cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased laser damage threshold by protecting and cleaning optics using first contact polymer stripcoatings: preliminary data

Summary & Discussion Corroborating surface laser damage threshold testing at 1064 nm of high power laser optics was performed by a contract lab on new high power laser YAG laser optics with an 1064nm HR coating on BK7. In this work, the LDT was found to be 15J/cm 2 at 20ns and 20Hz and with four new substrates, two protected during shipping with First Contact Polymer and two in new normal commercial packaging, the surface LDT was found to be statistically indistin guishable. Surface roughness and poor sample surface quality definitely affects the results and more uniform samples will be use d in the future. This work, combined with the work contained herein clearly indicate the benefit of cleaning already clean substrates to maximize surface damage threshold. Future Work Work is in progress to develop good statistical LDT data for a variety of types of contamination on a variety of substrates ranging from mirrors and optics to gratings to nonlinear optical and other crystals and coatings. Multiwavelength work and image subtraction of before and after damage to more accurately quantitate the extent of damage are be ing used to improve the process. * email: hamiltoj@uwplatt.edu
Proton-nucleus scattering and density dependent meson masses in the nucleus.

The influence of density dependent meson masses, proposed in many previous papers, on proton-nucleus scattering in the several hundred MeV region is investigated. Introduction of this density dependence is found to remove the nuclear radius discrepancy which persistently occurred in analyses with the nonrelativistic impulse approximation when empirical nuclear densities obtained from electron scattering were employed. Nonlocality, suggested by earlier derivations of the density dependent masses, had to be introduced. Taking the estimated range of nonlocality from the earlier calculations, agreement with experiment was significantly improved by this introduction. Effects on the spin-orbit interaction and imaginary part of the optical model are qualitatively discussed. The density dependent meson masses aid in increasing the strength of the spin-orbit interaction. Preliminary results calculated in a relativistic impulse approximation (IA2) formalism for the spin observables are shown and discussed.
Viscoelastic and non-Newtonian effects in shear flow

The time-correlation functions characterizing linear viscoelasticity and nonlinear transport in shear flow are compared for a low-density gas of Maxwell molecules. It is shown that the relationship between viscoelasticity and nonlinear transport given by the Goddard-Miller rheological equation of state does not apply, and the principle of objectivity on which this equation is based is not valid.
Gamma Radiation from the Inelastic Scattering of Protons by F19

The absolute cross section for the excitation of the 109-kev and 197-kev excited states of F19, by the inelastic scattering of protons, has been studied as a function of bombarding energy up to 1750 kev by detecting the resultant gamma radiation in scintillation counters. Most of the resonances for the various F19(p, α)O16 reactions appear as resonances for the excitation of one or both of these low-lying states. A detailed study of the angular distributions of the two gamma rays, together with the direct measurements of the lifetimes of these states by Thirion, Barnes, and Lauritsen, and the Coulomb excitation work of Sherr, Li, and Christy, leads to the assignments: 109-kev state, J=1 / 2, odd parity; 197-kev state, J=5 / 2, even parity. The nonresonant yield of 197-kev gamma rays is approximately that expected from Coulomb excitation at low incident proton energies. The nonresonant yield of 109-kev gamma rays exceeds the expected Coulomb excitation. In conjunction with the recent measurements of the elastic scattering of protons by F19 made by Peterson, Webb, Hagedorn, and Fowler, in this laboratory, and older measurements of the F19(p, α)O16 reactions, the resonant inelastic cross sections allow a new determination of the partial widths for the various modes of decay of the Ne20 compound nuclear states.
Novel unsaturated purine nucleosides

Abstract The synthesis of a number of novel purine ribonucleosides bearing one degree of unsaturation at the 2-position is described. The two key reactions used in the synthesis of these compounds is a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction and an ozonolysis. These synthetic transformations have rarely been used in nucleoside chemistry. Isomerization of an allylpurine system to a vinylpurine system under the conditions of the cross-coupling reaction and also under fluoride ion catalysis is discussed. The novel 2-formylpurine nucleosides described appear to be easily hydrated.
Patient identification of the symptomatic impact of charcot-marie-tooth disease type 1A.

OBJECTIVE The burden of Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A (CMT1A), the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy, including impact on patient quality of life (QOL) is not well understood. This study aims to qualitatively describe the range of symptoms associated with CMT1A and impact on QOL. METHODS We performed qualitative interviews with 16 adult CMT1A patients. Each interview was analyzed using a qualitative framework technique to identify and index symptoms by theme. RESULTS Sixteen patients provided 656 quotes. One hundred forty-five symptoms of importance were identified representing 20 symptomatic themes. Symptoms associated with difficulty with mobility and ambulation, specific activity impairment, and emotional distress were the most frequently mentioned. CONCLUSIONS Multiple symptoms contribute to CMT1A disease burden, some previously underrecognized. Improved recognition of underrecognized symptoms will optimize patient care and QOL.
Backing into being public: an exploratory analysis of reverse takeovers

Abstract We examine 121 reverse takeovers (RT), in which a privately held firm acquires a publicly traded firm to obtain their exchange listing. The public firms, many of which went public during the initial public offering (IPO) bubble, are generally poor performers. Their shareholders receive significant wealth gains upon announcement, suggesting that these events may provide shareholders of distressed firms a way to recover some of their investment. We observe little post-event improvement in operations or profitability, and only 46% of the sample survives two years. Thus, while reverse takeovers provide alternative means of going public, they are risky and may fail to generate long-term wealth.
Construction and Initial Validation of a Dictionary for Global Citizen Linguistic Markers

The four studies constructed and examined the validity of a text-based dictionary for assessing the values related to global citizenship. In Study 1, an initial list of words related to global citizens was obtained by conducting an analysis of participant definitions of the construct. In Study 2, the list obtained in Study 1 was further explored through a reaction time based categorization task. Words most quickly and reliably associated with global citizens were combined with synonyms to comprise the final global citizen dictionary. In Study 3, a greater number of global citizen related words were used to describe a global citizen (vs. entrepreneur). In Study 4, the use of global citizen related words when describing one's core values was shown to predict antecedents, identification, and outcomes of global citizenship. Together, the results provide initial validation of a linguistic measure of values related to global citizenship.
Ethnomethodological Recovery of Durkheim

When Parsons derived action theory from Durkheim's sociology, he also argued with Durkheim, disputed his claims, and expressly rejected some of his fundamental principles. Accordingly, American functionalism contained a hidden “negative image” of Durkheim. Parsons's student, Harold Garfinkel, addressed functionalism at its weak points, eventually overthrowing most of what Parsons had to say about society. Some of these weak points were predicated on Parsons's rejection of Durkheim, including explicit rejection of Durkheim's equivalences between society, morality, and objective reality. Garfinkel's ethnomethodology therefore rejected what had been premised on Parsons's rejection of Durkheim. In so doing, it reversed the negative image of Durkheim back to its positive classical form and empirically demonstrated some of Durkheim's most troubling principles. Since Garfinkel did not deliberately recover Durkheim in this manner, the dynamics of this case make it an interesting study of how theorists read other ...
Democratic Theory and Political Campaigns

CHOLARLY debates about political campaigns often focus on topics like “negative advertising” and campaign finance. Although these are important issues, attending to them before one has developed a comprehensive and systematic critique of campaigns is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse. In other words, it is necessary to identify the values one believes campaigns should uphold, and the kind of “information environment” that is required to promote these values in the period preceding an election, before one begins to make claims about specific campaign funding schemes and the way candidates should campaign. This paper explores one way of conducting such a critique by considering what a campaign would look like if certain political values representing different strains of contemporary democratic thought were consistently applied to all elements of the campaign process. Specifically, I consider what electoral competitiveness, political equality and deliberation require of campaigns and how these values can be enhanced through certain reforms. Ideally, of course, we want campaigns to function in a way that advances all of these values, but by focusing on them individually, we can see where tensions may arise between them, and perhaps more importantly, where they prescriptively overlap. This is especially important for identifying what kind of campaign and election reforms deserve the most attention from scholars and political reformers. I begin by briefly describing how I define political competitiveness, political equality and deliberation, and then proceed by considering what kind of information environment bolsters each of these political values within the context of a political campaign. This approach forces us to consider how formal rules and regulations, such as election procedures and campaign finance restrictions, structure a campaign’s information environment in ways that substantively affect the realization of these political values. The second part examines the effect of these rules and regulations more closely by drawing upon
An inverse problem for Hamiltonian systems

In a linear Hamiltonian system for which the Dirichlet principle is valid, solutions to boundary value problems can be identified as the unique minimizers of the quadratic functional associated with the system. The inverse problem, in which coefficient functions in the differential equations are identified as unique minimizers of a related functional, is discussed, together with conditions under which recovery can occur.
Some immunologic properties of jackbean urease and its antibody

Abstract The primary and secondary immune responses to thrice-crystallized jackbean urease have been studied in three horses. Antibody to urease was readily detectable by hemagglutination in a hyperimmunized colt for 120 days after a secondary challenge. Antisera from these animals following hyperimmunization caused a 30% reduction of in vitro urea hydrolysis at equivalence by precipitate and supernatant fluid when these fractions were assayed separately after centrifugation. Extrapolation of the curves indicates that inhibition of total enzymtic activity in the precipitate and supernatant fluid is impossible, and that a maximum total inhibition would approach 70% with an antigen-antibody ratio of slightly less than 0.6. The evidence indicates that inhibition of enzymtic activity is due to steric hindrance. At antigen-antibody ratios greater than 1.0 the slopes of inhibition were negative for the precipitate and supernatant fluid. Patterns of immunoelectrophoresis for urease antisera were studied and compared with antisera to other antigens. The specific urease antibody in horse antisera to thrice-crystallized jackbean urease and in rat antisera to water extracts of jackbean meal, once-crystallized urease, or thrice-crystallized urease was found in a relatively anodal immunoglobulin fraction. There was no evidence that the purification steps changed the immunologic nature of the enzyme. Over several years of investigation the thrice-crystallized enzyme consistently showed one anodal immunologic component in multiple preparations.
Optical Guiding And Beam Bending In Free-Electron Lasers

The electron beam in a free-electron laser (FEL) can act as an optical fiber, guiding or bending the optical beam. The refractive and gain effects of the bunched electron beam can compensate for diffraction, making possible wigglers that are many Rayleigh ranges (i.e., characteristic diffraction lengths) long. The origin of optical guiding can be understood by examining gain and refractive guiding in a fiber with a complex index of refraction, providing a mathematical description applicable also to the FEL, with some extensions. In the exponential gain regime of the FEL, the electron equations of motion must be included, but a self-consistent description of exponential gain with diffraction fully included becomes possible. The origin of the effective index of refraction of an FEL is illustrated with a simple example of bunched, radiating dipoles. Some of the properties of the index of refraction are described. The limited experimental evidence for optical beam bending is summarized. The evidence does not yet provide conclusive proof of the existence of optical guiding, but supports the idea. Finally, the importance of refractive guiding for the performance of a high-gain tapered-wiggler FEL amplifier is illustrated with numerical simulations.
Management perceptions of older employees in the U.S. quick service restaurant industry.

Abstract The quick service restaurant industry has had a consistent problem finding employees for its growing sales trends over the past decade. The traditional employee for quick service restaurants is often young and inexperienced. The current study is exploratory research into the quick service restaurant industry staffing practices and procedures done by analyzing the perceptions of 20 managers from quick service restaurant chains in the Southeastern part of the U.S. regarding older workers. The study finds that the positive perception held by managers regarding older workers does not translate into a stated desire to actually hire a larger percentage of older workers to staff the restaurants. Implications for practitioners are presented.
The Alula and Its Aerodynamic Effect on Avian Flight

The alula, a small thumb-like appendage on a bird wing, is often credited with increasing lift and decreasing the risk of stall during bird flight. Using field based studies; researchers have observed that the alula lifts away from the wing at critical moments in flight, such as take-off and landing. However, to date, there has been no conclusive experimental evidence to support the idea that use of the alula affects lift. To determine the effect of the alula on avian flight, we used a wind tunnel to study the wings of four ducks: the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), the Redhead Duck (Aythya americana), the Black Scoter (Melanitta americana), and the Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis). We used a combination of lift/drag measurements and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to test the wings at velocities from 10–16 m/s and angles of attack from −20 to 25 degrees. The alula was observed to naturally lift as the stall angle was approached. Of the four wings, the Black Scoter demonstrated the largest maximum lift coefficient (1.4), followed by the Wood Duck (1.3), the Lesser Scaup (1.2) and lastly, the Redhead Duck (0.9). All four wings had minimum drag coefficients near 0.1. The Lesser Scaup was the only wing which had a measurable change in lift (10%) attributable to alula deployment. PIV results for the flow field around the Lesser Scaup wing showed higher velocities on the top side of the wing when the alula was deflected.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Measures of genotoxicity in Gulf war I veterans exposed to depleted uranium

Exposure to depleted uranium (DU), an alpha-emitting heavy metal, has prompted the inclusion of markers of genotoxicity in the long-term medical surveillance of a cohort of DU-exposed Gulf War veterans followed since 1994. Using urine U (uU) concentration as the measure of U body burden, the cohort has been stratified into low-u (<0.10 μg U/g creatinine) and high-u groups (≥ 0.10 μg U/g creatinine). Surveillance outcomes for this cohort have historically included markers of mutagenicity and clastogenicity, with past results showing generally nonsignificant differences between low- vs. high-U groups. However, mean hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) mutant frequencies (MFs) have been almost 50% higher in the high-U group. We report here results of a more comprehensive protocol performed in a 2009 evaluation of a subgroup (N = 35) of this cohort. Four biomarkers of genotoxicity [micronuclei (MN), chromosome aberrations, and MFs of HPRT and PIGA] were examined. There were no statistically significant differences in any outcome measure when results were compared between the low- vs. high-U groups. However, modeling of the HPRT MF results suggests a possible threshold effect for MFs occurring in the highest U exposed cohort members. Mutational spectral analysis of HPRT mutations is underway to clarify a potential clonal vs. a threshold uU effect to explain this observation. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of a human population chronically exposed to DU and demonstrates a relatively weak genotoxic effect of the DU exposure. These results may explain the lack of clear epidemiologic evidence for U carcinogenicity in humans. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF COUPLED THERMOELASTIC WAVES

An FFT-based spectral analysis method is used to solve the problem of coupled thermo-elastic waves in a rod. Special attention is given to intepreting the spectrum relation and its influence on the solution.
Facets of grandiose narcissism predict involvement in health-risk behaviors.

Abstract Why do adolescents and young adults engage in risk-taking behaviors? The present study sought to examine the role of grandiose narcissism, as well as narcissistic traits (entitlement, exploitativeness, grandiosity), in the prediction of involvement in risk-taking behaviors. Participants were 630 undergraduates, split into two subgroups, who completed measures assessing likelihood of and actual involvement in risk-taking behaviors, perceived risks and benefits of the behaviors, delay discounting, grandiose narcissism, and narcissistic traits. Greater levels of grandiose narcissism predicted reported likelihood of risk-taking and risk-taking behaviors in the past 30 days. This relationship appears driven by grandiosity and exploitativeness rather than entitlement. Grandiose narcissism and entitlement were independently associated with a preference for smaller, more immediate gains over larger, temporally distant rewards. Implications for understanding reasons behind risk-taking behaviors and future studies of narcissism are discussed.
Biopyribole evolution during tremolite synthesis from dolomite and quartz in CO2-H2O fluid

A series of experiments with and without sample retreatment was performed on a starting mixture of dolomite plus quartz at 0.5 GPa and 600 °C in a CO 2 -H 2 O fluid with a mole fraction of CO 2 of 0.2 for durations up to 582 h. The initial reaction of dolomite and quartz led to rapid formation of talc and calcite instead of tremolite and calcite by the intended reaction: 5 dolomite + 8 quartz + H 2 O = tremolite + 3 calcite + 7 CO 2 . With continued treatment, the talc + calcite + quartz assemblage gradually reacts to form increasing amounts of tremolite and diopside with the eventual loss of quartz and nearly complete loss of talc. The detailed structure of the amphibole and the nature of the Mg enrichment were revealed using AEM analysis of individual amphibole crystals. The most abundant defects are triple-chain chain multiplicity faults (CMFs), which appear as isolated lamellae with single periodicity in short-duration experiments and increasingly as groups of lamellae with variable multiplicity and periodicity in longer duration experiments and especially in a long-duration experiment without retreatment. In this latter experiment, a calcian clinojimthompsonite domain extending 15 unit cells along the b axis was observed. The sample after 582 h and five retreatments shows, on average, 3.5% true solid solution with Mg expressed as the Mg-cummingtonite (MC) component after correction for the presence of CMFs. This sample is thought to most closely approach the equilibrium composition for the amphibole. The sample after 250 h with three retreatments has about 10%, whereas that after 582 h without retreatment has 0.6% MC component, the latter having a relatively high density of CMFs. This study affirms the importance that precursor non-amphibole biopyriboles play in the formation of tremolitic amphibole.
Comparison of conventional and countercurrent leaching processes of surimi manufacture

Abstract Conventional and countercurrent leaching processes of surimi manufacture were compared with regard to the composition of leached mince and functionality of the surimi produced. No significant differences were found in proximate composition, water solubles removed from leached mince or gel-forming properties of surimi produced under the two processing techniques. Gels made from surimi processed by either method had equivalent torsional stress and true strain, expressible moisture and color. The use of countercurrent processing in surimi manufacture has potential for conserving fresh water and results in greater concentration of the water soluble components in the effluent, the latter serving to facilitate recovery and/or waste treatment of sarcoplasmic proteins removed during surimi manufacturing.
Polarization of single particle states in heavy ion induced nuclear reactions within the two center shell model

Abstract In “slow” nucleus-nucleus collisions the single particle states will adjust continuously to an instantaneous two center potential. Transfer reactions will occur between polarized rather than between asymptotic states. In order to employ two center states in reaction calculations, an expansion in terms of asymptotic states with good angular momentum is required. This expansion is formulated, and equations for the expansion coefficients are derived. Model calculations for the system 40 Ca+ 16 O indicate that the polarization of unoccupied proton states in 40 Ca is strong, while it is very weak for the tightly bound 1p 1 2 proton in 16 O. The dependence of the polarization effect on several relevant parameters is discussed.
Longer perishock pauses were associated with decreased survival to hospital discharge after out-of-hospital shockable cardiac arrest

Source Citation Cheskes S, Schmicker RH, Christenson J, et al; Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) Investigators. Perishock pause: an independent predictor of survival from out-of-hospital shoc...
Reported maltreatment in children with multiple disabilities

This study examined a population of children with multiple disabilities to investigate whether functional, developmental, or perinatal factors could differentiate children reported and substantiated as maltreated from those not so reported. Data were collected from medical records of a cohort of 500 children evaluated between 1973 and 1984 at the Kennedy Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Maltreatment reporting was documented through the State of Maryland Abuse Registry and the counties of residence of all study children. Results indicated that the profiles of demographic and family characteristics associated with child maltreatment reporting in this population are consistent with the literature, but child functional and developmental characteristics were not confirmed as risk factors for substantiated maltreatment reports. Indeed, contrary to investigator expectations, the more severely disabled children, in terms of functioning, appeared at less risk of maltreatment than did disabled children functioning at more age-appropriate levels.
Sampling synthesis of ring arrays

A technique for synthesizing a ring array that will radiate a prescribed pattern in the plane of the ring is developed. The design is optimum in the sense of minimum ring diameter and minimum number of elements for a specified precision. Application of sampling theory to the development of a discrete-array synthesis procedure yields a direct interpretation of results (minimum aperture, absolute minimum number of elements) obtained by earlier authors. As an example, the synthesis technique is applied to the problem of designing a ring array for aircraft navigation use.
The 2008 Election and the Political Geography of the New Democratic Majority

Although the 2008 election brought partisan change to Washington, it also furthered a long-term trend of increasingly large and stable regional alignments in both presidential and congressional elections. The growing dominance of the Democratic Party in the Northeast and coastal West, especially within large metropolitan areas, has effectively countered Republican electoral strength in the South and interior West, reducing the number of highly competitive states. In House and Senate contests, Democratic gains across the North and West have produced an ideologically diverse majority party as well as a congressional Republican Party increasingly dominated by southern conservatives, raising serious questions about the future ability of the GOP to compete effectively in much of the nation.
Premature Infants with Patent Ductus Arteriosus and Respiratory Distress: Selection for Ductal Ligation

Abstract Operative treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants with respiratory distress has been advocated when rapid and favorable response to medical management has not occurred. At Cincinnati Children's Hospital from September, 1971, to January, 1975, 28 patients with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and PDA underwent ductal ligation after failing to respond to intensive medical management. There were 15 survivors and 13 deaths, for a survival rate of 53%. We have found the most reliable assessment of PDA and its response to medical management to be a reduction in left cardiac chamber size as evidenced by echocardiography. In 15 of the 28 infants who underwent ligation, echocardiography showed that they had failed to respond to medical management. Seven of the group survived. During the same period 15 infants with RDS and PDA responded favorably to medical management and showed return of left cardiac chamber size to normal by serial echocardiograms. Of these, 11 survived and 4 died of noncardiac causes. Clinical improvement was corroborated without exception by echocardiographic demonstration of a reduction in size of the left cardiac chamber. We believe that infants who follow this course should not have ductus ligation. We contend that the choice of surgical candidates should be more selective since a survival rate of only 50% has been obtained in this and other series. Further, we have found that only 8 of 14 long-term survivors in our series are free from pulmonary disease.
Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of alkoxyalkyl esters of acyclic purine and pyrimidine nucleoside phosphonates against HIV-1 in vitro.

Abstract Alkoxyalkyl esters of cidofovir, an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate, have been shown to have antiviral activities several orders of magnitude greater than unmodified cidofovir against cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, vaccinia, cowpox, ectromelia and adenoviruses in vitro. Hexadecyloxypropyl-cidofovir is orally bioavailable and active in lethal animal models of vaccinia, cowpox, ectromelia and cytomegalovirus. To see if this strategy is also applicable to other acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, we have converted several phosophonomethoxyethyl purines and pyrimidines to their hexadecyloxypropyl, octadecyloxyethyl and oleyloxyethyl esters and compared their activity against HIV-1 with the activity of the respective unmodified acyclic nucleoside phosphonates. The hexadecyloxypropyl esters of phosphonomethoxyethyl-adenine, phosphonomethoxyethyl-2,6-diaminopurine and phosphonomethoxyethyl- N 6 -cyclopropyl-diaminopurine were 3–5 orders of magnitude more active against HIV-1 in vitro than the parent nucleotides. The EC 50 values for these compounds were in the 10–20 pM range with selective indexes of 1250 to >4000. The acyclic pyrimidine phosphonates were generally inactive against HIV-1 in vitro. Phosphonomethoxyethyl-cytosine and phosphonomethoxyethyl-5-fluorocytosine were inactive against HIV-1. Surprisingly, hexadecyloxypropyl-phosphonomethoxyethyl-5-fluorocytosine was active against HIV-1 with a submicromolar EC 50 and a selective index of 174. Esterification of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates with alkoxyalkyl moieties may represent a general approach for increasing antiviral activity and selectivity of this class of antivirals.
Antibody response to influenza infection of mice: different patterns for glycoprotein and nucleocapsid antigens

Our previous studies of C57BL/6 mice intranasally infected with influenza virus (A/PR8) revealed a spike of virus-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA)-secreting antibody-forming cells (AFC) in the mediastinal lymph node (MLN) 7 days post-infection. Here we show that these AFC are directed only against viral glycoprotein, and not nucleocapsid antigens. The early IgA spike associates with a decline in glycoprotein-specific AFC during week 2 post-infection. In contrast to the glycoprotein-specific AFC, nucleocapsid-specific, IgA-secreting AFC develop gradually in the MLN and persist for more than 3 weeks post-infection. As peripheral lymph node reactions wane, the nucleocapsid-specific AFC appear as long-sustained populations in the bone marrow. Microanatomical examination of the respiratory tract in infected mice shows foci of infection established in the lung 2 days post-infection, from which virus spreads to infect the entire lining of the trachea by day 3. At this time, viral haemagglutinin can be seen within the MLN, probably on projections from infected dendritic cells. This feature disappears within a day, though viral antigen expression continues to spread throughout the respiratory tract. Total IgA- and IgG-secreting AFC appear histologically in large numbers during the first week post-infection, significantly preceding the appearance of germinal centres (revealed by peanut agglutinin staining in week 2). To explain these results, we suggest that the initial immunogenic encounter of B cells with viral antigens occurs about 3 days post-infection in the MLN, with antigens transported by dendritic cells from airway mucosa, the only site of viral replication. Viral glycoproteins expressed as integral membrane components on the surface of infected dendritic cells [probably in the absence of cognate T helper (Th) cells] promote members of expanding relevant B-cell clones to undergo an IgA switch and terminal local plasmacytoid differentiation. Anti-glycoprotein specificities are thus selectively depleted from progeny of activated B-cell clones which are channelled to participate in germinal centre formation (perhaps by cognate T helper cells when they become sufficiently frequent). One product of the germinal centre reaction is the long-sustained, bone marrow-resident population, which is accordingly rich in anti-nucleoprotein, but not anti-glycoprotein specificities. Of note, we find that AFC responses toward influenza virus and Sendai virus differ, even though viral replication is limited to the airway mucosa in each case. The response towards Sendai virus exhibits neither the early appearance of anti-glycoprotein AFC expressing IgA in draining lymph nodes, nor the subsequent relative deficit of this specificity from bone marrow AFC populations.
Growth and physiological changes in red spruce saplings associated with acidic deposition at high elevations in the southern Appalachians, USA

Abstract Exploratory field studies to evaluate the physiological basis of growth decline of red spruce at high elevation sites in the southern Appalachian Mountains have detected decreasing ratios of net photosynthesis (Ps) to dark respiration (Rs) associated with decreasing foliar calcium and increasing aluminium at higher elevation sites. A role of acidic deposition in inducing or amplifying the effects of nutrient deficiency in these high elevation soils had been previously inferred from changing growth and wood chemistry trends of mature trees, high levels of atmospheric deposition, and high ratios of aluminium to calcium in soil solutions at the study site. Greenhouse studies using native soils from the study area have confirmed the capacity of acid rain and mist, in the range of levels occurring at these sites, to produce similar alterations in both growth and physiology of red spruce saplings. This paper discusses the corroborative evidence of acid deposition effects on carbon metabolism and growth based on the combined field and laboratory studies. The importance of soil nutrition and duration of acid deposition treatment is illustrated by time-course measurements of red spruce photosynthesis and dark respiration in laboratory studies.
Extreme conditions in binary reactive distillation

In certain cases, reactive distillation can be used to avoid minimum reflux pinch points and azeotropic compositions. A pinch caused when using minimum reflux is always in the nonreactive section of the column. Its location is affected by the extent of reaction occurring elsewhere in the column. This article shows how to encounter such pinch situations by McCabe-Thiele and Ponchon-Savarit diagrams. Reactive distillation columns were designed under the extreme conditions of assuming reaction equilibrium and total reflux. Putting more than one reactive stage in such a column can be harmful to column performance for an azeotropic mixture. As a function of the magnitude of the reaction equilibrium constant, when an azeotrope can be circumvented is described. A binary reactive distillation can be bypassed only under finite reflux conditions, with the reaction equilibrium constant being greater than the reaction equilibrium constant evaluated at the azeotropic composition. A rigorous simulation of actual systems is used to confirm the insights provided by these graphical methods.
Triangle and parallelogram laws on fuzzy graphs

Abstract A fuzzy graph is shown to satisfy two laws: triangle law and parallelogram law. We show that these laws are useful tools to prove important results on cut vertrices and bridges.
DiffQ: Practical Differential Backlog Congestion Control for Wireless Networks

Congestion control in wireless multi-hop networks is challenging and complicated because of two reasons. First, interference is ubiquitous and causes loss in the shared medium. Second, wireless multihop networks are characterized by the use of diverse and dynamically changing routing paths. Traditional end point based congestion control protocols are ineffective in such a setting resulting in unfairness and starvation. This paper adapts the optimal theoretical work of Tassiulas and Ephremedes on cross-layer optimization of wireless networks involving congestion control, routing and scheduling, for practical solutions to congestion control in multi-hop wireless networks. This work is the first that implements in real off-shelf radios, a differential backlog based MAC scheduling and router-assisted backpressure congestion control for multi-hop wireless networks. Our adaptation, called DiffQ, is implemented between transport and IP and supports legacy TCP and UDP applications. In a network of 46 IEEE 802.11 wireless nodes, we demonstrate that DiffQ far outperforms many previously proposed "practical" solutions for congestion control.
Interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α, and interferon-γ levels in sera from patients with scleroderma

Objective To determine whether interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) are detected more frequently in sera from scleroderma patients than in sera from controls. Methods Serum concentrations of these cytokines were measured in 78 scleroderma patients and 73 controls, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, radioimmunoassay, and bioassay techniques. Results IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 were each detected more frequently in sera from scleroderma patients than in sera from controls. TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha were found with equal frequency in patient and control sera. IL-1 beta and IFN gamma were not detected in any sera. Conclusion IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 may be among the cytokines that contribute to the disease process in scleroderma patients. To our knowledge, this is the first report of elevated serum IL-4 levels in human disease.
STABILITY AND HABITUATION OF NONSPECIFIC GSRs

Stability and habituation of nonspecific galvanic skin responses during light and sound stimulation periods in medical students
Dynamically Partitioned Hierarchical Constant Modulus Algorithm for Variable Delay Spread Channels

The Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA) adopts the constant modulus (CM) criterion to minimize the deviation of the equalizer output from a fixed value. However it has two drawbacks: (1) slow rate of convergence (2) the likelihood of getting trapped in a local minimum. The problem gets even worse when the channel delay spread varies rapidly as the filter length cannot match the delay spread. If the filter length is significantly longer than the delay spread, the convergence rate can be slow. In this paper, we improve the performance of the standard CMA by using a dynamically partitioned hierarchical structure to organize the taps of a filter. The filter length is dynamically partitioned according to the delay spread such that they are tightly matched. Preferably, the length of a sub-filter is slightly longer than the delay spread of the channel. The performance evaluation is divided into two parts. In Part I, we do simulation runs for both the cost functions and cost surfaces comparing the standard CMA, where the filter length is significantly longer than the delay spread, and the dynamically partitioned CMA, where the filter length matches the delay spread. In Part II, an analysis is provided to show that the proposed partitioned scheme can speed up the convergence rate and reduce the cost function.
A two-staged surface treatment to improve properties of rubber modified cement composites

Abstract This laboratory study presents a new approach – two staged surface treatment – to treat rubber particles for improving the performance of rubber-modified cement composites. In the first stage, silane coupling agent is used to modify rubber particle surface and develop chemical bonds between rubber particles and cement paste. In the second stage, cement is used to coat the silane-treated particles. The purpose of the cement coating is to develop a “hard shell” around rubber particles after cement hydration. The proposed surface treatment was validated through a laboratory experiment. The experiment results showed that after the two-staged surface treatment of rubber particles, the compressive strength of rubber-modified cement composites could be increased by up to 110%, which could potentially increase application of rubber-modified cement composites.
An O-fucose site in the ligand binding domain inhibits Notch activation

Two glycosyltransferases that transfer sugars to EGF domains, OFUT1 and Fringe, regulate Notch signaling. However, sites of O-fucosylation on Notch that influence Notch activation have not been previously identified. Moreover, the influences of OFUT1 and Fringe on Notch activation can be positive or negative, depending on their levels of expression and on whether Delta or Serrate is signaling to Notch. Here, we describe the consequences of eliminating individual, highly conserved sites of O-fucose attachment to Notch. Our results indicate that glycosylation of an EGF domain proposed to be essential for ligand binding, EGF12, is crucial to the inhibition of Serrate-to-Notch signaling by Fringe. Expression of an EGF12 mutant of Notch (N-EGF12f) allows Notch activation by Serrate even in the presence of Fringe. By contrast, elimination of three other highly conserved sites of O-fucosylation does not have detectable effects. Binding assays with a soluble Notch extracellular domain fusion protein and ligand-expressing cells indicate that the NEGF12f mutation can influence Notch activation by preventing Fringe from blocking Notch-Serrate binding. The N-EGF12f mutant can substitute for endogenous Notch during embryonic neurogenesis, but not at the dorsoventral boundary of the wing. Thus, inhibition of Notch-Serrate binding by O-fucosylation of EGF12 might be needed in certain contexts to allow efficient Notch signaling.
Silacyclobutane, 1‐[4‐(bromomethyl)phenyl]‐1‐methyl‐ (and Alcohol)

[853654-21-4] C11H15BrSi (MW 255.23) InChI = 1S/C11H15BrSi/c1-13(7-2-8-13)11-5-3-10(9-12)4-6-11/h3-6H,2,7-9H2,1H3 InChIKey = IHCFALIIUUKEDQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N [853654-20-3] C11H16OSi (MW 192.33) InChI = 1S/C11H16OSi/c1-13(7-2-8-13)11-5-3-10(9-12)4-6-11/h3-6,12H,2,7-9H2,1H3 InChIKey = IHRRWOASLKBIPE-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagents for the conversion of alcohols into p-siletanylbenzyl (PSB) ethers)3 Alternative Names: p-siletanylbenzyl bromide (and alcohol); PSB-Br (PSB-OH). Physical Data: colorless oils. Solubility: soluble in organic solvents. Analysis of Reagent Purity:1H NMR. Preparative Methods: PSB-Br prepared from PSB-OH using triphenylphosphine and carbon tetrabromide (Appel conditions).3 PSB-OH is prepared from 1-chloro-1-methylsilacyclobutane in three steps.4 Purification: silica gel chromatography. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: possible sensitizer. Routine safety precautions should be employed.
Mining of Attribute Interactions Using Information Theoretic Metrics

Knowledge of the statistical interactions between the attributes in a data set provides insight into the underlying structure of the data and explains the relationships (independence, synergy, redundancy) between the attributes. In a supervised learning problem, normally, a small subset of the classifying attributes are actually associated with the class label. Interaction information among the attributes captures the multivariate dependencies (synergy and redundancy) among the attributes and the class label. Mining the significant statistical interactions that contain information about the class label is a computationally challenging task - the number of possible interactions increases exponentially and most of these interactions contain redundant information when a number of correlated attributes are present. In this paper, we present a data mining method (named IM or Interaction Mining) to mine non-redundant attribute sets that have significant interactions with the class label. We further demonstrate that the mined statistical interactions are useful for improved feature selection as they successfully capture the multivariate inter-dependencies among the attributes.
Factors affecting division rhythmicity in Euglena gracilis.

In phototrophic culture of Euglena gracilis, good synchrony was found only under rather restricted programs of light-dark cycles, and rather narrow ranges of temperature and light intensity, when cultures were flushed with air fortified with adequate amounts of CO2. When flushed with air alone, CO2 was found to be limiting, and while cell divisions were rhythmic, less than a doubling of cell number occurred in division bursts. With air as gas phase, rhythmic division activity was maintained over wide ranges of temperature, light intensity, and the ratio of light:dark in a given program; all these factors affected the amplitude of the division burst, however.
Femtosecond laser micromachining of submicron features

The summary form is given. Femtosecond laser micromachining of variety of materials has been pursued by several research groups for possible improvements due to the extremely short pulse width of the laser. We have used a Spectra Physics 2 mJ laser to explore the micromachining at submicron dimensions. The laser wavelength was 800 nm and was frequency doubled using a LBO crystal. An almost gaussian beam was obtained when the 400 nm wavelength light beam was spatially filtered using a pair of lens and a pinhole. The beam was focused using a microscope objective of 0.85 numerical aperture. The laser beam was scanned on a silicon wafer that was placed on a computer controlled x-y stage. The experiments were conducted in atmospheric air. The laser micromachined wafer was examined using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The laser marked line widths of 390 nm and depth of 200 nm were achieved with optimization of focus position, laser power and scan speed. AFM surface scan of a micromachined line on silicon wafer is viewed. The results of laser beam shape, power, scan speed on micromachined line width; depth, rim formation and debris generation will be discussed. Spectroscopic measurements of the plasma generated during laser ablation process were performed. The achievement of submicron features allows the fabrication of various types of MEMS and optoelectronic devices for sensor and other applications using direct laser writing process.
Characterization of inducible cyclooxygenase in rat brain

Considerable debate exists regarding the cellular source of prostaglandins in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). At least two forms of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase, or cyclooxygenase (COX), the principal enzyme in the biosynthesis of these mediators, are known to exist. Both forms have been identified in the CNS, but only the distribution of COX 1 has been mapped in detail. In this study, we used Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry to describe the biochemical characterization and anatomical distribution of the second, mitogen-inducible form of this enzyme, COX 2 in the rat brain. COX 2-like immunoreactive (COX 2-ir) staining occurred in dendrites and cell bodies of neurons, structures that are typically postsynaptic. It was noted in distinct portions of specific cortical laminae and subcortical nuclei. The distribution in the CNS was quite different from COX 1. COX 2-ir neurons were primarily observed in the cortex and allocortical structures, such as the hippocampal formation and amygdala. Within the amygdala, neurons were primarily observed in the caudal and posterior part of the deep and cortical nuclei. In the diencephalon, COX 2-ir cells were also observed in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and in the nuclei of the anteroventral region surrounding the third ventricle, including the vascular organ of the lamina terminalis. COX 2-ir neurons were also observed in the subparafascicular nucleus, the medial zona incerta, and pretectal area. In the brainstem, COX 2-ir neurons were observed in the dorsal raphe nucleus, the nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus, and in the region of the subcoeruleus. The distribution of COX 2-ir neurons in the CNS suggests that COX 2 may be involved in processing and integration of visceral and special sensory input and in elaboration of the autonomic, endocrine, and behavioral responses.