cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Silicon Carbide and Uranium Oxide Based Composite Fuel Preparation Using Polymer Infiltration and Pyrolysis

Ceramic composite pellets consisting of uranium oxide, U3 O8 , particles in a silicon carbide matrix are fabricated using a novel processing technique based on polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP). In this process, spherical particles of depleted uranium oxide, in the form of U3 O8 , are dispersed in liquid allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS), and subjected to pyrolysis up to 900°C under a continuous flow of ultra high purity (UHP) argon. Pyrolysis of AHPCS produces near-stoichiometric amorphous SiC at 900°C. Multiple polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) cycles are required to minimize open porosity and densify the silicon carbide matrix, in order to enhance the mechanical strength of the material. Structural characterization is carried out after first pyrolysis to investigate chemical interaction between U3 O8 and SiC. The physical and mechanical properties are also quantified, and it is shown that this processing scheme promotes uniform distribution of uranium fuel source along with a high ceramic yield of the parent matrix. Furthermore, the processing technique involves lower energy requirements than conventional sintering processes currently in practice.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Tyrosine Phosphorylation of the β3-Subunit of the αVβ3 Integrin Is Required for Membrane Association of the Tyrosine Phosphatase SHP-2 and Its Further Recruitment to the Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Receptor

Ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin is required for IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) phosphorylation of an appropriate duration and for stimulation of IGF-I actions. In vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 regulates the duration of IGF-IR phosphorylation and biological actions. We determined the role of ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin on beta3 phosphorylation and studied the role of beta3 phosphorylation in regulating both SHP-2 recruitment to the cell membrane and IGF-I-dependent biological responses. Vitronectin binding to alphaVbeta3 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta3-subunit in subconfluent SMCs and was accompanied by increased association of SHP-2 with beta3. In confluent SMCs, the beta3-subunit was constitutively phosphorylated leading to basal binding of SHP-2. The Src kinase inhibitor PP2 caused a concentration-dependent decrease in beta3 phosphorylation and resulted in decreased SHP-2 association with beta3 and with the cell membrane. In contrast to control cells, SMCs expressing a mutant beta3 that had two tyrosines changed to phenylalanines showed a 89.9 +/- 1.2% decrease in beta3 phosphorylation. This decrease was associated with reduced SHP-2 binding to nonphosphorylated beta3 and a corresponding decrease in the membrane association of SHP-2. When IGF-I was added to cells expressing mutant beta3, SHP-2 was not recruited to the Src homology 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase substrate-1 or to IGF-IR. This was associated with prolonged IGF-IR phosphorylation and an impaired cellular DNA synthesis response to IGF-I. These results define a mechanism by which ligand occupancy of alphaVbeta3 regulates the SMC response to IGF-I.
A simple device for measuring the volume of small objects

A simple and sensitive device for measuring the volume of small biological specimens such as eyes or brains is described. This easily constructed volumeter is more accurate than a graduated cylinder and does not compromise the integrity of the tissue.
Surface behavior and imaging of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione (tryptanthrin) via scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract Indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione (tryptanthrin) was imaged at the solution-graphite interface using scanning tunneling microscopy. STM images of the molecular monolayers show clear lobe-to-lobe resolution of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of the molecules, as well as a somewhat unusual parallel arrangement of the molecular dipoles. Evaluation of the dipole-dipole interactions reveals that the interactions of the closest molecule pairs are reduced due to a magic angle-like effect. These results represent an important step toward a more in-depth understanding of the behavior of tryptanthrins, which are of interest due to their potential as pharmaceutical compounds.
Flows in environmental fluids and porous media

SUMMARY This paper reviews some of the most basic flows that effect the dispersal of heat and mass in environmental configurations. Two important classes of environmental flows are discussed: free turbulent flows (shear layers, jets, plumes and wakes) and free flows in porous media (plumes, wakes behind concentrated sources of heat and mass, plumes, penetrative convection). These flows are ‘free’ from the effect of confining boundaries. The emphasis is on fundamental mechanisms and the methods (use the simplest first) that have been developed for the prediction and description of environmental flows. Copyright # 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1. ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Realistic models of energy systems demand the treatment of installations and their flowing surroundings together, more so when the installations are large and their spheres of impact greater. This unified treatment is the ultimate objective of the research interface called ‘‘energy and the environment’’. In this article I review the fundamentals of some of the most important types of flows that govern the behaviour of environmental fluids (air, water) and fluid-saturated porous media. On the fluid-flow side, the most important class are the free stream turbulent flows}shear layers, jets, plumes}flows that are free from wall effects because they are situated sufficiently far from solid boundaries (Bejan, 1995). We are particularly interested in turbulent flows because the flows that effect the interaction between our installations and their environments are highly turbulent. They are high Reynolds number flows. The smoke plume swept by the wind in the wake of an industrial area and the water jets discharged by a city into the river are examples of how our presence impacts what surrounds us. Free-stream flows rely on turbulent mixing to diffuse away our refuse and, in this way, to minimize the negative effect that high concentrations of such refuse (heat, species) might have
The prevalence of pathologic skin picking in US adults.

Abstract Objective Despite increasing recognition of the potentially severe medical and psychosocial costs of pathologic skin picking (PSP), no large-sample, randomized investigation of its prevalence in a national population has been conducted. Method Two thousand five hundred and thirteen US adults were interviewed during the spring and summer of 2004 in a random-sample, national household computer-assisted phone survey of PSP phenomenology and associated functional impairment. Respondents were classified for subsequent analysis according to proposed diagnostic criteria. Results Of all respondents, 16.6% endorsed lifetime PSP with noticeable skin damage; 60.3% of these denied picking secondary to an inflammation or itch from a medical condition. One fifth to one quarter of those with lifetime PSP not related to a medical condition endorsed tension or nervousness before picking, tension or nervousness when attempting to resist picking, and pleasure or relief during or after picking. A total of 1.4% of our entire sample satisfied our criteria of picking with noticeable skin damage not attributable to another condition and with associated distress or psychosocial impairment. Pickers satisfying these latter criteria differed from other respondents in demographics (age, marital status) and both picking phenomenology and frequency.
ExtendedThumb: a motion-based virtual thumb for improving one-handed target acquisition on touch-screen mobile devices

Screen size of mobile handheld devices such as cellular phones has been increasing, causing the decrease of thumb mobility. It is difficult for a user to hold a large touch-screen mobile device and reach a distant target on the screen with one hand. We propose ExtendedThumb, a virtual thumb proxy of the real thumb, to address this problem in single-handed interaction. ExtendedThumb reaches out to a distant target on a touch screen in the dragging direction of the real thumb but at a faster speed than the latter. Users can adjust the position of the virtual thumb by changing the dragging direction and distance of the real thumb. Results of an empirical evaluation show that ExtendedThumb significantly outperforms MagStick in speed and user satisfaction while achieving a similar accuracy. ExtendedThumb is also significantly better than the direct touch method in accuracy and user satisfaction. The findings provide insights into motion-based one-handed interaction with mobile devices.
The clinical analgesic efficacy of buprenorphine.

Summary What is known and objective Based on in vitro assays and select animal models, buprenorphine is commonly called a ‘partial agonist’. An implication is that it should produce less analgesic effect in humans than so-called ‘full agonists’ such as morphine or fentanyl. However, buprenorphine has a multimechanistic pharmacology, and thus partial agonism at a specific receptor is not particularly relevant to its overall analgesic action. We review published clinical trials that directly compared the magnitude of buprenorphine's analgesic effect to analgesics commonly considered full agonists. Comment Due to different signal transduction pathways, a drug can be a full agonist on one endpoint and a partial agonist on another. Therefore, we limited the present review to buprenorphine's analgesic effect. What is new and conclusion Twenty-four controlled clinical trials were identified, plus a case report and dose–response curve. Based on complete or comparable pain relief, in buprenorphine had full clinical analgesic efficacy in 25 of the 26 studies.
A new Rosalina (foraminifera) parasitic on a bivalve

Abstract In a collection of pelecypods from deep water off the west coast of Africa, several specimens of a new species of the foraminifer, Rosalina, are attached to the umbonal area of the bivalve. In addition, numerous attachment scars are observed on the exterior surface with interconnected penetration scars on the interior surface of the valves. It is speculated that the foraminifer made the partial or complete penetration of the clam shell in connection with its search for calcium carbonate for shell-building. From the nature of the scars on the interior of the valves, it is clear that the clam was alive, because there are mounded up shell deposits around some of the openings and others are completely sealed shut by shell material deposited by the clam.
Aerobic Respiration of Kappa Particles from Paramecium aurelia, Stock 51*

SYNOPSIS. Kappa particles from killer cultures of stock 51 Paramecium aurelia were purified and their respiration measured polarographically. The slight bacterial contaminations in the kappa preparations were not significant. Freshly collected kappa in dilute buffer at room temperature had an endogenous QO2 of 17.0 ± 1.6 μl/mg dry weight/hr (mean ± standard error). The QO2 decayed 50% in 5 hr. Among the sugars tested only glucose and sucrose increased the respiratory rate of kappa. The di- and tri-carboxylates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle stimulated the respiration of kappa. KCN, CO and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide (HOQNO) inhibited respiration. These findings ensure an organismic status for kappa and justify the belief that it is bacterial in origin.
Stereoselective heterocycle synthesis through a reversible allylic alcohol transposition and nucleophilic addition sequence

The abilities of Re2O7 to promote non-stereoselective allylic alcohol transposition reactions and acetal ionization or enone activation have been coupled for a heterocycle synthesis in which thermodynamics dictate stereochemical outcomes. The stabilities of intermediate allylic cation and oxocarbenium ion intermediates dictate the efficiency of product equilibration. Long range stereoinduction can be observed in the synthesis of spiroketals and spirotricycles through this protocol.
Resveratrol: Biologic and Therapeutic Implications

Resveratrol (3,4′,5 trihydroxystilbene), a naturally-occurring molecule known as a phytoalexin, is synthesized by plants in response to attacks by fungi, bacteria, or other injurious substances; it is also known to possess an array of cardioprotective effects. Recently, studies have shown resveratrol to protect against the metabolic changes associated with hypercaloric diets in mice with induced insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. Despite impressive gains in diagnosis and treatment, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a serious clinical problem and threat to public health. The metabolic syndrome, which identifies persons at higher risk for diabetes mellitus and CVD, is approaching a prevalence of nearly 25% of the western world. If the metabolic syndrome can be considered a polar opposite to caloric restriction, then agents that mimic caloric restriction may offer a new therapeutic approach to preventing CVD. The authors discuss the cardioprotective effects of resveratrol and highlight its role in glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism in mice. Armed with the ability to prevent the deleterious effects of excess caloric intake and prevent detrimental cardiovascular events, resveratrol merits proper clinical investigations for its efficacy in treating metabolic diseases and CVD.
Selective down-regulation of angiotensin II receptor type 1A signaling by protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 in vascular smooth muscle cells

The heptahelical AT(1) G-protein-coupled receptor lacks inherent tyrosine kinase activity. Angiotensin II binding to AT(1) nevertheless activates several tyrosine kinases and stimulates both tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphatase activity of the SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase in vascular smooth muscle cells. Since a balance between tyrosine kinase and tyrosine phosphatase activities is essential in angiotensin II signaling, we investigated the role of SHP-2 in modulating tyrosine kinase signaling pathways by stably transfecting vascular smooth muscle cells with expression vectors encoding wild-type SHP-2 protein or a catalytically inactive SHP-2 mutant. Our data indicate that SHP-2 is an efficient negative regulator of angiotensin II signaling. SHP-2 inhibited c-Src catalytic activity by dephosphorylating a positive regulatory tyrosine 418 within the Src kinase domain. Importantly, SHP-2 expression also abrogated angiotensin II-induced activation of ERK, whereas expression of catalytically inactive SHP-2 caused sustained ERK activation. Thus, SHP-2 likely regulates angiotensin II-induced MAP kinase signaling by inactivating c-Src. These SHP-2 effects were specific for a subset of angiotensin II signaling pathways, since SHP-2 overexpression failed to influence Jak2 tyrosine phosphorylation or Fyn catalytic activity. These data show SHP-2 represents a critical negative regulator of angiotensin II signaling, and further demonstrate a new function for this phosphatase in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Error-correcting codes for semiconductor memory applications: a state-of-the-art review

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of error-correcting codes for computer semiconductor memory applications. The construction of four classes of error-correcting codes appropriate for semiconductor memory designs is described, and for each class of codes the number of check bits required for commonly used data lengths is provided. The implementation aspects of error correction and error detection are also discussed, and certain algorithms useful in extending the error-correcting capability for the correction of soft errors such as α-particle-induced errors are examined in some detail.
Functional analysis and treatment of low rate problem behavior in individuals with developmental disabilities

Extensive research has validated the standard functional analysis as a useful technology for identifying the function of problem behavior in individuals with developmental disabilities. The assessment of low rate problem behavior is one area that has yet to receive a significant amount of research. Some problem behaviors may occur at rates too low to be observed during a standard functional analysis, despite the fact that they may be highly destructive behaviors. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of initiating functional analysis sessions contingent on the occurrence of bursts of problem behavior for producing interpretable functional analysis results. While a standard functional analysis did not produce definitive results with respect to behavioral function, the ‘low rate’ functional analysis produced interpretable results for all three participants. Two of the three participants were available for the evaluation of treatments based on their functional analysis results. Function-based treatments suppressed rates of problem behavior for both participants. Copyright # 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. A central goal in the assessment and treatment of problem behavior is the identification of an operant function. When the function of a behavior that is targeted for reduction is determined, then it is generally clear how extinction can be applied and the functional reinforcer can readily be delivered contingent on appropriate behavior instead of problem behavior. Previous research has demonstrated that functional treatment strategies can yield robust outcomes (Iwata et al., 1994a). Comparative research has demonstrated that function-based treatments are more likely to be effective than arbitrarily selected ones (Carr & Durand, 1985; Iwata et al., 1994a; Repp, Felce, & Barton, 1988). Some types of problem behavior may not be readily assessable with the standard functional analysis procedure. One example is problem behavior that occurs at low
The direct response of the gonads to cues of stress in a temperate songbird species is season-dependent

The gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) system in the hypothalamus is often considered the final point in integration of environmental cues as they pertain to the reproductive axis. However, cues such as stress and food availability are detectable in the plasma (as glucocorticoid and metabolic fuel fluctuations). Vertebrate gonads express glucocorticoid receptor, therefore we hypothesized that the gonads can detect and respond directly to cues of stress. We provide evidence here that, in addition to regulation by the brain, the gonads of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) respond directly to fluctuations in corticosterone and metabolic fuels by modulating sex steroid secretion. Using a 4-h gonad culture, we show that physiologically-relevant concentrations of corticosterone and metabolic stress (via use of the glucose utilization inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose and the fatty acid oxidation inhibitor ethyl 2-mercaptoacetate (2DG/MA)) can directly decrease testosterone and estradiol secretion from luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH)-stimulated testes and ovaries. This effect is regulated seasonally. Prior to the breeding season, testes and ovaries respond to corticosterone and 2DG/MA by significantly decreasing gonadal steroid release. Within the breeding season, the testes do not respond to these cues of stress, while the ovaries respond only to corticosterone. This seasonal difference in response may be due in part to the influence of these cues of stress on gonadal neuropeptide expression: corticosterone upregulates GnIH expression in the testes while metabolic stress upregulates GnIH in the ovaries. Thus the gonads can directly respond to fluctuations in corticosterone and metabolic fuels during a time of critical importance to the onset of breeding.
Electron-Rich Thienylene-Vinylene Low Bandgap Polymers

A series of alternating copolymers of 2,5-(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thiophene and 1,2-vinylene with well defined repeat unit ratios were synthesized and characterized electrochemically and spectroscopically. By increasing the vinylene to thiophene ratio from 0:1 to 0.5:1 to 1:1 along the polymer backbone, the bandgap of the resulting polymers were reduced systematically as clearly evidenced by absorption spectroscopy. The 1:1 copolymer exhibited an onset bandgap of 1.0 eV.
Black Immigrants and the Rhetoric of Social Distancing

This article focuses on the empirical evidence of social distancing in the interdisciplinary literature on black immigrants. I argue that the conventions that have guided popular and scholarly representations of relations between foreign-born and native-born blacks have been shaped by seminal writings in sociology. Treating interviews with black immigrants as sites of various kinds of discursive practices, my aim is to illustrate a shift in the expression of social distance that maps onto contemporary ways of talking about race in the US. I argue that social distance rhetoric is an expression of what black immigrants learn about race and ethnicity in American society. This reading challenges the widely held interpretation that social distancing accurately reflects individual subjectivity and collective identity.
Gender and the law: 25 years of progress?

This article reviews major U.S. Supreme Court holdings over the past 25 years that have affected women in the area of sexual discrimination, harassment, and equal pay in the workplace and reproductive freedoms.
Bacterial cytokinesis: Let the light shine in

Abstract Recent application of fluorescence microscopy to the study of the bacterial cell cycle has revealed the existence of a cytoskeletal element – once thought to occur only in eukaryotic cells – that mediates cytokinesis, and possibly another involved in chromosome segregation.
SU-FF-T-451: Determination of Optical Properties in a Heterogeneous Turbid Media Using a Cylindrical Diffusing Fiber

Purpose: For interstitial photodynamic therapy(PDT), cylindrical diffusing fibers (CDF) are often used to deliver light. This study examines the feasibility and accuracy of using the CDF to characterize the absorption (μa) and reduced scattering (μs′) coefficients of heterogeneous turbid media.Method and Materials:Measurements were done in prostate simulating phantoms. Liquid and solid phantoms were used (homogeneous and inhomogeneous, with optical properties of ⌈s′=7.5cm−1 and ⌈a=0.1cm−1). The inhomogeneous phantom had three tumor simulating inhomogeneities (⌈s′=15cm−1 and ⌈a=0.1, 0.3 and 0.9 cm−1). Linear light sources of varying lengths were placed inside the phantom through the atheter. In‐air measurements were performed to characterize the intensity profile of each linear fiber. Fluence rate was measured using a 0.5mm scattering tip isotropic detector that was moved along each catheter using a motorized probe. To ensure that the optimization technique was accurate, we measured the optical properties of each phantom using a well established method. Results:Optical properties were measured in a homogeneous liquid phantom by measuring the fluence rate along a 2mm pint source and compared against results using linear source method. The absorption coefficients were then determined using a method in which ⌈s′ was kept fixed. Using the determination of ⌈s′ from the homogeneous fit, we were able to determine the absorption coefficients with a standard (maximum)deviation of 5.6 % (9.8%) while using the fixed ⌈'s′ method, the standard (maximum) deviation were 6.9% (19%). Conclusion: We showed that it is possible to accurately determine the optical properties inhomogeneities (⌈a) using linear sources to a relative accuracy of better than 10%. Sensitivities for determination of ⌈s′ is quite poor using linear sources. Linear source method is more sensitive to detector optical heterogeneities. The effect of intensity profile on determination of the absorption coefficient ⌈a is relatively small — this is important for forward calculation.
Current transitions of superconducting whiskers

Abstract In long one-dimensional superconductors, such as whiskers, new, current-carrying states above the critical current were found that are due to spatially periodic solutions of the orderparameter and spatially periodic super and normal transport currents in parallel. These solutions lead to voltage steps in the DC voltage-current characteristic and are in good agreement with experiments.
Transient-grating Stark Spectroscopy

We describe a novel nonlinear spectroscopy that combines the high signal-to-noise of heterodyne-detected transient-grating spectroscopy with Stark spectroscopy, enabling sensitive detection of charge transfer kinetics. We demonstrate the method on the carotenoid fucoxanthin.
Flow graph analysis using linear connected regions

The concept and properties of the basic code block are extended to a generalized code region whose control flow graph can be entered at only one node and exited at only one node. Algorithms are given for the determination of all such regions in a program and the associated data flow information. Also, some applications of these regions to global optimization and code motion are discussed.
Neural activity and immediate early gene expression in the cerebral cortex

Immediate early gene (IEG) expression is dynamically regulated in brain neurons, in response to natural activity, and linked to neural plasticity. Because of the demonstrated importance of synaptic activity in neuronal function and development, it is anticipated that IEGs contribute to adult and developmental cortical plasticity. The IEG response includes proteins that function as transcription factors, as well as enzymes and growth factor proteins that can directly modify neuronal and synaptic function. An understanding of the mechanistic contribution of the IEG response to neuronal plasticity will provide information not only about basic developmental processes, and their disturbances in mental retardation, but may also contribute to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these developmental disorders. MRDD Research Reviews 1999;5:41–50. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Microbial community analysis of switchgrass planted and unplanted soil microcosms displaying PCB dechlorination

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pose potential risks to human and environmental health because they are carcinogenic, persistent, and bioaccumulative. In this study, we investigated bacterial communities in soil microcosms spiked with PCB 52, 77, and 153. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) was employed to improve overall PCB removal, and redox cycling (i.e., sequential periods of flooding followed by periods of no flooding) was performed in an effort to promote PCB dechlorination. Lesser chlorinated PCB transformation products were detected in all microcosms, indicating the occurrence of PCB dechlorination. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and clone library analysis showed that PCB spiking, switchgrass planting, and redox cycling affected the microbial community structure. Putative organohalide-respiring Chloroflexi populations, which were not found in unflooded microcosms, were enriched after 2 weeks of flooding in the redox-cycled microcosms. Sequences classified as Geobacter sp. were detected in all microcosms and were most abundant in the switchgrass-planted microcosm spiked with PCB congeners. The presence of possible organohalide-respiring bacteria in these soil microcosms suggests that they play a role in PCB dechlorination therein.
Bi-lipschitz extensions in the plane

We show that a bi-Lipschitz mapF from a subset of a line or a circle into the plane can be extended to a bi-Lipschitz map of the whole plane onto itself, with the bi-Lipschitz constant depending only on that ofF.
Spinoza and the Metaphysics of Scepticism

Spinoza's response to a certain radical form of scepticism has deep and surprising roots in his rationalist metaphysics. I argue that Spinoza's commitment to the Principle of Sufficient Reason leads to his naturalistic rejection of certain sharp, inexplicable bifurcations in reality such as the bifurcations that a Cartesian system posits between mind and body and between will and intellect. I show how Spinoza identifies and rejects a similar bifurcation between the representational character of ideas or mental states and the epistemic status of these ideas, a bifurcation to which Spinoza sees the radical sceptic committed. Spinoza's rejection of this bifurcation helps to explain some of his most cryptic statements concerning scepticism and also reveals a promising and highly metaphysical strategy for understanding and responding to scepticism.
Fuzzy information systems: managing uncertainty in databases and information retrieval systems

Abstract Querying for information is a commonality between databases and information retrieval systems. For both areas, there are a variety of issues relative to representation of uncertainty and its retrieval. This paper reviews these issues for both types of systems and discusses potential future directions.
Predicting the invasive potential of bladder carcinoma

The most effective therapy for patients with stage A, grade II through III transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is cystectomy. However, as only 40% of these tumors progress, 60% of the patients will be over-treated. This paper review the ability of the red cell adherence test, karyotyping, and DNA/RNA histograms to identify the 40% of tumors that will progress. All of these tests have their limitations. However, if patients with stage A, grade II–III, AB0 negative aneuploid positive tumors were subjected to cystectomy, the extent of the over-treated group would be substantially reduced.
Pragmatic Reflexivity in Self-defeating and Self-justifying Expressions

Self-defeating and self-justifying expressions are reflexive insofar as they pertain to themselves. However, the reflexivity involved is often pragmatic, i.e., does not entirely depend upon the logical properties of what is expressed but also upon the expressive act. In this paper I present a general account of pragmatic reflexivity and apply it to some familiar self-defeating and self-justifying expressions in epistemology. This application indicates some important, if often neglected features of the epistemological issues involved. The account I defend suggests that epistemology is particularly sensitive to pragmatic reflexivity since what epistemologists do, i.e., inquire, theorize, and defend theories, is also the subject of the inquiry and resultant theories.
Unfinished Business: How Litigation Relates to Health Care Regulation

Regulation by litigation" is a recently recognized trend in American legal governance that develops differently in each economic sector it affects. In health care, widespread litigation can be viewed as the product of three partial transformations: incomplete industrialization, incomplete consumerism, and incomplete social soli- darity. One can argue that the public turns to the courts because other actors who might exercise judgment and authority to resolve problems appear unreliable. Because liti- gation has several features at odds with sound health policy —i ncluding its cost, its hindsight bias, and its adversarial character—it may be necessary to develop new dis- cretionary institutions to address specific questions that regulators cannot or will not answer. Regulation by litigation is an emerging area of regulatory scholarship. Drawing on the multibillion dollar global tobacco settlement and similar high-profile lawsuits involving asbestos, lead paint, guns, and other haz- ardous products, lawyers, economists, and social scientists have begun to systematically assess the relationship between direct public regulation and large-scale private litigation. Superficial similarities between courtroom battles involving other industries and the class-action lawsuits that have been brought against health insurers —i ncluding the declaration by sev- eral of the lawyers who successfully sued the tobacco industry that man- aged care was to be their next target—have posed the question of whether regulation by litigation is a potentially important trend in American health policy.
Type I Truncus Arteriosus in an Adult

A 24-year-old woman is the oldest patient in whom a diagnosis of true truncus arteriosus was made during life and confirmed by cineangiography. The patient has also had the longest known survival with a type I truncus arteriosus. Clinical findings were of interest
Contribution of inter-site variations in architecture to trabecular bone apparent yield strains.

Apparent yield strains for trabecular bone are uniform within an anatomic site but can vary across site. The overall goal of this study was to characterize the contribution of inter-site differences in trabecular architecture to corresponding variations in apparent yield strains. High-resolution, small deformation finite element analyses were used to compute apparent compressive and tensile yield strains in four sites (n=7 specimens per site): human proximal tibia, greater trochanter, femoral neck, and bovine proximal tibia. These sites display differences in compressive, but not tensile, apparent yield strains. Inter-site differences in architecture were captured implicitly in the model geometries, and these differences were isolated as the sole source of variability across sites by using identical tissue properties in all models. Thus, the effects inter-site variations in architecture on yield strain could be assessed by comparing computed yield strains across site. No inter-site differences in computed yield strains were found for either loading mode (p>0.19), indicating that, within the context of small deformations, inter-site variations in architecture do not affect apparent yield strains. However, results of ancillary analyses designed to test the validity of the small deformation assumption strongly suggested that the propensity to undergo large deformations constitutes an important contribution of architecture to inter-site variations in apparent compressive yield strains. Large deformations substantially reduced apparent compressive, but not tensile, yield strains. These findings indicate the importance of incorporating large deformation capabilities in computational analyses of trabecular bone. This may be critical when investigating the biomechanical consequences of trabecular thinning and loss.
Cerebral oximetry during carotid endarterectomy: signal failure resulting from large frontal sinus defect.

AN INTRAVASCULAR SHUNT is frequently used during carotid endarterectomy when there is concern about the adequacy of collateral cerebral perfusion. There is no consensus on the appropriate criteria for shunt use, however. The cerebral oximeter offers a potentially attractive method to objectively determine the need for a shunt and quantitatively assess its function. Changes in regional cerebrovenous oxygen saturation (rCVOS) apparently reflect changes in cerebral perfusion occurring during carotid endarterectomy.1,2 Declines in rCVOS also show generally good agreement with depression in spontaneous electroencephalography (EEG) activity3 and somatosensory evoked potential amplitude.4 Despite the parallelism of cerebral oximetric and electrophysiologic changes associated with carotid occlusion, there is not yet agreement on the specific rCVOS value indicating the need for shunt insertion. The rationale for this decision is based on the relationship between rCVOS decline and the appearance of clinical signs of cerebral ischemia in conscious patients. A unique opportunity to examine this relationship is provided during the testing of automatic cardioverter-defibrillators (AICD)5 and during tilt-table testing of syncopal patients.6 In both cases, unconsciousness was always associated with at least a 20% rCVOS decrease from baseline. This notion of clinically significant cerebral ischemia producing a greater than 20% rCVOS decline has been confirmed by others during AICD testing,7 high G-force studies of aviators,8 and carotid endarterectomy on conscious patients.9 The present case report shows the typical rCVOS change necessitating shunt placement and the oximeter response to proper shunt function. A rare, potentially confounding variable for cerebral oximetric measurement, a large frontal sinus defect, is also described.
Sensitisation to Cor a 14 and Cor a 9 is a risk marker for severe hazelnut allergy in children

Background Hazelnut-allergic children express variable clinical phenotypes. Tests for the diagnosis of hazelnut allergy are usually conducted on children presenting clinical symptoms following hazelnut ingestion, but also as screening tests after the discovery of a food allergy, mainly to tree nut or peanut. It is important to determine if molecular allergens could be markers of severity in hazelnut allergy.
Computer simulation of multipulse and fourier transform NMR experiments. II. Some simulations using the density matrix equation of motion

Abstract Some quite general programs have been written, using the density matrix approach, for the computer simulation of multipulse, and Fourier transform NMR experiments. Intramolecular dipolar relaxation and relaxation by an external random field are explicitly included. In the present paper we restict ourselves to AX and AB spin systems although the programs themselves can handle larger spin systems. The following experiments are considered specifically. (1) The effects of random decoupling on an AX system including both line-shape effects and Overhauser effects. (2) The time development of the Overhauser effect after the decoupling field has been turned on. (3) The 180°-τ-90° pulse sequence for AX and AB systems with selective and nonselective 180° pulses. (4) The effects of finite pulse power for a 90° pulse applied to an AB system. Machine computation of the relaxation matrix is considered in an Appendix.
Metal wires for terahertz wave guiding

Sources and systems for far-infrared or terahertz (1 THz = 10(12) Hz) radiation have received extensive attention in recent years, with applications in sensing, imaging and spectroscopy. Terahertz radiation bridges the gap between the microwave and optical regimes, and offers significant scientific and technological potential in many fields. However, waveguiding in this intermediate spectral region still remains a challenge. Neither conventional metal waveguides for microwave radiation, nor dielectric fibres for visible and near-infrared radiation can be used to guide terahertz waves over a long distance, owing to the high loss from the finite conductivity of metals or the high absorption coefficient of dielectric materials in this spectral range. Furthermore, the extensive use of broadband pulses in the terahertz regime imposes an additional constraint of low dispersion, which is necessary for compatibility with spectroscopic applications. Here we show how a simple waveguide, namely a bare metal wire, can be used to transport terahertz pulses with virtually no dispersion, low attenuation, and with remarkable structural simplicity. As an example of this new waveguiding structure, we demonstrate an endoscope for terahertz pulses.
Hydrodynamic Characterization of a Spin‐Filter Dissolution Device

The spin-filter dissolution device was characterized using a two-dimensional convective diffusion model. Experimental model testing involved analysis of dissolution rates from nondisintegrating salicylic acid disks. The disks were prepared as double-layer tablets, with an ethylcellulose layer as a nondissolving surface. For each dissolution run, the disk was positioned so that the dissolving salicylic acid surface was parallel to the flow of the circulating fluid. Experimental variables included the stirring speed, the tablet radius, and the distance of the tablet from the stirring source. At the farthest distance from the stirring source, the average numerical exponents for stirring speed and tablet radius were 0.58 and 1.54, respectively, which compare favorably with the values of 0.50 and 1.50 from the model. When the dissolving salicylic acid surface was positioned closer to the stirring source, the numberical exponent for the stirring speed increased significantly, while the average numerical exponent for the tablet radius was lowered to 1.07, indicating a change is dissolution mechanism as a function of distance from the stirring source. These data indicate that dissolution rates are not necessarily proportional to surface area as predicted by the Nernst equation and that distance from the stirring source is significant.
Modeling heterogeneous time series dynamics to profile big sensor data in complex physical systems

While a massive amount of time series can now be collected in many physical systems, it is a challenge to build an analytic model that can correctly profile the data because those time series usually exhibit various behaviors. In this paper we propose an integrated method to address the heterogeneity issue in modeling big time series data. We first extracts relevant features to summarize the underlying dynamics of those series. We present both linear and nonlinear feature extraction techniques, as well as a procedure to determine the right extraction method for individual time series. Given extracted features, our method further models the trajectory pattern of time series in the feature space. Both a regression based and a density based method are presented to profile different types of feature trajectories. Experimental results in a real power plant illustrate that our feature extraction and trajectory model are effective to profile various time series. Our method has been used to successfully detect anomalies in the system.
Relative Intensity Noise Performance of Wavelength Converters Based on Four-Wave Mixing in Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

We present a numerical and experimental study of the relative intensity noise (RIN) induced by the four-wave mixing (FWM) based wavelength conversion process in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The study is based on the RIN evaluation of the converted signal, under various operating conditions (input power levels and wavelength detuning) and input noise characteristics. A detailed numerical model is employed to simulate the FWM process, taking into account the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise, the wavelength dependent gain, and the interaction of four waves in the SOA (two input waves and two product waves). It is shown that for low noise input signals, the output RIN is determined by the power levels of the pump and signal and the wavelength detuning. Operation under saturation allows reduction of the output RIN levels with respect to the input
Patterns of Transition: The Shift from Traditional to Object-Oriented Development

While many of the changes that information systems professionals encounter are incremental requiring only modifications to an existing mind-set, others represent radical changes that require a fundamental shift in mind-set in order to fully benefit from the change. The goal of this study was to examine how software development concept thinking changes as individuals shift their mind-set to the object-oriented software development approach. The results indicate that the transition may not be as simple as a single "aha!" moment, but rather a series of cognitive shifts as constructs from the old mind-set are replaced by constructs in the new mind-set. In addition, this study identifies problems that may be encountered during the transition due to a lack of cognitive fit, confusion, and reverting to an inappropriate mind-set. The findings from this study may be used to decrease the learning curve and minimize the number of cognitive shifts experienced during the transition.
Olfactory but not vomeronasal mediation of scent marking by male golden hamsters

Although olfactory and vomeronasal projections to the olfactory bulb and to the rest of the brain are quite distinct, it is not clear how the functions of these two chemosensory systems differ. In these experiments we attempted to determine the roles of the main olfactory and vomeronasal sensory systems in mediating scent marking by male golden hamsters, a behavior known to be stimulated by odors of other hamsters. Lesions of the main olfactory mucosa by irrigation of the nasal cavity with a solution of zinc sulfate dramatically reduced the frequency of marking. The degree of reduction in marking was correlated with an independent test of ability to detect volatile odorants. In contrast, surgical removal of the vomeronasal organ had no effect on marking frequency. Thus scent marking by male hamsters is primarily mediated by the main olfactory system and does not require the presence of the vomeronasal system. These results are discussed in the context of a theory that stresses the importance of the main olfactory system in pattern recognition and, in particular, in many types of social recognition.
Flooding, mineral nutrition and gas exchange of mango trees

Abstract Two-year-old cultivar ‘Peach’ mango trees (Mangifera indica L.) were grown in containers with (+Fe) or without (−Fe) chelated iron in limestone soil for 7 months and exposed to one of three flooding regimes: non-flooded (control) and 10 or 20 days of flooding. Prior to the imposition of flooding, and about 80 days later, total leaf chlorophyll content (Chl) and foliar concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were determined. Initially, Chl and foliar Fe and Mn concentrations were higher, but foliar K, Ca and Mg concentrations were lower, in the +Fe trees than in the −Fe trees. After the imposition of flooding treatments, significant interactions were observed between iron fertilization and flooding treatments with regard to Chl and certain foliar nutrient concentrations. Therefore, the effect of flooding on mineral nutrition was analysed separately for each iron fertilization regime. For +Fe trees, Chl was unaffected by flooding treatment, but for −Fe trees Chl increased with increased flooding duration. For both iron fertilization regimes, foliar Mn increased with flooding and tended to be greatest with increased flooding duration. For both iron fertilization regimes, there was no effect of flooding on foliar N, Fe or Zn concentrations, and no clear effect of flooding on foliar Cu concentration. For +Fe trees, foliar P concentration was reduced in trees flooded for 20 days, but there was no effect of flooding on foliar P concentration in −Fe trees. Flooding resulted in reductions in foliar K concentration in −Fe trees, but not in +Fe trees. For both iron fertilization regimes, flooding resulted in a reduction in foliar Ca concentration. For +Fe trees, flooding for 20 days resulted in increased foliar Mg concentration, but there was no effect of flooding on foliar Mg in −Fe trees. Prior to flooding, net CO2 assimilation (A) was greater for +Fe trees than for −Fe trees. Six months after the imposition of flooding, A of flooded −Fe trees was similar to that of +Fe trees. The results of this study indicate that short-term flooding may reduce certain micronutrient deficiencies in mango trees grown in limestone soils.