cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New technique using CO2 laser for high heating and simultaneous optical characterization of IR windows

Tactical missile infrared (IR) windows are exposed to high heating conditions during free-flight trajectories. These high heating rates and resultant non-uniform temperature distributions result in degradation of optical performance as well as structural capability of the IR window. Optically, the wavefront and the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) can be catastrophically degraded and is strongly dependent on the time varying magnitude and distribution of the heat on the window. Therefore, for each missile application, it is critical to be able to determine the optical effects of the heating on window performance. As analytical techniques for predicting optical heating effects are limited, test results are critical in providing conclusive measured data on performance as well as validating analytical predictions. Unfortunately, conventional techniques for measuring the free flight heating effects, e.g. shock tubes and wind tunnels, are expensive and require complex set-ups for measuring the optical performance. The high speed flow and resultant thermal and vibration environments require that the hardware be robust and nearly form factored. This increases the cost of the hardware and limits the available volume for instrumentation and optical measurement devices. In addition, because of the volume limitations, many times it is necessary to use a form factored, expensive IR seeker to measure the optical performance. A new test technique has been developed by Raytheon to measure the optical performance of a non-form factored IR window while simultaneously exposing it to tactical missile free flight heating levels. The high power, continuous wave carbon-dioxide laser, located at the Laser Hardened Materials Evaluation Laboratory (LHMEL) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, was used to heat the exterior surface of a flat, internally cooled silicon window. During the application of the laser heating, the optical performance of the cooled window as measured using a 128 by 128 focal plane array (FPA) midwave IR detector. Several weeks of testing was conducted in which significant data on the wavefront distortion, thermal response, and overall optical performance of the internally cooled silicon window was captured. The test technique can be utilized for any IR window material, internally cooled or uncooled. The test set-up and technique are discussed in this paper. The low cost of performing the tests allowed significant data to be collected on the IR performance of the window. The ability to test non- form factored hardware resulted in significant cost savings as available test equipment was utilized in lieu of expensive form factored IR seekers. Also, the ability to measure non- form factored hardware early in the development process resulted in reductions in overall development cost and schedule.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis of 3,6-dideoxy-3-(methylamino)hexoses for g.l.c.-m.s. identification of Rhizobium lipopolysaccharide components.

Abstract A direct synthetic route from methyl α- d -glucopyranoside to 3,6-dideoxy-3-(methylamino)hexoses having the d - gluco , d - galacto , and d - manno configurations has been developed. Methyl α- d -glucoside was converted into the 4,6- O -benzylidene-2,3,-di- O -tosyl derivative, which has then transformed into the 4- O -benzyl-6-deoxy 2,3-ditosylate ( 5 ) by successive reductive cleavage of the acetal ring, iodination, and reduction. The intermediate 5 was readily converted into the allo 2,3-epoxide, which yielded the pivotal intermediate methyl 4- O -benzyl-3,6-dideoxy-3-(methylamino)-α- d -glucopyranoside ( 7 ) by cleavage of the oxirane ring with methylamine. The amino compound 7 can be directly converted into the derivatized galacto and manno derivatives for mass-spectrometric identification by selective inversion at C-4 and C-2, respectively, followed by hydrolysis, reduction, and acetylation.
Does class inclusion have mathematical prerequisites

Abstract Developmental sequence analysis was used to distinguish between two Piagetian models of class inclusion. The logical inference model (e.g., Inhelder & Piaget, 1959/1969 ) holds that class inclusion has minimal mathematical prerequisites. The exact compensation model (e.g., Inhelder, Sinclair, & Bovet, 1974 ) holds that class inclusion has extensive mathematical prerequisites. Two classification tasks (class compensation and class inclusion) and two addition/subtraction tasks (quantitative addition/subtraction and additive composition) were presented to 81 children in kindergarten through third grade. The order relationships among the tasks supported the logical inference model against the exact compensation model. The results are consistent with the view that number and classification are independent cognitive domains through the early school years.
An Auger spectroscopic study of the kinetic behavior of adsorbed oxygen on palladium

Abstract The adsorption of oxygen on polycrystalline palladium, the kinetics of the reaction of adsorbed oxygen with carbon monoxide and the amount of adsorbed oxygen present during the catalyzed reaction, CO + 1 2 O 2 → CO 2 , were studied by Auger electron spectroscopy. At temperatures below 783 K, the initial sticking probability is high (~0.8). Adsorbed oxygen and CO react with high probability and low activation energy to form carbon dioxide. The reaction is first order with respect to carbon monoxide pressure and zero order in oxygen coverage. Oxygen coverages measured during the CO-oxidation reaction decrease sharply around PCO ≅ PO2 and are very small when PCO >PO2. The reaction kinetics are discussed using a modified Eley-Rideal mechanism involving strongly adsorbed oxygen atoms and surface carbon monoxide in a short-lived state. The oxygen adsorption phenomena are correlated with the reaction kinetics.
Perceived Psychological Control and Anxiety in Early Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Attributional Style

Research indicates that perceived parental control is a risk factor for anxiety in youth, but mechanisms underlying this connection remain under-examined. This study examined whether hopeless attributional style mediates this relationship, as well as whether this relationship is moderated by gender, in early adolescents (N = 116, ages 10–14). We assessed two hypotheses: (1) that hopeless attributional style would mediate the relationship between perceived maternal psychological control and anxiety symptoms across 1 year, and (2) that this pathway would be stronger for girls than for boys. This study used a three-wave, prospective longitudinal design. Hopelessness was a significant mediator; early adolescents who perceived high rates of maternal psychological control tended to develop a more hopeless attributional style, which in turn predicted increases in anxiety. This effect was not moderated by gender. We discuss implications for treating and preventing anxiety in youth, specifically the need for interventions to address children’s hopeless attributions and perceptions of parents’ behaviors.
The use of cultured ovarian fragments to assess toxicant alterations in steroidogenesis in the Sprague-Dawley rat

This study was conducted to determine the utility of using steroid production by cultured ovarian fragments to assess toxicant-induced alterations in ovarian steroidogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats. To this end, serum steroid concentration and steroid production (progesterone (P4), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2)) by cultured ovarian fragments is described during a normal 4-day estrous cycle. This culture system was then used to profile the effects of aminoglutethimide shown to have two sites of steroidogenic inhibition, side chain cleavage enzyme and aromatase. LH, FSH, P4, and E2 concentrations in serum during the 4-day estrous cycle confirmed that described in the literature for untreated rats. All of the steroids measured had peak production levels during proestrus. The patterns of P4 and E2 production by the ovaries in an unstimulated culture mimics that seen in serum. Stimulation with hCG (100 mIU/mL) after the initial 1 h culture tends to even out the production of P4, while T production rises faster and peaks earlier. The pattern and levels of estradiol production in hCG-stimulated cultures are very similar to those in the unstimulated culture, both in pattern and in production levels. When cultured ovarian fragments from proestrous rats were treated in vitro with aminoglutethimide (1 to 16 microM), the pattern of steroid production that characterized the inhibitory effects were similar to those reported in the literature using isolated cell culture procedures. This pattern showed a rapid decrease in E2 production (IC50 of 2.43 microM), a concurrent rise in T production, and a decrease in P4 production (IC50 of 15.5 microM). This culture system is an appropriate system to rapidly assess toxicant effects on ovarian steroidogenesis following in vivo or in vitro exposure.
Brainstem interneurons necessary for vestibular influences on sympathetic outflow

The objective of this study was to determine which general brainstem regions contain interneurons that are critical for mediating vestibulo-sympathetic responses in decerebrate cats, as a prelude for future cell recording studies. Large injections of kainic acid into the lateral reticular formation at levels caudal to the obex abolished sympathetic nerve responses elicited by electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve. The same lesions also diminished excitatory and some inhibitory components of somato-sympathetic responses elicited by stimulation of the sciatic nerve, raising the possibility that a common pool of interneurons integrates signals from muscle, skin and the vestibular system that reflect body position in space. Large lesions of other brainstem regions containing interneurons involved in regulation of sympathetic activity, including nucleus tractus solitarius, the lateral tegmental field rostral to the obex, and the parabrachial nucleus, had no appreciable effect on the amplitude of either vestibulo-sympathetic or somato-sympathetic responses. Thus, interneurons critical for relaying vestibular and other somatic signals to descending cardiovascular-regulatory pathways appear to be located in the caudal and lateral parts of the medulla.
The contribution of quadratic electron-phonon interaction to acoustic polaron mobility at very low temperatures

Abstract The contribution of the quadratic electron-phonon interaction to acoustic polaron mobility is evaluated at very low temperatures (∼0.1 K). For the deformation potential we find that the mobility diverges as T−8 as T→0. This is the same divergence as has previously been calculated when the scattering processes are Compton-like. Comparing the two contributions we find that Compton-like scattering processes are more effective in limiting the mobility.
Computer‐aided Drafting of Legal Documents

Beginning with a survey of the application of computers to the law—how they are used now and how expected to be used in the future—this article presents a model of computerized document drafting systems and describes the capabilities such systems must have. A description of a template document that will specify the content, the form, and the rules for completing a class of documents is followed by a discussion identifying the facilities a document designer needs to specify such a template document, which in effect defines the language needed for the template design. A simple, easily implemented template drafting language (tdl) and a prototype software system (add) that can assemble documents drafted in this language have been designed and used to create security agreements drafted in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Correlation of scuffing experiments with EHL analysis of rough surfaces

Scuffing experiments were conducted on a twin disk machine using straight mineral oil. The purpose of these experiments was to validate some existing scuffing theories based on the breakdown of lubrication film in concentrated partial ehl (elastohydrodynamic lubrication) contacts. The verify these scuffing theories, a model for solving the complete inlet half ehl solution to the line contact between two rough longitudinally ground surfaces was developed. This ehl contact model was based on a newly developed concept, “average gap.” The effect of surface roughness on lubrication was taken into account by simulating the contacts between many different pairs of rough surfaces. In order to solve for the ehl contact solutions of the two disks under scuffing conditions, the actual run-in surface profiles of the mating disks, digitized just prior to failure, were used. Finally the correlations were made between the scuffing theory and the experimental data.
Evaporation of multicomponent drop arrays

The conventional fuels that are used in the field of transportation are primarily composed of two or more components. Each component evaporates, mixes with hot oxidant gases, ignites, and burns. Since evaporation is the precursor of the sequence of events leading to combustion, the evaporation studies on the multi-component drops are essential for determining the governing parameters of spray evaporation. While single-component drop studies have been carried out extensively in the past, very limited literature exists on the multicomponent array evaporation. The present paper deals with the evaporation of multicomponent fuel droplets in an array using the recently developed p oint s ource m ethod (PSM). First, the quasi-steady (QS) evaporation of an isolated, multicomponent droplet is briefly analyzed. The resultant governing equations, along with Raoult’s law and the Cox-Antoine relation, constitute the set of equations needed to arrive at the solutions for: (1) the droplet surface temperature, (2) the evaporation rate of each species, and (3) the vapor mass fraction of each species at the droplet surface. The PSM, which treats the droplet as a point mass source and heat sink, is then adopted to obtain an analytic expression for the evaporation rate of a multicomponent droplet in an array of liquid droplets. Defining the correction factor (η) as a ratio of the evaporation of a drop in an array to the evaporation rate of a similar isolated multi-component drop, an expression for the correction factor is obtained. The results of the point source method (PSM) are then compared with those obtained elsewhere for a three-drop array that uses the m ethod o f i mages (MOI). Excellent agreement is obtained. The treatment is then extended to a binary drop array to study the effect of interdrop spacing on vaporization. When the drops are close to each other, the evaporation rate of the droplet in the array containing the larger percentage of volatiles is higher than the rate under isolated conditions (η>1). The results qualitatively confirm the experimental data reported elsewhere. Parametric results were obtained for the effect of changing the composition on the correction factor and finally critical drop compositions in the binary array are given for which η>1. Even though the results for the average correction factor of the whole array of 2 to 9 drops obtained using PSM are almost the same as the results from MOI, the correction factor of the center drop under severe interaction may deviate from those results obtained with MOI.
Computation of the behavior of fire in an enclosure

An improved method is presented for the computation of the behavior of fire in an enclosure. The method takes into account the composition and geometrical shape of fuel and the change of equilibrium gas composition with temperature. It is applied to fires in a single compartment during “developed” and “decay” periods. Temperatures of gas and building elements, rate of combustion, rates of various heat losses, and composition of fire atmosphere are calculated. Uncertain factors that should be investigated in future studies to improve the present computation include the oxygen deficiency factor in the developed period of fire, the rate of penetration of fire into various fuels, and the combustion behavior of char.
Positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging in Merkel cell carcinoma: A study of 270 scans in 97 patients at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center

Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and lethal cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Imaging is crucial for accurate staging, which remains a strong predictor of survival, as well as earlier detection of recurrence and progression, which are common despite aggressive management. There is no consensus on the role of initial and subsequent imaging for MCC. Objective We sought to evaluate the use of 2-fluoro-[ 18 F]-deoxy-2-D-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the management of MCC. Methods In all, 270 FDG-PET/CT studies were performed in 97 patients with pathology-proven MCC at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, Mass, from August 2003 to December 2010. Results FDG-PET/CT scans were obtained as part of the initial (61 scans in 61 patients) and subsequent (209 scans in 79 patients) treatment strategies. MCCs were FDG-avid with a mean maximum standardized uptake value of primary lesions of 6.5 (range 1.3-12.9) and a mean maximum standardized uptake value of regional and distant metastases of 7.2 (range 1.5-9.9). FDG-PET/CT upstaged 16% of patients who underwent baseline scans. FDG-PET/CT studies showed that bone and bone-marrow metastases were more common than previously reported, and were often undetected by CT. Limitations Our study is limited by its retrospective design, and potential referral bias associated with a tertiary care center. Conclusions FDG-PET/CT performed as part of the initial management strategy tended to upstage patients with more advanced disease. FDG-PET/CT performed as part of the subsequent treatment strategy identified metastatic disease, particularly in bone/bone marrow, which was not seen on CT. FDG-PET/CT imaging is a valuable staging and restaging tool in MCC management.
Delivery of optical contrast agents using Triton-X100, part 1: reversible permeabilization of live cells for intracellular labeling

Effective delivery of optical contrast agents into live cells remains a significant challenge. We sought to determine whether Triton-X100, a detergent commonly used for membrane isolation and protein purification, could be used to effectively and reversibly permeabilize live cells for delivery of targeted optical contrast agents. Although Triton-X100 is widely recognized as a good cell permeabilization agent, no systematic study has evaluated the efficiency, reproducibility, and reversibility of Triton-X100–mediated permeabilization in live mammalian cells. We report a series of studies to characterize macromolecule delivery in cells following Triton-X100 treatment. Using this approach, we demonstrate that molecules ranging from 1 to 150 kDa in molecular weight can be reproducibly delivered into live cells by controlling the moles of Triton-X100 relative to the number of cells to be treated. When Triton-X100 is administered at or near the minimum effective concentration, cell permeabilization is generally reversed within 24 h, and treated cells continue to proliferate and show metabolic activity during the restoration of membrane integrity. We conclude that Triton-X100 is a promising permeabilization agent for efficient and reproducible delivery of optical contrast agents into live mammalian cells.
Disorders of mineral metabolism in the newborn

Disorders of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis present both acute and chronic clinical consequences for newborns. The etiologies responsible range from iatrogenic, idiopathic, and inherited metabolic abnormalities. Maintenance of physiologically normal serum calcium and phosphorus requires complex interactions between the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and bone. Calciotropic hormones such as vitamin D and parathyroid hormone, as well as hormones controlling phosphorus homeostasis, such as fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), are essential in controlling these interactions. In newborns, calcium and phosphorus balance must necessarily be positive in order to provide the requisite building blocks for growth and maturation. Renal tubular handling of these minerals is a key control point in regulating the overall body balance in calcium and phosphorus. Adaptive changes in renal calcium and phosphorus reabsorption in newborns explain how a net positive total body balance of these minerals is achieved. Monogenetic disorders leading to abnormal renal handling of calcium and/or phosphorus have immediate clinical consequences in terms of complications associated with high or low levels of these minerals. Perhaps more importantly, chronic abnormalities of calcium and/or phosphorus, without treatment, may have serious consequences for growth and development of the growing skeleton. This article serves to review calcium and phosphorus regulation in the human body, describe differences in handling of these minerals by the newborn, and review the conditions, both acquired and congenital, that may present with abnormalities in calcium and/or phosphorus in the newborn period.
Vortices in the three-dimensional thin-film Ginzburg–Landau model of superconductivity

Building on the results of Chapman et al. (Z Angew Math Phys 47:410–431, 1996) on the behavior of minimizers in the Ginzburg–Landau thin-film model, we show that the vortices in the three-dimensional superconducting thin films are located in the cylinders whose cross sections coincide with the disks that contain the vortices in the two-dimensional model. To arrive at this conclusion, we prove that the three-dimensional minimizers converge to the two-dimensional counterparts in H1 and in Cα. We also give examples of regimes in which the vortex structure of the two-dimensional minimizers is well understood. Our results, in particular, provide insight into the behavior of the three-dimensional vortices in these regimes.
Influence of oxygenated fuel additives and their metabolites on the binding of a convulsant ligand of the γ-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor in rat brain membrane preparations

As a foundation for evaluating potential mechanisms of the neurological effects (e.g. headache, nausea, dizziness) of some octane boosters, we studied the gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A)) receptor in a series of binding assays in membranes from rat brain. The GABA(A) receptor was probed using the radioligand [3H]t-butylbicycloorthobenzoate ([3H]TBOB) which binds to the convulsant recognition site of the receptor. The results demonstrated that the short-chain t-ethers and their t-alcohol metabolites inhibit binding at the convulsant site of the GABA(A) receptor. The potency of the inhibition tended to correlate with carbon chain length. For agents having an equal number of carbon atoms, potency of inhibition of [3H]TBOB binding was greater in magnitude for the alcohols than for the ethers. The descending rank order of potency for the ethers and alcohols were as follows, t-amyl alcohol (TAA); t-amyl-methyl ether (TAME); ethyl-t-butyl ether (ETBE)>t-butyl alcohol (TBA)>methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE)>ethanol. In additional saturation binding assays, MTBE reduced apparent density of convulsant binding (B(max)).
Advanced supersonic inlet technology.

Recently, relatively new analytical procedures have been successfully used to design bleed systems for mixed-compression inlets designed to operate efficiently up to Mach number 2.65. The procedures used constitute a major advance in inlet technology by offering a promising approach to attain high internal and external performance for mixed-compression inlets that operate over a large supersonic Mach number range. Unfortunately, there is a lack of data describing bleed hole performance characteristics to verify these procedures at high Mach numbers. This paper briefly discusses the analytical procedures for designing advanced inlet systems and suggests facility modifications wherein the procedures can be verified on large-scale inlet models up to approximately Mach number 4.5.
Differential reinforcement of high rate behavior to increase the pace of self-feeding

Although numerous studies have examined treatments for increasing food consumption among children with pediatric feeding disorders, very few have examined treatment of other mealtime-related difficulties. One such problem is a slow pace of self-feeding, which can lead to caregivers failure to adhere to treatments or be disruptive to others. We examined the effects of a differential reinforcement of high rate (DRH) intervention to increase a 9-year-old boy's pace of self-feeding. During treatment, the child received reinforcement contingent on consuming his meal within 30 min. Results showed an increase in the pace of self-feeding and a concomitant decrease in meal duration as compared to baseline. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment of Recurrent Severe Hemoptysis in Cystic Fibrosis with Tranexamic Acid

Major hemoptysis is a potentially life-threatening complication of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) along with treatment of a CF pulmonary exacerbation has become the most widely used therapeutic approach for major hemoptysis in CF. However, BAE has been associated with severe complications, especially when bronchial artery to spinal artery anastomoses are present. This case study describes the successful treatment of major hemoptysis in CF with tranexamic acid, in an individual in whom 12 previous BAE procedures had been performed and further procedures were contraindicated secondary to bronchial artery to spinal artery collaterals. Recurrence of the hemoptysis occurred after attempts had been made to withdraw the tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid was resumed with resolution of the hemoptysis, and the therapy has been used continuously for 13 months without any complications.
The relationship between moral distress and perception of futile care in the critical care unit

Summary Purpose Study the relationship between moral distress (MD) and futile care in the critical care unit (CCU). Subjects and methods A cross-sectional survey consisting of 38 clinical situations associated with MD related to 6 categories: physician practice, nursing practice, institutional factors, futile care, deception and euthanasia was distributed to 100 nurses at a single CCU. The intensity and frequency of MD were scored with Likert scale: 0—lowest and 6—highest. Results The survey was completed by 44 (44%) nurses. Median age was 33 years, 80% females. Median intensity of MD was high for the six categories and had no relationship with age, time in CCU or nursing practice. The encounter frequency of MD for futile care was the highest and was significantly related to age >33 years ( p =0.03), time in CCU >4 years ( p =0.04) and nursing practice >7 years ( p =0.01). Conclusion MD associated with clinical situations representing futile care increased with time in CCU. Future interventions are required to minimize the exposure to futile care situations and develop mechanisms to mitigate the effects of MD in the CCU.
Defining the role of palliative care in older adults with heart failure

While palliative care is often thought of as only being applicable to dying patients, its focus on symptom alleviation, patient function, and quality of life has much to offer older adults with chronic heart failure. Heart failure worsens patients' health status through patients' symptom burden, functional limitations, and reduced health-related quality of life. Moreover, older adults with heart failure have multiple other comorbidities and polypharmacy that further contribute to poor health status. Comorbid depression is a particularly important issue. In this patient population, prognosis is limited and often uncertain. Spouses and caregivers of patients report significant distress and depression. Through symptom management, depression and psychosocial care, assistance with defining goals of care and planning for the future, and caregiver support, palliative care has the potential to improve patient health status and reduce costs and hospitalizations. This care is complementary to contemporary heart failure care and can be provided concurrently at any point during the illness based on patient and caregiver needs.
Spin-echo measurements of long-range coupling constants in some simple esters

Abstract Long-range coupling constants in a few simple esters have been obtained from spin-echo spectra near the J-limit. It was found that spin-echo line frequencies are sensitive to minor deviations in π-pulse width. Careful control of spectrometer conditions is therefore required, but the accuracy achieved under proper conditions demonstrates the potential usefulness of the technique for simple spin systems in cases where the magnitude of the coupling is less than the linewidth in conventional NMR spectra.
Drug and neurotransmitter receptors. New perspectives with clinical relevance.

Our understanding of drug and neurotransmitter receptors has been greatly advanced by receptor binding techniques. The theme of multiple-receptor subtypes with clinical relevance is highlighted by calcium antagonist and benzodiazepine receptors. Numerous drugs may exert therapeutic and untoward effects via calcium channels. Examples include effects of loperamide hydrochloride on diarrhea, the phenothiazine thioridazine hydrochloride on cardiac and ejaculatory function, and the neuromuscular toxicity of aminoglycosides. Elevated numbers of calcium antagonist receptors in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be involved in the pathophysiology of this disease. Benzodiazepines act via discrete central and peripheral receptors. At central receptors, benzodiazepines facilitate the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter -y-aminobutyric acid. Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors are localized to mitochondria and enriched in several endocrine glands where they are influenced by therapeutic blood levels of benzodiazepines such as diazepam. (JAMA. 1989;261:3126-3129)
Right ventricular infarction complicating right coronary angioplasty.

We report a patient who developed anterior ST segment elevation following angioplasty of the right coronary artery in which a right ventricular branch became occluded. Several similar reports were found in the literature as well as a putative mechanism for the electrocardiographic changes. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 47:327-330, 1999.
Experimental test of the SCA/FEL external cavity☆

Abstract An external cavity driven by the optical pulse train of the SCA/FEL has been installed and tested. The external cavity provides an opportunity to enhance the micropulse energy available for experiment and can be used as an FEL diagnostic. We have demonstrated optical energy storage which is the theoretical maximum for a cavity Q of 15. The temporal behavior of the optical pulse in the external cavity has been compared to calculations of the dynamics, allowing us to infer the stability of our system. We have used our results to plan improvements to the external cavity.
Neuronal activity rapidly induces transcription of the CREB-regulated microRNA-132, in vivo

Activity-dependent changes in gene-expression are believed to underlie the molecular representation of memory. In this study, we report that in vivo activation of neurons rapidly induces the CREB-regulated microRNA miR-132. To determine if production of miR-132 is regulated by neuronal activity its expression in mouse brain was monitored by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). Pilocarpine-induced seizures led to a robust, rapid, and transient increase in the primary transcript of miR-132 (pri-miR-132) followed by a subsequent rise in mature microRNA (miR-132). Activation of neurons in the hippocampus, olfactory bulb, and striatum by contextual fear conditioning, odor-exposure, and cocaine-injection, respectively, also increased pri-miR-132. Induction kinetics of pri-miR-132 were monitored and found to parallel those of immediate early genes, peaking at 45 minutes and returning to basal levels within two hours of stimulation. Expression levels of primary and mature-miR-132 increased significantly between postnatal days 10 and 24. We conclude that miR-132 is an activity-dependent microRNA in vivo, and may contribute to the long-lasting proteomic changes required for experience-dependent neuronal plasticity.
Picosecond coherent Raman measurements of optical-phonon relaxation in LaF 3 Ce 3 +

An investigation of dephasing rates of some optical phonons in ${\mathrm{LaF}}_{3}$: ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ (2 at.% ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$) crystals by picosecond time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy is presented. At low temperature the lifetime of the 78-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ phonon is 380 ps, while those of five other phonons of g200 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ energy are in the range $2l{T}_{1}l10$ ps. The decay of the 78-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ phonon is due to anharmonic spontaneous emission of two 39-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ optical phonons with a cubic anharmonic matrix element $〈{{B}^{(3)}}_{78 39 39}^{0 k \ensuremath{-}k}〉=0.15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The decay of the other phonons studied likely occurs by an analogous process. The matrix elements for these phonons appear to be in the range 0.2-0.6 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The dephasing rate of the 78-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ phonon is followed as a function of temperature to ~100 K, and the rates are well fitted by an energy relaxation model involving emission to 39-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ phonons and absorption of ~40 and ~118-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ thermally excited phonons. The matrix elements for absorption processes are (0.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1) and (0.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2) ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, respectively. The rate of absorption of thermally excited 78-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ phonons is 10% of the rate of the other up-conversion processes, and it is suggested that this is due to a type of summetry selection rule for phonon-phonon scattering arising from small distortions away from a bimolecular unit cell to a hexamolecular cell, which creates two distinct types of phonons.
Performance of EWMA versus last observation for feedback control

Two forms of feedback regulation that have been used for process adjustment in Automatic Process Control are considered. In the first, recommended originally by Box and Jenkins (1963) and by Box, Jenkins and MacGregor (1974), action is taken when the absolute difference between an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) of the past data [Zcirc]n+1 and the target value T first crosses a threshold value L* In the second, recommended by Taguchi (1981), the action is triggered when the absolute difference between the last observation zn and the target value T exceeds a given constant L. It has been shown (Box and Jenkins 1963) that if we consider the disturbance as an integrated moving average IMA(0,1,1) model containing parameter θ, then the former is optimal when θ is equal to the smoothing parameter used in the EWMA, and the latter is optimal if θ is zero. Thus some controversy has arisen because, as we show here, for any given scheme of the second kind with parameter L, there is a scheme of the first...
Early adverse events, HPA activity and rostral anterior cingulate volume in MDD.

Background Prior studies have independently reported associations between major depressive disorder (MDD), elevated cortisol concentrations, early adverse events and region-specific decreases in grey matter volume, but the relationships among these variables are unclear. In the present study, we sought to evaluate the relationships between grey matter volume, early adverse events and cortisol levels in MDD. Methods/results Grey matter volume was compared between 19 controls and 19 individuals with MDD using voxel-based morphometry. A history of early adverse events was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Subjects also provided salivary cortisol samples. Depressed patients showed decreased grey matter volume in the rostral ACC as compared to controls. Rostral ACC volume was inversely correlated with both cortisol and early adverse events. Conclusions These findings suggest a key relationship between ACC morphology, a history of early adverse events and circulating cortisol in the pathophysiology of MDD.
Examining the relationship between typical drinking behavior and 21st birthday drinking behavior among college students: implications for event-specific prevention.

Aims The purpose of this research was to: (i) compare 21st birthday drinking with typical drinking; (ii) assess the prevalence of negative consequences and risk behaviors experienced during the 21st birthday week; and (iii) examine the role of typical drinking and 21st birthday drinking in explaining 21st birthday week negative consequences and risk behaviors. Setting and participants Participants (n = 306; 50% male) included college students turning 21 at a Midwestern public university in the United States. Design and measurement Approximately 1 week prior to their 21st birthday, students completed measures of typical past 3-month alcohol consumption via a web-based survey. Following their birthday, students (n = 296; 50% male) completed measures of 21st birthday week drinking as well as negative consequences and risk behaviors. Findings Findings indicated that students consumed considerably larger amounts of alcohol during the week of their 21st birthdays in comparison to typical weekly consumption. Additionally, students experienced a variety of negative consequences and risk behaviors during the week of their 21st birthday, including hangovers, vomiting and not remembering part of the previous evening. Negative binomial regression results indicated that those most likely to experience more negative consequences and risk behaviors associated with 21st birthday drinking were those who consumed heavy amounts of alcohol the week of their birthday, but who did not typically drink excessively. Conclusions Findings underscore the need to develop event-specific prevention approaches for occasions associated with extreme drinking and provide direction for considering who may be at greatest risk for problems associated with celebratory drinking. Language: en
Suicide Rates in Immigrants

The suicide rates of 12 immigrant groups in the USA in 1959 were not associated with the size of those immigrant groups in the American population.
Heterogeneity of phosphorus distribution in a patterned landscape, the Florida Everglades

The biologically mediated transfer of nutrients from one part of a landscape to another may create nutrient gradients or subsidize the productivity at specific locations. If limited, this focused redistribution of the nutrient may create non-random landscape patterns that are unrelated to underlying environmental gradients. The Florida Everglades, USA, is a large freshwater wetland that is patterned with tree islands, elevated areas that support woody vegetation. A survey of 12 tree islands found total soil phosphorus levels 3–114 times greater on the island head than the surrounding marsh, indicating that the Florida Everglades is not a homogeneous oligotrophic system. It was estimated that historically 67% of the phosphorus entering the central Everglades was sequestered on tree islands, which are ~3.8% of the total land area. This internal redistribution of phosphorus onto tree islands due to the establishment of trees may be one reason that marshes have remained oligotrophic and may explain the spatial differentiation of the patterned Everglades landscape.
Evidence that spinal 5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptor subtypes modulate responses to noxious colorectal distension in the rat.

This study examined whether the antinociception produced following the intrathecal (i.t.) administration of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and other 5-HT receptor agonists in a model of visceral pain that utilizes colorectal distension (CRD) as the noxious visceral stimulus is mediated through interaction with spinal 5-HT1, 5-HT2, or 5-HT3 receptor subtypes. CRD in conscious rats reliably elicits two pseudaffective reflexes: a vigorous pressor response and a visceromotor response. Antinociception is characterized by inhibition of both pseudaffective responses. The effects of 5-HT receptor agonists and antagonists resting blood pressure were also examined. The i.t. administration of 5-HT resulted in a dose-dependent elevation of the visceromotor threshold and inhibition of the pressor response to CRD. The 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT, the 5-HT1B receptor agonist RU-24969, the 5-HT2 receptor agonistsDOI, MK-212 and α-methyl-5-HT and the 5-HT3 agonist 2-methyl-5-HT all dose-dependently inhibited the pressor response and dose-dependently elevated the visceromotor threshold to noxious CRD. The rank order of potency of these agonists was the same for both pseudaffective response to CRD: DOI≥ 8-OH-DPAT≥MK-212=RU-212 =RU-24969 >- αmethyl-5-HT= 2-methyl-5-HT. The antinociceptive effects of 5-HT, RU-24969, α-methyl-5-HT and DOI were antagonized by i.t. pretreatment with methysergide. Intrathecal with ketanserin antagonized the antinociceptive ef MK-212 and MDL-72222 antagonized ty the effects produced by 2-methyl-5-HT in response to CRD. The antinociceptive effects produced by 8-OH-DPAT were not antagonized by i.t. pretreatment with methysergide. These results demonstrate that 5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors in the spinal cord mediate antinociception in response to noxious CRD in conscious rats.
Cross-beam polarization in flames with a pulsed dye laser.

We report the first application of a cross-beam polarization spectrometry technique with a pulsed dye laser in flames. Saturation, curve of growth, and dependence of the polarization signal on the crossing angle between the probe and pump beams have been experimentally investigated. The results indicate that polarization spectroscopy is a promising technique in the area of combustion diagnostics.
Cognitive effects of β-adrenergic antagonists after single doses : pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propranolol, atenolol, lorazepam, and placebo

The behavioral effects of two beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, selected to represent differing lipophilicity, were evaluated in a double-blind, single-dose, parallel-group study. A group of 55 healthy volunteers (mean age, 28 years) received single oral doses of placebo, atenolol (50 mg), propranolol (40 mg), or lorazepam (2 mg). Plasma drug concentrations, self-ratings of sedation and mood, observer ratings of sedation, and performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) were assessed at multiple times during 24 hours after drug administration. Information acquisition and recall were tested at 3 and 24 hours after drug administration. Lorazepam significantly increased sedation and fatigue, impaired DSST performance, and impaired memory. The time course of these changes was highly consistent with plasma lorazepam concentrations. In contrast, atenolol and propranolol produced at most small changes in self-ratings and observer ratings and did not alter DSST performance or memory. Under experimental conditions that are sensitive to the depressant effects of a typical benzodiazepine, single doses of atenolol and propranolol produced no meaningful changes, compared with placebo.
Conformal Perfectly Matched Layer for the Mixed Finite Element Time-Domain Method

We introduce a conformal perfectly matched layer (PML) for the finite-element time-domain (FETD) solution of transient Maxwell equations in open domains. The conformal PML is implemented in a mixed FETD setting based on a direct discretization of the first-order coupled Maxwell curl equations (as opposed to the second-order vector wave equation) that employs edge elements (Whitney 1-form) to expand the electric field and face elements (Whitney 2-form) to expand the magnetic field. We show that the conformal PML can be easily incorporated into the mixed FETD algorithm by utilizing PML constitutive tensors whose discretization is naturally decoupled from that of Maxwell curl equations (spatial derivatives). Compared to the conventional (rectangular) PML, a conformal PML allows for a considerable reduction on the amount of buffer space in the computational domain around the scatterer(s).
Thermal tuning of silicon-based one-dimensional photonic bandgap structures

Thermal tuning of silicon-based one-dimensional photonic bandgap microcavities is demonstrated. Thermally induced spectral shifts are caused by both the host silicon matrix and the optically active material infiltrated inside the photonic bandgap structures. The active material leads to the dominant thermal tuning contribution but the effect of the silicon matrix cannot be neglected. The interaction of the temperature dependence of the host matrix with that of the active material is explored. The general trends revealed by the characterization should be relevant for two-dimensional silicon-based photonic bandgap structures as well as other photonic bandgap materials systems. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Complex ceramic structures. I. Weberites

The weberite structure (A2B2X7) is an anion-deficient fluorite-related superstructure. Compared with fluorites, the reduction in the number of anions leads to a decrease in the coordination number of the B cations (VI coordination) with respect to the A cations (VIII coordination), thus allowing the accommodation of diverse cations. As a result, weberite compounds have a broad range of chemical and physical properties and great technological potential. This article summarizes the structural features of weberite and describes the structure in several different ways. This is the first time that the stacking vector and stacking angle are used to represent the weberite structure. This paper also discusses the crystallographic relationship between weberite, fluorite and pyrochlore (another fluorite-related structure). The cation sublattices of weberite and pyrochlore are correlated by an axial transformation. It has been shown that the different coordination environment of anions is due to the alternating layering of the AB3 and A3B close-packed cation layers. A stability field of weberite oxides is proposed in terms of the ratio of ionic radius of cations and relative bond ionicity. In addition, a selection of weberite compounds with interesting properties is discussed.
To Listen or Not: Distributed Detection with Asynchronous Transmissions

This letter examines a variation of the canonical distributed detection system: a sensor may overhear other sensors’ transmissions and thus may choose to refine its output in the hope of achieving a better detection performance. We show that while this is indeed possible for the fixed sample size test, asymptotically (in the number of samples) there is no performance gain, as measured by the Kullback-Leibler distance achievable at the fusion center, provided that the observations are conditionally independent. For conditionally dependent observations, however, we demonstrate that asymptotic detection performance may indeed be improved when overhearing is utilized.
The Nerf Ball: A Useful Technique For Management Education And Practice

This paper describes a technique the first author imported from management practice to (a) develop students’ meeting management skills, (b) improve students' listening skills and conflict management abilities and (c) encourage student participation and create a supportive learning environment. The technique uses a tangible prop (i.e., a Nerf ball) and is appropriate for use by individuals, classroom instructors, trainers and management professionals.
Anchors not inner codes, coordination not translation (and hold the modules please)

Peter Carruthers correctly argues for a cognitive conception of the role of language. But such a story need not include the excess baggage of compositional inner codes, mental modules, mentalese, or translation into logical form (LF).