cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen diffusion and solubility in palladium thin films

Palladium thin films (220, 460 and 1350 A thick) were fabricated by physical vapor deposition and characterized electrochemically. The reversible hydrogen storage capacity of the films was determined by electrochemical cycling. The hydrogen solubility of the thin films was larger in the α-phase but smaller in the β-phase than that of the bulk. The hydrogen diffusion coefficient, DH, in the Pd films was measured by the electrochemical stripping method in the PdH solid solution (α-phase) at the temperatures ranging from 280 to 330 K. A well-defined potential range was found for applying the electrochemical stripping technique. The DH decreases with decreasing film thickness and is 2–3 orders of magnitude smaller than that in the bulk. The DH vs 1T plots show that all the thin films follow the Arrhenius behavior, DH = D0exp(− EaRT), with approximately the same activation energy Ea and a decreasing prefactor D0 as the film thickness decreases.
On efficient ciphertext-policy attribute based encryption and broadcast encryption: extended abstract

Existing CP-ABE schemes incur very large ciphertext size, which increases linearly with respect to the number of attributes in the access policy. Large ciphertext prevents CP-ABE from being adopted in the communication constrained environments. In this paper, we proposed a new construction of CP-ABE, named Constant-size CP-ABE (denoted as CCP-ABE) that significantly reduces the ciphertext to a constant size for an AND gate access policy with any given number of attributes. Each ciphertext in CCP-ABE requires only elements on a bilinear group.Based on CCP-ABE, we further proposed an Attribute Based Broadcast Encryption (ABBE) scheme. Compared to existing Broadcast Encryption (BE) schemes, ABBE is more flexible because a broadcasted message can be encrypted by an expressive access policy, either with or without explicit specifying the receivers. Moreover, ABBE significantly reduces the storage and communication overhead to the order of $O(\log N)$, where $N$ is the system size.
Optical measurements of intramural action potentials in isolated porcine hearts using optrodes

Background Measurements of intramural membrane potential (V m ) would greatly increase knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and defibrillation. Optrodes offer the possibility for three-dimensional V m mapping, but their signal quality has been inadequate. Objective The purpose of this work was to improve optrode signal quality and use optrodes to measure intramural distribution of action potentials and shock-induced V m changes in porcine hearts. Methods Optrodes were made from seven optical fibers 225 or 325 μm in diameter. Fiber ends were polished at a 45° angle, which improved light collection and allowed their insertion without a needle. Fluorescent measurements were performed in isolated porcine hearts perfused with Tyrode's solution or blood using V m -sensitive dye RH-237 and a 200-W Hg/Xe lamp. Results The signal-to-noise ratio for 325-μm fibers was 44 ± 23 in blood-perfused hearts (n = 5) and 106 ± 45 in Tyrode's-perfused hearts (n = 3), which represents an approximately four-fold improvement over previously reported data. There was close correspondence between optical and electrical measurements of activation times and action potential duration (APD). No significant intramural APD gradients were observed at cycle lengths up to 4 s and in the presence of dofetilide or d-sotalol. Application of shocks (5–50 V/cm) produced large intramural V m changes (up to ≈200% action potential amplitude), possibly reflecting a combined effect of tissue discontinuities and optrode geometry. Conclusions A substantial improvement of optrode signal quality was achieved. Optical measurements of APD and activation times matched electrical measurements. Optrode measurements revealed no significant intramural APD gradients. Application of shocks caused large intramural V m changes that could be influenced by the optrode geometry.
P4-05-03: Mechanism Underlying Metabolic Heterogeneity in Breast Cancer Subtypes.

Background: Several distinct subtypes of breast cancer (Luminal, Basal-like and Her-2+) have been identified by gene expression profiling of breast cancers and cell lines. Although much is known about the regulation of cell signaling in each breast cancer subtype, little is known about subtype-specific energy metabolism and its regulation. The majority of cancers, including breast cancer, acquire an accelerated metabolic index as part of the transformation process. One of the most studied metabolic changes in cancer, referred to as the Warburg effect, is the increased uptake of glucose and its conversion to lactate; which is released from the cell, thus creating an astringent tumor microenvironment with high lactate and low pH. Accumulation of lactate in the tumor microenvironment presents cancer cells with a potential rich carbon source that could be exploited when the preferred nutrient sources, glucose and glutamine, are not abundant or available. Thus uptake and conversion of lactate to pyruvate and then entry into the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation could generate energy that could potentially allow cancer cells to survive until other nutrients become available or until the cancer cells can invade and migrate toward nutrient rich environments, in other words, until they spread locally and metastasize. Methods and Results: Examination of 59 breast cancer cell lines shows differences in expression of numerous proteins and enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, including the lactate transporters (MCT), the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and glucose transporter proteins (GLUT). We found that MCT1 expression is lost in the Luminal subtype and correlates with loss of LDHB and the regulator and chaperone of MCT1, CD147 (Basigin). Conversely, MCT1 is highly expressed in Basal-like and normal cell lines, along with CD147 and LDHB. While monocarboxylate transporter proteins can transport bi-directionally, MCT1 preferentially transports lactate into the cell, while MCT4 transports lactate out of the cell. The loss of MCT1 in luminal cells suggests a distinct energy metabolism in this subtype versus basal-like cells. The basal-like subtype has been further categorized into Basal and Claudin-low subtypes. Claudin-low cells express stem-like markers such as CD44+/CD24-, EMT markers such as vimentin, and are low expressers of the Claudin proteins. We found that MCT1 and CD147 are highly expressed and differentially regulated in Claudin-low cell lines as compared to normal cells. We have evidence that high lactate (10mM) as a sole energy source delays ATP loss and apoptosis in MCT1 expressing cells, but not in luminal cell lines that lack MCT1. Thus, claudin-low tumors may benefit from local lactate production providing an unexpected energy source. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-05-03.
N-acetylation and C-terminal proteolysis of β-endorphin in the anterior lobe of the horse pituitary

beta-Endorphin is post-translationally processed to both N-acetylated and C-terminally shortened derivatives in the anterior lobe of the horse pituitary, a processing pattern qualitatively different from that of the rat and virtually every other mammalian species. Thus, separation of the molecular forms of beta-endorphin using gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography showed that the horse anterior lobe primarily contains beta-endorphin-1-31 and N-acetyl-beta-endorphin-1-27 along with smaller amounts of beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphin-1-27, and N-acetyl-beta-endorphin-1-31 and -1-26, in contrast to the rat anterior lobe, which contains approximately equal amounts of beta-lipotropin and beta-endorphin-1-31. Immunohistochemical experiments using an antiserum which specifically recognizes N-acetylated beta-endorphin peptides confirmed that N-acetyl-beta-endorphin immunoreactivity is present in the anterior lobe of the horse, but not the rat. The intermediate lobe of both species primarily synthesizes N-acetylated, C-terminally shortened beta-endorphin peptides, and while distinct species differences do occur, they were relatively minor, consisting of quantitative differences in the relative proportion of each peptide. These results are consistent with earlier reports that beta-endorphin processing in the rat pituitary is tissue specific; the anterior and intermediate lobes produce entirely different sets of beta-endorphin peptides. In the equine pituitary, however, both pituitary lobes produce the same multiple beta-endorphin forms, possessing both opioid and nonopioid properties, although their relative amounts differ.
Volume Bragg grating improves characteristic of resonantly diode-pumped Er:YAG, 1.65-μm DPSSL

Significant performance improvement of the Er(0.5%):YAG diode pumped solid state laser (DPSSL) has been achieved by pump diode spectral narrowing via implementation of external volumetric Bragg grating (VBG). Without spectral narrowing, with a pump path length of 15 mm, only 37% of 1532 nm pump was absorbed. After the VBG spectral narrowing, the absorption of the pumping radiation increased to 62%. As a result, the incident power threshold was reduced by a factor of 2.5; the efficiency increased by a factor of 1.7, resulting in a slope efficiency of ~23%. A maximum of 51 W of CW power was obtained versus 31 W without the pump spectrum narrowing.
Pressure To Be Perfect: Influences on College Students' Body Esteem

Young people today live in an environment in which looks are of utmost importance, social support is low, and pressure to achieve the cultural ideals of attractiveness is high. The average American woman is 5′4″ and 140 pounds, whereas the average female model portrayed in the media is 5′11″ and 120 pounds. Although a survey of 224 college students showed that perfectionism and media use were not related to students' body esteem, higher family and peer pressure and a high score on perfectionism influenced women to compare themselves to the models in fashion magazines and on television. High family and peer pressure also influenced men's body esteem. Because comparisons to models in fashion magazines negatively influence women's body image, women should be encouraged to examine the possibility that the bodies of magazine models are just photoshopped images with unreal body measurements. Feminism may empower women and men to act together to eliminate sources that threaten their body satisfaction and healthy...
Hitting and climbing the proverbial wall: participation and retention issues for Black graduate women

This qualitative study isolated the participation and retention issues of Black graduate women who were enrolled in four departments within the College of Education at a major research university. By identifying factors that contributed to and hindered their successful educational tenures, this study details how the societal issues of gender, race and class affected the women's academic lives. The graduate women in this study did not report the concerns set forth in the literature as factors that influenced their participation. The two major issues that affected participation were the accessibility and encouragement by university representatives and personal recruitment by Black mentors and students. Regarding retention, four factors emerged as significant themes: the presence and mentoring by supportive faculty and staff, the presence of and networking by Black students, respect from professors and continued funding.
Prediction of Film Cooling Effectiveness of Steam

The intent of this work is to show, analytically, that superheated steam can provide better film cooling than conventional air for gas turbine blades and vanes. Goldstein’s two-dimensional and Eckert’s three-dimensional models have been reexamined and modified in order to include the effects of thermal-fluid properties of foreign gas injection on the film cooling effectiveness. Based on the modified models, the computed results for steam film cooling effectiveness, showing an increase of 80 to 100 percent when compared with air cooling at the same operating conditions, are presented.Copyright © 1982 by ASME
Vascular C3 deposits on renal biopsy in pediatric patients with hematuria.

Isolated deposition of the third component of complement (C3) in the renal arterioles has been noted on biopsy specimens in patients with hematuria. This entity is of little known significance and reports of this finding in pediatric patients with hematuria are rare. We reviewed the clinical histories and biopsies of 17 children with hematuria and vascular C3 deposition on biopsy at Texas Children’s Hospital over an 14-year period. The mean age of presentation was 10.8 (range 4.5–16.6) years with a male preponderance (71%). Family history for hematuria was positive in 6 of 17 patients (35%). Light microscopy was normal or showed only minor abnormalities. Immunofluorescence was negative for IgA and IgG in all patients. Seven patients (41.1%) were noted to have diffuse or focally thin basement membranes on electron microscopy in addition to positive C3 immunofluorescence. The mean follow-up time was 23.8 months, during which 2 of 17 patients (12%) developed worsening proteinuria. The etiopathogenesis of this condition remains unclear, but an underlying immunological process cannot be ruled out. It is possible that this condition represents a stage of an acute glomerulonephritis. Clinical follow-up of these patients is warranted, as the long-term prognosis remains unclear.
Improving the Validity of Affective Self-Report Measures Through Constructing Personality Scales Unconfounded With Social Desirability: a Study of the Personality Research Form1

Jackson's Personality Research Form (PRF) was investigated at the item and scale level with respect to the degree to which responses are confounded by social desirability. Jackson's usage of the differential validity index resulted in large proportions of items neutral in social desirability and scales relatively balanced in the number of items keyed for socially desirable and socially undesirable responses. These item and scale characteristics, the low correlations of PRF trait scales with social desirability scale scores, and the results of a component analysis of PRF trait scales and social desirability scales supported the discriminant construct validity of the PRF trait scales with respect to social desirability.
Btl, a structural gene for the major 39–44 kDa amyloplast membrane polypeptides

The aim of the present work was to investigate the relationship between the Btl gene (Btl) and the major 39–44 kDa amyloplast membrane polypeptides which were deficient in amyloplast membranes of brittlel (btl) kernels of maize (Zea mays L.). A rapid yet gentle procedure for the isolation of amyloplasts from immature kernels is described. These amyloplasts were relatively free of contamination by other cellular components, and immunological studies showed that they contained polypeptides which reacted with antibodies to maize starch branching enzyme and ADP-Gle pyrophosphorylase. Purified membranes isolated from the amyloplast contained a poly-peptide which reacted with antibodies to the Pi-translocator from spinach chloroplasts. However, a cluster of 39–44 kDa polypeptides accounted for about 40% of the total amyloplast membrane protein from W64A kernels. These polypeptides were specifically recognized by antibodies raised against a fusion protein consisting of 56 amino acids of the carboxyl terminus of the BTI protein and glutathione S-transferase. The BT1 antibodies also reacted with the abundant polypeptides in amyloplast membranes from hybrid kernels (Doebler 66XP and Pioneer 3780), and the shrunkenl and shrunken2 mutant genotypes, but no BTl reacting polypeptides were present in amyloplast membranes from btl mutant kernels. We were unable to detect BTl by the immunoblot procedure in microsomal membranes from embryo and pericarp tissues from the kernel, from seedling roots and shoots, or in membranes from mitochondria and chloroplasts. The same BTl immunoblot pattern was obtained for proteins extracted from microsomal membranes from developing endosperm and from purified amyloplast membranes. A linear relationship between the number of copies of Btl alleles and the levels of BTl in endosperm microsomal membranes was demonstrated in a gene dosage series. BTl was not extracted from amyloplast membranes by chloroform/methanol or by alkaline buffer at pH 11.5, but was partially extracted by 0.1 M NaOH. These lines of evidence support the conclusion that Btl is the structural gene for the major 39–44 kDa amyloplast membrane polypeptides and that these polypeptides are integral proteins specific to amyloplast membranes from the endosperm.
Construct Maps: A Tool to Organize Validity Evidence

In his article, Wyse (this issue) introduces a new tool for collecting judgments from and providing information to standard-setting panelists. Wyse expands the traditional notion of construct maps ...
Surface science issues in plasma etching

Pattern transfer by plasma-based etching is one of several key processes required for fabricating silicon-based integrated circuits. We present a brief review of elementary plasma-etching processes...
Rethinking Europe and the Islamic World in the Age of Exploration

Our image of early modern Europe is one of religious wars, intellectual and scientific discoveries, and global explorations that "circumvented" the Islamic world and left it behind in the dust of progress. The Islamic world in the same period is pictured as stagnant and declining, unable or unwilling to adopt technologies or profit from discoveries made by a dynamic Europe. However, the idea of eastern immobility reflects not the reality of the east but the persistence of ancient western stereotypes. This essay describes the growth of those stereotypes, then discusses recent research on conditions in the Islamic world and how its results affect our understanding of relations between east and west. It sees transformations in the Islamic world as similar to those in western Europe, generating an image of two civilizations on parallel rather than opposing tracks. The source of European superiority in the modern period should not be sought in the decline of the east. The idea that while the west progressed the east stood still should be relegated to the horse-and-buggy era as something once believed but no longer credible, like the flat earth, spontaneous generation, or the medical use of leeches.
Oral chemotherapy handling and storage practices among Veterans Affairs oncology patients and caregivers.

PurposeThis questionnaire-based study was designed to identify the oral chemotherapy medication handling, storage, and disposal practices among cancer patients and their caregivers.MethodsThis was a single-center observational survey study approved by the Investigational Review Board and VA Research & Development Committee. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had an active order for an oral antineoplastic medication and an appointment at the oncology clinic. A questionnaire related to the storage, handling, disposal, patient education and counseling, and patients’ perception of safety of oral antineoplastic medications was developed and given to patients in the clinic. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsA total of 45 surveys were given to eligible patients in the oncology clinic and 42 surveys were returned to the study team. The majority, 40 participants (95%) were male. Participants ranged in age from 51 to 85 years (median, 65 years). Thirty-eight patients (90.5...
Manipulator Task-Based Performance Optimization

This research uses new developments in redundancy resolution and real-time capability analysis to improve the ability of an articulated arm to satisfy task constraints. Task constraints are specified using numerical values of position, velocity, force, and accuracy. Inherent in the definition of task constraints is the number of output constraints that the system needs to satisfy. The relationship of this with the input space (degrees of freedom) defines the ability to optimize manipulator performance. This is done through a Task-Based Redundancy Resolution (TBRR) scheme that uses the extra resources to find a solution that avoids system constraints (joint limits, singularities, etc.) and satisfies task constraints. To avoid system constraints, we use well-understood criteria associated with the constraints. For task requirements, the robot capabilities are estimated based on kinematic and dynamic manipulability analyses. We then compare the robot capabilities with the user-specified requirement values. This eliminates a confusing chore of selecting a proper set of performance criteria for a task at hand. The breakthrough of this approach lies in the fact that it continuously evaluates the relationship between task constraints and system resources, and when possible, improves system performance. This makes it equally applicable to redundant and non-redundant systems. The scheme is implemented using an object-oriented operational software framework and its effectiveness is demonstrated in computer simulations of a 10-DOF manipulator.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Persisting impairment following rocky mountain spotted fever: A case report

A patient initially presented in the emergency room with fever, confusion, and a petechial rash. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) was diagnosed and appropriate treatment was initiated. He subsequently became obtunded and required mechanical ventilation and temporary cardiac pacing. Four weeks later, he presented to our rehabilitation unit with ataxia, hyperreflexia and upper motor neuron signs, dysesthesias, sensorimotor axonopathy demonstrated by electrodiagnostic studies, and a global decrement in cognitive capability. Although he significantly improved in functional mobility and self-care, he exhibited little improvement in his cognitive impairment at 6-month follow-up. An understanding of the natural history of, and long-term impairments associated with, RMSF will be helpful to physiatrists in developing rehabilitation care plans and in assisting such patients with community re-entry.
Fractal exciton fusion: Simulations on long-range percolation clusters

Abstract Computer simulations of exciton fusion on percolating clusters were performed for interaction distances n=2, 3, and 4. The data yield slopes less than those expected from superuniversality (f=2/3) at interaction distances above 2, when the probability of sucessively longer hops falls by a factor of 1/10.
Escherichia coli glyA mRNA decay : the role of 3' secondary structure and the effects of the pnp and rnb mutations

The Escherichia coli glyA structural gene is followed by two REP sequences and a rho-independent transcription terminator. These sequences are essential for maintaining glyA mRNA stability and gene expression by blocking the 3' to 5' exonucleolytic activities of polynucleotide phosphorylase and ribonuclease II. The results support the model of cooperative endonucleolytic and 3' to 5' exonucleolytic activities in mRNA decay.
Metformin-induced lactic acidosis and acute pancreatitis precipitated by diuretic, celecoxib, and candesartan-associated acute kidney dysfunction

Polypharmacy may lead to synergistic complications from the different medications. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who was prescribed 11 drugs, including a diuretic, celecoxib, metformin, and candesartan, and who developed acute kidney dysfunction while on these drugs, manifesting as severe proteinuria, acute azotemia, hyperkalemia. The kidney injury caused the accumulation of metformin, leading to lactic acidosis and acute pancreatitis. Sodium bicarbonate hemodialysis not only improved the metabolic abnormalities but also hastened the removal of metformin.
General Circulation Experiments with a Six-Layer NCAR Model, Including Orography, Cloudiness and Surface Temperature Calculations

Abstract This paper describes the method of incorporating into the NCAR global circulation model the dynamic effect of mountains, the prediction of cloudiness for radiation calculations, and the calculation of ground surface temperature using a heat balance equation. Other aspects of the physics of the model and the finite-difference schemes are very similar to those discussed by the authors in 1967 and 1970. For the simulation of seasonal climate we specify two parameters: the sun's declination and the distribution of ocean surface temperatures. Since the prediction of cloudiness is parameterized in terms of the relative humidity and the vertical motion fields, solar and atmospheric radiation processes interact closely with the dynamics of the atmosphere through variations in the fields of cloudiness, temperature and water vapor. Coupling between radiation and dynamics helps to maintain stronger baroclinic activity in middle latitudes. Although a hydrologic cycle is included in the model atmosphere and t...
Depletion of the Poly(C)-binding Proteins αCP1 and αCP2 from K562 Cells Leads to p53-independent Induction of Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitor (CDKN1A) and G1 Arrest

The α-globin poly(C)-binding proteins (αCPs) comprise an abundant and widely expressed set of K-homolog domain RNA-binding proteins. αCPs regulate the expression of a number of cellular and viral mRNAs at the levels of splicing, stability, and translation. Previous surveys have identified 160 mRNAs that are bound by αCP in the human hematopoietic cell line, K562. To explore the functions of these αCP/mRNA interactions, we identified mRNAs whose levels are altered in K562 cells acutely depleted of the two major αCP proteins, αCP1 and αCP2. Microarray analysis identified 27 mRNAs that are down-regulated and 14 mRNAs that are up-regulated in the αCP1/2-co-depleted cells. This αCP1/2 co-depletion was also noted to inhibit cell proliferation and trigger a G1 cell cycle arrest. Targeted analysis of genes involved in cell cycle control revealed a marked increase in p21WAF mRNA and protein. Analysis of mRNP complexes in K562 cells demonstrates in vivo association of p21WAF mRNA with αCP1 and αCP2. In vitro binding assays indicate that a 127-nucleotide region of the 3′-untranslated region of p21WAF interacts with both αCP1 and αCP2, and co-depletion of αCP1/2 results in a marked increase in p21WAF mRNA half-life. p21WAF induction and G1 arrest in the αCP1/2-co-depleted cells occur in the absence of p53 and are not observed in cells depleted of the individual αCP isoforms. The apparent redundancy in the actions of αCP1 and αCP2 upon p21WAF expression correlates with a parallel redundancy in their effects on cell cycle control. These data reveal a pivotal role for αCP1 and αCP2 in a p53-independent pathway of p21WAF control and cell cycle progression.
Respiratory dialysis: a new therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predicted to be the third leading cause of death in the United States by 2020. Approximately 125,000 people die yearly from acute exacerbations of the disease. Once intubation and mechanical ventilation become necessary, the death rate increases. To avoid the need for ventilator use we have developed a new device (the Hemolung), which is an integrated pump/oxygenator that functions at low blood flow rates (250–500 ml/min) equivalent to those used in renal dialysis. The small priming volume (190 ml), reduced membrane surface area (0.5 m2), and use of a percutaneously inserted dual lumen venous catheter (15 Fr) to provide blood inflow and outflow make the entire system suitable for repetitive use in patients with hypercapnic acute respiratory failure. We report here 7-day animal data stressing the hemocompatibility and gas exchange capabilities of the device.
Designing student learning outcomes in undergraduate architecture education: Frameworks for assessment

On the cusp of transition to the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) 2009 Conditions for Accreditation, and at the juncture of higher education's transition into a culture of assessment, this paper addressesthe rationale and frameworks for the design of student learningobjectives. The circumstances of undergraduate architectural education are the primary target here, but the same principles will apply to graduatelearning as well. The discussion is itself framed by a comparison to aset of model student learning objectives published by the American Psychology Association, and is structured within the conventionalplanning model of mission, values, goals, objectives, tactics, and strategies. For the purpose of discussion, the authors propose severalhypothetical examples.
Modeling hydrogen and helium entrapment in flowing liquid metal surfaces as plasma-facing components in fusion devices

Abstract In a fusion reactor, the ability to use liquids as plasma-facing components (PFCs) depends on their interaction with the plasma and the magnetic field. One important issue for the moving liquid is the ability to entrain particles that strike the PFC surface (helium and hydrogen isotopes) while accommodating high heat loads. To study this problem, an analytical model and a two-dimensional comprehensive numerical model have been developed and implemented in the HEIGHTS computer simulation package. The models take into account the kinetics of particle injection, motion and interactions with the liquid lattice, and the ultimate release from the surface. The models were used to investigate an important issue, whether He particles can be pumped by the PFC liquid rather than requiring a standard vacuum system. Hydrogen isotope (DT) particles that strike the surface will likely be trapped in the liquid–metal surface (e.g., lithium) due to the high chemical solubility of hydrogen. The impinging He particles in the established low-recycling regime at PFCs could be harder to pump using the standard vacuum pumping techniques. The analysis results indicate a reasonable chance of adequate helium self-trapping in flowing lithium as PFC without active pumping.
Insensitivity of sub-Kelvin electron-phonon coupling to substrate properties.

We have examined the role of the substrate on electron-phonon coupling in normal-metal films of Mn-doped Al at temperatures below 1 K. Normal metal-insulator-superconductor junctions were used to measure the electron temperature in the films as a function of Joule heating power and phonon temperature. Theory suggests that the distribution of phonons available for interaction with electrons in metal films may depend on the acoustic properties of the substrate, namely, that the electron-phonon coupling constant $\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ would be larger on the substrate with smaller sound speed. In contrast, our results indicate that within experimental error (typically $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10%$), $\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ is unchanged among the two acoustically distinct substrates used in our investigation.
Television's Role in the Socialization of African American Children and Adolescents.

The potential of television to affect the social, cognitive, and affective learning of children has been studied ad infinitum.1 It has been noted that children and adolescents spend more time watching television than they do engaging in formal education (Guthrie, 1983; Hatt, 1982). As a result, the question frequently arises from parents and educators about the socializing effects of television on children. The question is simple enough; what is not so simple is the answer. The complexity involved in answering this question arises from the vast number of variables that come into play in attempts to describe television's effects (see Figure 1). For example, what prior experiences and beliefs do children bring to the viewing of an episode of "The Cosby Show"? How much attention do children actually pay to an episode of "Family Matters"? How frequent do children watch educational shows such as "Sesame Street"? The extent to which television socializes children depends on answers to these and similar questions. Despite the difficulties involved in elucidating television's socializing influence, most scholars agree that television is instrumental in the socialization of children. This medium has been described as a source of vicarious socialization that competes with other socializing agents to provide role models and information that affect children's attitudes, beliefs, and behavior (Comstock et al., 1978). Berry and Mitchell-Kernan (1982) maintain that it is television's ability to transmit the values of the culture that makes it-together with the family, church, peers, school,
On-line Quality Estimation in Resistance Spot Welding

A neural network model is developed for on-line nugget size estimation in resistance spot welding. The variables used consist of features extracted from both controllable process input variables and on-line signals. A systematic signal and feature selection procedure is developed. The three commonly observed on-line signals, dynamic resistance, force, and electrode displacement, have been proven to carry similar information. Thus, only dynamic resistance is used in the model. The obtained model has been demonstrated to be robust over various welding conditions including electrode wear.
Calculation of ab initio frequencies from short time classical trajectories

Abstract The multiple signal classification method (MUSIC) for frequency estimation is used to compute harmonic and transition frequencies for a three-mode model of water using classical trajectories. Only very-short-time correlation functions (approximately one-half to one vibrational period) are needed to compute the frequencies generated directly from quantum chemistry methods.
Vesical exstrophy with epispadias twenty-year follo-up

A case we believe to be the longest with successful anatomic closure of exstrophy and epispadias witholt reflux or incontinence is reported. The persistence of the squamous metaplasia in the bladder despite twenty years of "turn-in" is noteworthy. The original method of closure reveals no "secret" to account for the success. The method of repair of traumatic rupture is presented.
The influence of GFR and saline expansion on TmG of the dog kidney

The influence of GFR and saline expansion on Tm G of the dog kidney. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the relationship between the GFR and the maximum capacity to transport glucose of the dog kidney. Female mongrel dogs were anesthetized, and a Blalock clamp was placed around the aorta so that the perfusion pressure of the left kidney could be varied. Twenty measurements of Tm G at reduced GFRs were obtained in 11 dogs. When the percent reduction in GFR is plotted against the percent reduction in Tm G , a linear relationship is observed which is described by the equation y=0.52 x – 7.5 (r = 0.682, P G by 23.9%. However, when GFR was held constant during saline expansion, Tm G was suppressed. Acute hemorrhage (15 ml/kg) partially reversed the suppression of Tm G produced by saline expansion. These results are compatible with the view that factors which govern glomerulotubular balance for sodium and which suppress sodium absorption during saline expansion also alter the maximum capacity to reabsorb glucose from glomerular filtrate. Influence du debit de filtration glomerulaire et de l'expansion saline sur le Tm G du rein de chien. Le but de cette etude est de reevaluer la relation entre le debit de filtration glomerulaire (DFG) et la capacite maximale de transport du glucose par le rein de chien. Des chiennes botardes ont ete anesthesiees et un clamp de Blalock a ete place sur l'aorte de telle sorte que la pression de perfusion du rein gauche puisse etre modifiee. Vingt mesures du Tm G a des DFG reduits ont ete obtenues chez onze chiens. Quand le pourcentage de reduction du DFG est porte en fonction du pourcentage de reduction du Tm G une relation lineaire est obtenue, decrite par l'equation y=0.52 x – 7.5 (r = 0.682, P G de 23.9%. Mais quand DFG a ete maintenu constant pendant l'expansion saline Tm G a diminue. Une hemorragie aigue (15 ml/kg) a partiellement corrige cette diminution. Ces resultats sont compatibles avec le point du vue que les facteurs qui gouvernent la balance glomerulo tubulaire pour le sodium et qui diminuent l'absorption du sodium durant l'expansion saline alterent aussi la capacite maximale a reabsorber le glucose filtre.
Current measurements under ice

Current measurements under ice face some challenges not present when measuring current in open water and water free of ice. There is the problem of getting the current meter through a hole in the ice, which limits the horizontal dimensions of the instrument package such as fins that might provide directional stability in open water. Then there is the issue of damage to the sensor from contact with ice in the hole, a problem that is generally less threatening in open water, so for ice deployments protection against this may be required. The small chunks of ice in the hole may interfere with the measurement, certainly a major concern with mechanical sensors, but also an issue with acoustic sensors. Finally, a mooring anchored to the moving ice surface must be tracked for recovery if data are to be only recorded internally. If the data are to be telemetered ashore there must be a data connection to the surface through the mooring line.
Numerics for Semigroups of Steepest Descent

At first we work with some numerical problems. We use the same example as in Chapter 14 but in a discrete form.
Reaction–diffusion constraints in living tissue: Effectiveness factors in skeletal muscle design

A mathematical model was developed to analyze the effects of intracellular diffusion of O2 and high-energy phosphate metabolites on aerobic energy metabolism in skeletal muscle. We tested the hypotheses that in a range of muscle fibers from different species (1) aerobic metabolism was not diffusion limited and (2) that fibers had a combination of rate and fiber size that placed them at the brink of substantial diffusion limitation. A simplified chemical reaction rate law for mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was developed utilizing a published detailed model of isolated mitochondrial function. This rate law was then used as a boundary condition in a reaction–diffusion model that was further simplified using the volume averaging method and solved to determine the rates of oxidative phosphorylation as functions of the volume fraction of mitochondria, the size of the muscle cell, and the amount of oxygen delivered by the capillaries. The effectiveness factor, which is the ratio of reaction rate in the system with finite rates of diffusion to those in the absence of any diffusion limitations, defined the regions where intracellular diffusion of metabolites and O2 may limit aerobic metabolism in both very small, highly oxidative fibers as well as in larger fibers with lower aerobic capacity. Comparison of model analysis with experimental data revealed that none of the fibers was strongly limited by diffusion, as expected. However, while some fibers were near substantial diffusion limitation, most were well within the domain of reaction control of aerobic metabolic rate. This may constitute a safety factor in muscle that provides a level of protection from diffusion constraints under conditions such as hypoxia. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:104–115. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Unconditionally stable D-H FDTD formulation with anisotropic PML boundary conditions

An unconditionally stable finite difference time domain (FDTD) method based on a D-H formulation and the recently proposed alternating-direction-implicit (ADI) marching scheme is presented. The advantage of the D-H algorithm over the conventional E-H is the possibility to easily implement an unsplit field components formulation of the PML absorbing boundary condition that is independent from the background material used in the FDTD grid. The method allows therefore immersing any dielectric in the PML layers without any special consideration, and is amenable for models truncation often used in biomedical simulations. Furthermore, the proposed scheme can be extended to account for frequency dispersive dielectrics.
Digital regulation of a phase controlled power converter

The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, now in construction at Brookhaven National Laboratory, will use phase controlled power converters for the main dipole and quadrupole magnet strings. The rectifiers in these power supplies will be controlled by a digital regulator based on the TI 320C30 Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The DSP implements the current loop, the voltage loop, and a system to actively reduce the sub-harmonic ripple components. Digital firing circuits consisting of a phase-locked loop and counters are used to fire the SCRs. Corrections for the subharmonic reduction are calculated by the DSP and stored in registers in the firing circuit. These corrections are added, in hardware, to the over-all firing count provided by the DSP. The resultant count is compared to a reference counter to fire the SCRs. This combination of a digital control system and the digital firing circuits allows the correction of the sub-harmonics in a real-time sense. A prototype of the regulator has been constructed, and the preliminary testing indicates a sub-harmonic reduction of 60 dB. >
Pharmacologic Evidence to Support Clinical Decision Making for Peripartum Methadone Treatment

Rationale Limited pharmacological data are available to guide methadone treatment during pregnancy and postpartum.
Psychological Impact of Genetic Counseling and Testing for Hereditary Colorectal Cancers

Lynch syndrome/Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are two hereditary cancer syndromes that confer an increased risk for colorectal cancers. Lynch Syndrome and FAP together account for about 5% of all CRC. Deleterious germline mutations associated with these syndromes have been identified in mismatch repair (MMR) genes (i.e., hMLH1, hMSH2, hMLH6, PMS1) for Lynch syndrome and in the APC gene for FAP. Genetic testing enables health care providers to identify individuals who carry such mutations and thus have a risk for developing colorectal cancer and other tumors that substantially exceeds the general population risk for this disease. A primary benefit of genetic testing is the ability to offer targeted options for cancer risk management to persons at increased risk due to an inherited susceptibility.
International service learning senior design projects: Human power and medical devices

Acute lower respiratory infections are common and deadly in Central America. Nebulizers are relatively expensive medical devices that aerosolize medicine for inhalation into the lower respiratory tract. Senior design students at Marquette University have worked on low cost nebulizer designs that can be used in remote poor areas in Central America. These students' senior design experience has been unconventional. Problem identification and customer interviews have occurred during immersion trips to Central America. The project has been continued over several years with multiple groups. Service learning has been incorporated into the senior design course. Sustainability and other design related issues pertaining to the developing world were given a higher priority than other design parameters. The designs focused on the use of human power that can be implemented within the economic, technical, and medical constraints of the Central American market. Regulatory and ethical issues were also addressed. Students in these groups were exposed to many engineering design issues as well as issues of global health and social justice in Central America.
The Mass Media, Public Opinion, and Lesbian and Gay Rights

Democratic theorists assume that government policy responds to public opinion. But public opinion may be influenced by other political actors through the mass media instead. Scholars agree that the news media have become more attentive to and supportive of lesbian and gay rights over time, and they identify several factors as explanations for the change. While events, the gay rights movement, official statements, and government action may have had an effect, coverage was contingent on the decisions of news institutions and media owners to devote attention to them. There have been few studies on the media's impact, but decisions to cover the gay rights movement appear to have moved public opinion. Despite setbacks, continued debate over gay rights is likely to generate favorable media attention and lead to increased public support for lesbian and gay rights over time.
Intergovernmental grants and the demand for local educational expenditures

Intergovernmental grant programs can create offsetting economic incentives for recipients. This article examines the response of local school district voters to Michigan's Guaranteed Tax Base (GTB) school-aid formula and its Homestead Property Tax Credit program ("circuit breaker"). While some response was found to the price effects of both grant programs, econometric evidence suggests that efforts to reduce interdistrict spending disparities by means of GTB formula price effects will prove futile for two reasons. First, these effects are offset by the counter effects of the circuit breaker. Second, because their demand for school spending is inelastic, voters in "in-formula" districts will convert increased GTB matching aid into property tax relief by reducing tax effort. Further, the finding of statistically different price and income elasticities of demand for local expenditures in high- and low-spending districts, which are also high- and low-property wealth and income districts, suggests that the con...
Frequency-dependent seed dispersal by ants of two deciduous forest herbs.

Two co-occurring deciduous forest myrmecochores, Asarum canadense and Jeffersonia diphylla, release their seeds at approximately the same time, and therefore potentially compete for ants as dispersers. Within a single woodlot, we placed seeds of both species inside a dense Jeffersonia population away from Asarum plants, inside a dense Asarum population away from Jeffersonia plants, and in a site where plants of neither species occurred. No preference was exhibited by ants where natural populations were absent. Preference at the other two sites was frequency dependent: ants preferred seeds of the introduced species. Species preferred by ants have higher seed and seedling survival because by being carried into ant nests they escape predation and avoid nutrient deficiency. Implications of frequency-dependent dispersal are discussed. rum and Jeffersonia). Both species are spring-flower- ing, clonal, perennial herbs whose seeds are dispersed by several species of ants. Both species release their seeds at approximately the same time in early June. Asarum bears its flowers at ground level. Once ripe, the six-celled capsule dehisces and ants can then begin extracting seeds from it. The fruiting capsule of Jeffer- sonia is borne on a leafless stalk. The top of the capsule functions as a lid formed by a fissure in the ovary wall. At maturity the lid opens and the distal end of the peduncle bends, spilling seeds to the ground. Predation by rodents on seeds within capsules, and after capsule dehiscence, may be quite heavy on both species, and occurs primarily at night (Heithaus 1981, Smith et al. 1986). The seeds of both species bear a fleshy elaiosome. Previous work on other species has shown that elaio- somes are rich in lipids, elicit seed-carrying behavior by ants, and provide a nutritional reward for them
Integrating diverse genomic data using gene sets

We introduce and evaluate data analysis methods to interpret simultaneous measurement of multiple genomic features made on the same biological samples. Our tools use gene sets to provide an interpretable common scale for diverse genomic information. We show we can detect genetic effects, although they may act through different mechanisms in different samples, and show we can discover and validate important disease-related gene sets that would not be discovered by analyzing each data type individually.