cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallel simulation of multicomponent systems

Simulation of multicomponent systems poses many critical challenges in science and engineering. We overview some software and algorithmic issues in developing high-performance simulation tools for such systems, based on our experience in developing a large-scale, fully-coupled code for detailed simulation of solid propellant rockets. We briefly sketch some of our solutions to these issues, with focus on parallel and performance aspects. We present some recent progress and results of our coupled simulation code, and outline some remaining roadblocks to advancing the state of the art in high-fidelity, high-performance multicomponent simulations.
Lithography and mask challenges at the leading edge

The use of optical multiple patterning, necessitated by persistent delays in the readiness of EUV lithography, has resulted in very little increase in the write time per mask, but there has been a significant increase in the write time for an entire mask set, because of the large increase in the number of masks per set. Although operating lithographic processes near the physical resolution limit of optics, final dimensions continue to scale through the use of multiple patterning, and process control requirements are based on these final dimensions. This results in the need for tight critical dimension control and registration on masks. Although reduction of cost per transistor node-to-node can be continued by the use of multiple patterning, manufacturing cycle times are lengthened appreciably, which has economic impact. With EUV lithography, there are additional mechanisms for overlay errors resulting from non-telecentricity, and corrections will need to be included as part of RET and OPC generation. EUV masks will also need to be very flat or corrections will be required when masks are written. A limited number of small defects can be tolerated on EUV masks by the use of pattern shift methods to cover mask defects with absorber. Interconnect resistance and transistor performance are also significant challenges for enabling future scaling.
TBLT meets CMC: Using Virtual Worlds (VWs) in the language learning and teaching. An interview with Dr. Randall Sadler

Dr. Randall Sadler es professor al Departament de Linguistica de la Universitat d'Illinois a Urbana-Champaign (EUA). L'enfocament principal de la seva recerca es el paper de la Comunicacio Mediada per l’Ordinador (CMO) i els Mons Virtuals (MV) en el proces d'ensenyament/aprenentatge de llengues. Mons virtuals son entorns en linia 3-D habitades per ‘persones’ amb la forma de avatars. Hi ha un gran nombre de mons virtuals, que van des entorns de joc molt reals - sovint referits com a Jocs en linia amb Multijugadors en Massiu (MMOG en angles) - fins MVs que existeixen principalment com a entorns socials. Aquests inclouen Second Life, Active Worlds, Club Penguin, There, i molts mes. L'enfocament principal del seu interes es a Second Life (SL), ja que hi ha una amplia possibilitat d'aplicacions educatives a SL que estan en constant evolucio.
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Social Skills Groups at School: A Randomized Trial Comparing Intervention Approach and Peer Composition.

Background Peer relationships improve for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in clinic-based social skills groups but rarely generalize to real world contexts. This study compares child outcomes of two social skills interventions conducted in schools with children in Kindergarten through fifth grade. Method Children with ASD were randomized to one of two interventions that varied on group composition (mixed typical and ASD vs. all ASD or social difficulties) and intervention approach (didactic SKILLS based vs. activity-based ENGAGE groups). Interventions were implemented at school for 8 weeks (16 sessions) with an 8-week follow-up. Innovative measures of peer nomination and playground peer engagement, as well as teacher reports of child behavior problems and teacher–child relationship were analyzed for 137 children with ASD across four sites. Results On the primary outcome of social network connections from the peer nomination measure, there was no main effect of treatment, but there were moderator effects. Children with low teacher–child closeness or high conflict improved more in their social connections if they received the SKILLS intervention, whereas children with higher teacher–child closeness improved more if they received the ENGAGE intervention. Only two secondary outcome measures yielded significant effects of treatment. Children in the SKILLS groups increased peer engagement and decreased isolation during recess. Child behavior problems and teacher–child closeness moderated peer engagement such that children with higher behavior problems and lower closeness benefitted more from SKILLS groups. Conclusions These findings suggest that social skills groups conducted at school can affect both peer engagement during recess as well as peer acceptability. Child characteristics and teacher–child relationship prior to intervention yield important information on who might benefit from a specific social skills intervention.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENT-SPECIFIC DOSE CALCULATIONS IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE

As therapeutic uses of radionuclides in nuclear medicine increases, the use of patient-specific methods for calculation of radiation dose becomes more important. In this manuscript basic methods and resources for internal dose calculations are outlined, with a focus on how current changes and advances are making more accurate and detailed, patient-individualized dose calculations possible. Most current resources make use of standardized models of the human body representing median individuals, but the use of image-based and more realistic models will soon take their place, and will permit adjustments to represent individual patients and tailor therapy planning uniquely for each subject.
Nitrate enrichment alters a Daphnia–microparasite interaction through multiple pathways

Nutrient pollution has the potential to alter many ecological interactions, including host–parasite relationships. One of the largest sources of nutrient pollution comes from anthropogenic alteration of the nitrogen (N) cycle, specifically the increased rate of nitrate (NO3 -N) deposition to aquatic environments, potentially altering host–parasite relationships. This study aimed to assess the mechanisms through which nitrate may impact host–pathogen relationships using a fungal pathogen (Metschnikowia bicuspidata) parasitic to crustacean zooplankton (Daphnia dentifera) as a tractable model system. First, the influence of nitrate on host population dynamics was assessed along a gradient of nitrate concentrations. Nitrate decreased host population size and increased infection prevalence. Second, the influence of nitrate on host reproduction, mortality, and infection intensity was assessed at the individual host level by examining the relationship between pathogen dose and infection prevalence at ambient (0.4 mg NO3 -N*L−1) and intermediate (12 mg NO3 -N*L−1) levels of nitrate. Host fecundity and infection intensity both decreased with increasing pathogen dose, but increased nitrate levels corresponded to greater infection intensities. Nitrate had no effect on host growth rate, suggesting that hosts do not alter feeding behavior in nitrate-treated media compared with ambient conditions. This study suggests that nutrient enrichment may enhance disease through increased transmission and infection intensity, but that high levels of nitrate may result in smaller epidemics through reduced transmission caused by smaller population sizes and increased pathogen mortality.
Partially clairvoyant scheduling for aggregate constraints

The problem of partially clairvoyant scheduling is concerned with checking whether an ordered set of jobs, having nonconstant execution times and subject to a collection of imposed constraints, has a partially clairvoyant schedule. Variability of execution times of jobs and nontrivial relationships constraining their executions, are typical features of real-time systems. A partially clairvoyant scheduler parameterizes the schedule, in that the start time of a job in a sequence can depend upon the execution times of jobs that precede it, in the sequence. In real-time scheduling, parameterization of the schedule plays an important role in extending the flexibility of the scheduler, particularly in the presence of variable execution times. It has been shown that the existence of partially clairvoyant schedules can be determined in polynomial time, when the constraints are restricted to be “standard,” that is, relative timing constraints. In this paper, we extend the class of constraints for which partially clairvoyant schedules can be determined efficiently, to include aggregate constraints. Aggregate constraints form a strict superset of standard constraints and can be used to model performance metrics.
Social Behavior Ratings of At-Risk Preschool Children: Comparisons with Typical Preschool Children by Parents and Teachers

This study examined differing perceptions of teachers and parents pertainitig to frequency and importance of social skills and problem behaviors in preschool children. Children considered at-risk for educationally disabling conditions and typical children were investigated. Teacher and parent ratings on the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS, Gresham & Elliott, 1990) and the revised Conners Rating Scales (CRS, Goyette, Conners, & Ulrich, 1978) were obtained from a sample of 95 children. Both parents and teachers of at-risk children identified significantly fewer social skills and more problem behaviors than did parents and teachers of typical children. Teacher ratings of behaviors did not vary across groups and suggested social behaviors related to peer interactions were valued most. Variation occurred across groups for parent ratings of important social skills, with parents of at-risk students rating self-control behaviors most important and parents of typical students stressing compliance behaviors. Find...
Is there a facilitating component to central pain modulation

Abstract Although pain modulation is a well-established function of the brain, most previous research has emphasized inhibitory control. In this article, a model of modulatory control of dorsal horn-pain transmission neurons is presented that gives equal weight to efferent excitation of dorsal horn pain-transmission neurons. This model emphasizes the role of the rostral ventromedial medulla, which contains two classes of putative modulatory neurons: on-cells, which are proposed to facilitate, and off-cells, which are proposed to inhibit nociceptive transmission.
Expected ranges for blood neutrophil concentrations of neonates: the Manroe and Mouzinho charts revisited.

Expected ranges for blood neutrophil concentrations of neonates: the Manroe and Mouzinho charts revisited
Understanding Hydrogen Atom Transfer: From Bond Strengths to Marcus Theory

Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), a key step in many chemical, environmental, and biological processes, is one of the fundamental chemical reactions: A−H + B → A + H−B. Traditional HAT involves p-block radicals such as tert-BuO• abstracting H• from organic molecules. More recently, the recognition that transition metal species undergo HAT has led to a broader perspective, with HAT viewed as a type of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). When transition metal complexes oxidize substrates by removing H• (e− + H+), typically the electron transfers to the metal and the proton to a ligand. Examples with iron-imidazolinate, vanadium-oxo, and many other complexes are discussed. Although these complexes may not “look like” main group radicals, they have the same pattern of reactivity. For instance, their HAT rate constants parallel the A−H bond strengths within a series of similar reactions. Like main group radicals, they abstract H• much faster from O−H bonds than from C−H bonds of the same strength, showing tha...
Anticodon sequence mutants of Escherichia coli initiator tRNA: effects of overproduction of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase, and initiation factor 2 on activity in initiation.

Anticodon sequence mutants of Escherichia coli initiator tRNA initiate protein synthesis with codons other than AUG and amino acids other than methionine. Because the anticodon sequence is, in many cases, important for recognition of tRNAs by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the mutant tRNAs are aminoacylated in vivo with different amino acids. The activity of a mutant tRNA in initiation in vivo depends on (i) the level of expression of the tRNA, (ii) the extent of aminoacylation of the tRNA, (iii) the extent of formylation of the aminoacyl-tRNA to formylaminoacyl-tRNA (fAA-tRNA), and (iv) the affinity of the fAA-tRNA for the initiation factor IF2 and the ribosome. Previously, using E. coli overproducing aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase, or IF2, we identified the steps limiting the activity in initiation of mutant tRNAs aminoacylated with glutamine and valine. Here, we have identified the steps limiting the activity of mutant tRNAs aminoacylated with isoleucine and phenylalanine. The combined results of experiments involving a variety of initiation codons (AUG, UAG, CAG, GUC, AUC, and UUC) provide support to the hypothesis that the ribosome.fAA-tRNA complex can act as an intermediate in initiation of protein synthesis. Comparison of binding affinities of various fAA-tRNAs (fMet-, fGln-, fVal-, fIle-, and fPhe-tRNAs) to IF2 using surface plasmon resonance supports the idea that IF2 can act as a carrier of fAA-tRNA to the ribosome. Other results suggest that the C1xA72 base pair mismatch, unique to eubacterial and organellar initiator tRNAs, may also be important for the binding of fAA-tRNA to IF2.
Next-generation leadership development in family businesses: the critical roles of shared vision and family climate

The multigenerational survival rate for family-owned businesses is not good. Lack of a shared vision for the family enterprise and weak next-generation leadership are often cited as two of the leading reasons for the failure of family firms to successfully transition from one generation of family ownership to the next. The climate of the business-owning family has also been suggested as important to the performance of the family enterprise. Despite these commonly held tenets, there is a lack of rigorous quantitative research that explores the relationships among these three factors. To address this gap, a quantitative study of 100 next-generation family firm leaders and 350 family and non-family leaders and employees with whom they work was conducted. The results demonstrate that a shared vision for the family business has a strong effect on the leadership effectiveness of next-generation family leaders and a moderate effect on the degree to which they are positively engaged with their work. The findings also show that two dimensions of family climate significantly influence the likelihood that a shared vision for the family firm has been created. Open communication in the family is positively related to the presence of a shared vision for the business. Intergenerational authority, which refers to a senior generation that exercises unquestioned authority and sets the rules, is negatively related to the presence of a shared vision. Surprisingly, a third dimension of family climate, cognitive cohesion, which includes shared values in the family, had no relationship with the degree to which there was a shared vision for the family business. The implications for family business owners is that they would be wise to spend as much time on fostering a positive family climate characterized by open communication as they do on creating and executing a successful business strategy if their goal is to pass the business from one generation of family owners to the next.
MISSING MASS AND SPARK CHAMBERS.

Abstract A summary of some missing mass techniques for triggering spark chambers or recording data with counters in high energy physics experiments is presented. Their limitations are discussed. New methods for use with systems including magnets are shown.
Modeling thermal reflow of resist contact hole arrays

Accurate contact-hole imaging depends on the relative size of the contact hole to be patterned and the resolution of the stepper. The hardbake process includes desirable thermal reflow of the resist contact-hole arrays; this effect is driven by the temperature dependence of the polymer-based resist that is densified on the silicon substrate. Thermal reflow is completely independent of current and near-term lithographic printing tools. Resist reflow is a thermomechanical phenomenon dominated by the polymer after development, during which thermal reactions of the polymer produce permanent mechanical deformations of the contact holes. Resist behavior can effectively be classified into solid and viscous, below and above the characteristic glass transition temperature, respectively. The basic states are characterized by changes in the stress states and the phases depending on the thermal behavior of the resist material. The thermal transitions of the resist in the process are strongly influenced by the temperature-dependent mechanical properties, i.e., the modulus, the yield stress, and the coefficient of thermal expansion. Other influences include the surface tension and the bake cycle parameters. This analysis assumes conventionally generated contact holes in the resist, followed by thermal cycling until the thermal reflow produces reduced size contact holes of the desired dimensions. Finite element models were utilized to identify the principal physical parameters influencing resist thermal reflow.
A Review of: “Female Sexual Offenders: Theory, Assessment and Treatment” edited by Theresa A. Gannon and Franca Cortoni. “Female Sexual Predators: Understanding Them to Protect Our Children and Youths” by Karen A. Duncan.

Sexual assault in the United States has reached epidemic proportions and can be defined as any non-consensual sexual act committed on or against another person. Consent refers to a person actively ...
Outcome expectancies for crime: Their relationship to fear and the negative consequences of criminal involvement

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between outcome expectancies for crime, existential fear, and the negative consequences of criminal involvement. Methods. A group of 98 federal prison inmates completed three brief checklists: one designed to measure outcome expectancies for crime, one that surveyed various fears and concerns, and one that assessed the negative consequences of crime. Each measure had been divided into separate social attachment, control and identity scales prior to the start of this study. Results. A confirmatory factor analysis of each measure uncovered modest support for the proposed division of items into social, control and identity scales. The measures were then revised by dropping poorly differentiated items. Using these revised scales, a stronger relationship was observed between fear and expectancies than between negative consequences and expectancies. Structural modelling showed that the relationships were complex and general rather than simple and specific. Conclusions. Findings from this study indicate that social learning factors interact in their effect on crime and that outcome expectancies for crime are a complex function of both affective factors like fear and cognitive factors like the negative consequence of past criminal activities. Language: en
Relationship of Penicillinase to the Action of Penicillin

ConclusionsInability to produce penicillinase is not a determining factor in the sensitivity of an organism to penicillin. However, penicillinase-producing bacteria are not likely to be highly susceptible to penicillin. Development of resistance to penicillin by a bacterium is not associated with acquisition by the bacterium of the ability to produce penicillinase.
Vortex lattices in the superconducting phases of doped topological insulators and heterostructures

Majorana fermions are predicted to play a crucial role in condensed matter realizations of topological quantum computation. These heretofore undiscovered quasiparticles have been predicted to exist at the cores of vortex excitations in topological superconductors and in heterostructures of superconductors and materials with strong spin-orbit coupling. In this work, we examine topological insulators with bulk $s$-wave superconductivity in the presence of a vortex lattice generated by a perpendicular magnetic field. Using self-consistent Bogoliubov--de Gennes calculations, we confirm that beyond the semiclassical, weak-pairing limit the Majorana vortex states appear as the chemical potential is tuned from either side of the band edge so long as the density of states is sufficient for superconductivity to form. Further, we demonstrate that the previously predicted vortex phase transition survives beyond the semiclassical limit. At chemical potential values smaller than the critical chemical potential, the vortex lattice modes hybridize within the top and bottom surfaces, giving rise to a dispersive low-energy mid-gap band. As the chemical potential is increased, the Majorana states become more localized within a single surface but spread into the bulk toward the opposite surface. Eventually, when the chemical potential is sufficiently high in the bulk bands, the Majorana modes can tunnel between surfaces and eventually a critical point is reached at which modes on opposite surfaces can freely tunnel and annihilate leading to the topological phase transition previously studied in the work of Hosur et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 097001 (2011)].
Ligneous Conjunctivitis With Ear Involvement

• We report the association of ligneous conjunctivitis with middle-ear and tympanic membrane involvement in two children. Eye and ear specimens revealed histopathologic and ultrastructural findings consistent with ligneous conjunctivitis, characterized by an amorphous, eosinophilic material with acute and chronic non-granulomatous inflammation. Ear specimens demonstrated granulation tissue along with the above features. Conjunctival and ear lesions from these patients were studied histochemically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally. Our studies demonstrate fibrin and albumin deposition as a common feature in all lesions. Deposition of other components, such as mucopolysaccharides, amyloid, immunoglobulins, and mast cells, were, however, variable. The diversified nature of these lesions, together with the association of eye and ear disease, substantiates the existence of an underlying systemic disorder of unknown cause.
Predictive control and verification of conversion kinetics and polymer molecular weight in semi-batch free radical homopolymer reactions

Abstract Polymer molar mass distributions critically affect macroscopic characteristics and performance of polymeric materials. While multi-detector methods coupled to size exclusion chromatography (SEC) are widely used to measure endproduct mass distributions, less progress has been made in simultaneously controlling and verifying the evolution of these distributions during synthesis. This work focuses on quantitative predictions and online verification of conversion kinetics and of molecular weight during free radical homopolymerization of acrylamide, where reagents were fed into the reactor during the reaction. The central task is to establish and experimentally test a formalism combining free radical polymerization kinetics with time dependent processes related to flows of material into and out of the reactor. Monomer feed experiments were performed that alternately hold molecular weight constant and ramp the weight up, in contrast to batch reactions, where molecular weight decreases. Three types of initiator feed ‘tapers’ were also used to produce predictable conversion kinetics and mass distributions: (i) constant initiator feed, (ii) linearly stepped feed to produce Gaussian conversion kinetics, and (iii) booster shots to produce multi-modal masses. Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization reactions (ACOMP) was used to follow the conversion and evolution of the average mass distribution, and multi-detector SEC was used to cross-check results and measure full distributions of endproducts. In general, there was good agreement between the predictions and results. In future work this approach can be used as an Ansatz for reaction trajectory prediction, and the online monitoring signals exploited to make feedback controlled corrections to the reagent flows and other reaction conditions.
Determination of unknown physical properties in heat conduction problems

Abstract By overspecifying the usual boundary and initial data one can use the implicit function theorem to write the thermal conductivity β as a function of the product of the density and heat capacity α. By changing the data specification different graphs of β versus α can be obtained. The correct physical constants must lie on each graph. Hence there must exist at least one common point of intersection for all such graphs. If there is only one point of intersection of the graphs, then the correct physical constants can be obtained from it. Various theorems and numerical experiments are given to illustrate the intersecting graph technique.
A Nondisclosed CPA Examination: Implications for Education and the Accounting Profession.

Abstract The Board of Examiners of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has proposed that the Uniform CPA Examination change from a disclosed to a nondisclosed examination in the Year 1996. A disclosed examination is available to candidates and others after its administration, whereas a nondisclosed examination is kept secret. In this article, we develop the case that nondisclosure is undesirable. Consideration is given to the impact of nondisclosure on question quality, examination security, public confidence in the examination, accounting instruction in universities, and the costs of examination administration.
A DATA-BASED SCHEME FOR EVALUATING FACULTY PERFORMANCE

Both sound management practice and the law require that administrative decisions affecting faculty members reflect systematic, uniformly applied, fair, and valid evaluations of performance. To meet these requirements a performance evaluation scheme must involve two decision elements, both of which are addressed and illustrated in this paper:what will be evaluated, andhow the evaluation will be made. A data-based faculty performance evaluation program specifically oriented toward such administrative actions as tenure, promotion, and salary adjustment is described. This program rests upon task analysis to clarify the nature of the desired evaluative content and peer review as the primary evaluative mechanism. The scheme is illustrated using the experience of a department of psychology training to the doctorate. However, the approach to faculty performance evaluation herein described and illustrated is generalizable, with modification, to other departments and institutions. Several considerations pertinent to such modification are discussed.
The wettability of intrasynovial and extrasynovial tendons.

Purpose The surface properties of biologic materials are important to their observed physiochemical responses, mechanical interactions, and compatibility with other materials. The purpose of this study was to characterize further the surface properties of canine tendons, specifically how they interface with fluids—that is, their wettability. Methods Drop-shape analysis was used to study contact angles on intrasynovial and extrasynovial tendon surfaces. This standard goniometric method was used to estimate tendon-wettability properties. Results This study showed that extrasynovial tendon portions (particularly the dorsal sides) are more wettable than intrasynovial tendons. We also showed that trypsin digestion of tendon surfaces increases their wettability. Conclusions The wettability differences between intrasynovial and extrasynovial canine tendons may help to explain known differences in the propensities of these 2 different tendon types to form adhesions after surgery.
168. Environmental mold, brain inflammation, and memory deficits

Exposure to mold in water-damaged buildings can have severe adverse effects on human health. Despite evidence that mold exposure causes increased anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, pain, and cognitive problems, no animal research has been published examining how mold exposure causes these problems. We examined the effects of exposing mice to spores of Stachybotrys chartarum, probably the most studied of the damp-building molds. Mice were exposed to either intact Stachybotrys spores, containing a variety of potent toxins and proteinases, to spores extracted twice with alcohol to remove spore contents, or to saline vehicle. Although intact spores cause greater immune activation in the lungs, in all cases, extracted spores caused the same degree of short- and long-term memory loss as intact spores. Memory deficits were specific to hippocampal memory. Long-term memory deficits were correlated with the numbers of amoeboid microglia in the hippocampus in mice exposed to intact mold spores. This correlation was not found in mice treated with extracted spores, although these mice had the same memory deficits. Mold exposure also caused significant changes in IL-1beta immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. Since the innate immune system has multiple receptors that recognize skeletal elements of mold spores, our data suggest that respiratory exposure to any mold, not just the particularly toxic ones like Stachybotrys, may be capable of causing brain inflammation and memory loss.
Higher-order mode RF guns.

Traditional photocathode rf gun design is based around the use of ${\mathrm{TM}}_{0,1,0}$-mode cavities. This is typically done in the interest of obtaining the highest possible gradient per unit supplied rf power and for historical reasons. In a multicell, aperture-coupled photoinjector, however, the gun as a whole is produced from strongly coupled cavities oscillating in a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ mode. This design requires very careful preparation and tuning, as the field balance and resonant frequencies are easily disturbed. Side-coupled designs are often avoided because of the dipole modes introduced into the cavity fields. This paper proposes the use of a single higher-order mode rf cavity in order to generate the desired on-axis fields. It is shown that the field experienced by a beam in a higher-order mode rf gun is initially very similar to traditional 1.5- or 2.5-cell $\ensuremath{\pi}$-mode gun fields, and projected performance in terms of beam quality is also comparable. The new design has the advantages of much greater ease of fabrication, immunity from coupled-cell effects, and simpler tuning procedures. Because of the gun geometry, the possibility also exists for improved temperature stabilization and cooling for high duty-cycle applications.
The effect of lattice temperature on surface damage in fused silica optics

We examine the effect of lattice temperature on the probability of surface damage initiation for 355nm, 7ns laser pulses for surface temperatures below the melting point to temperatures well above the melting point of fused silica. At sufficiently high surface temperatures, damage thresholds are dramatically reduced. Our results indicate a temperature activated absorption and support the idea of a lattice temperature threshold of surface damage. From these measurements, we estimate the temperature dependent absorption coefficient for intrinsic silica.
TOTAL CROSS SECTION OF DEUTERIUM FOR NEUTRONS FROM 0.2 TO 22 MEV

Transmission measurements of the total neutron cross section of deuterium have been made with an accuracy of about 2 percent at 29 energies between 0.2 and 22 Mev, using deuterium gas in a cell 1 meter long. The cross section decreases monotonically with increasing energy, and its reciprocal appears to be a linear function of neutron energy over the interval from 1.5 to 22 Mev: $\ensuremath{\sigma}=14.35{({E}_{n}+3.6 \mathrm{Mev})}^{\ensuremath{-}1} \mathrm{barn}.$
The reliability of physical performance measures in peripheral neuropathy.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the test–retest reliability of select physical performance measures among people with peripheral neuropathy (PN). Methods 20 PN patients (12 women, 8 men, mean age = 68.4 ± 12.5 years) were assessed on two separate occasions. Plantar pressure sensitivity was determined with a monofilament of known strength. Functional capacity and mobility were measured by the 6-min walk (6MW) and timed up-and-go (TUG) tests, respectively. Standing balance was evaluated by computing the average velocity (VEL) and area enclosing 95% of the body COP (A95) while participants stood quietly with eyes closed for multiple trials of varying length. Isokinetic knee extensor and flexor peak torque (KEPT, KFPT) were measured with an dynamometer during five maximal voluntary contractions. Results Plantar sensitivity and all measures of physical function demonstrated significant reliability. High reliability was observed for the 6MW (ICC = 0.94) and the two-trial average TUG (ICC = 0.99). Similarly, KEPT and KFPT were highly reliable whether using the top trial, or averaging the three best trials (ICCs > 0.96). Averaging multiple standing balance trials generally increased ICC values, with 30 s trials appearing to possess the highest reliability. Discussion Despite the heterogeneity of the PN population, select measures of physical performance are highly reliable and therefore recommended for use when examining physical function in these patients.
Sequence-dependent structural variation in B-DNA

Though fiber diffraction originally led to the belief that the structure of DNA would be a simple regular helix, X-ray crystallography of synthetic oligomers has shown that both deformability and structure depend on sequence. But the rules that determine these factors remain mysterious.
Failure to engage spatial working memory contributes to age-related declines in visuomotor learning

It is well documented that both cognitive and motor learning abilities decline with normative aging. Given that cognitive processes such as working memory are engaged during the early stages of motor learning [Anguera, J., Reuter-Lorenz, P., Willingham, D., & Seidler, R. Contributions of spatial working memory to visuomotor learning. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 22(9), 1917-1930, 2010], age-related declines in motor learning may be due in part to reductions in cognitive ability. The present study examined whether age-related declines in spatial working memory (SWM) contribute to deficits in visuomotor adaptation. Young and older adult participants performed a visuomotor adaptation task that involved adapting manual aiming movements to a 30i¾° rotation of the visual feedback display as well as an SWM task in an fMRI scanner. Young adults showed a steeper learning curve than older adults during the early adaptation period. The rate of early adaptation was correlated with SWM performance for the young, but not older, adults. Both groups showed similar brain activation patterns for the SWM task, including engagement of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral inferior parietal lobules. However, when the SWM activation was used as a limiting mask, younger adults showed neural activation that overlapped with the early adaptation period, whereas older adults did not. A partial correlation controlling for age revealed that the rate of early adaptation correlated with the amount of activation at the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that a failure to effectively engage SWM processes during learning contributes to age-related deficits in visuomotor adaptation.
Optical appearance of distant objects to observers near and inside a Schwarzschild black hole

To observers inside and near a Schwarzschild black hole, the external universe appears visually distorted and frequency-shifted due to gravitational focusing, gravitational blue-shifts, Doppler shifts, and aberration. This paper calculates the distortion and frequency shifts as seen by observers who sit at rest in the hole's external field, and by observers who fall freely from infinity, through the hole's horizon, and into the singularity at its center.
Influence of crystalline structure and amorphous materials in the depth resolution of sputter etching

The dependence of depth resolution Δz/z on the sputtering angle θ is investigated for three sputter-deposited films: Cr (bcc), SiN x (amorphous) and FeCoTb (amorphous). The depth resolution for the Cr system exhibits two maxima at θ=35 o and 45 o . These are characteristic for bcc textured material but different from fcc textured material. The amorphous films show a very weak dependence, if any, owing to the absence of crystallites and crystalline texture. These results are in accordance with channeling theory
Planning Motions Compliant to Complex Contact States

Many robotic tasks require compliant motions, but planning such motions poses special challenges not present in collision-free motion planning. One challenge is how to achieve exactness, that is, h...
Ovarian and Serum Concentrations of Androgen throughout Pregnancy in the Rat

Levels of serum and ovarian androgen were studied throughout pregnancy in the rat. Serum androgen decreased by more than 50% from Day 5-8 of pregnancy and with minor fluctuations remained essentially unchanged at ‘\‘0.4 ng/ml until Days 11 or 12. A dramatic rise then occurred in serum androgen which reached values of 3 ± 1 nglml on Day 17. After Day 18 the serum concentration of androgen decreased steadily, but on Day 22 the levels were still 0.9 ± 0.2 nglml. The ovarian concentration of androgen remained relatively constant from Days 7 through 21 of pregnancy, between 20-45 pg/mg wet tissue. However, the concentration rose to over 200 pg/mg of ovarian tissue on Day 22; at this rime the nonluteal tissues of the ovary contained ‘�5 times more androgen than did the corpora lutea. Prior to Day 21 of pregnancy, the concentration of androgen was similar in luteal and nonluteal tissues. These results suggest that the high level of androgen found in the serum in the second half of pregnancy is from nonovarian origin and that the significant increase in ovarian androgen at the end of pregnancy is from nonluteal sources.
Scaling hot-electron generation to high-power, kilojoule-class laser-solid interactions.

Thin-foil targets were irradiated with high-power ($1\ensuremath{\le}{P}_{L}\ensuremath{\le}210\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TW}$), 10-ps pulses focused to intensities of $Ig{10}^{18}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and studied with $K$-photon spectroscopy. Comparing the energy emitted in $K$ photons to target-heating calculations shows a laser-energy-coupling efficiency to hot electrons of ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{L\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}e}=20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10%$. Time-resolved x-ray emission measurements suggest that laser energy is coupled to hot electrons over the entire duration of the incident laser drive. Comparison of the $K$-photon emission data to previous data at similar laser intensities shows that ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{L\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}e}$ is independent of laser-pulse duration from $1\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{p}\ensuremath{\le}10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{ps}$.
A Clinic-based Motivational Intervention Improves Condom Use Among Subgroups of Youth Living With HIV

Abstract Purpose More than 50% of youth living with HIV (YLH) have unprotected sex. In previous studies, we reported effects of a motivational interviewing-based multirisk reduction intervention, "Healthy Choices" in improving motivation, depression, and viral load in YLH. In this study, we report the effect of the intervention on increasing condom use. Methods Six waves of longitudinal data (n = 142) across a period from baseline through 15 months postintervention were analyzed. The developmental trajectory modeling method was used for program effect evaluation. Results The three groups detected with distinct sexual risks were: Persistent low sexual risk (PLSR), delayed high sexual risk, and high and growing sexual risk with regard to levels and time trajectories of condom use throughout the trial. Receiving Healthy Choices increased the likelihood to be in the PLSR group (63% vs. 32%, p p β = −.325, p β = −.364, p Conclusion The motivational interviewing-based program Healthy Choices, when delivered in clinic settings, can prevent unprotected sex in subgroups of YLH, although more intensive interventions may be needed to change risk trajectories among those at highest risk of transmitting the AIDS virus. Developmental trajectory analysis provides an alternative approach to evaluate program effects for study samples that contain distinct subgroups.
Coating crystalline methionine with tripalmitin-polyvinyl alcohol slows its absorption in the intestine of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract Supplemental free amino acids (FAA) can be used to satisfy dietary amino acid requirements when plant products replace fish meal and other animal byproducts in formulated diets. Use of coated FAA in diets could provide benefits by slowing the rate of FAA absorption and perhaps by increasing utilization efficiency. A laboratory feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of two coatings—tripalmitin-polyvinyl alcohol (TPA) and cellulose-acetate-phthalate (CAP)—on absorption of supplemental methionine by Nile tilapia. Forty-five adult fish (mean weight, 185 g) were stocked individually in 5-l aquaria and fed one of three, semipurified diets containing uncoated l -[ 35 S]methionine (UM) or TPA- or CAP-coated methionine as 50% of the dietary sulfur amino acid requirement. Three fish were taken from each treatment 0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 12 h after force-feeding to measure relative rates of 35 S uptake and the amount of 35 S-activity in intestinal tissues, liver, spleen, muscle, and blood plasma. Methionine uptake was highest in the foregut area, but absorption appeared to occur throughout the length of the intestine, including the hindgut. TPA-coated methionine was absorbed more slowly than uncoated methionine and fish fed with TPA-coated methionine had significantly lower levels of 35 S-activity in tissues than fish fed with UM. Activity of labeled methionine in tissues of fish fed with CAP-coated methionine usually was not significantly different from 35 S-activity in fish fed with UM. The TPA coating appeared to effectively slow the absorption of free methionine in the gut of Nile tilapia, but additional work is needed to determine if TPA-coated methionine is utilized more efficiently than the uncoated amino acid.
Aptamer-Based Lab-on-Chip for Cancer Cell Isolation and Detection

The isolation and detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), when these are few in number or small in mass, can enable early cancer detection [1]. Currently, most research endeavors to isolate circulating tumor cells rely on antibodies and immunohistochemistry [2,3]. Aptamer are alternative molecules that have affinities and specificities that are comparable to those of antibodies [4,5], but these can be more readily adapted to many applications [6–9], including lab-on-a-chip devices. Here, we report use of a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) aptamer biochip to identify and isolate cancer cells that overexpress EGFR. These results provide a solid basis for the development of diagnostic devices that can readily identify and isolate CTCs.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
3D chromatin interactions organize Yan chromatin occupancy and repression at the even-skipped locus

Long-range integration of transcriptional inputs is critical for gene expression, yet the mechanisms remain poorly understood. We investigated the molecular determinants that confer fidelity to expression of the heart identity gene even-skipped (eve). Targeted deletion of regions bound by the repressor Yan defined two novel enhancers that contribute repressive inputs to stabilize tissue-specific output from a third enhancer. Deletion of any individual enhancer reduced Yan occupancy at the other elements, impacting eve expression, cell fate specification, and cardiac function. These long-range interactions may be stabilized by three-dimensional chromatin contacts that we detected between the elements. Our work provides a new paradigm for chromatin-level integration of general repressive inputs with specific patterning information to achieve robust gene expression.
Functional template-based SAR image segmentation

We present an approach to automatic image segmentation, in which user selected sets of examples and counter-examples supply information about the specific segmentation problem. In our approach, image segmentation is guided by a genetic algorithm which learns the appropriate subset and spatial combination of a collection of discriminating functions, associated with image features. The genetic algorithm encodes discriminating functions into a functional template representation, which can be applied to the input image to produce a candidate segmentation. The performance of each candidate segmentation is evaluated within the genetic algorithm, by a comparison to two physics-based techniques for region growing and edge detection. Through the process of segmentation, evaluation, and recombination, the genetic algorithm optimizes functional template design efficiently. Results are presented on real synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery of varying complexity.
Embryo-fetal distribution of a biopharmaceutical IgG2 during rat organogenesis.

Abstract Embryo-fetal biodistribution of a maternally administered humanized IgG2 in rats was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in dose response and time course studies. Fetal and maternal plasma IgG2 levels increased with dose from 10 to 300 mg/kg but fetal:maternal ratio decreased with increasing dose. Plasma IgG2 levels decreased in fetal rat with increasing time post-dose but more slowly than maternal levels. This difference in post-dose kinetics resulted in an increased fetal:maternal ratio with increasing days since last dose. Lastly, IgG2 in embryo-fetal tissue was detected at very low levels on gestation day (GD) 10–12 and levels increased over 100-fold by GD 17. The profile of increasing IgG2 levels as gestation progressed continued in extra-embryonic fluid (GD 12–19) until the end of gestation in fetal plasma (GD 19–21). Based on the current study, there is a potential for direct effects on rat embryo-fetal development following maternal administration of a biopharmaceutical IgG2.
Branching ratio technique for vacuum UV radiance calibrations: extensions and a comprehensive data set.

Abstract The branching-ratio technique for calibrations in the VUV is reviewed in detail. The basic method is described, followed by extensions and applications. Lists of transitions suitable for the technique are given for H-, He-, Li-, and Be-like ions, along with pertinent data for their application.