cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of cytosolic free Ca2+ in resting feline and rat ventricular myocytes.

Abstract The Ca 2+ -sensitive dye quin-2 was used to measure the cytosolic free Ca 2+ (Ca i 2+ ) in suspensions of ventricular myocytes isolated from cat and rat ventricles. Following an isolation procedure that was similar for both species, the cells were loaded with quin-2 AM (25 uM) for 30 min at 37°C. After two washes to remove extracellular dye, the cells were resuspended for fluorescence measurements. Extracellular Ca 2+ was 2.0 mM. Resting Ca i 2+ in the rat (121 ± 11 nM) was found to be significantly higher than in the cat (57 ± 4 nM). These results are discussed in terms of known differences in excitation-contraction coupling between these two species.
Explaining crime for a young adult population: An application of general strain theory

Abstract Most research informed by general strain theory (GST) concentrated on the young, particularly adolescents. Using data from the National Youth Survey (NYS) Wave 7, in which respondents were asked about their offending when they were ages twenty to twenty-nine, a model of young adult offending was estimated that incorporated variables reflecting strain, as well as control variables related to differential association and control theories and a lagged measure of offending to account for unmeasured dispositional factors. Results revealed that indicators of strain had significant effects on property and violent offending. In analyses of the role of depression, selected forms of strain were related to depression, and depression affected offending for males but not females. Taken as a whole, these findings demonstrated that GST, which was advanced as a general theory of crime, made an important contribution to the understanding of criminal offending among young adults.
Recent Work Using the ANL HVEM-Ion Beam Interface

The ANL-Materials Science and Technology Division High Voltage Electron Microscope-Tandem Facility is a unique national research facility for in-situ studies of the interaction of energetic particle with solids. The ion-beam interface permits ion beams from either a 300-kV Texas Nuclear or a 2-MV National Electrostatics Tandem accelerator to be transported into the stage of our Kratos EM7 1.2-MV HVEM. The current status of research projects employing the ion-beam interface is reported.
Determination of beta adrenoceptor density on rabbit mononuclear leukocytes.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to devise a technique for the isolation of a relatively homogeneous mononuclear leukocyte (MNL) preparation from rabbit whole blood and determine the density and affinity of β-adrenoceptors on MNL. A modified method based upon that by Boyum was developed to maximize isolation of MNL from red blood cells (RBC), granulocytes, and platelets. The method involved an initial centrifugation to remove platelets and two centrifugations with a Ficoll solution to eliminate RBC and granulocytes. β-Adrenoceptor density as determined with [ 125 I]cyanopindolol and MNL membrane or whole cell preparations ranged between 317 and 360 sites per cell. Affinity for the binding sites was dependent upon whether membrane or whole cell preparations were studied, being 56.3 ± 9.9 and 11.4 ± 1.4 pM, respectively. Binding sites were found to be saturable and noncooperative. In addition, the binding sites demonstrated selectivity and stereospecificity for β-adrenoceptor ligands. It is concluded that the modified method of harvesting MNL from rabbit whole blood provides a relatively homogeneous cell suspension that can be used to study the β-adrenoceptor system.
An Iterative Solution to Stable Inversion of Nonminimum Phase Systems

This paper addresses the inversion of a nonlinear system of the form ? = f(x) + g(x)u, y = h(x) from the perspective of nonlinear geometric control theory. We use the notion of zero dynamics for obtaining stable, though noncausal, inverses for nonminimum phase systems. This contrasts with the causal inverses proposed by Hirschorn where unstable zero dynamics result in unbounded solutions to the inverse problem. Our results reduce to those of Hirschorn in the case of stable zero dynamics, however. The main results include: equivalence of stable inversion to two point boundary value problems; local existence and uniqueness of solution; an iterative numerical procedure; and an example showing superior performance of inversion over nonlinear regulation for output tracking.
Ultrastructure of lesions produced by Cercospora beticola in leaves of Beta vulgaris

Abstract The fungus Cercospora beticola Sacc. incites a leaf spot disease of sugarbeet ( Beta vulgaris L.). Lesion formation was studied by electron microscopy. One week after inoculation, the fungus was established in the intercellular spaces of the mesophyll and degenerative changes had occurred in cells near infection sites. Visible necrotic spots were produced as these lesions enlarged. During the degenerative sequence cell membrane systems and organelles were disrupted; affected cells quickly collapsed and became necrotic. After 3 weeks a boundary zone with two regions separated the central necrotic tissue from apparently unaffected, healthy tissue outside the lesion. Two types of cell wall apposition occurred, one a localized callose-type in the lesion center, and the second a generalized wall thickening in the inner boundary zone. Electron-dense material occluded intercellular spaces in the outer boundary zone. During most phases of the disease, hyphae bridged the intercellular spaces or were attached to and followed the contours of host cell walls. Only late in the disease, long after host cells were necrotic, were hyphae observed within largely disintegrated host cell walls.
Comparison of motor conduction abnormalities in lumbosacral radiculopathy and axonal polyneuropathy.

We compared the frequencies and types of motor conduction abnormalities found in peroneal and tibial nerves of patients with either L5/S1 radiculopathies (n = 47) or axonal polyneuropathies (n = 49). In axonal neuropathies, compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were more likely to be either unobtainable or, if present, of low amplitude, prolonged in distal latency or both. F responses were more often absent, impersistent, or prolonged in minimal latency. In contrast, CMAPs in lumbosacral radiculopathies were more likely to be normal in both amplitude and distal latency. The most frequent F-response abnormality in radiculopathies was a prolonged maximum-minimum latency range rather than abnormalities of minimal latency or persistence. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that different patterns of motor conduction abnormalities result from lumbosacral radiculopathy and distal axonopathies. The model was able to correctly classify disease state in 76% of subjects with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 80%.
CER acquisition and extinction in younger and older rats

Younger and older rats (150 and 600 days of age, respectively) were trained and extinguished on a simple CER task over three successive replications. Suppression ratios (B/A+B), both between and within replications, and response rates in the absence of the CS were evaluated. It was hypothesized that, when procedures that minimized the performance requirements and the complexity of the required discrimination were used, age differences would be apparent in rapid acquisition of the CER in older subjects. Faster acquisition and greater resistance to extinction were found in the older group, suggesting that rapid and extensive learning may occur in older subjects in this aversive situation.
Identifying the Causes of Nontraditional Civic Engagement among Students

This study investigates which factors cause college student to express an interest in participating in what we classify as nontraditional community service opportunities. The particular form of community service that we examine—participation in a volunteer computing project—differs from traditional forms of college student volunteerism in that it involves no face-to-face contact with others, requires a minimal time commitment, is a small part of a highly technical enterprise and focuses on the global rather than the local community. We find that some of the variables that explain participation in traditional forms of community service, in particular belief that one can make a difference, also explain a penchant for nontraditional participation. We also discover that there are some unique influences on the willingness of students to do community service in this alternative form. Finally, we explore the pathways by which the influence of personal characteristics operate in order to address how and why these...
A Patient's Guide to Taking Dabigatran Etexilate

Dabigatran etexilate is a prescription medication used to slow and inhibit the formation of blood clots. Dabigatran is known by the trade name Pradaxa in the United States and all other countries in which it is marketed except Japan (Prazaxa) and Canada (Pradax). Although forming blood clots is a normal and important body function needed to stop bleeding, for some people the blood clot formation process can become harmful. For example, people with an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation are at an increased risk of stroke because of the formation of harmful blood clots. Dabigatran is an anticoagulant type of medication. Anticoagulants prevent blood clots from forming. The medication warfarin (Coumadin) is another example of an anticoagulant. Anticoagulants are also commonly called blood thinners, although they work by preventing blood clot formation and not by making the blood thinner. The formation of blood clots in the body is a very complex process that requires multiple steps occurring in a particular order. Substances known as clotting factors are used and produced in each step in the process. One of the final steps of clot formation involves a clotting factor known as thrombin. Dabigatran works in the blood by blocking the action of thrombin, which inhibits the clot-making process. Dabigatran has been approved in the United States to reduce the risk of stroke and other harmful blood clots in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Dabigatran is available as a capsule in doses of 75 and 150 mg (Figure, A and B). The usual dose of dabigatran is a 150-mg capsule twice a day by mouth. For people with certain types of kidney problems, the dose may be decreased to 75 mg twice a day. The dabigatran capsule may …
The interactive effects of participation and outcome favourability on turnover intentions and evaluations of supervisors

Prior research suggests that employees who receive unfavourable decision outcomes from their organization will have less negative attitudes towards the organization and organizational officials if they participated in the decision than if they did not participate. Questionnaire data from 220 academic accountants were analysed with regression to test for this proposed interaction between participation and outcome favourability in a performance evaluation context. In support of the proposed interaction, unfavourable outcomes had the least negative relationship with intent to stay with the organization and trust in immediate supervisor when participation was high. This phenomenon may be attributable to a belief on the part of employees that participation afforded them influence in decision making to ensure they received the best possible outcomes under the circumstances.
Dissolved inorganic carbon concentration mechanism in Chlamydomonas moewusii

Abstract The dissolved inorganic carbon concentrating mechanism(s) of Chlamydomonas moewusii CC 55 was compared with C. reinhardtii strain 137. C. moewusii is similar to C. reinhardtii with respect to maximal rates of photosynthetic oxygen evolution, CO 2 fixation, respiration, and the ability to efficiently concentrate inorganic carbon. C. moewusii has a low, but measurable amount of external carbonic anhydrase (CA) that was not inhibited by acetazolamide (AZ), an inhibitor of periplasmic carbonic anhydrase (pCA) in C. reinhardtii. The K 0.5 (CO 2 ) for air-grown C. moewusii is about 1 μM and the algal cells accumulated dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) to a level of about 1 mM in 60 s. AZ did not inhibit CO 2 fixation and the DIC accumulation by air-grown cells of C. moewusii . The K 0.5 (CO 2 ) for both species remains constant from pH 6.5 to 9.5 while K 0.5 (HCO 3 - ) increased logarithmically, which indicates that CO 2 is the apparent inorganic carbon species that enters the cells in both algae. Antiserum prepared against the 37 kDa peptide of pCA from C. reinhardtii was immunoreactive with polypeptides of 26, 28, and 32 kDa in C. moewusii . The periplasmic carbonic anhydrase (pCA) activity is a part of the dissolved inorganic carbon concentrating mechanism in C. reinhardtii , but C moewusii accomplished inorganic carbon accumulation without an AZ-sensitive pCA.
The Relation between Human Presence and Occurrence of Glardia Cysts in Streams in the Sierra Nevada, California

ABSTRACT A portable apparatus was used to filter large quantities of water from streams in California's Sierra Nevada. Samples were processed and examined for Giardia spp. Cysts of Giardia were detected in 22 of 49 (44.9 percent) samples collected at sites downstream from areas of high recreational use and in 5 of 29 (17.2 percent) samples collected at sites downstream from areas of low recreational use. These data indicate that intensity of human use may play a significant role or be a useful indicator in Giardia contamination of surface water.
Effects of near source bathymetry on teleseismic P waveforms

Teleseismic P waveforms from submarine earthquakes show water reverberations that are often poorly modeled by synthetic seismograms. This study suggests that considerable misfit results from the non-horizontal nature of the seafloor in the epicentral region and examines this effect for a planar dipping water-crust interface. Geometric ray theory synthetics calculated for a double-couple source show that P waveforms are extremely sensitive to seafloor orientation. Because of the large impedance contrast across the boundary, seafloor dips as small as 0.5° significantly modify the ray paths, affecting the take-off angle at the source, reflection and transmission coefficients at the interface, geometric spreading, and travel time. To test the applicability of such modeling, P waveforms from the March 29, 1976 Cocos Ridge intraplate earthquake were studied. The waveforms, many of which show prominent water multiples poorly modeled with flat lying bathymetry, were inverted for the best-fitting planar ocean bottom orientation using a grid search technique. Synthetics computed for the best fitting seafloor orientation match the data much better than synthetics for a flat lying structure, and reproduce the observed azimuthal dependence of water multiple amplitudes. The derived ocean bottom dip angle and direction are in agreement with bathymetric charts, suggesting P waveforms provide constraints on the seafloor orientation in the epicentral region. Green's functions incorporating the effects of bathymetry should provide better resolution of the source parameters of submarine earthquakes.
Pretreatment with Skin Permeability Enhancers: Importance of Duration and Composition on the Delivery of Diclofenac Sodium

ABSTRACT The use of chemical penetration enhancers (CPEs) is one of the most common approaches to improve the dermal and transdermal delivery of drugs. However, often, incorporation of CPEs in the formulation poses compatibility and stability challenges. Moreover, incorporation of enhancers in the formulation leads to prolonged exposure to skin increasing the concern of causing skin reactions. This study was undertaken to assess whether pretreatment with CPEs is a rational approach to enhance the permeation of diclofenac sodium. In vitro experiments were performed across porcine epidermis pretreated with propylene glycol or oleic acid or their combinations for 0.5, 2, and 4 h, respectively. Pretreatment with combination of oleic acid in propylene glycol was found to enhance the permeation of diclofenac sodium significantly only at 10% and 20% (v/v) level, and only when the pretreatment duration was 0.5 h. Longer durations of pretreatment and higher concentration of oleic acid in propylene glycol did not enhance the permeation of diclofenac sodium. In vivo dermatokinetic studies were carried out on Sprague–Dawley rats. A twofold increase in AUC and C max was observed in case of rats pretreated with enhancers over the group that was pretreated with buffer. In conclusion, this study showed that composition of the enhancers and duration of pretreatment are crucial in determining the efficacy of CPEs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.
The use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation: how nephrologists and internists differ.

We performed a national survey to explore the circumstances under which general internists and nephrologists discuss cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with patients and the factors influencing physician decisions to open such discussions. We wondered whether nephrology fellowship training and/or formal exposure to an ethics course during training altered physicians' use of CPR. Significantly more nephrologists than internists responded to the study (nephrologists,174/467; internists, 92/380; P P = NS), and fewer than half (26% of nephrologists, 37% of internists; P = NS) had engaged in formal discussions about initiating and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment during their training. Nephrologists spent significantly more time caring for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) (29% v 21 % of time, P v 1 % of internists; P
Post—Cold War Nuclear Dangers: Proliferation and Terrorism

This article discusses several aspects of post cold war nuclear problems facing both the world and the USA. Included are the following topics: four nuclear nightmare scenarios; availability of nuclear weapons, materials, and expertise; US programs to reduce smoggling of nuclear weapons and materials; US options in the future; Global options; and priority actions, including effective nuclear intelligence; read teams to find vulverablities and evaluate countermeasures to nuclear terrorism; accelerate development of advanced detection and disarmament technologies; implement urgent CISAC recommendation on management of nuclear materials and inherent security technologies; accelerate research and development of a globle space-based missile defence; ensure crediability of nuclear deterrent; accelerate development of conventional weapons that reduce the role of nuclear weapons. 9 refs.
G-Space: a linear time graph layout

We describe G-Space, a straightforward linear time layout algorithm that draws undirected graphs based purely on their topological features. The algorithm is divided into two phases. The first phase is an embedding of the graph into a 2-D plane using the graph-theoretical distances as coordinates. These coordinates are computed with the same process used by HDE (High-Dimensional Embedding) algorithms. In our case we do a Low-Dimensional Embedding (LDE), and directly map the graph distances into a two dimensional geometric space. The second phase is the resolution of the many-to-one mappings that frequently occur within the low dimensional embedding. The resulting layout appears to have advantages over existing methods: it can be computed rapidly, and it can be used to answer topological questions quickly and intuitively.
Unraveling uncertainties in hydrologic model calibration: Addressing the problem of compensatory parameters

[1] In a previous paper, Vrugt et al. (2005) presented a combined parameter and state estimation method, entitled SODA, to improve the treatment of input, output, parameter and model structural error during model calibration. The argument for using SODA is that explicit treatment of all sources of uncertainty should result in parameter estimates that closer represent system properties, instead of parameter values that are compensating for input, output and model structural errors. In this study we provide further support for this claim by applying the SODA method to the calibration of a simple 2-parameter snow model, using data from the Lake Eldora SNOwpack TELemetry (SNOTEL) site in Colorado, USA.
Characterizing the secondary protein structure of black widow dragline silk using solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction.

This study provides a detailed secondary structural characterization of major ampullate dragline silk from Latrodectus hesperus (black widow) spiders. X-ray diffraction results show that the struct...
Fruit Juice Intake Predicts Increased Adiposity Gain in Children From Low-Income Families: Weight Status-by-Environment Interaction

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that increased fruit juice intake and parental restriction of children9s eating are associated with increased adiposity gain and whether exposure to nutritional counseling predicted reduced adiposity gain among children. PATIENTS AND METHODS. A sample of parents or guardians of children aged 1 to 4 years who attended 1 of 49 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children agencies in New York State were surveyed in 1999 or 2000 (N = 2801). The survey addressed children9s dietary intake, parental feeding practices, and parental exposure to nutritional counseling messages to increase fruit, vegetable, and low-fat milk intakes. Each child9s height and weight were measured approximately every 6 months for up to 48 months. A prospective cohort design was used in which survey variables were the predictors and the outcome was change in children9s adiposity, defined as change in age- and gender-standardized BMI per month (ie, BMI z-score slope). RESULTS. Controlling for gender and ethnicity, the relationship between juice intake and adiposity gain depended on children9s initial overweight status. Among children who were initially either at risk for overweight or overweight, increased fruit juice intake was associated with excess adiposity gain, whereas parental offerings of whole fruits were associated with reduced adiposity gain. Each additional daily serving of fruit juice was associated with an excess adiposity gain of 0.009 SD per month. Feeding restriction was greater among parents whose children were initially at risk for overweight or overweight compared with those at a healthy weight. Parental exposure to nutritional messages was not associated with reduced child adiposity gain. CONCLUSION. This study supports the Institute of Medicine recommendations to reduce fruit juice intake as a strategy for overweight prevention in high-risk children.
Carcinoma of the floor of mouth: an analysis of treatment results and the sites and causes of failures☆

Abstract Treatment results and sites and causes of failures were reviewed in 153 patients with carcinoma of the floor of the mouth who were treated between January 1957 and December 1973 with radiation therapy alone, surgery alone, or a combination of both. The 5-year determinate survival was 83% for Stage I patients, 71% for Stage II, 43% for Stage III and 10% for Stage IV patients. Control of the primary was achieved in 90% of T 1 N 0 lesions, 81% of T 2 N 0 lesions, 67% of T 3 N 0 and 46% of T 1−3 N 1−3 lesions. The most common site of failure was the primary lesion. Failure of control was most commonly associated with under-dosage in patients who were treated with radiotherapy alone and with tumor at the margin of resection in patients who were treated with surgery alone. Control seldom was achieved with radiotherapy alone when metastatic cervical lymph nodes were greater than 3 cm in size or fixed. Subsequent cervical lymph node metastases developed in 20% of the patients without disease in the neck initially; only 36% of these were salvaged by surgery and/or radiotherapy.
Breakthroughs in Nonlinear Silicon Photonics 2011

We present an overview of the recent developments in nonlinear silicon photonics. There were significant advances in devices exploiting the χ(2) and χ(3) nonlinearities. Here, we discuss parametric amplification, wavelength conversion, super-continuum generation, parametric oscillation, and frequency comb generation in silicon-based devices.
Assessing 2-Dimensional Nanocomponent's Limiting Reliability

Nanocomponents are devices that are in the size range of billionth of a meter (1×10-9) , and therefore are built necessarily from individual atoms. A nanocomponent fails if the component stops performing its intended function. If one dimension of a component is reduced to the nanorange (below 100 nanometers) while the other two dimensions remains large, then we obtain a nanocomponent with a structure known as a quantum well. If two dimensions of a component are reduced to nanorange and one remains large, then we obtain a nanocomponent with a structure known as a quantum wire. If all three dimensions are reduced to nanorange, then we obtain a nanocomponent with a structure known as a quantum dot. The family of two dimensional nanocomponents (2-D nanocomponents) encompasses all the nanocomponents where their individual atoms can move in two directions. Usually, a nanocomponent with the quantum well structure is a 2-D nanocomponent. However, there are nanocomponents with a quantum wire or a quantum dot structure that can be 2-D nanocomponents. In this article, we assess the 2-D nanocomponent's reliability, which is the probability of the nanocomponent not failing. We consider the 2-D nanocomponent at a fixed moment of time, say the present moment. We assume that the present state of the 2-D nanocomponent depends only on the present states of its atoms, and focus on two types of 2-D nanocomponents. Both cases describe the relationship between failure of a 2-D nanocomponent and its atoms. Our results indicate that there are situations where both types of nanocomponents have reliability virtually zero, i.e., they are highly unreliable. Also, we provide situations where both types have reliability virtually unity, i.e. they are highly reliable.
Service Quality and Satisfaction Within Campus Recreation: The Moderating Role of Identification

The current study integrated the services marketing and social identity literature to examine the moderating effect of Identification on the relationship between service quality factors (i.e., Program Quality, Interaction Quality, Outcome Quality, Physical Environment Quality) and Satisfaction. The study was administered using a modified version of Ko and Pastore’s (2007) Scale of Service Quality in Recreational Sports (SSQRS) and Wann and Branscombe’s (1990) team identification questionnaire. Data were collected from more than 4,000 campus faculty and undergraduate student recreational users attending a university within the Middle Atlantic region of the United States. Results of the regression analysis demonstrated that Identification had a significant interactive effect when added to Outcome Quality, F(1, 3663) = 105.869, p < .001, such that higher Identification is related to higher Satisfaction. Identification also had a significant interactive effect with Program Quality, F(1, 3850) = 25.281, p < .0...
Dispensability of 3' tRNA-like sequence for packaging cowpea chlorotic mottle virus genomic RNAs

The 3' ends of three genomic RNAs (gRNAs) of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) terminate in a highly conserved tRNA-like structure (3'TLS). To examine the intrinsic role played the 3'TLS in packaging, the competence of each gRNA lacking the 3' TLS (DeltaTLS-gRNA) to interact with dissociated coat protein (CP) subunits and form virions was assayed in vitro. In contrast to the well established requirement for the participation of either viral 3'TLS or host-tRNAs in the assembly of RNA-containing virions in brome mosaic virus (BMV; Choi, Y, G., Dreher, T. W., Rao, A. L. N. 2002. tRNA elements mediate the assembly of an icosahedral RNA virus. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 99, 655-660), CCMV CP does not require the presence of viral TLS in cis or in trans. Similar in vitro assembly assays showed that CCMV CP subunits also packaged BMV RNAs lacking 3' TLS as well as two other non-bromoviral RNAs although with lesser efficiency. To characterize sequences of CCMV RNA3 (C3) required for packaging, a series deletions was engineered into C3 and their effect on virus assembly was examined. It was observed that, unlike BMV RNA3 whose packaging requires a bipartite signal (Choi, Y. G., Rao, A. L. N. 2003. Packaging of brome mosaic virus RNA3 is mediated through a bipartite signal. J. Virol. 77, 9750-9757), packaging of C3 is independent of either movement protein (MP) ORF or CP ORF or 3' non-coding regions. Based on the differential prerequisites identified in this study for the assembly of BMV and CCMV, we hypothesize that the adaptive condition for movement in monocotyledonous host has made packaging a necessary co-requirement for BMV.
BACTERIAL DISINFECTION IN SHELLFISH HATCHERY DISEASE CONTROL

Control of disease in shellfish culture is a complex and pervasive problem which can cause extensive loss of time, money, and efficiency. Many shellfish diseases are caused by pathogenic bacteria introduced into the hatchery system through a contaminated water source, an infected animal from natural waters, or a tainted food supply. It is the intent of this paper to explore 4 methods of bacterial disinfection in shellfish hatcheries: ultraviolet light treatment of bacterial shellfish pathogens, the addition of silver (AgNO3) to shellfish larval culture waters, ozone disinfection of contaminated culture water, and standard antibiotic treatment (neomycin) in shellfish hatchery disease control. The efficacy of each system is examined and recommendations are made for the incorporation of standard disease prevention methods in shellfish hatchery operations.
Decomposition of benzenediazonium-3-carboxylate: transient 1,3-dehydrobenzene

Abstract : The mass spectrum and the optical spectrum were studied as functions of time for the process and products of flashinitiated decomposition of benzenediazonium-3-carboxylate. The products of decomposition include a transient parent C6H4 species of mass 76. The fragmentation pattern and its time dependence show that the mass 76 species is different from either of those obtained from the ortho or para isomers of the precursor. Comparison of the fragmentation pattern with model compounds suggests that 1,3-dehydrobenzene probably in a singlet state, is the most likely assignment of the species. Two structural representations are proposed. (Author)
Shear flow of assemblies of cohesive and non-cohesive granular materials

Abstract We have studied plane shear flow of nearly homogeneous assemblies of uniformly sized, spherical particles in periodic domains. Our focus has been on the effect of interparticle attractive forces on the flow behavior manifested by dense assemblies. As a model problem, the cohesion resulting from van der Waals force acting between particles is considered. Simulations were performed for different strengths of cohesion, shear rates, particle stiffnesses, particle volume fractions and coefficients of friction. From each simulation, the average normal and shear stresses and the average coordination number have been extracted. Not surprisingly, the regimes of flow reported by Campbell [C.S. Campbell, Granular Shear Flows at the Elastic Limit, J. Fluid Mech. 465 (2002) 261-291] for the case of cohesionless particles – namely, inertial, elastic–inertial and elastic–quasistatic regimes – persist when cohesion is included. The elastic–quasistatic regime was found to correspond with the coordination number decreasing with increasing shear rate, while in the inertial regime the coordination number increased with shear rate. A striking result observed in the simulations is that the influence of cohesion on stress becomes more pronounced with decreasing particle volume fraction. Furthermore, the window in the shear rate–particle volume fraction space over which the elastic–quasistatic regime is obtained was found to expand as the strength of cohesion was increased. When the particle volume fraction is so high that even a cohesionless system would be in the elastic–quasistatic regime, the addition of cohesion had minimal effect on the stresses. At lower particle volume fractions where a cohesionless assembly would have been in the inertial regime, we present a new scaling which permits collapse of all the data at various strengths of cohesion and shear rates into a single master curve for each particle volume fraction and coefficient of friction. The regimes of flow in this master curve are discussed and the scaling for the normal stress in elastic–quasistatic flow is identified.
Thermal modeling of laser-densified microlenses

A three-dimensional transient thermal modeling of laser-densified gel-silica microlenses is described. This model simulates the three-dimensional temperature distribution in a porous gel-silica glass irradiated by a CO(2) laser. The heat induced by the laser gives rise to a gradient in temperature, which creates a gradient in density and index of refraction. The laser-densified region functions as a microlens. The modeling results include a temperature distribution with time within a volume of 2 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm. The calculated temperature distributions compare well with the measured property distributions of the microlens including microhardness and the peak positions of the Si-O-Si stretching vibration mode in IR spectra across the lens.
Formation of Antiviral Cytoplasmic Granules during Orthopoxvirus Infection

Vaccinia virus (VV) mutants lacking the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding E3L protein (E3L mutant VV) show restricted replication in most cell types, as dsRNA produced by VV activates protein kinase R (PKR), leading to eIF2 phosphorylation and impaired translation initiation. Here we show that cells infected with E3L mutant VV assemble cytoplasmic granular structures which surround the VV replication factories at an early stage of the nonproductive infection. These structures contain the stress granule-associated proteins G3BP, TIA-1, and USP10, as well as poly(A)-containing RNA. These structures lack large ribosomal subunit proteins, suggesting that they are translationally inactive. Formation of these punctate structures correlates with restricted replication, as they occur in >80% of cells infected with E3L mutant VV but in only 10% of cells infected with wild-type VV. We therefore refer to these structures as antiviral granules (AVGs). Formation of AVGs requires PKR and phosphorylated eIF2, as mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking PKR displayed reduced granule formation and MEFs lacking phosphorylatable eIF2 showed no granule formation. In both cases, these decreased levels of AVG formation correlated with increased E3L mutant VV replication. Surprisingly, MEFs lacking the AVG component protein TIA-1 supported increased replication of E3L mutant VV, despite increased eIF2 phosphorylation and the assembly of AVGs that lacked TIA-1. These data indicate that the effective PKR-mediated restriction of E3L mutant VV replication requires AVG formation subsequent to eIF2 phosphorylation. This is a novel finding that supports the hypothesis that the formation of subcellular protein aggregates is an important component of the successful cellular antiviral response.
Tuning surface wettability using single layered and hierarchically ordered arrays of spherical colloidal particles

A control over wetting properties of a surface can be achieved by tuning surface roughness and surface chemistry. In this study, we formed single layer roughness and dual levels of hierarchical roughness with hexagonal non-contiguously close packed (HNCP) patterns of spherical particles using colloidal lithography. Surface chemistry was controlled using plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). A hexagonal unit cell model, which is representative of the HNCP pattern, was used to predict the contact angles. The predictions of this model were in good agreement with experimentally measured contact angles and also provided thermodynamic stability of different wetting state. The systematic thermodynamic analysis of wetting properties is important when using structured surfaces at different hydrostatic pressures, relative humidity, temperature fluctuations or prolonged exposure to water.
A new protocol for the development and maintenance of autonomous mobile sensor networks

Mobile sensor networks have played an purposes important role in control and decision-making. Autonomous mobile sensor networks are a step ahead. One of the required characteristics of an autonomous network is the capability to form and sustain itself while it's components (nodes) move about or go out of action. This paper proposes a protocol that can be used by network nodes to periodically evaluate and connect/reconnect with other nodes. The aim is to be able to form a connected network wherein any node can communicate with any other node in the network via a series of intermediate nodes (wherever necessary). One constraint imposed is that the node can only connect with nodes which are within a certain fixed distance from it. Another constraint is that a node can connect at most to a specific number of other nodes. Simulations are performed and the average number of nodes which form less than the maximum number of connections allowed is calculated. An attempt is made to propose a probability function describing the probability that one node connects to another. The simulations indicate that the best possibility of forming a connected network occurs when the distance over which the nodes can connect is approximately equal to the radius of the spread of the network. Also, a maximum of three connections per node result in a well-connected network.
Statistical Properties of Dunes Generated by Undirectional Water Currents: ABSTRACT

Field and laboratory studies of ripples and dunes formed in sand by unidirectional water currents show for coarse and very fine sand that the ripple index is related to median particle size and to flow intensity as measured by a dimensionless shear stress parameter. However, for medium-grained sand (0.25-0.50 mm.) End_Page 476------------------------------ the ripple index is approximately constant and is independent of flow intensity. For medium-grained sand statistical properties of the ripples and dunes other than the ripple index are required to correlate the characteristics of the bed configurations with flow parameters. Two methods of analysis for medium sand have been developed. In the first, spectral analyses of profiles of the channel bed lead to a linear second-order Markov model which describes the essential statistical properties of the dunes. All the parameters of the model are simple linear functions of the water discharge per unit width of channel. One of the parameters, the standard deviation of the bed elevation about the mean, shows excellent correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.99) with unit water discharge for flows ranging from 0.7 to 10 cfs. per foot of width and for average dune lengths from 2-25 feet. The second method of analysis consists of defining distributions of dune lengths, amplitudes, ripple indices, and angles of downstream faces, and relating the moments of these distributions to flow characteristics. All the distributions are skewed, and the skewness correlates roughly with flow intensity. This analysis gives useful indications of the variations in the geometric properties of ripples and dunes, but it is time-consuming and requires extensive data. Moreover, the parameters describing the ripples and dunes show only a crude relation to flow characteristics. Of the two methods, the spectral analysis appears to be more useful. End_of_Article - Last_Page 477------------
Behavioral implications of piezoelectric stack actuators for control of micromanipulation

A lumped-parameter model of a piezoelectric stack actuator has been developed to describe actuator behavior for purposes of control system analysis and design, and in particular for microrobotic applications requiring accurate position and/or force control. In addition to describing the input-output dynamic behavior, the proposed model explains aspects of non-intuitive behavioral phenomena evinced by piezoelectric actuators, such as the input-output rate-independent hysteresis and the change in mechanical stiffness that results from altering electrical load. The authors incorporate a generalized Maxwell resistive capacitor as a lumped parameter causal representation of rate-independent hysteresis. Model formulation is validated by comparing results of numerical simulations to experimental data.
Safety in Numbers: Are Major Cities the Safest Places in the United States?

Study objectives: Many US cities have experienced population reductions, often blamed on crime and interpersonal injury. Yet the overall injury risk in urban areas compared with suburban and rural areas has not been fully described. We begin to investigate this evidence gap by looking specifically at injury-related mortality risk, determining the risk of all injury death across the rural-urban continuum. Methods: A cross-sectional time-series analysis of US injury deaths from 1999 to 2006 in counties classified according to the rural-urban continuum was conducted. Negative binomial generalized estimating equations and tests for trend were completed. Total injury deaths were the primary comparator, whereas differences by mechanism and age were also explored. Results: A total of 1,295,919 injury deaths in 3,141 US counties were analyzed. Injury mortality increased with increasing rurality. Urban counties demonstrated the lowest death rates, significantly less than rural counties (mean difference¼24.0 per 100,000; 95% confidence interval 16.4 to 31.6 per 100,000). After adjustment, the risk of injury death was 1.22 times higher in the most rural counties compared with the most urban (95% confidence interval 1.07 to 1.39). Conclusion: Using total injury death rate as an overall safety metric, US urban counties were safer than their rural counterparts, and injury death risk increased steadily as counties became more rural. Greater emphasis on elevated injury-related mortality risk outside of large cities, attention to locality-specific injury prevention priorities, and an increased focus on matching emergency care needs to emergency care resources are in order. [Ann Emerg Med. 2013;-:1-15.] Please see page xx for the Editor’s Capsule Summary of this article.
Learning from Imprecise Granular Data Using Trapezoidal Fuzzy Set Representations

We discuss the role and benefits of using trapezoidal fuzzy representa-tions of granular information. We focus on the use of level sets as a tool for implementing many operations involving trapezoidal fuzzy sets. Attention is particularly brought to the simplification that the linearity of the trapezoid brings in that it often allows us to perform operations on only two level sets. We investigate the classic learning algorithm in the case when our observations are granule objects represented as trapezoidal fuzzy sets. An important issue that arises is the adverse effect that very uncertain observations have on the quality of our estimates. We suggest an approach to addressing this problem using the specificity of the observations to control its effect. Throughout this work particular emphasis is placed on the simplicity of working with trapezoids while still retaining a rich representational capability.
Speciation in rapidly diverging systems: lessons from Lake Malawi

Rapid evolutionary radiations provide insight into the fundamental processes involved in species formation. Here we examine the diversification of one such group, the cichlid fishes of Lake Malawi, which have radiated from a single ancestor into more than 400 species over the past 700 000 years. The phylogenetic history of this group suggests: (i) that their divergence has proceeded in three major bursts of cladogenesis; and (ii) that different selective forces have dominated each cladogenic event. The first episode resulted in the divergence of two major lineages, the sand- and rock-dwellers, each adapted to a major benthic macrohabitat. Among the rock-dwellers, competition for trophic resources then drove a second burst of cladogenesis, which resulted in the differentiation of trophic morphology. The third episode of cladogenesis is associated with differentiation of male nuptial colouration, most likely in response to divergent sexual selection. We discuss models of speciation in relation to this observed pattern. We advocate a model, divergence with gene flow, which reconciles the disparate selective forces responsible for the diversification of this group and suggest that the nonadaptive nature of the tertiary episode has significantly contributed to the extraordinary species richness of this group.
Use of Washed Sperm for Removal of Sperm Antibodies

Certain men and certain women develop sperm antibody activity, and this can be demonstrated in the blood serum; in many cases, this activity can also be shown in the genital secretion. The presence of such antibody is generally associated with a reduction in that person’s fertility.1-5 Hence, it is now considered that, among the various mechanisms that may operate in problems of spontaneous infertility, we can separate a group of patients who are said to have “immune infertility”.3 This antibody activity is usually detected and evaluated by methods of sperm agglutination or immobilization.6,7 These methods can be adjusted in specificity and sensitivity so that they reflect quite well the clinical relevance of the infertile or the fertile condition.
High-temperature stability of molecular beam epitaxy-grown multilayer ceramic composites: TiO/Ti2O3

Abstract The premise that conventional composite microstructures are inherently unstable at high temperatures is reviewed in the context of thermodynamic equilibrium at the atomic scale in ceramic materials. We have found that a multilayer, two component microstructure can be synthesized in which interfacial stability can be maintained to temperatures approaching the melting point of its constituents. Coarsening of the layers is avoided by the presence of flat, commensurate interfaces between components that are in thermodynamic equilibrium. As an example, we examine the high-temperature stability of a strained layer superlattice (SLS) having a nanometer wavelength (5.6 nm) consisting of TiO and Ti 2 O 3 layers. The intrinsic characteristics of the interface, such as lattice matching and structure, are fundamental in determining the stability against coarsening of a microstructure previously considered delicate.
ESDInspector: a new layout-level ESD protection circuitry design verification tool using a smart-parametric checking mechanism

On-chip ESD (electrostatic discharging) protection is a challenging IC design problem. New CAD tools are essential to ESD protection design prediction and verification at full chip level. This paper reports a smart parametric checking mechanism and the first intelligent CAD tool, entitled ESDInspector, developed for full-chip ESD protection circuitry design verification. Capability of the new tool is demonstrated using a practical design example in a 0.35/spl mu/m BiCMOS.
The U.S. drought of 2012

Abstract Seeds for the historic drought of 2012 were sown during the back-to-back La Nina episodes of 2010–11 and 2011–12. La Nina, a name given to anomalous cooling of the equatorial waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often correlates with drought development and expansion across the southern United States. Indeed, drought began to develop across the southern tier of the U.S. during the winter of 2010–11, and quickly intensified during the 2011 growing season. Effects of the 2011 drought were particularly severe in the south-central U.S.