cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Certification of standard reference material 1878b respirable α-quartz

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) certifies a suite of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) to address specific aspects of the performance of X-ray powder diffraction instruments. This report describes SRM 1878b, the third generation of this powder diffraction SRM. SRM 1878b is intended for use in the preparation of calibration standards for the quantitative analyses of α-quartz by X-ray powder diffraction in accordance to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Analytical Method 7500, or equivalent. A unit of SRM 1878b consists of approximately 5 g of α-quartz powder bottled in an argon atmosphere. It is certified with respect to crystalline phase purity, or amorphous phase content, and lattice parameter. Neutron powder diffraction, both time of flight and constant wavelength, was used to certify the phase purity using SRM 676a as an internal standard. A NIST-built diffractometer, incorporating many advanced design features was used for certification measurements for lattice parameters.
The influence of vermicompost water extracts on growth of plants propagated by cuttings

Water extracts from vermicomposts, commonly known as “teas,” contain plant available nutrients and plant growth regulators. Their applications on plants have shown to increase seed germination, pla...
Head of bed elevation in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective Head of bed (HOB) elevation to 30° after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become standard positioning across all age groups. This maneuver is thought to minimize the risk of elevated ICP in the hopes of decreasing cerebral blood and fluid volume and increasing cerebral venous outflow with improvement in jugular venous drainage. However, HOB elevation is based on adult population data due to a current paucity of pediatric TBI studies regarding HOB management. In this prospective study of pediatric patients with severe TBI, the authors investigated the role of different head positions on intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and cerebral venous outflow through the internal jugular veins (IJVs) on postinjury days 2 and 3 because these time periods are considered the peak risk for intracranial hypertension. Methods Patients younger than 18 years with a Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 8 after severe TBI were prospectively recruited at a single quaternary pediatric intensive care unit. All patients had an ICP monitor placed, and no other neurosurgical procedure was performed. On the 2nd and 3rd days postinjury, the degree of HOB elevation was varied between 0° (head-flat or horizontal), 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, and 50° while ICP, CPP, and bilateral IJV blood flows were recorded. Results Eighteen pediatric patients with severe TBI were analyzed. On each postinjury day, 13 of the 18 patients had at least 1 optimal HOB position (the position that simultaneously demonstrated the lowest ICP and the highest CPP). Six patients on each postinjury day had 30° as the optimal HOB position, with only 2 being the same patient on both postinjury days. On postinjury day 2, 3 patients had more than 1 optimal HOB position, while 5 patients did not have an optimal position. On postinjury day 3, 2 patients had more than 1 optimal HOB position while 5 patients did not have an optimal position. Interestingly, 0° (head-flat or horizontal) was the optimal HOB position in 2 patients on postinjury day 2 and 3 patients on postinjury day 3. The optimal HOB position demonstrated lower right IJV blood flow than a nonoptimal position on both postinjury days 2 (p = 0.0023) and 3 (p = 0.0033). There was no significant difference between optimal and nonoptimal HOB positions in the left IJV blood flow. Conclusions In pediatric patients with severe TBI, the authors demonstrated that the optimal HOB position (which decreases ICP and improves CPP) is not always at 30°. Instead, the optimal HOB should be individualized for each pediatric TBI patient on a daily basis.
Comparative Study on Protein-Rich Electrospun Fibers for in Vitro Applications.

Electrospinning is the leading technology to fabricate fibrous scaffolds that mimic the architecture of the extracellular matrix of natural tissues. In order to improve the biological response, a consolidated trend involves the blending of synthetic polymers with natural proteins to form protein-rich fibers that include selected biochemical cues able to more actively support in vitro cell interaction. In this study, we compared protein-rich fibers fabricated via electrospinning by the blending of poly e-caprolactone (PCL) with three different proteins, i.e., gelatin, zein, and keratin, respectively. We demonstrated that the peculiar features of the proteins used significantly influence the morphological properties, in terms of fiber size and distribution. Moreover, keratin drastically enhances the fiber hydrophilicity (water contact angle equal to 44.3° ± 3.9°) with positive effects on cell interaction, as confirmed by the higher proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) until 7 days. By contrast, gelatin and zein not equally contribute to the fiber wettability (water contact angles equal to 95.2° ± 1.2° and 76.3° ± 4.0°, respectively) due to morphological constraints, i.e., broader fiber diameter distribution ascribable to the non-homogeneous presence of the protein along the fibers, or chemical constrains, i.e., large amount of non-polar amino acids. According to in vitro experimental studies, which included SEM and confocal microscopy analyses and vitality assay, we concluded that keratin is the most promising protein to be combined with PCL for the fabrication of biologically instructive fibers for in vitro applications.
Juvenile social experience and practice have a switch‐like influence on adult mate preferences in an insect

Social causes of variation in animal communication systems have important evolutionary consequences, including speciation. The relevance of these effects depends on how widespread they are among animals. There is evidence for such effects not only in birds and mammals, but also frogs and some insects and spiders. Here we analyse the social ontogeny of adult mate preferences in an insect, Enchenopa treehoppers. In these communal plant-feeding insects, individuals reared in isolation or in groups differ in their mate preferences, and the group-reared phenotype can be rescued by playbacks to isolation-reared individuals. We ask about the relative role of signalling experience and signalling practice during ontogeny on the development of adult mating preferences in Enchenopa females. Taking advantage of variation in the signal experience and signalling practice of isolation-reared individuals, we find switch-like effects for experience and practice on female mate preference phenotypes, with individuals having some experience and practice as juveniles best rescuing the group-reared preference phenotype. We discuss how understanding the nature and distribution of social-ontogenetic causes of variation in mate preferences and other sexual traits will bring new insights into how within- and between-population variation influences the evolution of communication systems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Comparison of two human infant urine collection methods for measuring estrone-3-glucuronide.

OBJECTIVES Current human infant urine collection methods for the field are problematic for the researcher and potentially uncomfortable for the infant. In this study, we compared two minimally invasive methods for collecting infant urine: organic cotton balls and filter paper. MATERIALS AND METHODS We first collected urine from infants using the clean catch method. We then used those samples to compare the performance of filter paper and cotton ball collection protocols. We analyzed the clean catch and cotton samples using commercial estrone-3-glucuronide (E1G) kits and tried two different extraction methods for the filter paper. Using a paired t-test (n = 10), we compared clean catch and cotton samples. We also compared effect sizes within and between methods. RESULTS We were unable to extract enough urine from the filter paper to successfully assay the samples for E1G. The paired t-test revealed a statistically significant difference between the clean catch and cotton methods (t = 2.63, p-value = 0.03). However, the effect size was small (5.91 μg/ml, n = 10, 95% CI = 3.80, 8.02) and similar to or larger than the difference seen between duplicate wells for clean catch and cotton values. DISCUSSION While this study is limited by sample size, our results indicate that filter paper is not a field-friendly method for collecting infant urine. However, we found that organic cotton balls showed similar values to the clean catch method, and we propose this method as an alternative, minimally invasive method for study of E1G in human infant urine.
A Review of Ocular Drug Delivery Platforms and Drugs for Infectious and Noninfectious Uveitis: The Past, Present, and Future

Uveitis refers to a broad group of inflammatory disorders of the eye that often require medical and surgical management to improve or stabilize vision and prevent vision-threatening pathological changes to the eye. Drug delivery to the eye to combat inflammation and subsequent complications from uveitic conditions is complex as there are multiple barriers to absorption limiting availability of the needed drug in the affected tissues. As such, there has been substantial interest in developing new drugs and drug delivery platforms to help reduce intraocular inflammation and its complications. In this review, we discuss the challenges of drug delivery, novel technologies recently approved for uveitis patient care and promising drug delivery platforms for uveitis and sequelae of ocular inflammation.
Deep Ensemble Neural Network Approach for Federal Highway Administration Axle-Based Vehicle Classification Using Advanced Single Inductive Loops

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) vehicle classification scheme is designed to serve various transportation needs such as pavement design, emission estimation, and transportation planning. ...
Identifying bedrest using waist-worn triaxial accelerometers in preschool children.

Purpose To adapt and validate a previously developed decision tree for youth to identify bedrest for use in preschool children. Methods Parents of healthy preschool (3-6-year-old) children (n = 610; 294 males) were asked to help them to wear an accelerometer for 7 to 10 days and 24 hours/day on their waist. Children with ≥3 nights of valid recordings were randomly allocated to the development (n = 200) and validation (n = 200) groups. Wear periods from accelerometer recordings were identified minute-by-minute as bedrest or wake using visual identification by two independent raters. To automate visual identification, chosen decision tree (DT) parameters (block length, threshold, bedrest-start trigger, and bedrest-end trigger) were optimized in the development group using a Nelder-Mead simplex optimization method, which maximized the accuracy of DT-identified bedrest in 1-min epochs against synchronized visually identified bedrest (n = 4,730,734). DT's performance with optimized parameters was compared with the visual identification, commonly used Sadeh’s sleep detection algorithm, DT for youth (10-18-years-old), and parental survey of sleep duration in the validation group. Results On average, children wore an accelerometer for 8.3 days and 20.8 hours/day. Comparing the DT-identified bedrest with visual identification in the validation group yielded sensitivity = 0.941, specificity = 0.974, and accuracy = 0.956. The optimal block length was 36 min, the threshold 230 counts/min, the bedrest-start trigger 305 counts/min, and the bedrest-end trigger 1,129 counts/min. In the validation group, DT identified bedrest with greater accuracy than Sadeh’s algorithm (0.956 and 0.902) and DT for youth (0.956 and 0.861) (both P<0.001). Both DT (564±77 min/day) and Sadeh’s algorithm (604±80 min/day) identified significantly less bedrest/sleep than parental survey (650±81 min/day) (both P<0.001). Conclusions The DT-based algorithm initially developed for youth was adapted for preschool children to identify time spent in bedrest with high accuracy. The DT is available as a package for the R open-source software environment (“PhysActBedRest”).
Engineering Professionalism—A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Rigorous and adequate education of future engineers that is practice-oriented will be needed if all engineers are to be accepted as professionals dedicated to societal service. The public then will have the utmost confidence in their technical competence, particularly if they assume a leadership role. But society cannot wait. Technology is accelerating too fast. A rededication to morals and professional ethics, as well as a willingness to maintain technical currency, will be required. Not all will try. Some will not be capable. Those who can will have to work that much harder. If all of these “pros” do protect the public interest at all costs, they all will be accorded the stature some of us have sought for all of our number but never quite achieved. Such stature might be obtained sooner and society benefited more if all of these “pros” would contract for their services to corporate or governmental entities and cease working as employees seeking more security and fringe benefits.
MEASURING PILE DEFLECTIONS WITH INCLINOMETER

As part of an extensive study of the resistance to lateral loads of piles in pile groups, a series of full-scale tests was conducted. The selected test site was representative of field conditions that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation encountered during design/construction of bridges. The purpose of this note is to report on their experience in measuring the lateral displacements of the piles with an inclinometer that the Slope Indicator Company supplied. Based on the reported results, inclinometers of currently available sensitivity appear unsuitable for measuring lateral displacements of piles in the field where multiple piles are joined by rigid caps.
Selective pathways of innate immune responses of heart and kidney during angiotensin II hypertension (857.1)

Angiotensin II (AngII) infusion induces cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension through pro-inflammatory gene expression in heart and kidney. Because cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension may be uncoup...
Reversión de polarización, ciudades secundarias y eficiencia en el desarrollo nacional: una visión teórica aplicada al Brasil contemporáneo

This article examines the relationship between urban concentration and efficiency in national economic growth. More specifically, it analyses the phenomena of urban agglomeration and polarization reversal and the role of secondary cities in the development process. A theoretical discussion of these issues is followed by a brief empirical review of the recent Brazilian experience with regard to urbanization, industrial descentralization, and the increasing importance of intermediate cities.
Decay of the first isobaric analog state in 69Ge.

The alpha-decay branching ratio for the lowest isobaric analog state in /sup 69/Ge has been measured to be less than 1.0 x 10/sup -2/. Transitions to this level contribute significantly to the cross section for the capture of high-energy neutrinos by /sup 69/Ga. Since the analog state decays almost exclusively by gamma-ray emission, induced /sup 69/Ge radioactivity may be used for the detection of high-energy neutrinos in large-scale gallium neutrino detectors.
Handling stress initially inhibits, but then potentiates yawning in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

In mammals, yawning is associated with social and physiological stress, as well as thermoregulation, but little is known about why yawning occurs in stressful contexts or how it is integrated with natural stressors. To investigate the stress sensitivity of yawning in birds, we exposed budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) to a handling stressor that simulated a predatory encounter. Each bird was captured, gently held for 4 min, and then released and videotaped for 1 h (experimental). On a separate day (±24 h), the undisturbed animal was videotaped for 1 h (control). The relationship between handling-induced yawning and body temperature was assessed in a separate experiment, in which the underwing temperatures of the same birds were measured at 1 min intervals during a 4 min holding period. After handling stress, yawning frequency was initially suppressed, then sharply increased within 20 min. Underwing temperature increased during handling, and individuals’ final temperatures at minute 4 were negatively correlated with their latencies to yawn after handling. Thus, stress-induced hyperthermia may be responsible for associations between yawns and stress. These results indicate that yawning may offer a sensitive, noninvasive measure of stress in birds.
Multiple voices and multiple media: Co-constructing BP's crisis response

This article explores the impact of new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the field of crisis communication, and argues that the term “crisis response” needs to be re-conceptualized in order to include the polyvocality of crisis response enabled by online media. This article deconstructs the crisis response to the British Petroleum (BP) Oil Spill from organizational, media, and stakeholder perspectives. Using semantic network analysis, linguistic maps of news articles, press releases, BP Facebook posts, and stakeholder Facebook posts were created to detect the core messages of each group and to determine the roles that source and media play in creating crisis response. Findings support the idea that both source and media contribute to the overall crisis narrative, emphasizing the importance of online media in both organizational and stakeholder response. This study offers insight into the emotional contributions of stakeholder response to the overall crisis narrative, as well as, suggests a new element of dialogic communication called inter-media dialog.
Co-crystallization of Two Tautomers: Crystal Structure of Isocytosine

DURING the course of investigations on the crystal structures of purines, pyrimidines and related compounds, we have determined the crystal structure of isocytosine and, in so doing, have uncovered an example of two different tautomeric forms of the same molecule co-crystallizing in a 1 : 1 ratio. The two tautomeric molecules of isocytosine are hydrogen-bonded to one another in a manner analogous to the pairing proposed by Watson and Crick for DNA1.
Ultrastructure of mitosis in Diplonema ambulator larsen and patterson (euglenozoa).

Summary The fine structural features of mitosis are described in a small biflagellated phagotrophic protist, Diplonema ambulator. Flagella replicate early in mitosis and move to opposite sides of the nucleus where they remain lateral to the spindle poles. An array of microtubules diverge from two foci located on opposite sides of the nucleus adjacent to the nuclear envelope. At metaphase, the chromosomes compact and align to form a distinct ring around the elongating nucleolus. The chromosomal plates then separate and move towards the poles followed by elongation of the nucleus. By telophase, the nucleus and nucleolus assume a dumbbell-shape. Constriction of the nuclear envelope around the chromosomal masses cleaves the nucleolus and produces the daughter nuclei. The nuclear envelope and nucleolus persist through mitosis. A comparison of the ultrastructural features of mitosis in Diplonema with that found in the euglenoids, the group with which they are believed to be most closely related, reveals marked differences.
Dueling Jackpots: Are Competing Lotto Games Complements or Substitutes?

This paper considers the relationship that exists between two lottery products offered simultaneously in the same state, a smaller lottery game run by the individual state and a larger multi-state game run in coordination with other states. The primary issue is whether the two different products should be considered substitutes or complements for one another. The question is considered from two different perspectives that lead to a conclusion that while the two products do tend to be complements to one another, overall the individually run state lottery games experience a reduction in sales from the presence of the multi-state game.
Proving properties of typed l-terms using realizability, covers, and sheaves

Abstract The main purpose of this paper is to take apart the reducibility method in order to understand how its pieces fit together, and in particular, to recast the conditions on candidates of reducibility as sheaf conditions. There has been a feeling among experts on this subject that it should be possible to present the reducibility method using more semantic means, and that a deeper understanding would then be gained. This paper gives mathematical substance to this feeling, by presenting a generalization of the reducibility method based on a semantic notion of realizability which uses the notion of a cover algebra (as in abstract sheaf theory). A key technical ingredient is the introduction of a new class of semantic structures equipped with preorders, called pre-applicative structures. These structures need not be extensional. In this framework, a general realizability theorem can be shown. Kleene's recursive realizability and a variant of Kreisel's modified realizability both fit into this framework. We are then able to prove a metatheorem which shows that if a property of realizers satisfies some simple conditions, then it holds for the semantic interpretations of all terms. Applying this theorem to the special case of the term model, yields a general theorem for proving properties of typed λ-terms, in particular, strong normalization and confluence. This approach clarifies the reducibility method by showing that the closure conditions on candidates of reducibility can be viewed as sheaf conditions. The above approach is applied to the simply-typed λ-calculus (with types →, ×, +, and ⊥), and to the second-order (polymorphic) λ-calculus (with types → and ∀2), for which it yields a new theorem.
530 GENE FREQUENCIES FOR TAY-SACHS (TSD) AND SANDHOFF'S DIS-530 EASE (SD) IN JEWISH AND NONJEWISH POPULATIONS

Since 1974, 40,012 individuals have volunteered for TSD heterozygote screening in Ca.. Of these, 6,795 are “nonJewish”. With an automated serum hexosaminidase (HEX) assay, a tri-variable analysis is possible: Total HEX activity (TA) ; % HEX A (56°); and nanomoles HEX A (nM): TA × %A. Genotype assignment is based on: Suspect SD carriers (serum TA 75) and TSD heterozygotes (%A < 50; nM A <420) are confirmed by WBC testing and family studies. The SD gene has been identified in 20 families in this way (4 Jewish). In Jews the gene frequency for TSD is 0.0167 (1:30 carriers) and for SD is 6.0 × 10−5 (1:8304 carriers). In “nonJews” the TSD gene frequency is 0.0035 (1:141 carriers) and for SD, 0.0012 (1:425 carriers). These data provide the first direct approximations of the gene frequencies for TSD and SD in the Jewish and nonJewish populations. Because of possible nonrandomness in the sample and ancestral uncertainties, these figures should be viewed as reasonable estimates only. Similar analyses with sera from obligate heterozygotes for I-Cell Disease and Mucolipidosis III may allow carrier frequency estimates for these recessive alleles in these populations as well.
Some Ramsey–Turán type problems and related questions

Abstract In this paper the following Ramsey–Turan type problem is one of several addressed. For which graphs G does there exist a constant 0 c 1 such that when H is a graph of order the Ramsey number r ( G ) with δ ( H ) > c | H | , then any 2-edge coloring of H contains a monochromatic copy of G ? Specific results, conjectures, and questions with suggested values for c are considered when G is an odd cycle, path, or tree of limited maximum degree. Another variant is to 2-edge color a replacement for the graph K r ( G ) by a balanced multipartite graph of approximately the same order with the same consequence, a monochromatic G .
High frequency, high volume ventilation for right ventricular assist.

During ventilation, the lungs may serve as accessory pumps for forward blood flow. 1 , 2 We have noted significant hemodynamic improvement in several patients during short periods of vigorous hand ventilation with the Ambu bag and tried to reproduce the hemodynamic improvement in the management of four patients with profound low cardiac output syndrome secondary to right ventricular (RV) failure following open heart surgery. High frequency, high volume (HFHV) ventilation resulted in improved hemodynamics in these patients, as evidenced by pulsatile pulmonary blood flow and increased cardiac output. Right-sided stroke work was present and there was a fall in mean central venous pressure (CVP) and rise in mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP).
Naturally Oxidized FeCo as a Magnetic Coupling Layer for Electrically Isolated Read/Write Paths in mLogic

Recently, a nonvolatile, low power circuit scheme based on current-induced domain wall motion and perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions known as mLogic has been proposed that requires electrically isolated, magnetically coupled read and write paths. Here, we suggest naturally oxidized FeCo for the magnetic coupling layer. Relevant properties of the FeCo-oxide were evaluated by a preliminary investigation of [FeCo/FeCo-Oxide]N artificial superlattices. It is found that FeCo thin films form an insulating 11 Å passivating oxide layer with a magnetization of 500 emu/cc. Experimental measurements show that FeCo-oxide can couple two perpendicular FeCoB layers with a coupling strength greater than 0.35 ergs/cm2.
Therapy and clinical trials.

Early 2010 was notable for the publication of two studies examining adjunctive therapy to statins in patients at high cardiovascular risk. Despite significant risk reduction with statins, evidence suggests considerable, residual cardiovascular risk in statin-treated patients [1–3]. In light of this, investigators of both the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Lipid Trial (ACCORD Lipid) [4 ] and the Arterial Biology for the Investigation of the Treatment Effects of Reducing Cholesterol: HDL and LDL Treatment Strategies in Atherosclerosis study (ARBITER 6-HALTS) [5 ] explored the efficacy of add-on therapy.
Synthesis of ruthenium dioxide-titanium dioxide aerogels : Redistribution of electrical properties on the nanoscale

High-surface area RuO2−TiO2 is an important material for catalytic and power source technologies. To create this mixed oxide as a nanoscale, high-surface-area material, we have synthesized electrically conductive aerogels of RunTi1-nOx via sol−gel chemistry and supercritical drying of the resulting gel. The structural and electrical properties of these aerogels are characterized after annealing using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface-area measurements, and impedance spectroscopy. Their properties are affected by the nature of the RuCl3 precursor and the initial sol-gel chemistry. Whereas bulk 32 mol % RuO2·TiO2 is an electronic conductor, a dominant ionic response is measured in the impedance of Ru0.32Ti0.68Ox aerogels. This impedance is ascribed to a proton conduction mechanism associated primarily with the hydrous surface of the RuOx component. The electrical conductivity of these Ru0.32Ti0.68Ox aerogels at 25 °C increases from 10-4 S cm-1 in ambient air to 10-2 S cm-1 under a...
Stomatal Patterning and Differentiation by Synergistic Interactions of Receptor Kinases

Coordinated spacing and patterning of stomata allow efficient gas exchange between plants and the atmosphere. Here we report that three ERECTA (ER)-family leucine-rich repeat-receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) together control stomatal patterning, with specific family members regulating the specification of stomatal stem cell fate and the differentiation of guard cells. Loss-of-function mutations in all three ER-family genes cause stomatal clustering. Genetic interactions with a known stomatal patterning mutant too many mouths (tmm) revealed stoichiometric epistasis and combination-specific neomorphism. Our findings suggest that the negative regulation of ER-family RLKs by TMM, which is an LRR receptor-like protein, is critical for proper stomatal differentiation.
Isoelectric focusing of immunoglobulins: Improved methodology

Conditions for isoelectric focusing and detecting antibodies in thin layers of polyacrylamide have been evaluated and several improvements have been made. First, we have developed a simple method for covalently attaching the polyacrylamide gel to the glass support which improves the mechanical stability of the gel and removes the need for protein subbed plates. This in turn leads to decreased electroendosmosis and decreased background protein staining. Secondly, we have applied the methods of Nguyen and Chrambach (1977a,b), in which amino acid solutions are used as electrodes, to focus immunoglobulins. This has eliminated cathodic drift and resulted in extremely stable pH gradients. Finally, we have found that conventional methods for detecting focused antibodies that rely on protein cross-linking before exposure to antigen often lead to distortion of the focusing patterns. Both glutaraldehyde and suberimidate destroy the antigen binding capacity of some antibodies at concentrations too low for complete fixation of protein bands. These fixation artifacts are avoided if salt-precipitated antibodies are exposed to radiolabeled antigen before fixation.
Morphology of Polythiophene and Polyphenyl Films Produced via Surface Polymerization by Ion-Assisted Deposition†

Conducting polymer films are grown by either mass-selected or non-mass-selected, hyperthermal thiophene ions coincident on a surface with a thermal beam of organic monomers of either α-terthiophene (3T) or p-terphenyl (3P) neutrals. Previous experiments verified polymerization of both 3T and 3P by 200 eV C4H4S+ during surface polymerization by ion-assisted deposition (SPIAD). A wide variety of structures are observed by scanning electron microscopy to form in the SPIAD polythiophene and polyphenyl films. These structures include microscale islands, lamellar structures, fractal-like growth patterns, and nanoscale crystallites. Some of the deposited films diffract X-rays while others show electron micrographs of crystallites. The variation of these patterns with deposition conditions clearly indicate that ion-induced polymerization mediates film morphology through control of ion energy and ion/neutral ratio. Furthermore, these ion-assisted events mediate important thermal processes such as sublimation.
Do Habitat Characteristics Influence American Alligator Occupancy of Barrier Islands in North Carolina

Abstract The geographic range of Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) extends to North Carolina, where information on populations is limited. In North Carolina, American Alligators are found near the coast, but typically not on the extensive barrier-island chain known as the Outer Banks. The goal of our study was to determine if habitat varied among sites occupied by American Alligators on islands—the Outer Banks and Roanoke Island—and sites on the adjacent mainland. Water depth, variance in water depth, turbidity, salinity, conductance, and pH varied among sites on Roanoke Island from sites on the mainland (P = 0.008) and the Outer Banks (P = 0.001). However, sites on the mainland and the Outer Banks were similar (P = 0.536). Ultimately, American Alligators may access the Outer Banks and find suitable habitat, but to date, little research has examined American Alligator habitat use in this portion of its geographic range; long-term occupancy is probably limited by of the effects of human distu...
X‐RAY LASER RESEARCH: GUIDELINES AND PROGRESS AT THE NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY*

Among the proposals for attaining net positive gain in the soft x-ray region, there are five basic processes (photoionization, electron collisional excitation, charge transfer, dielectronic capture, and recombination) for which sufficiently simple formulations exist to attempt a wavelength projection of the necessary pumping conditions. Two particular approaches are described as examples, with emphasis on current results in both numerical modeling and experiments. (MHR)
Tension-type headache and women: do sex hormones influence tension-type headache?

Most of the world’s population has suffered from a tension-type headache (TTH) at some point in their lives. The pathophysiology of this disease is not well understood, but TTH shares many features with migraine, leading to the belief that TTH and migraine may be on different ends of the same disease spectrum. There are many shared triggers between migraine and TTH, menstruation being one of them. Does menses being a trigger for TTH make TTH more like migraine, or does the role of sex hormones in TTH give us insight into the unique pathophysiology of this disease? This article will review TTH, concentrating on the role of sex hormones as a trigger for TTH.
Establishment and Characterization of Primary Gallbladder Epithelial Cell Cultures in the Prairie Dog

Abstract Background. The prairie dog has become the established animal gallstone model. This species has a unique propensity to form cholesterol gallstones in response to dietary manipulations. The development of a reliable gallbladder cell culture technique is critical for understanding pathogenic mechanisms of gallstone formation. Materials and methods. Prairie dogs underwent laparotomy and cholecystectomy, followed by initiation of cell cultures. [ 3 H]Thymidine incorporation was used to assess cell growth, and cell lines were assessed using routine histochemical and immunohistochemical staining. Results. Cell yields from prairie dog gallbladders were 4–8 × 10 6 viable cells per animal with viability ranging from 80 to 95%. When plated at 5 × 10 5 cells/cm 2 , cell clusters, visible within 24 h, coalesced into confluent monolayers within 3–5 days. Cultures remained viable for 6–8 weeks and could be passed for three to four subcultures. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated a high degree of epithelial purity with immunopositivity for AE1/AE3, and cytokeratin, with no vimentin positivity (mesenchymal antigen). Intracytoplasmic vacuoles demonstrated positive staining for Alcian blue, periodic acid–Schiff, and mucicarmine and an anti-gallbladder mucin antibody confirmed the presence of the glycoprotein mucin. Conclusions. This study demonstrates a reliable method for initiation and maintenance of prairie dog gallbladder epithelial cell cultures with a high degree of purity. This technique should allow further studies into the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones in this model.
K-edge x-ray absorption spectra in an octahedral environment. A theoretical and experimental study of Mo(CO) 6

We report measurements of the $K$-edge photoabsorption spectrum of the octahedral complex Mo${(\mathrm{CO})}_{6}$ and a theoretical calculation of this spectrum using the self-consistent-field $X\ensuremath{\alpha}$ multiple-scattered-wave approach. Two strong absorption peaks near threshold are shown to lie in the continuum region of the spectrum and to be of "shape resonance" character.
Transient and asymptotic stability of granular shear flow

The linear stability of granular material in an unbounded uniform shear flow is considered. Linearized equations of motion derived from kinetic theories are used to arrive at a linear initial-value problem for the perturbation quantities. Two cases are investigated: (a) wavelike disturbances with time constant wavenumber vector, and (b) disturbances that will change their wave structure in time owing to a shear-induced tilting of the wavenumber vector. In both cases, the stability analysis is based on the solution operator whose norm represents the maximum possible amplification of initial perturbations. Significant transient growth is observed which has its origin in the non-normality of the involved linear operator. For case (a), regions of asymptotic instability are found in the two-dimensional wavenumber plane, whereas case (b) is found to be asymptotically stable for all physically meaningful parameter combinations. Transient linear stability phenomena may provide a viable and fast mechanism to trigger finite-amplitude effects, and therefore constitute an important part of pattern formation in rapid particulate flows.
Outcomes and predictors of reintervention in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum treated with radiofrequency perforation and balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Radiofrequency perforation and valvuloplasty (RFV) is an effective initial treatment in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) and mild to moderate right ventricle and tricuspid valve hypoplasia. Outcomes and risk factors for the need for additional interventions in these patients are poorly defined. All patients with PA-IVS who underwent RFV at our center between January 2000 and July 2011 were reviewed. Twenty-three patients met the inclusion criteria. All patients underwent successful valvuloplasty with no procedural deaths and one major complication. Excluding two patients with limited follow-up, 6 (29 %) patients underwent no subsequent interventions, whereas 9 (42 %) patients underwent surgical right-ventricular outflow tract augmentation. All except one patient with adequate follow-up have a biventricular circulation with saturation >92 %. Patients who did not undergo any right-ventricular outflow tract intervention after valvuloplasty had a significantly lower gradient across the pulmonary valve after valvuloplasty (9.9 mmHg ± 8.4 vs. 19.1 mmHg ± 10.4, p = 0.05). Significantly more patients who received a supplemental source of pulmonary blood flow had a tricuspid valve z-score <−0.7 compared with patients who did not receive supplemental blood flow [2 (15 %) vs. 7 (70 %), p = 0.008]. In our cohort of patients with PA-IVS, radiofrequency perforation with valvuloplasty was an effective and safe first step in establishing a biventricular circulation. Postvalvuloplasty pulmonary valve gradient may be predictive of subsequent outflow tract intervention, and tricuspid hypoplasia may be predictive of the need for a supplemental source of pulmonary blood flow.
Vertical deformation measurements on the submerged south flank of Kīlauea volcano, Hawai'i reveal seafloor motion associated with volcanic collapse

[1] A four-year seafloor geodetic study was conducted to measure vertical deformation of the submerged south flank of Kīlauea volcano on the active Hilina slump. The Hilina slump is a site of significant deformation, major earthquakes with ground cracking and associated tsunami. A new technique was developed to measure vertical deformation on the seafloor using pressure sensors in campaign-style surveys. The data revealed the midslope bench of the offshore slump is uplifting at 9.0 ± 2.4 cm/a, but transitions to no significant deformation on the outer bench and slump toe. Elastic half-space inverse modeling of these data show that the observed deformation can be fit by seaward slip of 28.1 ± 7.3 cm/a extending from the East rift zone 27.0 ± 0.5 km on a gently island-dipping decollement fault plane at a depth of approximately 7 km. Modeling suggests that the outer bench is not currently deforming. Because the majority of Kīlauea is submerged, these offshore measurements are necessary to constrain the seaward extent of fault slip and the motion of the outer bench.
Depth data calibration and enhancement of time-of-flight video-plus-depth camera

In this paper, we present a method to calibrate and enhance depth information captured by an infrared (IR)-based time-of-flight video-plus-depth camera called “Kinect camera”. For depth data calibration, we use color and IR images of a chessboard with on-off halogen light sources to calculate camera parameters of the video and IR sensors in the Kinect camera. For depth data enhancement, we introduce weighted joint bilateral filtering based on distance transform of the color and depth images. Experimental results show that our method calibrates the video and depth sensors successfully and reduces the noise in captured depth images efficiently.
On the need for spectroscopic data in ultraviolet stellar spectral synthesis calculations

A general discussion of the quality of spectroscopic data for ultraviolet (less than 3000 A) spectral synthesis calculations is presented. It is pointed out that progress in the generation of complete and accurate lists of atomic lines, and in the computation and measurement of accurate transition probabilities of the spectra of many elements is lagging behind current and near-term observational capabilities. Theoretical syntheses of the line profiles in the spectra of three middle-to-late B type stars (Pi Cet, 134 Tau, and vCap) are computed. The computations are found to be complicated and ambiguous due to the low accuracy of the oscillator strengths used in the analysis. Some characteristics of star-to-star variations in elemental abundances are discussed.
Oil Red as a histochemical stain for natural fibers and plant cuticle

Abstract Properties of natural fibers are influenced by the nature of their surface. Oil Red was evaluated as a histochemical stain for the waxy components on the surface of cotton and flax fibers and of plant cuticles. A positive reaction for arachidyl stearate and differential staining of fibers after sequential extraction of fatty acids and alcohols indicated that Oil Red stained wax components in plant materials. For cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers, Oil Red stained to a greater extent the regions closest to the seed coat, especially at points where fibers attached to the seed coat. Fiber regions at a distance from the seed coats stained irregularly, suggesting that the wax was unevenly distributed. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) bast fibers, in contrast, did not stain with Oil Red, but the protective stem cuticle was intensely stained. The positive histochemical reaction for cuticle identified non-fiber fragments in processed and cleaned flax fibers, thus providing a quick method to detect visually trash components in fiber and products. Likewise, bast fibers from kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) did not stain well with Oil Red, whereas the stem cuticle gave a positive reaction. The general usefulness of Oil Red as a histochemical stain for the plant cuticle was demonstrated in leaves and stems of mature corn (Zea mays) and fresh bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) leaves. Oil Red provides a quick, qualitative histochemical method to demonstrate the wax-containing cuticle in plants.
Measuring Power Consumption on IBM Blue Gene/Q

In addition to pushing what is possible computationally, state-of-the-art supercomputers are also pushing what is acceptable in terms of power consumption. Despite hardware manufacturers researching and developing efficient system components (e.g., processor, memory, etc.), the power consumption of a complete system remains an understudied research area. Because of the complexity and unpredictable workloads of these systems, estimating the power consumption of a full system is a nontrivial task.In this paper, we provide system-level power usage and temperature analysis of early access to Argonne's latest generation of IBM Blue Gene supercomputers, the Mira Blue Gene/Q system. The analysis is provided from the point of view of jobs running on the system. We describe the important implications these system level measurements have as well as the challenges they present. Using profiling code on benchmarks, we will also look at the new tools this latest generation of supercomputer provides and gauge their usefulness and how well they match up against the environmental data.
Equilibrium unemployment in the presence of different skill levels in two different regions: Mexico versus Egypt

Unemployment rates increase with the level of education of the group surveyed in several developing countries. The goal of this paper is to provide a theoretical framework to study the determinants of this phenomenon. The model I present uses unemployment as a punishment device to force workers to perform well at work. The crucial assumption is that more educated workers can perform tasks that do not require much education and they chose to do so in the absence of unemployment insurance. This makes the threat of unemployment less harsh for educated workers and forces employers to decrease demand of educated employees in order to increase the punishment for them. I argue that this is a reasonable assumption to make in the case of two specific cases: Mexico and Egypt.
A comprehensive analysis of verbal fluency deficit in geriatric schizophrenia

Abstract Deficits in verbal fluency are common in schizophrenia and may provide keys to some of the abnormalities in the semantic system in schizophrenia. While a number of studies have outlined the severity and implications of verbal fluency deficits in younger schizophrenia patients, these findings have not yet been extended to older patients with schizophrenia. In this study, 392 older (age≥50) patients with schizophrenia were administered phonological and semantic (i.e., category) fluency examinations, as well as tests of learning, memory, language, and praxic skills, and rated for clinical symptoms and functional status. When compared to normative standards, 82% of the patients were impaired in semantic fluency and 83% were impaired in phonological fluency. Both semantic and phonological fluency impairment were significantly correlated with other cognitive variables, total scores on the functional status measure, and with the social and self-care subscales. Scores were uncorrelated with the severity of psychosis, but were correlated with the severity of negative symptoms. Furthermore, the severity of poverty of speech (a clinical measure of verbal underproductivity) was moderate in magnitude and failed to enter as a predictor of verbal fluency, indicating that impaired fluency scores are not simply an artifact of general underproductivity or mutism. The findings support conclusions from studies with younger schizophrenia patients that suggest that verbal fluency impairment is a consequence of a disorganized semantic system. Verbal fluency impairment remains common and functionally relevant in schizophrenia patients in late life.
Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Propylcyclohexane

As part of a large-scale thermophysical property measurement project, the decomposition kinetics of propylcyclohexane was investigated. Decomposition reactions were performed at 375, 400, 425, and 450 °C in stainless steel ampule reactors. At each temperature, the extent of decomposition was determined as a function of time by gas chromatography. These data were used to derive first-order rate constants for the decomposition of propylcyclohexane. Decomposition rate constants ranged from 3.66 × 10−7 s−1 at 375 °C to 8.63 × 10−5 s−1 at 450 °C. Among other things, these rate constants are useful for planning property measurements at high temperatures. Based on the amount of time required for 1% of the sample to decompose (t0.01), we found that allowable instrument residence times ranged from about 8 h at 375 °C to about 2 min at 450 °C. The kinetic data were also used to determine Arrhenius parameters of A = 2.56 × 1016 s−1 and Ea = 283 kJ·mol−1. In addition to the decomposition kinetics, we have also done a...
Heterocycles from substituted amides. VI. A new carbostyril synthesis from alpha‐substituted acetamides and the vilsmeier reagent

Reaction of tertiary α-substituted acetanilides with Vilsmeier reagent has been found to give 1,3-disubstituted-carbostyrils, 1. α-Chloro-N-(1-cyclohexen-1-yl) acetamides are similarly converted to tetrahydro carbostyrils 2 and 3. The method appears useful for the preparation of a variety of 1,3-substituted 2(1H) quinolinones. The scope and mechanism of the reaction has been investigated, with evidence presented to indicate the ring-closure proceeds via electrophilic attack of Vilsmeier reagent on intermediate chlorenamine.