cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Pediatric Populations

T2DM is directly related to obesity across the life span. Pediatric obesity and T2DM remain increasingly epidemic worldwide.
Presidential Leadership and African Americans: "An American Dilemma" from Slavery to the White House

Series Editor Foreword Preface Introduction: Presidential Leadership and the American Dilemma 1. George Washington 2. Thomas Jefferson 3. Abraham Lincoln 4. Ulysses S. Grant 5. Theodore Roosevelt 6. Woodrow Wilson 7. Harry S. Truman 8. Lyndon B. Johnson Conclusion: The Last Half Century Index
Study of Dynamical Properties of Coronal Structures in the Polar Regions

We present the results from a study of the dynamical properties of polar jets in the Sun’s polar regions using LASCO C2 coronagraph and EIT observations. In the simplest impulsive acceleration scenarios for jets, gravity is expected to be the dominant force on the jet following the initial acceleration, especially in the Sun’s polar regions where the open magnetic fields should not significantly impede the jet’s motion. Our analysis shows that although at low heights the kinematics of the jets could be consistent with a gravitational deceleration of the ejected plasma, at higher heights their motions may simply follow the ambient solar wind outflow. If so, the polar jets can be used as tracers of the solar wind in coronal holes.
Assessment of molecular effects on neutrino mass measurements from tritium β decay

The beta decay of molecular tritium currently provides the highest sensitivity in laboratory-based neutrino mass measurements. The upcoming Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment will improve the sensitivity to 0.2 eV, making a percent-level quantitative understanding of molecular eects essential. The modern theoretical calculations available for neutrino-mass experiments agree with spectroscopic data. Moreover, when neutrino-mass experiments performed in the 1980s with gaseous tritium are re-evaluated using these modern calculations, the extracted neutrino masssquared values are consistent with zero instead of being signicantly negative. On the other hand, the calculated molecular nal-state branching ratios are in tension with dissociation experiments performed in the 1950s. We re-examine the theory of the nal-state spectrum of molecular tritium decay and its eect on the determination of the neutrino mass, with an emphasis on the role of the vibrational- and rotational-state distribution in the ground electronic state. General features can be reproduced quantitatively from considerations of kinematics and zero-point motion. We summarize the status of validation eorts and suggest means for resolving the apparent discrepancy in
An 10 nV/ square root Hz JFET input precision operational amplifier

The author describes an op amp that combines a novel error feedback architecture with a folded-cascode circuit to produce a single gain stage high-speed op amp with DC precision comparable to that of multiple gain stage circuits. The 2210 mu m*3170 mu m chip was fabricated in a dielectrically isolated 400-MHz complementary bipolar process. >
Responses of the bovine lymphatic system to infection by Theileria parva: II. Changes in the central lymph in experimentally-infected calves

Abstract Lymph from tracheal and thoracic ducts was collected from 7 Theileria parva -infected calves at various stages of East Coast fever (ECF) and from 2 normal calves. There was no apparent alteration of cell density in either duct attributable to ECF. Computer image analysis of smears of lymph revealed an increase in the number of large lymphocytes from 5 to 15 per cent, in controls and from 20 to 70 per cent, in calves killed 10 days after inoculation: this was attributed to the presence of antigenically stimulated lymphoblasts and parasitized lymphoblasts in the central lymph. There was also a marked increase in the frequency of mitotic figures in early ECF, most marked in tracheal lymph, which tapered off as the course of the disease lengthened. Variable proportions of lymphocytes in both ducts contained schizonts and the mean schizont index in central lymph reached 31 per cent, in 2 calves.
CONTROL-ID: a demonstration prototype for control-relevant identification

We present CONTROL-ID, a SIMULINK-based package that accomplishes control-relevant identification geared for the needs of the chemical process industries. The major components of the package are described and illustrated using a delayed plant model subject to a substantial nonstationary disturbance.
Hysterosalpingography with image-intensified fluoroscopy

Abstract Image-intensified fluoroscopy provides an excellent method for hysterosalpingography that is rapid, convenient, flexible, and accurate. Many of the technical errors of other methods of hysterosalpingography can be eliminated. Although visualization of the uterine and tubal lumina is continuous and detailed, with judicious use there need be no significant increase in radiation dosage. The examination may easily be recorded on motion pictures or video tape for review or permanent record. This special method of hysterosalpingography is not only ideal for clinical practice but also valuable for teaching and research.
A 115mW 12-bit 50 MSPS pipelined ADC

High sampling rate ADCs are needed in several communications applications like cable modems, and wireless LANs. In this paper we present a low power pipelined ADC cell implemented in a 0.18 /spl mu/m digital CMOS process. The ADC uses a 4-bit/stage architecture for reduced power and area. The ADC has been put on a test chip to verify performance and achieves -70dB THD performance for 10 MHz input at 50 MHz sampling rate.
Visualizing multi-agent collaboration for classification of information

Agent-based simulation is a popular technology for studying social and information systems. Information visualization in such simulations is potentially useful for communicating real time information but involves several levels of challenges. It remains unclear what patterns of agent activities are useful for visualization. To motivate and investigate potentially useful patterns for visualization, we identified four factors: 1) Agent Involvement; 2) Dominant Player; 3) Learning and Adaptation; and 4) Influence of Task and Content Stream. To demonstrate the usefulness of the factors, we operationalized them to permit analysis and visualization in the context of a problem involving coordination among agents conducting document classification.
Detection and Quantification of Endogenous Cyclic DNA Adducts Derived from trans-4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal in Human Brain Tissue by Isotope Dilution Capillary Liquid Chromatography Nanoelectrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A sensitive and selective capillary liquid chromatography nanoelectrospray isotope dilution mass spectrometric method was developed to identify and quantify the endogenous cyclic DNA adducts derived from trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal with 2‘-deoxyguanosine (HNE-dG) in human brain tissues. Authentic and 13C and 15N stable isotope-labeled HNE-dG were synthesized to serve as standards. The in vitro HNE-modified calf-thymus DNA as well as the DNA samples isolated from human brain tissues of normal and Alzheimer's disease subjects were enzymatically digested to nucleosides in vitro with the presence of internal standard (HNE-dG-13C10, 15N5). The enzymatic digests were cleaned up by solid phase extraction. Only 1−2 μg of DNA digests was loaded on a laboratory-constructed reversed phase capillary chromatography column, and the HNE-dG adducts were separated from intact nucleosides and quantified by a high capacity ion trap mass spectrometer in the MS/MS mode. This method was able to quantify an adduct level of approx...
Electron microscopy of a hemagglutinin from Limulus polyphemus.

Macromolecular ring shaped components corresponding to hemagglutinin studied in Limulus polyphemus hemolymph by electron microscopy
Examining the performance and attitudes of sixth graders during their use of a problem-based hypermedia learning environment

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a problem-based hypermedia learning environment on sixth graders' performance and attitudes. We were interested in finding the ways hypermedia technology could be used as cognitive tools to share the responsibilities of teachers to provide necessary scaffolding to support students' learning in a problem-based learning (PBL) environment. Of particular interest to this study was to understand if non-gifted students could succeed in a PBL environment where scaffolding was provided through technology in addition to that from a teacher. Since this environment was multimedia rich and game like, we also wanted to find out if girls would perform as well as boys. Both quantitative and qualitative data were used. The findings have shown that the enriched presentation of the knowledge base and the more effective delivery of cognitive tools through hypermedia technology have provided needed scaffolding to all students in the 6th grade classrooms. As a result, not only students in gifted education but also students in regular education performed well in this technology enhanced PBL environment. In addition, students, who speak English as a second language or have some learning disability, also benefited from using it. The amount of gain in students' science knowledge and problem-solving skills was related to their prior knowledge level. This study has also indicated that due to a large amount of reading involved, slow readers found this PBL environment challenging. More support, via technology or teachers, is needed for these students. To our encouragement, and contrary to the recent computer attitude and gender research, no gender difference was found in the performance, nor in the attitudes among the students in this study. Girls performed equally well and had positive attitudes toward the PBL environment and learning science as a result of using it.
The effect of filter material on bioaerosol collection of Bacillus subtilis spores used as a Bacillus anthracis simulant

The objective of this study was to determine filter materials and extraction methods that are appropriate to use for environmental sampling of B. anthracis. Four types of filters were tested: mixed cellulose ester (MCE) with a pore size of 3 μm, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with pore sizes of 1 and 3 μm, and gelatin with a pore size of 3 μm. Bacillus subtilis var. niger endospores (also known as Bacillus globigii [BG]) were used as a surrogate for B. anthracis. Endospores were collected into Button Inhalable Aerosol Samplers with sampling times of 15 minutes, 1 hour, and 4 hours. Physical collection efficiency was determined by measuring upstream and downstream B. subtilis concentrations with an optical particle counter. Vortexing with ultrasonic agitation and vortexing with shaker agitation extraction methods were evaluated. The MCE, 1 μm PTFE, and gelatin filters provided physical collection efficiencies of 94% or greater. The 3 μm PTFE filter showed inconsistent physical efficiency characteristics between filters. Epifluorescence microscopic analysis of the gelatin filter extraction fluid revealed the presence of contamination by non-culturable bacteria. Mean differences for microbial culturability were not statistically significant for filter materials and extraction methods. However, the vortexing with shaker agitation extraction method resulted in higher total microbial counts in the extraction fluids for MCE and 1 μm PTFE filters when compared to vortexing with ultrasonic agitation. In summary, the MCE and 1 μm PTFE filters in combination with vortexing and shaker extraction demonstrated the best performance for the filter collection and extraction of BG spores.
Time-resolved conductance and reflectance measurements of silicon during pulsed-laser annealing

The dynamics of silicon solidification from the melt during pulsed-ruby-laser annealing have been investigated with the use of time-resolved electrical-conductance and optical-reflectance measurements. Melt duration was found to increase with laser-energy density to over 450 nsec at the highest energy used (3.1 J/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$). Resolidification velocity was found to vary with time and laser-energy density over a range of 2 to 3 m/sec. The melt threshold was observed to be 0.8 J/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. Measurements of the laser energy absorbed in the sample were made to determine energy coupling parameters for use in numerical calculations. The numerical calculations, based on a thermal model for laser melting, are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results.
A Rapid Method for Determination of Sulfate in Water Samples

Abstract A simple and precise turbidimetric method of determining sulfate S in water samples is described. It involves measurement of the turbidity formed when an aliquot of a barium chloride-gelatin reagent is added to an acidified sample. The method is sensitive and accurate and permits determination of microgram amounts of sulfate S present in water samples.
Psychopathic Personality and Negative Parent-to-Child Affect: A Longitudinal Cross-lag Twin Study.

Purpose: Previous studies that have explored the relationship between parenting style and children's antisocial behavior have generally found significant bidirectional effects, whereby parenting be ...
Effect of driving frequency on the operation of a radiofrequency glow discharge emission source

Abstract Several characteristics of the r.f. glow discharge were examined to determine their dependence on driving frequency. The cathode potential exhibited a strong dependence on frequency, as would be expected, because of the capacitive nature of the discharge. As the frequency was dropped from 13 to 6 MHz there was a dramatic rise in the r.f. voltage of the discharge (with a conductive sample), attributed to a change in the mode of power coupling. The sputtering rates of a conductive sample were dramatically greater at the lower frequencies, in part due to higher energy of the sputtering ions. The emission characteristics of the source also changed as the frequency was varied from 6 to 13 MHz. At the higher operating frequencies, atomic emission peaked at a particular r.f. power level, whereas at lower frequencies the neutral-atom signal generally increased monotonically with power. The highest signal levels were found at 20 MHz, the highest frequency studied. Detection limits were determined for both conductors and insulators; in both cases they are detector-noise-limited because of the low throughput of the spectrometer. Detection limits for a conducting sample ranged from 0.1 μ g−1 at 20 MHz to 20 μ g−1 at 3 MHz. The emission from an insulating sample showed the same trends as those from a conducting sample but required higher r.f. power; the greatest signals were found at 6 and 13 MHz because not enough power was available from the r.f. amplifier to reach the optimum power for the 20 MHz discharge. Detection limits for elements in a Macor® ceramic sample ranged from 30 to 110 μg g−1.
Energetic Efficiency and Lithic Technology: An Upper Mississippian Example

Optimal-foraging theory and the concept of energetic efficiency have been used in archaeology for over a decade, usually to explore subsistence behavior. People, however, made choices for energy expenditure in other areas of culture, including lithic technology. It is suggested that a shift in the allocation of energy as an adaptive response to changes in social organization caused the widely noted decline in formal tool types and stone-tool refinement in the late prehistoric periods in eastern North America. Data from an Upper Mississippian village are used to demonstrate the economic use of poor-quality lithic raw material. A bipolar technique was used to produce flake blanks for triangular projectile points as well as a peculiar but common Upper Mississippian tool, the humpback biface. It is suggested that bipolar reduction and other lithic efficiency and economizing strategies are indicators of stress on the energy budgets of human populations.
Designing product feature upgrades: The role of user processing and design change

Abstract Objective This paper aims to examine user performance changes based on user processing level and changes made to a task during a product upgrade. Background User processing level is defined as the type of cognitive processing a user employs to complete a task and is identified as either controlled or automated. Changes to a product task are categorized into three types: omission (removal of a step), commission (addition of a step), and sequence (new order of steps). Method Participants completed tasks on a computer-based inventory management program. The tasks were designed to represent the three types of design changes and two levels of user processing. Example tasks included adding inventory to the system and auditing an inventory level. Performance time and errors were recorded. Results The results indicate a difference in user performance based on processing type: participants adapted to changes in the program more readily when using controlled processing as opposed to automated processing. The variance of user performance was greater for tasks that required controlled processing. Design changes were most readily adapted to with a change of sequence. Tasks that were altered using omission and commission caused a greater negative effect on the participants’ performance. Conclusion When using automated processing, users can more readily adapt to design changes of sequence when compared to other types of design changes. Moreover, users’ recovery rates are higher when using controlled rather than automated processing. Relevance to industry When upgrading consumer products, designers should be mindful of the way tasks are changed, particularly for common automated tasks, which will allow users to more easily adapt to upgraded products.
Heroin dependence and HIV infection in Malaysia

Abstract Background: Malaysia is experiencing severe problems with heroin dependence and HIV infection. This, study evaluated drug use and other HIV risk behaviors and their association with HIV and other infectious diseases in heroin-dependent subjects enrolled in a clinical trial of drug abuse treatment in Muar, Malaysia. Methods: Baseline assessment of treatment-seeking subjects (n=177) included the Addiction Severity Index; AIDS Risk Inventory; serological tests for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C; and chest X-ray. Results: All of the subjects were male; 67.8% were Malays, 28.8% Chinese, and 2.3%. Indian. Subjects had a mean (SD) age of 37.2 (9.1) years and 14.4 (8.5) years of using heroin; 76.3% reported lifetime injection drug use (IDU), and 41.5% reported current IDU; 30 of 156 (19.2%) tested HIV positive, 143 of 159 (89.9%) tested hepatitis C positive, and 25 of 159 (15.7%) had radiological evidence of pulmonary tuberbulosis. Malay subjects had a significantly higher prevalence of current IDU, needle sharing (p Conclusions: The high prevalence of HIV infection among heroin-dependent individuals, in Malaysia supports the important of interventions to reduce the major risk factors for HIV, including IDU, needle sharing, and unprotected sex.
THE VIRUS OF INFECTIOUS FELINE AGRANULOCYTOSIS : II. IMMUNOLOGICAL RELATION TO OTHER VIRUSES.

The infection of cats by the virus of infectious feline agranulocytosis is followed by the production of specific neutralizing and protective antibodies, and recovery from the disease is associated with the development of solid immunity to reinfection. From the evidence presented it is obvious that the virus is not related to the viruses of hog cholera, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, fox encephalitis, vesicular stomatitis, the Western type of equine encephalomyelitis, herpes, and B virus infection.
Planar deformation of a thermotropic copolyester below the crystal-nematic transition

Abstract A solid-state forging experiment, developed in this laboratory, has been applied to a thermotropic copolyester of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid. Uniplanar deformation (with a deformation ratio of 300%) and orientation have been achieved over the temperature range 60–170°C. Also noted is the possibility of unexpected creep well below the crystal-nematic transition (at 250°C). The mechanics of forging (essentially yield stresses) appeared to be strongly affected by the previous thermomechanical history. Among other results, sufficiently long annealing gives rise to a double yield phenomenon, which could be related either to the deformation of two distinct phases and/or to a two-step deformation mechanism. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermal shrinkage experiments above 250°C show the occurrence of strong relaxation processes in the forged copolyester, which could be related to the relaxation of internal stresses frozen in upon forging at low temperatures.
Multistage decission problems

K treatments that yield dichotomous responses are considered in a multistage clinical trial. The total number of patients to be involved in the trial is N, which is random. The optimal length for each treatment at each stage is to be decided. The objective is to maximize the expected total number of successes of the trial. Two cases are considered: (1) Two stages. It is shown that the rate of the optimal length of the first stage is no greater than √E(N) as E(N) goes to infinity, when the distribution of N, Q, yields a regular discount sequence. The rate may be smaller than √E(N) which depends on the distribution of N and the prior distributions on the probabilities of success of the treatments. Under certain conditions, the rate is exactly √E(N). Nevertheless, the rate may be greater than E(N) without the regularity of Q. (2) r stages. It is shown that M∗/E(N) converges to zero in probability as E(N) goes to infinity when Q has the regularity, where M∗ is the sum of the optimal lengths for the first r - ...
Investigation of Laser Grooving for Composite Materials

An analysis of the laser grooving process was conducted for several composite materials. An analytical model was developed to determine groove depth from process parameters and thermal properties of the material. Experimental measurements of groove depth, groove width and damage width were taken for variations in scanning velocity, beam power, and beam passes. A close agreement was found between model predictions and experimental results for groove depths in carbon/teflon. Model predictions consistently overestimated depth values for glass-fiber composites, and correction for heat losses was added to the model to improve agreement with data. Glass/polyester also showed differences in groove depth, width and damage width for variations in beam scanning direction relative to fiber orientation. The groove width and damage width results for all three materials were compared with surface quality standards for laser cutting of composites.
Modeling streamflow-driven gas-liquid transfer rate.

A streamflow-driven gas-liquid transfer rate model was developed. This model was developed in terms of total surface renewal rate and gas diffusion coefficient. The total surface renewal rate was considered to be the sum of the surface renewal rates caused by the turbulence from the air-water interface and that from the water-bed interface. A general mixing length formula and a vertical fluctuation velocity formula was developed to formulate the surface renewal rate. Predictions of this model show good agreements with the measurements in previous studies and the predictions of Churchill's, O'Connor-Dobbins', and Owens-Gibbs' formulae. It was indicated in some previous studies that the existing streamflow-driven gas-liquid transfer rate formulae have limited application ranges. The model developed in this study can be applied for all the normal ranges of flow velocity and water depth in natural rivers, which generalizes and simplifies the applications.
Rule-based understanding of signals

SU/X and SU/P are knowledge-based programs which employ pattern-invoked inference methods. Both tasks are concerned with the interpretation of large quantities of digitized signal data. The task of SU/X is to understand "continuous signals", that is, signals which persist over time. The task of SU/P is to interpret protein x-ray crystallographic data. Some features of the design are: (1) incremental interpretation of data employing many different pattern-invoked sources of knowledge, (2) production rule representation of knowledge, including high level strategy knowledge, (3) "opportunistic" hypothesis formation using both data-driven and model-driven techniques within a general hypothesize-and-test paradigm; and (4) multilevel representation of the solution hypothesis.
Active-layer mapping at regional scales: a 13-year spatial time series for the Kuparuk region, north-central Alaska

Results from extensive, spatially-oriented field investigations conducted in the Kuparuk River region of north-central Alaska were used in conjunction with a simple analytical procedure to provide a comprehensive analysis of active-layer variability under contemporary climate. This approach, based on Stefan's solution to the heat-conduction problem with phase change, uses air temperature as the forcing function. An edaphic parameter represents the landcover-specific response of the ground thermal regime to such local factors as lateral variations in soil, vegetation and moisture conditions. Regional estimates of climatic conditions were used within the framework of the spatial active-layer model to map active-layer thickness over the Kuparuk region on an annual basis, yielding a 13-year spatial time series of regional thaw-depth estimates. Results indicate that high-resolution active-layer mapping at regional scales is feasible given moderate amounts of climatic and edaphic information, obtained through extensive active-layer sampling at locations representative of a number of environmental conditions. The analysis of annual thaw-depth fields indicates that interannual climatic variability causes significant changes in active-layer thickness. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Informal and Illicit Entrepreneurs: Fighting for a Place in the Neoliberal Economic Order.

A panel at the 2007 meetings of the American Anthropological Association examined the working lives of illicit and informal entrepreneurs living in “the gaps” or “shadows” of neoliberal globalization. Panelists challenged dichotomies such as informal/formal and legal/illegal by examining the everyday practices of workers in diverse settings. Emphasis was placed on entrepreneurs' efforts to legitimate their activities and identities to themselves and others.
Ground-state energy of jellium.

High- and low-density perturbation expansions for the ground-state energy per particle are utilized to analyze the presumably ``exact'' Monte Carlo data for jellium. In view of some controversy in the literature with regard to the values of the last two coefficients in the high-density non-power-series expansion, we extract from the Monte Carlo data values for these coefficients for both paramagnetic and ferromagnetic fluids. Integral approximants are then employed to obtain a representation of the high-density series at all densities. Comparison with the low-density expansion about the Wigner electron crystal renders millirydberg-accuracy agreement with the Monte Carlo data and excellent agreement in the critical density for Wigner crystallization.
CpG-mediated changes in gene expression in murine spleen cells identified by microarray analysis.

Abstract Unmethylated CpG motifs interact with Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), triggering an innate immune response characterized by the production of cytokines, chemokines and immunoglobulins. Microarray analysis of cDNA from murine spleen cells stimulated with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) identified reproducible changes in gene expression over time. Eight genes are significantly up-regulated 2 h post CpG ODN stimulation, most of which contribute to the induction of innate or adaptive immune responses. Network analysis indicates that TNF and NFKB1 are key regulators of gene expression at this early time point. At 4 h, IL1B in addition to TNF and NFKB1 play dominant roles in the up-regulation of immune gene expression, whereas by 8 h this function is mediated by TNF, IFNG, and MYC. Genes responsible for down-regulating CpG-induced responses were also identified, dampening what would otherwise be a continuous positive feedback loop. This work provides novel insights into the regulatory process embedded in the gene expression profile induced by CpG ODN, identifies novel genes associated with CpG-induced immune stimulation, and clarifies the breadth of the immune response elicited via TLR9.
Osseous intramedullary signal alteration and enhancement in Sturge-Weber syndrome: an early diagnostic clue

Introduction Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a sporadic phakomatosis with variable intracranial involvement. Port-wine stain, choroidal angioma, and leptomeningeal angiomatosis typify the full disease spectrum. Disease manifestations generally evolve toward cerebral hemiatrophy and compensatory hemicalvarial enlargement. However, recognizable imaging correlates may be lacking early on. We have observed SWS-related marrow signal changes to be prevalent in patients of all ages. The purpose of this study is to evaluate bone marrow abnormalities in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome.
A comparison of the crystal violet nuclear stain with other technics.

The crystal violet nuclear stain was compared with the acid Giemsa and thionin-SO2 stains, and it was found that the three technics revealed nuclear structures which were identical. Various methods of fixation and hydrolysis were tested and it was concluded that the crystal violet gave more uniform results if used without fixation or hydrolysis. The effects of these treatments on the other technics are discussed.
Generating narratives from simple action structures

Narrative analysis is applied to episodes of interaction generated by coupled production systems controlling the activity of different processing units. Formal analysis of such coupled systems, conceived of as models of institutionalized social action, has shown that they generate context‐free languages of interaction. This note suggests that narrative analysis of interaction strings in such languages has limited analytical utility: it offers neither a method to discriminate between well‐formed and malformed strings of interaction nor a procedure to induce the underlying generative rule structure from a corpus of well‐formed interaction strings. Therefore, the narrative method holds little promise as a technique to examine the routinized activity composing a social institution.
Cubic to trigonal stress induced phase transition in SrTiO3

Abstract We report the first observation of the stress induced phase transition from cubic to trigonal symmetry in SrTiO3 at temperatures greater than 106°K, by means of Raman scattering from soft modes. Our results are in qualitative agreement with those which follow from the theory of Slonczewski.
Arbitrary-to-arbitrary polarization controller using nematic liquid crystals

In the study of lightwave systems, polarization related effects have become important considerations. This has led many researchers to focus on developing practical means of controlling the state of polarization of light. This paper demonstrates a polarization controller, consisting of a stack of three homogeneous nematic liquid crystal cells, that is capable of changing any state of polarization of light from one arbitrary state to another. by adjusting the voltages applied across each cell, the state of polarization can be controlled. The mathematical algorithm and the principles of this polarization controller are developed in the framework of the Stokes parameters, allowing an easy visualization and better understandings using Poincare sphere representation. In addition to providing the transformation functions for converting an arbitrary input polarization state to any output state, this paper describes the experiments that were carried out to illustrate and confirm the arbitrary polarization transformations.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Resilience to depressive symptoms: The buffering effects of enhancing cognitive style and positive life events

Abstract Background and Objectives There are two lines of research examining the role of cognition in depression. One line of research focuses on risk for depression, and shows that a negative cognitive style interacts with stressful life events to create depression. The second line of research focuses on recovery, and shows that an enhancing cognitive style interacts with positive life events to reduce depression. The goal of this study was to integrate these two areas and provide a more comprehensive test of the cognitive model of depression. Methods A 4-week prospective longitudinal design was used to test the interaction between cognitive style (both negative and enhancing) and life events (both negative and positive) in a sample of undergraduates ( n = 128). Results Cognitively vulnerable individuals were buffered from the depressive effects of stress if they also possessed an enhancing cognitive style or experienced high numbers of positive life events. Individuals with low levels of negative cognitive style and life stress, but high levels of enhancing cognitive style or positive life events were the most resilient to depressive symptoms. Limitations Future research is needed to determine if the results of this study generalize to a more diverse sample as well as to clinically significant forms of depression. Conclusions The results provide some of the first evidence for the protective role of enhancing cognitive style and positive live events among vulnerable individuals. These findings underscore the importance of examining a broader environmental context when investigating risk and resiliency to depression.
Supercritical fluid extraction of uranium and thorium from nitric acid solutions with organophosphorus reagents.

Extraction techniques for the recovery of uranium and transuranic elements from acid waste solutions are important in nuclear waste management. This paper examines the feasibility of extracting uranyl and thorium ions from nitric acid solutions with supercritical CO{sub 2} containing the different organophosphorus reagents. In this study, an organophosphorus reagent is dissolved in supercritical CO{sub 2} by passing the fluid through a reagent vessel placed upstream of the sample vessel in the extractor. Using TBPO or TOPO in supercritical CO{sub 2}, effective extraction of uranyl and thorium ions can be achieved even in dilute HNO{sub 3} solutions, thus yielding the possibility of reducing acidic waste volumes in nuclear waste treatment. The results may form the basis of a novel extraction process for the treatment of acidified nuclear wastes, while minimizing the production of secondary wastes. 12 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.
Electrophysiological studies of hippocampal connections and excitability

Abstract 1. 1. An electrophysiological study of the afferent and efferent pathways of the hippocampus has been made. 2. 2. The excitability of the hippocampus has been studied before and after isolation from the rest of the brain. 3. 3. Evidence for afferent projections to the hippocampus through the fornix has been adduced. 4. 4. Evidence that the dentate gyrus may present and intermediary relay station is advanced. 5. 5. Evidence is presented for connections between the hippocampus and various cortical and subcortical areas, including limbic cortex, amygdala, diecephalic areas and the midbrain tegmentum. 6. 6. The physiological role of the hippocampus and its significance in seizure discharge are discussed.
STIM: smart train infrastructure monitoring

Globally, infrastructure is a vital asset for economic prosperity, but condition assessments tend to be subjective and infrequent [2]. The lack of objective information leads to sub-optimal capital replacement projects, and the information lag prevents timely repair. In this poster we focus on techniques for monitoring rail-based transit infrastructure, although many of the findings could easily be applied in other types of infrastructure. One monitoring solution is to instrument the tracks and track structures, but given the expanse of our transit networks, the installation and maintenance cost of such a sensor network would be prohibitively high. A second solution is to use a custom instrumentation vehicle capable of monitoring the infrastructure as it moves [1]. However, such dedicated vehicles tend to be expensive, particularly in rail where monitoring is more specialized, so to keep costs down, infrastructure owners use these vehicles infrequently.
Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics

On January 27, 1951, the first atomic weapon was detonated over a section of desert known as Frenchman Flat in southern Nevada, providing dramatic evidence of the Nevada Test Site's beginnings. Fifty years later, author A. Costandina Titus reviews contemporary nuclear policy issues concerning the continued viability of that site for weapons testing. Titus has updated her now-classic study of atomic testing with fifteen years of political and cultural history-from the mid-1980s Reagan-Gorbachev nuclear standoff to the authorization of the Nevada Test Site Research Center, a Desert Research Institute facility scheduled to open in 2001. In the second edition of Bombs in the Backyard, Titus deftly covers the post-Cold War transformation of American atomic policy as well as our overarching cultural interest in all matters atomic, making this a must-read for anyone interested in atomic policy and politics.
Growth of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata on l- and d-malic acid

Abstract d -malate replaced l -malate in supporting both photosynthetic (anaerobic, light) and heterotrophic (aerobic, dark) growth of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata . Growth rates and cell yields were nearly equivalent with both enantiomorphs. Addition of glucose to malate culture media increased the growth rate and doubled the cell yield of heterotrophic cultures, but had little effect on photosynthetic cultures. Aerobically-grown cells showed a higher level of substrate-dependent oxygen uptake with l -malate than with d -malate. This preference for l -malate occured even in cells grown on d -malate. No malic racemase activity was detected in extracts of heterotrophically- or photosynthetically-grown cells.
Managing knowledge security

Purpose – This short paper aims to help in understanding how to manage the tension between knowledge sharing and intellectual property protection.Design/methodology/approach – The paper combines narrative and analysis.Findings – Understanding how to manage the tension between knowledge sharing and intellectual property protection should be a critical goal of the knowledge management community. Challenges include calculating return on investment, characterizing risk, and managing the transience of knowledge through systems, processes, and partner organizations.Originality/value – The paper illustrates how this tension is key to understanding how to manage knowledge in a highly competitive, continually innovating, constantly learning, global environment.
Metabolism of testosterone by homogenates of ovarian adenocarcinoma.

SummaryOvarian adenocarcinoma (human) contains a small amount of the apoenzyme necessary for the oxidation of the 17β hydroxyl group of testosterone. Endogenous estrogens or androgens could not be detected but cholesterol was present at 212 mg/100 g of tumor.
Maximum permanent and Hermitian matrices

Abstract Drew and Johnson obtained an expression for max{per A}, where A runs through all 3-by-3 real symmetric positive semidefinite matrices with the given eigenvalues λ1, λ2, λ3, and conjectured that the expression can be extended to include hermitian matrices. We prove that their conjecture is correct and characterize a 3-by-3 positive semidefinite hermitian matrix B, whose permanent is max{P3(D)}.
Microfluidic biosensors for intelligent metabolite monitoring

We present an intelligent microfluidic system with oxidase enzyme coupled biosensors. Baseline (zero-value) drift and sensitivity degradation are two common problems related with biosensors. In order to overcome these problems there is a great need for integrating an on-demand, in situ self-diagnosis and self-calibration unit along with the sensor. Utilizing the microfluidic technology, we explore the feasibility of implementing this function without any externally coupled bulky apparatus. A microsystem including a microfluidic channel and calibration electrodes are prepared by microfabrication techniques. A novel method of using hydrogen and oxygen bubbles generated by electrolysis of water is used to saturate the solution with these gases in the microfluidic channel where the biosensor is placed. The hydrogen bubble provides oxygen-depleted microenvironment to conduct a zero-value calibration procedure for the sensor. The oxygen bubble provides high sensitivity and constant oxygen background environment to allow stable enzyme reactions that is not limited or perturbed by the fluctuation of background oxygen in sample solutions. Commercial oxygen sensors and pH sensors are used to confirm whether saturation or depletion of oxygen has occurred with minimum local pH change near the sensor during the electrolytic bubble generation. The glucose data obtained from the experiments assure that our proposed method is promising to overcome the above mentioned two problems.
Technical Efficiency in Turkey Production

Abstract Technical efficiency of operating input utilization for 165 hen and 200 tom turkey flocks was measured using the Farrell efficient unit isoquant technique. For each sample by sex, flocks were arrayed by whether they fell into the range of increasing (IRS), constant (CRS), or decreasing (DRS) returns to size. Technical efficiency was measured for each flock by IRS, CRS, and DRS group. Results showed all groups to be highly efficient on average, with mean values of technical efficiency ranging from 93.6 to 97.0%. Hypothesis tests for equality of means showed no significant difference between CRS and DRS groups and between CRS and IRS groups for the hen flocks. The CRS group had a significantly smaller mean than the DRS group. For toms, the CRS group had a significantly larger mean than the IRS group and a significantly smaller mean than the DRS group. Grower payment, received per pound of marketable turkey produced, was regressed on the measures of technical efficiency and other identifiable characteristics of the flocks. A 1% increase in technical efficiency resulted in increases of $.0017 and $.0018/pound in grower payments for hen and tom flocks, respectively. At the mean grower payment, this represents increases of $217.42/flock for hens and $407.07/flock for toms. Assuming a 1% increase in efficiency translates into a 1% reduction in contractor operating input production costs, the total benefit from a 1% increase in efficiency was $510.95/flock for hens and $909.96/flock for toms. Hen and tom growers received 43 and 45% of the benefits, respectively. Relationships between some of the other flock characteristics and grower payment were significant, but their independent effects were relatively small.
Microarray detection of E2F pathway activation and other targets in multiple sclerosis peripheral blood mononuclear cells

We performed microarray analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and detected a profile of immune cell activation, autoantigen upregulation, and enhanced E2F pathway transcription. Accordingly, E2f1-deficient mice manifested only mild disability upon induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Furthermore, PBMCs from Avonex-treated patients had lower expression of E2F targets. The profile was enriched in genes known to harbor MS-associated polymorphisms, or localized to MS susceptibility chromosomal regions. Our study shows that PBMC microarrays reflect MS pathobiology that can be validated in the EAE model.
Nicotine is a Selective Pharmacological Chaperone of Acetylcholine Receptor Number and Stoichiometry. Implications for Drug Discovery

The acronym SePhaChARNS, for “selective pharmacological chaperoning of acetylcholine receptor number and stoichiometry,” is introduced. We hypothesize that SePhaChARNS underlies classical observations that chronic exposure to nicotine causes “upregulation” of nicotinic receptors (nAChRs). If the hypothesis is proven, (1) SePhaChARNS is the molecular mechanism of the first step in neuroadaptation to chronic nicotine; and (2) nicotine addiction is partially a disease of excessive chaperoning. The chaperone is a pharmacological one, nicotine; and the chaperoned molecules are α4β2* nAChRs. SePhaChARNS may also underlie two inadvertent therapeutic effects of tobacco use: (1) the inverse correlation between tobacco use and Parkinson’s disease; and (2) the suppression of seizures by nicotine in autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy. SePhaChARNS arises from the thermodynamics of pharmacological chaperoning: ligand binding, especially at subunit interfaces, stabilizes AChRs during assembly and maturation, and this stabilization is most pronounced for the highest-affinity subunit compositions, stoichiometries, and functional states of receptors. Several chemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics render exogenous nicotine a more potent pharmacological chaperone than endogenous acetylcholine. SePhaChARNS is modified by desensitized states of nAChRs, by acid trapping of nicotine in organelles, and by other aspects of proteostasis. SePhaChARNS is selective at the cellular, and possibly subcellular, levels because of variations in the detailed nAChR subunit composition, as well as in expression of auxiliary proteins such as lynx. One important implication of the SePhaChARNS hypothesis is that therapeutically relevant nicotinic receptor drugs could be discovered by studying events in intracellular compartments rather than exclusively at the surface membrane.
A comprehensive CFD model of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells

The two-dimensional comprehensive CFD model of anode-supported SOFCs operating at intermediate temperature has been presented. This model provides transport phenomena of gas species with electrochemical characteristics and micro-structural properties, and predicts SOFC performance. The mathematical model solves conservation of electrons and ions, continuity equation, conservation of momentum, conservation of mass, and conservation of energy. A continuum micro-scale model based on statistical properties together with a mole-based conservation model was employed. CFD technique was used to solve the set of governing equations. The cell performance was decomposed with contributions of each overpotential and was presented at several operating temperatures with analysis of effective diffusivity. It was found that the contribution of potential gain due to temperature rising was considerably high. However it became non-significant at high operating temperature due to decreasing of effective diffusivity in AFL. These results showed that the performance and the distributions of current density, overpotentials, and mole fractions of gas species have a strong dependence upon temperature. From these results, it was concluded that the conservation of energy should be accommodated in comprehensive SOFC model. Also the useful information for the effect of parameters on cell performance and transport phenomena was provided.
Sewing Dynamics: OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT OF FABRIC/MACHINE INTERACTION

Reports research into developing the ability to sense characteristic information about fabric/machine interactions for real‐time control of the industrial sewing process. The sewing system under investigation was equipped with displacement and force transducers to measure the dynamic response of the feeding system during various modes of operation. A combination of fabric and machine factors was considered in a one‐half fractional factorial experimental design, including: fabric type, number of fabric plies, presser foot type, presser foot preload, and machine speed.