cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Common Oral Conditions in Children with Special Needs

Children and adolescents with special healthcare needs can present with oral conditions as a manifestation of their complex medical conditions and/or as undesirable effects of the therapies used in the treatment of those medical issues. The diagnosis and management of oral entities in medically complex pediatric patients can be challenging and must involve consultation with the patient’s healthcare providers. Dental professionals have a paramount role in enhancing the patient’s quality of life through management of the oral issues as well as in educating caretakers and allied health professionals. This chapter discusses some of the most common oral conditions encountered in children with special healthcare needs and provides general recommendations for care.
Impacts of cytoplasmic inheritance on production traits of dairy cattle

Maternal lineage effects on production traits were examined by using animal models. Data were 6054 multiparous records of2264 cows from six herds in North Carolina and the Iowa State University breeding herd. Separate analyses were performed by using first-parity records from North Carolina, all records from North Carolina, and pooled records from North Carolina and Iowa. Traits were mature-equivalent milk, fat, and protein yield; fat and protein percentage; and milk energy concentration and yield. Cattle were assigned to maternal lineages on the basis of earliest recorded female ancestor. Effects in the models were fixed state, herdyear-season, parity, and maternal lineage, and random animal, permanent environment and residual. All additive genetic relationships were considered. In all analyses, maternal lineage was associated with significant differences in fat percentage and milk energy concentration. Differences between maternal lineages for yield traits were not significant. Variance components were also obtained by using REML and the same data and models, but considering lineage a random effect. Maternal lineage accounted for 2.7% of the variance in fat percentage.
Databases and knowledge-based systems for service life estimation of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) rehabilitated civil engineering structures

Abstract: While a substantial amount of research has been conducted using FRP materials, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to its increased usage is the lack of readily available information related to material characteristics, durability in various environments, successful applications, and for the purposes of design. This chapter summarizes thoughts outlining the need for the development of an integrated knowledge system or ‘virtual designer’ that would simultaneously serve as a centralized repository for information sets and would also enable data and knowledge to be accessed in a manner amenable to designers. Beyond the immediate use of such a system in design, it is also possible that it would serve as a means for further science-based development of materials and structural concepts for civil infrastructure applications, and therefore serve as a catalyst for the increased use of FRP materials.
Studies on Synthesis, Characterization of Modified Phenol Formaldehyde Resin and Metal Adsorption of Modified Resin Derived From Lignin Biomass

This study was related to development of economically viable method of extraction of lignin from saw dust in order to produce lignin modified phenolic resin and ecofriendly adhesives (bio-based resin). This study cover to improve the mechanical properties by modification of phenol formaldehyde resole resin using some additives such as boric acid, sulfuric acid and lignin biomass. The synthesis and metal adsorption capacity of resin derived from lignin biomass were explored. Lignin sample was extracted from sawdust of Acacia sp . collected from Batticaloa region by alkali extraction method called delignification process. Qualitative tests were carried out on the extracted alkali lignin and it was used to prepare modified resin. Resin synthesized by using lignin substitution phenol and allowed to condensation reaction in the presence of sodium hydroxide. Boron-modified phenol formaldehyde resin was prepared by using boric acid with formalim method. The above reaction was performed for four hours by refluxing with toluene. Which was produced a high viscous massive resin with 90% yield. The absorbtion peak of B-O bond at 1362cm -1 was observed at IR spectra. Rise in solid mass content leads to produce smooth resin surface without causing cracks and bubbling. Phenol formaldehyde resin was modified into their sulfonated forms to increase their ion exchange capacity, since the ion exchange capacity of virgin resin was found to be zero. Conductivity property shown by sulfonated resin(121mS/cm). The synthesized Lignin based PF resin was used to study the metal adsorption capacity of Cd 2+ in aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of heavy metal Cd 2+ ion shown by lignin modified resin (55%) and lignin (86%). In this study sawdust lignin could be best substitution for phenol in synthesis of Phenol-Formaldehyde resin. It’s better due to their sustainability, environmental control, low production cost and their ability to adsorb heavy metals. Phenolic resin was modified with boric acid to improve thermal resistance property and to get smooth resin surface.
Diastereospecific Recognition of Dyes by Salt Crystals: A Case of Plundered Stereochemistry in Postwar Europe

As early as March 1944, the British were making plans for the occupation of Germany.1 A chief concern of these planners was the capture of technologies that would assist the Allied nations in the defeat of Japan and in the postwar economy. The assets of IG Farben, the chemical conglomerate that enabled Germany to fight in the First and Second World Wars, were among the most sought after targets. In this paper we discuss how incomplete crystal structures of triarylmethane dyes, captured from IG Farben by British Intelligence, led to an incorrect analysis of the stereospecific recognition of these dyes by simple ionic salts. We review our work on the determination of these stereospecific association mechanisms within the context of earlier errors and remind the reader of consequential political and economic events that serve as the requisite background for a complete understanding of an otherwise insignificant stereochemical puzzle.
Where Did the Time Go? On the Increase in Airline Schedule Padding Over 21 Years

About 43 million US domestic flights operated on routes that were serviced consistently by the same airlines from 1997 to 2017. The scheduled duration of these flights, as posted on computerized reservation systems, increased on average by 8.1% over the 21-year span. Where did the time go? Building on Deshpande and Arkan (2012), we develop a multi-period newsvendor model of how airlines decide their posted duration and show that the model can be reduced to a series of single-period newsvendor problems. The model explains more than 99% of the variation among the 43,062,886 posted flight durations in our data. We use structural estimation and counterfactual analysis to establish that more than 45% of the increase in posted duration stems from airlines strategically padding their schedule to achieve higher on-time performance. We also provide evidence that decreased airline competition on a route is associated with increased strategic padding.
Localization of Light in Randomized Periodic Media

In this article we describe a mathematically rigorous proof of Anderson localization of light in randomized periodic media, based on the macroscopic Maxwell equations.
7.3 – Reaction Kinetics of Primary Rock-Forming Minerals under Ambient Conditions

This article firstly discusses the general techniques for measurement of dissolution and precipitation rates of rock-forming silicates and carbonates, and then, seven of these nine factors are discussed sequentially. Full discussions of the last two phenomena, transport and biologic processes, are not included. Throughout the article, it also discusses how surface complexation models can now be used to understand the reactive sites on mineral surfaces. Nonetheless, the intent here is mostly to emphasize simpler rate equations that emphasize solution chemistry instead of surface chemistry because these are often used in reactive transport codes. Techniques to predict the rates of mineral dissolution for mineral compositions where data are unavailable are summarized.
Basic Cognitive Abilities Relevant to Male Adolescents' Soccer Performance

While there is a theoretical and empirical consensus that specific cognitive abilities gained through deliberate sports practice influence sports performance, it is less clear whether basic cogniti...
Factors Behind the Rise in Global Rice Prices in 2008

Global rice prices rose to record highs in the spring of 2008, with trading prices tripling from November 2007 to late April 2008. The price increase was not due to crop failure or a particularly tight global rice supply situation. Instead, trade restrictions by major suppliers, panic buying by several large importers, a weak dollar, and record oil prices were the immediate cause of the rise in rice prices. The 2007-08 rice price increase followed price spikes for major agricultural commodities such as wheat, corn, and soybeans. The primary cause of the rise in prices for these commodities from 2006-08 was rising global incomes, dietary changes, increased use of biofuels, tight grain supplies, and increased participation in futures markets by nontraditional investors. Because rice is critical to the diet of about half the world’s population, the rapid increase in global rice prices in late 2007 and early 2008 had a detrimental impact on those rice consumers’ well-being. Although rice prices have dropped more than 40 percent from their April 2008 highs, they remain well above pre-2007 levels.
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome overlap due to hydroxychloroquine: a case report.

Since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the novel coronavirus disease2019, there have been targeted efforts to establish management modalities. Hydroxychloroquine has been suggested as a possible treatment; however, it is associated with multiple adverse reactions. We report a rare case of a patient with acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis with Stevens-Johnson syndrome due to hydroxychloroquine. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis is characterized by acute onset of a generalized rash that is pustular and erosive in nature, affecting limbs; trunk; face; and, less often, mucosal membranes. Although rare, it is important to be mindful of this side effect because the diagnosis is often delayed, and the disease has the potential to be life-threatening. A 68-year-old American woman presented to our hospital with a painful, rapidly spreading rash. Its morphologic features included erythema multiforme–like lesions with extensive skin sloughing in various regions of the head, neck, and trunk and mucosal involvement. Her Nikolsky sign was negative, and she had no evidence of lesions on areas of skin trauma. Four weeks prior, she had been initiated on hydroxychloroquine for a presumed diagnosis of cutaneous sarcoidosis. Three punch biopsies of the head and neck area revealed subcorneal pustules consistent with acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. Treatment began with high doses of methylprednisolone, leading to only minimal improvement of existing areas and ongoing spread to new areas. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin was initiated, at which point disease stability was achieved. The patient’s rash ultimately resolved, as did her cutaneous pain and pruritus. Among many potential adverse reactions involving hydroxychloroquine, cutaneous side effects are varied and can lead to significant morbidity or even death. The drug is currently being investigated in a multitude of trials for coronavirus disease2019 treatment, prevention, and prophylaxis after exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis is a rare side effect of hydroxychloroquine, and even fewer cases demonstrate histologic evidence of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis while clinically presenting with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Patients who develop Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis require best supportive care with aggressive fluid and electrolyte replacement and prevention of further breakdown of the skin barrier. With the potential of widespread hydroxychloroquine use, it is important that providers be aware of its potential severe adverse drug reactions.
Gusty winds, flappy wings

![Graphic][1] Birds must fly in all manner of windy weather. At first glance, this may not seem like such an impressive feat; after all, flying is what birds are born to do. But if you consider that they remain suspended in the air while being continually buffeted by sudden gusts of wind,
Play Therapy Courses in School Counselor Training: A Content Analysis of Syllabi From CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Programs:

The purpose of this study was to conduct a content analysis of the syllabi of play therapy courses offered by school counseling programs that hold accreditation from the Council for Accreditation o...
A Higher Foci Density of Interstitial Fibrosis and Tubular Atrophy Predicts Progressive CKD after a Radical Nephrectomy for Tumor.

Background Chronic tubulointerstitial injury on kidney biopsy is usually quantified by the percentage of cortex with interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA). Whether other patterns of IF/TA or inflammation in the tubulointerstitium have prognostic importance beyond percentage IF/TA is unclear. Methods We obtained, stained, and digitally scanned full cortical thickness wedge sections of renal parenchyma from patients who underwent a radical nephrectomy for a tumor over 2000-2015, and morphometrically analyzed the tubulointerstitium of the cortex for percentage IF/TA, IF/TA density (foci per mm2 cortex), percentage subcapsular IF/TA, striped IF/TA, percentage inflammation (both within and outside IF/TA regions), and percentage subcapsular inflammation. Patients were followed with visits every 6-12 months. Progressive CKD was defined as dialysis, kidney transplantation, or 40% decline from the postnephrectomy eGFR. Cox models assessed the risk of CKD or noncancer mortality with morphometric measures of tubulointerstitial injury after adjustment for the percentage IF/TA and clinical characteristics. Results Among 936 patients (mean age, 64 years; postnephrectomy baseline eGFR, 48 ml/min per 1.73m2), 117 progressive CKD events and 183 noncancer deaths occurred over a median 6.4 years. Higher IF/TA density predicted both progressive CKD and noncancer mortality after adjustment for percentage IF/TA and predicted progressive CKD after further adjustment for clinical characteristics. Independent of percentage IF/TA, age, and sex, higher IF/TA density correlated with lower eGFR, smaller nonsclerosed glomeruli, more global glomerulosclerosis, and smaller total cortical volume. Conclusions Higher density of IF/TA foci (a more scattered pattern with more and smaller foci) predicts higher risk of progressive CKD after radical nephrectomy compared with the same percentage of IF/TA but with fewer and larger foci.
Bidirectional interconversion of microwave and light with thin-film lithium niobate.

Superconducting cavity electro-optics presents a promising route to coherently convert microwave and optical photons and distribute quantum entanglement between superconducting circuits over long-distance. Strong Pockels nonlinearity and high-performance optical cavity are the prerequisites for high conversion efficiency. Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) offers these desired characteristics. Despite significant recent progresses, only unidirectional conversion with efficiencies on the order of 10−5 has been realized. In this article, we demonstrate the bidirectional electro-optic conversion in TFLN-superconductor hybrid system, with conversion efficiency improved by more than three orders of magnitude. Our air-clad device architecture boosts the sustainable intracavity pump power at cryogenic temperatures by suppressing the prominent photorefractive effect that limits cryogenic performance of TFLN, and reaches an efficiency of 1.02% (internal efficiency of 15.2%). This work firmly establishes the TFLN-superconductor hybrid EO system as a highly competitive transduction platform for future quantum network applications. Coherent conversion between optical and microwave photonics is needed for future quantum applications. Here, the authors combine thin-film lithium niobate and superconductor platforms as a hybrid electro-optic system to achieve high-efficiency frequency conversion between microwave and optical modes.
Combined evidence model to enhance pavement condition prediction from highly uncertain sensor data

Abstract Despite the significant advancements in data collection technology and the increased use of automated data collection systems, pavement condition assessment mainly relies on ground-based monitoring. The increasing availability of low-cost sensors and remote sensing technologies provide opportunities to explore more efficient approaches. These data, however, are often characterized by high uncertainties. This study explores the application of Evidence Theory to incorporate highly uncertain sensor data. The capabilities of the proposed approach are assessed in a case study comparing the estimated pavement condition derived from the proposed Evidence Theory approach and the traditional approaches of Markov Deterioration Process and the Bayesian approach proposed in the Partially Observable Markov Decision Process. This paper also explores how to incorporate aspects such as reliability and conflict in the combination of multiple sensors data and discusses the impacts on the results of various parameters and methods in the application of Evidence Theory. The results show that the proposed Evidence Theory approach produces errors that are 44% lower than any of the other methods. The sensitivity analysis exploring different treatments of conflict and the introduction of reliability measures show the importance of an adequate calibration of Evidence Theory parameters in real life applications.
What is a processing speed weakness? Importance of cognitive ability when defining processing speed in a child psychiatric population.

There is growing evidence that processing speed (PS) deficits in youth with neuropsychiatric conditions are associated with functional difficulties. However, there is no consistent definition of slower PS; specifically, whether slower PS should be defined as a discrepancy from same-aged peers (normative weakness) or as an intrapersonal deficit relative to overall cognitive ability (relative weakness). In a sample of clinically-referred youth, we calculated slower PS both ways and examined the impact on adaptive, academic, and psychopathology outcomes in relation to different levels of cognitive ability. Significant PS x cognitive ability interactions were found on adaptive and academic outcomes. A norm-based weakness in PS (PSI Standard Score 15 point difference from VCI) was associated with significantly lower academic performance. No significant associations were found for general psychopathology. Results suggest a normative weakness in PS impacts functional outcomes interactively and differently with level of general cognitive ability. Data suggest that higher cognitive ability may be somewhat protective from the impact of normatively weak PS on adaptive outcomes; however, youth across all abilities with normatively weak PS showed weaker academic performance. Second, children with high cognitive abilities and relatively weak PS showed discrepant performance compared to comparison group. Implications and areas for future research are discussed.
Tried and (Inherently) Prejudiced: Disposing of the Prejudice Requirement for Lack of Counsel in Removal Proceedings

Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants appear before the immigration courts in removal proceedings. Removal proceedings have long been scrutinized when it comes to ensuring immigrants who go through the immigration courts are afforded their rights—with good reason. Over the past few years, the immigration courts have been facing an existential crisis and have been dysfunctional, compromising the effectiveness of the court system. As a result, immigration judges often prioritize efficiency over ensuring noncitizens are afforded their rights and afforded a meaningful day in court. Among these rights this process has jeopardized includes the statutory right to counsel. Although noncitizens have a statutory right to counsel in immigration courts, the government has no obligation to provide an attorney to those who cannot afford one. The problem is that immigration judges are denying the statutory right to counsel in removal proceedings; therefore, the noncitizens are appearing before immigration judges without a crucial procedural safeguard. Noncitizens who have counsel are more likely to seek relief from removal and actually win their case; therefore, it is important to recognize the distinctiveness of this right. The current system is inadequate and fails to give these noncitizens a fair and meaningful hearing. As a result, the federal circuit courts are split as to whether the courts should require a noncitizen to show that they were prejudiced by lack of counsel in removal proceedings. This Comment argues that the federal circuit courts should not require prejudice when the immigrant has been denied their right to counsel because, under the Accardi Doctrine, an agency must abide by its own regulations when those regulations pertain to a party’s rights. The consequences of removal are similar in severity to those in criminal law; therefore, it needs to be ensured that immigrants have the right to counsel if they have not expressly waived it in order to effectuate a meaningful hearing. Not only are the consequences of removal severe, but immigration system is already inherently prejudicial to the immigrant such that proving prejudice would be a waste of resources. Immigration laws are complex and filled with subjective standards, the impartiality of the immigration courts has been questioned, and the immigration courts have become increasingly weaponized over the past few years. Therefore, the federal circuit courts should not require an immigrant to show that lack of counsel prejudiced their proceedings.
Amperometric Detection of Aqueous Silver Ions by Inhibition of Glucose Oxidase Immobilized on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube Electrodes

An amperometric glucose biosensor based on immobilization of glucose oxidase on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) was successfully developed for the determination of silver ions. Upon exposure to glucose, a steady-state enzymatic turnover rate was detected through amperometric oxidation of the H2O2 byproduct, directly related to the concentration of glucose in solution. Inhibition of the steady-state enzymatic glucose oxidase reaction by heavy metals ions such as Ag+, produced a quantitative decrease in the steady-state rate, subsequently creating an ultrasensitive metal ion biosensor through enzymatic inhibition. The Ag+ biosensor displayed a sensitivity of 2.00 × 108 ± 0.06 M–1, a limit of detection (σ = 3) of 0.19 ± 0.04 ppb, a linear range of 20–200 nM, and sample recovery at 101 ± 2%, all acquired at a low-operating potential of 0.05 V (vs Hg/Hg2SO4). Interestingly, the biosensor does not display a loss in sensitivity with continued use due to the % inhibition based detection scheme: loss of e...
Bacillus subtilis β-1, 4-Endoglucanase Products from Intact and Truncated Genes Are Secreted into the Extracellular Medium by Escherichia coli

We compared the secretion of a Bacillus subtilis endo-beta-1,4-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4) in B. subtilis and of the product from the cloned gene (pC6.3) expressed in Escherichia coli. The cloned enzyme has been isolated previously as the 52.2-kilodalton (kDa) species predicted from the gene sequence (R. M. MacKay, A. Lo, G. Willick, M. Zuker, S. Baird, M. Dove, F. Moranelli, and V. Seligy, Nucleic Acids Res., 14:9159-9170, 1986); this 52.2-kDa species is then converted to an active 35.8-kDa species. The 35.8-kDa species has a segment removed from the COOH terminus. Endoglucanase products were identified by use of an antibody directed to the 35.8-kDa enzyme. Time course studies of the secretion in B. subtilis showed that the enzyme was first secreted as a 52.2-kDa proenzyme. This was cleaved progressively to a product of about 32 kDa. Time course analysis of the expression of the cloned product from pC6.3 in E. coli showed that about 70% of the endoglucanase activity was found extracellularly. Analysis of active products from three deletion clones showed that the expression pattern of the endoglucanase was not affected by removal of the transcription termination signal and that neither expression nor secretion was substantially altered by removal of a region coding for up to 163 residues of the carboxyl terminus.
Topology aggregation method for multiple link parameters

In a hierarchical network, each subnetwork advertises its topology information to the other subnetworks. Many studies have been done to minimize the amount of advertised topology information. The existing works assume a logical link can be represented with only a few parameters. However, for the QoS and policy-based networks, more parameters are used to represent the state of a link (e.g., cost, policies). For these networks, with the existing methods, the amount of advertised information linearly increases to the order of the number of link-state parameters. To solve this problem, this work proposes a new topology aggregation method.
The Future of Observational Stellar Atmospheres

The title of this talk is, of course, a bit absurd since no one in his right mind can possibly predict what will happen in the future over even one year let alone ten. However nothing is impossible for Dick Thomas and having accepted his invitation to present this talk I have to pretend to have a crystal ball and put up a good front. I think that the best way to proceed would be to look at the past few years in observational stellar atmospheres and point out some of the highlights, especially those advances which seem to hold great promise for our understanding of stellar atmospheres in the future. The observer’s work falls neatly into two categories: the collection of data and their subsequent interpretation. The former involves the development and use of instrumentation (usually some type of spectrograph with a photon detection system); the latter is so closely linked to theory that it would be impossible to discuss it without recourse to theoretical assumptions and results. Therefore I would like to first mention a few instrumental developments which I consider to be of great importance and then discuss briefly some of the problems to which they might be applied in the next several years.
Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers: Harmonic oscillators and photons

Prerequisites: Chapters 2–5, 9, 10, 12, and 13. For additional background on vector calculus, electromagnetism and modes see Appendices C and D. In this section, we return to the harmonic oscillator and consider it in a mathematically more elegant way. This approach leads to the introduction of “raising” and “lowering” operators that take us from one harmonic oscillator state to another. The introduction of these operators allows us to rewrite the harmonic oscillator mathematics quite economically. We then show that the electromagnetic field for a given mode can also be described in a manner exactly analogous to a harmonic oscillator. In this case, we describe the states of this generalized harmonic oscillator in terms of the number of photons per mode, with that number corresponding exactly to the quantum number for the corresponding harmonic oscillator state. The raising and lowering operators are now physically interpreted as “creation” and “annihilation” operators for photons and are key operators for describing electromagnetic fields. By this process, we can describe the electromagnetic field quantum mechanically, rather than our previous semiclassical use of quantum mechanical electron behavior but with classical electric and magnetic fields. We say we have “quantized” the electromagnetic field. This quantization is then the basis for all of quantum optics. This approach also prepares us for discussions in subsequent chapters of fermion operators and of the full description of stimulated and spontaneous emission.
Stochastic Adaptive Control

The objective of this paper is to present some identification problems and adaptive control problems for continuous time linear and nonlinear stochastic systems that are completely or partially observed. For continuous time linear of stochastic systems the consistency of a family of least squares estimates of some unknown parameters is verified. The unknown parameters appear in the linear transformations of the state and the control. An approach to the verification of the consistency associates a family of control problems to the identification problem and the asymptotic behavior of the solutions of a family of algebraic Riccati equations from the control problems implies a persistent excitation property for the identification problem. The theorem of locally asymptotically normal experiment is used to test hypotheses about the parameters of a controlled linear stochastic system. The tests are formulated for both continuous and sampled observations of the input and the output.
Human adenosine deaminase. Stoichiometry of the adenosine deaminase-binding protein complex

In many human tissues adenosine deaminase exists as a large molecular weight complex (large form) composed of adenosine deaminase and an adenosine deaminase binding protein. The molar ratio of adenosine deaminase to binding protein in this large form complex appears to be 2:1, respectively, based on several observations. Scatchard-type analysis of the binding of 125I-labeled adenosine deaminase to purified binding protein indicates that 2.15 mol of adenosine deaminase are bound to 1 mol of binding protein. Chemical cross-linking of 125I-labeled adenosine deaminase-binding protein complex (large form) with glutaraldehyde produces 6 cross-linked species with molecular weights consistent with the proposed 2 to 1 stoichiometry. Sedimentation equilibrium analyses reveal a native molecular weight of 300 890 for the adenosine deaminase-binding protein complex (large form), 37 500 for small form adenosine deaminase, and 213 300 for the binding protein. A 2:1 molar ratio of adenosine deaminase and binding protein in the large form complex is most consistent with these molecular weight estimates.
A View from the Inside: Grounding the Remittance-Development Link

Resumen en: Research on the remittance-development link and policies for leveraging remittances for development have led to polarization and have obscured vital nuan...
Mechanical Properties of Thin-Film Parylene–Metal–Parylene Devices

Structures and testing methods for measuring the adhesion strength, minimum bending diameter, and bending fatigue performance of thin film polymer electronic architectures were developed and applied to Parylene-metal-Parylene systems with and without the moisture barrier Al2O3 (deposited using atomic layer deposition (ALD)). Parylene-metal-Parylene interfaces had the strongest average peel test strength and Parylene-Parylene interfaces had the weakest peel. Layers of ALD Al2O3 deposited within the device increased the average peel strength for Parylene-Parylene interfaces when combined with silane A-174, but did not increase the Parylene-metal-Parylene interface. Metal traces in the middle of 24 µm thick Parylene-metal-Parylene devices had a minimum bending diameter of ~130 µm before breaking and being measured as an open circuit. The addition of one layer of Al2O3 above the traces allowed them to be completely creased when bent away from the Al2O3 layer without producing an open circuit, but increased the minimum bending diameter to ~450 µm when bent away from the Al2O3. Although fatigue testing produced cracks in all devcies after 100k bends, the insulation of the Parylene-metal-Parylene devices without Al2O3 performed well with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showing only small decreases in impedance magnitude and small increases of impedance phase at low frequencies. However, devices with Al2O3 failed during EIS due to Al2O3 being deteriorated by water.
Automatic dimensional inspection of machine part cross-sections using Fourier analysis

A technique for automatic inspection of machine part cross-sections is presented. A planar closed curve representing the boundary profile of a manufactured machine part is compared with the theoretical part. The boundary profile of the machine part is sampled by a high precision coordinate measurement machine which is capable of contour tracing. A curve fitting scheme using complex trigonometric functions (Fourier series) is used to model the machine part boundary contour. An upper bound for the accuracy of approximation of the arc length parametrized contours is suggested and compared with the upper bound given in ( Comput. Graphics Image Process. 6 , 1977, 277–285). Normalized Fourier coefficients are used to obtain dimensional error between the measured and the theoretical parts. Through an interactive procedure, critical locations are inspected for dimensional accuracy. Using a least squares minimizing technique, partially measured contours are matched with the theoretical contours.
Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans gene vab-3 reveal distinct roles in fate specification and unequal cytokinesis in an asymmetric cell division.

Abstract Asymmetric cell divisions in which a precursor cell distributes fate potential unequally between the two daughter cells represent one of the major mechanisms for fate specification during development. Such mechanisms suggest at least two distinct cellular activities: factors that act to establish asymmetry in the precursor cell and factors that are distributed or activated unequally and function to make the daughter cells different from each other. In Caenorhabditis elegans , cytokinesis of the first division of the male-specific postembryonic blast cell B is unequal, and the two daughters adopt different fates. Others have observed that the genes lin-17 and lin-44 are required, respectively, to establish and to orient this asymmetric division. Mutations in lin-17 and lin-44 coordinately disrupt cytokinesis and fate specification. We describe the function of the gene vab-3 in the B cell lineage. Mutations in vab-3 disrupt the fate of the anterior daughter of B, B.a. However, unlike lin-17 and lin-44 , mutations in vab-3 can disrupt fate without the corresponding disruption of unequal cytokinesis. Analysis of lin-17; vab-3 double mutants suggests that vab-3 acts after lin-17 for B.a fate specification. Double mutant analysis has also identified additional functions of lin-17 in the B lineage subsequent to this first division.
Weighing the costs and benefits of state renewables portfolio standards in the United States: A comparative analysis of state-level policy impact projections

Abstract State renewables portfolio standards (RPS) have emerged as one of the most important policy drivers of renewable energy capacity expansion in the U.S. As RPS policies have been proposed or adopted in an increasing number of states, a growing number of studies have attempted to quantify the potential impacts of these policies, focusing primarily on cost impacts, but sometimes also estimating macroeconomic, risk reduction, and environmental effects. This article synthesizes and analyzes the results and methodologies of 31 distinct state or utility-level RPS cost-impact analyses completed since 1998. Together, these studies model proposed or adopted RPS policies in 20 different states. We highlight the key findings of these studies on the projected costs of state RPS policies, examine the sensitivity of projected costs to model assumptions, evaluate the reasonableness of key input assumptions, and suggest possible areas of improvement for future RPS analyses. We conclude that while there is considerable uncertainty in the study results, the majority of the studies project modest cost impacts. Seventy percent of the state RPS cost studies project retail electricity rate increases of no greater than 1%. Nonetheless, there is considerable room for improving the analytic methods, and therefore accuracy of these estimates.
Selective effects of arm proximal and distal muscles fatigue on force coordination in manipulation tasks.

ABSTRACT. Effects of muscle fatigue on force coordination and task performance of various manipulation tasks are explored. Grip force (GF; normal force component acting at the digits-object contact area) and load force (LF; tangential component that lifts and holds objects) were recorded prior to and after fatiguing the distal (DAM; i.e., GF producing) and proximal arm muscles (PAM; LF producing). Results reveal a deterioration of GF scaling (i.e., averaged GF-LF ratio), GF-LF coupling (their correlation), and task performance (ability to exert a prescribed LF pattern) associated with DAM, but not PAM fatigue. Deteriorated force coordination clearly increases the likelihood of dropping an object; however, the observed selective effects of DAM and PAM fatigue represent a novel finding deserving of further research.
Human natural killing: evidence for both serum-independent and serum-dependent cytotoxic mechanisms.

Abstract Natural killing (NK) may reflect arming of lymphocytes in vivo by natural antibodies. This hypothesis was tested by enzymatically removing surface immunoglobulin (by pronase) from human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and subsequently incubating the cells in autologous serum. The cytotoxic activity of the lymphocytes against several human tumor cell lines was assessed in a 3-hr 51 Cr release assay. Depending on the target and the donor, different patterns of activity were observed: (1) Natural killing against K562, a myeloid cell line, was independent of autologous serum factors in most cases. The serum from one donor, however, was able to completely restore activity in pronase-treated PBL. (2) Two potential mechanisms of activity against HSB, aT-cell line, were observed. The NK activity in the PBL from one set of donors was impaired by pronase and restored by serum. The PBL from a second set of donors mediated killing of HSB without antibody. (3) The PBL from all donors, including an agammaglobulinemic patient, were active against MOLT-4, a T-cell line, in the absence of antibody. Thus both serum-independent and serum-dependent mechanisms of natural killing could be identified.
Development of halogen-free, heat-resistant, low-voltage wire for automotive use

Abstract Development of the electron beam irradiated halogen-free, heat-resistant, low-voltage wire for automotive use and its properties are discussed in this short report.
Continuum properties from interdigital electrode dielectrometry

Using a modal approach, a model is derived that makes the interdigital electrode microdielectrometer developed by S. D. Senturia et al. (J. Adhesion, vol.15, p.69-90, 1982) applicable to measuring continuum parameters in a wide range of heterogeneous media. In this so-called imposed omega -k technique, the medium is excited at the temporal (angular) frequency omega by means of an interdigital electrode structure having a spatial periodicity length lambda =2 pi /k and hence a dominant wavenumber k. Given the surface capacitance density C( omega , k) of any linear system having property gradients perpendicular to the plane of the electrodes, the model predicts the complex gain, taking into account the properties, geometry, and terminal configuration of the interdigital electrode structure. This capability can then be used with an appropriate parameter estimation strategy to determine the continuum properties and/or geometry of the medium. Examples illustrating the application of the technique are presented. >
Transition section spurious mode program

A transition section spurious mode program is presented to calculate the magnitude and phase of propagating modes in H-plane waveguide transition sections with large flare angles. This program is based on a full wave analysis which employs local radial waveguide modes. This program is particularly suitable when some of the waveguide modes change from propagating to evanescent modes in the transition sections.
A Dry-Borohydride/Injected-Hydrogen-Peroxide Fuel Cell

The design and testing of a 20-W (average power with short pulses to 45W) prototype fuel cell is presented. This cell is intended as an auxiliary power supply for a small robotic vehicle. The energy density exceeds 300 Watt-hour/kg. This cell is essentially a dry-borohydride/injected-hydrogen-peroxide fuel cell. This enables extremely long shelf life prior to use. The anode utilizes dry NaBH4 for storage while the cathode chamber is empty during storage. The initiation of cell operation is done by injection of the oxidizer, an aqueous H2 O2 solution (stored in a separate container) to the cathode side of the fuel cell. The ionic conduction required for membrane operation is initially helped by the H2 O content from the H2 O2 solution. Once the electrochemical reaction starts, more water is generated as the reaction product and this continues to maintain a good ionic conductance over the run time of the cell. Continued operation is done with auxiliary fuel tanks to maintain very long run time when required. Once a run is over, the cell can be drain, flushed clean and returned to storage waiting for the next mission. The experimental details of such a cell stack are described in this paper.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Changes in Accumbal and Pallidal pCREB and ΔFosB in Morphine-Sensitized Rats: Correlations with Receptor-Evoked Electrophysiological Measures in the Ventral Pallidum

Activation of mu-opioid receptors in the ventral pallidum (VP) is important for the induction of behavioral sensitization to morphine in rats. The present study was designed to ascertain if neurons within the VP demonstrate sensitization at a time when morphine-induced behavioral sensitization occurred (ie 3 or 14 days after five once-daily injections of 10 mg/kg i.p. morphine) in rats. Western blotting was used to evaluate transcription factors altered by opiates, CREB and deltaFosB. CREB levels did not change in the VP, but there was a significant decrease in levels of its active, phosphorylated form (pCREB) at both 3- and 14-days withdrawal. DeltaFosB levels were elevated following a 3-day withdrawal, but returned to normal by 14 days. This profile also was obtained from nucleus accumbens tissue. In a separate group of similarly treated rats, in vivo electrophysiological recordings of VP neuronal responses to microiontophoretically applied ligands were carried out after 14-days withdrawal. The firing rate effects of local applications of morphine were diminished in rats withdrawn from i.p. morphine. Repeated i.p. morphine did not alter GABA-mediated suppression of firing, or the rate enhancing effects of the D1 dopamine receptor agonist SKF82958 or glutamate. However, VP neurons from rats withdrawn from repeated i.p. morphine showed a higher propensity to enter a state of depolarization inactivation to locally applied glutamate. Overall, these findings reveal that decreased pCREB in brain regions such as the VP accompanies persistent behavioral sensitization to morphine and that this biochemical alteration may influence the excitability of neurons in this brain region.
Potassium transport in the rabbit renal proximal tubule: effects of barium, ouabain, valinomycin, and other ionophores.

Potassium fluxes in a suspension of rabbit proximal tubules were monitored using a potassium-sensitive extracellular electrode. Ouabain (10−4 m) and barium (5mm) were used to selectively quantitate the potassium efflux pathway (105±5 nmol K+·mg protein−1·min−1) and the sodium pump-related potassium influx (108±7), respectively. These equal and opposite fluxes suggest that potassium accumulation in the cell occurs mainly through the sodium pump and that potassium efflux occurs mainly through barium-sensitive potassium channels. Thus the activity of the sodium pump (Na, K-ATPase) in the basolateral membrane of the proximal tubule is balanced by the efflux of potassium, presumably across the basolateral membrane, which has a high potassium permeability. In addition, the effect of valinomycin and other ionophores was examined on potassium fluxes and several metabolic parameters [oxygen consumption (QO2), ATP content]. The addition of valinomycin to the tubules produced a net efflux of potassium which was quantitatively equivalent to the efflux produced by the addition of ouabain. The valinomycin-induced efflux was mainly due to the activity of valinomycin as a mitochondrial uncoupler, which indirectly inhibited the sodium pump by allowing a rapid reduction of the intracellular ATP. Amphotericin, nystatin, and monensin all produced large net releases of intracellular potassium. The action of the ionophores could be localized to the plasma or mitochondrial membrane and classified into three groups, as follows: (a) those which demonstrated full mitochondrial uncoupler activity (FCCP, valinomycin), (b) those which had no uncoupler activity (amphotericin B, nystatin); and (c) those which displayed partial uncoupler activity (monensin, nigericin).
Effect of sodium chloride on the serum phase of Mozzarella cheese

Abstract The objective was to compare changes in the serum phase of brine-salted and unsalted Mozzarella cheeses during aging to elucidate the impact of NaCl on the serum phase and physico-chemical changes. Brine-salted and unsalted blocks of low moisture, part-skim Mozzarella cheese that had been commercially produced were analyzed for expressible serum after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 d of storage at 4°C. The amount of expressible serum decreased during aging of both brine-salted and unsalted cheeses; however, amounts were higher for unsalted cheese and decreased more slowly than for brine-salted cheese. The amounts of protein that were insoluble at pH 4.6 in the expressible serum increased dramatically during aging of brine-salted cheeses, but increased only slightly during aging of unsalted cheeses. Urea-PAGE and SDS-PAGE confirmed that intact α s 1 -casein (CN), α s 2 -CN, β -CN, and para- κ -CN were present at higher concentrations and increased to a greater extent in the expressible serum of brine-salted than in unsalted Mozzarella cheeses. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that NaCl in the serum phase of Mozzarella cheese promotes microstructural swelling, a concomitant increase in water-holding capacity, and the solubilization of intact caseins from the paracasein matrix.