cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The strength and rheology of commercial tungsten carbide cermets used in high-pressure apparatus

Uniaxial compressive stress-strain curves have been measured on a suite of 26 commercial grades of tungsten carbide cermets and three maraging steels of interest for use in high-pressure apparatus. Tests were conducted on cylindrical specimens with a length to diameter ratio of two. Load was applied to the specimens by tungsten carbide anvils padded by extrudable lead disks. Interference fit binding rings of maraging steel were pressed on to the ends of the specimens to inhibit premature corner fractures. Bonded resistance strain gages were used to measure both axial and tangential strains. Deformation was exremely uniform in the central, gauged portion of the specimens. Tests were conducted at a constant engineering strain rate of 1 × 10−5 S−l. The composition of the specimens was principally WC/Co with minor amounts of other carbides in some cases. The Co weight fraction ranged from 2 to 15%. Observed compressive strengths ranged from about 4 to just above 8 GPa. Axial strain amplitude at failure varied from ∼ 1.5% to ∼9%. Representative stress-strain curves and a ranking of the grades in terms of yield strength and strain at failure are presented. A power law strain hardening relation and the Ramberg-Osgood stress-strain equation were fit to the data. Fits were very good for both functions to axial strain amplitudes of about 2%. The failure of these established functions is accompanied by an abrupt change in the trend of volumetric strain consistent with the onset of substantial microcrack volume.
The influence of acid precipitation and ozone on nitrogen nutrition of young loblolly pine

Field grown loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings from two half-sibling families were exposed, to three levels of acid precipitation and four levels of O3 in open top chambers at Auburn, AL. At the end of one growing season, dry weight and total N accumulation of seedlings was directly related to rainfall acidity, possibly indicating a fertilizer response in the N deficient soil. Increasing O3 levels elicited an increase in N content of permanent tissues that was not related to a dry weight response. The origin of this N was believed to be increased internal translocation associated with enhanced premature needle senescence observed at higher O3 levels.
Marked Reduction in Internal Atrial Defibrillation Thresholds With Dual-Current Pathways and Sequential Shocks in Humans

Background —This study tested the ability of sequential shocks delivered through dual-current pathways to lower the atrial defibrillation threshold (ADFT) compared with a biphasic shock through a standard single-current pathway. Methods and Results —Electrodes were positioned in the right atrial appendage (RA), left subclavian vein (LSV), proximal coronary sinus (CSos), and distal coronary sinus (DCS) in 14 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (170±185 days). Using a step-up protocol, we compared ADFTs for a single-current pathway (RA→DCS) that used a single 7.5/2.5-ms biphasic shock from a 150-μF capacitor with those for a dual-current pathway system (RA→DCS followed by CSos→LSV) using sequential 7.5/2.5-ms biphasic shocks with capacitor discharge waveforms for 150-μF and 600-μF capacitors. Both dual-current pathway configurations (2.0±0.4 J for 150-μF capacitance, 2.4±0.5 J for 600-μF capacitance) had a significantly lower ADFT than the single-current pathway (5.1±1.8 J). Whereas the dual-current pathway with 150-μF capacitor shocks had a significantly lower energy threshold, there was no statistical difference in terms of leading-edge voltage compared with the dual-current pathway with 600-μF capacitance shocks. There were no ventricular arrhythmias induced with appropriately synchronized shocks. Conclusions —For internal atrial defibrillation in humans, sequential biphasic waveforms delivered over dual-current pathways resulted in a markedly reduced (>50% reduction) ADFT compared with a single shock over a single-current pathway.
Electrolytic Concentration of the Heavy Hydrogen Isotope

MESSRS. R. P. BELL and J. H. Wolfenden1 have recently given their experience in concentrating the hydrogen isotope, namely, that nickel, platinum and copper are about equally efficient as cathodes, and in general the efficiency is surprisingly insensitive to the conditions of electrolysis. Broadly speaking, this is also the conclusion we have reached in a study of the electrolytic separation. There are, however, real differences between different metallic cathodes.
Introduction: Balancing Stability and Change in Management Education and Resource Reviewers

An introduction is presented about the books being reviewed in the June 2007 issue of the Academy of Management Learning and Education.
Efficacy of disopyramide phosphate in the treatment of refractory ventricular tachycardia.

The effects of intravenously administered disopyramide phosphate were evaluated in seven patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia. All patients had organic heart disease, including acute infarction (three patients), chronic coronary artery disease (two patients) and cardiomyopathy (two patients). The severity of the heart disease was reflected in the advanced patient age (average 64 years) and the occurrence before disopyramide therapy of cardiac arrest in five patients and congestive heart failure in all seven patients In five patients, disopyramide was given as a bolus injection, 2 mg/kg body weight, followed by an infusion of 20 to 40 mg/hour. The final two patients received 4 mg/kg divided as a bolus injection and an infusion over 1 hour followed by a 0.4 mg/kg infusion during the next hour. Intravenous administration of disopyramide resulted in more effective electrical stability in all patients and completely eliminated ventricular tachycardia in six. Recurrence of ventricular tachycardia was prevented in six patients with subsequent long-term oral administration of disopyramide. Possible dose-related cardiac pump depression occurred in two patients, but disopyramide was otherwise well tolerated. Therefore, these data document the therapeutic efficacy of disopyramide in the treatment of refractory life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Are the budgets of state and local governments destabilizing? A six country comparison

Abstract This study uses estimates of the annual impact of changes in state and local government budgets during the period 1955–1965 for six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These, in turn, are compared with the GNP growth rate in order to evaluate the contribution to short-run stabilization. The conclusions are that the year-to-year impact of the state and local sector was substantially smaller than that of the central government; and this is true for countries like Germany and the United States, which have large state-local sectors, as well as for countries like Belgium and France, where the state-local sector is quite small. Also, the impact tends not to vary over the cycle as much as that of central government. Germany was the country where budgetary change made the largest contribution to economic stability, but the effects in all other countries except Belgium were also positive (albeit to a much smaller degree).
Intranasal corticosteroids topical characteristics: side effects, formulation, and volume.

BackgroundGuidelines from throughout the world recommend intranasal corticosteroids (INSs) as first-line treatment for most patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. In general, limited c...
Molecular cloning of an atypical voltage-gated sodium channel expressed in human heart and uterus: evidence for a distinct gene family.

Abstract Previously cloned voltage-dependent sodium channels exhibit a high degree of homology to one another and appear to comprise a single multigene family. We have now isolated and characterized cDNAs from both human adult heart and fetal skeletal muscle that encode a sodium channel alpha subunit that exhibits only moderate primary structure identity with other sodium channels and is prominently expressed in both heart and uterus. The approximately 7.2-kilobase cDNA sequence, designated hNav2.1, predicts a 1682-amino acid protein that bears 52%, 49%, and 46% overall identity with sodium channels cloned from rat brain, skeletal muscle, and heart, respectively. Positively charged S4 segments are present in hNav2.1, but there are fewer basic residues in repeat domains 1, 3, and 4 than in other cloned sodium channels. The cloning of hNav2.1 provides evidence for greater evolutionary divergence among voltage-dependent sodium channels and suggests that other sodium channel gene subfamilies may exist. The unique amino acid sequences in regions known to be involved in voltage-dependent activation and inactivation suggest that hNav2.1 will have novel gating properties.
Weight loss in Parkinson's disease

We prospectively examined the changes of body weight among 468 individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) before and after the diagnosis. The average weight of PD patients was stable until shortly before the diagnosis (p for trend = 0.2) and then declined (p for trend < 0.0001). Interestingly, PD patients tended to increase their energy intakes as their weights decreased (p for trend < 0.002). In conclusion, weight loss in PD patients appears to be a continuous process that starts several years before the diagnosis and is not caused by reduced energy intake.
Intergenerational Religious Dynamics and Adolescent Delinquency

Integrating theories about religious influence, religious homogamy, and delinquency, this study examines religion's potential for both reducing and facilitating adolescent delinquency. Analyses of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health show that the more religious mothers and their adolescent children are, the less often the children are delinquent; however, the effect of one's religiosity depends on the other. When either a mother or child is very religious and the other is not, the child's delinquency increases. Thus, religion can be cohesive when shared among family members, but when unshared, higher adolescent delinquency results. These findings shed light on how family religious dynamics shape well-beingand more generally emphasize that the influence of religiosity depends on the social context in which it is experienced.
Adaptive Sampling with the Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter. Part II: Field Program Implementation

The practical application of the ensemble transform Kalman filter (ET KF), used in recent Winter Storm Reconnaissance (WSR) programs by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), is described. The ET KF assesses the value of targeted observations taken at future times in improving forecasts for preselected critical events. It is based on a serial assimilation framework that makes it an order of magnitude faster than its predecessor, the ensemble transform technique. The speed of the ET KF enabled several different forecast scenarios to be assessed for targeting during recent WSR programs. Each potential observational network is broken down into idealized routine and adaptive components. The adaptive component represents a predesigned flight track along which GPS dropwindsondes are released. For a large number of flight tracks, the ET KF estimates the forecast error reducing effects of these observations (via the ‘‘signal variance’’). The track that maximizes the average forecast signal variance within a selected verification region is deemed optimal for targeting. Secondary flight tracks can also be chosen using serial assimilation, by calculating the signal variance for each flight track given that the primary track had already been selected. For the second consecutive year the ET KF was able to estimate, via a statistical rescaling, the variance of NCEP signal realizations produced by the dropwindsonde data. A monotonic increasing relationship between the ET KF signal variance and the reduction in NCEP forecast error variance due to the targeted observations was then deduced for the operational 2001 WSR program.
Jane Ellen Harrison : By myth begotten

Mary Beard, The Invention of Jane Harrison. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 2000, xiii+229 pp., $35.00, £23.50, ISBN 0 674 00212 1.
Adsorption and Laser-Induced Thermal Desorption of 1,3-Butadiene on HOPG(0001)

The adsorption and UV photochemistry of 1,3-butadiene (CH 2 =CHCH=CH 2 ) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG(0001)) was studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Butadiene physisorbs on HOPG with the monolayer exhibiting first-order desorption kinetics and a corresponding desorption energy of 32 kJ/mol. The multilayer exhibits zero order desorption kinetics with a desorption energy of 28.5 kJ/mol. Irradiation of the C 4 H 6 /HOPG(0001) adlayer (one and three monolayers (ML) of C 4 H 6 ) with UV photons at 193, 248, and 351 nm and fluences of up to 100 mJ/cm 2 _ pulse resulted in molecular photodesorption. Photodesorption was described by a laser-induced thermal desorption process as supported by simple calculations of the surface temperature rise. The photoprocesses occurring in both 1 and 3 ML C 4 H 6 adlayers on HOPG(0001) were also investigated at incident powers of ≤ 10 mJ/cm 2 _pulse. Under these conditions, there was no detectable photodesorption or condensed phase photochemistry at any of the wavelengths investigated.
Repellency of Naturally Occurring Volatile Alcohols to Fungus Gnat Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila (Diptera: Sciaridae) Adults Under Laboratory Conditions

ABSTRACT This study, conducted under laboratory conditions, was designed to determine the repellent activity of 10 naturally occurring volatile alcohol constituents against adults of the fungus gnat, Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila (Lintner) (Diptera: Sciaridae). The essential oil constituents were octanoic acid, furfural, acetophenone, benzaldehyde, dimethoxybenzene, borneol, menthol, 1-octen-3-ol, and 7-hydroxycitronellol, and α-terpineol. α-Terpineol, octanoic acid and furfural were tested at several concentrations, whereas the remaining seven were tested at only one concentration. The essential oil constituents' menthol, 1-octen-3-ol, and borneol displayed the most repellent activity. The mean percentage of fungus gnat adults recovered from the test compound petri dishes associated with the three essential oil constituents was between 6 and 15% compared with between 36 and 50% for the petri dishes with distilled water. The mean ± SEM number of fungus gnat adults present in the sample compartments associat...
Fibrillogenesis of huntingtin and other glutamine containing proteins.

This chapter focuses on the aggregation of glutamine containing peptides and proteins with an emphasis on huntingtin protein, whose aggregation leads to the development of Huntington’s disease. The kinetics that leads to the formation of amyloids, the structure of aggregates of various types and the morphological mechanical properties of amyloid fibrils are described. The kinetics of amyloid fibril formation has been proposed to follow a nucleation dependent polymerization model, dependent upon the size of the nucleus. This model and the effect of the polyglutamine length on the nucleus size are reviewed. Aggregate structure is characterized at two different levels. The atomic-scale resolution structure of fibrillar and crystalline aggregates of polyglutamine containing proteins and peptides was determined by X-ray crystallography and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The chapter outlines the results obtained by both these techniques. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was instrumental in elucidating the morphology of fibrils, their organization and assembly. The chapter also discusses the high stability of amyloid fibrils, including their mechanical properties as revealed by AFM.
Evaluation of Public Health Nursing Home Visits to Pregnant Women on WIC

Selected pregnant women participating in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) were receiving public health nursing (PHN) home visiting services. The purposes of this study were to describe PHN services provided to pregnant women on WIC; and to compare birth outcomes and prenatal care (PNC) utilization between two groups, women with WIC services only and women with WIC plus PHN services. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the sample consisted of all women on WIC (N = 398) at the Madison Department of Health who delivered singleton births during 1991, divided into the WIC-only group (n = 301) and the WIC + PHN group (n = 97). Three instruments were used for data collection: birth certificates, the WIC record, and the antepartal nursing record. Data were described; differences between groups were tested. Primary PHN activities included: assessment of physical and behavioral indicators, parenting skills, and support systems; teaching about nutrition, use of drugs, danger signs, labor signs, and stress management; and referrals to a variety of community resources. No difference in adequacy of PNC or in birth outcomes was found between the two groups. Findings have been used to plan the agency's future PNC coordination services.
Expert agreement and content based reranking in a meta search environment using Mearf

Recent increase in the number of search engines on the Web and the availability of meta search engines that can query multiple search engines makes it important to find effective methods for combining results coming from different sources. In this paper we introduce novel methods for reranking in a meta search environment based on expert agreement and contents of the snippets. We also introduce an objective way of evaluating different methods for ranking search results that is based upon implicit user judgements. We incorporated our methods and two variations of commonly used merging methods in our meta search engine, Mearf, and carried out an experimental study using logs accumulated over a period of twelve months. Our experiments show that the choice of the method used for merging the output produced by different search engines plays a significant role in the overall quality of the search results. In almost all cases examined, results produced by some of the new methods introduced were consistently better than the ones produced by traditional methods commonly used in various meta search engines. These observations suggest that the proposed methods can offer a relatively inexpensive way of improving the meta search experience over existing methods.
TOWARD A CLASSIFICATION OF ALMOST HOMOGENEOUS MANIFOLDS II — BAD MODELS

In this paper, we continue to deal with singular extremal rays with a Gm x SL (2, C) action which we started in [9] (see also [6]). We shall classify all Gm x SL(2, C) actions in [10] and state our results in Sec. 5 of this paper (see also [6]). Our idea is that once we have a singular extremal ray we can obtain enough information on the whole manifold which eventually leads to a classification. In this paper we concentrate on the most difficult case (5b) in the Proposition 4. For this reason we leave the proofs of Theorem 1 and Lemma 3 to [10]. But we give the proof of Theorem 3 for intuition of the whole process. Section 4 is the core of this paper where we construct the House Models and solve the (5b) case of Proposition 4 (Theorem 6). Once again (other than the proof of the Theorem 1 in [9]) we use non-algebraic argument for Theorem 3, a method we used very often and successfully. We also find in Sec. 4 of this paper that minimal projective 3-fold house models can have an arbitrary large second Betti number. Their effective curve cones are fully understood. The last section contains a criterion for projectivity which is very useful in our situations, and I cannot find it in the literature (Theorem 8). Most of this work was finished in Fall 1991. The original work was written in one paper as in [6 Chap. 1], but we now separate it into [9, 10] and this paper to make it more readable.
An Assessment of Visibility at the Entrance of a Long Vehicular Tunnel

A field study is described which employs a multi-faceted approach to assess the nature and impact of the visibility problems encountered when entering long vehicular tunnels. The methods employed were photometric and performance studies of visibility, a survey of tunnel users, examination of available accident records, and an analysis of traffic flow. Analysis of the northern entrance of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia revealed that a reduction in speed of vehicles entering the tunnel was attributable in part to reduced visibility into the tunnel and in part to factors relating to the geometry of the approach. It is suggested that the procedures used could be profitably employed at other tunnel facilities.
Marsh-pond-marsh constructed wetland design analysis for swine lagoon wastewater treatment

Constructed wetlands have been identified as a potentially important component of animal wastewater treatment systems. Continuous marsh constructed wetlands have been shown to be effective in treating swine lagoon effluent and reducing the land needed for terminal application. Constructed wetlands have also been used widely in polishing wastewater from municipal systems. Constructed wetland design for animal wastewater treatment has largely been based on that of municipal systems. The objective of this research was to determine if a marsh-pond-marsh wetland system could be described using existing design approaches used for constructed wetland design. The marsh-pond-marsh wetlands investigated in this study were constructed in 1995 at the North Carolina AT however, they were not as effective in the treatment of phosphorus (8%). Outflow concentrations were reasonably correlated (r 2 ≥ 0.86 and r 2 ≥ 0.83, respectively) to inflow concentrations and hydraulic loading rates for both total N and ammonia-N. The calculated first-order plug-flow kinetics model rate constants ( K20) for total N and ammoniaN (3.7–4.5 m/day and 4.2–4.5 m/day, respectively) were considerably lower than those reported in the limited literature and currently recommended for use in constructed wetland design for animal wastewater treatment. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Mice expressing the α1B‐adrenergic receptor induces a synucleinopathy with excessive tyrosine nitration but decreased phosphorylation

We had previously reported that systemic overexpression of the alpha(1B)-adrenergic receptor (AR) in a transgenic mouse induced a neurodegenerative disease that resembled the parkinsonian-like syndrome called multiple system atrophy (MSA). We now report that our mouse model has cytoplasmic inclusion bodies that colocalize with oligodendrocytes and neurons, are positive for alpha-synuclein and ubiquitin, and therefore may be classified as a synucleinopathy. Alpha-synuclein monomers as well as multimers were present in brain extracts from both normal and transgenic mice. However, similar to human MSA and other synucleinopathies, transgenic mice showed an increase in abnormal aggregated forms of alpha-synuclein, which also increased its nitrated content with age. However, the same extracts displayed decreased phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein. Other traits particular to MSA such as Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum and degeneration of the intermediolateral cell columns of the spinal cord also exist in our mouse model but differences still exist between them. Interestingly, long-term therapy with the alpha(1)-AR antagonist, terazosin, resulted in protection against the symptomatic as well as the neurodegeneration and alpha-synuclein inclusion body formation, suggesting that signaling of the alpha(1B)-AR is the cause of the pathology. We conclude that overexpression of the alpha(1B)-AR can cause a synucleinopathy similar to other parkinsonian syndromes.
Effects of the Five-Step Strategy with Videotape Modeling on Performance of the Tennis Serve:

This study was designed to compare two methods of instructing Singer's Five-step Strategy and their effect on the learning and performance of a tennis serve. 63 university students classified as recreational tennis players were stratified by sex and then randomly assigned to one of three groups: Five-step Strategy with videotaped modeling, audiotape Five-step Strategy plus written transcript, or no strategy. Players performed seven blocks of 10 service attempts per block of serves. Points accumulated with each service attempt as well as the number of errors were the dependent measures. Separate 2-way analyses of variance were conducted for each phase of the study. No significant pretreatment differences were noted among groups. Further, all groups improved significantly across time on both dependent measures and maintained this improved performance on a subsequent retention test.
Spatiality of sound and stream segregation in twentieth century instrumental music

Let us imagine a situation: a listener seated in a concert hall witnesses a performance by a trumpet player (standing on the stage) of a sequence of four quarter-notes, with the pitches of Bf3–A3–C4–B3. The listener chooses to ignore the immediate physical surroundings and hears one of the following: (i) four trumpet sounds equally spaced in time, (ii) a sequence of intervals – minor second, minor third, minor second, (iii) an instance of set 4-1, (iv) a motive referring to the name of BACH. The `web of interpretants' (term from Nattiez 1987/1990) surrounding a simple musical fact is already quite dense, even though we have only considered its aspects relating to pitch, pitch class and pitch notation (representation by letters). What if the performer's gestures, the facial expressions, the direction of the bell of the instrument became important? Might one say, then, that the music has become theatre?
Synthetic aortas for systemic simulators

The in vitro viscoelastic properties of the human aorta were characterized by subjecting excised aortas of different ages to various mechanical testing procedures. A complete characterization of the properties of the human aorta was necessary in order to find a comparable synthetic material for use in a systemic simulator. Several synthetic materials were tested. One silicone rubber system had properties closely approximating those of the human aorta.
Predation behaviors of Franklinothrips orizabensis (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) towards Scirtothrips perseae and Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The foraging behaviors of predatory female Franklinothrips orizabensis Johansen towards Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara and Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouch e in avocado leaf arenas were videotaped and analyzed. F. orizabensis encountered and attacked more second instar S. perseae with 80% ðn ¼ 113Þ attacks on this life stage being observed compared to 20% on first instars ðn ¼ 28Þ when equal numbers of these prey were presented simultaneously. However, there was no significance difference by life stage for the probability of being attacked after being encountered. Successful attacks by F. orizabensis only occurred against propupal H. haemorrhoidalis ðn ¼ 6Þ that lacked protective fecal droplets, 65% of prey encounters were with this life stage, and 6% of encounters with propupae resulted in attacks. Second instar H. haemorrhoidalis larvae bearing protective droplets were encountered less frequently and were not attacked when contacted even though equal numbers of both stages were presented simultaneously. Consequently, the mean proportion of the time spent grooming by F. orizanbensis females attacking immature H. haemorrhoidalis was four times greater than that for females attacking S. perseae larvae even though there was no significant difference in mean time (s) spent in each grooming bout. Significant differences in mean consumption times by F. orizabensis existed across life stages and prey species. Consumption times were shortest for first instar S. perseae larvae, intermediate for second instars, and longest for H. haemorrhoidalis propupae. Mean consumption times for sequentially attacked second instar S. perseae declined significantly indicating satiation of predators. Predators would spend on average approximately 7–13 s probing leaves with mouthparts and feeding on fluids; a behavior that on average occupied 2–5% of their time. This result may explain observed mortality of F. orizabensis in the laboratory and field when this predator forages on avocado leaves that have been treated with insecticides that exhibit translaminar activity. 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
An interactive expert system for daylighting design exploration

Abstract Architects increasingly use digital tools during the design process, particularly as they approach such complex problems as designing for successful daylighting performance. However, while simulation tools may provide the designer with valuable information, they do not necessarily guide the user toward design changes which will improve performance. This paper proposes an interactive, goal-based expert system for daylighting design, intended for use during the early design phases. The expert system consists of two major components: a daylighting knowledge-base which contains information regarding the effects of a variety of design conditions on resultant daylighting performance, and a fuzzy rule-based decision-making logic which is used to determine those design changes most likely to improve performance for a given design. The system gives the user the ability to input an initial model and a set of daylighting performance goals in the form of illuminance and daylighting-specific glare metrics. The system acts as a “virtual daylighting consultant,” guiding the user toward improved performance while maintaining the integrity of the original design and of the design process itself. Two sets of case studies are presented: first, a comparison of the expert system results to high performing benchmark designs generated with a genetic algorithm; and second, an evaluation of the expert system performance based on varying levels of esthetic constraints. The results of these case studies indicate that the expert system is successful at finding designs with improved performance for a variety of initial geometries and daylighting performance goals.
The pancreas in human type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is considered a disorder whose pathogenesis is autoimmune in origin, a notion drawn in large part from studies of human pancreata performed as far back as the 1960s. While studies of the genetics, epidemiology, and peripheral immunity in T1D have been subject to widespread analysis over the ensuing decades, efforts to understand the disorder through analysis of human pancreata have been far more limited. We have reviewed the published literature pertaining to the pathology of the human pancreas throughout all stages in the natural history of T1D. This effort uncovered a series of findings that challenge many dogmas ascribed to T1D and revealed data suggesting the marked heterogeneity in terms of its pathology. An improved understanding and appreciation for pancreatic pathology in T1D could lead to improved disease classification, an understanding of why the disorder occurs, and better therapies for disease prevention and management.
The Relevance of National Identity Narratives in Shaping Foreign Policy The Case of India–Pakistan Relations

This article explores the following question: are India’s relations with Pakistan more confrontational and less cooperative when the political elite constituting the government espouses religious–c...
Estimation of tissue volume irradiated by intracavitary implants.

Abstract Purpose : The volume of space enclosed by a specified isodose surface arising from an intracavitary implant may correlate with clinical outcome. Several investigators have proposed using the product of the three maximum orthogonal dimensions of the isodose surface as a measure of this volume. We have examined the accuracy of this proposal and compared it to a simpler model for estimating volume which requires only knowledge of the mgRaEq-hrs (total reference air kerma) and the dose level. Methods and Materials : Orthogonal films from 204 intracavitary implants of 128 patients with carcinoma of the cervix were used to reconstruct the 137Cs-source coordinates. The source location, strength and duration data were used to calculate dose-volume histograms, yielding the volume enclosed by each dose level as well as its orthogonal dimensions: thickness, width, and height. Using bony landmarks to align films for different insertions in the same patient, similar calculations were repeated for composite implant source coordinates. Results : Curve-fitting techniques revealed that the volume encompassed by each isodose level could be predicted by a modified power-law function of the mgRaEq-hr/dose ratio: predicted volume = [104.8 − 8.103 · ( M D ) + 0.437 · ( M D ) 2 ] · ( M D ) 1.635 where M D = mgRaEq-hr/cGy . The volume predicted by this simple model is accurate within ± 10% in 95% of the implants when mgRaEq-hr/cGy = 0.8. Accuracy increases with increasing mgRaEq-hr/cGy. In contrast, the ratio, product of orthogonal dimensions/actual volume, varies widely from implant-to-implant, as well as differing systematically from one implant type to another. Investigation of the individual orthogonal dimensions demonstrated that width and height, but not thickness, were moderately well correlated with corresponding maximum implant dimensions. However, in all cases the dimensions were more sensitive to changes in mgRaEq-hr/cGy than to changes in implant geometry. Conclusions : The product of the orthogonal dimensions is an unsatisfactory estimator of the actual irradiated volume encompassed by an isodose surface. Isodose surface volumes can be accurately estimated knowing only mgRaEq-hr. Prescribing intracavitary brachytherapy by mgRaEq-hr, or its derivative, total reference air kerma, is equivalent to requiring that an isodose surface encompass a specified volume which does not depend on the implant geometry. Constraining the mgRaEq-hr delivered therefore serves to limit the volume of tissue irradiated to high doses.
Growth of Microcrystalline Silicon in Ultrathin Layers

We report recent studies of the crystallization of ultrathin (< 10 nm ) amorphous silicon layers clad by silicon dioxide. We observe changes in Raman scattering spectra which indicate that nanocrystalline silicon layers formed by crystallization of amorphous silicon continue to evolve structurally with further annealing. There is evidence for significant strain in crystallized material.
Stabilization of a Steer-by-Wire Vehicle at the Limits of Handling Using Feedback Linearization

As a vehicle approaches the limits of handling (the operating region defined by the peak lateral tire force), the vehicle response may be oscillatory or unstable. This paper develops a control system to allow the driver to approach the limits of handling safely. The control algorithm uses a new method that applies recent advances in vehicle sensing to estimate tire cornering stiffness and coefficient of friction in real-time. The controller employs state feedback linearization to cancel nonlinearities in the system using steer-by-wire steering inputs. Once the lateral force surpasses a threshold value, the driver steering input is saturated to keep the vehicle in the linearizable handling region and to alert the driver of approaching limits. Simulation results and preliminary experimental work performed on a steer-by-wire research vehicle demonstrate the potential benefits of this control system.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The primes of our times? An examination of the ‘power’ of visual images

Claims by political and news elites about the influence of visual images are far more common than actual evidence of such effects. This research attempts to gain insight into the ‘power’ of visual ...
Blind equalization using lattice filters

A method of accelerating the speed of convergence of a blind equalization algorithm is examined. It is shown that as in conventional equalizers the orthogonalizing properties of lattice algorithms make them appear attractive in blind equalization of a channel. Experiments show that the introduction of a stochastic gradient lattice structure in the generalized Sato algorithm results in an increase of convergence rate by an order of magnitude. >
Vorinostat Enhances Cytotoxicity of SN-38 and Temozolomide in Ewing Sarcoma Cells and Activates STAT3/AKT/MAPK Pathways

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have been evaluated in patients with Ewing sarcoma (EWS) but demonstrated limited activity. To better understand the potential for HDACi in EWS, we evaluated the combination of the HDACi vorinostat, with DNA damaging agents SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan and topoisomerase 1 inhibitor) plus the alkylating agent temozolomide (ST). Drugs were evaluated in sequential and simultaneous combinations in two EWS cell lines. Results demonstrate that cell viability, DNA damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production are dependent on the sequence of drug administration. Enhanced cytotoxicity is exhibited in vitro in EWS cell lines treated with ST administered before vorinostat, which was modestly higher than concomitant treatment and superior to vorinostat administered before ST. Drug combinations downregulate cyclin D1 to induce G0/G1 arrest and promote apoptosis by cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. When ST is administered before or concomitantly with vorinostat there is activation of STAT3, MAPK and the p53 pathway. In contrast, when vorinostat is administered before ST, there is DNA repair, increased AKT phosphorylation and reduced H2B acetylation. Inhibition of AKT using the small molecule inhibitor MK-2206 did not restore H2B acetylation. Combining ST with the dual ALK and IGF-1R inhibitor, AZD3463 simultaneously inhibited STAT3 and AKT to enhance the cytotoxic effects of ST and further reduce cell growth suggesting that STAT3 and AKT activation were in part mediated by ALK and IGF-1R signaling. In summary, potent antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity were demonstrated for ST induced DNA damage before or simultaneous with HDAC inhibition and cell death was mediated through the p53 pathway. These observations may aid in designing new protocols for treating pediatric patients with high-risk EWS.
Mechanisms and Potential Therapies for Acquired Resistance to Inhibitors Targeting the Raf or MEK Kinases in Cancer

Aberrant activation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway often occurs in human cancer through the acquisition of oncogenic mutations in key pathway components. In particular, Ras mutations are found in about 20 % of human cancers, and B-Raf mutations occur in more than half of all melanomas. Thus, this pathway has become an attractive target for cancer therapies. Inhibitors targeting either the Raf or MEK kinases have shown initial success in treating cancers that depend on the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway; unfortunately, resistance to the inhibitors eventually develops. For both sets of inhibitors, resistance most commonly occurs via reactivation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway or upregulated signaling from an alternate pathway, such as the PI3K/AKT pathway. Here, we discuss the mechanisms for acquired resistance to inhibitors targeting the Raf or MEK kinases and possible combination therapies to overcome or delay drug resistance.
New Program and Directions at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The Trade Act of 1988 created the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). In addition to explicitly defining and reconfirming the traditional measurement services, the law assigned new responsibilities to NIST to assist U.S. industry in capitalizing on new technologies developed in the U.S. scientific and technical community at a faster rate. This article decribes the new programs being established at NIST to comply with this mandate and the new organizational unit at NIST that brings together the traditional services and these new programs.
Space Shuttle and Meteroid--Tracking Supersonic Objects in the Atmosphere with Seismographs

INTRODUCTION Regional seismograph networks can sometimes be used to locate impulsive atmospheric disturbances as well as earthquakes. Atmospheric events are difficult to detect in this manner because they usually transfer little seismic energy into the ground. Also, many modern digitally recording seismograph networks may fail to record atmospheric events if stations are spaced many tens of kilometers apart, and the networks utilize an event detection algorithm tuned to record earthquakes that generate seismic waves with apparent surface velocities greater than 5 km/sec. Nevertheless, the Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network (PNSN) sometimes records more slowly propagating sonic booms caused by supersonic aircraft, particularly when the aircraft pass over regions like Mount St. Helens having closely spaced seismographs. We describe two incidents in which seismic records have been used to track a space shuttle and a meteoroid traveling at supersonic speeds in the atmosphere. REENTRY OF SPACE SHUTTLE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE The reentry...
Analysis of biaxial-fatigue damage at elevated temperatures

Two-level cumulative-damage fatigue tests were conducted on tubular 304 stainless-steel specimen under biaxial-strain conditions at elevated temperatures. Effects of temperature, biaxiality and sequence of straining were investigated.
Asymmetric Drainage in Foam Films N4.1

Drainage of circular foam films is much more rapid when the drainage is asymmetric. The same basic mechanism is responsible for asymmetric drainage of thin circular films and marginal regeneration. A linear stability analysis showed that these phenomena are caused by a hydrodynamic instability that is produced by a surface-tension-driven flow and stabilized by surface viscosity, surface diffusivity and system length scale. A criterion for the onset of this instability was derived. Experiments performed on small circular films of aqueous solutions of SDS and SDS:l-dodecanol demonstrated the strong stabilizing effect of surface viscosity. Experimental results were found to be in good agreement with the predictions of the linear stability analysis. Finite difference simulations demonstrate the validity of the linear stability analysis for when the radius of curvature of the “barrier ring” is large compared to the transverse wave length of the instability. These simulations also show the circulation cells that relax the surface tension gradient and thus accelerate the drainage of the film.
Validation of Contingency Model Leadership Training: Leader Match

The article discusses the results of a study pertaining to an evaluation of a self-paced leadership training program called Leader Match. The method of training was based on the contingency model o...
The Transfer from the Clinical to the Social and Back

The following paper serves, first, as an attempt to posit some initial parameters that may better orient an understanding of the relationship between psychoanalytic praxis and the social realm. These initial remarks are used as a starting point to consider a case where the issue of the social is brought into a psychoanalytically informed therapeutic practice. The second part of this essay focuses on a case presentation that has been published by the relational psychoanalyst, Ken Corbett, who explores family romance, the primal scene, and the difficulties of a young boy who has (the now proverbial) two mothers.
Evaluating the effectiveness of a malaria project funded by the global fund to fight malaria in the City of Baoshan,Yunnan Province

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a malaria project funded by the global fund to fight malaria in the City of Baoshan in order to provide future evidence of lasting malaria control.Methods Malaria prevalence and project implementation in the City of Baoshan were analyzed from 2003-2009.Results From 2003 to2009,there were 16 743 confirmed cases of malaria in Baoshan,accounting for 34.77% of all reported cases of infectious diseases.The reported cases of malaria consisted of 11 833 cases of vivax malaria,3 864 cases of Falciparum malaria,118 cases of mixed infection,and 928 cases that were indeterminate.There were 32 deaths in cases from 2003-2009.Through project implementation,confirmed cases of malaria decreased from 2 013 cases in 2002 to 981 cases in 2009.Cases decreased at a rate of 51.27%.The rate of malaria incidence decreased from 84.08/100,000 in 2002 to 39.51/100 000 in 2009.Incidence decreased at a rate of 53.01%.Reported cases of indigenous malaria decreased from 80 cases in 2002 to 18 cases in 2009.Indigenous cases decreased at a rate of 77.50%.Conclusion The malaria project funded by the global fund to fight malaria played a very important role in epidemic control,it improved the quality of professional staff,and it increased awareness and increased compliance among residents.
Purkinje cell intrinsic excitability increases after synaptic long term depression

Coding in cerebellar Purkinje cells not only depends on synaptic plasticity but also on their intrinsic membrane excitability. We performed whole cell patch-clamp recordings of Purkinje cells in sagittal cerebellar slices in mice. We found that inducing long-term depression (LTD) in the parallel fiber to Purkinje cell synapses results in an increase in the gain of the firing rate response. This increase in excitability is accompanied by an increase in the input resistance and a decrease in the amplitude of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel-mediated voltage sag. Application of a HCN channel blocker prevents the increase in input resistance and excitability without blocking the expression of synaptic LTD. We conclude that the induction of parallel fiber-Purkinje cell LTD is accompanied by an increase in excitability of Purkinje cells through downregulation of the HCN-mediated h current. We suggest that HCN downregulation is linked to the biochemical pathway that sustains synaptic LTD. Given the diversity of information carried by the parallel fiber system, we suggest that changes in intrinsic excitability enhance the coding capacity of the Purkinje cell to specific input sources.
Anatomical variation of the superficial preprostatic veins with respect to radical retropubic prostatectomy

AbstractThe anatomical variations of the veins within the retropubic adipose tissue anterior to the prostate in 160 patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy are described. A single midline vein was present in approximately 60% of the cases. In another 20% there was bifurcation of the single midline vein with the majority having a right or left pelvic sidewall branch. Various anomalous distributions were present in 10% of the cases and the superficial veins were completely absent in the remaining 10%.
The Success of the Battered Woman Syndrome: An Analysis of How Cultural Arguments Succeed

This paper examines how certain cultural arguments gain the authority necessary to explain the social problem of domestic violence. I begin by demonstrating the existence of competing explanations for the question of why abusive relationships continue. I find that a certain kind of explanation, multiple victimization arguments that emphasize the numerous ways battered women are victimized, are most common. Through an analysis of social science citations, news papers, and legislative and judicial decisions, I conclude that one multiple victimization argument in particular, Lenore Walker's battered woman syndrome (Walker, 1979, The Battered Woman. New York: Harper & Row; Walker, 1984, The Battered Woman Syndrome. New York: Springer), has become the most recognized explanation for why abusive relationships continue. The syndrome was best able to meet the criteria necessary for gaining cultural authority put forth by Schudson (1989, Theory and Society 18:153–180): retrievability, rhetorical force, resonance, resolution, and institutional retention. In recent years, however, this authority has been threatened as social and cultural conditions have changed, leaving competing understandings of the domestic violence issue to challenge Walker's claims.