cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application Of Methyl α-Chloroacrylate Copolymers As Electron Sensitive Positive Resists

Poly(methly a-chloracrylate) (PMCA) is one of the vinyl polymers which is highly sensitive to high energy radiation. The G, value (defined as number of chain scission events per 100 ev of energy absorbed) of PMCA is 6.0 which is significantly higher than 1.6 of PMMA - the current standard e-beam resist. Used as a positive electron resist, the sensitivity of PMCA is considerably better than PMMA but less than one would expect from its high Gs' Such behavior can be attributed to: (a) the occurrence of non-negligible concurrent crosslinking in PMCA and (b) the poor solubility of PMCA. In the past, we have reported the synthesis, characterization and e-beam exposure results for the copolymers of MCA and several methacrylates, including methyl methacrylate (MMA), cyclohexyl methacrylate and n-hexyl methacrylate. In the present paper, the results of our recent studies for the copolymers of MCA and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA), of MCA and methacrylic acid (MAA) and the new results for the copolymers of MCA and MMA are presented. The optimization of copolymer composition and molecular weight, and the selection of developers based on solubility parameter concept are discussed in the paper. It has been found that both MCA/BMA and MCA/MMA copolymer resists possess submicron resolution and are significantly more sensitive than PMMA.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Contemporary management of pineoblastoma.

Abstract Pineoblastomas (PBs) represent the most aggressive of the pineal parenchymal tumors. Routine treatment consists of operative management of obstructive hydrocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid studies followed by maximal resection and adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy, resulting in a median survival of 20 months. Important prognostic factors for survival of patients with PB include extent of resection, age at presentation, disseminated disease, and craniospinal radiotherapy. Novel strategies being evaluated for the treatment of PB include high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and histone deacetylase inhibitors.
Creation and activity of COS-1 cells stably expressing the F2 fusion of the human cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme system.

A fusion construct for the human cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme system termed F2 (H2N-P450scc-adrenodoxin reductase-adrenodoxin-COOH), was stably expressed in nonsteroidogenic COS-1 cells. Multiple clones were obtained and analyzed, identifying the clone COS-F2–130 as the most active in converting 22R-hydroxycholesterol (22R-OH-C) to pregnenolone. The F2 fusion construct was properly transcribed and translated in COS-F2–130 cells, indicating that these cells did not proteolytically cleave the F2 protein. Steroid analyses show that the COS-F2–130 cells do not convert appreciable quantities of pregnenolone to other steroids. Isolated COS-F2–130 mitochondria showed enhanced steroidogenesis when incubated with biosynthetic N-62 StAR protein in vitro. The cells were easily transfectable with StAR expression vectors, showing that COS-F2–130 cells exhibited both StAR-independent and StAR-dependent activity. Transient expression of either full-length or N-62 StAR stimulated steroidogenesis to approximatel...
The Role of Electrostatic Forces in Anomalous Adsorption Behavior of Phosvitin at the Air/Water Interface

Abstract The adsorption of phosvitin at the air–water interface has been studied to elucidate the influence of electrostatic forces on protein adsorption at liquid interfaces. Because of its polyanionic character, adsorption of phosvitin at the air–water interface takes place only at low pH, but not near neutral pH. Phosvitin adsorbed at an initial pH of 2.0 is completely desorbed from the interface when the pH is increased to neutral pH. The saturated monolayer coverage for phosvitin is about 1.25 mg/m 2 at pH 2.0. However, in spite this significant amount of adsorption, no decrease in surface tension occurs. Instead, a consistent increase in surface tension of the solution occurs, which apparently violates the Gibbs adsorption equation. A model based on the configuration of phosvitin at the interface has been proposed to explain the thermodynamic reasons for this apparent violation of the Gibbs equation. It is shown that phosvitin is anchored to the interface only via a short C-terminus hydrophobic segment and the rest of the highly hydrophilic molecule is suspended in the subsurface. These suspended loops exert an electrostatic pull on surface water molecules, causing an increase in surface tension. However, the reduction in free energy resulting from removal of the hydrophobic segment from water to the interface is much greater than the increase in surface tension caused by charge–dipole interactions, so that there is actually a net reduction in free energy of the system. Thus, although adsorption of phosvitin apparently violates the Gibbs adsorption equation, it does not violate the basic thermodynamic principle. The results also show that proteins can adsorb to an interface against seemingly excessive electrostatic repulsive forces through attachment of only a small hydrophobic peptide segment.
Development of ultrastructural damage to chloroplasts in a plastoquinone-deficient mutant of maize

Abstract The ultrastructure of a recently discovered mutant of maize (mutant hcf103-114 ) that is completely lacking plastoquinone (Cook, W.B., Miles, D., 1992. Nuclear mutations affecting plastoquinone accumulation in maize. Photosyn. Res. 31, 99–111) was investigated. This mutant fails to green and dies at an early age. Tissues along a developmental gradient (from base to tip of a maize leaf) were fixed and prepared for examination via electron microscopy. Initial development was normal in both mesophyll cell (MC) and bundle sheath cell (BSC) chloroplasts. Starch, which was abundant in BSC chloroplasts of wild type maize, did not accumulate in the mutant. As tissue aging progressed, both plastid types exhibited symptoms typical of photooxidative injury. Injury, seen as chloroplast swelling, lipid accumulation and envelope disruption, appeared sooner in BSC chloroplasts than in MC chloroplasts. Chloroplasts in guard cells possessed starch granules and only showed ultrastructural injury after the starch granules disappeared. Stomata developed normally in the hcf103-114 mutant. The results are discussed in terms of the known roles of plastoquinone in chloroplast metabolism.
MICROWAVE-INDUCED d-c VOLTAGES ACROSS JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS

Abstract Microwave radiation is observed to induce d.c. voltages across Josephson-type superconducting tunnel junctions. Both discretely quantized and continuously varying voltages have been observed.
Intrepid Explorer: The Autobiography of the World's Best Mine Finder (J.D. Lowell)

Intrepid Explorer: The Autobiography of the World’s Best Mine Finder. J. David Lowell. 2014. Pp. 460. Sentinel Peak Books, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona, USA. www.uapress.arizona.edu. ISBN 978-1-941451-00-7. Hardcover. US$35. David Lowell is a remarkable man, and in this book he tells the story of his life with humor, insight, business acumen, and geologic knowledge. In the Preface, geologist and Vice President of the University of Arizona Joaquin Ruiz writes, “You will like this book. The plot features a central character with an improbable story of success. He is a sleuth who decodes riddles hidden in the earth, travels to faraway places where he battles the elements and bureaucracy, convinces the powers that be that he is about to find a treasure and should be funded. He is funded, and in the end he finds the treasure. Sounds a bit like the Raiders of the Lost Ark, doesn’t it? But this book is not fiction. The book tells the real story of an amazing man.” Lowell was born in 1928 and worked with his father, who ran small mines, mainly in rural southern Arizona during the Great Depression. Even as a child, Lowell was fascinated with mines. His mother was demanding and forceful. A mediocre student, he obtained a mining engineering degree in 1948 from the College of Mines at the University of Arizona and then launched into a career of exploration geology that continues today. As advertised in the title, Lowell can well claim to be the world’s best mine finder; he was involved with the discovery of 17 major metallic mineral deposits. Early in his career, David cut his teeth as a mining engineer in ASARCO’s dangerous Santa Eulalia underground mine (Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag sulfide replacements of limestone) in Mexico, and then did uranium exploration on the Colorado Plateau for the United States Atomic Energy Commission. After obtaining an MS degree in geology from …
Stabilization and Dust Control at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

The objective of this study was to evaluate road stabilizers and dust palliatives on a construction project of FHWA's Central Federal Lands Highway Division for long-term performance and to recommend products with acceptable performance for use on other projects. The evaluation addressed product performance for dust control, rutting, washboarding, raveling, material stabilization, and cost-effectiveness. Roadway stabilization or dust abatement products are classified into the following seven categories: water, water absorbing, organic petroleum, organic nonpetroleum, electrochemical, synthetic polymer, and clay additives. Six soil stabilizers were applied, each on a 1.6-km (1-mi) section to a depth of 150 mm (6 in.) at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in south central Arizona, and were monitored at 6-month intervals for 2 years. Visual evaluation included effectiveness in controlling dust, washboarding, and raveling. Physical evaluation included moisture and density, gradation, liquid limit, plas...
Magnesium pemoline: Effect on food reinforced discrimination performance in rats

Rats injected with magnesium pemoline reached acquisition criterion in a visual discrimination task with significantly fewer reinforced trials than control Ss. However, on retention tests given four and six weeks later, control Ss performed significantly better than drug Ss. The results suggest that magnesium pemoline enhances stimulus responsiveness and motor activity rather than directly affecting central learning processes.
Pattern Matching in Multivariate Time Series Databases Using a Moving-Window Approach

A novel methodology is proposed for matching patterns in time-series databases based on unsupervised learning and multivariate statistical techniques. The new approach provides a preliminary screening of large amounts of historical data in order to generate a candidate pool of similar periods of operation. This much smaller number of records can then be further evaluated by someone familiar with the process. A new distance similarity factor is proposed that complements the standard principal component analysis similarity factor. The two similarity factors and a moving-window approach are used to characterize the degree of similarity between the current period of interest and windows of historical data. A simulation case study has demonstrated that the proposed pattern matching technique can successfully distinguish between 28 operating conditions for a variety of disturbances, faults, and process changes.
Prevalence of diffuse pancreatic beta islet cell disease with hyperinsulinism: problems in recognition and management.

Among 77 patients with endogenous hyperinsulinism seen in 2 medical centers, diffuse islet cell disease accounted for 17 (22%) patients. Since diffuse islet cell disease poses special problems in management, its prevalence is emphasized in this report.
Model selection in applied science and engineering : a decision-theoretic approach.

Mathematical models are developed and used to study the properties of complex systems in just about every area of applied science and engineering. Information on the system being modeled is, in general, incomplete, so that there may be two or more models consistent with the available information. The collection of these models is called the class of candidate models. A decision-theoretic method is developed for selecting the optimal member from the collection. The optimal model depends on the available information, the class of candidate models, and the model use. The candidate models may be deterministic or random. Classical methods for model selection, including the method of maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, are briefly reviewed. These methods ignore model use and require data to be available. In addition, examples are used to show that classical methods for model selection can be unreliable in the sense that they can deliver unsatisfactory models when data is limited. The proposed decision-theo...
An investigation of school psychology training pertaining to bilingual psycho-educational assessment of primarily hispanic students: Twenty-five years after Diana v. California

Abstract This study, a survey of 1,507 school psychologists from eight states, found that school psychologists who conduct bilingual psycho-educational assessment do not believe that they have received adequate training. Nearly 70% of the respondents described their training with respect to knowledge of cross-cultural issues involved in bilingual psycho-educational assessment as less than adequate. At least 80% stated their level of training was less than adequate on the following three competencies: (a) knowledge of second language acquisition factors and their relationship to assessment; (b) knowledge of methods to conduct bilingual psycho-educational assessment; and (c) ability to interpret the results of bilingual psycho-educational assessments. The data indicate that school psychologists who do conduct bilingual psycho-educational assessment are providing service in an area in which they have not received adequate training. In evaluating the school psychology programs from which they received their training, respondents identified only one program that provided adequate training in all four competencies, two that provided adequate training in three competencies, and four programs that provided adequate training in two competencies. The regression analyses indicated that the amount of training provided by school psychology programs did not differ greatly across the 24 years examined in any of the four competencies.
Systematic method to assess microvascular recruitment using contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Application to insulin-induced capillary recruitment in subjects with T1DM

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) is an ultrasound imaging technique used to assess tissue perfusion. Analysis of microvascular recruitment necessitates the definition of a region of interest (ROI) containing exclusively the tissues to be studied. Conventional ROI selection requires examining the images and drawing the ROI by hand, making the analysis of CEU images non-reproducible and analyst-dependent. We have designed a systematic ROI selection method that is both reproducible and analyst-independent. Microvascular blood volume (MBV) assessed in 21 sequences of images was used to correlate the systematic ROI selection method with the conventional method performed by two independent analysts (correlation of 0.88 and 0.87 respectively) and the MBV sample distribution from the systematic method was not significantly different from those obtained from the conventional one. Using the systematic method, we found no significant insulin-induced capillary recruitment in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus, which might be related to the observed low glucose uptake during the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp compared to healthy patients.
Customized dynamic phasors for power quality control in electric grids

In this paper we describe a method for application-specific customization of dynamic phasors, intended for use in wide-area monitoring and control of electric power networks. In particular, we propose frequency-selective customization for control of power quality across the grid. Our approach relies on a recently introduced family of generalized dynamic phasors, which we called Phasor Banks, and results in a more compact representation than that obtained with the better-known Fourier dynamic phasors. In turn, customization facilitates efficient communication of phasor information across the power grid, enabling real-time coordinated power-flow control. We also discuss time-selective customization, which allows more accurate determination of the moment of onset of a fault transient. Such information is needed in both fault detection and (networked) fault location applications.
Derivation of pan-Arctic soil decomposition rate constant, heterotrophic respiration and NEE using AMSR-E and MODIS data.

An approach was developed for regional assessment and monitoring of land-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange, soil heterotrophic respiration (R h), and vegetation productivity of Arctic tundra using global satellite remote sensing at optical and microwave wavelengths. C- and X-band brightness temperatures were used from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) to extract surface wetness and temperature, and MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data were used to derive land cover, Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Net Primary Production (NPP) information. Calibration and validation activities involve comparisons between satellite remote sensing and tundra CO2 eddy flux towers, and hydroecological process model simulations. Analyses of spatial and temporal anomalies and environmental drivers of land-atmosphere net CO2 exchange at weekly and annual time steps were conducted. Surface soil moisture and temperature, as detected from satellite remote-sensing obser...
Do necessary or sufficient causal information conditions affect attributions more

Summary.-The purpose of this experiment was to determine how single sentences of information about the consensus, distinctiveness, or consistency of a behavioral event affect attributions. The logical model of attribution, derived from Kelley's ideas on covariation, indicates that particular types of information (e.g., low consensus) imply thac a person, a stimulus, or a circumstance is a necessary or a sufficient condition for the behavioral event. It was expected thac conditions of necessary cause would produce stronger attributions than those of sufficient cause would. We presented low or high consensus, distinctiveness, or consistency information or no information about one of five behavioral events on each of 105 trials. Strength and speed of attribution to a person, a stimulus, or a circumstance were measured on each trial. Conditions of necessary cause did produce the strongest attributions in five of six comparisons, but two of the six sufficient cause conditions also influenced attributions substantially. In general, people appear to know the patterns of information indicating that a factor is a necessary and sufficient condition and use the three-dimensional patterns as templates to fill in missing information for attributions when they consider a single bit of information. Hewstone and Jaspars (1987) presented a logical model of attribution constructed from Kelley's (1967) covariation model of attribution. Their model, based on J. S. Mill's method of difference and Kelley's use of analysis of variance as a statistical analogy to making causal inferences, is one of many refinements of Kelley's theory in the last two decades. Similarly, Forsterling (19891 presented an analysis-of-variance model of attribution in which he used the analogy of analysis of variance more strictly than Kelley did to refine the theory. The present study is an attempt to gain more understanding of the processes of causal inference commonly used by ordinary people described by these three models. McArthur (1972) developed the basic paradigm for studying Kelley's model. She presented subjects a description of an event with accompanying information about the consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency of the event. For example, the behavioral event "John laughed at the comedian" would be presented. Accompanying information, such as the following, would also be presented:
Simultaneous determination of the spectral and temporal properties of tunable, single, picosecond pulses from a short cavity dye laser

We report simultaneous quantitative spectral and temporal measurements of the output pulses from a single-axial mode rhodamine 6G short cavity ( 1-8 \mu m) dye laser. The dye laser was pumped at 10 Hz with single second harmonic (532 nm) pulses from a mode-locked Nd+3:YAG laser. Spectral measurements made with a high resolution spectrograph and temporal measurements made with an ultrafast streak camera indicate the production of Fourier transform limited pulses for near threshold operation. Output pulses of 7-14 ps (FWHM) are observed from the short cavity dye laser when pumped with 15-30 ps duration 532 nm pulses. The output pulse delay and jitter are also investigated. A theoretical model for the temporal evolution of the pulses is presented and compared with the experimental results.
Opium and the Company: Maritime Trade and Imperial Finances on Java, 1684–1796

INTRODUCTION The history of Bengal opium and the Dutch East India Company (the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie , the VOC or the Company) over the long eighteenth century (or from 1684–1796) is examined in this essay. From the Company's perspective, it was a period that may be characterized as the end of the age of commerce, metamorphosis from a commercial organization deriving its profits from maritime trade to the exploitation and colonial administration of agricultural production and mineral resources and revenues from tax farming, and of decline. The Company was not omnipotent. By 1684, the Company may be characterized as being more pragmatic than bellicose in its commercial inter-relationships with other states and Asian and European merchants. By 1796, with its maritime trading activities long surpassed in Asia and Europe by European competitors, especially the English East India Company (EIC), the VOC had to declare bankruptcy. A series of specific questions are raised and answered in the first and second sections of this essay: how important was Bengal opium in the Company's commercial and imperial activities? What was the relationship of the Company's maritime trade in opium between Bengal and Batavia with the non-Company maritime trade of Asian and other European merchants at Batavia? And, specifically, how important was the revenue from the sale of Bengal opium at Batavia in the Company's local and imperial finances? The Company's prodigious records were examined to find answers to those questions. The empirical data that was found and examined was subjected to a series of traditional quantitative economic—supply or commodity chain, trend and transactional—analyses.
High spatial resolution photographs of the Sun in L$alpha$ radiation.

Photographs of the Sun in predominantly Lα radiation (centered at 1215.67 A) with 3″ spatial resolution were taken from an Aerobee rocket shortly after fourth contact by the Moon on the eclipse day of 1972 July 10. This preliminary reporting of the results describes the instrument and shows two of the photographs taken. The supergranulation is manifest and active regions and filaments are well resolved over the entire disk. Densitometer traces across the disk are presented giving the flux incident on the Earth from active regions, cell boundaries, and filaments.
EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, LEVELS OF EDUCATION, AND DISCIPLINES NEEDED FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY GERONTOLOGICAL EDUCATION

This article delineates the educational content, levels of education and different academic areas of study presently needed for interdisciplinary education. The thesis of this paper is that gerontology is headed in some positive directions in interdisciplinary education but that different schools efforts to “promote” the needs for gerontological development and interdepartmental collaboration to both school administrators and to the public lack unity.
PCB Plated Through Hole Optimisation: A Case Study in SPC

This paper addresses two fundamental issues with regard to the production of printed circuit boards (PCBs). First, the paper presents a statistically‐based, four‐phase strategy aimed at better organising and facilitating the characterisation of a manufacturing process. The fact that the case study addresses copper plating thickness of PCBs is secondary to the characterisation strategy. In this sense, the strategy is universal by nature. Second, the paper provides analytical insight into a new statistical methodology aimed at establishing coupon‐to‐board correlation. The general concepts surrounding these two issues are embodied within the given PCB case study. Essentially, the case analysis systematically progresses through all four phases of the parameter characterisation strategy, highlighting the key aspects of each phase. In addition, the aforementioned technique for assessing coupon‐to‐board correlation is given substantiative discussion. However, it should be pointed out that a thorough narration pertaining to many of the statistical and engineering details of the case analysis has been deliberately omitted for the sake of brevity and reading ease. As a result of such considerations, it is assumed that the reader has a working knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as experiment design. The benefit of this approach is simple—focus is easily given to the analytical strategy and order of execution without the usual clouding imposed by mathematical explanations.
Effect of folding on the strength of kevlar 29 and nylon parachute materials

Abstract The effect of folding on the tensile strength of nylon 6,6 and Kevlar 29 parachute materials was investigated. Instrumentation of a packed Kevlar parachute indicated a maximum pressure of 207 kPa on the folds. After 1 year storage the maximum pressure decreased to less than 70 kPa. Samples from the packed parachute showed no loss in strength after 1 year packed storage or after an additional 2·5 years in a loosely packed condition. Results from laboratory tests of folded nylon and Kevlar with 90 kPa pressure on the folds indicated no strength change relative to unfolded control samples for times of up to 3·5 years. Kevlar fabrics exposed for short periods at pressures up to 40 MPa showed a slight decrease in strength with increasing pressure. However, no cases of strength degradation have been observed at low fold pressures typical of those observed in a packed parachute, even at elevated temperatures where thermal ageing of the material occured.
Results obtained with the sphere-to-plane thermionic emission microscope☆

Abstract The variation of thermionic emission as a function of crystal face was studied for a number of single-crystal refractory metals in the presence of various alkali metal vapors using thermionic emission microscopes with hemispherical emitters and planar collectors. Emission patterns are reported for W, Mo, Ta, Nb, Ni, Re, and NbC in Cs vapor Ta, in Rb vapor and Mo and Re in K vapor. The variation with emitter temperature of the current densities of electrons and ions emitted from several faces of W in Cs vapor is given. It is concluded that when a metal crystal is covered with a fraction of a monolayer of adsorbed alkali atoms and when the work functions of the closest-packed atomic planes of the bare metal surface are high compared to the first ionization potential of the alkali atom, then the strongest electron emission comes from these close-packed planes.
Raman Microprobe Study of Bubbles Formed Because of Laser Damage in Glasses

Bubbles can be formed in glasses because of high-intensity laser irradiation. During this laser irradiation process, the temperature of the glass increases, causing gases to be released because of components decomposing or evaporating. The temperature rise of the irradiated sample can decrease the solubilty of these gases, and thus bubbles can appear. The nature of exsolved gases migrating into bubbles formed in silicate glasses because of high-powered laser treatment has not been indicated earlier in the literature on the basis of measured characterization data. This study has used Raman microprobe analysis to obtain such information.
Photochemical systems for solar energy conversion—Nitrosyl chloride

Abstract The desirable properties of a photochemical conversion reaction are discussed and a number of possible reactions are listed and rated. This list should be added to by additional work in this field. Studies of one of these reactions, the photolysis of nitrosyl chloride, are reported. The solar furnace was used as a light source for these studies. All available physical, photochemical, and thermochemical data on nitrosyl chloride, chlorine, and nitric oxide have been gathered.
Norms for depressed patients for the California verbal learning test: Associations with depression severity and self-report of cognitive difficulties

This study provides norms for depressed subjects for a widely used test of verbal memory, the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). Subjects were 156 outpatients with major depression tested during a drug washout period. Mean CVLT memory scores for these patients were generally between one-half and one standard deviation below age- and sex-corrected norms for nondepressed populations. Severity of depression in the patients was not associated with memory performance, but was associated with self-report of cognitive difficulties. A table of age-, sex-, and education-specific norms for the CVLT is provided.
14 MeV Neutron Activation Analysis of Oxygen in Li-Si Alloys for Li(Si)/FeS2 Thermally Activated Batteries

Development of a Li(Si)/FeS2 thermally activated battery required establishment of a 14 MeV neutron activation procedure for the determination of total oxygen (0.1 wt % and greater) in the Li-56 wt % Si alloy anode material used in the batteries. The method developed allows the reactive samples to remain in a controlled atmosphere throughout sampling and analysis. An interference due to triple random coincidence detection of 28A1 gamma rays produced by (n, p) reaction on 28Si was observed. A simplified correction procedure, based on one by Nass1 but not requiring knowledge of the detector resolution time, has been derived and evaluated. The correction procedure should be useful in the analysis of other low O, high Si materials such as Si metal, other Si-rich alloys, SiC and Si3N4. Geologic, meteoritic and lunar silicate materials commonly analyzed for O are low enough in Si content and high enough in O content that the interference is not significant. Some results of applying the analysis and correction procedure to thermally activated battery materials are described.
Synthesis and Characterization of Polyols and Polyurethane Foams from PET Waste and Crude Glycerol

In this study, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste from post-consumer soft-drink bottles and crude glycerol from the biodiesel industry were used for the preparation of polyols and polyurethane foams. PET waste was firstly depolymerized by the glycolysis of diethylene glycol. The glycolyzed PET oligomers were then reacted with crude glycerol at different weight ratios to produce polyols via a series of reactions, such as esterification, transesterification, condensation, and polycondensation. The polyols were characterized by titration, viscometry, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and differential scanning calorimetry. Subsequently, polyurethane (PU) foams were made via the reaction between the produced polyols and polymeric methylene-4,4′-diphenyl diisocyanate and were characterized by mechanical testing, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Polyols from crude glycerol and their PU foams were also prepared to compare properties with those of polyols and PU foams from PET and crude glycerol. The influence of aromatic segments existing in glycolyzed PET and glycerol content on the properties of the polyols and PU foams was investigated. It was found that aromatic segments of polyols from glycolyzed PET helped increase their molecular weights and improve thermal stability of PU foams, while high glycerol content in polyols increased the hydroxyl number of polyols and the density and compressive strength of PU foams.
Impaired delayed hypersensitivity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

When identical twin sisters discordant for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) the affected twin failed to develop delayed hypersensitivity and her lymphocytes failed to proliferate in response to KLH in vitro, unlike her normal sister. Subsequently, recently diagnosed SLE patients were skin tested with common antigens and 12 of 14 did not develop a positive skin reaction, in contrast to most patients with tuberculosis, who showed at least one positive response. There was no difference, however, in the leukocyte response to phytohemagglutinin between the two groups. These findings raised the question of a selective defect in cellular immunity in patients with SLE.
Lebesgue-type inequalities for the de la Vallée-poussin sums on sets of entire functions

For functions from the sets C ψ β L s , 1 ≤ s ≤ ∞, where ψ(k) > 0 and $ {\lim_{{k\to \infty }}}\frac{{\psi \left( {k+1} \right)}}{{\psi (k)}} $ , we obtain asymptotically sharp estimates for the norms of deviations of the de la Vallee-Poussin sums in the uniform metric represented in terms of the best approximations of the (ψ, β) -derivatives of functions of this kind by trigonometric polynomials in the metrics of the spaces L s . It is shown that the obtained estimates are sharp on some important functional subsets.
Multinutrient supplement containing ephedra and caffeine causes weight loss and improves metabolic risk factors in obese women: a randomized controlled trial.

To determine the safety and efficacy of a dietary supplement with a low dose of ephedra and caffeine in overweight/obese premenopausal female subjects. A 9-month, double-blind, randomized control study compared the efficacy and safety of a dietary supplement with ephedra and caffeine to a control supplement. Sixty-one healthy, premenopausal women with body mass index (BMI) from 27 to 39 kg/m2 were randomly assigned and received a dietary supplement (40 mg/day ephedra alkaloids, 100 mg/day caffeine, high potency mixture of vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids) or a control supplement for 9 months. Efficacy: changes in body weight, body composition, lipids, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, and self-reports of physical activity, diet and quality of life indices. Safety: blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiograms, urinalysis, blood histology, serum chemistry measures and self-reported symptoms. Forty-one women completed the study. The treatment group lost significantly more body weight (−7.18 kg) and body fat (−5.33 kg) than the control group (−2.25 and −0.99 kg, respectively), and showed significant declines in heart rate, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio, glucose, fasting insulin, and leptin. Blood pressure, electrocardiograms, other clinical chemistry measures, blood histology, urinalysis, and self-reported physical activity were similar in the groups. Minor symptoms included dry mouth, insomnia, nervousness and palpitations. The treatment group reported more energy and decreased appetite compared to controls and scored higher on a quality of life domain assessing vitality. A dietary supplement containing a low potency ephedra/caffeine mixture appeared safe and effective in causing loss of weight and body fat, and improving several metabolic parameters, including insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles when tested under physician supervision. Such supplements could be a useful tool to assist with weight loss.
Non-invasive Detection of Ibuprofen in Vivo 13C-NMR Signals in Rats.

A non-invasive in vivo 13C-NMR experiment is performed to follow the metabolic pathway of ibuprofen in rats. Detection of possible intermediates and the stereoselectivity of ibuprofen chiral inversion process are discussed.
Maxillary Anterior Caries Associated with Increased Caries Risk in Other Primary Teeth

It has been suggested that children with caries of maxillary anterior primary teeth may have increased caries incidence in other teeth. This study aimed to quantify the extent of posterior dental caries in those children who initially presented with maxillary anterior caries compared with that of those who did not. Data were collected for 217 Head Start children participating in a one-year study to determine caries risk factors. Tooth surfaces were recorded as carious, restored, or extracted (missing due to caries). Caries was then categorized into the following pattern(s): maxillary anterior (MA), pit/fissure (PF), posterior proximal (PP), and posterior buccal/lingual smooth surface (BL). Compared with children who did not initially present with the maxillary anterior pattern, those with the maxillary anterior pattern had 2.5 times (p < 0.01) the mean number of posterior decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (dmfs) and approximately 3 times the prevalence (p < 0.01) of the PP and BL patterns. The positiv...
Fuzzy systems are universal approximators

The author proves that fuzzy systems are universal approximators. The Stone-Weierstrass theorem is used to prove that fuzzy systems with product inference, centroid defuzzification, and a Gaussian membership function are capable of approximating any real continuous function on a compact set to arbitrary accuracy. This result can be viewed as an existence theorem of an optimal fuzzy system for a wide variety of problems. >
Improved linear representation of surface waves. Part 2. Slowly varying bottoms and currents

We extend the results of a previous paper to fluids of finite depth. We consider the Hamiltonian theory of waves on the free surface of an incompressible fluid, and derive the canonical transformation that eliminates the leading order of nonlinearity for finite depth. As in the previous paper we propose using the Lie transformation method since it seems to include a nearly correct implementation of short waves interacting with long waves. We show how to use the Eikonal method for slowly varying currents and/or depths in combination with the nonlinear transformation. We note that nonlinear effects are more important in water of finite depth. We note that a nonlinear action conservation law can be derived. 10 refs.
Field shaping for three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy and multileaf collimation

Three-dimensional (3-D) conformal treatments are complex and involve many fields, virtually all of which are irregularly shaped and, in the not too distant future, may be intensity-modulated arbitrarily. The multileaf collimator (MLC) is an essential tool for making the delivery of these treatments practical. The characteristics of MLCs of different manufactures vary significantly, which has an impact on the resulting dose distributions and their clinical applicability. The jagged edges of the fields shaped with MLCs has raised concern about the dose distributions. To study the dosimetric consequences of the jagged boundary, accurate methods of predicting dose distributions are necessary. Preliminary dosimetric and clinical studies show that, for a vast majority of sites and techniques, the MLC is an appropriate replacement for continuous alloy blocks and that the uneasiness about the MLC-shaped boundaries is unwarranted. To fully realize the efficiency possible with a MLC, it is important that it be integrated into the 3-D conformal treatment planning system. Schemes and criteria for positioning leaves relative to the continuous boundary are being studied and often depend on the treatment site, the surrounding normal critical structures, and the treatment technique. Optimum use of the MLC for the efficient delivery of complex 3-D conformal treatments is possible only when treatments are delivered under computer control. Computer-controlled radiation therapy with the MLC is evolving rapidly. Currently, only boundaries are shaped automatically. It is expected that in the near future intensity-modulated treatments will also become practical. General quality assurance and safety requirements of the MLC are similar to other components of a treatment machine. In many ways, MLCs are more precise and safer than conventional field-shaping devices. However, it is important that the MLC configuration for each field be verified by a record and verify system to ensure that the correct field shape has been selected for treatment.
Note on the correction for diffusion and drag in the slip regime

We present a new equation to describe diffusion, hence drag, of particles in the slip regime that is simple, accurate, and useful.
Holmes, Nietzsche & Classical Realism

The point of departure is Richard Posner's striking suggestion that Holmes is "the American Nietzsche." What is it that the great American judge and the great German philosopher have in common? The Essay argues that the real thematic (and tempermental) affinity between Holmes and Nietzsche lies in the fact that both are proponents of a general, but neglected, perspective on questions of moral, political, and legal theory that I will call "Classical Realism." Importantly, the Classical Realism of Holmes and Nietzsche places them in a long tradition of theories of morals, politics, and society that we find in writers like Thucydides, Machiavelli, Freud and (to some extent) Marx, among others. This tradition, however, has almost vanished from the modern academy. It is the most general aim of this paper to revive the doctrine of Classical Realism as a serious--albeit debunking--position in normative theory. By using the label "Classical Realism" I wish to reclaim for the term "realism" a meaning both older than and different from that current in academic debates, especially in philosophy, where it names certain doctrines in semantics and metaphysics. Classical Realism, by contrast, is a very different kind of view; indeed, it entails no particular semantic and metaphysical doctrines at all. Classical Realism denotes a certain hard-headed, unromantic, uncompromising attitude towards the world, which manifests itself in a brutal honesty and candor in the assessment of human motives and the portrayal of human affairs. The Essay explores this doctrine in some detail in a variety of thinkers, including Holmes, Posner, Nietzsche, Marx, and the American Legal Realists. The Appendix to the Essay offers a critical discussion of Posner's and David Luban's treatment of the Holmes-Nietzsche relation.
Early positive technetium-99m stannous pyrophosphate images as a marker of reperfusion after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction☆

Abstract Fourteen patients with transmural acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were treated with intravenous streptokinase a mean of 4 ± 1 hours after chest pain and underwent technetium-99m stannous pyrophosphate (Tc-99m-PPi) imaging 7 ± 2 hours after the onset of chest pain. The early Tc-99m-PPi images were obtained to test the hypothesis that an early, strongly abnormal Tc-99m-PPi image suggests reperfusion. Eleven of 14 patients had early peaking (within 16 hours) serum creatine kinase isoenzyme levels (CK-B) at a mean of 11 ± 3 hours. Ten of 14 patients had 3+ or 4+ acute Tc-99m-PPi images. Eight of 11 patients had patent infarct-related vessels at cardiac catheterization 15 days after AMI. One patient who had both an early positive Tc-99m-PPi image and CK-B peak level had an occluded infarct-related artery at catheterization. Acute left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) by radionuclide ventriculography was compared with LVEF on day 15, and improved from 0.37 ± 0.13 to 0.50 ± 0.16 (p = 0.004) in the 10 patients with strongly positive acute Tc-99m-PPi images. LVEF also improved from 0.37 ± 0.12 to 0.49 ± 0.15 (p = 0.003) in the 11 patients with early peaking serum CK-B values. Three patients without evidence of reperfusion failed to improve the LVEF from the initial value to the one obtained at hospital discharge. Six control patients had acute Tc-99m-PPi images 10 ± 2 hours after chest pain; none had strongly positive acute Tc-99m-PPi images, and the mean time to peak CK-B was 19 ± 5 hours. Strongly positive early Tc-99m-PPi images may be as reliable as early peaking CK-B in predicting successful reperfusion in patients receiving intravenous streptokinase therapy for AMI.
Predictors of parenting stress in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual adoptive parents during early parenthood

Little work has examined parenting stress in adoptive parents, particularly lesbian and gay adoptive parents. The current longitudinal study examined parent-reported child characteristics (measured postplacement) and parent and family characteristics (measured preplacement) as predictors of postplacement parenting stress and change in parenting stress across three time points during the first 2 years of adoptive parenthood, among 148 couples (50 lesbian, 40 gay, and 58 heterosexual) who were first-time parents. Children in the sample were, on average, 5.61 months (SD = 10.26) when placed, and 2.49 years (SD = .85) at the 2 year postplacement follow-up. Findings revealed that parents who had been placed with older children and parents who perceived severe emotional/behavioral problems in their children reported more postplacement stress. In addition, parents who reported fewer depressive symptoms, more love for their partners, and more family and friend support during the preplacement period had less postplacement stress. Parenting stress decreased for parents who perceived severe emotional/behavioral problems in their children, but it increased somewhat for those who reported developmental problems in their children. Findings highlight vulnerabilities and resources that may shape adoptive parents' experiences of stress in early parenthood, and have implications for both researchers and professionals who wish to support adoptive family adjustment.
A short form of the Category Test for adults.

Proposed a 120-item version of the 208-item Category Test for adults. When the test protocols of 70 diverse Ss including 18 with definite brain impairment were scored for both the standard and short form, a very high degree of correlation (r = .95) was found, which suggests that the two forms are nearly equivalent. The application of cut-off scores (normal vs. brain impaired) resulted in only 3 Ss changing classifications from the standard to the short form, with 2 of those changes in the correct direction. A savings in administration time of about one half was observed.
Confessional Literature, Vernacular Psychology, and the History of the Self in Middle English

This essay reviews some of the recent critical writings on medieval confession and discusses their importance to the ongoing debates about the history and formation of the self as subject. Building on the evidence that the rise of annual, required confession led to the emergence of “confessional literature” (works using the tropes and methods of the confessional to structure narrative), the essay suggests that the ways of understanding the self made available through such works form a kind of “vernacular psychology”– that is, a practical, quotidian alternative to Aristotelian/philosophical or Galenic/medical modes of thinking about the self. “Vernacular psychology” describes this widespread set of medieval understandings of the self that were made public in a range of writings in English and Anglo-Norman (only the former is considered here). Such understandings stressed the self's vulnerability to sin, conceived as something that both attacks the self from without and is generated from within, implying a range of relations between the “self” and the “world” that the large array of Middle English “confessional” writings offer in distinction to the Latin clerical tradition.