cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paramagnon heat capacity in (Ti,Zr,Hf)NiFe x NiSn half-Heusler composites

As a measure of the temperature response of the energy of matter, the heat capacity ${C}_{p}$ is a fundamental thermodynamic property. Its dependence on magnetic field, especially at low temperatures, yields insight into the electronic, phononic, and magnetic states of condensed matter. Here, we present a set of paramagnetic and ferromagnetic $(\mathrm{Ti},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Zr},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hf})\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}\mathrm{Sn}$ half-Heusler composites that exhibit low-field ($l3$ T) maxima in ${C}_{p}$ and higher-field magnetic quenching of the heat capacity at temperatures below 10 K. Using rigorous statistical analysis, we attribute the effect to the existence of paramagnons within the compounds. To explain the lowest-temperature ($l4$ K), low-field declines in ${C}_{p}$, we derive a magnon model up to fourth order in dispersion. While the combined paramagnon and magnon model matches the data well, the fit parameters are significantly underdetermined. We provide a qualitative explanation of the secondary effect based on superconducting phases within the composites. Overall, our work highlights the insight of field-dependent heat capacity studies at fixed temperatures that cannot be as easily gleaned from the temperature-dependent heat capacity at fixed magnetic fields.
Technoeconomic analysis of thermoelectric power plant condensers with nonwetting surfaces

Abstract This paper investigates the dynamic performance and economic benefits of using nonwetting tube surfaces fabricated by electrodeposition process in thermoelectric power plant condensers. Nonwetting surfaces enhance performance by reducing fouling resistance and promoting dropwise condensation of steam on the shell side. Using a thermal resistance network of a shell and tube condenser, detailed parametric studies are presented to investigate the effects of design parameters and operating parameters on the annual condenser performance and its impact on the net electric energy output of a representative 550 MW coal-fired power plant. A cost model is presented to evaluate the technoeconomic benefits of the enhanced condenser design in a unified manner, in terms of a new levelized cost of condenser (LCOC) metric. The model is coupled with a numerical optimization method to identify optimal nonwetting condenser tube designs that minimize LCOC. The results show optimal cooling water flow velocity of 2.5 m/s and tube diameter of 0.032 m (0.025 m) for nonwetting (plain) condenser tube surfaces that exhibit dropwise (filmwise) condensation. Condensers with nonwetting surfaces are shown to reduce LCOC by a factor of 2.5 and 1.7, respectively, compared to plain titanium and aluminum-brass tubes.
Evaluation of a primary antifungal prophylaxis protocol for preventing invasive mold infections after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

IntroductionInvasive mold infections contribute to morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The optimal strategy for primary antifungal pro...
Community-Based Biomonitoring: An Antidote to Insufficient Governmental Water Quality Monitoring and Enforcement

African Palm cultivation is a relatively new industry in Guatemala, having arrived in the 1980s. We use palm oil, made from the fruits of African Palms, in myriad household goods, from makeup to cleaners to food. Palm oil also merits serious consideration as an alternative to fossil fuels. Global demand for palm oil has skyrocketed over ten-fold from 1980 to 2011, with current consumption around 53 million tons per year. Over the last 16 years, palm oil cultivation has emerged as a serious industry in Guatemala, with the total land under palm oil cultivation increasing from eight-hundred percent between 2000 and 2012. Roughly one-percent of the land surface in Guatemala is currently under palm oil cultivation, and over half of this land was not used in agricultural production before it was converted to palm oil production. Palm oil offers many environmental benefits, including lower agricultural inputs, high production rates, reduced land use (as compared to alternative oil sources), and reduced greenhouse gas emissions (as compared to fossil fuels or other biofuels), but the local environmental impacts of palm oil production can be disastrous. In Guatemala, for example, Reforestadora de Palmas del Peten, S.A., (REPSA), a palm oil company, is embroiled in a lawsuit over a fish die off along a 100-mile stretch of the La Pasion River. Crises like this fish die off provide an obvious clue that increased palm oil production can significantly affect a region’s aquatic resources, but most environmental impacts are more subtle and insidious than a massive fish kill. Moreover, these low-level impacts can serve as important warning signs of impending catastrophic environmental impacts. Absent stringent and consistent monitoring, many of these impacts will go undetected. In places like Guatemala, where much of the concern around palm oil production comes from the local level, citizens themselves may have to do the monitoring. To accomplish this monitoring, citizens need a quick, easy, and low cost method to monitor aquatic environmental impacts; biomonitoring, the use of indicators, indicator species, and/or indicator communities to detect pollutants that enter a waterway, may provide just such a method. This chapter investigates the potential use of citizen biomonitoring in Guatemala to provide needed data on surface water quality.
Climate disruptions are already here

Climate change impacts the production of electricity including power generated from nuclear facilities. New research published in Nature Energy reports an increase in climate-related outages over the past few decades and projects the annual energy loss for the global fleet of nuclear generators decades into the future.
Sage for Undergraduates

Welcome to Sage! Fun projects using Sage Advanced plotting techniques Advanced features of Sage Programming in Sage and Python Building interactive webpages with Sage What to do when frustrated! Transitioning to SageMathCloud Other resources for Sage Linear systems with infinitely many solutions Installing Sage on your personal computer Index of commands by name and by section
The Role of Hydrogen in Interface Trap Creation by Radiation in Mos Devices-A Review

Many different models have been proposed to explain how interface traps Nit are created by radiation in MOS devices since this degradation problem was first observed in the mid-1960s. In this paper, we review recent research which provides strong support for one of these models, the H+ transport model. In this model, the rate-limiting step of Nit creation is drift of radiation-induced hydrogen ions (H+) through the oxide to the Si-SiO2 interface. Extensive time-dependent experimental data have been obtained and are shown to agree well with qualitative predictions of the model and with detailed time-dependent calculations based on H+ dispersive transport in SiO2.
Changing needs of patients and families in the acute care hospital: implications for social work practice.

Much attention has been given in recent years to changing reimbursement for hospital care, shortened lengths of stay, and changes in the delivery of health care. The corollaries to these changes are more restrictive admission criteria, increased severity of patient illness, and changes in patient care. The purpose of the present paper is to describe the inpatients who remain in the acute care hospital, and to examine how the patients and families in need of social work consultation are identified and the implications of these methods of identification for social work practice.
Robust Portfolio Optimization

We show how to formulate and solve robust portfolio selection problems. The objective of these robust formulations is to systematically combat the sensitivity of the optimal portfolio to statistical and modeling errors in the estimates of the relevant market parameters. We introduce “uncertainty structures” for the market parameters and show that the robust portfolio selection problems corresponding to these uncertainty structures can be reformulated as second-order cone programs and, therefore, the computational effort required to solve them is comparable to that required for solving convex quadratic programs. We also survey recent literature on robust portfolio selection. Keywords: portfolio selection; parameter uncertainty; robust portfolio selection; Knightian uncertainty; confidence regions
Impact-melt origin for the Simondium, Pinnaroo, and Hainholz mesosiderites: Implications for impact processes beyond the earth-moon system

The Simondium, Pinnaroo, and Hainholz mesosiderites are interpreted to be clast-laden impact melts that crystallized from immiscible silicate, metallic (Fe-FeS) liquids. The existence of silicate melts is shown by intergranular basaltic textures. Metallic melts are inferred on the basis of smooth boundaries between metal and troilite and the occurrence of troilite as anastomosing areas that radiate outward into the silicate fractions. These relations suggest that troilite crystallized after silicates, concentrating as a late-stage residuum. Evidence for impact melting includes: diversity and abundance of clast types (mineral, metal, lithic) in various stages of recrystallization and assimilation; differences in mineral chemistries between clasts and igneous-textured matrix silicates; unusual metal plus silicate bulk composition. Silicate clasts consist primarily of orthopyroxene and minor olivine with a range of Fe/Fe + Mg ratios, anorthitic plagioclase, and rare orthopyroxenite (diogenite) fragments. Substantial amounts of Fe-Ni metal were melted during the impact events and minor amounts were incorporated into the melts as clasts. The clast populations suggest that at least four rock types were melted and mixed: (a) diogenite, (b) a plagioclase-rich source, possibly cumulate eucrite, (c) dunite, and (d) metal. Most orthopyroxene appears to have been derived from fragmentation of diogenites. Orthopyroxene (En/sub 82-61/) and olivinemore » (Fo/sub 86-67/) clasts include much material unsampled as individual meteorites and probably represent a variety of source rocks.« less
Laser Capture Microdissection

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) offers a rapid and precise method of isolating and removing specified cells from complex tissues for subsequent analysis of their RNA, DNA, or protein content, thereby allowing assessment of the role of the cell type in the normal physiologic or disease process being studied. In this unit, protocols for the preparation of mammalian frozen tissues, fixed tissues, and cytologic specimens for LCM, including hematoxylin and eosin staining, are presented, as well as a protocol for the performance of LCM utilizing the PixCell I or II Laser Capture Microdissection System manufactured by Arcturus Engineering. Also provided is a protocol for tissue processing and paraffin embedding, and recipes for lysis buffers for the recovery of nucleic acids and proteins. The Commentary section addresses the types of specimens that can be utilized for LCM and approaches to staining of specimens for cell visualization. Emphasis is placed on the preparation of tissue or cytologic specimens as this is critical to effective LCM.
Activation of AMPA/kainic acid glutamate receptors in the zona incerta stimulates locomotor activity.

Abstract Direct injections of dl -α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA), an AMPA/quisqualic acid receptor agonist, into the medial or posterior zona incerta (ZI) produced a marked stimulation of locomotor activity accompanied by a postural change. Similar responses were obtained by injection of kainic acid (KA) into the same areas. The behavioral effects of AMPA and KA were antagonized by coinjection of 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), and non-N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist. In contrast, injections of NMDA or ibotenic acid failed to significantly stimulate locomotor activity. These results suggest that the AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor subtypes in the zona incerta may have a functional role in regulating locomotor activity.
Ostertagia ostertagi challenge of calves vaccinated with Haemonchus placei intestinal homogenate.

Abstract The protective capacity of vaccination with Haemonchus placei whole gut homogenate against challenge with the non-blood-feeding nematode Ostertagia ostertagi was evaluated in calves. Ten helminth-free calves were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 received 100 μg H. placei intestinal homogenate in the adjuvant 5% dextran sulfate/PBS, while Group 2 received the adjuvant alone. Injections were administered subcutaneously on Days 0 and 28. All calves were challenged with ∼26,100 O. ostertagi larvae on Day 42. Serum antibody response and counts of nematode eggs per gram of feces (EPG) were determined throughout the study. Calves were necropsied at 5.5 weeks post-challenge for recovery of nematodes. Although significant increases were detected in both serum IgG1 and IgG2 of Group 1 calves (p 0.05). Lengths of adult nematodes were not significantly different between groups nor were the numbers of eggs present in adult females recovered from each group significantly different (p>0.05). There were also no significant differences between groups regarding fecal egg counts (p>0.05). Results suggest either: (1) the antigens targeted by the induced antibodies were not present in O. ostertagi; (2) the antigens targeted by the induced antibodies were present, but not essential to O. ostertagi survival; or (3) the antigen was present and essential, but amount of antibody ingested was insufficient to cause damage to the nematode.
On the possible influence of extraterrestrial volatiles on Earth's climate and the origin of the oceans

Abstract A consideration of observational and circumstantial evidence suggests that Earth may be subject to high influx rates (1011–1012 kg/yr) of extraterrestrial-sourced volatile elements (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen) derived from comets or other primitive solar-system material. The total extraterrestrial influx rate may be four to five orders of magnitude greater than previously thought, large enough to account for today's total near-surface inventories of water and carbon. The possibility of high rates of extraterrestrial volatile-accretion suggests a new climatic paradigm wherein Earth's surface temperature is influenced by conflicting internal and external processes. A variable influx of volatile elements tends to warm the Earth, while terrestrial processes cool the planet by absorbing these gasses at a more uniform rate. Variations in extraterrestrial influx rates may explain the variation of sea level and mean global temperature over geologic time, as well as some types of climate change, the occurrence of the Pleistocene ice ages, and the asymmetry of the Phanerozoic climate record (sudden warmings, slow coolings). The extraterrestrial influx rate may also act as the pacemaker of terrestrial evolution, at times leading to mass extinctions through climatic shifts induced by changes in accretion rates with concomitant disruptions of the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Life on Earth may be balanced precariously between cosmic processes which deliver an intermittent stream of life-sustaining volatiles from the outer solar system or beyond, and biological and tectonic processes which remove these same volatiles from the atmosphere by sequestering water and carbon in the crust and mantle.
Patients With Left Main Coronary Artery Vasospasm Inadvertently Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

To the Editor: Left main coronary artery (LMCA) vasospasm induced by angiographic catheters during coronary angiography, although uncommon, is a recognized complication of this procedure ([1,2][1]). However, the inability to distinguish vasospasm from obstructive disease of the LMCA can lead to
Three-Axis MEMS Threshold Accelerometer Switch for Enhanced Power Conservation of MEMS Sensors

A no-power 3-axis bidirectional MEMS threshold accelerometer is presented in this paper. Threshold accelerometers of 25g, 50g, and 100g were designed and fabricated on a single 3mm chip. The design is based on a conductive spring-mass system made of Au metal layers that close a switch between two metal contacts when the designed threshold is exceeded. We present the MEMS threshold accelerometer switch fabrication process and provide an analytical and experimental framework for the device performance
Association of an IL-1A 3′UTR polymorphism with end-stage renal disease and IL-1α expression

Association of an IL-1A 3′UTR polymorphism with end-stage renal disease and IL-1α expression. Background We evaluated polymorphisms in the interleukin-1 alpha 3′-untranslated region ( IL-1A 3′[UTR]) for association with type 2 diabetes–associated (DM) and nondiabetic-associated (non-DM) end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in two ethnic groups. Methods 3′UTR polymorphisms were identified by alignment of overlapping human expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Sequence ambiguities were experimentally confirmed and variants genotyped to test for association with ESRD in 75 unrelated Caucasians with DM ESRD, 95 unrelated Caucasian controls and, in a parallel study, 92 unrelated African Americans with type 2 DM ESRD, 95 unrelated African Americans with non-DM ESRD, and 86 unrelated African American controls. IL-1A 3′ UTR genotype and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IL-1α protein levels were measured in healthy Caucasians ( N = 112) and African Americans ( N = 101) to evaluate association between genotype and protein level. Results A polymorphism in the 3′ UTR of the human IL-1A gene was associated with ESRD and IL-1α protein expression. The polymorphism consists of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and an insertion/deletion generating four different haplotypes: TN 7 TTCAA, AN 7 TTCAA, TN 7 TTCAG and an allele deleted for four internal bases, TN 7 ( del TTCA)A. The 4 bp deletion allele, TN 7 ( del TTCA)A, was significantly less common among Caucasian DM ESRD and African American non-DM ESRD patients (recessive model; P = 0.0364 and P = 0.0293, respectively). In vitro, this polymorphism is associated with the amount of IL-1α protein synthesized in LPS-stimulated lymphocytes from healthy subjects ( P = 0.0013, additive model), with the TN 7 ( del TTCA)A haplotype associated with higher levels of stimulated IL-1α. Conclusion The association of the TN 7 ( del TTCA)A haplotype with higher levels of IL-1α expression and reduced risk for ESRD is consistent with involvement of cytokines in risk for developing nephropathy.
Public health informatics: An invitation to the field

Editor's Summary As we strive to manage health challenges on a population level, the demand for specialists in public health informatics is growing. The specialty differs from medical and nursing informatics by its focus on broad public health goals, policy and prevention rather than individual patient treatment. The information science component highlights topics such as information exchange, disease registries and privacy and plays a key role in healthcare reform efforts. The range of opportunities is wide, from epidemiology with an information science bent to developing web portals and smartphone apps. For information specialists interested in applying public health issues in their work or pursuing public health informatics, a variety of educational opportunities are available, ranging from webinars and single courses through post-doctoral fellowships, sponsored by the Public Health Informatics Institute, the National Library of Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others.
Morphology and microstructure of hydrating portland cement and its constituents III. Changes in the hydration of a mixture of C3S, C3A and gypsum with and without triethanolamine and calcium lignosulphonate present

Systematic sequential observations with the electron microscope were made of the morphological changes which occurred during the hydration of a paste mixture of C3S, C3A and gypsum. It was found that this system produced hydration products similar in nature to those produced by the monomineral systems with gypsum present. The two organic admixtures studied had some effect on changes in morphology and microstructure of the hydrating mixture, but they showed a pronounced influence on the rate of the hydration processes.
Expectancy theory and job behavior

Abstract Job attitude and behavior data were collected over the period of a year for 69 managers in a retail sales organization. Expectancy attitudes were found to be significantly related to some measures of effort and performance. However, weighting expectancy attitudes by valence measures did not increase the ability of expectancy attitudes to predict behavior. Crosslagged correlational analyses were done, but they provided little support for the view that expectancy attitudes cause performance. Ability and role perception measures were combined with the expectancy measures in order to predict performance, and this led to a significant multiple correlation with performance. The implications of these findings for the further development and testing of expectancy theory are discussed.
Professionalism and Evolving Concepts of Quality

For much of the twentieth century, quality of care was defined specifically in terms of physician characteristics and behaviors. High-quality physicians were well trained, knowledgeable, skillful, and compassionate. More recently, quality of care has been defined in terms of systems of care. High-quality organizations develop and adopt practices to reduce adverse events and optimize outcomes. This essay discusses this transformation from physician-based to organization-based concepts of quality and the consequences for patient care and medical professionalism.
Analysis of Nonlinear Regression Models: A Cautionary Note

Regression models are routinely used in many applied sciences for describing the relationship between a response variable and an independent variable. Statistical inferences on the regression parameters are often performed using the maximum likelihood estimators (MLE). In the case of nonlinear models the standard errors of MLE are often obtained by linearizing the nonlinear function around the true parameter and by appealing to large sample theory. In this article we demonstrate, through computer simulations, that the resulting asymptotic Wald confidence intervals cannot be trusted to achieve the desired confidence levels. Sometimes they could underestimate the true nominal level and are thus liberal. Hence one needs to be cautious in using the usual linearized standard errors of MLE and the associated confidence intervals.
Momentum flux and wave spectra measurements from an air-sea interaction buoy

Momentum flux measurements by eddy correlation method and wave height measurements with a capacitance-type wave staff were carried out from a stable air-sea interaction buoy anchored 5 km off Tiana Beach, Long Island, New York State. A characteristic height of sea surfacehs was estimated from wave height spectra. A roughly linear variation of surface shear stress withhs was found for an aerodynamically rough sea surface.
Competitiveness in Elite Professional Athletes

This study examined sport and interpersonal competitiveness between 92 tennis club players and 155 professional players (131 active and 24 retired) and also considered sex differences, differences ...
The Currency and Exchange System of Honduras

T HE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT of the Honduran monetary system has been largely an outgrowth of changing economic circumstances and inelastic monetary legislation.1 The system has not been used as an instrument to promote economic development, and there has been no coordination of fiscal and monetary policy. The reforms of 1950, which include the creation of a Central Bank, indicate, however, that Honduras is now likely to attempt to use fiscal and monetary policy more actively to assist the growth of the national economy.
Costs and Economies of Scale in Turkey's Postsecondary Vocational Schools.

The study reported in this paper examines the institutional cost structures of the postsecondary vocational education system in Turkey. The study uses a single-output quadratic cost function to analyze 65 individual vocational schools located within the 28 existing universities. Appropriate controls for institutional quality, discretionary allocation of staffing resources, the degree of technical instruction in the cirriculum, and regional variation are also included. Both average and marginal costs for each school are estimated over relevant ranges of student enrollments for determing prospective degrees of economies of scale. The findings should help policy makers in Turkey determine which vocational schools can reap efficiencies by an expansion (or contraction) of their student enrollments.
The art of health.

There is a general trend in education today to stress “the basics,” — often defined as reading, writing and arithmetic. Health-related professionals have made a valid case that health may be more “basic” than any of these areas. And professionals in the arts have good historical evidence that art, dance and music are “basic” to human existence. Too often the different disciplines are pitted against one another to compete for money and prestige. The intent of this paper is to show how two “basics” can be used in an interdisciplinary approach to help teach children. Using art to teach about health can be an effective and interesting way to promote health discussions.
The Ontological Argument of Diogenes of Babylon

An argument for the existence of gods given by the Stoic Diogenes of Babylon and reported by Sextus Empiricus appears to be an ancient version of the ontological argument. In this paper I present a new reconstruction of Diogenes' argument that differs in certain important respects from the reconstruction presented by Jacques Brunschwig. I argue that my reconstruction makes better sense of how Diogenes' argument emerged as a response to an attack on an earlier Stoic argument presented by Zeno of Citium. Diogenes' argument as reconstructed here is an example of a modal ontological argument that makes use of the concept of being of such a nature as to exist. I argue that this concept is a modal concept that is based on the Philonian definition of possibility, and thus that Diogenes' argument is a source of important evidence about the use of non-Stoic modalities in the post-Chrysippean Stoa. I conclude by arguing that the objections made against considering Diogenes' argument as ontological are unfounded and that Diogenes' argument clearly resembles modern versions of modal ontological arguments.
Green Synthesis of Polycyclic Benzimidazole Derivatives and Organic Semiconductors

Polycyclic benzimidazole derivatives, an important class of compounds in organic electronics and photovoltaics, were prepared using a solvent-free “green” process based on heating carboxylic acid anhydrides and arylene diamines in the presence of zinc acetate in the solid state. Products were isolated and purified directly by train sublimation of the crude reaction mixtures. The reaction conditions were optimized using various carboxylic acid anhydrides. Optical and electrochemical properties of these materials are also described.
Brand extensions via complements or substitutes: The moderating role of manufacturing transferability

This research investigates how consumer evaluations of brand extensions that either complement or substitute the original parent brand vary depending on the level of manufacturing transferability (i.e., the extent to which the parent brand’s existing resources and skills can be used to make the extension). We propose that a complement extension is processed by consumers at a higher, more abstract level whereas a substitute extension is processed at a lower, more concrete level. Since manufacturing transferability activates concrete cognitions of the production process, an increase in manufacturing transferability tends to result in more favorable evaluations toward substitute extensions than complement extensions. Empirical tests using a multi-method approach reveal support both for the underlying theoretical mechanism and the proposed hypotheses.
A Respectable Woman: The Public Roles of African American Women in 19th-Century New York

Acknowledgments Introduction 1 "I Resided in Said City Ever Since" Women and the Neighborhoods 2 "We Were Not as Particular in the Old Days about Getting Married as They Are Now" Women, the Family, and Household Composition 3 "I Washed for My Living" Black Women's Occupations4 "Idle Pleasures and Frivolous Amusements" African American Women and Leisure Time 5 "They Turned Me Out of My House" African American Women and Racialized Violence 6 "We Should Cultivate Those Powers" Activism of African American Women Conclusion NotesBibliographyIndexAbout the Author
Treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in transplant-eligible patients.

Treatment of myeloma has changed significantly in the past decade as a result of better understanding of disease biology, more effective treatments, and improved supportive care. Autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) is an effective treatment for myeloma and remains a critical component in its management. Given the potential impact of therapy on stem cell collection, initial treatment decisions in myeloma still depend on the patient’s transplant eligibility. The goals of initial therapy remain rapid disease control allowing for reversal of disease complications, as well as reduction in the risk of early death—all with minimal toxicity. The introduction of new drugs such as thalidomide, bortezomib, and lenalidomide has enabled us to achieve this goal, and combinations of these drugs have also led to unprecedented response depth. In addition, the newer drugs are being explored as maintenance therapy following SCT. This review summarizes the current approach to the treatment of newly diagnosed myeloma in transplant-eligible patients.
Sensitivity analysis of the kinetics of acid rain models

Abstract The great number of variables in acid rain modeling makes it difficult to pinpoint those parameters to which the model output (rain acidity) is most sensitive. The approach taken here separates the kinetic and dynamic parts, and analyzes the sensitivity of the kinetic module alone. Further simplifications and linearizations are introduced, however, the essential steps of the transformation processes are believed to be preserved. The major conclusions are: 1. (a) rain acidity is most sensitive to both the oxidation rates of SO2 to SO2−4 and NOx., to NO3−; 2. (b) dry deposition of the emitted gases, but not the formed anions, is important in determining the wet-deposited fraction; 3. (c) wet deposition is much faster than oxidation, and acidic matter is removed very rapidly from the air, but it is the oxidation rate that determines the total amount of acidity in rain and 4. (d) for similar initial concentrations of SO2 and NOx, nitrate ions may be the predominant species in wet deposition due to the faster oxidation and slower dry deposition of NOx compared to SO2.
Bacterial penetration across the blood-brain barrier during the development of neonatal meningitis.

Bacterial pathogens may breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and invade the central nervous system through paracellular and/or transcellular mechanisms. Transcellular penetration, e.g., transcytosis across the BBB has been demonstrated for Escherichia coli K1, group B streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Citrobacter freundii and Streptococcus pneumonia strains. Genes contributing to invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells include E. coli K1 genes ompA, ibeA, ibeB, and yijP. Understanding the mechanisms of bacterial penetration across the BBB may help develop novel approaches to preventing bacterial meningitis.
Transponder Net Self Calibration Algorithm

In operating an autonomous vehicle around a submerged structure it is often necessary to position the vehicle within 5 cm. Since the positioning accuracy of an acoustic navigation system relies on a precise knowledge of the transponder locations it is vital to calibrate the transponder net before sensitive tasks are undertaken. Complete calibration of some nets could require from hours to days resulting in serious delays in the mission and increased the costs. A calibration algorithm has been developed and implemented which requires a set of slant ranges and vehicle depths generated by a survey path of the net along with an initial guess of the transponder positions. The self-calibration algorithm uses an iterative least squares process which converges to the correct transponder coordinates even in the presence of modest errors in the measured ranges.
Steroid-mediated differentiation of neural/neuronal cells from epithelial ovarian precursors in vitro.

We reported earlier that occasional neurons evolve in human cultures of pluripotent ovarian epithelial stem cells. In subsequent experiments, frequent transdifferentiation into neural stem cells (NSC) and differentiating neurons was observed in human ovarian epithelial stem cells and porcine granulosa cells after exposure to certain combinations of sex steroids. Testosterone (TS), progesterone (PG) or estradiol (E2) alone do not increase the emergence of neurons. However, a mixture of TS+PG after E2 pretreatment converted a majority of ovarian epithelial stem cells or porcine granulosa cells into NSC and differentiating neuronal cells within one to three hours. Cultured neurons manifested an interconnectivity resembling primitive neuronal pathways in culture. These converted cells expressed the cell markers SSEA-1, SSEA-4, NCAM, and Thy-1 glycoconjugates of NSC and neurons, and differentiating cells showed characteristic neuronal morphology. Emergence of NSC and neuronal cells was associated with signific...
Evaluation of N-bromoacetyl-L-thyroxine as an affinity label for the thyroxine (T4)-binding site in human T4-binding globulin.

The T4 analog N-bromoacetyl-L-T4 (BrAcT4) has been investigated as a possible affinity labeling reagent for identification of amino acids located within the T4-binding site in T4-binding globulin (TBG). As shown by fluorescence measurements involving displacement of 8-anilino-l-naphthalenesulfonic acid from TBG, BrAcT4 is an effective competitor for the T4-binding site in TBG, with an association constant one seventh that of T4. Covalent modification of TBG by BrAcT4 was a slow process; after 48 h at a 10:1 molar ratio of [14C] BrAcT4 to TBG, incorporation of the 14C label reached 0.58 mol/ mol protein or 77% of the theoretical value, correcting for 0.25 mol residually bound T4 in the original TBG sample. When [14C] BrAcT4 was reacted with TBG in the presence of T4, a partial inhibition of 25% in the degree of modification was obtained. The low inhibition of incorporation of label in the presence of T4 may be attributed to displacement of T4 from the binding site by BrAcT4 during the 20-h reaction time. T...
The visual cycle operates via an isomerase acting on all-trans retinol in the pigment epithelium

Thirty years have elapsed since Wald and his colleagues showed that 11-cis retinal was isomerized to all-trans when rhodopsin was bleached, yet little has been understood about the reverse process that generates 11-cis retinal for rhodopsin regeneration. It is not known whether the isomerization is enzyme-mediated, whether it occurs in the pigment epithelium or in the retina, or whether retinal, retinol, or a retinyl ester is the vitamin A compound that is isomerized. Radiolabeled all-trans retinol and high-performance liquid chromatography have now been used to demonstrate the existence of an eye-specific, membrane-bound enzyme (retinol isomerase) that converts all-trans to 11-cis retinol in the dark. Retinol isomerase is concentrated in the pigment epithelium; this localization clarifies the role of this tissue in rhodopsin regeneration and explains the need to transfer all-trans retinol from the rod outer segments to the pigment epithelium during the visual cycle.
Computation of digitally reconstructed radiographs for use in radiotherapy treatment design

The increasing use of 3-dimensional radiotherapy treatment design has created greater reliance on methods for computing images from CT data which correspond to the conventional simulation film. These images, known as computed or digitally reconstructed radiographs, serve as reference images for verification of computer-designed treatments. Used with software that registers graphic overlays of target and anatomic structures, digitally reconstructed radiographs are also valuable tools for designing portal shape. We have developed radiograph reconstruction software that takes full advantage of the contrast and spatial detail inherent in the original CT data. This goal has been achieved by using a ray casting algorithm which explicitly takes into account every intersected voxel, and a heuristic approach for approximating the images that would result from purely photoelectric or Compton interactions. The software also offers utilities to superimpose outlines of anatomic structures, field edges, beam crosshairs, and linear scales on digitally reconstructed radiographs. The pixel size of the computed image can be controlled, and several methods of interslice interpolation are offered. The software is written in modular format in the C language, and can stand alone or interface with other treatment planning software.
WE‐D‐330A‐02: Optical‐Computed‐and Emmission Tomography: Applications in Cancer Research

Purpose: This work explores the potential of optical‐computed and emission‐tomography (OCT/OET), when coupled with optical clearing techniques, for imaging aspects of biological structure and function for cancer research. OCT/OET are the optical analogues to x‐ray‐CT and SPECT respectively, and can yield high resolution high contrast 3D images of a variety of inherent or applied absorbing and fluorescing stains. Materials and Methods Several methods of staining tissue have been explored and applied to a range of tissue types. Xenograph tumor microvasculature was labeled with both passive absorbing stain and fluorescing active probes (e.g. lectin conjugated with FITC) by tail vein injection. Murine vasculature in major organs(lung,heart, brain) were stained with absorbing dye in a similar manner. OCT/OET imaging was performed using an in‐house custom built scanner. Isotropic 3D transmision and emission data were reconstructed using tomographic algorithms from equiangularly spaced projection images. Results: Isotropic high resolution 3D image data of the xenograph tumor showed extensive peripheral microvasculature with the occasional larger vessels penetrating to the tumor core. High‐quality 3D images of the lungs were achieved showing clear differences in perfusion between irradiated and unirradiated lung regions. Exquisite high contrastimages were acquired of the vasculature and myocardial perfusion of the murine heart.Conclusion Primary advantages of OCT/OET include the preservation of tissue structure in 3D (tissue sectioning is not required), and the ability to acquire co‐registered images of both structure (e.g.micro‐vasculature) and function (e.g. perfusion, gene expression). Higher spatial resolution and higher contrast is achieved when compared with alternative modalities like micro‐CT and micro‐MRI. The techniques are versatile as imaging can be performed on a wide variety of absorbing and fluorescing stains.
Theory of Superconductivity

Recently Eliashberg derived the theory of superconductivity by the Green's function technique. The energy-gap equation was deduced by a self-consistent calculation. The result is similar to the integral equation of Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer except that the effective electron interaction potential is different from the Bardeen-Pines potential as well as the Bogoliubov potential. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these differences. It shows that the "dangerous terms" in the Bogoliubov theory may be calculated in a different manner. The compensation of these dangerous terms leads to the result of Eliashberg. Therefore the self-consistent calculation of Eliashberg is but a different interpretation of the Bogoliubov's idea. However, it is argued that the most reliable way of treating the problem should be the variational method because it gives the lowest ground-state energy. This method gives all the results of Bogoliubov in the lowest order of approximation, but is free from arbitrary interpretations.
Local Fiscal Stress in California: Out of Local Control and Driving Toward Growth

Abstract Many regions of the United States have experienced rapid growth in recent decades with California being the best example of this growth. The dangers of such growth have been evident since the 1970s and yet, neither the state nor local governments have been very successful in implementing growth control policies. Why it is that government has been unable to rein in the growth has been the focus of much research in recent decades. There are essentially two schools of thought with regard to this question. One is that pro‐growth forces—essentially landowners, business elites, and elected officials—actively promote growth because it provides them personally with benefits. The other view, advocated most by Paul Peterson back in the early 1980s, is that elected officials do support and adopt pro‐growth policies, but not by choice. Cities, Peterson argued, are constrained by the economic situation around them and they must do what they can to raise revenues and reduce, or hold steady, expenditures. This ...
Full-Sun observations for identifying the source of the slow solar wind.

Both fast and slow solar winds emanate from our Sun, although the source of the slow component remains elusive. Towards identifying this, Brooks et al. present full-Sun spectral images from Hinode, combined with magnetic modelling, to produce a solar wind source map.
New observations of HF‐induced optical emissions from the ionospheric E region

[1] A new independent instance of highly localized artificial 557.7 nm optical emissions induced by high-power HF waves incident upon a precipitation-produced E layer at High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) confirms the original discovery of this phenomenon and adds a number of new observational facts. The features are excited by O mode transmissions but not X mode transmissions and disappear entirely during deliberate off periods. The specific transmitter pulsing period does not appear to be a critical factor, ruling out ULF resonances as a possible mechanism. The observed locations of the enhanced emissions are consistent with a small number of long-lived inhomogeneities traveling steadily across the field of view over several minutes. These persistent regions are preferentially excited even at a small fraction of peak power well away from the beam center and can reappear along the same trajectory after gaps of more than 1 min. The absence of any detectable enhancements in directly coincident 630.0 nm data or side-looking 557.7 and 630.0 nm images focused on the F region portion of the field line conclusively locates these artificial emissions in the ionospheric E region. We suggest possible hypotheses that might explain the new observations and the earlier results.
Imaging of Mitochondrial and Non-Mitochondrial Responses in Cultured Rat Hippocampal Neurons Exposed to Micromolar Concentrations of TMRM

Tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) is a fluorescent dye used to study mitochondrial function in living cells. Previously, we reported that TMRM effectively labeled mitochondria of neurons deep within mouse brain slices. Use of micromolar concentration of dye, which was required to get sufficient staining for two-photon imaging, resulted in typical fluctuations of TMRM. With prolonged exposure, we recorded additional responses in some neurons that included slow oscillations and propagating waves of fluorescence. (Note: We use the terms “fluctuation” to refer to a change in the fluorescent state of an individual mitochondrion, “oscillation” to refer to a localized change in fluorescence in the cytosol, and “wave” to refer to a change in cytosolic fluorescence that propagated within a cell. Use of these terms does not imply any underlying periodicity.) In this report we describe similar results using cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Prolonged exposure of cultures to 2.5 µM TMRM produced a spontaneous increase in fluorescence in some neurons, but not glial cells, after 45–60 minutes that was followed by slow oscillations, waves, and eventually apoptosis. Spontaneous increases in fluorescence were insensitive to high concentrations of FCCP (100 µM) and thapsigargin (10 µM) indicating that they originated, at least in part, from regions outside of mitochondria. The oscillations did not correlate with changes in intracellular Ca2+, but did correlate with differences in fluorescence lifetime of the dye. Fluorescence lifetime and one-photon ratiometric imaging of TMRM suggested that the spontaneous increase and subsequent oscillations were due to movement of dye between quenched (hydrophobic) and unquenched (hydrophilic) compartments. We propose that these movements may be correlates of intracellular events involved in early stages of apoptosis.
Assessment of behavior change in a fragile-X syndrome male treated with folic acid.

The effects of folic acid treatment were assessed in a 7-year-old boy with Fragile-X (fra(X)) syndrome utilizing a within-subject experimental design. Dependent variables consisted of classroom behavior, activity level/impulsiveness, and attentiveness. While improvements in all dependent variables were observed during folic acid treatment in comparison to initial baseline/placebo conditions, these changes were maintained in a final return to the placebo condition. These results do not support unequivocally the effectiveness of folic acid treatment. Folic acid treatment may have facilitated behavior changes that were then maintained by natural contingencies in the child's environment.
Penicillin epilepsy in isolated islands of hippocampus.

Abstract Incisions which isolated islands of hippocampal formation were made in 32 cats and penicillin epileptogenic foci were established in the isolated areas. Surface field potentials and extracellular unit and intracellular recordings demonstrated typical activity of penicillin foci. Analysis of the lesions established that neither the long extrahippocampal projection pathways, nor the intrahippocampal loop of dentate gyrus-CA3-4-CA1-2 of Ammon's horn-subiculum-entorhinal area, nor granule cells are necessary for the development of inter-ictal discharges or seizures. Thus, very local circuits in each region of the hippocampus can support epileptogenesis.
Production of Increased Right-to-Left Shunting by Rapid Heart Rates in Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot

A patient with tetralogy of Fallot who developed cyanosis and tachypnea during spontaneous attacks of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia had an increase in right-to-left shunting with a fall in arterial oxygen saturation from 96 to 43%. Duplication of the fast heart rate by atropine and atrial pacing reproduced these hemodynamic changes, while slowing the rate with propranolol reversed this effect. Subsequently, six patients with mild tetralogy of Fallot underwent rapid atrial pacing during cardiac catheterization. This primary increase in heart rate resulted in a fall in systemic oxygen saturation, an increase in percent right-to-left shunt, and an increase in the right ventricular outflow pressure gradient. These data suggest that further narrowing of the right ventricular infundibulum may occur during tachycardia. This experience indicates that paroxysmal atrial tachycardia should be added to the conditions that can cause increased cyanosis in some patients with tetralogy of Fallot. Other tachycardias may also augment right-to-left shunting.