cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical, chemical, histological and palatability characteristics of muscles from three breed-types of cattle at different times-on-feed.

Abstract Forty-five steers (9–12 months of age) of Angus (n =15), Brahman (n = 15) and Brahman × Angus (n = 15) breed-types were fed a high-energy diet and then slaughtered after 0, 112 or 224 days of feeding. At 7 days post mortem, the M. longissimus and M. biceps femoris were removed from the left side of each carcass and steaks were obtained for determination of sensory panel ratings, Warner-Bratzler shear force, sarcomere length, collagen content and collagen solubility. Tenderness ratings of steaks from the M. longissimus and M. biceps femoris from Angus were generally higher than ratings for steaks from Brahman or Brahman × Angus steers. Steaks from Brahman × Angus received higher tenderness ratings than steaks from Brahman steers in only a few comparisons. The three breed-types of cattle responded to time-on-feed differently; Brahman cattle needed to have been fed longer than Angus cattle to produce equally tender beef. With increased time-on-feed, M. longissimus tenderness increased for all breed-types, but M. biceps femoris tenderness was not related to time-on-feed. Few significant differences were observed among breed-types and among time-on-feed periods for collagen content or collagen solubility. Tenderness differences were closely correlated with the contractile state of the muscle which, in turn, was associated with weight, subcutaneous fat thickness and temperature decline of the carcass.
Characteristics of the UCLA cyclotron radiofrequency system

An account is given of the various interdependent factors that must be considered when dees are placed in the valleys of a sector focused cyclotron. The spiral shaped dees and r.f. resonator comprise a half wave structure in which an 11% frequency range is achieved by varying the cross-section of the inner conductor near the node. A grounded grid oscillator is coupled to the resonator by loops and transmission lines. The shape and weight distribution of the dees is such that they can be open on both sides, and yet can be easily supported at the outer radius. The distribution of heat allows the dees to be sawed from 1/4 inch Cu plate with cooling supplied by conduction at the outer radius. They are installed by stretching the vacuum tank.
On the Heat Dissipated by a Platinum Surface at High Temperatures. Part IV. Thermal Emissivity in High-Pressure Gases

The question of the heat dissipated by a hot body in gases at ordinary pressures has received considerable attention during recent years. The subject has been experimentally treated in many different ways. The rate of cooling of a body of known specific heat has been directly measured by Dulong and Petit, Narr, Macfarlane, Nichol, Stefan, Brush, Bottomley, Winkelmann, Kundt, and Warburg, Eckerlein, Graetz, &c. By Christiansen’s method, the value of the conductivity has been derived from the fall of temperature per unit length along the axis of a cylinder carrying a constant flow of heat. Schleierm acher, Sala, Ayrton, and others have preferred to measure the quantity of electrical energy dissipated per unit time. These experiments have, however, been carried out at or below the atmospheric pressure, and the question of the heat dissipated in gases at high pressures has rarely been touched upon. From the ordinarily accepted principles of the Kinetic theory of gases, it may be shown that the conductivity of any perfect gas is independent of pressure. The experimental work of Stefan and of Kundt and Warburg has gone far to confirm this law as far as ordinary pressures are concerned. It will be seen, however, that at higher pressures, only a small proportion of the loss of heat is due to conductivity, and the question as to whether the theoretical law is strictly correct, though well worth investigation, is not of primary importance. For the above reasons the present work has been restricted to a study of the total heat dissipated at exceptionally high pressures and temperatures.
Thermal neutron standards

Over the 50-year history of Section III (Neutron Measurements) of the Consultative Committee for Ionizing Radiation of the International Committee for Weights and Measures, only a single interlaboratory comparison of thermal neutron measurements has been completed, although a new comparison of this kind is in progress at the time of this writing. The initial comparison was perhaps considered to have demonstrated a sufficient degree of agreement that its repetition was not of particularly urgent priority. Thermal neutron measurements are indeed an old and well-developed field, as is seen in the many references cited in this paper. This paper describes briefly the production of thermal neutron fields from fast neutron sources, the moderation of neutron spectra towards thermal equilibrium, various conventions for describing thermal neutron fields, corrections for self-absorption and scattering in detector materials and the selection of detectors based on established thermal neutron cross-section standards.
Interfacial Slippage of a Unidirectional Fiber Composite Under Longitudinal Shearing

Interfacial slippage of a unidirectional fiber composite under longitudinal shearing is analyzed. The finite concentration of fibers has been taken into account by utilizing the composite cylinder model in the formulation of the problem. The resulting mixed boundary value problem leads to a system of dual series equations, which is then reduced to a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind with a logarithmic singularity. The extent of slip region, which depends on the level of applied load along with the distribution of shear tractions at the fiber-matrix interface, is determined by solving the integral equation numerically.
Biology and Ecology of the Western Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): The Making of a Pest

In the past 30 years, western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has become one of the most important agricultural pests worldwide. Certain biological attributes of this insect predispose it to be a direct pest across a wide range of crops. In addition to the direct damage it can cause, this species is an efficient vector of Tomato spotted wilt virus and other Tospoviruses. This review addresses questions regarding the biological and ecological attributes of western flower thrips that have enabled it to become a significant pest and make it so difficult to manage. These important life history traits include western flower thrips polyphagy and a tendency to reside and feed in concealed areas of flowers and fruits. Consequently, large populations can develop and disperse into a wide range of crops. The larvae and adults feed in a similar manner and can share the same host plant resources. The relatively short generation time and haplodiploid sex determination also contribute to the pest status of this species. These life history traits interact in complex ways to make western flower thrips one of the most significant and difficult to manage pests in the world.
Genetic background modulates impaired excitability of inhibitory neurons in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome

Dominant loss-of-function mutations in voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.1 cause Dravet Syndrome, an intractable childhood-onset epilepsy. NaV1.1(+/-) Dravet Syndrome mice in C57BL/6 genetic background exhibit severe seizures, cognitive and social impairments, and premature death. Here we show that Dravet Syndrome mice in pure 129/SvJ genetic background have many fewer seizures and much less premature death than in pure C57BL/6 background. These mice also have a higher threshold for thermally induced seizures, fewer myoclonic seizures, and no cognitive impairment, similar to patients with Genetic Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures Plus. Consistent with this mild phenotype, mutation of NaV1.1 channels has much less physiological effect on neuronal excitability in 129/SvJ mice. In hippocampal slices, the excitability of CA1 Stratum Oriens interneurons is selectively impaired, while the excitability of CA1 pyramidal cells is unaffected. NaV1.1 haploinsufficiency results in increased rheobase and threshold for action potential firing and impaired ability to sustain high-frequency firing. Moreover, deletion of NaV1.1 markedly reduces the amplification and integration of synaptic events, further contributing to reduced excitability of interneurons. Excitability is less impaired in inhibitory neurons of Dravet Syndrome mice in 129/SvJ genetic background. Because specific deletion of NaV1.1 in forebrain GABAergic interneuons is sufficient to cause the symptoms of Dravet Syndrome in mice, our results support the conclusion that the milder phenotype in 129/SvJ mice is caused by lesser impairment of sodium channel function and electrical excitability in their forebrain interneurons. This mild impairment of excitability of interneurons leads to a milder disease phenotype in 129/SvJ mice, similar to Genetic Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures Plus in humans.
Synthesis and thermal reaction of 2-perfluoropropyl or (2-pyridyl)-5-phenyl-6-[4-(4-ethynylphenoxy) phenyl] -as-triazine†

4-(4-Ethynylphenoxy) benzil was separately reacted with two amidrazones to provide acetylene-containing phenyl-as-triazine products. Each product consisted of two isomers which were separated by high pressure liquid chromatography and analyzed by mass spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to study the thermal reaction of the acetylene-containing phenyl-as-triazine products. The principal component from the thermally induced reaction of the acetylene-containing phenyl-as-triazine was identified by mass spectroscopy as a dimer.
Causation and specification in economic theory and econometrics

I. INDIVIDUAL DECISION-MAKERS In the micro-economics of perfect competition - at the level of the indi vidual firm and the individual consumer - problems of causation seem straightforward to the economist. An individual consumer, for example, is assumed to come equipped with a good deal of information and a fully developed set of tastes. He takes prices as given and then decides how to allocate his expenditure so as to gain the most satisfaction. Similarly, a firm in perfect competition is assumed to know its technological possi bilities. It takes the prices of factors and products as given and makes its production decision so as to gain the most profit. In both cases, the information provided by prices as to the possible opportunities is taken in by the decision-making unit as a primary stimulus; the consumption or production decisions are then the result. It is true that in this simple picture, prices are not the only cause of the decision-maker's action. His tastes or his production opportunities are formed in some way by personal, social, and technological forces. All this, however, is assumed to have gone on in the past and not to be influenced by the current state of the market. If such forces change, they change sufficiently slowly and independently to allow constancy to be a satis factory approximation in the analysis of short-run individual decisions. The matter becomes less simple when the perfectly competitive as sumption that prices can be taken as given is dropped. Even so, a pure monopolist presents no great problem. Here what is taken as given is not the price at which the product can be sold but rather the demand schedule facing the firm. Given that schedule, the monopolist decides simultane ously on output and price. Oligopoly, however, leads to complications. In essence, two rational decision-makers with opposing interests and symmetrically placed must decide on prices and outputs in a situation in which the outcome for each depends heavily on the actions of the other. It is apparent that analysis
Bolometric-Correction and Effective-Temperature Scale

IN recent years the application of high-speed digital computers to problems in theoretical astrophysics has combined with fundamental research in nuclear physics and solar convection to achieve considerable understanding of the physics of not only stellar interiors but also stellar evolution. The connecting link between this increasingly elaborate theory and the corresponding ensemble of observations is the scale of bolometric-corrections (B.C.) and effective-temperatures (Te).
A convergent three-level finite difference scheme for solving a dual-phase-lagging heat transport equation in spherical coordinates

Heat transport at the microscale is of vital importance in microtechnology applications. The heat transport equation is different from the traditional heat diffusion equation since a second-order derivative of temperature with respect to time and a third-order mixed derivative of temperature with respect to space and time are introduced. In this study, we consider the heat transport equation in spherical coordinates and develop a three-level finite difference scheme for solving the heat transport equation in a microsphere. It is shown that the scheme is convergent, which implies that the scheme is unconditionally stable. Results show that the numerical solution converges to the exact solution. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 20: 60–71, 2004.
Precision control of lesions by high-intensity focused ultrasound cavitation-based histotripsy through varying pulse duration

The goal of this experimental study was to explore the feasibility of acquiring controllable precision through varying pulse duration for lesions generated by cavitation-based histotripsy. Histotripsy uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) at low duty factor to create energetic bubble clouds inside tissue to liquefy a region. It uses cavitation-mediated mechanical effects while minimizing heating, and has the advantages of real-time monitoring and lesion fidelity to treatment planning. In our study, histotripsy was applied to three groups of tissue-mimicking agar samples of different stiffnesses (29.4 ± 5.3, 44.8 ± 5.9, and 66.4 ± 7.1 kPa). B-mode imaging was used first to quantify bubble cluster dimensions in both water and agar. Then, a 4.5-mm-wide square (lateral to the focal plane) was scanned in a raster pattern with a step size of 0.75 mm in agar histotripsy experiments to estimate equivalent bubble cluster dimensions based on the histotripsyinduced damage. The 15-s exposure at each treatment location comprised 5000 sine-wave tone bursts at a spatial-peak pulseaverage intensity of 41.1 kW/cm2, with peak compressional and rarefactional pressures of 102 and 17 MPa, respectively. The results showed that bubble cluster width and length increased with pulse duration and decreased with agar stiffness. Therefore, a significant improvement in histotripsy precision could be achieved by reducing the pulse duration.
Further characterization of gradient-fractionated sub-mitochondrial membrane fragments from beef heart mitochondria

Abstract We have recently reported that with a linear sucrose density gradient centrifugation two distinct types of membrane fragments, designated as X- and Y-fragments are obtained (Huang, C. H., Keyhani, E. and Lee, C. P. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 305, 455–473). Further characterization of these two membrane fragments is reported. (1) Potassium chloride at the concentration of 0.15 M extracts 7% and 30% of cytochrome c from the X- and Y-fragments, respectively. (2) When cytochrome c was added to the mitochondrial suspension prior to sonication, the cytochrome c content was increased by 6–8-fold in both X- and Y-fragments. Subsequently KCl extraction resulted in loss of cytochrome c by 1 4 in the X- and by 2 3 in the Y-fragments. (3) With partially inhibitory concentrations of KCN, cytochrome c in either the X- or the KCl extracted X-fragments showed uncoupler-sensitive, biphasic reduction kinetics upon the addition of NADH to the oligomycin-supplemented system. Under identical conditions rapid first order reduction kinetics were seen for cytochrome c in Y-fragments supplemented with either oligomycin or oligomycin + carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP). (4) When cytochrome c was added to the mitochondrial suspension after sonication, a significant amount of cytochrome c was bound to both X- and Y-fragments, but was readily removed with a high ionic strength medium. (5) Lubrol had little effect on the ATPase activity of the X- and the Y-fragments, suggesting a lack of membrane-buried ATPase. (6) Partial depletion of ATPase in X-fragments did not induce an increase in reactivity towards externally added cytochrome c. (7) Both the X- and the Y-fragments showed an energy-linked fluorescence enhancement of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate and an energy-linked fluorescence decrease of quinacrine. (8) In the presence of K+ nigericin alone or in combination with valinomycin exhibited a stimulating effect on the rate of NADH oxidase of the oligomycin-supplemented X- and Y-fragments.
The Development of a Semi-Pelagic Trawl for Squid and Butterfish

This report describes a project whose purpose is to develop a semi-pelagic trawl for squid and butterfish. Background of this fishery in New England is presented, as well as the constraints of the existing fleet. The approach used to meet the project objectives was the development of a rigging technique applied to a 156 x 80cm 4-seam bottom trawl. This novel technique included 5.5 meter droplines, a third set of bridles, and a flexible headrope kite. The rigging arrangement, however, could be applied to most bottom trawls. The net design and the model test results are reported, together with the results from instrumented sea trials and commercial use.
Toward best practices in analyzing datasets with missing data: Comparisons and recommendations

Although several methods have been developed to allow for the analysis of data in the presence of missing values, no clear guide exists to help family researchers in choosing among the many options and procedures available. We delineate these options and examine the sensitivity of the findings in a regression model estimated in three random samples from the National Survey of Families and Households (n = 250–2,000). These results, combined with findings from simulation studies, are used to guide answers to a set of 10 common questions asked by researchers when selecting a missing data approach. Modern missing data techniques were found to perform better than traditional ones, but differences between the types of modern approaches had minor effects on the estimates and substantive conclusions. Our findings suggest that the researcher has considerable flexibility in selecting among modern options for handling missing data.
Characterization Of A UV Resist for 248 nm Lithography

A study is presented of the performance of a Novolak-resin naphtoquinone-diazide sensitized resist exposed in the deep-UV. The material under study is PR-1024MB-600, designed for exposure in the UV (280-340 nm) range, including the i-line and h-line as well as deep UV (248 nm). The A, B, C exposure parameters of the photoresist have been measured at 248 nm. Classical bleaching characteristics are observed at low energy; the photoresist transmittance increases with dose. At higher doses the photoresist transmittance decreases, suggesting UV radiation effects on the resin. A model for the behavior and the associated parameter-extraction method for the UV transmittance versus dose in the presence of a variable resin absorbence are proposed. The development characteristics of the photoresist exposed at 248 nm are meas-ured and the results for exposure with less than 5 mJ/cm2/pulse and total dose less than 1 f/cm2 show normal positive pho-toresist characteristics. Higher total dose, with low energy per pulse yields a negative tone mode. This tone reversal behavior suggests UV-induced cross-linking. Exposure using high pulse energies (> 25 mlicm2 per pulse) also yields a negative tone response. Thermal calculations suggest a heating effect. The image reversal performance of the PR-1024MB resist with addition of low-volatility amines is also demonstrated. Under similar conditions the image reversal process is 10-20 times more sensitive than in positive tone operation. In image reversal the deep-UV photoresist contrast exceeds 2, larger than the value observed in the normal mode.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN THE PACIFIC RIM

Using a broad definition of the Pacific Rim (including some countries in Latin America), this paper examines selected aspects of Pacific Rim urban development. Despite the overwhelming economic dominance of the United States and Japan, urbanization in Pacific Rim countries is very diverse. Yet growth in most large cities on the Rim is decelerating, suggesting a possible paradox of rapid economic growth coexisting with slower urban growth. Location on the Rim may be important only for certain types of economic interaction, i.e. those subject to distance decay rather than being transmitted electronically. The internationalization of urbanization in the Pacific Rim is open to benign rather than dependency interpretations, given that economic and social conditions are better in developing countries in this region than in the rest of the world. The large size of many Pacific Rim primate cities suggests the need for a polycentric spatial structure, and the issue is how much intervention and of what kind is needed to ensure that decentralization takes place efficiently. Transportation may be one sector where successful innovations are transferable from one city to another. Environmental quality is a serious but neglected problem in many Pacific Rim cities, but will become more important as incomes rise. It remains unclear whether Metropolitan Development Authorities or some other form of regional government are needed for efficient metropolitan government. The most distinctive feature of Pacific Rim urban development is the commonality of urban problems that arise in rapidly growing economies.
Membrane folding by ion implantation induced stress to fabricate three-dimensional nanostructures

We show experimentally that localized ion irradiation into a silicon nitride cantilever creates large stress gradients and folds the cantilever at the irradiated area. The fold angle and radius depend on the thickness of the cantilever, the ion dose and the sputter depth into the silicon nitride. We model the ion implantation with Monte-Carlo simulations and discuss possible stress formation mechanisms. We present experimental results from a fabrication process that allows the ion implantation to be done while the cantilever is held fixed by sacrificial material. The cantilever is then folded upon selective etching. The experimental results indicate that these techniques will provide the means for folding membranes into three-dimensional micro-structures for device fabrication.
Rate-distortion based mode selection for video coding over wireless networkswith burst losses

Video communications over wireless networks suffer various patterns of losses, including both random packet loss and burst losses. Previous error resilient techniques simply consider the average packet loss rate to enhance error robustness for video transmission. However, loss patterns, specifically burst losses, have great impact on video quality. In this paper, we propose a method that can take account of both random and burst losses to further improve the error resilience of video coding. Our method estimates the end-to-end distortion based on recursive optimal per-pixel estimate (ROPE) including both random and burst losses, and applies it for rate-distortion (RD)-based optimal mode selection. We apply our method in two cases: For single description video coding, we estimate the reconstructed pixel values for random packet loss and burst losses, and calculate the overall distortion. For multiple description video coding, we estimate the end-to-end distortion for multiple state video coding (MSVC) by considering the network conditions and multiple state recovery to reduce the error propagation due to packet loss in both descriptions for MSVC. Simulation results show that our proposed method achieves better performance than MSVC and original ROPE (only considering average packet loss rate) over wireless networks with burst losses.
Reassembling Biological Machinery In Vitro

Inspired by the specialized glycolytic system of flagella of mammalian sperm, Mukai et al. (2009) describe the controlled immobilization of two enzymes constituting the first steps in the glycolytic pathway. Extension of this work may provide "power converters" for bionanodevices, which transduce chemical energy from glucose to ATP.
Positive affect and feedback‐giving behavior

Purpose – New models of career management require individuals to harvest as much learning as possible from situations wherever and whenever feedback is possible. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of positive affect (liking) on feedback giving behavior since authors have suggested a potential bias but little empirical evidence exists on the topic.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 77 trainer‐trainee dyads in a formal field‐based training program over a 60‐day period. Additionally, critical incidents accounts of career setbacks were collected from MBA students and consulting clients.Findings – Less positive and less specific feedback was reportedly given to liked individuals, compared to disliked individuals, when performance was not attributed to internal causes. Also, an interaction between performance level and affective relationship explained amounts of negative feedback received in low internal attribution group. Less liked trainees received similar amounts ...
The Water Consumption of Hens

Abstract FEW data are available on the water consumption of hens. However, information on this subject is of interest from the standpoint of comparative physiology and of value from the standpoint of poultry management. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to place on record some data obtained at the Southwest Poultry Experiment Station, Glendale, Arizona, in an experiment for ascertaining the effects of air temperature, live weight, and egg production on the water consumption of hens. PROCEDURE Two similar groups of 26 White Leghorn hens each and two similar groups of 21 Rhode Island Red hens each were used in the experiment, which was started on November 1, 1934, and ended on October 31, 1935. The hens were confined to the same house in adjacent pens, each of which had 400 square feet of floor space. Air temperatures were taken on a recording thermometer. The averages shown in the second . . .
Medical management of meningiomas.

SUMMARY The efficacy of surgery and radiation has been well validated in the treatment of meningiomas, with efficacy depending on tumor pathology, size, symptomatology and rate of progression. The role of medical therapy has the least amount of data but is being increasingly investigated for tumors that are inoperable or those tumors that recur and/or progress despite standard therapy. In this review, current data on the use of chemotherapeutic agents in the management of meningiomas will be reviewed, including cytotoxic, biologic, targeted molecular and hormonal agents.
Type-directed completion of partial expressions

Modern programming frameworks provide enormous libraries arranged in complex structures, so much so that a large part of modern programming is searching for APIs that surely exist" somewhere in an unfamiliar part of the framework. We present a novel way of phrasing a search for an unknown API: the programmer simply writes an expression leaving holes for the parts they do not know. We call these expressions partial expressions. We present an efficient algorithm that produces likely completions ordered by a ranking scheme based primarily on the similarity of the types of the APIs suggested to the types of the known expressions. This gives a powerful language for both API discovery and code completion with a small impedance mismatch from writing code. In an automated experiment on mature C# projects, we show our algorithm can place the intended expression in the top 10 choices over 80% of the time.
Henry George's Speaking in the Land Reform Movements:

HENRY GEORGE'S FIRST SPEECH officially "in" the Land League Movements would be "Why Work is Scarce, Wages Low, and Labor Restless," delivered at the Metropolitan Temple, San Francisco, March 8, 1878, as the first of an intended series under the auspices of the "Land Reform League of California." According to George's son and biographer, Henry George, Jr., this league was "the first organization of any kind anywhere in the world to propagate Henry George's ideas."' It would be difficult to estimate how many others were to follow, but obviously there were a lot. Charles Albro Barker credits the League with being "the first of hundreds, perhaps thousands of its kind the world around."2 In a broader sense, however, George's speaking "in the Land League Movements" would include virtually all of his significant speaking activity from the completion of his "solution" for the world's land problem in a relatively finished form sometime in 1886 until his death some twentyone years later. Once he had formulated his final, specific solution to the puzzle of the expanding slough of deep want in the midst of pyramiding great wealth, which he then put down in written form in Progress and Poverty, one of the world's all-time, world-wide best sellers in political economy, his message did not change in any of its essential aspects. Whether speaking in behalf of the Irish National Land League; the Land Restoration League of Great Britain; the Knights of Labour of Hamilton, Ontario; the Brooklyn Revenue Reform Club; the Free Trade Association of New York; the Trades and Labour Council of Melbourne, or the Society for Ethical Culture of Philadelphia, the substance of what he had to say was ultimately the same. His diagnosis was invariably that the fundamental cause of social injustice was monopoly, and the most fundamental monopoly, the
The next 700 separation logics

In recent years, separation logic has brought great advances in the world of verification. However, there is a disturbing trend for each new library or concurrency primitive to require a new separation logic. I will argue that we shouldn't be inventing new separation logics, but should find the right logic to reason about interference, and have a powerful abstraction mechanism to enable the library's implementation details to be correctly abstracted. Adding new concurrency libraries should simply be a matter of verification, not of new logics or metatheory.
Assessment of the Properties of Internal Combustion Engine Lubricants Using an Onboard Sensor

The physical properties of diesel engine oil were quantified through direct, real-time measurements using an onboard sensor. The sensor measures the lubricant temperature, density, dynamic viscosity, and dielectric constant. Bench-top experiments were conducted to validate the accuracy of sensor outputs against results from ASTM test methods or reference instruments over a specific temperature range. Bench-top experiments were also used to establish correlations between fuel contamination levels and changes in lubricant properties. Measurements were then conducted in a diesel engine using the onboard sensor to quantify changes in the lubricant physical properties with respect to engine operating time. Through bench-top testing, it was determined that the onboard sensor's viscosity output is accurate to within 6% of results obtained through the ASTM standard method, whereas dielectric constant readings displayed a 7% systematic error with respect to reference values. The oil viscosity was found to decrease...
Risk factors for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): the case of Arab and Muslim Americans post-9/11.

This study examines the association between individual, demographic, and sociocultural variables as predictor factors for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 350 Arab and Muslim Americans in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A multiple regression statistical analysis was utilized to examine the factors contributing to depression and PTSD among the study sample. Results indicate that age, education, marital status, access to support, and having children were the most important variables in predicting depression and PTSD among the study sample. Findings may provide the needed knowledge for practitioners and community service providers in assisting Arab and Muslim American victims in coping with trauma and may help in bridging formal and informal support systems that promote culture in a nondiscriminatory and mutually respectful environment.
Design trade-offs for high density cross-point resistive memory

With conventional memory technologies approaching their scaling limit, the search for a new technology has gained increased attention in the recent years. Resistive RAM (ReRAM), with its superior write latency and energy, small cell size (4F2 for a single level cell, F is the feature size), and support for 3D stacking, has been a promising candidate among emerging memory technologies. A key advantage of ReRAM comes from its non-linear nature, which enables a cross-point array structure without having a dedicated access transistor for each cell.While the cross-point structure is effective in improving the memory density, it has inherent disadvantages which introduce extra design challenges. Based on the device characteristics, we perform a comprehensive analysis of issues related to reliability, energy consumption, area overhead, and performance of the cross-point arrays. In addition to the cell-level analysis, we discuss different programming schemes specifically suited for cross-point arrays. We then study the area, energy, and bandwidth of a 256Mbits ReRAM macro in detail for various write schemes. The simulation results enable designers to identify the most performance/energy/area efficient ReRAM organization and cell parameters that meet specific design goals early in the design stage.
Swordplay: Innovating Game Development through VR

With the movement towards 3D input devices in gaming, we explored the use of 3D user interfaces in the context of Swordplay, an immersive sword-fighting and spell-casting game aimed toward casual gamers. Developed as part of a course on "innovating game development" at Brown University, Swordplay is an attempt to determine what types of interaction techniques could be useful with natural human expression in virtual 3D environments. The result is a fun, lightning-fast game intended to push the skills and dexterity of its users, similar to the popular button-mashing games of the early 1980s
Ways of emphatic scope-taking: From emphatic assertion in Nupe to the grammar of emphasis

Abstract This article investigates emphatic assertion in Nupe, a Benue-Congo language of central Nigeria. Two distinct varieties are attested in the language: a syntactically restricted type that employs a clause-final discourse particle to achieve veridical interpretations and a syntactically unrestricted and interpretationally weaker form that employs verb doubling. I argue that the core distributional and interpretive properties of the two varieties are derivable entirely on syntactic grounds. To account for Nupe's two emphatic marking strategies, I propose that Universal Grammar makes available at least two emphatic domains: a high left peripheral domain from which the emphatic operator takes scope over polarity and a low TP-internal site in which the operator is outscoped by polarity. Consequently, emphasis is syntactically restricted and semantically strongest when activating the peripheral domain and unrestricted/weakened when invoking the lower clause-internal domain. This analysis parallels the high (outer) vs. low (inner) focus domain duality and casts independent support for the existence of low (TP-internal) assertion domains.
Surgical Innovations for Chronic Heart Failure in the Context of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

According to 1998 data from the American Heart Association,1 approximately 4,900,000 Americans (2,500,000 men and 2,400,000 women) have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF), with approximately 400,000 new cases of CHF per year.1 The incidence of CHF approaches 10 cases per 1,000 people in the population after age 65 years, and CHF is the most frequent cause of hospitalization for people aged 65 years and older. Hospitalizations for CHF rose from 377,000 in 1979 to 872,000 in 1995. Approximately 20% of people who have sustained a myocardial infarction will be disabled with heart failure within 6 years of diagnosis.1 The reduction in mortality for people with other forms of cardiovascular disease, the increasing prevalence of CHF, and the rising median age of the US population suggest that the pool of patients who would require medical or surgical intervention will continue to expand well into the next century. In recent years, pharmacological management of CHF has benefited from the addition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and adrenergic beta-blockers, providing major symptomatic improvement in people with mild to moderate heart failure.2 Physical activity is likewise gaining acceptance as an important intervention.3 Structured exercise programs for people with cardiovascular and pulmonary disease have existed in the United States for nearly 3 decades, and the outcomes are well documented in the literature.4,5 In recent years, the emphasis and direction of research have shifted to the beneficial effects of both endurance training and resistive exercise for clinical and behavioral outcomes for patients with CHF. Exercise for patients with CHF is safe3 and results in physiological and psychological changes that lead to improved functional status. These improvements include improvements in control of heart rate,6–10 measures of quality of life,11–15 exercise …
The Effect of Light and Environmental Temperature on Broiler Digestive Tract Contents After Feed Withdrawal

Abstract Contamination from the digestive tract is a persistent problem in broiler processing. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of lighting and environmental temperature on quantity of crop, gizzard, and small intestine contents during feed withdrawal. Broilers were on litter with a feeding regimen of 1.5 h on feed and 4.5 h off feed for 1 or 2 days. The withdrawal period began at the end of a 1.5-h feeding period. In the first experiment, broilers were cooped or left on the floor with and without lights. Crop contents of lighted broilers at 21 C were reduced 2 h after feed withdrawal for broilers on litter and in coops. In another experiment, broilers on litter were maintained at 18 and 27 C in light or in darkness. Lighting reduced crop contents 4 h after feed withdrawal but increased the contents of the small intestine 2 h after feed withdrawal at both temperatures. These results indicate that crop clearance is improved by lighting both before and after cooping.
Changes in intracellular Na+ during Na,K pump inhibition in sheep cardiac tissues.

The differences in inotropic and toxic sensitivities of cardiac ventricular tissue to cardiac glycosides were investigated in order to determine whether or not the reportedly greater sensitivity of Purkinje fibers compared to myocardium is the result of a fundamentally different response to Na,K pump inhibition. I measured the changes in intracellular Na+ activity (aNai) in the two tissue types simultaneously during exposure to actodigin (4.0 μm) and ouabain (0.5 μm) under quiescent conditions. A sheep papillary muscle and a Purkinje fiber from the same heart were placed in an experimental chamber and measurements of aNai from both were obtained with Na+-sensitive microelectrodes. In five experiments in which all electrode impalements were successfully maintained, actodigin caused similar changes in aNai in the two tissues (from 7.2 ± 1.0 mm in control to 12.9 ± 1.9 mm in the presence of drug in papillary muscles compared to 7.3 ± 0.3 mm in control and 13.2 ± 1.0 mm in Purkinje fibers; means ± s.e.m.). After washout, exposure to ouabain increased aNai in both papillary muscles and in Purkinje fibers (from 7.2 ± 0.7 mm in control and 16.2 ± 1.4 mm during exposure to drug in papillary muscles compared to 7.4 ± 0.3 mm and 14.9 ± 0.8 mm in Purkinje fibers). In fact, ouabain caused a greater increase of aNai in papillary muscles than in Purkinje fibers (P<0.01). The differences in tissue sensitivity to digitalis, therefore, are probably the result of other physiological characteristics of the tissues such as the dissimilar rates of Ca2+ influx that may result from the differences in ionic current and transmembrane potentials that exist during their characteristic action potentials. These results demonstrate that despite profound differences in cell ultrastructure, tissue geometry and electrophysiology, Purkinje fibers and myocardium share a strikingly similar ability to regulate Na+i during moderate Na,K pump inhibition.
Cognition in Middle Adulthood

Middle adulthood is particularly relevant to the central question of when cognitive decline begins. The fact that mean level change for some cognitive functions tends to be small or absent until or just past late midlife may give the impression that cognition in middle adulthood is of little interest in its own right. Longitudinal studies indicate linear declines in episodic memory from age 60, but there is also evidence of declines occurring earlier in processing speed and spatial processing. Working memory and executive functions represent cognitive abilities that are very important for effective daily functioning, and they are also among the more age-sensitive cognitive domains. In this chapter, we first address some important general issues with respect to behavior genetic research on cognition in middle adulthood. Next, we review some of the extant empirical findings, focusing first on general cognitive ability and then on specific abilities. We conclude that middle adulthood remains an understudied period in phenotypic and behavior genetic studies of cognitive aging. Further study focused specifically on middle adulthood is needed for understanding cognitive changes during midlife itself and for understanding midlife cognition as a “gateway” to cognition in old age. The available data suggest that there are some cognitive changes during midlife itself. However, because these changes tend to be small on average, a greater focus on subgroups of individuals who are manifesting earlier declines will be important.
A study of electromagnetic characteristics of 124,126,128,130,132,134,136Ba isotopes performed in the framework of IBA

It was pointed out that the level scheme of the transitional nuclei 124,126,128,130,132,134,136Ba also can be studied by both characteristics (IBM-1 and IBM-2) of the interacting boson model and an adequate point of the model leading to E2 transitions is therefore confirmed. Most of the δ(E2/M1) ratios that are still not known so far are stated and the set of parameters used in these calculations is the best approximation that has been carried out so far. It has turned out that the interacting boson approximation is fairly reliable for the calculation of spectra in the entire set of 124,126,128,130,132,134,136Ba isotopes.
Adopting a Beginner's Mind to Craft Experiments that Break the Curse of Knowledge

The experiment and lesson developed in this paper aim at dealing with the curse of knowledge, or the disharmony between what instructors believe they are teaching and what students are learning. This paper proposes that by adopting a beginner’s mind, instructors will be able to mitigate the disharmony. To adopt a beginner’s mind, an instructor must first recognize any priors he holds that will be important for understanding the topic that differ from the priors that students likely hold. The best way to deal with these mismatched priors is to craft an experiment that develops the priors in a straightforward way (a beginner’s mind experiment). The goal is to make the experiment itself the vessel that students learn through. Each beginner’s mind experiment and lesson are composed of 3 phases: the warm up, the work and the cool down. The first phase of the beginner’s mind experiment is the warm up while the beginner’s mind experiment is the warm up phase for the entire lesson. The key takeaway is to remember that classroom experiments are fun and the fun you have running experiments will be even more meaningful when you are convinced students are learning a lot from the experiment.
BCRP/ ABCG2 in the Placenta: Expression, Function and Regulation

Knowledge concerning transport of maternally administered drugs across the placental barrier is essential for determining potential toxicity of drugs to the fetus and the value of drug therapy during pregnancy. An important determinant for fetal drug exposure is the expression of efflux transporters in the placenta. Among human tissues, the ATP-binding cassette efflux transporter BCRP (gene symbol ABCG2) is most abundantly expressed in the apical membrane of placental syncytiotrophoblasts. Although the precise physiological role of BCRP in the placenta is still unclear, existing data strongly suggest that BCRP plays an important role in protecting the fetus against the potential toxicity of drugs, xenobiotics, and metabolites by expelling them across the placental barrier. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge with respect to the expression, function, and polymorphisms of BCRP, as well as transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of the transporter in the placenta. Finally, clinical significance of BCRP in the placenta for drug therapy in pregnant women is discussed.
Chemical Signals of Elephant Musth: Temporal Aspects of Microbially-Mediated Modifications

Mature male African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants exhibit periodic episodes of musth, a state in which serum androgens are elevated, food intake typically decreases, aggressiveness often increases, and breeding success is enhanced. Urine is a common source of chemical signals in a variety of mammals. Elephants in musth dribble urine almost continuously for lengthy periods, suggesting that the chemicals in their urine may reveal their physiological condition to conspecifics. We investigated the volatile urinary chemicals in captive male elephants using automated solid phase dynamic extraction (SPDE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We found higher levels of alkan-2-ones, alkan-2-ols, and some aromatic compounds in urine from males in musth than in urine from non-musth males or from females. Levels of ketones and alcohols increased as the urine aged, likely due to microbial metabolism of fatty acids. Protein-derived aromatic metabolites also increased in abundance after urination, likely due to microbial hydrolysis of hydrophilic conjugates. We suggest that microbes may play an important role in timed release of urinary semiochemicals during elephant musth.
DIRECTIONAL CYTOTOXIC REACTIONS BETWEEN INCOMPATIBLE PLASMODIA OF DIDYMIUM IRIDIS

Incompatibility reactions of somatic cells in the myxomycete Didymium iridis are controlled by several loci displaying simple dominance. Phenotypically dissimilar plasmodia generally undergo a temporary fusion which is quickly terminated by a cytotoxic reaction, whereas phenotypically similar ones undergo fusion which is not followed by such reactions. The size of the killed areas varies from microscopic up to a few square centimeters and is directly correlated with the amount of protoplasmic mixing which occurs. The amount of mixing itself is controlled by the incompatibility loci through regulation of the speed of killing. Each locus allows a characteristic amount of mixing and when two or more loci act together the amount is reduced by a subtractive effect. This results in a smaller killed area because of the more rapid cytotoxic reaction. Such a reaction is also unidirectional for each locus, with killing taking place in the recessive phenotype. Reversion of some heterokaryons to a homokaryotic state within 24 hours is considered evidence for the existence of unidentified weak incompatibility loci which act very slowly.