cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrical breakdown of multilayer MoS2 field-effect transistors with thickness-dependent mobility

We report on the experimental investigation and modeling of electrical breakdown in multilayer (a few to tens of nanometers thick) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) field-effect transistors (FETs). By measuring MoS2 devices ranging from 5.7 nm to 77 nm in thicknesses, we achieve a breakdown current of 1.2 mA, mobility of 42 cm2 V−1 s−1, and on/off current ratio IOn/IOff ∼ 107. Through measurements and simulations, we find the dependence of the breakdown current limit on MoS2 thicknesses, channel lengths and conductivities. We also explore, both experimentally and analytically, the effects of different device parameters upon carrier mobility, which is directly related to the current carrying capacity. The results suggest that, compared to single-layer devices, multilayer MoS2 FETs could be advantageous for circuit applications requiring higher carrier mobility and power handling capacities.
Analysis of manufacturing and quality systems using simulation

Abstract A simulation model is developed for the analysis of a multi-product, multi-component, multi-stage manufacturing and quality system, incorporating the concept of quality on the basis of both the lot proportion defectives as well as the lot proportion defects. The output of the simulation model gives the average total cost and the average outgoing quality of the products produced in a manufacturing system in a lot-by-lot fashion. Using the cost and quality information of different lots simulated, the analyst can evaluate and choose the desired combination of the quality of the incoming components, quality of the manufacturing and assembly process, and lot-by-lot (LBL) single sampling plans by attributes with rectification.
Unusual presentations of cavernous carotid aneurysms: Further evidence for topographic organization of the oculomotor nerve

Two patients with carotid cavernous aneurysms presented with uncommon patterns of third nerve involvement, one with an isolated elevation deficit without ptosis and the other with a depression deficit with possible pupillary involvement. These patterns are best explained by topographic organization of third nerve fibers within the cavernous sinus (prior to its anatomic bifurcation) that subserve individual extraocular muscles.
Influence of disorder on the electronic structure of amorphous silicon

We have examined the electronic structure of amorphous silicon using a tight-binding scheme with all first- and second-neighbor couplings in a continuous random network. Matrix elements and deformation potentials were taken from the crystalline band structure. The effect of bond-length and bond-angle variations is relatively small and contributes to the narrow tails at the band edges. The effect of dihedral-angle disorder was examined keeping only the nearest-neighbor interactions in the Hamiltonian. The dihedral-angle disorder was found to be important at the valence-band edge and responsible for the observed features near the top of the valence band. Topological disorder was found to have important consequences in the bulk of the bands as well as at the conduction-band edge. Apart from the effects of the bond-length and bond-angle disorder, the states at the band edges are confined within regions closely approaching the crystalline structure locally, where they have the same form as in the crystal, but do not extend through the entire structure.
A comparison of gamma-induced degradation and forward bias-induced degradation in GaP:Zn,0 LEDs

Both the effects of gamma irradiation and high-current forward bias on GaP:Zn,0 light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been studied by measuring constant current 76K electroluminescence (EL) spectra below 1000 nm, total light output at room temperature, and capacitance transients using the technique of deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). The LEDs were divided into two sets; a control set which was subjected only to forward bias, and a set exposed to gamma irradiation and forward bias. The results indicate that gamma-induced light output degradation occurs through a different mechanism than forward bias-induced degradation of the control LEDs. Gamma irradiation, which has no effect on the Zn-O concentration, degrades the light output through the introduction of competing non-radiative recombination centers which reduce the minority carrier lifetime. In contrast, forward bias-induced light output degradation is primarily due to a reduction in Zn-O concentration through the apparent recombination-enhanced interaction of Zn-O centers with impurities rather than defects.
Influence of Alkyl Substituents on the Polymerization Behavior of Asymmetric Ethylene-Bridged Zirconocene Catalysts†

A series of substituted indenyl−fluorenyl asymmetric ethylene-bridged ligands have been prepared from the reaction of 1-(9-fluorenyl)-2-bromoethane and the lithium salt of the desired indenyl moiety. The ligands have been converted to the corresponding substituted asymmetric ethylene-bridged metallocenes (M = Zr, Hf). These metallocenes have been evaluated as catalyst precursors for the polymerization of ethylene and propylene. The influence of substitution on the selectivity of the propylene polymerization has been studied. The metallocene [1-(9-fluorenyl)-2-(2,4,7-trimethyl-1-indenyl)ethane]zirconium dichloride was found to produce highly isotactic polypropylene with an [mmmm] value of 86%.
Conduction of the cardiac impulse. II. Summation and inhibition.

A segment of a bundle of canine Purkinje fibers was encased in agar made up in Tyrode solution containing elevated K + (47 mM) to depress the excitability of the segment. At a degree of depression producing total block of conduction in each direction through the depressed segment, exciting both ends of the bundle yielded full excitatory responses in the center of the depressed area. These responses arose with a long latency after excitation of the normal ends outside the depressed segment. Summation occurred over a long interval of relative timing of excitation of the ends. When excitation of one end alone produced a response in the center of the depressed segment, that response sometimes could be inhibited by stimulating the other end. In another preparation a branch emerged from the center of the depressed segment. Summation of excitation in the center of the depressed area resulted in conduction of activity out the branch at an interval appropriate to re-excite the entire heart. When one end of the preparation could excite the branch, stimulation of the other end sometimes inhibited excitation of the branch. The results are important as part of the explanation of phenomena associated with re-entrant arrhythmias.
The behavioral effects of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-alkyl amphetamines.

Le comportement des rats a ete fortement influence par des derives de la 2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine Le mecanisme possible de l'action des hallucinogenes est discute.
Judicial Narratives of Ideal and Deviant Victims in Judges' Capital Sentencing Decisions

Although the Victim’s Rights Movement has led to advances for victims of crime, the use of victim impact evidence in criminal trials remains controversial due to the suspicion that such evidence enhances punitive attitudes and arbitrariness in capital sentencing outcomes. Despite a growing body of literature in this area, it remains unclear if some victims are viewed more favorably than others, particularly from the perspective of judges. The current study examines the construction of victims by judges in capital cases and how this portrayal impacts sentencing outcomes in Delaware, which vests the final capital sentencing authority in judges rather than juries. In examining this gap in the literature, we consider if judges make distinctions between ideal and deviant victims, if these distinctions are associated with victim and offender characteristics, and if the construction of victims impacts offender sentencing. Findings from this study lend support to the idea that judges describe some victims as more “worthy” than others, that victims described in ideal ways are more likely to be white and female, and that “ideal victims” are more likely to result in death sentences.
Hydrologic properties of biochars produced at different temperatures

Abstract Adding charcoal to soil (biochar soil amendment) can sequester carbon and improve soil performance, although the extent and exact mechanisms of soil improvement are not clear. Additionally, biochar properties can vary significantly with production conditions. Here we characterize the impact of pyrolysis temperature on two important soil hydrologic properties: field capacity and hydrophobicity. We show that pure biochar exhibits a wide range in both properties depending on feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. We find that both properties can be controlled by choice of pyrolysis temperature; 400 °C–600 °C produced biochars with the most desirable hydrological properties (peak field capacity and minimum hydrophobicity). Further, we show that hydrophobicity is strongly correlated ( R 2 = 0.87; p
INCOMMUNICATIVE ACTION: AN ESOTERIC WARNING ABOUT DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY

Abstract Deliberative democracy is a noble project: an attempt to make citizens philosophize. Critics of deliberative democracy usually claim either that the proposed deliberation threatens an existing moral consensus or, instead, that deliberation is impossible amid power imbalances that oppress the weak. But another problem is that combining democracy and deliberation is inherently an attempt to engage publicly in a private activity—where sensitivity to each interlocutor may require a special form of address. Can this be done? Yes, in some contexts. The tradition of esoteric writing has demonstrated that it is possible to layer one's discourse in such a way that all citizens can partake at a level that suits them. But writing for a public is not really deliberation among equals; it is leadership by the writer of the readers. Genuine dialogue among equals that takes account of their differences is, in contrast, inherently a private affair.
Topographical Retinal Function in Oculocutaneous Albinism

Purpose Macular hypoplasia is the major ocular finding in albinism because it underlies reduced acuity and congenital nystagmus. Anatomic studies have shown a lack of foveal differentiation. However, functional anatomy of the macula in albinism is not known. Design Observational case reports. Methods We measured the topology of the retinal response in two patients with oculocutaneous albinism by using simultaneous fundus monitoring and multifocal electroretinographs (ERGs). Stimuli consisted of a 103-hexagon array centered on the macula. Recording conditions eliminated nystagmus artifact. Results ERG amplitudes were reduced only in the central 5 to 10 degrees compared with adult norms. When the response was scaled by stimulation area, multifocal ERG amplitudes were constant across all retinal eccentricities. Conclusions The results suggest a homogeneous density of cone photoreceptors across the central retina in albinism, consistent with anatomic studies showing arrest of postnatal macular development. Further normative data are needed to fully quantify macular development in young children.
Advancing ecology and economics through a business–science synthesis

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the concept of sustainability, presents our definition of sustainability, and contends that students need to have exposure to both business and scientific perspectives as undergraduates. We argue that the typical university class may be ineffective in conveying the scope of changes now taking place in the business world, and offer our pedagogic innovations as an alternative to the status quo. The result is a capstone course in sustainability team taught by one professor from the School of Business and one from the College of Arts and Science. The intended audience for the course is undergraduate students majoring in business or science. The content draws heavily on the many parallels between ecology and economics, including systems and resilience, ethics and valuation issues, and information and dialogue as central to the process of sustainability.
Single and multiple pyogenic liver abscesses: clinical course, etiology, and results of treatment.

Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Bacteroides,Enterococcus, among others. K. pneumoniae was more often found in a single abscess and E. coli more often in multiple abscesses. Percutaneous catheter drainage and aspiration comprised the main treatment initially, and the failure rate with multiple abscesses was higher than that with single abscesses. Surgical intervention should be considered for multiple abscesses because of the underlying disease. The overall mortality with multiple abscesses (22.1%) was higher than that with a single abscess (12.8%). Partial hepatectomy produced a low mortality rate for both single and multiple abscesses and should be considered in the presence of severe hepatic destruction by an abscess or a stone.
Ethnocentrism and trait communication apprehension as predictors of interethnic communication apprehension and use of relational maintenance strategies in interethnic communication

The first of two studies investigated the differences between reported relational maintenance strategy usage by high and low interethnic communication apprehensives (IECAs). An instrument based on Canary and Stafford's (1992) relational maintenance strategies taxonomy and Neuliep and McCroskey's (1997a) Personal Report of Interethnic Communication Apprehension (PRECA) was employed. The results indicated that individuals who were law IECAs reported utilizing significantly more of the task, network, and positivity strategies. Differences in openness and assurance strategies followed the same pattern but were not significant. The participant's reported usage and IECA score were inversely related. The second study replicated the first and explored two theoretical explanations for the results. This study revealed significant differences on all of the dimensions and significant negative correlations. This study also examined whether trait communication apprehension (disregarding ethnicity) and/or ethnocentrism ...
Endothelial cell response to different mechanical forces

Purpose: Endothelial cells (ECs) are subjected to the physical forces induced by blood flow. The aim of this study was to directly compare the EC signaling pathway in response to cyclic strain and shear stress in cultured bovine aortic ECs. Materials and Methods: The ECs were seeded on flexible collagen I‐coated silicone membranes to examine the effect of cyclic strain. The membranes were deformed with a 150‐mm Hg vacuum at a rate of 60 cycle/min for up to 120 minutes. For a comparison of the effect of shear stress, ECs from the same batch as used in the strain experiments were seeded on collagen I‐coated silicone sheets. The ECs were then subjected to 10 dyne/cm2 shear with the use of a parallel flow chamber for up to 120 minutes. Activation of the mitogenactivated protein kinases was assessed by determining phosphorylation of extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 with immunoblotting. Results: ERK, JNK, and p38 were activated by both cyclic strain and shear stress. Both cyclic strain and shear stress activated JNK with a similar temporal pattern and magnitude and a peak at 30 minutes. However, shear stress induced a more robust and rapid activation of ERK and p38, compared with cyclic strain. Conclusions: Our results indicate that different mechanical forces induced differential activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. This suggests that there may be different mechanoreceptors in ECs to detect the different forces or alternative coupling pathways from a single receptor. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:789-94.)
Infantile uniocular blindness with bilateral nystagmus. A syndrome.

Background: A syndrome has been described in which some patients with uniocular infantile blindness have a horizontal nystagmus in their contralateral, structurally sound eye. This nystagmus has the characteristics of latent nystagmus. This study investigated the hypothesis that this syndrome is present when infantile monocular blindness occurs in patients who are genetically predisposed to congenital strabismus. In these patients, nystagmus, which would be latent, is made manifest by media opacity or suppression acting as an occluder. Patients: I prospectively studied all patients with this syndrome whom I examined between 1982 and 1994. Evaluation included a careful investigation of whether there was a family history of congenital strabismus. Three patients underwent electro-oculography. Results: The series consisted of 24 patients with the syndrome of infantile uniocular blindness with bilateral nystagmus, of whom 14 (58%) had a family history of congenital strabismus. In a consecutive series of 50 patients with monocular congenital blindness caused by opacity of the ocular media but not manifesting nystagmus of the contralateral eye, only three patients (6%) had a family history of congenital strabismus. This difference was statistically significant ( P Conclusions: It appears likely that the syndrome of monocular infantile blindness with bilateral nystagmus represents a manifest nystagmus of the latent type in patients who have inherited a genetic predisposition for congenital strabismus. In these patients, the monocular blindness (opacity of the media or suppression) acts as an occluder, making manifest what would have been latent nystagmus.
In Vitro Multiple Shoot Induction and Plant Regeneration from Shoot Apices of Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex. Hiern

ABSTRACT Multiple shoots were induced and plants regenerated from shoot apices of Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex. Hiern using the growth regulators thidiazuron (N-phenyl-N'-1,2,3-thidazol-5-ylurea, TDZ) and 6‐benzyladenine (BA). Shoot apices were cultured for 30 days in 16 different media containing various concentrations and combinations of these growth regulators. Multiple shoot induction medium M9 (0.6 μM TDZ + 8.9 μM BA) was one of the best performing media, producing an average of 3.7 shoots per explant. In addition, multiple shoots regenerated on this treatment rooted, elongated and acclimatized readily. Results reported here suggest that both BA and TDZ are involved in producing multiple shoots from the shoot apex of H. acetosella.
The minute brain of the copepod Tigriopus californicus supports a complex ancestral ground pattern of the tetraconate cerebral nervous systems

Copepods are a diverse and ecologically crucial group of minute crustaceans that are relatively neglected in terms of studies on nervous system organization. Recently, morphological neural characters have helped clarify evolutionary relationships within Arthropoda, particularly among Tetraconata (i.e., crustaceans and hexapods), and indicate that copepods occupy an important phylogenetic position relating to both Malacostraca and Hexapoda. This taxon therefore provides the opportunity to evaluate those neural characters common to these two clades likely to be results of shared ancestry (homology) versus convergence (homoplasy). Here we present an anatomical characterization of the brain and central nervous system of the well-studied harpacticoid copepod species Tigriopus californicus. We show that this species is endowed with a complex brain possessing a central complex comprising a protocerebral bridge and central body. Deutocerebral glomeruli are supplied by the antennular nerves, and a lateral protocerebral olfactory neuropil corresponds to the malacostracan hemiellipsoid body. Glomeruli contain synaptic specializations comparable to the presynaptic "T-bars" typical of dipterous insects, including Drosophila melanogaster. Serotonin-like immunoreactivity pervades the brain and ventral nervous system, with distinctive deutocerebral distributions. The present observations suggest that a suite of morphological characters typifying the Tigriopus brain reflect a ground pattern organization of an ancestral Tetraconata, which possessed an elaborate and structurally differentiated nervous system.
Detecting Unequal Marginal Scales in a Bivariate Population

Abstract A conditional test is proposed that uses the null hypothesis of bivariate symmetry to detect unequal marginal scales in a bivariate population. The asymptotic normality of the test statistic and the consistency of the test are established. Asymptotic relative efficiency comparisons are made with the standard parametric test in both the bivariate normal case and in a trivariate reduction model case and with two of Sen's (1967) tests in the bivariate normal case. The good performance of the test is also illustrated via a Monte Carlo study.
Adjustment of weanling and adolescent rats to a reward condition requiring slow responding

The effects of a schedule of discontinuously negatively correlated reinforcement (DNC), in which only approach responses that take 5 sec or longer are reinforced, were studied in weanling rats that began training at 18 days of age and adolescents that began training at 60 days. Yoked partially reinforced subjects (PRF) received rewards on the same trials as corresponding DNC subjects of the same age, whereas continuously reinforced subjects (CRF) were rewarded on all trials. At the end of DNC training (210 trials), the older but not the younger DNC subjects were running slower than their yoked-PRF controls. The results are consistent with development of inhibition and suppression related to the developing brain, particularly the hippocampus.
Cell Junction Remodeling in Gingival Tissue Exposed to a Microbial Toxin

The gingival epithelium plays a key role in protecting the supporting structures of the teeth from bacteria and their products. In ex vivo experiments, we recently showed that the cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) from the periodontal pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans causes extensive damage to gingival tissue. Morphological changes included detachment of the keratinized outer layer, distention of spinous and basal cells in the oral epithelium, disruption of rete pegs, and apparent dissolution of cell junctions. Adherens junctions (zonula adherens) are essential for maintaining barrier function and integrity of gingival epithelium. Therefore, immunohistochemical and RT-PCR analyses of human gingival explants (HGX) and human gingival epithelial cells (HGEC) were utilized for a closer examination of the effects of the Cdt on E-cadherin, the key membrane component of adherens junctions. Although there was some variability among tissue donors, exposure of gingival tissue or isolated epithelial cells to the toxin generally resulted in a pronounced increase in the expression and cytosolic distribution of E-cadherin, accompanied by an increase in levels of the intracellular scaffolding proteins β-catenin and β-actin. These results indicate that the Cdt induced substantial remodeling of adherens junctions, with a potential impact on the barrier function of gingival epithelium. Abbreviations: cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt), 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), human gingival epithelial cells (HGEC), human gingival explants (HGX), human gingival fibroblasts (HGF), transepithelial resistance (TER).
Activation and inactivation of nadh nitrate reductase in tobacco XD cells

Abstract An inactive but ferricyanide-activatable form of NADH nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) was detected in suspension cultures of the XD cell line of Nicotiana tabacum . As tobacco XD cell cultures progressed through the exponential phase of growth into the stationary phase, due to depletion of nitrate, the overt nitrate reductase activity decreased and the latent form became predominant. Nine-fold activation of enzyme activity was observed in extracts from late-exponential phase cultures.
Climatic aspects of urban design in tropical regions

Abstract The paper describes the climatic characteristics relevant to urban and building design in hot-humid and in hot-dry tropical regions, respectively. It then discusses the different human comfort issues, the design objectives and the urban design elements which affect and can modify the urban microclimate. The design elements discussed in the paper are: location of towns in a region, density of the built-up area and building's configurations, orientation and width of streets, building design details affecting the comfort of people outdoors, and the design details of “green” areas. The appropriate (from the climatic aspect) design details of the above urban design elements, and some comments on building design in tropical regions, are discussed with respect to each climate type. Subjects of needed research on issues concerning comfort and design problems in tropical cities, on which more knowledge is needed, are suggested. The paper is based on a recent WMO Document (Givoni, 1989, WCAP-10, WMO/TD, No. 346).
A 3D incompressible Navier–Stokes velocity–vorticity weak form finite element algorithm

The velocity–vorticity formulation is selected to develop a time-accurate CFD finite element algorithm for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in three dimensions.The finite element implementation uses equal order trilinear finite elements on a non-staggered hexahedral mesh. A second order vorticity kinematic boundary condition is derived for the no slip wall boundary condition which also enforces the incompressibility constraint. A biconjugate gradient stabilized (BiCGSTAB) sparse iterative solver is utilized to solve the fully coupled system of equations as a Newton algorithm. The solver yields an efficient parallel solution algorithm on distributed-memory machines, such as the IBM SP2. Three dimensional laminar flow solutions for a square channel, a lid-driven cavity, and a thermal cavity are established and compared with available benchmark solutions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Age and migration percentage as risk factors for progression in spastic hip disease

Age and migration percentage were evaluated as risk factors for the progression of spastic hip subluxation in patients with cerebral palsy. Three age-groups were defined: group 1 (two to eight years), group 2 (nine to 18 years), and group 3 (over 18 years). Four subluxation groups were defined by migration percentage: group A ( 90 per cent). The risk of progression was the same in groups 1A and 2A, and both of these were higher than the risk in group 3A. All group B hips had similar risks for progression, and all group C hips progressed to group D (> 90 per cent migration percentage). Groups 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 3B hips need close radiographic follow-up to detect progressive subluxation. All group C hips required surgical treatment for progression to dislocation to be avoided.
Investigation of the mechanism for the controlled periodic illumination effect in TiO2 photocatalysis

The photocatalytic oxidation of formate ion at illuminated TiO 2 particles was investigated in an annular slurry reactor and in a rotating disk reactor that utilized TiO 2 particulate films. Rates of CO 2 formation were determined during continuous and periodic illumination over a range of oxygen and formate ion concentrations. These investigations indicated that the periodic illumination effects reported for this reaction, and for other photocatalytic oxidations, resulted from intraparticle diffusion in flocculated particles, mass transport of oxygen to the catalyst surface, slow or weak adsorption of formate ion, or a combination of these processes.
Reduction of Thermographic Phosphors Data to Heat Rates

Thermographic phosphors have emerged as a new technique for measuring heat fluxes, which relies on the temperature dependent intensity decay of thermographic phosphors. However, instead of reducing the intensity data to temperatures, heating rate is estimated. It has been shown that the heating rate can provide significantly better heat flux estimates than temperature measurements. Because the technique is new, little is known about the quality of heating rate estimates. Further, the heating rate estimation depends on the introduction of additional free parameters, which increases the uncertainty of the estimates. The analysis presented here indicates that sample rates must be one to two orders of magnitude greater than the frequency at which the heat flux must be known. Also, the sensitivity of the intensity to higher-order derivatives is small suggesting that derivatives beyond the heating rate are not accessible with single-shot data.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Reaction of the 1,8-bis(diphenylmethylium)naphthalenediyl dication with fluoride: formation of a cation containing a C-F-->C bridge.

Treatment of 1,8-bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)naphthalene with a mixture of [HBF4]aq and (CF3CO)2O affords the corresponding dication, 1,8-bis(diphenylmethylium)naphthalenediyl (12+), which was isolated as the [BF4]- salt. This dication has been fully characterized, and its structure has been studied computationally. The 13C NMR resonance of the methylium centers appears at 207.7 ppm. As indicated by an X-ray single-crystal analysis, the vicinal methylium centers are separated by 3.112(4) A. Dication (12+) reacts with fluoride to afford [1−F]+ which has been isolated as the [BF4]- salt. The fluorine atom of [1−F]+ is connected to one of the former methylium centers through a typical C−F bond of 1.424(2) A and forms a long interaction of 2.444(2) A with the other methylium center. While the structure of [1−F]+ can be largely accounted for by considering a simple methylium formulation, density functional calculations followed by an Atom In Molecules analysis as well as a calculation of the Boys localized orbit...
Appendiceal goblet cell carcinomatosis treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Background Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is a treatment commonly applied to peritoneal surface disease from low-grade mucinous tumors of the appendix. Some centers have extended this therapy to carcinomatosis from more aggressive malignancies. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with CRS/HIPEC for patients with goblet cell carcinomatosis.
Expression and activation of 15‐lipoxygenase pathway in severe asthma: relationship to eosinophilic phenotype and collagen deposition

Summary Background Although 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)-HETE), a product of 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO), may be involved in mild to moderate asthma, little is known about its potential roles in severe asthma. Objectives This study was performed to evaluate 15(S)-HETE levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from severe asthmatics with and without airway eosinophils and from the control groups. In addition, 15-LO protein expression was examined in endobronchial biopsy, while its expression and activation were evaluated in BAL cells. Results While 15(S)-HETE levels in BALF were significantly higher in all severe asthmatics than normal subjects, severe asthmatics with airway eosinophils had the highest levels compared with mild, moderate asthmatics and normal subjects. 15(S)-HETE levels were associated with tissue eosinophil numbers, sub-basement membrane thickness and BALF tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 levels, and were accompanied by increased 15-LO expression in bronchial epithelium. In addition, activation of 15-LO was suggested by the increased proportion of 15-LO in the cytoplasmic membrane of alveolar macrophages from severe asthmatics. Conclusion The data suggest that severe asthmatics with persistent airway eosinophils manifest high levels of 15(S)-HETE in BALF, which may be associated with airway fibrosis. It is likely that 15-LO expression and activation by airway cells explain the increased 15(S)-HETE levels.
Re-operative surgery in pediatric patients.

Abstract In spite of recent emphasis on primary repair for congenital heart defects, multiple operations are often required for staged repairs of complex lesions or replacement of outgrown or degenerated prosthetic material. The vast majority of re-do operations proceed without incident; however, re-operation entails greater risk of inadvertent injury to the phrenic nerve and other heart and vascular structures, postoperative bleeding, and may require alternative cannulation sites. Recommendations to address these hazards are reviewed, as are areas of research that may impact future approaches to the patient who requires re-operation. Pericardial closure and pericardial substitutes, bovine and synthetic, are briefly discussed, as is the use of aprotinin for its hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects. Copyright 2003 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ethical issues in corporate speechwriting

Executive speechwriting is a common practice in most large organizations. This activity, however, raises a number of ethical questions about responsibility and about audience deception. This essay explores the ethics of speechwriting from three perspectives and offers some general guidelines for maintaining ethical standards when using speechwriters.
Cross-Examinations of Law and Literature: Cooper, Hawthorne, Stowe, and Melville

Acknowledgements List of abbreviations An opening statement Part I. Individuals, Judges, Property: 1. The Pioneers or the sources of American legal history: a critical tale 2. The House of the Seven Gables: Hawthorne's legal story 3. The House of the Seven Gables: Hawthorne's romance of art Part II. Wage and Chattel Slavery: 4. 'Benito Cereno': Melville's narrative of repression 5. A sentimental journey: escape from bondage in Uncle Tom's Cabin 6. Exploitation at home and at sea 7. 'Bartleby, the scrivener': fellow servants and free agents on Wall Street 8. Contracts and confidence men Part III. Billy Budd and Re-Righting Legal History: 9. Measured forms 10. Ragged edges A closing statement notes Index.
Approximation in nonhierarchic system optimization

This paper reports on the effectiveness of a nonhierarchic system optimization algorithm in application to complex coupled systems problems. A second-order nonhierarchic system optimization algorithm developed in earlier studies is modified in this study to provide for individual constraint/state modeling. A cumulative constraint formulation was used in previous implementation studies. The test problems in this study are each complex coupled systems. Complex coupled systems require an iterative solution strategy to evaluate system states. Nonhierarchic algorithm development is driven by these types of problems, and their study is imperative. The algorithm successfully optimizes each of the complex coupled systems. A significant reduction in the number of system analyses required for optimization is observed as compared with conventional optimization using the generalized reduced-gradient method. in the design database. The design database stores design site information generated during the subspace optimizations. A quadratic polynomial approximation to the design is formed using the strategy of Vanderplaats. 6 A weighted least-squares solution strategy is employed to solve for the second-order terms in Vanderplaats' strategy. Exact data in the design data- base are more heavily weighted in the least-squares solution procedure. The resulting quadratic polynomial forms the basis function of accumulated approximation replacing the linear basis used in the original formulation. In Renaud and Gabriele5 improved convergence is observed for the welded beam test problem. The improved convergence is attributed to the im- proved accuracy of cumulative constraint approximations when using second-order-based approximating functions. Additional studies using the second-order-based coordina- tion procedure of system approximation indicated that replac- ing the cumulative constraints with their component con- straints may improve algorithm performance. Implementation of the second-order-based coordination procedure of system approximation was less effective in reducing cycling when applied to the Golinski speed reducer problem. The speed reducer cumulative constraints were composed of a large num- ber of individual constraints as compared with the cumulative constraints in the welded beam test problem. With a larger number of individual constraints assigned to a cumulative constraint, it will more likely undergo a change in its active set during the coordination procedure. It is difficult to approxi- mate these changes in the cumulative constraints. Inaccurate cumulative constraint approximations reduce algorithm per- formance and delay convergence. Approximating individual constraints/states in the coor-
The new economic integration: Structuralist models of North-South trade and investment liberalization

Abstract This paper uses a model of trade and capital mobility between asymmetrical Northern and Southern economies to analyze the effects of trade and investment liberalization along the lines of the North American Free Trade Agreement and other new efforts at North-South integration. A short-run model analyzes the effects of trade and investment liberalization on Northern employment and the Southern terms of trade. A medium-run model analyzes how liberalized capital flows affect income distribution in both regions. A long-run model shows how liberalized foreign investment affects relative North-South growth and the foreign-owned share of Southern capital.
Phasic changes in motoneuron membrane potential during REM periods of active sleep.

Abstract Most of the phasically occurring periods of rapid eye movements (REMs) of active sleep are accompanied by enhanced suppression of somatomotor activity; however, during some of the REM episodes there are muscular twitches and jerks. The membrane potential changes underlying these motor processes were examined by recording intracellularly from lumbar motoneurons in cats that were undrugged, unanesthetized and normally respiring. Summated hyperpolarizing potentials were evident during REM episodes in conjunction with a decrease in motoneuron excitability. During other episodes of REMs there occurred summated depolarizing potentials which occasionally produced action potentials. These depolarizing events were in most cases preceded by a brief period of hyperpolarization. Thus, it appears that there is inhibitory input to lumbar motoneurons during all REM periods of active sleep; in some episodes the simulataneous coactivation of excitatory input leads to depolarization of the membrane and action potential generation.
Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase Protects Histoplasma Yeast Cells from Host-Derived Oxidative Stress

In order to establish infections within the mammalian host, pathogens must protect themselves against toxic reactive oxygen species produced by phagocytes of the immune system. The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum infects both neutrophils and macrophages but the mechanisms enabling Histoplasma yeasts to survive in these phagocytes have not been fully elucidated. We show that Histoplasma yeasts produce a superoxide dismutase (Sod3) and direct it to the extracellular environment via N-terminal and C-terminal signals which promote its secretion and association with the yeast cell surface. This localization permits Sod3 to protect yeasts specifically from exogenous superoxide whereas amelioration of endogenous reactive oxygen depends on intracellular dismutases such as Sod1. While infection of resting macrophages by Histoplasma does not stimulate the phagocyte oxidative burst, interaction with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and cytokine-activated macrophages triggers production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Histoplasma yeasts producing Sod3 survive co-incubation with these phagocytes but yeasts lacking Sod3 are rapidly eliminated through oxidative killing similar to the effect of phagocytes on Candida albicans yeasts. The protection provided by Sod3 against host-derived ROS extends in vivo. Without Sod3, Histoplasma yeasts are attenuated in their ability to establish respiratory infections and are rapidly cleared with the onset of adaptive immunity. The virulence of Sod3-deficient yeasts is restored in murine hosts unable to produce superoxide due to loss of the NADPH-oxidase function. These results demonstrate that phagocyte-produced ROS contributes to the immune response to Histoplasma and that Sod3 facilitates Histoplasma pathogenesis by detoxifying host-derived reactive oxygen thereby enabling Histoplasma survival.
Gravity-driven motion of a deformable drop or bubble near an inclined plane at low Reynolds number

Abstract The creeping motion of a three-dimensional deformable drop or bubble in the vicinity of an inclined wall is investigated by dynamical simulations using a boundary-integral method. We examine the transient and steady velocities, shapes, and positions of a freely-suspended, non-wetting drop moving due to gravity as a function of the drop-to-medium viscosity ratio, λ , the wall inclination angle from horizontal, θ , and Bond number, B , the latter which gives the relative magnitude of the buoyancy to capillary forces. For fixed λ and θ , drops and bubbles show increasingly pronounced deformation in steady motion with increasing Bond number, and a continued elongation and the possible onset of breakup are observed for sufficiently large Bond numbers. Unexpectedly, viscous drops maintain smaller separations and deform more than bubbles in steady motion at fixed Bond number over a large range of inclination angles. The steady velocities of drops (made dimensionless by the settling velocity of an isolated spherical drop) increase with increasing Bond number for intermediate-to-large inclination angles (i.e. 45° ⩽ θ ⩽ 75°). However, the steady drop velocity is not always an increasing function of Bond number for viscous drops at smaller inclination angles.
SOLITARY CHEMORECEPTOR CELL SURVIVAL IS INDEPENDENT OF INTACT TRIGEMINAL INNERVATION

Nasal solitary chemoreceptor cells (SCCs) are a population of specialized chemosensory epithelial cells presumed to broaden trigeminal chemoreceptivity in mammals (Finger et al., 2003). SCCs are innervated by peptidergic trigeminal nerve fibers (Finger et al., 2003) but it is currently unknown if intact innervation is necessary for SCC development or survival. We tested the dependence of SCCs on innervation by eliminating trigeminal nerve fibers during development with neurogenin-1 knockout mice, during early postnatal development with capsaicin desensitization, and during adulthood with trigeminal lesioning. Our results demonstrate that elimination of innervation at any of these times does not result in decreased SCC numbers. In conclusion, neither SCC development nor mature cell maintenance is dependent on intact trigeminal innervation.
Activity during Delay Interval and Delayed Response Errors in Monkeys

Six naive rhesus monkeys were tested on a standard delayed response problem. For the 0-, 5-, and 20-sec. delay intervals employed, 100, 91, and 84% correct responses, respectively, were obtained. A...
Sub-acute changes in lesion conspicuity and geometry following MR-guided radiofrequency ablation.

Purpose To evaluate MR signal and lesion zone volume evolution through the sub-acute phase following image-guided radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation. Materials and Methods For many tissues, including muscle and liver, thermal lesions that result from RF heating have a characteristic two-boundary appearance featuring an inner core (zone I) surrounded by a hyper-intense margin (zone II) and normal tissue (zone III), found in both T2 and contrast enhanced (CE) T1-weighted MR images, both immediately post-ablation and four days later. First, we compared corresponding points between manually segmented zone boundaries apparent in T2- and CE T1-weighted images. Second, we examined the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between all zone combinations. Third, we quantified the volume of zone I, zone II, and the entire lesion using a three-dimensional lesion geometry model fitted to segmented images. Results On a slice-by-slice basis, no statistically significant differences were found between zone boundaries apparent in T2 and CE T1-weighted images. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) of zone I vs. zone II, zone I vs. background muscle, and zone II vs. background muscle was always equal or greater for T2-weighted images than for CE T1-weighted images. In addition, by day four, zone II significantly increased in intensity compared to background muscle. The median Zone I volume increase was 44.2% (42.6%) using T2 weighted images and 55.5% (68.7% interquartile range) using CE T1- weighted images. This expansion likely corresponds to an enlargement of the ablated, coagulative necrosis, region. The median Zone II volume increase was 15.0% (42.6%) using T2- weighted images 1.5% (38.8%) using CE T1-weighted images. Conclusions 1) There are no significant differences between the apparent zone boundaries in T2- and CE T1-weighted images; 2) CNR is equal or greater for T2-weighted images as compared to CE T1-images; and 3) both the inner and outer lesion zone volumes typically increase several days post-ablation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:353–359. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Farming in Rondônia

Abstract We study economic and environmental aspects of farming practices of a sample of 91 family farms around the city of Ouro Preto, in Brazil's state of Rondonia, in western Amazonia, from four overlapping perspectives. First, we estimate production functions for six activities on multiproduct farms, finding evidence of increasing returns to scale in cattle activity and possible evidence of nonindependence of profit and utility maximization in severalsubsistence crops. Second, we examine determinants of overall current farm revenue and wealth, finding possible evidence of overuse of land and underinvestment in cattle, decapitalization of farms over time, overpopulation, and trade-off between children and capital accumulation. Third, we study interactions between burning strategies, diversification of farm activities, locational choice, length of tenure on a farm, and soil quality. Longer tenure on a farm and large area in perenial crops appear to reduce the frequency of burning, while greater area in annual crops increases the frequency. Larger pasture area tends to reduce the frequency of burning below an annual periodicity. Less frequent burning appears to be accompanied by greater diversification of farm income sources. Fourth, we study the determinants of deforestation on lots, finding a negative effect of clearance costs and productivity of land and in cultivation on the clearance of new land. However, the evidence for the relationship between cattle activity and deforestation is mixed: a larger number of cattle increases the absolute amount of land deforested on a lot, but a higher proportion of income from cattle increases the ratio of cultivated land to pasture on a farm. There is also evidence of a trade-off between land quality and the quantity of land deforested.
Broadband gradient-index antireflection coating for ZnSe.

A gradient-index antireflection coating spanning the 0.6–12.6-μm wavelength range for a ZnSe substrate was designed, fabricated, and tested. The index profile used was a fifth-order polynominal that smoothly matches the substrate. The coating was fabricated using a discrete layer approximation for the gradient-index design using ZnSe and CaF2 deposited by laser-assisted evaporation. Total thickness of the coating was 3 μm. Transmission measurements show good agreement with calculated performance. Reflectivity per surface is <3% (compared with 17% for uncoated ZnSe) in the wavelength band encompassing 4.5 octaves from 0.6 to 12.6 μm.