cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of structural descriptors to predict dissolution rate of volcanic glasses: molecular dynamic simulations

Establishing the composition-structure-property relationships for amorphous materials is critical for many important natural and engineering processes, including the dissolution of highly complex volcanic glasses. In this investigation, we performed force field molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to generate detailed structural representations for ten natural CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-TiO2-FeO-Fe2O3-Na2O-K2O glasses with compositions ranging from rhyolitic to basaltic. Based on the resulting atomic structural representations at 300 K, we have calculated the partial radial distribution functions, nearest interatomic distances and coordination number, which are consistent with the literature data on silicate-based glasses. Based on these structural attributes and classical bond valence models, we have introduced a novel structural descriptor, i.e., average metal-oxygen (M-O) bond strength parameter, which has captured the log dissolution rates of the ten glasses at both acidic and basic conditions (based on literature data) with R2 values of ~0.80-0.92 based on linear regression. This structural descriptor is seen to outperform several other structural descriptors also derived from MD simulation results, including the average metal oxide dissociation energy, the average self-diffusion coefficient of all the atoms at their melting points, and the energy barrier of self-diffusion. Furthermore, we showed that the MD-derived descriptors generally exhibit better predictive performance than the degree of depolymerization parameter commonly used to describe glass and mineral reactivity. The results suggest that the structural descriptors derived from MD simulations, especially the average M-O bond strength parameter, are promising structural descriptors for connecting composition with dissolution rates of highly complex natural glasses.
The Global Middle Ages: An Introduction

The Global Middle Ages: An Introduction discusses how, when, and why a 'global Middle Ages' was conceptualized; explains and considers the terms that are deployed in studying, teaching, and researching a Global Middle Ages; and critically reflects on the issues that arise in the establishment of this relatively new field of academic endeavor. An Introduction surveys the considerable gains to be had in developing a critical early global studies, and introduces the collaborative work of the Cambridge Elements series in the Global Middle Ages.
Metabolism by potato tuber of arachidonic acid, an elicitor of hypersensitive resistance

The metabolic fate of arachidonic acid (AA) applied to potato tuber was investigated. Arachidonic acid was stable compared to exogenously-supplied linoleic acid, which is native to potato. More than 50% of the AA was recovered unmodified 24 h after treatment, while less than 30% of applied linoleic acid remained by 4 h. Metabolism of [ 14 C]AA occurred at a low level (2–5%) immediately upon treatment and continued through 30 h, with accumulation of radiolabel in the oxidized fatty acid fractions. Arachidonic acid which remained intact in tissue was incorporated rapidly into acyl lipids, primarily phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine, in a similar pattern to incorporation of exogenously-supplied linoleic acid. The AA released from esterification in phosphatidyl choline by potato tissue followed the fate of free AA. Glucans from Phytophthora infestans and CaCl 2 —both enhancers of hypersensitive resistance—enhanced metabolism of AA to compounds comigrating with oxidized fatty acids. Salicylhydroxamic acid, an inhibitor of hypersensitive resistance, inhibited oxidative metabolism of AA. No effect of these factors on incorporation of AA into phospholipids was observed. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that AA is oxidized by potato as an initial step in triggering hypersensitive resistance, although elicitor activity that could be ascribed to AA metabolites was not found.
The effects of technological and organizational innovations on business value in the context of a new product or service deployment

This research is a qualitative case study that examines transformative technical adaptations and organizational process changes in the context of a new product deployment in a large telecommunications corporation. The research advances the existing body of knowledge and understanding of how the interactions of technology and organizational changes contribute to the successful deployment of new product and service initiatives that generate business value.
Competition policy and the global trading system : a developing country perspective

Starting in the late 1980s, policy makers and academics began increasingly to call for the development of multilateral discipline on anticompetitive practices. Some believe that falling trade barriers must be complemented by antitrust measures to ensure that foreign competition materializes; some believe that without multilateral discipline it would be impossible to limit the use of anti-dumping and related policies; and some believe that the exercise of market power by global multinationals requires a global code on competition. Efforts to establish multilateral disciplines on competition have resulted only in various codes of conduct, none of them legally enforceable. But prospects for negotiating an agreement improved with the recent decision at the first ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish a working group on the topic. The author evaluates various options from the perspective of developing countries: agreeing to minimum standards for national antitrust laws; expanding the reach of the WTO provision on nullification and impairment to policies that restrict competition; granting the WTO a mandate to advocate competition; and doing nothing. He concludes that developing counties would benefit from and agreement that: bans price-fixing and market sharing; includes a ban on export cartels; initiates a process of replacing anti-dumping actions with enforcement of domestic competition laws; and strengthens the WTO s mandate to advocate co nt may be quite difficult, however, as some of these elements will be opposed by various special-interest groups in industrial countries.
GPS-based Vertical Control, Unaided by a Shore Station

The United States Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) conducts worldwide hydrographic surveys in accordance with the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) S-44 hydrographic survey standards. The current approach to meeting IHO standards requires the use of shore-based assets to establish and maintain vertical control via in-situ water level measurements. NAVOCEANO is upgrading its shipboard mission systems to support use of the vertical component of Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements for vertical control of hydrographic survey data. The technique of utilizing the GPS measured height for vertical control is referred to as Ellipsoidal Referenced Survey (ERS). The ERS approach simplifies hydrographic survey operations by reducing the need for shore-based infrastructure for water level measurements and by allowing for the production of data products in a tactical time frame. ERS offers the potential for a more seamless vertical datum from deep water through shallow water and up onto shore. However, this approach to vertical control presents new challenges in the need to define the separation between the ellipsoid and the required vertical datum. Precise point positioning (PPP) techniques make use of GPS satellite clock corrections and satellite orbit corrections which are freely available via the Internet. PPP processing is a post-time activity, lagging data acquisition by the 18 hours to 24 hours needed to gain access to the correction values. Positioning accuracies of better than 20 cm horizontal (95% confidence) and better than 30 cm vertical (95% confidence) have been demonstrated with PPP techniques using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software packages. An integrated survey system configured with current state-of-the-art equipment for the sonar, motion sensor, and profiling sensor can meet IHO order 1 survey requirements using a PPP-based GPS track-line when the separation uncertainty is suitably controlled.
Experimental concepts in a cross-disciplinary capstone course for mechanical engineers

As today's engineering students enter the job market, they must be prepared to approach a wide range of interdisciplinary problems which blur the traditional boundaries within the mechanical engineering (ME) curriculum. To help students develop a broader view of the several ME disciplines, senior students at Wilkes University (USA) are required to take a capstone mechanical design laboratory. This course helps students learn experimental skills that are not introduced in previous laboratories and also provides a cross-disciplinary ME experience which combines design, analysis and testing. Several experiments are developed to cover topics which are not seen in subject-specific laboratory courses, including the use of strain gages, thermocouples and material testing equipment. Emphasis is placed on methodology and analysis to help students apply experimental concepts to their own designs. The culmination of this particular course is a comprehensive design project. The students must propose a project and then build, test, analyze and present their design.
Shaking intensity from injection-induced versus tectonic earthquakes in the central-eastern United States

Abstract Although instrumental recordings of earthquakes in the central and eastern United States (CEUS) remain sparse, the U. S. Geological Survey's “Did you feel it?” (DYFI) system now provides excellent characterization of shaking intensities caused by induced and tectonic earthquakes. Seventeen CEUS events are considered between 2013 and 2015. It is shown that for 15 events, observed intensities at epicentral distances greater than ≈ 10 km are lower than expected given a published intensity-prediction equation for the region. Using simple published relations among intensity, magnitude, and stress drop, the results suggest that 15 of the 17 events have low stress drop. For those 15 events, intensities within ≈ 10-km epicentral distance are closer to predicted values, which can be explained as a consequence of relatively shallow source depths. The results suggest that those 15 events, most of which occurred in areas where induced earthquakes have occurred previously, were likely induced. Although modera...
A membrane-associated complex containing the Vps15 protein kinase and the Vps34 PI 3-kinase is essential for protein sorting to the yeast lysosome-like vacuole.

Abstract The Vps15 protein kinase and the Vps34 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) are required for the sorting of soluble hydrolases to the yeast vacuole. Over-production of Vps34p suppresses the growth and vacuolar protein sorting defects associated with vps15 kinase domain mutants, suggesting that Vps15p and Vps34p functionally interact. Subcellular fractionation and sucrose density gradients indicate that Vps15p is responsible for the association of Vps34p with an intracellular membrane fraction. Chemical cross-linking and native immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that Vps15p and Vps34p interact as components of a hetero-oligomeric protein complex. In addition, we show that an intact Vps15 protein kinase domain is required for activation of the Vps34 PI 3-kinase, suggesting that the Vps34 lipid kinase is regulated by a Vps15p-mediated protein phosphorylation event. We propose that Vps15p and Vps34p function together as components of a membrane-associated signal transduction complex that regulates intracellular protein trafficking decisions through protein and lipid phosphorylation events.
Melanoma Thickness Trends in the United States, 1988–2006

Over the past two decades, numerous efforts have been initiated to improve screening and early detection of melanoma both in the United States and worldwide. It is commonly believed that these efforts have contributed to the stabilization of melanoma mortality, and that the proportion of thick melanoma with unfavorable prognosis is on the decline. Data obtained from 17 population-based cancer registries of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute for 1988–2006 were used to examine trends in melanoma tumor thickness. For malignant melanoma cases with recorded thickness, the proportionate distribution among four thickness categories (≤1, 1.01–2, 2.01–4, and >4mm) remained relatively stable over the 19-year study period, however, for melanomas resulting in death, the proportion of thick tumors increased. The most substantial change occurred in the proportion of melanoma in situ , which nearly doubled from 1988 to 2006. Surveillance and early detection efforts in the United States have not resulted in a substantial reduction in the proportion of tumors with prognostically unfavorable thickness. Continued improvement and new methods of screening, especially among demographics with higher incidence of thick tumors, is necessary.
The Proximity of Common Unhappiness and Misery

The author explores whether the effects of established social risk factors are consistent across the entire range of depression symptoms, guided by the intuition that more severe depression is endogenous in origin and therefore less subject to social influence. Using the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, the author specifically explores transitions between progressive quintiles on the K10 scale of psychological distress using a continuation ratio model. The results reveal that the risk factors sociologists have explored almost exclusively using dimensional measures (e.g., schooling, income, subjective status, life events, social support, marriage) have effects that are generally consistent across the range of symptom severities, whether in terms of transitioning from no symptoms to average unhappiness or from average unhappiness to major depression. Indeed, for a few distal causes, including schooling and income, the association grows stronger with more severe symptoms, whereas for some proximate c...
The Good Father: Parental Expectations and Youth Sports

RLST_A_146756.sg m ABSTRACT Family life and expectations for parents have changed dramatically over the past two generations. In the United States these changes have been fuelled by a combination of factors, includ- ing a conservative emphasis on traditional family values and fathers as heads of households, a neo- liberal emphasis on individualism and the need for fathers to take responsibility for the development of their children, a liberal feminist emphasis on gender equity in family life, and progressive ideas about the meaning of gender and sexuality. As a result of these factors mothers and fathers today are held responsible for the whereabouts and actions of their children 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This standard, never before used in any society as a baseline measure for good parenting, serves as a foundation for linking the character and achievements of children to the moral worth of parents. Because sports are activities in which a child's success is visible and objectively measurable, and because fathers are more likely than mothers to have or claim expertise in sports, the development of athletic skills among children is often monitored by fathers who act as coaches, managers, agents, mentors, and advocates for their child athletes. Therefore, the involvement of fathers in youth sports is grounded in complex cultural changes and it has implications for families and father-child relationships. These implications are discussed in light of new expectations that connect the moral worth of parents to the success of their children.
Fission fragment mass and energy distributions as a function of incident neutron energy measured in a lead slowing-down spectrometer

A new method of measuring fission fragment mass and energy distributions as a function of incident neutron energy in the range from below 0.1 eV to 1 keV has been developed. The method involves placing a double-sided Frisch-gridded fission chamber in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's lead slowing-down spectrometer (LSDS). The high neutron flux of the LSDS allows for the measurement of the energy-dependent, neutron-induced fission cross sections simultaneously with the mass and kinetic energy of the fission fragments of various small samples. The samples may be isotopes that are not available in large quantities (submicrograms) or with small fission cross sections (microbarns). The fission chamber consists of two anodes shielded by Frisch grids on either side of a single cathode. The sample is located in the center of the cathode and is made by depositing small amounts of actinides on very thin films. The chamber was successfully tested and calibrated using $0.41\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04$ ng of $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$ and the resulting mass distributions were compared to those of previous work. As a proof of concept, the chamber was placed in the LSDS to measure the neutron-induced fission cross section and fragment mass and energy distributions of $25.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5 \ensuremath{\mu}$g of $^{235}\mathrm{U}$. Changes in the mass distributions as a function of incident neutron energy are evident and are examined using the multimodal fission mode model.
Comment on "Laminar Stagnation-Point Heat Transfer for a Two-Temperature Argon Plasma"

I N Ref. 1, the authors attempt to simplify the heat transfer problem by assuming that ''the freestream static temperature near the stagnation point is constant along the x direction and is equal to that at the stagnation point." While they considered the Joule heating term to be constant, as shown in Eq. (16), they neglected to balance the global energy in the freestream. If the above assumption is used in the global energy equation, the current density should be zero in the freestream. And if the Joule heating in the boundary layer is constant, as they have assumed, then it should be zero. On the other hand, if the externally applied electric field is a nonzero constant, then there should be additional terms in the energy equations from (18) through (20) pertaining to the freestream temperature variation along the x direction. It is apparent that a stream function \l/ is used so that the continuity equation is satisfied by purw = d\l//dy and pvrw = — d\l//dx. However, the stream function is not defined, nor is the velocity component in the y direction defined in terms of the "dimensionless normal.velocity." The sign for the term P0£/0d(/0/dxin Eq. (9) is incorrect. This term is then dropped completely from Eq. (17), which does not, therefore, represent the flow configuration considered in the paper.
Marinesco-Sjögren Syndrome: Neuroradiologic Findings

We report the neuroradiologic manifestations of Marinesco-Sjogren Syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia, congenital cataracts, mental and physical retardation, skeletal anomalies and myopathy.Our patient population included eight patients (five males and three females), aged 4 to 56 years, with mental retardation, cerebellar ataxia and myopathy. Clinical and genetic evaluations were performed in all patients. Four patients underwent muscle biopsies. Nine CT examinations, seven MR examinations and two lateral skull films were performed.All patients had absent lenses and hypoplasia of vermis and cerebellar hemispheres. All except one (who had a posterior fossa arachnoid cyst) had a small posterior fossa.The neuroradiologic hallmarks of the disease are cerebellar hypoplasia, small posterior fossa and absence of the lens secondary to early cataract extraction. The role of imaging is to suggest this syndrome in the differential diagnosis of small posterior fossa or hypopl...
Baryon Observables in the Chiral Bag Model

Abstract Using cranking techniques a variety of baryon observables are calculated within the framework of the chiral bag model. Effects from valence quarks, mesons and the quark Dirac sea are included. Results for the NΔ mass splitting and nucleon magnetic moments are found to be relatively insensitive to the bag radius.
Comments on the dissociation of polyatomic molecules by intense 10.6 μm radiation

Abstract The discussion of the physical processes involved in the dissociation of polyatomic molecules by intense infrared radiation at a vibrational absorption band leads to an estimate of the required electric field amplitude of (1–3) × 10 6 V/cm.
Measurement errors for a portable device measuring short‐term growth

A field trial was conducted for a portable Knee Height Measuring Device (KHMD). Measurement errors for the machine, within and between observers (intraobserver and interobserver) and within subjects (intrasubject), were calculated from repeated observations of two anthropometrists on 40 children, 8 and 9 years of age. Interobserver technical error (0.452 mm) was larger than that published by the KHMD developers, but intraclass reliabilities are still very high (0.9975-0.9983). Attained size and fatness of subjects were not significantly correlated with interobserver measurement errors. Observed errors suggest they are sufficient to allow detection of knee height growth over periods of time much shorter than could be accomplished using more conventional anthropometry.
A Rapid Computational Method for Reducing the Search Space Required in Nuclear Reactor Optimization

Reactor optimization is central to increasing the efficiency of nuclear fuel cycles and critical for making meaningful comparisons between different design options. Optimization algorithms work by generating trial parameter sets which can be used as inputs to reactor physics models. Unfortunately, many reactor physics codes require substantial CPU time, making optimization of large parameter sets impractical. We have developed a method for finding optima within an N-dimensional parameter space using a fast, flexible reactor physics model that is capable of performing fuel burnup calculations on the order of once per second. Global optima found in this way can then be verified using a high fidelity reactor physics code. We demonstrate our approach by considering a simple fuel pin pitch optimization for a light-water reactor, and we find our code executes in 5 minutes. Repeating this approach using a high-fidelity Monte Carlo simulation requires approximately 15 days of runtime by contrast.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Concurrent naltrexone and prolonged exposure therapy for patients with comorbid alcohol dependence and PTSD: a randomized clinical trial.

Importance Alcohol dependence comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been found to be resistant to treatment. In addition, there is a concern that prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD may exacerbate alcohol use. Objective To compare the efficacy of an evidence-based treatment for alcohol dependence (naltrexone) plus an evidence-based treatment for PTSD (prolonged exposure therapy), their combination, and supportive counseling. Design, Setting, and Participants A single-blind, randomized clinical trial of 165 participants with PTSD and alcohol dependence conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Veterans Administration. Participant enrollment began on February 8, 2001, and ended on June 25, 2009. Data collection was completed on August 12, 2010. Interventions Participants were randomly assigned to (1) prolonged exposure therapy plus naltrexone (100 mg/d), (2) prolonged exposure therapy plus pill placebo, (3) supportive counseling plus naltrexone (100 mg/d), or (4) supportive counseling plus pill placebo. Prolonged exposure therapy was composed of 12 weekly 90-minute sessions followed by 6 biweekly sessions. All participants received supportive counseling. Main Outcomes and Measures The Timeline Follow-Back Interview and the PTSD Symptom Severity Interview were used to assess the percentage of days drinking alcohol and PTSD severity, respectively, and the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale was used to assess alcohol craving. Independent evaluations occurred prior to treatment (week 0), at posttreatment (week 24), and at 6 months after treatment discontinuation (week 52). Results Participants in all 4 treatment groups had large reductions in the percentage of days drinking (mean change, −63.9% [95% CI, −73.6% to −54.2%] for prolonged exposure therapy plus naltrexone; −63.9% [95% CI, −73.9% to −53.8%] for prolonged exposure therapy plus placebo; −69.9% [95% CI, −78.7% to −61.2%] for supportive counseling plus naltrexone; and −61.0% [95% CI, −68.9% to −53.0%] for supportive counseling plus placebo). However, those who received naltrexone had lower percentages of days drinking than those who received placebo (mean difference, 7.93%; P = .008). There was also a reduction in PTSD symptoms in all 4 groups, but the main effect of prolonged exposure therapy was not statistically significant. Six months after the end of treatment, participants in all 4 groups had increases in percentage of days drinking. However, those in the prolonged exposure therapy plus naltrexone group had the smallest increases. Conclusions and Relevance In this study of patients with alcohol dependence and PTSD, naltrexone treatment resulted in a decrease in the percentage of days drinking. Prolonged exposure therapy was not associated with an exacerbation of alcohol use disorder. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00006489
Religious Culture and Political Action

Recent work by political sociologists and social movement theorists extend our understanding of how religious institutions contribute to expanding democracy, but nearly all analyze religious instit...
Protection of regional mechanics and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by amlodipine in transiently ischemic myocardium

The effects of amlodipine (0.3 mg/kg administered intravenously, n = 5) and placebo (n = 5) on recovery of myocardial function and respiration of isolated mitochondria were examined in "stunned" myocardium of normotensive pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. Measures of myocardial wall motion, using sonomicrometers, and tissue blood flow, by radioactive microspheres, were obtained at baseline, 15 minutes after administration of amlodipine or placebo, after 10 minutes of left circumflex artery ligation and at 60 minutes of reperfusion. Mean aortic pressure decreased from 115 +/- 6 to 101 +/- 5 mm Hg after administration of amlodipine and remained decreased throughout the experiment. Heart rate was not significantly affected at any time. Both groups showed similar degrees of ischemia: elevation of ST segment to 4.7 +/- 1.4 vs 6.2 +/- 1.9 mV; reduction of ischemic zone shortening fraction to 0.6 +/- 1.9 vs -3.4 +/- 2.7%; and reduction of epicardial and endocardial blood flows (epicardial = 40 +/- 13 vs 43 +/- 13 ml/100 g/min; endocardial = 7 +/- 4 vs 13 +/- 6 ml/100 g/min [values for amlodipine vs placebo]). Mitochondrial state 3 rate of respiration and respiratory control index indicative of rate of adenosine triphosphate synthesis and membrane integrity in myocardial samples taken after 10 minutes of ischemia were significantly reduced in the placebo but not in the amlodipine group. Myocardial function showed significantly greater improvement in amlodipine vs placebo at 60 minutes of reperfusion as indicated by shortening fraction (17.7 +/- -1.4 vs 5.8 +/- -3.5%, amlodipine vs placebo), which may have been related to increased myocardial blood flow and decreased blood pressure during reperfusion. Thus, amlodipine pretreatment prevented mitochondrial dysfunction during ischemia and accelerated recovery of both myocardial mechanical function and blood flow when compared with placebo.
A framework for global IS outsourcing by application service providers

The phenomenal growth of the Internet has persuaded many companies of its potential as a channel for outsourcing information systems applications. Application service providers (ASP) are firms that offer outsourcing application services to many organizations via the Internet. By contracting ASP, organizations are having information technology (IT) staff focusing their efforts on core competencies while, at the same time, capitalizing on the expertise of outsourcer. On the other hand, many ASP turn some of their projects to global outsourcer. The study develops a framework that identifies the critical factors influencing ASP' decision to outsource globally. These factors are product development costs, IT talent, product quality, communication technology, tax incentives, and cultural differences. The rest of the paper discusses the differences between different types of global outsourcing, explore the emerging trend and advantages of utilizing ASP, and recommend measures to ensure the success of projects to be developed globally. The framework developed in this paper represents a foundation for more rigorous empirical research to identify the significance of each influencing factor. The results can provide ASP managers with a road map that addresses issues of concern in global outsourcing.
A self-organizing knn fuzzy controller and its neural network structure

This paper introduces a fuzzy controller that can be designed without specific information on the membership functions and the fuzzy rules. We show how the membership values of crisp inputs can be determined by K-nearest-neighbour (KNN) distance measures applied to the centres of the input clusters. Based on this new type of membership values, we introduce a KNN defuzzification method that allows the direct estimation of the crisp output of the given input data. the proposed computational model requires a clustering (self-organizing) process. We employ a simple clustering method that can adaptively allocate new clusters as more data become available to the controller. We prove that the resulting controller can uniformly approximate any real and continuous function to any desirable accuracy on a compact set. For hardware implementations we develop a neural network structure of the proposed fuzzy controller and compare it with other types of neural networks. It is shown that the three-layer sigmoid neural network and the Gaussian radial basis function (GRBF) network are special cases of this structure. A learning algorithm for the new structure is provided. the performance of the proposed controller is considered through three application studies: a controller design for truck backer-upper control, the prediction of the S&P 500 index, and the prediction of the Mackey-Glass time series.
Little Higgs Models and Electroweak Measurements

Using effective field theory approach, we study the constraints from electroweak data on the SU(5)/SO(5), SU(6)/SP(6), SU(3)xU(1) little Higgs models and their variations. We construct an effective theory valid above the electroweak symmetry breaking scale in these models that includes dimension-six operators induced by integrating out heavy fields. We calculate the constraints on the models using the results of [Z. Han and W. Skiba, Phys. Rev. D 71, 075009 (2005)], where bounds on arbitrary linear combinations of flavor and CP conserving dimension-six operators are given. We present the constraints in terms of the bounds on the masses of heavy fermions and heavy gauge bosons. The constraints are often stringent, but in some regions of the parameter space the constraints are mild enough and do not imply significant fine-tuning.
The dissociation energy of the hydrogen molecule

Abstract On the basis of new absorption spectra of H2, HD and D2 taken at liquid nitrogen temperature with a 10.5-m vacuum grating spectrograph, the dissociation limits of these molecules near 850 A were redetermined. It has been found that previous work was more strongly affected by overlapping lines and lack of resolution than was suspected at the time. Even with the increased resolution and the elimination of many overlapping lines by the use of low temperature, none of the limits of H2 are free from overlapping lines. But the J″ = 0 limits of HD and the J″ = 0 and J″ = 2 limits of D2 are free, and from the reliable values for the dissociation energies in the ground states, D 0 0 (HD) = 36 406.2 cm −1 and D 0 0 (D 2 ) = 36 748.9 cm −1 , have been obtained, which are estimated to be accurate to better than ±0.4 cm−1. For H2 only an upper and a lower bound can be obtained, but it is probable that the upper bound D 0 0 (H 2 ) = 36 118.3 cm −1 is close to the true value. The new D 0 0 values are in much better agreement with the theoretical values than the old values. A brief discussion of the dissociation energies of the excited electronic states is added.
A Pilot Study of Curative Intent Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Patients With ≤5 Oligometastatic Lesions

Results: Primary cancer sites included: breast (32%), colorectal (26%), lung/head & neck/esophagus (18%), pancreas/biliary/hepatic (6%), sarcoma (6%) and others (12%). Metastatic sites included lung (41%), thoracic lymph nodes (18%), liver (45%), pelvic/ abdominal lymph nodes (3%), adrenal glands (2%), brain (5%) and bone (12%). The number of metastatic lesions at presentation in each patient were 1 (30%), 2 (26%), 3 (23%), 4 (10%) and 5 (11%). The number of involved organs were: 1 (78%), 2 (19%), 3 (3%). The net GTV (sum of GTVs from all treated lesions) ranged from 0.3–422 ml (median 28 ml). Further metastatic progression was considered distant failure. Local failure was defined as radiographic growth (.20%) or pathological recurrence. The 2-year overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), local control (LC) and distant control (DC) were 50%, 29%, 69% and 36% respectively. 4-year values were: 27%, 18%, 51% and 24%. The median OS and PFS were 24 months and 11 months respectively. Only 3 patients died from local progression (2 liver, 1 brain). The net GTV was significant on univariate (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) analysis for OS, PFS, DC and LC. Among patients who experienced a local failure, the median initial net GTV was 36 ml and mean net GTV was 78 ml, versus 27 ml and 41 ml respectively for patients without a documented local failure (p = 0.006 on t-test). On UVA and MVA, breast cancer patients fared significantly better with respect to OS, PFS, DC and LC. Patients with adrenal metastases had significantly worse OS, PFS and DC, despite the small number of such patients enrolled. Neither the number of metastatic lesions, nor the number of organs involved were significant predictors of OS or PFS. There was a trend towards worse DC with more organs involved. Among the 45 patients alive at last follow-up, 28 have no evidence of disease, including 22 patients with .2 years of follow-up. Conclusions: Oligometastatic disease is a potentially curable state of distant cancer spread. In our studies, patients with less volume burden of metastatic disease, and those with primary breast cancer fared better. The number of lesions and number of involved organs are not significant prognostic variables for OS or PFS. SBRT delivered with curative intent in patients with limited metastases should be investigated further. Author Disclosure: M.T. Milano, None; A.W. Katz, None; A.G. Muhs, None; A. Philip, None; D.J. Buchholz, None; M.C. Schell, None; P. Okunieff, Grant support from BrainLab AG (Heimstetten, Germany), B. Research Grant.
COLD FUSION: EFFECTS OF POSSIBLE NARROW NUCLEAR RESONANCE

The influence of a possible and as yet undiscovered narrow resonance in 4He on the d-d fusion rate near threshold is examined. A qualitative discussion of the structure of the lowest four 0+ states and its impact on the partial widths of decay channels is presented.
Phase-field method for computationally efficient modeling of solidification with arbitrary interface kinetics

We present mathematical results which dramatically enhance the computational efficiency of the phase-field method for modeling the solidification of a pure material. These results make it possible to resolve a smaller capillary length to interface thickness ratio and thus render smaller undercooling and three-dimensional computations accessible. Furthermore, they allow one to choose computational parameters to produce a Gibbs-Thomson condition with an arbitrary kinetic coefficient. The method is tested for dendritic growth in two dimensions with zero kinetic coefficient. Simulations yield dendrites with tip velocities and tip shapes which agree within a few percent with numerical Green's function solutions of the steady-state growth problem.
Student perception of school environment and its relationship to mood, achievement, popularity, and adjustment

This study examined relationships between student perceptions of classroom environment and mood, achievement, popularity, and adjustment, both for students in general and for "problem" 6.e., actingout, anxious, and unpopular) children. Subjects included 511 fifth- and sixth-grade students from 23 classes in four suburban schools. Class environment was assessed by responses to a short form of the Classroom Environment Scale (CES). Students also completed mood adjective checklists and peer sociometric ratings. Reading and arithmetic report card grades and achievement test scores were recorded for the school year, and teachers submitted adjustment ratings for all students. Classes, rather than students, were used as the main unit of analysis. For classes in general, high perceived Order and Organization and Affiliation related to greater student popularity. Relationships between perceptions of class environment and the dependent measures were stronger for problem students. For that group, high perceived Order and Organization, Affiliation, and Innovation related to positive mood, greater peer popularity, and teacher ratings indicating more positive adjustment.
Residential Stability and Academic Sense of Control

The relationship of residential stability to the academic sense of control of elementary school children is the focus of this paper. There are four basic questions: (1) How does the stability level of the residential community as a whole relate to academic sense of control; (2) Hcw does individual stability relate to academic sense of control? How do sense of control scores vary for (3) different combinations of individual and community stability; and for (4) different combinations of socioeconomic status (SES) and stability? Residential stability level has been cited as having both direct and indirect relationships with various social and personality variables. Durkheim (1947, 1951) speaks indirectly of its importance when he writes of the impact of solidarity upon social integration and suicide. Srole (1956) views anomie in the urban setting as contributing to patterns.
MPC design for rapid pump-attenuation and expedited hyperglycemia response to treat T1DM with an Artificial Pancreas

The design of a Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategy for the closed-loop operation of an Artificial Pancreas (AP) for treating Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is considered in this paper. The contribution of this paper is to propose two changes to the usual structure of the MPC problems typically considered for control of an AP. The first proposed change is to replace the symmetric, quadratic input cost function with an asymmetric, quadratic function, allowing negative control inputs to be penalized less than positive ones. This facilitates rapid pump-suspensions in response to predicted hypoglycemia, while simultaneously permitting the design of a conservative response to hyperglycemia. The second proposed change is to penalize the velocity of the predicted glucose level, where this velocity penalty is based on a cost function that is again asymmetric, but additionally state-dependent. This facilitates the accelerated response to acute, persistent hyperglycemic events, e.g., as induced by unannounced meals. The novel functionality is demonstrated by numerical examples, and the efficacy of the proposed MPC strategy verified using the University of Padova/Virginia metabolic simulator.
TWISTED COMMUTING SQUARES

We consider generalizations of commuting squares, called twisted commuting squares, obtained by having the commuting square orthogonality condition hold with respect to the inner product given by a faithful state on a finite-dimensional *-algebra. We present various examples of twisted commuting squares, most of which are computationally easy to work with, and we prove an isolation result. We also show how parametric families of (not necessarily) twisted commuting squares yield associative deformations of the matrix multiplication.
Scaling NFSv4 with parallel file systems

Large grid installations require global access to massive data stores. Parallel file systems give high throughput within a LAN, but cross-site data transfers lack seamless integration, security, and performance. The GridNFS project, aims to provide scalable, transparent, and secure data management as well as a scalable and agile name space. A key challenge in exporting a parallel file system with NFSv4 is to provide high performance without sacrificing consistency. This paper introduces extensions to the NFSv4 protocol to support parallel access. We implemented a prototype of our design and present experiments demonstrating its scalable architecture.
A peek into the history of sapphire crystal growth

After the chemical compositions of sapphire and ruby were unraveled in the middle of the 19th century, chemists set out to grow artificial crystals of these valuable gemstones. In 1885 a dealer in Geneva began to sell ruby that is now believed to have been created by flame fusion. Gemnologists rapidly concluded that the stones were artificial, but the Geneva ruby stimulated A. V. L. Verneuil in Paris to develop a flame fusion process to produce higher quality ruby and sapphire. By 1900 there was brisk demand for ruby manufactured by Verneuil's method, even though Verneuil did not publicly announce his work until 1902 and did not publish details until 1904. The Verneuil process was used with little alteration for the next 50 years. From 1932-1953, S. K. Popov in the Soviet Union established a capability for manufacturing high quality sapphire by the Verneuil process. In the U.S., under government contract, Linde Air Products Co. implemented the Verneuil process for ruby and sapphire when European sources were cut off during World War II. These materials were essential to the war effort for jewel bearings in precision instruments. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Czochralski process was implemented by Linde and its successor, Union Carbide, to make higher crystal quality material for ruby lasers. Stimulated by a government contract for structural fibers in 1966, H. LaBelle invented edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG). The Saphikon company, which is currently owned by Saint-Gobain, evolved from this effort. Independently and simultaneously, Stepanov developed edge-defined film-fed growth in the Soviet Union. In 1967 F. Schmid and D. Viechnicki at the Army Materials Research Lab grew sapphire by the heat exchanger method (HEM). Schmid went on to establish Crystal Systems, Inc. around this technology. Rotem Industries, founded in Israel in 1969, perfected the growth of sapphire hemispheres and near-net-shape domes by gradient solidification. In the U.S., growth of near-net-shape sapphire domes was demonstrated by both the EFG and HEM methods in the 1980s under government contract, but neither method entered commercial production. Today, domes in the U.S. are made by "scooping" sapphire boules with diamond-impregnated cutting tools. Commercial markets for sapphire, especially in the semiconductor industry, are healthy and growing at the dawn of the 21st century.
Electrophoretic analysis of proteinases in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing copolymerized radiolabeled protein substrates: application to proenkephalin processing enzymes.

A novel method is described for the zymographic analysis of proteinases in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing copolymerized radiolabeled protein substrates such as ({sup 35}S)methionine-labeled proenkephalin or {sup 125}I-labeled proinsulin. After electrophoresis the enzyme is reactivated and cleaves the radiolabeled in situ substrate into smaller peptides. These small peptides are able to diffuse out of the gel, leaving clear areas against a dark background when visualized by autoradiography. The technique can be used to detect as little as 200 fg of trypsin using only 50 ng (1.25 microCi) of ({sup 35}S)proenkephalin. Soluble- and membrane-bound adrenal trypsin-like enzyme were isolated from bovine adrenal chromaffin granules. Both proteinases cleaved ({sup 35}S)methionine-labeled proenkephalin but not {sup 125}I-labeled proinsulin. Moreover, both had a Mr of approximately 30,000. The potential of this technique for general use is discussed. An additional method using the synthetic fluorogenic substrate t-butoxycarbonyl Glu-Lys-Lys aminomethylcoumarin is also described.
Measurement and use of bi-directional reflectance

Bi-directional reflectance is a fundamental surface property that has received a great deal of attention, particularly during the early years of the space program. Although the value of using accurate surface property data has always been recognized, bi-directional reflectance information is rarely used because of the sheer volume of data involved. Now, with powerful workstations readily available, large Monte Carlo codes can be run very quickly and full advantage can be taken of the detailed surface property description provided by bi-directional reflectance data. This paper provides a detailed description of a simple, compact, flexible apparatus for measuring bi-directional reflectance and a review of measurement considerations.
Optical imaging of intracellular chloride in living brain slices

Abstract We developed an optical imaging technique to measure changes in intracellular levels of Cl− in neurons within the living brain slice. After rat brain slices were incubated with the permeant form of the Cl−-sensitive dye, 6-methoxy-N-ethylquinolinium chloride (MEQ), neurons could be imaged within the hippocampus, cerebral cortex and cerebellum using fluorescence microscopy. Both soma and dendrites were clearly visible in pyramidal neurons, interneurons, Purkinje cells and cerebellar granule cells. Increased intracellular levels of Cl− were produced by bath application of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Within hippocampal pyramidal neurons and interneurons, GABA produced a concentration-dependent decrease in fluorescence (EC50 = 200 μM). The GABA response was mediated via the GABAA receptor since it was blocked by picrotoxin and mimicked by the agonist, muscimol. Muscimol, which is not transported by the GABA re-uptake pump, was approximately 20-fold more potent than GABA. The method developed was also used to image intracellular Cl− levels with UV laser scanning confocal microscopy. Even greater resolution was obtained and deeper structures could be imaged in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. This is the first demonstration of optical imaging to measure intracellular Cl− dynamics in living brain slices using fluorescence microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy.
Dual Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery: CT Findings

OBJECTIVE. Dual left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) is a rare congenital anomaly with four subtypes. This anomaly has been described in the angiographic literature, but with the increasing use of coronary CT, it becomes imperative for CT interpreters to be aware of this entity, its implications, and the cross-sectional findings. We report the ECG-gated 64-MDCT coronary angiographic findings on two types of dual LAD (types 1 and 4). The imaging findings of the other types of dual LAD also are discussed.CONCLUSION. It is important for CT interpreters to be aware of and recognize dual LAD at coronary CT. Because of inability to visualize the additional vessel, especially when the long LAD originates from the right coronary sinus, the variant anatomic features can be misinterpreted at routine coronary angiography for mid-LAD occlusion. Identification of an additional LAD can be important for diagnosis and therapeutic planning.