cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TH‐E‐211‐01: The Ability of CTDIvol to Estimate Organ Doses from Typical Tube Current Modulated Abdomen/Pelvis CT Scans

Purpose: When tube current modulation (TCM) scanning is performed over multiple anatomic regions (e.g. abdomen/pelvis), typically only the average CTDIvol over all regions is reported. The purpose of this work was to compare simulated organ doses from tube current modulated scans with different CTDIvol values (including a region specific CTDIvol) and to investigate the feasibility of estimating organ doses using CTDIvol and patient size. Methods: Voxelized models with contoured abdominal organs(liver, spleen and kidneys) were created using 40 abdomen/pelvis scans with tube current modulation (Care Dose4D) acquired on a Siemens Sensation 64. Dose to these organs were estimated using Monte Carlo methods that simulate actual scans. Simulated organ doses were compared with three CTDIvol values: CTDIvol reported on the scanner (CTDIvol, Abd/Pel), CTDIvol based on average effective mAs of abdomen region of the scan (CTDIvol,Abd), and CTDIvol based on average effective mAs from images containing the organ (e.g. CTDIvol,Liver). Organ doses were normalized by each CTDIvol and the relationship between each of these ratios and patient perimeter was investigated. These results were also compared to organ doses normalized by CTDIvol for 32cm CTDI phantom for fixed tube current. Results: This study showed that CTDIvol based on the entire exam underestimates organ dose by up to 33%. This percentage increased to 43% and 38% for CTDIvol,Abd and CTDIvol,Liver, respectively. However, organ doses normalized by CTDIvol,Abd and CTDIvol, Liver showed a strong linear correlation with patient perimeter. Similar linear correlation was observed for fixed tube current results. Conclusions: When using TCM, the CTDIvol reported is over the entire scan which does not correlate well with actual patient dose. However, specific region‐CTDIvol‐normalized organ doses showed strong correlation with patient size and therefore can be used to estimate organ doses from a TCM scan using patient perimeter and region specific CTDIvol.
SEM comparison of acid-etched, CO2 laser-irradiated, and combined treatment on dentin surfaces.

Research into polymer systems capable of bonding to dentin and enamel have resulted in improved bond strengths that allow more conservative restoration and strengthening of teeth. However, pretreatment of the dentin and enamel of various sorts, including exposure to laser energy, have been espoused to enhance this bonding. This study investigated the effects of two pretreatments, acid and CO2 laser exposure, both alone and in combination, on the surface topography of prepared dentin specimens as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Eighteen dentin specimens were flat-sanded with 600 grit sandpaper and exposed to 10% maleic acid and CO2 laser both alone and in combination. SEM observation suggested that laser treatment prior to acid etching could increase the resistance of the smear layer to acid removal, that laser exposure after acid treatment could expose a porous topography suggestive of the underlying dentin inorganic structure by way of vaporization of the collagen surface left after acid demineralization, and that these effects varied in degree with the laser exposure energy. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bone-Marrow Examination: Technique and Diagnostic Value of a Bone-Marrow Biopsy Using a Silverman Needle

In the majority of hematological disorders, the smears obtained from a simple aspiration of the bone marrow are sufficient for diagnostic purposes and a fixed portion of the clot obtained can be processed for routine histological sections. However, in 6% to 20%1-5of aspirations, the specimen obtained is so diluted with peripheral blood or the marrow so hypocellular as to make accurate diagnosis impossible. Since these so-called dry taps have a high incidence of associated marrow pathology,1-5one is faced with the responsibility of obtaining marrow sufficient for a precise diagnosis. Because repeat aspirations in dry taps are rarely successful, a biopsy of the marrow should be considered as the next diagnostic procedure or, in an attempt to obviate repeat marrow punctures, could be used as a primary procedure. In a series of over 1,400 needle biopsies of the marrow, Ellis et al2reported satisfactory specimens in
Linear systems with polynomials of filtered Poisson processes

Moment equations are calculated exactly for the response of linear systems subjected polynomials of filtered Poisson processes. The Ito formula for stochastic differential equations driven by Poisson white noise is applied to derive moment equations. It is shown that the set of moment equations is closed. The proposed method is used to calculate moments up to the fourth order for the response of two linear systems subjected to quadratic forms of filtered Poisson processes. Results by Monte Carlo simulations are also presented for comparison.
Environmental Controls on Needle Gas Exchange and Growth of White Spruce (Picea glauca) on a Riverside Terrace near the Arctic Treeline

Abstract Recent studies have revealed positive and negative trends in the radial growth of treeline white spruce (Picea glauca) as temperatures have warmed in recent decades. Investigators have speculated that negative growth trends reflect the increasing importance of temperature-induced drought stress, yet direct observations of drought-induced stomatal closure have not been made in white spruce near the Arctic treeline. In this study, we measured needle gas exchange, a variety of needle traits, and branch growth in contrasting growing seasons on a riverside terrace near the Arctic treeline in Noatak National Preserve, northwest Alaska. Needle gas exchange was limited by cold soils (<7 °C), nighttime frosts, large vapor pressure deficits (VPD) and/or low soil water contents during the majority of our midday measurements. Near optimal conditions for needle gas exchange were consistently found in late August, when soils were relatively warm, air temperatures were moderate, and the VPD was relatively small...
Storage of wild carrot cultures in the frozen state.

Abstract Actively dividing tissue from 22 lines of wild carrot maintained in suspension culture have been successfully frozen, stored in the vapor of liquid nitrogen for 7–12 mo and thawed to give growing cultures.
Can You Go Home Again? A Phenomenological Investigation of Cypriot Students Returning Home After Studying Abroad

The goal of the present study was to describe the structure of the experience of young Cypriot students who have returned home after studying abroad. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with participants who responded to the statement: ‘`Please describe your experiences of returning home after your study abroad’’. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed within the context of a research group. The emerging bipolar themes of ‘Shock/Adjustment’, ‘Freedom/Restriction’, and ‘Changing/Static’ were grounded in the theme of cultural comparison. Implications for counselling are examined.
Librarians in the Outpatient Clinic, a Five-Year Retrospective

This article is a retrospective review of a patient resource library in a busy urban outpatient clinic, which resulted from a unique collaboration among the clinic administration, a comprehensive cancer center, and an academic health sciences library. During the first five years, the library has seen 27,134 visitors and answered 7,635 information requests. Internet resources were used in more than 50% of the transactions, followed by print brochures (34%). The results of a three-year Institutional Review Board-approved study analyzing information requests are presented. Ongoing experiences and future initiatives that support the clinic's mission and patient satisfaction are also discussed.
A moving boundary model of acrosomal elongation

A sperm penetrates an egg by extending a long, actin-filled tube known as the acrosomal process. This simple example of biomotility is one of the most dramatic. In Thyone, a 90 μm process can extend in less than 10 s. Experiments have shown that actin monomers stored in the base of the sperm are transported to the growing tip of the acrosomal process where they add to the ends of the existing filaments. The force that drives the elongation of the acrosomal process has not yet been identified although the most frequently discussed candidate is the actin polymerization reaction. Developing what we believe are realistic moving boundary models of diffusion limited actin fiber polymerization, we show that actin filament growth occurs too slowly to drive acrosomal elongation. We thus believe that other forces, such as osmotically driven water flow, must play an important role in causing the elongation. We conjecture that actin polymerization merely follows to give the appropriate shape to the growing structure and to stabilize the structure once water flow ceases.
Pruritus and urticaria

Pruritus and urticaria frequently occur during the perianethesia period. Knowledge of the physiology of these symptoms can assist the perianesthesia nurse to identify the appropriate nursing and medical interventions.
Risk, compensation, and regional equity in locating hazardous facilities

Hazardous facility siting policies have shifted gradually from an exlusive focus on risk mitigation measures to strategies which combine mitigation and compensation for unavoidable risks. Despite widespread practice among regional and state government entities, such strategies have achieved limited success. We argue that risk sharing through dispersion and downscaling of facilities is a key adjunct to compensation, with the potential to alleviate many stalemates which pervade current siting processes. A prescriptive risk-sharing model, inspired by a growing number of equity-oriented siting policies, elucidates the trade-offs between spatial equity, compensation, and facility costs. We conclude that equity considerations are likely to emerge as a primary criterion in the next generation of siting processes.
Using Guide Wavelengths to Assess Far-Infrared Laser Emissions

An optically pumped molecular laser system with a transverse excitation scheme has been used to observe 77 guide wavelengths associated with the modes of an oversized waveguide laser resonator. These guide wavelengths, spanning from 102.6 to 990.6 μm, were generated by a variety of lasing media, including methanol along with several symmetric- and asymmetric-top molecules. The guide wavelengths displayed several consistent characteristics when compared with their respective fundamental laser emissions: their wavelengths were about 0.47 % larger and their relative powers were at least a factor of ten weaker. The properties of these guide wavelengths were used to assess frequency and wavelength measurements associated with known far-infrared laser emissions. For several of these laser emissions, this prompted a reinvestigation and subsequent revision of their measured values. Five far-infrared laser frequencies were also measured for the first time.
The influence of the age of the rat on the neuromuscular response to mivacurium in vitro.

The effective concentrations of mivacurium induced neuromuscular block were studied in the phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparations of forty male Sprague-Dawley rats in four groups according to body weight, 10 g, 25 g, 100 g, and 200 g. Mivacurium was added to the Krebs' solution to obtain an initial concentration of 0.275 microgram.ml-1 (2.5 x 10(-7) mole.litre-1). Thereafter, the concentration of mivacurium was increased in increments to obtain more than 90% neuromuscular twitch inhibition at 0.1 Hz. Data were analysed by probit and logistic models. The two statistical techniques yielded very similar results, almost identical values of EC50 and EC95. There were significant decreases in the effective concentrations of mivacurium needed to depress the twitch response in neonatal rats (10 g) compared to older rats. No significant differences were observed between 25, 100 and 200 g rats. We conclude that the neonatal neuromuscular junctions of rats show increased sensitivity to mivacurium related to pharmacodynamic factors.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: How to Assess Prognosis in 2007

Abstract Recent advances in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) biology have produced a plethora of new prognostic tests, many of which are becoming available commercially. At the same time, advances in therapy have improved response rates and extended the survival of patients with CLL. In this review, we present our current interpretation of the most important CLL prognostic markers in the context of modern combination chemotherapy and outline our recommendations for their use in the clinic.
Variance reduction techniques for the simulation of Markov processes, I: multiple estimates

A method for reducing the variance of simulation-generated estimates is proposed and discussed. The method may be applied to the estimation of steady state parameters of discrete and continuous time Markov chains, semi-Markov processes, and regenerative discrete time Markov processes on a general state space (such as the waiting time process in a multiple-server queue). The method is similar to the technique of control variables, but differs in that the means of the controls need not be explicitly known. Numerical results for a variety of simple queueing models are presented.
Parental history of anxiety and alcohol-use disorders and alcohol expectancies as predictors of alcohol-related problems.

Objective: Research has consistently identified a family history of alcoholism as a risk factor for alcohol-related problems, and global positive expectancies have been found to moderate this association. High rates of comorbidity between alcohol use and anxiety disorders suggest that a family history of anxiety disorders may also increase risk. Further, expectations of negative reinforcement (e.g., tension reduction) have been found to moderate the influence of anxiety-related traits. The current study sought to extend previous research by examining the influence of parental history of alcoholism, anxiety disorders, and the combination, as predictors of alcohol-related problems. Expectancies of global positive changes and tension reduction were hypothesized to moderate the influence of parental history of alcoholism and anxiety, respectively. Method: Direct interviews with parents assessed their history of alcoholism and anxiety for 144 offspring (ages 18–32; 53.5% male) creating four groups: those with ...
Usefulness of CD11a and CD18 in flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis for diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is an aggressive disease that requires prompt diagnosis and therapy. Flow cytometry immunophenotyping can serve as a screening test for APL before the results of cytogenetic or molecular testing for t(15;17)(q22;q21)/ PML-RARα are often dimly expressed or absent in APL. We used flow cytometry immunophenotyping with an antibody panel including CD11a and CD18 to assess 36 APL and 33 other AML cases. HLA-DR, CD11a, and CD18 were absent in 81% of APL and 12% of other AML cases (specificity, 88%). By further including combinations of HLA-DR−, CD2+, and either CD11a− or CD18−, we identified 92% of APL cases with 85% specificity. These data compare favorably with the combination of HLA-DR−, CD34−, and CD117+ for APL diagnosis, which had a sensitivity of 64% in this study.
Separation of norepinephrine and its five major metabolites by paper chromatography

Abstract Over one-hundred solvent systems were tested on Whatman No. 1 paper and over fifty solvent systems were tested on silica gel loaded paper, cellulose phosphate paper, and carboxymethyl cellulose paper to find a method for separating norepinephrine and its five major metabolites. Although no single solvent system adequately separated all six compounds on any of the papers used, a number of solvents did separate the compounds into chemically related groups. Complete separation of all six compounds was obtained by chromatography in two different solvent systems on cellulose phosphate paper. n -Butanol—95% ethanol—water (I:I:I) separated norepinephrine from normetanephrine with virtually no interference from the deaminated metabolites. n -Butanol—pyridine—water (14:3:3) retained the amines at the origin and provided complete separation of the deaminated metabolites along the remainder of the paper. Very small amounts of sodium chloride increased the mobility of the amines on the cation-exchange papers.
Oxidative chemical recycling of polyethene

Abstract A system has been developed which utilizes nitrogen oxides and dioxygen to break down and oxidize polyethene. The principal nongaseous products are α,ω-diacids, mainly succinic, glutaric, adipic and pimelic acids. Product distributions were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography. Investigation into the manner in which the polyethene is oxidized and the nature of the product distributions is also reported. © 2000 Academie des sciences / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS
PTSD in the U.S. military, and the politics of prevalence

Despite the long-standing codification of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a mental disorder, the diagnosis is a controversial one whose legitimacy is at times disputed, particularly in U.S. military contexts (e.g., McNally and Frueh 2013; McNally, 2003, 2007). These disputes often manifest in a struggle over prevalence rates. Utilizing data from in-depth interviews and relying on situational analysis methodology (Clarke, 2005), I highlight this struggle in the wake of a decade of U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and Iraq. I focus on the objects of contestation employed by public officials, veterans' advocates, and researchers to make or refute claims about PTSD prevalence. These objects of contestation include the diagnostic category and criteria; screening tools, procedures, or systems; and the individuals who express symptoms of the disorder. Based on these claims, I make two key interrelated assertions. First, PTSD is viewed by some public officials as an overly generalized or invalid diagnostic category that is often induced in or falsified by veterans or servicemembers. As such, PTSD is perceived by these stakeholders to be over-diagnosed. Compounding these perceptions are beliefs that PTSD is costly and negatively impacts military duty performance, and thus overall manpower. Second, there exist perceptions, largely on the part of veterans' advocates but also some public officials, that many servicemembers and veterans are not seeking treatment (and thus, a diagnosis) when they experience symptoms of PTSD. Thus, PTSD is perceived by these stakeholders to be under-diagnosed. Paradoxically, some public officials make both claims: that PTSD is over-diagnosed and under-diagnosed. I conclude by exploring the implications of these findings.
The Effects of EDRF/NO Releasers or Calcium Ionophore A23187 on Cyanide Toxicity in Mice

Cyanide (CN) is a well-recognized poison whose complete actions are unclear. It has been shown that a vasoactive role may be partially responsible for the toxic effects of CN. Sodium nitrite, a known methemoglobin former and vasodilator, has been used to treat CN toxicity. It is rapidly transformed to nitric oxide (NO) which is thought to be endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). Since the literature suggests that NO can influence the biological effects of CN, studies were undertaken to determine if compounds known to release EDRF/NO will modify CN toxicity. Mice were administered a series of compounds which act through EDRF/NO release. These substances included, platelet-activating factor (PAF), hydralazine, bradykinin, histamine, calcium ionophore A23187, carbachol, or substance P at 0.060, 98.7, 50.0, 125, 1.0, 2.26, and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively. As a control,NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (NMA) 70 mg/kg, which inhibits NO synthesis, was administered to mice iv (tail vein) in combination with each test compound. All test compounds and NMA were administered prior to NaCN: NMA, 5 min; carbachol, 0.5 min; hydralazine, 0.5 min; bradykinin, 1 min; histamine, 1 min; substance P, 4 min; PAF, 5 min; and A23187, 5 min. Dose–response relationships were analyzed by probit dose–response methods and protective ratios for each compound were computed. Results suggest (i) that a portion of the action of CN is affected by a particular EDRF/NO-releasing compound, suggesting that each drug specifically affects regional EDRF/NO receptor sites, and (ii) that NO can play a role as a component in CN intoxication. It is suggested that CN does not act uniformly on all EDRF/NO receptor sites to produce toxicity and site-specific EDRF/NO agents may be useful for treating CN.
Geometric optimal control for symmetry breaking cost functions

We consider an optimal control problem defined on a Lie group whose associated Hamiltonian function is left-invariant under the action of a subgroup of the Lie group. Necessary conditions for optimality are derived using Lie-Poisson reduction for semidirect products, which allows us to study the Hamiltonian system in a space of lower dimension. Our main contribution is a reduced sufficient condition for optimality that relies on the nonexistence of conjugate points. We derive coordinate formulae for computing conjugate points in the reduced Hamiltonian system, and we relate these conjugate points to local optimality in the original optimal control problem. These conditions are applied to an optimal control problem that can be used to model either a kinematic airplane or a Kirchhoff elastic rod in a gravitational field.
Designing Forest Taxes with Varying Government Preferences and Budget Targets

Abstract A model of forest policy design is constructed to examine how government preferences affect the choice of forest taxes. Government preferences are modelled by assuming that the government faces a binding revenue constraint and cares about the provision of public goods from forests. The equilibrium is second best given the imposition of the revenue constraint on the government's decision making. Our results show that a revenue-constrained government will make different choices than a government that does not face revenue constraints. This has important implications for the choice of property and harvest taxes, as well as Pigouvian forest taxes.
Therapeutic alliance, illness awareness, and number of hospitalizations for schizophrenia.

While persons with multiple hospitalizations for schizo phrenia have been found to differ from those with fewer, it remains unclear whether differences exist in illness awareness (personal understanding of psychopathology) or therapeutic alliance with inpatient staff (treatment involvement). This cross-sectional descriptive study therefore examined whether inpatients with more extensive hospitalization history 1) have less illness awareness and therapeutic alliance (perhaps contributing to the recidivism), 2) have more awareness and alliance (possibly because they have learned from experience), or 3) do not differ relative to persons with fewer inpatient stays. Results from staff and patient interviews (N = 307) suggest that illness awareness is greater in persons with more hospitalizations, while therapeutic alliance appears to weaken. Individuals with greater recidivism may therefore need less help than others in building a self-knowledge of psychopathology that may already have developed. Instead, enhanced engagement in care may be more important after multiple disappointing relapses.
Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment of Milk on Its Proteolysis by Pseudomonas fluorescens

Abstract Since hydrogen peroxide treatment of milk is known to modify milk proteins, investigation was made of the process as a possible means of increasing proteolysis by Pseudomonas fluorescens . Reconstituted nonfat dry milk was treated with the peroxide (to give a 1% concentration) and catalase. After autoclaving, the reconstituted milk was inoculated with P. fluorescens and incubated at 25C for 14 days. Undigested protein was precipitated at pH 4.6. Hydrogen peroxide treatment did not affect the gross composition of the reconstituted milk. After proteolysis the supernatants from hydrogen peroxide–treated lots had higher ninhydrin values and protein equivalents than controls. Also, the weights of undigested precipitate were less than half those from control lots and the per cent protein equivalent lower. In the peroxide-treated samples the per cent ash and carbohydrate increased in approximate proportion to the decrease in protein equivalent. Removal of cellular material greatly reduced ash and carbohydrate content of the precipitate, but had little effect on the per cent protein equivalent. As shown by weights and composition of undigested precipitates, it is evident that hydrogen peroxide treatment of reconstituted milk increased proteolysis by P. fluorescens . It is speculated that the retarding of heat-induced complexing between κ -casein and β -lactoglobulin by the peroxide treatment facilitated subsequent microbial hydrolysis.
Is the Fisher effect robust? Further evidence

New international evidence exists on the Fisher effect in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and Canada over the modern (post-March 1973) floating exchange rate experience. Some puzzling data has been observed which suggests that the Fisher effect appears to be strong only for particular sample periods. It has also been reported in the literature that the Fisher effect is more likely in the long run, and that it is not common across economic regimes. This study sheds some light on these controversial issues taking advantage of more powerful tests for unit roots and cointegration. The findings for the Fisher effect contrast with previous results, especially those of Mishkin. The empirical results appear to accord with historical observations on interest rate movements in the five countries. Some important results are as follows: (1) the Fisher effect is not robust to policy changes; (2) there is strong evidence of a long-run Fisher effect for the United States, Germany, and Japan, but li...
Intrinsic priors for testing exponential means

In Bayesian model selection or testing problems of different dimensions, one cannot utilize standard or default noninformative priors, since these priors are typically improper and are defined only up to arbitrary constants. The resulting Bayes factors are not well defined. A recently proposed model selection criterion called the intrinsic Bayes factor, overcomes such problems by using a data-splitting idea. Furthermore, the intrinsic Bayes factors are asymptotically equal to the ordinary Bayes factors computed by some reasonable proper priors called intrinsic priors. Several intrinsic priors are derived for testing the equality of two independent exponential means. We demonstrate our results with a simulated dataset.
Does Lower Limb Revascularization Result in an Improvement in Sensory Perception Thresholds

Patients with peripheral vascular disease are susceptible to neuropathy from chronic hypoxia. We wished to determine whether revascularization of chronically ischemic limbs results in any clinical changes in peripheral sensory thresholds. We prospectively measured quantitative vibration perception thresholds (VPT) using a Horwell neurothesiometer (in volts) in patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass, preoperatively and up to 6 month postoperatively. The bypassed limbs' preoperative VPT values were higher (lesser sensory perception) than the contralateral control limbs' preoperative values (mean score differences: 6 +/- 2 and 4 +/- 10 at toe and foot levels respectively; p ? 0.004). Preoperative VPT values were not different from the 6-month postoperative values for the revascularized legs at toe and foot levels for all 55 patients (mean score change of ?0.84 and ?1.32, p > 0.5). The contralateral limbs' VPT values did not change significantly over the 6-month period (mean change scores of 2.9, p > 0.15, and 2, p > 0.30, for toe and foot, respectively). A comparison of preoperative values between limbs that were eventually amputated and saved revealed no statistically significant differences. This study suggests that revascularization does not result in a clinically detectable improvement in sensory neuropathy. It may, however, prevent further degradation. The degree of preoperative neuropathy does not affect outcome in terms of limb salvage.
Using the Computer for Content Analysis

New software for the microcomputer makes formal content analysis a more accessible methodology for generating quantitative data from documents. An early program, The General Inquirer, is briefly reviewed. Four other alternatives, the use of concordances, word processing programs, software written exclusively for content analysis, and relational Data Base Management Systems (DBMS) are presented. One application of a DBMS program, DataEase, is reviewed in more detail as a program the authors have found particularly satisfactory.
Applying critical potential data to avoid stress corrosion cracking of metals

Available data are assembled on the critical potentials for various metal-environment systems below which stress corrosion cracking (SCC) does not occur. Such data can be used practically to avoid SCC by use of cathodic polarization, inhibiting ions or by employing galvanic couples. The slow drift of the corrosion potential before coincidence with the critical potential explains in part the observed induction times for SCC. The relative positions of the two potentials with respect to each other explains the susceptibility or resistance to SCC of various metals in a variety of chemical media. Several models proposed to explain the SCC mechanism are reviewed in the light of the present evidence.
Summary of the preceding three alopecia areata research summits: what's past is prologue.

Abbreviations: AA, alopecia areata; NAAF, National Alopecia Areata Foundation; NAAR, National Alopecia Areata Registry
Spin-polarizing properties of the InAs/(AlSb)/GaMnSb/(AlSb)/InAs ferromagnetic resonant interband tunneling diode

We theoretically investigate the low-temperature spin-dependent current-voltage characteristics of the ferromagnetic resonant interband tunneling diode (FRITD). The simulations are based on a transmission formulation of the effective bond-orbital method (EBOM), which self-consistently includes both the electrostatic potential and the magnetic exchange interaction. Despite negligible spin splitting in the InAs emitter and collector regions, this type-II InAs/(AlSb)/GaMnSb/(AlSb)/InAs structure can function either as a source of spin-polarized electrons, whose polarity depends on the applied bias, or as a spin valve. For unpolarized emitter electrons, the spin polarization of carriers transmitted to the collector can be as high as \ensuremath{\approx}90%. We consider both thicker-well structures, in which the interband tunneling occurs primarily via light-hole-like states, and thinner-well devices whose transport is dominated by heavy-hole transitions. Since the maximum FRITD operating temperature is limited primarily by the Curie temperature in the GaMnSb hole quantum well, the same favorable device performance may be achievable at 77 K by employing the digital incorporation of Mn into the center of a GaSb hole well.
It takes CK2 to suppress TH2

Optimal immunosuppression by regulatory T cells (Treg cells) relies on gene-expression and signaling modules that are customized to the target cell. The kinase CK2 is upregulated in Treg cells and controls a newly identified Treg cell subset that acts on dendritic cells to suppress T helper type 2 inflammatory responses in the lungs.
Distribution transformer load management system

This paper proposes a new and novel design of what is been named an Advanced Smart House Energy Management System. The physical system consists of a distribution transformer, the service drop and a residential house. The management system consists of an advanced infrastructure that exploits state of the art technologies such as Distributed State Estimation, smart appliances, electro-thermal models of important components, and optimization. The state estimation uses a physically based modeling approach for each component of the system; coupled with utilization of GPS synchronized measurements it provides the real time model of the system under consideration with a time tag that indicates the time at which the model was captured. This approach has two advantages: (a) it provides a high fidelity model of the transformer and residential house that is utilized for the management of the house loads and loading of the transformer, and (b) the model can be used with other similar models of residential house by upstream management systems that can construct the model of many residential loads by synthesizing the models of the house of identical time tags. The management of more than one house is beyond the scope of this paper. The proposed management system can perform advanced applications such as house peak load reduction as well as distribution transformer hot spot temperature drop. In addition, the proposed system facilitates the implementation of other state of the art application such as Setting-Less Protection, automation and integration of the system, and self-healing. This paper presents a simplified system with preliminary results. The simplified system is expected to be further developed to include all major parts of the system.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF INTERNAL FRICTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE MELTING OF EMBEDDED PARTICLES

Abstract Internal friction associated with the volume change during melting was studied in an aluminum-16 wt% indium alloy. This alloy was processed to obtain microstructures consisting of nominally pure indium inclusions embedded in an aluminum matrix. Two sharp internal friction peaks were observed near the indium melting temperature of 156°C and both were associated with the formation and growth of liquid nuclei. A general theoretical model for the internal friction was developed which incorporates both the rates of phase deformation and the relaxation of the surrounding matrix. The proposed model considers the effect of the hydrostatic stress generated during melting that initially opposes the transformation. Matrix relaxation around the transforming particles resulting from vacancy flux and dislocation climb contributes an additional frequency dependence to the internal friction. Both the matrix relaxation and the internal friction peak height were found to be dependent upon thermomechanical processing.
Particle partitioning potential of organic compounds is highest in the Eastern US and driven by anthropogenic water

Abstract. Gas-phase water-soluble organic matter (WSOM g ) is ubiquitous in the troposphere. In the summertime, the potential for these gases to partition to particle-phase liquid water (H 2 O ptcl ) where they can form secondary organic aerosol (SOA AQ ) is high in the Eastern US and low elsewhere, with the exception of an area near Los Angeles, CA. This spatial pattern is driven by mass concentrations of H 2 O ptcl , not WSOM g . H 2 O ptcl mass concentrations are predicted to be high in the Eastern US, largely due to sulfate. The ability of sulfate to increase H 2 O ptcl is well established and routinely included in atmospheric models; however WSOM g partitioning to this water and subsequent SOA formation is not. The high mass concentrations of H 2 O ptcl in the southeast (SE) US but not the Amazon may help explain why biogenic SOA mass concentrations are high in the SE US but low in the Amazon. Furthermore, during the summertime in the Eastern US, the potential for organic gases to partition into liquid water is greater than their potential to partition into organic matter (OM) because concentrations of WSOM g and H 2 O ptcl are higher than semi-volatile gases and OM. Thus, unless condensed phase yields are substantially different (> ~ order of magnitude), we expect that SOA formed through aqueous-phase pathways (SOA AQ ) will dominate in the Eastern US. These findings also suggest that H 2 O ptcl is largely anthropogenic and provide a previously unrecognized mechanism by which anthropogenic pollutants impact the amount of SOA mass formed from biogenic organic emissions. The previously reported estimate of the controllable fraction of biogenic SOA in the Eastern US (50%) is likely too low.
The critical rupture thickness of thin water films on hydrophobic surfaces

Abstract From the Newton rings formed between an air bubble and a plate immersed in aqueous solutions, the thickness of the intervening water film can be determined. Using this technique, the critical thickness at which the film ruptures has been measured. The results obtained using methylated fused-silica as a model hydrophobic solid show that the critical rupture thickness increases with increasing degree of methylation. In solutions of dodecylamine hydrochloride, the rupture thickness of the water film on both fused-silica and mica plates increases with increasing concentration. The rupture thickness also increases with increasing pH of the amine solution, reaching a maximum at pH 9–9.5, where the adsorption is most favored. The rupture thickness measured in the present work show a reasonable correlation with the work of adhesion determined from contact angle measurements.
Teaching wireless security for results

Wireless networking, and especially wireless security, has become an increasingly important area of study for our students. To this end, we have developed a third course in our wireless sequence called Security of Wireless Networks. We have provided the students with a fast paced and interesting lab environment in which they can deploy the various techniques they have learned in lecture. To ensure that the students obtain what is necessary to survive as a wireless networking professional, we have been teaching both traditional and emerging security concepts.This wireless security course is divided into three separate phases. With each successive phase, the tools and techniques list grows, resulting in stronger defenses against network attacks. One of the best techniques to ensure that students are prepared to defend networks is to allow them to see through the hackers' eyes. As they move through the course, they must launch their own attacks. In this way, they learn what works and what does not, gaining in-depth understanding about the attack/risk and the defense/response. As their skills grow, they install defenses of increasing complexity while defending against increasingly sophisticated attacks. Students are rewarded for successful attacks and successful defenses.By adopting a team-based, attack/defend approach, we ensure that the students understand the threats and deploy appropriate defenses while being supported by their peers. After each phase, the teams give a presentation regarding their techniques so that everyone benefits maximally from the exercise. By using phases, we can differentiate between levels of responses and process the previous results to better absorb the experience and material. Our innovative teaching approach ensures that they develop the vital abilities demanded by the industry. This paper will describe the course content, methodologies, experiences, structure and demonstrated results.
Extravesical ureteral ectopia.

Summary Nine cases of extravesical ureteralorifice are reported. The embryology, symptomatology, and clinical picture are described. The necessity for complete urological study in cases of incontinence or pyuria is emphasized, especially incontinence associated with normal voiding.
Resonant Raman scattering in trigonal HgS

Abstract Resonant Raman effects have been measured in α-HgS over a range of temperatures, 77–300 K. The resonant behavior was successfully modeled with a semi-classical harmonic oscillator and the results show that the deformation potential is temperature dependent. The rate of increase of deformation potential with temperature was found to be approximately 7 × 10 −4 K −1 which is consistent with the strong temperature dependence of the bandgap in HgS.
Discrimination of Bacteria and Bacteriophages by Raman Spectroscopy and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Detection of pathogenic organisms in the environment presents several challenges due to the high cost and long times typically required for identification and quantification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods are often hindered by the presence of polymerase inhibiting compounds and so direct methods of quantification that do not require enrichment or amplification are being sought. This work presents an analysis of pathogen detection using Raman spectroscopy to identify and quantify microorganisms without drying. Confocal Raman measurements of the bacterium Escherichia coli and of two bacteriophages, MS2 and PRD1, were analyzed for characteristic peaks and to estimate detection limits using traditional Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). MS2, PRD1, and E. coli produced differentiable Raman spectra with approximate detection limits for PRD1 and E. coli of 109 pfu/mL and 106 cells/mL, respectively. These high detection concentration limits are partly due to the small sampling volume of the confocal system but translate to quantification of as little as 100 bacteriophages to generate a reliable spectral signal. SERS increased signal intensity 103 fold and presented peaks that were visible using 2-second acquisitions; however, peak locations and intensities were variable, as typical with SERS. These results demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy and SERS have potential as a pathogen monitoring platform.
A New Species of Weasel (Mustela) from the Highlands of Colombia, with Comments on the Evolution and Distribution of South American Weasels

A new species of Mustela , subgenus Grammogale , is described. It is characterized by dark, uniform dorsal coloration, reduced anterior premolars, and a wide mesopterygoid fossa. a range extension is recorded for Mustela africana , and an overall evolutionary scheme for the three Neotropical species of Mustela is proposed.
Ideological Language in the Transformation of Identity

Christians who have undergone conversion experiences usually claim that the experience has not only strengthened their religious commitment, it has in addition transformed their lives. The idea that a person may be transformed through using a set of symbols (called an “ideology” here) is not limited to Christianity; many ideologies make similar claims. Using the example of the conversion experience, I argue that ideologies may indeed create a sense of self-transformation in the subject. This sense arises out of the fact that the subject is able to use the ideological language to resolve enduring problems of meaning in his or her life. Such problems are not, however, resolved once and for all; rather, the discourse of informants reveals that self-transformation is an ongoing process wherein ideological language is used to express and come to terms with persisting emotional ambivalence.
Calcium phosphate nanoparticles with an asymmetric lipid bilayer coating for siRNA delivery to the tumor

Calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles (NP) with an asymmetric lipid bilayer coating have been designed for targeted delivery of siRNA to the tumor. An anionic lipid, dioleoylphosphatydic acid (DOPA), was employed as the inner leaflet lipid to coat the nano-size CaP cores, which entrap the siRNA, such that the coated cores were soluble in organic solvent. A suitable neutral or cationic lipid was used as the outer leaflet lipid to form an asymmetric lipid bilayer structure verified by the measurement of NP zeta potential. The resulting NP was named LCP-II with a size of about 25 to 30nm in diameter and contained a hollow core as revealed by TEM imaging. PEGylation of NP was done by including a PEG-phospholipid conjugate, with or without a targeting ligand anisamide, in the outer leaflet lipid mixture. The sub-cellular distribution studied in the sigma receptor positive human H460 lung cancer cells indicated that LCP-II could release more cargo to the cytoplasm than our previous lipid/protamine/DNA (LPD) formulation, leading to a significant (~40 fold in vitro and ~4 fold in vivo) improvement in siRNA delivery. Bio-distribution study showed that LCP-II required more PEGylation for MPS evasion than the previous LPD, probably due to increased surface curvature in LCP-II.
Introductory Nanotechnology Courses: Experiences of an Educator

The demand for trained professionals in the area of Nanotechnology is increasing as the technology is getting commercialized . Among other regions, the north-eastern United States (the states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut) is noticing a quick rise of Nanotechnology and related businesses. Some of these businesses are currently in the process of moving the technology from the lab to the market place and are in need of engineers (Bachelors and Masters level) to achieve this goal. An undergraduate course (Nanoscale Sciences) and a graduate level course (Introduction to Nanotechnology) was offered to Engineering and Science students in the 2004-2005 academic year at the University of New Haven to educate such professionals. A few local Nanotechnology business aided in developing the curriculum and shared resources with the students. The undergraduate course was an overview of Nanotechnology with an emphasis on Nanomaterials. The Graduate course was targeted for Electrical and Computer Engineers with an emphasis on Nanodevices.
Learning from (failed) replications: Cognitive load manipulations and charitable giving

Abstract Replication of empirical studies is much more than a tool to police the field. Failed replications force us to recognize that seemingly arbitrary design features may impact results in important ways. We describe a study that used a cognitive load manipulation to investigate the role of the deliberative system in charitable giving and a set of failed replications of that study. While the original study showed large and statistically significant results, we failed to replicate using the same protocol and the same subject pool. After the first failed replication, we hypothesized that the order our study was taken in a set of unrelated studies in a laboratory session generated the differences in effects. Three more replication attempts supported this hypothesis. The study demonstrates the importance of replication in advancing our understanding of the mechanisms driving a particular result and it questions the robustness of results established by cognitive load tests.