cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Projecting Politics: The Grapes of Wrath

Publie en 1939 et adapte a l’ecran l’annee suivante, Les Raisins de la colere, roman de John Steinbeck, eut un impact immediat et extraordinaire pour le portrait sans concession qu’il dressait d’un capitalisme americain qui semblait avoir abandonne sa progeniture la plus loyale, la plus assidue et la plus courageuse, celle qui labourait la terre en plein cœur de la republique. Ecrit a la toute fin de la « Decennie rouge », mais juste avant que les Etats-Unis entrent dans la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Les Raisins de la colere exprimaient, d’une certaine maniere, la colere accumulee contre un systeme economique qui avait trahi le proletariat rural. Le roman tout comme le film de John Ford (1940) furent compris par le grand public de l’epoque, et bien des annees plus tard, comme une protestation clairement gauchiste, voire radicale, contre une telle injustice. Mais cet essai montre combien les idees politiques de ces œuvres jumelees sont en realite difficiles a saisir et combien il est hasardeux de definir, quel que soit l’effort retrospectif, la critique que Steinbeck et Ford ont proposee dans leur version des Raisins de la colere, une œuvre inoubliable, dechirante mais ambigue sur le plan politique.
Protostars and Protoplanetary Disks

A great wealth of observational information about young stars has been obtained at infrared and longer wavelengths in the last decade. Combined with continued theoretical progress, these observations have pushed our understanding of the overall star formation process to a satisfying level. We now believe that we understand the phases a dense interstellar cloud passes through in the process of becoming a young star, and we have observational examples of most of those phases. ISO will play a major role in testing this preliminary understanding of star formation, and in suggesting where it needs to be modified.
A wavelet‐based damage diagnosis algorithm using principal component analysis

SUMMARY The applicability of the Haar and Morlet wavelet transforms of the vibration signals for structural damage diagnosis was demonstrated in previous papers by the authors. Two significant developments that followed the initial research are presented in the current paper. In the first part of the paper, a data preprocessing algorithm is developed to enable optimal signal selection from a database of baseline signals for damage diagnosis purposes. The second part of the paper describes the extraction of the damage sensitive feature vector as a function of the energies at the fifth, sixth, and seventh dyadic scales of the vibration signal that serve for damage detection. Both data preprocessing and feature extraction models involve the use of principal components analysis. The process of damage detection is automated using the k-means algorithm and the gap statistic. A simple damage extent measure is also discussed. Finally, the migration of damage sensitive feature vectors with increased damage is illustrated for vibration signals obtained from the American Society of Civil Engineers' benchmark structure numerical simulations. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm is able to consistently detect and quantify damage for the damage patterns specified by the American Society of Civil Engineers' benchmark experiment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multi‐Objective Optimization of Microstructure in Wrought Magnesium Alloys

The microstructural features that govern the mechanical properties of wrought magnesium alloys include grain size, crystallographic texture, and twinning. Several processes based on shear deformation have been developed that promote grain refinement, weakening of the basal texture, as well as the shift of the peak intensity away from the center of the basal pole figure — features that promote room temperature ductility in Mg alloys. At ORNL, we are currently exploring the concept of introducing nano-twins within sub-micron grains as a possible mechanism for simultaneously improving strength and ductility by exploiting a potential dislocation glide along the twin-matrix interface — a mechanism that was originally proposed for face-centered cubic materials. Specifically, we have developed an integrated modeling and optimization framework in order to identify the combinations of grain size, texture and twin spacing that can maximize strength-ductility combinations. A micromechanical model that relates microstructure to material strength is coupled with a failure model that relates ductility to a critical shear strain and a critical hydrostatic stress. The micro-mechanical model is combined with an optimization tool based on genetic algorithm. A multi-objective optimization technique is used to explore the strength-ductility space in a systematic fashion and identify optimum combinations of the microstructural parameters that will simultaneously maximize the strength-ductility in the alloy.
Technical and environmental challenges of collaboration engineering in distributed environments

Collaboration in distributed settings has become a reality in organizational life, yet we still have much to learn. One important area of study is the integration of Collaboration Engineering in distributed, or virtual, teams. Collaboration Engineering offers promising guidelines for process structure, but its application in distributed arenas is just beginning to be studied. We report on the design and development of a new collaboration environment for the incorporation of Collaboration Engineering principles, as well as the results of an initial study that examined leadership and process structure effects on the development of shared understanding. We discuss both technical and environmental challenges for research on Collaboration Engineering in distributed environments.
A global marine‐fixed nitrogen isotopic budget: Implications for Holocene nitrogen cycling

[1] A nitrogen stable isotopic model was constructed in order to constrain the Holocene marine-fixed nitrogen budget. The primary sources and sinks considered were riverine and atmospheric sources, nitrogen fixation, sedimentary and water column denitrification, and sediment burial. The source budget was found to be insensitive to changes in nitrogen fixation rates, and thus could not be used to constrain this term. However, the isotopic value of fixed nitrogen losses was very sensitive to the amount of sedimentary denitrification. If the isotopic value of marine-fixed nitrogen has not changed during the Holocene, as supported by sedimentary records, then in order to balance the isotopic value of sinks and sources, approximately 280 Tg N yr−1 of sedimentary denitrification is required. If such a high rate of denitrification has been sustained throughout the Holocene, it implies that present-day estimates of marine nitrogen fixation are grossly underestimated. It also implies that the marine nitrogen budget has a residence time of less than 2000 years.
Thermal Goldstino production with low reheating temperatures

We discuss thermal production of (pseudo) Goldstinos, the Goldstone fermions emerging from (multiple) SUSY-breaking sectors, when the reheating temperature is well below the superpartner masses. In such a case, the production during the matter-dominated era induced by the inflaton decay stage is more important than after reheating. Depending on the SUSY-breaking scale, Goldstinos are produced by a freeze-in or freeze-out mechanism via $1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2$ decays and inverse decays. We solve the Boltzmann equation for the momentum distribution function of the Goldstino. In the freeze-out case, Goldstinos maintain chemical equilibrium far after they are kinetically decoupled by elastic scatterings and, consequently, Goldstinos with different momentum decouple at different temperatures. As a result, their momentum distribution function shows a peculiar shape, and the final yield is smaller than if kinetic equilibrium were assumed. We revisit the cosmological implications in both $R$-parity-conserving and $R$-parity-violating supersymmetric scenarios. For the former, thermally produced Goldstinos can still be abundant enough to be dark matter at present times even if the reheating temperature is low, of order 1 GeV. For the latter, if the reheating temperature is low, of order 0.1--1 GeV, they are safe from the BBN constraints.
Geriatric Social Work Career Tracking: Graduates of the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education (HPPAE)

Despite a growing need for geriatric social workers, there is a question as to whether MSW graduates who are gerontologically prepared actually enter the workforce to serve older adults. By tracking MSW graduates who had special training in aging, this study aims to explore their job search and career experience. Findings show that most graduates located aging-related jobs 4 months postgraduation and remained committed to the field 1 to 2 years later. The majority were working in direct service provision in clinical settings. Their salaries compare favorably with those of generic social workers. Implications for geriatric social work education are discussed.
Social versus intrapersonal ToM: Social ToM is a cognitive strength for low- and middle-SES children

Abstract Metarepresentational theory of mind (ToM) was studied in middle- and low-SES five- and six-year-olds. Two aspects of ToM were distinguished. Reasoning about one's own mental states (Intrapersonal ToM) was assessed in the intrapersonal ToM task condition and reasoning about others' mental states (Social ToM) was assessed in the social ToM task condition. Performance in the two aspects was tested with a battery of matched ToM assessments across condition. The effects of language ability, SES, age, and sex on performance were assessed. ToM was found to differentiate into the two kinds. Results showed that performance was better overall for the Social ToM than the Intrapersonal ToM tasks. There were no SES, age or sex differences in ToM performance. Language was significantly related to ToM performance. However, condition made a unique contribution to ToM performance over and above the contribution made by language. The implications of children's greater strength in Social ToM for educational practices are discussed.
Rescue percutaneous coronary intervention for failed thrombolysis

Background: Previous studies of rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for failed thrombolysis yielded conflicting results. In the current era of newer thrombolytic agents, coronary stents, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and aggressive hemodynamic support, the outcome of this high-risk patient group has not been characterized. Methods: From January 2000 to October 2004, 214 consecutive patients were transferred and underwent emergent coronary angiography following failed thrombolysis. One hundred and fifty five (72%) underwent immediate PCI, 23 (11%) underwent delayed PCI, and 36 (17%) received surgical revascularization or medical therapy. Medical records and angiograms for the entire PCI cohort (n = 178) were reviewed for in-hospital events including bleeding complications, stroke, recurrent ischemia or myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and death. Results: Time from symptom onset to thrombolysis (mean 6 standard deviation) was 5.6 6 11.9 hr, and time from thrombolysis to angiography was 7.0 6 5.5 hr. The study cohort was critically ill, with 9.6% experiencing cardiac arrest, 21% in cardiogenic shock, and 12% intubated prior to transfer. Coronary stents were placed in 88%, Rheolytic thrombectomy was used in 21%, an intraaortic balloon pump was placed in 17%, and a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor was administered in 92%. Patients receiving delayed PCI had higher TIMI 3 flow grade at initial angiography than those receiving immediate PCI (83% vs. 34%, respectively, P < 0.0001). Angiographic success was 90% for the entire PCI cohort, 89% for the immediate PCI group, and 100% for the delayed PCI group. Clinical success (angiographic success and freedom from major adverse cardiac events) was 85% for the entire PCI cohort, 83% for the immediate PCI group, and 100% for the delayed PCI group. Severe and moderate bleeding complications occurred in 7.3%, stroke in 1.7%, recurrent ischemia or MI in 7.3%, and TVR in 3.4%. Overall, in-hospital mortality for the entire PCI cohort was 3.4%. Conclusions: This observational, consecutive, real-world study of contemporary rescue PCI for failed thrombolysis shows a high use of coronary stents, Rheolytic thrombectomy, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and intraaortic balloon pump placement. Angiographic and clinical success was high with low bleeding complications and low in-hospital mortality, suggesting that prospective, randomized trials using contemporary interventional therapy for rescue PCI be considered. ' 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Acute and 1-month effect of small-volume suction lipectomy on insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk

The most common surgical procedure for obesity is liposuction, the majority of which are small-volume procedures. The effect of large-volume liposuction on cardiovascular risk and insulin sensitivity has been variable. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of the more common, smaller-volume liposuction on insulin sensitivity, inflammatory mediators, and cardiovascular risk factors. In all, 15 overweight or obese premenopausal women underwent metabolic evaluation prior to, 1 day following and 1 month following suction lipectomy of the abdomen. Metabolic evaluation included assessment of free fatty acids, glucose, insulin, insulin sensitivity by frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance test, and adipokines (IL-6, angiotensin II, leptin, PAI-1, adiponectin, and TNF-α). Free fatty acids did not change acutely although there was an almost 30% decrease in free fatty acids at 1 month. Fasting insulin levels decreased at one month from 8.3±1.1 to 5.6±1.3 μU/ml (P=0.006). Insulin sensitivity by i.v. glucose tolerance test did not change at 1 month (4.0±0.8 to 5.0±0.7, P=0.12) although with subgroup analysis insulin sensitivity improved in obese but not overweight participants. Several adipokines worsened acutely (IL-6 increased 15 fold and angiotensin II increased 67%), but there was no change in PAI-1, and other adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, and TNF-α) decreased. At the 1-month follow-up, all adipokines were similar to baseline. This study provides little evidence supporting increased or decreased cardiovascular risk although there is evidence supporting improved insulin sensitivity at one month, especially in obese women.
TH-A-141-10: A Piecewise-Focused Pixelated Detector for MV Imaging

Purpose: For portal imaging, high DQE detectors can be constructed from thick pixelated scintillator arrays that absorb MV x‐rays. However, due to beam divergence, MTF and DQE losses can be significant for off‐axis elements not focused towards the source. We present a novel focusing approach based on situating a shaped fiber optic plate (FOP) between rectilinear scintillator arrays and an amorphous silicon flat panel imager (AMFPI). Methods: The entire FOP comprises seven wedge‐shaped sections that are fused together so that the center of each section points towards the source focal spot which is located 1500 mm away. The arc‐shaped FOP directs light from the scintillator assembly to the AMFPI. The scintillator assembly consists of seven identical rectilinear sub‐arrays, each with a 1 degree bevel, that are close‐packed end‐to‐end. Each 15mm thick CdWO4 sub‐array comprises 66×66 elements with a pixel pitch of 0.784 mm resulting in a piecewise‐focused area detector having dimensions 365 mm × 52 mm. Results: Monte Carlo simulations of radiative and optical transport with a 6MV source predict a DQE(0) of 23%. With no beam divergence, MTF and DQE values at a spatial frequency of 0.4mm−1 are 0.5 and 15% respectively. Maximum off‐axis MTF and DQE losses occur at the subarray edges (divergence angle =1 degree) and are only 6% and 12% respectively at 0.4mm−1. If the detector were not focused, MTF and DQE losses at 0.4mm−1 would be 30% and 85% respectively. These losses would occur at edge of the detector where the beam divergence is 7 degrees. Conclusion: A novel approach to creating a focused detector for MV portal, cone‐beam or helical CT imaging is presented. Compared to previously proposed designs, all the block arrays are identical and rectilinear scintillator thus reducing costs and simplifying manufacturing processes. Assembly and experimental measurements are underway. NIH Academic‐Industrial Partnership NIH RO1 CA138426; Varian Medical Systems
Reliability Study of Cable, Terminations, and Splices by Electric Utilities in the Northwest

The results for cable, terminations, and splice reliability are summarized from a reliability report prepared annually by the Northwest Electric Light and Power Association (NELPA). Failure rates are given for primary cable, secondary cable, plug-in elbow connectors, primary splices and loadbreak junctions, pole top terminators, and secondary connections. Pertinent factors that affect the failure rates are identified.
Calorimetric studies of the interactions of linker histone H10 and its carboxyl (H10–C) and globular (H10–G) domains with calf-thymus DNA

Histone H1 is a chromatin protein found in most eukaryotes. ITC and CD have been used to study the binding of H1(0) and its C-terminal, H1(0)-C, and globular, H1(0)-G, domains to a highly polymerized DNA. ITC results indicate that H1(0) and H1(0)-C bind tightly to DNA (Ka≈1×10(7)), with an unfavorable ΔH (ΔH≈+22kcal/mol) and a favorable ΔS (-TΔS≈-30kcal/mol). Binding H1(0)-G to DNA at 25°C is calorimetrically silent. A multiple independent site model fits the ITC data, with the anomaly in the data near saturation attributed to rearrangement of bound H1, maximizing the number of binding sites. CD experiments indicate that H1(0)/DNA and H1(0)-C/DNA complexes form with little change in protein structure but with some DNA restructuring. Salt dependent ITC experiments indicate that the electrostatic contribution to binding H1(0) or H1(0)-C is small ranging from 6% to 17% of the total ΔG.
Scoring Neutral or Unsure on an Identity Development Instrument for Higher Education

The use of neutral or unsure on an instrument designed to measure identity development in college students was explored. The nominal response model from item response theory was used to evaluate whether neutral or unsure was used more frequently by those at low or middle levels of development; the results depended on the subscale and sometimes on the item within the subscale. Scoring based on the nominal response model allows for this category to be treated differently for different items.
(2.2.2-Cryptand)potassium tetra-carbonyl-cobaltate(-I).

The title salt, [K(C18H36N2O6)][Co(CO)4], is an example of a classical carbonyl­metalate. The asymmetric unit contains one cation and one tetrahedral anion, both in general positions. Based on comparison of the four carbonyl C—O bond lengths and C—Co—C angles, the anion is unperturbed by the cation, which is normal for an alkali metal fully encased by a cryptand cage.
Predicting postoperative pulmonary complications in high-risk populations

Purpose of review Our objective is to describe prediction models for surgical patients who have suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) at risk for postoperative respiratory complications and for surgical patients at risk for postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Recent findings Because of the increased rate of severe perioperative respiratory complications in patients with OSA, the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued practice guidelines for perioperative management. When OSA is diagnosed preoperatively, the rate of postoperative pulmonary complications is low and not associated with OSA severity. However, OSA continues to be an important risk because a substantial proportion of patients in the contemporary surgical population have undiagnosed OSA. Strategies based on preoperative and immediate postoperative clinical signs and symptoms can help identify patients with a high likelihood of OSA, postoperative desaturations, and pulmonary complications. ARDS is another serious postoperative complication associated with high mortality rate and limited treatment options, and its prevention is critical. Practice changes have led to a dramatic reduction in ARDS incidence. A recently developed prediction model can help identify high-risk patients. Summary Evidence is emerging that early identification of modifiable risk factors and implementation of 'protective' management strategies may lead to reduction of severe postoperative pulmonary complications.
The crosslinking of epoxy resins at interfaces. III. At a carbonized polyacrylonitrile surface

The crosslinking chemistry of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin, in the first 200–400 nm adjacent to a carbonized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) surface (a model for the surface of a carbon fiber), is significantly affected by the humidity history of that surface. Prior humid aging of the carbonized PAN surface increases the subsequent rate of consumption of anhydride curing agent, and decreases the yield of ester crosslinked products. The crosslinking chemistry of an amine-cured epoxy resin appears unchanged by the presence of the carbonized surface. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of unidirectional composites made from carbon fibers and the above epoxy resin matrices shows that the damping characteristics of composites made with an epoxy–anhydride matrix are sensitive to the preconditioning history of the carbon fibers, while composites made with an epoxy–amine matrix are unaffected by the preconditioning history of the fibers. Partial removal of the carbon fiber surface coating by dichloromethane extraction does not change the sensitivity of the composites to fiber preconditioning history. These results are rationalized on the basis of the effect moisture adsorbed by the carbonized PAN and by the carbon fiber has on the epoxy resin crosslinking processes.
Early behavorial treatment for rape trauma: Efficacy or artifact?

This article reviews the claim of Frank et al. (this issue) that the efficacy of systematic desensitization and cognitive behavior therapy has been demonstrated. While there is some support for a contention that treatments were effective for delayed treatment seekers, credible evidence is lacking for the efficacy of these treatments with immediate treatment seekers. Failure to include a no-treatment control condition in the immediate treatment portion of the study represents a fatal flaw because substantial symptom improvement occurs without treatment during that time period. Quasiexperimental design comparisons with untreated victims from the Atlanta and Charleston studies are also flawed. The ethics of using no-treatment control groups are discussed, as are profitable directions for future research.
Evolution of sea ice optical properties during fall freeze-up

During the seasonal transition from summer to winter conditions a profound transformation occurs in a sea ice cover. As air temperatures drop, the ice cools causing a reduction in the brine volume, melt ponds freeze, new ice forms in areas of open water, and the surface becomes snow-covered. There is a corresponding evolution in the optical properties ofthe ice cover with albedos increasing and transmittances decreasing. As part of the drift phase of the Coordinated Eastern Arctic Experiment (CEAREX), spectral albedos and reflectances in the visible and near-infrared (400-1100 rim) were measured during fall freeze-up. Observed albedos are presented for first-year ice, multiyear ice, and new-ice cases. In general, albedos increased as freeze-up progressed, with the increase being most pronounced at shorter wavelengths. There was a sharp increase in albedo associated with the surface becoming snow-covered. The greatest temporal changes occurred in a freezing lead where albedos increased from 0.1 for open water to 0.9 for snow-covered young ice in only a few days. The evolution of the transmitted radiation field under the ice was estimated using a simple two-stream radiative transfer model in conjunction with observations of ice morphology and thickness. Light transmission decreased dramatically due to ice cooling, snowfall, and declining incident solar irradiances.
Oxymetazoline is equivalent to ciprofloxacin in preventing postoperative otorrhea or tympanostomy tube obstruction.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin and oxymetazoline solutions instilled after tympanostomy tube placement in the prevention of postoperative otorrhea and tube occlusion. Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional series. Methods: We reviewed all bilateral myringotomy and tube placement operations performed by two full-time attending pediatric otolaryngologists during a 9 month period. Data from 488 patients who underwent surgery for otitis media were collected. Demographic and clinical variables including age, sex, number of tube insertions in the past, previous adenoidectomy, type of effusion present at surgery, and type of drop prescribed postoperatively were recorded. All patients were evaluated in the office 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship of these variables with the occurrence of otorrhea and tube patency. Odds ratios were calculated. Results: No significant differences in postoperative otorrhea or tube patency were found between ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan) and oxymetazoline solutions (Afrin, Visine LR). Conclusion: Oxymetazoline and ciprofloxacin solutions are equivalent in the prevention of postoperative otorrhea and tube occlusion after tympanostomy tube placement. The implications for medication cost and potential adverse reactions are discussed.
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY FOR DRUG ADDICTS, LONG-TERM MEASUREMENT OF EMOTIONAL CHANGES

Summary.-Emotional ratings were obtained each month on 40 male and 10 female addicts who remained in a therapeutic community progt3m and 45 who dropped out. For both groups, "emotionality" significantly dropped over time in the program. Also, a relationship is suggested between length of stay in the program and the magnimde of the initial emotional ratings. There is a general paucity of research undertakings within therapeucic communities and a specific lack of longitudinal data on behavioral changes of residents in such settings. The present investigation, therefore, represents one in a program of research and evaluation within the Phoenix House therapeucic community for drug addiccs. This study obcained data on emotional changes in drug free addicts during their stay in the therapeutic community and on differences in such changes between addicts who remain and those who drop out of the residential community. METHOD Szrb jects Ss were 95 male and female residencs aged 12 to 45 yr. (Mdn,,, = 23 yr.) of the Phoenix House Program for rehabilitation of drug addicts in New York City. Fifty Ss (40 men and 10 women) were full-time residencs in the program, whose median age was 24 yr., with an age range of 16 to 45 yr. The mean length-ofstay was 14 mo., the range 10 to 20 mo. Forty-five Ss (29 men, 16 women) were addiccs who had dropped out before completing the program, i.e., before receiving a graduate or "cured" certification. Their median age was 23 yr., the age range 12 to 44 yr. Their mean length-of-stay in the program was 10 mo. with the range 3 to 20 mo.
Twisting ballooning modes

Abstract It is shown that resistive ballooning modes satisfy a tearing mode dispersion relation, although they appear to have twisting parity. The MHD driving term Δ' is calculated for a simple equilibrium model, and the dependence on plasma beta is shown explicitly. There is a maximum beta above which the modes are stable. The calculation is based on a two length scale expansion of the equations of motion.
The synthesis of bisitaconamic acids and isomeric bisimide monomers

Members of a series of N,N′-alkylene bisitaconamic acids were synthesized from the reaction between itaconic anhydride and a homologous group of aliphatic diamines with the general formula H2N (CH2)n NH2, where n = 4–12. Cyclodehydration of the acids in toluene gave the isomeric imides: bisitaconimide, biscitraconimide, and citra-itaconimide. The isomeric imides were isolated, purified, and characterized for each diaminoalkane studied.
Female choice and selection on male calling behaviour in the grey treefrog Hyla versicolor

Variation in male calling behaviour and female choice was investigated in a population of the grey treefrog, Hyla versicolor, with a lek mating system in east-central Maine over 3 years. Operational sex ratios were male-biased and males obtained zero to four matings within a breeding season. In laboratory discrimination experiments in which all other acoustic parameters were held constant, females preferred long-duration calls over short, and calls broadcast at high rats. Males exhibited consistency in calling behaviour: repeatabilities (intra-class correlation coefficient) ranged from 0·14 to 0·65 for duration, pulse rate and dominant frequency of advertisement calls, and call rate. Selection differentials and standardized selection gradients did not reveal any consistent relationships between male calling behaviour and mating success. The only variable influencing male mating success was the number of nights of participation in chorus activity.
An investigation of Prussian Blue analogues by Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility

Abstract The Mossbauer spectra and magnetic susceptibilities have been obtained for a series of Prussian Blue analogues of general formula MjA[MB(CN)6]k·mH2O where MA and MB are transition metal ions, j and k vary with the oxidation states of MA and MB and m typically has values from 8 to 14. The compounds were prepared from the hexacyano acids or with large quaternary ammonium counterions and are therefore not contaminated with alkali cations. In each analogue, A or B is iron and the second metal is Mn, Cu, Co, Cr or Ru. In each case it was possible to assign the site (A or B), oxidation state and spin state to each transition metal ion. This group of compounds are all class II mixed valence species from their colours, but do not show evidence of linkage isomerism or redox changes compared to the starting materials. The Mossbauer linewidths are consistent with the Ludi model of Prussian Blue.
Photoreduction at illuminated p-type semiconducting silicon photoelectrodes. Evidence for Fermi level pinning

Studies of p- and n-type Si electrodes are reported which show that semiconducting Si electrode surfaces do not allow efficient H/sub 2/ evolution in the dark (n type) or upon illumination with band gap or greater energy light (p type). The key experiment is that N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium (PQ/sup 2 +/) is reversibly reduced at n-type Si in aqueous media at a pH where H/sub 2/ should be evolved at nearly the same potential, but no H/sub 2/ evolution current is observable. The PQ/sup 2+/+/.system may be useful as an electron-transfer mediator, since PQ/sup +/.can be used to effect generation of H/sub 2/ from H/sub 2/O using a heterogeneous catalyst. The PQ/sup +/.can be produced in an uphill sense by illumination of p-type Si in aqueous solutions. Studies of p-type Si in nonaqueous solvents show that PQ/sup 2 +/, PQ/sup +/., Ru(bpy)/sub 3//sup 2 +/, Ru(bpy)/sub 3//sup +/, and Ru(bpy)/sub 3//sup 0/ are all reducible upon illumination of the p-type Si. Interestingly, each species can be photoreduced at a potential approx. 500 mV more positive than at a reversible electrode in the dark. This result reveals that a p-type Si-based photoelectrochemical cell based on PQ/sup 2+/+/., PQ/sup +/l/sup 0//, Ru(bpy)/sub 3//sup 2+/+/,more » Ru(bpy)/sub 3//sup +/0/, or Ru(bpy)/sub 3//sup 0/-/ would all yield a common output photovoltage, despite the fact that the formal potentials for these couples vary by more than the band gap (1.1 V) of the photocathode. These data support the notion that p-type Si exhibits Fermi level pinning under the conditions employed.Surface chemistry is shown to be able to effect changes in interface kinetics for electrodes exhibiting Fermi level pinning.« less
Effect of malonyl-CoA on the kinetics and substrate cooperativity of membrane-bound carnitine palmitoyltransferase of rat heart mitochdonria

The effect of malonyl-CoA on the kinetic parameters of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (outer) the outer form of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (palmitoyl-CoA: L-carnitine O-palmitoyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.21) from rat heart mitochondria was investigated using a kinetic analyzer in the absence of bovine serum albumin with non-swelling conditions and decanoyl-CoA as the cosubstrate. The K0.5 for decanoyl-CoA is 3 microM for heart mitochondria from both fed and fasted rats. Membrane-bound carnitine palmitoyltransferase (outer) shows substrate cooperativity for both carnitine and acyl-CoA, similar to that exhibited by the enzyme purified from bovine heart mitochondria. The Hill coefficient for decanoyl-CoA varied from 1.5 to 2.0, depending on the method of assay and the preparation of mitochondria. Malonyl-CoA increased the K0.5 for decanoyl-CoA with no apparent increase in sigmoidicity or Vmax. With 20 microM malonyl-CoA and a Hill coefficient of n = 2.1, the K0.5 for decanoyl-CoA increased to 185 microM. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase (outer) from fed rats had an apparent Ki for malonyl-CoA of 0.3 microM, while that from 48-h-fasted rats was 2.5 microM. The kinetics with L-carnitine were variable: for different preparations of mitochondria, the K0.5 ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 mM and the Hill coefficient varied from 1.2 to 1.8. When an isotope forward assay was used to determine the effect of malonyl-CoA on carnitine palmitoyltransferase (outer) activity of heart mitochondria from fed and fasted animals, the difference was much less than that obtained using a continuous rate assay. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase (outer) was less sensitive to malonyl-CoA at low compared to high carnitine concentrations, particularly with mitochondria from fasted animals. The data show that carnitine palmitoyltransferase (outer) exhibits substrate cooperativity for both acyl-CoA and L-carnitine in its native state. The data show that membrane-bound carnitine palmitoyltransferase (outer) like carnitine palmitoyltransferase purified from heart mitochondria exhibits substrate cooperativity indicative of allosteric enzymes and indicate that malonyl-CoA acts like a negative allosteric modifier by shifting the acyl-CoA saturation to the right. A slow form of membrane-bound carnitine palmitoyltransferase (outer) was not detected, and thus, like purified carnitine palmitoyltransferase, substrate-induced hysteretic behavior is not the cause of the positive substrate cooperativity.
The New Tacoma Narrows Bridge – From Inception to Opening

(2008). The New Tacoma Narrows Bridge – From Inception to Opening. Structural Engineering International: Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 24-27.
A Survey of Considerations for Inducing Conscious Awareness of Dreaming While Dreaming

This article reviews several considerations to be taken by the potential lucid dream researcher or lucid dreamer when attempting to increase the frequency of dreaming lucidly (i.e., consciousness awareness of dreaming while the dream is ongoing). Attempts to induce lucidity have been made both prior to falling asleep and while sleeping. Methods showing promise include, the administration of external cues, presleep reflection and asking the critical question (i.e., “Is this a dream?”) during sleep. Individual proclivities, such as field independence, and situational events, such as waking stress, have also been shown to predict lucidity and should be pertinent to subject or client selection.
How to Live Without Identity—And Why

Identity, we're told, is the binary relation that every object bears to itself, and to itself only. But how can a relation be binary if it never relates two objects? This puzzled Russell and led Wittgenstein to declare that identity is not a relation between objects. The now standard view is that Wittgenstein's position is untenable, and that worries regarding the relational status of identity are the result of confusion. I argue that the rejection of identity as a binary relation is perfectly tenable. To this end, I outline and defend a logical framework that is not committed to an objectual identity relation but is nevertheless expressively equivalent to first-order logic with identity. After it has thus been shown that there is no indispensability argument for objectual identity, I argue that we have good reasons for doubting the existence of such a relation, and rebut a number of attempts at discrediting these reasons.
Patient and urologist driven second opinion of prostate needle biopsies.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We reviewed second opinion prostate needle biopsies that were patient and urologist driven to determine how often an expert opinion resulted in a different diagnosis.Materials and Methods: Of 3,155 prostate needle biopsy consultations received during a 6-month interval 684 were sent at the request of the patient or urologist. A significant change in outside diagnosis was one that could potentially result in a change in therapy or prognosis.Results: The second opinion was requested by patients (21.6%), urologist (63.9%) and patients plus urologists (14.5%). The distribution of the 684 outside diagnoses was benign in 6.1%, HGPIN in 7.6%, atypical (ATYP) in 29.8% and cancer in 56.5%. In 241 cases (35.2%) a change in diagnosis was rendered upon expert review. We agreed with the majority of outside cancer, benign and HGPIN diagnoses, in contrast to only 36.8% of outside ATYP cases (p <0.0001). Uncommonly did a cancer diagnosis become a benign one or vice versa. Of changes affecting outside can...
Anomaly-Based Behavior Analysis of Wireless Network Security

The exponential growth in wireless network faults, vulnerabilities, and attacks make the wireless local area network (WLAN) security management a challenging research area. Newer network cards implemented more security measures according to the IEEE recommendations [14]; but the wireless network is still vulnerable to denial of service attacks or to other traditional attacks due to existing wide deployment of network cards with well-known security vulnerabilities. The effectiveness of a wireless intrusion detection system (WIDS) relies on updating its security rules; many current WIDSs use static security rule settings based on expert knowledge. However, updating those security rules can be time-consuming and expensive. In this paper, we present a novel approach based on multi-channel monitoring and anomaly analysis of station localization, packet analysis, and state tracking to detect wireless attacks; we use adaptive machine learning and genetic search to dynamically set optimal anomaly thresholds and select the proper set of features necessary to efficiently detect network attacks. We present a self-protection system that has the following salient features: monitor the wireless network, generate network features, track wireless network state machine violations, generate wireless flow keys (WFK), and use the dynamically updated anomaly and misuse rules to detect complex known and unknown wireless attacks. To quantify the attack impact, we use the abnormality distance from the trained norm and multivariate analysis to correlate multiple selected features contributing to the final decision. We validate our wireless self protection system (WSPS) approach by experimenting with more than 20 different types of wireless attacks. Our experimental results show that the WSPS approach can protect from wireless network attacks with a false positive rate of 0.1209% and more than 99% detection rate.
Growth and temperature characteristics of small bubble YSmLuCaFeGe garnets

Several hundred YSmLuCaFeGe garnet films supporting bubbles 1–3 μm in diameter were grown by LPE, and their static bubble properties were measured from −50 to 100°C and compared with those of similar films supporting 5 μm bubbles. Bubble mobilities in the range ∼ 300–1000 cm/sec-0e and q values as high as 4.7 were achieved, along with saturation magnetizations from 330 to 550 G and collapse-field temperature coefficients in the range −0.20 to −0.27%/°C. Static coercivities were generally less than 0.3 0e at 25°C and 1 0e at −25°C. The growth-induced component of the uniaxial anisotropy field, when scaled by bubble diameter, was found to vary in proportion to the relative concentrations of Sm3+ and Y3+ in the film, i.e., HK/d ∝ Sm/Y.
Dispersal and evolution of the Pacific Basin gekkonid lizards Gehyra oceanica and Gehyra mutilata

The Pacific island geckos Gehyra mutilata and Gehyra oceanica were studied on several Pacific Basin archipelagos to determine the degree that their distributions have been modified by humans (as commensals), through the analysis of protein variation using starch gel electrophoresis. Gehyra mutilata is an anthropophilic species that is widespread in the Pacific Basin and Southeast Asia. No protein variation was found in the Pacific Basin and southern Asia, although there were fixed allelic differences between populations of southern Asia and those further north. These results suggest possible recent human-aided transport across the Pacific from a population that experienced a genetic bottleneck in southern Asia. Gehyra oceanica, based on protein variation, consists of two natural groups in the Pacific, a northern (Micronesian) form and a southern (Melanesian and Polynesian) form. The northern form has very similar gene frequencies across its range in Micronesia. The southern form has its greatest allelic diversity in the south-central Pacific. F-statistics for G. oceanica in the south fall within the range of values in the literature for mainland Australian species of Gehyra that are not human commensals and for other island lizards that have been considered as natural dispersers. These values are consistent with the hypothesis that G. oceanica was naturally dispersed across the Pacific, prior to the arrival of humans and that the equatorial currents are a barrier to natural, north-south gene flow/dispersal in Pacific Basin lizards. However, human-aided dispersal within the northern and southern regions cannot be ruled out. By comparing the ecology of these two species, G. oceanica has the adaptations necessary for natural oversea dispersal, whereas G. mutilata has an ecology consistent with human-mediated dispersal, in support of the conclusions from the genetic data.
Atomic stabilization through electronic and nuclear polarization

Some years ago Kastler pointed out that the equilibrium constant for alkali metal atom dimer formation could be suppressed by polarizing the electrons so that the atoms interacted via the weak triplet potential. That basic idea has now been realized with atomic hydrogen, but using a polarization technique involving high magnetic fields and low temperature rather than optical pumping. By achieving high polarization, the gas can be stabilized at densities a few seconds over 10^18 atoms cm-3, and for minutes or hours at lower densities.
Mechanistic studies of tetramethylpyrazine formation under weak acidic conditions and high hydrostatic pressure

A significant enhancement of the tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) formation at high pressure was observed in the 3-hydroxy-2-butanone/ammonium acetate model system. In a water system, the activation volume of TMP formation under high pressure was found to be −6.82 mL/mol. A mechanism was proposed to elucidate the formation of TMP under a weak acidic condition and high hydrostatic pressure. Solvents such as propylene glycol (PG), glycerol, methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol were found to enhance TMP formation. Kinetic analyses indicated that TMP formation in aqueous, 80% PG, and ethanol systems followed pseudo-zero-order reaction kinetics. The activation energies were found to be 18.84 ± 1.3, 14.19 ± 7.1, and 13.09 ± 4.7 kcal/mol, respectively. The intermediate of TMP formation was characterized as tetramethyldihdyropyrazine using gas chromatography−mass spectrometry. A 15N-labeled ammonium acetate/3-hydroxy-2-butanone model system was used to confirm the incorporation of a nitrogen atom in the molecule of ...
Relation of sources of systemic fluoride to prevalence of dental fluorosis.

The prevalence of dental fluorosis in a nonfluoridated area was determined and related to the reported fluoride ingestion histories of the children examined. A convenience sample of 543 schoolchildren in rural areas of Michigan was examined for fluorosis using the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis. Questionnaires that asked about previous use of fluorides were sent to parents of all children examined. The response rate was 76 percent (412 usable questionnaires). A criterion for inclusion in the data analysis stipulated that only fluorosed surfaces that occurred bilaterally would be included. Fluorosis was found on 7 percent of all tooth surfaces and only in the mild form. Twenty-two percent of the subjects were classified as having fluorosis. Dietary supplement was the only fluoride that was found to be significantly related to the occurrence of fluorosis. A greater proportion of the subjects with fluorosis fisted physicians, rather than dentists, as the source of fluoride prescriptions. The results demonstrate similarities to the fluorosis reported in other studies in non-fluoridated areas, but also suggest the need to minimize the occurrence of fluorosis through proper assessment of a child's fluoride exposure and the judicious use of additional fluoride.
Low-dose prostaglandin E2 analogue for cervical dilatation prior to pregnancy termination

The trauma of mechanical cervical dilatation preceding abortion is directly related to the degree of cervical resistance. Prostaglandins may reduce cervical rigidity but are accompanied by undesirable side effects. Our aims were to ascertain if a low-dose (10 mg) analogue (9-deoxo-16, 16 dimethyl-9-methylene PGE 2 ) is effective and well tolerated and, if so, to try to determine the possible mechanism by which it works. To this end, we studied 39 women with gestational ages ranging from 7 to 19 weeks who were given a single vaginal suppository 1 to 4 hours before suction curettage. In addition to demographic data on age, gravidity, parity, and previous abortions, we determined progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin and prostaglandin plasma levels. This low-dose prostaglandin E 2 analogue was found to be effective in achieving cervical dilatation and softening with minimal side effects (mild nausea in one patient only). Mean cervical dilatation achieved was 7.8 ± 2.3 mm. Softening was apparent and facilitated additional instrumental dilatation when required. No correlation was found between drug effectiveness and gravidity, gestational age, or duration of action. There was no detectable trend with regard to baseline progesterone or human chorionic gonadotropin levels. This suggested a specific sensitivity to the local effect by the drug, apparently unrelated to dosage.