cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stiffness of Occipital-Cervical Constructs: Beam Theory

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to show that stiffness of an occipital-cervical construct can be predicted based on rod geometry and material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Various rod-plate implants were tested as previously reported biomechanical studies of occipital-cervical fixation with the exception that no spine was used. A testing frame that holds paired contoured rods and plates to the same position as in the biomechanical testing protocol for occipital-cervical fixation was tested in the flexion-extension direction on a servo-hydraulic testing machine. Stiffness was determined from the plots of applied moment versus angular displacement. The occipital-cervical constructs were then modeled as a curved beam in pure bending in the sagittal plane to calculate the moment of inertia and theoretical stiffness. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation of the experimental to the theoretical calculated stiffness. Product of inertia and material stiffness were determined for implants from previously published studies and the predicted rank order of this product was compared with the rank order of the observed biomechanical results in each study. RESULTS: A strong correlation was observed between the experimental and theoretical stiffness (R 2 = 0.85). A strong influence of the inertia was also found on the experimental construct stiffness (R 2 = 0.77). In five of six previously published studies, the best experimental performance was predicted using simple mechanical calculations. CONCLUSION: This study shows that both the theoretical stiffness and the calculated area moment of inertia are strongly correlated with the experimental stiffness of tested occipital-cervical fixation constructs.
The ammonia—sulfur trioxide interaction. An ab initio study

Abstract Ab initio calculations are reported on the formation of the donor—acceptor adduct of SO 3 with NH 3 . This adduct is the zwitterionic form of sulfamic acid. For a partially optimized structure ( R NS = 2.55 A, φ (OSO) = 117°), a net interaction energy of −17.8 kcal/mol is found, showing SO 3 to be an unusually strong Lewis acid.
In search of an arrhythmic cause of coronary artery disease: the electrophysiologist's next frontier?

This editorial refers to ‘Cavotricuspid isthmus dependent flutter is associated with an increased incidence of occult coronary artery disease’ by J.P. de Bono et al., on page 1774 de Bono et al. 1 report the coronary angiogram results on 138 patients undergoing ablation for typical atrial flutter (AFL, n ¼ 37) or atrial fibrillation (AF, n ¼ 61), in comparison to a control group of patients undergoing ablation for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia (RVOT-VT) (n ¼ 40). The demographic data for these groups were statistically similar, and the groups were evenly matched for age and coronary disease risk factors. The authors observed that patients undergoing ablation for typical AFL had a significantly higher incidence of occult (i.e. asymptomatic) coronary artery disease (CAD, P ¼ 0.005) compared with those undergoing ablation for AF, SVT, or RVOT-VT. Specifically, 54% of the AFL patients had coronary atheroma, compared with 26% of the patients with AF and 21% of the patients with SVT or RVOT-VT. No difference was noted in the incidence of coronary atheroma in patients with AF compared with those with SVT or RVOT-VT (P ¼ 0.68). However, the majority of the CAD detected was mild non-obstructive plaque, 75% in AFL patients, 44% in AF patients, and 67% in patients with SVT or RVOT-VT. The authors conclude that there may be a mechanistic link between the right atrial substrate underlying typical AFL and that it may be responsible for a higher incidence of CAD in these patients, when compared with similar age- and CAD risk factormatched patients with AF, SVT, or RVOT-VT. What specific mechanistic link this might be, however, is not determined by this strictly observational report. The authors note that there is a close relationship between AF and AFL, with pulmonary vein ectopy commonly triggering both AF and AFL. 2 However, although not all patients with AFL have AF, most patients with AF have AFL at one time or another. 2 Thus, the authors note that patients with typical AFL probably have a substrate that ‘specifically allows initiation and maintenance of AF’. This has been previously shown to be true, with slower conduction velocity noted in the right atrium in the medial cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) and inferior septum compared with other areas in the atrium, and slower conduction in the CTI in patients with AFL compared with those with SVT. 3,4 The mechanism responsible for this slower conduction velocity is not known 3,4 and has never been specifically studied. Thus, the findings of this study are intriguing, suggesting that underlying CAD could be a possible causative factor, leading to ischaemia and fibrosis of the right atrium. Unfortunately, it appears that the CAD in most patients with AFL in this study was very mild, and not likely to cause ischaemia. Therefore, an alternative explanation must be sought if this phenomenon is true, and not just a chance observation due to the small number of patients included in this study.
Timing of the water-to-land transition and metamorphosis in the land hermit crab Coenobita compressus H. Milne Edwards: evidence that settlement and metamorphosis are de-coupled

After metamorphosing from the last larval stage to the transitional megalopal stage in the marine plankton, the hermit crab Coenobita compressus moves ashore where it undergoes a second metamorphosis to the first juvenile instar on land. In two experiments using laboratory-reared crabs, I moved megalopae from water to land after different amounts of time at this stage and investigated the impact of this manipulation on the timing of and survival through the second metamorphosis. In the Involuntary Settlement experiment, megalopae were moved to land when they were 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 days old. None of those moved between the ages of 3 and 6 days survived through metamorphosis, but the majority of 9-day-old megalopae survived, as did most 12- and 15-day-old megalopae. This suggests that developmental changes early in the megalopal stage prepare C. compressus for terrestrial life. Once on land, megalopae that had been moved to land at 9 days spent about nine additional days there before metamorphosing, while 12- and 15-day-old megalopae metamorphosed after spending about 5 and 4 days, respectively, on land. In the Voluntary Settlement experiment, megalopae were given access to land when they were 1, 5, 10, or 15 days old, but were not forced to make the transition. Those given access to land after 1 day voluntarily left their dishes for the first time after an average of 7 days in water. Those given access when they were 5 days old remained in water about 4 days longer, while those given access when they were 10 and 15 days old left after less than a day. In both experiments, the timing of metamorphosis relative to settlement (i.e., transition to land) showed that these events are dissociated to a degree and revealed the presence of a metamorphic clock. I discuss why the dissociation of settlement and metamorphosis may have been favored in the land hermit crab and in another anomuran crab.
Extension of the hole-drilling method to birefringent composites

A complete stress analysis and reliable failure criteria are essential for important structural applications of composites in order to fully utilize their unique properties. The inhomogeneity, anisotropy and inelasticity of many composites make the use of experimental methods indispensable. Among the experimental techniques, transmission photoelasticity has been extended to birefringent composites in recent years. The extension is not straight-forward, in view of the complex nature of the photoelastic response of such model materials. This paper very briefly reviews the important developments in the subject and then describes the theoretical basis for a new method of determining the individual values of principal stresses in composite models. The method consists in drilling very small holes at points where the state of stress has to be determined. Experiments are then described which verify the theoretical predictions. The limitations of the method are pointed out and it is concluded that valuable information concerning the state of stress in a composite model can be obtained through the suggested method.
A linear magnetic field scan driver

A linear magnetic field scan driver was developed to provide a rapidly scanning magnetic field for use in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The driver consists of two parts: a digitally synthesized ramp waveform generator and a power amplifier to drive the magnetic field coils. Additionally, the driver provides a trigger signal to a data collection digitizer that is synchronized to the ramp waveform. The driver can also drive an arbitrary current waveform supplied from an external source. The waveform generator is computer controlled through a serial data interface. Additional functions are controlled by the user from the driver front panel. The frequency and amplitude of the waveform are each separately controlled with 12-bit resolution (one part in 4,096). Several versions of the driver have been built with different frequency and amplitude ranges. Frequencies range from 500 to 20,000 Hz. Field sweep amplitudes range up to 80 G(pp). This article also gives a brief description of the field coils that are driven by the driver.
Modeling the influence of flow on invertebrate drift across spatial scales using a 2D hydraulic model and a 1D population model

Abstract Methods for creating explicit links in environmental flow assessments between changes in physical habitat and the availability and delivery rate of macroinvertebrates that comprise fish diets are generally lacking. Here, we present a hybrid modelling approach to simulate the spatial dynamics of macroinvertebrates in a section of the Merced River in central California, re-engineered to improve the viability of Chinook salmon. Our efforts focused on quantifying the influence of the hydrodynamic environment on invertebrate drift dispersal, which is a key input to salmon bioenergetics models. We developed a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model that represented flow dynamics well at baseflow and 75% bankfull discharges. Hydraulic predictions from the 2D model were coupled with a particle tracking algorithm to compute drift dispersal, where the settling rates of simulated macroinvertebrates were parameterized from the literature. Using the cross-sectional averaged velocities from the 2D model, we then developed a simpler 1D representation of how dispersal distributions respond to flow variability. These distributions were included in 1D invertebrate population models that represent variability in drift densities over reach scales. Dispersal distributions in the 2D simulation and 1D representation responded strongly to spatial changes in flow. When included in the 1D population model, dispersal responses to flow ‘scaled-up’ to yield distributions of drifting macroinvertebrates that showed a strong inverse relationship with flow velocity. The strength of the inverse relationship was influenced by model parameters, including the rate at which dispersers settle to the benthos. Finally, we explore how the scale of riffle/pool variability relative to characteristic length scales calculated from the 1D population model can be used to understand drift responses for different settling rates and at different discharges. We show that, under the range of parameter values explored, changes in velocity associated with transitions between riffles and pools produce local changes in drift density of proportional magnitude. This simple result suggests a means for confronting model predictions against field data.
PROFITS UNDER CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY

The objectives of this paper are to (1) show that the extensive post WW II literature on the theory of the firm under uncertainty contains an implicit theory of factor demand that generates "uncertainty profits"; and (2) investigate how variations in state variables affect the expected value of these profits. The main conclusions are that the expected value of such profits changes with variations in state variables in a manner that is consistent with Knight's conclusions with regard to risk profits. Copyright 1992 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd/University of Adelaide and Flinders University of South Australia
Superconductivity and normal-state properties of Th U alloys

Anomalies in the normal-state electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power, and magnetic susceptibility have been observed in dilute alloys of uranium dissolved in thorium. These anomalies appear to be due to localized spin fluctuations with a characteristic temperatureT0 ∼ 100K which are associated with5f virtual bound states on the U atoms. The depression of the superconducting transition temperature of Th by U impurities is large and deviates markedly from the form given by the Abrikosov-Gor'kov theory.
The relationship of extraversion and neuroticism with job preferences and job satisfaction for clerical employees

A field study was conducted with 175 Civil Service clerical employees. The results indicated that extraverts preferred jobs with higher levels of cognitive task demands, pace of task demands, cognitive closure, extrinsic rewards and intrinsic rewards. Neuroticism was negatively related to these preferences except for extrinsic rewards, and the relationships were not as strong. Extraverts were found to be less satisfied than introverts with their present clerical job in terms of the work itself, supervision and co-workers as measured by the Job Descriptive Index. Neuroticism was unrelated to job satisfaction.
Relationship Between Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grain Hardness and Wet‐Milling Quality

ABSTRACT Grain hardness variation has large effects on many different end-use properties of wheat (Triticum aestivum). The Hardness (Ha) locus consisting of the Puroindoline a and b genes (Pina and Pinb) controls the majority of grain hardness variation. Starch production is a growing end-use of wheat. The objective of this study was to estimate the differences in starch yield due to natural and transgenically conditioned grain hardness differences. To accomplish this goal, a small-scale wet-milling protocol was used to characterize the wet-milling properties of two independent groups of isogenic materials varying in grain hardness and in Pin expression level. The first group of lines consisted of hard/soft near-isogenic lines created in cultivars Falcon or Gamenya in which lines carried either the Pina-D1a (functional) or the Pina-D1b (null) alleles of Pina. The second group of lines consisted of Pina, Pinb, or Pina and Pinb overexpressing lines created in Hi-Line, a hard red spring wheat. Soft near-isog...
Heritage as Improvement Cultural Display and Contested Governance in Rural China

This article explores the display of cultural heritage as a contested project of governance and social ordering in rural China. It argues that heritage preservation and display are viewed by many Chinese scholars, officials, and villagers themselves as powerful tools of modernization and development; that cultural display implies a project of “improvement” and of building “quality” among the “backward” rural population; and that this view of heritage preservation emerges amid a complex and often contradictory mixture of global perspectives on heritage preservation, state traditions of cultural regulation, and local yearnings for modernity and improved standards of living. The article proposes an interpretation of heritage as an ongoing project of improvement, generating its own unforeseen political dynamics as it churns along. In short, cultural heritage display is treated here as a field of government and social regulation.
Subcellular calcium pools of ischaemic and reperfused myocardium characterised by electron probe.

Objective: The subcellular redistribution of calcium and other electrolytes was analysed in myocardium subjected to global ischaemia and reperfusion in order to establish possible causes of reperfusion injury. Methods: Isolated ferret papillary muscles (maintained at 37 °C, 1.2 Hz stimulation) were exposed to ischaemic conditions for 1 h by isolating from room air, removing buffer, and exposing to a constant flow of water-saturated 98% N2/5% CO2 gas. Some muscles were “reperfused” for 5 min by exposing to control buffer. Electron probe microanalysis was used to measure subcellular electrolyte content. Results: Ischaemia caused severe swelling and doubling of cell sodium [84(SEM 5) to 156(9) mmol·kg−1 dry weight (dw), P < 0.05]. Mitochondrial electrolyte concentrations were generally increased, most notably calcium [0.40(0.15) to 1.99(0.32) mmol·kg−1 dw, P < 0.05]. Electrolytes in other structures were more moderately affected. Reperfusion resulted in two general myocyte populations. Irreversibly injured cells exhibited contracture knots and an influx of extracellular fluid. Analysis was restricted to moderately injured cells, which had reduced swelling and varying numbers of vacuolated mitochondria. In the moderately injured cells, sodium remained high [167(11) mmol·kg−1 dw] and magnesium had increased from 39(2) to 52(2) mmol·kg−1 dw (P < 0.05). Mitochondrial calcium was near control levels [0.64(0.42) mmol·kg−1 dw]. Junctional sarcoplasmic reticular calcium significantly increased [6.56(0.59) to 18.53(1.64) mmol·kg−1 dw in control and reperfused cells, respectively, P < 0.05], while calcium had not changed significantly in T tubule lumen or “3rd compartment”, composed of sarcoplasmic reticulum, T tubules, and free sarcoplasm. “3rd compartment” and junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum results suggest that sarcolemma bound calcium had decreased. Conclusions: Surviving myocytes had no change in total calcium, but showed a large degree of calcium redistribution. Mitochondria accumulated calcium during ischaemia, but released it upon reperfusion. Sarcoplasmic reticulum in reperfused cells appeared functional and may have helped maintain physiological [Ca2+]; by storing calcium released from mitochondria and the sarcolemma. Mitochondrial and sarcolemmal damage are proposed as critical factors in reperfusion injury.
Experience with epigastric free flap transfer in the rat: Technique and results

We have described the advantages and disadvantages of using the rat epigastric free flap as a means of studying transplantation phenomena. The study comprises 20 epigastric free flap autografts in rats. After 1 1/2 years of working on the model, we achieved a 75% success rate in the last 20 consecutive procedures. From our experience with this model, we feel that the rat epigastric flap has a place in the study of transplantation phenomena in the experimental laboratory. In addition, we feel that this is an excellent technical exercise for maintaining proficiency in performing microvascular anastomoses.
Fast track triggering for the CDF II Detector

In the upcoming Fermilab Tevatron collider run, collisions will occur at 132 ns intervals, and the CDF II trigger system requires that information about drift chamber tracks be provided within 2.2 μs of every collision, so that tracking information can be used in conjunction with data from other detector components to trigger on physics objects with little background. We have developed a fast online track processor for locating high-momentum tracks in the chamber. The design is highly parallel, and is implemented in programmable logic devices. We describe the design of the system and performance tests.
Effect of a third component on the interactions in a binary mixture determined from the fluctuation theory of solutions

The Kirkwood–Buff (KB) theory of solution is applied to a ternary mixture by deriving explicit expressions for the various Kirkwood–Buff integrals (KBIs) and the corresponding excesses of the number of molecules around central ones. However, the ideal solution should be considered non-aggregated, and the above expressions for the excesses provide non-zero values for such a case. For this reason, in order to obtain information about clustering one must subtract from the traditional excesses those which correspond to a reference state, thus ensuring that for an ideal mixture the excesses are zero. The expressions derived for the latter excesses have been applied to the investigation of the N,N-dimethylformamide–methanol–water mixture, to conclude that: (i) in the vicinity of the water molecules there are excesses of water and N,N-dimethylformamide molecules and a deficit of methanol molecules; (ii) in the vicinity of the methanol molecules there are excesses of methanol and N,N-dimethylformamide molecules and a deficit of water molecules; (iii) in the vicinity of the N,N-dimethylformamide molecules there are excesses of methanol and water molecules and a deficit of N,N-dimethylformamide molecules; (iiii) the excesses of N,N-dimethylformamide around water and methanol molecules and those around N,N-dimethylformamide are weakly dependent on the concentration of the third component in a large range of concentrations of the latter, and these results are compatible with the existence of N,N-dimethylformamide–water and N,N-dimethylformamide–alcohol complexes.
Why the cortical magnification factor in rhesus can not be isotropic.

Abstract Using the data of Hubel and Wiesel (1974) J. comp. Neurol.158, 295–306, on macaque, the shape of the operculum of striate cortex (area 17) is calculated from their magnification factor values assuming that the cortical magnification factor is locally isotropic with respect to displacement on the cortical surface (from a fixed point of origin). Using geometric considerations, the shape predicted from the isotropic assumption is inconsistent with the actual shape given by anatomical reconstruction by LeVay, Hubel and Wiesel (1975) J. comp. Neurol.159, 559–576. Rather the true shape is more consistent with the hypothesis that on the average the magnification factor along a meridian is twice the value as orthogonal to it. Except in the region of the horizontal meridian, this is often the same as assuming that the magnification factor across ocular dominance columns is twice that going parallel to them.
Influence of Flow and Temperature on Survival of Wild Subyearling Fall Chinook Salmon in the Snake River

Abstract Summer flow augmentation to increase the survival of wild subyearling fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha is implemented annually to mitigate for the development of the hydropower system in the Snake River basin, but the efficacy of this practice has been disputed. We studied some of the factors affecting survival of wild subyearling fall chinook salmon from capture, tagging, and release in the free-flowing Snake River to the tailrace of the first dam encountered by smolts en route to the sea. We then assessed the effects of summer flow augmentation on survival to the tailrace of this dam. We tagged and released 5,030 wild juvenile fall chinook salmon in the free-flowing Snake River from 1998 to 2000. We separated these tagged fish into four sequential within-year release groups termed cohorts (N = 12). Survival probability estimates (mean ± SE) to the tailrace of the dam for the 12 cohorts when summer flow augmentation was implemented ranged from 36% ± 4% to 88% ± 5%. We fit an ordinary...
Kim Chi-Ha's Han Anthropology and Its Challenge to Catholic Thought

The Korean anthropology of han remains an untapped resource for envisioning Roman Catholic soteriologies within a globalizing context. Han refers to the deep wounds of the violated that are imbued with energy that will cause either creation or destruction. One means by which Catholic theologians can engage han is through the writings of Korean poet Kim Chi-Ha (b. 1941). Kim's works, Groundless Rumors: The Story of a Sound, Torture Road—1974, and Chang Il-Dam, provide evocative and challenging images of han and how God works for the salvation of both sinned-against and sinner in this world. Kim's artistic rendering of han in his works challenges Catholic soteriology to attend as thoroughly to salvation for the “sinned-against” as to salvation for sinners.
Lymphatic filariasis: new insights and prospects for control.

Although lymphatic filariasis remains among the major causes of disability among the tropical infectious diseases, dramatic advances have been made in the approach to its diagnosis, epidemiology and treatment, in our understanding of the molecular composition of the parasites that cause these infections, and in the factors underlying the pathology seen. Superimposing the tools of modern epidemiology, immunology, and molecular biology on field-based clinical trials has allowed the emergence of the concept of elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Much of the important new research emphasizes parasite development in the context of the host response, the importance of both the adult worm and other factors in the pathogenesis of lymphatic filarial disease, the role the Wolbachia endosymbiont holds as both a target for drug treatment and in inducing post-treatment reactions, and the various principles underlying the implementation of control programs. Curr Opin Infect Dis 14:539‐546. # 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
The role of histidyl residues in zinc-induced precipitation of α2-macroglobulin-proteinase complexes

Abstract When α2-macroglobulin (α2M) is reacted with proteinases including trypsin, plasmin, α-thrombin, or with CH3NH2, each resultingα2M derivative is precipitated by Zn2+ in a similar manner. By contrast, unreacted α2M is not precipitated over the same Zn2+ concentration range. Zn2+-induced precipitation of α2M-CH3NH2 or α2M-trypsin is prevented by acylation of the protein employing the histidine-specific reagent diethylpyrocarbonate (DEP). The Zn2+-induced precipitation of α2M-trypsin is prevented by acylation of the preformed α2M-trypsin complex or by the reaction of acylated native α2M with trypsin. Acylation of α2M by treatment with DEP results in the modification of 13.5 histidyl residues per subunit of either native α2M or α2M-CH3NH2. Subsequent treatment with hydroxylamine reverses the modification of 10.5 histidyl residues per subunit in each protein preparation. These results indicate that histidyl residues are involved in the Zn2+-induced precipitation of α2M-proteinase or α2M-CH3NH2 complexes, and that these residues are accessible to extensive protein-metal interactions only after α2M has undergone a major conformational change. These appear to be the same histidyl residues which, upon acylation by DEP, are responsible for recognition of α2M-proteinase complexes by the acyl-low-density-lipoprotein cell surface receptor ( S. V. Pizzo, P. A. Roche, S. R. Feldman, and S. L. Gonias (1986) Biochem. J.238, 217–225).
A Wind Tunnel for an Undergraduate Laboratory

The design and construction of a wind tunnel suitable for use in an undergraduate laboratory are described. The wind tunnel has proved to be an economical addition to a course on meteorological instrumentation, and a similar design would be useful in instruction in many fields of engineering and science, as it provides valuable ‘hands on’ experience to complement theoretical coursework. In our experience at Saint Cloud State University, student attitudes to use of the wind tunnel facility have been very positive.
Prospective, longitudinal study of plastic bronchitis cast pathology and responsiveness to tissue plasminogen activator.

Plastic bronchitis (PB) is a rare disease that often occurs in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) who have undergone staged single-ventricle palliation. It is characterized by the formation of rubbery “casts” in the airways. PB treatment frequently includes inhaled tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). However, the efficacy of tPA to reduce cast burden is unknown. This is further complicated by our lack of knowledge of cast composition. We obtained spontaneously expectorated PB casts from children (n = 4) with CHD and one adult patient with idiopathic PB. Pathological assessment was made from paraffin-preserved samples. Casts were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or tPA. Cast response to tPA was assessed by changes in cast weight and the production of fibrin d-dimer. Independent of dose, tPA reduced cast weight compared with PBS-treatment (P = 0.001) and increased d-dimer levels. Histological staining showed that PB casts from all patients were composed of fibrin and contained notable numbers of lymphocytes. Cast composition did not change over time. Collectively, these data support that in our PB patients, casts are composed of fibrin and are responsive to tPA treatment. This makes inhaled tPA a potentially viable option for symptomatic relief of PB while we work to unravel the complexity of PB pathogenesis.
Dynamics of dissolved organic nitrogen in subalpine Castle Lake, California

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations were measured in meso-oligotrophic Castle Lake, California during the ice-free season in 1982, 1983 and 1984. No consistent relationships were found between DON and particulate-N, primary productivity rates or chlorophyll concentrations. However, increases in DON concentrations were observed in the early growing season of 1982 and 1984 when water temperature was rising and a diatom bloom was senescing. DON increased at a high rate (0.31 mg atom N m−3 day−1), and then rapidly disappeared. Sediment released appared to be the most important source of DON. Dissolved free amino acids were always less than 7.5% of the DON pool, and did not vary in the composition of specific amino acids during the growing season.
Walter Moyle's Machiavellianism, declared and otherwise, in An Essay upon the Constitution of the Roman Government

Walter Moyle's work, An Essay upon the Constitution of the Roman Government, is much more Machiavellian than it initially announces itself to be. Informed by James Harrington's and Niccolo Machiavelli's earlier commentaries on Rome, Moyle readily embraces that on which both of his predecessors agree—the desirability of a republic that seeks armed increase. Harrington, though, explicitly disagrees with Machiavelli's embrace of a tumultuous republic that seeks a return to its beginning through fostering fear. In contrast to Machiavelli, Harrington looks to economic and institutional arrangements that will render a republic so serene and stable that he claims immortality for it. Although initially Moyle forthrightly endorses Harrington's analysis, he ultimately relies on the harshest teachings of Machiavelli to maintain a republic, a reliance which finds him endorsing the distinctively Machiavellian directives to suspect, accuse, and punish its leaders in such a way as to return the republic to its beginning...
A review of coal pillar strength formulas

A Review of Coal Pillar Strength Formulas Since 1900 a number of investigators have studied the problem of predicting the strength of coal mine pillars on the basis of compression tests performed on small samples. From these studies, a number of quite different formulas relating compressive strength and sample size and shape factors have been proposed. This abundance of formulas describing the same basic phenomena has been one reason for their lack of acceptance in design. In this paper it is shown that the two predictive equations given below can be used to describe a majority of the experimental data very well. Compressive strength-size relationship $$\begin{gathered} \sigma _c = \frac{k}{{\sqrt H }} H \leqslant 36 ins. \hfill \\ \sigma _c = \frac{k}{{\sqrt {36} }} H > 36 ins. \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Compressive strength-shape relationship $$\sigma _p /\sigma _c = 0.778 + 0.222 W/H$$ whereσ c = cube compressive strength (psi) σ p = prism compressive strength (psi) k = constant for each coal W = width of the sample (ins) H = height of the sample (ins)
Medical Education in the Anatomical Sciences: The Winds of Change Continue to Blow.

At most institutions, education in the anatomical sciences has undergone several changes over the last decade. To identify the changes that have occurred in gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy, neuroscience/neuroanatomy, and embryology courses, directors of these courses were asked to respond to a survey with questions pertaining to total course hours, hours of lecture, and hours of laboratory, whether the course was part of an integrated program or existed as a stand-alone course, and what type of laboratory experience occurred in the course. These data were compared to data obtained from a similar survey in 2002. Comparison between the data sets suggests several key points some of which include: decreased total hours in gross anatomy and neuroscience/neuroanatomy courses, increased use of virtual microscopy in microscopic anatomy courses, and decreased laboratory hours in embryology courses.
A novel device to monitor small changes in underwater distances

Abstract. This study describes a technique to record small (1 cm) distance changes or movements occurring in seawater using a simple electronic circuit and miniature ball electrodes. This low-cost technique was designed to directly measure such changes in a broad range of experiments involving small marine invertebrates while minimizing the mechanical loading of the structures of interest. The circuit detects and amplifies small changes in the resistance of seawater between two electrodes as the distance between them varies; these are then converted to voltage changes. After calibrating the output of the device with known distance measurements, it was evaluated using a test organism by monitoring and recording the body flushing behavior of the sea squirt, Styela plicata. Electrodes were sewn to the tunic at the base of the atrial siphon and changes in its diameter were recorded >24-h periods. Using ∼3-cm-tall sea squirts, the distance between the electrodes expanded and contracted with a range of 5.5 mm during rhythmic flushings. Flushes occurred on average every 4.1 min and showed a rapid initial contraction, followed by a slower expansion while refilling. Attaching electrodes to the tunic had little mechanical or behavioral effect; the untouched control specimen had similar flushing rates. The movement monitor circuit is stable, sensitive, and performed well in full-strength seawater experiments where good spatial and high temporal resolution, low inertial loading, and low noise were required. The technique, as shown here, can be used to record a wide range of animal movements and further suggested modifications of the circuit may suit a broad range of other experimental situations.
Iron complexes of dioxoborolanylbutadienes

Abstract The first [2,3-dialkyl-1,4-bis(1,3-dioxo-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-borolanyl]-1,3-butadiene]Fe(CO)3 complexes (2, alkyl=n-butyl; 3, alkyl=cyclopentyl; 4, ‘alkyl’=phenyl; 5, alkyl=3-chloropropyl) have been prepared from the reaction of bis(cis-cyclooctadiene)Fe(CO)3 (1) with the borolanylbutadienes. The X-ray crystal structures of 2 and 3 are reported. The geometries of the coordinated ligands are compared with those of the free ligands.
A Novel Approach for Distribution of Reacting Gases With Enhanced Mass Transfer in Fuel Cells

In order to improve the power output of a fuel cell, a novel approach for gas delivery and mass transfer enhancement in a gas distributor is proposed. A model analyzing the power output against the dimensions of a novel gas delivery channel and current collector is also presented. Experimental study for some proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells and numerical analysis for a planar type solid oxide fuel cell are carried out. Significant improvement of power output was obtained for the newly designed fuel cells compared to conventional ones. Both the experimental results and modeling analysis are of great significance to the design of fuel cells.© 2004 ASME
Cloud and aerosol products at NOAA/NESDIS

Global observations of cloud and aerosol properties from satellites are needed to understand the role of these atmospheric constituents in climate change, e.g. their radiative forcing and feedback effects and trends in their optical and physical characteristics. NOAA/NESDIS has developed remote sensing techniques as a means of providing these global measurements. As a by-product of our atmospheric sounding programs, TOVS and VAS infrared window and CO2 absorption band measurements are used to determine an “effective” cloud amount and cloud top pressure. Cloud liquid water content is being derived from DMSP/SSMT data. AVHRR data are used to derive total cloud amount. AVHRR data are also used to estimate aerosol optical thickness over the oceans. A brief description of the retrieval methods and their verification will be given, as well as several examples of these products.
Exploring computerized mammographic reporting with feedback

Computer-aided diagnosis is generally dependent on feature detection and identification on digitized images. In this project, we explored the use of a computerized system in which features identified by radiologists for a previous set of mammography cases, in addition to other information on those cases, formed a database of information that provided readers of new cases with statistical probabilities (feedback) for malignancy in similarly rated cases. Although in this preliminary study the feedback system did not improve levels of diagnostic accuracy (which were already high), the results suggest that in certain settings and with certain mammography readers the method may be extremely promising.
Tinkering Towards Socially Just Teaching: Moving from Critical Theory to Practice

This article narrates the experience of one middle‐school English teacher as she comes to learn about and practise critical literacy. This research documents some of the challenges associated with integrating this innovative practice in today's US classrooms. Furthermore, the author raises questions about how teacher educators can provide realistic portraits of critical literacy for their students to encourage future teachers to embrace rather than abandon this socially just practice.
Ocular manifestations of immunologic and rheumatologic inflammatory disorders.

Exciting new discoveries into the pathophysiological mechanisms of immunologic and inflammatory ocular disease continue. The genetic locus for susceptibility to Behcet's disease and Sjogrens syndrome has been further characterized. Important guidelines for serial slit-lamp examinations for the early detection of iridocyclitis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is suggested. In ocular allergy, further investigation of the interaction between mast cell and eosinophil sheds more light on the pathophysiological mechanism of vernal keratoconjunctivitis and vernal corneal ulcers. Unusual manifestations of Behcet's disease, sarcoidosis, scleritis, and Wegener's granulomatosis are reported. A possible pathophysiological mechanism for lacrimal gland destruction in Sjogrens syndrome is presented.
Indications for breast conservation in early stage breast cancer.

Breast conservation, utilizing limited excisional breast surgery and axillary lymph-adenectomy followed by radiation therapy can achieve excellent local I regional control and survival in many breast cancer patients. With average sized tumors, where larger volume resections are performed the results can equal that of the modified radical mastectomy. However, smaller tumors do very well with breast removal so it is a challenge to demonstrate that the long-term results of breast conservation in earlier stage disease are equivalent to mastectomy. Small or occult tumors do not always indicate localized disease and suitability for breast conservation depends on a combination of factors: tumor size and ratio of tumor to breast volume, cell type, location of tumor, obtaining clear margins, the mammography picture, multicentricity, and the probability of axillary lymph node involvement. It is important to select patients for conservation where an equivalent survival can be expected. Recurrence in the radiated bre...
Hidden Markov models-based 3D MRI brain segmentation

Abstract This paper introduces a 3D MRI segmentation algorithm based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). The mathematical models for the HMM that forms the basis of the segmentation algorithm for both the continuous and discrete cases are developed and contrasted with Hidden Markov Random Field in terms of complexity and extensibility to larger fields. The presented algorithm clearly demonstrates the capacity of HMM to tackle multi-dimensional classification problems. The HMM-based segmentation algorithm was evaluated through application to simulated brain images from the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University as well as real brain images from the Internet Brain Segmentation Repository (IBSR), Harvard University. The HMM model exhibited high accuracy in segmenting the simulated brain data and an even higher accuracy when compared to other techniques applied to the IBSR 3D MRI data sets. The achieved accuracy of the segmentation results is attributed to the HMM foundation and the utilization of the 3D model of the data. The IBSR 3D MRI data sets encompass various levels of difficulty and artifacts that were chosen to pose a wide range of challenges, which required handling of sudden intensity variations and the need for global intensity level correction and 3D anisotropic filtering. During segmentation, each class of MR tissue was assigned to a separate HMM and all of the models were trained using the discriminative MCE training algorithm. The results were numerically assessed and compared to those reported using other techniques applied to the same data sets, including manual segmentations establishing the ground truth for real MR brain data. The results obtained using the HMM-based algorithm were the closest to the manual segmentation ground truth in terms of an objective measure of overlap compared to other methods.
Subjectivity Word Sense Disambiguation

This paper investigates a new task, subjectivity word sense disambiguation (SWSD), which is to automatically determine which word instances in a corpus are being used with subjective senses, and which are being used with objective senses. We provide empirical evidence that SWSD is more feasible than full word sense disambiguation, and that it can be exploited to improve the performance of contextual subjectivity and sentiment analysis systems.
Photochemical Identification of Transmembrane Segment IVS6 as the Binding Region of Semotiadil, a New Modulator for the L-type Voltage-dependent Ca2+ Channel

Abstract To identify the binding domain of a new Ca2+ antagonist semotiadil on L-type Ca2+channels from skeletal muscle, photolabeling was carried out by using an azidophenyl derivative of [3H]semotiadil. Photoincorporation was observed in several polypeptides of membrane triad preparations; the only specific photoincorporation was in the α1 subunit of the Ca2+ channel. After solubilization and purification, the photolabeled α1subunit was subjected to proteolytic and CNBr cleavage followed by antibody mapping. Specific labeling was associated solely with the region of transmembrane segment S6 in repeat IV. Quantitative immunoprecipitation was found in the tryptic and the Lys-C/Glu-C fragments of 6.6 and 6.1 kDa, respectively. Further CNBr cleavage of the Lys-C digests produced two smaller fragments of 3.4 and 1.8 kDa that were included in the tryptic and Lys-C/Glu-C fragments. The smallest labeled fragments were: Tyr1350-Met1366 and Leu1367-Met1381 containing IVS6, a possible pore-forming region. The data suggest that semotiadil binds to a region that is overlapped with but not identical to those for phenylalkylamines, dihydropyridines and benzothiazepines. The present study also provides evidence that region IV represents an important component of a binding pocket for Ca2+ antagonists.
BAND STRUCTURE OF NON-IDEAL SEMICONDUCTOR SUPERLATTICES

An ideal superlattice is an array of two (or more) alternating layers of materials with a single period, fixed barrier height and infinitely abrupt interfaces. A real superlattice differs from an ideal one in many aspects and this affects the band structure. They include unsharp interfaces, interface disorder, small fluctuations in thicknesses of quantum wells (barriers) and in the potential barrier heights from layer to layer. The band structure of superlattices in these realistic cases have been investigated. The relevance of these non-ideal cases to the shifting of the ground-state energy of the electrons, holes, and the effective energy gap are also discussed.
Pasteurella haemolytica Ultraviolet-Irradiated Vaccine by Parenteral and Aerosol Routes Compared in the Goat Model

Positive control 1 (PC1) (n = 9) goats were injected transthoracically into the left lung with live Pasteurella haemolytica biovar A, serovar 1 (PhA1) in polyacrylate (PA) beads on days 0 and 21. Positive control 2 (PC2) (n = 6) goats were nebulized with live PhA1 and PA beads on days 0 and 21. Negative control (NC) goats (n = 6) were each injected transthoracically into the left lung with PA beads alone on days 0 and 21. Four groups (n = 6) were administered PA beads mixed with ultraviolet (UV) killed PhA1 on days 0 and 21. The treatment doses of bacteria for these groups were principal group 1 (PR1) injected into the left lung (7.7 × 1010 cfu); PR2, 7.7 × 1010 UV-killed PhA1 injected subcutaneously (SC); PR3, 7.7 × 1010 UV-killed PhA1 injected SC only on day 21; PR4, nebulized with PA beads mixed with 5.6 × 1010 cfu of UV-killed PhA1; and PR5, nebulized with PA beads mixed with 5 × 108 cfu of UV-killed PhA1. All goats were challenged transthoracically in the right lung with 1 × 108 cfu of live PhA1 on day 42 and necropsied on day 46. The sizes of consolidated lung lesions at the challenge site were used as a measure of immunity. The data show that the introduction of live PhA1 into the lungs of goats, either by injection or aerosolization, offers excellent protection against a subsequent homologous challenge. The data also demonstrate that two transthoracic injections (21 days apart) of UV-killed PhA1 (PR1), and subcutaneous injection of UV-killed PhA1(PR2) also offer excellent protection against a subsequent homologous live PhA1 challenge. One SC injection of UV-killed PhA1 (PR3) appears to offer only partial protection against a subsequent homologous live PhA1 challenge. Inhalation of UV-killed PhA1 mixed with PA beads (PR4 and PR5) induced no protection in goats against a subsequent live PhA1 transthoracic challenge.
Sputtering yields calculations of thin gold films bombarded with 175 keV argon ions — effects of surface binding and displacement threshold energies

Abstract EVOLVE simulation results of sputtering processes of Au films with 175 keV Ar ions are compared to available experimental results. Thicknesses of Au films are 23, 99 and 192 nm, which are small, comparable and large, respectively, compared to the range of Ar ions. As a result of dose-dependent analysis of Au films, a good agreement has been found if the displacement threshold energy of Au is assumed to be 12 eV. Reducing the surface binding energy of Au from 3.8 to 1.9 or even to 0.0 eV does not increase the sputtering yield as the elemental sputtering yield formula predicts. In fact, it has no significant effect at all on the sputtering yield if the elemental value, e.g. 36 eV, is used for the displacement threshold energy of Au. On the other hand, reducing the displacement threshold energy from 36 to 12 eV increases the sputtering yield by more than a factor of 2. The sputtering yield is expressed and discussed in terms of parametric relationships of the surface binding energy, displacement threshold energy, the film thickness and the fluence.