cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acoustic Analysis of Intonation in Persons With Parkinson's Disease Receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Intensive Voice Treatment

Intonation is one of the prosodic features manifested acoustically in the fundamental frequency (f0). Intonation abnormality is common and prominent in the speech of persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). The current research investigated acoustically five intonational features including f0 declination, f0 resetting, sentence stress, terminal fall, and syntactic prejunctural fall in 20 PD participants, receiving Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT)-LOUD alone, or combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the left or right primary laryngeal motor cortex. The results revealed that f0 declination, sentence stress, and terminal fall changed significantly from pre- to post-treatment, and the changes of declination and terminal fall were maintained at the follow-up evaluations. The observed changes in intonation were attributed to LSVT alone, which caused large changes of f0 magnitude. f0 resetting and syntactic prejunctural fall did not change significantly following treatment, probably because these intonational features need very precise fine motor control of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles to make small-range, rapid f0 adjustments, which were not improved by LSVT in the present PD participants. Difficulties with syntactic processing previously reported in PD may have also contributed to the lack of improvement in resetting and prejunctural fall, since these f0 features are used to mark syntactic boundaries within utterances.
Rural-Urban Disparities In All-Cause Mortality Among Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries, 2004-17.

There is growing concern about the health of older US adults who live in rural areas, but little is known about how mortality has changed over time for low-income Medicare beneficiaries residing in...
Sequestration of the ionizing proton in singly charged metastable protein ions generated by MALDI

Abstract A hypothesis is proposed for the preferential ionization/protonation of arginine residues in metastable protein ions. This phenomenon has significant consequences for detection of protein fragments resulting from polypeptide backbone cleavage. Preferential ionization at arginine (when present) is based upon MS/MS analysis of singly charged/protonated metastable protein ions: YahO, CspC, CspE, B-subunit of Shiga toxin 2 and thioredoxin, that have either zero or one arginine residue in their sequences. For protein ions having no arginine, we observe multiple b/y complementary fragment ion pairs (CFIP) by MALDI-MS/MS post-source decay demonstrating that the ionizing proton is located at multiple locations amongst the packet of protein precursor ions being analyzed. By contrast, for protein ions having one arginine, we observe little or no CFIP, and almost every fragment ion has the arginine residue in its sequence. This preferential proton sequestration is presumably due to the higher gas phase basicity of arginine compared to lysine, although lysine residues are often more numerous than arginine residues. As this phenomenon has been noted previously in the ionization of tryptic peptides by MALDI where the basic residue (K or R) is located exclusively at the C-terminus (if there are no missed proteolytic cleavages), we conclude that rapid proton transfer in the gas phase occurs via protein/matrix collisions in the MALDI plume. Upon proton transfer to the side-chain of an arginine residue, the proton is effectively immobilized by its guanidino functional group. An alternative explanation is proton exchange from the ionized side-chain of a lysine to the side-chain of the arginine in the metastable ion.
Dose Calculation and Treatment Planning for the Brookhaven NCT Facility

Consistency of the calculated to measured fluxes and doses in phantoms is important for confidence in treatment planning for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMRR)1. Two phantoms have been used to measure the thermal and epithermal flux and gamma dose distributions for irradiations at the BMRR and these are compared to MCNP calculations. Since MCNP calculations in phantoms or models would be lengthy if the calculations started each time with fission neutrons from the reactor core, a neutron source plane, which was verified by spectrum and flux measurements at the irradiation port, was designed. Measured doses in phantoms are especially important to verify the simulated neutron source plane. Good agreement between the calculated and measured values has been achieved and this neutron source plane is now used to predict flux and dose information for oncologists to form treatment plans as well as designing collimator and room shielding. In addition, a program using MCNP calculated results as input has been developed to predict reliable flux and dose distributions in the central coronal section of a head model for irradiation by the BMRR beam. Dosimetric comparisons and treatment examples are presented.
Intense Positron Beams and Possible Experiments

In this paper, we will survey some of the ideas that have been proposed regarding the production of intense beams of low energy positrons. Various facilities to produce beams of this type are already under design or construction and other methods beyond those in use have been previously discussed. (1) Moreover, a variety of potential experiments utilizing intense positron beams have been suggested. It is to be hoped that this paper can serve as a useful summary of some of the current ideas, as well as a stimulation for new ideas to be forthcoming at the workshop.
Development of PCR for the detection of Polymyxa betae in sugar beet roots and its application in field studies

A previously cloned 1·8 kb PCR Polymyxa betae DNA fragment has been fully sequenced and used to design PCR primers for the specific detection of P. betae in sugar beet seedling roots. The primers did not amplify sequences from fungi closely related to P. betae, or from sugar beet or other microorganisms commonly associated with sugar beet roots. Protocols which combine PCR with Southern/dot blot analysis of products were developed to detect P. betae in sugar beet roots. A nested PCR protocol was also developed and shown to provide levels of sensitivity that allow more rapid screening for P. betae infection. Subsequently, PCR was used to detect P. betae in a survey of infection incidence in 65 sugar beet fields. Seventy one percent of fields and 33% of plants sampled were infected by late June, with a lower incidence on peat as compared to mineral soils.
Revamping the Aid for Trade Initiative: Why is it Necessary? What Can Be Done?

The Aid for Trade Initiative needs to be revamped. To restore confidence and improve its efficiency, aid for trade should focus more on projects that are clearly related to trade.
Twitter as Mythmaker In Storytelling: The Emergence of Hero Status by the Boston Police Department in the aftermath of the 2013 Marathon Bombing

Early adopters of Twitter include traditional news media and government entities. Through a close examination of tweets, this critical study focused on how the Boston Police Department employed traditional informational storytelling, usually reserved for the news media, to narrate the mythical archetype of “hero” in its tweets during the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. A significant finding in this study is that Boston police exercised not only its physical might, through pursuits and a highly visible arrest, but also its influence to maintain social order during and after the crisis. Although Boston police may not have actively sought “hero” status in the week-long pursuit of suspects, this study concludes that an analysis of police tweets helped fashion heroic imagery. There are serious implications for journalism because Twitter affords opportunities for non-traditional, primary “storytellers,” such as Boston police, who compete for social media attention with unfiltered content in times of crisis.
The rebirth of re‐engineering: X‐engineering

American businesses spent billions of dollars on various re‐engineering initiatives in the last decade. Re‐engineering efforts have produced a wide range of results. While some companies labeled re‐engineering efforts as successful, it was an unfulfilled promise for many. As we enter into the digital age, information technology is playing a principal role in bringing process improvement to the forefront of business management consciousness. This rebirth of re‐engineering, called “X‐engineering,” is the process of redesigning work between a company and its customers, suppliers and partners. This paper argues that those aspiring to do business process redesign must begin to apply the capabilities of the Internet and its related technologies. As with re‐engineering, companies have no choice but to X‐engineer. How can you increase the odds for success? Here are a few lessons from the front.
Contractual savings, capital markets, and firms' financing choices

The authors analyze the relationship between the development and asset allocation of contractual savings and firms' capital structures. The authors develop a simple model of firms' leverage and debt maturity decisions. They illustrate the mechanisms through which contractual savings development may affect corporate financing patterns. In the empirical section, the authors show that the development and asset allocation of contractual savings have an independent impact on firms' financing choices. Different channels are identified. In market-based economies, an increase in the proportion of shares in the portfolio of contractual savings leads to a decline in firms' leverage. In bank-based economies, instead, an increase in the size of contractual savings is associated with an increase in leverage and debt maturity in the corporate sector
Effects of cyclosporin A on insulin binding and action in isolated fat cells of rat.

To study the effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on glucose metabolism in peripheral insulin target cells, we studied the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (i.p. GTT), insulin binding, glucose transport and lipogenesis in isolated adipocytes of CsA-treated male Wistar rats. The rats were treated for 7 days with an intramuscular injection of vehicle (control group), or 5 (group I) or 50 mg/kg body weight (group II) of CsA dissolved in ethanol. The results of i.p. GTT in group II showed markedly impaired glucose tolerance with significantly decreased basal and glucose-stimulated serum insulin levels. In isolated adipocytes of CsA-treated rats, the insulin bindings were decreased by 26% in group I and 32% in group II. The maximum insulin-stimulated glucose transports were decreased by 34% in group I and 41% in group II. The maximum insulin-stimulated lipogenesis was decreased by 33% in group I and 37% in group II. There was a right shift of the dose response curves for insulin of glucose transport and lipogenesis of both CsA-treated groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that CsA produces significant functional changes of pancreatic B cells and also induces insulin resistance in adipocytes due to combined receptor and postreceptor defects in insulin action.
On fairness, optimal download performance and proportional replication in peer-to-peer networks

Each peer in a peer-to-peer network, by definition, is both a consumer and a provider of the service. As a consumer, a peer wants to obtain its objects of interest as quickly as possible. However, as a service provider, the peer wants to serve no more than an equitable portion of the total workload. Our first observation in this paper is that if one satisfies the latter criterion of fairness in workload distribution, then one also minimizes the average download time when the delay at the server is convex in the utilization factor of the server. We had previously observed that controlled flooding search in unstructured networks is optimized when the number of replicas of a file is proportional to the request rate for that file. Here we show that such a replica distribution also ensures fairness in the workload distribution and, at the same time, minimizes the average download time seen by a download request.
Optimized 3D ultrashort echo time pulmonary MRI.

Purpose To optimize 3D radial ultrashort echo time MRI for high resolution whole-lung imaging. Methods 3D radial ultrashort echo time was implemented on a 3T scanner to investigate the effects of: (1) limited field-of-view excitation, (2) variable density readouts, and (3) radial oversampling. Improvements in noise performance and spatial resolution were assessed through simulation and phantom studies. Their effects on lung and airway visualization in five healthy male human subjects (mean age 32 years) were compared qualitatively through blinded ordinal scoring by two cardiothoracic radiologists using a nonparametric Friedman test (P < 0.05). Relative signal difference between endobronchial air and adjacent lung tissue, normalized to nearby vessel, was used as a surrogate for lung tissue signal. Quantitative measures were compared using the paired Student's t-test (P < 0.05). Finally, clinical feasibility was investigated in a patient with interstitial fibrosis. Results Simulation and phantom studies showed up to 67% improvement in SNR and reduced blurring for short T2* species using all three optimizations. In vivo images showed decreased artifacts and improved lung tissue and airway visualization both qualitatively and quantitatively. Conclusion The use of limited field-of-view excitation, variable readout gradients, and radial oversampling significantly improve the technical quality of 3D radial ultrashort echo time lung images. Magn Reson Med 70:1241–1250, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CT and MR Imaging after Placement of the GliaSite Radiation Therapy System to Treat Brain Tumor: Initial Experience

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The GliaSite system delivers local, high radiation after brain tumor resection. We describe the imaging appearance of the device and the changes it causes. METHODS: Eight patients with brain tumors were treated with this system. After surgery, all underwent MR imaging, and one underwent CT. Five were examined 1 month after radioactive unloading and every 2 months thereafter (total, 6–9 months). Initial studies were assessed for balloon appearance and complications; subsequent studies, for signal intensity and enhancement. Three patients underwent multivoxel proton MR spectroscopy, and one underwent MR perfusion study. Spectra were reviewed for metabolites suggesting tumor; perfusion studies were reviewed for increased relative cerebral blood volume and flow. RESULTS: CT showed the hyperattenuating balloon with considerable artifact. All MR images showed the device and adjacent brain. Follow-up studies showed enhancement and T2 hyperintensity in five patients. In one, enhancement progressively disappeared with no evidence of tumor recurrence. Another patient had progressive enhancement and low relative cerebral blood volume and flow; biopsy showed necrosis and inflammation. One patient had progressive enhancement and high choline levels (proved anaplastic astrocytoma). In another, T2 signal intensity and contrast enhancement progressed owing to tumor and bacterial infection. The last patient had a high choline level (proved radionecrosis); enhancement progressed over 5 months. In three, the device was removed early because of bleeding, mass effect, and therapeutic changes (no follow-up). CONCLUSION: Good balloon visualization was possible with MR imaging. After brachytherapy, all patients developed T2 hyperintensity; stable or progressive enhancement occurred with tumor recurrence and radionecrosis. High choline levels were suggestive of, but not necessarily diagnostic of, tumor.
Life Expectancy and the Timing of Life History Events in Developing Countries

Life history theory predicts that greater extrinsic mortality will lead to earlier and higher fertility. To test this prediction, I examine the relationship between life expectancy at birth and several proxies for life history traits (ages at first sex and first marriage, total fertility rate, and ideal number of children), measured for both men and women. Data on sexual behaviors come from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). Two separate samples are analyzed: a cross-sectional sample of 62 countries and a panel sample that includes multiple cross-sectional panels from 48 countries. Multivariate regression analysis is used to control for potential confounding variables. The results provide only partial support for the predictions, with greater support among women than men. However, the prediction is not supported in sub-Saharan African countries, most likely owing to the nonequilibrium conditions observed in sub-Saharan Africa with respect to life expectancy. The applicability of the model to understanding HIV/AIDS risk behaviors is discussed.
The mediated electrochemical dissolution of plutonium oxide: kinetics and mechanism

Abstract The design and optimization of large-scale systems for electrochemical dissolution of PuO 2 in the presence of Ag 2+ ions acting as mediators require a knowledge of true dissolution kinetics, usually obscured by limiting capacities of the electrolytic cells. Analysis conducted in this study identified the PuO 2 surface reaction with silver(II) as the rate-controlling step and led to a mathematical model of the process based on first-order heterogeneous kinetics. By applying the model for simulation of a large-scale PuO 2 dissolution experiment reported by Bourges et al. , a first-order rate constant k =0.0004 cm min −1 for electrochemical dissolution of PuO 2 at 25°C has been determined. The model was then used to demonstrate the strong effects of the PuO 2 size distribution, the silver(I) concentration, the anodic current and some other operational parameters on the dissolution time and the current efficiency. The results of this investigation provide a means for rational design and operation of plutonium-processing systems and stress the importance of operation at the limiting current.
Pulse shaping with the Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm

Generation of arbitrarily complex intensity profiles by using phase-only Fourier-domain pulse shaping has thus far been performed by using optimization algorithms to find the optimal phase profile. We present an alternative method based on the Gerchberg–Saxton (GS) algorithm that converges at least several hundred times faster and is independent of the number of phase points and gray levels. The numerical and experimental performance of the GS algorithm is characterized and compared against a genetic algorithm. An application of amplified GS-synthesized waveforms to large-amplitude coherent phonon generation and destruction is demonstrated.
Identification of biomarkers associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in CuZn superoxide dismutase deficient mice

To identify biomarkers associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, Sod1) deficient mice, 2-DE followed by MS analysis was carried out with liver samples obtained from 18-month-old Sod1-/- and +/+ mice. The intracellular Ca binding protein, regucalcin (RGN), showed a divergent alteration in Sod1-/- samples. Whereas elevated RGN levels were observed in -/- samples with no obvious neoplastic changes, marked reduction in RGN was observed in -/- samples with fully developed HCC. GST mu1 (GSTM1), on the other hand, showed a significant increase only in the neoplastic regions obtained from Sod1-/- livers. No change in GSTM1 was observed in the surrounding normal tissues. Marked reduction was observed in two intracellular lipid transporters, fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1) and major urinary protein 11 and 8 (MUP 11&8), in Sod1-/- samples. Analysis of additional samples at 18-22 months of age showed a three-fold increase in enolase activities in Sod1-/- livers. Consistent with previous findings, carbonic anhydrase 3 (CAIII) levels were significantly reduced in Sod1-/- samples, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the reduction was not homogenous throughout the lobular structure in the liver.
Diethylstilbestrol inhibition of succinoxidase of tumor and tissue mitochondrial elements and progesterone and testosterone reversal of this inhibition

Abstract 1. 1. In the presence of 0.02 M succinate and 10 −5 M cytochrome c , diethylstilbestrol (10 −3 M — 3·10 −5 M ) inhibited by 30–95% the oxygen consumption of the mitochondria of C 3 HBA adenocarcinoma, S-91 and Harding-Passey melanomas, liver, brain, and heart of mice; and with paraphenylenediamine instead of succinate, the mitochondria of mouse heart and brain. 2. 2. The inhibition of the succinoxidase of liver mitochondria was more effective if the diethylstilbestrol was added to the tissue before the substrates. 3. 3. The inhibition by diethylstilbestrol (5·10 −4 M ) of succinoxidase of the S-91 and Harding-Passey melanomas was reversed by testosterone (2·10 −4 M ) and progesterone (10 −4 M ). This can be correlated with the progesterone inhibition of stilbestrol stimulation of growth of chick oviducts as reported by Hertz 8 .
Electron stripping and reattachment at atomic centers using attosecond half-cycle pulses

We investigate the response of two three-body Coulomb systems when driven by attosecond half-cycle pulses: The electron transfer between two hydrogen atomic centers and the double ionization of the helium atom. Using very short half-cycle pulses (HCPs) which effectively deliver ``kicks'' to the electrons, we first study how a carefully chosen sequence of HCPs can be used to control to which of one of the two fixed atomic centers the electron gets reattached (HCP assisted electron transfer). Moving from one electron in two atomic centers to two electrons in one atomic center we then study the double ionization from the ground state of He by a sequence of attosecond time-scale HCPs, with each electron receiving effectively a ``kick'' from each HCP. We investigate how the net electric field of the sequence of HCPs affects the total and differential ionization probabilities.
Rechargeable Li/LiFePO4 cells using N-methyl-N-butyl pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide–LiTFSI electrolyte incorporating polymer additives

Abstract We have incorporated polymer additives such as poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (PEGDME) and tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (TEGDME) into N -methyl- N -butylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (PYR 14 TFSI)–LiTFSI mixtures. The resulting PYR 14 TFSI + LiTFSI + polymer additive ternary electrolyte exhibited relatively high ionic conductivity as well as remarkably low viscosity over a wide temperature range compared to the PYR 14 TFSI + LiTFSI binary electrolytes. The charge/discharge cyclability of Li/LiFePO 4 cells containing the ternary electrolytes was investigated. We found that Li/PYR 14 TFSI + LiTFSI + PEGDME (or TEGDME)/LiFePO 4 cells containing the two different polymer additives showed very similar discharge capacity behavior, with very stable cyclability at room temperature (RT). Li/PYR 14 TFSI + LiTFSI + TEGDME/LiFePO 4 cells can deliver about 127 mAh/g of LiFePO 4 (74.7% of theoretical capacity) at 0.054 mA/cm 2 (0.2C rate) at RT and about 108 mAh/g of LiFePO 4 (63.4% of theoretical capacity) at 0.023 mA/cm 2 (0.1C rate) at −1 °C for the first discharge. The cell exhibited a capacity fading rate of approximately 0.09–0.15% per cycle over 50 cycles at RT. Consequently, the PYR 14 TFSI + LiTFSI + polymer additive ternary mixture is a promising electrolyte for cells using lithium metal electrodes such as the Li/LiFePO 4 cell reported here. These cells showed the capability of operating over a significant temperature range (∼0–∼30 °C).
Observation of transition-state vibrational thresholds in the rate of dissociation of ketene

Rate constants for the dissociation of highly vibrationally excited ketene (CH2CO) have been measured at the threshold for the production of CH2(3B1) and CO(1Σ+). The rate constant increases in a stepwise manner with increasing energy, consistent with the long-standing premise that the rate of a unimolecular reaction is controlled by flux through quantized transition-state thresholds. The data give the energies of the torsional and C-C-O bending vibrations of the transition state.
Abnormal photoresponses and light-induced apoptosis in rods lacking rhodopsin kinase

Phosphorylation is thought to be an essential first step in the prompt deactivation of photoexcited rhodopsin. In vitro, the phosphorylation can be catalyzed either by rhodopsin kinase (RK) or by protein kinase C (PKC). To investigate the specific role of RK, we inactivated both alleles of the RK gene in mice. This eliminated the light-dependent phosphorylation of rhodopsin and caused the single-photon response to become larger and longer lasting than normal. These results demonstrate that RK is required for normal rhodopsin deactivation. When the photon responses of RK−/− rods did finally turn off, they did so abruptly and stochastically, revealing a first-order backup mechanism for rhodopsin deactivation. The rod outer segments of RK−/− mice raised in 12-hr cyclic illumination were 50% shorter than those of normal (RK+/+) rods or rods from RK−/− mice raised in constant darkness. One day of constant light caused the rods in the RK−/− mouse retina to undergo apoptotic degeneration. Mice lacking RK provide a valuable model for the study of Oguchi disease, a human RK deficiency that causes congenital stationary night blindness.
Thinking Outside the (School) Box

(2008). Thinking Outside the (School) Box. Theory & Research in Social Education: Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 158-162.
Laser isotope separation of 13C by an elimination method

Abstract An elimination method is presented for laser isotope separation. It consists of flow cycles of feed molecules, in which an isotope component of non-interest, instead of the one of interest, is photolyzed to be eliminated, and the residue is recycled for photlysis. An isotope can be enriched as much as desired even if the isotope selectivity in the photolysis is low. The separation of 13 C is demonstrated by employing multiphoton dissociation using a TEA CO 2 laser.
Inappropriate drug prescribing and polypharmacy are major causes of poor outcomes in long-term care.

56 Previously in your Journal, we have stressed the problems associated with medications in long-term care.1e12 In this issue, we have 6 further articles stressing the problems of inappropriate prescribing and providing some solutions to control medication usage in the nursing home.13e18 Inappropriate medications are a major reason for readmission to hospital from long-term care.19e30 This is spurred by the ridiculous medications that many patients are started on in the hospital by physicians who have no concept of how to manage the frail elderly.31e37 Cool13 reports that potentially inappropriate drug prescribing occurs more often in sicker persons (higher Charlson Co-Morbidity Index), those receiving a psychiatric consult, and in those without dementia. Smeets et al,18 focusing on excess psychotropic medicines that are used in residents with dementia, found 4 major possible areas: (1) the beliefs of physicians and advanced practice nurses, (2) previous experiences and education of the health care professionals, (3) effective communication between physicians and family, and (4) staffing issues and policies. Reeve et al38 found that 92% of older persons were willing to stop medications if possible. This highlights the appropriateness of soliciting the opinions of residents and family as a way to help reduce medications. An important component in the reduction of psychotropic medications in the nursing home is to have available behavior therapy programs, meaningful activities, and exercise programs in the nursing home.39e45 Delirium is a common problem in nursing homes.46e50 In a geriatric care unit in France, deliriumwas present in 69% of residents on 6 or more drugs a day and in only 30% of those on fewer drugs.15 This study confirms that limiting drug burden is an important component of reducing delirium in nursing homes. Landi14 highlighted that anticholinergic burden due to drugs is a major cause of delirium, and also found that anticholinergic burden increased functional decline and falls. Fox et al,51 in a systematic review, found that anticholinergic medicines had adverse effects on cognition and physical function. Inappropriate medications have been shown to contribute to poor balance.52 Psychotropicmedications are amajor cause of delirium, and many of themhave a high anticholinergic burden.53 Polypharmacy has previously been recognized as a major cause of falls.54,55 A number of lists of potentially inappropriate drugs for older persons have been developed. These include the Screening Tool of
The Dynamic Synergy Between Mentoring, Nurturing and Counseling the Gifted

This paper will review three aspects of helping gifted children and adolescents, and will draw together the dynamic interaction between the enabling strategies which contribute to the growth and development of gifted children.
Preparation of a new Ti catalyst for improved performance of NaAlH4

Abstract Three effective Ti catalysts for NaAlH4 were made by stoichiometrically reacting TiCl3 with LiAlH4 in tetrahydrofuran (THF), NaAlH4 in THF, and LiAlH4 in diethyl ether (Et2O). The solid products produced after drying were named ex situ catalysts and designated respectively as Ti(Li)T, Ti(Na)T and Ti(Li)E. NaAlH4 was dry doped with 2 mol% of these ex situ catalysts, and for comparison, NaAlH4 was conventionally wet doped with 2 mol% TiCl3 in THF that made in situ catalyst (designated as TiCl3). All four doped samples were dry ball milled, and hydrogenation and dehydrogenation studies were carried out over five cycles. Temperature programmed desorption, constant temperature desorption, and constant temperature cycling curves showed that the effectiveness of these catalysts decreased as Ti(Li)T > Ti(Na)T > TiCl3 > Ti(Li)E. Ti(Li)T ex situ catalyst, being the best Ti catalyst, markedly decreased the dehydrogenation temperature, improved both the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics with sustained rates over cycling, and exhibited the least loss of hydrogen storage capacity over cycling. Ti(Li)T ex situ catalyst exhibited properties commensurate with some of the best NaAlH4 catalysts to date, such as CeCl3, ScCl3 and Ti nanocluster. It is easy to make, readily available and relatively inexpensive.
Derivation and Significance of Valence Molecular Connectivity

The physical basis for valence molecular connectivity was studied. The δv and δ values are cardinal numbers describing the electronic structure of atoms in their valence states. The value δv + δ describes the volume of a bonding atom while the value δv − δ describes the electronegativity. By using the principle of electronegativity equalization, bond electronegativity is defined as (δviδvj)−1/2, and the valence molecular connectivity index (1χv) is derived as a sum of these bond descriptions. The valence chi index is interpreted in terms of the information encoded, describing both the volume and electronic characteristics of bonds in molecules. Examples of close relationships with molecular volume and electronic properties are shown. A new way of estimating valence state electronegativity is proposed from a count of exterjacent electrons divided by the quantum number squared for at least the first three quantum levels.
Development of a solid-state 100 mK refrigerator for user-supplied microelectronics

Abstract Solid-state refrigerators based on normal metal/insulator/superconductor (NIS) tunnel junctions are now a practical means of cooling from pumped 3 He bath temperatures to near 100 mK. While integration of NIS refrigerators with transition-edge sensors is underway, a more general-purpose cooling platform is desirable. We report on progress developing a NIS refrigerator designed to cool microelectronics devices on separate chips.
Simulation study of repeatability and bias in the CD-SEM

The ability of a critical dimension scanning electron microscope (CD-SEM) to resolve differences in the widths of two lines is determined by measurement repeatability and any sample-dependent biases. In order to ascertain the dependence of these quantities upon eight different parameters specifying the sample geometry, instrument conditions, and noise, the MONSEL Monte Carlo electron simulator has been used to calculate secondary electron images for varying depth of focus, sample edge shape, electron beam spot size, and proximity of neighboring lines. To each of these imaegs was added noise with varying total power but with that power distributed across spatial freqencies so as to match the shape of the power spectral density measured in one or the other of two different commercial CD-SEMs in a fabrication facility environment. The edge positions from these simulated noisy images were then 'measured' as would be done in a CD-SEM, employing both commonly used and experimental edge location algorithms. Simulations were performed for 14,400 different combinations of values for the eight parameters. From many repetitions of noise, the repeatability of such edge measurements was ascertained for each of these. Since in a simulation the true edge positions are known, the biases of these edge determinations were also determined. The noise amplitude, choice of edge detection algorithm, and beam size are significant factors in measurement repeatability. The CD-SEMs measurement repeatability may be an order of magnitude better than its spatial resolution. For some edge detection methods the bias is a function of edge shape. This means that in a manufacturing environment in which the shape varies, there will be a random component of error that is not captured in the usual same-sample tests of instrument precision.
Noninvasive monitoring of chest wall movement in infants using laser

Traditionally, non-invasive monitoring of tidal volume in infants has been performed using impedance plethysmography analyzed using a one or two compartment model. We developed a new laser system for use in infants, which measures antero-posterior movement of the chest wall during quiet sleep. In 24 unsedated or sedated infants (11 healthy, 13 with respiratory disease), we examined whether the analysis of thoracoabdominal movement based on a three compartment model could more accurately estimate tidal volume in comparison to V(T) measured at the mouth. Using five laser signals, chest wall movements were measured at the right and left, upper and lower ribcage and the abdomen. Within the tidal volume range from 4.6 to 135.7 ml, a three compartment model showed good short term repeatability and the best agreement with tidal volume measured at mouth (r(2) = 0.86) compared to that of a single compartment model (r(2) = 0.62, P < 0.0001) and a two compartment model (r(2) = 0.82, P < 0.01), particularly in the presence of respiratory disease. Three compartment modeling of a 5 laser thoracoabdominal monitoring permits more accurate estimates of tidal volume in infants and potentially of regional differences of chest wall displacement in future studies.
A unified method for the analysis of controlled-strain and controlled-stress fatigue testing

Fatigue cracking is one of the primary distresses in asphalt pavements. This study presents a method to characterize fatigue resistance of the fine portion of the asphalt mixture using the dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). Three mixtures were characterized in controlled-strain and controlled-stress modes of loading. The new method has several advantages as it requires reasonable testing time, uses a small amount of material, utilizes fundamental properties of the mixture, and is able to unify the results from controlled-strain and controlled-stress modes of loading. The unified method relies on identifying the different mechanisms of energy dissipation during fatigue cracking that are related to changes in the phase angle, changes in stiffness, and development of permanent deformation during the fatigue damage process. Two fatigue damage parameters are derived in this paper. The parameters are shown to have reasonable and lower coefficients of variation than conventional parameters such as number of load...
Clock mechanisms in zebrafish

Recent research on the circadian system of the zebrafish is reviewed. This teleost has become an attractive model system because of its advantages for genetic analyses. Circadian rhythms of zebrafish behavior, visual system function, and pineal melatonin synthesis have been described, and behavioral and pineal rhythms are being used to identify and characterize clock mutants. Zebrafish heart, kidney, and embryonic cell lines contain circadian oscillators and phototransduction mechanisms for entrainment, suggesting that circadian pacemaking functions may be distributed throughout the animal. Studies of circadian system development in zebrafish have found that a molecular circadian oscillation in unfertilized oocytes persists through embryonic development with its phase intact, but that the pacemakers that drive rhythms of melatonin synthesis and behavior require environmental entraining signals late in development for initial synchronization. Zebrafish homologs of several of the core clock genes identified in other animals have been cloned. Transcripts for most of these are rhythmically expressed in multiple tissues. The interactions of clock gene products are for the most part similar to their interactions in mammals, although there are some potentially interesting differences.
Unsupervised Practice: The Performance of the Control Group

Abstract A control group of 40 subjects practiced the Space Fortress game for 10, one-hour, sessions. They were given standard game instructions, but were not aided in their training in any other fashion. Subjects in this group showed a general improvement, throughout training, in the total game score as well as in many other aspects of game performance. However, individual differences were found in the subjects' initial capability, in their rate of learning and in the strategies they adopted to achieve their final performance. In order to summarize the many aspects of this complex database, two multivariate techniques were used: Three-Mode Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis. These techniques proved useful in that they provided a coherent and relatively simple description of the subjects' behavior. The model derived from these multivariate procedures was applied to an independent group of subjects. This cross-validation accounted for some of the differences observed between the two groups.
Computer Controlled Bidirectional Phasing for Real Time Echosonography

A bidirectional phasing scheme for a real time B-mode ultrasonic imager is described. The system uses a PDP-11 digital computer and analog delay lines to focus an ultrasonic transducer array. Preliminary transmit field patterns, obtained using the system suggest the resolution will be Rayleigh limited.
Experimental results on the Kondo system (Ce, La)Ni2Sn2

Abstract Structural, transport, magnetic and Ce-L 3 X-ray absorption measurements on CeNi 2 Sn 2 are discussed. Our results indicate that this system is a Kondo heavy fermion system with Fermi liquid behavior, and with the possible occurrence of antiferromagnetic order at low temperature. Moreover, evidence in the structural and magnetic data support the possibility of an annealing induced distortion in this material.
Valence x-ray-emission bands of a-Si:H/a-SiNx:H superlattices.

Si ${\mathit{L}}_{2,3}$ x-ray-emission spectra from amorphous superlattices made with a-Si:H and a-${\mathrm{SiN}}_{\mathit{x}}$:H are presented and interpreted using a two-phase linear superposition model for the valence-band region. The average thickness of buried interfaces in these superlattices was found to be 1.8 \AA{} and the interfaces were shown to be of silicon-nitride character. A direct measurement of the fluorescence yield ratio in the soft-x-ray spectral range for any two materials is also presented.
The Role of Fas-FasL in the Development and Treatment of Ischemic Retinopathy

PURPOSE. Define a role for Fas-FasL in oxygen-induced retinopathy and explore the mechanism of pigment-epithelium-derived growth factor (PEDF) inhibition in this model. METHODS. Seven-day-old mice C57BL/6J (B6), FasL-defective (B6-gld), or Fas-defective (B6-lpr) mice were exposed to 75% oxygen for 5 days (postnatal day [P]7-P12) and returned to room air. On day P17, vascular architecture was assessed microscopically after perfusion with FITC-dextran, and preretinal nuclei were quantified by PAS and hematoxylin staining. In some experiments, mice were treated intraperitoneally with PEDF. Vascular architecture and preretinal nuclei counts were compared with those in PBS-treated control animals. RESULTS. Oxygen-induced retinopathy was significantly increased in FasL-defective gld mice compared with wild-type B6 animals. This was manifested by an increase in the number of microaneurysms, neovascular tufts, and preretinal nuclei. PEDF treatment prevented retinopathy in B6, B6-gld, and B6-lpr mice. CONCLUSIONS. Fas-FasL interactions regulate the extent of oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization. The inhibition of neovascularization in B6 gld, and B6-lpr mice by PEDF suggests that Fas-FasL interactions are probably not the mechanism for inhibition in this model.
SURFACE MODIFICATION OF ZIRCALOY-4 SUBSTRATES WITH NICKEL ZIRCONIUM INTERMETALLICS

Abstract Surfaces of Zircaloy-4 (Zr-4) substrates were modified with nickel–zirconium (NiZr) intermetallics to tailor oxidation performance for specialized applications. Surface modification was achieved by electroplating Zr-4 substrates with nickel (Ni) and then performing thermal treatments to fully react the Ni plating with the substrates, which resulted in a coating of NiZr intermetallics on the substrate surfaces. Both plating thickness and thermal treatment were evaluated to determine the effects of these fabrication parameters on oxidation performance and to identify an optimal surface modification process. Isothermal oxidation tests were performed on surface-modified materials at 290°, 330°, and 370 °C under a constant partial pressure of oxidant (i.e., 1 kPa D2O in dry Ar at 101 kPa) for 64 days. Test results revealed an enhanced, transient oxidation rate that decreased asymptotically toward the rate of the Zr-4 substrate. Oxidation kinetics were analyzed from isothermal weight gain data, which were correlated with microstructure, hydrogen pickup, strength, and hardness.
Schistosoma japonicum: anti-DNA responses, serum cryogelatification, and cryoprecipitation phenomena in infected rabbits.

Serum, obtained from rabbits experimentally infected with Schistosoma japonicum, will frequently gel or precipitate depending on the method of collection. Serum cryogels and cryoprecipitates were partially characterized by injecting guinea pigs with washed preparations of cryogel combined from several infected animals or cryoprecipitable material obtained from individual control or experimental rabbits. Guinea pig anti-gel antibody reacted predominantly with three constituents of normal rabbit serum: α1 macroglobulin, IgG, and fibrinogen. Cryoprecipitates were shown to contain IgM and IgG in the five animals examined (one control and four experimental). In addition, (complement) C3, a β plasma protein, and S. japonicum antigen were present in the cryoprecipitates of one or more of the infected rabbits. The temporal aspects of the anti-single- or double-stranded DNA response and the relationship of this response to hepatic fibrosis and glomerulopathy in infected rabbits were also investigated. Serum anti-ssDNA activity could be observed in heavily infected animals soon after the onset of egg production by the female schistosome. These responses were delayed but of similar intensity in rabbits rceiving either single or multiple light exposures. Only one rabbit demonstrated a prominent affinity for the dsDNA ligand, and this animal also developed a severe nephropathy. The data presented in this study do not support the suggestion that there is a direct, intimate relationship between anti-ssDNA activity and renal pathology in rabbits infected with S. japonicum or between anti-nucleic acid responses and the magnitude of hepatic fibrosis.
USE OF RF BRIDGE FOR REENTRY PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS

Abstract : Flight measurements of plasma sheath properties are essential for confirming predictions and guiding future research. One important plasma sheath property, electrical conductivity, sigma, can be measured by use of an rf bridge. The electrical conductivity can be related to electron density and collision frequency. RF bridges have been used in the laboratory, but have not been used as flight instruments. To measure, signma, an electrostatically shielded coil is placed next to the plasma. The alternating magnetic field due to the alternating current in the coil drives currents in the conductor (the plasma), changing the impedance of the coil. If the coil is part of a bridge circuit, the change in impedance causes unbalance of the bridge. The bridge unbalance, which manifests itself as a voltage, can be related to sigma by suitable calibration. Calibration constants for the bridge can be theoretically predicted. A formula was derived for power dissipation, which is related to the resistance change due to the presence of the plasma; the equation was programmed for a computer. Allowance was made for variation of sigma through the boundary layer and shock layer. Measurements were made to check the validity of the theory. Curves of the theoretical and experimental results are presented. (Author)
Mobile language-networks and medieval travel writing

This article examines medieval portrayals of language contact across a range of texts, including travel narratives and plays depicting xenoglossia (speaking in tongues). Engaging with John Law's discussion of the mobile ship and Actor Network Theory (ANT), this essay conceives polyglot contact zones – spaces where languages come together and influence one another – as dynamic ‘network objects.’ Literary texts about travel employ innovative strategies for conveying the experience of transit over land and sea, and they encourage readers to imagine the subjective experience of moving through ever-shifting linguistic environments. In their intricate modes of representing life in transit, medieval texts invite multiple avenues for theorizing the ‘network object’ (such as a ship or a pilgrimage company) that is itself in perpetual motion.
Financial Aid, Borrowing Constraints, and College Attendance: Evidence from Structural Estimates

The idea that borrowing constraints may preclude low-income youth from attending college is widespread. Here I will review some recent work on the importance of borrowing constraints and the impact of financial aid programs (i.e., guaranteed student loans and tuition subsidies) designed to counteract them. This work suggests that borrowing constraints have little effect on college attendance decisions. There is evidence that tuition subsidies play a modest role in reducing inequality in schooling and earnings. Most inequality, however, appears to be driven by unequal human-capital accumulation prior to college-going age. Empirical work on college attendance decisions has consistently produced two findings: (i) parents' income helps predict college attendance, even conditional on other observed characteristics of youth, and (ii) the effect of tuition on the probability of college attendance is greater for children from low-income families. There is some (mixed) evidence that (iii) the rate of return to education is higher for low-income youth. These findings are commonly viewed as strong evidence for borrowing constraints. Recent work by Stephen Cameron and James Heckman (1998) challenges these findings. Furthermore, other recent work (Keane and Kenneth Wolpin, 2001) shows that they are compatible with a model in which liquidity constraints have a negligible impact on college attendance rates. To understand this work, it is useful to consider a very simple discrete-choice model of college attendance decisions. The model has the following features: