cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dry sliding wear in 2124 Al-SiCw/17-4 PH stainless steel systems

Abstract The friction and wear behavior of 2124 Al-SiCw/17-4 PH stainless steel systems under dry sliding wear was investigated using a pin-on-disk apparatus. Increasing the SiCw volume fraction in the pin specimens increased the wear rates of both the SiCw-Al composite and the 17-4 PH steel during the initial run-in-period, the coefficient of friction during this period being approximately the same for the composite-steel and the unreinforced 2124 Al-steel systems. During steady-state sliding, increasing the SiCw volume fraction significantly reduced the wear rate of the SiCw-Al pin specimens, while slightly increasing the wear rate of the mating 17-4 PH steel disks; the coefficient of friction was substantially lower for the composite—steel systems than for the unreinforced 2124 Al—steel system. The predominant wear mechanism for the unreinforced 2124 alloy and 17-4 PH disk material was abrasion throughout the whole period of testing. For the SiCw-Al components the predominant wear mechanism was a function of sliding distance and SiCw content; below 10 vol.% SiCw, abrasive wear predominated throughout the test period, while above 10 vol.%, a transition from abrasion to adhesion dominated wear occurred with increasing sliding distance.
Service-cost tradeoffs for carload freight traffic in the U.S. rail industry

Abstract Railroad technology permits a single train to move a large number of individual freight cars. However, cars which are not in dedicated unit train or intermodal service experience considerable delay due to the consolidation and breakup of trains. Rail operations thus involve a tradeoff between the economies of shipment consolidation, and the resulting delays. More direct and/or more frequent train connections will increase costs, but reduce transit times. This article quantifies the cost of providing a range of transit times for general carload traffic for several representative U.S. rail systems. It shows that significant reductions in transit time will require a large increase in the number of train connections and operating cost. Changes in labor contracts to reduce train crew cost will provide some incentive for higher service levels, but reductions in crew cost alone cannot be expected to dramatically improve the performance of the carload segment of the industry.
β2 integrin Mac-1 is a receptor for Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxin on bovine and ovine leukocytes

Pneumonia caused by Mannheimia haemolytica is an important disease of cattle (BO), domestic sheep (DS, Ovis aries) and bighorn sheep (BHS, Ovis canadensis). Leukotoxin (Lkt) produced by M. haemolytica is cytolytic to all leukocyte subsets of these three species. Although it is certain that CD18, the beta subunit of beta(2) integrins, mediates Lkt-induced cytolysis of leukocytes, whether CD18 of all three beta(2) integrins, LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and CR4 (CD11c/CD18), mediates Lkt-induced cytolysis of BO, DS and BHS leukocytes remains a controversy. Based on antibody inhibition experiments, earlier studies suggested that LFA-1, but not Mac-1 and CR-4, serves as a receptor for M. haemolytica Lkt. PMNs express all three beta(2) integrins, and they are the leukocyte subset that is most susceptible to Lkt. Therefore we hypothesized that all three beta(2) integrins serve as the receptor for Lkt. The objective of this study was to determine whether Mac-1 of BO, DS and BHS serves as a receptor for Lkt. cDNAs for CD11b of BO, DS and BHS were transfected into a Lkt-non-susceptible cell line along with cDNAs for CD18 of BO, DS and BHS, respectively. Transfectants stably expressing BO, DS or BHS Mac-1 specifically bound Lkt. These transfectants were lysed by Lkt in a concentration-dependent manner. Increase in intracellular [Ca(2+)](i) was observed in transfectants following exposure to low concentrations of Lkt indicating signal transduction through secondary messengers. Collectively, these results indicate that Mac-1 from these three species serves as a receptor for M. haemolytica Lkt.
Technical note: a physical phantom for assessment of accuracy of deformable alignment algorithms.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a simple deformable phantom as a QA tool for testing and validation of deformable image registration algorithms. A diagnostic thoracic imaging phantom with a deformable foam insert was used in this study. Small plastic markers were distributed through the foam to create a lattice with a measurable deformation as the ground truth data for all comparisons. The foam was compressed in the superior-inferior direction using a one-dimensional drive stage pushing a flat 'diaphragm' to create deformations similar to those from inhale and exhale states. Images were acquired at different compressions of the foam and the location of every marker was manually identified on each image volume to establish a known deformation field with a known accuracy. The markers were removed digitally from corresponding images prior to registration. Different image registration algorithms were tested using this method. Repeat measurement of marker positions showed an accuracy of better than 1 mm in identification of the reference marks. Testing the method on several image registration algorithms showed that the system is capable of evaluating errors quantitatively. This phantom is able to quantitatively assess the accuracy of deformable image registration, using a measuremore » of accuracy that is independent of the signals that drive the deformation parameters.« less
Evaluation of a limited three-slice head CT protocol for monitoring patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

OBJECTIVE. Patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for the management of hydrocephalus often undergo multiple head CT examinations for assessment of shunt malfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a limited three-slice CT protocol would consistently provide adequate information for the diagnosis of shunt malfunction with a decrease in effective dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study group included 231 unenhanced head CT examinations performed on 128 patients with shunts for hydrocephalus. The original contiguous CT images were reviewed retrospectively. A theoretic limited three-slice study was then created from the original complete CT study and separately reviewed. This limited three-slice study was created by using the lateral topographic image to select three axial locations as follows: midpoint between foramen magnum and vertex, top of the mastoid air cells, and orbital roof. The limited study was graded for parameters of image adequacy with the original full protocol study as ...
Literary Dialect in The Yorker’s Stratagem

Le dialect litteraire de la piece publiee en 1732 a New York montre le contexte multivariant de l'anglais americain primitif. Cette piece est typique des comedies et farces anglaises et americaines du 18eme siecle : elle introduit des personnages representant des types populaires identifies par des noms, des actions et un certain dialect. Trois types de langue sont representes : le yankee de Nouvelle-Angleterre, le francais etranger et l'afro-americain. L'etude contemporaine de cette piece permet d'approfondir la comprehension de l'usage et de la representation de l'anglais americain primitif dans les drames americains. De plus, la description du dialect litteraire apporte des indications interessantes sur l'utilisation du dialect principal a cette epoque et, indirectement, sur les autres varietes linguistiques representees dans la piece
Methodological considerations of determining dominance in multidimensional analyses of crime scene behaviours and offender characteristics

Aimed at critically examining how offenders and offences are conceptualised, Investigative Psychology has seen a substantial increase in studies of crime scene behaviours and offender characteristics using multidimensional scaling (MDS) analyses that build thematic models of crime scene behaviours based on the co-occurrence variables and then testing the frameworks by determining if cases are dominant in a single thematic region. Although methods have been developed, issues that arise from using different methods and the effect on the results obtained have never been thoroughly discussed. Framed in the context of the evolution of how people have been classified in offender profiling research and elsewhere, this paper examines the established procedures used in MDS studies to determine dominance. Two methods—proportional versus the quantity of variables present—are compared across four levels of stringency within a framework of homicide offenders' criminal convictions. Results support the most common criterion used in prior studies of homicide and demonstrate that the subject of the framework or type of variables may dictate which method is more appropriate. The results strengthen the argument that a standard protocol for determining dominance should be adopted to increase consistency across studies to add to the development of Investigative Psychology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Statistical Method for the Analysis of Peppermint Oils and Other Complex Mixtures

SUMMARY— A statistical method, preferably operated by a a computer, is proposed for the analysis of data on complex mixtures where the information sought involves a number of small changes in chemical composition, each of which is individually within the normal range of variation of the mixtures. When the method is applied to the identification of geographical origins of peppermint oils and mixtures of peppermint oils, the results are a substantial improvement on those from previous methods, though still leaving some uncertainty. It is expected that more complete chemical analysis will greatly improve the confidence level.
Cellular Immunology in Multiple Sclerosis Studies on Immune Regulatory Cells

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Although the etiology of MS remains undefined, many have suggested that immune mechanisms play a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Two hypotheses for the pathogenesis of MS have recently received widespread interest: l) the disease is the result of a chronic viral infection which is not controlled due to a faulty immune response; and 2) the disease is an autoimmune response resulting from an inherent immunological defect. These hypotheses may not be mutually exclusive in that chronic viral infection may result in altered immune function and autoimmunity.
Management of hyperlipidemia in children

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of death and disability in adults. Recent investigations suggest that although cardiac end-points such as myocardial infarction and strokes mainly occur in middle-age and older subjects, the pathological basis for atherosclerosis begins in childhood. Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most important risk factors for atherosclerosis in adults and elevated cholesterol in children is associated with sub-clinical deposition of lipids in the aorta and coronary arteries. This report summarizes an approach to the diagnosis and treatment of hyperlipidemia in children. Based on guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program, children over 2 years of age should be screened for hypercholesterolemia if there is a family history of premature heart disease or hyperlipidemia. Therapy must be individualized. The majority of children with hyperlipidemia should be managed with a low-saturated fat and low-cholesterol diet. Children over 10 years of age with severe elevations of LDL-cholesterol and who come from high-risk families may be considered for more aggressive dietary therapy or medication in some cases. This is especially true for children with inherited disorders of lipid metabolism such as LDL-receptor deficiency. By identifying high-risk children and instituting therapy during childhood it is hoped that premature onset of adult coronary heart disease can be delayed or avoided altogether.
Remote vehicle state of health monitoring and its application to vehicle no-start prediction

This paper reports a recent effort at GM to develop a remote vehicle diagnostics service under a previously proposed framework of Connected Vehicle Diagnostics and Prognostics. An algorithm development methodology combining the physics-based approach and the data-driven approach is presented to identify, select, and calibrate failure precursors to predict vehicle no-start due to battery failures. Initial results based on real field data are promising. Also presented is a proposed implementation solution that supports the cost and performance optimization of remote vehicle no-start prediction.
Joseph Smith's Revision of the Bible: Fraudulent, Pathologic, Or Prophetic?

Joseph Smith, the nineteenth-century Mormon founder, is often accounted for in one of three ways. Either he was a prophet in the almost fundamentalist sense that many Mormons hold him to have been, or he was a charlatan as many others have judged, or else he was a mentally deranged charismatic. In what has been the most influential study of Smith during the last half-century, Fawn Brodie bridged the latter two categories. Brodie alleged that Mormonism's founder was initially a conscious fraud who fabricated his first visionary experience; only gradually, by a series of wondrous psychological acrobatics, did he later come to take himself seriously as one called of God.
Parameterized macrocells with accurate delay models for core-based designs

In this paper we propose a new design methodology targeted for core-based designs using parameterized macrocells (PMC's). This methodology provides the flexibility for instance-based cores to be easily customized for application requirements. By using few scaling parameters to characterize a PMC, a macrocell can be instantiated in virtually any size depending on the required performance. Moreover a new first-order macro delay model is proposed which is a function of the scaling parameters of the PMC which enables accurate delay predictions at the subsystem/core level. The proposed delay model is suitable for use by a delay optimizer to determine the optimum scaling parameters of individual PMC's in a core. A PMC library has been developed and used to design cores for communications applications. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, several subsystems used in a channel LDPC decoder were synthesized using this library where the individual PMC's were optimized for minimum delay. The resulting custom-quality layout have areas ranging from 40/spl times/100 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ to 380/spl times/200 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ and delay in the range of 1.6 ns to 10 ns in 0.18 /spl mu/m, 1.8 V CMOS technology.
Rights, Performatives, and Promises in Karl Olivecrona's Legal Theory

. Karl Olivecrona (1971) maintains that “right” is a “hollow word,” and so also for some other legal terms. “Right,” he says, “has no conceptual background.” He arrives at this position after an examination of metaphysical and naturalistic accounts, including American legal realism. Some of Olivecrona's arguments will be evaluated here. His position is influenced by Hagerstrom's theory of legal language, but he argues that Hagerstrom fails to account for how such terms as “right,”“duty,” etc. function in legal discourse and why they are useful. A parallel approach is also found in Olivecrona's book The Problem of the Monetary Unit (1957). Olivecrona is left with the problem of how such “hollow” terms function. His explanation is largely psychological. Going beyond J. L. Austin's notion of performatory language, he introduces the idea of performatory imperatives. I propose to submit Olivecrona's approach to a critical examination. It is suggested that had he started from everyday, nonlegal promises and commitments he might well have ended up with a different theory of legal language.
A 128Kb CMOS static random-access memory

This paper describes an all-CMOS 128Kb static random-access memory (SRAM) with emitter-coupled-logic (ECL) I/O compatibility which was designed for the air-cooled Enterprise System/9000™ processors. Access time of 6.5 ns is achieved using 0.5-µm channel length and 1.0-µm minimum geometry. Pipelining and self-resetting circuit techniques permit the chip to operate with cycle time less than access time. To achieve the high-reliability requirement in the TCM environment, a novel technique utilizing a sacrificial substrate is used to “burn in” chips prior to their attachment to the TCM.
Resting-state fMRI can reliably map neural networks in children

Resting-state MRI (rs-fMRI) is a powerful procedure for studying whole-brain neural connectivity. In this study we provide the first empirical evidence of the longitudinal reliability of rs-fMRI in children. We compared rest-retest measurements across spatial, temporal and frequency domains for each of six cognitive and sensorimotor intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) both within and between scan sessions. Using Kendall'sW, concordance of spatial maps ranged from .60 to .86 across networks, for various derived measures. The Pearson correlation coefficient for temporal coherence between networks across all Time 1-Time 2 (T1/T2) z-converted measures was .66 (p<.001). There were no differences between T1/T2 measurements in low-frequency power of the ICNs. For the visual network, within-session T1 correlated with the T2 low-frequency power, across participants. These measures from resting-state data in children were consistent across multiple domains (spatial, temporal, and frequency). Resting-state connectivity is therefore a reliable method for assessing large-scale brain networks in children.
Comparing the fermentation performance of Escherichia coli KO11, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 424A(LNH-ST) and Zymomonas mobilis AX101 for cellulosic ethanol production

Background Fermentations using Escherichia coli KO11, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 424A(LNH-ST), and Zymomonas mobilis AX101 are compared side-by-side on corn steep liquor (CSL) media and the water extract and enzymatic hydrolysate from ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX)-pretreated corn stover.
Activity of Voriconazole, a New Triazole, Combined with Neutrophils or Monocytes against Candida albicans: Effect of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor

The antifungal activity of voriconazole (VCZ) was tested against Candida albicans in the absence or presence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) or monocytes. In some experiments, VCZ was compared to fluconazole (FCZ). On a weight basis, VCZ was 10-fold more efficacious than FCZ against C. albicans Sh27. Against an FCZ-resistant isolate, VCZ at 1 μg/ml produced the same fungistasis as FCZ at 20 μg/ml. VCZ at 0.1 μg/ml collaborated with PMN for enhanced killing to the same extent as FCZ at 1.0 μg/ml. Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) enhanced the candidacidal activity of PMN, and it increased the collaboration of PMN with VCZ for killing. Granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF also significantly enhanced both the killing by PMN and the collaboration of PMN with VCZ for killing. VCZ collaborated with monocytes for enhanced killing of C. albicans Sh27, and GM-CSF increased this collaboration. Taken together, these data show that VCZ is more potent than FCZ against C. albicans isolates, alone and in collaboration with PMN or monocytes for enhanced killing. In addition, G-CSF- or GM-CSF-activated PMN and monocytes have enhanced collaboration with VCZ compared to that of unstimulated phagocytes with VCZ.
Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C with triple therapy in an opioid agonist treatment program

Abstract Background People who inject drugs (PWID) constitute 10 million people globally with hepatitis C virus, including many opioid agonist treatment patients. Little data exist describing clinical outcomes for patients receiving HCV treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in opioid agonist treatment settings. Methods In this retrospective observational study, we describe clinical outcomes for 50 genotype-1 patients receiving HCV treatment with triple therapy: telaprevir ( n =42) or boceprevir ( n =8) in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin on-site in an opioid agonist treatment program. Results Overall, 70% achieved an end of treatment response (ETR) and 62% achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). These treatment outcomes are nearly equivalent to previously published HCV outcomes shown in registration trials, despite high percentages of recent drug use prior to treatment (52%), ongoing drug use during treatment (45%) and psychiatric comorbidity (86%). Only 12% ( n =6) discontinued antiviral treatment early for non-virological reasons. Four patients received a blood transfusion, and one discontinued telaprevir due to severe rash. Conclusions These data demonstrate that on-site HCV treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents is effective in opioid agonist treatment patients including patients who are actively using drugs. Future interferon-free regimens will likely be even more effective. Opioid agonist treatment programs represent an opportunity to safely and effectively treat chronic hepatitis C, and PWID should have unrestricted access to DAAs.
The automatic percentile method: Accurate confidence limits in parametric models

The problem of constructing confidence limits for a scalar parameter is considered. Under weak conditions, Efron's accelerated bias-corrected bootstrap confidence limits are correct to second order in parametric familles. In this article, a new method, called the automatic percentile method, for setting approximate confidence limits is proposed as an attempt to alleviate two problems inherent in Efron's method. The accelerated bias-corrected method is not fully automatic, since it requires the calculation of an analytical adjustment; furthermore, it is typically not exact, though for many situations, particularly scalar-parameter familles, exact answers are available. In broader generality, the proposed method is exact when exact answers exist, and it is second-order accurate otherwise. The automatic percentile method is automatic, and for scalar parameter models it can be iterated to achieve higher accuracy, with the number of computations being linear in the number of iterations. However, when nuisance parameters are present, only second-order accuracy seems obtainable. On etudie la construction de limites de confiance pour un parametre scalaire. Efron a propose des limites de confiance obtenues par une methode “bootstrap avec correction acceleree pour le biais”. Pour les familles parametriques ces limites sont exactes jusqu'au deuxieme ordre. On propose ici une nouvelle methode, la methode du percentile automatique, qui permet de trouver des limites de confiance approximatives tout en evitant deux problemes inherents a la methode de Efron. Cette derniere n'est pas entierement automatique car elle necessite le calcul d'un ajustement analytique; de plus elle n'est habituellement pas exacte, malgre que dans plusieurs situations une reponse exacte existe (par exemple, pour des familles avec parametre scalaire). La methode proposee est exacte lorsque des reponses exactes existent, autrement elle est exacte jusqu'au deuxieme ordre. Elle est automatique et pour les modeles avec parametre scalaire, elle peut etre iteree pour obtenir plus de precision. Le nombre de calculs necessaires est une fonction lineaire du nombre d'iterations. Lorsque des parametres de nuisance sont presents il ne semble pas possible d'obtenir plus qu'une precision de deuxieme ordre.
Radioactive-decay gammas: Ordered by energy and nuclide

Abstract Presented here is a two-part catalogue of gamma rays emitted by nuclides in radioactive decay. The first part lists the gamma rays in order of increasing energy. The first section of this part covers nuclides with half-life less than one day. The second section covers nuclides with half-life greater than one day and includes all naturally-occurring radionuclides regardless of length of half-life. Each listing consists of gamma-ray energy and uncertainty, abundance, half-life, production mode, and the energies of two of the more abundant associated gamma rays. The second part of the catalogue lists up to 50 of the more abundant gamma rays for each nuclide. The listing for each nuclide includes half-life, production mode, possible genetic relationships, and references. This listing is followed by the energy, uncertainty in energy, and abundance of each gamma ray. The catalogue was designed for analytical gamma-ray spectrometry by semiconductor detector. References available through May 1973 have been covered.
Oral bioavailability of DN101, a concentrated formulation of calcitriol, in tumor-bearing dogs.

Purpose High-dose calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) has antineoplastic activity against a range of tumors and potentiates chemotherapeutic agents. In an earlier canine study, the MTD of intravenous (i.v.) calcitriol was 3.75 μg/kg, but polysorbate-associated hypersensitivity reactions were common. Use of commercially available oral calcitriol is limited by the absence of a formulation of suitable strength to allow administration of a reasonable number of caplets. This study evaluated the bioavailability of DN101, a concentrated oral calcitriol formulation specifically developed for anticancer applications.
Insulin and carbohydrate dysregulation.

Patients with human immunodeficiency virus receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may experience abnormal body composition changes as well as metabolic abnormalities, including dyslipidemia, increases in triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, ranging from insulin resistance with and without glucose intolerance to frank diabetes. Whether the body composition changes (i.e., increased visceral adiposity and fat wasting in the peripheral tissues) are linked to abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism is unclear. The use of HAART with and without therapy with protease inhibitors (PIs) is related to carbohydrate abnormalities and changes in body composition. Regimens that include PIs appear to have a higher incidence of insulin resistance (up to 90%) and diabetes mellitus (up to 40%). The etiology of these abnormalities is not well understood; what is known about insulin and carbohydrate dysregulation with HAART is discussed.
A rule based fuzzy reasoning system for assessing the risk of management fraud

Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 53 requires that the audit be designed to provide a reasonable assurance of detecting management fraud. Touche Ross (1974), Coopers and Lybrand (1977), and Price Waterhouse (1985) released a list of red flags based on business and economic factors that can be used as a set of warning indicators. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of a rule based fuzzy reasoning system to assess the risk of management fraud. Based on the Bell et al. (1993) study we identified statistically significant red flags for each assessing the risk of management fraud. Using the statistical significance of each red flag and the theoretical model we developed membership functions and fuzzy rules. The rule based system was implemented in XpertRule. Then the fuzzy reasoning system tested using the same fraud data as in Bell et al. and the results obtained were similar to statistical models. The fuzzy reasoning system can be used as an intuitive decision aid in assessing the risk of management fraud and in structured decision making.
The Structure of Voter Preferences: The 1921, 1925, 1973, and 1975 Northern Irish Parliamentary Elections

This article applies preference assumptions derived from the axioms of lexicographic utility to four of Northern Ireland's parliamentary elections. The results are compared to those obtained from application of analogous spatial assumptions. The principal findings are that rational-choice-based voting models are relevant to the Northern Irish electorate, and that voters there display patterns of behavior consistent with both lexicographic and spatial preference assumptions.
Low dose estrogen prevents neuronal degeneration and microglial reactivity in an acute model of spinal cord injury: effect of dosing, route of administration, and therapy delay.

Spinal cord injury (SCI), depending on the severity of injury, leads to neurological dysfunction and paralysis. Methylprednisolone, the only currently available therapy renders limited protection in SCI. Therefore, other therapeutic agents must be tested to maximize neuroprotection and functional recovery. Previous data from our laboratory indicate that estrogen (17β-estradiol) at a high dose may attenuate multiple damaging pathways involved in SCI and improve locomotor outcome. Since use of high dose estrogen may have detrimental side effects and therefore may never be used in the clinic, the current study investigated the efficacy of this steroid hormone at very low doses in SCI. In particular, we tested the impact of dosing (1–10 μg/kg), mode of delivery (intravenous vs. osmotic pump), and delay in estrogen application (15 min–4 h post-SCI) on microgliosis and neuronal death in acute SCI in rats. Treatment with 17β-estradiol (1–10 μg/kg) significantly reduced microglial activation and also attenuated apoptosis of neurons compared to untreated SCI animals. The attenuation of cell death and inflammation by estrogen was observed regardless of mode and time of delivery following injury. These findings suggest estrogen as a potential agent for the treatment of individuals with SCI.
SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF THE ARGENTINEAN GENUS THYLACODERES SOLIER (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE), WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES

Abstract The genus Thylacoderes Solier (Pimeliinae: Praocini), distributed in central and northern Argentina, is revised. A cladistic analysis of four species is presented including: Thylacoderes sphaericus n. sp., T. seminulum (Burmeister), T. eumolpioides Solier, and T. costatus n. sp. A lectotype is designated for Platyholmus seminulum Burmeister. The cladistic analysis shows that Thylacoderes comprises a natural group of species, characterized by several synapomorphies from the external morphology and male genitalia. A redescription of the genus, redescriptions or descriptions of the four species, a key, illustrations of external morphology, internal skeletal anatomy and genitalic features, a cladogram, and a distribution map are included.
HALOGEN-FREE FLAME RETARDANTS FOR WIRE AND CABLE APPLICATIONS

Abstract Flame retardants play a very important role in avoiding fire risks in wire and cable applications due to heat generation by current or outside sources. Halogen flame retardants are typically used to ensure good flammability. The halogen flame retardants, however, are under close scrutiny because of their potential to give off corrosive compounds when the materials are burned, as well as other safety, environmental, and health issues. For wire and cable industries, halogen-free flame retardant additives, such as nanoclays, nanotubes, aluminium trihydrate, or magnesium hydroxide are potential alternatives. Types of halogen-free flame retardant additives used in wire and cable constructions are reviewed and discussed.
Measurement of a Large Chemical Reaction Rate between Ultracold Closed-Shell Ca 40 Atoms and Open-Shell Yb + 174 Ions Held in a Hybrid Atom-Ion Trap

Ultracold $^{174}\mathrm{Yb}^{+}$ ions and $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ atoms are confined in a hybrid trap. The charge exchange chemical reaction rate constant between these two species is measured and found to be 4 orders of magnitude larger than recent measurements in other heteronuclear systems. The structure of the ${\mathrm{CaYb}}^{+}$ molecule is determined and used in a calculation that explains the fast chemical reaction as a consequence of strong radiative charge transfer. A possible explanation is offered for the apparent contradiction between typical theoretical predictions and measurements of the radiative association process in this and other recent experiments.
Information vs. Risk-Sharing: Volume-Return Relationships and Home Bias

The comparison of volume-return relationships of stocks traded in the U.S. indicates that the trading volume of foreign stocks is more likely to be driven by risk-sharing motives while the trading volume for comparable U.S. domestic stocks is more likely to be driven by informational motives. For foreign stocks trading both in their home and U.S. markets, a similar difference is found between the trade volume of their shares trading in the U.S. market and that of their shares trading in their home markets. I establish that there is a linkage between the holdings of equities and the trading volume-return relationships so that the findings support the explanation of the home-bias puzzle that is based on the idea that investors invest in foreign stocks mainly for purposes of risk-sharing while they focus on domestic stocks to speculate on private information.
Satisfaction with the Social Work Profession: A Ten-Year Analysis of Undergraduate Students' Perceptions

A 10-yr. study of 746 social work undergraduates' perceived satisfaction with seven factors related to their career choice suggested high satisfaction with social work as a career; with the purposes and functions of social work, and the students' initial volunteer experience. There were no significant changes in satisfaction over the 10-yr. period, which findings parallel those of other studies in which similar methods have been used with practicing social workers.
Standardization of Federal Administrative Regions

B ECAUSE the nation has been found to be too large, and the individual States too small to serve as effective administrative areas, many Federal agencies have divided the United States into administrative regions.' The Federal Reserve Districts, the Army's Corps Areas, and the Civil Service Commission Districts are familiar examples. Because there are currently in use over one hundred such regional schemes, none of which conforms to any other, there has developed a belief that an important step toward improving public administration would involve the abolition of existing regions and the adoption in their stead of a set of regions uniform for the whole administrative branch of the Federal Government. Such a proposal stems from the passion of human minds for reducing multiplicity to unity, complexity to simplicity and variety to uniformity,-a passion, which if intelligently directed, may be productive of much good. Where, however, there are reasonable as well as historical grounds for multiplicity, complexity, and variety, this passion, if translated into action, may result in attempts to solve difficult problems through simple and inadequate remedies. Such a remedy is the proposal of a single regional scheme for Federal administration. The National Resources Board, approaching administrative regions from the standpoint of national planning, in its 1934 report proposed the introduction of a measure of uniformity in these words:
Biochemical alterations during storage of human blood from male and female donors.

SummaryUnits of human blood were obtained from male and female donors and compared for changes in pH, ATP levels, plasma hemoglobin, and osmotic resistance during storage in ACD for a period up to 42 days. The data show that, by the criteria of the above in vitro determinations, the blood obtained from female donors is able to survive the storage lesions better than the blood from male donors. These results are attributed to the different endocrine systems in the human male and female and the capacity to form structurally and pharmacologically different endogenous steroid hormones. The possibility that these steroid hormones could interact with components of the red cell membrane and limit an increase in cell membrane permeability is discussed. A sample of blood obtained from an 8-month pregnant human female was also studied, the pattern of preservation of such blood was essentially the same as that observed with the blood of female donors.
Population Dynamics of Heliothis spp. in Spring Weed Hosts in Southeastern Arkansas: Survivorship and Stage-Specific Parasitism

Monitoring Heliothis populations for 2 years on four spring weed hosts revealed that crimson clover, Trifolium incarnatum L., and Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum L., supported many more Heliothis than vetch, Vida spp. L., or toadflax, Linaria canadensis L., and that peak population densities occurred on crimson clover earlier than on Carolina geranium. Heliothis mortality and larval parasitism were higher at one study site than at the other, and the parasitoids Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) and Campoletis flavicincta Viereck predominated. The importance of spring weeds for the population buildup of Heliothis and certain parasitoids could be instrumental in the decisions involving weed removal and early-season pest destruction.
Creating a Critical Genetics Curriculum as a Counternarrative to/in the Urban Imaginary.

I am explicating the neologism critical genetics as a site of curricular engagement for urban science students, acknowledging that schools and school systems are hierarchical structures that reflec...
Modulation of renal tubular cell function by RGS3.

The recently discovered family of regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) accelerates the intrinsic GTPase activity of certain Gα subunits, thereby terminating G protein signaling. Particularly hig...
Vision-Based Target Detection and Localization via a Team of Cooperative UAV and UGVs

Unmanned vehicles (UVs) play a key role in autonomous surveillance scenarios. A major task needed by these UVs in undertaking autonomous patrol missions is to detect the targets and find their locations in real-time. In this paper, a new vision-based target detection and localization system is presented to make use of different capabilities of UVs as a cooperative team. The scenario considered in this paper is a team of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and multiple unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) tracking and controlling crowds on a border area. A customized motion detection algorithm is applied to follow the crowd from the moving camera mounted on the UAV. Due to UAVs lower resolution and broader detection range, UGVs with higher resolution and fidelity are used as the individual human detectors, as well as moving landmarks to localize the detected crowds with unknown independently moving patterns at each time point. The UAVs localization algorithm, proposed in this paper, then converts the crowds’ image locations into their real-world positions, using perspective transformation. A rule-of-thumb localization method by a UGV is also presented, which estimates the geographic locations of the detected individuals. Moreover, an agent-based simulation model is developed for system verification, with different parameters, such as flight altitude, number of landmarks, and landmark assignment method. The performance measure considered in this paper is the average Euclidean distance between the estimated locations and simulated geographic waypoints of the crowd. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework for autonomous surveillance by UVs.
Determination of Ultra-low Carbon and Sulfur Contents in Steel by High Frequency Combustion-infrared Absorption Method

A method for the determination of ultra-low carbon and sulfur in steel by infrared combustion absorption spectrometry was studied.Some factors which influence the determination,such as the purification of oxygen,the processing of the crucible,the disposal and weighting of the sample,the category and dosage of fluxing agent were investigated and optimized.The optimized experimental conditions were obtained as follows:the analysis time was 40 s,the crucibles were burned for 45 min at1 350 ℃,tungsten,as the fluxing agent,was drying 3hat 140 ℃ before use,the dosage of fluxing medium of was 1.5g and the dosage of sample of 0.5g.Under the optimum conditions,the proposed method has good repeatability and high accuracy,and was successfully applied to the determination of carbon-sulfur with the content of 0.001%~0.01%in real steel samples.
Hypervitaminosis E and gametogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Expected benefits, i.e. increasing life span and vitality, from ingesting d,1-alpha tocopherol (vitamin E), are not realized using vitamin E acetate (VEA) since the acetate form is only slowly converted to vitamin E in either mammalian or nematode tissues. The resultant accumulation of VEA in the cytosol is toxic, which results in aberrations in nuclear morphology, decreased life span and production of progeny, increased mean reproductive day and general loss of vitality. Incorporation of VEA into membranes results in allosteric changes in membrane structure. Such changes are proportional to increasing concentrations of VEA, thereby inhibiting the attachment of the telomere to the nuclear envelope. Reproductive and chromosomal strategies are compromised such that synaptonemal complexes, normally found during pachytene in oocytes, are rarely present in those nematodes exposed to high concentrations of VEA. The resultant loss of SCs correlates with decreased progeny and the chromosomal aberrations characteristic of hypervitaminosis E.
27 pT Silicon Nitride MEMS Magnetometer for Brain Imaging

We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of an ultrasensitive resonant (~300–400 Hz) magnetometer with 0.67-mV/nT sensitivity. The sensor was composed of a low stress (−14 MPa) low-pressure chemical vapor deposition silicon nitride cross bridge and a neodymium magnet. External magnetic field biasing (to modify the effective Hooke’s constant), shielding, mechanical isolation, and parametric amplification and feedback were used to progressively improve the sensor performance from 1 $\mu \text{T}$ minimum detectable signal to 27 pT; an improvement of five orders of magnitude. The sensor’s average temperature sensitivity around the room temperature was 11.9 pV/pT/°C.
On the Number of Subgraphs of a Specified Form Embedded in a Random Graph

Let U1, U2,... be a sequence of i.i.d. random elements in Rd. For x>0, a graph Gn(x) may be formed by connecting with an edge each pair of points in \(\left\{ {U_i :1 \leqslant i \leqslant n} \right\}\) that are separated by a distance no greater than x. The points of Gn(x) could represent the stations in a telecommunications network and the edge set the lines of communication that exist among them. Let \(A\) be a collection of graphs on m≤n points having a specified “form” or structure, and let \({\varepsilon }_n \left( {x,A} \right)\) denote the number of subgraphs embedded in Gn(x) and contained in \(A\). It is shown that a SLLN, CLT and LIL for \({\varepsilon }_n \left( {x,A} \right)\) follow easily from the theory of U-statistics. In addition, a uniform (in x) SLLN is proved for collections \(A\) that satisfy a certain monotonicity condition. Some applications are mentioned and the results of some simulations presented. The scaling constants appearing in the CLT are usually hard to obtain. These are worked out for some special cases.
Outcomes of Osteoporotic Fractures

Publisher Summary The consequences of osteoporotic fracture, particularly of the hip, are often calculated in economic terms. In the United States alone, the annual hospital, nursing home, and lost wage cost attributable to hip fracture may be as high as $10 billion. However, there are other important ramifications of osteoporotic fractures. The human costs of osteoporosis include diminution in functional status, health status, and independence. From the individual's perspective, quality of life is threatened by these declines; from a societal point of view, loss of functional independence is a major determinant of the need for in-home assistance or institutionalization. Other outcomes of osteoporotic fracture include declines in physical capabilities (for example, walking, bending, and other movements required in daily life), increased social support requirements, worsened economic status, and diminished quality of life, including depression and deterioration in perceived health. These outcomes can have an impact on functional competence, but are not synonymous with it. The consequences of other types of osteoporotic fractures are less well studied and not widely appreciated. Additional studies are required to further delineate the functional sequelae of non-hip fractures. The development of strategies to prevent loss of independence and function after osteoporotic fracture is an important goal for future research.
Biosensors for Metabolic Engineering

With the advent of synthetic biology, it is possible to accelerate metabolic engineering research due to lower cost gene synthesis. In particular, genetically encoded biosensors can be used in synthetic circuits to dynamically respond to metabolites to actuate desired metabolic engineering functions. Biosensors can be employed to target high-producing strains by high-throughput screening, to sense desirable products in selective conditions, and to dynamically control metabolic fluxes. In this chapter, we first describe different types of biosensors (transcription factor-based biosensors, RNA-based biosensors, protein activity-based biosensors, and whole cell biosensors) that have been developed. Next, we describe the application of developed biosensors well-developed methods that are used to develop novel biosensors. Finally, we provide some perspectives on biosensor utilization in metabolic engineering and some potential problems that face this field.
The Debate between Grunbaum and Ricoeur: The Hermeneutic Conception of Psychoanalysis and the Drive for Scientific Legitimacy

Paul Ricœur’s hermeneutic approach to psychoanalysis stresses the interpretation of meanings revealed via the narratives woven through the discursive exchanges between analyst and analysand. Despite the tremendous influence Ricœur’s interpretation enjoyed both in philosophy and in psychoanalysis, his approach has been subject to severe criticism by Adolf Grunbaum who argues that Freud modeled psychoanalysis on the natural sciences, and therefore it should be judged according to natural scientific standards. I argue that Grunbaum incorrectly downplays the importance of speech and language in psychoanalytic theory and practice, and moreover, that Ricœur’s approach offers important insights that deserve to be redeployed today.
Summing It Up with Panache: Framing a Brief's Summary of the Argument

This article analyzes appellate briefs' summary of the argument section. It begins by presenting commentary from judges and scholars about how a summary of the argument should be framed. It then examines summaries of the argument from selected Supreme Court briefs, many by well-known advocates. It presents data on the summaries’ average length, use of citations, and structure. Then, because rhetoricians have identified the opening and closing of a piece of discourse as key places of emphasis, those parts of the summaries are discussed. The article concludes that, while the effectiveness of a summary cannot be quantified through data, advocates can observe the techniques in the twenty selected examples to obtain some guidance on writing engaging summaries.
Radiation damage in plastic scintillators

Summary form only given, as follows. Radiation damage in 408 and 412 plastic scintillators and two new plastic fibers has been studied by measuring, in the BNL (Brookhaven National Laboratory) radiation facility, the scintillation output during irradiation with /sup 60/Co gamma rays at room temperature. In all studies the luminescence intensity changes, with dose, in three stages. Initially the intensity increases or decreases very slowly, it goes through a broad maximum or inflection point, and finally all samples decrease monotonically with dose. The spectra do not change during irradiation. Analysis shows that these changes can be explained by assuming that some luminescence centers are created from initially present precursor centers and that the luminescence centers can be destroyed by radiation. To obtain damage data on these scintillators for total dose and dose rate situations expected in SSC (Superconducting Super Collider) RHIC (Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider), etc., these studies are being repeated over the dose rate range of the radiation facility. >