cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The development of hollow core waveguides for in telecommunications, sensors, and laser power delivery

1D-hollow waveguides with a single central hole coated on the inside with metallic and/or dielectric coatings are capable of transmitting broadband visible to far infrared radiation for telecom, chemical sensing, and kilowatt laser power delivery.
Urological results after fetal myelomeningocele repair in pre-MOMS trial patients at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Introduction: Myelomeningocele patients deal with multiple medical issues, including lower extremity neurological deficits, bowel and bladder incontinence and the sequelae of hydrocephalus secondary to a Chiari II malformation. In utero intervention holds the promise of reversing some of the sequelae and improving outcome. Material and Methods: Between 1998 and 2003 (preceding the formal Management of Myelomeningocele Study, MOMS), an initial group of 58 patients underwent in utero repair of their myelomeningocele between 21 and 25 weeks' gestation. Long-term (5-year) follow-up has occurred in this cohort of patients. Previous reports have documented decreased incidence of ventriculoperitoneal shunting and neuromotor functioning, showing improved outcomes compared with historical controls. Results: Overall, 4 fetal deaths occurred, while the majority of patients returned for follow-up for up to 5 years after closure. Phone follow-up has also been conducted for those who could not return. To date, 10 patients (18.5%) have successfully toilet-trained, while 2 patients have bowel continence and 1 has bladder continence but requires enemas; 2 patients who successfully toilet-trained developed spinal dermoid cysts requiring surgical resection. Discussion: Historically, in utero repair of myelomeningocele patients yields a greater percentage of patients who have achieved continence compared with those undergoing postnatal repair. The MOMS trial will compare contemporary urological outcomes of those patients undergoing either prenatal or postnatal repair in a randomized fashion. The results of this trial showed a decreased need for ventriculoperitoneal shunting in those patients who underwent in utero repair as well as an improvement in lower extremity function.
Functional mapping of interacting regions of the photoreceptor phosphodiesterase (PDE6) γ-subunit with PDE6 catalytic dimer, transducin, and regulator of G-protein signaling9-1 (RGS9-1).

The cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6) involved in visual transduction in photoreceptor cells contains two inhibitory γ-subunits (Pγ) which bind to the catalytic core (Pαβ) to inhibit catalysis and stimulate cGMP binding to the GAF domains of Pαβ. During visual excitation, interaction of activated transducin with Pγ relieves inhibition. Pγ also participates in a complex with RGS9–1 and other proteins to accelerate the GTPase activity of activated transducin. We studied the structural determinants for these important functions of Pγ. First, we identified two important sites in the middle region of Pγ (amino acids 27–38 and 52–54) that significantly stabilize the overall binding affinity of Pγ with Pαβ. The ability of Pγ to stimulate noncatalytic cGMP binding to the GAF domains of PDE6 has been localized to amino acids 27–30 of Pγ. Transducin activation of PDE6 catalysis critically depends on the presence of Ile54 in the glycine-rich region of Pγ in order to relieve inhibition of catalysis. The central glycine-rich region of Pγ is also required for transducin to increase cGMP exchange at the GAF domains. Finally, Thr-65 and/or Val-66 of Pγ are critical residues for Pγ to stimulate GTPase activity of transducin in a complex with RGS9–1. We propose that the glycine-rich region of Pγ is a primary docking site for PDE6-interacting proteins involved in the activation/inactivation pathways of visual transduction. This functional mapping of Pγ with its binding partners demonstrates the remarkable versatility of this multifunctional protein and its central role in regulating the activation and lifetime of visual transduction.
The choice of anesthesia in operative patients with heart disease

Abstract 1. 1. The most common types of heart disease have been discussed from the standpoint of a choice of anesthetics. 2. 2. Anesthetics have been chosen for each type of heart disease that will involve the least risk. 3. 3. Contraindications to certain anesthetics in various types of heart disease have been emphasized. 4. 4. A suggestion for the improvement of the service by a more careful consideration in the choice of anesthetics by both the surgeon and the anesthetist has been made.
Specificity in cholesterol regulation of gene expression by coevolution of sterol regulatory DNA element and its binding protein.

When demand for cholesterol rises in mammalian cells, the sterol regulatory element (SRE) binding proteins (SREBPs) are released from their membrane anchor through proteolysis. Then, the N-terminal region enters the nucleus and activates genes of cholesterol uptake and biosynthesis. Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) proteins such as SREBPs bind to a palindromic DNA sequence called the E-box (5′-CANNTG-3′). However, SREBPs are special because they also bind direct repeat elements called SREs. Importantly, sterol regulation of all promoters studied thus far is mediated by SREBP binding only to SREs. To study the reason for this we converted the direct repeat SRE from the sterol-regulated low-density lipoprotein receptor promoter into an E-box. In this report we show that SREBPs are still able to bind and activate this promoter however, sterol regulation is lost. The results are consistent with the mutant promoter being a target for promiscuous activation by constitutively expressed E-box binding bHLH proteins that are not regulated by cholesterol. Kim and coworkers [Kim, J. B., Spotts, G. D., Halvorsen, Y.-D., Shih, H.-M., Ellenberger, T., Towle, H. C. & Spiegelman, B. M. (1995) Mol. Cell. Biol. 15, 2582–2588] demonstrated that the dual DNA binding specificity of SREBPs is caused by a specific tyrosine in the conserved basic region of the DNA binding domain that corresponds to an arginine in all other bHLH proteins that recognize only E-boxes. Taken together the data suggest an evolutionary mechanism where a DNA binding protein along with its recognition site have coevolved to ensure maximal specificity and sensitivity in a crucial nutritional regulatory response.
Dynamic shear rupture of steel plates

Metallic sandwich panels with prismatic cores offer the potential for superior blast resistance relative to monolithic plates of equivalent areal density. However, under sufficiently high impulse, severe plastic strains can occur at the junctions of the face sheets and the core members shortly after arrival of the pressure wave but prior to significant deformation elsewhere. The potential consequence is localized shear rupture with minimal plastic dissipation. To characterize this failure mode, a combined experimentalnumerical protocol has been used to ascertain the plastic strain for dynamic shear rupture of ductile metals. The experimental component involves firing cylindrical projectiles through plates of the targeted materials and monitoring changes in projectile velocity during penetration. With appropriate combinations of plate thickness and projectile velocity, penetration occurs through propagation of an annular shear crack. In parallel, a numerical model of dynamic deformation and rupture has been employed to infer the critical strain through comparisons with projectile velocity change measurements. Experiments and analyses have been performed on both 304 stainless steel and superaustenitic AL6XN. Effects of mesh size on the resolution of the predicted strain distribution and the plastic dissipation associated with penetration are addressed.
Opposing actions of protein kinase A and C mediate Hebbian synaptic plasticity.

A compartmental nerve–muscle tissue culture system expresses Hebbian1,2 activity-dependent synapse modulation. Protein kinase C (PKC) mediates a heterosynaptic loss of efficacy, and we now show that protein kinase A (PKA) is involved in homosynaptic stabilization. Both work through postsynaptic changes in the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) as measured electrophysiologically and by imaging techniques.
Short‐column gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the detection of underivatized anabolic steroids in urine

Short-column (3.5 m) gas chromatography (GC)/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has been investigated for the detection of structurally related, underivatized anabolic steroids in urine. The approach described here demonstrates the ability to rapidly and qualitatively detect underivatized anabolic steroids in spiked urine matrices. In this approach, underivatized steroids are determined using a short-column GC separation, ionized by positive ion chemical ionization, and detected by selected reaction monitoring MS/MS. This approach permits positive identification of underivatized anabolic steroids based on retention time and the production of characteristic product ions. Preliminary detection limits studies in spiked urine samples showed quantitative results between 2 and 40 ng steroid per milliliter of uterine. The potential advantages of this approach compared to present screening methods based on conventional (30 m) GC/MS are its rapidity and selectivity. Reliable qualitative identification can be performed with a short-column GC/MS/MS analysis of less than 6 min with a reduction in sample preparation time due to the elimination of the derivatization step.
Superconductivity of interacting chains and planes - a model of high Tc YBa2Cu3O6+δ systems

Abstract A model for the new high T c YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6+δ superconductors based on interacting chains and planes of CuO systems is proposed. There are three residual interaction parameters in the model. These are obtained from the transition temperature of 95 K for the δ = 1 system and the two low temperature (4.2 K) gaps associated with the coppers in the planes and chains. Using these we predict the transition temperatures for two possible superlattice configurations of the system with δ = 0.75 and δ = 0.5. The calculations employ the detailed band structures. The observed high T c for δ = 0.75 and 0.5 are consistent with the weak δ-dependence of the pairing interaction and partial preservation of the CuO chains.
Saccadic command signals in the superior colliculus: implications for sensorimotor transformations.

Recent findings concerning the anatomical and functional organization of the deep division of the primate superior colliculus are summarized. These data are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis...
Response of murine erythroleukemia cells to cis-and trans-diamminedichloro-platinum (II)

Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II (cis-DDP), an antitumor drug and the inactive trans-isomer were studied to evaluate their effects on cell multiplication, DNA synthesis, and surface morphology of the murine erythroleukemia cells (clone 6A11A). Short-term treatment of cells (1h) with 5 and 10μg/ml of cis-DDP resulted in a significant inhibition of cell multiplication. Continuous treatment with cis-DDP (up to 144 h) significantly arrested cell growth at 1,5, and 10μg/ml. The cells exposed to 10 μg/ml trans-DDP exhibited a slight decrease in cell multiplication; however, the 25-μg/ml treatments showed a modest inhibition of cell growth. Continuous treatment with cis-DDP resulted in a concentrationdependent decrease in DNA synthesis, although low-dose treatment (0.05 and 0.1 μg/ml), with a few exceptions, had no relative inhibitory effect. Likewise, trans-DDP treatments decreased tritiated thymidine incorporation; however, this inhibitory effect was not as drastic as with corresponding concentrations of cis-DDP. Scanning electron microscope studies revealed the formation of many giant cells and blebs at all short-term treatment concentrations of cis-DDP past the 48 h interval. Continuous treatment of cis-DDP at 1 μg/ml concentration produced giant cells with minute holes, whereas the 5 and 10 μg/ml exposure resulted in the formation of blebs and large holes and reduction of microvilli past the 48-h treatment period. At higher concentrations the continuous treatment of cis-DDP completely destroyed the cells. The surface morphology of trans-isomer treated cells, in most instances, resembled the corresponding untreated control cells.
Lens-System Diffraction Integral Written in Terms of Matrix Optics

This paper deals with the propagation of coherent light through lens systems; it relates diffraction theory to ray optics. A diffraction integral is derived which relates the electromagnetic fields on the input plane of a lens system to those on its output plane. The kernel of the diffraction integral is written in terms of the elements of the ray matrix that describes the complete lens system; that kernel indicates a connection between ray optics and diffraction theory. It also provides a simple method for writing the diffraction integral for a lens system. The results are limited to the paraxial-ray approximation, but apply to symmetric and asymmetric lens systems. In the case of asymmetric systems, i.e., those containing rotated elliptical or cylindrical lenses, the ray-matrix formalism is extended so as to use a single fourth-order matrix. The diffraction integrals derived are applied to optical spatial filtering, optical-beam waveguides, optical resonators, and holography.
Diamond growth on carbide surfaces using a selective etching technique

Microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of diamond films on silicon carbide and tungsten carbide (with 6% cobalt) surfaces using fluorocarbon gases has been demonstrated. No diamond powder pretreatment is necessary to grow these films with a (100) faceted surface morphology. The diamond films are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The proposed nucleation and growth mechanism involves etching of the noncarbon component of the carbide by atomic fluorine to expose surface carbon atoms and diamond nucleation and growth on these exposed carbon atoms. Hydrogen is necessary in the growth process to limit the rapid etching of the carbide substrates by corrosive fluorine atoms.
Application of the finite element method to mass transport limited epitaxial growth process

Abstract The finite element technique, used extensively in solid mechanics, is extended to the analysis of vapor processes whose rates are mass transport limited. The finite element equations are derived for an ideal gaseous mixture with a dominant species. To demonstrate the use of the method, the growth rates for a GaAs epitaxial system are calculated and compared with experimental results. Good agreement is obtained without resort to experimentally evaluated parameters or boundary layer approximations.
Self-Adhesion of Polyethylene in the Melt. 1. Heterogeneous Copolymers

Development of self-adhesion above the melting temperature was studied in a group of linear low-density polyethylenes. An experimental procedure for consecutively sealing and peeling a polymeric film at the same temperature, above the melting point, was developed. This made it possible to measure melt adhesion over a wide range of temperatures, seal times, and peel rates. Taking advantage of the new experimental technique, the molecular mechanisms and kinetics of self-adhesion in heterogeneous ethylene copolymers with broad molecular weight distribution were investigated. It was found that the peel strength increased with the contact time in accordance with the conventional t1/2 dependence until saturation at the maximum strength. The time to achieve maximum strength was significantly shorter for the copolymer with more homogeneous copolymer composition; however, the maximum strength was the same for all the materials at each test temperature. The saturation time in all cases was 2 orders of magnitude lon...
Needleless Implant Delivery of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Enhances the Calving Rate of Beef Cows Synchronized with Norgestomet and Estradiol Valerate*

AbstractOne-hundred and six beef cows were included in a study to determine if gonadot-ropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administered via needleless implants would enhance calving rate like conventional GnRH administration. All cows were synchronized with the norgestomet and estradiol valerate estrus synchronization procedure and then randomly assigned to one of three groups: no GnRH, GnRH via conventional implants, and GnRH via needleless implants. GnRH was administered 30 hr after norgestomet implant removal. Although needleless implants were administered while cows were restrained, they may be administered remotely. GnRH administered by both methods equally enhanced (p < 0.05) calving rate and the needleless implant caused minimal response by the cows. Therefore, remote administration of GnRH may accomplish therapeutic efficacy and reduce the time, labor, stress, and risk of injury associated with providing conventional animal therapy.
Health, symptoms, self-care, and dyadic adjustment in menopausal women.

Objective: To determine the relationships among perceived health, menopausal symptoms, and self-care responses in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional survey. Setting: A large midwestern city in the United States. Participants: One-hundred-one menopausal women who were over age 40, used no hormones during the previous 6 months, and had an intact uterus. Main Outcome Measures: Four standardized survey instruments. Results: Significant correlations were found between self-rated health and health perceptions (r = .44, p = .0004), self-rated health and total symptoms (r = -.30, p = .0023), self-rated health and worrisome symptoms (r = -.26, p = .0085), health perceptions and worrisome symptoms (r = .30, p = .0195), health perceptions and self-care responses (r = .43, p = .0009), and total symptoms and worrisome symptoms (r = .38, p = .0001). Conclusions: Health is related to menopausal symptoms and self care. Dyadic adjustment is not related to health, menopausal symptoms, or self care. Healthy menopausal women provide self-care and need not automatically be treated for menopause.
Ground‐Water Development in Western River Basins: Large Economic Gains with Unseen Costsa

In river basins where aquifers are closely interrelated with a stream, large-scale ground-water development can lower water tables near the stream and diminish stream flows. Junior surface right holders are adversely affected. A digital computer simulation of the hydrologic-economic system on the lower South Platte River in Colorado is employed to study economic impacts of two water management policies. Open access management is found to yield high income benefits but imposes substantial costs on surface-water users when water supplies are limited. Incorporation of ground water into the appropriation system can help avoid the losses to surface-water users, but greatly reduces the income of ground-water users.
Absence of localization in certain statically disordered lattices in any spatial dimension

We present a statically disordered electronic system in which under certain circumstances an initially localized particle necessarily becomes delocalized at long times regardless of the spatial dimension and the magnitude of the disorder. The model is based on correlations between diagonal and off-diagonal matrix elements and is shown to be applicable to structurally induced disorder in solids. Numerical and analytical calculations in one dimension indicate that transport is superdiffusive, with the mean-square displacement growing in time as ${t}^{3/2}$, regardless of the magnitude of the disorder. Transport is shown to arise in this model from a set of measure-zero unscattered states at a particular energy in the parent-ordered band. It is argued that, when the Fermi level coincides with the energy of the unscattered states, an enhancement of transport should obtain. In addition, it is shown that superdiffusive motion persists for a wide range of correlations between the diagonal and off-diagonal matrix elements when the disorder is structurally induced and chosen from a bivalued distribution. The relevance of these results to transport experiments is discussed.
Opportunistic activation of TRP receptors by endogenous lipids: exploiting lipidomics to understand TRP receptor cellular communication.

Abstract Transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) form a large family of ubiquitous non-selective cation channels that function as cellular sensors and in many cases regulate intracellular calcium. Identification of the endogenous ligands that activate these TRP receptors is still under intense investigation with the majority of these channels still remaining “orphans.” That these channels respond to a variety of external stimuli (e.g. plant-derived lipids, changes in temperature, and changes in pH) provides a framework for their abilities as cellular sensors, however, the mechanism of direct activation is still under much debate and research. In the cases where endogenous ligands (predominately lipids) have shown direct activation of a channel, multiple ligands have been shown to activate the same channel suggesting that these receptors are “promiscuous” in nature. Lipidomics of a growing class of endogenous lipids, N-acyl amides, the most famous of which is N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine (the endogenous cannabinoid, Anandamide) is providing a novel set of ligands that have been shown to activate some members of the TRP family and have the potential to deorphanize many more. Here it is argued that activation of TRPV receptors, a subset of the larger family of TRPs, by multiple endogenous lipids that are structurally analogous is a model system to drive our understanding that many TRP receptors are not promiscuous, but are more characteristically “opportunistic” in nature; exploiting the structural similarity and biosynthesis of a narrow range of analogous endogenous lipids. In addition, this manuscript will compare the activation properties of TRPC5 to the activity profile of an “orphan” lipid, N-palmitoyl glycine; further demonstrating that lipidomics aimed at expanding our knowledge of the family of N-acyl amides has the potential to provide novel avenues of research for TRP receptors.
Integrating theoretical, measurement, and intervention models of youth social competence.

Abstract Social competence is of great interest to developmental psychopathologists and is assessed frequently in both basic and applied research. A review of the literature reveals not only significant heterogeneity in definitions of this construct but an apparent disconnect between theoretical, measurement, and intervention models of competence in youth. This paper attempts to integrate these disparate enterprises by identifying four types of predictors theorists have associated with competence – child, behavior, situation, and judge – and critiquing common models in light of these dimensions. In general, assessment and intervention approaches appear less complex than theoretical conceptualizations of competence. When considering whether to incorporate additional predictors, notably situation- and judge-level factors, into these models, researchers must weigh parsimony versus the model misspecification that results from omitting important variables. Basic research that may assist in making these decisions is identified.
On some perturbation techniques for quasi-linear parabolic equations

We study a nonhomogeneous quasi-linear parabolic equation and introduce a method that allows us to find the solution of a nonlinear boundary value problem in explicit form. This task is accomplished by perturbing the original equation with a source function, which is then found as a solution of some nonlinear operator equation.
A Self Oscillating Qwitt Diode Mixer

A waveguide and planar self oscillating mixer using the Quantum Well Injection Transit Time (QWITT) diode have been tested at X-band. The waveguide mixer circuit can either be tuned to have a narrow band conversion gain of about 10 dB or broad band conversion loss of 4 dB. The planar mixer circuit exhibits a narrow band conversion gain of 4 dB or a broad band conversion loss of 8 dB. These are the first experimental results showing conversion gain from a self oscillating mixer using a quantum well diode.
Anxiety, Sex-Linked Behaviors, and Digit Ratios (2D:4D)

The second to fourth (2D:4D) digit ratio, a sexually dimorphic, phenotypic characteristic putatively associated with perinatal androgen action, has been used to evaluate the hypothesized relation between prenatal hormonal factors and a variety of sexually dimorphic behaviors, including sex-linked psychopathology. Smaller digit ratios, suggestive of stronger perinatal androgen action, have been associated with male-linked disorders (e.g., autism), and larger digit ratios, suggestive of weaker perinatal androgen action, have been associated with female-linked disorders (e.g., depression and eating disorders). To evaluate the possible relation between digit ratio and another traditionally female-linked disorder, anxiety, 2D:4D ratios were measured in a non-clinical sample (58 men, 52 women). Participants also completed a battery of anxiety and gender role measures and performed two spatial/cognitive tasks typically showing a male advantage (mental rotation and targeting) and two tasks typically showing a female advantage (location memory and spatial working memory). Men with a more feminine pattern of sex-linked traits and behaviors (including digit ratios) reported greater anxiety. In contrast, greater anxiety in women was associated with both female-typical and male-typical traits and behaviors, but and no significant association between digit ratio and anxiety was found. This pattern of results suggests that the development of anxiety is multiply determined, with contributing factors varying by sex.
Multi-core system education through a hands-on project on FPGAs

Multi-core system education for Computer Engineering students is quite challenging since it involves a wide range of complex topics, especially when hardware design is the focus. In contrast to simulation-based approaches, FPGA-based configurable processors offer exciting opportunities for students to develop and implement both hardware and software of multi-core processor systems on real hardware. This paper presents a hands-on and comprehensive multi-core processor project that utilizes configurable processors and is designed for an introductory embedded systems design course. In addition to designing and implementing a quad-core processor system on the Altera DE2 FPGA development board, students are also required to propose a parallel technique to map and manage matrix multiplication on their own multi-core processor system running on the DE2 board. Students are exposed to many aspects of multiprocessing during the process and build hardware/software codesign skills for embedded systems.
The Potential of Current High-Resolution Imaging-Based Particle Size Distribution Measurements for Crystallization Monitoring

High-speed, in situ video microscopy is a promising technology for measuring critical solid-phase properties in suspension crystallization processes. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of high-resolution, video-imaging-based particle size distribution (PSD) measurement by applying image analysis and statistical estimation tools to images from a simulated batch crystallization of an industrial photochemical. The results also demonstrate the ability to monitor important quality parameters, such as the ratio of nuclei mass to seed mass, that cannot be monitored by conventional technologies. General recommendations are given for achieving appropriate sampling conditions to enable effective imaging-based PSD measurement. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Endothelial Dysfunction Is Associated With Cholesterol Levels in the High Normal Range in Humans

Background The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that cholesterol levels in the high normal range are associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Methods and Results...
Magnetization of dilute Cu-Mn alloys at very low temperatures

Abstract The magnetization of several very dilute Cu-Mn alloys was measured from 0.35 K to 0.012 K. The results can be explained primarily by impurity-impurity interactions.
Test results of an integrated triple-point phase-change cooler/cryogenic refrigerator system

Presented in this paper are the test results of the engineering test model of integrated cooler experiment. This cooler consists of integrating a small, low-power Stirling cryogenic refrigerator with a small mass of a triple point phase change material (PCM). The advantages of this type of cooler are a closed system; no vibrations during sensor operation; the ability to absorb increased 'spike' heat loads; potentially longer system lifetime; and a lower mass, cost, and power consumption. Experimentation was performed in the laboratory using methanol as the PCM. The goals of the testing were to demonstrate the practical use of new technologies and demonstrate the operation of the total system for simulated sensor scenarios. Presented are the results of the first series of tests.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Continuum approximations to domain walls in uniaxially incommensurate monolayer solids

Abstract Uniaxially incommensurate monolayer solids are modelled using elastic constants for the adatom-adatom energy and amplitudes for the spatially periodic terms of the adatom-substrate potential energy. Rectangular adlayers on bcc(110) substrates and uniaxially incommensurate adlayers derived from triangular commensurate adlayers on triangular substrates are treated. The energy of an isolated domain wall is derived, with a variational approximation, for three structures: a superheavy wall with one-component displacement vector, a heavy wall with two-component displacement vector, and a modified heavy wall which includes both sets of threefold sites of an fcc(111) substrate. The relative stability of the structures as a function of the elastic constants is discussed.
Lamenting Weak Governance: Views on Global Finance

International Financial Governance under Stress: Global Structures versus National Imperatives. Edited by Geoffrey R. D. Underhill, Xiaoke Zhang. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. 410 pp., $75.00 (ISBN: 0-521-81732-3). International Financial Governance under Stress by Geoffrey Underhill and Xiaoke Zhang is too obviously a conference volume. The seventeen chapters, plus introduction and conclusion, are uneven. Nonetheless, the volume does contain worthwhile analyses and interesting stories, accessible to those who are familiar with the major contemporary debates about international finance. The book is organized thematically but not rigorously. The sections deal respectively with (1) concepts and arguments, (2) country case studies of emerging markets during the Asian financial crisis, (3) country case studies of “private-public interactions” in national financial regulation, and, finally, (4) norms and global governance. An alternative organization for the volume, focusing on the kinds of questions each contributor asks, might have helped clarify the ways these essays speak to one another. This review considers, instead, the contributions offering (1) prescriptive policy advice, (2) analysis of the political sociology of financial reform, and (3) theoretical perspectives on the “democratic deficit” in global financial governance. The policy-oriented economists who contribute to International Financial Governance under Stress want to know what works and what does not. For example, John Williamson examines a series of policy variables—including opaque public and private accounting, moral hazard in the domestic banking system, fiscal or monetary excess, the wrong exchange rate regime—in Asian countries that faced currency and banking crises in 1997–1998. He finds that the common experience of countries that suffered crises was recent capital account liberalization. Vijay Joshi views the Indian experience through a similar lens, and both authors recommend limited capital controls. Manmohan S. Kumar and Marcus Miller evaluate the technical feasibility of various institutional alternatives proposed to compensate for the absence of a global lender of last resort. Along the way, they provide some clues to the bargaining strategies of actors including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the US government, and …
Ni/Pt(111) bimetallic surfaces: unique chemistry at monolayer ni coverage.

We have utilized the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation of cyclohexene as probe reactions to compare the chemical reactivity of Ni overlayers that are grown epitaxially on a Pt(111) surface. The reaction pathways of cyclohexene were investigated using temperature-programmed desorption, high-resolution electron energy loss (HREELS), and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Our results provide conclusive spectroscopic evidence that the adsorption and subsequent reactions of cyclohexene are unique on the monolayer Ni surface as compared to those on the clean Pt(111) surface or the thick Ni(111) film. HREELS and NEXAFS studies show that cyclohexene is weakly π-bonded on monolayer Ni/Pt(111) but di-σ-bonded to Pt(111) and Ni(111). In addition, a new hydrogenation pathway is detected on the monolayer Ni surface at temperatures as low as 245 K. By exposing the monolayer Ni/Pt(111) surface to D2 prior to the adsorption of cyclohexene, the total yield of the normal and deuterated cyclohe...
A taxonomy of peer-to-peer desktop grid paradigms

Desktop grid systems and applications have generated significant impacts on science and engineering. The emerging convergence of grid and peer-to-peer (P2P) computing technologies further opens new opportunities for enabling P2P Desktop Grid systems. This paper presents a taxonomy for classifying P2P desktop grid implementation paradigms, aiming to summarize the state-of-the-art technologies and explore the current and potential solution space. To have a comprehensive taxonomy for P2P desktop grid paradigms, we investigate both computational and data grid systems. Moreover, to ease the understanding, the taxonomy is applied to selected case studies of P2P desktop grid systems. The taxonomy is expected to be used as a survey of the state-of-the-art, a design map, a guideline for novice researchers, a common vocabulary, or a design space for simulation and benchmark, and to be extended as the technologies rapidly evolve.
A method for detecting kin discrimination within natural colonies of social insects

Abstract Abstract. If social insect workers can distinguish degrees of relatedness among their colonymates, then they are expected to favour their closest relatives rather than acting purely for the good of the colony. Within-colony kin discrimination therefore occupies a central position in attempts to understand the balance of cooperation and conflict in social insects, but the existence of such within-colony discrimination in nature remains controversial. Most attempts to study within-colony discrimination have employed unnatural manipulations to allow the investigator to assess matriline or patriline membership. Here, a method is described that does not require explicit identification of matrilines or patrilines, so that the unnatural manipulations can be avoided. Instead, this method uses genetic markers to obtain statistical estimates of relatedness differences. The tests are made powerful through use of paired comparisons that eliminate the between-colony variance. This is demonstrated with both real and simulated examples. It is noted that the social insects themselves might use related methods to improve the accuracy of within-colony discrimination.
The initial lymphatics as sensors of interstitial fluid volume

Lymphatic luminal pressure and interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) were measured simultaneously in the bat's wing with two servo-null micropressure systems during interstitial fluid volume expansion induced by direct interstitial infusion. Lymphatic baseline pressure, pulsatile pressure, and IFP were elevated by the interstitial infusion. Transmural pressure gradients occurred only transiently. The increased lymphatic pulsatile pressure was not dependent upon the transmural pressure gradient but remained elevated as long as the increased interstitial fluid volume (IFV) was maintained. The results suggest that lymphatic pumping capacity during edema is modulated by IFV rather than IFP and that this mechanism may play an important role in the regulation of interstitial hydration. A mechanism whereby the initial lymphatics may directly sense and control IFV is proposed based upon physiological and anatomical data.
Chemical radiation protection of the intestinal epithelium by mercaptoethylamine and its thiophosphate derivative.

Abstract Mercaptoethylamine (MEA) was compared to its thlophosphate derivative (MEAP) for protective effects against 4 Mev x-rays and fission neutrons. Intestinal crypt survival, lethality and cellular response was tested in protected and unprotected mice. The results demonstrated that both MEA and MEAP are good protectors against low linear energy transfer (LET) radiations, and relatively poor protectors against neutron irradiation. The compensatory cellular response in treated and untreated mice are also described.
TUBER YIELDS AND SPECIFIC GRAVITIES IN SOLANUM TUBEROSUM POPULATIONS RECURRENTLY SELECTED FOR RESISTANCE TO POTATO LEAFHOPPER

Solanum tuberosum genotypes from the 3rd, 5th, and 7th generations of recurrent selection for resistance to potato leafhopper were compared with genotypes from the base, unselected population for tuber yield and specific gravity over a five year period. Mean tuber yields of the genotypes in the 3rd and 5th generations were equal to the yield of those in the base population. The mean tuber yield in the 7th generation was significantly lower than the mean in the base population and the means in the other selection generations. However, the mean tuber specific gravities of the 5th and 7th generation genotypes were slightly higher than the mean in the base population. The variability of tuber yield among genotypes in the 7th selection generation was lower than the variability in the base population and in the 3rd and 5th selection generations. It was concluded that there was moderate genetic potential for selecting genotypes with resistance to potato leafhopper that had acceptable tuber yields in the 3rd and 5th selection generations, but by the 7th generation the potential was considerably lower. The genetic potential for selecting resistant genotypes with acceptable tuber specific gravities remained about the same in each of the selection generations.
Interaction of cationic manganese porphyrins with DNA. A binding model

The DNA cleavage properties of two cationic manganese porphyrins possessing different peripheral substituents were compared. The identical nature of the strand scission patterns of the porphyrins on a 139 base pair restriction fragment of pBR-322 DNA, along with other evidence, suggests that the porphyrin is end-on bound via the minor groove in a melted or partially melted region of DNA. This unusual binding mode underscores the potential of outisde binding cationic metalloporphyrins as probes for low melting regions of DNA
Inertia-induced cavitation in hydrostatic thrust bearings

Abstract The critical rotational speed at which inertia-induced cavitation is initiated in the lubricant film of hydrostatic thrust bearings is established. The lubricant mass flow and bearing load capacity at speeds exceeding this critical are determined and presented in the form of master plots of flow and load for all speeds. An illustrative numerical example is worked.
Now or Never: Perceived HIV Status and Fertility Intentions in Rural Mozambique

As of 2009, 22.5 million individuals across sub-Saharan Africa were estimated to be infected with HIV (UNAIDS 2010). Testing and treatment have become more widely available in the region; thus, the length of time that individuals know they are HIV-positive and live with the disease has expanded. Addressing the epidemic’s impact increasingly requires the study of health and mortality, but also how HIV infection influences behavior in other domains of life, such as education, work, marriage, and especially childbearing. Understanding how seropositive individuals think about the implications of their HIV status on childbearing and how they translate their knowledge and perceptions into fertility intentions and behavior is essential for the design of effective reproductive health programs for those living with HIV/AIDS. Given continued high HIV prevalence levels in much of southern and eastern Africa, the impact of HIV on fertility is also important for predicting overall fertility levels. Evidence dating back to the onset of the African epidemic shows that HIV/AIDS reduces fertility at both the individual and the population level (see, for example, Zaba and Gregson 1998; Lewis et al. 2004; Kaida et al. 2006). The early literature on the association between HIV and fertility focused on mechanisms directly related to the physiological impact of the disease, including lower fecundability and greater fetal loss among HIV-positive women and lower coital frequency among HIV-positive couples because of illness (Lewis et al. 2004). Increasingly, researchers are also studying the ways in which HIV alters fertility behavior through more distal pathways, such as how current serostatus or perceived risk of future infection affect plans for future childbearing. This growing body of research has yielded mixed results, with studies showing negative, positive, or no association between HIV status and fertility intentions. In this study, we propose a framework that integrates these seemingly contradictory findings. This framework centers on women’s perceptions that HIV infection and childbearing are incompatible in the long term and that any future childbearing must take place “now or never.” We use data from a recent population-based survey in Gaza Province in southern Mozambique to illustrate the relationship between perceived risk of HIV infection and intentions to have more children soon, at some later date, or never. Results show that higher perceived risk is associated with greater odds of both wanting to stop childbearing and wanting to accelerate fertility relative to wanting children in a distant future.
Impact of thermal processing on the antioxidant mechanisms of continuous phase β-lactoglobulin in oil-in-water emulsions

Abstract The influence of native and thermally (50–95 °C) denatured β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) on the oxidative stability of surfactant-stabilized menhaden oil-in-water emulsions (pH 7.0) was evaluated. β-Lg (500 μg/g oil) heated at 95 °C for 30 min provided the best protection against lipid oxidation, inhibiting the formation of lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by 87% and 88%, respectively, following 7 days of storage. The possible mechanisms of antioxidant activity of native and heated β-Lg were evaluated by measuring peroxyl radical scavenging and iron chelating capacities of the protein treatments, as well as reactive sulfhydryl concentrations and tryptophan fluorescence (a marker of protein conformation changes). The aforementioned in vitro assays only partially corroborated the results from the oxidizing emulsion system since β-Lg heated at 95 °C exhibited the lowest iron chelation capacity and free sulfhydryl concentration, yet displayed the highest peroxyl radical scavenging capacity and inhibition of lipid oxidation in oil-in-water emulsions of all treatments tested. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of proteins as a natural class of antioxidants in food emulsions, and further elucidate the possible mechanisms by which proteins inhibit lipid oxidation.
Sludge production in rotating biological contactors with supplemental aeration and an enlarged first stage

Abstract A full-scale rotating biological contactor (RBC) was used to study the effectiveness of supplemental aeration and an enlarged first stage in improving the performance of an RBC system. These experimental studies suggest that generally the sludge production was higher in the first stage because of the higher soluble COD (SCOD) removal rates. However, the sludge production in the first stage was significantly higher in the presence of supplemental air than without the air. At lower organic loadings, the first-stage sludge production was 1·09 kg SS/kg (2·40 lb SS/lb) and 0·572 kg SS/kg (1·26 lb SS/lb) SCOD removed with and without supplemental air, respectively. In addition, with supplemental air there was an increasing stabilization of volatile solids in the subsequent stages when the substrate was limiting in the succeeding stages. Overall sludge production was the same with and without supplemental aeration at low and high organic loading rates. However, overall sludge production decreased substantially with the use of an enlarged first stage, particularly with supplemental aeration, which results in lower operating costs for sludge stabilization and disposal. This occured despite higher first-stage sludge production rates with the use of supplemental air. Also, the overall performance of the RBCs receiving supplemental aeration was significantly better when compared to the RBCs receiving no supplemental air, both in terms of SCOD or SBOD5 removal and ammonia nitrification.
Controls on seasonal patterns of maximum ecosystem carbon uptake and canopy-scale photosynthetic light response: contributions from both temperature and photoperiod

Most models of photosynthetic activity assume that temperature is the dominant control over physiological processes. Recent studies have found, however, that photoperiod is a better descriptor than temperature of the seasonal variability of photosynthetic physiology at the leaf scale. Incorporating photoperiodic control into global models consequently improves their representation of the seasonality and magnitude of atmospheric CO2 concentration. The role of photoperiod versus that of temperature in controlling the seasonal variability of photosynthetic function at the canopy scale remains unexplored. We quantified the seasonal variability of ecosystem-level light response curves using nearly 400 site years of eddy covariance data from over eighty Free Fair-Use sites in the FLUXNET database. Model parameters describing maximum canopy CO2 uptake and the initial slope of the light response curve peaked after peak temperature in about 2/3 of site years examined, emphasizing the important role of temperature in controlling seasonal photosynthetic function. Akaike’s Information Criterion analyses indicated that photoperiod should be included in models of seasonal parameter variability in over 90 % of the site years investigated here, demonstrating that photoperiod also plays an important role in controlling seasonal photosynthetic function. We also performed a Granger causality analysis on both gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and GEP normalized by photosynthetic photon flux density (GEP n ). While photoperiod Granger-caused GEP and GEP n in 99 and 92 % of all site years, respectively, air temperature Granger-caused GEP in a mere 32 % of site years but Granger-caused GEP n in 81 % of all site years. Results demonstrate that incorporating photoperiod may be a logical step toward improving models of ecosystem carbon uptake, but not at the expense of including enzyme kinetic-based temperature constraints on canopy-scale photosynthesis.