cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of temperature on the microwave dielectric properties of porcine liver, lung, and heart

Recently, Microwave (MW) ablation emerged as a new technology with potential to eliminate the problems associated with RF ablation. In contrast to RF ablation, MW ablation uses higher frequencies (915 MHz and 2.4 GHz) and work on an electromagnetic energy propagation principle. When the microwave power is turned on, an antenna on the MW probe radiates electromagnetic energy into the tissue creating the ablation zone. As a result, MW ablation can be used for many organs such as lung and bones with higher impedance values where RF ablation would fail. Although microwave ablation therapy offers unique advantages over conventional radio frequency ablation therapy such as reduced ablation time, larger ablation zones, elimination of ground pads etc., there are still major problems associated with the existing microwave ablation devices on the market. Current devices use either dipole or slot antennas to deposit electromagnetic energy into the tissue. Such antennas are known to be very narrow band. During the design process, these antennas are matched to the tissue impedance at the frequency of operation (existing devices work at 915 MHz or 2.4 GHz). However, as soon as the microwave power is turned on, the electrical properties of the tissue (dielectric constant - er and conductivity - σ) change due to increased temperature in the tissue. As a result, the power transmission characteristics of the entire system deteriorate. In order to better understand the power transmission characteristics of ablation antennas, we studied the microwave electrical properties of porcine liver, lung, and heart using the Agilent 805070 E slim form probe, a fiber optic temperature probe, and a smooth surface heat source. We manipulated the temperature from 25 °C to 80 °C and measured the dielectric properties between 500 MHz and 20 GHz.
Disposal of radioactive wastes by hydraulic fracturing Part III. Design of ORNL's shale-fracturing plant☆☆☆

Abstract The shale fracturing program has been concerned with the development of a technique for the safe and economic disposal of large batches of radioactive waste by mixing the waste with cement and injecting the mix into beds of shale at depths of about 1000 ft. A facility was built at ORNL to make a series of seven experimental injections. Large volumes of waste solution (up to 150 000 gallons per injection) were successfully injected. Precise control of the proportion of cement and waste solution remains a difficult problem. The facility is now scheduled for modification for regular disposal of Laboratory waste.
Brueckner-Hartree-Fock Calculations of Spherical Nuclei in a Harmonic-Oscillator Basis. III. Renormalized Calculations Using the Reid Potential

A $G$ matrix derived from the Reid soft-core potential is used in a series of Brueckner-Hartree-Fock calculations of spherical nuclei. The $G$ matrix is calculated using an intermediate-state spectrum and Pauli operator appropriate to pure oscillator orbitals, with options to shift the entire spectrum or the low-lying levels from unperturbed oscillator energies. The Pauli operator takes into account the filling of different neutron and proton subshells in $N\ensuremath{\ne}Z$ nuclei. Self-consistent occupation probabilities are included in the calculations and results are presented for $^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$, and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$. Various systematics and convergences are studied. Good results can be obtained for the binding energies, but the experimental binding energy and charge radius cannot be fitted simultaneously. It is shown that renormalization with occupation probabilities is crucial for calculating a reasonable single-particle spectrum. The difficulty of comparing single-particle energies with experiment is discussed with particular emphasis on heavy and superheavy nuclei. The nuclei $^{298}114$ and $^{310}126$ are calculated for a simple force.
Inhibition of Prechill-induced Dark Germination in Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. Seeds by Phytochrome Transformations

A 10 C dark prechilling of johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] seeds, when terminated by a 2-hr, 40 C temperature shift, potentiates about 40% germination at 20 C in darkness. Irradiation of the seeds before, during, and at the end of prechilling with far red light reduces the subsequent germination, although red irradiation after the far red can overcome some of the inhibition. However, either brief red or far red irradiation given immediately after the temperature shift inhibits subsequent germination by one-third to one-half. The results suggest that the far red-absorbing form of phytochrome is a factor in the prechill-induced dark germination and that phytochrome participates in the inhibition of germination by irradiations immediately after the temperature shift.
Neurological development in very-low-birthweight infants. Application of a standardized examination and prechtl's optimality concept in routine evaluations

Abstract Modern methods of newborn intensive care have greatly improved long-term morbidity rates of very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants. Our standardized neurological examination was applied to 3-and 6-month-old infants and expressed as a score by using Prechtl's optimality concept. Among 98 VLBW infants, 56 were at high risk because of perinatal complications with possible cerebral distress and 42 had no complications. The VLBW infants were also divided into AGA (61) and SGA (37) babies. In addition, 29 full-term infants were enrolled as controls. A statistical analysis of the optimality scores revealed that all VLBW infants had significantly lower mean scores at the corrected age of 3 months than the full-term controls. Intrauterine growth retardation and perinatal cerebral distress clearly depress the optimality scores. At 6 months only infants with high perinatal risk had considerably lower scores than the age controls. Two-thirds of all VLBW infants were found to have a developmental delay and/or a neurological deficit at the corrected age of 3 months. At age 6 months, however, a marked catch-up and/or self-repair had occurred, as was documented by about 70% of normal optimality scores. Head circumference measurements over the first year of life can be an important assisting factor in developmental assessments. If a microcephalic infant does not show higher than normal head growth velocity a severe developmental delay or neurological deficit must be expected. At 12 months the Bayley scores of psychomotor development have served to complement the preceding neurological and head growth findings.
Studies on the allergenicity of 5-fluorouracil.

A recent investigation has suggested that delayed hypersensitivity reactions commonly develop during topical 5-FU therapy and imply that the mechanism of action of 5-FU may involve destruction of actinic keratoses by a nonspecific immunological reaction. We evaluated a 1% and a 5% formulation of 5-FU in the Kligman maximization procedure for inducing contact sensitization and were unable to induce contact allergy to 5-FU. On the basis of these experiments, we conclude that contact allergy to 5-FU is unlikely to be as common as suggested by others.
What Can We Learn From Great Business Leaders

There are many leadership lessons that can be extracted from the lives of great business leaders like John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, Alfred Sloan, Sam Walton, Jack Welch, A. G. Lafley, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. Although different in personality and style, these leaders showed talent at a very young age, persevered in achieving their goals, surrounded themselves with the best people they could, worked hard and with great discipline, had great confidence in themselves, and were creative and innovative in managing their businesses.
2,4‐Bis(α,α‐di­methyl­benzyl)­phenol

The structure of the title compound, 2,4-bis(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)phenol, C24H26O, was found to have a torsion angle of 129.95 (13)° for the C—C bond that connects the benzyl carbon to the phenol ring ortho to the OH group. A value of ∼50° was expected from molecular mechanics calculations. Intermolecular interactions, in particular O—H⋯O and edge–face π bonding, may contribute to this discrepancy. Intramolecular O—H⋯π bonding is also observed.
The Effect of Community Service Work on the Moral Development of College Ethics Students

Abstract A study designed to test the effect of community service work on college ethics students found that community service work along with discussion of relevant moral issues is an effective means of moving students into the post‐conventional stage of principled moral reasoning, as measured by Rest's Defining Issues Test. Other benefits of community service work are also discussed in the paper.
Rush Health Systems and Meridian Community College: People Serving People.

Meridian Community College and Rush Health Systems are partners in delivering training focused on Rush's mission statement of hospital-wide commitment to “excellence in service management.” Rush and MCC have delivered customized classes in the following areas: medical billing, leadership management, computer training, admissions clerk, and system-wide customer service training.
A user evaluation of subject based information gateways: case study ADAM

Nowadays, end‐users have quick and direct access to massive amount of information available on the Net. However, this information is unorganized expecting users to be able to identify and evaluate it in accordance with their information needs. Subject based information Gateways SBIG, organized collections of networked information, provide users with a catalogue of authoritative Internet resources, which can be searched and/ or browsed. This paper provides an evaluation of one such gateway ‐ the Art, Design, Architecture & Media Gateway ADAM. It provides information on who these users are, how often they use the service, what their reasons for use are, which search methods and services they prefer and what are the advantages and disadvantages of an online information service.
Partition coefficients of hydrophobic contaminants in natural water, porewater, and elutriates obtained from dosed sediment: A comparison of methodologies

Abstract Partitioning of organic contaminants in elutriates, porewater, and lake water was compared using four methods: XAD-4 resin columns, equilibrium dialysis, and centrifugation and filtration with subsequent C-18 reverse phase column separation. In addition, possible changes in partitioning with sediment aging and during bioaccumulation assays were examined. Centrifugation with C-18 separation produced the most consistent partition coefficients. Partition coefficients from filtration and centrifugation methods compared favorably with previously published data. Contaminant partitioning did not change during 96-h exposures in bioassays, and partitioning of contaminants in porewater and elutriates did not follow a linear trend with the amount of sediment aging or manipulation. The contaminant partitioning apparently depends on characteristics of the contaminant as well as contaminant-associated media composition.
Effects of normal stress variation on the strength and stability of creeping faults

[1] A central problem in studies of fault interaction and earthquake triggering is that of quantifying changes in frictional strength and the constitutive response caused by dynamic stressing. We imposed normal stress vibrations on creeping laboratory shear zones to investigate the process of dynamic weakening and the conditions under which resonant frictional behavior occurs. Layers of quartz powder were sheared at room temperature in a double-direct shear geometry at normal stress n = 25–200 MPa, vibration amplitude A = 0.1–10 MPa, period T = 0.1–200 s, and loading rate V = 1–1000 μm/s. Frictional response varied systematically with A, T, and V. Small-amplitude, short-period vibrations had no effect on frictional strength, but large-amplitude, short-period vibrations reduced shear zone strength by about 1%. Intermediate periods caused phase lags between shear strength and imposed vibrations. During long-period vibrations, frictional strength varied sinusoidally, in phase with vibrations and with an amplitude consistent with a constant coefficient of friction. Our data show that friction exhibits a critical vibration period, as predicted by theory. At long periods, the Dieterich (aging) friction law, with the Linker and Dieterich modification to describe step changes in normal stress, provides a good fit to our experimental results for all A and V. At short periods, however, theory predicts more dynamic weakening than we observed experimentally, suggesting that existing rate and state friction laws do not account for the full physics of our laboratory experiments. Our data show that normal-force vibrations can weaken and potentially destabilize steadily creeping fault zones.
Electric monopole transition rate in Zr90

The mean life of the 1.75 MeV excited state in Zr90 with J = 0, even parity, has been found to be 8.5±3 mμsec by observing delayed coincidences between beta rays from Y90 and annihilation radiation due to internal pair creation. This corresponds to ϱ2 = 0.036, close to the values for the other three known monopole transition probabilities.
Uniqueness of the Positive Energy Parafermion Field

In t953, Green [1] proposed that the usual anticommutation relations of Fermi-Dirac statistics be generalized. He proposed new relations which are satisfied by the Fermi-Dirac creation and annihilation operators but admit additional representations, each of which can also be given a particle interpretation. These particles are called parafermions. For n degrees of freedom it has been shown [4] that the representations of Green's relations are just the representations of SO(2n + 1, R), which are well known. For infinitely many degrees of freedom the situation is more complicated. Reducible representations may be constructed by the use of Green's ansatz [1 ; 2] from which certain standard irreducible representations are chosen. The uniqueness of these standard representations is usually discussed in terms of the existence of a unique vacuum vector which is annihilated by all annihilation operators. The purpose of this paper is to obtain uniqueness results relating to unitary invariance as was done for ordinary particles by Segal [5, Theorems 1, 2, 3] and Weinless [6, Theorem 2.1].
Postflood Persistence and Recolonization of Endangered Tidewater Goby Populations

Abstract Before-and-after surveys at several southern California sites indicated that populations of endangered tidewater goby Eucyclogobius newberryi persisted through heavy flooding in 1995. This was contrary to our expectations that flooding might have led to extirpation in some smaller wetlands. There was also no significant change in tidewater goby density before and after the flooding. Several apparent recolonization events coincided with the flood, suggesting that flooding may be important for the long-term persistence of the species.
Progress in Large-Scale Production of Graphene. Part 1: Chemical Methods

Graphene is a two-dimensional nanomaterial that has unique electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical properties. For realizing the practical applications of graphene, one of the major challenges lies in cost-effective production of graphene-based nanomaterials at a large scale. Significant research efforts have been demonstrated in regard to scalable manufacturing of graphene and show strong potential for their commercialization and industrialization. Here, we review the state-of-the-art techniques developed for the scalable production of graphene. This review mainly discusses the top-down techniques including exfoliation of bulk graphite and chemical reduction of graphene oxide. Critical comparison for graphene quality, structure, and yields for different techniques is discussed and specific examples are described in detail.
The GaAs spin polarized electron source

The design, construction, operation, and performance of a spin polarized electron source utilizing photoemission from negative electron affinity (NEA) GaAs are presented in detail. A polarization of 43±2% is produced using NEA GaAs (100). The polarization can be easily modulated without affecting other characteristics of the electron beam. The electron beam intensity depends on the intensity of the exciting radiation at 1.6 eV; beam currents of 20 μA/mW are obtained. The source is electron optically bright; the emittance phase space (energy‐area‐solid angle product) is 0.043 eV mm2 sr. The light optics, electron optics, and cathode preparation including the GaAs cleaning and activation to NEA are discussed in depth. The origin of the spin polarization in the photoexcitation process is reviewed and new equations describing the depolarization of photoelectrons in the emission process are derived. Quantum yield and polarization measurements for both NEA and positive electron affinity surfaces are reported. T...
Mechanisms for the formation of cratonic stratigraphic sequences

North American Phanerozoic cratonic strata comprise six transgressive/regressive sequences separated by interregional unconformities. The mechanism of formation of the sequences and their bounding unconformities remain uncertain. Although eustasy probably contributed, it cannot have acted alone in their formation, as testified by syn-depositional faulting and post-depositional tilting of strata. We have developed a three-dimensional stratigraphic model which incorporates vertical motions from dynamic topography, background cratonic subsidence, eustasy, denudation, mixed carbonate and elastic deposition, Airy isostasy in response to loading and unloading, and mechanical compaction. The model has been used to test possible contributions of eustasy, epeirogeny and background subsidence to patterns of cratonic strata. The results demonstrate the potential of dynamic topography to account for observed long-wavelength tilting. They also demonstrate the importance of background subsidence on the craton in providing accommodation space to accumulate and preserve the observed thicknesses of stratigraphic sequences.
Mechanism Of Monovalent Counterion Specificity In A RNA Kissing Loop Complex

RNA tertiary structure is often stabilized by “kissing hairpin” motifs. We report findings from molecular simulations performed on Tar-Tar*, an archetypal kissing hairpin complex composed of two complementary 16 nucleotide stem-loops. The kissing loop interface has an unusually high density of backbone phosphates, which is thought to form a “cation-binding pocket”. Draper and coworkers have shown that stability of the Tar-Tar* complex is highly sensitive to the identity of the cation amongst the series of alkali-chloride salts, (CsCl < KCl < NaCl).We have calculated preferential interaction coefficients the free energies of ion binding to various regions of the complex using spatial density functions (SDFs). The main results are as follows: The central core is the most favorable region for counterion binding. However, irrespective of counterion type, the occupancy counterions in the high density pocket is always 2 implying that site-specific binding alone does not explain observed specificities. The SDFs reveal that both the complex and the isolated hairpins exhibit a curious asymmetry, i.e., there is greater accumulation of cations around Tar as opposed to Tar*. This turns out to be a consequence of an asymmetry at the sequence level, as the Tar hairpin contains a guanidine tract, which efficiently replaces lost first shell waters of partially dehydrated ions that accumulate at the core. The results suggest that experimentally observed counterion specificities of Tar-Tar* stability originate in preferential exclusion of the Cl- coion around the complex, which is most pronounced in the NaCl as opposed to KCl and CsCl. Coion depletion also facilitates counterion delocalization to form a stabilizing belt around the complex thereby alleviating the inherent asymmetry in a priori counterion accumulation; again Na+ achieves this delocalization most efficiently and is followed by K+ and Cs+, respectively.
Do all animals sleep

Some animals never exhibit a state that meets the behavioral definition of sleep. Others suspend or greatly reduce ‘sleep’ behavior for many weeks during the postpartum period or during seasonal migrations without any consequent ‘sleep debt.’ Rats die from one form of sleep deprivation, but sleep loss has not been shown to cause death in well-controlled studies in other vertebrate species. Some marine mammal species do not show evidence for REM sleep, and convincing evidence for this state in reptiles, fish and insects is lacking. The enormous variation in the nature of rest and sleep states across the animal kingdom and within the mammalian class has important implications for understanding the evolution and functions of sleep.
Diagnostic and interventional sialendoscopy: a preliminary experience.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To review our preliminary experience with diagnostic and therapeutic sialendoscopy for the management of non-neoplastic disorders of the salivary gland. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: Thirty-three consecutive patients undergoing 36 sialendoscopy procedures performed at a tertiary medical center from July 2008 to July 2010 were included. Results: The mean age of presentation was 43 years (range, 7–74 years), and 61% of patients were male. Indications included sialolithiasis (47%; 17 of 36), recurrent sialadenitis (44%, 16 of 36), and Sjo¨gren's syndrome (8%; three of 36). Successful endoscopy was performed in 97% (35 of 36). A papillotomy for access was necessary in 25% (nine of 36). In patients with sialolithiasis (n = 17), the mean size of the stones was 7.3 mm (range, 1–20 mm). Complete stone removal was achieved in 76% (13 of 17) of cases. Endoscopic stone removal was possible in 29% (five of 17), and a combined approach technique was required in 47% (eight of 17). Seventy-two percent (26 of 36) of patients had complete resolution of symptoms after sialendoscopy, with 19% (seven of 36) having partial resolution of symptoms. Patients with partial improvement of symptoms had a mean duration of improvement of 4.7 months. The overall complication rate was 22% (eight of 36). The major and minor complication rates were 3% (one of 36) and 19% (seven of 36), respectively. Conclusions: Sialendoscopy is safe and effective in managing non-neoplastic salivary gland disorders with low rates of major complications. Knowledge of options to navigate the rate-limiting steps, like dilation of the papilla and careful case selection, are key to successful outcomes.
One Setup, Three Systems

The system—surroundings concept is one of the most important in thermodynamics. Precisely defining a system is of critical importance to thermodynamic analysis. Even when studying the same problem, different individuals may opt to select different systems; therefore, choosing the correct system requires skill. In order to help students understand the various systems and their differences, a simple distillation setup is used to demonstrate the three thermodynamic systems: open, closed, and isolated.
Automated temperature scanning for hyperthermia therapy

Hyperthermia is a recently legitimized method for the treatment of cancer. Hyperthermia treatments consist of raising tumor temperatures above 42°C. These temperatures are usually induced with electromagnetic or ultrasonic applicators. Hyperthermia has been found especially effective in conjunction with conventional radiotherapy. In comparison with other more established therapies, hyperthermia is in an early state of technological development.
Effect of inositol feeding on inositol phosphatides and other lipids of human blood plasma.

SummaryA group of 13 patients with high tone deafness was treated with 3 g oral inositol daily for periods of 1 to 12 months. No change resulted in the fasting plasma inositol phosphatide concentration; there were minor increases in total and free cholesterol and total phospholipids, and there was an apparent decrease in neutral fat.
Microsatellite alterations indicating monoclonality in atypical hyperplasias associated with breast cancer

One model of breast tumorigenesis postulates a sequential evolution from normal to proliferative epithelium and eventually to neoplasia, but genetic data to support this progression have been limited. We wished to determine whether atypical hyperplasia (AH), a proliferative lesion conventionally classified and treated as benign, but associated with an increased risk of developing carcinoma, might show evidence of genetic abnormalities. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we examined DNA extracted from 12 separate AH lesions, from six breast cancer patients' paraffin-embedded tissue specimens, for alterations in microsatellite repeat sequences. Five of 12 AH lesions, from three of six patients, demonstrated alterations in microsatellite sequences in patterns indicating that the AH lesions are monoclonal or contain a substantial monoclonal component. We conclude that a subset of AH lesions from patients with breast cancer are characterized by monoclonal microsatellite alterations; therefore, they may already be neoplastic. This finding lends support to one postulated sequence of breast tumorigenesis and suggests that some type of genetic instability may play a role early in breast tumor development.
How effective are preferential trade agreements? Ask the experts

Limited data on regional and preferential trade agreements prevent social scientists from testing some of the international cooperation literature’s most important claims. Expert surveys—a technique that is widely used in the field of comparative politics but thus far underutilized in international relations—allow us to capture many aspects of trade agreements for which data would otherwise be unavailable. They also provide us with a means of comparing agreements across regions and issue areas. We present a new dataset of expert opinion on the world’s regional trade organizations. Our survey covers 24 dimensions of 40 different regional agreements—including the perceived effectiveness of trade liberalization, the degree to which dispute settlement mechanisms are easy to use, and the political and international influence of the agreement. Bayesian factor analysis allows us to extract a principal dimension of effectiveness.
Some comments on nonequilibrium phase transitions in chemical systems

Two new approaches for investigating critical fluctuations near an instability point of unstable chemical models are proposed. The master equation approach is used. For a homogeneous system without the effect of diffusion, three single-component chemical systems exhibiting critical behavior are considered. The cumulant functions are expanded in a small parameter-the inverse size of the system-and singular perturbation solutions of the master equation are developed. Exponents describing the divergence of the second-order variance are found to be classical. For a system including diffusion effects, spatial correlations for a quasi-one-dimensional case are investigated by considering scale transformation behavior within the multivariate master equation formalism.
New results on the Omega-k algorithm for processing synthetic aperture radar data

This paper compares the peak SNR and the point target impulse response function of stripmap SAR data processed with the well-known Omega-k algorithm and ideal matched filtering. The impulse response function resulting from Omega-k is distorted and stretched in azimuth compared to a matched filter. The distortion depends on the amount of frequency shift required in the Stolt mapping step. In at least some cases, the range resolution is improved compared to matched filtering at the expanse of additional azimuth interference.
Brain activation during intermittent photic stimulation: a [15O]-water PET study on photosensitive epilepsy.

Purpose Intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) is an activation procedure used during electroencephalogram (EEG) recording to elicit paroxysmal discharges in individuals with photosensitivity. Specific responses on EEG recording may be provoked by IPS at different frequencies of flickering in normal individuals and in patients with photosensitive epilepsy. Methods Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were studied during IPS in two groups of subjects by using [15O]-water positron emission tomography (PET): a control group consisting of eight healthy adults with photic driving response during IPS on EEG recording (mean age, 25 +/- 10.5 years) without history of neurologic or psychiatric abnormalities and a patient group consisting of four adults (mean age, 33 +/- 7.5 years) with history of photosensitive epilepsy. [15O]-water PET scanning with concomitant EEG monitoring was performed during baseline and IPS at 4-, 14-, and 30-Hz frequencies. Results The control group showed photic driving response at 14-Hz IPS frequency. The patient group showed photoparoxysmal response at 14 and 30 Hz, but not at 4 Hz. Changes in rCBF were determined by means of statistical parametric mapping. Increases in rCBF in occipital cortex (Brodmann's areas 17, 18, and 19) were observed in both groups. In addition, during photic driving responses, the control group showed rCBF increases in the insula and in the thalamus, on the right side. The patient group showed a significant rCBF increase in the hypothalamic region inferior to the left caudate nucleus during photoparoxysmal response. This activation was not found in the control group. Increased rCBF also was observed in the patient group in the head of the left caudate nucleus, in the left hippocampus, and in left insula during IPS without photoparoxysmal response. No activations in these regions were observed during photoparoxysmal response. Conclusions These data may indicate involvement of the hypothalamus in photosensitive epilepsy and may suggest a modulatory function of the caudate nucleus, which might be associated with an inhibition of epileptic discharges during IPS in patients with photosensitive epilepsy.
The torsional yield stress of zinc single crysals

Abstract The yield stress of circular cylindrical zinc crystals was measured both in torsion and in either shear or tension. Both type of tests were made on the same specimen. The yield stress in torsion varied with the angle between the basal plane and the axis of torsion. When the normal to the basal plane coincides with the axis of torsion, the maximum shear stress in torsion as calculated by the theory of elasticity was found to be 1.6 ± 0.1 times the critical resolved shear stress as measured by tension or shear. This value is greater than that found by previous investigators. If it is assumed that the specimen has slipped almost entirely over its cross-section at the macroscopic yield point, then the average stress sustained by the crystal is 1.24 times the critical resolved shear stress.
Subharmonic Excitation for Electrically Actuated Microbeams

We present analysis of the global dynamics of electrically actuated microbeams under subharmonic excitation. The microbeams are excited by a DC electrostatic force and an AC harmonic force with a frequency tuned near twice their fundamental natural frequencies. We show that the dynamic pull-in instability can occur in this case for an electric load much lower than that predicted with static analysis and the same order-of-magnitude as that predicted in the case of primary-resonance excitation. We show that, once the subharmonic resonance is activated, all frequency-response curves reach pull-in, regardless of the magnitude of the AC forcing. Our results show a limited influence of the quality factor on the frequency response. This result and the fact that the frequency-response curves have very steep passband-to-stopband transitions make the combination of a DC voltage and a subhormonic of order one-half a promising candidate for designing improved high-sensitive RF MEMS filters.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Adsorbents from pine wood via K2CO3-assisted low temperature carbonization for adsorption of p-cresol

Abstract A low-temperature carbonization process was evaluated to synthesize an inexpensive adsorbent from pine wood to mitigate p-cresol from aqueous system. Surface response experiments using carbonization time, impregnation ratio (IR), and carbonization temperature as variables indicated that optimum adsorbent yield and adsorption were 63.22% and 5.40 mg g−1, respectively at carbonization temperature of 266 °C, IR of 2, and carbonization time of 2 h. The equilibrium adsorption data agreed with Langmuir's model and maximum theoretical adsorption of 6.97 mg g−1 was obtained at temperature 25 °C, unadjusted pH and adsorbent dose of 10 g L−1. The kinetic analysis combined with desorption study revealed that p-cresol chemisorbed on the adsorbent surface. Additionally, adsorption of p-cresol was found to be exothermic and inhibited by presence of surface acidic oxygen groups.
Convergent and Divergent Validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales

Convergent and divergent (construct) validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA) and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) is reported. With a random sample of 154 five- and six-year-old children rated by 16 classroom teachers in a Midwestern state, convergent evidence of construct validity was provided for the PKBS Externalizing Problems scale and the ASCA Overactivity syndrome. Divergent evidence of construct validity was provided for the PKBS Externalizing Problems scale and ASCA Underactivity syndrome. Convergent and divergent evidence of construct validity for the PKBS Internalizing Problems scale and ASCA Overactivity and Underactivity syndromes was mixed. Specific scale comparisons found the ASCA to result in significantly higher mean ratings than the PKBS in 9 of 10 specific comparisons, and the effect sizes 112 were moderate to large.
Protein Complexes: Breaking Up is Hard to Do Well

Mass spectrometry of protein assemblies reveals size and stoichiometry. In this issue of Structure , Hall and colleagues demonstrate that gas-phase dissociations can recapitulate solution structure for complexes with few intersubunit salt bridges, high charge density, inflexible subunits, or small intersubunit interfaces.
Realization of Programmable Control using a Set of Individually Controlled Electrohydraulic Valves

AbstractThis paper reports a study of electrohydraulic valve function programmability and characteristic interchangeability using a set of individually controlled cartridge type electrohydraulic (E/H) control valves. Such an integrated individually controllable E/H valve is defined as the programmable E/H control valve. A hybrid control algorithm was developed to realize different valve functions via programmable logic and to realize different interchangeable valve characteristics via a programmable valve modulation function. Evaluation test results verified that the programmable E/H control valve was capable of replacing different types of conventional proportional control valves and, more importantly, capable of realizing the flow regeneration function. The programmability of the programmable E/H control valve provides the flexibility of using the same firmware of an E/H control valve on various applications by simply downloading different control software.
A Comparison of Cohabiting and Noncohabiting Couples Who Participated in Premarital Counseling Using the PREPARE Model

Premarital counseling is a preventive tool against future marital discord. Research targeting premarital counseling interventions typically examined the effects of the intervention on later marital...
Narrative insight into risk, vulnerability and resilience among older homeless African American women

Abstract This paper highlights narrative method as a tool for gaining insight into the risk, vulnerability and resilience of older homeless African American women. The authors incorporated narrative method into the Telling My Story (TMS) Project, a subproject of a parent research effort designed to identify ways older homeless African American women can leave – and stay out of – homelessness. TMS sought to explore the usefulness of narrative for structuring meaningful assessment of the issues eight older African American women experienced in their struggle to leave homelessness. The authors identify sources of risk and resilience the women discuss within their narratives, and they consider how advocacy can incorporate narrative assessment for helping older African American women resolve the issues that sustain their homelessness.
Acute administration of a 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor to rhesus monkeys at the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle: evidence for possible autocrine regulation of the primate corpus luteum by progesterone.

Colocalization of progesterone receptors and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta HSD), a key enzyme in progesterone biosynthesis, in macaque luteal cells suggest that progesterone has an autocrine role in the regulation of primate luteal function. To test this hypothesis, we administered trilostane, a 3 beta HSD inhibitor, to rhesus macaques at the midluteal phase of spontaneous menstrual cycles to rapidly and reversibly reduce progesterone production. Animals received trilostane (600 mg/dose; treated group; n = 5) or vehicle (control group; n = 4) orally on days 6-7 of the luteal phase. Trilostane significantly (P < 0.05) elevated pregnenolone levels within 1 h of treatment compared to those in vehicle-treated animals; after 1 day of treatment, the mean pregnenolone level (173 nmol/L) was 86-fold greater than the control value. Pregnenolone levels dropped after cessation of drug administration and became indistinguishable from control levels by day 13. Trilostane significantly reduced serum proge...
Allergic encephalomyelitis: a comparison of the encephalitogenic A1 protein from human and bovine brain.

Abstract The chemical and biological properties of the human encephalitogenic basic protein was compared to that from bovine brain. Both proteins are highly basic and contain approximately 25 net positive charges at pH 6. They each contain one residue of tryptophan per mole but no cysteine. The electrophoretic migration in polyacrylamide gel at pH 4.3 and 8.0 was almost identical. The sedimentation coefficient was estimated to be 1.34 S, and their molecular weight 18,000–19,000 daltons with the human protein possibly larger. The optical rotatory dispersion studies suggested a random-coil structure; no α-helix or β-form was indicated. The encephalitogenic activity of the two proteins measured in the guinea pig was approximately the same. Their ability to combine with antibody prepared against the bovine protein was similar as determined by the hemagglutination-inhibition test. Both proteins were found to induce a significant delayed skin reaction in guinea pigs regardless of whether the human or bovine protein was used to produce sensitized cells. Thus, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of these two basic proteins are similar; the amino acid sequence is not identical, however, as revealed by the tryptic peptide maps.
Waiting lines in the endoscopy unit

Abstract Background: The efficient management of the endoscopy unit involves issues of scheduling. The aim of this study was to assess efficient use of an endoscopy unit and its relationship to patient waiting. Methods: Formulas of queueing theory are applied to patient scheduling in endoscopy. The M/M/n queueing model assumes exponential (Markovian) distributions underlying both patient arrival and endoscopy times with n as the number of endoscopists, while the D/M/n model assumes a constant (deterministic) patient arrival rate. Results: As the use of the facility increases, so does the probability that patients will have to wait. It is impossible for an endoscopy facility to have a 100% rate of use without patients being forced to wait. Any increase in the use rate of an endoscopy unit results in a concomitant increase in waiting times. A facility with multiple endoscopists can reduce waiting probability at a higher rate of facility use. A table is included that physicians and administrators can use as a guide to estimate the use rate and waiting characteristics of different types of endoscopy facilities. Conclusions: Endoscopy units must find a balance between patient waiting and underuse of their resources. Endoscopists will occasionally find themselves idle at the benefit of providing patients with tolerable waiting times. It needs to be explained to patients that even under the best of circumstances some waiting cannot be prevented. (Gastrointest Endosc 2000;52:517-24).
The roles of APE1, APE2, DNA polymerase beta and mismatch repair in creating S region DNA breaks during antibody class switch.

Immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR) occurs by an intrachromosomal deletion requiring generation of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) in immunoglobulin switch region DNA. The initial steps of DSB formation have been elucidated: cytosine deamination by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and the generation of abasic sites by uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG). We show that abasic sites are converted into single-strand breaks (SSBs) by apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases (APE1 and APE2). If SSBs are near to each other on opposite strands, they will generate DSBs; but if distal from each other, mismatch repair appears to be required to generate DSBs. The resulting S region DSBs occur at dC residues that are preferentially targeted by AID. We also investigate whether DNA polymerase β, which correctly repairs SSBs resulting from APE activity, attempts to repair the breaks during CSR. We find that although polymerase β does attempt to repair S region DNA breaks in switching B cells, the frequency of AID-instigated breaks appears to outnumber the SSBs repaired correctly by polymerase β, and thus some DSBs and mutations are generated. We also show that the S region DSBs are introduced and resolved during the G1 phase of the cell cycle.
Biological warfare threats in perspective

At least ten countries are considered to have current biological weapons programs. These programs differ in scope and size. There is no evidence to suggest proliferation in the number of states parties engaged in biological weapons development. There is legitimate concern, however, that the sophistication of programs may be growing and that terrorist groups could acquire biological weapons. Thus, the threat that biological weapons could be used as agents of terrorism or warfare must be taken seriously.
Development of photocrosslinkable hyaluronic acid‐polyethylene glycol‐peptide composite hydrogels for soft tissue engineering

Hyaluronic acid (HA; also called hyaluronan) is a naturally derived, nonimmunogenic, nonadhesive glycosaminoglycan that has important roles in several wound-healing processes. In previous work, we created photocrosslinkable glycidyl methacrylate-HA (GMHA) hydrogel biomaterials that were cytocompatible, biologically active, and had a decreased rate of hyaluronidase degradation compared with native HA. The goal of the studies presented herein was to explore peptide conjugation techniques to further adjust the material and biological properties of the GMHA hydrogels. We conjugated GMHA with acrylated forms of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and PEG-peptides to yield GMHA-PEG-peptide composite hydrogels. By varying the reactant concentrations, we created stable hydrogels with high peptide conjugation efficiencies (up to 80%), controllable peptide concentrations (in the range of 1-6 micromol peptide per milliliter of hydrogel), and defined physicochemical properties (e.g., swelling ratio, enzymatic degradation rate). These composite hydrogels may prove to be a promising scaffolding biomaterial for a variety of soft tissue engineering applications.
Decentralized compensation of controller uncertainty in the steady‐state bumpless transfer under the state/output feedback

The state/output feedback topology required for bumpless transfer under controller uncertainty is considered. A steady-state diagonal dominance condition for a subsystem of this topology is derived, which is shown to be sufficient for the existence of the stabilizing decentralized mismatch compensator parameters. Recent results on the input/output steady-state gain structure of the one-degree-of-freedom and the two-degrees-of-freedom infinite horizon LQ bumpless transfer topologies are used to show that the diagonal dominance condition applies to topologies generated by a broad class of controllers, thus completing the state/output feedback bumpless transfer technique. The topologies are also shown to be robust with respect to uncertainty in the mismatch compensator. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Victimization and diabetes: an exploratory study.

In recent years, researchers have documented higher rates of health problems in adult survivors of abuse than in the general population. These problems include diffuse soft tissue pain (Boisset-Pioro, Esdaile & Fitzcharles, 1995), irritable bowel syndrome (Leserman, Drossman, Li, Toomey, Nachman & Glogau, 1996), and chronic pelvic pain (Walling, Reiter, O’Hara, Milburn, Lilly & Vincent, 1994). While this past research has done much to increase our understanding, it is somewhat limited. For example, the samples are typically drawn from populations with specific medical problems (e.g., those presenting at a gastroenterology clinic), which influences the choice of illness studied (Laws, 1993). In the present study, we focus on diabetes. Diabetes has not been examined with regard to past victimization, but we believe that it is potentially fruitful. Chronic stress can lead to an elevation in blood levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids, cholesterol, glucose, and insulin (Lovallo, 1997; Meaney, 1997; Sapolsky, 1994). When glucose and insulin levels are chronically elevated, the body responds by becoming less sensitive to insulin. The person then becomes “insulin resistant,” a hallmark symptom of diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 1997). We propose that child and domestic abuse are chronic stressors, and as such they can create an even wider variety of health problems than ones already studied. To summarize, the present study considers diabetes and symptoms of diabetes in patients with a past history of victimization. Since our sample is from primary care and essentially healthy, we expect relatively low incidence of illness but we do expect a greater reporting of both illness and symptoms in members of the abused group.
Safe renewal of a random key pre-distribution scheme for trusted devices

Evolving application scenarios involving ubiquitous, heterogeneous devices (some of which may be severely resource constrained) forming cooperative ad hoc networks, calls for a different model for "trust". It is the devices that are trusted - not the operators or the "owners" of the devices. Any security solution based on trusted devices demands mechanisms for read-proofing the secrets stored in tamper-resistant devices. However, as perfect tamper-resistance may not be feasible, for long-lived security of such deployments, it is essential that the stored secrets be renewed periodically. This paper addresses issues involved safe renewal of secrets stored in trusted devices. For safe renewal of keys, (irrespective of the key distribution scheme used) some assurances from technology for tamper-resistance is needed. In this paper the author address issues involved in safe renewal of a recently proposed random key pre-distribution scheme, HARPS (hashed random preloaded subsets) (Ramkumar, et al., 2005). The authors discuss: 1) some "reasonable" assurances that technology could provide (like partial tamper resistance and circuit-delay based authentication), and 2) possible security precautions and policies (like use of a pass-phrase, use of an additional stored secret, and rest encryption), and their effect on the security of HARPS.