cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new MOS gate thyristor—The single-gate emitter controlled thyristor (SECT)

Abstract This article presents a new MOS gate controlled thyristor—single-gate emitter controlled thyristor (SECT). Its operation is verified by two-dimensional numerical simulations and the operation mechanisms are analyzed. Simulation results obtained on a 2500 V SECT show that the SECT has an excellent high voltage current saturation capability and much wider FBSOA and RBSOA than those of the IGBT and the DC-EST, while at the same time offering lower conduction and switching losses than those of the IGBT.
Short wave instabilities resulting from memory slip

Abstract It is shown that the equations governing the flow of an upper convected Maxwell fluid can become ill-posed if the no slip condition at the wall is replaced by a law of “memory slip” which relates the slip velocity to the history of the shear stress.
Improved Clinical Outcome for Children with T-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia After Contemporary Chemotherapy: A Children's Cancer Group Study

The prognostic importance of T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in contemporary programs of intensive chemotherapy has been controversial. We therefore assessed the impact of this biologi...
Behavioral studies following lesions of the mesolimbic and mesostriatal serotonergic pathways.

Summary The behavior of rats with selective lesions of either the dorsal (B7), median (B8), or lateral (B9) raphe nuclei was compared to that of sham-lesioned controls in a variety of experimental situations. As described previously 17 , the extent of damage to the midbrain raphe nuclei was determined by fluorescence histochemistry, and the tryptophan hydroxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase activities of 6 forebrain regions were measured for each rat. None of the lesions affected tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Lesions of B7, which reduced tryptophan hydroxylase in the striatum, thalamus, cortex, and hypothalamus, had no significant effect on any of the behavioral measures. Lesions of B9, although twice as large, neither reduced forebrain tryptophan hydroxylase significantly nor affected any of the behavioral variables. However, B8 lesions, which reduced hippocampal, septal, cortical, and hypothalamic tryptophan hydroxylase, had behavioral effects similar to those reported after combined raphe lesions or parachlorophenylalanine. Median raphe-lesioned rats were hyperactive when placed in a novel environment and throughout the dark phase of the light/dark cycle. With respect to locomotor activity, B8-lesioned rats were also hyper-responsive to amphetamine. When placed in a stabilimeter and subjected to repeated air puff stimuli, rats with B8 lesions exhibited larger startle responses. Furthermore, only B8-lesioned animals perseverated when given two unreinforced trials in a Y-maze. All these histologic, biochemical, and behavioral variables were assessed individually for all 39 animals, and a multivariate correlational analysis incorporating the data of this and the preceding paper 17 is presented here. These experiments suggest that the mesolimbic serotonergic pathway originating in B8 subserves some of the inhibition necessary to dampen behavioral responsivity.
Solitary primary amyloidosis of urinary bladder Light and electron microscopic study

Abstract A fifty four-year-old white woman with a history of episodic gross hematuria was diagnosed as having solitary primary amyloidosis of the urinary bladder involving a large segment of the dome and anterior wall. A segmental resection of the bladder was performed with good results. Electron microscopic examination of the lesion revealed evidence to indicate that amyloid in this case was produced by the fibroblasts within the lamina propria of the bladder. This mode of amyloidogenesis is identical to that noted in some of the previously published electron microscopic studies on localized amyloidosis of skin. Solitary primary amyloidosis of the urinary bladder is a rare lesion with only 46 cases having been previously reported in the literature.
Calculated electrostatic properties of ion traps

A trap for charged particles is an important tool in many important experiments in atomic physics. The electrodes in many such traps are truncated hyperboloids. Data given here allow evaluation of the effects on trap performance of some of the details of the truncation. It is shown that if the truncation of the ring and endcap electrodes is done in a ``balanced'' way the performance degradation can be small. Some specific designs are suggested and some appropriate data reported.
A framework to improve construction processes: Integrating Lean, Green and Six Sigma

The construction industry consumes a significant amount of resources annually, generates significant waste and produces a host of emissions. This study develops a framework and integrates three different approaches – Lean, Green and Six Sigma – in a systematic approach with the goal of improving the quality and environmental impacts of the construction process. A case study of pile cap installation was conducted to illustrate the application of the framework and associated results. The study highlights two issues within the pile cap construction process responsible for waste: delay and potential errors in material estimation and ordering. It describes the environmental impact arising from waste, and analyzes the root causes behind waste generation to enable improved process performance. A survey of construction professionals regarding the causal factors of waste in everyday construction activities identified ‘design changes during construction’ as responsible for 60% of waste occurrences during constructi...
Evolution of carotid endarterectomy in two community hospitals: Springfield revisited—Seventeen years and 2243 operations later

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and update the results of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in two community hospitals over a 17-year period and to determine whether there had been any reduction in the unacceptably high incidence of complications previously reported from these same two hospitals. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1981 patients who underwent 2243 CEAs from July 1976 to November 1993. Results: There were 36 operative deaths (1.6%) and 120 operative strokes (5.3%), for a combined stroke-mortality rate of 6.3%. The mortality, stroke, and combined stroke-mortality rates all decreased significantly (p Conclusions: Although overall operative complication rates in these two community hospitals have declined dramatically compared with previously reported results, they are still not optimal and probably will remain high as long as individual surgeons with high complication rates continue to perform CEAs.
Direction information in multiple object tracking is limited by a graded resource

Is multiple object tracking (MOT) limited by a fixed set of structures (slots), a limited but divisible resource, or both? Here, we answer this question by measuring the precision of the direction representation for tracked targets. The signature of a limited resource is a decrease in precision as the square root of the tracking load. The signature of fixed slots is a fixed precision. Hybrid models predict a rapid decrease to asymptotic precision. In two experiments, observers tracked moving disks and reported target motion direction by adjusting a probe arrow. We derived the precision of representation of correctly tracked targets using a mixture distribution analysis. Precision declined with target load according to the square-root law up to six targets. This finding is inconsistent with both pure and hybrid slot models. Instead, directional information in MOT appears to be limited by a continuously divisible resource.
Hydration structure of the α-chymotrypsin substrate binding pocket: the impact of constrained geometry

Abstract The concave substrate binding pocket of α-chymotrypsin binds specifically hydrophobic side chains. In order to understand the hydration structure present in the absence of substrate, and elucidate the character of the solvent displaced on binding, molecular dynamics computer simulation of the solvent in a fully hydrated protein has been carried out and analyzed. The pocket is found to be characterized in terms of a mixed polar and apolar macromolecular surface. It is shown that the simulated solvent structure within it is spatially consistent with that seen via crystallography. The solvent structure is energetically characterized by large losses in hydrogen bonding among solvent molecules except at the mouth of the pocket where exposure to bulk-like solvent is possible. The loss in hydrogen bonding is attributed to the highly constrained geometry available to the solvent, preventing formation of a hydrogen bonding network, with only partial compensation by interactions with the macromolecular surface. The solvent displacement concomitant with substrate binding will therefore be associated with a large enthalpic driving force. This result is at the extreme of a continuum of variable cases of “hydrophobic” hydration, which differ most basically in surface curvature. These range from convex solute surfaces, inducing clathrate-like structures, with negligible hydrogen bond loss, to flat surfaces with significant interfacial loss, to the present concave case with hydrogen bonding losses exceeding 50%.
Behavioural cues trigger ovarian development in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus tomentosus

Abstract After locating a small vertebrate carcass necessary for reproduction, the ovaries of female burying beetles, Nicrophorus tomentosus , undergo rapid maturation. The proximate cue which triggers this development is the behaviour of the female herself. Neither the behaviour of the male (courtship or mating) nor the nutritional benefits from the carcass serve as cues for ovarian development. This effect of behaviour on reproductive condition, similar to that which occurs in birds and reptiles, has now been demonstrated in an invertebrate.
Linear poly(propylenimine)/lithium triflate as a polymer electrolyte system

Abstract Linear poly(propylenimine) (PPI) of moderate molecular weight was synthesized by hydrolysis of poly(2-ethyl-5,6-dihydro-4-H-1,3-oxazine), obtained by cationic ring opening polymerization of 2-ethyl-5,6-dihydro-4-H-1,3-oxazine. Lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiTf):PPI polymer electrolytes were investigated using infrared spectroscopy (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and a.c. impedance measurements. Over a composition range of 3:1 to 20:1 (N:Li) PPI–LiTf electrolytes are heterogeneous depending on the salt concentration. When there is little or no salt, highly ordered crystalline PPI domains dominate. At some concentration between 0.1 mol and 0.2 mol LiTf per mole of PPI repeat units, PPI is completely transformed into a single amorphous phase. After this point, excess LiTf continues to form a single type of ionic species. The ionic association state of the LiTF in PPI does not change significantly with either temperature or LiTf concentration as indicated by the triflate CF3 symmetric deformation vibration. Conductivity measurements of PPI:LiTf systems over a composition range of 3:1 to 20:1 were performed from room temperature to 80 °C. At all temperatures, conductivities increase with salt concentration and then reach a plateau. Although the room temperature conductivities for PPI:LiTf electrolytes are fairly low ( 10− 5 S/cm at 50 °C and approximately 10− 4 S/cm at 70 °C. This behavior likely results from a combination of relatively constant speciation (charge carrier concentration) and strongly thermally activated mobility.
Emulation of floating memcapacitors and meminductors using current conveyors

Suggested are circuit realisations of emulators transforming memristive devices into effective floating memcapacitive and meminductive systems. The emulator's circuits are based on second generation current conveyors and involve either four single-output or two dual-output current conveyors. The equations governing the resulting memcapactive and meminductive systems are presented.
A Fast-Response Hybrid SIMO Power Converter with Adaptive Current Compensation and Minimized Cross-Regulation

Slow load transient response and potential cross-regulation effect are two major performance barriers for single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) power converters. To overcome these barriers, this paper presents a parallel-structured hybrid SIMO power converter with an adaptive current compensation (ACC) technique. With the employment of new and compact linear regulators, the proposed ACC technique improves both the step-up/down transient responses significantly without the needs on advanced controls or high switching frequency. The interactive duty ratio changes between sub-converters are also avoided due to the fast recovery during load transition periods. Cross-regulation effect is thus minimized. The SIMO power converter is fabricated with 0.35 μm CMOS process. The input voltage is 3 V and two output voltages are regulated at 1.8 V and 1.2 V, respectively, with a switching frequency of 500 kHz. The peak efficiency is measured at 82.8% with 102-mW load power. A 50.3-ns transient response time is achieved with 270-mW load change. No observable cross-regulation is found during load transient measurements.
Soil/landform relationships surrounding the Harappa archaeological site, Pakistan

A soil survey around the archaeological site of Harappa, Pakistan revealed alluvial deposits of five distinct ages based on relative position in the landscape and degree of soil profile development. the youngest deposit (age 1) is in the lowest landscape position and has received flood waters as recently as 1988. Soils there are in an incipient stage of development: only organic carbon and soluble salts have accumulated at the surface of the profile. the age 2 deposit has not undergone significant pedogenic change, but is in a slightly higher landscape position than the youngest deposit. Elevated concentrations of P, and the presence of sand-sized pottery and brick fragments, indicate that this deposit was derived at least partially from archaeological material. the presence of small, soft calcite nodules (Stage II) and some soluble salt translocation are the primary pedogenic changes observed in the age 3 deposit. the age 4 deposit shows evidence of both carbonate and gypsum accumulation. Presence of large gypsum nodules in deep By horizons suggests that a high groundwater table has altered these soils. the oldest deposit, age 5, forms a late Pleistocene stream terrace of the Ravi River. the soil formed in this deposit exhibits considerable carbonate accumulation, with large, dense nodules (Stage II + ) and an argillic horizon. A 14C date from pedogenic calcite gives an age of 7080 ± 90 years B.P., indicating a minimum age of early Holocene. the soil survey suggests that the ancient city of Harappa was built on an age 5 stream terrace remnant, surrounded by Holocene floodplains and a meandering channel of the Ravi River.
Fragmentation of the molecular cluster network of amorphous Ge1−xSnxSe2☆

Abstract We have examined the structure of Ge1−xSnxSe2 in the composition range 0.00 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.70 using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy. The DSC measurements show a monotonic decrease in both the glass transition and crystallization temperatures upon increasing x, while the Raman spectra, which can be separated into contributions from Ge ( Se 1 2 ) 4 and Sn ( Se 1 2 ) 4 tetrahedra, show a decrease in the energies of the tetrahedral breathing modes and a change in the relative intensities of the different tetrahedral modes as the Sn concentration is increased. To interpret these results, we have proposed a model in which the addition of Sn causes a fragmentation of the molecular cluster network of amorphous GeSe2 with the Sn atoms occupying tetrahedral sites on the edges of the molecular clusters.
Cystine improves survival rates in a LPS-induced sepsis mouse model

Summary Background & aims The control of inflammation is important for suppressing severe sepsis. Oral administration of cystine and theanine have been shown to suppress inflammatory responses due to invasion. Furthermore, the uptake of cystine into monocytes is promoted by exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the present study, the effects of cystine were examined in the context of inflammatory responses. Methods Cystine was orally administered to mice, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 in the blood and spleen and the survival rates were calculated after the administration of LPS. The effects of cystine as well as neutralising anti-IL-10 antibodies on the LPS-induced production of IL-6 and IL-10 were examined in a monocyte cell line. Results The oral administration of cystine reduced IL-6 levels in the blood and spleen after LPS stimulation and improved survival rates. The addition of cystine to monocytes suppressed LPS-induced IL-6 production but enhanced IL-10 production. A neutralising anti-IL-10 antibody eliminated the inhibitory effects of cystine on the LPS-induced production of IL-6. Conclusions The oral administration of cystine suppressed IL-6 production following LPS stimulation and improved survival rates in mice with LPS-induced sepsis. The enhanced production of IL-10 by monocytes may be involved in this anti-inflammatory response.
Enhanced electrochemistry of nanoparticle-embedded polyelectrolyte films: Interfacial electronic coupling and distance dependence

Abstract Factors affecting the electronic communication believed to be responsible for the enhanced solution electrochemistry observed at electrodes modified with hybrid polyelectrolyte–nanoparticle (PE–NP) film assemblies were systematically investigated. Specifically, the faradaic current and voltammetric peak splitting recorded for cyclic voltammetry of ferricyanide redox species (Fe(CN) 6 3−/4− ) at films constructed with various architectures of citrate-stabilized gold NPs embedded in polyelectrolyte films composed of poly- l -lysine and poly-S-styrene were used to establish the relative importance of both distance and electronic coupling. Layer-by-layer construction of PE–NP films allowed for the position and density of NPs to be varied within the film to assess electronic coupling between particles (interparticle coupling) as well as at the electrode–film interface. The cumulative results observed at these films suggest that, while distance dependence prevails in nearly every case and interparticle coupling can contribute to facilitating the Fe(CN) 6 3−/4− electrochemistry, interfacial electronic coupling of the PE–NP films is of critical importance and decoupling is easily achieved by disengaging NP–electrode interactions.
A note on visual integrative mechanisms.

In a system as complex and as effective as the eye, the cooperative interaction of different mechanisms may be taken as axiomatic. With this as a starting point, various visual phenomena are considered, such as short term memory, eye movements, and flicker fusion. Simple data on mean values lend support to the proposition that the spatial and temporal characteristics of these phenomena are matched with one another. The significance of this for a mechanism of vision is discussed.
An expressed sequence tag (EST) set from Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck whole seedlings and the implications of further perennial source investigations

Abstract Compared with the large-scale single pass cDNA sequencing entries from annual plants, the NCBI database has very little sequence information from perennial plant species. Although similar to annuals in many biochemical pathways, perennials are unique in the fact that they posses long generation times. Without short cycle reproduction as an escape mechanism, perennials have evolved alternative survival mechanisms to pathogen attack and environmental stresses. The study of these alternate strategies by way of functional genomics will greatly increase the understanding of the biochemical changes underlining stress responses in perennials. Herein we analyze a set of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) produced from a 180-day-old whole immature sweet orange citrus seedling cDNA library. From this library, 7680 cDNAs were single pass sequenced from the 5′ end, generating 6443 high quality ESTs. In the analysis, 2272 ESTs (35%) were found to significantly match ( E -value≤10 −10 ) proteins with known function in the public databases using blastx . Additionally, 1457 ESTs (23%) significantly matched proteins with unknown function and 1619 ESTs (25%) matched to proteins described as putative. The remaining 1095 ESTs (17%) failed to match with significance to any protein sequence found in the public databases. ESTs matching to the photosynthetic proteins chlorophyll A/B binding protein, plastocyanin and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase were abundant, 6.0% of the total. Interestingly, stress related proteins such as low molecular weight heat shock proteins, peroxidases, lipid transfer proteins and metallothionein-like proteins were also abundant, 3.6% of the total, suggesting a role for these genes in citrus seedling development .
Communications in Blogademia: An Assessment of Scholar Blogs’ Attributes and Functions

Traditional, peer-reviewed, and formally published communications are a staple of the scholarly record. So too are the informal communications of scholars. Blogs may be seen to represent such communications. But, are blogs scholarship? Though blogging is ongoing in academe for about a decade, there is limited empirical reporting on how blogs are perceived as both a product and process of scholarly communication. This paper reports select findings from a descriptive study of blogging scholars from the fields of history, economics, law, biology, chemistry, and physics. Findings, drawn primarily from 153 completed questionnaires, are complemented by select interview excerpts and blog analysis data. Most questionnaire respondents 80% consider their blogs as a component of their respective cumulative and persistent scholarly record, with a majority 66% agreeing that their blog satisfies the criteria for scholarship for unpublished communications. Blogging is seen to contribute to improvements across multiple aspects of respondents’ scholarly lives and leads to invitations to publish, present, serve, and collaborate. These results are of use to blogging scholars, as support for their activity; administrators and peers, to provide context for assessing the potential value of these communications; and information organizations, including libraries and archives, to inform considerations for collecting and stewarding these communications into the future.
Play in preschool classrooms: Perceptions of teachers and children

Abstract This study examined the perceptions and practices of certified preschool teachers and children regarding play. A sample of 102 Pre‐Kindergarten regular (Pre‐K regular) teachers and 61 Pre‐Kindergarten with disabilities (Pre‐K with disabilities) teachers in an urban school district were surveyed. A sub‐group of 46 teachers and 72 4‐year‐old children were interviewed. In contrast to teachers in a previous study who did not have teacher certification, the teachers in the present study believed that play supported children's learning and development and indicated that play was an integral part of their curriculum. Approximately 30% of the teachers who were interviewed said they did not allow children's rough and tumble play either because they thought it was dangerous or it would promote aggression. All of the Pre‐K with disabilities teachers and half of Pre‐K regular teachers said they provided support for play of children with disabilities in their classes. Their reported support focused more on co...
DNA polymerase versus DNA binding to the anticancer drug, cis-platin

The activity of the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase-I was inhibited in the presence of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) at neutral pH in 5 mM chloride. Pre-incubations of cis-DDP with the polymerase and DNA revealed that the inhibition is primarily due to irreversible binding of the platinum complex to the enzyme. To understand the chemistry behind the inhibition, reactions of a model peptide, ERFKCPCPT and nucleotide, 5%-GMP with cis-DDP in mixtures were examined. The peptide, was selected from the DNA binding domain of human DNA polymerase-a while the mono-nucleotide serves as a model for the DNA binding. Reactions of cis-DDP with a mixture of the peptide and 5%-GMP at various concentrations ranging from equimolar to excess of nucleotide over the peptide revealed that the nucleotide can not effectively compete with the peptide. An appreciable nucleotide coordination was observed only when the nucleotide concentrations were exceeded by fourfold. At pH 6.5, the peptide complexation proceeds through the formation of an intermediate through a second order process (k 0.2 M 1 s 1 ) due to direct reaction between the starting dichloro-complex as well as through the aquated complex (k\ 10 M 1 s 1 ). Platinum-195 NMR revealed that the product contains a coordination environment composed of two nitrogen and two sulfur donors consistent with the formulation that both cysteines are coordinated to and ammine ligands are retained by the metal center. Platinum(II) also readily replaced Zn(II) from the Zn-peptide complex, the latter metal ion is known to coordinate with four cysteine residues in the human DNA polymerase-a. Furthermore, the kinetics of reactions of cis-DDP and its hydrolyzed products with GpG and ApG were investigated and compared with that of peptide binding. These two dinucleotides represent the abundant binding sites in DNA reaction selected as model nucleotides. The reactions of the dichloro-platinum(II) complex with nucleotides, on the other hand, were largely controlled by the rate of aquations. The rate of first aquation process, k 1.39 0.1 10 4 s 1 evaluated from the kinetic profiles was invariant regardless of the ligands used. However, the second aquation rate constants lie in the narrow range 3‐610 5 s 1 , with GpG being favored over ApG. © 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
Ethics and information technology: Some principles to guide students

Abstract Traditionally, librarians were the steward and guardian of information. Today, the role is changing and librarians must also be the steward and guardian of the ethical use of information technology. This article looks at the ethical challenges of information technology, considers principles to guide students, and discusses the ways that librarians might respond.
Structure of the 1,N2-Etheno-2′-deoxyguanosine Adduct in Duplex DNA at pH 8.6

The structure of the 1,N2-etheno-2′-deoxyguanosine (1,N2-edG) adduct, arising from the reaction of vinyl chloride with dG, was determined in the oligonucleotide duplex 5′-d(CGCATXGAATCC)-3′·5′-d(GGATTCCATGCG)-3′ (X = 1,N2-edG) at pH 8.6 using high resolution NMR spectroscopy. The exocyclic lesion prevented Watson–Crick base-pairing capability at the adduct site and resulted in an ∼17 °C decrease in Tm of the oligodeoxynucleotide duplex. At neutral pH, conformational exchange resulted in spectral line broadening near the adducted site, and it was not possible to determine the structure. However, at pH 8.6, it was possible to obtain well-resolved 1H NMR spectra. This enabled a total of 385 NOE-based distance restraints to be obtained, consisting of 245 intra- and 140 inter-nucleotide distances. The 31P NMR spectra exhibited two downfield-shifted resonances, suggesting a localized perturbation of the DNA backbone. The two downfield 31P resonances were assigned to G7 and C19. The solution structure was refine...
Directed synthesis of mixed metal chalcogenide clusters: oxidative additions of Fe2 μ2-E2)(CO)6 (E = S, Se, Te)

Abstract The reaction of Fe2(μ2-E2)(CO)6 with M(PPh3)2 (C2H4) affords quantitative yields of (CO)6Fe2 (μ3-E)2 M(PPh3)2 (E = S, Se, Te; M = Pt, Pd), which were characterized by analytical data, molecular weight measurements, IR, and heteronuclear NMR.
Gas exchange and carbon isotope composition of Ananas comosus in response to elevated CO2 and temperature

Ananas comosus L. (Merr.) (pineapple) was grown at three day/night temperatures and 350 (ambient) and 700 (elevated) μmol mol -1 CO 2 to examine the interactive effects of these factors on leaf gas exchange and stable carbon isotope discrimination (Δ,‰). All data were collected on the youngest mature leaf for 24 h every 6 weeks. CO 2 uptake (mmol m -2 d -1 ) at ambient and elevated CO 2 , respectively, were 306 and 352 at 30/20 °C, 175 and 346 at 30/25 °C and 187 and 343 at 35/25 °C. CO 2 enrichment enhanced CO 2 uptake substantially in the day in all environments. Uptake at night at elevated CO 2 , relative to that at ambient CO 2 , was unchanged at 30/20 °C, but was 80% higher at 30/25 °C and 44% higher at 35/25 °C suggesting that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase was not CO 2 -saturated at ambient CO 2 levels and a 25 °C night temperature. Photosynthetic water use efficiency (WUE) was higher at elevated than at ambient CO 2 . Leaf -values were higher at elevated than at ambient CO 2 due to relatively higher assimilation in the light. Leaf Δ was significantly and linearly related to the fraction of total CO 2 assimilated at night. The data suggest that a simultaneous increase in CO 2 level and temperature associated with global warming would enhance carbon assimilation, increase WUE, and reduce the temperature dependence of CO 2 uptake by A. comosus.
Self-directed processing of materials

Abstract A self-directed process control schema is described as a taxonomy of six methods, enabling accurate process modeling and control compensation for the effective attenuation of variability, disorder, and disturbance dynamics over a wide range of applications in materials processing. These methods define the integration of material property modeling, subprocess parameter processing influences, in situ feedback and ex situ feedforward control, apparatus modeled-error quality baseline, and online process discovery for self-directed improvement. Implementation of these methods is demonstrated with a fiber coating chemical vapor deposition process for ceramic matrix composites.
Formation of a DNA Loop at the Replication Fork Generated by Bacteriophage T7 Replication Proteins

Intermediates in the replication of circular and linear M13 double-stranded DNA by bacteriophage T7 proteins have been examined by electron microscopy. Synthesis generated double-stranded DNA molecules containing a single replication fork with a linear duplex tail. A complex presumably consisting of T7 DNA polymerase and gene 4 helicase/primase molecules was present at the fork together with a variable amount of single-stranded DNA sequestered by gene 2.5 single-stranded DNA binding protein. Analysis of the length distribution of Okazaki fragments formed at different helicase/primase concentrations was consistent with coupling of leading and lagging strand replication. Fifteen to forty percent of the templates engaged in replication have a DNA loop at the replication fork. The loops are fully double-stranded with an average length of ∼1 kilobase. Labeling with biotinylated dCTP showed that the loops consist of newly synthesized DNA, and synchronization experiments using a linear template with a G-less cassette demonstrated that the loops are formed by active displacement of the lagging strand. A long standing feature of models for coupled leading/lagging strand replication has been the presence of a DNA loop at the replication fork. This study provides the first direct demonstration of such loops.
Parental Management of Childhood Diarrhea

The objective was to determine the prevalence of therapies used by parents to manage acute diarrhea in their children and determine extent of parental adherence to current management guidelines and utilization of functional foods. Parents (N = 623) of children with diarrhea were surveyed in a tertiary care pediatric emergency department. Most (53%) treated their child's diarrhea with appropriate fluids, including oral rehydration solution (52%), but 14% used treatments not recommended in current guidelines (antidiarrheals, 8%; fluids high in simple sugars, 6%). In addition, 13% used functional foods (yogurt, 11%; probiotics, 4%). Children whose parents did not adhere to guidelines were older (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.02 years) and Hispanic (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1-3.9). Although most parents use appropriate fluids to treat their children's diarrhea, functional foods and antidiarrheal medications were also frequently administered. Further data on effectiveness of functional foods and education regarding avoidance...
Modeling Carbon Nanotube Sensors

Carbon nanotube sensors are modeled and their design space analyzed. It is found that semiconducting nanotubes are almost always preferred over metallic nanotubes, intrinsic nanotubes maximize sensor performance, while minimizing static power consumption, and higher biasing points maximize dynamic range, while improving sensitivity. Insights into design of nanoscale sensors for optimal performance are provided, and it is shown that single-molecule analyte detection can be readily achieved with 1 nm diameter nanotubes up to 30 mum in length.
Scale-dependent influences on water quality, habitat, and fish communities in streams of the Kalamazoo River Basin, Michigan (USA)

In 2002, we investigated regional versus local influences of 22 streams in the Kalamazoo River basin, MI (USA) to: 1) determine how stream water quality, habitat, and fish communities were influenced by environmental variables at multiple spatial scales, and 2) examine linkages among watershed, riparian corridor (total and local stream corridors), and instream characteristics. Our data show that environmental patterns and processes operating at different spatial scales regulated stream water quality, habitat, and fish communities in Michigan streams. Broader spatial scales, including the watershed and total stream corridor (100-m riparian buffer extending the entire stream length upstream of the site), were the best predictors of water quality (R 2 = 0.26–0.74), whereas the local stream corridor (50-m riparian buffer extending 200 m upstream of the site) was the best predictor of stream habitat (R 2 = 0.23–0.59). Fish community structure was explained by various factors operating at both the watershed and local scales (R 2 = 0.24–0.61). Anthropogenic factors (e.g., land use) had a greater influence on fish species composition (46% of the explained variation) than did natural environmental features (e.g., geology; 16%) or spatial variables (e.g., latitude, 13%). Understanding how environmental factors constrain stream ecosystem structure at multiple scales will help water resource specialists target appropriate scales and factors for management and restoration efforts.
Standard ML-NJ weak polymorphism and imperative constructs

Standard ML of New Jersey (SML-NJ) uses weak-type variables to restrict the polymorphic use of functions that may allocate reference cells, manipulate continuations, or use exceptions. However, the type system used in the SML-NJ compiler has not been presented in a form other than source code and has not been proved correct. A type system, in the form of typing rules and an equivalent algorithm, that appears to subsume the implemented algorithm is presented. Both use type variables of only a slightly more general nature than the compiler. One insight in the analysis is that the indexed type of a free variable is used in two ways, once in describing the applicative behavior of the variable itself and once in describing the larger term containing the variable. Taking this into account, an application rule that is more general than SML-NJ is formulated for applications of polymorphic functions to imperative arguments. The soundness of the type system is proved for imperative code using operational semantics. >
Adsorption of tetraphenylphosphonium chloride at the mercury-water interface

Abstract Interfacial tersion measurements of mercury in contact with aqueous solutions of tetraphenylphosphonium chloride indicate the existence, at negative rational potentials, of an ordered monolayer of tetraphenylphosphonium ions, either as such or as its neutral salt. The analysis clearly illustrates the limits to the molecular information obtainable from electrical measurements.
Non-linear propagation of general directional spherical waves

Abstract The method of renormalization is used to determine a uniformly valid expansion for the problem of non-linear waves produced in a fluid by the general harmonic pulsations of a sphere. For a uniform expansion, only the radial distance needs to be strained. The effect of dimensionless quantities upon the shock-formation distance is examined.
Autism Spectrum Disorders in Early Childhood: An Overview for Practicing Physicians

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect approximately 1 in 166 children in the United States, making it likely for the average physician to encounter patients with ASDs in his or her practice. In particular, pediatricians and developmental neurologists play a critical role in early identification, resource referrals, and management of a variety of comorbid physical and medical concerns. This article reviews the current literature on ASDs and provides recommendations for practice in areas critical to the provision of medical services.
Green laser source based on frequency doubling of semiconductor laser in folded external cavity

Design and experimental testing results are presented for frequency doubled green laser source using diode laser pump in folded external cavity with bulk diffraction grating mirror used both for adaptive cavity alignment and wavelength selection.
Law, Public Policy, and Industrialization in the California Fisheries, 1900–1925

Fisheries are paradigmatic of renewable resources because of their ecological delicacy, their vulnerability to the indirect effects of economic activity, and, above all, their nonexclusive or “common-property” nature. In this article, Professor McEvoy shows how the California fishing industry, drawing upon some of the most fertile renewable resources in the world, underwent massive, thoroughgoing modernization in the first quarter of this century, triggered by the mechanization of fishing and the coincident opening of worldwide markets to local fish processors. Public agencies charged with the oversight of the industry and the conservation of fishery resources made valiant efforts to keep pace with new problems thrust upon them by the sudden industrialization of fishing. Their failure to do so effectively illustrates in stark relief the nature of twentieth-century problems in the management of wildlife, air, water, and other shared resources in a competitive economy.
Retrospective correction of intensity inhomogeneities in MRI

Medical imaging data sets are often corrupted by multiplicative inhomogeneities, often referred to as nonuniformities or intensity variations, that hamper the use of quantitative analyses. The authors describe an automatic technique that not only improves the worst situations, such as those encountered with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) surface coils, but also corrects typical inhomogeneities encountered in routine volume data sets, such as MRI head scans, without generating additional artifact. Because the technique uses only the patient data set, the technique can be applied retrospectively to all data sets, and corrects both patient independent effects, such as rf coil design, and patient dependent effects, such as attenuation of overlying tissue experienced both in high field MRI and X-ray computed tomography (CT). The authors show results for several MRI imaging situations including thorax, head, and breast. Following such corrections, region of interest analyses, volume histograms, and thresholding techniques are more meaningful. The value of such correction algorithms may increase dramatically with increased use of high field strength magnets and associated patient-dependent rf attenuation in overlying tissues. >
Optimal design-space exploration of streaming applications

Many embedded and scientific applications are pipelined (i.e., streaming) and deployed on application-specific systems. Typically, there are several design parameters in the algorithms and architectures used that impact the tradeoff between different metrics of application performance as well as resource utilization. Efficient automatic exploration of this design space is the goal of our research. We present a global optimization framework comprising a domain-specific variation of branch-and-bound that reduces search complexity by exploiting the topology of the application's pipelining. We exploit the topological information to discover decomposability through the canonical Jordan block form. The reduction in search complexity for four real-world streaming applications (drawn from the literature) is significant, ranging from a million-fold reduction in search space size to a reduction factor of 10 billion. All four optimization problems are thereby solvable in reasonable time.
High fidelity methods and physics for UAV flow regimes

Planned Air Force Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) will be limited by highly nonlinear flow regimes, so an advanced simulation capability has been applied to this class of problems. The proposed paper will document several large-scale computational studies and efforts to validate and to extend the solver capability.
Neurofunctional Approach to Improve Self-care Skills in Adults with Brain Damage

This article described the roles of the occupational therapist in developing self-care interventions for adults with brain damage and behavioral involvement. Interventions were based on the neurofunctional model suggested by Giles and Clark-Wilson (1993). Interventions incorporated psycho-social, cognitive, and functional training, and a total learning environment unique to occupational therapy. The treatment goals were to help the adults with brain damage learn, adjust and/or readapt so that they could function in their discharge environments with minimal supervision. Two case studies are used to illustrate the application of this model.
The Multiphasic Environmental Assessment Procedure

Congregate settings for older people have evolved in a somewhat haphazard manner to meet a variety of perceived needs. Among these are the need for physical security and social contact for isolated older people, the need for personal care for those whose ability to care for themselves has declined, and the need for medical care for those with chronic physical or mental disabilities. Through such programs as Medicare and Medicaid legislation and the Federal Housing Acts, society has moved to take some responsibility for addressing these needs. This move has been accompanied by growing concern about regulating and improving conditions in these settings, studying their impact on residents, and planning better-quality housing for the future.
Endocrinology: Stimulation of ovarian adenylyl cyclase activity by gonadotrophins during the natural and gonadotrophin-induced cycles in the hamster

In this study we utilized the hamster ovary as a model to investigate the effects of ovulation induction with gonadotrophin on the activation of the signal transducer effector system, adenylyl cyclase (AC). For this purpose, we prepared membrane particles from the ovary and analysed both gonadotrophin-sensitive AC and non-receptor-mediated activation during a cycle in which ovulation and luteinization were achieved by pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG)/human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration. Results were directly compared with AC activation in similarly prepared membranes obtained at different stages of the natural unstimulated cycle. AC activity was quantified by the direct conversion of ATP substrate into cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Measurements of ovarian weights, serum oestradiol and progesterone concentrations provided a solid base from which to evaluate the functional status of the ovary at each time period during the natural and stimulated cycles. We found that ovarian membranes contain functional components of the AC system and demonstrated that AC is highly dependent on hormonal changes and the functional state of the ovary. Thus, during the natural cycle, ovarian AC showed relatively constant responsiveness to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) throughout the cycle, whereas responsiveness to luteinizing hormone (LH)/HCG reached its peak during the luteal phase. On the other hand, during the stimulated cycle, sensitivity to FSH and LH/HCG varied considerably, being absent during the peri-ovulatory period. AC responsiveness to gonadotrophins was only regained 48 h after ovulation. Also during the peri-ovulatory period of the gonadotrophin-induced cycle, stimulation of ovarian AC with non-hormonal activators declines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Infant and maternal risk factors related to necrotising enterocolitis-associated infant death in the United States

Aim To evaluate necrotising enterocolitis (NEC)-associated infant death and identify risk factors related to NEC infant death in the United States. Methods The United States Period Linked Birth/Infant Death data for 2010–2013 were utilised to determine risk factors associated with NEC infant death. Infant mortality rates (IMRs) were calculated and a retrospective matched case–control analysis was performed. An infant case was defined as having the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code for NEC listed on the death record. Controls were matched on birthweight and randomly selected. Conditional multivariable logistic regression models stratified by birthweight were conducted to determine risk factors for NEC infant death. Results The average annual NEC IMR was 12.5 deaths per 100 000 live births and was higher among very low birthweight (VLBW) compared to normal birthweight infants and among black compared to white infants. For VLBW infants, the multivariable analysis identified male sex, five-minute Apgar score of less than 7, and white infants born to a mother who is less than or equal to 19 years of age to be related with NEC-associated infant death. Conclusion Paediatricians should be aware of the factors related to NEC-associated infant death to reduce the number of infants at greatest risk for NEC and focus on racial disparities.
Improved cardiopulmonary status after a two-month program of graded arm exercise in a patient with C6 quadriplegia. A case report.

During recent years, increasing attention has been placed on the role of physical training in cardiopulmonary health. Paffenbarger and Hale report that individuals with high levels of endurance training tend to have a lower prevalence of, and mortality from, coronary artery disease.1 Arm-conditioning exercises have been shown to result in increased oxygen uptake, decreased heart rates at submaximal work loads, and increased physical work capacity.2, 3 In spite of such documentation of the benefits of endurance training and of the harmful effects of inactivity, too few spinal cord rehabilitation centers make a concerted effort to rehabilitate the cardiopulmonary system. A review of the literature, of many physical therapy curricula, and of three major spinal cord rehabilitation centers in this country reveals that endurance training for the purpose of improving cardiopulmonary health in nonambulatory patients is an area neglected in rehabilitation programs.…