cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Childhood Liver Disease and Metabolic Disorders

Abstract Many of the liver biopsy problems in paediatrics are unique to childhood, including establishing the cause of neonatal jaundice, determining the presence of extrahepatic biliary atresia and diagnosing a wide variety of metabolic disorders that present with hepatosplenomegaly. The neonatal liver biopsy to exclude biliary atresia as a cause of jaundice has important histopathological features, namely portal tract oedema, ductular reaction (proliferation of bile ductular structures), inspissated bile within periportal ductular structures, and usually some degree of fibrosis. Total parenteral nutrition and α1-antitrypsin deficiency can demonstrate the identical changes, so these conditions must remain in the differential diagnosis until clinically excluded. A wide variety of storage disorders, including Gaucher’s disease, glycogen storage disorders, and Niemann–Pick disease may present in the neonate or older child, and these disorders benefit from the availability of a liver specimen fixed in glutaraldehyde for transmission electron microscopy. The knowledge base of the variety of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) conditions has now expanded beyond three types to six (if mutation of the MYO5D gene is nominally included as type 6). The added types include PFIC-4 with mutation of the tight junction protein 2 gene, resulting in diminished expression of claudin-1 on bile canaliculi, and PFIC-5 with mutation of the NR1H4 gene encoding the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), which is diminished in expression (along with bile-salt export pump) on the bile canaliculus. PFIC-6 is often associated with intestinal microvillous inclusion disease, but not always.
Effects of drip fertigation frequency and N-source on soil N2O production in almonds

Abstract Little work has been done on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from nitrogen-fertigation systems, despite the greater degrees of control allowed over fertilizer N fate. More fertigation users are adopting high-frequency (HF) N application schedules to improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce nitrate (NO3−) leaching. The possibility is raised that this practice may also lower N2O emissions, through effects on soil N concentrations and soil microbial populations. At the same time, NO3-based N-fertilizers are frequently selected for use in HF systems, where they should be more immediately available to plants than ammoniacal fertilizers. This choice of N-source is likely to affect N2O emissions. We monitored surface emissions of N2O in an almond orchard (Prunus dulcis [Mill.] DA Webb) in Belridge, California. Fertigation treatments were 4x year−1 (Standard) urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), 20x year−1 (HF) UAN and 20x year−1 (HF) CaNO3 + KNO3. Estimated surface emissions were HF UAN > Standard UAN > HF NO3, with differences only significant between the HF treatments, where HF UAN emitted 2.0 times the N2O seen from HF NO3. Net production was also monitored by depth in the soil using sampling tubes and Fickian diffusion calculations. UAN typically had highest N2O production at 10–15 cm depth, while N2O was generally reduced to N2 below 20 cm in all treatments. Differences were seen in the distribution of NH4+ and NO3− on the soil exchange complex and in soil solution, with data from 60 cm suggesting that leaching hazards could be greater from Standard UAN than from HF NO3. Multiple linear regression of N2O production with predictors had the best fit at 15 cm, where extractable NH4+, WFPS and temperature together accounted for an adjusted R2 of 0.68. Persistent soil microbial changes were seen in denitrification capacity, with HF UAN = HF NO3 > Standard UAN, while 3% O2 assays suggested high contributions of N2O from nitrifier denitrification in the fertigation context. High-frequency fertigation with ammoniacal fertilizers did not mitigate N2O emissions, but nitrate-based fertilizers did, suggesting that N sources for fertigation warrant careful study.
Beyond Integration: A Phenomenology of Faith-Informed Clinical Practice

The provision of clinical counseling within the context of a Christian worldview has profound meaning for those who seek education in Christian institutions. This phenomenology explored the essence...
The Physics of Blazar Jets

AbstractBecause blazars are characterized by beamed emission from relativistic jets aligned with our line of sight, they are ideal sources for studying jet physics. Over the past few years, multiwavelength monitoring of dozens of blazars with the Fermi gamma-ray telescope and optical-infrared telescopes has revealed a close correlation between the synchrotron and high-energy components of blazar spectral energy distributions. This strongly supports a model for the emission mechanism in which gamma-rays are produced when synchrotron-emitting electrons Compton up-scatter ambient synchrotron or thermal photons. Flat-spectrum radio quasars also have a blue, less variable component that is likely to be thermal emission from a slowly varying accretion disk, while BL Lacs have only weak or radiatively inefficient disks. The temporal symmetry of gamma-ray and optical-infrared flares implies that the variability time scales are dominated by light crossing times or the passage of a disturbance through the emission ...
Sequential therapy with the selective T-type calcium channel blocker mibefradil and temozolomide in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas: An Adult Brain Tumor Consortium phase I study (ABTC1101).

TPS2105 Background: Despite recent advances in their treatment, high-grade gliomas (HGG) carry a dismal prognosis. Treatment options at recurrence are particularly limited and a re-challenge with t...
Improving Electrical Stability and Ideality in Organic Field-Effect Transistors by the Addition of Fullerenes: Understanding the Working Mechanism

Electrical instability and nonideality due to undesirable electron injection are often-encountered problems for high-mobility organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with low-bandgap polymer semiconductors. Due to electron trapping and the resulting accumulation of negative charges on the silicon dioxide dielectric, transfer curves deviate from ideality characteristics and double-slopes are observed as the devices are operated for extended periods of time. One way to circumvent those is to use an electron-acceptor additive, such as fullerene and its derivatives. This work interprets the mechanisms of how fullerene derivatives suppress electron transport and electrical instability while maintaining high hole mobility in p-type OFETs. This study shows that hole transport of the active layer is uninterrupted upon the addition of the electron acceptors. Most importantly, the added fullerene derivatives out-compete SiO2 to acquire electrons that are injected into the polymers. Electrical instability and double-slope induced from electron trapping at SiO2 surface are thereby suppressed.
Bibliometric indices: defining academic productivity and citation rates of researchers, departments and journals

There has been an increasing focus on academic productivity for the purposes of promotion and funding within departments and institutions but also for comparison of individuals, institutions, specialties, and journals. A number of quantitative indices are used to investigate and compare academic productivity. These include various calculations attempting to analyze the number and citations of publications in order to capture both the quality and quantity of publications, such as the h index, the e index, impact factor, and Eigenfactor score. The indices have varying advantages and limitations and thus a basic knowledge is required in order to understand their potential utility within academic medicine. This article describes the various bibliometric indices and discusses recent applications of these metrics within the neurological sciences.
Which adhesive strategy for non-carious cervical lesions?

Data sourcesMedline, Scopus, Web of Science, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature database (LILACS), Brazilian Library in Dentistry (BBO), Cochrane Library, System for Information on Grey literature in Europe (SIGLE), ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Periodicos Capes Theses database, Current Controlled Trials (www.controlled-trials.com), International Clinical trials registry platform (http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/), the ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov), Rebec (www.rebec.gov.br) and EU Clinical Trials Register (https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu), abstracts of the annual conference of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and their regional divisions.Study selectionTwo reviewers selected studies; parallel or split-mouth randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing adhesive strategies were considered.Data extraction and synthesisData were abstracted by two reviewers and into four follow up periods, 1 year; 18 months to 2 years; 3 years and 4 to 5 years. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess study quality. Data outcomes were dichotomous and summarised using relative risks and random effects meta-analysis.ResultsTwenty-nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. Bonding strategy did not influence postoperative sensitivity (risk ratio [RR] 1.04; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.34) or retention rates (RR = 1.04; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.34). The etch-and-rinse approach produced less marginal discoloration at 18 months to 2 years (RR 1.51; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.90) and at 4 to 5 years (RR 1.81; 95% CI 1.28 to 2.55) (p<0.0007).ConclusionsComposite resin restorations placed with self-etch and etch-and-rinse adhesives produce restoration with similar clinical service and POS, however using etch-and-rinse adhesives one can reduce marginal discoloration.
Land suitability assessment for major crops by using GIS-based multi-criteria approach in Andit Tid watershed, Ethiopia

Land evaluation is a foundation for sustainable land resource planning and management. In Ethiopia, national economic development is highly dependent on agriculture. And, the productivity of the la...
The effects of different carrying methods on locomotion stability, gait spatio-temporal parameters and spinal stresses

Abstract Manual material handling (MMH) contributes to a large percentage of musculoskeletal disorders. One of its fundamental activities is load carrying that can be accomplished in several strategies, with each one imposing different types of stresses on the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, the first goal of this study was to determine the effect of different carrying methods on walking stability using motion capture analysis. Second, to analyze gait adaptations to stresses associated with load carrying in order to prevent falling. Third, to investigate the effect of these stresses coupled with human body adjustment on the forces at the L5/S1 disc. Thirty participants carried 10 and 30 lbs loads via frontal, lateral, bilateral, and posterior carriages. Frontal and lateral methods generated the most unstable conditions compared to the others. The unstable locomotion forced the gait parameters to be significantly altered in order to maintain stability. Additionally, the postures maintained in these conditions resulted in significantly high compression and shear forces acting at the L5/S1 disc when compared to the other carrying methods. Moreover, heavier weights exacerbated the effect on the dependent variables. Notably, bilateral and posterior carrying methods provided results comparable to the unloaded walking baseline. In conclusion, to reduce the potential risks associated with load carrying, the recommendation to split the load between both hands using bilateral carrying method or carrying it posteriorly should be taken into account while designing MMH activities.
SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE, THE LINGUIST'S POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF MODERN LIFE

ABSTRACT As organizational sub-cultures replace more traditional forms of association, organizational affiliation becomes increasingly central to the quality of life of those within them. The authors demonstrate how organizations are language-based social realities that have been largely ignored by sociolinguistic researchers. They go on to argue that linguists are potentially in a position to contribute significantly to social change and that this position brings with it added responsibility.
Pregnancy and Pain

Pain complaints occur in the majority of pregnant women. The lower back is the most common pain location during pregnancy. Compressive neuropathies occur more commonly during pregnancy because of changes in water retention, weight, and posture; they include Bell's palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and meralgia paresthetica. Premorbid headache, especially migraine, improves in the majority of women in early pregnancy. Headache does persist, however, throughout pregnancy for a significant minority of women. Persistent pain during pregnancy may require treatment with safe nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies to minimize disability and the need to self-medicate.
Systemic Inhibition of Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor with XPro1595 Exacerbates a Post-Spinal Cord Injury Depressive Phenotype in Female Rats.

Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with a three-fold risk of major depressive disorder compared with the general population. Current antidepressant therapy is often not as effective in...
Valley-contrasting orbital magnetic moment induced negative magnetoresistance

The valley-contrasting orbital magnetic moment of Bloch electrons allows the lifting of valley degeneracy by an out-of-plane magnetic field. We demonstrate that this leads to negative magnetoresistance, utilizing a gapped two-dimensional multivalley model as an example. An intuitive physical picture in terms of the increased carrier density from a magnetic gating effect is proposed for this negative magnetoresistance. In particular, giant negative magnetoresistance is achieved after one of the two valleys is depleted by the magnetic field. This mechanism of negative magnetoresistance is argued to be relevant in ionic-liquid gated gapped graphene with a small effective mass.
WHEN CARING ISN’T ENOUGH: MEETING THE NEEDS OF REFUGEE CHILDREN THROUGH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING

As the population of refugee children continues to increase in the United States, it is critical to explore the impact teaching pedagogies, particularly culturally responsive teaching, has on this unique population. Through qualitative research approaches, this study examined an urban kindergarten-first grade classroom to determine the role teacher and student behaviors played in developing or impeding the development of a culturally responsive classroom environment. The unique needs of refugee children were considered and explored through the lens of culturally responsive teaching, funds of knowledge theory, and the role of ecological development. Using observations and interviews, it was determined that while the teacher was caring and frequently met the non-academic needs of refugee students, her instructional techniques and strategies for teaching did not support the main tenets of culturally responsive teaching thus resulting in varying student academic achievement and English Language Proficiency levels.
Small business energy challenges and opportunities

Abstract Small businesses constitute a large portion of the United States economy and therefore also have a significant impact on the environment. One of the largest components of this impact, operational energy use, has been the focus of efforts to increase the energy efficiency of small businesses and thus reduce the environmental impact of these businesses. This chapter will examine the issues facing small businesses as they seek to implement these measures, including an overview of the barriers to implementation and the tools available to help businesses in the United States with energy efficiency. The chapter also includes a case study of a small business experience in planning and implementing energy efficiency measures.
Analysis of 58 cases acute biliary pancreatitis

Objective To summarize diagnosis and treatment for acute biliary pancreatitis. Methods Clinical data of 58 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among fifty eight case,49 cases were cured by nonsurgical methods, 9 patients underwent surgery, of which 3 patients underwent early operation with one death, and 6 patients who underwent delayed operation recovered. Conclusions Acute biliary pancreatitis can be treated successfully by nonsurgical methods. The timing for operation should be based on individual to reduce complications. Key words: Pancreatitis; Acute; Biliary
Design of a methanol reformer for on-board production of hydrogen as fuel for a 3 kW High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell power system

Abstract The method of Computational Fluid Dynamics is used to predict the process parameters and select the optimum operating regime of a methanol reformer for on-board production of hydrogen as fuel for a 3 kW High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell power system. The analysis uses a three reactions kinetics model for methanol steam reforming, water gas shift and methanol decomposition reactions on Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst. Numerical simulations are performed at single channel level for a range of reformer operating temperatures and values of the molar flow rate of methanol per weight of catalyst at the reformer inlet. Two operating regimes of the fuel processor are selected which offer high methanol conversion rate and high hydrogen production while simultaneously result in a small reformer size and a reformate gas composition that can be tolerated by phosphoric acid-doped high temperature membrane electrode assemblies for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Based on the results of the numerical simulations, the reactor is sized, and its design is optimized.
Average stride length and stride rate of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses during ‘Sprint’ and ‘Classic’ races

Abstract The main factors influencing speed in athletes are stride length (SL) and stride rate (SR). However, conflict remains whether SL or SR is the key determinant of higher speeds. Quarter Horses (QH) generally reach higher speeds in their races than do Thoroughbreds (TB). However, the influence of SL and SR on this greater speed is unclear. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to compare SL and SR in QH and TB raced in short (sprint) and long (classic) distances. We hypothesized that QH have a higher SR in comparison to TB, and SR decreases as distance increases. Two race distances were analyzed for each breed: QH races of 100.6 and 402.3 m, and TB races of 1,207.0 m and 2,011.7 m. Data from twenty horses were obtained, consisting of five horses from each race distance (10 QH and 10 TB). Five individuals watched recordings of each race three times counting the number of strides taken by each winning horse. The SR was calculated using the average number of strides over a given race duration, and SL was determined by calculating the total number of strides over the distance covered. Speed was calculated dividing the distance by the time of the winning horse. The PROC Mixed Procedure was used to identify statistical differences between breeds, and between distances within the same breed. Results showed that although the SL of the TB was longer in comparison with the QH (P
Sedative and Immunosuppressive Effects of Dexmedetomidine in Transplantation

Dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, is used as an anti-anxiety medication. It exerts a cholinergic effect, thereby reducing the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). We hypothesized that the use of dexmedetomidine as a sedative agent in transplantation would also protect allografts. We examined our patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation. Subsequently, we generated a series of mouse models to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on sedation-based tolerance post transplantation. A total of 49 liver recipients were enrolled in this study, of which 23 (47%) were administered dexmedetomidine through 24 h infusion on postoperative day 1. A trend toward the improvement of hepatocyte injury along with better liver function was observed in the dexmedetomidine-treated group during the first postoperative week. In animal models, dexmedetomidine inhibited the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and TNF-α production in a dose-dependent manner. We used dexmedetomidine to treat skin-transplanted mice and observed a significantly prolonged graft survival in mice that were administered a higher dose of dexmedetomidine. Our results revealed that dexmedetomidine exerts a dual effect of sedation and immunosuppression. This light-sedation approach will not only make patients calmer in the intensive care unit but also protect allografts from injury.
Safety and Clinical Value of Prophylactic Ureteral Stenting Before Cytoreductive Surgery With Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND Prophylactic ureteral stents (PUS) are typically placed prior to complex abdominal or pelvic operations at the surgeon's discretion to help facilitate detection of iatrogenic ureteral injury. However, its usefulness and safety in the setting of cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) have not been examined. This study aims to evaluate the potential clinical value and risk profile of prophylactic ureteral stent placement prior to CRS-HIPEC. METHODS We performed a single-institutional retrospective analysis of 145 patients who underwent CRS-HIPEC from 2013 to 2021. Demographic and operative characteristics were compared between patients who underwent PUS placement and those that did not. Ureteral stent-related complications were evaluated. RESULTS Of the 145 patients included in the analysis, 124 underwent PUS placement. There were no significant differences in patient demographics, medical comorbidities, or tumor characteristics. Additionally, PUS placement did not significantly increase operative time and was not associated with increased pelvic organ resection. However, patients who underwent prophylactic ureteral stenting had significantly higher peritoneal carcinomatosis index score (15.1 vs 9.1, P=.002) and increased rate of ureteral complications (24.2% vs 14.3%, P=.04), which led to lengthened hospital stay (13.2 days vs 8.1 days, P= .03). Notably, the sole ureteral injury and three cases of hydronephrosis were seen in patients who underwent PUS. CONCLUSION Prophylactic ureteral stent placement in patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC may be useful, particularly in patients with predetermined extensive pelvic disease. However, PUS placement is not without potential morbidity and should be selectively considered in patients for whom benefits outweigh the risks.
An integrated theory of corporate environmental compliance and overcompliance

Prior research on corporate environmental behavior has produced myriad factors that explain offending and overcompliance, yet the literature lacks cohesion and would benefit from disentangling corporate- and individual-level explanations. In this study, a cross-level integrated theory of corporate environmental behavior uses Gunningham et al’s. (2003) license framework and Paternoster and Simpson’s (1993; 1996) rational choice theory of corporate crime to portray how individuals within corporations decide to offend or to overcomply with environmental regulations while accounting for the organizational context. Specifically, external pressures (legal, social, and economic) on the corporation, plus internal corporate policies and culture, affect individual-level cost-benefit analyses. In turn, these cost-benefit calculations impact the behavioral decisions made by corporate managers. Four sets of hypotheses based on this integration are tested using an environmental vignette survey of individuals. The results provide mixed support for the integrated theory. It is also noted that predictors of environmental offending are different from those predicting overcompliance. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
The Role of Atomic Collisions In Fusion

Atomic physics issues have played a large role in controlled fusion research. A general discussion of the present role of atomic processes in both magnetic and inertial controlled fusion work is presented.
Escape and avoidance learning as a function of emotionality level in the wyoming ground squirrel: Citellus richardsonii elegans

Abstract An attempt was made to teach recently caught “anxious” wild rodents and thoroughly cage-conditioned subjects of the same species an avoidance response to a buzzer preceding shock. The less anxious cage-conditioned group learned the response more quickly and thoroughly than the more anxious group. Possibly this difference was, in part, due to the fact that newly caught animals tend to give the incompatible response of freezing to aversive but not actively noxious stimuli.
Non-albicans Candida Infections

There has been an increase in both the proportion as well as prevalence of non-albicans Candida species, including patients who experience breakthrough infection with non-albicans Candida strains. C. glabrata was the least common cause of bloodstream infection (BSI) in Latin America (7.5%) and the most common in Canada (20.1%) and the United States (18.3%). Understandably, local institutional antifungal pressure affects the local epidemiology of candidiasis as well as affecting antimicrobial resistance. C. guilliermondii was more frequently seen in patients with hematologic malignancies in one study. While some centers have reported an increased mortality associated with non-albicans Candida species compared to C. albicans, there is no consistent pattern. In discussing mortality, it should be emphasized that multiple host factors and treatment variables other than the virulence of the yeast strain involved can contribute to and influence mortality. Testing was always indicated for persistent and recurrent candidemia and for unique clinical scenarios, e.g., C. endocarditis, particularly with the presence of non-albicans Candida species. The explanation for this phenomenon is still incomplete but includes small numbers of patients with non-albicans Candida species infections and the impact of host factors, e.g., inconsistent catheter removal, abscess drainage, etc., diluting the importance of species differences in drug susceptibility. Individual cases have also been reported in which the reduced susceptibility or resistance of individual isolates, especially those of non-albicans Candida species, do influence clinical outcome and validate the importance of in vitro susceptibility tests.
Submillimeter-wave remote sensing spectrometers

Space borne Submillimeter-wave remote sensing spectrometers enable unique science addressing key questions regarding our Universe. Measurements from the MLS instrument have shed light on ozone chemistry. More recently, the HIFI instrument on Herschel Space Observatory has made key discoveries regarding star formation and even planetary atmospheres. This paper will discuss recent technology development efforts that will enable the next generation of submillimeter-wave spectrometers. These instruments will be compact, low power and enable multi-pixel imaging of targets.
Solar science from manned suborbital vehicles - the SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform

The SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform (SSIPP) is a protoflight system that leverages the low cost, reusability of suborbital vehicles. SSIPP enables observatory-like solar instrument development at a fraction of the cost and risk of traditional sounding rockets. It also enables solar science at important wavelengths and timescales. SSIPP Mk 1 is being developed to fit the payload space of the XCOR Lynx. It is an electrically self-contained, pilot-in-loop pointing system designed to provide sub-arcsecond pointing to remote sensing solar instruments. SSIPP is wavelength agnostic and includes a standard optical bench for rapid buildup of novel instrumentation. Assembly and testing complete, SSIPP awaits a demonstration test flight in late 2015 or early 2016. This paper will discuss SSIPP's motivation, design, current development, planned test flight, and future expansion of the instrument's technology.
Youth at risk: Adolescents and Maltreatment

Data from the National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect are used to examine the maltreatment of adolescents. The discussion considers the type of maltreatment adolescents experience and the response of service agencies. Adolescents are compared with younger children to identify differences in the form of abuse and neglect they experience and the reporting of that mistreatment. Implications of the results are noted for programs serving youth who have been abused and neglected.
Partial Purification and Characterization of Glycogen Phosphorylase from Dictyostelium discoideum

Glycogen phosphorylase was isolated from cells of Dictyostelium discoideum in the culmination stage of development and purified 35-fold. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 6.9 and contained sulfhydryl groups essential for activity. The K(m) values for phosphate and glycogen were 3 mm and 0.06% (w/v), respectively. No dependence on, or stimulation by, any nucleotide was observed and a wide variety of nucleotides and glycolytic intermediates did not inhibit the enzyme. Nucleotide sugars competitively inhibited the enzyme. Guanosine diphosphoglucose and adenosine diphosphoglucose were the most effective, and uridine diphosphoglucose was the least effective of the nucleotide sugars tested. The specific activity of glycogen phosphorylase increased from about 0.004 unit per mg of protein in aggregating cells to about 0.024 unit per mg in culminating cells, and then decreased during sorocarp formation. This increase in enzyme specific activity during the starvation and aging of the system can account for the increased rate of glycogen degradation during this period of development. Amylase specific activity, measured at pH 4.8 and 6.9, varied between 0.005 and 0.013 unit per mg of protein during all stages of development.
Alumina/Silica Multilayer Coatings for Excimer Lasers

The coating parameter that most strongly influences optical damage resistance is the choice of materials used to produce a component. During the course of testing of hundreds of ultraviolet reflectors involving 12 different material combinations, multilayer stacks of Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//SiO/sub 2/ have demonstrated a superior ability to resist laser-induced damage. Further, damage thresholds for these coatings are at least twice as high as for reflectors composed of other materials. In particular, thresholds of 6 J/cm/sup 2/ at 248 nm (15 ns) and 12 J/cm/sup 2/ at 351 nm (12 ns) have been measured. Comparative results are presented for a variety of materials at both wavelengths as are preliminary results for alumina-based antireflective coatings.
Flexible Queries in the eCommerce Shopping Mall: A Discursive Analysis

The focus of this paper is on flexibility in a “query-answering” system which includes the user who generates the queries as well as other components of the system responsible for interpreting and fulfilling the query. Furthermore, the emphasis is expanded from pure “queries” which can be satisfied by information alone to generalized queries which may be satisfied by some combination of information, services, and physical goods not initially known in detail by the user. In order to carry out these comparisons and contrasts in a manner that uncovers potentially useful implications for internet infrastructure providers, consumer oriented enterprises, and business-to-business enterprises, we will use an analytic approach based on the post-structural theories of Michel Foucault.
The Permeation of Hydrogen Isotopes Through Structural Metals at Low Pressures and Through Metals with Oxide Film Barriers

The permeation and the pressure dependence of the permeation of hydrogen isotopes through metals and oxidized metals were studied at temperatures from 300 to 800°C and at pressures of 10-3 Torr to ...
The Mg2+ requirements of nonactivated and activated rat liver phosphorylase kinase: Inhibition of the activated form by free Mg2+

Incubation of rat liver phosphorylase kinase in the presence of MgATP results in a time-dependent increase in activity, i.e., activation. Determination of the magnitude of activation depends, in large part, on the relative concentrations of Mg2+ and ATP used in the phosphorylase kinase activity assay, such that as the Mg2+ to ATP ratio increases less activation is detectable. Prior to activation, maximal activity of nonactivated phosphorylase kinase requires a 2–3 fold molar excess of Mg2+ (i.e., free Mg2+) over ATP. MgATP-dependent activation of the enzyme results in an alteration in the free Mg2+ requirement such that the activity of the activated enzyme is sharply inhibited by the free cation. Inhibition by free Mg2+ of the activated enzyme is rapidly reversed by removal of free Mg2+ but is not affected by addition of Ca2+. Both nonactivated and activated forms of enzyme appear to be inhibited by free ATP4–. The results show that the use of high concentrations of free Mg2+ in the phosphorylase kinase activity assay can blunt or completely obscure changes in enzyme activity following activation of the enzyme.
An observation-based approach towards self-managing Web servers

The Web server architectures that provide performance isolation, service differentiation, and QoS guarantees rely on external administrators to set the right parameter values for the desired performance. Due to the complexity of handling varying workloads and bottleneck resources, configuring such parameters optimally becomes a challenge. In this paper we describe an observation-based approach for self-managing Web servers that can adapt to changing workloads while maintaining the QoS requirements of different classes. In this approach, the system state is monitored continuously and parameter values of various system resources-primarily the accept queue and the CPU-are adjusted to maintain the system-wide QoS goals. We implement our techniques using the Apache Web server and the Linux operating system. We first demonstrate the need to manage different resources in the system depending on the workload characteristics. We then experimentally demonstrate that our observation-based system can adapt to workload changes by dynamically adjusting the resource shares in order to maintain the QoS goals.
Intersection Forms and the Adjunction Formula for Four-manifolds via CR Geometry

This is primarily an expository note showing that earlier work of Lai on CR geometry provides a clean interpretation, in terms of a Gauss map, for an adjunction formula for embedded surfaces in an almost complex four manifold. We will see that if F is a surface with genus g in an almost complex four-manifold M, then 2 - 2 g + F \cdot F - i^{*} c_{1}(M) - 2 F\cdot C = 0, where C is a two-cycle on M pulled back from the cycle of two planes with complex structure in a Grassmannian Gr (2, C^N) via a Gauss map and where i^{*} c_{1}(M) is the restriction of the first Chern class of M to F. The key new term of interest is F \cdot C, which will capture the points of F whose tangent planes inherit a complex structure from the almost complex structure of the ambient manifold M. These complex jump points then determine the genus of smooth representative of a homology class in H_{2}(M, Z). Further, via polarization, we can use this formula to determine the intersection form on M from knowing the nature of the complex jump points of M's surfaces.
Build your own 3D scanner: optical triangulation for beginners

Over the last decade, digital photography has entered the mainstream. Inexpensive, miniaturized cameras are now routinely included in consumer electronics. Digital projection is poised to make a similar breakthrough, with a variety of vendors offering small, low-cost projectors. As a result, active imaging is a topic of renewed interest in the computer graphics community. In particular, low-cost homemade 3D scanners are now within reach of students and hobbyists with modest budgets. This course provides beginners with the mathematics, software, and practical details they need to leverage projector-camera systems in their own 3D scanning projects. An example-driven approach is used throughout; each new concept is illustrated using a practical scanner implemented with off-the-shelf parts. The course concludes by detailing how these new approaches are used in rapid prototyping, entertainment, cultural heritage, and web-based applications.
JUVENILE ADIPOSOGENITAL DYSTROPHY. NEUROLOGIC AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGIC ASPECTS. RESULTS OF ORGANOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY1

The syndrome of adiposogenital dystrophy was established first by Babinski (2), then by Frohlich (3). Their respective cases presented obesity and genital atrophy, together with signs of an expanding lesion in the region of the pituitary fossa. Later the term came to be applied to the syndrome in general, regardless of etiology. This paper is based on the study of 16 boys, varying in ages from 4 to 14 years. None of the patients showed signs of intracranial expanding lesion, such as tumor or hydrocephalus; none was of moronic or of lower intelligence; none gave a history of encephalitis. The neurologic and psychologic problems studied would be completely altered by the presence of such grave lesions. The patients presented most of the following endocrine symptoms: adiposity, consisting of generalized fat deposits, accentuated about the lower and upper girdle, or of fat deposits only about the upper and lower girdle; genital anomalies; small penis with redundancy of the skin; undersized, often
Update on Journal Impact Ratings in Communication: 2006–2008

Bibliometric data indexed through the Institute for Scientific Information were analyzed for 45 communication journals. Several measures were included to identify the most widely cited journals in the field, including (a) journal impact factor, (b) five-year journal impact, (c) article influence, and (d) journal relatedness. Results serve to expand on findings by Feeley (2008) with respect to overall and within-field influence of communication journals whose analysis covered 2002 through 2005 and 19 journals. Results indicate stability in journal impact ratings over time and several journals (e.g., Communication Research, Human Communication Research, Journal of Communication, Communication Monographs, and Communication Theory) are highly central in the communication journal citation network.
Spatial Differences in an Integral Membrane Proteome Detected in Laser Capture Microdissected Samples

The combination of laser capture microdissection and mass spectrometry represents a powerful technology for studying spatially resolved proteomes. Moreover, the compositions of integral membrane proteomes have rarely been studied in a spatially resolved manner. In this study, ocular lens tissue was carefully dissected by laser capture microdissection and conditions for membrane protein enrichment, trypsin digestion, and mass spectrometry analysis were optimized. Proteomic analysis allowed the identification of 170 proteins, 136 of which were identified with more than one peptide match. Spatial differences in protein expression were observed between cortical and nuclear samples. In addition, the spatial distribution of post-translational modifications to lens membrane proteins, such as the lens major intrinsic protein AQP0, were investigated and regional differences were measured for AQP0 C-terminal phosphorylation and truncation.
Design and Performance of Kilo-Pixel TES Arrays for ACTPol

ACTPol, a polarization sensitive receiver for the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, is designed to make sensitive maps of the cosmic microwave background anisotropies at arcminute scales and millimeter wavelengths by employing three arrays of superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) detectors. The ACTPol TES bolometers have a target superconducting transition temperature of 150 mK and will be cooled to a bath temperature of 100 mK with a dilution refrigerator enabling increased array sensitivity. Each array will consist of ~1000 TES detectors coupled to a micromachined silicon feedhorn stack via superconducting ortho-mode transducers and transmission lines. The superconducting detectors of the first ACTPol array have been characterized in their final receiver configuration with measurements of key TES parameters including the transition temperature, saturation power, and thermal conductance.
Intrafraction geometric uncertainties in frameless image-guided radiosurgery.

Purpose Frameless radiosurgery allows the possibility of intrafraction patient movement. Because radiosurgery delivers the entire radiation dose during one or a few fractions, intrafraction misalignment can result in significant underdosage of the treatment site. This article compares alignment errors and their effect on target coverage for treatments that rely only on initial (fixed) alignment vs. those that make intrafraction corrections (dynamic alignment). Methods and Materials This study analyzed 577 records of intrafraction patient movement observed during frameless cranial and spinal radiosurgery. For each fraction, the average misalignment per fraction was calculated. Then each fraction was divided into n minifractions and margin formulae developed for hyperfractionated radiotherapy were used to estimate the planning margin that would be necessary to preserve target coverage for the observed intrafraction movement. Results Dynamic alignment reduced the number of fractions with a mean misalignment greater than 2 mm from approximately 20% to nearly zero. For fixed alignment, the estimated margins for optimal target coverage were 3.6–4.5 mm for the various treatment sites. For dynamic alignment, the optimal margins were 1.2–1.6 mm. Conclusions The estimated margins show the large influence of systematic intrafraction shifts and the capacity of dynamic alignment to correct for them. For dynamic alignment, the margin approximately equates with the traditional precision tolerances for radiosurgery, whereas for fixed alignment, the margin is three times greater. Although these margins may not be directly applicable to radiosurgery planning, they expose the effects of intrafraction motion on target coverage.
Perceived Control Influences Neural Responses to Setbacks and Promotes Persistence

How do people cope with setbacks and persist with their goals? We examine how perceiving control over setbacks alters neural processing in ways that increase persistence through adversity. For example, a student might retake a class if initial failure was due to controllable factors (e.g., studying) but give up if failure was uncontrollable (e.g., unfair exam questions). Participants persisted more when they perceived control over setbacks, and when they experienced increased negative affect to setbacks. Consistent with previous observations involving negative outcomes, ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal (VMPFC) activity was decreased in response to setbacks. Critically, these structures represented distinct neural mechanisms for persistence through adversity. Ventral striatum signal change to controllable setbacks correlated with greater persistence, whereas VMPFC signal change to uncontrollable setbacks mediated the relationship between increased negative affect and persistence. Taken together, the findings highlight how people process setbacks and adapt their behavior for future goal pursuit.
GLASS PARTICLES AND SHOCK FEATURES IN THE BUNUNU HOWARDITE

Glass particles have been separated from the Bununu howardite microbreccia and analyzed with the electron microprobe. Preliminary SEM studies of the glass reveal fragments, spherules, teardrops, and rods: particles reminiscent of glasses recovered from the lunar surface. When plotted, individual glass analyses from both the Bununu and Malvern howardites range through the howardite group and extend into the eucrite group with the average glass compositions slightly enriched in CaO and depleted in MgO when compared with the bulk chemical analyses. These glasses presumably represent quenched, impact-melted rocks, or partial melts of the major rock types and/or matrix in Bununu and Malvern. Shock-produced features which have been observed in known terrestrial and lunar impact breccias are also present in Bununu. Crystal deformation, maskeylenite and glass veining in clasts and glass spherules and shards in the matrix point to impact brecciation as the likely mechanism to form the features observed in Bununu and other howardites.
Electron transfer precedes ATP hydrolysis during nitrogenase catalysis

The biological reduction of N2 to NH3 catalyzed by Mo-dependent nitrogenase requires at least eight rounds of a complex cycle of events associated with ATP-driven electron transfer (ET) from the Fe protein to the catalytic MoFe protein, with each ET coupled to the hydrolysis of two ATP molecules. Although steps within this cycle have been studied for decades, the nature of the coupling between ATP hydrolysis and ET, in particular the order of ET and ATP hydrolysis, has been elusive. Here, we have measured first-order rate constants for each key step in the reaction sequence, including direct measurement of the ATP hydrolysis rate constant: kATP = 70 s−1, 25 °C. Comparison of the rate constants establishes that the reaction sequence involves four sequential steps: (i) conformationally gated ET (kET = 140 s−1, 25 °C), (ii) ATP hydrolysis (kATP = 70 s−1, 25 °C), (iii) Phosphate release (kPi = 16 s−1, 25 °C), and (iv) Fe protein dissociation from the MoFe protein (kdiss = 6 s−1, 25 °C). These findings allow completion of the thermodynamic cycle undergone by the Fe protein, showing that the energy of ATP binding and protein–protein association drive ET, with subsequent ATP hydrolysis and Pi release causing dissociation of the complex between the Feox(ADP)2 protein and the reduced MoFe protein.
Ultrafilters and almost disjoint sets

Abstract Let μκ denote the space of uniform ultrafilters on κ, and let λ be a cardinal. U ϵμκ is said to be a λ-point of μκ if U is a boundary point of λ pairwise disjoint open subsets of μκ. We prove that if κ is a successor cardinal, 2 κ = κ + , and Kurepa's hypothesis for κ holds, then each U ϵ μκ is a 2 κ -point of μκ.
Fractional quantum Hall effect at nu=2/3 and 3/5 in tilted magnetic fields

We report on measurements of electron transport for the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) at filling factors \ensuremath{\nu}=2/3 and 3/5, in magnetic fields ${\mathbf{B}}_{\mathit{t}}$ tilted by angles \ensuremath{\theta} with respect to the normal to the sample plane. Our device was prepared at an electron density of only 2.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{10}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$, but still exhibited a well-developed FQHE at \ensuremath{\nu}=2/3 and 3/5. This exceptionally low density allowed us to access very low total fields, where the spin is less likely to be completely polarized. For many tilt angles, we obtained gap energies \ensuremath{\Delta} from the temperature dependence of the diagonal conductivity on the FQHE minima. For both 2/3 and 3/5, plots of \ensuremath{\Delta} versus ${\mathit{B}}_{\mathit{t}}$ exhibit minima that are accompanied in transport by splitting of the FQHE. For 2/3 the minimum in \ensuremath{\Delta}(${\mathit{B}}_{\mathit{t}}$) is sharp and deep, with \ensuremath{\Delta} reduced by 70%. With ${\mathit{B}}_{\mathit{t}}$ well above its value at the minimum, \ensuremath{\Delta}(${\mathit{B}}_{\mathit{t}}$) for \ensuremath{\nu}=2/3 is linear, with slope \ensuremath{\approxeq}g${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathit{B}}$ for GaAs, indicating an increase in the two-dimensional electron-system Zeeman energy on excitation. We present a detailed survey of the evolution of the splitting of the FQHE with angle, and find that local ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{x}\mathit{x}}$ minima that are shifted up to 6% upfield of \ensuremath{\nu}=2/3 at \ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\approxeq}23\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} evolve continuously into an unsplit FQHE at \ensuremath{\nu}=2/3 at \ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\approxeq}0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The split and shifted FQHE's that we observe are interpreted as effects of phase separation associated with ground-state spin transitions.