cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Serial Driver Module for the CAMAC Serial Highway System

A Serial Driver has been developed at The Clinton P. Anderson Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) for use in accelerator control and beam-line data-acquisition applications. The driver fully meets the requirements of the CAMAC Serial System Description (ERDA TID-26488 and ESONE/SH/01) while providing a number of features useful in system operation, diagnosis, and testing of SCC-L1 crate controllers.
The child language data exchange system.

The study of language acquisition underwent a major revolution in the late 1950s as a result of the dissemination of technology permitting high-quality tape-recording of children in the family setting. This new technology led to major breakthroughs in the quality of both data and theory. The field is now at the threshold of a possible second major breakthrough stimulated by the dissemination of personal computing. Researchers are now able to transcribe tape-recorded data into computer files. With this new medium it is easy to conduct global searches for word combinations across collections of files. It is also possible to enter new codings of the basic text line. Because of the speed and accuracy with which computer files can be copied, it is now much easier to share data between researchers. To foster this sharing of computerized data, a group of child language researchers has established the Child Language Data Exchange System (CHILDES). This article details the formation of the CHILDES, the governance of the system, the nature of the database, the shape of the coding conventions, and the types of computer programs being developed.
Catharanthus Alkaloids XXI. Isolation of Lochnerinine, One of the Cytotoxic Principles of C. Pusillus

Catharanthus pusillus alkaloid fractions were found to be active against Eagle's 9 KB carcinoma of the nasopharynx in cell culture. Chromatographic separation of one of the active fractions resulted in the isolation of lochnerinine, and the activity of this alkaloid against the 9 KB carcinoma has been confirmed. Gradient pH fractionation of another active alkaloid fraction yielded ajmalicine and vindorosine, which were not cytotoxic.
The phonetics of phonological speech errors: An acoustic analysis of slips of the tongue

Abstract Acoustic analysis was used to examine whether speech errors involve lexical, segmental, or sub-featural errors in speech production. Nine participants produced tongue twisters that induced errors between /s/ and /z/ word onsets in contexts where the error outcomes were either words (e.g., sit to zit) or nonwords (e.g.,suck to *zuck). Three measurements of the /s/-/z/ contrast were made: (1) percent voicing, (2) duration of frication, and (3) amplitude of frication. The tokens were also transcribed under careful listening conditions. Gradient and categorical errors were found for all acoustic dimensions. The errors might or might not be detected by careful listening, depending on the extent to which there were errors along all three dimensions. These data support previous articulatory studies that found speech errors at a sub-featural level. However, cases where /s/ and /z/ are realized with a categorical change in voicing are more common than would be expected if categorical changes in voicing were merely extreme examples of gradient voicing errors. Also, both gradient and categorical error rates were higher when the error outcomes were words. Thus, our study also provides evidence for the psychological reality of phonological segments and words as units in the speech production process.
The discovery of bioelectricity and current electricity The Galvani-Volta controversy

Amid the tumultuous confusion and complexity of modern events, it is difficult to acquire the general historical perspective so important to the scientist and the engineer of pioneering nature. Yet a broad vision of the past is a most valuable asset to the workers and inventors of today. It forms a foundation for further progress and suggests roads to even higher goals than we have thus far reached. It is truly said that we of today stand on the shoulders of giants. To help us use the past to inspire us to future achievement, the authors of this article give us a thrilling trip in what might be termed a ``technological time machine.'' Hopefully we shall all benefit from the lessons set forth, from the examples of Galvani and Volta, of Nobili and Matteucci. We of the space age, with all the array of modern techniques at our command, clearly still can gain much by noting and emulating the ingenuity, inspirational qualities, and tenacity of purpose of these great pioneers. Present-day investigators may also marvel at the insight of their predecessors who derived so much fundamental knowledge with the primitive and even erratic equipment at their disposal. It is truly remarkable that they wrested such great wisdom from such limited resources. If the story of their ability can continue to guide and encourage the scientist and the engineer, then the future promises ever-greater accomplishments for the service of mankind.
High field Q slope and the baking effect: Review of recent experimental results and new data on Nb heat treatments

Here, the performance of superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities made of bulk Nb at high fields (peak surface magnetic field greater than about 90 mT) is characterized by exponentially increasing rf losses (high-field Q-slope), in the absence of field emission, which are often mitigated by low temperature (100-140 °C, 12-48 h) baking. In this contribution, recent experimental results and phenomenological models to explain this effect will be briefly reviewed. New experimental results on the high-field Q-slope will be presented for cavities that had been heat treated in a vacuum furnace at high temperature without subsequent chemical etching. These studies are aimed at understanding the role of hydrogen on the high-field Q-slope and at the passivation of the Nb surface during heat treatment. Improvement of the cavity performances, particularly of the cavities’ quality factor, have been obtained following the high temperature heat-treatments, while SIMS surface analysis measurements on Nb samples treated with the cavities revealed significantly lower hydrogen concentration than for samples that followed standard cavity treatments.
Hirschsprung's disease revisited: Part I. Preliminary report

Present concepts of Hirschsprung's disease and its pathophysiology are reviewed. Experimental work done in the field is described and evaluated. The authors present their method for producing ganglionectomy in the gut wall by a 20–25 cm circumferential myomectomy of the rectosigmoid region of the lower colon. None of their experimental animals had any evidence suggesting a Hirschsprung's type of megacolon after ganglionectomy of the lower segment of the colon.
Growing Up or Growing Old? Cellular Aging Linked With Testosterone Reactivity to Stress in Youth

Background Given the established relation between testosterone and aging in older adults, we tested whether buccal telomere length (TL), an established cellular biomarker of aging, was associated with testosterone levels in youth. Methods Children, mean age 10.2 years, were recruited from the greater New orleans area, and salivary testosterone was measured diurnally and during an acute stressor. Buccal TL was measured using monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Testosterone and TL data were available on 77 individuals. The association between buccal TL and testosterone was tested using multivariate generalized estimating equations to account for clustering of children within families. Results Greater peak testosterone levels (β = − 0.87, P P P Conclusions The association between testosterone and buccal TL supports gonadal maturation as a developmentally sensitive biomarker of aging within youth. As stress levels of testosterone were significantly associated with buccal TL, these findings are consistent with the growing literature linking stress exposure and accelerated maturation. The lack of association of diurnal testosterone or morning basal levels with buccal TL bolsters the notion of a shared stress-related maturational mechanism between cellular stress and the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. These data provide novel evidence supporting the interaction of aging, physiologic stress and cellular processes as an underlying mechanism linking negative health outcomes and early life stress.
5-HT3 receptors and the neural actions of alcohols: an increasingly exciting topic

The 5-HT3 receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin. Receptors of this subtype have been localized to several regions of the brain, and appear to be involved in many neuronal functions including responses to alcohol and other drugs of abuse. There is an extensive and growing literature indicating that 5-HT3 receptors are involved in several facets of alcohol seeking behavior, alcohol intoxication and addiction. In addition, there is strong evidence that alcohols, including ethanol, alter the function of the 5-HT3 receptor, possibly through actions on the receptor protein itself. In this article, our current understanding of the role of the 5-HT3 receptor in alcohol abuse and alcoholism will be reviewed. In addition, an overview of current understanding of the mechanism of alcohol actions of the receptor is provided.
Differential Classical Salivary Conditioning in the Dog: The Effects of Three CS-US Intervals:

Dogs with chronic salivary fistulae received differential classical salivary conditioning with 1 of 3 CS-US intervals: 2-, 5-, or 15-sec. Differential CR magnitude was greatest in the 5-sec. and least in the 15-sec. group. The effect of ISI was due largely to its influence upon CS+ rather than CS– performance. Baseline, CR strength corrected for baseline, and UR magnitude were reliably greater following reinforced than nonreinforced trials.
The President's budget: dead-on-arrival, but still a threat!

843 If the budget is dead-on-arrival but the 45% trigger is mandated, where will Congress and the President go with Medicare financing? There are no easy or quick fixes available, and all the fixes will affect our pocketbooks in some way or another. There are, and have always been, three means to manage the Medicare “problem”: reduce benefits, increase taxes, or increase cost sharing for current Medicare beneficiaries. None of these proposals is being touted by any current presidential candidate (for good reason). There are many potential ways to reduce current or future benefits. None of them are particularly appealing. With legislated change, Medicare could follow the lead of other developed nations and only pay for services that are cost-effective. This would be a dramatic change for the Medicare program and would be met with very stiff resistance. As an alternative, Medicare could pay fixed sums for various services and ask for greater cost sharing when new technologies cost more. This, too, is not at all appealing, either politically or socially. Increasing the use of managed care as a means to reduce benefits is also possible (and is actually happening), but there is little evidence that Medicare Advantage (as the current managed Medicare program is called) reduces costs or benefits. Increasing cost sharing might take several forms, including the already established means-testing of the Part B premium. In 2007, wealthier Medicare beneficiaries began paying higher premiums than all other beneficiaries. The President has already proposed extending the definition of “wealthier” down to lower income levels. Other options available to the Congress include increases in copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance. In each case, it is considered unlikely that any elected official would support these other options because they would disproportionately affect the least financially well-off and The President’s Budget: Dead-on-Arrival, But Still a Threat!
Growth and Mortality of Post-larval Echinoids

Growth and mortality rates and maximum sizes are examined for 16 urchin species using, primarily, values from the literature. A positive correlation exists between the Brody-Bertalanffy growth constant K and the instantaneous natural mortality rate M : those urchins which approach maximum size very rapidly also have a high mortality rate. It is proposed that this relationship is the result of the way particular species allocate resources. Those species in which individuals grow rapidly and expend a large fraction of their resources on reproduction have less to spend on maintenance. The result of this allocation is that these individuals suffer a decreased probability of survival. Predictable recruitment success is suggested as the factor which determines whether a species can persist with fast rowth and short life.
The Effect of Liquid Housing Wealth on College Enrollment

This article uses short-run housing wealth changes to identify the effect of housing wealth on college attendance. I find that households used their housing wealth to finance postsecondary enrollment in the 2000s when housing wealth was most liquid; each $10,000 in home equity raises college enrollment by 0.7 of a percentage point on average. The effect is localized to lower-resource families, for whom a $10,000 increase in housing wealth increases enrollment by 5.7 percentage points. These estimates imply that the recent housing bust could significantly negatively affect college enrollment through reduction in the housing wealth of families with college-age children.
SOME STUDIES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMINO ACID-ACTIVATING ENZYMES WITH ISOLATED MICROSOMES OF CHICK EMBRYO.

Abstract The association of thirteen amino acid-activating enzymes with microsomal preparations from homogenated chick embryo has been studied by using the amino acid-dependent, adenosine triphosphate-inorganic pyrophosphate-P32 (ATP-P32Pi32) exchange assay. It was found that a substantial portion of the total activity of the amino acid-activating enzymes is associated with the microsomal fraction under the conditions employed. Extensive washing of the microsomes releases a portion of the activity of some of the amino acid-activating enzymes tested, but over 90% of the activity of the phenylalanine- and tyrosine-activating enzymes remains associated with the microsomes after four washes. Over 80% of the microsome-bound proline activation activity is destroyed by extensive washing, but if proline is present in the wash medium, over 70% of the proline activation activity remains associated with the microsomal fraction. The effects of treatment of the microsomes with sodium deoxycholate were studied, and this compound was found to completely inactivate most of the amino acid-activating enzymes. The lysine-, arginine-, and threonine-activating enzymes are largely unaffected by sodium deoxycholate treatment, and most of the activity of these enzymes is released from the microsomes into the soluble fraction.
History of the Earth's Atmosphere

This book is a synthesis of a series of outstanding research articles by Professor Budyko on climatology and by Professor Ronov on geochemistry and an expansion of their previous collaborative work on the evolution of atmospheric composition. Although other topics are briefly mentioned, the book is mainly devoted to the calculation of the levels of atmospheric CO2 and O2 over Phanerozoic time. Their basic assumption is that the worldwide abundance of carbonate minerals and organic matter in sedimentary rocks as a function of age, based on the exhaustive collection of data by A. B. Ronov and coworkers, can be used to calculate atmospheric composition. The reasoning is quite simple. It is assumed that CO2 given off to the atmosphere by volcanic and metamorphic degassing is removed mainly in the form of carbonate minerals in sediments (organic matter being much less abundant). The total mass of carbonate for each age period, divided by the length of the period, gives the rate at which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere via burial in sediments. Since so little CO2 is in the atmosphere, compared to fluxes to and from it on a geological time scale, rates of removal must equal rates of addition and so carbonate burial rates also give rates of addition to the atmosphere via volcanism. Since removal rates are also assumed to be directly proportional to the mass of CO2 present in the atmosphere (linear feedback), by determining the proportionality constant, one can directly calculate CO2 levels from rock abundances. For atmospheric O2 , production rates are calculated from the burial rates for organic carbon, and removal rates (via the oxidation of sulfides, ferrous minerals, and volcanic gases) are again assumed to be directly proportional to the mass of O2 in the atmosphere which, on equating production and removal rates, enables calculation of O2 levels over Phanerozoic time.
Should I accept this kidney

Background. Transplant candidates frequently ask whether they should, based on information available at the time, accept a cadaver kidney or wait for a potentially better one.Methods. We analyzed 937 first and second cadaver transplants done between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 1997 to determine if information available at the time an offer is made could be used to predict long-term graft survival.Results. By Cox regression, risk factors for worse long-term graft survival were older donor age, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular cause of donor death, and delayed graft function (DGF). HLA-ABDR mismatch was marginally significant. Whether DGF will occur is not known at the time of an offer, but risk factors can be determined; we found these to be older donor age and> 10% panel-reactive antibodies (PRA) at transplantation (by Cox regression). Using these variables (PRA, ABDR mismatch, donor age, and donor cause of death) known at the time of an offer, we calculated the relative risk of worse long-term graft survival for each subgroup ( Table 3 in manuscript). In general, older age and donor death from cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease were associated with worse outcome. Kidneys from donors of <50 yr had the best outcome, irrespective of match.Conclusion. The data provided can be used to help guide patients as to whether they are better off accepting an offered kidney or waiting for a potentially better one. If an offer is declined, the next kidney may have a potentially worse outcome. Table 3. Relative risk for worse or poor long-term graft survival, based on information known at the time of a kidney offer Donor 18–50 yr, other cause of death Donor 18–50 yr, CVD cause of death Donor ≥50 yr, other cause of death Donor ≥50 yr, CVD cause of death Tx PRA (%) ABDR mm (n) RR Rank RR Rank RR Rank RR Rank CVD, cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease; Tx, transplant; PRA, panel-reactive antibody; mm, mismatch; RR, relative risk. 0 0 1 1 1.16 3 1.28 6 2.26 25 0 1–6 1.19 4 1.38 10 1.52 14 2.69 27 1–10 0 1.21 5 1.41 11 1.55 17 2.74 28 1–10 1–6 1.44 13 1.67 19 1.84 23 3.25 31 11–75 0 1.12 2 1.30 7 1.43 12 2.53 26 11–75 1–6 1.33 9 1.54 16 1.70 21 3.01 30 76–100 0 1.32 8 1.54 15 1.69 20 3.00 29 76–100 1–6 1.57 18 1.82 22 2.01 24 3.55 32
Complete Atrioventricular Block due to Cardiac Metastasis of Bronchogenic Carcinoma

A partial review of the literature indicates that the heart is not infrequently involved in patients who have malignant disease. The most common tumors metastasizing to the heart are bronchogenic carcinoma, breast carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and the group of hematopoietic malignant tumors. The clinical triad of myocardial insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, and pericardial effusion involving a previously normal heart should alert one to this possibility, especially in a patient with known malignant tumor. Complete atrioventricular block is a rather uncommon manifestation of metastatic cardiac tumor. A case is reported in which complete heart block appeared as the sole clinical manifestation of metastatic involvement of the heart by bronehogenic carcinoma. Necropsy revealed cardiac involvement by tumor to be virtually limited to the interventricular septum.
Character Strengths in College: Outcomes of a Positive Psychology Project

Theory and practice of positive psychology can be successfully incorporated into higher education. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of teaching character strengths as part of an educational psychology course. The results indicated that participants perceived the project as successful and beneficial, and that they were intrinsically motivated to work on their character strengths.
Parasites of Wild Felidae in Thailand: A Coprological Survey

Ninety-two fecal samples were collected from leopards (Panthera pardus, n = 54), tigers (P. tigris, n = 19), and leopard cats (Felis bengalensis, n = 3) in Huai Kha Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand; four samples that may have come from clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) or Asian golden cats (Felis temminicki) were identified as from small to medium cats. Twelve samples were identified as from large cats. Samples preserved in 10% formalin were examined for parasite eggs, larvae, cysts, and oocysts by centrifugal sugar flotation and sedimentation techniques. Ninety-six percent of all samples were positive, including 94% of the leopard, all of the tiger, clouded leopard, golden cat, and leopard cat samples. Diagnostic stages were identified from Paragonimus sp., Echinostomatidae, Dicrocoeliidae, Pseudophyllidea, Taeniidae, Mesocestoides sp., Hymenolepididae, Acanthocephala, Spiruroidea, Gnathostoma sp., Molineus sp., Ancylostomoidea, Mammomonogamus sp., Toxocara sp., Toxascaris sp., Me-tastrongyloidea, Capilla...
Defensive burying in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) as a function of size and shape of the test chamber

Attempts to establish the generality of the defensive-burying response have proved quite successful with several strains of albino and hooded rats and with mice. However, three previous attempts to demonstrate this behavior in gerbils have been completely unsuccessful. Three additional defensive-burying experiments employing gerbils as subjects are reported. Defensive burying did not occur when testing took place in a rectangular chamber (Experiments 1 and 3), but did occur when a circular chamber was employed (Experiments 2 and 3). Hence, the geometric shape of the test chamber appears to be a crucial factor in determining the elicitation of this behavior in gerbils. Furthermore, the overall topography of the gerbil defensive-burying response was found to be different from that of previously examined species.
Kinsey's Challenge to Ethics and Religion

"Maybe its true, but it's not good policy to broadcast detailed truth without some consideration of how people are going to use it." Such is a common reaction to Kinsey. It is not peculiar to traditionalists nor to those lacking reverence for modern science. For example, Margaret Mead, in an eloquent Appendix on "The Ethics of Insight Giving" says: "When one writes in a way that is easily accessible to all interested citizens, I believe one should put oneself in those readers' place, and not force them either to accept or to reject [or to choose which to do?] interpretations the implications of which they would not have chosen to hear had they been fully aware of them." "The sudden removal of a previously guaranteed reticence has left many young people singularly defenseless in just those areas where their desire to conform was protected by a lack of knowledge of the extent of non-conformity." (7) The most important aspect of the Kinsey studies is their challenge to reexamine the relation of science to
On modeling of integrated communication and control systems

The mathematical modeling scheme proposed by Ray and Halevi (1988) for integrated communication and control systems is considered analytically, with an emphasis on the effect of introducing varying and distributed time delays to account for asynchronous time-division multiplexing in the communication part of the system. Ray and Halevi applied a state-transition concept to transform the original continuous-time model into a discrete-time model; the same approach was used by Kalman and Bertram (1959) to model various types of sampled data systems which are not subject to induced delays. The relationship between the two modeling schemes is explored, and it is shown that, although the Kalman-Bertram method has the advantage of a unified approach, it becomes inconvenient when varying delays appear in the control loop.
The case for a developmental pragmatics approach to assessing language proficiency

Language proficiency is examined from a developmental pragmatic perspective. Pragmatics describes relations between linguistic units, speakers, and listeners, and paralinguistic events across multiple contexts. The developmental perspective emphasizes the acquisition and growth of schemes which organize social and psychological experience. Just as an individual's capacity for applying and coordinating schemes develops through a series of invariant stages, so develops one's means—linguistically and nonlinguistically—for representing knowledge. Once this theoretical framework has been presented, a procedure for its application to assessing language proficiency is offered.
Air terminals and liquid hydrogen commercial air transports

An initial appraisal is made of results of two studies of the ground requirements of liquid hydrogen (LH2) air transports. Each hypothesized the use of a 400-passenger 5500 nautical mile range subsonic commercial LH2 transport. Two of the world's busiest commercial airports, Chicago O'Hare International and San Francisco International, were selected for study. The current and predicted wide-body traffic at these airports was assumed to simulate the LH2 transport traffic at these airports in the 1990-1995 time period. Both studies produced conceptual designs for facilities to generate the required quantities of fuel from pipeline gaseous hydrogen and to deliver liquid hydrogen to the airplanes. Although the LH2 and jet fuel facilities were kept apart, both study teams found it practical to converge the fuel supply lines so that with proper safety and operational procedures and specialized LH2 equipment both LH2 and jet fuel transports can use common ramp and gate facilities.
Valleylab Hand-Switching LigaSure™ XTD (Patent Pending) Design Project

Valleylab’s LigaSure™ vessel sealing instruments used in open surgical operations are currently operated via a foot-activated switch. Valleylab funded and mentored a senior design project at the University of Colorado at Boulder to redesign the electrosurgical device to include hand-switching. In comparison to hand-switching, a foot switch adds to the device setup complexity and increases the physical demand on the surgeon. Additional drawbacks of a foot switch include risk of inadvertent activation and need to look away from the surgical area in order to accurately activate the switch. Valleylab determined the need to redesign the LigaSure™ XTD instrument, shown in Figure 1, to use a hand-activated switch in order to provide surgeons with greater ease and precision of use.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Use of Electronic Medical Records in Oman and Physician Satisfaction

The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a computerized record of clinical, demographic and management information. EMR is an enabling technology that allows physicians to utilize quality improvement processes in the practice of medicine. Oman is one of the Middle Eastern Countries that has implemented an integrated electronic hospital information system at government health care institutions. The system was first applied in primary health care centers and then implemented in hospitals. Survey research highlights factors that affect physician satisfaction and utilizing of this new technology in a hospital setting. Outcome survey data suggests areas for improvement. Specific concerns about patient confidentiality are discussed as well as quality improvement in patient care.
Synthesis of 1,2,4-Triazole-Functionalized Solid Support and Its Use in the Solid-Phase Synthesis of Trisubstituted 1,2,4-Triazoles†

1,2,4-Triazoles were synthesized on a solid support in three steps, with excellent yields and purities. The utility of this triazole-functionalized solid support was demonstrated by the solid-phase synthesis of various trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazoles.
Empirical models of demand for differentiated products

Abstract In this paper I provide an overview of recent advances in modeling demand for differentiated products. I illustrate the power of these techniques by developing a model of demand appropriate for the analysis of retail markets where both consumers and stores are geographically differentiated.
SU‐EE‐A3‐03: Automatic Target Position Verification with 3‐D Reconstruction of Implanted Markers Using EPID Images

Introduction: In previous studies, a technique using an electronic portal imaging devices(EPIDs) in cine mode has been validated for tracking gold fiducials implanted in the liver for respiratory gating and stereotactic body radiation therapy. However, it was time‐consuming and labor‐intensive since the marker recognition was not performed automatically. In this study, we present an automatic algorithm to quickly and accurately extract the markers in EPIDimages and reconstruct their 3‐D positions. Materials and Methods: The markers were placed in a solid water phantom. Images were acquired using a linear accelerator operating with the 6 MV photon beam at several gantry angles and couch angle positions. A sequence of images was created by collecting the exit radiation using the EPID in cine mode. The fiducials were recognized and detected using a sequence of filters including the Wiener, median, and Laplacian filters. The position of each seed in the EPIDimages was backprojected towards the source position at each beam angle. To reconstruct the optimized seed position in 3‐D, the centroid and Gaussian fit were applied respectively to the distribution of the center points. Results: The average displacement between the seed positions reconstructed with the EPIDimages and the seed locations in 3‐D CTimage is measured to be 3.57 ± 2.59 mm (0.44–7.66 mm) using the centroid. Using Gaussian fit we can accurately reconstruct the marker locations with 0.98 ± 0.38 mm positioning error (0.39–1.47 mm) by significantly reducing the statistical error introduced by the outliers arising from anti‐parallel beam projections. Conclusions: The 3D positions of implanted fiducials can be reconstructed using images from several beam angles. This algorithm will be used for patient data to find the average 3D target position duringradiotherapy treatment. This work was partially supported by a grant from Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
Engineering Challenges in Cochlear Implants Design and Practice

Since the first successful cochlear implantation in the early 1970s by the House group in Los Angeles, about 120,000 patients have received cochlear implants (CI) worldwide, with more every year [1]. The premise of using electrical stimulation on the sensory nerves, either for visual or acoustic perceptions, is not new. Attempts were made in the 19th century by several researchers with backgrounds in engineering and/or medicine. The only documented account for that period was one by Volta and it was an accidental observation when he applied an electrical current into his ear canals. When this current was applied, he reported he heard a bubbling or crackling sound. Many years later, the first human implant was performed by an engineer/physician team of Djourno and Eyries in 1937. Unfortunately, it was obscurely published, and at the brink of war was therefore largely neglected until the 1970's. The concept was then resurrected by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with funding to support researchers in U.S. and subsequently in Australia and Europe.
Airborne multiangle spectropolarimetric imager (AirMSPI) observations over California during NASA's polarimeter definition experiment (PODEX)

The Airborne Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (AirMSPI) is an ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared pushbroom camera mounted on a single-axis gimbal to acquire multiangle imagery over a ±67° along-track range. The instrument flies aboard NASA’s high-altitude ER-2 aircraft, and acquires Earth imagery with ~10 m spatial resolution across an 11- km wide swath. Radiance data are obtained in eight spectral bands (355, 380, 445, 470, 555, 660, 865, 935 nm). Dual photoelastic modulators (PEMs), achromatic quarter-wave plates, and wire-grid polarizers also enable imagery of the linear polarization Stokes components Q and U at 470, 660, and 865 nm. During January-February 2013, AirMSPI data were acquired over California as part of NASA’s Polarimeter Definition Experiment (PODEX), a field campaign designed to refine requirements for the future Aerosol-Cloud-Ecosystem (ACE) satellite mission. Observations of aerosols, low- and mid-level cloud fields, cirrus, aircraft contrails, and clear skies were obtained over the San Joaquin Valley and the Pacific Ocean during PODEX. Example radiance and polarization images are presented to illustrate some of the instrument’s capabilities.
Genetically Engineered Resistance to Dengue-2 Virus Transmission in Mosquitoes

The control of arthropod-borne virus diseases such as dengue may ultimately require the genetic manipulation of mosquito vectors to disrupt virus transmission to human populations. To reduce the ability of mosquitoes to transmit dengue viruses, a recombinant Sindbis virus was used to transduce female Aedes aegypti with a 567-base antisense RNA targeted to the premembrane coding region of dengue type 2 (DEN-2) virus. The transduced mosquitoes were unable to support replication of DEN-2 virus in their salivary glands and therefore were not able to transmit the virus.
Interdiffusion of divalent cations in carbonates: Experimental measurements and implications for timescales of equilibration and retention of compositional signatures

Abstract Diffusive element exchange between co-existing carbonate phases was investigated experimentally over the temperature range 400–625 °C at 1-atmosphere pressure. Thin films were deposited on natural crystals of pure dolomite to produce diffusion couples of dolomite and siderite, rhodochrosite and carbonate solid solutions. The near-surface compositions of samples following diffusion anneals were measured using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), and diffusion coefficients were extracted by fitting the resulting composition vs. depth profiles. Coupled diffusion leading to element exchange between dolomite and carbonates of pure end-member composition (siderite and rhodochrosite) can be described by a single Arrhenius relation in the investigated range of temperatures. In contrast, the quasi-binary exchange between dolomite and Ca-rich carbonate solid solutions yields diffusivities that display a change in slope (a kink) in the Arrhenius relation at ∼525 °C. This kink is interpreted to be the result of the initiation of an order–disorder phenomenon rather than a transition from an extrinsic to intrinsic diffusion regime. Experimental results yield the following Arrhenius relations for binary and mulitcomponent interdiffusion couples (in m 2 /s): D Mn - ( Mg + Ca ) = 9.77 × 10 - 17 exp ( - 63 ± 5 kJ/mol/RT ) T = 525 - 625 ° C D Fe - ( Mg + Ca ) = 9.33 × 10 - 14 exp ( - 123 ± 10 kJ/mol/RT ) T = 525 - 625 ° C D Mn - Mg = 2.57 × 10 - 20 exp ( - 23 ± 4 kJ/mol/RT ) T = 400 - 525 ° C D Mn - Mg = 7.41 × 10 - 11 exp ( - 168 ± 15 kJ/mol/RT ) T = 525 - 625 ° C D Fe - Mg = 9.12 × 10 - 20 exp ( - 34 ± 10 kJ/mol/RT ) T = 400 - 525 ° C D Fe - Mg = 3.47 × 10 - 10 exp ( - 183 ± 14 kJ/mol/RT ) T = 525 - 625 ° C Knowledge of these diffusion parameters is valuable for estimating timescales of equilibration between co-existing carbonates or the duration over which a compositional zoning pattern might be preserved. We present simple model calculations for temperatures at which diffusive closure can be expected in natural systems and discuss the implications for geothermometry. It is shown that the presence of a kink in the Arrhenius relation, together with the shallow slope at low temperatures, sets strict limits for maximum times of retention or equilibration for a given grain size. As a result, natural carbonate grains are likely to preserve information not only on the conditions of formation but also on subsequent adjustments during metamorphic events at low to medium temperatures on timescales typical of contact or regional metamorphism. This new information makes major and trace-element composition in carbonates a promising candidate for deciphering kinetically-controlled processes—including crystal growth, metamorphic overprint and the rates and durations of these phenomena.
Mechanotransductional basis of endothelial cell response to intravascular bubbles

Vascular air embolism resulting from too rapid decompression is a well-known risk in deep-sea diving, aviation and space travel. It is also a common complication during surgery or other medical procedures when air or other endogenously administered gas is entrained in the circulation. Preventive and post-event treatment options are extremely limited for this dangerous condition, and none of them address the poorly understood pathophysiology of endothelial response to intravascular bubble presence. Using a novel apparatus allowing precise manipulation of microbubbles in real time fluorescence microscopy studies, we directly measure human umbilical vein endothelial cell responses to bubble contact. Strong intracellular calcium transients requiring extracellular calcium are observed upon cell-bubble interaction. The transient is eliminated both by the presence of the stretch activated channel inhibitor, gadolinium, and the transient receptor potential vanilliod family inhibitor, ruthenium red. No bubble induced calcium upsurge occurs if the cells are pretreated with an inhibitor of actin polymerization, cytochalasin-D. This study explores the biomechanical mechanisms at play in bubble interfacial interactions with endothelial surface layer (ESL) macromolecules, reassessing cell response after selective digestion of glycocalyx glycosoaminoglycans, hyaluran (HA) and heparin sulfate (HS). HA digestion causes reduction of cell-bubble adherence and a more rapid induction of calcium influx after contact. HS depletion significantly decreases calcium transient amplitudes, as does pharmacologically induced sydencan ectodomain shedding. The surfactant perfluorocarbon Oxycyte abolishes any bubble induced calcium transient, presumably through direct competition with ESL macromolecules for interfacial occupancy, thus attenuating the interactions that trigger potentially deleterious biochemical pathways.
A Comparison of Water Vapor Measurements Made by Raman Lidar and Radiosondes

Abstract This paper examines the calibration characteristics of the NASA/GSFC Raman water vapor lidar during three field experiments that occurred between 1991 and 1993. The lidar water vapor profiles are calibrated using relative humidity profiles measured by AIR and Vaisala radiosondes. The lidar calibration computed using the AIR radiosonde, which uses a carbon hygristor to measure relative humidity, was 3%–5% higher than that computed using the Vaisala radiosonde, which uses a thin film capacitive element. These systematic differences were obtained for relative humidities above 30% and so cannot be explained by the known poor low relative humidity measurements associated with the carbon hygristor. The lidar calibration coefficient was found to vary by less than 1% over this period when determined using the Vaisala humidity data and by less than 5% when using the AIR humidity data. The differences between the lidar relative humidity profiles and those measured by these radiosondes are also examined. Th...
The Human Embryo Research Panel: lessons for public ethics.

On the morning of December 2, 1994, after a preceding afternoon of discussion, the Advisory Committee to the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) unanimously voted to approve the recommendations of the Report of the Human Embryo Research Panel. Panel members like myself who were present were elated. The vote marked the culmination of nearly a year of work. Approval of the report also represented a decisive step forward in bringing an end to a 15-year long moratorium on federally funded research on the preimplantation human embryo and techniques of in vitro fertilization.
The free will revolution (continued)

I seek to reply to the thoughtful and penetrating comments by William Rowe, Alfred Mele, Carl Ginet, and Ishtiyaque Haji. In the process, I hope that my overall approach to free will and moral responsibility is thrown into clearer relief. I make some suggestions as to future directions of research in these areas.
Airborne laser blooming and turbulence simulations

Time-dependent wave-optics simulations of thermal blooming and turbulence effects on airborne laser beam propagation are described for a line-selected HF laser at approximately 2.93 micrometers wavelength. A near-horizontal propagation path is assumed together with the appropriate beam motion and slewing to correspond with a typical airborne laser theater missile defense engagement scenario. Results both with and without phase correction are presented for blooming, turbulence, and combined turbulence and blooming. The simulation results for uncorrected blooming and for uncorrected turbulence are in reasonable agreement with well-established scaling-model predictions. In the absence of turbulence, the blooming effects are negligible compared with the effects of turbulence. With correction of combined turbulence and blooming, the blooming effects are increased sufficiently to reduce the average on-axis Strehl by 40%.
Application of a data‐assimilation model to variability of Pacific sardine spawning and survivor habitats with ENSO in the California Current System

[1] The Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) showed significant differences in spawning habitat area, spawning habitat quality and availability of survivor habitat as the Pacific Ocean went through the La Nina state in April 2002 to a weak El Nino in April 2003. During another El Nino/Southern Oscillation transition period in 2006–2007 when the El Nino state retreated and the La Nina returned, a similar pattern in spawning habitat quality was seen. The coupling between the atmospheric forcing, the physical ocean states and the properties of the sardine egg spawning are investigated using dynamically consistent data-assimilation fits of the available physical oceanographic observations during these months. Fits were executed using the Regional Ocean Modeling System four-dimensional variational assimilation platform along with adjoint model runs using a passive tracer to deduce source waters for the areas of interest. Analysis using the data-assimilation model runs reveals that unusually strong equatorward wind-forcing drives offshore transport during the La Nina conditions, which extends the spawning habitat for sardine further offshore. A statistical model of sardine spawning habitat shows better habitat quality during the El Nino conditions, which is associated with higher egg densities and corresponded to higher daily egg production. Concentration of eggs is also increased by convergence of water. The results of the source waters analysis using the adjoint data assimilation model support the idea that offshore transport extends the spawning habitat, and show that higher levels of nutrient are brought into the spawning habitat with high concentration of sardine eggs.
Improving the Emotional Adjustment and Communication Patterns of Incarcerated Mothers: Effectiveness of a Prison Parenting Intervention

Incarcerated mothers at a state prison participated in an eight-session parenting class designed to help them manage the stress of separation from children and to improve communication patterns with children and home-caregivers. In comparison to a waitlist control group (n = 46), inmates who received immediate intervention (n = 60) experienced less parenting distress regarding upcoming visitation experiences; however, waitlist and immediate treatment groups did not differ on other intervention measures. Additional analyses contrasted pre- and post-intervention differences on adjustment measures for inmates from either treatment condition who completed the parenting program (N = 90). After intervention, mothers reported reduced parenting stress, improved alliance with home caregivers, increased letter-writing, and reduction of mental distress symptoms. Large drop-out rates in both subgroups may have reduced the benefits of the random assignment used to form groups. Results support the value of interventions for incarcerated mothers that focus on ways to manage the emotional distress and poor communication patterns associated with being a parent in prison.
Low-Temperature Water-Gas Shift: In-Situ DRIFTS−Reaction Study of a Pt/CeO2 Catalyst for Fuel Cell Reformer Applications

Steady-state IR measurements for adsorption of only CO and under WGS reaction indicate that formates are present on the surface of partially reduced ceria, in contrast to a recent study, and that they are strongly limited at high CO conversions. At low temperatures and conversions, the formates are close to the equilibrium adsorption/desorption coverages obtained from CO adsorption alone. The formates are close to saturation at low temperatures. These IR results favor the bidentate formate mechanism in explaining WGS. However, more kinetic studies are required and over a wider range of temperatures. While low-temperature kinetic studies have found a zero-order dependency for CO and related this to saturation of a noble metal surface, this study indicates that one cannot rule out the possibility of the formate mechanism on this basis, as CO is also close to saturation as an adsorbed formate at the low temperatures used in previous studies.
An energy-resolution-function measurement system for charged-particle beams

Abstract The implementation and use of a system for measuring the energy-resolution function of a low-energy, charged-particle beam is discussed.
Porous Silicon Carbide as a Membrane for Implantable Biosensors

This work demonstrates the creation of free-standing, nanoporous SiC membranes, and their ability to pass molecules of biologic interest. We have shown that proteins up to 29000 Daltons in molecular weight can pass through porous SiC. Also, we have shown that porous SiC resists protein adsorption comparable to the best commercially available polymer membrane that has been specifically developed to avoid protein adsorption.
Glucocorticoids and hippocampal damage

Abstract Glucocorticoids (GCs) are secreted by the adrenal gland and mediate numerous adaptations to acute stress. Because many of these adaptations are catabolic in nature, prolonged GC exposure can ultimately be deleterious. This review presents evidence that damage to neurons of the hippocampus is among the deleterious effects of chronic GC-exposure. The hippocampus is a principal neural target tissue for the steroids, with high concentrations of GC receptors. The rate of hippocampal neuron loss appears sensitive to cumulative GC exposure over the lifespan: decreased concentrations retard senescent neuron loss while chronic exposure accelerates the process. The extent of this loss after acute insults such as hypoxia-ischemia or excitotoxic seizures is simularly sensitive to GC concentrations. GCs appear to induce a general metabolic vulnerability in hippocampal neurons, impairing their capacity to survive varied insults. This GC action occurs directly, rather than secondarily to peripheral GC actions; moreover, the pattern is GC-specific, as non-GC steroids do not potentiate the damage of hippocampal insults. Finally, an important component of the phenomenon may involve the inhibition of hippocampal neuronal glucose uptake by GCs, leaving neurons more vulnerable to any coincident metabolic challenges. These studies suggest that GC administration in the aftermath of hypoxia-ischemia or seizure may worsen hippocampal damage, while attentuation of endogenous GC secretion at that time might well prove protective of the structure.