cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental determination of the enthalpy of mixing of N + CO2 under pressure

A once-through flow-calorimetric facility for measuring the enthalpy of mixing of binary gas mixtures at elevated pressures is described. The design of a new flow calorimetric incorporated in the facility is presented. Results for N 2 + CO 2 from mole fraction of nitrogen 0.22 to 0.73 are reported at the nominal conditions 40°C: 34.02 and 64.64 atm, and 31°C: 34.02 and 64.64 atm. The experimental results are interpreted and smoothed, and compared with predictions using the Benedict-Webb-Rubin equation of state. The probable accuracy of the results is discussed, along with a check on the assumption of adiabaticity in the calorimeter.
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid and RHC 80267 potentiate astroglial injury during combined glucose-oxygen deprivation

Membrane phospholipid degradation has been proposed to play a key role in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. We tested the hypotheses that both nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase inhibitor, and RHC 80267, a diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor, would decrease the release of [3H]arachidonic acid metabolites from prelabeled cultures of astroglia subjected to combined glucose-oxygen deprivation and that these inhibitors would also decrease astroglial injury during combined glucose-oxygen deprivation. Both nordihydroguaiaretic acid and RHC 80267 significantly inhibited the release of [3H]arachidonic acid metabolites during combined glucose-oxygen deprivation. This suggests that two separate enzymic pathways, the phospholipase A2 pathway and the phospholipase C/diacylglycerol lipase pathway, contribute to the release of astroglial [3H]arachidonic acid metabolites during combined glucose-oxygen deprivation. However, both of these lipase inhibitors increased astroglial cell death during combined glucose-oxygen deprivation, probably due to inhibition of arachidonic acid release. We speculate that arachidonic acid release may be a mechanism of astroglial self-preservation during combined glucose-oxygen deprivation.
Novel uses of a wide-beam saddle-field ion source for producing targets at the Argonne National Laboratory

Abstract The wide-beam ion sputter source has several unique characteristics which make it very useful for producing, reducing the thickness or cleaning the surface of targets manufactured from expensive separated isotope. A discussion of these techniques as well as the sputter-source characteristics will be given. Sputter yields obtained utilizing this source are presented for a variety of materials common to nuclear-target production.
Gendered Paths: Why Women Lag Behind Men in Small Business Success

The promise of small business ownership as a route to equality has yet to be realized. The authors draw from social construction perspectives and a detailed data set to model directly the various o...
Galdós, demócrata y republicano

Como es bien conocido, la proyeccion politica de la obra de Galdos llega a su maxima irradiacion con el estreno de Electra, obra cuya repercusion politica tuvo unas dimensiones unicas en nuestra historia literaria, y que incluso contribuyo a la caida de un gobierno, el del conservador Azcarraga, en 1902. Con esta pieza, llega el escritor canario al dintel que franqueara en 1907 cuando se lanza a la participacion directa en la politica. En 1906 es bien patente el giro reaccionario que el joven Alfonso XIII imprime a la monarquia: la ley de Jurisdicciones imprime un caracter militarista al regimen; los gobiernos liberales de Moret y Marques de la Vega de Armijo se estrellan en el problema religioso (al ser incapaces de hacer progresar el proyecto sobre las Asociaciones, intento de reglamentar la entrada de ordenes religiosas extranjeras en Espana) y preparan asi el camino a la ola reaccionaria del largo gobierno de Maura. En el campo de los republicanos, estos han perdido el impulso revolucionario que tuvieron en 1903, sus divisiones se acentuan con la crisis de la Union republicana y la dimision de Salmeron, el ultimo de los patricios republicanos.
Direct Antibody Access to the HIV-1 Membrane-Proximal External Region Positively Correlates with Neutralization Sensitivity

On the prereceptor-engaged HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike, epitope access by the membrane-proximal external region (MPER)-directed broadly neutralizing antibodies 2F5 and 4E10 remains unresolved. Data on binding to cell surface Env and entry data using primary isolates suggest inaccessibility of the 2F5 and 4E10 epitopes on the viral spike prior to receptor engagement, but trimer gel shift analysis and slow kinetics of shedding induced by 2F5 and 4E10 indicate otherwise. Therefore, it remains unclear if the epitopes themselves are formed in their antibody-bound state (or at least sampled) prior to receptor/coreceptor engagement or if receptor interactions both expose and form the MPER epitopes, presumably in the putative prefusion transitional intermediate. Here, we performed antibody-virus “washout experiments” using both lab-adapted and a panel of clade B primary isolates to analyze MPER accessibility. The neutralization activity of 2F5 and 4E10 against lab-adapted viruses and sensitive and moderately resistant viruses was largely unaffected by relatively rapid antibody-virus washing, suggesting direct interaction with the “static” spike. However, for more neutralization-resistant viruses, the 2F5 and 4E10 antibodies could neutralize only under the “no antibody-virus wash” conditions, implying that the MPER epitopes were not accessible prior to receptor engagement. Accessibility in the washout conditions could be precisely predicted by the relative resistance to neutralization in a standard neutralization format. These data are consistent with a model in which the local MPER antibody epitope conformations may be sampled on the native spike but are occluded to antibody by local steric or distal quaternary constraints adopted by highly resistant HIV-1 isolates.
Treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas involving the transverse and sigmoid sinuses by transvenous embolization: results in 20 patients

Obliteration of symptomatic dural fistulas involving the sigmoid and transverse sinuses by transvenous embolization has been performed in selected cases at our institution since 1986. We report the results of this new treatment in 20 patients who underwent this procedure.
U.S. Elementary and Secondary Schools: Equalizing Opportunity or Replicating the Status Quo?.

Although education pays off handsomely in the United States, children from low-income families attain less education than children from more advantaged families. In this article, Cecilia Elena Rouse and Lisa Barrow investigate why family background is so strongly linked to education. The authors show that family socioeconomic status affects such educational outcomes as test scores, grade retention, and high school graduation, and that educational attainment strongly affects adult earnings. They then go on to ask why children from more advantaged families get more or better schooling than those from less advantaged families. For low-income students, greater psychological costs, the cost of forgone income (continuing in school instead of getting a job), and borrowing costs all help to explain why these students attain less education than more privileged children. And these income-related differences in costs may themselves be driven by differences in access to quality schools. As a result, U.S. public schools tend to reinforce the transmission of low socioeconomic status from parents to children. Policy interventions aimed at improving school quality for children from disadvantaged families thus have the potential to increase social mobility. Despite the considerable political attention paid to increasing school accountability, as in the No Child Left Behind Act, along with charter schools and vouchers to help the children of poor families attend private school, to date the best evidence suggests that such programs will improve student achievement only modestly. Based on the best research evidence, smaller class sizes seem to be one promising avenue for improving school quality for disadvantaged students. High teacher quality is also likely to be important. However, advantaged families, by spending more money on education outside school, can and will partly undo policy attempts to equalize school quality for poor and nonpoor children.
Self-organization of teams for free/libre open source software development

This paper provides empirical evidence about how free/libre open source software development teams self-organize their work, specifically, how tasks are assigned to project team members. Following a case study methodology, we examined developer interaction data from three active and successful FLOSS projects using qualitative research methods, specifically inductive content analysis, to identify the task-assignment mechanisms used by the participants. We found that 'self-assignment' was the most common mechanism across three FLOSS projects. This mechanism is consistent with expectations for distributed and largely volunteer teams. We conclude by discussing whether these emergent practices can be usefully transferred to mainstream practice and indicating directions for future research.
Sensitization of Tumor Cells to NK Cell-Mediated Killing by Proteasome Inhibition

Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor that has direct antitumor effects. We and others have previously demonstrated that bortezomib could also sensitize tumor cells to killing via the death ligand, TRAIL. NK cells represent a potent antitumor effector cell. Therefore, we investigated whether bortezomib could sensitize tumor cells to NK cell-mediated killing. Preincubation of tumor cells with bortezomib had no effect on short-term NK cell killing or purified granule killing assays. Using a 24-h lysis assay, increases in tumor killing was only observed using perforin-deficient NK cells, and this increased killing was found to be dependent on both TRAIL and FasL, correlating with an increase in tumor Fas and DR5 expression. Long-term tumor outgrowth assays allowed for the detection of this increased tumor killing by activated NK cells following bortezomib treatment of the tumor. In a tumor purging assay, in which tumor:bone marrow cell mixtures were placed into lethally irradiated mice, only treatment of these mixtures with a combination of NK cells with bortezomib resulted in significant tumor-free survival of the recipients. These results demonstrate that bortezomib treatment can sensitize tumor cells to cellular effector pathways. These results suggest that the combination of proteasome inhibition with immune therapy may result in increased antitumor efficacy.
REPARE: Regenerator Placement and Routing Establishment in Translucent Networks

Most research works in routing and design of optical networks assume that the optical medium can carry data signals without any bit error. However, physical impairments of the optical signal introduced by optical fibers and components, e.g., power loss, noise, and dispersions, impose fundamental constraints in WDM networks, and must be taken into consideration in the routing and design problems of WDM networks. Only through 3R (optical-electrical-optical) regeneration (reamplification, reshaping, retiming) with OEO conversion can a lightpath be recovered from those impairments. Because 3R regenerators are costly devices and the OEO conversion can affect the efficiency of optical networks we need to use the regenerators efficiently and effectively. In this paper, we study the problem of placing the minimum number of regenerators to accommodate all requests with the consideration of physical impairments. We first propose a novel ILP formulation for an optimal solution and a benchmark for this problem. We then provide an effective heuristic for largesized WDM networks. Simulation results show that our schemes have good performance in terms of network design and running time.
In vitro evaluation of long-term bonding of Procera AllCeram alumina restorations with a modified resin luting agent

Abstract Statement of Problem. Bonded densely sintered aluminum oxide ceramic restorations such as Procera AllCeram laminates rely on a strong and long-term durable resin bond. Air particle abrasion and a phosphate-modified resin luting agent have the potential to provide such bonds to aluminum oxide ceramics, but their efficacy on the Procera AllCeram intaglio surface is unknown. The inherent microroughness of this surface may influence bond strengths, because micromechanical interlocking is a main contributor for adhesion of resins to ceramic materials. Purpose. This study evaluated the bond strength of a phosphate-modified resin luting agent with and without silanization to an air particle-abraded Procera AllCeram intaglio surface compared with a conventional resin-bonding system before and after artificial aging. Material and Methods. Sixty square (10 × 10 × 2 mm) specimens of Procera AllCeram alumina ceramic with the Procera intaglio surface were air particle abraded with aluminum oxide. Composite cylinders (2.9 mm in diameter and 3.0 mm in width) were fabricated with Z-250 composite and bonded to the ceramic specimens with either Panavia 21 TC or Rely X ARC (control) and their corresponding bonding/silane coupling agents. In addition, Panavia was used without silanization as suggested in similar studies. Subgroups of 10 specimens were stored in distilled water for either 3 or 180 days before shear bond strength was tested with a universal testing machine (MPa) until fracture. The 180-day specimens were subjected to thermocycling at 2000 cycles every 30 days (12,000 cycles total). Data were analyzed with 1-way analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparison (α=.05). Failure modes were examined with a light microscope (original magnification × 25). Results. Differences between short-term and long-term groups were highly significant ( P =.000). Bond strength with Rely X ARC and its silane coupling agent (22.75 ± 4 MPa) decreased significantly ( P =.000) after artificial aging (3.32 ± 3.62 MPa). Panavia 21 after silanization revealed significantly different ( P =.003) early (21.42 ± 4.3 MPa) and late (16.09 ± 2.37 MPa) bond strengths but achieved the highest bond strength after artificial aging. Bond strengths of Panavia without silanization both early (8.06 ± 2.1 MPa) and late (6.91 ± 2.49 MPa) were not significantly different. Failure modes were mainly adhesive at the ceramic surface for all groups. Conclusion. Panavia 21 in combination with its corresponding bonding/silane coupling agent can achieve an acceptable resin bond to the air particle-abraded intaglio surface of Procera AllCeram restorations after artificial aging, which had mixed effects on the other investigated groups. The conventional resin luting agent revealed the most dramatic decrease in bond strength. (J Prosthet Dent 2003;89:381-7.)
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells prime IL-10–producing T regulatory cells by inducible costimulator ligand

Although there is evidence for distinct roles of myeloid dendritic cells (DCs [mDCs]) and plasmacytoid pre-DCs (pDCs) in regulating T cell–mediated adaptive immunity, the concept of functional DC subsets has been questioned because of the lack of a molecular mechanism to explain these differences. In this study, we provide direct evidence that maturing mDCs and pDCs express different sets of molecules for T cell priming. Although both maturing mDCs and pDCs upregulate the expression of CD80 and CD86, only pDCs upregulate the expression of inducible costimulator ligand (ICOS-L) and maintain high expression levels upon differentiation into mature DCs. High ICOS-L expression endows maturing pDCs with the ability to induce the differentiation of naive CD4 T cells to produce interleukin-10 (IL-10) but not the T helper (Th)2 cytokines IL-4, -5, and -13. These IL-10–producing T cells are T regulatory cells, and their generation by ICOS-L is independent of pDC-driven Th1 and Th2 differentiation, although, in the later condition, some contribution from endogenous IL-4 cannot be completely ruled out. Thus, in contrast to mDCs, pDCs are poised to express ICOS-L upon maturation, which leads to the generation of IL-10–producing T regulatory cells. Our findings demonstrate that mDC and pDCs are intrinsically different in the expression of costimulatory molecules that drive distinct types of T cell responses.
Subcritical crack growth and other time- and environment-dependent behavior in crustal rocks

Stable crack growth strongly influences both the fracture strength of brittle rocks and some of the phenomena precursory to catastrophic failure. Quantification of the time and environment dependence of fracture propagation is attempted with the use of a fracture mechanics technique. Some of the difficulties encountered when applying techniques originally developed for simple synthetic materials to complex materials like rocks are examined. A picture of subcritical fracture propagation is developed that embraces the essential ingredients of the microstructure, a microcrack process zone, and the different roles that the environment plays. To do this, the results of (1) fracture mechanics experiments on five rock types, (2) optical and scanning electron microscopy, (3) studies of microstructural aspects of fracture in ceramics, and (4) exploratory tests examining the time-dependent response of rock to the application of water are examined.
Hyperthermia controlled rapid drug release from thermosensitive magnetic microgels

Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM), a biocompatible and thermosensitive polymer, exhibits reversible volume phase transition from a hydrophilic coil to hydrophobic globule at the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 305 K in an aqueous solution. To produce this conformational change solely by magnetic heating we incorporated magnetite nanoparticles (∼12 nm diameter) in the polymer. These PNIPAM/magnetite nanoparticle composites showed substantial heating when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. We report the non-invasive in vitro controlled release of anti-cancer drug mitoxantrone, which was loaded into the composite, driven solely by the heating induced by the external magnetic field. We found that the temperature of the composite reached 323 K in 4 min by magnetic heating, releasing 4% of the drug in this time, at an average effective release rate of 0.010 mg min−1 (corresponding to 1% per minute). We also present results on thermodynamic and magnetic anomalies near the LCST of the PNIPAM–Fe3O4 composite.
Linking numbers of modular geodesics

We use the identification due to Ghys [7] of the linking numbers of closed geodesics in the modular quotient with the Rademacher function to determine the statistical behavior of these numbers when the geodesics are ordered by their length. In particular, proofs are given of all of the results outlined in the letter [23].
The Association between Weight, Physical Activity, and Stress and Variation in the Length of the Menstrual Cycle

The association between weight, physical activity, and stress and variation in the length of the menstrual cycle was prospectively examined in 166 college women, aged 17-19 years, who kept menstrual diaries during their freshman year. The unadjusted probability of a menstrual cycle being longer than 43 days was 5%. Women with a history of long cycles were more likely to have a long cycle during the study (odds ratio (OR) = 4.3). Stressors, characterized by situations which create a demand for performance or require adjustments to new demands, also increased the risk of a long cycle. Odds ratios for gain events and for coping with multiple performance demands (2 vs. 0) were 1.9. Starting college increased the risk of long cycles (OR = 2.3) regardless of whether a woman had left home. Moderate exercise minimally increased the probability of a long cycle (OR = 1.1, 75th vs. 50th percentiles). Change in weight (OR = 1.9) and being overweight (OR = 1.2, 15% above standard weight for height) were independently associated with the probability of long cycles. When 17- to 43-day cycles were evaluated, a history of long cycles lengthened expected cycle length by 1.42 days, while dieting, living on campus, and starting college tended to shorten expected length by 1.38, 0.90, and 0.64 days, respectively. Further investigation of the biologic mechanisms that mediate the stress effect is warranted.
Clinical and Hemodynamic Effects of Renin–Angiotensin System Blockade in Cardiac Transplant Recipients

Chronic kidney disease continues to be a major limiting factor for long-term survival of heart transplant recipients. Little is known about the early use of renin–angiotensin system (RAS) blocking agents and their impact on renal function and hemodynamics in heart transplant recipients. In this cohort study all eligible recipients of orthotopic heart transplants at the UTAH cardiac transplantation program from 2001 through 2007 were divided into 2 groups—patients who were started on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers within the first 4 weeks of transplantation and continued on these for ≥4 weeks during the first 3 months (RAS blockade group, n = 75) and those who were not (non-RAS blockade group, n = 52). All patients were followed for 1 year after transplantation. There were no significant differences at baseline between the 2 groups. Estimated glomerular filtration rate at 12 months was significantly higher in the RAS blockade group compared to the non-RAS blockade group (mean ± SD, 56.3 ± 22.4 vs 47.3 ± 18.1 ml/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.036). At 12 months pulmonary artery systolic pressure was significantly lower in the RAS blockade group compared to the non-RAS blockade group (30.2 ± 7.4 vs 32.9 ± 9.3 mm Hg, p = 0.023). Left ventricular ejection fraction and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were similar between the 2 groups. In conclusion, early RAS blockade after heart transplantation is safe, well tolerated, and associated with better renal function and hemodynamic profile at 1 year after transplantation.
Dynamic Evaluation of Pivot-Shift Kinematics in Physeal-Sparing Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Techniques

Background:Conventional transphyseal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction techniques in skeletally immature patients have been questioned because of potential physeal injuries. Consequently, multiple alternative reconstruction options have been described to restore stability while sparing the physes in the skeletally immature patient.Hypothesis:All pediatric reconstruction techniques will restore knee stability to intact levels, and the knee stability index (KSI) will discriminate stability patterns between reconstruction techniques.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:A novel mechanical pivot-shift device (MPSD) that consistently applies dynamic loads to cadaveric knees was used to study the effect of different physeal-sparing ACL reconstruction techniques on knee stability. Six adult cadaveric fresh-frozen knees were used. All knees were tested with 3 physeal-sparing reconstruction techniques: all epiphyseal (AE), transtibial over the top (TT), and iliotibial band (ITB). The MPSD ...
Chronicity of partner violence, contraceptive patterns and pregnancy risk

Abstract Background Partner violence may interfere with a woman's ability to maintain continuous contraception and therefore contribute to increased risk of pregnancy among childbearing women. Study design A retrospective review of medical records (N=2000) was conducted from four family planning clinics in the northeast United States. Eligibility criteria for inclusion were as follows: (1) female, (2) reproductive age (menarche through menopause), (3) seeking reproductive services and (4) clinic visit for annual gynecologic exam between 2006 and 2011. Results Partner violence was documented in 28.5% (n=569) of medical records. Chronicity of violence influenced contraceptive patterns and pregnancy risk. Women reporting past year partner violence only [odds ratio (OR)=10.2] and violence during the last 5 years (OR=10.6) had the highest odds of not using a current method of contraception. Women reporting recent exposure to violence were most likely to change birth control methods and use emergency contraception (OR=6.5). Women experiencing any history of violence reported more frequent contraceptive method changes during the previous year. Conclusions A history of partner violence was common among women utilizing family planning services. The chronicity of violence appeared to play a significant role in contraceptive method changes, types of methods used and pregnancy risk. These results may be one explanation for increased pregnancies among women who experience partner violence.
Use of advanced features and perceptions of software quality: an experimental study

An experiment was conducted to investigate the impacts of use of advanced features on perceptions of software quality. Subjects were given the task of planning an information systems development project. They were provided with project management software and given an opportunity to use advanced features. Two levels of task difficulty (high and low), and two levels of performance feedback (positive feedback and no feedback) were manipulated. Results show that when the more advanced features are used, more computing problems and less positive attitudes toward the software are reported. However, the contextual variables show moderating effects on this relationship. Under the condition of either low task difficulty or no performance feedback, the negative relationship between extensiveness of use and attitudes toward the software is statistically significant. >
Healthcare Workers' Perceptions of Information in the Electronic Health Record

Electronic health record (EHR) systems and health information technology (IT) hold unrealized potential for improving the quality, continuity, and safety of medical care; they can also introduce new gaps in care and present unique challenges for healthcare workers. We conducted 14 key informant, semi-structured interviews at a large Veterans Affairs Medical Center and asked healthcare employees why paper use persists despite a fully implemented EHR. In this investigation, we performed a secondary analysis on interview data to identify characteristics of information technology (IT) that are important to support healthcare workflow. As a result of this study, 17 distinct information characteristics emerged; in this document, we provide detail on five characteristics that were often cited as desirable for workflow but insufficiently supported by health IT: 1) customizable, 2) prioritized, 3) trendable, 4) locatable, and 5) accessible. Results from this study reveal key electronic information characteristics ...
Gag Protein Epitopes Recognized by ELA-A-Restricted Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes from Horses with Long-Term Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Infection

Most equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)-infected horses have acute clinical disease, but they eventually control the disease and become lifelong carriers. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are considered an important immune component in the control of infections with lentiviruses including EIAV, but definitive evidence for CTL in the control of disease in carrier horses is lacking. By using retroviral vector-transduced target cells expressing different Gag proteins and overlapping synthetic peptides of 16 to 25 amino acids, peptides containing at least 12 Gag CTL epitopes recognized by virus-stimulated PBMC from six long-term EIAV-infected horses were identified. All identified peptides were located within Gag matrix (p15) and capsid (p26) proteins, as no killing of target cells expressing p11 and p9 occurred. Each of the six horses had CTL recognizing at least one Gag epitope, while CTL from one horse recognized at least eight different Gag epitopes. None of the identified peptides were recognized by CTL from all six horses. Two nonamer peptide epitopes were defined from Gag p26; one (18a) was likely restricted by class I equine leukocyte alloantigen A5.1 (ELA-A5.1) molecules, and the other (28b-1) was likely restricted by ELA-A9 molecules. Sensitization of equine kidney target cells for CTLm killing required 10 nM peptide 18a and 1 nM 28b-1. The results demonstrated that diverse CTL responses against Gag epitopes were generated in long-term EIAV-infected horses and indicated that ELA-A class I molecules were responsible for the diversity of CTL epitopes recognized. This information indicates that multiple epitopes or whole proteins will be needed to induce CTL in horses with different ELA-A alleles in order to evaluate their role in controlling EIAV.
Quality of care in rheumatic diseases: performance measures and improvement.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To acquaint rheumatologists with pay-for-performance and the American College of Rheumatology quality initiative, and to suggest how practice process redesigns and effective measurement of performance and disease outcomes will help rheumatologists document and improve the quality of rheumatic disease care. RECENT FINDINGS: The options for treating rheumatic diseases have improved, but many patients are not achieving optimal outcomes. Pay for performance programs being introduced by Medicare and other insurers will link provider revenues to quality indicators, requiring rheumatologists to measure, document, and improve their patients' outcomes. Expected rheumatology manpower losses will also require greater practice efficiency and increased reliance on inter-disciplinary care teams. Some publications advocate improving healthcare by expanding research to improve knowledge transfer from clinical studies to clinical practice; others suggest continuous process improvement methods to improve delivery of care processes. Practical disease activity measurements and rheumatology practice improvements are being reported that suggest a positive future. SUMMARY: Rheumatologists need to recognize the need to improve delivery of care and patient outcomes, measure and document clinical performance, and learn the methods for managing clinical process improvement.
An inverse scattering solution for dielectric constant of a cylindrical post in a waveguide

An inversion algorithm for the computation of the dielectric constant of a uniform cylindrical object in a rectangular waveguide is presented. Analysis of this problem is motivated by the need for an accurate method to measure the complex dielectric constant of pine needles at microwave frequencies both in situ and in vivo conditions. The inversion technique is based on the method of moments and eigenanalysis which requires the reflection coefficient as input. The objective is to measure the reflection coefficient from a cylinder with known cross section in a rectangular waveguide supporting a TE/sub 10/ mode and then calculate its dielectric constant. Practical aspects of dielectric measurement using this technique is discussed. An HP-8510 network analyzer is used to measure the reflection coefficient of dielectric posts in an X-band waveguide sample-holder.
Geometry of a naked singularity created by standing waves near a Schwarzschild horizon, and its application to the binary black hole problem

The most promising way to compute the gravitational waves emitted by binary black holes (BBHs) in their last dozen orbits, where post-Newtonian techniques fail, is a quasistationary approximation introduced by Detweiler and being pursued by Price and others. In this approximation the outgoing gravitational waves at infinity and downgoing gravitational waves at the holes’ horizons are replaced by standing waves so as to guarantee that the spacetime has a helical Killing vector field. Because the horizon generators will not, in general, be tidally locked to the holes’ orbital motion, the standing waves will destroy the horizons, converting the black holes into naked singularities that resemble black holes down to near the horizon radius. This paper uses a spherically symmetric, scalar-field model problem to explore in detail the following BBH issues: (i) The destruction of a horizon by the standing waves. (ii) The accuracy with which the resulting naked singularity resembles a black hole. (iii) The conversion of the standing-wave spacetime (with a destroyed horizon) into a spacetime with downgoing waves by the addition of a "radiation-reaction field." (iv) The accuracy with which the resulting downgoing waves agree with the downgoing waves of a true black-hole spacetime (with horizon). The model problem used to study these issues consists of a Schwarzschild black hole endowed with spherical standing waves of a scalar field, whose wave frequency and near-horizon energy density are chosen to match those of the standing gravitational waves of the BBH quasistationary approximation. It is found that the spacetime metric of the singular, standing-wave spacetime, and its radiation-reaction-field-constructed downgoing waves are quite close to those for a Schwarzschild black hole with downgoing waves—sufficiently close to make the BBH quasistationary approximation look promising for non-tidally-locked black holes.
Acute myocardial infarction: contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT in a porcine model.

PURPOSE: To assess the role of contrast material–enhanced retrospectively electrocardiographically (ECG) gated multi–detector row computed tomography (CT) in the detection of acute myocardial infarction in a porcine model of total coronary occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven Yorkshire farm pigs were studied with contrast-enhanced retrospectively ECG-gated multi–detector row CT 3 hours after total occlusion of the distal left anterior descending artery (n = 5) or the second diagonal branch (n = 2). Reformatted short-axis end-systolic and end-diastolic CT data sets were assessed for myocardial perfusion deficits, coronary occlusion, and abnormal myocardial wall motion. Perfusion deficits were compared with microsphere-determined blood flow and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC)–stained tissue samples for infarct assessment by using Bland-Altman analysis and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Myocardial perfusion deficits, occlusion of the left anterior descending artery or second diagonal branch, and akine...
Calculus of nonlinear interconnections with applications

Reports progress in the analysis of interconnections of nonlinear systems, employing the chronological formalism. A fundamental observation is the close analogy between feeding outputs of one system back as inputs to another system and the process of Lazard elimination which is at the root of Hall-Viennot bases and chronological products. Possible applications of the algebraic description of interconnections of systems include static and dynamic output feedback, and formal inversions of systems which are of interest for tracking problems. Our description in terms of iterated integral functionals is most readily applicable in the case of nilpotent systems, especially strictly triangular homogeneous systems.
Prognostic factors in metastatic malignant melanoma treated with combined radiation therapy and hyperthermia.

From May 1981 to September 1991, 38 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with combined radiation therapy and hyperthermia to a total of 97 hyperthermia treatment fields. Prior treatments to these sites included surgery (31 patients, 76 fields), chemotherapy (18 patients, 54 fields), immunotherapy (14 patients, 42 fields) and radiation therapy (7 patients, 13 hyperthermia fields). Hyperthermia was given to fields located in the head and neck region, trunk and extremities in 30, 45 and 22 cases, respectively. Nodular-diffuse tumours were present in 86 fields while 11 fields were treated for microscopic residual tumour deposits. Concurrent radiation therapy was given in 180–400 cGy per fraction, 2–5 times per week for a mean total dose of 4098 cGy per field. Hyperthermia treatments were delivered using either microwave or ultrasound devices (286 and 48 treatments, respectively) with a mean (range) of 3. 4 (1–14) hyperthermia treatments per field for a mean (range) of 43 (10–70) min per fi...
Outcomes of Bone Grafting of Bone Cysts After Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

Background:The operative treatment of bone cysts after total ankle replacements (TAR) is not well described. Bone cysts may cause component migration, implant failure, and pain. Surgery is performe...
Introduction to Part Three

Substantive theory deals with the content theory in ecological design and planning, or, put differently, the theoretical foundation on which ecological planning is grounded. The selected readings in this section have been influential in advancing the theoretical foundations of ecological design and planning. The six readings address well-known themes, including aesthetics, culture, design, ecology, fitness, and place.
Getting Help with Their Homework: Schools, Lower Courts, and the Supreme Court Justices Look for Answers Under the Establishment Clause

The Supreme Court has held that the vigilant protection of constitutional freedoms is nowhere more vital than in the community of American schools. The Court has stated that it has been particularly vigilant in monitoring compliance with the Establishment Clause in elementary and secondary schools, where students are impressionable and their attendance is involuntary. Yet, the Court's Establishment Clause jurisprudence, at least in the last two decades, has lacked clarity, certainty, and consistency. The Court's last decision of the century and the first three decisions of the new millennium illustrate this judicial dissension. An analysis of those four Supreme Court decisions, as well as the lower court decisions that have subsequently grappled with Establishment Clause issues in the school context reflect the Court's sometimes shifting, and usually divided, Establishment Clause jurisprudence. In looking at those cases, certain major questions or areas of uncertainty may be identified. Focusing on these questions highlights the areas of divisiveness among the various Justices and may help the lower courts to resolve the confusion spawned by the Supreme Court Establishment Clause opinions. This Article will examine those four Supreme Court decisions, the major questions remaining, and the efforts of the lower courts in addressing religious issues in the school context.
Midstream Mediator Evaluations and Informed Consent

This article explores one facet of informed consent: what principles guide a mediator in responsibly performing the duty of ensuring the parties give their informed consent prior to a mediator providing an opinion on the merits of a question once a mediation is underway. This article highlights how ensuring informed consent for mediator evaluations both minimizes the possibility of harm and maximizes the possibility of self-determination. Parties should have a meaningful choice regarding whether the mediator uses the tool of opinion-giving and should be aware of the dangers involved when they make that choice.
A Review of the Genus Spaniomyia (Diptera: Stratiomydae)

The genus Spaniomyia Kert©sz is reviewed, Clitellaria obesa Walker (= Spaniomyia obesa , New Combination) is transferred, and a key is provided to distinguish the 3 species of Spaniomyia .
Cultivation of L strain (Earle) mouse cells in bacteriological media combined with horse serum.

SummaryThe combination of 0.1% yeast extract and 0.1% proteose peptone #3 in Hanks'balanced salt solution plus 20% horse serum stimulated the rate of growth and produced a higher total count of L cells at the end of 5 days than did the standard reference medium (60% medium 199, 20% whole egg ultrafiltrate, and 20% horse serum). Lowering the serum content in the new medium to 10% still permitted better growth than the standard reference medium. The yeast extract-proteose peptone solution could be sterilized by autoclaving without affecting its growth-stimulating properties.
Non-axisymmetric instability of rotating black holes in higher dimensions

We calculate the scalar-gravitational quasinormal modes of equal angular momenta Myers-Perry black holes in odd dimensions. We find a new bar-mode (non-axisymmetric) classical instability for $D\ensuremath{\ge}7$. These black holes were previously found to be unstable to axisymmetric perturbations for spins very near extremality. The bar-mode instability we find sets in at much slower spins, and is therefore the dominant instability of these black holes. This instability has important consequences for the phase diagram of black holes in higher dimensions.
Treatment of Chronic Eczema with 308 nm Excimer Laser

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of 308 nm excimer laser on the chronic eczema.Methods Twenty-eight patients with chronic eczema were treated by a 308 nm excimer laser which was performed two times per week,and continued totally for 15 times.Follow-ups were scheduled on 3 months after the treatment.The therapeutic effect and safety were evaluated.Results(1)After 5,10 and 15 times of treatment,the effective rate of 28 patients with chronic eczema was 42.9%,64.3% and 85.7%,respectively.(2)After 5,10 and 15 times of treatment,the eczema area and severity index (EASI) scores of 28 patients with chronic eczema were(1.49±1.30),(0.88±1.08) and (0.48±0.70),respectively.The scores after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment(P0.05).(3)After 15 times of treatment,the improved rate of EASI in the erythema type and the plaque type of chronic eczema was(99.93±0.26)% and (70.84±16.09)%,respectively,the former was higher than the latter(P0.01).(4)After 15 times of treatment,the average cumulative dose of excimer laser in the erythema type and plaque type of chronic eczema was (4.75±2.20) J/cm2 and (13.74±4.99) J/cm2,respectively,the former was also higher than the latter(P0.05).ConclusionsThe clinical data demonstrate that the treatment of 308 nm excimer laser is safe and effective.The efficacy on the erythema type of chronic eczema is better than on the plaque type.
Apoptosis--new opportunities for novel therapeutics for heart diseases.

Apoptosis as defined by contemporary science describes a form of cell death that involves discrete genetic and molecular programs, de novo protein expression and unique cellular phenotype. Evidence for the existence of apoptosis in the human heart has been reported in various cardiac diseases, including ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure, myocardial infarction and arrhythmias. Among the most potent stimuli that elicit cardiomyocyte apoptosis are: oxygen radicals (including NO), cytokines, (e.g., TNFα, FAS) neurohormonal factors (angiotension II), cardiotoxic drugs (e.g., doxorubicin) and mechanical, stretch situations. Several complex signal transduction pathways have been implicated in execution of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Most prominent are: 1) Tyrosine kinase receptors (TRK) induced signaling involving stress or mitogen activated protein kinases (SAPK/MARK) and sphingolipids metabolites (ceramide); 2) G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling (Gαi, Gαq) and 3) NFK B activation. Apoptosis of cardiac myoctyes may contribute to progressive pump-failure, arrhythmias and cardiac remodeling. The recognition of diverse molecular targets associated with cardiomyocyte apoptosis provide new opportunities for pharmacologic manipulation, that may lead to discovery and development of therapeutic strategies for treatment of heart failure, arrhythmias and myocardial infarction.
Beyond the State: Addressing Security in Contemporary Africa

There is a tendency among those studying security to dichotomize choices; state or individual as referent; internal or external threats; military or non-military approaches; international and national politics as either inherently conflict-driven or fundamentally non-violent. Moving beyond this binary view of the world, this paper seeks to establish links between these politically and historically constructed dichotomies. Further, it argues that security in the non-western world is more about this connection rather than one point or the other. The security of the individual affects the security of the community. The threat to the internal security of a state has huge repercussions for international security. This paper looks beyond the state in attempting to address security issues affecting the individual in Africa.
Nonverbal Cues as Linguistic Context: An Information-Processing View

(1982). Nonverbal Cues as Linguistic Context: An Information-Processing View. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 6, Communication Yearbook 6, pp. 63-91.
Testing the apparent resistance of three dominant plants to chronic drought on the Colorado Plateau

Summary Many drylands, including the south-western United States, are projected to become more water-limited as these regions become warmer and drier with climate change. Such chronic drought may push individual species or plant functional types beyond key thresholds leading to reduced growth or even mortality. Indeed, recent observational and experimental evidence from the Colorado Plateau suggests that C3 grasses are the most vulnerable to chronic drought, while C4 grasses and C3 shrubs appear to have greater resistance. The effects of chronic, or press-drought are predicted to begin at the physiological level and translate up to higher hierarchical levels. To date, the drought resistance of C4 grasses and C3 shrubs in this region has been only evaluated at the community level and thus we lack information on whether there are sensitivities to drought at lower hierarchical levels. In this study, we tested the apparent drought resistance of three dominant species (Pleuraphis jamesii, a C4 rhizomatous grass; Coleogyne ramosissima, a C3 drought-deciduous shrub; and Ephedra viridis, a C3 evergreen shrub) to an ongoing experimental press-drought (-35% precipitation) by comparing individual-level responses (ecophysiology and growth dynamics) to community-level responses (plant cover). For all three species, we observed consistent responses across all hierarchical levels: P. jamesii was sensitive to drought across all measured variables, while the shrubs C. ramosissima and E. viridis had little to no responses to the experimental press-drought at any given level. Synthesis. Our findings suggest that the apparent drought resistance at higher hierarchical levels, such as cover, may serve as good proxies for lower-level responses. Furthermore, it appears the shrubs are avoiding drought, possibly by utilizing moisture at deeper soil layers, while the grasses are limited to shallower layers and must endure the drought conditions. Give this differential sensitivity to drought, a future with less precipitation and higher temperatures may increase the dominance of shrubs on the Colorado Plateau, as grasses succumb to chronic water stress.