cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of excited-state processes by phase-modulation fluorescence spectroscopy

Fluorescence phase shift and demodulation methods were used in the analysis of excited-state reactions and to investigate solvent relaxation around fluorophores in viscous solvents. The chosen samples illustrate the results expected for fluorophores bound to biological macromolecules. These moderately simple samples served to test the theoretical predictions described in the preceding paper (J.R. Lakowicz and A.B. Balter, Biophys. Chem. 16 (1982) 99.) and to illustrate the characteristic features of phase-modulation data expected from samples which display time-dependent spectral shifts. The excited-state protonation of acridine and exciplex formation between anthracene and diethylaniline provided examples of one-step reactions in which the lifetimes of the initially excited and the reacted species were independent of emission wavelength. Using these samples we demonstrated the following: (1) Wavelength-dependent phase shift and demodulation values can be used to prove the occurrence of an excited-state process. Proof is obtained by observation of phase angles (o) larger than 90 degrees or by measurement of ratios of m/cos o greater than 1, where m is the modulation of the emission relative to that of the excitation. (2) For a two-state process the individual emission spectra of each state can be calculated from the wavelength-dependent phase and modulation data. (3) The phase difference or demodulation factor between the initially excited and the reacted states reveals directly the fluorescence lifetime of the product of the reaction. (4) Phase-sensitive detection of fluorescence can be used to prove that the lifetimes of both the initially excited and the reacted states are independent of emission wavelength. (5) If steady-state spectra of the individual species are known, then phase-sensitive emission spectra can be used to measure the lifetimes of the individual components irrespective of the extent of spectral overlap. (6) Spectral regions of constant lifetime can be identified by the ratios of phase-sensitive emission spectra. In addition, we examined 6-propionyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (PRODAN) and N-acetyl-L-tryptophanamide (NATA) in viscous solvents where the solvent relaxation times were comparable to the fluorescence lifetimes. Using PRODAN in n-butanol we used m/cos o measurements, relative to the blue edge of the emission, to demonstrate that solvent relaxation requires more than a single step. For NATA in propylene glycol we used phase-sensitive detection of fluorescence to directly record the emission spectra of the initially excited and the solvent relaxed states. These measurements can be easily extended to fluorophores which are bound to proteins and membranes and are likely to be useful in studies of the dynamic properties of biopolymers.
EWI-2 negatively regulates TGF-β signaling leading to altered melanoma growth and metastasis

In normal melanocytes, TGF-β signaling has a cytostatic effect. However, in primary melanoma cells, TGF-β-induced cytostasis is diminished, thus allowing melanoma growth. Later, a second phase of TGF-β signaling supports melanoma EMT-like changes, invasion and metastasis. In parallel with these “present-absent-present” TGF-β signaling phases, cell surface protein EWI motif-containing protein 2 (EWI-2 or IgSF8) is “absent-present-absent” in melanocytes, primary melanoma, and metastatic melanoma, respectively, suggesting that EWI-2 may serve as a negative regulator of TGF-β signaling. Using melanoma cell lines and melanoma short-term cultures, we performed RNAi and overexpression experiments and found that EWI-2 negatively regulates TGF-β signaling and its downstream events including cytostasis (in vitro and in vivo), EMT-like changes, cell migration, CD271-dependent invasion, and lung metastasis (in vivo). When EWI-2 is present, it associates with cell surface tetraspanin proteins CD9 and CD81 — molecules not previously linked to TGF-β signaling. Indeed, when associated with EWI-2, CD9 and CD81 are sequestered and have no impact on TβR2-TβR1 association or TGF-β signaling. However, when EWI-2 is knocked down, CD9 and CD81 become available to provide critical support for TβR2-TβR1 association, thus markedly elevating TGF-β signaling. Consequently, all of those TGF-β-dependent functions specifically arising due to EWI-2 depletion are reversed by blocking or depleting cell surface tetraspanin proteins CD9 or CD81. These results provide new insights into regulation of TGF-β signaling in melanoma, uncover new roles for tetraspanins CD9 and CD81, and strongly suggest that EWI-2 could serve as a favorable prognosis indicator for melanoma patients.
meta-Cybotaxis and nematic biaxiality

In 1970, two seemingly unrelated reports about nematic liquid crystals appeared in the scientific literature: at Kent State University, Adrian de Vries reported local smectic order in a nematic that he termed cybotactic, and at IBM, Marvin Freiser showed the possibility of a lower symmetry nematic that he named biaxial. These two discoveries are connected through consideration of the origins of spontaneous symmetry breaking, in particular, how broken symmetry within transient clusters permeating a nominally uniaxial nematic may lead to a biaxial nematic.
Origins, Growth, and Challenges in Bioheat Transfer

Bioheat transfer is a field with origins in medical applications that date to thousands of years ago. It has long been appreciated that manipulation of temperature and energy could have significant therapeutic benefits. However, prior to the Second World War, nearly all work in this field was based on empirical studies, many of which were guided by brilliant insights of medical and life scientists. In more recent times, the principles and methods of heat transfer have been applied systematically, and often times in conjunction with highly synergistic collaborations with physicians and biologists, to achieve remarkable advances that have translated to important innovations in life science and medicine. The following discussion presents a limited range of comments concerning work accomplished by researchers associated with the ASME Bioengineering Division.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Chapman Ball Control Test—Field Hockey

(1982). Chapman Ball Control Test—Field Hockey. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 53, No. 3, pp. 239-242.
Carbon-13 NMR chemical shifts in some substituted 1,2,4-triazol-3-ones

Carbon-13 NMR data for 15 substituted 1,2,4-triazol-3-ones are presented and discussed with regard to enolization in the neutral molecules. The coupling constant and chemical shift data show that the proton at N-2 is not exchanging rapidly in the DMSO-d6 solvent. Using D2OOD− as a solvent, it is found that the C-3 and C-5 resonances are shifted downfield by nearly the same amount, suggesting that the proton at N-4 is being removed. Enolization in the neutral molecules does not occur to any significant extent.
Regiocontrolled metalation of diethyl β-dialkylaminovinylphosphonates: A new synthesis of substituted β-ketophosphonates

Abstract The metalation of diethyl β-dialkylaminovinylphosphonates (vinylogous phosphoramides (VPA)) and their reaction with a variety of electrophiles is described. Upon mild hydrolysis these derivatives provide good yields of β-ketophosphonates.
Investigation of the 2006 Alexandrium fundyense bloom in the Gulf of Maine: In-situ observations and numerical modeling

In-situ observations and a coupled bio-physical model were used to study the germination, initiation, and development of the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Alexandrium fundyense bloom in 2006. Hydrographic measurements and comparisons with GOM climatology indicate that 2006 was a year with normal coastal water temperature, salinity, current and river runoff conditions. A. fundyense cyst abundance in bottom sediments preceding the 2006 bloom was at a moderate level compared to other recent annual cyst survey data. We used the coupled bio-physical model to hindcast coastal circulation and A. fundyense cell concentrations. Field data including water temperature, salinity, velocity time series and surface A. fundyense cell concentration maps were applied to gauge the model's fidelity. The coupled model is capable of reproducing the hydrodynamics and the temporal and spatial distributions of A. fundyense cell concentration reasonably well. Model hindcast solutions were further used to diagnose physical and biological factors controlling the bloom dynamics. Surface wind fields modulated the bloom's horizontal and vertical distribution. The initial cyst distribution was found to be the dominant factor affecting the severity and the interannual variability of the A. fundyense bloom. Initial cyst abundance for the 2006 bloom was about 50% of that prior to the 2005 bloom. As the result, the time-averaged gulf-wide cell concentration in 2006 was also only about 60% of that in 2005. In addition, weaker alongshore currents and episodic upwelling-favorable winds in 2006 reduced the spatial extent of the bloom as compared with 2005.
The Production of European High Culture in Los Angeles: The J. Paul Getty Trust as Artificial Curiosity

In 1982, when the newly formed J. Paul Getty Trust received the bulk of the personal fortune of J. Paul Getty, the art world anticipated fantastic bids to acquire pieces from the dwindling supply of recognized masterworks, and thus the destabilization of already inflating art markets. When the worth of the Trust's endowment, in the form of 4 million shares of Getty Oil, rose from half a billion dollars to over 2 billion dollars after the sale of Getty Oil to Texaco in 1984, the fear was even more intense. As an operating rather than charitable foundation, the Getty is required to spend 41/4% of the average market value of its endowment three out of every four years on its own programs. This would mean over $100 million every year. Through the skill of professional investors and the business experience of its president and directors, the corpus by 1988, when I was a visiting scholar at the Getty, was worth approximately $4 billion. To put this in another frame of reference, of the 2000 operating foundations in the United States, roughly two-thirds of their total assets are held by the Getty Trust, and the total assets of operating foundations exceed those of both company-sponsored and community foundations together. It is the sheer magnitude of this self-perpetuating pure surplus, expressed in the recitation of such figures, that most distinguishes the Getty, and gives it a social identity, independent of the purposes and hopes of those inside who control the formidable process of spending. Indeed, the Getty's performance as art collector, until very recently, has been much less dramatic than expected. To the public, the Getty has been known only as a museum, specifically the idiosyncratic reconstruction of the Roman Villa dei Papiri of Herculaneum, buried by volcanic eruption in A.D. 79. Completed in 1974 at a cost of $17 million, this kitsch landmark of Los Angeles was built on Getty's hillside ranch just off a Malibu beach to house his expanding collections. In 1951, Getty had left the United States for Europe, never to return, despite his periodically expressed intention to do so. In 1953, he approved the conversion of part of his Malibu home into a small museum, at least partly motivated by tax avoidance. In the years before his death in 1976, he oversaw with
A new transient tracer: Measured vertical distribution of CCl2FCClF2 (F-113) in the North Pacific Subarctic Gyre

The first quantitative marine measurements of trichlorotrifluoroethane (F-113) were made in the North Pacific subarctic gyre in July of 1986, using a modification of the analytical procedure developed for the transient tracers F-11 and F-12 (Gammon et al., 1982; Wisegarver and Cline, 1985). The measured mixed layer concentration was 0.29±0.02 pM/L; the corresponding atmospheric mixing ratio was 35±1 pptv (Rasmussen scale). Below a subsurface maximum both F-11 and F-113 were found to fall off exponentially with increasing depth, F-113 reaching effective blank levels first. The significance of adding F-113 to the existing suite of measurable oceanic transient tracers rests in the possibility of age-dating water masses by their (F-113/F-11) ratio with near annual resolution for the period since 1977.
Spontaneous crystalline‐to‐amorphous phase transformation of organic or medicinal compounds in the presence of porous media, part 2: Amorphization capacity and mechanisms of interaction

Amorphization of crystalline compounds using mesoporous media is a promising technique to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of poorly soluble compounds. The objective of this paper is to determine the capacity of amorphization and understand the mechanisms of phase transformation. Commercial grades of mesoporous silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) samples (5- to 30-nm mean pore diameters) with either constant surface area or constant pore volume were used. The amorphization capacity of naphthalene was not proportional to either the surface area or the pore volume measured using adsorption chambers. Instead, the amorphization capacity correlated with surface curvature, that is, the smaller the pore diameter and the higher the surface curvature, the greater the amorphization capacity. The change in surface chemistry due to a highly curved surface may be responsible for the enhanced amorphization capacity as well. The amorphization of crystalline compounds was facilitated through capillary condensation, with the decrease in pore volume as the direct experimental evidence. The amorphization capacity was also enhanced by the dipole-dipole or dipole-induced dipole interaction, promoted by the hydroxyl groups on the surface of SiO(2). The enthalpy of vapor-solid condensation of crystalline compounds was a useful indicator to predict the rank order of amorphization capacity.
Gathering wool: Reflections on conducting qualitative research

Qualitative researchers could benefit from viewing their work as both science and art. In addition to the scientific collection and analysis of data, qualitative researchers are called upon to tell the stories of their participants and this involves creativity. The following article offers some personal reflections and suggestions based on a qualitative investigation that explored nine sexual violence counselors’ views of clinical supervision. In explaining the thought processes behind this project, other researchers may be able to use these reflections as a point of departure for their own qualitative journeys.
Asymptotic solution for solar electric low thrust orbit raising with eclipse penalty

This paper describes an analytic solution for the solar electric low thrust orbit raising problem derived by application of the two-variable asymptotic expansion method. Included in the formulation are the effects of (1) high initial eccentricity, (2) large change of inclination, (3) variable mass, and (4) earth shadow penalty including the rotation of the shadow axis relative to the osculating orbit. An advantage of this mathematical strategy is that the effects of various steering policies can be evaluated readily from a physical point of view.
Enterprise Cloud Architecture for Chinese Ministry of Railway

Enterprise like PRC Ministry of Railways (MOR), is facing various challenges ranging from highly distributed computing environment and low legacy system utilization, Cloud Computing is increasingly regarded as one workable solution to address this. This article describes full scale cloud solution with Intel Tashi as virtual machine infrastructure layer, Hadoop HDFS as computing platform, and self developed SaaS interface, gluing virtual machine and HDFS with Xen hypervisor. As a result, on demand computing task application and deployment have been tackled per MOR real working scenarios at the end of article.
Mapping the insect brain

Atlas of an Insect Brain. By Nicholas J. Strausfeld., Pp. xii+214. (71 plates.) (Springer: Berlin and New York, 1976.) $118.10.
Federal Cutbacks and the Fiscal Condition of the States

Given the drive to balance the federal budget, cutbacks and changes infederal aid are likely to place added burdens on state governments. This article examines whether state governments are fiscally up to task. A review of the recent and current fiscal position of the states suggests that current state fiscal strength may be temporary, and is unevenly distributed among the states. In addition, many factors will differentially influence state responses to the changingfederal environment. States may not be as fiscally ready, as Washington assumes, to handle increased long-term responsibilities.
Altered cell proliferation in the spinal cord of mouse neural tube mutants curly tail and Pax3 splotch-delayed.

Abstract The mutant mouse strains splotch-delayed (Pax3Sp-d) and curly tail (ct) develop neural tube defects (NTDs) in the lumbosacral region of the neuraxis. Some research has focused on cell proliferation around the time of posterior neuropore closure in these mutants; however, there are little data on the effects of NTDs on cell birth at later stages of development. To investigate the role neural tube closure might play in cytogenesis of the spinal cord, the thymidine analog 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected into pregnant splotch-delayed and curly tail mice at various stages of gestation. The mean number of labelled cells in the dorsal and ventral halves of spina bifida and control embryos was then calculated per section and per mm2. Mutagenically separated PCR (MS-PCR), was used to ascertain the genotype of splotch-delayed embryos. Our data indicate that the peak proliferation dates, for both the dorsal and ventral regions of the cord, are similar in spina bifida and control embryos. However, the quantity of proliferation is significantly different between affected and unaffected embryos. In general, there are markedly fewer cells born in spina bifida embryos in early neural tube development, followed by a short period of equal proliferation, and culminating in a significant increase in cell proliferation later in gestation. This increase in proliferation results in a greater number of cells being born in spina bifida embryos compared to controls. Several possible explanations for this phenomenon are considered, including the hypothesis that the roof plate, or other factors induced by neural tube closure, might have an anti-mitotic activity.
Equational aspects of ultrafilter convergence

Continuous maps may be defined as those preserving ultrafilter convergence, but many other relations are preserved by all continuous maps. Sets of equations in such relations define classes of spaces such as T1, T2, T3, compact and completely regular. Topological spaces are characterized by a canonical set of inequalities among ultrafilter convergence relations which, when tightened to equalities, specialize to the compact T1 spaces.
A class of conformally invariant quantum field theories

A general family of two-dimensional field theories of the Liouville type, involving one or more scalar fields, is shown to be conformally invariant when quantized canonically over a large class of Fock spaces.
Avoiding Aging? Social Psychology’s Treatment of Age

Population aging, in conjunction with social and cultural transformations of the life course, has profound implications for social systems—from large-scale structures to micro-level processes. However, much of sociology remains fairly quiet on issues of age and aging, including the subfield of social psychology that could illuminate the impact of these broader social forces on individual lives. This study examines the scope of research on age, aging, and the life course in the leading social psychological journal in sociology (Social Psychology Quarterly) and compares it with coverage in the primary social psychology journal in psychology (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology) and two sociology journals (American Sociological Review and Journal of Health and Social Behavior). An analysis of articles published between 1977 and 2006 shows that approximately 7 percent in Social Psychology Quarterly or Journal of Personality and Social Psychology seriously considered age. In contrast, 11 % of articles in American Sociological Review and 25 % in Journal of Health and Social Behavior did so. Across the journals, examinations of age increased over time. However, studies reflect a limited range of methodological and theoretical approaches with few employing qualitative methods or a symbolic interactionist perspective. We discuss several under-explored sites for research on age, aging, and the life course that would enrich social psychological and sociological scholarship more broadly.
Antecedents and consequences of expatriate satisfaction in the Asian Pacific

Abstract Working in a foreign environment with different political, cultural and economic characteristics, hotel expatriates are confronted with both job-related and personal problems. This study identified the predictors of job and life satisfaction of expatriate hotel managers in the Asian Pacific. The findings suggest that role clarity, participation in decision making, and skill variety are the best predictors of expatriate job satisfaction, while cultural adjustment and skill variety are the predictors of expatriate life satisfaction. In addition, the study also examined the relationship between expatriate satisfaction and turnover intention. The results indicate that both job and life satisfaction affect expatriate turnover intention.
A new treatment of the normal vibrations of a linear diatomic lattice

Abstract The vibrational analysis of the diatomic linear lattice has been worked out by the method of extra forces. In this method one takes as the zero-order problem that part of forces in the complete equations of motion yielding an exactly solvable problem. The normal coordinates thus obtained form new generalized coordinates for the modified Lagrange's equations and forces that were neglected in zero-order are introduced as extra generalized forces. The diatomic chain can be regarded as a system of two uniform chains, one containing N ∗ M-particles and the other n ∗ = N ∗ − 1 m-particles, where N ∗ + n ∗ = N is the total number of particles, that are superimposed to form a symmetrical chain. The zero-order problem comes from the two independent chains and the extra forces arise from the coupling of the chains. The analysis shows that for a long diatomic chain, only those zero-order modes of the separate chains having the same index r are coupled, to high order of approximation. The frequencies of the optical and acoustical branches predicted by this method differ from those quoted in the literature by the replacement of the customary cos2 ( rπ 2N ∗ ) by cos4 ( rπ 2N ∗ ). The basic method of extra forces, including proper symmetry conditions, enables one to set up the vibrational analysis of more complicated diatomic arrays.
Using cluster analysis of alcohol use disorders to investigate ‘diagnostic orphans’: subjects with alcohol dependence symptoms but no diagnosis

The purpose of this paper is to examine the characteristics of community subjects with one or two alcohol dependence symptoms who did not satisfy the criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) alcohol dependence or abuse (sub-diagnostic group or diagnostic orphans). Variables not included in the DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence criteria are used to compare the different alcohol statuses. The results indicate that the sub-diagnostic group 'diagnostic orphans' formed a cluster distinct from that of the non-problem drinkers group, and appeared to be closer to those with alcohol abuse than to those with alcohol dependence. The diagnosis of DSM-IV alcohol dependence (with three, four, or five or more symptoms) appeared to be its own entity. The findings lend credence to the requirement of three symptoms (in any 12 months) for the diagnosis of alcohol dependence in DSM-IV. However, those with one or two symptoms of alcohol dependence should be considered along with alcohol abuse as an entity in future DSM classifications.
Supravital and Vital Staining of Diseased Corneal Endothelium in Whole-Mount Preparations

Whereas specular microscopy may provide valuable preoperative information about the status of the endothelial cells in clear corneas, in many diseased corneas that come to penetrating keratoplasty, stromal opacities or epithelial edema prevents determinations about the condition of the endothelium. A method has been developed wherein diseased-host penetrating keratoplasty specimens are maintained postoperatively in McCarey-Kaufman medium and are thereafter stained as whole mounts with alizarin red S and trypan blue to evaluate the status of the endothelial monolayer. Seventy diseased corneas were studied with this method. The alizarin red S stained the intercellular junctions, while the trypan blue stained nuclei and provided information about the viability of the endothelial cells that were studied. Unusual findings were the presence of binucleated endothelial cells in decompensated cases of iris clip pseudophakos and scattered iris stromal melanocytes on barred Descemet's membrane in cases of chemical injury, trauma, and congenital glaucoma. The method was found to be rapid, reliable, and inexpensive, particularly when compared with alternative methods of evaluation, such as scanning electron microscopy.
Test–Retest Reproducibility of Binding Parameters in Humans with 11C-LY2795050, an Antagonist PET Radiotracer for the κ Opioid Receptor

243 Objectives The objectives of this study was to identify prevalence of respiratory motion in dynamic PET myocardial perfusion images, its effects on myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) estimates and to investigate the implications of the weighting model deployed during kinetic fit to minimize effects of motion. Methods This study used 53 randomly selected patients referred for dynamic stress/rest Rb-82 PET imaging. Dynamic image series were iteratively reconstructed. The left ventricular (LV) blood pool and tissue time activity curves (TAC) were sampled using ROI and fit to a compartment model with uniform or tissue weighting for MBF and CFR quantification using Corridor4DM software (INVIA). Tissue weighting incorporated the frame duration, decay correction factor, and activity concentration. Motion was assessed visually from the dynamic series and categorized with having minimal, moderate, or severe motion. Studies with moderate or severe motion were manually corrected for comparison. Results Moderate and severe motion was observed in 46% and 39% of the studies respectively. Motion was most prominent in the blood pool phases with 55% of the motion in the craniocaudal direction. Compared to the motion corrected images, images with moderate motion had global stress MBF values 3.2% higher when uniform weighting was used. Using tissue weighting only reduced those differences by 0.5%. Studies with severe motion had greater stress MBF differences: 5.8% (uniform) and 5.4% (tissue). Regionally stress MBF values in the RCA varied the greatest: 20.2% (uniform) and 19.9% (tissue). Conclusions Respiratory motion is problematic in the blood pool phase due to fast kinetics of the tracer and the short time sampling. Increasing differences in MBF and CFR estimates were observed between studies with minimal, moderate, and severe motion. Tissue weighting has limited impact on reducing the increase in MBF and CFR estimates caused by motion suggesting motion correction is needed to reduce bias in flow estimates.
Complement fixing antibody response of man to yolk sac-grown Rocky Mountain spotted fever vaccine.

Summary and ConclusionsThe spotted fever group complement fixing antibody response was used as a measure of the immunogenicity of a commercially available killed Rocky Mountain spotted fever vaccine in human subjects. A single-dose primary course of vaccine elicited a detectable antibody response in only about 22% of 68 subjects, whereas a 3-dose primary course stimulated the development of complement fixing antibodies in about 63% of eight subjects. The low antibody titers attained may be a function of the relatively low complement fixing antigen content of the vaccine.A booster dose of vaccine given between 1 and 6 months after the primary course failed to elicit an antibody response in the majority of subjects. A second booster dose, given a year after the 6-month booster dose, also failed to cause a significant response. On the other hand, three subjects who had last received RMSF vaccine several years prior to this study developed a typical secondary antibody response upon revaccination. These same s...
Vertical aluminophosphate molecular sieve crystals grown at inorganic-organic interfaces.

Tubular aluminophosphate molecular sieve crystals were grown at an organic interface with their channels (7 angstroms in cross section) vertical to the substrate. To induce surface nucleation and oriented growth of AIPO4-5 crystals, organophosphonate layers cross-linked with Zr(IV) were assembled on a gold substrate and the modified substrate was immersed in a hydrothermal bath containing reagents for the synthesis of the molecular sieve. Reflection-absorption infrared studies demonstrated the stability of the phosphonate layers under these conditions. Drastic changes in the morphology of the surface-grown crystals from spherical agglomerates to vertical needles to thin tilted needles could be achieved by adjusting the water content of the synthesis bath. Nitrogen sorption in these structures on a piezoelectric device confirmed the presence of zeolitic microporosity.
Thermal behavior and laser marking of a novel nematic liquid crystalline polymer

The thermal behavior and laser marking of a novel nematic liquid crystalline polymer is explored in this report. The glass transition and mesophase transition temperatures of this material are at 45 and 68°C, respectively, and allow the ready annealing of the nematic phase as well as conversion of the nematic to the isotropic phase by pulsed laser irradiation of metallized or dyed films of the polymer.
Excitation of toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes in TFTR.

Deuterium neutral beams with energies up to 110 keV were injected into TFTR (Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor) plasmas at low magnetic field such that the beam injection velocities were comparable to the Alfven velocity. Excitation of toroidal Alfven eigenmodes was observed by Mirnov coils and beam emission spectroscopy. 10 refs., 4 figs.
Nonuniversal critical behavior and first-order transitions in a coupled XY-Ising model.

We study, by a Migdal-Kadanoff approximation and Monte Carlo simulations, the phase diagram of a two-dimensional coupled XY-Ising model. This model can describe phase transitions in different systems with underlying continuous and ${\mathit{Z}}_{2}$ symmetries. Depending on the parameters, we find separate XY, Ising and first-order transitions. Also, a line of continuous transitions is found with simultaneous loss of XY and Ising order and varying critical exponents. The fully frustrated XY and Josephson-junction systems can be considered to lie along different paths in the model which can result in nonuniversal behavior if the transition is a single one.
Silicon direct bonding approach to high voltage power device (insulated gate bipolar transistors)

Silicon direct bonding technique was successfully applied for the fabrication of high voltage IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor). In this work, 5 inch, p-type CZ wafer for handle wafer and n-type FZ wafer for device wafer were used and bonding the two wafers was performed at reduced pressure (1mmTorr) using a modified vacuum bonding machine. Since the breakdown voltage in high voltage device has been determined by the remained thickness of device layer, grinding and CMP steps should be carefully designed in order to acquire better uniformity of device layer. In order to obtain the higher removal rate and the final better uniformity of device layer, the harmony of the two processes must be considered. We found that the concave type of grinding profile and the optimal thickness of ground wafer was able to reduce the process time of CMP step and also to enhance the final thickness uniformity of device layer up to +/- 1%. Finally, when compared epitaxy layer with SDB wafer, the SDB wafer was found to be more favorable in terms of cost and electrical characteristics.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Psychosocial Care for Adult and Child Survivors of the Tsunami Disaster in India

OBJECTIVES: The tsunami disaster in South Asia affected the mental health and livelihoods of thousands of child and adult survivors, but psychological aspects of rehabilitation efforts are frequently neglected in public health initiatives. METHODS: Professional teams from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bangalore, India, traveled to the worst-affected areas in South India and implemented a mental health program of psychosocial care for child and adult survivors. This descriptive report is based on observations of child and adult survivors in Tamil Nadu State of India during January-March 2005. OBSERVATIONS: Symptoms of emotional distress were observed in child and adult survivors. A train-the-trainer community-based model was implemented for teachers and community-level workers to respond to the emotional needs of children and adults. CONCLUSION: In resource-poor settings with few trained mental health professionals, community workers were taught basic mental health interventions by teams of psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers. This train-the-trainer, community-based approach has implications for natural and man-made disasters in developed and developing countries. Language: en
Liquid phase epitaxy of Hg1−xCdxCdxTe☆

We describe the epitaxy of n- and p-Hg1−xCdxTe on CdTe substrates up to 2 cm × 3 cm in area, using an atmospheric pressure horizontal slider system with a tellurium-rich growth liquid. Well controlled growth of Hg1−xCdxTe with x values of 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 is described. Measurements of the semiconductor characteristics of the grown layers are presented.
Identification of fissile materials from fission product gamma-ray spectra

Abstract A new active–passive nondestructive assay technique has been developed to identify fissile materials by observing the gamma-ray emissions from induced fission products. This technique entails using a neutron source to induce fissions in unknown containerized fissile materials and to subsequently observe high energy peaks (>800 keV) in the fission product gamma-ray spectrum. Ratios of the observed peak intensities are then formed. The values of these ratios can be compared to calculated theoretical values to identify the fissile material. The present work focuses on the differentiation between 235 U and 239 Pu .
Use of antibodies to modify the effect of growth hormone on sugar transport in rat diaphragm muscle.

GH stimulates sugar transport into diaphragm muscle of hypophysectomized rats, but this effect subsides in 2–3 h and a period of refractoriness follows in which the cells do not respond to further stimulation with the hormone. To determine the briefest period of in vitro GH-tissue interaction required to induce 1) the early stimulatory effect of GH on the transport of 3-O-methylglucose (30MG) and 2) the delayed refractory response, the GH-tissue interaction was interrupted at various times with antibodies against GH. Diaphragms isolated from hypophysectomized rats were incubated with rat GH (rGH), 0.4 μg/ml for 30 min at 0-2 C, to permit binding of the hormone to the cells in the absence of metabolism. Next, the muscles were warmed to 37 C for various times in the presence of rGH, then cooled again to 2 C and exposed for 1 h to either monkey serum or monkey anti-rGH antibodies (ArGH). The muscles were then washed in buffer and again warmed to 37 C for various times. Their ability to transport 30MG was ass...
On Assimilation of the Asians in the Americas. A Reply

Roger Daniels' comments (CSSH 1983:401–404) pertaining to my paper on assimilation of the Chinese in Peru and the U.S.A. (CSSH 1978:335–358) contained several misrepresentations which need to be corrected lest readers of this journal who may be unfamiliar with my paper be misled.
Near-Field Surface Plasmon Excitation on Structured Gold Films

Surface plasmon polariton (SPP) localization control on rough metal surfaces has been achieved by varying the gap between a scanning near-field aperture probe and the surface. The qualitative explanation for this observation is based on the overlapping of spatial frequencies available for near-field excitation of the SPP, with the spectral distribution of spatial frequencies characterizing the surface roughness. From a practical point of view, this selective excitation of electromagnetic states on nanostructures provides a way to estimate the reflectivity of structures such as grooves engraved into the metal film. Qualitative aspects of transmission and scattering through parallel slit pairs acting as Fabry-Perot resonators are discussed.
ConTax: A Pricing Scheme for CHOKeW

In order to find a cost-effective solution for combining pricing, admission control, buffer management and scheduling in DiffServ networks, we propose the ConTax-CHOKeW framework. ConTax is a distributed admission controller that works in edge routers, while CHOKeW, designed in our previous research for core networks, is a buffer management scheme. Since a user in a higher priority class requests more bandwidth that is differentiated by CHOKeW, this user is likely to generate more network load. ConTax uses the sum of priority values for all admitted users to measure the network load. When the network load is heavier, ConTax charges a higher price for each priority class. The price includes a basic price and an extra price called congestion tax. By using simulations, we show that ConTax is capable of controlling the network load as well as the number of users that are admitted into the network. In addition, by employing ConTax, network providers can gain more profit, and users have greater flexibility that in turn meets the specific performance requirements of their applications.
3D CT-based volumetric dose assessment of 2D plans using GEC-ESTRO guidelines for cervical cancer brachytherapy

Abstract Purpose To investigate two-dimensional (2D) radiograph-based plans using three-dimensional (3D) dose–volume histogram (DVH) parameters following guidelines from Gynecologic GEC-ESTRO Working Group (GEC-ESTRO). Methods and Materials Nineteen high-dose-rate (HDR) fractions from 8 patients were studied. Prescription was 45 Gy from external beam radiation therapy plus 30 Gy in five fractions from HDR using tandem and ring/ovoids. Both radiographs and CT scan were obtained. Treatment was planned using radiographs following American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) guidelines. Retrospective evaluation of above 2D plans on a 3D volumetric basis was achieved by generating CT image-based 3D plans using same dwell times. Results In 2D plans, International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurement (ICRU) bladder and rectal point doses were 3.8 ± 0.4 and 3.0 ± 0.5 Gy, respectively. In 3D plans, rectum D 2 cc is 4.0 ± 1.0 Gy and bladder D 2 cc is 5.4 ± 0.9 Gy. Position of actual hottest spot in 3D rectum volume was close to the position of ICRU rectal point. ICRU bladder point did not match with the actual hottest spot in 3D bladder volume. In 2D plans, H-point dose was 5.8 ± 0.2 Gy. In 3D plans, dose to CT-based cervix ( D 90 ) reduced from 7.1 to 4.2 Gy as the cervical volume increased from 12 to 39 cc. Average D 2 cc /ICRU dose ratio was calculated to be 1.36/1.01 for bladder/rectum, respectively. Conclusions The DVH analysis of 2D plans revealed a suboptimal coverage of CT-based cervix and a negative correlation between coverage and cervical size. Rectum dose to 2 cc weakly correlated with ICRU point dose. Currently published constraint for bladder in 3D planning is tighter than ABS guidelines in past 2D planning.
Training in multimodality imaging: challenges and opportunities.

Ten years ago, training in multimodality imaging was but a gleam in a cardiologist's eye. But the formulation of new recommendations by the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Physicians Task Force on Clinical Competence and Training in the
Image Edge Detection And Width Estimation With Δ2G Filters

We present an algorithm that uses the zero-crossing information obtained from multiple resolution Laplacian of a 2-D Gaussian (VG) filtering to estimate the location, orientation, width (blur) and shape of the intensity changes in an image. Based on a ramp edge model of image edges, the algorithm uses the response zero-crossing slope to determine the width of a possible intensity change. It describes the intensity change in the region about the zero-crossing from the derivatives of the Gaussian smoothed image at the filter scale corresponding to the width.
UPREGULATION OF BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR EXPRESSION IN NODOSE GANGLIA AND THE LOWER BRAINSTEM OF HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Hypertension leads to structural and functional changes at baroreceptor synapses in the medial nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Our previous studies show that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is abundantly expressed by rat nodose ganglion (NG) neurons, including baroreceptor afferents and their central terminals in the medial NTS. We hypothesized that hypertension leads to upregulation of BDNF expression in NG neurons. To test this hypothesis, we used two mechanistically distinct models of hypertension, the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt rat. Young adult SHRs, whose blood pressure was significantly elevated compared with age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) control rats, exhibited dramatic upregulation of BDNF mRNA and protein in the NG. BDNF transcripts from exon 4, known to be regulated by activity, and exon 9 (protein-coding region) showed the largest increases. Electrical stimulation of dispersed NG neurons with patterns that mimic baroreceptor activity during blood pressure elevations led to increases in BDNF mRNA that were also mediated through promoter 4. The increase in BDNF content of the NG in vivo was associated with a significant increase in the percentage of BDNF-immunoreactive NG neurons. Moreover, upregulation of BDNF in cell bodies of NG neurons was accompanied by a significant increase in BDNF in the NTS region, the primary central target of NG afferents. A dramatic increase in BDNF in the NG was also detected in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Together, our study identifies BDNF as a candidate molecular mediator of activity-dependent changes at baroafferent synapses during hypertension.
Learner-Sourcing in an Engineering Class at Scale

Teaching computer architecture as a hands-on engineering course to approximately 250 MIT students per semester requires a large, dedicated teaching staff. This Spring, a shortened version of the course will be deployed on edX to a potentially far larger cohort of students, without additional teaching staff. To better support students, we have deployed developmental versions of three learner-sourcing systems to as many as 500 students. These systems harvest and organize students' collective knowledge about debugging and optimizing solutions. We plan to deploy and study the next iteration of these systems on edX this Spring.
Is it time to change the OER repositories role

The growing number of digital libraries providing open educational resources (OER) requires effective resource discovery mechanisms to optimally exploit the benefits of their openness. This paper discusses the OER repositories role and presents a study aimed at understanding how educators find OER by seeking answers to questions such as: what proportion of users seeking OER go directly to OER repositories and what proportion uses search engines or some other means and why. Understanding how and with what tools users discover and access resources can have an impact on the OER repositories strategic development.
Relative Deprivation: How Subjective Experiences of Inequality Influence Social Behavior and Health

Discussions of the impact of growing inequality have focused on objective indicators. Focusing on what individuals have or do not have can be misleading without understanding how they subjectively ...
A Legal Ethics Perspective on Alternative Litigation Financing

One of the foundational principles of legal ethics is that the lawyer owes an obligation of undivided loyalty to the client, and no other interests or relationships can be permitted to interfere with the lawyer’s exercise of independent professional judgment on behalf of the client. The strongest non-consequentialist doctrinal objection to third-party litigation funding is that it may compromise the lawyer’s independence. Yet this argument cannot be made in too strong a form, because lawyers are already permitted to enter into relationships or have interests that present a prima facie risk to the lawyer’s independence. In the United States, two such situations are the representation of plaintiffs in contingent-fee financed litigation and the representation of insured defendants by lawyers compensated, and substantially controlled, by liability insurers. Both of these situations present conflicts of interest that are mitigated for the most part not by formal rules of professional conduct but by other legal and non-legal sources of constraint. In the insurance defense context, many apparent conflicts are mitigated by doctrines within insurance law that limit the extent to which insurers can act self-interestedly at the expense of the insured. Regarding contingent-fee representation, market mechanisms are entrusted with the role of regulating the size of fees, while agency and tort principles regulate the conduct of lawyers representing plaintiffs in contingent-fee matters. These comparisons show that third-part litigation finance should not be condemned categorically as compromising the lawyer’s independent judgment. Rather, the acceptability of third-party finance should be dependent upon the extent to which the relationship between the funder and the recipient of funding is regulated to mitigate the risk of self-interested behaviour on the part of the funder. Forthcoming in a symposium in the Canadian Business Law Journal on alternative litigation financing.