cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attenuated Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 1 (HPIV1) Expressing the Fusion Glycoprotein of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) as a Bivalent HPIV1/RSV Vaccine

UNLABELLED Live attenuated recombinant human parainfluenza virus type 1 (rHPIV1) was investigated as a vector to express the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion (F) glycoprotein, to provide a bivalent vaccine against RSV and HPIV1. The RSV F gene was engineered to include HPIV1 transcription signals and inserted individually into three gene locations in each of the two attenuated rHPIV1 backbones. Each backbone contained a single previously described attenuating mutation that was stabilized against deattenuation, specifically, a non-temperature-sensitive deletion mutation involving 6 nucleotides in the overlapping P/C open reading frames (ORFs) (C(Δ170)) or a temperature-sensitive missense mutation in the L ORF (L(Y942A)). The insertion sites in the genome were pre-N (F1), N-P (F2), or P-M (F3) and were identical for both backbones. In vitro, the presence of the F insert reduced the rate of virus replication, but the final titers were the same as the final titer of wild-type (wt) HPIV1. High levels of RSV F expression in cultured cells were observed with rHPIV1-C(Δ170)-F1, -F2, and -F3 and rHPIV1-L(Y942A)-F1. In hamsters, the rHPIV1-C(Δ170)-F1, -F2, and -F3 vectors were moderately restricted in the nasal turbinates, highly restricted in lungs, and genetically stable in vivo. Among the C(Δ170) vectors, the F1 virus was the most immunogenic and protective against wt RSV challenge. The rHPIV1-L(Y942A) vectors were highly restricted in vivo and were not detectably immunogenic or protective, indicative of overattenuation. The C(Δ170)-F1 construct appears to be suitably attenuated and immunogenic for further development as a bivalent intranasal pediatric vaccine. IMPORTANCE There are no vaccines for the pediatric respiratory pathogens RSV and HPIV. We are developing live attenuated RSV and HPIV vaccines for use in virus-naive infants. Live attenuated RSV strains in particular are difficult to develop due to their poor growth and physical instability, but these obstacles could be avoided by the use of a vaccine vector. We describe the development and preclinical evaluation of live attenuated rHPIV1 vectors expressing the RSV F protein. Two different attenuated rHPIV1 backbones were each engineered to express RSV F from three different gene positions. The rHPIV1-C(Δ170)-F1 vector, bearing an attenuating deletion mutation (C(Δ170)) in the P/C gene and expressing RSV F from the pre-N position, was attenuated, stable, and immunogenic against the RSV F protein and HPIV1 in the hamster model and provided substantial protection against RSV challenge. This study provides a candidate rHPIV1-RSV-F vaccine virus suitable for continued development as a bivalent vaccine against two major childhood pathogens.
Nonparametric life consumption modeling of high end drilling tools

Equipment, process, and system prognostic techniques can be classified as belonging to one of three major classes of methods: 1) conventional reliability-based using failure times (Weibull), 2) population based with environmental considerations (e.g. proportional hazards modeling), and 3) individual based (e.g. general path model). This paper describes a new individual based, nonparametric life consumption model (LCM) that builds on the previously described path classification and estimation model (PACE). In the original implementation of the PACE, the general path model (GPM), which is the foundation of the majority of the modern individual based prognosis algorithms, is recast as a classification problem, where a current device's cumulative stress path is classified according to a series of exemplar paths and the results of the classification are used to estimate the remaining useful life (RUL) of the device. While the PACE was shown to produce accurate estimates of the RUL, its use in “real world” applications was found to be limited since it was founded on the premise of estimating the RUL, given an observed cumulative stress at a given point in time. In other words, to estimate the RUL, the complete stress history up to that point in time must be constructible, which is rarely the case for large scale, worldwide device deployments. This short coming was overcome by redefining the prognostic question from, “what is the RUL of the device?” To, “how much life has been consumed in the latest deployment?” By making this simple modification, the problem can be approached from a different angle. Rather than attempting to classify the cumulative device stress at an instant in time, the “character” of the stress accumulation over a period of time can be classified. To do this, regression analysis is used on a device's cumulative stress path for a deployment to generate a set of parameters that define the “shape” of the stress accumulation over a particular deployment. The calculated parameters are then classified according to the regressed parameters of example failure paths. The results of the classification are then combined with the life consumptions of the exemplar paths to generate an estimate of the individual's life consumed for the deployment. These life consumption estimates can then be easily aggregated over deployments to accurately assess the individual device's remaining life. The newly proposed method will be applied to data collected from the hydraulic steering tool of a high end drilling system used for deep oil exploration, with the objective of estimating and accumulating the life consumption of example steering tools over different deployments. This paper builds on previous work in this area by developing a new life consumption estimation model that has been specifically designed to ensure that it can be viable in the “real world”. The developed model was shown to be able to estimate the life consumed of an individual drilling tool to within 4–12% with uncertainties of ±15–35%.
Iron Nutrition in Childhood Malignancy

Status of iron nutrition along with demographic, anthropometric, dietary, and biochemical parameters were recorded in 98 pediatric cancer patients at the time of referral. Dietary intake in each patient was analyzed for calories, protein, and iron. Blood specimens were analyzed for hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin, and ferritin. Dietary intake measures were assessed according to each subject's Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The results were compared among three diagnostic groups, namely, benign, solid tumor, and hematopoietic. The nutrient lowest in intake was iron. The overall measures revealed significant differences between the benign and hematopoietic groups in all parameters except TIBC and transferrin. A correlation coefficient of 0.55 (p less than 10(-5) between transferrin and TIBC was generated in our patients. Significant differences were noted for ferritin in the acute lymphocytic leukemia (p = 0.0001) and lymphoma (p = 0.0007) groups when compared with the benign group. A correlation coefficient of 0.55 (p less than 10(-5) was generated in our patients. A 3-month follow-up assessment was conducted in order to document the effects of therapy. Tumor response and progression was compared to changes in ferritin levels from baseline to follow-up. Our results support the literature, that ferritin is a sensitive tumor marker in various malignancies.
Multimachine stability analysis using vector Lyapunov functions with inertial-centre decomposition

Multimachine power system stability is investigated by means of a new decomposition technique. The power system is decomposed into subsystems using the inertial-centre concept. Individual Lyapunov functions are then obtained for each subsystem. Stability conditions for the overall system are established, taking into account the interconnection characteristics. The least restrictive overall system Lyapunov function is obtained by weighting each subsystem instability is then used to determine the critical clearing time.
Interatomic versus intraatomic Ru interactions in perovskites

Abstract The competition between interatomic Ru–O–Ru interactions responsible for itinerant-electron ferromagnetism in SrRuO3 and intraatomic spin–orbit coupling that suppresses some Ru–O–Ru magnetic interactions in CaRuO3 so as to prevent long-range magnetic order has been further tested by investigating the double perovskites La2RuZnO6, La2RuCoO6, La2TiCoO6, and the solid solution Ca2−2xLa2xRu2−xCoxO6 (0.0⩽x⩽1.0). The paramagnetic state of the low-spin, localized Ru4+:t4e0 configuration of LaRuZnO6 undergoes a progressive transition on lowering the temperature to a non-magnetic state (J=0) as a result of spin–orbit coupling, λL·S. Comparison of the susceptibilities of La2RuCoO6 and La2TiCoO6 shows a similar behavior with long-range antiferromagnetic cobalt ordering via non-magnetic RuO6/2 and TiO6/2 bridges. Comparison is also made of the effect of substituting Ga for Ru in CaRuO3 with the effect of other dopants M in CaRu1−xMxO3. The evolution of transport properties in Ca2−2xLa2xRu2−xCoxO6 is also presented.
The Energetics of the Hydrogenolysis, Dehydrohalogenation, and Hydrolysis of 4,4‘-Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane from ab Initio Electronic Structure Theory

Electronic structure methods were used to calculate the aqueous reaction energies for hydrogenolysis, dehydrochlorination, and nucleophilic substitution by OH- of 4,4‘-DDT. Thermochemical propertie...
Reconfigurable Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) Code Interleaving for SIO and MIMO OFDM Systems

This contribution1 derives an algorithm for optimizing the mapping of irregular and systematic Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code word bits onto Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) carriers in the context of a frequency selective fading channel in both, a Single-Transmit Single-Receive (SISO channel) and Multiple-Transmit Multiple-Receive (MIMO channel) antennas scenario. The absolute values of the frequency domain channel coefficients are assumed to be known and the LDPC code to be given (contrary to existing proposals where the LDPC code is optimized with respect to a given propagation channel). The proposed solution can alternatively be interpreted as an adaptive interleaver (which is inherently available in software defined radio type of system implementations) optimized for a given channel impulse response. In a typical WLAN (IEEE802.11n) scenario, the proposed mapping technique improves the system performance by up to approx. 0.7dB compared to a linear (direct) mapping.
Price Specification in Milk Supply Response Analysis

During the 1970s, the Nerlove partial-adjustment model and the polynomial distributed lag model were often used in estimating milk supply response. Chen, Courtney, and Schmitz used a polynomial lag model to determine milk supply response in California with quarterly data. Hammond used both the Nerlove partial-adjustment model and a polynomial lag model with annual data to estimate milk supply functions for major U.S. producing areas. In a 1978 study of the California dairy industry, Milligan rejected both lag specifications in favor of direct estimation of lagged profitability parameters. A bimonthly series of data on profit margins was used. In this paper, direct estimation of milk supply response coefficients is applied to a situation in which annual data for milk prices, but not profit margins, were available. The case study of milk production in Mississippi for the 1960-78 period gives additional evidence that the compromises inherent in specifying a priori patterns for lagged price parameters can be avoided if the parameters are estimated directly.
Free “Cook Book” for gridding bathymetric data

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO IOC) have created a free manual to help users prepare quality bathymetric grids from available data points. The new “IHO-IOC GEBCO Cook Book,” released last year and available at http://www.gebco.net, provides step-by-step instructions, screenshots, command lines, and snippets of code applied on actual data, to guide users through the process of gridding data.
Study of the Polarized-Orbital Method and Its Application to the Scattering of Electrons by Helium

A study has been made of the polarized-orbital method (POM) for electron-atom scattering. Within this framework, an exact calculation has been carried out for the electron-helium-atom case. Our study confirms the importance of the second-order distortion-exchange terms, which provide a nonadiabatic effect. A study is made of the much-criticized step function, and its inclusion within the POM framework is found to be not crucial. An attempt is made to clear up some of the present confusion in the literature by distinguishing between the POM and related methods.
Instabilité du rachis cervical par traumatisme en compression axiale : une étude biomécanique

Abstract Background Axial compression injuries of the cervical spine occur during contact sports, automobile collisions, and falls. The objective of this study was to use flexibility tests to determine biomechanical instability of the cervical spine due to simulated axial compression injuries. Hypothesis We hypothesized that the axial compression injuries cause severe biomechanical instability throughout the cervical spine. Materials and methods The injuries were simulated using 2.4 m/s head-first impacts of a cadaveric cervical spine model ( n = 10) mounted horizontally to a torso-equivalent mass on a sled and carrying a surrogate head in protruded posture. Intact and post-impact flexibility tests were performed up to 1.5, 3, and 1.5 Nm in flexion-extension, axial torque, and lateral bending, respectively. Instability parameters of range of motion (RoM) and neutral zone (NZ) were determined for injured spinal levels and statistically compared ( P Results The sagittal instability parameters indicated extension-compression injuries at the upper and middle cervical spine and flexion-compression injuries at the lower cervical spine. Increases in extension RoM were 14.9° at the upper cervical spine and 24.9° ( P Discussion Multidirectional instability of the upper cervical spine caused by atlas and dens fractures was evidenced by increases between 36% and 53% in RoM and NZ due to the impacts. The sagittal RoM of injured spinal levels of the middle and lower cervical spine exceeded a proposed threshold for clinical instability by between 67% and 114%. The instability documented throughout the cervical spine was consistent with clinical observations of cord injuries and paralysis in patients. Level of evidence Level IV, controlled laboratory investigation.
Robust uniform triangulation algorithm for computer aided design

This paper presents a new robust uniform triangulation algorithm that can be used in CAD/CAM systems to generate and visualize geometry of 3D models. Typically, in CAD/CAM systems 3D geometry consists of 3D surfaces presented by the parametric equations (e.g. surface of revolution, NURBS surfaces) which are defined on a two dimensional domain. Conventional triangulation algorithms (e.g. ear clipping, Voronoi-Delaunay triangulation) do not provide desired quality and high level of accuracy (challenging tasks) for 3D geometry. The approach developed in this paper combines lattice tessellation and conventional triangulation techniques and allows CAD/CAM systems to obtain the required surface quality and accuracy. The algorithm uses a Cartesian lattice to divide the parametric domain into adjacent rectangular cells. These cells are used to generate polygons that are further triangulated to obtain accurate surface representation. The algorithm allows users to control the triangle distribution intensity by adjusting the lattice density. Once triangulated, the 3D model can be used not only for rendering but also in various manufacturing and design applications. The approach presented in this paper can be used to triangulate any parametric surface given in S(u,v) form, e.g. NURBS surfaces, surfaces of revolution, and produces good quality triangulation which can be used in CAD/CAM and computer graphics applications.
Evaluation of a plastic encapsulated package using a scalable thermal mechanical test chip

The reliability performance of a plastic encapsulated package has been evaluated using a Thermal Mechanical Test Chip (TMTC) which has been designed to reduce the cycle time and cost of package reliability qualifications. The TMTC moves package reliability assessment closer to the package and assembly development cycle by breaking the tie between silicon qualification and package qualification. This approach, as confirmed by the evaluations described in this paper, demonstrate that relevant thermal-mechanical reliability failure mechanisms can be detected and characterized at significant cost and time savings compared to prior methods.
Comprehensive analysis of cellulose content, crystallinity, and lateral packing in Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense cotton fibers using sum frequency generation, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction

The mesoscale packing and crystal structure of cellulose microfibrils as well as temporal changes in cell wall composition and hydration during the development of cotton fibers from two species, Gossypium hirsutum and G. barbadense were studied using vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG), attenuated total refection infrared (ATR-IR), Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The developmental stages analyzed (13–60 days post anthesis) included primary wall synthesis, transitional cell wall remodeling, secondary wall thickening via synthesis of nearly pure cellulose, and fiber maturation. ATR-IR and FT-Raman combined with principle component analysis revealed that fibers of both species undergo abrupt changes in the cellulose and matrix polymer contents during the transition to secondary cell wall synthesis. XRD revealed that cellulose crystal size and crystallinity increase similarly over time in both species. SFG analysis of fibers from un-opened bolls, which were stored in water then air dried, showed subtle differences between two species in the mesoscale ordering of cellulose microfibrils in the maturing secondary walls. In the samples of mature fibers dried on the plant after the boll split opened naturally, the difference in SFG spectra between species was negligible. Collectively, the results show that (a) SFG can uniquely reveal differences in cellulose fibril ordering in maturing cotton fibers before boll opening; and (b) illustrate the comparative usefulness of other commonly used spectroscopic analytical methods for cotton fiber analysis.
PERSPECTIVE ON OUR NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

This presentation contains a discussion of the reconfiguration of the route structure and growth of the U.S. air transportation system from 1970 to 2000. It highlights the evolution and importance of the regional airline industry in providing feeder service to hub airports and service to small- and medium-sized communities. It discusses the expected growth of the demand for air transportation during the period 2001 to 2011. It reviews the situation with respect to airport delay and the factors contributing to these delays and discusses the impact of both demand and capacity changes on airport delay. It contains an indication of recent initiatives to address airport terminal planning issues related to level of service. Finally, it presents a review of aviation security and the implications of the events of September 11 on the airlines and passengers.
Expression of hsp 70 mRNA is induced in the brain of transgenic mice overexpressing human CuZn-superoxide dismutase following transient global cerebral ischemia

We examined hsp70 mRNA expression in the brains of transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing CuZn-superoxide dismutase and in wild-type (Wt) littermates after 3 min of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Significant induction of hsp70 mRNA occurred in the hippocampus, the cortex, and other brain regions of the Tg mice 4 h after ischemia compared to the Wt mice. However, there was no histological damage in the brains of Tg and Wt mice as assessed by both Cresyl violet staining and by TUNEL staining for DNA fragmentation. These data suggest that high levels of CuZn-superoxide dismutase activity increase hsp70 mRNA expression and that intense hsp70 mRNA expression does not predict neuronal damage, even in vulnerable hippocampal CA1 neurons.
Nonlinear observability and mixed-coordinate bearing-only signal processing

A simple test to determine nonlinear system observability is presented here and applied to several examples. Most interesting is the bearing-only tracking example which shows the need for relative maneuvers. A mixed-coordinate system is compared favorably to the standard rectangular coordinates and the popular modified polar coordinates for accuracy with a continuous-discrete truncated second-order filter.
Vertertical integration of silicon nitride on siliconon-insulator platform

We propose to integrate silicon nitride on silicon-on-insulator platform for devices which require low insertion loss and high power handling capability. Preliminary results including silicon nitride growth, high-Q resonator fabrication, and vertical integration are presented.
Purification and characterization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone from codfish brain

We have purified luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) from codfish brain and have demonstrated its identity with salmon LH-RH (sLH-RH). An antiserum raised against sLH-RH was used in a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) to monitor purification and to manufacture an immunoaffinity chromatography column for the initial purification step. The cross-reactivity of the sLH-RH RIA with mammalian LH-RH was 0.1%. Acid extracts of codfish brains were sequentially purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, gel-filtration chromatography, and three steps of reverse-phase HPLC. The purified material and synthetic sLH-RH coeluted on reverse-phase HPLC and exhibited similar biological activity in a dispersed pituitary cell bioassay. Furthermore, the amino acid composition of the purified material was identical to salmon LH-RH. These results suggest that there is structural conservation of LH-RH between these species of teleost fish.
Systematic elimination of RF pulse defect errors in Fourier transform spin-lattice relaxation measurements

Abstract The elimination of rf pulse defect errors in Fourier transform spin-lattice relaxation measurements is discussed. The standard 180°−τ−90°−t pulse sequence is used. However, the phase of the 90° pulse is shifted by 180° on every repetition of the sequence, while the phase of the 180° pulse is unaltered. Implementation of this phase shifted pulse sequence is discussed for a JEOL PFT-100 single phase detector spectrometer.
The weighted average reference montage

In this article we describe the implementation of a linearly weighted average reference montage. This montage differs from the commonly used source derivation montage in that the reference includes all the scalp electrodes of the 10-20 system; and it differs from all other montages implemented thus far in that the weighting of the reference electrodes is based on directly measured interelectrode distances. Using EEG and computer generated signals we have been able to demonstrate that the weighted average reference montage combines topographic selectivity and accuracy in the display of both focal and regional background changes. In comparison to the source derivation montage, ectopic peaks and troughs of localized potential fields are less prominent and interhemispheric symmetry is better preserved. In comparison to the common average reference montage the frequent prominent ectopic displacement of high amplitude (e.g., vertex waves) or widespread potentials (e.g., alpha background activity) is suppressed. We believe that the spatial filtering characteristics of the weighted average reference montage, which are intermediate between those of the common average reference montage and the source derivation and Laplacian montages, will make it a useful alternative for topographic analysis. Our results also indicate that actual scalp measurements should be used to calculate reference electrode weighting factors because such measurements yield values that are substantially different from those derived from other methods of estimation presented thus far. A weighted average montage derived from pooled scalp measurements can be easily implemented using the weighting factors provided herein.
Residual currents in tidally dominated, well‐mixed estuaries

An analytical model is developed to investigate the residual circulation originating from the interaction of the density field, river flow, and the nonlinear rectification of the periodic tides, in tidally-dominated, well-mixed estuaries. These residual flows effect the density field, which in turn drives the estuarine gravitational circulation. Previous analytical studies have excluded the tidal dynamics and have either imposed the density structure, thereby decoupling the problem, or assumed similarity solutions valid for specific regions within the estuary. Here, a theoretical model is developed that calculates, via a perturbation analysis, the lowest-order density field established from tidal mixing, tidally-induced residual flow, river runoff, and diffusion. Two special cases are considered, a long tidal river and a finite length, variable-breadth estuary. Once the density field is determined for each case, the density driven flow is calculated and added to the rectified tidal and river induced flows for both the Eulerian and Lagrangian reference frames. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1993.00007.x
Theory of Cyclotron Resonance Width

Absorption of a microwave near the cyclotron resonance by non-interacting electrons in the impurity (and phonon) field is treated by applying the connected-diagram expansion method to Kubo's formula for the dynamic magnetoconductivity. It is found that there exists remarkable similarity between the collision frequency ω f associated with the static conductivity and the high-frequency cyclotron resonance width \(\varGamma\). In fact, both ω f and \(\varGamma\) can be determined in essence from one and the same collision operator g z , defined in terms of the totality of connected diagrams. The energy shift Δ and the width \(\varGamma\) satisfy a characteristic non-linear integral equation. This equation is solved in the weak coupling limit. For an electron-phonon system, a new expression for the resonance parameters (\(\varGamma\), Δ ) is obtained with the consideration of inelastic scattering by phonons.
Effects of cyproterone acetate in the male Japanese quail.

Abstract Male Japanese Quail were injected with oil or with one of four dosages of cyproterone acetate for 8 days. Copulatory behavior and cloacal gland size were measured daily. Cyproterone acetate reduced cloacal gland size at all dosages and in two experiments reduced copulation in eight out of 17 males at the two highest dosages. Thus, cyproterone acetate results in reproductive changes in at least two classes of vertebrates, and has behavioral as well as morphological effects. The morphological effects are more striking, however.
Dichlorobenzene in ground water: Evidence for long-term persistence

Hydrologic and geochemical evidence were used to establish the long-term persistence of dichlorobenzene in ground water that has been contaminated from 50 years of rapid-infiltration sewage disposal. An extensive plume of dichlorobenzene extends more than 3,500 meters down-gradient from the disposal beds, with concentrations of the combined isomers ranging from less than 0.01 to over 1.0 μglL Based on estimates of maximum ground-water flow velocities, a minimum age of 20 years was established for the farthest downgradient zone of dichlorobenzene contamination. Branched-chained, alkylbenzenesulfonic acid surfactants, that were introduced into the ground water prior to 1966, occur along with dichlorobenzene in the downgradient part of the plume, further establishing residence of the compounds in the aquifer for at least 20 years. Although dichlorobenzene can be biologically degraded under aerobic conditions, its persistence at this field site is attributed to the dynamics of the ground-water system. Denitrifying conditions, resulting from the degradation of organic compounds in the aquifer near the disposal beds, appear to have enhanced the persistence of dichlorobenzene, which is not degraded by anaerobic bacteria. Biological degradation of dichlorobenzene in the aerobic part of the plume downgradient from the source is probably limited by the paucity of a suitable organic-carbon substrate and the low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the contaminated ground water.
Effect of Face-Sheet Anisotropy on Buckling and Postbuckling of Sandwich Plates

Astudy oftheeffectofanisotropyoffacesheetsonbuckling andpostbuckling ofsandwiche atpanelssubjected to both mechanical and thermal loads is presented. Themechanical loadsconsist of uniaxial compressive/tensile edge loads, while the temperature is assumed to exhibit an antisymmetric variation through the panel thickness. The study iscarried outin thecontextofa geometrically nonlinear theory of sandwichstructuresthat also incorporates the effect of unavoidable stress-free initial geometric imperfections. A detailed analysis of the ine uence of a large number of parameters associated with the panel geometry, material properties of the core, e ber orientation and stacking sequence in the face sheet, and character of tangential boundary conditions (i.e., movable or immovable ) on buckling strength and postbuckling response is accomplished, and pertinent conclusions are outlined.
Dynamic coating using polyelectrolyte multilayers for chemical control of electroosmotic flow in capillary electrophoresis microchips.

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) capillary electrophoresis (CE) microchips were modified by a dynamic coating method that provided stable electroosmotic flow (EOF) with respect to pH. The separation channel was coated with a polymer bilayer consisting of a cationic layer of Polybrene (PB) and an anionic layer of dextran sulfate (DS). According to the difference in charge, PB- and PB/DS-coated channels supported EOF in different directions; however, both methods of channel coating exhibited a pH-independent EOF in the pH range of 5−10 due to chemical control of the effective ζ-potential. The endurance of the PB-coated layer was determined to be 50 runs at pH 3.0, while PB/DS-coated chips had a stable EOF for more than 100 runs. The effect of substrate composition and chip-sealing methodology was also evaluated. All tested chips showed the same EOF on the PB/DS-coated channels, as compared to uncoated chips, which varied significantly. No significant variation for separation and electrochemical detection of do...
Laser Pulse Stretching Via Enhanced Closed Loop Control With Slow Q-Switching

In testing a holographic particle track recording system for the Fermilab 15 foot bubble chamber, it was shown that the peak power of Q-switched laser pulses (50ns duration) at the required energy gave rise to boiling during the chamber expansion. A pulse stretching technique is described which was developed to reduce the peak power. Applied to a ruby laser (oscillator and three amplifiers) with a maximum Q-switched output of 30J, pulses of up to 10-μs duration with coherence up to and exceeding 11 m at 2.5μs were produced. The considerably increased coherence length will find applications in many fields of pulsed holography, and its use with fiber optics is particularly promising.
Hudson River PCB clean-up to begin

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman signed the Record of Decision on 1 February to clean up a stretch of the Hudson River that has been contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The decision calls for dredging 2 million cubic meters of PCB-contaminated sediment from a 64-kilometer stretch of the upper Hudson to remove about 68,000 kilograms of PCBs. The plan follows years of scientific study about whether the PCBs were safely encased in the sediment or posed a continuing hazard, and concern over whether the PCBs can be safely removed without stirring up a larger pollution problem along the river. The EPA found that PCBs in the sediment are not safely buried because erosion and river flows can redistribute river sediment. The agency also found that although PCBs break down naturally over time, this degradation does not render them harmless.
Frequency of negative differential resistance electrochemical oscillators: theory and experiments

An approximate formula for the frequency of oscillations is theoretically derived for skeleton models for electrochemical systems exhibiting negative differential resistance (NDR) under conditions close to supercritical Hopf bifurcation points. The theoretically predicted ω∝ (k/R)1/2 relationship (where R is the series resistance of the cell and k is the rate constant of the charge transfer process) was confirmed in experiments with copper and nickel electrodissolution. The experimentally observed Arrhenius-type dependence of frequency on temperature can also be explained with the frequency equation. The experimental validity of the frequency equation indicates that ‘apparent’ rate constants can be extracted from frequency measurements of electrochemical oscillations; such method can aid future modeling of complex responses of electrochemical cells.
Threat, Resistance, and Collective Action: The Cases of Sobibór, Treblinka, and Auschwitz

How and why do movements transition from everyday resistance to overt collective action? This article examines this question taking repressive environments and threat as an important case in point. Drawing on primary and secondary data sources, I offer comparative insights on resistance group dynamics and perceptions of threat in three Nazi death camps—Sobibor, Treblinka, and Auschwitz—between 1941 and 1945. Prisoners formed resistance groups at each camp, but collective revolt occurred in only certain cases: when the collective perception of threat at a given camp was viewed as both immediate and lethal. The interpretation of changing, threatening conditions, and an understanding of structural and interactional opportunities for group identity and tactical strategizing, are vital for understanding collective action in repressive environments. I conclude by discussing these lessons pertaining to threat and their implications for repressive contexts and broader social movement theorizing.
Bases for equational theories of semigroups

Finite algebraic structure, cvcn those with a single binary operation and only a few elements, can present questions which are surprisingly difficult to answer. R. Lyndon in [4] asked “Does every finite algebra (in the sense of G. Birkhoff) possess a finite set of identities from which all others are derivable ?” In the same paper he showed that the answer was “yes” for all two element algebras. Later, however, in [.5] he demonstrated that the answer is “no” m general by exhibiting a particular seven clement groupoid. Since then V. \-. Visin has described a four element groupoid whose identities have no finite basis [II]. This finite basis question has been of more interest in connection with groups. In 1937 B. H. Neumann [7] proved that all abelian groups are “finitely based”. The same result for nil-potent groups was obtained by Lyndon [6] and generalized by G. Higman [3]. Probably the most significant result to date is the positive answer for all finite groups given by S. Oates and hl. B. Powell in their highly group theoretic paper [8]. The question of whether or not there exists a non-finitely based group is still open and seems to be of some interest. It is the purpose of this paper to answer the finite basis question in the affirmative for all commutitive semigroups and all uniformly periodic semigroups satisfying a permutation equation. On the other hand, we exhibit a &clement semigroup whose identities have no finite basis. The proofs involved are extremely elemcritary in concept and rely mostly on an atomic analysis of deducibility in an equational s?steni. These results form part of the author’s doctoral dissertation at the IJniversity of California, Berkeley ( I966), written under the kind direction of Professor Dana Scott and xvith the financial support of the Danforth Foundation.
Nonsynchronous solutions of a singularly perturbed system with piecewise constant delays

We give conditions under which a system of the form will have constant or periodic solutions (x(t), y( t)) for and sufficiently small, such that for Here [t] denotes the greatest integer function.
From Adventure and Advancement to Derailment and Demotion: Effects of Nazi Gender Policy on Women's Careers and Lives

When the Nazis came to power in 1933 they slammed shut many educational and professional doors newly-opened to women in the 1920s. This article examines how women in three cohorts (those who had already launched their careers in 1933, those who were finishing their higher education in 1933, and those who were still in Gymnasium in 1933) adjusted to Nazi decrees. It argues that despite the Nazis’ devastating attack on women’s education and employment, many women remained resourceful and resistant to state efforts to shape their behavior. Women who had launched their careers before the Nazis came to power and whose careers were not directly attacked by the Nazis were the most likely to maintain their careers. In contrast, women who were still in school in 1933 were the most likely to be derailed. Women in all three cohorts tend to remember Nazi policy as having no impact on their life choices. Whether they directly benefitted from Nazi policy or were harmed by it, they remember their decisions as personal. For many women whose careers paths were blocked by Nazi policy, motherhood offered an alternative to employment.
Present Status of Polymer: Ceramic Composites for Pyroelectric Infrared Detectors

‘Ferroelectrics:Polymer’ composites can be considered an established substitute to conventional electro-ceramics and to ferroelectric polymers. The composites have unique blend of polymeric properties such as mechanical flexibility, high strength, formability, and low cost with high electro-active properties of ceramic materials. It has attracted considerable interest because of their potential use in pyroelectric infrared detecting devices and piezoelectric transducers. These flexible sensors and transducers may eventually be useful for NASA crew launch vehicles and crew exploration vehicles being developed for their health monitoring applications. In the light of many technologically important applications in this field; it is worthwhile to present an overview of the pyroelectric infrared detector theory, models to predict dielectric behavior and pyroelectric coefficient in conjunction with the concept of connectivity and fabrication techniques of biphasic composites. An elaborate review of ‘Pyroelectri...
Radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Cure of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is uncommon with radiotherapy alone. The desire for organ preservation in advanced resectable SCCHN and the need for better local therapy for unresectable disease have led to the development of treatment using radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy (RT/CCT). RT/CCT is an attractive strategy because the appropriate drug(s) may enhance radiation effects and independently contribute to local cytotoxicity. Concurrent treatment may combat tumor repopulation and provide the earliest possible treatment of distant micrometastases. RT/CCT may be integrated in synchronous or alternating schemes. Most randomized trials of RT/CCT versus radiation alone show superior local control, disease-free survival, and survival with combined modality treatment. Improved efficacy with RT/CCT is accompanied by increased acute toxicity, which necessitates compromises in the treatment design of most programs. Consequently the most effective RT/CCT regimen has not been defined. Chemical modifiers of toxicity are now under investigation in clinical trials and may allow for improved integration of RT/CCT.
First Report of Race 8 of Downy Mildew, Caused by Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae, of Spinach in the United States.

Downy mildew, caused by Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae, is the most economically important disease of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) in the United States and the European Union. In the United States, 23,000 ha of spinach, with a crop value of approximately $170 million, were grown during 2005 (1; http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp). Additionally, per capita, fresh-market spinach consumption has increased 214% in the past decade (1; http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp). Increased demand for fresh-market spinach has led to changes in spinach production practices such as higher planting densities and year-round production. There are currently 10 described races (races 1 to 10) of P. farinosa f. sp. spinaciae. Race 8 was recovered from the Netherlands in 2004 (B. M. Irish, J. Correll, S. T. Koike, and T. Morelock. Plant Dis. [In press]), but has not been previously identified in the United States. In February 2007, several commercial fresh-market spinach fields in central Arizona were severely affected wit...
Use of IOIO and Android Devices in Mechatronics Design Projects

This paper presents the use of IOIO and Android devices in mechatronics design projects. Mobile devices such as smartphone and tablets become very popular gadgets for the consumers in recent years. There is a need for these mobile devices to communicate with other peripherals and embedded systems through the use of microcontroller (MCU) to further extend their use. Some current MCU architectures such as ARM9, Renasas RX, Intel8051, Atmel microchip, PIC32, 68HC12, NI Single-Board Rio, Arduino, Netduino, and BASIC Stamp are known not work very well with these mobile devices. The latest hi-tech low-cost IOIO MCU, however, has demonstrated excellent capability to control peripheral devices or embedded systems via Android compatible mobile devices (smartphones or tablets) through a custom-made Android application. The IOIO provides robust connectivity to Android devices via a USB or a Bluetooth connection. It contains a single MCU that acts as a USB host and interprets commands from an Android application. Additionally, it can interact with peripheral devices in the same way as most MCUs. In other words, it provides an awesome computing power with an internet/bluetooth connectivity, a touch screen, and can interface with a variety of sensors through Android devices. This increases the IOIOs ability to easily add peripheral devices to interact with the outside world of mechatronics design projects.
On the earliest record of Cretaceous tyrannosauroids in western North America: implications for an Early Cretaceous Laurasian interchange event

The sudden appearance of Asian dinosaur clades within Lower Cretaceous strata of western North America has long been recognised as a biotic dispersion event related to initial establishment of a Beringian land bridge. To date, uncertainty exists regarding the timing of the Early Cretaceous Laurasian interchange event (EKLInE) and the pattern of associated biotic dispersal. Here, we report a tyrannosauroid premaxillary tooth (FMNH PR 2750) from the Cloverly Formation, Wyoming, USA, that pushes back the earliest Cretaceous record of the clade in North America. Although fragmentary, the tooth is consistent with mounting evidence for a pre-108 Ma initiation of EKLInE and earliest Albian emplacement of Beringia. Previous authors have considered the Aptian/Albian of western North America a depauperate dinosaur fauna, characterised by regional extinction and diversity decline. Documentation of Albian tyrannosauroids in the region indicates a more dynamic ecosystem than previously appreciated and marks an early s...
The Role of Gravity in Gentamicin-Induced Toxic Effects in a Rabbit Model

Objective: To define the role of gravity in gentamicin sulfate-induced retinal toxic effects by injecting the drug into vitrectomized rabbit eyes oriented in one of two positions. Methods: Ten right eyes of New Zealand white rabbits underwent a two-port pars plana vitrectomy and were positioned with traction scleral sutures to rotate the medullary ray superiorly (five eyes) or nasally (five eyes). Six eyes received a pars plana intravitreal injection of 400 μg (0.1 mL) of gentamicin, and four eyes received 0.1 mL of balanced salt solution only. All eyes were kept in position for 30 minutes after the injection. Unoperated-on fellow eyes served as controls. Three or 5 days later, the eyes were enucleated and histopathologic examination was performed. Results: Light and electron microscopy of gentamicintreated eyes showed inner-retinal edema and disruption of the nerve-fiber and ganglion-cell layers within the more dependent retina vs sparing of the less dependent half of the retina. Eyes that received balanced salt solution showed rare inflammatory cells along the inner-retinal surface but essentially no inner-layer disruption. Examination of unoperated-on control eyes showed no inflammatory cells, edema, or necrosis. Conclusion: Gravitational effects and positioning contribute to the location of gentamicin-induced retinal toxic effects in vitrectomized eyes.
RADIOLABELING OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR WITH 99MTC AND IN VIVO LOCALIZATION FOLLOWING INTRACEREBRAL INJECTION INTO NORMAL AND GLIOMA-BEARING RATS

High grade gliomas may have amplified expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene c-erb-B, which often is associated with increased expression of transmembrane EGFR. The purpose of the present study was to develop a method for labeling EGF with 99mTc and to determine whether the resulting radioligand would localize, following intracerebral injection, in rats bearing EGFR-positive gliomas. EGF has a relatively low molecular mass (∼6 kDa) compared to monoclonal antibodies, and this has allowed smaller bioconjugates, which should diffuse more rapidly within the brain and more effectively target disseminated glioma cells, to be constructed. In the present study, EGF has been labeled with either 131I or 99mTc, and in vitro uptake of the resulting radioligand has been investigated using C6EGFR rat glioma cells, which had been transfected with the EGFR gene. Cellular uptake of 131I radioactivity peaked after ∼30 min of incubation with [131I]EGF, following which time it declined, while 99mTc ra...
Effects of phenobarbital on activity and learning in 6-hydroxydopamine treated rat pups ☆

Abstract Phenobarbital may produce significant behavioral alterations and cognitive deficits in children and impaired brain growth in developing animals. We have investigated the long term consequences of phenobarbital administration on activity levels and cognitive performance in normal developing rat pups and littermates receiving intracisternal injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) at 5 days of age. In normal rat pups, phenobarbital reduced activity levels at 26 days of age but did not affect avoidance performance. However, in 6-OHDA rat pups, phenobarbital reduced activity at 19 days, increased activity at 26 days of age and significantly impaired both T-maze and shuttle box performance. Phenobarbital concentrations at 35 days (EMIT technique) averaged 15.5 ± 2.01 and 20.2 ± 2.76 μg /ml in control and 6-OHDA rat pups, respectively. Body weight was significantly reduced in 6-OHDA rat pups from Day 8 but there were never significant differences between phenobarbital and control animals. Brain dopamine concentrations in 6-OHDA animals averaged 35.5% of littermate controls and did not differ between phenobarbital and control animals. These findings support the notion that phenobarbital administration may adversely affect activity and cognitive performance in the developing mammalian brain.