cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase change and cooling characteristics of microjets measured using microcantilever heaters

Abstract This paper reports novel microcantilever metrology tools to investigate free microjets emanating from a micromachined nozzle of diameter 10 μm. Microcantilevers with an integrated resistive heater-thermometer were used to study microjet cooling and phase change characteristics. While the microcantilever heater was aligned to and impinged upon by hydrocarbon microjets, the heater temperature was modulated by a constant voltage source. Successive heating and cooling cycles captured the microjet phase change hysteresis properties. When the microcantilever heater temperature was controlled, it was possible to construct a full boiling curve. Measurements were made on microjets of butane, hexane, and octane. The convective heat fluxes accompanied by microjet impingement boiling were 2.9–7.6 kW/cm 2 for heater temperatures of 25–350 °C. Overall, the techniques reported herein show promise for characterizing microscale jet flows.
The Growing Female Advantage in College Completion: The Role of Family Background and Academic Achievement:

In a few short decades, the gender gap in college completion has reversed from favoring men to favoring women. This study, which is the first to assess broadly the causes of the growing female adva...
Outcomes of Initial Surveillance of Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis and Negative Nodes

AbstractPurpose: We determined factors predictive of inguinal nodal relapse in patients with stages T1 to 3N0M0 squamous cell penile cancer treated initially with surveillance of inguinal nodes.Materials and Methods: Between 1980 and 1994, in 42 patients with stages T1 to 3N0M0 squamous cell penile cancer of 60 with invasive disease seen at our center the inguinal nodes were surveyed after definitive treatment of the primary tumor. Clinical inguinal nodal recurrences were treated with inguinal lymphadenectomy.Results: A total of 26 patients (62 percent) had inguinal nodal recurrences during followup, with 50 percent occurring within 1.4 years and 75 percent within 2.8 years of resection of the primary tumor. The only factor predicting nodal relapse was grade of the primary tumor at initial treatment. Patients with grade 1 tumors had a 45 percent long-term actuarial relapse-free survival rate. All other groups had a 100 percent actuarial nodal relapse rate. Of the patients 10 percent had metastatic disease...
Cyclic reduction and FACR methods for piecewise hermite bicubic orthogonal spline collocation

Cyclic reduction and Fourier analysis-cyclic reduction (FACR) methods are presented for the solution of the linear systems which arise when orthogonal spline collocation with piecewise Hermite bicubics is applied to boundary value problems for certain separable partial differential equations on a rectangle. On anN×N uniform partition, the cyclic reduction and Fourier analysis-cyclic reduction methods requireO(N2log2N) andO(N2log2log2N) arithmetic operations, respectively.
Second phase formation at microvoids and gas atom entrapment at fusion reactor first wall surfaces

Abstract Results of cascade production and annealing studies for iron are projected to the currently considered fusion reactor first wall materials. Collision cascades initiated by primary knock-on atoms (PKA) with energies above 50 keV, in iron, separate into distinct subregions. Most PKA produced during fission reactor neutron irradiation have energies below 50 keV, but the energies of PKA produced by 14.1 MeV neutron irradiation commonly lie in the 50–500 keV range in iron and vanadium alloys. Computer experiment simulation indicates that, when present, carbon, silicon, and nitrogen, freed by irradiation from bulk precipitates, should tend to re-precipitate on the facets of microvoids which form in cascade subregions during short-term annealing.
Nanocomposite Electrodes Fabricated by a Particle-Solution Spraying Process for Low-Temperature SOFCs

We report a particle-solution spraying process for fabrication of porous electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Gd-doped ceria (GDC) particles with composition of Gd0.1Ce0.9O2 were suspended in ethanol containing nitrates of Sm, Sr, and Co in a molar ratio of 1:1:2 to form Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (SSC) after combustion in air. The SSC solution carrying GDC particles was pumped through an atomizer and the resulting mist was combusted, depositing a porous composite layer consisting of SSC and GDC on a GDC electrolyte supported by a Ni−GDC anode. Typically, the SSC−GDC composite cathodes consist of large GDC grains (1−2 μm) embedded in nanosized phases of SSC. The highly open porous structure significantly facilitates gas transport while the extremely large surface area dramatically enhances electrode kinetics. As a result, the polarization resistances to oxygen reduction of the GDC−SSC/GDC interface are extremely low, varying from 1.06 Ωcm2 at 450 °C to 0.45 Ωcm2 at 500 °C. The activation energy for the elec...
Helping Preservice Teachers Learn to Teach for Understanding in this Era of High-stakes Early Education Reform

As early childhood education becomes more regulated through a range of education reforms and mandates, early childhood teacher educators are seeking ways to prepare their preservice teachers to address these policy constraints through appropriate teaching practices that foster learning with understanding. Using the National Research Council’s conception of learning as a framework for analysis, this article considers strategies to achieve this goal by first presenting findings from a case study that examined the training of a sample of preservice teachers who were both educated in high-stakes learning classrooms as well as taught to be early educators in these same environments. This article then uses these findings to the make case for practical and political approaches to teaching that can assist teacher educators in preparing their students for this regulated field of early education.
FermiGrid—experience and future plans

Fermilab supports a scientific program that includes experiments and scientists located across the globe. In order to better serve this community, Fermilab has placed its production computer resources in a Campus Grid infrastructure called 'FermiGrid'. The FermiGrid infrastructure allows the large experiments at Fermilab to have priority access to their own resources, enables sharing of these resources in an opportunistic fashion, and movement of work (jobs, data) between the Campus Grid and National Grids such as Open Science Grid (OSG) and the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid Collaboration (WLCG). FermiGrid resources support multiple Virtual Organizations (VOs), including VOs from the OSG, EGEE, and the WLCG. Fermilab also makes leading contributions to the Open Science Grid in the areas of accounting, batch computing, grid security, job management, resource selection, site infrastructure, storage management, and VO services. Through the FermiGrid interfaces, authenticated and authorized VOs and individuals may access our core grid services, the 10,000+ Fermilab resident CPUs, near-petabyte (including CMS) online disk pools and the multi-petabyte Fermilab Mass Storage System. These core grid services include a site wide Globus gatekeeper, VO management services for several VOs, Fermilab site authorization services, grid user mapping services, as well as job accounting and monitoring, resource selection and data movement services. Access to these services is via standard and well-supported grid interfaces. We will report on the user experience of using the FermiGrid campus infrastructure interfaced to a national cyberinfrastructure - the successes and the problems.
Behavioral effects of serotonin or a blocking agent applied to the septum of the rat

Abstract Previous data indicating the presence of a cholinergic system functional in the inhibition of responding to nonrewarding stimuli have emphasized the importance of the integrity of the anteromedial septal areas (AMS) and its hippocampal projections. The relationship of this system to the ascending serotonergic fibers of the medial forebrain bundle, which terminate in the AMS, was investigated. The direct application of serotonin or a blocking agent to the AMS via a cannula preceded testing of exploratory habituation, T-maze position habit reversal, and flinch-jump thresholds to electrical shock. The data indicated that the AMS-serotonin system may function by desensitizing an organism to various types of stimuli, perhaps by facilitating an AMS-hippocampal inhibitory system.
Failure diagnosis of asymmetric aging under NBTI

Design for reliability is becoming an important step in the design cycle with CMOS technology scaling, demanding need for efficient and accurate reliability simulation methods in the design stage. Traditional aging analysis does not differentiate NBTI induced delay shift in rising and falling edges, thereby assuming averaging effect due to recovery. It is essential to identify the critical operation conditions that are more susceptible to timing violations under aging. In this paper, by identifying the critical moments in circuit operation and considering the asymmetric aging effects, timing violations under NBTI effect are correctly predicted. The unique features of this work include: (1) delay modeling of a digital gate due to threshold voltage (V th ) shift using delay dependence on supply voltage from cell library; (2) asymmetric aging analysis is conducted by recognizing the critical points in circuit operation; and (3) setup and hold timing violations due to NBTI induced path delay shift in logic and clock buffer are investigated. This failure assessment method is further demonstrated in ISCAS89 benchmark circuits using 45nm Nangate standard cell library to extract aging information in critical paths. The proposed failure diagnosis enables resilient design techniques to mitigate circuit aging under NBTI.
Frustration-mediated learning of a barpress response

Following 72 reinforced placements in a box, rats received 30 additional nonreinforced placements during which time a bar was initially available. Under one condition a barpress response resulted in the rat’s being immediately removed from the box. Under the other condition, a barpress resulted in removal of the bar from the box while the rat remained in the box for a fixed period of time. Barpress speeds of both groups, but especially of the latter, improved with trials, whereas the slower speeds of control subjects, which received nonreinforced placements prior to barpress testing, showed no evidence of learning. The results were interpreted as supporting a prediction from elicitation theory that frustration can mediate learning through consistent elicitation of a response that is characteristic of frustration conditions, even when reinforcement in the form of frustration reduction is absent.
Assessing the effects of political culture: Religious affiliation and country political behavior

Abstract This research uses religious affiliation data to represent Elazar's political culture typology and tests the power of that measure in accounting for political and policy variation among the 77 countries in Oklahoma. Although most Oklahoma counties are predominantly traditionalistic, a multiple regression analysis controlling for county socioeconomic environment and political attitudes yields the expected result: (1) a traditionalistic political culture tended to depress interparty competition and the “yes” vote on two key statewide referenda votes that reflected a substantial departure from customary moral practices (measures liberalizing liquor and gambling laws); (2) individualistic counties had higher voter turnout and more competitive parties; and (3) the more individualistic the county, the more likely it taxed and spent more and provided higher levels of support for various local public services.
An o-band metamaterial converter interfacing standard optical fibers to silicon nanophotonic waveguides

A metamaterial interface between standard optical fibers and silicon waveguides was fabricated in a CMOS production facility and shows −1.3dB peak efficiency with 0.8dB penalty over a 100 nm bandwidth and all polarizations.
Cluster induced chemistry at solid surfaces: Molecular dynamics simulations of keV C60 bombardment of Si

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations of the sputtering of Si by keV C 60 bombardment have been performed as a function of incident kinetic energy at two incident angles, normal incidence and 45°. Nearly all of the C atoms remain embedded in the surface after bombardment because the C atoms from the projectile form strong covalent bonds with the Si atoms in the target. At low incident kinetic energies, the sputtering yield of Si atoms is small and there is a net deposition of solid material from the projectile atoms. As the incident kinetic energy is increased, the yield of sputtered Si atoms increases. A transition occurs in which the yield of sputtered Si atoms exceeds the number of C atoms deposited, and there is a net erosion of the solid material. A significantly higher sputter yield is observed at an incident angle of 45° than at normal incidence, and therefore, the energy value is lower for the transition from net deposition to net erosion. This phenomenon is discussed in terms of the depth distribution of deposited energy, which is found to be shallower at an incident angle of 45°.
Time-dependent accuracy of elastomer impression materials. Part II: Polyether, polysulfides, and polyvinylsiloxane

T here are currently four basic types of elastomer impression materials in use in the dental profession: (1) silicone rubbers which polymerize by a condensation reaction, (2) polysulfide (mercaptan) rubbers, (3) polyethers, and (4) silicones which polymerize by an addition reaction. The latter have been introduced relatively recently and are also called polyvinylsiloxanes. The basic properties of these materials have been reviewed by Craig’ and Phillips.’ Two clinical advantages of these materials over reversible and irreversible hydrocolloids are that (1) multiple dies may be made from repetitive pours of a single impression and (2) the clinician can wait for an extended time period to pour the stone cast after making the impression. In addition, elastomers can be metal plated for the production of electrodeposited metal dies. There is disagreement in the literature regarding the superiority of dimensional stability between polysulfide rubbers and condensation silicones.:‘-” Polyether has been suggested as being more dimensionally stable when compared with its predecessors,‘. 7. ” and the polyvinylsiloxanes have recently claimed even superior accuracy and stability over polyethers.‘, ” The purpose of this study was to make a quantitative comparison of the accuracy and dimensional stability of representative products in each class by
Modal parameter identification using the log decrement method and band-pass filters

Abstract This paper presents a time-domain technique for identifying modal parameters of test specimens based on the log-decrement method. For lightly damped multidegree-of-freedom or continuous systems, the conventional method is usually restricted to identification of fundamental-mode parameters only. Implementation of band-pass filters makes it possible for the proposed technique to extract modal information of higher modes. The method has been applied to a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) beam for complex modulus identification in the frequency range 10–1100 Hz. Results compare well with those obtained using the Least Squares method, and with those previously published in literature. Then the accuracy of the proposed method has been further verified by experiments performed on a QuietSteel specimen with very low damping. The method is simple and fast. It can be used for a quick estimation of the modal parameters, or as a complementary approach for validation purposes.
Morphology of the immature stages of Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Immature stages of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The egg, all instars, and puparium are redescribed. The range of variation in key characters of all instars is discussed. The structure of the antennomaxillary complex appears to be quite conservative and similar to that of other Cyclorrhapha.
Social competence and head injury: a new emphasis

In the push for quantifiable outcome-based rehabilitation programmes, sensitivity to the integrity and uniqueness of the individual has been moved to the background. This has been particularly noticeable in the area of social skills therapy for persons who have suffered a traumatic head injury. We review some of the patterns of normal communication, with particular reference to roles, communicative relationships and individual differences, in order to clarify the difficulties in making clinical judgements about these skills. We propose a shift in focus to establishing a symmetrical therapeutic relationship in which communication is based on respect rather than structure and control. We utilize the clients' insights into their own social communication problems to enable them to be primary managers of their activities. The clinician's responsibility is not only to be a resource but also to be actively involved in the therapeutic process by reviewing his or her own social communication patterns in and outside of the therapy sessions. We argue that, with this perspective, activities can focus on principles of communication rather than specific skills, resulting in improved generalization and long-term outcome.
Ecteinascidia turbinata extracts inhibit DNA synthesis in lymphocytes after mitogenic stimulation by lectins.

SummaryAqueous ethanol extract of a tunicate which was previously found to exert antitumor and immunosuppressive activities in vivo was tested for its effect on normal human lymphocytes in vitro. The extract suppressed the uptake of tritiated thymidine by lymphocytes stimulated with mitogen. This suppressive effect did not require continuous presence of the extract. Treatment of lymphocytes prior to mitogenic stimulation resulted in suppressive effect. The fact that suppression by the extract could also be achieved 24 hr after exposure to mitogen, an interval which was found to suffice for the attainment of maximal commitment for blastogenic transformation indicates that Ete can act at a stage subsequent to the binding of the lectin and elicitation of a mitogenic signal(s).
Electrohydrodynamic Dispersion of Dry Fine Powders

Dispersion of fine dry powders in the size range 1.0 to 10.0 mum in aerodynamic diameters requires a high energy dispersive force since the powders in this size range are very cohesive and their dispersion by vibrational, centrifugal or by aerodynamic force (using air currents) is inefficient in most cases. The adhesive force, that includes van der Waals, electrostatic, and liquid bridge forces, is, in general, proportional to the diameter d of the particles, whereas, the vibrational and centrifugal detachment forces are proportional to d3, and the aerodynamic shear force for detachment is proportional to d2. Thus smaller the diameter d the higher is the dispersion force needed for efficient dispersion for forming aerosol from a sample of powder that will contain the primary particles present in the powder. We report here dispersion of fine powders deposited on a dielectric substrate by applying a traveling electric field using embedded electrodes. The dispersed particles are aerosolized by passing a gentle air current over the substrate. The dispersion of the powder forming an aerosol particle is achieved here by both electrodynamic force and air current. A brief discussion of van der Waals, electrostatic, and capillary forces between individual particles within a bulk powder and the dispersive forces applied by a using a low frequency three-phase electric field are reported. The electrostatic force of dispersion is proportional to qE, where q is proportional to d2 and E is the applied electric field. The charged particle cloud produced by the combination of electrohydrodynamic and aerodynamic shear forces were characterized with respect their size and electrostatic charge distributions by using an ESPART analyzer. The dispersive properties of the electrodynamic forces are analyzed for powders of different size distributions and conductivities. The traveling wave is produced by placing a series of electrodes, embedded, just beneath the surface of the substrate. The required power consumption needed for dispersion is less than 5 mW and requires only a few seconds for dispersion. The possible applications of breath actuated air flow in conjunction with electro-hydrodynamic dispersion for respiratory drug delivery are discussed.
Bending and transverse shear stresses in fiber-composite beams by the transformed-section method

Abstract A method to determine bending and transverse shear stress distributions in beams composed of fiber-composite layers is presented. The method is based on the transformed-section concept and takes into account the effects of Poisson's ratios and in-plane shear coupling. To demonstrate the feasibility of the transformed-section model, numerical solutions are presented for three rectangular and I-shaped cross-sections. It is shown that for bending moments the transformed-section model presented herein is entirely consistent with the lamination theory. The model can also be used to determine the transverse shear stresses, and it is shown that the accuracy of the results may be significantly affected when the effects of Poisson's ratios and in-plane shear are neglected in the analysis.
A weighted least squares finite element method for elliptic problems with degenerate and singular coefficients

We consider second order elliptic partial differential equations with coefficients that are singular or degenerate at an interior point of the domain. This paper presents formulation and analysis of a novel weighted-norm least squares finite element method for this class of problems. We propose a weighting scheme that eliminates the pollution effect and recovers optimal convergence rates. Theoretical results are carried out in appropriately weighted Sobolev spaces and include ellipticity bounds on the weighted homogeneous least squares functional, regularity bounds on the elliptic operator, and error estimates. Numerical experiments confirm the predicted error bounds.
Fucoidan stimulates cell division in the amebocyte-producing organ of the schistosome-transmitting snail Biomphalaria glabrata.

Abstract Adult Salvador (schistosome-resistant) strain Biomphalaria glabrata snails were injected with 5 μl of 10 mg/ml solutions of the sulfated polysaccharides λ carageenan, dextran sulfate, fucoidan, and heparin, the nonsulfated polysaccharide laminarin, and the monosaccharides L-fucose and L-galactose, and mitotic activity in the amebocyte-producing organ (APO) was measured in histological sections at 24 h post injection. Among the substances tested, only fucoidan induced elevated mitotic activity. Desulfated fucoidan was not mitogenic, indicating that sulfate groups are required for activity. Schistosome-susceptible M-line snails possessed minimal or no hematopoietic tissue in their APO, which did not respond to fucoidan. Immersion of juvenile Salvador snails in 1 or 10 mg/ml solutions of fucoidan for 3 h did not elevate mitotic activity at 24 h post immersion, suggesting that the external and digestive tract epithelia of B . glabrata are impermeable to this molecule. These results provide support for the hypothesis that fucosylated glycans on the tegument and in excretory–secretory products of sporocysts of Schistosoma mansoni are in part responsible for increased mitotic activity in the APO of B . glabrata infected with this trematode or injected with its extracts.
Analysis of Mercury-Containing Drugs by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Atomic Absorption Detection

Abstract A simple and specific high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of mercury-containing drugs. In most cases, an aliquot of the diluted sample is injected directly into a Zorbax ODS column and eluted with methanol-0.05 N ammonium acetate (3+2), pH 5.7, containing 0.01% 2-mercaptoethanol. Detection is accomplished by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with the aid of a specially designed apparatus for the generation of mercury vapor.
Fatal tonsilar herniation in pseudotumor cerebri

A 27-year-old woman with pseudotumor cerebri died after lumbar puncture secondary to tonsillar herniation. Five years earlier she had a respiratory arrest after lumbar puncture. MRI and autopsy ruled out the presence of an Arnold-Chiari malformation or a mass lesion of the posterior fossa, but midsagittal views suggested the presence of low-lying cerebellar tonsils.
Method for controlling energy density for reliable pulsed laser deposition of thin films

We have established a methodology to stabilize the laser energy density on a target surface in pulsed laser deposition of thin films. To control the focused laser spot on a target, we have imaged a defined aperture in the beamline (so called image-focus) instead of focusing the beam on a target based on a simple “lens-focus.” To control the laser energy density on a target, we have introduced a continuously variable attenuator between the output of the laser and the imaged aperture to manipulate the energy to a desired level by running the laser in a “constant voltage” mode to eliminate changes in the lasers’ beam dimensions. This methodology leads to much better controllability/reproducibility for reliable pulsed laser deposition of high performance electronic thin films.
Ergodicity of a class of truncated elliptical billiards

We consider a class of billiard tables obtained by intersecting elliptical domains x2/a2 + y2?1,a>1 with horizontal strips |y|?h<1. The boundary of these tables consists of two elliptical arcs connected by two parallel straight segments. We prove that the billiards in these tables have non-vanishing Lyapunov exponents for h<min (1/a,1/(2)1/2), and are ergodic for h<1/(1 + a2)1/2.
Reflections on the Comaroff lecture

Cet article est une lecture critique de l'article (publie dans le meme numero de la revue) de Jean Comaroff et John L. Comaroff sur les economies occultes et la violence de l'abstraction dans la Republique d'Afrique du Sud pendant la periode post-coloniale. Cette etude analysait les mecanismes par lesquels un contexte local est mondialise par les representations sociales et les pratiques relatives a la modernite. Le liberalisme economique, la recente democratisation en Republique d'Afrique du Sud s'accompagnent d'une montee de la violence liee aux accusations de sorcellerie, aux meurtres rituels, aux croyances surnaturelles ; tous ces temoignages sur la violence expriment une peur face a la liberte de la speculation economique, l'accumulation materielle et la consommation. La violence ne revele pas une position ideologique singuliere ou un programme politique affirme mais plutot une expression collective face a un systeme economique peu solide et a des valeurs sociales et culturelles nouvelles.
Contribution of Compton scattering to the double ionization of helium.

Double ionization of helium by single-photon impact is analyzed for photon energies from 4 to 12 keV. Many-body perturbation theory is applied to obtain the Compton scattering contribution to the total cross section for double ionization. Compton scattering dominates photoionization above 6 keV. Despite the differences between the two processes, the ratio of double to single ionization by Compton scattering appears to approach the asymptotic value given by photoionization calculations. These ratios are in agreement with recent experiments.
Surfactant Prophylaxis and Retinopathy of Prematurity

• Objective. —The use of exogenous surfactant has led to a decrease in mortality of low-birth-weight infants. In some instances, use of this drug has also led to a reduction in neonatal morbidity, such as respiratory distress syndrome. This study was undertaken to determine whether prophylactic surfactant therapy has an effect on the incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity. Design. —The authors reviewed the findings of sequential prospective ophthalmologic examinations performed in two neonatal intensive care units that participated in randomized trials of prophylactic exogenous mammalian surfactant. Patients. —There were 43 patients in the control group (no prophylactic surfactant) and 43 patients in the prophylactic surfactant group. These groups did not differ on the basis of birth weight, gestational age, race, or gender. Results. —The incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity did not vary between the control and surfactant-treated infants. Only birth weight appeared to be significantly related to the incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity. Conclusions. —These results suggest that the widespread use of prophylactic surfactant therapy will not change the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in extremely low-birth-weight infants. However, the absolute number of affected patients will likely increase because of the decrease in mortality of extremely low-birth-weight patients, the patients most at risk for retinopathy of prematurity.
Pfaffian graphs, T-joins and crossing numbers

We characterize Pfaffian graphs in terms of their drawings in the plane. We generalize the techniques used in the proof of this characterization, and prove a theorem about the numbers of crossings in T-joins in different drawings of a fixed graph. As a corollary we give a new proof of a theorem of Kleitman on the parity of crossings in drawings of K 2j+1 and K 2j+1,2k+1.
Determination of organic and inorganic acids in precipitation samples

Abstract This paper describes an ion chromatographic method for simultanous analysis of major organic and inorganic acids (formic, acetic, nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric and hydrofluoric) in precipitation samples. The method can also determine several other acids commonly cited in literature on precipitation-related samples; namely, propionic, glycolic, butyric, methanesulfonic, nitrous, hydroxymethylsulfonic, oxalic, phosphoric and citric acids. The method can be adapted for routine analysis of these acids, which are resolved in less than 10 min. Three types of natural waters were used and 60 recoveries made giving a percent recovery range of 100 ± 10%.
Chemical Constituents of the Deep Reef Caribbean Sponges Plakortis angulospiculatus and Plakortis halichondrioides and Their Anti-inflammatory Activities

Chemical investigations of two collections of the deep reef Caribbean sponge Plakortis angulospiculatus resulted in the isolation of a new compound (1) along with the known compound spiculoic acid B (2) belonging to the spiculoic acid class and four other new compounds (3-6) belonging to the zyggomphic acid class. Three new aromatic compounds (7-9) were isolated from the Caribbean sponge Plakortis halichondrioides. The structural determination of the compounds was based on extensive NMR and mass spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds 1-7 were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity using in vitro assays for inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activity, as well as inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species generation as a result of oxidative stress. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was also evaluated to determine the selectivity index of their bioactivity with respect to cytotoxicity. Compounds 1 and 4 were more potent than the positive control in inhibiting NFκB activity and had IC(50) values of 0.47 and 2.28 μM, respectively.
A User-Driven Transmission Scheme for Voice Over IP Applications

QoS guarantee is very important and challenging for voice over IP (VoIP) applications. In this paper, a new packet scheduling scheme, called UTS, for transmitting voice flows in a fair and prioritized manner is proposed. UTS first translates user-requested voice quality into network delay requirements and then schedules the transmission of voice packets in such a way that all the VoIP users have a fair share of delay according to their QoS requirements. The key idea of UTS is to deliver only user-requested quality and thus increase the number of VoIP users with QoS satisfaction. Moreover, more important classes of voice flows receive faster and more frequent transmission, and therefore gain more protection against unexpected delay than less important ones.
Tin-capped trinuclear nickel clusters: Redox isomerism between μ3-Stannyl and μ3-Stannylene clusters of the class [Ni3(dppm)3(μ3-l)(μ3-SnClx)]n+ (x = 2, n = 1; x = 3, n = 0)

The reaction of Ni(3)(dppm)(3)(micro(3)-I)(2)) with sodium trichlorostannate affords the first tin-capped nickel cluster Ni(3)(dppm)(3)(micro(3)-I)(micro(3)-SnCl(3) (1). A site of coordinative unsaturation at tin can be introduced by the reaction of 1 with Tl[PF(6)] yielding the stannylene-capped cluster [Ni(3)(dppm)(3)(micro(3)-I)(micro(3)-SnCl(2)](+) (2). Clusters 1 and 2 were characterized by 31P NMR, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Clusters 1 and 2 exhibit single electron redox chemistries, [Ni(3)(dppm)(3)(micro(3)-I)(micro(3)-SnCl3](0/*-), [Ni(3)(dppm)(3)(micro(3)-I)(micro(3)-SnCl(2)](+/0), that together comprise a redox equilibrium. Thus, electrochemical reduction of 1 produces first the 49e- cluster radical anion [Ni(3)(dppm)(3)(micro(3)-I)(micro(3)-SnCl(3)](*-) which then yields the reduced form of 2, [Ni(3)(dppm)(3)(micro(3)-I)(micro(3)-SnCl(2)], upon chloride dissociation.
HeiRAT—quality-of-service management for distributed multimedia systems

Multimedia systems must be able to support a certain quality of service (QoS) to satisfy the stringent real-time performance requirements of their applications. HeiRAT, the Heidelberg Resource Administration Technique, is a comprehensive QoS management system that was designed and implemented in connection with a distributed multimedia platform for networked PCs and workstations. HeiRAT includes techniques for QoS negotiation, QoS calculation, resource reservation, and resource scheduling for local and network resources.
Impact of Learners on Emergency Medicine Attending Physician Productivity

Introduction: Several prior studies have examined the impact of learners (medical students or residents) on overall emergency department (ED) flow as well as the impact of resident training level on the number of patients seen by residents per hour. No study to date has specifically examined the impact of learners on emergency medicine (EM) attending physician productivity, with regards to patients per hour (PPH). We sought to evaluate whether learners increase, decrease, or have no effect on the productivity of EM attending physicians in a teaching program with one student or resident per attending.Methods: This was a retrospective database review of an urban, academic tertiary care center with 3 separate teams on the acute care side of the ED. Each team was staffed with one attending physician paired with either one resident, one medical student or with no learners. All shifts from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010 were reviewed using an electronic database. We predefined a shift as “Resident” if > 5 patients were seen by a resident, “Medical Student” if any patients were seen by a medical student, and “No Learners” if no patients were seen by a medical student or resident. Shifts were removed from analysis if more than one learner saw patients during the shift. We further stratified resident shifts by EM training level or off-service rotator. For each type of shift, the total number of patients seen by the attending physician was then divided by 8 hours (shift duration) to arrive at number of patients per hour. Results: We analyzed a total of 7,360 shifts with 2,778 removed due to multiple learners on a team. For the 2,199 shifts with attending physicians with no learners, the average number of PPH was 1.87(95% confidence interval [CI] 1.86,1.89). For the 514 medical student shifts, the average PPH was 1.87(95% CI 1.84,1.90), p = 0.99 compared with attending with no learner. For the 1,935 resident shifts, the average PPH was 1.99(95% CI 1.97,2.00). Compared with attending physician with no learner, attending physicians with a resident saw more PPH (1.99 vs 1.87, p< 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference found between EM1: 1.98PPH, EM2: 1.99PPH, EM3: 1.99PPH, and off-service rotators: 1.99PPH. Conclusion: EM attending physicians paired with a resident in a one-on-one teaching model saw statistically significantly more patients per hour (0.12 more patients per hour) than EM attending physicians alone. EM attending physicians paired with a medical student saw the same number of patients per hour compared with working alone. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(1):41–44.]
Intensity variation of large solar energetic particle events associated with coronal mass ejections

[1] We studied the coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares associated with large solar energetic particle (SEP) events of solar cycle 23 (1996–2002) in order to determine what property of the solar eruptions might order the SEP intensity. The SEP events were divided into three groups: (1) events in which the primary CME was preceded by one or more wide CMEs from the same solar source, (2) events with no such preceding CMEs, and (3) events in which the primary CME might have interacted with a streamer or with a nearby halo CME. The SEP intensities are distinct for groups 1 and 2 although the CME properties were nearly identical. Group 3 was similar to group 1. The primary findings of this study are as follows: (1) Higher SEP intensity results whenever a CME is preceded by another wide CME from the same source region. (2) The average flare size was also larger for high-intensity SEP events. (3) The intensity of SEP events with preceding CMEs showed a tighter correlation with CME speed. The extent of scatter in the CME speed versus SEP intensity plots was reduced when various subgroups were considered separately. (4) The intensities of energetic electrons were better correlated with flare size than with CME speed. (5) The SEP intensity showed poor correlation with the flare size, except for group 3 events. Since only a third of the events did not have preceding CMEs, we conclude that the majority of SEP producing CMEs propagate through the near-Sun interplanetary medium severely disturbed and distorted by the preceding CMEs. Furthermore, the preceding CMEs are faster and wider on the average, so they may provide seed particles for CME-driven shocks that follow. Therefore we conclude that the differing intensities of SEP events in the two groups may not have resulted due to the inherent properties of the CMEs. The presence of preceding CMEs seems to be the discriminating characteristic of the high- and low-intensity SEP events.
Electromagnetic modeling and simulation of TSVs in 2.5D interposers for RFICs

This paper presents an approach to RFIC system integration using 2.5D silicon interposers with TSVs which act as an interface between the baseband and RF dies, and also provides adequate isolation reducing EMI. To evaluate the performance of 2.5D integration in RFICs, it is highly essential to study the EMI tolerance behavior of TSVs through accurate models. Current empirical and analytical models of TSVs do not consider the MOS structure, substrate doping, biasing and coupling effects, process-related effects like via tapering and scalloping, and lossy dielectric. This requires a need for an electromagnetic model of TSV considering these various effects to accurately evaluate its performance to aid the design of critical nets for 2.5D integration. We have developed an analytical model for the TSV considering the MOS structure and process-related effects, and verified its performance by comparing it with an electromagnetic model built using the 3D EM full wave solver on Ansys HFSS software platform. Our simulation results shows that the analytical model can be used as a first cut design approximation, while further EM simulations needs to be performed for critical nets to improve shielding from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk.
Emotional stimulation, defensive orientation, and hemispheric activation

Lateral eye movements (LEM) were measured for 32 right-handed subjects while responding to questions rated for verbal and visual-spatial cognitive content and for varying levels of emotionally stimulating content. The results indicated that eye movements were distributed to the right and left in response to verbal and spatial items, respectively, and that emotional content enhanced leftward responding. In addition, the defensive style of subjects, as measured by a defense mechanism inventory, interacted with the cognitive and affective dimensions of questions and was a determinant of LEM.
Projections separating spandrel spaces

The belief that horizontal projections from an exterior wall will prevent vertical scaling of fire up the wall is not necessarily valid. In this study, flames were observed curling inward above such projections.
The Behavior or Light Water Reactor Fuel after the Cladding is Breached under Unsaturated Test Conditions

Experiments were conducted to examine the corrosion behavior of fuel and cladding under test conditions selected to determine how fuel with breached cladding may behave under unsaturated repository conditions. The results discussed here were obtained from two test samples, each consisting of ~3.5-in. segments of ATM103, a moderate-burnup (~30 GWd/MtU) PWR fuel, exposed to humid air at 175°C. Visual examination of the samples after 540 days revealed that each had developed an axial crack that passed through a drilled hole in the cladding and ran the full length of the sample. Destructive examination of the fuel and cladding showed that the cladding had experienced extensive fuel-side corrosion. Metallographic examination of the cladding shows the hydride distribution near the drilled hole, the fracture surfaces, and the fuel-side corrosion products. Electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and electron diffraction analyses were used to characterize the corrosion products. The results indicate that the fuel-side corrosion of the cladding and the specific volume increase associated with the formation of the corrosion products caused the hoop stresses that resulted in the observed axial splitting. The implications of these results for the expected evolution of the spent fuel cladding after the cladding is initially breached in an unsaturated repository are discussed.
Control of PS-b-PMMA directed self-assembly registration by laser induced millisecond thermal annealing

Directed self-assembly of PS-b-PMMA during laser spike annealing at peak temperatures of 300-800°C for dwells of 1- 10 ms has been explored. The enhanced mobility of polymer chains at these temperatures improves registration compared to conventional thermal anneals. PS-b-PMMA films (forming 15 nm line/space standing lamellae) were cast on chemically patterned substrates with a copolymer neutral layer and annealed by laser and hot-plate (2 minutes 250°C). Annealing by hot plate or multiple laser scans resulted in well-aligned features over micron length scales. By laser annealing multiple times, defectivity can be reduced by ~60%. However, laser annealing for only 10 ms before performing a hot plate anneal reduced defectivity by ~80%. Additionally, defects are more often localized as dislocation pairs rather than regions perpendicular to the underlying directing pattern resulting in far greater total alignment.
Choice of tests in the biochemical assessment of nephrotoxicity in dogs and rats: A study with maleic acid

Urinalysis represents a useful tool in the evaluation of new pharmaceutical agents acting on the kidney, during preclinical toxcological studies. In the present study, we studied the response of urinary creatinine, LDH, AAP, ALP, β-GAL, GGT, NAG and protein excretion to a single intravenous dose of maleic acid (25 mg/kg for dogs and 100 mg/kg for rats). Enzymes were selected based on their association with renal toxicity and their localisation within the renal tubule. They included lysosomal, brush border and cytosolic enzymes. In male dogs, increases in enzyme excretion occurred within 2 h of maleic acid administration, peaked 3 h after dosing, and returned towards, or to, predose value at 24 h. Marked increases in enzyme levels occurred only for LDH and GGT (10-fold or more). Additionally, there was a marked increase in total protein excretion whereas creatinine excretion decreased. In male rats, the only major difference from control was a higher 0–24 h protein excretion rate (approximately 2-fold). Moderate increases were also present for ALP, GGT and LDH (< 2-fold). In female rats, there was a marked increase in urinary excretion of proteins and LDH, GGT, NAG and ALP (8–13-fold when compared to controls). There were only moderate increases (2-fold or less) in β-GAL and AAP. Creatinine was unaffected by the treatment. Histopathological examination of the kidney revealed moderate to severe proximal tubular necrosis in dogs and minimal to moderate tubular necrosis in rats. Overall, urinary GGT, LDH, total protein and creatinine concentrations are the most sensitive biochemical indicators of maleic acid nephrotoxicity in dogs. For rats, in addition to LDH excretion, total proteins, NAG, GGT and ALP can be considered to be sensitive markers of renal injury. In the light of these results and those reported in literature, it was concluded that the response of urinary markers of nephrotoxicity is heavily dependent on the nephrotoxic agent, the dose, species, sex and study design. Consequently, a range of markers should be examined in order to identify the most useful.
Families' Perceptions of the Ability To Pay for Early Intervention Services.

One issue for families in need of early intervention services has been the determination of their ability to pay for services. The purpose of this study was to obtain information from families receiving early intervention services regarding the ability to pay for services and the impacts that fees for services have on families. Five focus groups were conducted with 38 family participants receiving early intervention services in Virginia. Two themes emerged from the perspectives family participants expressed related to how cost affects the family and their decision making regarding services. We explore implications for early intervention policy at the local, state, and federal level; early intervention practice; and future research related to cost and families' abilities to pay for services.
The shortest path in parallel

We reexamine Misra's derivation of Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm and consider parallel algorithms that can be obtained from the derivation. We give conditions under which the algorithms can be executed under a model of computation with weaker assumptions than UNITY.
Intramolecular cyclobutadiene cycloaddition/cyclopropanation/thermal rearrangement: an effective strategy for the asymmetric syntheses of pleocarpenene and pleocarpenone.

The first total synthesis of the guaiane sesquiterpene natural products pleocarpenone and pleocarpenene is described. An intramolecular cycloaddition of cyclobutadiene, followed by cyclopropanation...