cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shadowing 3D mask effects in EUV

A new method to evaluate the shadowing effect of 3-dimensional mask has been developed and implemented for extreme UV technology. The method is composed of several key ingredients. The illuminator(source) is divided into very small domains to account for the partial coherence nature of the illumination employed by the microchip industry. Each sub-domain acts as an incoherent source emitting a partial vector electromagnetic field. Since the design on the mask is described on a sub- nanometer(nm) grid and the features are 20-40nm, a non-uniformed grid is essential for a manageable computation. Consequently, the space describing the mask is a mixture of momenta(kx,ky) and physical space(z-direction). The corresponding Maxwell equations are translated to the mask space and the transmitted wave of each sub illuminator is propagated through the optical system. This construction eliminates the usual use of the Kirchhoff boundary conditions which are normally used in the formation of the aerial image. Instead the integration over the source(illuminator) takes place over the propagated field into the photoresist constructing the latent image directly. Employing a previously developed techniques the latent image is translated into photoacid concentration, enabling the determination of the developed photoresist structures. By using the described methodology, a shadowing effect is detected and by the usage of a newly developed optimization-scheme of the shape of the source the shadowing effect can be minimized or even eliminated.
Oscillatory Porosity History of Poikilotopic Dolostones

Calcite cement in poikilotopic dolostones is postdolomite in origin. From this an oscillatory porosity history emerges: porosity decreased with compaction (and in some cases cementation), increased with dolomitization, decreased with calcite cementation, and locally increased with outcrop leaching.
Integration of Palliative Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin 1990–1996

Palliative medicine is an emerging world-wide discipline. This article describes efforts at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to develop programs to enhance palliative medicine education and clinical care. New courses, seminars and clinical programs have been developed. Education and clinical care activities since 1990 have included a required course for second-year medical students, clinical electives for third- and fourth-year medical students, a clinical palliative care consultation service, a palliative care seminar series designed for housestaff, and a nurse preceptorship program. Palliative medicine activities have included both the academic medical center and community health agencies. MCW has integrated palliative medicine into its academic environment so that trainees at all education levels now have opportunities for didactic and clinical end-of-life care education.
BUSINESS-OPERATIONAL CONTINUITY PLANNING

ABSTRACT U.S. federal and state regulations require industry to develop and maintain detailed crisis and emergency response plans. These plans are, for the most part, well thought out and detailed. As a result, along with extensive training and exercise programs, industry preparedness is better than it has ever been to respond to and manage an emergency. But how well prepared is industry to handle the business or operational continuity aspects of a crisis or emergency? What plans are in place to deal with the requirement for continuing essential business functions in the face of a disaster? If a major incident occurs to a refinery, terminal, or offshore production platform that requires it to be taken off-line, or damages it beyond repair, are there plans in place to minimize the impacts on the rest of the organization and on the downstream customers? How will this be done simultaneously while managing the response? This paper addresses those needs and discusses the requirements that companies in the oil ...
Diffusion approximation to the G/G/R machine repair problem with warm standby spares

The G/G/R machine repair problem with M operating machines, S warm standby spares, and R repairmen is studied as a diffusion process. The steady-state equations are formulated as diffusion equations subject to two reflecting barriers. The approximate diffusion parameters of the diffusion equations are obtained (1) under the assumption that the input characteristics of the problem are defined only by their first two moments rather than their probability distribution function, (2) under the assumption of heavy traffic approximation, that is, when queues of failed machines in the repair stage are almost always nonempty, and (3) using well-known asymptotic results from renewal theory. Expressions for the probability density functions of the number of failed machines in the system are obtained. A study of the derived approximate results, compared to some of the exact results, suggests that the diffusion approach provides a useful method for solving complex machine-repair problems.
Friction and wear of diamond and diamond-like carbon films:

AbstractDetailed tribological studies on diamond and diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have confirmed that these films are inherently self-lubricating and resistant to abrasive, adhesive and corrosiv...
Fine structure and permeability of the metacercarial cyst wall of Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea).

Encysted metacercariae of Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea) were obtained from tissues of yellow perch, Perca flavescens. The outermost wall (host response) as seen under electron microscopy consisted of a single, fibrous tissue layer, 10–25 Μm thick. The tissue contained flattened fibrocytes, small fat deposits, and vacuoles embedded between layers of collagen fibers. The cyst cavity was filled with small vesicles, crystals, and debris. No layer corresponding to the primary (parasite-produced) cyst wall secreted by most species of metacercariae was noted. To determine the permeability of the cyst wall, encysted worms were incubated under initial rate conditions with [3H] glucose, with and without the glucose transport inhibitors phlorizin and phloretin. After incubation, the worms were mechanically excysted, washed, and processed to determine glucose uptake rates. V max and K t were greater than those obtained for worms excysted prior to incubation with substrate. Moreover, the presence of phlorizin or phloretin in the incubation medium had no effect on glucose uptake by encysted worms. Thus, the selective permeability of the cyst wall permits free diffusion of glucose to the cutaneous transport systems of the worm, while restricting the movements of phlorizin and phloretin.
The applications of standards of radioactivity.

Abstract The application of standards of radioactivity for (a) determination of absolute efficiencies of detectors, (b) determination of long half-lives, and (c) determination of mean energies are reviewed. Most of the available isotopes are listed and methods of routine assay are suggested. The various types of detectors used for routine radioactivity assay in the laboratory are discussed and their efficiencies are evaluated. Techniques are suggested for the preparation of “laboratory standards” from the standards issued by the National Bureau of Standards. The use of simulated standards in both beta- and gamma-ray measurements is described.
A patient with abdominal pain and markedly elevated transaminase levels after cholecystectomy.

A patient with abdominal pain and markedly elevated transaminase levels after cholecystectomy
Vaccinia virus DNA sequences in the nucleus of persistently infected Friend erythroleukemia cells.

Abstract FL vac cell lines are Friend erythroleukemia cells persistently infected with vaccinia virus. These cells produce attenuated leukemia virus, virulent poxvirus, resist superinfection with vaccinia, and show high levels of spontaneous erythrodifferentiation and decreased tumorigenicity in syngeneic hosts (Pogo G.T. and Friend C. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 4805–4809). To determine whether resistance to superinfection was associated vith the presence of vaccinia DNA in the nucleus, DNA from cells at different passage levels was hybridized to a vaccinia DNA probe. Vaccinia DNA sequences were detected in the nucleus of cells of lines that were productively infected with vaccinia. No such sequences were detected in productively infected L cells nor in persistently infected cell lines that no longer produced infectious particles but were resistant to superinfection. Although no evidence of integration of vaccinia DNA was observed, differences in the restriction patterns were detected at some passage levels. The presence of vaccinia virus DNA sequences in the nucleus apparently did not affect the size of the provirus, the integration pattern or the expression of the leukemia virus.
A crystalline orbital study of polydiacetylenes

The electronic and structural properties of the ground and excited states of infinite polydiacetylene chains in acetylenic (PDA) and butatrienic (PBT) structures are studied by a series of ab initio crystalline orbital and linear-combination-of-atomic-orbital periodic density functional theory methods. A complete geometry optimization is performed for PDA and PBT with analytical energy gradient techniques at the Hartree–Fock (HF) and Becke3-Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) levels. The HF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G* reproduce the experimental geometrical parameters of substituted polydiacetylenes with a PDA-like structure. We compute the relative stability and the potential energy curves along the structural transition between PDA and PBT at the HF, B3LYP, and second-order many-body perturbation theory [MBPT(2)] levels. All these calculations predict PDA to be more stable than PBT by 28–87 kJ mol−1. A minimum corresponding to the PBT-like structure is found at the HF level, but not at the B3LYP or MBPT(2) level. We repor...
Evaluating hierarchical planner performance through field experiments and simulation

Most stand-alone planners have theoretical guarantees in terms of completeness, optimality and performance. However, no stand-alone planner is able to handle the complexity of real world systems accounting for kinematic and dynamic constraints while being able to operate over long ranges. This leads to hierarchical planning approaches that bring together different stand-alone planners for local and global navigation at the expense of weaker performance guarantees.This paper presents the results of using simulation combined with field testing in order to quantify the performance of integrated hierarchical planners. While these results don't provide performance guarantees, they show clear performance differences depending on the integrated hierarchical planner used. While in general the simulated results were a good predictor of performance in the field, in some scenarios the simulated experiments did not accurately reflect the performance in the field.
Computer-aided analysis and design of information systems

This paper describes the use of computer-aided analysis for the design and development of an integrated financial management system by the Navy Material Command Support Activity (NMCSA). Computer-aided analysis consists of a set of procedures and computer programs specifically designed to aid in the process of applications software design, computer selection and performance evaluation. There are four major components: Problem Statement Language, Problem Statement Analyzer, Generator of Alternative Designs, and Performance Evaluator. The statement of requirements was written in ADS (Accurately Defined Systems) and analyzed by a Problem Statement Analyzer for ADS. The ADS problem definition was supplemented with additional information in order to create a complete problem definition. The analyzed problem statement was translated to the form necessary for use by the SODA (Systems Optimization and Design Algorithm) program for the generation of alternative specifications of program modules and logical database structures.
Retrograde transpopliteal access is safe and effective-it should be added to the vascular surgeon's portfolio.

Background The aim of the study was to review the outcomes of superficial femoral artery (SFA) interventions using a retrograde transpopliteal access approach after failed antegrade recanalization. Methods A database of patients undergoing endovascular treatment of the SFA between 2008 and 2011 was retrospectively queried, and those cases with transpopliteal artery retrograde access were analyzed. Time-dependent outcomes were determined by Kaplan–Meier survival analyses. Results A total of 16 patients (75% men; mean age 61 ± 9 years) underwent retrograde popliteal access after failed antegrade attempts. Patients had multiple cardiovascular comorbidities with a mean modified cardiac index score of 3.1 ± 1.8. The reason for intervention was lifestyle-limiting claudication in 67% of cases and critical ischemia in the remainder. Most of the lesions were Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II C and D. Retrograde ultrasound-guided puncture of the popliteal artery was successful in all cases and there were no local site complications. Intervention was successful in 94% of cases. One uncomplicated perforation (7%) was encountered during attempted recanalization of the SFA in the thigh. There was no perioperative morbidity or 30-day mortality. The 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events rate was 6% but both 30-day major adverse limb events and the 30-day major amputation rate were 0%. There was a 40% increase in actual ankle-brachial index (ABI); 93% of patients achieved an ABI rise >0.15. On longer term follow-up, 2 patients developed restenosis and 1 an asymptomatic occlusion. Both restenosis patients required re-angioplasty. Two patients required expected toe amputations as a result of their presenting symptoms. The primary patency was 66 ± 9%, assisted patency 81 ± 9%, and secondary patency 87 ± 8% at 2 years. Limb salvage was 100%. Clinical efficacy was 63 ± 9% at 2 years. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided retrograde transpopliteal access is a safe and successful technique, which extends the ability to perform endovascular interventions after failed antegrade approaches.
Can Intraoperative Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy be Safely Avoided in Patients with Cytologically Negative Axilla

Introduction: The importance of intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients has come into question after the results of the Z11 trial, which demonstrated no benefit in local or regional control with completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with one or two positive sentinel nodes. Previous studies have shown the advantages of preoperative ultrasound guided FNA for axillary staging in breast cancer. This retrospective analysis was performed to assess the need for intraoperative sentinel node evaluation in clinically node negative patients with negative ultrasound guided axillary FNA. Materials and Methods: Results from breast cancer patients from 2010 to present with negative axillary ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (USFNA) and subsequent surgical follow-up were reviewed (nZ67). Number of positive sentinel and non-sentinel lymph nodes, final nodal stage, and the size of the metastatic deposits was obtained. Results: Twelve of sixty-seven women in the study group demonstrated metastatic carcinoma in sentinel lymph nodes. Of these, seven cases of macrometastatic disease were identified, with two cases showing metastatic deposits in sentinel and non-sentinel nodes. Four cases revealed micrometastases, and one case showed isolated tumor cells on touch preparation only. The final pathologic stage in all cases with macrometastases was N1a. The negative predictive value for macrometastatic disease after a negative US-FNA was 89.6%. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that in patients with a cytologically negative axilla intraoperative assessment of sentinel lymph nodes shows no benefit, thereby preventing both the costly and time-consuming process of intraoperative sentinel lymph node assessment and morbidity of unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection.
Interferometric measurement of heterogeneous shear-layer spreading rates

Mesure par interferometrie de l'etalement des profils de concentration de couches de cisaillement bidimensionnelles a faibles nombres de Mach
Modular approach to automatic printed circuit board inspection

Many vision problems are solved using knowledge-based approaches. The conventional knowledge-based systems use domain experts to generate the initial rules and their membership functions, and then by trial and error refine the rules a\nd membership functions to optimize the final system's performance. However, it would be difficult for human experts to examine all the input-output data in complex vision applications to find and tune the rules and functions within the system. Printed circuit board inspection is one such complex vision application. Our research introduces the application of fuzzy logic in printed circuit board inspection. The system presented here is highly modular and can handle most of the defects simultaneously with the same approach and is significantly faster compared to the existing approaches. This paper addresses three of the major components of the system: the first phase is the segmentation of the printed circuit board images into basic sub-patterns, the second is the learning phase, and finally the third component is the verification/inspection phase. The paper finally concludes with the experimental results.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
EFFECT OF POTASSIUM ON PTH SECRETION FROM DISPERSED BOVINE PARATHYROID CELLS

The effects of potassium on PTH secretion were studied in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells. Removal of extracellular potassium markedly inhibited low calcium-stimulated PTH release. This inhibition was dose-dependent, with a half-maximal effect at 1-2 mM. Above 2-3 mM potassium, there was relatively little further increase in maximal secretory rate, but there was a progressive increase in the "set-point" for calcium-regulated PTH release, analogous to that which we have observed previously with lithium. These changes in secretory function were not associated with any change in cellular cAMP. Low extracellular potassium, however, caused a striking reduction in the ratio of intracellular potassium to sodium, while a reciprocal change was brought about by high extracellular potassium. These studies suggest that alterations in secretory function induced by changes in extracellular potassium, which are phenomenologically similar to those found in states of pathologic parathyroid function in man, may be related to changes in intracellular monovalent cations.
Passive belligerency: Israel and the 1991 Gulf War

(1992). Passive belligerency: Israel and the 1991 Gulf War. Journal of Strategic Studies: Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 304-329.
Make love not war? Sex, sexual meanings, and violence in a sample of university students

Some previous studies show that sexual arousal heightens aggression, some show no relationship, and others show that sex inhibits aggression. It is suggested that the contradictions can be explained by the failure of these studies to consider the subjective meaning of sexual acts. To empirically test this notion, questionnaires were given to 190 students in three New England colleges. It was found that a high level of sexual activity is associated with a low level of violence, but only if the meaning of that activity is one of a warm, affectionate act. For men who follow the traditional male stereotype of sex as a dominant and exploitative act, higher levels of sexual activity are associated with the aggression and violence typically associated with attempts to dominate. For women, these relationships were weak or nonexistent. Reasons for the sex differences are discussed.
A parsimony approach to biological pathway reconstruction/inference for genomes and metagenomes.

A common biological pathway reconstruction approach—as implemented by many automatic biological pathway services (such as the KAAS and RAST servers) and the functional annotation of metagenomic sequences—starts with the identification of protein functions or families (e.g., KO families for the KEGG database and the FIG families for the SEED database) in the query sequences, followed by a direct mapping of the identified protein families onto pathways. Given a predicted patchwork of individual biochemical steps, some metric must be applied in deciding what pathways actually exist in the genome or metagenome represented by the sequences. Commonly, and straightforwardly, a complete biological pathway can be identified in a dataset if at least one of the steps associated with the pathway is found. We report, however, that this naive mapping approach leads to an inflated estimate of biological pathways, and thus overestimates the functional diversity of the sample from which the DNA sequences are derived. We developed a parsimony approach, called MinPath (Minimal set of Pathways), for biological pathway reconstructions using protein family predictions, which yields a more conservative, yet more faithful, estimation of the biological pathways for a query dataset. MinPath identified far fewer pathways for the genomes collected in the KEGG database—as compared to the naive mapping approach—eliminating some obviously spurious pathway annotations. Results from applying MinPath to several metagenomes indicate that the common methods used for metagenome annotation may significantly overestimate the biological pathways encoded by microbial communities.
High-dose vitamin B1 reduces proliferation in cancer cell lines analogous to dichloroacetate

Purpose The dichotomous effect of thiamine supplementation on cancer cell growth is characterized by growth stimulation at low doses and growth suppression at high doses. Unfortunately, how thiamine reduces cancer cell proliferation is currently unknown. Recent focuses on metabolic targets for cancer therapy have exploited the altered regulation of the thiamine-dependent enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). Cancer cells inactivate PDH through phosphorylation by overexpression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDKs). Inhibition of PDKs by dichloracetate (DCA) exhibits a growth suppressive effect in many cancers. Recently, it has been shown that the thiamine coenzyme, thiamine pyrophosphate reduces PDK-mediated phosphorylation of PDH. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether high-dose thiamine supplementation reduces cell proliferation through a DCA-like mechanism.
Prognostic significance of severe narrowing of the proximal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery

To determine the prognostic importance of significant narrowings involving the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), 866 medically treated patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) were followed after cardiac catheterization for a mean of 17 months (range 1 to 46). Coronary narrowings in all patients were evaluated based on site relative to large branches and on angiographic severity. Prognosis was best predicted by the presence of at least 70% diameter reductions in the LAD before the first 2 large branches (chi 2 = 16, p = 0.0001). At 3 years, there was a 94% cumulative survival rate in patients with less than 70% stenoses at this location, but an 82% survival rate in patients with 70% or more stenoses (p less than 0.0001). In addition, although the presence of proximal LAD narrowings was the best predictor of prognosis in patients with a low global ejection fraction, this was not so in patients with normal ejection fractions, as this subgroup had an excellent overall prognosis. Thus, the presence and severity of significant stenoses in the proximal LAD are stronger predictors of prognosis than stenoses elsewhere in the major coronary arteries. The presence of an angiographically significant narrowing in this anatomic location is highly correlated with an increased 1- to 3-year mortality rate.
Estimation of the Truncation Error for the Linearized, Shallow Water Momentum Equations

Partial derivative terms of the truncation error series associated with the non-conservative momentum equa-tions for tidal flow are examined. The examination is perfor-med to investigate the dominance of individual terms of the truncation error series in general, and for a particular case (e.g. the Gulf of Mexico). Results show that gradients in surface elevation are more dominant than gradients in velo-cities for a simplified case of tidal flow. In addition, it is shown that the magnitude of individual terms within the truncation error series are dependent on element configuration and shape, and that the leading second-order terms are not always dominant when element shape is skewed.
Quantum Phase Extraction in Isospectral Electronic Nanostructures

Quantum phase is not a direct observable and is usually determined by interferometric methods. We present a method to map complete electron wave functions, including internal quantum phase information, from measured single-state probability densities. We harness the mathematical discovery of drum-like manifolds bearing different shapes but identical resonances, and construct quantum isospectral nanostructures possessing matching electronic structure but divergent physical structure. Quantum measurement (scanning tunneling microscopy) of these 'quantum drums' [degenerate two-dimensional electron states on the Cu(111) surface confined by individually positioned CO molecules] reveals that isospectrality provides an extra topological degree of freedom enabling robust quantum state transplantation and phase extraction.
Blind nasotracheal intubation: A model for instruction

Described is a model for use in instruction and evaluation in the technique of blind nasotracheal intubation. The model is constructed of readily available equipment that can be used for its primary purpose when the model is not needed.
Taxes and Fiscal Sociology

This article reviews recent research in fiscal sociology. We specifically examine contributions to the study of taxation that illuminate core issues in the sociology of contemporary capitalism, including the causes of poverty and inequality in rich countries and of inequality between rich and poor countries. Research on developed countries suggests that tax policy changes are important for explaining rising income inequality, tax policies may structure durable inequalities of race and gender, and earnings-conditional tax subsidies may alleviate poverty more effectively and with less stigma than means-tested social spending. Scholars also find the most generous welfare states rely the most heavily on regressive taxes, although there is disagreement over how this association arises. Comparative research on developing countries shows consumption taxes are more conducive to growth than taxes on income, tax-financed spending benefits growth if it is spent on productive investments, and taxation strengthened de...
Meteorite Craters and the Hypothesis of the Existence of Contraterrene Meteorites

Craters presenting unmistakable evidence of an impact origin have been excluded from the category of meteorite craters because no meteoritic materials have been found in or near them. The origin of certain silica-glass deposits (closely resembling the glasses produced by fusion of siliceous materials in the intense heat incident to meteoritic impact with the surface of the Earth) is regarded as a mystery, because meteorites have not been found associated with these deposits. Attention is called in this communication to the possibility of the existence of contraterrene meteorites (defined in the paper), which would be just as capable of producing meteorite craters and silica-glass as are ordinary meteorites, but of which no trace would remain after collision with the Earth.
Ab-initio electronic structure studies of mobility paths in fast-ion conductors—I Results for MI4-3 clusters

Abstract We report results of minimum-basis Pseudopotential Hartree-Fock studies of MI 4 −3 clusters ( M = Na + , K + , Ag + , and Cu + ), and of HgI 4 −2 . The calculations are designed to characterize local-site effects on mobility paths in solid state electrolytes. We observe qualitatively correct behavior, with Ag + predicted to be the most mobile ion. Quadrupolar polarizability of the metal ion, which is produced by s - d mixing, lowers the energy of trigonal transition state, thus accounting for the observation that quadrupole polarizable species are ideal mobile ions in close-packed halide frameworks. Mulliken populations show that there is considerable local covalency, so that electrostatic potential studies must be done very carefully. Expansion of the I 4 tetrahedron lowers the barrier energy.
Heterogeneous connexin43 expression produces electrophysiological heterogeneities across ventricular wall

Recently we found that electrophysiological (EP) heterogeneities between subepicardial and midmyocardial cells can form a substrate for reentrant ventricular arrhythmias. However, cell-to-cell coup...
The mouse mammary tumor virus env gene is the source of a CD8+ T-cell-stimulating peptide presented by a major histocompatibility complex class I molecule in a murine thymoma

CD8+ cytotoxic T cells recognize their targets by the presence of unique peptide bound to a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on the cell surface. The MHC molecules normally display thousands of distinct peptides, making it difficult to identify individual antigenic peptides, their protein precursors, and their relative importance in the T-cell response. Here we used the EL-4 tumor-specific lacZ-inducible KZ30.6 T cell as a probe for detecting the peptide/MHC ligand that was generated in cells transfected with an EL-4 cDNA library. These expression screens allowed identification of a mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) transcript as the source of the antigenic peptide presented by the Kb MHC molecule. The antigenic activity was encoded within the MMTV env gene and was defined by the octapeptide ANYDFICV (AFV8). Synthetic AFV8 stimulated KZ30.6 T cells at picomolar concentrations and coeluted with one of two active peptides in HPLC-fractionated extracts of EL-4 cells. The AFV8/Kb complex was also recognized by two other EL-4-specific T cells. The results illustrate a novel strategy for identifying T-cell-stimulating antigens and suggest that the MMTV env gene and its naturally processed AFV8 peptide product can serve as a model for study of antigen processing and tumor immunotherapy.
Giant Piezoelectricity on Si for Hyperactive MEMS

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) incorporating active piezoelectric layers offer integrated actuation, sensing, and transduction. The broad implementation of such active MEMS has long been constrained by the inability to integrate materials with giant piezoelectric response, such as Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT). We synthesized high-quality PMN-PT epitaxial thin films on vicinal (001) Si wafers with the use of an epitaxial (001) SrTiO3 template layer with superior piezoelectric coefficients (e31,f = –27 ± 3 coulombs per square meter) and figures of merit for piezoelectric energy-harvesting systems. We have incorporated these heterostructures into microcantilevers that are actuated with extremely low drive voltage due to thin-film piezoelectric properties that rival bulk PMN-PT single crystals. These epitaxial heterostructures exhibit very large electromechanical coupling for ultrasound medical imaging, microfluidic control, mechanical sensing, and energy harvesting.
Sensitivity of coastal currents near Point Conception to forcing by three different winds: ECMWF, COAMPS, and blended SSM/I-ECMWF-buoy winds

Previous observational and modeling studies have indicated the importance of finescale winds in determining the circulation near Point Conception in the Santa Maria Basin (SMB) and the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC), California. There has not been a systematic attempt, however, to analyze and quantify the sensitivity of the near-surface circulation to different wind data. Here, a regional circulation model of the SMB and SBC is driven using three wind datasets: the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF; 110 km 110 km horizontal grid), the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS; 9 km 9 km horizontal grid), and a blended wind product that combines Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), ECMWF, and buoy and coastal wind data and that is referred to as SEB. A springtime period (March–May 1999) in which equatorward wind dominates and wind stress curls are strong is chosen for the study. Two groups of experiments are conducted: with and without assimilating moored temperature observations. The focus is on long time scales of greater than weeks and on mean currents. Comparisons between these experiments and between model and observation show that the circulation driven by the ECMWF wind is much weaker than that by the other two winds. On the other hand, the SEB dataset shows locally intensified wind stress curls behind capes and coastal bends, whereas these wind stress curls are weak in COAMPS. It is found that these small-scale variations in the wind field force alongshore inhomogeneous pressure gradients that in turn can significantly affect the near-coast currents. The result is that modeled currents forced by SEB agree better with observations than do those produced by COAMPS. Empirical orthogonal function analyses were conducted on the near-surface currents, sea level, wind, and wind stress curl. The mode-1 current (40%) is unidirectional (i.e., generally equatorward or poleward) and correlates well with the mode-1 wind (90%). The mode-2 current (20%) is cyclonic in the SBC and poleward inshore and equatorward offshore in the SMB; it correlates well with mode-1 sea level (70%), which suggests that mode-2 currents are driven by the pressure gradient. It is significant that neither mode-2 current nor mode-1 sea level correlates well with mode-1 wind stress curl (70%); rather, they correlate well with the time integral of the mode-1 wind stress curl. These conclusions support a previous theoretical idea that cyclonic circulation in the SBC and the inshore currents of the SMB are both driven by alongshore pressure setup induced by the time integral of the wind stress curl, rather than by the wind stress curl itself. This idea of a pressure setup is consistent with the differences found between the currents driven by COAMPS and SEB winds.
Rapid analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in soils

An analytical methodology for directly analyzing organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in solid matrices was devised around a multigram capacity direct insertion probe (DIP) interfaced to a quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS). The DIP-MS system was used to analyze acephate [O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate] and diazinon [O,O-diethyl-O-(2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)phosphorothioate] in a "clean" sand matrix, namely, Ottawa sand. Diazinon was also analyzed in a Florida spodosol, Immokalee soil. Instrument detection limit studies demonstrate that the DIP-MS system is capable of detecting 5 g of acephate in the absence of an interfering matrix. The method detection limit for diazinon was calculated at 2.5 g. DIP-MS analysis of diazinon in the Immokalee soil showed as much as a 50% reduction in instrument response compared to the relatively pure Ottawa sand. This was attributable to the "dilution effect" of codesorbing soil organic matter. Results from the performance evaluation studies using Immokalee soil demonstrate the potential of the DIP-MS technique to directly analyze OPPs and other thermally extractable chemicals in soils and other solid matrices without the need for solvent extraction, sample pretreatment, or confirmation by other analytical methods.
Hydrolytic Degradation of Nylon 66 Pile Carpet Fibers

Hydrolytic degradation of nylon 66 fibers for sculpturing pile carpets is investigated in this study. Applying an aqueous solution of para-toluenesulfonic acid catalyzes the hydrolysis of nylon 66 and degrades the fibers. The reduced strength of the fibers enables sculpturing of pile carpets. The morphology of the degraded fiber tips is reported as a function of treatment conditions. Insufficient steamer residence time leads to an agglom eration of fiber tips within a tuft rather than fiber degradation, and results in a rougher tactile feel. The first-order kinetic parameters reported in the literature are used in conjunction with a simple, one-dimensional, unsteady-state heat conduction model to represent the sculpturing process. The extents of degradation predicted for the longer treatment times agree with experimentally measured values.
Studies on oral lichen planus. II. Follow-up on 200 patients, clinical characteristics, and associated malignancy.

Abstract Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease of adult onset and unknown etiology. There are variable forms of this condition, which at times make recognition difficult. Remissions are infrequent, and there is no curative treatment. Because of an association with oral carcinoma, all patients with oral lichen planus should be carefully evaluated and followed periodically.
CUG-BP and 3'UTR sequences influence PARN-mediated deadenylation in mammalian cell extracts

Several mRNAs have been shown to exhibit distinct patterns of poly(A) shortening prior to their decay in vivo. In this study, we show that individual transcripts also demonstrate distinct patterns of deadenylation in in vitro systems derived from HeLa and Jurkat T cell cytoplasmic extracts. The major patterns observed were slow/synchronous and fast/asynchronous poly(A) tail shortening. For all RNA substrates tested, PARN was shown to be the enzyme responsible for the deadenylation patterns that were observed. Sequences in the 3' untranslated regions influenced the deadenylation pattern. Using a fragment of the 3'UTR of the c-fos mRNA as a model, the interaction of CUG-BP, the human homolog of EDEN-BP - a protein previously implicated in regulated deadenylation in Xenopus oocytes - was shown to be associated with changes in PARN-mediated deadenylation patterns. Our results suggest that association of CUG-BP with 3'UTR sequences can modulate the activity of the PARN deadenylase in mammalian cell extracts.
Shiga toxin–binding site for host cell receptor GPP130 reveals unexpected divergence in toxin-trafficking mechanisms

Shiga toxicosis is caused by retrograde trafficking of one of three types of Shiga toxin (STx), STx, STx1, or STx2. Trafficking depends on the toxin B subunits, which for STx and STx1 are identical and bind GPP130, a manganese (Mn)-sensitive intracellular trafficking receptor. Elevated Mn down-regulates GPP130, rendering STx/STx1 harmless. Its effectiveness against STx2, however, which is a serious concern in the developed world, is not known. Here we show that Mn-induced GPP130 down-regulation fails to block STx2 trafficking. To shed light on this result, we tested the purified B subunit of STx2 for binding to GPP130 and found that it failed to interact. We then mapped residues at the interface of the GPP130-STx/STx1 complex. In GPP130, binding mapped to a seven-residue stretch in its lumenal stem domain next to the transmembrane domain. This stretch was required for STx/STx1 transport. In STx/STx1, binding mapped to a histidine–asparagine pair on a surface-exposed loop of the toxin B subunit. Significantly, these residues are not conserved in STx2, explaining the lack of effectiveness of Mn against STx2. Together our results imply that STx2 uses an evolutionarily distinct trafficking mechanism and that Mn as a potential therapy should be focused on STx/STx1 outbreaks, which account for the vast majority of cases worldwide.
Post-wildfire seeding in forests of the western United States: An evidence-based review

Broadcast seeding is one of the most widely used post-wildfire emergency response treatments intended to reduce soil erosion, increase vegetative ground cover, and minimize establishment and spread of nonnative plant species. We conducted an evidence-based review to examine the effectiveness and effects of post-wildfire seeding treatments on soil stabilization, non-native species invasion, and plant community recovery in the western U.S. We reviewed 94 scientific papers and agency monitoring reports identified using a systematic search protocol. As sampling designs have become more rigorous in recent years, evidence that seeding is effective in reducing erosion has decreased. Of highest and high quality studies evaluating soil erosion, 92% (11 of 12) were published since 2000, none of which showed an effective result. Before 2000, the majority of the studies (71%) fell into the lowest quality categories, of which 72% showed seeding to be effective. The majority of studies (20 of 27, 74%) evaluating soil erosion in seeded versus unseeded controls showed that seeding did not reduce erosion relative to unseeded controls. Even when seeding significantly increased vegetative cover, seeded sites rarely supported plant cover levels considered sufficient to stabilize soils within the first and second year post-wildfire. Of the 11 studies evaluating seeding effectiveness for curtailing invasions of non-native plant species, an almost equal percentage found seeding treatments to be either effective (54%, 6 studies) or ineffective (45%, 5 studies). However, the majority of effective and ineffective treatments (83% and 80%, respectively) used non-native species. Sixteen of 26 studies (62%) evaluating seeding effects on plant communities reported that seeding suppressed recovery of native plants, although data on long-term impacts of this reduction are limited. The literature suggests that post-wildfire seeding does little to protect soil in the short-term, has equivocal effect on invasion of non-native species, and can have negative effects on native vegetation recovery, although long-term studies are needed to assess lasting impacts of seeded species.
Effect on sphingomyelin-containing liposomes of phospholipase D from Corynebacterium ovis and the cytolysin from Stoichactis helianthus

Abstract The toxic, sphingomyelin-specific phospholipase D (phosphatidylcholine phosphatidohydrolase EC 3.1.4.4) from Corynebacterium ovis was purified to near homogeneity. It had a molecular weight of 31 000 and a pI of approx. 9.8. Although not cytolytic itself, it protected red cells from hemolysis by staphylococcal sphingomyelinase (β-hemolysin) and helianthus toxin. The apparently non-enzymatic cytolysin (helianthus toxin) from the sea anemone Stoichactis helianthus also interacts with membrane sphingomyelin. C. ovis and helianthus toxins were compared with regard to their effects on liposome model membranes, and they were found both to produce changes analogous to those in erythrocytes. Only helianthus toxin caused release of trapped glucose marker, but liposomes could be protected from release by pretreatment with C. ovis toxin. Both toxins demonstrated binding to sphingomyelin-containing liposomes, but only the bacterial sphingomyelinase catalyzed the release of choline from these vesicles.
Adaptive array processing for high-speed acoustic communication in shallow water

A novel multichannel signal-processing technique, capable of achieving stable high-speed underwater acoustic communication with a fairly low complexity of implementation, is presented. The approach is to split the space and time processing into two separate suboptimal processes to reduce computational complexity and instabilities associated with large tap vectors at large spread factors or BL products. The first suboptimal process starts with the eigen-spatial decomposition of the acoustic channel into multiple coherent orthogonal paths. Only the most energetic coherent paths are retained. For each selected path, individual synchronization is performed, the mean Doppler shift is estimated, and the message is decoded. The message binary information obtained for each individual path is recombined using maximal-ratio combining (MRC) to generate a decision binary sequence along with an array of quality factors, or metrics, associated with each bit. Each metric corresponds to the signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNIR) associated with each bit. The second suboptimal process is a linear multichannel equalizer (LME). The mean Doppler estimate of the most energetic coherent path is used to resample each input signal of the array that go into the LME, to reduce the rate of fluctuation of the resulting effective channel. These resampled input signals appear as if they have passed through a channel with a lower B (Doppler spread), which allows the final space-time processor (the LME) to operate in a stable manner. The decision binary sequence and the array of quality metrics obtained at the output of the MRC are used as inputs in the decision process of the LME. If the metric associated with a decision bit exceeds a computed threshold, this bit, obtained at the output of the first suboptimal process, is used as a decision input to the LME. This technique is applied to achieve high-speed acoustic communication in very shallow water using coherent modulation techniques. As compared with coherent beamforming alone, the proposed technique causes a significant increase in SNIR, a significant decrease of the bit-error rate, and provides an estimate of the BL product. Experimental results demonstrate that stable acoustic communication can be achieved at 16000 coded bits per second (b/s) over 3.2 km in 40 ft of water and in sea-state 2 conditions. The fading properties of the channel are measured. Experimental results show that the BL product can vary by a decade in 116 ms and by two decades within minutes, from 0.001 to 0.1. The real-time analysis shows a strong correlation between the communication performance, the spread factor, and the spatial coherence of the channel.
The strength of aversive and appetitive associations and maladaptive behaviors

Certain maladaptive behaviors are thought to be acquired through classical Pavlovian conditioning. Exaggerated fear response, which can develop through Pavlovian conditioning, is associated with acquired anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSDs). Inflated reward-seeking behavior, which develops through Pavlovian conditioning, underlies some types of addictive behavior (e.g., addiction to drugs, food, and gambling). These maladaptive behaviors are dependent on associative learning and the development of long-term memory (LTM). In animal models, an aversive reinforcer (fear conditioning) encodes an aversive contextual and cued LTM. On the other hand, an appetitive reinforcer results in conditioned place preference (CPP) that encodes an appetitive contextual LTM. The literature on weak and strong associative learning pertaining to the development of aversive and appetitive LTM is relatively scarce; thus, this review is particularly focused on the strength of associative learning. The strength of associative learning is dependent on the valence of the reinforcer and the salience of the conditioned stimulus that ultimately sways the strength of the memory trace. Our studies suggest that labile (weak) aversive and appetitive LTM may share similar signaling pathways, whereas stable (strong) aversive and appetitive LTM is mediated through different pathways. In addition, we provide some evidence suggesting that extinction of aversive fear memory and appetitive drug memory is likely to be mediated through different signaling molecules. We put forward the importance of studies aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of weak and strong memories (aversive and appetitive), which would ultimately help in the development of targeted pharmacotherapies for the management of maladaptive behaviors that arise from classical Pavlovian conditioning.