cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
All-fiber ring soliton laser mode locked with a nonlinear mirror

An amplifying nonlinear-optical fiber loop mirror is used as the gain element in an all-fiber ring laser. The resulting double-loop structure resembles a figure eight. The output of the amplifying nonlinear-optical fiber loop mirror is fed back to the input through an optical isolator to ensure unidirectional operation. The laser produces 2-ps transform-limited pulses. The pulse energy corresponds to that of the fundamental soliton in the fiber used.
The density of molten thorium and uranium tetrafluorides

Abstract Using molybdenum crucibles and sinkers, the liquid densities of liquid uranium and thorium tetrafluorides were determined by the immersed-sinker method from 1300 to 1700°K. and are represented by the equations D ThF 4 (1) = 7·108 − 7·590 × 10 −4 T D UF 4 (1) = 7·784 − 9·920 × 10 −4 T The liquid molar volumes and thermal coefficients of expansions were calculated from the liquid densities.
Carbon Taxes. A Review of Experience and Policy Design Considerations

State and local governments in the United States are evaluating a wide range of policies to reduce carbon emissions, including, in some instances, carbon taxes, which have existed internationally for nearly 20 years. This report reviews existing carbon tax policies both internationally and in the United States. It also analyzes carbon policy design and effectiveness. Design considerations include which sectors to tax, where to set the tax rate, how to use tax revenues, what the impact will be on consumers, and how to ensure emissions reduction goals are achieved. Emission reductions that are due to carbon taxes can be difficult to measure, though some jurisdictions have quantified reductions in overall emissions and other jurisdictions have examined impacts that are due to programs funded by carbon tax revenues.
EFFECT OF PHYSICAL STATE DURING THE ELECTRON IRRADIATION OF HYDROCARBON POLYMERS. PART II. ADDITIONAL EXPERIMENTS AND DISCUSSION PERTAINING TO TRAPPED RADICALS IN HYDROCARBON POLYMERS

The previous paper discusses the effect of physical state during the irradiation on the fate of the polymer radicals produced. Additional experiments relating to trapped radicals in hydrocarbon polymers are discussed. Three different methods of detection were used; namely, infrared absorption at 5.8 μ, electron paramagnetic resonance, and gasuptake by the irradiated polymer. Conditions for producing trapped radicals at room temperature are that the polymer exist in the crystalline, glassy, or highly crosslinked form during irradiation. Radicals trapped in the crystalline or glassy areas can dissipate either as the result of heating the polymer above Tm or Tg or else by exposure to a radical scavenger, e.g., oxygen or ethylene. The lifetime of radicals trapped in Marlex-50 can be many thousands of hours at room temperature. Radical decay will take place even with storage in vacuum if given enough time. The decay is arrested by holding the sample at liquid nitrogen temperature. Loss in radical activity in Marlex-50 when stored in vacuum is due mainly to delayed crosslinking. Trans-vinylene and vinyl do not appear to enter into the reaction responsible for the decay. A comparison of the decay of radicals trapped in unbranched Marlex-50 with that in a branched low-density polyethylene when stored in ethylene, oxygen, and vacuum was made. The results suggest that although radicals are trapped in the crystalline regions of both polymers, there are differences between the two crystals—the crystals in the low-density polymer do not appear to be as tight as those in the Marlex-50. Delayed oxidation reactions occurring in the crystalline regions of irradiated Marlex-50 when stored in oxygen at room temperature require a number of intermediate steps before appearing as carbonyl. An average of 5 molecules of oxygen per polymer radical was used in forming carbonyl. Delayed main chain scissions occur during this process which cause severe embrittlement and loss in physical properties. Significant improvements in physical properties of Marlex-50 can be achieved through irradiation, but radicals must not be left trapped in the polymer.
An analysis of D-amphetamine produced facilitation of avoidance acquisition in rats and performance changes subsequent to drug termination.

Abstract In Experiment I rats were trained on a discriminated Y-maze active avoidance task following administration of saline or one of three dosages (.75, 1.50 or 3.0 mg/kg) of d-amphetamine. The six measures recorded simultaneously during each session indicated that the avoidance facilitation produced by d-amphetamine was due to attenuation of shock-induced behavioral suppression resulting in a behavioral baseline more compatible with the animal's associating running with shock avoidance. Results from Experiment II showed that the avoidance decrement following drug termination is dependent on training dosage and whether the drug is abruptly or gradually withdrawn. This experiment further suggested that the disruption is due to dissociation between the drug and non-drug states and could be attenuated by gradually withdrawing the drug over training sessions.
In silico biological function attribution: a different perspective

Abstract In this review, we present a survey of the scientific literature on biological-function attribution by computer. The focus is on methods of predicting protein-based biological function in terms of intracellular protein–protein interactions. For each methodology, a critical evaluation of strengths and weaknesses is presented from the literature in the field. A conceptual classification scheme is proposed that separates computational methodologies into those based on biological hypotheses and those based on machine learning hypotheses. This represents a different perspective on in silico function attribution. The scope of the discussion here centers on various machine-learning approaches reported in the literature. Machine-generated hypotheses implicitly model biological function by learning from patterns inherent in data.
The generalized Hessenberg representation and near aggregation

Abstract Using the Generalized Hessenberg Representation (GHR) the concept of aggregation is extended to systems which nearly aggregate. Near aggregation is given a geometric interpretation. Then near unobservability (defined as an invariant subspace near the null space of C) is introduced and is shown to be equivalent to near aggregation if there exists an appropriately dimensioned invariant subspace. These results depend on the introduction of a topology into the state space, a novel feature of our approach. Finally, near aggregation is shown to correspond to almost pole-zero cancellation for a certain class of systems.
Conformal ceramic electrodes that record glutamate release and corresponding neural activity in primate prefrontal cortex

Conformal ceramic electrodes utilized in prior recordings of nonhuman primate prefrontal cortical layer 2/3 and layer 5 neurons were used in this study to record tonic glutamate concentration and transient release in layer 2/3 PFC. Tonic glutamate concentration increased in the Match (decision) phase of a visual delayed-match-to-sample (DMS) task, while increased transient glutamate release occurred in the Sample (encoding) phase of the task. Further, spatial vs. object-oriented DMS trials evoked differential changes in glutamate concentration. Thus the same conformal recording electrodes were capable of electrophysiological and electrochemical recording, and revealed similar evidence of neural processing in layers 2/3 and layer 5 during cognitive processing in a behavioral task.
Immune response regulation by lymphocyte products. Potentiator and suppressor factors detected during responses to concanavalin A, E. coli lipopolysaccharide and dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin.

The efferent lymph from immunostimulated popliteal lymph nodes of sheep was analysed for modulatory effects on the in vitro response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin. Both efferent lymph and the supernates prepared from lymph cells exhibited potentiating activity when collected during the first 6 hours of responses to Concanavalin A and dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin.2 Cells collected on the third day of responses to these antigens and to E. coli lipopolysaccharide produced supernates that almost totally suppressed the in vitro response. The possible contribution made by these cells and cell products to the regulation of the immune response in vivo is discussed.
Immunization with tumor-derived ER chaperone grp170 elicits tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell responses and reduces pulmonary metastatic disease.

Glucose-regulated protein (grp) 170 is a molecular chaperone localized in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which has been demonstrated to interact with the peptides translocated by transporter associated with antigen presentation (TAP). In our study, we have evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of tumor-derived grp170 against the highly metastatic and poorly immunogenic murine melanoma B16F10. Immunization of mice with grp170 preparations from autologous tumor significantly delayed progression of the primary cancer and reduced established pulmonary metastases, which was associated with the prolonged survival of metastases-bearing mice. However, grp170 from normal liver or antigenically distinct tumor failed to exhibit therapeutic effect. In addition, tumor-derived grp170 elicited a potent cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response specific for B16F10 tumor, which correlates with in vivo protective effects. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes obtained from B16F10-grp170-primed animals remarkably suppressed pulmonary metastases. Depletion of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in priming phase significantly abrogated the tumor immunity induced by the B16F10-grp170. However, the vaccine activity was intact when CD4+, not CD8+, T cells were depleted in effector phase. It suggests that CD4+ T helper cells play an important role in the generation of effective antitumor response, whereas CD8+ T cells are predominantly involved in direct killing of tumor cells. These observations have strong clinical implications for using tumor-derived grp170 as a therapeutic vaccine against metastatic diseases. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Particle emissions and the production of ozone and nitrogen oxides from the burning of forest slash

Airborne measurements in the plumes from three prescribed burns of conifer slash showed the number concentration-size spectra to be bimodal with peaks at ~0.1 and ~0.5 μm. The mass distribution was sharply peaked at ~0.3 μm where over 80% of the mass of the particles in the plume resided. Most of the particles in the plumes were of primary rather than secondary origin. The burns emitted particulate mass into the atmosphere at rates of 0.1–15 kg s−1 during the active burning phase. The average density of the particles ranged from 0.75 to 1.34 g cm−3. Estimates of particle emission factors for the burns ranged from 0.2 to 2%, higher values being associated with higher fuel consumption rates. The burns were prolific sources of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), producing ~1010−1011 CCN per gram of wood consumed. The CCN resulted in anomalously high concentrations of water droplets < 10 μm diameter in the cumulus clouds produced by the burns. Ozone concentrations near the tops of the plumes reached values as high as 44 ppb above ambient values, the higher values generally being associated with high u.v. intensities. Peak concentrations of NO2 and NO in the plumes were ~60 ppb; the ratio of NOxNO ranged from 1 to 3. SO2 was not found in the plumes.
Should Rapid Tests for HIV Infection Now Be Mandatory During Pregnancy? Global Differences in Scarcity and a Dilemma of Technological Advance

Rapid tests for HIV can now provide real-time assessment of the HIV status of pregnant women presenting inactive labor. They thus provide important information about the need for prophylactic treatment to reduce the likelihood of disease transmission during delivery. Although the need for treatment to protect the child is a strong argument for mandatory testing, in this article we contend that the ethical situation is more complex. The availability of treatment for the HIV woman herself and the possibility that knowledge of her HIV status might put her in physical or economic jeopardy are especially important factors that must weigh in the balance of any decision to mandate rapid testing.
Automatic extraction of systematic polysemy using tree-cut

This paper describes an automatic method for extracting systematic polysemy from a hierarchically organized semantic lexicon (WordNet). Systematic polysemy is a set of word senses that are related in systematic and predictable ways. Our method uses a modification of a tree generalization technique used in (Li and Abe, 1998), and generates a tree-cut, which is a list of clusters that partition a tree. We compare the systematic relations extracted by our automatic method to manually extracted WordNet cousins.
Impaired Baroreflex Gain During Pregnancy in Conscious Rats Role of Brain Insulin

Pregnancy impairs baroreflex gain, but the mechanism is incompletely understood. To test the hypothesis that reductions in brain insulin contribute, we determined whether pregnant rats exhibit lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) insulin concentrations and whether intracerebroventricular infusion of insulin normalizes gain of baroreflex control of heart rate in conscious pregnant rats. CSF insulin was lower in pregnant (68 ± 21 pg/mL) compared to virgin (169 ± 25 pg/mL) rats (P < 0.05). Pregnancy reduced baroreflex gain (pregnant 2.4 ± 0.2 bpm/mm Hg, virgin 4.6 ± 0.3 bpm/mm Hg; P < 0.0001) and the maximum heart rate elicited by hypotension (pregnant 455 ± 15 bpm, virgin 507 ± 12 bpm; P = 0.01). Infusion of insulin (100 μU/min) intracerebroventricularly increased baroreflex gain in pregnant (2.4 ± 0.4 to 3.9 ± 0.5 bpm/mm Hg; P < 0.01) but not virgin (4.6 ± 0.4 to 4.2 ± 0.4 bpm/mm Hg; NS) rats. Maximum heart rate was not altered by intracerebroventricular insulin in either group. Interestingly, while in pregnant rats the baroreflex was unchanged by intracerebroventricular infusion of the artificial CSF vehicle, in virgin rats, vehicle infusion lowered baroreflex gain (4.7 ± 0.3 to 3.9 ± 0.3 bpm/mm Hg; P < 0.05) and the maximum baroreflex heart rate (495 ± 19 to 444 ± 21 bpm; P < 0.05). These data support the hypothesis that brain insulin is required to support optimal baroreflex function and that a decrease in brain insulin contributes to the fall in baroreflex gain during pregnancy.
The Soviet agitational vehicle: state power on the social frontier

Abstract In the first year of the Russian civil war Bolshevik activists invented the ‘agitational vehicle’ to attract the support of peasants and workers in politically unstable areas. The festively decorated trains and boats brought prominent politicians and professional speakers, as well as political art, literature, and films to the people of the periphery. Vehicle personnel also were empowered to investigate the activities of local officials, in order to demonstrate in practice that the government defended the rights of the common people, while simultaneously attempting to transform existing social relations. This paper discusses the agitational vehicle's largely unrealized potential as a means of linking the processes of state-building and nation-making. Because of ideological predispositions and conjunctural circumstances, the Communists failed to appreciate the importance of the agitational-vehicle experience as a seed-bed for citizenship. A comparison with post-colonial Africa indicates that the agitational vehicle could have contributed to a development process that would have been much less violent, and probably less rapid, than the approach that was actually taken by the regime.
Net carbon dioxide exchange in canopies of burned and unburned tallgrass prairie

Net carbon dioxide exchange (NCE) rates were measured in a tallgrass prairie, a grassland with high productivity, to determine photosynthetic rates of the canopy. Canopy measurements were made in large, plexiglass chambers (1.21 m long; 0.91 m wide; 1.40 m tall) placed on burned and unburned areas of the prairie. The NCE rates of the canopy were compared with those of individual leaves ofAndropogon gerardii Vitman (big bluestem). In addition, CO2 flux from the soil was quantified and compared with net photosynthetic flux. The canopy NCE rates were generally lower than those made on individual leaves. In mid-summer (11 July 1987), the maximum canopy NCE rates were 55% and 64% of those measured on individual leaves in burned and unburned treatments, respectively. Canopy NCE rates were lower than individual-leaf NCE rates for two reasons. First, the individualleaf measurements were made on young, unshaded, healthy leaves, while the canopy measurements were made on all types of leaves including senescing, shaded, and damaged leaves. Second, soil CO2 flux into the chambers lowered NCE values. The CO2 flux from the soil ranged from 7.2% to 28.4% of the total NCE. One needs to add soil CO2 flux rates to the measured canopy NCE rates to obtain canopy NCE rates closer to individual-leaf NCE rates. Soil CO2 flux decreased when conditions became dry, reaching a low of 0.06 mg CO2m−2s−1, but increased after rain to 0.16 mg CO2m−2s−1. Also, after rain, when plants were well watered, they were not light saturated at 1 900 µEm−2s−1. The NCE rates on the burned treatment were either higher or similar to those on the unburned treatment. For example, on 11 July 1987, NCE rates were higher on the burned treatment (0.66 mg CO2m−2s−1) compared to the unburned treatment (0.47 mg CO2m−2s−1). During the rest of July and August, the rates of the two treatments were not significantly different. But in September and October, the NCE rates were again higher on the burned treatment compared to the unburned treatment. The results indicated that canopy NCE rates may be more indicative of the productivity of the prairie than individual-leaf measurements made only on young, highly productive leaves.
Renormalized Coordinate Stretching: A Generalization of Shoot and Fit with Application to Stellar Structure

The standard shooting and fitting algorithm for non-linear two-point boundary value problems derives from conventional coordinate perturbation theory. We generalize the algorithm using the renormalized perturbation theory of strained coordinates. This allows for the introduction of an arbitrary function, which may be chosen to improve numerical convergence. An application to a problem in stellar structure exemplifies the algorithm and shows that, when used in conjunction with the standard procedure, it has superior convergence compared to the standard one alone.
Extensor mechanism of the fingers. II. Tensile properties of components

Seven fresh human finger specimens have been studied to determine the differences in structural stiffness between different components of the extensor assembly. Differences were found to be significant, ranging from an average of 275 N/mm for the proximal and distal segments of the central band to an average of 40 N/mm for the central-to-lateral intercrossing fascicles. The terminal tendon of the lateral band was shown to be as stiff as the middle segment of the central band.
Petrologic aspects of plate tectonics

The concept of plate tectonics has developed during the past four years from the hypotheses of continental drift and sea-floor spreading, supported by a variety of evidence from paleomagnetism, geochronology, and marine geology and geophysics. A series of four contiguous papers in the March 1968 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research correlated on a global scale the linear magnetic anomalies, which are parallel to and bilaterally symmetrical about the oceanic ridge system, with the polarity reversals of the earth's magnetic field imprinted on new oceanic crust as it was generated at the oceanic ridge crests [Pitman et al., 1968; Dickson et al., 1968; Le Pichon and Heirtzler, 1968; Heirtzler et al., 1968]. In 1967 and 1968, four major papers introduced plate tectonics: the earth's surface is considered to be made up of a few rigid crustal plates or blocks in motion relative to each other [McKenzie and Parker, 1967; Morgan, 1968; Le Pichon, 1968; Isacks et al., 1968].
Two-choice, observational learning and reversal in the rat: S-S versus S-R effects

In Experiment 1, male rats were trained to press both bars in a two-choice apparatus and were then given observational training of a go/no-go discrimination in which the observed operation of two inaccessible, dissimilar bars by a hidden experimenter constituted S+ and S−. After discrimination was established, individual rats were permitted access to the two bars. Six of the seven rats consistently pressed the S+ bar on 10 test trials, but failed to reverse bar preference after observational training was reversed. In Experiment 2, nine naive males received the same observational training as in Experiment 1, but without any pretraining to press either bar. All rats pressed the S+ bar on initial test and did so consistently throughout the 10 trials. Six of these rats received reversal training of the go/no-go discrimination after the 10 test trials. As in Experiment 1, all rats failed to press the new S+ bar. However, five of six rats in another group, which received reversal trainingprior to any test trials, did reverse and press the new S+ bar. In Experiment 3, controls for possible confounding effects of overtraining trials were conducted. These manipulations had no effect; the rats tested before reversal still failed to press the S+ bar, and the rats reversed before testing all reversed or pressed the most recent S+ bar. That is, S-R learning predominated over S-S learning if active, though unreinforced, responding to a particular bar intervened. In contrast, however, a cognitive (S-S) interpretation of directed response learning was supported by the results of Experiment 4, in which the rats that learned the go/no-go discrimination without responding (only by auditory and light cues) failed to press the S+ bar consistently.
Older Adults With Diabetes and Osteoarthritis and Their Spouses: Effects of Activity Limitations, Marital Happiness, and Social Contacts on Partners' Daily Mood

Using daily diary data from 28 later life couples where one spouse had diabetes and osteoarthritis, we examined crossover effects of target spouses' daily activity limitations and their partners' daily mood. On days when target spouses' daily activity limitations were higher than average, partners' positive mood decreased and negative mood increased; when target wives' limitations were higher than average, husbands' positive mood was higher. Marital happiness and frequency of telephone conversations of target spouses buffered some relations. Results advance our understanding of daily health processes within later life marriages by identifying crossover effects of activity limitations of an ill spouse with the mood of their partner and underscore the role of marital happiness and social contacts in buffering these associations.
Treatment comparisons with screenable endpoints

Abstract This paper proposes a method for treatment whmparison when the disease endpoint can be discovered by either screening or clinical surfacing. Assuming a zero false negative screening rate, we develop a score test for comparing treatments while adjusting for the mode of discovery based on three-state progressive disease model with a discrete proportional hazards formulation of the treatment effect. By simulation we evaluate and compare the performance of the score test to the log-rank test. The results suggest that the score test is more efficient when screening rates are balanced between groups, and it greatly reduces the bias in the situation of asymmetric screening intensity.
RecA Protein Dynamics in the Interior of RecA Nucleoprotein Filaments

We characterize aspects of the conformation and dynamic state of RecA filaments when bound to dsDNA that are specifically linked to the presence of the second of the two bound DNA strands. Filaments bound to dsDNA exhibit a facile exchange between free and bound RecA monomers or oligomers in the filament interior that is not seen on ssDNA. The RecA mutant K72R, which binds but does not hydrolyze ATP, forms mixed filaments with wild type RecA protein under some conditions. In the presence of dATP, mixed filaments are formed on dsDNA or ssDNA in which the RecA K72R content approximately reflects the proportion of the K72R mutant in the total RecA protein present when the filament is formed. In the presence of ATP, mixed filaments are formed on dsDNA, but the mutant protein strongly inhibits the binding of wtRecA protein to single-stranded DNA. When RecA K72R is added to pre-formed filaments containing only wild-type RecA protein on single-stranded DNA, little of the mutant protein exchanges into the filament. Exchange occurs readily, however, when the filament is bound to double-stranded DNA. The presence of a second DNA strand in RecA-dsDNA filaments produces as altered and more dynamic filament state relative to filaments formed on single-stranded DNA. The results point to a substantial alteration in filament state when synapsis occurs during RecA protein-mediated DNA strand exchange.
Use of low-dose rocuronium for intubation of children during volunteer surgery abroad1

Summary Background : Low-dose rocuronium (ROC) might improve safety during volunteer surgery abroad (VSA) by facilitating intubation with a lower halothane concentration than is typically used. We hypothesized that 0.25 mg·kg−1 of ROC would improve intubation conditions during 3% halothane induction and still allow for rapid return to spontaneous ventilation (SV). Methods : During Operation Smile's 2002 mission to Honduras, patients aged 3 months–11 years were randomized to receive ROC 0.25 mg·kg−1 (n = 19), or placebo (n = 23). Induction was with 3% halothane in 100% O2, with ventilation assisted and controlled when possible, and normocarbia maintained. An i.v. was placed after induction, and ROC or placebo given. Direct laryngoscopy (DL) was performed 3 min later by a blinded laryngoscopist who assessed conditions according to predetermined criteria. Results : Adequate intubation conditions occurred in 89 and 87% of patients (P = 0.59), and mean times from DL until the return to SV were 9.8 and 4.3 min (P = 0.003), in the ROC and placebo groups, respectively. For the placebo group, the presence of SV at DL was predictive of inadequate intubation conditions (P = 0.006). Conclusions : When administering 3% halothane for induction of VSA patients, a high frequency of adequate intubation conditions can be achieved without a relaxant, rendering the known benefits of 0.25 mg·kg−1 of ROC unapparent. ROC 0.25 mg·kg−1 does allow rapid return to SV.
Alzheimer's Disease: 100 Years of Progress

If any one faculty of our nature may be called more wonderful than the rest, I do think it is memory. There seems something more speakingly incomprehensible in the powers, the failures, the inequalities of memory, than in any other of our intelligences. The memory is sometimes so retentive, so serviceable, so obedient; at others, so bewildered and so weak; and at others again, so tyrannic, so beyond control! We are, to be sure, a miracle every way; but our powers of recollecting and of forgetting do seem peculiarly past finding out.
CALCULATION OF INLET FLOWS APPLIED TO DUCTED PROPELLERS

This investigation concerns inlet flow calculations applied to ducted propellers. The analysis is classified as that of an inlet flow since the ducted propeller wake is assumed to be at a constant diameter. A closed distribution of ring vortices is used to describe the duct and wake. By forming a closed distribution, the velocity can be equated directly to the vorticity. With this representation, a singular integral equation of the first kind is formulated for the vorticity in terms of the streamline enclosing the duct and wake. Several techniques incorporated in the numerical solution of this integral equation are presented. This analysis provides a needed solution for ducted propellers operating at low speeds and statically, as well as at high speeds. Experimental results for the velocity distribution are shown to agree well with this analysis. In addition, excellent agreement is obtained using this method for the classical flow around a sphere. Nomenclature Atj = influence function c = leading-edge expansion coefficient Cp = pressure coefficient E(k) = complete elliptic integral of the 2nd kind / = defined by Eq. (6) Ft = defined by Eq. (11) // = collocation point index k - modulus of elliptic integral K(k) = complete elliptic integral of the 1st kind KK = integration point index L = nondimensionalizing variable N = number of collocation points r,r' - radial coordinate TJ = radial coordinate at collocation point Rue — radius of inside trailing edge Ro3 — radius of wake at x = °° s,s' = curvilinear coordinate Sj = curvilinear coordinate at collocation point v - velocity De = average velocity at duct exit plane ^oo = velocity inside wake at x = °° V = freestream velocity x,x' = axial coordinate a = slope angle at singularity 7 = vorticity jj = vorticity in j interval APo = pressure drop across propeller K = kernel defined by Eq. (2) a = half chord length of singular subinterval ,(// = transformed coordinate defined by Eq. (15) (f)te = 0 coordinate at trailing edge ty = stream function ^o = stream function of duct
Monitoring and guidance of minimally-invasive thermal therapy using diagnostic ultrasound

We present specialized ultrasound imaging modes for monitoring and guidance of noninvasive and minimally-invasive thermal therapy. One mode is based on two-dimensional imaging of temperature change using diagnostic ultrasound. We have validated this method both in vivo and in vitro in monitoring the heating patterns produced by noninvasive HIFU source and minimally-invasive RF ablation device, respectively. In addition, a nonlinear method for imaging the quadratic echo components from HIFU-induced lesions has also been developed and tested in vivo. Illustrative results from both modes of imaging are presented. These results demonstrate the unique advantages of ultrasound as an image-guidance modality. Specifically, the high spatial and temporal resolutions that allow for imaging highly-localized short-duration therapeutic and sub-therapeutic HIFU beams. With the advent of highperformance computing hardware, these imaging modes are now implementable in real-time. This will lead to active realtime monitoring and control of a range of thermal therapies in the very near future.
OpaR, a Homolog of Vibrio harveyi LuxR, Controls Opacity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an organism well adapted to communal life on surfaces. When grown on a surface or in a viscous layer, the bacterium induces a large gene system and differentiates to swarmer cells capable of movement over and colonization of surfaces. V. parahaemolyticus displays additional phenotypic versatility manifested as variable colony morphology, switching between translucent and opaque colony types. Although not itself luminescent, V. parahaemolyticus produces autoinducer molecules capable of inducing luminescence in Vibrio harveyi. To examine the role of quorum signaling in the lifestyles of V. parahaemolyticus, the functional homolog of the gene encoding the V. harveyi autoinducer-controlled transcriptional regulatory protein LuxR was cloned. Sequence analysis of the clone predicted an open reading frame with a deduced product 96% identical to LuxR. Introduction of the clone carrying the luxR-like locus into V. parahaemolyticus dramatically affected colony morphology, converting a translucent strain to an opaque one. When the coding sequence for the luxR homolog was placed under the control of the Ptac promoter, conversion to the opaque phenotype became inducible by isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside. Allelic disruption of the luxR-like gene on the chromosome of an opaque strain produced a translucent strain proficient in swarming ability. Primer extension mapping demonstrated opaR transcription in opaque but not translucent cell types. It is postulated that this gene, which has been named opaR, encodes a transcription factor controlling cell type. The underlying genetic basis for opaque-translucent variation may be the consequence of a genomic alteration detected in the opaR locus of opaque and translucent strains.
Adaptive fast multipole boundary element method for three-dimensional half-space acoustic wave problems

A new adaptive fast multipole boundary element method (BEM) for solving 3-D half-space acoustic wave problems is presented in this paper. The half-space Green's function is employed explicitly in the boundary integral equation (BIE) formulation so that a tree structure of the boundary elements only for the boundaries of the real domain need to be applied, instead of using a tree structure that contains both the real domain and its mirror image. This procedure simplifies the implementation of the adaptive fast multipole BEM and reduces the CPU time and memory storage by about a half for large-scale half-space problems. An improved adaptive fast multipole BEM is presented for the half-space acoustic wave problems, based on the one developed recently for the full-space problems. This new fast multipole BEM is validated using several simple half-space models first, and then applied to model 3-D sound barriers and a large-scale windmill model with five turbines. The largest BEM model with 557470 elements was solved in about an hour on a desktop PC. The accuracy and efficiency of the BEM results clearly show the potential of the adaptive fast multipole BEM for solving large-scale half-space acoustic wave problems that are of practical significance.
Tangential Newtonian flow in annuli—II: Stead state pressure profiles

Abstract It is shown how the pressure distribution for isothermal, tangential flow of an incompressible fluid in an annulus may be calculated by first solving the problem for a compressible fluid and then taking the limit as the deviation from incompressibility vanishes. An analytical expression for pressure vs. the radial co-ordinate is obtained for either or both of the cylinders in motion.
Tylopilus orsonianus sp. nov. and Tylopilus eximius from Guyana

Tylopilus orsonianus sp. nov. and Tylopilus eximius (Boletaceae, Basidiomycota) are described for the first time from the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana. Both boletes occur in forests dominated by ectomycorrhizal trees in the genus Dicymbe (Caesalpiniaceae). A key to Tylopilus species distinguishes those known to occur in Guyana.
Absorption and excretion of cyanuric acid in long-distance swimmers.

(1982). Absorption and Excretion of Cyanuric Acid in Long-Distance Swimmers. Drug Metabolism Reviews: Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 499-516.
Sentinel versus population-based surveillance of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine effectiveness

OBJECTIVE: To compare sentinel and population-based surveillance of the effect of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), introduced in 2000, on the hospitalization of children aged under 5 years with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in the United States of America. METHODS: Population surveillance data were used to identify children hospitalized between 1998 and 2006 with IPD caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes. The change from 1998 and 1999 (baseline) to 2006 in the number of hospitalized IPD cases recorded by sentinel surveillance systems involving single hospitals or groups of hospitals was compared with the change in the incidence of hospitalized IPD cases measured by population-based surveillance. FINDINGS: The change in incidence in the eight surveillance areas varied from -37 to -82% for IPD caused by any serotype and from -96 to -100% for IPD caused by serotypes contained in PCV7. All individual sentinel hospitals with more than three cases annually at baseline reported a decrease in cases by 2006. In addition, over 95% of sentinel systems with an average of more than 30 cases annually at baseline recorded a change by 2006 in the number of cases caused by any serotype that fell within the 95% confidence interval for the change in the incidence of hospitalized cases in the corresponding population surveillance area. The change in cases caused by PCV7 serotypes was accurately measured by 93% and 100% of sentinel systems with 20 cases annually at baseline, respectively. CONCLUSION: Sentinel surveillance can accurately measure the effect of PCV7 on the number of children hospitalized with IPD, provided sufficient cases are detected at baseline. Serotyping increases accuracy.
Composition, distribution, and potential toxicity of organochlorine mixtures in bed sediments of streams.

Abstract Mixtures of organochlorine compounds have the potential for additive or interactive toxicity to organisms exposed in the stream. This study uses a variety of methods to identify mixtures and a modified concentration-addition approach to estimate their potential toxicity at 845 stream sites across the United States sampled between 1992 and 2001 for organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bed sediment. Principal-component (PC) analysis identified five PCs that account for 77% of the total variance in 14 organochlorine compounds in the original dataset. The five PCs represent: (1) chlordane-related compounds and dieldrin; (2) p,p′ -DDT and its degradates; (3) o,p′ -DDT and its degradates; (4) the pesticide degradates oxychlordane and heptachlor epoxide; and (5) PCBs. The PC analysis grouped compounds that have similar chemical structure (such as parent compound and degradate), common origin (in the same technical pesticide mixture), and(or) similar relation of concentrations to land use. For example, the highest concentrations of chlordane compounds and dieldrin occurred at urban sites, reflecting past use of parent pesticides for termite control. Two approaches to characterizing mixtures—PC-based mixtures and unique mixtures—were applied to all 299 samples with a detection of two or more organochlorine compounds. PC-based mixtures are defined by the presence (in the sample) of one or more compounds associated with that PC. Unique mixtures are defined as a specific combination of two or more compounds detected in a sample, regardless of how many other compounds were also detected in that sample. The simplest PC-based mixtures (containing compounds from 1 or 2 PCs) commonly occurred in a variety of land use settings. Complex mixtures (containing compounds from 3 or more PCs) were most common in samples from urban and mixed/urban sites, especially in the Northeast, reflecting high concentrations of multiple chlordane, dieldrin, DDT-related compounds, and(or) PCBs. The most commonly occurring unique mixture ( p,p′ -DDE, p,p′ -DDD) occurred in both simple and complex PC-based mixtures, and at both urban and agricultural sites. Mean Probable Effect Concentration Quotients (PEC-Q) values, which estimate the potential toxicity of organochlorine contaminant mixtures, were highest for complex mixtures. Mean PEC-Q values were highest for urban sites in the Northeast, followed by mixed/urban sites in the Northeast and agricultural sites in cotton growing areas. These results demonstrate that the PEC-Q approach can be used in combination with PC-based and unique mixture analyses to relate potential aquatic toxicity of contaminant mixtures to mixture complexity, land use, and other surrogates for contaminant sources.
The information economy of Turkmenistan: A seven-year update

The issues related toward advancing the information economy in Turkmenistan are organized using the STEPE model (i.e., social, technical, economic, political, and ecological matters). An analysis, using these five factors, can give insight into the likely future of the information economy within this country. Many of the observations focus on contrasts rather than similarities since the Presidential library ban of June 2005 (see Richardson, John V. ‘The library and information economy of Turkmenistan.’ IFLA Journal 32(2) 2006: 131–139).
New Prospects for High Performance SONAR, Chemical Sensor, and Communication Device Materials

Perovskite oxides are a special group of materials, which exhibit many interesting properties, such as ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, superconductivity, and high dielectric constant. Their unique physical properties lead to a variety of technological applications. Using quantum-mechanical simulations, we have computationally investigated several perovskite materials for use in Naval SONAR, chemical sensor and communications devices. We elucidate the influence of the constituent elements on technologically relevant properties, furthering the goal of achieving higher performance through modification of the material chemical composition.
Epoetin Alfa versus Darbepoetin Alfa in Chemotherapy-Related Anemia

Objective:To review and compare the data concerning the clinical activity of epoetin alfa versus darbepoetin alfa when administered to patients with cancer who are experiencing treatment-related anemia.Data Sources:English-language publications from the MEDLINE database (1990–June 2005), published articles, and meeting abstracts were reviewed.Study Selection and Data Extraction:Relevant data were extracted from published reports and abstracts on studies of humans with cancer who developed treatment-related anemia and were treated with epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa.Data Synthesis:Epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa are similar agents with identical indications for treatment of anemia in patients with cancer. Clinical trials have demonstrated that both agents can significantly improve hemoglobin levels, reduce transfusion requirements, and improve quality of life. Epoetin alfa is approved for administration at a dose of 150 units/kg subcutaneously 3 times per week, and darbepoetin alfa is approved for admi...
Alzheimer's β-Amyloid Protein Is Covalently Modified when Dissolved in Formic Acid

beta-Amyloid protein is a major protein component of neuritic plaques in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients. A major advance in understanding the molecular biology of Alzheimer's disease came with the purification and sequencing of this protein. Because beta-amyloid protein is very insoluble, extreme conditions such as 88% formic acid were commonly used to dissolve its fibrils. We now report that 88% formic acid covalently modifies beta-amyloid protein fragments, probably by the formation of a formate ester to a serine in the protein. The t1/2 of the formylation is approximately 3.5 h, and the t1/2 for hydrolysis of the formylated peptide is much longer, being 9.9 h in water and 66 h in HPLC eluant. This suggests that if formic acid is used in the purification of beta-amyloid protein or peptide fragments of this protein, it is likely that some formylated peptide will be present in subsequent studies. Although unrecognized modification of a protein is inherently undesirable, it is uncertain what effects this formylation will have on ensuing studies. Certainly, investigations into the immunologic, physical, and physiologic properties of beta-amyloid protein could be influenced.
Taxonomic review of the lac insect genus Paratachardina Balachowsky (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae), with a revised key to genera of Kerriidae and description of two new species

The genus Paratachardina Balachowsky (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae) is revised to include nine species: P. decorella (Maskell), P. minuta (Morrison), P. mithila Varshney, P. morobensis Williams & Watson, P. silvestri (Mahdihassan), P. ternata (Chamberlin), P. theae (Green), and two new species. Tachardina lobata Chamberlin (now P. lobata) is synonymized with Tachardia silvestri Mahdihassan (now P. silvestri), based on examination of type specimens. Paratachardina capsella Wang is transferred to Albotachardina Zhang as Albotachardina capsella (Wang) comb. nov. We provide a revised taxonomic key to the genera of the family Kerriidae and to all known species of the genus Paratachardina. All Paratachardina species are redescribed and illustrated with the exception of P. mithila. One of the new species described here is the polyphagous and pestiferous lobate lac scale, which damages trees and woody shrubs in Florida, U.S.A., the Bahamas and the territory of Christmas Island, Australia, and has been identified mistakenly as Paratachardina lobata (Chamberlin), an insect native to India and Sri Lanka. Here we recognize the lobate lac scale as a new species, name it Paratachardina pseudolobata sp. nov. and describe it based on all stages of the female (adult, second instar and first instar). In addition, a second new species, P. mahdihassani sp. nov., is described based on adult females from India.
Exploring Morality as a Mediator of the Association Between Parenting Practices and Violent and Property Offending Among a Sample of Juvenile Delinquents

Prior research has consistently shown that parenting practices have a direct impact on the levels of delinquency in children and on the development of their moral beliefs. Several studies have also found support for a link between levels of moral reasoning and offending. Using a sample of juvenile delinquents, this research tested the ability of morality to act as a mediator for the association between parenting practices and delinquency. Results supported the findings of past research in terms of the direct effects of parenting on juvenile offending. The mediation hypothesis received partial support. No mediation effects were detected when violent offending was the dependent variable, but the direct effects of parental hostility on property offending were mediated by moral disengagement.
Accelerated Oxidations of Polyisoprene. IV. Effects of Sulfinic Acids on Bulk Natural Rubber

Abstract This paper shows that benzene and toluene sulfinic acids cause rapid disintegration of a cured tread stock in the presence of air at 30° C, a slower reaction in the absence of oxygen. The sulfinic acids also cause rapid solution of smoked sheet in o-dichlorobenzene at 30° C in the absence of oxygen to give mobile solutions.
From non-random molecular structure to life and mind

The evolutionary hierarchy molecular structure-->macromolecular structure-->protobiological structure-->biological structure-->biological functions has been traced by experiments. The sequence always moves through protein. Extension of the experiments traces the formation of nucleic acids instructed by proteins. The proteins themselves were, in this picture, instructed by the self-sequencing of precursor amino acids. While the sequence indicated explains the thread of the emergence of life, protein in cellular membrane also provides the only known material basis for the emergence of mind in the context of emergence of life.
Investigation of population distribution and virus carriage of rodents in Qinling Mountains in Baoji,China

Objective To analyze the monitoring results of rodents in Qinling Mountains in Baoji,China and investigate the population distribution and virus carriage of rodents in this area,and to provide a basis for the control of rodents and rodent-borne diseases in Baoji.Methods Night trapping method was used to capture rodents in 6 ecological environments in Qinling Mountains,including broad leaved mixed forest,valley,peach forest,and fallow land.Results A total of 164 wild rodents(9 species) were captured,with different populations in different ecological environments at different altitudes.In the valley and arable land below 1850 m above sea level,Apodemus agrarius was the dominant species,accounting for 54.23%(77/142) of all captured rodents,followed by A.peninsulae,accounting for 16.20%(23/142).In the mixed coniferous and broad leaved forest with an altitude above 1850 m,A.chevrieri was the dominant species,accounting for 72.73%(16/22) of all captured rodents,followed by A.peninsulae,accounting for 18.18%(4/22).Of all captured rodents,17.81% carried viruses;among the positive rodents,hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS) virus was first detected from an individual of A.peninsulae besides A.agrarius.Conclusion There are a variety of rodents as vectors in Qinling Mountains in Baoji,with different populations at different altitudes,which is almost in accordance with the incidence of HFRS.