cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Portrait of the Opportunist as Circus Acrobat: Félicien Champsaur's Entrée de clowns

Abstract (E): Felicien Champsaur's collection of short stories, Entree de clowns (1886) features a multitude of illustrations by almost three dozen artists. Few fin-de-siecle works were illustrated as extensively. Some scholars consider this work as representative of an aesthetic transition involving a more integrated fusion of graphic art with literature. But, while the title promises a narrative with the circus as its milieu, the composition is quite non-circus related, assuming strictly formal values through the iconography. In the context of the title, therefore, the illustrations could only serve a performative function, an idea supported by the preface's claims to reproduce a circus program's organization with a topsy-turvy entrance of clowns introducing each number. A closer examination of Champsaur's use of illustrations in this collection reveals, however, that he seized on and exploited an avant-garde icon (the clown) and its iconography, banking on familiarity with this icon in order to manufacture an avant-garde persona for himself, and capitalizing on marketing strategies to promote and sell his work. Abstract (F): On trouve dans le recueil de recits courts Entree de clowns (1886) de Felicien Champsaur une multitude d'illustrations par une trentaine d'artistes. Bien peu d'œuvres fin-de-siecle contenaient autant d'illustrations. Certains interpretent cette œuvre comme representative d'une transition esthetique offrant une fusion plus integree de l'art graphique et de la litterature. Mais, tout en promettant un texte avec le cirque comme milieu, la composition (hors les valeurs formelles de l'iconographie) n'a aucun rapport avec le cirque. Dans le contexte du titre, alors, les illustrations ne pourraient avoir qu'une fonction performative, une idee appuyee par la preface qui pretend reproduire un programme de cirque avec une entree de clowns chaotique precedant chaque numero. Un examen plus approfondi de l'usage que Champsaur fait des illustrations revele, pourtant, qu'il s'est approprie et a exploite une figure de l'avant-garde (le clown) et son iconographie, comptant sur la familiarite de cette figure pour fabriquer une image d'avant-garde pour lui-meme et, se servant de strategies marketing pour faire valoir et vendre ses œuvres.
Automatic facial expression recognition with AAM-Based feature extraction and SVM classifier

In this paper, an effective method is proposed for automatic facial expression recognition from static images. First, a modified Active Appearance Model (AAM) is used to locate facial feature points automatically. Then, based on this, facial feature vector is formed. Finally, SVM classifier with a sample selection method is adopted for expression classification. Experimental results on the JAFFE database demonstrate an average recognition rate of 69.9% for novel expressers, showing that the proposed method is promising.
Domestic Space in Classical Antiquity: Housing and cultural identity: Delos, between Greece and Rome

Cleopatra, daughter of Adrastus of Myrrhinous, set up this image of her husband Dioscorides, son of Theodorus of Myrrhinous, who dedicated the two Delphic tripods of silver by each doorpost in the temple of Apollo, in the archonship of Timarchus at Athens. Inscriptions de Delos 1987, inscribed on a statue-base in House iii .1, Theatre Quarter, Delos, 138/137 bce All societies have culturally acceptable uses of domestic space. Pader 1997, 72 INTRODUCTION In or about the year 138/137 bce , on the island of Delos, the sculpted portraits of a woman and a man were set up inside a house in an old residential neighbourhood of the main town (Plate 4.1). The figures are made of white marble and are depicted at life-size. Now missing their heads, each one poses in a manner comparable with other images of this period. He has his right arm crooked under the folds of a himation or robe – a stance used in Greek civic and funerary sculpture since the fourth century bce . She is pulling tight a thin shawl to reveal the folds of a thicker dress beneath, in a manner popular in sculpted figures of women from the third and second centuries bce . An inscription on the statue-base, written in Greek, identifies the couple and is quoted above. It refers to a gift made to the famous temple of the god Apollo on Delos, by Dioscorides, son of Theodorus, who came from the community of Myrrhinous (modern Merenda) in the territory of Athens.
The problem of sustainable groundwater management: the case of La Mancha aquifers, Spain

Gisser and Sanchez (Water Resour Res 16(4):638–642, 1980) compared two different strategies to manage aquifers: “free market” and policy regulation. They stated that the outcome of both is practically the same, and that policy regulation could not improve social welfare. This study challenges this argument by analyzing the management strategies in two large aquifers located in southern Spain, the Eastern La Mancha and the Western La Mancha aquifers. The appeal of this case stems from the fact that management of the Eastern La Mancha aquifer is almost sustainable. In stark contrast, its neighboring Western La Mancha aquifer is being grossly mismanaged. The results engage two major questions from previous groundwater literature. The first question is whether or not aquifer management requires policy intervention. The answer depends upon the consideration and magnitude of environmental damages in the model. The second question addresses the nature of groundwater policies. The contrast in management outcomes between the Western and the Eastern La Mancha aquifers is related to the different types of policy instruments implemented for each aquifer. The results of these policies underline the importance of nurturing the stakeholders’ collective action under the appropriate institutional setting.
In Appreciation¶Remembering Max Dresden (1918 - 1997)

Max Dresden (1918-1997) was born in Amsterdam and received his higher education at the Universities of Amsterdam, Leiden, and Michigan, where he received his Ph.D. degree in 1946. He spent his professional career at the University of Kansas (1946-1957), Northwestern University (1957-1960), the University of Iowa (1960-1964), and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook (1964-1989), and in his retirement he was a visiting scientist at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) and a consulting professor in history of physics at Stanford University. His broad interests and oratorical skills made him a leader at each of the institutions he served. He was an extraordinary teacher. He supervised the theses of 62 Ph.D. students, displaying to them his personal warmth, intellectual generosity, and profound understanding of physics. At Stony Brook he won a distinguished teaching award not once but four times. He lectured tirelessly to a broad range of audiences and traveled widely, spreading Stony Brook's name and attracting graduate students to the university. I knew him both as a student and colleague for thirty years, and I will recount some of my memories of him. I also will quote from letters I received from a number of his other students and colleagues to convey a sense of his life and work.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidence for the Expression of Interleukin-33 and Its Receptor ST2 in the Brain

Inflammatory responses are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a member of IL-1 family, is constitutively expressed in the central nervous system and thought to be an important mediator of glial cell response to neuropathological lesions. Proinflammatory molecules are highly expressed at the vicinity of amyloid plaques (APs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), the hallmarks of AD pathology. We have investigated the expression of IL-33 and ST2 in relation to APs and NFTs in human AD and non-AD control brains by immunohistochemistry. Sections from the entorhinal cortex, where APs and NFTs appear in early stages of AD, were used for immunohistochemistry. Mouse primary astrocytes were cultured and incubated with amyloid-β1-42 (Aβ1-42), component of plaque for 72 h and analyzed for the expression of IL-33 by flow cytometry. We found strong expression of IL-33 and ST2 in the vicinity of Aβ and AT8 labelled APs and NFTs respectively, and in the glial cells in AD brains when compared to non-AD control brains. IL-33 and ST2 positive cells were also significantly increased in AD brains when compared to non-AD brains. Flow cytometric analysis revealed incubation of mouse astrocytes with Aβ1-42 increased astrocytic IL-33 expression in vitro. These results suggest that IL-33, an alamin cytokine, may induce inflammatory molecule release from the glial cells and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.
Chapter 4 Permeabilized Cell Models for Studying Chromosome Movement in Dividing PtK1 Cell

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the permeabilized cell models for studying chromosome movement in dividing PtK cells. PtK cells are utilized for making permeabilized cell models because their size and morphology is well suited for studying mitosis. These cells are large for tissue culture cells, and have metaphase spindles that are over 10 μm long. It is found that although the cells change shape and thicken as they enter mitosis, dividing cells do not round up to the same extent as most other cells. It is observed that although the PtK, cell line is considered to be stable, a significant proportion of these cells appear to be polyploid or have abnormal mitotic spindles. The easiest way to recognize abnormal spindle morphology is to examine dividing cells with polarization optics. The phase and Nomarski appearance of the cells after lysis are not greatly altered. Immediately after lysis, the rod-shaped mitochondria round up and appear to fragment. The density of staining of the ground substance is similar in lysed and unlysed cells, and microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules are present in both classes of cells. The other membranous organelles in the permeabilized cell do not appear to be noticeably disrupted, although the mitochondria are swollen and the cristae distorted.
Simulating DIC microscope images: from physical principles to a computational model

Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy is a powerful visualization tool to study live biological cells. Its use in quantitative analysis, however, is limited by the nonlinear relation between image and object. Combining concepts from graphics and physics, we model these nonlinearities using a generalized ray tracer. We verify our model by comparing real image data of manufactured specimens to simulated images of virtual objects. We plan to use this model to iteratively reconstruct the three-dimensional properties of unknown specimens.
Reliability of Urine Temperature as a Measurement of Basal Body Temperature

Natural family planning is based on the recognition of physiologic signs and symptoms that identify fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. Identification of the onset of the infertile period can be determined when the upward shift in basal body temperature (BBT) has occurred. A study was conducted to determine if the temperature of the first-morning voided urine adequately represents BBT. In 22 subjects, vaginal temperature, taken immediately upon awakening, was compared with first-morning voided urine temperature as measured continuously by thermocouples mounted in either of two flow-through devices attached to a toilet bowl. A significant correlation was found between the two temperatures. The convenience and hygiene of the method together with the reliability of urine temperature as an estimator of BBT could reduce the generally high rate of noncompliance of women choosing this natural method of family planning.
Do targets limit antibiotic discovery

An integrative approach highlights the challenge of identifying new antibiotic drug targets.
A structural stress definition and numerical implementation for fatigue analysis of welded joints

A mesh-size insensitive structural stress definition is presented in this paper. The structural stress definition is consistent with elementary structural mechanics theory and provides an effective measure of a stress state that pertains to fatigue behavior of welded joints in the form of both membrane and bending components. Numerical procedures for both solid models and shell or plate element models are presented to demonstrate the mesh-size insensitivity in extracting the structural stress parameter. Conventional finite element models can be directly used with the structural stress calculation as a post-processing procedure. To further illustrate the effectiveness of the present structural stress procedures, a collection of existing weld S-N data for various joint types were processed using the current structural stress procedures. The results strongly suggests that weld classification based S-N curves can be significantly reduced into possibly a single master S-N curve, in which the slope of the S-N curve is determined by the relative composition of the membrane and bending components of the structural stress parameter. The effects of membrane and bending on S-N behaviors can be addressed by introducing an equivalent stress intensity factor based parameter using the structural stress components. Among other things, the two major implications are: (a) structural stresses pertaining to weld fatigue behavior can be consistently calculated in a mesh-insensitive manner regardless of types of finite element models; (b) transferability of weld S-N test data, regardless of welded joint types and loading modes, can be established using the structural stress based parameters.
Comparative in vivo studies with paclitaxel and liposome-encapsulated paclitaxel.

Our study was designed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of liposome-encapsulated paclitaxel (LET) in comparison to conventional paclitaxel. In normal mice, LET was much less toxic than the conventional drug. A dose of 32.5 mg/kg of conventional paclitaxel administered i.v. on three consecutive days produced 100% mortality by day three, while liposomal paclitaxel exhibited no mortality. The control group which received Diluent 12 (Chremophor EL and ethanol; 1:1 v/v), a vehicle used in conventional paclitaxel, 30% mortality was observed at this dosage level. In murine ascitic L1210 leukemia model, liposomal paclitaxel and conventional paclitaxel showed comparable antitumor activity. The pharmacokinetics of conventional paclitaxel and LET was studied in mice at dose levels of 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg. After intravenous administration of conventional paclitaxel at a dose of 5 mg/kg, the area under the plasma-concentration-time curve (AUC) was 2-fold lower and, the elimination half-life was 2-times shorter compared to LET. At a dose of 20 mg/kg, the terminal half-lives were comparable, however, conventional paclitaxel displayed non-linear pharmacokinetics with disproportionate increase in AUC. At the two dose levels studied, LET demonstrated linear kinetics. Tissue distribution of paclitaxel after administration of LET showed levels 10-fold higher in spleen and 3.5-fold higher in liver as compared to conventional paclitaxel. The significant decrease in toxicity shown by LET, coupled with an increase in plasma AUC and half-life indicates that LET may be a viable alternative to the therapeutic use of the conventional preparation of paclitaxel.
Effect of Age Changes on the Premitotic Index in the Periodontium of Mice

Comparative autoradiographic studies of the periodontium of 60- and 300-day-old mice show that young mice not only have a greater number of cells but also a greater number of regenerable cells than do old mice. The time required for cells to double in number is less in the young mouse.
TraY proteins of F and related episomes are members of the Arc and Mnt repressor family

Abstract Amino acid changes known to be structurally allowed in Arc repressor were used to aid in the identification of proteins with sequence similarity to Arc and the related Mnt repressor. The sequences of the TraY proteins from the F episome and related episomes were found to he similar to those of Arc and Mnt.
Differential Geometric Estimation for spacecraft formations orbits via a cooperative wireless positioning

The estimation of relative and absolute positions of spacecraft in a formation, using a novel wireless local positioning system (WLPS), is addressed. 1 2 The WLPS enables one spacecraft to measure another spacecraft's relative position vector. The Differential Geometric Filter is implemented to estimate the absolute and relative positions of the spacecraft in the formation. Two different scenarios are studied: (1) the observations include WLPS measurements only, and (2) the observations include WLPS measurements in addition to measurements for the absolute position of one spacecraft. Results show that the Differential Geometric Filter provides a fast covergence rate and stable estimation.
Catechol boronate formation and its electrochemical oxidation

The reversible boronate formation between electrochemically active substituted catechols and a fluorescent boronic acid was studied in methanol.
Effects of Two Sediment Size-Classes on Survival of Steelhead and Chinook Salmon Eggs

Abstract We compared, in the laboratory, egg survival, and alevin and fry size of steelhead Oncorhyncus mykiss (formerly Salmo gairdneri) and chinook salmon O. tshawytscha after incubations in 16 mixtures of two distinct size-classes of sediment. Fine sediments were less than 0.84 mm in diameter, and coarse sediments were 0.84–4.6 mm in diameter. We incubated recently fertilized and eyed steelhead eggs and chinook salmon eggs in Whitlock–Vibert boxes placed in controlled-flow channels. Egg survival in both sediment types was inversely related to the percentage of sediments within the incubation gravel; the poorest survival occurred in fine sediments. Percentage egg survival was positively related to intragravel water velocities, which ranged from 36 to 1,550 cm/h. No definitive relationship was found between sediment size and concentration, and alevin and fry quality. Overall, our results indicated that different sizes and mixtures of sediment can affect egg survival differently. The results confirmed tha...
Performance Analysis of Solar Chimneys of Different Physical Scales Using CFD

The available power of a solar chimney power plant (SCPP) is investigated based on axi-symmetric simulations that are carried out with Ansys Fluent. Different combinations of tower height and collector radius are investigated. The simulations show that the available power is proportional to the product of tower height and collector area. This scaling law holds for a wide parameter range, even for relatively disparate ratios of tower height and collector diameter. Three different turbulence models are employed for the calculations of the large power plants. Results obtained with a Reynolds stress model are found to be most accurate. In addition, experiments with an instrumented laboratory scale model are conducted. Temperature measurements obtained from this model are found to compare well with the simulation data.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Bacterial biofilms on the sinus mucosa of human subjects with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common disease poorly controlled by antibiotics. Postulated etiologies of CRS include allergy, fungi, functional factors, and biofilm. Objectives: We presented a preliminary study demonstrating bacterial biofilms' presence on the sinus mucosa of patients with CRS using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The advantage of FISH in biofilm identification is that it is the only method that identifies the specific bacteria creating the biofilm matrix. We now present the results of a larger series of patients. Methods: Patients with CRS scheduled for sinus surgery were enrolled in the study. Biopsies of the sinus mucosa and cultures were taken at the time of surgery. Control samples were taken from patients undergoing septoplasty. Specimens underwent FISH testing for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenza, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results: Bacterial biofilms were present on 14 of 18 specimens. The predominant species were H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus. P. aeruginosa biofilm was not identified on any specimens. The intraoperative cultures of the planktonic bacteria present in the sinuses did not correlate with the biofilms identified. Two of the five control samples were positive for biofilm. Conclusion: The presence of biofilms on the mucosa of patients with CRS offers a possible cause of antimicrobial therapy failure and could change the approach to treatment. However, the presence of biofilms on healthy control samples implies that biofilms may simply be colonizers. The precise role that biofilms play in CRS still remains to be determined. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed.
WATER QUALITY AND URBANIZATION IN LATIN AMERICA

(1990). WATER QUALITY AND URBANIZATION IN LATIN AMERICA. Water International: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 3-14.
Determination of Selected Rare Earth Elements in 37 International Geochemical Reference Materials by Instrumental Thermal Neutron Capture Prompt Gamma ‐ Ray Spectrometry

The nuclear and instrumental parameters for the determination of rare earth elements (REE) via thermal neutron capture prompt gamme-ray spectrometry are examined. Gamma-ray sensitivity tables adjusted for elemental abundance are presented. Only Gd and Sm can be readily measured in rocks with normal REE concentrations. Data are reported for 37 international reference samples.
An experimental analog to two‐party bargaining

Collective bargaining is a key element in the functioning of our economic system. The patterns of wages and working conditions established in union-management agreements spread throughout the economy. The structure and level of prices and the allocation of resources respond to cost and income patterns that have been determined through the bargaining process. It is difficult to isolate the independent effects of unionization and bargaining power on wages and working conditions, and it may be true that in the long run the economic and political environment determines the outcome of labor negotiations. However, in the short run the terms of employment and the economic variables which react to them are dependent on the outcome of collective bargaining. The bargaining behavior of union and management representatives and the outcome of their negotiations reflect the complex institutional and economic environment within which negotiations take place. In view of the importance of the economic decisions which are made through the process of collective bargaining, we should know more about the impact of the environment on the process and results of negotiations. This study uses an experimental technique to study the effects of some interesting environmental variables on 2-party bargaining.
Interaction of Turing and Hopf modes in the superdiffusive Brusselator model

Abstract Long-wave stability of spatiotemporal patterns near a codimension-2 Turing–Hopf point of the one-dimensional superdiffusive Brusselator model is analyzed. The superdiffusive Brusselator model differs from its regular counterpart in that the Laplacian operator of the regular model is replaced by ∂ α / ∂ | ξ | α , 1 α 2 , an integro-differential operator that reflects the nonlocal behavior of superdiffusion. The order of the operator, α , is a measure of the rate of superdiffusion, which, in general, can be different for each of the two components. We first find the basic (spatially homogeneous, time independent) solution and study its linear stability, determining both Turing and Hopf instabilities, as well as a point at which both instabilities occur simultaneously. We then employ a weakly nonlinear stability analysis to derive two coupled amplitude equations describing the slow time evolution of the Turing and Hopf modes. We seek special solutions of the amplitude equations: a pure Turing solution, a pure Hopf solution, and a mixed mode solution, and analyze their stability to long-wave perturbations. We find that the stability criteria of all three solutions depend strongly on the superdiffusion rates. Also, when compared to the regular model and depending on specific values of the orders of the operators, the effect of anomalous diffusion may change the stability characteristics of the special solutions.
C5a alters blood-brain barrier integrity in experimental lupus

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial anatomic location in the brain. Its dysfunction complicates many neurodegenerative diseases, from acute conditions, such as sepsis, to chronic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Several studies suggest an altered BBB in lupus, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the current study, we observed a definite loss of BBB integrity in MRL/MpJ-Tnfrsf6lpr (MRL/lpr) lupus mice by IgG infiltration into brain parenchyma. In line with this result, we examined the role of complement activation, a key event in this setting, in maintenance of BBB integrity. Complement activation generates C5a, a molecule with multiple functions. Because the expression of the C5a receptor (C5aR) is significantly increased in brain endothelial cells treated with lupus serum, the study focused on the role of C5a signaling through its G-protein-coupled receptor C5aR in brain endothelial cells, in a lupus setting. Reactive oxygen species production increased significantly in endothelial cells, in both primary cells and the bEnd3 cell line treated with lupus serum from MRL/lpr mice, compared with those treated with control serum from MRL+/+ mice. In addition, increased permeability monitored by changes in transendothelial electrical resistance, cytoskeletal remodeling caused by actin fiber rearrangement, and increased iNOS mRNA expression were observed in bEnd3 cells. These disruptive effects were alleviated by pretreating cells with a C5a receptor antagonist (C5aRant) or a C5a antibody. Furthermore, the structural integrity of the vasculature in MRL/lpr brain was maintained by C5aR inhibition. These results demonstrate the regulation of BBB integrity by the complement system in a neuroinflammatory setting. For the first time, a novel role of C5a in the maintenance of BBB integrity is identified and the potential of C5a/C5aR blockade highlighted as a promising therapeutic strategy in SLE and other neurodegenerative diseases.—Jacob, A., Hack, B., Chiang, E., Garcia, J. G. N., Quigg, R. J., Alexander, J. J. C5a alters blood-brain barrier integrity in experimental lupus.
Effects of ligand binding upon measurement of Gc by rocket immunoelectrophoresis: Implications for protein determination and for studies of protein/ligand interactions

The effect of protein complexing on quantitation by rocket immunoelectrophoresis was studied using group-specific component (Gc), a serum protein which undergoes 1:1 interactions with both sterols (Vitamin D metabolites) and protein (G-actin). Gc purified from serum was used as a reference. Complex formation with 25-〈OH〉 D3 did not significantly affect the measurement of Gc. However, addition of excess G-actin to purified Gc led to substantially higher rockets at every concentration of Gc tested. In dose-response experiments performed with a constant quantity of Gc and increasing quantities of added G-actin, the increment in rocket height was progressive up to equimolarity, at which point a plateau was reached. Further demonstration that the increased rocket heights were directly related to 1:1 complex formation between Gc and G-actin (Gc:G-actin) was obtained by [125I]G-acting and isoelectric focusing (IEF) with autoradiography. Examination of the relative charge of Gc and of Gc:G-actin by crossed immunoelectrophoresis showed that complexes exhibited faster mobility, whereas very little evidence of alteration in antigenicity of Gc:G-actin complexes was apparent. These results suggest that Gc:G-actin complexes exhibit increased electrophoretic mobility and that their presence in samples containing Gc causes an increase in the height of Gc rockets. The findings also indicate that interactions with specific ligands could cause artefacts in immunoelectrophorestic quantitation of other proteins present in biological fluids.
Massive left atrial calcification and devastating systemic emboli in a patient with chronic renal failure.

Abstract Valvular calcification is a common consequence of systemic calcium deposition resulting from chronic renal failure. Thrombi can form on such vascular calcifications and embolize to the cerebral, myocardial, and mesenteric vasculature with devastating consequences. We report the unique case of a patient with myocardial and cerebrovascular ischemia resulting from emboli arising from a massive mitral annular calcification. © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
Fluid Flow in Nanometer Scale Channels: Effects of Polymer Coating

Electroosmotic flow is one of the most important fluid transport mechanism in nanofluidic systems due to its ease-of-control and excellent scaling behavior. In this paper, we report on the atomistic simulation of electroosmotic flow regulation by coating the channel surface with a thin layer of polymers. While such coating is applied routinely in practice, the fundamental mechanism of the flow control is not well-understood. We show that the flow depends both on the polymer type and coating density. A detailed analysis of these results indicates that the flow regulation has both a hydrodynamic origin and a physio-chemical origin. The results highlight the need to integrate physical chemistry into the fluid mechanics for a fundamental understanding of the fluid transport at nanoscale.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Energy-aware user interfaces: an evaluation of user acceptance

The utility of a handheld device is often constrained by the battery life, particularly with recent usage patterns where the device is likely to be powered on at all times. The display component in these devices is a major consumer of battery energy and reducing its energy consumption can significantly enhance its utility. This primary research explores the impact of emerging technologies that provide energy-saving display modifications on perceived ease of use, quality, and overall user acceptance, and seeks to understand the tradeoffs between energy reduction and user acceptance for future interfaces. For our study, twelve handheld users reviewed energy-adaptive and standard display interfaces during five scenarios representing frequently performed tasks. The results show good acceptance of energy-aware user interfaces. While displays for tasks involving notifications and menus were deemed acceptable, primarily due to enhanced contrast levels, displays for longer tasks involving greater informational context need additional work.
The quasi-ballistic model of electron mobility in liquid hydrocarbons

Abstract A phenomenological theory of low-mobility liquid hydrocarbons is developed which includes electron ballistic motion in the quasi-free state, in competition with diffusion and trapping. For most low-mobility liquids the theory predicts consistently the effective mobility and activation energy, in agreement with experiments, using quasi-free mobility and trap density respectively as ∼ 100 cm2v−1s−1 and ∼ 1019 cm−3. Field dependence of mobility is theoretically of quadratic type for relatively small fields, agreeing approximately with experimental data for n-hexane. Electron scavenging with “good” scavengers occurs via the quasi-free state at nearly diffusion-controlled rate; however the effect of large mean free path is seen clearly.
Chemical evolution of the Sacramento urban plume: Transport and oxidation

[1] Measurements of anthropogenic hydrocarbons, ozone, and meteorological variables were obtained during the summer of 1997 near the University of California Blodgett Forest Research Station on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These measurements and related observations obtained upwind in Sacramento and Folsom, California, by the California Air Resources Board and the National Weather Service demonstrate that the transport of the Sacramento plume is controlled by extremely consistent, terrain-driven winds that draw polluted air into the Sierra Nevada by day and flush the mountains at night with clean, continental background air. In effect the plume serves as a mesoscale (100 km) daytime flow reactor where the daily evolution of the Sacramento urban plume can be characterized as a Lagrangian air parcel transported from the urban core into the sparsely populated Sierra Nevada mountains. Using observations of slowly reacting anthropogenic hydrocarbons, we demonstrate that at the peak impact of the Sacramento plume the air at Blodgett Forest can be characterized as a mixture of 32% air from the urban core and 68% from the relatively clean background. From measurements of more reactive hydrocarbons we infer an average daytime OH concentration of 1.1 × 107 molecules cm−3 during the transit of the urban plume.
Determination of muscle cable parameters from a single membrane voltage response

Computer techniques have been developed to achieve a least-squares fit of the Hodgkin and Rushton one time-constant cable equation to the recorded responses of muscle cells to the intracellular injection of square current pulses. In the rat diaphragm the response of the muscle fiber to square current pulses is well fit by a one time-constant model. This makes possible the estimation of the passive electrical properties of muscle sarcolemma using the response of the fiber to a single stimulus. A comparison of the results of this method and the older method of spatial decay in the rat diaphragm shows no significant differences. Average values obtained using the one-point method for estimating membrane resistance and capacitance are 520 Ω cm2 and 4.6 μF/cm2, respectively. An estimation of the average specific resistivity of the cytoplasm was made using this method, and it was found to be 213 Ω cm. At levels of injected currents producing large membrane hyperpolarizations where delayed conductance changes make the spatial decay method useless, the one-point method continues to give consistent results since it utilizes only the early portion of the membrane response. Work with the frog sartorius muscle, which is known to display the characteristics of a two time-constant system, shows that this method is capable of estimating the slower components of this system by using only the later portion of the response curve. The immunity of this method to delayed conductance changes and its experimental facility make it useful in estimating the passive electrical properties of muscle fibers, particularly when working with tissues that are small and delicate or that have poorin vitro viability.
Glucose isotope, carbon recycling, and gluconeogenesis using [U-13C]glucose and mass isotopomer analysis

Experimental determinations of glucose carbon recycling using 14C or 13C glucose tracer often underestimate true Cori cycle activity because of dilution and exchange of isotope tracer through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. The term glucose isotope recycling therefore is used to distinguish recycling of isotope from recycling of glucose carbon, the actual quantity of circulating glucose recycled. Recently, per-labeled glucose ([U-13C6]glucose) has been used to estimate glucose appearance rate and glucose isotope recycling. Chemical structural information determined by mass isotopomer analysis has been used to correct for dilution of isotope through the TCA cycle. In this report, we present experiments in the study of glucose turnover and recycling using [U-13C6]glucose. Methods of single injection and continuous infusion of [U-13C6]glucose are compared. A formula for the calculation of a dilution factor using TCA cycle parameters is derived. In this study of six rabbits, glucose turnover rate ranged from 3.4 to 8.8 mg/kg/min, and glucose m + 3 mass isotopomer recycling from 7 to 12%. The rate of pyruvate carboxylation (Y) was comparable to that of citrate synthetase, having an average relative flux of 0.89. Applying the correction factor for tracer dilution to the observed mass isotopomer recycling, we determined glucose carbon recycling (or Cori cycle activity) to be 22-35% of hepatic glucose output.
A proposed mechanism for Pt/SnOx-catalyzed CO oxidation

A mechanism for Pt/SnO(x)-catalyzed CO oxidation is proposed, which is consistent with a broad range of experimental observations. CO oxidation catalysts with high activity at or near room temperature are used in closed-cycle CO2 lasers and air purification.
Nativity and Cigarette Smoking among Lower Income Blacks: Results from the Healthy Directions Study

Blacks in the United States bear the greatest disease burden associated with cigarette smoking. Previous studies have shown that the rapidly increasing population of foreign-born Blacks has lower smoking rates compared to their native-born counterparts. However, less is known about whether cigarette smoking among Blacks varies by region of birth (US, Africa, or the Caribbean), generational status, or acculturation. We examined the association between nativity and cigarette smoking among 667 Black adult men and women enrolled in the Harvard Cancer Prevention Program project. In multi-variable analyses, US-born Blacks were more likely to be smokers compared to those born in the Caribbean (OR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.08, and 0.34) or in Africa (OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.08, and 0.74). Language acculturation was positively associated with cigarette smoking (OR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.17, and 5.85). We found that US-born Blacks were more likely to be current cigarette smokers than those born in either Caribbean or African countries. Our findings highlight the importance of intervening early new Black immigrants to stem the uptake of cigarette smoking behaviors as individuals become acculturated.
Compositional dependence of trapped hole centers in gamma-irradiated calcium aluminosilicate glasses

Abstract The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of a series of γ-irradiated calcium aluminosilicate glasses with compositions CaO/Al2O3 = 1.50 and 0–80 mol% SiO2 have been measured at 9.3 GHz. The ESR spectra have been analyzed using spin-Hamiltonian parameters previously attributed to aluminum- and silicon-associated hole centers. Defect concentrations calculated from computer lineshape simulations based on the spin-Hamiltonian parameters are analyzed in terms of proposed defect precursor 3tructures and a simple tetrahedral coordination model.
Step-and-Grow Approach for Precisely Positioned Nanowire Array Structure Fabrication

A novel fabrication approach for forming precisely positioned nanowire array structures is introduced. The approach is suitable for potentially economical and environmentally safe manufacturing. For the demonstration of this approach, 100nm wide Sn nanowires and 150nm wide polyaniline (PANI) nanowires were synthesized using an electro-chemical deposition technique and a process we term the step-and-grow method. The nanowires produced exhibit the expected properties. For example, synthesized PANI nanowires showed reasonable ranges of electrical conductivities (e.g., 25S/cm for a 200nm wide, 200nm high, 10um long nanowire), and formed ohmic contact with electrodes on a substrate. It is shown that the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stepping template mold used for our step-and-grow nanowire synthesis process can be used at least up to 40 times without degradation.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Spontaneous closure of macular hole in a patient with x-linked juvenile retinoschisis.

PURPOSE: To observe macular hole in a patient with juvenile retinoschisis. METHODS AND PATIENT: A 4-year-old boy with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis was examined and followed-up for 2 years. Optical coherence tomography was used to study his maculae. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A full-thickness macular hole was detected by clinical examination and optical coherence tomography. Spontaneous closure of the macular hole was noticed and confirmed by optical coherence tomography 2 years later with visual improvement. Macular hole in patients with juvenile retinoschisis should be observed for at least a short period of time before a surgical repair is considered.
Thermodynamic interactions in polybutadiene blends

This paper describes a study of thermodynamic interactions in binary blends of statistical copolymers of 1,4- and 1,2-polybutadiene using differential scanning calorimetric measurements. The Flory−...
Evaluating the Flow Characteristics of Artificial Pumping Devices Using Nuclear Scintigraphsy

: The design and development of artificial blood pumps require qualitative and quantitative data relative to pump filling, ejection, and wall motion in order to optimize the design and maximize the pattern of blood flow through the pump. To assist in the development of an artificial heart, we utilized radionuclide scintigraphy and a high-resolution gamma camera to evaluate the flow patterns through the pump. We performed a comparative analysis of the flow patterns in a pneumatically driven ventricular assist device (Sarns/3M VAD) and the electrically driven Milwaukee Heart. These analyses disclose some significant differences between the two devices with regard to the blood sac compression patterns and ejection as well as valvular regurgitation. On the basis of these findings, nuclear scintigraphy for analyzing fluid shear stress and flow dynamics seems a useful technique for evaluating blood flow through artificial blood pumps. Because the procedure does not require a translucent casing or direct contact with the device being studied, it would be especially useful in evaluating artificial blood pumps implanted in patients with heart failure.
Nonlinear Optical Properties of Bacteriorhodopsin: Assignment of Second Order Hyperpolarizabilities of Randomly Oriented Systems Using Two-Photon Spectroscopy

Abstract We demonstrate that the second order hyperpolarizability of a randomly oriented molecule can be determined directly from two-photon spectroscopic measurements on the low-lying excited state manifold. Equations are derived which allow not only a determination of β, but also a determination of the error associated with the numerical method. We apply our two-photon technique to an analysis of the second order hyperpolarizability of light adapted bacteriorhodopsin. Our analysis of this protein in D2O at ambient temperature yields a value of β (= βxxx + (1/3)[βxyy + 2βyyx + βxzz + 2βzzx]) of (2250 ± 240) × 10−30 cm5/esu for a laser wavelength of 1.06μ (Nd:YAG fundamental). The large second-order nonlinear properties of bacteriorhodopsin are due primarily to the large change in dipole moment associated with excitation into the lowest-lying strongly allowed “1Bu +” π, π* state (Δμ = 13.5 ± 0.8 D). We derive an equation which estimates Ωβδ, the ratio of the number of second harmonic photons generated by ...
Improvements and systolic implementation of the Hough transformation for straight line detection

Abstract Hough Transformation (HT) is an efficient method to detect straight lines in digital pictures. In the conventional HT, pixel contiguity is not taken into account, and this leads to the following drawbacks: (1) actual length of line segments cannot be computed; (2) colinear line segments cannot be distinguished; and (3) very often, false lines are detected and short lines go undetected. This paper proposes a modified Hough Transformation which performs contiguity check in a simple and efficient way. A systolic architecture that implements this modified transform is presented. The systolic array takes the bit-map of the binary picture as input and processes one row/column of pixels concurrently. The area-time complexity of the proposed architecture is shown to be superior to the conventional sequential algorithm. Preliminary simulation results are presented.
Conforma tional energetics of β-helical transmembrane channels and voltage-dependent conductance of poly-( Ala-Ala-GIy)

The polypeptide sequence (L·Res-L·-Res-Glyw)a s previously proposed on the basis of a general concept of cyclic conformations with linear conformational correlates to be an appropriate sequence for voltage-dependent channel formation. The proposal had been tested in terms of the specific sequence HC0-(L·-Ala-L·Ala-Gly)5-OMe and was shown to form voltage-dependent monovalent cation-selective channels. It is now essential, to a continued development of our understanding of voltage-dependent membrane conductance, that the proposed β-helical and β-spiral conformations be critically analyzed in terms of conformational energies of detailed structures. Detailed β-helical and β-spiral conformations are reported which have energies comparable to those of β-helices. They are polymorphic. thereby enhancing their free energy with respect to the β-helix, and they have different dipole moments along their axes, thereby providing for voltage-dependent conversion from nonconducting to conducting states. A rigorous basis is provided as well as a detailed description of poly-(L·Ala-L·Ala-GIy)5 structures capable of voltage-dependent transmembrane conductance
Glafka 2004: Generalizing Quantum Mechanics for Quantum Gravity

Familiar quantum mechanics assumes a fixed spacetime geometry. Quantummechanics must therefore be generalized for quantum gravity where spacetime geometry is not fixed but rather a quantum variable. This extended abstract sketches a fully fourdimensional generalized quantum mechnics of cosmological spacetime geometries that is one such generalization.
Structural Adjustment as an Inadvertent Enemy of Human Development in Africa

African economies have experienced numerous disruptions since the 1980s, while other parts of the world have significantly prospered. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has become impoverished in absolute and real terms, and today faces the need for some form of an economic miracle. According to the harsh verdict of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, Africa is unable to point to any significant growth rate or satisfactory index of general well-being in the past two decades. To a substantial degree, these two international organizations have themselves to blame. Following Africa's emergence as independent nations after the collapse of colonialism in 1960, too many African nations immersed themselves in debt, overspending on public enterprises, public employment, excessive military, and, all too often, cronyism and corruption. Their currencies collapsed, and debt repayment ceased. When these troubled nations sought assistance, the international lending agencies justifiably demanded reforms classified as structural adjustment. However, structural adjustment programs (SAPs) and stabilization policies have seldom delivered on their promises. Even worse, the available evidence suggests that they have accentu-
Multiple force identification for complex structures

This paper presents a method for determining force histories using experimentally measured responses. It is based on a recursive reformulation of the governing equations in conjunction with a general finite element program, this latter aspect making it applicable to complex structures. It can determine multiple isolated (uncorrelated) force histories as well as distributed pressures and tractions and allows for the data collected to be of dissimilar type. As a demonstration of the method and of its scalability, force reconstructions for an impacted shell and an impacted plate are determined using accelerometer and strain gage data.