cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PCB Reverse Engineering Using Nondestructive X-ray Tomography and Advanced Image Processing

Reverse engineering (RE) of electronic systems is performed for many different reasons, including, but not limited to, failure analysis and fault isolation, obsolescence management, proof of IP rights infringement, security assessment, development of attacks, and counterfeiting. Regardless of the goal, it is imperative that the community understands the requirements, complexities, and limitations of RE. Traditional RE is based on a destructive process of serial sectioning followed by imaging, which is time-consuming, expensive, and error-prone. However, with the advent of advanced characterization tools and imaging software, this is starting to change. In this paper, we introduce a nondestructive approach for printed circuit board (PCB) RE based on X-ray tomography. The imaging parameters for a successful tomography are explained in detail and combined with advanced 3-D image processing and analysis to automate RE, thereby lowering the associated time and cost. We demonstrate our proposed process on two PCBs, a four-layer custom designed board, and a more complex commercial board. Lessons learned from this effort can be used to both develop advanced countermeasures and establish a more efficient workflow for instances where RE is unavoidable.
Understanding risk perception using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps

When making decision that can have far-researching effects, such as governmental policies or decisions on new technologies, decision-makers use their understanding of the risks that are associated with their choices to guide their decisions. Measuring how people perceive risks can be helpful for understanding and possibly improving the decision-making process. Building on a review of existing methods for investigating risk perceptions, this paper suggests Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCM) as a method for investigating differences in risk perception among stakeholders and stakeholder groups. The approach is illustrated with an example of wildfire risk perceptions. Results suggest that FCM can contribute to risk perception studies and provide means to improve Communications between different stakeholder groups and their involvement in the decision-making process.
Trends in Nonviolent Resistance and State Response: Is Violence Towards Civilian-based Movements on the Rise?

Nonviolent mass movements are the primary challengers to governments today. This represents a pronounced shift in the global landscape of dissent. Through 2010, such movements tended to be surprisingly effective in removing incumbent leaders from power, even when they experienced some repression from the government. But from 2010 through May 2016, the success rates of nonviolent campaigns declined dramatically. I speculate that although there are several probable reasons for this decline, repressive adaptations of authoritarian governments against such campaigns may be part of the story. I summarize some of the common methods of “smart” repression that many authoritarian governments have adopted in response to the growing effectiveness of nonviolent resistance. The article concludes by identifying the potential consequences of such trends for those concerned with atrocity prevention.
Proton transfer in microbial electrolysis cells

Proton transfer and electron transfer are of prime importance in the development of microbial electrochemical cells. While electron transfer is primarily controlled by biology, proton transfer is controlled by process engineering and cell design. To develop commercially feasible technologies around the concept of a bioelectrochemical cell, real feedstocks have to be explored and associated limitations have to be identified. In this study, the proton transfer rate was quantified for a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and its dependence on process parameters was investigated using a proton balance model. The reaction system consisted of a biomass-derived pyrolytic aqueous stream as a substrate producing hydrogen in a flow-through MEC. The proton transfer rate increased with anode flow rate and organic loading rate up to a maximum of 0.36 ± 0.01 moles per m2 per h, equivalent to a hydrogen production rate of 9.08 L per L per day. Higher rates of hydrogen production, reaching 11.7 ± 0.2 L per L per day were achieved, when additional protons were provided via the cathode buffer. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that proton transfer was the dominant resistance in the production of hydrogen. The quantification of proton transfer rates for MECs with potential for biorefinery application and the demonstration of high hydrogen production rates approaching those required for commercial consideration indicate the strong potential of this technology for renewable hydrogen production. Understanding the transport phenomenon in bioelectrochemical cells is of great significance since these systems have potential for wide-ranging applications including energy production, bioremediation, chemical and nanomaterial synthesis, electro-fermentation, energy storage, desalination, and produced water treatment. Electron transfer in anode biofilms has been investigated extensively, but proton transfer studies are also important, since many cathodic half reactions require protons as the reactant. Determination of transport rates via proton balance was investigated in microbial electrolysis cells, which can be applied to other forms of microbial electrochemical systems. These systems have a unique niche in the development of future biorefineries as a means of recovering energy from waste streams with potential for water recycle, making them an integral part of the water–energy nexus focus area.
An Alternative Approach to Statistical Inference

Statistical inference often depends on the estimation of a model where errors are uncorrelated with the variable being predicted. If the model is hypothesized to represent a system in nature, then the errors are usually assumed to be the result of randomness or other exogenous processes. Relaxing both of these notions can lead to an alternative approach to estimation and prediction. In this approach, a pool of models that perfectly fit existing data is used for meta-prediction of future outcomes.
The Impact of Psychosocial and Contextual Factors on Individuals Who Sustain Whiplash-Associated Disorders in Motor Vehicle Collisions

Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are very common, and they often result in neck and shoulder injuries that are referred to as whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). The largest percentage of WAD are relatively minor and do not reveal any evidence of objective, structural pathology. However, for a substantial percentage of individuals, WAD evolves into chronic, disabling conditions characterized by pain and other symptoms. A range of pre-morbid, collision-related, biomechanical, and psychosocial responses to the MVC have been investigated to determine the manner in which these responses serve to exacerbate and maintain WAD symptoms. In this article, we review the literature investigating these potential causal, amplifying, and perpetuating factors from a biopsychosocial perspective. We emphasize the range of psychological factors and the post-MVC legal and compensation factors that have been identified as significant contributors to the persistence of symptoms and ensuing disability. We highlight the ways in which psychological and legal factors need to be integrated with biological factors to better understand and prevent WAD and treat individuals who experience WAD to reduce chronicity and disability.
U.S. Gulf of Mexico pipeline activity statistics, trends and correlations

A total of 45,310 miles of pipeline has been installed in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in support of oil and gas operations circa 2016, but since the mid-to-late 1980s shallow water oil and gas producti...
Approaching Classroom Realities: The Use of Mixed Methods and Structural Equation Modeling in Science Education Research

Teaching and learning in schools is influenced by various factors, such as social factors and interand intra-individual factors. Social factors comprise, for example, gender, race/ethnicity, social class, school norms, and beliefs/perceptions about schools and their members, while interand intra-individual factors include such characteristics as group dynamics, attitudes, interests, motivation, and perceptions about oneself and others (e.g., Arum & Beattie, 2000). In addition, specific curriculum expectations as well as hidden curriculum objectives impact teaching and learning as do other contextual factors, such as subject-specific national standards and national assessment movements, teachers’ preferences for specific teaching and assessment strategies that are often deeply rooted in personal beliefs about teaching and learning, and the level of support of school administration. In general, classrooms are complex phenomena, complicating not only efforts to change practice but also the act of research itself. Turner and Meyer (2000) summarized bluntly, “Classroom research is messy” (p. 69). Researchers can either ignore the messiness and complexity of classrooms so as to concentrate on simple interrelations of two variables or the relation to an outcome variable (mostly student achievement) or they can investigate multiple variables from multiple perspectives using a multimethod approach. The latter vision must be embraced as part of any Gold Standard vision, with variables interpreted in relation to an understanding of the whole context. A systematic review of current research on teaching and learning shows that most educational research has moved far from the old theoretical models that treated the classroom as a “black box” with data collection focusing on quantitative measures of “inputs” and “outputs” (Metz, 2000, p. 65). However, studies in educational research designed as randomized controlled trials with entire groups (e.g., classrooms, schools)—rather than individual students randomly assigned to
The Physician And Technological Change

Physicians derive their authority from at least two sources. Their moral authority is based on the obligation to place patient benefit above self-interest, which is reflected in professional codes of ethics. Technical authority arises from the physician’s superior knowledge about the course of disease and means to prevent, reverse, or arrest it. In the physician-patient relationship, the basis for moral authority is a patient’s trust of the physician. In health policy, moral authority hinges on public trust of physicians’ aggregate motivations (i.e., are physicians interested in service or money?). These bases for moral authority have until recently been widely presumed to be healthy and stable.
The Paradoxes of Tolerance and Transcendental Pluralist Paradoxes

In this chapter, I look at three types of paradox which attend pluralism: the external paradox, the internal paradox and the transcendental paradox. The external paradox is generated from the following question: if we are tolerant towards other positions than our own, then what if the other position is intolerant of our own? In the name of tolerance, if we accept that the other position is, in some sense correct, then the intolerance towards us is correct, and we should give up our original position. If we decide that the position is incorrect, then we have failed to show tolerance.
Interactions of the Cyclic AMP and Nitric Oxide Pathways in Cardiac Fibroblasts

We have studied NO and cyclic AMP signaling in freshly isolated rat cardiac fibroblasts in primary culture. Although these cells express eNOS, basal production of NO is low and is only slightly stimulated by treatments that elevate intracellular Ca++. However, iNOS is readily induced in these cells by IL-1β and by the combination of TNFα and IFNγ, the latter causing cell death that L-NAME inhibits. Activation of β2-adrenergic receptors enhances iNOS-induction and NO production, an effect mimicked by forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP and antagonized by inhibition of PKA. The effect of cAMP-PKA to enhance iNOS induction is due to message stabilization that results in a doubling of the half-life of iNOS mRNA. Conversely, NO (from iNOS induction or from pharmacologic NO donors) reduces cyclic AMP accumulation in rat cardiac fibroblasts. This cyclic AMP lowering effect of NO does not result from inhibition of cyclic AMP production but rather from stimulation of cyclic AMP degradation, an effect of NO that depends on soluble guanylyl cyclase activity, is independent of PKG activation, and results from the stimulation of PDE2 by cyclic GMP. Experiments with PDE inhibitors indicate that PDE4 is the main PDE activity in these cells (62%), with PDE2 (8%) and PDE3 (1%) making smaller contributions in isoproterenol-stimulated cells. PDE1 seems to be absent and an additional PDE activity is implied by inhibitor data.
Quantitative Investigations of Orientation Development in Vitryfying Deforming Polymer Melts with Application to Processing

The state of orientation and morphology in polymer products formed from the melt has long been known to depend upon kinematics and cooling conditions immediately prior to solidification. The authors and their coworkers have carried out extensive investigations of vitrification and crystallization of deforming polymer melts during the past several years. Here we discuss investigations of vitrifying polymers.
Nicotine and the renin-angiotensin system

Cigarette smoking is the single most important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases (CVPD). Although cigarette smoking has been in constant decline since the 195...
A Novel Method to Characterize Walking and Running Energy Expenditure

Background: Physical activity and corresponding energy expenditure can improve health in various ways. Existing methods to directly measure energy expenditure are currently limited to laboratory settings and/or expensive instrumentation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate accuracy of energy expenditure characterization, during walking and running, using demographic data, as well as data collected via an accelerometer and novel piezoresponsive foam sensors. Methods: 30 individuals (14 females; mass = 67 ± 10 kg; height = 1.74 ± 0.08 m; age = 23 ± 3 yrs) walked and ran at five speeds (1.34, 2.23, 2.68, 3.13, and 3.58 m/s) on a force-instrumented treadmill while wearing a metabolic analyzer and standardized athletic shoes instrumented with an accelerometer, and four novel nanocomposite piezoresponsive force sensors. Various predictive models, including demographic data and data derived from the accelerometer and force sensors, were evaluated for each gait speed. Results: The predictive models varied i...
Ebola Virus Disease and Pregnancy: Perinatal Transmission and Epidemiology

The 2013–2015 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa devastated local health systems and caused thousands of deaths among pregnant women, unborn fetuses, and children. Reports from historical Zaire Ebola virus outbreaks suggested pregnancy was associated with high mortality rates between 74 and 100%. In contrast, data collected during the 2013–2015 West Africa outbreak suggested mortality in pregnancy may be lower than previously reported, with 11 of 25 (44%) reported EVD-infected pregnant women dying. Fetal and neonatal outcomes are more consistent across EVD epidemics, with the vast majority of EVD-affected pregnancies ending in fetal loss. Though no fetal autopsy data or placental histology is available from the 2013–2015 outbreak, vertical transmission of Ebola virus across the placenta and into fetal tissue and amniotic fluid is likely, as high titers of Ebola virus have been detected in placental tissue both during acute infection and after recovery. To date, outcomes data have been published for 60 confirmed or suspected Zaire Ebola virus cases in pregnancy, which resulted in 47 stillbirths or miscarriages (78%) and 13 live births (22%), of whom all except one died within 19 days of life. There is little data on pregnancy outcomes among EVD survivors. One case series of 70 Liberian survivors reported that 15 (22%) pregnancies ended in miscarriage, 4 (6%) in stillbirth, and 2 (3%) in elective pregnancy terminations. Overall, 28% of women had an adverse pregnancy outcome, suggesting a long-lasting negative impact of prior EVD on future pregnancies. More research is needed to confirm these findings.
Estimating Yield: Beyond Breeding Values

Tree improvement, as a subdivision of genetics, has several unique features when compared with genetic improvement programs for other plant and animal species.
An Additive Manufacturing Spare Parts Inventory Model for an Aviation Use Case

To maintain high service levels and mitigate long lead times, many enterprises hold large spare parts inventories. Using additive manufacturing (AM) for spare parts in aviation has been proposed pr...
Accurate numerical methods for two and three dimensional integral fractional Laplacian with applications

Abstract In this paper, we propose accurate and efficient finite difference methods to discretize the two- and three-dimensional fractional Laplacian ( − Δ ) α 2 ( 0 α 2 ) in hypersingular integral form. The proposed methods provide a fractional analogue of the central difference schemes to the fractional Laplacian. As α → 2 − , they collapse to the central difference schemes of the classical Laplace operator − Δ . We prove that our methods are consistent if u ∈ C ⌊ α ⌋ , α − ⌊ α ⌋ + e ( R d ) , and the local truncation error is O ( h e ) , with e > 0 a small constant and ⌊ ⋅ ⌋ denoting the floor function. If u ∈ C 2 + ⌊ α ⌋ , α − ⌊ α ⌋ + e ( R d ) , they can achieve the second order of accuracy for any α ∈ ( 0 , 2 ) . These results hold for any dimension d ≥ 1 and thus improve the existing error estimates of the one-dimensional cases in the literature. Extensive numerical experiments are provided and confirm our analytical results. We then apply our method to solve the fractional Poisson problems and the fractional Allen–Cahn equations. Numerical simulations suggest that to achieve the second order of accuracy, the solution of the fractional Poisson problem should at most satisfy u ∈ C 1 , 1 ( R d ) . One merit of our methods is that they yield a multilevel Toeplitz stiffness matrix, an appealing property for the development of fast algorithms via the fast Fourier transform (FFT). Our studies of the two- and three-dimensional fractional Allen–Cahn equations demonstrate the efficiency of our methods in solving the high-dimensional fractional problems.
Carbon dioxide conversion by solar-enhanced microwave plasma: Effect of specific power and argon/nitrogen carrier gases

Abstract Plasma-chemical processes are ideally suited for the conversion of low-value gaseous feedstock such as carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuels and chemicals. However, the reliance on low-pressure operation of traditional plasma methods to achieve high efficiency can limit their economic viability and net sustainability benefits. Solar-Enhanced Microwave Plasma (SEMP) CO2 conversion exploits the interaction between solar radiation and a CO2-Ar or CO2-N2 microwave discharge to achieve increased energy efficiency while operating at atmospheric pressure conditions. Moreover, by incorporating solar energy, SEMP processes exhibit the same specific energy input (SEI) as conventional plasma methods. The effects of electric power, solar power, flow rate, and gas composition on solar absorption, conversion, and energy efficiencies in SEMP CO2 conversion are investigated. Experimental results show up to ∼21% absorption of solar power obtained under CO2-Ar operation. In all the studied conditions, the absorbed solar radiation leads to increased CO2 conversion efficiency; e.g. an increase from ∼8% to ∼9% is obtained at 900 W electrical power and 75 W absorbed solar power. The use of nitrogen as auxiliary gas leads to higher conversion and energy efficiencies than those using argon. The highest conversion efficiency obtained with CO2-N2 is ∼15.5%, whereas the highest conversion efficiency using CO2-Ar is ∼9.5% – both observed at the same SEI of 1.8 eV/molecule. The results suggest the potential of the SEMP processing of CO2-N2 mixtures, as found in flue gas from fossil-fuel power plants, as a viable approach for CO2 conversion and utilization.
Protected areas reduce poaching but not overall anthropogenic mortality of North American mammals

Abstract Protected areas are established for diverse conservation strategies, but their effectiveness for conserving species varies widely. We compiled studies that used telemetry to determine cause-specific mortality of North American mammals and compared mortality sources of animals monitored in areas classified as protected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and non-protected areas. Our dataset consisted of 358 studies which monitored the fates of 28,925 individuals and documented 9348 mortalities of known cause across 66 mammalian species. Although anthropogenic mortality was found to be higher in protected areas, we did not find evidence that protected area status was associated with that difference. However, poaching was 75% lower in protected areas. Within protected areas, we found no evidence that number of years since protection nor IUCN category of protection influenced any mortality source, but proportion of anthropogenic mortality on average decreased by 4% with each additional 50 km2 in protected area size. Species body mass was an important factor determining susceptibility to harvest mortality and anthropogenic mortality overall. Protected areas in North America were associated with reduced poaching mortality of mammals, but the ecological importance of this reduction is likely influenced by population- and species-specific factors.
Sex Role Stereotypes and Self-Concepts Among American and Chinese Students

This is a cross-cultural study of sex role stereotypes and self-concepts among Chinese and American students. The Chinese sample was drawn from populations in Taiwan. Both samples were given the sa...
Moderating Operator Influence in Human-Swarm Systems

In human-swarm systems, human input to a robot swarm can both inhibit desirable swarm behaviors and allow the operator to properly guide the swarm to achieve mission goals. Indeed, the way that control is shared between the human operator and the inherent collective robot behaviors determines in large part the success of the human-swarm system. In this paper, we seek to understand how to design human-swarm systems that effectively moderate human influence over a robot swarm. To do this, we implement a simulated swarm system based on honeybees, and study how interacting with this swarm using various methods of moderating human influence impacts the success of the resulting human-swarm system. Our results demonstrate that moderating human influence is essential to achieving effective human-swarm systems, and highlight the need for future work in determining how to better moderate human influence in human-swarm systems.
Long Distance Arab Shipping in the 9th Century Indian Ocean:Recent Shipwreck Evidence from Southeast Asia

The present article examines two of the earliest shipwrecks and their cargoes belonging to long distance trade recovered in Southeast Asia as a key to understanding the radical changes that were taking place in the Indian Ocean around the beginning of the 9th century CE. The Belitung (Tang) shipwreck was reported in 1998, in the western Java Sea. In 2014, a second Arab dhow was discovered, in the saturated landscape of reclaimed mangrove on the northern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Both proved to be of seminal importance: the Belitung cargo consisted of the largest assemblage of late Tang era artefacts ever recovered, whilst the Phanom Surin shipwreck revealed the first finding of Gulf storage jars in Southeast Asia, and the first Pallavi inscription recorded from the region. These are the only securely recorded instances of medieval ships of West Asian design and probable origin being recovered archaeologically in Southeast Asia.
Krasnoselskii-type fixed point theorems using $$\alpha $$-concave operators

In this paper, we discuss the fixed point theorems for a combination of $$\alpha $$ -concave and compact operators. The results can be seen as variants of Krasnoselskii’s theorem using $$\alpha $$ -concave operators.
Mural thickening of the gallbladder? Look to the heart of the problem

Abstract The differential diagnosis for mural thickening of the gallbladder is broad and includes many extra-cholecystic conditions, especially in pediatrics. Primary cholecystitis is a rare cause of right upper quadrant pain in children Learning objective Mural thickening of the gallbladder in the pediatric patient should prompt clinicians to think broadly about its etiology spanning several organ systems, including cardiac disease.
Willow: a scalable shared memory multiprocessor

The authors are currently developing Willow, a shared memory multiprocessor whose design provides system capacity and performance capable of supporting over 1000 commercial microprocessors. Recently, they have focused their attention on the design of a 64-processor prototype that tests most of their ideas about scalability. In this paper, they describe the factors that traditionally limited the scalability of shared memory systems. These include enforcing sequential consistency, inefficient synchronization, memory latency and bandwidth limitations, bus and memory contention, the necessity to enforce inclusion on lower-level caches, and limited I/O (input/output) bandwidth. They then describe how the Willow architecture addresses each of these issues. Finally, they present data in order to evaluate the effect of the major architectural innovations in Willow on the performance of several parallel applications.
Association of kappa light chain restriction with peripheral neuropathy among patients with non-IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

e20040Background: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) can be associated with significant neurologic morbidity. Of non-IgM MGUS, types IgG and IgA are most commonly associated ...
Negative Infrared Divergent Corrections to the Global String Tension

We show that at large distances from an infinitely long global U(1) string, low energy Goldstone Bosons contribute a spatially dependent term to the energy density which is non-integrable. Specifically, this term diverges with the same form as the classical field theory contribution to the string tension, except with negative sign. This suggests that a careful analysis of the infrared degrees of freedom around the global string ought to yield an effective theory of the solitary string whose tension is finite. There are implications for axion cosmology.
Variability in Preschool CLASS Scores and Children’s School Readiness:

The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is a widely administered measure of classroom quality that assesses teacher-child interactions in the domains of Emotional Support, Classroom Organiz...
Novel Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques for Inertia-Friction Welds in a SiC-Reinforced High-Temperature Aluminum Alloy

The feasibility of different NDE techniques for evaluating the microstructural characteristics of the heat- and deformation zone (HDZ) of inertia-friction welds produced in a high-temperature discontinuously-reinforced aluminum (DRA) alloy has been investigated. High-temperature DRA composites have been developed for elevated-temperature application in the aerospace industry by incorporating SiC particulate reinforcement into a rapidly-solidified aluminum alloy [1,2]. The DRA composite used in this study was dispersoid-strengthened 8009/SiC/11p made by Allied-Signal Co. The specimens were first cut into 1″-diameter rods from larger extruded billets. These rods were then inertia-friction welded at different axial forces ranging from 89 kN to 156 kN at 5,000 rpm. Generally, the dynamic flow experienced by the outer and inner HDZ microstructures during the welding process greatly affects weld quality (tensile strength, fracture toughness, fatigue strength, etc.). Ultrasonic evaluation of the characteristic shape and size of the HDZ has been previously showed to yield valuable information on inertia-friction welds of aluminum, steel, and copper [3,4]. Similar methods can be readily adapted to the inspections of high-temperature DRA composite welds, too. In addition, the orientation and density of the flow lines at different distances from the interface can be evaluated to reconstruct the formation of the weld. In most cases, flow lines can be visualized only by selectively etching the polished surfaces of metallurgical samples. Because of the usually very weak ultrasonic contrast presented by such flow lines they cannot be nondestructively detected let alone mapped. We shall demonstrate that the discontinuous nature of the silicon carbide reinforcement allows the particulates to align themselves with the local direction of plastic flow during weld formation, thereby presenting an excellent contrast mechanism for ultrasonic mapping of the flow pattern in the HDZ.
Sound Over-Exposure Effects on 2f1-f2 Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emission Onset Latencies in Rabbit

It is well-established that acoustic over-stimulation causes hearing loss. Many years of experimental study as well as the examination of temporal-bone specimens from humans have established that loud sounds initially target the outer hair cells (OHCs) by reversibly or permanently damaging them, depending on exposure level (e.g., Bohne & Clark, 1982). The discovery of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) by Kemp (1978), and the subsequent knowledge that emitted responses were most likely generated by normal-functioning OHCs (Mountain 1980; Siegel & Kim 1982; Horner et al 1985; Schrott et al 1991), suggests that OAEs would make useful detectors of noise-induced cochlear damage. In fact, over the last decade, there have been many experimental studies of noise-induced cochlear effects using the majority of the various subclasses of emissions including spontaneous OAEs (Norton et al 1989), transient OAEs (Anderson & Kemp 1979; Kemp 1982), and distortion-product OAEs or DPOAEs (Zurek et al 1982; Franklin et al 1991; Mensh et al 1993; Sutton et al 1994; Chang & Norton 1996). The primary response parameter measured is typically magnitude in the form of sound pressure level (re 20 uPa), and, together, the previous studies showed the ability of OAEs to qualitatively track the amount of the resulting reduction in emission amplitude along with its recovery time course.
Transition Metal Formyl Complexes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the synthesis of transition-metal formyl complexes, their physical properties, their reactions, and topics relating to the stability and decomposition of transition-metal formyl complexes. The synthesis, chemical characterization, and physical characterization of transition-metal complexes of new carbon-containing ligands constitute important ongoing objectives of organometallic chemists. In the presence of metallic heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysts, synthesis gas can be converted to a variety of organic molecules (methane, methanol, higher alkanes and alcohols, and glycols). In advance of any experiment, formyl complexes appear deceptively easy to synthesize. Comparisons to methods for transition metal acyl synthesis are instructive. Unfortunately, formic acetic anhydride is not a general reagent for formyl complex synthesis. Formyl complexes are characterized by distinct spectroscopic features. Transition-metal formyl complexes are capable of donating hydride to several classes of substrates, of which ketones and aldehydes are prototypical. A unique reaction of formyl complexes is “formyl transfer,” in which the formyl ligand undergoes apparent migration from one metal to another. Reactions of neutral formyl complexes with alkylating agents can follow different courses. Formyl complexes show varying behavior when treated with protonating agents. Anionic formyl complexes can be reduced when treated with the more potent trialkylborohydride nucleophiles. Neutral formyl complexes that contain ligating CO often decompose by decarbonylation; however, several exceptions exist. It is evident that transition-metal formyl complexes possess a unique and rich chemistry.
Serotonin enhances urinary bladder nociceptive processing via a 5-HT3 receptor mechanism

Serotonin from the descending pain modulatory pathway is critical to nociceptive processing. Its effects on pain modulation may either be inhibitory or facilitatory, depending on the type of pain and which receptors are involved. Little is known about the role of serotonergic systems in bladder nociceptive processing. These studies examined the effect of systemic administration of the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), on normal bladder and somatic sensation in rats. ELISA was used to quantify peripheral and central changes in serotonin and its major metabolite following 5-HTP administration, and the potential role of the 5-HT3 receptor on changes in bladder sensation elicited by 5-HTP was investigated. 5-HTP produced bladder hypersensitivity and somatic analgesia. The pro-nociceptive effect of 5-HTP was attenuated by intrathecal, but not systemic, ondansetron. Peripheral increases in serotonin, its metabolism and rate of turnover were detectable within 30min of 5-HTP administration. Significant enhancement of serotonin metabolism was observed centrally. These findings suggest that 5-HTP increases serotonin, which may then affect descending facilitatory systems to produce bladder hypersensitivity via activation of spinal 5-HT3 receptors.
In Situ Compositional Analysis of Multielement Thin Films

A new method for determining the compositions of multielement thin films during growth has been developed. This technique, utilizing x-ray fluorescence, provides an in situ tool to study film composition directly under harsh deposition conditions including high pressures, high substrate temperatures, and the presence of reactive gases. By changing the x-ray geometry it is also possible to vary the technique’s surface sensitivity from the full film thickness down to twenty angstroms, which is comparable to Auger electron spectroscopy, but without the need for high vacuum. The high surface sensitivity is a result of refraction of fluorescence x-rays at the thin film/vacuum interface. Results will be presented demonstrating the technique’s unique capabilities.
The use and misuse of circuit simulation in electronics courses

Summary form only given. It is clear that electrical and computer engineering students need to be able to use circuit simulation (SPICE) effectively upon graduation, but how that tool can best be used to teach the concepts of circuit design and analysis is not as obvious. The authors describe how, at the University of the Pacific, USA, they have grappled with this problem and are developing a solution that integrates the use of SPICE in their electronics courses and laboratories. This solution tries to keep the balance between exposing students to the latest software tools and teaching course concepts.
An Interview with Steven M. Kerscher of Lexi-Comp, Inc.

Abstract This interview with Steven M. Kerscher of Lexi-Comp, Inc. describes various clinical pharmacology, medical, dental, and nursing information products accessible to desktop and handheld users for use at the point-of-care. Products discussed include Lexi-Comp ONLINE(tm) with AHFS, Lexi-Comp(r) ONLINE(tm) for Dentistry, Lexi-Comp(r) ON-HANDS (tm) for handhelds, and Lexi-Drugs(r).
Optical studies of interstellar material in low density regions of the Galaxy

We analyze high-resolution Na I and Ca II interstellar absorption line data obtained in an earlier spectroscopic survey of 57 stars along extended sight lines through the Galactic disk and halo. We find that the Na I lines trace a diffuse cloudy medium and the CA II lines trace both the cloudy medium and a more extended (intercloud) medium. High latitude and interarm sight lines that do not cross spiral arms have clouds that are more diffuse on average than those along sight lines that cross spiral arms. Spiral structure may play an important role in determinating the average absorption properties along extended sight lines and/or interesting physical differences may exist between sight lines that cross spiral arms and those that do not. These might include a harder radiation field and/or higher electron tempertures along the high latitude and 'clean' interarm sight lines. On average, 10% of the Ca II column density occurs at velocities forbidden by the Galactic rotation law by more than 10 km/s. In contrast, only a small precentage of the Na I column density occurs at these velocites. The Ca II to Na I ratio increases by a factor of 15 over forbidden velocities from 0 to 50 km/s and rises rapidly thereafter. A two component model of the Ca II column density per unit velocity over the range l = 325 deg to 360 deg indicates that two distinct distributions exists, one with sigma = 8 km/s and one with sigma = 21 km/s. As much as 60% of the Ca II column density at forbidden velocities may be associated with the faster distribution, which we attribute to warm intercloud material. We estimate expontential scale heights of 0.4-0.5 kpc for the neutral gas traced by the E(B-V), Na I, and H I distributions along the low density sight lines, and we find that Ca II has a larger scale height of 0.8 kpc.
Macroscale water fluxes 3. Effects of land processes on variability of monthly river discharge

[1] A salient characteristic of river discharge is its temporal variability. The time series of flow at a point on a river can be viewed as the superposition of a smooth seasonal cycle and an irregular, random variation. Viewing the random component in the spectral domain facilitates both its characterization and an interpretation of its major physical controls from a global perspective. The power spectral density functions of monthly flow anomalies of many large rivers worldwide are typified by a “red noise” process: the density is higher at low frequencies (e.g., <1 y−1) than at high frequencies, indicating disproportionate (relative to uncorrelated “white noise”) contribution of low frequencies to variability of monthly flow. For many high-latitude and arid-region rivers, however, the power is relatively evenly distributed across the frequency spectrum. The power spectrum of monthly flow can be interpreted as the product of the power spectrum of monthly basin total precipitation (which is typically white or slightly red) and several filters that have physical significance. The filters are associated with (1) the conversion of total precipitation (sum of rainfall and snowfall) to effective rainfall (liquid flux to the ground surface from above), (2) the conversion of effective rainfall to soil water excess (runoff), and (3) the conversion of soil water excess to river discharge. Inferences about the roles of each filter can be made through an analysis of observations, complemented by information from a global model of the ocean-atmosphere-land system. The first filter causes a snowmelt-related amplification of high-frequency variability in those basins that receive substantial snowfall. The second filter causes a relatively constant reduction in variability across all frequencies and can be predicted well by means of a semiempirical water balance relation. The third filter, associated with groundwater and surface water storage in the river basin, causes a strong reduction in high-frequency variability of many basins. The strength of this reduction can be quantified by an average residence time of water in storage, which is typically on the order of 20–50 days. The residence time is demonstrably influenced by freezing conditions in the basin, fractional cover of the basin by lakes, and runoff ratio (ratio of mean runoff to mean precipitation). Large lake areas enhance storage and can greatly increase total residence times (100 to several hundred days). Freezing conditions appear to cause bypassing of subsurface storage, thus reducing residence times (0–30 days). Small runoff ratios tend to be associated with arid regions, where the water table is deep, and consequently, most of the runoff is produced by processes that bypass the saturated zone, leading to relatively small residence times for such basins (0–40 days).
Jurisdiction: Conflicts of Laws and the Indian Reservation: Solutions to Problems in Indian Civil Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction over private civil disputes either arising on an Indian reservation or involving Indians as parties has been the subject of a great deal of case law covering a wide variety of situations. The Supreme Court has brought order to the law in this area in such cases as Williams v. Lee,' Kennerly v. District Court, and Fisher v. District Court.' However, several major issues remain unresolved by the Supreme Court decisions. Most are practical questions that arise as a result of the special jurisdictional rules that apply to Indian country. State courts and tribal governments are beginning to resolve some of these problems, often employing standard conflict of laws theories. This note will review the current law in the area, identify unresolved issues, and propose solutions suggested by the current law and literature. Special attention will be paid to familiar conflict of laws principles that can offer solutions to the problems.
Identification of Burkholderia andropogonis with a Repetitive Sequence BOX Element and PCR

Burkholderia andropogonis is the causal agent of bacterial leaf stripe in sorghum. Strict import quarantine regulations of numerous countries mandate a need for development of a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic technique for the identification of B. andropogonis. Using a primer corresponding to the bacterial repetitive BOX element and PCR, we developed a DNA fingerprint which differentiated B. andropogonis from other phytobacterial pathogens.
MicroRNA regulation and interspecific variation of gene expression

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate expression of their target genes in various tissues and at different developmental stages, but it is unclear whether they drive cross-species variation in gene expression. By comparing data from mammal and fly species we found that the cross-species expression variation of miRNA targets is significantly lower than that of other genes. This implies that miRNAs can affect gene expression by reducing stochastic noise, buffering cross-species variation and constraining evolutionary gene expression variation.
Solidarity: From Dogma to Economic System: Juan Donoso Cortes and Heinrich Pesch, S.J.

The title indicates an evolution which in the prevailing idiom of economics would not be possible. One does not develop an economic system from a dogma, depending to some extent on how one chooses to define dogma. What is more, anyone who is familiar with Juan Donoso Cortes (1809–1853), the man who first designated solidarity as a dogma, knows that he was a political philosopher. And anyone who is familiar with Heinrich Pesch, the man who first outlined a system of economics which he called Solidarism, knows that he was a Jesuit priest, Now while Jesuits and political philosophers, especially Spanish Roman Catholic ones, probably have something to say to each other, what would the likes of them have to do with a value‐neutral science?
Intraoperative Cerebral Angiography: Superficial Temporal Artery Method and Results

Objective To report the method for and results of intraoperative cerebral angiography performed via the superficial temporal artery, for assessment of cerebral aneurysm surgery. Methods All patients undergoing craniotomies for treatment of intracranial aneurysms were prospectively entered into a database. A policy of performing angiography via the superficial temporal artery in appropriate cases was instituted. This procedure was performed with retrograde catheterization of the superficial temporal artery, as it coursed over the zygomatic arch, with an 18-gauge, 1.88-inch, intravenous catheter and hand injection of contrast material, with intraoperative digital subtraction fluoroscopic guidance. Results Thirty-six patients who underwent 38 craniotomies for clipping of 43 aneurysms underwent intraoperative angiography via the superficial temporal artery. There were six unexpected findings (14%), including four unexpected arterial occlusions and two unexpected residual aneurysms. One aneurysm was observed to be patent when it was punctured, after intraoperative angiography had indicated no filling of the aneurysm. Additional clips were placed. Three patients (8%) developed multiple arterial infarctions in the territory of the injected carotid artery, for which multiple causes were possible. Adequate angiographic images could usually be obtained with this method. Conclusion Intraoperative angiography via the superficial temporal artery is simple and is not associated with substantial complications. It is a reasonable alternative to transfemoral angiography for detection of adverse consequences of intracranial aneurysm clipping.
A panel immunoblot using co-incubated monoclonal antibodies for identification of melanoma cells

Antigen expression in melanoma is heterogeneous. Immunophenotyping using a panel of monoclonal antibodies may facilitate immunotherapy. An immunoblot procedure was developed to detect antigens in melanoma cells. Numerous monoclonal antibodies were tested to determine if (1) antigens were detected after transfer to membranes, (2) single bands or discrete multiple bands were obtained, (3) co-incubation of multiple monoclonal antibodies had no interference, and (4) banding patterns were non-overlapping. Antigens were selected based upon their association with melanoma and the availability of respective monoclonal antibodies. Antigens were melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells (MART-1), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), S100, vimentin, glycoprotein 130 (gp130), a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-like marker, KBA-62 and NKI-C3. Actin positive controls could be assessed simultaneously. Test samples were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in a 4-15% polyacrylamide gradient, transferred to polyvinylidine fluoride membrane, blotted using a Fast-Blot apparatus (Pierce), and developed using diaminobenzidine/metal. Melanoma cell lines were immunophenotyped using this panel immunoblot, and were compared to a standard control and to non-melanoma cells. Up to four antigens could be detected simultaneously in a single lane of the immunoblot, using a single test sample of greater than 100000 cells.
Holographic imaging of ultrasonic standing waves in methanol, liquid nitrogen and liquid helium-II

Abstract Holography is used to record the pressure field produced by ultrasonic standing waves in methanol (300 K), liquid nitrogen (77.3 K), and liquid helium-II (1.60 K). This technique yields quantitative information on the intensity and sinusoidal spatial dependence of the waves.
One Atom Lynch Pin Transformations of Gold′s Reagent.

Abstract A series of o-phenylenediamines and o-aminophenols have been reacted with Gold's reagent to yield benzimidazoles and benzoxazoles, respectively. Additionally, o-hydroxyacetophenone and anthranilamide, when reacted with Gold's reagent, were found to produce chromone and 3H-quinazoline-4-one, respectively. These transformations represent the use of Gold's reagent as a one atom lynch pin.