cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lenticular meridional astigmatism secondary to iris mesectodermal leiomyoma

A 61-year-old African American man presented with decreased vision of 2 months duration. Examination revealed a significant lenticular astigmatism and sectoral cataract as a result of an amelanotic iris lesion. Slitlamp optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed angle crowding. An excisional biopsy was performed along with phacoemulsification in the right eye, with intraocular lens implantation for meridional lenticular astigmatism. Histopathology and histoimmunochemistry confirmed a diagnosis of uveal mesectodermal leiomyoma. Lenticular astigmatism may be a subtle sign of an anterior segment tumor. Anterior segment slitlamp OCT is an effective tool in diagnosing as well as monitoring small interval changes in these types of tumors.
Realities of Biomedical Product Liability Suits and the Role of Junk Science: From Breast Implants to TASER Weapons

In the summer of 2006, manufacturers of a simple respirator mask costing US$1 told the U.S. Congress that Americans would find a shortage of these masks if there was another flu pandemic. The reason for this was that suing the makers of these dust masks became a major business for trial lawyers. By 2006, there had been more than 326,000 lawsuits filed. It has been reported in many cases that the law firms worked with cooperative physicians and contracted with X-ray labs to screen individuals for lung problems. If an individual had an abnormal lung X-ray and claimed that they had used a certain brand of respirator and the manufacturer was still in business and had economic resourcesa lawsuit was filed. Some manufacturers went out of business while others simply stopped making the masks.
Molecular underpinnings of centromere identity and maintenance

Centromeres direct faithful chromosome inheritance at cell division but are not defined by a conserved DNA sequence. Instead, a specialized form of chromatin containing the histone H3 variant, CENP-A, epigenetically specifies centromere location. We discuss current models where CENP-A serves as the marker for the centromere during the entire cell cycle in addition to generating the foundational chromatin for the kinetochore in mitosis. Recent elegant experiments have indicated that engineered arrays of CENP-A-containing nucleosomes are sufficient to serve as the site of kinetochore formation and for seeding centromeric chromatin that self-propagates through cell generations. Finally, recent structural and dynamic studies of CENP-A-containing histone complexes - before and after assembly into nucleosomes - provide models to explain underlying molecular mechanisms at the centromere.
Spectrally constrained chromophore and scattering near-infrared tomography provides quantitative and robust reconstruction

A multispectral direct chromophore and scattering reconstruction technique has been implemented for near-infrared frequency-domain tomography in recovering images of total hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, water, and scatter parameters. The method applies the spectral constraint of the chromophores and scattering spectra directly in the reconstruction algorithm, thereby reducing the parameter space of the inversion process. This new method was validated by use of simulated and experimental data, and results show better robustness and stability in the presence of higher levels of noise. The method suppresses artifacts, especially those significant in water and scatter power images, and reduces cross talk between chromophore and scatter parameters. Variation in scattering was followed by this spectral approach successfully in experimental data from 90-mm-diameter cylindrical phantoms, and results show linear variation in scatter amplitude and reduced scattering coefficient (μs′), with total hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, and water remaining constant and quantitatively accurate. Similar experiments were carried out for varying oxygen saturation and total hemoglobin. Accurate quantification was obtained with a mean error of 7.7% for oxygen saturation and 6.2% for total hemoglobin, with minimal cross talk between different parameters.
Energy recovery in the Los Alamos free electron laser

Abstract Experiments to demonstrate recovery in conjunction with the Los Alamos free electron laser are reported in this paper. Deceleration of the electron beam greater than 70% has been observed. Beam transport through the system down to 3.5 MeV has been obtained and power flow measurements have been made that demonstrate the conversion of beam energy back into rf power. The resonant bridge couplers appear to function as designed. Predicted instabilities in the beam transport system have been observed.
Permeability Measurements of Porous Food Materials

Permeability of air through porous pre-gelatinized flour dough was measured as a function of porosity (0.10–0.60), moisture content (15–50%, wet basis), and fat content (0–6%). At free stream velocities <2 cm/sec, flow rate and pressure drop followed Darcy's law for flow through porous media. Permeability values ranged from 0.02 darcies at 0.10 porosity to about 23 darcies at 0.60 porosity. Permeability of dough does not follow the Kozeny model for granular materials, possibly due to differences in tortuosity between dough and granular materials. Moisture content <50% and fat content to 6% did not directly affect permeability.
Why would we care about privacy

(2014). Why would we care about privacy? European Journal of Information Systems: Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 97-102.
Benchmarking trust signals in supply chain alliances: moving toward a robust measure of trust

Purpose – Trust is a vital ingredient in modern supply chain (SC) alliances. Yet, most measures of trust are rather simplistic. This paper aims to review the trust literature to identify the different facets of SC trust. A multi‐faceted measure of trust is then developed and used to benchmark the extent to which trust signals are used in alliance management.Design/methodology/approach – Multi‐method: 50 preliminary interviews were conducted and 189 surveys were collected.Findings – Benchmarking buyers' trust‐building strategies reveals that most companies lack the know‐how and ability to develop high levels of trust. Most companies have implemented strategies to signal their performance capability, leading to a level of transactional trust. However, few companies have recognized the need to signal to their SC partners their commitment to the relationship – leaving them without the ability to establish the trust levels needed to drive breakthrough collaboration.Originality/value – The paper introduces the ...
Is cigarette smoking an effect modifier of the relation between antihypertensive therapy and blood lipids

We examined the relation between current use of antihypertensive medications and lipid levels in relation to smoking status. We used data from cross-sectional random sample surveys conducted between 1981 and 1993 in two southeastern New England communities. The analysis included 3,027 normotensive, 1,416 untreated hypertensive, and 1,174 treated hypertensive survey respondents between 40 and 64 years of age. After adjustment for body mass index, diabetes mellitus, alcohol use, use of medications with adverse lipid effects, age, and sex, the estimated mean high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol level among hypertensives using beta-blockers [44.6 mg per dl; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 43.1–46.1] was lower than that for either untreated hypertensives (48.5 mg per dl; 95% CI = 47.8–49.2) or normotensives (47.1 mg per dl; 95% CI = 46.6–47.6). This pattern was similar among smokers and nonsmokers. Smokers treated with beta-blockers, however, had particularly low levels of high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (43.4 mg per dl; 95% CI = 40.7–46.1), compared with nonsmokers using beta-blockers (45.8 mg per dl; 95% CI = 44.2–47.3). Low levels of high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol may increase the risk of coronary heart disease among smokers using beta-blockers.
Sequential Circuit Design in Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata

In this work we present a novel probabilistic modeling scheme for sequential circuit design in quantum-dot cellular automata(QCA) technology. Clocked QCA circuits possess an inherent direction for flow of information which can be effectively modeled using Bayesian networks (BN). In sequential circuit design this presents a problem due to the presence of feedback cycles since BN are direct acyclic graphs (DAG). The model presented in this work can be constructed from a logic design layout in QCA and is shown to be a dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN). DBN are very powerful in modeling higher order spatial and temporal correlations that are present in most of the sequential circuits. The attractive feature of this graphical probabilistic model is that that it not only makes the dependency relationships amongst node explicit, but it also serves as a computational mechanism for probabilistic inference. We analyze our work by modeling clocked QCA circuits for SR F/F, JK F/F and RAM designs.
As good as it gets? Sensitivity and specificity of death certificates for diabetes: The Rancho Bernardo

Purpose Diabetes, reported as the sixth major cause of death in the US, may be an underestimate, as it is often under-reported on the death certificate. This study examines the change over time in accurate reporting and death certificate sensitivity and specificity of diabetes. Methods Death certificates for 3209 decedents from the Rancho Bernardo cohort were obtained. Decedents were aged 30 and older at enrollment (1972–74); mortality data was available through 2003. True diabetes status was based on history obtained at periodic clinic visits and mailed questionnaires during follow up. Diabetes listed as cause of death or reported anywhere on death certificates was abstracted. Sensitivity and specificity were stratified by sex, age at death, year, place, and cause of death, and medication use among diabetic participants; characteristics that contributed to reporting diabetes were analyzed in univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results There were 378 decedents with diabetes, of whom 168 had diabetes listed anywhere on the death certificates. Thus the sensitivity and specificity of diabetes reporting anywhere on the death certificate were 34.7% and 98.1% respectively. Death certificates for those with diabetes listed cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the cause of death more often than did death certificates for those without diabetes (p Conclusion This study showed no overall improvement in diabetes reporting on death certificates. Reporting improved in recent years (1992–2003) for those whose death certificates indicated CVD as cause of death, likely reflecting the recent interest in diabetes as a major CVD risk factor.
Reply by Author to P. S. Kamat

K Comment concerning a minor part of the author's Engineering Note is misdirected. The algorithm given by the author for the computation of GDOP is meant for use in the selection an optimum GPS configuration among many possible ones. An indiscriminate use of Kamat's Eq. (3) for this situation would be much less efficient than the author's Eq. (10). It should also be pointed out that Kamat's Eq. (3) is equivalent to the Cramer's rule in computing the diagonal elements of the matrix inverse, and may not even be the most efficient in the computation of a single GDOP. In the preparation of his Comment, the very least he could have done was to compare the operations counts of his algorithm versus other efficient methods.
Development of a Carbon Nanotube-Based Nanoactuator for a Nano-Conveyer System

Multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT)-based bimorph nanoactuators were synthesized and characterized. A thin metal film was deposited on the sidewall of MWNTs using a pulsed laser deposition method to form a bimorph nanostructure. The preliminary actuation was demonstrated using a fabricated bimorph MWNT. Thermal bending performance of the nanoactuator on a thermal stage will be further investigated by using a scanning electron microscope.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
An information-theoretic based model for large-scale contextual text processing

We propose a supervised systematic approach for knowledge extraction from verylarge sets of full texts, such as those retrieved by search engines over the world wide web. The proposed model is entirely data-driven and relies only on the actual content of the texts in the selected corpus. We suggest that the relative distance of terms within a text gives sufficient information about its structure and its relevant content, therefore serving as a good candidate to represent effectively the text content for knowledge elicitation tasks. We qualitatively demonstrate that a useful text structure and content can be systematically extracted by collocational lexical analysis without the need to encode any supplemental sources of knowledge. We present an algorithm that systematically recognizes the most relevant facts in the texts and labels them by their overall theme, dictated by local contextual information. It exploits domain independent lexical frequencies and mutual information measures to find the relevant contextual units in the texts. We report results from experiments in a real-world textual database of psychiatric evaluation reports.
Molecular dynamics in solid L-adrenaline by proton NMR.

Abstract Proton NMR measurements of the spectrum, second moment, spin-lattice relaxation time T 1 and dipolar relaxation time T 1D were carried out on polycrystalline l -adrenaline at 14 and 25 MHz between 55 and 400 K. Between 70 K and 250 K relaxation is dominated by C 3 reorientation of the single methyl group in each molecule, characterized by an activation energy 8.3±0.3 kJ/mole. Below 70 K tunnelling assisted relaxation is significant, characterized by an excitation energy of 1.9±0.2 kJ/mole. Above 250 K an additional molecular motion becomes significant, with activation energy above 28 kJ/mole, attributed to conformational motion of the methylene group in the ethylamine side chain.
Vitamin B12 and Choline in Corn-Soy Rations for Starting Poults,

Abstract SINCE crystalline vitamin B12 became available (Rickes et al., 1948), it has been used extensively in all-plant-protein rations for both chickens and turkeys. It is well established that chicks require a dietary source of B12 (Davis and Briggs, 1951; Swenson, 1951; and Ott, 1951). Various workers have published evidence relating to the essentiality of a dietary source of B12 in the ration of turkey poults, among them McGinnis et al. (1949), Singsen and Matterson (1950), Combs and Shaffner (1950), Stokstad and Jukes (1950), Atkinson and Couch (1950), Patrick (1951) and Almquist and Merrit (1951). These workers have all reported little or no response from the feeding of vitamin B12 to turkeys. Branion and Hill (1951) reported a slight increase in growth as a result of adding B12 to the ration of poults, and quoted earlier work in the same laboratory by Slinger (1950) in which a greater response from vitamin …
Tissue microenvironment and the genetic control of hair pigment patterns in mice

This study was conducted to assess microenvironmental variability within integumental tissue of genetically identical mice with respect to a specific cellular response: cyclic synthesis of yellow and black pigment by hair bulb melanocytes. Crosses were performed within and between inbred strains of mice that were isogenic with the exception of a single gene substitution at the agouti locus. Agouti locus genes included the Avy, Aw, A, atd, at, ax, am, and a alleles. The pigment patterns of dorsal, flank, and ventral hairs of the first and third hair generations and of hairs growing in special integumentary areas such as the pinna, tail, and hind foot were studied. It was found that the amount of yellow pigment synthesized by hair bulb melanocytes within genetically identical mice is both agedependent and conditioned by the integumentary environment. Furthermore, the special integumentary regions produce hairs with a variety of pigment patterns in which the distribution and relative amounts of black and yellow pigments do not necessarily conform to dominance relationships expected among agouti locus alleles as judged by their effects on the pigmentation of the dorsal pelage. We conclude that within genetically uniform integumental tissues, microenvironmental differences occur and are reflected as alterations in the metabolic pattern of differentiated cells.
Admission control by implicit signaling in support of voice over IP over ADSL

Voice over DSL (VoDSL) is a technology that enables the transport of data and multiple voice calls over a single copper-pair. Voice over ATM (VoATM) and Voice over IP (VoIP) are the two main alternatives for carrying voice over DSL. ATM is currently the preferred technology, since it offers the advantage of ATM's built-in Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms. IP QoS mechanisms have been maturing only in recent years. However, if VoIP can achieve comparable performance to that of VoATM in the access networks, it would facilitate end-to-end IP telephony and could result in major cost savings. In this paper, we propose a VoIP-based VoDSL architecture that provides QoS guarantees comparable to those offered by ATM in the DSL access network. Our QoS architecture supports Premium and Regular service categories for voice traffic and the Best-Effort service category for data traffic. The Weighted Fair Queuing algorithm is used to schedule voice and data packets for transmission over the bottleneck link. Fragmentation of large data packets reduces the waiting time for voice packets in the link. We also propose a new admission control mechanism called Admission Control by Implicit Signaling. This mechanism takes advantage of application layer signaling by mapping it to the IP header. We evaluate the performance of our QoS architecture by means of a simulation study. Our results show that our VoIP architecture can provide QoS comparable to that provided by the VoATM architecture.
Thermal and rheological properties of Lupinus albus flour

The thermal and rheological properties of lupin flour were investigated by DSC and rheometry. DSC study showed that whole and defatted lupin meal had identical thermal properties, and lupin had the same glass transition as the wheat protein gluten. By measuring the linear rheological properties of a series of concentrations of defatted lupin suspensions, we found that defatted lupin suspensions exhibited strong viscoelastic solid properties, which were to some extent similar to those of gluten. Both storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli increased dramatically over a narrow range of lupin concentrations. The linear range of the rheological properties of lupin was very small. The stress relaxation studies showed that the lupin suspensions did not relax a decade within a thousand seconds, indicating that the molecules of lupin have strong physical interactions. This research offered new insight into physical properties of lupin and will be useful for further studies on applications for lupin.
Parotid metastasis from adrenal neuroblastoma

Neuroblastomas are the most common extracranial solid malignancy in children. In contrast, salivary gland tumors are uncommon in children, accounting for only 1% of all pediatric neoplasms. Parotid metastases are rare; only two cases of parotid metastases from neuroblastomas have been reported with an emphasis on the pathology. We present a case of a parotid metastasis from a neuroblastoma with in-depth description and discussion of its ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances.
A test of interlingual interaction in comprehension by bilinguals

This study tested bilingual subjects' interaction of knowledge of both languages in comprehension. Spanish-English bilinguals and English monolinguals heard 36 sentences, all spoken in English. Twelve were normal English sentences, 12 contained Spanish word order, and 12 contained word-for-word translations of Spanish idioms. The dependent measure was performance on a phoneme-monitoring task; subjects pressed a button when they heard a particular phoneme within each sentence. Immediately following each sentence, subjects wrote down as much of that sentence as they could recall. Results showed that bilingual subjects pressed the button equally quickly for all sentences, but monolinguals were faster for control sentences than for idiom-translations, which was interpreted to mean that a knowledge of Spanish helped the bilinguals in processing the test items semantically.
The reflexive nexus: Photo‐practice and natural history 1

(1993). The reflexive nexus: Photo‐practice and natural history. Continuum: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 25-52.
Conformal anomaly as a source of soft photons in heavy ion collisions

We introduce a novel photon production mechanism stemming from the conformal anomaly of QCD×QED and the existence of strong (electro)magnetic fields in heavy ion collisions. Using the hydrodynamical description of the bulk modes of QCD plasma, we show that this mechanism leads to the photon production yield that is comparable to the yield from conventional sources. This mechanism also provides a significant positive contribution to the azimuthal anisotropy of photons, v(2), as well as to the radial "flow." We compare our results to the data from the PHENIX Collaboration.
Multiple ionization of rare gas clusters. Theoretical treatment

Abstract A simple model is suggested to treat small multiply charged Rg z + n clusters. In this mode, the ionic charges are assumed to be located either on atomic ions or on ionic Rg + 2 dimers. The model is used to calculate the double and triple ionization potentials of Ar n and Xe n clusters. Interatomic potentials in multiply charged clusters are presented in analytical form.
The Where and When of “What If”

In this issue of Neuron, Fischer and Ullsperger (2013) demonstrate that EEG signatures of real and fictive learning differ early in processing, but the latent information in each event converges at the temporospatial nexus commonly associated with the P3b component.
The Transcriptional and DNA Binding Activity of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor α Is Inhibited by Ethanol Metabolism A NOVEL MECHANISM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ETHANOL-INDUCED FATTY LIVER

Fatty acids are ligands for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha). Fatty acid levels are increased in liver during the metabolism of ethanol and might be expected to activate PPAR alpha. However, ethanol inhibited PPAR alpha activation of a reporter gene in H4IIEC3 hepatoma cells expressing alcohol-metabolizing enzymes but not in CV-1 cells, which lack these enzymes. Ethanol also reduced the ability of the PPAR alpha ligand WY14,643 to activate reporter constructs in the hepatoma cells or cultured rat hepatocytes. This effect of ethanol was abolished by the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole and augmented by the aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor cyanamide, indicating that acetaldehyde was responsible for the action of ethanol. PPAR alpha/retinoid X receptor extracted from hepatoma cells exposed to ethanol or acetaldehyde bound poorly to an oligonucleotide containing peroxisome proliferator response elements. This effect was also blocked by 4-methylpyrazole and augmented by cyanamide. Furthermore, in vitro translated PPAR alpha exposed to acetaldehyde failed to bind DNA. Thus, ethanol metabolism blocks transcriptional activation by PPAR alpha, in part due to impairment of its ability to bind DNA. This effect of ethanol may promote the development of alcoholic fatty liver and other hepatic consequences of alcohol abuse.
Developmental changes in children's abilities to match and label emotionally laden situations

In two studies, male and female preschoolers and third- and fourth-graders were tested on their abilities to match and generate affective labels for 19 types of emotionally laden situations. Age changes were found in the accuracy with which situations were both labeled and matched; the ability to match similar situations was more strongly related to age than was the ability to label emotions. Matching and labeling abilities were positively related to each other. Both age groups were best at labeling situations depicting happiness, anger, and sadness, and at matching situations depicting sadness, anger, and disgust, but both age groups were capable of matching a wide variety of emotions depicted in situations at a better than chance rate. Only situations depicting fear, nervousness, and embarrassment were not matched better than chance by either preschoolers or third- and fourth-graders.
Estimating the toxicities of organic chemicals to bioluminescent bacteria and activated sludge

Abstract Toxicity assays based on bioluminescent bacteria have several advantages including a quick response and an easily measured signal. The Shk1 assay is a procedure for wastewater toxicity testing based on the bioluminescent bacterium Shk1. Using the Shk1 assay, the toxicity of 98 organic chemicals were measured and EC 50 values were obtained. Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models based on the logarithm of the octanol–water partition coefficient (log( K ow )) were developed for individual groups of organic chemicals with different functional groups. The correlation coefficients for different groups of organic compounds varied between 0.69 and 0.99. An overall QSAR model without discriminating the functional groups, which can be used for a quick estimate of the toxicities of organic chemicals, was also developed and model predictions were compared to experimental data. The model accuracy was found to be one order of magnitude from the observed values.
Synthesis of an epoxy-based adhesive hydrogel from asymmetrically protected ethylenediamine

Poly[aminoethylbutyl ether] (poly-AEBE), a new adhesive hydrogel film bearing primary amine pendants, was synthesized. The key synthetic step, in the synthesis of poly-AEBE, involved a novel use of asymmetrically and reversibly protected ethylenediamine (ED). Initially silylated oligomeric-AEBE was prepared from the reaction of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether with N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)-ethylenediamine. Oligomer crosslinking was initiated by deprotection of the primary amine pendants with excess ethanol, yielding poly-AEBE. When adhered to glass and skin, films of poly-AEBE gave peel forces of 16.90±0.73 N and 1.05±0.15 N, respectively. In addition, poly-AEBE had a high water uptake (1840%) and an equilibrium water content of 94%. The residual water extractables were 3.3%. These results strongly support the potential use of poly-AEBE for adhesive hydrogels and affinity chromatography supports.
Predicting Dimensions of Personality Disorder From Domains and Facets of the Five Factor Model

We compared the utility of several trait models for describing personality disorder in a heterogeneous clinical sample (N = 94). Participants completed the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP; Clark, 1993b), a self-report measure that assesses traits relevant to personality disorder, and two measures of the Five-Factor Model: the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; Costa and McCrae, 1992) and the Big Five Inventory (BFI; John, Donahue, & Kentle, 1991). Regression analyses indicated substantial overlap between the SNAP scales and the NEO-PI-R facets. In addition, use of the NEO-PI-R facets afforded substantial improvement over the Five-Factor Model domains in predicting interview-based ratings of DSM-IV personality disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), such that the NEO facets and the SNAP scales demonstrated roughly equivalent levels of predictive power. Results support assessment of the full range of NEO-PI-R facets over the Five-Factor Model domains for both research and clinical use.
Bandwidth Limitations and Broadband Matching for Coupled Multi-Antenna Systems

Practical wireless devices are considered too small to support multi-antenna communications. Several studies have proposed optimal MIMO transceiver design in the presence of mutual coupling by use of matching networks. However, most studies assume a narrowband model. For broadband systems, Fano's matching theory reveals gain-bandwidth trade-offs for physically realizable networks. In this paper, we formulate matching network design for broadband coupled multi-antenna transceivers with circular arrays and investigate the role coupling plays in determining the RF bandwidth of the system. It will be shown that in the presence of coupling, the spatial modes of an antenna array have different bandwidths and that for 2-element arrays with practical bandwidths, a quarter-wavelength spacing is good enough.
Overview of laser processing in solar cell fabrication

ABSTRACT This paper will provide an overview of various laser processing techniques used in the fabrication of solar cells. There are numerous applications of lasers incl uding laser doping, annealing, patterning, drilling and welding that vary based on material system (e.g. silicon wafer, polycrystalline thin-film) and the cell architecture. Laser annealing has been identified as a potential route to high quality thin-films for polycrystalline semiconductors such as CdTe and Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S) 2 . Also for thin-film solar cell technologies, including amorphous-silicon, laser patterning has been widely adopted within the industry for creating monolithic interconnections and performing edge isolation. For silicon wafer based technologies there are a number of promising laser processing tech niques, however most of these techniques are still in the development stages and are not yet incorporated in to industrial production lines. These techniques that represent the next generation of high-efficiency crystalline silicon devices, include laser-fired contacts, laser doping of selective emitters, laser drilling for wrap-through device structures, and laser grooved buried contacts. This paper will pres ent a review of each technique, the sp ecific processing applications and the current state of development. Keywords: Thin-film Solar Cells , Laser Scribing, Photovoltaics
Absolute continuity of vector measures and operators

In this paper we show that, for two regular Borel probabilities μ and ν on a compact Hausdorff space Ω, absolute continuity of measures μ &Lt ν is equivalent to absolute continuity of inclusion operators [C(Ω) ↪ L 1(μ)] ≪ [C(Ω) ↪ L 1(ν)]. We then generalize this to vector valued cases.
Growth of superconducting thin films of bismuth-strontium-calcium-copper oxide by organometallic chemical vapor deposition

Abstract The first growth of superconducting Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O films by organometallic chemical vapor deposition is described. Triphenyl bismuth and beta-diketonates of strontium, calcium, and copper were decomposed thermally at 500°C on MgO substrates in an oxygen-rich atmosphere to produce fine grained or amorphous, dark brown to black films. Subsequent annealing in oxygen yielded gray-black films with thicknesses of 0.95 to 1.25 μm. X-ray analysis indicated the presence of a tetragonal superconducting phase along with other metal oxides. The sheet resistance versus temperature for the sample with the highest T c had a resistive transition with a midpoint at 78.8 K, a width of 7.7 K, and R = 0 at 73.2 K.
An indirect adaptive robot controller

Abstract Indirect adaptive control of robot manipulators represents an approach parallel to direct and composite adaptive methods. This paper develops a new globally convergent indirect adaptive controller which requires neither measurements of joint acceleration nor inversion of the estimated inertia matrix. Several aspects of this paper, such as new parameter estimators with desirable properties, and a physically-based technique for guaranteeing the uniform positive definiteness of the estimated inertia matrix, along with the related convexity proof, are also of interest in their own right.
The information content of texture gradients

Texture gradients are systematic variations in projected surface texture. It is expected that image variables such as texture density or size carry information about the surface orientation and distance. This article reexamines the information content of texture gradients and reviews the relevant psychophysics. Slant is shown to be difficult to infer from a texture gradient, but tilt (the direction of slant) is easily and reliably determined. Regarding distance, a new texture measure is introduced that has a simple geometric definition, and from which distance can be readily computed. Variables affecting the precision and the accuracy of the distance computation are discussed.
Experimental Aspects of Penicillin Sensitization, with Special Reference to Conjoint Sensitization to Superficial Fungous Disease * †

In a previous communication (1), reference was made to various types of clinical reactions occurring in man as a result of penicillin therapy. Three types of reactions in particular raised the question of a possible relationship between sensitization to penicillin and pre-existing fungus diseases. These three reaction-types were (1) erythematovesicular eruptions which tended to localize in areas involved by a previous superficial fungus disease (2) Vesicular eruptions of the hands in patients who had had a previous dermatophytid in the same area or a severe dermatophytosis of the feet, groins or trunk and (3) Acute reactions characterized by symptoms of mild shock and occurring in patients who previously had not received penicillin therapy but who had active fungus disease or a history of such disease. Accordingly, it was deemed important to make further studies on the nature of penicillin sensitivity as it exists in man, to create if possible a penicillin-sensitive state in the guinea pig, and to study the nature of this reactivity per se and its possible relationship to conjoint sensitization to superficial fungus disease.
Human resource orientation and corporate performance

HRD has been seen as an issue that is critical for U.S. corporations so that they can remain competitive. Yet little has been known about the strategic role of HRD and how it may influence corporate performance. In this study, we have argued that HRD plays an immensely strategic role when combined with effective recruitment and compensation policies. These three activities together contribute to the company's human resource (HR) orientation and create sustainable competitive advantages for organizations. Data from fourteen manufacturing industries supported the proposition that companies with a strong HR orientation performed significantly better than firms with a weaker HR orientation. Suggestions were offered with respect to the strategic and developmental role of HR management.
Enhancement of the high-Tc phase in Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O by ceramic processing methods

Abstract Materials in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O superconductor system were prepared by melt-quenching. Results were obtained for materials doped with small amounts of Pb and Sb. A substantial increase in the yield of the high- T c (2223) phase, with a corresponding improvement in superconducting properties, was noted for specimens heat-treated at 848°C in an atmosphere of 10% O 2 and 90% Ar. The best specimens exhibited a T c (zero resistance) near 105 K and a large (∼ 90%) 2223 content. Experimental results are discussed in the context of phase and microstructure development, and the evolution of superconducting properties with heat-treatment.
Difference in the electrochemical behavior of three isomeric phthalaldehydes

Abstract Polarographic current–voltage curves enabled distinguishing between the degree of covalent hydration of iso-, tere-, and orthophthalaldehydes. Hydration, which is negligible for isophthalaldehyde, strong for terephthalaldehyde and very strong for orthophthalaldehyde, together with acid–base reactions, affect the electrolysis of each of the three isomers differently. In solutions of orthophthalaldehyde polarography enables simultaneous following of concentrations of the unhydrated, acyclic monohydrated, cyclic hemiacetal forms. Each of these forms react with amino acids by a different rate.
Fine structure of laboratory cultured Distigma proteus and cytochemical localization of acid phosphatase

The phylogenetic relationship and origin of the euglenoids are controversial at present. It is not clear which of the extant genera may be most primitive, although Distigma proteus has been suggested as an early progenitor by some researchers. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopic data were obtained in an effort to clarify some of the major taxonomic characteristics of this organism. SEM analyses of cells fixed during euglenoid movement (metaboly) show that the spirally arranged pellicular strips in the expanded regions of the organism have a lower pitch than those in the more constricted regions. This finding reveals the mechanical basis for euglenoid contortional movements. Mitochondria observed by TEM contain discoidal cristae, but some mitochondria are particularly large (e.g., 1.5 μm) and contain concentrically arranged, multiply layered cristae located deeper within the matrix, as in Khawkinea sp. Acid phosphatase reaction product is located in the cisternae and peripheral saccules throughout the Golgi stack and is regularly observed in the cisternae of the ER located beneath the pellicular ridges. Vacuoles varying in size, containing acid phosphatase reaction product, occur particularly near the periphery of the cell including the region surrounding the flagellar pouch. Occasional deposits of the reaction product within what appear to be membranous extrusions occur at the outer surface of the cell and may be secreted from sub-pellicular organelles. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A novel, web-based, ecosystem mapping tool using expert opinion

ABSTRACT: Regional distribution and abundance data for invasive plant species are urgently needed for management planning, modeling of invasion risks and impacts, and communicating the scope of the problem. Yet, regional distribution data are rare in the United States. Here, we present a web-based mapping tool designed for efficient collection of expert opinion of invasive species abundance. We use this approach to generate distribution maps of three prominent invasive plants in the southeastern United States: (1) Chinese/European privet (Ligustrum sinense/vulgare), (2) kudzu (Pueraria montana), and (3) cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica). We validated the maps for internal consistency, based on multiple submissions for the same location, and with two other independent data sources: the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis plots (FIA) (for privet) and point-location data gathered from various sources (for all three species). Percent cover data were collected for each species across 30% of the ...
DNA architecture, deformability, and nucleosome positioning.

Abstract The positioning of DNA on nucleosomes is critical to both the organization and expression of the genetic message. Here we focus on DNA conformational signals found in the growing library of known high-resolution core-particle structures and the ways in which these features may contribute to the positioning of nucleosomes on specific DNA sequences. We survey the chemical composition of the protein-DNA assemblies and extract features along the DNA superhelical pathway—the minor-groove width and the deformations of successive base pairs—determined with reasonable accuracy in the structures. We also examine the extent to which the various nucleosome core-particle structures accommodate the observed settings of the crystallized sequences and the known positioning of the high-affinity synthetic ‘601’ sequence on DNA. We ‘thread’ these sequences on the different structural templates and estimate the cost of each setting with knowledge-based potentials that reflect the conformational properties of the DN...
Solutions of a dissipative diffusion equation in a Hilbert space

Abstract Two types of dissipation of a diffusion process on an abstract space are discussed. The main results are the bound, critical length, and extension of solutions of a dissipative Riccati equation on a Hilbert space. The bound result enables the local solution to be extended to a global solution. The analysis of critical length provides computational and theoretical information about the maximal interval of existence of solutions. It is shown that no bounded solution can be extended beyond the critical length.
Time course of behavioral, physiological, and morphological changes after estradiol treatment of ovariectomized rats

Previous studies showed that treatment with 17-β-estradiol-3-benzoate (EB) reduces isoproterenol (ISOP) stimulated water intake by ovariectomized rats. This effect was observed 48 h after the second of two EB injections, suggesting that the attenuation is attributable to classic EB actions to alter gene expression. However, in addition to classic, slowly-occurring, genomic effects, estrogens have more rapidly-occurring effects that may be nongenomic or ‘nonclassical’ genomic effects. Thus, it is possible that the EB attenuation of water intake stimulated by ISOP is genomic, nongenomic, or both. Accordingly, we measured ISOP-induced water intake by OVX rats at different times after EB injections, using time points likely to indicate classic genomic effects (48 h or 24 h) or nonclassical genomic or nongenomic effects (90 min). We also examined EB effects on body weight, uterine weight, and plasma volume and Na+ concentration in the same animals using the same time points and EB dose. EB treatment decreased water intake stimulated by ISOP in both the 24-h and 48-h groups; however, water intake in the 90-min group was not affected by EB. Uterine weight was unchanged 90 min after EB, but was increased 24 h after the first injection of EB. In contrast, body weight decreased after EB, but not until 48 h after the second EB injection. Finally, EB did not alter plasma Na+ concentration or hematocrit, though plasma protein concentration increased transiently 24 h after EB treatment. Taken together, these findings suggest that the behavioral, morphological, and physiological effects of EB likely are attributable to slowly-occurring, classic genomic actions of estrogens. Moreover, the time course of the observed effects varied, suggesting tissue-specific differences in estrogen receptor density or subtype, or in co-activators or co-repressors that, ultimately, determine the timing and direction of EB effects.
Optimizing reaction condition for synthesizing spinnable carbon nanotube arrays by chemical vapor deposition

Compared with the ordinary vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays, the carbon nanotubes in spinnable VACNT arrays have better alignment, higher density, and narrower diameter distribution. The synthesis of spinnable VACNT arrays is sensitive to the reaction condition and the repeatable prepared of spinnable VACNT arrays still need improvement. In this paper, spinnable VACNT arrays were grown by chemical vapor deposition from C2H2/Ar using Fe coated on Si wafers as a catalyst. With the aim of improving the yield and reproducibility of spinnable VACNT arrays, the reaction conditions were systematically investigated. The growth kinetics of VACNT arrays was also investigated. The rate of growth of VACNT arrays can reach 465 μm/min at the initial growth stage and the activation energy of VACNT array growth is determined to be 112.2 kJ/mol. Meanwhile, a collective growth model for the evolution of spinnable VACNT arrays is also proposed.
To Create an Industry: The Growth of Consumer Electronics Manufacturing in Mexico and Taiwan:

In 1970, an observer of the investment by the consumer electronics multinationals in Mexico and Taiwan could not have predicted the marked difference in the develop ment of these two nations. The contrast between the Mexican and Taiwanese elec tronics industry could not be more striking—Taiwan's electronics industry was a result of expanding foreign direct investment. Taiwan experienced an expansion of foreign exchange, employment and development of assembler-supplier relations. But, most importantly, it developed local firms capable of supplying these foreign assemblers. Among the Latin American nations, Mexico received the preponderance of investment in consumer electronics. Unlike in Taiwan, investments in Mexico never led to the development of an indigenous industry nor created a synergy between the assemblers and the local suppliers. This paper explores the reasons for the divergence between the two economies, related to the investor's objectives, the investor's position in the international market, ...
A case library for teaching usability engineering: Design rationale, development, and classroom experience

Case studies of professional software development practices describe how real (or realistic) projects are planned and executed. Cases provide engaging models of the activities and materials of software development to students and other novice practitioners. They vividly remind learners of the possibilities for meaningfully applying knowledge and skills in the world beyond the classroom. During the past six years, we have developed and used a collection of usability engineering case studies for teaching human-computer interaction, primarily to upper-level undergraduates in computer science and in information sciences and technology. In this article we describe the rationale for this approach, the structural schema and browser that we developed for case studies, the case-based activities we employ in courses, and the experiences of instructors and students who have used the cases.
Relationship Between Data Smoothing and the Regularization of Inverse Problems

We investigate the practice of regularization (also termed damping) in inverse problems, meaning the use of prior information to supplement observations, in order to suppress instabilities in the solution caused by noisy and incomplete data. Our focus is on forms of regularization that create smooth solutions, for smoothness is often considered a desirable—or at least acceptable—attribute of inverse theory solutions (and especially tomographic images). We consider the general inverse problem, in its continuum limit. By deconstruction into the part controlled by the regularization and the part controlled by the data kernel, we show the general solution depends on a smoothed version of the back-projected data as well as a smoothed version of the generalized inverse. Crucially, the smoothing function that controls both is the solution to the simple data smoothing problem. We then consider how the choice of regularization shapes the smoothing function, in particular exploring the dichotomy between expressing prior information either as a constraint equation (such as a spatial derivative of the solution being small) or as a covariance matrix (such as spatial correlation falling off at a specified rate). By analyzing the data smoothing problem in its continuum limit, we derive analytic solutions for different choices of regularization. We consider four separate cases: (1) the first derivative of the solution is close to zero, (2) the prior covariance is a two-sided declining exponential, (3) the second derivative of the solution is close to zero, and (4) the solution is close to its localized average. First-derivative regularization is put forward as having several attractive properties and few, if any, drawbacks.