cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural isomerism of niobium clusters and its role on reactivity

Abstract Structures and energetics of Nb clusters are studied using a many-body potential based on the tight binding formulation and molecular dynamics simulations. Local and global minima are searched using steepest descent and conjugate gradient methods. Sequences of minima are thus ordered by energy revealing energetically degenerate isomers. While Nbn clusters for n ≤ 7 do not exhibit any structural isomerism, larger Nbn clusters do. In particular, Nb11 has two isomers with almost the same binding energy but completely different geometries. The role of geometry on reactivity is discussed and compared with recent experiments.
Ganglioside-induced enhancement of behavioral recovery after bilateral lesions of the entorhinal cortex.

Previous research has shown that exogenous gangliosides improve recovery of learned alternation after unilateral lesions of the entorhinal cortex. Since this recovery is thought to depend upon axonal sprouting, it has been hypothesized that ganglioside-induced improvement may be due to enhanced sprouting. The present study examined the effects of ganglioside treatments on learned alternation after bilateral entorhinal lesions. Whereas control rats exhibited a severe impairment postoperatively, ganglioside-treated (50 mg/kg total brain gangliosides; i.m.) rats committed significantly fewer errors and perseverative errors, and reached criterion sooner. The two groups exhibited comparable rates of daily improvement in performance. Since bilateral entorhinal lesions preclude the sprouting which is important for recovery of alternation, the ganglioside-induced improvement observed in the present study appears to be independent of sprouting.
Dynamic sensitivity and control analyses of metabolic insulin signalling pathways

The authors have applied the dynamic sensitivity and control analyses to study the GLUT4 metabolic insulin signalling pathways, based on the models developed by Sedaghat et al. They have calculated the time-dependent sensitivities of the concentration of the membrane GLUT4 with respect to all reaction parameters (reaction rate constants and initial concentrations of the effectors). These time-dependent sensitivities provide dynamic information about pathways, in particular, the separate roles of the negative and positive feedbacks in the network. In addition, the integrated sensitivities of the membrane GLUT4 have been used to rank the potential drug targets according to the accumulated influence of each reaction rate or initial concentration on the membrane GLUT4. The results are consistent with experimental facts and predictions of drug targets in the literature. Furthermore, a strategy is developed using dynamic sensitivities to control the accumulated amount of membrane GLUT4 over a period of time for a fixed amount of insulin input. This strategy is then applied to rank possible mechanisms of insulin resistance. The results are also in agreement with those suggested in the literature.
Nodeomics: Pathogen Detection in Vertebrate Lymph Nodes Using Meta-Transcriptomics

The ongoing emergence of human infections originating from wildlife highlights the need for better knowledge of the microbial community in wildlife species where traditional diagnostic approaches are limited. Here we evaluate the microbial biota in healthy mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) by analyses of lymph node meta-transcriptomes. cDNA libraries from five individuals and two pools of samples were prepared from retropharyngeal lymph node RNA enriched for polyadenylated RNA and sequenced using Roche-454 Life Sciences technology. Protein-coding and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences were taxonomically profiled using protein and rRNA specific databases. Representatives of all bacterial phyla were detected in the seven libraries based on protein-coding transcripts indicating that viable microbiota were present in lymph nodes. Residents of skin and rumen, and those ubiquitous in mule deer habitat dominated classifiable bacterial species. Based on detection of both rRNA and protein-coding transcripts, we identified two new proteobacterial species; a Helicobacter closely related to Helicobacter cetorum in the Helicobacter pylori/Helicobacter acinonychis complex and an Acinetobacter related to Acinetobacter schindleri. Among viruses, a novel gamma retrovirus and other members of the Poxviridae and Retroviridae were identified. We additionally evaluated bacterial diversity by amplicon sequencing the hypervariable V6 region of 16S rRNA and demonstrate that overall taxonomic diversity is higher with the meta-transcriptomic approach. These data provide the most complete picture to date of the microbial diversity within a wildlife host. Our research advances the use of meta-transcriptomics to study microbiota in wildlife tissues, which will facilitate detection of novel organisms with pathogenic potential to human and animals.
Evaporation and melting of ice crystals: A laboratory study

Abstract Ice crystals as dendrites, plates or columns, grown from the vapor in a chamber at known temperature and supersaturation, were evaporated and melted under controlled temperature, relative humidity and air velocity. Observations on dendritic crystals were made at a relative humidity between 50 and 90% and temperatures between -6° and +5°C. Only evaporation occurred with relative humidity greater than 70% and ice bulb temperature below -3°C. Ice breakup (10 to 15 pieces per 5 mm crystal) and reattachment of the broken pieces (about half) took place during evaporation at ice bulb temperature above -3°C. Evaporation at relative humidity below 70% caused more frequent ice breakup, about 30 pieces per crystal. Water-shedding and ice-breakup were observed during melting of dendrites at relative humidity below 70%; with increase of relative humidity and ambient air temperature, water-shedding and ice-breakup decreased. Experiments for single columns and plates were performed near 80% relative humidity and temperatures 0 to +2°C. Neither columns nor plates fragmented during evaporation; melting columns shed only water, while no water-shedding at all took place during melting of plates. These laboratory results are applied to secondary ice crystal production in clouds and the interpretation of the radar bright band.
1.4kW high peak power generation from an all semiconductor mode-locked master oscillator power amplifier system based on eXtreme Chirped Pulse Amplification(X-CPA)

The concept of eXtreme Chirped Pulse Amplification (X-CPA) is introduced as a novel method to overcome the energy storage limit of semiconductor optical amplifiers in ultrashort pulse amplification. A colliding pulse mode-locked semiconductor laser is developed as a master oscillator and generates 600fs pulses with 6nm bandwidth at 975nm. Using a highly dispersive chirped fiber Bragg grating (1600ps/nm) as an extreme pulse stretcher and compressor, we demonstrate ~16,000 times extreme chirped pulse amplification and recompression generating optical pulses of 590fs with 1.4kW of peak power. These pulses represent, to our knowledge, the highest peak power generated from an all semiconductor ultrafast laser system.
Gas Chromatography of Alkyl Ether Derivatives of p-Hydroxybenzoate Esters

A procedure for the separation and estimation of mixtures of the four lower normal alkyl p-hydroxybenzoates as derivatives is described. The esters were converted to phenyl alkyl ethers by means of diazoalkanes. Diazoethane, diazo-n-propane, diazoisobutane, and diazo-n-butane, when catalyzed with 0.007 per cent boron trifluoride, alkylated essentially quantitatively in 30 min. at room temperature. Variable yields were noted in the absence of the catalyst for reaction times as long as 18 hr. Diazomethane did not alkylate quantitatively when catalyzed in the same manner. Derivatives prepared from mixtures of the four esters were resolved on the gas chromatograph regardless of the diazoalkane used.
All-Arthroscopic Iliotibial Band Autograft Harvesting and Labral Reconstruction Technique

The labrum is essential for stability, movement, and prevention of arthritis in the hip. In cases of labral damage where repair of a labral tear is not possible, reconstruction can be a useful alternative. Several different autografts have been used, including the iliotibial band (ITB), the ligamentum teres capitis, and the gracilis tendon. Authors have reported both open and arthroscopic techniques for reconstruction with good preliminary results. However, an all-arthroscopic labral reconstruction technique including the graft harvest and reconstruction portions of a labral reconstruction procedure using an ITB autograft has not been previously described. We describe a technique for an all-arthroscopic labral reconstruction performed using a novel method for arthroscopic harvest of the ITB. The decreased invasiveness of our described technique for labral reconstruction may potentially minimize scarring, bodily disfigurement, infection, and postoperative pain associated with the graft harvesting incision.
Accuracy of Helical CT in the Detection of Pulmonary Metastases: Is Intraoperative Palpation Still Necessary?

Background. Pulmonary metastasectomy is well accepted in patients with isolated metastases from an extrathoracic malignancy. The standard approach involves careful intraoperative palpation of the lungs because more metastases are frequently found than were seen by preoperative conventional computed tomography (CT). Helical CT detects more nodules than conventional CT, raising the question of whether palpation of the lungs is still necessary if helical CT is used. Methods. Retrospective review was done of medical records of patients undergoing metastasectomy with curative intent at the University of North Carolina (UNC) from 1999 to 2003. During this time at UNC, helical CT was routinely performed using a standardized technique, and all metastasectomy patients underwent manual lung palpation. The primary outcome measure of this study was whether malignant nodules (palpated, resected, and proven histologically) were reliably detected preoperatively by helical CT. Results. Thirty-four patients were identified who underwent 41 cases of pulmonary metastasectomy with lung palpation. Our analysis revealed that in 22% (9/41), more malignant nodules were found intraoperatively than were detected by helical CT. Of 88 malignant intraparenchymal nodules, 69 were detected by helical CT (sensitivity 78%). Subset analyses of tumor histology, disease-free interval, the presence of a single lesion versus multiple lesions, the interval between the CT and metastasectomy, and the size of the largest lesion were unable to identify a cohort in which lung palpation was no longer needed after preoperative helical CT. Conclusions. Despite the advent of helical CT, palpation of the lung is necessary if the goal is to resect all detectable disease.
Physics with Radioactive Nuclear Beams

The rapidly growing research area of radioactive nuclear beam physics is described. The various types of facilities used at present, and planned for the future, are discussed briefly. Then their uses in research in nuclear physics, astrophysics, and in nuclear-solid state applications are discussed. An intense effort in nuclear reaction physics has been directed toward understanding the neutron halo, a completely new result discovered for very neutron rich nuclei via the use of radioactive nuclear beams. Their use has also produced an immense amount of data on nuclear masses, lifetimes, decay modes, multipole moments, and energy levels. Other areas of research in nuclear physics with radioactive nuclear beams are less well developed, but appear to be promising. In nuclear astro-physics, several of the critical reactions of primordial and stellar nucleosynthesis have been studied. In addition, the use of radioactive nuclear beams has already provided dramatically improved definition of some of the processes of nucleosynthesis which operate near the proton and neutron drip lines, with the promise of much more detailed information to come. In more applied reasearch, the interaction between implanted nuclei and solids has often been used as a tool for nuclear physics, but the same studies can also be used to study properties of solids with previously unachievable sensitivity. The results in the past decade from radioactive nuclear beam research have been both vast and varied, but new facilities and intense interest in the research community should provide new information in the future well beyond that which presently exists.
Outpatient protocol for biofeedback therapy of pelvic floor outlet obstruction

Pelvic floor outlet obstruction is a rare cause of severe constipation. Anal myectomy, subtotal colectomy, and medical therapy have limited success. The purpose of this study was to develop a short outpatient treatment using biofeedback techniques. Nine patients with severe constipation and straining resulting from pelvic floor outlet obstruction underwent complete investigation of the pelvic floor musculature and anal sphincter mechanism. Patients were unable to expel a 60-cc rectal balloon and had nonrelaxing puborectalis on defecography. The treatment protocol utilized anal surface electromyography to document improper straining and retrain pelvic floor muscles to relax during defecation. Sensory retraining with a rectal balloon, behavioral relaxation techniques, and defecation of simulated stool using a 120-cc Metamucil® (Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH) slurry in the rectum allowed re-establishment of normal defecation in all nine patients. Repeat training was required in three patients during follow-up. Treatment of pelvic floor outlet obstruction with outpatient retraining techniques is possible.
Environment, energy, and capital in the fossil fueled electric power industry

Abstract This study indicates how cost-conscious managers in the fossil-fueled electric power industry would respond to legislated environmental policy, increasing electricity requirements, higher resource prices, and decreased capital availability. A linear economic model was used to evaluate how managers would substitute production processes, factor inputs (fuel, water, capital), and waste discharges for each specification of environmental policy and availabilities of energy and capital. This economic model, which utilizes linear programming methods, synthesizes the important technical information into a comprehensive economic basis for analysis. All prices and costs are in constant 1973 dollars. Imposition of the most stringent environmental constraint increased production costs of the model by 50% to 1.9¢/kWh from a base case with minimal constraints. Stringent air pollution criteria caused shifts both away from use of high-sulfur coal and toward generation by new technologies—combined cycle and coal gasification/combined cycle power plants. As electricity requirements increased, effluent standards became more restrictive, and clean fuel became scarcer, shifts toward generation by the new technologies again occurred and marginal and average costs of production increased. Demand by utilities for low-sulfur coal was especially sensitive to the price of coal in the range from $1.50 to $2.00 per million B.t.u.'s. Capital requirements for utilities through 1985 generally fell within forecast limits of availability from the economy except for the lowest forecast of capital availability. Continued ability of the electric power industry to satisfy electricity requirements may be in jeopardy if the minimum forecast materializes.
Comparison of scintigraphic count-volume and geometric methods for measuring left ventricular ejection fraction

A comparison of geometric and count-volume scintigraphic methods for measuring left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) is presented. The particular count-volume method used is a modification of an established first-pass technique. It is shown that a modification of the technique is necessary to prevent a positive bias in the EF estimate due to Poisson noise. Using the same simulated data, EF estimates by the modified technique were always closer to the actual EF volume than were the estimates by the original method. Maximum Likelihood estimates were also more accurate than were the other two estimates. In 56 patients with either acute myocardial infarcts or unstable angina pectoris, the scintigraphic single-plane gated geometric method tended to overestimate EF in each of the patient groups when compared with the geometry-independent count-volume estimates. The results also point out that the error in the geometric estimates tended to be greater for larger ejection fractions and appears to be due to the systematic underestimation of end-systolic volumes.
Enhancing community-based organizations’ capacity for HIV/AIDS education and prevention

The catalytic potential of community-based organizations to promote health, prevent disease, and address racial, ethnic, and socio-economic disparities in local communities is well recognized. However, many CBOs, particularly, small- to medium-size organizations, lack the capacity to plan, implement, and evaluate their successes. Moreover, little assistance has been provided to enhance their capacity and the effectiveness of technical assistance to enhance capacity is likewise limited. A unique private-academic partnership is described that simultaneously conducted program evaluation and addressed the capacity needs of 24 CBOs funded by the Pfizer Foundation Southern HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative. Assessments of key program staff members at 12 and 18 months after the initial cross-site program assessment survey indicated a significant improvement in the CBOs' knowledge, skills, and abilities and a substantial reduction in their technical assistance needs for HIV/AIDS prevention. Full participation of CBOs in technical assistance and a concurrent empowerment evaluation framework were necessary to enhance prevention capacity.
Maternal Re-Partnering and New-Partner Fertility: Associations with Nonresident Father Investments in Children.

Abstract Research suggests that paternal re-partnering and new-partner fertility are associated with decreased nonresident father investments in children. Few studies, however, have examined the influence of maternal re-partnering and new-partner births on nonresident father investments. We use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine associations of maternal re-partnering (through cohabitation or marriage with a new partner) and new-partner births with nonresident father visitation and child support payments. Results suggest that maternal re-partnering is associated with a decrease in both yearly father–child contact and child support received by the mother. New-partner fertility for mothers who are co-residing with a partner is associated with an additional decrease in monthly father–child contact, but does not have an additional influence on yearly father–child contact or child support receipt.
Noradrenergic influence on the prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle

Abstract Oral administration of p , p ′-1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis( p -chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), a chemical believed to increase neuronal membrane excitability increased the acoustic startle responsiveness of rats. Inhibition of the acoustic startle response with a brief, prepulse white-noise stimulus was evident at 12.5 to 25 mg/kg of p , p ′-DDT, but not at 50 mg/kg. Pretreatment of rats with phenoxybenzamine, an adrenergic receptor antagonist, attenuated the effects of 12.5 mg/kg of p , p ′-DDT on the acoustic startle reflex, and decreased the maximum magnitude reduction produced by the prepulse stimulus in DDT-exposed rats. These data extend previous work showing that p , p ′-DDT augments startle reactivity in rats and is in accord with the existence of an excitatory norepinephrine(NE)-containing pathway modulating motor outflow in the acoustic startle reflex arc.
Exploring linkage of quality management to innovation

In many business sectors today, focus on quality as a competitive tool is being replaced by a focus on innovation. Research exploring connections between quality management, innovation, and company performance suggests that quality is ‘necessary but insufficient’ in business today. In short, managers need to know how to adapt their quality management practices to achieve innovation performance in addition to quality performance. West coast US forest products manufacturers were surveyed about their quality management practices and performance with respect to both quality and innovation. Results were analysed to identify two categories of high-performing firms: those achieving primarily quality outcomes and those achieving both quality and innovation outcomes. Executives from firms in each category were interviewed to provide detail on management practices. Results suggest firms must first change how they view innovation; firms that were primarily focused on quality rather than innovation viewed innovation ...
A device to evaluate motor and autonomic impairment.

Abstract Various devices have been developed to assess impairment of the autonomic nervous system, while other devices have been developed to evaluate the motor system. However, no devices have been developed to examine the interaction between the autonomic and somatic nervous systems. Therefore, the device described here, a square platform which was 0.7 × 0.7 m in length and 0.1 m thick, was developed to examine somatic-autonomic interaction. The device can be used by placing it directly on the floor or on 1 of 2 pivots; one that allowed the platform to move 0.2 m (±44.1°) in the front to back or side to side direction and one that allowed both movements together. Strain gauge load cells in the platform measured sway and tremor during the subjects attempt to balance and a continuous blood pressure monitor and the ECG were used to assess the response of the autonomic nervous system (heart rate variability). The device was tested on 5 normal subjects and the following was evaluated: (1) sway during standing, (2) weight shift during standing, (3) frequency of sway and extent of sway during standing, (4) sympathetic and parasympathetic alterations in the ANS during attempted balance, and (5) phase delays between motor and autonomic responses. The results showed that, with increasing balance challenge, sway increased, tremor increased, the sway angle increased and sway was positively correlated with heart rate and negatively correlated with blood pressure. A balance challenge significantly increased sympathetic activity but not parasympathetic activity. This device should have useful applications in assessing motor impairments and sensory and autonomic impairments in a variety of conditions.
Positionality and Praxis: Fieldwork Experiences in Rural India

This paper provides a reflexive account of conducting fieldwork as a graduate student in the Sunderban area of West Bengal state, India, in the mid-1990s. Reflecting on my personal experiences of research in a setting that was simultaneously familiar and foreign, I use frames of positionality to understand the impact of explicit and implied power structures on the research process, the relationships between the researcher and those researched, and the transfer of knowledge. This paper argues that the multiple subject positions and identities of both scholar and subjects as presented in the field vary with setting, and that these positionalities affect access to informants, the tenor and outcomes of encounters, and knowledge production. While self-reflexivity is endorsed as a strategy for critically informed research, active measures such as openness about the agenda and activities undertaken, self-disclosure, making conscious accommodations for the research subject's work schedule and time constraints, mutual sharing of information, and explicit recognition of the research subjects' expertise through lived experiences are proposed as strategies for equalising the power balance between scholar and subject.
U.S. National Magnetic Anomaly Survey Specifications Workshop Report

The National Magnetic Anomaly Map (NMAM) Committee, which was formed as an ad hoc committee in 1975 by the SEG Executive Committee, has recommended a multistage program for improving the aeromagnetic data of the U.S. On behalf of the geoscience community, the committee and the U.S. Geological Survey are currently engaged in the preparation of a photo‐composite map of the U.S. derived from publicly available data plus regional magnetic data contributed from the private sector. This map is at present being compiled and is to be pulished by the U.S.G.S. at a scale of 1:2.5×106. Eventually, utilizing this map, the committee plans to assist in the preparation of a North American magnetic anomaly map to supplement the North American tectonic map and the proposed continental gravity anomaly map.
An ML/MMSE estimation approach to blind equalization

Blind equalization of a communication channel is achieved by jointly estimating the deterministic channel coefficients and the random data sequence. The EM algorithm is used to determine the ML estimate of the channel. To implement the EM algorithm, one needs the MMSE estimate of the data sequence for the given estimate of the channel at each step. To reduce computational complexity, a suboptimum procedure is suggested for the MMSE estimation of the data. Preliminary simulations show that the proposed algorithm converges rapidly for a short length of data even when the channel has deep nulls. >
Racism in Education and the Construction of Citizenship in Ecuador

L'A. se donne pour mission d'analyser les formes de racisme dans le systeme d'education et la construction de la citoyennete en Equateur, et ce dans les haciendas. Il sera interresssant pour l'auteur d'examiner les relations ethniques entre les indiens d'Equateur et les autres ethnies, notamment les blanco (blancs) et les mestizo (metis), dans ces proprietes foncieres reformees en 1960
Auger interactions in quantum dots: quantum-confined Auger recombination and electron-hole energy transfer

Summary form only given. Auger effects play an important role in all types of materials systems from atoms and molecules to bulk semiconductors. The efficiency of Auger effects is greatly reduced in bulk materials, due to the reduced Coulomb electron-electron coupling and kinematic restrictions imposed by energy and momentum conservation. In the present work, to quantitatively study the modification of Auger-type interactions during a gradual transformation from the atomic/molecular to bulk-crystalline regimes we use chemically-synthesized nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs), with sizes controlled with a high accuracy in the range from 1 to 10 nm.
Effects of Compaction Temperature on Volumetric Properties of Rubberized Mixes Containing Warm-Mix Additives

The warm-mix asphalt (WMA) refers to technologies that allow a significant reduction of mixing and compaction temperatures of asphalt mixes through lowering the viscosity of asphalt binders. Several studies have been carried out evaluating the properties of WMA, and it is found that warm mix additives work in different ways either in reducing the viscosity of the binder or allowing better workability of the mix at lower temperatures. In terms of rubberized asphalt mixtures, they are generally produced and compacted at higher temperatures than conventional mixtures, based on the field experience. If the technologies of warm-mix asphalt are incorporated, it is expected to reduce the mixing and compaction temperatures of rubberized asphalt mixtures to those of conventional mixtures. This study was initiated to investigate the effects of compaction temperature on rubberized mixes containing the warm mix additives. For this, four Superpave mix designs for two asphalt binders and two aggregate sources were cond...
An Ordering-Theoretic Analysis of Women's Attitudes

Summary The responses of 100 college women to 10 attitude statements were submitted to an ordering-theoretic data analysis procedure. The nonlinear hierarchy of contingent relationships among the attitude statements revealed that order analysis can provide insight to the structure of women's attitudes. It is recommended that subsequent research should (a) explore the hierarchical relationships among other sets of attitude statements, (b) compare the orderings of men's and women's responses to attitude statements, and (c) investigate trends in attitude orderings obtained from women of different ages.
Temporomandibular disorders. Part 2: conservative management

Appropriate management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) requires an understanding of the underlying dysfunction associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding structures. A comprehensive examination process, as described in part 1 of this series, can reveal underlying clinical findings that assist in the delivery of comprehensive physical therapy services for patients with TMD. Part 2 of this series focuses on management strategies for TMD. Physical therapy is the preferred conservative management approach for TMD. Physical therapists are professionally well-positioned to step into the void and provide clinical services for patients with TMD. Clinicians should utilize examination findings to design rehabilitation programs that focus on addressing patient-specific impairments. Potentially appropriate plan of care components include joint and soft tissue mobilization, trigger point dry needling, friction massage, therapeutic exercise, patient education, modalities, and outside referral. Management options should address both symptom reduction and oral function. Satisfactory results can often be achieved when management focuses on patient-specific clinical variables.
Forecasting plant community impacts of climate variability and change: when do competitive interactions matter?

Summary 1. A change in a climate variable may alter a species’ abundance not only through a direct effect on that species’ vital rates, but also through ‘indirect’ effects mediated by species interactions. While recent work has highlighted cases in which indirect effects overwhelm the direct effects of climate, we lack robust generalizations to predict the strength of indirect effects. 2. For communities dominated by non-trophic interactions, we propose that the potential for indirect effects of climate change declines with the strength of stabilizing niche differences. 3. We tested this hypothesis by analysing an empirically parameterized four species population model. We quantified negative frequency dependence in population growth rates as a measure of stabilizing niche differences and projected the sensitivity of each species to direct and indirect effects of climate perturbations. 4. Consistent with our hypothesis, species’ sensitivities to indirect effects decreased rapidly with increasing stabilization by niche differences. 5. Synthesis. Information about niche differences can identify species sensitive to indirect effects of climate change and determine when multispecies forecasting approaches are necessary. However, practical application of this generalization will require methods to predict niche differences from easily collected data.
Cell-based and in vivo spectral analysis of fluorescent proteins for multiphoton microscopy.

Multiphoton microscopy of cells and subcellular structures labeled with fluorescent proteins is the state- of-the-art technology for longitudinal imaging studies in tissues and living animals. Successful analysis of separate cell populations or signaling events by intravital microscopy requires optimal pairing of multiphoton excitation wavelengths with spectrally distinct fluorescent proteins. While prior studies have analyzed two photon absorption properties of isolated fluorescent proteins, there is limited information about two photon excitation and fluores- cence emission profiles of fluorescent proteins expressed in living cells and intact tissues. Multiphoton microscopy was used to analyze fluorescence outputs of multiple blue, green, and red fluorescent proteins in cultured cells and orthotopic tumor xenografts of human breast cancer cells. It is shown that commonly used orange and red fluorescent proteins are excited efficiently by 750 to 760 nm laser light in living cells, enabling dual color imaging studies with blue or cyan proteins without changing excitation wavelength. It is also shown that small incremental changes in excitation wavelength significantly affect emission intensities from fluorescent proteins, which can be used to optimize multi-color imaging using a single laser wavelength. These data will direct optimal selection of fluorescent proteins for multispectral two photon microscopy. © 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).
Space- and time-adaptive gridding using MRTD technique

The MRTD scheme is applied to the analysis of waveguide problems. Specifically, the field pattern and the S-parameters of a dielectric-loaded parallel-plate waveguide are calculated. The use of wavelets enables the implementation of a space- and time-adaptive gridding technique. The results are compared to those obtained by use of the conventional FDTD scheme to indicate considerable savings in memory and computational time.
Advertising in the periphery: Languages and schools in a North Indian city

Written school advertising in Banaras, a North Indian city, creates correspondences between a language activity and central and peripheral places. In spoken discourse, complex relationships inhere between ways of describing languages as varieties and the sociological value that is said to exist in the fit between a language variety and its domain of use. Education is one such domain because the educational system itself is organized in popular discourse by medium, Hindi or English. In spoken discourse, Hindi- or English-medium schools can indicate central or peripheral dispositions. Advertising, however, includes a meaningful element unavailable to speakers in the flow of interaction – a distinction between lexical designation and its rendering in Devanagari or roman script. Therein lies its power to establish English as central and Hindi as peripheral.
Postural Shifts During Egg-Brooding and Their Impact on Egg Water Balance in Children's Pythons (Antaresia childreni)

Parental care typically consists of distinct behavioral components that are balanced to address the multiple needs of offspring. Female pythons exhibit post-oviposition parental care in which they coil around their parchment-shelled eggs throughout incubation (40‐80 d). Subtle postural shifts during egg-brooding facilitate embryonic gas exchange but may entail hydric costs to the clutch. This study used a simple behavioral model to (1) further quantify the costs and benefits of specific parental behaviors to developing offspring and (2) determine the influence that developmental stage and relative clutch mass have on parental behavior. Although previous research has demonstrated that egg-brooding as a whole reduces clutch water loss, we hypothesized that eggbrooding female pythons specifically adopt a tightly coiled posture to conserve embryonic water, but must make postural adjustments to enhance gas exchange between the clutch and nest environments at the cost of increased clutch water loss. We measured rates of water loss in brooding Children’s pythons (Antaresia childreni) and their respective clutches (i.e., brooding units) and monitored changes in brooding posture. We conducted serial trials to elucidate the effect of developmental stage on postural adjustments and water loss. Results demonstrated that the proportion of time females spent in a tightly coiled posture was inversely related to mean water loss from the brooding unit. Analyses indicated that slight adjustments in posture led to bursts in brooding unit water loss. Indeed, brooding unit water loss during postural adjustments was significantly higher than during tight coiling. These findings imply that python egg-brooding provides an adjustable diffusive barrier that leads to discontinuous gas exchange, which minimizes clutch water loss. Because females with larger relative clutch masses spent more time tightly coiled, egg-brooding female pythons may use a ‘water first’ strategy in which they intentionally conserve clutch water at the cost of reduced embryonic respiratory gas exchange.
Biodiversity consequences of predation and host plant hybridization on an aphid-ant mutualism

We examined the hypothesis that mutualists, predators, and host plant quality act in concert to determine the distribution and abundance of a common herbivore. The aphid, Chaitophorus populicola, is found only in association with ants, which provide tending services and protection from predators. As a consequence, aphid abundance declined by 88% on host plants located ?6 m from an ant mound. Differences in host plant quality resulted in aphid fecundity being greatest on narrowleaf cottonwoods, 7-22% less on back- cross hybrids, 37-46% less on F1 hybrids, and 57-61% less on Fremont cottonwoods. Due to the combined effects of these factors, we found that the realized aphid habitat was only 21% of their potential habitat. On trees where aphids and tending ants are present, aphids and ants greatly outnumber any other arthropod species; therefore, we examined the hypothesis that the factors affecting aphid density and distribution are also determinants of arthropod community structure. On a per-tree basis, observational data showed that arthropod species richness was 51% greater and abundance was 67% greater on trees where aphid-ant mutualists were absent relative to trees where they were present. When aphids were experimentally removed and ants abandoned the tree, we found the same pattern. On a per-tree basis, arthropod species richness increased by 57%, and abundance increased by 80% where aphid-ant mutualists were removed, relative to control trees. Overall, a total of 90 arthropod species were examined in this study: 56% were found only on trees without aphid-ant mutualists, 12% were found only on trees with aphid-ant mutualists, and 32% were common to both. Specific guilds were also affected; the aphid-ant mutualism had a negative effect on herbivores, generalist predators, and other species of tending ants, and a positive effect on specialist enemies of aphids. These results suggest that, by examining the factors responsible for the population dynamics of a common herbivore, we may also uncover mechanisms that de- termine arthropod community structure. Furthermore, studies that address the role of mu- tualism in shaping communities are underrepresented in the literature; these results em- phasize the importance of mutualism in ecological communities.
High-frequency analysis of seismic background noise as a function of wind speed and shallow depth

We used a deep (1500 m) cased borehole near the town of Datil in west-central New Mexico to study high-frequency (>1 Hz) seismic noise characteristics. The remote site had very low levels of cultural noise, but strong winds (winter and spring) made the site an excellent candidate to study the effects of wind noise on seismograms. Along with a three-component set of surface sensors (Teledyne Geotech GS-13), a vertical borehole seismometer (GS-28) was deployed at a variety of depths (5, 43, and 85 m) to investigate signal and noise variations. Wind speed was measured with an anemometer. Event-triggered and time-triggered data streams were recorded on a RefTek 72-02 data acquisition system located at the site. Our data show little cultural noise and a strong correlation between wind speed and seismic background noise. The minimum wind speed at which the seismic background noise appears to be influenced varies with depth: 3 m/sec at the surface, 3.5 m/sec at 43 m in depth, and 4 m/sec at 85 m in depth. For wind speed below 3 to 4 m/sec, we observe omni-directional background noise that is coherent at frequencies below 15 Hz. This coherence is destroyed when wind speeds exceed 3 to 4 m/sec. We use a test event ( Md ∼ 1.6) and superimposed noise to investigate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement with sensor depth. For the low Q valley fill of the Datil borehole (DBH) site, we have found that SNR can be improved by as much as 20 to 40 dB between 23 and 55 Hz and 10 to 20 dB between 10 and 20 Hz, by deploying at a 43-m depth rather than at the surface. At the surface, there is little signal above noise in the 23- to 55-Hz frequency band for wind speeds greater than 8 m/sec. Thus, high-frequency signal information that is lost at the surface can be recorded by deploying at the relatively shallow depth of 40 m. Because we observe only minor further reductions in seismic background noise (SBN) at deeper depths, 40 m is likely to be a reasonable deployment depth for other high-frequency-monitoring sites in similar environmental and geologic conditions.
The psychosocial impact of armed conflict on children. Rethinking traditional paradigms in research and intervention

This article presents an overview of the research and theory on the psychosocial impact of armed conflict on children. Particular attention is paid to methodologic issues in the investigation of the psychosocial impact of war on children and the applicability of research to field-based intervention in developing countries. The article concludes with a discussion of how research can contribute to improvements in assessment and intervention for children affected by wars in developing countries.
ELECTRICAL AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF RUBBER

ABSTRACT This review describes electrical and dielectric measurements of rubbery polymers. The interest in the electrical properties is primarily due to the strong effect of conductive fillers, the obvious example being carbon black. Conductivity measurements can be used to probe dispersion and the connectivity of filler particles, both of which exert a significant influence on the mechanical behavior. Dielectric relaxation spectra are used to study the dynamics, including the local segmental dynamics and secondary relaxations, and for certain polymers the global chain modes. A recent development in the application of nonlinear dielectric spectroscopy is briefly discussed.
POWER SYSTEM OSCILLATION MODE ANALYSIS AND PARAMETER DETERMINATION OF PSS BASED ON PRONY METHOD

Prony analysis is a very useful method to acquire power system oscillation modes, by which the oscillation frequency, amplitude, damping and relative phase can be directly estimated through the response of given input signals. As a further expansion of traditional Prony method, an identification method of power system equivalent linear model based on Prony analysis was presented, which considered the influence of input signal on output signal to acquire the transfer function of the system. Then, according to the corresponding residues the authors conducted coordinated setting of power system stabilizer (PSS) by residue method. The simulation results of two calculation examples proved that the presented method is effective in the system oscillation mode analysis and parameter determination of PSS.
The growth and tensile deformation behavior of the silver solid solution phase with zinc

Abstract The growth of homogeneous silver solid solution phase with zinc are conducted at two different compositions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscope/Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) are carried out for phase identification and chemical composition verification. The mechanical properties of silver solid solution phase with zinc are evaluated by tensile test. The engineering and true stress vs. strain curves are presented and analyzed, with those of pure silver in comparison. According to the experimental results, silver solid solution phase with zinc at both compositions show tempered yield strength, high tensile strength and large uniform strain compared to those of pure silver. Fractography further confirmed the superior ductility of silver solid solution phase with zinc at both compositions. Our preliminary but encouraging results may pave the way for the silver based alloys to be applied in industries such as electronic packaging and structure engineering.
Applications of Electron Microscopy in Heterogeneous Catalysis

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a convenient technique for catalyst characterization. A variety of structural and chemical information of catalysts can be obtained by operating TEM in different modes. The recent developments in TEM, particularly for the aberration corrections, enable studying catalyst at the atomic scale. We briefly cover the TEM theory, developments, and other important topics at the beginning. Several case studies of using TEM as a tool to study the catalysts with well-defined structures are provided later in the chapter. The examples in case studies include atomic surface structures of oxide supports, shapes of supported metals in both vacuum and gaseous conditions, bimetallic catalysts, and single atom catalysts. In each case, the underlying mechanisms of catalytic behaviors are briefly discussed based on the results derived from TEM and other studies.
C. L. Dodgson, Public Choice, and The Mathematics of Proportional Representation

(1994). C. L. Dodgson, Public Choice, and The Mathematics of Proportional Representation. History of Economics Review: Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 16-23.
Parenting Styles and Gang Membership: Mediating Factors

ABSTRACTWhile literature suggests that parenting has direct and indirect effects on gang membership, mediating effects have been established for the relationship between unidimensional parenting variables and gang involvement. This study fills the gap in the literature by examining how multidimensional parenting styles affect gang membership, and which factors mediate this relationship. The logistic regression models indicate a negative relationship between authoritative parenting and gang involvement, and a positive relationship between authoritarian, neglectful, and permissive parenting and gang membership. The analyses show that delinquent peers, self-control, rationalizations, and guilt are complete or partial mediators of parenting styles and gang membership.
Simulation of X-ray transient absorption for following vibrations in coherently ionized F2 molecules

Femtosecond and attosecond X-ray transient absorption experiments are becoming increasingly sophisticated tools for probing nuclear dynamics. In this work, we explore and develop theoretical tools needed for interpretation of such spectra,in order to characterize the vibrational coherences that result from ionizing a molecule in a strong IR field. Ab initio data for F2 is combined with simulations of nuclear dynamics, in order to simulate time-resolved X-ray absorption spectra for vibrational wavepackets after coherent ionization at 0 K and at finite temperature. Dihalogens pose rather difficult electronic structure problems, and the issues encountered in this work will be reflective of those encountered with any core–valence excitation simulation when a bond is breaking. The simulations reveal a strong dependence of the X-ray absorption maximum on the locations of the vibrational wave packets. A Fourier transform of the simulated signal shows features at the overtone frequencies of both the neutral and the cation, which reflect spatial interferences of the vibrational eigenstates. This provides a direct path for implementing ultrafast X-ray spectroscopic methods to visualize coherent nuclear dynamics.
Veterans-by-proxy: A conceptual framework of ambiguous loss among children of combat veterans

There are tens of millions of children (youth and adult) of parents who are veterans. These individuals can experience traumatic injury alongside the parent who is a combat veteran. It is a paralle...