cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
POOL BOILING CHF FOR PENTANE, HEXANE, METHANOL, FC-72, FC-87, AND R113 ON A SMOOTH HORIZONTAL SURFACE

Pool boiling critical heat flux (CHF) has been measured for pentane, hexane, methanol, FC-72, FC-87, and R113 on a 25.4 mm diameter smooth brass horizontal surface at five different reduced pressures ranging from 0.01to 0.24. The CHF data are compared with various established CHF models as well as the new mechanistic CHF lift-off model recently proposed by the authors. The dependence of CHF on pressure is examined, and it is found that the lift-off model gives a reasonably good prediction of changes in CHF with step changes in the reduced pressure. The R113 and FC-72 boiling curves suggest that a partially wetting transition boiling regime is encountered just prior to CHF.
A new solid-state, long-life, lithium-powered pulse generator.

Abstract A pulse generator powered by lithium iodide and using hybrid circuitry eliminates many of the causes of premature failure of pulse generators. The lithium iodide power source is completely dry, produces no gas, has no significant self-discharge, shows no catastrophic failure, is most efficient at body temperature, and loses power in a gradual fashion, thus giving months of foreknowledge of impending failure. The hybrid circuitry eliminates most soldered connections, which increases efficiency, reduces sources of failure, and allows a smaller pulse generator to be produced. The entire system can be hermetically sealed because no outlet for gas is required. The calculated in vitro life of this system is greater than 10 years, while a conservative estimate of in vivo life is 5 years.
Inhibition of cholinesterase activity by tetrahydroaminoacridine and the hemisuccinate esters of tocopherol and cholesterol

The anticholinesterase properties of tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA, Tacrine), alpha-tocopheryl hemisuccinate (TS), and cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CS), given alone and in combination, were examined in vitro. Results from these studies indicate that: [1] THA is a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, IC50 of 0.40 microM) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, IC50 of 0.10 microM) with greatest inhibitory activity towards BChE; [2] TS and CS are weak inhibitors of BChE (IC50 of 100 microM and 168 microM, respectively) but potent inhibitors of ACHE (IC50 of 1.73 microM and 0.79 microM, respectively); [3] both TS and CS treatment in combination with THA significantly increased THA's anticholinesterase activity. The percentage AChE inhibition observed with this combination was often significantly greater than the sum of the individual values (synergistic). The addition of 0.5 microM CS or TS to an ACHE preparation reduced THA's IC50 value from 0.40 microM or 0.18 microM, respectively [4]; inhibition of AChE by THA, TS and CS are mixed non-competitive while THA inhibition of BChE is mixed non-competitive and TS and CS inhibition of BChE are simple non-competitive; and [5] inhibition of cholinesterases by TS and CS occurs immediately (50 to 75%), during the first 30 min of incubation (25 to 50%) and is dependent on the anionic charged portion of the molecule. In conclusion, our experimental data indicate that TS and CS are potent inhibitors of AChE activity and significantly potentiate the anticholinesterase activity of THA. Such potent and synergistic inhibition of AChE suggest that TS or CS, alone and in combination with THA, may prove beneficial in the treatment of organophosphate poisoning and Alzheimer's disease.
Theoretical calculation of the modulated acoustic radiation force on spheres and cylinders in a standing plane wave-field

The acoustic radiation force on objects is the result of nonlinear properties of wave propagation in continuous media. The acoustic radiation force is known to be static for a continuous wave and is used for many applications. This force can also be dynamic (oscillatory) if the incident sound wave-field is modulated (slow time-variations). The purpose of the present paper is to develop the theory for the dynamic radiation force on spheres and cylinders immersed in ideal fluids and placed in a plane standing wave-field. It is assumed that the amplitude-modulated field is produced by dual-frequency plane wave beams propagating along the same direction. Analytical solutions and equations for the dynamic components of the force are derived. Explicit numerical calculations are presented for elastic spheres and cylinders, and rigid and fluid spheres, as well as air bubbles in water. The equations provide analytical radiation force dependencies on the acoustic field and medium parameters. Results show a new dynamic effect in the radiation force functions’ curves that results in the splitting of the resonance peaks as long as the modulation frequency increases. It is shown that the radiation force has slow time variations and cannot be treated as a steady-state phenomenon.
Evolution of CpG islands within the myc gene family.

Abstract CpG islands are discrete regions of DNA with significantly greater frequencies of CpG doublets than bulk genomic DNA. They are most frequently associated with the 5′-ends of housekeeping genes and are involved in the regulation of their expression. In this study, the structure and evolution of CpG islands within genes of the myc family were evaluated with the protein-coding sequences of animals and their transducing viruses. These evaluations relied on a gene tree for the entire myc family to test the origins of CpG islands within their two protein-coding exons. Overall, CG-very rich and CG-rich islands are associated with exon 2 of the different myc genes of warm-blooded vertebrates and with exon 3 of the N- myc and s- myc sequences of mammals, but not birds. These overall distributions of well-developed islands can be related to the major transitions of the CG-rich genomes of warm-blooded vertebrates from the CG-poor ones of other animals. In turn, the greater variability of well-developed islands within exon 3 of the N- myc gene and among the different retrogenes of the myc family can be attributed to their reduced functional constraints, as evidenced by their limited and very restricted patterns of expression, respectively.
Community Storytelling Network, Neighborhood Context, and Civic Engagement: A Multilevel Approach

From a communication infrastructure theory perspective, the current study examined individuals' civic engagement (neighborhood belonging, collective efficacy, and civic participation) as influenced by 2 multilevel components of the communication infrastructure-an integrated connectedness to a storytelling network (ICSN) and the residential context-focusing on ethnic heterogeneity and residential stability. Our multilevel analyses show that ICSN is the most important individual-level factor in civic engagement-neighborhood belonging, collective efficacy, and civic participation-after controlling for other individual-level and neighborhood-level factors. In both ethnically homogeneous and heterogeneous areas and in both stable and unstable areas, ICSN is an important factor in civic engagement. As contextual factors, residential stability positively affects neighborhood belonging and collective efficacy, and ethnic heterogeneity is negatively related to collective efficacy. Our data do not show any direct contextual effects of residential stability or ethnic heterogeneity on civic participation. However, our HLM analysis showed that the relative importance of ICSN for the likelihood of participation in civic activities is significantly higher in unstable or ethnically heterogeneous areas than in stable or ethnically homogeneous areas.
Impurity contribution to the specific heat in the Kondo model

Using the Lanczos scheme (tridiagonalization) we investigate the impurity contribution to the single-impurity Kondo model. This is accomplished by obtaining the ground-state energy of aN-particle system and a (N+1)-particle system, and obtaining the functional dependence ofg(J) (whereJ is the strength of the interaction). Hereg(J) is the coefficient of a correction term which is of order 1/N. The density of states at the Fermi level is effectively changed by the factorg(J). The excess heat capacity associated with the impurity is then proportional tog(J).
Effect of DNA damage on stable transformation of mammalian cells with integrative and episomal plasmids

The efficiency of stable transformation of human cells by integrative (non-replicating) plasmids carrying a selectable gene has been shown to be markedly enhanced by the introduction into the plasmid DNA of bulky damage, such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers or psoralen photoadducts. Enhanced transformation (ET) occurs in all human cells tested, including DNA repair-deficient cells from the hereditary syndrome xeroderma pigmentosum, but significantly less, if at all, in rodent cells. ET has been observed with a variety of integrative plasmid constructs, suggesting the generality of the phenomenon; as expected, ET is due to an increase in the number of cells carrying integrated plasmid sequences. In contrast to integrative plasmids, stable transformation by episomal (autonomously replicating) plasmids derived from the Epstein-Barr virus is only depressed by the introduction of photoproducts; furthermore, pronounced inactivation of transformation mediated by episomal plasmids becomes apparent in xeroderma pigmentosum cells. Altogether, these results suggest that DNA damage increases the probability of stable insertion of heterologous non-replicating DNA into human chromosomes. Moreover, the differential sensitivity to DNA damage of human cell transformation mediated by integrative versus episomal plasmids suggests caution in using such assay to measure host cell reactivation capacity; processing of DNA damage in mammalian cells might differ significantly between intra- versus extra-chromosomal DNA. Since ET may be induced by damage outside the selectable gene carried on integrative plasmids, we propose a model that involves local disruption of chromatin structure by helix-distorting DNA lesions flanking actively transcribed sequences; alternatively, reorganization of such altered DNA structure might be favored by the presence of topoisomerase-like activities in the proximity of active genes. Because ET can also be induced by DNA damage to the recipient cells, it is speculated that similar mechanism(s) might be involved in the generation of other types of non-homologous DNA recombination in damaged human chromosomes, including oncogenic cell transformation mediated by integrative DNA viruses.
Schwarz' P and D surfaces are stable

Abstract The triply-periodic minimal P surface of Schwarz is investigated. It is shown that this surface is stable under periodic volume-preserving variations. As a consequence, the conjugate D surface is also stable. Other notions of stability are discussed.
Drug use among adolescent mothers: Prepregnancy to 18 months postpartum

Purpose: Little is known about the substance use patterns of adolescent mothers, particularly in the postpartum period. This study provides descriptive, longitudinal data on the substance use behavior of a cohort of adolescent mothers. Methods: A total of 241 pregnant adolescents, under 18 years old and planning to carry the pregnancy to term, completed the initial interview. Respondents were interviewed again at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months postpartum. The data reported here are based on the 229 respondents who completed all five interviews. Results: Use of all substances decreased substantially during pregnancy, but increased steadily in the first 6 months postpartum. A similar pattern was observed for regular use of multiple substances. Regular use before and after the pregnancy, but not during it, was the most common pattern of substance use. Conclusions: The prevalence of substance use among adolescent mothers is significant. To capitalize on the large decreases in use during pregnancy, drug prevention programs for adolescent mothers should target the first 6 months postpartum.
Decompositional composition: The semantics of scope ambiguities and ‘bracketing paradoxes’

The assumption that attribute phrases like nuclear physicist constitute a bracketing paradox which may be resolved by special rules such as head rules, rebracketing rules, and productive backformation has gone unchallenged for more than a decade. This paper argues that such structural solutions do not work, since the same scope problems are reflected in phrases based on underived words with no morphological bracketing at all. In their place, a solution based on decompositional or featural composition is proposed, in which attributes compose semantically not with the full set of features of their head, but rather with only one particular feature. This solution reduces the wide and narrow scope readings of attribute phrases to a question of which feature is selected, in effect making all attribute composition the same and obviating the distinction between wide and narrow scope readings of attribute phrases.
The Isomeric Composition of D-Xylo-hexos-5-ulose (5-Keto-glucose) in Aqueous Solution

Abstract 1,2-O-Isopropylidene-α-D-xylo-hexofuranos-5-ulose (2) was deprotected in aqueous acid solution to give a mixture of at least six isomeric forms and one anhydro form of the parent ketoaldohexose, D-xylo-hexos-5-ulose (3), commonly referred to as 5-keto-glucose. Structural assignment of each form was made based on high field 1H and 13C NMR studies of the mixture in aqueous (D2O) solution. The dominant isomeric form of 3 was observed to have the pyranose structure 1R,5R-D-xlyo-hexo-pyranos-5-ulose (3a, 67 %) with the next most abundant form being an anhydro structure, 1S,5S-l,6-anhydro-D-xylo-hexopyranos-5-ulose (3c, 18 %). Included among the other isomers were the a and β-1,4-furanose (3d, 3e) and 1-aldehydrol β-5,2-furanose (3f) structures. The isomer present in least amount (3g, > 1 %) is assigned as the α-anomer of 3f. Experimentally determined JC-1,H-1 values were useful in support of assigned isomer structures.
Potassium bubbles in tungsten wire

Tungsten filaments for incandescent lamps almost always contain potassium bubbles. These are required to produce the interlocking grain structure that gives the tungsten lamp filament a long life. In this article, we consider the formation of the bubbles from the ellipsoids of potassium produced by deformation, the growth of these bubbles as a result of internal pressure created by the potassium vapor within the bubbles, and the reasons why these bubbles can sometimes grow to very large sizes. In each case, we present a simple model to describe the process. We finally use nucleation theory to describe the overall process of bubble growth.
A robust controller for scalar autonomous optimal control problems

Is it possible to exert control on a physical system without detailed knowledge of its open-loop dynamics? Lam (1997, 1999) showed that a special dynamic control law can accomplish this feat for a certain class of nonlinear systems, provided accurate and good quality data of all output variables, including their time derivatives, are assumed available to the controller. This paper generalizes this theoretical idea to a class of scalar autonomous optimal control problems.
Long-lasting changes in stress-induced corticosterone response and anxiety-like behaviors as a consequence of neonatal maternal separation in Long–Evans rats

Early neonatal environmental factors appear to have powerful and long-lasting influences on an organism's physiology and behavior. Long-Evans male rats separated from their dam for 3 h daily over the first 2 weeks of life (maternally separated, MS rats) when tested as adults exhibit exaggerated behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to stress compared to 15-min separated (handled, H) animals. The purpose of this study was to compare male and female adult rats that were MS, H or were undisturbed (nonhandled, NH) as neonates in anxiety-like behaviors, in the elevated plus-maze, and in response to startle-inducing auditory stimuli. We confirmed that MS males oversecrete corticosterone (CORT; 2.5-5 times) in response to mild handling stress. MS males and females were less likely to explore open arms of the plus-maze. MS males exhibited 35% higher startle amplitudes compared to controls. Furthermore, MS males were more likely to emit ultrasonic vocalizations in response to startle than were H controls. However, MS and control females did not differ in auditory startle response or in startle-induced ultrasonic vocalizations. Therefore, experiencing maternal separation results in a long-lasting increase in anxiety-like behaviors that occurs in a sex-dependent manner.
Phylogenetic perspectives on the origins of nodulation.

Recent refinements to the phylogeny of rosid angiosperms support the conclusion that nodulation has evolved several times in the so-called N2-fixing clade (NFC), and provide dates for these origins. The hypothesized predisposition that enabled the evolution of nodulation occurred approximately 100 million years ago (MYA), was retained in the various lineages that radiated rapidly shortly thereafter, and was functional in its non-nodulation role for at least an additional 30 million years in each nodulating lineage. Legumes radiated rapidly shortly after their origin approximately 60 MYA, and nodulation most likely evolved several times during this radiation. The major lineages of papilionoid legumes diverged close to the time of origin of nodulation, accounting for the diversity of nodule biology in the group. Nodulation symbioses exemplify the concept of “deep homology,” sharing various homologous components across nonhomologous origins of nodulation, largely due to recruitment from existing functions, n...
Making Sense of Nonsense Word Fluency: Determining Adequate Progress in Early First-Grade Reading.

In this article, we examine the contribution of initial skill and slope of progress on alphabetic principle to end of first-grade reading outcomes. Initial skill and slope were measured using DIBELS Nonsense Word Fluency. Reading outcomes were measured at the end of first grade with DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency. Students in Oregon Reading First schools (n = 2,172) and students participating in the DIBELS Data System (n = 358,032), with complete data during the 2004–2005 academic year, were participants. Slope of progress through the first semester of first grade on NWF was a strong predictor of first-grade reading outcomes, especially for students at risk of reading difficulty.
Two-person interaction detection using body-pose features and multiple instance learning

Human activity recognition has potential to impact a wide range of applications from surveillance to human computer interfaces to content based video retrieval. Recently, the rapid development of inexpensive depth sensors (e.g. Microsoft Kinect) provides adequate accuracy for real-time full-body human tracking for activity recognition applications. In this paper, we create a complex human activity dataset depicting two person interactions, including synchronized video, depth and motion capture data. Moreover, we use our dataset to evaluate various features typically used for indexing and retrieval of motion capture data, in the context of real-time detection of interaction activities via Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Experimentally, we find that the geometric relational features based on distance between all pairs of joints outperforms other feature choices. For whole sequence classification, we also explore techniques related to Multiple Instance Learning (MIL) in which the sequence is represented by a bag of body-pose features. We find that the MIL based classifier outperforms SVMs when the sequences extend temporally around the interaction of interest.
A Ribonuclease III Domain Protein Functions in Group II Intron Splicing in Maize Chloroplasts

Chloroplast genomes in land plants harbor ∼20 group II introns. Genetic approaches have identified proteins involved in the splicing of many of these introns, but the proteins identified to date cannot account for the large size of intron ribonucleoprotein complexes and are not sufficient to reconstitute splicing in vitro. Here, we describe an additional protein that promotes chloroplast group II intron splicing in vivo. This protein, RNC1, was identified by mass spectrometry analysis of maize (Zea mays) proteins that coimmunoprecipitate with two previously identified chloroplast splicing factors, CAF1 and CAF2. RNC1 is a plant-specific protein that contains two ribonuclease III (RNase III) domains, the domain that harbors the active site of RNase III and Dicer enzymes. However, several amino acids that are essential for catalysis by RNase III and Dicer are missing from the RNase III domains in RNC1. RNC1 is found in complexes with a subset of chloroplast group II introns that includes but is not limited to CAF1- and CAF2-dependent introns. The splicing of many of the introns with which it associates is disrupted in maize rnc1 insertion mutants, indicating that RNC1 facilitates splicing in vivo. Recombinant RNC1 binds both single-stranded and double-stranded RNA with no discernible sequence specificity and lacks endonuclease activity. These results suggest that RNC1 is recruited to specific introns via protein–protein interactions and that its role in splicing involves RNA binding but not RNA cleavage activity.
Expanding subinterval random search for system identification and control

A random search technique defined sequentially over an expanding subinterval has the property of locating the global minimum of a sequence of instantaneous performance measures as well as their sum. Therefore, such a technique is mostly suitable as a search technique to identify a set of unknown system parameters by minimizing a mean-square error type criterion on or equivalently to locate sequentially the optimal control coefficients of a feedback stochastic process with unknown dynamics by minimizing a performance criterion defined over the whole process. Several identification schemes based on this search technique have been developed for unknown nondynamic, nonlinear dynamic, open-loop linear dynamic, and closed-loop linear dynamic stochastic systems, respectively, and are discussed in this paper. The results of the investigation are compared with the results obtained by the author using stochastic approximation schemes. The comparison results are overwhelmingly in favor of the random search algorithm in terms of speed of convergence, globality of the search, etc. The major contribution of the method is that it yields unbiased estimates for dynamic feedback systems which utilize the identification information for state estimation and control, without the use of perturbation inputs required by the stochastic approximation method. The results used for the comparison of the two methods in this paper, have been obtained through simulations of four case studies like the chemical process of the pyrolysis of benzene, the linearized model of the booster stage of a space-vehicle, etc. Therefore, in addition the paper presents a new parameter identification method for feasibility studies which is important for the practicing engineer.
Pediatric sleep studies: when and how often are they necessary?

Purpose of review With the increased awareness of the morbidity associated with snoring, polysomnography (PSG) is becoming more prevalent. Many national organizations have recently published clinical guidelines to facilitate decision-making for children with disrupted breathing patterns. This review will discuss these clinical guidelines and describe the rationale behind them. It will also touch on the limitations of PSG. Recent findings The common theme for the clinical guidelines is that PSG is being underutilized. Not only is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) associated with behavioral, cognitive, and cardiovascular morbidity, but primary snoring is also not always benign. The interpretation of the PSG is influenced by multiple variables: filter settings, sensors utilized, and how the respiratory events are tabulated. Summary To diagnose OSA, one requires overnight PSG. Multiple guidelines have been published to facilitate decision-making. Many questions remain unanswered and future research as well as PSG standardization will further clarify the role of PSG in the evaluation and treatment of disrupted breathing patterns in children.
Creating Silence on the Campus

Creating silence on the campus for respite, reflection and deep knowing can be intentionally designed for students, faculty, and staff. This article explores the ways in which these types of silence can add value to the student experience.
A study of the binding of Graves’ immunoglobulins to orbital antigens

The binding of Graves’ immunoglobulins to membranes of human eye muscle (HEM) and guinea pig Harderian gland (HG) were studied. The membrane fraction of 100,000 × g sediment was used for ELISA. Serum samples from 55 patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy were evaluated for binding to the membrane preparation. There was a higher binding to HG with the sera from the patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy than in the control group (p < 0.01), but there was no difference in binding to HEM. Purification of IgG from sera improved binding to HG in both patients’ (p< 0.001) and control group (p < 0.005). There was also an increase in percentage of positive responses obtained with IgG 48% vs serum samples 37%. In 23 out of 24 patients we found the thickening of extraocular muscles by A-scan ultrasonography. In these groups of patients and 3 others with malignant ophthalmopathy the binding of IgG preparation to HG was similar to control group. In all assays there was an overlap between patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy and control subjects, and a lack of relationship between the responses in ELISA and clinical or severity of ophthalmopathy.
Conformation and Performance in Standardbred and Crossbred Broilers

Abstract INTRODUCTION WITHIN the last few years, considerable emphasis has been placed on the importance of producing high quality broilers with a minimum amount of feed and in the shortest period of time. The birds which have been utilized to meet this requirement have often been referred to as broiler strain chickens. To meet the needs of the specialty producer, strains supposedly superior in meat production and egg production have been developed. Factors such as rapid growth, rapid feathering, high feed efficiency, early maturity, body conformation, and egg production are desirable for egg production and broiler production strains. Due to the interest shown in the performance of broiler production strains, and egg production strains, a study was undertaken to compare body conformation and other selected factors between egg production strains of New Hampshires, broiler strains of New Hampshires, Barred Rocks, and crosses involving Barred Rocks and broiler strains of New Hampshires. . . .
Ultrastructural and histochemical correlations of experimental muscle regeneration

Abstract A correlative ultrastructural and light microscopic histochemical investigation was performed in cold-injured gastrocnemius muscle in normal adult mice. Three zones were in evidence after the injury: undamaged muscle, a necrotic area, and an intermediate region. In the necrotic area, degenerating myofibres contain mainly fragments of myofibrils; they are stained by the myofibrillar ATP-ase and the menadione-mediated α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase reactions. Necrotic fibres are not stained by the reactions for 4 oxidative enzymes (succinate, lactate, malate, and DPNH dehydrogenase) or the phosphorylase reaction. In the intermediate region, many persistent myofibres possess collections of enlarged mitochondria; they are darkly-stained with the 4 oxidative enzyme reactions mentioned above. Early regenerating sarcoblasts are rich in ribosomes, have central nuclei with adjacent accumulations of mitochondria, and myofibrils developing at the periphery of the cell; their cytoplasm is strongly basophilic and the myofibrils are well-stained with the myofibrillar ATP-ase. Sarcoblasts present dark irregular dots between myofibrils and centrally, adjacent to nuclei, with the oxidative enzyme reactions used. Later, regenerated myofibres are recognized by central nuclei, large mitochondria and an undeveloped sarcotubular system; they display an intense but irregular staining with the oxidative enzyme reactions and are darkly-stained by the ATP-ase reaction. Large regenerated myofibres acquire a positive phosphorylase reaction.
The impact of viral genotype on pathogenesis and disease severity: respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinoviruses

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) and viral death in infants. RSV disease in infants is characterized by epithelial desquamation, neutrophilic bronchiolitis and pneumonia and obstructive pulmonary mucus. Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are by far the most common cause of symptomatic upper respiratory tract infection (URI) in people and are more recently appreciated as a significant cause of LRI. RSV and HRV are also implicated in asthma pathogenesis. Within both RSV and HRV, viral genetic differences play a role in disease severity and/or prevalence in patient populations, and viral genetic differences affect pathogenesis. Here, we review data on how viral genetic differences impact disease using RSV and HRV as examples, including effects on the host immune response. Virus genotype–phenotype relationships can be exploited in the laboratory to gain insight into mechanisms by which respiratory viruses modulate host immune responses and cause disease.
Periodic oscillations in a horizontal single boiling channel with thermal wall capacity

The dynamic behavior of a horizontal boiling channel with a surge tank is investigated through nonlinear analysis. The model involves a surge tank that is subject to inlet mass flow rate and a constitutive model containing a cubic nonlinearity is used to describe the outlet pressure-flow rate relation of the downstream boiling regime. The model also includes boiling heat transfer process and incorporates the effect of the wall thermal capacity which allows the temperature and heat transfer coefficient of the heater wall to vary with time. Within certain operating regimes, the model exhibits self-excited periodic oscillations, which can be identified with pressure-drop oscillations. In this study, these oscillations are described as relaxation oscillation and the qualitative features of the response can be understood in terms of the underlying model. Finally, the present model is compared with the experimental data available in literature to investigate that transient effects of temperature heater walls, pressure, and mass flow rate.
Cannabinoids, electrophysiology, and retrograde messengers: challenges for the next 5 years.

Most of the behavioral effects of cannabis and its active ingredients, the cannabinoids (Δ9THC being the most abundant of these), appear to be mediated by cannabinoid receptors. Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) are lipid mediators that activate these same cannabinoid receptors. Elegant work from several laboratories over the past 5 years has established that endocannabinoids, possibly acting as retrograde messengers, mediate several forms of neuronal plasticity. Endocannabinoid-mediated neuronal plasticity is common, apparently occurring at all neurons that express cannabinoid receptors. Thus, it is likely that, Δ9THC produces its effects by interacting with endocannabinoidmediated neuronal plasticity, though whether it does so cooperatively or antagonistically remains an open question. In this review we will briefly discuss the work establishing endocannabinoids as mediators of neuronal plasticity and then present evidence that a major effect of Δ9THC may be to antagonize the actions of endocannabinoids.
Benchmark cross sections for electron-impact excitation of n 1S levels of He

Absolute total emission cross sections have been measured for electron-impact excitation of He giving radiation from the $6^{1}S\ensuremath{-}2^{1}P$, $5^{1}S\ensuremath{-}2^{1}P$, $4^{1}S\ensuremath{-}2^{1}P$, and $3^{1}S\ensuremath{-}2^{1}P$ transitions. Electron energies were 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 eV. Particular care was taken to make the measurements accurate and to make knowledgeable assessments of uncertainties, so that the results serve as reliable benchmarks for calibration of other excitation apparatus as well as for comparison with theory. The most accurate results are for 500-eV electron energy, where the mean uncertainty is only 3.5% high confidence level. The measured emission cross sections are modified to account for branching and cascade to give level-excitation cross sections, and results are compared with other experimental data and theoretical predictions. At 2000 eV, the measurements average 2.5% below Born-approximation calculations.
Laboratory Evaluation of Indigenous North American Fungi for Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife

Abstract Fifteen fungi were tested for pathogenicity to 6-week-old purple loosestrife plants (Lythrum salicaria) grown from seed in growth chambers. Virulence, based on percentage of plant surface displaying symptoms, was rated from 0 = no symptoms to 5 = dead plant. A fungus was considered virulent and a potential biological control agent when it caused a disease rating of 2.50 and above. On this basis, 6 of the 15 fungi were virulent, withSeptoria lythrinabeing the most virulent followed byAlternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum truncatum, Phoma sorghina,andConiothyrium olivaceum.Inoculation of purple loosestrife seedlings was most effective when spores were applied in a carrier (referred to as DIGS) composed of 0.1% dextrose; 1.5% Intac (a blend of polymers and copolymers); 0.05% gelatin (Know, unflavored); and 0.15% Silwet L-77 (a silicone–polyether copolymer). The virulence ofB. cinereawas reduced when stored cultures (0–16 months at 5°C) were used, but was regained when the fungus was reisolated from leaf spots. There was a difference in virulence amongA. alternataandB. cinereaisolates from different locations. The mean disease ratings ofA. alternatawhen inoculated on 4-or 6-week-old plants were the same; however, disease ratings withB. cinereawere greater on 6-than on 4-week-old plants. Thus, based on these laboratory studies,A. alternata, B. cinerea,andP. sorghinaapplied in DIGS as a carrier may have potential for biological control of purple loosestrife.
Shape and motion from image streams: a factorization method

We propose a method for estimating the three-dimensional shape of objects and the motion of the camera from a stream of images. The goal is to give a robot the ability to localize itself with respect to the environment, draw a map of its own surroundings, and perceive the shape of objects in order to recognize or grasp them. Solutions proposed in the past were so sensitive to noise as to be of little use in practical applications. This sensitivity is closely related to the viewer-centered representation of scene geometry known as a depth map, and to the use of stereo triangulation to infer depth from the images. In fact, when objects are more than a few focal lengths away from the camera, parallax effects become subtle, and even a small amount of noise in the images produces large errors in the final shape and motion results. In our formulation, we represent shape in object-centered coordinates, and model image formation by orthographic, rather than perspective projection. In this way, depth, the distance between viewer and scene, plays no role, and the problem's sensitivity to noise is critically reduced. We collect the image coordinates of P feature points tracked through F frames into a 2F x P measurement matrix. If these coordinates are measured with respect to their centroid, we show that the measurement matrix can be written as the product of two matrices that represent the camera rotation and the positions of the feature points in space. The bilinear nature of this model, and its matrix formulation, lead to a factorization method for the computation of shape and motion, based on the Singular Value Decomposition. Previous solutions assumed motion to be smooth, in one form or another, in an attempt to constrain the solution and achieve reliable convergence. The factorization method, on the other hand, makes no assumption about the camera motion, and can deal with the large jumps from frame to frame found, for instance, in sequences taken with a hand-held camera. To make the factorization method into a working system, we solve several corollary problems: how to select image features, how to track them from frame to frame, how to deal with occlusions, and how to cope with the noise and artifacts that corrupt images recorded with ordinary equipment. We test the entire system with a series of experiments on real images taken both in the lab, for an accurate performance evaluation, and outdoors, to demonstrate the applicability of the method in real-life situations.
Shedding gender stigmas: Work-life balance equity in the 21st century

Abstract The gender stigma of work-life balance (WLB) policies as concessions for mothers and female caregivers originated with the push by the Women's Movement for gender workplace equity in the late 20th century. Unfortunately, this perception continues in the 21st century and retains the additional stigma of employee participation in these policies—regardless of gender—as a detrimental career move. Thus, home and work responsibilities for professionals of all genders who desire more occupational flexibility remain unreconciled. Despite this dominant national and international outlook, this article encourages new century organizations and professionals to reject the traditional perception of occupational inequity through gender-colored glasses and instead contemplate the benefits of WLB policies void of gender stigmas. Specifically, organizations could re-create workplace culture with stigma-free WLB policies through administrative leaders’ embracement of and participation in such policies, which may pave the way for establishing occupational equity. Through workplace culture re-creation, organizations may then offer employees—regardless of gender, marital status, or company position—flexible work options to assist them in leading happy, healthy, and more productive lives.
Expeditious, mechanochemical synthesis of BODIPY dyes

BODIPY dyes have been synthesized under solvent-free or essentially solvent-free conditions, within about 5 minutes in an open-to-air setup by using a pestle and mortar, with yields that are comparable to those obtained via traditional routes that typically require reaction times of several hours to days.
Feasibility of retrieving cloud condensation nucleus properties from lidar, Doppler cloud radar, and microwave radiometer

Nearly four decades ago Twomey explored the relationship between cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) parameters, the production of supersaturation due to adiabatic expansion in a vertically moving parcel, and the number of droplets activated from the CCN phase. The resulting relationship, called an activation spectrum, is of the form N/sub d/=CS/sup k/ (1) where N/sub d/ is the number of droplets activated, S is the maximum supersaturation produced near cloud base, and C and k are parameters related to a power-law size distribution of aerosol particles. During the course of the intervening decades, equation (1) has become a standard in CCN measurements. The determination of C and k provides a critical link between aerosol and droplet microphysics and important information for studying the aerosol indirect effects whereby aerosol particles affect incoming solar radiation by allowing droplets to condense upon them. Values of C and k are derived from measurements in thermal gradient diffusion chambers or isothermal haze chambers. These measurements are performed in-situ either at the Earth's surface or, onboard aircraft flying in the vicinity of cloud base. Unfortunately, the in-situ measurement of CCN is limited in that it provides only a point measurement with limited spatial resolution. On the other hand, a remote measurement, if successful, could supply long term data sets with fine temporal resolution, and valuable information for climate monitoring studies. This paper explores a technique that utilizes lidar, Doppler K/sub /spl alpha//-band radar and microwave radiometer to retrieve C and k or equivalent number and size information on CCN spectra.
Learning Disabled Adult Nexus: Emerging American Issues and European Perspectives

Services for learning disabled adults are discussed through a comparison of their treatment in the Dutch and Danish delivery of services. Promising practices are related from a European perspective and questions are raised about the evolution of services to learning disabled adults in the United States.
A Method to Fabricate a Template With a Long Range Ordered Dense Array of True Nanometer Scale Pits

We present a method to form a patterned template having a dense array of subnanometer scale pits that is useful for numerous applications that require significant size reduction. The polystyrene-polymethylmethacrylate diblock copolymer nanopatterned sample has been used in order to form a hexagonal symmetry as a starting scaffold. The ordered copolymer pattern is then transferred to the oxide layer to form a hard mask for subsequent anisotropic silicon wet-etching process. With a controlled wet etching, we obtained inverted pyramidal pits on a silicon substrate of which the tips can be a few or even a single nanometer in its lateral dimension. The most common phase change material Ge2Sb2 Te5 (GST225) was deposited on this substrate and isolated within the pits using chemical mechanical polishing approach, followed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy elemental analysis.
The ECR-Plasma Deposition of Silicon Nitride on a Tunnel Oxide

Gate dielectric-quality silicon nitride films were deposited on a tunnel oxide from an SiH{sub 4}/N{sub 2} gas mixture using an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma. Electrical characteristics depend not only upon the quality of the nitride film but also upon the state of the interfacial oxide. Quasi-static and 1 MHz capacitance-voltage measurements show that a nitride film deposited at 200{degrees}C on 2 nm thick thermally-grown oxide (tunnel oxide) on an unbiased Si substrate has an interface state density of 1.5 {times} 10{sup 11} /cm{sup 2}-eV. Time-of-flight elastic recoil detection (TOF-ERD) was used to examine the level of mixing between the tunnel oxide and the deposited silicon nitride as a function of bias voltage. TOF-ERD showed that for an applied bias of {minus}350 V (ion energy {approx} 380 eV), the deposition of a 10 nm thick film was completely mixed to form an oxynitride whereas the tunnel oxide remained intact for an unbiased sample. (Interdiffusion resulting from energetic-beam heating was ruled-out as a possibility for the mixing.) 13 refs., 4 figs.
Accurate mass measurement using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry for structure elucidation of designer drug analogs of tadalafil, vardenafil and sildenafil in herbal and pharmaceutical matrices

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are a class of drugs used primarily in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PDE-5 inhibitors include sildenafil citrate, vardenafil hydrochloride and tadalafil. In this study, accurate mass measurements were made by electrospray ionization (ESI) using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS) to elucidate the structures of sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil analogs that were found in products marketed as dietary supplements. Initial detection of these analogs was accomplished through routine screening of suspect samples by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization multi-stage mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS(n)) on a low-resolution ion trap instrument. The chromatographic behavior and mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns observed were often similar to those observed for FDA approved PDE-5 inhibitors. The mass accuracy and resolving power associated with FTICRMS allows for the determination of elemental compositions. Elucidation of the product ion structures for the analogs was accomplished through the use of accurate mass measurements with the aid of Mass Frontier software (version 4.0). Using FTICRMS, accurate masses with measurement errors averaging <0.4 ppm were achieved, allowing assignment of one possible elemental formula to each fragment ion. The mass measurement errors associated with [M + H](+) for the analogs aminotadalafil, piperidino vardenafil, hydroxyacetildenafil and piperidino acetildenafil were 0.1, 0.0, 0.1 and 0.5 ppm, respectively. Based on the accuracy of the measurements, structural assignments could be made with a high degree of confidence.
Can racial identity be promotive of academic efficacy

We hypothesised a gender specific relationship between efficacy and three components of racial identity, feeling that achievement is part of being black, feeling connected to the black community, a...
Self-priming of liquids in capillary autonomous microfluidic systems

We present a numerical approach to the capillary rise dynamics in microfluidic channels of complex 3D geometries. In order to optimize the delivery of specific biological fluids to target regions in microfluidic capillary autonomous systems (CAS), we analyze self-priming of liquid water into a microfluidic device consisting of a microfluidic channel that feeds a rectangular microfluidic cavity trough an appropriately designed micro-chamber. The target performance criteria in our optimization are (1) fast and complete wetting of the cavity bottom while (2) minimizing the probability of trapping air bubble in the device. The numerical model is based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and a three-dimensional single-component multiple-phase (SCMP) scheme. By using a parallel implementation of this algorithm, we investigate the physical processes related to the invasion of the liquid–gas interfaces in rectangular cavities at different liquid–solid contact angle and shapes of the transition micro-chamber. The numerical results has successfully captured important qualitative and some key quantitative effects of the liquid–solid contact angle, the roughness of the cavity edges, the depth of the holes and shape of the micro-chambers. Moreover, we present and validate experimentally simple geometrical optimizations of the microfluidic device that ensure the complete filling the microfluidic cavity with liquid. Critical parameters related to the overall priming time of the device are presented as well.
Mixed Methods as Tools for Social Change

Researchers often justify their choice of mixed methods on the basis that it allows them to understand the phenomenon they are studying more completely than would be possible with a single method. In this editorial, I raise the question for mixed methods researchers: To what end do we understand the phenomenon we study more completely? Researchers have a long tradition of answering this question with the response: We conduct research to create new knowledge. Brown and Hedges (2009) describe the ethical responsibilities of researchers as follows:
Treatment of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis of Gougerot et Carteaud with minocycline

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis of Gougerot et Carteaud (CRPGC) is an uncommon cutaneous disorder of unknown etiology. However, a beneficial effect of antibiotics has been described and mo...