cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eco-media Events in ChinaFrom Yellow Eco-peril to Media Materialism

This chapter explores ecomedia events such as the Kunshan and Tianjin chemical explosions in 2014–15 to offer a counter-politics to the discourse of Yellow Eco-peril, which depicts China’s environmental crisis through a racialized Eco-Otherness. Proposing a methodological shift to media materialism by turning attention to time, body, matter, and the social life of things and objects, we aim to critically reconnect China to the very systems of globalized production and consumption—the deep earth mining, the factory work, the digital consumption practices—that have propelled and intensified China’s stupendous development and its ecological challenges. Linking “old” forms of resource extraction to new lives of digital dependency, media materialism presents new critical possibilities for environmental humanities in China, across Asia, and globally.
Neutron capture cross sections of Nb 93

The radiative cross sections for neutron capture by $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ to form the ground state of $^{94}\mathrm{Nb}$ have been determined to be ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{g}=0.18(8)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{b}$ and ${I}_{g}=5.2(8)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{b}$ by an activation study of the \ensuremath{\gamma} rays emitted in the decays of $^{94}\mathrm{Nb}^{g,m}$. This determination required the correction of the total production of the ground state in neutron capture for the production through the decay of the isomer, in the process of which the cross sections of the isomer were determined to be ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{m}=0.78(9)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{b}$ and ${I}_{m}=5.6(7)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{b}$. The values of the cross sections are discussed on the basis of the resonance structure of $^{94}\mathrm{Nb}$ and also in comparison with the similar cases of neutron capture by $^{59}\mathrm{Co}$ and $^{165}\mathrm{Ho}$. Also reported are new determinations of the energies and intensities of the \ensuremath{\gamma} rays emitted in the decays of $^{94}\mathrm{Nb}^{g,m}$ and $^{92}\mathrm{Nb}^{m}$.
Composers and Performers

We take performers of classical music as producers of creative performances. We sometimes criticize a performer’s performance by saying ‘That is not what the composer wants’. The literature takes this kind of criticism, which I call ‘intentionalist criticism’, to be in tension with performers’ creativity—taking the criticism to be an attempt to restrict performers’ creativity by historical authenticity. This paper aims to construct a possible understanding of intentionalist criticisms according to which those criticisms are grounded in our respect of performers as artists. Under this understanding, the point of intentionalist criticisms is that performers, who are pursuing the aesthetic beauty of a work, can produce an aesthetically better result by being open-minded to the perspectives of the composer who is also a serious pursuer of the work’s beauty.
Rural cancer survivors’ health information needs post-treatment

Abstract Objective This study describes the most common cancer-related health information needs among rural cancer survivors and characteristics associated with reporting more information needs. Methods Rural breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors, two to five years post-diagnosis, identified from an institutional cancer registry, completed a mailed/telephone-administered survey. Respondents were asked about 23 health information needs in eight domains (tests and treatment, side effects and symptoms, health promotion, fertility, interpersonal, occupational, emotional, and insurance). Poisson regression models were used to assess relationships between number of health information needs and demographic and cancer characteristics. Results Participants (n = 170) reported an average of four health information needs, with the most common domains being: side effects and symptoms (58 %), health promotion (54 %), and tests and treatment (41 %). Participants who were younger (compared to 5-year increase, rate ratio [RR] = 1.11, 95 % CI = 1.02–1.21), ethnic minority (RR = 1.89, 95 % CI = 1.17–3.06), less educated (RR = 1.49, 95 % CI = 1.00–2.23), and financially stressed (RR = 1.87, 95 % CI = 1.25–2.81) had a greater number of information needs. Conclusions Younger, ethnic minority, less educated, and financially strained rural survivors have the greatest need for informational support. Practice Implications The provision of health information for rural cancer survivors should consider type of cancer, treatments received, and sociocultural differences to tailor information provided.
Assessing in vitro germination and seedling growth of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv KC-1 in response to polyethylene glycol-induced water stress

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a high molecular weight osmoticum, which can be used to induce water stress artificially in a nutrient medium. An experiment was conducted with four concentrations of polyethylene glycol namely 30 g/L, 60 g/L, 90 g/L with a control to study the effect of PEG on seed germination and seedling performance of tomato cv. KC-1. The experiment was laid out on a complete randomized design (CRD) with six replicates. Data was analyzed using the regression and Pearson correlation analysis. The PEG concentrations fortified to the culture media had significant negative relationships (p<0.0001) for all estimated parameters such as shoot length, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll content of the in vitro grown tomato seedlings. The MS media fortified with 0 mg/L PEG treatment (control) exhibited better seed germination percentage (87.8%) and seedling performance, while the minimum value of seed germination (21.9%) was noted under 90 g/L PEG treatment at 20 days after culture. In control PEG treatment, high values were noted for shoot length (2.88 cm), root length (1.67 cm), fresh weight (60.37 mg), dry weight (8.93 mg), chlorophyll a (1.38 mg/g), chlorophyll b (0.48 mg/g), total chlorophyll content (1.86 mg/g) after 4 weeks of culture. The decreased in seed germination and seedling growth rate probably due to lower the water potential of the culture media by supplement with the PEG into the MS medium fortified with 2 mg/L BAP. In vitro germination and seedling growth were considerably reduced on 60 g/L and 90 g/L PEG concentrations.
Luminescent hybrid biocomposite films derived from animal skin waste

Abstract The leather industry generates approximately ten million tons of solid bio-wastes that can be used to synthesize various multifunctional materials with exciting properties. One such approach involves developing advanced hybrid materials, which is considered one of the key areas but the underdeveloped materials science discipline. This work explored methods to use collagen derived from leather industry bio-wastes to form hybrid films via two different ways: to produce luminescent carbon dots (Cdots) and develop hybrid films. The polymeric collagen was mixed with Cdots and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to create flexible composite films that exhibit improved thermal, mechanical, electrical, and luminescent properties. The Cdot films displayed enhanced luminescence. The Kubelka-Munk transformation of the diffuse reflectance reveals a massive increase in absorbance in the visible light region with the addition of rGO. Besides, the developed films displayed electrical conductivity and weak ferromagnetic characteristics and showed enhanced biocompatibility. These findings highlight new avenues for converting industrial bio-wastes into useful multifunctional materials in scalable and inexpensive ways, thereby diminishing environmental pollution and enhancing environmental sustainability.
An Input-Series Output-Parallel Modular Three-Phase AC–AC Capacitive-Link Power Converter

Modular converters with stackable cells are widely used in high-power applications, where the voltages and/or currents are beyond the ratings of the commercially available switches. Majority of existing modular converter topologies are based on dc-link converters that require several electrolytic capacitors with large capacitances, which reduce the lifetime of the power converter and increase size and volume. This article proposes an input-series output-parallel modular three-phase ac–ac universal power converter, which is formed by three identical and stackable capacitive-link modules that do not require electrolytic capacitors for power conversion. Exclusion of the electrolytic capacitors is achieved by operating the modules in discontinuous capacitor voltage mode. Each module requires two film capacitors with very small capacitances for transferring the power and provides galvanic isolation through high-frequency transformers. Utilization of film capacitors with small capacitances enhances the reliability. Furthermore, the proposed stackable capacitive-link modules enable a scalable and modular design. In this article, power cells are connected in series at the input and in parallel at the output to form a modular universal power converter that can share voltage/current among the power cells in an ac–ac power conversion system. Frequency transformation and voltage step-up/-down are among the other features of the proposed converter. The details of the operation principles along with design considerations are discussed in this article. Moreover, the proposed modular power converter with two power cells is evaluated through simulations and experiments.
Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell: by Jason L. Riley, New York, Basic Books, 2021, 270 pp.

As the title suggests, Maverick is a celebration of the contrarian output of conservative economist and public intellectual Thomas Sowell. While it is nominally a biography, author Jason L. Riley, ...
Body Composition and Strength Development

(1975). Body Composition and Strength Development. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 38-40.
Ionization and Excitation Phenomena

This chapter provides an overview of ionization and excitation. Ionization means the removal of an electron from an atom or a molecule. The minimum energy, I, required for ionization is called the ionization potential. The minimum electron energy necessary to observe a particular ion is called its appearance potential (AP). Most ionizations brought about by charged-particle impact are very fast processes governed by the Franck–Condon principle. According to this principle, the nuclear configuration of the molecule remains unchanged during fast electronic transitions. Excitation and ionization have a common origin—raising the electronic level of an atom or a molecule from its ground state to a state of higher energy via the impact of charged particles or photons. Excited states may be formed by light absorption, direct excitation by the impact of charged particles, ion neutralization, dissociation, from ionized or superexcited states, and energy transfer. Excited states formed by the absorption of light are governed by dipole selection rules that are derived from parity and spin considerations.
The thiol groups of fumarase.

Several reagents have been employed to determine the role of the thiol groups in fumarase. The nature of the reaction of these reagents indicates that the thiol groups are not associated with active site structures but are buried in a hydrophobic environment in the interior of the enzyme. Several observations are in accord with this view. The rate of reaction of the thiol groups is much slower in the native, active enzyme than in the unfolded, inactive molecule. The rate of reaction is also a function of the polarity of the thiol reagent. Uncharged aliphatic reagents react faster than more polar reagents. The rate of reaction of a series of alkyl mercury nitrates increases in proportion to the number of methylene groups in the alkyl side chain. In dilute aqueous solutions of aliphatic alcohols, the rate of reaction of p-chloromercuribenzoate with the thiol groups increases with alcohol concentration and the number of methylene groups in the alcohol. The rate of reaction of iodoacetate at pH 6.5 is minimal at 23.5° but increases at lower or higher temperatures. An increase in reactivity at low temperatures appears to occur as a consequence of a decreased strength of hydrophobic interactions at low temperatures.
Spectra of the ¼ keV X-Ray Diffuse Background from the Diffuse X-Ray Spectrometer Experiment

The Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS) flew as an attached payload on the STS-54 mission of the space shuttle Endeavour in 1993 January and obtained spectra of the soft X-ray diffuse background in the 148-284 eV (84-44 ?) band using a Bragg-crystal spectrometer. The spectra show strong emission lines, indicating that the emission is primarily thermal. Since the observations were made at low Galactic latitude, this thermal emission must arise from a nearby hot component of the interstellar medium, most likely the Local Hot Bubble, a region within ~100 pc of the Sun characterized by an absence of dense neutral gas. The DXS spectrum of the hot interstellar medium is not consistent with either collisional equilibrium models or with nonequilibrium ionization models of the X-ray emission from astrophysical plasmas. Models of X-ray emission processes appear not yet adequate for detailed interpretation of these data. The DXS data are most nearly consistent with models of thermal emission from a plasma with a temperature of 106.1 K and depletions of refractory elements magnesium, silicon, and iron to levels ~30% of solar.
Optomechanical sensing of wine-glass modes of a BAW resonator

A critical element for inertial navigation is precise knowledge of the angular kinematics which are measured using gyroscopes. Optomechanics has been shown to be the most sensitive scheme for measuring mechanical motion [1, 2]. In this paper, we demonstrate electrostatic actuation and optical sensing of orthogonal wineglass modes on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform as a fundamental building block for a Coriolis force measuring z-axis bulk acoustic wave (BAW) gyroscope [3]. To measure the wineglass modes, we monitor the laser light modulation from changes in the waveguide to ring resonator coupling due to the mechanical motion.
The clinical significance of Rh antibodies (Rh agglutinins and blocking antibodies) in the sera of Rh-negative mothers; a study of 179 cases.

Abstract A detailed analysis is presented of both the individual and collective laboratory findings in 179 pregnant Rh-negative women. The study was under-taken in order to determine the relationships which might exist between the serologic data observed in the mothers and the clinical conditions found in the infants born to them, with the ultimate purpose of presenting the obstetrician with an antepartum interpretation of the significance of the laboratory findings in Rh-negative patients. 1. 1. In order to facilitate the expression of the end results and significance of iso-immunization in pregnancy, the collective data were classified and studied according to the Rh characteristic and clinical outcome of the infant: Group I—normal Rh-negative infants; Group II—normal Rh-positive infants; Group III—Rh-positive infants with subclinical hemolytic disease of the newborn; and Group IV—Rh-positive infants with frank hemolytic disease of the newborn. 2. 2. Of 61 Rh-negative women delivered of normal Rh-negative children, 9 showed isolated low titers of Rh agglutinins ante partum. 3. 3. The isolated occurrence of Rh antibodies of low titer in Rh-negative women having Rh-positive husbands may be significant under circumstances where evidence of immunization occurs early in pregnancy or where blocking antibodies mask the Rh agglutinins. Apparently spurious positive tests for Rh antibodies may be due to the “carry-over” phenomenon or to pregnancy itself. 4. 4. Antibody formation occurred more often among multiparous than among primiparous women. Nevertheless, it is important to test Rh-negative women repeatedly for Rh antibodies, regardless of parity. The ease with which some individuals may become immunized and the fact that an opportunity for previous immunization may have been forgotten influences the results of the tests in primiparous women. 5. 5. Rh-antibody trends were determined for all women showing development of sensitization and their possible significance is shown in relation to the outcome of the child. In general, no patient demonstrating a high antepartum titer of either antibody, especially if their presence were detected early in pregnancy, was delivered of a clinically normal Rh-positive infant. 6. 6. A comparison of the occurrence of Rh agglutinin and blocking antibodies indicates that no definite cause and effect relationship between them can be inferred from our data. There appears to be an apparent reciprocity between the titer trends of these two antibodies, the significance of which is not entirely clear. The Rh agglutinin appears to be demonstrable in the maternal serum by the twentieth week ante partum. The blocking antibody follows the appearance of the Rh agglutinin and may not be present in demonstrable amounts earlier than about the tenth week ante partum. 7. 7. The hypothesis is suggested that blocking antibody may be produced, not as a defense for the mother as is Rh agglutinin, but as a protection for the erythrocytes of the fetus.
Purification and Properties of the Δ5-3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase-Isomerase System of Sheep Adrenal Cortical Microsomes

Abstract Δ5-3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and Δ5-isomerase have been extracted from exhaustively washed sheep adrenal cortical microsomes by treatment with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 and purified by ion exchange chromatography to near homogeneity. No dissociation of dehydrogenase activity on the basis of substrate specificity (3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one and 3β-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one) was observed. The purified enzymatically active material requires detergent for aqueous solubility. A mixture of [3H]-acetyl-Triton X-100 and the purified enzymatic activities is eluted as a single band on gel filtration on Bio-Gel A-0.5m; the elution volume is exactly that required for elution of [3H]acetyl-Triton X-100 alone and corresponds to that observed for globular proteins of molecular weights in the range of 300,000. The behavior of the purified material on gel filtration probably reflects interaction of the detergent with the protein, resulting in micelle formation. Sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment of the purified material followed by electrophoresis results in a single protein band with a mobility corresponding to a molecular weight of about 40,000. The protein band was eluted from the gels, and amino acid sequence determination was performed from the NH2-terminal end. Alanine was found as the sole NH2-terminal amino acid present, followed by glycine as the sole penultimate amino acid. The observation that steroid 3β-ol dehydrogenase and Δ5-isomerase copurify to a state approaching protein homogeneity as assessed by several methods suggests that the two enzymatic activities are closely associated. The results support and extend earlier observations that, in mammals, steroid 3β-ol dehydrogenation and Δ5 isomerization are closely linked, ordered reactions.
The Role of Assumptions in Statistical Decisions

In order to obtain a good decision rule for some statistical problem we start by making assumptions concerning the class of distributions, the loss function, and other data of the problem. Usually these assumptions only approximate the actual conditions, either because the latter are unknown, or in order to simplify the mathematical treatment of the problem. Hence the assumptions under which a decision rule is derived are ordinarily not satisfied in a practical situation to which the rule is applied. It is therefore of interest to investigate how the performance of a decision rule is affected when the assumptions under which it was derived are replaced by another set of assumptions.
Toward an Ontology of Film: A Phenomenological Approach

Our intention is to focus attention upon the nature of the film medium and the peculiar possibilities that it affords. We will approach the study by a double method: a phenomenological inventory, and a comparison with other cognate artforms. The comparison with other artforms, most especially painting, theater, and the novel, will show the peculiarities of film.
Localization of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase on cultured Schwann cells

Primary cultures of Schwann cells were labeled by indirect immunofluorescence using an antibody directed against 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase). Schwann cells which had been maintained in culture for 8 weeks were labeled with this antibody. Immunoblot analysis of Schwann cell homogenates revealed a single band with a molecular weight of 54,000 daltons which corresponded to a single immunoreactive polypeptide present in myelin prepared from rat sciatic nerve. The subcellular localization of CNPase was examined by fractionation of cultured Schwann cell homogenates with linear sucrose gradients. The distribution of CNPase paralleled that of 5'-nucleotidase, a putative marker for plasma membranes. These results suggest that CNPase is localized on the plasma membranes of Schwann cells and is expressed by the cells in the absence of an axonal stimulus.
Band-like transport, high electron mobility and high photoconductivity in all-inorganic nanocrystal arrays

Flexible, thin-film electronic and optoelectronic devices typically involve a trade-off between performance and fabrication cost. For example, solution-based deposition allows semiconductors to be patterned onto large-area substrates to make solar cells and displays, but the electron mobility in solution-deposited semiconductor layers is much lower than in semiconductors grown at high temperatures from the gas phase. Here, we report band-like electron transport in arrays of colloidal cadmium selenide nanocrystals capped with the molecular metal chalcogenide complex In(2)Se(4)(2-), and measure electron mobilities as high as 16 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), which is about an order of magnitude higher than in the best solution-processed organic and nanocrystal devices so far. We also use CdSe/CdS core-shell nanoparticles with In(2)Se(4)(2-) ligands to build photodetectors with normalized detectivity D* > 1 × 10(13) Jones (I Jones = 1 cm Hz(1/2) W(-1)), which is a record for II-VI nanocrystals. Our approach does not require high processing temperatures, and can be extended to different nanocrystals and inorganic surface ligands.
Developing a Parameterized Performance Proxy for Sequential Scientific Kernels

A simple, synthetic performance proxy for scientific applications is of great interest to the scientific computing community for the development of new products, procurements, and performance related questions in general. To develop such a performance proxy, we enhance the capability of the memory performance benchmark, Apex-MAP, by adding new concepts to capture the effects of computational details and programming styles. We test the fidelity of using Apex-MAP as a performance proxy with five sequential kernels on three different platforms with five inputs each. The relative performance difference between the kernels and Apex-MAP configured with corresponding parameters is generally within 10%. The quality of prediction measured by the coefficient of determination R^2 is over 98% for most cases. We also discuss experiences we gained during this study about how to improve the current version of Apex-MAP without affecting its basic concepts and designs so that it can reliably be used across platforms.
Ultralow-threshold Raman laser using a spherical dielectric microcavity

The ability to confine and store optical energy in small volumes has implications in fields ranging from cavity quantum electrodynamics to photonics. Of all cavity geometries, micrometre-sized dielectric spherical resonators are the best in terms of their ability to store energy for long periods of time within small volumes. In the sphere, light orbits near the surface, where long confinement times (high Q) effectively wrap a large interaction distance into a tiny volume. This characteristic makes such resonators uniquely suited for studies of nonlinear coupling of light with matter. Early work recognized these attributes through Raman excitation in microdroplets-but microdroplets have not been used in practical applications. Here we demonstrate a micrometre-scale, nonlinear Raman source that has a highly efficient pump-signal conversion (higher than 35%) and pump thresholds nearly 1,000 times lower than shown before. This represents a route to compact, ultralow-threshold sources for numerous wavelength bands that are usually difficult to access. Equally important, this system can provide a compact and simple building block for studying nonlinear optical effects and the quantum aspects of light.
Gender, Capitalism and Globalization:

Gendering the discourse of globalization will help to develop a better understanding of globalization processes and their consequences for women and men. I argue that gender processes and ideologie...
The location, orientation and stoichiometry of the Rieske iron-sulfur cluster in membranes from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides

Abstract Neutral and negatively charged dysprosium complexes are able to enhance the spin relaxation rate of the Rieske iron-sulfur cluster only when added from the cytochrome c 2 side of the photosynthetic membrane, indicating that the Rieske cluster is asymmetrically placed in the membrane, nearer the cytochrome c 2 side. The g z -axis of the Rieske cluster, taken to be the iron-iron axis of this binuclear cluster, lies in the membrane plane, as does the g y -axis. Appropriately, the g x -axis is orthogonal to the membrane plane. A comparison with a mammalian mitochondrial standard indicates that there are 0.65 ± 0.1 Rieske cluster per reaction center. This is in excellent agreement with previously determined estimates of the number of antimycin-binding sites, and binding sites for what is known phenomenologically as Q Z , suggesting that there is one of each per ubiquinol-cytochrome c 2 oxidoreductase.
Computer-aided design and optimization of a broadband high-frequency amplifier

This paper will describe a small-signal, wide-band, transistor model developed to design and optimize a dc-coupled monolithic broadband amplifier incorporating a final metalization masking step to obtain a maximally flat 700-MHz bandwidth response.
Receptor modeling of airborne ionic species collected in SCAQS

Abstract Source/receptor relationships for inorganic ionic species measured during the Southern California Air Quality Study of 1987 have been investigated using two receptor modeling techniques. The chemical species data were determined using ion chromatography (IC) (NO32−, SO42−, C−, SO2), colorimetry (NH3 and NH3+) and atomic absorption (AA) (PM 10 Na) on samples collected using the SCAQS samplers at three sites: Burbank, Claremont and Rubidoux. In order to compare these generally secondary particulate species with the behavior of primary particles emitted by sources in the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analytical results have been combined with the IC, colorimetry and AA results to provide the input data for principal component factor analysis. In general, there were only limited correlations between the secondary ionic species and the trace elements measured by XRF. The XRF results indicated the primary PM2.5 particles originated mainly from marine and soil sources. The factors containing the acidic species were generally separated from those of the trace elements. The acidic species data were combined with meteorological data in the form of air parcel back trajectories to produce conditional probability maps. This approach is called Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) analysis. It was found that there was generally good correspondence between the source areas identified by the PSCF maps and those provided in the emission inventory maps for NH3, SOx, and NOx.
Posterior corneal aberrations and their compensation effects on anterior corneal aberrations in keratoconic eyes.

Keratoconus is a noninflammatory corneal disorder characterized by increased anterior corneal aberrations.1,2 By masking the patient’s irregular anterior cornea with a regular spherical lens surface, rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses provide aberration correction. Reduction of higher order aberrations (HOAs) was observed in KC eyes with these lenses.3–5 However, compared to normal eyes, a relatively larger amount of HOA was still observed in KC eyes, with RGP lenses leading to worse visual performance.6,7 The measured residual aberration could be attributed to internal ocular aberrations generated by both the posterior corneal surface and crystalline lens.8–11 Assuming that there is no significant difference in the aberration of the crystalline lens between normal and KC eyes, the larger residual aberration is more likely caused by the posterior cornea. Using the back surface customized soft contact lens to neutralize KC eyes’ anterior corneal aberration, Chen et al.8 observed that the measured internal ocular aberration was mainly attributable to posterior corneal aberrations. The irregular posterior cornea in KC eyes could generate amounts of aberrations significantly larger than those in normal eyes, thus playing a major role in the internal optics aberrations. Investigating the posterior corneal aberrations provides a better understanding of the contributions of posterior aberration to the internal optical aberrations and how they differ between normal and KC eyes. It also has been reported that the internal ocular aberrations are opposite to anterior corneal aberrations, showing a compensation mechanism between the two.8,12 Since posterior corneal aberrations are the major source of internal ocular aberrations in KC eyes,8 a similar compensation effect may exist between anterior and posterior corneal aberrations. The compensation mechanism between the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces would be especially significant in KC eyes, because of the substantial increment of both anterior and posterior corneal aberrations. Despite its significance, however, there have been no studies focused on posterior corneal aberrations and its compensatory effect. In this study, we systematically investigated the amplitude and orientation of the posterior corneal aberrations in the advanced, moderate, and mild KC eyes and compared them with those in normal eyes. The posterior corneal aberration’s compensatory effects on the anterior corneal aberrations were also quantitatively assessed in KC eyes with different degrees of severity.
A thermodynamic study of enantiomeric recognition of organic ammonium cations by pyridino-18-crown-6 type ligands in methanol and a 1: 1 methanol-1,2-dichloroethane mixture at 25.0°C

LogK, ΔH, andTΔS values for interactions of (R) and (S) enantiomers of α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate (NapEt), α-phenylethylammonium perchlorate (PhEt), and the hydrogen perchlorate salt of 2-amino-2-phenylethanol (PhEtOH) with a series of chiral and achiral pyridino-18-crown-6 type ligands and 18-crown-6 (18C6) were determined from calorimetric titration data valid in methanol and in a 1: 1 (v/v) methanol-1,2-dichloroethane (MeOH-1,2-DCE) mixture at 25.0°C. In the MeOH-1,2-DCE solvent mixture, the chiral macrocyclic ligands exhibit excellent recognition for enantiomers of the three organic ammonium cations as shown by large differences in logK values (Δ logK) which range from 0.4 to 0.6 (2.5- to 4.0-fold difference in binding constants). The Δ logK values in the solvent mixture MeOH-1,2-DCE are increased by 0.1–0.5 logK units over those in absolute methanol, indicating a favorable effect of 1,2-dichloroethane on enantiomeric recognition. In 1,2-dichloroethane, however, the interactions are too strong (logK>6) to observe the degree of recognition by a direct calorimetric method. Complexation of organic ammonium cations by these macrocyclic ligands is driven by favorable enthalpy changes. The entropy changes ure unfavorable in all cases. The thermodynamic origin of enantiomeric recognition for NapEt in 1:1 (v/v) MeOH-1,2-DCE is enthalpic, but those for PhEt and PhEtOH are entropic. Effects of the ligand structure and flexibility and of the organic cation structure on recognition and complex stability are discussed on the basis of the thermodynamic quantities. Different thermodynamic behaviors of achiral 5 and 18C6 from those of chiral macrocyclic ligands indicate a difference between chiral and achiral macrocycle interactions with the chiral organic ammonium cations. The different thermodynamic behavior of NapEt enantiomers compared to those of PhEt and PhEtOH enantiomers supports the idea that the solution complex conformation of NapEt is different from those of PhEt and PhEtOH. π-π interaction is absent for the PhEt and PhEtOH complexes with diesterpyridino-18-crown-6 ligands in solution. Therefore, the higher degree of enantiomeric recognition for NapEt than for either PhEt or PhEtOH by these chiral macrocyclic ligands is a result of the presence of π-π interaction in the NapEt system.
Inhibition by aflatoxin B1 of hydrocortisone induction of rat liver tryptophan pyrrolase and tyrosine transaminase

Abstract Aflatoxin B 1 inhibited hydrocortisone induction of rat liver tryptophan pyrrolase and tyrosine transaminase when administered simultaneously with or within 2 hours after the inducer. Thereafter, the induction process was insensitive to the toxin. These responses were qualitatively similar to those caused by actinomycin D and suggest that inhibition caused by the two compounds may be effected through similar mechanisms. Injection of aflatoxin B 1 in single doses prior to hydrocortisone administration resulted in inhibition of tryptophan pyrrolase inducibility which persisted for at least 10 days at toxic dose levels (3–5 mg/kg). Under the same conditions, tryptophan-induced increases in enzyme activity were not affected by the toxin. These effects are thought to be associated with the hepatotoxicity of the compound.
Gesture recognition with low quality signal over low energy Bluetooth 4.0

Accelerometer-based gesture recognition enables natural user interaction of handheld tools with PC and other devices. Dynamic time warping (DTW) can achieve high recognition accuracy and does not require extensive training. However, for applications with noisy data and limited data bandwidth, the performance of DTW algorithm decreases significantly. We propose a new gesture recognition method that is robust to low quality signals. We introduce a simple template selection step to obtain robust templates for DTW. Our experimental results show that our algorithm achieves an average 92% classification accuracy even under noisy and low bandwidth situations.
Cytotoxicity studies on dithiocarbamate fungicides

Abstract The cytotoxicity of selected metal-containing dithiocarbamate fungicides was determined using Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) in culture. Bis(dimethylthiocarbamoyl)disulfide (thiram) and ferric dimethyldithiocarbamate (ferbam) were more toxic, having LC50 values of 5 × 10−7 and 7 × 10−7 m , respectively, whereas manganese ethylene bisdithiocarbamate (maneb) and zinc ethylene bisdithiocarbamate (zineb) were less toxic, having LC50 values of 3 × 10−6 and 6 × 10−6 m , respectively. Analysis of the data using “target theory” showed that ferbam, thiram, maneb, and zineb have a common hit number. These studies suggest that these fungicides have a common mechanism of toxicity.
The Strange Case of Emil Rupp

Physics has seldom had to deal with claims of alteration or fabrication of data, such as have troubled biological and medical research in recent years. The case of Emil Rupp in the 1930s was, however, a notable exception. The present paper revisits this case, adding in certain areas to earlier accounts of Rupp and his work. The case is not without significance, because Rupp’s publications carried considerable weight during a historically important era of 20th-century physics.
Plane wave magnetoacoustic stability of an MHD induction machine.

A theoretical investigation of stability with respect to one-dimensional magnetoacoustic waves excited from synchronous flow in a narrow-flow-gap MHD induction machine is presented. The fluid is assumed to be a compressible continuum characterized by a constant, scalar, electrical conductivity. The effects of viscosity and heat conduction are neglected. A mathematically rigorous stability criterion is developed, for large magnetic Reynolds number, in terms of bounds on an infinite determinant. More useful is an approximate parameter space stability plot valid for small Alfven Mach number M (= ratio of Alfven speed to sound speed). This plot of disturbance frequency vs M shows that, although there is no significant region of absolute stability, maximum stability for all frequencies occurs for M small. Marginal stability exists if the wavelength of the applied magnetic field is some integer multiple of the excited wavelength, and the device is most sensitive to low-frequency disturbances.
Observation of a Line in the Galactic Radio Spectrum: Radiation from Galactic Hydrogen at 1,420 Mc./sec.

In September 1951 Ewen and Purcell reported in Nature of the discovery of the hydrogen 21-cm line. In fact, they had seen the signal months before, but waited for corroboration by Dutch and Australian astronomers before publishing: Muller and Oort’s paper [Muller, C. A. & Oort, J. H. Nature 168, 357–358 (1951)] in the pages following Ewen and Purcell's report includes the text of a cable sent by Pawsey from Australia. Oort had already realized the significance of the discovery - that detection of this spectral line, produced by transitions between hyperfine levels of the ground-state hydrogen atom, would permit measurements of velocities by the Doppler effect. The 21-cm line put radioastronomy on the map, and brought about a revolution in the study of galactic structure. A Study of Recent Views of its Causes. By G. S. Carter. Pp. xv + 368. (London: Sidgwick and Jackson, Ltd., 1951.) 30s. net.
The molecular pruning of a phosphoramidate peptidomimetic inhibitor of prostate-specific membrane antigen

To identify the pharmacophore of a phosphoramidate peptidomimetic inhibitor of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a small analog library was designed and screened for inhibitory potency against PSMA. The design of the lead inhibitor was based upon N-acyl derivatives of endogenous substrate folyl-gamma-Glu and incorporates a phosphoramidate group to interact with the PSMA catalytic zinc atoms. The scope of the analog library was designed to test the importance of various functional groups to the inhibitory potency of the lead phosphoramidate. The IC(50) for the lead phosphoramidate inhibitor was 35 nM while the IC(50) values for the analog library presented a range from 0.86 nM to 4.1 microM. Computational docking, utilizing a recently solved X-ray crystal structure of the recombinant protein, along with enzyme inhibition data, was used to propose a pharmacophore model for the PSMA active site.
Expanding the Technology Acceptance Model to examine Personal Computing Technology utilization in government agencies in developing countries

Abstract This study assessed the use of “Personal Computer Technology” in public organizations of developing countries in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan [ Qazi, R. (2006). Expanding the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM): A Consideration of Personal Computer Technology Use in Public Organizations of a Developing Country of South Asia, Pakistan (Doctoral dissertation, George Washington University, 2006). Dissertation Abstracts ]. The study expanded the “Technology Acceptance Model” by adding additional external factors such as ‘Organizational Culture’ and ‘Individual Factors’ (e.g. ‘Level of Education’ and ‘Duration of Training’), and belief factors such as ‘Perceived Personal Utility.’ Financial compensation to employees was used as a control variable because preliminary data analysis showed that it explicitly differentiated results of the study between those employees who felt they were adequately rewarded (financially) and those who were not. For example, when respondents replied ‘Compensation’ was ‘Yes,’ i.e. that at least some level of direct compensation was provided for PCT utilization then a statistically significant, positive relationship between ‘Level of Education’ and ‘PCT Use’ was found. However, when respondents replied that ‘Compensation’ was ‘No,’ a statistically significant, negative relationship between ‘Level of Education’ and ‘PCT Use’ exists. Additional results of this study are presented in this article.
Analytic form for the effective Lagrangian of QED and its application to pair production and photon splitting

We derive an analytic form for the Heisenberg-Euler Lagrangian in the limit where the component of the electric field parallel to the magnetic field is small. We expand these analytic functions to all orders in the field strength (F{sub {mu}{nu}}F{sup {mu}{nu}}) in the limits of weak and strong fields, and use these functions to estimate the pair-production rate in arbitrarily strong electric fields and the photon-splitting rate in arbitrarily strong magnetic fields. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Head size correlates with IQ in a sample of Hooton’s criminal data

Abstract Data collected by Hooton (1939) on 676 inmates held at the Concord Reformatory in Massachusetts include both anthropometric measures and IQ scores. In this study a sample ( N = 238) was drawn to assess the nonparametric correlation between measures of head size and IQ. Head length ( r = .13), breadth ( r = .15), height ( r = .14), circumference ( r = .15) and calculated volume ( r = .20) correlated with IQ. Two measures of body size also correlated with IQ; height ( r = .22) and sitting height ( r = .19).
Numerical Investigation of Mesoscale Circulations over the Los Angeles Basin. Part I. A Verification Study

Abstract This paper describes some improvements to the Colorado State University mesoscale model and the evaluation of the model's accuracy in simulating airflows in the Los Angeles Basin. Model output was compared with observations taken on two meteorologically distinct days. The statistical method of Willmott was used to evaluate the predicted surface winds. The model was generally accurate in simulating the winds, but failed to replicate the observed southeasterly flow from Los Angeles into the San Fernando Valley. The simulated surface winds were snore accurate during the daytime than during the night, since the model did not reproduce the nocturnal winds' spatial variability. The model is a good predictor of mixing heights, which is an important variable in predicting pollutant concentrations, and successfully replicated observed daytime boundary layer averages of wind and potential temperature.
Boron annulation in organic synthesis. 4. Silicon effects with tetrasubstituted olefins

Abstract Selectivity for hydroboration and boron decalone annulation employing tetrasubstituted olefins is strongly influenced by allylic silicon.
Oldest Known Mylopharyngodon (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Mongolian Plateau and its Biogeographical Implications Based on Ecological Niche Modeling

ABSTRACT Mylopharyngodon wui, sp. nov., based on a completely preserved right pharyngeal bone with teeth from a middle Miocene deposit of the IVPP 346 Locality (43°24′53.4″N, 113°07′06.1″E) in the Tairum Nor area of Suniteyou Qi (Banner), Inner Mongolia, China, is described and compared with the living counterpart. It is different from the living black carp in having a generally smaller anterior angle, pharyngeal teeth a1 and a2 almost similar in size, and much rounder teeth a2 and a3. The ecological niche model of the living black carp, based on the Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Production (GARP), shows that the fossil black carp is no longer in the niche model area, indicating that the regional environment has changed greatly, and that the black carp's niche has shrunk southeastward. The niche model also confirms that the distribution of the black carp is restricted by altitude above sea level. It may be inferred that the Inner Mongolia Plateau has risen more than 1000 m since the middle Miocene if the...
The variances in histamine control skin-testing response between Asian/Pacific islanders and other racial groups

Abstract Rationale Since racial differences in skin immunology can impact histamine control skin test results, we investigated whether racial ethnicity plays a role in influencing the reaction in IgE-mediated skin testing. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review (from 1994-2003) of 2414 patients presenting at a New York City Allergy Clinic. The data included race (African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, or Caucasian), drugs used before the skin test, and skin test results, including histamine control response. These values were used to calculate mean ranks (MR) by patient characteristics, which were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test, a non-parametric comparison of independent groups. Results Histamine reactions were: 1+: 1.4%, 2+: 14.2%; 3+: 60.8%; 4+ 23.5%. African-Americans (n=1404) had significantly higher reaction (p Conclusions Asian-Americans did not have a statistically significant difference in histamine skin test control reaction, when compared with Hispanic-Americans and Caucasians. In contrast, African-Americans had a higher reaction than the other racial groups. These racial differences may be related to skin pigmentation, socio-economic factors, or genetics.
The Ibāḍī “stages of religion” re-examined: Tracing the history of the Masālik al-Dīn

With few exceptions, scholarly presentations of the Ibādī "stages of religion" (masālik al-dīn) and their corresponding Imams (i.e. imām al-zuhūr, imām al-difā c , imām al-shirā', and imām al-kitmān) propose a simplified overview of the institution that is based on post-Ibādī renaissance thought on the Imamate. This paper investigates the pre-renaissance usages of the masālik al-dīn by comparing sixth/twelfth-century Arabian and North African Ibādī texts on the subject. It demonstrates that Eastern and Western Ibādīs manipulated the concepts central to the later masālik al-dīn ideal to reflect the particular needs of each respective community. While the articulations of the masālik al-dīn differed according to region, they simultaneously utilized a similar vocabulary. This convergence implies an earlier and inherited conceptual system (most likely from the earliest Basran Ibāḍī umma) that was adapted in the medieval period to fulfil the unique needs of each community.
Herbicide toxicities in some Australian anurans and the effect of subacute dosages on temperature tolerance

Tadpoles of the anurans, Adelotus brevis, Limnodynastes peroni, and Bufo marinus were exposed to a range of concentrations of up to ten different herbicides. The Median Tolerance Limit (TL50) was calculated for each toxicant from data obtained by static bioassay. Some adult frogs (Litoria ewingi and Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) were subjected to greater concentrations of several of the toxicants. Toxicity varied greatly among the tadpoles exposed to various toxicants with fenoprop being the most toxic chemical tested, while no differences were observed in behaviour or activity between the exposed and control adult frogs. A significant reduction occurred in the thermal tolerance of one to two week old A. brevis exposed to subacute dosages of amitrole-T, picloram, and 2,2-DPA.