cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the formation of μ and ζ phases in the AgAl system by mechanical alloying

Abstract Pure Ag and Al powders have been mechanically alloyed in a Spex mill. Four selected nominal compositions Ag 1− x Al x ( x = 0.20, 0.23, 0.26 and 0.37) were investigated by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, after being subjected to different times of ball milling. In all four selected compositions, the close-packed hexagonal intermediate ζ phase and the f.c.c. α phase (Ag-based solid solution) formed together during the first hour of milling, but subsequently the α phase disappeared during continued milling except in the two alloys corresponding to 26 at.% Al and 37 at.% Al where the ζ phase is the equilibrium phase. With continued milling, the complex cubic μ phase formed in the alloys of nominal composition 20, 23 and 26 at.% Al where it is expected in equilibrium alloys. No amorphous phases have been observed in the mechanically alloyed powders in this system.
Structure-activity-relationship pertaining to the north-west region of the kappa opioid agonist, U-50,488

Compound 2, an unsaturated analog of U-50,488, has been prepared and found to be an active analgesic. Modeling studies with U-50,488, compound 2 and four other unsaturated U-50,488 analogs (namely, 3, 4, 5, 6) have been performed and enable us to define the size and shape of the hydrophobic pocket of the kappa receptor with which the north-west part of the ligands interacts.
Eliminating wavepacket reflection from grid boundaries using complex coordinate contours

Abstract It is demonstrated that complex scaling of coordinates near the boundary of a grid for numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation analytically prevents reflection of wavepackets from the boundary. The complex coordinates method has been shown to be successful in the computation of a large class of Green's function matrix elements in time-independent collision theory, and the connection is established here with the behavior of wavepackets as functions of complex coordinates. The procedure, which is applicable using finite elements or finite difference, is demonstrated numerically using a complex contour known as the exterior scaling contour and provides an elegant solution to the numerical difficulty of wavepacket reflection from grid boundaries in one or more dimensions.
A New Version of a Free Electron Laser Two-Beam Accelerator

Abstract A new version of a two-beam accelerator is proposed in which in each period of the drive structure a very small input microwave signal is amplified to a large level and then completely removed and transferred to the accelerating structure. In this manner a number of difficulties with the original version may be greatly relieved; namely, rf phase and amplitude sensitivity, growth of sidebands, and rf manipulation (removal of the microwaves from the drive structure, and transmission of microwave power through the accelerating cavities).
3α-(4-Substituted phenyl)nortropane-2β-carboxylic acid methyl esters show selective binding at the norepinephrine transporter

A series of 3α-(4-substituted)nortropane-2β-carboxylic acid methyl esters was synthesized and evaluated for the ability to inhibit radioligand binding at the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters. 3α-(4-Methylphenyl)nortropane-2β-carboxylic acid methyl ester (4c) was found to be selective and highly potent for the norepinephrine transporter (NET) relative to the dopamine and serotonin transporters.
Construction Skill and Skill Construction

Despite considerable refinement in scientific concepts of skill, common sense concepts of skill prevail in the workplace. This paper examines common sense notions of skill and craft in United States building construction workplaces, focusing on the informal designations of construction labour (the `good craftsman,' `specialist,' and `jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none') and formal designations of union and non-union labour, using data drawn from empirical investigation. This skill ideology is examined for its role in social closure as well as contradictory aspects that may undermine collective interests. Further research on ideological discourses justifying pay, power and privilege is called for.
Nano-NRTIs demonstrate low neurotoxicity and high antiviral activity against HIV infection in the brain.

Abstract Antiviral therapy using nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) is neurotoxic and has low efficiency in eradication of HIV-1 harbored in central nervous system (CNS). Previously, we reported that active 5′-triphosphates of NRTIs encapsulated in cationic nanogels (nano-NRTIs) suppress HIV-1 activity more efficiently than NRTIs and exhibit reduced mitochondrial toxicity [Vinogradov SV, Poluektova LY, Makarov E, Gerson T, Senanayake MT. Nano-NRTIs: efficient inhibitors of HIV type-1 in macrophages with a reduced mitochondrial toxicity. Antivir Chem Chemother. 2010; 21:1-14. Makarov E, Gerson T, Senanayake T, Poluektova LY, Vinogradov. Efficient suppression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Macrophages by Nano-NRTIs. Antiviral Res . 2010; 86(1):A38-9]. Here, we demonstrated low neurotoxicity and excellent antiviral activity of nano-NRTIs decorated with the peptide (AP) binding brain-specific apolipoprotein E receptor. Nano-NRTIs induced lower levels of apoptosis and formation of reactive oxygen species, a major cause of neuron death, than free NRTIs. Optimization of size, surface decoration with AP significantly increased brain accumulation of nano-NRTIs. The efficient CNS delivery of nano-NRTIs resulted in up to 10-fold suppression of retroviral activity and reduced virus-associated inflammation in humanized mouse model of HIV-1 infection in the brain. Our data provide proof of the advanced efficacy of nano-NRTIs as safer alternative of current antiviral drugs. From the Clinical Editor This team of investigators demonstrated low neurotoxicity and excellent anti-HIV activity of nano-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors decorated with the peptide (AP) binding brain-specific apolipoprotein E receptor, providing proof of enhanced efficacy and a safer alternative compared with current antiviral drugs.
Structural elucidation of minor components in the antimycin A complex by mass spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry has been employed in the study of the antimycin A complex. This has been necessary for two reasons. On one hand, a complete fragmentation scheme is proposed based upon electron ionization, chemical ionization, and accurate mass determinations of the ions in the mass spectra of the antimycin A complex and four simple chemical derivatives. On the other hand, a more rapid qualitative and semiquantitative analysis is shown. Incidental to these findings is the interesting fact that the amide and lactone bonds undergo gas phase ammonolysis.
Preliminary study of some vegetation types of the pantanal, mato grosso, Brazil

The Pantanal is the region on the Brazil-Bolivia frontier in the Paraguay river basin, that is predominantly but not exclusively covered by various types of swamp vegetation. The vegetation of the area was studied by extensive collecting and through measuring trees on five one-hectare plots of cerrado and semi-deciduous forest. The region consists of various types of swamp, gallery forest, lake margin scrub forest, semi-deciduous forest, and several forms of cerrado and savanna. The vegetation is made up of species derived from the cerrado of Central Brazil, the Chaco and Amazonia. It also includes many widespread but few endemic species. Little vegetation remains undisturbed due to the influence of cattle, fire and man. Good examples of the various vegetation formations can still be found and are in urgent need of conservation.
Ecology of Sessile Rotifers

The sessile rotifers are taxonomically defined as all the individuals belonging to the families Flosculariidae, Conochilidae (Order Flosculariaceae), and Collothecidae (Order Collothecaceae) (Edmondson, 1940, 1944). Freeswimming species are, however, found in each family. The Conochilidae are totally planktonic. Although most of my remarks in this review will concern those species which as adults are permanently attached to surfaces, complete understanding of the evolution of this group is not possible without considering the planktonic forms.
Quality and decomposition of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) mulch for temperate alley cropping systems

Black locust and alfalfa mulch quality were characterized over a 9-week period of decomposition. Both mulch materials were harvested with a forage harvester. The black locust material was harvested from trees annually coppiced for four years, the alfalfa from a preflorescent second cutting. Two identical, adjacent experiments were conducted, one on each mulch source. A randomized complete block design was used with four replications for this single factor experiment. Fifty grams fresh weight of both mulch types were placed in litter bags, made of 98% shade cloth, a woven plastic with holes approximately 1×0.5 mm. The treatments included two placements of the mulch material, surface and buried. Sampling took place on weeks 0, 1, 3, 6, and 9. The incorporation of mulch materials appears to accelerate dry weight loss. From an initial dry weight of 44.25 g, the buried black locust mulch averaged 4.58 g, while the surface mulch averaged 7.41 g by week 6. The alfalfa mulch initially weighed 40.99g, with buried mulch averaging 1.75 g and surface mulch averaging 4.08 g by week 9. Carbon concentration of alfalfa mulch increased with time in both mulch placements from 43.6% to 57.6% and 51.8% in surface and buried mulch, respectively. Black locust, with an initial carbon concentration of 46.9% increased to 55.9% for the buried mulch and to 53.89% in surface mulch. Nitrogen concentrations increased as well in buried mulch. Lignin concentrations increased dramatically over time for both species of mulch. Black locust lignin concentrations rose from 13.11% to 51.0% (buried) and 32.9% (surface); alfalfa mulch lignin concentrations rose from 6.67% to 31.4% (buried) and 47.7% (surface).
TIG Welding of Nickel-Titanium to 304 Stainless Steel

Shape memory nickel-titanium (NiTi) is attractive for use in solid-state actuators as it exhibits large recoverable stresses, limited by its ultimate shear strength of over 120 ksi (960 MPa), and large recoverable strains, up to 8%. Broad application of NiTi is hindered by the expense, complexity, and lack of reliability in machining and joining it to structural materials. This paper investigates the use of orbital Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding to join NiTi to 304 stainless steel (304 SS), a common structural material that can be readily machined and welded. Tubes of NiTi and 304 SS were joined using a nickel filler to mitigate the formation of brittle intermetallics. Both tubes had a 0.375 in (9.53 mm) outer diameter with wall thicknesses of 0.065 in and 0.075 in (1.7 mm and 1.9 mm) for the 304 SS and NiTi tubes, respectively. Viable joints were created and characterized through X-ray analysis, optical microscopy, hardness mapping, and strength testing. The joints had an average failure torque of 450 in-lb (52 N-m), corresponding to an ultimate shear strength of approximately 50 ksi (350 MPa). This was sufficient to detwin the NiTi in the tubes, which occurs at a shear stress of 16 ksi (110 MPa), and plastically deform the annealed 304 SS tubes. Optical microscopy and hardness mapping revealed a heat-affected zone 0.005 in (125 μm) wide with a maximum hardness of 817 HV. Outside of this heat-affected zone the hardness was not affected, indicating that no large-scale loss of superelastic or shape memory properties arises from TIG welding.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Abnormal vital signs are common after bowel resection and do not predict anastomotic leak.

Background Anastomotic leak is a serious complication of gastrointestinal surgery. Abnormal vital signs are often cited in retrospective peer review and medicolegal settings as evidence of negligence in the failure to make an early diagnosis. We aimed to profile the postoperative courses of patients who undergo intestinal anastomosis and determine how reliably abnormal vital signs predict anastomotic leaks. Study Design Consecutive patients undergoing bowel resection with anastomosis at an academic medical center from July 2009 through July 2011 were identified from a prospective complication database. The electronic medical record was queried for postoperative vital signs and laboratory studies, which were digitally abstracted. Abnormal values were defined as temperature >38°C, white blood cell count ≤4,000 or ≥12,000 cells/uL, systolic blood pressure ≤80 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≤50 mmHg, pulse ≥100 beats per minute, and respiratory rate ≥20 breaths per minute. Patients who developed an anastomotic leak were compared with those with an uncomplicated postoperative course. Results Of the 452 patients, 141 (31.2%) suffered a total of 271 complications, including 19 anastomotic leaks. Even in "uncomplicated" recoveries, tachycardia and tachypnea were almost routine, occurring in more than half of the patients frequently throughout the postoperative period. Hypotension, fever, and leukocytosis were also remarkably common. The positive predictive value of any aberrant vital sign or white blood cell count ranged between 4% and 11%. Conclusions Abnormal vital signs are extremely common after bowel resection with anastomosis. Even sustained aberrant vital signs and/or leukocytosis are not necessarily suggestive of a leak or other postoperative complication.
Decrypting ‘the Christian Thinking of the Flesh, Tacitly, the Caress, in a Word, the Christian Body’ in Le Toucher—Jean-Luc Nancy

This article responds to the question of the ‘implicit and presupposed theological turn of phenomenology’ by providing a close reading of Jacques Derrida’s Le Toucher—Jean-Luc Nancy (2000 French/2005 English translation), particularly concerning what Derrida alludes to as ‘the Christian thinking of the flesh’ in the French phenomenological tradition post-Husserl. In reading Derrida’s own text, the article identifies and then performs a ‘cryptonomy’ of references to the ‘Christian body,’ and of the ‘return of religion.’ The article also focuses on the more recent writings of Jean-Luc Nancy, especially Corpus (2000 French), concerning the body and its relationship to the concept of corporality (Leiblichkeit) from Husserl’s Ideas II.
Intracardiac Air Aspiration

Abstract Whenever the left heart is opened, the potential exists for systemic air embolization. Aspiration of air as a means of preventing this complication is discussed.
Integrating the Humanities into a Liberal Arts Course on Adult Development and Aging

In this article, I describe a freshman liberal arts honors course on adult development and aging. It contains suggestions for selecting and using readings, films, music, and television shows, and it pro-vides examples of how to make connections between these materials and the scientific literature.
Sanitation in developing countries: a systematic review of user preferences and motivations

Empirical research on sanitation in emerging regions has shown that user preferences and behaviors do influence usage of sanitation technologies. The purpose of this review is to examine the existing literature investigating user preferences and perceptions on sanitation, with particular focus on satisfaction and motivation for usage. The scope was limited to research that provided detailed statistical information about the sample population and sanitation technologies examined. Selected literature is summarized into four areas: descriptive studies about sanitation user satisfaction; comparative work analyzing preferences for sanitation technologies; perspectives on sanitation usage and ownership; and importance of factors driving household sanitation installation. Our results indicate that the implementation of improved sanitation is not indicative of overall higher user satisfaction levels. In addition, motivations for usage of sanitation systems vary by technology and geographical setting.
Clinical Application of Cardiovascular Pharmacogenetics

Pharmacogenetics primarily uses genetic variation to identify subgroups of patients who may respond differently to a certain medication. Since its first description, the field of pharmacogenetics has expanded to study a broad range of cardiovascular drugs and has become a mainstream research discipline. Three principle classes of pharmacogenetic markers have emerged: 1) pharmacokinetic; 2) pharmacodynamic; and 3) underlying disease mechanism. In the realm of cardiovascular pharmacogenetics, significant advances have identified markers in each class for a variety of therapeutics, some with a potential for improving patient outcomes. While ongoing clinical trials will determine if routine use of pharmacogenetic testing may be beneficial, the data today support pharmacogenetic testing for certain variants on an individualized, case-by-case basis. Our primary goal is to review the association data for the major pharmacogenetic variants associated with commonly used cardiovascular medications: antiplatelet agents, warfarin, statins, beta-blockers, diuretics, and antiarrhythmic drugs. In addition, we highlight which variants and in which contexts pharmacogenetic testing can be implemented by practicing clinicians. The pace of genetic discovery has outstripped the generation of the evidence justifying its clinical adoption. Until the evidentiary gaps are filled, however, clinicians may choose to target therapeutics to individual patients whose genetic background indicates that they stand to benefit the most from pharmacogenetic testing.
On the exponent of a primitive digraph

Abstract We characterize the equality case of the upper bound γ(D) ⪕ n + s(n − 2) for the exponent of a primitive digraph in the case s ⪖ 2, where n is the number of the vertices of the digraph D and s is the length of the shortest elementary circuit of D. We also answer a question about the equality case when s = 1. The exponent of an n × n primitive nonnegative matrix A is the same as the exponent of the associated digraph D(A) of A. So every theorem in this paper can be translated into a theorem about nonnegative matrices.
Newt lungs: a versatile system for the study of mucociliary transport.

Abstract Lungs of the newt, Taricha granulosa , provide a versatile system for studying mucociliary transport. The mucociliary epithelium is restricted to a ventral strip of epithelium which extends the entire length of the lung. The transport process can be studied in the isolated lung or in a variety of functional components derived from it. These components include: (1) isolated sheets of the mucociliary epithelium, (2) flattened epithelial sheets grown in long term primary culture, (3) dissociated ciliated and mucous cells, (4) functional, demembranated ciliary tufts, and (5) isolated populations of discrete, demembranated axonemes. The latter two models can be reactivated with MgATP and made to beat at frequencies comparable to those measured in intact cells. Featuring large cells (25–30 μm in diameter) and cilia (12–13 μm in length) in comparison to other mucus-transporting systems, coupled with the ability to perform ‘physiological’ experiments at ambient temperatures, newt lungs afford a convenient system to study mechanisms involved in the control of ciliary beat frequency, waveform and coordination at several levels of organization.
Misconceptions of Culture and Perversions of Multiculturalism.

Current practices of multicultural education are based on some unsound conceptions of the nature of culture. Especially unsound is the notion of cultural relativism which claims that it is inappropriate for a given culture to be judged by the standards of other cultures. But all cultures can and should be judged by the standard of how well they allow their members to adapt to the circumstances in which they exist. These circumstances include nature and, increasingly, other cultures. The core error is the belief that cultures are “integrated systems,” which is based on an organic metaphor which discourages piece-meal criticism and leads to a romantic embrace of the totality of a culture. Rather than fostering an identity with, and celebration of, dysfunctional cultures, multiculturalism should encourage maximum interaction of all elements of a society and the forging of an “emergent pluralism.”
Potential role of PFOB enhanced sonography of the kidney. II. Detection of partial infarction.

Potential role of PFOB enhanced sonography of the kidney. II. Detection of partial infarction. Aside from its ability to assess flow velocity within vessels, color Doppler and gray-scale sonography cannot distinguish perfused from non-perfused tissues. In this study we evaluated whether Perfluorooctylbromide (PFOB), a sonographic contrast agent given i.v., could aid sonography with this recognition. Partial renal infarction was produced by a 1mm bead embolized in the right, the left, or both renal arteries of 20 normal rabbits. The sonographer, unaware of rabbit assignment, attempted to diagnose the infarct 24 hours later. All 20 rabbits were studied with gray-scale and color Doppler sonography, 10 before and after PFOB and 10 only after PFOB. Angiography and post-mortem examination were done for confirmation. Of the 20 kidneys evaluated before PFOB, the sonographer was unable to diagnose the 10 partial infarctions. Color Doppler identified five of the ten infarcted kidneys, but accurately localized the infarction in only two. Of the 40 kidneys evaluated after PFOB infusion, 20 scanned before and 20 scanned only after PFOB, all 20 partial infarctions were accurately diagnosed with both gray-scale and color Doppler. PFOB enhanced the echogenicity of perfused renal tissue allowing the easy detection of the unenhanced infarct. Because of the increased signal from vessels after PFOB, color Doppler displayed the entire vascular tree, allowing the detection of the truncated embolized branch. The ability of PFOB to enhance Doppler signals and the echogenicity of perfused tissues improved the diagnostic accuracy of sonography when used to detect partial renal infarctions.
Some preliminary waste management considerations for ground processing systems supporting the space option

The disposal of radioactive wastes by launching them into space will require extensive treatment and preparation on the ground in order to convert these wastes into suitable payloads. If a particular radioactive element is to be managed by space disposal, then it will have to be separated from the wastes, concentrated, and converted into a suitable disposal form for launch. In many cases, this waste management approach will result in the construction and operation of highly complex and expensive radiochemical plants for treating many fuel cycle wastes and producing the necessary payloads. In addition, secondary wastes will usually result from the chemical processing steps that are required to produce these payloads. Also, some of the payloads that appear most attractive for space disposal with respect to launch requirements cause significant problems with respect to ground processing. Therefore, the decision to produce any particular payload for disposal must consider all of the ramifications for the ground processing systems as well as the launch vehicle. Preliminary evaluations of some of the projected impacts on ground systems, such as secondary waste production and radiochemical processing requirements, are presented for iodine, /sup 14/C, technetium, strontium, cesium, and actinide/lanthanide payloads that result from processing lightmore » water reactor fuel cycle wastes.« less
Hypoxia tolerance in two juvenile estuary-dependent fishes

Hypoxia events, or low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions, occur frequently in North Carolina estuaries during the summer. These events may have harmful effects on important fish stocks, including spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), but their consequences are not well understood. We investigated direct mortality due to hypoxia in juvenile spot and Atlantic menhaden to determine how the extent of mortality varies with the severity of hypoxia and the duration of exposure, and to explore how vulnerability to hypoxia changes across species, fish size, and temperature. Atlantic menhaden and spot were tested at two temperatures, 25 and 30 °C, and three dissolved oxygen concentrations, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 ppm. Survival analyses were performed on the data relating survival rate of each species to dissolved oxygen concentration, duration of exposure, fish size, and temperature. The data were analyzed using an LC50 approach for comparative purposes, and 12-h LC50 estimates ranged from 0.9 to 1.1 ppm O2. Spot and menhaden exposed to 1.2 ppm O2 showed no mortality in 24 h at 25 °C, and only 30–40% mortality at 30 °C. In contrast, both species experienced 100% mortality in 2–6 h at 0.6 ppm O2. There was an effect of size on hypoxia tolerance, with small spot being less tolerant than large spot, while the converse size effect was observed for menhaden. Spot were consistently less tolerant to hypoxia than menhaden and both species were less tolerant to hypoxia at 30 °C than at 25 °C. Preliminary experiments showed a 24-h acclimation to sublethal levels of hypoxia significantly reduced mortality upon subsequent exposure to lethal hypoxia concentrations. Our results indicate that direct mortality due to hypoxia will vary with species, size, and temperature, but will likely only be substantial when these species are exposed to oxygen concentrations less than about 1 ppm O2. Given the severity of hypoxia necessary to cause mortality and the ability of fish to behaviorally avoid hypoxia, direct mortality due to hypoxia may have limited impacts on fish population dynamics. Therefore, the greatest effects due to hypoxia may be caused by the stress imposed by sublethal hypoxic conditions alone or in concert with other stressors, or by indirect effects incurred by avoiding hypoxic areas.
Humoral immune recognition of proteolipid protein (PLP)‐specific encephalitogenic epitopes in the SJL/J mouse

SJL/J mice were immunized with human PLP as well as encephalitogenic PLP peptides 139–151 and 178–191 and the resulting antibody responses examined for immunochemical specificity employing a panel of 17 synthetic PLP peptide ligands. All animals had demonstrable circulating titers of antibodies early in the humoral immune response to their respective encephalitogens, however, there was no clear qualitative correlation between antibody responses and the induction of EAE. In the majority of PLP immunized animals, determinant-specific antibody populations, including those against encephalitogenic centers, were not detectable in the presence of an anti-PLP antibody response. Antiencephalitogenic peptide antibodies were present in both 139–151 and 178–191 immunized animals regardless of clinical/histologic status. Neither group produced cross-reactive anti PLP antibodies as detected by ELISA. In animals immunized with peptide 139–151, only anti-139–151 antibody specificities were noted. In contrast, all animals immunized with peptide 178–191 had an antibody population cross-reactive with three other PLP peptides: 97–110, 209–217, and 215–228. As humoral immune responses can be demonstrated against PLP-specific encephalitogenic epitopes, the significance of these B cell responses should be considered in the context of their potential role in the development, modulation, and/or potentiation of EAE. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Smelling wrong: hormonal contraception in lemurs alters critical female odour cues

Animals, including humans, use olfaction to assess potential social and sexual partners. Although hormones modulate olfactory cues, we know little about whether contraception affects semiochemical signals and, ultimately, mate choice. We examined the effects of a common contraceptive, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), on the olfactory cues of female ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), and the behavioural response these cues generated in male conspecifics. The genital odorants of contracepted females were dramatically altered, falling well outside the range of normal female variation: MPA decreased the richness and modified the relative abundances of volatile chemicals expressed in labial secretions. Comparisons between treatment groups revealed several indicator compounds that could reliably signal female reproductive status to conspecifics. MPA also changed a female’s individual chemical ‘signature’, while minimizing her chemical distinctiveness relative to other contracepted females. Most remarkably, MPA degraded the chemical patterns that encode honest information about genetic constitution, including individual diversity (heterozygosity) and pairwise relatedness to conspecifics. Lastly, males preferentially investigated the odorants of intact over contracepted females, clearly distinguishing those with immediate reproductive potential. By altering the olfactory cues that signal fertility, individuality, genetic quality and relatedness, contraceptives may disrupt intraspecific interactions in primates, including those relevant to kin recognition and mate choice.
Femtosecond laser machining of fluidic microchannels for miniaturized bioanalytical systems

Femtosecond laser ablation of borosilicate glass has been studied to machine fluidic micro-channel geometries not possible through traditional micro-lithographic techniques. Utilizing a 1 kHz repetition rate femtosecond laser system and a long-working distance 5x objective lens, groove patterns 10 micrometers wide and as deep as 30 micrometers have been produced. The experiments were performed in air and the samples were cleaned after the ablation with sodium hydroxide dissolved in water to remove the debris. The substrates were mounted on a computer controlled x-y translation stage. The quality of the micro-channels showed dependency on the scanning speed of the sample. The surrounding area of the channels was smooth at scanning rates greater than 400 micrometers /s and smaller than 10 micrometers /s. Whereas, cracks appeared around the channels at scanning rates between 200 to 50 micrometers /s. Surface morphology is studied using optical, electron and atomic force microscopies. For a quantitative evaluation of ablation threshold and ablation rates, single-shot experiments in vacuum were performed. We found that the damage threshold for borosilicate glass is around 1.7 J/cm2. With single pulse laser fluence of 30 J/cm2, a 600 nm deep crater could be ablated. A ring, high than the surface, appeared around the craters and was most probably created by adiabatic compression of glass due to the high-pressure plasma generated in the early stages of the process.
On Genes, Brains, and Behavior: Why Should Developmental Psychologists Care About Brain Development?

— The past several decades have seen tremendous progress in understanding mammalian brain development. The models that have emerged suggest that this development is dynamic and, from the very beginning, involves the continuous interaction of genetic, organismic, and environmental factors. The central question posed in this article is whether these models of brain development should be of import to developmental psychologists. It is argued that the key debates in psychology are founded on assumptions that are integrally related to questions of biology and biological inheritance. The construct of innateness, in particular, is central to these debates, and the biological system most critically implicated in claims about innate behaviors is the brain. However, as this article attempts to show, the underlying assumptions of contemporary psychological models reflect largely outdated ideas about what it means for something to be innate. Contemporary models of brain development challenge the foundational constructs of the nature versus nurture formulation, emphasizing that the processes of brain development engage both inherited and environmental factors and rely upon their continuous interaction. These models also emphasize that the relationship between brain and behavioral development is one of interdependence and reciprocity: Behaviors influence brain development and the brain mediates all behavior. Thus, the key to understanding the origins and emergence of both the brain and behavior lies in understanding how genetic, organismic, and environmental factors are engaged in the dynamic and interactive processes that define development of the neurobehavioral system.
Accelerators for the advanced exotic beam facility in the U.S.

The Office of Science of the Department of Energy is currently considering options for an advanced radioactive beam facility in the U.S which is a reduced scale version of the Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) project [1,2]. This facility will have unique capabilities compared with others both existing and planned elsewhere. As envisioned at ANL, the facility, called the Advanced Exotic Beam Laboratory (AEBL), would consist of a heavy-ion driver linac, a post-accelerator and experimental areas. Secondary beams of rare isotopes will be available as high quality reaccelerated or stopped beams from a gas catcher and high power ISOL targets, as well as, high energy beams following in-flight fragmentation or fission of heavy ions. The proposed design of the AEBL driver linac is a cw, fully superconducting, 833 MV linac capable of accelerating uranium ions up to 200 MeV/u and protons to 580 MeV with 400 kW beam power. An extensive research and development effort has resolved many technical issues related to the construction of the driver linac and other systems required for AEBL. This paper presents the status of planning, some options for such a facility, as well as, progress in related R&D.
Dynamically allocating sets of fine-grained processors to running computations

An approach to using general-purpose parallel computers is explored which involves mapping hardware resources onto computations instead of mapping computations onto hardware. Problems such as processor allocation, task scheduling and load balancing change significantly under this approach and may become amenable to new attacks. The implementation of this approach used by the FFP machine, whose computation and communication resources are repeatedly partitioned into disjoint groups that match the needs of available tasks from moment to moment, is described. Several consequences of this system are examined. >
Family well-being, parenting, and child well-being: Pathways to healthy adjustment

Family well-being provides a foundation for positive parenting and child well-being. Many previous studies have outlined the possible connections between family well-being, parenting, and child well-being, yet translating research into practice continues to be problematic. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature (from 2000 to 2014) on family and child well-being in order to create a model of well-being that is useful for both researchers and practitioners. The model builds upon Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, and is differentiated from other prominent models of family functioning by focusing on bolstering family strengths and well-being (as opposed to ameliorating family stress, risk, or deficits) and on supporting child well-being (as opposed to treating maladjustment). The model addresses family well-being (parental well-being, family self-sufficiency, and family resiliency), developmental parenting (affection, responsiveness, encouragement, teaching, engagement, positive discipline, and co-parenting), and child well-being (physical and mental health, self-regulation, social and cognitive competence). Direct and indirect connections between model components and possible moderating factors are discussed. A theory of change model is proposed as a tool for practitioners from a variety of disciplines and fields to guide their work with families. Recommendations for clinicians, limitations of the model, and future directions are discussed.
Computer algebra and the microcomputer

Abstract A discussion of a computer algebra system used to assist students in their study of mathematics. Illustrations include examples that help students to anticipate major results by examining evidence produced by the computer while working in a laboratory setting. Also included are examples that illustrate how the use of a computer algebra system can assist in the problem solving process.
Evidence for the in vitro metabolism of allylisopropylacetamide to reactive intermediates. Mechanistic studies with oxygen‐18

Metabolism of allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) (1) in microsomal preparations from phenobarbital-pretreated rats is shown to proceed by way of three cytochrome P-450-dependent pathways: (i) aliphatic (C-3') hydroxylation, (ii) allylic (C-3) hydroxylation and (iii) olefin oxidation. The latter represents the major route of biotransformation and leads ultimately to the formation of the gamma-butyrolactone 2. In order to elucidate the mechanism by which AIA is converted to this gamma-lactone, and to gain information on the nature of chemically reactive intermediates in the process, the metabolism of AIA to 2 was investigated in 18O2 or H218O and the pattern of label incorporated into the product was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results support the formation of AIA epoxide as an initial product of olefin oxidation and indicate that this species undergoes rapid intramolecular rearrangement to a protonated iminolactone which, in turn, is hydrolysed to the stable gamma-lactone. On the other hand, the 'dihydrodiol' metabolite of AIA, which would be expected to result from direct hydrolysis of AIA epoxide, was not detected in incubation products and, furthermore, the 18O labeling data specifically exclude the possibility that it served as a precursor of 2. It may be concluded, therefore, that AIA epoxide and the protonated iminolactone to which it gives rise represent reactive intermediates in the oxidation of AIA which may play a key role in the alkylation of certain cellular constituents which accompanies metabolism of AIA by liver enzymes.
Weight loss reduces breast ductal fluid estrogens in obese postmenopausal women: a single arm intervention pilot study

Background Accumulation of excess body fat increases breast cancer risk after menopause. Whether the localized breast is differently influenced by adipose tissue compared to the rest of the body, has not been well studied. Our purpose was to demonstrate feasibility and preliminarily evaluate serum-based and localized breast biomarker changes resulting from a weight loss intervention among obese postmenopausal women.
Image Compression Based On Vector Quantization With Finite Memory

Image compression using memoryless vector quantization (VQ), in which small blocks (vectors) of pixels are independently encoded, has been demonstrated to be an effective technique for achieving bit rates above 0.6 bits per pixel (bpp). To maintain the same quality at lower rates, it is necessary to exploit spatial redundancy over a larger region of pixels than is possible with memoryless VQ. This can be achieved by incorporating memory of previously encoded blocks into the encoding of each successive input block. Finite-state vector quantization (FSVQ) employs a finite number of states, which summarize key information about previously encoded vectors, to select one of a family of codebooks to encode each input vector. In this paper, we review the basic ideas of VQ and extend the finite-state concept to image compression. We introduce a novel for-mulation of the state and state-transition rule that uses a perceptually based edge classifier. We also examine the use of interpolation in conjunction with VQ with finite memory. Coding results are presented for monochrome images in the bit-rate range of 0.24 to 0.32 bpp. The results achieved with finite memory are comparable to those of memoryless VQ at 0.6 bpp and show that there are significant gains to be obtained by enhancing the basic VQ approach with interblock memory.
Leftovers and other food safety information for iPhone/iPad application ("smartphone" technology).

Foodborne illness continues to be a public health concern in the United States (US). Each year, an estimated 48 million Americans (1 in 6) become ill, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne illness. Clostridium perfringes is cited as causing 1,606 outbreaks (second highest) and Bacillus cereus caused 164 outbreaks (sixth highest) in which a pathogen was known as the causative agent. Both of these pathogens have been associated with improper cooling and storage of leftover food. To educate consumers on safe food handling practices in their homes, The Partnership for Food Safety Education has developed the Fight BAC! messages of clean, separate, cook, and chill. One of the Healthy People 2020 objectives focuses on increasing the proportion of consumers who follow these key food safety practices (clean, separate, cook, chill). Leftover food safety involves properly chilling and reheating (cooking) food when appropriate. Children are at heightened risk for foodborne illness and are disproportionately affected by 4 foodborne microorganisms: Campylobacter, E.coli O157:H7, Listeria, and Salmonella. This heightened risk for foodborne illness is a result of undeveloped immune systems and lower body
In the loop: long range chromatin interactions and gene regulation

Enhancers, silencer and insulators are DNA elements that play central roles in regulation of the genome that are crucial for development and differentiation. In metazoans, these elements are often separated from target genes by distances that can reach 100 Kb. How regulation can be accomplished over long distances has long been intriguing. Current data indicate that although the mechanisms by which these diverse regulatory elements affect gene transcription may vary, an underlying feature is the establishment of close contacts or chromatin loops. With the generalization of this principle, new questions emerge, such as how the close contacts are formed and stabilized and, importantly, how they contribute to the regulation of transcriptional output at target genes. This review will concentrate on examples where a functional role and a mechanistic understanding has been explored for loops formed between genes and their regulatory elements or among the elements themselves.
Cramer-Rao bounds for wavelet transform-based instantaneous frequency estimates

We use an asymptotic integral approximation of a wavelet transform as a model for the estimation of instantaneous frequency (IF). Our approach allows the calculation of the Cramer-Rao bound for the IF variance at each time directly, without the need for explicit phase parameterization. This is in contrast to other approaches where the Cramer-Rao bounds rely on a preliminary decomposition of the IF with respect to a (usually polynomial) basis. Attention is confined to the Morlet wavelet transform of single-component signals corrupted with additive Gaussian noise. Potential computationally and statistically efficient IF extraction algorithms suggested by the analysis are also discussed.
Electrochemical characteristics of dimethyl sulfoxidebenzene solutions of cobalt, copper, and nickel hemiporphyrazines containing oxygen

Abstract Current-potential studies with the dropping mercury electrode and the rotating platinum electrode of 50% ν/ν dimethyl sulfoxide-benzene solutions of metal hemiporphyrazines containing oxygen revealed in the cases of cobalt and nickel hemiporphyrazines, super-oxide-metal hemporphyrazine complex formation. Association of superoxide ion with the one-electron reduction products of cobalt and nickel hemiporphyrazines is not evident. Copper hemiporphyrazine undergoes a one-electron reduction, involving the metal, more easily than oxygen. No interaction of oxygen with hpCu or hpCu−, or of superoxide ion with hpCu− is indicated.
Dscam-Mediated Cell Recognition Regulates Neural Circuit Formation

The Dscam family of immunoglobulin cell surface proteins mediates recognition events between neurons that play an essential role in the establishment of neural circuits. The Drosophila Dscam1 locus encodes tens of thousands of cell surface proteins via alternative splicing. These isoforms exhibit exquisite isoform-specific binding in vitro that mediates homophilic repulsion in vivo. These properties provide the molecular basis for self-avoidance, an essential developmental mechanism that al- lows axonal and dendritic processes to uniformly cover their synaptic fields. In a mechanistically similar fashion, homophilic repulsion me- diated by Drosophila Dscam2 prevents processes from the same class of cells from occupying overlapping synaptic fields through a process called tiling. Genetic studies in the mouse visual system support the view that vertebrate DSCAM also promotes both self-avoidance and tiling. By contrast, DSCAM and DSCAM-L promote layer-specific targeting in the chick visual system, presumably through promoting homophilic adhesion. The fly and mouse studies underscore the importance of ho- mophilic repulsion in regulating neural circuit assembly, whereas the chick studies suggest that DSCAM proteins may mediate a variety of dif- ferent recognition events during wiring in a context-dependent fashion.
Materials Transfer Agreements (MTAs), Licenses, and the Flow of Scientific Knowledge

As university involvement in “technology transfer” and entrepreneurship has grown, concerns have been raised about the impact of academic patenting on academic science. Murray and Stern (2007) sugg...
Physicians' Resistance toward Healthcare Information Technologies: A Dual-Factor Model

This paper proposes and validates a theory of physician resistance toward IT usage by drawing on prior research in the resistance to change literature and a recent dual-factor model of IT usage. This theory elaborates the interdependent and asymmetric effects of resistance vis-a-vis current usage predictors such as behavioral intention. Additionally, we propose perceived threats as a salient determinant of user resistance in the IT usage context. The resulting model is empirically supported via a survey of practicing physicians at a large acute-care hospital in the southeastern United States. Implications of this research for IT research and practice are discussed
Representation of women and perceptions of support in engineering

A deductive coding scheme developed during a previous stage of a multi-institutional research project was used with interview data to gain a more nuanced understanding of the types of gender specific supports identified by female participants and how these might be related to the numeric representation of women. Findings confirm that gender ratios in a field affect perceptions of the gender appropriateness of a field. The numeric representation of women is a type of contextual support that is important because it communicates, not that women need special treatment, but that women belong and can succeed in a field. Within the context of a culture that communicates values that are consistent with it, extracurricular clubs like SWE and positive female role models, send the message that obstacles, while present, are surmountable and that the benefits associated with the outcome make the effort worthwhile.