cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A NEW APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF DISPERSIVE WINDOWS IN INFRARED MICROSPECTROSCOPY

Abstract Barium fluoride windows are commonly used in infrared microspectroscopy because of their good transmission and their nonhygroscopic characteristics. The latter feature is particularly useful for biological specimens. The difference in infrared focus from visible focus occurs particularly at low frequencies, due to differing indices of refraction at various wavelengths, causes experimental problems. The work described in this paper addresses this issue. One example of this is illustrated with recent studies of bone sections by microspectroscopy at small mask sizes that require working around this problem when estimating the contents of phosphate and carbonate which absorb at low frequencies. When using a single 2 mm thick BaF2 dispersive substrate it is necessary to adjust infrared focusing of the transmitted radiation onto the detector by maximizing the single beam response of the microspectrometer specifically for the band or bands being studied. At optimum infrared focus the projected image of the mask degrades in the visible view. Thus it was necessary to alternate between the visible focus for the image capture and the optimum infrared focus for scanning the spectrum. The problems and limitations imposed from dispersive substrates were summarized by Carr [3] where the focus shift response by wavelength was calculated for several common substrate materials. The relative transmission resulting from extreme focus shifts which ranged from 20 to 140 μm was determined specifically for a 2 mm thick BaF2 disk at various wavelengths. Of the various nondispersive infrared transmitting materials that exist, the experimentation presently reported involves diamond windows of different dimensions. Whereas the benefit of using a diamond or another substrate with minimal dispersion is obvious, the limitations of size, cost and interference fringes warrant consideration. Single beam spectra as well as spectra of specimens obtained with these alternatives illustrate their utility in solving the problem of dispersive windows in infrared microspectroscopy.
Simple sequence repeat map of the sunflower genome

Several independent molecular genetic linkage maps of varying density and completeness have been constructed for cultivated sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.). Because of the dearth of sequence and probe-specific DNA markers in the public domain, the various genetic maps of sunflower have not been integrated and a single reference map has not emerged. Moreover, comparisons between maps have been confounded by multiple linkage group nomenclatures and the lack of common DNA markers. The goal of the present research was to construct a dense molecular genetic linkage map for sunflower using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. First, 879 SSR markers were developed by identifying 1,093 unique SSR sequences in the DNA sequences of 2,033 clones isolated from genomic DNA libraries enriched for (AC)(n) or (AG)(n) and screening 1,000 SSR primer pairs; 579 of the newly developed SSR markers (65.9% of the total) were polymorphic among four elite inbred lines (RHA280, RHA801, PHA and PHB). The genetic map was constructed using 94 RHA280 x RHA801 F(7) recombinant inbred lines (RILs) and 408 polymorphic SSR markers (462 SSR marker loci segregated in the mapping population). Of the latter, 459 coalesced into 17 linkage groups presumably corresponding to the 17 chromosomes in the haploid sunflower genome ( x = 17). The map was 1,368.3-cM long and had a mean density of 3.1 cM per locus. The SSR markers described herein supply a critical mass of DNA markers for constructing genetic maps of sunflower and create the basis for unifying and cross-referencing the multitude of genetic maps developed for wild and cultivated sunflowers.
Linkage of kdr-Type resistance and the para-Homologous sodium channel gene in German cockroaches (Blattella germanica)

Pyrethroids are an important class of insecticides for controlling insect pests, including the German cockroach. Unfortunately, many insects have developed resistance to pyrethroids. One of the most important mechanism of resistance is kdr (knockdown resistance) which is characterized by neural insensitivity to pyrethroids and DDT. To investigate whether the voltage-dependent sodium channel is involved in kdr-type resistance in the German cockroach, we isolated a 120 bp DNA fragment of the para-homologous sodium channel gene from German cockroaches. Using this fragment as a probe, we identified a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the para-homologous sodium channel gene between susceptible and kdr-type resistant German cockroaches. RFLP analysis of F2 and backcross cockroach populations (total of 331 individuals) showed that all homozygous resistant individuals had a 3.7 kb EcoRI fragment, all homozygous susceptible individuals had a 3.0 kb EcoRI fragment, and all heterozygous individuals had both 3.7 and 3.0 kb fragments. No recombination was detected between the kdr-type resistance locus and the para-homologous sodium channel gene. This suggests that the kdr-type resistance locus and para-homologous sodium channel gene are identical or tightly linked (<0.2cM) in German cockroaches. Our results provide strong evidence that modification of para-homologous sodium channels is associated with kdr-type resistance.
N-terminal polybasic motifs are required for plasma membrane localization of Gαs AND Gαq

Heterotrimeric G proteins typically localize at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane where they interact with heptahelical receptors. For G protein α subunits, multiple membrane targeting signals, including myristoylation, palmitoylation, and interaction with βγ subunits, facilitate membrane localization. Here we show that an additional membrane targeting signal, an N-terminal polybasic region, plays a key role in plasma membrane localization of non-myristoylated α subunits. Mutations of N-terminal basic residues in αs and αq caused defects in plasma membrane localization, as assessed through immunofluorescence microscopy and biochemical fractionations. In αs, mutation of four basic residues to glutamine was sufficient to cause a defect, whereas in αq a defect in membrane localization was not observed unless nine basic residues were mutated to glutamine or if three basic residues were mutated to glutamic acid. βγ co-expression only partially rescued the membrane localization defects; thus, the polybasic region is also important in the context of the heterotrimer. Introduction of a site for myristoylation into the polybasic mutants of αs and αq recovered strong plasma membrane localization, indicating that myristoylation and polybasic motifs may have complementary roles as membrane targeting signals. Loss of plasma membrane localization coincided with defects in palmitoylation. The polybasic mutants of αs and αq were still capable of assuming activated conformations and stimulating second messenger production, as demonstrated through GST-RGS4 interaction assays, cAMP assays, and inositol phosphate assays. Electrostatic interactions with membrane lipids have been found to be important in plasma membrane targeting of many proteins, and these results provide evidence that basic residues play a role in localization of G protein α subunits.
A Method for Identifying Diffusive Trajectories with Stochastic Models

Single particle tracking is a tool that is being increasingly used to study diffusive or dispersive processes in many branches of natural science. Often the ability to collect these trajectories experimentally or produce them numerically outpaces the ability to understand them theoretically. On the other hand many stochastic models have been developed and continue to be developed capable of capturing complex diffusive behavior such as heavy tails, long-range correlations, nonstationarity, and combinations of these things. We describe a computational method for connecting particle trajectory data with stochastic models of diffusion. Several tests are performed to demonstrate the efficacy of the method, and the method is applied to polymer diffusion, RNA diffusion in E. coli, and RAFOS dispersion in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ontological assumptions of psychiatric taxonomy: main rival positions and their critical assessment.

The scientific classification of human psychopathology raises a host of important philosophical issues ranging over all major areas of philosophical inquiry; logic, semantics, ontology, epistemology a
Fluorescent detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ternary cyclodextrin complexes

Reported herein is a new method for the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which relies on energy transfer from the PAH to a near-infrared emitting squaraine fluorophore. This energy transfer occurs inside the γ-cyclodextrin cavity, with up to 35% emission observed from energy transfer compared with exciting the squaraine directly.
The photolysis of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of carbon monoxide

Abstract The photolysis of H 2 O 2 at 2537 A and 298 K has been studied in the presence of CO. The photodecomposition of H 2 O 2 leads to a chain reaction initiated by the reaction: propagation proceeding by: and terminated by: The chain reaction can be inhibited by addition of oxygen, which scavenges the H atoms. At 298 K, k 5a / k 5b = 1.3 and k 2 / k 4 = 4.1 where:
Renal Cell Carcinoma with Unusual Differentiation

A 4-cm tumor in the kidney of a 67-year-old male was focally a classical renal cell carcinoma with a papillary architecture and clear cells, but most of the tumor had an unusual pattern composed of paired sheets of cuboidal to flattened cells reminiscent of the loop of Henle.
Follow-up outcomes 10 years after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries: comparison of cardiological health status and health-related quality of life to those of the a normal reference population

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardiological health status and health-related quality of life after the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) in comparison with a normative reference group. Chart review and cross-sectional systematic follow-up, including echocardiography, exercise testing, and electrocardiography, were performed on all survivors of ASO for TGA between 1990 and 1995. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using a standardized questionnaire. A normative reference group was included. Forty-nine survivors [median age at operation 13 days, mean age at follow-up 11 ± 2 years (37/49 with intact ventricular septum] were identified. Thirty-three of 49 patients (67%) [22/33 TGA with intact ventricular septum (IVS)] participated in cross-sectional follow-up. Cumulative 10-year event-free survival was 88% and the re-intervention rate 6%. Aortic root dilatation occurred in 70% of patients; none had severe aortic regurgitation. Left ventricular function was normal. Exercise performance (85% of reference capacity, p = 0.02), maximal oxygen uptake (85%, p < 0.01) and peak heart rate (95%, p < 0.01) were decreased. Exercise electrocardiogram was normal as was rhythm status. Unfavourable outcomes on HRQOL were found for motor functioning and positive emotional functioning. Overall there were no significant differences between TGA/IVS and TGA/VSD. We conclude that at mid- to long-term follow-up after ASO, major events and re-interventions (6%) occur infrequently. Exercise capacity and maximal oxygen uptake are lower than those in a reference population, which could not be related to diminished ventricular function. Aortic root dilatation is frequent, irrespective of the anatomical subgroup. Severe aortic regurgitation or left ventricular dilatation was not found. The unfavourable health-related quality of life deserves further attention.
Reflectance spectroscopy of gold nanoshells: computational predictions and experimental measurements

Gold nanoshells are concentric spherical constructs that possess highly desirable optical responses in the near infrared. Gold nanoshells consist of a thin outer gold shell and a silica core and can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes by tuning the optical response through changing the core–shell ratio as well as the overall size. Although optical properties of gold nanoshells have already been well documented, the reflectance characteristics are not well understood and have not yet been elucidated by experimental measurements. Yet, in order to use gold nanoshells as an optical contrast agent for scattering-based optical methods such as reflectance spectroscopy, it is critical to characterize the reflectance behavior. With this in mind, we used a fiber-optic-based spectrometer to measure diffuse reflectance of gold nanoshell suspensions from 500 nm to 900 nm. Experimental results show that gold nanoshells cause a significant increase in the measured reflectance. Spectral features associated with scattering from large angles (~180°) were observed at low nanoshell concentrations. Monte Carlo modeling of gold nanoshells reflectance demonstrated the efficacy of using such methods to predict diffuse reflectance. Our studies suggest that gold nanoshells are an excellent candidate as optical contrast agents and that Monte Carlo methods are a useful tool for optimizing nanoshells best suited for scattering-based optical methods.
Camus' Meursault: A “Nocturnal” Being in a “Diurnal” World

The structure of L'Etranger is founded on the dialectical relationship between conflictual pairs of principles: eros and thanatos, the noumenal and the phenomenal, and above all the diurnal (antithesis, aggression, negation) and the nocturnal (reconciliation, passivity, euphemization). The latter dialectic manifests itself in the change from the first half of the work, which is predominantly diurnal in character (outdoors and daytime activities, bright sunshine), and the second, which is primarily nocturnal (imprisonment, sleep, and generally indoors activities). Perhaps its most significant manifestation, however, is that which pits the protagonist against the world in which he lives. It is this form taken by the diurnal/nocturnal conflict that motivates and explains both the centrally-located climax (the violent incident on the sun-struck beach) and the final welcoming of the eternal night and darkness of death.
Estradiol-induced synthesis of RNA in rat prostate.

Abstract Samples of RNA extracted from the prostates of estradiol-treated and intact untreated adult rats were compared by the technique of competitive hybridization. The ineffective competition of unlabeled prostatic RNA from control rats against labeled prostatic RNA from estradioltreated rats suggests that there may be some species of RNA present after estradiol treatment which are absent from the control animals. In contrast, prostatic RNA from untreated animals showed no additional species when compared with RNA from estradiol treated animals.
Modeling of a Nickel-Hydrogen Cell: Phase Reactions in the Nickel Active Material

A nonisothermal model of a nickel-hydrogen cell has been developed with the consideration of multiple phases in the nickel active material, Important mechanisms inside a nickel-hydrogen cell, such as mass balances of active species, kinetics of electrochemical reactions, and the energy balance of the whole cell, etc., have been included in the model. The model predictions under different conditions are presented and analyzed. These predictions showed that nickel phase reactions have significant influences on the behavior of a nickel-hydrogen cell. Some observed phenomena of a nickel-hydrogen cell, e.g., the capacity variation at different temperatures and the KOH concentration change between charge and discharge processes, could he reflected reasonably with the model.
Timing driven placement

The authors address the problem of incorporating timing constraints into the physical design of integrated circuits. First they formulate the problem and discuss graph models suitable for its analysis. Next, they describe algorithms resulting in placements of improved performance in comparison to placements whose objective is to minimize the summation of wire lengths on the chip. Finally, the authors show preliminary results of their placement programs for the sea-of-gates designs. >
The STAPL plist

We present the design and implementation of the staplpList, a parallel container that has the properties of a sequential list, but allows for scalable concurrent access when used in a parallel program. The Standard Template Adaptive Parallel Library (stapl) is a parallel programming library that extends C++ with support for parallelism. stapl provides a collection of distributed data structures (pContainers) and parallel algorithms (pAlgorithms) and a generic methodology for extending them to provide customized functionality. staplpContainers are thread-safe, concurrent objects, providing appropriate interfaces (e.g., views) that can be used by generic pAlgorithms. The pList provides stl equivalent methods, such as insert, erase, and splice, additional methods such as split, and efficient asynchronous (non-blocking) variants of some methods for improved parallel performance. We evaluate the performance of the staplpList on an IBM Power 5 cluster and on a CRAY XT4 massively parallel processing system. Although lists are generally not considered good data structures for parallel processing, we show that pList methods and pAlgorithms (p_generate and p_partial_sum) operating on pLists provide good scalability on more than 103 processors and that pList compares favorably with other dynamic data structures such as the pVector.
Noise reduction strategies for digital filters: Error spectrum shaping versus the optimal linear state-space formulation

The noise reduction performance of error spectrum shaping (ESS) structures and of the optimal linear state-space (LSS) structure are compared for second-order digital filter sections. It is shown that optimal direct form 1 and direct form 2 ESS realizations have a higher signal-to-noise ratio than the optimal LSS structure. In practice, suboptimal ESS structures with simple hardware implementations are of greater interest. Several of these implementations are considered and optimal values for the ESS coefficients in these structures are derived. For filters with zeros at z = -1, it is shown that some of the simple ESS structures can outperform the optimal LSS structure. For elliptic filters, it is shown that several of the suboptimal ESS structures perform poorly, but that others still perform well.
The informal economy, insecurity and social cohesion in Latin America

Most Latin American countries adopted the welfare state as a model, though developing it in very different ways and, often, imperfectly because of struc- tural differences between them and the industrialized countries. Social protection coverage is still patchy, with many informal-sector workers not covered and wide- spread public feelings of insecurity. The author examines the complicated structural and labour situation and the latest ideas in Latin America and the European Union to strengthen social cohesion. He analyses approaches to incorporating the informal sector into the modern sector, addressing social exclusion, combining flexibility for employers with security for workers, and achieving near-universal social protection. ocial cohesion is an attribute of countries which have successfully achieved S economic progress and redistributed the fruits of that growth to the whole of society. Thus, social cohesion helps ensure fairer development and involve all the population in efforts to achieve that growth, each according to his/her skills. The welfare state laid down the bases of post-war economic expansion in a social system that included all social classes and provided levels of security and stability enabling a systemic approach to the problems of vulnerable groups. Integration and security were achieved through full employment, the protection of the labour force and solidarity throughout the whole social system. The welfare state model served as a guide for the policies adopted by most countries in Latin America, though it was implemented to varying degrees, and often imperfectly, given the structural differences distinguishing these countries from developed countries. Social protection is still limited and the needs of non- wage earning groups are inadequately provided for (Tokman, 2006, pp. 10-17). * Consultant, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and former Regional Director of the ILO Office for Latin America and the Carib- bean. This article is based on research (Tokman, 2007) undertaken in connection with a joint ECLAC-EUROSOCIAL project which is a technical cooperation initiative of the European Commission. Comments from A. Uthoff and help from R. Heresi and O. Ramos are gratefully acknowledged.
Alterations in levels of CD28-/CD8+ suppressor cell precursor and CD45RO+/CD4+ memory T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients.

A comprehensive peripheral blood immunophenotype analysis of 16 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients was performed by three-color flow cytometric analysis, and the results were compared with those for age-matched healthy controls. The cell subsets quantified included T cells (CD3+), B cells (CD19+), NK cells (CD56+), CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, cytotoxic (CD28+) and suppressor precursor (CD28-) CD8+ T cells, CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ T cells (CD4+ and CD8+), and CD5+ T and B cells. Analysis of MS patients9 peripheral blood revealed essentially normal levels of total T, B, and NK cells. In agreement with results obtained by other investigators, it was found that MS patients had an increased CD4/CD8 ratio, primarily due to a decrease in CD8+ T cells. MS patients were found to have a significantly decreased level of suppressor precursor (CD28-) CD8+ T cells compared with that of controls but to have normal levels of cytotoxic (CD28+) CD8+ T cells. These data indicate that MS patients do not have a general decrease in CD8+ T cells but that they have a specific decrease in the suppressor precursor subset only and normal levels of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. MS patients also had a significant increase in memory (CD45RO+) CD4+ T cells and displayed a trend towards a decrease in naive (CD45RA+) T cells in the peripheral blood.
A Two-stage Algorithm for Shoreline Detection

Shoreline detection plays an important role in vision based navigation for autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs). It is a challenging task because of the diversity in near-bank scenarios. In this paper, we present a two-stage algorithm to find the shoreline by employing multiple features. First, we classify images into two types: reflection-unidentifiable and reflection-identifiable. Based on this classification, images are further analyzed with suitable techniques respectively. In the reflection-unidentifiable case, the surface reflection is subtle and so the water region can be separated from land by an adaptive thresholding method. The points along the edge of the water region are then identified and the shoreline is estimated through a line-fitting technique. In the reflection-identifiable case, we aim to discriminate water regions from the land by means of a two-category region classifier. Images are oversegmented into small regions based on color homogeneity. Then the characteristic features of land-water scenes like symmetry and brightness are extracted and applied to classify a region into land or water categories. Experimental results show the efficacy of our approach and robustness in diverse situations
Low-Jitter Triggered Spark Gap With High-Pressure Gas Mixtures

Recent attention to impulse antenna phased array has necessitated the need to develop a reliable high-voltage high-repetition-rate switch that will operate with ultralow jitter. An ideal jitter of a small fraction of the rise time is required to accurately synchronize the array to steer and preserve the rise time of the radiated pulse. This paper presents the impact that gases and gas mixtures have on switch performance which includes recovery rate and, in particular, jitter. A 50-Omega 1-nF pulse-forming line is charged to 30 kV and provides the low inductance voltage source to test the different gases. Triggering is provided by a solid-state opening switch voltage source that supplies >100-kV 10-ns rise-time pulses at a rep rate of up to 1 kHz in burst mode. A hermetically sealed spark gap with a Kel-F lining is used to house the switch and high-pressure gas. The system includes a gas-mixing chamber that can mix various gases up to 2000 psi. Gases tested include dry air, H2, N2, and SF6. Switch operations in 30 kV and 10 Hz have shown reliable subnanosecond jitter times with pure gases, including dry air, H2, N2, and with H2 - N2 and N2 - SF6 gas mixtures. The system was then modified for 50-kV 100-Hz operations with data collected for each of the pure gases. Recovery was monitored with no major problems at the 100-Hz operation, and subnanosecond jitter results for H2 , N2, and SF6 are also recorded.
Equivalent-Forms Reliability of Printed and Spoken Versions of the NASA-TLX

Sixty-four participants provided subjective workload assessments after each of 15 trials of selected laparoscopic training tasks, including cannulation, ring transfer, and rope inspection. Half of the participants responded to the NASA-TLX using the traditional printed format with manual (written) responses. The remainder listened to auditory scale cues and made vocal responses. A comparison of the two formats revealed strong (r > .80) correlations and equivalent sensitivity to task and training effects, indicating that the vocal format may be a suitable substitute for traditional administration methods in the evaluation of surgical technology.
Dynamic backpropagation algorithm for neural network controlled resonator-bank architecture

An adaptive processing system that consists of a resonator-based digital filter and a neural network is presented. The filter section realizes the dynamics of the adaptive system, while the transfer characteristics are controlled by the neural network. The author focuses on online training algorithms that can create an association between features of the input signal of the neural network and dynamic responses of the digital filter. A dynamic back propagation algorithm is derived for training the network in closed-loop configurations, when a feedback path exists between the output of the digital filter section and inputs to the neural network. Simulation results show that the neural network controlled resonator-bank architecture is computationally feasible and can be used as a general building block in a wide range of identification and control problems. >
Contradirectional two-beam coupling in absorptive photorefractive materials: application to Rh-doped strontium barium niobate (SBN:60)

Contradirectional two-beam-coupling gains are measured in Rh-doped strontium barium niobate (SBN) as a function of the Rh concentration and the incident pump–probe beam ratio. These measurements indicate that larger two-beam-coupling coefficients in this contradirectional geometry (as large as ∼16 cm−1) are typically linked to stronger optical absorption in the more heavily doped samples. The effects of such strong absorption are explicitly included in a theoretical analysis applied to the measured data. In particular, earlier theoretical treatments of this two-beam-coupling process with nonnegligible absorption are extended to yield an approximate expression for the probe gain. The accuracy of this analytic expression is then verified by comparison with exact numerical results as well as with experimental measurements in the Rh-doped SBN samples. Further experimental and theoretical comparisons are made after the contradirectional two-beam-coupling process is related to asymmetric transmission through a photorefractive window (i.e., one-way glass), again in the presence of strong absorption.
The natural history of hereditary multiple exostoses

We established a database of hereditary multiple exostoses for the state of Washington, on the basis of a retrospective review of the medical records and a clinical evaluation of family members, to determine the prevalence, clinical range of expression, and rate of malignant degeneration. The database comprised forty-six kindreds with 113 affected members; all kindreds had at least one member living in the state of Washington. The over-all prevalence was at least one in 50,000. Approximately 10 per cent of the subjects had no family history of multiple exostoses. With the use of twenty-three pedigrees that demonstrated an adequate multigenerational history for determination of penetrance of the gene, we identified one unaffected individual among twenty-six obligate heterozygotes, a rate of penetrance of 96 per cent. There was no evidence for a substantial reduction of penetrance in female subjects. The median age at the time of the diagnosis in the 113 affected individuals was three years (range, birth to twelve years). In a cohort of eighty-four subjects for whom we had complete information, the clinical range of expression was wide: thirty-three (39 per cent) had an obvious deformity of the forearm, eight (10 per cent) had an inequality in the lengths of the limbs, seven (8 per cent) had an angular deformity of the knee, and two (2 per cent) had a deformity of the ankle. The average number of operations for the patients for whom the operative history was known was two.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Summarization as feature selection for text categorization

We address the problem of evaluating the effectiveness of summarization techniques for the task of document categorization. It is argued that for a large class of automatic categorization algorithms, extraction-based document categorization can be viewed as a particular form of feature selection performed on the full text of the document and, in this context, its impact can be compared with state-of-the-art feature selection techniques especially devised to provide good categorization performance. Such a framework provides for a better assessment of the expected performance of a categorizer if the compression rate of the summarizer is known.
Healthcare Cost Containment: A Survey Of Healthcare Financial Managers

Federal and state governments, as well as third party payees, have created incentives for cost containment policies within healthcare settings. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent healthcare financial managers (HCFMs) believe various healthcare reform measures and cost containment strategies are effective and to descriptively compare the perception of effectiveness by type of organization (for profit, not for profit, and outside CPA/consulting firm). Eighty-four HCFMs, from 36 states, agree that the majority of healthcare reform measures are moderately or very effective. In general, accounting practices that HCFMs have direct decision making authority over were deemed effective (i.e. accounting systems that reduce administrative costs) regardless of type of agency employed. Surprisingly, accounting systems that provide more accurate allocation of indirect-overhead costs were not considered effective by not-for profit organizations. On the other hand, analyzing variances between expectations and actual cost/revenue, closely monitoring supply and equipment costs, and reducing administrative costs were rated effective by all three groups.
Elastomer-based diffractive optical modulator

In this paper, device structure and measurements on a diffractive optical modulator fabricated using a elastomer layer are reported. The device structure is fairly simple with an interdigitated bottom electrode, an elastomer layer, and a top electrode. Application of voltage to one of the bottom interdigitated electrodes causes an electrostrictive force, which, in turn, corrugates the elastomer layer. This method is used to create a configurable reflective phase grating that enables an analog control of the diffracted intensity. The major advantages of this method are the ease of fabrication and the simple device structure.
Sex, Race, and the Development of Acute Lung Injury

Background Prior studies suggest that mortality differs by sex and race in patients who develop acute lung injury (ALI). Whether differences in presentation account for these disparities remains unclear. We sought to determine whether sexual and racial differences exist in the rate of ALI development and ALI-related mortality after accounting for differences in clinical presentations. Methods This was a multicenter, observational cohort study of 5,201 patients at risk for ALI. Multivariable logistic regression with adjustment for center-level effects was used to adjust for potential covariates. Results The incidence of ALI development was 5.9%; in-hospital mortality was 5.0% for the entire cohort, and 24.4% for those patients who developed ALI. Men were more likely to develop ALI compared to women (6.9% vs 4.7%, P P = .08). However, after adjustment for baseline imbalances between sexes these differences were no longer significant. Black patients, compared to white patients, presented more frequently with pneumonia, sepsis, or shock and had higher severity of illness. Black patients were less likely to develop ALI than whites (4.5% vs. 6.5%, P = .014), and this association remained statistically significant after adjusting for differences in presentation (OR, 0.66; 95 % CI, 0.45-0.96). Conclusions Sex and race differences exist in the clinical presentation of patients at risk of developing ALI. After accounting for differences in presentation, there was no sex difference in ALI development and outcome. Black patients were less likely to develop ALI despite increased severity of illness on presentation.
Satellite radar scatterometer (NSCAT) studies of ocean surface stress in near coastal regions

Summary form only given. This study addresses the consistency of the surface friction velocity derived from the scatterometer normalized radar cross section (NRCS) measurements and the directional properties of the NRCS (SIGMA-O) measurements in near coastal regions. NSCAT data (Level 1.7) colocated with numerous NDBC buoys is being analyzed to determine the variability of the directional properties of the colocated fore and aft beam measurements. These orthogonal measurements of the NRCS (25 km resolution, and converted to linear power units) by the fore and aft beams are used to calculate the Fourier series coefficients of the azimuthal model: AO and A2. The spatial variability of A2/AO, as an indication of how the azimuthal modulation varies, is being examined in the vicinity of buoys off the U.S. Atlantic coast, in the Gulf of Mexico and along the coast of California. Preliminary results show excellent agreement between the satellite derived friction velocity (u*) using the FASINEX/Weissman Ku-band model function and buoy measurements. An alternate method of estimating u* using the satellite (Level 2.0) wind speeds and a drag coefficient produce results with a wider scatter about the buoy-derived estimates of u*. Other results show some cases in which the A2/AO term is relatively constant for the 12-to-19 SIGMA-O cells that lie within the 10 square region centered about each buoy, and other situations in which the A2/AO values vary randomly and considerably even though the winds appear to be uniform. These latter situations are of strong interest, and are being studied to determine the possible causes of this variability. Under consideration are the long wave systems, atmospheric stability and surface material properties.
Altered weed reproduction and maternal effects under low‐nitrogen fertility

Abstract The low-nitrogen status of highly weathered soils may offer a potential alternative for weed suppression in agricultural systems with N2-fixing crops. In this study, we used sicklepod as a model to evaluate weed response that might occur with managed reductions in nitrogen-soil fertility. A field study was conducted with the parental generation supplied 0, 112, 224, or 448 kg N ha−1. Decreased nitrogen fertility led to reduced shoot biomass, seed number, and total seed mass. Individual seed mass was lower, but seed % nitrogen was not affected. Analysis of seed-mass distribution confirmed that low parental fertility was associated with more small seeds as a proportion of total seeds produced. Additional experiments in hydroponics culture revealed slower growth rates of seedlings produced from small seeds when grown under low-nitrogen conditions. Competitiveness of plants from small (low nitrogen) and large (high nitrogen) seed classes was determined in a replacement-series experiment conducted in ...
Desafíos de la conservación del mangle en el Antropoceno

Este ensayo aborda los problemas de conservacion que enfrentan los manglares en el Antropoceno, definido como la epoca de la dominacion humana sobre el mundo. En el repasamos las leyes, politicas, acuerdos internacionales y las acciones locales que se ocupan de la conservacion de los bosques de mangle en el Neotropico y se relacionan con el Antropoceno. La colaboracion entre gobiernos, organizaciones no gubernamentales y las comunidades que dependen de los manglares para su sustento sera decisiva en el Antropoceno. El ensayo tambien incluye comentarios sobre los avances recientes en ecologia de manglares y en ecofisiologia que explican como los manglares podrian responder a los cambios de temperatura y precipitacion, el aumento del nivel del mar y otras perturbaciones naturales y antropogenicas. Los manglares en el Antropoceno tambien enfrentaran a cambios en su composicion de especies, dado el actual movimiento de especies de manglares a traves de barreras continentales como resultado de la actividad humana. Estas tendencias conduciran a nuevas formaciones de manglares y en algunos casos ampliaran la presencia de los manglares en todo el mundo. La solucion a la persistencia de manglares en el Antropoceno es no aislar a los manglares de la gente, sino regular las interacciones entre los manglares y los seres humanos a traves de una gestion eficaz. Tambien tendremos que ampliar el alcance del analisis ecologico de los ecosistemas de manglar para incluir las fuerzas sociales convergentes en los manglares a traves de un enfoque analitico que se ha denominado Ecologia Social
Muscular Response to Physiologic Tensile Stretch of the Caprine C5/6 Facet Joint Capsule: Dynamic Recruitment Thresholds and Latencies

The cervical muscle response to physiologic, high-rate (100 mm/s) tensile facet joint capsule (FJC) stretch was examined in this study. Six in-vivo caprine C5/6 FJC preparations were subjected to an incremental tensile loading paradigm. EMG activity and capsule loads and strains were recorded. All muscles were responsive to physiologic high-rate FJC stretch. The deep muscles were recruited at significantly smaller capsule loads and onset latencies than the superficial muscles. Data were compared to previously published low-rate data. The results of this study provide further evidence of extensive ligamento-muscular reflex pathways between the FJC and the cervical musculature, which are responsive to both low-rate and high-rate FJC stretch. The data collected add to the knowledge of the dynamic response of paraspinal muscles relative to facet joint motion and provide a unique contribution to enhance the precision of computer-simulated impacts.
Nickel Deficiency in Chicks and Rats: Effects on Liver Morphology, Function and Polysomal Integrity

Nickel is an essential nutrient for animals. It has the following characteristics and biological behaviors which are consistent with essentiality: (1) It is a low molecular weight transition element which forms chelates. Thus it is chemically suitable for biological functions. (2) It is ubiquitous in the earths’ crust (0.008%) and in sea water (0.1–0.5 ppb), therefore, it has been generally available to life forms throughout evolution. (3) It is present in relatively constant amounts in plants and animals. (4) It is non-toxic to animals orally except in astringent doses. (5) Homeostatic mechanisms are implied by serum levels, excretion rates, and its tendency not to accumulate. (6) Inadequate amounts of nickel in the diets of experimental animals repeatedly result in an impairment of metabolic processes. These effects correlate with morphologic abnormalities. The first five of these features have been reviewed (Schroeder, et al., 1962; Underwood, 1971; Nielsen, 1971 and 1973; Nielsen and Ollerich, 1973). The last aspect has been the subject of our research for the past several years. This presentation will describe some of these studies.
Abstract 531: Role of Insulin Resistance in the Altered Vascular Relaxation Mechanisms and Hypertension in Caveolin-1 Deficient Mice

Insulin resistance (IR) and endothelial dysfunction are often associated with hypertension; however, the specific causality and genetic underpinnings of these associations are unclear. Caveolin-1 (cav-1) is a transmembrane anchoring protein and potential modulator of vascular function and insulin sensitivity of the vascular and metabolic pathways. Our recent findings point to a role for cav-1 in IR, endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. In humans, cav-1 gene variants are associated with IR in hypertensive individuals. In mice, cav-1 deficiency leads to changes in endothelial function, IR and blood pressure (BP). To test whether the vascular changes associated with cav-1 deficiency are related to or are independent of IR, we assessed BP, blood glucose and vascular function in WT and cav-1 KO mice treated with placebo or metformin 400 mg/Kg/day for 21 days. BP was greater in cav-1 KO vs WT (140.1±2.1 vs 116.5±1.3 mmHg), and metformin treatment did not change BP in cav-1 KO (140.7±1.4) or WT (112.5±1.6 mmHg). Fasting blood glucose was greater in cav-1 KO vs WT (112±3.9 vs. 83.1±4.4 mg/dl), supporting a link between cav-1 deficiency and IR. Metformin did not change blood glucose levels in cav-1 KO (110.4±4.1) or WT (86.7±8.2 mg/dl). Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced maximal aortic relaxation was greater in cav-1 KO vs WT (85.3±5.7 vs. 17.5±4.4%), and was abolished by endothelium removal or the NOS inhibitor L-NAME, supporting changes in endothelial NO production/signaling. Metformin reduced ACh relaxation in cav-1 KO to 60.7±6.6%, but had no effect in WT. The exogenous NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) produced similar maximal relaxation in cav-1 KO and WT (98.4±1.6 and 98.2±1.1%), but was more potent in cav-1 KO vs WT (pEC50, 8.6 vs 8.1). Metformin reduced SNP relaxation in cav-1 KO (84.9±6.4%) but not in WT, and reversed the enhanced sensitivity to SNP in cav-1 KO mice. The metformin-induced decrease in vascular relaxation and sensitivity to NO in cav-1 KO mice suggests a role for vascular IR in the changes in endothelial function. The lack of effect of metformin on fasting blood glucose in cav-1 KO mice suggests recalcitrant IR of the metabolic pathways. Together, these data support partial independence of vascular function from systemic IR in cav-1 deficiency states.
The C-Terminal Tail of TRIM56 Dictates Antiviral Restriction of Influenza A and B Viruses by Impeding Viral RNA Synthesis

ABSTRACT Accumulating data suggest that tripartite-motif-containing (TRIM) proteins participate in host responses to viral infections, either by acting as direct antiviral restriction factors or through regulating innate immune signaling of the host. Of >70 TRIMs, TRIM56 is a restriction factor of several positive-strand RNA viruses, including three members of the family Flaviviridae (yellow fever virus, dengue virus, and bovine viral diarrhea virus) and a human coronavirus (OC43), and this ability invariably depends upon the E3 ligase activity of TRIM56. However, the impact of TRIM56 on negative-strand RNA viruses remains unclear. Here, we show that TRIM56 puts a check on replication of influenza A and B viruses in cell culture but does not inhibit Sendai virus or human metapneumovirus, two paramyxoviruses. Interestingly, the anti-influenza virus activity was independent of the E3 ligase activity, B-box, or coiled-coil domain. Rather, deletion of a 63-residue-long C-terminal-tail portion of TRIM56 abrogated the antiviral function. Moreover, expression of this short C-terminal segment curtailed the replication of influenza viruses as effectively as that of full-length TRIM56. Mechanistically, TRIM56 was found to specifically impede intracellular influenza virus RNA synthesis. Together, these data reveal a novel antiviral activity of TRIM56 against influenza A and B viruses and provide insights into the mechanism by which TRIM56 restricts these medically important orthomyxoviruses. IMPORTANCE Options to treat influenza are limited, and drug-resistant influenza virus strains can emerge through minor genetic changes. Understanding novel virus-host interactions that alter influenza virus fitness may reveal new targets/approaches for therapeutic interventions. We show here that TRIM56, a tripartite-motif protein, is an intrinsic host restriction factor of influenza A and B viruses. Unlike its antiviral actions against positive-strand RNA viruses, the anti-influenza virus activity of TRIM56 was independent of the E3 ligase activity. Rather, expression of a short segment within the very C-terminal tail of TRIM56 inhibited the replication of influenza viruses as effectively as that of full-length TRIM56 by specifically targeting viral RNA synthesis. These data reveal the remarkable multifaceted activity of TRIM56, which has developed multiple domains to inhibit multiple viral families. They also raise the possibility of developing a broad-spectrum, TRIM56-based antiviral approach for addition to influenza prophylaxis and/or control strategies.
L'État-Pompier À La Fin De La Présidence De George W. Bush Ou Les Subtilités De La Nationalisation À L'Américaine (The Firefighter-State at the End of G. W. Bush's Presidency, or the Subtleties of American Nationalization)

This article examines the contradiction between President George W. Bush’s stated pro-free enterprise policies and the interventionist actions of his administration in its response to the sub-prime mortgage crisis.
U- and Hf-Bearing Pyrochlore and Zirconolite and their Leached Layers Formed in Acidic Solution: Tem Investigation

Transmission electron microscopy results from a sintered ceramics with stoichiometry of Ca(U0.5Ce0.25Hf0.25)Ti2O7 show the material contains both pyrochlore and zirconolite phases and structural intergrowth of zirconolite lamellae within pyrochlore. (001) plane of zirconolite is parallel to (111) plane of pyrochlore because of their structural similarities. The pyrochlore is relatively rich in U, Ce, and Ca with respect to the coexisting zirconolite. Average compositions for the coexisting pyrochlore and zirconolite at 1350 °C are Ca1.01(Ce3+ 0.13Ce4+ 0.19U0.52Hf0.18)(Ti1.95Hf0.05)O7 (with U/(U+Hf) = 0.72) and (Ca0.91Ce0.09)(Ce3+ 0.08U0.26Hf0.66Ti0.01)Ti2.00O7 (with U/(U+Hf) = 0.28) respectively. A single pyrochlore (Ca(U,Hf)Ti2O7) phase may be synthesized at 1350 °C if the ratio of U/(U+Hf) is greater than 0.72, and a single zirconolite (Ca(Hf,U)Ti2O7) phase may be synthesized at 1350 °C if the ratio of U/(U+Hf) is less than 0.28. An amorphous leached layer that is rich in Ti and Hf forms on the surface after the ceramics has been leached in pH 4 buffered solution. The thickness of the layer ranges from 5 nm to 15 nm. The leached layer functions as a protective layer and therefore reduces the leaching rate.