples and applications of this result are presented. Special emphasis is given to the case where the maximal right ring of quotients of R is a perfect left localization of R.
The Econometrics of Damage Control

Lichtenberg and Zilberman argue correctly that, when biological and physical processes are considered, we are able to delineate two components of actual (realized) crop yields: "potential output (the maximum quantity of product obtainable from any given combination of inputs) and losses caused by damaging agents . . present in the environment" (p. 262). They further argue that damage control agents should be defined in terms of their contribution to the abatement effort and hence should enter the production function as an argument of the damage abatement function. To demonstrate the consequences of their claims, Lichtenberg and Zilberman make an ad hoc choice of a Cobb-Douglas functional form for crop yield. Exogenous factors, such as pest prevalence and weather conditions are ignored, although they note that omission of these environmental factors will result in misspecification of the production relationship (p. 267).
Animal Behavioral Models of Tinnitus

Abstract The pathophysiology of tinnitus is poorly understood and treatments are often unsuccessful. A number of animal models have been developed in order to gain a better understanding of tinnitus. A great deal has been learned from these models regarding the electrophysiological and neuroanatomical correlates of tinnitus following exposure to noise or ototoxic drugs. Reliable behavioral data is important for determining whether such electrophysiological or neuroanatomical changes are indeed related to tinnitus. Of the many documented tinnitus animal behavioral paradigms, the acoustic startle reflex had been proposed as a simple method to identify the presence or absence of tinnitus. Several behavioral models based on conditioned response suppression paradigms have also been developed. In addition to determining the presence or absence of tinnitus, some of the behavioral paradigms have provided signs of the onset, frequency, and intensity of tinnitus in animals. Although none of these behavioral models have been proved to be a perfect model, these studies provide useful information on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying tinnitus.
Characterization of intersex production in Trichogramma kaykai infected with parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia

Sexually aberrant individuals, displaying both male and female characteristics, are rare in occurrence but are documented throughout the animal kingdom. In parasitoid wasps of the genus Trichogramma, such individuals typically appear as a result of rearing Wolbachia-infected thelytokous wasps at high temperatures. Sexually aberrant Trichogramma have been referred to interchangeably in the literature as gynandromorphs, sexual mosaics and intersexes. However, accurately used, the terms “gynandromorph” and “sexual mosaic” describe an individual composed of a mixture of genetically distinct tissues corresponding to the sexual phenotypes observed, while “intersex” refers to an individual having a uniform genetic constitution but with some tissues exhibiting sexual phenotypes conflicting with the associated genotype. Here, we investigate the heat-induced production of sexually aberrant offspring by thelytokous Trichogramma kaykai. Aberrant individuals were rare, but each was characterized as one of 11 morphotypes ranging from very feminine to very masculine. Overall, the production of aberrant individuals increased with time from the onset of maternal oviposition. However, while the production of males also increased with time, the degree of masculinity of aberrant individuals did not; the different morphotypes appeared to be produced haphazardly. We conclude that the aberrant individuals produced by T. kaykai are actually intersexes and not gynandromorphs. The wasp's close association with Wolbachia and the absence of intersexes in uninfected populations allow us to discuss a possible origin of the condition.
Macrophages in the omentum: Effects of drugs and pertussis vaccine evaluated by a simple weight assay☆

Abstract Mineral oil was injected into the peritoneal cavity of rats. Two weeks later, the omentum was dissected free of pancreatic tissue in a systematic manner. The weight of the omentum increased two- to threefold due to accumulation of a relatively pure population of oil-laden macrophages. A shorter time period gave a smaller weight increment and a longer interval favored development of fibrous connective tissue. Old animals were unsatisfactory subjects because of the excessive and very variable amounts of fat in the omentum. The weight of the macrophage-laden omentum was used as a simple assay for the delivery and phagocytic functions of the monocyte-macrophage system. Systemic administration of pertussis vaccine or cycloleucine inhibited the accumulation of macrophages in the omentum. Inoculation of oil and weighing of the omentum in the course of routine screening and toxicological testing of drugs could add important information with hardly any extra effort or expense.
Compelling mechanistic data and identification of the active species in tungsten-catalyzed alkyne polymerizations: conversion of a trianionic pincer into a new tetraanionic pincer-type ligand

Complex [tBuOCO]WC(tBu)(THF)2 (1) {where tBuOCO = [2,6-(tBuC6H3O)2C6H3]3−, THF = tetrahydrofuran} polymerizes acetylenes (R-phenylacetylene (R = H, p-OMe, p-F, 3,5-diCF3), 1-decyne, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyne, and trimethylsilylacetylene) to form π-conjugating polymers. Upon treating 1 with 2 equiv. of phenylacetylene in toluene-d8 at −35 °C, two isolable products form. These two products are [O2C(tBuC)W(η2-HCCPh)] (2-tttBu) and [O2C(PhC)W(η2-HCCtBu)] (2-Ph) {where OC(tBuC)O = [2,6-(tBuC6H3O)2C6H3(tBuC)]4−, OC(PhC)O = [2,6-(tBuC6H3O)2C6H3(PhC)]4−} and derived from an apparent reductive alkylidyne migratory insertion into a metal–arene bond. Complexes 2-tttBu and 2-Ph polymerize acetylene and a wide variety of monosubstituted acetylenes including phenylacetylene derivatives, 1-decyne, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyne and trimethylsilylacetylene. With a substrate to catalyst loading ratio of 25 000 : 1, complex 2-tttBu polymerizes phenylacetylene with a turnover number (TON) of 17 233. Additionally, 2-tttBu polymerizes phenylacetylene and 1-decyne with catalytic activities up to 5.64 × 106 gPPA mol−1 h−1 and 7.98 × 106 gPA mol−1 h−1, respectively. 2-tttBu also polymerizes the disubstituted acetylene, 1-phenyl-1-propyne. NMR spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray structural studies provide compelling evidence for polymer chain growth via an insertion ring-expansion mechanism.
Spatial grouping activity in young children with congenital right or left hemisphere brain injury.

Spatial grouping abilities were examined in 20 preschool-aged children with right or left hemisphere congenital focal brain injury, and a group of age-matched normal control children. Children were presented with a series of spontaneous grouping tasks in which they were given small sets of blocks and asked to play with them. Although the children with focal brain injury played as actively with the blocks as normal children, the constructions they produced differed systematically. Across eight measures of spatial grouping both children with right and left hemisphere injury were delayed compared to normal children. In addition, the behavioral profiles for the two groups of children with focal brain injury were qualitatively different. Data for the children with RH injury suggested difficulty organizing objects into coherent spatial groupings, while data from the children with LH injury suggested difficulty with local relations within the spatial arrays. These findings are consistent with data reported for adults on spatial construction tasks. Developmental trajectories in the 3- to 4-year age period suggest, further, that the spatial integrative deficits observed in the children with RH injury are persistent. When the children began to produce spatial constructions using complex grouping procedures, those constructions were heaps or disordered clusters. In contrast, when children with LH injury began to use complex procedures, they generated the types of constructions usually associated with those procedures in normal children, e.g., arches, enclosures, and symmetries. These data were found within a cross-sectional study of 20 children and confirmed in a series of six longitudinal case study reports of three children with RH and three with LH injury. The data confirm our previous reports of spatial integrative deficit associated with early RH injury and present the first indication of spatial encoding deficits in children with LH injury.
POLYCHAETOID IS REQUIRED TO RESTRICT SEGREGATION OF SENSORY ORGAN PRECURSORS FROM PRONEURAL CLUSTERS IN DROSOPHILA

Reduction of wild-type activity of the polychaetoid (pyd) gene results in formation of extra mechanosensory bristles on the head and notum of adult Drosophila. Loss of pyd function results in decreased ability to restrict sensory organ precursor (SOP) formation to a single cell per proneural cluster. Although the initial proneural cluster pattern of achaete expression is not altered in pyd mutants, extra cells within proneural clusters express the high levels of achaete characteristic of SOPs. This observation suggests that pyd+ functions as a negative regulator of achaete-scute complex expression within the proneural cluster. Synergistic interactions between pyd and Notch, Delta and extramacrochaetae mutations support this model. We also demonstrate that pyd is required for normal eye development.
Cyclic ether fragmentation and identification of a quadruple open cubane motif for hexametallic aggregates

Reaction of Bu2Mg with 2,6-diisopropylaniline in 1,4-dioxane solution results in double deprotonation of the amine to produce the imide [2,6-iPr2C6H3NMg · (dioxane)n]. An ether cleavage side product of this reaction was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and was found to possess an interesting composition and molecular structure. The complex [Mg6{2,6-iPr2C6H3N(H)}4(OCH2CH2O)2{OCH2CH2OC(H)CH2}4], 2, is constructed from six metals, four primary amides, four alkoxy vinyl ethers and two diolates. The core of 2 is created from nine interconnected four-membered rings, and resembles a section of the CdI2 layer structure. Complex 2 also contains four-, five- and six-coordinate metal centers within a single molecular structure.
Orbital analysis and hardware configuration for Inter-Satellite Link in STUDSAT-2

STUDSAT - 2 is a Student Satellite Program carried out by the undergraduate students from seven engineering colleges from the state of Karnataka, India. STUDSAT-2 is India's First Twin Satellite Mission which aims to demonstrate Inter-Satellite Communication and improving temporal resolution by taking images of the same part of the earth by the Twin Satellites. STUDSAT-2 consists of two Nano Satellites each having the dimension of 30 × 30 × 20 cm cube and weighing less than 10 kg. Each satellite has two payloads, one is the CMOS Camera with a resolution of 80 m per pixel and other is the Inter Satellite Link(ISL) facility. The satellites are in along-the-track constellation architecture with the Master Satellite sending GPS parameters to the Slave satellite via Inter Satellite Link for repeated imaging. This paper presents estimation of relative velocity to be induced by the Inter-Satellite separation system between the twin satellites based on mission requirements, separation system specification and orbital analysis for the two satellites after separation in space. It also presents the Inter-Satellite Link Analysis, the hardware specification for Inter-Satellite Communication and the experimental results
Modeling of SiO2 deposition in high density plasma reactors and comparisons of model predictions with experimental measurements

High-density-plasma deposition of SiO2 is an important process in integrated circuit manufacturing. A list of gas-phase and surface reactions has been compiled for modeling plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of SiO2 from SiH4, O2, and Ar gas mixtures in high-density-plasma reactors. The gas-phase reactions include electron impact, neutral–neutral, ion–ion, and ion–neutral reactions. The surface reactions and deposition mechanism is based on insights gained from attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy experiments and includes radical adsorption onto the SiO2 surface, ion-enhanced desorption from the surface layer, radical abstractions, as well as direct ion-energy-dependent sputtering of the oxide film. A well-mixed reactor model that consists of mass and energy conservation equations averaged across the reactor volume was used to model three different kinds of high-density plasma deposition chambers. Experimental measurements of total ion densities, relative radical dens...
Effect of temperature on egg weight in Hawaii.

Abstract IN A PAPER dealing with the effect of temperature on size of pullet eggs, Warren (1939) assembled data from 11 experiment stations ranging in location from 14° to 56° north latitude. He reported that egg size fluctuations, following physiological maturity of chickens, usually showed a close correlation with temperatures after the daily maximum temperature exceeded 70°F. for a period of a few days or more. When the maximum temperature seldom exceeded 70°F. egg size increased throughout the pullet year, whereas in localities where summer temperatures were high, egg size was depressed and chickens were unable to exhibit their maximum potential unless the temperature dropped below 70° by the end of the laying year. No data were available to Warren for a northern latitude of approximately 22.5° N (midway between Chipley, Florida, and Los Banos, P. I.). Since comparable data have been summarized at Honolulu (21°18′30″), this communication is submitted to . . .
A NEW OPTICAL TECHNIQUE TO STUDY AEROSOL PHASE TRANSITIONS : THE NUCLEATION OF ICE FROM H2SO4 AEROSOLS

A new optical microscope technique has been developed to investigate phase transitions in micrometer-sized droplets. This technique has been used to study the nucleation of ice from aqueous H2SO4 aerosols 0−35 wt % in composition in the temperature range from 273 to 170 K. The aerosols were produced with a nebulizer and were deposited on a quartz plate, which was coated with a hydrophobic silane monolayer to minimize the effects of heterogeneous nucleation. More than 1200 aerosol particles were monitored individually with the optical microscope, and their freezing temperatures and melting points were recorded. The observed freezing temperatures are lower than the ones from comparable aerosol studies reported in the literature, the differences in the freezing temperature being up to 30 K, especially for the more concentrated aerosols. No freezing was observed above 170 K for compositions greater than 27 wt %. A thermodynamic model has been used to apply the new freezing temperature data to the formation of...
Review of electrical properties of metal oxides as applied to temperature and chemical sensing

Abstract Conducting oxides are being utilized extensively in a broad range of temperature and gas sensing applications. These include both semiconducting and ionically conducting materials. Application of the defect chemical approach is illustrated for predicting conditions of temperature, atmosphere and chemistry optimum for sensor application.
‘Immortal’ energy systems and intergenerational justice

Some critics of our technological society have asserted that we are leaving a legacy of problems for our descendants — in the shape, for example, of CO2 pollution of the atmosphere and radioactive waste. The author argues that if some of our power generation systems turn out to be near ‘immortal’, with lives much longer than their book lives, we may, on the contrary, bequeth great benefits to our successors — in fully amortized plant with very low running costs. There are examples in history of similar benefits conferred by dams built hundreds of years ago but which still serve useful purposes today.
Characterization of humic acid fractions by C‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Soil humic acids from different environments were fractionated by adsorption chromatography on Sephadex and characterized by C‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The C‐13 NMR spectra of the fractions consist of some sharp, well‐resolved lines and some broad bands in contrast to the spectra of the unfractionated humic acids, where the bands are broader and less well‐resolved. The marked increase in resolution is apparently due to increased homogeneity of the fractions. These spectra are compared to the spectra of model compounds.
Colony polymerase chain reaction of stably transfected Trypanosoma cruzi grown on solid medium

Tools for the genetic manipulation of Trypanosoma cruzi are largely unavailable, although several vectors for transfection of epimastigotes and expression of foreign or recombinant genes have been developed. We have previously constructed several plasmid vectors in which recombinant genes are expressed in T. cruzi using the rRNA promoter. In this report, we demonstrate that one of these vectors can simultaneously mediate expression of neomycin phosphotransferase and green fluorescent protein when used to stably transfect cultured epimastigotes. These stably transfected epimastigotes can be selected and cloned as unique colonies on solid medium. We describe a simple colony PCR approach to the screening of these T. cruzi colonies for relevant genes. Thus, the methodologies outlined herein provide important new tools for the genetic dissection of this important parasite.
Triangles of History and the Slippery Slope of Jewish American Identity in Two Stories by Cynthia Ozick

Cynthia Ozick's fiction is filled with characters in a state of identity crisis: "pagan rabbis," Holocaust survivors, and frustrated artists who are struggling against the continual pressure of being Jewish in a hostile Christian environment. Not only do these characters stumble through America like "inevitable exiles" (Kielsky 23), but they are extremely conscious of their struggle and think a great deal about who they are in relation to those around them (Walden 2). Therefore, it is virtually impossible to read one of Ozick's texts without thinking a great deal about Jewish American identity. Ozick's message, however, often is not clear; her texts are tightly condensed and often difficult, especially for the non-Jewish reader. Rather than mitigating the complexity of her fiction, Ozick's impressive volumes of essays further complicate the reader's understanding of her message. If one believes that Ozick's characters suffer from crises of identity because they are Jewish, it seems logical to browse Ozick's essays in search of what she believes to be the key elements of Jewishness, but one will again find the consummate artist challenging her readers. At various points, Ozick defines Jewishness as originating in the covenant (Art and Ardor 123), history, the avoidance of idolatry, the ability to make distinctions, and study (Metaphor and Memory 224). This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it demonstrates that Ozick avoids essentializing Jewish identity and posits the meaning of such an identity outside of one concrete, stable definition.
Research society: science and technology for the ages

Abstract This paper imagines a US society that is obsessed with survival over the very long-term, not just over the next decade or two but over very long-time spans measured in the thousands and millions of years. Given that Americans tend to be achievement-oriented, it is plausible that they could become enthralled with this ultimate challenge. It is folly to argue that a fundamental change in the focus of the national psyche from consumerism to longer-term pursuits will happen anytime soon but the paper suggests that dissatisfaction with consumerism, growing environmentalism, increasingly felt limits of non-renewable resources, the increasing extinction of species, and a tiredness with global power politics as usual and its seemingly inexplicable violence and terrorism can someday lead to archetypal change in our society. In anticipation of this change, this paper presents a roadmap of how we could get from here, consumerism, to there, focused on the journey of life through time and space. The paper also outlines threats that humans must address to maintain the journey of earth-life through time and space; and presents a broad range of activities designed to meet the threats and capitalize on important opportunities. Finally, the paper explores how society would be transformed to meet the challenges and what sectors of today’s economy could be expected to contribute workers to a bourgeoning science and technology workforce and concludes with a few remarks about the future to come.
Heinz von Foerster and my brief therapy work at the MRI

Purpose – An attempt was made to establish a link between brief therapy a la MRI and Heinz von Foerster's view of how we might conceive of and live in the world of our creation, at least in a social sense.Design/methodology/approach – The author relates how her encounter with Heinz von Foerster coincided with and further developed a way of thinking about and doing therapy which she found at the Mental Research Institute (MRI) in Palo Alto, California. She tries to show how Heinz the person has had a lasting effect on the way she conceives of and tries to conduct Brief Therapy a la MRI.Findings – She finds that using Heinz's metaphor of dancing with the world quite useful in the elucidation of what therapy might be all about: how it might, metaphorically speaking, simply be about engaging a client or clients by dancing with them, allowing for the mutual creation of a new possibility.Originality/value – This paper was written to commemorate Heinz and for therapists in search of a therapeutic stance.
IMPLANTATION OF SUBCUTANEOUS RADIO TRANSMITTERS IN THE HARBOR SEAL (PHOCA VITULINA)

∗The Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands, 1065 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, California 94965, U.S.A. †The Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands, 1065 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, California 94965, U.S.A. ‡The Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands, 1065 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, California 94965, U.S.A. ∗∗Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, California This paper is posted at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska Lincoln.
Modeling the impact of federal taxes, subsidies, and grants on family resources

As states take on more responsibility for health, education, and welfare programs, the interactions between state and federal policies become critical in informed decision making. The connection between state financial assistance and federal tax regulations has grown very complex. In 1997 alone, over 800 changes were made to the federal tax code. This article presents two computer applications developed by the author that analyze the complicated relationships among tax credits, transfer payments, subsidies, and grants. The family resource wage progression (FRWP) model calculates federal tax liability, earned-income tax credits, food stamp benefits, and TANF (welfare) grants for low-income families. The higher education resource for modeling aid and need (HERMAN) displays the parent, student, and taxpayer contributions to the cost of higher education at various levels of income. Both applications offer an efficient means to investigate how tax credits and other benefits alter the financial circumstances of...
Ultraviolet Raman analysis of the formation of diamond from C60

Abstract The ultraviolet (257 nm) Raman spectrum of C60 compressed to 30 GPa in a Mao–Bell diamond anvil cell with no pressure transmitting medium at ambient temperature indicates the formation of diamond after release of pressure. Previously, more extreme non-hydrostatic compression was reported to be required to form diamond from C60. These results provide confirmation of the transformation of C60 to diamond upon non-hydrostatic compression at room temperature and illustrate the utility of UV Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of carbon phases containing both sp2 and sp3 bonding.
Hippocampal Deletion of BDNF Gene Attenuates Gamma Oscillations in Area CA1 by Up-Regulating 5-HT3 Receptor

Background Pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal area CA3 express high levels of BDNF, but how this BDNF contributes to oscillatory properties of hippocampus is unknown. Methodology/principal findings Here we examined carbachol-induced gamma oscillations in hippocampal slices lacking BDNF gene in the area CA3. The power of oscillations was reduced in the hippocampal area CA1, which coincided with increases in the expression and activity of 5-HT3 receptor. Pharmacological block of this receptor partially restored power of gamma oscillations in slices from KO mice, but had no effect in slices from WT mice. Conclusion/significance These data suggest that BDNF facilitates gamma oscillations in the hippocampus by attenuating signaling through 5-HT3 receptor. Thus, BDNF modulates hippocampal oscillations through serotonergic system.
On Ferrimagnetic glass-ceramics based on B2O3 and MnFe2O4

Relative boundaries of glass-formation for given quenching conditions are shown for the system MnO-Fe2O3(-PbO)-B2O3(-SiO2). The crystallization tendency of manganese ferrite is investigated by DTA, X-ray and electron microscopy.
The Importance of User-Centered Design: Exploring Findings and Methods

SUMMARY Given the rising number of information resources available, it is increasingly important for digital libraries and archives to create usable services that meet their users' needs. Seeking input from users at all stages of development can help achieve this goal. This article briefly defines four methodologies for gathering user input: focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, and usability testing. In addition, it presents the “top ten” themes that emerged from over four years of assessment and evaluation activities at the California Digital Library.
Use of GFP for in vivo imaging: concepts and misconceptions

Although GFP and fluorescent proteins are used extensively for in vivo imaging, there are many misconceptions about GFP imaging especially compared to luciferase. GFP is not toxic, indeed, transgenic animals with GFP expressed in every cell (1) live as long as non-transgenic animals. Cancer cells with GFP are as aggressive and malignant as the cells without GFP (2-4). Cell lines can be made very bright with fluorescent proteins with no toxicity. The in vivo signal from fluorescent proteins is at least 1,000 times greater than luciferase (5). GFP is so bright that a single molecule of GFP can be seen in a bacterium (6). GFP can be observed through the skin on deep organs (7). Skin autofluorescence presents no problem for in vivo GFP imaging with proper filters (8). Fur can be rapidly clipped removing this autofluorescence (9). GFP is readily quantified by the image area which correlates to tumor volume (10). There are now numerous clones of GFP, RFP, YFP and proteins that change color (11) that can be used in vivo.
An approach to the recursive retrieval problem in the relational database

The host query language often impairs data retrieval in recursive database structures. Functional extensions to QUEL are explored in order to simplify the user interface.
Optical trapping investigation on the effects of salicylate on electromechanical properties of plasma membranes

The ability of cellular membranes to generate electrically-induced mechanical force (EMF) has been demonstrated in many cell types, including cochlear outer hair cells, axons, and some cultured mammalian cells. Models of membrane based EMF generation are based on an interaction between the transmembrane electric field and membrane surface charge. We use a technique that combines optical trapping with voltage clamping to investigate the effects of an electrically charged amphipathic agent on EMF by membrane tethers. Our preliminary results indicate that salicylate, a negatively charged amphipathic agent, which is also known to cause reversible hearing loss and reduce outer hair cell electromotility, reduces EMF in membrane tethers. These measurements provide a basis to better understand the role of membrane charge properties in EMF generation.
Alpha-fetorprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen in a case of gastric carcinoma metastatic to the liver

This is the first reported case of a single gastrointestinal malignancy in an adult in which both alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen were detected in similar tumor tissue. Hepatic metastases from gastric adenocarcinoma were found to contain both AFP and CEA. The primary tumor contained only carcinoembryonic antigen. Alpha-fetoprotein may represent antigen produced locally by hepatic tissue in response to the presence of tumor; its function is speculative.
Hole doping in Al-containing nickel oxide materials to improve electrochromic performance.

Electrochromic materials exhibit switchable optical properties that can find applications in various fields, including smart windows, nonemissive displays, and semiconductors. High-performing nickel oxide electrochromic materials have been realized by controlling the material composition and tuning the nanostructural morphology. Post-treatment techniques could represent efficient and cost-effective approaches for performance enhancement. Herein, we report on a post-processing ozone technique that improves the electrochromic performance of an aluminum-containing nickel oxide material in lithium-ion electrolytes. The resulting materials were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). It was observed that ozone exposure increased the Ni oxidation state by introducing hole states in the NiO6 octahedral unit. In addition, ozone exposure gi...
Structure–electrical property study of anisotropic polyaniline films

The relationships of the structure and electrical properties of anisotropic HCl-doped polyaniline (PANI) films cast from N,N'-dimethylpropylene urea (DMPU) solutions and stretched to different draw ratios were studied. The anisotropic structure of the stretched PANI films was examined by X-ray diffraction, near-infrared wave-guide coupling, and polarized infrared measurements. The PANI emeraldine base (EB) films cast from DMPU solutions had a single-phase noncrystalline structure, and stretching of the films did not cause crystallization to occur. The transition moment angles of two weakly absorbing infrared bands were determined, and the Hermans' orientation functions for the PANI EB films were calculated. The PANI films were then doped with HCl, and the electrical properties were determined by impedance spectroscopy. With a specially designed test fixture, the in-plane and through-plane impedance was obtained. The conductivity along the stretch direction increased with orientation. The in-plane conductivity was significantly higher than the through-plane conductivity.
His Bundle Interruption for Reentry Tachycardia in Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Abstract This report relates the experience with 16 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in whom His bundle interruption was performed for reentry atrioventricular (AV) tachycardia caused by a circuit composed of the His and Kent bundles. A review of the surgical anatomy of the area encompassing the AV node and the His bundle is included. The reasons for selection of His bundle interruption in the 16 patients were as follows: (1) it is safer in the poor-risk patient; (2) the His bundle was adjacent to the Kent bundle and could not be avoided; or (3) the His bundle was divided after attempted interruption of the Kent bundle failed. The methods used for interruption, either alone or in combination, included suture ligation, electrocautery, incision, and cryothermia. This study showed that in order to interrupt the His bundle with minimum physiological impairment, ablation should be done at the AV node-His bundle junction. This can be achieved in most patients with carefully applied cryothermia. If cryothermic ablation fails, then an incision must be made that separates the inferior aspect of the atrial septum from the right fibrous trigone. His bundle interruption at the AV node-His bundle junction was accomplished in 13 of the 16 patients. Surgical Anatomy of the AV Node and His Bundle
Scaling of the axial morphology and gap-bridging ability of the brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis.

Networks of branches in arboreal environments create many functional challenges for animals, including traversing gaps between perches. Many snakes are arboreal and their elongate bodies are theoretically well suited for bridging gaps. However, only two studies have previously investigated gap bridging in snakes, and the effects of size are poorly understood. Thus, we videotaped and quantified maximal gap-bridging ability in a highly arboreal species of snake ( Boiga irregularis ), for which we were able to obtain a large range in snout–vent length ( SVL =43–188 cm) and mass (10–1391 g). We expected smaller snakes to bridge relatively larger gaps than larger individuals because of their proportionately higher ratio of muscle cross-sectional area to mass. The maximal length of the gaps spanned by B. irregularis had negative allometry, indicating that smaller snakes could span a greater proportion of their length than larger snakes. The greatest relative gap distance spanned (64% SVL ) was by the smallest individual. The majority of snakes (85%) simply crawled slowly to cross a gap. Most of the suspended portion of the body and the path traveled by the head were below the perch that supported the posterior body, which may decrease the tendency of the snake to roll. Some (15%) of the snakes used another behavior in which the neck inclined as much as 45° and then rapidly lunged towards the anterior perch, and this enabled them to cross larger gaps than those using the crawling behavior. Perhaps the launching behavior of the gliding tree snakes ( Chrysopelea sp.) evolved from an ancestral behavior of lunging to bridge gaps analogous to that of the brown tree snakes. An estimate of the muscle strain required to prevent the body of the snake from buckling suggests that, despite being light-bodied, brown tree snakes bridging a gap may be at the limit of the physiological capacity of their epaxial muscles.