cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An investigation of the perceptual basis of redundancy gain and orthogonal interference for integral dimensions.

Redundancy gain and orthogonal interference for height and width were demonstrated in two experiments using a relative coding task with number of intertrial repetitions controlled. Orthogonal interference was shown to be perceptually based rather than simply an intertrial repetitions effect as suggested by Felfoldy (1974). These results from a relative coding task were discussed in terms of the previous multidimensional processing literature. It was concluded that Lockhead’s (1972t model has been applied too generally. An alternative model (a parallel, dimensional analysis stage followed by a stage in which dimensional information is integrated) was suggested.
Orbital hydrocephalus: a proven cause for optic atrophy

A 4-year-old boy with bilateral optic sheath enlargement and progressive optic atrophy and blindness is presented. Computed tomography demonstrated hydrocephalus and enlargement of the optic nerve sheath complex. The child died during an attempted repair of hypoplastic atrioventricular valves. Autopsy demonstrated a patulous perioptic subarachnoid space and optic atrophy. This condition has been described in the literature but has not had radiologic-pathologic correlation. With the availability of magnetic resonance imaging, this diagnosis may be made prospectively, thus, it is important for the radiologist to be aware of this entity because optic atrophy and blindness may be prevented by early diagnosis and surgery.
Rapid determination of metal particles on air sampling filters using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

A preliminary investigation of an alternative method of analysis for metal particles is presented. The mass of thallium (TI) particles on filters was determined in less than 1 minute using the technique of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).Thallium was collected by passing contaminated air through a filter or by wiping a TI-contaminated surface with a filter. The particles (<20 µm diameter) were in the form of thallic oxide used in the manufacture of superconducting metals. Thallium was detected by forming a series of laser sparks across the filter surface. The sparks vaporized the particles and excited the resulting atoms. Thallium was detected by temporally and spectrally resolving the spark light. The detection limit for TI was 40 ng/cm2 on a filter surface. The useful dynamic range extends from 0.2 to 40 µg/filter using the strong 535.05 nm neutral TI emission line. The LIBS method of detection is intended to supplement (rather than replace) conventional analytical methods such as atomic abs...
Detection of weak D with a fully automated solid-phase red cell adherence system

BACKGROUND: Microplate agglutination methods (MAMs) and column agglutination technology are widely employed for red cell typing and can be automated. Some tests, however, such as detection of weak D, require manual testing. The possibility of detecting weak D by a solid-phase RBC adherence (SPRCA) test was studied in a fully automated system. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The results of 2609 blood samples, characterized as being D– or with a incomplete agglutination reaction, were analyzed for the presence of the weak D phenotype. The 2609 samples were tested by a weak D tube test (antiglobulin method) and a weak D-test with the new SPRCA method. When weak D was detected, which D epitope was involved and whether it was associated with a partial D phenotype were determined. RESULTS: Weak D was detected in 60 (2.3%) of the 2609 samples. The 60 samples that were weak D by the tube test were also weak D+ with the new automated SPRCA test. The sensitivity and specificity for the new weak D typing method were 100 percent, when compared with the standard weak D manual test. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the possibility of performing weak D detection with a SPRCA fully automated system. These preliminary results are encouraging, showing good sensitivity and specificity of the test. Detection of weak D will permit full automation of blood typing.
Biology of Ageing: a Review

. We interpreted our findings that normal human and animal cells have a finite proliferative capacity to be the expression of ageing and longevity determination at the cell level. This finding implied the existence of a counting mechanism which, after a 35 year search, has now been found to be governed by diminished telomere length at each round of DNA replication. I suggest the name ‘;replicometer’ for this mechanism because replications are metered and not time, thus precluding calling this a clock or chronometer. Immortal abnormal cells, like cancer cells, can express the reverse transcriptase ‘;telomerase’ which maintains telomere length constant, thus providing immortality to this class of cells.
Plasma effects on fluorine incorporation in glow-discharge produced a-(Si,F,H) films

Abstract The fluorine concentration in a-(Si,F,H) films as a function of the plasma pressure referred to the Paschen-like curves of the reactor has been studied. The concentration of fluorine rapidly increases with decreasing pressure below the value at which the discharge-sustaining voltage reaches its minimum. At and beyond this point incorporation of fluorine is very small. These results help to explain some discrepancies found in the literature.
Role of the actin cytoskeleton during influenza virus internalization into polarized epithelial cells

The in vivo site of influenza virus infection is a polarized epithelium, and it is well established that the virus preferentially enters from the apical surface of polarized epithelial cells; however, many of the molecular events involved during the endocytosis of the virus into polarized epithelia remain unclear. Here we examined the role of actin microfilaments and the myosin VI motor protein during influenza entry into a panel of polarized and non-polarized cells. By treatment of cells with cytochalasin D and jasplakinolide, we show that influenza virus entry into all the polarized epithelial cells tested requires actin dynamics, with a specific role for the actin cytoskeleton in the process of virus internalization from the plasma membrane. In contrast, influenza could still could efficiently enter and infect all non-polarized cells tested after disruption or stabilization of the actin cytoskeleton. To examine the role of the actin motor protein, myosin VI, we expressed a dominant-negative construct in both polarized and non-polarized cells. Influenza virus infectivity in myosin VI tail mutant-transfected cells was significantly decreased in polarized epithelial cells, but not in non-polarized cells. As a whole, our data suggest indispensable roles of a dynamic actin cytoskeleton for influenza virus entry into polarized epithelial cells, a feature not shared with non-polarized cells.
The Association between Cigarette Smoking and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in a Large Prospective Cohort from the United States

Background: Many studies have reported a 20% to 60% increase in risk of colorectal cancer associated with active smoking. However, neither the U.S. Surgeon General nor the IARC have classified the relationship as causal because of concern about residual confounding. Methods: In a prospective study of 184,187 people followed from 1992 to 2005, we used Cox proportional hazard models to examine the relationship of cigarette smoking to incident colorectal cancer, controlling for screening and multiple known and putative risk factors. Information on smoking and time-varying covariates was updated in 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003. Results: The incidence of colorectal cancer was significantly higher in current [hazard ratios (HR), 1.27; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.06-1.52] and former smokers (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.11-1.36) compared with lifelong nonsmokers in analyses that controlled for 13 covariates, including screening. The relative risk was greatest among current smokers with at least 50 years of smoking (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.04-1.84). Among former smokers, risk of colorectal cancer decreased with greater time since cessation ( P trend = 0.0003), and also decreased with earlier age at cessation ( P trend = 0.0014). No association was seen among former smokers who had quit before age of 40 years or abstained for 31 years or more. Conclusions: Long-term cigarette smoking is associated with colorectal cancer, even after controlling for screening and multiple other risk factors. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(12):3362–7)
Mechanical Technologies for PIGMI

PIGMI (Pion Generator for Medical Irradiations) is a compact linear proton accelerator designed for a hospital environment. The prototype of the low energy section of PIGMI has been designed and is being fabricated at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. It is an accelerator design which makes use of several advanced or innovative technologies. The PIGMI Prototype consists of a 250 keV injector, a double harmonic buncher, a tape-wound 13 kG solenoid magnet, and four accelerator tanks with a total of 63 drift tubes of which 18 contain strong focusing quadrupoles of permanent magnets. The accelerator tanks are mild steel, copper-plated using a bright acid leveling technique. Drift tubes are stainless steel, fabricated using electron beam welding, shaped in a lathe and then copper plated. Drift tubes loaded with permanent magnets are sealed using laser welding. The samarium cobalt magnets are shaped by cutting and grinding techniques developed at Los Alamos.
Death and renovation at the end of the Mesozoic

The first dinosaur remains, a mososaurian jaw more than a meter long, was unearthed near Maastricht, Holland, in 1770. As recounted by Desmond [1976], it created a scientific sensation. With the discovery of a wealth of additional fossils during the 19th and 20th centuries, it became clear that the dinosaurs had evolved into a fantastic array of forms and sizes and were reigning supreme during the Mesozoic. It also became clear that they disappeared very abruptly near the peak of their success. What killed them remained a mystery that fascinated scientists for more than a century and generated a host of more or less implausible theories.
Selenium as an element in the treatment of ovarian cancer in women receiving chemotherapy

Abstract Objective. Our objective is to examine how selenium (Se) supplementation influences oxidative stress (malondialdehyde) and the glutathione peroxidase system in patients with ovarian cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Material . The study group included 31 patients with ovarian cancer undergoing chemotherapy receiving the drug Protecton® Zellactiv (Smith Kline Beecham, Fink Naturarznei GmbH, Germany), two capsules, four times daily (200 μg). Results . Following the Se supplementation in a daily dose of 200 μg, the concentration of this microelement in serum ( P P P P x in erythrocytes after 2 months' ( P P An increase of the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) following the administration of Se after 2 months ( P P P After 2 and 3 months of Se administration, a significant decrease of hair loss ( P P P P P P P P P P P P Conclusion. As a result of this clinical trial, we conclude that there are beneficial effects caused by ingesting selenium, as a supportive element in chemotherapy.
How many great earthquakes should we expect

Great earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 or larger occur infrequently. For a nearly 40-y period after the February of 1965 M 8.7 Rat Islands, Alaska earthquake, the world did not experience a single great earthquake; however, in the 7 y since late December of 2004, there have been a barrage of five great earthquakes. These earthquakes include the 2004 M 9.1 Sumatra, Indonesia earthquake; the 2005 M 8.7 Nias, Indonesa earthquake; the 2007 M 8.5 Bengkulu, Indonesia earthquake; the 2010 M 8.8 Maule, Chile earthquake; and the 2011 M 9.0 Tohoku-oki, Japan earthquake. This cluster of great earthquakes seems to signal an anomalous increase in their frequency, but does it really? In their paper, “The global risk of big earthquakes has not recently increased,” Shearer and Stark (1) present a quantitative assessment of that perception. Their analysis tests three different attributes of the earthquake catalog against the null hypothesis: That the observed seismicity is a plausible realization of a Poisson process (1). None of the three tests allows the Poisson assumption to be rejected with high confidence, which leads them to the conclusion that the recent spate of large earthquakes is not anomalous (1).
Super-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging with STORM

Dissecting the inner workings of a cell requires imaging methods with molecular specificity, molecular-scale resolution, and dynamic imaging capability such that molecular interactions inside the cell can be directly visualized. Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful imaging modality for investigating cells largely owning to its molecular specificity and dynamic imaging capability. However, the spatial resolution of light microscopy, classically limited by the diffraction of light to a few hundred nanometers, is substantially larger than typical molecular length scales in cells. Hence many subcellular structures and dynamics cannot be resolved by conventional fluorescence microscopy. We developed a super-resolution fluorescence microscopy method, stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), which circumvent the diffraction limit based on stochastic switching and imaging of single molecules. This approach has allowed multicolor and three-dimensional imaging of living cells with nanometer-scale resolution and enabled discoveries of novel sub-cellular structures. In this talk, I will discuss the recent technological development and biological applications of STORM.
Infinite metacyclic groups and their non-abelian tensor squares

In this paper we classify all infinite metacyclic groups up to isomorphism and determine their non-abelian tensor squares. As an application we compute various other functors, among them are the exterior square, the symmetric product, and the second homology group for these groups. We show that an infinite non-abelian metacyclic group is capable if and only if it is isomorphic to the infinite dihedral group.
Photoemission measurement of Fermi surface, band dispersion and quasiparticle lifetime in YBa2Cu3O6.9

Abstract High resolution (20 meV) angle-resolved photoemission measurements on single-crystals of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6.9 were analyzed to obtain band dispersion and quasiparticle lifetimes. The mass enhancement is 1.2 for a Cu-O plane band mass and 1.0 for the pdπ chain band. Fitting measured energy distribution curves to a model spectrum that includes self-energy corrections, we find that the imaginary part of the self-energy varies quadratically in the immediate vicinity of E F , and becomes linear above ~20 meV.
Genetic diversity among Lagenaria siceraria accessions containing resistance to root-knot nematodes, whiteflies, ZYMV or powdery mildew

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in Europe and in the USA in grafting watermelon onto bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. In this study, genetic diversity and relationships were examined [using 236 sequence-related amplified polymorphism markers] among 56 United States plant introductions (PIs) of L. siceraria and PIs of important cucurbit crops [including Cucurbita maxima Duchesne (winter squash), Cucurbita pepo L. (squash and pumpkin), Citrullus spp. (watermelon), Cucumis melo L. (melon) and Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber)]. The analysis showed that L. siceraria is distinct and has similar genetic distances to the cucurbit species examined herein. The L. siceraria PIs were assembled into two major clusters. One cluster includes groups of PIs collected mostly in South Asia (India) and a few PIs collected in the Mediterranean region and in Northeast Africa. The second cluster includes groups of PIs collected mainly in Southern Africa and in North, Central and South America, and PIs collected in China, Indonesia and Cyprus. All L. siceraria PIs in this study were susceptible to the southern root-knot nematode (RKN) [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Sandground]. However, several PIs, among them a group of closely related PIs collected in Mexico and Florida, were less infected with southern RKNs. All L. siceraria PIs were infested with whiteflies [Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)], while several PIs were less infested than others and need further evaluation and selection for developing breeding lines that may be less appealing to this pest. Most of the PIs that showed resistance to zucchini yellow mosaic virus and tolerance to powdery mildew were collected in India and belong to the same phylogenetic groups (PGs). Experiments with L. siceraria PIs representing different PGs showed similar grafting compatibility with watermelon. Findings from this study should be useful for the development of superior L. siceraria rootstock lines with enhanced resistance to diseases and insect pests of cucurbit crops.
Multispectral method for skin imaging: development and validation

A visible wide field multispectral system for comprehensive imaging of skin chromophores and blood vessels has been implemented, and an inhomogeneous Monte Carlo model of photon migration with randomly distributed blood vessels embedded in dermis has been developed. Predetermined nonlinear transforms have been obtained to address the nonlinear interdependent relationship among diffusive reflectance spectra, skin physiology properties, and geometry. For validation, in addition to real skin experiments and phantoms experiments, two alternative methods for blood vessel imaging have been used on the same set of subjects to compensate for the lack of ground truth for skin subsurface imaging.
Arabidopsis TCH3 encodes a novel Ca2+ binding protein and shows environmentally induced and tissue-specific regulation.

The Arabidopsis touch (TCH) genes are up-regulated in response to various environmental stimuli, including touch, wind, and darkness. Previously, it was determined that TCH1 encodes a calmodulin; TCH2 and TCH3 encode calmodulin-related proteins. Here, we present the sequence and genomic organization of TCH3. TCH3 is composed of three repeats; remarkably, the first two repeats share 94% sequence identity, including introns that are 99% identical. The conceptual TCH3 product is 58 to 60% identical to known Arabidopsis calmodulins; however, unlike calmodulin, which has four Ca2+ binding sites, TCH3 has six potential Ca2+ binding domains. TCH3 is capable of binding Ca2+, as demonstrated by a Ca(2+)-specific shift in electrophoretic mobility. 59 Fragments of the TCH3 locus, when fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene, are sufficient to confer inducibility of expression following stimulation of plants with touch or darkness. These TCH3 sequences also direct expression to growing regions of roots, vascular tissue, root/shoot junctions, trichomes, branch points of the shoot, and regions of siliques and flowers. The pattern of expression of the TCH3/GUS reporter genes most likely reflects expression of the native TCH3 gene, because immunostaining of the TCH3 protein shows similar localization. The tissue-specific expression of TCH3 suggests that expression may be regulated not only by externally applied mechanical stimuli but also by mechanical stresses generated during development. Consequently, TCH3 may perform a Ca(2+)-modulated function involved in generating changes in cells and/or tissues that result in greater strength or flexibility.
Nitroprusside infusion in experimental acute myocardial infarction with systemic hypertension: Effects on systemic hemodynamics and regional myocardial blood flows

Abstract The effects of graded doses of nitroprusside on regional myocardial blood flow were studied in awake, acutely hypertensive dogs with acute myocardial infarction. Acute systemic hypertension was produced by infusing a mixture of norepinephrine and epinephrine for 80 minutes after coronary artery occlusion. The increase in aortic pressure produced by catecholamine infusion was accompanied by increases in heart rate, left ventricular (LV) enddiastolic pressure, first derivative of LV pressure (dP/dt), dP/dt at an LV developed pressure of 50 mm Hg (dP/dt/P) and pressure-rate product, but total peripheral vascular resistance did not change significantly. Two graded doses of nitroprusside were then infused, each for 25 minutes, beginning 30 minutes after the onset of coronary artery occlusion. The smaller dose of nitroprusside returned aortic pressure to control levels and significantly reduced total peripheral vascular resistance and LV enddiastolic pressure, but did not affect cardiac output, heart rate, LV dP/dt, dP/dt/P and pressure-rate product. Regional blood flow increased to both the ischemic and normal myocardium. The larger dose of nitroprusside further reduced aortic pressure and total peripheral vascular resistance and LV enddiastolic pressure and significantly increased heart rate and cardiac output. However, LV dP/dt, dP/dt/P and pressure-rate product remained unchanged. Regional blood flow to normal myocardium increased, but the increase in ischemic endocardial blood flow produced by the smaller dose of nitroprusside was no longer significant when the larger dose was administered. These changes were not produced by administration of normal saline solution. It is concluded that, in a setting of elevated filling pressures, return of elevated aortic pressure to normal levels by nitroprusside may improve perfusion to the ischemic myocardium. This increase in subendocardial blood flow to ischemic regions was probably a result of increased collateral flow caused, at least in part, by the vasodilator action of the drug and by the decrease in LV filling pressure.
Reclaiming Physical Education in Higher Education Through Critical Pedagogy

In this paper, the theoretical basis and practical alternatives of critical pedagogy are applied to graduate courses in physical education. An autobiographical sketch is used to illustrate how critical pedagogy tries to affirm the “personal” and bridge it to the “political.” The faulty paradigmatic assumptions on which physical education in higher education is based are then analyzed and deconstructed. These paradigmatic assumptions are important factors for the crises facing physical education and society at large. Finally, an example of implementing critical pedagogy in the university classroom is provided, relating how students and the instructor can (a) connect the content and the objectives of courses to the broader social issues, (b) scrutinize and try to eliminate conventional relations of power in the classroom, and (c) bring the personal and the political into the learning process.
Increasing Cropping System Diversity Balances Productivity, Profitability and Environmental Health

Balancing productivity, profitability, and environmental health is a key challenge for agricultural sustainability. Most crop production systems in the United States are characterized by low species and management diversity, high use of fossil energy and agrichemicals, and large negative impacts on the environment. We hypothesized that cropping system diversification would promote ecosystem services that would supplement, and eventually displace, synthetic external inputs used to maintain crop productivity. To test this, we conducted a field study from 2003–2011 in Iowa that included three contrasting systems varying in length of crop sequence and inputs. We compared a conventionally managed 2-yr rotation (maize-soybean) that received fertilizers and herbicides at rates comparable to those used on nearby farms with two more diverse cropping systems: a 3-yr rotation (maize-soybean-small grain + red clover) and a 4-yr rotation (maize-soybean-small grain + alfalfa-alfalfa) managed with lower synthetic N fertilizer and herbicide inputs and periodic applications of cattle manure. Grain yields, mass of harvested products, and profit in the more diverse systems were similar to, or greater than, those in the conventional system, despite reductions of agrichemical inputs. Weeds were suppressed effectively in all systems, but freshwater toxicity of the more diverse systems was two orders of magnitude lower than in the conventional system. Results of our study indicate that more diverse cropping systems can use small amounts of synthetic agrichemical inputs as powerful tools with which to tune, rather than drive, agroecosystem performance, while meeting or exceeding the performance of less diverse systems.
Computer automated lanes detection and profiles evaluation of one-dimensional gel electrophoretic autoradiograms

A new fast, precise and reproducible method for lanes detection and profiles evaluation of one-dimensional gel electrophoretic autoradiograms is presented. It is fully automated, and its principles are based on image and signal processing techniques. The operator usually has only to specify the number of lanes that are present in the preparation, but still may retain overall control. In the first phase, the program automatically locates the lateral position of the lanes, and approximates their left and right boundaries by polynomials (which allow curved as well as straight lanes). The operator can then intervene, if necessary, to adjust these positions. In the second phase, the background variations are corrected; two types of density profiles are computed, representing the average density as well as the total amount of material in the lanes. This calculation is carried out with correction for tilt or curvature for each lane. Finally, prinouts are produced that contain graphs of the profiles together with quantitative measurements. Use of this method is illustrated by analysis of electrophoretic gels containing proteins and lipopolysaccharides of varying mobilities. Experiments made on these gels as well as others yield accurate quantitation of the relative amount of each component.
Recent Developments in Drop Tower J Integral Testing of Elastic Plastic Structural Steels

ABSTRACT During the past six years a test method has been developed for dynamic testing of fracture mechanics specimens which is specifically designed for application to the upper transition temperature range. The method uses drop tower loading rates of 2.5 m/sec and obtains a J IC or a J-R curve using an analytical key curve approach verified by initial and final crack length measurements obtained from the fracture surface. A J-R curve is obtained from each specimen and contains crack growth corrections so that it is directly comparable with static results obtained in accordance with the ASTM E1152 J-R curve test method. Static test results have shown that the J at cleavage initiation (which is presently an unstandardized quantity) is specimen a/W independent throughout the ductile to brittle transition but of course demonstrates considerable statistical scatter in the vicinity of the ductile upper shelf. Dynamic J-R tests have shown an increase in J IC with test rate for most, but not for all, materials. Separation of J into elastic and plastic components shows that the elastic J component increases with loading rate in a fashion consistent with the materials tensile sensitivity to loading rate but the plastic J component decreases with loading rate – an apparent visco–plastic phenomena. For A106 steel the plastic J decrease exceeds the elastic J increase and the upper shelf toughness falls – while the other materials have demonstrated a relatively larger increase in the elastic J component and a smaller decrease in the plastic J component giving an overall increase in upper shelf toughness.
An Optimized Micromixer with Patterned Grooves

With the development of microfluidic systems, there is a growing interest in micro scale laminar flow mixing. In this work, the fluid rotating angle and mixing efficiency in a micromixer with patterned grooves are studied as a function of the dimensions of the microstructure by numerical simulation. We found that mixing efficiency does not always increase with higher fluid stream rotation in the microchannel. High groove aspect ratios are not advantageous to fluid rotation. Experiments on mixture of two fluids were done on a micromixer fabricated in PDMS by replica molding. An 85% mixing efficiency was obtained in a 30mm long mixing channel with two dyed liquids.
Microalbuminuria: Definition, Detection, and Clinical Significance

Proteinuria is a sign of abnormal excretion of protein by the kidney but is a nonspecific term including any or all proteins excreted. In contrast, albuminuria specifically refers to an abnormal excretion rate of albumin. Microalbuminuria refers to an abnormally increased excretion rate of albumin in the urine in the range of 30-299 mg/g creatinine. It is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality especially, but not exclusively, in high-risk populations such as diabetics and hypertensives. Testing for microalbuminuria is now made easy by in-office dipstick tests (semiquantitative) and widely available laboratory testing (quantitative). Physicians should screen all diabetics for albuminuria and strongly consider screening hypertensives to identify those at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Appropriate intervention, including use of drugs that block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, may be appropriate in such cases as suggested by the American Diabetes Association and the Seventh Report of Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.
Providing for Women's Pleasure in the Next Generation of Condoms

In March 2013, the Gates Foundation released its latest “Grand Challenge in Global Health”: a call for proposals regarding the development of more appealing, pleasurable, and user friendly male condoms.1 Given their universal recognition, practicality, low cost, and unique ability to prevent both pregnancy and STIs, condoms are a valuable and often underutilized tool in promoting global health. Though condoms often receive less attention than biomedical prevention technologies such as male circumcision or pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP), they have saved thousands, if not millions, of lives over the course of the AIDS pandemic. Moreover, if condoms transferred more heat and sensation, were easier to apply correctly, broke less often, were reusable, and/or were more readily available, they could curb even more STI/HIV transmissions and unintended pregnancies worldwide.
Neck formation in reactive sintering: A model 2-D experiment

Silica-titania sub-close-packed single layers were deposited by spin coating titanium alkoxide sols containing inert 0.5 micrometer silica particles to study the process of reactive sintering more closely than has been done before. The sub-close-packed single layers were designed to achieve a coating density such that pairs or chains of silica particles were placed on the flat substrate and held together by the reactive titania thin films overlaid on the surface and in the neck regions of these essentially 2-D particle networks. Because of the low density of silica particles, all of the two-particle junctions and neck regions were aligned for geometrically direct viewing; as a result scanning electron microscopy was useful for observing the morphology of these neck regions. Image analysis was used to quantify the neck diameter for varying titania/silica precursor concentration ratios. Geometrical calculations that relate the change in neck volume to the neck radius are presented. Implications for design of reactive sintering systems are discussed.
Potential effects of climate and emissions changes on surface ozone in the Chicago area

ABSTRACT Future changes in climate and precursor emissions will likely have important consequences on ground-level ozone concentrations for the City of Chicago and its surrounding suburban/rural areas. Here we use a regional climate-air quality modeling system to evaluate the combined and individual effects of climate warming (and resulting biogenic emissions increases) and anthropogenic emissions perturbations from 1996–2000 to 2048– 2052 and 2095–2099 in this region. Two scenarios are considered, including A1FI (higher warming with increasing anthropogenic emissions) and B1 (less warming with reduced anthropogenic emissions). Relative to 1996–2000, projected changes in climate and anthropogenic emissions together lead to little ozone change for the City of Chicago under A1FI but 5.0–7.8 ppb increases under B1 by 2048–2052 and 2095–2099. For A1FI, the decreasing ratio of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduces ozone concentrations over Chicago, despite the increasing emissions ...
Novel nanotechnology for environmentally friendly interconnect materials in microelectronic packaging applications

Recently, anisotropic conductive adhesives (ACAs) have attracted increasing interests as environmentally friendly materials in electronic packaging industry because they are lead-free, require fewer processing steps, such as fluxing and cleaning (reducing processing cost), allow a low processing temperature (enabling the use of heat-sensitive and low-cost components and substrates), and fine pitch interconnect capability (enabling the miniaturization of electronic devices). In this study, effects of nano silver (Ag) particles on electrical properties of ACA formulations were firstly investigated. It is discovered that nano silver (Ag) particles exhibited sintering behavior at significantly lower temperatures (<200°C) than the melting point (Tm of Ag is 960°C). The sintered nano Ag particles significantly reduced the ACA joint resistance and enhanced the current carrying capability of ACAs. In addition, a novel approach of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) was used to treat nano Ag fillers to improve the interface properties of ACA joints. These SAM-treated ACAs were thermally stable at processing temperatures of the ACA samples. By introducing the novel SAM materials into the interfaces between nano metal fillers and the substrate bond pads, the conductivity and current carrying capability of ACAs were further improved due to the stronger bonding between nano fillers and SAM and consequently, it improved interface properties of the high performance ACA for potential microprocessor applications. This improvement enabled the possibility of replacing lead-containing solder interconnects in electronic industry.
Predicting Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) variations using subsurface and surface fingerprints

Abstract Recent studies have suggested that the leading modes of North Atlantic subsurface temperature (Tsub) and sea surface height (SSH) anomalies are induced by Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) variations and can be used as fingerprints of AMOC variability. Based on these fingerprints of the AMOC in the GFDL CM2.1 coupled climate model, a linear statistical predictive model of observed fingerprints of AMOC variability is developed in this study. The statistical model predicts a weakening of AMOC strength in a few years after its peak around 2005. Here, we show that in the GFDL coupled climate model assimilated with observed subsurface temperature data, including recent Argo network data (2003–2008), the leading mode of the North Atlantic Tsub anomalies is similar to that found with the objectively analyzed Tsub data and highly correlated with the leading mode of altimetry SSH anomalies for the period 1993–2008. A statistical auto-regressive (AR) model is fit to the time-series of the leading mode of objectively analyzed detrended North Atlantic Tsub anomalies (1955–2003) and is applied to assimilated Tsub and altimetry SSH anomalies to make predictions. A similar statistical AR model, fit to the time-series of the leading mode of modeled Tsub anomalies from the 1000-year GFDL CM2.1 control simulation, is applied to predict modeled Tsub, SSH, and AMOC anomalies. The two AR models show comparable skills in predicting observed Tsub and modeled Tsub, SSH and AMOC variations.
Four pulp treatments for extensive decay in primary teeth show equal effectiveness

Original Article Nadin G, Goel BR, Yeung CA, Glenny AM. Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth. The Cochrane Library, 2004, Issue 3. Level of Evidence 1a Purpose To evaluate the relative effectiveness of various pulp treatment techniques in retaining primary molar teeth with decay involving the pulp for at least 12 months Source of Funding No external sources of support. Internal support (Cochrane) was supplied by University Dental Hospital of Manchester (UK) and Salford Primary Care Trust (UK) Type of Study/Design Systematic review
Modeling of long, thin elastic structures with periodic geometry

The author considers the problem of modeling a class of elastic structures characterized by having one dimension large relative to the other two and being periodic along the length. Since a direct approach to modeling such structures leads to intractable numerical difficulties, a simpler model is modeled by a linearized elastic system on a 3-D domain which is not simply connected. By letting a small parameter (the width of the cross section) tend to zero, two uncoupled (1-D) equations having the same form as the usual Euler-Bernoulli beam equation but with periodic coefficients are obtained. By a second limiting process (letting the period tend to zero), equations with constant coefficients (the homogenized equations) are obtained. Numerical results comparing the eigenvalues of the first limit equation with those of the homogenized equation are presented. >
Modified distributed slack bus load flow algorithm for determining economic dispatch in deregulated power systems

This paper presents a methodology for evaluating an optimum real power generation scheduling in a power system consisting of regulated and deregulated subsystems. A new approach using a distributed slack bus model is developed. Minimization of fuel cost is considered as the objective function for each generator of a subsystem participating in the economic dispatch in a deregulated market. The optimization approach adopted in the method is based on participation factors and uses decoupled load flow calculation. The results of generation schedule can be used by ISO for operation and control. The results obtained for a modified IEEE-30 bus system separated into six generating utilities show promise for practical implementation.
Occupational characteristics and the progression of carotid artery intima-media thickness and plaque over 9 years: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Objectives The role of occupation in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a topic of research because few studies have examined longitudinal associations, and because occupation can be an indicator of socioeconomic position (SEP) and a proxy for hazard exposure. This study examines associations of occupational category as an SEP marker and selected occupational exposures with progression of the subclinical carotid artery disease. Methods A community-based, multiethnic sample (n=3109, mean age=60.2) provided subclinical CVD measures at least twice at three data collection points (mean follow-up=9.4 years). After accounting for demographic characteristics, SEP, and traditional CVD risk factors, we modelled common carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaque scores, and carotid plaque shadowing as a function of occupational category, physical hazard exposure, physical activity on the job, interpersonal stress, job control and job demands. These job characteristics were derived from the Occupational Resource Network (O*NET). Random coefficient models were used to account for repeated measures and time-varying covariates. Results There were a few statistically significant associations at baseline. After all covariates were included in the model, men in management, office/sales, service and blue-collar jobs had 28–44% higher plaque scores than professionals at baseline (p=0.001). Physically hazardous jobs were positively associated with plaque scores among women (p=0.014). However, there were no significant longitudinal associations between any of the occupational characteristics and any of the subclinical CVD measures. Conclusions There was little evidence that the occupational characteristics examined in this study accelerated the progression of subclinical CVD.
Dynamic calcium requirements for activation of human ventricular muscle calculated from tension-independent heat.

The heat and tension generated by strips of human left ventricle taken from nonfailing hearts were measured at 30 °C before and after partial inhibition of ATP splitting by the contractile proteins. We used 2, 3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) (4mM) as the chemical inhibition agent and alterations in solution calcium concentration and stimulus frequency to estimate the heat associated with calcium cycling for a wide range of activation levels. Tension- independent heat (TIH) was used to calculate the total calcium cycled per twitch by assuming that two-thirds of TIH was due to ATP splitting by the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase with a coupling ratio of 2 Ca2+/ATP split and that one-third of TIH was due to ATP splitting by the sarcolemmal Na+— K+ ATPase supporting the Na+— Ca2+ exchanger (1 Ca2+/ATP). The enthalpy of creatine phosphate hydrolysis buffering ATP was taken as — 34 KJ/mol. There was a highly positive correlation between TIH and mechanical activation during steady-state and nonsteady-state stimulation. The estimated total calcium turnover per twitch at 39% activation (0.3 Hz pacing rate and 2.5 mM Calcium) was ~ 0.17 nmol/g wet weight. This estimate is less than that calculated from biochemical data describing the cellular content and Ca2+ affinity of major Ca2+ buffers, but is similar to values calculated from recent electron probe microanalysis experiments.
Energy Stored in Fractional-Order Elements With Constant Inputs

The internal efficiency of the energy storage in a general fractional-order circuit element is analyzed. By use of distributed-circuit representations, integral expressions are derived for the energy stored in a fractional-order integrator or a fractional-order differentiator for any given profile of the distributed state. For either constant-current or constant-voltage charging, these expressions for the stored energy are evaluated and compared with the energy supplied at the terminals of the element, so that the efficiency of the charging process is determined. The result is found to verify a published conjecture on the constant-input charging efficiency of the fractional-order elements.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Histological Typing and Grading of Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Experience and Review of the Literature

Accurate histological typing of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is a challenging task for pathologists [1–3]. Because of the significant diagnostic discordance among pathologists, the importance of histopathology peer review in the analysis of therapeutic trials has been emphasized [1, 4, 5]. Although the histological grade of malignancy (HGM) is considered to be the most important prognostic indicator, the grading system is highly complex and is not entirely reproducible [1, 6]. This report presents (1) the experience of the ECOG Pathology Review Committee with histological typing and grading of STS, including comparison of the ECOG experience with the other sarcoma study groups, (2) prognostic significance of HGM and various grading systems used by major group studies, and (3) influence of histological type and tumor grade on chemosensitivity of advanced adult STS in the ECOG trial EST 3377 [5].
Effect of spinal cord transection on adrenocortical function.

SummaryAdrenocortical hormone secretion of patients with spinal cord transection has been studied by determining urinary and plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroid concentrations before and after ACTH and by measuring diurnal variation in plasma adrenal steroid levels. These values were compared with those obtained from control subjects and no difference in adrenal hormone secretion was evident. Metabolic inactivation of Cortisol was determined by infusing the steroid intravenously and measuring rate of disappearance from plasma. The rate of steroid degradation in cord-sectioned patients was not different from that of controls.
LISTENING COMPREHENSION IN THE RETARDED BLIND.

Listening comprehension has been found to be related to age (Terman, 1916), sex (Tennies, 1942), and intelligence ( Hartlage, 1962) ; and, with these variables controlled, no significant differences have been found in listening comprehension between the blind and the sighted (Hartlage, 1963). Comparisons between the two groups have typically involved individuals within normal intelligence ranges, and this study was aimed at assessing the generality of findings to an abnormal sample. METHOD Twelve blind retarded residents of che Frankfort Training Home were matched for age, sex, intelligence, and duration of institutionalization with 12 sighted residents of the same instinition. Blind Ss were tesced on the HayesBinet, a modification of the Stanford-Binet, Form L. Sighted Ss were tested on Form L of the Stanford-Binet. Mean age was 19, and mean duration of institutionalization was 12 yr. Sixteen were males, 8 were females. A listening comprehension selection taped from a record prepared by the American Printing Ho~~se for the Blind was played to Ss on a Sony 801-A tape recorder. The fictional selection was at the 5-yr. level of comprehensibility. The test of listening comprehension consisted of a 4-alternative, 28-item questionnaire covering the material in the taped selection. Reliability for the groups tested was computed by splitting the test on the basis of item difficulty and calculating Pearsonian correlations between the two halves. Split-half reliability, corrected by the Spearman-Brown formula, was .68. , Ss were individually tested. The listening comprehension selection, which lasred 8fi min., was divided inco 4 equal time intervals to facilitate comprehension. The selection was thus played for approximately 2% min., stopped, and 7 questions covering the information just presented were asked of S. This was repeated until 4 sequences were completed in 1 experimental session. RESULTS' There were no significant differences between the blind and sighted groups on listening comprehension as measured by the median test (x" 1.34). The rank correlations between intelligence and listening comprehension were .866 for 'Tabular data have been filed with the American Documentation Institute, Auxiliary Publications Project, Photoduplication Service, Library of Congress, Washington 25, D. C. Order Document No. 8270, remitting $1.25 for photocopies or 35-mm. microfilm.
SY14-2MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF CANNABIS: RESEARCH AT NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

Cannabis remains the most frequently abused illegal drug in the world with a prevalence of 119–224 million in 2010 (WHO. 2012). Cannabis use is not without significant health risks. Cannabis is associated with effects on almost every organ system in the body, ranging from the central nervous system to the cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory/pulmonary, and immune systems. The most current research also shows that cannabis smoking accelerates liver fibrosis in HCV-infected patients. Cannabis use may also be associated with prostate, testicular, and cervical cancers, and risk of developing head, neck and/or lung cancer. In general, acute effects are better studied than those of chronic use and more studies are needed that focus on disentangling effects of marijuana from those of other drugs and adverse environmental conditions. A number of medications have been tested in the treatment of cannabis-associated complications including: divalproex, bupropion, nefazodone for marijuana withdrawal, and lofexidine, baclofen and mirtazepine for withdrawal and relapse have been tried. These will be discussed. Finally, several mechanisms of funding research in the domestic and international settings at NIDA/NIH will be presented. References . WHO 2012. Drug Report; Khalsa J. Medical and Health Consequences of Marijuana, in Marijuana and the Cannabinoids, editor: Dr. Mehamoud El Sohly. Humana Press, Inc., New Jersey, NJ, Chapter 10, pp. 237–252, 2007.