cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Old age in health and disease : Lessons from the oral cavity

It is not clear if aging distinctions can be made at the level of an organ or organism. The purpose of this study was to determine if a general definition of systemic aging, primary aging (influence of the passage of time), versus secondary aging (influence of extrinsic factors), can be used to discriminate the functional status of an individual organ system, the oral cavity. Thirty healthy, nonmedicated subjects (that is, those who exhibit primary aging) and 42 persons being treated for medical problems and taking prescription medications (that is, those who exhibit secondary aging), aged 75 to 96 years, from the oral physiology component of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging were evaluated. A standardized examination assessed gingival, periodontal, dental, and oral mucosal tissues. There were few substantive differences in oral health and function between primary and secondary aging subjects. Thus use of broad definitions of aging in an organism did not lead to meaningful predictions of the health or function of an individual organ system. Furthermore, the similarity in the oral condition between both groups studied here suggests substantial resiliency of the oral cavity during aging.
The Causal Effect of Fertility on Female Labor Supply: Evidence from Taiwanese Son Preference

Economic models of home production predict a tradeoff between a mother's fertility and her labor supply. Recent empirical work suggests that while these outcomes are correlated, the causal impact is negligible when estimated through Instrumental Variables (sex preference, twinning). I find that in Taiwan, intense son preference produces 2SLS estimates of a mother's labor response that are larger than OLS estimates, suggesting that previous IV analyses may focus on mothers with lower than average costs to childbearing. I present a model of a mother's joint determination of fertility and labor supply allowing for unobserved heterogeneity in both the benefits and costs of children. The model predicts that IV estimates will rise in proportion to the intensity of the instrument, and provides a framework for assessing the bias in OLS and IV estimators. Estimation of the structural model predicts that the average causal effect of a third child on a mother's probability of working is -10 percent in Taiwan and -12 percent in the United States for mothers between 34 and 36 years of age. The results imply that the IV estimate for the US (-7 percent) is lower than the average causal effect, but the IV estimate in Taiwan (-11 percent) is slightly larger than the average causal effect. I present a set of simulations to consider how IV estimates derived from simulated data change when the strength of the instrument varies, and find that in both Taiwan and the US, weaker instruments provide estimates lower than the average causal effect, and stronger instruments yield estimates closer to the average causal effect.
Long-term data for BTI degradation in 32nm IBM microprocessor using HKMG technology

This paper describes the measured long-term BTI field data from IBM zEnterprise EC12 systems in 32nm High-k/Metal Gate (HKMG) technology using a built-in monitor which is capable of separating the PBTI and the NBTI effects. The BTI monitor is accompanied by a digital thermal sensor in close proximity to correlate the BTI degradation with temperature. Comparable PBTI and NBTI degradation in use condition were observed. Compared with previous z196 microprocessor with 45nm SiON CMOS technology, the new 32nm zEC12 showed more than 2X less BTI degradation. This is attributed to HKMG technology optimization and lower chip voltages.
Magnetic flux shielding for the precision muon g-2 storage ring superconducting inflector

The muon g-2 experiment (E821) at the AGS requires a precision in the magnetic field over muon orbit at the level of 0.1 ppm. Injection is done with a superconducting inflector involving a double cosine theta winding approximately cancels its fringe field. Nevertheless its residual field would effect the homogeneity of the storage ring magnetic field. A method of using a superconducting sheet surrounding the inflector to further reduce the fringe field is being investigated. The experimental program to explore this technique is described and some test results are presented. >
Finding haystacks with needles: ranked search for data using geospatial and temporal characteristics

The past decade has seen an explosion in the number and types of environmental sensors deployed, many of which provide a continuous stream of observations. Each individual observation consists of one or more sensor measurements, a geographic location, and a time. With billions of historical observations stored in diverse databases and in thousands of datasets, scientists have difficulty finding relevant observations. We present an approach that creates consistent geospatial-temporal metadata from large repositories of diverse data by blending curated and automated extracts. We describe a novel query method over this metadata that returns ranked search results to a query with geospatial and temporal search criteria. Lastly, we present a prototype that demonstrates the utility of these ideas in the context of an ocean and coastalmargin observatory.
Pauli-Villars regularization and trace anomalies

The trace of the vacuum stress tensor is calculated using the Pauli-Villars regularization. A momentum-space calculation up to second order of perturbation theory gives usual expressions for the trace anomalies. The anomalies arise as a contribution of infinitely massive fields (regulators). An important feature of the Pauli-Villars method is that the operations of taking trace and regularization are commutative. This method allows us also to clarify the relation between the massive and massless theories. It is shown that the trace anomaly for a massless field is equal to the negative of the mass-independent term in the expansion ofTvv(x; m2) in powers ofm−2 in the corresponding massive theory.
The steady-state charged fraction of 0.01 /gmm particles

Abstract Laboratory measurements of the steady-state charged fraction of monodisperse aerosols indicate an uncharged to total particle ratio of 0.90 ± 0.03, at a mean particle radius of (0.99 ± 0.10) × 10 −2 μm, which implies a charged fraction 0.10 ± 0.03. These results are in agreement with the measurements of Liu and Pui (1974) and suggest that the ratio of ion—particle attachment coefficients, ion to charged particle of opposite sign divided by ion to neutral particle, is β 1 / β o = 19 −5 +9 , which is larger than most theoretical predictions.
Pressed scar tissue for tympanic membrane grafting in revision tympanoplasty

OBJECTIVECompare the efficacy of pressed scar tissue grafts to standard fascia and areolar tissue grafts for use in tympanoplasty.STUDY DESIGNA retrospective review of a prospective computerized database of tympanoplasty and mastoid surgeries at an academic, tertiary care practice was performed. Search parameters were set to find all patients who underwent tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy with use of various grafting materials for repair of tympanic membrane perforation from 1996 to 2002. All ages were included. Patients with cholesteatoma at the time of surgery were excluded. The short-term graft take rate was evaluated at 30 to 90 days to identify any differences in results using the standard fascia and areolar grafts vs. pressed scar tissue grafts. Other parameters that may have an influence on outcome were analyzed including mastoidectomy, infection, perforation size, perforation location, age of patient, primary vs. revision surgery, number of previous surgeries, postauricular vs. transcan...
Wear of the magnetic head-carbon overcoated disk interface. A Raman spectroscopy study

Abstract Raman spectroscopy was applied in the wear track region of carbon overcoated magnetic storage disks after drag and contact start/stop (CSS) tests with a manganese-zinc ferrite slider. The ratio of the relative intensities of the two major carbon bands, one centred near 1360 cm −1 (the D band) and the other centred between 1560 cm −1 and 1580 cm −1 (the G band) increased with the number of cycles in the drag test and first increased and then decreased in the CSS test. The changed D/G spectral intensity ratio is attributed to temperature changes. Raman spectra of carbon layers sputtered to different thicknesses between 15 nm and 30 nm were essentially identical, indicating uniformity in overcoat composition. Raman spectra are consistent with generally higher temperatures in CSS tests than in drag tests. The intensity of a Raman band centred at 625 cm −1 increased with number of drag cycles in the slider spectrum. Its frequency and shape corresponds to that reported for manganese ferrite in the literature. Its intensity increase with wear remains to be explained. Laser irradiation of carbon overcoats in a Raman spectrometer can contribute to changes of the carbon structure by heating.
Galveston Bay: Temporal changes in the concentrations of trace organic contaminants in national status and trends oysters (1986–1994)

The temporal distributions for six classes of trace organic contaminants (chlordanes, DDTs, dieldrin, PAHs, PCBs, and butyltins) in oysters from six Galveston Bay sites from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Status and Trends (NS&T) Mussel Watch Program are compared with other NS&T sites from the Gulf of Mexico as well as all NS&T sites of the United States (East Coast, West Coast, and Gulf of Mexico). Decreases in the median for the Gulf-wide concentration of chlordanes, dieldrin, and butyltins occurred during 1986–1994. The Gulfwide median concentrations of DDTs, PAHs, and PCBs exhibited a strong cyclic distribution with time. For Galveston Bay oysters, “high” concentration is defined as the concentration greater than the median plus one standard deviation for all Gulf of Mexico sites. The percentage of sites having high concentrations during 1986–1994 for Galveston Bay oysters are 49% for dieldrin, 45% for butyltins, 40% for chlordanes, 38% for PCBs, 30% for PAHs, and 21% for DDTs. For PCBs, 43% of Galveston Bay oyster samples analyzed over the first 9 yr have concentrations high enough for potential biological effects to be observed in oysters. The percentages in other agents were chlordanes (22%), butyltins (22%), dieldrin (5%), and PAHs (4%). National Academy of Science-proposed regulatory limits for oysters were exceeded in only 2% of Galveston Bay samples for DDTs and 1% for PCBs. All other contaminants were below proposed NAS limits.
The Comprehension of Sentences Involving Quantity Information Affects Responses on the Up–Down Axis

We investigated the use of space in the comprehension of the concept of quantity in text. Previous work has suggested that the right–left axis is useful in spatial representations of number and quantity, while linguistic evidence points toward use of the up-down axis. In Experiment 1, participants read sentences containing quantity information and pressed buttons in either (1) an up and a down position or (2) a left and a right position. In Experiment 2, the participants pressed buttons in either (1) up and down positions or (2) left and right positions, but heard the sentences rather than reading them. We found spatial compatibility effects for the up–down axis, but not for the right–left axis. Additionally, the spatial compatibility effect was observed whether or not the participants moved to make their responses. We discussed the results in the context of embodied approaches to the comprehension of quantity information.
Context and the Court Sources of Support for Civil Liberties on the Rehnquist Court

The Rehnquist Court is a conservative court. A number of scholars, however, have found a surprisingly stable level of support for liberal outcomes in civil liberties cases despite important changes in membership that should have made the Court even more conservative. We offer an explanation for this stability based on changes in the Court's context as measured by the direction of lower court decisions reviewed by the Supreme Court. The relative liberalism of the Rehnquist Court is explained by its reversals of conservative lower court decisions, reversals that have constituted a larger proportion of the Court's decisions in recent years. These findings present a more complex and accurate picture of the conservatism of the Rehnquist Court.
Animal models of renal disease

Mice have become a favored species to model disease. Many mouse strains have proven relatively resistant to some manipulations that have generated renal disease in other species. Kirchhoff et al. describe a means of producing hypertension, proteinuria, and glomerular sclerosis in a mouse strain.
Promoting Critical Thinking Skills in Online Information Literacy Instruction Using a Constructivist Approach

ABSTRACT A constructivist approach to teaching and learning holds that the learner, through interaction and experience with an object or process, creates knowledge. Instruction based upon constructivist theory places the student at the center of the learning environment, while the instructor serves as a guide or facilitator. In direct contrast, traditional learning places the learning in a more passive role, simply mirroring or reproducing knowledge that was provided by the instructor. Constructivist theory has enjoyed a certain level of popularity in higher education as emphasis has shifted from a pedagogical framework to a more andragogical (i.e., adult and learner-centered rather than instructor-lead) one. Emphasis upon teaching critical thinking skills seems a natural fit with a constructivist-based approach to learning. Critical thinking involves the conceptualization, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and ultimate application of information so that the learner may reach conclusions or form independen...
Plasmodium berghei: Acid-insensitive phosphofructokinase in infected mouse erythrocytes

Abstract The rate of glucose utilization by red blood cells infected with Plasmodium berghei was not inhibited by an acidic pH which completely inhibited normal red cell glucose consumption. This insensitivity to acid conditions by P. berghei -parasitized red cells was associated with an electrophoretically separable and kinetically distinct form of the enzyme phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11) which exhibited a pH response similar to that of whole-cell glucose consumption.
A possible transition state assembly for highly diastereoselective conjugate addition reactions of lithium dimethylcuprate with α,β-enones

Abstract A transition state assembly is proposed for the 1,4-addition of lithium dimethylcuprate to α,β-unsaturated ketones which provides general agreement with experimental observations of high stereoselectivity for substrates such as chiral α'-substituted α,β-enones, 5-substituted 2-cyclohexenones, medium ring α,β-enones, and Δ1,9-octalin-2-ones.
Birth of millisecond pulsars in globular clusters

It is argued here that accretion-induced collapse of white dwarfs in binaries can form millisecond pulsars directly without requiring a precursor low-mass X-ray binary stage. Ablation of the precollapse binary companion by the millisecond pulsar's radiation field, a process invoked to explain some of the characteristics of the recently discovered eclipsing millisecond pulsar, can then yield isolated neutron stars witout requiring an additional stellar encounter.
Water flow and solute transport processes in the unsaturated zone

This paper gives a review of our current conceptual understanding of the basic processes of water flow and chemical transport in the untsaturated (vadose) zone and of various deterministic mathematical models that are being used to describe these processes. During the past few decades, tremendous effort has been directed toward unravelling the complexities of various interactive physical, chemical, and microbiological mechanisms affecting unsaturated flow and transport, with contributions being made by soil scientists, geochemists, hydrologists, soil microbiologists, and others. Unfortunately, segmented, disciplinary research has contributed to a lack of experimental and theoretical understanding of the vadose zone, which, in turn, has precluded the accurate prediction and management of flow and contaminant transport through it. Thus a more unified and interdisciplinary approach is needed that considers the most pertinent physical, chemical, and biological processes operative in the unsaturated zone. Challenges for both fundamental and applied researchers to reveal the intricacies of the zone and to integrate these with currently known concepts are numerous, as is the urgency for progress inasmuch as our soil and ground water resources are increasingly subjected to the dangers of long-term pollution. Specific research areas in need of future investigation are outlined.
Calculating the efficiency of three-phase induction motors

A method for computing the efficiency of a three-phase induction motor using the input phassor currents for blocked motor, no load, and running with load, is presented.
Evaluation of the ability of various remote sensors to map distributions of suspended sediments in the Gulf of Alaska

In the present investigation of the ability of various satellite-borne imaging systems to detect surface-suspended sediments, which tracked mushroom-shaped dipole eddies in a near shore current during April 22, 1985, it was found that the radiometric resolutions of the NOAA and DMSP satellites are insufficient to distinguish such eddies in low concentrations of suspended sediments. The Landsat TM can, however, detect the spiral structure of the dipole eddies in all three of its visible bands; the Landsat MSS can detect such details in Band 1, and the overall shape in Band 2.
Neuromyelitis Optica: A Review

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic’s disease, is a rare autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system that is characterized by episodes of inflammation followed by periods of relat...
A STUDY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPER READABILITY

This paper is based on a study of American newspaper readability in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between front page readability level of metropolitan and non-metropolitan newspapers. There was a significant difference in readability level between metropolitan and non-metropolitan newspaper articles. With the exception of the local news, the non-metropolitan means were higher for each of these classifications. There was no significant difference between metropolitan and non-metro-politan Associated Press articles. However, there was a significant difference between United Press International metropolitan and non-metropolitan articles. United Press International articles in non-metropolitan papers were more difficult to read.
Experimental investigation of surface reactions in carbon monoxide and oxygen mixtures

During hypersonic entry into the CO 2 atmosphere of Mars, competing exothermic chemical reactions may oceur on a spacecraft heatshield surface. Two possible surface reactions are O+O → O 2 and CO+O → CO 2 . The relative importance of these reactions on quartz is investigated using a diffusion tube side-arm reactor together with two-photon laser-induced fluorescence for both O and CO species detection. The experiments show 1) that the presence of CO in the gas phase does not -significantly affect the oxygen recombination reaction on quartz and 2) that the gas-phase CO concentration is not significantly altered by the presence of atomic oxygen. These results indicate that for our experimental conditions the dominant surface reaction on quartz in oxygen-carbon monoxide mixtures is O+O → O 2 . Current heating computations for Martian entries assume CO oxidation to be fully catalytic. The resulting entry heating values are significantly higher than those computed using the assumption of fully catalytic oxygen recombination. The data presented here indicate that the assumption of fully catalytic CO oxidation may be overly conservative for heatshleld sizing purposes
A simple and efficient method for hemoglobin removal from mammalian tissue cytosol by zinc sulfate and its application to the study of lipoxygenase.

Abstract A simple and efficient method is described to remove hemoglobin (Hb) from human term placental cytosol to study dioxygenase and co-oxidase activities of lipoxygenase. In the untreated samples, 70% – 80% of the linoleic acid-dependent dioxygenase and co-oxidase activities were found to be associated with the pseudo-lipoxygenase activity of Hb. Zinc sulfate (0.5 mM) precipitated ⪢97% of the Hb present in the cytosol. The dioxygenase activity of the ZnSO 4 treated cytosol exhibited a V max value of 313 nmoles linoleic acid hydroperoxide formed/min/mg protein and a K M of 1.4 mM for linoleic acid. The ZnSO 4 treated cytosol displayed co-oxidase activity toward benzidine, dimethoxybenzidine, guaiacol, pyrogallol, tetramethylbenzidine and tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid, 5,8,11-eicosatriynoic acid, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene and gossypol caused concentration dependent inhibition of dioxygenase and co-oxidase activities. These results suggest ZnSO 4 precipitation of Hb from cytosol does not alter the functional characteristics of the human term placental lipoxygenase.
Effect of Assumed Range of Tensor Force on the Neutron-Proton Interaction

The work of Rarita and Schwinger, while successful in accounting for the experimental value of the quadrupole moment of the deuteron, reduces the central field part of the interaction potential by roughly 30 percent and implies a thorough revision of the nuclear binding energy calculations of Wigner, Feenberg and others. In view of a suggestion by Breit that the experimental deuteron properties might be realized without extreme modification of the central interaction by increasing the range of the tensor interaction, the problem was reinvestigated. The calculations were simplified when it was noticed that closed solutions of the radial wave equations are obtainable if the tensor potential is confined to an infinitely thin spherical shell.For attractive central and tensor interactions it was found that the quadrupole moment can be accounted for by placing the shell beyond ${r}_{1}=0.7(\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}})$, and for a central field square well interaction of range either ${r}_{0}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}}$ or ${r}_{0}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{2m{c}^{2}}$ if the shell is placed at ${r}_{1}=1.5(\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}})$ the central field need be reduced by only about two percent. For a repulsive tensor interaction the quadrupole moment can be accounted for with ${r}_{1}l0.7(\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}})$ but the central interaction had to be increased by a factor of 4 for ${r}_{0}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}}$. Investigation of neutron-proton scattering with interaction parameters determined by the deuteron quadrupole moment and binding energy shows that for the case of attractive interaction the zero-energy cross section changes from 4.40 to 4.46 barns as ${r}_{1}$ changes from $1\mathrm{to}1.5\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}}$ when ${r}_{0}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}}$ and from 3.94 to 3.62 barns when ${r}_{0}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{2m{c}^{2}}$. For the case of repulsive tensor force with ${r}_{0}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}}$, the zero-energy cross section changes from 4.48 to 2.97 barns as ${r}_{1}$ changes from $0.56\mathrm{to}0.61(\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}})$. It may be noted that this latter range includes the experimental value of the cross section. Extension of the calculations to high energies shows that experimental results for the total cross section are reproduced up to an incident particle energy of 15 Mev and the angular anisotropy is not in disagreement with experiment for the attractive interaction. The theoretical cross section is smaller than experimental values for higher energies except for repulsive tensor force, and the anisotropy is only in qualitative agreement with the recent work at Berkeley.
Physiological and behavioral significance of hippocampal rhythmic, slow activity ("theta rhythm").

This review identifies some of the conflicts among currently popular theories on the significance of hippocampal rhythmic, slow activity (RSA). The review develops the rationale for a dualistic hypothesis in which RSA per se is regarded as having a different meaning from its frequency shifts. The hypothesis holds that RSA is part of an over-all adaptive “readiness response” to biologically significant stimuli that trigger responses in the brainstem reticular formation (BSRF). Specific frequency content of RSA, including shifts to low-voltage desynchrony, reflects the input and output processing reactions performed by the hippocampus as it participates in the brain's response to stimulation. Specifically, RSA frequency shifts reflect the underlying chemical and electrical phenomena that are at least partially involved in regulating the different behaviors with which RSA has been correlated. Previous research has been largely devoted to correlating RSA with various functions and behavior. Correlative data alone cannot indicate whether RSA is a necessary or sufficient condition for occurrence of its correlated behavior. A basic merit of the dualistic hypothesis is that it fosters thinking and research strategies along heretofore unexploited directions, which could create the necessary data base for a more precise concept of RSA significance. This analysis includes suggestions of a general approach for testing the validity of the dualistic hypothesis.
Procreative experiences and orientations toward paternity held by incarcerated adolescent males

Purpose: To describe the procreative experiences and the attitudes related to paternity held by a sample of incarcerated adolescent males. Methods: All adolescent males who were admitted to a long-term correctional facility between July 1994 and October 1994 were asked to participate in a confidential, face-to-face interview. Results: One hundred twenty-five incarcerated adolescents agreed to participate in the study. Over one-quarter (25.6%) of the respondents reported having ever gotten a girl pregnant; 40.6% of fathers reported having caused more than one pregnancy. A majority of respondents believed that fathering a child would be desirable, that they would be capable of being a father to a child, and that they could be responsible for the baby and mother. Fathers were more likely than nonfathers and black respondents were more likely than white respondents to report that they, their parents, and their friends would be pleased were they to get girls pregnant. Black respondents were more likely than white respondents to believe that they could be a good father to a child. Conclusions: The general perceptions that fathering a child as a teenager is desirable and that they could be good fathers to their children will make the prevention of pregnancy and parenting difficult in this population. Incarcerated adolescents should be educated about parenting prevention using interventions that take into consideration their attitudes and perceptions of teenage parenting.
An Other Identity A View of Myself

In this piece the author explores the role and impact of her changing identity in the context of study on a doctoral program. The author has a business background which proves a contrast to the experiences she encounters. The doctorate is a taught program incorporating structured modules for the first 2 years followed by a research thesis. The text illustrates the different, often opposing, environments and encapsulates many of the issues faced by the author.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF RNA FROM REOVIRUS AND WOUND TUMOR VIRUS.

The RNA extracted from reovirus and wound tumor virus by phenol has been visualized in the electron microscope. The general appearance and the stiffness of the filaments estimated from length measurements are similar to those of DNA and are consistent with previous observations indicating that the RNA's from both viruses are double-stranded. The lengths of the extracted RNA from both reovirus and wound tumor virus fall far short of the 5 μ predicted from chemical analysis. The contour lengths of reovirus RNA exhibit a distinct 3- or 4-modal distribution pattern; those of wound tumor virus show a more random pattern.
Synthesized magnetostatic resonances in a nonuniformly biased thin disk without conducting boundaries

Magnetostatic resonances of a nonuniformly biased thin ferrite disk, that is surrounded by free space and magnetized to saturation along the normal to its plane, are analyzed for the conditions of weak to moderate radial gradients of arbitrary form. The circular disk is modelled as a highly oblate spheroid and the resonances studied are quasi-two-dimensional in character. The results reveal the manner in which mode properties are affected by both the bias gradients and electromagnetic corrections and allow the synthesis of modes with pre-specified characteristics, such as frequency, rf energy distribution and velocity of energy circulation. Because control of that velocity not only affects group delay of signals propagating through the mode but also the rf energy density, we predict that the onset of nonlinear effects due to parametrically-induced spin waves should be governed by instability thresholds that are gradient-controllable.
‘I do not envy you’: Mixed marriages and immigration debates in the 1920s and 1930s Rangoon, Burma

This article uses the mixed marriage debate in 1920s and 1930s Rangoon as a lens to understand how the figure of the Indian immigrant was created in the official discourse and popular imagination in Burma. As the discussion on mixed marriages unfolded amongst lawmakers and in the Burmese public sphere in the early twentieth century, it perpetuated the stereotype of the avaricious Burmese woman and the Indian was portrayed as a single male temporary worker who was in Burma for employment and left the woman once he returned back home. The problem of abandoned women as a result of inter-racial marriages was, in reality, a larger problem of Indian immigration into Burma. In 1940, with the Indo-Burmese immigration agreement, marriage or cohabitation between Indian male immigrant and women belonging to the indigenous races of Burma was made a condition for cancellation of a permit or visa granted to a migrant Indian male.
A better API for Java reflection (abstract only)

Instructors often write reference tests to evaluate student programs. In Java, reference tests should be independent of submitted solutions as they are run against all student submissions. Otherwise, they may even fail to compile against some solutions. Reflection is a useful feature for writing code without compile-time dependencies, which is valuable for writing software tools that inspect code. However, educators avoid using reflection as code written using Java's Reflection API is complex, unintuitive and verbose. We present ReflectionSupport, a library that enables one to write reflection-based code in concise, simple and readable fashion. It helps educators write reference tests without compile-time dependencies of solutions and develop educational tools such as automated graders.
Dryland vegetation phenology across an elevation gradient in Arizona, USA, investigated with fused MODIS and Landsat data

Abstract The patchy and heterogeneous arrangement of vegetation in dryland areas complicates the extraction of phenological signals using existing remote sensing data. This study examined whether the phenological analysis of a range of dryland land cover classes would benefit from the availability of synthetic images at Landsat spatial resolution and MODIS time intervals. We assembled a series of 500 m MODIS and Landsat-5 TM datasets from April to November, 2005–2009, over a study site in central Arizona that encompasses diverse dryland vegetation classes along an elevation gradient of 2000 m. We applied the spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (STARFM) to each MODIS image to create a time series of synthetic images at 30 m resolution. We subjected a subset of the synthetic imagery to a pixel-based regression analysis with temporally coincident Landsat images to analyze the effect of the underlying vegetation class on the accuracy of the STARFM results. To evaluate the usefulness of the increased spatial resolution compared to a MODIS product, we analyzed the variability of the date of peak greenness values of all 30 m pixels within unmixed MODIS pixels. Finally, we examined differences in the temporal distributions of peak greenness extracted from both the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) synthetic imagery time series. Our results indicate that characteristics of the vegetation classes strongly influence STARFM algorithm performance, with Pearson correlation coefficient values ranging from 0.72 to 0.96 depending on the Landsat band and the land cover class. Responses in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum yielded the lowest correlations, particularly for the Ponderosa Pine class. The phenological variability exhibited by each land cover class was dependent on the precipitation patterns of each growing season, but was sufficiently high to make the application of STARFM imagery at this scale uniformly beneficial. The peak greenness dates extracted from EVI and NDVI time series were temporally synchronized for the Grassland class but diverged for the classes of mixed woody and herbaceous vegetation types.
Nonlinear optical chromophores and polymers for practical electro-optic waveguide application

Among the many physical properties of organic nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores that require optimization, their generally inadequate thermal stability has recently attracted significant attention. Here we describe protocols for the evaluation of the thermal stability of chromophores that may be employed prior to their incorporation into a device environment. These protocols involve a variety of conventional analytical techniques including thermal analysis (TGA, DSC) and electrochemistry (CV) that have led to the identification of the most facile thermal decomposition process of the widely utilized family of 4-amino-4'- nitroazobenzene NLO dyes. Knowledge of the decomposition mechanism has facilitated implementation of structural modifications in the amine donor of these dyes that deliver enhanced thermal stability. It is anticipated that these protocols and structure modifications are of general relevance.
The Mean Climate of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM4) in Forced SST and Fully Coupled Experiments

AbstractThe Community Atmosphere Model, version 4 (CAM4), was released as part of the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4). The finite volume (FV) dynamical core is now the default because of its superior transport and conservation properties. Deep convection parameterization changes include a dilute plume calculation of convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the introduction of convective momentum transport (CMT). An additional cloud fraction calculation is now performed following macrophysical state updates to provide improved thermodynamic consistency. A freeze-drying modification is further made to the cloud fraction calculation in very dry environments (e.g., the Arctic), where cloud fraction and cloud water values were often inconsistent in CAM3. In CAM4 the FV dynamical core further degrades the excessive trade-wind simulation, but reduces zonal stress errors at higher latitudes. Plume dilution alleviates much of the midtropospheric tropical dry biases and reduces the persist...
Approaches toward the Directed Design of a Vaccine against Borrelia burgdorferi

The overall efficacy of a recombinant vaccine for Lyme disease that is effective worldwide will depend upon the selection of one or more immunoprotective target(s) and the frequency of genetic variation, which can alter the antigenicity of the immunoprotective epitopes of the target proteins. Careful delineation of these protective epitopes on target antigens is essential for the development of vaccine candidates as well as for understanding the limitations of such vaccines. Structural models of these targets will provide critical information about conformation and specific residue surface accessibility for defining protective epitopes. Co-crystal structures with Fab fragments of protective antibodies will further delineate critical antigen surfaces. Population genetics will provide vital information on the heterogeneity of these proteins. Detailed epitope mapping will provide the information needed for the bioengineering of antigens needed to expand the specificity of a candidate vaccine.
Water uptake during cooking of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Water uptake during cooking of ten dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties was investigated. Water uptake during early stages of cooking was characteristic of the variety. Although the optimal cooking times varied widely (52–85 min), all the beans absorbed similar amounts of water when cooked for their optimal times. Cooking times were significantly correlated with W20 min (r=−0.92) and hardness index (r=0.76) of beans. Most other physical characteristics excepting the surface area of beans were generally unrelated to theW 20 min,W opt, and cooking times. No significant correlation was observed between phytate content and cooking times of beans. On cooking for their respective optimal times, all varieties absorbed nearly 1.5 times their weight of water and attained a moisture content of about 65% (wet basis).
Convenient C-alkylation of the [HCB11Cl11]- carborane anion.

A method for C-alkylation of [HCB11Cl11]− anions using potassium tert-butoxide and alkyl iodides in tert-butanol is presented. Trimethylammonium salts of the corresponding C-alkylated derivatives are easily isolated and obtained in good yields.
Traumatic pancreatic fistula in children: early management with a somatostatin analogue and drainage

The management of a high-output pancreatic fistula is often difficult, and can be even more challenging in the pediatric patient. Octreotide acetate (OA) (Sandostatin, Sandoz, East Hanover, NJ) has served to facilitate the treatment of this difficult problem, but experience has been limited to adults. Somatostatin is a hormone that decreases the production of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine secretions. The use of the long-acting somatostatin analogue, OA, has reduced pancreatic fistula output and facilitated resolution of pancreatic fistulae in adults. This report summarizes the IV use of OA and external drainage in the complete resolution of high-output traumatic pancreatic fistulae in three pediatric patients. The treatment was well tolerated without side effects, and resulted in a dramatic decrease in the amount of fistula drainage within the first 24 to 48 h. OA can be safely administered IV (5–10 μg/kg per day) and is valuable in the management of traumatic pancreatic fistula in children.
The Deccan Trap – Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary connection; new 40Ar/39Ar ages and critical assessment of existing argon data pertinent to this hypothesis

Abstract The Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (KPgB) was dated by the 40Ar/39Ar method herein from the western interior of North America at 65.48 ± 0.12 Ma (1σ), in good agreement with other recent published estimates. For the Deccan Traps, India, new argon ages as well as others available in the literature, are assessed for reliability based on (a) statistical reliability of plateau/isochron sections and (b) freshness of material dated utilizing the alteration index method. From tholeiitic lavas from the Composite Western Ghats Section (CWGS), only six ages are found to be reliable estimates of the time of crystallization. These ages along with the magnetic polarity of the lavas agree with the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS) at ∼67–64 Ma. Alkaline rocks from the Anjar area of Kutch, provide three reliable ages that suggest a hiatus in lava extrusion around KPgB. For the Rajahmundry basalts, the upper flow’s age defines its formation during chron 29n; a single age from the lower reversed polarity flow appears somewhat dichotomous when plotted against the GPTS. The reliable lava ages indicate the most voluminous (reversed polarity) sections of the CWGS were extruded at a time statistically indistinguishable from that of the KPgB. The Deccan Trap – KPgB faunal extinction hypothesis remains plausible, but must compete with the latest report, favoring a very close temporal connection (∼0.03 m.y.) between the Chixculub (Impact) Crater and the KPgB.
The natural history of telomeres: tools for aging animals and exploring the aging process

We have been exploring the use of telomere length as a technique to age animals. If telomere restriction fragments (TRFs) shorten predictably with age in a particular tissue, then measurement of TRFs will allow estimation of ages of animals when age cannot be measured directly. This would be particularly useful in population studies where tissue samples can be collected, but age of individuals or age structure of the population is otherwise unknown. We have demonstrated that rate of change in length of TRFs from blood cells can be used to estimate age in a number of avian species. Calibration of this telomere 'clock' using known-age individuals has led to new questions regarding the importance of TRF shortening in aging and its evolution in animals with differing life spans. Our current data show a tight correlation between telomere rate of change (TROC) and maximum life span in birds, with the longest living species having the slowest TROC. In contrast, absolute length of TRFs is not correlated with maximum life span. Very long-lived Leach's storm-petrels have telomeres that in fact lengthen with age! These data suggest that in the longest-lived organisms, cellular replicative life span may not be constrained by shortening telomeres. Published data show that TRFs shorten more slowly in long-lived mammals than in short-lived ones, although for birds and mammals of similar life span, telomere shortening is faster in mammals than in birds. This corresponds with the relatively greater longevity in birds than in mammals.
Gain scheduling via linear fractional transformations

Abstract A linear finite-dimensional plant with rational state-space parameter dependence is controlled using a parameter-dependent controller. The parameters are known to take on values in a unit ball, and are known in real time. The goal of control is to stabilize the parameter-dependent closed-loop system, and provide disturbance/error attenuation as measured in induced l2 norms. The approach taken uses the optimally scaled small-gain theorem, and solves the control synthesis problem by reformulating the existence conditions into a finite-dimensional convex optimization.
End Points for Ablation of Scar-Related Ventricular Tachycardia

The goal of catheter ablation strategies for the treatment of scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) is the interruption of critical areas of slow conduction within the VT circuits responsible for the development and maintenance of VTs.1,2 Clinical studies have consistently shown the superiority of radiofrequency catheter ablation compared with standard medical therapy in controlling recurrent VT.3,4 However, even after an acutely successful ablation, the long-term freedom from recurrent VT remains suboptimal, especially in patients with nonischemic substrates where the recurrence rates for long-term follow-up can be as high as 77%.5 Identification of the optimal end points for VT ablation is crucial to improve the success rate of this procedure. The response to programmed electric stimulation (PES) at the end of the procedure has been traditionally used to evaluate the acute success and predict long-term outcomes.1,2 Noninducibility by PES represents a classical end point for VT ablation and the only 1 endorsed by the current practice guidelines.1,2 Of note, a direct association between VT noninducibility at the end of the procedure and long-term arrhythmia-free survival has been suggested but not uniformly demonstrated.4,6–9 More recently, the increasing adoption of substrate-based ablation techniques, which target specific electrograms indexing slow conduction (ie, abnormal, split, and late electrograms) in sinus rhythm and reasonable surrogates for the VT isthmus,10,11 has been paralleled by an increasing need for new ablation end points. Although noninducibility at PES has been used as an end point also in studies evaluating substrate-based ablation approaches, other procedural end points have been described to validate the completeness of linear lesions and the elimination of abnormal potentials within the scar. This review will summarize the state of the art regarding procedural end points for …
Decreased TCR ζ-chain expression in T cells from patients with acquired aplastic anaemia

In aplastic anaemia, T cells have a central role in the pathophysiology of bone marrow destruction. This study showed that T cells from patients with aplastic anaemia expressed decreased T-cell receptor (TCR) zeta-chain protein and mRNA levels compared to healthy controls. Patients with decreased TCR zeta-chain showed an abnormal response in intracellular calcium following stimulation through the TCR. We also observed an altered pattern of the transcription factors CREMalpha and Elf-1 that are implicated in zeta-chain transcription. We concluded that TCR zeta-chain expression was decreased in the majority of patients with aplastic anaemia, regardless of disease activity or treatment status.
TH‐A‐213CD‐03: Polychromatic Cone‐Beam X‐Ray Fluorescence Computed Tomography of Gold Nanoparticle‐Loaded Objects

Purpose: To determine the spatial distribution and amount of goldnanoparticles (GNPs) within small‐animal‐sized objects using polychromatic cone‐beam x‐ray fluorescencecomputed tomography (XFCT) under realistic constraints on x‐ray dose, scan time, and image resolution. Methods: 6‐mm‐diameter cylindrical tubes containing saline solution and 0.5–2.0 wt. % of GNPs were inserted into a cylindrical polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom, 3 cm in diameter and 5 cm in height. The phantom was irradiated by a cone‐beam of polychromatic 105 kVp x‐rays filtered by 0.9 mm of tin. Energy‐sensitive cadmium telluride detectors behind a 2.5 mm diameter lead pinhole collimator collected the spectrum of emitted gold K‐shell fluorescence and Compton scattered photons at an angle of 90° relative to the beam central axis as the phantom was rotated to a series of 60 projection angles in 6° steps. Sinograms of goldfluorescencephoton signals were constructed by extracting the goldfluorescence peak height from the Compton background, and the image of GNP location and concentration was reconstructed using a maximum likelihood iterative reconstruction algorithm. Results: Using the measured sinograms, XFCT images of GNP‐loaded objects were successfully reconstructed, accurately determining both the GNP location and concentration. The x‐ray dose delivered during the XFCT scanning was measured using the AAPM TG‐61 protocol, and it was determined that, using an array detector, it would be possible to acquire these images in one hour with a tissue dose of approximately 20 cGy. Conclusions: With a few easily achievable modifications, the current benchtop setup would be capable of producing useful XFCT images of small animals injected with GNPs with the total scanning time and a tissue dose comparable to other modalities currently available for routine pre‐clinical in‐vivo imaging such as micro‐CT. Supported in part by NIH/NCI grant 1R01CA155446. Supported in part by NIH/NCI grant 1R01CA155446