cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-ion irradiation effects on mechanical properties of nanocrystalline zirconium films

Zirconium thin films were irradiated at room temperature with an 800 keV Zr+ beam using a 6 MV HVE Tandem accelerator to 1.36 displacement per atom damage. Freestanding tensile specimens, 100 nm thick and 10 nm grain size, were tested in situ inside a transmission electron microscope. Significant grain growth (>300%), texture evolution, and displacement damage defects were observed. Stress–strain profiles were mostly linear elastic below 20 nm grain size, but above this limit, the samples demonstrated yielding and strain hardening. Experimental results support the hypothesis that grain boundaries in nanocrystalline metals act as very effective defect sinks.
Poly(phenylene ether) Based Amphiphilic Block Copolymers

Polyphenylene ether (PPE) telechelic macromonomers are unique hydrophobic polyols which have been used to prepare amphiphilic block copolymers. Various polymer compositions have been synthesized with hydrophilic blocks. Their macromolecular nature affords a range of structures including random, alternating, and di- and triblock copolymers. New macromolecular architectures can offer tailored property profiles for optimum performance. Besides reducing moisture uptake and making the polymer surface more hydrophobic, the PPE hydrophobic segment has good compatibility with polystyrene (polystyrene-philic). In general, the PPE contributes to the toughness, strength, and thermal performance. Hydrophilic segments go beyond their affinity for water. Improvements in the interfacial adhesion between polymers and polar substrates via hydrogen bonding and good compatibility with polyesters (polyester-philic) have been exhibited. The heterogeneity of domains in these PPE based block copolymer offers important contributions to diverse applications.
Streamlined preparation of genomic DNA in agarose plugs for pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Genome analysis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been used in applications ranging from typing bacterial strains to radiobiology to cancer research. While methods for running PFGE have been significantly improved since its invention, the method for preparing chromosomal DNA itself has remained essentially unchanged. This limits the applicability of PFGE, especially when analyses require many samples. We have streamlined sample preparation for routine applications of PFGE through the use of deep-well 48-well plates. Besides saving time, our protocol has the added advantage of reducing the volume of expensive reagents. Our improved protocol enables us to reduce throughput time and simplify the procedure, facilitating wider application of PFGE-based analyses in the laboratory.
The Appearance of H.F. Baker and E.W. Hobson in “The Man Who Knew Infinity”

Those attending the meeting at the University of Florida celebrating Krishna Alladi’s 60th birthday had the privilege of enjoying an advanced showing of “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” a screen adaptation of Robert Kanigel’s biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan with the same title. We explain the background of a brief scene in which H. F. Baker and E. W. Hobson verbally cast their votes for Ramanujan’s election as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Abstract 1200: Destabilization of the ABCG5 ABCG8 Sterol Transporter in db/db Mice

ATP binding cassette transporters ABCG5 (G5) and ABCG8 (G8) form a functional complex (G5G8) that limits intestinal absorption and promotes biliary excretion of neutral sterols. Formation of the G5G8 complex occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is dependent on N-linked glycans present on G8 and the ER chaperone, calnexin. ER stress is associated with diminished levels of calnexin, suggesting that under conditions of ER stress G5G8 dimer formation may be compromised. Recent reports indicate that obesity is associated with both hepatic ER and oxidative stress. We examined G5 and G8 protein levels in a rodent model of obesity and type 2 diabetes (db/db). In db/db mice, immunoreactive G5 and G8 were reduced by ~50% compared to heterozygous controls. Calnexin levels were reduced by ~40% while levels of GRP78 (Bip) were unchanged. This reduction correlated with a decrease in biliary cholesterol concentrations (7.9±5.6 vs. 2.7±1.2). However, the reduction in G5 and G8 protein occurred in the absence of changes in mRNA for each half-transporter, indicating that changes in G5 and G8 protein levels occurred post-transcriptionally. The presence of ER and oxidative stress in the livers of these mice would be expected to reduce efficiency of G5G8 dimer formation in the ER and reduce stability of the G5G8 heterodimer at the cell surface, respectively. In vitro, we examined the effects of ER and oxidative stress on G5 and G8 protein levels in hepatocytes that stably express each half transporter. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in G5, but not G8, within 4 hours, indicating that the G5G8 complex was destabilized by oxidative stress. In conclusion, G5 and G8 protein levels and biliary cholesterol concentrations are reduced in db/db mice. The mechanism by which G5 and G8 are reduced in db/db mice appears to involve both ER and oxidative stress.
Chapter 21 Is Time Sharing Asymmetry A Valid Indicator of Speech Lateralization? Evidence for Left Handers

Numerous studies have shown that speaking disrupts concurrent right-hand more than left-hand performance in right-handers. This asymmetry of interference is commonly accepted as evidence of left lateralized speech control. Two early and three recent studies of left-handers have yielded the opposite asymmetry of interference. The earlier studies drew no sweeping theoretical conclusions. On the assumption that left-handers are rarely right lateralized for speech, the recent investigators concluded either that many left-handers have ipsilateral cortical control of hand movement or else that time-sharing asymmetries reflect manual preference rather than speech dominance. We review these recent studies of left-handers in detail and find that they do not convincingly support either manual preference or ipsilateral motor control, as against central interference. The nature and variability of their brain organization disqualify left-handers from serving as a reference group to validate any laterality paradigms, the dual-task paradigm included.
Architectures for controller based CDP

Continuous Data Protection (CDP) is a recent storage technology which enables reverting the state of the storage to previous points in time. We propose four alternative architectures for supporting CDP in a storage controller, and compare them analytically with respect to both write performance and space usage overheads. We describe exactly how factors such as the degree of protection granularity (continuous or at fixed intervals) and the temporal distance distribution of the given workload affect these overheads. Our model allows predicting the CDP overheads for arbitrary workloads and concluding the best architecture for a given scenario. Our analysis is verified by running a prototype CDP enabled block device on both synthetic and traced workloads and comparing the outcome with our analysis. Our work is the first to consider how performance is affected by varying the degree of protection granularity, both analytically and empirically. In addition it is the first to precisely quantify the natural connection between CDP overheads and a workload's temporal locality. We show that one of the architectures we considered is superior for workloads exhibiting high temporal locality w.r.t. granularity, whereas another of the architectures is superior for workloads exhibiting low temporal locality w.r.t. granularity. We analyze two specific workloads, an OLTP workload and a file server workload, and show which CDP architecture is superior for each workload at which granularities.
The relation between locomotor experience and spatial knowledge in infancy

The relation between the infant’s activity in the environment and his or her cognitive and perceptual development has been discussed by a number of theorists. This relation was addressed in the studies presented here, by examining the effects of different types of motor activity on the infant’s ability to keep track of the relative locations of two objects. In the first experiment, the specific action used by infants in encountering two objects was varied, while in the second experiment, the responses of infants who varied in their past experience with independent locomotion were compared. Relations between these two types of motor activity (type of exploratory behavior and amount of locomotor experience) and the infant’s spatial abilities can be viewed in light of the theories of Piaget and Gibson.
Mild cognitive impairment: associations with sleep disturbance, apolipoprotein e4, and sleep medications.

Abstract Objective Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with increased memory problems although the ability to complete daily life activities remains relatively intact. This study examined: (1) if sleep disturbance increased the hazard of MCI; (2) if APOE e4 carriers with sleep disturbance experience an increased risk of MCI; and, (3) if prescription sleep medications provide a protective effect against MCI. We hypothesized that sleep disturbance increases the hazard of MCI, this relationship is stronger among APOE e4 carriers reporting a sleep disturbance. Furthermore, we hypothesized that sleep medications decrease the hazard of MCI. Methods To determine whether sleep medication mediates the risk of developing MCI for individuals with sleep disturbance and/or APOE e4, we analyzed the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set. We selected participants with normal cognition at baseline (n = 6798), and conduced survival analyses. Results Our main findings indicated that the hazard of MCI was significantly associated with sleep disturbance. The hazard remained among those who did not use sleep medication. Trazodone and zolpidem users did not have a significant hazard of MCI, but the significant hazard remained for those who did not use these medications. APOE e4 carriers had a significantly higher hazard of MCI. Among e4 carriers who used trazodone or zolpidem, there was not a statistically significant risk of MCI. Conclusion This study demonstrated the potential utilization of trazodone and zolpidem in the treatment of sleep disturbance while potentially mitigating the risk of MCI. While trazodone and zolpidem have been shown to positively impact sleep disturbance in individuals with normal cognition, further research should explore these findings given that these medications are potentially inappropriate for older adults.
Simulation of surfactant-mediated tipstreaming in a flow-focusing geometry

A surfactant coated drop is drawn through an aperture by a converging flow. Under suitable conditions that have also been investigated in a series of independently led experiments, the drop tip emits a thin tipstreaming thread that later breaks up into near-monodisperse droplets.
Management of the Child with Persistent Hypoglycemia After Surgery

Most children with focal hyperinsulinism are cured after surgical excision of the lesion; however, almost half of children with diffuse hyperinsulinism have persistent hypoglycemia after near-total pancreatectomy. A comprehensive assessment of the glycemic status should be undertaken once the patient is on a stable feeding regimen for several days. This assessment includes performing a Cure Fast to demonstrate the resolution of hyperinsulinism in children with focal hyperinsulinism, evaluation for the possibility of post-pancreatectomy diabetes after near-total pancreatectomy, and assessment for persistent hypoglycemia in children with diffuse hyperinsulinism. Treatment of persistent hyperinsulinism following pancreatectomy requires an individualized approach and often requires a combination of therapies to achieve a suitable regimen that can safely and reasonably be carried out at home.
Regional Greenhouse Climate Effects

Abstract We discuss the impact of an increasing greenhouse effect on three aspects of regional climate: droughts, storms and temperature. A continuation of current growth rates of greenhouse gases causes an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts in our climate model simulations, with the greatest impacts in broad regions of the subtropics and middle latitudes. But the greenhouse effect enhances both ends of the hydrologic cycle in the model, that is, there is an increased frequency of extreme wet situations, as well as increased drought. Model results are shown to imply that increased greenhouse warming will lead to more intense thunderstorms, that is, deeper thunderstorms with greater rainfall. Emanuel has shown that the model results also imply that the greenhouse warming leads to more destructive tropical cyclones. We present updated records of observed temperatures and show that the observations and model results, averaged over the globe and over the United States, are generally consistent. The impacts of simulated climate changes on droughts, storms and temperature provide no evidence that there will be regional “winners” if greenhouse gases continue to increase rapidly.
History’s unresolving tensions: reality and implications

ABSTRACTA prominent but often neglected feature of historical representation is the presence within it of ‘tensions’ of a sort that cannot be resolved within the limits of historical representation...
Learning to contribute: text connections in early childhood teacher education

Face-to-face time with students in the early childhood college setting is at a premium and often flies by before we begin to scratch the surface of active learning. Building a community of learners...
Archiving the British Raj: history of archival policy of the Government of India, with selected documents, 1858–1947

The late Sabyasachi Bhattacharya (1938–2019) has left an important and extensive body of work on the history of the British Raj and the transition to nationalism in India, including the edited volu...
Flexure Mechanisms with Variable Stiffness and Damping Using Layer Jamming

Flexures provide precise motion control without friction or wear. Variable impedance mechanisms enable adaptable and robust interactions with the environment. This paper combines the advantages of both approaches through layer jamming. Thin sheets of complaint material are encased in an airtight envelope, and when connected to a vacuum, the bending stiffness and damping increase dramatically. Using layer jamming structures as flexure elements leads to mechanical systems that can actively vary stiffness and damping. This results in flexure mechanisms with the versatility to transition between degrees of freedom and degrees of constraint and to tune impact response. This approach is used to create a 2-DOF, jamming-based, tunable impedance robotic wrist that enables passive hybrid force/position control for contact tasks. Keywords: Compliant Joint/Mechanism, Compliance and Impedance Control, Mechanism Design
Abstract ES11-1: The biology and plasticity of residual disease after neoadjuvant treatment

Breast cancer neoadjuvant treatment is becoming more prevalent, and has emerged as a valuable tool to downstage tumors, to identify predictors of responsiveness, and to potentially adapt therapeutic interventions to that individual’s residual disease if present. This has led to increasingly complex patient management and the development of many clinical trials specifically designed for those with residual disease. However, the basic biology of residual disease, how it relates to pre-treated disease, and how it could be used for prognostic and redictive benefits, are still relatively unknown. In this session I will cover a number of studies that have specifically studied breast tumors before and after neoadjuvant treatment, with a focus on changes within the tumor cell population, including acquisition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) and stem-like properties. In addition, alterations to immune cell dynamics in the tumor microenvironment, the plasticity of post-treatment phenotypes, and how these features impact the treatment paradigm based upon residual disease, will also be discussed. Multiple factors likely contribute to the poor prognosis associated with residual disease. Human breast tumors that remain following either chemotherapy, or endocrine therapy, often show an enrichment of gene expression signatures associated with tumor-initiating cells and EMT, suggesting that intrinsic tumor characteristics may contribute to selection of resistant populations. Additionally, residual tumors may show a variety of genomic aberrations at higher frequency than found in primary tumors, suggesting that resistance pathways may be selected for during neoadjuvant treatment. Tumor extrinsic factors, particularly the interaction between tumor and immune cells, are also altered by breast cancer neoadjuvant therapies. Nevertheless, there is hope that these residual disease specific alterations may provide key susceptibilities to other treatments. Lastly, defining predictive biomarkers from residual disease has been difficult. In addition to the variety and complexity of resistance mechanisms that lead to residual disease, questions regarding tumor plasticity and the duration of post-treatment changes complicate the analysis of residual breast cancers specimens. An improved understanding of the biology of residual breast cancers will be critical as we develop novel treatment strategies for those with residual disease. Citation Format: C Perou. The biology and plasticity of residual disease after neoadjuvant treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr ES11-1.
Short Article: Digital Ethnography for Culture Teaching in the Foreign Language Classroom

Although recent years have recognized the importance of intercultural learning in the domain of foreign language education, current pedagogical approaches still focus on culture from a factual perspective (Kramsch, 2013). Scholars have discussed the need of developing students' critical and reflective skills, especially in today's complex reality where individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds intersect (McConachy, 2018). Technology tools hold great potential for engaging language learners in cultural interpretations and reflections since they enable connections with people and practices from all around the world. Nonetheless, the use of technology does not guarantee intercultural competency, rather educators need to be intentional when using new digital tools in the instructional context. This paper first summarizes how Computer-Assisted Language Learning tools have been used broadly in foreign language teaching and learning. Following, three main approaches for teaching culture through CALL are described. Finally, ethnographic techniques are proposed for supporting students' shift from ethnocentric toward ethnorelative perspectives and engage in practices of interpretation and critical reflection.
Needs of Home-Based Older Visually Impaired Persons for Assistive Devices:

This study examined the use and need for assistive devices by 30 noninstitutionalized older visually impaired persons during intensive interviews in the subjects’ homes. It found a high rate of use...
Extended Middle Fossa Approach for Trigeminal Schwannoma Resection

Trigeminal schwannomas are rare benign tumors, it is second most common intracranial schwannomas after vestibular schwannomas. The management includes not limited to observation, stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy, and/or surgical resection. Tumor size and patient clinical status are the most important factors in management. In this video, we describe the technical nuances of an extended middle fossa approach for large trigeminal schwannoma with cavernous sinus extension resection. A 44-year-old right-handed female with several months' history of progressive right facial paresthesia and pain in the distribution of V3 mainly. On physical examination, she had decreased sensation to light touch over the right V1 to V3 distribution with loss of cornel reflex. The brain MRI showed 3.5 cm bilobed mass extends from the pontine root entry zone to the cavernous sinus. Craniotomy was performed and followed by middle fossa dural peeling, peeling of temporal lobe dura away from the wall of the cavernous sinus, extradurally anterior clinoidectomy, drilling of the petrous apex, coagulation of superior petrosal sinus followed incision of the tentorium up to the tentorial notch with preservation the fourth cranial nerve, and tumor dissected away from V1 and then gradually removed from the superior wall of the cavernous sinus. The technique presented here allows for complete tumor resection, safe navigation through the relative cavernous sinus compartments, and minimizes the possibility of inadvertent injury to the cranial nerves. The postoperative course was uneventful except for right eye incomplete ptosis from the swelling. Her facial pain subsided after the surgery without any extra ocular movement impairment. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/zxi2XK2R9QU .
Starting a Palliative Care Program at a Cancer Center

Palliative care is now considered an integral component in the provision of comprehensive cancer care services, from diagnosis to treatment to ultimate recovery or death. High-quality evidence in the setting of both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies suggests that incorporation of palliative care is associated with higher quality care, greater patient and family satisfaction, improved clinician experience, more appropriate healthcare resource utilization, and better patient outcomes, including survival. Strategic investment, staffing, and support for a palliative care program also makes cancer care patient-centric and cost-effective. This chapter provides pragmatic guidance on setting up a palliative care program within a cancer center and discusses strategies and opportunities for early and late planning, launch of the program and its integration within other cancer services, making it sustainable, monitoring outcomes and quality, and using it as a platform for research.
Preliminary Validation of Muscle Ultrasound in Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM).

OBJECTIVE To compare muscle ultrasound (MUS) parameters in patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and healthy controls, and examine their association with JDM disease activity measures and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS MUS of the right mid-rectus femoris was performed in 21 patients with JDM meeting probable or definite Bohan and Peter criteria and 28 demographically-matched healthy control subjects. MUS parameters were quantitated by digital image processing, and correlated with JDM disease activity measures and semi-quantitative thigh MRI short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and T1 scores. RESULTS Rectus femoris MUS echogenicity was increased (median 47.8 vs 38.5, p= 0.002) in patients with JDM compared with controls. Rectus femoris MUS echogenicity correlated with Physician Global Activity (PGA), Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), and Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale (CMAS) (rs 0.4-0.54). Some MUS parameters correlated with functional quantitative measures of muscle strength: resting RF area on MUS strongly correlated with knee extension quantitative muscle testing (QMT) (rs 0.76), and contracted area correlated with proximal MMT, knee extension QMT, and CMAS (rs 0.71-0.80). MUS echogenicity correlated with both STIR and T1 MRI (rs 0.43), and T1 MRI correlated inversely with RF contracted area (rs -0.49) on MUS. There were differences in pre- and post-exercise vascular power and colour Doppler on MUS in patients with JDM vs controls, with the percentage change of post-exercise vascular power Doppler lower in JDM compared with controls (7.1% vs 100.0%). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest MUS may be a valuable imaging modality to assess JDM disease activity and damage.
Abstract 19318: Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a core component of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is associated with several CVD risk factors (diabetes, cigarette smoke exposure, and hypertension). We therefore explored the association of mitochondrial DNA copy number, which reflects oxidative stress, with prevalent and incident CVD, and its potential utility as a novel clinical biomarker of CVD. We determined mtDNA copy number in DNA extracted from whole blood in 16,401 samples from two large multi-center prospective studies_the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Lower mtDNA copy number was associated with increased prevalence of CVD in 4,109 white participants from CHS (OR for lowest quintile [Q1] to highest quintile [Q5] of mtDNA copy number=2.35, 95% CI=1.74-3.19, P 7.5%) risk. While we do not see the association with incident CVD in samples from CHS, this finding may reflect underlying differences in participants’ ages between the cohorts. The mean age in CHS is 72.4 years versus 58.1 years in ARIC suggesting that the association of mtDNA copy number with incident CVD may weaken with age. Given the magnitude of the effect we observe in ARIC, and the ease and low cost of the assay, we suggest that assessment of mtDNA copy number may have clinical utility for CVD risk classification warranting further validation in additional large prospective cohorts.
Mechanical Relaxation Behavior of Hydrogenated Metallic Glasses

Two apparently quite general anelastic effects are associated with the presence of hydrogen in solution in metallic glasses. One of these is a short-range reorientation relaxation of the Snoek type; the other is the long-range Gorsky relaxation. In contrast to the situation for bcc crystalline metals, these relaxations reveal the H-interstitial not only as a dilatation center of normal strength, but also as a strong elastic dipole. Coupled with a relatively low mobility associated with migration energies of 0.25−0.5eV, the H-interstitial in metallic glasses emerges as a quasi-classical defect analogous to the heavier interstitial solutes in bcc metals. Both relaxations exhibit features that reflect the structural disorder of the glassy host. The reorientation relaxation shows considerable dispersion, the Gorsky relaxation reveals non-ideal solution behavior, and both relaxations have activation energies which characteristically decrease with increasing hydrogen concentration. The available experimental results agree well with Kirchheim’s analysis for solution and diffusion in a structurally-disordered host. We point out that an apparent difficulty in explaining the strength of the reorientation relaxation may be related to a need to consider the spatial distribution of disorder, and suggest that packing constraints may lead to a near-degeneracy of neighboring interstitial sites.
Pleiadene systems—VI : Further studies in the methylpleiadene series

Abstract The reaction of 1-methyl-7,12-dihydropleiadene-7-one (I) with either Ph or Me Grignard reagents affords products resulting from attack of the reagent at the aromatic C-6 position as well as products resulting from addition to the C-7 carbonyl. The unidentified hydrocarbon, m.p. 237°, first reported by Fieser as a reaction product of ketone I with PhMgBr, has been assigned the structure of 6-methyl-1,12- o -phenylene-7,12-dihydropleiadene (VII). Reaction of 1,6-dimethyl-7,12-dihydropleiadene (XI) with elemental sulfur gives the 7,12-sulfide XIII as originally proposed by Fieser, rather than the isomeric 1,7-sulfide structure. Sulfide XIII was synthesized in an unambiguous manner; it served also as the precursor, via sulfone XVII, for the transient 1,6-dimethylpleiadene (XII), characterized as its dimer and its N-phenylmaleimide adduct.
Analysis of healing after myocardial infarction using polarized light microscopy

To better understand the healing process after permanent coronary artery occlusion in a canine model, the authors used polarized light microscopy. At 6 weeks after occlusion the scar collagen was mainly type I. Some regions of the scar contained a fiber lattice which appeared to be type III collagen. Collagen orientation was measured using a universal stage; subepicardial collagen was obliquely aligned (-14.0 +/- 3.5 degrees), midmyocardial collagen circumferentially aligned (1.4 +/- 0.4 degrees) and subendocardial collagen obliquely aligned (12.7 +/- 2.1 degrees). The molecular organization of scar collagen increased from 1 to 6 weeks after occlusion. Muscle cell disarray, similar to that in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, was seen in the viable muscle adjacent to the scar. Such abnormal organization extended as far as 1 cm from the edge of the scar. The ability of polarized light microscopy to assess these different parameters from histologic sections demonstrates that it is a useful adjunct to other methods commonly used to study myocardial healing.
Ataxia resulting from posterior fossa tumors of childhood and other mass lesions

Ataxia is a common presenting symptom and sequela of treatment in children with posterior fossa tumors, and is the most common focal neurological deficit in the majority of tumor types. Owing to the diversity of histologies among pediatric posterior fossa tumors and the concomitant diversity in tumor biology and prognosis, distinctive management strategies are required for each tumor type. In addition, age-related factors influence the ease of diagnosis and difficulty of management for patients with these tumors. In most modern centers, children with such tumors are treated in cooperative group studies, which are designed to increase the percentage of children who achieve long-term survival as well as their functional outcome.
Effect of dietary aflatoxin concentration on the assessment of genetic variability of response in a randombred population of chickens.

The effect of graded levels of dietary aflatoxin on the assessment of genetic variability of body weight and gain and plasma protein response was tested utilizing the Athens-Canadian randombred population of chickens. Dietary aflatoxin was administered at levels of either 0, 1.25, 2.50 or 5.0 µg/g of diet ad libitum from 7 to 21 days of age to progeny from 58 sire families. Twenty-one-day body weights, gain and plasma protein concentration were used to assess the variation in response.—The administration of increasing levels of aflatoxin resulted in a dose-related decrease of gains and plasma protein concentrations. Plasma protein concentrations were significantly higher among males than females within the control group; however, this difference was reversed as the severity of the aflatoxin challenge increased. Heritability estimates for all responses increased as the level of aflatoxin administered increased. This change was most notable for total plasma protein concentration. Phenotypic correlations for plasma protein concentration and growth measurements tended to diminish with increasing levels of aflatoxin. A similar trend was noted for the genetic correlations; however, a moderate correlation between growth responses and plasma protein response was detected in the 5.0-µg/g aflatoxin treatment group. Genetic correlations were calculated for the same characters between the different levels of aflatoxin. Regardless of which aflatoxin challenges were compared, a very high genetic correlation for 21-day body weight and 7- to 21-day gain was estimated. This variation in growth potential in the toxic environment paralleled that observed in the control environment but at a lower plane. Genetic correlations for plasma protein response across aflatoxin levels diminished as the difference between the levels of aflatoxin administered increased. Plasma protein concentration in the control environment was positively correlated with plasma protein response in groups fed a low level of aflatoxin, but negatively correlated when an aflatoxin challenge of 2.5 µg/g or more was given, suggesting that selection for aflatoxin resistance using plasma protein response as a selection criterion should be made under an aflatoxin stress environment.
The Subject in Neuropsychology: Individuating Minds in the Split‐Brain Case

Many experimental findings with split-brain subjects intuitively suggest that each such subject has two minds. The conceptual and empirical basis of this duality intuition has never been fully articulated. This article fills that gap, by offering a reconstruction of early neuropsychological literature on the split-brain phenomenon. According to that work, the hemispheres operate independently of each other insofar as they interact via the mediation of effection and transduction—via behavior and sensation, essentially. This is how your mind and my mind interact with each other, however, giving rise to the intuition that a split-brain subject has two minds.
Tackling Markoff-Hurwitz Equations

We present algorithms for searching and generating solutions to the equation x12+x22+ ...+xn2 = kx1x2...xn. Solutions are reported for n = 2, 3,..., 9. Properties of solutions are discussed. We can prove that the solutions do not exist when n=4 and k=2 or 3, n=5 and k=2 or 3. Conjectures based on computational results are discussed.
A recursive generalized likelihood ratio test algorithm for detecting sudden changes in linear, discrete systems

In this paper, we present a recursive Generalized Likelihood Ratio (GLR) test algorithm for detecting sudden changes in linear discrete systems. We demonstrate the application of linear filtering techniques to obtain a recursive GLR algorithm so that the requirement for matrix inversions in the previously known GLR algorithms can be reduced or avoided. Furthermore, the GLR algorithm is extended to the case when the sudden change follows known linear dynamics. An adaptive filtering scheme which uses the input estimate to correct the state estimate is also presented for the time varying input case.
Sexual Counseling and Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) may result in significant disruption of physical, social, vocational, psychological and sexual function. As an integral component of human behavior, it is a mistake to isolate and treat sexual activity as a separate entity, or to ignore it entirely in the rehabilitation setting. This article reviews the important variables that influence the ability of spinal cord injured individuals to perceive of self and act as a sexual being. Assessment issues are addressed, with a specific focus on those aspects of assessment that are unique to or need special consideration in treating spinal cord injured individuals. The PLISSIT mode of sex therapy is described to illustrate the interventions used with the spinal cord injured client. This model is utilized because it allows each staff member to participate according to their level of skill, knowledge, and comfort. This article demonstrates that through use of multiple therapeutic modalities it is possible for the spinal cord injured client to be rehabilitated to a satisfactory level of sexuality.
THE ONLINE CATALOGUE, SUBJECT ACCESS AND USER REACTIONS: A REVIEW

INTRODUCTION Computers and new information technologies have beyond question brought tremendous advancement in information storage and retrieval. In recent years, the traditional card catalog has given way first to the COM (computer output on microform) catalog, then to the online catalog. Now, many libraries are shifting to the new capability in order to provide better and faster services to their patrons.
SU-E-T-119: Dosimetric and Mechanical Characteristics of Elekta Infinity LINAC with Agility MLC

Purpose: Elekta Infinity is the one of the latest generation LINAC with unique features. Two Infinity LINACs are recently commissioned at our institution. The dosimetric and mechanical characteristics of the machines are presented. Methods: Both Infinity LINACs with Agility MLC (160 leaves with 0.5 cm leaf width) are configured with five electron energies (6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 MeV) and two photon energies (6 and 15 MV). One machine has additional photon energy (10 MV). The commissioning was performed by following the manufacturer's specifications and AAPM TG recommendations. Beam data of both electron and photon beams are measured with scanning ion chambers and linear diode array. Machines are adjusted to have the dosimetrically equivalent characteristics. Results: The commissioning of mechanical and imaging system meets the tolerances by TG recommendations. The PDD1 0 of various field sizes for 6 and 15 MV shows < 0.5% difference between two machines. For each electron beams, R8 0 matches with < 0.4 mm difference. The symmetry and flatness agree within 0.8% and 0.9% differences for photon beams, respectively. For electron beams, the differences of the symmetry and flatness are within 1.2% and 0.8%, respectively. The mean inline penumbras for 6, 10, and 15 MV are respectively 5.1±0.24, 5.6±0.07, and 5.9±0.10 mm for 10x10 cm at 10 cm depth. The crossline penumbras are larger than inline penumbras by 2.2, 1.4, and 1.0 mm, respectively. The MLC transmission factor with interleaf leakage is 0.5 % for all photon energies. Conclusion: The dosimetric and mechanical characteristics of two Infinity LINACs show good agreements between them. Although the Elekta Infinity has been used in many institutions, the detailed characteristics of the machine have not been reported. This study provides invaluable information to understand the Infinity LINAC and to compare the quality of commissioning data for other LINACs.
Atomic layer deposition and characterization of stoichiometric erbium oxide thin dielectrics on Si(1 0 0) using (CpMe)3Er precursor and ozone

Abstract Thin stoichiometric erbium oxide films were atomic layer deposited on p-type Si(1 0 0) substrates using tris(methylcyclopentadienyl)erbium and ozone. The film growth rate was found to be 0.12 ± 0.01 nm/cycle with an atomic layer deposition temperature window of 170–330 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectral (XPS) analysis of the resulting Er 2 O 3 films indicated the as-deposited films to be stoichiometric with no evidence of carbon contamination. Studies of post deposition annealing effects on resulting films structures, interfaces, surface morphologies, and electrical properties were done using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XPS, glancing incidence X-ray diffraction, optical surface profilometry, and C – V / I – V measurements. As-deposited Er 2 O 3 films were found to start crystallizing in the cubic structure with dominant (2 2 2) orientation; no erbium silicate was found at the interface. After annealing at 800 °C in N 2 , a new XPS feature was found and it was assigned to the formation of erbium silicate. As the annealing temperature was increased, the interfacial erbium silicate content was found to increase in the temperature range studied. Electrical characterization of Er 2 O 3 thin gate dielectrics annealed at 600 °C exhibited higher dielectric constant ( κ = 11.8) than that of as-deposited films (9.8), and a remarkably low hysteresis voltage of less than 50 mV along with a leakage current density of 10 −7 A cm −2 at 1 MV cm −1 .
Amplitude and Phase Measurements of Femtosecond Pulse Splitting in Nonlinear Dispersive Media

Frequency-resolved optical gating is used to characterize the propagation of intense femtosecond pulses in a nonlinear, dispersive medium. The combined effects of diffraction, normal dispersion, and cubic nonlinearity lead to pulse splitting. The role of the phase of the input pulse is studied. The results are compared with the predictions of a three-dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger equation.
A controlled study of penicillin prophylaxis against streptococcal impetigo.

By a double-blind cross-over design, prophylaxis of streptococcal skin disease by long-acting benzathine penicillin was studied in 78 children from 18 families with a history of experience with this problem. The prevalence and the incidence of skin lesions were significantly reduced during a six-week follow-up period after penicillin therapy. The duration of protection was variable, but the majority of children were protected for at least four weeks. Less protection was observed in younger children, due to either age- or dose-related factors. Skin lesions were more prevalent in younger children, irrespective of the type of injection given. Group A streptococci were more frequently recovered from normal skin than from skin lesions after penicillin administration. No indirect protection from disease that might have been conferred by other family members who received prophylaxis was observed in children who, because of allergy, received no injections. Ninetyfive percent of streptococcal isolates were M-typable, and differences were noted in the distribution of specific serotypes from various body sites.
A fully implicit method for simulation of the one-dimensional solidification of a binary alloy

Abstract A finite difference method is developed which overcomes the difficulties of the disparate time scales and small solute diffusion layers inherent to one-dimensional models for the solidification of binary alloys. The boundary immobilization method applied with a coordinate transformation which stretches the solute boundary layer adjacent to the interface is combined with centred difference approximations to generate a set of ordinary differential equations for the solute and temperature fields and the melt/solid interface location. Numerical integration by a variable step-size fully-implicit trapezoid method is compared to an explicit Adams—Bashforth predictor—corrector technique. The implicit method is found to be from two to twelve times more efficient when the Lewis number (the ratio of mass to thermal diffusivities) is small, as is typically the case for metals and semiconductors.
Serial betamethasone administration: Effect on maternal salivary estriol levels

Abstract Objective: Maternal salivary estriol levels are an indirect measure of fetal adrenal activity, which may be affected by administration of betamethasone. The objective was to compare sequential salivary estriol levels in patients receiving serial betamethasone therapy with those of healthy pregnant patients. Study Design: Ten patients at high risk for preterm delivery were asked to obtain salivary specimens before and 1 to 2 days after each administration of weekly betamethasone treatments between 24 and 32 weeks' gestation. These values were compared with those of specimens obtained throughout gestation in healthy women who were not delivered preterm. Unconjugated salivary estriol was measured with a sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunoassay (Biex, Inc, Dublin, Calif). Results: The effect of betamethasone on salivary estriol levels did not change with time, showing an average of 23.1% drop from pretreatment to posttreatment levels but rebounding to the same starting level before the next dose. When weekly pretreatment values were looked at across time, the geometric mean of the individual patients' slopes did not differ significantly from no change. The same was true of the posttreatment values. The rate of change with advancing gestation was compared between 182 control subjects and the 10 study subjects. The average change was +8.8% per week in the control subjects and –1.3% per week in the study patients ( P = .003). Conclusions: Maternal administration of betamethasone significantly suppressed salivary estriol levels. These levels returned to pretreatment values each week before the next dose; however, the rise normally associated with advancing gestational age was not observed. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:S219-22.)
Use of Vegetable Oils in Pie Crusts

Limited research has been reported in the literature on the performance of vegetable oils in pastry. This study evaluated differences in quality between pie crusts prepared with four types of vegetable oils and those prepared with a standard hydrogenated vegetable shortening. Vegetable oils and shortening were evaluated for color, viscosity, free fatty acids, peroxide values and P/S ratio. Pie crusts were evaluated for color, shrinkage, flakiness, and sensory quality. Panelists detected no significant differences in color between vegetable oils or shortening pie crust. Percent shrinkage and flakiness of the crusts were directly related to the P/S ratio. Sensory texture and flavor scores showed no significant difference between vegetable oil crusts but the shortening crust was rated significantly lower in flavor (P ≤ 0.05) than vegetable oil crusts.
On the Control of Axially Moving Material Systems

Vibration control can improve the performance of many axially moving material systems (e.g., web handling machines and tape drives). Researchers have used Lyapunov analysis to develop vibration stabilizing controllers for distributed parameter models of axially moving material systems. Both the material and regular time derivatives have been used in these analyses despite the fact that they give different results. This paper proves that for a pinned axially moving string model: (i) Lyapunov stability analysis using the material derivative incorrectly predicts that a time-varying functional is constant and (ii) neglect of the coupled domain in boundary control analysis is ill posed and incorrectly predicts bounded forced response and exponentially decaying transients.
Object intermediaries: how new media artists translate the language of things

This paper uses Walter Benjamin's concept of translation between people and things as a focal point for analysis of the work of contemporary new-media artists Paula Gaetano Adi and Lindsey French, who utilize robotics and interactive technology to explore interspecies communication. Framed by materialist, poststructuralist, and posthumanist theory, along with recent discourse in object-oriented ontology, this paper poses the work of Gaetano Adi and French as potential models for visualizing object-oriented and vital materialist interactions. In the age of the Anthropocene, thinking beyond the human has become increasingly vital in both ethical and ecological terms, making the ability to envision less anthropocentric, more object-oriented worldviews both novel and timely.
Evaluating North American Electric Grid Reliability Using the Barabasi-Albert Network Model

Abstract The reliability of electric transmission systems is examined using a scale-free model of network topology and failure propagation. The topologies of the North American eastern and western electric grids are analyzed to estimate their reliability based on the Barabasi–Albert network model. A commonly used power system reliability index is computed using a simple failure propagation model. The results are compared to the values of power system reliability indices previously obtained using standard power engineering methods, and they suggest that scale-free network models are usable to estimate aggregate electric grid reliability.
Trilayer Membranes with a Methanol-Barrier Layer for DMFCs

Trilayer membranes (50 μm thick) composed of one central methanol-barrier layer and two conductive layers were developed to suppress methanol crossover in liquid-fed direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Nafion-(poly)vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was used as a central methanol-barrier layer with two outside Nafion layers. Both proton conduction and methanol diffusion were controlled by the properties of the Nafion-PVDF layer. The thickness of the barrier layer and the PVDF content affected methanol crossover and proton conductivity of the trilayer membrane. A 55 wt % PVDF, 45 wt % Nafion, 10 μm thick barrier layer with two outside 20 μm Nafion layers reduced methanol crossover by 64% compared to a 50 μm thick Nation membrane. Membrane electrode assembly performance with the trilayer membrane was better than a 50 μm thick Nafion membrane because of lower methanol crossover and the presence of a good membrane/electrode interface for proton transfer.