cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Response of Pressure Sensing Systems in Slip-Flow with Temperature Gradients

Introduction T HE accurate sensing of surface pressures on hypersonic  ight vehicles presents formidable measurement challenges. The hostility of the sensing environment precludes intrusion into the  ow, and measurements must be obtained via sizable lengths of small-diameter pneumatic tubing that connect the surface ports to the remotely located pressure transducers.An idealized pneumatic layout is depicted in Fig. 1. Further complicating the sensing problem is surface boundary layer heating,which causes sizable temperature gradientswithin the pneumatic tubing.Away from the stagnation region, local surface pressure levels,which must be sensed, are extremely low, often less than 0.002 atmospheres (0.2 KPa). The combination of very low pressure levels, small diameter pneumatic lines, and large temperature gradients makes molecular effects no longer negligible. The problem of predicting tube  ow dynamics has been studied extensively. For nonrare ed conditions, Lamb,1 Iberall,2 Schuder and Binder, and Hougen et al., have developed closed-form frequencydomain solutions for simple tubing geometries and constant wall temperatures.Berg and Tijdeman and Tijdeman extended the analyses of Refs. 3 and 4 to develop a recursion formula for complexgeometriesthat consistof cascadesof tubesandvolumes.Parrot and Zorumski7 investigated the dynamic transmission of sound in a simple geometry tube subjected to very large temperature gradients. References 1–7 considered only continuum  ow conditions; rare ed  ow effects were not investigated. Tube  ow for rare ed conditionsat high temperatureswith large temperaturegradientshas been investigated by Maxwell,8 von Knudsen,9 and Tompkins and Wheeler. These rare ed  ow investigations,however, considered only steady- ow conditions. The dynamic in uence of rare ed  ow phenomenaon pneumatic pressure sensing systems has not been generally well understood; consequently, research was initiated at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center with a primary objective to develop a dynamic response model for pneumatic pressure sensing systems that is applicable to both continuumand rare ed  ows.Whitmore et al.11 presented a detailedanalyticaldevelopmentand empiricalvalidationof one such model. This Note summarizes the information presented in that text.
Fine structure of presynaptic axonal terminals in sympathetic autonomic ganglia of aging and diabetic human subjects.

The neuropathologic changes that may underlie autonomic nervous system dysfunction in nondiabetic elderly human subjects or as a complication of diabetes have been systematically examined in sympathetic ganglia of a series of autopsied human subjects. As in animal models of aging and diabetes, enormously swollen terminal axons were found closely apposed to the perikarya of principal sympathetic neurons in prevertebral superior mesenteric sympathetic ganglia of aged and diabetic human subjects. Dystrophic axons consisted of two stereotyped forms: the first was composed of large numbers of misalligned aggregates of neurofilaments surrounded by variable numbers of small dense core vesicles; the second was characterized by large numbers of mitochondria, vacuoles, and dense and multivesicular bodies. The fine structural characteristics of neuroaxonal dystrophy, its predilection for prevertebral rather than paravertebral sympathetic ganglia, and the tendency for multiple dystrophic axons to cluster preferentially around selected neurons were identical in aged and diabetic human ganglia and were similar to changes seen in animal models of aging and diabetes. Neither diabetic nor aging ganglia demonstrated evidence of neuronal degeneration. Such structural changes may represent a degenerative influence of diabetes and aging on the normal remodeling of nerve terminals in autonomic ganglia, i. e., the continually ongoing process of turnover and replacement of axonal terminals. Similarity of lesions in human diabetes and aging suggests the possibility of pathogenetic mechanisms that are common to diabetes and the aging process. The substantial parallels between humans and animal models provide support for the validity of testing some proposed pathogenetic mechanisms directly in animal models. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Use of developmental marker genes to define temporal and spatial patterns of differentiation during embryoid body formation.

Mouse embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that are derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts. When induced to synchronously enter a program of differentiation in vitro, they form embryoid bodies that contain cells of the mesodermal, hematopoietic, endothelial, muscle, and neuronal lineages. Here, we used a panel of marker genes with early expression within the germ layers (oct-3, Brachyury T, Fgf-5, nodal, and GATA-4) or a variety of lineages (flk-1, Nkx-2.5, EKLF, and Msx3) to determine how progressive differentiation of embryoid bodies in culture correlated with early postimplantation development of mouse embryos. Using RNA in situ hybridization, we found that the temporal and spatial relationships existing between these marker genes in vivo were maintained also in vitro. Studying the onset of marker gene expression allowed us also to determine the time course of differentiation during the formation of embryoid bodies. Thus, stages equivalent to embryogenesis between implantation and the beginning of gastrulation (4.5-6.5 d.p.c.) occur within the first two days of embryoid body differentiation. Between days 3 and 5, embryoid bodies contain cell lineages found in embryos during gastrulation at 6.5 to 7.0 d.p.c., and after day 6 in culture, embryoid bodies are equivalent to early organogenesis-stage embryos (7.5 d.p.c.). In addition, we demonstrate that the panel of developmental markers can be applied in a screen for stage- or lineage-specific genes. Reporter gene expression from entrapment vector insertions can be co-localized with expression of specific markers within the same cell during embryoid body formation as well as during embryogenesis. Our results thus demonstrate the power of embryoid body formation as an in vitro model system to study early lineage determination and organogenesis in mammals, and indicate that they will prove to be useful tools for identifying developmental genes whose expression is restricted to particular lineages.
Compact all-fibre on-line power monitor via core-to-cladding mode coupling

An on-line all-fibre power monitor is demonstrated in which light from the core mode is first coupled to the cladding mode using an acousto-optic tunable filter, and then coupled to an InGaAs pin detector bonded to the fibre. Detection efficiency for different cladding modes and fibre cladding diameters are presented.
Animal Rights and Human Social Issues

Using survey data from a sample of residents of Clark County, Ohio, the author explores the relationship between support for animal rights and opinions on eleven social issues pertaining to gun control, acceptance of violence, and rights for minority groups. Findings show that support for animal rights is significantly related to seven of the eleven variables, suggesting the existence of an important link between one's disposition toward human and nonhuman animals.
A new mathematical model for the homeostatic effects of sleep loss on neurobehavioral performance

The two-process model of sleep regulation makes accurate predictions of sleep timing and duration for a variety of experimental sleep deprivation and nap sleep scenarios. Upon extending its application to waking neurobehavioral performance, however, the model fails to predict the effects of chronic sleep restriction. Here we show that the two-process model belongs to a broader class of models formulated in terms of coupled non-homogeneous first-order ordinary differential equations, which have a dynamic repertoire capturing waking neurobehavioral functions across a wide range of wake/sleep schedules. We examine a specific case of this new model class, and demonstrate the existence of a bifurcation: for daily amounts of wakefulness less than a critical threshold, neurobehavioral performance is predicted to converge to an asymptotically stable state of equilibrium; whereas for daily wakefulness extended beyond the critical threshold, neurobehavioral performance is predicted to diverge from an unstable state of equilibrium. Comparison of model simulations to laboratory observations of lapses of attention on a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), in experiments on the effects of chronic sleep restriction and acute total sleep deprivation, suggests that this bifurcation is an essential feature of performance impairment due to sleep loss. We present three new predictions that may be experimentally verified to validate the model. These predictions, if confirmed, challenge conventional notions about the effects of sleep and sleep loss on neurobehavioral performance. The new model class implicates a biological system analogous to two connected compartments containing interacting compounds with time-varying concentrations as being a key mechanism for the regulation of psychomotor vigilance as a function of sleep loss. We suggest that the adenosinergic neuromodulator/receptor system may provide the underlying neurobiology.
Deoxyribonucleic acid content and proliferative activity of rabbit mammary gland epithelial cells.

Abstract The DNA contents of individual nuclei of rabbit mammary gland epithelial cells at various physiological stages of development were measured with a microspectrophotometer. The results showed the Feulgen nucleal reaction to be a reliable method for quantitative work and reproducible when carried out under standardized and rigidly controlled conditions. The DNA contents of nuclei of the epithelial cells are not equal. Significant differences in DNA content per nucleus were present among individual animals, among glands of the same animal, and among areas within the glands. The proliferative activity of the cells was studied by the administration of tritiated thymidine to the rabbits 1 h before they were sacrificed. Radioautography of the mammary gland tissue was carried out to detect incorporation of thymidine into nuclei that synthesize DNA. It was found that a considerable proliferative activity takes place in the adult virgin rabbit. The largest proliferative activity occurs during the first half of pregnancy. Proliferative activity exists during the second half of pregnancy, but at the slower rate. The activity increases markedly one day prior to parturition, though it is somewhat lower than that during the first part of pregnancy. The high rate of proliferative activity continues during the day of parturition. A sharp drop occurs on the first day of lactation and remains low during lactation. There appeared to be a relationship between the DNA content per nucleus and the secretory activity of the cell. The content was high at times of high secretory activity and low at times of secretory quiescence. An inverse relationship between the proliferative activity and the quantity of DNA per nucleus also existed. The presence of non-genetic DNA in excess to the genetic diploid quantity is suggested. This additional DNA is postulated to be responsible for the increased DNA content per nucleus and may play a role in the secretion process.
Excitation, Temperature, and Structural Dependence of Second-Order Raman Modes in Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

In this work, we characterize second-order Raman modes between 1650 and 2000 cm−1 of small-diameter single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Raman spectra of single nanotubes are acquired by confocal ...
Tribochemistry of Multiply Alkylated Cyclopentane Oils on Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) Coated Thrust Bearings

In contrast to typical diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings, hydrogenated DLC (H-DLC) coatings have demonstrated extremely low friction in vacuum and dry atmospheres. This behavior suggests the coatings’ potential importance for spacecraft applications. However, most studies have concentrated on sliding wear testing, with relatively few concerning their use on ball bearings. We have conducted a preliminary study of H-DLC-coated steel thrust bearings, lubricated with a multiply alkylated cyclopentane (MAC) oil, either unformulated (NSO2001A), or formulated with lead naphthenate (Pbnp) or an aryl phosphate ester mixture (NSO2001). To determine if the additives could provide life enhancement when using H-DLC coatings, post-test analyses of the bearing surfaces were conducted using electron microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy, and analysis of the residual lubricant was conducted using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Minimal additive-based tribofilm formation was detected on the surfaces of the H-DLC coatings in the wear tracks relative to that with steels. For example, using Pbnp resulted in considerably thicker Pb-containing tribofilms on the uncoated bearing surfaces compared to the H-DLC-coated surfaces. The results indicate that additives suitable for steels may not be appropriate for H-DLC coatings. The high roughness of the bearings used in this study contributed to local spallation of H-DLC at asperities in the wear track. When tested with NSO2001 or NSO2001A oil, several H-DLC-coated bearings endured for significantly longer than uncoated bearings (>10 Mcycles) tested with the same oils. However, the variation and magnitude of the bearing roughness contributed to statistical uncertainty regarding the endurance enhancement of H-DLC coatings. Future studies are planned with higher quality bearings.
Direct Photoelectrochemical Energy Transfer from Chlorosomes at Biohybrid Interfaces

The electrogenic capacity of light antenna structures derived from Chloroflexus aurantiacus under light stimulation were explored in this study. Chlorosomes, which are unique light antenna structures composed of bacteriochlorophyll-c oligomers encased in a lipid monolayer, initiate the photoelectrochemical energy harvesting process in green photosynthetic bacteria at high quantum efficiencies (>92%). Previous work by this group suggest chlorosomes could be exploited for their fluorescence properties to enhance conventional silicon photovoltaics. Recent work suggests that chlorosomes can be functionally immobilized on conductive substrates. However, to date, chlorosomes have not been demonstrated to directly transduce light energy in an electrochemical system. In this study, chlorosomes are characterized in customized electrochemical cells using various electrochemical techniques, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry. The results obtained from chronoamperometric experimental studies demonstrate that isolated chlorosomes decoupled from their reaction centers are able to generate a measurable photocurrent when irradiated with light. In addition, the results indicate that only chlorosomes in proximity to the electrode participate in bioelectronic energy transfer. Electrochemical charge storage densities, also known charge injection capacities in neuroscience, show that when light stimulated, chlorosomes under a variety of conditions, i.e in bacterial fragments coupled to the photosynthetic apparatus, uncoupled colloidal solutions, and adsorbed systems, increase the charge stored near the electrode. The clear demonstration of the electrogenic capacity of chlorosomes at a heterogenous biohybrid interfaces may facilitate innovation in green technologies to novel biomedical therapeutics.
Two-dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopic study of N-methylacetamide as a function of temperature

Generalized two-dimensional (2D) correlation vibrational spectroscopy has been used to study N-methylacetamide (NMA) as a function of temperature. It has been found that all the major bands of NMA are shifted in frequency as the temperature is raised. This gives rise to the appearance of new features in the 2D plots. These new features are not true bands, because they are not fundamental normal modes of vibration, but correspond to difference bands used to generate the correlation plots. Analysis of the amide I region of the spectrum suggests that transition dipole coupling plays a key role in the splitting of the amide I band in the liquid state.
Systemic and cerebral amyloidosis.

Two types of familial cerebral amyloid angiopathy or hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis (HCHWA) have been described: the Icelandic type (HCHWA-I), and the Dutch type (HCHWA-D). Both are autosomal-dominant forms of amyloidosis restricted to the small vasculature of the brain and clinically characterized by recurrent strokes leading to an early death. In spite of their clinico-pathological similarities, the amyloid fibrils are structurally different. In the case of HCHWA-I, the amyloid protein is a degradation product of Cystatin C variant (gamma trace), a normal serum protein and an inhibitor of cysteine proteases. The amyloid protein is the expression of a genetic aberration, since it has been demonstrated that a point mutation occurred in the Cystatin C gene. On the other hand the amyloid protein in HCHWA-D type has very recently been shown to be related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down's syndrome (DS) β-protein. However, the complete sequence of HCHWA-D β-protein obtained from leptomeni...
Isolation and partial characterization of clathrin-coated vesicles from pea (Pisum sativum L.) cotyledons

Clathrin-coated vesicles have been isolated from cotyledons of both developing and germinating pea seeds using differential centrifugation, ribonuclease treatment, discontinuous sucrose gradients, and isopycnic centrifugation on a linear D2O-Ficoll gradient. The yield of coated vesicles from developing pea cotyledons was exceptional, being 1.6 × higher than the yield from hog and bovine brain, 5.3 × higher than the yield from carrot suspension cultures, and 13 × the yield from cotyledons of germinating pea seeds. The pea coated vesicles are similar to other plant coated vesicles in size (approximately 80 nm in diameter) and in having a clathrin heavy chain of 190,000 Mr. The lipid phosphorus to protein ratio, 190–250 nmol P per mg protein, of the coated vesicles from plants is comparable to that reported for highly purified coated vesicles from animals. The nondenatured pea clathrin reacted weakly with an antiserum to bovine brain clathrin, but pea clathrin denatured by sodium dodecyl sulfate did not.
Surveying the Scope of the SU(2)L Scalar Septet Sector

Extending the Standard Model by adding a scalar field transforming as a septet under SU(2) L preserves the ρ parameter at tree level and can satisfy experimental constraints on the electroweak parameters S and T. This work presents the first fully general phenomenological study of such an extension. We examine constraints on the septet model couplings based on electroweak and Higgs observables, and use LHC searches for new physics to bound the mass of the septet to be above ~ 400 GeV at a 95% CL.
Kinetic pathway of 40S ribosomal subunit recruitment to hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site

Translation initiation can occur by multiple pathways. To delineate these pathways by single-molecule methods, fluorescently labeled ribosomal subunits are required. Here, we labeled human 40S ribosomal subunits with a fluorescent SNAP-tag at ribosomal protein eS25 (RPS25). The resulting ribosomal subunits could be specifically labeled in living cells and in vitro. Using single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between RPS25 and domain II of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES), we measured the rates of 40S subunit arrival to the HCV IRES. Our data support a single-step model of HCV IRES recruitment to 40S subunits, irreversible on the initiation time scale. We furthermore demonstrated that after binding, the 40S:HCV IRES complex is conformationally dynamic, undergoing slow large-scale rearrangements. Addition of translation extracts suppresses these fluctuations, funneling the complex into a single conformation on the 80S assembly pathway. These findings show that 40S:HCV IRES complex formation is accompanied by dynamic conformational rearrangements that may be modulated by initiation factors.
Experimental infection of certain farm mammals with a North American strain of Trypanosoma cruzi from the raccoon.

Abstract A study has been made of the infection produced in pigs, lambs, kids, and calves by a North American strain of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from a raccoon trapped at Laurel, Maryland. Infection of all animals followed parenteral introduction of culture material and was characterized by a lack of clinical signs, an absence of pathologic changes, and a low-level parasitemia. Tissue stages were found in two of 20 animals inoculated with these trypanosomes. A possible role of farm mammals in serving to maintain the cycle of the parasite is discussed.
Measurement of Collagen Content of Coronary Artery Plaque by Polarization Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PS-OCT)

This study demonstrates that PS-OCT not only can identify the presence of collagen in coronary plaques but also can estimate collagen content. This technology provides an improved method for risk stratification of coronary plaques.
Another look at computer-aided circuit analysis

Abstract The designers requirements are examined and the facilities that should be provided by a circuit analysis program are given. A general-purpose circuit analysis program based on the manipulation of two port structures is described. This program may be considered as an alternative and in some instances, a more efficient method of analysis than provided by nodal analysis programs.
Loosely coupled coaxial TEM applicators for deep-heating

The development of a coaxial TEM (transverse electromagnetic) deep-heating, non-contacting applicator employing two axially spaced concentric sleeves is described which has electrostatic characteristics and has been named the ESA. Thermal data obtained with the FDA/CDRH elliptic-shaped human torso phantom (with fat overlay) showed nearly uniform heating (±10%) throughout the inner cross-section. Saline tank measurements on a torso cross-section confirmed similar SAR uniformity. Animal experiments with a pig, both with and without blood flow, verified deep-heating and suggested that some preferential central heating occurred. The absence of excessive surface heating indicated that the major portion of the E-field excitation is axially aligned. The non-contacting applicator does not require a water bolus, and experiments showed that moderate patient movement had minor effect on performance.
On the transformation kinetics of work-hardened austenite (γ) → pro-eutectoid ferrite (α) of CMn steels

Abstract In the present paper, the regularity of the isothermal transformation of work-hardened austenite to pro-eutectoid ferrite has been studied experimentally, from which it has been found that the plot of ln ln (1−χ f ) −1 versus ln t consists of two straight lines. Based on the experimental results, analysis was carried out in terms of the free energy changes, the predictions of the analysis providing reasonable explanations of the observed phenomena. With the successful application of controlled rolling technology to the hot-strip rolling of CMn steels, the finishing temperature has been decreased by 50–100°C compared with that for normal rolling, with the consequent result being that the austenite after hot rolling is generally in the work-hardened state. Therefore, study of the transformation kinetics of work-hardened austenite to pro-eutectoid ferrite and the corresponding transformation mechanism seem to be very important. However, at the present time, little attention has been paid to the kinetic regularities of the work-hardened γ → α transformation. With plain CMn steel as the experimental material, experiments on the isothermal transformation of work-hardened austenite to pro-eutectoid ferrite are reported in this paper. Further, the kinetics and the corresponding transformation mechanism are discussed in detail.
Synergism of oxacillin and gentamicin against enterococci.

Strains of enterococci isolated from 34 patients were studied for susceptibility to oxacillin and gentamicin alone and in combination. The minimal bactericidal concentrations of oxacillin and gentamicin for these strains ranged from 16 to 250 μg/ml (median 32 μg/ml) for oxacillin and 12 to 48 μg/ml (median 24 μg/ml) for gentamicin. The minimal bactericidal concentration of oxacillin for 50% of strains in the presence of 12, 6, 3, and 1.5 μg of gentamicin per ml, respectively, was 2, 8, 16, and 32 μg/ml. The combination of oxacillin and gentamicin at clinically attainable serum levels was synergistically bactericidal against 27/34 (80%) of these strains using strict criteria. This report reconfirms the original observation that antibiotics which affect the synthesis of bacterial cell walls combine synergistically with aminoglycosides against enterococci. This is so even though enterococci are far more resistant to oxacillin than to penicillin or ampicillin. In addition, this report suggests that the combination of oxacillin and gentamicin administered in the usual dosages includes enterococci in its bactericidal spectrum.
Gamma-gamma directional correlation measurements in the decay of Ba133

The gamma rays following the electron capture decay of Ba z" have been studied using coincidence and directional correlation techniques. The existence of gamma rays with energies of 162 keV and 222 keV has been ascertained. The correlation functions for the 356 keV-82 keV, 302 keV-82 keV, 80 keV-82 keV and 276 keV-162 keV cascades are found to be, respectively: W(O) = 1 -t- (0.0331 =k0.0017)el(cos 0)+ (0.0045 =k0.0033)Pl(cos 0), W(O) = 1 -- (0.0238± 0.0060)ea(cos 0)-F (0.0061-4-0.0089)P,(cos 0), W(O) = 1 + (0.0319)=l=0.0045)e,(cos 0)+ (0.005=k0.009)e,(cos 0), W(O) = 1- (0.328 :(:0.009)P2(cos 0)--(0.067:k0.016)P~(cos 0). These results support the spin sequence of ~+, t +, t +, t + and ½+, for the ground state, 82, 162, 384 and 438 keV levels of Cs 1". The measured mixing ratios of the following gamma rays are: 80 keV:(63:k9)% E2+(37:k9)% MI; 82 keV: (97.6-4-0.1)% M1+(2.4:E0.1)% E2; 162 keV: (95.14-0.6)% E2+(4.9:k0.6)% Ml;276keV:pureE2;302keV: (99.7+0.1)% MI-F(0.3:E0.1)% E2; 356 keV: pure E2. I RADIOACTIVITY BR 1" (from Oak Ridge);
Simulation of crack propagation resistance in brittle media of high porosity

The crack propagation resistance through a porous or microstructurally heterogeneous brittle solid with local variability in strength and stiffness has been simulated. Specifically, the simulation probes the behavior of porous brittle materials in the range of porosity less than those of cellular materials and greater than those of microstructures that are in the category of dilute porosity. The simulation plane consists of a triangular network of points interacting with each other through both linear central force springs and bond angle springs, incorporating an appropriate element of a noncentral force contribution. Explicit microstructural details were incorporated into the model and the simulation was first carried out under conditions of uniaxial tensile strain in order to investigate the mechanisms of subcritical damage evolution, leading to quasi-homogeneous fracture. In order to investigate material strength and stiffness variability on the scale of a representative volume element for coherent fracture events in a crack tip stress gradient, the explicit microstructural results were incorporated into a simulation with boundary conditions characteristic of the displacement field of an infinite Mode I crack. To impart some 3D realism to the primarily 2D simulations a special 2D super-element was devised, which incorporated variability information as might be sampled by a crack front in three dimensions. For a given porosity, in general, only small differences were found between nominally diverse microstructures in terms of their tensile toughness, maximum strength and elastic moduli. The strongest dependence of the overall fracture toughness was found to come from the average porosity. The variability in local element strength and stiffness on the scale of the porosity produced highly tortuous crack paths, roughly on the scale of the chosen representative volume element. The tortuosity of the crack was largest where local variability of strength and stiffness was uncorrelated. Examples of microcrack toughening and crack bridging were observed.
Understanding Uncertainties in Model-Based Predictions of Aedes aegypti Population Dynamics

Background Aedes aegypti is one of the most important mosquito vectors of human disease. The development of spatial models for Ae. aegypti provides a promising start toward model-guided vector control and risk assessment, but this will only be possible if models make reliable predictions. The reliability of model predictions is affected by specific sources of uncertainty in the model. Methodology/Principal Findings This study quantifies uncertainties in the predicted mosquito population dynamics at the community level (a cluster of 612 houses) and the individual-house level based on Skeeter Buster, a spatial model of Ae. aegypti, for the city of Iquitos, Peru. The study considers two types of uncertainty: 1) uncertainty in the estimates of 67 parameters that describe mosquito biology and life history, and 2) uncertainty due to environmental and demographic stochasticity. Our results show that for pupal density and for female adult density at the community level, respectively, the 95% prediction confidence interval ranges from 1000 to 3000 and from 700 to 5,000 individuals. The two parameters contributing most to the uncertainties in predicted population densities at both individual-house and community levels are the female adult survival rate and a coefficient determining weight loss due to energy used in metabolism at the larval stage (i.e. metabolic weight loss). Compared to parametric uncertainty, stochastic uncertainty is relatively low for population density predictions at the community level (less than 5% of the overall uncertainty) but is substantially higher for predictions at the individual-house level (larger than 40% of the overall uncertainty). Uncertainty in mosquito spatial dispersal has little effect on population density predictions at the community level but is important for the prediction of spatial clustering at the individual-house level. Conclusion/Significance This is the first systematic uncertainty analysis of a detailed Ae. aegypti population dynamics model and provides an approach for identifying those parameters for which more accurate estimates would improve model predictions.
Variational Lyapunov Method for Difference Equations

In this article we consider the difference equation with a smoothness condition on f with respect to y. We study the dependence of solutions of (A) on initial data and then obtain a discrete analog of Alekseev's variation of parameters formula. In addition, we develop a Variational Lyapunov Method (VLM) and use it to study the stability properties of difference equations.
Effect of strain in periodically deformed single-mode optical fibers

The effect of periodic strains in single-mode fibers, which lead to periodic changes of the relative index of refraction, is studied theoretically and experimentally. The main effect of the periodic strain is to downshift the beat length between the optical modes in the fiber.
Catalytic steam gasification of graphite: Effects of calcium, strontium, and barium with and without sulfur

Abstract Alkaline earths strongly catalyze steam gasification of graphite. The catalytic effect increases in the order Ca
Instrument design and hyperacuity tasks used for precision alignment of optics and evaluating vision before, during, and after refractive surgery

There is a need for precise visual functional analysis that parallels and complements the advance technologies employed in ophthalmic surgery. An instrument is needed which can be coupled to the surgical device which allows precision assessment of vision in some sub portion of the cornea, the entire area of surgical intervention, and the entire cornea. A device is proposed for inclusion which allows (1) monitoring and control of fixation during surgery and visual assessment, (2) precision alignment of the corneal surgical area and the eye lens with the point of fixation (using an achromatic axis), (3) focusing, locating, adjusting, and monitoring an aperture image in the surgical plane, (4) provision of any desired test of vision, and (5) measurement and correction of refractive error and certain aberrations as often as required. The utilization of the hyperacuity paradigms as part of the test battery are also suggested. These can be highly precise reliable benchmarks for characterizing refractive surgery. Hyperacuity testing is well suited for analysis of visual performance in relation to keratorefractive surgery because the procedure is highly resistant to optical image degradation and requires a higher-order analysis by the visual system. The uses of hyperacuity techniques are discussed. These techniques allow assessment of vision through cloudy, distorted, or absorbing optical media, and it is possible to separate quantitatively optical from neural decrements in visual performance. These techniques allow fine detection and measurement of distortion and metamorphopsia. Hyperacuity is also used for precision alignment of the optical elements of the eye and the fovea.
Mechanisms of change: exploring not only when and what, but also how declarative memory develops

Age-related changes in representational flexibility are a characteristic feature of declarative memory development. The authors suggest that a qualitative shift in the nature of infants' memory representations accounts for increasing memory flexibility with age. We will argue that a comprehensive theory of declarative memory development must (1) account for the effect of experience on flexibility, (2) be empirically separable from more parsimonious explanations, and (3) propose a mechanism by which the transition takes place. We will argue that a converging-methods approach is necessary to understand not only when and what develops in declarative memory, but also how developmental change occurs. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rifabutin-associated hypopyon uveitis and retinal vasculitis with a history of acute myeloid leukemia

Purpose This study reports a case of bilateral rifabutin-associated uveitis in a child with a history of acute myeloid leukemia.
North Atlantic Right Whale acoustic signal processing: Part I. comparison of machine learning recognition algorithms

This paper compares three different approaches currently used in recognizing contact calls made from the North Atlantic Right Whale (NRW), Eubalaena glacialis. We present two new approaches consisting of machine learning algorithms based on artificial neural networks (NET) and the classification and regression tree classifiers (CART), and compare their performance with earlier work that employs multi-Stage feature vector testing (FVT) approach. A combined total of over 100,000 noise and NRW up-call events were used in the study. Calls were primarily recorded from two areas, Cape Cod Bay and Great South Channel. Of the three classifiers, the CART had the highest assignment rates, overall 86.45% with highest false positive rates (≪100 per hour). The FVT Method had exceptionally low false positive rates, with ≪50 per hour. However, it had an overall assignment rate less than the NET. The CART had statistically the same false positive rate as the NET with the highest assignment rates, 2.2% higher than the NET and 11.75% greater than the FVT Method. Details of the results are shown and extensions to the research are discussed.
Forest fuel ignitibility.

What is flammability? The author suggests that it consists of ignitibility, sustainability, and combustibility. He defines ignitibility in terms of fuel properties and heat source intensity. Similar methods for determining sustainability and combustibility have not yet been formulated.
Electrical impedance myography at 50 kHz in the rat: technique, reproducibility, and the effects of sciatic injury and recovery

Objective To describe a refined technique for performing electrical impedance myography (EIM) in the rat and assess its reproducibility, long-term stability, and the effects of sciatic nerve injury.
Relationship of Myocardial Ischemia and Injury to Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Supraventricular Tachycardia

Increase of serum troponin I and ST-segment depression are objective markers of myocardial ischemia/injury. Abnormalities of the 2 indicators have been associated with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) but their relevance for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in this setting have not been clarified. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the frequency of CAD based on increased troponin I and ST-segment depression during SVT. During a 5-year period, 104 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of SVT, 80 of whom had troponin I testing, and 70 of these patients could be assessed for ST-segment changes. Thirty-seven patients (48%) had increased troponin I (mean 1.54 ± 2.7 ng/dl, normal ≤0.07 ng/dl) and 46 patients (57%) had ST-segment depression ≥1.0 mm. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics and clinical presentation of patients with and without troponin I increase or ST-segment depression. There was no difference in the diagnosis of CAD by noninvasive or invasive testing in patients with and without increased troponin I. More patients with than without ST-segment depression had evidence of CAD (22% vs none, p = 0.01), but after adjusting for covariates, ST-segment depression was not a significant predictor of CAD. In conclusion, increased troponin I and ST-segment depression are not significant markers of acute coronary syndrome in patients with SVT.
A novel assay for allelic discrimination that combines the fluorogenic 5′ nuclease polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan®) and mismatch amplification mutation assay

Recently much attention has been focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within fundamentally important genes, such as those involved in metabolism, cell growth regulation, and other disease-associated genes. Methodologies for discriminating different alleles need to be specific (robust detection of an altered sequence in the presence of wild-type DNA) and preferably, amenable to high throughput screening. We have combined the fluorogenic 5' nuclease polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan) and the mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA) to form a novel assay, TaqMAMA, that can quickly and specifically detect single base changes in genomic DNA. TaqMan chemistry utilizes fluorescence detection during PCR to precisely measure the starting template concentration, while the MAMA assay exploits mismatched bases between the PCR primers and the wild-type template to selectively amplify specific mutant or polymorphic sequences. By combining these assays, the amplification of the mutant DNA can be readily detected by fluorescence in a single PCR reaction in 2 hours. Using the human TK6 cell line and specific HPRT-mutant clones as a model system, we have optimized the TaqMAMA technique to discriminate between mutant and wild-type DNA. Here we demonstrate that appropriately designed MAMA primer pairs preferentially amplify mutant genomic DNA even in the presence of a 1,000-fold excess of wild-type DNA. The ability to selectively amplify DNAs with single nucleotide changes, or the specific amplification of a low copy number mutant DNA in a 1,000-fold excess of wild-type DNA, is certain to be a valuable technique for applications such as allelic discrimination, detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms or gene isoforms, and for assessing hotspot mutations in tumor-associated genes from biopsies contaminated with normal tissue.
Oceanic chlorophyll concentrations as determined by satellite (Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner)

Data gathered concurrently by ships and satellite (Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner) have been compared to optimize a general chlorophyll algorithm and to calculate chlorophyll concentrations in the Southern California Bight. This optimization provides regional images of chlorophyll concentration that are consistent with independent shipboard chlorophyll determination within ±40%. Chlorophyll images from satellite passes on 27 February, 6 March and 11 March 1979 are presented along with shipboard measurements to reveal complex and changing chlorophyll patterns including a significant decline in the mean chlorophyll concentration during the 2 wk study. These data provide a synoptic view of a complex oceanographic region which is impractical to obtain from ships alone. It is shown how concurrent ship and satellite data can be used for the quantitative definition and statistical analysis of an oceanic habitat descriptor (chlorophyll) for the modeling of the marine environment.
Proceedings of the 27th Princeton conference: preface.

The 27th Princeton Conference was held in Boston, Massachusetts on April 22 to 24, 2010. This year’s Conference focused on translational research in the field of cerebrovascular disease. Representatives from academia, industry, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the FDA participated in the robust discussion. The invited speakers were required to present new, late-breaking and often unpublished data to stimulate energetic discussion. The Conference is designed as a symposium in order to allow …
Mechanical Considerations for Modeling of Vibration-Based Energy Harvesters

The idea of supplying energy for low-power devices such as MEMS and remote sensors by converting the ambient vibrations to electrical energy through energy harvesters has been subject to many papers in recent years. One typical energy harvester is a cantilevered beam with one or more layers of piezoelectric material (PZT) connected to a harvesting circuit by means of electrodes. The literature includes attempts to provide the electromechanical model of this type of energy harvesters and one frequently used approach is the single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) modeling which is only applicable for the case of excitation around the resonance frequency. In this work, the exact analytical solution of the base excitation problem is given for a clamped-free Euler-Bernoulli beam since the excitation of the harvester is generally due to its base motion in real life applications. The base motion is described by translation and small rotation and is not restricted to be harmonic in time. The general solution is then reduced to the case of harmonic base excitation for comparison with the corresponding SDOF model. It is shown that the commonly accepted form of the SDOF model may yield highly inaccurate results. A correction factor, which should also appear in the electromechanically coupled equations, is introduced for improving the SDOF model.
Optical rule checking for proximity-corrected mask shapes

Optical Rule Checking (ORC) is an important vehicle to predict the failure of wafer shapes due to the process proximity effects. Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) if not aided by ORC may cause severe failures affecting the yield in manufacturing. However, it is fairly complicated to do ORC on mask shapes that are pre-corrected either by rules-based or by model-based OPC. ORC is also a good tool to capture the problems that may occur at multi-layer interactions. We present a methodology to use both geometric directives and limited optical simulation to detect potential failures using ORC. We extend our methodology to multi-layer interactions. In case of multi-layer ORC, we present several approaches that deal with how to judiciously mix the geometric directives and the optical simulations for different layers. We show the ORC can help us design better rules for OPC.
Natural selection and phylogenetic analysis

If Darwin were to survey the entirety of the biological sciences today, he would be pleased to observe how central phylogenies and “tree thinking” are to integrative research (1). Biologists of all stripes now realize that phylogenies are not exotic, but fundamental and routine tools for understanding not only history but mechanism, organization, and function of biological networks at all levels, from molecular and cellular to ecological. The last two decades have seen an explosion of sophisticated statistical methods for inferring phylogenetic trees (2), and these methods are remarkably robust to a variety of forces that can conceivably derail phylogenetic analysis and lead researchers to incorrect conclusions about phylogenetic relationships—forces such as vagaries of the molecular clock, changing base compositions of DNA sequences, even evolutionary convergence, whether driven by natural selection or simple biases of mutation. Yet some genes in some groups of species exhibit evolutionary convergence on such a vast scale that even the best phylogenetic methods fail and erroneous relationships result. The report by Castoe et al. in this issue of PNAS (3) documents an example of rampant convergence in the mitochondrial DNA of snakes, and it raises intriguing questions as to how widespread such convergence is in molecular data.
Flow-boiling heat transfer of R-134a-based nanofluids in a horizontal tube

Abstract The influence of nanoparticles on the flow-boiling of R-134a and R-134a/polyolester mixtures is quantified for flows of low vapor quality (x
The Photolysis of Iodoaromatic Compounds

Under appropriate conditions, the photolysis of iodoaromatic compounds yields derivatives of biphenyl and phenanthrene, as well as organometallic compounds. Ring closures of o-terphenyls to triphenylenes and of benzanilides to phenanthridones are described. The formation of dehydrobenzene (benzyne) on photolysis of 1,2-diiodobenzene in solution has been established. The photolysis of various substituted iodoaromatic compounds or of substances such as CH3I, ICN, ICH3, COOH, or RCCI, provides a general method for the generation of a large variety of free radicals in solution. The potential uses of photochemically initiated exchanges of iodine in ArI for 131I, Li, D, Cl, or Br are noted.
Budget deficits and real interest rates: Updated empirical evidence on causality

Using error-correction model (ECM) estimation, the paper empirically examines the causality relationship between the federal government budget deficit and the ex ante real interest rate yield on high grade long term tax free municipal bonds in the U.S. To clarify this deficit or interest rate relationship, the budget deficit is measured by the primary budget deficit, which excludes net interest payments by the Treasury. In a model that includes federal personal income tax rates and net international capital flows, as well as money supply growth, the ECM estimates strongly suggest a bi-directional relationship between the primary budget deficit and the ex ante real interest rate yield. Budget deficits apparently do matter! William Simon's concerns were justified.
Electron pitch-angle diffusion driven by oblique whistler-mode turbulence.

A general description of cyclotron harmonic resonant pitch-angle scattering is presented. Quasi-linear diffusion coefficients are prescribed in terms of the wave normal distribution of plasma wave energy. Numerical computations are performed for the specific case of relativistic electrons interacting with a band of low frequency whistler-mode turbulence. A parametric treatment of the wave energy distribution permits normalized diffusion coefficients to be presented graphically solely as a function of the electron pitch-angle. The diffusion coefficients generally decrease with increasing cyclotron harmonic number. Higher harmonic diffusion is insignificant at very small electron pitch-angles, but becomes increasingly important as the pitch-angle increases. One thus expected the rate of pitch-angle scattering to decrease with increasing electron energy, since the resonant value of the latter varies proportionately with harmonic number. This indicates that, in mirror-type magnet field geometrics, such as the earth's radiation belts, the diffusion losses of high energy electrons are likely to be appreciably slower than those at low energy.