cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PHASE CURVES OF SELECTED PARTICULATE MATERIALS : THE CONTRIBUTION OF COHERENT BACKSCATTERING TO THE OPPOSITION SURGE

Abstract We present angular scattering measurements of a suite of particulate materials of varying particle sizes and albedos over phase angles of 1 Eight samples were each presented with both senses of linearly and circularly polarized light and the reflectance and the circular polarization ratio as a function of phase angle was measured. The reflectances of the samples varied from 3 to 99%. The circular polarization ratio was observed to increase in all the samples as the phase angle of the observation decreased near 0° phase angle. The traditional explanation of the opposition surge, the shadow hiding model, predicts that the circular polarization ratio should decrease as the phase angle of the observation decreases. The more reflective materials exhibit stronger opposition surge amplitudes than the less reflective ones. We find a non-linear relationship between the slope of the opposition curve measured at 2° and the single scattering albedo of the sample which is the opposite of what is predicted by the shadow hiding model for the opposition effect. Our results are consistent with predictions of theoretical models of coherent backscattering from spherical particles and strongly suggest that coherent backscattering is the major contributor to the opposition effect. They provide an explanation of the opposition surges reported in highly reflective particulate media, and also the high albedo icy satellites of outer Solar System, both of which cannot be explained by the shadow hiding model.
Some characteristics of the XO mouse (Mus musculus L.) II. Reproduction: fertility and gametic segregation

A preliminary investigation of reproductive capacity in XO mice showed that they produced smaller litters than normal litter mates. More time elapsed between successive litters when kept in the presence of a male except during pregnancy and weaning. This lower level of reproduction is manifest during the whole reproductive period. Also reproductive capacity in XO mice reaches its maximum and minimum (end of reproductive period) earlier than in normals.
Anti-masculinizing action of estradiol and cyproterone acetate: regulation of a protein fraction with phospholipase-A2 stimulatory and masculinizing activities.

Abstract Recently we have identified a protein fraction (55–63 K) from male and testosterone-exposed female mouse genital tract, which stimulates phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and induces masculine differentiation in an undifferentiated mouse genital explant, suggesting a role of this protein in the action of testosterone. In the current study we have further investigated the role of this protein by determining whether anti-masculinizing agents, namely, estradiol and cyproterone acetate, have any effect on the production of this protein. The results described here indicate that a protein fraction containing PLA2 stimulatory activity was present in both control male and estradiol- or cyproterone acetate-exposed male fetal genital tract. However the specific activity of the PLA2-stimulatory protein was significantly higher in the control males than in the experimental males. We did not find any major difference in the behavior of this protein fraction in various chromatographic steps except that in CM-sepharose column; the PLA2-stimulatory activity from the male preparation was eluted in two overlapping peaks with 0.3 and 0.25 M NaCl and that from the treated males was eluted only with 0.25 M NaCl. The SDS-gel analysis of this protein fraction revealed a doublet band (55 and 63 K) in control samples and primarily a 63 K band in experimental samples. The protein fraction from all these sources showed a significant difference in their biological activity. The control male preparation induced Wolffian duct whereas the estradiol sample was completely ineffective and the cyproterone acetate sample was partially effective in inducing Wolffian duct. Thus, it appears that the protein fraction has a role in the masculinizing action of testosterone.
Extracellular Concentration and In Vivo Recovery of Dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens Using Microdialysis

: The present study compared two different in vivo microdialysis methods which estimate the extracellular concentration of analytes at a steady state where there is no effect of probe sampling efficiency. Each method was used to estimate the basal extracellular concentration of dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens of the rat. In the first method, DA is added to the perfusate at concentrations above and below the expected extracellular concentration (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 nM) and DA is measured in the dialysate from the brain to generate a series of points which are interpolated to determine the concentration of no net flux. Using this method, basal DA was estimated to be 4.2 ± 0.2 nM (mean ± SEM, n = 5). The slope of the regression gives the in vivo recovery of DA, which was 65 ± 5%. This method was also used to estimate a basal extracellular 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) concentration in the nucleus accumberis of 5.7 ± 0.6 μM, with an in vivo recovery of 52 ± 11% (n = 5). A further experiment which extended the perfusate concentration range showed that the in vivo recovery of DA is significantly higher than the in vivo recovery of DOPAC (p < 0.001), whereas the in vitro recoveries of DA and DOPAC are not significantly different from each other. The in vivo difference is thought to be caused by active processes associated with the DA nerve terminal, principally release and uptake of DA, which may alter the concentration gradient in the tissue surrounding the probe. The second method measures dialysate DA at several perfusion flow rates (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1.2 μ1/min) and extrapolates the data to zero flow using a nonlinear least squares regression. This method estimated a basal extracellular DA concentration of 3.9 ± 0.2 nM (n = 5). The two independent methods are in reasonable agreement that the extracellular concentration of DA in the nucleus accumbens is about 4 nM.
The role of eddy diffusion in the distribution of ions in the atmosphere near the ground

On account of α-ray emission from rocks and other soil material the ionization within the first 10 cm above ground is more intense than further up. These ions are carried upward by eddy currents until they disappear by recombination. The theory of mass exchange by eddy currents was used to compute the average number of ions present at different levels above the ground assuming the validity of Schweidler’s linear recombination law for small ions. The number of α-particles emitted from the ground was determined by means of a scintillation counter (photomultiplier) for various rocks, soil materials and vegetation and it was found that the contribution of ions produced near the ground and carried upward to the 100 cm level is not negligible. It may amount to nearly 10 per cent of the total number of ions present at this level.
Geochemistry of the Great Valley Group: An Integrated Provenance Record

Sedimentary geochemistry of fine-grained strata of the Great Valley Group (GVG) in California documents a provenance signal that may better represent unstable, mafic minerals and volcanic clasts within sediment source regions than the provenance signal documented in the petrofacies and detrital zircon analysis of coarser sedimentary fractions. Geochemistry of the GVG provides an overall provenance framework within which to interpret sandstone petrofacies and detrital zircon age signatures. The geochemical signature for all Sacramento Valley samples records an overall continental arc source, with significant variation but no clear spatial or temporal trends, indicating that the geochemical provenance signal remained relatively consistent and homogenized through deposition of Sacramento basin strata. The San Joaquin basin records a distinct geochemical provenance signature that shifted from Early to Late Cretaceous time, with Lower Cretaceous strata recording the most mafic trace element geochemical signature of any GVG samples, and Upper Cretaceous strata recording the most felsic geochemical signature. These provenance results suggest that the early San Joaquin basin received sediment from the southern Sierran foothills terranes and intruding plutons during the Early Cretaceous, with sediment sources shifting east as the southern Sierran batholith was exhumed and more deeply eroded during the Late Cretaceous. The GVG provenance record does not require sediment sources inboard of the arc at any time during GVG deposition, and even earliest Cretaceous drainage systems may not have traversed the arc to link the continental interior with the margin. Because the GVG provenance signature is entirely compatible with sediment sources within the Klamath Mountains, the northern and western Sierran foothills belt, and the main Cretaceous Sierran batholith, the Klamath-Sierran magmatic arc may have formed a high-standing topographic barrier throughout the Cretaceous period.
A Community-Based Assessment of Heat-Related Morbidity in North Philadelphia

A 6-month community-based study designed to (1) determine the perceptions and barriers affecting the overall quality of life of isolated older adults greater than 65 years of age, (2) assess their risk factors, health attitudes, and beliefs concerning their susceptibility to heat-related conditions, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of an age-specific innovative intervention program consisting of a specially marked clock-like thermometer and other creative educational materials was conducted among 34 participants during the spring and summer of 1997 in north Philadelphia. The study objectives were measured at preintervention (baseline) and at 8 weeks postintervention follow-up using a 24-item pretest/posttest self-administered questionnaire. We report the short-term benefit of our intervention, theorize that innovative strategies targeting at-risk older adults should be culturally sensitive and age-specifically appropriate, and recommend that more vigorous research methods should be implemented to lend credence to our findings.
A Fluorescence Spectroscopic Study of Phenanthrene Sorption on Porous Silica

Fluorescence spectroscopic characteristics of sorbed phenanthrene in porous silica provide information about its chemical state such as monomer vs dimer or higher aggregates, as well as a basis for high sensitivity detection. In this study, the chemical state and distribution of phenanthrene sorbed in two types of porous silica particles, mesoporous silica (365 μm particle diameter, 150 A average pore diameter) and microporous silica (custom synthethized, 1 μm particle diameter, 20 A pore diameter), is determined by fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime measurements, and scanning two-photon excitation fluorescence profiling. From the characteristic fluorescence emission spectra, it is found that at loading levels of ≤4.7 mg/g (phenanthrene/silica) phenanthrene exists as monomers in both meso- and microporous silica particles for phenanthrene loaded from super critical CO2 (SCF). Two-photon excitation fluorescence intensity distribution profiles indicate that for the mesoporous silica particles ...
Antibiotic therapy for pediatric deep neck abscesses: A systematic review

Abstract Objective To evaluate the current evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of medical management for deep neck abscesses in children. Data sources Pubmed and Embase databases accessed 3/27/2012. Review methods An a priori protocol defining inclusion and exclusion criteria was developed to identify all articles addressing medical therapy of pediatric deep neck abscesses where details regarding diagnostic criteria, specifics of medical therapy and definitions of failure were presented. The search included electronic databases to identify candidate articles as well as a manual crosscheck of references. The level of evidence was assessed and data extracted by three authors independently. Data were pooled using a random effects model due to significant study heterogeneity. Results Eight articles met inclusion criteria. The overall level of evidence was grade C. There was significant heterogeneity among the studies ( I 2 = 98.8%; p Conclusion The current literature suggests medical management may be a safe alternative to surgical drainage of deep neck abscesses in children. However, the level of evidence lacks strength and further investigation is warranted.
"This Promising of Great Secrets": Literature, Ideas, and the (Re) Invention of Reality in Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Breakfast of Champions "Fantasies of an Impossibly Hospitable World": Science Fiction and Madness in Vonnegut's Troutean Trilogy

(2004). 'This Promising of Great Secrets': Literature, Ideas, and the (Re) Invention of Reality in Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Breakfast of Champions 'Fantasies of an Impossibly Hospitable World': Science Fiction and Madness in Vonnegut's Troutean Trilogy. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction: Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 261-272.
In situ stress measurements during the MOCVD growth of AlN buffer layers on (1 1 1) Si substrates

Abstract Stress evolution during MOCVD growth of AlN buffer layers and GaN epilayers on (1 1 1) Si substrates was investigated using in situ wafer curvature measurements in order to understand the impact of growth conditions on thin film stress. AlN layers up to 400 nm thick were deposited over a temperature range of 600–1100°C at growth rates of 0.1–1 nm/s. In all cases, the growth stresses were tensile and the stress value did not change during growth. A sharp drop in the value of the tensile growth stress is observed between 900°C and 800°C from >1 GPa to
Product ion of the cytokines interleukin 1 and 6 by murine brain microvessel endothelium and smooth muscle pericytes

Murine brain microvessel endothelial cells and smooth muscle/pericytes (SM/P) cells were cultured from newborn BALB/c (normal strain) and SJL/j (autoimmune-prone strain) mice. These cells were evaluated for their ability to produce interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 cytokines. The expression of mRNA for IL-1 and IL-6 was shown in highly purified BALB/c endothelial cells and SM/P cells using polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6. IL-6 but not IL-1 mRNA was detected in unstimulated SJL/j brain microvessel cells. The presence of IL-1 and IL-6 mRNA in the BALB/c brain microvessel endothelial cells and SM/P was confirmed by in situ hybridization. By D10.G4.1 assay, unstimulated BALB/c endothelial cells were shown to produce active IL-1 to a higher degree than SM/P. By B9 bioassay, a low amount of active IL-6 was detected in the supernatant of endothelial cells and SM/P. The production of IL-1 and IL-6 in the bioassays was upregulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation of the cells in a time- and dose-dependent way. IL-6 production was also shown to be upregulated by IL-1 beta activation of the cells. Brain microvessel endothelial cells of SJL/j origin released equivalent amounts of IL-6 compared to endothelial cells of BALB/c origin. However, the production of IL-6 was markedly higher in SM/P of SJL/j origin than in those of BALB/c origin. These observations, together with our previous data showing that brain microvessel SM/P cells produce GM-CSF, emphasize the possibility for active participation of brain microvasculature SM/P as well as endothelium in inflammatory reactions of the central nervous system.
The sweet smell of success: Conclusive evidence that cyclic AMP hydrolysis does not trigger fast adaptation in olfactory receptor cells.

We are often taught that it is almost impossible to publish negative results. Yet, in this issue, [Boccaccio, Lagostena, Hagen, and Menini (2006)][1] have assembled a very impressive array of negative results that answer a critical question in olfactory transduction. In an elegant set of experiments
Orai1 Mediates Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry in Normal Skeletal Muscle and Exacerbated Ca2+ Entry in Dystrophic Muscle

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy, in which loss of dystrophin expression results in compromised sarcolemmal integrity. Although evidence shows that defects in Ca2+ homeostasis is a causal factor for the progressive cell death observed in DMD, the mechanism of Ca2+ deregulation is still under debate. Several laboratories showed that enhanced Ca2+ entry might serve as a pathological factor in dystrophic muscles. In this study, we explored the role of store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in Ca2+ deregulation of dystrophic muscles. We used real-time PCR and Western blotting to detect known isoforms of Orai and STIM1 and determined that Orai1 was the most abundant in skeletal muscle and was significantly upregulated in muscles from mdx mice, while STIM1 levels remained largely unchanged. Furthermore, Mn2+ quenching of fura-2 fluorescence was applied to measure SOCE activity in flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) fibers and a significant increase in SOCE activity was detected in mdx fibers. Similar levels of resting [Ca]i was identified in wt and mdx groups, while peak response to C/R was significantly higher in mdx fibers than wt. Furthermore, we electroporated shRNA probe against mouse Orai1 into FDB muscle of living mice to produce effective knockdown (KD) of Orai1 expression. Two weeks after Orai1 KD, SOCE activity was eliminated in both wt and mdx muscle fibers and peak response to caffeine and ryanodine in mdx fiber sreturned to a level comparable to wt muscle fiber. Therefore, our study established that Orai1 is an essential component of SOCE machinery in adult skeletal muscle and indicates that Orai1-mediated SOCE could be the major pathway for additional Ca2+ entry into mdx muscle fibers, which would eventually lead to progression of DMD.
Enhancer-facilitated expression of a human H4 histone gene

Summary Cultured mammalian cells were transfected with a recombinant human H4 histone gene. S1 nuclease mapping of cellular RNAs from transfected cells revealed: (i) correct initiation of transcription at the cap site, with some transcripts originating from other sites in the 5′ flanking region of this H4 gene; (ii) cis-linkage of an SV-40 transcriptional enhancer element upstream of the H4 5′-flanking region resulted in about a 50-fold increase in the level of correctly initiated H4 mRNA and (iii) in a heterologous murine system stability of human H4 mRNAs was apparently sensitive to inhibition of DNA-synthesis by hydroxyurea. Our results suggest that certain sequences required for the initiation of a human H4 histone gene transcript reside within the 210 nucleotides immediately upstream from the cap site and that the level of expression is influenced by the introduction of an enhancer element.
Obesity-associated adipokines correlate with survival in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Abstract Objectives Obesity impacts outcome in women with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), although its exact role and the molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. Adipocytes secrete leptin and adiponectin, and the leptin to adiponectin (L:A) ratio is correlated with poor survival in other malignancies. We hypothesized that the L:A ratio is associated with survival in women with EOC. Methods We queried the institutional tumor registry for patients with advanced stage EOC and identified a cohort of 161 women with banked fasting prediagnostic serum samples. Patients underwent cytoredutive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. Sera were assayed for leptin and adiponectin, and clinico-pathologic data were abstracted. Standard statistical tests were performed. Results 161 patients met inclusion criteria. We identified a significant correlation between BMI and leptin and the L:A ratio, but not adiponectin, in this cohort (r=0.46, 0.46, and −0.13, respectively; p=0.001, 0.001, and 0.106). Women with low L:A ratios demonstrated statistically longer disease-specific survival (57months) compared to those with median or high levels (49 and 37months, respectively; p=0.02). On multivariate analysis, we determined that BMI and age, but not L:A ratio, retained significance as independent prognostic factors for survival (p=0.04, 0.004, and 0.895, respectively). Conclusions In this cohort, the L:A ratio correlated statistically with clinical outcome, but did not independently predict survival. Obesity remains a modifiable risk factor in women with EOC. Further studies are needed to determine if leptin and/or adiponectin may be potential therapeutic targets in obese women with EOC.
Modular organization of prefrontal cortex

Anatomical, physiological and metabolic studies conducted over the past decade indicate that the prefrontal association cortex is organized into modular units with distinct inputs and outputs. This regular geometric organization opens up possibilities for physiological analysis of cognitive functions at the cellular level.
The Effect of Host Beak Condition on the Size of Menacanthus Stramineus Populations of Domestic Chickens

Abstract The numbers of Menacanthus stramineus on chickens (Gallus gallus) whose upper mandibles had been shortened, were significantly different (P .01) indicating a similar degree of preening effectiveness.
The in-vitro activity and β-lactamase stability of carumonam

Carumonam is a monobactam with a beta-carbamyloxmethyl group at position 4. It inhibited 90% of Enterobacteriaceae at less than or equal to 8 mg/l and had in-vitro activity similar to that of cefotaxime, ceftazidime and aztreonam. Fifty per cent of Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Serratia isolates were inhibited by 4 mg/l, but isolates resistant to aztreonam and ceftazidime were not inhibited. Carumonam, like aztreonam, did not inhibit Gram-positive or anaerobic species. Carumonam was not destroyed by the common plasmid- and chromosomally-mediated beta-lactamases and was more stable than aztreonam to attack by the K-1 beta-lactamase of Klebsiella oxytoca. Carumonam inhibited Richmond-Sykes type Ia and Id beta-lactamases but was a poor inhibitor of type III enzymes. It did not induce beta-lactamases.
A perspective on US and German socioeconomic policies

“Socially‐oriented” socioeconomic policies for the USA and Germany have both “meaning” and “validity” in that they would address themselves to socioeconomic concerns and could be implemented. Narrowly oriented socioeconomic policies are neither politically nor socially acceptable in the long run. In a mature socioeconomic system, such as the USA or Germany, the focal question centres not only on efficiency and productivity but also on human values, especially the rights for freedom, for a productive and creative life, and for a life in dignity. The basic question each country faces is what kind of socioeconomic policies it should actively pursue in order to strengthen the market system and to maximize social welfare as effectively as possible.
Effects of caffeine on persistence and reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior in rats: interaction with nicotine-associated cues

Rationale Caffeine and nicotine are the most commonly co-used psychostimulants. However, it is still unclear whether caffeine exposure enhances nicotine-seeking behavior.
Comment on “A theorem for a shear stress-free plane boundary in Stokes flow”

Abstract The results proved in a recent paper by Akhtar and Sen [Mech. Res. Commun. 38 (2011) 529–531] are not new and are already known in the literature. In fact, the main expressions – presented in the form of a theorem – in the cited article follow as a special case of the more general results for a two-fluid Stokes flow with a planar interface proved earlier by Palaniappan [Acta Mechanica 139 (2000) 1–13]. We briefly demonstrate the reduction of particular cases of the solution given by Palaniappan which also reveals the duplication of another special solution elsewhere.
Hydrodynamic Loads Induced By Earthquakes

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Fourth Annual Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston, Tex., May 1-3, 1972 .
Friendship and adjustment among adolescents

This study investigated the relation of friendship and emotional adjustment in adolescents. Both quantitative (popularity, mutual friendships, and number of friends) and qualitative dimensions (perceived positive friendship quality and conflict) of friendship were used. Participants were 618, mostly European American, 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders. Structural equation modeling showed that positive friendship quality was the only friendship variable that predicted adjustment. An examination of gender effects indicated that this relation held only for boys. The quantitative aspects of friendship had a small, indirect effect on adjustment through their effects on positive quality. Conflict had a negative effect on positive quality and this effect was stronger for girls than for boys. The role of adolescents' perception in adjustment was highlighted and suggestions for future research were made.
Prognostic Implications of Abnormalities in Renal Function in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background— Outcomes in patients with mild to moderate renal function (RF) abnormalities presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are not well defined. Methods and Results— A convenience sample of 4 ACS trial databases including all enrolled patients was assessed to determine 30- and 180-day outcomes. The 4 trials were Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) IIb, GUSTO-III, Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa in Unstable Angina: Receptor Suppression Using Integrilin Therapy (PURSUIT), and Platelet IIb/IIIa Antagonism for the Reduction of Acute coronary syndrome events in a Global Organization Network (PARAGON-A). Patients were stratified into ST-segment elevation (STE) and non–ST-segment elevation (NSE) groups and by the presence or absence of abnormal RF (creatinine clearance <70 mL/min). In the STE group, 7670 of 18 621 patients (41%) had abnormal RF. In the NSE group, 8152 of 19 304 (42%) had abnormal RF. Patients with abnormal RF were older, more often female, and more lik...
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF FLASH BLINDNESS.

The problem of short term blindness following exposure to intense flashes of light has important practical implications for military aviators in the atomic age. Experimental studies of flash blindness are reviewed and the physiological bases for the phenomenon are inferred for a wide range of conditions. Several methods of developing a descriptive equation are considered and an empirical formulation is presented.
Gradient directed regularization for sparse Gaussian concentration graphs, with applications to inference of genetic networks

SUMMARY Large-scale microarray gene expression data provide the possibility of constructing genetic networks or biological pathways. Gaussian graphical models have been suggested to provide an effective method for constructing such genetic networks. However, most of the available methods for constructing Gaussian graphs do not account for the sparsity of the networks and are computationally more demanding or infeasible, especially in the settings of high dimension and low sample size. We introduce a threshold gradient descent (TGD) regularization procedure for estimating the sparse precision matrix in the setting of Gaussian graphical models and demonstrate its application to identifying genetic networks. Such a procedure is computationally feasible and can easily incorporate prior biological knowledge about the network structure. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method yields a better estimate of the precision matrix than the procedures that fail to account for the sparsity of the graphs. We also present the results on inference of a gene network for isoprenoid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. These results demonstrate that the proposed procedure can indeed identify biologically meaningful genetic networks based on microarray gene expression data.
Minmax-cut graph partitioning problems

Two partitioning problems on graphs are considered. In the first problem the nodes of a directed graph are partitioned into sets of sizes within prescribed ranges. If in(V/sub i/) is the sum of the weights on the incoming edges to set V/sub i/ in the partition, the goal is to minimize max/sub i/ (in(V/sub i/)). It is shown that the problem is NP-hard if the maximum set size is at least three or there is a constant number of sets of the same size. For the case where n and m are the number of nodes and the number of edges of the input graph, respectively, an O(m square root n) time algorithm is obtained when the maximum set size is two. The same problem is then considered on undirected graphs. It is shown that this partitioning problem is NP-hard for partitioning into equal-size sets, but polynomial-time algorithms are obtained when the maximum set size is a constant k. Applications of the problems are in layout, built-in self-test (BIST), and high-level synthesis. >
Multi-longitudinal-mode two-dimensional analysis of self-sustained pulsating laser diodes

Summary form only given. The structural dependence of self-sustained pulsation in AlGaAs laser diodes is quantitively analyzed for the first time, with the incorporation of the two-dimensional distribution of carriers and photons into the multi-longitudinal-mode rate equations.
Maximum information designs.

Background Expressions to determine the sample size N needed to provide power 1 to detect a difference between groups, say, involve other nuisance parameters, such as the variance of the observations for a test or means, or the control group probability for a test of proportions or the control group hazard rate for a logrank test of event-times. Designs where N is fixed are called maximum N or duration designs because the sample size and required duration of the study can be fixed, or estimated. However, such designs are expected, but not guaranteed, to provide the desired level of power to detect the specified difference - at the study end because the true or estimated values of the nuisance parameters are unknown. Thus, the actual information to be accrued and the associated level of power are random variables with sample variation.Methods Expressions are developed to determine the amount of information needed to provide the desired level of power, regardless of the values of the nuisance parameters.Res...
Experimental Studies on the Performance of Slipper Bearings Within Axial-Piston Pumps

The objectives of this study are to experimentally investigate the performance characteristics of similar slipper bearings using different socket geometries. In this study, the lubrication equations for the bearing are derived based upon an assumption that the bearing deformations are small and that they may be modeled linearly. This study is based upon the hypothesis that variations in the socket geometry will impact the deformation characteristics of the bearing and thereby have an effect on the overall performance of the design. To test this hypothesis, bearings with different socket geometries are designed and tested and compared to the original bearing design with standard socket geometry. The experimental results are then used with the analytical results to numerically infer the minimum fluid-film thickness and the magnitude of deformation for the bearing. Conclusions are drawn from these results which indicate that socket geometry has a significant impact on the bearing performance and that both leakage and load-carrying capacity may be altered by adjusting the location of the contact point within the ball-and-socket joint relative to the center of the ball. @DOI: 10.1115/1.1698936#
Interactive sound rendering in complex and dynamic scenes using frustum tracing

We present a new approach for real-time sound rendering in complex, virtual scenes with dynamic sources and objects. Our approach combines the efficiency of interactive ray tracing with the accuracy of tracing a volumetric representation. We use a four-sided convex frustum and perform clipping and intersection tests using ray packet tracing. A simple and efficient formulation is used to compute secondary frusta and perform hierarchical traversal. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithm in an interactive system for complex environments and architectural models with tens or hundreds of thousands of triangles. Our algorithm can perform real-time simulation and rendering on a high-end PC.
Integration of multiple sensors in robotic control systems

An intelligent multisensor robotic system consisting of vision, tactile, and force/torque sensors is constructed. An artificial intelligence tool in the form of an expert system shell is included in the system to provide a high-level decision-making tool for the robotic system. The multisensor system consists of a VAX-11/750 supervisory computer, two PUMA-560 robots, a vision system, a work-cell tactile array sensor, an instrumented servo gripper equipped with force/torque and tactile array sensors, a six-component wrist force/torque sensor, and an expert system shell running on an IBM PC. All the components in the system are connected to the supervisory VAX computer. Software and hardware links of the system were also developed. Modularity was emphasized in the system development to permit easy and rapid reconfiguration of the system. A simple sensor fusion experiment was conducted. The experiment was used to test the software and hardware of the entire multisensor system and to illustrate the concept of sensor fusion. >
Soluble, High-Affinity Dimers of T-Cell Receptors and Class II Major Histocompatibility Complexes: Biochemical Probes for Analysis and Modulation of Immune Responses

T cell receptors (TCR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are integral membrane proteins that have central roles in cell-mediated immune recognition. Therefore, soluble analogs of these molecules would be useful for analyzing and possibly modulating antigen-specific immune responses. However, due to the intrinsic low-affinity and inherent solubility problems, it has been difficult to produce soluble high-affinity analogs of TCR and class II MHC molecules. This report describes a general approach which solves this intrinsic low-affinity by constructing soluble divalent analogs using IgG as a molecular scaffold. The divalent nature of the complexes increases the avidity of the chimeric molecules for cognate ligands. The generality of this approach was studied by making soluble divalent analogs of two different classes of proteins, a TCR (2C TCR2Ig) and a class II MHC (MCCI-Ek2Ig) molecule. Direct flow cytometry assays demonstrate that the divalent 2C TCR2Ig chimera retained the specificity of the native 2C TCR, while displaying increased avidity for cognate peptide/MHC ligands, resulting in a high-affinity probe capable of detecting interactions that heretofore have only been detected using surface plasmon resonance. TCR2IgG was also used in immunofluorescence studies to show ER localization of intracellular peptide-MHC complexes after peptide feeding. MCCI-Ek2Ig chimeras were able to both stain and activate an MCC-specific T cell hybridoma. Construction and expression of these two diverse heterodimers demonstrate the generality of this approach. Furthermore, the increased avidity of these soluble divalent proteins makes these chimeric molecules potentially useful in clinical settings for probing and modulating in vivo cellular responses.
Comparison of ISS power system telemetry with analytically derived data for shadowed cases

Accurate international space station (ISS) power prediction requires the quantification of solar array shadowing. Prior papers have discussed the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) ISS power system tool (SPACE: system power analysis for capability evaluation) and its integrated shadowing algorithms. On-orbit telemetry has become available that permits the correlation of theoretical shadowing predictions with actual data. This paper documents the comparison of a shadowing metric (total solar array current) as derived from SPACE predictions and on-orbit flight telemetry data for representative significant shadowing cases. Images from flight video recordings and the SPACE computer program graphical output are used to illustrate the comparison. The accuracy of the SPACE shadowing capability is demonstrated for the cases examined.
The evolution of avian wing shape and previously unrecognized trends in covert feathering

Avian wing shape has been related to flight performance, migration, foraging behaviour and display. Historically, linear measurements of the feathered aerofoil and skeletal proportions have been us...
LP08 : Safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir-containing regimens in hepatitis C infected patients with reduced renal function: Real-world experience from HCV-target

LP08 SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF SOFOSBUVIR-CONTAINING REGIMENS IN HEPATITIS C INFECTED PATIENTS WITH REDUCED RENAL FUNCTION: REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE FROM HCV-TARGET V. Saxena, F.M. Koraishy, M. Sise, J.K. Lim, R.T. Chung, A. Liapakis, D.R. Nelson, M. Schmidt, M.W. Fried, N. Terrault, and HCV-TARGET. University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, University of Florida, Gainesville, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States E-mail: varun.saxena@ucsf.edu
A Particle in a Square Well

It is difficult to solve the time-dependent Schrodinger equation explicitly, even in relatively simple cases. (Even for the free Schrodinger equation, we made do in Chap.4 with solutions that are either approximate or that involve an integral that is not explicitly evaluated.) Usually, then, one analyzes the time-independent Schrodinger equation (the eigenvector equation for \(\hat{H}\)) and then attempts to infer something about the time-dependent problem from the results. There are a number of problems, including the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom, in which the time-independent Schrodinger equation can be solved explicitly.
The Influence of Pathology, Pain, Balance, and Self-efficacy on Function in Women With Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Background and Purpose. The determinants of function in people with osteoarthritis include both psychosocial and physiological variables. Studies that simultaneously integrate both domains are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the following in a sample of women with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee: (1) the relationships among pathology (grade of OA of the knee), pain level, balance, and self-efficacy and (2) the relative effects of pathology, pain level, balance, and self-efficacy on function. Subjects. Fifty community-dwelling women, 50 to 84 years of age (X=69.2, SD=8.8), with symptoms of OA of the knee participated. Methods. Radiographs, standardized questionnaires (the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale, the Functional Reach Test, and timed performance tests were used to quantify the variables. Bivariate analyses and stepwise multiple regression modeling with analysis of variance calculations for beta weight testing were used in data analysis. Results. In regression analysis, functional self-efficacy and balance accounted for 42% of the variance in physical performance of function, whereas functional self-efficacy and pain accounted for 74% of the variance in self-report of functional difficulty. Discussion and Conclusion. Functional self-efficacy is an important factor affecting the functional performance outcome for people with OA of the knee. Suggestions are given to address self-efficacy in health care management.
Competition and Mutualism

Frequently, when two very similar species compete with one another for limited resources (food, territory,...) one of the two ultimately drops out of the competition. Ordinarily, this takes place by having one of the species become locally extinct. The explanation of this phenomenon, which will be developed analytically and graphically, is usually called the Principle of Competitive Exclusion, or Gause’s Principle.
Patient Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in an Outpatient Pediatric Neurology Clinic.

Abstract Background This article describes the use of complementary and alternative medicines in an outpatient pediatric neurology clinic, and assesses family attitudes toward the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines versus prescription medications. Complementary and alternative medicine is an important element of the modern health care landscape. There is limited information about whether, and to what extent, families perceive its utility in childhood neurological disorders. Design/Methods Surveys were distributed to 500 consecutive patients at a child neurology clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Questions pertained to the child's diagnoses, use of complementary and alternative medicines, and the specific complementary and alternative medicine modalities that were used. Opinions were also gathered on the perceived efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines and prescription medications. Data were compared using χ 2 or Fisher exact tests as indicated. Results A total of 484 surveys were returned, of which 327 were usable. Only 17.4% admitted to use of complementary and alternative medicine to treat neurological problems. However, in follow-up questioning, actually 41.6% of patients recognized that they were using one or more types of complementary and alternative medicines. Disorders associated with a statistically significant increased prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use were headache (50.8% with headache used complementary and alternative medicine versus 35.7% without headache; P = 0.008, Fisher exact test), chronic fatigue (63.2% vs 38.8%; P = 0.005, Fisher exact test), and sleep disorders (77.1% vs 37.3%; P Conclusions A large proportion of pediatric neurology patients in our clinic are also using complementary and alternative medicine. Only 38.5% of these recognize themselves as using complementary and alternative medicine, underlining the need to inquire in-depth about its use. Patients who are less satisfied with their prescription medications are more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine, perhaps reflecting the less tractable nature of their disorders.
How I Got Pregnant

Cette courte histoire souleve des questions ethiques quant a la demande d'une femme pour de l'assistance medicale a tomber enceinte. Dans ce recit fictif, une femme de 34 ans a essaye de tomber enceinte pendant la derniere annee. Son mari aimerait continuer a essayer pour une annee de plus, mais la femme perd patience. Elle rend visite a un obstetricien gynecologue et demande l'insemination artificielle. Elle n'a pas l'intention de parler a son mari de cette assistance medicale. Ce medecin a aide des femmes celibataires, des couples lesbiens et des couples maries durant leur grossesse, mais il se sent en conflit par rapport a cette demande. Le medecin et la femme discutent de leurs preoccupations et des plans possibles. Puis, ils decident d'un plan d'action. D'une maniere creative, cette histoire a pour but de donner vie a des questions ethiques sur la procreation assistee, les relations complexes, les choix individuels, les attitudes sans jugement, la tromperie, la confidentialite, les connexions genetiques et les parents sociaux. Cependant, cette histoire n'est pas un cas classique qui illustre un probleme d'ethique clairement defini. Au contraire, l'histoire montre que certaines idees ethiques communes ne correspondent pas tout a fait a l'experience des personnages et aux reactions des lecteurs.
Eye-Head Coordination During Head-Unrestrained Gaze Shifts in Rhesus Monkeys

Freedman, Edward G. and David L. Sparks. Eye-head coordination during head-unrestrained gaze shifts in rhesus monkeys. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 2328–2348, 1997. We analyzed gaze shifts made by trained ...
Russian–American relations: From Tsarism to Putin

It is agreed that US–Russian relations today are in a crisis. This article seeks a better understanding of the current US–Russian relationship by examining its origins. Russia and the United States have always had conflicting interests as great powers, as the realist school would argue. Opportunities for cooperation were also constrained by longstanding ideological differences neglected by structural realism. Nevertheless, Russian–American relations from 1781 to 1824 were conducted according to realistic assessments of national interests, and in America, Russia was perceived as a friendly power. However, by the late nineteenth century ideological currents in American political culture reversed this favorable image of Russia. Negative perceptions peaked during the Cold War – and have survived the collapse of communism. It should thus come as no surprise that Russia and the United States in the early part of the twenty-first century are capable of conducting diplomacy based on notions of power and interests. A neoclassical realist approach considers norms and cultural forces that frame national interests, providing a more nuanced explanation of international relations in a world where elites are no longer isolated from public opinion.
How not to do it: anti-patterns for data science in software engineering

Many books and papers describe how to do data science. While those texts are useful, it can also be important to reflect on anti-patterns; i.e. common classes of errors seen when large communities of researchers and commercial software engineers use, and misuse data mining tools. This technical briefing will present those errors and show how to avoid them.
Mysteries of Quantum Entanglement: why cos2 α > cos a for all values of α

The invention of the two-photon Clauser interferometer opened a completely new domain of photon spectroscopy. It allowed direct experimental demonstration for the first time of non-local non-realist phenomena in physics. We will describe this interferometer and analyse its application to the detection of bi-photons, and discuss other phenomena at the interface between classical and quantum physics. One of the consequences is that relaxation is not always what we were taught. Recent experiments on photons [1] and atoms [2] demonstrate the difference between local, single-particle dynamics and non-local dynamics of entangled quantum systems coupled to independent environments. Even when local environment-induced decay of a system is smoothly asymptotic, quantum entanglement may suddenly disappear. This
Other walking work

This book is not the first report of research on walking mechanisms. The hope that walking machines might provide off-road and difficult terrain mobility superior to that of wheeled vehicles has led quite a few different groups of researchers to study machine walking. A wheeled vehicle cannot deal with obstacles much larger than half the radius of its wheels. This is also true of tracked vehicles if you realize that each track is a virtual wheel with radius approximately the length of the vehicle. In addition to that limitation, the path that a wheeled vehicle travels must be completely free of obstructions for approximately the full width of the vehicle. A walking vehicle, on the other hand, does not need a path that is anywhere near so well prepared [55]. This chapter surveys some of the more important of such efforts to study walking.
CMOS 0.5-micron unified digital array using full E-beam lithography

A masterslice (gate array) design can provide fast turn-around time on chip fabrication by sharing a pre-fabricated common array, but typically results in low circuit density and performance because of limited freedom of wiring the fixed transistor array. On the other hand, a masterimage (standard cell) design can achieve higher circuit density and performance by customizing circuit layout and placement, and by patterning the polysllicon lines as an additional wiring level. However, the circuit customization makes every masterimage layout exclusive from the beginning of the fabrication, and thus results in a much longer fabrication time compared to a masterslice design.