cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 7 – Die Casting: Total Relative Part Cost

This chapter mainly describes the systematic approach to those features of a die casting that tend to increase the cost to manufacture parts and for estimating the relative tooling costs, processing costs, material costs, and the overall part cost. The system is quite similar to the one for injection molding and highlights those features that significantly increase cost, so that designers can minimize difficult to produce features. In the case of injection molding, tooling cost is a function of die construction cost and die material cost. The processes of injection molding and die casting are somewhat similar. In fact, they are sufficiently similar that the classification system for the determination of relative cycle time developed for injection molding, with only minor modifications, is applicable to die casting.
Growth rates and body condition in Norops polylepis (polychrotidae) vary with respect to sex but not mite load

Norops polylepis is a common anoline lizard that occupies both forest and pasture habitats at various elevations in southern Costa Rica. Previous studies have documented significant spatial variation in mite loads (Eutrombicula chiggers) on N. polylepis. My objective was to investigate whether mite load has a negative impact on growth rates and body condition. Growth rates were estimated in three sites using mark-recapture with three intensive sampling periods over 12 mo. Nine hundred and forty lizards were captured and 200 individuals were recaptured across sampling periods. Mite load was significantly higher in forests than in pastures, and varied significantly among study sites. Males grew faster than females, and females and juveniles had higher body condition than males. I was unable, however, to detect any influence of mite load on growth rates or body condition. I conclude that Eutrombicula chiggers are either largely benign for N. polylepis or, if they do exert a negative effect on fitness, it is mediated through a trait other than growth or body condition. RESUMEN Norops polylepis es un lagarto comun en bosques y pastizales de alturas variables en Costa Rica meridional. Estudios previos han documentado una variacion espacial significativa en cargas de ectoparasitos (“coloradillas”Eutrombicula spp.) en N. polylepis. Mi objetivo fue el de investigar si la carga de ectoparasitos tiene un impacto negativo sobre la tasas de crecimiento y la condicion fisica de N. polylepis. Las tasas de crecimiento se estimaron durante12 meses en tres sitios, utilizando tres periodos intensivos de marcaje y recaptura. Se capturaron 940 lagartos y de estos, 200 individuos fueron recapturados durante el periodo del muestreo. La carga de ectoparasitos fue mas alta en los bosques que en los pastizales y vario entre sitios de estudio. El crecimiento de lagartos machos fue mas rapido que el de las hembras; pero las hembras y los jovenes tuvieron una mejor condicion fisica que los machos. Sin embargo, no hubo influencia de la carga de ectoparasitos sobre la tasas de crecimiento o la condicion fisica. Se concluyo que las coloradillas Eutrombicula spp. son benignas para N. polylepis. En el caso de un efecto negativo de la carga de ectoparasitos, este puede influir en otros aspectos de la salud de los lagartos.
Exploring the Impact of Commuting to Campus on Psychological Well-Being.

This chapter explores how commuting to campus influences students psychological well-being during college.
Liberal Neutrality and Critical Pedagogy: Liberalism in Educational Policy, Practice, and Discourse

In spite of the tendencies of neoliberalism, aspects of liberalism still can serve the democracy-advancing goals that should be at the heart of higher education. This article focuses on one of the most promising such principles: the concept of viewpoint neutrality as defined by the Supreme Court. Viewpoint neutrality prohibits public university administrators from censoring or defunding programming sponsored by recognized student organizations, including performances by outside groups invited by said organizations. Viewpoint neutrality mandates official allowance for robust group expression, thereby creating space for student groups to assert critical perspectives in an open forum regardless of what officials, who would be expected typically to favor the neoliberal orthodoxy, would prefer, as the specific case examined in the essay demonstrates.
The magnetospheric boundary layers: A geometrically explicit model

A geometrically explicit three-dimensional model of the magnetosphere is proposed and compared with existing models. The proposed model is a bimodal combination of the classical open and closed magnetosphere. The plasma sheet is topologically contained in a closed field line volume which is exposed to the magnetosheath along the flanks. Boundary layer plasma at the flanks of the closed field line volume freely flows along field lines to the ionosphere and forms a complete border to the plasma sheet. The plasma sheet derives from the closed boundary layer plasma, which is in the same topological volume. The closed boundary layer between the clefts on the dayside is covered by plasma hood (the open field line equatorward extension of the mantle) when dayside merging occurs.
Esophageal dilation in patients with previous esophageal perforation.

TO THE EDITOR: There is a limited amount of data on the safety of repeating endoscopic dilation in patients who have suffered an iatrogenic esophageal perforation. Esophageal perforation is not a rare complication, occurring in up to 2.6% of esophageal dilations (1). Conservative management of this complication is successful in most cases (2, 3). Unfortunately, after recovery from the perforation, dysphagia is common. Treatment options for patients with persistent dysphagia after a perforation for a benign stricture includes surgical intervention, which carries a high morbidity and mortality or repeating endoscopic dilation (4, 5). We reviewed our experience in patients referred for management of dysphagia following an iatrogenic perforation between March 1992 and March 1997. The success, complications, technique used, number of sessions, and dilator size range are shown in Table 1. We followed established goals for the management of difficult strictures (6). All seven patients underwent repeated endoscopic dilation with relief of dysphagia symptoms, although three patients required multiple sessions to remain free of dysphagia. None of the seven patients had postprocedural complications. During follow-up, one patient died of unrelated causes. We conclude that careful esophageal dilation is safe for patients who have suffered an iatrogenic perforation. It should be considered the treatment of choice for persistent dysphagia after conservative therapy for an esophageal perforation.
Effectiveness of marathon group psychotherapy with hospitalized female narcotics addicts.

Summary.-The effectiveness of marathon group psychotherapy vs daily group psychotherapy was examined by comparing changes in the personalicy test scores of small matched groups of hospitalized female narcotic addicts. Although both treaunents reduced scores on the "neurotic triad" of the MMPI, the marathon treatment also appeared to change specific attitudes toward criminal and drug subcultures. The marathon psychotherapy group evidently originated in 1963 when Wickland and Stoller independently developed the technique in a psychiatric hospital setting (Bach, 1966). Subsequently Bach ( 1966,1967a, 1967b, 1967~) adopted the approach of extended group-therapy sessions in treating private patients. The technique received much publicity and support, particularly from the humanistically oriented sectors of the mental health professions.
Developing and testing a decision aid for birth planning decisions

Abstract The article describes the development of a scheme to aid people in thinking through their decisions about whether to have a (another) child. First, a list of values (utilities) was gleaned from the literature, values (utilities) that children apparently fulfill for parents. Following this, seven married couples participated in the gradual modification of the list into a hierarchically structured set of values (utilities). Then two large groups of subjects were used to test the degree to which the hierarchy was meaningful to persons other than those who had participated in its development. Finally, as a feasibility study, two more couples (1) used the hierarchy to decompose their birth decisions into manageable chunks, (2) evaluated the chunks to indicate the relative utility of each chunk, and (3) assessed their subjective probabilities that those utilities represented in each chunk would be satisified if they were to decide to have the child. Computation of subjective expected utilities for having and for not having the child for each member of the couples permitted accurate postdiction of their birth decisions.
Development of the lateral musculature in the teleost, Brachydanio rerio: A fine structural study

The lateral musculature in the midbody region of the teleost, Brachydanio rerio, was examined by light and electron microscopy in the adult and six developmental stages. Two main divisions of the adult lateral musculature are described: (1) a superficial portion composed of small, dark fibers with high fat content and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity; and (2) a deep portion composed principally of larger, pale, “deep fibers” showing little SDH activity and containing little fat. Some “intermediate fibers” are also present in the deep portion near the horizontal septum. Myofibrils of all cell types appear ultrastructurally similar. A general outline of myotomal differentiation has been established for the midbody somites. Myogenesis begins at the medial surface of the somite between the 20- and 25-somite stages and progresses laterally. Shortly before hatching, the myotome contains two structurally dissimilar types of young muscle cells. The appearance of these two muscle cell populations in larvae and fry supports the hypothesis that they develop into the superficial and deep portions of the adult lateral musculature. The intermediate fiber population is present by 2 1/2 months. The most lateral cells of the somite form a layer of flattened cells covering the lateral myotomal surface in the 33-somite embryo, and are considered to form the dermatome in this species.
Recent advances in measurement theory and the use of sociometric techniques.

Perctiver characteristics need to be modeled in sociometric measurement. The author accomplishes this with a latent trait model of sociometric choice that is especially successful when unlimited nominations are collected.
Ultrastructure of Intervertebral Disc and Vertebra-Disc Junctions Zones as a Link in Etiopathogenesis of Idiopathic Scoliosis

Background Context. There is no general accepted theory on the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis (IS). An important role of the vertebrae endplate physes (VEPh) and intervertebral discs (IVD) in spinal curve progression is acknowledged, but ultrastructural mechanisms are not well understood. Purpose. To analyze the current literature on ultrastructural characteristics of VEPh and IVD in the context of IS etiology. Study Design/Setting. A literature review. Results. There is strong evidence for multifactorial etiology of IS. Early wedging of vertebra bodies is likely due to laterally directed appositional bone growth at the concave side, caused by a combination of increased cell proliferation at the vertebrae endplate and altered mechanical properties of the outer annulus fibrosus of the adjacent IVD. Genetic defects in bending proteins necessary for IVD lamellar organization underlie altered mechanical properties. Asymmetrical ligaments, muscular stretch, and spine instability may also play roles in curve formation. Conclusions. Development of a reliable, cost effective method for identifying patients at high risk for curve progression is needed and could lead to a paradigm shift in treatment options. Unnecessary anxiety, bracing, and radiation could potentially be minimized and high risk patient could receive surgery earlier, rendering better outcomes with fewer fused segments needed to mitigate curve progression.
High-Risk Pregnancy: Postpartum Rehospitalization

OBJECTIVE: Examine frequency, timing, and reasons for maternal postpartum rehospitalizations and acute care visits 1 year postpartum after a high-risk pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data collected during a randomized clinical trial of advanced practice nurses gives transitional care for women with high-risk pregnancies. The 171 women were primarily African American, never married, Medicaid eligible, diagnosed with pregestational diabetes (20), gestational diabetes (23), either diagnosed (48) or at risk (44) for preterm labor, and chronic hypertension (36). RESULTS: Of the total rehospitalizations (17%) and acute care visits (32%), over one third occurred in the first 8 weeks postpartum. Chronic hypertensives and gestational diabetics had the highest rate of rehospitalization and proportion of acute care visits. Six women were rehospitalized for subsequent pregnancies. CONCLUSION: Women with high-risk pregnancies have continued high health care resource use over the first postpartum year demonstrating the need for more intensive patient education and follow-up to improve outcomes and reduce resource use.
Management of Upper Extremity Injuries in Obese Patients

Upper extremity injuries are more prevalent in obese people than in nonobese people after low-energy falls. Because splinting and casting are inefficient methods of stabilization in the setting of obesity, internal fixation provides stability for mobilization and realignment. Morbid obesity adversely affects positioning, surgical exposures, and complications associated with operative fixation. Avoiding short cuts and complications, morbidly obese patients should be able to return to normal functioning. Language: en
A stochastic view of lower crustal fabric based on evidence from the Ivrea Zone

Despite its complicated history the Ivrea Zone is considered to be a representative surface exposure of extended continental crust. We have digitized two standard 1:25,000 geological maps from this area and evaluated their structural statistics. Because of the subvertical orientation of the Ivrea Zone these maps can be considered as small-scale cross sections through the lower continental crust. The autocorrelation functions of the digitized lithologies measured from these maps show a clear self-similar or fractal rather than a Gaussian or deterministic trend. We found that an anisotropic von Karman correlation function with an aspect ratio around 4 and a Hurst number of 0.3, corresponding to a fractal dimension of 2.7, matches the observed data. Our results represent an explicit confirmation of previous indirect evidence for the fractal nature of lithospheric heterogeneities and provide the means to construct realistic crustal-scale seismic models of Ivrea-type lower continental crust.
Thermal stress initiated fracture as a fragmentation mechanism in the UO2-sodium fuel-coolant interaction

Abstract An analytic study was carried out to determine the applicability of the concept of thermal stress fragmentation to the UO 2 -Na fuel-coolant interaction. Major emphasis was put on the fracture mechanics approach to assess whether or not the solidifying UO 2 would fracture under the thermally-induced stresses. It was found that the stress levels were sufficient to generate K I values substantially in excess of the UO 2 fracture toughness K IC . Thus, rapid instantaneous propagation of inherent flaws is anticipated.
A stomach hormone that inhibits food intake

To determine whether extrinsic nerves of the stomach play a role in the short-term inhibition of food intake, 4 inbred Lewis rats received a supernumerary transplant of the stomach, duodenum, proximal jejunum and pancreas. When 4 or 8 cc of liquid diet was infused into the transplanted stomach, the rats showed a compensatory reduction of food intake whether food was allowed to empty into the intestines or whether it was retained in the stomach by a pyloric clamp. Since absorption of nutrients from the stomach is small, these results suggest that a hormone released by the stomach into the general circulation inhibits food intake. The transplanted upper digestive tract showed normal absorption of radioactive glucose from a mixed meal. A sensitive conditioned aversion test repeated 6 times did not reveal any aversion to the infusion of food into the transplanted stomach. Thus, the transplant appeared to function normally and did not cause discomfort to the rat. The release of the stomach hormone depends upon both distension of the stomach wall and chemical stimulation of the gastric mucosa. Two separate models for release of the hormone are proposed.
Ultra large-scale simulation of polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Abstract This paper reports on the computational performance and detailed results of ultra large-scale simulations of a 200 cm 2 polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) using a 23.5 million gridpoint mesh. The computer code is based on a comprehensive single-phase PEFC model that features a detailed membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) model, electron transport, thermal and species transport, coolant heat transfer, in addition to other standard functionalities. Two cases under dry operation are simulated and compared. One case concerns an infinitely large coolant flowrate and consequently a constant temperature of bipolar plates. The other case involves a finite flowrate and a lower inlet coolant temperature designed to avoid membrane dryout in the inlet region while alleviating electrode flooding in the outlet region.
Anguidine-induced testicular injury in Lewis rats☆

Abstract Anguidine (diacetoxyscirpenol, DAS) and other trichothecene mycotoxins are potent inhibitors of protein synthesis and injure organs with rapidly dividing cell populations, including the testis. Testicular structure and function were studied in male Lewis rats 1, 3, 7, 30, 60, and90 days after exposure at age 12 weeks to anguidine at 1.7 mg/kg body weight given by ip injection. The dose was equivalent to 75% of the ip LD50. Anguidine caused a gradual decline in testicular weight beginning 30 days after treatment. Sperm production was also reduced by 30 days, and the frequency of hypocellular seminiferous tubules increased by day 60. There was no evidence of recovery by 90 days. These changes are consistent with injury to proliferating cells early in the maturation sequence. Epididymal sperm reserves were reduced by 3 days after anguidine administration, prior to the reduction in sperm production, suggesting premature release of spermatozoa from the epididymis.
Subcellular distribution of mercury in liver of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

Mercury was found primarily (80%) in the submicroscopic material (magnification x<7700) of environmentally exposed adult lake trout from Lake Michigan, USA.
The influence of albumin on the electrophoretic mobility of serum lipids.

Im Gegensatz zuMaurers Angaben konnte keine Wirkung des dem Puffer zugegebenen Serum-Albumins auf die elektrophoretische Wanderung von Serumphospholipiden und Cholesterin im menschlichen und tierischen Serum festgestellt werden.Maurers Befunde scheinen auf einer durch Adsorptionseffekte bewirkten Veranderung der Lipoproteine zu beruhen.
Indirect X-Ray Line-Formation Processes in Iron L-Shell Ions

We present a systematic study of the role of indirect processes in the soft X-ray line formation of iron L-shell ions, using a newly developed, relativistic, multiconfigurational atomic package. These indirect processes involve the neighboring charge states of the target ion, namely, radiative recombination, dielectronic recombination, and resonance excitation. For Fe XVII, the inner-shell collisional ionization (CI) is also relevant. Lines originating from 3s and 3p upper levels of Fe XVII-XX are found to be significantly affected by these processes, with some lines being enhanced by nearly a factor of 2 at the temperature of maximum fractional abundance in CI equilibrium. Such enhancement, although not enough to completely explain the observed line ratios from various astrophysical sources, is a vast improvement over the previous models neglecting these processes. Rate coefficients for individual processes are tabulated, which can be conveniently included in spectral models to correctly account for these effects. As a by-product of this investigation, the total recombination and ionization rates of all Fe L-shell ions are tabulated as a function of temperature.
The STeTSiMS STT-RAM simulation and modeling system

There is growing interest in emerging non-volatile memory technologies such as Phase-Change Memory, Memristors, and Spin-Transfer Torque RAM (STT-RAM). STT-RAM, in particular, is experiencing rapid development that can be difficult for memory systems researchers to take advantage of. What is needed are techniques that enable designers to explore the potential of recent STT-RAM designs and adjust the performance without needing a detailed understanding of the physics. In this paper, we present the STeTSiMS STT-RAM Simulation and Modeling System to assist memory systems researchers. After providing background on the operation of STT-RAM magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), we demonstrate how to fit three different published MTJ models to our model and normalize their characteristics with respect to common metrics. The high-speed switching behavior of the designs is evaluated using macromagnetic simulations. We have also added a first-order model for STT-RAM memory arrays to the CACTI memory modeling tool, which we then use to evaluate the performance, energy consumption, and area for: (i) a high-performance cache, (ii) a high-capacity cache, and (iii) a high-density memory.
Infrared studies of CO adsorbed on Pt/Al2O3: Evidence for CO bonded in 3-fold coordination

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of CO adsorbed on high-surface-area alumina supported Pt catalysts during desorption has shown that CO can adsorb linearly to both terrace and step Pt atoms and on 2-fold bridge and 3-fold hollow sites of Pt. Although there has been previous evidence for CO bonded to 3-fold sites on Pt(111) surfaces, this is the first observation of CO bonded to 3-fold sites on a supported Pt catalyst. Relative intensity data for the infrared bands of CO bonded to 2- and 3-fold sites suggest a greater enthalpy difference for CO adsorbed on the two multicoordinated sites on the supported catalyst compared to the single crystal Pt surface. Finally, indirect spectral evidence suggests that when CO is adsorbed on the small, supported Pt particles their surface structure can change resulting in an increased population of CO adsorbed on stepped sites.
A Successful Introduction of Authentic Research Early in an Undergraduate Atmospheric Science Program

Participating in scientific research as an undergraduate student provides an opportunity to increase understanding of how scientific knowledge is advanced, to learn new research tools, to develop the ability to critically analyze new ideas, and to practice disseminating scientific findings. This experience unfortunately has traditionally been limited to students that can participate in select programs (e.g., summer research experiences, undergraduate positions in a faculty member's research group, special topics courses, independent study, or internships). A new laboratory course has been developed to provide sophomore- level atmospheric science students with the opportunity to participate in an authentic research project within the structure of an academic semester. The course consists of two modules based upon research topics currently under investigation by faculty (here, specific problems in cloud microphysics and severe weather research). Students participate in learning activities, work as a researc...
Colorimetric detection with aptamer–gold nanoparticle conjugates: effect of aptamer length on response

A riboflavin binding aptamer (RBA) was used in combination with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to detect riboflavin in vitro. The RBA–AuNP conjugates (RBA–AuNPs) responded colorimetrically to the presence of riboflavin and this response could be followed by the naked eye. This system was used as a model to study how modifications on the aptamer sequence affect the RBA–AuNPs’ stability and their response to their target. To mimic primers and other sequence modifications typically used in aptamer work, the RBA was extended by adding extra bases to its 5′ end. These extra bases were designed to avoid interactions with the RBA binding site. The response of these RBA–AuNPs was evaluated and compared. Dynamic light scattering and UV-aggregation kinetics studies showed that the length of the aptamer significantly affected the RBA–AuNPs’ stability and, as a consequence, the magnitude of the detection response to riboflavin. The addition of thymine nucleotides instead of random tails to the RBA showed that the effects observed were not specific to the sequence used. This study shows that modifications of the aptamer sequence provide a means to improve the stability of aptamer–AuNPs conjugates and their sensing response.
Nested structures of control: an intuitive view

An intuitive exposition is provided of a theory (rigorously elaborated elsewhere) that perceptual organization is the description of phenomena as nested structures of control. The theory is used to explain a number of perceptual-organizational phenomena such a complex shape prototypification, generalized-cone analysis, the importance of curvature singularities, grouping phenomena, motion phenomena, etc. The nested-control theory maintains that any perceptual organization is given a stratification where each level of the stratification is operated on (1) asymmetrically, and (2) as a whole, by the level in which it is embedded. The levels-within-levels hierarchy is divided into two subhierarchies, one describing the stimulus set as generated via a sequence of deformations, and the other describing the initial prototype as generated from a subset of itself. The structure of the latter sub-hierarchy yields the grouping structure of the stimulus set. Principles are proposed that determine the way these two sub-hierarchies are interrelated: Symmetry axes in the grouping structure are converted into lines of flexibility in the prototype modifications. Using these concepts, solutions are offered to some classical problems in perceptual organization, and a theory of complex shape is developed.
Linear time algorithms for convex and monotone approximation

Abstract This article presents algorithms of linear time complexity (O(n)) for computation of optimal solutions to the two problems of convex and monotone approximation where data points are approximated, respectively, by convex and monotone (nondecreasing) functions on a grid of (n + 1) points. For the convex approximation case, the algorithms are based on a linear programming approach which exploits the structure of matrices involved and uses a special pivoting procedure to obtain a “maximal” optimal solution. Analogously, in the monotone approximation case, the algorithms compute “maximal” and “minimal” optimal solutions which also “enclose” any other optimal solution between them. Computational results are presented.
Sequelae of unrecognized gestational diabetes

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Prior studies have suggested that macrosomia is the only morbid condition associated with gestational diabetes and that this association is the result of confounding by maternal obesity rather than a result of gestational diabetes itself. We sought to determine whether unrecognized gestational diabetes is an independent predictor of macrosomia and other perinatal morbid conditions after controlling for confounding variables. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 472 consecutive cases of gestational diabetes diagnosed between 24 and 30 weeks' gestation was undertaken including 16 prospectively identified but clinically unrecognized cases, 297 cases treated with diet alone, and 76 treated with diet plus insulin. Unrecognized cases were matched to 64 nondiabetic controls for race, age, body mass index, parity, pregnancy weight gain, and gestational age at delivery. RESULTS: In the unrecognized gestational diabetes group versus the nondiabetic control versus gestational diabetes diet groups rates of large for gestational age infants (44% vs 5% vs 9%, p p p p CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that unrecognized gestational diabetes increases risks of large for gestational age infants, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, and birth trauma independent of maternal obesity and other confounding variables. Clinical recognition and dietary control of gestational diabetes are associated with a reduction in these perinatal morbid conditions. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;178:1321-32.)
Mutations in erg4 affect the sensitivity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to medium-chain fatty acids.

Abstract We have found that the medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) undecanoic acid (11:0), 10-undecenoic acid (11:1Δ10), and lauric acid (12:0) can affect the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a dose-dependent manner. The principal effect was a longer lag phase in MCFA-containing medium, although higher concentrations of 11:1Δ10 inhibited growth. Their relative order of inhibitory action was 11:1Δ10>11:0>12:0. Cellular content with MCFA supplementation was dependent on the concentration and the particular species of fatty acid, with 12:0 showing the highest relative accumulation and 11:1Δ10 the lowest at all concentrations. We have isolated and characterized a mutant that is hypersensitive to MCFA supplementation and is unable to grow at the normally permissive condition of 1 mM 11:1Δ10. However, it does not appear to accumulate higher relative levels of the fed MCFA compared to wild-type cells. Complementation of the mutant revealed that the ERG4 gene, encoding the enzyme that catalyzes the last step in ergosterol biosynthesis, had been mutated. The fatty acid composition of the erg4Δ mutant differs only slightly from wild-type cells, mainly involving an increase in the relative amount of 12:0. These results indicate that yeast require ergosterol for optimal growth on certain MCFAs. We discuss the role ergosterol may have in cells responding to exogenous MCFAs and in supporting optimal cell growth.
Design and Implementation of an Ionic-Polymer-Metal-Composite Aquatic Biomimetic Robot

Smart materials have been used in various applications. In this paper, a walking robot with six two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) legs made of ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) is designed and implemented. Each leg can work as both a supporter and a driver, closely mimicking a real insect. To support and drive the robot, thicker (around 1 mm in thickness) IPMC strips were fabricated and used, and a 0.2-rad/s square wave is given as an input signal. The IPMC strips exhibit better performance in response to the square wave (8 mm) than sawtooth (4 mm) and sinusoidal (6 mm) waves in deflection. By applying this input signal in sequence, all the IPMC strips bend and walk in the form of six legs. In addition, thin magnet wires were used to supply power to each strip to prevent from confining the motion of our robot. Six lower legs are divided into two groups that work in the opposite directions to move the robot forward by turns. Upper legs are also divided into two groups to lift up their lower legs from making the robot to move back to the same place. The sizes of the IPMC strips and our robot (102 mm × 80 mm × 43 mm) were decided to exhibit better performance (0.5 mm/s) according to our tests.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Cultural, ethical, and spiritual implications of natural disasters from the survivors' perspective

Cultural, ethical, and spiritual implications of disaster depend on various factors. The impact of a disaster on a particular culture depends on the people in that culture and the strength and resilience of the culture. Disasters may slow cultural development; however, typically the customs, beliefs, and value systems remain the same even if the outward expressions of culture change. Critical to survivors is the implication of aid that is culturally sensitive. Ethical questions and dilemmas associated with disasters and their management are profound. Adhering to ethical principles does not solve all of the issues related to disaster management, but awareness of their utility is important. People affected by a disaster may not be capable of responding to human rights violations, so it is the first responders who must be cognizant of their responsibility to protect the victims’ dignity and rights. Ethical treatment of survivors entails a crucial blend of knowledge about ethnic culture, religious beliefs, and human rights. A strong awareness of ethical principles is merely a beginning step to well-informed decision making in disaster situations. The literature also suggests that during a crisis, spirituality helps victims to cope. Important to any catastrophic event is the understanding that every disaster creates unique circumstances that require relief responses tailored to the specific situation.
SU-E-J-143: Short- and Near-Term Effects of Proton Therapy On Cerebral White Matter

Purpose: To assess early effects of proton therapy on the structural integrity of cerebral white matter in relation to the subsequent near-term development of such effects. Methods: Sixteen children (aged 2–19 years) with craniopharyngioma underwent proton therapy of 54 Cobalt Gray Equivalent (CGE) in a prospective therapeutic trial. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed at baseline before proton therapy and every 3 months thereafter. Tract-based spatial statics analysis of DTI data was performed to derive the fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) in 26 volumes of interest (VOIs). The dose distributions were spatially normalized to identify VOIs prone to high doses. The longitudinal percentage changes of the FA and RD in these VOIs at 3 and 12 months from the baseline were calculated, and their relationships were evaluated. Results: The average dose was highest to the cerebral peduncle (CP), corticospinal tract (CST) in the pons, pontine crossing tract (PCT), anterior/posterior limbs of the internal capsule (ALIC/PLIC), and genu of the corpus callosum (GCC). It ranged from 33.3 GCE (GCC) to 49.7 GCE (CP). A mild but statistically significant (P<0.05) decline of FA was observed 3 months after proton therapy in all VOIs except the PLIC and ranged from −1.7%more » (ALIC) to −2.8% (PCT). A significant increase of RD was found in the CP (3.5%) and ALIC (2.1%). The average longitudinal change from the baseline was reduced at 12 months for most VOIs. However, the standard deviation increased, indicating that the temporal pattern varied individually. The follow-up measurements at 3 and 12 months correlated for the CP, CST, PCT, and GCC (P < 0.04). Conclusion: DTI data suggest early (3 months) effects of proton therapy on microstructures in the white matter. The subsequent follow-up indicated individual variation of the changes, which was partly implied by the early effects.« less
Gastroesophageal Perforation after Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography

THE use of transesophageal echocardiography for intraoperative monitoring of cardiac function is increasing. Complications are rare. Oropharyngeal injury and hypopharyngeal perforation during difficult insertion of the echoprobe in anesthetized patients have been reported. 1,2 One case of perforation of the cervical esophagus in an awake patient after multiple attempts at insertion of the echoprobe has been reported.3 Esophageal perforation from an echoprobe in an anesthetized patient, however, has not been published. We observed and report a case of perforation of the gastroesophageal junction in an anesthetized patient after an easy insertion of the echoprobe that yielded good quality transesophageal echocardiograms.
Balancing the content and the container: defining the role of artifacts in the digital age

L'auteur evoque le role controverse des artefacts ou objets reels dans les collections d'archives, a l'heure d'Internet. Il tente d'evaluer leur pertinence et leur importance au moment ou leurs equivalents numeriques semblent avoir plus de valeur. Ces objets auront-ils ou plutot continueront-ils d'avoir une valeur, une fois reduits a une image numerique ?
Experimental measurements of deep directional columnar heating by laser-generated relativistic electrons at near-solid density

x-ray imaging and spectroscopic diagnostics to monitor the keV x-ray emission from thin Al or Au tracer layers buried within the targets. The experiments were designed to quantify the spatial distribution of the thermal electron temperature and density as a function of buried layer depth; these data provide insights into the behavior of relativistic electron currents which flow within the solid target and are directly and indirectly responsible for the heating. We measured ;200‐350 eV temperatures and near-solid densities at depths ranging from 5 to 100 mm beneath the target surface. Time-resolved x-ray spectra from Al tracers indicate that the tracers emit thermal x rays and cool slowly compared to the time scale of the laser pulse. Most intriguingly, we consistently observe annular x-ray images in all buried tracer-layer experiments, and these data show that the temperature distribution is columnar, with enhanced heating along the edges of the column. The ring diameters are much greater than the laser focal spot diameter and do not vary significantly with the depth of the tracer layer for depths greater than 30 mm. The local temperatures are 200‐350 eV for all tracer depths. We discuss recent simulations of the evolution of electron currents deep within solid targets irradiated by ultrahigh-intensity lasers, and we discuss how modeling and analytical results suggest that the annular patterns we observe may be related to locally strong growth of the Weibel instability. We also suggest avenues for future research in order to further illuminate the complex physics of relativistic electron transport and energy deposition inside ultra-high-intensity laser-irradiated solid targets.
Quick: a user-interface design kit for non-programmers

Interface design toolkits have proven useful, both for exploring conceptual issues in user interface design, and for constructing product quality interfaces for commercial applications. However, most such toolkits focus on a relatively low-level of abstraction, are oriented towards design of a limited set of “standard” interface types, and are intended for expert users. Our QUICK system explores the opposite pole. QUICK is a toolkit for the design of highly interactive direct manipulation interfaces oriented specifically towards nonprogrammers. The challenge we face in QUICK lies in maximizing power and flexibility in an extremely simple environment. We explore the utility of direct manipulation, the object oriented paradigm and a structure editor in this context.
A modification of the Petrov–Galerkin method for the transient convection–diffusion equation

A variation of the Petrov–Galerkin method of solution of a partial differential equation is presented in which the weight function applied to the time derivative term of the transient convection–diffusion equation is different from the weight function applied to the special derivatives. This allows for the formulation of fourth-order explicit and centred difference schemes. Comparison with analytic solutions show that these methods are able to capture steep wave fronts. The ability of the explicit method to capture wave fronts increases as the amount of convective transport increases.
Tribological and microstructural characteristics of ion-nitrided steels

Three steels AISI 4140, AISI 4340 and AISI 304 stainless steel were ion nitrided in a plasma consisting of a 75:25 mixture of H2:N2, sometimes with a trace of CH4. Their surface topography was characterized by SEM and two distinct compound phases were identified: the gamma and the epsilon. The core-case hardness profiles were also established. The low Cr alloy steels have an extended diffusion zone in contrast to the 304 stainless steels which have a sharp interface. The depth of ion-nitriding is increased as the Cr content is decreased. Friction tests reveal that the gamma surface phase has a lower coefficient of friction than the epsilon phase. The lowest coefficient of friction is achieved when both the rider and the specimen surface are ion nitrided.
Canadian Almanacs and Statistical Compendia

The purpose of this presentation is to identify the most useful statistical publications concerning Canada that are published in Canada. Titles discussed are organized by broad subject categories: Bibliographies and Indexes, Almanacs and Yearbooks, Social Statistics, Economic Statistics, Historical Statistics. This arrangement should help readers unfamiliar with Canada's statistical compendia to select those titles needed in their libraries for their usefulness in answering specialized statistical queries. All the almanacs and statistical compendia mentioned here, official and non‐official, use figures gathered and distributed by Statistics Canada.
Large-scale stabilized dunes on the High Plains of Colorado: Understanding the landscape response to Holocene climates with the aid of images from space

Principal-component analysis of Landsat Thematic Mapper images from eastern Colorado reveals stabilized dune fields that are composed of single and compound parabolic dunes, some longer than 10 km. These dunes have been reactivated at least four times in the past 10,000 yr, at ca. 9500 to 5500 yr B.P., 5500 to {gt}4800 yr B.P., 4800 to {gt}1000 yr B.P., and {lt}1000 yr B.P., during droughts that probably exceeded the dry conditions during the 1930s. Dune orientations indicate that these landforms were molded by winds from the northwest, which now dominate during the winter and spring with the passage of Pacific air masses. This study underscores the sensitivity of the landscape of the High Plains to drought conditions, which may become more prevalent because of the anticipated effects of greenhouse warming.
Size-Selected Nanoparticle Chemistry: Kinetics of Soot Oxidation

A new experimental method has been developed to conduct surface chemistry and extract surface kinetic rates on size-selected nanoparticles. The method utilizes a tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) technique in which monodisperse particles are selected from a polydisperse aerosol input stream and then subjected to chemical processing. The change in particle size is measured and used to determine kinetic information for the relevant surface reaction. The method has been applied to measure the oxidation rate of soot in air over the temperature range 800-1120 °C. Soot was generated in situ using an ethylene diffusion flame and sent to a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) to extract monodisperse particles. Three initial particle sizes of 40, 93, and 130 nm mobility diameter were subjected to oxidation in a high-temperature flow reactor, and the resulting change in particle size was measured with a second DMA. The measured size decreases were fit to a model utilizing a modified Arrhenius expression for the rate of decrease: D œ p )- AnmT 1/2 exp(-Ea/(RT)). The fit yielded an activation energy of Ea ) 164 kJ mol -1 with a different preexponential factor, Anm, for each initial particle size. The size-decrease rates, and therefore the preexponential factors, differed by a factor of 1.7 between the 40 and 130 nm particles, with the 130 nm particles decreasing faster than the 40 or 93 nm particles. This may be the result of several factors including different effective densities or different soot particle compositions. The current experiments are the first measurements of the soot oxidation rate to be performed on size-selected, freshly generated soot particles using online aerosol techniques. Our results agree well with previous work over the temperature range covered, which is somewhat surprising given the wide range of techniques and materials previously studied in the effort to understand soot oxidation.
Synthesis of Antiferromagnetic Macromolecular Particles

KMnF3 and NaMnF3 in bulk are antiferromagnets with a TN of 88.3 K and 66 K respectively. Each are easily precipitated by mixing excess NaF or KF and MnC12. This same reaction can be carried out in ...
Kinsight: Localizing and Tracking Household Objects Using Depth-Camera Sensors

We solve the problem of localizing and tracking household objects using a depth-camera sensor network. We design and implement Kin sight that tracks household objects indirectly -- by tracking human figures, and detecting and recognizing objects from human-object interactions. We devise two novel algorithms: (1) Depth Sweep -- that uses depth information to efficiently extract objects from an image, and (2) Context Oriented Object Recognition -- that uses location history and activity context along with an RGB image to recognize object sat home. We thoroughly evaluate Kinsight's performance with a rich set of controlled experiments. We also deploy Kinsightin real-world scenarios and show that it achieves an average localization error of about 13 cm.
Nuclear magnetic resonance study of the bonding and diffusion of CO chemisorbed on Pd.

The authors report use of $^{17}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ NMR to study the bonding of CO on Pd particles. By $^{17}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{13}$C double resonance, they measure the CO bond length to be 1.20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 A\r{}. The $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ resonance frequency is exceptionally high, 310 ppm above values typical for metal carbonyls. Evidence that the shift arises from electron-spin polarization is given from studies of the magnitude and the dependence on temperature and frequency of the $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ spin-lattice relaxation time. A diffusion enegy of 6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 kcal/mole, half that of CO on Pt, is deduced from motional narrowing of the $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ NMR line.
Glucocorticoid receptor-mediated repression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone promoter activity in gt1 hypothalamic cell lines

The synthesis and release of GnRH within a specific subset of neurons in the hypothalamus, which serves as the primary drive to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, is subject to various levels of control. Although a number of direct synaptic connections to GnRH-containing neurons have been identified, which presumably provide some regulatory inputs, the mechanisms responsible for hormonal regulation of GnRH synthesis and release mediated by either cell surface or intracellular receptors remain controversial. The recent demonstration that a subset of GnRH-containing neurons in the rat hypothalamus possesses immunoreactive glucocorticoid receptors (GR) implies that this class of steroid hormones could exert a direct effect to regulate the functioning of these neurons and perhaps the HPG axis. We used the GT1-3 and GT1-7 cell lines of immortalized GnRH-secreting hypothalamic neurons as a model to study the direct effects of glucocorticoids on GnRH gene expression. We demonstrated that these cell lines possess GR that bind the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, in vitro with high affinity (Kd = 2-3 nM). These receptors are functional, as indicated by their ability to activate transcription from exogenously introduced heterologous glucocorticoid-responsive promoters. Furthermore, dexamethasone represses both the endogenous mouse GnRH gene, decreasing steady state levels of GnRH mRNA, and the transcriptional activity of transfected rat GnRH promoter-reporter gene vectors. Glucocorticoid repression of rat GnRH promoter activity appears to be mediated by sequences contained within the promoter proximal 459 basepairs and not be influenced by the relative basal activity of the GnRH promoter. Thus, our results provide the first direct demonstration of glucocorticoid repression of transcription in a hypothalamic cell line and suggest that GR acting directly within GnRH neurons could be at least partly responsible for negative regulation of the HPG axis by glucocorticoids.