cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical and Electrical Properties of Boron and Potential Application

The material investigated was mostly of the beta-rhombohe-dral form, and of the highest purity available at present. When necessary, single crystals or crystals having a slight mosaic structure were used. The surface structure of these crystals is shown, and an explanation given of the growth mechanism. Among the samples investigated there was a wide spread of impurity concentrations as determined by spectro chemical and vacuum fusion analysis. The spread in electrical properties was comparatively small, but there were few significant exceptions. The resistivity values were in the megohm-centimeter range; the Seebeck coefficient was approximately 500 μv/deg; the classical semiconductor contact phenomena, such as rectification and the photovoltaic effect, were not found. The variation among infrared absorption spectra is much larger than that of the electrical values, and the material could be grouped into four distinct classes, A, A′, B, B′, according to the spectra. Transitions between classes could be introduced by removal or introduction of impurities. Class A′ represents the most transparent material. An optical band gap of 1.56 ev and an absorption coefficient of only 10cm-1 were found in the best material of this class, which was also the purest, with impurities at or below the 10 ppm range. Such material could be used for heat- and corrosion-resistant windows in the 1–8 μ region of the infrared. The high temperature coefficient of the material (ionization energies are approximately 0.6 ev at room temperature, and increase up tol.5evathigh temperatures) leads to applications in thermistors, etc. The main obstacle to other semiconductor applications seems to be the large concentration of traps in present-day boron, which becomes evident in the long relaxation times observed in photoconductivity and certain magnetic experiments.
Biomechanical advantage of the index-level pedicle screw in unstable thoracolumbar junction fractures.

Object Unstable fractures at the thoracolumbar junction often require extended, posterior, segmental pedicular fixation. Some surgeons have reported good clinical outcomes with short-segment constructs if additional pedicle screws are inserted at the fractured level. The goal of this study was to quantify the biomechanical advantage of the index-level screw in a fracture model. Methods Six human cadaveric T10–L4 specimens were tested. A 3-column injury at L-1 was simulated, and 4 posterior constructs were tested as follows: one-above-one-below (short construct) with/without index-level screws, and two-above-two-below (long construct) with/without index-level screws. Pure moments were applied quasistatically while 3D motion was measured optoelectronically. The range of motion (ROM) and lax zone across T12–L2 were measured during flexion, extension, left and right lateral bending, and left and right axial rotation. Results All constructs significantly reduced the ROM and lax zone in the fractured specimens....
Predictability and Coupled Dynamics of MJO During DYNAMO

Abstract : Our long-term goal is to develop both a coupled ocean-atmosphere model and a statistical forecasting model that have significant and quantified skill in predicting the evolution of Madden-Julian Oscillations (MJO's), which is highly relevant to ONR long-term objectives. This requires developing a better understanding of the sensitivities of the atmospheric circulation associated with MJO's to small-scale SST anomalies, regional-scale SST anomalies, the diurnal cycle, surface waves, upper-ocean mixing, and various other aspects of ocean-atmosphere feedbacks.
The State-Created Danger Doctrine in Domestic Violence Cases: Do We Have a Solution in Okin v. Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department?

Violence perpetrated against women by intimate partners is a major societal problem and the dangers associated with domestic violence are well documented in the literature. This article discusses the availability of redress under the state-created danger doctrine for women who have suffered domestic violence in the hands of intimate partners. The United States Supreme Court in Deshaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services held that a state has no duty to protect its citizens from violence perpetrated by third parties. The state-created danger doctrine, which is an exception to the Deshaney rule, allows women who have suffered domestic violence to seek redress from state actors, such as police officers, who condone or increase the harm that they suffer. Federal courts around the country allow women to bring claims under the state-created danger doctrine, but the tests which must be established are onerous and difficult to prove. However, the Second Circuit in Okin v. Village of Cornwall-On-Hudson Police Department established less onerous factors which if adopted by other courts, would make it easier for women to prove their cases of state-created danger in federal court and create an incentive for the police to protect women from perpetrators of violence.
Combined and separate effects of eye patching and visual stimulation on unilateral neglect following stroke.

Abstract In Experiment 1, 11 of 13 stroke patients with left-sided neglect benefitted from monocular patching in at least one (of five) tests of neglect. This beneficial effect in most cases was limited to the period when the patch was worn. In Experiment 2, another group of stroke patients ( n = 18) with left-sided neglect were tested in a line-bisection task with monocular patching and/or lateralized visual stimulation—a procedure previously shown to reduce neglect. Each procedure resulted in substantial benefits; the two procedures combined resulted in significantly larger benefits than either alone. As in Experiment 1, the degree of benefit of patching (alone or in combination with stimulation) was not related to several demographic factors. These findings suggest that monocular patching, together with lateralized visual stimulation, may significantly reduce neglect in daily activities and may be more beneficial than procedures requiring patients to be aware of their disorder and to use strategies for scanning the neglected side.
Differential expression of type XII collagen in developing chicken metatarsal tendons.

Type XII collagen is a fibril-associated collagen with multiple functional domains. The purpose of this work was to determine its role in regulating tendon matrix assembly. The temporal and spatial expression patterns of both collagen and mRNA were analysed in developing chicken metatarsal tendons using immunofluorescence microscopy, in situ hybridization and real-time quantitative PCR. Temporally, type XII collagen was present during all stages of development (day 14-hatch). However, spatially, type XII collagen expression shifted from the entire tendon at day 14, when the tendon is immature and fascicles are not well developed, to the interfacial matrix (endotendinium) associated with developing fascicles. This shift was obvious beginning at day 17, becoming prominent at day 19. Associated with this shift was a gradual decrease in type XII collagen reactivity in the tendon proper (non-sheath). By hatching, the reactivity was sequestered almost exclusively to the sheaths with some reactivity remaining at the fibroblast–matrix interface within the fascicle. In situ hybridization indicated that fibroblasts in the tendon expressed type XII collagen mRNA homogeneously at day 14. However, by hatching, when the tendon matures, type XII collagen is restricted primarily to the sheath cells. Quantitative PCR analyses, of NC3 splice variants, demonstrated highest expression levels for the short splice variant mRNA at days 14–17, followed by a significant decrease at day 19 with levels remaining constant to adult. Long variant mRNA expression was highest at day 14 then decreased and was constant from day 17 to adult. These changing patterns may be related to the spatial shift in type XII collagen expression to the sheaths. Differential temporal and spatial expression patterns indicate that type XII collagen functions to integrate the developing tendon matrices and fascicles into a functional unit.
Engaged with Sequences

Gene(sis) Contemporary Art Explores Human Genomics. Robin Held, curator. Organized by the Henry Art Gallery, the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, in affiliation with the Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley, CA. At the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, through 28 November 2004. [www.gene-sis.net][1]. CD-ROM catalogue, $24.95. The nearly 60 works, by 24 contemporary artists or ensembles, in this exhibit seek to promote considerations of the potential social, emotional, and ethical implications of the Human Genome Project. [1]: http://www.gene-sis.net
Lens epithelium-derived growth factor promotes photoreceptor survival in light-damaged and RCS rats

PURPOSE To investigate possible protective effects of lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF) against photoreceptor death in light-damaged, Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and P23H rhodopsin transgenic rats. METHODS Twelve-week-old Sprague-Dawley (SD), 6-week-old RCS, and 10-day-old P23H (line 1, heterozygote) rats received an intravitreal injection of LEDGF fused with glutathione-S-transferase (GST-LEDGF). Fellow eyes received vehicle and served as control specimens. Two days after the injections, the SD rats were exposed to light of 2000 lux for 48 hours. Corneal Ganzfeld ERGs were recorded 10 days after light damage, at 10 weeks of age in RCS rats, and at 4 weeks of age in P23H rats. The eyes were then processed for histologic analysis. Heat shock protein (hsp) content in the sensory retina was analyzed quantitatively by protein immunoblot. RESULTS In light-damaged rats, the ERG indicated retinal protection in GST-LEDGF-injected eyes, with b-wave and STR thresholds being 1.14 +/- 0.50 (mean +/- SD) and 0.60 +/- 0.26 log candela (cd)/m2 lower, respectively, than in vehicle-injected eyes (P < 0.01). The GST-LEDGF-treated eyes had maximum b-wave amplitudes that were significantly larger (P < 0.0005), had more than twice as many remaining photoreceptors, and had better organized outer segments than the control eyes. In RCS rats, the treated eyes had 2.76 +/- 0.73 and 0.83 +/- 0.09 log cd/m(2) lower thresholds for the b-wave and STR, respectively (P < 0.005), and had significantly larger maximum b-wave amplitude (P < 0.0005). GST-LEDGF-treated eyes of RCS rats also had more photoreceptors remaining (P < 0.005) and a thinner debris layer than control eyes. In P23H rats, GST-LEDGF treatment did not protect either retinal function or structure. The retinas from GST-LEDGF-treated eyes of SD and RCS rats had higher levels of hsp25 and alphaB-crystallin than vehicle-injected eyes. CONCLUSIONS GST-LEDGF protects photoreceptor structure and function in both light-damaged and RCS rats. The increased expression of hsp25 and alphaB-crystallin may play a role in this protection. The absence of rescue in P23H raises the possibility that some forms of inherited retinal degeneration may not be amenable to treatment by intraocular injection of LEDGF.
Preference Change in Competitive Political Environments

Political actions and outcomes depend on people's preferences over candidates, policies, and other politically relevant phenomena. For this reason, a great deal of political activity entails attempts to change other people's preferences. When do politically relevant preferences change? Addressing this question requires recognition of two realities: (a) Many stimuli compete for every person's attention, and (b) every person's capacity to pay attention to information is limited. With these realities in mind, we review research on preference change in competitive environments. We discuss how individuals allocate attention and how individuals' values and identities affect their use of the information to which they attend. We then discuss how this work has been applied to a new problem: improving the communication of scientific facts in increasingly politicized environments.
Attenuated baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity after cardiovascular deconditioning in rats

The effect of cardiovascular deconditioning on baroreflex control of the sympathetic nervous system was evaluated after 14 days of hindlimb unloading (HU) or the control condition. Rats were chronically instrumented with catheters and sympathetic nerve recording electrodes for measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) and recording of lumbar (LSNA) or renal (RSNA) sympathetic nerve activity. Experiments were conducted 24 h after surgery, with the animals in a normal posture. Baroreflex function was assessed using a logistic function that related HR and LSNA or RSNA to MAP during infusion of phenylephrine and nitroprusside. Baroreflex influence on HR was not affected by HU. Maximum baroreflex-elicited LSNA was significantly reduced in HU rats (204 +/- 11.9 vs. 342 +/- 30.6% baseline LSNA), as was maximum reflex gain (-4.0 +/- 0.6 vs. -7.8 +/- 1.3 %LSNA/mmHg). Maximum baroreflex-elicited RSNA (259 +/- 10.8 vs. 453 +/- 28.0% baseline RSNA), minimum baroreflex-elicited RSNA (-2 +/- 2.8 vs. 13 +/- 4.5% baseline RSNA), and maximum gain (-5.8 +/- 0.5 vs. -13.6 +/- 3.1 %RSNA/mmHg) were significantly decreased in HU rats. Results demonstrate that baroreflex modulation of sympathetic nervous system activity is attenuated after cardiovascular deconditioning in rodents. Data suggest that alterations in the arterial baroreflex may contribute to orthostatic intolerance after a period of bedrest or spaceflight in humans.
Facial Expression Processing Varies with Political Affiliation

Conservative political beliefs have been linked to heightened stress reactivity and protective cognitive biases. Using a facial discrimination task designed to measure perceptions of threat (vs. non threat) and dominance (vs. submissiveness), I show that Republicans demonstrate a greater tendency to interpret ambiguous facial stimuli as expressing more threatening and more dominant emotions than do Democrats. The findings suggest the political ideology may be associated with basic social perceptual sensitivities.
Solution of polynomial equations over the complex field

Finding all n roots of the general polynomial over the complex field can be difficult theoretically. Therefore, presented here is an approach that attempts to combine algebraic theory (factor theorem) with multi‐stage Monte Carlo optimization to find the n roots of the general polynomial. An example of degree twenty‐five is presented. Rounding error problems for polynomials of degree fifty or over are discussed also.
Anaesthesia and amyloidosis

Summary This case report concerns a man with undiagnosed primary amyloidosis who developed resistant cardiac failure after a minor surgical procedure.
A fractal analysis of analyte–receptor binding and dissociation kinetics in microcantilever biosensors

Abstract A fractal analysis of a confirmative nature only is presented for the binding and dissociation (where ever it is applicable) for (a) CrO42− in solution to a SAM-coated microcantilever surface [8] , and (b) for two hybridization reactions occurring on microcantilever surfaces [1] , [28] . Data taken from these references may be modeled by using a single- or a dual-fractal analysis. Relationships are presented for the binding rate coefficient as a function of the fractal dimension and for the analyte concentration in solution. The binding and the dissociation rate coefficients are very sensitive to the degree of heterogeneity that exists on the microcantilever surface. For the reactions analyzed the binding and dissociation rate coefficients increase with an increase in the degree of heterogeneity on the microcantilever surface. For one of the hybridization reactions analyzed [28] the binding rate coefficient increases with the number of bases (25- and 9-mer) present in the oligomer (analyte) in solution. The analysis should assist in placing the analyte–receptor reactions occurring on microcantilever systems on a kinetic basis.
Common cattle grub: control with animal systemic insecticides.

Data from tests with cattle treated with commercially-available animal systemic insecticides to control Hypoderma lineattun (de Villers) were analyzed by log probit. Label-recommended dosages for a spray of coumaphos, spray or pouron of phosmet, and spray of trichlorfon exceeded the calculated LD90 dosages. Thus, these treatments, if properly applied, should provide >90% control of cattle grubs. Methoprene in drinking water of cattle at 0.05––1.0 ppm for 7 months did not prevent cattle grubs from encapsulating in the backs of the treated animals but prevented adults from eclosing from pupae collected from treated cattle.
Calcium-mediated proximal tubular injury—what is the role of cysteine proteases?

Numerous studies over the past 15 years in diVerent cellular calcium in the pathophysiology of ischaemic injury models and cell types have demonstrated an acute renal failure (ARF ) in vivo. Chemically dissimilar increase in cytosolic calcium in renal epithelial cell calcium channel blockers (CCB) are eVective in preinjury. Some of these studies are summarized in venting or attenuating the course of experimental ischTable 1. However, despite these studies, crucial ques- aemic ARF [4]. Vascular perturbations in experimental tions to implicate calcium as the primary factor in cell ischaemic ARF were found to be associated with an injury have remained. Does the increase in calcium increase in calcium in aVerent arterioles from ischaemic
CARDIAC-TAMPONADE FOLLOWING VARICELLA

An 18-month-old girl presented with cardiac tamponade five weeks after varicella. An emergency pericardiocentesis was performed and, subsequently, an anterior pericardiectomy. She eventually made a complete recovery following corticosteroid treatment.
Mitochondrial proliferation during myogenesis.

Abstract The mitochondrial (mt) DNA content of muscle cells increases about 4-fold during myogenesis. This is apparently the result of continued mtDNA replication after the myoblasts become post-mitotic and nuclear DNA synthesis ceases. The rate of mtDNA synthesis in prefusion cells exceeds that necessary for growth, indicating mt turnover. Eventually, the mtDNA synthesis drops to about one third the prefusion rate, leading to a stable mtDNA content in muscle tissue.
LOGGING IN MAINE'S EMPTY QUARTER

North and west of its high point, Mt. Katahdin, Maine is virtually uninhabited. Yet pulpwood and sawtimber pour from the area. Living in remote camps during the week and working for jobbers who have logging contracts with the few landowners who dominate the region, the woodsmen are caught in a dangerous, piecework rush. The land is deteriorating. The spruce budworm has induced virtual clearcutting, and the ensuing succession produces an ideal forest for a future budworm outbreak. There is no solution in sight acceptable to the landowners: despite its wilderness aura, the region's outlook is for even-age thickets of periodically decimated, stagnant fir.
Shifting Fortunes : the political economy of financial liberalization in Nigeria

Abstract On the recommendation of the World Bank, Nigeria began to liberalize its financial sector in 1986. Contrary to the prediction of financial repression theory, savings and investment decline in the wake of banking deregulation. By 1995, the Nigerian financial system was in a state of collapse. The paper locates the main failure of Nigeria's financial deregulation in the political and institutional setting of reform. The institutional mechanisms needed to supervise and regulate banking under the new system were absent while private sector banking capacities were weak. Moreover, financial liberalization was quickly captured by a clientalist state as a means of reallocating rents to strategic constituents. An additional precipitating factor was macroeconomic instability. The paper points to the importance of incorporating political and institutional variables into any model of financial reform or transformation.
Characterization of Organofunctional Silane Films on Zinc Substrates

Organofunctional silane films formed on pure zinc substrates from aqueous solutions were characterized by ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The silanes studied were gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (γ-APS) and gamma-ureidopropyltrialkoxysilane (γ-UPS). The deposition parameters included solution concentration, solution dipping time, and pH value of the applied solution. Effects of these deposition variables on the thickness of the film, the surface energy of the film, the chemical structure of the film, and the surface topography of the film are discussed. The effect of film aging time on the surface energy of silane-coated pure zinc substrates was also studied. It was found that the silane film thickness obtained depends primarily on the applied solution concentration and is independent of the solution dipping time. The molecular orientations of the applied silane film are determined by the pH value of the applied silane solution and the isoelectric point of the metal substrates. The deposition window in terms of pH value for zinc substrates was between 6 and 9. The total surface energy of silane-coated pure zinc substrate decreases steeply with film aging time for γ-APS but not for γ-UPS. The stability of both silane films improved after aging in the air.
Computer Control of the Indiana Cyclotron

The Indiana Cyclotron control system consists of several hundred cyclotron devices and two operator stations linked to a small digital computer via a bidirectional, multiplexed digital bus. All communication between operators and the cyclotron is by means of 64 displays. Provision is made for readout, control, data logging and retrieval, alarm warning, and initiation and termination of automatic control programs. Special features of the system are the modular and dynamic master table which uniformly describes the cyclotron devices to all the programs which drive them, and the dynamically reconfigurable cyclotron control displays.
Reproductive biology of Caprella penantis Leach, 1814 (Amphipoda: Caprellidae) in North Carolina, U.S.A.

Abstract The life history of the marine fouling community amphipod Caprella penantis was studied in North Carolina, U.S.A. The species breeds all year, with a peak in breeding in spring and a lesser peak in late summer and early fall. Females probably live about one year and produce several broods during their life. Numbers fluctuate greatly during the year, and life history indicates that the species is adapted to fill a very specific habitat rapidly when conditions are favorable. No strong differences in breeding biology were found between morphological extremes of the species inhabiting, respectively, estuarine waters and exposed ocean beach sites.
A Re-Examination of Ov Alipes Species in the Carolinas (Decapoda, Portunidae) 1)

[Ovalipes ocellatus ocellatus (Herbst) von der ostlichen Kuste und O. o. guadulp-ensis (Saussure) von der sudostlichen und sudlichen Kuste der Vereinigten Staaten wurden lange als Unterarten betrachtet mit einem Uberlappungsareal in North Carolina. Auf Grund von Unterschieden in Farbung, Korperbau und geographischer Verbreitung kann man beide Formen jedoch als nahe verwandte Arten betrachten., Ovalipes ocellatus ocellatus (Herbst) von der ostlichen Kuste und O. o. guadulp-ensis (Saussure) von der sudostlichen und sudlichen Kuste der Vereinigten Staaten wurden lange als Unterarten betrachtet mit einem Uberlappungsareal in North Carolina. Auf Grund von Unterschieden in Farbung, Korperbau und geographischer Verbreitung kann man beide Formen jedoch als nahe verwandte Arten betrachten.]
Kinetics of Interaction of HLA-C Ligands with Natural Killer Cell Inhibitory Receptors

The recognition of HLA-C molecules by specific inhibitory receptors is a crucial step in the regulation of natural killer (NK) cell function. Using soluble, recombinant HLA-C molecules and NK inhibitory receptors (NKIR, members of the immunoglobulin superfamily), we show that HLA-C binds to NKIR molecules with extremely fast association and dissociation rates, among the fastest of the immune system interactions so far studied. These kinetics may be essential for the biological function of NK cells, i.e., to facilitate the rapid immunosurveillance of cells for absent or diminished expression of class I MHC proteins.
A two-sample test for reliability comparison

Abstract A new test for the comparison of reliabilities of two populations is proposed. The test statistic uses only the number of failures in each sample. The test procedure is conditional in the sense that the unknown parameter p, the probability of failure during the test period, under the null hypothesis is estimated first by the pooled sample proportion. Critical values are tabulated for several equal sample size cases and asymptotic properties are obtained. The use of this test in practice is illustrated by several examples. It is shown that the power of the proposed test is larger than that of Fisher's exact test for the cases considered. Applications in survival analysis are also studied, and the power of the test procedure is compared with those of other tests, which are based on failure times in addition to failure counts.
Comparison of low risk and higher risk profiles in middle age to frequency and quantity of coronary artery calcium years later

Little is known about the relation of having favorable levels of all major cardiovascular risk factors (low risk [LR]) earlier in life to coronary artery calcium (CAC) later in life. From 2002 to 2003, CAC was compared in participants aged >60 years who were LR (n = 42) with those not LR (n = 39) at baseline (from 1967 to 1973). Despite adverse changes in risk factors, the prevalence of measurable CAC and mean CAC scores were less for LR participants than for non-LR participants (60% vs 77%, p = 0.09, and 217 vs 443, p = 0.05, respectively).
Hyperspectral Single-Pixel Wide-Field Time Domain Diffuse Optical Tomography

We report on the instrumentation design and experimental validation of a hyperspectral single-pixel wide-field time-resolved diffuse optical tomography (DOT) system. Reconstruction results show quantification and cross-talk improvements in fluorophore concentration mapping in turbid media.
Total Reflection in Second-Harmonic Generation

We have observed the reflected second-harmonic intensity generated by an incident beam which is totally reflected by the nonlinear medium immersed in a denser linear medium. The reflected intensity becomes very high near the critical angle for total reflection. The role of momentum matching for the reflected intensity is demonstrated.
Expression and Relevance of TRPS-1: A New GATA Transcription Factor in Breast Cancer

GATA transcription factor family members have been found to play a critical role in the differentiation of many tissue types. For example, GATA-3 has been found to be highly correlated with estrogen receptor α (ER) expression and is emerging as one of the "master regulators" in breast ductal epithelial cell differentiation. Recently, we discovered another GATA family member highly prevalent in breast cancer called the trichorhinophalangeal syndrome-1 gene (TRPS-1). Using a quantitative immunohistochemistry (qIHC) approach, we found that TRPS-1 was significantly correlated with ER, PR, GATA-3, as well as HER2 expression. However, TRPS-1 was also found to be expressed in a high proportion of ER(-) ductal epithelial breast cancers (BCs), indicating that it may act as a ductal epithelial cell-specific transcription factor regulating cell fate at some point in the epithelial cell differentiation pathway. In keeping with this hypothesis, we found that TRPS-1 protein expression in BC above a certain threshold using qIHC correlated with markedly improved overall survival. Cox proportional hazards analysis found that both TRPS-1 and ER expression above critical threshold equally predicted for improved survival. Thus, TRPS-1 may be a powerful new positive prognostic marker in BC, and further IHC studies, as well as examination of its molecular function in ductal epithelial cell differentiation in the breast, are warranted. In this regard, data on the role of TRPS-1 in the differentiation of cells from mesenchymal precursors in other tissues, such as kidney metanephric mesenchymal cells, columnar chondrocytes, and osteoblasts, in mouse models may be useful. Indeed, these studies have found that TRPS-1 is a critical regulator of mesenchymal-to-epithelial cell transition. In the mammary gland, the restricted expression of TRPS-1 in human, mouse, and rat ductal epithelial cells suggests that it may also play a similar role during ductal luminal progenitor/stem cell differentiation. We present a model of TRPS-1 action in which it may act upstream of GATA-3 and ER on an earlier ductal epithelial progenitor cell or mammary stem cell during mammary gland development and also helps prevent reversion of ER(+) BC cells back into mesenchymal-like cells. This model predicts that BCs with low or no TRPS-1 expression may inherently be much less differentiated and more aggressive tumors with less favorable prognosis.
Hybrid electro optic modulators with subvolt drive voltages

Summary form only given. Hybrid organic-solgel nonlinear materials are being investigated as high speed low voltage modulators. This paper provides a summary of our recent results in this area. Various design structures will be reviewed. We have also demonstrated near ~100% poling efficiency in several generations of hybrid electro-optic (EO) polymer/sol-gel waveguide modulators, using crosslinkable and guest-host EO polymers. In these devices, the EO polymer was poled using an electrically conductive sol-gel cladding in the hybrid modulator, such that the poling voltage was completely applied to the EO polymer layer. Stable long-term operation is preferred for industrial applications. The hybrid polymeric modulator has the additional benefits of stable and low loss optical coupling to standard optical fiber, and stable waveguiding, since the thermally and optically stable sol-gel core in the passive regions plays the primary role in optical coupling. Fine refractive index control of the EO polymer is not required in the hybrid modulator, which is another advantage for long-term stability. In the hybrid approach, whenever the EO polymer core has higher refractive index (e.g. 1.63-1.68) than the sol-gel core (1.50), coupled and waveguided light in the sol-gel core can be adiabatically transferred to the EO polymer core and back through vertical tapers in the sol-gel. We will review our recent results including demonstration of a Vpi of 0.65 V at 1550 nm.
A comparison of reactors in coal liquefaction

Abstract The data presented in this study illustrate the similarities and differences in the yield and selectivities obtained from different types of coal liquefaction reactors. The results suggest that the comparison of data in the literature obtained from different reactors should be done with careful consideration. The differences and similarities in the yields obtained depend not only on the reactor type but also on the feedstock employed and the residence time in the reactors. Data generated using microreactors are adequate for the selection of operating conditions for conversion in larger scale reactors.
Discover the Expert: Context-Adaptive Expert Selection for Medical Diagnosis

In this paper, we propose an expert selection system that learns online the best expert to assign to each patient depending on the context of the patient. In general, the context can include an enormous number and variety of information related to the patient’s health condition, age, gender, previous drug doses, and so forth, but the most relevant information is embedded in only a few contexts. If these most relevant contexts were known in advance, learning would be relatively simple but they are not. Moreover, the relevant contexts may be different for different health conditions. To address these challenges, we develop a new class of algorithms aimed at discovering the most relevant contexts and the best clinic and expert to use to make a diagnosis given a patient’s contexts. We prove that as the number of patients grows, the proposed context-adaptive algorithm will discover the optimal expert to select for patients with a specific context. Moreover, the algorithm also provides confidence bounds on the diagnostic accuracy of the expert it selects, which can be considered by the primary care physician before making the final decision. While our algorithm is general and can be applied in numerous medical scenarios, we illustrate its functionality and performance by applying it to a real-world breast cancer diagnosis data set. Finally, while the application we consider in this paper is medical diagnosis, our proposed algorithm can be applied in other environments where expertise needs to be discovered.
Propagation Physics Effects on Coherent Underwater Acoustic Communications: Results from KauaiEx 2003

The performance of a coherent acoustic communication algorithm is quantified using data collected off the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Performance is related to physics of acoustic propagation in shallow water. For data collected at range 1 km, performance is limited by the reflection of acoustic paths off of the sea surface. At range 2 km, the effects of acoustic ray refraction become apparent.
Negative magnetoresistance in iron

Abstract Bloch wall reflections due to the spin-orbit interaction are suggested as a new mechanism for the negative magnetoresistance in (111) Fe whiskers. This effect involves the same very long mean free path particles responsible for the reverse galvanomagnetic effect and the giant spontaneous Hall effect at low temperatures.
Torsional fatigue behavior of adhesively joined tubes

Abstract A commonly utilized method of joining metal tubes to each other is to bond them by the use of adhesives. Structures created in such a manner are frequently subjected to various types of loading, i.e. tension, compression, bending, torsion or combination of these. Of particular interest and significance in many industries is what happens when torsional cyclic loading is applied to such joints, which subject the joint to fatigue. The joint configuration will perform differently depending upon various variables, i.e. bond gap, bond length, etc. …. The extended usage of the metal structures mentioned above is frequently encountered in the field and inspections in industrial use are intended to provide information on the soundness of these structures in general and joints in particular and to identify the amount of accumulated damage that is deemed acceptable at the time of inspection. The successful evaluation of these structures without doing destructive testing is of immense value to industrial users. NDT procedures (non-destructive techniques) to evaluate the damage to the structures present a better approach because they lead to better comprehension of the residual stresses present within the joints, lead to an improved and more effective utilization of materials and allow for prediction of the period of the utility of the joint. A comprehensive effort is under way to study the fatigue caused phenomena of adhesively joined aluminum tubular connections subjected to torsional cyclic loading. This includes the testing of a popular and widely utilized adhesive; which entails the design of the test rig, instrumentation, and post data analysis. Assessments of damages to the joints will be carried out upon conclusion of the experimental work as well as the analytical study enabling prediction of the phenomena encountered to assist the designer when planning such joints.
Distorted Communication in the Florida Everglades: A Critical Theory Analysis of ‘Everglades Restoration’

As an alternative paradigm to the study of longitudinal policy development and change, Habermas' critical theory is applied to Florida Everglades restoration Policies. In Habermas' conception of advanced capitalism, government officials are caught in a conflicting imperative: policy-makers are expected to serve the interests of their nation as a whole, but they must prop up an economic system that benefits the wealthy at the expense of most workers and the environment. To prevent the public from questioning the legitimacy of these actions, public officials and administrators use narratives. The objective of this qualitative case study is to apply Habermas' critical theory to an established and internationally renowned restoration programme to understand the macro-level systematic contradictions found in restoration policies and programmes. Results from archival and secondary data, as well as interview analysis, support that the current narrative ‘Everglades Restoration’ is strong, socially constructed, am...
Thermal Issues in Materials Processing

This paper considers the thermal aspects that frequently arise in practical materials processing systems. Important issues such as feasibility, product quality, and production rate have a thermal basis in many cases and are discussed. Complexities such as property variations, complex regions, combined transport mechanisms, chemical reactions, combined heat and mass transfer, and intricate boundary conditions are often encountered in the transport phenomena underlying important practical processes. The basic approaches that may be adopted in order to study such processes are discussed. The link between the basic thermal process and the resulting product is particularly critical in materials processing. The computational difficulties that result from the non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid, free surface flow, moving boundaries, and imposition of appropriate boundary conditions are important in several processes and are discussed. Some of the important techniques that have been developed to treat these problems are presented, along with typical results for a few important processes. Validation of the model is a particularly important aspect and is discussed in terms of existing results, as well as development of experimental arrangements to provide inputs for satisfactory validation. The importance of experimentation and linking the micro/nanoscale transport processes with conditions and systems at the macroscale are discussed. Future trends and research needs, particularly with respect to new materials and new processes, are also outlined.
On the Scaling Law of Network Coding Gains in Wireless Networks

We study the scaling law governing the delay gains of network coding as compared to traditional transmission strategies in unreliable wireless networks. We distinguish between two types of traffic, namely elastic and inelastic, where the elasticity of a flow is based on the delay constraints associated with it. This novel formulation is useful in that it allows for the modeling of real-time traffic more accurately. Considering the limited availability of feedback in such systems, we focus on strategies with minimal acknowledgement requirements. Under both traffic types, we provide an extensive analysis of the gains of network coding as compared to traditional transmission strategies in a single-hop setting, and show that the gains are significant in general and can be considerably large in some cases. We further provide a method for realizing these gains in multi-hop networks with general topologies using the analysis of the single hop scenario.
A comparison of conversations among and between domestic culture groups: How intra‐ and intercultural competencies vary

This study identified intercultural conversational competencies for Mexican Americans, Black Americans and White Americans which were compared and contrasted with previously identified intracultural competencies. Members of each culture group described behaviors which were appropriate inappropriate as well as cognitive and behavioral consequences in recalled conversations with acquaintances. Members of each culture group were found to share general rules with other groups, such as concerns for politeness and role fulfillment, but many more differences emerged. Mexican Americans emphasized relational climate more frequently than the other groups, Black Americans emphasized individuality in politeness and expression and White Americans showed a marked emphasis on verbal content. For the most part, rules for conversing with members of one's own group were different from rules for intercultural conversations with the general exception of Mexican Americans, who perceived similar rules in intracultural and inte...
Possible Reversals of the Earth's Magnetic Field in the Jurassic Period

IN a recent study of the natural remanent magnetization of the Upper Lias Sands of the West of England, seventeen samples collected from two sites were found to have reverse directions of magnetization. Samples a little higher and lower in the succession were found to be normally magnetized. Numerical details of the results and reasons for considering the rocks in question to possess a stable magnetization will be given separately.
A SENSITIVE ALGAL ASSAY: AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF FRESHWATERS1

SUMMARY An algal assay capable of detecting the carrying capacity of nutrient-poor rivers was developed. In order to eliminate carry-over of nutrients, thus masking the true nutrient condition of the water tested, a new growth medium was developed. This maintenance medium contained less than 4 mg · 1−1 total inorganic salts. With an inoculum of 104 cells-ml−1 the test organism Selenastrum capricornutum Printz was grown in sterile-filtered, river water and transferred daily with a 1:1 dilution. The assay was carried out for 4 or 5 days, at which time cell number was calculated, and the doublings per day were determined. Comparisons are made with similar but less sensitive assays, on the basis of both daily and 5-day readings.
Vitamin D and the Supravalvar Aortic Stenosis Syndrome The Transplacental Effects of Vitamin D on the Aorta of the Rabbit

Pregnant rabbits were given high doses of vitamin D to determine whether the vitamin crossed the placenta and to explore the relationship between maternal hypervitaminosis D and congenital supravalvar aortic stenosis. The blood levels of antirachitic substance in the mothers given vitamin D and their offspring were 7 and 9 times greater than in the control mothers and offspring, respectively, indicating that transplacental passage occurred. Serum calcium levels in the offspring whose mothers received vitamin D were significantly higher when compared to control values. A total of 14 abnormalities of the aorta were noted in the 34 offspring whose mothers received vitamin D. Aortic lesions that appeared similar anatomically to supravalvar aortic stenosis in man were noted in six rabbits. Also, one rabbit showed a supravalvar fibrous band and another had an abnormality of the proximal portion of the aorta observed only on microscopic examination. Six additional offspring at age 3 months showed generalized vit...
Growth regulator induced movement of photosynthetic products into fruits of ;black corinth' grapes.

The effect of exogenous growth regulators on movement of assimilates into flowers and young fruits of ;Black Corinth' grapes was studied. Clusters were treated with growth regulator and after 0.5 hr to 5 days the leaves above the clusters were exposed to (14)CO(2). Control shoots received (14)CO(2) but no growth regulator. At harvest, counting and radioautographic techniques were used to ascertain amount and distribution of activity in clusters. Clusters were dipped in 4-CPA (4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid), GA(3) (gibberellic acid), or BA (benzyladenine). All berries were heavier than controls within 3 days. Total counts in the fruits were increased by 4-CPA, and the distribution of radioactivity among the sugar, organic acid, and amino acid fractions was usually altered by all treatments. In a time series experiment, within 6 hr after treatment of fruits with GA(3) there was almost an 8-fold increase in total counts relative to the control. After 12 hr there was about a 9-fold and 6-fold increase in counts in tartaric and malic acids, respectively, and in gamma-aminobutyric acid, pipecolic acid, and valine increases of 56, 150, and 330%. Radioactivity in fructose was increased 70% in gibberellin-treated clusters over the controls. After 96 hr there were only about 1000 cmp per g fr wt in controls, but there were about 31,000 cpm counts in treated clusters. Treatment of clusters with gibberellin attracted less assimilates into the fruits when shoots had also been sprayed with gibberellin. Dipping portions of clusters in gibberellin increased the movement of (14)C assimilates into the treated portions. Hormonal control of mobilization is discussed.
Regulation by D2 dopamine receptors of in vivo dopamine synthesis in striata of rats and mice with experimental parkinsonism.

Abstract The effects of D2 dopamine (DA) receptor antagonism or stimulation by systemic haloperidol or quinpirole, respectively, on in vivo DA synthesis in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)treated black mice were assessed by measuring the rate of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) accumulation following acute inhibition of l -aromatic amino acid decarboxylase with NSD-1015. 6-OHDA and MPTP caused partial lesions of nigrostriatal input to the striatum. Dopamine synthetic capacity was preserved relative to the severity of nigrostriatal lesion over a broad range of DA depletions. An exponential increase in fractional DA synthesis (the ratio DOPA/DA) was observed with increasing DA depletion, suggesting an elevation of the DA synthetic capacity per surviving DA terminal. In both lesioned rats and mice, haloperidol caused a significant increase in fractional DA synthesis above that induced by the lesion alone, while quinpirole significantly depressed fractional DA synthesis. Our results provide evidence that nigrostriatal terminals acquire increased DA synthetic capacity as nigrostriatal lesions exceed 90%, but that the increase in fractional DA synthesis observed in partially lesioned animals is not due to a loss of autoreceptor function. Pharmacological strategies to stimulate DA synthesis and release in moderately advanced Parkinson's disease should be pursued.
Increased neonatal mortality among normal-weight births beyond 41 weeks of gestation in California

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine whether postterm gestational age increases the risk of neonatal mortality. Study Design We retrieved data from 1,815,811 liveborn infants in California from 1999 to 2003. We excluded multiple births and congenital anomalies, as well as infants with a gestational age of less than 38w0d, or greater than 42w6d, weeks. We used multivariable logistic regression models to adjust for demographic variables thought to confound the association. Results Compared to infants born at 38, 39, or 40 weeks, those born at 41w0d to 42w6d have a greater odds of neonatal mortality (aOR: 1.34, 95% CI, 1.08-1.65). Subdividing by gestational week, infants delivered at 41w0d to 41w6d showed elevated mortality relative to earlier term births (aOR: 1.37, 95% CI, 1.08-1.73). Additional analyses support this increased neonatal mortality across all normal birthweight categories. Conclusion Infants born beyond 41w0d of gestation experience greater neonatal mortality relative to term infants born between 38w0d and 40w6d.