cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A CMOS compatible GHz ultrasonic pulse phase shift based temperature sensor

This paper presents an ultrafast and high-resolution temperature sensor utilizing the phase shift between the transmitted and received ultrasonic pulses through silicon substrate. The ultrasonic pulses are generated using piezoelectric AlN thin film transducers fabricated on top of a silicon wafer. The generated ultrasonic pulse packet propagates through the silicon thickness, reflects from the wafer back side and is sensed at the top side. The ultrasonic pulse undergoes multiple reflections in the silicon substrate creating multiple echoes. Due to both the thermal expansion coefficient of silicon and the speed of sound in silicon temperature coefficient, the phase shift between the transmitted signal and the received echoes increase as temperature of the substrate increases. The temperature coefficient of phase shifts multiplies as the echo order increases. Second and third echoes have double and triple the temperature coefficient as the first echo. By detecting the phase shift of the multiple echoes, wide dynamic range, high resolution and scale-factor repeatability can be achieved simultaneously. The sensor demonstrates high linearity with a phase-shift temperature coefficient of 120 °C across a temperature range of 30–120°C, with 17 moC resolution at 6μs sampling times.
THE SPEED WITH WHICH VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BODY REACH EQUILIBRIUM IN THE STORAGE OF ETHYL ALCOHOL

Determinations were made of the distribution of alcohol in various parts of the bodies of 53 dogs which had received alcohol orally or intravenously and were killed after certain time intervals. Where the period was 2 hours or 3 hours, intravenous and oral administration of 3 gm. of alcohol per kilo resulted in practically the same concentration ratios of alcohol in blood, stomach contents, stomach tissue, upper intestine, and lower intestine, about 5 percent of the administered alcohol being stored in the alimentary tract. These equilibrium values were still maintained when the period was extended to 12 hours. Following the oral administration of 3 gm. of alcohol per kilo, the unabsorbed alcohol, calculated as excess above equilibrium values for the alimentary tract, decreased from an average of 47.7 percent at 15 minutes to 1.0 percent at 3 hours. With 0.5 and 6.0 gm. per kilo, the unabsorbed alcohol at 1/2 hour averaged 6.2 and 49.1 percent respectively. Although the time intervals varied from 15 minutes to 12 hours, no changes were observed in the concentration relations of alcohol in blood, brain, and liver. The average ratios of alcohol concentrations found in the 53 dogs were (brain = 1), blood 1.17 plus or minus 0.09, and liver 0.91 plus or minus 0.07. With muscle there was a distinct lag during the 1st hour but equilibrium was attained within 3 hours, after which the muscle-brain ratio was 0.90 plus or minus 0.03. After equilibrium resulted, alcohol was stored in about the same proportion as the water content of the materials analyzed. The average ratios on this basis were (brain = 1), blood 1.18 plus or minus 0.08, liver 0.94 plus or minus 0.04, muscle 1.01 plus or minus 0.04, stomach contents 1.13 plus or minus 0.08, stomach tissue 0.93 plus or minus 0.06, upper intestine 0.97 plus or minus 0.03, and lower intestine 0.99 plus or minus 0.05. The spinal fluid-blood alcohol ratios of forty-six human subjects averaged 1.18 plus or minus 0.09. On the basis of average water content in these fluids, the recalculated alcohol ratio was spinal fluid-blood = 0.996.
Detection of hepatitis B virus in plasma using flow cytometric analyses of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA incorporating digoxigenin-11-dUTP.

Blood donations are routinely screened by multiple serologic assays for antigens/antibodies associated with infection by blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2), and human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I and HTLV-II). A direct detection of these viruses would be more effective for the prevention of transfusion- transmitted infections than the indirect measurement of the variable host immune response to these agents. Because the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for viral gene amplification offers the most sensitive and direct means of detecting viruses in blood, we have developed a nonisotopic PCR procedure for the detection of HBV, chosen as a prototype. The problems, common to previously described PCR methods, of nucleic acid extraction and inhibition of the PCR by plasma proteins were overcome by isolation of HBV from plasma by means of 450-microns polystyrene beads covalently coated with monoclonal antibody to the Pre- S1 region of the viral envelope protein. Detergent lysis and proteinase K digestion of the immunocaptured virions isolated from plasma released the HBV DNA. A modified PCR-amplification protocol, incorporating digoxigenin-labeled dUTP in the amplified gene products followed by hybridization with a specific biotinylated oligonucleotide probe bound to streptavidin-coated 2.8-microns magnetic beads, allowed flow cytometric analyses of HBV-specific PCR products by means of antibodies to digoxigenin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. The endpoint serial dilutions of pedigreed human plasma samples containing chimpanzee infectious dose (CID50) of 10(7) for adw and CID50 of 10(7.5) for the ayw subtypes were compared in repeated testing of PCR products by our immunoreactive bead (PCR-IRB) assay. HBV DNA was consistently detected in a 5 x 10(-10) dilution of each sample. In testing 20 coded specimens of blood donors, with or without serologic markers of HBV infection, the PCR-IRB was specific and more sensitive than the PCR analyses by slot blot hybridization with radioactive probe. The PCR-IRB assay can be adapted for simultaneous detection of multiple blood-borne viruses by an automated flow cytometric analysis system.
Post-ischemic treatment with dipyruvyl-acetyl-glycerol decreases myocardial infarct size in the pig.

The beneficial effects of pyruvate in organ reperfusion injury have been documented, however the therapeutic use of pyruvate has been hindered by the lack of an appropriate delivery method. Pyruvic acid is unstable and high rates of sodium pyruvate infusion are toxic. Dipyruvyl-acetyl-glycerol (DPAG) ester was developed as a novel method for intravenous pyruvate delivery at a high rate without sodium overload. We tested the ability of DPAG to reduce myocardial infarct size when administered after severe myocardial ischemia in an anesthetized open-chest pig model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Ischemia was induced by total occlusion of the distal 2/3 of the left anterior descending coronary artery for one hour, followed by two hours of reperfusion. Animals were either untreated (n = 7), or treated with intravenous DPAG (8.0 mg/kg−1 · min−1, n = 8) during the two hours of reperfusion. Infarct size was measured on blinded samples using tetrazolium staining. The DPAG treated group had elevated pyruvate levels (0.82 ± 0.07 mM) and reduced infarct size (20.1 ± 4.2% of the volume at risk, compared to 30.8 ± 4.6% in the untreated animals (p < 0.05)), with no difference in blood pressure or heart rate between groups. In conclusion, an intravenous infusion of DPAG safely increases arterial pyruvate concentration and reduces myocardial infarct size following myocardial ischemia.
Prospective implementation of a standardized screening protocol for deep venous thrombosis in abdominal surgical oncology patients.

Background and objectives Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a major cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality despite implementation of prophylaxis guidelines. We sought to identify risk factors for occult deep venous thrombosis (DVT) following abdominal surgery for cancer and measure the clinical impact of a prospectively implemented standardized postoperative DVT screening protocol. Methods Patients undergoing abdominal surgery for malignant indication were screened with early postoperative lower extremity duplex to identify DVT. Clinical and pathologic factors associated with DVT were identified. Results Among 255 patients meeting study criteria, 25 (9.8%) had occult lower extremity DVT on routine postoperative screening. Prior history of VTE and lower preoperative hemoglobin were independently associated with DVT (OR, 9.05; P = 0.004; and OR, 1.27; P = 0.025, respectively). Preoperative chemotherapy within 1 year and thrombocytopenia were associated with DVT in univariate analyses only. Five patients developed postoperative pulmonary emboli (2.0%); three following negative duplex and two following positive duplex for distal DVT for which the patients were not therapeutically anticoagulated due to a contraindication. There were no pulmonary emboli in duplex-positive patients who were anticoagulated or who had vena cava filter placed. Conclusion Despite prophylaxis, the prevalence of occult DVT in abdominal oncologic surgery patients is considerable. Postoperative screening duplex can identify these events to guide management.
Outcomes of video assisted thoracic surgery compared with open thoracotomy in patients with early stage lung cancer.

e20061Background: Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) has become the recommended approach for treatment of early stage lung cancer; however, no large randomized clinical trial has been conducted...
Fast response organic photodetectors with a thick photoconversion region and fullerene transport layer

Abstract Organic photodetectors were prepared based on polymer-fullerene blended heterojunctions using Poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) and Phenyl-C61-Butyric-Acid-Methyl Ester (PCBM). In order to investigate and improve the sensitivity to short optical pulses, 5–10 micrometer thick layers were fabricated. A dual-solvent draw blade technique was developed to simplify the heterojunction production. The increased thickness resulted in a drastic reduction to the dark current. Both electrically inert nanoparticles and an evaporated fullerene interlayer were found to further improve the device performance. The external quantum efficiency was measured, as well as the fast pulse response in the limit of low photocarrier injection. Results showed a sensitivity to pulses of very small energy, 100 fJ, largely aided by a dark current that was below 10 nA/cm2.
A Coordinating Control for Hybrid HVdc Systems in Weak Grid

A coordinating control strategy is proposed for a hybrid high voltage dc (HVdc) system comprising a capacitor commutated converter connected in series with a two-stage voltage source converter called “Vernier.” This approach ensures that 1) the tap changers and switched capacitor banks are eliminated by Vernier controls that maintain constant firing angle and margin angle at the rectifier and inverter, respectively, and provide volt-VAr control at the commutation bus, and 2) improves the power flow recovery and risk of commutation failure following sever faults. To that end, a detailed switched model of hybrid-HVdc is built in EMTDC/PSCAD platform. For the frequency-domain analysis, a new nonlinear state-space averaged model is also developed and benchmarked against the detailed model. The steady-state operating characteristics of the proposed hybrid HVdc system are established. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated for weak ac systems interfacing the rectifier and inverter sides. Improvement in commutation failure and power flow recovery following severe disturbances are also shown through case studies.
Exenterative operations. Experience with 118 patients.

Abstract Experience with 118 exenterative operations for recurrent malignancy is reported. The most common source of serious complication has been the urinary tract, but in recent years this has been largely obviated through the use of ileal or sigmoid conduits rather than ureterosigmoidostomy. Methods devised to diminish the frequency of postoperative bowel complications have not been consistently successful. With increasing experience, the operative mortality has gradually diminished from 16.7 per cent initially to 2.3 per cent during the past 4 years (among 43 patients). Fifty-four of the 118 patients are eligible for 5 year survival study; 14 (25.9 per cent) are alive and free of disease. Exenterative procedures can provide an appreciable survival of patients harboring recurrent pelvic malignancy.
Military Doctrine Development and Curriculum Development

One of the complaints about the development of military doctrine over the past several decades is that “we are always preparing to fight the last war.” One of the complaints that surfaced during a four year long study into the development of a common framework for supply chain management curriculum development was that the text books used in the curriculum development process were out of date. In other words, we are preparing students for the real world by teaching them about the historical business world and not the emerging business world. While this approach may work in the liberal arts such as history, it is in the words of Freire, doing a disservice to the students and not adequately preparing them for the real world. This study looks at a methodology for developing business school curriculums in particular. The study reviewed syllabi, job announcements, and textbooks for the top rated schools and for those not in the Top 25. The gap between what industry is asking for and what schools are teaching is much wider for the not-Top 25 schools than for the top ranked schools.
Working Toward a Global Discourse on Children's Rights: The Problem of Unaccompanied Children and the International Response to Their Plight

The treatment of children has radically "improved over the last century as the status of children has evolved from being regarded as property to being valued as persons."2 This ideological shift has paved the way for an international discourse on children's rights, which eventually culminated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Children's Convention or Convention).3 However, even with this discourse, many children-unaccompanied child asylum seekers and refugees in particular-continue to suffer the effects of war, poverty, population growth, and exploitation.4
Symptomatic Recurrence of Cervical Spine Myelomeningocele in an Adult Patient

Background Cervical myelomeningocele (MMC) is a very rare neural type defect that is usually discovered and managed in childhood. It is best described as a closed type of spinal dysraphism, where the posterior portion of the cervical thecal sac forms a pouch that bulges out through a narrow posterior spina bifida and contains spinal neural tissue with or without cerebrospinal fluid. Case Description We report a 47-year-old male patient who presented with neck pain and decreased ability to use his fingers that had progressed over 3 years before presentation. Cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed a posterior bulge between the spinous processes of C4 and C6, absence of the spinous process of C5, and presence of cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord tissue and nerve roots within the bulging sac, suggestive of MMC. Simple untethering of the cord tissue was sufficient to halt the progression and allow for improvement in neurological deficits. Conclusion Cervical MMC is extremely rare in adults, the symptomatic progression of which is most likely because of cord tethering by fibrotic tissue formation over years. Early surgical correction and release of the tethered cord is relatively safe and prevents the evolution of neurological symptoms.
CNS depressants: benzodiazepines and barbiturates

Abstract Two major drug classes that can cause central nervous system depression are the barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Although the former have largely been supplanted in modern use by benzodiazepines, “Z-drugs,” and newer antiepileptics, they remain a concern for clinical and forensic testing. Benzodiazepines are a large category of drugs prescribed widely for treatment of insomnia, anxiety, seizures, drug withdrawal, and other purposes. They are also used recreationally, alone or in combination with other drugs of abuse. Novel benzodiazepines have emerged onto the designer drug scene as well. This chapter will highlight key mechanistic, pharmacokinetic, and analytic features of barbiturates and benzodiazepines, with emphasis on testing and interpretation in clinical and forensic specimens.
Influence of water-to-binder ratio on the optimum percentage of nano-TiO2 addition in terms of compressive strength of mortars: A laboratory and virtual experimental study based on ANN model

Abstract This research aims to study the effect of water-to-binder ratio (w/b) as a potential key factor that changes the optimum percentage of nano-TiO2 addition in terms of compressive strength of mortars. Data from previous literature were collected and analyzed. An artificial neuron network (ANN) model was trained and validated to predict the compressive strength of mortars as a function of the level of nano-TiO2, w/b, cement content, aggregate-to-binder ratio, and age. Then, a virtual experimental campaign evaluating 45,015 case scenarios, and using the ANN model, was performed to study the effect of the w/b on the optimum percentage of nano-TiO2. Results suggest that the higher the w/b and the lower the age, the higher the optimum percentage of nano-TiO2. Laboratory experimental compressive strength results are in agreement with these trends. Thermogravimetric analysis and 3D X-Ray scans show that the use of nano-TiO2 presents a double positive effect on compressive strength, reducing the porosity and increasing the hydration product content when the initial porosity of the reference cement paste is high (due to high w/b). However, when the porosity of reference samples is very low (due to low w/b), the use of nano-TiO2 may lead to a reduction of hydration products content due to the lack of space for the CH to grow. Since the initial porosity was already very low, the porosity reduction due to the use of nano-TiO2 would not be enough to overcome the negative effect on hydration. Therefore, it may lead to a decrease in the compressive strength of mortars. These results explain the dependence of the optimum percentage of nano-TiO2 on w/b and age.
Effect of Ethnicity on Changes in Fat and Carbohydrate Oxidation in Response to Short-Term High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): A Pilot Study

This study compared changes in substrate metabolism with high intensity interval training (HIIT) in women of different ethnicities. Twelve Caucasian (C) and ten Hispanic women (H) (age = 24 ± 5 yr) who were inactive completed nine sessions of HIIT at 85 percent peak power output (%PPO). Pre-training, changes in fat oxidation (FOx) and carbohydrate oxidation (CHOOx) during progressive cycling were measured on two days to compute the minimum difference (MD). This test was repeated after the last training session. Between baseline tests, estimates of FOx and CHOOx were not different (p > 0.05) and were highly related (intraclass correlation coefficient equal to 0.72 to 0.88), although the coefficient of variation of maximal fat oxidation (MFO) was equal to 30%. Training significantly increased MFO (p = 0.03) in C (0.19 ± 0.06 g/min to 0.21 ± 0.06 g/min, d = 0.66) and H (0.16 ± 0.03 g/min to 0.19 ± 0.03 g/min, d = 1.3) that was similar (p = 0.92) between groups. There was a significant interaction for FOx (p = 0.003) as it was only increased in H versus C, although both groups exhibited reduced CHO oxidation (p = 0.002) with training. Use of MD revealed that only 3 of 22 women show meaningful increases in MFO (>0.08 g/min). The preliminary data reveals that a small dose of low-volume HIIT does not alter fat and CHO oxidation and there is little effect of ethnicity on the response to training.
Origami-Inspired Robot That Swims via Jet Propulsion

Underwater swimmers present unique opportunities for using bodily reconfiguration for self propulsion. Origami-inspired designs are low-cost, fast to fabricate, robust, and can be used to create compliant mechanisms useful in energy efficient underwater locomotion. In this paper, we demonstrate an origami-inspired robot that can change its body shape to ingest and expel water, creating a jet that propels it forward similarly to cephalopods. We use the magic ball origami pattern, which can transform between ellipsoidal (low volume) and spherical (high volume) shapes. A custom actuation mechanism contracts the robot to take in fluid, and the inherent mechanics of the magic ball returns the robot to its natural shape upon release. We describe the design and control of this robot and verify its locomotion in a water tank. The resulting robot is able to move forward at 6.7 cm/s (0.2 body lengths/s), with a cost of transport of 2.0.
Confirmation Bias and Gambler’s Fallacy Effect with Bayesian Method

This paper mainly focuses on the influence of confirmation bias and gambler’s fallacy effect on people’s behaviors in the short-term markets. The model sets the gambler’s fallacy effect as an endogenous variable of the representative heuristic, and uses the information to explain confirmation bias. After using the Bayesian method to assign different prior distributions according to the different market conditions, I find these two biases both have effects on the stock price and they will be changed by the different market types. Besides, results also show that in 2019–2020, confirmation bias plays a more important role in the tech-stock market. When the market increased more in the last week, the gambler’s fallacy effect is more significant.
Sustainable Urban Planning and Its Connection to Environmental Health: A Literature Analysis

The topic areas around sustainable urban planning and environmental health have grown in emphasis and research over the past few decades as part of the growing larger topic area of transportation and manufacturing in human-automation interactions. This increase has correlated with the increased attention to overall environmental health as a greater point of local and global work. With the growth and emergence of these subjects, it is pertinent to explore a possible link and connection between the two topics and their respective importance. In this study, a literature review and analysis were conducted using data from Google Scholar and Web of Science and analyzed using Vosviewer, MAXQDA, and Harzing Publish or Perish. Dual searches with the key terms “sustainable urban planning” and “environmental health” were conducted in Google scholar and web of science databases and analyzed for emergence and relevance using site trending analysis tools. Following these two topic area searches, Vosviewer, Harzing Publish or Perish, MAXQDA and Mendeley facilitated a co-citation analysis and content analysis to direct efforts to perform a larger literature review from scholarly articles over a broad range of publishing realms, home countries and authors. The results of the literature review presented results showing a possible connection between trends in both keyword topic areas and the need to analyze these emerging areas further due to their relatively new age. It is believed that future work can best push the fields of sustainable urban planning and benefit environmental health the most through definition of sustainable indicators and metrics, incorporating new technologies, and gathering and leveraging best practices. Human-computer interaction will play a pivotal role in promoting the emerging field of sustainable urban planning to a larger world audience by facilitating the creation and spread of the above future work areas.
Alternative substrates for calf intestinal adenosine deaminase. A pre-steady-state kinetic analysis.

The protein fluorescence of adenosine deaminase (ADA) was perturbed during the deamination of adenosine and four analogues of adenosine. The kinetics for the approach to the steady-state during turnover were monitored by fluorescence changes associated with formation of enzymatic intermediates. These kinetic data and the steady-state kinetic data were analyzed in terms of the kinetic scheme as follows. [formula: see text] The steady-state turnover number was assigned to k2, which was 244 s-1 for adenosine and 1.1 x 10(-3) s-1 for 6-methylamino-2-aminopurine arabinoside (aMDAP). Values for the association rate constants, k1, and the dissociation rate constants, k-1, were calculated from the kinetics for the approach to the steady state. k1 varied from 31 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for adenosine to 2.8 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for N-6-methyladenine arabinoside. k-1 varied from 500 s-1 for adenosine to 31 s-1 for aMDAP. The latter value was confirmed (22 s-1) by spectrofluorometrically monitoring the trapping of ADA by excess erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine as aMDAP.ADA dissociated. The ratio of k2 to k-1, which determines the commitment to catalysis, decreased from 0.49 for adenosine to 3.5 x 10(-5) for aMDAP. The Km values calculated from k1, k-1, and k2 were similar to the values determined from steady-state kinetic data. The spectrum of enzyme-bound aMDAP resembled protonated aMDAP.
Performance modeling and composition: a case study in cell simulation

Presents a case study in the use of performance modeling for parallel application development, with a biological cell simulation as our target application. We show that a simple performance model is adequate for determining data layout for arrays and linked structures, and validate our model against experimental results for some application kernels. We quantify the importance of optimizing across program components using information about the machine performance and input characteristics. The cell simulation application has two phases, one regular and one irregular. The model closely predicts actual performance within the regular phase and allows for qualitative design comparisons in the irregular one. The resulting application is written in Split-C and runs on multiple platforms.
Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Soil Stability

Seventeen sites monitored for acoustic emission are described, including twelve earth dams, two surcharge fills, two embankments and one man-made reservoir where seepage was detected. The results from all sites lead to the following generalizations. Soil masses can deform and consequently will produce acoustic emissions which exceed background noise levels. Soil masses which generate no acoustic emissions are probably not deforming, and are in a state of equilibrium. Soil masses generating moderate levels of acoustic emissions (10 counts/min to 100 counts/min) are marginally stable and require continued monitoring. Soil masses generating high levels of acoustic emissions (100 counts/min to 500 counts/min) are actively deforming and unstable, requiring immediate remedial action. Soil masses generating very high levels of acoustic emissions (greater than 500 counts/min) are in, or are very near a failure state.
Isolation of a bacterium capable of degrading peanut hull lignin.

Thirty-seven bacterial strains capable of degrading peanut hull lignin were isolated by using four types of lignin preparations and hot-water-extracted peanut hulls. One of the isolates, tentatively identified as Arthrobacter sp., was capable of utilizing all four lignin preparations as well as extracted peanut hulls as a sole source of carbon. The bacterium was also capable of degrading specifically labeled [14C]lignin-labeled lignocellulose and [14C]cellulose-labeled lignocellulose from the cordgrass Spartina alterniflora and could also degrade [14C]Kraft lignin from slash pine. After 10 days of incubation with [14C]cellulose-labeled lignocellulose or [14C]lignin-labeled lignocellulose from S. alterniflora, the bacterium mineralized 6.5% of the polysaccharide component and 2.9% of the lignin component.
A low-current multistage clamp-on current transformer with ratio errors below 50/spl times/10/sup -6/

An electronically aided multistage technique is applied to a hand-held openable-core damp-on current transformer which enables accurate low current measurements to be made over a wide dynamic and frequency range of operation, for use in conjunction with highly accurate active/reactive power and energy meters, and harmonic power analyzers. The clamp on current transformer can be used to measure currents in the range from 1 A to 200 A, at frequencies between 50 Hz ad 5 kHz, with ratio errors of less than 50/spl times/10/sup -6/ in both magnitude and phase.
Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a leading cause of mental retardation, associated with a broad spectrum of involvement, ranging from mild emotional problems or learning disabilities through all levels of mental retardation. Since 1991 it has been known that the disorder is caused by a single gene on the X chromosome. Keywords: fragile X syndrome; fragile X mental retardation 1 gene; fragile X mental retardation protein; mutation; premutation
The crystal structure of erabutoxin a at 2.0-A resolution

The three-dimensional structure of erabutoxin a, a single-chain, 62-residue protein neurotoxin from snake venom, has been determined to 2.0-A resolution by x-ray crystal structure analysis. Molecular replacement methods were used, and the structure refined to a residual R = 0.17. The sites of 62 water molecules and 1 sulfate ion have been located and refined. The structure of erabutoxin a is very similar to that established earlier for erabutoxin b. These toxins from venom of the same snake differ in sequence only at residue 26, which is Asn in erabutoxin a and His in erabutoxin b. The substitution leads to only minor variations in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, the distribution of thermal parameters and the implied regional mobilities are similar in the two structures. In particular, the highly mobile character of the peripheral segment Pro44-Gly49 in both structures supports the specific role proposed for this segment in neurotoxin binding to the acetylcholine receptor. Forty-eight of the solvent sites determined are first surface positions; approximately one-half of these are equivalent to solvent sites in erabutoxin b.
Dispersion division multiplexing for in-band subcarrier-header-based all-optical packet switching

We propose a method to transmit SCM-header at a subcarrier frequency lower than the data-rate, specifically at 7.7 GHz for 10 Gb/s data-rate, using dispersion division multiplexed subcarrier transmission. It is important to note that this is not possible using standard SCM transmission, since the subcarrier placed at such a low frequency can't be filtered out efficiently and this would deteriorate the detected data performance greatly. This technique permits efficient optical bandwidth utilization and results in little power penalty for the received data, since the SCM header channel is invisible with respect to the data channel detector.
A New Era for Irrigation

A New Era for IrrigationNational Research Council. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1996.
Membrane Lipid Changes During Formation of a Functional Electron Transport System in Staphylococcus aureus

Addition of oxygen to a culture of anaerobically growing Staphylococcus aureus results in the formation of a membrane-bound, functional electron transport system. With the shift to aerobic growth, there is at least a 15-fold increase in cytochrome a and at least a 55-fold increase in cytochrome oxidase o. At the completion of the shift to aerobic growth, the cytochrome levels equal those found in bacteria grown with aeration throughout the entire growth cycle. Cytochromes b(1) and o are formed first. Their synthesis slows when cytochrome a becomes detectable. Concentrations of cytochromes b(1) and sometimes cytochrome a increase late in the adaptive period. Concomitant with this is a decrease in the oxygen tension at which the rate of oxygen utilization becomes dependent on the oxygen concentration. During the shift to aerobic growth, the protoheme content increases ninefold, and all the protoheme can be accounted for in enzymatically reducible cytochrome b(1) and cytochrome oxidase o. Protoheme, but not a functional cytochrome system, is synthesized by anaerobically growing S. aureus. Heme a appears only after a period of aerobic growth. During the shift to aerobic growth, there is a 1.6-fold increase in the vitamin K(2) content, with an alteration in the ratios of the 35 and 45 carbon side chain isoprenologues. A twofold increase in phosphatidyl glycerol and a 1.6-fold increase in cardiolipin occur with the shift to aerobic growth. Lysyl-phosphtidyl glycerol remains essentially constant in this period. Concentrations of mono- and diglucosyl diglycerides increase coordinately 1.3-fold during the shift to aerobic growth at a 2.5 to 1 m ratio.
Accreditation council on graduate medical education technical skills competency compliance: urologic surgical skills.

Background In accordance with new mandates implemented by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education, reliance on operative case logs as demonstration of residents' surgical competence will no longer be adequate. We describe the implementation of a comprehensive, year-round, mandatory skills laboratory curriculum as an integral component of our urology residency training program. Study design We developed eight laboratory practicums using primarily nonhuman models: basic endoscopy, advanced endoscopy, ureteroscopy, percutaneous renal surgery, basic laparoscopy, advanced laparoscopy, urologic use of the gastrointestinal tract, and cadaveric pelvic dissection. Results Anonymous evaluations submitted by all training session participants indicate that acquisition of surgical skills is facilitated through participation in laboratory practicums. An incremental progression in proficiency was observed by all of the instructors and students who participated. There was a high degree of satisfaction with model fidelity and the value of technical experience gained. Conclusions Our urologic surgery skills laboratory curriculum is an effective means of skills acquisition and maintenance for a wide variety of urologic techniques, including complex endourologic procedures. Patient care can safely be of secondary importance with respect to trainee experience in a low-stress environment that provides an opportunity for supervised repetitive performance of essential technical skills. We describe effective models, with high fidelity-to-cost ratio, that incorporate laboratory-based surgical skills training and evaluation into urology residency programs, with the aim of Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education competency guideline compliance.
BIOREMEDIATION OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS FROM WATER WITH PLANT ROOT SURFACE PEROXIDASES

Peroxidases have been shown to polymerize phenolic compounds, thereby removing them from solution by precipitation. Others have studied the role of root surface associated peroxidases as a defense against fungal root pathogens; however, their use in detoxification of organic pollutants in vivo at the root surface has not been studied. Two plant species, waterhyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (C. Mart) Solms-Laub.] and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.), were tested for both in vitro and in vivo peroxidase activity on the root surface. In vitro studies indicated that root surface peroxidase activities were 181 and 78 nmol tetraguaiacol formed min{sup -1} g{sup -1} root fresh wt., for tomato and waterhyacinth, respectively. Light microscope studies revealed that guaiacol was polymerized in vivo at the root surface. Although peroxidase was evenly distributed on tomato roots, it was distributed patchily on waterhyacinth roots. In vitro studies using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that the efficiency of peroxidase to polymerize phenols vary with phenolic compound. We suggest that plants may be utilized as a source of peroxidases for removal of phenolic compounds that are on the EPA priority pollutant list and that root surface peroxidases may minimize the absorption of phenolic compounds into plants by precipitating them atmore » the root surface. In this study we have identified a new use for root-associated proteins in ecologically engineering plant systems for bioremediation of phenolic compounds in the soil and water environment. 25 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.« less
Current-induced organic molecule–silicon bond breaking: consequences for molecular devices

Abstract The current carrying capacity of individual organic molecules covalently bound to silicon has been studied. Adsorbates consisting exclusively of saturated CC bonds were found to be entirely stable whereas adsorbates containing π bonds could be controllably dislodged under modest conditions. The π bonds act as a chromophore, taking energy from a scattered electron, energy that can be selectively channeled into SiC bond breaking. The class of adsorbates that are dislodged is closely related to unsaturated molecules widely investigated for enhanced molecular wire character. It is predicted that molecular devices containing such molecules will fail when operated. Measures to avoid current-induced bond breaking are described. New processes based upon the controlled bond breaking phenomenon are suggested.
Interteaching and the Testing Effect: A Preliminary Analysis

In a number of studies, interteaching has produced better student-learning outcomes than traditional teaching methods. Little research, however, has examined ways to make interteaching more effecti...
Colloque “Techniques et figures du social d'une guerre à l'autre”

luncheon meeting, at which Mark Lapitsky, a senior lecturer in the Institute of International Labor Studies, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, spoke about "Soviet Historiography of the American Labor Movement in the 1980s." Lapitsky has written biographies of "Big Bill" Haywood and Daniel DeLeon and is now at work on a biography of Walter Reuther. In his speech, Lapitsky lamented the hidebound and doctrinaire treatment of the American labor movement by Russian scholars and looked forward now to a more sophisticated recognition of the complexity and diversity of the American scene by a freer and younger generation of Soviet historians. On that very hopeful note, the conference ended.
Anti-Ig inactivation of the CH31 lymphoma model for immature B cell inhibits its ability to process pigeon cytochrome c.

Abstract We wished to determine whether tolerized cells are able to process and present antigen based on our hypothesis that tolerized B cells be unable to function in the normal capacity as antigenpresenting cells if they are to remain the tolerant state. Results in this study show that the ability of the murine lymphoma model for immature B cells, CH31, to process pigeon cytochrome c was greatly down-regulated when cultured in the presence of rabbit anti-mouse IgM. In contrast, the same anti-IgM treatment had no significant effect on the antigen-presenting cell function of the lymphoma model for mature B cells, CH112. Presentation of CNBr-cleaved fragments of pigeon cytochrome c by either CH31 or CH12 cells was not affected by the antibody treatment. Furthermore, CH31 cells pre-incubated with pigeon cytochrome c were not subject to the anti-IgM inhibition of the antigen presentation. These observations suggest that pertubation of surface immunoglobulin molecules on CH31 immature B cells causes down-regulation of their antigen-processing machinery.
Photoelectron spectroscopy of phosphites and phosphates

Abstract The ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (UPS) of trimethyl and triethyl phosphite, trimethyl and triethyl phosphate and four substituted phosphates are presented. Assignments are based on analogies to the UPS of phosphorus trichloride and phosphoryl trichloride and are substantiated by CNDO/2 computations. The mechanism of PO (axial) bond formation is discussed.
Comments on “Block realization of two-dimensional half-plane IIR digital filters derived by Mertzios (1984)

Abstract This short communication is primarily to show that the block-implementation equation of 2-D asymmetric half-plane IIR digital filters derived by Mertzios (1984) is noncomputable and incorrect.
Magnetic field-controlled microfluidic transport

Several new forms of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow occurring in the solution gap between two 250-μm-diameter Pt microdisk electrodes, oriented in a face-to-face geometry and immersed in a uniform magnetic field (1 T), are described. The MHD flow results from the Lorentz force generated by diffusion of electrochemically generated molecular ions through the magnetic field. Individual microscopic flow tubes (∼50-μm radius) spanning the gap between the face-to-face electrodes are observed during the 1-e- reduction of nitrobenzene in acetonitrile solutions. The flow tubes extend up to ∼2 cm in length and are stable for indefinite periods. Directional transport of the electrogenerated nitrobenzene radical anion over macroscopic distances within the flow tubes, with minimal diffusional broadening, is demonstrated using an ultramicroelectrode probe to map the convective flux of redox species. Pulsed MHD transport of small packets of molecules and the formation of large area (∼3 cm2), microscopically thin (25 μm)...
Understanding the Determinants of Debt Burden among College Graduates

This article examines debt burden among college graduates and contributes to previous research by incorporating institutional and state characteristics. Utilizing a combination of national datasets and zero-one inflated beta regression, we find several major themes. First, family income and college experiences are strongly associated with the probability of zero debt burden as well as the level of debt burden. Second, graduates from private institutions have a higher level of debt burden than graduates from a public institution. Lastly, state funding of merit-based aid programs play a role in reducing students’ debt burden, but the effect disappears when accounting for the “Georgia effect.” Conclusions and suggestions are made about the roles institutions and government can play in reducing debt burden among college graduates.
Ioffe-Regel-Mott limit in highly anisotropic systems.

The electric conductivity is studied by the Boltzmann transport equation in the highly anisotropic Fermi-liquid model. I point out that the minimum conductivity, usually called the Ioffe-Regel-Mott limit, in the immobile direction is greatly reduced by the ratio of the hopping matrices because of the Bloch reflection in that direction. By comparing with the experimental data in the high-temperature superconductors, I find that the magnitude of the c-direction resistivity may be partly understood, though its temperature dependence may not.
The effects of foreign investment in the presence of a factor market monopsony

Abstract This paper introduces a foreign monopsony within the Ricardo—Viner production model to show that the observed behavior of host country interest groups — labor's opposition and domestic capital's support — towards greater foreign investment need not be inconsistent with the proposition that an inflow of foreign capital raises real wages and lowers the return to domestic capital. It is shown that an increase in foreign investment intensifies the degree of ‘monopsonistic exploitation’ of labor and produces greater supranormal profits for the foreign monopsony. Moreover, if these profits are distributed to domestic capitalists according to some fixed proportion, this increase in income may offset the decline in their real return.
Direct simulation of the sedimentation of elliptic particles in Oldroyd-B fluids

Cross-stream migration and stable orientations of elliptic particles falling in an Oldroyd-B fluid in a channel are studied. We show that the normal component of the extra stress on a rigid body vanishes; lateral forces and torques are determined by the pressure. Inertia turns the long side of the ellipse across the stream and elasticity turns it along the stream; tilted off-centre falling is unstable. There are two critical numbers: the elasticity and Mach numbers. When the elasticity number is smaller than critical the fluid is essentially Newtonian with broadside-on falling at the centreline of the channel. For larger elasticity numbers the settling turns the long side of the particle along the stream in the channel centre for all velocities below a critical one, identified with a critical Mach number of order one. For larger Mach numbers the ellipse flips into broadside-on falling again. The critical numbers are functions of the channel blockage ratio, the particle aspect ratio and the retardation/relaxation time ratio of the fluid. Two ellipses falling near to each other, attract, line-up vertically and straighten-out with long sides vertical. Stable, off-centre tilting is found for ellipses falling in shear-thinning fluids and for cylinders with flat ends in which particles tend to align their longest diameter with gravity.
Measurement of the resistive anomaly in FePd alloys near the curie point

Abstract The temperature coefficient of resistivity has been determined for several FePd alloys near the Curie temperature and has been found to show a sharp peak at the Curie point.
Quantifying internal strain and deformation temperature in the eastern Himalaya, Bhutan: Implications for the evolution of strain in thrust sheets

Abstract Quartz microstructural analysis together with quantification of 3-D crystal–plastic strain of quartz clasts (Normalized Fry and Rf-φ methods) constrain deformation temperature ranges and internal strain magnitude/orientation within Himalayan thrust sheets in Bhutan. Lesser Himalayan (LH) thrust sheets display an inverted deformation temperature gradient, from ∼250 to 310 °C at the Main Boundary Thrust to ∼500–670 °C at the Main Central Thrust (MCT), attributed primarily to stacking of LH thrust sheets deformed at progressively higher temperatures toward the hinterland. The ‘hot-iron’ effect of the MCT hanging wall only affects the upper few hundred meters of hinterland LH thrust sheets. Frontal thrust sheets exhibit ∼7% layer-parallel shortening (LPS) strain. All other thrust sheets exhibit layer-normal flattening (LNF) strain, with 1.9:1.8:1.0 (LH rocks) and 2.1:1.8:1.0 (Greater and Tethyan Himalayan rocks) median ellipsoids (X parallel to lineation). We propose that LPS strain developed foreland-ward of the thrust deformation front, and that LNF strain resulted from later tectonic loading. The LPS to LNF transition occurs at minimum temperatures for quartz plasticity (ca. 250–270 °C). LNF ellipsoids are folded along with strata within thrust sheets, indicating that internal strain preceded thrust imbrication and translation. At the scale of 10’s of meters structural distance, strain magnitude of hanging wall rocks does not increase near thrusts, which supports the existence of discrete faults with large translations, as generally depicted in balanced cross-sections Strain magnitudes in low-grade Greater and Tethyan Himalayan rocks in central Bhutan indicate that the top-to-the-north component of channel-flow extrusion is most likely less than 19 km.