cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wide-angle beam propagation using Pade approximant operators.

A new beam-propagation method is presented whereby the exact scalar Helmholtz propagation operator is replaced by any one of a sequence of higher-order (n, n) Pade approximant operators. The resulting differential equation may then be discretized to obtain (in two dimensions) a matrix equation of bandwidth 2n + 1 that is solvable by using Standard implicit solution techniques. The final algorithm allows (for n = 2) accurate propagation at angles of greater than 55 deg from the propagation axis as well as propagation through materials with widely differing indices of refraction.
Estimating working life for aircraft gas turbine engine disks at the stage of fatigue crack development. Part 1

Studies have been performed on the static and cyclic cracking resistance (failure ductility) of aircraft gas turbine disk materials at normal and elevated temperatures and at various frequencies and for various thicknesses. When the conditions of planar strain are violated for these materials and these geometrical dimensions, one can estimate the critical stress intensity coefficient K{sub 1C} from the critical loading P{sub Q} obtained on intersection of the 5% secant with the strain diagram.
An evaluation of out-of-hospital advanced airway management in an urban setting.

Objectives: To determine the success and complication rates associated with endotracheal intubation in an urban emergency medical services (EMS) system. Methods: This study evaluated consecutive airway interventions between March 2001 and May 2001 performed by paramedics from the Denver Health Paramedic Division in Denver, Colorado. Patients were identified and enrolled prospectively with the identification of all patients for whom intubation was attempted. A retrospective chart review of the emergency department (ED), intensive care unit, other hospital records, and the coroner's records was then conducted with the intent of identifying all complications related to attempted intubation, including the placement of each endotracheal tube. Results: A total of 278 patients were included in this study. Of these, 154 (55%) had an initial nasal intubation attempt, and 124 (45%) had an initial oral intubation attempt. Of the 278 patients for whom an intubation was attempted, 234 (84%, 95% CI = 77% to 88%) were reported by paramedics to be successfully intubated. Of 114 nasal intubations reported as successful by paramedics, two (2%; 95% CI = 0.2% to 6%) were found to be misplaced. Of the 120 oral intubations reported as successful by paramedics, one (1%; 95% CI = 0.02% to 5%) was found to be misplaced. Of the 278 patients, 22 (8%; 95% CI = 5% to 12%) had complications; three (1%; 95% CI = 0.2% to 3%) endotracheal tubes were incorrectly positioned, two (0.7%; 95% CI = 0.08% to 3%) of which were undetected esophageal intubations and one (0.4%; 95% CI = 0 to 2%) of which was in the posterior pharynx. Conclusions: Reasonable success and complication rates of endotracheal intubation in the out-of-hospital setting can be achieved in a busy, urban EMS system without the assistance of medications.
Ion-beam profiling of3He in tritium-exposed type 304l and type 21-6-9 stainless steels

The nuclear reaction3He (d, p)4He was used to determine3He depth profiles in high-energy-rate-forged Type 304L and Type 21-6-9 stainless steels following exposure to tritium. A sensitivity to3He better than 1 atomic ppm and a depth resolution of about 0.5 μm were achieved. The3He decay product provides an essentially immobile trace of the diffusing tritium, and as a result tritium diffusivity and solubility may be calculated from the measured3He distribution. Tritium exposure in these experiments occurred at 343 K under 45 MPa partial pressure. The diffusion coefficient obtained at 343 K was (1.6 ± 0.3) × 10−9 mm2 per second in both steels, while the solubility at 45 MPa partial pressure was 3700 ± 900 atomic ppm for Type 304L and 7500 ± 1900 atomic ppm for Type 21-6-9.
Element free structural acoustics for efficient shape optimization

Optimal shape design to acoustically tailor arbitrary radiating structures is one approach to optimal structural acoustic design that has not been extensively employed due to the added complexities inherent in the grid remeshing requirements. In the research described in this paper, the acoustic superposition method is used to determine the sound power radiation objective function and relies on prescribed virtual acoustic sources to match the structural surface volume velocity. The acoustic surface pressure over each element of the discretized model is then determined via straightforward matrix multiplication. Finally, the sound power radiated can be written in terms of a set of constant independent structural basis vectors each being modified by a dependent modal participation factor. However, using structural geometry as a design variable requires that the structural volume velocity be expanded using a new set of basis vectors upon each iteration. As such, the Raleigh-Ritz Method of determining modal participation factors which modify predetermined structural basis vectors cannot be used as this original set of basis vectors has changed with the geometry iteration. Therefore, the acoustic superposition elements must be numerically revaluated for each design iteration converging to meet the objective function. This results in a computationally intensive method that degrades design efficiency. Furthermore, the possibility of element distortion must be efficiently monitored and corrected if necessary during shape movements which further complicate the optimization. As such, a new meshless acoustic method is being developed that removes the need for the costly element by element integration of traditional boundary element analysis and relies only on matrix operations to evaluate the objective function. This results in rendering shape optimization more efficient in optimal structural acoustic design. To demonstrate, using a model of a simple radiation problem, it will be shown that numerical instabilities such as singularities and nonuniqueness problems can be avoided using meshless acoustics.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Seven Letters of Washington Irving

The Irving letters in the Rutgers Library were written in the years 1804 a nd 1805 by Washington to his older brothers, William and Peter, and to his friend, Andrew Hicks. They are more than personal letters, for even on this first trip abroad the twenty-one-year-old Irving contemplated the publication of a journal of travel. This article concerns two long letters about the first part of Irvings' grand tour of Europe when he stay in Bordeaux.
The infrared spectrum of an adsorbate formed from NH3 on polyerystalline Pt (111)

Abstract We have studied the infrared reflection-absorption spectrum of an adsorbate formed when an annealed polycrystalline Pt foil, presumably having a (111) surface structure, is exposed to ammonia gas at pressures in the range 0.1–10 torr. Isotopic substitution establishes that the adsorbate contains N2 in addition to NHx species. There is also CN present in the adsorbate, presumably formed by reaction of nitrogen with carbon impurities on the surface.
Advancing the defense in depth model

Systems and network defenses currently implementing a Defense in Depth (DiD) strategy frequently slow attackers' progress but do not act as a secure barrier. These systems of network defense methods are primarily comprised of static defenses focused on preventing attacks from entering a network by enabling the features of blocking access, requiring authentication, or analyzing traffic. To adapt to the ever-changing threat profile of network attacks, the DiD model must be adapted to be symmetric and focus on new vectors for defense instead of authenticating, blocking, or analyzing all traffic. Instead of a focusing on feature-centric network defense requirements, the DiD model should be redesigned to be a functional or capability focused model. Symmetry in the DiD model allows for the network defense system to recognize the insider threat, preventing data exfiltration and allowing attacks to be stopped at the originating network instead of being defended by the attacked network. Dynamic defenses must also be enabled, which change attack surfaces to proactively defend a network. New vectors, such as dynamic network addressing, enterprise computing resources, and network architectures, must be used by the DiD model to prevent attacks from reaching network, consuming attackers often limited resources, and securing networks in their design and architecture.
Focal brain lesions to critical locations cause widespread disruption of the modular organization of the brain

Although it is generally assumed that brain damage predominantly affects only the function of the damaged region, here we show that focal damage to critical locations causes disruption of network organization throughout the brain. Using resting state fMRI, we assessed whole-brain network structure in patients with focal brain lesions. Only damage to those brain regions important for communication between subnetworks (e.g., "connectors")-but not to those brain regions important for communication within sub-networks (e.g., "hubs")-led to decreases in modularity, a measure of the integrity of network organization. Critically, this network dysfunction extended into the structurally intact hemisphere. Thus, focal brain damage can have a widespread, nonlocal impact on brain network organization when there is damage to regions important for the communication between networks. These findings fundamentally revise our understanding of the remote effects of focal brain damage and may explain numerous puzzling cases of functional deficits that are observed following brain injury.
OBSERVATIONS OF JUPITER'S SATELLITES, 1662-1972

A literature search has yielded nearly 26,000 observations of the satellites of Jupiter, made from 1662 through 1972. The type (photographic; micrometer; eclipse, occultation, transit) and number of observations are tabulated in 5-year increments, and a complete bibliography is cited.
The Development of Practice Guidelines for Independent Living Donor Advocates

Living donors contribute to nearly half of all kidney transplants and increasing numbers of liver, lung, and intestine transplants.1 In 2000, a consensus statement recommended that all transplant centers which perform living donor surgeries retain an Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA) “whose only focus is on the best interest of the donor.” In 2007, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) required all transplant centers to retain an ILDA.2 According to the UNOS and the DHHS, the primary elements of the ILDA’s role include: [1] ensuring the protection of current and prospective living donors (DHHS); [2] being knowledgeable about living organ donation, transplantation, medical ethics, and the informed consent process (DHHS and UNOS); [3] not being involved in the transplant recipient activities on a routine basis (DHHS and UNOS) and being independent in the decision to transplant the potential recipient (UNOS); [4] representing and advising the donor, protecting and promoting the interests of the donor, respecting the donor’s decision, and ensuring that the donor’s decision is informed and free of coercion (DHHS); and [5] assisting the potential living donor in understanding the consent and evaluation process, surgical procedures, and the benefit and need for post-surgical follow-up (UNOS).3–4 Although the evaluation of living donors is a multidisciplinary process, the ILDA can have a significant impact on the donor, and indirectly the transplant candidate, particularly if the ILDA has “veto” power with regard to the surgery as recommended in the consensus statement. A recent national survey of ILDAs in the U.S. found that a wide range of educational backgrounds, disciplines (e.g., social workers, physicians, clergy), and practices exist across ILDAs.5 The recommendations for the development of practice guidelines are outlined in Table 1 and were, in part, based on the results of a national survey of ILDAs.5 The details of the survey results can be found elsewhere, however a summary of the findings, followed by recommendations for practice guidelines, can be found below.5 Table 1 Recommendations for Practice Guidelines
The E3Π–X3Δ Transition of Jet-Cooled TiO Observed in Absorption

Abstract The (0,0) and (1,0) bands of the E 3 Π– X 3 Δ transition of TiO in the near-infrared have been recorded by frequency modulated laser absorption spectroscopy in a laser ablation/free jet expansion source. The observed linewidths (FWHM) varied from 300 to 500 MHz according to the expansion conditions and are dominated by residual Doppler broadening in the unskimmed source. Data for the (0,0) band have been obtained for TiO molecules containing all the naturally occurring Ti isotopes but, for the weaker (1,0) band, only for 48 TiO. Rotational constants for the two upper state vibrational levels were derived by fitting the data to an effective Hamiltonian; equilibrium parameters have been calculated. The experimental results are compared to the results of ab initio calculations on the E – X system. Ab initio results for the b – a system and for the lowest 3 Σ − state are also presented. They indicate that the D 3 Σ − state is not a very low-lying state.
Isolated thrombocytopenia in patients infected with HIV: Treatment with intravenous gammaglobulin

Isolated thrombocytopenia occurs frequently in patients infected with HIV. Studies of mechanisms of thrombocytopenia and clinical response to therapy suggest that the thrombocytopenia is often antibody mediated (ITP). The best approach to treatment of these patients is uncertain in that the routine modalities (steroids, splenectomy, vinca alkaloids) that are used to increase the platelet count in patients with classic ITP are known to be immunosuppressive. We report here the results of intravenous gammaglobulin (IVGG) treatment of 22 patients with HIV-related acute and chronic ITP who had severe thrombocytopenia and bleeding symptoms. Only one patient had an opportunistic infection at the time of treatment. Eight patients were homosexual, eight had hemophilia, three were i.v. drug abusers, two children had congenital acquisition of HIV, and one was the wife of an HIV + i.v. drug abuser. The average pretreatment platelet count was 22,000/microliter (hemophiliacs were treated at higher platelet counts than were the other patients), and the mean peak platelet count measured on days 5 to 8 was 182,000/microliter. Nineteen of 22 patients had peak platelet counts greater than 50,000/microliter following IVGG and 17/22 had peak counts greater than 100,000/microliter. After the initial infusions, all but three refractory patients could maintain adequate platelet counts with IVGG alone infused no more often than once every 2 weeks. The outcomes for the 22 patients after multiple maintenance IVGG infusions were remission, 5; stable without therapy, 1; maintenance, 13; and refractory, 3. The eight hemophiliacs with ITP responded better than did the eight homosexual ITP patients; their mean peak platelet count was 227,000/microliter versus 142,000/microliter in the homosexuals. In summary, patients with HIV-related ITP without opportunistic infections responded well to IVGG, with peak platelet counts comparable to those of ITP patients not infected with HIV. IVGG may be a useful therapy of ITP in HIV+ patients, since it appears to be less immunosuppressive than are conventional therapies, and none of the 22 HIV+ patients developed an opportunistic infection while receiving IVGG alone.
Roles of heat-shock proteins in innate and adaptive immunity

Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are the most abundant and ubiquitous soluble intracellular proteins. In single-cell organisms, invertebrates and vertebrates, they perform a multitude of housekeeping functions that are essential for cellular survival. In higher vertebrates, their ability to interact with a wide range of proteins and peptides--a property that is shared by major histocompatibility complex molecules--has made the HSPs uniquely suited to an important role in organismal survival by their participation in innate and adaptive immune responses. The immunological properties of HSPs enable them to be used in new immunotherapies of cancers and infections.
The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27Kip1 and p21Cip1 cooperate to restrict proliferative life span in differentiating ovarian cells.

The timing of cellular exit from the cell cycle during differentiation is specific for each cell type or lineage. Granulosa cells in the ovary establish quiescence within several hours after the ovulation-inducing luteinizing hormone surge, whereas they undergo differentiation into corpora lutea. The expression of Cdk inhibitors p21Cip1/Waf1 and p27Kip1 is up-regulated during this process, suggesting that these cell cycle inhibitors are involved in restricting proliferative capacity of differentiating granulosa cells. Here we demonstrate that the lack of p27Kip1 and p21Cip1 synergistically renders granulosa cells extended an proliferative life span. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that corpora lutea of p27Kip1, p21Cip1double-null mice showed large numbers of cells with bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and high proliferative cell nuclear antigen expression, which were more remarkable than those in p27Kip1single-deficient mice showing modest hyperproliferation. In contrast, differentiating granulosa cells in p21Cip1-deficient mice ceased proliferation similarly to those in wild-type mice. Interestingly, granulosa cells isolated from p27Kip1, p21Cip1 double-null mice exhibited markedly prolonged proliferative life span in culture, unlike cells with other genotypes. Cultured p27Kip1, p21Cip1 double-null granulosa cells maintained expression of steroidogenic enzymes and gonadotropin receptors through 8–10 passages and could undergo further differentiation in responses to cAMP accumulation. Thus, the cooperation of p27Kip1 and p21Cip1 is critical for withdrawal of granulosa cells from the cell cycle, in concert with luteal differentiation and possibly culture-induced senescence.
Complex oligosaccharides are N-linked to Kv3 voltage-gated K+ channels in rat brain.

Neuronal Kv3 voltage-gated K+ channels have two absolutely conserved N-glycosylation sites. Here, it is shown that Kv3.1, 3.3, and 3.4 channels are N-glycosylated in rat brain. Digestion of total brain membranes with peptide N glycosidase F (PNGase F) produced faster migrating immunobands than those of undigested membranes. Additionally, partial PNGase F digests showed that both sites are occupied by oligosaccharides. Neuraminidase treatment produced a smaller immunoband shift relative to PNGase F treatment. These results indicate that both sites are highly available and occupied by N-linked oligosaccharides for Kv3.1, 3.3, and 3.4 in rat brain, and furthermore that at least one oligosaccharide is of complex type. Additionally, these results point to an extracytoplasmic S1–S2 linker in Kv3 proteins expressed in native membranes. We suggest that N-glycosylation processing of Kv3 channels is critical for the expression of K+ currents at the surface of neurons, and perhaps contributes to the pathophysiology of congenital disorders of glycosylation.
Particle range and energy deposition in materials containing voids

Abstract The manner in which voids affect both the range and the energy deposition of energetic charged particles in irradiated metals has been investigated. Calculations of energy deposition for 5 MeV Cu++ ions and 1 MeV protons incident on Fe indicate uncertainties in these quantities that increase with penetration distance. Mass density corrections adequately account for the presence of voids, except at the end of range where the contribution of void-induced straggling can be significant. The extension of the average range in these samples can be appreciable, depending upon the relationship between swelling and dose.
Who cares? Perceptions of the physician-patient relationship among youth with HIV.

The purpose of this study was to assess (a) perceptions of the physician-patient relationship among youth with HIV and (b) the relationship between the perceived physician-patient relationship and disease management variables. Participants were 72 youth with HIV ages 13–24. The Patient Reactions Assessment (PRA) and the Adolescent Patient-Provider Interaction Scale (APPIS) were administered. Results suggest positive perceptions among youth with HIV about their relationship with their physicians. There was a significant correlation between PRA and APPIS scores. However, there were no significant correlations between scores on the PRA and APPIS and demographic or disease management variables.
Stories from Five Decades: How One Teacher's Theatricality, Courage, and Creativity Shaped a Life's Work

Stories of veteran teachers have much to contribute to our understanding of how to approach the current problem of teacher attrition. We examined the stories of one teacher, Betty Peck, who had more than 50 years' experience teaching, with the goal to explore what dispositions she considered most important to her resilience as a teacher. We found that Betty described her inclinations to be theatrical, creative, and courageous. At a time when reductive conceptions of teaching and learning abound, Betty's colorful stories remind us of the personal and ultimately idiosyncratic nature of teaching. It is our hope that Betty's stories encourage novice teachers to cultivate their own authentic dispositions in order to build careers that are rich and authentic enough to sustain them over a lifetime of teaching.
Assuming my Transformation: Transforming my Assumptions

As a White, middle-class, English-speaking female of the type commonly found in teacher education programs, I have had to learn how to use my perspective to challenge the assumptions of the “typical” student teachers for whom I am a teacher educator. This self-study describes how I have been transformed by this learning process. Studying my teaching has provided me with opportunities to challenge my own assumptions about teacher education and to confront my issues of control and ambiguity as they relate to teaching.
Mechanical and pharmacologic catheter-directed thrombolysis treatment of severe, symptomatic, bilateral deep vein thrombosis with congenital absence of the inferior vena cava

We report the use of mechanical and pharmacologic catheter-directed thrombolysis in treating deep vein thrombosis with congenital absence of the inferior vena cava The patient presented with disabling bilateral lower extremity swelling and pain and was found to have extensive bilateral iliofemoral deep vein thromboses. Genetic testing revealed a factor V Leiden mutation. The patient underwent thrombolysis using a Possis (MEDRAD Inc, Warrendale, Pa) catheter and overnight infusion of tissue plasminogen activator. The patient tolerated the procedure well, with prompt return to daily activities. He remains free of symptoms at 3 years on oral anticoagulation, with a patent venous architecture.
The role of titanium in the non-metallic inclusions which nucleate acicular ferrite in the Submerged ARC Weld (Saw) fusion zones of Navy HY-100 steel

The origin of acicular ferrite in the weld metal of submerged arc weldments on high strength steels is very complex and depends upon the chemical composition for the steel base plate and filler wire, the composition of the flux used during welding and the cooling rate of the weld metal during the transformation of the undercooled metastable austenite. The strength and toughness of weld metal improves as the amount of acicular ferrite increases due its fine basket weave microstructure and so it is important to understand the mechanism of its formation so that the volume fraction of acicular ferrite can be maximized in steel weld metal. The chemical composition of the filler wire mostly determines the final composition of the weld metal although the composition of the base plate is important because of dilution effects. In high strength steels the alloying elements such as carbon, nickel, chromium, copper nd niobium are present to achieve the required strength levels and a fortuitous outcome of this is a continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram with features that mean that bainite is the major transformation product during the arc welding of these steels provided a suitable weld power and preheat/interpass temperature is chosen duringmore » multi-run welding. Once a suitable weld-metal hardenability and cooling rate has been established the amount of acicular ferrite nucleated will depend on the size, number, distribution and chemical composition of the non-metallic inclusions. Suitable inclusions appear to be in the size range 0.2--2.0 micrometers with a mean size of 0.5 micrometers being about an optimum value. These inclusions usually contain manganese, silicon, aluminum and titanium as their major constituents and do not appear to be exactly spherical but have a faceted or slightly angular appearance.« less
Type feedback vs. concrete type inference: a comparison of optimization techniques for object-oriented languages

Two promising optimization techniques for object-oriented languages are type feedback (profile-based receiver class prediction) and concrete type inference (static analysis). We directly compare the two techniques, evaluating their effectiveness on a suite of 23 SELF programs while keeping other factors constant.Our results show that both systems inline over 95% of all sends and deliver similar overall performance with one exception: SELF's automatic coercion of machine integers to arbitrary-precision integers upon overflow confounds type inference and slows down arithmetic-intensive benchmarks.We discuss several other issues which, given the comparable run-time performance, may influence the choice between type feedback and type inference.
Effect of low‐dose γ‐radiation on individual phospholipids in aqueous suspension

A series of individual phospholipids (phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylserines and phosphatidylglycerols) containing either saturated or unsaturated fatty acid chains was irradiated at 9.66 kGy and 0–4°C in aqueous suspension. The phospholipids were analyzed by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a silica column with an evaporative light scattering detector. Phospholipid disappearance and production of two radiolytic products, phosphatidic acid and the lysophospholipid, after irradiation were quantitated from calibration curves of synthetic standards. Dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid and monopalmitoylphosphatidylcholine from irradiated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine were identified by liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry.
Determination of anthraquinone in paper and wood using supercritical fluid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

Abstract Anthraquinone is extracted from Kraft paper and pine plywood sawdust using supercritical fluid carbon fioxide at 8000 p.s.i. and 65°C. Quantitative extraction requires only 20 min, does not lead to formation of emulsions or other phase separation problems as does solvent extraction, and is far faster than Soxhlet extraction, which requires at least 4 h to extract 82% of the anthraquinone. The anthraquinone is determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with reductive electrochemical detection at a silver electrode at − 1.1 V vs. calomel. The minimum detectable quantity of anthraquinone is 210 pg and response is linear over at least 4 orders of magnitude.
Engineered Resilient Systems: A DoD Perspective

Department of Defense (DoD) systems are required to be trusted and effective in a wide range of operational contexts with the ability to respond to new or changing conditions through modified tactics, appropriate reconfiguration, or replacement. As importantly, these systems are required to exhibit predictable and graceful degradation outside their designed performance envelope. For these systems to be included in the force structure, they need to be manufacturable, readily deployable, sustainable, easily modifiable, and cost-effective. Collectively, these requirements inform the definition of resilient DoD systems. This paper explores the properties and tradeoffs for engineered resilient systems in the military context. It reviews various perspectives on resilience, overlays DoD requirements on these perspectives, and presents DoD challenges in realizing and rapidly fielding resilient systems. This paper also presents promising research themes that need to be pursued by the research community to help the DoD realize the vision of affordable, adaptable, and effective systems. This paper concludes with a discussion of specific DoD systems that can potentially benefit from resilience and stresses the need for sustaining a community of interest in this important area.
Encounter of a racially mixed group with stressful situations

This conceptual article focuses on the dynamics of ethnically/racially mixed groups in the encounter with a highly stressful situation. To inform the understanding of groups at the intersection of stress and racially mixed group composition, stress and group work literature is critically reviewed and analyzed. Anchored in theoretical, clinical and empirical literature about small groups as microcosms of societal structure and power relationships, specifically as it relates to race and ethnicity, group processes that occur when an ethnically/racially mixed group experiences a stressful event are discussed . The challenges that such an experience poses to the group are presented and illustrated by the use of anecdotal examples from the author’s national and international experience as a social work practitioner, educator and trainer. Implications for practice and directions for future research are offered .
Life cycle economic and environmental implications of using nanocomposites in automobiles

By reducing the energy and materials required to provide goods and services, nanotechnology has the potential to provide more appealing products while improving environmental performance and sustainability. Whether and how soon this potential could be realized depends on phrasing the right research and development (R&D) questions and pursuing commercialization intelligently. A sufficiently broad perspective at the outset is required to understand economic and technical feasibility, estimate life cycle environmental implications, and minimize unanticipated negative impacts. The rapid rise in federally funded nanotechnology R&D dictates that consideration of societal benefits will have a large role in setting the R&D agenda. We estimate potential selected economic and environmental impacts associated with the use of nanotechnology in the automotive industry. In particular, we project the material processing and fuel economy benefits associated with using a clay-polypropylene nanocomposite instead of steel or aluminum in light-duty vehicle body panels. Although the manufacturing cost is currently higher, a life cycle analysis shows potential benefits in reducing energy use and environment discharges by using a nanocomposite design.
Impairment in gas exchange after granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in a patient with the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

We describe the previously unreported finding of reproducible arterial desaturation after successive injections of granulocyte colony stimulating factor in a orthotopic liver transplant recipient with the adult respiratory distress syndrome and antibiotic-induced neutropenia.
Generalized radiation impedances and reflection coefficients of circular and annular ducts

Morse's equation for the radiation impedance of a vibrating rigid piston is extended to give the generalized radiation impedances of all modes in circular and annular ducts which have arbitrary wall admittance and which terminate in an infinite baffle. The extended equation is reduced to a single infinite integral which is a function of the mode radiation directivity factors. An infinite matrix equation is derived which relates the generalized mode reflection coefficients to the radiation impedances. Results are presented which show that the duct-wall admittance is a significant parameter in the effect of duct-determination reflections and that mode-coupling reflection effects may be more important than direct-mode reflection effects.
Internet Use Among College Students: An Exploratory Study

The author and associates surveyed 1,300 college students in classrooms at eight academic institutions to identify how the students' use of the Internet has affected their social or academic lives. Although the typical Internet-using student uses the Internet for 100 minutes per day, a small group of students use the Internet to a degree that interferes with other aspects of their lives. Most of them are men and are found among the hard science academic majors. Some ideas for dealing with this problem are suggested.
Derivatives of Poly(Alkyl/Arylphosphazenes)

Polyphosphazenes with simple alkyl and aryl substituents directly attached to the backbone by P-C linkages can be prepared by the condensation polymerization of N-silylphosphoranimine precursors. These simple polymers can then be converted to a variety of functionalized polyphosphazenes by derivatization reactions. In this paper, the synthesis and characterization of some derivatives of poly(methylphenyl-phosphazene), [Me(Ph)P=N]n, and the copolymer, [Me(Ph)P=N]x[Me2P=N]y, are discussed. These polymers include grafted copolymers, water soluble carboxylated polymers, and polymers with silyl, vinyl, alcohol, ester, ferrocene, phosphine, thiophene, and/or fluoroalkyl groups.
Single crystal silicon MEMS fabrication based on smart-cut technique

Abstract A new single crystal silicon MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication process is proposed using proton-implantation smart-cut technique. Compared to conventional silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer fabrication processes for MEMS applications, this technology can potentially result in a significant substrate and processing cost reduction. A silicon layer with 1.79 μm thickness has been achieved over an oxidized 4-in silicon substrate using the proposed technique. TEM analyses of the silicon thin film reveal single crystal characteristics, which is attractive for potential integration of MEMS devices with microelectronics in the same structural layer. Implant-induced defect density in the silicon can be substantially reduced to a negligible level through high temperature annealing. Prototype single crystal silicon MEMS structures, such as cantilever beams and clamped–clamped micro-bridges with a typical length of a few hundreds of micrometers, have been successfully fabricated as demonstration vehicles for future micro-systems implementation.
Visualisation of hrp gene expression in Xanthomonas euvesicatoria in the tomato phyllosphere

The plasmid pUFZ75 conferred constitutive GFP expression on the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (syn. X. campestris pv. vesicatoria). Colonisation of the tomato phyllosphere and invasion of tomato leaves by X. euvesicatoria was examined using both fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Xanthomonas euvesicatoria established a limited population on the tomato leaf surface, primarily occupying the depressions between epidermal cells and around the stomata, prior to invasion of the leaf via the stomata and subsequent growth within the substomatal chamber and the leaf apoplast. Additionally, hrp-gfp fusions were used to report on the temporal and spatial expression of hrp genes during epiphytic colonisation and invasion. Xanthomonas euvesicatoria cells carrying hrpG- and hrpX-gfp reporter constructs were not fluorescent in vitro on non-hrp-inducing LB agar but did exhibit a low level of fluorescence on the leaf surface within 24 h of inoculation, particularly in the vicinity of stomata. Cells carrying hrpG- and hrpX-gfp fusions exhibited high levels of fluorescence 72 h after inoculation in the substomatal chamber and the leaf apoplast. Cells carrying the hrpF-gfp fusion were slightly fluorescent on LB agar and showed no further increase in fluorescence on the leaf surface by 24 h after inoculation, but did show a significant increase in fluorescence 72 h after inoculation in the substomatal chamber and apoplast. The apparent low-level induction of the regulators hrpG and hrpX on the tomato leaf surface may suggest that some of the genes of the X. euvesicatoria HrpG/HrpX regulon are up- or down-regulated prior to invasion of the stomata while still on the leaf surface.
Relationship between luteinizing hormone and decidual luteotropin in the maintenance of luteal steroidogenesis.

Between Days 6-11 of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy, the decidual tissue of the rat produces a prolactin-like hormone, decidual luteotropin, which can sustain luteal progesterone production when prolactin is suppressed. However, this effect is dependent upon the presence of the pituitary. The present investigation was undertaken to determine whether decidual luteotropin and luteinizing hormone (LH) act together to sustain luteal steroidogenesis and if so, to find out whether the need for LH is due to the inability of the decidual tissue to produce LH-like material and/or whether LI-I affects decidual luteotropin production. Pseudopregnant rats with or without decidual tissue were hypophysectomized on Day 8 and treated with either 1.5 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)/day or with vehicle. Within 24 h, serum progesterone dropped in both vehicle-treated groups and decidual luteotropin levels declined by 80% in the decidual tissue. Human CG administration had no effect on progesterone production in the control group. Yet in rats with decidual tissue, hCG stimulated progesterone production for at least 48 h and maintained the decidual tissue content of decidual luteotropin. Progesterone, but not hCG treatment, maintained decidual luteotropin concentrations in ovariectomized rats. To compare the luteotropic activity of the decidual tissue with that of the placenta, pregnant or pseudopregnant rats with decidual tissue were hypophysectomized on Day 8 and treated with 1.5 IU hCG. Control groups had decidual tissue or placentas removed and were similarly treated. Human CG stimulated progesterone production only in rats with placental or decidual tissue. However, progesterone began to drop from Day 11 in rats with decidual tissue but remained elevated in pregnant rats and continued to increase despite cessation of hCG treatment. In addition, no hCG-like activity was detectable in Day 9 decidual tissue or in media from a 4-h decidual tissue incubation. In summary, results of this investigation demonstrate that in the absence of prolactin, LH and decidual luteotropin act in concert to sustain progesterone production between Days 8-11. The progesterone that is formed then acts on the decidual tissue to sustain decidual luteotropin production. The results also suggest that the requirement of LU may be due to the inability of the decidual tissue to secrete a LH-like hormone.
Education and black-white interracial marriage

This article examines competing theoretical claims regarding how an individual’s education will affect his or her likelihood of interracial marriage. I demonstrate that prior models of interracial marriage have failed to adequately distinguish the joint and marginal effects of education on interracial marriage and present a model capable of distinguishing these effects. I test this model on black-white interracial marriages using 1980, 1990, and 2000 U.S. census data. The results reveal partial support for status exchange theory within black male-white female unions and strong isolation of lower-class blacks from the interracial marriage market. Structural assimilation theory is not supported because the educational attainment of whites is not related in any consistent fashion to the likelihood of interracial marriage. The strong isolation of lower-class blacks from the interracial marriage market has gone unnoticed in prior research because of the failure of prior methods to distinguish joint and marginal effects.
Global Warming and Climate Change: An Observation

Global warming and climate change have been the topic of discussion among scientists, researchers, politicians, policy makers, members of civil society, and people of all walks of life for more than 20 years across the globe. This discussion started in the 1980s as the “green house effect” – warming of the atmosphere due to the absorption of earth’s outgoing long wave radiation by the greenhouse gases.
Model predictive control for impact-contact motion of a manipulator

In this paper we propose to use model predictive control (MPC) for the impact/contact motion control of a robot manipulator. The advantages of MPC when changes occur in the dynamical structure of a controlled system are investigated. The contact model used, derived from contact mechanics, includes a dynamic model of friction exhibiting stick-slip. The nonlinear MPC implementation is demonstrated with simulation results.
Linkage analysis of neointimal hyperplasia and vascular wall transformation after balloon angioplasty

Neointimal hyperplasia (NIH), a result of vascular injury, is due to the migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells through the media and internal elastic lamina leading to vascular occlusi...
BPF+: exploiting global data-flow optimization in a generalized packet filter architecture

A packet filter is a programmable selection criterion for classifying or selecting packets from a packet stream in a generic, reusable fashion. Previous work on packet filters falls roughly into two categories, namely those efforts that investigate flexible and extensible filter abstractions but sacrifice performance, and those that focus on low-level, optimized filtering representations but sacrifice flexibility. Applications like network monitoring and intrusion detection, however, require both high-level expressiveness and raw performance. In this paper, we propose a fully general packet filter framework that affords both a high degree of flexibility and good performance. In our framework, a packet filter is expressed in a high-level language that is compiled into a highly efficient native implementation. The optimization phase of the compiler uses a flowgraph set relation called edge dominators and the novel application of an optimization technique that we call "redundant predicate elimination," in which we interleave partial redundancy elimination, predicate assertion propagation, and flowgraph edge elimination to carry out the filter predicate optimization. Our resulting packet-filtering framework, which we call BPF+, derives from the BSD packet filter (BPF), and includes a filter program translator, a byte code optimizer, a byte code safety verifier to allow code to migrate across protection boundaries, and a just-in-time assembler to convert byte codes to efficient native code. Despite the high degree of flexibility afforded by our generalized framework, our performance measurements show that our system achieves performance comparable to state-of-the-art packet filter architectures and better than hand-coded filters written in C.
Reading Revelation Today: Witness as Active Resistance

The Book of Revelation commends bold witness-active resistance to powerful, deeply entrenched forces of institutional evil. This courageous witness may bring about suffering and even death but also, as in the example of Martin Luther King, Jr., the transformation of society.
Summer water clarity responses to phosphorus, Daphnia grazing, and internal mixing in Lake Mendota

Linear models were developed for predicting mean Secchi disk depth readings as a measure of water clarity for the summer months in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. The 20-yr (1976‐1995) data set also included external phosphorus (P) loadings and in-lake April P concentrations as indices of lake nutrient status, and monthly (28 d) water column stabilities and Daphnia biomasses as indices of lake mixing and algal grazing potentials, respectively. June Secchi depths were mostly controlled by food web dynamics, which dictated whether the larger-bodied Daphnia pulicaria or the smaller-bodied D. galeata mendotaedominated during the spring clear-water phase. May Daphnia biomasses were significantly greater in D. pulicaria-dominated years than in D. galeata-dominated years; D. pulicaria-year biomasses were also greater during the summer months. The model for the midsummer (July‐August) months indicated that Secchi depths were inversely related to April P concentrations and positively related to midsummer Daphnia biomasses and lake stabilities. Scenarios for midsummer Secchi depths were tested using the observed minimum and maximum values for each predictor variate. While holding two variates constant, April P, Daphnia biomass, and lake stability each resulted in relatively similar Secchi ranges (0.81, 0.81, and 1.17 m, respectively). Our results suggest that summer water clarity in eutrophic Lake Mendota is controlled by interacting ecosystem processes linked to land use activities, lake food web dynamics, and climate.
Science Signaling Podcast: 26 August 2014

This Podcast features an interview with Alfred Singer, Gil Katz, and Leonid Pobezinsky, authors of a Research Article that appears in the 26 August 2014 issue of Science Signaling , about a microRNA that plays a role in the survival of T cells. During development in the thymus and after maturation and migration into the periphery, T cells require signaling through both the T cell receptor (TCR) and the interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) to survive. However, because sustained IL-7R signaling kills T cells, TCR signaling periodically inhibits IL-7R signaling to enable T cell survival. Katz et al . have identified a microRNA that is induced by T cell receptor activation and inhibits IL-7R signaling by reducing the abundance of Jak1, a kinase that transduces signaling downstream of IL-7R.
Mesozoic magmatism and deformation in the northern Owyhee Mountains, Idaho: Implications for along-zone variations for the western Idaho shear zone

The northern Owyhee Mountains of southwestern Idaho contain granitoid rocks that are the same age as the Cretaceous western border zone of the Idaho batholith to the north of the Snake River Plain. They contain a well-developed and consistently oriented 020° foliation, zircon yielding U-Pb dates of ca. 160–48 Ma, and initial 87Sr/86Sr isotopic compositions that show a steep west-to-east transition in values from 0.704 to 0.708 over a distance of ∼30 km. The rocks of the northern Owyhee Mountains are interpreted to be the southward continuation (Owyhee segment) of the western Idaho shear zone. Similar to a well-studied section of the western Idaho shear zone by McCall (McCall segment), the Owyhee segment displays steep foliation and lineation orientations, deformation of 98–90 Ma plutons, steep Sr isotopic gradients, and syntectonic tonalite intrusions. However, the Owyhee segment has three major differences from the McCall segment: (1) significantly less well-developed solid-state strain fabric foliations; (2) trend of 020° rather than 000°; and (3) a wider transition zone in initial Sr ratios from 0.704 to 0.708. We present a simple tectonic model to explain these differences, assuming a 20° along-zone difference in the initial orientation of the western margin of the Laurentia, a rigid-body collision, homogeneous material behavior, and transpressional kinematics. For the Owyhee segment, the model predicts a lower oblique-convergence angle, less convergent displacement, more dextral transcurrent displacement, and an overall lower finite strain relative to the McCall segment.