cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light attenuation and submersed macrophyte distribution in the tidal Potomac River and estuary

Changing light availability may be responsible for the discontinuous distribution of submersed aquatic macrophytes in the freshwater tidal Potomac River. During the 1985–1986 growing seasons, light attenuation and chlorophylla and suspended particulate material concentrations were measured in an unvegetated reach (B) and in two adjacent vegetated reaches (A and C). Light attenuation in reach B (the lower, fresh to oligohaline tidal river) was greater than that in reach A (the recently revegetated, upper, freshwater tidal river) in both years. Reach B light attenuation was greater than that in reach C (the vegetated, oligohaline to mesohaline transition zone of the Potomac Estuary) in 1985 and similar to that in reach C in 1986. In reach B, 5% of total below-surface light penetrated only an average of 1.3 m in 1985 and 1.0m in 1986, compared with 1.9 m and 1.4 m in reach A in 1985 and 1986, respectively. Water column chlorophylla concentration controlled light availability in reaches A and B in 1985, whereas both chlorophylla and suspended particulate material concentrations were highly correlated with attenuation in both reaches in 1986. Reach C light attenuation was correlated with suspended particulate material in 1986. The relationship between attenuation coefficient and Secchi depth was KPAR=1.38/Secchi depth. The spectral distribution of light at 1 m was shifted toward the red portion of the visible spectrum compared to surface light. Blue light was virtually absent at 1.0 m in reach B during July and August 1986. Tidal range is probably an important factor in determining light availability for submersed macrophyte propagule survival at the sediment-water interface in this shallow turbid system.
Recent increase in Ba concentrations as recorded in a South Pole ice core

Abstract Here we present high-resolution (∼9.4 samples/year) records of Ba concentrations for the period from 1541 to 1999 A.D. obtained from an ice core recovered at the South Pole (US ITASE-02-6) site. We note a significant increase in Ba concentration (by a factor of ∼23) since 1980 A.D. The Ba crustal enrichment factor (EFc) values rise from ∼3 before 1980 A.D. to ∼32 after 1980 A.D. None of the other measured major and trace elements reveal such significant increases in concentrations and EFc values. Comparison with previously reported Antarctic Ba records suggests that significant increases in Ba concentrations at South Pole since 1980 A.D. are most likely caused by local source pollution. The core was collected in close proximity to Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station; therefore activities at the station, such as diesel fuel burning and intense aircraft activity, most likely caused the observed increase in Ba concentrations and its EFc values in the South Pole ice core record.
Arthropod community organization and development in pear

Arthropod communities in pear are conceptualized as hierarchically organized systems in which several levels of organization or subsystems can be recognized between the population level and the community as a whole. An individual pear tree is taken to be the community habitat with arthropod subcommunities developing on leaf, fruit, and wood subcommunity habitats. Each subcommunity is composed of trophically organized systems of populations. Each system of populations is comprised of a functional group or guild of phytophagous arthropods that use the habitat primarily for feeding but also for overwintering or egg deposition, and associated groups of specialized predators, parasitoids, and hyperparasitoids. Several species move from one subcommunity to another during the course of community development and thus integrate community subsystems. Community development or change in organization through time is conceptualized as being jointly determined by the development of the habitat and the organization of the species pool. The influence of habitat development on community development within a species pool is emphasized in this research. Seasonal habitat development is expressed as change in the kinds and biomasses of developmental states of wood, leaf, and fruit subcommunity habitats. These changes are accompanied by changes in the kinds, biomasses, and distributions of associated community subsystems.
Unraveling the significance of IgE autoantibodies in organ-specific autoimmunity: lessons learned from bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP), a cutaneous autoimmune blistering disease, has provided a useful model to elucidate a role for IgE in autoimmunity. IgE antibodies specific for the BP180 autoantigen are detected in sera and biopsy samples from the majority of BP patients. In BP biopsies, both IgE and BP180 antigen localize to the surface of mast cells, and incubation of circulating basophils from these patients with BP180 protein triggered degranulation. The in vivo pathogenicity of BP180-specific IgE was confirmed in mouse models, where injection of purified BP IgE into human skin grafted onto nu/nu mice replicated the early phase of lesion development, including mast cell degranulation, eosinophil infiltration and development of urticarial plaques. In addition, IgE antibodies from patient sera bind to BP180 on basal keratinocytes, resulting in internalization of BP180, production of inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8, and a decrease in the number of hemidesmosomes at the basement membrane zone. These findings have led to therapeutic trials of the anti-IgE monoclonal antibody omalizumab in BP, resulting in substantial improvement in the patients' disease. Overall, the work in BP provides the first evidence for a pathogenic role for IgE in autoimmunity.
Extraretinal photoreception in lizards.

Abstract It is clearly established that in birds, as in the other lower vertebrates, brain photoreception is a critically important perceptual mode. In this review, the variety of extraretinally-mediated responses has been described, and the physiological properties and anatomical location of extraretinal photoreceptors have been briefly discussed. In order to deepen our understanding of its place in the sensory armamentarium, several unresolved problems have been pointed out.
Silicon-embedded 3D toroidal air-core inductor with through-wafer interconnect for on-chip integration

This paper presents a CMOS-compatible process for fabrication of 3D structures embedded in the volume of a silicon wafer, and capable of interconnection to circuitry on the wafer surface. The key challenge of embedding structures in the silicon substrate is processing inside deep silicon trenches. This difficulty is overcome by means of several key techniques: multilevel wafer etching; cavity shaping; fine proximity lithography at the bottom of trenches; and laminated dry-film lithography on complex 3D structures. As a technology demonstration, a topologically complex 3D toroidal inductor is fabricated in a deep silicon trench, and is coupled to the wafer surface with high-power, electroplated through-wafer interconnect. Inductors fabricated in these trenches achieved an overall inductance of 60 nH, dc resistance of 399 MΩ, and quality factor of 17.5 at 70 MHz.
Unexpected Twist to the Z Ring

Development in Bacillus subtilis involves a switch in the location of the cytokinetic Z ring from midcell to the pole. Time lapse photography of an FtsZ-GFP fusion reveals that this switch involves a spiral intermediate and allows identification of the specific sporulation functions involved.
Increases in BMD correlate with improvements in bone microarchitecture with teriparatide treatment in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Increases in BMD are correlated with improvements in 2D and 3D trabecular microarchitecture indices with teriparatide treatment. Therefore, improvements in trabecular bone microarchitecture may be one of the mechanisms to explain how BMD increases improve bone strength during teriparatide treatment. Introduction: Bone strength is determined by BMD and other elements of bone quality, including bone microarchitecture. Teriparatide treatment increases BMD and improves both cortical and trabecular bone microarchitecture. Increases in lumbar spine (LS) BMD account for ∼30–41% of the vertebral fracture risk reduction with teriparatide treatment. The relationship between increases in BMD and improvements in cortical and trabecular microarchitecture has not yet been studied. Materials and Methods: The relationship between increases in BMD and improvements in cortical and trabecular microarchitecture after teriparatide treatment was assessed using data from a subset of patients who had areal BMD measurements and structural parameters from transiliac bone biopsies in the Fracture Prevention Trial. 2D histomorphometric and 3D μCT parameters were measured at baseline and 12 (n = 21) or 22 (n = 36) mo. LS BMD was assessed at baseline and 12 and 18 mo, and femoral neck (FN) BMD was measured at baseline and 12 mo. Pearson correlation was performed to assess the relationship between actual changes in BMD and actual changes in microarchitectural parameters. Results: Changes in LS BMD at 12 mo were significantly correlated with improvements in trabecular bone structure at 22 mo: 2D bone volume (r = 0.45, p = 0.02), 2D mean wall thickness (r = 0.41, p = 0.03), 3D bone volume (r = 0.48, p = 0.006), 3D trabecular thickness (r = 0.44, p = 0.01), 3D trabecular separation (r = −0.37, p = 0.04), 3D structural model index (r = −0.54, p = 0.001), and 3D connectivity density (r = 0.41, p = 0.02). Changes in LS BMD at 18 mo had similar correlations with improvements in bone structure at 22 mo. Changes in FN BMD at 12 mo were significantly correlated with changes in 2D mean wall thickness (r = 0.56, p = 0.002), 3D bone volume (r = 0.51, p = 0.004), 3D trabecular thickness (r = 0.44, p = 0.01), 3D trabecular separation (r = −0.46, p = 0.01), and 3D structural model index (r = −0.55, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Increases in BMD are correlated with improvements in trabecular microarchitecture in iliac crest of patients with teriparatide treatment. Therefore, improvements in trabecular bone microarchitecture may be one of the mechanisms to explain how BMD increases improve bone strength during teriparatide treatment.
Thrust fault geometry of the Snake River Range, Idaho and Wyoming

The Snake River Range is located at the north end of the Absaroka fault system in the Idaho-Wyoming-Utah thrust belt, and it adjoins the Teton Mountains. Nine imbricate sheets of the Absaroka system form a shingled array of overlapping thrusts. Most fault nomenclature in the range dates from early, discontinuous, reconnaissance studies wherein names were applied from the top thrust down whether or not the thrust sheets separated by this method are, or ever were, connected as mechanical blocks. Fault names are revised here to consider the lateral continuity of sheets as the major criteria for defining the block to which a name should be applied. The Absaroka thrust and St. John thrust are recognized to be equivalent different parts of a major transfer zone, using the continuity of sheets as the main criteria. The map pattern of the range is dominated by major re-entrants to the west in the traces of the St. John and Absaroka thrusts. The re-entrants in both major faults are caused by folding in their foot walls related to lateral ramping of each thrust upward to the southeast. The folding of the St. John thrust above the Indian Creek Culmination also folds the thrust sheets above it, helping to mark the emplacement of the imbricate sheets as being from top to bottom and west to east. The Absaroka system thrusts formed from 20 to 40 km west of their present position. They are folded by underlying faults of the Jackson or, farther south, the Darby system, indicating that the Absaroka system was emplaced into its present position by motion on these underlying faults. Discussions concerning mechanical interaction between the thrust belt and a foreland buttress (ancestral Teton or Targhee uplift) concentrate on intensities of deformation and changes in geometry adjacent to the proposed buttress. The individual imbricate geometries and regional changes in trend are more related to a changing stratigraphic package and the lateral thrust ramps than to geographic proximity to any proposed buttress.
Water quality bioassay using selected protozoa, I.

Abstract The suitability of certain species of protozoa as indicators of water quality has been determined. Experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions to standardize a bioassay procedure for water quality using either Paramecium caudatum. Amoeba protpus, or Euglena gracilis as the indicator organism. The bioassay, which consists of exposing the organisms to a known concentration of pollutant under laboratory conditions, followed by microscopic observation to establish the time of death, affords a reliable, convenient and inexpensive way to monitor for water quality.
MIN: a power efficient mechanism to mitigate the impact of process variations on nanophotonic networks

In this paper, we introduce MIN, a novel method for assigning wavelengths to nodes dynamically on a nanophotonic network to minimize the impact of process variations (PVs). Among the available wavelengths on a waveguide, a subset of them, called bubbles, are left intentionally unused. These bubbles are then borrowed by nodes dynamically to improve the channel utilization. We present an express wavelength regulation approach to manage these assignments efficiently. Evaluation results reveal that MIN can recover 80% of bandwidth loss due to PVs and achieve 41% trimming power reduction compared to state-of-the-art alternative approaches.
A novel variant of the cleidocervicalis muscle with clinical implications for nerve compression/entrapment

The cleidocervicalis muscle occurs in approximately 1–3 % of the population that may be confused with pathological neck masses. We describe a novel variant of the muscle and its clinical implications. This is a case report of a cleidocervicalis muscle variant identified during routine cadaveric dissection. The muscle identified originated on the C5 vertebra and inserted on the clavicle medial to the trapezius muscle. Innervation was provided by a C6 spinal nerve branch. Notably, a branch of the supraclavicular nerve was closely associated with the muscle, raising the possibility of compression of this nerve. Presence of a cleidocervicalis muscle should be considered in cases of shoulder pain consistent with supraclavicular nerve entrapment or compression.
Different Perspectives on Informed Consent and Clinical Hypnosis

I had hoped that Dr. Steven J. Lynn’s proposals (Lynn, 2001a, 2001b) regarding informed consent and clinical hypnosis would stimulate some interesting discussion about this important issue and I wa...
Probing the orientation of surface-immobilized immunoglobulin G by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.

Static time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is a powerful surface analysis technique for the characterization of protein films because of its chemical selectivity and surface sensitivity. In this study, static ToF-SIMS and principal component analysis (PCA), a multivariate data analysis method, were combined to probe the orientation of surface-immobilized immunoglobulin G (IgG). IgG orientation can enhance its ability to detect its antigen in immunoassay techniques. The IgG used in this work is the mouse monoclonal anti-human chorionic gonadotropin (anti-hCG). Anti-hCG films on different well-defined substrates have been studied using its F(ab‘)2 and Fc fragments as references. Atomic force microscopy was used to characterize these protein films before static ToF-SIMS analysis. The results from PCA of ToF-SIMS spectra were related to the antibody primary amino acid composition and its three-dimensional structure.
Accelerated dynamics study of vacancy mobility in δ-plutonium

Using parallel-replica dynamics and temperature accelerated dynamics, we extract the rates for mono- and di-vacancy diffusion in 8-plutonium (Pu) using two parameterizations of the modified embedded atom method (MEAM). We find that mono-vacancy diffusion is faster in "pure" Pu than in 8-stabilized Pu. Also, at higher temperatures, the rate of double jumps is nearly the same as single jumps in pure Pu. Since these double jumps contribute four times as much as single jumps to the diffusion constant, models incorporating mono-vacancy diffusion must account for this mechanism to predict mass transport in Pu. While di-vacancies are energetically only slightly preferred compared to mono-vacancies, they are significantly more mobile. Surprisingly, this enhanced mobility is due to the prefactor; the migration barrier is essentially identical. The di-vacancy dissociates at a rate similar to the mono-vacancy hop rate.
Hodgkin's Disease, Work, and the Environment: A Review

Hodgkin's disease (HD), a lymphoma with an annual incidence in the United States of approximately 7500 cases, primarily affects the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. The point of this article is to critically review the literature regarding the purported relationships between HD, certain occupations, and exposure to chemical agents. Attention will also be focused on recent advances in molecular genetics in the etiology of this ailment. A MEDLINE search was conducted to assess case-control and mortality evaluations that investigated links between HD and certain occupations and exposure to designated hazards. A review of citations in the Silver Platter Occupational and Environmental Medicine CD-ROM database was also conducted to ensure that all pertinent reports were obtained. Of the industries evaluated, woodworking showed the most consistent link between an increased risk of HD (relative risk, 1.8 to 7.2), but not all studies conducted showed positive associations. Although certain chemicals (ie, chlorophenols, pesticides) were reported as risks, no chemical was consistently and unambiguously linked with HD. Recent investigative work, however, points to a major etiological role for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), genetic fragments of which have been noted in Reed-Sternberg cells, the classic malignant cells of HD. The occupation most consistently associated with HD appears to be woodworking, although no specific chemical has been consistently linked with this lymphoma. The most persuasive evidence regarding the cause of HD arises from recent studies, including epidemiological, clinical, and genetic studies, that point to a major role by the EBV.
Coupling constants andS-matrix zeros

A connection between coupling constants andS-matrix zeros is demonstrated to exist in the case of elastic scattering of neutral, scalar particles. From analyticity and unitarity arguments, the most general solution for a partial-wave phase shift is written in terms of the given discontinuities across the dynamical and inelastic branch cuts. The coupling constants associated with the simple poles follow directly from these phase shift solutions. Under certain conditions, it is shown that the arbitrariness in the solutions can be exhibited entirely by the position and number ofS-matrix zeros. A simple dynamical assumption is introduced as an illustrative example of a possible physical restriction on these zeros, and two coupling constants are calculated with use of very rough approximations.
Elastic constants of textured short-fiber composites

Abstract We studied the transversely isotropic elastic response of a series of textured short-fiber SiC/Al metal-matrix composites. By texture we mean the preferred orientation of the short fibers. We fully characterized the microstructure of the extruded SiC/Al short-fiber composites through a combination of mass-density measurements, optical and scanning electron microscopy, and neutron diffraction. We measured all components of the overall elastic-stiffness tensor of the composites using two methods: MHz-frequency pulse-echo ultrasonics and kHz-frequency acoustic-resonance spectroscopy, the latter being the first application of the method to short-fiber or particle-reinforced composites. We propose a relatively simple micro-mechanics model to predict the entire set of elastic constants, and give simple results for orientation distributions of practical significance. The predictions are in excellent agreement with measurements.
EFFECTS OF SYNCHRONY WITH HOST PLANT ON POPULATIONS OF A SPRING-FEEDING LEPIDOPTERAN

Comparisons of traits of outbreaking and nonoutbreaking leaf-eating Lepi- doptera and Symphyta have shown that spring-feeding species are more likely to have outbreaks than are summer-feeding species. It has been suggested that variable synchrony with host budburst causes the population sizes of spring-feeding species to be more variable primarily because of the negative effects of older leaves on insects. While much evidence exists that leaf age can directly affect survival and reproduction of insects, few studies have looked at the population-level effects of variable phenology, and especially the po- tential for complex direct and indirect interactions with natural-enemy effects. To examine the consequences of variable phenology for population growth of an outbreaking insect, we manipulated the timing of gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar) egg hatch in the field. We released large numbers of gypsy moth larvae into replicate plots in the field at three times relative to budburst. Survival of larvae in protective sleeves was high unless they were released very long before host budburst, and leaf age had a direct negative effect on fecundity: the later the release, the lower was the fecundity of insects reared on white oak and black oak. The later the release, however, the greater was the dispersal by ballooning, which had the effect of reducing local densities. Because the most important natural enemies impose density-dependent mortality, dispersal had the effect of raising survival rate for later release dates. The direct host-plant effect and natural-enemy effects exhibited opposing influences on population processes, because fecundity decreased with release date but sur- vival increased. The survival advantage of the late release outweighed the loss in fecundity, so that the expected population growth rate was highest for the latest release. The net effects of phenology on insect population growth thus depend largely on natural-enemy effects. Very different conclusions would have been drawn had we measured mortality only in protective sleeves and not in the presence of natural enemies. The strong natural-enemy effects may explain the large variability in outcome of plant-herbivore interactions and contribute to the high variability in population size of spring-feeding species.
Conformational stability of chlorocyclohexane from temperature-dependent FT-IR spectra of xenon solutions, r 0 structural parameters, and vibrational assignment

Variable temperature (−55 to −105 °C) studies of the infrared spectra (4000–400 cm−1) of chlorocyclohexane (c-C6H11Cl) dissolved in liquefied xenon have been carried out. The infrared spectra of the gas and solid have also been recorded from 4000–100 cm−1. By analyzing six conformer pairs in the xenon solution, a standard enthalpy difference of 132 ± 13 cm−1 (1.58 ± 0.16 kJ/mol) was obtained with the equatorial conformer the more stable form. At ambient temperature, the abundance of the axial conformer is 34 ± 1%. The potential surface describing the conformational interchange has been determined and the Fourier coefficients were obtained. From MP2 ab initio calculations utilizing various basis sets with and without diffuse functions, the equatorial conformer is predicted to be more stable by 161 ± 18 cm−1 from the four largest basis set calculations, which is consistent with the experimental results. However, the average from the corresponding B3LYP density functional theory calculations is 274 ± 15 cm−1 which is certainly too large. By utilizing the previously reported microwave rotational constants for two isotopomers (35Cl, 37Cl) combined with the structural parameters predicted from the MP2(full)/6-311+G(d,p) calculations, adjusted r 0 structural parameters have been obtained. The determined heavy atom distances for the most stable chair-equatorial conformer in A are: r 0(C1–C7,8) = 1.532(3); r 0(C7,8–C13,14) = 1.536(3); r 0(C4–C13,14) = 1.524(3); and r 0(C4–Cl6) = 1.802(5) and the angles in degrees: ∠C1C7,8C13,14 = 111.3(5)o; ∠Cl6C4C13,14 = 109.7(5)o with the two dihedral angles ∠C8C1C7C13 = 56.3(10)o and ∠C14C4C13C7 = 56.7(10)o. These parameters are in good agreement with those reported earlier from microwave and electron diffraction studies where the CC and CH distances were all assumed to be equal. A few of the previously reported vibrational assignments have been corrected. The results of these spectroscopic and theoretical studies are discussed and compared to the corresponding results for some similar molecules.
Secure self-calibrating quantum random-bit generator

Random-bit generators (RBGs) are key components of a variety of information processing applications ranging from simulations to cryptography. In particular, cryptographic systems require ``strong'' RBGs that produce high-entropy bit sequences, but traditional software pseudo-RBGs have very low entropy content and therefore are relatively weak for cryptography. Hardware RBGs yield entropy from chaotic or quantum physical systems and therefore are expected to exhibit high entropy, but in current implementations their exact entropy content is unknown. Here we report a quantum random-bit generator (QRBG) that harvests entropy by measuring single-photon and entangled two-photon polarization states. We introduce and implement a quantum tomographic method to measure a lower bound on the ``min-entropy'' of the system, and we employ this value to distill a truly random-bit sequence. This approach is secure: even if an attacker takes control of the source of optical states, a secure random sequence can be distilled.
The Fate of Nitrogen in Bioreactor Landfills

Although bioreactor landfills have many advantages associated with them, challenges remain, including the persistence of ammonia-nitrogen in the leachate. It has been suggested that ammonia-nitrogen is one of the most significant long-term pollution problem in landfills and is likely a parameter that will determine when landfill postclosure monitoring may end. The fate of nitrogen in bioreactor landfills is not well understood. As more landfills transition operation to bioreactors, more attention must be paid to how operating the landfill as a bioreactor may affect the fate of nitrogen. Processes such as sorption, volatilization, nitrification, denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction may all occur.
Large-scale simulation of the human cranial arterial tree: utility in hydrocephalus

Background Recent work in hydrocephalus modelling has drawn attention to the potential role of disruption of a pulsation absorber mechanism in the intracranial compartment. Therefore, characterization of cerebral hemodynamics is essential for understanding complex intracranial dynamics under normal and diseased conditions, diagnosing and treating patients suffering from hydrocephalus, and designing medical devices. To this end, we have developed a procedure for generating physiologically accurate models of the cerebral hemodynamics by coupling clinical data and the multiscale modelling approach.
Comparison of the eye’s wave-front aberration measured psychophysically and with the Shack–Hartmann wave-front sensor

The Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor offers many theoretical advantages over other methods for measuring aberrations of the eye; therefore it is essential that its accuracy be thoroughly tested. We assessed the accuracy of a Shack–Hartmann sensor by directly comparing its measured wave-front aberration function with that obtained by the Smirnov psychophysical method for the same eyes. Wave-front profiles measured by the two methods agreed closely in terms of shape and magnitude with rms differences of ∼λ/2 and ∼λ/6 (5.6-mm pupil) for two eyes. Primary spherical aberration was dominant in these profiles, and, in one subject, secondary coma was opposite in sign to primary coma, thereby canceling its effect. Discovery of an unusual, subtle wave-front anomaly in one individual further demonstrated the accuracy and sensitivity of the Shack–Hartmann wave-front sensor for measuring the optical quality of the human eye.
Intersection-union systems☆

Abstract In two recent papers the authors introduced some new approaches to the problem of modeling the phenomena underlying immunological reaction tests. These approaches allow one to easily construct the best possible models for a given amount of immunological test data. In the first paper the authors used a purely Boolean approach, i.e., it was assumed that the experimenter signified whether or not a reaction occurred in a given test. In the second paper the authors assumed that the relative strengths of the reactions were available as data for the modeling process. They showed that in this case strictly better models could be constructed. This paper generalizes the approaches taken in the first two papers and provides a unified approach to this whole subject. Many of the results, e.g., the ability to construct the best model, of the first two papers hold in this more general setting. Moreover, this generalization allows one to assess the tradeoffs involved in using data on the relative strengths of reactions. In particular, we see that using relative strengths is equivalent to using an additional intersection factor in a strictly Boolean approach. This intersection factor it turns out, can be obtained experimentally by using elution in addition to the absorption involved in the first two papers. Finally, the duality between fragments and cofragments becomes apparent using this approach.
Cancer nanomedicine: Therapy from within.

The combination of Cerenkov light and nanoparticles now enables photodynamic therapy that does not rely on external light sources.
Time–temperature–transformation (TTT) cure diagrams: Relationship between Tg and the temperature and time of cure for epoxy systems

Abstract : A procedure is provided for estimating the time to full cure versus isothermal cure temperature for vitrified epoxy systems. An equation relating the glass transition temperature of vitrified epoxy systems to the time and temperature of cure is developed. Keywords: Kinetics; Thermosetting. (Author)
Has the hunt for conflicts of interest gone too far? Yes

Thomas Stossel argues that restrictions on doctors’ and academics’ interaction with commercial companies are damaging research, but Kirby Lee believes it is a price worth paying to maintain public trust
Broadband vibration-based energy harvesting improvement through frequency up-conversion by magnetic excitation

Traditional vibration-based energy harvesters are designed for a specific base excitation frequency by matching its fundamental natural frequency. This work presents the modeling and analysis of a nonlinear, magnetically excited energy harvester that exhibits efficient broadband, frequency-independent performance utilizing a passive auxiliary structure that remains stationary relative to the base motion. This system is especially effective in the regime of driving frequencies well below its fundamental frequency, thus enabling a more compact design solution over traditional topologies. A model based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory is coupled to a linear circuit and a model of the nonlinear, magnetic interaction to produce a distributed parameter magneto-electromechanical system. This model is used in both harmonic and stochastic base excitation case studies. The results of these simulations demonstrate multiple-order-of-magnitude power harvesting performance improvement at low driving frequencies and an insensitivity to time-varying base excitation. Furthermore, the proposed system is shown to outperform an optimally designed, standard energy harvester in the presence of broadband, random base excitation.
Greater dead heroes than live husbands: widows as image-makers

Abstract Before public relations had form, a name or formal practitioners, before visual images were created easily and indelibly with color photographs, television and computer morphing, widows created heroic images of their dead husbands. Widows as image-makers is both historic—Mrs. George Armstrong Custer and Mrs. Robert F. Scott—and contemporary—Mrs. John F. Kennedy and Yoko Ono among others. The most successful wove the ambiguities of their husbands’ deaths into enduring myths and legends by adroitly using the mores, values, sentimentalities and dreams dominant in their times and countries. The myths of dashing military leaders, pop celebrities and politicians—created, disciplined, and relentlessly publicized by their widows—alter still, even swamp reality. The widows insured that heroic veneration, honors, monuments, and tendentious history would dominate, thwarting spoil sport truth-seeking historians.
Malignant hypertension: recovery of renal function after treatment with antihypertensive medications and hemodialysis.

both in the presence and absence of azotemia, with the introduction of potent antihypertensive agents. 3' ~ Howev- er, with normalization of blood pressure, renal perfusion may decrease, causing a rise in BUN and serum creatinine concentrations4-6; supportive h emodialysis may be required while the renal vascular lesions heal. 7' 8 We believe that this is the first report of a pediatric patient with malignant hypertension and severe renal failure who recovered significant renal function after aggressive con- trol of blood pressure and the use of hemodialysis.
Physician Attitudes toward Palliative Care for Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey:

AbstractPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic, symptomatic, life-threatening illness; however, it is complex, with variable expression regarding impact on quality of life (QOL). This study investigated attitudes and comfort of physicians regarding palliative care (PC) for patients with PAH and explored potential barriers to PC in PAH. An internet-based, mixed-methods survey was distributed to Pulmonary Hypertension Clinicians and Researchers, a professional organization within the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. Only responses from physicians involved in clinical care of patients with PAH were analyzed. Of 355 clinicians/researchers, 79 (22%) returned surveys, including 76 (21%) providers involved in clinical care. Responding physicians were mainly pulmonologists (67%), practiced in university/academic medical centers (89%), had been in practice a mean of 12 ± 7 years, cared for a median of 100 PAH patients per year, and reported a high level of confidence in managing PAH (87%), advanced ...
Is cosmic parity violation responsible for the anomalies in the WMAP data

Abstract In this Letter, I argue that a parity violating extension to general relativity can simultaneously explain the observed loss in power and provides a first step for explaining the alignment at a preferred axis (‘Axis of Evil’) in the low multipole moments of the WMAP data. This observational possibility also provides an experimental window for an inflationary leptogenesis mechanism arising from large-scale parity violation. Similar to the arguments of Contaldi, Peloso, Kofman and Linde, large scale power is suppressed from the backreaction of the parity violating term by inducing a velocity dependent potential. We also argue that this modification can supress power of odd parity multipoles on large scales, a pattern that is observed in the WMAP alignment anomaly.
Unification of gravity and elementary particle interactions in 26 dimensions

Abstract The presence of an 11-cocycle in ten-dimensional theories containing an E 8 ×E 8 Yang-Mills theory coupled to supergravity suggests that the fundamental theory is a 26-dimensional string theory based on the Leech lattice. A theory with equal numbers of bosons and fermions is constructed by truncating a certain natural infinite-dimensional representation of the Monster sporadic group. This theory appears to be a certain combination of pieces of heterotic and N = 2 superstring.
Toxicity of a serotonin-derived neuromelanin

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) is associated with increased mortality in the elderly and may occur from lipid peroxidation in aging. We previously showed that sevoflurane sequesters acrolein, which promotes the formation of a novel species of a putative neuromelanin. The current study examined the properties of this serotonin-derived melanoid (SDM). The interaction of SDM with unilamellar vesicles (ULVs) was examined using lipid membrane probes. Vesicle disruption was investigated by leakage of dye from calcein-loaded ULVs. We observed that SDM decreased diphenyl-hexatriene fluorescence anisotropy and increased the temperature-dependent change in anisotropy. SDM changed the absorbance of merocyanin-bound ULVs. SDM increased detergent-mediated calcein leakage. SDM structure was dramatically altered upon interaction with ULVs. We also observed that SDM enhanced detergent-mediated leakage of loaded ULVs, suggesting that SDM may be neurotoxic. We propose that inhalational agents, which sequester acrolein, may promote the production of certain species of neuromelanin that depletes local serotonin and enhances neuronal vulnerability.
The Eternal Sunshine of the Solar Anus: A Schizoanalytic Perspective on Critical Methodology

Abstract Using the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as its object, this paper embodies, explores, and performs the connections and disjunctions between the critical perspectives of psychoanalysis and schizoanalysis. In so doing, we reject the perspectives that have heretofore binarized the two modes of thought as well as the applications that have oversimplified and fetishized their critical vocabularies. This paper is therefore a form of performance that endorses both psychoanalysis and schizoanalysis as modes of thought and being, but most importantly sets forth a mode of embodied critique that transcends the simple deployment of critical vocabulary.
Relationship of Right Bundle-Branch Block and Marked Left Axis Deviation (with Left Parietal or Peri-infarction Block) to Complete Heart Block and Syncope

The pattern of complete right bundle-branch block (RBBB) combined with abnormal left axis deviation is shown to be the predominant conduction abnormality during orthograde (antegrade) conduction in patients who have experienced transient or permanent complete heart block (59% of a series of 44 patients). Sequential records on the same patient are presented showing progressive development of the complete pattern from left parietal and peri-infarction block alone and also from RBBB with normal axis deviation. Underlying abnormality is a partial bilateral bundle-branch block, that is, complete RBBB and involvement of the anterior-superior subdivision of the left bundle. The incidence of this pattern in 5,500 consecutive hospital records was 1%. Of these, 10% manifested complete heart block. It is suggested that a history of syncope or dizziness in a patient with the above pattern may denote that episodes of transient heart block have occurred.
A Normative Turn in Political Science

Traditionally, the scientific study of politics has been associated with a value-neutral approach to the subject. One seeks to uncover what is, not what ought to be, in the political realm. This is what distinguishes a “positive” science from opinionizing, social engineering, or political philosophy. In recent decades, one detects a growing uneasiness with the venerable fact/value dichotomy, at least as it was traditionally understood. It is not clear, however, where this leaves us. (Is the fact/value dichotomy dead?) Against this backdrop, we present the following argument. If political science is to matter to policymakers or citizens, as most political scientists believe it should, authors must be clear about how their subject ties into some broader telos that others might share. Thus, one might fruitfully distinguish three sorts of issues. First, how does a particular subject of political science affect the broader public? (What is its relevance?) Second, how can one demonstrate this relevance empirically? And finally, how might other ways of viewing this issue change the way the “goodness” of the subject is perceived? The first issue is simply a matter of clarification, the second a matter of demonstration, and the third a matter normally reserved for political philosophy. All are necessary components of a relevant and useful political science discipline.
Enzymatic nitrile hydrolysis catalyzed by nitrilase ZmNIT2 from maize. An unprecedented β-hydroxy functionality enhanced amide formation

Abstract To explore the synthetic potential of nitrilase ZmNIT2 from maize, the substrate specificity of this nitrilase was studied with a diverse collection of nitriles. The nitrilase ZmNIT2 showed high activity for all the tested nitriles except benzonitrile, producing both acids and amides. For the hydrolysis of aliphatic, aromatic nitriles, phenylacetonitrile derivatives and dinitriles, carboxylic acids were the major products. Unexpectedly, amides were found to be the major products in nitrilase ZmNIT2-catalyzed hydrolysis of β-hydroxy nitriles. The hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl group and nitrogen in the enzyme–substrate complex intermediates that disfavors the loss of ammonia and formation of acyl–enzyme intermediate, which was further hydrolyzed to acid, was proposed to be responsible for the unprecedented β-hydroxy functionality assisted high yield of amide formation.
Enterprise Zones: 2. A Comparative Analysis of Zone Performance and State Government Policies

This is the second of two papers in which the programmatic structure and effectiveness of state government designated enterprise zones (EZs) are analyzed. With use of data on EZs from 14 states, the relationships are examined between job and/or investment gains and variables reflecting different state policies, zone locations, and zone settings. It is argued that, if states wish to purse EZ policies, they should focus on a small number of ‘retrievable’ zones, adopt a broad and quality package of business incentives, use no more restrictive designation criteria than needed, explore the possibilities of more direct targeting of existing state development activities into the zones, and seek strong local participation in the promotional effort.
Muscle blood flow in humans: how high can it go?

The question is whether skeletal muscle blood flow (MBF) in humans can reach the peak values of 300-400 ml.100 g-1.min-1 seen in dogs, ponies, and rats. The answer depends on the total mass of active muscle. Total MBF has a fixed upper limit or maximal value set by maximal cardiac output--normally about 25 1.min-1. In a 75-kg man with 30 kg of muscle, total MBF is 22 1.min-1 or 73 ml.100 g-1.min-1. As the mass of active muscle decreases, MBF available per 100 g of muscle increases, but a "maximal" value can no longer be defined because it becomes a function of blood pressure and muscle vascular conductance (and not maximal cardiac output) for which "maximal" values are also undefined. This paper emphasizes three key points. First, pumping capacity of the human heart is much smaller per kg body weight than in many other species. Second, human cardiac pumping capacity is exceeded by the vasodilator capacity of skeletal muscle; thus, so-called "peak MBF" often occurs when metabolic vasodilator and blood pressure-regulating vasoconstrictor mechanisms are competing. Third, in order to observe a peak MBF, one must maximally activate a mass of muscle that is too small to overwhelm cardiac pumping capacity. This experimental approach has revealed that MBF can exceed 300 ml.100 g-1.min-1 in small masses of active human muscle. The upper limit for flow, which depends on pressure, and for vascular conductance is still unknown.
Young Adults' Expectations about Sex-Roles in Midlife

Male and female college students (N = 106) in the developmental stage of transition to young adulthood (mean age = 19.9 yr.) were asked to imagine themselves at midlife in three life settings: work, personal relationships/family, and leisure. For each setting they described themselves on the instrumental and expressive scales of the Personal Attributes Questionnaire and on scales of agentic and communal competencies. Subjects anticipated more instrumental traits, more agentic competency, and less communal competency in work settings than in personal relationships, with no differences between men and women. Gender and setting interacted for expressiveness: women anticipated more expressive traits than men in personal relationships, with no difference in the other settings. The anticipated traits and competencies of these subjects were related more to setting than to gender. This may reflect a shift in the definition of sex-role boundaries in American culture.
Localization of low-energy eigenfunctions in Šeba billiards

We investigate localization of low-energy modes of the Laplacian with a point scatterer on a rectangular plate. We observe that the point scatterer acts as a barrier confining the low-level modes to one side of the plate while assuming the Dirichlet boundary condition at a point does not induce this type of localization. This low-energy phenomenon extends to higher modes as we increase the eccentricity of the plate.
Sensor bias fault diagnosis in a class of nonlinear uncertain systems with Lipschitz nonlinearities

This paper presents a sensor fault detection and isolation scheme for a class of Lipschitz nonlinear systems with nonlinear and unstructured modeling uncertainty. This significantly extends previous results by considering a more general class of system nonlinearities which are modeled as functions of the system input and partially measurable state variables. A new sensor fault diagnosis method is developed using adaptive estimation techniques. Adaptive thresholds for fault detection and isolation are rigorously derived. A simulation example of a single-link flexible joint robotic system is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the sensor fault diagnosis method.
Bio-Hybrid Materials for Immunoassay-Based Sensing

The process of encapsulating antibodies in sol-gel was used for sensing various hormones, specifically cortisol, insulin, and C-peptide. A sol-gel optical biosensor for cortisol has been developed for monitoring of crew health on-orbit during space missions. Our studies involving silica sol-gel materials with competitive immunoassays demonstrated linear calibration for cortisol in the range of 2-60 μg/dL, which covers the physiological range of cortisol blood concentration for an adult (2-28 μg/dL). The method of standard additions was used to analyze human serum samples sent to us from a NASA laboratory. Our sol-gel immunosensor values were typically within 20% of the values obtained by NASA-JSC using traditional immuno-binding techniques, with some values having less than a 5% error. Initial results are presented for sensing the hormones insulin and C-peptide.