cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intragranular thermal transport in U–50Zr

Abstract A thermoreflectance method was used to measure intragranular thermal diffusivity and conductivity of samples having a composition of U-50 wt%Zr (U–50Zr). Three phases at this composition were investigated: the high temperature γ phase, the low temperature δ phase, and the metastable ω phase. This approach uses a tightly focused laser to inject micron scale thermal waves and a second tightly focused laser to monitor the temperature distribution. The thermal properties are extracted by comparing experimental temperature profiles to an analytical heat diffusion model. The probe laser can monitor the temperature field in orthogonal directions along the surface of the sample and is well suited to measure thermal anisotropy. We show that the δ phase exhibits significant thermal anisotropy. The γ phase has the highest thermal conductivity. The higher conductivity of the γ phase is thought to be due to the presence of Zr precipitates that slightly change the stoichiometry of the γ matrix. The highly disordered ω phase appears to be thermally isotropic and has a lower conductivity than the δ phase. Both observations are likely due to the presence of γ domains that reside between ω domains. This supposition is supported by the presence of thermal heterogeneities that appear as noise in the measured signals.
Enactment of Environmental Legislation and Enforcement Through Criminal Sanctions: Pennsylvania as a Role Model

Pennsylvania is an outstanding leader in enacting environmental legislation which forms the jurisdictional foundation in confronting and thwarting the devastating consequences of pollution in the Commonwealth. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how Pennsylvania may serve as a role model for other states to emulate. This article focuses on the efforts of the Pennsylvania legislature, the judiciary and the prosecution. Criminal sanctions in various types of environmental legislation are detailed. The specific judicial decisions highlighted concern constitutional challenges to environmental laws in a criminal context and the undertaking by the Pennsylvania courts to impose stringent criminal sanctions. Finally, this article delineates Pennsylvania's current and future agenda in terms of legislative enactments that contain criminal sanctions with a resultant assurance that Pennsylvania's environment will be immunized from future ruination.
MORONET: Multi-omics Integration via Graph Convolutional Networks for Biomedical Data Classification

ABSTRACT To fully utilize the advances in omics technologies and achieve a more comprehensive understanding of human diseases, novel computational methods are required for integrative analysis for multiple types of omics data. We present a novel multi-omics integrative method named Multi-Omics gRaph cOnvolutional NETworks (MORONET) for biomedical classification. MORONET jointly explores omics-specific learning and cross-omics correlation learning for effective multi-omics data classification. We demonstrate that MORONET outperforms other state-of-the-art supervised multi-omics integrative analysis approaches from a wide range of biomedical classification applications using mRNA expression data, DNA methylation data, and miRNA expression data. Furthermore, MORONET is able to identify important biomarkers from different omics data types that are related with the investigated diseases.
How Can Computer Science Education Address Inequities

The 2019 global pandemic and the social protests in support of Black Lives Matter has made it clear that society has yet to eradicate systemic racism. Can computing education help? Academics, particularly in STEM fields, are often shielded from these conversations as we think they belong in a social science classroom. The effect of the pandemic and the protests has made it abundantly clear that we can no longer be apathetic about systemic issues that impact equity in society. Based on personal experience and on years of participation in Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) efforts, the author suggests actions that CS departments can do to fight inequity. These can be classified into several broad categories: (a) provide more support and opportunities to students from underrepresented groups, (b) encourage faculty to become active participants in addressing inequity, (c) update the computing curriculum to be more inclusive and culturally responsive, and (d) evolve the departmental infrastructure to manage diversity, equity and inclusion.
Benign multi-cystic peritoneal mesothelioma of the porta hepatis.

Abstract Introduction Our case report describes a patient where multiple laparoscopies five years from initial presentation of symptoms were performed prior to laparotomy for benign multi-cystic peritoneal mesothelioma (BMPM), which has not been documented. Presentation A 61-year-old woman presented with years of chronic abdominal pain. Computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated a multi-cystic mass near the porta hepatis, and ultrasound was concerning for contained gallbladder perforation. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) demonstrated benign ductal epithelial cells in a background of mucin and bile without the presence of malignant cells. During laparotomy, a cystic mass attached to the porta hepatis seen emanating from the small bowel mesentery, and additional small cystic lesions through the abdomen were removed. The specimen, measuring 26 × 18 × 8 cm, showed multi-loculated cysts filled with serous fluid. Discussion BMPM is a rare neoplasm of mesothelioma cells originating from serosa of viscous organs. BMPMs appear as cystic structures with thin walls containing mucinous/gelatinous fluid. Microscopic features include a lack of invasion and no increased cellularity in the stroma, with or without inflammation (Myers & Babiker, 2018). It is postulated to be either a reactive or neoplastic process. There is no gold-standard treatment for BMPM. Our case is unique in the sense that our patient required several surgical biopsies before final diagnosis could be made. Conclusion This case highlights the difficulty of diagnosing BMPM and differentiating it from malignant diseases that can present similarly and can be associated with significantly worse prognosis. Defined management strategies have yet to be demonstrated.
Intradetrusor botulinum toxin injections (300 units) for the treatment of poorly compliant bladders in patients with adult neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Aims To evaluate the therapeutic effects of intradetrusor onabotulinum toxin A (BTX) injections in patients with adult neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (ANLUTD) and medically refractory poorly compliant bladders. Methods We retrospectively evaluated patients with urodynamic studies (UDS)-proven, medically refractory impaired bladder compliance (≤20 mL/cm H2 O) secondary to spinal myelopathy treated with 300 units of BTX cystoscopically injected into the detrusor muscle. Objective improvement in compliance was defined as an increase ≥5 mL/cm H2 O on repeat urodynamics. Characteristics were compared between patients who demonstrated symptomatic and objective improvement following treatment versus those without. Results Seventy-one individuals were included in the final analysis. Mean patient age was 37.2 years (range: 18-78) and ANLUTD duration was 14.5 years (range: 1-34). Average pre-injection bladder compliance was 9.2 mL/cm H2 O (range: 3.0-16.7). After treatment with BTX, 37 of 71 (52%) patients reported subjective reductions in lower urinary tract symptoms. Repeat UDS demonstrated objective bladder compliance improvements in 22 of 71 (31%). Individuals with shorter time intervals since neurologic injury responded better to BTX than those with longer durations (P = .032). Conclusion BTX injections significantly improved symptoms and bladder compliance in 31% of ANLUTD patients with medical refractory poorly compliant bladders.
State-Building in the Anglo-Caribbean: Assessing Jamaica's State Formation and Development

In 1962, Jamaica transitioned from being a British colony to a sovereign nation-state. After independence, the country experienced internal and external sociocultural, economic, and political changes that influenced state development. Internally, the political elite, grassroots community organizations, and local strongmen influenced its political stability. Jamaica’s polarized partisan political culture fostered perverse citizen participation alongside a shared “Jamaicanness” identity that helped to build social capital and civic mindedness. Externally, the Cold War sent ideological shock waves through the Americas, and in the 1960s and 1970s, Jamaica fell prey to its violent political consequences. The global shifts brought on by neoliberalism in the late 1970s into the 1980s also had destabilizing economic and political consequences for Jamaica. By the 1980s, with cocaine transshipment from South America through the Caribbean corridor into the United States, Jamaica’s local strongmen upgraded from being partisan middlemen working on behalf of the state to becoming violent drug barons. This metamorphosis had violent consequences for the Jamaican state and society. We explain how these endogenous and exogenous political, economic, and cultural factors contributed to the formation and evolution of the Jamaican
The Sialotranscriptome of the Gopher-Tortoise Tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum

The gopher tortoise tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum, is known to parasitize keystone ectotherm reptile species. The biological success of ticks requires precise mechanisms to evade host hemostatic and immune responses. Acquisition of a full blood meal requires attachment, establishment of the blood pool, and engorgement of the tick. Tick saliva contains molecules which counter the host responses to allow uninterrupted feeding on the host. RNASeq of the salivary glands of Amblyomma tuberculatum ticks were sequenced resulting in 138,030 pyrosequencing reads which were assembled into 29,991 contigs. A total of 1875 coding sequences were deduced from the transcriptome assembly, including 602 putative secretory and 982 putative housekeeping proteins. The annotated data sets are available as a hyperlinked spreadsheet. The sialotranscriptome assembled for this tick species made available a valuable resource for mining novel pharmacological activities and comparative analysis.
Macrophage Adhesion and Phenotypic Shifts on Hydrophobically Modified Hydrogels

A balance of macrophage phenotypes is essential in successful implantation. Therefore, biomaterials should be carefully designed to better regulate the response of macrophages. We demonstrate macrophage adhesion and phenotypic shifts can be modulated with hydrophobically modified hydrogels. This study represents a fundamental concept in controlling cell adhesion and differentiation with substrate hydrophobicity. Gel synthesis was carried out using methacrylated gellan gum (MGG), which was polymerized and crosslinked through a photo-initiated thiol-ene reaction in situ. The degree of hydrophobicity was controlled by attaching hydrophobic branches of different lengths to the MGG. The attachment was carefully controlled so that the hydrogel compressive modulus was not affected by the hydrophobic modification. Compared to unmodified MGG, the water contact angle increased and the swelling ratio decreased for modified MGG hydrogels. Naive and activated macrophages were subsequently seeded on the hydrogels with different surface wettability. Cell proliferation and spreading increased with increasing surface hydrophobicity. Hydrogel surface adhesion to a hydrophobic probe was quantified and showed an increasing trend with increasing substrate hydrophobicity. This suggests that the hydrophobic surface may increase protein adsorption, which, in turn, increases cell spreading. Cytokine secretion by M1 and M2 macrophages were also altered by substrate hydrophobicity. Both nitrite production, a marker of M1, and urea production, a marker of M2, increased with substrate hydrophobicity, with nitrate production being more pronounced. RAW 264.7 macrophages seeded on these substrates shifted to a more pro-inflammatory phenotype with increasing substrate hydrophobicity.
The Changing Role and Responsibilities of a Chairman—Letters

To the Editor.— Dr Brent9s article on academic chairmen (Pediatrics. 1992;90:50-57) was terrific—insightful, helpful, and much needed. If I may be so bold as to add one further insight and suggestion: When chairmen of academic departments are selected, invariably it seems to be done by the "weight of the c.v." approach. An outstanding researcher does not necessarily make an outstanding chairman. (In fact, one could argue that there are skills needed for bench or clinical research that are antithetical to those needed to chair an academic department.)
The Scanning Probe-Based Deep Oxidation Lithography and Its Application inStudying the Spreading of Liquid n-Alkane

We have developed a novel chemical patterning method, the scanning probe-based deep oxidation lithography, which enables us to fabricate a carboxylic acid-terminated chemical pattern on a hydrophobic silane film. This lithography method employs a conducting atomic force microscope (AFM) probe to oxidize the silane film under the probe in a humid environment. When a positive bias voltage is applied to the silane film, the area under the probe is oxidized to the partially degraded silane (OTSpd), which is 10 A lower than the background. The oxidation time and the path of the AFM probe during the oxidation determine the size and shape of the OTSpd chemical pattern. We can use the OTSpd pattern to control shape and size of a droplet of liquid n-alkane on a surface because the OTSpd pattern is lyophilic (liquid attractive). This novel chemical pattern method enables us to study the n-alkane structures on the surface and investigates how a liquid alkane droplet spreads over patterned surfaces at molecular scale. We found that the alkane formed seaweed-shaped monolayer on the OTSpd surface, where the alkane molecules may tilt at certain angles. Furthermore, we investigated the role of vapor during the spreading of liquid alkane droplet. We found that the vapor of the alkane droplet adsorbed on the nearby surface before the liquid spread. Hence, the liquid actually always spreads on a layer of the adsorbate. It is the surface properties of this adsorbate determine the spreading and wetting of the liquid alkane.
Separation of helper and suppressor T lymphocytes. III. Positive and negative effects of mixed lymphocyte reaction-activated T cells.

Using a Ficoll velocity sedimentation gradient, we provide evidence to show that stimulatory and inhibitory activities induced in mixed lymphocyte culture belong to two distinct subpopulations of T cells. Slow- to medium-sedimenting, nonproliferating cells enhance the humoral response of normal cells to SRBC whereas fast-sedimenting cells inhibit that response. Cytotoxic lymphocytes are found in the same fractions as suppressor cells but appear to be differentiable from the latter in terms of maturation kinetics and specificity
Flow and Education

David [Kahn] is right, I told him that everybody should call me Mike, but at the same time, I will repeat my last name because otherwise people ask me always after a talk, “OK, but how do you pronounce your name?” So let me do it once, but after that it can be Mike, The last name is pronounced CHICK-sent-mee-hi
Antibiotics and breast-feeding: a critical review of the literature.

Continuous breast-feeding, an integral component of the postpartum period, is often threatened upon maternal initiation of antibiotics. The real risk of antibiotic use while breast-feeding must be carefully analysed with regard to all the variables that influence the extent of antibiotic distribution into breast milk, including breast milk composition, physicochemical properties of the antibiotic (molecular weight, lipid solubility, pH, protein binding), length of feeding, and maternal disposition. In addition, infant disposition, including ability to absorb, metabolize, eliminate, and tolerate any amounts of antibiotic, must also be considered prior to maternal administration of antibiotic. The milk to plasma (M/P) ratio is a frequently quoted parameter used to predict drug distribution into breast milk. However, its utility is questionable and often fraught with misinterpretation. An alternative approach when the amount of antibiotic concentration in breast milk is known (through clinical trials) is to calculate an estimated or expected infant drug exposure factoring in known/expected milk consumption, drug concentration and bioavailability. In this review, the following antibiotic classes and current literature regarding their distribution into breast milk are critically reviewed: β-lactam antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, macrolides, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, nitrofurantoin, metronidazole, vancomycin, clindamycin and chloramphenicol. In the majority of instances, these antibiotics do not distribute into breast milk in sufficient concentrations to be of any clinical consequence in the breast-feeding infant.
Structure of the β-Lactoglobulin Tetramer

DETAILED investigations of the association behaviour of the genetic variants of β-lactoglobulin have shown that the A variant aggregates strongly and reversibly to a tetramer1,2 of 144,000 molecular weight in the cold between pH. 3.7 and 5.2. The thermodynamics of this association have established the tetramer structure to be cyclic, involving the closing of four bonds1,2, and its hydrodynamic properties2,3 show it to be compact. A small-angle X-ray scattering examination of this association4 has led to the conclusion that, of the various general types of possible tetramer structures, a cubic array of eight spheres was the most probable. This conclusion was based on comparison of the measured radius of gyration of the tetramer (34.4 A) with values calculated for various models formed of four of the monomeric units deduced by Green and Aschaffenburg5 from X-ray diffraction examination. These monomeric units have been shown to persist in solution4. The monomer unit consists of a combination of two identical spheres (of molecular weight 18,000) 17.9 A in radius, impinging by 2.3 A along their centre-to-centre axis; these two spheres are, furthermore, related by a dyad axis of symmetry through the plane of contact formed between them. Recently, we have carried out a detailed examination of compact models in the light of known structural requirements, the results of which we wish to report in this communication. The basic requirements are that all four monomer molecules must be identical with each other2, the monomer structure must be maintained intact in the tetramer4, and the structure must fit all known experimental information and be symmetrical in nature6.
High Performance Corrosion‐Resistant Materials

The outstanding corrosion that may be possible with amorphous metal alloys was recognized several years ago. Compositions of several iron-based amorphous metals were published, including several with very good corrosion resistance. Examples include thermally sprayed coatings of Fe-10Cr-10-Mo-(C,B), bulk Fe-Cr-Mo-C-B, and Fe-Cr-Mo-C-B-P. The corrosion resistance of an iron-based amorphous alloy with yttrium (Y), Fe48Mo14Cr15Y2C15B6, was also been established. Yttrium was added to this alloy to lower the critical cooling rate. Several nickel-based amorphous metals have been developed that exhibit exceptional corrosion performance in acids but have not been included in this study, which is restricted to Fe-based materials. Very good thermal spray coatings of nickel-based crystalline coatings were deposited with thermal spray but appear to have less corrosion resistance than nickel-based amorphous metals. Two iron-based amorphous metal alloys presented here as examples are SAM2X5 (Fe49.7Cr17.7Mn1.9Mo7.4W1.6B15.2C3.8Si2.4) and SAM1651 (Fe48Mo14Cr15Y2C15B6). These materials have been developed in the form of thin coatings, as well as thick layers forming composite surfaces, to provide exceptional corrosion resistance in environments including, but not limited to, 5M CaCl2 at 105–120°C and natural seawater at 30–90°C. Keywords: metallic glass; amorphous metal; metallic glass coating; amorphous metal coating; SAM2X5; SAM1651; thermal spray coating; HVOF coating; corrosion; corrosion resistance
Endocarditis of amplatzer® occluder devices after percutaneous closure of a mitral paravalvular leak

Symptomatic paravalvular leaks (PVL) are a relatively uncommon, but potentially significant postoperative complication of valve replacement surgery. Percutaneous repair of PVLs has become an increasingly utilized approach in patients whose comorbidities obviate surgical repair. We present an interesting case of a gentleman who underwent successful repair of a mitral PVL with Amplatzer devices following initial aortic and mitral valve replacements for bacterial endocarditis. He later developed fungal endocarditis that ultimately required re-operation to remove the devices and replace his mitral and aortic valves. This complication of closure devices, although reportedly rare, should be considered when contemplating a percutaneous approach. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fluorescent mimics of cholesterol that rapidly bind surfaces of living mammalian cells

Mammalian cells acquire cholesterol, a critical membrane constituent, through multiple mechanisms. We synthesized mimics of cholesterol, fluorescent N-alkyl-3β-cholesterylamine-glutamic acids, that are rapidly incorporated into cellular plasma membranes compared with analogous cholesteryl amides, ethers, esters, carbamates, and a sitosterol analogue. This process was inhibited by ezetimibe, indicating a receptor-mediated uptake pathway.
More Than Class: Studying Power in U.S. Workplaces

More Than Class: Studying Power in U.S. Workplaces. Ann E. Kingsolver. ed. New York: State University of New York Press, 1998. 222 pp.
Defining pre-synaptic nicotinic receptors regulated by beta amyloid in mouse cortex and hippocampus with receptor null mutants.

Disruption of neuronal signaling by soluble β-amyloid has been implicated in deficits in short-term recall in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. One potential target for β-amyloid is the synapse, with evidence for differential interaction with both pre- and post-synaptic elements. Our previous work revealed an agonist-like action of soluble β-amyloid (pM to nM) on isolated pre-synaptic terminals to increase [Ca2+]i, with apparent involvement of pre-synaptic nicotinic receptors. To directly establish the role of nicotinic receptors in pre-synaptic Ca2+ regulation, we investigated the pre-synaptic action of β-amyloid on terminals isolated from mice harboring either β2 or α7 nicotinic receptor null mutants (knockouts). Average pre-synaptic responses to β-amyloid in hippocampal terminals of α7 knockout mice were unchanged, whereas responses in hippocampal terminals from β2 knockout mice were strongly attenuated. In contrast, pre-synaptic responses to soluble β-amyloid were strongly attenuated in cortical terminals from α7 knockout mice but were moderately attenuated in cortical terminals from β2 knockout mice. The latter responses, having distinct kinetics, were completely blocked by α-bungarotoxin. The use of receptor null mutants thus permitted direct demonstration of the involvement of specific nicotinic receptors in pre-synaptic Ca2+ regulation by soluble β-amyloid, and also indicated differential neuromodulation by β-amyloid of synapses in hippocampus and cortex.
Recovery of 3D motion of a single particle

Abstract In our previous analysis reported elsewhere, we have shown that 3D velocity of a single point up to a scale factor could be recovered from its 2D trajectory under the perspective projection. We developed a batch method to solve the non-linear regression relation between motion parameters and measurements of projected position. The algorithm was tested on the simulated data and the real images. In this paper, we further extend our work along two directions. First, in order to facilitate the speed of the estimation process we took the recursive approach to estimate the motion parameters. Second, we investigate the performance degradation due to two classes of model mismatch: parameter jumping and undermodeling. Then we propose the Finite Lifetime Alternately Triggered Multiple Model Filter (FLAT MMF), as a solution. A number of experiments are conducted to illustrate the performance degradation due to the model mismatches and the performance improvement as the proposed FLAT MMF is used.
A Test Method for Accelerated Humidity Conditioning and Estimation of Adhesive Bond Durability

Abstract The ability to determine the durability of adhesive bonds remains an elusive task, especially when the service environment involves exposure to diluents such as water. Moisture continues to be of major concern for many adhesive bond systems for a number of reasons including: 1) many adhesives are hydrophilic, picking up significant amounts of moisture over time; 2) most adhesives and some adherends allow moisture permeation, eventually reaching the adhesive/adherend interface; 3) the high surface energies of metallic and certain other substrates result in moisture migrating to the adherend surfaces and displacing the adhesive from the substrates, and possibly oxidizing the adherend, etc., and 4) absorbed moisture induces swelling stresses which can reduce the bond strength. Recognition of this susceptibility to moisture has led to extensive studies aimed at evaluating the effects of moisture, developing an understanding of the responsible mechanisms, and predicting the performance of adhesive bon...
Ultrasonic enhancement of battery diffusion.

Abstract It has been demonstrated that sonic energy can be harnessed to enhance convection in Galvanic cells during cyclic voltammetry; however, the practical value of this approach is limited due to the lack of open volumes for convection patterns to develop in most batteries. This study evaluates the ability of ultrasonic waves to enhance diffusion in membrane separators commonly used in sandwich-architecture batteries. Studies include the measuring of open-circuit performance curves to interpret performances in terms of reductions in concentration overpotentials. The use of a 40 kHz sonicator bath can consistently increase the voltage of the battery and reduce overpotential losses up to 30%. This work demonstrates and quantifies battery enhancement due to enhanced diffusion made possible with ultrasonic energy.
Stability of waves in pertubed Hamiltonian sysems

Abstract The effects of Hamiltonian perturbations of Hamiltonian systems, in which the perturbation destroys some of the symmetries of the original system, is studied. Using a combination of Lyapunov–Schmidt theory and the Evans function, the existence and stability of waves is determined. It is demonstrated that the location of the nonzero eigenvalues due to the symmetry-breaking perturbation is intimately related to the features of a reduced energy surface. The theoretical results are applied to systems describing the propagation of waves in a weakly inhomogeneous media.
Programmed nuclear death: apoptotic-like degradation of specific nuclei in conjugating Tetrahymena.

During conjugation in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena, new macronuclei differentiate from germinal zygotic micronuclei while parental (old) macronuclei are eliminated in two stages, condensation or pycnosis coincident with cessation of transcription followed by resorption. We show that pycnosis is accompanied by degradation of old macronuclear DNA into oligonucleosome-sized fragments, a hallmark of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in a variety of eukaryotic systems. As expected, oligonucleosome formation does not occur in the new micro- and macronuclei, confirming the coordination of different developmental fates for different nuclei in a common cytoplasm. NULLI 3 conjugants have wild-type old macronuclei but lack chromosome 3 germinally and hence in the new macronucleus. In NULLI 3 conjugants, old macronuclear pycnosis and oligonucleosome fragmentation occur normally but the resorption step fails, and the pycnotic old macronucleus is retained, demonstrating that the two steps are genetically separable and thus distinct and implying that genes on chromosome 3 in the new macronucleus are required for the resorption step. Comparison of whole cell polypeptides synthesized during stages of macronuclear development in both wild-type and NULLI 3 crosses reveal similar profiles. However, a polypeptide (apparent Mr of 53 kDa) synthesized during old macronuclear elimination is not observed in NULLI 3 conjugants; its role, if any, in elimination of the old macronucleus is unknown. The results show that the old macronucleus is selectively destroyed by a mechanism which is remarkably similar to apoptosis in other eukaryotes and that the zygotic genome is required for the resorption step.
Graded compression sonography of abdominal neoplasms mimicking acute appendicitis

Over a 3-year period nine patients (mean age of 43 years) with acute abdominal pain and unsuspected abdominal neoplasms were referred for graded compression sonography to rule out appendicitis. Six of the nine patients had right lower quadrant neoplasms involving the cecum, terminal ileum, iliacus muscle, or iliac lymph nodes. However, in three patients neoplasm was noted outside the right iliac fossa involving the liver, right kidney, and upper abdominal mesentery. This study underscores the fact that in patients without sonographic evidence of acute appendicitis, a survey of the upper abdomen and right flank should routinely be performed in addition to scanning the right iliac fossa and pelvis. In patients more than 50 years of age neoplasm must also be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of appendicitis.
Effects of context in judgments of sweetness and pleasantness

Dramatic effects of the immediate stimulus context were demonstrated for ratings of sweetness and also for ratings of pleasantness of soft drinks containing different concentrations of sucrose. The same drinks were rated sweeter when the lower concentrations were presented more frequently, less sweet when the higher concentrations were presented more frequently. A quasi-normal distribution of frequencies yielded ratings falling between the two skewed distributions. Ratings of sweetness were accurately predicted by Parducci’s (1974) range-frequency model of judgment, which was originally developed to explain contextual effects in other psychophysical dimensions. Ratings of pleasantness were also affected by context; the highest ratings were assigned to concentrations of intermediate sweetness in their respective contexts.
The Degradation of Optical Properties in a Sulfuric Acid Anodized Aluminum Coating System Exposed to Vacuum or Vacuum-Ultraviolet Radiation

Abstract A model for the optical property changes of a sulfuric acid anodized aluminum coating system was formulated to include the effects of water loss and cracking of the coating when the coating is exposed to either vacuum or vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) radiation. The coating system was modeled as a single layer on an aluminum substrate and a discontinuous layer on an aluminum substrate in the case of cracks being present. Multiple scattering interactions were neglected because of thick film approximations. The effects of the water loss-induced densification and cracking of the coating were modeled independently to produce relationships which can be used to model the reflectance spectra. Densification of the coating with water loss theoretically reduces coating transmittance and total reflectance; cracks tend to reduce the effective reflecting area, resulting in a decrease in total reflectance. The overall models correlate well with experimental reflectance data which show significant changes at the shor...
Trees that are sphere-of-influence graphs

Abstract Given a collection of points in the plane, an open (closed) disk is drawn about each point with radius equal to the smallest distance from that point to any other in the collection. The sphere-of-influence graph (closed-sphere-of-influence graph) is the intersection graph of these disks. Any graph isomorphic to such a graph is a SIG (CSIG). We characterize trees that are SIGs and CSIGs, and obtain a bound on the number of edges in triangle-free SIGs and CSIGs.
Common sense outline processing

A good outline processor can serve creativity and help to clarify thinking. The malleability of the screen and computer memory make it easy to add new ideas, try different organizations, and view a project or document at any appropriate level. Outline processors can help bridge the gap between spontaneous ideas and organized results. In his tenth Common Sense Computing article, the author discusses the ways that outline processors are used, what they do, and what features to look for.
A new urban type: Gangsters, terrorists, global cities:

This article examines the concept of urban charisma as a quality that circulates through urban imaginaries and in the gestures and practices of everyday urban figures. Specifically exploring the figure of the gangster in Bombay cinema in the context of recent events of militant attacks in Mumbai, and tracing the empirical and cinematic transformation of the gangster into terrorist, this article argues that the cultural biographies of these figures, available through cinema, fiction, non-fiction writing and other forms of mass media are instructive as ‘reading principles’ through which chaotic and transitional urban spaces acquire legibility in popular imagination. As the city mutates rapidly, the mythic figure of the gangster and the enigmatic figure of the ordinary citizen-terrorist take on a new significance for understanding urban transformation precisely because these figures are framed by and in turn enframe these shifts most visibly, as these transformations become part of urban soul.
Aging with a Spinal Cord Injury: What Recent Research Shows

Most people with spinal cord injury (SCI) can expect to live into their 60s and 70s, which is quite different than 40 years ago. The issue of aging with SCI has therefore arrived. This article reviews concepts of aging; methodological issues; and the principal medical, functional, and psychosocial changes that occur. Many premature health complications have been documented medically. Functional changes involve the onset of new pain, fatigue, and weakness and changes in daily activities. The maintenance of quality of life and the topic of caregiving are important psychosocial considerations. The future will see a need for more emphasis on aging issues in SCI and more training about it.
Ice sheet surface elevation retrieval from CALIPSO lidar measurements

The primary objective of the atmospheric profiling lidar aboard Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) mission launched in April 2006 has been studying the climate impact of clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere. However, CALIPSO lidar also collects information about other components of the Earth’s ecosystem, such as polar ice sheets. The purpose of this study is to propose a new technique to provide high resolution of polar ice sheet surface elevation from CALIPSO single shot lidar measurements (70 m spot size). The new technique relies on an empirical relationship between the peak signal ratio and the distance between the surface and the peak signal range bin center to achieve high altimetry resolution. The ice sheet surface elevation results in the region of Greenland and Antarctic compare very well with the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) laser altimetry measurements. The comparisons suggest that the obtained CALIPSO ice sheet surface elevation by the new technique is accurate to within 1 m. Based on the new technique, the preliminary data product of along-track topography retrieved from the CALIPSO lidar measurements is available to the altimetry community for evaluation.
Gas imperfections and thermodynamic excess properties of gaseous hydrogen fluoride

Abstract Deviations from ideality in the form of thermodynamic excess functions, (X-Xo), have been computed for the volume, Gibbs energy, entropy, enthalpy, and energy for HF(g) between 292.69 and 329.15 K up to and including the saturation pressure. Heat capacities at constant pressure and volume are tabulated. Enthalpies, energies, and entropies for the vaporization process to the actual and to the ideal gaseous states were also evaluated. All pertinent available data have been considered in organizing a consistent set of properties.
Structural Engineering of pMHC Reagents for T Cell Vaccines and Diagnostics

MHC class I peptide complexes (pMHC) are routinely used to enumerate T cell populations and are currently being evaluated as vaccines to tumors and specific pathogens. Herein, we describe the structures of three generations of single-chain pMHC progressively designed for the optimal presentation of covalently associated epitopes. Our ultimate design employs a versatile disulfide trap between an invariant MHC residue and a short C-terminal peptide extension. This general strategy is nondisruptive of native pMHC conformation and T cell receptor engagement. Indeed, cell-surface-expressed MHC complexes with disulfide-trapped epitopes are refractory to peptide exchange, suggesting they will make safe and effective vaccines. Furthermore, we find that disulfide-trap stabilized, recombinant pMHC reagents reliably detect polyclonal CD8 T cell populations as proficiently as conventional reagents and are thus well suited to monitor or modulate immune responses during pathogenesis.
Operant control of smoking in great apes

A methodology was developed for bringing smoking behavior in great apes under the control of a contingent food reinforcer. In this procedure, Ss were required to maintain long continuous draw durations (5 sec) against lighted cigarettes in order, to obtain candy rewards. By beginning with short criterional durations and gradually, working up to the desired response criterion, Ss were successfully habituated to the aversive aspects of smoking. The results indicated that it is possible to both shape and maintain smoking behavior with response-contingent reinforcement. The successful implementation of this procedure suggests that the pulmonary route can be used for drug administration with nonhuman primate species.
Infants of diabetic mothers

Advances in the management of the mother with diabetes have reduced the rate of morbidity and mortality for her infant. Aggressive control of maternal glycemic status is warranted, because most morbidities are epidemiologically and pathophysiologically closely linked to fetal hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. The burgeoning public health problem of overweight and obesity in children will likely result in an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome X, characterized by insulin resistance and type II diabetes in adulthood. An early manifestation of this may be glucose intolerance during pregnancy in overweight women without diabetes. Clinicians must continue to have a high degree of suspicion for the diagnosis of diabetes during gestation and screen offspring of women with gestational diabetes for neonatal sequelae.
Mobilization and Transport of Soil Particles during Infiltration Experiments in an Agricultural Field, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Evidence that fine particles mobilized and transported in soils and aquifers can have a profound influence on contaminant migration has spawned much interest recently in understanding colloid trans...
Cognitive factors in eyelid conditioning.

With instructions not to try to figure out the experiment nor to aid or inhibit their natural responses, Ss report even complex CS-UCS contingencies quite accurately after most single cue and differential eyelid conditioning experiments. These cognitions, however, are rarely related to the S's conditioning performance. With a less obvious discriminandum, grammaticality of simple adjective-noun phrases, accuracy of reporting the differential cue was enhanced significantly when high imagery nouns were employed, and Ss unable to report the discriminandum learned no conditioned discrimination. Only those “aware’Ss who gave the V-form of the eyelid CR topography showed conditioned discrimination that was significantly superior to that of “unaware’Ss. Many kinds of cognitions are conditioned in the eyelid experiments, and awareness of CS-UCS contingencies may be a necessary but certainly not a sufficient condition for learning to occur. Awareness of CS-CR contingencies is almost never reported and consequently is unrelated to conditioning performance. In eyelid conditioning, cognitions may be viewed as simply another class of responses that are conditioned. Feedback from other CRs may, or may not, influence the course of conditioning.
CT Scanning in Polytrauma

The use of whole body CT significantly increased the probability of survival in patients with blunt polytrauma.Level of evidence: B, 3+ (large retrospective multi-centre study)
SU-GG-T-353: Light Scattering Properties of EBT/EBT2 Radiochromic Films and Its Application in Radiation Dosimetry

Purpose: EBT/EBT2 film has been used as a point dosimeter. Some spatial variation in sensitivity has been observed, possibly due to variation in active layer thickness. Although it is well known that EBT/EBT2 films scatter light, the light scattering has not been directly studied and is not explicitly utilized in measurements. Since the amount of scattered light may be related to the thickness of the active layer and thus the sensitivity of the film to radiation, we attempt to quantify the angular distribution of light scattered from the film and the variation of this distribution within a batch of the film sample. Method and Materials: We used a Panasonic Lumix DMC‐GF1 digital camera body as the light detector. The sensor of this camera was exposed and was very accessible when the lens was removed. A 1 mm hole was drilled on the camera body cap to define the aperture for the incident light. The film sample was placed behind the 1 mm aperture facing the light sensor of the camera. Data were obtained with the film in landscape and portrait orientations. We used a red LED at 626 nm, and a blue LED at 430 nm as light sources. They were mounted at 25 cm from the aperture. The red pixel images and blue pixel images from the camera were extracted from the raw images with dcraw and analyzed with ImageJ. Results:Light scattering was observed on EBT/EBT2 films for red and blue light. The angular scattering showed significant anisotropy which followed the film orientation as the films were rotated. Quantitative analysis of the light scatter will be reported. Conclusion:Angular distribution of light scatter from EBT/EBT2 film can be measured with a consumer digital camera. There is significant anisotropy in the scattered light distribution.
Sprouting of substance P-expressing primary afferent central terminals and spinal micturition reflex NK1 receptor dependence after spinal cord injury

The primary afferent neurotransmitter triggering the spinal micturition reflex after complete spinal cord injury (SCI) in the rat is unknown. Substance P detected immunohistochemically in the sacra...
Flow about a circular cylinder with a single large-scale surface perturbation

An experimental study of the flow around a cylinder with a single straight perturbation was conducted in a wind tunnel. With this bluff body, positioned in a uniform crossflow, the vortex shedding frequency and other flow characteristics could be manipulated.
Backward minimal points for bounded linear operators on finite-dimensional vector spaces

For a bounded linear operator T:H→H with dense range on the Hilbert space H,x0∈H and ∥x0∥>ϵ>0, the backward minimal point y(n) is the unique vector of smallest norm in the set {y:∥Tny−x0∥⩽ϵ}. We investigate the limit of the sequence (Tny(n)) for operators T on finite-dimensional vector spaces. This vector—lim Tny(n)—is used by Ansari and Enflo in [Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 350 (1998) 539] to construct invariant subspaces for compact and normal operators in infinite dimensions. Here, we find a geometric description of this vector for invertible normal operators on Cn and self-adjoint operators on Rn with orthogonal eigenvectors. We also show that the sequence (Tny(n)) does not always converge.
Electrical and optical properties of epitaxial transparent conductive BaCuTeF thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract Transparent p-type conductive BaCuTeF thin films are reported. Epitaxial BaCuTeF films are obtained in situ by pulsed laser deposition in ultra-high vacuum and in Ar ambient up to 1 × 10−3 Torr on single-crystal MgO (100) substrates above 500 °C. Nominally undoped films exhibit hole carrier mobilities of 4–8 cm2/V s with a maximum conductivity of 167 S/cm. Polycrystalline films deposited under similar conditions on amorphous SiO2 substrates have hole mobilities of 0.2 cm2/V s and conductivities of 0.4–7 S/cm. The largest change in optical absorption occurs near 3 eV, with a weak feature near 2.4 eV in epitaxial films.
Near-degenerate doubly resonant synchronously pumped OPO for intracavity THz generation

We developed a source of terahertz-frequency radiation using intracavity difference-frequency mixing in three types of micro-structured GaAs between the signal and idler waves of a doubly resonant synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (DRO). The pump, signal, and idler waves were type-II quasi-phase-matched (QPM) by a 10-mm-long magnesium-doped periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal. The oscillator operated near frequency degeneracy with signal and idler bandwidths of 100-200 GHz. The DRO was pumped by a CW-mode-locked laser with a 1064-nm wavelength, 7-ps pulse width, 50-MHz repetition rate, and average power of 10 W. The cavity round-trip power losses were 4-5% for each wave, and at the largest pump power as much as 120 W of total signal and idler average power was stored inside the cavity. We developed an electronic locking feedback network that provided >15 minutes of stable DRO operation with over 100 W of intracavity average power and power fluctuations of 5-10%. The signal and idler pulse widths were characterized with an extracavity sum-frequency generation process between the pump and resonant OPO pulses. We developed a split-step Fourier propagator to model the temporal properties of the signal and idler pulses, and we found excellent agreement with experimental results.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A cultural artefact 'show-and-tell': a paedagogical tool for teaching cross-cultural management

This paedagogical tool was developed for an international management course of which the concept of country culture was a prominent element. Each team (or each individual, if teams are not utilised) identifies and brings to class a cultural artefact that represents the culture of the team's assigned country in significant and meaningful ways. It then makes a short presentation to the class on – (a) what the artefact is, (b) what beliefs and values it portrays, and finally, (c) what underlying assumptions are associated with it. This project is a small 'teaser' project in that it 'teases' students into a bigger main project for the course. Students often postpone 'getting their feet wet' for the main project, because they are overwhelmed by the project's open-ended nature and by the substantial reading and research needed. This project is a very useful little tool in that it helps the students to rather painlessly get started earlier on the main project in the academic term than they otherwise would.
The management of pathological hip fractures

Abstract The area of the hip is a common location for metastases to bone and the associated impending and pathological fractures. A careful preoperative evaluation and understanding of the potential complications involved in treating these fractures is essential to optimal management. The operative techniques and devices used to treat pathological fractures of the acetabulum, of the femoral head and neck, and of intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric areas of the hip are reviewed.