cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Luni-solar 18.6-year signal in tree-rings from Argentina and Chile

Spectrum analysis of 32 tree-ring chronologies from Argentina and Chile yields evidence for two peaks with periods 19.2±1.6 years (30 out of 32 records) and 10.5±0.4 years in 22 instances. Tests by thet-statistic show that the long-period peak is significant at a confidence level of 99%. This signal is identified as the luni-solar 18.6-year M n term reported earlier byCurrie (1983) in two treering chronologies from the same region, and later in tree-rings from North America, Tasmania, New Zealand, and South Africa (Currie, 1991a-c). Amplitude and phase of the M n signal are nonstationary with respect to both time and geography. In particular, abrupt 180° phase changes in wave polarity are often observed.
Semiconductors, Silicon-Based Semiconductors

Their unique properties have allowed silicon-based semiconductor devices, especially metal/oxide/semiconductor field-effective transistors (MOSFETs), to dominate the electronics industry. Exponentially increasing numbers of transistors on single chips of silicon have led to exponential improvements in chip performance. The properties of silicon as an electronic material, the dependence of carrier statistics on doping, and carrier transport are reviewed because they determine device behavior. The characteristics of transistors, both bipolar and MOSFET, depend on the properties of p–n junctions. An abrupt p–n junction places acceptor-doped, p-type silicon next to donor-doped n-type silicon. The performance of n–p–n bipolar transistors depends on minority electrons injected into the p-type base by the forward-biased base-emitter p–n junction reaching the reverse-biased base-collector p–n junction. n-Channel MOSFETs depend on electrons traveling between source and drain junctions through an n-type surface channel. This surface channel is induced by a voltage applied across the MOS capacitor formed by a polysilicon metal gate over an oxidized silicon surface. The unique low concentration of surface states, which can be achieved at a thermally oxidized Si–SiO2 boundary, is the basis of MOSFET technology. The ability to shrink the dimensions of these devices without radically altering their behavior (scaling) has allowed the microelectronics industry to place exponentially increasing numbers of MOSFETs on a single chip. Generally speaking, the growth of the microelectronics industry has been the result of device scaling rather than fundamental changes in device physics. Variations of silicon technology are leading to devices with deep submicrometer dimensions or new applications such as thin-film transistors for flat-panel displays, flash memories, or power devices. Variations in silicon technology such as silicon on insulator, silicon–germanium alloys, or silicon carbide are briefly reviewed. Keywords: Semiconductors; silicon-based; Materials theory; Statistics; Noise; Transport; Metal/oxide/semiconductor; Silicon-silicon dioxide interface; P-N junctions; Bipolar transistors; Field-effect transistors; Displays; Nonvolatile memory; Flash memory; Micromechanics; Cryoelectronics
Design and Modeling of Generalized Fiber-Reinforced Pneumatic Soft Actuators

Soft actuators comprised of fluidic structures with fiber-reinforced elastomeric enclosures are seen throughout nature, exhibiting strength, power density, resilience, and diverse motions and forces. However, these structures are rarely used by engineers, in part due to the absence of a generalized understanding of their kinematics and forces. A small subset of soft actuators generating only extension or compression, popularly known as McKibben actuators, has been thoroughly investigated. This paper introduces the entire design space of actuators built with two families of fibers, of which McKibben actuators occupy a subset. The helix angle of the actuator's translation and rotation deformation is determined from the kinematics of the fiber deformation for all fiber angles as the actuator is pressurized. The volumetric transduction of the actuators, relating the output motion to change in contained volume, is analytically determined. The results are discretized to provide a designer with an easy to use design selection chart. The kinematics, force, and moment of the actuators are experimentally validated for all fiber angles.
Further results on the recognition of a continuously read natural corpus

Further results have been obtained on the recognition of continuously read sentences from a natural language corpus of laser patents. The vocabulary is limited to the 1000 most frequently occurring words in the corpus. Our model of the task language has a perplexity of 24.1 words (corresponding to an entropy of 4.6 bits/word). This paper describes modifications and improvements to the system which have resulted in the lowering of the word error rate from the previously reported 33.1% to 8.9%.
Charman v Charman (No. 4) [2007]1FLR 1246

Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 provides the discretionary regime under which financial provision on divorce is made. The use of a discretionary scheme ensures flexibility in tailorin...
Phased array instrumentation appropriate to high-precision detection and localization of breast tumor

Localization of absorbers/fluorochromes deep within a highly scattering large body of tissue such as the human breast can be affected most precisely by photon diffusive waves (yodh, physical Review) that are in and out of phase amplitude modulated sources in the MHz region. The detector of in-phase and anti-phase signal establishes a null plane. Such a null is highly sensitive to perturbations by extremely small objects, of the order of the size of 70 microliters volume and containing as little as 20 picamole of an absorber (ICG). In order to enlarge the search field for phased array, the relative amplitude of the rf (200 Mhz or 50 MHz) is modulated by a second lower frequency signal (60 Hz), the phase transition plane moves back and forth at the lower frequency. The phased array system is applied to the detection the blood concentration and its oxygenation/deoxygenation in human breast pendant within a 'breast box' 40 cm X 15 cm X 15 cm, containing a breast matching intralipid and 1 cm3 tumor phantom used as a blood volume, blood oxygenation calibrator. The breast is located by a pair of soft compression plates during the phased array scan. The sensitivity of the system is estimated by the detectable blood concentration and the corresponding oxygenation/deoxygenation of the blood in the 1 cm3 tumor phantom. We have done over 40 experiments for human breast test.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Preparation of soapless latexes by sonification of starch‐based poly(isoprene–co–acrylonitrile) graft reaction mixtures

Graft copolymerization of isoprene (IP) and acrylonitrile (AN) onto gelatinized starch (S) and cationic starch having quaternary amine functionality through cerium(IV) initiation gave grafted side chains of poly(IP–co–AN). Grafts of various compositions are obtained by controlling the amounts and ratios of monomers added to starch. IP alone does not homograft onto gelatinized starch at 25° or 50°C by cerium(IV) initiation and requires the presence of an “initiator–monomer” such as AN to obtain copolymer side chains. Although cografting of IP and AN onto starch depends on AN to initiate radical chains, the ratio employed of the two monomers is critical for graft polymerization to occur. For example, at a molar ratio of IP to AN of 1 or greater, little polymer was produced; at molar ratios in the range of 0.4 to 0.67, considerable amounts of polymer were produced; and at a molar ratio of 0.13 or less, polymerization of AN was greatly retarded. Concentration of HNO3 in the cerium(IV) reagent and reaction temperature also influence the grafting reaction. Lower HNO3 concentrations favor grafting at 50°C, while higher acid concentrations favor grafting at 25°C. Starch graft reaction mixtures were sonified at 20 kHz to form latexes that air dry to clear pliable films. Poly(IP–co–AN) obtained by acid hydrolysis of the starch portion of the grafts failed to dissolve in either dimethylformamide or benzene, thus indicating presence of crosslinks. S–g–poly(IP–co–AN), having about one third starch and grafted side chains averaging about 2 parts polymerized IP per part of polymerized AN, was masticated on steel rolls at 100°C to a tough pliable film which was subsequently vulcanized to a rubber.
On generating maximal nondominated Benders cuts

In this paper, we explore certain algorithmic strategies for accelerating the con- vergence of Benders decomposition method via the generation of maximal nondominated cuts. Based on interpreting the seminal work of Magnanti and Wong (Operations Research, 29(3), 464-484, 1981) for generating nondominated cuts within a multiobjective frame- work, we propose an algorithmic strategy that utilizes a preemptively small perturbation of the right-hand-side of the Benders subproblem to generate maximal nondominated Benders cuts, as well as a complimentary strategy that generates an additional cut in each iteration via an alternative emphasis on decision variable weights. We also examine the computa- tional effectiveness of solving a secondary subproblem using an objective cut as proposed by Magnanti and Wong versus identifying the Pareto-optimality region for cut generation by utilizing complementary slackness conditions. In addition, we exhibit how a standard fea- sibility cut can be extracted from the solution of subproblems that generate only optimality cuts through the use of artificial variables. With Magnanti and Wong's baseline procedure approximated during implementation via the use of a core point estimation technique (Pa- padakos in Computers and Operations Research, 36(1), 176-195, 2009), these algorithmic strategies are tested on instances from the literature concerning the fixed charge network flow program.
Synthesis and characterization of partially disulfonated hydroquinone‐based poly(arylene ether sulfone)s random copolymers for application as proton exchange membranes

Partially disulfonated hydroquinone (HQ)-based poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymers were synthesized and characterized for application as proton exchange membranes. The copolymer composition was varied in the degree of disulfonation. The copolymers were characterized by 1H NMR, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and other analytical techniques. The copolymer with a 25% degree of disulfonation showed the best balance between water uptake and proton conductivity. The copolymers showed substantially reduced methanol permeability compared with Nafion® and satisfactory direct methanol fuel cell performance. The methanol selectivity improved significantly in comparison to Nafion® 117. At a given ionic composition, the HQ-based system showed higher water uptake and proton conductivity than the biphenol-based (BPSH-xx) poly(arylene ether sulfone)s copolymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 384–391, 2009
Validation of an Enzyme Immunoassay for Detection and Semiquantification of Cannabinoids in Oral Fluid

Background: Oral fluid (OF) is gaining prominence as an alternative matrix for monitoring drugs of abuse in the workplace, criminal justice, and driving under the influence of drugs programs. It is important to characterize assay performance and limitations of screening techniques for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in OF. Methods: We collected OF specimens by use of the Quantisal™ OF collection device from 13 daily cannabis users after controlled oral cannabinoid administration. All specimens were tested with the Immunalysis Sweat/OF THC Direct ELISA and confirmed by 2-dimensional GC-MS. Results: The limit of detection was 400 ng/L THCCOOH, potentially contributing to cross-reactivity. Conclusions: The Immunalysis Sweat/OF THC Direct ELISA is an effective screening procedure for detecting cannabinoids in OF.
Field Use of an Ion-Specific Electrode to Measure the Potassium Concentration in Alfalfa

Methods for determining K deficiencies in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are either imprecise, time-consuming, or expensive. New to the market are portable and inexpensive meters that use a K-specific electrode (KSE) to measure the K concentration of plant sap. Little research has examined the precision or accuracy of these meters for determining the K concentration in alfalfa shoots. The objective was to determine if the KSE meter could precisely and accurately estimate the K concentration in alfalfa shoots. Laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments were conducted to test the KSE meter's ability to measure the concentration of K in aqueous solution and in alfalfa sap. Laboratory results showed that KSE meter readings are subject to interference from Cl - , SO 2- 4 and NO 3 - ions. In greenhouse and field experiments, the KSE meter precisely estimated the K concentration in alfalfa shoots (R 2 s > 0.74) if readings were included in a multiple regression equation that also included sample moisture content or mean stage count and air temperature. Readings taken from fresh plant sap using the KSE meter were highly biased, with the readings being four to six times lower than those obtained by flame photometry. Readings from the KSE meter, if used with other variables in a multiple regression equation, would allow users to quickly assess the K status of alfalfa shoots for a relatively small investment.
A congestion control scheme for window flow controlled computer networks

Abstract In this paper we introduce a congestion control scheme that is appropriate for virtual circuit networks that use fixed routing and a window mechanism for end-to-end flow control. The scheme relies on the notion of balancing the flow of traffic at the local buffer pool of the outgoing links at every node of the network. The effectiveness of the scheme at the intermediate nodes of a network as well as at the network entry point and at the gateway node of interconnected networks is studied via simulation.
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS WITH INTERACTION EFFECTS

The purpose of this paper is to extend the sensitivity analysis methodology as it applies to linear programming. The methodology developed herein is concerned with those changes in a technological coefficient that cause simultaneous changes in the relevant cost coefficients of the objective function. By proceeding from the definitions of feasibility and optimality, the authors develop formulas for determining bounds on the extent to which a technological coefficient, which has a predetermined effect on the corresponding cost coefficient, can vary without changing the optimal set of activities. After the formulas are developed, their use is demonstrated on a product-mix problem. This technique is of interest because changes in the rate at which an input is utilized can be expected to change the cost per unit of a resulting product. This interdependence should be recognized whenever a sensitivity analysis is performed on a technological coefficient of either a cost minimization or a contribution margin maximization problem.
Molecular Phylogeny of Amphora sensu lato (Bacillariophyta): An Investigation into the Monophyly and Classification of the Amphoroid Diatoms

Amphora sensu lato encompasses a large group of raphid diatoms, diverse in both form and ecology. The defining feature of this group has been an extreme asymmetry of the valve mantle and girdle bands, bringing both faces of the cell onto a single plane. Although this ‘amphoroid’ structure has long been the diagnostic feature and thus considered ‘conservative’ for the group, many have argued that the diversity of forms presently assigned to Amphora likely does not represent a monophyletic group. With the exception of several taxonomic transfers and the recent elevation of Halamphora to the level of genus, much of Amphora classification has remained unchanged for over 100 years. This study presents a phylogenetic analysis of Amphora s.l. based on a concatenated molecular alignment including the nuclear marker SSU rDNA and the chloroplast markers rbcL and psbC. These results are discussed within the framework of the current classification system of Amphora and Halamphora and lay the groundwork for a taxonomic revision of the group based on monophyly. The results of this analysis demonstrate that the genus Amphora is polyphyletic and that lineages assigned to the genus are distributed widely across the raphid diatom tree of life. The feature of amphoroid symmetry appears to have evolved independently several times. We discuss the nature of conservative characters in the raphid diatoms and their usefulness as a guide to phylogenetic relationships.
Proteasome Inhibitors as Potential Novel Anticancer Agents

Abstract Ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent proteolysis plays an essential role in degrading regulatory proteins and thereby controlling processes of cell proliferation and cell death (apoptosis). Most recent experiments using cell cultures and mouse models have demonstrated that proteasome inhibitors induce cancer cell apoptosis and therefore inhibit tumor growth. The proteasome inhibitors have the following unique features: (i) greater apoptosis-inducing potency when tested in various human tumor cell lines than current anticancer drugs; (ii) ability to selectively target transformed and tumor, but not normal, human cells; and (iii) ability to overcome tumor cell resistance to cytotoxic therapies. We suggest that proteasome inhibitors have potential use as novel anticancer agents.
Canted to paramagnetic phase boundary of EuTe from differential magnetization measurements

The boundary between the canted (spin-flop) phase and the paramagnetic phase of single crystal EuTe was measured from 4.2 K to 0.4 K. At 2.0 ⪅ T ⩾ 4.2 K the transition field followed the theoretical relation Ht(T) = A− BT32. Deviations occurred below 2.0 K. At T = 0, Ht(0) = 72 ± 1kOe. The saturation moment was σs = 6.9 μβ per Eu ion.
Interaction of sulfur hexafluoride with selected oxides

Abstract The interaction of SF6 with MgO, NiO, SiO2, and water has been investigated in the temperature range 25–500° and the pressure range 1–4000 atm. In each case SO2F2 and the appropriate fluoride were formed at a minimum temperature of 475° and 130 atm. At higher pressures the yield increased reaching 90 per cent based on the limiting reagent at 4000 atm.
Potential energy expenditure by litter-roosting bats associated with temperature under leaf litter during winter

Abstract In temperate portions of North America, some bats that remain active during winter undergo short periods of hibernation below leaf litter on the forest floor during episodes of below-freezing weather. These winter roosts may provide above-freezing conditions, but the thermal conditions under leaf litter are unclear. Further, little is known of the relationship between temperatures under litter and potential energy expenditure by bats. Therefore, I characterized thermal conditions below leaf litter, compared temperatures encountered under different litter depths, and evaluated the quality of these sites as hibernacula based on potential energy use by eastern red bats ( Lasiurus borealis ) during winter in forests of the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, USA. Over an averaged 24-h period, there was no significant difference in temperature among different depths of leaf litter, but temperatures under litter remained significantly warmer than air temperatures, especially during nighttime and under snow cover. Temperatures below leaf litter were significantly warmer on south-facing slopes than north-facing slopes, but predicted metabolic rates did not differ among aspects. Predicted metabolic rates of eastern red bats were lowest under the deepest leaf litter measured (8 cm) and highest under ambient air conditions. Depending on depth of leaf litter cover, predicted energy savings based on O 2 consumption from roosting under litter were 1.9 to 3.1 times greater than remaining in ambient air during periods of freezing weather and around 5.6 times greater when roosting under leaf litter with snow cover. A model for predicted total energy consumption (estimated as the total oxygen consumption during a 24-h period) by eastern red bats indicated that when roosting below leaf litter, energy consumption would be reduced with greater ground temperatures, greater leaf litter moisture, and when located on south-facing slopes. Predicted metabolic rates and total energy consumption may provide more insight on the quality of roost sites for wintering bats than temperature of roost sites alone.
Epithelial permeability is not increased in rats following small bowel resection.

Abstract Background. Increased intestinal permeability and translocation of bacteria and/or bacterial products may cause infection and liver dysfunction in patients with the short bowel syndrome. In previous studies, serum from mice undergoing small bowel resection (SBR) enhanced growth of cultured rat intestinal epithelial cells (RIEC-6), implicating a role for a serum factor(s) in the enterocyte response to SBR. These experiments tested the hypothesis that epithelial cell permeability is increased following SBR. Materials and methods. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a 75% SBR or sham operation. Intestinal permeability in the remnant ileum was determined by Ussing chambers on Postoperative Day (POD) 3. Additionally, serum was collected on POD 1, 3, and 7 and mesenteric lymph was harvested on POD 3. Once confluent, RIEC-6 cells were incubated for 3 days in media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; control), 1% FBS, 1% FBS plus 9% Sham serum, or 1% FBS plus 9% SBR serum or exposed to media with varied concentrations of SBR or Sham lymph. Monolayer permeability was determined by measuring the passage of dextran-rhodamine. Results. Intestinal permeability was reduced in rats undergoing SBR. Sham serum-treated monolayers demonstrated the greatest permeability. Incubation with SBR serum reduced permeability to near control media. There were no permeability differences between SBR and Sham lymph-treated monolayers. Conclusion. The early adaptive response of the remnant intestine after SBR is associated with reduced permeability. These results suggest an alternative mechanism for the increased bacterial translocation that has been described following SBR.
Stress intensity factors in two bonded elastic layers containing cracks perpendicular to and on the interface—II. Solution and results☆

The numerical method is given for solving the plane problem for two bonded infinite dissimilar elastic strips which contain cracks of various configurations. The problem is intended to approximate a composite beam or a plate having cracks perpendicular to and on the interface of the two layers.
Air–fuel mixing and combustion in a small-bore direct injection optically accessible diesel engine using a retarded single injection strategy

Abstract In this paper, the air–fuel mixing and combustion in a small-bore direct injection optical diesel engine were studied for a retarded single injection strategy. The effects of injection pressure and timing were analyzed based on in-cylinder heat release analysis, liquid fuel and vapor fuel imaging by Laser induced exciplex fluorescence technique, and combustion process visualization. NOx emissions were measured in the exhaust pipe. Results show that increasing injection pressure benefits soot reduction while increases NOx emissions. Retarding injection timing leads to simultaneous reduction of soot and NOx emissions with premixed homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) like combustion modes. The vapor distribution in the cylinder is relatively homogeneous, which confirms the observation of premixed combustion in the current studies. The postulated path of these combustion modes were analyzed and discussed on the equivalence ratio-temperature map.
Transition Control Strategy Between Standalone and Grid-Connected Operations of Voltage-Source Inverters

This paper proposes a smooth transition control strategy for voltage-source inverters between standalone (SA) and grid-connected (GC) modes of operation. In the GC mode, the amount of power exchanged with the utility grid is controlled by regulating the phase currents. In the SA mode, the load voltage is regulated by the inverter with its phase dictated by the inverter control. The transition between SA and GC operations that will ensure continuous power delivery to the load requires continuation in the phase of the system voltage. The proportional-integral, trapezoidal, sinusoidal, and staircase frequency variation techniques have been analyzed to find the best approach for minimizing the total harmonic distortion (THD). A smooth frequency variation technique has been developed, which provides lower THD on the voltage waveforms compared with the other techniques. The new algorithm has been implemented on a 5-kW single-phase utility interactive inverter having the SA operation capability. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed technique provides seamless transition between the inverter modes of operation with minimal distortion at the inverter output voltage.
Studies on plant parasitic nematodes homogeneously labeled with radiophosphorus.

Summary o 1. A quantitative study was made of the volume and phosphorus content of root-knot and golden nematodes during different stages in their life cycles. 2. Galled tissues of plants infected with root-knot nematodes accumulated P32 from labeled nutrient at a lower rate than uninfected roots of the same plant. Infection in one part of a root system, therefore, does not impair the ability of uninfected roots of the same plant to take up phosphorus. 3.The phosphorus content of the nematode population of an infected tomato plant makes up no more than 10% of the total P of the plant. It follows that the unhealthy condition of the plant is not caused by the parasite “robbing” the host of this vital element. 4. Less phosphorus is translocated out of galled roots than out of ungalled roots.
Cycloaromatization approach to planar and cylindrical carbon oligomers

Cycloaromatization chemistry has the potential to become an important paradigm for the formation of graphitic oligomers. We will explore various motifs of cycloaromatization, and demonstrate their usefulness to the preparation of fused aromatic systems.
Why Do Entrepreneurs Enter Franchising and Other Share Relationships?1

Abstract Many entrepreneurs enter long-term relationships such as franchising, an important area of entrepreneurship research. However, franchising is but one version of an underlying organizational form—long-term share relationships—in which both principals and agents receive variable returns. Using two major streams of research that have long remained largely separate from one another—franchising and sharecropping—we build an integrative model of the determinants of share relationships, apply an evolutionary perspective to show how incentives may change, develop explanations for longstanding theoretical conflicts, and generate a fresh set of research propositions.
Photoresponse of indium oxide particulate-based thin films fabricated using milled nanorods grown by the self-catalytic vapor–liquid–solid process

Indium oxide (In2O3) nanorods were grown on silica substrates by using the self-catalytic vapor–liquid–solid growth process. The photoresponse of the nanorods was compared to that of the thin film, tin-doped indium oxide (ITO). The nanorods demonstrated a wavelength-dependent photoresponse with high responsivity of 1.82 A W−1 at 405 nm. In contrast, the conductive ITO thin film did not show a photoresponse to light. Analysis results showed that different surface states of materials as well as doping in ITO contributed to the significant difference in the photoresponse of samples.
Surveillance, Spatial Compression, and Scale: The FBI and Martin Luther King Jr

Abstract: In 1976, the Church Committee, a Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations, came to the conclusion that Martin Luther King Jr “was the target of an intensive campaign by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to ‘neutralize’ him as an effective civil rights leader”. This paper explores how the FBI surveilled Martin Luther King Jr between September 1957 and Dr King's death in 1968 and how such surveillance relates to both spatial compression and scale. First, using FBI internal memos, government documents, social movement archives, mass-media accounts, and other sources, I reconstruct this history of state surveillance, partitioning it into three sequential phases. Then, I shift from description to analysis, exploring how surveillance—operating through the social mechanism of intimidation—compressed both the physical and tactical space that Dr King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference could comfortably inhabit. This paper also theorizes the relationship between state surveillance and scale within the larger process of state suppression of dissent since scale both demarcates the boundaries where socio-political contestation occurs and also plays an important role in how these contests play out.
Non-linear sensitivity analysis as a tool for explaining population dynamics in a life-system conceptual framework

Life-system analysis is the examination of interacting ecological processes affecting population dynamics. The major problem in application of life-system analysis is in developing methods for analysis of ecological processes. I use a non-linear sensitivity analysis of simulation models to evaluate the role of individual ecological processes and their interactions in population dynamics. The method is applied to the problem of population stability. Coefficients of m- and v-stability characterize stability of the mean and variance of population density, respectively. Contributions of ecological processes and their interactions to m- and v-stability are represented by non-linear sensitivity coefficients. The second application is the analysis of common pine sawfly (Diprion pini L.) population dynamics in Russia. Process interactions are shown to be important in outbreak patterns of this pest.
Autologous bone marrow transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma resulting in long-term remission of coincidental Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease usually runs a chronic relapsing and remitting course, characterized by a repeated need for immunosuppressive drug therapy or often surgery, and is considered to be incurable by standard treatment. We report a case of successful long-term disease control of Crohn's disease following autologous bone marrow transplantation. This case provides further support for the concept that some forms of severe immune-mediated diseases may be amenable to treatment by high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell support.
Controlled fabrication of gold/polymer nanocomposites with a highly structured poly(n-acylethylenimine) shell

Two families of well-defined organic−inorganic nanocomposites have been synthesized either by attachment of an initiator as a capping self-assembled monolayer on a gold cluster onto which a macromolecule is grown in situ or by preformation of a defined polymer, followed by covalent or adsorptive attachment to a surface-capped metal cluster. The characteristics of these composites are compared in size and local organization. Possessing nanometer-sized gold clusters at the core and poly(N-acylethylenimine) chains radially or tangentially connected to the core, the resulting materials were characterized by TEM, GPC, UV, IR, NMR, and XPS spectroscopies. Larger particles with narrower polydispersity were obtained by in situ growth of the polymer on a preformed metal cluster, with best results being attained with a mixture of brominated and nonbrominated thiols in which steric accessibility to the initiator sites is varied.
Food motivated behavior of melanocortin-4 receptor knockout mice under a progressive ratio schedule.

Abstract Melanocortin-4 receptor knockout (MC4RKO) mice are hyperphagic and develop obesity under free feeding conditions. We reported previously that MC4RKO mice did not maintain hyperphagia and as a result lost weight when required to press a lever to obtain food on a fixed ratio procurement schedule. To assess the generality of this result, we tested MC4RKO mice and their heterozygous and wild type littermates using progressive ratio (PR) schedules that are believed to be sensitive indicators of motivation. Mice lived in operant chambers and obtained all of their food (20 mg pellets) via lever press responding. Food was available according to a PR schedule so that within a meal, food became progressively more costly, and we expected this would provide a stringent test of mechanisms controlling meal size. The schedule reset after either 3 or 20 min of no responding, so defining meals, and the highest ratio completed before the reset was defined as the breakpoint. The average daily number of meals was lower and mean size of meals was higher at the 20 compared with the 3 min reset condition. Mean daily food intake did not differ between the two reset criteria but did differ as a function of genotype, with MC4RKO mice eating about 25% more than heterozygous or wild type mice. Hyperphagia in the MC4RKO mice was characterized primarily by larger meals (higher breakpoints) and they emitted about twice as many responses as wild type mice. Thus, using a PR schedule, MC4RKO mice exhibit hyperphagia, and show a high level of motivation to support large meal sizes.
Developing an Environmental Ethic: A Values Education Model

(1980). Developing an Environmental Ethic: A Values Education Model. Science Activities: Vol. 17, Environmental Education, pp. 39-42.
Predicting Trunk Kinematics Using Static Task Parameters

Parameters describing trunk dynamics have been shown to be related to low back injury risk. The objective of this paper was to develop a relationship between static workplace variables and trunk kinematic variables. The independent variables considered in this study consisted of the inputs to the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation. These include the beginning and ending asymmetry location (five levels), horizontal distance (two levels), vertical height (three levels), and weight (two levels). A three-dimensional electrogoniometer (the Lumbar Motion Monitor) was used to record the trunk kinematics as the subjects performed these varied lifts. Thirty subjects (15 male, 15 female) performed 96 lifts. From this data set a series of regression models were developed. The models enabled us to estimate the position, velocity, and acceleration of the low back in the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes for a given set of lifting task parameters.
The experience of using decisional support aids by patients with breast cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the lived experience of patients with breast cancer using decisional support aids during the prediagnosis, diagnosis, and treatment phases of their disease. RESEARCH APPROACH Descriptive, phenomenologic. SETTING Community-based. PARTICIPANTS 12 women, ages 38-68, diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH Audiotaped interviews were transcribed and analyzed according to Colaizzi's method. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Use of decisional support aids. FINDINGS Six major themes were identified: being too stressed and overwhelmed to make a decision, feeling an internal sense of urgency to have the breast cancer managed quickly, trusting the opinion and advice of physicians about treatment decisions, appreciating the importance of support from family and friends in decision making, finding nurses were unavailable or uninvolved in decision making initially, and missing out on the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach. CONCLUSIONS Being presented with the diagnosis of breast cancer evokes a range of feelings and emotions. By identifying, explaining, and expressing their accounts, participants revealed their lived experience and its meaning. The description of this phenomena may assist other women diagnosed with breast cancer in the decision-making process. INTERPRETATION Oncology nurses need to be aware of and understand the issues surrounding the decision-making process of patients with breast cancer. Gaps clearly exist in the information and support provided to these participants. Nurses must target areas that are insufficient in providing decisional support aids and plan for partnerships to ensure a multidisciplinary approach in this process.
A Wall Function for Calculating the Skin Friction With Surface Roughness

Wall functions are used in CFD to provide skin friction values and hence the boundary conditions for flow variables along solid surfaces. In this paper the effect of surface roughness on skin friction is incorporated in a wall function approach which uses Spalding’s formula. The use of Spalding’s formula extends the method to a wider range of wall distance than the logarithmic friction law. For CFD applications the results are then re-formulated for explicit calculation throught the use of an additional variable — the ratio of the surface roughness height to the distance from the solid surface. For a given computational grid this information is readily available in a CFD calculation. This methodology is applied to a linear compressor cascade that has been experimentally measured for different roughness values. The comparison of the simulation followed the same trends as the experiment, but with less overall effect.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Low-Energy-Electron-Diffraction Intensities from Ag{001}. II. Theory

The angular dependence of low-energy-electron-diffraction spectra from AG{001} is reexamined. The energy dependence of the imaginary part of the scattering potential is determined by comparing the measured total elastic current reflected by the surface with that calculated for a rigid lattice, thereby substantially removing the dependence on lattice motion and surface roughness. This energy-dependent complex potential is then used to calculate several specular and nonspecular spectra for incident angles up to 50\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Except for the spectra at 50\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} incidence, all calculated spectra are in very good agreement with the observed spectra as far as peak positions and shapes are concerned. As expected, the observed intensities are always somewhat less than calculated intensities because of the imperfections of the surface used in the experiment.
Efficient and Rapid Detection of Salmonella Using Microfluidic Impedance Based Sensing

We present a low cost, easy to fabricate biosensor, which can quickly and accurately detect Salmonella typhimurium. This study also compares the advantages of the microfluidic biosensor over a nonmicrofluidic biosensor. High density interdigitated electrode array was used to detect Salmonella cells inside a microfluidic chip. Monoclonal anti-Salmonella antibodies were allowed to be immobilized on the surface of the electrode array for selective detection of Salmonella typhimurium. An impedance analyzer was used to measure and record the response signal from the biosensor. The biosensor provides qualitative and quantitative results in 3 hours without any enrichment steps. The microfluidic biosensor’s lower detection limit was found to be CFU/mL compared to the CFU/mL of the nonmicrofluidic biosensor, which shows that the microfluidic biosensor has 10-fold increased sensitivity. The impedance response of microfluidic biosensor was also significantly higher (2 to 2.9 times) compared to the nonmicrofluidic biosensor.
Unexpected Scaling Behavior of the Order-Disorder Transition of Nearly Symmetric Polystyrene-block-polyisoprene Diblock Copolymers Dilated with a Nominally Neutral Solvent at Very Low Dilution

The scaling behavior of the order−disorder transition (ODT) temperature for several nearly symmetric P(S-b-I) copolymers has been studied over a polymer volume fraction range of 0.9 ≤ ϕdiblock ≤ 1....
Optimal synthesis of multidimensional state-space digital filters: a general analysis

The optimal synthesis of a single-input single-output (SISO) multidimensional (M-D) digital filter with fixed-point arithmetic is investigated. The necessary and sufficient conditions for optimal realizations for both optimal and equal wordlength registers are established. It is shown that these optimality conditions always can be satisfied for an arbitrary M-D filter. It is proven that optimal structures possess some favorable properties such as low coefficient sensitivity. It is found that the optimal realizations of a multidimensional filter demonstrate a remarkable property in needed number of multipliers per sample output is comparison to one dimensional (1-D) optimal structures. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the design procedure and usefulness of the proposed scheme.
Pharmacological profiles of a novel protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitor, JTT-551.

Aim: Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a negative regulator of insulin signalling, is a novel therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes mellitus. We evaluated in vitro and in vivo the pharmacological profiles of a new PTP1B inhibitor, JTT-551: monosodium ({[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)thiazol-2-yl]methyl} {[(4-{4-[4-(1-propylbutyl)phenoxy]methyl}phenyl)thiazol-2-yl]methyl}amino)acetate. Methods: PTP1B inhibitory activity and the inhibition mode were assayed with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate, and the selectivity of JTT-551 against other PTPs, including T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP), CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase (CD45) and leucocyte common antigen-related protein tyrosine phosphatase (LAR), was evaluated. Glucose uptake with JTT-551 treatment was evaluated in L6 rat skeletal myoblasts (L6 cells). In the in vivo study, we investigated the effects on insulin receptor (IR) phosphorylation and blood chemical parameters with JTT-551 administration in ob/ob mice and db/db mice. Results: JTT-551 showed an inhibitory effect on PTP1B with a Ki value of 0.22 µM, and a mixed-type inhibition mode. Ki values of TCPTP, CD45 and LAR were 9.3, 30 or higher and 30 or higher µM, respectively, and JTT-551 exhibited clear selectivity against the other PTPs. Moreover, JTT-551 increased the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in L6 cells. A single administration of JTT-551 in ob/ob mice enhanced the IR phosphorylation of liver and reduced the glucose level. In db/db mice, chronic administration showed a hypoglycaemic effect without an acceleration of body weight gain. Conclusions: JTT-551, a newly developed PTP1B inhibitor, improves glucose metabolism by enhancement of insulin signalling and could be useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Novel approach to supercritical helium flight cryostat support structures

Abstract A unique system for structural support of optical flight cryostats has been designed, constructed, fully tested and flight qualified. The principal feature is a single epoxy fibreglass cylinder which serves both as a radiation shield cooled over its entire length and as an integral part of the internal structural support. The result is a high cryogen to package ratio, with simple and reliable mechanical joints and no additional adhesive bonds required in the structural load path. Additional advantages include quicker fabrication, low cryogen usage rates, and a rigid support (measured in excess of 100 Hz on all three principal axes). This Paper describes the technical approach, thermal and structural analysis used in the design of a 38 dm3 flight system, as well as the results of the thermal and environmental testing for shock (in excess of 20g†), random vibration and cryogen hold time. The system was designed to meet ASME requirements while maintaining a high cryogen to cryostat weight ratio of approximately 1:5. In addition to maintaining the cold finger temperature below 9 K with an instrument heat load of approximately 1 2 W , providing gas cooling to the support structure and intercepting radiation heat inputs, the system provided 65 W of cooling as the exiting gas was warmed up from the cryostat exhaust temperature of 40 K to room temperature.
“Ourselves among others”: A new metaphor for business and technical writing

Business and technical writing grows out of a need to “build bridges” between ourselves and others. With today's diversifying readerships and increasingly global marketplace, business and industry face a new challenge that is reshaping our conception of business/technical writing and the metaphors of the genre. The metaphors of “selling” and “reader‐centeredness” demand especially to be recast and subordinated to a new metaphor of interculturalism/ internationalism—"ourselves among others.” Grounded in a social theory of language and communication, this new metaphor signifies that “bridge‐building” across differences will be the key in contexts becoming at once more heterogeneous and global.
Design and routing of storm flows in an urbanized watershed without surface streams

In the karst geologic setting of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA, the drainage network in the watersheds do not support surface streams, but depend entirely on sinkholes, solution cavities, or injection wells as discharge points for accumulated storm water. By providing a systematic framework for designing and routing storms in this geologic setting, functioning retention and attenuation structures have been developed which are protective of water quality while still safely discharging storm water in a controlled manner to the subsurface. This article provides a rationale for the design methodology and then examines the successful implementation of an attenuation and storm water retention design to manage the surface discharges for an entire watershed. By examining the pre-development flows and evaluating future land use patterns (i.e., installation of impermeable surfaces over large areas), as well as sinkhole conveyance capabilities, it was necessary to examine alternative disposal options for collected storm water as well as devise a basin-wide management strategy to coordinate future development of the watershed. Additionally, innovative water quality measures were implemented to help prevent contamination from preferentially infiltrating into the subsurface as a result of these land development activities.
Long-term survival of allogeneic donor cell-derived corneal epithelium in limbal deficient rabbits

Purpose. To investigate the capability of cultivated allogeneic epithelial stem cells to restore a functional ocular surface in a limbal deficient cornea; to verify the long term survival of epithelial allograft; and to examine the host immune response to heterologous cell transplant in a rabbit model. Methods. Limbal deficiency was established by performing limbectomy on rabbits (n = 100). Corneal epithelial stem cells were obtained from the limbus and replicated in vitro without a supporting layer. The cell (3 × 10 5) suspension was then transplanted via topical application as eye drops. Animals were divided into allograft, autograft, and control groups. Females were used as recipients and males as donors for the allograft. Corneas were collected at 7, 14, 21, 40 days as well as 2, 3, 7 and 8 months after cell transplantation. Experimental corneas were evaluated by histology, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and Y chromosome analysis. Results. A well-differentiated corneal epithelium was recogni...