cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some observations on radiation damage in epithelial cells of the mouse intestine

The epithelium lining the small intestine is the seat of severe and potentially lethal radiation damage. The evolution of the pathological changes indicate that the critical primary disturbance is one of cell proliferation (1). The intestinal epithelium is a renewal tissue (2). Cells are born in the crypts and mature before emerging from the mouths of the crypts ; during their functional life, they migrate from the base to the tip of the villi (3). The development of tritiated thymidine as a specific label for Dna, together with high resolution autoradiography, have made possible a rather detailed study of the kinetics of cell proliferation and movements in the normal animal (4, 5) and after irradiation (6). Briefly, the events in the lower ileum of the mouse following whole body irradiation with a large dose (3 000 rad) are as follows : mitosis and Dna synthesis disappear rapidly. During the following 3/4 days, 1/2 to 2/3 of the crypt cells disappear through cell death or through emigration onto the villi following precocious maturation [normally, cells mature only at a certain stage following mitosis (5)]. At the end of this period, the lower one-fourth of the villi is covered with cells having thus abnormally matured. During the following day, Dna synthesis is taken up again in the crypts, and no or few cells emigrate ; at the same time, sloughing off of cells from the tip of the villi proceeds, and the villi shorten. Beginning about 1 3/4 days after irradiation, the remaining crypt cells begin to move out onto the villi, leaving the crypts empty except for Paneth cells. No mitosis intervenes between Dna synthesis and maturation, and the resulting cells are very large and misshapen. After they, too, have been desquamated, the villi collapse and the intestine is denuded (1). The Paneth cells show some early changes (6) but seem to recover and succumb only on the fourth day.
A bivariate genetic analysis of HDL‐ and LDL‐cholesterol incorporating measured covariates: A gibbs sampling application

We analyzed HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels as a bivariate phenotype in 27 families as a function of major genes, polygenes, and measured covariates using a Monte Carlo sampling technique called Gibbs sampling. Major genes and polygenes exhibited strong effects, when considered separately. While a major gene versus polygene model could not be clearly differentiated for HDL-C, polygenes appeared to play a stronger role than a major gene for LDL-C. There was no evidence of linkage between the two major genes for HDL- and LDL-C, and the correlation in polygenes was negative. The analysis illustrate the potential applicability of Gibbs sampling to such complex problems as the multivariate analysis of continuous phenotypes.
A modified approach to two-level logic minimization

A methodology in which it is not necessary to compute the entire offset is presented, that still provides a global picture. This scheme has been implemented in ESPRESSO with an interface to the multilevel minimization environment MIS. Initial results show that for functions for which the ratio of the size of the cover to the size of the don't care set is small, the new approach is much faster. The initial interest was to use this mainly in a multilevel logic synthesis system where the desired don't care sets are typically large. Some results in this environment are given, and the new scheme is compared with ESPRESSO. >
Formalizing construction knowledge for concurrent performance-based design

The capability to represent design solutions with product models has increased significantly in recent years. Correspondingly the formalization of design methods has progressed for several traditional design disciplines, making the multi-disciplinary design process increasingly performance and computer-based. A similar formalization of construction concepts is needed so that construction professionals can participate as a discipline contributing to the model-based design of a facility and its development processes and organization. This paper presents research that aims at formalizing construction concepts to make them self-aware in the context of virtual computer models of facilities and their construction schedules and organizations. It also describes a research method that has been developed at the Center for Integrated Facility Engineering at Stanford University to address the challenge of carrying out scientifically sound research in a project-based industry like construction.
Recurrent and Non-Recurrent Mutations of SCN8A in Epileptic Encephalopathy

Mutations of the voltage-gated sodium channel SCN8A have been identified in approximately 1% of nearly 1,000 children with early-infantile epileptic encephalopathies (EIEE) who have been tested by DNA sequencing. EIEE caused by mutation of SCN8A is designated EIEE13 (OMIM #614558). Affected children have seizure onset before 18 months of age as well as developmental and cognitive disabilities, movement disorders, and a high incidence of sudden death (SUDEP). EIEE13 is caused by de novo missense mutations of evolutionarily conserved residues in the Nav1.6 channel protein. One-third of the mutations are recurrent, and many occur at CpG dinucleotides. In this review we discuss the effect of pathogenic mutations on the structure of the channel protein, the rate of recurrent mutation, and changes in channel function underlying this devastating disorder.
Fatigue of composite materials

This chapter summarizes part of the six lectures, pertaining to fatigue of composite materials, presented at the session, “Modern Trends in Composite Laminates Mechanics” at CISM in Udine. The summary provided here is of introductory nature aimed at a reader who is not an expert in the subject. Ample references are given to help the reader pursue the subject further.
The Universal Diagrams and Life in the Universe

In any statement concerning extraterrestrial life one has to present the best amount of information concerning life as we know it here on earth. One way to do this is to put many classes of known objects in the universe on common plots. I call these plots the “Universal Diagrams”. The quantities plotted are mass, luminous output, temperature, size and entropy change. It is interesting to speculate where etraterrestrial life may lie on these diagrams but it seems that it will have to lie in regions more or less occupied by terrestrial life.
Cloning Major Genes Controlling Fruit Flesh Color in Papaya

Ripe papaya fruit can be either red fleshed or yellow fleshed, which is largely determined by the concentrations of different carotenoid pigments. Higher lycopene content makes the fruit flesh red while higher β-carotene makes it yellow. Papaya flesh color has health implications in that it is indicative of levels of vitamin A and antioxidants. Yellow-fleshed papaya is a good source for vitamin A, while red fleshed has higher antioxidant properties. Papaya fruit flesh color segregates as a qualitative trait following Mendelian ratio with the yellow flesh being dominant over red, indicating that the trait is controlled by a single gene.
Efficient dynamic simulation of multiple manipulator systems with singularities

The authors present an efficient algorithm for the simulation of a system of m manipulators each having N degrees of freedom that are grasping a common object. They specifically address the problem when a number, s, of the manipulators are in singular configurations, and the resulting algorithm has a computation complexity of O(mN)+O(s/sup 3/). This is a significant improvement over previous algorithms, which cite an O(mN)+O(m/sup 3/) computation. Efficient O(mN) algorithms are also presented for special cases where only one or two chains are in singular configurations. By applying the algorithm for the latter case to a dual-arm system, an algorithm results that requires fewer computations than that of existing methods, and has the added benefit of being robust in the presence of singular manipulators. >
Comparison of pain measures among patients with osteoarthritis.

Abstract This study compared recalled average pain, assessed at the end of the day, with the average of real-time pain ratings recorded throughout the day among patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Participants (N = 157) with hand, hip, or knee OA completed electronic pain diaries on 1 weekend day and 1 weekday. Diaries included at least 7 pain ratings per day, immediately after waking and every 2 hours following, using a visual analog scale (VAS) scored as 1 to 100 (scores not seen by participants). At the end of each diary day, participants rated their average pain that day on the same VAS. Pearson correlations examined associations between recalled average pain and the average of real-time pain ratings that day. Mixed models, including interaction terms, examined whether associations between recalled and actual average pain ratings differed according to the following patient characteristics: joint site, age, race, gender, study enrollment site, and pain catastrophizing. Correlations between recalled and actual average pain ratings were r=.88 for weekdays and r=.86 for weekends ( P Perspective This study showed that patients with OA accurately recalled their average pain over a single-day period, and this did not differ according to patient characteristics. Results of this study indicate that end-of-day recall is a practical and valid method for assessing patients' average pain during a day.
Boundary condition for mass transfer across a moving interface

Abstract The boundary condition for mass transfer through a phase interface in a multicomponent mixture with diffusion on both sides of the interface has been developed from first principles. If applied to a binary mixture with diffusion on only one side of the interface, this condition becomes identical with that used by Bird, Stewart, and Lightfoot. However, the approximate formulation which neglects density differences between phases can lead to absurd results if the actual density differences are non-zero. It is also shown that Cooper's modified Noyes-Nernst equation is equivalent to the exact formula.
Prevention of Cardiovascular Events by Treating Hypertension in Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Approach

Hypertension in older adults is not well controlled in clinical practice. Isolated systolic hypertension is often more difficult to manage. A systematic PubMed search was conducted to look for evidence showing benefits of lowering blood pressure (BP) in older hypertensive adults. Lowering BP in these individuals significantly reduces the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Based on trial evidence, a low-dose diuretic should be considered the most appropriate first-step treatment for preventing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Therapy with >1 medication is often necessary to reduce BP in these patients. There is unequivocal evidence that cardiovascular events can be prevented in older adults, even those older than 80 years, by treating hypertension.
Managing Big Data Effectively - A Cloud Provider and a Cloud Consumer Perspective

Instrumentation of processes and an organization's environment provides vast amounts of data that can be used to drivedecisions. Next to setting up data collection, supervising data quality, and applying proper methods of analysis, organizationsface the challenge to set up an infrastructure and architecture to do so efficiently and cost-effectively. Virtualized platformssuch as private or public clouds are the method of choice for deployment, in particular for data analyses not occurringconstantly. A cloud provider, either a commercial Cloud company or an IT organization within an enterprise, will like to set upa cloud platform such that clients can run big data workloads effectively on. Cloud customers would like to set up big dataapplications in a cost-effective and performant way on their platform.This keynote will walk through a few real life big data analysis scenarios from different industries and discuss thechallenges Cloud providers face making trade-offs. Understanding those challenges and solutions help cloud users choose theright match between their algorithm, big data system and cloud platform.
Data, Data, and More Data—What’s an Educator to Do?

If you visit a district central office or a state department of education or a principal’s office these days, you will hear the current rhetoric about data use for school improvement. Since the passage of No Child Left Behind, data on school performance, disaggregated by racial/ethnic groups, special education and language status, and gender, are widely available, open to public consumption, and intended to lead to improvement. The disaggregation of these performance data is significant: pushing schools, school practitioners, and education policy makers to understand the performance of all students and not the average performance of students at any given school. Yet the ubiquitous nature of data now available in the public domain runs the risk of every other education fad that has preceded it: significant rhetoric that yields false promises about improving schools and the life chances of young people. Data-driven decision making. Performance management metrics. School indicator and warning systems. School climate measures. Formative assessments. Summative assessments. Administrative data. Graduation rates. Attendance patterns. Dropout metrics. Test scores. Value-added assessments. High-stakes evidence-driven reform. The implicit and explicit assumption is that if these data exist, improvement will soon be evident. It reminds me of the old quip about the American who goes to France and speaks English louder. Here are the data. . . . Improve. The articles in this issue call for a deeper and better understanding of data, their use, the conditions that are most conducive for using data well, how individuals and groups of practitioners make sense of the data before them, and the intended and unintended consequences of data use for school improvement. The authors together craft important messages about what type of research must be done to address these concerns. But perhaps even more important, the authors offer a clarion call to education policy makers and
Indaba : interviews with African Writers, Stephen Gray : book review

Pretoria: Protea Book House 227 pp ISBN 1-86919-089-0 Tydskrif vir Letterkunde • 43(2) • 2006: 253-254
Influence of substitution method and of food intake on bioassays to determine metabolisable energy with chickens

Abstract 1. Several different methods of assaying the metabolisable energy (ME) of ground maize and a maize and glucose mixture were studied. Over a 24‐h period fasted cockerels lost more energy and nitrogen in their excreta than those fed 15 g maize and 15 g glucose monohydrate. 2. Discrepancies in ME values of maize were found between 1) Hill's method (substitution for glucose) and 2) Sibbald's method (the difference between energy ingested and excreted, corrected for endogenous losses by a comparison with fasted controls). These discrepancies were attributed to differences in endogenous energy losses between fed and fasted birds and interactions between the test substance and reference diet. 3. No significant differences could be detected when substitution for glucose was compared to substitution for the entire diet in three experiments. 4. Significant differences in the ME of maize because of the composition of the basal diet were found (semi‐purified: practical; 17·20:14·56 kJ/g; and 50 g/kg added fa...
Phylogeny and biogeography of Alangiaceae (Cornales) inferred from DNA sequences, morphology, and fossils

Alangiaceae, in the basal Asterid clade Cornales, consists of only one genus, Alangium. The genus has approximately 24 species distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World and is well represented in the Tertiary fossil record of the northern hemisphere. We conducted phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses for Alangium by integrating data from DNA sequences, morphology, and fossils to evaluate systematic and biogeographic hypotheses. The results largely agree with the traditional classification of four sections within the genus, and suggest sects. Conostigma and Rhytidandra are successive sister taxa to a clade containing sects. Marlea and Alangium. Our results also indicate that the widespread species A. chinense consists of at least two lineages meriting recognition as distinct species. Biogeographic analysis using DIVA and divergence time dating with the Bayesian method (MULTIDIVTIME) resolved the ancestor of Alangium as being in S.E. Asia in the Late Cretaceous. Several intercontinental migrations involving the margin of the Tethys seaway (TESW), the North Atlantic land bridge (NALB) or the Bering land bridge (BLB), and long-distance dispersals are suggested. The results support TESW for plant migration of thermophilic (including evergreen) taxa in the early Tertiary.
Indecomposable endo-permutation modules over p-groups

Abstract We use results of Green to give a correct proof that the modules of the title are all absolutely indecomposable in the sense of Huppert.
The influence of in vivo incubation of aged murine spleen colony-forming units on their proliferative capacity

Abstract Bone marrow cells from young and old mice (C3H/HeMs) were transplanted into irradiated syngeneic recipients. The growth rates of spleen colonies in both groups were compared by measuring the mean volume of colonies. Growth rates in spleen colonies derived from bone marrow cells of 462-day-old mice (Y-R) were higher than those from 917-day-old mice (O-R). Bone marrow cells from 62-day-old mice and those from 642-day-old mice were injected into 112-day-old irradiated (950 rad) recipients and after 400 days were killed. The bone marrow cells were assayed for spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S) and injected into irradiated secondary recipients, 50–55 days of age (Y-M-R and O-M-R). The cellular age at testing was 462 and 1042 days, respectively. The growth rates of colonies from young mice (Y-M-R) and from old ones (O-M-R) were similar in contrast to the first experiment in which the younger CFU-S produced more rapidly growing colonies. These studies clearly show that CFU-S from 462-day-old mice produce larger splenic colonies than CFU-S from 686- or 917-day-old mice. However, spleen colonies formed by CFU-S with cellular ages of 462 days (62 days + 400 days in vivo ) and 1042 (642 days + 400 days in vivo ) are not significantly different, suggesting that “ in vivo incubation” has removed some of the proliferative defect of the 642-day-old CFU-S.
Characteristics of the high-latitude ionospheric particle sources: Transversely accelerated ions (TAI) at 1400 km

Abstract The auroral acceleration process that produces transversely accelerated ions is studied in detail using data primarily from a single auroral oval crossing of the ISIS-2 satellite at 1400 km. This data set is of significance because a special operational mode of the soft particle spectrometers allowed unusual temporal and pitch angle resolution to be obtained. We conclude that transversely accelerated ions having a sharp cutoff in pitch angle were accompanied by the emission of a VLF saucer and the simultaneous occurrence of an upstreaming electron beam. In contrast to the very flat pitch angle distribution of the ions, the highly field-aligned upstreaming electrons (well inside the loss cone) accompanying the ions seem to imply the existence of downward directed electric field parallel to B below 1400 km with net potentials in excess of 200 volts. The occurrence of such field-aligned electrons and VLF saucers in association with some transversely accelerated ions provides additional information on the acceleration process and reveals the complexity of the active flux tube.
Lava tube shatter rings and their correlation with lava flux increases at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

Shatter rings are circular to elliptical volcanic features, typically tens of meters in diameter, which form over active lava tubes. They are typified by an upraised rim of blocky rubble and a central depression. Prior to this study, shatter rings had not been observed forming, and, thus, were interpreted in many ways. This paper describes the process of formation for shatter rings observed at Kīlauea Volcano during November 2005–July 2006. During this period, tilt data, time-lapse images, and field observations showed that episodic tilt changes at the nearby Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone, the shallow magmatic source reservoir, were directly related to fluctuations in the level of lava in the active lava tube, with periods of deflation at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō correlating with increases in the level of the lava stream surface. Increases in lava level are interpreted as increases in lava flux, and were coincident with lava breakouts from shatter rings constructed over the lava tube. The repetitive behavior of the lava flux changes, inferred from the nearly continuous tilt oscillations, suggests that shatter rings form from the repeated rise and fall of a portion of a lava tube roof. The locations of shatter rings along the active lava tube suggest that they form where there is an abrupt decrease in flow velocity through the tube, e.g., large increase in tube width, abrupt decrease in tube slope, and (or) sudden change in tube direction. To conserve volume, this necessitates an abrupt increase in lava stream depth and causes over-pressurization of the tube. More than a hundred shatter rings have been identified on volcanoes on Hawai‘i and Maui, and dozens have been reported from basaltic lava fields in Iceland, Australia, Italy, Samoa, and the mainland United States. A quick study of other basaltic lava fields worldwide, using freely available satellite imagery, suggests that they might be even more common than previously thought. If so, this confirms that episodic fluctuation in lava effusion rate is a relatively common process at basaltic volcanoes, and that the presence of shatter rings in prehistoric lava flow fields can be used as evidence that such fluctuations have occurred.
Disruption of U8 nucleolar snRNA inhibits 5.8S and 28S rRNA processing in the Xenopus oocyte.

Abstract The nucleoli of vertebrate cells contain several snRNPs, of which only one, U3, has been assigned a role in rRNA processing. We present the primary sequence of Xenopus U8, a fibrillarin-associated nucleolar snRNA, and examine its expression through oocyte development. Antisense deoxyoligonucleotides were microinjected into Xenopus oocytes to deplete the endogenous pool of U8 RNA. Analysis of the mature rRNAs and rRNA intermediates that accumulate in the U8-depleted oocytes indicate that the U8 snRNP is essential for correct maturation of the 5.8S and 28S rRNAs at both their 5′ and 3′ ends. U8 is therefore a nucleolar snRNA implicated in a nucleolytic rRNA processing step other than 18S maturation. Evidence for a longlived 5.8S rRNA intermediate (12S) in Xenopus is also presented.
In vitro acrosome reaction and capacitation of golden hamster spermatozoa by bovine follicular fluid and its fractions

Unheated bovine follicular fluid is very toxic to hamster spermatozoa. This toxicity is due to the action of globulin or globulin-like substances in the fluid. When the fluid is pre-treated at 56°C for about 30 minutes these spermicidal substances are detoxified, and the fluid becomes capable of inducing the acrosome reaction and capacitation of the spermatozoa. Follicular fluid contains two factors responsible for the induction of the acrosome reaction and capacitation of spermatozoa, namely the sperm-stimulating factor and the acrosome reaction-inducing factor. An efficient sperm acrosome reaction and capacitation can be accomplished only in the presence of these two factors. The sperm-stimulating factor is dialyzable and heat-stable (at 90°C). The acrosome reaction-inducing factor, on the contrary, is non-dialyzable and heat-labile (at 90°C). The relationship between sperm acrosome reaction and capcitation is discussed.
Long-term patterns of botfly parasitism in Peromyscus maniculatus, P. leucopus, and Tamias striatus

Abstract We used data collected from 1979 to 1998 at Powdermill Biological Station in southwestern Pennsylvania to explore the relationship between Cuterebra (botfly) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus). Overall, P. leucopus and P. maniculatus exhibited similar levels of botfly infestation (as measured by prevalence), while T. striatus showed greater prevalence than the mice. Adult P. leucopus and T. striatus exhibited greater prevalence than juveniles, and adult and juvenile P. maniculatus showed similar prevalence levels. Male and female prevalence was similar in each species. Botfly-infested individuals tended to remain significantly longer in the trapping area than noninfested individuals and were more likely to meet our criteria for “residents” than were noninfested individuals. We question the relative impact of botflies on individual survival in these species.
Service Encounters and Service Bias: A Preliminary Investigation

The hospitality industry tends to be cyclical as well as seasonal. Therefore, hotels, restaurants, and other travel firms must be prepared to compete during periods of low demand. One of the potent...
Relationship between leaf gas exchange characteristics and productivity of potato clones grown at different temperatures

The rate of dark respiration (Rd) and net photosynthesis (Pn) at various leaf temperatures was examined in three potato clones (Solatium tuberosum L.) differing in heat tolerance. Plants were grown at low (25/12 C, day/night) and high (35/25 C) greenhouse air temperatures for five weeks, beginning two weeks after tuberization. Gas exchange characteristics were measured by manometric and infrared gas analyzer techniques. Respiration:photosynthesis ratios were calculated as indicators of leaf carbon balance. High greenhouse temperature reduced whole plant and tuber growth rate of all clones, however, the reduction was highest in the cultivar Russet Burbank (heat sensitive). Gas exchange characteristics did not explain differences in heat tolerance. The heat tolerant cultivar Desiree had Rd similar to Russet Burbank, while the clone DTO-28, also heat tolerant, had lower Rd of mature leaves than Russet Burbank or Desiree. However, all clones had similar Rd of immature leaves. There was no apparent relationship between heat tolerance and Pn for the three clones. DTO-28 had lower respirationrphotosynthesis ratios of immature and mature leaves than Russet Burbank 4 weeks after the start of the high temperature treatment. Desiree had respiration:photosynthesis ratios as high as Russet Burbank. At different sampling times, Rd increased in a linear and curvilinear manner with increasing leaf temperature up to 40 C. Heat tolerant and sensitive clones had similar rates of increase in Rd with increasing leaf temperature. Simultaneous measurement of Rd and Pn did not help explain differences in heat tolerance among clones. However, determination of respirationrphotosynthesis ratios may help explain the physiological basis for heat tolerance of some clones.
Reactive Nodular Hyperplasia Mimicking Malignant Lymphoma in Donor Liver Allograft

The transmission of malignancy from donor to recipient can have devastating outcomes. Therefore, careful examination of the thoracic cavity, abdominal organs, and lymphoid tissue is important. In this report, we have described a case of a healthy 37-year-old donor with no significant past medical history who was found to have a nodule in the liver allograft during the examination at the back table. The frozen section revealed atypical lymphoid hyperplasia. Further workup revealed a rare benign lesion in the liver known as reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. Unfortunately, the liver allograft had to be discarded since low-grade lymphoma could not be excluded at the time of transplantation.
Dynamic propagation of longitudinal cracks in a pressurized cylindrical shell due to ductile failure

Abstract The dynamic motion of a longitudinal through-crack along a pressurized pipe or shell structure was studied. The endochronic theory of viscoplasticity were used for the description of inelastic material behavior. Numerical examples were given for a suddenly introduced axial through-crack in the wall of a pressurized pipe which is allowed to propagate according to Weiss-Sengupta notch-strength theory of ductile static fracture. Crack tip position and crack opening displacement profile were obtained at various times. No crack arrest was observed in the example due to the assumption of a constant internal pressure.
Short-period PKP phases and the anelastic mechanism of the inner core

Abstract Short-period seismograms are synthesized for PKP phases in anelastic Earth models. The synthetics were constructed using a synthetic technique valid at grazing incidence, a source-time function appropriate for deep-focus earthquakes, and an instrument response for either a short-period WWSSN or SRO seismograph. The agreement between predicted and observed amplitudes and spectral ratios requires neither a low- Q α zone at 0.2–2 Hz nor a low or negative P-velocity gradient at the bottom of the outer core. Thin low- Q α zones beneath the inner core boundary fit spectral ratio data that sample the upper 200 km of the inner core but fail to fit data that sample the lower inner core. Only a model having Q α −1 ϵ [0.003, 0.004] at 0.2–2 Hz, nearly constant with depth in the inner core, satisfies all of the spectral ratio and amplitude data. The assumption of a bulk viscosity of 10-10 3 Pa s for the liquid phase of a partially molten inner core combined with the observation of low shear attenuation in the inner core at frequencies less than 0.005 Hz limit the physical parameters associated with two possible attenuation mechanisms: (1) fluid flow and viscous relaxation due to ellipsoidally shaped inclusions of melt, and (2) the solid-liquid phase transformation induced by the stress change during the passage of a seismic wave. Both mechanisms require an order of 0.1% partial melt to reproduce the observed Q α −1 . In the outer core, the time constant of the mechanism of phase transformation is predicted to be 10 4 –10 6 s. Confirmation of small shear attenuation in the inner core in the frequency band of seismic body waves would favor the mechanism of phase transformation.
Granular L10 FePt:X (X = Ag, B, C, SiOx, TaOx) thin films for heat assisted magnetic recording

Ordered L10 FePt thin films are of interest as potential Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording media. In order to achieve the microstructure and magnetic properties to support recording at densities beyond 1 Tbit/in2, it is necessary to add segregants into the FePt films. In this work, the effects of a number of segregants, X, on the microstructure and magnetic properties of FePt:X (X = Ag, B, C, SiO x , TaO x ) thin films, deposited by RF sputtering with various volume content (0–50%), various in-situ heating temperatures (450–600 °C), various Ar pressures (10–40 mtorr) and various sputtering powers (25–200 W) onto 1′′ Si substrates with a MgO texture (002) underlayer (20 nm), were investigated. It was observed that introducing segregants (B, C, SiO x , and TaO x ) into the FePt reduced ordering and grain size of the FePt:X thin films. Ag was found to offset the reduction of ordering in the FePt:X films. The B, SiO x and TaO x promoted columnar growth whereas C promoted a secondary nucleation layer but produced the least reduction of ordering. By varying the volume content of the segregants, the grain size of the FePt:X can be controllably reduced throughout the 2.5–10 nm range. It was found that TaO x produced the best exchange decoupling, thermal durability, grain isolation and hindered grain coalescence as compared with the films deposited with B, C or SiO x . With the FePt:C:Ag films sputtered at 450 °C, a perpendicular coercivity measured at room temperature as high as 25 kOe was achieved; whereas with B, SiO x , and TaO x , perpendicular coercivities as high as 11 kOe were obtained. These FePt:X thin films with small grain size, columnar microstructure and high coercivity are believed to be favorable for application in Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording. The role of surface energies of FePt and the segregant in columnar growth of FePt grains is discussed.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Alumina and Titania-Containing Hybrid Network Ceramer Materials from Sol-Gel Processing

Abstract Transparent hybrid materials have been prepared by incorporating either an alumina or titania alkoxide sol with triethoxysilane end-capped polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO) oligomer. In order to avoid undesirable precipitation after the addition of water, a β-dicarbonyl ligand, ethyl acetoacetate, was used. Triethoxysilane endcapped polytetramethylene oxide with a molecular weight of 2000 (g/mol) was chosen to react with either the alumina or titania sol to demonstrate the features of the reaction scheme. The extent of reaction leading to network formation has been qualitatively followed by infrared spectroscopy. A series of solid films were prepared by varying the molar ratio of either aluminum tri(sec-butoxide) or titanium tetraisopropoxide to ethyl acetoacetate, and the weight fraction of alumina or titania to that of PTMO. The refractive index as well as the general structure-property behavior of these hybrid materials were studied.
Transmission electron microscopy of the crack tip region of fatigued copper single crystals

Dislocation configurations in slices of material cut from the regions ahead of fatigue crack tips in copper single crystals were observed under the transmission electron microscope. Distinct transactions in the configurations of the dislocations occurred at distances approximately equal to 300 μm from the crack tips. The existence of a high density dislocation cell structure in the immediate vicinity of crack tips lends support to the concept of a plastic zone ahead of a fatigue crack tip. The cell diameter decreased the closer the cells were to the tip of a fatigue crack.
Protein intake level and introductory weight training exercise on urinary total nitrogen excretions from untrained men

Abstract A 28-day study was conducted with 13 untrained men to test the effects of protein intake level and weight training exercise on urinary total nitrogen excretions. Subjects were fed the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein (0.8 g·kg −1 ·d −1 ) or three times this amount (3RDA). There were exercise and non-exercise subjects at each intake. There was an effect of protein intake level as least-squares means of urinary total nitrogen excretions over the last 7 study days were greater for 3RDA than RDA subjects (p
Hypochlorhydria does not inhibit zinc absorption in the rat

Abstract Reduced gastric acid secretion and elevated gastric pH is relatively common in humans due to the widespread use of ulcer healing drugs, age-associated hypochlorhydria and other causes. Hypochlorhydria has been reported to decrease mineral absorption in humans. Low gastric acid secretion may especially reduce zinc bioavailability from high fiber and phytate-containing diets. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of drug-induced hypochlorhydria on the absorption of zinc in rats from 65 Zn labeled liquid meals high in fiber and phytate. Animals were rendered hypochlorhydric by intraperitoneal injections of the gastric proton pump inhibitor omeprazole (50 μmol·kg body wt −1 ·d −1 for 3 d). The effects of hypochlorhydria on zinc bioavailability from single liquid meals containing various amounts of fiber and phytate were assessed by measuring 4 h fractional 65 Zn absorption and liver retention in rats. The animals were administered Isomil ® , Ensure ® or Enrich ® , a high fiber soy polysaccharide-supplemented liquid formula, which was further supplemented with 1938 and 6180 μmol/L sodium phytate to achieve either a 6:1 or 20:1 phytate-to-Zn ratio. Rats treated with omeprazole had significantly increased fasting and postprandial gastric pH and changes in gastric emptying. However, 65 Zn bioavailability was not impaired by hypochlorhydria, regardless of the fiber and phytate content of the meal. A very low gastric pH may not be a prerequisite for normal intestinal zinc absorption from food.
Lithographically patterned superconductor bolometer detectors for visible and near-infrared radiation incorporating wavelength selective light absorbing elements

Composite dye/superconductor sensors which can discriminate different wavelengths of light in the visible and near- infrared regions have been fabricated. By lithographically patterning 1500 angstroms thick films of the superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-δ on MgO substrates, arrays of microbridges have been created. A layer of dye dispersed in a polymeric matrix is deposited on top of each bridge to create the wavelength selective light absorbing element. Each meandering path bridge is approximately 20 μm wide and approximately 10 mm long. The device functions in a different manner to traditional semiconductor-based light sensing technologies in which a dye structure serves the role of a filtering agent. Here, the response of the hybrid dye/superconductor element is amplitude at wavelengths strongly absorbed by the dye laser. Such devices represent the initial steps towards a larger structure capable of simultaneously sensing wavelength bands from the visible through to the infrared. In addition to dye sensitization method, another approach to adding wavelength selectivity to detectors is described here in which interference effects in micromachined microbolometers are exploited.
(d,p) REACTION ON HEAVY ELEMENTS AT LOW DEUTERON ENERGIES

Deuterons of 9.1. 8.3. and 7.4 Mev were used to produce (d.p) reactions in Pb/sup 206/ and Bi/sup 209/ targets. The proton d ifferential cross section was measured for different Q values, each of which corresponded to a final state of known assignment. With one exception, all the observed angular distributions were broad peaks with maxima near 180 deg . The theoretical approximations that apply for low deuteron energy predict a Gaussian distribution peaked in the backward di- rection. Although the measured distributions were not of Gaussian form, a comparison of the measured and predicted width variation with Q showed fair agreement with one theoretical result and poor agreement with the other. For the reaction with the highest Q( approx equal 4.5 Mev). a peak near 120 deg was observed. This more forward peak would be expected both from a reduced Coulomb effect and from the influence of the nuclear potential on the proton. As expected when the Coulomb field is dominant, there was only a small observed correlation between the measured angular distribution and the angular momentum of the captured neutron. In a few cases, triton angular distributions from (d.t) reactions were measured, and these also showed peaks atmore » large scattering angles. (auth)« less
A regression study on the solid particle erosion of copper and copper alloys by angular and spherical particles at normal incidence

A regression analysis is presented on the solid particle erosion results of copper and copper alloys impacted by angular and spherical silica particles at normal incidence. Particle shape, particle size, and zinc content of materials were selected as factors. Also, three levels were assigned to each factor. Experiments were performed under 50 mTorr vacuum utilizing an electrostatic accelerator erosion tester. A total of 10 g particles were sent to each substrate material in 10 increments. At the end of the experiments, the extent of erosion was calculated by dividing weight loss to the amount of particles sent. A regression analysis was conducted on the erosion data to see the individual and interaction effects of factors chosen. Results indicate that quadratic components of zinc content, particle shape, and particle size and linear interaction between particle size and zinc content were effective in defining erosion in this study.
Application of Hierarchical Decision Modeling for Selection of Laptop

In this paper we will bring in a decision making process of selecting the best laptop to buy for a college student. We used the Hierarchal decision modeling in order to construct the decision model. First we have to select the criteria that are important to our student. The paper discusses four different criteria as a base in structuring the decision model. When these different criteria are selected, a set of sub-criteria for every major criterion is chosen based on our team's judgment as experts in this project. Each of these sub-criteria contributes as a part of each major criterion's weight or relative importance. After selecting the criteria, the model is validated on ten of the most popular laptops in the year 2006. Once these steps are established, the model can be calculated; comparisons between the alternatives will be made and the best laptop to buy will be recommended based upon the criteria.
Demonstration of technology to treat swine waste using geotextile bag, zeolite bed and constructed wetland

Abstract A comprehensive treatment system consisting of geotextile bag, zeolite bed and constructed wetland has been devised to remove solids and nutrients from swine house waste. Alkalinity was observed to be reduced by 44% after geotextile bag and 77% after wetlands. In one day (24 h) waste flush cycle, COD was reduced by 72% after geotextile bag and further reduced by 95% after zeolite treatment followed by constructed wetland. When wastewater was passed through geotextile bag, 71% reduction of COD occurred during 96 h flush cycle and further reduction of 87% was observed after zeolite. Reductions of 94% total N, 92% NH4+-N, 88% total P, and 87% o-PO4−-P were observed after the wastewater was passed through the geotextile bag, zeolite, and wetland treatment systems during 24 h flush cycle. Approximately 50% NH4+-N was adsorbed by the zeolite bed and 12% was presumed to be lost through NH3 volatilization process during zeolite treatment.
Cancer potencies of heterocyclic amines found in cooked foods

Quantitative estimates of potential cancer risk associated with eating heterocyclic amines (HAs) in cooked foods and food products, known to be highly mutagenic in the Ames/Salmonella assay and to cause cancer in laboratory animals, rely on estimates of carcinogenic potency from animal bioassay data. New estimates of potential human cancer potency are presented for 10 HAs associated with potential human dietary exposure from cooked-food sources. These estimates differ from previous similar estimates in that they properly reflect the fact that most of these HAs exhibit a pronounced ability to induce tumours at multiple histologically distinct sites within each sex/species tested, and so might be expected to be multipotent carcinogens in humans as well. Thus, in addition to 82 tumour-type-specific potencies estimated for these compounds, 24 additional estimates of aggregate potency (to induce one or more tumour types) were made, using different methods to scale estimated bioassay cancer potency to humans. The currently unknown potency of an additional cooked-food HA was estimated using linear regressions of log-carcinogenic on log-mutagenic potency for the other 10 HAs, some of which were highly significant (e.g. r = 0.85, P < 0.004). The potency estimates obtained are consistent with an upper-bound cancer risk between 10(-3) and 10(-4) for an average lifetime cooked-beef intake of 3.3 g/kg/day (or approx. 0.5 lb/day). Use of these potency estimates to obtain more realistic upper-bound estimates of dietary-HA risk will require detailed HA-exposure assessments.
Effect of a Person‐Centered Mouth Care Intervention on Care Processes and Outcomes in Three Nursing Homes

Objectives: To develop and test a person-centered, evidence-based mouth care program in nursing homes. Design: Pre�post assessment, with an 8-week intervention period and a pilot 6-month extension at one site. Setting: Three North Carolina nursing homes. Participants: Ninety-seven residents and six certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Intervention: CNAs already working in the facilities were trained as dedicated mouth care aides. A psychologist and dental hygienist provided didactic and hands-on training in evidence-based mouth care products and techniques and in person-centered behavioral care. Measurements: Primary outcome measures for natural teeth were the Plaque Index for Long-Term Care (PI-LTC) and Gingival Index for Long-Term Care(GI-LTC) and for dentures the Denture Plaque Index (DPI); a dentist unmasked to study design obtained measures. Secondary outcomes included quantity and quality of care provided. Results: Outcome scores significantly improved (P < .001 for PI-LTC and GI-LTC; P = .04 for DPI). Coding of videotaped care episodes indicated that care was more thorough (P < .001�P = .03) but took more time (P < .001) after training. Consistency of care appeared to be more important for natural teeth than dentures. Conclusion: As little as 8 weeks of mouth care can significantly improve oral hygiene outcomes. Given the consequences of poor oral hygiene, greater attention to mouth care education and provision are merited. The dedicated worker model is controversial, and future work should assess whether other models of care are equally beneficial.
Activity and selectivity of W110A secondary alcohol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus in organic solvents and ionic liquids: mono- and biphasic media

The asymmetric reduction of hydrophobic phenyl-ring-containing ketones and the enantiospecific kinetic resolution of the corresponding racemic alcohols catalyzed by Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus W110A secondary alcohol dehydrogenase were performed in mono- and biphasic systems containing either organic solvents or ionic liquids. Both yield and enantioselectivity for these transformations can be controlled by changing the reaction medium. The enzyme showed high tolerance to both water-miscible and -immiscible solvents, which allows biotransformations to be conducted at high substrate concentrations.
Combined 3-D auditory-visual cueing for a visual target acquisition task

Previous studies have shown that helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) are advantageous in maintaining situation awareness and increasing the amount of time pilots spend looking off-boresight (Geiselman & Osgood, 1994; Geiselman & Osgood, 1995). However, space is also limited on a HMD and any symbology that is presented takes up valuable space and can occlude a pilot's vision. There has been much research in the area of visual cueing and visual search as they relate to seeking out visual targets in the sky. However, the idea of localized auditory cueing, as it could apply in the realm of air-to-air targeting, is an area less studied. One question is how can we present information such that a pilot's attention will be directed to the object of interest the most quickly? Some different types of target location cueing symbology have been studied to find such aspects of symbology that will aid a pilot most in acquiring a target. The purpose of this study is to determine the best method of cueing a person to visual targets in the shortest amount of time possible using auditory and visual cues in combination. Specifically, participants were presented with different combinations of reflected line cues, standard line cues, and localized auditory cues for primary and secondary targets. The cues were presented using an HMD and 3-D auditory headphones, with a magnetic head tracker used to determine when the participant had visually acquired the targets. The possible benefits of these cues based on the times to acquire are discussed.