cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum dot devices

From a recent study of the growth and optical properties of quantum dots (QD's), we demonstrated that artificial atoms with sharp electronic shells can be fabricated with good control, using self-assembled QD's grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Size and shape engineering of the QD's during growth permits the tailoring of their intersublevel energy spacings. We demonstrate a much improved uniformity of the macroscopic ensembles of QD's, with well-resolved electronic shells. In addition to size and shape engineering of the QDS's in the case of single-layer samples, we demonstrate significant improvements in the uniformity of the vertically self-aligned stacked QD's. State-filling spectroscopy of the zero-dimensional transitions between confined electrons and holes demonstrates that the energy levels are readily tunable. One to five confined levels, with an inter-level energy spacing between 25 and 90 meV, are obtained by adjusting the growth temperature or with post-growth annealings. Such QD's having well-defined excited-states have been grown in the active region of devices and results will be presented for lasers, detectors, or for structures displaying optical memory effects. For example, QD laser diodes with well-defined electronic shells are fabricated, and shape-engineered stacks of self-aligned QD's are used to increase the gain in the active region. Lasing is observed in the upper QD shells for small gain media, and progresses towards the QD ground states for longer cavity lengths. We obtained at 77K thresholds for Jth=15 A/cm2 for a 2 mm cavity lasing in the first excited state (p-shell), and at 300K for a 5 mm cavity, Jth is ~430A/cm2 with lasing in the d-shell. For an increased QD density, Jth is smaller than 100A/cm2 at room temperature. For inter- sublevel transitions, we demonstrated broadband normal incidence detection with responsivity approaching 1A/W at a detection wavelength of 5 microns. For interband detection, the photoluminescence decay time of p-i-n diode can be changed from ~3nsec to ~0.3nsec (3Ghz) with a reverse bias. For Qds capped with less than ~10 nm, remarkable charge transfers between QD and surface states lead to optical memory effects lasting over time-scales of several minutes.
New Epistemological Perspectives on Quantitative Methods: An Example Using Topological Data Analysis

Background: Education researchers use quantitative methodologies to examine generalizable correlational trends or causal mechanisms in phenomena or behaviors. These methodologies stem from (post)positivist epistemologies and often rely on statistical methods that use the means of groups or categories to determine significant results. The results can often essentialize findings to all members of a group as truth knowable within some quantifiable error. Additionally, the attitudes and beliefs of the majority (i.e., in engineering, White cis men) often dominate conclusions drawn and underemphasizes responses from minoritized individuals. In recent years, engineering education research has pursued more epistemologically and methodologically diverse perspectives. However, quantitative methodologies remain relatively fixed in their fundamental epistemological framings, goals, and practices. Purpose: In this theory paper, we discuss the epistemic groundings of traditional quantitative methods and describe an opportunity for new quantitative methods that expand the possible ways of framing and conducting quantitative research—person-centered analyses. This article invites readers to re-examine quantitative research methods. Scope: This article discusses the challenges and opportunities of novel quantitative methods in engineering education, particularly in the limited epistemic framings associated with traditional statistical methods. The affordances of person-centered analyses within different epistemological paradigms and research methods are considered. Then, we provide an example of a person-centered method, topological data analysis (TDA), to illustrate the unique insights that can be gained from person-centered analyses. TDA is a statistical method that maps the underlying structure of highly dimensional data. Discussion/Conclusions: This article advances the discussion of quantitative methodologies and methods in engineering education research to offer new epistemological approaches. Considering the foundational epistemic framings of quantitative research can expand the kinds of questions that can be asked and answered. These new approaches offer ways to conduct more interpretive and inclusive quantitative research.
"Fair or Not?": The Impact of Remote Working on Organizational Justice during Covid-19 Pandemic

With remote-working increased due to the social-distancing during the Covid-19 Pandemic, remote-working is more salient for organizations. Existing literature places remote-working as an antecedent to perceptions of Organizational Justice. Pre-pandemic, the literature presents work-from-home in a positive frame of reference. In the Covid-19 environment, many perceptions have changed regarding employment. Likely overall perceptions regarding work-from-home have shifted because more people engage in remote-working. We argue perceptions of work-from-home through the frame of reference found in Organizational Justice literature have negatively shifted. To study this phenomenon, we gathered social media data in comments from a work discussion forum on Reddit. We coded the data with an a priori code-set and assigned dummy variables for analysis. That dataset was analyzed via a five-way Factorial ANOVA examining the influences of the four independent variables of Organizational Justice (Distributive, Procedural, Interpersonal, and Informational Justice) and the temporal occurrence of Covid-19 on the sentimental polarity of comments surrounding the topic of work-from-home. Results indicated Informational Justice is a significant contributor to more negative sentiment regarding work-from-home. When Distributive, Interpersonal, and Informational Justice and Distributive and Informational Justice interact, sentimental polarity grows more negative for work-from-home. Discussion of results, implications for practice, and limitations presented.
Risk Factors for Hospitalization and Death From COVID-19 in South Sudan and Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background: Our study described demographic characteristics, exposures, and symptoms, and comorbidities to evaluate risk factors of hospitalization and mortality among cases in Juba, South Sudan (SSD) and North and South Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Methods: This observational cohort of COVID-19 cases enrolled individuals presenting for care at one of five study facilities in SSD (n=1) or DRC (n=4) or referred from home-based care by mobile medical teams between December 2020– June 2021. Demographic characteristics, COVID-19 exposures, symptoms at presentation, as well as acute and chronic comorbidities were evaluated using a standard questionnaire at enrollment. Disease progression was characterized by location of care using mixed-effects regression models. Findings: 751 individuals were eligible for enrollment. Among cases followed to discharge or death (n=519), 375 were enrolled outpatients (75.7%). A similar number of cases were enrolled in DRC (n=262) and South Sudan (n=257). Overall mortality was 4.8% (95% CI: 3.2-6.9%); there were no outpatient deaths. Patients presenting with any symptoms had higher odds of hospitalization (AOR 2.78, 95% CI 1.47 –5.27) and all deaths occurred among symptomatic individuals. Odds of both hospitalization and mortality were greatest among cases with respiratory symptoms; presence of low oxygen levels on enrollment was strongly associated with both hospitalization (AOR 7.77, 95% CI: 4.22– 14.29) and mortality (AOR 25.29, 95% CI 6.42– 99.54). Presence of more than one chronic comorbidity was associated with 4.96 (95% CI 1.51– 16.31) times greater odds of death; neither infectious comorbidities evaluated (malaria, TB, and HIV) nor malnutrition were significantly associated with increased mortality. Interpretation: Consistent with prior literature, older age, low oxygen level, other respiratory symptoms, and chronic comorbidities were all risk factors for mortality. Patients presenting with these characteristics were more likely to be hospitalized, providing evidence of effective triage and referral. Clinical Trial Registration Details: The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04568499). Funding Information: Funded by USAID (award 72OFDA20GR0221). Declaration of Interests: All authors have signed the IJCME declaration of interest forms and have no conflicts of interest to report. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Johns Hopkins University Institutional Review Board, the South Sudan Ministry of Health Ethics Committee, the University of Kinshasa School of Public Health , and the US CDC.
The heterogeneous scenario at the basis of RARβ2 epigenetic silencing and RA resistance in breast epithelial cells

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 1626 Breast cancer cell lines and tumors are often resistant to the growth inhibitory effect of retinoic acid (RA). We recently demonstrated that functional inhibition of the RA receptor RARα in RA-sensitive breast (cancer) epithelial cells leads to epigenetic silencing of the RA receptor RARβ2 , which, in turn, leads to RA-resistance (Ren et al., Mol Cell Biol, 2005). Further, knock down of upper RARα transcriptional regulators apparently triggers a repressive domino effect that first silences RAR α and then RARβ2 . Induction of RARβ2 epigenetic silencing in non neoplastic human mammary epithelial cells leads to RA-resistance as well as loss of epithelial polarization. However, we also found evidence of non neoplastic mammary epithelial cells, which are RA-resistant and carry a silent RARβ2, still capable of undergoing epithelial cell polarization when grown in three-dimensional culture. These overall findings might indicate that non neoplastic epithelial cell morphology can be “dominant” over a RARβ2 epigenetic silent status, as we, and others, observed in breast tissue. This study was supported by the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (DAMD17-02-1-0432) to NS.
Psychological distress among oncology outpatients: Prevalence and severity as measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory

Abstract The psychological status of 126 oncology outpatients with heterogeneous diagnoses and few ensuing physical limitations was assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory during initial registration at the clinic. Approximately one in three patients reported moderate to high levels of depression and anxiety. The level of distress was not significantly influenced by sex, marital status, or activity status. Based on these results, roughly one fifth of oncology outpatients may warrant ongoing evaluation or intervention for psychological distress.
Self-Portrait as Critic with Body

Once upon a time, in a little farming town far away, there lived the bloody shit girl. The bloody shit girl was a fourteen-year-old girl who, the day before Easter in 1978, woke up with diarrhea and through out the course of the day flushed six pints of blood down the toilet, except that she was too ignorant to know that's what was happen ing because it was black, tarry, foul, partially digested blood from way up high in her intestines, and she naively thought all blood was red. At dinner time that Saturday, she mentioned to her mother, casually, that there was something particularly disgusting about this particular case of diarrhea, the stench so strong, the color so black. Her mother was slicing a loaf of French bread; the knife stopped halfway through the loaf. "That means there's blood in it," the mother said, and instructed her not to flush the toilet the next time she used it.
HEPARIN EFFECT ON RED BLOOD CELL AGGREGATION

We studied the effect of relatively high dosages of heparin (25-150 U/ml) on some rheological parameters of donor blood. It was found that heparin increased the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and low shear blood viscosity at all concentrations studied. The increase of these parameters indicates an elevation in RBC aggregation. In all samples with a heparin concentration of 100 U/ml, the average ESR was increased by approximately 75% (p < 0.001); whole blood viscosity increased under shear rate, gamma = 0.277 sec-1, by approximately 30% (p < 0.001). Since bolus injection of heparin may result in transient high local concentration, these results suggest a possible additional adverse effect to the well known heparin effect on platelet aggregation.
Data Visualization through Graph Drawing

In this paper the problem of visualizing categorical multivariate data sets is considered. By representing the data as the adjacency matrix of an appropriately defined bipartite graph, the problem is transformed to one of graph drawing. A general graph drawing framework is introduced, the corresponding mathematical problem defined and an algorithmic approach for solving the necessary optimization problem discussed. The new approach is illustrated through several examples.
Regulation of bilirubin glucuronide synthesis in primate (Macaca fascicularis) liver

Abstract Hepatic bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase (UDP-glucuronyltransferase) catalyzes the formation of bilirubin monoglucuronides (BMG, C-8 and C-12 isomers) and bilirubin diglucuronide (BDG) from bilirubin and the cosubstrate, UDP-glucuronic acid. Distinctive patterns of bile pigment excretion occur in different species and in pathologic disorders (e.g., Gilbert's syndrome). In normal human and monkey ( Macaca fascicularis ) bile, the proportion of BDG exceeds that of BMG and the C-8C-12 BMG isomer ratio approaches unity. To investigate the mechanisms responsible for the patterns of BDG and BMG isomers in bile, we used a radiochemical assay to analyze the kinetics and regulation of bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase in microsomes prepared from monkey liver. The synthesis of BMG from bilirubin was a higher capacity, lower affinity step ( V max = 295 pmol / mg protein · min, K m = 24 μM ) than BDG synthesis from endogenously formed BMG ( V max = 170 pmol / mg protein · min, K m = 14 μM ). This observation was confirmed when biosynthetically prepared BMG was used as substrate. The rate of formation of BDG relative to BMG was modulated by both bilirubin and UDP-glucuronic acid concentration, whereas the C-8C-12 BMG isomer ratio was influenced exclusively by UDP-glucuronic acid concentration. The data obtained with increasing UDP-glucuronic acid concentration did not obey conventional single-site kinetics, suggesting the presence of more than one binding site on the enzyme or a membrane transporter for this nucleotide sugar. These findings demonstrate that microsomal bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase has a greater capacity for BMG than BDG synthesis, and thus support the concept that the decreased BDGBMG ratio in the bile of patients with reduced hepatic enzyme activity (i.e., Gilbert's syndrome and type II Crigler-Najjar disease) reflects the diminished capacity of the enzyme to synthesize BDG from BMG. Bilirubin and UDP-glucuronic acid concentrations both appear to be pivotal in regulating the synthesis of individual bilirubin glucuronides and hence the patterns of bilirubin conjugates excreted in bile.
Discovering more properties of the Fibonacci sequence

The Fibonacci sequence can be the basis for many straightforward programming assignments in CS1. This paper describes a computational experiment: determine if this sequence conforms to Benford's Law. Once that correlation has been observed, another related experiment can be assigned. The analysis concerning the reasons behind one, or both, of these results can be an optional bonus component to the assignment.
Improving speedup and response times by replicating parallel programs on a SNOW

Idle computation cycles of a shared network of workstations are increasingly being used to run batch parallel programs. For one common paradigm, the batch program task running on an idle workstation is preempted when the owner reclaims the workstation. This owner interference has a considerable impact on the execution time of a batch program, especially in the case of large parallel programs. Replication of batch program tasks has been used to reduce the impact of owner interference. We show analytically that replication can significantly improve parallel program speedup. Perhaps surprisingly, replication can also improve efficiency for certain workloads. We present analysis to quantify the amount of speedup and efficiency improvement. Furthermore, we provide analysis to help determine whether extra available workstations should be used for increasing job parallelism or for task replication.
The transplant experience of liver recipients: ethical issues and practice implications.

SUMMARY The transplant experience of 20 liver organ transplant recipients was investigated in a longitudinal study. Five primary themes were identified from analysis of recipients' interviews including concerns about: (1) quality of life, (2) quality of health care, (3) economic factors, (4) social support factors, and (5) psychological factors. These findings are analyzed within the current context of social work in health care characterized by three interactive trends: advances in medical technology, changing health care economics, and a shift in the locus of health care delivery from institutions to the community. All five themes reflect the impact of these trends and give rise to ethical issues with practice implications.
Trimodal venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in total knee replacement: A quality improvement project for best care practices

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a highly significant clinical and public health concern in the United States, particularly in the surgical population, where approximately 2 million patients of >30 million operative procedures performed annually in the United States experience postoperative complications. Previous well-documented research has revealed that longstanding national guidelines that call for risk stratification and trimodal VTE prophylaxis, a comprehensive modality incorporating 3 arms of prophylaxis-chemical, mechanical, and early ambulation-suffer from significant levels of nonadherence. The fallout includes a disconcerting magnitude of cases of preventable morbidity and mortality, and exertion of a weighty cost burden on the US health care system. This evidence-based quality improvement project investigated the level of adherence, and the causes of nonadherence, to national guidelines for VTE prophylaxis among total knee replacement patients at a prominent tertiary facility in central Massachusetts. Chief among the findings, analysis of documented data, augmented by data collected from unannounced mechanical prophylaxis adherence audits, identified frontline staff negligence as the principal cause of nonadherence in the mechanical arm. Overall, the project helped to underscore optimal VTE prophylaxis as a synergistic amalgamation of the trimodal methodology's complementary individual component efficacies.
Human intestinal epithelial cell lines produce factor(s) that inhibit CD3-mediated T-lymphocyte proliferation

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBT) proliferate more to anti-CD3 stimulation than to anti-CD2 stimulation. On the other hand, fresh, but not cultivated, intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIEL) exhibit a lower response to CD3 stimulation in comparison to CD2. The goal of this study was to show that the anti-CD3 T-cell response depends on the microenvironment and is independent of the origin of the lymphocytes. Cultured T-cell lines were stimulated with either an anti-CD3 mAb or an anti-CD2 mAb. Either conditioned supernatant from intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) lines or non- conditioned medium (negative control) was added. After 2 days cytokine production and proliferation were measured. Conditioned supernatant decreased the proliferative response of small and large bowel iIEL compared to controls (P=0.04). In the same experiments, the cytokine production was non-significantly decreased. Immortalized iIEL, that are not regularly stimulated by their CD3 pathway, showed a similar decrease in proliferation (P<0.001) and cytokine production (P=0.01) when incubated with conditioned supernatant. Similar results were also obtained with a non-immortalized and an immortalized PBT line (P<0.001). In a small bowel iIEL cell line, that exhibited a significant response to anti-CD2 stimulation, the proliferative response to anti-CD2 stimulation was preserved. Active conditioned supernatant could be generated from three independent IEC lines and a liver derived epithelial cell line, but not from a non-epithelial control cell line or two extraintestinal epithelial cell lines. We conclude that supernatants of cultured IEC contain soluble factor(s) that cause cultured iIEL and extraintestinal lymphocytes to behave like fresh iIEL. These results, therefore, support and extend the studies of others which suggest that the intestinal microenvironment mucosalizes lymphocytes.
Catalyst-free ZnO nanowires on silicon by pulsed laser deposition with tunable density and aspect ratio

Abstract ZnO nanostructures were grown on Si(1 1 1) via pulsed laser deposition. The morphology of the ZnO was tunable based on the pressure of the atmosphere during deposition: deposition in vacuum produced a thin film, deposition at intermediate pressures (75 mTorr) yielded nanoclusters of ZnO and deposition at higher pressures (>250 mTorr) produced c-axis oriented nanowires. Through variation of the deposition temperature and pressure it was possible to control the nanowire density, height, and diameter. Room temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals exciton to defect peak ratios greater than 100 suggesting much greater stoichiometry and reduced defect density than found in catalyst-formed ZnO nanowires. The evolution of the ZnO nanowire growth was examined through X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Using a two-step deposition procedure involving depositing a seed layer at a low temperature with further deposition at a higher temperature we were able to increase the height of the nanowires without increasing the diameter. These two-step structures were seen to come in two morphological forms – ZnO needles and porous, nested ZnO nanostructures.
Oxidation of furan and furfural in a well-stirred reactor

Oxidation of the aromatic heterocyclic compounds furan (C4H4O) and furfural (C3H4O2) is conducted in an atmospheric pressure jet-stirred reactor for temperatures of 1000 to 1300 K. reactor mean residence times of 0.0018 to 0.0024s, and mole ratios of furan or furfural to oxygen of 0.017 to 0.023. The reactor exhibits spatial uniformity in temperature and species concentrations, and is strongly stirred by a sonic jet of hot, post-combustion gases from a high-pressure, fuel-lean, hydrogen-air burner. The jet is seeded with furan or furfural just prior to its entry into the reactor. Distinctive aspects of furan and furfural oxidation are examined and are compared to benchmark results reported elsewhere on the oxidation of pentane and carbon monoxide in the reactor. Furan and furfural exhibit rapid formation of carbon monoxide and acetylene, though their overall yields of light hydrocarbon gases are low compared to yields seen for the oxidation of alkanes, and the overall rate of combustion of furan is very similar to that of pentane. Yields of C2H2, C2H4, and CH4 from both compounds are similar and in the proportion 10:2.5:1. Two oxidation mechanisms are discussed for furan, one involving rupture of the 2-furyl radical leading to ketyl radical and acetylene, and the other involving reaction of the 2-furyl radical with dioxygen. Furfural is more reactive than furan, especially at the lowest temperatures of the experiment, suggesting unimolecular elimination of the formyl radical to produce CO and H.
Relationships between birth category, achievement, and interpersonal orientation.

Toni FalboUniversity of Texas at AustinA study was conducted to examine the relationships between birth category andtwo types of personality characteristics: achievement and interpersonal orien-tations. Hypotheses were generated from theories about the processes underlyinga child's relationships with parents and siblings. Birth category was defined interms of four groups: only, first, middle, and last borns. Subjects (N = 1,785)were undergraduates who were paid to complete a series of objective personalitymeasures and a background questionnaire. Birth category effects in achievementorientation were found with competitiveness and educational aspirations, but notwith mastery, willingness to work, or personal unconcern about the costs ofachievement. In terms of interpersonal orientation, birth category effects wereobtained in locus of control, self-esteem, and self-centeredness, but not loneliness.The influence of gender, family size, and social class on these birth categoryeffects was assessed. The results were discussed in terms of three types of pro-cesses: (a) those brought about by parents, (b) those produced by sibling inter-action, and (c) those caused by sibling absence.
Stripping analysis combined on-line with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

This review article describes the basic principles of combining stripping analysis (SA) on-line with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Four applications are reviewed to demonstrate the utility and versatility of the combination of SA with ICP-AES or ICP-MS: (1) preconcentration of an analyte for enhanced sensitivity, (2) elimination of detrimental ICP-AES or ICP-MS matrix effects, (3) elemental speciation at trace levels, and (4) sensitive multielement determination. Factors influencing the analytical performance of the on-line coupling of SA with ICP-AES or with ICP-MS are also discussed.
DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE AND THE CRITICISM OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

. Debate concerning international justice has shifted during this century from issues of legality to those of welfare. Underlying present controversies are differences regarding the character of international society and of political association itself. One division separates those who accept the premises of the states system from others who look forward to a cosmopolitan world society of individuals. And where some identify international justice with conduct according to common rules, others link it with social and economic equality or the achievement of minimum levels of welfare. The idea of distributive justice reflects the view that law and government should promote the latter ends. This raises the question (explored here using some ideas of Michael Oakeshott's) whether the pursuit of distributive justice is compatible with international relations in terms of common rules.
Broadly tunable, narrow linewidth dye laser emission in the near infrared

Abstract An efficient organic dye laser with a linewidth of less than 2 A has been developed as a source of tunable high power radiation in the wavelength range 7500–9200 A. Utilizing a 2 MW ruby laser pump, infrared output powers in excess of 200 kW have been attained for the range 7650–8900 A with peak power levels above 400 kW. The tunning range for a single dye varies from 550 to 1030 A.
Multiply charged ions in the mass spectra of aromatics

The prominence of multiply charged molecular and fragment ions upon electron-impact in the mass spectrometer is proposed as an experimental, empirical indication of aromatic character. The effects of electron withdrawing and donating substituents on the production of multiply charged ions are considered and appearance potentials are noted for several species.
Enthalpy of formation of europium dichloride and thermodynamic properties of the +2 and +3 aqueous ions of europium

Enthalpies of solution of anhydrous EuCl2 have been measured at 298.15 K in dilute hydrochloric acid solutions which were either oxygen-saturated or oxygen-free. Because of ambiguity in the oxidation of Eu2+(aq) by oxygen, enthalpies of oxidation of Eu2+(aq) have also been measured using bromine water and liquid bromine. Combined with other recent thermochemical measurements, the above experiments yield ΔHof(Eu2+, aq) = −(527.8 ± 5.4) kJ mol−1, ΔHof(Eu3+, aq) = −(604.8 ± 3.8) kJ mol−1, and ΔHof(EuCl2, c) = −(824.4 ± 5.9) kJ mol−1. The Eu(III, II) electrode potential has been measured in dilute chloride solutions, with the recommended result −(0.35 ± 0.03) V. These data have been combined to yield So(Eu2+, aq) = −(10 ± 12) J K−1 mol−1.
Differential effects of ovarian steroids and triphenylethylene compounds on macromolecular uptake and thymidine incorporation in the mouse uterus.

In the rodent uterus, estrogen elicits a biphasic response i.e. an early phase (Phase I) and a late phase (Phase II). Estradiol-17 beta (E2) and estriol (E3), as well as triphenylethylene (TPE) compounds, CI-628 and clomiphene citrate (CC), were used to characterize Phase I and Phase II responses in uterine preparation for implantation in the mouse. While uterine macromolecular uptake (vascular permeability), a Phase I response, was studied in progesterone (P4)-primed animals, uterine [3H]thymidine incorporation (DNA synthesis), a Phase II response, was investigated with and without P4-priming. In the P4-primed uterus, all compounds, except CC, significantly increased uterine macromolecular uptake as determined by interstitial tissue accumulation of [125I]bovine serum albumin [( 125I]BSA). DNA synthesis as determined by cellular incorporation of [3H]thymidine was modulated by P4, estrogens and TPE compounds in a cell-type specific and temporal manner. As a single injection and in the absence of P4, E2 induced [3H]thymidine incorporation in the luminal and glandular epithelium at 18 and 24 h. E3 was inferior to E2 in this response. On the other hand, treatment with P4 for 1 day or 4 days induced [3H]thymidine incorporation primarily in stromal cells. However, stromal cell incorporation was potentiated when P4 treatment was combined with estrogens or TPE compounds. These results reveal the relative importance of Phase I and cell-type specific Phase II responses in uterine preparation for implantation.
Relative value of measurements in a discrete decentralized LQG framework

A discrete linear multi-agent system is considered, and each agent in the system aims to minimize his own infinite-horizon quadratic cost. An attempt is made to quantify the relative value of information at each node in the network. This knowledge is relevant when the exchange of information between agents is costly or limited. First, a centralized approach to the estimation and control problem is taken. Then, a nonzero sum game is formulated, in which the strategies are the measurements selections. We impose that these be time periodic, which allows us to pose an equivalent finite-horizon game and to interpret the results as explicit data rates. The method is applied to the simple example of a string of cars, and provides an interesting validation to a heuristic assumption made in previous work on string stability.
Determination of Carbamazepine in Uncoated and Film-Coated Tablets by HPLC with UV Detection

Abstract A simple and reliable method for the determination of carbamazepine in uncoated and film-coated tablets has been developed and validated by high-performance liquid chromatography with ibuprofen as the internal standard. The tablets were weighed and ground individually, and were extracted in methanol using method of sonification. The extract was diluted and purified using 0.45 µm membrane filter. Separation was achieved on an Econosphere C18 5µ analytical column with a mobile phase of 28:72 acetonitrile:sodium phosphate buffer. Detection was at UV 230 nm using a photodiode array detector. The mean retention times of carbamazepine and ibuprofen were 4.2 and 12.3 min, respectively. Peak height ratios were fit to a least squares linear regression for calculation of standard regression equation. The linear calibration range was from 5.0–25.0 µg/mL with the lower limit of detection (LLOD) of 18 ng/mL and the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 60 ng/mL. This simple and convenient method produced good...
Microemulsion of Mixed Chlorinated Solvents Using Food Grade (Edible) Surfactants

Ground water contamination frequently consists of mixed chlorinated solvents [e.g., tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and trans-1,2- dichloroethylene (DCE)]. In this research, mixtures of the food grade (edible) surfactants bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) and sodium mono- and dimethylnaphthalene sulfonate (SMDNS) were used in the formation of middle-phase microemulsions for mixed chlorinated solvents. Microemulsions of binary (e.g., PCE/TCE, PCE/DCE, DCE/TCE) and ternary (PCE/TCE/DCE) chlorinated solvent systems were evaluated. Several empirical correlations were used for describing and/or predicting the phase behavior of the resulting middle-phase microemulsions (e.g., the ideal mixing rule or the nonideal regular mixing theory). The ideal mixing rule provided a good approximation for binary and ternary systems, but experimental deviations from the predictions were significant enough to affect the optimal surfactant system. Nonideal regular mixing theory demonstrated much ...
Goal-oriented evaluation of binarization algorithms for historical document images

Binarization is of significant importance in document analysis systems. It is an essential first step, prior to further stages such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), document segmentation, or enhancement of readability of the document after some restoration stages. Hence, proper evaluation of binarization methods to verify their effectiveness is of great value to the document analysis community. In this work, we perform a detailed goal-oriented evaluation of image quality assessment of the 18 binarization methods that participated in the DIBCO 2011 competition using the 16 historical document test images used in the contest. We are interested in the image quality assessment of the outputs generated by the different binarization algorithms as well as the OCR performance, where possible. We compare our evaluation of the algorithms based on human perception of quality to the DIBCO evaluation metrics. The results obtained provide an insight into the effectiveness of these methods with respect to human perception of image quality as well as OCR performance.
Open access to working notes in the humanities

A web-based tool for making and sharing research designed for authors, curators, and editors in the humanities is described, editorsnotes.org. Notes are a varied genre not limited to annotations. The data for the tool is modeled as three kinds of records: Notes created; Documents cited; and Topics, headings for names and subjects. Structured records are needed for interoperability and sharing. Open access, sustainability issues, and how working notes can complement other infrastructure are discussed in a status report.
Spectroscopic Determinations from Resonance Spin-Flip

Proton spin-flip in $^{12}\mathrm{C}(p, {p}_{1})^{12}\mathrm{C}({2}^{+}, 4.44 \mathrm{MeV})$ has been measured in the region of the narrow ${\frac{3}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ resonance near 8.18 MeV proton energy. Large interference is observed between the resonant and background spin-flip. The configuration of the resonant state in terms of a proton coupled to the ${2}^{+}$ level of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ was obtained from a model-independent analysis. The data are sufficient to allow a self-consistent test of the theoretical formulation.
Carpentry and building in late imperial China : a study of the fifteenth-century carpenter's manual, Lu Ban jing

This volume deals with the world of carpenters and joiners in late Imperial China, discussing both the technical and the religious and ritual aspects of building. It uses as its point of departure a unique and hitherto unused source: the fifteenth-century carpenter's manual Lu Ban jing. The first part of the book examines building materials, the life of labourers and craftsmen, and the process of building a house. Subjects included are the choice of favourable measurements, the ritual of raising the ridge pole, and the complete, annotated translation of the Lu Ban jing, preceded by a bibliographic essay. The sections on furniture construction are especially important for the art historian. The book is finely illustrated with more than eighty original drawings and includes a facsimile of the extremely rare, richly illustrated earliest edition of the Lu Ban jing, dating from ca. 1600.
Self-Assembled Monolayer Compatible with Metal Surface Acoustic Wave Devices on Lithium Niobate

The formation of a siloxane self-assembled monolayer (SAM) film on a lithium niobate substrate was investigated for surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor devices for the detection of hydrogen. The most widely used SAM coupling reagent, octadecyltrichlorosilane, etches aluminum metal features that are integral to sensor devices, due to the formation of high local concentrations of hydrochloric acid. An alternative coupling reagent, octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS), does not show any etching of metal parts. OTMS and related molecules are compatible with conventional SAW device manufacturing techniques and other devices that contain metal features susceptible to etching by acid released in the SAM formation process.
Fatal Hemoptysis in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Old Malady With a New Curse

We describe the case of a 27-year-old man with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, type IV. The patient had recurrent and eventually fatal pulmonary hemorrhage. Type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a rare disorder of type III collagen synthesis. It is characterized by an unusual facies, thin, translucent skin with venous vascular pattern, and hypermobility of the small joints. The cause of death is usually due to rupture of a viscus or a major arterial hemorrhage and, in women, rupture of the gravid uterus. Fatal lung hemorrhage in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, to our knowledge, has not been previously described.
Impoundment of rivers: Sediment regime and its effect on benthos

1. A major effect of impoundment of rivers is the coarsening of the sediment of the bed (‘armouring’). The effect occurs over many tens of kilometres at least and develops over a period of years to tens of years. 2. It is postulated that coarsening of the sediment may prevent burrowing benthos from finding suitable habitats and may thus severely diminish the fauna of impounded rivers. 3. The upper Delaware River has a depleted fauna of gomphid dragonflies and unionoid bivalves which probably results from the armouring of the bed resulting from impoundment.
Trials of vaccination against experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis with a T-cell receptor peptide.

T lymphocytes which mediate several experimental autoimmune diseases, including encephalomyelitis (EAE) and uveoretinitis (EAU) in Lewis rats, preferentially utilize Vβ8 gene product in their receptor. Vaccination against a Vβ8.2-derived peptide was reported to inhibit EAE induction and we report here on the effect of vaccination with this peptide on the development of EAU. Experimental rats were pretreated with the Vβ8.2 peptide, emulsified in adjuvant (CFA), whereas control animals were untreated or injected with saline in CFA. Rats of all groups were immunized 30 or 40 days later with the immunopathogenic antigen, emulsified in Mycobacterium-enriched CFA. Vaccination with CFA emulsions containing either the Vβ8.2 peptide or saline, remarkably inhibited the development of the tested diseases, as compared to the untreated controls. Vaccination with the Vβ8.2 peptide had variable effects in this study on disease development: it inhibited the S-antigen-induced EAU more than did treatment with CFA in four o...
Phytochrome control of RNA levels in developing pea and mung-bean leaves.

We have examined phytochrome effects on the abundance of transcripts from several nuclear and chloroplast genes in buds of dark-grown pea seedlings and primary leaves of dark-grown mung-bean seedlings. Probes for nuclear-coded RNAs were selected from a library of cDNA clones and included those corresponding to the small subunit (SS) of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase and a chlorophyll a/b binding protein (AB). Transcripts from chloroplast genes for RuBP carboxylase large subunit (LS) and a 32,000-dalton photosystem II polypeptide (PII) were assayed with cloned fragments of the chloroplast genome. In addition, we present data on transcripts from a number of other nuclear genes of unknown function, several of which change in abundance during light-induced development. Transcript levels were measured as a proportion of total RNA by a dot blot assay in which RNA from different tissues or stages is fixed to nitrocellulose and hybridized with 32P-labeled probes prepared from cloned DNAs. Several patterns of induction can be seen. For example, although both SS and AB RNAs show positive, red/far-red reversible responses in both pea and mung bean, in pea buds the induction ratio for SS RNA is much higher than that for AB RNA, while just the reverse is true for mung-bean leaves. In addition, treatment with lowfluence red light produces full induction of the pea AB RNA, while SS RNA in the same tissue does not reach a maximum steady-state level until after about 24 h of supplementary high-intensity white light. In pea buds, chloroplast genes (LS, PII) also show clear responses to phytochrome, as measured by the steady-state levels of their RNA products. Chloroplast DNA levels (as a fraction of the total cellular DNA) show the same response pattern, which may indicate that in peas many of the light effects we see are related to a general stimulation of chloroplast development. In mung beans, the levels of plastid DNA and RNA are already quite high in the leaves of 7-d dark-grown seedlings, and light effects are much less pronounced. The results are consistent with the notion that chloroplast development is arrested at a later stage in dark-grown mung-bean leaves than in etiolated pea buds.
Noncholinergic Transmitter(s) Maintains Secretion of Catecholamines from Rat Adrenal Medulla for Several Hours of Continuous Stimulation of Splanchnic Neurons

: The effect of continuous stimulation of splanchnic nerves at1, 3, and 10 Hz on the secretion of catecholamines from the isolated rat adrenal gland was examined. Secretion evoked at 10 Hz declined over 60% in 1 h, and by the end of 4 h the secretion was only 10% of the initial value. The secretion evoked at 3 Hz was unchanged in the first hour, but showed a gradual decline in subsequent hours. In contrast, secretion evoked at 1 Hz was well maintained for several hours. Even after 6 h of continuous stimulation, the decline was only about 35%. Atropine plus hexamethonium reduced the secretion evoked at 10 Hz by over 80%, but that evoked at 1 Hz was reduced by about 35%; addition of naloxone reduced it to 75%. When the secretion declined to very low levels after continuous stimulation at 10 Hz for 100 min, a change in frequency to 3 Hz or 1 Hz caused a sharp rebound in the secretory response. Returning the frequency back to 10 Hz led to a sharp drop in the secretion, whereas reducing the frequency to 1 or 3 Hz once again increased the secretion. The rebound in the secretory response after switchover of frequencies was observed in the presence of atropine plus hexamethonium, but was abolished by naloxone. Extensive stimulations, which caused large amounts of catecholamine secretions at each frequency, were not associated with any loss in tissue catecholamine contents. The major conclusion is that secretion of catecholamines is maintained uninterrupted for several hours when splanchnic nerves are stimulated at low frequency. Under these conditions, the release of noncholinergic transmitter(s) from splanchnic nerves is mostly responsible for inducing the secretion of catecholamines.
Selective Oxidation of Silicon (100) vs. Tungsten Surfaces by Steam in Hydrogen

Chemistry associated with the selective oxidation of silicon (Si) vs. tungsten (W) by water (H 2 O) steam in hydrogen (H 2 ) has been studied. New kinetics data and equations are obtained for SiO 2 growth on Si(100) at the atmospheric pressure and 950-1100°C, with the H 2 O fractional pressure between 0 to 0.8 atmospheres. The selectivity window for oxidizing Si but not W is determined to be pH 2 :pH 2 O > 3:1. Oxygen content in W films slightly increased after being processed within the selectivity window. When W films were processed out of the selectivity window, both W oxidation and Si migration from the underlying SiO 2 layers into the W layers were observed.
The exact discrete analog to a closed linear mixed-order system

Abstract This paper deals with the problem of finding the exact discrete solution that corresponds to a closed linear mixed-order svstem.
Effects of physostigmine on shuttle avoidance in rats exposed prenatally to ethanol.

Abstract Shuttle avoidance performance following pretreatment with physostigmine was assessed in 85- to 100-day-old rats whose mothers consumed a liquid diet consisting of 35% ethanol-derived calories (EDC) during pregnancy. Offspring of pair-fed (0% EDC) and ad lib lab chow (LC) dams served as controls. Animals received either 0,0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg physostigmine sulfate prior to acquisition training in a shuttle avoidance apparatus. Training consisted of 50 trials/day for 4 days. Thirty-five percent EDC rats made fewer avoidances than controls during acquisition training. Treatment with physostigmine reduced the number of avoidances made, and did so similarly for all prenatal treatment groups. Escape latencies were not affected by prenatal treatment, although they were increased by physostigmine administration prior to training. Neither prenatal treatment nor physostigmine treatment affected activity as measured by the number of intertrial crossings while in the apparatus. These data indicate that alcohol-exposed animals did not respond differentially to physostigmine relative to controls, suggesting that cholinergic dysfunction may not underlie the prenatal alcohol-induced deficit in active avoidance.
Net economic value of the freshwater recreational fisheries of New York.

Abstract A statewide angler survey was conducted in New York in 1988 in part to estimate the net economic value of the state's recreational fishery. Willingness-to-pay questions from the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation were adapted to a mail survey format and respondents were asked how much they would be willing to pay above current expenditures for a specific fishing trip. The net economic value estimated from the responses exceeded $284 million for the freshwater fisheries of New York in 1988. Although inland fisheries accounted for 76% of the statewide net economic value, $69 million was associated with the portion of the Great Lakes assigned to New York. Comparisons with a 1976–1977 analysis of the net economic value of New York's Great Lakes fishery, which used a variation of the indirect travel cost methodology, showed a major shift in net economic value from trips for warmwater species to trips for coldwater or for both warm and coldwater species. Baseline da...