cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of wafer-scale and many-output CCD detectors

The latest CCD detectors destined for advanced astronomical instruments are larger and have more output amplifiers than previous devices. Examples are the Semiconductor Technology Associates, Inc. 16-output STA1600 and STA1900 devices and the 8-output STA2200 Orthogonal Transfer Array CCDs. Back illuminated versions of these devices have been processed and evaluated at the University of Arizona Imaging Technology Laboratory and are the subject of this paper. Characterizing these devices has required new optical testing equipment and optimized techniques to efficiently evaluate device performance. This is especially true when even limited volume production is required. In this paper we discuss the hardware related to characterization of the large format (135 mm diagonal) and 8- and 16- output CCDs at cold temperatures, including quantum efficiency, charge transfer efficiency, noise, full well, cross-talk, and operating parameters. We also discuss related developments in dewar construction and operation, including a hybrid closed cycle and liquid nitrogen cooling system used for long-term testing, the characterization optical system, and related device packaging. We also describe the equipment for wafer level probe testing of the same devices.
Analysis of DNA bearing single-chained terminals by BNC chromatography

Abstract Native T7 DNA was treated with λ-exonuclease or exonuclease III in order to produce single-chained terminals on predominately duplex molecules. DNA treated in this fashion binds to columns of benzoylated-naphthoylated DEAE-cellulose (BNC) in the presence of 1.0 M NaCl and is elutable by a linear gradient of 0–1.0% caffeine. The concentration of caffeine needed to elute resected molecules is proportional to the length of the single-chained terminals for single chains ranging from 200 to 1300 nucleotides in length. A gradual decrease in the caffeine concentration necessary to elute molecules with terminals longer than 1500 nucleotides is observed. The BNC column therefore provides a simple method for the fractionation of DNA molecules based on the length of exposed single chains. Shear-breakage of resected molecules reveals that DNA possessing two single-chained terminals binds more tightly to BNC than molecules with only one resected terminal. Based on these results, a comparison was made between DNA resected by one exonuclease and the other. Significant differences were obtained which suggest that these methods should be useful for determining the mode of action of various nucleases.
Antihypertensive medication use is associated with increased organ system involvement and hospitalization in emergency department patients with anaphylaxis

Background Risk factors for increased anaphylaxis severity are poorly understood. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been associated with severe anaphylactic reactions in patients with hymenoptera venom allergy. Studies evaluating the association between beta-blockers and severe anaphylaxis have been conflicting. Objective To evaluate the association between antihypertensive medication use and increased anaphylaxis severity. Methods We included emergency department anaphylaxis patients aged 18 years and older. Markers of severe anaphylaxis were defined as (1) syncope, hypotension, or hypoxia; (2) signs and symptoms involving 3 or more organ systems; and (3) hospitalization. Antihypertensive medications evaluated included beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, and diuretics. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the association between antihypertensive medication use and markers of increased anaphylaxis severity. Results Among 302 patients with anaphylaxis, 55 (18%) had syncope, hypoxia, or hypotension, 57 (19%) required hospitalization, and 139 (46%) had 3 or more organ system involvement. After adjusting for age, gender, suspected trigger, and preexisting lung disease, beta-blocker, ACE-inhibitor, diuretic, or antihypertensive medication use in aggregate remained associated with both 3 or more organ system involvement and need for hospital admission. The adjusted associations between antihypertensive medication use in aggregate and 3 or more organ system involvement yielded an odds ratio of 2.8 (95% CI, 1.5-5.2; P = .0008) and with hospitalization an odds ratio of 4.0 (95% CI, 1.9-8.4; P = .0001). Conclusions In emergency department anaphylaxis patients, antihypertensive medication use is associated with increased organ system involvement and increased odds of hospital admission, independent of age, gender, suspected trigger, or preexisting lung disease.
Comparison of Three Commercially Available Serologic Assays Used To Detect Human Parvovirus B19-Specific Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG Antibodies in Sera of Pregnant Women

A split-sample study was conducted to evaluate the performances of three enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) utilizing one or more conformational antigens to detect human parvovirus B19 (B19V)-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) or IgG in the sera of 198 pregnant women. We compared EIAs available from Biotrin International, Inc. (Dublin, Ireland), Medac Diagnostika (Wedel, Germany), and Mikrogen (Martinsried, Germany). Specimens with discordant results were analyzed further using an immunofluorescence assay (Biotrin). Equivocal data accounted for close to half of all the discrepant results for both IgM and IgG, with 7 of 15 discrepant results from the Medac and Mikrogen kits involving equivocal data and the Biotrin kit giving a single equivocal result. For each specimen, a consensus was established from the four test results if agreement occurred among at least three of four results. Overall, the highest percentage of agreement with the consensus results was seen when Biotrin kits were used; 194 (100%) of 194 and 194 (99.5%) of 195 results for IgM and IgG, respectively, agreed with the consensus results. When Medac kits were used, 189 (97.4%) of 194 and 191 (97.9%) of 195 results for IgM and IgG, respectively, agreed with the consensus, and when Mikrogen kits were used, 179 (92.3%) of 194 and 193 (99%) of 195 results for IgM and IgG, respectively, agreed with the consensus. Given the consensus results, the Medac EIA appeared to generate presumed false-positive results for IgM and the Mikrogen EIA appeared to generate presumed false-positive results for IgG and IgM. In summary, the Biotrin EIAs produced far fewer equivocal results than the other assays and results of the Biotrin EIAs agreed more often with the consensus results than did those of the other commercially available EIAs for detecting B19V-specific IgM and IgG antibodies.
Common and Divergent Structural Features of a Series of Corticotropin Releasing Factor-Related Peptides

Members of the corticoliberin family include the corticotropin releasing factors (CRFs), sauvagine, the urotensins, and urocortin 1 (Ucn1), which bind to both the CRF receptors CRF-R1 and CRF-R2, and the urocortins 2 (Ucn2) and 3 (Ucn3), which are selective agonists of CRF-R2. Structure activity relationship studies led to several potent and long-acting analogues with selective binding to either one of the receptors. NMR structures of six ligands of this family (the antagonists astressin B and astressin2-B, the agonists stressin1, and the natural ligands human Ucn1, Ucn2, and Ucn3) were determined in DMSO. These six peptides show differences in binding affinities, receptor-selectivity, and NMR structure. Overall, their backbones are α-helical, with a small kink or a turn around residues 25−27, resulting in a helix−loop−helix motif. The C-terminal helices are of amphipathic nature, whereas the N-terminal helices vary in their amphipathicity. The C-terminal helices thereby assume a conformation very similar...
An experimental comparison of sediment-based biological filtration designs for recirculating aquarium systems

Common sediment filtration designs for recirculating systems designed for marine ornamentals fall largely into two major categories: sandbed and plenum-based systems. To date, there has been no experimental comparison of the relative performance of these methods for handling nitrogenous wastes in marine aquaria. We compared nutrient levels in a factorial design of aquaria: (1) with or without a plenum; (2) with deep (9.0 cm) or shallow (2.5 cm) sediments; and (3) with coarse (2 mm) or fine (0.2 mm) mean particle sizes. None of these experimental treatments have a significant advantage in the processing of nitrogenous wastes in recirculating aquaria; final ammonia and nitrite concentrations were below detectable levels, and nitrate concentrations did not differ significantly among the experimental treatments. After an initial stabilization period, most experimental treatments responded equivalently to continuous ammonium input of up to 0.5 mg/l/day. Results were qualitatively similar whether experiments were carried out in the absence of animals in a lab with nutrient input via measured dosing of ammonium chloride, or in aquaria with live animals and natural sediments. Sediment depth and particle size had significant effects on a variety of water parameter measures throughout the experiment. Overall, coarse sediments had lower buffering capacity (pH, calcium and alkalinity) and much higher final phosphate concentrations than fine sediments. Death rates in the live animal experiments containing shallow sediments were roughly twice (2.91 ± 0.46) those of the deep sediment trials (1.47 ± 0.46). Regardless, the presence or absence of a plenum had little effect on water parameters throughout the experiment. These results suggest that there is little benefit to be gained from the addition of a plenum plate beneath the sediments in recirculating aquarium designs.
Induced sputum cell counts: their usefulness in clinical practice

Airway inflammation is fundamental to the aetiology and persistence of asthma and other airway conditions. The presence and type of airway inflammation can be difficult to detect clinically, delaying the introduction of appropriate treatment. Induced sputum cell counts are a relatively noninvasive, safe and reliable method of identifying airway inflammation. They can accurately discriminate eosinophilic airway inflammation from noneosinophilic airway inflammation, and help guide therapy. Eosinophilic airway inflammation is steroid responsive whilst noneosinophilic (usually neutrophilic) inflammation generally is not. Macrophages containing haemosiderin can be useful in detecting left ventricular dysfunction and macrophages containing lipid are suggestive of oropharyngeal reflux with microaspiration, both of which can complicate or confuse assessment of airway disease. To date, studies using induced sputum are primarily observational. Management studies based on examination of induced sputum are now needed to validate the clinical utility of this test.
Book Review: On the Social Development of Antisocial Behaviour

Books reviewed in this article: Michael Rutter, Henri Giller and Ann Hagell, Antisocial Behaviourby Young People
Effects of diadenosine 5′,5ṫ'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate and of adenosine 5′-triphosphate on the higher order structure of calf thymus DNA

Abstract The effective length and the hard core radius were calculated by scaled particle theory for high molecular weight calf thymus DNA in the presence of varying concentrations of diadenosine 5′, 5ṫ'-P 1 , P 4 -tetraphosphate and of adenosine 5′-triphosphate in aqueous millimolar NaCl. DNA became slightly more flexible in the presence of diadenosine 5′, 5ṫ'-P 1 , P 4 -tetraphosphate at concentrations of 10 −9 –10 −7 M. DNA was denatured in the presence of 5 × 10 −5 M adenosine triphosphate.
The history of Toxoplasma gondii--the first 100 years.

In this paper the history of Toxoplasma gondii and toxoplasmosis is reviewed. This protozoan parasite was first discovered in 1908 and named a year later. Its medical importance remained unknown until 1939 when T. gondii was identified in tissues of a congenitally infected infant, and veterinary importance became known when it was found to cause abortion storms in sheep in 1957. The discovery of a T. gondii specific antibody test, Sabin-Feldman dye test in 1948 led to the recognition that T. gondii is a common parasite of warm-blooded hosts with a worldwide distribution. Its life cycle was not discovered until 1970 when it was found that felids are its definitive host and an environmentally resistant stage (oocyst) is excreted in feces of infected cats. The recent discovery of its common infection in certain marine wildlife (sea otters) indicates contamination of our seas with T. gondii oocysts washed from land. Hygeine remains the best preventive measure because currently there is no vaccine to prevent toxoplasmosis in humans.
Plant regeneration from cotyledons of Prunus persica, Prunus domestica, and Prunus cerasus

Shoots were regenerated from the proximal region of immature cotyledons (with the embryonic axis removed) of Prunus persica (peach) and from the same area in mature cotyledons of P. domestica (plum) and P. cerasus (sour cherry) on MS medium containing (in mgl-1) thiamine-HCl, 0.4; nicotinic acid, 0.5; pyridoxine-HCl, 0.5; sucrose, 25 000; and 0.7% agar. The medium was supplemented with 0.0–2.5 μM indole-butyric acid and 5–12.5 μM thidiazuron. Cultures were incubated at 24 °C under 16h photoperiod. Shoots regenerated adventitiously over a broad range of thidiazuron concentrations and 2.5 μM indole-butyric acid in 35 days. The presence of the embryonic axis inhibited the development of shoots. Regenerated shoots of peach and plum were rooted on half-strength MS inorganic semi-solid medium with 2.5–5.0 μM indole-butyric acid. Rooted plants were acclimatized and transferred to the greenhouse.
A Fundamental Aspect of Supportive Care Delivery: The Nurse's Opportunity to Shape the Caring Encounter:

Recent advances in supportive care therapies have significantly contributed to the likelihood that a child diagnosed with cancer will be cured. Quantitatively recognized supportive care practices, such as central line care management, pain control, nutritional support, and blood transfusions are typically identified as the major contributors to these improved rates of survival. However, just as important are the more qualitative aspects of the nursing care delivery process. As a fundamental part of nursing's caring role, the encounter with patients and families offers unique opportunities for nurses to participate in the creation of a healing environment. Gaining understanding and skill at balancing professional relationships, while also knowing the risks of caring, are critical components of providing excellent supportive care to pediatric oncology patients and their families. The professional caring encounter is a complex and multidimensional process. Strategies for developing optimal communication and healthy professional caring relationships within the pediatric oncology setting are discussed.
On the application of polyelectrolyte "limiting laws" to the helix-coil transition of DNA. II. The effect of Mg++ counterions.

The techniques of the previous article are here applied to the case for which the solution contains, in addition to excess uni–univalent salt, one equivalent of divalent counterions per mole nucleotide. In agreement with the melting temperature measurements of Dove and Davidson for Mg++, it is predicted that a region of uni–univalent salt concentration then exists in which (dTm/d log mA+) is negative. It is further predicted, in accord with experiment, that in the presence of divalent counterions, the helical form of DNA is much more stable than in their absence.
Foreign-object damage and high-cycle fatigue of Ti-6Al-4V

Abstract Recent high-cycle fatigue (HCF) related failures of gas-turbine jet engines have prompted a re-examination of the design methodologies for HCF-critical components, such as titanium alloy turbine blades. As foreign-object damage (FOD) from ingested debris is a key concern for HCF-related failures of such blades, the current study is focused on the role of simulated high velocity FOD in affecting the initiation and early growth of small surface fatigue cracks in a Ti–6Al–4V alloy, processed for typical blade applications. It is found that resistance to HCF is markedly reduced, primarily due to earlier fatigue crack initiation. The mechanistic effect of FOD on such premature fatigue crack initiation and the subsequent crack growth is discussed in terms of four prominent factors: (i) the presence of small microcracks in the damaged zone; (ii) the stress concentration associated with the FOD indentation; (iii) the localized presence of tensile residual hoop stresses at the base and rim of the indent sites; and (iv) microstructural damage from FOD-induced plastic deformation. In view of the in-service conditions, i.e., small crack sizes, high frequency (>1 kHz) vibratory loading and (depending on the blade span location) high mean stress levels, a damage-tolerant design approach, based on the concept of a threshold for no fatigue-crack growth, appears to offer a preferred solution. It is shown that FOD-initiated cracks that are of a size comparable with microstructural dimensions can propagate at applied stress-intensity ranges on the order of ΔK∼1 MPa√m.
Three-dimensional alignment and merging of confocal microscopy stacks

We describe an efficient, robust, automated method for image alignment and merging of translated, rotated and flipped con-focal microscopy stacks. The samples are captured in both directions (top and bottom) to increase the SNR of the individual slices. We identify the overlapping region of the two stacks by using a variable depth Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) in the z dimension. For each depth tested, the MIP images gives an estimate of the angle of rotation between the stacks and the shifts in the x and y directions using the Fourier Shift property in 2D. We use the estimated rotation angle, shifts in the x and y direction and align the images in the z direction. A linear blending technique based on a sigmoidal function is used to maximize the information from the stacks and combine them. We get maximum information gain as we combine stacks obtained from both directions.
JUDGMENT PROCESSES RELEVANT TO DRUNK DRIVING

The present study uses psychological theories of judgment and decision making in analyzing cognitions relevant to drunk driving decisions. Four groups of individuals were examined: (a) those having multiple convictions for drunk driving, (b) those having one conviction for drunk driving, (c) those never having been convicted of drunk driving but, who admit to having driven while intoxicated, and (d) those who drive, but claim to not have driven while intoxicated. Cognitions examined included perceived drunkenness relative to legally allowable blood alcohol levels for driving, perceived probabilities for being stopped and arrested and being involved in an automobile accident if driving drunk, and drunk driving tendencies. Perceived probabilities of being stopped and arrested and being involved in an accident were evaluated as a function of manipulations of 4 cues in a 2 × 2 × 4 × 3 factorial design (Distance to Destination × Weather and Road Conditions × Number of Drinks × Time to Consume). Perceived drunkenness was evaluated as a function of the manipulations of two cues in a 4 × 3 factorial design (Number of Drinks Consumed × Time to Consume). Results indicated the presence of several misperceptions and inappropriate response tendencies that potentially can be modified with educational efforts. These results are discussed in terms of the differential impact of previous arrest for DWI on different DWI-related judgments.
Electron backscattering from a silicon detector from 0.182 to 0.579 MeV

Abstract The fraction of electrons normally incident on a silicon surface barrier detector giving up less than their total energy in the detector due to backscattering has been measured in a good geometry experiment for eigth incident electron energies between 0.182 and 0.579 MeV. The backscattering fraction is constant within errors over this energy range and has an approximate value of 0.134.
HIV-1 protein Tat produces biphasic changes in NMDA-evoked increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration via activation of Src kinase and nitric oxide signaling pathways

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) afflict about half of HIV-infected patients. HIV-infected cells shed viral proteins, such as the transactivator of transcription (Tat), which can cause neurotoxicity by over activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs). Here, we show that Tat causes a time-dependent, biphasic change in NMDA-evoked increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). NMDA-evoked responses were potentiated following 2 h exposure to Tat (50 ng/mL). Tat-induced potentiation of NMDA-evoked increases in [Ca2+]i peaked by 8 h and then adapted by gradually reversing to baseline by 24 h and eventually dropping below control by 48 h. Tat-induced potentiation of NMDA-evoked responses was blocked by inhibition of lipoprotein receptors (LRP) or Src tyrosine kinase. Potentiation was unaffected by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). However, NOS activity was required for adaptation. Adaptation was also prevented by inhibition of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). Together, these findings indicate that Tat potentiates NMDA-evoked increases in [Ca2+]i via LRP-dependent activation of Src and that this potentiation adapts via activation of the NOS/sGC/PKG pathway. Adaptation may protect neurons from excessive Ca2+ influx and could reveal targets for the treatment of HAND.
EFFECTS OF FIELD BRIGHTNESS ON AN INDUCED NEGATIVE AFTER-IMAGE PHENOMENON.

IF a coloured stimulus, a white stimulus, and relative absence of stimulus are repeatedly presented in that order for 0.017, 0.10 and 0.083 sec respectively, there are values of stimuli brightness at which only the complement of the coloured stimulus is perceived. This effect, first reported by Bidwell in 18971, has facilitated investigations of after-images; the decision as to which of two complementary colours is seen is more accurately made than are decisions as to the colour, intensity, or duration of afterimages. The study of induced negative after-images is of interest, as these phenomena depend on the relation between excitatory and inhibitory retinal reaction and may be used in physiological and pharmacological studies.
Intestinal permeability changes in rodents: A possible mechanism for degraded carrageenan-induced colitis

Rats and guinea-pigs were treated with degraded carrageenan (50 g/litre in the drinking-water) and their intestinal permeability was studied at weekly intervals over the last 4 wk of the test period by determining the recovery of orally administered tracer doses of [3H]polyethylene glycol (PEG-900) or D-[3H]mannitol in 16-hr urine collections. A freely diffusible dye, Azure A, was administered simultaneously to compensate for non-intestinal factors that could modify renal excretion. Animals were killed after a total treatment period of 5 months for rats and 6 wk for guinea-pigs. After 3 wk of carrageenan treatment, excretion of PEG-900 (expressed as a ratio of the Azure A excretion) in guinea-pigs showed a statistically significant increase over that in the control group. At autopsy, the caeca showed numerous macroscopically visible erosions of the entire mucosal surface and histological examination showed ulcerations largely in the mucosa with abscesses in the crypts. Although no such histological changes were seen in the intestines of the treated rats, even after 5 months, a statistically significant increase in PEG-900 excretion was again found compared with the control group. This increase did not occur when deoxycholate was administered with the carrageenan solution. No effect of carrageenan treatment on mucosal permeability to D-[3H]mannitol was demonstrated in either species. The results suggest that degraded carrageenan-induced colitis could be a result of increased intestinal permeability, since ingestion of this polysaccharide by rats increased PEG-900 absorption without causing mucosal damage.
Public perceptions of predators, particularly the wolf and coyote

Abstract This paper explores American attitudes toward, and knowledge of, predators, particularly the wolf and coyote. The data for this paper were derived from a national study of animal-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviours among 3107 randomly selected Americans residing in the 48 contiguous states and Alaska. Each respondent was personally interviewed in his or her home for approximately one hour. Additionally, special mail surveys of cattle and sheep producers and trappers were conducted. Responses to questions regarding attitudes toward wolves, coyotes, and a variety of other predators were analysed. Comparisons were made among a variety of demographic groups distinguished by age, sex, region of residence, urban-rural residence, education, and occupation. The views of livestock producers—mainly cattlemen and sheep producers—were also explored. Attitudes toward the wolf, coyote, and other predators were compared with attitudes toward other species, and factors identified as possibly accounting for these differences in species preference. Knowledge of animals and, in particular, predators was also examined and compared across various demographic groups. Additionally, groups characterized by relatively great like or dislike of predators were contrasted regarding basic attitudes toward animals. Finally, the study explored attitudes toward predator control, in particular alternative methods for limiting coyote depredations of livestock. Attitudes toward a variety of control strategies were examined, and distinguished among the general public and livestock producers.
Prediction of the Effective Thermal Conductivity of Discretely Inhomogeneous Media

An exact mathematical formulation and associated parallel computational scheme is developed by use of regular harmonics and the addition theorem for the harmonics to calculate the effective thermal conductivity of discretely inhomogeneous media consisting of spherical particles embedded in a continuous matrix. Exact calculations of the temperature field and heat transfer (with high harmonics orders of sphere interactions) are performed in various particulate configurations in which the number of particles is sufficiently large to represent a continuous inhomogeneous medium. Effective medium principles are applied to determine the effective conductivity of the medium. Reported experimental results in the literature are compared with the results from our analytical formulation.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The economics of benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment: A literature review

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common benign neoplasms in elderly men in the United States; it has been estimated that the annual costs of caring for these men exceed $4 billion. This condition is rarely life threatening, but often affects the individual's quality of life in varying degrees. There are several treatments for this condition, including surgery, with the most common procedure being transurethral resection of the prostate. Other treatment options include medication (such as finasteride and terazosin), balloon dilation, and watchful waiting. The cost associated with BPH depends on the severity of the disease and the appropriate course of treatment. The objective of this paper is to identify and evaluate the economic research papers that have considered either the economic burden or costs associated with alternative BPH therapy options and to identify key areas for future economic research. This review indicates that the economic studies of BPH are diverse in nature and greater attention needs to be placed on the societal appraisal of competing BPH therapies. Other research areas include the economic analysis of both short- and long-run BPH treatment options, increased cost-utility analysis, and the use of retrospective claims database analysis using regression techniques.
Molten droplet solidification and substrate remelting in microcasting Part I: numerical modeling and experimental verification

This paper presents a numerical model of a molten metal droplet impinging, solidifying and bonding to a solid substrate. The physical and numerical model includes dissimilar materials, multi-dimensional axisymmetric heat transfer, tracking of solid/liquid interfaces during remelting and solidification, and coupled treatment of the continuous droplet/substrate region. The numerical model solves for the evolution of the temperature distribution in the droplet and substrate, predicts the position of the remelting and solidification fronts, and accounts for convective motion. The effect of the convection induced by the droplet spreading is modeled through a time-dependent effective thermal conductivity. High-speed filming of the molten droplet impinging and spreading on the substrate is performed to obtain the required parameters to determine this time dependent effective conductivity. The accuracy of the model is investigated with experimental techniques. This research is directly related to the development of microcasting Shape Deposition Manufacturing (SDM) which is a process for automatically fabricating complex multi-material objects by sequentially depositing material layers. Microcasting is a molten metal droplet deposition process in SDM, which is able to create fully dense metal layers with controlled microstructure. Important issues in the production of high quality objects manufactured with microcasting SDM are: attainment of interlayer metallurgical bonding through substrate remelting, control of both substrate and droplet cooling rates, and minimization of residual thermal stresses. To validate experimentally the numerical modeling approach, predicted cooling rates are compared with thermocouple measurements and substrate remelting depths are verified through optical metallographic techniques.
Mean-field specific heat of CuGeO3

Abstract We have measured the specific heat of CuGeO3 using ac calorimetry. There is a sharp discontinuity at its spin-Peierls phase transition (Tc = 14 K); the magnitude of the jump is consistent with mean-field theory, and implies a nearest neighbor exchange interaction of 75 K. The ratio of the specific heat peak and temperature derivative of the magnetic susceptibility at Tc is consistent with the observed value of d 2 T c dH 2 , but this ratio and the activated behavior of cP below the transition deviate from mean-field behavior.
On the transition to intergranular fracture during high temperature deformation

Abstract The nature of the transition from transgranular fracture to intergranular fracture by wedge cracking at grain boundary triple junctions or by cavitation at grain boundary precipitates during high temperature deformation of polycrystalline metals is analyzed. To do this, a model material is constructed that is composed of grain matrix and grain boundary “materials”, each having its own steady state deformation law. The physical and adjustable parameters used in these flow laws are fixed in reference to the high temperature deformation behavior of type 316 stainless steel. The flow incompatibility between the grain matrix and grain boundary reflected in these equations can produce stress concentrations sufficient to cause intergranular separation under certain loading conditions. Characteristic times associated with the build-up and relaxation of stress concentrations at precipitates and triple junctions are calculated using these flow laws and the applicable diffusion equation. These characteristic times are compared with the cavity nucleation incubation time, and the conditions for fracture mode transitions are thereby determined. Simple rate ratio criteria obtained from these results indicate that, at a given temperature, wedge cracking occurs below the applied stress level where the ratio of the boundary strain rate to the matrix strain rate equals the ratio of the grain size to the boundary width: dot e b / dot e m = L/δ . “r cavitation” occurs below the even lower applied stress level where dot e b / dot e m = 10 7 for type 316 stainless steel. Model predictions based on these criteria compare favorably with published data on material deformed monotonically and in fatigue, including the effects of hold periods.
Serial pattern structure and temporal order recognition

Two studies investigated the respective roles of pattern contour (number of contour changes), rule invariance, contour shape, and rate upon the recognition of 8-tone auditory sequences. Tonal patterns contained 0, 1, 2, or 3 contour changes, which were introduced in conjunction with a randomly selected musical interval (rule-variant patterns) or with predictable (rule-governed) musical transformations (rule-invariant patterns). Patterns were either symmetrical or asymmetrical in shape. Listeners discriminated transposed standards from distractor patterns that contained an order reversal. In Experiment 1, where patterns occurred at a slow rate, performance decreased as number of contour changes increased. No effects of rule invariance or contour shape were found. In Experiment 2, where patterns occurred at a rate twice that of Experiment 1, more contour changes again had a detrimental effect. In addition, rule-invariant patterns were easier than rule-variant patterns. Results suggest that contour contributes to temporal order confusion in a systematic way.
Electrophoretic characterization of circulating human proinsulin and insulin

The serum proinsulin and insulin components of normal weight subjects treated with tolbutamide, or glucose and tolbutamide, were shown to be homogeneous on both Sephadex filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Serum of obese subjects treated with glucose and tolbutamide contained, in addition to proinsulin and insulin, two intermediate species when electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gel, i.e., desdipeptide proinsulin and diarginyl insulin. It is suggested that, 1. the conversion of proinsulin to insulin proceeds via these intermediates under physiological conditions, and 2. intermediates may appear in the circulation with excessive elevations of plasma immunoreactive insulin materials.
Resistance of the Spider Monkey (Ateles ater] to Infection with the Virus of Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis.

ConclusionsThe spider monkey, Ateles ater, like other new world varieties, is naturally refractory to experimental inoculation with poliomyelitis virus (monkey passage).
Reversed phase partition chromatography of steroids.

Abstract 1. 1. The reverse phase partition chromatography of several groups of steroids has been described using a cellulose acetate foil as the supporting medium. 2. 2. The sulfuric acid-induced fluorescence of steroids may be used for quantitation after chromatography on this foil. 3. 3. The recovery of cortisol from this foil averages 58%. 4. 4. Evidence is presented that the recovery of corticosterone and aldosterone remains constant for submicrogram quantities.
Harnessing Farms and Forests in the Low-Carbon Economy: How to Create, Measure, and Verify Greenhouse Gas Offsets. Z. Willey and B. Chameides, eds. 2007. Duke University Press, Durham, NC. 229 pp. $60 paperback.

This guide provides a vital reference for estimating changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon (C) offsets associated with land use change. The authors have done a wonderful job of compiling infor...
Teaching under the new Taylorism: high‐stakes testing and the standardization of the 21st century curriculum

The application of the principles of scientific management within the structure, organization, and curriculum of public schools in the US became dominant during the early 1900s. Based upon research evidence from the modern day era of high‐stakes testing in US public education, the fundamental logics guiding scientific management have resurfaced 100 years later, as teachers’ classroom practises are increasingly standardized by high‐stakes testing and scripted curriculum. As such, this paper offers a critical analysis of the changes made to teaching in modern times and argues that public school teachers in the US are teaching under what might be considered the ‘New Taylorism’, where their labour is controlled vis‐a‐vis high‐stakes testing and pre‐packaged, corporate curricula aimed specifically at teaching to the tests.
Temporomandibular joint prostheses: an alternative for impacted mandibular condyle in middle cranial fossa

The dislocation of the mandibular condyle in the middle cranial fossa is a rare condition with few reports in the literature. The authors described the first case reported of unilateral dislocation and fracture treated and reconstructed with a Temporo mandibular joint prostheses. Pre-surgical conduct, medical positions of the Neurosurgery, Radiology and Oral and Maxillofacial teams are described. Also, two years post-operative evaluations are detailed, including information regarding maximum interincisal opening, function, speech, pain and diet of the patient.
Numbers of Individual Nutrient Germinant Receptors and Other Germination Proteins in Spores of Bacillus subtilis

Germination of dormant Bacillus subtilis spores with specific nutrient germinants is dependent on a number of inner membrane (IM) proteins, including (i) the GerA, GerB, and GerK germinant receptors (GRs) that respond to nutrient germinants; (ii) the GerD protein, essential for optimal GR function; and (iii) SpoVA proteins, essential for the release of the spore-specific molecule dipicolinic acid (DPA) during spore germination. Levels of GR A and C subunit proteins, GerD, and SpoVAD in wild-type spores were determined by Western blot analysis of spore fractions or total disrupted spores by comparison with known amounts of purified proteins. Surprisingly, after disruption of decoated B. subtilis spores with lysozyme and fractionation, ∼90% of IM fatty acids and GR subunits remained with the spores' insoluble integument fraction, indicating that yields of purified IM are low. The total lysate from disrupted wild-type spores contained ∼2,500 total GRs/spore: GerAA and GerAC subunits each at ∼1,100 molecules/spore and GerBC and GerKA subunits each at ∼700 molecules/spore. Levels of the GerBA subunit determined previously were also predicted to be ∼700 molecules/spore. These results indicate that the A/C subunit stoichiometry in GRs is most likely 1:1, with GerA being the most abundant GR. GerD and SpoVAD levels were ∼3,500 and ∼6,500 molecules/spore, respectively. These values will be helpful in formulating mathematic models of spore germination kinetics as well as setting lower limits on the size of the GR-GerD complex in the spores' IM, termed the germinosome.
Cobinamide is superior to other treatments in a mouse model of cyanide poisoning.

Context. Cyanide is a rapidly acting cellular poison, primarily targeting cytochrome c oxidase, and is a common occupational and residential toxin, mostly via smoke inhalation. Cyanide is also a potential weapon of mass destruction, with recent credible threats of attacks focusing the need for better treatments, as current cyanide antidotes are limited and impractical for rapid deployment in mass casualty settings. Objective. We have used mouse models of cyanide poisoning to compare the efficacy of cobinamide (Cbi), the precursor to cobalamin (vitamin B12), to currently approved cyanide antidotes. Cbi has extremely high affinity for cyanide and substantial solubility in water. Materials and Methods. We studied Cbi in both an inhaled and intraperitoneal model of cyanide poisoning in mice. Results. We found Cbi more effective than hydroxocobalamin, sodium thiosulfate, soldium nitrite, and the combination of sodium thiosulfate–sodium nitrite in treating cyanide poisoning. Compared to hydroxocobalamin, Cbi wa...
A single material alternative to a multilayer optical window

Frequency selective surfaces (FSS) have been extensively studied for several decades and have been widely used for thin planar filters including band-pass and band-stop filters. A conventional FSS typically consists of an array of periodic metallic patches and the methodologies for the analysis and design of FSS are well developed. Moreover, in recent years advanced FSS design techniques have been explored and applied for a wide range of different applications [1, 2, 3].
Adaptive time series compensator for delay compensation of servo-hydraulic actuator systems for real-time hybrid simulation

SUMMARY Hydraulic actuators are typically used in a real-time hybrid simulation to impose displacements to a test structure (also known as the experimental substructure). It is imperative that good actuator control is achieved in the real-time hybrid simulation to minimize actuator delay that leads to incorrect simulation results. The inherent nonlinearity of an actuator as well as any nonlinear response of the experimental substructure can result in an amplitude-dependent behavior of the servo-hydraulic system, making it challenging to accurately control the actuator. To achieve improved control of a servo-hydraulic system with nonlinearities, an adaptive actuator compensation scheme called the adaptive time series (ATS) compensator is developed. The ATS compensator continuously updates the coefficients of the system transfer function during a real-time hybrid simulation using online real-time linear regression analysis. Unlike most existing adaptive methods, the system identification procedure of the ATS compensator does not involve user-defined adaptive gains. Through the online updating of the coefficients of the system transfer function, the ATS compensator can effectively account for the nonlinearity of the combined system, resulting in improved accuracy in actuator control. A comparison of the performance of the ATS compensator with existing linearized compensation methods shows superior results for the ATS compensator for cases involving actuator motions with predefined actuator displacement histories as well as real-time hybrid simulations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sales taxes on the Internet: when and how to tax?

As a first attempt to tax electronic commerce, many countries applied the existing tax laws to Internet. However, applying these laws to border-spanning electronic commerce proved very inefficient and inappropriate. While some authorities claim not taxing the Internet is the best solution for encouraging the growth of electronic commerce, we believe that use and sales taxes in general are an important part of a government's revenues and that their ban over the Internet is not feasible. Given the magnitude of potential revenues to be obtained from sales over the Internet, we need to consider when and how governments should tax electronic commerce. We focus on some proposals which try to answer this question and argue that a taxation scheme based on the location of the consumer is the best starting point for a global solution.
Drought-Driven Changes in Lake Areas and Their Effects on the Surface Energy Balance of Minnesota’s Lake-Dotted Landscape

Open water within Minnesota constitutes 11 830 km 2 and represents a significant proportion of the moisture available on the landscape. Because lakes absorb and store heat in the spring and summer, and release heat in the autumn and winter, they also play a significant role in surface energy budgets. Lake areas fluctuate significantly over time, and thus alter surface albedo and energy partitioning in the expanding and contracting lake margin. Observations of lake areas from the 1930s ‘‘Dust Bowl’’ drought were used to approximate the impact of changes in lake area and volume on surface energy budgets. A statewide map of lake area change constructed from historical aerial photos of 620 lakes shows trends in percent area changes that mimic trends in moisture balance. Based on the aerial photos and an analysis of lake bathymetries, the water volume removed from the land exposed around the lakes during the drought was 9.1 6 3.0 3 10 9 m 3 .T he total area of exposed land was 3300 6 800 km 2 . Based on a balanced energy budget estimate, the transition from standing water to exposed land at lake margins accounted for 1.12 6 0.31 3 10 11 W of energy storage across the state. The decreased heat storage resulted in a statewide average storage flux anomaly of 0.50 6 0.14 W m 22 with localized anomalies as high as 33.9 6 7.1 W m 22 . Large uncertainties exist, however, regarding the partitioning of the energy because of the wide range of potential albedo values for both land and water. As conditions warmed during the twentieth century, lake volumes have increased. Therefore, the assessment herein of the change in heat storage is relevant to comparisons of high regional temperatures in the 1930s and 2000s.
Volunteering in Dental Peer Review: Differences Between Volunteers and Practitioners at Large

This report characterizes differences among early and late volunteers, and non-volunteers for personal characteristics and situational determinants of volunteering in an experimental dental peer review study. Differences were found for volunteers/non-volunteers for some items representing subject interest, expectation of a favorable evaluation, sociability, and achievement motivation.
Module-specific regulation of the β-phaseolin promoter during embryogenesis

�Summary The phas promoter displays stringent spatial regulation, being very highly expressed during embryogenesis and completely silent during all phases of vegetative development in bean, Phaseolus vulgaris. This pattern is maintained in transgenic tobacco and, as shown here, Arabidopsis. Dimethyl sulphate in vivo footprinting analyses revealed that over 20 cis-elements within the proximal 295 bp of the phas promoter are protected by factor binding in seed tissues whereas none are bound in leaves. The hypothesis that this complex profile represents a summation of several module (cotyledon, hypocotyl, and radicle)-specific factor‐DNA interactions has been explored by the incorporation of site-directed substitution mutations into 10 locations within the � 295phas promoter. Only 2.6% of � 295phas promoter activity remained after mutation of the G-box; the CCAAAT box, the E-box and the RY elements were also found to mediate high levels of expression in embryos. Whereas the CACA element has dual positive and negative regulatory roles, the vicilin box was identified as a strong negative regulatory element. The proximal (� 70 to � 64) RY motif was found to bestow expression in the hypocotyl while all the RY elements contribute to expression in cotyledons but not to vascular tissue expression during embryogenesis. RY elements at positions � 277 to � 271, � 260 to � 254, and � 237 to � 231 were found to orchestrate radicle-specific repression. The G-box appears to be the functional abscisic acid responsive element and the E-site may be a coupling element. The results substantiate the concept that autarkical cis-element functions generate modular patterning during embryogenesis. They also reflect the existence of both redundancy and hierarchy in cis‐element interactions. Importantly, the virtually identical expression patterns observed for the two distantly related plants studied argue strongly for the generality of function for the observed factor‐element interactions.