cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the energy-release rate associated with diffusional crack growth

A general expression for the energy release rate (G) that arises during steady state crack propagation by diffusion is derived from the standpoint of irreversible thermodynamics. Three contributing components of G are identified: (i) the Griffith energy (GGr); (ii) heat generated in the process of surface diffution; and (iii) grain-boundary diffusion. Further, the total G is shown to be directly related to the well-known J-integral if formulated in the framework of finite deformation elasticity. This expression for G is valid in general even if the response of the material is not linear and the mass transport kinetics does not follow Fick's law. Quantitative evaluations of each component are made for the linear case where field solutions are available. The results show that component (ii) is approximately equal to GGr and is independent of the crack velocity (v) whereas component (iii) is a monotonically increasing function with G starting from 0.85 GGr when v is at threshold value; and that the local strain energy influence on matter diffusion is negligible leading to 229-1. This means that G is not primarily associated with the release of the strain energy at the crack tip but rather, it stems mostly from the (negative) work done (converted to heat) by the normal stresses on the thickening of the grain boundary due to non-uniform deposition of matter along it.
Design of compatible glass compositions for heavy metal fluoride fibres

Abstract Although a large amount of information is separately available on the refractive indexes and thermal expansion coefficients of heavy metal fluoride glasses, it is necessary to consider both properties simultaneously, in order to find compatible core and cladding glass pairs. By placing limits on the range of the constituent metal fluoride concentrations and plotting refractive index as a function of expansion coefficient, a powerful fibre-preform design procedure is possible. Thus, for a given refractive index difference, a thermomechanically stable preform for fibre drawing can be readily devised.
Studies of Molecular Adsorbates at Interfaces by Optical Second-Harmonic Generation

Optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) is surface-specific and has the sensitivity to detect submonolayers of molecules. It can be applied to study molecular adsorbates at the interface between any two centrosymmetric media. This has been demonstrated by using dye and p-nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA) molecules adsorbed on smooth fused quartz substrates as examples. With resonant SHG, the S0 → S2 transition of the adsorbed dye molecules was measured. From the polarization dependence of the SHG, the orientation of PNBA at both the air/quartz and the ethanol/quartz interfaces was deduced. By varying the concentration of PNBA in ethanol, an adsorption isotherm for PNBA at the ethanol/quartz interfaces was also obtained.
Foundations of a new theory of topological manifolds

We give here a generalization of the concept of topological manifold, which includes classical manifolds. Also, several properties of classical manifolds may be extended to the new class of manifolds, as shown here.
Reactivity and Photoionization Studies of Bimetallic Cobalt−Manganese Clusters

The reactivity of selected ConMnm (8 ≤ m + n ≤ 23) clusters with N2 and the vertical ionization potentials (IPs) of selected ConMnm (8 ≤ m + n ≤ 31) clusters have been measured. No obvious correlation is found between the reactivities and the IPs. Inferences about cluster structure may be made from the nitrogen uptake data. In particular, whereas pure cobalt clusters tend to adopt structures having bulk packing, incorporation of manganese atoms into the cluster shifts the relative energies of close-lying isomers to favor an icosahedral growth sequence. For many cluster sizes, the maximum number of nitrogen molecules adsorbed on a cluster at −80 °C is equal to the number of cobalt atoms on the surface of the cluster, thereby giving insight into the cluster structure and the locations of the individual cobalt and manganese atoms in these bimetallic species.
Hydrofluoric Acid Inhalation Injury

Hydrofluoric acid has a unique mechanism for causing devastating injuries when it contacts human tissue. Although a great deal of literature exists for cutaneous exposures, inhalational exposures have not been as well studied. Although most cases of severe inhalational exposures to hydrofluoric acid are rapidly lethal, here we present a case of a patient who presented with a severe inhalation injury who survived. This case highlights the extreme complexity of managing this kind of injury and the need for more experimental research to develop better treatment options.
The 6H1 Orphan Receptor, Claimed to Be the p2y5 Receptor, Does Not Mediate Nucleotide-Promoted Second Messenger Responses

Abstract An orphan G protein-coupled receptor, termed 6H1, with ∼30% sequence identity to P2Y receptors has been proposed to be a P2Y receptor (p2y5) based solely on a radioligand binding assay with [35S]dATPαS [Webb et al. (1997) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 219:105-110]. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that [35S]-dATPαS is not a general ligand for P2Y receptors, and thus inclusion of the p2y5 receptor in the family of P2Y receptors is questionable. To define unambiguously whether the p2y5 receptor is a P2Y receptor, we have cloned the turkey homologue of the chick p2y5 receptor. Sequence analysis indicated that the turkey receptor contains an additional 32 amino acids at its carboxy terminus compared to the published chick sequence. HA epitope-tagged turkey p2y5 receptors were stably expressed in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells, and cells shown to express the HA-tagged p2y5 receptor by an intact cell-based ELISA were used to determine whether changes in second messenger levels occurred in response to a series of nucleotides. ATP, ADP, UTP, UDP, dATPαS, and A2P4had no effect on either inositol phosphate or cyclic AMP concentrations in cells expressing the p2y5 receptor. Robust inositol phosphate and cyclic AMP responses occurred to other G protein-coupled receptors expressed in 1321N1 cells, which indicate that these cells contain all of the necessary signaling components to generate these second messenger responses. These data indicate that the 6H1/p2y5 receptor is not a member of the P2Y receptor family of signaling proteins.
Perceived breast cancer risk: heuristic reasoning and search for a dominance structure

Studies suggest that people construct their risk perceptions by using inferential rules called heuristics. The purpose of this study was to identify heuristics that influence perceived breast cancer risk. We examined 11 interviews from women of diverse ethnic/cultural backgrounds who were recruited from community settings. Narratives in which women elaborated about their own breast cancer risk were analyzed with Argument and Heuristic Reasoning Analysis methodology, which is based on applied logic. The availability, simulation, representativeness, affect, and perceived control heuristics, and search for a dominance structure were commonly used for making risk assessments. Risk assessments were based on experiences with an abnormal breast symptom, experiences with affected family members and friends, beliefs about living a healthy lifestyle, and trust in health providers. Assessment of the potential threat of a breast symptom was facilitated by the search for a dominance structure. Experiences with family members and friends were incorporated into risk assessments through the availability, simulation, representativeness, and affect heuristics. Mistrust in health providers led to an inappropriate dependence on the perceived control heuristic. Identified heuristics appear to create predictable biases and suggest that perceived breast cancer risk is based on common cognitive patterns.
Simple Microwave-Assisted Claisen and Dieckmann Condensation Experiments for the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory

The Claisen condensation and its intramolecular variant the Dieckmann condensation are classic reactions studied in undergraduate organic chemistry courses because of their importance in organic synthesis and biochemical transformations. The growth in the use of microwave technology in both the synthetic and teaching laboratories warrants the modification of existing methodologies to incorporate this technology. This article presents simple microwave-assisted procedures for carrying out Claisen and Dieckmann condensation reactions that are suitable for organic chemistry teaching laboratories that utilize microwave technology. Although solvents can be used, the procedure is amenable to solvent-free conditions that promote green chemistry.
The Effects of Environmental Control on Cognition in Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The aim of this study was to allow nonhuman animals to control their environment using operant conditioning procedures and to assess the effect of control on cognitive tasks. The study tested 4 predictions: (a) rats (Rattus norvegicus) will control a light stimulus; (b) animals will exhibit preferences for particular stimulus strengths; (c) animals who exert control over environmental stimuli will show improved performance on cognitive tasks compared with animals who lack control; and (d) at the end of the operant phase, experimental subjects will have lower corticosterone levels than animals who lack control. Experimental subjects did show control over a light stimulus and performed significantly better over time in a discrimination task compared with subjects who could not control their environment. There was no difference in corticosterone levels between control and experimental subjects. The results will both contribute to our understanding of how control of environmental stimuli affects the welfare o...
Amino acid sequences of the carboxyl-terminal regions of rat plasma fibrinogen γA and γ′ chains

Abstract Amino acid sequence analysis of human fibrinogen γ′ chains have shown that the larger size relative to the γ A chains is due to differences at the COOH-terminus. As shown by DNA sequencing, these differences as well as those in rat fibrinogen γ′ and γ A chains result from differential processing of the primary mRNA transcript. We isolated and sequenced carboxyl-terminal CNBr peptides from γ′ and γ A chains. As predicted by DNA sequencing, the γ A peptide has the carboxyl-terminal sequence Gl 1 y-Gl 2 y-Se 3 r-Ly 4 s, Gl 5 n-Va 6 l-Gl 7 y-As 8 p-Me 9 t-COOH. The y' peptide is identical through residue 6 and terminates with Se 7 r-Va 8 l-Gl 9 u-Hi 10 s-Gl 11 u-Va 12 l-As 13 p-Va 14 l-Gl 15 u-Ty 16 r-Pr 17 o-COOH.
Attenuation of cisplatin nephrotoxicity by streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The therapeutic use of cisplatin is associated with acute renal failure. The purpose of this study was to determine (a) if streptozotocin (STZ) was toxic to renal proximal tubules and (b) the nephrotoxicity of cisplatin in STZ-diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with STZ (55 mg/kg, ip) to induce a diabetic state. BUN and renal cortical slice uptake of p-aminohippurate (PAH) and tetraethylammonium (TEA) were not altered, relative to normoglycemic rats, 3, 16, and 28 days following STZ treatment. These results indicate that STZ is not toxic to renal proximal tubules. Cisplatin nephrotoxicity studies were then conducted in STZ-diabetic and normoglycemic rats. Cisplatin nephrotoxicity was also evaluated in diabetic rats pretreated for 8 days with insulin. Diabetic and normoglycemic rats were administered 5 mg/kg cisplatin or water (ip). Increased kidney weight, BUN levels, glucosuria, and proteinuria were measured in normoglycemic rats 4 days after cisplatin administration. Renal cortical TEA and lactate-stimulated PAH uptake (p < 0.05) were diminished in the normoglycemic rats 4 days after cisplatin injection. No change in kidney weight, BUN levels, or renal cortical slice accumulation of PAH and TEA was observed in diabetic rats treated with cisplatin. However, cisplatin administration to diabetic rats pretreated with insulin resulted in increased mortality, proteinuria, glucosuria and elevated kidney weight. These results indicate that the diabetic state attenuates cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Additionally, these results indicate that diabetes attenuation of cisplatin nephrotoxicity is dependent on the severity of the diabetic state.
Jamming games against multi-rate superposition coding transmitters

In this paper, we study the problem of jamming between two communicating nodes in a game theoretic framework. The game is between the jammer and the transmitter. We formulate their interaction as a two-player, zero-sum game. The jammer is assumed to be a Gaussian pulse-noise jammer with a fixed average power. A Jammer's strategy consists of choosing a duty factor such that transmitter's payoff is minimized. We consider a transmitter that has two possible options to communicate with the receiver; the transmitter can use a “low-rate code” which can be recovered at the receiver regardless of the jammer's activity, or he can use a “high-rate code” that will be lost if the jammer is active. We study two scenarios in which transmitter uses the codes in different manners; in the first scenario, the transmitter uses one code at a time with a duty factor (or probability) while in the second scenario, he superimposes the high-rate code over the low-rate code and transmits both codes simultaneously. We study these two scenarios against the jammer's strategy and identify a mixed-strategy Nash equilibrium and the game value for both cases. We show that superposition coding can achieve a higher payoff to the transmitter than the first scenario.
Growth rate of plasma-synthesized vertically aligned carbon nanofibers

Vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) were synthesized by direct-current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using acetylene and ammonia as the gas source. The mechanisms responsible for changing the nanofiber growth rate were studied and phenomenological models are proposed. The feedstock for VACNF growth is suggested to consist mainly of radicals formed in the plasma and not the unexcited acetylene gas molecules. The growth rate is shown to increase dramatically by changing the radical transport mechanism from diffusive to forced flow, which was accomplished by increasing the gas flow in the direction perpendicular to the substrate.
Expected Convex Hulls, Order Statistics, and Banach Space Probabilities * .

Using the expectation of a particular random set, we present a multivariate extension of a characterization theorem involving extreme order statistics.
Dissolved zinc in rivers

Reliable measurements of the concentrations of dissolved trace metals in rivers are needed for calculating oceanic chemical mass balances, understanding continental weathering and freshwater chemistry, and evaluating anthropogenic chemical perturbations. For dissolved zinc, it has been suggested1 that typical river concentrations are as high as 450 nmol kg−1. However, it has also been proposed2 that most published values are incorrect and the true value of dissolved zinc may be 2 orders of magnitude lower. Because zinc is one of the most commonly used metals in the industrial world, the sampling and analysis of this element in natural waters is particularly prone to contamination2. We present here the dissolved zinc concentrations from various rivers draining both pristine and industrially influenced environments. These samples were collected and analysed by methods that have yielded reliable oceanic data for other metals3. The data indicate that in relatively undisturbed systems dissolved zinc concentrations are typically only 10−9–10−8 mol kg−1, with some dependence of concentration on pH. In industrially influenced river systems, however, zinc concentrations can be 1–2 orders of magnitude higher.
Synthesis and characterization of the first series of isolable (nitro) ruthenium (III) complexes: a decomposition mechanism of the (nitro) ruthenium (III) moiety

The first series of isolable (nitro) ruthenium(III) complexes were prepared by the chemical oxidation of trans-[Ru(NO2)(PR3)2 (trpy)]+ (R = methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), and n-propyl (n-Pr)) and trans-[Fu(NO2)(PMe3)(PR3)(trpyl)]+ (R = Et and n-Pr). These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, UV-Vis spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility. A study of the decomposition reactions of these complexes in acetonitrile at 25°C was undertaken, where the products were identified by UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The product distribution changed from a 1:1:1 ratio of[Ru(NO)(PR3)2(trpy)]3+:[Ru(NO3)(PR3)2− (trpy)]2+: [Ru(NO2)(PR3)2(trpy)]+ to a 1:1 ratio of [Ru(NO)(PR3)2(trpy)]3+:[Ru(NO3(PR3)2(trpy)]+ depending on the R group of the PR3 ligands. The electrochemical data, combined with an 15NO2 IR spectroscopic labeling study on the most and least stable complexes in the series, suggests the decomposition mechanism involves nitro-nitrito linkage isomerization, followed by the formation of a transitory dimeric species that breath part into the final products.
Evaluating pulsatile ocular blood flow analysis in normal and treated glaucomatous eyes.

Abstract Purpose : To evaluate pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) analysis in normal subjects and glaucoma patients by comparison of POBF measurements with functional (as determined by visual field [VF]) and structural (as determined by optical coherence tomography [OCT]) measures. Design : Prospective, cross-sectional study. Methods : Forty-one eyes of 24 consecutive glaucoma patients and 20 eyes of 10 healthy subjects were studied; POBF analysis was performed on all subjects at the same visit as VF testing and OCT retinal nerve fiber layer (NFL) thickness measurement. The mean results of normal and glaucomatous eyes were compared for each method. Correlation between measurements obtained with each modality and the discriminating power using receiver operator characteristic curves was tested. Results : The mean POBF (standard deviation [SD]) in the normal group was 1,010.4 (292.8) μl/min and 989.3 (305.5) μl/min in the glaucoma group ( P = .90). Significant differences between groups were found for VF mean deviation and pattern standard deviation ( P = .02, P = .004, respectively) and OCT mean NFL thickness ( P P = .003). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curves was higher for VF indexes and OCT mean NFL thickness than POBF parameters for distinguishing between normal and glaucomatous eyes. Conclusions : The wide range of normal values and the low discriminating power of POBF between normal and glaucomatous eyes limits the clinical use of the device for glaucoma patients.
Fault-controlled pluton emplacement in the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt of southwest Montana, USA

Abstract Problems associated with syncompressional pluton emplacement center on the need to make room for magma in environments where crustal shortening, not extension, occurs on a regional scale. New structural data from the Pioneer and Boulder batholiths of southwest Montana, USA, suggest emplacement at the top of frontal thrust ramps as composite tabular bodies at crustal depths between 1 and 10 km. Frontal thrust facilitated pluton emplacement was accommodated by: (1) a magma feeder zone created along the ramp interface; (2) providing ‘releasing steps’ at ramp tops that serve as initial points of emplacement and subsequent pluton growth; and (3) localizing antithetic back-thrusts that assist in pluton ascent. A model of magma emplacement is proposed that involves these elements. This model for syntectonic ramp-top emplacement of plutons helps explain how space is made for plutons within fold-and-thrust belts.
Classical binary-encounter collision theory for electron-impact ionization of ions

Abstract We calculated electron-ion impact ionization using classical binary-encounter collision theory. A differential cross section per unit energy and momentum transfer is derived for two-electron scattering. We obtain the total ionization cross section by integrating this differential cross section over the appropriate energy and momentum transfer and the bound electron-velocity distribution. To simplify the computation, we calculated the bound electron-velocity distribution in the Thomas-Fermi approximation. Comparison with other theoretical calculations shows that our results agree within 50% with the best quantum qpproximations. Our cross sections and rate coefficients, which are sufficiently accurate for many practical applications, are expressed in computationally simple form.
Low-volume Potato spraying in Maine.

Various types of sprayers were used to measure the effectiveness of low volume fungicidal sprays for control of late blight. Early experiments compared 100 or more gallons per acre (gpa) with 25 to 50 gpa. Later work involved aerial application and aerial application simulators where 3 gpa or less were used. In these studies, conducted over several years, the late blight organism was artificially introduced and disease development usually was adequate for evaluation of control efficiency. In some experiments insect control data were obtained as were measurements on chemical vine-killing. Evidence of improved fungicidal action through low volume application was observed and further studies on this effect are in progress. In general, fungicidal applications at all gallonages tested were effective if the equipment was operated according to manufacturer's recommendations.
Role of Positive and Negative Instances in Learning Disjunctive Concepts

-The prcsent study involved comparing the learning of disjunctive concepts when information is presented by the use of all positive instances or all negative instances. The series of disjunctive concepts varied in complexity in terms of number of dimensions and values. 128 college students served as Ss and 4 different stimulus sets of varying complexity were used. All negative instances groups performei significantly better than positive-instances groups and task complexity was significant. These results were interpreted as support for Bourne's hypothesis that negative instances provide more information about disjunctive concepts than positive instances.
Relationships of soil, grass, and bedrock over the kaweah serpentinite melange through spectral mixture analysis of AVIRIS data

A linear mixing model is used to model the spectral variability of an AVIRIS scene from the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada and calibrate these radiance data to reflectance. Five spectral endmembers from the AVIRIS data, plus an ideal 'shade' endmember were required to model the continuum reflectance of each pixel in the image. Three of the endmembers were interpreted to model the surface constituents green vegetation, dry grass, and illumination. These are the main transient surface constituents that are expected to change with shifts in land use or climatic influences and viewing conditions ('shade' only). The spectral distinction between the other three endmembers is very small, yet the spatial distributions are coherent and interpretable. These distributions cross anthropogenic and vegetation boundaries and are best interpreted as different soil types. Comparison of the fraction images to the bedrock geology maps indicates that substrate composition must be a factor contributing to the spectral properties of these endmembers. Detailed examination of the reflectance spectra of the three soil endmembers reveals that differences in the amount of ferric and ferrous iron and/or organic constituents in the soils is largely responsible for the differences in spectral properties of these endmembers.
Correlation of Lean Blowoff of Gas Turbine Combustors Using Alternative Fuels

Generalisation d'un modele de l'extinction de la flamme en melange pauvre, a la chambre de combustion en forme de pot d'une turbine a gaz
State of the journal 2009

Last year the State of the Journal editorial reviewed the progress of the Journal of Perinatology (J Perinatol) over the past 5 years.1 The major changes that occurred during that period were the change to monthly publication (in 2004) and the dramatic increase in the number of manuscript submissions. In 2007, more than 500 Original Articles, Editorials, Reviews and other manuscripts were received for consideration of publication. This increase in submissions represented 100% growth over the 5 years. In the past year, we have continued to grow at approximately 10% rate, with 583 first submission articles received in 2008 for consideration of publication. We have also evaluated 190 resubmitted revised manuscripts during the past year. As we continue to publish approximately 200 articles per year, I conclude that we are becoming more selective regarding manuscript acceptance. The most common type of manuscript submitted is the Original Article—the product of research involving human studies usually of mothers or infants, but occasionally follow-up studies. In 2008, we completed 288 Original Article reviews and accepted 38% for publication. The next most common manuscript type is the Perinatal/Neonatal case presentation of which we evaluated 158 and accepted 15%. Our goal for 2009 is to continue this growth in submissions while retaining the quality of reviews and relatively short external evaluation period.
Frenet formulae for holomorphic curves in the two quadric

We give a complete description of holomorphic curves in the complex two quadric via the method of moving frames. For compact curves a Morse theory type integral formula is derived.
The relationship between growth and mortality for seven co-occurring tree species in the southern Appalachian Mountains

Summary 1 Slow growth is associated with high mortality risk for trees, but few data exist to assess interspecific differences in the relationship between growth and mortality. Here we compare low growth tolerance for seven co-occurring species in the southern Appalachian Mountains: Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Cornus florida, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus prinus, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudo-acacia. 2 For all species, mortality was greater for understorey individuals than for canopy trees. Species varied widely in the length of growth decline prior to death, ranging from 6 years for L. tulipifera to more than 12 years for Q. rubra. 3 Growth-mortali ty functions differ among species, but we found little evidence of a trade-off between tolerance of slow growth and an ability to show rapid growth in high light conditions. \ 4 A. rubrum stands out in its ability both to grow rapidly and to tolerate slow growth, suggesting that its density may increase at our study site as in other parts of the eastern United States. In contrast, C. florida shows high mortality (15% per annum) as a result of infection with dogwood anthracnose. 5 We modified a forest simulation model, LINKAGES (which assumes that all species have the same ability to tolerate slow growth), to include our functions relating growth and mortality. The modified model gives radically altered predictions, reinforcing the need to rethink and re-parameterize existing computer models with field data.
Focal Task-Specific Dystonia—From Early Descriptions to a New, Modern Formulation

Background: Vivid descriptions of the phenomenology of focal task‐specific dystonia (FTSD) date back to the late nineteenth century. Methods: In this review, I summarize the natural history, phenomenology, and treatment of FTSD, focusing on nineteenth‐century neurologists' descriptions of the phenomenology, etiology, treatment, and mechanism. Results: Examining these texts through a twenty‐first‐century lens, the “modern” ideas of a dystonic endophenotype, disordered physiology, and dystonic metabolic networks actually appeared in these texts more than a century ago. Discussion: By incorporating these ideas with recent investigations, I present a new conceptual model for understanding this mysterious malady.
Photon antibunching in downconverted light

It is shown theoretically that when the light produced by spontaneous parametric downconversion is mixed with a stationary, narrow-band local oscillator field centered on the mid-frequency, the resulting optical field exhibits photon antibunching in the steady state. The treatment is based on the integration of the coupled Heisenberg equations of motion for the field modes.
Iterative self-learning speaker and channel adaptation under various initial conditions

A self-learning adaptation technique is presented which handles the speaker and channel induced spectral variations without enrolment speech. At the acoustic level, the distortion spectral bias is estimated in two steps using the unsupervised maximum likelihood estimation: in the first step, the probability distributions of the speech spectral features are assumed uniform for severely mismatched channels; in the second step, the spectral bias is reestimated assuming Gaussian distributions for the spectral features. At the phone unit level, unsupervised sequential adaptation is performed via Bayesian estimation from the online, bias-removed speech data, and iterative adaptation is further performed for dictation applications. Over four 198-sentence test sets, on a continuous speech recognition task with vocabulary size=853 and grammar perplexity=105, the largest increase of average word accuracy is 85.2% from the baseline accuracy of -0.3%, and the maximum average word accuracy is 89.4% from the baseline accuracy of 56.5%.
Stark effect applicable to optically pumped far-infrared laser

The effect of low electric field Stark tuning on the absorption of CH 3 OH gas at the P(12) 9.4-\mu CO 2 laser line has been studied. At the 220-mtorr CH 3 OH pressure optimal for CH 3 OH far-infrared (FIR) laser operation, the line center absorption coefficient increases by a factor of 5 with a Stark field of 2.3 kV/cm.
On the achievable rate for receiver cooperation in ad-hoc networks

In this paper, the achievable rate for receiver cooperation in ad-hoc networks is presented. We consider two kinds of cooperation. The signal cooperation requires complete synchronization in the network, including phase locked microwave oscillators at separated nodes. In code cooperation the nodes only cooperate on the encoding, but there is no assumption on node synchronization.
COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEXITY IN TWO-LEVEL MORPHOLOGY

Morphological analysis must take into account the spelling-change processes of a language as well as its possible configurations of stems, affixes, and inflectional markings. The computational difficulty of the task can be clarified by investigating specific models of morphological processing. The use of finite-state machinery in the "two-level" model by Kimmo Koskenniemi gives it the appearance of computational efficiency, but closer examination shows the model does not guarantee efficient processing. Reductions of the satisfiability problem show that finding the proper lexical/surface correspondence in a two-level generation or recognition problem can be computationally difficult. The difficulty increases if unrestricted deletions (null characters) are allowed.
Formally modeling pretend object play

We address the problem of building computational agents that are capable of play. Existing research has examined the forms, characteristics, and processes involved in various kinds of play at a high level. However, this research does not provide a unified framework at a level of detail sufficient for building computational agents that can play. As a step toward addressing this gap we synthesize diverse research on pretend play to recognize important components of pretend play agents. We also develop a formal model of one key component of pretend play, pretend object play, and present a computational implementation of this model. Our work provides initial criteria for the content and processes necessary for pretend play agents.
Development and Applications of Portable Biosensors

The significance of microfluidics-based and microelectromechanical systems-based biosensors has been widely acknowledged, and many reviews have explored their potential applications in clinical diagnostics, personalized medicine, global health, drug discovery, food safety, and forensics. Because health care costs are increasing, there is an increasing need to remotely monitor the health condition of patients by point-of-care-testing. The demand for biosensors for detection of biological warfare agents has increased, and research is focused on ways of producing small portable devices that would allow fast, accurate, and on-site detection. In the past decade, the demand for rapid and accurate on-site detection of plant disease diagnosis has increased due to emerging pathogens with resistance to pesticides, increased human mobility, and regulations limiting the application of toxic chemicals to prevent spread of diseases. The portability of biosensors for on-site diagnosis is limited due to various issues, including sample preparation techniques, fluid-handling techniques, the limited lifetime of biological reagents, device packaging, integrating electronics for data collection/analysis, and the requirement of external accessories and power. Many microfluidic, electronic, and biological design strategies, such as handling liquids in biosensors without pumps/valves, the application of droplet-based microfluidics, paper-based microfluidic devices, and wireless networking capabilities for data transmission, are being explored.
Continuous models of population‐level heterogeneity inform analysis of animal dispersal and migration

Behavioral heterogeneity among individuals is a universal feature of natural populations. Most diffusion-based models of animal dispersal, however, implicitly assume homogeneous movement parameters within a population. Recent attempts to consider the effect of heterogeneous populations on dispersal distributions have been somewhat limited by the high number of parameters required to subdivide a population into several groups. A solution to this problem is to characterize the value of a movement parameter as continuously distributed within a population. We present several cases in which this method is useful and tractable, applying the framework both to spatial distribution data and closely related first passage times. The resulting models allow ecologists to identify the extent to which the variability in dispersal distributions can be attributed to population-level heterogeneity as opposed to intrinsic randomness. We apply the formulation to two very different cases of dispersal: resident organisms in a stream (freshwater chub Nocomis leptocephalus) and migrating organisms (juvenile salmonids Oncorhynchus spp.). In both cases, the application of heterogeneity-explicit models provides insights into the behavioral mechanisms of movement.
Race and Democracy: The Controversy Over Racial Vote Dilution

Soulevant la question des consequences juridiques et politiques de la Declaration de 1965 accordant le droit de vote aux Noirs et aux autres minorites dans le but d'une justice raciale, l'A. etudie le concept d'attenuation du vote racial qui apparait au centre du debat sur l'egalite des chances electorales et la participation au processus democratique. Critiquant l'interpretation du vote racial developpee par la Cour Supreme a l'occasion de l'affaire Allen et de la representation democratique des Noirs, l'A. propose une approche de la question fondee sur le principe de la justice politique visant a minimiser l'influence du prejuge racial dans les resultats electoraux
Designed evolution of enzymatic properties.

By providing a simple and reliable route to enzyme improvement, directed evolution has emerged as a key technology for enzyme engineering and biocatalysis. Recent advances include the evolution of a novel catalytic activity using the α/β barrel scaffold, evolution of a cofactor-free monooxygenase, and the engineering of regulatable enzymes. New screening systems for enantioselectivity and protein solubility, and the continuing stream of new methods for creating enzyme libraries further extend evolution’s reach.
Myosin head orientation: a structural determinant for the Frank-Starling relationship.

The cellular mechanism underlying the Frank-Starling law of the heart is myofilament length-dependent activation. The mechanism(s) whereby sarcomeres detect changes in length and translate this int...
Design of a Mach-15 Total-Enthalpy Nozzle With Non-uniform Inflow Using Rotational MOC

A new computer program to design nozzles with non-uniform inflow has been developed using the rotational method of characteristics (MOC). This program has been used to design a nozzle for the NASA's HYPULSE shock-expansion tunnel for use in scramjet engine tests at a Mach-15 flight-enthalpy condition. The nozzle has an area ratio of 9.5:1 that expands the inflow from Mach 6 along the centerline to Mach 8.7. Although the density and Mach number vary radially at the exit due to the non-uniformities of the inflow, the MOC procedure produces exit flow that is parallel and has uniform static pressure. The design has been verified with CFD which compares favorably with the MOC solution.
Wnts and wing: Wnt signaling in vertebrate limb development and musculoskeletal morphogenesis†

In the past twenty years, secreted signaling molecules of the Wnt family have been found to play a central role in controlling embryonic development from hydra to human. In the developing vertebrate limb, Wnt signaling is required for limb bud initiation, early limb patterning (which is governed by several well-characterized signaling centers), and, finally, late limb morphogenesis events. Wnt ligands are unique, in that they can activate several different receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways. The most extensively studied Wnt pathway is the canonical Wnt pathway, which controls gene expression by stabilizing beta-catenin in regulating a diverse array of biological processes. Recently, more attention has been given to the noncanonical Wnt pathway, which is beta-catenin-independent. The noncanonical Wnt pathway signals through activating Ca(2+) flux, JNK activation, and both small and heterotrimeric G proteins, to induce changes in gene expression, cell adhesion, migration, and polarity. Abnormal Wnt signaling leads to developmental defects and human diseases affecting either tissue development or homeostasis. Further understanding of the biological function and signaling mechanism of Wnt signaling is essential for the development of novel preventive and therapeutic approaches of human diseases. This review provides a critical perspective on how Wnt signaling regulates different developmental processes. As Wnt signaling in tumor formation has been reviewed extensively elsewhere, this part is not included in the review of the clinical significance of Wnt signaling.
Helping Patients With Mental Illness Get Back to Work

The onset of schizophrenia often happens during young adulthood. The illness disrupts the normal developmental goals of young adulthood, including intimacy, friendship, education, and vocation. Patients and their families need guidance on how to adapt to a future that includes having a serious psychiatric illness. One of the central questions for young patients is whether to seek (or return to) a “real” job once a diagnosis of schizophrenia is made. A landmark study by McGurk and colleagues in this issue of the Journal (1) tackles the broader question of the potential reversibilityofongoingdisabilitybytargetingkeycognitivebarriers to getting and holding a job. The study evaluated the impact of adding a focused cognitive component tocurrentstate-of-the-art employment services. In this editorial, I discuss some of the background and context within which the study was conducted, as well as importance of these results to the field at large. WhenIwasinmyresidencytrainingintheearly1980s,the
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT PERITONEAL DIALYSIS PHYSIOLOGY

During the past five years an increased interest in peritoneal dialysis has stimulated studies of factors affecting solute transport during this process. The major advances which have been made in our understanding of anatomy and physiology of the peritoneal dialysis system have been reviewed elsewhere ( 1-9) . The purpose of this paper is to summarize major unanswered questions in these areas and to stimulate future investigations .
Reduced lipoprotein lipase activity in postural skeletal muscle during aging

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme for fatty acid and lipoprotein metabolism in muscle. However, the effect of aging on LPL regulation in skeletal muscle is unknown. We report the effect of a...
Inflammatory Responses and Intensity of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Patients with Duodenal and Gastric Ulcer: Histopathologic Analysis with a New Stain

Background: The basic histopathologic patterns of Helicobacter pylori gastritis have been described, but the details of the interaction between bacteria, epithelial cells and inflammatory cells are poorly understood. One of the limiting factors is the lack of a staining technique allowing the simultaneous visualization of bacteria and the morphologic details of the infected mucosa.Purpose: To use a new stain to analyze intensity and distribution of H. pylori and gastritis in patients with H. pylori gastritis without ulcer, with duodenal ulcer, and with gastric ulcer, in an attempt to elucidate the role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease.Methods: patients underwent esophagogastro-duodenoscopy and gastric biopsies were obtained from 3 sites on the antral lesser curvature, 2 on the antral greater curvature, and 6 on the corpus. Formalin-fixed biopsy specimens were processed, oriented, embedded in paraffin, cut in 4-μm sections and stained with a combined stain developed in our laboratory (a combination of hematoxylin and eosin with a silver stain and Alcian Blue at pH 2.5). This stain allows the simultaneous visualization of H. pylori, the gastric mucosal morphology, and the inflammatory infiltrate. Density of H. pylori, neutrophils and mononuclear cells were scored on each specimen using a scale from 0 to 5.Results: Density and distribution of H. pylori were essentially similar in the non-ulcer infected patients and in patients with gastric ulcer. Patients with duodenal ulcer had a higher density of bacteria in the antrum than in the corpus. All patients had significantly greater inflammatory responses in the antrum than in the corpus, but this gradient was much more pronounced in patients with duodenal ulcer than in those with gastric ulcer and those with no ulcer. Surprisingly, the strongest intensity of gastritis (both in the antrum and corpus) was found in this latter group.Conclusions: The gastritis gradient is more important than the intensity of inflammatory responses per se in determining the outcome of H. pylori infection with respect to the development of peptic ulcer. Larger studies, using new methodologies that allow a better assessment of the numbers of bacteria in the gastric mucus, should be performed to better elucidate the relationship between magnitude of infection, intensity of the mucosal inflammatory responses, and outcome of H. pylori gastritis.
Immunocytochemical reactions of serum from ulcerative colitis patients.

ConclusionIncreased gamma globulin was demonstrated in the intestinal tract of patients with active regional ileitis and ulcerative colitis. The indirect fluorescent antibody technic revealed a gamma globulin in the serum of 3 of 25 patients with ulcerative colitis which was bound to epithelial glands of colonic mucosa and of hepatic bile ductules. Sera of normals and hospital controls did not bind to colonic mucosa.
Multiple schwannomas of the foot: Case report and strategy for treatment

Determining the appropriate treatment of a benign tumor of a peripheral nerve in the foot and ankle region presents a clinical dilemma, as resection of the tumor will cause loss of nerve function and create the possibility of a painful neuroma. Several surgical solutions to this problem were used in the care of a patient who presented with painful bilateral Morton’s neuromas and was found to have bilateral schwannomas on pathologic examination of the resected nerves. Subsequent evaluation for recurrent bilateral foot pain demonstrated multiple tumors along the tibial nerve in one foot. The patient also became aware of a painful mass on the dorsolateral aspect of one foot. Review of the treatment options for this patient with multiple schwannomas provides a framework for decision making in the care of the patient with benign neural tumors of the foot. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 93(1): 51-57, 2003)
A Comparative Analysis of Neuropsychological Test Performance of Spanish-Speaking and English-Speaking Patients With Alzheimer's Disease

Because the diagnosis of dementia is highly dependent on the identification of neuropsychological deficits, there have been increasing concerns regarding cultural bias in tests designed to measure cognitive and intellectual function in English-speaking and Spanish-speaking adults. Despite their widespread clinical use, the effects of potential cultural bias on these measures among these two groups are largely unknown. We assembled a group of 76 females who received an NINCDS-ADRDA clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Half of these subjects were primary Spanish speakers, and the other half reported English as their primary language. All subjects were matched on chronological age and severity of memory impairment. Factors such as educational attainment and depression were entered into the analyses as covariates. The two groups were compared with respect to their performance on a battery of neuropsychological tests that are representative of what is typically used to diagnose the presence and severity of dementia. The finding that Spanish-speaking AD patients scored lower on specific neuropsychological measures is discussed in terms of inherent language biases and the possible lack of saliency of a number of these tests. The results obtained further suggest the need to modify certain neuropsychological indices so that they will better serve diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
Midgut basal lamina thickness and dengue-1 virus dissemination rates in laboratory strains of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Strain differences in midgut basal lamina thickness, assessed by measurement in transmission electron micrographs, and disseminated infection rates of dengue-1 virus were compared among three laboratory strains of Aedes albopictus (Skuse). Mean basal lamina thicknesses for the New Orleans and Houston strains were significantly greater than those for the Oahu strain, which exhibits a higher disseminated infection rate than the former two. Although basal lamina thickness among the F1 progeny of reciprocal crosses of the Oahu and Houston strains were intermediate between the parental strains, they were too variable to be useful as markers in genetic studies. Measurements of basal laminae among individuals of the New Orleans strain, with disseminated or nondisseminated infections, failed to demonstrate a role for basal lamina thickness as a modulator of dengue-1 virus dissemination across the midgut epithelium of Ae. albopictus.
Percutaneous Removal of Caliceal and Other “Inaccessible” Stones: Instruments and Techniques

AbstractPercutaneous removal of renal stones is becoming an established procedure, especially for stones lying free in the renal pelvis. However, some renal stones, particularly caliceal stones, are less accessible and require special techniques for removal. We discuss these techniques, which include retrograde pyelography to facilitate a thorough understanding of caliceal anatomy and stone position in 3 dimensions, 2) approaches for accurate placement of a nephrostomy tract for straightline access to the stone(s), 3) judicious use of percutaneous punctures above the 12th rib and secondary percutaneous tracts, and 4) skilled choice and use of a large variety of cutting, extracting and disintegrating instruments with endoscopic and/or fluoroscopic control. The flexible nephroscope is valuable especially to reach inaccessible areas, although its skilled use requires experience. Flexible endoscopy often is aided by pressure irrigation, an assistant and simultaneous fluoroscopic control.