cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Observation of >400-eV precursor plasmas from low-wire-number copper arrays at the 1-MA zebra facility.

Experiments with cylindrical copper wire arrays at the 1-MA Zebra facility show that high temperatures exist in the precursor plasmas formed when ablated wire array material accretes on the axis prior to the stagnation of a $z$ pinch. In these experiments, the precursor radiated approximately 20% of the $g1000\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ x-ray output, and time-resolved spectra show substantial emission from Cu $L$-shell lines. Modeling of the spectra shows an increase in temperature as the precursor forms, up to $\ensuremath{\sim}450\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$, after which the temperature decreases to $\ensuremath{\sim}220--320\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ until the main implosion.
Bronchial blood flow and eicosanoid blockade following airway acid aspiration.

In a chronic sheep model, we have evaluated the flow through the bronchial artery after airway injury caused by the aspiration of 2.5 ml/kg of 0.1 N hydrochloric acid with and without inhibition of thromboxane synthetase and cyclooxygenase
Alcoholic blackouts: Phenomenology and legal relevance

Alcohol-induced amnestic periods (blackouts) are common to alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinkers. The use of alcoholic amnesia as evidence of incompetence to stand trial or in mitigation of criminal responsibility hinges upon the reversibility of amnesia and upon the voluntariness of intoxication and of the ensuing blackout. After discussions of the phenomenology of alcoholic blackouts and the role of alcoholic and nonalcoholic amnesia in criminal law, it is argued that the voluntary nature of alcohol consumption should not mitigate behavioral consequences in any drinker. Language: en
Optical absorption dips caused by vibronic antiresonances in ZnSe: Ni and ZnSe:Ti

The optical absorption associated with the 3T1-1T2 transition in ZnSe:Ni has been measured at helium temperatures. There are some sharp lines followed by a continuum. The sharp lines are interpreted in terms of a dynamic Jahn-Teller splitting of the excited state. A number of absorption dips are superimposed on the absorption continuum. They are attributed to vibronic antiresonances involving the same electronic state, the interaction being between a lattice phonon sideband and a localized oscillation sideband of this state. Similar dips occur in the spectrum of ZnSe:Ti. Values of the resonance parameters are reported.
Pattern synthesis for antennas with multiple primary beams by minimax optimisation

Increasingly stringent requirements are evolving for selective illumination of irregularly shaped geographical areas by communication-satellite antennas. The desirability of minimising spillover illumination near borders, and the technical requirement to conserve transmitter power, constrains the shape of the main beam of the antenna and the sidelobe levels. We describe a minimax optimisation algorithm for designing the required shaped-beam antennas. A 1-dimensional example is given to demonstrate the features of the method.
Quality and efficiency

Abstract Quality improvements in inputs and outputs along with productivity increases are emphasized here in a non-parametric framework. The robustness of the efficiency measurement in this framework is related to learning by doing and other market indicators.
Classification and Regression Tree Analysis for the Prediction of Aggressive Prostate Cancer on Biopsy

Purpose: Prostate cancer screening allows early cancer detection but not all patients benefit from subsequent therapy. Thus, identifying patients who are likely to harbor aggressive cancer could significantly decrease the number of prostate biopsies performed.Materials and Methods: Data were collected on 1,563 consecutive referred men with serum PSA 10 ng/ml or less who underwent an initial prostate biopsy. Predictors of aggressive cancer (Gleason sum 7 or greater) were identified using CART analysis. Model building was done in a randomly selected training set (70% of the data) and validation was completed using the remaining data.Results: Cancer was detected in 406 men (26.1%). Gleason 7 or greater cancer was found in 130 men (8.3%). CART created a decision tree that identified certain groups at risk for aggressive cancer, namely 1) PSAD greater than 0.165 ng/ml/cc, and 2) PSAD greater than 0.058 to 0.165 ng/ml/cc or less, age greater than 57.5 years and prostate volume greater than 22.7 cc. The incidenc...
Controlled Reduction of Water Activity in Celery: Effect on Membrane Integrity and Biophysical Properties

Experiments were designed and executed to identify the mechanism responsible for irreversible texture changes in dehydrated and rehydrated celery tissue. Results showed that these changes remained reversible as long as dehydration did not reduce water activity (aw) below 0.987. Water removal below this level resulted in a partial irreversible loss of rigidity as measured by modulus of elasticity. Correlation of chemical and physical data with electron-micrographs of tissue ultrastructure suggested that expansion- induced lysis of the plasma and tonoplast membranes during rehydration was the responsible mechanism when tissue samples were dehydrated to aw between 0.920 and 0.987. At very low aw (0.25), samples showed a total loss of rigidity that correlated with observed damage to cell walls.
Effects of Low-Level Cadmium Intake on the Contractility and Morphology of the Rat Aorta

Female Long Evans hooded rats with an initial mean (± SE) weight of 85.7 ± 1.2 g were exposed to 5 ppm cadmium (Cd) in drinking water for 6 months. Rats which received no Cd in the drinking water served as untreated controls. Weights, systolic blood pressures (tail cuff method), several aspects of aortic ultrastructure, and isolated aortic contractile responses to epinephrine, angiotensin, and potassium chloride at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months were observed in both groups. At none of the testing times was there a significant difference between the weights or systolic blood pressures of the control and Cd-treated groups. Analysis of variance indicated that aortas from control and Cd-treated rats showed similar age-related changes in maximum tension development (contractility) and similar threshold doses. However, Cd-treated aortas developed significantly less maximum tension than control aortas when compared at the same time intervals in response to all of the vasoconstrictors tested. This decreased contractil...
Behavior and endocrine effects of 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine in male mice

Effects of single doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg of TMA given i.p. were noted in male albino mice after 40 min and 2 1/2 h. Locomotor activity was significantly altered and biochemical tests indicated stimulatory effects on adrenocortical and adrenomedullary functions due to TMA.
Planarization technology of a-Si:H TFTs for AM LCDs

In this paper, we demonstrate that the large-area and high- aperture-ratio AM-LCDs can be realized by using planarization technology. Both a-Si:H TFT arrays and Cu-gate electrodes/buslines have been successfully planarized by low dielectric constant organic planarization polymer, benzocyclobutene (BCB). First, the impact of BCB interlayer thickness on vertical crosstalk, feedthrough voltage, and busline load capacitance is analyzed for the high-aperture- ratio pixel cell structure. For a given tolerance margin of crosstalk ratio, the pixel aperture-ratio decreases with an increase of interlayer dielectric constant, and such a reduction in aperture-ratio becomes more distinct in displays having a higher resolution. After the BCB passivation, there is no degradation in field-effect mobility and subthreshold swing for BCE type a-SI:H TFTs having different channel thicknesses and channel lengths. Finally, the electrical characteristics of Cu gate- planarized a-Si:H TFTs is presented. The device has a field- effect mobility of 0.73 cm2/V-s, a threshold voltage of 5.83, a subthreshold swing of 0.71 V/dec, and an ON/OFF- current ratio of 2.5 X 106. These results show that a combination of fully planarized Cu-gate lines and a-Si:H TFT-pixel arrays can be developed for large-area, high aperture-ratio, and high definition AM-LCDs.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Intensity and reverberation as factors in the auditory perception of egocentric distance

Both auditory intensity and reverberation have previously been shown to be sufficient to produce systematically varying judgments of perceived distance when several values of the variable are presented repeatedly to the same observer. Such studies do not, however, indicate clearly whether these cues are functioning in an absolute or in a relative manner. An absolute cue to auditory distance would require that two groups presented with different values of the variable in question should report different values of perceived distance. Two experiments are reported in which intensity variation and reverberation are examined. The results showed that auditory intensity differences over a range of 20 dB did not serve as an absolute cue to auditory distance, but could serve as a strong cue to changes in such distance. A comparison of data obtained in a normally reverberatory setting (Experiment 1) and an anechoic chamber (Experiment 2) indicated that the state of reverberation could serve as an absolute cue, with greater reverberation being associated with greater perceived distances. Some of the results were discussed in terms of the possibility that the specific distance tendency (a concept developed to handle some phenomena in visual space perception) might have applicability to the study of auditory perceived distance as well.
Symmetry of the 2π Decay of the Neutral K Meson under Time Reversal (T) and CPT

It .is shown. that interference between the 2rr states arising from coherent decay of the long-lived a~d short-lived K-mesons (KL and Ks) provides a direct manifestation of the symmetry of the system under the. transformation CP, T and CPT. The ratio 7J of the KL to K 8 2rr decay amplitudes is odd under CP, hence the sign of the interference term in the K-meson decay curve chfinges sign under CP while the other terms are unchanged. When the effect of T is appropriately defined so as to avoid the dissymmetry associated with transforming initial conditions, 7J is found to contain, in general, both even and odd terms. To separate these terms, it is necessary to make use of measurements of decay amplitudes for all_modes, including the 27!". It is shown how these amplitudes may be used to deter­ mine separately even and odd parts of the Ashkin-Kabir parameter Z, which is a measurable weighted average of the two values of 7J (for the rr+rr- and rr 0ir0 modes). Available data lead to the conclusion that the odd term of Z is non-vanishing, hence the interference term in the decay rate will- change under T, thereby giving a direct manifestation of violation of time­ reversal invariance. ~-The even term in Z would manifest CPT violation, but the data are consistent with its vanishing: However, more information is needed, especially on the K 8-')3rr amplitude, to place a reliable upper limit on its magnitude.
Collaborating careers: The differential effects of race

Abstract Male and female black undergraduates enrolled in Introductory Psychology and Human Development courses at a predominantly black university responded to five stories about married black physicians whose total income was greatest, respectively, when the husband cared for the children (Story 1), the wife cared for the children (Story 2), either spouse cared for them (Story 3), the wife earned more than the husband (Story 4), or the husband earned more than the wife (Story 5). In contrast to the results of a study completed at a predominantly white university, black females favored maternal child care even when, as a result, the family income was reduced and had significantly less of a preference for higher relative salary for the wife than did females in the study at a predominantly white university; although black males preferred maternal child care in Story 2 and Story 3, the preference was significantly less than that of males in the study at a predominantly white university. The results were discussed in terms of their relevance to collaborating career patterns among middle-class black families.
A Hybrid Numerical Model for Simulating Atmospheric Dispersion

A hybrid numerical model for simulating atmospheric contaminant dispersion is developed. The hybrid numerical scheme employs an hp-adaptive finite element method coupled with a Lagrangian particle transport technique to solve the governing equations for atmospheric flow and species transport. A random walk/stochastic approach is used to generate Lagrangian particles that define the contaminant dispersion traces. A coarse mesh using low order shape functions is initially generated. Both the mesh and shape function order are subsequently refined and enriched in those regions where high computational error exist. Compared with fine mesh and high order numerical solutions, the hybrid scheme produces highly accurate solutions with reduced computational cost. A general probability distribution is used in the particle transport module for the random component of motion due to turbulent diffusion. Results depicting contaminant transport and dispersion in the atmosphere are presented. The computational efficiency of the hybrid numerical model is also discussed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Effects of Herpetomonas muscarum on development and longevity of the eye gnat, Hippelates pusio (Diptera: Chloropidae).

Abstract Herpetomonas muscarum was isolated from laboratory-reared Hippelates pusio and cultured axenically in artificial medium. Cultured flagellates were used to infect H. pusio larvae for laboratory studies of the effects of infection on the gnat. The larva was the most susceptible stage of the gnat with 48% mortality resulting from flagellate infection under standard rearing conditions (26.9°C, 16L:8D photoperiod). Only 6% pupal mortality was attributable to flagellate infection under these conditions. Percent mortality of gnat immature stages due to flagellates decreased and the gnat developmental period (egg to adult) was shortened as temperature increased from 18.5°C to 35.0°C. Although 29.5°C was optimal for flagellate multiplication, the lengthened larval period and adverse effects of lower temperature on gnat development combined to give the highest % mortality of gnat immatures from H. muscarum at 18.5°C (72%). Developmental period and frequency distribution of gnat emergence were not affected by infection. Average adult longevity decreased as temperature either increased or decreased from 18.5°C. The maximum effect of infection on adult longevity occurred at 29.5°C.
Solgel derived tantalum pentoxide films as ultraviolet antireflective coatings for silicon.

A solgel process is described to produce Ta2O5 films as short wavelength antireflective (AR) coatings for silicon. The AR coatings were optimized for 370 nm by controlling the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of Ta(OC2H5)5, the spin coating parameters, and the heat treatment process (rapid thermal processing (RTP) and muffle furnace). Film thickness uniformity across the wafer was better than 1%, and all the coatings tested passed the standard scotch tape test before and after heat treatment and exhibited no change in optical properties after submersion in liquid N2. Several heat treatment protocols for densifying the films were studied. Spin coated films heat treated in a muffle furnace at 275°C yielded Ta2O5 AR coatings that reduced the reflectance losses from silicon at 370 nm by 86%, the reduction being within 1% of the theoretical value. Films subjected to RTP at temperatures ranging from 300 to 1000°C reduced the reflectance loss in some cases by as much as 95%. The results demonstrate that spin coated solgel derived Ta2O5 films subjected to a low temperature (<300°C) heat treatment can form durable films suitable for near UV AR coatings for high index silicon devices, such as charge couple imagers and photovoltaic cells.
In vivo exposure of young adult male rats to methoxychlor reduces serum testosterone levels and ex vivo Leydig cell testosterone formation and cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity.

Abstract Methoxychlor (MC) was developed as a replacement for the banned pesticide DDT. After in vivo administration, it is metabolized in the liver to 2,2-bis( p -hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (HPTE), which is proposed to be the active agent. Both MC and HPTE have been shown to exhibit weak estrogenic and antiandrogenic activities, and they are thought to exert their effects through estrogen and androgen receptors, respectively. Although in vitro studies using cultured rat Leydig cells have reported that HPTE inhibits both basal and hCG-stimulated testosterone formation, the response of circulating testosterone levels to in vivo MC has been more variable. Therefore, the current studies evaluated whether the daily in vivo administration of MC (0, 5, 40 and 200 mg/kg body weight) for a short duration (days 54–60 of age) by gavage altered serum testosterone levels and ex vivo Leydig cell testosterone formation in young adult male rats. These results demonstrate that both fluid-retained and fluid-expressed seminal vesicle weights declined to 44 and 60% of control, respectively, in the 200 mg/kg MC-exposed animals. Similarly, serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone levels declined to 41 and 45% of control, respectively, in the 200 mg/kg MC-exposed animals; however, serum LH and FSH levels were unaffected. Ex vivo Leydig cell basal testosterone formation over 4 h declined to 49% of control in animals exposed to 200 mg/kg MC, and ex vivo Leydig cell P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity declined to 79 and 50% of control in animals exposed to 40 and 200 mg/kg of MC, respectively, supporting previous in vitro studies which demonstrated the sensitivity of this step to MC.
The Divi of the Hadrianic Period

INFORMATION about the cult of the divi and divae greatly increased with the publication of the Feriale Duranum.1 The editors of the latter have shown that the divi and divae whose cult the Army took over were those of the fasti publici. The divae included Trajan's sister Marciana and her daughter Matidia but no member of the Julio-Claudian and Flavian families. The Feriale Duranum permits a reconstruction of the list of the sixteen divi of 183 A.D.2 and of the twenty divi of 224 A.D.3 as follows:
Effect of crosslink density on physical ageing of epoxy networks

Abstract Physical ageing of polypropylene oxide/DGEBA networks with different crosslink densities was investigated using the small-strain stress relaxation technique in simple extension. The effects of crosslink density on the glass transition temperature, Tg, and the change in specific heat ΔCp at Tg were measured using a differential scanning calorimeter (d.s.c.) in heating. Although we observed an increase in Tg as crosslink density increased, contrary to other studies of crosslinked polymers, the ΔCp did not change as the crosslink density changed. Ageing was studied at several temperatures below Tg after quenching from above Tg. It was possible to superimpose the stress relaxation curves at different ageing times, temperatures and crosslink densities to form a single master curve, demonstrating the applicability of a time-ageing time-temperature-crosslink density superposition principle to this type of network. Under all ageing conditions, the double logarithmic shift rate was found to decrease with increasing crosslink density while being independent of temperature for a given network. Furthermore, at temperatures of 10 and 5°C below Tg, we were able to age the network glasses into structural equilibrium, thus obtaining t∗ , the time required to reach structural equilibrium. At a constant temperature ΔT below Tg, we observed increases in t∗ as the crosslink density increased.
Hardiness and major personality factors.

This study tested Maddi and Khoshaba's 1994 hypothesis that Hardiness is an index of mental health. A sample of 241 undergraduates (103 men and 138 women) completed the Dispositional Resilience Scale, the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, and the Psychopathology–5 Scales. Using the individual median scores on the three subscales (Commitment, Control, and Challenge) of the Dispositional Resilience Scale, the High Hardiness group was obtained by identifying the individuals who scored above the medians on all the three subscales, whereas the Low Hardiness group were those who scored consistently below the medians on all the three subscales. Multivariate analysis of variance performed for the two hardiness groups using the scales from each personality inventory indicated that the two groups had significantly different mean profiles on the NEO Personality Inventory as well as the Psychopathology–5 Scales. Combined discriminant function analysis performed for the two hardiness groups using all the 10 scales fr...
Paleontology and Evolution in the News

This paper is a review of recent media publications and journal articles about evolution and paleontology.
Shaping Qualitative Research in Educational Psychology

Abstract Qualitative research has made very little headway toward being accepted as a research method in educational psychology. This paper argues that a clear vision of the role of qualitative methods within educational research is needed, and a series of six guidelines to help chart out that vision are offered. Next, the notion of research genres, within a postmodern framework, is used to reconcile the differences between qualitative and quantitative research. Finally, these threads are pulled together in a discussion of research activities relevant for the development of future researchers.
A novel biochemically salvageable animal model of hyperammonemia devoid of N-acetylglutamate synthase

All knockout mouse models of urea cycle disorders die in the neonatal period or shortly thereafter. Since N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency in humans can be effectively treated with N-carbamyl-l-glutamate (NCG), we sought to develop a mouse model of this disorder that could be rescued by biochemical intervention, reared to adulthood, reproduce, and become a novel animal model for hyperammonemia. Founder NAGS knockout heterozygous mice were obtained from the trans-NIH Knock-Out Mouse Project. Genotyping of the mice was performed by PCR and confirmed by Western blotting of liver and intestine. NCG and L-citrulline (Cit) were used to rescue the NAGS knockout homozygous (Nags(-/-)) pups and the rescued animals were characterized. We observed an 85% survival rate of Nags(-/-) mice when they were given intraperitoneal injections with NCG and Cit during the newborn period until weaning and supplemented subsequently with both compounds in their drinking water. This regimen has allowed for normal development, apparent health, and reproduction. Interruption of this rescue intervention resulted in the development of severe hyperammonemia and death within 48 h. In addition to hyperammonemia, interruption of rescue supplementation was associated with elevated plasma glutamine, glutamate, and lysine, and reduced citrulline, arginine, ornithine and proline levels. We conclude that NAGS deprived mouse model has been developed which can be rescued by NCG and Cit and reared to reproduction and beyond. This biochemically salvageable mouse model recapitulates the clinical phenotype of proximal urea cycle disorders and can be used as a reliable model of induced hyperammonemia by manipulating the administration of the rescue compounds.
A re-examination of the relationship between action research and human subjects review processes

In this brief article, we review the history of the human subjects review process and identify key aspects of that review as they relate to action research. In particular, we examine the issues of coercion, predictability, confidentiality, and risk –concerns central to the criteria used in current review processes but reflecting fundamental differences in the basic conceptualization of ethical practice as this is understood in action research.
The effect of tail morphology on locomotor performance of snakes: A comparison of experimental and correlative methods

A combination of experimental and correlative analyses was used to study the effect of tail length on locomotor performance of garter snakes (Tharnnophis sirtalis fitchi). Correla- tive analysis was used to determine whether naturally occurring morphological variation was associated with differences in performance, whereas experimental modification of morphology was used to test whether this varibtion was a causative factor for different performance. Burst speed of snakes performing terrestrial lateral undulation was measured for snakes with experimentally altered tail length and for snakes with partial and complete tails from a natural population. For 445 snakes with complete tails. regression analysis revealed a significant quadratic effect of rela- tive tail length on size-corrected performance, indicating that individuals with intermediate rela- tive tail length had the fastest burst speeds. For 52 snakes that had naturally lost from 0.3% to 80.4% of their tail, there was no significant correlation between size-corrected performance and the extent of the tail that was missing. Experimental ablation of the distal one third of the tail did not affect performance, whereas ablation of the distal two thirds of the tail caused a significant average decrease in speed of only 4.5%. Contrary to the correlative analysis, the experimental manipulation suggests that there is no detectable mechanical effect for minor variations in relative tail length. We conclude that minor deviations from intermediate relative tail length are not the causative factor for a decrement in performance among snakes, and this decrement was a correlated response to some other unmeasured variable.
Excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy in eyes with anterior corneal dystrophies: preoperative and postoperative ultrasound biomicroscopic examination and short-term clinical outcomes with and without an antihyperopia treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of high-frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in determining the depth of corneal pathology in eyes undergoing excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for primary or recurrent anterior stromal corneal dystrophies. Corneal clarity, visual acuity and refractive changes in eyes with and without an antihyperopia treatment were also analyzed. Methods: Twenty eyes of 14 patients with anterior stromal corneal dystrophies were treated with PTK. Eyes were evaluated preoperatively and 6 to 8 weeks postoperatively with slit-lamp biomicroscopy, manifest refraction, keratometry, computerized corneal topography, ultrasound pachymetry, and UBM. Results: Nineteen of 20 corneas (95%) had greatly improved corneal clarity after PTK. Mean uncorrected Snellen vision improved from 20/102 to 20/69 and best corrected vision improved from 20/62 to 20/38. Nine eyes (45%) improved 2 or more lines of uncorrected vision, and 13 eyes (65%) improved 2 or more lines of best corrected vision. Mean change in spherical equivalent was just ‐0.92 diopters (D); however, the range was large (‐13 to +3.88 D). UBM measurement of central corneal pathology did not correlate with the actual PTK ablation depth (P = .07). The amount of antihyperopia treatment did not correlate with changes in manifest refraction spherical equivalent, keratometry, or computerized corneal topography readings, but did correlate with length of time until corneal reepithelialization after PTK (P = .003). Conclusions: PTK resulted in improvements in corneal clarity and visual acuity in most patients with superficial corneal stromal dystrophies. UBM was not an effective tool to accurately measure the depth of corneal pathology preoperatively. The combined approach of minimizing ablation depth and selective use of an antihyperopia treatment resulted in minimal mean change in spherical equivalent; however, the range was large. PTK is a very good minimally invasive technique to improve vision in eyes with anterior stromal corneal dystrophies.
VIm-Scan: A Low Overhead Scan Design Approach for Protection of Secret Key in Scan-Based Secure Chips

Scan-based DFT enhances the testability of a system by making its internal nodes more observable and controllable. However, in case of a secure chip, scan chain increases its vulnerability to attack, where the attacker can extract secret information by scanning out states of internal nodes. This paper presents VIm-Scan: a low overhead scan design methodology that maintains all the advantages of a traditional scan-based testing yet prevents secure key extraction through the scan out process. Experimental results show that the proposed approach entails significantly lesser design overhead (~5times reduction in number of additional gates) with comparable or better protection against attack than existing techniques.
Estimation of blood flow with radioactive tracers

The techniques of tracer dilution in the circulation,and of tracer uptake by and washout from an organ, may be described using expressions that are general and are not dependent on specific models such as exponentials. The expressions have been applied to the measurement of cardiac output using impulse and constant rate injection techniques. Further expressions have been given for estimating organ blood flow from inflow/outflow concentration-time curves, washout curves, and from the distribution of deposited tracer. Some problems with respect to the use of deposition techniques as they are ordinarily applied to the estimation of regional blood flow must be considered, particularly where there are capillary beds in series or where there is countercurrent diffusional shunting of diffusible tracers between in-flow and outflow. This review deals with these various aspects of tracer theory as they relate to the measurement of blood flow.
Evaluation of Coatings for Sapphire Fibers in TiAl Using the Fiber Push-Out Test

Fiber push-out tests were used to evaluate several double coating systems for sapphire fibers in γ -TiAl. The double coatings consisted of an inner debond coating, followed by an outer coating of alumina that serves as a diffusion barrier. The inner coatings were of three types: carbon black, colloidal graphite and porous alumina. By comparing estimates of interface toughness computed from the push-out tests, each double coating is found to permit debonding and sliding of the sapphire fibers. Consequently, each of the double coatings would afford improved fracture toughness for sapphire reinforced γ -TiAl.
Epidermal inclusion cyst of the clitoris 30 years after female genital mutilation.

Objective To present a case report of a patient with epidermal inclusion cyst as a late complication of female circumcision, the management of the patient, and a review of the literature. Design Case report and literature review. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) A 37-year-old female from Guinea with a large clitoral mass of 6 months' duration. Intervention(s) Complete history and physical exam of the patient and subsequent surgical resection of the cyst. Main Outcome Measure(s) Diagnosis, surgical management, and postoperative sexual function and emotional well-being. Result(s) Resolution of swelling and discomfort, satisfactory postoperative sexual function and emotional well-being. Conclusion(s) There should be awareness of one of the relatively common delayed complications of female genital circumcision and familiarity with its surgical management. Overall, surgical management appears to be effective, and there is no documented risk of recurrence.
Using pump for bypass surgery--on-off-on again?

Background Coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) has traditionally been performed with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump CABG). CABG without cardiopulmonary bypass (off-pump CABG) might reduce the number of complications related to the heart-lung machine. Methods Objective To compare off-pump to on-pump CABG in terms of short- and long-term composite of complications and death from any cause, as well as completeness and durability of the procedure/grafting, neuropsychological outcomes, and use of major resources. Design Multi-center single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting 18 Veterans Affairs medical centers, 16 of which were teaching hospitals. Subjects 2203 patients who were scheduled for urgent or elective CABG-only procedures. Intervention Patients were randomized to either on- or off-pump CABG. They underwent neuropsychological testing at baseline and one year, as well as follow-up angiography. Outcomes 1) Primary short-term end-point: composite of death or major complications (reoperation, new mechanical support, cardiac arrest, coma, stroke or renal failure requiring dialysis) at discharge or day 30. 2) Primary long-term composite end-point: death from any cause within 1 year, nonfatal myocardial infarction between 30 days and 1 year, or repeat revascularization between 30 days and 1 year. 3) Secondary outcomes: completeness of revascularization, graft patency at 1 year, scores on neuropsychological tests. Results There was no significant difference between off-pump and on-pump CABG in the rate of the 30-day composite outcome (7.0% and 5.6% respectively, P = 0.19). The rate of the 1-year composite outcome was higher for off-pump than for on-pump CABG (9.9% vs 7.4%, P = 0.04). The proportion of patients with fewer grafts completed than originally planned was higher with off-pump CABG than with on-pump CABG (17.8% vs 11.1%, P < 0.001). Follow up angiograms in 1371 patients who underwent 4093 grafts revealed that the overall rate of graft patency was lower in the off-pump group than in the on-pump group (82.6% vs. 87.8%, P < 0.01). There were no treatment-based differences in neuropsychological outcomes or short-term use of major resources.. Conclusions At 1 year of follow-up, patients in the off-pump group had worse composite outcomes and poorer graft patency than did patients in the on-pump group. No significant differences between the techniques were found in the neuropsychological outcomes or use of major resources.
Multi-pulse jumping orbits and homoclinic trees in a modal truncation of the damped-forced nonlinear Schro¨dinger equation

Abstract In this paper we prove the existence of multi-pulse orbits homoclinic to a slow manifold in a two-mode truncation of the damped-forced nonlinear Schrodinger equation (first suggested by Bishop et al.). These orbits are jumping , i.e., the corresponding solutions keep switching in time between neighborhoods of the two charateristic “breathers” of the integrable limit. In the case of no damping, we find multi-pulse Smale horseshoes in the two-mode model, while in the dissipative case we establish the existence of structurally stable, multi-pulse, heterolinic connections between two unstable equilibria. The orbits we construct are not amenable to Melnikov-type perturbation methods. In both the Hamiltonian and the dissipative case we find homoclinic trees , which describe the repeated bifurcations of multi-pulse solutions. To illustrate the theoretical predictions, we also present visualizations of these complicated structures.
Toxic effects of some benzamines on the growth of Azotobacter vinelandii and other bacteria

Benzamines are the major aromatic amines used in industry and can also be released from azo dyes, which are widely used in the textile, paper-making, and food industries. The toxicity of 10 benzamines was tested by the well diffusion assay technique against 18 common bacterial species including the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii.p-Phenylenediamine was found to be inhibitory to the growth of Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens.o-Phenylenediamine was inhibitory to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pnemoniae, Salmonella enteritidis, and Shigella sonnei. 2,5-Diaminotoluene was inhibitory to the growth of P. fluorescens and Streptococcus mitis. The growth of A. vinelandii was inhibited by p-phenylenediamine and 2,5-diaminotoluene in the well diffusion assay. p-Nitroaniline was also found to be inhibitory to the growth of A. vinelandii in Burk's nitrogen-free medium. The nitrogenase activity of A. vinelandii was inhibited by p-phenylenediamine, 2,5-diaminotoluene, p-nitroaniline, 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine, 3-nitro-o-phenylenediamine, and 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine. Because many of these organisms are common soil and aquatic bacteria, the accumulation of these benzamine compounds in the environment may have an adverse impact on soil biochemical activities.
Mineral Dust Entrainment and Deposition (DEAD) model: Description and 1990s dust climatology

17 ± 2 Tg; and optical depth at 0.63 mm, 0.030 ± 0.004. This emission, burden, and optical depth are significantly lower than some recent estimates. The model underestimates transport and deposition of East Asian and Australian dust to some regions of the Pacific Ocean. An underestimate of long-range transport of particles larger than 3 mm contributes to this bias. Our experiments support the hypothesis that dust emission ‘‘hot spots’’ exist in regions where alluvial sediments have accumulated and may be disturbed. INDEX TERMS: 0305 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801); 0322 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks; 4801 Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Aerosols (0305); 5415 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Erosion and weathering; KEYWORDS: mineral dust aerosol, aerosol climatology, mineral deposition, aerosol scavenging, saltation sandblasting, ecosystem fertilization
Cognitive Style in Urban and Rural Korea

Differences in cognitive style between rural and urban children in the Republic of Korea were compared. A total of 271 boys and girls randomly sampled from the fourth to eighth grade in an urban center and a rural town were administered an embedded figures test and a test of conceptual styles. The urban children showed higher field-independence scores and higher analytic conceptualization. A hypothesis formulated by Witkin et al. (1974) suggests the rural-urban differences in field-independence may be attributable to differential importance attached by parents to social conformity. Differences in conceptual style may be similarly explained. The two cognitive variables were moderately correlated for this sample.
"It's a Lie. There's No Truth in It! It's a Sin!": On the Limits of the Humanistic Study of Religion and the Costs of Saving Others from Themselves

Juxtaposing two recent texts that each address the scholar's role when it comes to issues of difference, this essay investigates how members of our field's dominant liberal humanistic tradition address potentially competing systems of representation. After comparing the recent work of Robert Orsi with that of Paul Courtright, the essay concludes that, when it comes to those Others whose differences can easily be tolerated or overlooked with little or no cost, scholars in this tradition deploy a different sets of tools than when their work focuses on Others for whom they feel little affinity and whose interests conflict with their own. Failing to understand all scholarship as necessarily involved in acts of translation and redescription—acts that are all equally removed from some posited authentic source—the essay ends by suggesting that we risk the future of our field when we employ different methods for different people, all based on the degree of our personal identification with our subject matter.
“Split Screens” and “Spin Rooms”: Debate Modality, Post-Debate Coverage, and the New Videomalaise

This experimental research examines how different presentation modalities in presidential debates and post-debate spin influence the ability to form evaluations about candidates' character, shape perceptions of their incivility, and alter judgments of political trust and news credibility. Results indicate that these experimental factors work together to encourage character judgments, diminish perceptions of candidate civility, and reduce levels of trust in government. In addition, political talk conditioned experimental effects on perceptions of news credibility, with the adverse effects of split screen presentations concentrated among those who talked about the debate. Thus, the negative effects of “in your face” politics conveyed by the “split-screen” modality appear to be most pronounced among those primed to think about performance and those attuned to politics through interpersonal talk.
Interplay between CaSR and PTH1R Signaling in Skeletal Development and Osteoanabolism

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)-related peptide (PTHrP) controls the pace of pre- and post-natal growth plate development by activating the PTH1R in chondrocytes, while PTH maintains mineral and skeletal homeostasis by modulating calciotropic activities in kidneys, gut, and bone. The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a member of family C, G protein-coupled receptor, which regulates mineral and skeletal homeostasis by controlling PTH secretion in parathyroid glands and Ca(2+) excretion in kidneys. Recent studies showed the expression of CaSR in chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts and confirmed its non-redundant roles in modulating the recruitment, proliferation, survival, and differentiation of the cells. This review emphasizes the actions of CaSR and PTH1R signaling responses in cartilage and bone and discusses how these two signaling cascades interact to control growth plate development and maintain skeletal metabolism in physiological and pathological conditions. Lastly, novel therapeutic regimens that exploit interrelationship between the CaSR and PTH1R are proposed to produce more robust osteoanabolism.
Abstract 18297: Clinical and Prognostic Utility of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Myeloma Patients With Suspected Amyloidosis

Background: Upto 30% of patients with multiple myeloma have AL amyloidosis and cardiac involvement is associated with worse outcomes in these patients. Traditional screening modalities including EKG, echocardiography and biomarkers have limited value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of “screening” cardiac MRI in a large multiple myeloma population at a large specialized referral center. Methods & Results: 164 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma who underwent cardiac MRI between 6/2005 and 10/2011 were enrolled in this study. Primary endpoint was all cause death. Clinical, EKG, echocardiographic, biomarker and MRI predictors for death were analyzed. Mean age of population was 63+10 years, 40% females and 16% African Americans. 30% of the population had MRI evidence of cardiac involvement. There were 26 patients who had biopsy proven systemic amyloidosis, of whom 62% showed cardiac involvement on MRI. 81% patients with confirmed cardiac amyloidosis on endomyocardial biopsy had typical MR pattern of cardiac involvement. During a median follow up period of 702 days (mean 1019 (950) days), there were 59 deaths (36%). Amyloid pattern on cardiac MRI (OR 2.19), elevated BNP and increased LV wall thickness on MRI were significant predictors of mortality . (All p Conclusions: This is the largest study to date evaluating the role of cardiac MRI in multiple myeloma patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis. Cardiac MRI is a clinically robust tool for risk stratification of this subset of patients.
Energy Development on Public Land in the United States

Public lands in the United States have provided supplies of raw energy resources for over a century. The story of the harvest and administration of energy from natural resources reveals the public debate and contest that often result when resources are owned in common. Recent developments suggest that future use of these resources will continue to be hotly debated.
Der neue Caddy von Volkswagen

Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge hat die dritte Generation des Caddy im Segment der leichten Nutzfahrzeuge auf den Markt gebracht. Der Caddy nutzt die aktuellen Volkswagen-A-Klasse-Module und ist in einem modernen, ansprechenden Stadtlieferwagen- Design ausgefuhrt. Der Caddy erfullt kundenspezifische Anforderungen wie beste Nutzbarkeit bei hohem Komfort, hohe Sicherheitsstandards, eine attraktive Optik innen und ausen sowie eine einfache und ergonomische Bedienung bei einem guten Preis-/Leistungsverhaltnis, das in diesem Segment eine hohe Prioritat besitzt.
PM-08A HUMANIZED CO-TRANSPLANT XENOGRAFT MOUSE MODEL, TO STUDY TOXICITY OF DRUGS TARGETED AGAINST PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMORS

BACKGROUND: Side effects of current pediatric brain tumor therapeutics, usually resulting from neural cell toxicity, call for testing of novel therapeutic modalities on appropriate preclinical models, which recapitulates normal human neural environment with malignant brain tumors. Here, we present a new model to study toxicity of humanized antibodies against xenografted human normal neural cells sequentially co-transplanted with primary medulloblastoma (MB) cells. METHODS: Human neural progenitor cells (HuNPCs) derived from human fetal neural tissue, were infected with td-Tomato-luciferase expressing virus and injected into newborn pups (p1-p3 days old). HuNPC engraftment was confirmed with bioluminescence imaging and previously characterized for multi-potent differentiation into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. HuNPC engrafted mice were then injected with unlabeled human MB cells at 1.5 months of age. MB cells used were previously confirmed to have 100% penetrance in multiple cohorts. After 2 weeks of tumor cell transplantation, mice were randomized and treated with either humanized anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody (HuCD47 mAb) or control. Human neural cells viability and proliferation in all mice were measured through subsequent bioluminescence imaging. RESULTS: Follow-up bioluminescence imaging revealed minimal change in flux values of treated mice with HuCD47 mAb, representing viability of engrafted normal neural cell, compared to control. Moreover, survival rates as well as subsequent H & E staining show HuCD47 mAb dramatically decreased tumor size and subsequently increased the survival of mice treated with HuCD47 mAb compared to control similar to experiments carried out in mice transplanted with human MB cells only. CONCLUSION: The presented in vivo model provides a new platform to test any novel potential therapeutic (here, HuCD47 mAb) in the context of xenografted human normal neural environment. This way we not only measure effect of the proposed drug on tumor regression but impact of developed agent on human normal neural tissue in the vicinity of the tumor.
The Ear is a Window to the Heart: A Modest Argument for a Closer Integration of Medical Disciplines

Though it is generally understood that hearing worsens with advanced age, there remains some debate as to whether the noise exposure history, dietary patterns, general health or genetic makeup of individuals contributes most to this chronic problem. For the past decade, and for the past five years especially, there has been an expansion in the number of published studies looking at modifiable risk factors that may contribute to hearing loss. For instance, there are current studies that show a compelling relationship between acquired hearing impairment and poor cardiovascular fitness [1,2] and hypertension [3]. Additionally, cardio-metabolic disorders [4,5] (e.g., metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes) and high risk behaviors, such as smoking [6], have been implicated in acquired hearing impairments. Conversely, moderate alcohol consumption has been described as a potential protective factor [7].