cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing a proopiomelanocortin cDNA cloned from the brain of the Bichir, Polypterus senegalus: evaluating phylogenetic relationships among ray-finned fish.

Abstract There is general agreement that the polypteriform fishes, like Polypterus senegalus, constitute a unique lineage in the evolution of the vertebrates. However, the precise position of these fishes had been a point of controversy since the time of Darwin and Huxley. There is now consensus that the polypteriform fishes are members of superorder Actinopterygii. However, within the Actinopterygii, it is still debatable as to whether the polypteriform fishes are an early offshoot of the Actinopterygii or a more recent sister group to the sturgeon and other extant chondrostean fishes. In this study the sequence of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), the common precursor for the melanocortins and β-endorphin, was used to evaluate the phylogenetic position of the polypteriform fishes relative to other bony fishes. 3′RACE and 5′RACE protocols were used to amplify overlapping regions of a POMC cDNA from the brain of P. senegalus. The full-length POMC cDNA had an open reading frame that encoded 259 amino acids. As seen in most gnathostomes, P. senegalus POMC has three melanocortin sequences (ACTH/α-MSH, γ-MSH, and β-MSH), and a β-endorphin region. For phylogenetic analysis, the following POMC sequences were aligned at the amino acid level and analyzed using a maximum parsimony algorithm: P. senegalus, dogfish, sturgeon A, paddlefish A, sockeye salmon A, tilapia, and gar. The dogfish POMC sequence was used as the out-group. In this analysis the P. senegalus POMC sequence formed a clade with the chondrostean POMC sequences (sturgeon A and paddlefish A), and not with the neopterygian sequences (sockeye salmon A, tilapia, and gar). P. senegalus POMC is remarkably similar to sturgeon POMC A. In particular, in both precursors there is evidence for degeneration at the proteolytic cleavage site that precedes the γ-MSH sequence. Based on the analysis of this nuclear gene it would appear that P. senegalus belongs to a branch of the chrondrostean lineage rather than representing a lineage of ray-finned fish that is ancestral to the chondrostean and neoptyergian ray-finned fishes. Alternatively, if the polypteriform fishes are in fact an early offshoot of the Actinopterygii (the traditional view), then the observations made for P. senegalus POMC relative to the chondrostean POMC sequences is the result of convergence.
Wide-field high-intensity lantern. An affordable night mobility aid.

Abstract Individuals with disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa or severe glaucoma often have difficulty ambulating at night, not only because they have lost rod vision, but because flashlights do not help. The problem is that ordinary flashlights produce a very narrow beam of light (only about 3°) which is hard to follow with tunnel vision. To eliminate this problem, we have designed a relatively inexpensive lantern which produces a bright wide beam of light. It can greatly enhance the night mobility of patients with severe field constriction or night blindness.
Norfloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated gonococcal infections

Norfloxacin, an oral fluoroquinolone antibacterial, is active in vitro against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens, including both penicillinase-producing and non-penicillinase-producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. An earlier study demonstrated that a two-dose regimen of norfloxacin was as effective as standard therapy with spectinomycin for treating gonococcal urethritis, including infections caused by penicillinase-producing organisms. In this randomized study of treatment for uncomplicated gonococcal infection in men and women, three oral treatment regimens were compared: patients received either two doses of norfloxacin (600 mg twice daily), a single dose of norfloxacin (800 mg), or a single-dose ampicillin (3.5 g)/probenecid (1.0 g) regimen (as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control). All three treatment regimens achieved similar cure rates. Although the number of patients treated was too small to yield statistically significant conclusions, it appears that norfloxacin may be slightly better treatment for rectal and pharyngeal gonococcal infections than ampicillin and probenecid. Additionally, norfloxacin was well tolerated in this study. Thus, based on a review of these data, norfloxacin appears to be an alternative, single-dose, oral treatment regimen for uncomplicated gonococcal infection.
Thermally activated crack growth in brittle solids

This discussion relates to brittle crack growth in the absence of an environmentally induced strength degradation ahead of the crack or to diffusion or time dependent flow induced cavitation at the crack tip region. Subcritical crack growth at stresses below the Griffith value violates the second law of thermodynamics, but considerable thermally activated crack growth is possible at the Griffith stress level in cases of lattice trapping of a crack where the change of surface free energy is not a smooth function of the increasing crack length. 9 refs.
Monte Carlo assessment of boron neutron capture therapy for the treatment of breast cancer

For a large number of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year the avail able treatment options are effective, though physically and mentally taxing. This work is a starting point of a study of the efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy as an alternative treatment for HER-2+ breast tumors. Using HER-2-specific monoclonal anti bodies coupled with a boron-rich oligomeric phosphate diester, it may be possible to deliver sufficient amounts of 10B to a tumor of the breast to al low for selective cell destruction via irradiation by thermal neutrons. A comprehensive computational model (MCNP) for thermal neutron irradiation of the breast is described, as well as the results of calculations made using this model, in order to determine the optimum boron concentration within the tumor for an effective boron neutron capture therapy treatment, as compared with traditional X-ray radiotherapy. The results indicate that a boron concentration of 50-60 mg per gram of tumor tissue is optimal when considering treatment times, dose distributions and skin sparing. How ever these results are based upon best-guess assumptions that must be experimentally verified.
Growth-induced columnar defects in YBa2Cu3O7−x thin films grown on miscut

Abstract Measurements of the critical current density in YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) thin films grown on deliberately miscut (1.6 °) LaAlO3 substrates that also contain a small mosaic spread of subgrain orientations have shown an anomalous angular dependence of Jc. A strong, magnetic field-dependent peak in Jc is observed when the magnetic field is oriented between the c-axis (the film normal direction) and the a-b-plane; in this orientation flux pinning is normally not strong. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to determine the defects which are responsible for the flux pinning related to the anomalous Jc peak. [001] columnar defects have been observed to penetrate right through the YBCO films. The diameters of the columnar defect regions are ∼3–5 nm, which is near ideal for producing the observed anomalous pinning and high Jc. Numerous stacking faults involving excess CuO layers have also been observed; these can also serve as effective flux pinners. Small-angle planar boundaries perpendicular to the substrate are rarely seen. Images of the YBCO-substrate interface reveal that some of the columnar growth defects initiate at substrate steps/dislocations. The YBCO unit cells grown on the upper and lower terraces of a substrate step have a relative shift of c/3[001]; thus, the CuO planes are broken within a region less than 10 nm from the substrate, presumably reducing the superconducting order parameter in this region and leading to pinned vortices situated on these sites. Thus, the columnar defects initiated from the interface and the stacking faults are useful for pinning flux through the entire film thickness.
Grain size and particle dispersion effects on the tensile behavior of friction stir welded MA956 oxide dispersion strengthened steel from low to elevated temperatures

Abstract This paper shows the dependence of tensile behavior of friction stir welded oxide dispersion strengthened steel (MA956) on testing temperature and welding parameters. Eight welding conditions were utilized and three produced consolidated defect-free welds in MA956 plate material. Tensile samples were prepared from the welded plate and were subjected to tensile testing with a strain rate of 10−3 s−1 over temperatures from ambient to 600 °C. The base plate material possessed a fine-grained microstructure that exhibited limited ductility, high yield strength, and moderate strain hardening at low temperatures. At elevated temperatures the base plate was more ductile and possessed limited strain hardening. Friction stir welding caused a significant (42%) reduction in yield strength at low temperatures and a corresponding increase in ductility compared to the base plate material. These changes became more pronounced as the heat input increased. The change in tensile behavior was the result of ferrite grain and oxide particle coarsening. The effect of grain coarsening was well-described by the Hall–Petch relationship and oxide particle coarsening resulted in the loss of particle strengthening.
Long-term Surgical Results for Glomus Temporale Tumors

Purpose The purpose of the study is to evaluate a series of patients with glomus temporale tumors and to review survival, complications, cranial nerve function, and functional status. Methods Retrospective review of 33 patients with glomus temporale tumors. Results Complete surgical removal was achieved in 96% of patients, and subtotal removal was achieved in 4%. There was no operative mortality. Seventy-five percent of the patients had a grade I or II/VI on the House-Brackman scale rating facial nerve function 6 months after surgery. After surgery, 36% of patients had hearing that was within normal limits. Another 36% were anacoustic or had no useful hearing. Hoarseness was present in 18% of patients. Seven percent required long-term feeding tubes because of swallowing dysfunction and aspiration. Fourteen percent did not return to work in the same capacity of preoperative employment. Conclusions Facial nerve function is worse with complete facial nerve transposition, and postoperative nerve function improves with less mobilization of the nerve and the surgical team's experience. Partial facial nerve transposition in properly selected patients can improve postoperative facial nerve outcomes. Hearing improvement and preservation are attainable. The large majority (93%) of patients return to the work force. Aspiration and swallowing abnormalities from lower cranial nerve problems, particularly the vagus nerve, are the most difficult to manage.
Basis of guanylate cyclase activation by carbon monoxide.

Kinetics of CO association with guanylate cyclase [GTP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.2] and dissociation from carboxy guanylate cyclase have been studied at pH 7.5 by flash photolysis, yielding rate constants at 23 degrees C of 1.2 +/- 0.1 x 10(5) M-1.sec-1 and 28 +/- 2 sec-1, respectively. While the CO combination rate constant is the same as for the T state of hemoglobin, the CO dissociation rate constant is much higher than expected for a six-coordinate carboxyheme protein; yet the absorption spectrum is indicative of a six-coordinate heme. The two observations are reconciled by a reaction mechanism in which CO dissociation proceeds via a five-coordinate intermediate. This intermediate is structurally very similar to the five-coordinate nitrosyl heme derivative of guanylate cyclase and is presumably responsible for the observed 4-fold activation of guanylate cyclase by CO. Thus, we provide a model that explains enzyme activities of the nitrosyl and carboxy forms of the enzyme on the basis of a common mechanism.
Lithium: Evidence for reduction in circulating testosterone levels in mice following chronic administration

Lithium, the widely-used antipsychotic drug, is known to exert adverse effects on a number of endocrine organs. In the present investigations, the effects of chronic lithium administration on circulating levels of testosterone and plasma and pituitary levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) were evaluated in order to examine whether or not the pituitary-gonadal axis is a probable target of lithium action. Adult male C57BL/6 mice, maintained on a fixed photoperiodism (LD 14:10), were administered lithium orally, by being fed on a specially prepared chow containing 0.4% lithium chloride for 15 or 30 days, while their matched controls were maintained on standard laboratory chow. At the termination of the respective experimental schedules, the animals were decapitated, their blood collected, and plasma was separated and stored frozen. Pituitaries were quickly removed, weighed, homogenized, centrifuged and their supernatants were stored frozen. Testosterone in plasma and LH in pituitary and plasma were quantitated by standard RIA methods. Plasma Li concentration was determined by using flame photometric methods. A significant suppression in testosterone levels was noted after both 15 (p less than .01) and 30 (p less than .05) days of lithium treatment, but both pituitary and plasma LH levels remained unchanged at both the periods. It is, therefore, suggested that lithium exerts its effect directly at the level of the Leydig cells rather than through the pituitary-gonadal axis. Since the noted lithium-induced reduction of testosterone was manifested when the plasma lithium levels were within (or around) the therapeutic range, these results may have important clinical implications.
DIFFERENCES IN THE CONSUMER DECISION PROCESS FOR PROFESSIONAL VS. GENERIC SERVICES

There are distinct differences between professional services and other services which affect the way consumers make purchase decisions about them. This paper discusses the differences using the consumer decision process as a framework. Strategy implications for the professional service provider are presented, and specific suggestions are offered to improve the efficiency of the exchange — thereby benefiting both the buyer and the service provider.
The differential effect of right versus left hemispheric cerebral infarction on catecholamines and behavior in the rat.

Abstract Following right middle cerebral artery ligation in rats, there is a 2–3 week period of spontaneous hyperactivity. Concomitant with this hyperactivity catecholamine concentrations decrease in several areas of the brain including both cortical and subcortical regions. In marked contrast, there are no demonstrable effects of left hemispheric infarction on either spontaneous activity or brain catecholamine concentrations. This asymmetry of behavioral and biochemical response to cerebral infarction cannot be attributed to differences in the lesion size produced in either hemisphere. Feeding and drinking are not affected but the asymmetrical effect on activity can be demonstrated in either a home cage running wheel or an open field environment. It is uncertain whether these findings are the result of hemispheric asymmetries in either catecholaminergic or non-catecholaminergic neurons.
Applications of Photonic Band Gap Structures

Imagine a material that would exclude all electromagnetic radiation in 4π steradians over a range of frequencies. The center frequency of the exclusion gap could be determined by the experimenter to be anywhere from the optical to the microwave region. The width of the gap would be large, at least 20% of the center frequency. Radiation outside that gap would be transmitted through the material, while radiation in the gap would be reflected. In-gap radiation generated inside the material would be trapped. Uses for such a material would be manifold, from filtering and noise suppression to modification of the electromagnetic vacuum and suppression of spontaneous emission. Such a material has recently been created: the photonic band gap crystal.
Experiments with central-limit properties of spatial samples from locally covariant random fields

Abstract When spatial samples are statistically dependent, the classical estimator of sample-mean standard deviation is well known to be inconsistent. For locally dependent samples, however, consistent estimators of sample-mean standard deviation can be constructed. The present paper investigates the sampling properties of one such estimator, designated as the tau estimator of sample-mean standard deviation. In particular, the asymptotic normality properties of standardized sample means based on tau estimators are studied in terms of computer experiments with simulated sample-mean distributions. The effects of both sample size and dependency levels among samples are examined for various value of tau (denoting the size of the spatial kernel for the estimator). The results suggest that even for small degrees of spatial dependency, the tau estimator exhibits significantly stronger normality properties than does the classical estimator of standardized sample means.
Variable temperature solution and cp-mas 13C NMR of [Mo(CO)3(diglyme)]. Displacement of diglyme by solvents at subambient temperatures

Abstract Variable temperature solution 13C NMR of [Mo(CO)3(diglyme)] shows that the chelating diglyme ligand is displaced by the monodentate solvents acetone, methanol and ethanol at low temperature. Free and coordinated solvent are observed at low temperature while at ambient temperature rapid exchange prevents the observation of coordinated solvent.
Role of exonuclease in the specificity of bacteriophage T7 DNA packaging.

Abstract During morphogenesis in vivo , bacteriophage T7 packages and cuts to mature size an end-to-end concatemer of its nonpermuted, terminally repetitious, double-stranded, mature DNA. Efficient production (90–100%) and packaging (20–35%) of concatemers has also been demonstrated in extracts of T7-infected cells ( in vitro ) (Son, M., Hayes, S. J., and Serwer, P. [1988] Virology 162, 38–46). By use of both this procedure of in vitro DNA packaging and in-gel hybridization to packaged DNA fractionated by agarose gel electrophoresis, the specificity of packaging in vitro is found to depend on the presence of T7 gene 6 exonuclease (p6). In the absence of p6 in vitro , no concatemerization is detected and packaging of DNA nonhomologous to T7 DNA (bacteriophage P22 DNA) is as efficient (0.05–1.10/6) as the packaging of monomeric T7 DNA. Addition of p6 in vitro both stimulates the concatemerization-packaging of T7 DNA and suppresses the packaging of P22 DNA. The packaging efficiency for concatemeric T7 DNA is 29–611 × higher than that for monomeric T7 DNA. Inhibition of the packaging of P22 DNA by p6 is correlated with the formation of single-stranded P22 DNA ends. These data are explained by the hypothesis that a DNA molecule with a single-stranded end is packaged less efficiently than the same DNA without the single-stranded end. Testing this hypothesis in vivo reveals that both p6 and gene 3 endonuclease contribute to suppressing the packaging of host DNA.
Stochastic bifurcation, slow fluctuations, and bistability as an origin of biochemical complexity.

We present a simple, unifying theory for stochastic biochemical systems with multiple time-scale dynamics that exhibit noise-induced bistability in an open-chemical environment, while the corresponding macroscopic reaction is unistable. Nonlinear stochastic biochemical systems like these are fundamentally different from classical systems in equilibrium or near-equilibrium steady state whose fluctuations are unimodal following Einstein–Onsager–Lax–Keizer theory. We show that noise-induced bistability in general arises from slow fluctuations, and a pitchfork bifurcation occurs as the rate of fluctuations decreases. Since an equilibrium distribution, due to detailed balance, has to be independent of changes in time-scale, the bifurcation is necessarily a driven phenomenon. As examples, we analyze three biochemical networks of currently interest: self-regulating gene, stochastic binary decision, and phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle with fluctuating kinase. The implications of bistability to biochemical complexity are discussed.
Resource utilization prediction: a proposal for information technology research

Research into predicting long-term resource needs has been faced with a very difficult problem of extending the accuracy period beyond the immediate future. Business forecasting has overcome this limitation by successfully incorporating the concept of human interaction as the basis of prediction patterns at the hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly time frames. Computer resource utilization is also impacted by human interaction therefore influencing research into predictability of resource usage based on human access patterns. Emulated human web server access data was captured in a feasibility study that used time series analysis to predict future resource usage. For prediction beyond several minutes, results indicate that the majority of projected resource usage was within an 80% confidence level thus supporting the foundation of future resource prediction work in this area.
Coxsackievirus B4 Myocarditis in Mice: Valvular Changes in Virus-Infected and Control Animals

Suckling, weanling, and adult HaM/ICR and Swiss-Webster mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with the TC631 and Dowell strains of coxsackievirus B4. Vero cell-inoculated and uninoculated control mice were also studied under code. An intense, necrotizing myopericarditis was produced in suckling mice; it was less severe in weanlings. Myocarditis did not occur when coxsackievirus B4 was inoculated into adult mice. Progressive sclerosis and thickening of all valves in both strains of mice were observed with equal frequency in infected and control mice. There was no evidence that coxsackievirus B4 induced a specific valvular or endocardial lesion.
Liver transplantation and chemotherapy for hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular cancer in childhood and adolescence

Objective: To describe our experience with total hepatectomy and liver transplantation as treatment for primary hepatoblastoma (HBL) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in children. Study design: A retrospective analysis of the perioperative course of 31 children with unresectable primary HBL (n = 12) and HCC (n = 19) who underwent transplantation between May 1989 and December 1998. Systemic (n = 18) and intraarterial (n = 7) neoadjuvant chemotherapy were administered; follow-up ranged from 1 to 185 months. Results: For HBL, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year posttransplantation survival rates were 92%, 92%, and 83%, respectively. Intravenous invasion, positive hilar lymph nodes, and contiguous spread did not have a significant adverse effect on outcome; distant metastasis was responsible for 2 deaths. Intraarterial chemotherapy was effective in all patients treated. For HCC, the overall 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 79%, 68%, and 63%, respectively. Vascular invasion, distant metastases, lymph node involvement, tumor size, and gender were significant risk factors for recurrence. Intraarterial chemotherapy was effective in 1 of 3 patients. Six patients died of recurrent HCC, and 3 deaths were unrelated to recurrent tumor. Conclusion: Liver transplantation for unresectable HBL and HCC can be curative. Risk factors for recurrence were significant only for HCC, with more advanced stages amenable to cure in the HBL group.
Structure, dynamics, and power conversion efficiency correlations in a new low bandgap polymer: PCBM solar cell.

Molecular packing structures and photoinduced charge separation dynamics have been investigated in a recently developed bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaic (OPV) material based on poly(thienothiophene-benzodithiophene) (PTB1) with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of >5% in solar cell devices. Grazing incidence X-ray scattering (GIXS) measurements of the PTB1:PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) films revealed π-stacked polymer backbone planes oriented parallel to the substrate surface, in contrast to the π-stacked polymer backbone planes oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface in regioregular P3HT [poly(3-hexylthiophene)]:PCBM films. A ∼1.7 times higher charge mobility in the PTB1:PCBM film relative to that in P3HT:PCBM films is attributed to this difference in stacking orientation. The photoinduced charge separation (CS) rate in the pristine PTB1:PCBM film is more than twice as fast as that in the annealed P3HT:PCBM film. The combination of a small optical gap, fast CS ...
Rhetoric in the New World: Rhetorical Theory and Practice in Colonial Spanish America

In Rhetoric in the New World, Abbott shows that when the literate culture of the Old World confronted the oral culture of the New, rhetoricians faced issues unanticipated by their classical predecessors and for which European experiences offered few insights. He reconstructs rhetoric's role in Spain's American empire, describing the colonies as the site of extraordinary conflicts between cultures, traditions, religions, and languages. According to Abbott, never before had rhetoric been required to confront peoples and places so apparently alien to its ancient Mediterranean origins.
The dbpBA Locus of Borrelia burgdorferi Is Not Essential for Infection of Mice

The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi expresses a broad array of adhesive molecules, including the decorin-binding proteins A and B (DbpA and DbpB), which are believed to play important roles in mammalian infection. The dbpBA locus was deleted; resulting mutants were able to infect both immunodeficient and immunocompetent mice, indicating that neither DbpA nor DbpB is essential for the infection of mammals, although the DbpAB deficiency may significantly attenuate infectivity potential.
Brachial plexus neuropathy in the population of Rochester, Minnesota, 1970-1981.

Brachial plexus neuropathy (BPN) is a clinical entity of unknown cause characterized by the acute or subacute onset of pain and weakness, with occasional atrophy of the arm muscles. Information on the incidence of the disease in a delineated population is lacking, as the data available on BPN have come essentially from case reports or selected series. Using the Mayo Clinic records–linkage system as the source of data, 579 clinical records were reviewed of Rochester, Minnesota, residents in which a diagnosis suggestive of BPN was reported for the period 1970 through 1981. Eleven cases fulfilled all criteria, providing an overall annual incidence rate of 1.64 cases per 100,000 population. An infectious disease and/or tetanus toxoid immunization preceded the onset of BPN in 4 cases. The upper brachial plexus was involved in 6 cases, the lower brachial plexus in 2, and the whole plexus in 3; in 1 case there was bilateral BPN. The neuropathy ran a mild to moderate course in 10 cases, and complete recovery was recorded in 6, with slight residua in the others. The occurrence of antecedent events and the features of the disease are supportive of the concept of an immune-mediated process.
Malignant carcinoid syndrome: Two case reports

The malignant carcinoid syndrome (MCS) is a rare complication of malignant carcinoid neoplasms, fewer than 200 cases having been reported since its description by Thorson in 1954. Its signs and symptoms vary with the site of the primary neoplasm, and MCS is now recognized as one member of the large family of endocrine tumors - APUDOMAS). Although MCS remains uniformly fatal, significant palliation can be provided some patients with current surgical and chemotherapeutic management. All signs and symptoms in MCS, except evidence of the destruction of the tricuspid and pulmonic valves, can be reproduced experimentally. The factor causing this lethal complication has not been identified. Two previously unreported cases of MCS, each from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, are presented. This brings the world's total reported cases to approximately 210.
GHz High- $Q$ Lateral Overmoded Bulk Acoustic-Wave Resonators Using Epitaxial SiC Thin Film

This letter presents the development of a lateral overmoded bulk acoustic-wave resonator (LOBAR) made out of epitaxial silicon carbide and piezoelectrically driven by an aluminum nitride transducer at radio frequencies. The 1.75-GHz SiC LOBAR constitutes a new class of resonant devices formed by a very small volume piezoelectric transducer on a high quality factor (Q) acoustic cavity. In operation, the AIN-based transducer excites multiple longitudinal vibrations in the SiC resonant cavity. A high Q of 4250 is obtained for a LOBAR with series resonances around 1.75 GHz. The impact of the AIN transducer coverage of the SiC cavity on device Q and impedance is also experimentally studied. Characterization of the LOBAR over temperature is performed to extrapolate the intrinsic loss limits in the epitaxial SiC. The integration of two materials, capable of offering high Q and high transduction efficiency in conjunction with their ability of sustaining operations at high temperature and in harsh environments, will enable the development of radio frequency microelectromechanical system components for a new realm of applications.
Beam dynamics of the Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment-II, a novel pulse-compressing ion accelerator

Intense beams of heavy ions are well suited for heating matter to regimes of emerging interest. A new facility, NDCX-II, will enable studies of warm dense matter at ∼1 eV and near-solid density, and of heavy-ion inertial fusion target physics relevant to electric power production. For these applications the beam must deposit its energy rapidly, before the target can expand significantly. To form such pulses, ion beams are temporally compressed in neutralizing plasma; current amplification factors of ∼50–100 are routinely obtained on the Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment (NDCX) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In the NDCX-II physics design, an initial non-neutralized compression renders the pulse short enough that existing high-voltage pulsed power can be employed. This compression is first halted and then reversed by the beam’s longitudinal space-charge field. Downstream induction cells provide acceleration and impose the head-to-tail velocity gradient that leads to the final neutraliz...
Extreme ultraviolet optical properties of two SiO 2 based low-expansion materials

The reflectances of two low-expansion materials, a recrystallized glass ceramic and a high silica glass, have been measured at five angles of incidence from 15 to 85 deg in the wavelength region from 80 to 310 A and in some cases up to 1050 A. Optical constants are derived and silicon core-level transitions analyzed.
Mean velocity and turbulence fields inside a β=0.50 orifice flowmeter

The flow field inside an orifice flowmeter with a beta ratio of 0.50 operating at a Reynolds number of 91,100 has been studied using a three-color, 3-D laser Doppler anemometer system. Mean velocity measurements show large radial velocities leading into the orifice, the fluid separating from the orifice plate at the throat, the presence of a vena contracta farther downstream, flow reattachment to the pipe wall 5.3 pipe radii (R) downstream, the presence of a small upstream recirculation zone, and both a primary and secondary recirculation zone downstream of the orifice plate. The static wall pressure distribution attains a minimum pressure at 1.5R, which does not coincide with the location of the vena contracta (0.75 R). Distributions of the entire Reynolds stress tensor are presented along with calculated values of turbulence kinetic energy, turbulence kinetic energy production, vorticity, and turbulence induced accelerations. These data are analyzed to interpret the complex turbulent flow field.
Relative intensity noise characteristics in a frequency stabilized modelocked semiconductor laser system

RIN characteristics in a frequency stabilized MSL were experimentally and theoretically investigated. Average RIN level of less than -150 dB/Hz as well as Modal RIN reduction of approximately 3 dB were obtained from the frequency stabilized MSL.
Reparations for 'America's Holocaust': activism for global justice

The enslavement of blacks in America lasted 246 years. It was followed by a century of legal racial segregation and discrimination. The two periods, taken together, constitute the longest running c...
Micromagnetic Specification for Bit Patterned Recording at 4 Tbit/in $^{2}$

Micromagnetic specifications including 2.3:1 BAR bit patterned ECC media, trailing shield, and side shields are proposed to meet the requirement of 3 × 10-4 bit error rate, 4 nm fly height, 5% switching field distribution, 5% timing, and 5% jitter errors for 4 Tbit/in2 bit patterned recording. Demagnetizing field distribution is examined by studying the shielding effect of the side shields on the stray field from the neighboring dots. It is shown that, as the fly height is increased to 5 nm, head field and field gradient degradation will require a larger BAR (2.7:1) and a larger bit error rate to achieve the same areal density.
The Relative Effects of Guided Model, Model Only, Guide Only, and Practice Only Treatments on the Accuracy of Advanced Instrumentalists' Musical Performance.

This study examined the relative effectiveness of four modeling conditions on instrumentalists' musical performance. Independent variables were (a) guided model, a combined verbal and aural example...
Ultra-Wideband Dielectric-Loaded Horn Antenna with Dual-Linear Polarization Capability

In order to improve measurement e-ciency in electromag- netic test facilities (compact range or near-fleld range), testing probes are required to have ultra-wideband (UWB) radiation characteristics, dual-polarization capability, and interchangeable E- and H-plane far- fleld patterns. In this context, we propose a new type of UWB antenna that satisfles these requirements in the frequency range of 4 to 18GHz. For the proposed antenna, a low-loss dielectric material is loaded over pairs of balanced feeds to overcome radiation performance degrada- tion addressed in purely metallic antennas. Also, radiation patterns are further improved by employing a lens aperture and shielding struc- tures. The measured results of the flnal antenna design demonstrate broad and stable far-fleld patterns (half-power beamwidth > 45 - ), low voltage standing-wave ratio ( 23dB).
A reconfigurable and hierarchical parallel processing architecture: performance results for stereo vision

A multiprocessor architecture called NETRA is discussed. It is highly reconfigurable and does not involve the use of complex interconnection schemes. The topology of this multiprocessor is recursively defined and is therefore easily scalable from small to large systems. It has a tree-type hierarchical architecture featuring leaf nodes that consist of a cluster of small but powerful processors connected via a programmable crossbar with selective broadcast capability. The architecture is simulated on a hypercube multiprocessor and the performance of one processor cluster is evaluated for stereo-vision tasks. The particular stereo algorithm selected for implementation requires computation of the two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2-D FFT), template matching, histogram computation, and least-squares surface fitting. Static partitioning of data is used for the data-independent tasks such as 2-D FFT and dynamic scheduling, and load balancing is used for the data-dependent tasks of feature matching and disambiguation. >
Effects of vagotomy on cardiovascular response to periodic apneas in sedated pigs.

There are few studies investigating the influence of vagally mediated reflexes on the cardiovascular response to apneas. In 12 sedated preinstrumented pigs, we studied the effects of vagotomy durin...
The effect of meal composition on the degree of satiation following a test meal and possible mechanisms involved

1. Possible links between metabolism and satiation were investigated using volunteer subjects given test meals based on milk solids. Satisfaction was rated by the subjects on a six-point scale and the course of metabolism was followed by measurement of the respiratory quotient (RQ). 2. The time-course of satiation was the same for a high-carbohydrate, a high-fat and a high-protein meal, in spite of the very different time-course of metabolism. The degree of satiation was reduced by added sodium chloride, without affecting the RQ rise. On the other hand, calcium chloride produced a suppression of the RQ rise without altering the satiation. 3. It is proposed that the results indicate that the primary receptors responsible for post-prandial satiation lie within the gut wall and that there is probably a number of receptor types. Likely candidates for these receptors are the gut hormone-secreting cells. 4. Although very-low-protein meals produce less satiation than meals containing 220 g protein/kg dry weight, there is no additional satiation obtained by increasing the protein level further. This is not inconsistent with the possibility of a protein hunger separate from an energy hunger.
In-Set/Out-of-Set Speaker Recognition Under Sparse Enrollment

In this paper, the problem of identifying in-set versus out-of-set speakers using extremely limited enrollment data is addressed. The recognition objective is to form a binary decision regarding an input speaker as being a legitimate member of a set of enrolled speakers or not. Here, the emphasis is on low enrollment (about 5 sec of speech for each enrolled speaker) and test data durations (2-8 sec), in a text-independent scenario. In order to overcome the limited enrollment, data from speakers that are acoustically close to a given in-set speaker are used to form an informative prior (base model) for speaker adaptation. Score normalization for in-set systems is addressed, and the difficulty of using conventional score normalization schemes for in-set speaker recognition is highlighted. Distribution scaling based score normalization techniques are developed specifically for the in-set/out-of-set problem and compared against existing score normalization schemes used in open-set speaker recognition. Experiments are performed using the following three separate corpora: (1) noise-free TIMIT; (2) noisy in-vehicle CU-move; and (3) the NIST-SRE-2006 database. Experimental results show a consistent increase in system performance for the proposed techniques.
Highlighting the science of cancer prevention.

As incoming President of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), I am delighted that the AACR publishes the journal Cancer Prevention Research and that this journal is meeting with great success, because I believe the AACR should continue to increase its efforts in the arena of cancer
The neuromodulator of exploration: A unifying theory of the role of dopamine in personality

The neuromodulator dopamine is centrally involved in reward, approach behavior, exploration, and various aspects of cognition. Variations in dopaminergic function are assumed to be associated with variations in personality, but exactly which traits are influenced by dopamine remains an open question. This paper proposes a theory of the role of dopamine in personality that organizes and explains the diversity of findings, utilizing the division of the dopaminergic system into value coding and salience coding neurons (Bromberg-Martin, Matsumoto, and Hikosaka, 2010). The value coding system is proposed to be related primarily to Extraversion and the salience coding system to Openness/Intellect. Global levels of dopamine influence the higher order personality factor, Plasticity, which comprises the shared variance of Extraversion and Openness/Intellect. All other traits related to dopamine are linked to Plasticity or its subtraits. The general function of dopamine is to promote exploration, by facilitating engagement with cues of specific reward (value) and cues of the reward value of information (salience). This theory constitutes an extension of the entropy model of uncertainty (EMU; Hirsh, Mar, & Peterson, 2012), enabling EMU to account for the fact that uncertainty is an innate incentive reward as well as an innate threat. The theory accounts for the association of dopamine with traits ranging from sensation and novelty seeking, to impulsivity and aggression, to achievement striving, creativity, and cognitive abilities, to the overinclusive thinking characteristic of schizotypy.
The “trigger factor cycle” includes ribosomes, presecretory proteins, and the plasma membrane

Trigger factor is a soluble, 63,000 dalton protein of E. coli that stabilizes proOmpA, the precursor form of a major outer-membrane protein, in a conformation competent for in vitro membrane assembly. There is approximately one trigger factor molecule bound to each 70S ribosome isolated from cell extracts in physiological buffers. Trigger factor dissociates from ribosomes in 1.5 M LiCl and reassociates with salt-washed ribosomes in low-salt buffer. Binding is exclusively to the 50S (large) subunit, known to contain the exit domain for nascent polypeptide chains. In addition to its associations with proOmpA and ribosomes, excess trigger factor can compete with the proOmpA-trigger factor complex for a limited number of membrane sites that are essential for translocation of proOmpA. These data suggest a model of trigger factor cycling between the cytoplasm, the ribosome, presecretory proteins, and membrane receptor proteins.
Prenatal Depression: Best Practice Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment

The purpose of this article is to provide counselors with an overview of best practices for the treatment of women who experience prenatal depression (PND). The authors first discuss issues in the screening and diagnosis of PND. Next, the 2 most common treatments, antidepressants and psychotherapy, are reviewed and discussed in relation to current best practice guidelines. Guidelines for counselors' roles in treatment and advocacy are also provided.
Dynamic reconfiguration in planetary exploration: a sociomaterial ethnography

In taking into account the ways in which material and social realms are constitutively entangled within organizations, it is rhetorically tempting to say that technologies and social structures reconfigure each other. But what does it mean to reconfigure? How does one "figure" the other and how do we fully embrace a mutually constitutive relationship when examining fluid relations? This paper delves into these questions by exploring how physical, social, material, technological, and organizational arrangements dynamically reconfigure each other in the duration of organizational practice. Using the venue of space exploration, we present three empirical examples from an ethnographic engagement with a NASA mission orbiting an outer planet in the solar system to examine various configurations and sociomaterial relations. In this endeavor, we suggest that theoretical and empirical traction can be gained by focusing attention on the dynamic reconfigurations between social and material realms. In so doing, we call attention to the ways in which current sociomaterial perspectives have difficulty articulating the shifting, figural, asymmetric and dynamic negotiations between people, social structures, information technologies, and representational objects. This paper contributes to current discussions of sociomaterial relations in information systems research by presenting an empirical treatment of entangled and shifting reconfigurations and providing language for engaging with this perspective.
Comparison of vertical and horizontal saccade measures and their relation to gray matter changes in premanifest and manifest Huntington disease.

Saccades are a potentially important biomarker of Huntington disease (HD) progression, as saccadic abnormalities can be detected both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Although vertical saccadic impairment was reported decades ago, recent studies have focused on horizontal saccades. This study investigated antisaccade (AS) and memory guided saccade (MG) impairment in both the horizontal and vertical directions in individuals with the disease-causing CAG expansion (CAG+; n = 74), using those without the expansion (CAG−; n = 47) as controls. Percentage of errors, latency, and variability of latency were used to measure saccadic performance. We evaluated the benefits of measuring saccades in both directions by comparing effect sizes of horizontal and vertical measures, and by investigating the correlation of saccadic measures with underlying gray matter loss. Consistent with previous studies, AS and MG impairments were detected prior to the onset of manifest disease. Furthermore, the largest effect sizes were found for vertical saccades. A subset of participants (12 CAG−, 12 premanifest CAG+, 7 manifest HD) underwent magnetic resonance imaging, and an automated parcellation and segmentation procedure was used to extract thickness and volume measures in saccade-generating and inhibiting regions. These measures were then tested for associations with saccadic impairment. Latency of vertical AS was significantly associated with atrophy in the left superior frontal gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, and bilateral caudate nuclei. This study suggests an important role for measuring vertical saccades. Vertical saccades may possess more statistical power than horizontal saccades, and the latency of vertical AS is associated with gray matter loss in both cortical and subcortical regions important in saccade function.
Beryllium - A High Reliability Metallization

The results of an experimental study of beryllium and beryllium-aluminum alloys as high reliability advanced metallizations for use on semiconductor devices is presented. Methods for the deposition of thin films and the properties of these films are described and the application of these metallizations to actual devices is discussed. In addition, since beryllium can be a toxic material, precautions necessary for its use are detailed.
Noctural Enuresis as a Risk Factor for Falls in Older Community Dwelling Women with Urinary Incontinence.

Purpose: We determined the association of urinary symptoms with fall risk and physical limitations in older community dwelling women with urinary incontinence.Materials and Methods: We performed an in-depth assessment of daytime and nighttime urinary symptoms, fall risk, physical function, physical performance tests and mental function in older community dwelling women with urinary incontinence who had not sought care for urinary symptoms. All assessments were performed in participant homes. We used univariable and multivariable linear regression to examine the relationship of urinary symptoms to fall risk, physical function and physical performance.Results: Of 37 women with a mean ± SD age of 74 ± 8.4 years who had urinary incontinence 48% were at high risk for falls. Nocturnal enuresis was reported by 50% of the women. Increased fall risk was associated with increasing frequency of nocturnal enuresis (p = 0.04), worse lower limb function (p <0.001), worse upper limb function (p <0.0001) and worse perfor...