cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EXPLICATION, EXPLANATION, AND HISTORY

To date, no satisfactory account of the connection between natural-scientific and historical explanation has been given, and philosophers seem to have largely given up on the problem. This paper is an attempt to resolve this old issue and to sort out and clarify some areas of historical explanation by developing and applying a method that will be called "pragmatic explication" involving the construction of definitions that are justified on pragmatic grounds. Explanations in general can be divided into "dynamic" and "static" explanations, which are those that essentially require relations across time and those that do not, respectively. The problem of assimilating historical explanations concerns dynamic explanation, so a general analysis of dynamic explanation that captures both the structure of natural-scientific and historical explanation is offered. This is done in three stages: In the first stage, pragmatic explication is introduced and compared to other philosophical methods of explication. In the second stage pragmatic explication is used to tie together a series of definitions that are introduced in order to establish an account of explanation. This involves an investigation of the conditions that play the role in historiography that laws and statistical regularities play in the natural sciences. The essay argues that in the natural sciences, as well as in history, the model of explanation presented represents the aims and overarching structure of actual causal explanations offered in those disciplines. In the third stage the system arrived at in the preceding stage is filled in with conditions available to and relevant for historical inquiry. Further, the nature and treatment of causes in history and everyday life are explored and related to the system being proposed. This in turn makes room for a view connecting aspects of historical explanation and what we generally take to be causal relations.
Distinguishing late-onset stress symptomatology from posttraumatic stress disorder in older combat veterans.

Objective: To assess the discriminant validity of late-onset stress symptomatology (LOSS) in terms of its distinction from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: The LOSS Scale, PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version, and related psychological measures were administered to 562 older male combat veterans via a mailed questionnaire. Analyses focused on: (a) comparing associations of LOSS and PTSD with other psychological variables and (b) examining a hypothesized curvilinear relationship between LOSS and PTSD scores. Results: Compared to PTSD, LOSS was more strongly associated with concerns about retirement and less strongly associated with depression, anxiety, sense of mastery, and satisfaction with life. LOSS also demonstrated a curvilinear relationship with PTSD, such that the positive association between LOSS and PTSD diminished at higher levels of PTSD. Conclusion: LOSS is conceptually and statistically more strongly associated with a normative late-life stressor than is PTSD, but is less strongly re...
A comparative study of enzyme activity variation between α-glycerophosphate and alcoholdehydrogenases in Drosophila melanogaster

An intraspecific comparison of α-glycerophosphate (α-GPDH: E.C.1.1.1.8) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH: E.C.1.1.1.1) enzyme activity levels was carried out in Drosophila melanogaster. The results indicate that (1) α-GPDH is a relatively conservative and ADH a relatively variable enzyme system with regard to structurally determined activity variation but that (2) the conservative nature of α-GPDH activity variation does not extend to the intra-genotypic level. The results are consistent with the view that different kinds of selective pressures are being exerted on the enzyme's structural and modifier gene loci.
Chiral lagrangians and precision measurements of triple gauge boson vertices at hadron colliders

Abstract We explore the possibility of performing precision electroweak measurements at the SSC and LHC in the case that no new resonances appear below 1 TeV. In particular, we use a chiral lagrangian framework to analyze the expected leading corrections to the three gauge boson vertices from loop effects in the symmetry breaking sector. These particular corrections have not been included in previous chiral-lagrangian-based analyses of gauge boson pair production at hadron colliders. By considering the production of W ± Z and W ± γ final states in pp colliders at √ s = 40 TeV and 17 TeV, we show that it is possible to probe chiral lagrangian parameters which the low-energy analysis of “oblique” corrections does not address. For the case of WZ production, we also compare these new loop contributions to qq annihilation with the tree-level contributions from vector-boson fusion. The new contributions clearly dominate at collider energies, for an interesting class of models of electroweak symmetry breaking. This indicates that those previous estimates of the SSC's ability to probe the symmetry breaking sector which included only the fusion contributions were too pessimistic.
Remote Measurements of Horizontal Eddy Diffusivity

Abstract The rate of horizontal diffusivity or lateral dispersion is key to understanding the dispersion of tracers and contaminants in the ocean, and it is an elusive, yet crucial, parameter in numerical models of circulation. However, the difficulty of parameterizing horizontal mixing is exacerbated in the shallow coastal ocean, which points to the need for more direct measurements. Here, a novel and inexpensive approach to remotely measure the rate of horizontal diffusivity is proposed. Current shipboard measurement techniques require repeated surveys and are thus time consuming and labor intensive. Furthermore, intensive in situ sampling is generally impractical for routine coastal management or for rapid assessment in the case of emergencies. A remote approach is particularly useful in shallow coastal regions or those with complex bathymetry. A time series of images from a dye-release experiment was obtained with a standard three-megapixel digital camera from a helicopter that hovered over the study ...
Measurement of acoustic flow resistance

A method of measuring the acoustic flow resistance and reactance of porous materials is described, and some illustrative experimental data are presented and discussed. For example, data for stacks of wire mesh screens have been obtained and analyzed, with particular attention to the dependence of the flow resistance on frequency and wire diameter.
Processing the CONSOL Energy, Inc. Mine Maps and Records Collection at the University of Pittsburgh.

This article describes the efforts of archivists and student assistants at the University of Pittsburgh's Archives Service Center to organize, describe, store, and provide timely and efficient access to over 8,000 maps of underground coal mines in southwestern Pennsylvania, as well the records that accompanied them, donated by CONSOL Energy, Inc. to the University Library System beginning in 1991.
The 2H(p, pn)p reaction at 9.0 MeV

Abstract The 2 H(p, pn) reaction has been studied at a bombarding energy of 9.0 MeV and several coincidence detection angles using the Rice University tandem Van de Graaff accelerator and computer-analyzer system. The energies of the detected, coincident particles were determined using a solid-state surface barrier detector for the proton and time-of-flight measurement on the neutron. The contributions of the neutron-proton final state interaction and neutron-proton quasi-free scattering have been observed. The final state interaction contribution has been reproduced using Phillips, Griffy and Biedenharn theory. The shape of quasi-free scattering contribution spectrum is in reasonable agreement with simple impulse approximation prediction. The absolute value of cross section is smaller than predicted by spectator model calculations.
Exposing the sub-surface of historical daguerreotypes and the effects of sulfur-induced corrosion

Abstract Preventing the loss of image detail and resolution in historical photographs is a crucial topic, yet the properties of the image particles and mechanisms of deterioration are not fully understood. Through detailed surface and cross sectional analyzes, ungilded and gilded daguerreotypes prepared in the laboratory were analyzed before and after exposure to high sulfur-concentration environments revealing important structural consequences of the gilding process. Comparisons with the surface and sub-surface structures found on a 19th century gilded daguerreotype confirmed the slow corrosion of the underlying Ag and the accumulation of Cu and Ag sulfide particles on the surfaces of the plates.
Prolonged use of right ventricular assist device for refractory graft failure following orthotopic heart transplantation.

The use of mechanical circulatory support for posttransplant right ventricular (RV) failure is well described. Nakatani and colleagues first reported on the feasibility of the right heart assist for acute RV failure after heart transplantation. However, longest possible duration of the RV support is unknown for recovery following heart transplantation. We report a case of successful use of a Thoratec (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, Calif) ventricular assist device (IVAD) as a bridge to recovery for prolonged RV failure following heart transplantation.
Mine boundary detection using Markov random field models

Detection of objects in images in an automated fashion is necessary for many applications, including automated target recognition. In this paper, we present results of boundary detection using Markov random fields. Once the boundaries of regions are detected, object recognition can be conducted to classify the regions within the boundaries. Thus, an approach that gives good boundary detection is very important in many automated target recognition systems. Our algorithm for boundary detection combines Bayesian approach with a histogram specification technique to locate edges of objects that have a closed-loop boundary. The boundary image is modeled by a Markov random field. The method is relatively insensitive to the input parameters required by the user and provides a fairly robust automated detection procedure that produces an image with closed one-pixel-wide boundaries. We apply our method to mine data with very good results.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Computer visualization of battlefield tenets

The Battle Enhanced Analysis Methodologies (BEAM) project was designed to investigate the use of computer graphics in describing the performance of battalion-sized units in simulated combat. These descriptions were to be data-based and objective, providing useful critiques of actual performance according to standard Army doctrine. They would be natural candidates for use at the Army's Combat Training Centers. The project was conducted in two phases. In the first, objective graphic displays were derived which portray the destructive potential of direct fire weapons (the shooter must be able to see the target) in the defense. These displays allow straightforward objective comparisons of different defensive alignments and, from simulated battle runs, of defensive fire control strategies. These references also describe simple uncluttered displays that portray the movements and interactions of company (or higher) sized units throughout a battle. This paper describes results of the second phase of the BEAM project. A major result is the derivation of displays which portray the destructive potential of indirect fire weapons (the shooter normally cannot see the target) in the defense using the same units as the direct fire displays. This allows separate and joint examination of the direct and indirect fire destructive potential, providing, among other things, objective measures of the synchronization and agility of a force, as well as indicators of its intelligence function.
Adolescence in the Atlantic: Charity Boys as Seamen in the Spanish Maritime World

This article examines life at a maritime orphanage and at sea for wards of the Royal School of San Telmo in Seville, which operated between 1681 and 1847. At its heart is a microhistorical analysis of Francisco de Caceres Martinez, a ward whose life is traced from the time he entered the orphanage as a twelve-year-old in 1788 until he became an assistant pilot in 1802. This examination of the lives of Caceres and other adolescent wards of the San Telmo orphanage sheds light on the experiences of young sailors and charity wards dispatched to sea, both of which were common in early modern maritime fleets but about whom details are often scarce. It also shows connections between their lives on land and at sea. The case of Caceres and other San Telmo wards illuminates interactions among these youths, orphanage administrators, and Spanish naval officials, especially in the late eighteenth century. These interactions reveal that the same society and culture that tapped orphaned boys to meet Spanish maritime demands also afforded a measure of maneuverability to at least some of them, as wards used the language and institutions of a patriarchal system to navigate the eighteenth-century maritime world.
Understanding channel gating: patch-clamp recordings from cloned acetylcholine receptors

Abstract A major goal of current research on the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is to discover the precise relationship between the molecule's structure and its ionic gating properties. For example, which part of the molecule determines its single-channel conductance? Which part determines how long the channel remains open? Which part determines the species of ions that are allowed to pass? One approach to these questions is to construct AChR mutants with defined structural alterations, and to see how these changes affect function. Until now such studies have been hampered by technical problems in characterizing the gating properties of AChR mutants. However, the latest study brings this goal closer by recording single-channel currents from cloned AChRs produced by the Xenopus oocyte expression system. The structural basis for species-specific differences in AChR gating has been explored by constructing hybrid AChRs whose subunits were derived from both Torpedo and calf. The results suggest that one subunit (δ) may be important for regulating the rate of channel closing.
Abstract 2482A: ARHI (DIRAS3) downregulates Ras-MAPK signaling and inhibits transformation of NIH3T3 cells through direct interaction with GTP-bound Ras

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Somatic mutation of Ras was the first genetic alteration documented to drive human oncogenesis. Activating mutations of H-Ras, N-Ras, or K-Ras are associated with 30% of all human cancers. Characterization of wild type Ras proteins has identified their essential role in intra-cellular signaling networks controlling cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. Despite intensive efforts, effective targeted therapy directed against mutated Ras has remained elusive. Regulation of Ras function has been studied in depth, but relatively little attention has been paid to physiological inhibitors of Ras. Our group has previously reported that the maternally imprinted Ras-related tumor suppressor gene ARHI (DIRAS3) is downregulated in more than 60% of ovarian cancers and several other tumor types. Re-expression of ARHI at physiologic levels can inhibit ovarian cancer cell proliferation, block migration, induce autophagy, mediate tumor dormancy and block both PI3K and Ras-MAPK signaling. ARHI shares 50-60% homology with the H- and K-Ras genes, differing primarily in a 34-amino acid N-terminal extension that is required for most of ARHI's functions. The mechanism by which ARHI regulates Ras-MAPK signaling is not fully understood. Here, we show that re-expression of ARHI in NIH3T3 murine fibroblasts inhibits cell proliferation, suppresses clonogenic growth and blocks cell transformation by constitutively active mutant H-Ras. Addition of the N-terminal extension of ARHI to mutant H-Ras also prevents malignant transformation. ARHI interacts directly with mutated Ras on co-immunoprecipitation and can inhibit GTP-bound Ras activity following overexpression of the constitutively active construct. We hypothesize that inhibition of the Ras-MAPK signaling pathways following re-expression of ARHI (DIRAS3) may be, in part, the effect of a direct interaction between GTP-bound Ras and ARHI, resulting in the restoration of intrinsic Ras GTPase activity. Our results suggest that ARHI (DIRAS3) may serve as a novel inhibitor of activated Ras, and re-expression of ARHI in tumors exhibiting an oncogenic mutation of Ras might permit more specifically targeted therapy. Citation Format: Margie N. Sutton. ARHI (DIRAS3) downregulates Ras-MAPK signaling and inhibits transformation of NIH3T3 cells through direct interaction with GTP-bound Ras. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2482A. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2482A
A surface-normal coupled-quantum-well modulator at 1.55 /spl mu/m

We demonstrate a surface-normal coupled-quantum-well InGaAs-InAlAs electroabsorption modulator that provides optical modulation with a contrast ratio in excess of 1.5 at only 6 V. The device operates at 1.55 /spl mu/m and is based on a novel strain-balanced layer structure. The operating voltage is about two times lower than that of a conventional square quantum-well modulator that achieves a comparable contrast ratio.
The thermodynamic driving force for CH activation at iridium

Abstract This paper discusses the relationship between the intermolecular oxidative addition reaction of carbon-hydrogen bonds in organic molecules to transition metal centres, and the dissociation energies of the CH, MH and MR bonds that undergo changes during this process. Earlier studies of transition metal MH and MR bond energies are reviewed, followed by a summary of relative and absolute bond energies measured more recently for the (η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )(PMe 3 )Ir(X)(Y) system. The MH and MR energies are unusually large in this system compared with most others that are presently known; an important exception are those in the thorium series, where intermolecular CH activation is also observed. The IrC and IrH bond energy values are utilized in discussing the propensity of iridium for intermolecular CH insertion, and in predicting thermochemistries for its RH insertion and M(H)(R) reductive elimination reactions. Finally, the physical basis for the strong metal-carbon and -hydrogen bonds in the iridium system is discussed.
An Essay Assignment for Organic Chemistry Courses

An essay assignment suitable for large introductory organic chemistry courses is described. Students were asked to write four-to five-page essays about any organic compound of their choosing that was in the news recently, was used widely, or had some social significance. The assignment was designed to stimulate student interest in the role of organic chemistry in their lives, to help them make connections between classroom information and the “real world”, to have them practice their writing skills, to teach them to use the library and other sources of scientific information, and to help them improve their grades by evaluating them with an instrument other than an exam. Techniques used by the instructor to manage the burden of grading a large number of essays are described.
Fetal Echocardiography in the Assessment of Lupus Pregnancies

: Fetal echocardiography is the most sensitive tool in detecting the earliest possible changes of the cardiovascular system related to maternal lupus. The institution of aggressive therapy at that time may still be able to reverse the process before permanent fetal cardiac injury occurs. Experience with this technique is described.
Comparative evaluation of three exotic insect parasites (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) against the southwestern corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in corn.

Three exotic larval parasites, Allorhogas pyralophagus Marsh and Digonogastra kimballi Kirkland from Mexico and Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) from the Indo-Australian region, were evaluated in enclosures in commercial corn fields in Castro County, Tex., against the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar. Experiments conducted in 1986 measured the functional and numerical responses of the three parasites to varying host density. The effect of varying the number of searching parasites on parasitization and reproductive capacity was evaluated in 1987. The functional responses of the three parasites to host density were markedly different. D. kimballi exhibited the strongest response, which is hypothesized as a reflection of the coevolutionary history between this parasite and the southwestern corn borer. The responses of parasites to varying parasite density were not different among the three species. In both experiments, encapsulation of immature parasites of C. flavipes was observed. The numerical responses of the three parasites were weak; only C. flavipes produced a greater number of female progeny than the number of females introduced per enclosure.
The Persuasive Power of Oral Health Promotion Messages: A Theory of Planned Behavior Approach to Dental Checkups Among Young Adults

Although routine dental checkups are important for both oral and overall health, several factors influence young adults' use or nonuse of dental services. The two studies included in this report tested the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and an expanded TPB model in predicting young adults' routine dental checkups. Additionally, the study tested the perceived message effectiveness of TPB-based messages. Results support the use of an expanded TPB model (particularly adding satisfaction with the dentist and environmental constraints to the traditional model) for an understanding of routine dental checkup intention and behavior, and, most notably, provide support for the use of subjective norm-based messages to prompt dental checkups. This study lays the groundwork for a health communication campaign encouraging routine dental checkups among young adults. The use of targeting and tailoring to design effective oral health media campaign messages is discussed.
Synergy in CdMoO4/MoO3 catalysts in partial oxidation reactions of C4 hydrocarbons

Abstract The synergy in CdMoO4/MoO3 catalysts has been investigated in selective oxidation of C4 hydrocarbons. Both of the pure phases, MoO3 and CdMoO4, as well as the two-phase catalyst have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, BET surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy and laser Raman spectroscopy. Oxidation studies performed over the CdMoO4/MoO3 catalyst and its pure-phase constituents, using both 1-butene and 1,3-butadiene as feed material, show that the two-phase catalyst had a higher selectivity to maleic anhydride than either of the pure phases. This synergistic effect is similar to the one previously observed over MnMoO4/MoO3 catalysts.
Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrophilization of porous polypropylene membrane for dehumidification

Abstract In this paper we report for the first time the development of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PAMAC) hydrophilized porous polypropylene composite membrane for dehumidification applications. The sorption of water vapor on PAMAC functional groups was found to be quite high, and reached nearly a gram per gram of the membrane. This allowed high water vapor permeance and percent water removal that reached 2 × 10−9 gm mol/cm2 min cm Hg and 37%, respectively.
Spontaneous Hypercholesterolemia and Arterial Lesions in Mice Lacking Apolipoprotein E

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a ligand for receptors that clear remnants of chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins. Lack of apoE is, therefore, expected to cause accumulation in plasma of cholesterol-rich remnants whose prolonged circulation should be atherogenic. ApoE-deficient mice generated by gene targeting were used to test this hypothesis and to make a mouse model for spontaneous atherosclerosis. The mutant mice had five times normal plasma cholesterol, and developed foam cell-rich depositions in their proximal aortas by age 3 months. These spontaneous lesions progressed and caused severe occlusion of the coronary artery ostium by 8 months. The severe yet viable phenotype of the mutants should make them valuable for investigating genetic and environmental factors that modify the atherogenic process.
High resolution electron beam lithography and high accuracy overlay using a modified SEM

Abstract 10 nm wide metal lines 30 nm apart, and 10 nm wide gaps over 300 nm long between two metal rectangles have been repeatedly achieved on thick GaAs substrates using a modified scanning electron microscope (SEM) operated at 35 keV and lift-off Ni/Au. Sub-50 nm overlay accuracy in multi-level e-beam lithography has also been achieved using the same modified SEM.
Without dependence on welfare for life: Black women in the community college

This paper extends my previous analysis of data gathered in a year-long ethnographic investigation of a community college (Weis, 1985). Here, gendered subjectivity is explored through three themes: (1) motivation for attending Urban College, (2) perceived behavior of women and men within the institution, and (3) academic outcomes. The paper closes by positing why black female culture takes the shape and form that it does, and why the community college fails to promote social mobility for black females.
A fortran 77 program for computing percentiles of large data sets

Abstract An algorithm for computing percentiles of large sets of data is described. The algorithm first samples the data and obtains an estimate for the percentile. Then, using the estimate, a subset of the original data is extracted through which the algorithm searches for the true percentile.
Understanding Perceived Social Support through Communication Time, Frequency, and Media Multiplexity

We asked people (N=476) about their perceived social support from three groups of friends based on how they communicate with them: those whom they communicate only face to face, only through technology, or both. We found that communication time, frequency, and the number of channels they use to communicate (multiplexity) were related to their perceived social support from each of those groups. Applications with voice (Skype, telephone) were significantly related to emotional support.
614 CARBOHYDRATE (CHO) MALABSORPTION IN PREMATURE INFANTS

We measured breath hydrogen in eleven premature infants after they received three different CHO solutions on three separate days. Gestational age ranged from 30-35 weeks (average 32.5 ± 1.4 weeks), with an average birth weight of 1805 ± 285 grams. All infants were receiving a 100% lactose containing formula (SMA) and were studied at the time they reached full feeds, ranging from 5-44 days. The babies were fasted for six hours and then received either a 10% solution of lactose (L), a 10% solution of glucose polymers (GP), or a combined solution of 5% glucose polymers with 5% lactose (GP-L). Despite the fasting, 92% of the tests, began with elevated baselines. There was no significant difference in the peak hydrogen production with the three solutions as a group (L 17.4 ± 13.0 ppm, GP 23.2 ± 19.8. ppm, GP-L 17.4 ± 14.6 ppm). Two infants had markedly elevated peak hydrogen production with the lactose solution, and had required the longest number of days to reach full feeds, 18 and 23, (average for all 9.6 ± 6.5 days). Weight gain for all infants was 24.9 ± 6.7 gm/day (receiving 111 ± 13.8 kcal/kg/day). Our preliminary results indicate that CHO fermentation occurs with several different CHO sources. The data does not support the routine exclusion of lactose from the healthy, growing premature infant's formula. A subgroup of infants exists, who might benefit from a reduced lactose formula. Total weight gain does not seem to be affected by this generalized degree of carbohydrate malabsorption.
Correlation of echocardiographic markers and therapy in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

Background Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) causes morbidity and mortality in neonates. High-frequency ventilation (HFV), inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are used when conventional treatment fails. This study aimed to identify echocardiographic predictors of progression to these therapies before clinical deterioration. Methods Echocardiographic parameters were compared for survival and need for ECMO, HFV, iNO, and prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV, ≥10 days). Results Of 63 neonates, 95% survived, with 14% requiring ECMO, 52% requiring HFV, 67% requiring iNO, and 35% requiring MV. The following echocardiographic indices reflecting left ventricular output were decreased in sicker infants: (1) A decreased ascending aortic velocity time integral indicated an increased likelihood of ECMO (p = 0.02), iNO (p = 0.01), or MV (p = 0.05), (2) Shorter transverse aortic arch antegrade ejection time indicated HFV (p < 0.01), iNO (p < 0.01), and MV (p = 0.03), (3) Absent or retrograde transverse aortic diastolic flow correlated with HFV (p = 0.01, iNO (p = 0.01), and MV (p < 0.01). These sicker patients were more likely to have smaller left ventricular end-diastolic areas (p < 0.03 for all) and right-to-left atrial shunting (ECMO, HFV, and MV). There were no differences in survival. Conclusions Decreased left ventricular size and output correlates with the need for advanced therapies in infants with PPHN. Early identification may allow more effective management and placement of neonates at risk.
Grasping naturally versus grasping with a reacher in people without disability: motor control and muscle activation differences.

OBJECTIVE. We investigated motor control and muscle activation when reaching for and grasping objects with a reacher compared with the unaided hand. METHOD. In a repeated-measures counterbalanced design, 41 healthy participants with no previous experience using a reacher were randomly assigned to a sequence of four conditions. Movements of the wrist and fingers were recorded using a three-dimensional Qualisys camera system for assessing reach and grasp. Muscle activations from finger and arm flexors and extensors were recorded by surface electromyography. RESULTS. Participants exhibited a smaller grasp aperture, longer reaching time, and more muscle activity when they used a reacher. CONCLUSION. Efficient motor control, which requires both time and practice, is needed to successfully use a reacher. Clients presented with reachers without sufficient time to develop motor skills unique to reacher use may be more likely to abandon this assistive device and fail to benefit from its function
Crystallinity Determination of Nylon 66 by Density Measurement and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy

Polymer science represents an important area in industrial and research laboratories for chemists and material scientists. However, experiments involving polymers are uncommon in chemistry and material science curricula; therefore, an experiment involving polymers has been developed. This experiment has been used to teach fabrication of polymer films and to investigate the structure–property relationships of polymers using a multi-instrumental approach. It also introduces principles of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and how it can be utilized for polymer characterization. This experiment has been introduced successfully in a graduate-level instrumental analysis course in the chemistry department, but is also appropriate for an upper-level undergraduate course. It is simple to conduct in a teaching laboratory and utilizes commonly used instrumentation. Students gain hands-on experience in using multiple instruments. The experiment is designed to be completed in two to three weeks.
Fluidized-bed combustion synthesis of titanium nitride

A detailed experimental study of the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of titanium nitride was conducted to improve the conversion yield and illustrate the mechanism of formation of titanium nitride. The investigation was performed at atmospheric pressure, room temperature, and normal gravity conditions in a fluidized bed of gaseous nitrogen and solid titanium particles of approximately 50 μm. This fluidized-bed combustion system successfully produced a homogeneous dispersion of titanium particles in the nitrogen stream via a dual-syringe particle injection system, and subsequent particle ignition led to the gradual propagation of a combustion wave. From the combustion reaction, a maximum conversion yield of titanium nitride was obtained of approximately 60%. The high conversion yield was ascribed to increased introgen accessibility to the precursor particle surface by increasing the interstitial distances between particles in fluidization. The composition of the product particles was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction. Based on the measurement of combustion temperature and subsequent calculation of heat transfer, a liquid mechanism is indicated for the formation of titanium nitride obtained in the combustion synthesis system.
The formation of granules in the bronchiolar Clara cells of the rat. II. Enzyme cytochemistry.

The Clara cells of the rat contain characteristic round and rod-shaped electron-opaque granules in the apical cytoplasm. Small membranous sacs containing material resembling the contents of the granules were found among cisterns of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the apex of the cell and in the region of the Golgi apparatus. These sacs were thought to be precursors of mature granules. To investigate the origin of these sacs, the localization of four phosphatases was studied cytochemically. Alkaline phosphatase was found in the apical plasma membrane; acid phosphatase was found in basilar lysosomes, the Golgi apparatus, and infrequently in mature granules; glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) was found in the endoplasmic reticulum and thiamin pyrophosphatase (TPPase) in the Golgi apparatus. Mature granules and the majority of granule precursors lacked both G-6-Pase and TPPase. Rare granule precursors near the Golgi contained TPPase while a few in the apex contained G-6-Pase. The cytochemical results support a dual origin for the granules: Some form in the Golgi apparatus while others separate directly from smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
Kanona: A golden nematode resistant potato variety for the chipping industry

Kanona is a golden nematode resistant variety with chipping characteristics similar to those of Monona. The color of chips from tubers stored at 7.2°C or 10°C and chipped the day after being removed from storage has been equal to or better than Monona in the majority of trials. The specific gravity is .005 higher than Monona. The maturity is similar to Monona’s, but the vigor of the vines is greater. The yield is similar to that of Monona.
Primary Fluvial Oolites

ABSTRACT An unusual occurrence of oolitic calcarenite is exposed in South Central Texas just south of the Balcones Fault Zone. Topographic location and fossil content suggest a late Pleistocene age. Thin section examination reveals a wide variety of oolites including normal, superficial, compound and disrupted types. There is convincing evidence that the oolites were deposited, and for the most part, actually formed in a fluvial environment. The oolite formation occurs in an irregularly shaped area which roughly parallels three contemporary streams for several miles. Strata composed essentially of oolites are cross-bedded, lenticular and irregularly intercalated with poorly sorted, pisolitic calcareous conglomerate, nonoolitic calcarenite and calcareous claystone. Cut-and-fill structures and ripple marks are distinct. Whole and fragmented shells of Goniobasis sp. and Polygyra sp., freshwater and terrestrial gastropods are common. X-ray analyses show that the oolites are composed entirely of calcite. The calcium carbonate from which the oolites were formed was probably dissolved from the Cretaceous Edwards fm., which underlies the area at a depth of 210 m, and then brought to the surface by artesian springs. The contemporary streams along which the oolite formation outcrops are still spring-fed from the Edwards artesian system and are supersaturated with respect to calcite. Oxygen and carbon isotope analyses corroborate the hypothesis of a freshwater depositional environment. Many fragments associated with the oolites, as well as may oolite nuclei consist of the calcareous remains of charophytes and blue green algae. It appears that both physico-chemical and biological processes were responsible for the formation of the oolites, not only in the immediate vicinity of the srpings but downstream as well.
Micronutrient topdressing of alfalfa (medicago sativa L.) on a udollic albaqualf 1

Abstract An established stand of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was topdressed with two rates each of borax, zinc sulfate, and copper sulfate at two levels of applied P and K. Yields and plant composition were determined at five harvests over two seasons. Treatments were not effective in increasing yields but topdressing with B and Zn increased the concentration of these elements in the plant tissue. The Cu concentration in alfalfa tissue was not affected by topdressing with copper sulfate. Phosphorus application rates of about four times removal rates were needed to maintain the Bray 2 soil test level of the soil.
Acute physical dependence upon morphine in rats

An investigation was made to determine if physical dependence would develop after a small number of large intravenous injections of morphine. Six rats, given 150 mg/kg injections 8 hr apart for 2 days and then allowed to withdraw, exhibited a mean of 90% of the abstinence symptoms measured. Six control rats injected with saline showed no symptoms. Three rats given a single 50 mg/kg morphine injection 56 hr in withdrawal showed complete cessation of symptoms, and a return to 82% in 16 hr. Similar results were obtained in another experiment in which rats of different age and strain were used. A comparison with rats made tolerant to large doses of morphine over a long time found no significant difference in abstinence scores. In two further experiments, no withdrawal symptoms were observed in rats after a single 150 mg/kg intravenous morphine injection nor after three such injections.
System-oriented optimization of CAD for mass detection in digital mammography

A fully optimized computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system using system-oriented optimization algorithm has been developed for mass detection in digital mammography for the improvement of CAD performance on sensitivity and specificity. Based on a series of developed adaptive modules, simulated annealing (SA) algorithm is employed on CAD system optimization that is a typical combinatorial mixed-discrete optimization problem. The CAD system is optimized on a training database and evaluated through a test database, the cases in both databases are biopsy proven and selected by experienced radiologists. Both optimized and corresponding un-optimized CAD system have been evaluated using the same test database to compare the system performance. Obvious performance improvement has been obtained on optimized system. The results express the effectiveness of the method developed in this paper.
Rationally Designed Inhibitors of Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase

Functionalized 2-alkyl derivatives of inosinic acid have been synthesized to serve as reversible as well as irreversible inhibitors of the human type II enzyme inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. These compounds were designed to react with Cys-331 of the enzyme to form covalent bonds so as to interfere with the normal enzyme mechanism which involves attack of Cys-331 at C-2 of the substrate. Mass spectrometric analysis of the reaction products after enzymatic degradation confirmed the appropriateness of the inhibitor design.
Flow and Pressure Measurement in a Selective Laser Sintered Human Tracheobronchial Airway Model Under Cyclic Flow Conditions

A selectively laser sintered human tracheobronchial airway model was used to study periodic flows at different frequencies corresponding to inhalation and exhalation. The model was fabricated from a 3-d point could based on the Visible Human Male Project. The objective was to document the volumetric flow rate and pressure drop under periodic flow conditions and compare these values with those obtained in steady flow. The flow was cycled via a Programmable Logic computer (PLC) at a specified breathing frequency of 12 breaths per minute. The tracheal flows rate studied were 30, 50, and 120 liters per minute. The results indicated that significant differences existed between flow measurements made under steady conditions and periodic conditions; these differences became significant at high flow rates. The flow distribution in the right and left side of the airway model was asymmetric. The results also indicated the existence of both turbulent and laminar flow regimes at all tracheal flow rates.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The electro-mechanical response of elastomer membranes coated with ultra-thin metal electrodes

This paper presents experimental and theoretical analyses of the electro-mechanical response of metal/elastomer multilayers. A novel test has been devised to determine the relationship between the mechanical response of clamped elastomer membranes, coated on both sides with metal electrodes, and an applied electric field. The load-deflection response of the multilayers subjected to different voltages was measured using an instrumented spherical indenter having dimensions comparable to the freestanding span. The measurements are used with closed-form solutions for membrane deflection to determine the effective plane-strain modulus of cracked multilayers and electrically induced in-plane strains. The experiments demonstrate that: (i) electrically induced strains vary with the square of the electric field, as expected from electrostatic models of parallel plate capacitors, (ii) the transverse stiffness of membranes can be controlled using applied electric fields, (iii) analytical models accurately predict the relationship between electrode crack spacing, layer properties and effective moduli. Finally, we estimate the toughness of the sub-micron metal electrodes, using cracking models that relate crack spacing, imposed strain and the energy release rate governing channel crack formation.
Quantifying Seasonal Shoreline Variability at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Using Automated Imaging Techniques

Abstract We describe a seven-camera video system deployed at Rehoboth Beach on the Atlantic coast of Delaware that was used to monitor and quantify the evolution of a nourished beach. Shorelines along 6 km of beach were automatically identified using pixel-intensity gradients from time-exposure and variance imagery. Correlations between automatically identified and user-defined shorelines from images with various wave and atmospheric conditions exceed r2 values of 0.92. Small variations in camera azimuth and tilt were found to significantly affect apparent shoreline locations and were automatically corrected through image-correlation procedures. Hourly shoreline data were tidally and seasonally averaged to quantify seasonal morphodynamic variability. Over a summer-winter-summer monitoring period, the shoreline exhibited erosional and accretional variations of ∼10 m dependent in the alongshore direction on permanent man-made structures and subject to seasonally characteristic littoral transport variations....
An Efficient Mechanism for Network Bandwidth Auction

We propose a mechanism for auctioning bundles of multiple divisible goods. Such a mechanism is very useful for allocation of bandwidth in a network where the buyers want the same amount of bandwidth on each link in their route. We allow for buyers to specify multiple routes (corresponding to a source-destination pair). The total flow can then be split among these multiple routes. We first propose a single-sided VCG- type mechanism. However, instead of reporting their valuation functions, the players only reveal a two-dimensional bid signal - the maximum quantity that they want and the per unit price they are willing to pay. The proposed mechanism is a weak Nash-implementation, i.e., it has a non-unique Nash equilibrium that implements the social-welfare maximizing allocation. We show the existence of an efficient Nash equilibrium in the corresponding auction game. We show through an example that there are other Nash equilibria that are not efficient. Further, we provide a sufficient characterization of all efficient Nash equilibria. We then generalize this to buyers getting arbitrary amounts of various goods. This require each buyer to submit a bid separately for each good but their utility function a general function of allocations of various divisible goods. Then, we present a double-sided auction mechanism for multiple divisible goods with buyers and sellers. We show that there exists a Nash equilibrium of this auction game which yields the efficient allocation.
Steady Euler–Poisson systems: A differential/integral equation formulation with general constitutive relations☆

The Cauchy problem and the initial-boundary value problem for the Euler-Poisson system have been extensively investigated, together with a study of scaled and unscaled asymptotic limits. The pressure-density relationships employed have included both the adiabatic (isentropic) relation as well as the ideal gas law (isothermal). The study most closely connected to this one is that of S. Nishibata and M. Suzuki [Osaka J. Math. 44 (2007), 639–665], where a power law was employed in the context of the subsonic case, covering both the isothermal and adiabatic cases. These authors characterize the steady solution as an asymptotic limit. In this paper, we consider only the steady case, in much greater generality, and with more transparent arguments, than heretofore. We are able to identify both subsonic and supersonic regimes, and correlate them to one-sided boundary values of the momentum and concentration. We employ the novelty of a differential/integral equation formulation. In this article, we use elementary methods in combination with the Schauder fixed point theorem to establish steady solutions of a general version of the Euler-Poisson system. This system is formulated as an equivalent differential/ integral equation. In the remainder of the introduction, we outline the motivation for this study. In [13], S. Nishibata and M. Suzuki characterized asymptotic limits of certain initial-boundary problems for the Euler-Poisson system. This paper followed the more comprehensive study of Y. Guo and W. Strauss [5], who also considered the multi-dimensional initial-boundary value problem and the associated exponential asymptotic convergence. The authors