cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of select berries on estrogen-induced mammary tissue proliferation

3821 Epidemiological studies have associated decreased risk of several diseases with increased intake of fruits and vegetables. Our previous studies with black raspberry and blueberry showed significant protection against estrogen-induced mammary carcinogenicity in the ACI rat model. Here we demonstrate that the anticarcinogenicity may be in part due to the inhibition of mammary cell proliferation. Female ACI rats were divided into four groups (n=5 each). Each group received either control diet or diet supplemented with powder of black raspberry and blueberry (5% each, w/w). Two weeks later three groups, one on control diet and other two on berry diets, were treated with 17s-estradiol (9 mg) by subcutaneous silastic implants. Three weeks after estrogen treatment, all groups were euthanized and blood and mammary tissue were collected and snap frozen. A portion of mammary tissue was processed for histopathology. All groups of animals showed similar body-weight gains and had similar diet intake, irrespective of the diet, indicating that the berry diets were well tolerated. Sections were stained for PCNA by immunohistochemistry to measure mammary tissue proliferation. All groups receiving estrogen treatment showed increased mammary cell proliferation based on PCNA staining compared with sham treatment. However, significant differences were observed among groups: the blueberry diet lowered the proliferation index by 66% (p
On Competition in Music

In this chapter, Arditi shows how competition not only leads musicians to covet record contracts, but also how this competition reinforces the need for a contract. The ideology of getting signed develops from the American capitalist ethos of competition: eat or be eaten. Neoliberalism is the current stage of capitalism that views competition as the crucial characteristic of society. This chapter presents competition in music as a visible expression of this neoliberal ideal. Arditi traces it through inter- and intra-school band competitions to the views that astounding musicians receive on Instagram. Arditi describes several ethnographic experiences that he had during the research of this book. One was an experience at a music showcase. Another involved local band competitions in two cities in Texas. While these are limited events, he demonstrates how competition permeates the demeanor of musicians. The ultimate way to win the competition is to sign a record contract.
Indigenous Girls Write, Right!? Unsettling Urban Literacies with Indigenous Writing Pedagogies:

This article begins with the fundamental premise that Indigenous adolescent girls are writers. Indigenous adolescent girls speak and write in multitudes of voices, yet their physical and literary p...
Budget-limited distribution learning in multifidelity problems.

Multifidelity methods are widely used for statistical estimation of quantities of interest (QoIs) in uncertainty quantification using simulation codes of differing costs and accuracies. Many methods approximate numerical-valued statistics that represent only limited information of the QoIs. In this paper, we introduce a semi-parametric approach that aims to effectively describe the distribution of a scalar-valued QoI in the multifidelity setup. Under a linear model hypothesis, we propose an exploration-exploitation strategy to reconstruct the full distribution of a scalar-valued QoI using samples from a subset of low-fidelity regressors. We derive an informative asymptotic bound for the mean 1-Wasserstein distance between the estimator and the true distribution, and use it to adaptively allocate computational budget for parametric estimation and non-parametric reconstruction. Assuming the linear model is correct, we prove that such a procedure is consistent, and converges to the optimal policy (and hence optimal computational budget allocation) under an upper bound criterion as the budget goes to infinity. A major advantage of our approach compared to several other multifidelity methods is that it is automatic, and its implementation does not require a hierarchical model setup, cross-model information, or \textit{a priori} known model statistics. Numerical experiments are provided in the end to support our theoretical analysis.
Serological response to administration of Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccine in beef and dairy heifers, using needle-free and standard needle-based injection systems

More than four million doses of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51) are administered in the United States every year. Accidental autoinoculation of humans has the potential to result in local and systemic symptoms; therefore, investigation of alternative delivery methods is warranted. The objective of this study was to compare the immunologic responses of four to eight-month-old beef and dairy heifers to vaccination with 1010 colony-forming units of SRB51, delivered either by standard needle-and-syringe system or needle-free injection system. There was no difference in the 30-day SRB51 antibody response to the two vaccination methods, and no difference in response between beef and dairy heifers. These data demonstrate that the humoral immune response of heifers to vaccination with SRB51 using a needle-free injection system is similar to the response obtained with a standard needle system. Further studies to define the cellular immune response and protection against infection are recommended before this administration method is considered for routine use.
The August Wilson Archive: First Panel Discussion (January 2021)

The Editor and Managing Editor of the August Wilson Journal met with four specialists from the University Library System (ULS) at the University of Pittsburgh and one University of Pittsburgh history professor via Zoom on January 14, 2021 to discuss the ULS’s recent acquisition of August Wilson’s archival materials.
DART: dense articulated real-time tracking with consumer depth cameras

This paper introduces DART, a general framework for tracking articulated objects composed of rigid bodies connected through a kinematic tree. DART covers a broad set of objects encountered in indoor environments, including furniture and tools, and human and robot bodies, hands and manipulators. To achieve efficient and robust tracking, DART extends the signed distance function representation to articulated objects and takes full advantage of highly parallel GPU algorithms for data association and pose optimization. We demonstrate the capabilities of DART on different types of objects that have each required dedicated tracking techniques in the past.
Royal Instructions for Scientific Exploration

Of the three overseas expeditions that we shall examine in greater detail below, only the two major ones were sponsored by the royal regime and, therefore, guided by extensive instructions that specified the scientific information desired by both government and the premier academic societies in Paris. Charles Pierre y Pierre Claret de Fleurieu, the naval officer who was the chief architect of the instructions, drew upon three major sources of information: the recommendations that Commerson had made at the time of the Bougainville expedition; the records of prior voyages, most notably the observations by the naturalist William Anderson, who accompanied the second Cook voyage as surgeon, 1772–1775; and voluminous recommendations that Fleurieu solicited from the Parisian academies. Louis XVI, it must be added, took a pronounced personal interest in promoting such expeditions, as he had a passion for geographical knowledge. He made occasional recommendations of his own, and his personal interest meant generous financial support.
Increasing the Yield of Our Telescopes

Obviously, we all wish to make the best possible use of our telescopes. Mostly, this means striving for the best possible efficiency of observing, and observing simultaneously over as wide a range of parameter space as possible. Some observing techniques are more efficient than others, but there also some pitfalls to avoid in attempts to improve observing efficiency. The emphasis here is on mm-wave observing, but many of the principles are equally applicable to other parts of the radio spectrum. The “Yield” in the title means “useful scientific output,” which is much more difficult to quantify than simply bytes of data with a given signal-to-noise ratio.
Tap into Science 24-7

We live in a society where science touches every aspect of our lives. Yet, the general public is often unable to understand the consequences of discoveries or to assess the significance of sensational news stories; administrators and legislators are called upon to make decisions that affect millions of lives without having the scientific background information needed to make intelligent choices. In his essay, Sejnowski argues that the time has come to create a new Cable Science Network (CSN) that brings expert commentators and informed public debate on scientific issues directly into millions of homes and offices. CSN would be on tap 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and would provide timely scientific information on issues that affect our lives and our future.
Patient understanding of radiation risk from medical computed tomography-A comparison of Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic emergency department populations.

Background. Cultural diff erences and language barriers may adversely impact patients with respect to understanding the risks/benefits of medical testing. Objective. We hypothesized that there would be no diff erence in Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic patients’ knowledge of radiation risk that results from CT of the abdomen/pelvis (CTAP). Methods. We enrolled a convenience sample of adults at an inner-city emergency department (ED). Patients provided written answers to rate agreement on a 10-point scale for two correct statements comparing radiation exposure equality between: CTAP and 5 years of background radiation (question 1); CTAP and 200 chest x-rays (question 3). Patients also rated their agreement that multiple CT scans increase the lifetime cancer risk (question 2). Scores of >8 were considered good knowledge. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the independent eff ect of the Hispanic variable. Results. 600 patients in the study group; 63% Hispanic, mean age 39.2 ± 13.9 years. Hispanics and non-Hispanics whites were similar with respect to good knowledgelevel answers to question 1 (17.3 vs. 15.1%; OR = 1.2; 95% CI [0.74–2.0]), question 2 (31.2 vs. 39.3%; OR = 0.76; 95% CI [0.54–1.1]), and question 3 (15.2 vs. 16.5%; OR = 1.1; 95% CI [0.66–1.8]). Compared to patients who earned 40,000 were more likely to answer question 2 with good knowledge (OR = 1.96; 95% CI [1.2–3.1]). Conclusion. The study group’s overall knowledge of radiation risk was poor, but we did not find significant di ff erences between Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic patients.
The Prosecutorial Origins of Defence Counsel in the Eighteenth Century: The Appearance of Solicitors

In the 1730s English criminal procedure abandoned its centuries-old rule forbidding the defendant in cases of felony to be assisted by counsel. The judges began to allow counsel to examine and cross-examine witnesses on the defendant's behalf, presaging the beginnings of the distinctive Anglo-American adversary system of criminal trial. This article points to two innovations in pretrial practice in the early decades of the eighteenth century that motivated the judges' decision: (1) the increasing influence of solicitors in investigating and preparing witnesses for institutional and private prosecutors; and (2) the growing danger of false witness in prosecutions inspired by a series of reward statutes enacted from 1692 onward. These developments – one-sided lawyerisation and the incentive for false prosecution – unbalanced the old lawyer-free criminal trial and led the judges to allow the assistance of counsel to offset the new advantages of the prosecution.
En nombre de Bolívar: García Márquez y la proyección de la utopía latinoamericana

En 1516 vio la luz la Utopia de Tomas Moro, obra que habria de adquirir una resonancia trascendental en el pensamiento europeo y que a su vez ocuparia un lugar crucial como punto de partida de una larguisima serie de proyecciones europeas sobre la realidad americana. Aunque la obra no alude en concreto a ningun lugar, desde su recepcion inicial se contextualizaron sus referentes, identificandose a America con la posibilidad planteada por el autor ingles y anteriormente desarrollada en el imaginario europeo en los mitos de la Edad de Oro y el Paraiso perdido. Asi, como nos recuerda Carlos Fuentes, America se convirtio en la utopia de Europa: la mision americana era convertirse en la “otra” version de una historia europea condenada por corrupta e hipocrita por los humanistas del momento (Invention 4). Desde el principio, sin embargo, esta proyeccion se presenta marcada bajo el signo de la contradiccion, al alternar con la realidad de una conquista violenta que destruia la alteridad que inicialmente la habia impulsado. En efecto, incluso los mejores esfuerzos por adecuar la realidad de la conquista a la de las comunidades indigenas partieron de la base de la implantacion de la epistemologia occidental-cristiana cuyo enraizamiento era crucial para definir el exito de la proyeccion utopica: me refiero naturalmente a los proyectos de religiosos como Fray Tomas de San Martin, Fray Bernardino de Sahagun a la propuesta de Vasco de Quiroga en Mexico. Mas aun, el hecho de que en todas estas reelaboraciones bien intencionadas del proyecto colonizador America se presenta como lo opuesto de Europa, implica un status derivativo y secundario del “nuevo” continente que en ningun momento cuestiona la centralidad ontologica del antiguo. Incluso en su configuracion etimologica la expresion “utopia” es incompatible con una especificidad geografica e historica y situa a los habitantes de America en el papel de “objetos y no sujetos de la historia” (Puccini 88). Asi, no es que la posibilidad de la utopia fuera meramente proyectada sobre el nuevo
Thermally generated defects in liquid and glassy As2Se3

Abstract Predictions of the Valence-Alternation Model for negative -U defects are compared with results of transient photocurrent experiments. This provides the first measurement of the energy to create defects and of the negative U.
Computers in Science and Technology: Early Indications.

Over the past 20 years computer technology has advanced rapidly, especially in the areas of logic and memory. Continued growth at a similar pace can be expected through and probably beyond the 1980's. The technology has already had such major effects on scientific research and engineering that it is of practical importance to try to predict its evolution and uses. It is likely that the trend toward smaller, faster, and cheaper circuits made possible by improved lithographic techniques will continue, resulting in a factor of 10 increase in speed of central processing units and an even greater increase in speed of single-chip microprocessors by the end of the decade. Similar progress is expected in the areas of memory, magnetic storage, printers, and displays. Overall, approximately 20 percent growth annually in the capability of computing systems can be projected. How this continually increasing computing power will affect scientific and engineering activity is more difficult to predict, but some patterns are emerging. Observations of technical personnel at the IBM research laboratory at Yorktown, New York, where the average user has access to a large amount of computing capability and to a worldwide computer network, indicate that workers in different areas have reacted to computer technology in different ways. Whereas engineers have used computing power, displays, and the ability to communicate or share information more or less equally, management has used communication most and scientists have put the greatest value on computing power and displays.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a metaanalysis.

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine which maternal and neonatal complications are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in pregnant women. Study Design The studies that were included compared pregnancy outcomes between women with PCOS and those without diagnosed PCOS. Our primary outcomes included gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and preeclampsia. Secondary outcomes included cesarean delivery rates, operative vaginal delivery rates, preterm delivery, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants and large-for-gestational-age infants. Results We found that PCOS in pregnancy was associated with higher rates of gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, operative vaginal delivery, SGA, and large-for-gestational age. Only gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and SGA infants were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion This metaanalysis confirms the higher association of pregnancy complications and PCOS compared with patients who do not have PCOS. Additionally, there may be a stronger association between PCOS and hypertensive disorders than has been shown previously.
Communication during marital conflict: When couples alter their appraisal, they change their behavior.

In a sample of 77 recently married couples, within-person variance in cognitive appraisal was expected to predict corresponding within-person variance in communication behavior during conflict. Three types of appraisal were considered: expectancies of partner understanding, expectancies of partner negative communication, and attributions. Couples were observed in 4 different conflict conversations, completed during 2 assessment sessions, and appraisals were assessed prior to each conversation. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze within-person effects. Changes from one conversation to the next in all 3 types of appraisal predicted corresponding within-person change in communication, and many effects were larger for wives than for husbands. Results were strongest for expectancies of partner understanding. Expectancies predicted change in one's own behavior after controlling for the accuracy of the expectancy.
Quantification of total mercury in liver and heart tissue of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) from Alaska USA

Abstract This study quantified the Hg levels in the liver (n=98) and heart (n=43) tissues of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) (n=102) harvested from Prince William Sound and Kodiak Island Alaska. Mercury tissue dry weight (dw) concentrations in the liver ranged from 1.7 to 393 ppm dw, and in the heart from 0.19 to 4.99 ppm dw. Results of this study indicate liver and heart tissues' Hg ppm dw concentrations significantly increase with age. Male Harbor Seals bioaccumulated Hg in both their liver and heart tissues at a significantly faster rate than females. The liver Hg bioaccumulation rates between the harvest locations Kodiak Island and Prince William Sound were not found to be significantly different. On adsorption Hg is transported throughout the Harbor Seal's body with the partition coefficient higher for the liver than the heart. No significant differences in the bio-distribution (liver:heart Hg ppm dw ratios (n=38)) values were found with respect to either age, sex or geographic harvest location. In this study the age at which Hg liver and heart bioaccumulation levels become significantly distinct in male and female Harbor Seals were identified through a Tukey's analysis. Of notably concern to human health was a male Harbor Seal's liver tissue harvested from Kodiak Island region. Mercury accumulation in this sample tissue was determined through a Q-test to be an outlier, having far higher Hg concentrarion (liver 392 Hg ppm dw) than the general population sampled.
Rudimentary horn pregnancy with herniation into the main uterine cavity

We report a case of a rudimentary horn pregnancy with herniation of a fetal arm and umbilical cord into the main uterine cavity that presented as an incidental finding on a routine second-trimester ultrasound scan. We also review the literature that guides the diagnosis and management of these rare complicated pregnancies.
NADA92: An automated, user-friendly program for neutron activation data analysis

We have developed a highly automated program for the analysis of data from neutron activation analysis (NAA). Spectral analysis is done using almost any common MCA employing regions of interest or peak-fitting routine of the user's choice. A wide variety of data entry possibilities is available, from fully manual data entry to an automatic mode where the user enters all necessary data in a tabular format and the computer calculated the results. The resulting data can be automatically imported into a LOTUS 1-2-3 compatible spreadsheet for statistical analysis. All of the features of previous versions of NADA have been retained. These include a variety of methods for dead-time correction, correction of spectral and nuclear interferences, and a complete, concise hard-copy output. Future improvements include a routine which will automatically select regions-of-interest for spectra in ORTEC Maestro, thus reducing the processing time needed.
Planning for appropriate forestry enterprises: lessons from rural development experience in Third World countries

Over the last decade, forestry has become increasingly more involved with and integrated into the more general rural development (RD) process in the Third World. In doing so, forestry joins an activity that has itself been developing and maturing for some three decades and more, in the course of which a good deal of useful experience has been accumulated. This paper attempts to distill from that experience lessons that will be helpful in forestry development planning. This focus is first on the constraints that have affected RD, sometimes quite severely, in terms of resources, organization, policy, and the socio-political sphere. Second, the paper evaluates the experience with rural institutions as vehicles for promoting and nurturing RD, with particular emphasis on local organizations and popular participation in them. The third focus is on applying some of these lessons to the forestry sector, using as examples the issues of employment creation, regional growth, women's participation and distributional equity of development benefits.
Progress on Addressing Contingent Work Issues in Academia

Higher education workers in Washington State are challenging the use of contingent academic labor. This article examines data and policies relevant to the state's reliance upon part-time faculty in community colleges. Data from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is juxtaposed with results from a survey completed by 20% of the part-time faculty in 14 community colleges to show that most do not work part-time by choice. The quantitative analysis underlies a subsequent examination of legislative and court solutions pursued in Washington State. Despite significant spending constraints, the state shows signs of being in the national vanguard as it addresses contingent academic labor issues.
Analysis and optimization of channelization architecture for wideband slow light in atomic vapors

We carry out an analysis of an earlier proposed "channelization" architecture for wideband slow light propagation and pulse delays in atomic vapors using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). In the channelization architecture, a wideband input signal pulse is spatially dispersed in the transverse dimension, sent through an EIT medium consisting of an initially spin-polarized atomic vapor illuminated by a monochromatic, co-propagating pump laser, then spatially recombined. An inhomogenous magnetic field is used to Zeeman shift the atomic vapor into two-photon (Raman) resonance with the signal-pump transitions at all locations. Extending on previous analyses, we show in detail how the reconstructed pulse will be delayed only if a slight mis-match from the two-photon resonance is introduced. If the desired delay is taken as a constrained parameter, we find the bandwidth can be increased by large factor. We present an analytic treatment which optimizes the bandwidth given a desired delay and constraints on the pump power and focusing. We find bandwidth increases on the order of 5 times (100 MHz versus 20 MHz) should be possible for delays of interest (10 ns) to applications in telecommunications and radar. Interestingly, due to the mis-match requirement, we find the channelization can not increase the optimal delay-bandwidth product over conventional slow light.
The Effect of HCM and RCM Causing Mutations of Troponin T on Force Generation and Cross-Bridge Kinetics in Thin-Filament Reconstituted Bovine Cardiac Muscle Fibers

Two troponin T mutations (I79N and ΔE96), which cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy respectively, were examined using the thin-filament extraction and reconstitution technique. Effects of Ca2+, ATP, phosphate and ADP concentrations on force and its transients were studied at 25°C and compared to WT. I79N and ΔE96 showed no significant change in maximum tension generated compared to WT, but both of them showed significantly increased Ca2+ sensitivity (pCa50: 5.65±0.04 and 5.62±0.04, respectively) than WT (5.44±0.04). The cooperativity increased in I79N (2.53±0.18) but remained the same in ΔE96 (1.75±0.19) compared to WT (1.71±0.18). Both I79N and ΔE96 showed lowered low-Ca (pCa 8.0) stiffness (YLC, 14.52±2.67 and 23.93±2.73) than WT (30.21±4.36). High-Ca (pCa 4.66) stiffness remained similar among all three Tns. However, The Ca2+ activatable stiffness of I79N and ΔE96 (Yact=YHC-YLC, 55.43±4.92 and 48.49±6.91) was significantly higher than WT (Yact=33.54±4.22) (±sem, N=9-20 for all studies). The All tensions were normalized to Ta, the tension of actin-filament reconstituted myocardium at the standard activating condition. Five equilibrium constants were deduced using sinusoidal analysis. I79N and ΔE96 showed significantly decreased K0 (ADP dissociation constant, 30.20±2.43 mM−1 and 34.61±3.89 mM−1, respectively) than WT (46.8±1.24 mM−1). I79N showed significantly lower K2 (cross-bridge detachment step: 0.80±0.11) than ΔE96 (1.74±0.24) and WT (1.41±0.19). I79N and ΔE96 also showed significantly higher K4 (force generation step: 0.70±0.06 and 0.28±0.01, respectively) than WT (0.21±0.03). The cross-bridge distribution of the mutants and WT was calculated from the equilibrium constants. I79N showed ∼33% more force generating cross-bridges than WT, but ΔE96 remained similar to WT. These results indicate that, under pCa4.66, force/cross-bridge is ∼25% less in I79N than WT, but remains similar in ΔE96.
On the relationship of OSW-1 to the cephalostatins.

Abstract Antineoplastic bis-steroidal (cephalostatin-type) analogues of the saponin OSW-1 were produced from a dihydroaglycone of OSW-1. The key aglycone 6H was obtained from 5α-androstan-3β-ol-17-one in 8 steps (38% yield). The SAR of the aglycones, intermediates, and hybrid analogues provide insights regarding the proposed common role of C22-oxocarbenium ions in the bioactivity of both OSW-1 and cephalostatins
Knowledge acquisition using VRML and the unified modelling language: the case of the RGB computer room

This paper describes the development of knowledge acquisition strategies for computing systems that aid designers in the construction of intelligent, heterogeneous, dynamic computational models of the built environment. The project uses a structure–behaviour–function model of the environment. The modelling strategy uses Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) as a prototyping tool for constructing the built environment models. Unified Modelling Language (UML), a visual object oriented modelling language, is used in a reverse engineering mode as part of the knowledge acquisition strategy.
Cylindrical Brillouin Flow In Relativistic Smooth-Bore Magnetrons

A macroscopic cold-fluid model is used to determine the influence of cylindrical effects on the operating range and properties of the electron flow in relativistic smooth-bore magnetrons. Assuming operation at Brillouin flow, it is found that cylindrical effects (such as the centrifugal force on an electron fluid element) can significantly modify several features of the equilibrium flow and diode operating range relative to the case of planar flow.
Heavy-section steel irradiation program summary

Abstract In light-water-cooled nuclear power plants, a steel reactor pressure vessel (RPV) forms the primary containment boundary for the nuclear fuel assembly. Since a failure of the RPV carries the potential of major contamination release and severe accident, it is imperative to safe reactor operation to understand and be able to accurately predict realistic failure models of the vessel material. A major known risk arises from irradiation-induced degradation of the RPV fracture resistance which occurs as a result of normally occurring neutron flux during the service life of the reactor. Better understanding of the irradiation degradation of the vessel material will provide better input to improve the engineering models vital for prediction of RPV integrity and safe service life. For this reason, the Heavy-Section Steel Irradiation (HSSI) Program has been established with its primary goal to provide a thorough, quantitative assessment of the effects of neutron irradiation on the material behavior, and in particular the fracture toughness properties, of typical pressure vessel steels as they relate to light-water RPVs. The program includes the direct continuation of irradiation studies previously conducted within the Heavy-Section Steel Technology Program augmented by enhanced examinations of the accompanying microstructural changes. Effects of specimen size, material chemistry, product form and microstructure, irradiation fluence, flux, temperature and spectrum, and postirradiation annealing are being examined on a wide range of fracture properties including fracture toughness ( K 1c and J 1c ), crack-arrest toughness ( K 1a ), ductile tearing resistance (d J /da), Charpy V-notch impact energy, dropweight nil-ductility temperature (NDT), and tensile properties. Models based on observations of radiation-induced microstructural changes using field ion and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy provide a firmer basis for extrapolating the measured changes in fracture properties to wider ranges of irradiation conditions. The principal materials examined within the HSSI Program are highcopper welds since their postirradiation properties are most frequently limiting in the continued safe operation of commercial RPVs. In addition, a limited effort Will focus on stainless steel weld overlay cladding, typical of that used on the inner surface of RPVs, since its postirradiation fracture properties have the potential for strongly affecting the extension of small surface flaws during overcooling transients. Results from the HSSI studies will be integrated to aid in resolving major regulatory issues facing the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission which involve RPV irradiation embrittlement such as pressurized-thermal shock, operating pressure-temperature limits, low-temperature overpressurization, and the specialized problems associated with low upper-shelf welds. Taken together the results of these studies also provide guidance and bases for evaluating both the aging behavior and the potential for plant life extension of light-water RPVs.
Process Control by Means of Accelerated Testing

High temperature operating life test gives quick feedback on the processes used in fabrication of semiconductor wafers. The relatively high failure rate of the (so-called) freaks is quickly demonstrated in such a test and can indicate a marginal or out of control process. This method of process control concentrates on the initial fallout as a means of determining the reliability of final products. Greater than 150°C stress temperatures should not be applied to plastic encapsulated devices. Since most epoxies have glass transition temperatures in the range of 150°C to 180°C permanent damage to the package could result.
Intracellular recordings from photoreceptors of the squid (Loligo pealii)

Intracellular recordings were made from squid photoreceptors using micropipettes filled with 4 M potassium acetate. Resting potentials were about −55 mV, and light stimuli induced membrane voltage to become more positive (depolarized). For an intense stimulus there was a transient peak depolarization that declined to a plateau; membrane potential exceeded 0 V during the peak depolarization. The magnitude of the light response was decreased either by passing steady depolarizing current through the recording pipette or by bathing the retina in low Na+ sea water. The waveform of the response to an intense stimulus was altered by bathing the retina in low Ca++ sea water or intracellular injection of EGTA; for both of these treatments, the decline from the transient peak depolarization to the plateau was lessened and the responses became more “square”. Squid photoreceptors were found to be very sensitive to hypoxia. These results, taken together, are consistent with the interpretations that (1) the majority of the light-induced current is carried by Na+, and (2) a rise in (Ca++)in is a step in the mechanism underlying the decline from the peak transient depolarization to the plateau.
Structural and compositional characterization of rubidium-containing crystals of the Tl–Ba–Ca–Cu–O superconductors

Abstract Large single crystals of the Tl–Ba–Ca–Cu–O superconductors have been grown from fluxes including up to 30 mol% Rb of the amount of Tl employed. Various phases have been grown with lattice parameters and superconducting properties similar to crystals grown previously without Rb, though the present crystal plates are usually larger and thicker. There is an increased likelihood of syntactic polycrystal growth as Rb content increases. Successive ion milling combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, EDAX, has shown that the Rb is uniformly distributed throughout the plates that are single phase crystals. Precession photographs show sharp diffraction patterns of quality comparable to our Rb-free plates. Magnetically determined Meissner Tc values and transition widths are not significantly altered by Rb substitution. Single crystal X-ray structure refinements have been carried out on several single crystals of each of the four principal phases. In addition various crystal plates have been characterized and studied by transmission electron imaging.
Correlation of plasma adrenomedullin to myocardial preservation during open-heart surgery.

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a vasoactive peptide with potent dilatory effects. We studied whether perioperative myocardial injury could be altered by the presence of ADM. Blood samples from 19 children with congenital heart disease undergoing surgical repair were collected at six time points: preoperative, on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and 0, 3, 6, and 12 hours after CPB. Blood levels of ADM (pg/ml) and troponin-I (Tn-I; ng/ml), a specific marker of myocardial injury, were measured. Patients were divided into three groups based on their 12-hour Tn-I levels (I, 25, n= 7). Preoperative Tn-I levels were within the normal range for all patients. Preoperative ADM levels in group I (with little or no evidence of myocardial injury) were significantly greater than those of either group II or III (242.7 ± 15.4 vs 83.8 ± 18 and 85.2 ± 5.5, respectively; p≤ 0.0001 for each). The 12-hour ADM levels in group I remained significantly lower than preoperative levels (242.7 ± 15.4 vs 197.4 ± 11.6, p≤ 0.03) but higher than in the other groups. In group III, ADM increased at the 12-hour time point (159.2 ± 6.5, p≤ 0.0001 vs baseline). Higher preoperative ADM levels are associated with lower levels of myocardial injury (as assessed by troponin-I release) during congenital heart surgery.
Designing solar arrays to account for reduced performance from self-shading

The goal of any solar array is to maximize energy production by increasing irradiance absorption and mitigating losses. In large-scale arrays, parallel rows of solar panels can shade adjacent rows, reducing production owing to effects known as self-shading and diffuse masking. For this work, the influence of row spacing and panel tilt angle on trade-offs between shading impact and irradiance capture is evaluated. A model that takes into account sub-module level mismatch is developed and can be applied to a wide range of geographic regions. Additionally, a method for simulating large arrays, which utilizes a lookup table of IV curves, is proposed. The table circumvents the tedious process of generating curves in real-time and allows fast power output calculations. With this method, simulation time is drastically reduced while introducing estimation error of 0.25%, as compared to full numerical approaches.
Must we mean what we say

That what we ordinarily say and mean may have a direct and deep control over what we can philosophically say and mean is an idea which many philosophers find oppressive. It might be argued that in part the oppression results from misunderstanding; that the new philosophy which proceeds from ordinary language is not that different from traditional methods of philosophising, and that the frequent attacks upon it are misdirected. But I shall not attempt to be conciliatory, both because I think the new philosophy at Oxford is critically different from traditional philosophy, and because I think it is worth trying to bring out their differences as fully as possible. There is, after all, something oppressive about a philosophy which seems to have uncanny information about our most personal philosophical assumptions (those, for example, about whether we can ever know for certain of the existence of the external world, or of other minds; and those we make about favourite distinctions between the descriptive and the normative’, or between matters of fact and matters of language) and which inveterately nags us about them. Particularly oppressive when that philosophy seems so often merely to nag and to try no special answers to the questions which possess us — unless it be to suggest that we sit quietly in a room. Eventually, I suppose, we will have to look at that sense of oppression itself: such feelings can come from a truth about ourselves which we are holding off.
Spectrum and continuum eigenfunctions of Schrödinger operators

We consider Schrodinger operators H = −1/2 Δ + V for a large class of potentials. V. We show that if Hϕ = Eϕ has a polynomially bounded solution ϕ then E is in the spectrum of H. This is accomplished by proving that the spectrum of H as an operator on L^2 is identical to its spectrum as an operator on the weighted L^2 space, L^2_δ.
Class-specific antibody responses to early and late antigens of varicella and herpes simplex viruses

Antibody responses to early antigens of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), simian varicella virus, and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) were studied in primary, secondary, and latent infections. IgG antibody responses to the early antigens occurred in primary and secondary VZV and HSV infections, and antibodies to early antigens were also demonstrable in healthy individuals with latent VZV and HSV infections, indicating that the presence of antibodies to early antigens cannot be taken as evidence of active infection with the viruses. Patients with current VZV or HSV infections showed heterotypic IgG antibody responses to early antigens of VZV and HSV to the same extent as to late antigens. In all groups of patients, IgG antibody titers to early antigens were similar to those against the corresponding late antigens, and no difference was seen in the reactivity of early antigens produced with four different blocking agents (cytosine arabinoside, bromodeoxyuridine, trisodium phosphonoformate, and cycloheximide). Antibodies of the IgM and IgA classes reacted with both early and late antigens of HSV, but only with late antigens of VZV and simian varicella virus, suggesting that these antibodies may be directed against late proteins that are expressed to a greater extent in HSV-infected cells treated with blocking agents than they are expressed in treated VZV-infected cells. Homologous IgM antibody responses occurred in both primary and secondary VZV infections, but only in primary HSV infections. Heterotypic IgM responses to HSV-2 antigen were noted in a few VZV patients who did not have demonstrable IgG antibody to HSV, suggesting that even in patients without prior experience with HSV, a VZV infection may stimulate the production of IgM antibodies that react with antigens that are shared by VZV and HSV-2. IgA antibodies to late antigens of VZV and HSV were demonstrable in latent, as well as active, infections with these viruses.
Juvenile and adult mortality patterns in a vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) population

Abstract Neotropical ungulates are poorly understood with regard to age-specific mortality and how it relates to different mortality causes. During January 2008–April 2011, we investigated mortality patterns of calf (<1 year old) and adult vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) in west-central Argentina. Specifically, we analyzed whether birth mass, birth date, and sex of radiomarked vicuna calves affected 1st-year survival; quantified cause of death for marked calves and unmarked adults; and explored how primary productivity and quality of forage and diet related to body condition of adult vicuna carcasses. Birth mass was a strong predictor of 1st-year survival: a 1-kg (∼18%) increase in birth mass resulted in a 54% decline in the risk of death. Further, low survival rate in 1 calendar year was associated with low mean birth mass during that year, but not with population density and forage quality in the previous year. Puma (Puma concolor) predation accounted for ≥49% (n = 93) and 91% (n = 89) of the mortality in cal...
Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Study of Organic-Phase Aggregation in the TALSPEAK Process

The Trivalent Actinide–Lanthanide Separation by Phosphorus reagent Extraction from Aqueous Komplexes (TALSPEAK) process is a solvent extraction based method for separating trivalent lanthanides (Ln...
Demonstration of all-optical format conversion from wavelength-hopping time-spreading to non-return-to-zero

We present a novel design for all-optical conversion from wavelength-hopping time-spreading to non-return-to-zero format using wavelength converters based on semiconductor optical amplifiers. The multi-pulse nature of the wavelength-hopping time-spreading signal is utilized to achieve efficient, high-performance format conversion without pulse replication. The operation is demonstrated with a power penalty of 1 dB. A novel, complete design for interfacing wavelength-hopping time-spreading networks to WDM networks is also presented.
Engineering supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) of C-alkylpyrogallol[4]arene with bipyridine-based spacers

Supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) based on pyrogallol[4]arene and 4,4′-bipyridine-type spacer molecules have been investigated. The hydrogen bonding pattern and molecular arrangement in the crystal structures are engineered through the cocrystallization approach. The length of the spacer molecules and the C-alkyl tail length of the PgC macrocycle are tuned to influence the hydrogen bonding pattern and thus the overall architecture of the resultant SOFs. Combined solid-state thermal analysis and solution-phase 1H NMR results indicate the amount of solvent loss and the stability of the SOFs in solution.
Labeling of unique sequences in double-stranded DNA at sites of vicinal nicks generated by nicking endonucleases

We describe a new approach for labeling of unique sequences within dsDNA under nondenaturing conditions. The method is based on the site-specific formation of vicinal nicks, which are created by nicking endonucleases (NEases) at specified DNA sites on the same strand within dsDNA. The oligomeric segment flanked by both nicks is then substituted, in a strand displacement reaction, by an oligonucleotide probe that becomes covalently attached to the target site upon subsequent ligation. Monitoring probe hybridization and ligation reactions by electrophoretic mobility retardation assay, we show that selected target sites can be quantitatively labeled with excellent sequence specificity. In these experiments, predominantly probes carrying a target-independent 3' terminal sequence were employed. At target labeling, thus a branched DNA structure known as 3'-flap DNA is obtained. The single-stranded terminus in 3'-flap DNA is then utilized to prime the replication of an externally supplied ssDNA circle in a rolling circle amplification (RCA) reaction. In model experiments with samples comprised of genomic lambda-DNA and human herpes virus 6 type B (HHV-6B) DNA, we have used our labeling method in combination with surface RCA as reporter system to achieve both high sequence specificity of dsDNA targeting and high sensitivity of detection. The method can find applications in sensitive and specific detection of viral duplex DNA.
Celiac disease associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Celiac disease is a chronic systemic autoimmune disorder associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus and induced by gliadin (gluten) proteins found in several grains. Genetically susceptible individuals can develop various forms of the disorder, ranging from asymptomatic to full-blown disease. The health consequences of this disorder can influence growth and development in the young, as well have other long-term problems for individuals as they age. This article discusses diagnosis and treatment strategies for this disorder.
New lives for old: modernity, biomedicine, traditional culture and HIV prevention in Lesotho

Traditional male circumcision practices have been strongly discouraged by HIV prevention campaigns in Lesotho. Traditional circumcision rituals are perceived as a possible transmission route for HIV because of the reuse of unsterilized cutting instruments. While individuals living in urban areas and the lowlands have increasingly considered traditional circumcision a practice of the past, foregoing the procedure all together, those dwelling in rural areas continue to consider the practice vital in the construction of male national identity. Initially, the national government voiced strong concern over the publicizing of medical male circumcision (MMC) – conducted by surgeons in sterile clinics. There have been claims that male circumcision (either traditional or MMC) does not have the same level of protective benefit against HIV in Lesotho that research suggests it has in other countries in the region. This article critically examines the development of government responses to international expectations o...
Signal to noise ratio considerations in the analysis of sweep visual-evoked potentials.

More investigators are recommending rapid sweep displays to estimate visual-evoked potential (VEP) sensory thresholds. Theoretically, phase-sensitive analysis offers a higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) than phase-insensitive techniques and, therefore, a more reliable and equally valid threshold estimate. Phase-sensitive analysis assumes that the VEP phase does not change over the period of one sweep. This study tests the assertion that the VEP phase is sufficiently stable for valid and reliable phase-sensitive detection. Mathematical analysis shows that phase-sensitive detection yields a lower SNR than phase-insensitive analysis if the phase error is 180° over one sweep. Moreover, these large phase shifts could not be diminished by modifying contrast reversal rate, direction of spatial frequency sweep, or sweep time. We conclude that when using spatial frequency sweeps, phase-insensitive detection is superior to phase-sensitive. The filter’s bandwidth and the effect of SNR on sensory threshold estimations also are discussed.