cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parenting and Friendship Quality as Predictors of Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Early Adolescence

Research indicates both parents and peers influence child and adolescent adjustment outcomes. Moreover, friendship quality has been found to buffer the influence of parenting on adolescent adjustment, particularly externalizing symptoms. Little to no research, however, has longitudinally examined whether friendship quality moderates the relation between parenting and adolescent internalizing symptoms. Accordingly, our study examines friendship quality as a moderator of the relation between parenting (positive parenting, poor parental monitoring, inconsistent discipline, parental involvement) and adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms over one year’s time. The sample included 65 early adolescents (67% male), ages 10–13 at initial assessment. Friendship quality buffered the effect of positive parenting on internalizing symptoms over time. However, no moderating effects for externalizing symptoms were found. Implications and further directions are discussed.
930 ABNORMAL NK CELL AND SUPPRESSOR CELL ACTIVITY IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Abnormalities in the number or functional activity of regulatory T cells could contribute to deficiency of humoral immune factors which render children with sickle cell diseases (SCD) highly susceptible to overwhelming bacterial infections. Children with SCD are reported to have increased numbers of T cells with receptors for IgG, a population containing natural killer (NK) cells and suppressor cells. We have tested the functional activity of such cells in 15 children with SCD. NK cell activity was measured in a 3 hour chromium-release assay against target cell K562. Suppressor cell activity was assayed by quantitating concanavalin A-induced suppression of pokeweed mitogen-stimulated B cell Ig production. NK cell lysis of K562 at the low effector target ration of 10/1 was somewhat decreased in SCD compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (16% vs 25%, p>0.1). However, the plateau value of maximum lysis at high E/T ratios was significantly lower in SCD children (42% vs 63%, p<0.02) suggesting that they may have increased numbers of cells which inhibit NK activity. Con A-induced suppressor cell activity was also significantly lower in SCD children than in controls (56% vs 89%, p<0.01). These alterations in NK cell and suppressor cell activity in children with SCD may be related phenomena caused by a common underlying mechanism, and may contribute to their increased susceptibility to infection.
The Cardiac Troponin T R92L Hcm Mutation Alters Cardiac Troponin I Dynamics and PKA Phosphorylation Potential

Mutations in cardiac troponin T (cTnT) have been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Previous experiments in our lab utilizing a novel cTnT R92L transgenic mouse model revealed an allosterically mediated decrease in the PKA phosphorylation potential of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). We hypothesized the cTnT R92L mutation causes a change in the dynamics of the N-terminal extension, hindering the availability of PKA substrates S23/S24 on cTnI. In the current study this hypothesis was tested both in silico and in vitro. First, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using our all-atom thin filament model in the Ca2+ saturated state were performed. MD predicted an approximately 7A narrowing between the N-terminal extension of cTnI and cardiac troponin C (cTnC). To experimentally evaluate the in-silico predictions, Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments were conducted on fully reconstituted thin filaments. The cTnI was labeled with the FRET donor AEDANS at three sites on the N-terminal extension of cTnI. The acceptor DDPM, was labeled on six sites on cTnC. Steady state and time resolved FRET experiments were performed in the presence and absence of the TnT R92L mutation. Both theoretical and experimental approaches revealed that in the presence of the cTnT R92L mutation the dynamics of cTnI was allosterically altered. The N-terminal extension of cardiac troponin I moved closer to the N-domain of cTnC. This anharmonic fluctuation likely hinders the availability of the PKA substrate sites and leads to the observed blunting of the beta-adrenergic response in animal models and human patients.
Taxonomic comments on Megachile subgenus Chrysosarus (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Comments on the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of American leafcutter bees of the genus Megachile subgenus Chrysosarus are provided. The South American subgenera Austrosarus Raw, Stelodides Moure, and Zonomegachile Mitchell are newly synonymized under Chrysosarus Mitchell.
AKAP79/150-Anchored CaN and PKA Regulate Neuronal L-Type Calcium Channel Activity and NFAT Transcriptional Signaling

In neurons, Ca2+ influx through L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (LTCC) couples electrical activity to changes in transcription. LTCC activity is elevated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and depressed by the Ca2+-dependent phosphatase calcineurin (CaN), with both enzymes localized to the channel by A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) 79/150. AKAP79/150 anchoring of CaN also promotes LTCC activation of transcription through dephosphorylation of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT). We report here that genetic disruption of PKA anchoring to AKAP79/150 also interferes with LTCC activation of CaN-NFAT signaling in neurons. Disruption of AKAP-PKA anchoring promoted redistribution of the kinase out of dendritic spines, profound decreases in LTCC phosphorylation and Ca2+ influx, and impaired NFAT movement to the nucleus and activation of transcription. Our findings support a model wherein basal activity of AKAP79/150-anchored PKA opposes CaN to preserve LTCC phosphorylation, thereby sustaining LTCC activation of CaN-NFAT signaling to the neuronal nucleus.
The effect of stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride and stannous chloride on the crystallization of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate at constant pH

Abstract A kinetic study has been made of the crystal growth of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) seed crystals from supersaturated solution at constant pH. A pH value of 5.6 was chosen in order to be able to compare the results with a previous investigation in which the growing crystals were in contact with a supersaturated solution whose pH was allowed to vary during the growth experiments. The rate of crystallization has been found to follow an equation of the form — d N d t = kSN 2 , where N represents the number of moles/1 of solid to be precipitated before equilibrium is reached, k is the rate constant and S is proportional to the number of active growth sites. In contrast to the additive sodium fluoride, both stannous fluoride and stannous chloride are effective inhibitors of crystal growth. The degree of inhibition, expressed in terms of the relative values of the rate constant k , can be interpreted in terms of an adsorption process at the active crystal growth surface sites.
Characterization and physiological variation of estrogen receptors in rabbit corpora lutea throughout pregnancy and pseudopregnancy: the effect of hysterectomy and sustained estradiol treatment.

Previous studies suggest that regression of the rabbit corpus luteum is associated with a uterineinduced loss of responsiveness to estradiol. To determine if this is due to loss of estrogen receptor, cytoplasmic and nuclear estrogen receptors were measured in pseudopregnant, hysterectomizedpseudopregnant and pregnant rabbits throughout luteal life. Estrogen receptor levels were higher in corpora lutea than in nonluteal tissue and were generally higher in nuclei compared to cytosol. Estrogen receptor levels were low on Day 3, increased 2- to 3-fold by Day 6-8, reached peak levels by Days 8-10, and then gradually decreased in a pattern similar to the pattern of serum progesterone typical of each group. Hysterectomy was not associated with elevated cytoplasmic or nuclear estradiol receptor levels. When hysterectomized rabbits were treated with estradiol-filled Silastic implants on Day 1, nuclear estradiol receptor levels fell by Day 20 to levels seen in untreated hysterectomized rabbits. Depsite substantial losses in nuclear estrogen receptor, serum progesterone remained elevated on Days 16 and 20. Thus, the ability of estradiol to maintain serum progesterone in hysterectomized rabbits did not correlate directly with the level of estrogen receptor. BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 29, 620-629 (1983)
Transport of MOX Fuel: a Continuous Challenge

Depuis 45 ans, TN International œuvre dans le domaine du transport de matieres radioactives. Le transport du combustible nucleaire use constitue l'activite principale de l'entreprise depuis sa creation. Durant toutes ces annees, TN International, qui fait desormais partie d'AREVA, a ete capable d'anticiper et de satisfaire les besoins relatifs aux nouveaux moyens de transport et emballages d'entreposage necessaires pour accompagner les evolutions de l'industrie nucleaire. Un parc entier d'emballages capables de transporter tous les materiaux du cycle du combustible a ete developpe. Dans cette presentation, nous nous interesserons aux emballages utilises pour le transport du combustible MOX neuf et use. TN International a developpe deux modeles d'emballages pour le transport du combustible neuf utilise dans les reacteurs a eau bouillante et a eau pressurisee: le MX6 et le MX8. Ces emballages, utilises par le passe et encore a l'heure actuelle dans le cadre du transport du combustible MOX pour le compte des centrales nucleaires francaises, allemandes et suisses, le seront bientot pour le compte de centrales japonaises. Une serie complete de paniers a ete developpee pour optimiser le chargement en termes de dose integree et de capacite de transport. Un emballage est desormais dedie au combustible MOX use: il s'agit du TN112, dont le certificat d'agrement a ete obtenu en juillet 2008. Cet emballage est capable de transporter 12 elements de combustible MOX use avec des temps de refroidissement courts. Le premier chargement de l'emballage a ete effectue en septembre 2008 au sein de la centrale nucleaire EDF de Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux. Grâce a son engagement continu dans le domaine du transport nucleaire, TN International a pu relever les nombreux defis lies au transport de substances radioactives, en particulier en ce qui concerne le combustible MOX. TN International devra egalement faire face a la hausse de la demande relative a la renaissance du nucleaire.
Images of encirclement and Enchantment in the Poetry of Palamas

The image of the circle recurs again and again, ina wide range of motifs, in Palamas' poetry. Indeed, some areas of his poetry seem to exhibit a positive preoccupation with circular images of both ...
Prevalence and prognostic significance of cardiac abnormalities in the ICU: an echocardiographic study

The aim was to describe the prevalence and type of cardiac abnormalities in ICU patients detected using echocardiography and to assess whether those abnormalities are correlated with ICU survival.
Physiological and Hematological Changes in Chum Salmon Artificially Infected with Erythrocytic Necrosis Virus

Abstract Chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta were injected with erythrocytic necrosis virus (ENV) to study the physiological and hematological consequences of ENV infection. Infected and control fish were held in pathogen-free seawater and sampled for 5 weeks. Physiological tests included measures of plasma cortisol, glucose, protein, and osmolality; blood lactic acid; and liver glycogen. In general, ENV-infected fish had lower plasma glucose and blood lactic acid, and higher liver glycogen concentrations than did control fish. Hematological tests included red and white blood cell (RBC and WBC) counts, hematocrit, measurement of blood hemoglobin concentration, and a determination of erythrocyte fragility. Infected fish had lower RBC counts, hematocrits, and hemoglobin concentrations; higher WBC counts; and less fragile erythrocytes than did control fish. The hematology data indicated that erythrocytes of infected fish had higher mean corpuscular volume, depressed mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and s...
Calibrating for comorbidity: Clinical decision-making in youth depression and anxiety.

Abstract Comorbidity in clinical youth populations is more the rule than the exception, yet few established guidelines exist to help practicing clinicians manage complex diagnostic profiles. The current paper reviews efforts within the treatment development literature to handle comorbidity in depressed and anxious children and adolescents, including single-target, modular-based, and transdiagnostic interventions. Two case studies are presented to describe how comorbid anxiety and depression are managed within two different evidence-based single-target interventions. A third case is presented to introduce a novel individual behavioral activation therapy (IBAT) designed to address co-occurring depression and anxiety by targeting a single maintaining mechanism (avoidance) that underlies both disorders. Implications for clinical decision-making (assessing complex clinical profiles in practice, prioritizing treatment goals, selecting interventions from a broad evidence base) are discussed.
Police-citizen contact and police performance Attitudinal differences between Hispanics and non-Hispanics

Abstract This study examined the impact of police contacts (i.e., nature of police contact and type of police experience) and language spoken (English versus Spanish) on citizens' attitudes toward police performance. Data analysis was based on a telephone survey of 251 residents in Odessa and Midland, Texas, who had had contact with the police. Among the significant findings were: (1) citizens who initiated police contact viewed police performance more favorably than those whose contacts were initiated by the police; (2) police contact was likely to result from a service aspect of policing more than a crime-fighting function, and positive police experience not only yielded positive attitudes toward the police, but also neutralized or ameliorated the negative attitudes of citizens; (3) although not significantly so, Spanish-speaking Hispanics felt more satisfied with police performance than Whites and English-speaking Hispanics; and (4) Blacks had less favorable attitudes toward the police than either Whites or the two Hispanic groups. The study concluded that appropriate police policies must be implemented to create positive police-citizen contacts and to enhance police-minority relationships.
Intrinsic neutrino properties

We discuss neutrino massand consider two processes, neutrinoless double beta decay and ν → ν oscillation, whose observation would show that neutrinos are their own antiparticles and also that they have mass. We then focus on neutrino magnetic and electric dipole moments. After discussing the laboratory and astrophysical bounds on such moments, we describe ways in which they could influence the behavior of solar neutrinos, and discuss theoretical models which allow them to be large enough to do so.
Uniqueness for evolution in multidimensional time

Abstract We prove a uniqueness theorem for a large class of PDE's involving evolution in multidimentional time. We provide examples.
Inhibition by MIF-I of α-MSH induced increase of intraocular pressure and miosis in rabbits

Abstract The effects of intracameral (i.c.) administration of MIF-I on the ocular response to α-MSH were tested in rabbits. In confirmation of previous studies, i.c. α-MSH significantly increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and reduced pupillary diameter (PD). Concomitant administration of α-MSH and MIF-I antagonized both the IOP increase and miosis induced by α-MSH. Aqueous humor (AH) dynamics studies revealed that α-MSH increases IOP, possibly, by decreasing AH outflow. The decreased AH outflow induced by α-MSH was antagonized by concurrent administration of MIF-I and α-MSH. MIF-I did not affect IOP or PD when administered alone. These results and more support for a role of α-MSH in ocular function, and suggest that the ocular response to α-MSH may be subject to inhibitory control by MIF-I.
Airborne Bacterial Spore Counts by Terbium-enhanced Luminescence Detection: Pitfalls and Real Values

Bacterial spore determination by terbium(III)-dipicolinate luminescence has been reported by several investigators. We collected spore samples with a cyclone and extracted dipicolinic acid (DPA) in-line with hot aqueous dodecylamine, added Tb(III) in a continuous-flow system and detected the Tb(III)-DPA with a gated liquid core waveguide fluorescence detector with a flashlamp excitation source. The absolute limit of detection (LOD) for the system was equivalent to 540 B. subtilis spores (for a 1.8 m3 sample volume (t = 2 h, Q = 15 L/min), concentration LOD is 0.3 spores/L air). Extant literature suggests that, from office to home settings, viable spore concentrations range from 0.1 to 10 spores/L; however, these data have never been validated. Previously reported semiautomated instrumentation had an LOD of 50 spores/L. The present system was tested at five different location settings in Lubbock, Texas. The apparent bacterial spore concentrations ranged from 9 to 700 spores/L and only occasionally exhibite...
A dynamic hazard-based system of equations of vehicle ownership with endogenous long-term decision factors incorporating group decision making

Abstract The transportation system affects all aspects of our daily lives including relatively long-term decisions on work and home location choice and automobile ownership decisions. The interdependency existing among these three decisions jointly influences household mobility and overall travel patterns. Therefore, a dynamic modeling framework that can account for the effects of interdependencies between vehicle transaction behavior and residential and job location choices is highly desirable. These decisions are made in the household level while individuals’ decisions influence the overall outcome; therefore, it is also important to incorporate a group decision making process within such modeling frameworks. This study introduces a dynamic model for vehicle ownership, residential mobility, and employment relocation timing decisions. These decisions are modeled at the individual level and then sequentially aggregated to the household level if it is required. A hazard-based system of equations is formulated and applied in which work location and residential location changes are included as endogenous variables in the vehicle transaction model while other important factors such as land-use and built environment variables, household dynamics, and individuals’ socio-demographics are also considered.
Entanglement of a Pair of Quantum Bits

The ``entanglement of formation'' of a mixed state \ensuremath{\rho} of a bipartite quantum system can be defined as the minimum number of singlets needed to create an ensemble of pure states that represents \ensuremath{\rho}. We find an exact formula for the entanglement of formation for all mixed states of two qubits having no more than two nonzero eigenvalues, and we report evidence suggesting that the formula is valid for all states of this system.
Transition State of ADP-Ribosylation of Acetyllysine Catalyzed by Archaeoglobus fulgidus Sir2 Determined by Kinetic Isotope Effects and Computational Approaches

Sirtuins are protein-modifying enzymes distributed throughout all forms of life. These enzymes bind NAD+, a universal metabolite, and react it with acetyllysine residues to effect deacetylation of protein side chains. This NAD+-dependent deacetylation reaction has been observed for sirtuin enzymes derived from archaeal, eubacterial, yeast, metazoan, and mammalian species, suggesting conserved chemical mechanisms for these enzymes. The first chemical step of deacetylation is the reaction of NAD+ with an acetyllysine residue which forms an enzyme-bound ADPR−peptidylimidate intermediate and nicotinamide. In this manuscript, the transition state for the ADP-ribosylation of acetyllysine is solved for an Archaeoglobus fulgidus sirtuin (Af2Sir2). Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were obtained by the competitive substrate method and were [1N-15N] = 1.024(2), [1′N-14C] = 1.014(4), [1′N-3H] = 1.300(3), [2′N-3H] = 1.099(5), [4′N-3H] = 0.997(2), [5′N-3H] = 1.020(5), [4′N-18O] = 0.984(5). KIEs were calculated for candid...
Comparison of range-of-motion constraints provided by prefabricated splints used in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a pilot study.

Abstract Nocturnal splinting of the wrist is commonly used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Rationales for overnight wrist splinting are based on several research studies, which suggest that passively and actively sustained positions of the wrist and digits during sleep contribute to elevated carpal tunnel pressures. The types of splints used for carpal tunnel syndrome include custom and prefabricated orthoses of many variations. The purpose of this paper is to assess the resting and passive range-of-motion position restrictions and parameters provided by four prefabricated orthoses commonly prescribed for or used by patients at the authors' treatment facility. A literature review provides information that supports optimal wrist and finger positioning to minimize resting carpal tunnel pressures. This information may be useful in determining the most effective splint design choices. J HAND THER. 2002;15:226-233.
Effects of finasteride on health-related quality of life in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia

The effects of urinary symptoms on health-related quality of life (HRQL) are important in therapeutic decision making. Few have evaluated the treatment effects on HRQL in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), even though increased urinary symptoms are associated with greater worry, bother, and interference with living activities. We report on patient assessments of such disease-specific measures as well as general HRQL measures from two placebo-controlled clinical trials of finasteride in the treatment of symptomatic BPH. Patients treated with finasteride appeared to have greater improvement than placebo-treated patients in disease-specific measures and in patient global assessment. The treated group appeared to have a greater mean increase in sexual domain scores. As expected, general measures (health rating, life satisfaction, ladder of life) changed little. Thus, treatment with finasteride appears to reduce bother, worry, and activity interference due to symptoms but in a small percentage of men may lead to slightly reduced sexual function.
Influence of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on cholesterol metabolism in rats

Wistar rats were fed semipurified diets containing 0.5% of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for 14 days. DHEA feeding resulted in weight loss and slight liver enlargement. It did not affect serum triglyceride levels but increased serum cholesterol levels. Liver triglyceride levels of DHEA-fed rats were significantly lower than in controls. DHEA inhibited cholesterol absorption. Liver slices from DHEA-fed rats incorporated more acetate into cholesterol than controls; there were no differences in conversion of mevalonate.
Calculation of nutritional allowances for infants and children on the basis of body surface.

Summary A linear relationship between caloric allowances and body surface area was found for the pediatric age group. The caloric need of a normally active, growing child approximates 2,200 calories per square meter. In terms of specific foodstuffs, this need would be met by 80 Gm. of protein, 265 Gm. of carbohydrate and 85 Gm. of fat, per square meter of body surface.
“Natural” Claims in Food Advertising: Policy Implications of Filling the Regulatory Void with Consumer Class Action Lawsuits

Many consumers find advertising and labeling claims that a food is natural to be both compelling and trustworthy. For this reason, both the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration have long considered taking regulatory action to define “natural” in the food advertising context to prevent deception. However, neither agency has taken definitive action. As a result, consumer class action attorneys have seized this opportunity of regulatory inaction to file numerous lawsuits against food marketers that advertise their products as natural. Unfortunately, the litigation to date has predominantly involved procedural issues such as class certification rather than policy issues regarding an appropriate definition of “natural” for food advertising. The piecemeal approach of litigation is unlikely to result in a consistent, well-reasoned definition of “natural” for the benefit of food advertisers and consumers alike. However, the litigation does demonstrate continued interest in this issue, and...
Optimization of electron cooling for a medium energy accumulator ring

Abstract The binary collision model of electron cooling is used to discuss the principal issues in the use of electron cooling for accumulating ions at medium energies, where “medium energy” is defined by a beam velocity >0.8 c . Some new general results are developed which are important in this context. Longitudinal and transverse cooling rates are calculated analytically for a particle executing betatron oscillations in a storage ring. The formulas obtained are compared with numerical results. Particular attention is paid to the case in which the transverse components of the relative velocities substantially exceed the longitudinal components. The exact analytical results for finite electron temperatures are presented. The time for longitudinal cooling of a Gaussian beam is calculated as a function of the acceptable fraction of uncooled particles; the optimum electron beam size is calculated and an optimum electron density distribution is found. The results obtained are applied to an electron cooling system for the Fermilab Recycler (Jackson, FERMILAB-TM-1991, Unpublished Internal Note, November 1999); the cooling time, optimum parameters and tolerances are calculated.
Synaptic organization of the nucleus raphe dorsalis of the cat

This electron microscopic study describes the different types of synaptic terminals found in the nucleus raphe dorsalis of the adult cat. Serial section analysis was used extensively to confirm the nature of the synaptic contact established by the various classes of terminals. Five different classes of terminals are identified according to the shape and packing density of the synaptic vesicles and type of contact they establish. The most common class (RDI-type) contains densely packed, round, agranular synaptic vesicles and establishes asymmetrical synaptic contacts. A second class (RDII-type) also contains spherical synaptic vesicles, but establishes symmetrical synaptic contacts with dendrites of all sizes. Most of the terminals in these two classes contain a few dense-cored synaptic vesicles, but a small sub-group contains many dense-cored vesicles. A third, less frequent, class (RSI-type) contains sparsely packed spherical synaptic vesicles and the majority of these terminals have asymmetrical contacts. A fourth terminal class contains pleomorphic synaptic vesicles (P-type), contacts dendrites of all sizes, and usually establishes symmetrical synaptic contacts. Finally, boutons thought to be the vesicle-filled excrescences of dendrites (postsynaptic dendrites) are found and in some cases the dendritic origin of these profiles was confirmed by serial sectioning. Such boutons containing pleomorphic vesicles are presynaptic to other such dendrites as well as conventional dendrites, and are postsynaptic to the other terminal types described. Somata within the nucleus exhibit somatic spines but receive few synaptic contacts. Most axo-somatic terminals contain either round or pleomorphic vesicles and have postsynaptic thickenings intermediate to the symmetric and asymmetric types.
A simple technique to evaluate the density of etch pits in GaAs

Abstract A technique based on the measure of the correct exposure time of microphotographs of an etched surface is proposed to evaluate the dislocation density in GaAs. This procedure, given its precision and reliability, is valuable when a quantitative analysis of the etch pit density pattern is required.
Supercomputer communications as an application for broadband networks

Some of the issues that arise when carrying gigabit-per-second supercomputer traffic on ATM networks are discussed. In particular, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and upper layer protocols, and other application issues are addressed. Experiences in the application of broadband networks for supercomputer communications are related to these issues. >
Single-molecule Fluorescence Lifetime and Anisotropy Measurements of the Red Fluorescent Protein, DsRed, in Solution¶

Fluorescence lifetime and anisotropy measurements were made on the red fluorescent protein (DsRed) from tropical coral of the Discosoma genus, both at single-molecule and bulk concentrations. As expected from previous work, the fluorescence lifetime of DsRed in solution is dependent on laser power, decreasing from an average fluorescence lifetime in the beam of about 3.3 ns at low power (3.5 ns if one extrapolates to zero power) to about 2.1 ns at 28 kW/cm2. At the single-molecule level, exciting with 532 nm, 10 ps laser pulses at 80 MHz repetition rate, DsRed particles entering the laser beam initially have a lifetime of about 3.6 ns and convert to a form having a lifetime of about 3.0 ns with a quantum yield of photoconversion on the order of 10−3 (calculated in terms of photons per DsRed tetramer). The particles then undergo additional photoconversion with a quantum yield of roughly 10−5, generating a form with an average lifetime of 1.6 ns. These results may be explained by rapid photoconversion of one DsRed monomer in a tetramer, which acts as an energy transfer sink, resulting in a lower quantum yield for photoconversion of subsequent monomers. Multiparameter correlation and selective averaging can be used to identify DsRed in a mixture of fluorophores, in part exploiting the fact that fluorescent lifetime of DsRed changes as a function of excitation intensity.
The shear Alfvén continuous spectrum of axisymmetric toroidal equilibria in the large aspect ratio limit

Analytic forms for the MHD continuous spectra in axisymmetric tokamak equilibria are derived using an expansion scheme in powers of the small inverse aspect ratio. Resulting formulae for the shear Alfven continuum have been evaluated for the shear Alfven wave heating experiment on the Tokapole II device at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mode coupling, induced by toroidicity or non-circularity, is shown to occur, in first order, on and near rational surfaces for particular poloidal and toroidal mode numbers. The coupling is shown to produce gaps in the spectrum, analogous to the gaps which appear in the energy spectrum of a single electron in a periodic potential lattice.
A deductive technique for diagnosis of bridging faults

A deductive technique is presented that uses voltage testing for the diagnosis of single bridging faults between two gate input or output lines and is applicable to combinational or full-scan sequential circuits. For defects in this class of faults the method is accurate by construction while making no assumptions about the logic-level wired-AND/OR behavior. A path-trace procedure starting from failing outputs deduces potential lines associated with the bridge and eliminates certain faults. The information obtained from the path-trace from failing outputs is combined using an intersection graph to make further deductions. The intersection graph implicitly represents all candidate faults, thereby obviating the need to enumerate faults and hence allowing the exploration of the space of all faults. The above procedures are performed dynamically and a reduced intersection graph is maintained to reduce memory and simulation time. No dictionary or fault simulation is required. Results are provided for all large ISCAS89 benchmark circuits. For the largest benchmark circuit, the procedure reduces the space of all bridging faults, which is of the order of 10^9 to a few hundred faults on the average in about 30 seconds of execution time.
Lessons from Biafra: The Structuration of Socially Relevant Science in the Research and Production Directorate

Africa's dismal economic performance is directly attributable to its weakness in the production and use of modern technology. Even Nigeria, a country with immense human and material resources, coupled with significant scientific infrastructure, has not yet been able to manage the all-important technological leap forward. The situation was different in Biafra (1967–70), when indigenous scientists and engineers performed socially relevant science without the preconditions conventionally perceived as necessary for technological development. Anchored in structuration theory, this article explores the sociology of scientific and technological practice in Biafra, outlines the achievements of Biafran scientists and engineers, and offers explanations of why the Biafran technological success has not been replicable in post-civil war Nigeria. Discussion concludes with a suggestion for development-driven geopolitical restructuring.
Techniques for area estimation of VLSI layouts

The standard cell design style is investigated. Two probabilistic models are presented. The first model estimates the wiring space requirements in the routing channels between the cell rows. The second model estimates the number of feedthroughs that must be inserted in the cell rows to interconnect cells placed several rows apart. These models were implemented in the standard cell area estimation program PLEST (PLotting ESTimator). PLEST was used to estimate the areas of a set of 12 standard cell chips. In all cases, the estimates were accurate to within 10% of the actual areas. PLEST's estimation of a chip layout area takes only a few seconds to produce, as compared with more than 10 h to generate the chip layout itself using an industrial layout system. >
Maturation of potassium-stimulated respiration in rat cerebral cortical slices.

: Maximal dinitrophenol-stimulated respiration and K+-stimulated respiration were measured polarographically in cerebral cortical slices taken from rats aged 2–60 days. Increasing K+ concentrations produced an increase in respiration in slices from animals aged 15 days and older, but not in slices from animals aged 10 days and younger. Dinitrophenol-stimulated respiration, or the maximal respiratory capacity of the tissue, showed a similar increase between 10 and 15 days of age. At each age the maximal respiratory capacity was 6–8 ng at 0/mg protein min greater than the maximal K+-stimulated respiration.
The Role of Personalized Integrated Educational Systems in the Information-Age Paradigm of Education

Aslan and Reigeluth (2011) described a possible future period of educational computing as a “Personalized Computing Period” (p. 12). They described a potential educational technology system, PIES (Personalized Integrated Educational System), to support student learning in this period of educational computing, based on the major and secondary functions proposed by Reigeluth, Watson, Watson, Dutta, Chen, and Powell (2008) for the information-age paradigm of education. Major functions include record keeping for, planning for, instruction for, and assessment for/of student learning. Secondary functions include communication, general student data, school personnel information, and technology administration. In this qualitative research study, seven classroom teachers and one technology coordinator from three high schools were interviewed to reveal how they used their current technology systems with respect to the functions described by Reigeluth et al. (2008). The results revealed that there were discrepancies between the participants’ current use of the systems and the ideal use for the information-age paradigm of education. Based on the results, recommendations are offered to teachers, policy makers and technology system designers for better meeting students’ information-age educational needs.
HST/STIS imaging of Fomalhaut: New main belt structure and confirmation of Fomalhaut b 's eccentric orbit

High contrast imaging observations with the Hubble Space Telescope show that the nearby star Fomalhaut is surrounded by a dusty debris belt and a candidate planet, Fomalhaut b , located just inside the edge of the belt. Fomalhaut b has unexpected characteristics, such as a relatively blue spectrum, leading to the hypothesis that the detected object is a low-mass planet hosting a giant planetary dust ring or cloud seen in reflected light. Here we present new HST/STIS observations made in 2010 and 2012 that authenticate the existence of Fomalhaut b . Our MCMC analysis of four epochs of astrometry spread over eight years indicate that the orbit has a ~170 AU and e ~0.85. Fomalhaut b 's orbit is apsidally aligned with the main belt, and periapse is located approximately ~30 AU south of the star. We also show the existence of a ~50 AU wide azimuthal dust depletion in the dust belt. These new findings provide a revised picture of Fomalhaut as a dynamically complex system, where the orbit of Fomalhaut b and the belt structure signify the presence of additional massive planets orbiting the star.
Probabilistic Fatigue–Creep Life Prediction of Composites

In this paper, a continuum damage mechanics-based model is developed to model the damage evolution of composite materials subjected to fatigue and creep loading. A simulation-based procedure of probabilistic creep fatigue life prediction of composite materials is presented with the proposed damage accumulation model. Uncertainties in loading are considered through simulated random loading histories. Material properties are addressed as random variables to consider the uncertainties in materials. The proposed method is capable of considering the interaction effects between different loading levels and the interaction effect between creep and fatigue. The application of the damage accumulation model and the proposed method for probabilistic life prediction are illustrated with a numerical example.
Secure jam resistant key transfer: Using the DOD CAC card to secure a radio link by employing the BBC jam resistant algorithm

The demand for reliable secure wireless communication is constantly increasing especially within the Department of Defense. As wireless communications become more critical, the need to secure them increases as well. A theoretical approach to jam resistance without a pre-shared secret (BBC algorithm) was developed at the United States Air Force Academy that can enable radios to transfer keys in a jam resistant manner. This algorithm is theoretically proven to provide significant jam resistance, however it does not provide security. The DOD Common Access Card (CAC) can enable security without a pre-shared secret using public and private key pairs. This application combines the CAC card and BBC algorithm to provide a jam resistant secure method of generating and transporting a temporal symmetric key without the use of pre-shared keys. The application specifically contains a user friendly GUI for CAC card operations on the Linux platform to include reading Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Certificates, user authentication, and basic key management. It also contains the functions to transmit and receive public keys and encrypted symmetric keys using the BBC codec and the GNU Software Radio.
Reading sheet music facilitates sensorimotor mu-desynchronization in musicians

Abstract Objective Recent brain imaging studies have demonstrated that the human mirror system, in addition to becoming active while viewing the actions of others, also responds to abstract visual and auditory stimuli associated with specific actions. Here, we test the hypothesis that when musicians read sheet music an associated motor act is automatically recruited in the same way as when we observe the actions of others. Methods Using EEG, we measured event related desynchronization of the sensorimotor mu rhythm (mu-ERD) while musicians and non-musicians listened to music, observed movies of a musical instrument being played and observed a static image of the corresponding sheet music. Results Musicians showed significantly greater mu-ERD than non-musicians when observing sheet music and musical performances. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the human motor system aids in the process of perception and understanding by forming functional links between arbitrary, abstract percepts and associated acts. Significance This research uniquely adds to the existing body of literature by demonstrating that abstract images are capable of triggering an “action understanding” system when viewed by experts who have formed the appropriate visual-motor association.
Fiber-optic Fabry-Perot temperature sensor using a low-coherence light source

An interferometric fiber-optic sensor using a light-emitting diode (LED) as the optical source is analyzed and demonstrated. The sensor arrangement employs two Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs) in series, one for sensing and one which serves as a reference. The optical output from the LED is spectrally modulated by reflection from the sensing FPI. Then, reflection or transmission by the reference FPI produces an interferometric beat response similar to that observed when a laser is used with the sensing interferometer alone. Best fringe visibility is obtained when the optical path lengths of the two interferometers are matched, and the fringes disappear when the path length difference becomes substantially greater than the coherence length of the LED. >
Fixed point analysis for discrete-time recurrent neural networks

The author shows the existence of a fixed point for every recurrent neural network and uses a geometric approach to locate where the fixed points are. The stability is discussed for low-gain and high-gain situations. A generalized Hopfield saturation theorem is presented in a high gain situation for a discrete-time model version. >
How Americans Think about Trade: Reconciling Conflicts among Money, Power, and Principles

Trade has again emerged as a controversial issue in America, yet we know little about the ideas that guide American thinking on these questions. By combining traditional survey methods with experimental manipulation of problem content, this study explores the ideational landscape among elite Americans and pays particular attention to how elite Americans combine their ideas about commerce with their ideas about national security and social justice. We find that most American leaders think like intuitive neoclassical economists and that only a minority think along intuitive neorealist or Rawlsian lines. Among the mass public, in contrast, a majority make judgments like intuitive neorealists and intuitive Rawlsians. Although elite respondents see international institutions as promising vehicles in principle, in practice they favor exploiting America's advantage in bilateral bargaining power over granting authority to the World Trade Organization. The distribution of these ideas in America is not arrayed neatly along traditional ideological divisions. To understand the ideational landscape, it is necessary to identify how distinctive mental models-mercantilist, neorealist, egalitarian, and neoclassical economic-sensitize or desensitize people to particular aspects of geopolitical problems, an approach we call cognitive interactionism.
Quality Improvement within an Academic-Community Partnership

As many researchers know, accessing your targeted population is imperative when doing personcentered research. After moving to a new area of the country and accepting a faculty position at a local university, my first priority was gaining access to local nursing homes for my recently funded research study. With this in mind, I called and scheduled introductory meet-and-greet meetings at several local nursing homes. These meetings led to the 2011 formation of the Geriatric Interest Group of Spokane or GIGS.
Modeling and Simulation of Laser Processing of Particulate-Functionalized Materials

The objective of this paper is to focus on one of the “building blocks” of additive manufacturing technologies, namely selective laser-processing of particle-functionalized materials. Following a series of work in Zohdi (Int J Numer Methods Eng 53:1511–1532, 2002; Philos Trans R Soc Math Phys Eng Sci 361(1806):1021–1043, 2003; Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 193(6–8):679–699, 2004; Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 196:3927–3950, 2007; Int J Numer Methods Eng 76:1250–1279, 2008; Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 199:79–101, 2010; Arch Comput Methods Eng 1–17. doi: 10.1007/s11831-013-9092-6 , 2013; Comput Mech Eng Sci 98(3):261–277, 2014; Comput Mech 54:171–191, 2014; J Manuf Sci Eng ASME doi: 10.1115/1.4029327 , 2015; CIRP J Manuf Sci Technol 10:77–83, 2015; Comput Mech 56:613–630, 2015; Introduction to computational micromechanics. Springer, Berlin, 2008; Introduction to the modeling and simulation of particulate flows. SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics), Philadelphia, 2007; Electromagnetic properties of multiphase dielectrics: a primer on modeling, theory and computation. Springer, Berlin, 2012), a laser-penetration model, in conjunction with a Finite Difference Time Domain Method using an immersed microstructure method, is developed. Because optical, thermal and mechanical multifield coupling is present, a recursive, staggered, temporally-adaptive scheme is developed to resolve the internal microstructural fields. The time step adaptation allows the numerical scheme to iteratively resolve the changing physical fields by refining the time-steps during phases of the process when the system is undergoing large changes on a relatively small time-scale and can also enlarge the time-steps when the processes are relatively slow. The spatial discretization grids are uniform and dense enough to capture fine-scale changes in the fields. The microstructure is embedded into the spatial discretization and the regular grid allows one to generate a matrix-free iterative formulation which is amenable to rapid computation, with minimal memory requirements, making it ideal for laptop computation. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the modeling and simulation approach, which by design, is straightforward to computationally implement, in order to be easily utilized by researchers in the field. More advanced conduction models, based on thermal-relaxation, which are a key feature of fast-pulsing laser technologies, are also discussed.
The Effects of Cross-Linking in a Supramolecular Binder on Cycle Life in Silicon Microparticle Anodes

Self-healing supramolecular binder was previously found to enhance the cycling stability of micron-sized silicon particles used as the active material in lithium-ion battery anodes. In this study, we systematically control the density of cross-linking junctions in a modified supramolecular polymer binder in order to better understand how viscoelastic materials properties affect cycling stability. We found that binders with relaxation times on the order of 0.1 s gave the best cycling stability with 80% capacity maintained for over 175 cycles using large silicon particles (∼0.9 um). We attributed this to an improved balance between the viscoelastic stress relaxation in the binder and the stiffness needed to maintain mechanical integrity of the electrode. The more cross-linked binder showed markedly worse performance confirming the need for liquid-like flow in order for our self-healing polymer electrode concept to be effective.