cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mixed versus manic bipolar disorder: a comparison of demographic, symptomatic, and treatment differences.

This study compared patients diagnosed with Mixed versus Manic Bipolar disorder across the domains of demographic, symptom, and treatment variables. The sample included 152 patients who were admitted to an acute care psychiatric facility within an index period, whose discharge diagnosis was either Bipolar Disorder, Manic Episode (n =109) or Bipolar Disorder, Mixed Episode (n =43). No significant differences were found in age, race, episode number, or length of stay. There was a trend toward females being diagnosed with a Mixed Episode and males a Manic Episode. Group differences were found on physician and nurse symptom ratings, with the manic group receiving higher ratings on resistance, psychosis, and conceptual disorganization and the mixed receiving higher scores on depression and anxiety. On self-report measures, the mixed group endorsed greater severity than did the manic group. The mixed group was more likely to be prescribed antidepressants at discharge; however there were no significant differences across other medication. These differences are discussed.
METHODS FOR PREPARATION OF DISILATHIANES

Abstract Several literature methods for preparation of disilathianes were reexamined and new procedures were developed. Two methods especially useful for the preparation of hexamethyldisilathiane were the reaction between lithium metal, sulfur, and TMS chloride in THF, and the reaction between Li2S and TMS chloride in THF at room temperature. These two procedures may also be used to prepare other hexaalkyldisilathianes. Other methods investigated for the preparation of hexamethyldisilathiane included (a) reaction between commercial anhydrous Na2S and TMS chloride in N,N′-dimethylpropyleneurea or HMPA, (b) production of a highly-reactive Na2S by reaction between sodium dispersion and sulfur, followed by reaction with TMS chloride in THF at room temperature, and (c) reaction between sulfur, NaH, and TMS chloride in N,N′-dimethylpropyleneurea.
SU-GG-I-167: Light Fluence Rate Calculation for Intracavity Photodynamic Therapy

Purpose: To develop an algorithm used to calculate the fluence rate in real time for intracavitory photodynamic therapy using an infrared (IR) cameratracking system.Method and Materials:Diffusion approximation is used to derive an analytical form of light fluence rate in a spherical cavity inside the cavity and the tissue. The results of our resulting analytical solution are compared with a Finite Element Model(FEM) for the sphere. The FEM method can be used to calculate the fluence rate in tissue in any arbitrary geometries. An light fluence rate calculation algorithm is developed in the chest cavity while taking into account the effect of multiple scattering. We then use a chest phantom and an IR camera system to obtain a 3D map of a chest cavity. This map is then read into our algorithm and the fluence rate is then calculated on the chest surface. We compare our calculations to measured phantom data to determine how accurately our algorithim determines the light fluence in treatment‐like setting. Measurements are made using an in‐situ dosimetry system. Results: Detailed derivation of the light fluence rate in The fluence measurements taken of our chest phantom are currently being analyzed and compared with the fluence rate calculated under the same optical properties from our algorithm. This comparison will help us constrain our algorithm to better fit the observed results and create a more precise treatment planning tool. Conclusion: The work presented here presents the foundation for a valuable new tool in PDT of the pleural cavity in humans. By calculating the fluence rate for patient specific geometries treatment can become more effective and robust. The possibility of developing the work of this paper into a real‐time fluence rate monitoring system provides a new level of exactness in treatment planning for the pleural region.
On repeated adiabatic shear band formation during high-speed machining

Abstract We compare the repeated adiabatic shear band formation that takes place at sufficiently large cutting speeds in a number of materials during high-speed machining operations with the more well-known formation of a single shear band that often takes place at sufficiently large strain rates in dynamic torsion tests on these materials. We show that there are several major differences in the physics of the two deformation processes. In particular, the shear stress in machining over the tool-material contact length is not even approximately homogeneous. Additionally, in high-speed machining, the material flow can become convection-dominated, so that the tool can “outrun” the thermal front generated in the workpiece material by the high-strain-rate cutting process. We demonstrate by means of a one-dimensional continuum model that these differences can lead to repeated oscillations in the plastic flow of the workpiece material during high-speed machining, leading to the repeated formation of adiabatic shear bands.
Establishment and implementation of standardized sleep laboratory data collection and scoring procedures.

To standardize data collection and processing procedures, three Veterans Administration sleep laboratories established standard procedures “on paper,” implemented them in a study, and assessed scoring agreement for sleep EEG-EOG recordings. The first phase of the study resulted in a detailed written description of all basic procedures. For the second, each laboratory evaluated 6 mentally and physically healthy males on three consecutive nights. Overall scoring agreement was about 90%. It was at least 89% between pairs of laboratories for stage 0, 59% for stage 1, 95% for stage 1 REM, 92% for stage 2, and 80% for stages 3+4. Values for standard sleep EEG-EOG parameters were generally similar among scoring laboratories, and interlaboratory scoring agreement compared favorably with one measure of intralaboratory agreement. The low agreement for stage 1 is attributable to the infrequent and sporadic occurrence of stage 1 and is considered to be trivial. That for stages 3+4 is more critical and is probably related to the subjective process involved in scoring these stages. These data indicated that these techniques produced a high degree of interlaboratory standardization, and consequently, concurrence in sleep stage scoring.
Rab geranylgeranyl transferase catalyzes the geranylgeranylation of adjacent cysteines in the small GTPases Rab1A, Rab3A, and Rab5A

Abstract Rab proteins are Ras-related small GTPases that are geranylgeranylated on cysteine residues located at or near their C termini. They differ from other geranylgeranylated small GTPases in several important respects. (i) Most Rab proteins contain two adjacent cysteine residues within one of the following C-terminal sequence motifs: -XXCC, -XCXC, or -CCXX; (ii) a Rab protein that ends in a -XCXC motif has been shown to be geranylgeranylated on both adjacent cysteine residues; and (iii) Rab proteins are substrates of a unique Rab-specific geranylgeranyltransferase. Whether this enzyme catalyzes the geranylgeranylation of both cysteines is unknown. We addressed this question by direct structural analysis of in vitro prenylated proteins. We incubated recombinant Rab geranylgeranyltransferase, Rab escort protein, and [1-3H]geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate with recombinant wild-type Rab1A (-XXCC), Rab3A (-XCXC), or Rab5A (-CCXX) and treated each labeled protein with trypsin. We then analyzed the resulting peptides by HPLC and electrospray mass spectrometry and found that for each protein both C-terminal adjacent cysteines were geranylgeranylated. These results indicate that Rab geranylgeranyltransferase/Rab escort protein catalyzes the geranylgeranylation of both cysteines in Rab proteins with three distinct C-terminal motifs and suggest that other Rab proteins with these motifs may be similarly modified.
In situ X-ray observations of the coesite-stishovite transition: reversed phase boundary and kinetics

Using a DIA-type, cubic-anvil, high-pressure apparatus (SAM-85) in conjunction with in situ X-ray diffraction, we have investigated phase relations between coesite and stishovite up to 12 GPa and 1530 °C using synthetic powders of the two phases as the starting materials. The phase transition between coesite and stishovite was identified by observing the first appearance of a phase that did not already exist or by a change in the relative intensity of the two patterns. In most experiments, the diffraction patterns on samples were collected within 10 minutes after reaching a pressure and temperature condition. On this time scale, two phase boundaries associated with the coesite-stishovite transition have been determined: (1) for the stishovite-to-coesite transition, observations were made in the temperature range of 950–1530 °C, and (2) for the coesite-to-stishovite transition from 500 to 1300 °C. These observations reveal that there exists a critical temperature of about 1000 °C to constrain the coesite-stishovite equilibrium phase boundary. Above this temperature, both boundaries are linear, have positive dP/dT slopes, and lie within a pressure interval of 0.4 GPa. Below this temperature, the dP/dT slope for the stishovite-to-coesite phase boundary becomes significantly larger and that for the coesite-tostishovite phase boundary changes from positive to negative. As a result, an equilibrium phase boundary can only be determined from the results above 1000 °C and is described by a linear equation P (GPa)=6.1 (4)+ 0.0026 (2) T (°C). This dP/dT slope is in good agreement with that of Zhang et al. (1993) but more than twice that of Yagi and Akimoto (1976). For the kinetics of the phase transition, preliminary rate data were obtained for the stishovite-to-coesite transition at 1160 and 1430 °C and are in agreement with the simple geometric transformation model of Avrami and Cahn.
Inexpensive, rapid field screening test for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in soil

Abstract Simplified laboratory and field screening tests for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in soil are described along with data supporting their validity. For field screening, an amount of soil (6 g) is vigorously shaken with 35 ml of methanol. Addition of 2 drops of 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide to 3 ml of the decantate results in a pink to purple color, the absorbance at 516 nm is directly proportional to the concentration of the TNT in the soil. The detection limit is estimated to be in the range of 4–8 ppm. The results of these screening tests correlate well with LC results.
A brief empirical note on the Tiebout hypothesis and state income tax policies

Some years ago, Tiebout (1956: 418) hypothesized that "... the consumervoter may be viewed as picking that community which best satisfies his preference pattern for public goods ... the consumer-voter moves to that community whose local government best satisfies his set of preferences." Based upon this argument by Tiebout, this brief note seeks to empirically examine the impact of state income tax policy upon the geographic mobility of consumer-voters in the United States; more specifically, we attempt to determine whether the existence of a state income tax significantly influences the in-migration of consumer-voters. Naturally, the analysis includes suitable non-tax control variables to reflect other factors which may influence the migration decision calculus.
SU-E-T-461: Validation of Planning Algorithms in Dynamic Conformal Arc in IPlan Using ArcCHECK and 3DVH

Purpose: To study the effect of limited angular resolution of pencil beam calculation (PBC) on dynamic conformal arc plan (DCAP) in iPlan (BrainLab) using the ArcCHECK sytem and 3DVH software (Sun Nuclear Corporation). Methods: Four DCAPs were generated in iPlan RT Dose 4.5 treatment planning system on the ArcCHECK cylindrical phantom with central planning target volume (PTV). A cylindrical shell structure (SHELL) 2.85cm from phantom surface and 1.5 mm thickness was created to simulate the ArcCHECK diode array. Planned doses were calculated using both Monte Carlo calculation (MCC) and PBC algorithms, and exported to 3DVH software for global and target based comparisons using the 3Dgamma index. Four additional DCAPs were created and calculated on patient CT images and mapped onto the ArcCHECK phantom for measurement using a Varian TrueBeam STx. The measurements were compared against both MC and PB calculation using gamma index analysis. Results: For the ArcCHECK phantom, the dose distribution agreement quantified with 3D-gamma index is better (average-gamma ( )=99.9%vs.79.1% and 96.8%vs45.7%, p=0.0294, 0.0286 for gamma (2mm,2%) and (1mm,1%) criteria respectively using Mann-Whitney U test) in the PTV than in the SHELL. The measurements show better agreement with MCC than the PB ( =100%vs.86.7%, 99.6%vs.72.3%, 85.5%vs.50.8%, p=0.021, 0.026, 0.029 for gamma (3mm,3%), (2mm,2%) and (1mm,1%) criteria using Mann-Whitney U test respectively). The effect due to limited (10 degree) angular resolution of the PBC was observed, and it can be one of the possible reasons for poor agreement between measurement and PB calculation. Conclusion: The PBC of iPlan shows poor peripheral dose calculation accuracy for dynamic conformal arc plans due to limited angular resolution, but it performs well in the area close to target volume without considering heterogeneity. Since the user cannot change the 10 degree angular resolution of PBC, MCC is more appropriate for dynamic conformal arc plans.
Atomic-Scale Study of in Situ Metal Nanoparticle Synthesis in a Ni/TiO2 System

The nucleation and evolution of Ni nanoparticles during reduction of a Ni(NO3)2·6H2O precursor supported on a commercial titania substrate have been studied in situ at atomic resolution using environmental transmission electron microscopy. An incipient wetness technique was used to prepare the starting unreduced material (10 wt % Ni precursor on titania). The Ni precursor, before reduction, shows a nonuniform distribution over the titania support. It is observed that upon reduction, the initial Ni “seed” crystal nucleates within the precursor patch. The distribution and size of the Ni nanoparticles thus generated are influenced by the distribution and size of the precursor patches. In this system, we see no evidence of preferential nucleation of Ni particles on anatase or rutile. At 350 °C with CO as the reducing agent, the {111} surface facets of the Ni nanoparticles are predominant during the initial stage of nucleation and growth. However, the {111} facets are partially consumed with time, indicating t...
Coarse-grained kinetic scheme-based simulation framework for solution growth of ZnO nanowires

Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC)-based stochastic model is used to understand the growth of zinc oxide nanowires from aqueous solution containing chemical precursors and capping agent. Through a hydrothermal growth mechanism, the average diameter of zinc oxide wires obtained is around 300 nm, whereas the length is order of several micrometers. Our Monte Carlo algorithm is based on the continuous-time Monte Carlo algorithm of Bortz, Kalos and Lebowitz (BKL) methodology. Both reactions and diffusion mechanisms assigning stochastic probabilities have been simulated. In algorithm, the ZnO atoms were treated as individual particles which diffuse in solution substrate and interact with other type of atoms. Once attached with growing nanowires, the diffusion rate of ZnO atom is considerably reduced. Since in a KMC algorithm each atom can be represented individually therefore, internal noise is automatically incorporated.
Hypothalamic 24-Hour Rhythms in Histamine, Histidine Decarboxylase and Histamine-N-Methyltransferase*

Twenty-four hour rhythms of histamine (H), its biosynthetic enzyme, L-histidine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.22, HD) and its inactivation enzyme, histamine N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.8, HMT) were assayed in the 63-day-old male rat hypothalamus using a modified single isotopeenzyme microassay. H was found to have a 24-h rhythm with a maximum concentration at 11:00 h (lights on 10:00-22:00 h) and a minimum at 23:00 h. In vitro HD and HMT activities were also found to have 24-h rhythms with peak activites in both occurring at 04:00 h. HMT also had a broad secondary peak throughout the day, whereas HD activity during the day was dominated by a mid-light trough at 16:00 h. These rhythms are considered significant for evaluation of the control and physiological role of histamine in the mammalian hypothalamus.
A CD30 responsive element in the germline ϵ promoter that is distinct from and inhibitory to the CD40 response element

Germline epsilon (I epsilon) transcription is requisite for IgE switch recombination. I epsilon transcription is markedly increased by ligation of CD40 and/or by IL-4 stimulation. By contrast, we found previously that stimulation through CD30 inhibits I epsilon transcription in EBV-transformed B cell lines. To characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in these contradictory events, the promoter elements that are responsible for I epsilon transcriptional regulation were determined using stable CAT reporter gene constructs. The results define a 95 bp CD30 responsive element (CD30RE) located 5' of the previously defined CD40 responsive element (CD40RE) that resides within the same 95 bp fragment as the IL-4RE and ablates CD40L induced I epsilon promoter activity. However, IL-4 overrides the inhibitory effect of CD30L. These results define a CD30RE and provide further evidence for the complex regulation of I epsilon transcription by various members of the CD40L/TNF alpha family of molecules.
GaSb on Si: Structural Defects and Their Effect on Surface Morphology and Electrical Properties

The paper reports on the growth of group III-Sb’s on silicon, substrate preparation, optimization of AlGaSb metamorphic buffer, formation of defects (threading dislocations, microtwins and anti-phase boundaries) and their effect on the surface morphology and electrical properties of these high hole mobility materials for future III-V CMOS technology. Defect density was found to be 2-3x higher than in similar structures grown on GaAs, resulting in 2x higher roughness. Defects also result in background p-type doping well above 1017 cm-3 causing inversion of polarity from n-type to p-type in thin n-type doped GaSb. MOS Capacitors fabricated on these buffers demonstrate similar characteristics to higher quality GaSb-on-GaAs. The highest hole mobility obtained in a strained InGaSb QW MOS channel grown on silicon is ∼630 cm2/V-s which is ∼30% lower than similar channels grown on GaAs substrates.
Spatial Heterogeneity in Ecologically Important Climate Variables at Coarse and Fine Scales in a High-Snow Mountain Landscape

Climate plays an important role in determining the geographic ranges of species. With rapid climate change expected in the coming decades, ecologists have predicted that species ranges will shift large distances in elevation and latitude. However, most range shift assessments are based on coarse-scale climate models that ignore fine-scale heterogeneity and could fail to capture important range shift dynamics. Moreover, if climate varies dramatically over short distances, some populations of certain species may only need to migrate tens of meters between microhabitats to track their climate as opposed to hundreds of meters upward or hundreds of kilometers poleward. To address these issues, we measured climate variables that are likely important determinants of plant species distributions and abundances (snow disappearance date and soil temperature) at coarse and fine scales at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State, USA. Coarse-scale differences across the landscape such as large changes in elevation had expected effects on climatic variables, with later snow disappearance dates and lower temperatures at higher elevations. However, locations separated by small distances (∼20 m), but differing by vegetation structure or topographic position, often experienced differences in snow disappearance date and soil temperature as great as locations separated by large distances (>1 km). Tree canopy gaps and topographic depressions experienced later snow disappearance dates than corresponding locations under intact canopy and on ridges. Additionally, locations under vegetation and on topographic ridges experienced lower maximum and higher minimum soil temperatures. The large differences in climate we observed over small distances will likely lead to complex range shift dynamics and could buffer species from the negative effects of climate change.
Development of a Broadband NbTiN Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier for MKID Readout

The sensitivity of microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) using dissipation readout is limited by the noise temperature of the cryogenic amplifier, usually a HEMT with $$T_n \sim $$ 5 K. A lower noise amplifier is required to improve NEP and reach the photon noise limit at millimeter wavelengths. Eom et al. have proposed a kinetic inductance traveling wave (KIT) parametric amplifier (also called the dispersion-engineered travelling wave kinetic inductance parametric amplifier) that utilizes the nonlinearity with very low dissipation of NbTiN. This amplifier has the promise to achieve quantum limited noise, broad bandwidth, and high dynamic range, all of which are required for ideal MKID dissipation readout. We have designed a KIT amplifier which consists of a 2.2 m long coplanar waveguide transmission line fabricated in a double spiral format, with periodic loadings and impedance transformers at the input/output ports on a 2 by 2 cm Si chip. The design was fabricated with 20 nm NbTiN films. The device has shown over 10 dB of gain from 4 to 11 GHz. We have found the maximum gain is limited by abrupt breakdown at defects in the transmission line in the devices. By cascading two devices, more than 20 dB of gain was achieved from 4.5 to 12.5 GHz, with a peak of $$\sim $$ 27 dB.
Temporary biventricular pacing postcardiopulmonary bypass in patients with reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Patients with low ejection fraction (EF) undergoing myocardial revascularization frequently require ventricular pacing following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). While the benefits of chronic biventricular (BiV) pacing in patients with low EF are well established, there are little data on acute effects during heart surgery. This study analyzed the response of BiV versus single ventricle lead pacing on hemodynamics and left ventricular (LV) function immediately following CPB. METHODS Ten patients with decreased LV EF (mean = 35 +/- 6%) underwent open-heart surgery with CPB. Temporary pacing electrodes were placed on the right atrium, apex of the right ventricle, and lateral wall of the LV after separation from CPB. The hemodynamic effects of three atrio-ventricular (right, left, and BiV) pacing modes were studied for four minutes each. The pacing sequence was randomly allocated with a resting period of three minutes between each mode. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic data of LV function were collected. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance. RESULTS BiV pacing increased cardiac output by 4%, 13%, and 44% over right ventricular pacing, LV pacing, and pre-bypass values, respectively. The fractional area of change increased significantly with BiV pacing compared to right ventricular and LV pacing (36%, 35% to 44%, p < 0.01). An increased propagation velocity of 49 cm/s compared to 38 cm/s and 40 cm/s for right ventricular and LV pacing, respectively, suggested an improvement in diastolic function. CONCLUSION In patients with low EF, BiV pacing immediately after CPB significantly improves LV systolic function and cardiac output, and suggests significantly improved diastolic function.
Whorl-Specific Expression of the SUPERMAN Gene of Arabidopsis Is Mediated by cis Elements in the Transcribed Region

The SUPERMAN (SUP) gene of Arabidopsis is involved in controlling cell proliferation in stamen and carpel primordia and in ovules during flower development. The SUP gene encodes a transcription factor with a C2H2-type zinc finger motif, a serine/proline-rich domain, a basic domain, and a leucine-zipper-like domain and is expressed in a very limited region in stamen primordia and in the developing ovary during flower development. The SUP gene is susceptible to methylation, resulting in epigenetic gene silencing. To understand how the SUP gene is expressed spatially and temporally in its restricted domain, and why methylation of the transcribed region affects early-stage SUP expression, we have identified the SUP cis regulatory elements by characterizing SUP gene fusions. These studies show that the SUP gene has discrete upstream promoter elements required for expression in stamen primordia in early stages and in the ovary in later stages. The promoter activity for stamen primordia is modulated by several positive and negative elements located in the transcribed and translated regions. Several regulatory elements in the transcribed region correlate with the areas of the gene that are heavily methylated in epigenetic alleles; these data provide a possible explanation of how methylation of the transcribed region represses transcription.
A performance comparison of event calendar algorithms: an empirical approach

We propose a suite of tests based on two-state Markov chains for experimentally assessing the dynamic performance of a variety of simulation event calendar implementations. In contrast to previous studies based on the standard hold model for evaluation of performance statically, the proposed Markov hold model is more general and can be used to examine how different implementations respond dynamically to dependent sequences of insertion and deletion requests. The Markov hold model is used to conduct tests based on random, stressed, and correlated input sequences of requests, with performance measures including completion times, sensitivity to correlations, sensitivity to duplication, and efficiency of data-handling. We apply these tests to fourteen different event calendar implementations. To demonstrate the utility of the proposed model, we also include a comparison of the event calendar algorithms on a token ring protocol with bursty Markovian packet-traffic.
Localized low-weight graph and its applications in wireless ad hoc networks

We propose a new localized structure, namely, Incident MST and RNG Graph (IMRG), for topology control and broadcasting in wireless ad hoc networks. In the construction algorithm, each node first builds a modified relative neighborhood graph (RNG'), and then informs its one-hop neighbors its incident edges in RNG'. Each node then collects all its one-hop neighbors and the two-hop neighbors who have RNG edges to some of its one-hop neighbors, and builds an Euclidean minimum spanning tree of these nodes. Each node u keeps an edge uv only if uv is in the constructed minimum spanning tree. We analytically prove that the node degree of the IMRG is at most 6, it is connected and planar, and more importantly, the total edge length of the IMRG is within a constant factor of that of the minimum spanning tree. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first algorithm that can construct a structure with all these properties using small communication messages (at most 13n total messages, each with O(logn) bits) and small computation cost, where n is the number of wireless nodes. Test results are corroborated in the simulation study.
Two cases of foreign accent syndrome: an acoustic-phonetic description.

This paper presents an acoustic‐phonetic description of two American English speakers with foreign accent syndrome (FAS). Speech samples were collected from both speakers. Acoustic measurements of ...
Identification and stochastic specification in Rosen's hedonic price model

Abstract The use of an explicitly specified utility function to derive the inverse demand functions in S. Rosen's hedonic price model provides considerable insight into the correct stochastic specification of the model. It turns out that except in special cases, the inverse demand equations are nonlinear in parameters and cannot be formulated conveniently as regression models. Moreover, the inverse demand functions and the hedonic price function must be estimated simultaneously to obtain consistent estimates of the parameters of these functions. A tractable estimation technique is described. It is desirable to derive the inverse demand functions from a utility specification that is not a strongly separable function of houses' attributes since strong separability implies the existence of deterministic relations among incomes, prices, and observed housing attributes that may fail to hold in applications. Finally, it is shown that the use of an explicitly specified utility function does not guarantee identification of the parameters of Rosen's model.
Use of carbon fibril additives to reduce the dc resistivity of elastomer-based composites

We have prepared insert model solid rocket propellants of two kinds, polycaprolactone (PCP) networks highly (60%) plasticized with triacetin and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) cross-linked with isophorone diisocyanate, both filled with over 65% NaSO4 and Al powders as well as traces of fine carbon fibrils 100 A thick and several micrometers long. Sheets of these dieletric composites were used for dc surface and volume electrical resistivities near room temperature. Addition of less than 1% fibrils in the PCP composites reduces volume resistivity by a factor of 10. The amount required for HTPB is only 0.1% leaving processability unaffected; resistivity reduction rises from one to nearly four orders of magnitude as potential differnce in increased from 10 to 500 V. Addition of fibrils to HTPB composites is a promising candidate for minimizing the incidence of dangerous electric discharge events. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The American Ballot Box: Law, Identity, and the Polling Place in the Mid-Nineteenth Century

Between 1850 and 1868, the United States struggled through a long and bloody Civil War, attempted to reconfigure southern class and economic relations, settled much of the western prairie, and began the transition from an agrarian to an industrial society. During these two decades, Americans went to the polls, whether located in hamlets swarming with Union soldiers, rural churches set in the midst of the southern cotton belt, wooden cabins so isolated that even the nearest neighbors had difficulty finding them, or saloons in the most densely populated sections of great cities. Their votes have come down to us as election returns reporting tens of millions of officially sanctioned exercises in democratic participation. Neatly collated and arrayed in columns by office, candidate, and party, these returns are routinely interpreted as more or less accurate reflections of the popular preferences of the individuals within the communities in which they were made out. Seen this way, the returns themselves appear to constitute unambiguous and overwhelming evidence of the existence of a robust popular democratic system and ethos during the mid-nineteenth century. The purpose of this article is to suggest some important caveats that must attend this conclusion.
A framework for load balancing of tensor contraction expressions via dynamic task partitioning

In this paper, we introduce the Dynamic Load-balanced Tensor Contractions (DLTC), a domain-specific library for efficient task parallel execution of tensor contraction expressions, a class of computation encountered in quantum chemistry and physics. Our framework decomposes each contraction into smaller unit of tasks, represented by an abstraction referred to as iterators. We exploit an extra level of parallelism by having tasks across independent contractions executed concurrently through a dynamic load balancing runtime. We demonstrate the improved performance, scalability, and flexibility for the computation of tensor contraction expressions on parallel computers using examples from Coupled Cluster (CC) methods.
A Simple Technique for Analysis of ESD Failures of Dynamic RAMS using Liquid Crystals

As integrated circuit geometries decrease in size and spacing, the effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD) on small geometry devices such as 16K Dynamic Random Access Memories become of increasing concern. To improve susceptibility of these devices, ESD failures must be induced and isolated and the mechanisms studied. This paper describes a simple, efficient method of isolating a specific ESD related failure mechanism, that is, polysilicon gate to diffusion shorting. The paper also describes results obtained when using this technique. Other fault site isolation methods using liquid crystals have been described. The temperature dependent change of optical properties of cholesteric liquid crystal materials has been used to detect "hot spots" on integrated circuits. Some cholisterics may not be sensitive enough to detect the low power dissipating shunts characteristic of ESD failures. Liquid crystal cells using optical birefringence properties of nematic liquid crystals have also been employed in fault site identification. This technique requires the treatment of the integrated circuit surface, the preparation of a cover glass cut to the size of the chip, and the observation of the circuit through a cross polarizing optical system. The sample preparation for the technique described here consists of simply applying nematic liquid crystal material to the untreated surface of a failing integrated circuit. By pulsing the failing buffer with a low frequency square wave (5 - 20 Hz), a flash may be observed near the short with a standard bench microscope. This method offers quick fail site isolation with one or two micron resolution.
Development and Certification of NIST Standard Reference Materials for Relative Raman Intensity Calibration

In analytical Raman spectroscopy it becomes increasingly important to employ a procedure for the correction of the relative intensity of Raman spectra. The determination of the intensity response function of a Raman instrument traditionally has been carried out through a white light source that has been calibrated for its relative spectral irradiance. While this method will furnish a correction curve to yield spectra corrected to relative Raman intensity, it is often cumbersome and fraught with experimental difficulties that can profoundly affect the reliability of the correction procedure. An alternate methodology that permits a simplified calibration of the Raman instrument response function is based on the use of luminescent glass standards that transfer a white light calibration onto the Raman measurement system. In this procedure, a measurement of the luminescence of an intensity standard, whose relative irradiance has been determined, provides a means to establish the instrument response function. Correction of measured spectra by this function furnishes spectra that are free of instrumental intensity artifacts. Based on this approach, NIST is developing a series of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for the calibration of Raman intensity. This process, and the results obtained thereby, is described for Raman spectroscopy measurements employing 785 nm excitation. The procedure is valid for both macro-sampling and micro-sampling Raman work.
Matter in strong magnetic fields

The properties of matter are drastically modified by strong magnetic fields, $B\ensuremath{\gg}{m}_{e}^{2}{e}^{3}c/{\ensuremath{\Elzxh}}^{3}=2.35\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{9}\mathrm{G}$ $(1\mathrm{G}{=10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}\mathrm{T}),$ as are typically found on the surfaces of neutron stars. In such strong magnetic fields, the Coulomb force on an electron acts as a small perturbation compared to the magnetic force. The strong-field condition can also be mimicked in laboratory semiconductors. Because of the strong magnetic confinement of electrons perpendicular to the field, atoms attain a much greater binding energy compared to the zero-field case, and various other bound states become possible, including molecular chains and three-dimensional condensed matter. This article reviews the electronic structure of atoms, molecules, and bulk matter, as well as the thermodynamic properties of dense plasma, in strong magnetic fields, ${10}^{9}\mathrm{G}\ensuremath{\ll}B\ensuremath{\lesssim}{10}^{16}\mathrm{G}.$ The focus is on the basic physical pictures and approximate scaling relations, although various theoretical approaches and numerical results are also discussed. For a neutron star surface composed of light elements such as hydrogen or helium, the outermost layer constitutes a nondegenerate, partially ionized Coulomb plasma if $B\ensuremath{\lesssim}{10}^{15}$ G (at temperature $T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{6}$ K), and may be in the form of a condensed liquid if the magnetic field is stronger (and T $\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{6}\mathrm{K}).$ For an iron surface, the outermost layer of the neutron star can be in a gaseous or a condensed phase, depending on the cohesive property of the iron condensate.
Volume and concentration identification by using an electrowetting on dielectric device

An ultra-sensitive electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) capacitance measurement system is proposed in this study. A 24-bit integrated circuit (IC) capacitance-to-digital (CDC) sensor is used to convert the capacitance changes caused by variations in droplet volume and concentration to digital data. A 2.3 mm by 2.3 mm printed circuit board (PCB) based electrode pair is used to sense the analog capacitance change. The capacitance of pure water and NaCl solutions are tested by the CDC system. Desktop-drawing software is used to fix the position of the droplet to obtain a small capacitance deviation of 10 IF. Result shows the CDC system can resolve the capacitance changes caused by adding 0.1 micro-liter droplets or by increasing the NaCl concentration by 1%. The digital output of the sensor is interface-friendly to microcontrollers.
On Screening Reliability Using Lithographic Process Corner Information Gleaned from Tester Measurements

Current printability issues can be attributed to sub-wavelength lithography and its sensitivity to manufacturing process variations. Resulting process variations cause performance, yield and reliability problems. As noted in ITRS, conventional burn-in test is losing cost-effectiveness in reliability screening. In this paper, we use lithography process corner information in reliability screening. The lithographic process corner information is decoded from circuit measurements using a tester. We propose two methodologies for binning of dies based on Mean Time to Failure (MTTF). Lithography aware LUT based binning uses pre-estimated MTTF values to bin dies based on the detected litho-process corner. Lithography aware pattern based binning uses test patterns specific to litho-process corner along with existing techniques like burn-in test or Electrical Line width Metrology (ELM). Accurate determination of die level process corner is an important step employed in the proposed methodology. This work aims at: a) test Pattern generation for increased reliability test coverage incorporating manufacturing variations, b) utilization of die based process corner information for choosing the best test pattern set for improved fault coverage, c) achieving acceleration of infant mortality within the manufacturing test flow, and d) die-level determination of MTTF incorporating lithography process variation and hence decreasing the binning-yield loss. Experiments on ISCAS'85 circuits for varying exposure dose and de-focus values show an average variation of 20-30nm in interconnect widths, resulting in a deviation of as much as 40% in the estimated MTTF. It is also observed that, for maximum fault coverage, the test vector set changes in size and pattern across various process corners.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARLY COLONIAL MAYA NEW YEAR'S CEREMONIES AND SOME ALMANACS IN THE MADRID CODEX

The Maya haab, the 365-day solar year, ended with a 5-day period called “Uayeb.” According to Bishop Diego de Landa, preparations for the commencement of a New Year began during the Uayeb period of the preceding year. This paper concerns the events and ceremonies encompassing the beginning of a Cauac year and discusses the parallels between Landa's descriptions of these events and certain figures and activities portrayed in several almanacs of the Madrid Codex. Based on the calendrical structure of these almanacs, we argue that they pertain specifically to Uayeb-related ceremonies for a single year within the 52-year cycle, beginning on a day 13 Cauac.
SO(10) GUT's, Neutrinos and LFV

A model based on SO(10) × SU(2)F having symmetric mass textures with 5 zeros is constructed. The symmetric mass textures arising from the left-right symmetry breaking chain of SO(10) give rise to good predictions for the masses, mixing angles and CP violation measures in the quark and lepton sectors, all in agreement with the most up-to-date experimental data within 1 σ. Various lepton flavor violating decays in our model are also investigated. Unlike in models with lop-sided textures, our prediction for the decay rate of μ → e γ is much suppressed and yet it is large enough to be probed by the next generation of experiments. The observed baryonic asymmetry in the Universe can be accommodated utilizing soft leptogenesis.
Pore Size Distribution, Suction And Hysteresis In Unsaturated Groundwater Flow

Abstract Formalism for calculating soil moisture suction via average relative humidity in the soil is reviewed and then extended via the concept of pore size distribution. Using an assumed form for pore size distribution and a form of the Kelvin equation for the vapor pressure of a fluid in a capillary allows direct calculation of the capillary contribution to suction under certain idealized conditions. The change in suction with changes in the concentration of total dissolved solids is then examined via the difference between the pressure of vapor over a pure solvent and that over a solution and changes in surface tension that occur when impurities are dissolved in water. The pore size distribution and an assumed form of volume per pore/capillary are used to construct and calculate the degree of saturation θ s ( r ) where the assumption is made that all pores/capillaries in the sample under consideration up to radius r are filled and those having radii larger than r are dry. Later in the development it is shown how this initial assumption can be refined. Negative suction and the degree of saturation θ s are calculated as explicit functions of r and plotted as implicit functions of each other, thereby yielding one of the family of hysteresis loops appropriate to the current formalism. If r 0 is the value of r for which the pore size distribution curve has its peak, the value of r 0 for the wetting branch is larger than that for the drying branch, since the drying curve “sees” smaller pores/capillaries on the average than does the wetting curve. The area enclosed by the hysteresis loop is calculated and represents the energy per unit volume lost to the formation on adsorbing and then desorbing moisture.
Craniocervical large-artery occlusive disease in the spectrum of ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Abstract Atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the craniocervical arteries has particular importance within the overall spectrum of cerebrovascular disease, particularly as a predictor for the presence of systemic atherosclerosis. Patients with symptomatic stenosis or occlusion of these arteries, or those with “large-artery” ischemic stroke (IS), have specific clinical features. They may have (1) a risk factor profile that differs from other IS subtypes, (2) an increased association with cardiac and other systemic atherosclerosis, and (3) an increased risk of early stroke recurrence, and they may benefit from revascularization therapies in addition to medical management strategies.
Risks and Opportunities for Success: Perceptions of Urban Youths in a Distressed Community and Lessons for Adults

This article presents the challenges facing 41 youths living in a distressed urban area, and their adaptations to those challenges. Scholarship in the areas of community building, youth civic engag...
A synthesized design of sliding-mode and Luenberger observers for early detection of incipient faults

In this paper, a new design of sliding mode observers (SMOs) for the purpose of early detection of incipient faults is presented. This work is motivated by the fact that the strong robustness of the conventional SMO to bounded disturbances inevitably makes it insensitive to incipient faults when they are small in size during the initial phase; as a result, the fault-detection residual generated through the SMO is not sensitive to incipient faults for a certain length of time until they have become severe. On the contrary, the new design proposed in this paper ensures that the overall system is sensitive to incipient faults while remaining robust to disturbances. The design presented in this paper is based on the transformation of the system into two subsystems. One of these subsystems is free from disturbances and/or modeling errors: for this subsystem, a Luenberger observer is constructed; the other subsystem is subject to disturbances: an SMO is designed for this subsystem so that the effect of the disturbances is eliminated. Together, the entire system achieves both robustness to disturbances and sensitivity to incipient faults. Stability and convergence of the proposed SMO and Lueneberger observer are proved, and an aircraft example is employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design approach. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of maize plants from cultured shoot apices.

Excised shoot apices of maize (Zea mays L.), comprising the apical meristem and one or two leaf primordia, have been cultured and can form rooted plantlets. The plantlets, derived from meristems that had previously formed 7–10 nodes, develop into mature, morphologically normal plants with as many nodes as seed-grown plants. These culture-derived plants exhibited the normal pattern of development, with regard to the progression of leaf lengths along the plant and position of axillary buds and aar shoots. Isolation of the meristem from previously formed nodes reinitiates the pattern and number of nodes formed in the new plant. Thus, cells of the meristem of a maize plant at the seedling stage are not determined to form a limited number of nodes.
Configuration of influenza hemagglutinin fusion peptide monomers and oligomers in membranes.

Abstract The 20 N-terminal residues of the HA2 subunit of influenza hemagglutinin (HA), known as the fusion peptide, play a crucial role in membrane fusion. Molecular dynamics simulations with implicit solvation are employed here to study the structure and orientation of the fusion peptide in membranes. As a monomer the α-helical peptide adopts a shallow, slightly tilted orientation along the lipid tail–head group interface. The average angle of the peptide with respect to membrane plane is 12.4 °. We find that the kinked structure proposed on the basis of NMR data is not stable in our model because of the high energy cost related to the membrane insertion of polar groups. Because hemagglutinin-mediated membrane fusion is promoted by low pH, we examined the effect of protonation of the Glu and Asp residues. The configurations of the protonated peptides were slightly deeper in the membrane but at similar angles. Finally, because HA is a trimer, we modeled helical fusion peptide trimers. We find that oligomerization affects the insertion depth of the peptide and its orientation with respect to the membrane: a trimer exhibits equally favorable configurations in which some or all of the helices in the bundle insert obliquely deep into the membrane.
Targets and target wheel mechanism for APEX

Abstract A rotating target wheel system built for the Atlas Positron Experiment (APEX) is described. It is designed so that targets could withstand the heating caused by the energy loss of intense heavy ion beams. A unique feature is the use of a digital encoder to provide logic trigger signals for beam sweeping and event-by-event target location information. Techniques for fabricating targets of tantalum, lead, thorium and uranium and the behaviour of the targets during beam exposure are also discussed.