cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Situationism, going mental, and modal akrasia

Virtue ethics prescribes cultivating global and behaviorally efficacious character traits, but John Doris (Nous 32:504–530, 1998; Lack of character: personality and moral behavior. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002) and others argue that situationist social psychology shows this to be infeasible. Here, I show how certain versions of virtue ethics that ‘go mental’ can withstand this challenge as well as Doris’ (Philos Stud 148:135–146, 2010) further objections. The defense turns on an account of which psychological materials constitute character traits and which the situationist research shows to be problematically variable. Many situationist results may be driven by impulsive akrasia produced by low-level (in some cases even perceptual), emotionally induced ignorance about one’s situation, and some may be driven by a further subtype: modal akrasia. Many subjects in the infamous Milgram experiments, e.g., seem to have recognized what the virtuous thing to do was and that they should do it, and only failed to do it because their emotions prevented them from seeing (or at least from recognizing, at the level of deliberation) that they could. If the primary constituents of character traits are higher-level mental dispositions involved in deliberation, though, then the results don’t show that these psychological materials are problematically variable.
Treatment of Facial Palsies With External Eyelid Weights

Purpose Because ocular exposure is a major complication of facial paralysis, an external gold eyelid load weight was evaluated for effectiveness in the treatment of this problem. Methods We prospectively studied 12 patients with unilateral facial paralysis who were treated with the external eyelid weights. Follow-up examinations included corneal exposure, amount of artificial tear usage, patient comfort, and complications associated with the weights. Treatment end points were the patient's decision to undergo a canthoplasty or placement of an implanted weight or resolution of the facial paresis to better than House's grade IV/VI. Results Of the 12 patients studied, ten had decreased corneal exposure on the affected side, with a coincident decrease in artificial tear drop use and increased comfort. One patient had no improvement in a corneal defect, and one was unable to apply the weight. Five patients had some difficulty in positioning the weight, which was related to upper eyelid dermatochalasis in four of the five. Only two weights were lost in over two years of total wearing time. Conclusions External eyelid weights are useful in the treatment of ocular exposure associated with facial paralysis. The weights decreased corneal exposure, decreased reliance on artificial tear drops, and increased patient comfort. The weights were helpful as a trial before implantation of eyelid weights and as a longer-term treatment for ocular exposure in patients with temporary facial paralysis. Loose upper eyelid skin may limit their usefulness in some patients.
Effect of Ag and Cu Concentrations on Creep of Sn-Based Solders

The creep behavior of Sn1Ag0.5Cu, Sn2.5Ag1Cu and Sn4Ag0.5Cu ball grid array (BGA) solder balls and 99.99% pure polycrystalline Sn bulk was studied using impression creep. The microstructures of the as-reflowed solders was characterized. It was found that SnAgCu solders consist of primary dendrites/grains of β-Sn, and a eutectic microconstituent comprising fine Ag3 Sn and Cu6 Sn5 particles in β. With increasing concentrations of Ag and Cu in the alloy, the proportion of the eutectic microconstituent in relation to the primary β phase increases. In pure Sn and Sn-1Ag-0.5Cu, the β grains form the continuous matrix, whereas in Sn2.5Ag1Cu and Sn4Ag0.5Cu, the eutectic microconstituent forms a continuous network around the β grains, which form isolated islands within the eutectic. The steady state creep behavior of the alloys was dominated by the response of the continuous microstructural constituent (β-Sn or solid solution β for pure Sn and Sn1Ag0.5Cu, and the eutectic microconstituent for Sn2.5Ag0.5Cu and Sn4Ag0.5Cu). In general, the steady-state creep rate decreased with increased alloy content, and in particular, the volume fraction of Ag3 Sn and Cu6 Sn5 precipitates. The rate-limiting creep mechanism in all the materials investigated here was core diffusion controlled dislocation climb. However, subtle changes in the stress exponent n and activation energy Q were observed. Pure Sn shows n = 5, Q = 42kJ/mole, Sn1Ag0.5Cu shows n = 5, Q = 61kJ/mole, whereas both Sn2.5Ag1Cu and Sn4Ag0.5Cu show n = 6 and Q = 61kJ/mole. Rationalizations for the observed changes of n and Q are provided, based on the influence of the microstructure and the solute concentrations.© 2007 ASME
Maximizing microelectromechanical sensor and actuator sensitivity by optimizing geometry

Abstract Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) typically consist of sensor and/or actuator units. In many cases these units are made of beams (modeled as springs) and plates that are subject to external pressure fields, such as electric, magnetic, acoustic or hydrodynamic. Frequently, it is possible to find MEMS devices that can be divided into springs, which control the movement of the device, and an active region, where the sensing or actuating takes place. The overall dimension of a device is often constrained to a small area. In this case it is necessary to find the optimal division between the springs and the active region, which occupy this area, in order to maximize the sensitivity of the device. This paper discusses the relations between the sensitivity of area-constrained MEMS devices and their geometry. The analysis is presented for devices in five different measuring modes, capacitance, tunneling, MOS, piezoresistive and piezoelectric, for a fixed-fixed configuration.
Circular cylindrical lens as a line-source electromagnetic-missile launcher

The energy of an electromagnetic pulse transmitted from an antenna of finite size to a distant receiver can decrease more slowly than the usual 1/r/sup 2/ where r represents the distance from the transmission to reception points. An electromagnetic pulse that is characterized by such a slow decrease in energy is referred to as an electromagnetic missile. The possibility of launching an electromagnetic missile from a circular cylindrical lens is analyzed in terms of optical ray tracing. A more precise series solution for the radiation field and its asymptotic approximation is then given in which the analysis is carried out in the frequency domain with no high-frequency limitation using the Helmholtz equations and the boundary conditions. The frequency-domain representation is of a sequency of pulses, not of a single continuous wave; the energy of the total electromagnetic pulse is then obtained by integration over the frequency. After using the asymptotic expansion for unlimited frequency, the radiation field in the far region is shown to be characterized by electromagnetic-missile effects, i.e. the decay of the energy per unit length is slower than 1/r. >
Preparation of ion-to-electron conversion dynodes by plasma anodization

Abstract The apparatus and procedures for preparing aluminum-oxide surfaces on glass substrates by electron-beam evaporation and plasma-anodization techniques are described in detail. Part of the procedures is a method for evaporating adherent gold electrical contact tabs on glass.
Two-layer hydraulics with comparable internal wave speeds

Two-layer hydraulics is developed for problems in which the moving layers can have stagnant layers above and below, the two internal wave modes can have comparable speeds and the total depth of the moving layers may vary. The general development allows both Boussinesq and non-Boussinesq problems to be studied. Solutions are presented in the Froude-number plane and the effect of different layer densities on the form of the solution space is shown. The theory is applied to two-layer plunging flows and a variety of controlled solutions are found. Solutions for the 2½-layer theory and the plunging flow theory are demonstrated experimentally. Shear instability is often observed in the divergent section of the channel.
Laser Flash Photolysis Study of Carboethoxynitrene

Laser flash photolysis (LFP, 266 nm) of carboethoxyazide produces a mixture of the ethoxycarbonyl radical (λmax = 333 nm, τ = 0.4 μs, CF2ClCFCl2, ambient temperature) and triplet carboethoxynitrene (λmax = 400 nm, τ = 1.5 μs, CF2ClCFCl2, ambient temperature). The carbon-centered radical is selectively scavenged by oxygen allowing sole observation of the triplet nitrene. We deduce that the singlet nitrene has a lifetime between 2 and 10 ns in CF2ClCFCl2 at ambient temperature.
Involvement of PKC-β in PTH, TNF-α, and IL-1β effects on IL-6 promoter in osteoblastic cells and on PTH-stimulated bone resorption

Abstract Protein kinase C (PKC) has been shown to be activated by parathyroid hormone (PTH) in osteoblasts. Prior evidence suggests that this activation mediates responses leading to bone resorption, including production of the osteoclastogenic cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, the importance of specific PKC isozymes in this process has not been investigated. A selective antagonist of PKC-β, LY379196, was used to determine the role of the PKC-β isozyme in the expression of IL-6 in UMR-106 rat osteoblastic cells and in bone resorption in fetal rat limb bone organ cultures. PTH, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induced translocation of PKC-α and -βI to the plasma membrane in UMR-106 cells within 5 min. The stimulation of PKC-βI translocation by PTH, TNF-α or IL-1β was inhibited by LY379196. In contrast, LY379196 did not affect PTH, TNF-α-, or IL-1β-stimulated translocation of PKC-α. PTH, TNF-α, and IL-1β increased luciferase expression in UMR-106 cells transiently transfected with a −224/+11 bp IL-6 promoter-driven reporter construct. The IL-6 responses were also attenuated by treatment with LY379196. Furthermore, LY379196 inhibited bone resorption elicited by PTH in fetal rat bone organ cultures. These results indicate that PKC-βI is a component of the signaling pathway that mediates PTH-, TNF-α-, and IL-1β-stimulated IL-6 expression and PTH-stimulated bone resorption.
Bifurcation analysis of flight control systems

Abstract High performance systems, like the F-16, when pushed to their limits encounter qualitative changes in control system properties like loss of controllability or observability. This work identifies and characterizes bifurcations occurring in a nonlinear six degree of freedom F-16 in two scenarios – straight and level flight and in a coordinated turn. Phenomena such as stall, tumbling and spin-roll departure were observed around bifurcation points. This work provides a basis for a formal understanding of how aircraft depart from controlled flight, it is a prerequisite for the systematic design of recovery strategies, and it will contribute to the design of reconfigurable control of impaired aircraft.
SCF-Mediated Degradation of p100 (NF-κB2): Mechanisms and Relevance in Multiple Myeloma

On the basis of differential analysis of affinity purifications by mass spectrometry, we identified the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) protein p100 (NF-κB2) as an interactor of the F-box protein FBXW7α. The NF-κB pathway is important for cell growth, differentiation, and survival. p100, which shuttles between the cytoplasm and nucleus, functions as the primary inhibitor of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway by sequestering NF-κB heterodimers in the cytoplasm. In the absence of NF-κB stimulation, the nuclear pool of p100 is constitutively targeted for degradation by FBXW7α, which recognizes a conserved motif that is phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). Efficient activation of noncanonical NF-κB signaling depends on the clearance of nuclear p100, either through FBXW7α-mediated degradation or nuclear export mediated by a signal in the C terminus of p100. Upon prolonged stimulation of the NF-κB pathway, p100 is stabilized and retained in the nucleus, contributing to the cessation of noncanonical NF-κB signaling. The molecular mechanism of p100 degradation has implications in multiple myeloma, a disease with constitutive activation of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway. Accordingly, expression of a stable p100 mutant, FBXW7α depletion, or chemical inhibition of GSK3 in multiple myeloma cells results in cell death in vitro and in a xenotransplant model. Thus, the FBXW7α-dependent degradation of p100 functions as a prosurvival mechanism through control of NF-κB activity.
The search for new phenomena at the Tevatron

Abstract Presented here are the latest results of searches for new physics phenomena, beyond the Standard Model, in the data collected by the D0 and CDF experiments at the Fermilab Tevatron. New results are presented on the search for large extra dimensions using the ∼100 pb −1 collected during Run I (1992–1996). Preliminary results on the Run II data from the search for first generation leptoquarks are also shown. The sensitivity of both searches with the full expected statistics of Run II is also discussed.
Solutions in chronostratigraphy: the Paleocene/Eocene boundary debate, and Aubry vs. Hedberg on chronostratigraphic principles

Abstract In several recent papers, M.-P. Aubry et al. have argued that “Hedbergian” principles of chronostratigraphy are being violated by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) when selecting Global Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs) for the formal divisions of the geological time scale. The current debate over the definition of the Paleocene/Eocene (P/E) boundary has been a major focus of their arguments. Unfortunately, Aubry et al. have obscured matters by misusing the term “unit stratotype,” and by equivocally using the term “stage” for the very different concepts of “synthem” and “global chronostratigraphic stage.” The P/E boundary option most repugnant to Aubry et al. (Carbon Isotope Excursion (CIE)=P/E=Thanetian/Ypresian boundary) is perfectly compatible with H.D. Hedberg's views. In contrast, another option preferred by Aubry et al. (recognition of new ∼1 m.y. duration age/stage between Thanetian and Ypresian) is inconsistent with Hedberg's views. Additional problems with the P/E boundary arguments of Aubry et al. include the fact that a “Ypresian unit stratotype” does not exist, the fact that the base of the Ypresian synthem is not immutable, and the fact that the nannofossil Tribrachiatus digitalis is of dubious relevance to the boundary debate. As for chronostratigraphy in general, Aubry et al. have misrepresented Hedberg's views by: (1) falsely claiming that the content of a stage is what determines its boundaries; (2) misunderstanding the general concept of the boundary stratotype; (3) distorting the “base defines boundary” principle; (4) falsely claiming that traditional (pre-GSSP) chronostratigraphic boundaries cannot be changed; (5) falsely implying that traditional stage unit stratotype boundaries can be adjusted by no more than 300,000 years when defining formal age/stage boundaries with GSSPs; (6) falsely claiming that the definition of a geochronologic/chronostratigraphic boundary should precede its correlation; (7) claiming that traditional unconformable “stage” boundaries may be suitable horizons for GSSPs; (8) distorting the meaning of “arbitrariness” in regard to the definition of geochronologic/chronostratigraphic boundaries; and (9) claiming that GSSPs are inherently unstable in that they are subject to redefinition whenever a more powerful element of correlation is discovered. If taken seriously, the unit stratotype-sanctifying chronostratigraphic philosophy of Aubry et al. would require the creation of perhaps dozens of new Phanerozoic ages/stages of relatively very short duration wherever there was a significant gap between two successive historical stage unit stratotypes. For all of these reasons, the arguments of Aubry et al. have no merit.
Linguistic Anchors in the Sea of Thought

Language, according to Jackendoff, is more than just an instrument of communication and cultural transmission. It is also a tool which helps us to think. It does so, he suggests, by expanding the range of our conscious contents and hence allowing processes of attention and reflection to focus on items (such as abstract concepts and steps in chains of reasoning) which would not otherwise be available for scrutiny. I applaud Jackendoff s basic vision, but raise some doubts concerning the argument. In particular, I wonder what it is about public language that uniquely fits it to play the functional role which Jackendoff isolates — why couldn't expression in a private inner code induce the same computational benefits? I suggest a weaker position in which the communicative role of public language moulds it into a suitably expressive resource, such that natural language emerges as the logically and technologically contingent filler of a functional role which could, in principle, be filled by other means. I also compare and contrast Jackendoff's position with some related ideas due to Daniel Dennett and others, concluding with a sketch of my own view of language as an external artifact whose computational properties complement those of the basic biological brain.
Sense of Humor and Dimensions of Personality.

Previous researchers have demonstrated relationships between sense of humor and personality. Most have viewed sense of humor from the perspective of humor appreciation. Others have taken the approach that sense of humor has two factors: appreciation and creativity. Our approach has been to look at sense of humor as made up of creativity and several additional elements. The present study reports on the factor analysis of a Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale, as well as correlates of various elements of sense of humor with personality traits assessed by the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. Relationships by humor scale factors are reported, as are differences between those high and low in sense of humor within a sample of 426 individuals, 18 through 90 years of age.
Genetics of migraine and other headache

Recent progress in the genetics of migraine and other headache syndromes occurred in three major areas during the past year: systematic family studies of migraine, large-scale population-based twin studies, and linkage and association studies of familial hemiplegic migraine. Studies of linkage between familial hemiplegic migraine and marker 19p13 in 13 extended families have found a total of seven families with linkage to this region. Three large scale population-based twin studies of headache have revealed that approximately one-half of the variation in migraine could be attributable to additive genes, with the remainder primarily caused by unshared rather than shared environmental factors between twins. Migraine is clearly a complex disease characterized by high population prevalence, an inconclusive mode of transmission, and a lack of clear evidence for phenotypic validity. Increasing knowledge from family and twin studies using contemporary diagnostic methods will help to clarify the factors contributing to the heterogeneity of this condition.
Dynamic Carrier-Assisted Routing in Mobile Networks

We propose to use node mobility to enhance routing capability in a mobile network. A dual-control planes model is presented, which includes the traditional S(stationary)-plane for message routing among stationary nodes using connection-based message routing. In addition, we introduce a new control plane, M(mobile)-plane, for trajectory control of mobile nodes. A message routing consists of a sequence of control plane switches, alternating between store-and-forward in the S-plane and store-carry-forward in the M-plane. Intra-plane and inter-plane communication is performed through contacts. In the M-plane, unlike most existing works that focus on two extremes of spectrums (random movement and tightly controlled movement), our approach focuses on loosely-controlled movement of mobile nodes to assist message routing in a store-carry-forward paradigm. The challenge lies in adapting the degree of control to support a certain degree of flexibility, such as using dynamic node trajectory to maximize route sharing to minimize the number of carriers, while ensuring some desirable global properties, such as short average-moving-distance and a small number of relays to increase network capacity
Increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production in newborn brain during hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is associated with gray and white matter injury in immature brain, but the specific mechanisms responsible for hypoglycemic brain injury remain poorly defined. We postulated that mitochondrial electron transport chain function is altered during hypoglycemia due to the decreased availability of reducing equivalents, and that altered activity of the electron transport chain would increase mitochondrial production of free radicals and lead to mitochondrial oxidant injury. The present study tests the hypothesis that production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by cerebral mitochondria is increased during acute hypoglycemia. Studies were performed in an awake, chronically catheterized newborn piglet model. Hypoglycemia (blood glucose 1 mmol/L for 2 h) was induced using a bolus of intravenous lispro insulin, 25 U/kg. Superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production by mitochondria isolated from cerebral cortex of normoglycemic and hypoglycemic newborn piglets was measured using lucigenin- and luminol-derived chemiluminescence. After 2 h of hypoglycemia, superoxide generation was 60% higher and hydrogen peroxide generation was two-fold higher in mitochondria from hypoglycemia animals than in controls (p < 0.005). These data confirm that the ability of the mitochondria to produce ROS is increased after hypoglycemia in immature brain, and are, to our knowledge, the first evidence that ROS may play a role in brain injury due to neonatal hypoglycemia. Increased mitochondrial ROS production could result in alterations in brain structure and function due to oxidant injury to mitochondrial proteins and DNA or changes in oxidant-sensitive signal transduction pathways in brain.
Peak exercise blood pressure stratified by age and gender in apparently healthy subjects

Objective To determine the peak blood pressure responses during symptom-limited exercise in a large sample of apparently healthy subjects, including both men and women over a wide range of ages. Design We retrospectively studied the blood pressure response during maximal treadmill exercise testing with use of the Bruce protocol in apparently healthy subjects. Material and Methods Peak exercise blood pressures in 7,863 male and 2,406 female apparently healthy subjects who underwent a screening treadmill exercise test with the Bruce protocol between 1988 and 1992 were analyzed by age and gender. Results In this large referral population of apparently healthy subjects, peak exercise systolic and diastolic blood pressures and delta systolic blood pressure (rest to peak exercise) were higher in men than in women and were positively associated with age. In men, the 90th percentile of systolic blood pressure increased from 210 mm Hg for the age decade 20 to 29 years to 234 mm Hg for ages 70 to 79 years; the corresponding increase among women was from 180 mm Hg to 220 mm Hg. Delta diastolic blood pressure also increased with advancing age. The difference in peak and delta systolic blood pressures between men and women seemed to decrease after age 40 to 49 years. Exercise hypotension, defined as peak exercise systolic pressure less than rest systolic pressure, occurred in 0.23x of men and 1.45x of women and was not significantly related to age. Conclusion Overall, peak exercise systolic and diastolic, as well as delta systolic, blood pressures were higher in men than in women and increased with advancing age. The reported data will enable clinicians to interpret more accurately the significance of peak exercise blood pressure response in a subject of a specific age and gender and will allow investigators to define exercise hypertension in statistical terms stratified by age and gender.
Tooth Eruption without Roots

Root development and tooth eruption are very important topics in dentistry. However, they remain among the less-studied and -understood subjects. Root development accompanies rapid tooth eruption, but roots are required for the movement of teeth into the oral cavity. It has been shown that the dental follicle and bone remodeling are essential for tooth eruption. So far, only limited genes have been associated with root formation and tooth eruption. This may be due to the difficulties in studying late stages of tooth development and tooth movement and the lack of good model systems. Transgenic mice with eruption problems and short or no roots can be used as a powerful model for further deciphering of the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying root formation and tooth eruption. Better understanding of these processes can provide hints on delivering more efficient dental therapies in the future.
Qualitative Characteristics of Educationally High-Risk Children12

Research conducted on educationally high-risk and nonrisk children revealed not only quantitative differences between the two populations, but also a range of qualitative differences which characterized the high-risk group. This study describes the factors which qualitatively differentiate the risk- and nonrisk groups. Hall and Keogh also discuss the implications of these identified qualitative characteristics for assessment and intervention.
Effect of ethanol on glycerolipid metabolism in rat liver.

1. 1. Ethanol administration to rats for 4–6 weeks increased hepatic triglyceride, cholesterol, phosphatidylcholine and, in some instances, phosphatidylethanolamine, in comparison with control rats fed an isocaloric liquid diet. Serum concentrations of these lipids were also increased in ethanol-treated rats. 2. 2. Ethanol increased [14C]glycerol incorporation into hepatic triglyceride, phosphatidylcholine and, to a much lesser extent, phosphatidylethanolamine during the first 2 h after isotope administration. 3. 3. Measurements of half-time values for hepatic glycerolipids, obtained using [3H]glycerol, demonstrated that ethanol administration increased the absolute turnover rates of triglyceride and phosphatidylcholine, and increased slightly both absolute and fractional turnover rates of phosphatidylethanolamine. The fractional turnover rates of triglyceride and phosphatidylcholine in ethanol-treated rats were lower, however, than in controls. 4. 4. These observations suggest that the accumulation of glycerolipids in the liver of ethanol-treated rats is due to a relatively greater increase in their rates of synthesis than in their rates of removal.
Shock Compressing Diamond to a Conducting Fluid

Laser generated shock reflectance data show that diamond undergoes a continuous transition from optically absorbing to reflecting between Hugoniot pressures 600<P{sub H}<1000 GPa. The data are consistent with diamond having a thermal population of carriers at P{sub H}{approx}600 GPa, undergoing band overlap metallization at P{sub H}{approx}1000 GPa and melting at 800<P{sub H}<1000 GPa. The results agree well with an equation of state model that predicts that elemental carbon remains solid throughout the interior of Neptune.
Biological Information in a Single Strand of Deoxyribonucleic Acid

INVESTIGATIONS with several virus systems have indicated clearly that only one strand of the double-stranded DNA helix carries the coding for protein synthesis1–4. To distinguish this strand it might be called the ‘coding’ strand since in addition to priming the formation of complementary DNA, its complementary RNA copy contains the information for protein synthesis. The second strand might be called the ‘replicating’ strand, meaning that it serves only to prime the formation of complementary DNA with DNA polymerase.
Fractal Carbon-MEMS Electrodes: Theory and Preliminary Fabrication

Fractal electrode designs are proposed for electrochemical devices. A zeroth-order approximation fractal model is analyzed and basic insights into the scaling laws of the electrical properties and the surface-to-area ratio are derived. Fractal electrodes can minimize internal resistance while maximizing surface to volume ratios. Recent C-MEMS techniques show great promise for use in the fabrication of fractal electrodes for electrochemical applications. Preliminary results showing carbon fractal electrodes fabricated using C-MEMS techniques are presented.
National Identity and Globalization: Youth, State, and Society in Post-Soviet Eurasia

Introduction 1. Global responses to globalization 2. Theoretical assumptions and methods 3. The discourse of globalization and youth culture 4. National youth identity policy 5. Collaborative entrepreneurship 6. Shaping national youth identity on the ground 7. Conclusions.
The neurobiology of sleep

The neurobiology of sleep and narcolepsy is reviewed. Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is generated by neurons in the preoptic region of the hypothalamus and adjacent basal forebrain. Lesions in these regions cause insomnia. Stimulation of these regions rapidly produces sleep onset. The key brain structure for generating REM sleep is the pons and adjacent portions of the midbrain. Damage to the pons and/or caudal midbrain can cause abnormalities in REM sleep. The persistent sleepiness of narcolepsy is a result of a loss of hypocretin function.
Probabilistic bounds for complete scanning in non-raster atomic force microscopy

Non-raster methods in atomic force microscopy seek to reduce imaging time through efficient means of information acquisition. In this work we consider the local raster-scan algorithm for imaging biopolymers and other string-like samples. Through feedback control, the scheme drives the tip along the sample to ensure measurements are collected from information-rich areas. Noise in the system, however, can cause the tip to deviate from the sample and the algorithm to fail. In this paper we use a geometric analysis to derive the probability that a loss of tracking event is due to noise. This probability is expressed in terms of the user-defined scan parameters. In turn, this allows us to quantify the probability that the sample will be scanned completely.
Vibration Mitigation With a Multi-Axial Magnetorheological Mount

This paper presents a multi-axial magnetorheological (MMR) mount. An MMR mount has been developed for use with hydraulic hybrid vehicles (HHV). Like hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), HHV provides better fuel economy. An inherent problem to hydraulic hybrid vehicles is vibration of the hydraulic pump-motor (P/M). This vibration can be classified as shock loading for initial start-up, and periodic vibration over a large frequency range. The latter vibration opportunity can be classified as having large displacement at low frequency and small displacement at high frequency. This requires a stiff mount for the low frequency response and a soft mount for the high frequency response. A single axis magnetorheological (MR) mount has previously been developed and studied by the same group. This was done to develop an understanding of the MR fluid and to discover the limitations of such a mount. Models to predict the experimental results have also been generated. These models show a good correlation to the experimental results. Then, the model has been enhanced from the single axis mount to a multi-axial. This was done by examining the 3-D CAD model to develop the different boundary conditions for the simulation. With a multi-axial magnetorheological mount, damping and stiffness can be altered to yield acceptable transmissibility over the frequency range. This is achieved through the use of an inertia track paired with a pseudo-decoupler. These features are commonly found in a passive hydraulic mount; however through the use of MR fluid, the downfalls of the hydraulic mount can be mitigated, e.g. performance deterioration outside of notch frequency. Additionally, a magnetorheological mount is semi-active so there is an inherent stability to the mount. The MMR mount uses elastomer and MR fluid to achieve the static stiffness to support the P/M and achieve low dynamic stiffness for the high frequency response, which is necessary for a good isolator. The advantages of the use of a multi-axial magnetorheological mount are as follows: fewer mounts are required, stability when compared to an active mount, less power required when compared to an active mount, better isolation when compared to pure elastomeric and passive hydraulic mounts. A model for a multi-axial magnetorheological mount has been developed and simulated. For the purposes of this study, elastomer has been considered to have a linear dynamic response. Additionally, the shock response of the mount has not been considered. Future work includes manufacturing a multi-axial MR mount to verify the simulation results.© 2009 ASME
Using co-solvents and high throughput to maximize protein resistance for poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted poly(ether sulfone) UF membranes

Abstract The surface of poly(ether sulfone) (PES) membranes were modified to reduce protein fouling by grafting poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEG) onto the membrane. Photo-induced graft polymerization (PGP) was used with a recently developed high throughput platform (HTP). To optimize and improve PEG protein resistance, four different co-solvent additives (dimethyl chloride (DCM), dimethylene formamide (DMF), dimethylene sulfoxide (DMSO) and N -methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)) were mixed with aqueous PEG solution in order to examine co-solvent effects on grafting and filtration performance of PES- g -PEG surfaces. Bovine serum albumin (BSA, 1 mg mL −1 ) was used as model “foulant” protein and DI water and PBS filtration resistance and protein sieving were measured. The intensity of fouling was quantified by a fouling index ( R ) and correlated with the degree of grafting (DG) using FTIR-ATR spectra. Lower R values were observed for grafting PEG in the presence of co-solvents than in their absence. The lowest fouling index ( R = 0.03 ± 0.04) was with a 0.2 mol L −1 PEG and 0.15 mol L −1 DCM mixture, where the DG was 0.05 ± 0.005. As differences in Hansen solubility parameters reflect, the high affinity of co-solvent with PEG and with PES appears to result in lower fouling. Also, weak affinity between co-solvent and water helps maximize the fouling index suppression. The results reported here are significant because they demonstrate that co-solvents can increase the anti-fouling properties of PEG-grafted PES membranes beyond that possible with PEG alone (up to 86% decrease in R ) and far better than that with commercial PES membranes (up to 97% decrease in R ). Of the four PEG-solvent pairs used to modify the PES membranes, PEG–DMF and PEG–DCM exhibited lower fouling than the others and the control (PEG alone) at the expense of lower permeation flux, while PEG–DCM was the best compromise with respect to anti-fouling properties, permeability, and protein permeation, i.e. maximizing protein capture in the permeate.
Electron microscopy analyses of natural and highly oriented pyrolytic graphites and the mechanically exfoliated graphenes produced from them

Abstract The microstructure of natural graphite (NG) and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) blocks, and their mechanically exfoliated graphenes, prepared by only one stamping on a meshed Cu grid, was investigated using dual beam scanning electron microscope/focus ion beam (SEM/FIB) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Channeling contrast enhanced SEM/FIB images and cross section TEM micrographs showed that HOPGs have very shallow grains, less than 30 nm in thickness and 6–30 μm in size, while NGs have grains larger than mm in size with some folded layers. In order to understand the structure of exfoliated graphene, an observation along the z-axis of lattice on suspended membranes was conducted. Through the aid of diffraction pattern (DP) simulations, demonstrating the dependency of the intensity ratio between { 11 2 ¯ 0 } and { 1 1 ¯ 00 } on the number of layers and stacking sequences, a suspended monolayer could be distinguished from a multilayer. With the observations of unfolded graphene edges, we found that the graphene edges always have a roughness below a nanometer despite their straight feature in a low magnification view and have no preferential direction. DP and HREM analyses of folded edges in NG membranes also revealed that the folding direction is arbitrary and graphite is mostly stacked with AB sequence.
Symmetric and asymmetric DNA methylation in the human IGF2-H19 imprinted region.

The two contiguous IGF2 (human insulin-like growth factor II) and H19 genes are reciprocally imprinted in both human and mouse. In most tissues, IGF2 is transcribed only from the paternal chromosome while H19 is transcribed only from the maternal allele. The presence of a differential methylation region (DMR) on the two parental alleles at the 5' flanking region of H19 has been proposed to constitute the gametic imprint, which controls the reciprocal allelic expression of the two genes. Using bisulfite genomic sequencing, we have assessed the methylation status of cytosine (including 154 CpG sites) in six CpG-rich regions of the human IGF2-H19 genes. In a CpG island near promoter P3 of the IGF2 gene, more than 99.8% of all cytosines were converted to thymidine by sodium bisulfite mutagenesis, indicating that none of the CpGs was methylated. In the IGF2 exon 8-9 region, mosaic methylation of 56 CpG sites was observed in fetal tissues and in adult blood DNA. In contrast to the mosaic methylation of IGF2, the allelic methylation of the human H19 DMR was uniform. In the CpG region located 2 kb upstream (-2362 to -1911) of the H19 transcription site, all 25 CpG sites were completely methylated on only one parental allele. Uniform allele-specific methylation was also observed in the CpG island proximal to the H19 promoter (-711 to -290) with complete methylation of all 25 CpG sites in one parental allele. In contrast, the CpG region in the H19 promoter (-292 to +15) was mosaically methylated in all tissues. In addition, cytosine was methylated at three CpNpG and GpNpC sites on the top DNA strand and one CpNpG site on the bottom DNA strand from the fetal brain. The cytosines at CpG sites were methylated on both DNA strands (symmetric methylation) while cytosines at the CpNpG and GpNpC sites were methylated on only one DNA strand (asymmetric methylation). The asymmetric methylation was associated with tissue-specific disruption of H19 genomic imprinting in fetal brain.
Choosing a prior for a binomial testing problem with incomplete knowledge

Abstract Let X be binomial (n, p), with n known. Suppose we wish to test H: P = against K: p ≠ . We consider the problem of choosing a prior distribution for p. Using a theory which introduces certain ideas of the Neyman-Pearson approach to Bayesian testing, it is shown that one need not specify a prior exactly, but only an equivalence class of priors. The equivalence class of the uniform prior over K allows us to specify certain situations involving only partial knowledge about the parameter in which one can use the uniform as the appropriate prior.
Mitogen activated protein kinases of Aspergillus fumigatus

In microbial eukaryotes, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways play a pivotal role in regulating cellular physiology. In fungi MAPK pathways have established functions in mating-pheromone responses, maintaining cell wall integrity, responding to changes in osmolarity and nutrient sensing. We have been studying MAPK functions in the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The genome of A. fumigatus has four MAPK genes, sakA/hogA, mpkA, mpkB and mpkC. Deletion of the sakA gene produces a strain that does not correctly regulate conidial germination, sense environmental nitrogen or responds to hypertonic stress. The function of the remaining MAPK genes is still under investigation, but by analogy to work in other filamentous fungi, we speculate as to their possible functions in A. fumigatus.
An Educational Intervention to Improve Residents' Inpatient Charting.

Objective: This report describes an educational intervention designed to improve psychiatry residents’ inpatient charting skills. Methods: The residency training committee formed a multidisciplinary team to study the problem by using quality improvement principles. The team hypothesized that residents’ charting would improve with education about the purpose of the medical record and instruction on the specific components to document. The team designed an educational intervention to train residents to record five items in the chart of every inpatient: an admission note, an off-service note, descriptions of medication changes, daily progress notes, and the name and discipline of the individual recording these items. Prior to the educational intervention, a chart abstractor determined the frequency, with which residents charted the five items. Additional chart audits were conducted 1 month and 6 months following education. Results: Compliance in charting four of the five items improved significantly 1 month after education, and the improvement was maintained after 6 months. Conclusion: An educational intervention that is planned and implemented by a multidisciplinary team can enhance an area of resident performance that affects patient care.
Interferon-beta1b for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating autoimmune disorder that causes disability in young adults. Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of IFN-β1b in the management of relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple scleroses and clinical isolated syndrome. Methods: A MEDLINE (1966 – May 2007) search of clinical trials using the terms ‘multiple sclerosis’ and ‘interferon’ was performed. Manual bibliographic search was conducted. English-language articles were evaluated. Results: IFN-β1b is more efficacious than placebo and at least as efficacious as IFN-β1a or glatiramer for the management of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. IFN-β1b also delayed the time to diagnosis of definite multiple sclerosis and reduced brain lesion burden in patients with clinical isolated syndrome. More long-term, large scale clinical data are warranted to ascertain its relative efficacy compared to other treatments. Conclusion: IFN-β1b is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis. Common side e...
Soft Magnetic Properties of Fe-5 wt%Al Alloy

In this investigation, a new soft magnetic material (iron with 5 wt% aluminum) has been developed using powder metallurgy processing. The microstructure and the magnetic properties of this new P/M alloy have been characterized at both room and elevated temperatures (up to 500°C). The influence of post-sintering (after initial processing) on the porosity and magnetic properties of this material has also been examined. Test results show that the room temperature soft magnetic properties of this alloy are comparable to other commercially available soft magnetic materials such as P/M pure Fe, Fe–Si, Fe–P, etc. Post-sintering at 1316°C resulted in significant grain growth and lower porosity with more rounded pore morphology and improved the magnetic properties. While the magnetic induction of the alloy was essentially constant from room temperature to 500°C, the coercivity of the material decreased significantly at elevated temperature. This new P/M alloy may be a suitable soft magnetic material for high tempe...
Effects of Pubertal Status and Conversation Topic on Parent and Adolescent Affective Expression

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between adolescent pubertal status and the expression of positive and negative affect by parents and adolescents. Parents and adoles...
Fall risk assessment using the Tinetti mobility test in individuals with Huntington's disease

The Tinetti Mobility Test (TMT) is a clinical balance and gait test that predicts fall risk in the elderly. This study examined the concurrent validity, usefulness of the TMT as a fall risk screening tool, and the potential ability of the TMT to predict falls in individuals with Huntington's disease (HD). Data from a retrospective review of 94 patient records were used. TMT scores were correlated with Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) motor scores. The ability of the TMT to accurately assess fall risk was determined using validity index measures. Logistic regression was used to assess the ability of the TMT to predict falls. TMT scores correlated with UHDRS motor scores (r(s) = -0.751, P < 0.0001). Using a cutoff value of 21, the TMT had a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 60% to identify fallers. Lower TMT scores and younger age were significant predictors of falls. The TMT is a valid tool for assessing balance and gait status and fall risk of individuals with HD.
Optimal State Estimators for Linear Systems with Unknown Inputs

We present a method for constructing linear minimum-variance unbiased state estimators for discrete-time linear stochastic systems with unknown inputs. Our design provides a characterization of estimators with delay, which eases the established necessary conditions for existence of unbiased estimators with zero-delay. A consequence of using delayed estimators is that the noise affecting the system becomes correlated with the estimation error. We handle this correlation by increasing the dimension of the estimator appropriately.
Gluino mass from dynamical supersymmetry breaking.

We present a new mechanism for gluino mass generation in models of dynamical supersymmetry breaking. The mechanism requires two colored chiral superfields which feel a non-Abelian gauge interaction such that a fermion condensate is formed at a scale of order 1 TeV. Renormalizable hidden sector models, which typically yield unacceptably light gauginos, become viable if a gauge singlet is coupled to these chiral superfields. Moreover, the interactions of the gauge singlet with the Higgs superfields substitute the {mu} term. Visible sector models can also incorporate this mechanism; however, the models of dynamical supersymmetry breaking previously analyzed cannot be fitted in a simple visible sector model because they lead to vacuum expectation values for charged scalars. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
On the total, apparent partial molar, partial molar, apparent partial specific and partial specific volume of the binary systems

In this article, seven relationships that have been widely used to estimate the dependence of apparent partial specific volume (APSV) with concentration are reviewed and compared with each other. Also, 10 methods to evaluate partial molar volume (PMV) were derived and compared with each other. At null concentrations the values of APMV of all relationships meet each other; therefore all of the above relationships at very low concentrations are useful and estimate values near to each other. However, as the concentration increases the differences also increase. The variation of APMV with molality or mole-fraction of solute is not linear, and therefore any line fitted to the data to get the slope and intercept to estimate PMV is visual approximation and hence it is bias. The values of PMV obtained through APMV values follow the same curvature trend as values of APMV with a positive slope. Whereas the values of PMV calculated from the slope of density versus molality fit-in a perfect straight line with negativ...