cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seed characteristics of the invasive alien vine Vincetoxicum rossicum are affected by site, harvest date, and storage duration

The alien vine Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar. (Asclepiadaceae) is a major concern in natural areas of the Lower Great Lakes Basin. Reproduction in this perennial occurs largely by polyembryonic seeds that ma- ture from August to November. Many seeds produced in autumn germinate the following spring, but the germinability of seeds produced in late summer is unknown. The influence of parent plant light environment on seed characteristics in this species is also poorly understood. We examined the characteristics of V. rossicum seeds harvested in late August and early November 2002 from three habitats in central New York State, USA, differing in light availability. Site had a significant effect on seed weight and germination percentage, but not on the number of embryos germinating per seed or radicle length. Seeds produced in the shaded habitat in August weighed significantly more and had lower germin- ability than seeds produced in an adjacent open habitat, but this was not observed in a second open habitat. The proba- bility of germination decreased with seed size for seeds ranging from 2 to 8 mg. For the open sites, fresh seeds produced in August had approximately double the germination percentages of those produced in November. However, for all sites, germination following 18 weeks of cold storage was greatest for seeds harvested in November. The proba- bility of multiple embryos germinating was influenced by seed weight. The nature of this relationship varied by site, but not by harvest date or storage duration. Larger seed size resulted in longer total radicle length after 7 d, regardless of site.
Justification for community-scale photovoltaic-powered electrodialysis desalination systems for inland rural villages in India

Abstract This paper justifies photovoltaic (PV)-powered electrodialysis (ED) as an energy and cost-effective means of desalinating groundwater in rural India and presents the design requirements for a village-level system. Saline groundwater, which underlies 60% of India, can negatively impact health as well as cause a water source to be discarded because of its taste. A quarter of India's population live in villages of 2000–5000 people, many of which do not have reliable access to electricity. Most village-scale, on-grid desalination plants use reverse osmosis (RO), which is economically unviable in off-grid locations. Technical and ethnographic factors are used to develop an argument for PV-ED for rural locations, including: system capacity, biological and chemical contaminant removal; water aesthetics; recovery ratio; energy source; economics of water provision; maintenance; and the energetic and cost considerations of available technologies. Within the salinity range of groundwater in India, ED requires less specific energy than RO (75% less at 1000 mg/L and 30% less at 3000 mg/L). At 2000 mg/L, this energetic scaling translates to a 50% lower PV power system cost for ED versus RO. PV-ED has the potential to greatly expand the reach of desalination units for rural India.
High-level language abstraction for reconfigurable computing

RC systems typically consist of an array of configurable computing elements. The computational granularity of these elements ranges from simple gates - as abstracted by FPGA lookup tables - to complete arithmetic-logic units with or without registers. A rich programmable interconnect completes the array. RC system developer manually partitions an application into two segments: a hardware component in a hardware description language such as VHDL or Verilog that will execute as a circuit on the FPGA and a software component that will execute as a program on the host. Single-assignment C is a C language variant designed to create an automated compilation path from an algorithmic programming language to an FPGA-based reconfigurable computing system.
Ischemic preconditioning protects against paraplegia after transient aortic occlusion in the rat.

Abstract Background . Paraplegia can result from operations requiring transient occlusion of the thoracic aorta. A rat model of paraplegia with the characteristics of delayed paraplegia and transient ischemic dysfunction was developed to determine whether ischemic preconditioning (IPC) improved neurologic outcome. Methods . Rats underwent balloon occlusion of the upper descending thoracic aorta. One group (2 minute IPC, n=19) underwent 2 minutes of IPC and a second group (5 minute IPC, n=19) had 5 minutes of IPC 48 hours before 10 minutes of occlusion. The control group (n = 31) had no IPC prior to 10 minutes of occlusion. Results . Paraplegia occurred in 68% of the control animals (21 of 31 paraplegic: 6 delayed and 15 immediate paraplegia). Both the 2-minute IPC and 5-minute IPC groups had a decreased incidence of paraplegia when compared to controls (32%, p = 0.011 and 26%, p = 0.009, respectively). Conclusions . A rat model of spinal cord ischemia demonstrating both delayed paraplegia and transient ischemic dysfunction was characterized. Both 2-minute and 5-minute periods of IPC were found to protect against paraplegia.
The politics of tobacco regulation.

Regulation of the sale and use of tobacco has long been a matter of intense political discourse, despite decades of now-indisputable evidence regarding the addictiveness and deadliness of tobacco use. The fact that tobacco regulation is at all politically controversial is largely due to the perpetuation of resistance by massive economic interests in preserving the tobacco economy, allied with (or taking advantage of) populist strains of thought that uphold notions of individual rights and antiregressive taxation. These sentiments, along with pro-business and pro-employment inclinations, tend to align ‘pro-tobacco’ forces neatly on the right side of most national political spectra. Indeed, public discourses around many public health issues are often framed as a debate between the ‘nanny state’ on the left, and advocates of personal freedom and prosperity on the right. …
Peak Vehicle Miles Traveled and Postpeak Consequences

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to summarize changes in travel that account for the decline in total roadway vehicle travel from the previous decade's peak levels and, second, to speculate on the implications of postpeak vehicle miles traveled trends. Both sections of the paper are speculative. The lack of available data makes it difficult to diagnose fully the changes in travel behavior that result in lower levels of roadway travel. Planners are only beginning to think about the impacts of no growth in roadway travel. The paper evaluates travel trends, by addressing freight versus passenger travel, urban versus rural, mode choice, age, income, communication substitution, and logistics as factors affecting vehicle miles traveled. Consequences include transportation capacity requirements, transportation infrastructure productivity, induced demand, transportation land use, transportation and economic development, challenges for traditional planning processes, equity implications, and risk and u...
The absorption and excretion of castor oil in man.

Contrary to popular belief castor oil can be absorbed by human subjects. The absorption is inversely related to the dose and in small (4 g.) doses absorption is virtually complete. The fat balance studies were made both by the radio-iodine labelling of castor oil and by a new chemical technique, which utilises the rapid detection of ricinoleic acid by gas-liquid chromatography on a silicone gum column and incorporates an improved method for the collection, preparation and extraction of faecal lipid.
Digital-Image-Based Study of Circular Holes in an Elastic Matrix

Using a digital-image-based representation of a continuum composite, we apply computer simulation techniques to obtain the elastic moduli of a matrix containing randomly-centered circular voids. As the area fraction of the voids increases, the elastic moduli of the composite decrease until they eventually vanish at the percolation threshold. We compare our results with an effective medium theory, which predicts that Poisson ratio tends to a fixed value as the percolation threshold is approached, independent of the values of the elastic moduli in the pure system. Our results are also compared with recent experimental results.
Passive sequestration of putrescine, spermidine and spermine by rat lungs.

Abstract The pulmonary uptake and accumulation of the three polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine by isolated ventilated and perfused rat lungs was investigated using 0.1, 1 or 5 mM concentrations of these compounds. The lung uptake of putrescine for all concentrations was greater than that of spermidine and spermine, but all three showed concentration-dependent linear uptake. A significant uptake of all three polyamines was also observed when incubated separately with rat lung slices for 60 min. Harmaline (0.4 mM), ouabain (0.2 mM) and perfusate with decreased Na+ (50 mEq/l) did not affect the uptake of any of the three polyamines by isolated perfused rat lungs or rat lung slice incubations. HPLC analysis of the whole lung or slices and media after perfusion or incubation studies, respectively, with polyamines did not reveal the presence of any metabolites. Likewise, the analysis of the lung homogenate incubated at 37° C for 60 min with polyamines did not show any metabolites, confirming the absence of detectable pulmonary metabolism. These findings indicate a significant accumulation of polyamines in the rat lungs, accumulation predominantly occurring via simple diffusion, at variance with the reported active polyamine uptake process in the lung.
Physical Inactivity and Mortality Risk

In recent years a plethora of epidemiologic evidence accumulated supports a strong, independent and inverse, association between physical activity and the fitness status of an individual and mortality in apparently healthy individuals and diseased populations. These health benefits are realized at relatively low fitness levels and increase with higher physical activity patterns or fitness status in a dose-response fashion. The risk reduction is at least in part attributed to the favorable effect of exercise or physical activity on the cardiovascular risk factors, namely, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and obesity. In this review, we examine evidence from epidemiologic and interventional studies in support of the association between exercise and physical activity and health. In addition, we present the exercise effects on the aforementioned risk factors. Finally, we include select dietary approaches and their impact on risk factors and overall mortality risk.
Binnie's investigation into the viscous lifting of liquids by withdrawal

A simple way for coating thin liquid films on solid supports is by means of the upward motion of the solid through a bath of wetting liquid. The Van Rossum experimental relationship for this withdrawal problem has recently been recast in another form by Binnie. Alternative representations of with-drawal are given here for comparison with the work of Binnie.
Issues in Ada compiler technology

The key technical issues involved in producing high-quality Ada compilers and related support tools are discussed. These include real-time issues, programming tools and environments, and code optimization. Also addressed are some important problems that compiler designers face, for example, determining which deficiencies of existing Ada systems can be attributed to the language and which are simply hard-to-implement features or unresolved issued in Ada compiler technology. >
Volume change of high-strength concrete in moist conditions

This paper reports results of length change over time of high-strength cement paste, mortar, and concrete in moist conditions. The effect of specimen size, water-to-cement ratio and type and size of aggregate on the water absorption and length change were also investigated. Water permeation depth was calculated based on the increase in mass of the specimen and on the theoretical chemical shrinkage.
Biotinylation of human C3.

Purified human C3 was biotinylated using the biotinyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide imidoester (BNHS). Depending on the input of BNHS, from three to six molecules of biotin were incorporated per C3 molecule. The biotinyl-C3 retained over 90% of its specific hemolytic activity and when bound to sheep erythrocytes maintained its ability to adhere to human C3b receptors. These functions could be blocked by avidin. The biotinyl-C3 was fragmented normally to C3c and C3d in human serum and adsorption with avidin -Sepharose indicated that biotin moities were present in both fragments. Fluorescein-conjugated avidin reacted well with cell-bound biotinyl-C3b and was useful for quantitating C3 fixation by flow cytometry. Ferritin-conjugated avidin was used as a marker to characterize the distribution of biotinyl-C3b on erythrocytes by electron microscopy. These results suggest that biotinyl-C3 and avidin derivatives may be very useful tools for studies of many of the biological functions of C3.
The flow of polymer melts through the clearance over a barrier flight in extruders

The flow of polymer melts through the clearance over a barrier flight in extruders involves high, rapidly changing shear rates. Polymer melts, being viscoelastic, are expected to exhibit a high elasticity when they flow through the clearance, so the flow through the clearance may not be predictable or stable. The flow through the clearance over a barrier flight was investigated using a shear refining (SR) module connected to an extruder. Three polymers with different melt properties were tested: branched low density polyethylene (BLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polystyrene (PS). The measured drag flow rate through the clearance was found to be equal to the prediction for a purely viscous fluid, which gives a linear velocity profile in the clearance. At the threshold rotor speed of the SR module whereupon the predicted drag flow rate through the clearance is the same as the extruder output rate, the melt pressures at the inlet and the outlet of the SR module were nearly equal and stable. Below the threshold rotor speed, the inlet pressure was higher than the outlet pressure. Above the threshold rotor speed, the inlet pressure was nearly zero and the outlet pressure fluctuated. The magnitude of the pressure fluctuation increased with increasing rotor speed and decreased with increasing melt temperature. HDPE, which had a higher melt elasticity, showed more pressure fluctuation than BLDPE and PS. The pressure fluctuation probably results from the flow instability through the clearance caused by the melt elasticity.
Reliability and validity of a health-related quality of life battery for evaluating outpatient antidepressant treatment

This study was designed to evaluate the reproducibility, validity and responsiveness of a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) battery that was assembled for the evaluation of antidepressant therapy. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to measure severity of depression. The HRQOL battery contained measures of energy and fatigue, social behaviour, cognitive function, home and work role function, and general well-being (i.e., health perceptions, life satisfaction) selected from previously developed and validated instruments. The clinical investigators and research nurses reported on difficulty in using the HRQOL battery. Most patients were able to complete the questionnaire without problems within 10 min. Reproducibility was very good with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.74 to 0.97. The HRQOL scales showed evidence of good concurrent validity. The scales were moderately correlated with MADRS scores (r = 0.30-0.62). The magnitude of these correlations indicate that HRQOL scales are related to depression measures, but they are not alternative measures of depression. Changes in MADRS scores were associated with changes in all scales, except for work behaviour, indicating that improvements in depression ratings also resulted in improvements in health status and well-being. The HRQOL scales included in this study were found to be reliable, reproducible, and valid and no appreciable burden was placed on patients or investigators participating in the study. With the exception of the Work Behaviour scale, the HRQOL scales were very responsive to changes in depression severity. This brief HRQOL instrument can provide a comprehensive assessment of the outcomes of antidepressant treatment.
Counting Paths: Nondeterminism as Linear Algebra

Nondeterminism is considered to be ignorance about the actual state transition sequence performed during a computation. The number of distinct potential paths from state i to j forms a matrix [n ij ]. The behavior of a nondeterministic program is defined to be this multiplicity matrix of the state transitions. The standard programming constructs have behaviors defined in terms of the behaviors of their constituents using matrix addition and multiplication only. The spectral radius of the matrix assigned to an iterating component characterizes its convergence. The spectral radius is shown to be either 0 or else ? 1. The program converges iff the spectral radius is zero, diverges deterministically iff the spectral radius is one, and has a proper nondeterministic divergence iff the spectral radius exceeds one. If the machine has an infinite number of states the characterization of convergence is given graph theoretically. The spectral radii of synchronous and interleaved parallel noncommunicating systems are easily computed in terms of the spectral radii of the components.
Photochemical studies of Co2(CO)6(acetylene) complexes and their phosphine derivatives in frozen Nujol matrices

Abstract Photolysis of Co 2 (CO) 6 (alkyne), where alkyne=H 2 C 2 ( I ), (C 2 H 5 ) 2 C 2 ( II ) (C 6 H 5 ) 2 C 2 ( III ) and C 6 H 5 C 2 H ( IV ) in frozen Nujol at ca. 90 K results in loss of CO to give Co 2 (CO) 5 (alkyne) in which CO-loss appears to be from the axial position. Complete conversion to a second isomer, presumed to have a vacancy in an equatorial position, or to starting material is observed for all compounds upon annealing the matrices to ca. 140 K. The second isomer is also formed by Co 2 (CO) 5 [(C 6 H 5 ) 2 C 2 ] upon photolysis at λ 2 (CO) 6 As 2 ( V ), gave photochemical and annealing products whose spectra were analogous to those of the alkyne compounds. Photolysis of phosphine substituted derivatives such as axial -Co 2 (CO) 5 (PR 3 )(C 2 R′ 2 ), where R=Bu; R′=H ( VI ), R=Ph; R′=H ( VII ), R=OPh, R′=H ( VIII ), R=Ph; R′=Ph (M) yields two isomeric CO-loss products. Annealing samples of V – IX to ca. 140 K results in simple reaction reversal. Solution photolysis of IX with PPh 3 gives Co 2 (CO) 4 (PPh 3 ) 2 (Ph 2 C 2 ). Photolysis of Co 2 (CO) 4 (PPh 3 ) 2 (H 2 C 2 ) ( X ) yields two products. Annealing the sample reforms the starting material and also generates a new species. Photolysis of Co 2 (CO) 4 (Ph 2 P) 2 CH 2 ][(C 2 H 5 ) 2 C 2 ] ( XI ) forms a single product that reforms XI upon annealing.
The Reversible Hydrogen Electrode: Potential-Dependent Activation Energies over Platinum from Quantum Theory

Potential-dependent activation energies are calculated quantum mechanically, using a local reaction center model, for the hydrogen reduction−oxidation reaction over platinum by the Volmer−Heyrovsky...
Challenges for Research on Intelligence

After 100 years of research, the definition of the field is still inadequate. The biggest challenge we see is moving away from a de-factor definition of intelligence in terms of test scores, but at the same time making clear what the boundaries of the field are. We then present four challenges for the field, two within a biological and two within a social context. These revolve around the issues of the malleability of intelligence and its display in everyday life, outside of a formal testing context. We conclude that developments in cognitive neuroscience and increases in the feasibility of monitoring behavior outside of the context of a testing session offer considerable hope for expansion of our both the biological and social aspects of individual differences in cognition.
Yeast Xrs2 Binds DNA and Helps Target Rad50 and Mre11 to DNA Ends

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad50, Mre11, and Xrs2 proteins are involved in homologous recombination, non-homologous end-joining, DNA damage checkpoint signaling, and telomere maintenance. These proteins form a stable complex that has nuclease, DNA binding, and DNA end recognition activities. Of the components of the Rad50·Mre11·Xrs2 complex, Xrs2 is the least characterized. The available evidence is consistent with the idea that Xrs2 recruits other protein factors in reactions that pertain to the biological functions of the Rad50·Mre11·Xrs2 complex. Here we present biochemical evidence that Xrs2 has an associated DNA-binding activity that is specific for DNA structures. We also define the contributions of Xrs2 to the activities of the Rad50·Mre11·Xrs2 complex. Importantly, we demonstrate that Xrs2 is critical for targeting of Rad50 and Mre11 to DNA ends. Thus, Xrs2 likely plays a direct role in the engagement of DNA substrates by the Rad50· Mre11·Xrs2 complex in various biological processes.
Sobolev Estimates for Fractional and Singular Radon Transforms

Abstract We prove Sobolev inequalities for singular and fractional Radon transforms which are defined as in a paper of Phong and Stein under certain hypothesis on the corresponding Lagrangian (( N * C )′) which does not necessarily have to be a canonical graph. In the proof we use oscillatory integrals, the Cotlar–Stein almost orthogonality theorem, a sort of Littlewood–Paley decomposition for a certain operator, some basic facts about Fourier integral operators and pseudodifferential operators. The main ideas come from papers by Phong and Stein ( Acta Math. 157 (1986), 99–157) and Sogge and Stein ( J. Analyse Math. 54 (1990), 165–188).
The potential of XML technology as an answer to the data interchange problems of the construction industry

The complex supply chain relations of the construction industry, coupled with the substantial amount of information to be shared on a regular basis between the parties involved, make the traditional paper-based data interchange methods inefficient, error prone and expensive. The successful information technology (IT) applications that enable seamless data interchange, such as the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems, have generally failed to be successfully implemented in the construction industry. An alternative emerging technology, Extensible Markup Language (XML), and its applicability to streamline business processes and to improve data interchange methods within the construction industry are analysed, as is the EDI technology to identify the strategic advantages that XML technology provides to overcome the barriers to implementation. In addition, the successful implementation of XML-based automated data interchange platforms for a large organization, and the proposed benefits thereof, are presented as a case study.
Prospective study of combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin for unresectable or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma

Background. This study was designed to determine the efficacy and side effects of a combination of cyclophosphamide (C), doxorubicin (D), and cisplatin (P) in patients with inoperable, unresectable, or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma. Methods. Twenty-three patients with unresectable or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma were entered onto the study. The median age was 62 years (range, 42-74 years); there were 20 males and 3 females; the median performance status was 1 (Zubrod's scale). The histologic types included epithelial (14 patients), sarcomatoid (4 patients), unclassified (4 patients), and mixed type (1 patient). Twenty patients were known to have been exposed to asbestos and 3 were not. All patients were treated with the following starting dose of chemotherapy: a cycle comprised of C, 500 mg/m2 intravenously, day 1; D, 50 mg/m2 intravenously, day 1; and P, 80 mg/m2 intravenously, day 1 every 3 weeks. The cisplatin dose was reduced to 50 mg/m2 for the subsequent courses. For the assessment of tumor response, all patients had computed tomography scans of the chest after each three cycles of chemotherapy. Results. Overall, 7 of 23 patients (30%) had partial responses (durations of responses [weeks]: 158+, 91+, 70+, 41+, 40, 39, 25), three had minor responses, and 14 had stable or progressive disease. One partial responder later underwent surgical resection and no viable tumors cells were found in the pathologic specimen. All patients have stopped treatment, and eight are still alive. The most common side effect was granulocytopenia (grade 4, 52%; grade 3,17%). Other hematologic side effects were modest. Nonhematologic side effects included mild to moderate nausea and vomiting, neutropenic fever (three patients), peripheral neuropathy (one patient), and congestive heart failure (one patient). The overall median duration of survival was 60 weeks. Conclusion. Combination chemotherapy with CDP was well tolerated and had significant activity against unresectable or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma. The median duration of responses was 60 weeks; however, the survival rate was far from satisfactory. Continued development of new approaches including the biologic understanding of tumor development and testing new agents is warranted. Cancer 1995; 76:2230-6.
Inability of sRNA derived from peptidyl sRNA to accept amino acids.

Abstract sRNA isolated from polyphenylalanyl sRNA does not accept phenylalanine. The isolation procedure is mild enough to recover most of the usual sRNA. This observation suggests two possibilities: 1) sRNA becomes more labile when linked to polyphenylalanine or 2) sRNA in polyphenylalanyl sRNA is different from the usual sRNA which accepts amino acids.
High-spin states of 174, 176Yb studied in Coulomb excitation with Kr AND Xe beams

Abstract Rotational states up to spin 20+ (18+) in 174Yb (176Yb) have been Coulomb excited using beams of 136Xe. Lifetimes up to and including the 14+ state have been measured using Doppler-broadened lineshape techniques with 136Xe and 86Kr beams. An annular gas-scintillation counter has been developed in order to perform particle-γ coincidence studies. Moments of inertia in 174, 176Yb behave very regularly, showing no signs of backbending effects. The measured lifetimes are in agreement with the rotational model predictions, and the measured cross sections for Coulomb excitation of the high-spin states are in agreement with the semiclassical Winther-de Boer calculation.
Adaptivity in multiple-access communications

Adaptive signal processing problems that arise in multiple-access communication applications are reviewed. In particular, adaptive filtering techniques for the mitigation of both multiple-access and narrowband interferences are considered, as well as adaptive techniques based on parameter estimation. A broad spectrum of methodologies that have been brought to bear on these problems is described, including adaptive linear filtering, neural networks, stochastic approximation, the EM algorithm, and nonlinear filtering.
METHODS FOR FOLLOWING THE FATE OF INFECTIOUS AGENTS FED TO SINGLE FLIES

Methods have been devised which facilitate the handling, feeding, and collection of excreta from individual flies bred in the laboratory. Using these methods, quantitative studies can be carried out in which known amounts of infectious material are fed to flies and the fate of these agents determined. It has been possible to determine the persistence of excretion of viruses, and the amount of the ingested virus recovered in the excreta and in the bodies of the flies as well.
Compressing bitmap indices by data reorganization

Many scientific applications generate massive volumes of data through observations or computer simulations, bringing up the need for effective indexing methods for efficient storage and retrieval of scientific data. Unlike conventional databases, scientific data is mostly read-only and its volume can reach to the order of petabytes, making a compact index structure vital. Bitmap indexing has been successfully applied to scientific databases by exploiting the fact that scientific data are enumerated or numerical. Bitmap indices can be compressed with valiants of run length encoding for a compact index structure. However even this may not be enough for the enormous data generated in some applications such as high energy physics. In this paper, we study how to reorganize bitmap tables for improved compression rates. Our algorithms are used just as a preprocessing step, thus there is no need to reuse the current indexing techniques and the query processing algorithms. We introduce the tuple reordering problem, which aims to reorganize database tuples for optimal compression rates. We propose Gray code ordering algorithm for this NP-Complete problem, which is an in-place algorithm, and runs in linear time in the order of the size of the database. We also discuss how the tuple reordering problem can be reduced to the traveling salesperson problem. Our experimental results on real data sets show that the compression ratio can be improved by a factor of 2 to 10.
Treatment of Essential Tremor: Are there Issues We are Overlooking?

Background: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common neurological diseases. Although a large number of medications have been tested, there are only two first-line medications, primidone and propranolol, which is a situation that has not changed in approximately 30 years. Several recent reviews have summarized the current pharmacotherapeutic options for ET and the approach to the management of ET patients. Yet there remain a number of important issues, both scientific and clinical, that have not been broached in the literature and that have therapeutic implications. Objectives: To introduce several clinical and scientific issues that have not formally entered the published literature on the treatment of ET. Methods: In September 2011, materials for this article were gathered during a literature search of PubMed using the following terms: essential tremor, clinical, clinical trial, treatment, medications, therapeutics. English-language articles were selected for further review. Results: The paper focuses on several topics that have received scant or no discussion in the published literature on ET therapeutics. These topics are as follows: the nature of the underlying disease pathophysiology, the presence of pathological heterogeneity, the complexity of cellular and neurochemical changes which may be underlying this disorder, the presence of clinical heterogeneity, the selection of treatment endpoints, the effects of diagnostic uncertainty, the presence of cognitive and psychiatric features in ET, the identification of possible modifiable risk factors and the absence of any neuroprotective therapies. Conclusions: The author has identified several topics that have received scant or no discussion in the published literature on ET therapeutics. Further discussion of the issues raised here may lead to improvements in clinical trial methodologies as well as facilitate the development of fresh approaches to pharmacotherapy.
Toughened Microstructures for Ductile Phase Reinforced Molybdenum Disilicide

Various morphologies of ductile Nb refractory metal reinforcement are incorporated into a MoSi{sub 2} matrix using powder metallurgy, including single-ply laminates, continuous metal ribbons and sections of 2-dimensional wire mesh. Hot forging techniques are used to redistribute the reinforcement and change the dimensions and the aspect ratio of the reinforcing metal ligaments. Work-of-rupture measurements are conducted on bend test specimens and precracked tensile specimens of the composite so that the toughness contribution from the various ductile metal morphologies can be assessed according to its effectiveness. Accompanying microstructural examination of crack bridging interaction with the reinforcement is conducted.
Understanding the Different Realities, Experience, and Use of Self-Esteem Between Black and White Adolescent Girls:

African American adolescent females possess higher self-esteem than any other racial or ethnic adolescent female group. This article tests two popular empirically supported explanations for Black high self-esteem: contingency of self-esteem theory and the locus of control model. This article builds on past research to illustrate the specific mechanisms of self-esteem for Black and White adolescent girls. To facilitate an investigation of these theories, self-esteem was explored as a bidimensional construct consisting of self-worth and self-deprecation. The sample consisted of 453 Black and 1,902 White adolescent females. Multivariate regression analyses produced the following outcomes: The contingency of self-esteem theory and the locus of control model were not supported. A significant race by social support interaction found that even in low support situations Black adolescent females reported less self-deprecation than White females.
Making Sexism Visible: Birdcages, Martians, and Pregnant Men

This paper offers six strategies for dealing with students' resistance to learning about the oppression of women: making the familiar strange, substituting race for sex, distinguishing between intentions and consequences, imagining men in women's bodies, exposing students' claims of equal gender oppression as false parallels, and analyzing some of women's desires as instances of false power. These teaching strategies, along with Marilyn Frye's (1983) metaphor of oppression as a birdcage consisting of systematically related wires, provide a framework for pre-empting or responding to students' resistance.
Experimental Techniques for the Mechanical Characterization of One-Dimensional Nanostructures

New materials and nanostructures with superior electro-mechanical properties are emerging in the development of novel devices. Engineering application of these materials and nanostructures requires accurate mechanical characterization, which in turn requires development of novel experimental techniques. In this paper, we review some of the existing experimental techniques suitable to investigate the mechanics of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures. Particular emphasis is placed on techniques that allow comparison of quantities measured in the tests with predictions arising from multiscale computer simulations on a one to one basis. We begin with an overview of major challenges in the mechanical characterization of 1D nanostructures, followed by a discussion of two distinct types of experimental techniques: nanoindentation/atomic force microscopy (AFM) and in-situ electron microscopy testing. We highlight a recently developed in-situ transmission and scanning electron microscopy testing technique, for investigating the mechanics of thin films and 1D nanostructures, based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. We finally present the coupled field (electro and mechanical) characterization of a NEMS bistable switch in-situ a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Enhancing STEM classes using weave: A collaborative web-based visualization environment

Learning within a STEM classroom environment can be greatly enhanced by engaging the students in real-world datasets. This provides the opportunity to go beyond textbook examples that are often only marginally close to those students will see in their future careers. The Weave (WEb-based Analysis and Visualization Environment) developed at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell allows collaborative data visualization in a web browser that is highly applicable to STEM classrooms. Larger and more field appropriate datasets can be loaded into the system, hypotheses can be made and confirmed, and students can collaboratively work together. This paper discusses the ways in which Weave could be used in the STEM classroom to foster learning.
Development of microsatellite markers for the medicinal plant Isodon rubescens (Lamiaceae) and related species

 Premise of the study : Microsatellite markers were developed for the medicinal plant Isodon rubescens to investigate genetic variability of the species and, in future studies, to assess its relation to the content of pharmacologically active chemicals produced by the plant.  Methods and Results : Eleven primer pairs were identifi ed and tested in multiple populations of I. rubescens and related species ( I. henryi , I. enanderianus , I. lophanthoides ) from the People ’ s Republic of China. The primers amplifi ed dinucleotide repeats and had between two and 12 alleles per locus in a given population.  Conclusions : These microsatellites will be useful for understanding patterns of phytochemical variation in I. rubescens and have the potential to be applied to research on evolutionary processes in other species of the genus Isodon .
Open-system magma chamber process in the Freetown Complex of Sierra Leone: evidence from Zone 3

The ˜ 7 km thick Freetown layered complex of Sierra Leone consists of four zones each composed of a cyclically layered sequence of troctolite, gabbro, olivine gabbro, gabbronorite, and anorthosite. The complex is thought by previous workers to have solidified in situ from a single parental magma without stratigraphic changes in mineral compositions. Evidence for cryptic variation is presented based on electron microprobe analyses of mega-unit Zone 3. Two reversals in olivine forsterite content, plagioclase anorthite content, and 100 Mg/(Mg Fe 2 ) in clinopyroxene match the variations of Ni in olivine and Cr in clinopyroxene. These changes are consistent with a magma chamber that was open to periodic influxes of new magmas, and the mixing of new and fractionated resident magmas. Expansion of the magma chamber is thought to have occurred at 2000 m, corresponding to the level of a major influx.
Characterization of endometrial receptors for ovine trophoblast protein-1 during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy in sheep.

Scatchard analysis was used to determine the distribution, number, and affinity of unoccupied receptors for ovine trophoblast protein-I (oTP-l) in endometrium of sheep throughout the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. In Experiment I, oTP-I receptor characteristics were determined in membrane preparations of caruncular and intercaruncular regions of endometrium collected from uterine horns ipsilateral and contralateral to the ovary bearing the corpus luteum. Receptor concentrations and affinity constants for oTP-I were not different (p>o.1) between the four endometrial regions examined, suggesting that the expression of receptors for oTP-I occurs uniformly throughout the endometrium. Endometrial receptor characteristics for oTP-I, luteal wet weights, and progesterone contents were determined throughout the estrous cycle and early pregnancy in Experiment II. Concentration of receptors and afi finity constants for oTP-1 varied throughout the estrous cycle and early pregnancy (p<O.OI), with the pattern of change differing between cyclic and pregnant ewes (p<0.0I). Numbers of receptors for oTP-1 were nzaximal on Day 4 of the estrous cycle and declined progressively to Day 12 (p<O.05) in both cyclic and pregnant ewes. After Day 12, the quantity of unoccupied receptors for oTP-1 increased (p< 0.05) gradually to Day 16 in cyclic ewes, but declined (p<o.OS) further in the endometrium of pregnant ewes. The affinity constants of endometrial receptors for oTP-I were similar in cyclic and pregnant ewes prior to Day 12, increasing threefold from Days 4 to 12 (p<O.O5). From Days 12 to 16, affinity constants declined gradually in cyclic ewes but remained elevated in pregnant ewes. The relevance of these data regarding the establishment of pregnancy in sheep is discussed. Weights and progesterone contents of corpora lutea were correlated (p<O.OI) negatively with the concentration of unoccupied receptors for oTP-1, and positively with receptor affinity constants for oTP-1 during the estrous cycle. These data suggest a role for ovarian steroids in the regulation of the number and affinity constants of endometrial receptors for oTP-1.
A nonequilibrium stage model of multicomponent separation processes. Part I: Model description and method of solution

A nonequilibrium stage model is developed for the simulation of countercurrent multicomponent separation processes. A feature of the model is that the component material and energy balance relations for each phase together with mass and energy transfer rate equations and equilibrium equations for the phase interface are solved to find the actual separation directly. Computations of stage efficiencies are entirely avoided. A procedure for solving the model equations simultaneously using Newton's method is outlined.
Dosage of drugs in infants and children: III. Neostigmine.

The susceptibility of healthy children to neostigmine by hypodermic injection was studied in controlled experiments on 45 children ranging in age from 1 month to 12 years. Minimum effective doses (MED) of neostigmine were determined by their effect in stimulating salivary and sweat glands, and in increasing gastrointestinal motility. The MED of neostigmine for stimulation of salivation is in all age groups smaller (by 6 to 38 per cent) than the MED increasing gastrointestinal motility. The average MED either for glandular (.025 to .036 mg./kg.) or gastrointestinal (.036 to .045 mg./kg.) activity fails to show significant differences among the various age groups when expressed in terms of body weight. Exceptions were found exclusively in children weighing more than 30 kg. The findings do not support the view that a physiologic vagotonia is present in infants.
Stabilization of 2D assemblies of silver nanoparticles by spin-coating polymers

Abstract Silver nanoparticles self-assembled on poly(4-vinylpyridine) modified surfaces were spin-coated with poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate) and polystyrene from anisole and toluene solutions. The polymers filled the space between the particles thereby providing stabilization of the assemblies against particle aggregation when dried or chemically modified. The polymers did not coat the top surface of the nanoparticles offering the chemical accessibility to the metal surface. This was confirmed by converting the stabilized nanoparticles into silver sulfide and gold clusters. Etching the nanoparticles resulted in crater-like polymeric structures with the cavities extending down to the underlying substrate. Electrochemical reduction of silver inside the craters was performed. The approach can be extended to other nanoparticle assemblies and polymers.
Base exchange reactions of the phospholipids in rat brain particles

A particulate fraction from rat brain catalyzes the incorporation of (14C)choline, (14C)ethanolamine, and L- ('%)serine into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanol- amine, and phosphatidylserine, respectively. The reaction ap- pears to be energy-independent since MgZ+, CTP, ATP, and NaF have no stimulatory action. The incorporation is in- hibited by EDTA and activated by Cazf. The pH optimum for the incorporation of choline is 9.5, for ethanolamine it is 9.0, and for L-serine it is 8.5. Tris, bicine, and imidazole buffers are inhibitory. The incorporations are inhibited by a variety of structurally related alcohols and are stimulated by isoserine (a-hydroxy$-aminopropionic acid).
Somatotopic Organization of the Third Somatosensory Area (SIII) in Cats

Multiunit microelectrode recording techniques were used to study the location and organization of the third somatosensory area (SIII) in cats. Representations of all major contralateral body parts were found in a small region of cortex along the lateral wing of the ansate sulcus and between the lateral sulcus and the suprasylvian sulcus. The systematic map of the body surface included forepaw and face regions previously identified as parts of SIII. The forepaw representation was generally buried on the rostral bank of the lateral wing of the ansate sulcus. The representations of the face and mystacial vibrissae were largely exposed on the rostral suprasylvian gyrus, but part of the representation of the face was also buried in the lateral wing of the ansate sulcus. Representations of the trunk and hindlimb extended from the suprasylvian gyrus onto the medial bank of the suprasylvian sulcus. We had expected to find these latter body parts in more medial cortex just caudal to the representation of these par...
Altered Trust Learning Mechanisms Among Female Adolescent Victims of Interpersonal Violence

Early-life interpersonal violence (IV) is a significant risk factor for a broad range of mental health disorders, increased rates of re-victimization, and psychosocial dysfunction. However, the cognitive mechanisms by which these risks are conferred are largely unknown. The current study attempted to address this empirical gap. Thirty-two adolescent girls, aged 12 to 16 (15 victims of IV), completed a social learning task. A computational learning model was fit to the behavioral data (ratings of trustworthiness during the learning task) to test for group differences in the cognitive mechanisms by which adolescent girls learn to differentially trust others. Specifically, we tested for differences in task performance and subject-level learning parameters: learning rate (the extent to which preferences are updated with new information) and preference stochasticity (the extent to which preferences seem random). Adolescent girls who were victims of IV demonstrated significantly worse performance than their con...
Output tracking in causal nonminimum-phase systems using sliding modes

In this chapter an output tracking problem relating to nonminimum-phase nonlinear systems has been considered. Nonminimum-phase output tracking is a challenging, real life control problem that restricts the use of powerful control techniques such as sliding mode control and feedback linearisation. Taking into consideration uncertain causal systems that have to follow real-time reference profiles only complicates the problem further. In this chapter, the output-tracking problem for causal nonminimum phase systems with uncertainties and disturbances has been tackled by means of a robust nonlinear control technique, sliding mode control.
Impacts of Renewable Portfolio Standards

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPSs) are a key policy measure used by U.S. states to increase their production of renewable electricity. Economic theory shows that RPSs are not first-best policy measures for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions or solving other environmental problems. Nevertheless, they have been politically popular, in part because states hope they will help create new jobs in what they expect will be a growth industry. Research suggests that RPSs tend to be supported by Democratic legislatures in states with good solar and wind potential, are more likely in states with restructured electricity markets, and are less likely in states heavily dependent upon natural gas for electricity generation. Research also suggests RPSs have been successful at increasing renewable generation capacity, have increased the cost of electricity modestly where they have been implemented, and reduce carbon emissions at a cost roughly consistent with estimates of the social cost of carbon.