cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early Life Adversity and Pubertal Timing: Implications for Cardiometabolic Health

Objective To identify early life adversity (ELA) risk factors for earlier pubertal timing, itself a risk factor for poor cardiometabolic health, and to determine whether such ELA-related risk may be mediated by pre-pubertal body mass index (BMI). Methods Subjects included 426 female participants in a prospective birth cohort study, the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Survival analysis models were fit to examine ELA exposures, representing childhood socioeconomic status (SES), maternal sensitivity, mother-child attachment, and negative life events, along with child health indicators and covariates, in relation to pubertal timing outcomes, including age at menarche and ages at Tanner stage II for breast and pubic hair development. Results Higher childhood SES emerged as an independent predictor of older age at menarche, showing each one standard deviation increase in childhood SES corresponded to a 1.3% increase in age at menarche (factor change = 1.013; 1.003-1.022; p .05). In mediation analyses, indirect (mediated) effects of mother-child attachment on the pubertal timing outcomes, via pre-pubertal BMI, were all statistically significant (ps Conclusions Higher childhood SES predicted directly, and secure (vs. insecure) mother-child attachment predicted indirectly (via pre-pubertal BMI), later pubertal timing, suggesting these factors may protect girls from earlier pubertal development. By extension, clinical implications are that intervention strategies designed to lessen ELA- and pre-pubertal obesity-related risk may be effective in remediating life course pathways linking ELA, accelerated pubertal development, and cardiometabolic risk.
Surface roughness effects on additively manufactured aluminum Ka-band waveguide

Additive manufacturing of metal such as aluminum is an attractive alternative to rapidly manufacture high frequency waveguide components. However, the surfaces of the components can be rough, which can have an impact on electromagnetic propagation, such as additional loss and dispersion effects. To quantify the electromagnetic transmission performance, two pieces of WR-28 rectangular waveguides, three inches long, with two pairs of inductive irises were made using Direct Laser Sintering. The first piece was made from AlSi10Mg and the second is AL6061-RAM2. The AlSi10Mg was noticeably rougher, having a measured rms height variation of 1.8 mils, whereas the AL6061-RAM2 was 0.7 mils. The measured insertion loss at 32 GHz for the AL6061-RAM2 part was 1.1 dB versus 0.59 dB for the Al6061-RAM2 part. The simulated HFSS model without roughness shows at insertion loss of 0.36 dB.
A quenched local limit theorem for stochastic flows

We consider a particle undergoing Brownian motion in Euclidean space of any dimension, forced by a Gaussian random velocity field that is white in time and smooth in space. We show that conditional on the velocity field, the quenched density of the particle after a long time can be approximated pointwise by the product of a deterministic Gaussian density and a spacetime-stationary random field $U$. If the velocity field is additionally assumed to be incompressible, then $U\equiv 1$ almost surely and we obtain a local central limit theorem.
Sigma-1 Receptor Changes Observed in Chronic Pelvic Pain Patients: A Pilot PET/MRI Study

Introduction: Chronic pelvic pain is a highly prevalent pain condition among women, but identifying the exact cause of pelvic pain remains a significant diagnostic challenge. In this study, we explored a new diagnostic approach with PET/MRI of the sigma-1 receptor, a chaperone protein modulating ion channels for activating nociceptive processes. Methods: Our approach is implemented by a simultaneous PET/MRI scan with a novel radioligand, [18F]FTC-146, which is highly specific to the sigma-1 receptor. We recruited 5 chronic pelvic pain patients and 5 healthy volunteers and compared our PET/MRI findings between these two groups. Results: All five patients showed abnormally increased radioligand uptake on PET compared to healthy controls at various organs, including the uterus, vagina, pelvic bowel, gluteus maximus muscle, and liver. However, on MRI, only 2 patients showed abnormalities that could be potentially associated with the pain symptoms. For a subset of patients, the association of pain and the abnormally increased radioligand uptake was further validated by successful pain relief outcomes following surgery or trigger point injections to the identified abnormalities. Conclusion: In this preliminary study, sigma-1 receptor PET/MRI demonstrated potential for identifying abnormalities associated with chronic pelvic pain. Future studies will need to correlate samples with imaging findings to further validate the correlation between S1R distribution and pathologies of chronic pelvic pain. Trial registration: The clinical trial registration date is June 2, 2018, and the registration number of the study is NCT03195270 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03556137).
An application of fracture mechanics to a ship controllable pitch propeller crank ring

A fracture mechanics analysis was conducted to establish the fracture toughness of a controllable pitch propeller crank ring material required to prevent a fracture mode in which loss of a propeller blade occurs. Loss of the propeller was assumed to be prevented if fracture instability could not occur before the fatigue crack grew to a size beyond which crack growth would proceed radially through the flange of the crank ring and not around the circumference. The fracture analysis was conducted by modeling the cracked crank ring as a plate with a part-through crack in bending. Numerical solutions for part-through cracks in bending were combined with results for large crack length-to-plate width geometries for through cracks in bending to determine K 1 for the large crack size of interest. Values of K 1 with plastically adjusted crack lengths were converted to values of J, and crack driving force curves were generated. Estimates of the plastic collapse moment for the crank ring were made as an alternative method of determining fracture conditions. The results of the analysis are a minimum acceptable value of yield strength and curves of yield strength versus minimum acceptable values of J I R and T m a t at a crack extension of 1.27 mm as determined by a J-R curve test.
A Framework for Determination of Heart Valves’ Mechanical Properties Using Inverse-Modeling Approach

Heart valves play a very important role in the functioning of the heart and many of the heart failures are related to the valvular dysfunctions, e.g. aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. Relationship between the biomechanical properties of valve leaflets and their function has long been established, however, determining these properties in a non-invasive manner remains a challenge. Here we present a framework for such a tool for biomechanical properties determination. We use an inverse-modeling approach, where the only input is through imaging the leaflet tissue as it is loaded naturally during its functional cycle. Using a structural model for the leaflet material behavior allows us to reduce the number of parameters to be determined to only two, which in addition to dramatically reducing the computational time also allows one to visualize the cost function and the minimization process. We close with discussion about the contributions of the current framework and other constituents needed to make it a clinically viable tool.
When the Government is the Controlling Shareholder

As a result of the 2008 bailouts, the United States Government is now the controlling shareholder in AIG, Citigroup, GM, GMAC, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Corporate law provides a complex and comprehensive set of standards of conduct to protect non-controlling shareholders from controlling shareholders who have goals other than maximizing firm value. In this article, we analyze the extent to which these existing corporate law structures of accountability apply when the government is the controlling shareholder, and the extent to which federal “public law” structures substitute for displaced state “private law” norms. We show that the Delaware restrictions on controlling shareholders are largely displaced, but hardly replaced, by federal provisions. Having concluded that the existing accountability structures do not provide sufficient protection of minority shareholder interests, we examine the variety of ways (in the U.S. and elsewhere) in which government ownership has been structured in order to minimize political interference at the expense of non-controlling shareholders, including nonvoting stock, independent directors, dedicated trusts, and separate management companies. Because neither ex ante legal structures nor ex post judicial review hold much promise for controlling political interference, we are left with a choice between developing new structures of accountability and bringing this anomalous era of government control to a speedy conclusion.
Influence of plastic deformation on hydrogen transport in 2 14 Cr-1Mo steel

Scripta METALLURGICA Vol. 16, pp. 455-459, 1982 Pergamon Press Ltd. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved INFLUENCE OF PLASTIC DEFORMATION ON HYDROGEN TRANSPORT IN 2 I/4 Cr-IMo STEEL M. Kurkela, G.S. Frankel, and R.M. Latanision Department of Materials Science and Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 and S. Suresh and R.O. Ritchie Department of Materials Science and Mineral Engineering University of California Berkeley, CA 94720 (Received February 8, 1982) Introduction The role of hydrogen in influencing the fracture characteristics of metals has been a subject of detailed investigations for many years. Although the precise nature of the hydrogen embrittlement process is not clearly understood, many current theories consider the transport of hydrogen from possible external sources into the bulk of a metal or from various internal sources to critical locations as being an important step in the embrittle- ment mechanism. It was first suggested by Bastien and Azou (1) that mobile dislocations carry hydrogen in theform of Cottrell atmospheres. Frank (2) reported the first experimental evidence of enhanced outgassing of hydrogen in mild steels due to plastic deformation. Tritium release (3) and slip plane decoration (4) measurements have suggested the possibility of hydrogen transport by dislocations in a number of materials. Quantitative models for dislocation- aided transport of hydrogen have been discussed by Tien et al. (5) and by Johnson and Hirth (6,7). Recent studies by Kurkela and Latanision (8,9) show that hydrogen transport associated with dislocation motion in nickel may occur at rates considerably greater than those due to lattice diffusion. On the other hand, experiments by Berkowitz and Heubaum (IO) on 4130 steel undergoing simultaneous hydrogen charging and plastic deformation reveal slower hydrogen permeation rates dues to plastic strain. It has been suggested that this may be due to dislocation-enhanced trapping of hydrogen rather than transport. The objective of this paper is to present results on the effect of plastic deformation on hydrogen transport in a 2 I/4 Cr-IMo low strength pressure vessel steel. Hydrogen permeation experiments have been carried out over a range of strain rates using electro- chemical techniques modified to allow plastic deformation. The results are interpreted to reflect trapping of hydrogen due to dislocations and the possible reasons for the differences in hydrogen transport behavior between b.c.c, ferrous and f.c.c, nickel-base alloys are discussed. Experimental The steel used in the present investigation is a fully bainitic 2 I/4 Cr-IMo pressure vessel steel, ASTM A542 Class 3 (hereafter referred to as SA542-3). The chemical composition, heat treatment and ambient temperature mechanical properties of this steel are listed in Table I. The material was available in the form of a thick plate (300x175x140 mm) from which tensile specimens 1.52 and 0.76 mm in thickness were machined with a gage length of 455 0036-9748/82/040455-05503.00/0 Copyright (c) 1982 Pergamon Press Ltd.
Characterization of a Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 spontaneous mutant strain defective in accumulation of photosystem II core chlorophyll-protein complexes.

Two photosystem II-associated chlorophyll-protein complexes of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 were identified. Their polypeptide compositions were similar to those of chlorophyll-containing antenna complexes of other cyanobacteria. Strain GT8B did not possess the complex responsible for 695-nm fluorescence and was unable to grow photoautotrophically; hence, this complex is necessary for photosystem II function in vivo. Images
A Change Point Model for a Shift in Variance

A control chart is proposed for detecting shifts in variance in a process where the nominal value of the variance is unknown. The chart is a variance-change-point model adapted for repeated sequential use. It may be used alone to monitor one-degree-of-f..
Elucidating new drug targets in psoriasis by gene profiling: an opportunity to be seized.

Psoriasis vulgaris (psoriasis) is an autoimmune disease of the skin that affects ~3% of the world’s population (1). It is easily diagnosed by characteristic red colored plaques most often located on the elbows, knees, and scalp. Importantly, psoriasis patients (PP) have shorter lifespans and higher risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes (2). The development of biologics for the treatment of psoriasis is a remarkable success story of translational medicine, which arguably started with the identification of T cell infiltrates in psoriatic lesions ~30 years ago (3,4). The molecular basis of psoriasis continues to be refined and therapeutic approaches in humans now provide critical data to improve our understanding of the disease. For example, the confirmation that psoriasis was a T cell-mediated disease was ultimately established using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that broadly eliminated T cells by various mechanisms. Subsequently, IL-23 was found to regulate TH17 and TH22 cell production (IL-23/TH17 axis) and the main cytokines produced by these cells (IL-17 and IL-22) were found in high levels in human psoriatic plaques (4-6).
Traumatic uveitis in the mid-Atlantic United States.

The purpose of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of traumatic uveitis in patients managed in a mid-Atlantic tertiary care center with the goal of better characterizing the clinical features and outcomes of this large and important subset of uveitis patients.This was a retrospective, observational study comparing traumatic uveitis patients with nontraumatic uveitis patients seen at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA, from 1984 to 2014.Fifty-four traumatic uveitis patients (55 eyes) were identified. The patient population was 70.4% male, 57.4% Caucasian, and 37.0% African American. Mean age at diagnosis was 31.2 years; mean duration of follow-up was 5.4 years; and mean number of visits to the clinic was 4. The most common treatment modality was local steroids (77.8%). Glaucoma was medically managed in eight patients (14.8%). Cataract surgery was performed in five patients (9.3%). Mean best-corrected visual acuity at baseline for traumatic uveitis patients was 0.33 logMAR (SD 0.42) at the initial visit and 0.16 logMAR (SD 0.33) at the final visit. Mean baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) in the traumatic uveitis group was 15.5 mmHg (SD 7.4) at the initial visit and 14.6 mmHg (SD 4.0) at the final visit. Patients in the traumatic uveitis cohort tended to have better visual outcomes than those in the nontraumatic uveitis cohort.In our series, traumatic uveitis patients tended to be young and male and present with unilateral disease, all findings consistent with other reports. Despite relatively good visual outcomes, the traumatic uveitis patients still experienced a high burden of disease, measured both in the number of clinic visits and duration of follow-up. Due to the young mean age of patients, these disease burdens and decreased quality of life are nontrivial, emphasizing the importance of careful management and prompt treatment of this subset of uveitis patients.
The SNS Run Permit System

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is an accelerator-based neutron source being built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, by the U.S. Department of Energy. The SNS will provide the most intense pulsed neutron beams in the world for scientific research and industrial development. The facility is scheduled for completion in 2006. The project is a collaboration between Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Argonne National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, Brookhaven National Lab, and Jefferson Lab. The Run Permit System (RPS) is a software based system which has several key functions critical for safe operation of the machine. It coordinates machine mode and beam parameter changes with the timing system, verifies the Machine Protection System (MPS) hardware configuration, and provides an interface for masking MPS hardware inputs when necessary. This paper will describe the primary functionality of the Run Permit System and the interface between the Run Permit System, the Machine Protection System, and the timing system.
Lunar RFC Reliability Testing for Assured Mission Success

NASA's Constellation program has selected the closed cycle hydrogen oxygen Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) regenerative Fuel Cell (RFC) as its baseline solar energy storage system for the lunar outpost and manned rover vehicles. Since the outpost and manned rovers are "human-rated", these energy storage systems will have to be of proven reliability exceeding 99 percent over the length of the mission. Because of the low (TRL=5) development state of the closed cycle hydrogen oxygen PEM RFC at present, and because there is no equivalent technology base in the commercial sector from which to draw or infer reliability information from, NASA will have to spend significant resources developing this technology from TRL 5 to TRL 9, and will have to embark upon an ambitious reliability development program to make this technology ready for a manned mission. Because NASA would be the first user of this new technology, NASA will likely have to bear all the costs associated with its development. When well-known reliability estimation techniques are applied to the hydrogen oxygen RFC to determine the amount of testing that will be required to assure RFC unit reliability over life of the mission, the analysis indicates the reliability testing phase by itself will take at least 2 yr, and could take up to 6 yr depending on the number of QA units that are built and tested and the individual unit reliability that is desired. The cost and schedule impacts of reliability development need to be considered in NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP) plans, since life cycle testing to build meaningful reliability data is the only way to assure "return to the moon, this time to stay, then on to Mars" mission success.
Pharmacokinetic, oral bioavailability, and safety study of fluorouracil in patients treated with 776C85, an inactivator of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase.

PURPOSETo study the absolute bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of an oral solution of fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients treated with 776C85, an oral inactivator of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), and to evaluate the feasibility of administering oral 5-FU and 776C85 on a multiple-daily dosing schedule.PATIENTS AND METHODSTwelve patients with refractory solid tumors were enrolled onto this three-period study. In periods 1 and 2, patients were randomly assigned to treatment with 5-FU 10 mg/m2 on day 2 given by either the oral or intravenous (IV) route with oral 776C85 3.7 mg/m2/d on days 1 and 2. In period 3, patients received escalating doses of 5-FU (10 to 25 mg/ m2/d) orally for 5 days (days 2 to 6) with 776C85 3.7 mg/m2/d orally (days 1 to 7) every 4 weeks. Pharmaco-kinetic studies were performed in periods 1 and 2, and after the fifth oral dose of 5-FU in period 3.RESULTSTwelve patients completed the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic studies. Following oral 5-FU 10 mg/m2, the bioavailability w...
The crystal structures and lattice parameters of berkelium metal

Abstract The first bulk samples of berkelium metal have been prepared by the reduction at ∼1000°C of BkF3 with lithium metal in a tantalum crucible system. Berkelium metal has been found to exhibit two stable crystallographic modifications—face centered cubic (fcc) and double hexagonal closest packed (dhcp). The cubic lattice parameter, derived from the averaged values of 10 independent metal samples, is 4·997±0·004 A. The dhcp lattice parameters, derived from the averaged values of 6 independent samples, are a o = 3·416±0·003 A and c o = 11·069±0·007 A . The error limits given in all three cases represent the 95 per cent confidence level calculated using the standard statistical method for the average of independent determinations.
On-line detection of reversible myocardial ischemic injury by measurement of myocardial electrical impedance.

Abstract The metabolic and physiological alterations associated with changes in myocardial tissue electrical resistivity during ischemia were characterized to assess the feasibility of using such resistivity as an on-line indicator of the onset of ischemic injury. Twelve anesthetized dogs underwent rapid cardiac extirpation; 5 served as untreated controls, and 7 were preheated wth metoprolol tartrate. Beta blockade was used to alter the time course of ischemic injury as demonstrated previously in studies using this experimental model. In vitro measurement of myocardial resistivity, the detection of ischemic contracture, and serial measurements of tissue adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and lactate were obtained from totally ischemic left ventricles at 37°C. Myocardial resistivity began to increase significantly before onset of ischemic contracture in the untreated control group (resistivity at 42.3 ± 3.1 minutes, contracture at 53.8 ± 3.7 minutes; p p p p r = 0.88 to 0.98; p
Knowledge-based systems as database design tools: a comparative study

Database design process is a knowledge intensive task that requires expertise, practical experience, and judgment. It is not surprising, therefore, that over the last few years many research prototype database design expert systems have been reported in the literature. This paper is a survey of such tools. These tools are compared with respect to four major aspects: database design support, tool flexibility, expert system features, and implementation characteristics. This study reveals that, in general, there is lack of 1) support for all the phases of the design, 2) support for group database design, 3) graphic support, 4) empirical verification of effectiveness of the tools, 5) long-term maintenance of the tool and database schemata, and 6) specialized knowledge representation schemes, inference, and learning techniques.
Individualized fetal growth assessment: critical evaluation of key concepts in the specification of third trimester size trajectories.

AbstractObjectives: To characterize second and third trimester fetal growth using Individualized Growth Assessment methods in a larger cohort of fetuses with normal neonatal growth outcomes.Methods: A prospective longitudinal study of 119 pregnancies was performed from 18 weeks, MA, to delivery. Measurements of several 1D and 3D fetal size parameters were obtained from 3D volume data sets at 3–4 week intervals. Regression analyses were used to determine Start Points (SP) and Rossavik model (P = c {t} k + st) coefficients c. k and s for each parameter in each fetus. Second trimester growth velocity reference ranges were determined and size model specification functions re-established, the latter used to generate individual size models. Actual measurements were compared to predicted third trimester size trajectories using Percent Deviations. New age-specific reference ranges for the Percent Deviations of each parameter were defined using 2-level statistical modeling.Results: Rossavik models fit the data for...
Self-assembly of natural and synthetic drug amphiphiles into discrete supramolecular nanostructures

Molecular assembly provides an effective approach to construct discrete supramolecular nanostructures of various sizes and shapes in a simple manner. One important technological application of the resulting nanostructures is their potential use as anticancer drug carriers to facilitate targeted delivery to tumour sites and consequently to improve clinical outcomes. In this carrier-assisted delivery strategy, anticancer drugs have been almost exclusively considered as the cargo to be carried and delivered, and their potential as molecular building blocks has been largely ignored. In this discussion, we report the use of anticancer drugs as molecular building units to create discrete supramolecular nanostructures that contain a high and quantitative drug loading and also have the potential for self-delivery. We first show the direct assembly of two amphiphilic drug molecules (methotrexate and folic acid) into discrete nanostructures. Our results reveal that folic acid exhibits rich self-assembly behaviour via Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding under various solvent conditions, whereas methotrexate is unable to assemble into any well-defined nanostructures under the same conditions, despite its similar chemical structure. Considering the low water solubility of most anticancer drugs, hydrophilic segments must be conjugated to the drug in order to bestow the necessary amphiphilicity. We have demonstrated this for camptothecin through the attachment of beta-sheet-forming peptides with overall hydrophilicity. We found that the intermolecular interactions among camptothecin segments and those among beta-sheet peptides act together to define the formation of stable one-dimensional nanostructures in dilute solutions, giving rise to nanotubes or nanofibers depending upon the processing conditions used. These results lead us to believe that self-assembly of drugs into discrete nanostructures not only offers an innovative way to craft self-delivering anticancer drugs, but also extends the paradigm of using molecular assembly as a toolbox to achieve functional nanostructures, to a new area which is specifically focused on the direct assembly of functional molecules (e.g. drugs, or imaging agents) into nanostructures of their own.
Quenching of N(2D) by cyanogen

Abstract A flowing afterglow in a 1% N 2 /Ar mixture at 10 Torr has been used as a source of N( 2 D), and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) at 269 nm has been used to follow the removal of the N( 2 D) by C 2 N 2 and O 2 . The rate of removal by O 2 is consistent with previous work. The rate coefficient for N( 2 D)/C 2 N 2 interaction has been measured as (1.5±0.2) × 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 at 300 K, although the products have not yet been determined.
Effects of An Aerial DDT Spray on Aquatic Insects in Connecticut

Ten foot-square samples were taken at each of five streams before and after a woodland DDT spray was applied to check the qualitative loss of insect genera. Disregarding those genera that disappeared from the streams by reason of adult emergence only two insects disappeared from all the treated streams. However, individual streams varied considerably in their individual losses, ranging up to a possible loss of 42.8% of the genera in one stream.
Characterization of vancomycin pharmacokinetics in the adult acute myeloid leukemia population

Current vancomycin dosing guidelines in our acute myeloid leukemia population too often achieve suboptimal initial drug concentrations. Our aim was to assess vancomycin pharmacokinetic parameters in acute myeloid leukemia patients and develop an improved dosing equation to attain more accurate initial therapeutic trough levels. Acute myeloid leukemia patients receiving vancomycin for a presumed or documented gram positive infection were eligible. Patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit, those with creatinine clearance 125%]. We have established that the derived dosing equation can place ≈ 75% of adult acute myeloid leukemia patients at vancomycin trough levels within 75-125% of the target trough level.
Attachment of Alanine and Arginine to the Ge(100)-2×1 Surface

The reactions of the amino acids alanine and arginine on the Ge(100)-2×1 surface are investigated using density functional theory. Arginine presents a unique reactivity not previously explored on semiconductor surfaces. Arginine dative bonds to the surface dimer through its imine lone pair, resulting in two adsorbed conformations with adsorption energies of 30.7 and 33.8 kcal/mol, significantly stronger than amine dative bonds on Ge(100)-2×1. We predict a N−H dissociation and an ene reaction pathway from each of these two conformers with the ene reactions kinetically favored over N−H dissociation of the imine N−H bond and the ene reaction from the cis state favored both kinetically and thermodynamically over the trans ene reaction. Our results for the reactions of the hydroxyl, carbonyl, and amine functional groups are similar to previous observations for analogous reactions of small organic molecules on Ge(100)-2×1. We find that O−H dissociation from the carbonyl dative bonded state is the most favorable...
Atmospheric Simulation Using a Liquid Crystal Wavefront Controlling Device

Test and evaluation of laser warning devices is important due to the increased use of laser devices in aerial applications. This research consists of an atmospheric aberrating system to enable in-lab testing of various detectors and sensors. This system employs laser light at 632.8nm from a Helium-Neon source and a spatial light modulator (SLM) to cause phase changes using a birefringent liquid crystal material. Measuring outgoing radiation from the SLM using a CCD targetboard and Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor reveals an acceptable resemblance of system output to expected atmospheric theory. Over three turbulence scenarios, an error analysis reveals that turbulence data matches theory. A wave optics computer simulation is created analogous to the lab-bench design. Phase data, intensity data, and a computer simulation affirm lab-bench results so that the aberrating SLM system can be operated confidently.
Fulminant demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy resembling brain death

A fulminant polyradiculoneuropathy resulted in a clinical state like brain death. Sequential EEG studies showed normally reactive alpha activity and spontaneous variability between wakefulness, drowsiness and sleep. EEG studies are valuable in such states in suggesting at least partial integrity of cortical neuronal activities, where no clinical measure is available.
Diffusion and optical properties of Nd-doped sol-gel silica glasses

Abstract Water and acetone neodymium nitrate solutions of up to 2.3 mol/l were used to impregnate porous sol-gel glass by immersing outgassed samples in the liquid for a specified time. Diffusion coefficients of the solvents were determined using the diaphragm technique. Concentrations of the solute in the pores of samples having various average pore diameters were determined from the intensity of 740 nm absorption band. The time dependence of the concentrations at various penetration depths was used to calculate the diffusion coefficients from Fick's law. Concentration gradients inside the materials were produced by controlling the time the sample was exposed to the solution. To maintain the concentration profile during the drying stage of the process, the mobility of the solvent must be faster than that of the solute. When the sample was sintered at 1000 K neodymium was incorporated into the glass network. It was shown that both diverging and converging gradient index lenses can be produced.
Water quality of streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Water samples from streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were analyzed for 16 physical, chemical, and bacteriological water quality parameters. Bacterial densities, pH, alkalinity, turbidity, and concentrations of Na, K, and Si were found to be higher in the low elevations than in the high. Nitrate concentrations increased with increasing elevation. Watersheds which had been logged prior to the establishment of the park had significantly lower stream water nitrate concentrations than unlogged watersheds at similar elevations. Bedrock geology was found to influence pH, alkalinity, conductivity, hardness, and concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Si. The seasonal pattern for most water quality parameters was for higher concentrations or values in the summer and lower in the winter. Discharge was highest in the winter and spring and lowest in the summer and fall. Nitrate concentrations were highest in the late winter and early spring and lowest in the fall. Storm events often caused large changes in water quality.
Identifiability of linear and nonlinear dynamical systems

This short paper considers the identification of dynamical systems from input-output data. The problem of parameter identifiability for such systems is approached by considering whether system outputs obtained with different parameter values can be distinguished one from another. The results are stated formally by defining the notion of "output distinguishability." Parameter identifiability is then defined precisely in terms of output distinguishability. Relationships have been developed with the other definitions such as least square identifiability and identifiability from the transfer function. Several results for linear and nonlinear systems are presented with examples.
Preference for unfamiliar siblings over familiar non-siblings in American toad (Bufo americanus) tadpoles

Abstract Kin recognition may involve comparisons between conspecifics' traits and one's own or those of known genetic relatives. In American toad (Bufo americanus) larvae, association patterns appear to reflect this ‘phenotype matching’, based, in part, upon traits of familiar conspecifics. To examine whether socially-reared tadpoles might additionally use their own traits in making such discriminations, individuals were tested in a Y-maze apparatus for their tendencies to discriminate between waterborne cues released by their unfamiliar siblings and by familiar non-siblings. Six of seven test groups spent more time oriented toward their unfamiliar siblings than toward familiar non-siblings, but the difference was significant for only two of these groups. Overall, 84 subjects oriented toward siblings and 51 toward non-siblings. Thus, in some circumstances, toad tadpoles appear to recognize siblings based on shared recognition traits rather than on prior social experience with conspecifics.
Circuit-Breakers: Optical Technologies For Probing Neural Signals And Systems

Neuropsychiatric disorders, which arise from a combination of genetic, epigenetic and environmental influences, epitomize the challenges faced in understanding the mammalian brain. Elucidation and treatment of these diseases will benefit from understanding how specific brain cell types are interconnected and signal in neural circuits. Newly developed neuroengineering tools based on two microbial opsins, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and halorhodopsin (NpHR), enable the investigation of neural circuit function with cell-type-specific, temporally accurate and reversible neuromodulation. These tools could lead to the development of precise neuromodulation technologies for animal models of disease and clinical neuropsychiatry.
Steady-state creep of tin near the melting point

Abstract The steady-state creep rates of commercial tin were investigated at temperatures between 180 and 230°C. Torsional creep equipment was developed for this purpose. At temperatures below 215°C results indicate that the steady-state creep process is one governed by a single activation energy of 22,500 cal/mole. At higher temperatures, however, the simple Arrhenius-type equation cannot properly express the creep behaviour.
Gross Hematuria and Focal Renal Masses as Initial Features of a Mature B-cell Leukemia in an Adolescent Male

We report a case of a 14-year-old boy who presented with gross hematuria and focal bilateral renal masses as presenting features of a mature high-grade B-cell leukemia, Burkitt subtype. The patient was treated with standard chemotherapy with the addition of rituximab and has no evidence of disease on completion. To our knowledge, this is the first case to describe gross hematuria in conjunction with focal bilateral renal masses as presenting features in a pediatric patient with Burkitt leukemia. This unique presentation suggests that early leukemic infiltration of the urinary collecting system may occur but is extremely unusual.
Hydrogen and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide—V. Anodic oxidation of sulfur on activated glassy carbon

Abstract : Fast, ambient temperature, steady electrolysis of H2S from solutions of NaSH in aqueous NaOH was achieved using suitably activated glass carbon anodes. Thus electroanalyses of H2S can probably be carried out at high rates with modest cell voltages in the range 1-1.5 V. The variation in anode current densities with (NaSH), (NaOH), and anode rotational speed is presented. Hydrogen sulfide, Hydrogen, Sulfur, Electrolysis, Glassy carbon, Anodes.
Thermodynamic feasibility of solid solubility extension of Nb in Cu and their thermal stability

Abstract A series of Cu– x Nb ( x = 1–15 at.% 2 ) alloys have been investigated to study the metastable solid solubility extension of Nb in Cu by mechanical alloying. Analysis of X-ray diffraction and Gibbs free energy change confirmed that 7.5% of Nb was metastably dissolved in Cu after 8 h of milling at room temperature although Cu–Nb is a system with positive heat of mixing. The solid solubility could be extended up to 10% after enhancing milling duration to 16 h. Detailed thermodynamic analysis revealed that the additional energy stored during mechanical alloying could overcome the required energy barrier as per Miedema's model for the formation of disordered solid solution. The extended solid solubility has been explained along with the other possible mechanisms. Extensive annealing experiments and structural investigation revealed that the supersaturated solid solution is completely stable up to 400 °C. The matrix grains were stabilized and retained their size, ∼25 nm, even after annealing at 600 °C. Microhardness measurement and grain size analysis show that the dissolution of Nb in Cu has a larger strengthening effect than that of free Nb in the compositions.
Congenital giant hairy nevus: Implications for treatment

Congenital giant hairy nevi represent a special group of melanocytic lesions which generally cover large areas of the body surface. Giant hairy nevi assume special significance because of their predisposition to malignant transformation. Adequate treatment of this lesion involves complete surgical excision as early in the child's life as possible.
Origin of life: Consideration of alternatives to proteins and nucleic acids

Starting with relatively simple, non-hydrolyzable compounds in aqueous solution, entirely spontaneous condensations give rise to polymers that contain purines, pyrimidines, amino acids, coenzymes, lipid components and even phosphate. The presence of certain lipid micelles allows significant product formation at millimolar substrate concentrations. The first step involves formation of a Michael adduct from alpha-beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and various nucleophiles. Polymerization of these adducts occurs via sequential Knoevenagel condensations. All reactions take place readily at temperatures below 45 degrees. The polymers can act as macromolecular catalysts as evidenced by hydrolytic activity. The purines and pyrimidines in the polymers appear to be capable of both base pairing and stacking interactions with ribonucleic acids. Specific examples of potential alternatives to base pairing are presented. These results are discussed from the standpoint of the spontaneous development of reproducing molecules. Proteins and nucleic acids may be evolutionary developments which have displaced earlier biopolymers.
Chlorine and fluorine abundances in ultramafic rocks

Abstract A total of 55 ultramafic rocks of various modes of occurrence has been analysed for chlorine and fluorine by a rapid spectrophotometric method. The different modes of occurrence seem to have different abundance levels of Cl and F, but this may be due to secondary effects.
Plant density as related to fertilizer needs for processing and fresh market tomatoes

Abstract The effects of higher density plantings on tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) at three nutritional levels were evaluated over two years. At each of two commercial sites, four in‐row spacings were combined with three fertilizer treatments in a split‐block design with six replications. Increasing plant density of the processing cultivar, ‘U.S. 68’, by changing spacing from 23 cm in single rows to 30 cm in double rows (46 cm apart) increased total and vine yields substantially, lowered yield/plant and decreased fruit weight slightly. Decreasing spacing to 23 cm in double rows did not further increase total yield but yield/plant was reduced. At all spacings, fertilizer banded at 56N‐56P‐56K kg/ha increased total fruit and vine yields and increased yield/plant but reduced mean fruit weight. The higher banded rate, 112N‐112P‐112K kg/ha, showed few trends towards further effects. Reducing spacing of the fresh market cultivar, ‘Count II’, from 76 to 30 cm in single rows substantially increased tota...
The Efficacy of Treatments in Reducing Alcohol Consumption: A Meta-Analysis

Meta-analysis was used to assess the relative efficacy of various treatments in reducing alcohol consumption over the short-term, 6 months, and 12 months. All the treatments were administered in well-controlled studies. In the short-term and 1-year follow-up studies, patients in the experimental group drank much less than the control group. However, between group consumption differences were negligible in the 6-month studies. When the studies were pooled, regardless of the follow-up assessment periods, the experimental group drank significantly less than the control group. These results suggest that, in general, patients who received experimental treatments consumed much less alcohol than patients in the control groups.
The MIRACLE trial: An electrophysiologist's perspective

The positive results of the recently published MIRACLE (Multicenter InSync Randomized Clinical Evaluation) study present the electrophysiologist with a powerful new device therapy and greatly expand the existing pool of patients referred for device implantation. This new patient population is also more complex, and, at each stage of their care, will require much more time, thought, and skill. These stages include the preimplant evaluation, the implantation procedure, and the chronic follow-up evaluations. In addition, given the availability of a market-released product in the form a resynchronization device alone and a resynchronization device coupled with an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD), the temptation to expand the indications for resynchronization therapy to patients not yet studied in wellcontrolled clinical trials will be enormous. These potential patient groups include those with heart failure who have implanted pacemakers or ICDs and have right ventricular pacing-induced left bundle branch block. Other groups include those without heart failure, but with left ventricular dysfunction with or without bundle branch block who are otherwise indicated for a right ventricular pacemaker or ICD.
Effects of Chemical Treatment of Whole Canola Seed on Digestion of Long-Chain Fatty Acids by Steers Fed High or Low Forage Diets

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of alkaline H 2 O 2 treatment of whole canola seed as a means of weakening the seed coat while simultaneously protecting long-chain unsaturated fatty acids from ruminal biohydrogenation without hindering their digestion in the lower gut. Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated beef steers were offered six isonitrogenous diets for ad libitum intake twice daily in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial with two forage percentages (70 vs. 30% of dietary DM as a corn silage) and three forms of canola seed supplementation, including no canola seed or canola seed added at 10% of dietary DM as treated whole seed or as crushed seed. Canola seed contributed 5% added fat to the total diet. Treated whole canola seed was superior to crushed seed in increasing the amounts of C 18:1 , C 18:2 , and C 18:3 flowing to the duodenum and the amounts digested postruminally. However, digestibilities of these long-chain fatty acids (as percentages of the amounts entering the small intestine) did not differ between diets containing canola seed as treated whole seed or crushed seed. Results suggest that chemically treated whole canola seed can be used as a means of postruminal delivery of digestible long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, especially C 18:1 , which contributes 62% of the total fatty acids in canola seed. Results also suggest that treated whole canola seed may be more beneficial when fed with low than with high forage diets.
A measurement of perpendicular current density in an aurora

A Nike Tomahawk sounding rocket was launched into a 400-gamma auroral substorm from Esrange, Kiruna, Sweden. The rocket instrumentation included a split Langmuir-probe plasma-velocity detector and a double-probe electric-field detector. Above 140-km altitude, the electric field deduced from the ion-flow velocity measurement and the electric field measured by the double probe agree to an accuracy within the uncertainties of the two measurements. The difference between the two measurements at altitudes below 140 km provides an in situ measurement of current density and conductivity. Alternatively, if values for the conductivity are assumed, the neutral-wind velocity can be deduced. The height-integrated current was 0.11 A/m flowing at an azimuth angle of 276 deg. The neutral winds were strong, exhibited substantial altitude variation in the east-west component, and were predominantly southward.
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due: Can Access to Credit Be Justified as a New Economic Right?

A large proportion of the population in poor countries is deemed “unbankable” and cannot borrow money from formal, reliable financial institutions to invest in new businesses or to meet urgent consumption needs. In the past few decades, the development community has increasingly focused on the goal of financial inclusion—providing access to financial services for all. Along these lines, the Nobel Peace Price laureate and the founder of a prominent microfinance institution in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, has been advocating the view that credit is a human right and that financial inclusion for millions of poor and marginalized people is an obligation that governments, international institutions, and civil society organizations have to fulfill. In this article, I outline and analyze the debate over whether or not access to credit should be recognized as a new, emergent human right. In the first part of the article, I present the case for establishing credit as a human right, as laid out by Muhammad Yunus. Se...
GEOGRAPHICAL MOBILITY, GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR, AND RATES OF URBAN CRIME

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the effects of governmental aid to the poor and geographical mobility on rates of urban crime. Previous research based on small samples of SMSAs suggests that these two variables are important predictors of rates of serious crime. Analyses based on a large number of SMSAs in 1980 (N=292) generally reaffirm earlier conclusions. Governmental assistance to the poor exhibits significantly negative associations with homicide rates, and geographical mobility yields significantly positive associations with all measures of index offenses. The results also replicate the prior finding of regional interactions in the effects of poverty on most types of serious crime.