cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sediment quality assessment of Beasley Lake: bioaccumulation and effects of pesticides in Hyalella azteca

Beasley Lake is a Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP) watershed in the intensively cultivated Mississippi Delta, USA. Lake sediment quality at three sites was evaluated in 2004 and 2008 for biological impairment and uptake (animal tissue pesticide residues) from 14 pesticides and three metabolites using Hyalella azteca (Saussure). Eleven pesticides and three metabolites were detected in sediment among the three sites in 2004 and all 17 compounds examined were detected among the three sites in 2008, with the herbicide atrazine having the greatest concentrations. Twenty-eight-day H. azteca survival and growth (mg w/w) indicated no survival effects at any site for either year, but growth impairment occurred in H. azteca exposed to sediments in 2004, whereas growth enhancement occurred in H. azteca exposed to sediments at one site in 2008. Pesticides observed in animal tissue pesticide residues occurred more frequently and in greater concentrations in 2004 compared with 2008. Thirteen pesticides we...
La historia natural del padre Bernabe´ Cobo. Algunas claves para su lectura*

Bernabe Cobo (1580–1657) fue un joven andaluz que llego a las Indias en busca de El Dorado pero lo que encontro fue su vocacion religiosa y su interes por la naturaleza y la historia del Nuevo Mundo. Asi, por el resto de su vida, recorrio varias regiones de los Andes y Nueva Espana y, junto con su tarea evangelizadora, se dedico al estudio y redaccion de una historia. Su Historia del Nuevo Mundo, terminada en 1653 pero no publicada hasta 1890 (Cobo 1964), ofrece una de las mejores historias naturales de Indias que se conservan. Este ensayo se propone presentar las ideas que organizan el pensamiento de Cobo sobre la naturaleza americana y mostrar en que consiste la originalidad de su obra. Es por tanto una propuesta de lectura de un texto que hasta ahora solo ha merecido una atencion parcial.
A modified method for chemotaxis under agarose

The chemotactic properties of homogeneus human C5a and C5ades Arg, as well as other cytotaxins, can be evaluated accurately by using a modified ‘chemotaxis under agarose’ method that requires neither serum nor albumin. Gelatin, at a final concentration of 0.25%, substitutes adequately for the serum or albumin that has been used previously. By assessing both the directed and random migration of human neutrophils under a variety of conditions, we delineated characteristic features of the neutrophils' chemotactic response to 3 cytotaxins: C5a, C5ades Arg and N-f-Met-Phe. Neutrophils responding to these stimuli move across the glass microscope slide that serves as a supporting surface in 3 distinctly different migratory patterns designated here as ‘rocket-shaped, blunt and desensitized’. These readily identifiable patterns each correlate with a unique neutrophil morphology and depend both on the nature and the concentration of the chemotactic factor present. From the distance the neutrophils migrate after various time intervals, we can calculate the mean initial rate of migration for the most rapidly moving cells. These studies show that human neutrophils migrate at an average initial rate of 5.0 ± 0.2 μ/min in response to each of the factors tested and at an average random rate of 1.7 ± 0.1 μ/min in the absence of any chemotactic stimulus. Optimum chemotaxis, as judged by ‘chemotactic index’ values, occurs when a total of 2.5 × 105 neutrophils/10 μl is incubated for 2–2.5 h at 37°C. This modified assay is sufficiently sensitive for use in assessing the chemotactic properties of a wide variety of factors. In particular, it may become the preferred method for studying purified human C5a and C5ades Arg because the latter factor fails to stimulate neutrophil migration in the Boyden chamber assay system in the absence of serum or serum proteins.
Fine structure of fibers in thin sections of condensed chromatin.

Abstract Fibers in the condensed chromatin of thin-sectioned nuclei of five different tissues have been measured by techniques designed to generate random data, and the measurements have been analysed by statistical methods. Individual measurements varied widely for each sample of fibers. In each case, however, chromatin fibers significantly thicker in mean diameter than the 80–100 A diameter commonly reported for sectioned chromatin were found. We conclude from these and previous observations of sectioned chromatin that the unit fibers in chromatin of a wide variety of cell types are significantly different than 80–100 A in diameter. Apparently no one diameter can be considered to characterize the chromatin of eukaryotic nuclei.
Familial type 1 jejunal atresias and renal dysplasia

Three members of a family in two generations with proximal jejunal atresia and renal dysplasia are described. This association is presumably an autosomal dominant condition.
Hormonal and behavioral changes in the rat mother as a function of early experience treatments of the offspring

Abstract In order to investigate the long-term effects on the rat mother of early mother-infant manipulations, maternal rats were assigned to groups in which, for 16 days following parturition, the offspring were handled; or rotated among mothers; the mother alone was disturbed; or no treatment was given. Beginning 3 weeks after the litters were weaned, newborn foster pups were placed with the maternal females and maintained with them for 20 days thereafter. Groups of foster pups were alternated between the subjects and lactating females twice daily. The 3 treated groups of rat mothers differed from the controls on each measure taken, in that: the original litters weighed less at weaning, retrieving scores on all tests with the foster pups were higher, lactation was reinitiated earlier, and diestrous cycles were more prolonged during the fostering period. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between retrieving scores and the number of estrous periods that occurred during the fostering period; and also between retrieving and initiation of lactation as measured by milk in the duodenum of the pups. Since the variations in behavior as a function of the early mother-infant manipulations preceded hormonal changes, it was postulated that the behavioral response may act to initiate changes in the central nervous system regulation of the hormones involved in maternal behavior.
Novel structural concepts in elucidating the potential genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of tetrandrine, a traditional herbal drug.

Abstract Tetrandrine, a widely used remedy, is predicted to be a ‘genotoxic’ carcinogen. This finding suggests that the usage of this substance in non-life-threatening situations should be evaluated.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Operations Beneath Coastal Sea Ice

Use of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to obtain environmental observations beneath coastal sea ice offshore of Barrow, AK, is described. This study is motivated by the desire to obtain cross-shore hydrographic transects (temperature, salinity, and velocity versus depth) that would provide estimates of the transport of relatively dense, salty water from the Chukchi Sea to the Arctic Ocean in winter. Although person-portable AUVs are well suited to the task, it was recognized that achieving the science goals would require increasing the range of acoustic navigation and communication as well as developing a robust approach to through ice deployment and recovery. These needs drove three modifications to the AUV: 1) incorporation of a lower frequency (10 kHz) transponder and associated hardware for navigation and communication; 2) addition of special-purpose sensors and hard- ware in a hull extension module; and 3) development of a homing algorithm utilizing Ultrashort Base Line acoustics. In March 2010, eight days of field work offshore of Barrow provided successful demonstration of the system. A total of 14 km of track lines be- neath a coastal ice floe were obtained from four missions, each successfully terminated by net-capture recovery.
Prevalence of Human Seminal Plasma Hypersensitivity Among Symptomatic Women

Background Experience with human seminal plasma hypersensitivity in the last decade has led to increased physician awareness of symptoms consistent with human seminal plasma sensitization in women. Incidence and prevalence of human seminal plasma hypersensitivity in women are unknown. Objective A questionnaire survey was distributed to determine the prevalence of human seminal plasma hypersensitivity among a population of women suspected of having this disorder. Methods A questionnaire designed to elicit age, symptoms, duration of symptoms, number of sexual partners, time to onset of symptoms after first human seminal plasma exposure, onset of symptoms after first intercourse, recent gynecologic procedures, history of atopy, vaginitis, food or drug allergy and family history of atopy was distributed to 1,073 women who suspected they had symptoms consistent with human seminal plasma hypersensitivity. Women were considered "possible" for human seminal plasma hypersensitivity if they reported two or more symptoms consistent with localized or systemic human seminal plasma hypersensitivity. Women were considered "probable" for disease if they fulfilled the "ultimate criterion" defined as complete prevention of symptoms with a condom. Women with "possible" localized or systemic human seminal plasma hypersensitivity who had persistent symptoms despite use of a condom served as cohort control groups. Results Two hundred sixty-six women reported symptoms "possible" for human seminal plasma hypersensitivity (88 localized and 178 systemic). When the "ultimate criterion" was applied, 130 (46 localized and 84 systemic) of the 266 women were identified as having "probable" human seminal plasma hypersensitivity. The responses to most of the questions from each group were very similar. A significantly shorter time interval to symptom onset after initial human seminal plasma exposure was more common for women with "probable" localized human seminal plasma hypersensitivity compared with their cohort control group (49 months versus 108 months; P P Conclusions Evaluation of women with symptoms suggestive of human seminal plasma hypersensitivity using a validated questionnaire indicates that this disorder is more common than previously recognized.
Sodium channel activity modulates multiple functions in microglia

Microglia provide surveillance in the central nervous system and become activated following tissue insult. Detailed mechanisms by which microglia detect and respond to their environment are not fully understood, but it is known that microglia express a number of surface receptors and ion channels, including voltage-gated sodium channels, that participate in transduction of external stimuli to intra-cellular responses. To determine whether activated microglia are affected by the activity of sodium channels, we examined the expression of sodium channel isoforms in cultured microglia and the action of sodium channel blockade on multiple functions of activated microglia. Rat microglia in vitro express tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive sodium channels Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 and the TTX-resistant channel Nav1.5, but not detectable levels of Nav1.2, Nav1.3, Nav1.7, Nav1.8, and Nav1.9. Sodium channel blockade with phenytoin (40 microM) and TTX (0.3 microM) significantly reduced by 50-60% the phagocytic activity of microglia activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS); blockade with 10 microM TTX did not further reduce phagocytic activity. Phenytoin attenuated by approximately 50% the release of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha from LPS-stimulated microglia, but had minimal effects on the release of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, and TGF-alpha. TTX (0.3 microM) reduced, but to a smaller extent, the release of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha from activated microglia. Phenytoin and TTX also significantly decreased by approximately 50% adenosine triphosphate-induced migration by microglia; studies with microglia cultured from med mice (which lack Nav1.6) indicate that Nav1.6 plays a role in microglial migration. The results demonstrate that the activity of sodium channels contributes to effector roles of activated microglia.
High force density solenoid actuator for aerospace application

Solenoid is an electromagnetically operated actuator. A typical application of solenoid is to operate valves near aircraft engine, under harsh environmental conditions and high endurance requirements. Under these circumstances usage of higher hardness materials for spindle becomes unavoidable. Unfortunately these materials exhibit magnetic susceptibility. This causes higher flux leakage and reduces the efficacy of the solenoid. Solenoid having very high force to weight ratio over a range of stroke with limited envelope is much appreciated for aerospace and space applications. A novel method of introducing flux router (a nonmagnetic component) at an appropriate location in the solenoid geometry in order to divert the unused magneto motive force (MMF) into working air gap is discussed in this paper. Numerical simulations based on finite element methods is used for performance comparison of conventional and proposed solenoid keeping same applied MMF and simulation parameters for various flux router geometries. This analysis considers worst case solenoid geometry and it also includes method of modeling the practical non-idealities that exists due to manufacturing and assembly process. This analysis also provides input for refinement of solenoid part dimensions and tolerance stack up.
The inclined crack under biaxial load

Abstract The problem of a sheet with an inclined crack subject to a system of biaxial loads is examined in a manner similar to that used in our previous publications. The combined effect of load biaxiality and crack orientation on K l , K II , maximum shear, anile of initial crack extension, elastic strain energy density, as well as on the local strain energy rate is made explicit. Once again it is shown that use of the so-called “singular solution” for expression of the local crack-tip elastic stress and displacements is not sufficient to give adequate account of the biaxial load effect.
Proteolysis of Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1α Isoforms LD78β and LD78α by Neutrophil-derived Serine Proteases

Abstract Macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) is a chemokine that leads to leukocyte recruitment and activation at sites of infection. Controlling chemokine activity at sites of infection is important, since excess accumulation of leukocytes may contribute to localized tissue damage. Neutrophil-derived serine proteases modulate the bioactivity of chemokine and cytokine networks through proteolytic cleavage. Because MIP-1α is temporally expressed with neutrophils at sites of infection, we examined proteolysis of MIP-1α in vitro by the neutrophil-derived serine proteases: cathepsin G, elastase, and proteinase 3. Recombinant human MIP-1α isoforms LD78β and LD78α were expressed and purified, and the protease cleavage sites were analyzed by mass spectrometry and peptide sequencing. Chemotactic activities of parent and cleavage molecules were also compared. Both LD78β and LD78α were cleaved by neutrophil lysates at Thr16-Ser17, Phe24-Ile25, Tyr28-Phe29, and Thr31-Ser32. This degradation was inhibited by serine protease inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride. Incubation of the substrates with individual proteases revealed that cathepsin G preferentially cleaved at Phe24-Ile25 and Tyr28-Phe29, whereas elastase and proteinase 3 cleaved at Thr16-Ser17 and Thr31-Ser32. Proteolysis of LD78β resulted in loss of chemotactic activity. The role of these proteases in LD78β and LD78α degradation was confirmed by incubation with neutrophil lysates from Papillon-Lefevre syndrome patients, demonstrating that the cell lysates containing inactivated serine proteases could not degrade LD78β and LD78α. These findings suggest that severe periodontal tissue destruction in Papillon-Lefevre syndrome may be related to excess accumulation of LD78β and LD78α and dysregulation of the microbial-induced inflammatory response in the periodontium.
Neutrons from the capture of a polarized mu meson

Abstract The angular distribution of the neutrons from the capture by a spinless nucleus of a totally polarized mu meson in the 1s Bohr orbit, is calculated via two single-particle nuclear models, termed “modified Fermi gas” and “square well.” A direct 4-fermion coupling, with a left-handed neutrino, represents the weak interaction. The major results depend on the Fermi, Gamow-Teller, and pseudoscalar coupling constants: cF, cG, cP. The angular distribution is 1 + κ( C − C + ) cos θ , where θ is the angle from the muon's spin to the neutron's momentum, C ± = |c F | 2 ± 2|c G | 2 + |c G − ( p 2M )c P | 2 , p is the neutrino's energy, M is the rest energy of a nucleon, and κ is the calculated asymmetry reduction factor. The “modified Fermi gas” calculations, performed for Ca40 and Pb208, employ a Fermi sea of protons and μ− + p → ν + n to produce neutrons at a localized zone of the nucleus, which are followed through the nuclear surface via geometrical optics. Those neutrons which escape at this stage of the calculation are termed “direct neutrons,” and a κ restricted to direct neutrons is ∼0.7. Due to total internal reflection and attenuation, most neutrons don't escape directly. Captured neutrons are assumed to excite boil-off, which is isotropic, and which strongly dominates the lower 2 3 of the neutron energy spectrum. The top quarter of the spectrum is nevertheless relatively free from boil-off. The “square-well” calculations, performed for O16, Si28, and Ca40, employ eigenfunctions of a real square well of finite depth for the nucleons, and a spherical harmonic expansion up to g-waves, inclusive, of the neutrino plane wave. κ ranges from several to ∼30 percent. In such a single-particle model upper shells are found to dominate strongly captures with productions of free neutrons. The case of rarefied hydrogen is treated in an Appendix.
Worker longevity in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta: Ergonomic considerations of correlations between temperature, size and metabolic rates

Abstract We compared long-term economic costs of producing and maintaining different size fire ant workers (Solenopsis invicta) at two temperatures (24 and 30°C). Energetic costs for three sizes of workers were calculated from their biomass, longevity, respiration rates, and the energy content of worker tissue. Large workers lived considerably longer than small workers (50–140%, depending on temperature) and respired more slowly per mg of tissue (40%, independent of temperature). Overall, large workers cost about 30% less in cal/mo x mg than equal weights of small workers. However, on an individual basis, large workers were still four times more expensive than small workers because of a 6-fold weight difference. These data indicate that one large worker must provide services equivalent to at least four small workers, to justify the colony's energy investment.
Peribiliary vascular plexus in primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis

The peribiliary vascular plexus plays an important role in physiology of bile flow. Disturbance of the microcirculation may contribute to ductal injury, but little is known about alterations in the vascular supply of small bile ducts in liver disease. Immunoperoxidase stains for vascular endothelium (Ulex europaeus, factor VIII-related antigen, CD34) were used to study the peribiliary vascular plexus in 20 cases of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and 27 cases of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), two diseases characterized by bile duct destruction. Normal liver from 10 autopsy cases of sudden cardiac death was used as a control. Interlobular bile ducts (20- to 80-microm diameter) were identified on AE1/AE3 immunostain; vessels adjacent to the basement membrane of these ducts were counted. Normal interlobular bile ducts had an average of 2.15 vessels per duct (range, 1.68 to 2.71). Few PBC or PSC cases had a normal number of peribiliary vessels. There was a trend toward vasopenia at higher stage, although vascular loss was noted in early stages as well. The pattern of vascular loss was different for the two diseases; in PSC, the periductal capillaries were often preserved but were pushed away from the basement membrane by concentric deposits of collagen. Small residual vessels could be identified within fibrous scars of obliterated bile ducts in PSC. In 4 stage 3 or 4 PSC cases with little bile duct injury, vessel/duct ratio approached normal levels. In PBC, vessels were obliterated in areas of granulomatous inflammation and heavy lymphocytic infiltrate around bile ducts. In conclusion, loss of peribiliary vessels is common in PSC and PBC. Vessel loss is seen in early stages and may contribute an element of ischemia to continued small bile duct loss but is probably secondary to the inflammatory process.
Granular State Effects on Wave Propagation

Sound and pressure wave propagation in a granular material is of interest not only for its intrinsic and practical value, but also because it provides a non-intrusive means of probing the state of a granular material. By examining wave speeds and attenuation, insight can be gained into the nature of the contacts between the particles. In the present paper, wave speeds and attenuation rates are first examined for a static granular bed for a variety of system parameters including particle size, composition and the overburden of the material above the measuring transducers. Agitation of the bed is then introduced by shaking the material vertically. This causes the bed to transition from a static granular state to a vibrofluidized state. The dilation of the bed allows for relative particle motion and this has a significant effect on the measured wave speeds and attenuation. Further, the fluid-like characteristics of the agitated bed distort the forcechain framework through which the waves are thought to travel. The consequences of bed consolidation, a natural result of shaking, are also examined.
Three Point Encryption (3PE): Secure Communications in Delay Tolerant Networks

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) are a subset of Delay Tolerant Networks (DTNs) composed of several mobile devices. These dynamic environments makes conventional security algorithms unreliable, nodes that are far apart may not have access to the other's public key, making secure message exchange difficult. Other security methods rely on requesting the key from a trusted third party, which can be unavailable in DTN. The purpose of this paper is to introduce two message security algorithms capable of delivering messages securely against either eavesdropping or manipulation. The first algorithm, Chaining, uses multiple midpoints to re-encrypt the message for the destination node. The second, Fragmenting, separates the message key into pieces that are both routed and secured independently from each other. Both techniques have improved security in hostile environments. This improvement has a performance trade-off, however, reducing the delivery ratio and increasing the delivery time.
Another "inconclusive" xylitol study adds to the evidence.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Field trial on Caries Prevention with Xylitol Candies Among Disabled School Students. Honkala E, Honkala S, Shyama M, Al-Mutawa SA. Caries Res 2006;40(6):508-13 . Level of Evidence 2b Purpose/Question Are xylitol candies effective in managing dental caries in a handicapped student population? Source of Funding Supported by a university grant (Kuwait University) Type of Study/Design Nonrandomized comparison clinical trial
Farm Production Policy Versus Rural Life Policy

For more than two decades, the Rural Development Division of the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, along with most of the university community engaged in rural development research, argued that farm policy is no longer sufficient rural development policy. At the end of the 1980s, it appeared that continuous repetition had made an impact. The 1990 farm bill contained a title that included far more rural policy than had been seen since the 1970s, and members of Congress actually appeared to have become comfortable talking about the need for a rural policy that was something other than farm policy. Similarly, in the early 1990s, the Canadian government created a rural secretariat within Agriculture Canada that was to coordinate the activities of all ministries when those activities
Advanced "Real-Time" Classification Methods for Flow Cytometry Data Analysis and Cell Sorting

While many flow cytometric data analysis and 'discovery' methods have been developed, few of these have been applied to the problem of separating out purified cell subpopulations by cell sorting. The fundamental problem is that the data analysis techniques have been performed using relatively slow computational methods that take far more time than is allowed by the sort decision on a cell sorter (typically less than a millisecond). Thus cell sorting, which is really a form of 'real-time data classification,' is usually done with few, if any, multivariate statistical tools used either in the sort decision or in the evaluation of the correctness of the classification. We have developed new multivariate data analysis and 'data discovery' methods that can be implemented for real-time data classification for cell sorting using linked lookup tables. One multivariate 'data discovery' method, 'subtractive clustering,' has been used to find which clusters of cells are different between two or more files (cell samples) and to help guide analysis or sort boundaries for these cell subpopulations. Multivariate statistical methods (e.g. principal component analysis or discriminant function analysis) were implemented in linked lookup tables to establish analysis/sort boundaries that include 'costs (or penalties) of misclassification. Costs of misclassification provided a measure of the quality of the analysis/sort boundary and were expressed in simple terms that describe the tradeoff between yield and purity.
Statistics and ethics in medical research.

Ethical conduct is an essential component in research, especially in medical research. Statistical methods for design and analysis are powerful research tools if used properly. Abuse of these principles and methods are just as unethical as other laboratory or clinical misconduct. Inadequate research design can produce worthless results and thus wastes effort and valuable resources. For clinical research, patient resources are wasted. Inappropriate analysis of data can also produce misleading results and conclusions. For clinical research, inferior therapy might be given to patients as a consequence. These ethical concerns can have implications for and affect the individuals responsible for the statistical design and analysis. Examples are provided which illustrate some possible abuses and inappropriate pressures.
VfCPK1, a gene encoding calcium‐dependent protein kinase from Vicia faba, is induced by drought and abscisic acid

Calcium, one of the most ubiquitous second messengers, has been shown to be involved in a wide variety of responses in plants. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) (EC 2.7.1.37) are the predominant Ca(2+)-regulated serine/threonine protein kinase in plants and play an important role in plant calcium signal transduction. CDPKs are encoded by a large multigene family in many plants, which has been showed so far; however, the precise role of each specific CDPK is still largely unknown. A novel CDPK gene designated as VfCPK1 was cloned from epidermal peels of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) leaves using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR technique and its expression was studied in detail. The VfCPK1 cDNA is 1783 bp long and contains an open reading frame of 1482 bp encoding 493 amino acids. VfCPK1 contains all conserved regions found in CDPKs and shows a high level of sequence similarity to many other plant CDPKs. VfCPK1 was highly expressed in leaves, especially in leaf epidermal peels of broad bean in mRNA and protein levels. Expressions of VfCPK1 at both the mRNA and protein levels were increased in leaves treated with abscisic acid or subjected to drought stress. Potential roles of VfCPK1 in epidermal peels are discussed. The nucleotide sequence data reported here were deposited in the GenBank database under accession number AY753552.
Raman spectroscopy of chromium oxide supported on Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2: a comparative study

The interaction of chromium oxide with Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2 supports is investigated with Raman spectroscopy. The influence of the nature of the oxide support, calcination temperature and chromium oxide loading upon the molecular state of the supported chromium oxide is determined. The Raman studies reveal that the oxide supports stabilize the chromium oxide as Cr(VI) in tetrahedral coordination at moderate chromium oxide coverages. The surface chromium oxide is present as monomers and dimers on alumina, monomers and possibly dimers on titania, and monomers and polymers (dimers, trimers and tetramers) on silica. On the alumina support, the ratio of dimers/monomers increases with the chromium oxide coverage. On the silica support, the ratios of trimers/dimers and tetramers/dimers also increase with chromium oxide coverage. The surface chromium(VI) oxide species on titania, however, are not stable to elevated calcination temperatures and appear to be converted to a lower chromium oxide oxidation state. The silica support stabilizes the surface chromium(VI) oxide state at elevated calcination temperatures, but the surface chromium oxide polymers are not stable and convert to isolated surface chromium(VI) oxide monomers. Most of these differences are thought to be related to the differing surface-hydroxyl chemistries of Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2 supports.
Inertial effects in the pullout mechanism during dynamic loading of a bridged crack

Abstract Inertial effects in the mechanism of fibre pullout during the dynamic propagation of a bridged crack are examined by reposing simple shear lag models of pullout as problems of dynamic wave propagation. The only coupling considered between the fibres and the matrix is uniform, rate independent friction—no debond energy is included. Analytical solutions are found for the coupled waves propagating in the fibres and the matrix away from the fracture plane of the bridged crack as the bridging tractions increase with time. These solutions yield the time-dependent relationship between the crack opening displacement and the bridging traction. Engineering criteria for inertial effects being significant are deduced by comparing the dynamic bridging traction law with its counterpart for static loading, which is recovered as a limit of the dynamic case. The criteria are evaluated for two crack cases: the asymptotic limit of a long, fully bridged matrix crack propagating unstably through a fibrous composite under remote tension; and a finite crack partially bridged by stitches or rods that delaminates a double cantilever beam under the impetus of a flying wedge. In both cases, the rate of increase of the crack opening displacement appears to be sufficient for inertial effects to be pronounced in the bridging (pullout) mechanism. Expected trends of the significance of inertial effects with material and geometrical parameters are identified.
Parametric exploration of intense positron beam–plasma interactions

A systematic investigation of the longitudinal fields excited in a plasma by a short, dense beam of positrons is carried out using two-dimensional, cylindrical geometry, particle-in-cell code simulations. In particular, we examine the behavior of the accelerating and decelerating fields of the wakefield as a function of beam charge, radius, length, and plasma density. The parameters are chosen to be consistent with those employed in current and future experiments designed to elucidate the physics of positron beam‐plasma interactions.
Plancherel—Rotach Asymptotics for the Charlier Polynomials

We derive an asymptotic approximation of Plancherel—Rotach type for the Charlier polynomials on the positive real line.
Peters Anomaly in Association with Multiple Midline Anomalies and a Familial Chromosome 4 Inversion

We describe the clinical presentation of a boy with Peters anomaly and a cataract of the left eye in association with multiple midline defects. His extraocular developmental abnormalities include cleft lip and palate, cardiac anomalies, an atretic cranial meningocele, as well as malformation of the left ear with chronic otitis media. Genetic analysis revealed a balanced paracentric inversion of chromosome 4, inv(4)(q12q13.3), also present in his asymptomatic father and siblings. His normal stature and cognitive development distinguish this case from the Peters Plus syndrome. The presence of a cranial meningocele represents a new association with Peters anomaly.
Angle-domain sensitivity kernels for migration velocity analysis: comparison between theoretically derived and directly measured

Sensitivity kernels for wave equation based migration velocity analysis in local angle-domain are formulated. These sensitivity kernels serve as operators to backproject the residual moveout in local angle-domain common image gathers to migration models for velocity updating. To validate the theoretical formulation, we directly measure sensitivity kernels using a perturb-measuring approach. For single-shot data, the theoretical sensitivity kernels are consistent with those directly measured. For multi-shot data, the local angle domain sensitivity kernels are approximated by stacking the corresponding single-shot sensitivity kernels.
Fifty years of electronic music in Israel

The history of electronic music composition, technologies and institutions is traced from the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Core developments are followed beginning with the founding generation including Joseph Tal, Tzvi Avni and Yizhak Sadai, continuing with the second and third generations of musicians and researchers, living in Israel and the United States. The institutional and political dynamics of the field in this country are explored, with a focus on the challenges of building an audience and institutional support, as well as prospects for the future.
Community College Leadership Preparation: Needs, perceptions, and Recommendations:

This research provides the results of a random survey, administered in 2001, of 128 community college instructional leaders. Respondents rated 48 skills and areas of expertise in effectively fulfilling community college instructional leadership roles. Survey results also suggest respondents recommend a different emphasis in doctoral coursework than they experienced in their doctoral programs of study.
Burnout in the NICU setting and its relation to safety culture

Background Burnout is widespread among healthcare providers and is associated with adverse safety behaviours, operational and clinical outcomes. Little is known with regard to the explanatory links between burnout and these adverse outcomes. Objectives (1) Test the psychometric properties of a brief four-item burnout scale, (2) Provide neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) burnout and resilience benchmarking data across different units and caregiver types, (3) Examine the relationships between caregiver burnout and patient safety culture. Research design Cross-sectional survey study. Subjects Nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory care providers and physicians in 44 NICUs. Measures Caregiver assessments of burnout and safety culture. Results Of 3294 administered surveys, 2073 were returned for an overall response rate of 62.9%. The percentage of respondents in each NICU reporting burnout ranged from 7.5% to 54.4% (mean=25.9%, SD=10.8). The four-item burnout scale was reliable (α=0.85) and appropriate for aggregation (intra-class correlation coefficient-2=0.95). Burnout varied significantly between NICUs, p<0.0001, but was less prevalent in physicians (mean=15.1%, SD=19.6) compared with non-physicians (mean=26.9%, SD=11.4, p=0.0004). NICUs with more burnout had lower teamwork climate (r=−0.48, p=0.001), safety climate (r=−0.40, p=0.01), job satisfaction (r=−0.64, p<0.0001), perceptions of management (r=−0.50, p=0.0006) and working conditions (r=−0.45, p=0.002). Conclusions NICU caregiver burnout appears to have ‘climate-like’ features, is prevalent, and associated with lower perceptions of patient safety culture.
Revealing the experience of children and teachers even in their absence: Documenting in the early childhood studio

Inspired by the educational approach in the municipal pre-primary schools and infant-toddler centers of Reggio Emilia, Italy, two studio teachers and a researcher participant in Portland, Oregon capture classroom work, make investigations and interpretations in the studio as a laboratory space of learning, help children represent thinking, and collaboratively share their ideas with colleagues, parents, and their local community. Through their work of documenting young children’s learning, a researcher-participant aims to liberate the studio teachers’ narrative-episodes with a fundamental question: what meaning can be found in the studio experiences of documenting young children’s learning? The research results are phenomenological in nature and cascade into three narrative-episodes and discussions. Conclusions and implications for future research follow. In the end, the team finds the importance in their studio practice as a way to create meaning in everyday experiences.
Improvements in bis(cyclopentadienyl)magnesium purity as determined with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy

Bis(cyclopentadienyl)magnesium (MgCp2) is used commonly as a source for doping nitride materials with magnesium. Increased oxygen incorporation known to accompany the use of MgCp2 makes the purity of this precursor an important consideration in nitride CVD. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GCMS) methods have now been developed for the identification of volatile impurities in MgCp2. Diethylether, an oxygen containing organic compound (CH3CH2OCH2CH3), and additional organic impurities were found in the MgCp2 supplied by three manufacturers. Subsequent refinements in the synthetic processes by these companies have resulted in the availability of MgCp2 free of ether and other organic impurities as determined by GCMS.
Creating and using industry-based problem-based learning challenges in photonics: lessons learned

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational approach whereby students learn course content by actively and collaboratively solving real-world problems presented in a context similar to that in which the learning is to be applied. Project PHOTON PBL, in collaboration with photonics industry and research university partners, created eight interdisciplinary multi-media Challenges to be used in high school and community college math, science and technology courses. Each Challenge was recorded on location and features the scientists, engineers and technicians who originally solved the problem engaged in authentic problem solving. In this paper we describe the evolution of the development of the Challenges and we provide instructions on creating a Challenge and using it in the classroom to enhance student learning.
Questions Teachers Ask about Spelling.

Questions teachers frequently ask about spelling and spelling instruction, including how students learn to spell and which instructional methods are most effective, are addressed.
Endocrine disruption of the epigenome: a breast cancer link

The heritable component of breast cancer accounts for only a small proportion of total incidences. Environmental and lifestyle factors are therefore considered to among the major influencing components increasing breast cancer risk. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous in the environment. The estrogenic property of EDCs has thus shown many associations between ongoing exposures and the development of endocrine-related diseases, including breast cancer. The environment consists of a heterogenous population of EDCs and despite many identified modes of action, including that of altering the epigenome, drawing definitive correlations regarding breast cancer has been a point of much discussion. In this review, we describe in detail well-characterized EDCs and their actions in the environment, their ability to disrupt mammary gland formation in animal and human experimental models and their associations with exposure and breast cancer risk. We also highlight the susceptibility of early-life exposure to each EDC to mediate epigenetic alterations, and where possible describe how these epigenome changes influence breast cancer risk.
Distributed Beamforming in Wireless Sensor Networks

We present an adaptive distributed beamforming approach for sensor networks, wherein sensor nodes coordinate their transmissions to form a distributed antenna array that directs a beam toward an airborne relay (an unmanned aerial vehicle). Distributed beamforming using sensors is challenging since the number of nodes and their exact positions are unknown. A simulation model was implemented to study adaptive beamforming, and results are compared to theoretical results for random arrays. We show that the antenna main lobe remains stable in the presence of position errors and sensor failures, and thus can be steered in an adaptive manner as a UAV files past
Branching ratio measurement of the decay K(L) --> e(+)e(-)mu(+)mu(-).

We have collected a 43 event sample of the decay ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ with negligible backgrounds and measured its branching ratio to be $(2.62\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.40\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.17)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$. We see no evidence for $\mathrm{CP}$ violation in this decay. In addition, we set the $90%$ confidence upper limit on the combined branching ratios for the lepton flavor violating decays ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{e}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{\mp}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{\mp}}$ at $B({K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{e}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{\mp}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{\mp}})\ensuremath{\le}1.23\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$, assuming a uniform phase space distribution.
Maxillofacial trauma reconstruction

Maxillofacial trauma caused by severe ballistic or avulsion injuries to the face creates complex composite defects. The essential difference between most blunt facial injuries and ballistic or avulsive facial injuries is the severity of the soft and hard tissue loss and damage. Application of modern principles of fracture management and wound care, however, allows restoration of the facial framework until a healthy tissue bed is achieved for definitive repair. Free tissue transfer has made it possible to bring well-vascularized bone and soft tissue into a hostile wound environment with excellent survival of the flap tissues. This has allowed for simultaneous reconstruction of the bony facial skeleton and the overlying soft tissue soon after injury.
EVALUATION OF BIMATERIAL STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS USING A FINITE ELEMENT-BOUNDARY ELEMENT ALTERNATING METHOD

The finite element-boundary element alternating method is extended to the analysis of a crack in a bimaterial test specimen. The crack is perpendicular to, and terminates at, the interface between two dissimilar materials. The finite element method is used to model the finite-size specimen without the crack. The displacement discontinuity method (boundary element method) is used to find the stresses in the infinite bimaterial medium due to crack surface tractions. The stress intensity factors are extracted by using a closed form solution for a semi-infinite crack in an infinite bimaterial medium opened by a pair of wedge forces. The alternating method is verified by solving several bimaterial crack problems for which solutions are known. A parametric study is performed for a specimen proposed for evaluating the fracture toughness of bimaterial interfaces.
Effect of Root Feeding by Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larvae on Leaf Gas Exchange and Growth of Three Ornamental Tree Species

Diaprepes abbreviatus L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), feeds on a variety of ornamental plants grown in southern Florida. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of root feeding by D. abbreviatus larvae on leaf gas exchange and growth of three ornamental tree species commonly grown in southern Florida that are known hosts of this weevil: green buttonwood, Conocarpus erectus L.; live oak, Quercus virginiana Mill.; and pygmy date palm, Phoenix roebelenii O’Brien. These hosts were grown in containers and infested with weevil larvae. Net CO2 assimilation, transpiration, and stomatal conductance of CO2 were measured monthly. Leaf, stem, and root fresh and dry weights of each species also were determined. In one of two tests, larval root feeding significantly reduced net CO2 assimilation, transpiration, and stomatal conductance of CO2 of infested green buttonwood trees. Leaf gas exchange of live oak was not affected by larval infestation. In addition to testing cumulative effects of multiple infestations of larvae, the effects of incremental infestations on leaf gas exchange and fresh and dry weights also were tested for each plant species. Net CO2 assimilation, transpiration, stomatal conductance of CO2, and dry weights of green buttonwood were reduced as a result of larval root feeding, whereas there was no effect of incremental larval infestations on leaf gas exchange of live oak or pygmy date palm within the experimental time frame. There was no effect of incremental larval infestations on dry weights of live oak, but leaf, stem, and dry root weight of pygmy date palm were lower for infested plants than for noninfested plants. Overall, green buttonwood was more susceptible to larval root feeding damage than either live oak or pygmy date palm.