cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel negative photoresist process for 0.18 μm dual damascene

A great deal of progress has been made in the design of dual damascene process, including via first, trench first, and self-aligned. For overlay, via-first process provides the largest process tolerance to misalignment. However, the positive tone resist face to some difficulties in dual damascene via first approach of photo process, because the 0.18micrometers positive tone trench resist can not be exposed and removed in the 0.20micrometers via hole, observed residues from the SEM cross section profiles after development. In contrast, the negative tone resist show s great advantage in the via first process and producing desired patterns without resist residues in the via hole. In this paper, the design of dual damascene photo process using commercial N702Y (JSR) negative tone resist on DUV43 (Brewer Sc.) Bottom anti reflective coating is evaluated. To improve the depth of focus (DOF) of negative tone resist process, the different resolution enhancement techniques (RET) are investigated fro dense and isolated trench patterns: off-axis illumination (annular ½), attenuated phase shift mask (halftone 6%) with 248nm (NA 0.55) exposure technology, and experimental results regarding to its process performance are presented.
The Rational Agent or the Relational Agent: Moving from Freedom to Justice in Migration Systems Ethics

Most accounts of immigration ethics implicitly rely upon neoclassical migration theory, which understands migration as the result of poverty and unemployment in sending countries. This paper argues that neoclassical migration theory assumes an account of the human person as solely an autonomous rational agent which then leads to ethics of migration which overemphasize freedom and self-determination. This tendency to assume that migration works as neoclassical migration theory describes is shared by political philosophers, such as Joseph Carens, Michael Walzer, and David Miller. This paper argues that all three philosophers incorrectly frame migration as a contest between the freedom of the migrant and the communal self-determination of the political community. Migration systems theory is presented as a theory that draws upon a relationally embedded understanding of autonomy in order to begin to develop a migration systems ethics. This paper concludes by arguing that the central ethical category for an ethics of migration is not freedom or self-determination, but justice-in-relation.
A TOPOLOGICAL APPROACH TO REPRESENTATIONS OF THE IWAHORI-HECKE ALGEBRA

In this paper a topological construction of representations of the $A_n^{(1)}$-series of Hecke algebras, associated with 2-row Young diagrams, will be announced. This construction gives the representations in terms of the monodromy representation obtained from a vector bundle over the configuration space of η points in the complex plane. The fibres are homology spaces of configuration spaces of points in a punctured complex plane, with a suitable twisted local coefficient system, and there is thus a natural flat connection on the vector bundle. It is also shown that there is a close correspondence between this construction and the work of Tsuchiya and Kanie, in which the monodromy of n-point functions for a conformal field theory on P1 is used to produce a braid group representation which factors through the Hecke algebra.
Dissociation energies of X-H bonds in amino acids.

In biochemistry, free radicals are versatile species which can perform diverse functions including: signaling, synthesis, and destructive modification. It is of interest to understand how radicals behave within all biomolecules and specifically within peptides and proteins. The 20 standard amino acids contain a wide range of chemical structures, which give proteins their complexity and ultimately their functionality. Many factors influence how radicals interact with these complex molecules, including the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for homolytically cleaving any X–H bonds. The BDEs provide a simple measure for comparing the thermodynamic favorability of abstracting hydrogen atoms from various sites within a protein. BDEs for abstractable hydrogen atoms have been calculated for each amino acid, the peptide backbone, and peptide termini in order to compile a roadmap of the relative thermodynamics which influence protein radical chemistry. With this information it is possible to gain insight into what contributions both kinetics and thermodynamics will make to various radical mediated reaction pathways.
Exercise-related thoughts in cardiac exercise programs: A study of exercise-adherent cardiac rehabilitation patients

Exercise plays an important preventive and rehabilitative role in coronary heart disease. Unfortunately, cardiac rehabilitation exercise programs have high drop out rates. Several studies with noncardiac patients indicate that exercise-related strategies engaged in during exercise play an important role in exercise performance and adherence. We assessed exercise-related cognitions utilized by a group of cardiac rehabilitation patients who were adherent to a structured exercise program. Thirty-six subjects provided information on their cardiac history and exercise patterns and reported on the thoughts that they might have when exercising in situations depicted in 11 vignettes. Responses, rated using a reliable coding scheme, revealed that the majority of thoughts involved evaluating progress relative to goals and engaging in motivational self-talk. Other strategies reported included using cognitive distraction, thinking about body shape and arousal, making comparisons between self and others, and engaging in social distraction and interaction. Findings suggest that the exercise adherent subjects in this study use specific cognitive and behavioral strategies. Future studies comparing exercise thoughts of both adherent and nonadherent persons and prospective evaluation of their relationships to exercise adherence appear warranted.
Interrelationships among Key Aspects of the Organizational Procurement Process

For decades, there has been research on specific buying approaches and procedures used by organizational customers. Yet, there has been only limited effort to conceptualize the key higher order constructs that characterize organizational buying as a process. It is therefore useful to evaluate the simultaneous interrelationships among different aspects of the overall procurement process and how they vary with characteristics of the purchase situation. This research addresses these issues. We draw on structural equation modeling techniques and use a sample of 636 purchases to develop and test a parsimonious integrative model of interrelationships among key aspects of the procurement process. In general, our results support our model of the procurement process, including relationships among purchase importance, extensiveness of choice set, buyer power, reliance on procedural controls, a proactive focus on long-term strategic issues, search for information, and the use of formal analytical tools.
MEXUSPAC: MEXICO/U.S. PACIFIC REGIONAL RESPONSE COORDINATION TEAM1

ABSTRACT The Agreement of Cooperation Between the United States of America and the United Mexican States Regarding Pollution of the Marine Environment by Discharges of Hydrocarbons and other Hazardous Substances, signed in Mexico City in 1980, provides a framework for cooperation in response to pollution incidents that pose a threat to the waters of both countries. Under this agreement, MEXUSPAC organizes Mexican and U.S. response agencies to plan for and respond to pollution emergencies in the marine environment. The MEXUSPAC contingency plan designates the commandant of the Mexican Second Naval Zone and the chief of the U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Marine Safety Division as the MEXUSPAC Cochairmen, and defines on-scene commanders, joint operations centers, and communications protocols that would be needed to coordinate the response to pollution incidents affecting both countries.
Silicon-Crystal Determination of the Absolute Scale of X-Ray Wavelengths

In a recent evaluation of the atomic constants, the value of Avogadro's number is $N=6.02252\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{23}{(\mathrm{g}\mathrm{mole})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}11$ ppm (probable error). Measurements on the atomic weight of silicon give $A=28.0857\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10$ ppm. Precision measurements of the density of silicon combined with the above values in the Bragg equation $a={(\frac{\mathrm{fA}}{\ensuremath{\rho}N})}^{\frac{1}{3}}$ result in an absolute grating constant of high precision. X-ray diffraction measurements with the same crystal yield the grating constant in x units; thus the conversion factor from x units to cm can be evaluated. X-ray and density measurements have been made on 17 selected silicon crystals from four different sources. The statistical error in the measurement of the densities of the 17 crystals was \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4 ppm. To obtain the absolute density error, a 3 ppm probable error in the density of water must be added, giving a total error of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.1 ppm. The measured densities of two of the 17 crystals differed from the average by more than 3 $\ensuremath{\sigma}$, probably indicating a difference in the density of the crystals. The x-ray diffraction measurements were made with a double-crystal spectrometer using the copper $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$ and $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$ lines. The wavelengths in angstroms were evaluated from the Bragg law for each of the 17 crystals and for the ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$ lines. The average wavelengths were Cu $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}=1.540563 \AA{}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5$ ppm, and Cu $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}=1.544390 \AA{}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5$ ppm. Taking the peak wavelength values of 1537.400 xu\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 ppm for the Cu $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$ and 1541.219 xu\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6.5 ppm for the Cu $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$ lines yields a wavelength conversion factor from angstrom to thousand x units of $\ensuremath{\Lambda}=1.002057 \AA{}/\mathrm{kxu}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5$ ppm. Recalculation of the best measurements in the literature with current values of the atomic weights gave values which agree with the present work within probable errors. Plane-ruled-grating measurements of x-ray wavelengths yield a value of $\ensuremath{\Lambda}=1.00203\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30$ ppm, which is lower than the above values, but the probable errors overlap.
Assessing Clinical Utility of Hepatitis C Virus Quantitative RT-PCR Data: Implications for Identification of Responders Among alpha-Interferon-treated Patients.

Abstract Background: Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum or plasma is currently the best means of identifying active HCV infection. In this study, we assessed the clinical utility of the HCV Amplicor Monitor (Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Branchburg, NJ) quantitative assay for monitoring viral burden and its implications for identifying responders among alpha-interferon-treated patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods and Results: Precision and linearity were determined on aliquots of a pooled control serum. Error of the mean was normally distributed. The coefficient of variation of log10-transformed titers was 2%-6% over a range of 1.5 x 104-1.5 x 105 copies/mL. Linearity over this range was high (R=.98-.99). Accuracy, as evaluated by comparison of split samples, showed that the Amplicor assay provided an unbiased estimate of the values from a reference laboratory. In a sample of 36 patients treated with alpha-interferon for chronic hepatitis C disease, mean viral titer declined with improvement of disease. The assay demonstrated heterogeneity among clinical responders with regard to their ability to actually clear their viral burden. Conclusions: Decreased viral burden as measured by the HCV Amplicor assay is potentially useful for monitoring individuals with HCV infection. (Mol Diagn 1996 Jun;1(2):109-120)
Decline of histidine decarboxylase activity and histamine levels in rat stomach after reserpine

Abstract The previously reported reduction of rat gastric histamine following reserpine administration was investigated. It was observed that there was a rapid decrease in the histidine decarboxylase activity in the glandular portion of rat stomach after the administration of reserpine. This decrease in histidine decarboxylase activity preceded a decrease in the histamine content of the rat stomach. The effect of reserpine on histidine decarboxylase activity was seen only in the intact animal; reserpine had no action on histidine decarboxylase activity in vitro . The reduction of histidine decarboxylase activity by reserpine was not abolished by vagotomy or atropine treatment nor by treatment with agents producing sympathetic blockade. However, the administration of the sympatholytic agents alone reduced gastric histidine decarboxylase activity. It was concluded that the decrease in histidine decarboxylase activity in the stomach following reserpine treatment might be one factor contributing to the decrease in gastric histamine after administration of this drug.
Paradoxical proepileptic response to NMDA receptor blockade linked to cortical interneuron defect in stargazer mice

Paradoxical seizure exacerbation by antiepileptic medication is a well-known clinical phenomenon in epilepsy, but the cellular mechanisms remain unclear. One possibility is enhanced network disinhibition by unintended suppression of inhibitory interneurons. We investigated this hypothesis in the stargazer mouse model of absence epilepsy, which bears a mutation in stargazin, an AMPA receptor trafficking protein. If AMPA signaling onto inhibitory GABAergic neurons is impaired, their activation by glutamate depends critically upon NMDA receptors. Indeed, we find that stargazer seizures are exacerbated by NMDA receptor blockade with CPP and MK-801, whereas other genetic absence epilepsy models are sensitive to these antagonists. To determine how an AMPA receptor trafficking defect could lead to paradoxical network activation, we analyzed stargazin and AMPA receptor localization and found that stargazin is detected exclusively in parvalbumin-positive (PV+) fast-spiking interneurons in somatosensory cortex, where it is co-expressed with the AMPA receptor subunit GluA4. PV+ cortical interneurons in stargazer show a near two-fold decrease in the dendrite:soma GluA4 expression ratio compared to wild type littermates. We explored the functional consequence of this trafficking defect on network excitability in neocortical slices. Both NMDA receptor antagonists suppressed 0 Mg2+ induced network discharges in wild type but augmented bursting in stargazer cortex. Interneurons mediate this paradoxical response, since the difference between genotypes was masked by GABA receptor blockade. Our findings provide a cellular locus for AMPA receptor-dependent signaling defects in stargazer cortex and define an interneuron-dependent mechanism for paradoxical seizure exacerbation in absence epilepsy.
Measuring the Impact of Diabetes on Life Expectancy and Disability-Free Life Expectancy Among Older Adults in Mexico

Objectives. The aim of the present study is to investigate differences in total life expectancy (TLE), disability-free life expectancy (DFLE), disabled life expectancy (DLE), and personal care assistance between individuals with and without diabetes in Mexico. Methods. The sample was drawn from the nationally representative Mexican Health and Aging Study. Disability was assessed through a basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) measure, the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, and the nagi physical performance measure. The Interpolation of Markov Chains method was used to estimate the impact of diabetes on TLE and DFLE. Results. Results indicate that diabetes reduces TLE at ages 50 and 80 by about 10 and 4 years, respectively. Diabetes is also associated with fewer years in good health. DFLE (based on ADL measures) at age 50 is 20.8 years (95% confi dence interval [CI]: 19.2–22.3) for those with diabetes, compared with 29.9 years (95% CI: 28.8–30.9) for those without diabetes. Regardless of diabetes status, Mexican women live longer but face a higher disability burden than men. Conclusion. Among older adults in Mexico, diabetes is associated with shorter TLE and DFLE. The negative effect of diabetes on the number of years lived, particularly in good health, creates significant economic, social, and individual costs for elderly Mexicans.
The MDM2 RING-finger domain is required to promote p53 nuclear export

MDM2 can bind to p53 and promote its ubiquitination and subsequent degradation by the proteasome. Current models propose that nuclear export of p53 is required for MDM2-mediated degradation, although the function of MDM2 in p53 nuclear export has not been clarified. Here we show that MDM2 can promote the nuclear export of p53 in transiently transfected cells. This activity requires the nuclear-export signal (NES) of p53, but not the NES of MDM2. A mutation within the MDM2 RING-finger domain that inhibits p53 ubiquitination also inhibits the ability of MDM2 to promote p53 nuclear export. Finally, inhibition of nuclear export stabilizes wild-type p53 and leads to accumulation of ubiquitinated p53 in the nucleus. Our results indicate that MDM2-mediated ubiquitination, or other activities associated with the RING-finger domain, can stimulate the export of p53 to the cytoplasm through the activity of the p53 NES.
Reachability testing of asynchronous message-passing programs

An execution of a message-passing program P with input X exercises a sequence of send and receive events, called a send-receive sequence (or SR-sequence). Assume that every execution of P with input X terminates. Reachability testing of P with input X is to execute all possible SR-sequences of P with input X. To perform reachability testing of P with input X, we first execute P with input X to collect one or more SR-sequences. For each collected SR-sequence, we identify its race conditions and derive its race-variants by modifying the outcome of race conditions. These race-variants are prefixes of other SR-sequences of P with input X. We use these race-variants to force P with input X to produce additional SR-sequences. By repeating this process, we eventually collect all possible SR-sequences of P with input X and thus can determine the correctness of P with input X. In this paper, we show derivation of race-variants of SR-sequences based on asynchronous communication and give an algorithm for reachability testing of asynchronous message-passing programs.
Hybrid Bisect K-Means Clustering Algorithm

In this paper, we present a hybrid clustering algorithm that combines divisive and agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm. Our method uses bisect K-means for divisive clustering algorithm and Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) for agglomerative clustering algorithm. First, we cluster the document collection using bisect K-means clustering algorithm with the value K', which is greater than the total number of clusters, K. Second, we calculate the centroids of K' clusters obtained from the previous step. Then we apply the UPGMA agglomerative hierarchical algorithm on these centroids for the given value, K. After the UPGMA finds K clusters in these K' centroids, if two centroids ended up in the same cluster, then all of their documents will belong to the same cluster. We compared the goodness of clusters generated by bisect K-means and the proposed hybrid algorithms, measured on various cluster evaluation metrics. Our experimental results shows that the proposed method outperforms the standard bisect K-means algorithm.
T Cell Receptor Revision Does Not Solely Target Recent Thymic Emigrants

CD4(+)Vbeta5(+) T cells enter one of two tolerance pathways after recognizing a peripherally expressed superantigen encoded by an endogenous retrovirus. One pathway leads to deletion, while the other, termed TCR revision, results in cellular rescue upon expression of an alternate TCR that no longer recognizes the tolerogen. TCR revision requires the rearrangement of novel TCR beta-chain genes and depends on recombinase-activating gene (RAG) expression in peripheral T cells. In line with recent findings that RAG(+) splenic B cells are immature cells that have maintained RAG expression, it has been hypothesized that TCR revision is limited to recent thymic emigrants that have maintained RAG expression and TCR loci in a recombination-permissive configuration. Using mice in which the expression of green fluorescent protein is driven by the RAG2 promoter, we now show that in vitro stimulation can drive reporter expression in noncycling, mature, peripheral CD4(+) T cells. In addition, thymectomized Vbeta5 transgenic RAG reporter mice are used to demonstrate that TCR revision can target peripheral T cells up to 2 mo after thymectomy. Both sets of experiments strongly suggest that reinduction of RAG genes triggers TCR revision. Approximately 3% of CD4(+)Vbeta5(+) T cells in thymectomized Vbeta5 transgenic reporter mice have undergone TCR revision within the previous 4-5 days. TCR revision can also occur in Vbeta5(+) T cells from nontransgenic mice, illustrating the relevance of this novel tolerance mechanism in unmanipulated animals.
Public Opinion on Foreign Policy The Multilateral Public that Perceives Itself as Unilateral

Americans have a strong preference for multilateral foreign policies over unilateral foreign policies. But do Americans know their own preferences? Data from a national survey show wide misperceptions of public opinion on foreign policy. While Americans strongly prefer multilateral policies, they overestimate public support for unilateral policies. For example, while only 23 percent of respondents agreed that the more important lesson of September 11 is that the United States should work alone to fight terrorism rather than work with other countries, respondents estimated that almost 50 percent of Americans endorsed this view. Moreover, misperceptions of public opinion were related to subsequent judgments of specific policies. For example, respondents who incorrectly perceived the unilateral view as the majority view were 1.84 times more likely to support a presidential decision to invade Iraq without the approval of the United Nations (UN) Security Council than respondents who correctly perceived the unilateral view as the minority view. Misperceptions of public opinion were also associated with the belief that the current foreign policy reflects the opinions of the American people. This belief in the legitimacy of the foreign policy was as strong a predictor of support for specific unilateral policies as respondents' attitudes
A self-adaptive fuzzy PI controller of power conditioning system for hybrid fuel-cell/turbine power plant

Power conditioning system (PCS) is an interface between distributed generation and utility grid. It regulates voltage, current and power transmitted from the hybrid direct fuel-cell/turbine (DFC/T) power plant to utility grid. This paper presents a self-adaptive fuzzy PI controller of three phase inverter in PCS for the DFC/T power plant. One of the main tasks of PCS for distributed generations is power flow control. Traditionally, the control scheme for grid connected inverters is PI controller. However, PI control scheme would lead to large overshoot and long response time when the load increases sharply. Thus, a hybrid fuzzy PI control scheme is proposed in this paper in order to improve the power flow control. The fuzzy controllers can adjust the PI parameters according to the voltage error and the derivative of voltage error. The overall self-adaptive tuning fuzzy PI controller can update the PI parameters in real time, which makes the power flow control much more accurate than conventional PI controllers. Analysis and design methodologies of hybrid fuzzy PI controllers are presented in this paper. The model was developed in Matlab/Simulink environment. Simulation results show that the proposed control scheme can effectively reduce the overshoot and response time compared to the conventional PI controllers.
WUS and STM-based reporter genes for studying meristem development in poplar

We describe the development of a reporter system for monitoring meristem initiation in poplar using promoters of poplar homologs to the meristem-active regulatory genes WUSCHEL (WUS) and SHOOTMERI- STEMLESS (STM). When *3 kb of the 5 0 flanking regions of close homologs were used to drive expression of the GUSPlus gene, 50-60% of the transgenic events showed expression in apical and axillary meristems. However, expression was also common in other organs, including in leaf veins (40 and 46% of WUS and STM transgenic events, respectively) and hydathodes (56% of WUS transgenic events). Histochemical GUS staining of explants during callogenesis and shoot regeneration using in vitro stems as explants showed that expression was detectable prior to visible shoot development, starting 3-15 days after explants were placed onto callus inducing medium. A minority of WUS and STM events also showed expression in the cam- bium, phloem, or xylem of regenerated, greenhouse grown plants undergoing secondary growth. Based on microarray gene expression data, a paralog of poplar WUS was detec- tably up-regulated during shoot initiation, but the other paralog was not. Both paralogs of poplar STM were down- regulated threefold to sixfold during early callus initiation. We identified 15-35 copies of cytokinin response regulator binding motifs (ARR1AT) and one copy of the auxin response element (AuxRE) in both promoters. Several of the events recovered may be useful for studying the process of primary and secondary meristem development, including treatments intended to stimulate meristem development to promote clonal propagation and genetic transformation.
The mass spectral fragmentation of 2‐aryl‐N, N′‐dimethyl‐1,3‐imidazolidines and 2‐aryl‐1‐3‐dioxolanes

2-Aryl-N,N'-dimethyl-1,3-imidazolidines and 2-aryl-1,3-dioxolanes were subjected to 70 eV spectral analysis. Fragmentation pathways for both series of compounds are suggested. Aryl vs. benzylic hydrogen fragmentations were subjected to Hammett σ+ ρ plots. Incipient charge on the benzyl carbonium ion was stabilized by electron donating groups in both series of compounds. Dioxolanes were more sensitive to substituent effects (ρ = −0.639) than the imidazolidines (ρ = −0.251) implying that the positive charge on the fragmenting ion is more localized at the benzylic position of the imidazolidines than of the dioxolanes.
Robust frequency-selective filtering using weighted myriad filters admitting real-valued weights

Weighted myriad smoothers have been proposed as a class of nonlinear filters for robust non-Gaussian signal processing in impulsive noise environments. However, weighted myriad smoothers are severely limited since their weights are restricted to be non-negative. This constraint makes them unusable in bandpass or highpass filtering applications that require negative filter weights. Further, they are incapable of amplifying selected frequency components of an input signal. In this paper, we generalize the weighted myriad smoother to a richer structure: a weighted myriad filter admitting real-valued weights. This involves assigning a pair of filter weights (one positive and the other negative) to each of the input samples. Equivalently, the filter can be described as a weighted myriad smoother applied to a transformed set of samples that includes the original input samples as well as their negatives. The weighted myriad filter is analogous to a normalized linear FIR filter with real-valued weights whose absolute values sum to unity. By suitably scaling the output of the weighted myriad filter, we extend it to yield the so-called scaled weighted myriad filter, which includes (but is more powerful than) the traditional unconstrained linear FIR filter. Finally we derive stochastic gradient-based nonlinear adaptive algorithms for the optimization of these novel myriad filters under the mean square error criterion.
Hormone stimulable adenylyl cyclase system in the granulosa cells of the domestic hen (Gallus domesticus).

The hormone stimulable adenylyl cyclase (AC) system has been used extensively to study the mechanism of gonadotropin action in mammalian species. In contrast, very little is known concerning the mechanism of action of gonadotropins in the Aves. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the presence of a hormonally responsive AC in granulosa cells (Gr) of avian ovarian follicles and the responsiveness of the Gr AC system to luteinizing hormone (LH) 12 hr before ovulation. After identification of the optimal conditions for the measurement of the hormone stimulable AC in hen Gr, the response of the AC system in the largest (F1), second largest (F2), and third largest (F3) follicles 12 hr before ovulation was investigated. We found that in all 3 follicles studied, there was a highly significant (P F2 > F3). This increase in stimulability of the Gr AC system to LH may be due to an increase in LH receptors. In summary, our results indicate that the AC system of chicken Gr cells is similar to that found in mammalian reproductive tissues.
Intra-community spatial variability of particulate matter size distributions in Southern California/Los Angeles

Abstract. Ultrafine particle (UFP) number concentrations vary significantly on small spatial and temporal scales due to their short atmospheric lifetimes and multiplicity of sources. To determine UFP exposure gradients within a community, simultaneous particle number concentration measurements at a network of sites are necessary. Concurrent particle number size distribution measurements aid in identifying UFP sources, while providing data to investigate local scale effects of both photochemical and physical processes on UFP. From April to December 2007, we monitored particle number size distributions at 13 sites within 350 m–11 km of each other in the vicinity of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach using Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers (SMPS). Typically, three SMPS units were simultaneously deployed and rotated among sites at 1–2 week intervals. Total particle number concentration measurements were conducted continuously at all sites. Seasonal and diurnal number size distribution patterns are complex, highly dependent on local meteorology, nearby PM sources, and times of day, and cannot be generalized over the study area nor inferred from one or two sampling locations. Spatial variation in particle number size distributions was assessed by calculating the coefficient of divergence (COD) and correlation coefficients (r) between site pairs. Results show an overall inverse relationship between particle size and CODs, implying that number concentrations of smaller particles (
Ideals in Birkhoff lattices

In previous papers by the author (Dilworth [1, 2])(2) methods were developed for studying the arithmetical properties of Birkhoff lattices, that is, the properties of irreducibles and decompositions into irreducibles. These methods, however, required the assumption of both the ascending and descending chain conditions. In this paper we give a new technique which is applicable in general and which under the assumption of merely the ascending chain condition gives results quite as good as those of the previous work. Now the descending chain condition is equivalent to the requirement that every ideal(3) be principal. Hence if the descending chain condition does not hold we find it convenient to relate the arithmetical properties of the lattice to the structure of its lattice of ideals. Furthermore since the Birkhoff condition itself may lose much of its force if the descending chain condition does not hold, a lattice is defined to be a Birkhoff lattice if every element satisfies the Birkhoff condition(4) in the lattice of ideals. Hence if the descending chain condition holds, this definition reduces to that used in the previous papers. In the lattice of ideals, the existence of sufficient covering ideals to make the Birkhoff conditions effective can be proved.
Cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases and some major substrates in the rat cerebellum after neonatal X-irradiation

The levels of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (type I), or cGMP-dependent protein kinase, or protein I, and of a 23,000 MW substrate for the cGMP-dependent protein kinase were measured in cerebella from normal rats and in the cerebella from rats in which a selective loss of interneurons in the cerebellar cortex had been produced by X-irradiation. A decrease was observed in the concentrations of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and of protein I, whereas an increase was observed in the concentrations of cGMP-dependent protein kinase and of the 23,000 MW substrate. The data, taken together with the results of other studies, support the interpretation that cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein I are distributed throughout the cerebellum, but that cGMP-dependent protein kinase and the 23,000 MW substrate are highly concentrated in Purkinje cells.
Fabrication of and transport studies on PrBa2(Cu0.8T0.2)3O7

Abstract We have fabricated transition metal doped PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ (Pr123) and found that the electrical resistivity of these compounds is much higher than that of undoped Pr123. Their lattices parameters match very well of those of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ (Y123). These compounds may serve as improved buffer-layer materials for Y123 superconducting electronic circuits and devices.
Facial Expression Detection using Patch-based Eigen-face Isomap Networks.

Automated facial expression detection problem pose two primary challenges that include variations in expression and facial occlusions (glasses, beard, mustache or face covers). In this paper we introduce a novel automated patch creation technique that masks a particular region of interest in the face, followed by Eigen-value decomposition of the patched faces and generation of Isomaps to detect underlying clustering patterns among faces. The proposed masked Eigen-face based Isomap clustering technique achieves 75% sensitivity and 66-73% accuracy in classification of faces with occlusions and smiling faces in around 1 second per image. Also, betweenness centrality, Eigen centrality and maximum information flow can be used as network-based measures to identify the most significant training faces for expression classification tasks. The proposed method can be used in combination with feature-based expression classification methods in large data sets for improving expression classification accuracies.
The Behavior of Copper Nanoparticle Chain Aggregates Under Strain – A Molecular Dynamics Approach

Nanoparticle chain aggregates (NCA) serve as reinforcing fillers that are combined with molecular polymers to produce nano-composite materials, e.g. carbon black in rubber. The reinforcing mechanism due to the incorporation of nanoparticle aggregates is not well understood. Molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations are employed to investigate the behavior of nanoparticle chain aggregates under strain. The interaction potential used is that of Cu obtained with the embedded atom method (EAM). Three single-crystal Cu nanoparticles are placed in contact in two different configurations (linear and kinked) and the structures are initially relaxed with MD steps for 300 ps. We observe plastic deformation during the sintering process for very small particles (∼2.5 nm in diameter) at temperatures as low as 300 K. The relaxed configurations are then strained to the breaking point at strain rates in the order of 1 m/s. We identify mechanisms of strain accommodation that lead to nanoparticle plastic deformation and eventually fracture. The linear and the kinked configurations break at strains of 0.263 and 0.344 respectively, while the maximum stress is close to 4 GPa (strain rate: 0.625 m/s). Both structures fail at the low-angle grain boundaries developed during the sintering process, while the higher strain for fracture for the kinked configuration is associated with interface sliding not observed in the linear case.
A New Interpretation of Jungian Analytic Theory: Mysticism Versus Psychic Reality

Summary The Jungian concepts of archetypes and psychic reality are utilized to explain the difference between illusory and real psychic phenomena. Myths are defined as unconscious projections of archetypal material upon the environment, which assume definitive shapes as objects or persons having an archaic character. Only by an analysis of the meaning and value of the various mythological heros, motifs, or ancient objects depicted in a myth can an approach be made in comprehending the original archetypes from which they emerged. The difficulty of applying external scientific criteria of validity and reliability to a psychic event is explored at some length. In accordance with Jungian theory, “mental illness” is described as a myth which tends to isolate the observer from the one observed in a significant manner. Another way of looking at the “mentally ill” person is offered in terms of a common bond of humanity that exists between that person and one that is labeled as “mentally healthy.”
Overoxidation of phenol by hexachloroiridate(IV).

It has been previously established that the aqueous oxidation of phenol by a deficiency of [IrCl6]2– proceeds through the production of [IrCl6]3– and phenoxyl radicals. Coupling of the phenoxyl radicals leads primarily to 4,4′-biphenol, 2,2′-biphenol, 2,4′-biphenol, and 4-phenoxyphenol. Overoxidation occurs through the further oxidation of these coupling products, leading to a rather complex mixture of final products. The rate laws for oxidation of the four coupling products by [IrCl6]2– have the same form as those for the oxidation of phenol itself: −d[IrIV]/dt = {(kArOH + kArO–Ka/[H+])/(1 + Ka/[H+])}[ArOH]tot[IrIV]. Values for kArOH and kArO– have been determined for the four substrates at 25 °C and are assigned to H2O-PCET and electron-transfer mechanisms, respectively. Kinetic simulations of a combined mechanism that includes the rate of oxidation of phenol as well as the rates of these overoxidation steps show that the degree of overoxidation is rather limited at high pH but quite extensive at low pH...
DIFFERING SELECTION ON PLANT PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS IN RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL WATER AVAILABILITY: A TEST OF ADAPTIVE HYPOTHESES.

I used phenotypic selection analysis to test the prediction from functional and comparative studies of plants that smaller leaves and more efficient water use are adaptive in drier environments. I measured selection gradients on leaf size and instantaneous water-use efficiency (a measure of carbon gain per unit water loss) in experimental populations of Cakile edentula var. lacustris placed into wet and dry environments in the field. Linear and nonlinear selection differed significantly between the two environments as predicted. Water-use efficiency was selected to be higher, and leaf area was selected toward a small intermediate optimum, in the dry environment. There was also significant positive correlational selection on water-use efficiency and leaf size, suggesting that the optimum leaf size in the dry environment is greater for plants with higher water-use efficiency. In contrast, neither leaf size nor water-use efficiency were selected in the wet environment, though larger leaves resulted in greater vegetative biomass. Path analysis of the linear selection gradients found that water-use efficiency affected plant fitness primarily because it increased vegetative biomass, as suggested by the hypotheses about the function of physiological traits. These results were not only consistent with the functional hypotheses but also with the observed genetic differentiation in water-use efficiency and leaf size between wet and dry site populations.
A CASE OF PRIMARY ADVANCED CARCINOMA OF THE DUODENAL BULB ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH PLASMA LEVELS OF CEA AND CA19-9

In carcinomas of the duodenal bulb, even in advanced cases, it has been reported that the level of plasma CEA or CA19-9 is almost within the normal limit. We encountered a case of carcinoma of the duodenal bulb associated with abnormal high levels of CEA and CA19-9. A 70-year-old male was admitted with the complaint of abdominal distension. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed under a diagnosis of gastric cancer invading the duodenum. Because of the location of the main lesion at the duodenal bulb, as well as pathological findings, it was diagnosed as a primary carcinoma of the duodenal bulb. Ten months after the operation, multiple liver metastases were revealed by computed tomography, and progressed with the elevation of CEA and CA19-9 levels. Two years and ten months after the operation, he was expired from liver dysfunction. Immunohistological staining for CEA and CA19-9 using monoclonal antibody showed positive responses in themain lesion and metastatic lesions. There findings suggest that cancer tissue may produce CEA and CA19-9.
Big Data Analytics for Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Ptychography

Electron microscopy is undergoing a transition; from the model of producing only a few micrographs, through the current state where many images and spectra can be digitally recorded, to a new mode where very large volumes of data (movies, ptychographic and multi-dimensional series) can be rapidly obtained. Here, we discuss the application of so-called “big-data” methods to high dimensional microscopy data, using unsupervised multivariate statistical techniques, in order to explore salient image features in a specific example of BiFeO3 domains. Remarkably, k-means clustering reveals domain differentiation despite the fact that the algorithm is purely statistical in nature and does not require any prior information regarding the material, any coexisting phases, or any differentiating structures. While this is a somewhat trivial case, this example signifies the extraction of useful physical and structural information without any prior bias regarding the sample or the instrumental modality. Further interpretation of these types of results may still require human intervention. However, the open nature of this algorithm and its wide availability, enable broad collaborations and exploratory work necessary to enable efficient data analysis in electron microscopy.
Effects of prepartum protein nutrition and birth weight on basal metabolism in bovine neonates

Recipient beef heifers, pregnant with single demi-embryos, were paired to according to identical twin or full-sib embryo. Within pair, recipient heifers were assigned to one of two isocaloric diets containing a control or restricted level of protein (91 vs 55% of National Research Council recommendations) on d 190 of gestation. Following parturition, calves were weighed, fed 1 liter of colostrum, dried and placed in a metabolic chamber at 5 h of age for an 8-h determination of heat production (HP). Maternal body weight gains (P less than .001) during the last trimester and body condition scores at parturition (P less than .05) were reduced in heifers fed the protein-restricted diet. Calves born to heifers fed the protein-restricted diet had 11.4% lower (P less than .05) HP than calves born to control heifers (43.7 vs 49.3 kcal.kg-1.d-1). Birth weights, respiratory quotients and rectal temperatures of newborn calves were not significantly affected by prepartum protein restriction. Within treatment groups, the relationship between HP and weight was described by the equation: HP (kcal/d) = 2.30 wt1.86. The allometric exponent of 1.86 +/- .26 implied that weight-specific metabolic rate was higher rather than lower in larger weight calves. We concluded that the thermogenic ability of neonatal calves may be compromised by prepartum protein restriction and(or) small birth weights.
Training in Modern Acting on the Studio Lots

Chapter 9 offers new insights into the history of Modern Acting and film industry practices that emerged due to the transition to sound. It shows that Hollywood’s pressing need for actors who could create complex characterizations on their own prompted the studios to hire drama coaches to train young actors, and dialogue directors to work privately with actors to prepare for specific roles. The chapter describes the acting programs established at MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros., RKO, 20th Century Fox, and Universal, and the careers of acting mentors such as Phyllis Loughton, Lillian Burns, Florence Enright, and Sophie Rosenstein. It shows that these teachers trained actors to use script analysis to clarify characters’ given circumstances, objectives, and actions, and the obstacles created by those characters’ conflicting objectives.
Who Wants Long-Term Care Insurance? A Stated Preference Survey of Attitudes, Beliefs, and Characteristics

Approximately half of people turning 65 years between 2015 and 2019 are projected to need long-term support and services. Yet the long-term care insurance (LTCI) market is depressed, with only 7.4 ...
How do messenger RNA splicing alterations drive myelodysplasia

Mutations in RNA splicing factors are the single most common class of genetic alterations in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. Although much has been learned about how these mutations affect splicing at a global- and transcript-specific level, critical questions about the role of these mutations in MDS development and maintenance remain. Here we present the questions to be addressed in order to understand the unique enrichment of these mutations in MDS.
Infrastructure and institutions: Stakeholder perspectives of stormwater governance in Chicago

Abstract This article examines the ways stakeholder preferences and perspectives of stormwater management converge and diverge in Chicago. With a greater emphasis on broad stakeholder participation in urban environmental governance and decision-making, accommodating and moderating multiple and competing perspectives will become a greater part of urban green-space planning. Decision-makers must choose how resources are to be allocated to manage stormwater and decide among the multiple and sometimes conflicting options available to reduce the impact of stormwater at different sites across the city and region. This paper examines the disparate understandings of how to best manage stormwater in the city. The results reveal that departmental silos may not adequately explain variation in stakeholder perspectives. Instead, two dominant perspectives towards stormwater management connect diverse stakeholder groups in Chicago: the Infrastructural Interventionist and the Institutional Interventionist. The first strongly views stricter laws and regulations, developed in tandem with science and data-driven approaches, as the best way to improve stormwater management. The second desires new rules and institutions to foster integrated management approaches, as well as more robust economic instruments capable of assigning a monetary value to stormwater, as critical to resolving stormwater problems. Conflicting points of perspective arise around the preferred type of infrastructure to be implemented to deal with stormwater and how it is to be developed. Understanding how these two social perspectives interact and conflict is important in considering the actions that will ultimately be undertaken to direct landscape changes capable of resolving the multiple challenges Chicago faces in managing stormwater.
Sandia’s Microgrid Design Toolkit

Abstract The Microgrid Design Toolkit, developed by Sandia National Laboratories, provides decision support software for microgrid designers for use in the early stages of the design process. The MDT is the result of four years of investment by the Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability under the Smart Grid R&D program.
A Fluorescence Quenching Analysis of the Binding of Fluoroquinolones to Humic Acid

Fluorescence quenching was used to investigate the interaction of six fluoroquinolones with humic acid. Static quenching was observed for the binding of ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, levoflo...