cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, structure, and characterization of lanthanide complexes bearing 1,3-diphenyltriazenido ligands

Protonolysis reactions between tris(cyclopentadienyl)lanthanide complexes and 1,3-diphenyltriazene were investigated as routes to lanthanide complexes containing 1,3-diphenyltriazenido ligands. There was no detectable reaction between tris(cyclopentadienyl)erbium or tris(cyclopentadienyl)lutetium and excess 1,3-diphenyltriazene at ambient temperature in toluene solvent, due to the insolubility of the polymeric tris(cyclopentadienyl)lanthanide complexes in this medium. The monomeric, toluene-soluble adduct tris(cyclopentadienyl)(4- tert -butylpyridine)erbium(III) was obtained in 41% yield upon reaction of tris(cyclopentadienyl)erbium with 4- tert -butylpyridine in toluene at ambient temperature. Treatment of tris(cyclopentadienyl)(4- tert -butylpyridine)erbium or tris(cyclopentadienyl)(4- tert -butylpyridine)lutetium with 1,3-diphenyltriazene (one equivalent) in toluene at ambient temperature afforded bis(cyclopentadienyl)(1,3-diphenyltriazenido)(4- tert -butylpyridine)erbium(III) (73%) and bis(cyclopentadienyl)(1,3-diphenyltriazenido)(4- tert -butylpyridine)lutetium(III) (81%), respectively, as red–brown solids. Treatment of tris(cyclopentadienyl)lanthanide with 1,3-diphenyltriazene (three equivalents) and pyridine (two or three equivalents) in refluxing toluene afforded tris(1,3-diphenyltriazenido)bis(pyridine)erbium(III)·(pyridine) 1.0 ·(toluene) 0.5 (48%) and tris(1,3-diphenyltriazenido)bis(pyridine)lutetium(III) (63%) were isolated as red–brown solids. The crystal structures of bis(cyclopentadienyl)(1,3-diphenyltriazenido)(4- tert -butylpyridine)erbium(III) and tris(1,3-diphenyltriazenido)bis(pyridine)erbium(III)·(pyridine) 1.0 ·(toluene) 0.5 are described. Both complexes are monomeric and contain bidentate 1,3-diphenyltriazenido ligands. The potential utility of lanthanide complexes bearing 1,3-diaryltriazenido ligands as source compounds in chemical vapor deposition processes is discussed.
Ultra-low energy computing with noise: energy performance probability

Noise susceptibility and power density have become two limiting factors to CMOS technology scaling. As a solution to these challenges, probabilistic CMOS (PCMOS) based computing has been proposed. PCMOS devices are inherently probabilistic devices that compute correctly with a probability p. This paper investigates the trade-offs between the energy, performance and probability of correctness (p) of a PCMOS inverter. Using simple analytical models of energy, delay and p of a PCMOS inverter, the optimum energy delay product (EDP) value for given probability and performance constraints is found. The analytical models are validated using circuit simulations for a PCMOS inverter designed in a 0.13/spl mu/m process. The results show that operating the PCMOS inverter at lower supply voltages is more preferable in terms of minimizing EDP. Our analysis is useful in optimal (in terms of EDP) circuit design for satisfying application requirements in terms of performance and probability of correctness. An analysis of the impacts of the variations in the temperature and the threshold voltage on the optimal EDP values is also included in the paper.
The Economist's Handbook: A Research and Writing Guide. by Thomas L. Wyrick

(1996). The Economist's Handbook: A Research and Writing Guide. by Thomas L. Wyrick. The Journal of Economic Education: Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 286-288.
Few-femtosecond time-resolved measurements of X-ray free-electron lasers

Characterizing femtosecond X-ray pulses that vary from shot to shot is important for data interpretation. Here, Behrens et al. measure time-resolved lasing effects on the electron beam and extract the temporal profile of X-ray pulses using an X-band radiofrequency transverse deflector.
Visualization of the structure of supersonic turbulent boundary layers

A series of flow visualizations has been performed on two flat-plate zero-pressure-gradient supersonic boundary layers. The two different boundary layers had moderate Mach numbers of 2.8 and 2.5 and Reθ's of 82, 000 and 25, 000 respectively. A number of new visualization techniques were applied. One was a variation of conventional schlieren employing “selective cut-off” at the knife edge plane. Motion pictures of the flow were generated with this technique. Droplet seeding was also used to mark the flow, and high speed movies were made to show structure evolution. Still pictures were also taken to show details within the large-scale motions. Finally, Rayleigh scattering was used to construct planar images of the flow. Together, these techniques provide detailed information regarding the character and kinematics of the large-scale motions appearing in boundary layers in supersonic flow. Using these data, in concert with existing hot-wire data, some suggestions are made regarding the characteristics of the “average” large-scale motion.
Intraoperative mannitol use does not improve long-term renal function outcomes after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy

Traditionally, mannitol has been used to reduce the risk of perioperative renal dysfunction during surgery involving the kidney. Mannitol’s purported effects of increasing renal blood flow (ie, by way of prostaglandins and atrial natriuretic peptide), decreasing intravascular cellular swelling, free radical scavenging, decreasing renin production, and increasing intravascular volume are thought to mitigate the effects of hypoxia and ischemic renal injury that can occur during related surgical procedures.1 The clinical evidence of its effectiveness for this purpose, however, is conspicuously sparse in the field and across much of medical science.1–5 No randomized trial exists to support mannitol’s use during PN, although support has been drawn from clinical experience in renal transplantation and preclinical animal studies of prolonged warm ischemia.6 As the complex renal physiologic milieu is elucidated, evidence is mounting that mannitol might ay be detrimental to kidney function by a competitive mechanism of increasing metabolic demand.5 Although standard dosing exists, mannitol use during PN is discretionary and can be preferentially avoided by some surgeons. We evaluated the use of mannitol during minimally invasive PN and its effects on postoperative renal function recovery in a consecutive series.
Distribution of magnetic moment in Ni 3 Al

The unpaired-spin density distribution in the weakly ferromagnetic ordered alloy Ni/sub 3/Al was determined by polarized-neutron diffraction measurements on a single-crystal sample of 75.9-at.% Ni. In this Cu/sub 3/Au-type structure, the local magnetization at a Ni site is similar in its radial dependence and cubic components (84% T/sub 2g/, 16% E/sub g/) to that in pure nickel, though it is much smaller in magnitude. (The magnetic moments of the excess Ni atoms in Al sites are not significantly different from those at the Ni sites.) Consistent with the tetragonal environment of each Ni site, the magnetization distribution is further lowered in symmetry, resulting in an extreme situation in which the uncompensated spin is located predominantly in the lobes directed toward Ni neighbors and hardly at all in those directed toward Al neighbors. Comparison is made with the components of the Fermi-level density of states derived from a band calculation by Fletcher; the neutron-diffraction results are found to be qualitatively in accord.
Conservation genetics of Australasian sailfin lizards: Flagship species threatened by coastal development and insufficient protected area coverage

Despite rampant coastal development throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific, studies of conservation genetics and ecology of vulnerable, coastal species are rare. Large bodied vertebrates with highly specialized habitat requirements may be at particular risk of extinction due to habitat degradation and fragmentation, especially if these habitats are naturally patchily distributed, marginal, otherwise geographically limited, or associated in space with high human population densities or heavy anthropogenic disturbance. Particularly telling examples of these conservation challenges are large Australasian reptiles with obligate habitat requirements for lowland, coastal and mangrove forests. Plagued by habitat destruction due to high human densities along coastlines, sprawling rural development, and rapidly developing estuarine fisheries industry, coastal forest reptiles are experiencing rapid declines. And yet studies of population biology, genetics, and habitat requirements of species depending on these environments are few. We undertook the present study in order to take a multifaceted approach to understanding a poignant conservation problem. We identify significant evolutionary units for conservation in large-bodied sailfin lizards (genus Hydrosaurus), model suitable habitat in the Philippines from extensive occurrence data and evaluate the efficacy of the current protected area network, and identify the source of hydrosaurs in the illegal pet trade. We determine that the extent of the species’ habitat coincident with protected areas is low. Our forensic evaluation of the illegal pet trade in the Philippines determines the existence of a natural population that is at risk of systematic exploitation by traders. Together, this integrative study characterizes a conservation urgency of particular significance: the genetically distinct sailfin lizards of the Bicol faunal region, with suitable habitat virtually unprotected, and clear evidence of heavy exploitation for illegal trade. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first conservation genetic study to evaluate the potential effectiveness of the protected landscape coverage in the Philippines, a Megadiverse nation and Biodiversity Hotspot.
Viscoelastic properties of epoxy polymer concrete

The viscoelastic nature of polymer concrete was investigated utilizing an epichlorohydrin/bisphenol A-type epoxy resinaggregate system. Compression specimens were tested for linearity of viscoelastic behavior, the effect of size of mass on creep, and for determination of the specific creep compliance and the associated elastic modulus. The creep compliance was determined by least squares curve fitting of the experimental creep data. Collocation, a numerical Laplace transform inversion routine, was used to develop the equation for the relaxation modulus.
Nonhuman primate vocalizations support categorization in very young human infants

Language is a signature of our species and our primary conduit for conveying the contents of our minds. The power of language derives not only from the exquisite detail of the signal itself but also from its intricate link to human cognition. To acquire a language, infants must identify which signals are part of their language and discover how these signals are linked to meaning. At birth, infants prefer listening to vocalizations of human and nonhuman primates; within 3 mo, this initially broad listening preference is tuned specifically to human vocalizations. Moreover, even at this early developmental point, human vocalizations evoke more than listening preferences alone: they engender in infants a heightened focus on the objects in their visual environment and promote the formation of object categories, a fundamental cognitive capacity. Here, we illuminate the developmental origin of this early link between human vocalizations and cognition. We document that this link emerges from a broad biological template that initially encompasses vocalizations of human and nonhuman primates (but not backward speech) and that within 6 mo this link to cognition is tuned specifically to human vocalizations. At 3 and 4 mo, nonhuman primate vocalizations promote object categorization, mirroring precisely the advantages conferred by human vocalizations, but by 6 mo, nonhuman primate vocalizations no longer exert this advantageous effect. This striking developmental shift illuminates a path of specialization that supports infants as they forge the foundational links between human language and the core cognitive processes that will serve as the foundations of meaning.
Thermal reactions of 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane

An experimental study of the pyrolytic behavior and thermal reactions of 2-Chloro-l,I,I,2tetrafluoroethane(HCFC-124) has been conducted overthe temperature range 923 to 1048K and atmospheric pressure. A tubular reactor was fed mixtures diluted to 2% HCFC-124 by volume with a helium or hydrogen balance. Results were obtained using a water-cooled gas sampling probe with on-line GC/MS and GC/FID analysis for stable product identification and reactant and stable product quantification. Products of the decomposition in helium include C3,F6 (major product), C2F4, CFCI2CF3, the cis and trans isomers of perfluoro-2-butene, and isoC4F8, Products observed in hydrogen include CH2FCF3, (major product), CH2F2, CHF3, CH3F, CF3CH3 and CHF2CHF2. The addition of hydrogen was observed to greatly increase reactant conversion and shift product selectivities away from perfluorinated olefins and chlorinated species. A QRRK analysis of reactant decomposition is presented and discussed. HCFC-124 appears to decompose primarily by...
Methane, Ethane, And Ethylene Laminar Counterflow Diffusion Flames At Elevated Pressures: Experimental And Computational Investigations Up To 2.0MPa

Abstract A newly designed high-pressure combustion facility was used to study the structures and extinction conditions of counterflow diffusion flames in air for nitrogen-diluted methane, ethane, and ethylene, from 0.1 MPa to 2.0 MPa. Besides employing thermocouples to measure temperature profiles, strain rates at extinction were measured and compared with predictions of two different chemical–kinetic mechanisms (San Diego and USC). In addition, the nitrogen in the fuel and oxidizer streams was replaced by helium for one of the methane tests of extinction strain rate as a function of pressure. In all cases, the strain rate at extinction was found to increase with pressure up to about 0.3–0.5 MPa and to decrease with pressure thereafter, on up to 2.0 MPa, although with helium there was a clear leveling tendency beyond 1.0 MPa. While these behaviors were in qualitative agreement with most predictions of the chemical–kinetic mechanisms, in a number of cases the quantitative discrepancies were well beyond the experimental uncertainty. This underscores the desirability of improving chemical–kinetic descriptions for applications at elevated pressures. Such improvements for the San Diego mechanism are introduced here for two of the steps involving hydroperoxyl that become increasingly important with increasing pressure.
Socioculturally Sensitive Intervention for Patients with Cancer

Implications for designing psychosocial services for patients of different sociocultural status are analyzed in the context of empirical data from extant research as well as findings from a just-completed study of 369 patients with a first diagnosis of breast, coIorecta1, or lung cancer. intervention with men, the elderly, the poor, and ethnic minorities is emphasized.
Abstract IA27: Cell fate determinants as regulators of cancer metastasis

An emerging class of genes dictating malignant behavior is cell fate regulators. In the orderly development of a given tissue, the balance between cellular differentiation and division/migration is precisely controlled by a number of lineage specific transcription factors to maintain normal tissue architecture. Deregulation of such cell fate determinants have been increasingly linked to cancer metastasis, and have been shown to play critical roles in regulating cancer stem cell activity, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor invasion and metastatic colonization. In our study of the mammary gland development, we found that the transcription factor Elf5, a key regulator of alveologenesis in the mammary gland, also plays a critical role in regulating the stem/progenitor function of the mammary epithelium. Targeted deletion of Elf5 in the mammary glands leads to accumulation of cell types with dual luminal/basal properties such as coexpression of K8 and K14 and an increase in CD61(+) luminal progenitor population during pregnancy. Further interrogation suggests that the abnormal increase in K14(+) K8(+) cells may represent the CD61(+) luminal progenitors blocked in differentiation. Remarkably, Elf5 deficiency in mammary epithelium also triggers an increase of adult mammary stem activity as evidenced by the accumulation of mammary stem cell (MaSC)-enriched cell population in both pregnant and virgin mice and further confirmed by mammosphere and transplantation assays. In addition to controlling cell fate determination, Elf5 also inhibits EMT in both mammary gland development and metastasis. This specific role for Elf5 in suppressing EMT and metastasis was uncovered via analyses of Elf5 conditional knockout animals, various in vitro and in vivo models of EMT and metastasis, an MMTV-neu transgenic model of mammary gland tumor progression, and clinical breast cancer samples. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this role of Elf5 is mediated by the direct transcriptional repression of Snail2/Slug, a master regulator of mammary stem cells and a known inducer of EMT. These findings establish a broad molecular function of Elf5 that extends from being a key cell lineage regulator during normal mammary gland development to serving as a suppressor of EMT and metastasis in breast cancer. Citation Format: Yibin Kang. Cell fate determinants as regulators of cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Third AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; Sep 18-22, 2013; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(19 Suppl):Abstract nr IA27.
Wnt signaling: bone's defense against myeloma

In this issue of Blood , Qiang and colleagues show that increasing Wnt signaling within the myeloma bone microenvironment inhibits myeloma bone disease and consequently reduces tumor burden. For many years, the osteoclast was thought to be the main culprit in the development of the destructive
Seeing the Fetus: The Role of Technology and Image in the Maternal-Fetal Relationship

IT IS ONLY IN THE LAST 30 YEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE to visualize the living fetus. Before then, its life was often acknowledged at “quickening,” when the pregnant woman firstnoticeditmovingwithintheuterus.Withthenewability to see the fetus as an independent organism, however, bothmedicalscienceandsocietynowenvisionthematernalfetal relationship as beginning at a much earlier stage in fetal development. Visual imagery, specifically sonography, has become an important representation of that relationship.Considerarecenttelevisioncommercialfeaturinghighresolution 3-dimensional sonographic images of a thirdtrimester fetus or a Time cover story describing Alexander Tsiaras’ beautifully detailed, computer-enhanced images of fetal development as “at the forefront of a biomedical revolution.” 1 These contemporary biomedical images of the fetus are changing public perception of the unborn and may shift the balance of legal rights from the maternal to the fetal body. Due in part to laws restricting human anatomical dissection, accurate depictions of the fetus did not appear until 1799, when Samuel Thomas Soemmerring published plates ofstagedembryonicdevelopment. 2 Anditwasnotuntil1965, whenLennartNilsson’sphotographofan18-weekfetusappeared on the cover of Life, that the image of a fetus became widely recognized. The photographic quality of modern sonography, given its role in fetal measurement and diagnostics, carries with itaconnotationofobjectivitythatmaydeflectattentionfrom the cultural assumptions that give these images such authority.FasouliotisandSchenkerwrite,“Thebiologicalmaternal fetal relationship has not changed but the medical model of that relationship has shifted emphasis from unity to duality. Physicians no longer look to the maternal host for diagnostic data and a therapeutic medium; they look through her to the fetal organism and regard it as a distinct patient in its own right.” 3 Casper agrees that as fetal imaging technology advances, so does the likelihood of seeing the fetus as an entity separate from its maternal host. 4 Mirroring the improved resolution of the fetal image has been the growth of “fetus as patient” advocates who explicitly argue for equal and competing interests of the fetus. 5 When the fetus is increasingly visualized as a person, resolving ethical tensions betweenthewelfareofthemotherandfetusbecomesacontest between their rights and obligations. 3 Pateman has argued that the assumption of the impregnable male body was im
Stability of a Dual-Spin Satellite with Two Dampers

The rotational stability of a dual-spin satellite consisting of a main body and a symmetric rotor, both spinning about a common axis, is investigated. The main body is equipped with a spring-mass damper, while a partially filled viscous ring damper is mounted on the rapidly spinning rotor. The effect of fluid motion on the rotational stability of the satellite is calculated, considering the fluid as a single particle moving in a tube with viscous damping. Time constants are obtained by solving approximate equations of motion for the nutation-synchronous and the spin-synchronous modes, and the results are found to agree well with the numerical integrations of the exact equations. A limit cycle may exist for some configurations; the nutation angle tends to increase in such cases.
Multiresolution 3D measurement using a hybrid fringe projection and moire approach

Projected fringe methods have lead to a wide selection of commercial sensors for 3D measurement applications. The basis of these systems is a projector such as an LCD presentation projector that is used to generate a coarse pattern that is shifted across the part and viewed by a camera. Three or more images with a small pattern shift between each are sufficient to obtain a detailed 3D map using phase shift analysis methods. The limitation of these systems has been that to obtain high resolution the system is limited to viewing only a small field-of-view. Moire methods are a way to leverage this resolution, particularly on flat or only slightly contoured areas. The approach described here takes advantage of moire methods used in connection with the fringe projection method to provide high resolution over key reference areas, while still provided a less precision measurement over a larger region.
Structure and properties of an intragranular weak link in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x single crystals

Abstract Coupled magneto-optic imaging, four-point probe electrical characterization and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+ x (2212) single crystals grown by directional solidification has revealed the presence of extensive, lamellar defects that lie parallel to the ( 0 1 0 ) planes of the structure. These defects block the supercurrent over areas that can reach hundreds of micrometers squared. Diffraction-contrast and high-resolution TEM revealed sheet-shaped defects that lie parallel to the ( 0 1 0 ) plane and in which the wavelength of the incommensurate modulation is perturbed. These lamellae are a few nanometers wide and, extends to tens to hundreds of micrometers on the ( 0 1 0 ) plane. The approximate doubling of the wavelength of the incommensurate modulation within these lamellae indicates severe oxygen deficiency. High-spatial-resolution X-ray spectroscopy indicates that the defects are also Ca deficient. These macroscopic defects which are common in directionally-solidified 2212 single crystals, must be recognized in the interpretation of single and synthetic bicrystal data, and may play a role in determining the percolative current path in bulk-scale 2212 materials.
Duration of vitrectomy and postoperative cataract in the vitrectomy for macular hole study

PURPOSE: To report the association between duration of vitrectomy, as well as other risk factors, and the progression of nuclear sclerosis and posterior subcapsular cataract in the Vitrectomy for Macular Hole Study. DESIGN: A cohort study nested within a randomized controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Using a system similar to the Lens Opacities Classification System II, nuclear sclerosis (NS) and posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) were scored in the vitrectomy and fellow eye of 74 patients at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Age, baseline blood pressure and refractive power, and duration of surgery were evaluated as risk factors for NS or PSC progression and cataract extraction. RESULTS: The incidence of NS progression in the surgical group of vitrectomy eyes was 81% at 6 months, 98% at 1 year, and 100% at 2 years of follow-up. In contrast, NS progression in the control group of fellow eyes was only 18% at 6 months, 20% at 1 year, and 8% at 2 years. The incidence of PSC progression in the surgical group remained at approximately 11% throughout follow-up, which was not significantly higher than the 3% to 5% incidence in the control group. Vitrectomy was significantly related to progression of NS cataract (P < .001) and cataract extraction (P < .01). No statistically significant differences were found for NS scores, PSC scores, or progression rates between eyes that had less than median surgical duration (60 min.) or more than the median surgical duration. Additionally, no significant differences were found when eyes that experienced 45 minutes or less surgical duration were compared with eyes that endured more than 75 minutes surgical duration. Age, blood pressure, and refractive power were not found to be predictors for NS and PSC progression. CONCLUSIONS: Although vitrectomy is a risk factor for NS progression, the duration of vitrectomy does not increase the risk.
TESTING FRONT-END ELECTRONICS FOR THE CDF SILICON TRACKER UPGRADE

The upgraded silicon tracker for the Collider Detector at Fermilab has 722,432 strips. These strips are instrumented with SVX3D ASICs fabricated in the Honeywell 0.8 μm radiation hard CMOS process. We describe test setup and procedures used to screen production chips and to ensure reliability of the silicon system front-end electronics.
The Automatic Pursuit and Management of Goals

This article reviews recent research on the automatic activation and management of goals. In particular, it focuses on research examining the variety of ways in which goals may be automatically brought to mind in everyday settings and how such goal priming may affect individuals' deliberate goal pursuits. Moreover, given the variety of ways in which goals may be automatically activated and the often numerous goals people deliberately choose to pursue, the article also examines an important component of effective self-regulation: automatically managing, or “juggling,” various pursuits in order to best ensure their successful completion.
Angioscopy as an adjunct to arterial reconstructive surgery: a preliminary report.

Abstract To date our use of angioscopy as an adjunct to in situ vein grafting, arterial embolectomy, femoropopliteal bypass surgery, and laser recanalization has been studied in 11 patients. Three angioscopes have been used: a 1.7 mm optiscope, a 2.8 mm laser optiscope, and a 3.2 mm bronchoscope. Scopes were introduced through an arteriotomy and a clear field maintained by continuous saline infusion. Twenty-four angioscopic evaluations were performed in the 14 patients studied. Adequate visualization was achieved with all three scopes. Angioscopy showed total atherosclerotic occlusion of six superficial femoral and popliteal arteries, intimal flaps in two arteries, thrombus in two arteries and one graft, adequate valvulotomy in three saphenous veins used for in situ bypass grafting, and removal of thrombus after embolectomy in one artery. With the 2.8 mm laser optiscope, the optical fiber used for laser recanalization could be positioned at the site of arterial occlusion before lasing and recanalization were done under direct vision. The 1.7 mm scope could be passed through the recanalized artery to inspect the channel and confirm communication with the artery distal to the occlusion. Thus, angioscopy appears to be potentially useful as a diagnostic device in arterial occlusive disease and as an adjunct in in situ saphenous vein grafting or laser recanalization of occluded arterial segments. (J VASC SURG 1986;4:315-20.)
Evaluation of a New Thermally Stable Polycrystalline Diamond Material in Soft and Hard Formations

Comparative wear tests were carried out on a new Thermally Stable Polycrystalline Diamond (TSP) composite and Tungsten Carbide (6% Co) (WC) cutters, by machining rock cylinders in an instrumented lathe. Cutting tests were performed on Berea Sandstone and Sierra Granite rocks. It was observed that the new TSP material removes 1.4 times more Berea Sandstone rock than WC and 13 times more Sierra Granite than WC. In addition its volumetric wear is 25 times less in Berea Sandstone and 10 times less in Sierra Granite than WC. WC was also found to have much higher coefficient of friction, which can limit its use in abrasion resistant applications.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The Practice of Power: US Relations with China since 1949

This book explains the change in American relations with China after 1949 from hostility to rapprochement, and to full normalization of the ties in 1979. It goes on to examine the relationship after normalization in 1979, a period when the United States has come to view China as less of a challenge but still resistant to certain of the norms of the current international order. The book begins by examining US effort to build, and then maintain an international and domestic consensus behind its China policy. It then looks at changing US perceptions of the capabilities of the Chinese state. It shows how American positions on Chinese representation at the UN and on the trade embargo were subtly eroded, not least by changes in US domestic public opinion. The author argues that previous explanations of American relations with China have dwelt too single-mindedly on ideas associated with the strategic triangle and that instead we need to embed our understanding of the evolution of American relations with China within a wider structure of relationships at the global and domestic levels. This book is intended for academics and students of international relations, specialists on US foreign policy and Chinese foreign policy.
Viscous-Inviscid Analysis of Dual-Jet Ejectors

A viscous-invisc id interaction method is developed to predict the performance of two-dimension al, incompressible flow ejectors that use two primary jets. The flowfield is subdivided into a viscous region that contains the turbulent jets and an inviscid region that contains the ambient fluid drawn into the device. The inviscid flow is modeled with a higher-order panel method, and an integral method is used for the description of the viscous part. The strong viscous-inviscid interaction between the jets and the ambient fluid is simulated in an iterative process where the two regions influence each other en route to a converged solution. This formulation retains much of the essential physics of the problem but at the same time requires only a small amount of computing effort. The model is applied to a parametric study that illustrates the connection between the details of the ejector geometry and the level of thrust augmentation. The advantages of a dual-jet configuration are assessed through a comparison of the present results with similar calculations for an otherwise identical single-jet ejector.
A microwave circuit electric field imager

We report on the theory of operation and the experimental results obtained from an electric field imaging system that employs the method of modulated scattering. The system is low cost and is capable of mapping the normal and tangential electric field magnitude and electrical phase delay at each position within 5 /spl mu/m above a microwave circuit in the frequency range of 0.5 GHz to 18 GHz. The electric field probes are fabricated on a very thin quartz substrate. The measured images of the normal and tangential electric fields over microstrip and coplanar waveguide transmission lines are presented and agree well with theory. >
Forward-look 2-D sonar image formation and 3-D reconstruction

Sonar imagery deals with transmitting acoustic signals and measuring the reflected sound from the scene surfaces. The recorded signal encodes information about the shape and material properties of these surfaces. The relationship of the scene geometry to the image irradiance can be established by modeling the physics of the sonar image formation process. The inherent ambiguities in the interpretation of the 3-D world based on visual cues in a 2-D forward-scan sonar image arise as a result of both operating as a ranging device and loss of elevation angle information due to the projection geometry. One aspect of this work is modeling the image formed by a new class of high-resolution 2-D forward-looking sonar systems which supports our complementary aim of recovering the unknown zenith angles from image brightness and thus reconstruct 3-D objects. Our method applies to a single forward-scan sonar image, assuming that the scene objects have smooth surfaces that vary monotonically in terms of distance from the sonar, and cast visible shadows on a flat background. We present the results of experiments with real data to demonstrate the performance of our 3-D reconstruction technique.
Molecular Mechanisms Responsible for the Reduced Expression of Cholesterol Transporters From Macrophages by Low-Dose Endotoxin

Objective— Atherosclerosis is characterized as a chronic inflammatory condition that involves cholesterol deposition in arteries. Together with scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1), the ATP-binding cassette transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 are the major components of macrophage cholesterol efflux. Recent studies have shown that low-grade inflammation plays a distinct regulatory role in the expression of SR-B1 and ABCA1/ABCG1. However, the mechanisms linking low-grade inflammation and cholesterol accumulation are poorly understood. Methods and Results— Using primary bone-marrow-derived macrophages, we demonstrate that subclinical low-dose lipopolysaccharide potently reduces the expression of SR-B1 and ABCA1/ABCG1, as well as cholesterol efflux from macrophages through interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 and Toll-interacting-protein. Low-dose lipopolysaccharide downregulates the nuclear levels of retinoic acid receptor-α, leading to their reduced binding to the promoters of SR-B1 and ABCA1/ABCG1. We observe that glycogen synthase kinase 3β activation by low-dose lipopolysaccharide through interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 and Toll-interacting-protein is responsible for reduced levels of retinoic acid receptor-α, and reduced expression of SR-B1 and ABCA1/ABCG1. Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase M, however, counteracts the function of interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase 1. Conclusion— Collectively, our data reveal a novel intracellular network regulated by low-dose endotoxemia that disrupts cholesterol efflux from macrophages and leads to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
A Repeated Significance Test With Applications To Sequential Detection In Sensor Networks

In this paper we introduce a randomly truncated sequential hypothesis test. Using the framework of a repeated significance test (RST), we study a sequential test with truncation time based on a random stopping time. Using the functional central limit theorem (FCLT) for a sequence of statistics, we derive a general result that can be employed in developing a repeated significance test with random sample size. We present effective methods for evaluating accurate approximations for the probability of type I error and the power function. Numerical results are presented to evaluate the accuracy of these approximations. We apply the proposed test to a decentralized sequential detection problem in sensor networks (SNs) with communication constraints. Finally, a sequential detection problem with measurements at random times is investigated.
Adaptive Boundary Control for Unstable Parabolic PDEs—Part I: Lyapunov Design

We develop adaptive controllers for parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) controlled from a boundary and containing unknown destabilizing parameters affecting the interior of the domain. These are the first adaptive controllers for unstable PDEs without relative degree limitations, open-loop stability assumptions, or domain-wide actuation. It is the first necessary step towards developing adaptive controllers for physical systems such as fluid, thermal, and chemical dynamics, where actuation can be only applied non-intrusively, the dynamics are unstable, and the parameters, such as the Reynolds, Rayleigh, Prandtl, or Peclet numbers are unknown because they vary with operating conditions. Our method builds upon our explicitly parametrized control formulae to avoid solving Riccati or Bezout equations at each time step. Most of the designs we present are state feedback but we present two benchmark designs with output feedback which have infinite relative degree.
Brachial approach for intracoronary stent implantation: A feasibility study

Abstract Implantation of coronary artery stents via the percutaneous femoral approach is associated with a high rate of vascular complications at the access site related to the size of the entry hole and the intense anticoagulation required to prevent stent thrombosis. Therefore we studied the feasibility of using the left brachial approach utilizing open arterial repair for implantation of coronary artery stents. Intracoronary stent implantation via the femoral approach in 24 patients (group A) was compared with implantation via the brachial approach in 16 patients (group B). Baseline lesion characteristics were similar in the two groups. All stents in group A (n = 27 stents) were successfully delivered to their target vessel. One stent in group B (n = 18 stents) could not be delivered because of an inability to engage the coronary artery from the brachial approach. There were no significant differences in the angiographic outcome between the two groups. Complications including hematomas, hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, vascular injury requiring surgery, and pseudoaneurysm formation were significantly more common in group A than in group B ( 8 24 [33%] versus 1 16 [6%], respectively; p
Sequence motifs associated with hepatotoxicity of locked nucleic acid—modified antisense oligonucleotides

Fully phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with locked nucleic acids (LNAs) improve target affinity, RNase H activation and stability. LNA modified ASOs can cause hepatotoxicity, and this risk is currently not fully understood. In vitro cytotoxicity screens have not been reliable predictors of hepatic toxicity in non-clinical testing; however, mice are considered to be a sensitive test species. To better understand the relationship between nucleotide sequence and hepatotoxicity, a structure–toxicity analysis was performed using results from 2 week repeated-dose-tolerability studies in mice administered LNA-modified ASOs. ASOs targeting human Apolipoprotien C3 (Apoc3), CREB (cAMP Response Element Binding Protein) Regulated Transcription Coactivator 2 (Crtc2) or Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR, NR3C1) were classified based upon the presence or absence of hepatotoxicity in mice. From these data, a random-decision forest-classification model generated from nucleotide sequence descriptors identified two trinucleotide motifs (TCC and TGC) that were present only in hepatotoxic sequences. We found that motif containing sequences were more likely to bind to hepatocellular proteins in vitro and increased P53 and NRF2 stress pathway activity in vivo. These results suggest in silico approaches can be utilized to establish structure–toxicity relationships of LNA-modified ASOs and decrease the likelihood of hepatotoxicity in preclinical testing.
A tutor on scope for the programming languages course

In order to facilitate problem-based learning in our Programming Languages course, we developed a tutor on static and dynamic scope. Static scope includes the scope of variables, the referencing environment of procedures and the scope of procedure names in a language that permits nesting of procedure definitions (e.g., Pascal, Ada). Dynamic scope includes the scope of variables, and the referencing environment of procedures. In this paper, we will describe the design of our tutor, and present the results of evaluating it for two semesters in our Programming Languages course.
A novel route update design for wireless sensor networks

In wireless sensor networks, mobility of targets and sinks, as well as power exhaustion of sensors often leads to breakage of existing routes. In this paper, we propose an efficient route update protocol (ERUP) to rebuild new routes in the neighborhood of broken ones. ERUP consists of two steps: firstly, nodes along the old problematic route define a packet propagation region; and then, route rediscovery packets are broadcast only within this region. ERUP not only achieves very low control overhead, but also provides much bigger freedom for the selection of new routes, which unnecessarily overlap the old ones. This virtue is especially important to the route-wide update cases, such as continuous movement of endpoints, and renovation of worn-out routes. Simulations verify the efficiency and scalability of ERUP.
Assessing Local Experiences of Truth-Telling in Sierra Leone: Getting to ‘Why’ through a Qualitative Case Study Analysis

1This article presents findings from a qualitative case study assessment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Sierra Leone. It contributes to the empirical evidence concerning the psychologically healing effects of postwar truth telling processes and adds significantly to the specificity of such findings. The article distinguishes between the experiences of truth telling among the educated elite minority and the majority of local residents, and shows that these divergent experiences are related to different levels of access to the benefits, and incorporation of the international discourses, of postwar healing. It concludes with a word on the ability of the TRC to catalyze healing in the local context of Sierra Leone and the benefits of the ethnographic approach for the assessment of transitional justice mechanisms.
Apparent Survival of Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus) Varies with Reproductive Effort and Year and between Sexes

Abstract. Life history theory predicts a tradeoff between reproductive effort and survival, which suggests that some management practices aimed at increasing productivity may compromise population growth. We analyzed a 10-year data set of 225 individually marked Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus), a threatened shorebird, to determine whether individual reproductive effort was correlated with low apparent survival. Most adults resided in the population an average of 2 years (range: 1–10 years), during which females laid 3–60 eggs, and both males and females invested considerable time in incubation and brooding. Apparent survival varied annually and was higher for males than for females. Contrary to theory, we found no evidence that increased reproductive effort, either current or cumulative, compromised survival. Instead, apparent survival was correlated positively with incubation time, which may be related to either high-quality individuals having high reproductive rates and high survival or permanent emi...
Plant genetic engineering to improve biomass characteristics for biofuels

Currently, most ethanol produced in the United States is derived from maize kernel, at levels in excess of four billion gallons per year. Plant lignocellulosic biomass is renewable, cheap and globally available at 10-50 billion tons per year. At present, plant biomass is converted to fermentable sugars for the production of biofuels using pretreatment processes that disrupt the lignocellulose and remove the lignin, thus allowing the access of microbial enzymes for cellulose deconstruction. Both the pretreatments and the production of enzymes in microbial tanks are expensive. Recent advances in plant genetic engineering could reduce biomass conversion costs by developing crop varieties with less lignin, crops that self-produce cellulase enzymes for cellulose degradation and ligninase enzymes for lignin degradation, or plants that have increased cellulose or an overall biomass yield.
Reliability estimation during prototyping of knowledge-based systems

Many knowledge based systems are designed and built with little attention paid to the reliability of the output. In this paper, we present an approach, using partitioning of both the knowledge base and the input space, that allows for the measurement of the reliability during any program increment in a rapid prototyping development cycle. Before presenting the approach, we formalize the problem using concepts from general systems theory and then describe our three objectives: 1) measurement of the reliability of the knowledge-based system at the current program increment, 2) prediction of the reliability of the future system, and 3) support for design decisions. Finally, we apply our approach to a design-aiding knowledge-based system for the selection of materials under various climatic conditions. The design-aiding knowledge-based system is used by U.S. Army personnel in the development of equipment to be used by the U.S. Army in various regions of the world. We find that the current system, containing 40 rules, has a reliability of approximately 0.85. However, more importantly, we have discovered the rules that led to many of the failures. >
Amplified microRNA detection by templated chemistry

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of RNAs that play important regulatory roles in the cell. The detection of microRNA has attracted significant interest recently, as abnormal miRNA expression has been linked to cancer and other diseases. Here, we present a straightforward method for isothermal amplified detection of miRNA that involves two separate nucleic acid-templated chemistry steps. The miRNA first templates the cyclization of an oligodeoxynucleotide from a linear precursor containing a 5'-iodide and a 3'-phosphorothioate. The sequence is amplified through rolling circle amplification with 29 DNA polymerase and then detected via a second amplification using fluorogenic templated probes. Tests showed that the cyclization proceeds in ∼50% yield over 24 h and is compatible with the conditions required for rolling circle polymerization, unlike enzymatic ligations which required non-compatible buffer conditions. The polymerization yielded 188-fold amplification, and separate experiments showed ∼15-fold signal amplification from the templated fluorogenic probes. When all components are combined, results show miRNA detection down to 200 pM in solution, and correlation of the detected signal with the initial concentration of miRNA. The doubly templated double-amplification method demonstrates a new approach to detection of rolling circle products and significant advantages in ease of operation for miRNA detection.