cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Charge exchange cross sections for the Io plasma torus

An impact parameter method for calculating cross sections as a function of incident ion energy is used in conjunction with an improved exchange energy formulation to update several of the charge exchange cross sections currently used in Io plasma torus modeling. New cross sections for S(+) + S(2+) yielding S(2+) + S(+) and Na(+) on neutral targets, useful in analyzing the fast Na jets observed at Io, are also calculated.
Enhanced Bonding of Silver Nanoparticles on Oxidized TiO2(110)

The nucleation and growth of silver nanoclusters on TiO2(110) surfaces with on-top O adatoms (oxidized TiO2), surface O vacancies and H adatoms (reduced TiO2) have been studied. From the interplay of scanning tunneling microscopy/photoelectron spectroscopy experiments and density functional theory calculations, it is found that silver clusters are much more strongly bonded to oxidized TiO2(110) surfaces than to reduced TiO2(110) model supports. It is shown that electronic charge can be transferred from silver clusters to the oxidized TiO2(110) surface, as evidenced by the reappearance of the Ti3d defect state upon silver exposure. Furthermore, from both scanning tunneling microscopy data and density functional theory calculations the most favorable adsorption site of silver monomers on oxidized TiO2(110) is one that bridges between on-top O adatoms and regular surface O atoms nearby.
Recovery of information in BIBDs with interaction

Abstract Consider a Balanced Incomplete Blocks Design (BIBD) for a mixed two way model with interactions and p observations per cell. A sufficient condition is given under which recovery of interblock information is obtainable for inferences concerning treatment contrasts. The condition is considerably weaker than the previously known condition for analyzing such BIBDs given by Kapadia, Kvanli, and Lee (1988). The condition suffices to preserve the covariance structure of the observation vector when no interactions are present. The condition not only suffices to preserve the structure for BIBDs but also for any block design in which the mixed model is assumed. For the BIBD case a test for the presence of a random interaction is given. In addition, consider a K-random factor design under a mixed model which includes random interactions between blocking factors and treatments. Another set of sufficient conditions is given under which the covariance structure of the observation vector is preserved from the model with no interactions.
Wide reflective equilibrium as a method of justification in bioethics.

Carson Strong has recently argued that wide reflective equilibrium (WRE) is an unacceptable method of justification in bioethics. In its place, Strong recommends a methodology in which certain foundational moral judgments play a central role in the justification of moral beliefs, and coherence plays a limited justificatory role in that the rest of our judgments are made to cohere with these foundational judgments. In this paper, I argue that Strong’s chief criticisms of WRE are unsuccessful and that his proposed alternative is in fact just another version of WRE. In the course of doing so, I specify which theses are central to WRE and which are not, and thus, provide a response to an additional objection, advanced by Peter Singer, that WRE is vacuous. I conclude by arguing that there may be better prospects for advancing the debate regarding methodology in bioethics if we focus on restricted epistemic and methodological theses rather than broad approaches, such as WRE, that come in many different varieties.
Electrotransport of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in gadolinium

Abstract The electrotransport velocities of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen were measured in both the alpha and beta crystalline forms of gadolinium. Measurements were made at 1050, 1125, 1200 and 1265 °C. All three solutes migrated in the same direction as the electron flow but much higher mobilities were observed in the β (b.c.c.) form. Diffusion coefficients and effective valences were calculated for these elements at the same temperatures. Electrotransport was shown to be an effective method of purifying a small amount of gadolinium as indicated by resistance ratio measurements.
Intragastric Nicotine Protects Against 40% Ethanol-Induced Gastric Injury Despite Pretreatment with NG-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester or Adrenal Medullectomy in Rats

We tested the hypotheses that the protective effect of intragastric nicotine against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury is dependent on endogenous nitric oxide or peripheral sympathoadrenal mechanisms. Rats were pretreated with NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (3 mg/kg subcutaneous, 1 h prior to study) to block endogenous nitric oxide synthesis or with adrenal medullectomy (three weeks prior to study) to ablate the effect of the adrenal medulla. At 1-h intervals, vehicle or nicotine (4 mg/kg) and 40% ethanol were then given intragastrically. The total lengths of the linear gastric corpus mucosal lesions were measured unbiasedly. The protective effect of intragastric nicotine was not modified by either pretreatment. We conclude that the mechanism mediating intragastric nicotine protection against 40% ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury is independent of endogenous nitric oxide or the adrenal medulla.
Iterative helical cone-beam CT reconstruction using graphics hardware: a simulation study

This paper presents a simulation study on iterative reconstruction methods for helical cone-beam CT using graphics hardware. While analytic methods have been proposed to achieve an exact reconstruction for helical cone-beam CT, these methods may not perform well for projection noise and imaging geometry variations, especially for spiral variations. Iterative methods such as SART are advantageous in this aspect. Since SART is computationally intense, graphics hardware (GPU) may be utilized to handle the computations and increase the efficiency of SART. GPU SART reconstruction results are presented for spiral cone-beam CT, and these results are compared with the Katsevich reconstructions in presence of projection noise and spiral variations. The comparison shows that SART is accurate, efficient, and more robust to projection noise and spiral variations than the Katsevich method.
Chondrules in the Qingzhen type-3 enstatite chondrite Possible precursor components and comparison to ordinary chondrite chondrules

The mineral composition of chondrules from a fragment of Qingzhen (EH3) fall was analyzed by neutron activation method. Unlike the ordinary chondrite (OC) chondrules (Gooding and Keil, 1981), the Qingzhen radial pyroxene (RP) and porphyritic pyroxene (PP) chondrules have similar bulk compositions. Porphyritic olivine-pyroxene (POP) chondrules are richer than PP and RP chondrules in refractory lithophiles and siderophiles. Elements in each of the following sets intercorrelate significantly: (1) Fe-Co-Ni-Ir-Au, probably derived from a metal component; (2) Ca-Eu-Se, which suggests an oldhamite-rich precursor; (3) Al-Sc-Hf, occurring in high concentrations in POP chondrules, this set suggesting the existence of a refractory lithophile-rich and olivine-rich component; (4) Na REE; and (5) Cl-Br. Sets (2) and (4) were not precursors of OC. The interelement ratios of refractory lithophiles such as Ca, Al, Ti, Sc, and REE are similar to CI ratios, suggesting that they originated in the earliest phases as silicates, which were sulfurized before chondrule formation.
A Compiler for Algebraic Manipulations with Applications to Geophysics

It is often possible to carry out lengthy and tedious but otherwise routine algebra involved in geophysical calculations on a computer. The technique yields confidence in the accuracy of the analysis and allows an approach to complex algebra which permits more attention to be paid to the broad principles of the problem and less to the details.FORMAC is a recent approach to the problem of manipulation of algebraic expressions. It is a preprocessor for PL1-like input to the IBM/360. An earlier version was a preprocessor for FORTRAN-like input to the IBM/7094. The language provides a group of commands which will manipulate symbolic expressions algebraically, differentiate these expressions and execute input and output for these expressions onto printers or direct access storage.Applications are made of FORMAC to several complex algebraic expressions which arise in geophysics.
Cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent input does not require dorsal column pathways to excite C1-C3 spinal cells in rats.

Abstract Effects of electrically stimulating the left stellate ganglion to activate cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent (CPSA) fibers were determined on C 1 –C 3 dorsal horn neurons in anaesthetized rats. Fifty-two of 53 dorsal horn neurons affected by CPSA stimulation were excited and one neuron was inhibited. In 6 experiments, dorsal columns and ventrolateral funiculi were sequentially lesioned to determine neuronal pathways involved in CPSA activation of C 1 –C 3 neurons. In 6 additional experiments, spinal transection at rostral C 1 was used to determine the contribution of supraspinal relays. We concluded that CPSA input to C 1 –C 3 segments travelled bilaterally in ventrolateral pathways, and that supraspinal relays were not required for CPSA excitation of C 1 –C 3 neurons. These results suggest that neurons in C 1 –C 3 segments might play an important role in processing visceral spinal afferent information.
A preliminary comparison of different methods for observer performance estimation

In medical imaging, image quality is assessed by the degree to which a human observer can correctly perform a given diagnostic task. Therefore the image quality is typically quantified by using performance measurements from decision/detection theory like the receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under ROC curve (AUC). In this paper we compare five different AUC estimation techniques, widely used in the literature, including parametric and non-parametric methods. We compared each method by equivalence hypothesis testing using a model observer as well as data sets from a previously published human observer study. The main conclusions of this work are 1) if a small number of images are scored, one cannot tell apart different AUC estimation methods due to large variability in AUC estimates, regardless whether image scores are reported on a continuous or quantized scale. 2) If the number of scored images is large and image scores are reported on a continuous scale, all tested AUC estimation methods are statistically equivalent.
A Review of Dietary and Environmental Correlates of Obesity with Emphasis on Developing Countries

The relationships between dietary and environmental factors and obesity are reviewed. Findings from selected population studies of diet and body weight are presented. In general, the results from population studies of diet and obesity have been inconsistent and marked with methodological weaknesses, especially the use of cross-sectional study design. Apart from the diet, several social and economic factors appear to be important correlates of obesity in the population. However, most studies have focused on the socioeconomic status as a broad, composite measure. The relationships between income, education, occupation, place of residence, and obesity are reviewed here, with emphasis on the developing countries. In many developing countries, the changing dietary pattern, along with rising life expectancy and changing socioeconomic environment, has contributed to the increasing problems of obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases that will have an enormous impact on the health and health care resource of these countries in the near future.
Sense of Coherence, Spirituality, Stress and Quality of Life in Chronic Illness

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between sense of coherence and spirituality and their association with perceptions of stress, and quality of life. Methods: Questionnaires mailed to nonhospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, multiple regressions, and ANOVA. Results: High sense of coherence (SOC) and spirituality were correlated with low stress and high quality of life (QoL). Neither SOC nor spirituality related significantly to objective symptom severity. In regression analyses 73.2% of the variance in QoL was explained by SOC, the FEV1/FVC ratio, and functional ability. Conclusions: Psychosocial factors are important in patients' cognitive interpretations of illness. SOC and spirituality may buffer stress in the context of chronic illness.
Nerve growth factor-induced process formation by cultured rat pheochromocytoma cells

NERVE growth factor (NGF) is a chemically characterised polypeptide which affects the development of the sensory and sympathetic nervous systems and is required for maintenance of sympathetic neurones1–3. Its mechanism of action and its precise role in embryogenesis are unknown.
Nisin Adsorption and Exchange with Selected Milk Proteins at Silanized Silica Surfaces

Abstract Nisin is an antibacterial peptide that is proven to be an effective inhibitor of Gram-positive bacteria and can retain much of its original activity when noncovalently immobilized on a surface. The ability of adsorbed nisin to withstand exchange by the milk proteins α-lactalbumin, β-casein, β-lactoglobulin, and bovine serum albumin on surfaces that had been silanized with dichlorodiethylsilane to exhibit high and low hydrophobicities was examined using in situ ellipsometry and bioassays of nisin activity following sequential adsorption with each milk protein. Kinetic behavior was recorded for nisin adsorption for 1 and 8 h, followed in each case by rinsing in protein-free buffer solution and sequential contact with a single milk protein for 4 h. Concerning nisin adsorption to each surface, a higher adsorbed mass was consistently recorded on the hydrophilic relative to the hydrophobic surface, independent of adsorption time. While desorption was greater from the hydrophilic surface in the 1-h test, the amount desorbed was quite similar on each surface in the 8-h tests. The sequential data were interpreted with the assumptions that nisin organization at the interface involved adsorption in at least two different states, possibly existing in more than one layer, and that in the absence of exchange, upon addition of the second protein, adsorbed mass would increase by an amount equivalent to its experimentally observed monolayer coverage. According to this interpretation the mass of nisin exchanged was generally higher on the hydrophobic than on the hydrophilic surface. β-casein was the most effective eluting agent among the proteins studied, while α-lactalbumin was the least effective. Both bovine serum albumin and β-lactoglobulin were moderately effective in exchanging with adsorbed nisin, with a greater amount of nisin being removed by bovine serum albumin. These results were consistent with those of the bioassays, which showed nisin activity was greatest following contact with α-lac and lowest following contact with β-casein.
Genetic variation in immediate and delayed postictal refractory period in rats

Abstract We determined postictal refractoriness in Sprague-Dawley rats by comparing lengths of two suprathreshold ECS seizures given 15 s to 24 h apart. A bimodal (immediate and delayed) decrease in seizure duration was found, suggesting ECS alters mechanisms of seizure termination. Since adenosine is implicated in seizure termination, we determined immediate (30 s) and delayed (24 h) postictal ECS refractoriness in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats which vary in adenosine properties and initial ECS seizure length. At 30 s, the decrease in seizures did not differ between WKY (−44%) and SHR (−36%) rats. At 24 h, SHR rats showed no change while the WKY rats showed a 20% decrease in seizure length ( P ). These two strains also differed in the ability of the adenosine antagonist caffeine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) to prolong ECS seizures (no change for WKY, + 13% for SHR, P ). The results suggest immediate and delayed postictal refractoriness are subject to genetic variation and may depend on central adenosine mechanisms.
Data quality assessment database and a World Wide Web interface for the Hubble Space Telescope

Contact scientists for the Hubble Space Telescope examine observation products and report problems and shortcomings in the data. We have developed a database to hold this information and a series of World-Wide Web pages to facilitate reporting directly to this database. Over time, different characteristics of observations have been identified which are essentially signatures of each instrument that cannot be calibrated out. These have been classified as anomalies with which each contact scientist is very familiar. It is part of their task to identify these anomalies and flag them. Depending on the nature and severity of the anomaly, the principal investigator is contacted and the anomaly brought to their attention. To maintain a permanent record and to support others who retrieve data from the archive, we created a database for storing the contact scientists data quality assessments, and a WWW tool to facilitate the assessment process. The tool and database have been in routine use since early December 1996.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Abstract 3339: The regulatory subunit of PI3K, p85β, induces cellular transformation, enhanced cell proliferation and increased PI3K signaling

We have expressed the human p85β in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) using the RCAS retroviral vector. At low concentrations, RCAS-p85β induces the formation of distinct foci of transformed cells. CEF transfected with high concentrations of RCAS-p85β show enhanced cell proliferation and PI3K signaling. RCAS-p85β shares this growth promoting potential with the cancer-derived mutants of p85α, but the wild type p85α protein expressed by the RCAS vector lacks this potential. The transforming and signaling activities of p85β depend on the PI3K catalytic subunit p110. We have used p110 isoform-specific inhibitors to show that the transforming and signaling activities of p85β can be mediated by p110α or p110β or both. This is in contrast to the transforming mutants of p85α which depend almost exclusively on p110α for their growth-promoting effect. p85β can be phosphorylated at Y655. Mutations of the phosphorylation site Y655A or Y655E lose almost all of their transforming and enhanced signaling activity. This result indicates that p85β could be subject to control by tyrosine kinases. Our data document important differences between p85α and p85β and suggest that p85β could carry out special functions in signaling and in cancer. This work was supported by NIH Grant R01 CA078230. This is abstract 26049 of The Scripps Research Institute. Citation Format: Yoshihiro Ito, Jonathan R. Hart, Lynn Ueno, Peter K. Vogt. The regulatory subunit of PI3K, p85β, induces cellular transformation, enhanced cell proliferation and increased PI3K signaling. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3339. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3339
Kicking the Kohler Habit

Kohler's experiments with inverting goggles are often thought to support enactivism by showing that visual re-inversion occurs simultaneous with the return of sensorimotor skill. Closer examination reveals that Kohler's work does not show this. Recent work by Linden et al. shows that re-inversion, if it occurs at all, does not occur when the enactivist predicts. As such, the empirical evidence weighs against enactivism.
Tissue phantom ratios for a Clinac 4/100

Tissue phantom ratios (TPR), based on a normalization depth of 5 cm, have been measured in water for field sizes from 5 x 5 cm2 to approximately 40 x 40 cm2 and for depths from 1 to 40 cm for a Varian Clinac 4/100. These TPR's have been compared with those calculated from percent depth doses measured at the same time, and the two sets of data generally agree to better than 1%, with an average ratio of measured to calculated TPR of 0.999 +/- 0.013. Beam profiles have been measured for open and wedged fields, with particular concern for the often observed "horns," or the increase in dose at the corners of the field. The maximum dose at a depth of 1 cm, along the diagonal of the field for this machine, is approximately 5% higher than at the same depth on the central axis, whereas along the principal plane the maximum dose is only about 3% higher.
A Study of Survival: Commodity Trading Advisors, 1988–1996

Since dissolving funds generally underperform surviving funds, the impact of survival bias on managed futures performance is of continued interest in the managed funds area. One aspect of interest is identifying whether there is a difference in the pre–dissolution performance of survivors and nonsurvivors. Results suggest a strategy of actively pruning underperforming managers may improve portfolio returns by eliminating managers who are at risk for dissolution.
Junctura tendinum between extensor digitorum communis and extensor pollicis longus

A junctura tendinum was incidentally identified between the extensor digitorum communis of the index finger and the extensor pollicis longus in a 34-year-old woman. This tendinous interconnection did not represent a supernumerary muscle. Examination of the patient suggested that this anomaly was probably bilateral since she lacked independent extension of the thumb and fingers in both hands. This anatomic variant has not previously been reported.
Relationship of psychiatric disorders to 6-month outcomes after gastric bypass.

Abstract Background Although most bariatric surgery patients undergo a preoperative psychological evaluation, the potential effect of psychiatric disorders on weight loss is not well understood. We sought to document the relationship of preoperative psychiatric disorders to the 6-month outcomes after gastric bypass. Methods The Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) was used to assess current and lifetime Axis I clinical disorders, as well as Axis II personality disorders, before surgery. We used linear regression models to examine the relationship of psychiatric disorders to postoperative weight-related outcomes. Results The sample (n = 207) was 83.1% female and 92.7% white. The preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 51.4 ± 9.6 kg/m 2 and age was 45.8 ± 9.5 years. After adjusting for the initial BMI, gender, race, and age, a lifetime Axis I disorder was associated with a smaller decrease in BMI ( t = −3.7, df=205, P t = −3.7, df=205, P t = −2.6, df=205, P = 0.009), but substance and eating disorders were not. In this sample, current Axis I clinical disorders and Axis II personality disorders were unrelated to outcomes at 6 months. Similar overall results were found when the percentage of weight loss and excess weight loss were predicted. Conclusion The results of our study have shown that patients who have ever had an Axis I clinical disorder, especially mood or anxiety, exhibit poorer weight outcomes 6 months after gastric bypass than those who have never had an Axis I disorder. Additional research with larger samples is needed to replicate these findings and examine more fully the effect of current clinical disorders and personality disorders on weight loss. Nevertheless, our results suggest that patients with current or past disorders might benefit from close monitoring or psychosocial intervention to improve their short-term outcomes. However, a greater duration of follow-up is needed to identify predictors of longer-term weight control.
SU‐C‐301‐05: Comparative Low‐Contrast Performance of Scan Equalization Digital Mammography (SEDM) v.s. Full‐Field Digital Mammography (FFDM): A Simulation Study with Micro‐Calcifications

Purpose: To investigate the effects of exposure equalization on the noise property and visibility of micro‐calcifications using simulated SEDM imaging experiments. Method: An anthropomorphic breast phantom was imaged at various exposure levels using a full‐field digital mammography system. A lead plate with two‐dimensional array of aperture holes was used to measure primary signals which were then subtracted from those obtained without the lead plate to separate scatter components from total image signals. Exposure equalization factors were determined from a standard FFDM image and these factors were then multiplied with images acquired at various exposure levels to simulate SEDM image. Two sets of image were acquired and subtracted from each other to estimate the noise properties for different imaging techniques. Images of simulated micro‐calcifications with different sizes were composed with primary signals and then added with scatter components to form FFDM and simulated SEDM images for visualization studies. Results: SEDM resulted in reduced noise level in dense area while increased noises level in less attenuating area (fatty area or at the board of the breast where the thicknesses are reduced) compared with the standard FFDM method. The visualization of simulated micro‐calcification is seen slightly improved in dense area of the breast phantom due to improved signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR). Conclusion: SEDM technique can improve image SNRs and CNRs in dense area of the breast, hence to improve the visibility of micro‐calcification in breast images. This work was supported in part by grants CA104759, CA124585 and CA13852 from NIH‐NCI, a grant EB00117 from NIH‐NIBIB, and a subcontract from NIST‐ATP.
Acetylsalicylamide o- to N-acetyl migration☆

Abstract O-Acetylsalicylamide rapidly and irreversibly rearranges to the more stable isomer, N-acetylsalicylamide, under a variety of conditions; for example, standing at room temperature in MeOH, EtOH, pyridine or dil aq base; in the solid state below the m.p.; above 100° in acetone. The rearrangement is readily followed by NMR, UV and DTA. The N-acetyl isomer exhibits at least 3 crystalline modifications (120°, 137°, 146°), thus partially explaining the discrepancies in the reported properties of the acetylsalicylamide system.
Underestimates of sensible heat flux due to vertical velocity measurement errors in non-orthogonal sonic anemometers

a b s t r a c t Sonic thermometry and anemometry are fundamental to all eddy-covariance studies of surface energy balance. Recent studies have suggested that sonic anemometers with non-orthogonal transducers can underestimate vertical wind velocity (w) and sensible heat flux (H) when compared to orthogonal designs. In this study we tested whether a non-orthogonal sonic anemometer (CSAT3, Campbell Scientific, Inc.) measures lower w and H than an orthogonal sonic anemometer (SATI/3Vx, Applied Technologies, Inc.) and through experimental manipulation we tested if this difference can be attributed to errors in the CSAT3. Four CSAT3s and one SATI/3Vx were mounted symmetrically in a horizontal array on top of the Glacier Lakes Ecosystem Experiments Site (GLEES) AmeriFlux scaffold (southeastern Wyoming, USA) and in close enough proximity to allow covariance measurements between neighboring sonic anemometers. The CSAT3s were paired and measurements of the three orthogonal wind velocities (u, v, and w) were tested by alternatively rotating each sonic anemometer 90◦ around its u-axis, essentially forcing the sonic v-axis transducer system to measure w. Analysis was performed on data corresponding to gusts of wind located within the 15◦ cone defined around the u-axis to ensure operation within manufacturer specifications. We found that the CSAT3 measured 8% lower H than the SATI/3Vx and that was associated with a 6-12% lower measurement of w. From the CSAT3 manipulations we found w was underestimated by 6-10% which led directly to an 8-12% underestimate of the kinematic heat flux, the fundamental covariance of H. These results have implications for ecosystem flux research and the energy imbalance problem considering the prevalence of the CSAT3 and the non-orthogonal sonic anemometer design. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Epidemiologic studies on hypertension and coronary heart disease in a Japanese rural population. I. A study of blood pressure in Chiyoda.

Electrocardiograms on 2, 123 Japanese (1, 611 rural individuals in Chiyoda and 512 urban individuals in Tokyo) over 40 years have been studied. The criteria for electrocardiographic classification by Blackburn et al. were used with some modification. Abnormalities were expressed in terms of percentage for each 10-year age group, and for 3 different blood pressure groups classified by the criteria suggested by WHO, for providing a means of relating incidence to age and hypertension. In Chiyoda, Q wave, left bundle branch block, prolonged PQ interval, and atrial fibrillation were lower in incidence. On the other hand, high voltage, some of ST and T changes and negative U were rather prevalent. The sex difference was frequently observed in incidence of several electrocardiographic findings.
Exchange rate regime durability and performance in developing versus advanced economies

Abstract Drawing on new data and advances in exchange rate regimes’ classification, we find that countries appear to benefit by having increasingly flexible exchange rate systems as they become richer and more financially developed. For developing countries with little exposure to international capital markets, pegs are notable for their durability and relatively low inflation. In contrast, for advanced economies, floats are distinctly more durable and also appear to be associated with higher growth. For emerging markets, our results parallel the Baxter and Stockman classic exchange regime neutrality result, though pegs are the least durable and expose countries to higher risk of crisis.
The Karyopherin Kap95 Regulates Nuclear Pore Complex Assembly Into Intact Nuclear Envelopes in Vivo

Nuclear pore complex (NPC) assembly in interphase cells requires that new NPCs insert into an intact nuclear envelope (NE). Our previous work identified the Ran GTPase as an essential component in this process. We proposed that Ran is required for targeting assembly factors to the cytoplasmic NE face via a novel, vesicular intermediate. Although the molecular target was not identified, Ran is known to function by modulating protein interactions for karyopherin (Kap) β family members. Here we characterize loss-of-function Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants in KAP95 with blocks in NPC assembly. Similar to defects in Ran cycle mutants, nuclear pore proteins are no longer localized properly to the NE in kap95 mutants. Also like Ran cycle mutants, the kap95-E126K mutant displayed enhanced lethality with nic96 and nup170 mutants. Thus, Kap95 and Ran are likely functioning at the same stage in assembly. However, although Ran cycle mutants accumulate small cytoplasmic vesicles, cells depleted of Kap95 accumulated long stretches of cytoplasmic membranes and had highly distorted NEs. We conclude that Kap95 serves as a key regulator of NPC assembly into intact NEs. Furthermore, both Kap95 and Ran may provide spatial cues necessary for targeting of vesicular intermediates in de novo NPC assembly.
Devitrification of Fe-Based Amorphous Metal SAM 1651 and the Effect of Heat-Treatment on Corrosion Behavior

Devitrification of amorphous alloys is a process in which thermodynamically preferable crystalline phases form from the metastable amorphous phase. The corrosion behavior of the crystalline phases and the remaining amorphous material is likely to be different from that of the fully amorphous material and could have detrimental effects on the corrosion resistance of the devitrified material. The effect of heat-treatment on the corrosion behavior of an Fe-based bulk metallic glass Fe 48 Cr 15 Mo 14 C 15 B 6 Y 2 [structural amorphous metal (SAM) 1651] was examined, which revealed a degradation in the corrosion resistance of SAM 1651 upon annealing at 700°C. However, the partially devitrified material still exhibited good corrosion resistance even in the highly aggressive environments of 6 M HCl. The preferential corrosion sites of nanoscale in both fully amorphous and partially devitrified materials were identified with transmission electron microscope analysis. The corrosion resistance of both fully amorphous and partially devitrified materials was explained in terms of chemical and structural characteristics of the alloys. © 2009 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3148325] All rights reserved.
Chronopotentiometry with current reversal effect of unequal forward and reverse current densities

Abstract The theory of current reversal chronopotentiometry has been extended to take into account unequal forward and reverse current densities. Equations have been derived for the potential-time dependence on the current density ratio for reversible and irreversible re-oxidations. The dependence of the ratio of the reverse to forward transition time on the current density ratio was established. The time at which the potential is equal to the half-wave potential for the re-oxidation step was shown to depend on the current density ratio and verified experimentally. A study was made of the irreversible nickel-nickelous system in 1 M sodium per-chlorate using the equations derived. A value of k b,h° equal to 2.74·10 −4 cm sec −1 at 25° was calculated for the re-oxidation step and the value of −0.246 V vs . N.H.E. established as the formal reduction potential of the Ni 2+ -Ni system.
Ion-molecule chemistry within doubly charged ammonia clusters

Abstract We present the observation of “intramolecular” ion-molecule reactions within doubly charged clusters produced via electron impact ionization of neat beams of ammonia molecules. The fragmentation pattern strongly suggests that reactions occurring within these doubly charged clusters are similar to those observed for singly charged ammonia clusters. This behavior implies that these cluster ions consist of two separate, singly charged ammonia cations which act separately within the bulk neutral cluster. That is, either one, both, or neither of the ammonia cations may react with the neutrals solvating them within the doubly charged cluster.
Doug McAdam, Sidney Tarrow, and Charles Tilly, Dynamics of Contention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2001. 408 pp. $60.00 cloth; $22.00 paper.

If this book had halted after its opening chapter, an adjective like “elegant” would fit the resulting essay well. Those opening pages sketch with precision “the classic social movement agenda” developed since the 1960s, respectfully yet sharply identify important limitations of that agenda, and suggest some plausible theoretical tools for moving beyond those limits. Having themselves over those decades made so many contributions to the study of movements and related phenomena (the bibliography cites a half-dozen of their own previous books and could easily have contained more), the intrepid trio are now marking out some very interesting new trails.
High-Frequency Relaxation Measurements of Magnetic Specific Heats

One of the most important quantities characterizing a magnetic system and its microscopic interactions is the magnetic specific heat C M . In particular, for a paramagnetic system at temperatures much higher than the ordering temperature, the magnetic specific heat can often be expressed as a simple series expansion in 1/T $$ C_M /R = C_2 /T^2 + C_3 /T^3 + ... $$ (1) whose coefficients C 2, C 3, … can be related directly to traces of different powers of the interaction Hamiltonian describing the system (see, e.g., Ref. 1).
Effect of the continuous stiffness measurement on the mechanical properties extracted using spherical nanoindentation

Abstract The effects of the superimposed oscillating load while using the continuous stiffness measurement (CSM) technique on the extracted indentation stress–strain (ISS) curves were systematically investigated using spherical nanoindentation tests performed on a variety of samples, using probes of 1 and 100 μm radii. Particular care was afforded to the corrections that were needed on the load, displacement and stiffness signals to account for the effect of the superimposed oscillations. A decrease in the oscillation frequency from the commonly used 45 Hz caused the measured stiffness values to decrease. This resulted in questionable high strain hardening values in the ISS curves. The noise levels in the recorded stiffness signal were significantly higher while using an oscillation amplitude of 1 nm. It was concluded that these observations are artifacts of the machine dynamic control systems and do not represent the material’s true behavior. The CMS signal with a 45 Hz oscillation frequency and 2 nm amplitude appears to produce most reasonable values of stiffness values and is therefore the best choice for reliably extracting ISS curves for the materials studied.
Encapsulating light-emitting polymers in block copolymer micelles.

Conjugated polymers have excellent light-emitting properties that are useful for biological imaging and sensing applications. Here, we report a new way to form stable, water-soluble suspensions of conjugated polymers by encapsulating them in amphiphilic block copolymers. It was found that the folding property of conjugated polymers is a critical factor for solubilizing them into typical coil−coil block copolymer micelles. By introducing saturated bonds into conjugated polymers, they were readily encapsulated in block copolymer micelles, resulting in highly fluorescent polymer nanoparticles. The emission wavelength of fluorescent micelles can be tuned by controlling the number of encapsulated light-emitting polymers per micelle as well as changing the exciton delocalization length in conjugated polymers. This strategy has been extended to make multifunctional (i.e., fluorescent and magnetic) nanoparticles by encapsulating iron oxide nanoparticles in light-emitting polymers.
Osmoregulation and membrane-mediated responses to altered water potential in plant cells

Abstract Plant cells respond to short-term stress dehydration by modification of internal Ψπ such that an inward gradient of Ψω is maintained. In response to lowered Ψω, increases in internal Ψπ are created by alteration of cell inorganic ions and small organic solute content. Passive movement of water follows, changing cell hydration and forcing the plasma membrane against the elastic cell wall. The stretched cell wall presses against the cell contents, creating a hydrostatic pressure, Ψπ, which tends to force water out of the cell. The resulting hydrostatic pressure eventually comes into equilibrium with forces bringing water into the cell, largely Ψπ, and the net flow of water ceases. The mechanism for sensing cell Ψω changes is unknown but the initial event must be physical, not biochemical. The method of translation of such physical events into biochemical actions is also unknown but the Zimmermann model provides a means of signal transduction and amplification, through the alteration of membrane parameters, which could account for the observed changes. As for animal cells, cell levels of Ca2+ are important for their regulation of membrane Pj in these responses but unlike osmoregulation in higher animals, the involvement of plant hormones in these responses have not been clearly established. However, the important role of plant cell limiting membranes in plant cell osmoregulation responses seems obvious.
Future priorities in agribusiness education: A US perspective

The agribusiness sector should be renamed the food and agribusiness sector. The importance of consumers in modern society mandates that food institutions on the consumer end of the chain have greater emphasis. The historical emphasis on farm production and first handlers is out of date. Educational needs for careers in the food and agribusiness sector are unique. This is true because of the distinctive characteristics of the sector as developed in this article. Some three undergraduate and three graduate courses of study are now available to students for agribusiness careers. These courses of study need serious consideration in light of the broader redefinition of the sector. This is particularly true with regard to broader use of modern business management education and with regard to the historical preeminence of economic theory in agricultural economics education.
Cargo of kinesin identified as JIP scaffolding proteins and associated signaling molecules.

The cargo that the molecular motor kinesin moves along microtubules has been elusive. We searched for binding partners of the COOH terminus of kinesin light chain, which contains tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motifs. Three proteins were found, the c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)–interacting proteins (JIPs) JIP-1, JIP-2, and JIP-3, which are scaffolding proteins for the JNK signaling pathway. Concentration of JIPs in nerve terminals requires kinesin, as evident from the analysis of JIP COOH-terminal mutants and dominant negative kinesin constructs. Coprecipitation experiments suggest that kinesin carries the JIP scaffolds preloaded with cytoplasmic (dual leucine zipper–bearing kinase) and transmembrane signaling molecules (the Reelin receptor, ApoER2). These results demonstrate a direct interaction between conventional kinesin and a cargo, indicate that motor proteins are linked to their membranous cargo via scaffolding proteins, and support a role for motor proteins in spatial regulation of signal transduction pathways.
Latent Transforming Growth Factor-β Binding Protein Domains Involved in Activation and Transglutaminase-dependent Cross-Linking of Latent Transforming Growth Factor-β

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is secreted by many cell types as part of a large latent complex composed of three subunits: TGF-β, the TGF-β propeptide, and the latent TGF-β binding protein (LTBP). To interact with its cell surface receptors, TGF-β must be released from the latent complex by disrupting noncovalent interactions between mature TGF-β and its propeptide. Previously, we identified LTBP-1 and transglutaminase, a cross-linking enzyme, as reactants involved in the formation of TGF-β. In this study, we demonstrate that LTBP-1 and large latent complex are substrates for transglutaminase. Furthermore, we show that the covalent association between LTBP-1 and the extracellular matrix is transglutaminase dependent, as little LTBP-1 is recovered from matrix digests prepared from cultures treated with transglutaminase inhibitors. Three polyclonal antisera to glutathione S–transferase fusion proteins containing amino, middle, or carboxyl regions of LTBP-1S were used to identify domains of LTBP-1 involved in crosslinking and formation of TGF-β by transglutaminase. Antibodies to the amino and carboxyl regions of LTBP-1S abrogate TGF-β generation by vascular cell cocultures or macrophages. However, only antibodies to the amino-terminal region of LTBP-1 block transglutaminase-dependent cross-linking of large latent complex or LTBP-1. To further identify transglutaminase-reactive domains within the amino-terminal region of LTBP-1S, mutants of LTBP-1S with deletions of either the amino-terminal 293 (ΔN293) or 441 (ΔN441) amino acids were expressed transiently in CHO cells. Analysis of the LTBP-1S content in matrices of transfected CHO cultures revealed that ΔN293 LTBP-1S was matrix associated via a transglutaminasedependent reaction, whereas ΔN441 LTBP-1S was not. This suggests that residues 294–441 are critical to the transglutaminase reactivity of LTBP-1S.
Improving Patient Flow Through Axiomatic Design of Hospital Emergency Departments

Abstract In response to crowding in hospital emergency departments, efforts have been made to increase patient flow through fast tracks (FT). However FTs are often underutilized. We find that this is mainly caused by the current practice of assigning patients to FT based only on the emergency severity index. This usage results in a coupling between prioritizing of patients and encouraging fast patient flow. By introducing a new index for patient flow, we could uncouple this design problem and significantly decrease the overall patient waiting time (∼50%) compared to that of the existing use of FT.
Results, Potential and Challenges of High Power GaN-Based Transistors

The fabrication of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) employs strong spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization. The material was grown by OMVPE at 1050 °C and 75 Torr. The Hall measurements yielded ≈1 × 1013/cm2 electron sheet density, with 1200 to 1600 cm2/Vs electron mobility for 300 A Al0.3Ga0.7N/GaN on sapphire at 300 K. The process steps for mesa isolation, Ohmic and Schottky contacts are presented. The frequency response and drain–source breakdown voltage have been determined experimentally. The average electron transit velocity, determined from cut-off frequency, is 1.2 × 107 cm/s, and the breakdown electric field is estimated to be 3 MV/cm. On sapphire substrates, large periphery devices yielded 1.8 W/mm at 78% power-added efficiency and small periphery devices yielded 3.3 W/mm at 36% power-added efficiency at 4 GHz. Performance limitations due to electron trapping during HEMT operation are included. Predictions of >20 W/mm microwave output power are presented for these devices on SiC substrates.
Chemical vapor deposition of copper via disproportionation of hexafluoroacetylacetonato(1,5 -cyclooctadiene)copper(I), (hfac)Cu(1,5-COD)

Hot- and cold-wall chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using the volatile copper(I) compound (hfac)Cu(1,5-COD), where hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5,-hexafluoroacetylacetonate and 1,5-COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, as a precursor was carried out in hot-wall and warm-wall, lamp-heated reactors using SiO2 substrates that had been patterned with Pt or W, over a temperature range 120 °C-250 °C. Deposition was observed onto Pt, W, and SiO2 over this temperature range at rates of up to 3750 A/min to give copper films that contained no detectable impurities by Auger electron spectroscopy and gave resistivities of 1.9-5.7 μ ohm cm. The volatile by-products formed during deposition were 1,5-COD and Cu(hfac)2 and a mass balance was consistent with the quantitative disproportionation reaction: 2(hfac)Cu(1,5-COD) → Cu + Cu(hfac)2 + 2(1,5-COD). The measured activation energy for this CVD reaction was 26(2) kcal/mol. The absence of selectivity for metal surfaces in the presence of SiO2 is in contrast to CVD results for the related compounds (β-diketonate)Cu(PMe3) where β-diketonate = hfac, 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetonate (tfac), and acetylacetonate (acac).
A method of tolerance enhancement for filters and amplifiers matching networks

A filter prototype for increasing the tolerance of passive networks to load variations is presented. A method based on the way in which a network's reflection coefficient changes in response to component and load reactance variations is used to develop the filter polynomial. This filter polynomial has greater tolerance to load reactance variations, component variations, and finite-element Q than Butterworth, Chebyshev, or elliptic structures. Examples using this filter for tolerance enhancement of filters and matching structures are presented. >
Thermomechanical studies on newly developed copolyester thin films. Part I: Thermal expansion coefficients

In this paper, the in-plane linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) (αx and αy) of a newly developed family of all aromatic and aromatic/aliphatic copolyester thermoset films prepared from spin coating were measured. The volumetric CTEs (β) were determined by a Pressure-Volume-Temperature (PVT) technique (1). Based on the difference between the volumetric CTEs and the sum of the in-plane linear CTEs, the out-of-plane linear CTEs (αz) were calculated. The effects of film processing, including film coating and curing, on the CTEs are discussed. It was found that the linear CTEs varied significantly with the processing conditions, the volumetric CTEs were essentially constant, and the out-of-plane linear CTEs (αz) of the spin coated films were higher than the in-plane linear CTEs (αx, y).