cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-phase Ru1−x−yMnxCoyO2 nanoparticles as highly effective oxygen reduction electrocatalysts in alkaline media with enhanced stability and fuel-tolerance

Abstract A series of single-phase binary and ternary ruthenium and transition metal oxide nanoparticles supported on Vulcan ― Ru1−xMnxO2/C, Ru1−xCoxO2/C, Ru1−x−yMnxCoyO2/C, Ru1−xFexO2/C, Ru1−xNixO2/C and Ru1−xVxO2/C, as well as RuO2/C, MnO2/C, Co3O4/C and Mn3−xCoxO4/C ― were synthesized via a facile method and studied for their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline media. Single-phase Ru1−xMnxO2/C, Ru1−x−yMnxCoyO2/C and Ru1−xCoxO2/C catalysts significantly boosted ORR kinetics in alkaline media. Moreover, they were H2 and methanol tolerant, and exhibited long term stability due to their single-phase structure. Ru0.85Mn0.15O2/C stood out as the most active catalyst among them. A volcano relationship of the ORR activity of these binary and ternary metal oxide catalysts vs. the O adsorption energy was found, with the maximum activity observed for the Ru1−xMnxO2/C, Ru1−x−yMnxCoyO2/C and Ru1−xCoxO2/C catalysts due to their optimal O binding energy. These materials have potential applications as highly active ORR catalysts in alkaline fuel cells and metal-air batteries.
P855 High-resolution maps of heterogeneous antigen expression in glioblastoma and implications for immunotherapy

Background Glioblastoma (GBM) remains an almost universally fatal brain tumor. While CAR T cell immunotherapy has shown promising clinical efficacy, therapeutic failure may reflect our incomplete understanding of target antigen expression. We previously examined variations in antigen expression at the level of individual patients (inter-patient or inter-tumor heterogeneity), focusing on immunotherapy targets IL13Rα2, HER2 and EGFR. We concluded that antigen expression diverged from expectations from random expression. Because antigen escape may arise from GBM cell heterogeneity, we have mapped target antigen expression within individual tumors (intra-tumor heterogeneity). Methods Serial sections from a 43 patient cohort were immunostained (DAB with hematoxylin counterstain) for target antigens IL13Rα2, HER2 and EGFR. Each section was annotated directly from the slide by a neuropathologist. Sections were scanned (0.46 µm/pixel; Hamamatsu), and then working within Fiji/ImageJ, images were segmented by color deconvolution into hematoxylin (nuclei) and DAB layers. Images of nuclear layers were aligned, and used to align the DAB layers. Two schemes were used to examine the spatial distributions of the three target antigens. When tumor domains could be identified, we determined expression of each antigen as optical density (OD). In the second scheme, a 10 µm grid was superimposed on each section, and OD was determined for each position and assembled into spreadsheets (Origin v2019b). Maps for expression were generated from the OD in each position. Results Approaching these maps from the perspective of antigen escape, we examined the extent to which expression of target antigens was spatially mixed, how rapidly antigen dominance could shift (spatial frequency), and whether spatial distributions were arrayed in a coordinated manner. When tumor domains could be identified, we calculated the Shannon diversity index (H) for each domain within a section. While values of H clustered within some tumors, usually values of H varied widely. The superimposed grid was used to examine heterogeneity within entire tumor sections. Expression was intermixed, and EGFR and IL13Rα2/HER2 displayeds complementary expression patterns. In tumors with large EGFR+ areas, IL13Rα2+/HER2+ areas could overlap, while when EGFR+ areas were smaller, IL13Rα2+ and HER2+ areas were more distinct. Borders could be quite diffuse, or quite sharp (a few cell diameters). Conclusions Our results indicate that expression of IL13Rα2, HER2 and EGFR is highly heterogeneous and not always spatially distinct. Because GBM tumors adapt to the selection pressures of immunotherapies, we suggest that combination therapies should be designed accordingly, and immunotherapies targeting IL13Rα2/HER2 could benefit from inclusion of EGFR.
Coastal subsistence and platform mound feasting on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast

Platform mounds during the Woodland period (ca. 200 BCE to 600 CE) of the American Southeast were integrative structures that included elevated stages for communal food consumption (feasting). Whil...
Association of Sex or Race With the Effect of Weight Loss on Physical Function: A Secondary Analysis of 8 Randomized Clinical Trials.

Importance Consideration of differential treatment effects among subgroups in clinical trial research is a topic of increasing interest. This is an especially salient issue for weight loss trials. Objective To determine whether stratification by sex and race is associated with meaningful differences in physical function response to weight loss among older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants This pooled analysis used individual-level data from 8 completed randomized clinical trials of weight loss conducted at Wake Forest University or Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Data were housed within the Wake Forest Older Americans Independence Center data repository and provided complete exposure, outcome, and covariate information. Data were collected from November 1996 to March 30, 2017, and analyzed from August 15, 2019, to June 10, 2020. Exposures Treatment arms within each study were collapsed into caloric restriction (CR [n = 734]) and non-CR (n = 583) categories based on whether caloric restriction was specified in the original study protocol. Main Outcomes and Measures Objectively measured 6-month change in weight, fast-paced gait speed (meters per second), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Results A total of 1317 adults (mean [SD] age, 67.7 [5.4] years; 920 [69.9%] female; 275 [20.9%] Black) with overweight or obesity (mean [SD] body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared], 33.9 [4.4]) were included at baseline. Six-month weight change achieved among those randomized to CR was −7.7% (95% CI, −8.3% to −7.2%), with no difference noted by sex; however, White individuals lost more weight than Black individuals assigned to CR (−9.0% [95% CI, −9.6% to −8.4%] vs −6.0% [95% CI, −6.9% to 5.2%];P Conclusions and Relevance The association of weight loss on physical function in older adults appears to differ by sex and race. These findings affirm the need to consider biological variables in clinical trial design.
Chronic non-cancer pain and its association with healthcare use and costs among individuals with obstructive sleep apnea

Aim: To evaluate the impact of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) on healthcare use and costs among individuals diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Materials & methods: Using the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database, we identified individuals (18-64 years old) during 2007-2014, divided into two groups: OSA + CNCP versus OSA-only. Generalized linear models were used to analyze binary and count outcomes. Results: Relative to OSA-only controls, OSA + CNCP cases had increased odds for inpatient and emergency department visits and higher rates for physician office visits, non-physician outpatient visits, and prescription drug fills. Relative to controls, direct healthcare costs for cases were higher, primarily driven by inpatient and non-physician outpatient visit costs. Conclusion: Relative to OSA-only controls, OSA + CNCP cases displayed increased healthcare use and costs across all points of service.
CO2-treatment of recycled concrete aggregates to improve mechanical and environmental properties for unbound applications

Abstract Concrete is the most significant building material worldwide due to its excellent mechanical properties and durability. In this regard, recycling and reusing the demolished concrete as new construction materials can greatly contribute to achieving sustainable development. One of the most promising ways to reuse such waste concrete is to produce recycled concrete aggregates (RCA). However, using RCA may bring some drawbacks, such as lower density, lower elastic modulus and strength, and a higher water absorption capacity. In the meantime, a strategy of RCA carbonation using carbon dioxide (CO2) to improve the mechanical properties and durability of RCA has emerged. In this study, the carbonation effect was investigated further for unbound applications of RCA with an emphasis on the two aspects – mechanical and environmental improvement of RCA by the CO2-treatment. Crushing value and column leaching tests were conducted for the original and CO2-treated RCA specimens for this purpose. The aggregate crushing value (ACV) was dropped by more than 2% points between the original and CO2-treated RCA, which demonstrates the strength improvement by the carbonation using CO2. The analysis of leachate water from the original and CO2-treated RCA specimens also showed remarkable changes in the concentrations of major elements. In particular, the concentrations of certain heavy metals, such as As and Cd, were reduced by about 50% from their original values after the CO2-treatment. Those results suggest that the carbonation by CO2-treatment can potentially not only improve the mechanical properties of RCA but also alleviate the environmental concern of using RCA for unbound applications, such as aggregates for base course and fill materials.
Conserved and divergent features of neuronal CaMKII holoenzyme structure, function, and high-order assembly

Neuronal CaMKII holoenzymes (- and {beta}-isoforms) enable molecular signal computation underlying learning and memory, but also mediate excitotoxic neuronal death. Here, we provide a comparative analysis of these signaling devices, using single particle EM in combination with biochemical and live-cell imaging studies. In the basal state, both isoforms assembled mainly as 12-mers (but also 14-mers, and even 16-mers for the {beta}-isoform). CaMKII and {beta}-isoforms adopted an ensemble of extended activatable states (with average radius of 12.6 versus 16.8 nm, respectively), characterized by multiple transient intra- and inter-holoenzyme interactions associated with distinct functional properties. The extended state of CaMKII{beta} allowed EM analysis to directly resolve intra-holoenzyme kinase-domain dimers that could enable the cooperative activation mechanism by calmodulin, which was found for both isoforms. Surprisingly, high-order CaMKII clustering mediated by inter-holoenzyme kinase-domain dimerization was reduced for the {beta} isoform for both basal and excitotoxicity-induced clusters, both in vitro and in neurons.
Private vs. Pooled Transportation: Customer Preference and Congestion Management

Large cities around the globe are facing an alarming growth in traffic congestion, to which a significant contributor are the private cabs operated by ride-hailing platforms. Pooled transportation options such as shuttle services are cheaper and greener alternatives but are still new to many customers and policy makers. In this work, we build a structural model to study customers' preferences on prices and service features when choosing between private taxis and a scheduled shuttle service. Using the estimated model, we evaluate the efficacy of congestion surcharge policies in reducing congestion on the road. We find that a 20% congestion surcharge leads to 4% of customers switching from the cab to the shuttle service. We show that providing a 20% discount on shuttle rides achieves one-fourth of this effect. We also compare the efficacy of these policies with policies that reduce inconveniences associated with the shuttle service. We find that a 20% decrease in the walking inconvenience can achieve 35% of the total number of customers substituting from cabs to shuttles achieved as compared to the congestion surcharges. Our findings suggest that, by changing operations levers such as pooled service features, cities can achieve a substantial amount of the benefit from reducing congestion, without sacrificing customer welfare, compared with congestion surcharge policies. Moreover, as the majority of the effect comes from new users of the shuttle service, our finding highlights the importance of incorporating customer preference heterogeneity in designing effective policies to manage congestion.
Abstract TP420: Fluctuations in Glasgow Coma Scale Score Correlate with Non-invasive Continous Cerebral Autoregulation Monitoring in Comatose Patients

Introduction: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is the most commonly used scale for assessment of patients with acute neurological injury in critical care settings. The post-resuscitation admissio...
Effects of adiposity and body composition on adjusted resting energy expenditure in women

Objectives Fat-free mass (FFM) accounts for ~80% of the variance in resting energy expenditure (REE), and this relationship is complicated by adiposity. The objective was to compare adjusted REE and contributions of skeletal lean mass and fat mass (FM) to adjusted REE in women with varying adiposity levels using a novel approach. Methods Women were divided into tertiles by body fat percent (%fat): Tertile 1 (T1): %fat = 18.5%-28.4%; Tertile 2 (T2): %fat = 28.5%-33.8%; Tertile 3 (T3): %fat = 34.0%-61.0%. Outcome measures were measured and adjusted REE, body composition (skeletal lean mass, FM, %fat) from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and percent contribution of skeletal lean mass and FM to adjusted REE. Results The main effect for tertiles (T1 vs. T2 vs. T3) was significant (p = .001); REE was significantly higher in T3 versus both T1 by 281 kcal/day (p = .001) and T2 by 215 kcal/day (p = .001). Expenditure from skeletal lean mass in T1 was significantly higher than T3 by 3.2% (p = .001). T3 had a significantly higher FM contribution than T1 by 5.1% (p = .001) and T2 by 3.9% (p = .001). Conclusions Women with elevated %fat experienced lower skeletal lean mass contribution and higher FM contribution to adjusted REE. FM may explain more of the variance in REE between women of different levels of adiposity.
Long-term impacts of communication activism pedagogy: Guiding principles for future research

Communication activism pedagogy (CAP) illuminates an array of ways to intervene into oppressive systems to promote just conditions, and CAP’s transformative effects on students and communities have...
Transactional relations between maternal anxiety and toddler anxiety risk through toddler-solicited comforting behavior

Introduction Transactional developmental and anxiety theories suggest that mothers and toddlers may influence each other's anxiety development across early childhood. Further, toddlers' successful solicitations of comfort during uncertain, yet manageable, situations, may be a behavioral mechanism by which mothers and toddlers impact each other over time. To test these ideas, the current study employed a longitudinal design to investigate bidirectional relations between maternal anxiety and toddler anxiety risk (observed inhibited temperament and mother-perceived anxiety, analyzed separately), through the mediating role of toddler-solicited maternal comforting behavior, across toddlerhood. Methods Mothers (n = 174; 93.6% European American) and their toddlers (42.4% female; 83.7% European American) participated in laboratory assessments at child ages 1, 2, and 3 years. Mothers self-reported anxiety symptoms. Toddler anxiety risk was observed in the laboratory as inhibited temperament and reported by mothers. Solicited comforting interactions were observed across standardized laboratory tasks. Results Direct and indirect bidirectional effects were tested simultaneously in two longitudinal path models. Toddler anxiety risk, but not maternal anxiety, predicted solicited comforting behavior, and solicited comforting behavior predicted maternal anxiety. No convincing evidence for parent-directed effects on toddler anxiety risk emerged. Conclusion Results support continued emphasis on child-elicited effects in child and parent anxiety development in early childhood.
Four versus 3 Cycles of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Implications for Pathological Response and Survival.

Purpose:The ideal number of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) cycles for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is uncertain with 3 to 4 representing the standard of care (SOC). We compared ypT0 rates and sur...
Silviculture, Growth and Yield of Sandalwood

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) tree flourishes well from the sea level up to above 1800 m altitude in different types of soils and climate. Sandalwood is a valuable forest tree, however, its disappearance from the natural habitat is at an alarming rate. Attempts have been taken to cultivate the species in farmlands to increase its production. The productive establishing of Sandalwood plantations and the increase of heartwood and oil extraction from these trees is very critical. The growth of Sandalwood is better in presence of a host plant, though it can grow without a host. Tree growth is the outcome of numerous and enormously complex processes, and it could be in terms of tree height, diameter at breast height, basal area or volume. In many instances, the growth takes place in a certain pattern, and it takes a considerable period to obtain information on growth behavior and to estimate expected yield based on the growth. Yield is proportional to heartwood girth which is dependent on site quality, type of soil, etc., and essential oil’s yield and quality vary depending on the area of cultivation and age of the plant. In this chapter, details of geo-climatic factors, climatic conditions, geology, topography and soil, where this tree species is habitually distributed are discussed, comprising natural regeneration, phenological details, and vegetative methods of propagation. Further, aspects of seed dormancy, seed germination, and host-sandalwood parasitism are also detailed. Silvicultural practices like inter-cultural operations and tree improvement are highlighted.
Getting under the skin: Social isolation and biological markers in the National Health and Aging Trends Study

Background Social isolation is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality comparable to well-established risk factors including smoking, hypertension, and a sedentary lifestyle. The specific biological mechanisms that connect social isolation to morbidity and mortality remain unclear. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are biological markers that are upregulated during inflammation and can have long-term negative consequences for the health of individuals as they age. Methods Utilizing Round 7 (2017) data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), we examine the relationship between social isolation and two biological markers: IL-6 and high-sensitivity CRP. This study included a nationally representative sample of 4648 Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older who provided samples using dried blood spot (DBS) techniques. We defined social isolation utilizing a multi-domained typology that considers living arrangement, core discussion network, religious attendance, and social participation. IL-6 and CRP were obtained via DBS that were collected in Round 7 of the NHATS. We performed linear regression to examine the association between social isolation and biological markers IL-6 and CRP. Results After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, tobacco use, body mass index, and chronic conditions, we found that severe social isolation and social isolation were significantly associated with higher levels of IL-6 and CRP values among older adults. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with higher levels of biological markers (IL-6 and CRP). Our findings inform the pathway between social isolation and morbidity and mortality among older adults. IL-6 or CRP could be a proximal outcome measures for future clinical and social interventions that seek to alter the trajectory of social isolation and its associated health outcomes.
Hamstring Harvest: Rehabilitation and Clinical Outcomes

Multiple questions about the morbidity of semitendinosus and gracilis tendon harvest have arisen due to their popularity as grafts for numerous reconstructive procedures. The goal of this chapter is to review what is known about the morbidity of hamstring harvest and factors that affect this morbidity. Evidence is very limited with regard to the relationship between hamstring harvest and subsequent hamstring injury. While the studies demonstrate that having a previous ACL reconstruction puts one at risk for hamstring injury, the relationship appears independent of graft type. Loss of hamstring strength following harvest for ACL reconstruction is a major concern. Knee flexion strength loss following hamstring harvest is generally between 5 and 15 %, with the greatest deficits noted at greater flexion angles. There is currently little evidence demonstrating improved outcomes with gracilis preservation or contralateral hamstring harvest. There does seem to be a correlation between tendon regeneration and the resultant strength and diameter of the muscle, although the functional consequences of a failure of the tendons to regenerate are poorly defined. More work is necessary to completely understand potential adverse effects of hamstring harvest.
Prolegomena to an Empirical Philosophy of Science

We identify and address a set of foundational questions relevant to the project of an empirical philosophy of science, the most basic of which is the nature of the empirical. We review the task of distinguishing empirical from non-empirical questions by providing examples from our analysis of cognitive and learning practices in biomedical engineering laboratories. We emphasize that the empirical should be understood as rooted in the instrument, and that the instrument comprises the researcher, which includes elusive factors such as disciplinary identity, disposition, and values. The implications of this claim are examined in relation to three empirical approaches to the philosophy of science: historical, qualitative, and experimental.
The role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase coupling status during acute hyperglycemia as determined by real-time measurements of blood nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide in rat (832.2)

Acute hyperglycemia impairs vascular dilatory function in normal subjects. Normally, vascular endothelial function depends on nitric oxide (NO) production from coupled eNOS in the presence of cofactor 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). By contrast, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin (BH2, oxidized form of BH4) and/or lack of L-arginine (eNOS substrate) causes eNOS uncoupling to produce superoxide (SO), which can be quickly converted to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The role of eNOS coupling status in mediating acute hyperglycemia-induced vascular dysfunction is not known. We simultaneously measured blood NO and H2O2 during the infusion of saline (control), or 20% glucose with or without BH4 (MW=314 g/mol, 6.5 mg/kg), or L-arginine (MW=211 g/mol, 600 mg/kg), or BH2 (MW=239 g/mol, 4 mg/kg) by NO or H2O2 microsensors (100 µm, WPI Inc.) from the femoral veins of male Sprague-Dawley rats. We found that acute hyperglycemia (200 mg/dL, n=6) significantly increased blood H2O2 and reduced blood NO levels compared to the saline grou...
Self-consistent conversion of a viscous fluid to particles

Comparison of hydrodynamic and ``hybrid'' $\text{hydrodynamics}+\text{transport}$ calculations with heavy-ion data inevitably requires the conversion of the fluid to particles. For dissipative fluids the conversion is ambiguous without additional theory input complementing hydrodynamics. We obtain self-consistent shear viscous phase-space corrections from linearized Boltzmann transport theory for a gas of hadrons. These corrections depend on the particle species, and incorporating them in Cooper--Frye freeze-out affects identified particle observables. For example, with additive quark model cross sections, proton elliptic flow is larger than pion elliptic flow at moderately high ${p}_{T}$ in $\text{Au}+\text{Au}$ collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. This is in contrast to Cooper--Frye freeze-out with the commonly used ``democratic Grad'' ansatz that assumes no species dependence. Various analytic and numerical results are also presented for massless and massive two-component mixtures to better elucidate how species dependence arises. For convenient inclusion in pure hydrodynamic and hybrid calculations, Appendix G contains self-consistent viscous corrections for each species both in tabulated and parametrized form.
Structure of a bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme open promoter complex

Initiation of transcription is a primary means for controlling gene expression. In bacteria, the RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme binds and unwinds promoter DNA, forming the transcription bubble of the open promoter complex (RPo). We have determined crystal structures, refined to 4.14 A-resolution, of RPo containing Thermus aquaticus RNAP holoenzyme and promoter DNA that includes the full transcription bubble. The structures, combined with biochemical analyses, reveal key features supporting the formation and maintenance of the double-strand/single-strand DNA junction at the upstream edge of the -10 element where bubble formation initiates. The results also reveal RNAP interactions with duplex DNA just upstream of the -10 element and potential protein/DNA interactions that direct the DNA template strand into the RNAP active site. Addition of an RNA primer to yield a 4 base-pair post-translocated RNA:DNA hybrid mimics an initially transcribing complex at the point where steric clash initiates abortive initiation and σ(A) dissociation.
End-at-lite Care in the ICU: Commonalities and Differences between North America and Europe

Advances in medical science and health care have gradually changed the nature of dying. Death no longer is likely to be the sudden result of infection or injury, but instead occurs slowly, in old age, and at the end of a period of life-limiting or chronic illness. This shift has created new challenges for critical care medicine. In this chapter, we provide a brief overview about critical care utilization at the end-of-life and the most important challenges we face. We discuss these challenges from an American and European perspective, as end-of-life decisions vary substantially between these two continents.
Construct Validation of the Physics Metacognition Inventory

The 24-item Physics Metacognition Inventory was developed to measure physics students' metacognition for problem solving. Items were classified into eight subcomponents subsumed under two broader components: knowledge of cognition and regulation of cognition. The students' scores on the inventory were found to be reliable and related to students' physics motivation and physics grade. An exploratory factor analysis provided evidence of construct validity, revealing six components of students' metacognition when solving physics problems including: knowledge of cognition, planning, monitoring, evaluation, debugging, and information management. Although women and men differed on the components, they had equivalent overall metacognition for problem solving. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed.
Consensus, Community, and Exoticism

Consensus, Community, and Exoticism Anthropological concepts, which have been taken out of context and applied without full understanding, have been misused by historians of colonial North America. Part of the difficulty is due to the normal hazards of incorporating the work of another field in one's own; and part is due to the reluctance of historians to employ monothematic explanations. This latter difficulty has led historians to favor those concepts of anthropology which are not easily measured.
Development, analysis, and comparison of electromechanical properties of Bucky paper IPMC actuator

With smart materials and adaptive structures being nudged into mainstream technology progressively, the smart composites are donning a predominant role as indispensable structures. Among these, the Ionic Polymer Metal Composites (IPMC), with their large bending deformation and relaxation characteristics at very low voltages are attractive as transducers in many areas of application. The actuation and sensing properties of IPMC have been sought after for various engineering functions. The paper focuses on combining the ionic polymer with multi-walled carbon nanotube Bucky paper electrodes to create an enhanced IPMC, and comparatively analyzes the different methodologies briefly discussing the electrode morphology and also compares the uniformity of the electrode plating obtained from the different processes. This paper also concentrates on making use of different ionic solutions for comparison such as to determine the most suited ion content within the solid electrolyte for effective IPMC actuation. This new functionally graded material is tested for its bending deformation, blocking force and the current consumption to prove the electromechanical efficiency of the Bucky paper IPMC. By studying the electromechanical properties of this smart composite actuator based on its actuation under different electric excitations, we can draw conclusions subsequently from the results of the comparison.
Distribution of supercurrent switching in graphene under the proximity effect.

We study the stochastic nature of switching current in hysteretic current-voltage characteristics of superconductor-graphene-superconductor junctions. We find that the dispersion of the switching current distribution scales with temperature as ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{I}\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{G}}$ with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{G}$ as low as $1/3$. This observation is in sharp contrast to the known Josephson junction behavior where ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{I}\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{J}}$ with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{J}=2/3$. We propose an explanation using a generalized version of Kurkij\"arvi's theory for the flux stability in rf-SQUID and attribute this anomalous effect to the temperature dependence of the critical current which persists down to low temperatures.
Rule‐Making and Educational Inquiry

Democracy is not self-executing. We have to make it work, and to make it work we have to understand it…Not only external vigilance, but unending self-examination must be the perennial price of liberty, because the work of self-government never ceases.
Progress on the Scintillation Imaging Gas-filled Hard X-ray Telescope (SIGHT)

We are building a new type of hard X-ray detector (35-300 keV) for astronomical observations, a high pressure (20 atmospheres) imaging xenon gas scintillation drift chamber. This detector combines the concepts of the gas scintillation chamber and the time projection chamber, utilizing waveshifting fibers to read out the scintillation light. This detector will be the focal plane instrument of the Scintillation Imaging Gas-filled Hard X- ray Telescope (SIGHT), a balloon-borne instrument which promises to combine high sensitivity (2.2 x 10-5 (gamma /cm2sec for narrow lines and 4 x 10-6 (gamma /cm2sec/keV continuum at 70 keV), very good energy resolution (2.6% FWHM 122 keV), and outstanding imaging (1.5 arcminute map pixels). We summarize the capabilities of SIGHT and present recent technical innovations and construction status of the detector.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF HIGH VACUUM LEAK DETECTION.

Various methods of Mass Spectrometer Leak Detection of high vacuum systems and components are discussed, with the emphasis on the practical considerations of the tests and interpretation of the test results.
Confining Potential when a Biopolymer Filament Reptates

Using single-molecule fluorescence imaging, we track Brownian motion perpendicular to the contour of tightly entangled F-actin filaments and extract the confining potential. The chain localization presents a small-displacement Hookean regime followed by a large amplitude regime where the effective restoring force is independent of displacement. The implied heterogeneity characterized by a distribution of tube width is modeled.
Kainic acid neurotoxicity in granuloprival cerebellar cultures

Abstract Granuloprival cerebellar cultures devoid of cortical presynaptic glutamatergic fibers were exposed to nutrient medium incorporating either 10 −3 M d -glutamic acid or 10 −4 M kainic acid. No changes were evident in cultures exposed to the former, while cortical neurons were destroyed in kainate-treated explants. These results suggest that kainic acid neurotoxic effects can be manifested in the absence of glutamatergic afferent fibers.
Structural relaxation of lead silicate glass

Abstract Heat capacities of a lead silicate glass (NBS 711) have been measured while rate heating through the glass transition region following rate cooling at a variety of rates. A structural relaxation analysis of the data was carried out using both the Narayanaswamy and Adam-Gibbs expressions for the dependence of the relaxation times on temperature and fictive temperature and compared to similar results for two other oxide glasses, B2O3 and NBS 710 soda lime silicate glass. Both expressions gave comparably good fits to the data, but the Adam-Gibbs expression yielded fit parameters which were somewhat more physically meaningful.
Symmetry Approach to Extension of Flutter Boundaries via Mistuning

A general framework is presented for analyzing and optimizing stability increases resulting from mistuning. The framework given is model independent and is based primarily on symmetry arguments. Dif cult practical issues are transformed to tractable mathematical questions. It is shown that mistuning analysis reduces to a block circular matrix eigenvalue/vector problem that can be solved ef ciently even for large problems. Similarly, the optimization becomes a standard linear constraint quadratic programming problem and can be solved numerically. Because the methods given are model-independent, they can be applied to various models and allow the researcher to easily conclude which models accurately capture mistuning and which do not. A simple quasisteady model for  utter in a cascade is used to illustrate and validate results in this paper.
Effect of analyte adsorption on the electroosmotic flow in microfluidic channels.

The predictability and constancy over time of the electroosmotic flow in microchannels is an important consideration in microfluidic devices. A common cause for alteration of the flow is the adsorption of analytes to channel walls, for example, during capillary electrophoresis of proteins. It is shown that certain experimental data, published by Towns and Regnier (Towns, J. K.; Regnier, F. E. Anal. Chem. 1992, 64, 2473−2478.), on the anomalous elution times for proteins in capillary electrophoresis can be explained using a simple model for analyte adsorption that uses a result first reported by Anderson and Idol (Anderson, J. L.; Idol, W. K. Chem. Eng. Commun. 1985, 38, 93−106.) on the electroosmotic flux in capillaries with axial variations in ζ-potential. It is suggested that it might be possible to use such a model to dynamically correct for altered elution times in capillary electrophoretic devices.
Advances in discrete material handling system design

The paper presents an outline of the research done in the area of facility layout and discrete material handling system design. The objective of this paper is to observe the trend in the literature in the area of manufacturing system design and predict the direction of future research in this area. The paper attempts to link the areas of facility layout design and material flow network design. A methodology for solving the integrated design problem is presented. An algorithm which aids in solving the combined pick-up/drop-off point location and material handling flowpath problem is outlined.
Neonatal viability: pushing the envelope.

To the Editor. Considerable ethical disagreement still exists about the proper approach to decisions regarding treatment or nontreatment of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Multiple pregnancy births, like that of the McCaughey septuplets, has thrust neonatal-perinatal medicine in the national spotlight in the care of “miracle” babies. Critics called the pregnancy “criminal” while the parents considered it “a gift from God.” Modern neonatology has been called a misguided effort as well as a dramatic success, the judgment resting on a distinction between standard of care and experimental care. We recently discharged a female infant who was born at 26 1 7 weeks' gestation with a birthweight of 360 g. The mother was a …
Broadband Mid-Infrared Frequency Upconversion with an Aperiodically-Poled LiNbO3 Waveguide

A Mid-IR frequency comb is upconverted to visible wavelengths by mixing with a 1064 nm cw laser in an aperiodically poled LiNBO3 waveguide. Upconversion efficiency and stability measurements are reported.
Reply to David Kemmerer's "a critique of Mark D. Allen's 'the preservation of verb subcategory knowledge in a spoken language comprehension deficit'".

Abstract Allen [Allen, M. D. (2005). The preservation of verb subcategory knowledge in a spoken language comprehension deficit. Brain and Language, 95 , 255–264] presents evidence from a single patient, WBN, to motivate a theory of lexical processing and representation in which syntactic information may be encoded and retrieved independently of semantic information. In his critique, Kemmerer argues that because Allen depended entirely on preposition-based verb subcategory violations to test WBN’s knowledge of correct argument structure, his results, at best, address a “strawman” theory. This argument rests on the assumption that preposition subcategory options are superficial syntactic phenomena which are not represented by argument structure proper. We demonstrate that preposition subcategory is in fact treated as semantically determined argument structure in the theories that Allen evaluated, and thus far from irrelevant. In further discussion of grammatically relevant versus irrelevant semantic features, Kemmerer offers a review of his own studies. However, due to an important design shortcoming in these experiments, we remain unconvinced. Reemphasizing the fact the Allen (2005) never claimed to rule out all semantic contributions to syntax, we propose an improvement in Kemmerer’s approach that might provide more satisfactory evidence on the distinction between the kinds of relevant versus irrelevant features his studies have addressed.
Nonstationary time series analysis of intramolecular energy transfer

Abstract The dynamics of intramolecular energy transfer are investigated using an application of nonstationary time series methodology to the analysis of classical trajectory simulations. The approach is based on calculation of a joint time—frequency Wigner—Ville distribution from the evolving particle velocities. The resulting quantity has the interpretation of a time- and frequency-dependent effective temperature; the evolution of the distribution provides a concise view of energy flow between vibrational modes and highlights the importance of nonlinear frequency resonances. The approach is applied to overtone relaxation in a model four-atom chain and the unimolecular decomposition of hydrogen peroxide solvated in an Ar cluster.
Studies on the effects of opioid, noradrenergic and serotonergic antagonists on the antinociceptive effects of electroconvulsive shock

Abstract Electroconvulsive shock (ECS) evoked a short-latencied elevation in the hot plate and tail flick response latencies. Naloxone administered before or immediately after ECS produced a dose-dependent antagonism of the antinociceptive effect measured at 7 min but not at 2 min after ECS. Intrathecally administered propranolol, methysergide or naloxone had no effect when administered either before or after ECS. In contrast, phentolamine given intrathecally produced a significant antagonism of the reflex latencies otherwise elevated after ECS. These effects appear mediated by an alpha2-receptor as they were more readily antagonized by yohimbine than prazosin. These observations suggest the presence of two systems, one supraspinal and opioid in character and the other adrenergic with spinal receptors. The differential effects of injecting naloxone before and after ECS suggests that the opioid system is activated between 2 and 5 min after the ECS, while the adrenergic system, as examined by the effects of intrathecal alpha- and alpha2-antagonists, appears to be activated immediately after the application of the ECS.
Diffusional Effects in the Recovery of Methane From Coalbeds

This paper presents evidence that the unipore model is inadequate for describing diffusional fluxes from coal over the entire timescale of desorption. Field desorption of methane from coal pieces shows pronounced curvature, which is attributable to the bidisperse pore structure generally found for coal. A model is presented that accounts for the bidisperse pore structure of coal and predicts diffusion rates for both field and laboratory desorptions. Transient diffusivities are determined for Pittsburgh bituminous and Madrid (NM) anthracite coals by using a pulse tracer technique coupled with Fourier analysis of the elution curves. This technique allows the rapid determination of the diffusion parameters with minimal experimental effort. In addition, steady-state diffusivities are determined to identify mechanisms of diffusion. Diffusion was found to be a combination of bulk, Knudsen, and surface diffusions, depending on the coal pore structure and gas pressure.
InGaAs/AlGaAs strained quantum-well diode lasers

The OMVPE growth and performance of graded-index separate-confinement heterostructure strained quantum-well InGaAs-AlGaAs diode lasers are reviewed. Broad-stripe lasers have exhibited Jth as low as 60 A cm-2 for a cavity length L equals 1500 micrometers and differential quantum efficiency (eta) d as high as 90% for L equals 300 micrometers . Similar heterostructures have been used to fabricate traveling wave amplifiers with a laterally tapered gain region that emit over 1 W cw in a nearly diffraction-limited spatial lobe at 0.98 micrometers , linear arrays of 200-micrometers -long uncoated ridge-waveguide lasers with average threshold currents of 4 mA and (eta) d approximately 90%, and high-power broad-stripe lasers with power conversion efficiency exceeding 50% at 75 degree(s)C.
WHITE RIOT: PUNK ROCK AND THE POLITICS OF RACE

Stephen Duncombe and Maxwell Tremblay (eds), WHITE RIOT: PUNK ROCK AND THE POLITICS OF RACE, New York: Verso, 2011, xvii + 371 pp., $24.95/£14.99 (paper) As a homage to the tone and structure of Wh...
History of recurrent urinary tract infection is not predictive of abnormality on voiding cystourethrogram

Purpose The American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended against routine voiding cystourethrograms (VCUGs) in children 2 to 24 months with initial febrile UTI, raising concern for delayed diagnosis and increased risk of UTI-related renal damage from vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). We assessed factors potentially associated with higher likelihood of abnormal VCUG, including UTI recurrence, which could allow for more judicious test utilization.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Laboratory methods of detection

The most sensitive available method of detecting apparent or inapparent congenital cytomegalovirus infection is virus isolation. Approximately 1 per cent of 685 unselected newborns have been found to be virus positive. Of the various serologic methods available, the indirect immunofluorescent test for cytomegalovirus macroglobulin is the most useful. This specific IgM globulin was detected in 48 of 50 infants under one year of age with congenital cytomegalic inclusion disease. This test is less reliable in asymptomatic infants, particularly in the period immediately following birth.
Conservation in temperate forests: what do we need to know and do?

Abstract Very little is known about some key variables that would be involved in any sound program to conserve biodiversity in temperate forests. For example, the distributions of both species and population diversity are almost totally unexplored. How well species diversity in different groups is correlated at a local scale is unknown; as a result it is unclear whether there are any ‘indicator groups’ that can serve as surrogates for overall species diversity when designing specific conservation projects. Equally, the areal extent of both Mendelian populations and demographic units in forests of various types is essentially unknown, as is the frequency of occurrence of metapopulations. There is thus a need for a geographically and ecologically stratified sample of studies evaluating patterns of both species and population diversity. That sample should also provide information in other areas where much more understanding is required for the formulation of sound policies. These include issues of: time-scale (maintenance of appropriate successional stages and disturbance regimes, the long-term viability of heavily harvested forests or plantations, and rates of evolutionary response to global change); edge effects and their penetration into forest; ‘vulnerability’, including interactions between climatic stress and insect infestation, susceptibility to invasions or to extinction cascades, and other subtle effects such as habitat dilution. Such information is essential to judge how easily management practices may be adapted to different forests. It can be used to improve ‘internal’ conservation strategies: those based on knowledge of the systems to be conserved. There are, however, internal strategies whose adoption requires no more scientific information than is available now. These include a ban on further timber harvesting in old-growth or riparian zones; limited harvests in mature second growth with careful monitoring; concentration of exploitation in present plantations; and restoration of degraded lands to conservation or plantation status. ‘External’ strategies are designed to limit and then to reduce the scale of human enterprise to make the internal strategies feasible. While what needs to be done there is very clear, how to accomplish it is not. In the face of all this ignorance, some priorities are suggested for research, and some ‘common sense’ strategies of conservation that can be used faute de mieux while awaiting more thorough understanding of temperate forest ecosystems. The most important is that conservation biologists spend much more time on external strategies.
Advancements in conductive cladding materials for nonlinear-optic-polymer-based optoelectronic devices

We have investigated various conductive and non-conductive polymers suitable for use as cladding layers in nonlinear optic (NLO) polymer based opto-electronic devices. Our goal was to maximize the nonlinearity of the core material, minimize the total poling voltage, and minimize the absorption loss. Using a cladding material that is more conductive than the NLO core material, the majority of the applied poling voltage is dropped across the core, realizing a maximum EO coefficient with minimum applied voltage. We found, however, that there are tradeoffs between absorption loss, conductivity, refractive index, materials processability and materials compatibility when using off-the-shelf materials.