cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 74 Atomic theory and optical spectroscopy

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of atomic theory and optical spectroscopy. What follows is an attempt to trace the history of optical lanthanide spectroscopy and the role it has played in the development of atomic theory. Two intertwining strands have to be described: free-ion spectroscopy and crystal spectroscopy. To keep the latter to manageable proportions no account is given of effects depending on more than a single lanthanide ion. There is also no detailed cataloguing of experimental or theoretical results; the aim throughout is to give priority to the development and assimilation of ideas. In 1935, theory came in two forms: with group theory and without group theory. Every theorist was conscious of this dichotomy. It is probably impossible to recapture the partisan character of the early articles on atomic theory, though the passions that the methodology aroused are obvious enough. Atomic multiplets are treated by wave mechanics, without using group theory.
Zinc-Binding Proteins (Metallothionein and α-2 Macroglobulin) as Potential Biological Markers of Immunosenescence

ABSTRACT Zinc is the most relevant trace element for the maintenance of numerous homeostatic mechanisms in the body. In particular, zinc plays a pivotal role in the function of the entire immune system for the entire life of an organism. The binding of zinc with some proteins, such as metallothioneins [MT] and α-2 macroglobulin [α-2 M] is crucial immune efficiency during ageing and also in age-related diseases [cancer and infection]. These proteins may turn from a role of protection against cellular oxidative damage in young-adult age to a harmful role in ageing. Indeed, these proteins increase abnormally during ageing and according to their original biological function, they continuously sequester intracellular zinc. This provokes abnormally low zinc ion bio-availability for the immune system either at thymic or extrathymic level. The latter is prominent in ageing. As a result, an impaired immune function occurs in ageing. Physiological zinc supplementation restores the immune system, which leads to an increased rate of survival in old mice. Zinc supplementation does not interfere with the high levels of MT or α-2 M. Therefore, zinc supplementation is of benefit in ageing and in age-related diseases [cancer and infection]. Moreover, zinc-binding proteins regain their original role of cellular protection against oxidative damage after zinc supplementation.
Genomic architecture and functional relationships of intronless, constitutively- and alternatively-spliced genes in Brachypodium distachyon

Splicing and alternative splicing (AS) are widespread co- and post-transcriptional regulatory processes in plants. Recently, we characterized genome-wide AS landscapes and virus-induced AS patterns in Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium), a C3 model grass. Brachypodium plants infected with Panicum mosaic virus (PMV) alone or in mixed infections with its satellite virus (SPMV) were used for high-throughput, paired-end RNA sequencing. Here, using gene attributes of ∼5,655 intronless genes, ∼13,302 constitutively spliced, and ∼7,564 alternatively spliced genes, we analyzed the influence of genomic features on splicing incidence and AS frequency. In Brachypodium, gene length, coding sequence length, and exon and intron number were positively correlated to splicing incidence and AS frequency. In contrast, exon length and the percentage composition of GC (%GC) content were inversely correlated with splicing incidence and AS frequency. Although gene expression status had little correlation with splicing occurr...
Policymaking Opportunities for Direct Practice Social Workers in Mental Health and Addiction Services

Direct practice social workers have potentially significant policymaking opportunities as mediators of top-down policy and as creators of policy where none exists. The power they possess stems from their ‘on the ground’ expertise and the discretion available to them in making practice decisions. By understanding their power as “street-level bureaucrats” they can significantly improve policy. Drawing on policy issues in mental health and addictions services, this article illustrates how social workers can use their power in an ethically sensitive manner to enhance policy outcomes for clients.
Iran and the Soft War

The events of the Arab Spring instilled in many authorities the considerable fear that they could too easily lose control over the narratives of legitimacy that undergird their power. This threat to national power was already a part of central thinking in Iran. Their reaction to the Arab Spring was especially marked because of a long-held feeling that strategic communicators from outside the state’s borders were purposely reinforcing domestic discontent. I characterize strategic communications as, most dramatically, investment by an external source in methods to alter basic elements of a societal consensus. In this essay, I want to examine what this process looks like from what might be called the “inside,” the view from the perspective of the target society. A focused effort or a campaign of this kind, moves, one might say, from what has traditionally been called “soft power” to a different level of engagement that might be, and has been, called a “soft war.” In recent years, Iran has characterized efforts by the United States, alone or with other states, as engaging in such intensified measures against its existing governing structure. In this essay, I explore whether a line between soft power and soft war can be drawn, and how the Iran experience, crowded as it is between competing measures and countermeasures, might contribute to the theory of strategic communications. How does such a “soft war” become articulated by the target, and how are the contours of “free expression” implicated as the emphasis flows more to “war” than to the “softness” of the equation?
Zinc causes a shift toward citrate at equilibrium of the m-aconitase reaction of prostate mitochondria.

Abstract Prostate secretory epithelial cells have the unique function and capability of accumulating and secreting extraordinarily high levels of citrate. To achieve this, these cells possess a uniquely limiting mitochondrial (m)-aconitase activity that minimizes the oxidation of citrate via the Krebs cycle. The steady-state citrate/isocitrate ratio of mammalian tissues is generally maintained at about 10–11/1, independent of the concentration of citrate, which is the result of the chemical equilibrium reached in the presence of m-aconitase. In contrast, the citrate/isocitrate ratio of prostate tissue is about 30–40/1. Zinc, which is also accumulated in prostate cells at much higher levels than in other cells, inhibits m-aconitase activity thereby minimizing citrate oxidation. This current report is concerned with an effect of zinc on the equilibrium of the reaction catalyzed by m-aconitase. Studies were conducted with mitochondrial extract preparations from rat ventral prostate epithelial cells. With citrate as the initial substrate, the addition of zinc (7–10 μM) to the prostate mitochondrial preparation resulted in a change in the citrate/isocitrate ratio at equilibrium from an average of 10.5/1 to 13.5/1. In contrast, the identical treatment of kidney mitochondrial preparations resulted in no zinc-induced change in the citrate/isocitrate ratio. When either cis -aconitate or isocitrate was employed as the initial substrate, the addition of zinc did not alter the citrate/isocitrate ratio of prostate or kidney preparations. Partial purification of the prostate preparation revealed that the prostate mitochondrial extract contained a putative protein (which we have designated as ‘citrate factor protein’) that is required for the zinc-induced increase in the citrate/isocitrate ratio. This novel effect of zinc provides another mechanism by which it is assured that the accumulation of citrate is maximized in citrate-producing prostate epithelial cells.
Adverse Reactions from Timolol Administration

Five hundred forty-seven reports of adverse reactions to timolol maleate received by the National Registry for Drug-induced Ocular Side Effects during an eleven-month period were reviewed. Approximately half the reports concerned systemic reactions affecting the cardiac, pulmonary, central nervous, gastrointestinal, and dermatologic systems. Most serious were depression, anxiety, and confusion; bradycardia and arrhythmias; and pulmonary airway obstruction. Half of the ocular side effects concerned external ocular disease, of which superficial punctate keratitis and corneal anesthesia were the most remarkable. Ten percent of the reports described a visual disturbance which, in many cases, was not associated with refractive error.
Dréed's drag kinging of race, sex, and the queering of the American racial machine‐désirante

(2005). Dreed's drag kinging of race, sex, and the queering of the American racial machine‐desirante. Women & Performance: a journal of feminist theory: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 161-188.
Avian integumentary surgery

This article reviews the gross and histologic anatomy of avian skin with a primary focus on the vascular supply and innervation that would be relevant for the surgeon. A thorough examination of the structure of the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissues is done to familiarize the surgeon with the important differences between mammals and birds that can influence surgical outcome. A synopsis of avian inflammation is also included to provide an understanding of the differences between avian and mammalian inflammation pertinent to wound healing. A brief discussion is made of the surgical equipment, appropriate suture selection, general principles of avian cutaneous surgery, and postop-erative care. Final emphasis is placed on the application of skin grafts, flaps, and cutaneous procedures for disease entities unique or especially problematic in avian species. Each section attempts to collate information from diverse medical and biological sources to provide a reliable reference for future use.
The influence of hydrogen reduction on single crystals of Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy

Abstract Single crystals of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O y with transition temperature T c =80 K have been reduced in hydrogen at 400°C. After hydrogen reduction, there is no observable change in crystal cell parameters and the modulation wave vector, q , but apparently both the Meissner fraction and the superconducting transition temperature decrease. The copper K-edge X-ray-absorption near-edge spectra (XANES) in the oxidized crystals with higher T c and the reduced crystals with lower T c show that the difference in local structure around copper could be a main factor governing the observed changes in superconducting properties.
Speaking for the Audience: Double Features, Public Opinion, and the Struggle for Control in 1930s Hollywood

Looking at film exhibition offers the opportunity to explore connections between the spaces in which we experience cinema and the processes of spectatorship they afford. Theaters form the material ...
Mashup-based information retrieval for domain experts

In this paper, we tackle the problem of helping domain experts to construct, parameterize and deploy mashups of data and code. We view a mashup as a data processing flow, that describes how data is obtained from one or more sources, processed by one or more components, and finally sent to one or more sinks. Our approach allows specifying patterns of flows, in a language called Cascade. The patterns cover different possible variations of the flows, including variations in the structure of the flow, the components in the flow and the possible parameterizations of these components. We present a tool that makes use of this knowledge of flow patterns and associated metadata to allow domain experts to explore the space of possible flows described in the pattern. The tool uses an AI planning approach to automatically build a flow, belonging to the flow pattern, from a high-level goal, specified as a set of tags. We describe examples from the financial services domain to show the use of flow patterns in allowing domain experts to construct a large variety of mashups rapidly.
GPS proximity warning system for at-rest large mobile equipment

Each year fatalities are caused by larger equipment running over smaller equipment and personnel. Between 1984 and 2002 there were seven fatal incidents in the USA that could have directly been prevented with the use of a proximity system with transmission lock implemented on the mobile equipment involved in each incident. These incidents resulted in the loss of lives, equipment and production time. The proximity warning and transmission locking mechanism system described here involves the development of software and hardware placed in haul trucks, service vehicles and other large mobile equipment. With the implementation of a proximity warning system (in this case based on GPS) and a transmission locking mechanism, lives could be saved and non-fatal accidents could be prevented.
Perceptual differences in fetal alcohol effect boys performing a modeling task.

Perceptual differences were examined for four boys identified with fetal alcohol effect (FAE) and labeled learning disabled for educational purposes. Without a model, all FAE boys built asymmetrica...
Factors Influencing Killing of Cryptococcus neoformans by Human Leukocytes In Vitro

Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by human neutrophils and monocytes was studied, and intracellular killing was documented for the first time. Killing of C neoformans by neutrophils was maximal by 2 hr. Ingestion appeared to be the major factor limiting intracellular killing of the organism. Phagocytosis by neutrophils was not greatly altered by specific antibody or by clinically common concentrations of soluble capsular polysaccharide but was markedly affected by size of cryptococcal capsules. Killing mechanisms of neutrophils appeared to require the generation of H202. That myeloperoxidase activity was also required for normal rates of cryptococcal killing by neutrophils was evidenced by a lag in killing by sodium azide-treated cells. Ingestion of C neoformans by monocytes was not affected by capsule size, but killing was less efficient. While repeated determinations in the same individuals were extremely consistent, differences between subjects were great with a wide range in normal killing. There was no apparent cellular or opsonic defect in patients with cryptococcosis. Untreated cryptococcosis is a frequently fatal systemic infection caused by the encapsulated yeastlike fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans. The best evidence that man can recover spontaneously from
The incidence and significance of contraction bands in endomyocardial biopsies from normal human hearts

Abstract With increasing use of myocardial biopsy as a diagnostic tool, different criteria of pathology have evolved from tissues obtained from biopsy and postmorten specimens. We reported that contraction bands may be produced artifactually by the biopsy procedure in the fresh, but not the postmorten or perfused fixed normal rat and dog hearts. Contraction bands have been used as a morphological index of pathology. From 12 normal human transplant donors endomyocardial biopsy samples were obtained from the right ventricle, were fixed immediately and then processed for light and electron microscopy. Contraction bands were quantitated by assigning 0, 1, 2, and 3 to represent 0, 1 to 5, 6 to 10, and 11 or more cells per square millimeter with contraction bands. A large number of contraction bands were present in 11 out of 12 hearts; 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and zero degrees of contraction bands were present in 11, 0, 1, and 0 samples, respectively. We conclude that contraction bands may be produced artifactually in normally human hearts, and based upon the rat and dog study, that the determinants of contraction band formation are activation of the contractile machinery by the biopsy procedure, together with sarcomeres capable of hypercontraction because their shortening is unopposed. Furthermore, contraction bands may be considered a morphological index of pathology in tissue obtained postmortem and after perfusion fixation, but not in tissue obtained from biopsies.
Sampling in the Twenty-First Century

This article summarizes the most significant developments in survey sampling in the twentieth century, especially as they relate to marketing and marketing research, and attempts to predict, based on what we know now, significant developments that will occur early in the twenty-first century. The article is divided into the following sections: (1) Developments in Door-to-Door Sampling, (2) Developments in Telephone and Mail Surveys, (3) Location Samples, (4) Focus Groups and Other Sloppy Samples, (5) Sampling Rare Populations, (6) Business Surveys, (7) Panels, (8) Developments in the Theoretical Foundation of Survey Sampling, and (9) The Evolutionary Process and Future Developments.
The uniqueness of protein sequences: Molecular territoriality

The number of tripeptides which do not occur and which occur only a small number of times in the existing data bank of protein sequences is much larger than that expected on the basis of random selection (from Monte Carlo analyses). Forty tripeptides are not found in the data bank of 289 500 amino acids while the value expected on the basis of random selection is 8.0 +/- 3.1. Seventy-one tripeptides occur only once with an expected value of 37.1 +/- 6.1. These results suggest that some peptides not found in certain species are reserved for use only in other species. The proposal is made that small peptides serve as species specific markers and function as signals in the recognition process for activation of the immune response.
The Sasaki join and admissible Kähler constructions

We give a survey of our recent work (Boyer and Tonnesen-Friedman (2013) [50,51,30], Boyer and Tonnesen-Friedman (2014) [33,29,36]) describing a method which combines the Sasaki join construction of Boyer et al. (2007) [31] with the admissible Kahler construction of Apostolov et al. (2006, 2004, 2008) [26,27,14,25] to obtain new extremal and new constant scalar curvature Sasaki metrics, including Sasaki–Einstein metrics. The constant scalar curvature Sasaki metrics also provide explicit solutions to the CR Yamabe problem. In this regard we give examples of the lack of uniqueness when the Yamabe invariant λ(M) is positive.
Computation of a class of functions useful in the phase-integral approximation. I. Results

Wavefunctions in the phase-integral approximation, which is closely related to the JWKB approximation, may be expressed as expansions in terms of functions Y2n first defined by N. Froman. Previously, only the functions up to Y8 have been known. This paper presents computed expressions for the functions through Y20.
Influence of Midsummer Planting Dates on Ethanol Production Potential of Sweet Sorghum

Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is one of a few promising energy crops that has multiple uses and is adapted to a wide range of growing conditions. Thus, sweet sorghum may be an attractive alternative to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in some wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–soybean double-cropping systems. Twelve sweet sorghum genotypes differing in maturity were planted in central Missouri in mid- to late June in 2008 and 2009 and evaluated for bioenergy traits. Further, six genotypes were planted in early July and mid-July to assess the impact of delayed planting. Sugar concentration (brix), stem juice yield, fermentable sugar yield, bagasse yield, and estimated ethanol yields differed among cultivars and planting dates. Estimated ethanol yields from bagasse exceeded those from stem juice for all cultivars and planting dates by an average of 2997 L ha–1 across cultivars. Delaying planting from mid-June to early July and mid-July reduced the average estimated total ethanol yields for six cultivars from 5189 to 3852 and 2808 L ha–1, respectively. For the first two planting dates, Keller and Topper 76-6 were among the top three cultivars for estimated total ethanol yields, but for the third planting date, Umbrella produced the largest estimated total ethanol yields. Large amounts of bagasse and juice with good sugar content can be produced when sweet sorghum is planted in mid- to late June, and while productivity declines with later plantings, sweet sorghum may still produce >2800 L ethanol ha–1 when planted in mid-July.
TRIM5α Disrupts the Structure of Assembled HIV-1 Capsid Complexes In Vitro

The host restriction factor TRIM5alpha provides intrinsic defense against retroviral infections in mammalian cells. TRIM5alpha blocks infection by targeting the viral capsid after entry but prior to completion of reverse transcription, but whether this interaction directly alters the structure of the viral capsid is unknown. A previous study reported that rhesus macaque TRIM5alpha protein stably associates with cylindrical complexes formed by assembly of recombinant HIV-1 CA-NC protein in vitro and that restriction leads to accelerated HIV-1 uncoating in target cells. To gain further insight into the mechanism of TRIM5alpha-dependent restriction, we examined the structural effects of TRIM5 proteins on preassembled CA-NC complexes by electron microscopy. Incubation of assembled complexes with lysate of cells expressing the restrictive rhesus TRIM5alpha protein resulted in marked disruption of the normal cylindrical structure of the complexes. In contrast, incubation with lysate of control cells or cells expressing comparable levels of the nonrestrictive human TRIM5alpha protein had little effect on the complexes. Incubation with lysate of cells expressing the TRIMCyp restriction factor also disrupted the cylinders. The effect of TRIMCyp was prevented by the addition of cyclosporine, which inhibits binding of TRIMCyp to the HIV-1 capsid. Thus, disruption of CA-NC cylinders by TRIM5alpha and TRIMCyp was correlated with the specificity of restriction. Collectively, these results suggest that TRIM5alpha-dependent restriction of HIV-1 infection results from structural perturbation of the viral capsid leading to aberrant HIV-1 uncoating in target cells.
A detailed study of elemental contamination in a Varian 180XP high-current implanter

Abstract Contamination is a major focus for device manufacturers, especially as the industry moves towards 16–64 Mbit memory level integration. This places considerable constraints on the existing ion implantation technology and the choice of materials used in the manufacture and maintenance of ion implanters. Contamination in the ion implantation process can come from a variety of mechanisms: ion-beam sputtering of hardware, cross-contamination from previous implants, in cases of nondedicated systems, end stations (discs, platens etc.), and mass interference effects during species analysis. In this paper, results of contamination analysis of wafers implanted at a customer site on a 180XP Varian implanter will be represented. A wide range of elements, including Al, Fe, Ni, alkali and alkahne earth metals, and previously implanted species were studied. Characterization was done by several techniques including secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICPMS), total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and neutron-activation analysis (NAA). In addition, the effects of beam current on the amounts of sputtered contaminants will be discussed. Preventative measures and maintenance procedures, which can also be potential sources of contamination, will be highlighted.
MINOR ELEMENT DISTRIBUTION IN SEDIMENTARY CARBONATE ROCKS

The dependcnce of the abundances of minor elements in carbonite rocks on the noncarbonate materials, the variety of compounds in which minor clements are incorporated in carbonite rocks, and the mechanisms by which minor ele
Mean, geometric mean, or median grain count in cell cycle studies

Abstract The (arithmetic) mean grain count in radioautographs of labeled cells is utilized much more frequently than either the median or the geometric mean as a measure of the average content of label. Although the mean would be preferred theoretically if the grain count were normally distributed, it is probably the least desirable of the three in practice. This is because (i) it is not necessarily the case that the distribution is normal, and (ii) even if the distribution were normal, the estimate of the mean is subject to significant error under conditions often obtained. Ideally the parameter employed in a given experiment should be chosen only after careful analysis of the properties of the grain count distributions in all cell samples. However, if a single parameter is to be used in all studies regardless of the actual grain count distribution, the order of preference is: (1) geometric mean; (2) median; (3) arithmetic mean.
Potential Antitumor Agents: Derivatives of 2-Hydrazino-5-nitropyridine

Fifty-one hydrazones of 2-hydrazino-5-nitropyridine have been synthesized for tolerance in DBA mice and for study as potential antitumor agents against the three mouse tumor systems (sarcoma 180, adenocarcinoma 755, and leukemia 1210). Of four compounds with activity against the sarcoma 180 tumor, two derivatives—p-acetaminobenzaldehyde and p-nitrobenzaldehyde—showed good inhibition and confirmed activity. The salicylaldehyde derivative showed slight activity against the adenocarcinoma 755 tumor. None of the compounds were active in the leukemia 1210 mouse tumor system. The highest tolerated dose of the active compounds in mice by intraperitoneal injection was 2 g./kg. The compounds were thus of low toxicity.
Brillouin Scattering Study of Propagating Acoustoelectric Domains in n GaAs

A Brillouin-scattering study of amplified shear waves in propagating acoustoelectric domains in $n$ GaAs is presented. On the basis of small-signal theory, a complete formalism is developed for the amplification of piezoelectrically active waves from the thermal background of lattice vibrations. Our experimental results show that this provides a good description of the acoustic flux when its intensity is less than about ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ J/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$. Here, the growth rate, intensity, frequency distribution, angular distribution, and spatial distribution of the amplified shear waves were all found consistent with small-signal theory. In the subsequent stages of growth, when the acoustic waves become very intense, many interesting deviations from small-signal theory were found, resulting from at least two nonlinear effects, parametric frequency conversion, and enhanced electron-phonon coupling. The acoustic spectrum is rapidly extended to low frequencies, with relatively narrow domains being initially produced at these frequencies. The acoustic energy density tends to saturate at about 1 J/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$.
Structure and Polymorphism in M(ethylenediamine)3MoS4 (M = Mn, Co, Ni)

Polymorphism in hybrid inorganic−organic materials has not been explored as extensively as that in organic compounds, yet differences in solid-state structure can significantly affect the physical properties central to application of these materials. A new polymorph of Ni(en)3MoS4 (en = ethylenediamine), a hydrodesulfurization catalyst precursor, has been synthesized solvothermally and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The new structure (2) assumes the orthorhombic Pcab space group with a = 14.020(5) A, b = 14.821(7) A, and c = 16.230(6) A. The structure of a polymorph that had been found previously (1) was redetermined at 100 K, confirming the orthorhombic Pna21 structure with a = 15.916(13) A, b = 7.610(3) A, and c = 14.093(6) A. Solvothermal reaction conditions including temperature, solvent water content, and nickel source were important in controlling polymorph formation. Differential scanning calorimetry and solvent-mediated conversion studies were used to compare the s...
Governor Henry Ellis and the Transformation of British North America

Henry Ellis (1721-1806) was the most capable of Georgia's colonial governors and an influential, behind-the-scenes power-broker. This biography places his life and career in the context of the great cultural migrations, encounters and conflicts of British imperial and American colonial history.
Vascular inducible nitric oxide synthase gene therapy: requirement for guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I.

Background. Human inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene transfer inhibits myointimal hyperplasia in vitro. However, unstimulated vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) do not synthesize tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor for iNOS, which may be an obstacle to successful vascular iNOS gene therapy. We investigated the capacity of gene transfer of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH), the rate-limiting enzyme for BH4 biosynthesis, to supply cofactor for iNOS activity. Methods. A human GTPCH expression plasmid (pCIS-GTPCH) was transfected into rat aortic SMC (RAOSMC) and BH4-deficient NIH3T3 cells engineered to stably express human iNOS (3T3-iNOS). GTPCH activity and intracellular biopterins were assessed as a measure of successful transfection, and the capacity of GTPCH to reconstitute iNOS activity was used to determine whether BH4 was made available to the iNOS protein. Results. The pCIS-GTPCH-transfected 3T3 cells had demonstrable GTPCH activity as compared with control cells (169.3±6.6 pmol/hr/mg versus 0, p Conclusions. GTPCH gene transfer reconstitutes iNOS activity in BH4-deficient cells despite poor transfer efficiency. GTPCH can deliver a cofactor to targeted cells even if it is synthesized in neighboring cells, and may be a means to concurrently deliver BH4 with iNOS in vivo.
A finite element study of geometric modifications to reduce thermal mismatch curvature in wafer bonding

Wafer-level packaging of RF MEMS devices offers an attractive option to reduce packaging cost significantly and ensures hermetic encapsulation of devices. Low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) cap wafers are particularly favorable because they can be pre-patterned with through-wafer vias for integrated electrical contacts and high-density packaging, at a much lower cost than silicon wafers with similar features. However, thermal expansion mismatch between ceramic and silicon wafers at high bonding temperatures induces thermal stresses at the interface, resulting in wafer curvature. For example, a 150 mm silicon wafer 675 μm thick with a ceramic cap wafer 500 μm thick has been measured to exhibit out-of-flatness displacement as severe as of 1.7 mm at the center. While the curvature can be reduced significantly using low-thermal-expansion ceramic, such materials are non-standard and require custom formulation. Furthermore, as the wafer diameter is increased, thermal expansion mismatch becomes more problematic. Therefore, it is desirable to address the problem using a geometrical approach in addition to optimizing the ceramic for wafer bonding applications. The present study applies finite element analysis (FEA) to examine the potential for reducing such curvature by introducing slots in the ceramic cap wafer. Two-level factorial design simulations involving five parameters were conducted to investigate the effect of slot parameters on wafer curvature, using 2-D plane strain simulation of wafer cooling from 300 °C to 25 °C. The five parameters investigated were cap wafer thickness, slot width, slot depth, slot separation, and slot orientation. The nonlinear temperature dependence of thermal expansion was also examined based on test data for the ceramic wafers. Furthermore, a 3-D finite element simulation was conducted to compare the 2-D results to overall impact on wafer distortion. FEA results were compared with experimental curvature measurements on sample wafers measured by coordinate measuring machining (CMM). Simulated results suggest that introduction of slots shows reduction in wafer curvature, and the displacement can be reduced by as much as 25% based on the geometric parameter values for slots in the cap wafer.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Characteristics of avian sarcoma virus strain PRCIV and comparison with strain PRCII-p.

Abstract Avian sarcoma virus strain Poultry Research Centre IV (PRCIV) ( J. G. Carr and J. G. Campbell (1958) Brit. J. Cancer 12, 631–635) is highly oncogenic in chickens and transforms chicken embryo fibroblasts in culture. It is defective in replication, unable to code for complete functional products of the three essential viral genes gag, pol, or env. Nonproducing cells transformed by PRCIV lack the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, pp6src but synthesize a new transformation-specific protein of 170,000 MW. This P170 contains partial gag sequences, probably at its N-terminus and transformation-specific, cell-derived sequences, probably in the C-terminal portion of the molecule. In two-dimensional tryptic peptide maps P170 of PRCIV is indistinguishable from the transformation-specific protein P170 of the previously described PRCII-p ( M. L. Breitman, J. C. Neil, C. Moscovici, and P. K. Vogt (1981) Virology 108, 1–12). Both P170 proteins also contain all but one tryptic peptide of the transformation-specific gag-linked protein P105 found in cells transformed by avian sarcoma virus PRCII. The P170 proteins of PRCIV and PRCII-p have an associated tyrosine-specific kinase activity similar to P105 of PRCII. All three agents, PRCII, PRCII-p, and PRCIV, belong to class II of avian sarcoma viruses. In cells transformed by PRCIV or PRCII-p secondary gag-linked transformation-specific proteins of less than 170,000 MW are sometimes seen, but limited in vivo and in vitro passage of the viruses shows the P170 to be a stable characteristic of PRCIV and PRCII-p transformation. The genomic RNA of PRCIV and PRCII-p sediments at 30 S corresponding to a size of about 6.1 kilobases.
Horizontal cracking of continuously reinforced concrete pavement under environmental loadings

Abstract The objective of this study is to identify the mechanisms and associated variables of horizontal cracking in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) and to develop mitigation methodologies. To this end, the laboratory and field testing were carried out. The behavior of CRCP at relatively early ages under environmental loadings was measured and compared with numerical analysis. The effect of factors related to design, materials, and construction on the horizontal cracking potential was evaluated through the comprehensive numerical analysis. It is expected that this study could help develop or improve design standards and/or material or construction specifications to prevent distress from horizontal cracking in CRCP.
Molybdenum Deficiency in Florida Citrus

INVESTIGATIONS at this Station have disclosed that molybdenum deficiency is found in citrus trees throughout the citrus-growing area of Florida. The symptom of this deficiency has been called yellow spot since it was first described by Floyd1 in 1908. Yellow spot has also been reported in citrus on the Isle of Pines2. Repeated studies3 failed to demonstrate that it was due to an infectious fungus, bacterium or virus. It is known to occur on practically all kinds of citrus ; but the rootstock greatly affects the extent to which the tree is injured. Trees on grapefruit rootstock are much more seriously affected than are trees on other rootstocks. This is one of the reasons why grapefruit has not been widely used as a root-stock in Florida.
Growth hormone and somatomedin-C in bulimia.

Abstract Somatomedin-C (SOM-C) concentrations are regulated by circulating growth hormone (GH) concentrations; however, other factors, such as nutrition, also influence SOM-C concentrations. We evaluated the GH-SOM-C axis in seven normal-weight female bulimics one day after hospital admission, and in seven age-, sex-, and weight-matched normal controls. Subjects were medication-free for at least one month. Fasting morning serum GH concentrations were higher in all bulimics (range 2.5–13.3 ng/ml) than in all controls (range
Efficacy of zinc phosphide baits to control voles in alfalfa — an enclosure study

The efficacy of broadcasting zinc phosphide (Zn3P,) grain baits as an acute rodenticide to control graytailed voles (Microrus canicaudus) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was assessed. A total of 428 voles was distributed within 18, 0.2-ha enclosures having a 2+ year stand of plants. Single, pre-bait (0.0% Zn,P,) and test-/control-(2.0/0.0% Zn3Pz) bait broadcasts (11.2 kg ha-‘) were applied within enclosures 18 and 20 days following final vole distribution. At 14 days later, a trap-out of the surviving voles was conducted. Only 5.6% of those distributed in ZnjPrbaited enclosures were recaptured; whereas, 70.1% of those placed in control-baited enclosures were retrapped. Analyses of variance for proportions of voles and total voles captured within enclosures yielded significant main effects for rodenticide. Program CAPTURE estimates also confirmed significant decreases in vole populations in Zn3Pz-baited enclosures. Daily carcass searches yielded 25 and 5 vole carcasses, respectively, in the ZnXPz and control enclosures during the bait-exposure period. Three non-target carcasses were found within enclosures during this period: one Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) and two vagrant shrews (Sorex vagrans). Results demonstrate the efficacy and low hazards to non-target passerines of a single Zn3P, baiting to control vole populations in alfalfa. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd
Diffusion of 1-alkenes and cyclohexene in alkane solvents

Abstract The translational diffusion constant, D , has been measured for each of the 1-alkenes 1-C 6 H 12 , 1-C 8 H 16 , 1-C 12 H 24 , and 1-C 14 H 28 in each of the even n -alkanes n -C 6 H 14 – n -C 14 H 30 ; the D values have also been measured for 1-C 10 H 20 in each of the even n -alkanes n -C 8 H 18 – n -C 14 H 30 . Cyclohexene has been studied in each of the even n -alkanes n -C 8 H 18 – n -C 14 H 30 and cyclohexane. Deviations from the Stokes–Einstein (SE) relation ( D = k B T /6 πηr ) were found. For a given solute, the hydrodynamic radius r decreased as the viscosity η increased. Analyses of literature data for n -alkane solutes in n -alkane solvents, including self-diffusion, also gave values of r that decreased as η increased. These solvent-dependent r values are discussed in terms of the relative sizes of the solutes and solvents. The data also were analyzed using D / T = A / η p ( p = 1 for the SE relation). The p values for the 1-alkenes and the n -alkane solutes with six or more carbon atoms were all p values for the analogous n -alkane solutes were roughly the same and indicated that the similar shapes and polarities of the two types of hydrocarbon play key roles in determining their diffusion. In the n -alkane solvents, the p value of the more globular cyclohexene is somewhat larger than those of both 1-hexene and n -hexane.
A Numerically Tractable Global Framework for the Feedback Control of Boundary-Layer Perturbations

We present a global framework for the feedback control of a large class of spatially-developing boundary-layer flow systems. The systems considered are (approximately) parabolic in the spatial coordinate x. This facilitates the application of a range of established feedback control theories which are based on the solution of differential Riccati equations which march over a finite horizon in x (rather than marching in t, as customary). However, unlike systems which are parabolic in time, there is no causality constraint for the feedback control of systems which are parabolic in space; that is, downstream information may be used to update the controls upstream. Thus, a particular actuator may be used to neutralize the effects of a disturbance which actually enters the system downstream of the actuator location. In the present study, a numerically-tractable feedback control strategy is proposed which takes advantage of this special capability of feedback control rules in the spatially-parabolic setting in order to minimize a globally-defined cost function in an effort to maintain laminar boundary-layer flow.© 2002 ASME
Localization of platinum in low catalyst loading electrodes to to attain high power densities in SPE fuel cells

This paper presents the results of three methods used to attain high power densities in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell systems. The objectives of these methods are to use relatively thin electrocatalytic layers in the gas diffusion electrodes and to localize further the platinum near the front surface of the electrodes to minimize activation, ohmic, and mass transport overpotentials. The three methods were: (i) use of a higher wt% Pt/C in the supported electrocatalysts (20 and 40 wt% Pt/C rather than 10); (ii) sputtering of a thin film of platinum (corresponding to a 50 nm film on a smooth surface) on the state-of-the-art Prototech electrode (10 wt% Pt/C); and (iii) a combination of the two methods, i.e., sputtering of a 50 nm film of platinum on an electrode prepared with a higher Pt/C wt ratio in the supported electrocatalyst. The optimum configuration of the electrode was found to be the one fabricated with 20 wt% Pt/C in the supported electrocatalysts onto which was sputtered a 50 nm film of platinum. At a current density of 1 A/cm2, the cell potentials were 0.600 V and 0.540 V, with H2/O2 and H2/air as reactants, at 80° C, and 3/5 atm pressure. The cyclic voltammetric technique was used to ascertain the electrochemically active surface areas of the electrodes. By use of this method, the platinum utilization of the electrode with the optimum configuration was estimated to be about 15–20%. To increase the power densities further, it is necessary to use membranes with higher specific conductivities and better water retention characteristics.
Macromolecules can pass through occluding junctions of rat ileal epithelium during cholinergic stimulation.

Crypt, but not villus, goblet cells in the ileum accelerate their secretion of mucus within 5 min following cholinergic stimulation. This study was done to determine whether the macromolecular permeability and structure of occluding junctions in the ileum are altered during accelerated secretion. Rats were injected intravenously with horseradish peroxidase followed by carbachol (250 μg/kg, subcutaneous) and the intestinal mucosa was fixed 3–12 min later. In control mucosa (saline-injected), peroxidase filled lateral intercellular spaces up to the occluding junctions of both crypt and villus epithelium, but did not enter occluding junctions or pass into the lumen. In 3 of 8 carbachol-stimulated rats, peroxidase was present within occluding junctions in crypt epithelium and in the crypt lumen, although all intermembrane junctional fusion sites appeared intact. Villus epithelial occluding junctions, in contrast, continued to exclude peroxidase. In freeze-fracture replicas of crypt cells prepared after carbachol stimulation, we detected no structural changes in strand networks of occluding junctions that could account for increased paracellular permeability.
Variable bit rate MPEG video storage on parallel disk arrays

We discuss issues related to the storage and retrieval of variable bit rate (VBR) MPEG video data on parallel disk arrays for multiple simultaneous users. We store data blocks corresponding to constant real-time playback duration. Because of the VBR characteristics and the constant bandwidth read channel, disk overload occurs at peak usage periods. Our strategy to deal with disk overload is to temporarily stop service to low-priority users. To do so, we propose a number of classes of service corresponding to various probabilities of loss, during which time service is suspended. Thus, a major problem is estimating probability of loss or suspension so that a video server system can guarantee service with actual loss probabilities that do not exceed the specified thresholds at the call setup time. We propose three techniques for computing loss probabilities: histogram convolution, Central Limit Theorem, and Cramer's rule. We present an efficient placement strategy and an optimal admissions control strategy that guarantees loss probability thresholds while maximizing the number of requests that can be satisfied at all qualities. We extend these ideas to encompass scalability by allowing appropriate frames in the MPEG-encoded data to be dropped without fully suspending service to any one user. This allows the system to make intelligent choices in gracefully degrading the request data rates during periods of peak usage. Finally, we test the data placement and admissions control algorithms with a discrete event disk array system simulator and show that the results are in accordance with theoretical predictions. >
Nanocrystalline Aluminum Nitride: I, Vapor‐Phase Synthesis in a Forced‐Flow Reactor

A forced-flow reactor has been designed for the synthesis of nanocrystalline AIN via in situ and ex situ nitridation of aluminum. Various reactor parameters, including evaporation temperature, microwave plasma generation, reactor pressure, gas flow rate, nitriding gas, carrier gas, and crucible purge, have been examined and optimized. Fully nitrided powders with crystallite sizes of 10-100 nm and surface areas of 45-370 m 2 /g were produced using these techniques. These ultrafine AIN particles were highly moisture-sensitive, but they could be processed and handled without exposure to air to achieve fully dense materials with low oxygen content.
Interval Temporal Logic in General-Purpose Situational Simulations

The need for contextually rich educational environments in construction engineering and management calls for the development of situational simulations. Situational simulations emulate real processes and provide temporally dynamic clinical exercises that expose participants to rapidly unfolding events and the pressures of decision making. A survey of simulations of construction management processes and construction operations shows that commonly used discrete event simulation paradigms are unsuitable for representing actions and events in interactive general purpose situational simulations for the construction domain. Instead, this paper argues that a definition of the situational environment using the semantics of constraint satisfaction and an interval representation of time is more appropriate for representing activities, events, actions, and situations relevant to the construction domain. This paper also illustrates how this new paradigm facilitates the implementation of a reasoning mechanism that can be used by a software agent to perceive present actions and predict the future evolution of a simulated environment.