cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ecological opportunity and the adaptive diversification of lineages.

The tenet that ecological opportunity drives adaptive diversification has been central to theories of speciation since Darwin, yet no widely accepted definition or mechanistic framework for the concept currently exists. We propose a definition for ecological opportunity that provides an explicit mechanism for its action. In our formulation, ecological opportunity refers to environmental conditions that both permit the persistence of a lineage within a community, as well as generate divergent natural selection within that lineage. Thus, ecological opportunity arises from two fundamental elements: (1) niche availability, the ability of a population with a phenotype previously absent from a community to persist within that community and (2) niche discordance, the diversifying selection generated by the adaptive mismatch between a population's niche-related traits and the newly encountered ecological conditions. Evolutionary response to ecological opportunity is primarily governed by (1) spatiotemporal structure of ecological opportunity, which influences dynamics of selection and development of reproductive isolation and (2) diversification potential, the biological properties of a lineage that determine its capacity to diversify. Diversification under ecological opportunity proceeds as an increase in niche breadth, development of intraspecific ecotypes, speciation, and additional cycles of diversification that may themselves be triggered by speciation. Extensive ecological opportunity may exist in depauperate communities, but it is unclear whether ecological opportunity abates in species-rich communities. Because ecological opportunity should generally increase during times of rapid and multifarious environmental change, human activities may currently be generating elevated ecological opportunity – but so far little work has directly addressed this topic. Our framework highlights the need for greater synthesis of community ecology and evolutionary biology, unifying the four major components of the concept of ecological opportunity.
Temperature and field-dependence of electron currents in films of trans-polyphenylacetylene

Abstract Current-voltage-temperature (i-V-T) measurements were made between 22°C and 100°C and at electric fields of 4 × 103 to 1.2 × 105 V cm−1 on 5 μm thick films of undoped, amorphous trans-polyphenylacetylene supported between a metal and an SnO2 electrode. With a negative bias on the metal cathode, electron currents dominate; they are exponential in V 3 2 and show an activation energy, EA, that decreases toward EA ⩽ 0.1 eV at the higher temperatures. At fields greater than 2 × 104 V cm−1 the magnitude of the current is independent of the work function of the metal over the range of 2.6 to 5.2 eV. The conductivity, and particularly its temperature coefficient, are concluded to be controlled by bulk. The temperature dependence of the conductivity is consistent with the presence of a narrow energy band containing poorly conducting states with the Fermi level lying slightly below it in a quasi-bandgap.
Low-temperature synthesis of solid-solution BaxSr1−xTiO3 nanocrystals

The very low-temperature synthesis (20–80 °C) of sub-15 nm BaxSr1−xTiO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanocrystals and characterization of their dielectric properties as a function of composition are reported. A series of BaxSr1−xTiO3 nanocrystals were synthesized under ultrabenign conditions (i.e., low temperatures, ambient pressure and neutral pH) using a vapor diffusion sol–gel technique, whereby water is slowly diffused into a mixture of bimetallic alkoxides to yield the solid-solution nanocrystals in quantitative yield on the gram scale. The unsintered 12 nm Ba0.69Sr0.31TiO3 nanocrystals synthesized at 20 °C possess a maximized dielectric constant (e′ = 341 at 1 kHz) for the solid solution series, and is more than an order of magnitude greater than the dielectric constant for SrTiO3 (e′ = 11.0 at 1 kHz). The observed non-monotonic dependence of the dielectric constant on solid solution composition for these small nanocrystals is consistent with theoretical and empirical studies for bulk BaxSr1−xTiO3 ceramics, proving this dielectric effect holds for small nanocrystals.
Remotely triggered liposome release by near-infrared light absorption via hollow gold nanoshells.

An elusive goal for systemic drug delivery is to provide both spatial and temporal control of drug release. Liposomes have been evaluated as drug delivery vehicles for decades, but their clinical significance has been limited by slow release or poor availability of the encapsulated drug. Here we show that near-complete liposome release can be initiated within seconds by irradiating hollow gold nanoshells (HGNs) with a near-infrared (NIR) pulsed laser. Our findings reveal that different coupling methods such as having the HGNs tethered to, encapsulated within, or suspended freely outside the liposomes, all triggered liposome release but with different levels of efficiency. For the underlying content release mechanism, our experiments suggest that the microbubble formation and collapse due to the rapid temperature increase of the HGN is responsible for liposome disruption, as evidenced by the formation of solid gold particles after the NIR irradiation and the coincidence of a laser power threshold for both ...
Magnetic Susceptibility of Alkali Metals

The magnetic susceptibility of alkali metals is evaluated by a systematic development of the grand partition function for small magnetic fields. The results are expressed in powers of ${r}_{s}$ (the interparticle spacing divided by the Bohr radius) and compared with recent experimental and theoretical results. The evaluation is made to order ${r}_{s}^{2}$, improving the previous calculations. The polarization parameter, which has been used in the previous evaluation of the paramagnetic susceptibility as an adjustable parameter, is not used. Comparison of our results with the recent experiment by Collings is satisfactory.
Complete flowfields over low and wide angle AOTV conceptual configurations

Flowfields over two conceptual aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicles, a moderate lift-to-drag ratio biconic, and an axisymmetric zero lift aerobrake are investigated. The solution procedures employ a compressible Navier-Stokes time-asymptotic technique for blunt body flow and a Parabolized Navier-Stokes spatial marching technique for the primarily supersonic shock layer flow over low-angle bodies. Emphasis is placed on the laminar convective heating predictions and comparisons to experimental data where available. Code robustness and solution times are discussed and guidelines are given for the specification of various numerical parameters. The Parabolized Navier-Stokes technique has a high probability of solution success for the range of applications considered herein, and very good comparisons with experimental heat-transfer data have been obtained. The blunt body Navier-Stokes code is more sensitive to parameter specification for the aerobrake calculations. Still, coarse grid solutions can be obtained quickly to get a good first cut at flowfield definition. Fair to good comparisons have been obtained between experimental heating and pressure data and coarse and fine grid solutions.
On the “Undoing” Property of Scrambling: A Response to Bošković

Boskovic (2004) argues that what defines scrambling in languages such as Japanese is its ‘‘undoing’’ property (Saito 1989). Boskovic (2004) and Boskovic and Takahashi (1998) argue that this ‘‘undoing’’ property shows the way for scrambling to count as a last-resort operation, instead of being purely optional as is widely believed. In this article, I give empirical evidence that ‘‘undoing’’ does not occur and that the reconstruction effect simply reflects a normal property of Ā-movements like wh-movement in English. I further show that the condition that governs optional scrambling is Fox’s (2000) Scope Economy.
Quark electric dipole moments in the standard model

Abstract It is shown that quark electric dipole moments contributing to the neutron moment, in the standard six-quark SU(2) × U(1) model of weak and electromagnetic interactions, cannot be large enough to be observable in present or projected experiments. For M Top ≲ 1 4 M W , an optimistic upper limit is 10 −31 e · cm; a realistic maximum is 10 −34 e · cm. These limits are comparable to the leading standard model diquark contribution to the neutron moment, and extremely small compared to scalar-exchange CP -violation model estimates (which are comparable to present experimental limits).
Identification of Consensus Glycosaminoglycan Binding Strings in Proteins

Heparin is a member of the negatively charged glycosaminoglycan family which is present in the extracellular matrix of all eukaryotic cells. Heparin-binding proteins (HBPs) play an important role in various biological processes like cell signaling, development, and angiogenesis. Interestingly, despite their wide array of functions, very little knowledge exists on the precise structural determinants that govern the specificity of the heparin-protein interaction(s). In this context, a critical survey of the presence of heparin-binding amino acid sequence(s) is a pre-requisite for the development of therapeutic principles against heparin protein-mediated diseases. Many proteins have been shown in vivo to bind to heparin. Based on previous structural studies on heparin-binding proteins (HBPs), nineteen consensus heparin-binding motifs have been identified. The length of these strings varies between five and eight amino acids. These heparin-binding motifs were found to contain a pattern of basic natural amino acids (B= lysine/arginine/histidine) spread between the remaining 17 natural amino acids (X). In the present study, a novel search algorithm has been developed to identify the frequency of occurrence of heparin-binding motifs in 200 proteins which have been experimentally identified to have a strong heparin-binding affinity. The list includes the 23 fibroblast growth factors that bind strongly to heparin, whose sequences were obtained from the UniProt Knowledgebase. Results reveal that the HBPs contain multiple putative heparin-binding motifs. Motifs such as, XBXBX, XBXXBX, and XBXXXBX are most preferred in the heparin-binding proteins. Lysine and arginine are the most preferred basic amino acids (B) in the HBPs. Interestingly, hydrophobic amino acids methionine and isoleucine rarely occur in the heparin-binding motifs. In our opinion, results of our study will enable the design of novel heparin-binding peptides and peptoids which can potentially inhibit heparin mediated pathogenesis. In addition, the algorithm developed in this study can also be of significant use to identify new heparin-binding proteins that have still not been annotated in the human genome databank.
Gastric motor effects of endothelins in the lower brainstem of the rat

To characterize the modulatory effect of endothelin on brainstem control of gastric motor function, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endоthelin-3 (ET-3) were applied to the surface of the dorsal medulla oblongata in α-chloralose and xylazine anaesthetized, artificially ventilated Sprague—Dawley rats, while intragastric pressure and contractility of the pyloric circular and greater curvature longitudinal muscles as well as blood pressure were monitored. Endothelin-1 and ET-3 equipotently (at the same range of doses) increased intragastric pressure and stimulated contractility of the gastric circular muscle as well as increasing arterial blood pressure. All the gastric effects of endothelins were abolished by bilateral vagotomy at the midcervical level. These results demonstrate that endothelins have vagally mediated gastrointestinal effects in the lower brainstem of the rat and support a role for endothelins in gastrointestinal regulation.
Algorithms for protein structural motif recognition.

ABSTRACT The identification of protein sequences that fold into certain known three-dimensional (3D) structures, or motifs, is evaluated through a probabilistic analysis of their one-dimensional (1...
PHARMACOLOGY OF ALKYLAMINO ETHANOL ESTERS OF P-ETHOXYBENZOIC ACID.

A series of eight alkylaminoethanol esters of p -ethoxybenzoic acid were examined for local anesthetic activity on the rabbit cornea and frog sciatic nerve, for acute toxicity in mice, for irratancy on the rabbit cornea and by the trypan blue test in rabbits, and for their spasmolytic activity on the isolated rabbit ileum. In general, sciatic nerve block was hastened, irritancy was increased, acute toxicity increased, and duration of topical anesthesia decreased as the alkylamino portion of the molecule was enlarged.
Binary Nucleation Kinetics. 6. Partially Miscible Systems

We explore vapor-to-liquid phase transitions by numerically solving the birth−death equations for systems where the components are only partially miscible in the bulk liquid. In this case, multiple critical nuclei can coexist and the flux through two saddles contributes to particle formation. When there is a big difference between the monomer impingement rates, we often observe some of the flux crossing the ridge between the two saddles. Despite these complications, the difference between the numerical nucleation rates and the appropriate analytical rate expressions is usually less than 35%.
Customer Satisfaction and Value as Drivers of Business Success for Fine Dining Restaurants

Abstract This study investigates the influence of key variables affecting customer intentions to visit a fine dining restaurant. For restaurant managers, knowledge of the relationship between key variables such as customer attitudes, satisfaction, perceived value, and intentions is vital to success in the competitive business environment. Although managers recognize the importance of value, little empirical research exists on value's role in influencing intentions. This research investigates the influence of satisfaction and customer value on post-consumption attitude as well as intention to return and to recommend a fine dining restaurant. Recommendations are provided for restaurant managers to increase customer satisfaction and retention.
Serum Albumin and Body Weight as Predictors of Postoperative Course in Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT. The influence of preoperative serum albumin and percent ideal body weight on postoperative outcome was examined in 83 patients operated upon for colorectal cancer. Compared to patients with normal preoperative body weight and serum albumin, the following were noted: 1) those with low serum albumins had increased rates of complications (p < 0.02) and deaths (p < 0.02); 2) complications were increased in obese patients (p < 0.02); and 3) those with two nutritional abnormalities had increased rate of complications (p < 0.05) and deaths (p < 0.01). The group at highest risk, those with both low body weight and decreased serum albumin, had a complication rate of over 70% and a mortality rate of 42%.
Advancing the hydrogen safety knowledge base

Abstract The International Energy Agency's Hydrogen Implementing Agreement (IEA HIA) was established in 1977 to pursue collaborative hydrogen research and development and information exchange among its member countries. Information and knowledge dissemination is a key aspect of the work within IEA HIA tasks, and case studies, technical reports and presentations/publications often result from the collaborative efforts. The work conducted in hydrogen safety under Task 31 and its predecessor, Task 19, can positively impact the objectives of national programs even in cases for which a specific task report is not published. The interactions within Task 31 illustrate how technology information and knowledge exchange among participating hydrogen safety experts serve the objectives intended by the IEA HIA.
Garvey-Kelson mass formula in the s-d shell☆

Abstract A literal interpretation of the Garvey-Kelson mass formula is used to relate deviations from the simple predictions for certain sextuplets of nuclei. The large discrepancies between prediction and experiment for 25 Ne, 29 Mg and 33 Si are, in this way, removed.
Muscle thick filament mass measured by electron scattering.

Abstract The mass per unit length of the vertebrate striated muscle thick filament has been measured to be 87 × 103 ± 23 × 103 daltons per nanometre in the region of uniform packing using an electron scattering technique. This method has the advantage that individual thick filaments can be measured separately, thus avoiding biases due to fragmentation of particles, aggregation, or incomplete purification. This result is consistent with models of thick filament structure containing three myosin molecules per 14.3 nm repeat but not with those containing four molecules per repeat.
Microstructural Evolvement of Al-1.5Si-1.1Mg-0.5Cu Alloy Ingot during Homogenization Treatment

The kinds, morphologies and distributions, enclosed the micro-structural evolvement of Al-1.5Si-1.1Mg-0.5Cu alloy during homogenization treatment were investigated by means of optical microscopy, XRD, SEM/EDS and TEM/EDS. The results show that there were mainly three kinds of morphologically distinct constituents in as-cast Al-1.5Si-1.1Mg-0.5Cu alloy for automotive panels, such as coarse Mg2Si and Al8(FeMn)2Si, and multiphase eutectic structure consisted of AlMgSiFeCu elements, except the α-Al matrix phase. The coarse Mg2Si and Al8(FeMn)2Si were distributed in the α-Al interdentritic regions or at grain boundaries, the former sometimes appears more obvious eutectic characteristics than the later one. The multiphase eutectic products distributed both inside grains with agglomerate aspects and along the α-Al interdentritic regions or at grain boundaries, which is contained with Si and Al2Cu. Coarse binary eutectic structure Mg2Si partly dissolved into matrix and the eutectic characteristics disappeared, whereas Al8(FeMn)2Si changed a little during homogenization. Agglomerate multi-eutectic structures were non-equilibrium products, some of them fully dissolved into matrix and the others partially dissolved and left the discrete blocky Si behind after homogenization.
Oxidation studies of copper-manganese alloys — A basis for model catalyst preparation

The oxidation of various compositions of Cu-Mn polycrystalline alloys and a Cu-Mn(7.5%) single crystalline alloy has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) over the temperature range from room temperature to 500°C at oxygen pressures varying from 10-5 Torr to 1 atm. It has been established that the complex behavior of the oxidation and the ultimate nature of the oxide layers are controlled by temperature, oxygen pressure and alloy composition with dominance at low temperatures and pressures by relative free energies of oxide formation. The composition and structure of the oxide films have been examined in detail by XPS.
Biological markers of intermediate outcomes in studies of indoor air and other complex mixtures.

Biological markers of intermediate health outcomes sometimes provide a superior alternative to traditional measures of pollutant-related disease. Some opportunities and methodologic issues associat...
THE DETECTION OF LOW-INTENSITY PEAKS IN ENERGY DISPERSIVE X-RAY SPECTRA FROM PARTICLES

A critical step in the processing of energy dispersive (EDS) x-ray spectra from the automated scanning electron microscopy (ASEM) analysis of particles is the detection and identification of elemental peaks. Since there are often several hundred to several thousand spectra for each ASEM analysis, it is important that this step operate rapidly and with a minimum of interaction between analyst and the program. For peaks with large peak-to-background (P/B) ratios, most peak-find or peak-fitting methods do a reasonable job even when the spectra have low signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios. The detection of peaks with small P/B ratios is much more problematical. Peak identification and fitting procedures may not work well on low-intensity peaks, particularly in spectra with low S/N ratios. In this study, three procedures for identifying x-ray peaks, with small P/B ratios in spectra with varying S/N ratios, were evaluated. The first procedure was the identification of peaks by human analysts. The results from the analysts were then used to set a benchmark for the performance of two computer-based procedures that included three different qualitative peak identification methods, and one quantitative analysis procedure. The success of the qualitative methods in finding small peaks varied widely. In general, the quantitative analysis procedure performed as well as the best human analysts and was better than the qualitative methods.
Teaching about relict, no-analog landscapes

Abstract Only a few very young landforms are the result of currently operating geomorphic processes. Because the time scale for landscape evolution is much longer than the time scale for late Cenozoic climate changes, almost all landscapes are palimpsests, written over repeatedly by various combinations of climate-determined processes. Relict glacial and periglacial landforms are widely identified in mid-latitude regions that have been traditionally described as having been shaped by the “normal” processes of fluvial erosion. Less confidently, deeply weathered regolith and associated relict landforms in the middle and high latitudes are attributed to early Tertiary warmth. However, assemblages of geomorphic processes specific to certain climatic regions, like faunal and floral assemblages, cannot be translated across latitude, so in spite of the many books about the geomorphology of specific modern climate regions, there are few sources that discuss former warm high-latitude, or cold low-latitude, low-altitude geomorphic processes that have no modern analogs. Students and teachers alike who attempt to interpret landforms by extrapolating modern climatic conditions to other latitudinal zones will find their outlook broadened, and they become better prepared to consider the geomorphic impacts of global climate change.
The Efficacy of Trapezoidal Wave Forms for Ventricular Defibrillation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a trapezoidal wave form for ventricular defibrillation. Overall efficacy showed the trapezoidal waveform to be effective for defibrillation, including patients weighing over 100 kg (220 lb). We concluded that (1) the trapezoidal waveform is an effective defibrillatory pulse and (2) the trapezoidal waveform offers pulse characteristics less deleterious than other established wave forms.
Vertical structure of tropical oceanic convective clouds and its relation to precipitation

[1] Cloudsat cloud radar data are used to investigate the vertical structure of cloud systems of the ITCZ across the West and East Pacific and its contribution to precipitation. Cloud radar data are collocated with precipitation rates from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) to examine differences in cloud top PDFs for different rain rate regimes. Heavily precipitating clouds have high tops that are nearly two km deeper than moderately raining or non-raining high clouds. Rain rate increases with cloud height, especially for clouds higher than 12 km, with nearly a tenfold rain rate increase from 12 km to the tropical tropopause. Clouds with tops below 9.5 km contribute 38% to total rainfall in the West Pacific and 47% in the East Pacific, but they contribute 60% and 74% to total rain area, respectively.
Characterization of switched direct current gas sampling glow discharge ionization source for the time-of-flight mass spectrometer

A variable frequency, switched, direct-current gas sampling glow discharge ionization source was interfaced to an orthogonally extracted time-of-flight mass spectrometer for the purpose of dynamically generating atomic and molecular mass spectra of halogenated hydrocarbons. The plasma duty cycle is 50% in each mode of operation. The operating mode is selected simply by switching the polarity of voltage applied to the sample-introduction plate. The self-igniting helium discharge is contained within the first vacuum stage of the differentially pumped spectrometric interface. Both atomic and molecular mass spectra could be obtained with similar ion-optical lens settings, with the exception of the steering plate potential, which had to be alternated between two values (at the plasma switching frequency). A range of discharge switching rates can be used, although a non-linear drop in the modulated signal occurs with frequency. Switching rates above 100 Hz appears to be impractical with current experimental apparatus. Long-term temporal stability of the atomic (79Br+) and molecular (172CHBr2+) signals was measured over a period greater than 1 h, with an overall precision of 13.3 and 6.1% RSD, respectively. The 79Br+/81Br+ isotope ratio precision was 1.1% RSD over this period, while the 172CHBr2+/173CHBr2+ molecular ratio was determined to be 1.6% RSD. The precision of the isotope and ionic ratios are counting statistics limited. The atomic detection limit is in the range 3–110 pg s−1 (as the halogen) and 15–250 pg s−1 (molecular) for analytes manually introduced into an exponential-dilution sample-introduction device, with boxcar averagers being employed for data collection. A variety of chlorinated hydrocarbons were introduced into the discharge via the flow cell, and it was possible to differentiate (or speciate) the compounds based on their 35Cl+/12C+ elemental ratios with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.995.
Some relationships between Chlorohydra, its symbionts and some other chlorophyllous forms

Two species of Chlorohydra, two free-living algae and a green flagellate were used to investigate the following: (1) Removal of algal symbionts, (2) reinfection of albinized hydra, (3) autonomy of the partners once separated, (4) infection of albino hydras by algal symbionts from another species of Hydra and by free-living algae and a green flagellate. C. viridissima could not be albinized by the usual methods, while C. hadleyi was easily albinized. The albino form could be reinfected easily by injection and grafting methods but it could not readily be infected with symbionts from C. viridissima. One free-living alga (Oocystis) gave limited infection after injection of the algal cells into albino hydras. Survival of green and albino forms of C. hadleyi under starvation conditions was the same but budding rate of the albino form was higher than that of the green form. Attempts to maintain continuous cultures of the green symbionts in vitro were unsuccessful, but with a specially devised method it was shown that the algae survived at least 14 days in an artificial medium.
Earthquake Mechanics in the Central United States

Focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes in the central United States suggest that local stress fields are important in determining the type and orientation of faulting. The implied stress system is considerably more complicated than that which would be produced by east-west trending compressive stresses, as previously suggested for this region.
Evaluation of colorectal cancers for Lynch syndrome: practical molecular diagnostics for surgical pathologists.

Evaluation of colorectal cancers for Lynch syndrome: practical molecular diagnostics for surgical pathologists
Suceptibility of mice to audiogenic seizures is increased by handling their dams during gestation

Fetal mice treated on days 10, 11, and 12 of gestation by injecting the mothers with (i) 50 milligrams of beta-2-thienylalanine, (ii) solvent, or (iii) sham injection had identical frequencies of audiogenic seizures when tested 23 days after birth; these frequencies were significantly higher than those of an unhandled control group. Results of the sham treatment suggest that maternal stress induced by handling, rather than the nature of the substance injected, increased the susceptibility of the offspring to seizures.
The structure of a bacteriophage T7 procapsid and its in vivo conversion product probed by digestion with trypsin.

Abstract In previous studies it was shown that a DNA-free bacteriophage T7 procapsid (capsid I) draws DNA to its interior during assembly and as it begins this packaging capsid I changes in structure to capsid II. To probe the structures of capsids I and II, they have been digested with trypsin. The most abundant protein in the envelopes of capsids I and II, P10, was cleaved when capsid I was digested, but was not cleaved when capsid II was digested. Cleavage of capsid I-associated P10 formed a major P10 fragment 18% reduced in molecular weight, but did not detectably affect the size of capsid I (determined from sieving during agarose gel electrophoresis) or appearance of capsid I in the electron microscope. The magnitude of the (negative) average electrical surface charge density of capsid I was increased by digestion with trypsin (determined by agarose gel electrophoresis). At least one minor P10 fragment remained associated with capsid I after digestion.
Thermophysical properties of Alloy 617 from 25 °C to 1000 °C

Abstract Key thermophysical properties needed for the successful design and use of Alloy 617 in steam generator and heat exchanger applications have been measured experimentally, and results are compared with literature values and results obtained from some other commercial Ni–Cr alloys and model materials. Specifically, the thermal diffusivity, thermal expansion coefficient, and specific heat capacity have been measured for Alloy 617 over a range of temperatures, allowing calculation of thermal conductivity up to 1000 °C. It has been found that the thermal conductivity of Alloy 617 exhibits significant deviation from monotonic behavior in the temperature range from 600 °C to 850 °C, the temperatures of interest for most heat transfer applications. The non-linear behavior appears to result primarily from short-range order/disorder phenomena known to occur in the Ni–Cr system. Similar deviation from monotonic behavior was observed in the solid solution Ni–Cr-W Alloy 230, and lesser deviations were observed in iron based Alloy 800H and an austenitic stainless steel. Measured thermophysical property data are provided for four different heats of Alloy 617, and it is shown that property variations between the four different heats are not significant. Measurements were also obtained from Alloy 617 that was aged for up to 2000 h at 750 °C, and it was found that this aging treatment does not significantly influence the thermophysical properties.
Isospin independence of the H-He double isotope ratio "thermometer"

Abstract Light fragments (d, t, 3He,4He) were measured for central collisions of 112Sn+112Sn and 124Sn+124Sn at E/A=40 MeV. While individual isotope ratios depend strongly on the neutron-to-proton ratio of the entrance channel, the double ratio RH–He=[Y(d)Y(4He)]/[Y(t)Y(3He)] shows no such sensitivity. Within the assumptions of the Albergo thermometric technique, this independence is consistent with the attainment of full chemical equilibrium for each reaction at the same common temperature. However, the same independence is also predicted by calculations based on emission from an expanding emitting source, where the yield for the final double ratio is not obtained at a single well defined source temperature.
Dependence of phonatory effort on hydration level

In this study, a double-blind placebo-controlled approach was used to assess the relation between hydration level and phonatory effort. Twelve adult, untrained voice users with normal voices partic...
A Molecular Modeling Investigation of Cation and Water Siting in Crystalline Silicotitanates

A classical rigid ion force field potential has been developed for simulations involving Na+, Cs+, and water in cystalline silicotitanate (CST) and 25% niobium-substituted crystalline silicotitantate (Nb−CST) materials. The siting of the cations and water predicted by the force field agree favorably with experimental powder X-ray diffraction results. The accuracy and performance of the rigid ion model are compared against results obtained using a polarizable shell model potential. The rigid ion model yields comparable accuracy at a fraction of the computational cost of the shell model. The simulations provide insight into the organization and hydration of the cations in the CST materials and help explain the large selectivity these materials show for Cs+ ion exchange.
Laser arytenoidectomy in the management of bilateral vocal cord paralysis in children

Abstract Objective To analyse the efficacy of CO2 laser arytenoidectomy in the management of bilateral vocal cord paralysis in children. Methods Retrospective series of 17 patients who underwent laser arytenoidectomy for bilateral vocal cord between 1995 and 2008 in a tertiary care institution. All patients had bilateral laryngeal paralysis, in isolation (n = 5) or associated with concomitant airway conditions (n = 12). All cases had anterior prolapse of the arytenoids with partial obstruction of the airway on inspiration. 12/17 patients (70.5%) were tracheotomy-dependant, 2/17 were in-extubatable, and 3/17 had severe airway limitation, effort dyspnea and poor sleep pattern. Main outcome measures were decannulation rate for patients with tracheotomy, occurrence of aspiration and quality of voice. Results The mean age was 2.8 years old. 9/12 patients with tracheotomy (75%) were decannulated with a median delay of 2 months (2 days to 18 months). Both of the intubated patients were extubated with a median delay of 36 h. One of the decannulated patients who re-presented with a residual dyspnea after the arytenoidectomy was improved by a further laser cordotomy. 2/17 patients (11.7%) had post-operative persistent aspirations (with pneumopathies in one case), 5/17 patients were dysphonic, 3 improved with speech therapy and 2 with intracordal lipoinjection. Conclusions Laser arytenoidectomy is effective for improving the breathing in children presenting with a bilateral vocal fold paralysis associated with obstructive arytenoid prolapse. Results are good as a first-line surgery or following laryngo-tracheal surgery. Voice outcomes are satisfactory. However, aspiration is a rare complication.
Ship signature measurements for tactical decision-aid input

In support of a continuing program of evaluation and experimental validation of FLIR Tactical Decision Aid performance codes, a series of measurements has been made of ship radiance temperature distributions together with sea and sky backgrounds. The measurements have been made at ranges from one quarter to one mile off the coastline in Monterey Bay, using a land- mounted Agema 780 dual band Thermovision radiometric sensor, with computer data acquisition and storage. The target ship was the research vessel Point Sur carrying a full suite of meteorological instruments and an array of thermal sensors for ship surface temperature distribution. Rawinsonde balloons were released to obtain vertical temperature and humidity profiles for path correction using LOWTRAN. The normal skin emissivity was measured in a separate experiment. The current data band consists of 898 stored radiometric frames containing ship images including starboard, port, bow and stern aspects, together with sea and sky background frames with varied zenith angle. These files are available for false color display and analysis in a variety of formats.
High frequency dielectric studies of hydrated Nafion

Abstract This study reports high frequency dielectric measurements (0.045–30 GHz) on Nafion® 117 at various states of hydration. A novel technique to measure the broad band frequency dependent real and imaginary parts of the relative permittivity is described. The basic experimental configuration and numerical data analysis are reported along with a discussion of several difficulties encountered and experimental validation of the method. The preliminary results show a strong dependence of the dielectric constant of the Nafion® 117 membrane with water content. The dielectric constant for all hydrated membrane samples was observed to be constant over the initial part of the frequency span, ranging from a maximum of 20 in the samples with 13 waters per sulfonate to a minimum of four in very dry samples. The results reflect the decreasing polar environment of the water at low water contents as well as the increasing extent of binding of the water at the fixed ionic site at low water content. A ‘roll off’ in the dielectric constant, the extent of which was dependent on water content, was observed also in the frequency spectrum. Several possible origins for this ‘roll-off’, including real effects of dipolar relaxations occurring in the hydrated polymers and experimental effects due to the similarity of the wavelength of radiation to the sample dimensions are discussed. Finally, the conductivity of the membranes at various water contents and at frequencies below 5 GHz was extracted from the loss factor spectra. These values agreed well with previous conductivity measurements (obtained at lower frequencies) suggesting that no relaxations are observed in the intervening frequency range (roughly 5–50 MHz).
Respiratory effects produced by microinjection of l-glutamate and an uptake inhibitor of l-glutamate into the caudal subretrofacial area of the medulla

The purposes of our study were to determine the type of respiratory changes that would occur when either an excitatory amino acid receptor agonist or an uptake inhibitor was administered into the caudal subretrofacial area. This was done by microinjecting either L-glutamate or L-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (L-trans-2,4-PDC) into the caudal subretrofacial area while monitoring tidal volume, respiratory rate, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Bilateral microinjection of 2.5 nmol of L-glutamate into the caudal subretrofacial area produced apnea in eight of eight animals tested, and the duration of apnea was 27 +/- 2 s. To determine the type of L-glutamate receptor responsible for mediating the apneic response, antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptor, namely, 3-[(RS)-carboxypiperazin-4-yl]-propyl-phosphonic acid (CPP), and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), respectively, were tested. Neither antagonist in doses that blocked NMDA (in the case of CPP) and amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) (in the case of CNQX) blocked apnea elicited by L-glutamate. In addition, kynurenic acid, an antagonist of NMDA and non-NMDA ionotropic receptors, failed to block the effect of L-glutamate. Microinjection of the metabotropic receptor agonist drug, trans-L-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentone-dicarboxylic acid (L-trans-ACPD), into the caudal subretrofacial area failed to have any effect on respiratory activity. Because of the inability to block the effect of L-glutamate in the caudal subretrofacial area, and the lack of effect of L-trans-ACPD, the data suggest that the apneic response produced by L-glutamate is mediated by an as yet undefined receptor. Microinjection of the L-glutamate uptake inhibitor, L-trans-2,4-PDC, was found to produce apnea. Using the dose of 0.5 nmol of L-trans-2,4-PDC, we examined the type of excitatory amino acid receptor that mediated the response. Neither pretreatment with the NMDA receptor antagonist, CPP, nor the non-NMDA receptor antagonist, CNQX, affected L-trans-2,4-PDC-induced apnea. However, combined use of these two antagonists prevented L-trans-2,4-PDC-induced apnea. These data suggest that the effect of synaptically released exitatory amino acid at the caudal subretrofacial area on breathing is apnea, and that this effect is mediated by simultaneous activation of both NMDA and non-NMDA ionotropic receptors.
A Configural Approach to the Use of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank With Student Engineers.

Abstract SVIB profiles of 1169 freshmen entering a college of engineering were grouped according to total occupational scale profile similarity into 28 code types. Mean scores or percentages for the individuals in each code type were compared to base rate values for income variables including ability, personality, and socioeconomic data and outcome variables including academic progress, choice of major, counsel-seeking behavior, and place of residence. The data for four code types were presented together with examples of how the results might be used by a counselor. The investigators concluded that SVIB profile types can be useful in acting as moderator variables to predict student characteristics, and that total profile analysis of the SVIB occupational scale merits further attention.
Men's interactions with women after viewing sexually explicit films: Does degradation make a difference?

Short‐term exposure to nonviolent sexual media stimuli can produce cognitive changes in men, which, in turn, can affect their attitudes toward women. This study sought to build on past research by reliably distinguishing between (a) sexually explicit and non‐sexual films and (b) sexually explicit films that are either degrading or non‐degrading to women. We tested whether men's viewing of these materials affects their judgment of women in subsequent face‐to‐face interactions. Sex‐typed and non sex‐typed men (Bem, 1974) viewed one of three equally stimulating film stimuli determined by an independent set of viewers to be: (a) sexually explicit and degrading, (b) sexually explicit and non‐degrading, or (c) non‐sexual film. After viewing, the men interacted with women and then evaluated their partners' intellectual competence, sexual interest, sexual attractiveness, and sexual permissiveness. Women rated the men's sexual interest, dominance, and their own feelings of degradation during the interaction. No ef...
Plasticity in Ion Channel Expression Underlies Variation in Hearing during Reproductive Cycles

Summary Sensory plasticity related to reproductive state, hormonal profiles, and experience is widespread among vertebrates, including humans [1–5]. Improvements in audio-vocal coupling that heighten the detection of conspecifics are part of the reproductive strategy of many nonmammalian vertebrates [6, 7]. Although seasonal changes in hearing are known [7–11], molecular mechanisms determining this form of adult sensory plasticity remain elusive. Among both nonmammals [12] and mammals [13, 14], large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels underlie a primary outward current having a predominant influence on frequency tuning in auditory hair cells [12]. We now report an example from fish showing that increased BK channel abundance can improve an individual's ability to hear vocalizations during the breeding season. Pharmacological manipulations targeting BK channels, together with measures of BK transcript abundance, can explain the seasonal enhancement of auditory hair cell sensitivity to the frequency content of calls. Plasticity in ion channel expression is a simple, evolutionarily labile solution for sculpting sensory bandwidth to maximize the detection of conspecific signals during reproductive cycles.
Heat Shock Factor 1 Represses Ras-induced Transcriptional Activation of the c-fos Gene

Heat shock factor 1, the critical molecular regulator of the stress response is conserved throughout eukaryotic organisms and activates the transcription of heat shock genes. We now show that heat shock factor 1 inhibits the expression of c-fos, an immediate early gene that controls responses to extracellular stimuli for growth and differentiation. Heat shock factor 1 inhibits the transcription of the c-fos gene and antagonizes the activating effects of the signal transducing protein Ras on the c-fos promoter and on the promoter of another Ras responsive gene uPA. This property was specific for heat shock factor 1; c-fos repression was not seen with the structurally related protein heat shock factor 2. Repression involved different molecular mechanisms compared with those involved in transcriptional activation by heat shock factor 1 and specifically did not require binding to the c-fos promoter. Thus, in addition to its known role as a transcriptional activator of the cellular heat shock response, heat shock factor 1 also antagonizes the expression of Fos, a key component of the ubiquitous AP-1 transcription factor complex and as such could influence multiple aspects of cell regulation.
Chirostrip Antenna: Line Source Problem

Recently, we introduced the idea of chirostrip antennas which are microstrip radiators with chiral materials as substrates and/or superstrates. Owing to the handedness of chiral substrates, novel features are associated with this type of antenna. In this paper, the problem of chirostrip line antennas is analyzed in detail. These antennas consist of an electric line source printed on top of a grounded chiral slab. Both the surface wave and radiation modes of such substrates are obtained and their important features are discussed. Excitation of these surface waves and radiation by the line source are studied and their notable characteristics, such as the power and polarization state of the radiation fields, and the power carried by surface waves, are addressed. It is found that for the two-dimensional chirostrip antenna the chirality can, under certain circumstances, decrease the undesirable surface-wave power and increase the radiated power, thus giving rise to higher radiation resistance and radiation eff...
Work Without End?: Scheduling Flexibility and Work‐to‐Family Conflict Among Stockbrokers

The common finding in the work–family literature that workplace scheduling flexibility reduces work‐to‐family conflict may not be generalizable to service occupations with intense client demands. This qualitative analysis of stockbrokers finds that brokers in firms granting scheduling flexibility experience more work‐to‐family conflict than those in the firm with scheduling rigidity. Although brokers in the latter firm lose autonomy from their employer (and earning potential), bureaucratic rigidity buffers them from client pressures that intrude on family life. This finding should be tested in other occupations requiring extensive client interactions in a 24‐hour economy.
Effects of the Distribution of Female Primates on the Number of Males

The spatiotemporal distribution of females is thought to drive variation in mating systems, and hence plays a central role in understanding animal behavior, ecology and evolution. Previous research has focused on investigating the links between female spatiotemporal distribution and the number of males in haplorhine primates. However, important questions remain concerning the importance of spatial cohesion, the generality of the pattern across haplorhine and strepsirrhine primates, and the consistency of previous findings given phylogenetic uncertainty. To address these issues, we examined how the spatiotemporal distribution of females influences the number of males in primate groups using an expanded comparative dataset and recent advances in Bayesian phylogenetic and statistical methods. Specifically, we investigated the effect of female distributional factors (female number, spatial cohesion, estrous synchrony, breeding season duration and breeding seasonality) on the number of males in primate groups. Using Bayesian approaches to control for uncertainty in phylogeny and the model of trait evolution, we found that the number of females exerted a strong influence on the number of males in primate groups. In a multiple regression model that controlled for female number, we found support for temporal effects, particularly involving female estrous synchrony: the number of males increases when females are more synchronously receptive. Similarly, the number of males increases in species with shorter birth seasons, suggesting that greater breeding seasonality makes defense of females more difficult for male primates. When comparing primate suborders, we found only weak evidence for differences in traits between haplorhines and strepsirrhines, and including suborder in the statistical models did not affect our conclusions or give compelling evidence for different effects in haplorhines and strepsirrhines. Collectively, these results demonstrate that male monopolization is driven primarily by the number of females in groups, and secondarily by synchrony of female reproduction within groups.