cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic Signal in the COI, 16S, and 28S Genes for Inferring Relationships among Genera of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera; Braconidae): Evidence of a High Diversification Rate in This Group of Parasitoids

The subfamily Microgastrinae is a highly diversified group of parasitoid wasps that attacks all of the different groups of Lepidoptera. We explore here the phylogenetic signal in three gene (mitochondrial COI and 16S, and nuclear 28S) fragments as an assessment of their utility in resolving generic relationships within this species-rich insect group. These genes were chosen because their level of sequence divergence is thought to be appropriate for this study and because they have resolved relationships among other braconid wasps at similar taxonomic levels. True phylogenetic signal, as opposed to random signal or noise, was detected in the 16S and 28S data sets. Phylogenetic analyses conducted on each microgastrine data set, however, have all resulted in poorly resolved trees, with most clades being supported by low bootstrap values. The phylogenetic signal, if present, is therefore concentrated on a few well-supported clades. Some rapidly evolving sites may be too saturated to be phylogenetically useful. Nonetheless, the sequence data (nearly 2300 nucleotides) used here appear to exhibit the appropriate level of variation, theoretically, to resolve the relationships studied. Moreover, the clades that are well supported by the data are usually supported by more than one data set and represent different levels of sequence divergence. We suggest that the lack of phylogenetic signal observed is an indication of the presence of many short internal branches on the phylogeny being estimated, which in turn might be the result of a rapid diversification of the taxa examined. Relative specialization of diet, which is typically associated with parasitic behavior, is believed to result in high radiation rates, which may have been especially high in microgastrine wasps because of the great diversity of their lepidopteran hosts. This hypothesis of a rapid diversification caused by an abundance of host species remains speculative and more data will be needed to test it further.
Methodology to account for multi-stage ignition phenomena during simulations of RCM experiments

Abstract RCM experiments are used to investigate the ignition behavior of fuels at engine relevant conditions. Modern designs utilize pistons with crevice volumes machined around the circumference of the crown in order to suppress boundary layer effects during the volumetric compression process. While piston crevices have been successful in controlling heat loss from the reaction chamber gases and improving the overall homogeneity of the reacting mixture, multi-stage ignition events can be sufficiently perturbed by spatial non-uniformities and there can be substantial gas flow into the crevice volume due to the preliminary, or low-temperature heat releases. Ignition delay times can be lengthened by up to 25% as a result of these effects. These features are difficult to incorporate into 0D chemical kinetic simulations where volumetric expansion curves from non-reacting experiments are often used to prescribe the heat loss characteristics of reacting chamber mixtures. A new methodology is presented here to account for multi-stage ignition phenomena during simulations of RCM experiments. The approach and a range of demonstrative examples are presented in this study.
Preterm Birth Update

AbstractPreterm birth plagues modern society, with over three million deaths worldwide annually. When combined with low birth weight, preterm births are estimated to cost over one hundred million disability-adjusted life years. In the U. S., the low birth weight (newborn less than 2,500 gms) delivery rate in 2002 increased to 7.8 percent from 6.8 percent in 1985. This marks the highest rate in over thirty years. A large meta-analysis from 2009 analyzing abortion and preterm birth found an increased risk for preterm birth with an odds ratio of 1.35 (95 percent CI 1.20–1.52) for preterm demonstrating a 35 percent increase in the preterm birth rate in patients with only one abortion. The odds ratio for preterm birth for greater than two induced abortions was 1.72 (95 percent CI 1.45–2.04) demonstrating a 72 percent increase in the preterm birth rate and the important epidemiological principle of a doserelated effect: The more abortions one has prior to first pregnancy, the higher the risk for preterm birth. ...
ECONOMIC DISARTICULATION AND FERTILITY IN LESS DEVELOPED NATIONS

A large body of research and theory seeking to explain fertility levels in less developed nations has stressed the effects of economic development on family-level decision making. While clearly a major factor, economic development levels fail to explain much of the variation in fertility rates. Some researchers have attempted to remedy this shortcoming by taking into account cross-national variation in income distributions, on the grounds that this approach provides a more refined indication of the real social consequences of economic development. The present analysis extends this tradition of research by arguing that the degree of disarticulation provides a theoretically more powerful and empirically more accurate way to operationalize these hypothesized distributional effects on fertility levels. DETERMINANTS OF FERTILITY DECLINE The most significant determinants of fertility decline in less developed countries are relatively well understood. Several sets of variables, including child and infant mortality levels, rational cost-benefit calculations at the family level, and female status have been shown to affect fertility rates. All of these factors, in turn, are generally considered closely related to economic development and growth. The precise nature of this linkage, however, remains theoretically and empirically problematic. Although less developed nations generally have higher fertility levels than more developed nations, the correspondence is far from exact. Even a casual inspection of data for the world's one hundred or so less developed nations reveals numerous radical disparities between per capita product and total fertility. This article suggests that "disarticulation," a distorted mode of economic growth found in many less developed countries, can help to explain these disparities.
On second derivative-free zero finding methods

High order root-finding algorithms are constructed from formulas for approximating higher order logarithmic and standard derivatives. These formulas are free of derivatives of second order or higher and use only function evaluation and/or first derivatives at multiple points. Richardson extrapolation technique is applied to obtain better approximations of these derivatives. The proposed approaches resulted in deriving a family of root-finding methods of any desired order. The first member of this family is the square root iteration or Ostrowski iteration. Additionally, higher order derivatives are approximated using multi-point function evaluations. We also derived a procedure for fourth order methods that are dependents only on the function and its first derivative evaluated at multiple points.
Regulation of μm VS μS mRNA expression in an inducible B cell line

Abstract During the course of B lymphocyte differentiation into immunoglobulin secreting cells the abundance of mRNA for the heavy chain of secreted IgM (μ s ) increases dramatically. In order to understand the regulatory events responsible for the selective increase in μ s mRNA we have looked for transcriptional alterations of VDJCμ gene segments as well as changes in the relative stability of μ m and μ s mRNA in BCL1 lymphoma cells which can be stimulated to increase the expression of μ s mRNA. These experiments showed that although the transcriptional level of the μ gene locus is not prefenentially augmented after stimulation, an alteration in the sites of polymerase termination is a significant factor contributing to the higher μ s to μ m ratio. This switch is dependent on new RNA synthesis. In addition, although the half-life of μ s mRNA is not selectively increased, stimulation of the cells does result in a specific enhancement of the half-lives of both species of μ mRNA, which accounts for the higher steady state levels of total μ message.
Cancer: The flipside of Notch.

Mutations that lead to increased activity of the Notch signalling pathway are well defined in human cancer. New work implicates decreased activity of this pathway in a type of blood cancer. See Letter p.230 Activating mutations in the Notch pathway promote tumorigenesis in T-cell leukaemias. Iannis Aifantis and colleagues now find that the same pathway suppresses the development of myeloid leukaemias. Inactivating the pathway in haematopoietic stem cells leads to myeloid disease resembling chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML), and mutations in Notch pathway genes can be found in patients with CMML. The Notch pathway is shown to suppress a myeloid differentiation program. These findings demonstrate that the Notch pathway exerts both oncogenic and tumour-suppressor functions in the haematopoietic system and regulates critical cell-fate decisions.
Identification of Two Novel Loci for Dominantly Inherited Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive, adult-onset motor neuron disease that arises as a dominantly inherited trait in ∼10% of ALS cases. Mutations in one gene, cytosolic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), account for ∼25% of familial ALS (FALS) cases. We have performed a genetic linkage screen in 16 pedigrees with FALS with no evidence for mutations in the SOD1 gene and have identified novel ALS loci on chromosomes 16 and 20. The analysis of these genes will delineate pathways implicated as determinants of motor-neuron viability and provide insights into possible therapies for ALS.
Shrink Flanging with Surface Contours

Experimental and analytical studies on shrink flanging with surface curvatures are presented in this paper. An analytical model is proposed to predict the circumferential strain along the flange edge as a function of bending angle under a given geometry condition. A semi-empirical failure criterion to capture the occurrence of wrinkling is also developed. Both the strain model and the wrinkling model are well supported by experiments. These models can be used as a practical design tool for shrink flanging process analysis.
Traceability in low-level radioactivity measurements

Abstract Various suggested definitions of the term “traceability” are discussed from the standpoint of proposed adoption and use of the concept by the International Organization of Legal Metrology.
A Ypt32p Exchange Factor Is a Putative Effector of Ypt1p

Ypt1p regulates vesicle tethering and fusion events from the ER to the Golgi and through the early Golgi. Genetic studies have suggested a functional relationship between Ypt1p and Ypt31p/Ypt32p. Ypt31p and Ypt32p are a pair of functionally redundant GTPases that act after Ypt1p to mediate intra-Golgi traffic or the budding of post-Golgi vesicles from the trans-Golgi. Here we report that a novel Ypt32p exchange factor is a putative effector of Ypt1p. These findings implicate small GTP-binding proteins of the Ypt/Rab family in a signal cascade that directs membrane traffic through the secretory pathway.
Overnight transition from carbamazepine to oxcarbazepine in children and adolescents.

Study Objective. To evaluate our clinical experience in pediatric patients who were rapidly switched from carbamazepine to oxcarbazepine at full therapeutic doses. Design. Retrospective medical record review. Setting. Children's hospital. Patients. Twenty six patients (mean age 9.8 yrs, range 5–21 yrs) with childhood epilepsy who were converted from carbamazepine to oxcarbazepine overnight between January 2003 and December 2005. Measurements and Main Results. Data collection included patient demographics, seizure type, epilepsy syndrome, seizure frequency, and adverse events. Dose conversion ratios for switching from carbamazepine to oxcarbazepine ranged from 1:1-1.5. The transition was well tolerated, with only three patients experiencing an adverse event (rash). Among the other 23 patients, seizure frequency decreased in 12 (52%), increased in two (9%), and remained unchanged in nine (39%). Conclusion. Overnight switching from carbamazepine to oxcarbazepine may be a useful option for pediatric patients who cannot tolerate or whose condition is unresponsive to carbamazepine.
The role of echocardiography in the selection of mitral valve prosthesis

Abstract Assessment of the left ventricular outflow tract was made echographically in 70 patients who subsequently received a mitral prosthesis. Group A (44 patients) had normal left ventricular outflow tract width (> 20 mm.); 13 received the Starr-Edwards prosthesis and nine received the Braunwald-Cutter prosthesis. There were two patients with low cardiac output syndrome and no hospital deaths. Group B (26 patients) had a narrow left ventricular outflow tract (
The Influence of a Surface Coating on the High-rate Fragmentation of a Ductile Material

A bifurcation analysis of a layered ductile structural element undergoing homogeneous, high-rate extension is presented. Formation of multiple strain localization sites provides a precursor to ductile fragmentation, and the objective of the analysis is to investigate the effect of an added surface layer on resistance of the structural element to fragmentation. The analysis shows that, in addition to dissipating plastic work, the outer layer can increase the total energy dissipation prior to fragmentation by increasing bifurcation strain. The analysis also shows that the strain hardening exponent of the outer layer plays an important role in increasing the bifurcation strain; higher values of hardening exponent result in higher bifurcation strain. Strength and density of the outer layer play a secondary role in increasing bifurcation strain. Once a material with a high hardening exponent is chosen for the outer material, its strength plays an important role in increasing the total dissipated energy. The analysis also reveals that, for certain combinations of strength and hardening exponent of the outer layer, the sandwich structure can dissipate more energy than a homogeneous core structure of the same total thickness and length. This is so even when the outer layer is weaker than the core. Energy dissipated per unit mass can be significantly improved by choosing a softer outer layer which displays high-strain hardening. Thus, the bifurcation analysis presented here provides a quantitative guideline for material selection in designing layered structures optimized for resistance to fragmentation.
An Exploration of Corporate Recruitment Descriptions on Monster.com

This article explores the ways in which corporations describe themselves in recruitment materials. Specifically, the study examines corporate descriptions provided to job seekers by firms advertisi...
A Study of Transesterification of Chiral (−)-Pinanediol Methylboronic Ester with Various Structurally Modified Diols

The transesterification of chiral (−)-pinanediol methylboronic ester was studied with various structurally modified diols by 1H NMR to understand the factors influencing the unusual stability of this boronic ester as well as to find ways of recovering pinanediol from its methylboronic ester. In all the cases, reactions were allowed to proceed to equilibrium. The preliminary experiments indeed have shown some encouraging results (displacement of pinanediol up to 40–53%). Amongst cyclopentane-based cis-1,2-diols, endo-2-phenyl-exo,exo-2,3-norbornane-diol appeared to be the most effective diol in displacing pinanediol (38%). In the cases of pinane-based diols, the best result was obtained with 2-ethyl-6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-cis-2,3-diol (53%). It was interesting to observe that the transesterification with 2-phenyl-6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-cis-2,3-diol resulted in a 50% conversion after 4 days only, whereas the former diol took 24 days to reach equilibrium.
Automatic segmentation and quantification of fluorescing microspheres adhering to capillary endothelial cells in the rat lung

Adhesion molecules present in the cellular membrane of the endothelium provide sites of leukocyte adherence as a first step in the process of leukocyte migration into the interstitium. New evidence suggests the same adhesion proteins may be responsible for the spread of metastatic tumors by providing a location for tumor cell attachment. A method was sought to quantitate the degree of adhesion molecule expression in the pulmonary capillary endothelium using a recently developed animal model which allows for viewing the lung surface in vivo. Videoimages of the pulmonary vascular system were gathered using this new lung chamber technique. A fully automated digital image processing and analysis (DIPA) system was also developed to estimate the level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on the capillary endothelial cells in these videoimages. Fluorescent microspheres were immunologically bound to the ICAM-1 molecules present on the endothelial cell surface. The DIPA system then located and quantified the fluorescent spots present in the videoimages. The ability of this system to locate and measure the fluorescence was compared with human measurements of the same images.
Principals’ Perspectives on School Mental Health and Wellness in U.S. Catholic Elementary Schools

The current study examines principals’ perspectives on school mental health needs, professional development in relation to school mental health, and areas of successful practice, and does so within a specified domain of education: private, Catholic, elementary schools in the United States. The study draws on survey data producing some of the first representative estimates of mental health services and staffing in private schools. Principals from 346 elementary schools shared their perspectives on three key areas: challenges in meeting student mental health needs, what types of professional development they desire, and the kinds of effective practice that are currently operative in their schools.
Auxetic materials: Avoiding the shrink

Materials that expand laterally when stretched can act as molecular-scale strain amplifiers. This amplification might be exploited in nature and in future technologies.
Characterization of LiCoO2 coated Li1.05Ni0.35Co0.25Mn0.4O2 cathode material for lithium secondary cells

Abstract In this study, nano-crystalline LiCoO 2 was coated onto the surface of Li 1.05 Ni 0.35 Co 0.25 Mn 0.4 O 2 powders via sol–gel method. The influence of the coating on the electrochemical behavior of Li 1.05 Ni 0.35 Co 0.25 Mn 0.4 O 2 is discussed. The surface morphology was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nano-crystallized LiCoO 2 was clearly observed on the surfaces of Li 1.05 Ni 0.35 Co 0.25 Mn 0.4 O 2 . The phase and structural changes of the cathode materials before and after coating were revealed by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). It was found that LiCoO 2 coated Li 1.05 Ni 0.35 Co 0.25 Mn 0.4 O 2 cathode material exhibited distinct surface morphology and lattice constants. Cyclic voltammetry (2.8–4.6 V versus Li/Li + ) shows that the characteristic voltage transitions on cycling exhibited by the uncoated material are suppressed by the 7 wt.% LiCoO 2 coating. This behavior implies that LiCoO 2 inhibits structural change of Li 1.05 Ni 0.35 Co 0.25 Mn 0.4 O 2 or reaction with the electrolyte on cycling. In addition, the LiCoO 2 coating on Li 1.05 Ni 0.35 Co 0.25 Mn 0.4 O 2 significantly improves the rate capability over the range 0.1–4.0 C . Comparative data for the coated and uncoated materials are presented and discussed.
Multiple model analytics for adverse event prediction in remote health monitoring systems

Remote health monitoring systems (RHMS) are gaining an important role in healthcare by collecting and transmitting patient vital information and providing data analysis and medical adverse event prediction (e.g. hospital readmission prediction). Reduction in the readmission rate is typically achieved by early prediction of the readmission based on the data collected from RHMS, and then applying early intervention to prevent the readmission. Given the diversity of patient populations and the continuous nature of patient monitoring, a single static predictive model is insufficient for accurately predicting adverse events. To address this issue, we propose a multiple prediction modeling technique that includes a set of accurate prediction models rather than one single universal predictor. In this paper, we propose a novel analytics framework based on the physiological data collected from RHMS, advanced clustering algorithms and multiple-model-classification. We tested our proposed method on a subset of data collected through a remote health monitoring system from 600 Heart Failure patients. Our proposed method provides significant improvements in prediction accuracy and performance over single predictive models.
Answer set based design of knowledge systems

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that A-Prolog is a powerful language for the construction of reasoning systems. In fact, A-Prolog allows to specify the initial situation, the domain model, the control knowledge, and the reasoning modules. Moreover, it is efficient enough to be used for practical tasks and can be nicely integrated with programming languages such as Java. An extension of A-Prolog (CR-Prolog) allows to further improve the quality of reasoning by specifying requirements that the solutions should satisfy if at all possible. The features of A-Prolog and CR-Prolog are demonstrated by describing in detail the design of USA-Advisor, an A-Prolog based decision support system for the Space Shuttle flight controllers.
Production of the experimental burn--a critical technical evaluation. Studies in burns, V.

Abstract A detailed comparison was made of the effects on logomorphs of 15 methods of burning, including radiant heat, flame, branding, and scalding at 4 separate temperatures and 3 different distances. Response of the surface to hyperthermic insult was observed with regard to thermo-temporal alteration, change in thickness, and variation in water-retentive capacity of the challenge site. Branding with a 730°C. Pyrex disc produced the greatest surface damage, but exposure to open flame and 15-second immersion in 100°C. or 90°C. water were statistically comparable. Sealding at 70°C., although followed by transient skin thickening, produced no significant alteration by 3 hours postburn. These studies demonstrated a clear inverse relationship between surface thickness and water-transmission function. These observations were related to the selection of experimental techniques, the interpretation of experimental results, and the understanding of some of the manifestations of the clinical burn.
Lumped Models of Transistors and Diodes

Lumped models are shown which can be used to approximate the properties of transistors and diodes over a wide range of conditions and applications. Two analytical procedures lead to a lumped model approximating a distributed system. In the familiar one, a differential analysis of the distributed system is made, subsequently a rational approximation is made to the transcendental functions resulting from the differential analysis. In the other, one makes a lumped model at the outset to approximate the distributed system and analyzes it. The lumping approximation at the outset generally simplifies the analysis and permits consideration of phenomena which would be prohibitive to analyze on a differential basis. Throughout, it provides a close tie of analysis to the physical phenomena involved. A lumped model for diffusion transistors is shown here which is analogous in end result to the Ebers-Moll model. The simple model is subsequently amended to account for the drift phenomenon, photo effects and avalanche multiplication.
Initial Evaluation of a Real-World Internet Smoking Cessation System

To significantly reduce smoking prevalence, treatments must balance reach, efficacy, and cost. The Internet can reach millions of smokers cost-effectively. Many cessation Web sites exist, but few have been evaluated. As a result, the potential impact of the Internet on smoking prevalence remains unknown. The present study reports the results, challenges, and limitations of a preliminary, large-scale evaluation of a broadly disseminated smoking cessation Web site used worldwide (QuitNet). Consecutive registrants (N = 1,501) were surveyed 3 months after they registered on the Web site to assess 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Results must be interpreted cautiously because this is an uncontrolled study with a 25.6% response rate. Approximately 30% of those surveyed indicated they had already quit smoking at registration. Excluding these participants, an intention-to-treat analysis yielded 7% point prevalence abstinence (for the responders only, abstinence was 30%). A range of plausible cessation outcomes (9.8%-13.1%) among various subgroups is presented to illustrate the strengths and limitations of conducting Web-based evaluations, and the tensions between clinical and dissemination research methods. Process-to-outcome analyses indicated that sustained use of QuitNet, especially the use of social support, was associated with more than three times greater point prevalence abstinence and more than four times greater continuous abstinence. Despite its limitations, the present study provides useful information about the potential efficacy, challenging design and methodological issues, process-to-outcome mechanisms of action, and potential public health impact of Internet-based behavior change programs for smoking cessation.
Link-specific adaptation in the luminance and chromatic channels

We present evidence that adaptation occurs in the separate links that connect the receptors to the luminance and the chromatic channels. The relative effectiveness of the L and M cone inputs to the luminance and red/green chromatic channels was determined by using, respectively, heterochromatic flicker photometry and a cancellation technique which maintained a pure yellow. The findings provide evidence for a link-specific adaptation model, wherein one receptor system provides two separate links to the luminance and chromatic channels and the outputs of an individual cone to these two postreceptoral channels can be separately attenuated or weighted at each of these links by colored adapting lights. One line of evidence for link-specific adaptation is that colored adapting fields selectively suppress L and M cone inputs to the red/green chromatic channel by a smaller factor than the luminance channel. A second line of evidence is that there is not only a magnitude difference but also a dynamic difference between adaptive processes operating in the luminance and chromatic channels: the luminance channel has a faster gain change and recovery from adaptation than does the chromatic channel. The results, together with other evidence, make it plausible that an important component of light adaptation in cone vision occurs at the cone-bipolar synapse.
Cephalometrics as an Aid to Prosthetic Treatment of Facial Disharmonies: Report of Case

Facial prognathism may be the result of a disproportionately large mandible, inadequate downward and forward growth of the maxilla, or a combination of both conditions. In the case reported, cephalometric measurements showed that facial asymmetry was caused by inadequate downward and forward growth of the maxilla. Insertion of a prosthetic appliance brought the patient’s profile within the accepted range of normal.
Buying and Selling practices in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry in the USA: a new research

This paper proposes a research agenda based on the current buying and selling practices of the channel members in the USA fresh fruit and vegetable industry. The key buying and selling were first identified in an industrywide survey that represented approximately 75 per cent of the total sales of USA supermarket chains. The likely growth of supermarket fresh fruit and vegetable sales is discussed, followed by a series of suggested research inquiries organized into four major categories: system structure, vertical co-ordination, produce/supplier attributes and pricing/performance. New empirical evidence is introduced for each category and research questions and procedures are put forth. This research is required as both consumers and retailers around the world put more emphasis on fresh foods.
The Drive to Describe: An Interview with Catherine Opie

Catherine Opie is a social documentary photographer of international renown whose primary artistic concerns are community and identity—gender, sexual, or otherwise. She rose to prominence in the early 1990s with an extraordinary series of portraits of her close friends within the Los Angeles S-M community. Her Being and Having series of 1991 consists of thirteen portraits of the artist's lesbian friends, donning theatrical moustaches, goatees, and “masculine” names, (Papa Bear, Wolf, and so on), while another series from that period, Portraits, offers up lushly colored, sympathetic images of her “marginalized” subjects—cross-dressers, tattooed dominatrixes, female-to-male transsexuals, drag kings, and other body manipulators.
Surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 5-(perfluorohexyl)norbornene on carbon paper electrodes

Abstract Hydrophobic coatings on carbon paper electrodes are known to provide effective water management, superior gas transfer, and improved mechanical stability of the paper in fuel cell applications. Here, we describe the surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of 5-(perfluorohexyl)norbornene (NBF6) to prepare fluorocarbon-rich films on carbon paper substrates that were pre-treated with O 2 plasma. For our reaction scheme, the growth of the pNBF6 films is dependent on the concentration of hydroxyl groups on the carbon paper substrate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to determine the required time for O 2 plasma exposure to saturate the surface with hydroxyl-termini. Complete, conformal pNBF6 films were grown on carbon paper electrodes exposed to O 2 plasma for at least 45 s. These films exhibit hydrophobic and oleophobic surface properties and serve as insulative barriers to the diffusion of aqueous ions to the conductive carbon fibers.
Magnetic studies of phase equilibria in Ti-Ai (30 to 57 At. Pct) alloys

Room temperature magnetic susceptibility studies have been made on a series of Ti-Al alloys in the composition range 30 to 57 at. pct Al, quenched from anneals at 900, 1065, 1165, 1215, 1265, 1315, and 1365°C. As a result of this work an equilibrium partial phase diagram has been constructed, compared with literature data, and discussed with reference to the results of a comprehensive metallographic and microhardness study.
Information Theoretic Foundations of Adaptive Coded Modulation

In wireless/mobile communications, terminals adapt their rate and transmit power or, more in general, their coding and modulation scheme, depending on the time-varying channel conditions. This paper presents, in a tutorial form, the information theoretic framework underlying such ldquoadaptive modulationrdquo techniques. First, we review fading channel models, channel state information assumptions, and related capacity results. Then, we treat the case of input power constraint, where the optimal input distribution is Gaussian. Finally, we address the case of discrete modulations. In order to treat the latter, we make use of the recently developed method of ldquomercury-waterfillingrdquo, based on the relationship between mutual information and minimum mean-square error (MMSE) estimation of the channel input from the channel output. While the traditional design of adaptive modulation schemes based on uncoded bit-error rate (BER) involves the optimization over a discrete set of signal constellations, when powerful (i.e., capacity approaching) coding schemes are used the corresponding adaptive coded modulation design becomes surprisingly simple. The regime of very powerful coding is justified by the use of modern coding schemes, such as turbo codes and low-density parity-check codes, able to perform close to channel capacity at very small BER.
Electronic Stimulation of Acceptor Reactivation IN p - Type Hydrogenated GaAs

The mechanism of light-induced reactivation (LIR) of shallow substitutional acceptors in high-purity p-type hydrogenated GaAs has been investigated. Photoluminescence was used to determine the dependence of the rate and extent of this effect on photon energy, illumination intensity, as well as on sample temperature and chemical composition. At a sample temperature of 1.7 K a sharp threshold in the photon energy, Et, has been observed at about 7.5 meV below the bandgap energy of GaAs. This energy corresponds approximately to the onset of acceptorbound exciton absorption in the material. For photon energy E Et, and for sufficiently large values of (light intensity)•(illumination time) product the LIR process saturates. Both the extent of the subthreshold effect and the saturation level that is attainable with E > Et are independent of the photon energy, excitation power and exposure time in the investigated range of these quantities. For E > Et the initial LIR rate depends on the square of the light intensity, indicating a bimolecular reaction in terms of the photo-generated carrier densities. The observed strong dependence of the saturation level on the sample temperature during LIR is found to be consistent with the relative binding energies of different acceptor-hydrogen passivating complexes in GaAs. Based on these results, it is proposed that LIR of acceptors is electronically stimulated via recombination-enhanced vibrational excitation of acceptor-hydrogen complexes.
Medication adherence for patients with mental illness

Medication adherence has been studied for some time; however most research has focused on able-bodied patients or the elderly living independently. What has not been studied nearly as much is medication adherence for people with psychiatric or mental illnesses. In this paper, we present a framework that includes the specific challenges in medication adherence for patients with mental illness, algorithms and protocols for evaluating adherence, and some on-going work in developing effective solutions. The architectural framework and associated algorithms leverage the context-aware computing capabilities available on many mobile devices. The system is designed to be able to collect and offer situation-aware information on medication use and adherence for healthcare professionals and other designated persons.
Competition, seed predation, and species coexistence

In 1970 Janzen proposed that species-specific seed predation, by eliminating establishment of seedlings near adult trees of the same species, should lead to a regular dispersion of trees and to increased species diversity in tropical forests. Seed predation would lead to increased species diversity by setting upper bounds to the densities of individual species: if each extant species reached its predation-determined limit and yet more canopy space was available, individuals of additional species would be able to invade. Here I derive a patch model of Janzen's mechanism that is simple in form yet captures its spatial flavor. The model predicts that this mechanism will tend to stabilize any number of competing species. As a corollary, the model predicts that Janzen's mechanism can lead to increased diversity without leading to regular spacing of individuals.
Functional Inhibition of Leukocyte B2 Integrins by Hyperbaric Oxygen in Carbon Monoxide-Mediated Brain Injury in Rats

Exposure to hyperbaric oxygen [3 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 45 min] inhibited carbon monoxide (CO)-mediated lipid peroxidation in the brains of rats by preventing the conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to oxidase, a conversion process known to be due to the action of leukocytes. The effect was the same whether treatment was given 24 hr before or up to 45 min after poisoning. Hyperbaric oxygen did not inhibit the initial interaction of leukocytes with brain microvasculature, based on measurements of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in microvessel segments, but persistent adherence, which is due to B2 integrins, did not occur. Exposing rats to 3 ATA pressure (0.21 ATA O2) after CO poisoning had no significant effects. A progressive reduction in brain microvessel MPO titers occurred with exposure to O2 at 1, 2, or 3 ATA after CO poisoning, but 1 ATA O2 treatment did not significantly inhibit xanthine oxidase formation or lipid peroxidation. In vitro studies with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from rats exposed to hyperbaric oxygen corroborated the absence of PMN B2 integrin function, but when these cells were stimulated they exhibited normal B2 integrin expression on their surface and also normal elastase release and superoxide radical production. Adherence functions of PMN that do not require B2 integrins appeared to remain intact after exposure to hyperbaric oxygen, as peritoneal neutrophilia in response to a glycogen challenge was not inhibited. B2 integrin function could be restored by incubating cells with 8 bromo cGMP, and incubation with phorbol ester stimulated the adherence function of both control and hyperbaric oxygen-exposed PMN. These results provide a clear mechanism for the inhibition of CO-mediated brain lipid peroxidation by hyperbaric oxygen and indicate that hyperoxia causes a discrete disturbance of PMN adherence function.
Attitudes toward nonmarital sex in 24 countries

Attitudes toward premarital sex, teenage sex, extramarital sex, and homosexual sex in 24 countries were compared. Challenging the simplistic notion that a permissive‐nonpermissive dichotomy is sufficient to describe variations across countries, the hypothesis that there are distinctive sexual regimes with different moral standards depending on the type of sexuality was examined. Cluster analysis reveals that there are six groupings of nations which have similar moral standards. However, a variance decomposition analysis also shows that all countries included in the sample share relatively similar attitudes toward nonmarital sex.
Ultra-high temperature HfB2–SiC ceramics consolidated by hot-pressing and spark plasma sintering

Abstract Two ultra-high temperature HfB 2 –SiC ceramics were successfully consolidated by hot-pressing (HP) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The powder mixture HfB 2 + 30 vol% SiC was brought to full densification with the addition of 2 vol% TaSi 2 as sintering aid, and applying the following conditions: 2100 °C for 3 min (SPS), or 1900 °C for 35 min (HP). The microstructure consisted of regular micrometric diboride grains and SiC particles homogeneously distributed. The major secondary phases were HfO 2 , and (Ta, Hf)-mixed or Hf carbides in the materials processed by SPS and HP, respectively. Both SiC and TaSi 2 beneficially contributed to boost the sinterability of HfB 2 at elevated temperatures. The mechanical properties showed interesting potential. Elastic moduli above 490 GPa were measured. Flexural strengths at room temperature and 1500 °C (in air) of the hot-pressed composite were 665 ± 75 and 480 ± 30 MPa, respectively. Machining-induced flaws rather than fabrication defects adversely affected the room temperature strength of the spark plasma sintered material, leading to premature failure. The steep cooling up to 1000 °C in about 2 min associated to SPS induced large unrelaxed thermal stresses, which enhanced the tendency to micro-cracking during machining. However, such a strained configuration had a beneficial effect on fracture toughness. In the temperature range of 1450–1650 °C both the as-fired materials tolerated acceptably the oxidation attack in air. Thermo-gravimetric tests at 1450 °C for 20 h had mass gains of 4.10 ± 0.02 and 3.30 ± 0.02 mg/cm 2 for the materials processed by HP and SPS, respectively, and decelerating kinetics were recorded, although not conclusively parabolic.
Indiscriminable shades and demonstrative concepts

Conceptualists have it that the representational content of perceptual experience is determined by the concepts a subject applies in having such an experience. Conceptualists like Bill Brewer [1999] and John McDowell [1994] have laid particular emphasis on demonstrative concepts in trying to account for the fact that subjects can perceive and discriminate very many specific shades of colour in experience. Against this, it has been objected that such demonstrative concepts have incoherent conditions of extension and/or of individuation, due to the fact that chromatic indiscriminability is non-transitive. In this paper, I consider three different versions of this objection and show why each fails.
Opto-Electronic Properties of Mercuric Iodide

The optical and photoelectrical properties of mercuric iodide crystals and layers have been investigated, particularly as affected by the phase transformation from tetragonal (low-temperature form) to ortho-rhombic (high-temperature form) which occurs at 400\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The largest temperature coefficient for band-gap variation of any known material is found for the orthorhombic form: -24\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ ev/degree. The following phenomena are discussed: (1) location and temperature dependence of absorption edge by measurements of transmission, reflectivity, and photoconductivity response spectra; (2) temperature dependence of dark current; (3) electrode effects in photoconductivity; (4) variation of dark current and photocurrent through the phase transformation; (5) thermally-stimulated-currents; (6) variation of photocurrent with voltage, light intensity, and temperature. Temperature-quenching of photoconductivity in Hg${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$ crystals can be described by means of the same analysis as has been applied to various ${A}^{\mathrm{II}}{B}^{\mathrm{VI}}$ photoconductors, giving a location of 0.5 ev above the valence band for the "sensitizing" centers in Hg${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$.
Protecting Earth-orbiting spacecraft against micro-meteoroid/orbital debris impact damage using composite structural systems and materials: An overview

Spacecraft that are launched to operate in Earth orbit are susceptible to impacts by meteoroids and pieces of orbital debris (MMOD). The effect of a MMOD particle impact on a spacecraft depends on where the impact occurs, the size, composition, and speed of the impacting object, the function of the impacted system. In order to perform a risk analysis for a particular spacecraft under a specific mission profile, it is important to know whether or not the impacting particle (or its remnants) will exit the rear of an impacted spacecraft wall. A variety of different ballistic limit equations (BLEs) have been developed for many different types of structural wall configurations. BLEs can be used to optimize the design of spacecraft wall parameters so that the resulting configuration is able to withstand the anticipated variety of on-orbit high-speed impact scenarios. While the level of effort exerted in studying the response of metallic multi-wall systems to high speed particle impact is quite substantial, the extent of the effort to study composite material and composite structural systems under similar impact conditions has been much more limited. This paper presents an overview of the activities performed to assess the resiliency of composite structures and materials under high speed projectile impact. The activities reviewed will be those that have been aimed at increasing the level of protection afforded to spacecraft operating in the MMOD environment, and more specifically, on those activities performed to mitigate the mechanical and structural effects of an MMOD impact.
Pediatric melanoma: a single-institution experience of 150 patients

Abstract Purpose Differentiating pigmented skin lesions from malignant melanoma in the pediatric population has been a challenge. Despite guidelines describing clinical features and histopathologic criteria to distinguish these lesions, misdiagnoses still occur. We report our experience over 30 years in a pediatric population with malignant melanoma. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 150 pediatric patients treated for malignant melanoma between 1973 and 2007 at our institution. Outcomes measured included age, Breslow thickness, Clark level of invasion, tumor location, local and distant failure rates, and overall survival. Results One hundred fifty pediatric patients were evaluated. The mean age was 15.1 years. The mean Breslow thickness was 2.05 mm and corresponding Clark level of invasion was 3.47. There were 43 known recurrences (29%); 29 distant, 14 nodal, and 7 local. Overall survival was 84% with a mean follow-up of 8.5 years. Sixteen patients (10.7%) were incorrectly diagnosed on initial pathologic examination. Overall survival in the misdiagnosed group was 66%. Conclusion Pigmented skin lesions in the pediatric population represent a diagnostic challenge to pathologists and clinicians. Improvements in diagnostic techniques with rigorous characterization, as well as increased physician awareness, should lead to a reduction in errors of diagnosis.
Mutual solubilities of components of binary blends of n-octadecane, di-n-octyl ether, and N,N-dioctylamine

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used to measure the solubilities, as well as finite-concentration activities and activity coefficients, of n -octadecane (OD) in N , N -dioctyiamine (DOA) and di- n -octyl ether (DOE); and of DOA in DOE (of interest as extractants for rare-earth elements) by the method of solubility curves. Mixtures of OD + DOE show ideal solubility, viz. log x = ( A/T )+ B ; where x is the limiting (saturation) mole fraction of the solute, A is related to the solute enthalpy of fusion, and B is a fitting constant. Blends of DOA + DOE exhibit positive deviations, while OD + DOA give both positive and negative deviations from solution ideality.
Wavelength dependence of patman equilibration dynamics in phosphatidylcholine bilayers

Assessment of the equilibration kinetics of Patman at the edges of its emission spectra provided additional insights about membrane properties beyond those obtained from end-point fluorescence measurements. Upon introduction of the probe to aqueous suspensions of liposomes, the emission intensity slowly increased about 10-fold (t(½)=~100 s). The rate of equilibration depended on emission wavelength, and was usually faster at 500 than at 435 nm. However, this trend was reversed for equilibration with lipids at their phase transition temperature. The apparent rotational motion of the dye also differed between the long and short emission wavelengths but did not display the slow equilibration time dependence observed with intensity measurements. These results suggested that slow equilibration reflects relaxation of the immediate membrane microenvironment around the probe rather than slow insertion into the membrane. The data were rationalized with a model that allows two membrane/probe configurations with distinct microenvironments. The analysis suggests that by monitoring the equilibration pattern of Patman, inferences can be made regarding the polarity of two microenvironments occupied by the probe, the distribution of the probe among those microenvironments, and the kinetics with which they relax to equilibrium.