cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A crossover in Mexican and Mexican-American fertility rates: Evidence and explanations for an emerging paradox.

Against a backdrop of two new developments in the fertility behavior of the Mexican- Origin population in the U.S. the present discussion will update contemporary Mexican-Origin fertility patterns and address several theoretical weaknesses in the current approach to immigrant group fertility. Data come from six national surveys (three from Mexico and three from the U.S.) that cover a twenty-five year period (1975-2000). The findings demonstrate dramatic decreases in the fertility rates in Mexico at the same time that continuous increases have been documented in the fertility rates of native-born Mexican-Americans in the U.S. at younger ages. These changes necessitate a reexamination of the idea that Mexican pronatalist values are responsible for the high fertility rates found within the Mexican-Origin population in the U.S. Instead they point to the increasing relevance of framing the fertility behavior of the Mexican-Origin population within a racial stratification perspective that stresses the influence of U.S. social context on fertility behavior. As a step in this direction the analysis examines fertility patterns within the Mexican-Origin population in the U.S. giving special attention to the role of nativity/generational status in contributing to within group differences. (authors)
Correctly measuring drug development risk: a public policy imperative.

Responsible public policy must be informed public policy. This is particularly true with respect to the regulation and governance of the global pharmaceutical industry; an industry that has bestowe...
Ironsulfur vibrations in model compounds of cytochromes P-450 and c

Abstract Five model compounds of cytochrome P-450, [Fe(III)(porphyrin)(thiolate)] (high spin) and two model compounds of cytochrome c, [Fe(III)(TPP)(thioether) 2 ]ClO 4 (low spin) have been prepared, and their far-infrared spectra measured to assign the axial FeS stretching vibrations. Based on 54 Fe 56 Fe isotope shift data, the Fe- S − (thiolate) and FeS 0 (thioether) stretching vibrations have been assigned at 345−335 and 333−323 cm −1 , respectively. The [Fe(TPP)(SC 6 H 5 ) 2 ] − ion (low spin) exhibits the anti-symmetric S − FeS − stretching band at 345 cm −1 which is about 20 ∼ 16 cm −1 higher than the S 0 Fe%z.sbnd;S 0 stretching vibration of the [Fe(TPP)-(thioether) 2 ] + ion. This result is interpreted as indicating that the FeS − bond is stronger than the S 0 z.sbnd;FeS 0 bond if other conditions are equal. Possible origins of frequency discrepancy between cytochrome P-450 cam (351 cm −1 and its model compounds have been discussed, and the failure to observe the FeS vibrations in Raman spectra has been attributed to the small oscillator strength of the FeS CT transition in the UV region.
Highly Sensitive Nitric Oxide Detection Using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

A highly sensitive technique is reported to detect NO using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of a silicon-bound iron hemelike complex. A self-assembled monolayer of an hydroxyalkylphosphonic acid was grown on the native oxide surface of silicon and was used for covalent attachment of hematin. XPS analysis for the hematin nitrogens gives a single peak in the N(1s) region. After reaction with NO, a new, distinct peak is observed in the N1s spectrum, at approximately 5.5 eV higher binding energy, which is attributed to the heme-bound NO. On the basis of measurements of surface loading of hematin species using quartz crystal microgravimmetry and XPS, detection of ≤50 picomoles of NO in the sampled region can be accomplished.
Nonane droplet combustion with and without buoyant convection: Flame structure, burning rate and extinction in air and helium

Abstract The burning and extinction characteristics of isolated small nonane droplets are examined in a buoyant convective environment and in an environment with no external axial convection (as created by doing experiments at low gravity) to promote spherical droplet flames. The ambience is air and a mixture of 30%O2/70%He to assess the influence of soot formation. The initial droplet diameter (Do) ranges from 0.4 to 0.95 mm. Measurements are reported of the extinction diameter and time to extinction, and of the evolution of droplet diameter, flame diameter, soot shell diameter, burning rate, and broadband radiative emissions. In a buoyancy-free environment for air larger droplets burn slower than smaller droplets for the range of Do examined, which is attributed to the influence of soot. In the presence of a buoyant flow in air, no influence of Do is observed on the burning rate while the buoyant flames are still heavily sooting. The effect of Do is believed to be due to a combination of dominance of the nonluminous, nonsooting, portion of the buoyant flame around the forward half of the droplet on heat transport and the secondary role of the luminous wake portion of the flame. In a non-sooting helium inert at low gravity, no effect of Do is found on the evolution of droplet diameter. Flame extinction is observed only in the 30%O2/70%He ambience. For all of the observations, extinction appears to occur before the disappearance of the droplet which is then followed by a period of evaporation. The extinction diameter and time to extinction increases with Do and an empirical correlation is presented for these two variables.
A case for exchange: The experience of the University of California, Berkeley

The future of Berkeley's exchange program looks promising. The program offers a cost-effective means of gathering materials in many languages and from many geographic areas, and it is a powerful resource for obtaining isolated, isolated, obscure monographs not available by other means. When compared to purchasing materials, and viewed in light of Berkeley's collection development goals, it emerges as relatively inexpensive. If we are tempted by this cost-effectiveness to expand the exchange program, perhaps to combat eroding funds for collections or rising serials prices, we should pause to think twice about the relationships that make the program so successful. There seems to exist in exchange programs, as in physics, a critical point beyond which equilibrium is lost and stability and control become difficult or impossible. In exchange programs beyond a certain size, additional staf members must be hired, procedures and files become harder to keep orderly, the quality of the program deteriorates, and the speed with which materials are exchanged decreases. As subsidized and discounted publications intended for exchange become insufficient to sustain an expanded progra, costs to the materials budget rise, making purchase the cheaper option. Suppose that non-subsidized publications of the University of California, intended to be sold for profit, were to be bought at discounts and distributed extensively on exchange. This would augment the library's collections and distribute scholarly works, but it would also eventually undermine the commercial market outside the university by which these publications are profitably sustained. Ultimately these publications wouldbe weakened, and without them the exchange program would lose stability. A balance must be maintained between the needs of the library, the aims of the publications usedto support the exchange program, and the management of the program itself. When this balance is healthy, the program meets challenging collection development goals, helps unit scholarly communities by distributing research findings where these would not otherwise be received, and occasionally rewards the exchange staff with opportunities to achieve the seemingly impossible. The preservation of this balance over the years may be the secret to the success of Berkeley's exchange program.
Offshore boundaries: Engineering and economic aspects

Abstract The document delimiting offshore boundaries should consider the engineering problems inherent in demarcation and recovery. A discussion of these problems and the estimated 1975 costs for implementation of a boundary are discussed. The need for precise language, based upon present technology requiring engineering input, is of paramount importance to the development of a practical agreement.
Laser-desorption mass spectrometry and induced coalescence of fullerenes

This article reviews the evolution of the UCLA fullerene research over the past two years from the perspective of laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS). As a fast and sensitive analytical method, it has critically contributed to a wide range of fullerene related research projects. Immediately after the discovery of a method for making C60, C70 and selected higher fullerenes in macroscopic amounts, a concerted effort in different laboratories led to the isolation and structure determination of C76, C78, C82 and tentatively C84. Simultaneously with the work on pure fullerene, important progress was achieved in the synthesis of metallofullerenes and derivatized fullerenes. LDMS continually documented progress or failure in extraction, isolation and synthesis and helped to plan future research. Recently, synthesis of C60 and larger fullerenes from precursors, e.g., C18(CO)6, and coalescence reactions of fullerenes, induced by high fluence of the desorption laser, introduced a new aspect of this otherwise exclusively analytical method.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Brillouin Light Scattering Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Layer-by-Layer Assembled Cellulose Nanocrystal Films

Composite thin films containing cellulose nanocrystal (cellN) polyanions embedded between either poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) or chitosan were fabricated using the layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition technique. The in-plane and out-of-plane elastic constants of the composites were measured using Brillouin light scattering as a function of film thickness and cellulose content. Compared to the pure cast polymer films, the addition of cellN raises the elastic constants within the growth plane by a factor of 2 and 3 for [chitosan/cellN] and [PDDA/cellN] films, respectively, while in the growth direction the elastic constant increases by 50% for [PDDA/cellN] and not at all for [chitosan/cellN]. With increasing amounts of cellN in the films, the stiffness increases in the growth plane at a higher rate than in the growth direction. These trends reflect the contribution of the cellulose nanocrystals within and cross layers to load transmission. The results are interpreted in terms of processes that o...
Branching relaxation pathways from the hot S2 state of 8′-apo-β-caroten-8′-al

We present infrared and visible transient absorption measurements of 8'-apo-beta-caroten-8'-al following one-photon excitation at 405 nm. An excess vibrational energy of approximately 4000 cm(-1) in the S(2) state is created with 405 nm excitation. Relaxation from this vibronic region shows distinct relaxation pathways from those observed for 490 nm excitation which excites S(2) near its origin. Infrared and visible transient absorption measurements show long-lived transient signals that persist longer than 1 ns. These transient spectra are identical to those observed in previous two-photon excitation measurements at 1275 nm. Our results are consistent with at least two minima on the S(1) surface and a branched decay from hot S(2) molecules to at least two of these minima.
The Integration Trade-Offs of Political Representation

This article examines the trade-offs between social and political integration by analysing migrant political representation on municipal councils in Britain and France. The argument is that social integration may allow migrants to interact with the mainstream population but it also reduces the capacity to form effective group mobilisation. In turn, less mobilisation reduces the likelihood of electing co-ethnics. In comparison, social segregation may increase separation from mainstream society but it also increases effective group mobilisation. In turn, more group mobilisation increases the capacity to elect co-ethnics.
A Statistical Kinetic Model for the Bulk Degradation of PLA-b-PEG-b-PLA Hydrogel Networks: Incorporating Network Non-Idealities

Experimental studies and theoretical predictions of the bulk-degradation behavior of nonideal PLA-b-PEG-b-PLA hydrogels were performed. The theoretical predictions are based on a previously developed model to which refinements have been made, including the incorporation of a more realistic description of the cross-linked, copolymer network structure. Also, structural complexities such as unreacted vinyl groups, multiple degradation sites along the polymer chains, and distributions in the degrees of polymerization of the cross-links, cycles, and backbone chains that comprise the network are now included in the model. Each of these factors has a dramatic effect on the bulk-degradation behavior of the hydrogels, and this second generation model incorporates these factors into the theoretical description of the experimental system with only a minimal increase in the number of parameters and complexity of the model equations.
Transpersonalism: Ego Meets Soul.

Over the last few decades, the transpersonal approach has emerged from mainstream psychology to address the effects of spirituality and consciousness on personal transformation and health and to explore the optimal levels of human functioning. Despite its increasing popularity, many mental health professionals lack basic knowledge of the transpersonal approach. This article provides an introduction to and overview of the historical development, scientific basis, philosophical stance, theoretical principles, and clinical methods of transpersonal psychology.
Toward Tissue Engineering of the Knee Meniscus

This review details current efforts to tissue engineer the knee meniscus successfully. The meniscus is a fibrocartilaginous tissue found within the knee joint that is responsible for shock absorption, load transmission, and stability within the knee joint. If this tissue is damaged, either through tears or degenerative processes, then deterioration of the articular cartilage can occur. Unfortunately, there is a dearth in the amount of work done to tissue engineer the meniscus when compared to other musculoskeletal tissues, such as bone. This review gives a brief overview of meniscal anatomy, biochemical properties, biomechanical properties, and wound repair techniques. The discussion centers primarily on the different components of attempting to tissue engineer the meniscus, such as scaffold materials, growth factors, animal models, and culturing conditions. Our approach for tissue engineering the meniscus is also discussed.
Self-Expandable Metal Stents (SEMS) Can Serve as a Bridge to Surgery or as a Definitive Therapy in Patients with an Advanced Stage of Cancer: Clinical Experience of a Tertiary Cancer Center

Background Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) can be used to relieve benign and malignant colorectal obstruction.
Laminin A is required for follicle cell–oocyte signaling that leads to establishment of the anterior–posterior axis in Drosophila

The establishment of the anterior-posterior (AP) axis in Drosophila melanogaster requires signaling between the oocyte and surrounding somatic follicle cells during oogenesis [1] [2]. First, a signal from the oocyte (Gurken (Grk), a transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) homolog) is received by predetermined terminal follicle cells in which the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway is activated and a posterior fate is induced [2] [3] [4]. Later, the posterior follicle cells send an unidentified signal back to the oocyte, which leads to the reorganization of its cytoskeletal polarity. This reorganization is required for proper localization of maternal determinants, such as oskar (osk) and bicoid (bcd) mRNAs, that determine the AP polarity of the oocyte and the subsequent embryo [2]. We show here that when the gene lanA, which encodes the extracellular matrix component laminin A, is mutated in posterior follicle cells, localization of AP determinants is disrupted in the underlying oocyte. Posterior follicle-cell differentiation and follicle cell apical-basal polarity are unaffected in the lanA mutant cells, suggesting that laminin A is required for correct signaling from the posterior follicle cells that polarizes the oocyte. This is the first evidence that the extracellular matrix is involved in the establishment of a major body axis.
Extended Pausing by Humans on Multiple Fixed-Ratio Schedules with Varied Reinforcer Magnitude and Response Requirements

We conducted three experiments to reproduce and extend Perone and Courtney's (1992) study of pausing at the beginning of fixed-ratio schedules. In a multiple schedule with unequal amounts of food across two components, they found that pigeons paused longest in the component associated with the smaller amount of food (the lean component), but only when it was preceded by the rich component. In our studies, adults with mild intellectual disabilities responded on a touch-sensitive computer monitor to produce money. In Experiment 1, the multiple-schedule components differed in both response requirement and reinforcer magnitude (i.e., the rich component required fewer responses and produced more money than the lean component). Effects shown with pigeons were reproduced in all 7 participants. In Experiment 2, we removed the stimuli that signaled the two schedule components, and participants' extended pausing was eliminated. In Experiment 3, to assess sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude versus fixed-ratio size, we presented conditions with equal ratio sizes but disparate magnitudes and conditions with equal magnitudes but disparate ratio sizes. Sensitivity to these manipulations was idiosyncratic. The present experiments obtained schedule control in verbally competent human participants and, despite procedural differences, we reproduced findings with animal participants. We showed that pausing is jointly determined by past conditions of reinforcement and stimuli correlated with upcoming conditions.
Acute abdomen for omental volvulus.

d l P p s c t P 38-year-old man was admitted to our unit with right nferior quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever temperature 38.5°C). His clinical history was positive for edically treated gastritis. No previous surgical operations ere referred. The physical examination was remarkable for iffuse tenderness and small right reducible inguinal hernia. he white blood cell count was 15.1 10 L, hemoglobin as 14.4 g/dL. The biochemical tests were within the noral limits, in particular lactate dyhydrogenase was 351 I/L and creatinine kinase was 106 UI/L. Abdominal plain -ray films revealed no abnormalities. The ultrasonography as negative for free fluid, mass, and signs of cholecistitis. he patient was observed for 12 hours with no improvement nd, for persisting pain and increasing white blood cell ount (up to 20.8 10 L), he underwent surgical operation. nder general anesthesia and complete myorelaxation, a ight inferior abdominal mass was noted, and the surgeon ecided for a median laparotomy. Signs and symptoms uggested an intrabdominal localized abscess for acute apendicitis. A partial laparotomy was performed, and immeiately a moderate amount of intraperitoneal serohemoragic fluid was evident. At the intraperitoneal exploration a emorragic mass (Fig. 1) with apparent omental adhesion as found in the lower right quadrant. When the incision as extended and an omental volvulus was documented, the omplete omental resection was performed. The macrocopic examination showed an omental twist with eight omplete clockwise rounds (Fig. 2). The histologic workup eported aspects of infarction and chronic inflammation. he recovery was uneventful, and the patient was disharged on the fifth postoperative day. Omental torsion is an uncommon cause of acute abdoen, usually mimicking acute appendicitis, rarely perfoated duodenal ulcer [1,2]. About 150 cases have been
Pattern synthesis for moving target detection with TechSat21-a distributed space-based radar system

We have explored a novel approach for pattern synthesis in angle-frequency space, which is applicable for highly thinned arrays. It exploits the double periodicities of the grating lobes in the angular domain and the radar pulses in the frequency domain and allows substantial clutter suppression. Gains from 7 to 17 dB relative to a randomly, thinned array appear feasible. Further improvements in signal/clutter ratio can be achieved by joint array and filter weight optimization and by narrow-band Doppler filtering.
Lasers For Isotope Separation

The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory is conducting research on uranium enrichment. All processes being studied employ uranium molecules and use lasers to provide isotopic selectivity and enrichment. There are four well-defined infrared frequencies and two ultraviolet frequency bands of interest. The infrared frequencies are outside the range of the available lasers and an extensive research and development activity is currently underway. Lasers are available in the uv bands, however, much development work remains. The specification for the commercial uranium enrichment plant lasers will depend upon the results of the current enrichment experiments, the laser capital cost, reliability; and maintenance cost. For the processes under investigation there are specific photon requirements but latitude in how these requirements can be met. The final laser selections for the pilot plant need not be made until the mid-1980's. Between now and that time as extensive as possible a research and development effort will be maintained.
Distances as Indices to Movements and Home-Range Size from Trapping Records of Small Mammals

Measurements of movements, such as the mean squared distance from the center of activity (r 2 ), do not provide estimates of home-range size but are indices of use of space that can be compared among groups of mammals. We analyzed trapping data from Microtus ochrogaster and Sigmodon hispidus and found strong correlations among r 2 and several other measurements of distances moved and home-range size. The first principal component of the correlation matrix retained from 77 to 91% of total variation in movement among individual rodents. The P-values and coefficients of determination from analyses of variance among sex and age groups generally agreed for all indices of home-range size. The r 2 provided an index of home-range size that was unbiased with regard to sample size, reflected tendency to localize movements, and could be pooled among individuals with small sample sizes.
Substitutional solutes in the laves phase intermetallic compounds Cr2Zr and Cu2Mg—solution hardening and defect structures

This paper reports that hardness and strength can be attained in pure metals by solid-solution hardening. Although the primary mechanisms of solid-solution hardening are though to be known in dilute metal alloys, the mechanisms in intermetallic compounds are not established for most structure types. The mere existence of solution hardening is not well demonstrated. There are, however, data for the B2 compounds AgMg and, recently, AlCo, the L1[sub 2] structure Ni[sub 3]Al, and preliminary results for the C15 cubic Laves phase Cu[sub 2]Mg. The plan here is to examine further the Cu[sub 2]Mg data and present new results for defects, moduli, density, and hardening in a high-temperature C15 compound, Cr[sub 2]Zr (melting temperature 1673[degrees]C). A special feature, and complication, of intermetallics is that off-stoichiometry leas to constitutional defects--substitutions or vacancies that are created by deviations from stoichiometry. Thus, in order to understand hardening, we need to identify the sites of constitutional solutes in off-stoichiometric intermetallics and to quantify the elastic interactions with dislocations of both these solutes and of ternary additions.
Ectopic Localization of Mitochondrial ATP Synthase: A Target for Anti-Angiogenesis Intervention?

A receptor for angiostatin was identified on the surface of endothelial cells as F(1)-F(0) ATP synthase (Moser et al., 1999). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96, 2811-2816. This ectopic ATP synthase catalyzes ATP synthesis and is inhibited by angiostatin over a wide pH range. Endothelial cells grown at normal pH suffer no ill effects from this angiostatin-mediated inhibition of ATP synthase, whereas endothelial cells grown at low, tumor-like extracellular pH cannot maintain a normal intracellular pH and die. Angiostatin inhibits both ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis (Moser et al., 2001) and interferes with intracellular pH regulation (Wahl and Grant, 2002; Wahl et al., 2002). Although angiostatin administered intravenously is cleared from the circulation in a matter of minutes, angiostatin-mimetics that are more stable have potential for clinical application. An angiostatin-mimetic activity has recently been observed using a polyclonal antibody against the beta catalytic subunit of ATP synthase. In order to explore the mechanism of action of angiostatin and its mimetics, further work needs to be done to evaluate clinical applicability, specificity, and contraindications for this class of therapeutics.
Nonlinear control of a high-purity distillation column using a traveling-wave model

The trade-off between model accuracy and computation tractability for model-based control applications is well known. While nonlinear models are needed to capture the detailed behavior of many chemical processes, the resultant structures may not lead to straightforward control implementation. The current work advocates the use of low-order nonlinear models based on wave propagation that are mathematically concise and capture the essential nonlinear behavior of a process. In this work, differential geometry is invoked to achieve input-output linearization of a high-purity distillation column based on a traveling-wave model. A Kalman filter is used to recursively update the parameter values. Comparison with a linear controller based on a two-time constant model shows that the nonlinear controller outperforms the linear controller in tight control of both the overhead and the bottoms composition.
Analysis of the fractional Hilbert transform

The Hilbert transform is of interest for image-processing applications because it forms an image that is edge enhanced relative to an input object. Recently a fractional Hilbert transform was introduced that can select which edges are enhanced and to what degree the edge enhancement occurs. Although experimental results of this selective edge enhancement were presented, there was no explanation of this phenomenon. We analyze a one-dimensional fractional Hilbert transform acting on a one-dimensional rectangle function and show how it produces an output image that is selectively edge enhanced.
Modulation of motoneuron N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors by the inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine.

Abstract Previous studies in the central nervous system have shown that glycine is a co-agonist with glutamate at central N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDA-Rs). However, there is considerable controversy as to whether the glycine site on NMDA-Rs is saturated. If this site were not saturated then glycine released from glycinergic synaptic terminals might ‘spill-over’ and activate NMDA-Rs. Since motoneurons have both NMDA and glycine synapses these neurons present an optimal substrate for testing whether the glycine binding site of NMDA-Rs is activated by transmitter released from glycine synaptic terminals. Using an in vitro brainstem slice preparation we report on initial experiments to investigate whether the glycine binding site of NMDA-Rs is saturated in motoneurons. Specifically, we investigated the question of whether the response of neonatal rat hypoglossal motoneurons (HMs) to a brief application of NMDA is enhanced by the presence of exogenous glycine. We found that exogenously applied glycine (1 mM) enhanced the NMDA activated membrane current. We conclude that in brainstem slices the glycine site at motoneuronal NMDA-Rs is not saturated, and that synaptically-released glycine may modulate NMDA-Rs mediated responses.
Biochemistry of terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT): characterization and mechanism of inhibition of TdT by P1,P5-bis(5'-adenosyl) pentaphosphate

The catalysis of DNA synthesis by calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT) is strongly inhibited in the presence of Ap5A, while replicative DNA polymerases from mammalian, bacterial, and oncornaviral sources are totally insensitive to Ap5A addition. The Ap5A-mediated inhibition of TdT seems to occur via its interaction at both the substrate binding and primer binding domains as judged by classical competitive inhibition plots with respect to both substrate deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) and DNA primer and inhibition of ultraviolet light mediated cross-linking of substrate dNTP and oligomeric DNA primer to their respective binding sites. Further kinetic analyses of Ap5A inhibition revealed that the dissociation constant of the Ap5A-enzyme complex, with either substrate binding or primer binding domain participating in the complex formation, is approximately 6 times higher (Ki = 1.5 microM) compared to the dissociation constant (Ki = 0.25 microM) of the Ap5A-TdT complex when both domains are available for binding. In order to study the binding stoichiometry of Ap5A to TdT, an oxidized derivative of Ap5A, which exhibited identical inhibitory properties as its parent compound, was employed. The oxidation product of Ap5A, presumably a tetraaldehyde derivative, binds irreversibly to TdT when the inhibitor-enzyme complex is subjected to borohydride reduction. The presence of aldehyde groups in the oxidized Ap5A appeared essential for inhibitory activity since its reduction to alcohol via borohydride reduction or its linkage to free amino acids prior to use as an inhibitor rendered it completely ineffective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cardiorespiratory fitness and acute aerobic exercise effects on neuroelectric and behavioral measures of action monitoring

Cardiorespiratory fitness and acute aerobic exercise effects on cognitive function were assessed for 28 higher- and lower-fit adults during a flanker task by comparing behavioral and neuroelectric indices of action monitoring. The error-related negativity, error positivity, and N2 components, as well as behavioral measures of response speed, accuracy, and post-error slowing were measured following a 30-minute acute bout of treadmill exercise or following 30-minutes of rest. A graded maximal exercise test was used to measure cardiorespiratory fitness by assessing maximal oxygen uptake. Results indicated that higher-fit adults exhibited reduced error-related negativity amplitude, increased error positivity amplitude, and increased post-error response slowing compared with lower-fit adults. However, acute exercise was not related to any of the dependent measures. These findings suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness, but not acute aerobic exercise, may be beneficial to behavioral and neuroelectric indices of action monitoring following errors of commission by increasing top-down attentional control.
Long-term outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy in the treatment of hepatocellular cancer as a bridge to transplantation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is potentially curable with hepatic resection or transplantation. Few patients are eligible for resection, and many face a long wait for donor organ availability for liver transplantation. Here we report the safety and efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), the explant pathology findings and survival of patients treated with SBRT as a bridge to transplantation for HCC. From April 2005 to August 2010, 10 patients with 11 HCCs were treated with SBRT as a bridge to transplantation. All patients were evaluated by a liver transplant surgeon before radiosurgery. SBRT was delivered with the CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system. After SBRT, all patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. The tumor response was determined by explant pathology. The median follow-up was 62 months from the time of SBRT. The mean time on the liver transplant wait list was 163 days. The median tumor size was 3.4 cm (range = 2.5-5.5 cm). The median SBRT dose was 51 Gy (range = 33-54 Gy) in 3 fractions. The median time from SBRT to liver transplantation was 113 days (range = 8-794 days). At 5 years, the overall survival rate and the disease-free survival rate were both 100%. Overall, 4 of the 10 patients (40%) experienced acute toxicity. Most toxicities were grade 1, and they included nausea, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort. One patient had grade 2 nausea/vomiting. Explant pathology revealed no viable tumor in 3 of the 11 tumors for a complete response rate of 27%. The remaining 8 tumors decreased or remained stable in size. In conclusion, with a median follow-up over 5 years, we have found that SBRT as a bridge to liver transplantation for HCC is feasible and well tolerated. SBRT for HCC may enable patients to remain on the list for frequently curative transplantation during the wait for organ availability.
Time and frequency domain analysis and design of circularly-polarized spiral antenna arrays

A circularly polarized metal-backed hexagonal array operating over multi-octave bandwidth is presented. A four-arm spiral antenna designed to have simultaneously good time (TD)-and frequency-domain (FD) performances and a simple mode-former is used as a unit cell. The antenna arms are resistively loaded to improve its VSWR and reduce interaction with the ground plane. Experiments verify excellent TD/FD performances with fidelity factor > 90%, VSWR<; 2:1, axial ratio <; 1dB, side lobe level (SLL) <; -10dB, and high efficiency.
Electronic structure of the Σ = 9 high-angle tilt grain boundary in germanium

Abstract The electronic structure of the Σ=9 (38.94°) high-angle tilt grain boundary (GB) in germanium is studied in a tight-binding model with atom positions optimized with a tight-binding molecular dynamics scheme. This boundary, containing fivefold and sevenfold rings, has been observed in high-resolution electron microscopy experiments. We find from geometry optimization a volume expansion of 0.28 A at the GB consistent with the measured value of 0.4±0.2 A . The calculated GB energy is about 1.06 eV per GB unit cell, which corresponds to the interface energy of γ≈ 350 ergs/cm2. This is somewhat smaller than typical surface energies of the group IV semiconductors as might be expected. We find that although the GB does not introduce any localized states in the fundamental gap, it does so at specific k points in the interface Brillouin zone.
The origin of hemolymph carboxylesterases ‘induced’ by the insect juvenile hormone

Abstract Injection of juvenile hormone into saturniid pupae (a stage devoid of juvenile hormone) elicits the appearance of fast migrating carboxylesterases in the hemolymph about 6 hr later. These enzymes are capable of degrading the juvenile hormone (methyl ester) to the inactive acid and their ‘induction’ is prevented by administration of puromycin, cycloheximide or actinomycin D. Antiserum was prepared against these juvenile hormone (JH)-esterases which reacted with the ‘induced’ enzymes but not with extracts of other tissues tested. Fat body was cultured in vitro and stimulated by JH. The fat body then released JH-esterases into the incubation medium which could degrade JH and were immunologically similar to the JH-esterases ‘induced’ in vivo. This release was inhibited by puromycin. Attempts to specifically label the JH-esterases were unsuccessful. It is suggested that this JH-dependent phenomenon may be a result of: 1) de novo synthesis of JH-esterases by the fat body; 2) release of previously existing bound JH-esterases from the fat body; or 3) modification of an inactive pro-enzyme in the fat body.
Prospective correlation of arterial vs venous blood gas measurements in trauma patients

Objective The objective of this study is to assess if venous blood gas (VBG) results (pH and base excess [BE]) are numerically similar to arterial blood gas (ABG) in acutely ill trauma patients.
Digital pulse integrator for flash intensity measurements

A digital pulse integrator is described for measuring the voltage-time area of electrical impulses such as the photocurrent resulting from the photoelectric observation of a xenon flash source. As the basis of its operation, the positive pulse to be integrated charges a capacitor. A decade scaler then counts the number of smaller negative pulses from a crystal oscillator that are required to discharge the capacitor to its original voltage.A specific circuit has been tested both with square pulses having an adjustable amplitude and duration and with linearly attenuated impulses of irregular shape. Repeated measurements of similar pulses are reproducible within ±1 count. For pulses having amplitudes in the range 50 to 170 v and areas in the range 1.5 to 24 msec-v the observed count is linearly proportional to the pulse area within ±2 counts.
Ruptured femoral pseudoaneurysm presenting as a lateral abdominal wall hematoma

Abstract Lateral abdominal wall hematomas are rare. We describe a patient with a delayed rupture of a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm, who presented with such a hematoma. In contrast to other types of abdominal wall hematomas, which are often managed conservatively, a ruptured femoral artery pseudoaneurysm frequently requires emergent surgical intervention. Rupture of a pseudoaneurysm can be catastrophic. Due to the rising incidence of femoral artery pseudoaneuryms and shorter hospital stays, it is useful for the emergency physician to be familiar with the diagnosis and management of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms and their potentially life-threatening complications.
Time-dependent quantum study of the HCN → HNC isomerization

We report a rigorous, time-dependent study of the three-dimensional HCN→HNC isomerization. Wavepackets are prepared by applying an impulse to three bend-excited stationary states that are localized in the HCN well. The time dependence of the wavepackets is obtained by expansion of the initial wavepacket in a basis of 900 vibrational eigenstates and subsequent propagation in this basis. The vibrational eigenstates were calculated previously using an accurate ab initio potential [Bowman, J. M.; Gazdy, B.; Bentley, J. A.; Lee, T. J.; Dateo, C. E. J. Chem. Phys. 1993, 97, 308]. The time-dependent density to be in the HNC well is calculated for many initial impulses, and time-averaged reaction probabilities are calculated as functions of both the average energy of the full wavepacket and the average energy of the components of the wavepacket that isomerize
Studies of the 193 nm photolysis of diethyl ketone and acetone using time-resolved Fourier transform emission spectroscopy

We have observed the infrared emission from the products of the 193 nm photolysis of diethyl ketone (3‐pentanone) in comparison with acetone (2‐propanone) using time‐resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy. In the photolysis of diethyl ketone, two bands are apparent: The first, spanning the region 1950 to 2250 cm−1, is assigned to CO rovibrational transitions; the other band, spanning the region 2800 to 3400 cm−1 and not exhibiting resolved line structure, is assigned to the ethyl radical. Spectral simulations of the CO bands under conditions of minimal, but not negligible, relaxation produce a lower bound for the nascent CO rotational temperature of ∼2100 K. The CO vibrational population distribution varies slowly over the ∼80 μs time spanned by our experiment. Both the rotational and vibrational energies of CO exceed statistical partitioning in the dissociation of acetone. In comparison to the case of acetone, absolute energies in CO vibration and rotation decrease only modestly for diethyl ketone, corresponding to a dramatic increase in the excess above the statistically partitioned energies. Several simple dissociation models are compared to these results. None is fully satisfactory.
Inverse scattering of two-dimensional dielectric objects buried in a lossy earth using the distorted Born iterative method

An efficient inverse-scattering algorithm is developed to reconstruct both the permittivity and conductivity profiles of two-dimensional (2D) dielectric objects buried in a lossy earth using the distorted Born iterative method (DBIM). In this algorithm, the measurement data are collected on (or over) the air-earth interface for multiple transmitter and receiver locations at single frequency. The nonlinearity due to the multiple scattering of pixels to pixels, and pixels to the air-earth interface has been taken into account in the iterative minimization scheme. At each iteration, a conjugate gradient (CG) method is chosen to solve the linearized problem, which takes the calling number of the forward solver to a minimum. To reduce the CPU time, the forward solver for buried dielectric objects is implemented by the CG method and fast Fourier transform (FFT). Numerous numerical examples are given to show the convergence, stability, and error tolerance of the algorithm.
Soft output detection of cochannel GMSK signals

Joint detection of cochannel signals is an effective method to increase the capacity of wireless systems. In this paper we develop a soft output algorithm to jointly detect cochannel GMSK signals in a coded wireless system. The cochannel detection performance in a flat Rayleigh fading channel is investigated. Simulations show that the proposed soft output cochannel detector provides a 6 to 7 dB improvement over the joint hard output maximum-likelihood sequence estimation (JMLSE) cochannel detector in the example system.
Effects of length of dry period on yields of milk fat and protein, fertility and milk somatic cell score in the subsequent lactation of dairy cows

The objective was to utilize data from modern US dairy cattle to determine the effect of days dry on fat and protein yield, fat and protein percentages, days open, and somatic cell score in the subsequent lactation. Field data collected through the dairy herd improvement association from January 1997 to December 2003 and extracted from the Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory national database were used for analysis. Actual lactation records calculated from test-day yields using the test-interval method were used in this study. The model for analyses included herd-year of calving, year-state-month of calving, previous lactation record, age at calving, and days dry as a categorical variable. Fat and protein yield was maximized in the subsequent lactation with a 60-d dry period. Dry periods of 20 d or less resulted in substantial losses in fat and protein yield in the subsequent lactation. In contrast to yields, a short dry period was beneficial for fat and protein percentages. Short dry periods also resulted in fewer days open in the subsequent lactation; however, this was entirely due to the lower milk yield associated with shortened dry period. When adjusted for milk yield, short dry periods actually resulted in poorer fertility in the subsequent lactation. Long days dry improved somatic cell score in the subsequent lactation. Herds with mastitis problems should be cautious in shortening days dry because short dry periods led to higher cell scores in the subsequent lactation compared with 60-d dry.
New experimental results on GPS/INS navigation for Ocean Voyager II AUV

This paper presents preliminary experimental results on small-sized autonomous underwater vehicle navigation in shallow water environments. The vehicle was chosen to be our second-generation Ocean Voyager II which has been integrated with on-board GPS/INS sensors. These first-cut results reveal practical problems when using raw GPS fixes to perform high-precision real-time navigation. Among these, the most damaging factor is the observed correlated noise (which has a long time constant and large magnitude) embedded in the GPS data. With such disturbance, one cannot distinguish between instantaneous signal and noise over a short time scale (especially with sporadic fixes), and consequently the position estimator will be greatly biased. However, with regular incoming fixes, one can process the error between dead-reckoned and GPS signal in order to minimize the influence of the correlated noise under the assumption that any drift due to sensor bias or currents is relatively time-invariant. This processing thus enables one to estimate the drift and drift rate over time reliably for post-processed vehicle localization. In addition to the results in this paper, a differential GPS and Doppler-velocity-log sensor are currently implemented on our Ocean Explorer which is expected to provide much improved navigational performance. The chosen differential GPS sensor has so far demonstrated successful tracking at 2 feet below water surface, thus reinforcing a potential solution for clandestine operations.
On mask selection for time-varying filtering using the Wigner distribution

The application of a multiplicative modification function, or mask, to the Wigner distribution (WD) of a signal has been proposed as an implementation of time-varying filtering in the time-frequency plane. Because the least squares synthesis technique involves an eigenvalue/eigenvector decomposition, the effects of mask size, shape, and placement on the reconstructed system output are not well understood. However, for the case of a Gaussian input signal and a Gaussian shaped mask, the result of the least squares synthesis procedure on the modified WD can be expressed analytically. This expression for the system output is a function of the input signal and mask Gaussian parameters and can be used to analyze the effects of the mask on the output. For masks that are smaller than the WD of the input, the reconstructed signal has a WD related to the mask and not the system input. >
A fully distributed location registration strategy for universal personal communication systems

The universal personal communication system (UPCS) is a system that enables anyone to communicate instantly with anyone else anywhere in the world. One of the crucial problems of such a system is locating hundreds of millions of moving portables in an efficient manner. The location registration strategy described is able to locate active portables automatically in the system with a small overhead in a distributed fashion. The system knows the exact position of an active portable in its service areas. The connection is set up by the system directly to its destination using the direct (shortest) path. The system capacity, efficiency, and inquiry time delay have been improved greatly compared to the leading existing techniques. It is shown that in the proposed system, the maximum database size is 0.51% and the database updating cost is 6.86% of that needed by a central database system under a specified scenario. >
A Positive Theory of Chapter 11

This paper analyzes the voting rules of Chapter 11 using models from noncooperative game theory. Prior work has relied mainly on a model of bargaining between the debtor and a single creditor with perfect information. We expand on this work by considering two-party bargaining with imperfect information, and bargaining (with perfect and imperfect information) among a single debtor and multiple creditors. In addition, prior work has focused on explaining the role of the exclusivity period, the absolute priority rule, and the liquidation floor in Chapter 11 bargaining. We also consider the role of majoritarianism and supermajoritarianism, bicameralism, and classification, and the desirability of allowing creditors to purchase claims from each other.