cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of stoichiometry on stretched premixed flames

Abstract Within the framework of slowly varying flames we derive an equation for the burning rate of a flame in a strained flow field under near-stoichiometric conditions. Our expression exhibits a nonlinear dependence of flame speed on the strain rate and depends on the mixture’s equivalence ratio as well as two distinct Lewis numbers, corresponding to the fuel and oxidant. For a strained flame, the rate at which a given reactant reaches the reaction zone is strongly affected by its molecular diffusivity. We demonstrate that it is possible for the reactant which is initially in excess to be entirely consumed by the reaction, while the initially deficient reactant leaks through. This is shown to have important implications on the extinction characteristics of the flame. We calculate burning velocities using parameter values typical of several hydrocarbon–air and hydrogen–air mixtures and show that our predictions are in good agreement with experimental results.
Role of volume fraction in the coarsening of Ni3Si precipitates in binary NiSi alloys

The coarsening behavior of coherent γ′ (Ni3Si) precipitates in binary NiSi alloys containing 5.50–5.93 wt.%Si was investigated at an aging temperature of 650°C. Over this range of concentrations the volume fractions ƒγ′ vary from approximately 0.015 to 0.081. The kinetics of coarsening and the distributions of particle sizes appear to be independent of volume fraction for ƒγ′ = 0.050, 0.058 and 0.081, but semiquantitative evidence was found for anomalously rapid coarsening kinetics when ƒγ′ = 0.018. The larger precipitates in the more dilute alloys exhibit concave-cuboidal morphologies and in some instances were observed in the process of splitting into groups of eight new particles. These morphologies were also attained under even smaller supersaturations than those experienced during normal isothermal aging, i.e. in a microstructure produced by a double-aging experiment. This suggests to us that the morphologies in question are not a product of dendritic growth. These rather unexpected results indicate that the role of elastic energy in affecting morphology and coarsening kinetics may be more important than previously suspected, since the Ni3Si-matrix lattice misfit is smaller than in any other binary Ni-base alloy. There is also evidence, based on our results and data in the literature, that the coarsening kinetics might increase with increasing ƒγ′ at volume fractions exceeding 0.10; this is more in keeping with the kind of behavior expected theoretically.
The Consequences of Conflict: An Evaluation of Racial Disparity and Organizational Performance

The study of public administration is based primarily on two schools of thought; some theorists espousing political control with others supporting the inner check. Heretofore, studies have failed to examine the effects of goal conflict on relationships between political principals and bureaucratic agents. Using Texas school districts, this analysis demonstrates that goal conflict has significant effects on student performance. Goal conflict also influences relationships among school boards, teachers, and school district populations. Overall, this study advances the discipline in that it determines the ramifications of goal conflict for political principals, bureaucracies, and the public being served utilizing the most common form of bureaucracy, school districts. The arguments and implications embedded in this analysis speak to the age-old public administration question of how to reconcile bureaucracy with democracy.
NASA spinoffs to bioengineering and medicine.

Through the active transfer of technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Technology Utilization (TU) Program assists private companies, associations, and government agencies to make effective use of NASA's technological resources to improve U.S. economic competitiveness and to provide societal benefit. Aerospace technology from areas such as digital image processing, space medicine and biology, microelectronics, optics and electrooptics, and ultrasonic imaging have found many secondary applications in medicine. Examples of technology spinoffs are briefly discussed to illustrate the benefits realized through adaptation of aerospace technology to solve health care problems. Successful implementation of new technologies increasingly requires the collaboration of industry, universities, and government, and the TU Program serves as the liaison to establish such collaborations with NASA. NASA technology is an important resource to support the development of new medical products and techniques that will further advance the quality of health care available in the U.S. and worldwide.
Simulation and optimization of phase-shift masks for dense contact patterns with i-line illumination

Several phase shift mask designs such as subresolution type, subresolution alternating type, outrigger type, and rim type for contact hole patterning were theoretically and experimentally evaluated in terms of their lithography performance. The various designed layouts which have the phase regions of manifold dimensions were simulated with lower coherent factor ((sigma) equals 0.3) and higher coherent factor ((sigma) equals 0.62). The detailed evaluation was made in terms of the log slope of the log image at nominal feature edge and side lobe effect of the intensity profile.
Silica microspheres are superior to polystyrene for microvesicle analysis by flow cytometry

Abstract Background Cell-derived microvesicles (MVs) in biological fluids are studied for their potential role in pathological conditions. Flow cytometry is used to characterize MVs. Polystyrene microspheres are often used in flow cytometry to distinguish MV from cells by setting a 1-μm MV gate in a side-scatter (SSC) vs. forward-scatter (FSC) dot plot. Polystyrene microspheres, however, exhibit higher FSC and SSC than MVs of equal size. Consequently, some platelets are included within the MV gate, which incorrectly increases the reported percentage of platelet-derived MVs. Silica microspheres exhibit FSC that is closer to that of cellular vesicles and, therefore, should permit more accurate discrimination of MV from platelets. Objective Compare silica with polystyrene microspheres to calibrate flow cytometers for definition of MV population and estimation of MV sizes. Methods Silica and polystyrene microspheres of various sizes were used in flow cytometry assays to define MV populations and determine platelet and MV sizes in human plasma samples. Sizes determined by flow cytometry were compared to sizes determined by resistive pulse sensing (RPS) method. Results/Conclusion Use of 1.0-μm polystyrene microspheres to define the upper MV gate produced a median platelet contamination of 16.53% (8.24, 20.98) of the MV population; whereas, use of 1.0-μm silica microspheres excluded platelet events completely. Calibration with silica microspheres resulted in significantly better estimation of MV diameter than calibration with polystyrene microspheres. We conclude that silica microspheres are superior to polystyrene microspheres as standards to define MV populations without platelet contamination and to determine MV sizes by flow cytometry for a given cytometer.
Job-Family Trade-offs. The Multidimensional Effects of Gender.

This study investigates how several dimensions of gender, including an individual's sex, gender ideology, and the gender composition of an occupation, influence the accommodations people make in reconciling employment and family life. Using data from the 1996 General Social Survey, we find that women and men sometimes make different kinds of job-family trade-offs, that people in male-dominated occupations make more family trade-offs and fewer employment trade-offs than people in other occupations, and that individual gender attitudes have little effect on job-family trade-offs. Our findings illustrate how gender, as an embedded social institution, contributes to the clash between employment and family responsibilities.
Comments on ``Convectively Generated Potential Vorticity in Rainbands and Formation of the Secondary Eyewall in Hurricane Rita of 2005''

AbstractIn a previous paper Judt and Chen propose that secondary eyewall formation can be the result of the accumulation of convectively generated potential vorticity in the rainbands. They argue that secondary potential vorticity maxima precede the development of the secondary wind maximum and conclude that vortex Rossby waves do not contribute to the formation of the secondary eyewall. Amidst examination of their thought-provoking study, some questions arose regarding their methodology, interpretation, and portrayal of previous literature.Here the authors inquire about aspects of the methodology for diagnosing vortex Rossby waves and assessing their impact on their simulation. Inaccuracies in the literature review are noted and further analysis of existing, three-dimensional, full-physics, numerical hurricane integrations that exhibit canonical secondary eyewalls are encouraged.
Carbon-layer formation at silicon-carbide—glass interfaces

Abstract A phenomenological model that describes the kinetics of carbon interphase formation at SiC-glass interfaces is presented. It is based on an oxidation reaction at the interface, and so it considers mass transport of O2 and CO reaction product fluxes in and out of the interface region. In the calculations presented here, it is intended to describe the interface reactions that occur during processing of the composite in a hot-press; thus, the glass matrix itself is the only source of oxygen. The model is tested against published data, and is then used to show how variables associated with the glass and composite processing influence the carbon layer thickness and stability. The most important conclusion is that the carbon interphase is transient in nature. Its rate of formation and maximum thickness depend on the initial oxygen activity in the glass matrix; this activity is influenced by the melting history and the presence of variable-valence oxides. Once the oxygen activity near the interface falls, the carbon interphase is consumed through CO out-diffusion. In principle, the model is general enough to be applied to non-stoichiometric SiC phases, and to more complex oxidizing ambients. These cases will be considered in the future.
Trial Wave Functions in the Close-Coupling Approximation

The theoretical and numerical consequences of choosing different trial wave functions in the close-coupling approximation are considered. In particular, calculations are carried out on the scattering of electrons by atomic systems with configurations $1{s}^{2}2{s}^{2}2{p}^{q}$, $q=2, 3, 4$, where properly antisymmetrized bound configurations $1{s}^{2}2{s}^{2}2{p}^{q+1}$ are mixed with the trial continum wave function. An alternative treatment, which eliminates the need for such bound configurations is presented.
Fatty acid metabolism and cell proliferation: IV. Effect of prostanoid biosynthesis from endogenous fatty acid release with cyclosporin-A

Cyclosporin-A (Cyc-A) stimulates prostanoid (PGI2) synthesis in confluent smooth muscle cells from guinea pig aorta through the release of endogenous fatty acid. Cyc-A, like other stimulatory agents for prostanoids, promotes smooth muscle cell proliferation and prostanoid synthesis in these proliferating cells. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and exogenous arachidonic acid block the Cyc-A effect on cell proliferation.
Responses of Atlantic Salmon Parr to Output of Pulsed Ultrasonic Transmitters

Abstract The output from some pulsed ultrasonic transmitters commonly used in fish movement studies is faintly audible to humans. This study was undertaken to determine if the output from these and some other transmitters is detectable by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr. Classical conditioning of cardiac deceleration was attempted using the transmitter's output as the conditioned stimulus. The results from 29 experimental and 14 control fish suggest that the parr were unable to detect the output from these transmitters.
Star-nosed moles.

What are star-nosed moles? The star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata, is one of about 30 species of mole in the mammalian order Insectivora. Although they are rarely seen, they are relatively common in the wetlands of eastern North America and Canada. They weigh about 30–50 grams and have large clawed forelimbs for digging their extensive underground burrows. Like most other moles, they give birth to a single litter of four to six young in the spring. Moles in general have small eyes and make their living through touch, eating invertebrates that they identify by feel in the soil.
In vivo lysogenization of a Clostridium difficile bacteriophage ФCD119.

Clostridium difficile is a nosocomial pathogen identified as the cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis. In this study, we have documented the lysogeny of a C. difficile bacteriophage in hamsters during C. difficile infection. The lysogens isolated from the hamsters were toxin typed and their phage integration site was confirmed by PCR. Through toxin ELISA it was found that the toxin production in the in vivo isolated lysogens was affected due to ФCD119 lysogenization as in the case of in vitro isolated ФCD119 lysogens. Together our findings indicate that a baceriophage can lysogenize its C. difficile host even during the infection process and highlights the importance of lysogeny of C. difficile phages as an evolutionary adaptation for survival.
Structural weight minimization using necessary and sufficient conditions

This paper considers problems of weight minimization of complex, determinate or indeterminate structures, subject to inequality constraints. Limitations of size of the structural members, allowable stresses, natural frequencies, etc., furnish constraints on the design. We are here principally concerned with the theoretical determination of the necessary and sufficient conditions relating a proposed design to the true constrained minimum-weight design. As an important special case, a study is made of the conditions under which a fully stressed design is a minimum-weight design. Although much attention has been directed toward the fully stressed approach to minimum-weight design, sufficiency conditions and questions relating to global optimality vs local optimality have heretofore not been considered in detail. Example solutions are presented illustrating the application of the present results to design problems. In one such solution, it is demonstrated that, for a broad class of statically determinate structures, sufficiency conditions exist which ensure that the fully stressed design is a globally minimum-weight design.
Remarks on finite rank projections

Abstract If every n-dimensional subspace of X ∗ is the range of a projection of norm less than C, then every subspace of X with codimension n is the range of a projection having norm less than 1 + C. Also, projection constants of finite-dimensional spaces are determined by finite-dimensional superspaces. It is further demonstrated that spheres cannot, in general, be nicely embedded into unit balls of finite-dimensional spaces.
The Relation between the Intensity of General X-Radiation and the Atomic Number of the Anticathode

Object.---The intensity of general x-radiation is known to be approximately proportional to the atomic weight of the element constituting the anticathode, provided the other conditions are the same. But since the atomic weights are, roughly speaking, proportional to the atomic numbers, it may be that the intensity is proportional to the latter instead of the former, considering the important part which the atomic number plays in the phenomena of characteristic x-radiation. The object of the present experiment was to decide this point.
Inertial soil-foundation interaction by a direct time domain BEM

A direct time domain BEM formulation of the general inertial SSI problem is presented. The dynamic response of a rigid massive foundation resting on the surface of a linear elastic, homogeneous, isotropic half-space and subjected to externally applied forces is computed for illustration purposes. Results for rectangular and circular foundations are presented assuming, i) complete bond with the half-space, and ii) relaxed boundary conditions. Comparison studies with frequency domain or simplified time domain analyses confirm the results of this study.
Galactose metabolic genes in yeast respond to a ratio of galactose and glucose

Natural environments are filled with multiple, often competing, signals. In contrast, biological systems are often studied in "well-controlled" environments where only a single input is varied, potentially missing important interactions between signals. Catabolite repression of galactose by glucose is one of the best-studied eukaryotic signal integration systems. In this system, it is believed that galactose metabolic (GAL) genes are induced only when glucose levels drop below a threshold. In contrast, we show that GAL gene induction occurs at a constant external galactose:glucose ratio across a wide range of sugar concentrations. We systematically perturbed the components of the canonical galactose/glucose signaling pathways and found that these components do not account for ratio sensing. Instead we provide evidence that ratio sensing occurs upstream of the canonical signaling pathway and results from the competitive binding of the two sugars to hexose transporters. We show that a mutant that behaves as the classical model expects (i.e., cannot use galactose above a glucose threshold) has a fitness disadvantage compared with wild type. A number of common biological signaling motifs can give rise to ratio sensing, typically through negative interactions between opposing signaling molecules. We therefore suspect that this previously unidentified nutrient sensing paradigm may be common and overlooked in biology.
Advances in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia

Although imatinib is firmly established as an effective therapy for newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the field continues to advance on several fronts. In this minireview we cover recent results of second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors in newly diagnosed patients, investigate the state of strategies to discontinue therapy and report on new small molecule inhibitors to tackle resistant disease, focusing on agents that target the T315I mutant of BCR-ABL. As a result of these advances, standard of care in frontline therapy has started to gravitate toward dasatinib and nilotinib, although more observation is needed to fully support this. Stopping therapy altogether remains a matter of clinical trials, and more must be learned about the mechanisms underlying the persistence of leukemic cells with treatment. However, there is good news for patients with the T315I mutation, as effective drugs such as ponatinib are on their way to regulatory approval. Despite these promising data, accelerated or blastic phase disease remains a challenge, possibly due to BCR-ABL-independent resistance.
Erosion behavior of uncoated Waspaloy and Waspaloy coated with titanium carbide

Abstract Turbines and engines operating in a particulate flow environment experience erosion and performance deterioration. The industrial approach for decreasing the erosion of machine components is to apply wear resistance coatings. This paper describes an experimental investigation performed to compare the behavior of uncoated and coated Waspaloy eroded in a media composed of chromite particles. The specimens were coated with titanium carbide (TiC) by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. The experimental program covered a temperature range from ambient temperature to 538 °C, the particle velocities ranging from 180 m s −1 to 305 m s −1 , and impingement angles varying from 20 ° to 90 °. The facility used for this work was a custom-made, high temperature erosion wind tunnel. The eroded surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained depict the influence of the temperature, velocity and the impingement angle on the erosion rate. In addition to this, further data show the variation of the coating erosion rate with the quantity of chromite powder used. The erosion rate behavior of the TiC coating with respect to the impingement angles reveals a brittle characteristic trend. The uncoated superalloy behaves as a ductile material because the maximum erosion is between 30 ° and 45 °. It is found that the sample temperature has a significant effect on the material erosion rate. The erosion resistance of the CVD coating increases at elevated temperatures, whereas that of uncoated Waspaloy decreases. The results indicate that the erosion rate for both uncoated and coated samples is proportional to the particle impact velocity to the power n . This investigation showed that the tested CVD titanium carbide coating provides very good erosion protection for Waspaloy in a particulate flow environment at elevated temperatures.
Dityrosine in adhesive formed by the sea mussel, Mytilus edulis

Abstract The sea mussel, Mytilus edulis , forms an adhesive substance which is an extremely stable, alkali-soluble protein complex. Hydrolysates of the adhesive were processed using ion-exchange chromatography and fluorescent fractions compared to authenic dityrosine. UV spectra in acid solutions, fluorescent spectra, and migration on thin layer chromatography indicated that the fluorescent fraction was identical to authenic dityrosine. The tyrosine complexes function to link peptide chains into a stable threedimensional network with unique chemical properties.
The deep western boundary undercurrent off the Newfoundland ridge

Abstract Overflow water from the Denmark Straits first encounters water of its own density at the tip of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland at the northeastern end of the Sohm Abyssal Plain. Here the θ-S anomally of the overflow water acts as a dye enabling description of its mixing into the North Atlantic Deep Water. This mixing includes streaks at least 10 km long but less than 1 km in width as well as hemogenous structures as large as 100 km. A strong deep western boundary undercurrent meandering along isobaths to the west at 15–20 cm s−1 was observed at three current meter/thermistor string arrays. These arrays were deployed for 13 months and along with CTD and hydrographic sections form the data set.
Weight and regulatory deficits in vagotomized rats: a reexamination.

Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy can produce deficits in body weight and regulatory behaviors in rats, but these occur only under specific conditions. Body weight deficits were found in vagotomized male rats eating a liquid diet or a wet mash diet, but did not appear in vagotomized male rats eating pellets. Vagotomized female rats did not show body weight deficits on any of the three diets. However, vagotomized female rats did show a small body weight deficit if access to pelleted food was delayed by 24 hr after surgery. With delayed postsurgical access to food, vagotomized female rats showed no body weight deficits when compared to pair-fed controls. In no case was there a significant reduction in food intake after vagotomy, in contrast to observations made on rabbits. In tests of fluid regulation, female rats were subjected to overnight food deprivation, hypertonic saline injections, or polyethylene glycol injections. Vagotomized female rats consumed less water over a 2-hr period after saline injections, but they failed to show deficits in a 30-min period after saline injections. Further, they showed no deficit on the other two tests. Deficits in body weight and fluid intake regulation reported after vagotomy in rats may be explained most parsimoniously as consequences of gastrointestinal malaise rather than as consequences of metabolic, hormonal, or central neurologic changes.
Detailed mechanistic modeling of poly(styrene peroxide) pyrolysis using kinetic Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract Conventional continuum mechanistic models for polymer degradation typically involve thousands of coupled differential-algebraic equations, requiring an efficient solver to solve the complex set of stiff model equations. This can be overcome by formulating the problem in terms of a stochastic simulation procedure, requiring only iterative operations to solve the model. The present work describes the detailed mechanistic modeling of pyrolysis of poly(styrene peroxide) (PSP) using kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulation to predict the product yields and gain a better understanding of the product evolution pathways. The traditionally accepted mechanism of PSP pyrolysis proposed by Mayo and Miller, which involves the key reaction steps of peroxide bond fission, alkoxy radical recombination and disproportionation, and end chain β-scission, was initially tested using the KMC model to predict the peroxide concentration profile and the product yields. This model was only qualitatively able to predict the major products, benzaldehyde and formaldehyde, while the formation of minor products like α-hydroxy acetophenone, phenyl glycol, and phenyl glyoxal was not captured at all. Hence, a new mechanism that also incorporated hydrogen abstraction and β-scission was proposed and implemented in KMC. The final model tracked 949 reactions of 83 species. The rate coefficients for all the reaction steps were based on the existing literature reports, and hence no parameter estimation was done to fit the model against the experimental data. The revised model was quantitatively able to predict all the products of PSP pyrolysis, which was attributed to the stabilization of the alkoxy radicals by hydrogen abstraction, and the subsequent generation of additional alkoxy radicals by β-scission. KMC allowed the dominant pathways for the formation of minor products and dimers to be identified explicitly. Finally, the implications of this study in understanding the effect of trace peroxide bonds on poly(styrene) pyrolysis are outlined.
Dominant Leber congenital amaurosis, cone‐rod degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa caused by mutant versions of the transcription factor CRX

We summarize 18 mutations in the human CRX gene that have been associated with Leber congenital amaurosis (congenital retinal blindness), cone-rod degeneration, or retinitis pigmentosa. Except for one obviously null allele not definitely associated with a phenotype (a frameshift in codon 9), all CRX mutations appear to be completely penetrant and cause disease in heterozygotes. These dominant alleles fall into two categories. In one group are missense mutations and short, in-frame deletions; in the second group are frameshift mutations, all of which are in the last exon. All of these dominant mutations are likely to produce stable mRNA that is translated. Mutations in the missense group preferentially affect the conserved homeobox (codons 39-98), and all frameshift mutations leave the homeodomain intact but alter the OTX motif encoded by codons 284-295 at the carboxy terminus. We could not uncover any correlation between type of disease (congenital amaurosis vs. cone-rod degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa) and the type of mutation (missense vs. frameshift). Four of the 18 mutations (approximately 20%) were de novo mutations, and all of these were found in isolate cases of Leber congenital amaurosis. Dominant CRX mutations have not been associated with mental retardation or developmental delay that has sometimes been found in Leber congenital amaurosis caused by other genes. Implications regarding potential future therapies are discussed.
Acoustic cue discrimination in adult aphasia.

Discrimination ability of 15 aphasic, 10 normal, and 10 brain-damaged nonaphasic adults was assessed using a specially constructed discrimination test designed to assess ability to discriminate imp...
Death of the central neuron: an electron microscopic study of thalamic retrograde degeneration following cortical ablation.

A series of twenty-seven rabbits were subjected to extensive aspiration lesions of limbic, striate and somato-sensory cortex, followed by electron microscopic examination of the antero-ventral, dorsal lateral geniculate and ventro-basal thalamic nuclei at various post-operative periods ranging from I to 238 days. Terminal degeneration occurs after 24 h and is seen in abundance during the second and third day. Neuronal perikaryal alterations become evident by day 2 and include the deterioration of endoplasmic reticulum with an apparent significant ribosomal loss, in addition to the incremental appearance of vacuoles and large homogeneous dense bodies. During the second and third post-operative weeks, a period in which the rate of neuronal depletion is maximal, many degenerating cells are characterized both by disruption of nuclear and cytoplasmic components, and the appearance of complex pleomorphic electron dense bodies thought to constitute sites of perikaryal autolysis. From the fourth to the thirty-fourth post-operative week, virtually all remaining neurons gradually disappear from the zones of degeneration.
Time-dependent strain-controlled fatigue behavior of annealed 2 14 Cr-1 Mo steel for use in nuclear steam generator design

Abstract Experimental results are reported from fully reversed strain-controlled push-pull fatigue tests of specimens from several heats of isothermally annealed commercial 2 1 4 Cr-1 Mo steel. The tests were conducted in air over the temperature range 316 to 593°C. Fatigue life depended on strain range, temperature, strain rate, cyclic wave form, and the particular heat of material involved. The fatigue life was reduced when either tensile or compressive strain hold times were introduced each cycle; however, the effect was more pronounced for compressive hold times at low strain ranges. Increasing the compressive hold period increased the reduction in fatigue lifetime; however, the reduction was most pronounced after short hold times and at higher temperatures. With increasing hold time there was some indication of diminished variation in lifetime due to heat-to-heat variations.
The Evolution of Collective Strategy Frames in High-and Low-Velocity Industries

We argue that the collective assumptions of firms drive their actions and practices, and create the conditions of industry velocity. In our view, cognitive construction by firms is the primary driver of industry velocity. This is in contrast to the contingency views common in the literature, which hold that industry velocity plays a role by constraining and shaping firm strategies. Specifically, we suggest that firms develop unique assumptions, social networks, and feedback mechanisms; that these mechanisms perpetuate patterns of changes in collective beliefs and aggregate actions; and that these patterns in turn shape high-and low-velocity conditions. We examine these assertions by tracing the collective beliefs of three aircraft (low-velocity) and semiconductor (high-velocity) firms over a 20-year period (1977--1997). Our results suggest that the cognitive construction view of industry velocity is reasonable.
Sisomicin: An Aminoglycoside Antibiotic that is Highly Effective against Pseudomonas

The in vitro activity of sisomicin against Pseudomonas is two- to eight-fold greater then gentamicin or amikacin, and similar to tobramycin. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of sisomicin are usual...
Cost-effective waste heat recovery using thermoelectric systems

Optimizing thermoelectric (TE) materials and modules are important factors, which can lead to widespread adoption of waste heat recovery systems. The analytic co-optimization of the TE leg, heat sink, and the load resistance shows that all parameters entering the figure-of-merit (Z) do not have the same impact on cost/performance trade-off. Thermal conductivity of the TE material plays a more important role than the power factor. This study also explores the impact of heat losses and the required contact resistances. Finally, we present the theoretical cost performance ($/W) of TE waste heat recovery systems for vehicle waste heat recovery application, assuming hot side gas temperature of 600 °C and a cooling water temperature of 60 °C.
Rapid Adaptation of the M170 Response: Importance of Face Parts

Face perception is often characterized as depending on configural, rather than part-based, processing. Here we examined the relative contributions of configuration and parts to early "face-selective" processing at the M170, a magnetoencephalographic response approximately 170 ms after stimulus onset, using adaptation. Previously (Harris and Nakayama 2007), we showed that rapid successive presentation of 2 stimuli (stimulus-onset asynchrony < 800 ms) attenuates the M170 response. Such adaptation is face-selective, with greater attenuation when faces are preceded by other faces than by houses. This technique therefore provides an independent method to assess the nature of this early neurophysiological marker. In these experiments, we measured the adapting power of face configurations versus parts using upright and inverted faces (Experiment 1), face-like configurations of black ovals versus scrambled nonface configurations of face parts (Experiment 2), and isolated face parts (Experiment 3). Although face configurations alone do not produce face-selective adaptation, scrambled and even isolated face parts adapt the M170 response to a similar extent as full faces. Thus, at least for the relatively early face-selective M170 response, face parts produce face-selective adaptation but face configurations do not. These results suggest that face parts are important at relatively early stages of face perception.
Comparing Effects of Different Cinematic Visualization Strategies on Viewer Comprehension

Computational storytelling systems have mainly focused on the construction and evaluation of textual discourse for communicating stories. Few intelligent camera systems have been built in 3D environments for effective visual communication of stories. The evaluation of effectiveness of these systems, if any, has focused mainly on the run-time performance of the camera placement algorithms. The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic cognitive-based evaluation methodology to compare effects of different cinematic visualization strategies on viewer comprehension of stories. In particular, an evaluation of automatically generated visualizations from Darshak, a cinematic planning system, against different hand-generated visualization strategies is presented. The methodology used in the empirical evaluation is based on QUEST, a cognitive framework for question-answering in the context of stories, that provides validated predictors for measuring story coherence in readers. Data collected from viewers, who watch the same story renedered with three different visualization strategies, is compared with QUEST's predictor metrics. Initial data analysis establishes significant effect on choice of visualization strategy on story comprehension. It further shows a significant effect of visualization strategy selected by Darshak on viewers' measured story coherence.
A mechanical strain-induced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase gene.

Abstract Ethylene production is observed in all higher plants, where it is involved in numerous aspects of growth, development, and senescence. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACC synthase; S-adenosyl-L-methionine methylthioadenosine-lyase, EC 4.4.1.14) is the key regulatory enzyme in the ethylene biosynthetic pathway. We are reporting an ACC synthase gene in Vigna radiata (mung bean) that is inducible by mechanical strain. The ACC synthase cDNA AIM-1 was induced by mechanical strain within 10 min, reaching a maximum at 30 min, showing a dramatic reduction after 60 min, and showing no detectable message by 3 hr. The kinetics of induction for AIM-1 was similar to a mechanical strain-induced calmodulin (MBCaM-1) in V. radiata, whereas the kinetics of its decline from maximum was different. When plants were subjected to calcium-deficient conditions, supplemental calcium, calcium chelators, calcium storage releasers, calcium ionophore, or calmodulin antagonists, there was no effect on AIM-1, indicating that the mechanical strain-induced AIM-1 expression is a calcium-independent process. Induction of MBCaM-1 in all cases behaved in the same way as AIM-1, suggesting that they share similar mechanically activated cis- and/or trans-acting elements in their promoter.
Fractional Dispersion, Lévy Motion, and the MADE Tracer Tests

The macrodispersion experiments (MADE) at the Columbus Air Force Base in Missis-sippi were conducted in a highly heterogeneous aquifer that violates the basic assumptions of local second-order theories. A governing equation that describes particles that undergo Levy motion, rather than Brownian motion, readily describes the highly skewed and heavy-tailed plume development at the MADE site. The new governing equation is based on a fractional, rather than integer, order of differentiation. This order (α), based on MADE plume measurements, is approximately 1.1. The hydraulic conductivity (K) increments also follow a power law of order α = 1.1. We conjecture that the heavy-tailed K distribution gives rise to a heavy-tailed velocity field that directly implies the fractional-order governing equation derived herein. Simple arguments lead to accurate estimates of the velocity and dispersion constants based only on the aquifer hydraulic properties. This supports the idea that the correct governing equation can be accurately determined before, or after, a contamin-ation event. While the traditional ADE fails to model a conservative tracer in the MADE aquifer, the fractional equation predicts tritium concentration profiles with remarkable accuracy over all spatial and temporal scales.
Why Are Financial Incentive Effects Unreliable? An Extension of Self-Determination Theory

ABSTRACT: This paper extends self-determination theory (SDT) to investigate the unreliability of financial incentives as motivators. The proposed model predicts that core financial need beliefs influence financial values, which in turn influence “hedonic” utility, i.e., happiness. Four financial need belief constructs are proposed and measured: (1) financial self-efficacy, (2) financial autonomy, (3) financial community—trust, and (4) financial community—support. In addition, our extension of SDT predicts that financial values, i.e., altruistic versus materialistic, differentially impact hedonic utility; accordingly, we measure the extent to which individuals value financial rewards for altruistic versus materialistic reasons. The results largely support the extension of SDT to the financial domain. Specifically: (1) financial values partially mediate the effects of financial need beliefs on hedonic utility, and (2) financial altruism positively, and financial materialism negatively, predicts hedonic util...
Genetic fusions defining trp and lac operon regulatory elements

Abstract Two procedures for easily isolating deletions that fuse the trp and lac operons are described. Using these procedures, a large number of fusion deletions have been isolated. The lac ends of these deletions extend varying distances into the lacI gene and the lac promoter-operator region. Therefore, contrary to a previous report, there does not appear to be a messenger-termination signal at the C-terminal end of the lacI gene. The trp ends of fusion deletions do not have to extend into the trp structural genes to effect fusion, suggesting that mRNA synthesis initiated at the trp promoter proceeds some distance beyond the trp structural genes before a messenger termination signal is reached. Deletions that extend a short distance into the C-terminus of trpA , the last gene in the trp operon, do not completely abolish activity of the trpA product. The procedures described for isolating fusions of the trp and lac operons can be generalized to other systems.
Rethinking Postcolonial Emergency: Constitutional Revolution and the Temporality of the Social in Sri Lanka

Hewage’s essay examines the history of emergency rule, which has defined the greater part of Sri Lanka’s postcolonial experience. It suggests that we rethink the conventional constitutional provision of emergency’s necessity in relation to the broader temporality of necessity, which has conditioned the democratic relationship between the Sri Lankan state and the domain of the social. The article introduces the political rationality that governs this relationship with the moment of its apotheosis, namely the enactment of Sri Lanka’s first Republican Constitution and the apogee of welfarism, during the unprecedented emergency of the 1970s. Noting the vintage of certain seemingly exceptional expedients of the social during this era, Hewage claims that they illuminate the distinctive temporality of a postcolonial reason of state. The essay foregrounds postcolonial demands for a republic with a strong executive and comprehensive bill of rights to replace the colonially conferred Soulbury Constitution and its minority safeguard, Section 29. Analyzing this apparently paradoxical pairing of rights and enhanced executive power, ultimately realized in Sri Lanka’s Republican Constitutions, the essay situates both within the vision of state instrumentality these demands contemplated. Finally, Hewage highlights a shift within the theorization of leftist political praxis toward revolution through Parliamentary democracy. The recasting of emergency as a problem native to the emergence of democracy in Sri Lanka has consequences for thinking democratic trajectories in other postcolonial contexts, distinctively defined, as Partha Chatterjee has observed, by the early, colonial inception of the social.
The human-simulation intelligent control of contact force based on the detection of ultrasonic sensors

A detecting method is presented for a robot with ultrasonic sensors in unknown environment. A structure model of the detecting system is built, and describing its operation principle. Because of the uncertainty, variability and unstructured of the environment, accurate exploration is almost impossible. Therefore, it is very difficult to realize high-precision control by the usual control methods of contact force. In order to solve the above-said problem, a human-simulation intelligent control method of contact force is presented. The basic principle of the intelligent control method is that it can chooses the appropriate programs prepared in advance according to the size and sign of the force error and change rate of the error. The experimental results show that this method greatly improves the control precision.
Thymus and Myasthenia Gravis

Abstract Myasthenia gravis, although primarily a nonsurgical problem as far as diagnosis and initial therapy are concerned, has often been alleviated by surgical removal of the thymus. The improvement following thymectomy has been striking in women patients generally and in patients of either sex in whom the onset of symptoms is fairly recent. The frequency of complete remission and drug requirements after operation have been unpredictable. The majority of the patients who have a favorable outcome from thymectomy have simple hyperplasia of the gland. All suspected neoplasms of the thymus with or without myasthenia gravis should be operated upon, and the preferred surgical approach is through a median sternotomy. Despite centuries of investigation aimed at a better understanding of the thymus, several mysteries are yet to be unraveled.
Residual efficacy of synergized pyrethrin + methoprene aerosol against larvae of Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract Wheat flour and different packaging surfaces (cardboard, flour bag, muslin bag, paper bag, pallet wrap, plastic overwrap, polyethylene) were exposed to aerosol formulations of either 1% active ingredient (AI) pyrethrin (synergized with piperonyl butoxide)+ 33.6% (AI) methoprene or 3% (AI) pyrethrin + 33.6% AI methoprene. The mixture was formulated as specified on the insecticide labels to give a 100 to 1 ratio of active ingredient pyrethrin to methoprene. Residual bioassays were conducted every two weeks for 16 weeks post-exposure to the aerosol by placing four-week-old larvae of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), or the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum (Jacqueline duVal), on treated flour or a treated packaging surface with untreated flour added. T. castaneum was clearly the more susceptible of the two species. Less than 2% of T. castaneum larvae exposed to aerosol-treated flour or packaging surfaces emerged as normal adults, regardless of the pyrethrin concentration. Most of the T. castaneum larvae on treated flour did not advance to the pupal stage because they were either developmentally arrested or died as larvae. They were able to develop further on the treated packaging surfaces, but still could not emerge as adults. T. confusum larvae exposed to aerosol-treated flour or packaging surfaces were able to develop to the pupal or adult stage. Emergence of normal-appearing adults from T. confusum larvae exposed on the packaging surfaces treated with 1% pyrethrin + methoprene gradually increased (range of 29.7 ± 2.9 to 49.0 ± 6.7%, depending on the surface), whereas adult emergence of larvae exposed to treated flour peaked at 10 weeks post-exposure. However, when T. confusum was exposed to 3% pyrethrin + methoprene treated flour or packaging surfaces, adult emergence was reduced. Overall there were few significant differences attributable to the individual packaging surfaces.
In vitro metabolic and respiratory acidosis selectively inhibit osteoblastic matrix gene expression.

Clinically, a decrease in blood pH may be due to either a reduction in bicarbonate concentration ([H CO 3 − ], metabolic acidosis) or an increase in P CO 2 (respiratory acidosis). In mammals, metab...
Na+-HCO3- symport modulates intracellular pH in alveolar epithelial cells

We investigated Na(+)-HCO3- cotransport as a mechanism for regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) in rat alveolar pneumocytes grown in primary culture. pHi was monitored using the fluorescent pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). Cells incubated in 6 mM N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) medium at pH 7.4 were subjected to rapid acidification by CO2 pulse. pHi recovered in the presence of Na+ with an initial rate (dpHi/dt) of 0.15 min-1, which was reduced by 67% when Na+ was replaced by choline, unaffected by substitution of gluconate for Cl-, reduced 40% in the presence of 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS, 500 microM), and unchanged by amiloride (1 mM). In parallel experiments, cells were incubated at pH 7.4 with 20 mM HCO3- and pHi acutely lowered by NH3 prepulse. dpHi/dt in these experiments was 0.14 min-1 in the presence of Na+ and HCO3-, and reduced 79% under Na(+)-free conditions. These data indicate the presence of a Na(+)-dependent, Cl(-)-independent, DIDS-sensitive and amiloride-insensitive mechanism of recovery from acute intracellular acidification in alveolar pneumocytes, most consistent with Na(+)-HCO3- cotransport (symport) effecting acid extrusion under these experimental conditions. This ion transport mechanism may contribute to regulation of pHi in alveolar pneumocytes, transepithelial transport of acid-base equivalents across the alveolar epithelium, and modulation of pH of alveolar fluid in adult mammalian lungs.