cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Restraining energy demand: The stick, the carrot, or the market?

Abstract Following the 1973 Arab oil embargo and continuing through the 1980s, the US regulators at both the state and federal levels tried a number of schemes to encourage energy conservation in all sectors of the economy, particularly in the electric power sector. Although these efforts resulted in significant energy-efficiency improvements, the utilities were not overly enthusiastic because of the negative impact of lower sales on their revenues and profits. From 1989 several trend setting states in the USA introduced generous profit incentives to reward utilities financially for undertaking aggressive DSM programmes. The impact of these new DSM incentives has been quite noticeable and they are expected to produce significant reductions in the growth rate of demand for electricity in states where they are available. This paper reviews the success and some of the problems associated with DSM incentive mechanisms in the USA and provides some policy options for overseas countries interested in learning from the US experience.
Under the guise of retinitis.

A man in his 30s presented with a 5-day history of bilateral redness, blurred vision, and photophobia. The patient had received a diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection 4 months before, with a nadir in his CD4 count of 11/μL. He started highly active antiretroviral therapy, with improvement in his CD4 count to 101/μL most recently. During the past few months, he had reported increasing fatigue and intermittent fevers thought to be owing to immune reactivation syndrome. In addition to highly active antiretroviral therapy, he received combined sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim and azithromycin prophylaxis. His visual acuity was 20/150 OD and 20/100 OS, and intraocular pressures were 6 and 10 mm Hg, respectively. On slitlamp examination, both eyes were injected with diffuse mutton-fat keratic precipitates and had more than 50 cells per 1×1-mm slitlamp highpower beam in the anterior chamber. Results of a dilated ophthalmoscopic examination revealed bilateral vitritis, hyperemic optic nerves, and extensive whitening likely involving all layers of the retina (Figure 1). He was hospitalized and started therapy consisting of intravenous (IV) acyclovir sodium, 10 mg/kg every 8 hours, and prednisone, 30 mg/d. Samples for a laboratory workup for infectious causes were obtained. After 48 hours of treatment, his condition did not improve. Figure 1. Marked vitritis, hyperemia of the optic nerve, and coalescent areas of retinal whitening involving the posterior pole are seen in the left eye. Visual acuity is 20/100.
Oral Epics of Kalahandi

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Mahendra Kumar Mishra Year: 2007 Pages: 303 Publisher: National Folklore Support Centre ISBN: 978-81-901481-9-1 (soft cover).
Decentralized demand side management and control of PEVs connected to a smart grid

The recent push for electrified vehicles, including both plug-in hybrid vehicles and pure electric vehicle may further increase peak electrical load if left unmitigated, resulting in more demand for generation and transmission capacities. Fortunately, PEVs can be treated as controllable loads or even power sources under extraneous situations for demand side management (DSM). Although centralized approach certainly performs an effective demand side management, an important concept regarding the privacy of the information access is not already considered. The objective function for this multi objective problem of demand side power management and decentralized control is the total electricity generation cost and cost associated with implementing the demand side management programs. Thus saving a unit of electricity because of implementing demand side management can be treated like producing a unit of electricity by a power plant. The main constraint related to DSM is that the maximum expected saving that could be achieved by implementing DSM is capped to a realistic maximum limit. The framework is flexible and could incorporate any meta-heuristic for multi-objective optimization. This multi objective approach is applied on a test system comprising of 2516 domestic consumers, 296 small consumption firms, 150 medium consumption firms and 4 large consumption firms. It is observed that PEVs could utilize information transfer with the grid to shape the effect exhibited on the overall load. Also the obtained numerical results show that this approach will improve PEV market penetration, especially relative to centralized strategies that could deter consumers who wish to independently determine their charging strategy.
WDM optical packet transmission experiment over 235 km of installed fibers

100-GHz spaced 16-channel WDM optical packets generated by a super-structure-grating (SSG)-DBR laser were transmitted over 235 km of installed DSFs at the line rate of 2.48832 Gb/s and packet length of 2 kbytes.
Modification of boundary zone measurements to avoid spreading of errors

One of the challenges in estimating the state of large scale power grids is the possibility of divergence due to measurement errors. While one cannot avoid measurement errors, their impact on the state estimation can be confined to a small subset of system buses by proper modification of system measurement configuration. This paper uses well developed concepts of error residual spread areas in order to develop a practical design algorithm to strategically modify the network measurements towards accomplishing this goal. Simulated cases are presented to illustrate how this can be implemented and state estimation results under various error scenarios are provided to validate the proposed design.
Characterization of electromigration under bidirectional (BC) and pulsed unidirectional (PDC) currents

The electromigration of Al-1%-Si interconnects under bidirectional (BC) and pulsed unidirectional (PDC) signals is discussed. The effect of signal asymmetry, duty cycle and frequency on the damage generation rate has been tested. The data suggests that the equivalent DC current of a non-DC signal is given by the average of the signal current for frequencies 1 kHz and higher. A transition region from an average DC equivalent circuit model to an ON-time equivalent type model has been identified around 1 Hz for PDC signals at 3.3E6 A/cm/sup 2/ and 200 degrees C. The refilling of microvoids under current reversal prevents the observation of that transition region for symmetrical bidirectional currents. PDC signals are shown to behave as particular cases of a generalized bidirectional signal. A physical model of the kinetics of material accumulation/depletion is described to show that a high-frequency operation approximation naturally leads to the average DC equivalent-current model. >
Argyria attributed to silvadene application in a patient with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa

Argyria is most commonly reported in association with prolonged ingestion of silver-containing medicaments. This case illustrates the rather unique case of development of argyria following application of silver sulfadiazine in a patient with epidermolysis bullosa.
Attributions to discrimination and self-esteem: Impact of group identification and situational ambiguity

This study examined group identification and situational ambiguity as moderators of attributions to discrimination and self-esteem following negative feedback. As predicted, high gender-identified women made more discrimination attributions than low identified women when situational prejudice cues were ambiguous, but not when prejudice cues were absent or overt. Also as predicted, women exposed to overt prejudice cues had higher self-esteem than those exposed to ambiguous cues or no prejudice cues. The relationship between discrimination attributions and self-esteem was positive among women exposed to overt prejudice but negative among those exposed to no prejudice. Across conditions, however, the more that women discounted ability as a cause of their negative feedback (i.e., blamed discrimination more than ability), the higher their self-esteem. Results qualify and extend prior research and demonstrate that personal and situational factors moderate both the tendency to make attributions to discrimination and the consequences of those attributions for self-esteem.
Simulating urbanization scenarios reveals tradeoffs between conservation planning strategies

Abstract Land that is of great value for conservation can also be highly suitable for human use, resulting in competition between urban development and the protection of natural resources. To assess the effectiveness of proposed regional land conservation strategies in the context of rapid urbanization, we measured the impacts of simulated development patterns on two distinct conservation goals: protecting priority natural resources and limiting landscape fragmentation. Using a stochastic, patch-based land change model (FUTURES) we projected urbanization in the North Carolina Piedmont according to status quo trends and several conservation-planning strategies, including constraints on the spatial distribution of development, encouraging infill, and increasing development density. This approach allows simulation of population-driven land consumption without excluding the possibility of development, even in areas of high conservation value. We found that if current trends continue, new development will consume 11% of priority resource lands, 21% of forested land, and 14% of farmlands regionally by 2032. We also found that no single conservation strategy was optimal for achieving both conservation goals. For example, strategies that excluded development from priority areas caused increased fragmentation of forests and farmlands, while infill strategies increased loss of priority resources proximal to urban areas. Exploration of these land change scenarios not only confirmed that a failure to act is likely to result in irreconcilable losses to a conservation network, but that all conservation plans are not equivalent in effect, highlighting the importance of analyzing tradeoffs between alternative conservation planning approaches.
Model‐Checking Techniques Based on Cumulative Residuals

Depuis longtemps, on utilise les residus pour apprecier graphiquement et muneriquement l'adequation de modeles de regression. L'analyse conventionnelle des residus, fondee sur les graphes des residus bruts ou des courbes lissees est eminemment subjective, tandis que la plupart des tests numeriques d'ajustement informent peu sur la nature de l'inadequation. Nous developpons des techniques d'examen d'un modele, objectives et informatives, qui reposent soit sur les sommes des residus cumulees selon certaines coordonnees (comme une covariable on le predicteur lineaire), soit sur des regroupements partiels (sommes ou moyennes mobiles) selon ces coordonnees. Pour une grande variete de modeles statistiques et de structures des observations, dont les modeles lineaires generalises sur observations independantes ou correlees, les distributions de ces processus stochastiques sous le modele postule peuvent etre approchees par des processus gaussiens centres, faciles a simuler. On pent done comparer graphiquement et numeriquement chaque processus observe a une serie de realisations du ment chaque processus observe a une serie de realisations du processus gaussien. Ces comparaisons permettent d'evaluer objectivement dans quelle mesure une tendance observee sur un graphique serait attribuable a une mauvaise specification du modele plutot qu'aux fluctuations d'echantillonnage. Ces techniques sont particulierement utiles pour l'examen de la fonction de lien ou de la forme fonctionnelle d'une covariable. Plusieurs exemples medicaux illustrent cette approche.
Current Techniques in Evaluating Fistula-in-Ano and Perianal Sepsis: Endorectal Ultrasound Technique and Comparison in Accuracy With Surgery and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Fistula-in-ano and perianal abscess is a very common pathology encountered in a colorectal surgery practice. Surgical therapy is the main form of treatment. The goal is to eliminate the formation of abscess and achieve healing while preserving anal sphincter function. However, recurrence rates are significant, and postoperative stool incontinence can be present. To maximize operative results and minimize recurrence and complications, accurate preoperative assessment of the fistula is necessary. It is now increasingly recognized that preoperative imaging can help identify infection that would have otherwise gone unidentified. Magnetic resonance imaging and endoanal ultrasound findings preoperatively, especially in patients with complex or recurrent fistulas or persistent abscess, have been shown to influence surgery and reduce the change of recurrence. In this article, we will describe the imaging of fistula-in-ano, with an emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging and endoanal ultrasound diagnostic modalities.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 6α- and 6β-N-Heterocyclic Substituted Naltrexamine Derivatives as μ Opioid Receptor Selective Antagonists

Opioid receptor selective antagonists are important pharmacological probes in opioid receptor structural characterization and opioid agonist functional study. Thus far, a nonpeptidyl, highly selective and reversible μ opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist is unavailable. On the basis of our modeling studies, a series of novel naltrexamine derivatives have been designed and synthesized. Among them, two compounds were identified as leads based on the results of in vitro and in vivo assays. Both of them displayed high binding affinity for the MOR (Ki = 0.37 and 0.55 nM). Compound 6 (NAP) showed over 700-fold selectivity for the MOR over the δ receptor (DOR) and more than 150-fold selectivity over the κ receptor (KOR). Compound 9 (NAQ) showed over 200-fold selectivity for the MOR over the DOR and approximately 50-fold selectivity over the KOR. Thus these two novel ligands will serve as leads to further develop more potent and selective antagonists for the MOR.
Management of refractory hypertension

True refractory hypertension is unusual in clinical practice, thanks to the widespread availability of antihypertensive drugs and national mandate to optimize blood pressure control levels in the community. However, at times the blood pressure may become refractory to initial drug therapy. When the blood pressure levels do not reach a target level despite usual therapy, hypertension is considered refractory. There should be proper evaluation of such patients to determine the factor(s) responsible for resistance to therapy. In many patients, proper adjustment of drug doses, including effective use of diuretics, restores the blood pressure level. For some patients, potent drug therapy, such as hydralazine or minoxidil, must be considered. Based upon clinical course, work-up for secondary causes of hypertension should be considered in selected patients. Refractory hypertension requires proper analysis of etiologic factors and consideration of rational drug selection, and at times, work-up for secondary causes of hypertension.
Human capital investment in wealth-constrained families with two-sided altruism

Abstract It is well known that, with one-sided altruism a bequest-constrained household will under-invest in their child's human capital. Government transfers to such a household will unambiguously increase human capital investment. We show, with two-sided altruism and an operative gift motive, human capital investment will be efficient under a subgame perfect equilibrium, but will remain inefficiently low under a Nash equilibrium. Government transfers cease to affect investment under either equilibrium notion.
Two-dimensional Echocardiographic and Color Flow Doppler Detection of an Unusual Pulmonary Venous Anomaly: Anomalous Right Pulmonary Venous Return to the Right Atrium by Way of Three Separate Orifices

In this report, we describe the echocardiographic findings of a patient with anomalous right pulmonary venous return to the right atrium by way of three separate pulmonary vein orifices. The color flow Doppler examination was essential for identification of the pulmonary veins and their connection to the right atrium.
Directional radio response of a 802.11b device guided by radiolocation

This is the fourth in a series of articles describing fast radiolocation in 802.11b wireless networking. This work was motivated by two significant problems in radio communication: unknown location of sources, and rapid loss of signal strength with distance. Radiolocation described in this series of articles addresses these problems, both of which are fundamentally caused by the omnidirectional nature of radio transmission. First, the sourcepsilas bearing is obtained for every received packet, making it possible to determine the location of wireless nodes even from sparse traffic. Second, per-packet directional information is acquired in real time, before the arrival of the next packet. This information is used to guide the directional response to interlocutor nodes with negligible delay, switching the transmission between the directional elements of the same antenna array that is used for radiolocation. Previous articles focused on the radiolocation methodology, and on the issue of integrating radiolocation with networking. The result of this development is a functioning laboratory prototype, capable of bidirectional communication with standard wi-fi equipment, and using radiolocation to guide its directional response. This article describes the prototypepsilas architecture, and the implementation of the directional response.
Results of decitabine (5-aza-2′deoxycytidine) therapy in 130 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia

BACKGROUND General and site-specific DNA methylation is associated with tumor progression and resistance in several cancers, including chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Decitabine is a hypomethylating agent that has shown encouraging preliminary anti-CML activity. This study evaluated the activity and toxicity of decitabine in different phases of CML. METHODS One hundred and thirty patients with CML were treated: 123 with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive CML (64 blastic, 51 accelerated, 8 chronic) and 7 with Ph-negative CML. Decitabine was given at 100 mg/m2 over 6 hours every 12 hours × 5 days (1000 mg/m2 per course) in the first 13 patients, 75 mg/m2 in the subsequent 33 patients, and 50 mg/m2 in the remaining 84 patients. RESULTS A total of 552 courses were given to the 130 patients. Only four patients (3%) died during the first course from myelosuppressive complications (three patients) or progressive disease (one patient). Of 64 patients in the CML blastic phase, 18 patients (28%) achieved objective responses. Of these 18 patients, 6 achieved complete hematologic responses (CHR), 2 achieved partial hematologic responses (PHR), 7 achieved hematologic improvements (HI), and 3 returned to the second chronic phase (second CP). Five patients (8%) had cytogenetic responses. Among 51 patients in the accelerated phase, 28 patients (55%) achieved objective responses (12 CHR, 10 PHR, 3 HI, and 3 second CP). Seven patients (14%) had cytogenetic responses. Among eight patients treated in the chronic phase, five (63%) had objective responses. Of seven patients treated for Ph-negative CML, four (57%) had objective responses. There was no evidence of a dose-response effect. The estimated 3-year survival rate was less than 5% in the blastic phase and 27% in the accelerated phase. The only significant toxicity reported was severe myelosuppression, which was delayed, prolonged, and dose dependent. With decitabine 50–75 mg/m2, the median time to granulocyte recovery above 0.5 × 109/L was about 4 weeks. Myelosuppression-associated complications included febrile episodes in 37% and documented infections in 34%. CONCLUSIONS Decitabine appears to have significant anti-CML activity. Future studies should evaluate lower-dose, longer-exposure decitabine schedules alone in imatinib-resistant CML, as well as combinations of decitabine and imatinib in different CML phases. Cancer 2003;98:522–8. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11543
Experiences and Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence Among Older Chinese Immigrants

This study examines the experiences and perceptions of domestic violence among older Chinese immigrants, using data from a larger sample of Chinese Americans who reside in a major metropolitan area in the West Coast (Yick, 2000). A subset of respondents 50 years and older who are foreign-born (n = 77) were selected to (1) examine older Chinese immigrants' experiences with physical abuse by a spouse, (2) explore the definitions and perceptions of intimate partner violence among older Chinese, and (3) examine the relationship between acculturation, victimization experiences, and perceptions of domestic violence among this population. Findings indicate that close to 7% of the women and 6% of the men have experienced minor physical violence by their spouses during the past 12 months. Gender and acculturation were associated with perceptions and attitudes towards domestic violence.
Receptive fields and synaptic organization of the superficial gray layer of the cat superior colliculus.

Abstract Cells in the superficial gray layer of the cat superior colliculus show binocular interaction and respond selectively to certain features of a visual stimulus, for example, movement, direction, and size. Although the binocular and directional properties depend on input from the visual cortex, certain spatial properties of the receptive field do not. Neither can they depend exclusively on the retino-collicular input since this is mainly from the contralateral eye. Therefore, the spatial properties must arise from an intrinsic collicular mechanism that can be activated from either eye. Seen with the electron microscope the most striking feature of the synaptic organization is that the dendrites make extensive synaptic contacts with each other. Synapses from the retina and visual cortex terminate on the vesicle-free regions of the dendrites and also on the regions given rise to dendro-dendritic contacts. Retinal and cortical terminals are rare on cell bodies, and neither type makes, nor appears to receive an axo-axonic contact. If the dendro-dendritic contacts are inhibitory, they may represent the basis on which complicated receptive field properties are established in the colliculus using only limited number of cells.
Experimental observation and computational modeling of hypervelocity impacts with emphasis on plasma formation and its consequences

In experiments performed at the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range (AVGR), optical and radiofrequency electromagnetic emissions, plasma formation and electrostatic charge separation during hypervelocity impact have been characterized for a variety of impactor and target geometries. While being investigated as potentially diagnostic of an event, such effects could also interfere with communications or remote sensing equipment if an impact occurred on a satellite. The highly conducting plasma could act as a current path across normally shielded circuits, potentially leading to satellite loss. In the AVRG experiments, early time solid debris ejected from the impact site are negatively charged and impact-generated plasma, late-time ejecta and materials left in the transient cavity are positively charged. Charge separation can lead to large electrostatic fields with implications for dust motion, especially in low gravity environments. The motion of charged ejecta can create transient magnetic fields. The experiments demonstrate that total charge separation is a function of impactor kinetic energy with a near linear mass dependence and velocity dependence proportional to v2.6. CTH is a Sandia developed, well validated, Eulerian, multi-material, computational hydrocode designed to treat a wide range of shock propagation and material motion phenomena in one, two, or three dimensions. Adaptive mesh refinement is available for maximizing resolution in regions of interest. CTH has models suitable for most conditions encountered in hypervelocity impact including material strength, fracture and multi-state materials, including plasma. It has been used extensively in hypervelocity impact studies at laboratory and large scale. Computational studies using CTH have shown that a simple two dimensional model based on electrostatic probe theory can match experimentally observed plasma and electrostatic charge separation. We are extending the CTH model to three dimensions to improve our ability to predict plasma formation and charge separation under more general circumstances.
Quantum-mechanical tunneling time and its relation to the Tsu-Esaki formula

Various approaches have been used to calculate the quantum-mechanical tunneling time through potential barriers including the phase-delay method first introduced by Bohm and Wigner, Buttiker's analysis of the Larmor clock and its generalization, the dwell time of Smith, and numerical studies of wavepacket propagation through potential barriers among others. Most of those previous estimates have only dealt with the tunneling time through simple obstacles, including delta-potential scatterers and simple rectangular barriers under zero bias condition. Even for these simple cases, the agreement among the various estimates is far from being satisfactory. In this manuscript, the transmission line technique is employed to solve the time-dependent Schrodinger equation and an expression of the quantum-mechanical tunneling time is derived for an arbitrary potential profile under non zero bias condition. An exact analytical expression of the tunneling time through a rectangular barrier is derived and shown to be identical to the one obtained recently by Spiller et. al. using the Bohm's quantum potential approach. The tunneling time through resonant tunneling structures under zero bias is also calculated and is shown to be minimum at the quasi-boundstate energy. Finally, the quantum-mechanical tunneling time through the emitter-base junction of a typical heterojunction bipolar transistor is shown to be larger than its semiclassical counterpart.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Baseline comorbidities and treatment strategy in elderly patients are associated with outcome of cardiogenic shock in a community-based population

Abstract Background Cardiogenic shock (CGS) historically results in high inhospital mortality, particularly in elderly patients. Factors that contribute to increased mortality and treatment strategies that improve short- and long-term outcomes in patients with CGS remain to be established. Methods The study consisted of 1263 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted from Olmsted County, Minn, during the period 1988 to 2000; of these, 73 (6%) developed cardiogenic shock. Short- and long-term mortality was compared between the elderly and younger populations in both shock and nonshock groups. Results In patients with acute myocardial infarction, age of ≥65 years was associated with increased long-term mortality for nonshock patients (unadjusted relative risk [RR] 5.23, 95% CI 4.10–6.67, P P = .02). Among cardiogenic shock patients, estimated survival at 1 and 5 years for elderly patients was 38% and 24%, respectively, and in younger patients, 57% and 52%, respectively. When adjusted for confounding variables, elderly noncardiogenic shock patients had significantly increased long-term mortality (adjusted RR 4.38, 95% CI 3.42–5.61, P P = .051) compared to younger patients with shock. Conclusions The relationship between age and long-term mortality is stronger among patients who do not develop cardiogenic shock. Advanced age was not found to be as strong a risk factor for survival in patients with cardiogenic shock; comorbidities and less aggressive treatment appear to be the major factors resulting in poor outcomes in the elderly patient with cardiogenic shock.
Phase transition in CaGeO3 perovskite: Evidence from X-ray powder diffraction, thermal expansion and heat capacity

High-temperature x-ray powder diffraction study by the full pattern Rietveld method of orthorhombic CaGeO3 (Pbnm at ambient condition) perovskite confirms the previously observed phase transition at Tc=520 K. The measured volumetric thermal expansion coefficients are 3.1 x 10-5 (K-1) below Tc and 3.5x 10-5 (K-1) above Tc. The space group at T>Tc has been tentatively identified as Cmcm. Such a transition involves the disappearance of one of the two octahedral rotations in the (001) plane, and the doubling of the unit cell volume, with c axis unchanged. Although this transition should be of first order from symmetry considerations, the distortion of the Pbnm phase decreases continuously as the temperate approaches Tc and there is no observable volume discontinuity at Tc. The measured heat capacity places an upper limit on the enthalpy of transition of 50 J/mol, which is quite reasonable in terms of the crystallographic nature of this phase transition.
Lineage Commitment and Cellular Differentiation in Exocrine Pancreas

Exocrine pancreatic cell types comprise greater than 90% of parenchymal cell mass in the adult pancreas. However, the factors regulating differentiation of acinar and ductal epithelial cells remain incompletely characterized. Like pancreatic islet cells, acinar and ductal cells arise from pluripotent precursors within embryonic pancreatic epithelium. Recent studies have suggested that a common pool of pluripotent stem cells is responsible for generating both endocrine and exocrine cell types, and that specific signaling pathways regulate a critical balance between endocrine and exocrine lineage commitment.
The dynamics of race, income, and homeownership

Abstract This paper treats household decisions regarding homeownership as a dynamic process rather than a static phenomenon. The analysis employs a duration model of the sequential housing choices made by families to examine the adjustment of their housing tenure over time. This model of housing choice is estimated for the nine-year period 1984 to 1992 utilizing the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Particularly for lower income and minority families, the analysis finds that these households achieve homeownership more slowly, they are less likely to maintain this status, and they are less able to move up to “better” units over time.
When ET calls: SETI is ready

L'A. retrace l'evolution et les differents aspects du mouvement SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), mouvement cree a la fin des annees 1950 aux Etats-Unis et regroupant des scientifiques et des chercheurs scrutant l'espace en attente d'un signal des extraterrestres. Lier le destin et la survie de l'humanite a la recherche d'extraterrestres est caracteristique du SETI. Aujourd'hui, apres le 11 septembre, le SETI renoue avec ses peurs et angoisses de la Guerre froide. L'espoir que ET puisse etablir le contact et enseigner a l'humanite comment survivre est plus fort que jamais.
A microprocessor control system for automated multiple flow injection analysis

Abstract A microprocessor control system is reported for automated multiple flow injection analysis. The control system consists of an IMSAI-8048 microprocessor, some associated electronic interfacing and a control computer command language. The system can be programmed to control any of three versions of automated multiple flow injection analysers. This control system is relatively inexpensive and is suitable for use by inexperienced personnel.
Time and Space Resolved Spectroscopy of X-Ray Laser Experiments from 81Å to 220Å

Data are presented from three different x-ray laser inversion schemes tested on the Novette laser facility at LLNL: collisional excitation of neon-like selenium (λ = 206, 209, 220A); resonant photoexcitation of hydrogen-like fluorine (λ = 81A); and recombination of hydrogen-like magnesium (λ = 130A). The data illustrate the measurement capabilities of a new, time resolved imaging spectrometer (TGSS-EM), and provide insight to the dynamics and emission characteristicts of a new class of laser produced plasmas.
Infrared Detector Materials Research - A Viewpoint

AbstractThe goal of DARPA's research program in Infrared Detector Materials is todevelop a science base for production of affordable large area high performance focalplane arrays. Intrinsic materials (HgCdTe and related Hg -based alloys) are preferred,principally because of their large absorption coefficient. A summary of progress andissues in bulk and epitaxial growth of II -VI materials, II -VI superlattices, contacts,ion implantation, and low frequency noise is given.IntroductionThe principal objective of the Infrared Detector Materials Research Program inthe Defence Sciences Office (DSO) of DARPA has been to develop a fundamental sciencebase for the growth and processing of infrared detector materials. This is motivatedby the judgement that the cost of high performance large area infrared focal planearrays will not be reduced without such a base of understanding. The program hassupported the development of various detector technologies including silicon Schottkybarrier. The major emphasis is on mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) and related II -VImaterials. The basic challenge is to devise materials and processing techniques whichcan make feasible silicon -like whole wafer (3 -inch or larger) processing in II -VIsemiconductors. The hope is for eventual monolithic integration of detectors and allancillary focal plane circuitry with concomitant benefits in cost, performance, andreliability.HgCdTe was discovered by Lawson et al. at RSRE in 1958 and much of thefundamental work in this and other II -VI semiconductors has been carried out inEurope. To cite but a few notable firsts, p -n junction development at CNRS,metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) at RSRE, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)at Grenoble, wide bandgap optoelectronic devices It SAT, and the pioneering work ofPolish scientists in semimagnetic semiconductors. In the United States, while therehas been extensive industrial activity, the university 9ommunity until recently hashad relatively little involvement in HgCdTe technology. DARPA /DSO has recognized theimportance of increasing the degree of university participation and a major portion ofthe program's research funds has supported university and joint university /industryresearch projects.Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Detector MaterialsImportant criteria for IR detector materials are based on making the electricalnoise in the detector element generated by the background photon flux of the IR scenedominant over all other noise sources. In most instances this can be expressed asPB % PTH
Hydrocortisone for hypotension and vasopressor dependence in preterm neonates: A meta-analysis

Hydrocortisone for hypotension and vasopressor dependence in preterm neonates: A meta-analysis
Self-control and perceived social competence in preschool children

The relationship between two types of self-control (tolerance of noxious stimulation and resistance to temptation), gross motor control, and social competence was examined in 18 3- to 5-year-old children. Analyses showed that the tolerance type of self-control and the resistance to temptation type were correlated. However, teachers' ratings of social competence correlated differentially with the “tolerance” and “resistance” varieties of self-control. Children who more successfully tolerated noxious stimulation were rated by teachers as more socially competent in terms of cooperativeness and rule compliance. Resistance to temptation was found to be a less reliable index of self-control, and one that correlated with age and gross motor control. Results are interpreted as supportive of the hypothesized relationship between self-control and ratings of classroom competence in preschoolers.
Boron Trifluoride Etherate-Alcohol, a Versatile Reagent for the Esterification Reaction

Abstract Esterification is an important reaction to all chemists and is used more commonly than any other reaction in organic syntheses, biochemical and pharmaceutical research and in medicinal chemistry.
EVIDENCE FOR ARBOVIRUS INFECTIONS IN A POPULATION OF SNOWSHOE HARES: A POSSIBLE MORTALITY FACTOR*

Studies of arbovirus infections of snowshoe hares in central Alberta were carried out in 1961 through 1967, in an attempt to determine which arboviruses were importantly associated with the hare population. These studies were carried out during a period of marked decline of the hare population. Neutralizing antibodies to California encephalitis virus and Silverwater virus were present in the population throughout the study with prevalence ranging from 59% to 97% and from 0% to 68%, respectively. Antibody prevalence rates to western equine encephalomyelitis virus were generally low except for two epizootics during the spring and early summers of 1963 and 1965, when rates of over 80% were observed. The significance of these findings is discussed. Data are presented which show a rapid, significant decline in neutralizing antibody prevalence which suggests that hares convalescent from these arbovirus infections experienced higher mortality than did uninfected animals.
Endoscopic latissimus dorsi flap for partial breast reconstruction

Women with breast cancer want both the management of their breast disease as well as a breast. Lumpectomy/radiation is the most frequent approach to this; however, when there will be a deformity after the procedure, either a mastectomy can be performed or the defect can be filled. The advances in the harvest of the latissiumus dorsi with its overlying fat with the endoscope provide this important tissue without the usual long incisions. This article describes the indications for this procedure and the step by step technique for harvesting the latissimus dorsi with the endoscope through small incisions for partial breast reconstruction.
Solid electrolyte aided direct coupling of methane

Solid electrolyte cells have been utilized as electrochemical oxygen pumps to supply oxygen to or from electrode-catalyst surfaces. Recently, the use of solid electrolytes to promote catalysis for a number of reactions has been investigated. During these investigations, dramatic increases in the oxygen consumption, far exceeding the amount of oxygen supplied through the O[sup 2]-conducting electrolyte, have been observed accompanying overall increases in reaction rates. In addition, this effect has been recently demonstrated in oxidative reactions using Na[sup +]-conducting as well as proton-conducting solid electrolytes. This phenomenon, named NEMCA (nonfaradaic electrochemical modification of catalytic activity), has been attributed to an effect on chemisorption bonding, and hence the reaction rate constant, by altering the catalyst work function. The conversion of methane to ethane and ethylene is a subject of extensive study by a very large number of research groups in the last 7 years. Attempts to convert methane into useful raw materials by using solid oxide electrolytes have been separately reviewed. Recently, a three-electrode cell using Ag and Ni-Zr electrodes on yttria-stabilized zirconia has been used to study the current-voltate relationship during the oxidation of methane at 600-800[degrees]C. The present communication explores the nonoxidative coupling of methane to C[sub 2] hydrocarbonsmore » over silver electrodes using a solid electrolyte with major conductivity via protons. An added feature of this investigation is the utilization of the electrolyte as a support in a one-chamber reactor rather than a solid oxide membrane partition in a two-chamber reactor. This design, adapted from Otsuka et al., simplifies the overall reactor configuration. Using this type of cell, an attempt is made to connect the nonoxidative coupling of methane with the NEMCA phenomenon. 11 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.« less
SiHx excitation: An alternate mechanism for porous Si photoluminescence.

We show that low-temperature (230--390 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C) desorption of hydrogen from 0.1 \ensuremath{\Omega} cm p-type porous Si structures leads to a redshift and gradual disappearance of the photoliminescence (PL). Furthermore, no blueshifting of the PL peaks is apparent with pore-widening treatments. These results are consistent with a luminescence mechanism from hydride species formed during the etching process. Based on this model, the PL intensity is expected to be most affected by total surface area of the porous silicon and the PL peak position by the hydride complex distribution.
Statistically optimal image reconstruction for multi-detector intensity diffraction tomography

Intensity diffraction tomography (I-DT) is an in-line holographic imaging method for reconstructing the three-dimensional complex refractive index distribution of a weakly scattering object. Because it circumvents the phase retrieval problem of diffraction tomography, I-DT reconstruction methods may benefit a range of imaging problems involving optical and coherent X-ray radiation. In this work, we investigate the use of statistically complementary data, provided by multiple (> 2) in-line intensity measurements, for effective suppression of image noise in I-DT. The noise properties of the reconstructed images are demonstrated to depend strongly on the specification of measurement geometry. The effects of experimental uncertainties on the performance of I-DT is investigated also. Computer-simulation studies that are representative of a tomographic microscopy implementation of I-DT are presented.
Two new sesterterpenoids and a new 9,11-secosterol from Spongia matamata

Two novel sesterterpenoids, 12 alpha-acetoxy-19 beta-hydroxyscalara-15,17- dien-20,19-olide (3) and 12 alpha,-16 beta-diacetoxyscalarolbutenolide (5), and a new 9,11-secosterol, 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxy-9-oxo-9,11-seco-5 alpha-cholest-7-en-11-al (6), were isolated from the marine sponge Spongia matamata from Palau together with the known compounds scalarin (1) and 12 alpha-acetoxy-16 beta-hydroxyscalarolbutenolide (4). The structures were determined by interpretation of spectroscopic data.
Toward an Understanding of Nonverbal Communication Systems

An introduction to this special issue of The Journal of Communication, the following article sketches current trends in nonverbal communication and provides a backdrop for the succeeding contributions. While the study of nonverbal communication has ancient roots, a rapid growth of empirical research has taken place in recent years. The guest editors touch on some of the theoretical issues, especially in defining “nonverbal communication.” In addition, they point to developments on the research front. Finally, they conclude that the study of nonverbal communication is a robust and fast-moving field, with a strong potential for growth and application.
Effect of cultivar on phenolic levels, anthocyanin composition, and antioxidant properties in purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Abstract In this study, we determined the effect of cultivar on total and individual anthocyanin concentrations and phenolic acid levels in eight purple basil varieties and examined the relationship between anthocyanin content, phenolic acid composition, and antioxidant properties. Cultivar had a significant influence on total anthocyanin concentrations as well as individual anthocyanin composition. The four major basil anthocyanins (labelled A–D) were quantified and cultivar had a statistically significant effect on anthocyanins B (p
Stochastic comparisons of multivariate random sums in the Laplace transform order, with applications

In this paper we find interesting conditions under which vectors of random sums, with different summands and different random sizes, are ordered with respect to the multivariate Laplace transform order. The main result unifies various univariate and multivariate results from the literature. Some applications in reliability theory and insurance are described.
Local spectral theory for invertible composition operators onHp

Invertible composition operators on the Hardy spaceHp have automorphic symbols. For 1<p<∞ andp≠2 it is shown that some elliptic composition operators are scalar while others are generalized scalar but not spectral, that parabolic composition operators are generalized scalar but not spectral and that hyperbolic composition operators do not have the single-valued extension property.
Stimulation of human insulin receptor gene expression by retinoblastoma gene product.

Multiple cis-acting elements have been defined to be important for the transcriptional regulation of the human insulin receptor (hIR) gene expression. We report here that one of these elements also mediated the stimulation of hIR promoter activity by the retinoblastoma gene product (Rb). The cis-element responsible for Rb stimulation was localized to the GA and GC boxes situated between −643 to −607 of the hIR gene. We have previously demonstrated that these GA and GC boxes bind Sp1 with high affinity and are responsible for E1a activation of hIR promoter activity. Mutation of these sequences completely abolished Rb-dependent enhancement of hIR promoter activity. In addition, we localized three regions in the N-terminal domain of Rb to be involved in stimulation of hIR promoter activity. Our results represent one of the first studies to demonstrate a functional importance assigned to the multiple phosphorylation sites in the N terminus of Rb. Finally, the mechanism by which Rb activates the hIR promoter are presented.
Krüppel-like Factor 4 Regulates Intestinal Epithelial Cell Morphology and Polarity

Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc finger transcription factor that plays a vital role in regulating cell lineage differentiation during development and maintaining epithelial homeostasis in the intestine. In normal intestine, KLF4 is predominantly expressed in the differentiated epithelial cells. It has been identified as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer. KLF4 knockout mice demonstrated a decrease in number of goblet cells in the colon, and conditional ablation of KLF4 from the intestinal epithelium led to altered epithelial homeostasis. However, the role of KLF4 in differentiated intestinal cells and colon cancer cells, as well as the mechanism by which it regulates homeostasis and represses tumorigenesis in the intestine is not well understood. In our study, KLF4 was partially depleted in the differentiated intestinal epithelial cells by a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase. We found a significant increase in the number of goblet cells in the KLF4-deleted small intestine, suggesting that KLF4 is not only required for goblet cell differentiation, but also required for maintaining goblet cell numbers through its function in inhibiting cell proliferation. The number and position of Paneth cells also changed. This is consistent with the KLF4 knockout study using villin-Cre [1]. Through immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and statistical analysis, we found that a stem cell and/or tuft cell marker, DCAMKL1, and a proliferation marker, Ki67, are affected by KLF4 depletion, while an enteroendocrine cell marker, neurotensin (NT), was not affected. In addition, we found KLF4 depletion altered the morphology and polarity of the intestinal epithelial cells. Using a three-dimensional (3D) intestinal epithelial cyst formation assay, we found that KLF4 is essential for cell polarity and crypt-cyst formation in human colon cancer cells. These findings suggest that, as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer, KLF4 affects intestinal epithelial cell morphology by regulating proliferation, differentiation and polarity of the cells.