cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
First results in autonomous retrieval of buried objects

Abstract We have developed an autonomous system for the retrieval of buried objects. It is designed to detect, locate and retrieve buried objects. The system is equipped with a surface and a subsurface sensor. The surface sensor is a laser rangefinder used to build the surface model. The subsurface sensor is a ground penetrating radar (GPR) used to detect and locate buried objects. We use an industrial robot equipped with an excavator bucket for automated excavation. Our system uses a “sense and dig cycle” procedure to retrieve buried objects. First, subsurface sensing is used to detect and locate the buried objects. If the object can be reached with one dig, the excavator retrieves it directly. Otherwise a layer of soil above the object is removed and another subsurface scan is made to get a more accurate estimate of the object location. This loop is repeated until the object is retrieved. The paper presents some recent results in sensing and excavation from experiments conducted on our testbed and the specific methods that we use to achieve those results. Such a system has numerous potential applications. They include hazardous waste removal, maintenance of subsurface structure (e.g. gas pipes), construction, and removal of unexploded buried ordnance.
A new method for measuring the degree of preferred orientation in bulk textured YBa2Cu3Ox

Abstract A new technique for estimating the preferred orientation in bulk textured YBa 2 Cu 3 O x and related structures is developed. Conventional X-ray diffraction patterns, as measured from the bulk samples, and the March function in a program for refinement of the structure are used in order to generate a calibration curve for measuring the degree of preferred orientation in such samples without getting into the complication of pole-figure analysis. It is found that the values of the March coefficient G for a series of purposefully textured bulk samples range from 0.62 to 0.17.
Detailed Test of the Interacting Boson Approximation in a Well-Deformed Nucleus: The Positive-Parity States of Er 168

The interacting boson approximation has been applied to the deformed nucleus $^{168}\mathrm{Er}$. The parametrization used corresponds to a description close to the SU(3) limit of the model. The calculation, which is the most detailed test of the interacting boson approximation to date, correctly reproduces the complete sequence of positive-parity collective bands below the pairing gap and provides an excellent overall description of their decay properties.
The Endothelial Glycocalyx as a Barrier to Leukocyte Adhesion and its Mediation by Extracellular Proteases

The endothelial cell (EC) surface is coated with a layer of polysaccharides linked to membrane-bound and trans-membrane proteoglycans that comprise the glycocalyx, which is augmented by adsorbed proteins derived from the blood stream. This surface layer has been shown to affect hemodynamics in small blood vessels of the microcirculation, the resistance to flow, and leukocyte (WBC) to EC adhesion. Parallel studies of WBC–EC adhesion in response to chemoattractants and cytokines, and shedding of constituents of the glycocalyx, have suggested a role for activation of extracellular proteases in mediating the dynamics of WBC adhesion in response to inflammatory and ischemic stimuli. Likely candidates among the many proteases present are the matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Inhibition of MMP activation with sub-antimicrobial doses of doxycycline, or zinc chelators, has also inhibited WBC adhesion and shedding of glycans from the EC surface in response to the chemoattractant fMLP. Taken together, these studies suggest that shedding of the EC glycocalyx exposes adhesion receptors and thus enhances WBC–EC adhesion. Future therapeutic strategies for treating pathologies such as the low flow state and inflammation may benefit by further exploration of the mechanics of the glycocalyx in light of protease activation and shear-dependent effects.
Attitudes toward Death, Anxiety, and Social Desirability

Thirty-four male and thirty-four female undergraduates completed four scales of attitudes toward death including the Death Concern Scale, the Templer Death Anxiety Scale, the Tolor and Reznikoff Death Anxiety Scale, and the Fear of Death and Dying Scale, as well as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. The four death scales showed moderate commonality reflecting, on average, 35 per cent common variance for both males and females. For females, a substantial portion of this commonality could be attributed to correlations between the death scales and trait anxiety whereas for males there was stronger evidence for the discriminant validity of the death scales. Three of the four death scales showed significant negative correlations with social desirability. There were no significant sex differences on the death scales.
Increased feeding after treatment with fructose, but not glucose, antimetabolites in rats with dopamine-depleting brain lesions

Abstract Rats were given dopamine-depleting lesions either as adults or as neonates. Compared with intact controls, lesioned rats failed to increase their food intake after acute administration of the glucoprivic agent, 2-deoxy- d -glucose. In contrast, both lesioned and control rats increased food intake after acute treatment with a peripherally-acting fructose antimetabolite, 2,5-anhydro- d -mannitol. These data suggest that the failure of lesioned rats to respond behaviorally to glucoprivation is related to inhibition of glycolysis in the brain, rather than the acute nature of the metabolic challenge.
Southeastern Chukchi Sea (Alaska) macrobenthos

Macrobenthos in the southeastern Chukchi Sea, inclusive of the Chukchi Bight and Kotzebue Sound, were collected in 1985–1987 to determine factors influencing faunal distribution, abundance and biomass. Polychaetes, crustaceans, bivalve mollusks, and ophiuroid echinoderms dominated abundance. Polychaetes, bivalve mollusks, and ophiuroid echinoderms dominated carbon biomass with barnacles, amphipods, bryozoans, and tunicates occasionally dominant. Cluster analysis and ordination revealed relatively high faunal abundance and biomass under Bering Shelf Anadyr Water (BSAW) as well as under Alaska Coastal Water (ACW) in the Bight and Sound. Advected particulate carbon from the highly productive BSAW supported the abundant macrobenthos that served as food for numerous epifauna, which in turn furnished food for resident and transient populations of demersal fishes and marine mammals.
Dispositional Optimism and Coping: A Meta-Analytic Review:

The relation between dispositional optimism and better adjustment to diverse stressors may be attributable to optimism's effects on coping strategies. A meta-analytic review (K = 50, N = 11,629) examined the impact of dispositional optimism on coping. Dispositional optimism was found to be positively associated with approach coping strategies aiming to eliminate, reduce, or manage stressors or emotions (r = .17), and negatively associated with avoidance coping strategies seeking to ignore, avoid, or withdraw from stressors or emotions (r = -.21). Effect sizes were larger for the distinction between approach and avoidance coping strategies than for that between problem and emotion-focused coping. Meta-analytic findings also indicate that optimists may adjust their coping strategies to meet the demands of the stressors at hand, and that the optimism-coping relationship is strongest in English-speaking samples.
Concurrent non-malleable commitments from any one-way function

We show the existence of concurrent non-malleable commitments based on the existence of one-way functions. Our proof of security only requires the use of black-box techniques, and additionally provides an arguably simplified proof of the existence of even stand-alone secure non-malleable commitments.
Investigation of the effects of network density on the optimal number of clusters in hierarchical Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)

Wireless sensors are promising and revolutionary technology. The sensor devices are typically deployed in large number to form a communication network for monitoring the physical environment. These devices are battery powered and the lifetime of the device is dependent on the battery's life. Once the battery's energy is depleted, the node is considered dead and is no longer part of the network. Recharging the sensors' batteries is not feasible, and in some cases, is completely impossible. Due to their severe energy constraints and redundancy in sensed data, hierarchal architectures are usually suggested for these networks. These architectures have proven effective in extending the network life several folds. The LEACH network routing protocol is the first protocol to use clustering for energy conservation in Wireless Sensor Networks. LEACH designers observe that there is an ideal percentage of nodes that need to be cluster heads to achieve optimal energy performance. For their work and performance analysis they selected 5% as the number of cluster heads in the netwok. The majority of routing protocols for WSNs follow LEACH and use clustering for energy performance optimization. Most of these protocols have taken the 5% percentage of cluster head as their ideal working setting, without independently qualifying this assumption. In this work, we use simulation modeling to investigate the dependency of this cluster head percentage on the network node density. Our results show that this percentage is not universal for all network settings, and is indeed dependent on the density. These findings will add to the challenging task of WSNs hierarchical networking protocols design.
Two-Dimensional Ising Model as a Soluble Problem of Many Fermions

The two-dimensional Ising model for a system of interacting spins (or for the ordering of an AB alloy) on a square lattice is one of the very few nontrivial many-body problems that is exactly soluble and shows a phase transition. Although the exact solution in the absence of an external magnetic field was first given almost twenty years ago in a famous paper by Onsager1 using the theory of Lie algebras, the flow of papers on both approximate and exact methods has remained strong to this day.2 One reason for this has been the interest in testing approximate methods on an exactly soluble problem. A second reason, no doubt, has been the considerable formidability of the Onsager method. The simplification achieved by Bruria Kaufman3 using the theory of spinor representations has diminished, but not removed, the reputation of the Onsager approach for incomprehensibility, while the subsequent application of this method by Yang4 to the calculation of the spontaneous magnetization has, if anything, helped to restore this reputation.
The Decline of International Migration as an Economic Force in Rural Areas: A Mexican Case Study

Since 2000, and especially since 2007, there has been a reduction in the importance of international migration and remittances in major global sending regions as a result of recession in receiving ...
Menstrual regulation versus contraception in Bangladesh: characteristics of the acceptors.

Menstrual regulation (MR) service was introduced in Bangladesh in 1974 through the Mohammadpur Model Clinic. This study identifies characteristics of the women undergoing MR compared with those of the women accepting contraceptive methods from the clinic. Women in the MR group were a mean of 2 years younger than women in the contraception group. They had an average of 3 more years of education and significantly lower mean gravidity. A significantly higher proportion of women in the MR group desired more children in the future and they traveled significantly farther to attend the clinic. The women in the MR group who reported prior contraceptive practice used less effective methods than the contraception group. The clinics MR services attracted women of early reproductive age: 44% of the women were less than 25 years of age. The study only includes women who had requested and received MR not women who requested and did not receive it; this reflected the clinics choice and might have affected the results. More than 1/2 of the MR users were using some form of contraceptive so that MR appears to provide a backup support to deal with irregular or ineffective contraceptive use.
An FTIR study of the complex melting behavior of α-lactalbumin

We have studied the thermal denaturation of holo α-lactalbumin (α-LA) using FTIR spectroscopy by monitoring the absorbance of protein bands in the secondary structure sensitive amide I region. In agreement with results obtained by other techniques, a major cooperative melting transition is observed between 60 and 80 °C. This main transition is found to involve predominantly the unfolding of helical structures. Addition of excess Ca2+ ions raises the Tm of the cooperative melting transition but does not change the protein substructures involved in the transition. In addition to the main transition, there are at least two other distinct melting processes. One of them is gradual, is independent of excess Ca2+, and occurs throughout the measured temperature range below the major cooperative transition. This melting process involves denaturation of α-LA's β-hairpin. The other melting process is affected by the addition of excess Ca2+ and involves the denaturation of helical structures. In the absence of excess...
Exact solutions of the Schrodinger equation and the non-uniqueness of inverse scattering on the line

Certain exact solutions to the Schrodinger equation on the line are given for each positive integer N such that the corresponding transmission coefficient behaves like O(kN) as k to 0. Such solutions form a one-parameter family for each N, and all the potentials in each family cause the same scattering at all energies. In each family there are infinitely many potentials that do not support any bound states.
Classroom Social Participation of Preschoolers in Single-Parent Families

Summary Peer contacts, types of play, and social interactions during classroom free time were observed among 35 firstborn and only preschoolers from one-and two-parent lower-class American families over a two-month period. Age differences following the predictive developmental pattern emerged for both groups of children. Single-parent children showed more advanced types of play and peer contacts than did their counterparts from intact American families. Gender and birth order were of little influence.
On the Names of Some Western Atlantic Lithophaga Species (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)

alcide d’Orbigny (1842–1853) introduced numerous molluscan species in sagra’s work on the natural history of cuba. the exact publication dates of this important work have never been fully established. the date for the bivalve plates and associated captions had long been accepted as 1842, and d’Orbigny’s names were deemed senior to those of such near-contemporary authors as conrad (1846) and philippi (1846, 1847). however, rosenberg (pers. comm., may 2006; 2009) has established that d’Orbigny’s bivalve parts were published considerably later than 1842, perhaps as late as april 1853, and almost certainly no earlier than 1851. the date change of sagra’s work thus resulted in various priority issues involving numerous western atlantic species. mikkelsen & Bieler (2007) adopted an 1853 date and adjusted authorship and dates for 27 affected species occurring in the florida Keys. three of d’Orbigny’s (1853) well-established names of common western atlantic Lithophaga species, L. antillarum, L. bisulcata, and L. nigra, were thus threatened by earlier names introduced by philippi (1846, 1847). their synonymy had long been accepted in the western atlantic and mytilid literature (e.g., abbott, 1974; Kleemann, 1983; turner & Boss, 1962), but their priority had now become reversed. following priority in this case could have resulted in the unfortunate situation that Lithophaga antillarum (d’Orbigny, 1853) would become L. corrugata (philippi, 1846), whereas sympatric L. nigra (d’Orbigny, 1853) would be a junior synonym of the confusingly homonymous name L. antillarum (philippi, 1847). the latter situation could possibly have been avoided by resurrecting L. caribaea (philippi, 1847), which was published simultaneously with L. antillarum, but it still would replace commonly cited species names with ones that had fallen in disuse a very long time ago. mikkelsen & Bieler (2007: 413) invoked icZn (1999) article 23.9, reversal of precedence, to maintain prevailing usage of Lithophaga antillarum (d’Orbigny, 1853), introduced as LithodomalacOlOGia, 2010, 52(1): 181−182
Pancreatic tuberculosis in a human immunodeficiency virus positive patient: a case report.

Despite the increased incidence of tuberculosis related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in recent decades, pancreatic tuberculosis has rarely been described. We report a case of pancreatic tuberculosis in a 39-year-old African man who presented with progressive dysphagia, vomiting, weight loss and productive cough, accompanied by localized epigastric pain and one episode of melena. HIV-1 testing was positive and lymphocyte subset profile showed CD4 count of 9/mm3. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast revealed a cystic mass in the body of the pancreas, significant portal and retroperitoneal cystic adenopathy, and multiple cystic lesions in the spleen and liver. CT guided cyst aspiration and node biopsy detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient responded well on antituberculosis and antiretroviral therapy. Tuberculosis rarely involves the pancreas, probably due to the presence of pancreatic enzymes which interfere with the seeding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pancreatic tuberculosis is considered to be the result of dissemination of the infection from nearby lymphatic nodes. Endoscopic ultrasound or CT guided fine needle aspiration for cytology is the recommended diagnostic technique. Although the prognosis is good with anti-tuberculosis treatment, it could be fatal without correct diagnosis and treatment. The clinician’s high index of suspicion of pancreatic tuberculosis and application of FNAB to obtain pathological evidence are extremely important to a correct diagnosis, especially in young HIV positive patients.
Correlating the Structure, Optical Spectra, and Electrodynamics of Single Silver Nanocubes

The plasmonic properties of noble metal nanoparticles have potential uses in a wide variety of technologies, particularly sensing devices, based on their optical response. To better understand how nanoparticles can be incorporated in such devices, the detailed relationship between the optical response and structural properties of single nanoparticles is needed. Here we demonstrate that correlated localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurements can be used to obtain the optical response and detailed structural information for a single nanoparticle, using a silver (Ag) nanocube as the example. By carefully incorporating the HRTEM structural details into finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) electrodynamics calculations, excellent agreement with the LSPR measurements is obtained. The FDTD calculations show strong sensitivity between the nanocube optical response and the face-to-face width, corner and side rounding, and substrate of each cube, so careful determination of these parameters (1 nm resolution) is needed if theory and experiment are to match. In addition, the comparison of theory and experiment enables us to study the relative merits of the Johnson and Christy and Lynch and Hunter Ag dielectric data for describing perfect crystalline nanoparticles.
Introduction from the guest editors.

Sarah L. Morgan*, Neil Binkley , and Susan E. Williams 3 Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, UAB Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Clinic, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, and Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
Institutional impact and agricultural change in Russia

Abstract Set within the context of New Institutionalism, this article analyzes the impact of institutional change on Russian agriculture. Institutions are important because they create opportunity and incentives. The market-based institutional framework introduced in the 1990s acted as an independent variable that facilitated growth in entrepreneurial income and an increase in rural stratification. Further, institutions contributed to land expansion by a stratum of upper income households. As a dependent variable, indigenous factors influence the economic outcomes that flow from new institutions with a twofold effect: regional variance is significant for entrepreneurial income and land expansion; and some households experienced much higher entrepreneurial income and land expansion.
Maternal obesity downregulates microRNA let-7g expression, a possible mechanism for enhanced adipogenesis during ovine fetal skeletal muscle development

Obesity in women of childbearing age is increasing at an alarming rate. Growing evidence shows that maternal obesity induces detrimental effects on offspring health, including pre-disposition to obesity. We have shown that maternal obesity increases fetal intramuscular adipogenesis at mid-gestation. However, the mechanisms are poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate mRNA stability. We hypothesized that maternal obesity alters fetal muscle miRNA expression, thereby influencing intramuscular adipogenesis. Non-pregnant ewes received a control diet (Con, fed 100% of National Research Council (NRC) recommendations, n=6) or obesogenic diet (OB; 150% NRC recommendations, n=6) from 60 days before to 75 days after conception when the fetal longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle was sampled and miRNA expression analyzed by miRNA microarray. One of miRNAs with differential expression between Con and OB fetal muscle, let-7g, was further tested for its role in adipogenesis and cell proliferation in C3H10T1/2 cells. A total of 155 miRNAs were found with a signal above 500, among which, three miRNAs, hsa-miR-381, hsa-let-7g and bta-miR-376d, were differentially expressed between Con and OB fetuses, and confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) analyses. Reduced expression of miRNA let-7g, an abundantly expressed miRNA, in OB fetal muscle was correlated with higher expression of its target genes. Overexpression of let-7g in C3H10T1/2 cells reduced their proliferation rate. Expression of adipogenic markers decreased in cells overexpressing let-7g, and the formation of adipocytes was also reduced. Overexpression of let-7g decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines. Fetal muscle miRNA expression was altered due to maternal obesity, and let-7g downregulation may enhance intramuscular adipogenesis during fetal muscle development in the setting of maternal obesity.
Animal-to-Animal Variability in Neuromodulation and Circuit Function

Each animal alive in the world is different from all other individuals, while sharing most attributes of form and function with others of the same species. Still other attributes are shared within a phylum, and still others are common to most eukaryotic organisms. All animals have mechanisms that modulate the strength of their synapses or alter the intrinsic excitability of component neurons. What animal-to-animal variability in behavior arises from differences in neuronal structure, ion channel expression, or connectivity, and what variability arises from neuromodulation of brain states? Conversely, can robust behavior be maintained despite variability in circuit components by the action of neuromodulatory inputs? These are fundamental issues relevant to all nervous systems that have been illuminated by many years of study of the small, rhythmic motor circuits found in the crustacean stomatogastric nervous system.
Apprehension about communication and human resilience.

This study examined the relationship between scores on two personality characteristics, apprehension about communication and resilience, from 200 elementary school teachers from several counties who completed the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension and the Personal Resilience Questionnaire. Scores on the two measures correlated −.33, which accounts for 10% of the common variance.
Kelvin wave variability in the upper stratosphere observed in SBUV ozone data

The Solar Backscatter UV ozone data collected for the eight years between 1979 and 1986 are used to analyze the signatures of equatorially trapped Kelvin waves in the upper stratosphere. The data reveal a strong semiannual modulation of Kelvin wave activity, confirming the results of previous rocketsonde observations. A comparison of the eight-year-average ensemble spectra to the semiannual oscillation in the stratospheric zonal winds revealed a seasonal asymmetry in the strength of Kelvin waves, which mimics the asymmetry observed in the zonal winds. No consistent relationship was observed with the quasi-biennial oscillation in the lower stratosphere, while correlations with the upper stratospheric winds are weak or nonexistent.
Research Review: Sibling placement in foster care: a review of the evidence

This research review was undertaken to explore the current evidence pertaining to sibling placement in the foster care system. The review specifically addresses the following questions: (1) Which theories inform research on siblings in foster care? (2) Which designs and methodology are used to study brothers and sisters in out of home placement? (3) How do researchers define ‘siblings’ when investigating child placement? and (4) What are the findings of studies pertaining to siblings in the foster care system? This review suggests that incorporation of theory into research regarding siblings in foster care is quite limited. Additionally, few studies clearly state how siblings were identified and defined. A major strength of the research, however, is the diversity of design and methodology used. Overall, the evidence presented in this review strongly supports keeping sibling groups intact unless there is a compelling reason for separate placements.
Analysis of 2-Methylisoborneol and Geosmin in Catfish by Microwave Distillation-Solid-Phase Microextraction

The semivolatile cyclic alcohols 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin (GSM) impart muddy or musty flavors to water and food products. A rapid quantitative analytical technique has been developed whereby microwave distillation is used to remove the volatile organic compounds from a lipophilic matrix into an aqueous matrix. Solid-phase microextraction (MD-SPME) is then used to extract and concentrate the analytes, which are then desorbed in the injection port of a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) for analysis. Limits of detection are 0.01 microg/kg and limits of quantification are 0.1 microg/kg. MD-SPME is comparable in precision, requires no solvents, and is faster than current methods of analysis. This methodology allows detection of MIB and GSM at concentrations below human sensory thresholds in fish tissue.
Efficiency enhancement in small molecular organic photovoltaic devices employing dual anode interfacial layers

We demonstrated enhanced efficiency in small molecule organic photovoltaic devices using dual organic interfacial layers of PEDOT:PSS followed by tetracene between the ITO anode and the organic donor material. The use of a small molecular templating layer, such as tetracene, proved to increase the molecular stacking of the subsequent phthalocyanine (Pc) based donor materials. Upon application in planar heterojunction devices of ZnPc and C 60 , an enhancement of over 80 percent in the donor contribution to the external quantum efficiency was observed attributed to the combination of exciton blocking by the higher band gap tetracene layer and enhanced exciton diffusion and charge transport resulting from the increased crystallinity.
The electric field screening and crossing point shift effects in coated carbon nanotubes

We report here the theoretical explanation of the experimentally observed electric field screening and crossing point shift effects in glycine-isopropanol-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes. The external electric field screening effect was illustrated in the framework of the analytical solution of the Laplace equation and Langevin–Debye theory. In this approach, we utilized the polarizability tensor of the glycine-isopropanol molecular complex calculated ab initio by the Density Functional Theory. The shift of the crossing point of the original p-type semiconductor curve for nanotube with the final metallic line was explained from ab initio results of the electron charge transfer from nanotube to the coating layer. The results of calculations agreed with the experimental data very well and an encouraging relationship was found.
Stopped-flow front-face fluorometer: a prototype design to measure hemoglobin R----T transition kinetics.

Abstract Stopped-flow techniques are successfully used to study the kinetics of the R → T transition of hemoglobin (Hb). We have previously used front-face fluorometry to demonstrate that (i) the intrinsic fluorescence of Hb primarily originates from β37 Trp; (ii) the intrinsic fluorescence is sensitive to the R → T transition; and (iii) the emission of the fluorescent probes bound to specific sites on the Hb molecule (β93 Cys) is sensitive to the R → T transition. These findings suggested that a stopped-flow front-face fluorometer could probe R → T transitions at specific sites, such as the aromatic amino acids and sites selectively binding extrinsic fluorophores. We have developed a prototype instrument using as the core a Gibson-Durrum stopped-flow apparatus on line with a digital data analysis system using a modified Marquardt algorithm. Excitation (470 nm) and emission light (520 nm) were selected by narraw band pass filters. To study the R → T transition, a solution of purified oxy Hb A covalently bound to the fluorescent probe 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein (Hb A-AF) (1.0 g%) was mixed rapidly with deoxygenated buffer (pH 7.35, 0.05 m potassium phosphate) containing 2 mg/ml of sodium dithionine. The hemoglobin, at a final concentration of 0.5 g% after mixing, is essentially completely tetrameric. A first-order reaction was observed with a rate constant near 8 s−1, similar to the oxygen dissociation rate reported for oxy Hb A. In conclusion, (i) the stopped-flow front-face fluorometer is capable of obtaining significant and reproducible data, and (ii) the extrinsic fluorophore, 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein covalently bound to β93 of Hb (Hb A-AF), may be used as a reporter group of R → T transition kinetics.
Smart Gossip: An Adaptive Gossip-based Broadcasting Service for Sensor Networks

A network-wide broadcast service is often used for information dissemination in sensor networks. Sensor networks are typically energy-constrained and prone to failures. In view of these constraints, the broadcast service should minimize energy consumption by reducing redundant transmissions, and be tolerant to frequent node and link failures. We propose "Smart Gossip", a probabilistic protocol that offers a broadcast service with low overheads. Smart gossip automatically and dynamically adapts transmission probabilities based on the underlying network topology. The protocol is capable of coping with wireless losses and unpredictable node failures that affect network connectivity over time. The resulting protocol is completely decentralized. We present thorough experimental results to evaluate our "Smart Gossip" proposal, and demonstrate its benefits over existing protocols.
Methotrexate used for psoriasis and the risk of noncutaneous or cutaneous malignancy

Using case-control methods, we separately evaluated the risk of noncutaneous and cutaneous malignancy associated with exposure to methotrexate as it is used in the treatment of severe psoriasis. An analysis of 26 cases of noncutaneous cancer and 104 matched controls revealed no association between the development of noncutaneous malignancy and exposure to methotrexate (relative risk = 0.96; upper bound 95% confidence interval = 2.0). An analysis of 80 cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer and 297 matched controls revealed a relative risk of 1.2 for the development of cutaneous malignancy among those with exposure to methotrexate (upper bound 95% confidence interval = 1.9). Our data suggest that methotrexate, as it is used in the treatment of severe psoriasis, does not increase the risk of noncutaneous or cutaneous malignancy.
Prognostic use of lactate to predict inpatient mortality in acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Abstract Background Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH) is a common complaint seen in the emergency department (ED) and carries a small but significant mortality rate. The principal purpose of this investigation was to determine whether an ED venous lactate as part of initial laboratory studies is predictive of mortality in patients admitted to the hospital for GIH. Methods Retrospective cohort study for 6 years at an urban tertiary referral hospital included all ED patients with the charted diagnosis of acute GIH. Serum lactate was drawn at the bedside as part of patient care after arrival to the ED at the discretion of the clinical team. Clinical parameters and inpatient mortality were collected from the medical record. Optimal cut points for lactate were derived using receiver operating characteristics curves and imputed into a multivariable logistic regression model. Results Of the 2834 medical records that had GIH diagnoses, 1644 had an ED lactate recorded. A lactate greater than 4 mmol/L conferred a 6.4-fold increased odds of in-hospital mortality (94% specificity, P Conclusions Elevated initial lactate drawn in the ED can be associated with in-hospital mortality for ED patients with acute GIH. Prospective validation studies are warranted.
Robotics for the bioanalytical laboratory A flexible system for the analysis of drugs in biological fluids

Abstract The configuration of a robotic system for the complete automation of methods for trace level quantification of drugs in biological fluids is described. The system was designed to be applicable to numerous assays and to be rapidly switchable from one assay to the next. It employs a Zymate robot and various cost effective modules and components. The robot aliquots plasma and urine samples and performs dilution, mixing, precipitation, centrifugation, solvent extraction, evaporation, reconstitution and direct injection into a high-performance liquid chromatograph. An analytical report on each sample and a summary report on all samples are automatically produced for later incorporation into the data base. The effective reach of the robotic arm is limited to 1640 square inches of bench space. The bench space requirement is therefore an important criterion for the selection and design of robotic modules. A second important criterion is the failure rate. Because the present robot lacks the critical senses of touch and vision, some seemingly simple manual steps are difficult to automate. Effective substitutes for such steps have been devised. Some modifications of the manual method were required for effective automation. The robotic system was applied to several assays and the quality of the data generated was similar to or better than that of manual methods. The return on investment in robotic implementation is favorable.
MULTIPLE RESPONSES WITH DIFFERENTIAL PROPERTIES IN DELAYED GALVANIC SKIN RESPONSE CONDITIONING: A REVIEW

Studies of delayed GSR conditioning have shown that when an interstimulus interval (ISI) of sufficient duration is employed, multiple responses may occur within that interval. The studies reviewed in this article indicate that GSRs which occur early in the interval are present by the second conditioning trial. They tend to habituate, appear to be orienting responses, and, under certain circumstances, they are conditional. Those responses which occur during the later portion of the interval are minimal, if at all present, when conditioning is initiated but show a negatively accelerated growth curve across trials. These second responses are conditional and may be protective reflexes which prevent damage to the skin. It is concluded that in GSR conditioning the choice of an ISI and the specification of ISI responses may seriously affect the nature of the behavior observed, and may have serious implications for other areas of psychological investigation.
Measurement of thick-target high-energy γ-ray yields from the 19F(p,αγ)16O reaction

Abstract We measured the photon yields for proton energies between 1.5 and 4.25 MeV using both CaF 2 and MgF 2 solid targets and SF 6 gas targets. Photon yields were measured using a 7.62 cm×7.62 cm NaI scintillator detector. Detector response functions for these three individual γ-rays were calculated using the Monte Carlo code MCNP-4C. The relative intensities of the three γ-rays were determined by a least-squares fit of these response functions to the data in a selected region of the pulse-height spectrum. A maximum photon yield of 6.0×10 7 γ/μC/sr (at 0°) was determined for the sum of these three γ-rays at an effective proton energy of 4.0 MeV. The contribution of the individual lines to the total photon yield depends strongly on the incident proton energy.
Parallelism generics for Ada 2005 and beyond

The Ada programming language is seemingly well-positioned to take advantage of emerging multi-core technologies. While it has always been possible to write parallel algorithms in Ada, there are certain classes of problems however, where the level of effort to write parallel algorithms outweighs the ease and simplicity of a sequential approach. This can result in lost opportunities for parallelism and slower running software programs. Languages such as Cilk++ and OpenMB provide expressive mechanisms to add parallelism to code using a C++ based syntax by adding special syntactic directives where parallelism is desired. This paper explores Ada's concurrency features to see whether it is possible to easily inject similar iterative and recursive parallelism to code written in Ada, without having to resort to special language extensions or non-standard language features. This paper identifies a "work-seeking" technique, which can be viewed as a form of compromise between work-sharing and work-stealing, two other existing strategies. The paper presents performance results to illustrate the benefits of use for the generics and goes on to suggest how parallelism pragmas could possibly be added to the Ada language to further facilitate writing parallel applications.
Longevity of the boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on cotton and alternate feeding sources under various temperature regimes in the laboratory

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effects of various food sources and temperature on adult longevity of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman. Boll weevil adults reared from cotton have the potential to live up to 9 mo on a continuous supply of cotton flower buds (squares). Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus L., and okra, H. esculentus L., flower buds playa minor role in boll weevil survival, but hibiscus, Hibiscus rosasinensis L., could be important for survival because weevils can exist for up to 4 mo on this food source. Boll weevil longevity was increased on all food sources at temperatures of 18 and 24°C compared with longevity at 12 and 30°C. Use of alternative feeding sources could aid boll weevil survival during periods when cotton fruiting structures are not available.
A printer model using signal processing techniques

An accurate printer model that is efficient enough to be used by halftoning algorithms is proposed. The proposed signal processing model (SPM) utilizes a physical model to train adaptive linear combiners (ALCs), after which the average exposure of each subpixel for any input pattern can be calculated using the optimized weight vector. The SPM can be used to model multi-level halftoning and resolution enhancement, as well as traditional halftoning. The SPM is comprised of a single ALC layer followed by a peak-to-average ratio (PAR) correction layer, which serves to produce a PAR of less than 1.5 in the modeled exposure. The PCN (PAR correction network) employs one ALC/pixel and exploits the physics governing the characteristics of exposure in small regions. A relatively small number of training patterns suffices to train the SPM.
Sensitivity of stomatal and canopy conductance to elevated CO2 concentration – interacting variables and perspectives of scale

○ The hydrological response of forests to rising CO 2 is a critical biotic feedback in the study of global climate change. Few studies, however, have investigated this highly dynamic response at relevant temporal and spatial scales. ○ A combination of leaf and whole-tree measurements and stand-level extrapolations were used to assess how stomatal conductance, canopy transpiration and conductance, and evapotranspiration might be affected by future, higher CO 2 concentrations. ○ Midday measurements of stomatal conductance for leaves sampled in a 12-yr-old sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) stand exposed to free-air CO 2 enrichment were up to 44% lower at elevated than at ambient CO 2 concentrations, whereas canopy conductance, averaged over the growing season, was only 14% lower in stands exposed to CO 2 enrichment. The magnitude of this response was dependent on vapor pressure deficit and soil water potential. Annual estimates of evapotranspiration showed relatively small reductions due to atmospheric CO 2 enrichment. ○ These data illustrate that the hydrological response of a closed-canopy plantation to elevated CO 2 depends on the temporal and spatial scale of observation. They emphasize the importance of interacting variables and confirm that integration of measurements over space and time reduce what, at the leaf level, might otherwise appear to be a large and significant response.
Supragingival plaque may modify the effects of subgingival bacteria on attachment loss.

Background: Bacterial interactions in response to local and systemic factors may explain important features of the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. This study evaluates the role of supragingival plaque level on the relationship between subgingival microorganisms and the risk of attachment loss.Methods: The study population consisted of 386 white women aged 45 years and older who had at least seven teeth. Subgingival plaque samples were taken from the mesio-buccal surface of six maxillary and six mandibular teeth using paper point technique. The samples were pooled, and immunofluorescence microscopy was performed to identify the following target microorganisms: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Tannerella forsythensis (Tf), Campylobacter rectus (Cr), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Capnocytophaga species (Cs), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Eubacterium saburreum (Es), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn). The presence or absence of supragingival plaque and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were assessed ...
Spatial Dynamics of the Red-Tailed Hawk in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico

Abstract The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a top predator of upland ecosystems in the Greater Antilles. Little information exists on the ecology of the insular forms of this widely distributed species. We studied movements and resource use of the Red-tailed Hawk from 2000 to 2002 in the montane forests of northeastern Puerto Rico. We captured 32 and used 21 radio-marked Red-tailed Hawks to delineate home range, core area shifts, and macrohabitat use in the Luquillo Mountains. Red-tailed Hawks in the Luquillo Mountains frequently perched near the top of canopy emergent trees and were characterized by wide-ranging capabilities and extensive spatial overlap. Home range size averaged 5,022.6 ± 832.1 ha (305–11,288 ha) and core areas averaged 564.8 ± 90.7 ha (150–1,230 ha). This species had large mean weekly movements (3,286.2 ± 348.5 m) and a preference for roadside habitats. Our findings suggest fragmentation of contiguous forest outside protected areas in Puerto Rico may benefit the Red-tailed Hawk.
Heuristic errors in clinical reasoning

Summary Purpose Errors in clinical reasoning contribute to patient morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the types of heuristic errors made by third-year medical students and first-year residents. Methods This study surveyed approximately 150 clinical educators inquiring about the types of heuristic errors they observed in third-year medical students and first-year residents. Results Anchoring and premature closure were the two most common errors observed amongst third-year medical students and first-year residents. There was no difference in the types of errors observed in the two groups. Errors in clinical reasoning contribute to patient morbidity and mortality Conclusions Clinical educators perceived that both third-year medical students and first-year residents committed similar heuristic errors, implying that additional medical knowledge and clinical experience do not affect the types of heuristic errors made. Further work is needed to help identify methods that can be used to reduce heuristic errors early in a clinician's education.
Novel Gene Mutations in Patients with 1α-Hydroxylase Deficiency That Confer Partial Enzyme Activity in Vitro

The rate-limiting, hormonally regulated step in the biological activation of vitamin D is its 1α-hydroxylation to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D] in the kidney, catalyzed by the mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzyme, P450c1α. We previously cloned the human P450c1α cDNA and gene, and identified 14 different mutations, including 7 missense, in 19 patients with 1α-hydroxylase deficiency, also known as vitamin D-dependent rickets type 1. None of the missense mutations encoded a protein with detectable enzymatic activity in vitro. Although there is phenotypic variation among such patients, the molecular basis of this variation is unknown. We analyzed 6 additional patients with clinical and radiographic features of rickets; in 4 patients the laboratory abnormalities were typical of 1α-hydroxylase deficiency, but in 2 they were unusually mild [mild hypocalcemia and normal serum 1,25-(OH)2D concentration]. Direct sequencing revealed that all patients had P450c1α mutations on both alleles. Five new and 2 know...
The Preferred Order of Over-the-Counter (Otc) Pharmaceutical Label Components

Recently there has been increasing interest in enabling consumers to more easily acquire information from over-the-counter (OTC) nonprescription pharmaceutical labels. Standardization of label form...