cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orientation Effects on Flow Boiling Silicon Nanowire Microchannels

Flow boiling in Silicon Nanowire microchannel enhances heat transfer performance, CHF and reduces pressure drop compared to Plainwall microchannel. It is revealed by earlier studies that promoted nucleate boiling, liquid rewetting and enhanced thin film evaporation are the primary reasons behind these significant performance enchantments. Although flow regime plays a significant role to characterize the flow boiling Silicon Nanowire microchannel performances; surface characteristics, hydrodynamic phenomena, bubble contact angle and surface orientation are also some of the major influencing parameters in system performances. More importantly, effect of orientation (effect of gravity) draws a great attention in establishing the viability of flow boiling in microchannels in space applications. In this study, the effects of heating surface orientation in flow boiling Silicon Nanowire microchannels have been investigated to reveal the underlying heat transfer phenomena and also to discover the applicability of this system in space applications. Comparison between Nanowire and Plainwall microchannels have been performed by experimental and visual studies. Experiments were conducted in a forced convection loop with deionized water at mass flux range of 100kg/m2s – 600kg/m2s. Micro devices consist of five parallel straight microchannels with Nanowire and without Nanowire (Plainwall) (200μm × 250μm × 10mm) were used to investigate the effects of orientation. Two different orientations were used to perform the test: upward facing (0° Orientation) and downward facing (180° Orientation). Results for Plainwall show sensitivity to orientation and mass flux, whereas, little effects of mass flux and orientation have been observed for Nanowire configuration.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Interview with Al Young

Al Young has published three books of poetry-Dancing (Corinth, 1969), The Song Turning Back into Itself (1971), and Geography of the New Past (1976), as well as three novels-Snakes (1970), Who Is Angelina? (1975), and Sitting Pretty (1976). The last five works were published by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. He has won the Joseph Henry Jackson Award, a number of National Arts Council prizes, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Along with Ishmael Reed and others he founded the Yardbird Publishing Corporation early in the seventies and has served as the editor of Yardbird/Wing Editions. He and Reed currently edit the journal Y'Bird. The following interview took place on April 3, 1978, the day before Young's reading as part of USC's "Contemporary Literature Week." Following the car ride from L.A. International, lunch in Venice, an hour or so at the beach in Santa Monica watching workmen repave a parking lot, several rounds of beer in my backyard, and so forth, we got down to "business" in my office at USC, both of us gazing out the window from time to time at the giant neon cat on the Felix Chevrolet car lot across the street.
Evolution of Buried Oxide ‘Pipe’ Defects Upon Implantation Through Particles in Simox Material

We have investigated the effect of the presence of oxide particles on the surface of silicon wafers during high energy, high dose implantation of oxygen into silicon. It was found that for single implants with doses of 1.5 × 10 18 /cm 2 or 1.8 × 10 18 /cm 2 , such particles produce a non-continuous buried oxide layer in the as-implanted condition as well as after annealing. Etching results showed that no defects, which formed etchable paths through the buried oxide, were produced for particles with diameters 0.43 um or below for the lower dose and 0.53 um for the higher dose.
Salt or Limestone to Control Corn Intake of Cattle on Pasture1,2

Summary Two summer pasture experiments were conducted with finishing yearling cattle to determine the effect of incorporating 5 or 10% salt or calcium carbonate, or 5% of each, with corn offered ad libitum during the pasture season. Five percent added salt depressed corn consumption 8.6 and 22% and 5% calcium carbonate depressed corn consumption 8%; 10% salt reduced corn consumption 29 and 24% and 10% calcium carbonate reduced corn consumption 16%; 5% each of salt and calcium carbonate decreased corn consumption 12%. Gains were not depressed consistently, indicating cattle which ate less corn due to its dilution with salt or calcium carbonate probably were consuming more herbage.
Deoxygenation-induced cation fluxes in sickle cells. IV. Modulation by external calcium

Net cation movements were measured in low-density sickle red blood cells (SS RBC) in the presence and absence of oxygen. External Ca2+ (Ca2+o) partially inhibited deoxygenation-induced fluxes of both Na+ and K+. Deoxygenation-induced Na+ influx was reduced by 2 mM Ca2+o to 0.71 +/- 0.04 (SE) of its value in Ca(2+)-free solutions, whereas this ratio was 0.90 +/- 0.05 for K+ efflux (P < 0.01 by paired t-test). Because Ca2+o inhibited Na+ influx more than K+ efflux, net cation loss in deoxygenated SS RBC was higher in the presence of Ca2+o. In separate experiments, Ca2+o reduced deoxygenation-induced Na+ influx to 0.66 +/- 0.03 of its Ca(2+)-free value compared with 0.77 +/- 0.03 for Rb+ influx (P < 0.001), indicating relative selectivity of this effect for Na+ over Rb+. However, this effect is not specific for Ca2+ because other divalent cations also inhibited deoxygenation-induced Na+ and K+ fluxes. Under the conditions of these experiments, no evidence for K+ channel activation was found, indicating that K+ loss measured in deoxygenated SS RBC was mediated by the deoxygenation-induced pathway. These studies show that in the presence of Ca2+o deoxygenation-induced Na+ influx and K+ efflux are unbalanced. This pathway can, therefore, mediate cation loss and contribute directly to cellular dehydration in SS RBC.
Analysis of Performance on Cognitive Test Measures Before, During, and After 6 Months of Hearing Aid Use: A Single-Subject Experimental Design

Purpose The present study examined the effect of hearing aid use on cognitive test performance using a single-subject treatment design. Method Six participants 54 to 64 years old with sensorineural...
3.07 – Genetic Hearing Loss

Genetic hearing loss is associated with mutations in more than 100 genes. These genes encode many different types of proteins, including cytoskeletal proteins, extracellular matrix proteins, transcription factors, and proteins required for ion homeostasis. This perspective discusses four of these genes: USH1C, GJB2, OTOF, and TECTA, which encode the proteins harmonin, connexin 26, otoferlin, and α-tectorin, respectively. Dominant and recessive inheritance patterns have been found in families with mutations in GJB2 and TECTA, while mutations in GJB2 and USH1C are associated with both syndromic and nonsyndromic hearing loss, and mutations in OTOF have been found in children with auditory neuropathy/auditory dys-synchrony (AN/AD). Each of these genes is expressed in different parts of the inner ear, and the functions of the encoded proteins are diverse. However, all of these proteins are required for normal hearing. Ongoing research is elucidating the pathological mechanisms that result in genetic hearing loss and the potential for molecular intervention strategies as a treatment for hearing loss is promising.
Empirically Supported Forensic Assessment

The field of Forensic Psychology has greatly expanded over the past several decades, including the use of psychological assessment in addressing forensic issues. A number of surveys have been conducted regarding the tests used commonly by forensic psychologists. These surveys show that while tests specifically designed to address forensic issues have proliferated, traditional clinical assessment tests continue to play a crucial role in many forensic evaluations. The current article identifies some of the most salient characteristics of empirically supported forensic tests and provides examples of tests felt to meet each of these five criteria. These criteria include adequate standardization, acceptable reliability and validity, general acceptance within the community of forensic evaluators, availability of test data from cross-cultural and cross-ethnic samples, and comparison data relevant to specific forensic populations. Although the guidelines provided in this article provide a helpful framework for evaluating the usefulness of forensic tests, the establishment of a national review panel or workgroup to address this issue would be highly useful, particularly in the potential controversial task of identifying those tests that meet reasonable guidelines to be identified as empirically supported forensic assessment instruments.
Quantum versus semiclassical description of light interaction with atomic ensembles: Revision of the Maxwell-Bloch equations and single-photon superradiance

Interaction of atoms with quantum states of light is a long-standing problem that apart from fundamental physics has potential applications for optical quantum-state storage, quantum communication, and quantum information. A fully quantum mechanical treatment of this problem is usually very complicated mathematically. Here we show, however, that quantum mechanical evolution equations describing single-photon emission (absorption) by atomic ensembles can be written in a form equivalent to the semiclassical Maxwell-Bloch equations. This connection allows us to find exact analytical solutions of the fully quantum mechanical problem. We also found that semiclassical Maxwell-Bloch equations should be written in a form different from those commonly used. Namely, the classical limit of the quantum problem gives a propagation equation with the Laplacian operator on the right-hand side rather than with the second-order time derivative.
From management crisis to crisis management? Japan’s post-2012 institutional reforms and Sino-Japanese crisis (In)stability

ABSTRACTSince 2012, China’s assertion of its sovereignty claim to the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands has significantly raised the risk of a potentially escalatory political-military crisis with Japan. As circumstances worsen, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has championed major institutional reforms aimed at centralizing Japanese security policy decision-making and vastly improving crisis management. This article assesses these reforms’ significance for ameliorating Japan’s long-standing internal crisis management weaknesses, and enhancing its ability to communicate with Beijing promptly under challenging conditions. While significant issues remain, recent developments – especially the establishment of Japan’s first-ever National Security Council – demonstrate significant progress. Bilaterally, however, important firebreaks remain conspicuously absent.
Abiotic degradation and environmental toxicity of ibuprofen: Roles of mineral particles and solar radiation

The growing medical and personal needs of human populations have escalated release of pharmaceuticals and personal care products into our natural environment. This work investigates abiotic degradation pathways of a particular PPCP, ibuprofen, in the presence of a major mineral component of soil (kaolinite clay), as well as the health effects of the primary compound and its degradation products. Results from these studies showed that the rate and extent of ibuprofen degradation is greatly influenced by the presence of clay particles and solar radiation. In the absence of solar radiation, the dominant reaction mechanism was observed to be the adsorption of ibuprofen onto clay surface where surface silanol groups play a key role. In contrast, under solar radiation and in the presence of clay particles, ibuprofen breaks down to several fractions. The decay rates were at least 6-fold higher for irradiated samples compared to those of dark conditions. Toxicity of primary ibuprofen and its secondary residues were tested on three microorganisms: Bacillus megaterium, Pseudoaltermonas atlantica; and algae from the Chlorella genus. The results from the biological assays show that primary PPCP is more toxic than the mixture of secondary products. Overall, however, biological assays carried out using only 4-acetylbenzoic acid, the most abundant secondary product, show a higher toxic effect on algae compared to its parent compound.
The somatic-germ cell complex: interactions and transformations in relation to oocyte maturation.

In recent years considerable interest has been focused on elucidating the mechanisms which control the multifaceted processes involved in reinitiation and mediation of oocyte differentiation from the stage of meiotic prophase I arrest. Although detailed information is incomplete, considerable controversy exists concerning the specific and unique nature of these mechanisms in mammalian as contrasted to non-mammalian species (1,2). In general these differences relate to the following: 1) whether oocyte maturation is under the positive or negative external control of specific molecules, 2) the chemical nature of these molecules, and 3) the nature and role of somatic-germ cell interactions as contrasted to the independent functions of these cells.
Automorphisms and Symmetries

By a covariant derivative D on a manifold X we shall always mean a covariant derivative associated with a spray. Thus for each vector field ξ, the association η → Dηξis a tensor, and D could therefore be called a tensorial derivative. As Wu informed me, Hermann Weyl was the first to point out the importance of this notion, independently of a metric [Wey 18]. A pair (X, D) consisting of a manifold and such a covariant derivative will be called a (D-manifold. We also note that D is often called a connection in the literature, or an affine connection, following Hermann Weyl.
Upcoming Robotic Systems

Throughout its history, surgery has been a field of continuous innovation, but the last few decades have seen a particularly rapid pace of new technologies and applications. The widespread use of laparoscopy and minimal access surgery has demonstrated benefits in reductions in patient pain, wound complications, and in some instances, an improvement in the technical performance of certain procedures.
CANCER STATISTICS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, 1996

Although cancer remains a major public health burden for African Americans, progress is being achieved. For both genders, stomach cancer mortality and mortality related to Hodgkin's disease showed large decreases over the past 30 years. Among African-American females, large decreases in cancer mortality occurred for nonmelanoma skin cancers, rectal cancers, and cervical and other uterine cancers. Tobacco use continues to decline among African Americans and, at present, is significantly lower among African-American youths than among their white counterparts. Despite these successes, additional work remains. Increased patient education regarding self-examinations and improved access to cancer screening are necessary to reduce the high percentage of cancers diagnosed at late stages among African Americans. Improved screening ultimately would increase survival and decrease cancer mortality. Some research has suggested that the increased morbidity and mortality in African Americans are related to poverty, lower education, and inadequate access to care as opposed to inherent racial characteristics. A recent study of black-white differences according to stage at diagnosis of breast cancer confirms some of these factors but also suggests that multiple factors may explain these differences, including mammograms, having a breast examination by a physician, and a history of patient delay. Such observations point to the importance of enacting broad social policies and establishing support mechanisms to diminish the impact of cancer in the African-American community.
Association Between Quantity of Opioids Prescribed After Surgery or Preoperative Opioid Use Education With Opioid Consumption.

This cohort study investigates the association between reducing the number of opioid tablets prescribed after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and postoperative opioid consumption and between preoperative opioid use education about nonopioid pain strategies and duration and quantity of opioid use.
SOCIAL POLICY AND UNCERTAIN CAREERS: BEYOND RAWLS'S PARADIGM CASE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the neo-utilitarians' reaction against John Rawls. Rawls's theory is addressed to the just division of the fruits of economic cooperation among productive persons, not to the wider problems of justice tilted at by utilitarianism from Bentham to the present. Rawls takes the opportunities and chances for self-realization and personal growth to be the desiderata for justice, not the lifetime intake of commodities. The chapter discusses why the neo-utilitarians' solution to the problem of redistributive social policy does not fit the choice problem that is Rawls's paradigm case. In this case, individuals are born into adulthood with pre-determinedly differing advantages; given the setting of social policy and institutions, their subsequent lives are then laid out deterministically and foreseeably before them. It is, therefore, hard to see how the neo-utilitarians, with their axioms on behavior toward risk, provide a natural principle for the selection of redistributive measures.
Reproducibility of Salmonella Thermal Resistance Measurements via Multilaboratory Isothermal Inactivation Experiments.

ABSTRACT Isothermal inactivation experiments often are used to investigate the thermal resistance of pathogens, such as Salmonella, in foods; however, little is known about the reproducibility of such experimental methodologies. The objective of this study was to quantify the reproducibility of Salmonella isothermal resistance results via a six-laboratory comparison. Inoculation was performed at a single location and then distributed to each laboratory for isothermal analysis. Salmonella Agona 447967 was inoculated into oat flour, re-equilibrated to a water activity (aw) of 0.45, and then packaged and distributed to each laboratory. Before conducting the inactivation trials, each laboratory was required to verify the inoculated product's aw, enumerate Salmonella population levels, and verify that the isothermal treatment medium was at the target temperature (80°C). All laboratories were required to process at least three replications, collect at least six sample time points with three subsamples at each sampling point, enumerate survivors using an identical plating methodology and media, and verify that the temperature did not substantially change during isothermal treatment. The log-linear model was fit to the Salmonella survivor data, and the resultant D-values were statistically compared via Welch's t test (α = 0.05). Two significant differences in thermal inactivation kinetics were identified as potentially resulting from suspected methodology deviations. Two of the inoculated batches distributed for analysis yielded significantly lower D-values, which likely resulted from a deviation in the inoculation procedures. One laboratory yielded significantly lower D-values, which was likely the result of temperature deviations. Overall, excluding the D-values resulting from deviations, the inactivation results were reproducible, yielding D-values of 30.2 ± 3 min. These results indicate that isothermal inactivation results can be reproducible but that even minor methodology deviations can substantially affect measured Salmonella thermal resistance. HIGHLIGHTS
REV-ERBalpha mediates complement expression and circadian regulation of microglial synaptic phagocytosis

The circadian clock has been shown to regulate various aspects of brain health including microglial and astrocyte activation. Here we report that deletion of the master clock protein BMAL1 induces robust increases in the expression of complement genes such as C3, C4b and C1q in the hippocampus. Loss of downstream REV-ERBalpha-mediated transcriptional repression led to increases in C4b in neurons and astrocytes as well as C3 protein in microglia and astrocytes. REV-ERBalpha deletion induced complement C3/C4b gene expression and increased microglial phagocytosis of synapses in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Finally, we observed diurnal variation in the degree of microglial synaptic phagocytosis in wild type mice which was abrogated by REV-ERBalpha deletion. This work uncovers the BMAL1-REV-ERBalpha axis as a regulator of complement expression and synaptic phagocytosis in the brain, thereby illuminating a novel mechanism of synaptic regulation by the circadian clock.
Intranasal ketorolac, diagnosis, and desensitization for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

Abstract Background Intranasal ketorolac has been proposed as a diagnostic test for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) and a faster, safer, and reliable addition to facilitating aspirin (ASA) desensitization. Objective We conducted the first prospective study to dissect the impact of intranasal ketorolac incorporation during ASA desensitization vs standard oral protocols in concert with evaluating its diagnostic use for AERD. Methods Patients with AERD were enrolled in a prospective open-label observational study between November 2006 and August 2013. Participants selected either one of the following desensitization protocols: intranasal ketorolac 1 day before oral ASA (group 1, combined) or ketorolac challenge with greater than 2 weeks elapsing until oral ASA (group 2, washout). All patients were on a leukotriene-modifying drug (montelukast) for at least 1 week before the challenge. Results A total of 20 patients were enrolled: 13 in group 1 and 7 in group 2. No significant differences were seen for baseline symptom scores or forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Group 1 exhibited significant increases for the threshold dose of ASA (P = .009), the likelihood of having silent ASA desensitization (P = .01), and decreased reaction severity to oral ASA (P = .04). There were no significant differences in reaction forced expiratory volume in 1 second, the incidence of extrapulmonary symptoms, limited nasoocular reactions, rescue treatment requirements, or time to symptom resolution. There was 100% concordance between reactions to intranasal ketorolac and oral ASA for group 2, supporting its use as a diagnostic test for AERD. Conclusion Intranasal ketorolac is a useful diagnostic test and adjunct within the combined ketorolac/ASA protocol to achieve effective, efficient, and perhaps safer desensitization to ASA for patients with AERD.
Uncovering fundamental symmetries with neutrons

Although our understanding of the standard model (SM) is widely successful, a few key remaining questions can be studied with neutrons. These endeavors require precision measurements and complement...
Characterizing Social Functioning in School-Age Children with Sensory Processing Abnormalities

Children with sensory abnormalities (SAs) have a variety of social problems resulting in poorer social functioning than children with typical development (TD). We describe the relationship between SAs and social functioning in school-age children with SAs, children with TD and a clinical comparison sample of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with SAs demonstrated impaired social functioning on standardized measures. Children with SAs demonstrated worse social functioning than children with TD and equivalent social functioning to children with ASD. Increased SAs were associated with poorer social functioning across all groups. The results suggest that children with SAs experience clinically significant problems with social functioning and future research is needed to develop interventions to support social functioning in this population.
Green with Envy: Implications for Corporate Investment Distortions

We model agents whose preferences exhibit envy. An envious agent's utility is increasing in what he has and decreasing in what others have. With this setup we are able to provide a new perspective on the nature of investment distortions with centralized and decentralized capital budgeting systems. Centralized capital budgeting leads to corporate socialism in investments in multidivisional firms, whereas decentralized capital budgeting leads to overinvestment. Numerous additional testable predictions are also generated.
Surgical outcomes for esotropia in children with high accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio.

Purpose To assess if high accommodative convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio impacts surgical outcomes in children with esotropia (ET), and evaluate the appropriate target angle in surgical dosing in the presence of high AC/A ratio. Methods A retrospective chart review identified patients who underwent primary bilateral medial rectus (BMR) recessions for ET. Patients were excluded if follow-up was ≤2 months. Basic demographic information, visual acuity, stereopsis, alignment, and target angle for surgery were collected. High AC/A was defined as ≥10 prism diopter (Δ) deviation at near compared to distance. Outcome parameters were near and distance deviations ≤10Δ within orthophoria, and/or stereopsis postoperatively. Yates' continuity correction, unpaired t-test, regression analysis, and one-way ANOVA were used. Results We identified 103 patients, 23 with high AC/A and 80 with normal AC/A, preoperatively. Mean age was 4.0 ± 2.5 years. Surgical success measured by postoperative alignment was 48% and 45% in the high AC/A and normal AC/A groups, respectively (P = 1.0). There was a statistically significant difference in preoperative near deviation between high AC/A and normal AC/A groups (P = 0.0015); however, there was no significant difference in preoperative distance deviation (P = 0.061). In addition, there was not a significant difference in preoperative or postoperative stereopsis between high AC/A and normal AC/A groups (P = 0.88 and P = 0.44, respectively). There was a significant difference in the normal AC/A and high AC/A groups when target angle was directed toward preoperative near deviation as determined by one-way ANOVA (F = 170.88, P < 0.0001 and F = 14.61, P = 0.0010, respectively). Conclusion In the setting of ET treated with BMR recession, the presence of high AC/A does not affect surgical success as measured by alignment and stereopsis. In addition, when high AC/A is present, surgical dosing with a target angle toward near deviation was found to yield the best surgical outcomes in our patient population.
Language, Space, and Social Relationships: A Foundational Cultural Model in Polynesia

The study of the relationship between language and thought, and how this apparently differs between cultures and social groups, is a rapidly expanding area of enquiry. In this book Giovanni Bennardo discusses the relationship between language and the mental organization of knowledge, based on the results of a fieldwork project carried out in the Kingdom of Tonga in Polynesia.
Mining Time Series Data

Temporal data is common in data mining applications. Typically, this is a result of continuously occurring processes in which the data is collected by hardware or software monitoring devices. The diversity of domains is quite significant and extends from the medical to the financial domain.
Isn't Being a Librarian Enough? Librarians As Classroom Teachers

ABSTRACT The issue of college and university librarians teaching credit-bearing courses is studied by describing its historical background and providing an overview of the literature. The debate is framed by summarizing the fundamental issue: the degree to which academic librarians benefit when they assume classroom-teaching roles. The roles of academic librarians as teachers and faculty are analyzed in the context of classroom teaching. While academic libraries and their librarians do benefit from expanded teaching roles, there are some qualifying factors.
GROWTH AND ACTIVITY OF STREPTOCOCCUS CREMORIS IN SKIMMILK FORTIFIED WITH SOME VOLATILE COMPOUNDS1

Skimmilks were fortified with 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000 ppm of the following milk-associated volatile compounds: acetaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, propionaldehyde, acetone, 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, ethanethiol, 1-propanethiol, 2-propanethiol, chloroform, ether, acetonitrile, ethylene dichloride, and methylsulfide. They were then inoculated with Streptococcus cremoris, incubated at 22 C, and tested after 2, 5, 8, 11, and 16 hr of incubation for total numbers and titratable acid. The aldehydes, at concentrations of 10 – 100 ppm and higher, markedly reduced both growth and acid production with the effects most pronounced at and beyond 11 hr of incubation. Ketones tested were less inhibitory than the aldehydes and, at the higher concentration, caused a more pronounced reduction in acid development than in growth. The thiols, especially at concentrations of 100 and 1000 ppm, markedly reduced growth but this was not reflected in a similar reduction of acid production. Chloroform and ether were more de...
Discourse-oriented anaphora resolution in natural language understanding: a review

Recent research in anaphora resolution has emphasized the effects of discourse structure and cohesion in determining what concepts are available as possible referents, and how discourse cohesion can aid reference resolution. Five approaches, all within this paradigm and yet all distinctly different, are presented, and their strengths and weaknesses evaluated.
Investigations of Localized Corrosion of Stainless Steel After Exposure to Supercritical CO2

Severe localized corrosion of a 316 stainless steel autoclave occurred during investigating Type H Portland cement stability in 0.16 M CaCl{sub 2} + 0.02 M MgCl{sub 2} + 0.82 M NaCl brine in contact with supercritical CO{sub 2} containing 4% O{sub 2}. The system operated at 85 C and pressure of 29 MPa. However, no corrosion was observed in the same type of autoclave being exposed to the same environment, containing Type H Portland cement cylindrical samples, also operating at pressure of 29 MPa but at 50 C. The operation time for the 85 C autoclave was 53 days (1272 hours) while that for the 50 C autoclave was 66 days (1584 hours). Debris were collected from the base of both autoclaves and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Corrosion products were only found in the debris from the 85 C autoclave. The cement samples were analyzed before and after the exposure by X-ray florescence (XRF) methods. Optical microscopy was used to estimate an extent of the 316 stainless steel corrosion degradation.
A System Independent Graphing Package for Mathematical Functions

SIG is a compact graphics system for the display of curves and surfaces defined by mathematical formulas in a symbolic system. It is available from Kent State University. SIG consists of two parts: xgraph and mgraph that run as concurrent processes. Xgraph is a stand-alone graphics facility written in C to work with the X Window System. Mgraph is the part that is symbolic system dependent. SIG achieves display device independence through X and portability through mgraph. Capabilities of SIG, its design and implementation, as well as plans for further development are presented.
Superconductivity in the correlated pyrochlore Cd 2 Re 2 O 7

We report the observation of superconductivity in high-quality ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{2}{\mathrm{Re}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ single crystals with room-temperature pyrochlore structure. Resistivity and ac susceptibility measurements establish an onset transition temperature ${T}_{c}^{\mathrm{onset}}=1.47 \mathrm{K}$ with transition width $\ensuremath{\Delta}{T}_{c}=0.25 \mathrm{K}.$ In applied magnetic field, the resistive transition shows a type-II character, with an approximately linear temperature-dependence of the upper critical field ${H}_{c2}.$ The bulk nature of the superconductivity is confirmed by the specific heat jump with $\ensuremath{\Delta}C=37.9 \mathrm{mJ}/\mathrm{m}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{l}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{K}.$ Using the \ensuremath{\gamma} value extracted from normal-state specific heat data, we obtain $\ensuremath{\Delta}C/\ensuremath{\gamma}{T}_{c}=1.29,$ close to the weak coupling BCS value. In the normal state, a negative Hall coefficient below 100 K suggests electronlike conduction in this material. The resistivity exhibits a quadratic T dependence between 2 and 60 K, i.e., $\ensuremath{\rho}={\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}{+AT}^{2},$ indicative of Fermi-liquid behavior. The values of the Kadowaki-Woods ratio $\mathrm{A}/{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{2}$ and the Wilson ratio are comparable to that for strongly correlated materials.
Progesterone Inhibits Basal and Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Induction of Luteinizing Hormone β-Subunit Gene Expression

LH and FSH play critical roles in mammalian reproduction by mediating steroidogenesis and gametogenesis in the gonad. Gonadal steroid hormone feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary influences production of the gonadotropins. We previously demonstrated that progesterone differentially regulates the expression of the LH and FSH β-subunits at the level of the gonadotrope: FSHβ transcription is induced, whereas LHβ is repressed. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of progesterone repression of LHβ gene expression using immortalized gonadotrope-derived LβT2 cells. The progesterone suppression of both basal and GnRH-induced LHβ gene expression occurs in a hormone- and receptor-dependent manner. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrates that the hormone-bound progesterone receptor (PR) is recruited to the endogenous mouse LHβ promoter. In addition, suppression requires both the amino-terminal and DNA-binding regions of PR. Furthermore, progesterone suppression does not require direct PR binding to the promoter, and, thus, PR is likely recruited to the promoter via indirect binding through other transcription factors. These data demonstrate that the molecular mechanism for progesterone action on the LHβ promoter is distinct from FSHβ, which involves direct PR binding to the promoter to produce activation. It also differs from androgen repression of LHβ gene expression in that, rather than Sp1 or steroidogenic factor-1 elements, it requires elements within −300/−250 and −200/−150 that also contribute to basal expression of the LHβ promoter. Altogether, our data indicate that progesterone feedback at the level of the pituitary gonadotrope is likely to play a key role in differential production of the gonadotropin genes.
Ordering in liquid crystal droplets for scattering polarizer applications

We report on a comprehensive study to measure the interactions between polymer and elongated liquid crystal droplets. These polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) materials are well suited for scattering polarizer applications. A tensile strain is applied to the PDLC, an optical polarizer element is created. Using solid-state deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance we report on the degree of orientational order at the liquid crystal-polymer interface as a function of strain, which is correlated to insitu tensile-optical measurements.
Challenging ‘The Penn State Way’: a feminist response to institutional violence in higher education

The aim of this Viewpoint is to suggest a feminist intervention into the Sandusky scandal at Penn State University as a radical alternative to rethinking institutional violence at places of higher learning. Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State assistant football coach, was found guilty on 45 charges related to child sexual abuse. The horrific nature of the crimes shocked the community, but the unanswered questions surrounding the involvement of Penn State's most prominent administrators in a cover-up have implications for the pervasiveness of institutional violence within higher education. We contend if places of higher learning strive to be the embodiment of intellectual transformation, a feminist ethics of care and responsibility is necessary to negate the day-to-day feelings of fear and vulnerability that institutional violence supports.
Neural inducing capacity of cyclic AMP on post-nodal pieces of early chick blastoderms

Cyclic AMP (0.5 mM) induced neural differentiation in post-nodal pieces of early chick blastoderms, at least in part, through promoting cell movement, tissue condensation, and assembly of microtubules.
Superprecipitation and ATPase activity in normal, newborn and denervated muscle.

Abstract Actomyosin superprecipitation and ATPase activities were studied in several muscles. Fast-contracting muscles superprecipitate more rapidly than slow ones and they have a shorter superprecipitation time. Actomyosins from newborn muscle and from denervated adult fast muscle have a slower rate of superprecipitation than adult fast muscle actomyosin. These observations, plus the relationship shown between actomyosin superprecipitation and ATPase activity, support the usefulness of superprecipitation as an in vitro model of contraction in experimental situations.
A Spectrophotometric Assay for α-Ketoaldehydes Using Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Abstract α-Ketoaldehydes have been extensively employed as reagents for the chemical modification of arginine residues in proteins, and to probe for putative anion recognition sites. A major disadvantage in their use is instability, as α-ketoaldehydes are prone to hydration, oxidation, and polymerization. These reagents are typically supplied as the aldehyde hydrates which are relatively stable, but must be purified and standardized prior to analytical use. The known chemical, spectroscopic, and enzymatic methods for quantitating α-ketoaldehydes are not practical for routine analysis due principally to their high detection limits and sensitivity to interfering substances. Surprisingly, α-ketoaldehydes have not been reported as substrates for the alcohol dehydrogenases. We have discovered that phenylglyoxal and several related α-ketoaldehydes are good substrates for horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH). The second order rate constants ( k cat/Km) are within a factor of 10 of that for the reduction of acetaldehyde, a known good substrate for HLADH. The enzymatic reduction reaction is stoichiometric with the oxidation of NADH, resulting in a rapid, convenient, and sensitive method for the spectrophotometric quantitation of α-ketoaldehydes, with a submicromolar detection limit for phenylglyoxal. The sole product of phenylglyoxal reduction has been identified as α-hydroxyacetophenone. The ketone functional group is not reduced, and the enzymatic reaction is essentially irreversible as α-hydroxyacetophenone is not oxidized to phenylglyoxal by HLADH in the presence of NAD+.
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Mapracorat, a Novel Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Agonist, Is Partially Mediated by MAP Kinase Phosphatase-1 (MKP-1)

Mapracorat is a novel selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist (SEGRA), structurally distinct from corticosteroids. In preclinical studies, mapracorat potently inhibits the production of a variety of inflammatory mediators including cytokines and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), with limited side effects associated with traditional corticosteroids. The objective of this study was to delineate the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of mapracorat. We found that mapracorat potently inhibited the production of GM-CSF and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 macrophages. Mapracorat also substantially attenuated the expression of COX-2 and the production of PGE2. The inhibition of mapracorat on the inflammatory response was dose-dependent, and substantially inhibitory effects were observed at concentrations in the 10–100 nm range. Examination of the activation kinetics of p38 and its downstream target MAPK-activated protein kinase-2 (MK-2) revealed a shortened activation course after LPS stimulation in cells pretreated with mapracorat. Supporting the notion that mapracorat augments a feedback control mechanism restraining the p38 pathway, we found that mapracorat enhanced the expression of MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), a critical negative regulator of MAPKs that drive the production of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. While mapracorat alone did not stimulate MKP-1 expression, it markedly enhanced the expression of MKP-1 in cells stimulated by LPS, in a similar manner and potency to the augmenting effect of dexamethasone. Blocking MKP-1 expression by triptolide also abolished the accelerating effects of mapracorat on p38 and MK-2 deactivation, further supporting a role of MKP-1 in the anti-inflammatory mechanism of mapracorat. Taken together, these results indicate that mapracorat exerts its anti-inflammatory effects, at least in part, by augmenting MKP-1 expression.
Vibration of delaminated composite plates and some applications to non-destructive testing

Abstract The impact of delaminations on the natural frequencies of composite plates, as well as delamination dynamics over a broad frequency range, is studied using the finite element method based on the three-dimensional theory of linear elasticity. For the case of cantilever laminated plates, the method is successfully compared with experimental observations. The results for delaminated plates indicate that even for large flaw sizes, the first few natural frequencies are not significantly affected. For higher frequencies, an overall reduction whose magnitude increases with the size and number of delaminations is predicted. At very high frequencies, the delamination vibrates independently and out of phase with the rest of the structure. At a particular frequency region, local flaw vibration causes dissipation of mechanical energy into heat. By utilizing thermographic and thermoelastic non-destructive evaluation techniques, the fast and easy detection and evaluation of delaminations follows.
Angioedema and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: are demographics a risk?

Objectives The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) has become the leading cause of acquired angioedema. Previous studies have suggested that certain patient populations may be at a higher risk for ACEI-induced angioedema. The objective of this study was to evaluate any demographic associations. Study Design A retrospective chart review. Materials and Methods Angioedema patients from 1999 to 2004 treated at a tertiary care hospital were reviewed. Demographics, inciting factors, and comorbid conditions were examined. Results One hundred eighty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Sixty-three percent of patients with angioedema had ACEI triggers. Eighty-one percent of all ACEI angioedema occurred in black patients. Of all angioedema patients, 70% (95% confidence interval [CI], 62%-78%) of black patients noted an ACEI as the inciting agent compared with 44% (95% CI, 30%-59%) in other patient groups. Black patients were 3.03 times more likely to have angioedema from an ACEI than all other patient groups (95% CI, 1.54-5.94). Conclusion This study represents the largest series of patients with angioedema. Although retrospective in nature, the data show that black patients are at a higher risk for ACEI-induced angioedema.
Ask Here PA: Large-Scale Synchronous Virtual Reference for Pennsylvania

ABSTRACT Ask Here PA is Pennsylvania's new statewide live chat reference and information service. This article discusses the key strategies utilized by Ask Here PA administrators to recruit participating libraries to contribute staff time to the service, the importance of centralized staff training, the main aspects of staff training, and activating the service and promoting the service. Ask Here PA is a collaborative service whereby staff from public and academic libraries throughout Pennsylvania shares their reference expertise to serve all residents of Pennsylvania. Ask Here PA is available 24/7/365 by participating in an international collaborative service provided by QuestionPoint called the 24/7 QuesitonPoint Reference Cooperative.
A Method for Comparing the Performance of Power Plants for Vertical Flight

A new method of power plant selection for vertical flight is proposed. It can be used to determine whether the performance of a rocket design can be improved by substituting for the rocket motor a different power plant such as a ramjet. Calculations indicate that there are advantages in using the ramjet provided the power plant can be made to operate under rapid acceleration and at high altitudes.
Transmission line equivalent circuit model applied to a plasmonic grating nanosurface for light trapping

In this paper, we show how light absorption in a plasmonic grating nanosurface can be calculated by means of a simple, analytical model based on a transmission line equivalent circuit. The nanosurface is a one-dimensional grating etched into a silver metal film covered by a silicon slab. The transmission line model is specified for both transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarizations of the incident light, and it incorporates the effect of the plasmonic modes diffracted by the ridges of the grating. Under the assumption that the adjacent ridges are weakly interacting in terms of diffracted waves, we show that the approximate, closed form expression for the reflection coefficient at the air-silicon interface can be used to evaluate light absorption of the solar cell. The weak-coupling assumption is valid if the grating structure is not closely packed and the excitation direction is close to normal incidence. Also, we show the utility of the circuit theory for understanding how the peaks in the absorption coefficient are related to the resonances of the equivalent transmission model and how this can help in designing more efficient structures.
Substrate specificity of an active dinuclear Zn(II) catalyst for cleavage of RNA analogues and a dinucleoside.

The cleavage of the diribonucleoside UpU (uridylyl-3'-5'-uridine) to form uridine and uridine (2',3')-cyclic phosphate catalyzed by the dinuclear Zn(II) complex of 1,3-bis(1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropane (Zn2(1)(H2O)) has been studied at pH 7-10 and 25 C. The kinetic data are consistent with the accumulation of a complex between catalyst and substrate and were analyzed to give values of kc (s-1), Kd (M), and kc/Kd (M-1 s-1) for the Zn2(1)(H2O)-catalyzed reaction. The pH rate profile of values for log kc/Kd for Zn2(1)(H2O)-catalyzed cleavage of UpU shows the same downward break centered at pH 7.8 as was observed in studies of catalysis of cleavage of 2-hydroxypropyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphate (HpPNP) and uridine-3'-4-nitrophenyl phosphate (UpPNP). At low pH, where the rate acceleration for the catalyzed reaction is largest, the stabilizing interaction between Zn2(1)(H2O) and the bound transition states is 9.3, 7.2, and 9.6 kcal/mol for the catalyzed reactions of UpU, UpPNP, and HpPNP, respectively. The larger transition-state stabilization for Zn2(1)(H2O)-catalyzed cleavage of UpU (9.3 kcal/mol) compared with UpPNP (7.2 kcal/mol) provides evidence that the transition state for the former reaction is stabilized by interactions between the catalyst and the C-5'-oxyanion of the basic alkoxy leaving group.
Longitudinal study of the ocular complications of AIDS: 2. Ocular examination results at enrollment.

Objective To report the clinical features on eye examination of patients with AIDS in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Design Cohort study. Participants Patients with AIDS, age ≥ 13 years. Methods Ophthalmologic examination, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, and laboratory testing at enrollment. Main Outcome Measures Eye examination findings at enrollment. Results As of March 31, 2003, 1632 participants with AIDS were enrolled. Evidence of intraocular inflammation was substantially more common among patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis or other major ocular complications than among those without, as were the complications of infection and inflammation, including cataracts, pseudophakia, macular edema, and epiretinal membrane. Among patients with CMV retinitis, macular edema and epiretinal membrane formation were most common among patients with long-standing retinitis and immune recovery. Patients with newly diagnosed retinitis had eye examination findings similar to those reported in the pre-HAART era. Visual impairment ( P Conclusions In the HAART era, CMV retinitis and other ocular opportunistic infections are associated with intraocular inflammation, structural ocular complications, and visual impairment. Patients with newly diagnosed CMV retinitis have eye examination findings similar to those seen in the pre-HAART era.