cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron Tunneling in the His126 Ru-Modified Azurin: Tunneling Jumps between Protein Strands via Hydrogen Bonds

Using the tunneling current method recently implemented with the ZINDO quantum chemical model, electron tunneling in the His 1 2 6 Ru-modified blue copper protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin is investigated. The proteinstructure relevant to the electron transfer process is fully accounted for in quantum mechanical calculations carried out in conjunction with the protein pruning procedure. An interesting feature of the system is that the donor and acceptor complexes are coordinated to two parallel β-strands, so that the tunneling electron has to jump from one strand to the other during the reaction. The two strands are connected by several hydrogen bonds. Using the method of atomic tunneling currents, we investigate how this interstrand tunneling occurs. We find that one of the five hydrogen bonds involved with a length of 2.08 A is responsible for 82% of the interstrand tunneling current. The tunneling electron is initiated at the Cys 1 1 2 strand and then crosses this hydrogen bond to the Met 1 2 1 strand and finally reaches the Ru atom via the His 1 2 6 terminal. The calculations of the absolute value of the tunneling amplitude carried out with the unadjusted ZINDO model are stable but result in a tunneling matrix element which is about an order of magnitude smaller than that obtained from the experimental data. If, however, a correction tunneling factor is introduced, on the basis of matching an independent ab initio calculation, the rate of activationless electron transfer obtained with such a "tuned" ZINDO model agrees well with that found in the experiment.
Time, stress, and location dependent chondrocyte death and collagen damage in cyclically loaded articular cartilage.

Abstract We investigated the effect of light (0.1 MPa), moderate (1 MPa) or heavy (5 MPa) cyclical stresses applied continuously or intermittently for 0 to 72 h on cell death and collagen damage in adult bovine cartilage explants. No increase in cell death was observed in the cartilage loaded with a continuous cyclic stress at 0.1 MPa for up to 72 h. Cell death occurred in the uppermost superficial tangential zone (STZ) of explants after loading for 1 h at 1 MPa, and reached a maximum depth of 61 ± 23 μm by 6 h (at the rate of 9 ± 6 μm/h). At 5 MPa, cell death occurred in the STZ after as little as 1 min (30 cycles) of loading, and reached a maximum depth of 70 ± 2 μm by 60 min (47 ± 8 μm/h). When an intermittent (with 2 s on, 2 s off) stress of 5 MPa was applied, cell death appeared in the STZ after 2 min (30 cycles) and increased to a depth of 63 ± 2 μm at 60 min (45 ± 11 μm/h). No significant differences were observed between the continuous and intermittent loading conditions. Both collagenase-cleaved and denatured collagen fibers were found in the STZ of explants loaded at 1 and 5 MPa. We concluded that load-induced cell death depends on load duration and magnitude, and that the chondrocytes in the STZ are more vulnerable to load-induced injury than those in the middle and deep zones.
Veiling glare in the F4111 image intensifier

Veiling glare is a phenomenon present in most imaging devices and systems. It is a source of concern in image intensifiers where it causes a loss in image contrast especially at low spatial frequencies. Veiling glare measurements are described for two different F4lll 18 mitt proximity focused channel intensifier tubes (image intensifiers) one with a fiber optic input window (FO/FO) and the other with a quartz input window (Q/FO) . Near field veiling glare a raeasure of the stray light close to an edge and far field veiling glare a measure of more widely distributed stray light were measured as fractions of the illumination level. Near field veiling glare of 0. 3 0. 06 and far field veiling glare of 0. 02 0. 004 was measured for the FO/FO intensifier and near field veiling glare of 0. 3 0. 06 and far field veiling glare of 0. 03 0. 004 was measured for the Q/FO intensifier. Characteristic lengths a measure of the extent of the veiling glare from the edge are 0. 7 0. 07 mm (near field) and 2. 0 0. 2 mm (far field) for the FO/FO intensifier and 1. 2 0. 1 mm (near field) and 7. 0 0. 7 mm (far field) for the Q/FO intensifier. Studies also show that characteristic lengths increase with increasing wavelength. Further a quasi-elastic electron scatter model suggested that electron scatter within
Effect of molecular structure on mesomorphism XX. Unsymmetrical dimeric mesogens

Abstract A series of unsymmetrical dimeric mesogens was prepared, members of which were composed of a 4′-pentyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxyl core and a 4′-substituted-benzylidene-4-oxyaniline core joined via an alklyene spacer. The structural variants were cyano, nitro and trifluoromethyl. Comparison of mesophase behaviour of the unsymmetrical dimers with that of corresponding monomeric ‘halves’ and also with that of corresponding symmetrical dimers indicated a tendency for the unsymmetrical dimers to form smectic phases although not as highly ordered as those of some of the monomers corresponding to a relevant core group.
Comment: an unlikely match: on the curator's role in the social work of the museum

Museums have historically been repositories of histories and other ‘programmed’ narratives by curators that audiences accept along with the museum's authority. The dynamics have for the most part m...
Surface membrane antigens of PY-3T3 mouse fibroblasts

NIH Swiss mice produce a strong cellular response to polyoma-transformed mouse 3T3 cells (PY-3T3) in contrast to that of BALB/c mice. The present study sought to determine if plasma membranes isolated from PY-3T3 cells could induce similar delayed-type reactions. Surface membranes were prepared from intact cells using Dounce homogenization and density gradient centrifugation. Mice were immunized with emulsions of membranes in complete adjuvant, and foot pad tested 7 days post-immunization with membranes to detect delayed immune reactions. Measurement of the pad swelling 24 hours after challenge demonstrated that 33/40 NIH Swiss mice yielded positive results in contrast to 0/19 similarly treated BALB/c mice. Histologic examination of challenged and control foot pads substantiated the above interpretations. NIH Swiss and BALB/c mice immunized and challenged with normal 3T3 membranes failed to elicit a significant response at 24 hours. The findings suggest that this surface membrane fraction contained the tumor-specific transplantation antigens of the PY-3T3 cells.
Volumetric True 3-D Display Using Multi-Focal Scanned Light

Our novel 3-D volumetric displays scan multiple superimposed light beams with different focus levels, to optically position objects at different viewing distances, overcome accommodation/vergence conflicts, reduce fatigue, and provide more accurate cues to depth perception.
Search for correlated fluctuations in the β+ decay of Na-22

Claims for a "cosmogenic" force that correlates otherwise independent stochastic processes have been made for at least 10 years, based on visual inspection of histograms whose shapes were interpreted as suggestive of recurrent patterns. Building on our earlier work to test nuclear alpha, beta, and electron-capture decay processes for non-randomness, we searched for correlations in the time series of e+e− annihilations deriving from the β+ decay of 22Na. Coincident gamma photons were counted within narrow time and energy windows over a period of 167 hours leading to a time series of more than 1 million events. Statistical tests for correlated fluctuations in the time series and its histograms were in all cases consistent with statistical control, giving no evidence of a "cosmogenic" force.
5-Methylcytosine in Heterochromatic Regions of Chromosomes: Chimpanzee and Gorilla Compared to the Human

Fixed metaphase chromosomes of gorilla and chimpanzee were UV-irradiated to produce regions of single-stranded DNA and then treated with antibodies specific for the minor DNA base 5-methylcytosine (5 MeC). An indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to visualize sites of antibody binding. In the gorilla six pairs of autosomes contained major fluorescent regions, indicating localized regions of highly methylated DNA. These corresponded, with the exception of chromosome 19, to the major regions of constitutive heterochromatin as seen by C-banding. The Y chromosome also contained a highly fluorescent region which was located just proximal to the intense Q-band region. In the chimpanzee no comparable concentrations of highly methylated DNA were seen. Smaller regions of intense 5 MeC binding were present on perhaps six chimpanzee chromosomes, including the Y. Five of these corresponded to chromosomes which were highly methylated in the gorilla.--There is diversity among the human, gorilla and chimpanzee in both the size and location of concentrations of 5 MeC, supporting the idea that satellite DNA evolves more rapidly than DNA in the remainder of the chromosome.
MoCoMapps: mobile collaborative map-based applications

This video demonstrates an experiment in crowdsourcing both map-based data and also the applications that provide the maps, and also presents scenarios of use.
Photonic band structures of optically anisotropic periodic arrays.

We use a plane-wave expansion to calculate the photonic band structures of anisotropic dielectric composites. The composites consist of a periodic array of anisotropic dielectric spheres embedded in air. Calculations are carried out for spheres that are optically uniaxial or biaxial, Faraday active, or naturally optically active. Anisotropy in the sphere dielectric function is found to split degenerate bands and to narrow or even close band gaps, analogous to Stark or Zeeman splitting in conventional band structures. At long wavelengths, the lowest bands are well described by effective indices of refraction, which are in fairly good agreement with an anisotropic Maxwell-Garnett approximation.
Carbapenemases in Enterobacteriaceae: Activity, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Detection

Abstract Carbapenemases are β-lactamases that confer resistance to the carbapenems (e.g., imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, and doripenem). Most often these enzymes confer resistance to the other β-lactam agents as well, including extended-spectrum cephalosporins. The enzymes are usually found in bacterial isolates that are already resistant to nearly all other antimicrobial agents, and treatment options for infections caused by them are significantly limited. This important mechanism of resistance is emerging in the United States, and the most common enzyme is the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). The KPC enzyme is found in many different genera of Enterobacteriaceae , but most commonly in K. pneumoniae . Currently, KPC-producing isolates are commonly isolated in the northeastern part of the U.S., but reports of isolates from other locations are increasing. Prevention and control of this emerging resistance is complicated by the occurrence of KPC-positive isolates producing low-level carbapenem resistance that is hard to detect in the clinical microbiology laboratory. The most sensitive methods for detecting carbapenemase-producing isolates are to look for elevated but susceptible carbapenem susceptibility results. In addition to discussing KPC, this article will review the epidemiology of other carbapenemases and their potentials for dissemination in the U.S.
On the Charter Question: Black Marxism and Black Nationalism.

This article brings two black intellectual traditions to bear on the question of charter schools: black Marxism and black nationalism. The authors examine the theoretical and rhetorical devices used to talk about charters schools by focusing on how notions of ‘black liberation’ are deployed by the charter movement, and to what end. The authors first use a black Marxism lens to illustrate the character of the racial and economic relationships facilitated by charter schools. Next, the authors use historical methods to contextualize the liberation discourse of school choice proponents within a black nationalist history of school reform. The authors conclude that ‘choice’ rhetoric makes claim to the black freedom struggle without addressing its most enduring commitments to social justice and self-determination, ultimately perpetuating dependency by oppressed people upon their oppressors. The study identifies the limitations of contemporary critical theory to excavate several dimensions of racism in educationa...
Nonlinear controller design for automated vehicle applications

This paper discusses the development of a nonlinear controller design methodology and its application to the automated longitudinal control of automotive vehicles. The method is called the "multiple sliding surface" method and is closely related to sliding mode control, input/output linearization and integrator backstepping. The method was developed for a class of systems, typical of automotive control systems, where the uncertainties are "mismatched" and where many of the equations contain sparse, experimentally obtained maps. The error bounds on these maps are often unknown and their sparseness makes them difficult to differentiate. The developed method does not require any derivatives and has guaranteed semi-global stability. This paper summarizes the development of the method and applies it to design a combined brake/throttle controller for precision vehicle following. This controller was implemented on the California PATH vehicles in DEMO'97, an automated highway technology demonstration that occurred in San Diego, California in August of 1997. Some experimental data that shows the performance of the longitudinal controller will be presented in this paper.
A prospective evaluation of the glomerular filtration rate in older adults with frequent nighttime urination

Purpose: We assessed the association of renal function with frequent nighttime urination in older adults.Materials and Methods: We recruited a convenience sample of 48 adults 65 years old and older, and admitted them to a general clinical research center. Of the 48 participants 45 completed a 7-day voiding record, ate a research diet for 4 days and finished a 3-day stay with 3 glomerular filtration rate measurements, including an estimation of serum creatinine using the Cockcroft-Gault formula, a calculation using 24-hour urine volume and a determination by 131iodine iothalamate clearance.Results: Subjects with frequent nighttime voiding, defined as a mean of 2 or more voiding episodes from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., had slightly lower but statistically similar glomerular filtration rate measurements than those with a mean of less than 2 nighttime voids. The glomerular filtration rate did not correlate with the number of nighttime voids (Pearson correlation coefficient −0.006, p = 0.971). Mean 24-hour urine outpu...
Vibrational spectroscopic methods to characterize the bionanoparticles originating from newly developed self-forming synthetic PEGylated lipids (QuSomes)

Vibrational spectroscopy has been used to elucidate the temperature dependence of structural and conformational changes in lipids and liposomes. In this work, the thermal properties of lipid-based nanovesicles originating from a newly developed self-forming synthetic PEGylated lipids has been investigated by variable-temperature Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) absorption and Raman spectroscopic methods. Thermally-induced changes in infrared and Raman spectra of these artificial lipid based nanovesicles composed of 1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycerol-3-dodecaethylene glycol (GDM-12) and 1,2-distearoyl-rac-glycerol-3-triicosaethylene glycol (GDS-23) were acquired by using a thin layered FTIR spectrometer in conjunction with a unique custom built temperature-controlled demountable liquid cell and variable-temperature controlled Raman microscope, respectively. The lipids under consideration have long hydrophobic acyl chains and contain various units of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol headgroups. In contrast to conventional phospholipids, this new kind of lipid is forming liposomes or nanovesicles spontaneously upon hydration, without supplying external activation energy. We have found that the thermal stability of such PEGylated lipids and nanovesicles differs greatly depending upon the acyl chain-lengths as well as associated head group units. However, the thermal behavior observed from both spectroscopic vibrational techniques are in good agreement.
Does the Child Behavior Checklist Juvenile Bipolar Disorder Phenotype Identify Bipolar Disorder

Background A profile of Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL) T-scores ≥70 on the attention problems, aggression, and anxious/depressed subscales has been proposed to identify juvenile bipolar disorder(JBD). We tested this hypothesis in a population-based sample. Methods Data for this analysis come from a birth-records-based twin sample having semi-structured interview and CBCL data ( N =1,346). We compared prevalence of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviors in CBCL-JBD and non-CBCL-JBD subjects. Twin modeling assessed genetic and environmental contributions to CBCL-JBD. Associations with DRD4 and DAT1 were examined using chi-square tests. Results The prevalence of CBCL-JBD was 2.5%. No subjects with CBCL-JBD met criteria for bipolar or other mood disorders. CBCL-JBD subjects had more oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder(CD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD). The CBCL-JBD profile was uncommon in these disorders. CBCL-JBD subjects more frequently endorsed suicidal behaviors. The CBCL-JBD profile was heritable and associated with the number of DAT1 9-repeat 3' untranslated region alleles. Conclusions The CBCL-JBD phenotype does not correspond with a semi-structured interview assessment of JBD. ADHD, CD, and ODD are common in children with CBCL-JBD but do not account for the profile. Increased suicidal behaviors indicate substantial impairment in CBCL-JBD subjects.
Stable isotope probing reveals Trichosporon yeast to be active in situ in soil phenol metabolism

The aim of this study was to extend the results of our previous stable isotope probing (SIP) investigation: we identified a soil fungus involved in phenol biodegradation at an agricultural field site. DNA extracts from our previous study were examined using fungi-specific PCR amplification of the 18S-28S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. We prepared an 80-member clone library using PCR-amplified, (13)C-labeled DNA derived from field soil that received 12 daily doses of (13)C-phenol. Restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism screening and DNA sequencing revealed a dominant clone (41% of the clone library), the ITS sequence of which corresponded to that of the fungal genus Trichosporon. We successfully grew and isolated a white, filamentous fungus from site soil samples after plating soil dilutions on mineral salts agar containing 250 p.p.m. phenol. Restreaking on both yeast extract-peptone-galactose and Sabouraud dextrose agar plates led to further purification of the fungus, the morphological characteristics of which matched those of the genus Trichosporon. The ITS sequence of our isolated fungus was identical to that of a clone from our SIP-based library, confirming it to be Trichosporon multisporum. High-performance liquid chromatography and turbidometeric analyses showed that the culture was able to metabolize and grow on 200 p.p.m. phenol in an aqueous mineral salts medium within 24 h at room temperature. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of (13)CO(2) respiration from laboratory soil incubations demonstrated accelerated phenol mineralization in treatments inoculated with T. multisporum. These findings show that T. multisporum actively degraded phenol in our field-based, soil experiments.
Maternal Fatigue: Implications of Second Stage Labor Nursing Care

The parameters of fatigue have been studied in recent years in relation to women's health and the childbearing period. Less research emphasis has been placed on second stage labor, a period of time that can encompass considerable physiologic and psychologic fatigue. Consideration to minimizing second stage labor fatigue by altering conventional support practices is needed. This includes minimizing long periods of strong pushing or bearing down efforts in conjunction with sustained breath holding, particularly for women receiving epidural anesthesia. The potential sequelae of second stage labor fatigue, recommendations for practice changes, and new research directions are discussed.
Dempster-shafer models for object recognition and classification

We consider situations in which each individual member of a defined object set is characterized uniquely by a set of variables, and we propose models and associated methods that recognize or classify a newly observed individual. Inputs consist of uncertain observations on the new individual and on a memory bank of previously identified individuals. Outputs consist of uncertain inferences concerning degrees of agreement between the new object and previously identified objects or object classes, with inferences represented by Dempster-Shafer belief functions. We illustrate the approach using models constructed from independent simple support belief functions defined on binary variables. In the case of object recognition, our models lead to marginal belief functions concerning how well the new object matches objects in memory. In the classification model, we compute beliefs and plausibilities that the new object lies in defined subsets of an object set. When regarded as similarity measures, our belief and plausibility functions can be interpreted as candidate membership functions in the terminology of fuzzy logic.
An Evaluation of MLP Neural Network Efficiency for Image Filtering

Digital images have been widely used in a diversity of areas. The processes of digitalization and transmission of images may reduce its visual quality. Many recent publications include different tools to improve the quality of these images such as filters that reduce the noise within the images. Neural networks, such as multilayer perceptrons (MLP), have been widely studied as efficient tools for arbitrary function approximation. This paper describes the usage of MLP working as filters for images. More specifically, the work deals with the reduction of impulsive noise in images and describe conditions to obtain efficient results in comparison with the traditional filters. A simply method to evaluate the efficiency of filters is described. The factor considers not only the ability of the filter in restoring noisy pixels but also the effects that may occur in original (noiseless) pixels, such as blurring, that degrades the images. Experiments were conducted for traditional filters, such as mean and median, and MLP networks with increasing presence of noise within the training data. Results shown a better overall efficiency for MLP networks trained with images degraded with a small percent of impulsive noise.
Left atrial flow velocity distribution and flow coherence using four-dimensional FLOW MRI: a pilot study investigating the impact of age and Pre- and Postintervention atrial fibrillation on atrial hemodynamics.

PURPOSE To use four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI to characterize and quantify 3D blood flow in the left atria (LA) of patients with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS The 4D flow MRI was acquired in 19 volunteers (n = 9 50 years) and 10 patients with AF (62 ± 9.6 years; n = 4 in persistent AF, n = 6 postintervention). The LA in each dataset was segmented, and intra-atrial blood flow velocity was quantified. Flow coherence was measured as the consistency of the net blood flow vector. RESULTS Quantification of atrial flow revealed significant differences in atrial hemodynamics between age groups. Postintervention AF patients had a mean blood flow of 0.22 ± 0.04 m/s, which was not significantly different than age-matched volunteers (0.21 ± 0.03 m/s). Patients with persistent AF had a mean blood flow of 0.13 ± 0.01 m/s, lower than AF patients in sinus rhythm (0.22 ± 0.04 m/s, P = 0.005), or age-matched volunteers (0.21 ± 0.03 m/s, P < 0.001). Flow coherence was significantly impaired in patients in AF. CONCLUSION Flow-sensitive MRI shows that patients with a history of AF had global hemodynamics in the LA similar to those of age-matched volunteers. Additional studies with larger cohorts of AF patients and correlation with outcome are needed to further investigate the potential of atrial 4D flow MRI to flow patterns indicative of stroke risk in AF.
Strain-Rate Dependence of the Brittle-to-Ductile Transition Temperature in TiAl

The brittle-to-ductile transition (BDT) and the strain-rate dependence of the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature (BDTT) have been recently investigated in single crystals of TiAl [1]. It was found that the activation energy associated with the BDTT is 1.4 eV when the slip is dominated by ordinary dislocations and 4.9 eV when it is dominated by superdislocations. Despite this difference in the activation energies, the BDTT, while varying with the strain-rate, remains in the same temperature range, viz., between 516-750C and 635-685C for ordinary and superdislocations, respectively. In this paper, we examine how the activation energy of the BDTT can vary with the type of dislocation activity and explain why it can attain values which are clearly much larger than the activation energy for dislocation motion. We describe a strain-rate dependent mechanism of cooperative dislocation generation in loaded solids above a critical temperature and use it to explain the characteristics of the BDT in TiAl. We show that the activation energy associated with the BDTT is a composite value determined by two or more inter-dependent thermally activated processes and its magnitude can be much larger than the activation energy for dislocation motion in certain materials. The predictions of the model are in good agreement with observations in TiAl.
A Reply to an Article by Mr. Brandon Barringer on the Origin of the “Carolina Bays”*

The 5 points of criticism raised by Mr. Brandon Barringer against the probable meteoritic origin of the “Carolina Bays” are each briefly discussed, and the conclusion is reached that these objections are not valid under the existing conditions and under the modified meteoritic theory of bay origin.
Band structure calculation of wide bandgap p-type semiconductor material BaCuTeF

In this paper the results of the band structure calculation of BaCuTeF are presented. This material has a direct gap. The physical properties of it are defined by the Cu-Te sheets in its layered crystal structure. BaCuTeF is a promising candidate for the various optoelectronics applications.
Low contact-resistivity junctions to ceramic superconductors

A report is presented on the development of a plasma-arc spray process for the application of low-resistivity silver contact junctions onto YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ sintered ceramic materials. The contact resistances decrease montonically with decreasing temperature and are typically approximately 10/sup -8/ Omega -cm/sup 2/ at 75 K. I-V characteristics are linear up to a critical current density that agrees with that of the underlying superconducting material. Advantages over other contact methods include ease of application, absence of any postprocessing treatment, and applicability to large areas and arbitrary shapes. >
STUDIES ON NATURAL IMMUNITY TO PNEUMOCOCCUS TYPE III III. CORRELATION OF THE BEHAVIOR IN VIVO OF PNEUMOCOCCI TYPE III VARYING IN THEIR VIRULENCE FOR RABBITS WITH CERTAIN DIFFERENCES OBSERVED IN VITRO

AMONG THE EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS REPORTED IN THIS PAPER TO WHICH WE WISH TO GIVE PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ARE THE FOLLOWING: 1. The results which follow the intravenous injection into rabbits of two strains of Pneumococcus Type III of different degrees of virulence vary with the state of the capsule. Thus when this structure is completely developed both remain in the blood. A culture of either strain begins to become susceptible to the blood-clearing mechanism contemporaneously with the onset of capsular degeneration and the initiation of other concomitant changes at the surface of the organism (cf Paper II), which occur much earlier with the less virulent strain. 2. When, in either case, removal from the blood stream occurs, this is effected by the phagocytic cells of the body. There is no suggestion that a new or unknown mechanism is involved. The greatest share of the burden is borne by the fixed phagocytic cells of the liver and spleen, and to a less extent by those of the lung and bone marrow. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that the polymorphonuclear leucocytes may also participate. 3. Phagocytosis by the leucocytes of the normal animal either in intro or in vivo has been observed only at such a time as the capsule has become impaired. Ingestion of the organisms by the fixed tissue cells appears also to be effective only under the same condition and is accordingly observed with much younger cultures of the less virulent strain. 4. Following their removal from the blood and their accumulation within the fixed phagocytes of the organs, destruction of most of the cocci proceeds within 2 to 4 hours. Both strains are destroyed provided they are in the state favorable to phagocytic attack. 5. Evidence has been presented which indicates that just as in vitro, so in a local area of inflammation within the body, aging with attendant capsular loss and increasing susceptibility to phagocytosis may take place. 6. With organisms from either strain a variable period of lag follows their injection into the blood stream, even when they are introduced in a state of active multiplication and complete encapsulation. 7. Differences in virulence for rabbits of two strains of Pneumococcus Type III do not imply that this animal possesses a defensive mechanism which is absent in other species, since it has been possible to demonstrate similar differences when the organisms are injected intravenously into mice. This fact indicates that the factors determining the degree of virulence of these strains are to be sought in the organisms themselves, rather than in the kind of host.
Africa and the Globalization Process: Western Africa. 1450-1850

The article examines the debate on globalization as a historical process and provides a context for the assessment of western Africa’s long-run contribution to the process, the main subject of the article. It argues that the process began in the Atlantic basin in the sixteenth century; in the nineteenth, it gave rise to an integrated Atlantic economy, the nucleus of the modern global economy. The process involved the transformation of the predominantly subsistence economies of the Atlantic basin in 1450 to market-based economies before their integration by the Atlantic market could occur. Large-scale specialization of the plantation and mining economies of the Americas was central to the transformation process. Because of abundant land, large-scale plantation agriculture in the Americas was made possible by coerced African labour. In the end, the unique characteristics of the export slave trade that supplied coerced African labour to the Americas retarded the development of the market economy in western Africa and kept the region’s economies out of the integrated commodity production processes of the Atlantic economy until that trade ended in the mid-nineteenth century. The analysis of the commercializing process in the Atlantic basin and its causal link to England’s Industrial Revolution, with its new technologies, and to the establishment of the integrated nineteenth-century Atlantic economy presents a powerful argument that places Africa at the centre stage of the globalization process
Dynamic Modelling of CVD for Real-Time Control of Microstructure

A nonlinear dynamic model of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process has been developed and analyzed to obtain insight into the design of an appropriate control structure. CVD's importance is related in part to the possibility of engineering the micro-structure of the coatings which determines coating properties. Our ultimate research objective is to develop a system to control the micro-structure of coatings produced by CVD based on in-situ measurements related to the growth process. The conventional practice is to regulate the inputs in a feedforward manner (i.e. maintaining temperature, pressure and gas flow rates set-points), and only limited work has been directed at developing control strategies to ensure that a desired micro-structure is achieved. Development of a measurement-based feedback system can enhance the ability to achieve coating microstructure, compensate for process variations (disturbances) and improve the capability of transferring process recipes to different systems. However, successful development of an appropriate control structure (i.e. selection and connection of measurements to specific inputs) requires an explicit understanding of the process dynamics. Extensive modelling and experimental investigations have considered the fluid/thermal/chemical nature of CVD, but most of this work has focused on the steady-state characteristics of the system [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. To obtain insight into an appropriate control structure, we have developed a lumped, dynamic, nonlinear process model that relates the manipulable inputs to the local thermal/fluid behavior of the equipment and, in turn, to the physics of the deposition process [6, 7]. As a bench- mark, we focus on TiN deposition since there has been significant experimental work reported and is an important coating for cutting tools. Specific features addressed in this paper are the transport delay and multicomponent aspect of the deposition process. An experimental CVD unit is being developed that is the basis for the physical parameters used in this analysis.
Effects of ultrasound on Drosophila--II. The heating mechanism.

Abstract An exposure of the eggs of Drosophila melanogaster to a traveling wave of 1 MHz ultrasound at 5 W/cm 2 for 30 sec has been found to kill approximately 70% of the population. To determine whether heating could be responsible for this effect, the sensitivity of the eggs to heat alone was tested. Temperature increments attributable to ultrasound were estimated by treating the eggs as heat sources in a thermally conducting medium. The absorption coefficient of the eggs was found to be very large but estimated to be less than 5 nepers/cm. The corresponding maximum temperature increments were calculated to be less than 3°C. This value is far too low to account for the observed effects on the basis of heating.
XAFS and Bond-Valence Determination of the Structures and Compositions of Surface Functional Groups and Pb(II) and Co(II) Sorption Products on Single-Crystal α-Al2O3

Abstract The structures and compositions of Pb(II) adsorption complexes and surface binding sites on α-Al2O3(0001) and (1&1macr;02) surfaces were investigated in the presence of water using grazing-incidence X-ray absorption fine structure (GI-XAFS) spectroscopy. Pb(II) ions were found to adsorb in an inner-sphere mode on α-Al2O3(1&1macr;02) but as outer-sphere complexes on α-Al2O3(0001). The distance between the outer-sphere complexes and the surface places useful constraints on double-layer properties of water. A bond-valence model is described that relates the reactivities of surface functional groups and adsorption complexes to their molecular structures and compositions, and places constraints on the stoichiometries of adsorption reactions, including proton release. The EXAFS and modeling results suggest that Pb(II) and Co(II) ions bond to [AlAlAl→O−1/2→ and [Al–OH+1/22] surface functional groups. In contrast, [AlAl> OH] groups complex Co(II) but not Pb(II). The results indicate the importance of using structurally defined surface sites to describe reactions at oxide–water interfaces.
Effect of Fiber Volume Fraction on the Off‐Crack‐Plane Fracture Energy in Strain ‐Hardening Engineered Cementitious Composites

In this paper, the results of an experimental study on the effect of fiber volume fraction on the off-crack-plane fracture energy in a strain-hardening engineered cementitious composite (ECC) are presented. Unlike the well-known quasi-brittle behavior of fiber-reinforced concrete, ECC exhibits quasi-ductile response by developing a large damage zone prior to fracture localization. In the damage zone, the material is microcracked but continues to strain-harden locally. The areal dimension of the damage zone has been observed to be on the order of 1,000 cm{sup 2} in double cantilever beam specimens. The energy absorption of the off-crack-plane inelastic deformation process has been measured to be more than 50% of the total fracture energy of up to 34 kJ/m{sup 2}. This magnitude of fracture energy is the highest ever reported for a fiber cementitious composite.
Computation of cascade flutter by uncoupled and coupled methods

A computational method for flutter prediction of turbomachinery cascades is presented. The flow through multiple blade passages is calculated using a time-domain approach with coupled aerodynamic and structural models. The unsteady Euler/Navier-Stokes equations are solved in quasi-three-dimensions using a second-order implicit scheme with dual time-stepping and a multigrid method. A structural model for the blades with bending and torsion degrees of freedom is integrated in time together with the flow field. Information between structural and aerodynamic models is exchanged until convergence in each real-time step. Computational results for a cascade are presented and compared with those obtained by the conventional energy method and with experimental and numerical data by other authors. Significant differences are found between the coupled and uncoupled methods at low mass ratios. A transonic test case with strong nonlinear phenomena is investigated with the fluid-structure coupled method. Results for in...
The pleasure is momentary…the expense damnable?: The influence of pornography on rape and sexual assault

The effects of pornography, whether violent or non-violent, on sexual aggression have been debated for decades. The current review examines evidence about the influence of pornography on sexual aggression in correlational and experimental studies and in real world violent crime data. Evidence for a causal relationship between exposure to pornography and sexual aggression is slim and may, at certain times, have been exaggerated by politicians, pressure groups and some social scientists. Some of the debate has focused on violent pornography, but evidence of any negative effects is inconsistent, and violent pornography is comparatively rare in the real world. Victimization rates for rape in the United States demonstrate an inverse relationship between pornography consumption and rape rates. Data from other nations have suggested similar relationships. Although these data cannot be used to determine that pornography has a cathartic effect on rape behavior, combined with the weak evidence in support of negative causal hypotheses from the scientific literature, it is concluded that it is time to discard the hypothesis that pornography contributes to increased sexual assault behavior.
Rate 5/6 Trellis-Coded 8-PSK

Some new short constraint length codes are described for satellite channels which are constant-envelope and which have spectral and energy efficiencies intermediate to other recent coded techniques, namely r = 2/3 coded 8-PSK and r = 3/4 coded 16-PSK. We use two intervals of 8-PSK transmission to form a modulation base for r = 5/6 trellis codes. A particularly attractive design is an eight-state code, producing 6.2 dB gain on the Gaussian channel over uncoded 8-PSK, yet sacrificing only 16 percent in spectral efficiency.
Connect for Health: Design of a clinical-community childhood obesity intervention testing best practices of positive outliers

Abstract Background The Connect for Health study is designed to assess whether a novel approach to care delivery that leverages clinical and community resources and addresses socio-contextual factors will improve body mass index (BMI) and family-centered, obesity-related outcomes of interest to parents and children. The intervention is informed by clinical, community, parent, and youth stakeholders and incorporates successful strategies and best practices learned from ‘positive outlier' families, i.e., those who have succeeded in changing their health behaviors and improve their BMI in the context of adverse built and social environments. Design Two-arm, randomized controlled trial with measures at baseline and 12 months after randomization. Participants 2–12 year old children with overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) and their parents/guardians recruited from 6 pediatric practices in eastern Massachusetts. Intervention Children randomized to the intervention arm receive a contextually-tailored intervention delivered by trained health coaches who use advanced geographic information system tools to characterize children's environments and neighborhood resources. Health coaches link families to community-level resources and use multiple support modalities including text messages and virtual visits to support families over a one-year intervention period. The control group receives enhanced pediatric care plus non-tailored health coaching. Main outcome measures Lower age-associated increase in BMI over a 1-year period. The main parent- and child-reported outcome is improved health-related quality of life. Conclusions The Connect for Health study seeks to support families in leveraging clinical and community resources to improve obesity-related outcomes that are most important to parents and children.
High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Kallotenue papyrolyticum JKG1T Reveals Broad Heterotrophic Capacity Focused on Carbohydrate and Amino Acid Metabolism.

The draft genome of Kallotenue papyrolyticum JKG1(T), a member of the order Kallotenuales, class Chloroflexia, consists of 4,475,263 bp in 4 contigs and encodes 4,010 predicted genes, 49 tRNA-encoding genes, and 3 rRNA operons. The genome is consistent with a heterotrophic lifestyle including catabolism of polysaccharides and amino acids.
Management of Severe Postoperative Bleeding with Hemostatic Matrix

Fortunately, severe postoperative eyelid bleeding is quite rare. The incidence of orbital hemorrhage after blepharoplasty is approximately 1:2,000 with only 1:22,000 (0.0045 %) suffering permanent visual loss. Bleeding risks include hypertension, perioperative blood-thinning agents, postoperative vomiting, and increased physical activity. Postoperative ketorolac should generally be avoided following eyelid and orbital surgery to minimize the risk of postoperative orbital hemorrhage. Although uncommon, management of postoperative bleeding following thrombolytic therapy is challenging and carries high visual morbidity risk.
Cyclic Cross-Border Technology Transfer for Multinational Innovations

Technological innovation plays a major role in spurring a nation’s economic growth. The technological innovation process has mainly been examined in the context of an industrial enterprise or organisation. Not as widely considered, however, are multinational innovations, where the principals of an innovation belong to public or private organisations in two or more nations. Yet multinational innovations can provide a strong stimulus to cross-border technology transfers and co-operative research and development. Multinational innovations also offer distinct advantages to developing nations where technical capabilities and resources are limited. They offer promising avenues especially for Co-operating Partner (CP) nations in efforts to build market-oriented industrial economies.
General Imperfection Analysis in Shallow Arches

The problem of buckling of uniformly loaded shallow circular arches has been reformulated to account for possible imperfections related to load distribution, shape of arch axis, and support conditions. The resulting equations, which are exact in the shallow arch sense, have been reinterpreted from an asymptotic viewpoint. Two simple approximate formulas have thus been obtained which express the critical load of the arch as a function of seven different imperfection parameters. A limited comparison with exact results suggests that the proposed asymptotic relationships would provide satisfactory accuracy for a reasonably broad spectrum of arches.
Left ovarian to left external iliac vein transposition for the treatment of nutcracker syndrome

Nutcracker syndrome represents the constellation of symptoms caused by extrinsic compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery, producing left renal venous outflow obstruction and, frequently, pelvic venous congestion. When severe, the syndrome is most commonly treated by surgical transposition of the left renal vein onto the inferior vena cava or by renal venous stent placement. Each of these treatment modalities is associated with significant immediate and long-term risks. This report provides the details of a simpler technique for the treatment of nutcracker syndrome by transposing the distal left ovarian to the left external iliac vein.
Children could miss out on treatment with proposed linkage of data

The proposed linkage of data on abused children is based on a belief that some abusive parents manipulate health systems to make it harder for services to recognise patterns of injury.1 …
Suture laterofixation of the vocal fold for bilateral vocal fold immobility.

Purpose of reviewTo review the recent published literature on the subject of suture laterofixation for bilateral vocal fold immobility, to evaluate outcomes, and to assess advances and modifications of the procedure during the review period.Recent findingsSuture laterofixation offers potential benef
Herding Cats: Challenges in Interlibrary Loan Lending of E-Journal Articles

Interlibrary loan (ILL) lending of copies of articles from e-journals is a complex process. A requested article may be part of a collection package where the content is potentially transient. Filling a lending request for an e-journal requires that the license agreement permits ILL in general and ILL to libraries with the requester's characteristics in particular. The most efficient access to content is through an open URL, preferably within the request form. These three needs are discussed along with suggestions to automate ILL systems and improve the process of lending articles from e-journals.
SPRUNG MASS MOTION EMULATION IN A BRAKING TEST RIG

This paper describes a quarter-car braking test rig that includes a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) means for emulating broader vehicle dynamic effects. The test rig utilizes actual vehicle components such as the suspension-tire assembly and braking system to accurately represent a vehicle during a braking event and a chassis dynamometer’s drum is used to simulate the longitudinal vehicle dynamics. The key problem addressed in this paper is the emulation of sprung mass motion with a commercial electromagnetic linear actuator. By accurately representing the motion, detailed effects such as load transfer that happens in a real braking process can be studied for its effect on the braking performance. The stability of the system with sprung mass emulation under different actuator control modes is analyzed. The successful and stable control scheme found is a cascaded control with a velocity tracking strategy. The workings of the test are illustrated via representative test results that include a locked-wheel braking event and a stop with an anti-lock braking system (ABS).Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Factors Affecting the Location of FDI in China

This paper empirically studies the determinants of FDI location in China in the period of 1985-1999.There is clear evidence that government policy,industrial structure, openness and the level of marketization have played important roles to affect the location of FDI in China.The Effect of Government's preferential policy has been very strong all the time,but industrial structure has also been playing an increasingly significant role.After 1992,the effect of openness has decreased;in contrast,the effect of marketization has increased.