cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Music and notions of citizenship in the humanitarian work of two NGOs in Uganda

This article explores the ways in which musical practices have become a site for the enactment of particular notions of ‘productive’ citizenship in the humanitarian work of two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Uganda - Watoto Child Care Ministries and Uganda Heritage Roots. It also highlights how the global connections forged by the two NGOs have impacted the music-making practices that are central to the organizations’ aid-provision mandates. Ultimately, as it will be argued here, these global connections inform the conceptions held by the two organizations of how a ‘productive’ citizen of Uganda should carry him/herself.
Descriptive review: hormonal influences on risk for eating disorder symptoms during puberty and adolescence.

Objective Puberty is an important period of risk for the onset of eating pathology in adolescent females. This review focuses on changes in reproductive hormones during puberty as one specific psychopathogenic mechanism. Method Studies of puberty and eating disorder-related phenotypes were identified using search databases and the reference sections of previous literature. Results Correlational studies of adult women and experimental studies of animals provide evidence for the effects of reproductive hormones on eating disorder symptoms. Very few studies of puberty, however, have directly measured or tested the effects of hormonal change in samples of human adolescents. Commonly used measures of pubertal development, such as menarche or self-reported pubertal status, are relatively poor indicators of individual differences in hormones. The extent to which puberty-related hormonal change accounts for elevated risk for disordered eating remains unclear. Discussion Future research is necessary to elucidate the specific relations between hormonal change during puberty and risk for disordered eating. In particular, there is a need for longitudinal studies with multivariate measurement of pubertal development, including direct measures of change in reproductive hormones. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:718–726)
Textbooks of doubt: using systemic functional analysis to explore the framing of climate change in middle-school science textbooks

Middle school students are learning about climate change in large part through textbooks used in their classes. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the language employed in these materials frames this topic. To this end, we used systemic functional analysis to study the language of the chapters related to climate change in four sixth grade science textbooks adopted in the state of California. The linguistic variables investigated were: types of nominal groups; processes; circumstances; and the modality system. Our findings showed that these textbooks framed climate change as uncertain in the scientific community – both about whether it is occurring as well as about its human-causation. The implications for science education are discussed in relation to how the current political and public discourses of climate change, rather than the scientific discourse, is influencing how textbooks discuss this topic.
Waveguide sensor for detection of HNS degradation

Hexanitrostilbene (HNS) is a secondary explosive widely used in a variety of commercial and military applications, due in part to its high heat resistivity. Degradation of HNS is known to occur through exposure to a variety of sources including heat, UV radiation, and certain chemical compounds, all of which may lead to reduced performance. Detecting the degradation of HNS within a device, however, has required destructive analyses of the entire device while probing the HNS in only an indirect fashion. Specifically, the common methods of investigating this degradation include wet chemical, surface area and performance testing of the devices incorporating HNS rather than a direct interrogation of the material itself. For example, chemical tests frequently utilized, such as volatility, conductivity, and contaminant trapping, provide information on contaminants present in the system rather than the chemical stability of the HNS. To instead probe the material directly, we have pursued the use of optical methods, in particular infrared (IR) spectroscopy, in order to assess changes within the HNS itself. In addition, by successfully implementing miniature silicon (Si) waveguides fabricated at Sandia National Laboratories to facilitate this spectroscopic approach, we have demonstrated that HNS degradation monitoring may take place in a non-destructive, in-situ fashion. Furthermore, as these waveguides may be manufactured in a variety of configurations, this direct, non-destructive, approach holds promise for incorporation into a variety of devices.
Thermally Developing Electroosmotic Convection in Rectangular Microchannels With Vanishing Debye-Layer Thickness

Thermally developing electroosmotically generated flow in rectangular ducts has been analyzed for the constant-wall-temperature boundary condition. In such flow, fluid motion is induced not by an applied pressure gradient, but by an applied electric potential. For fluid-tube-material combinations that yield a Debye layer of vanishing thickness, the velocity distribution is essentially uniform across the duct cross section. In addition, the applied potential gradient induces an electrical current that results in volumetric heating in the fluid. An analytical solution to the hydrodynamically developed, thermally developing transport for such a flow is presented
Nuclear magnetic resonance study of NbBex compounds

Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were employed to study powder samples of the compounds NbBe/sub 2/, NbBe/sub 3/, Nb/sub 2/Be/sub 17/, a nd NbBe/ sub 12/. Nuclear quadrupole coupling constants and Knight shifts were determined for the Nb sites in these compounds. The /sup 93/Nb NMR from NbBe/sub 2/ is a single unsplit line with zero quadrupole coupling constant and a Knight shift of 0.70 plus or minus 0.03%. The /sup 93/Nb NMR from a NbBe/sub 3/ sample shows the presence of three resonance lines having values of e/sup 2/qQ/h = 0, 24.2 plus or minus 0.2, 30.1 plus or minus 0.3 MHz and corresponding Knight shifts of 0.69 plus or minus 0.03, 0.72 plus or minus 0.03, 0.53 plus or minus 0.03%. One of these lines was identified as a NbBe/sub 2/ impurity. The /sup 93/ Nb/ NMR of Nb/sub 2/Be/sub 17/ exhibits a quadrupole coupling, e/sup 2/qQ/h = 5.93 PP 0.15 MHz, and a Knight shift, K/sub axial/= 0.014% and K/sub isotropic/ = 0.34 PP 0.02%. The /sup 93/Nb resonance from NbBe/sub 12/ was split by a quadrupole interaction of e/sup 2/qQ/h = 21.7 plus or minus 0.3 MHz and a Knight shift of 0.55% plus or minus 0.02%.more » The beryllium NMR was examined, yielding little information, since no measurable quadrupole interaction or Knight shift was present. (auth)« less
Estradiol replacement elevates the serum and tissue levels of α-tocopherol in ovariectomized rats

Abstract Time-course changes in α-tocopherol (αTP) in serum and selected tissues were examined in ovariectomized rats with estradiol (ES) replacement. Female rats (242 ± 7 g) were ovariectomized (day 0) and divided into two groups of five each; one group was implanted subcutaneously with a time-release ES pellet (OXE; 25 μg/day/rat) and the other with a placebo pellet (OXP). Rats were pair-fed twice daily a modified AIN-93G diet at 9:30 am and 4:30 pm. At day 0 and week 2, 4, and 6 of ES replacement, αTP, phospholipid (PL), and cholesterol in serum and HDL fraction were measured. HDL was isolated by affinity chromatography. ES produced a marked increase in total serum αTP and HDL cholesterol without affecting total serum cholesterol. The increase in serum αTP was caused by a selective increase in HDL αTP with no change in non-HDL αTP. HDL αTP in OXE rats was 10.3 ± 0.8 μmol/L at day 0 and rose to 15.7 ± 1.6 μmol/L at 2 wk with no further increase with time, αTP in the non-HDL fraction did not differ between groups. The αTP level in the non-HDL fraction was 11.1 ± 2.0 μmol/L at day 0 and remained unchanged with time. The marked rise in HDL αTP in OXE rats was associated with a parallel increase in HDL PL (r = 0.80). The concentrations of αTP in the liver (103.4 ± 12.1 nmol/g) and kidneys (52.1 ± 3.6 nmol/g) of OXE rats were also significantly higher than those in the liver (74.4 ± 14.4 nmol/g) and kidneys (21.1 ± 2.2 nmol/g) of OXP rats. The results provide the first evidence that ES replacement at a physiological dose produces a marked increase in the body status of αTP. The finding may explain partly the inhibitory effect of ES on the oxidative modification of serum lipoproteins and elevation of serum HDL in response to ES replacement.
Effects of Cosolvents and pH on Protein Adsorption on Polystyrene Latex: A Dynamic Light Scattering Study.

Dynamic light scattering was used to study the adsorption of two proteins with different surface properties (IgG and HSA) on negatively charged polystyrene latex. The proteins were adsorbed from water and from water/methanol and water/glycerol mixtures at various pH. Some striking differences between the adsorption behaviors of the proteins were observed. Whereas the thickness of the adsorbed layer of HSA was extremely sensitive to pH and solvent composition, that of IgG was not. IgG mainly showed an end-on orientation on polystyrene whereas several different surface orientations are suggested for HSA under different conditions. The addition of methanol inhibited the adsorption of HSA on the latex, but it did not affect the adsorption of IgG. In contrast, the addition of glycerol increased the thickness of the adsorbed layers of both proteins. So, the orientation of IgG on the latex is insensitive to pH but is a function of the kind of solvent whereas both pH and solvent strongly affect the adsorption of HSA. This is a puzzling result since both cosolvents should equally affect the adsorption of both proteins if the dominant forces for adsorption are the same. Therefore, we concluded that, whereas hydrophobic interactions are the dominant force in the adsorption behavior of HSA, van der Waals forces are the main forces involved in the attachment of IgG to the lattices.
Contextual influences on international subsidiaries' product technology strategy

Abstract We seek to test a broad range of factors that influence the technology sourcing decision of international subsidiaries in acquiring product technology from outside the firm (i.e., outsourcing) versus internal development. A regression model, used to analyze data from 187 international subsidiaries in six industries and with parents based in 14 countries, identifies the environmental, strategic, configurational, and resource endowment factors that influence the technology sourcing decision. Specifically, the level of product dynamism in the subsidiary's industry and the distance between the subsidiary's primary marketing and R&D operations are associated with a greater reliance on outsourcing. A differentiation goal, a low-cost goal, along with the level of the subsidiary's human and financial resources are associated with a greater reliance on internal development.
Relation between the method of detection of initial breast carcinoma and the method of detection of subsequent ipsilateral local recurrence and contralateral breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Mammography and physical examination are routine methods for the detection of ipsilateral local recurrence and contralateral breast carcinoma in patients initially undergoing breast conservation treatment. The current study reports the relation between the method of detection of the initial breast carcinoma and the method of detection of subsequent ipsilateral local recurrence and contralateral breast carcinoma. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of the records of female patients with initial American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage I and II invasive breast carcinoma who developed ipsilateral local recurrence or contralateral breast carcinoma after breast conservation treatment. The method of detection of local recurrence in the ipsilateral breast and the method of detection of contralateral breast carcinoma were compared with the method of detection of the primary tumor. RESULTS There were 125 ipsilateral breast local recurrences and 71 contralateral breast carcinoma cases detected. Of the 125 recurrences in the ipsilateral breast, 38% (48 recurrences) were detected by mammography only, 37% (46 recurrences) were detected by physical examination only, and 25% (31 recurrences) were detected by both methods. Of the 71 contralateral breast carcinoma cases, 53% (38 cases) were detected by mammography only, 23% (16 cases) were detected by physical examination only, and 24% (17 cases) were detected by both methods. When the primary tumors were detected by mammography only, 21% of the local recurrences (3 of 14 local recurrences) and 19% of the contralateral breast carcinoma cases (4 of 21 cases) were detected by physical examination only. When the primary tumors were detected by physical examination only, 24% of the local recurrences (14 of 58 local recurrences) and 42% of the contralateral breast carcinoma cases (8 of 19 cases) were detected by mammography only. When stratified by the interval between diagnosis of the primary tumor and ipsilateral local recurrence or contralateral breast carcinoma (≤ 5 years vs. > 5 years) or age of the patient at the time of ipsilateral breast recurrence or contralateral breast carcinoma (age ≤ 49 years vs. age ≥ 50 years), both breast examination and mammography were found to be important in the detection of locally recurrent tumor and contralateral breast carcinoma in each subgroup of the patients, regardless of the method of presentation of the primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS Both mammography and physical examination were found to be significant in the detection of locally recurrent tumor in the ipsilateral breast and in the detection of contralateral breast carcinoma, regardless of the method of detection of the primary tumor. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11685
Crystallization of a chitosanase from Streptomyces N174.

Abstract Chitosanases are produced by many soil fungi and bacteria to degrade chitosan present in fungal cell walls. Here, we report the crystallization of a 29,500 dalton protein with chitosan endo-hydrolase activity isolated from Streptomyces N174. The crystals were grown by vapor diffusion. They are mechanically strong and diffract to at least 1·9 A resolution. The crystals belong to the monoclinic space group P21 with unit cell parameters a = 56·4 A, b = 59·6 A, c = 86·1 A and β = 96·6°. Cell parameters and crystal density are consistent with two chitosanase molecules per asymmetric unit.
Validation of Genetically Engineered Bioluminescent Surfactant Resistant Bacteria as Toxicity Assessment Tools

Bacteria are useful organisms for measuring acute and chronic toxicity. The most popular toxicity tests utilize the inhibition of bioluminescence as an indication of toxicity. An extensive toxicity database on pure chemical compounds has been created using the bioluminescent microorganism, Vibrio fischeri. However, the use of the Microtox assay in applications for environmental samples is not always successful, due to the test organism. Because the genes for bioluminescence have been cloned from V. fischeri, environmentally relevant test strains can be readily constructed. In this study, surfactant-resistant bioluminescent bacterial strains were constructed by transferring a broad host range plasmid containing the bioluminescent genes under the regulation of a constitutive promoter into strains from several bacterial genera. Two test strains, Stenotrophomonas 3664 and Alcaligenes eutrophus 2050, were approximately 400 times more resistant to the nonionic surfactant polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether than V. fischeri and are useful for toxicity reduction evaluations of remediation processes which use surfactants for solubilization of hydrophobic pollutants. The use of these strains as alternative test organisms in the Microtox assay was evaluated using nonpolar narcosis as the baseline toxicity mechanisms. The two test strains and V. fischeri indicated linear fits of EC50 values with the octanol/water partition (Kow) for five nonpolar narcotic compounds in acute assays (r2>0.9) with a slope of approximately 1. For all three strains, the y-intercept values were approximately the same, indicating that sensitivity did not vary. These results indicate that the nonpolar narcosis baseline toxicity mechanism may be useful as a general tool to validate the functioning of genetically engineered bioluminescent microorganisms.
HIV: Dendritic cells as embers for the infectious fire

Abstract In people with HIV-1, most of the CD4-expressing T cells that produce virus are short-lived and vulnerable to anti-retroviral agents. But the initial ‘fire' of HIV-1 infection may begin in, and be maintained by, cells of the dendritic cell lineage.
Semi-autonomous liquid handling via on-chip pneumatic digital logic

This report presents a liquid-handling chip capable of executing metering, mixing, incubation, and wash procedures largely under the control of on-board pneumatic circuitry. The only required inputs are four static selection lines to choose between the four machine states, and one additional line for power. State selection is simple: constant application of vacuum to an input causes the device to execute one of its four liquid handling operations. Programmed control of 31 valves, including fast coordinated cycling for peristaltic pumping, is accomplished by pneumatic digital logic circuits built out of microfluidic valves and channels rather than electronics, eliminating the need for the off-chip control machinery that is typically required for integrated microfluidics.
Appendix 4: Report of study group on microphysics

Abstract This Report outlines scientific issues that involve microscopic phenomena in multiphase flows. A common theme is the need to understand the coupling between molecular scale phenomena and macroscopic phenomena. Phenomena to be discussed include boiling nucleation, contact line motion, flow regimes in microchannels, breakup and coalescence of fluid particles and jets, atomization and sprays, and the effects of surface-active molecules and drag-reducing polymers.
Structural identification of an unknown source term in a heat equation

The identification of an unknown state-dependent source term in a reaction-diffusion equation is considered. Integral identities are derived which relate changes in the source term to corresponding changes in the measured output. The identities are used to show that the measured boundary output determines the source term uniquely in an appropriate function class and to show that a source term that minimizes an output least squares functional based on this measured output must also solve the inverse problem. The set of outputs generated by polygonal source functions is shown to be dense in the set of all admissible outputs. Results from some numerical experiments are discussed.
Computing finite-temperature loops with ease

Abstract An efficient way of calculating perturbatively at non-zero temperatures is to start with a diagram in momentum space, and then Fourier transform each propagator in a loop with respect to the (imaginary) time. Discontinuities are read off from the energy denominators of this non-covariant approach.
Equality and human rights

There is a puzzling disconnect between recent philosophical literature on equality and the modern theory and practice of human rights. This disconnect is puzzling because the modern human rights mo...
Field evidence for sexual selection and resource competition infanticide in white-footed mice

Abstract A field study on infanticide in white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, was conducted to (1) determine the effects of sex, reproductive experience and relatedness on the tendency to engage in infanticide, and (2) test three hypotheses for the adaptive significance of infanticide (resource competition, sexual selection and exploitation of young as a food source). The incidence of infanticide was determined using specially designed test chambers in a wild population. Infanticide was most commonly exhibited by resident adult females, immigrating males and resident males that had not sired any offspring. Resident males that had sired offspring did not kill pups within their home ranges, but did kill pups as dispersing males. Thus, infanticide among males was related to confidence of paternity. Forty-three per cent of the pups killed were partially eaten, mostly by pregnant or lactating females. Exploitation of young as a food source may occur opportunistically, but does not appear to be the main motivation for infanticide. Neither males nor females discriminated between pups based on familiar and unfamiliar scent. The results support the sexual selection hypothesis for males and resource competition hypothesis for females.
Small Perturbation Solutions for Elliptic Equations

We consider viscosity solutions of fully nonlinear elliptic equations for which u ≡ 0 is a solution. We assume F is smooth and uniformly elliptic only in a neighborhood of the points (0, 0, 0, x), and show that u is smooth in the interior if ‖u‖ L ∞ is sufficiently small.
Fetal hemoglobin in women with normal and with hydatidiform molar pregnancy

The quantity and the rate of synthesis of fetal hemoglobin (HbF); the level of HbF-containing erythrocytes (F cells); and the levels of progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS) in serial blood samples from women at different stages of pregnancy were determined. An increase was observed in the synthesis and the quantity of maternal HbF, reaching a peak at about 9-12 weeks gestation. A major peak in F-cell level was also detected at about 9-12 weeks, with two minor peaks appearing at about 16-20 and 22-24 weeks. Levels of HCG, HCS, and progesterone also varied during pregnancy. Timing of the rise and fall of HCG levels corresponded to that of maternal HbF levels, whereas levels of HCS and progesterone did not reach their peak until later stages of gestation when HbF level had returned to normal. Similar analysis conducted on patients with hydatidiform molar pregnancy revealed that the majority (greater than 95%) of these patients showed significant increases in HbF synthesis at the time of molar evacuation, but decreased to normal levels in approximately 30 days post-evacuation. A similar profile in the levels of HCG, but not progesterone and HCS, was observed. A positive correlation between levels of HCG and HbF can be established (correlation coefficient = 0.94). These data are in agreement with the hypothesis that HCG may act as a stimulus for the enhanced HbF synthesis in adults.
A cost-effective distributed architecture to enable distance education over emerging wireless technologies

Opportunities in education are lacking in many parts of the developed nations and are missing in most parts of the developing nations. This is, in part, due to shortages of classroom instructional resources. Distance education has proved to be a successful teaching methodology and overcomes some of the barriers imposed by classroom instruction. Many distance learning software tools have been developed that are in use today. They require high network capacity, which is not supported by common long distance wireless network infrastructures. This paper highlights our research for the design and development of a cost-effective distributed architecture to enable distance education over emerging terrestrial wireless technologies. The design of this proposed novel architecture will include an overlay network supporting distributed peer-to-peer multicasting functionality to operate over emerging wireless technologies.
Selective Interaction in a Polymer−Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Composite

Purification and enhanced processability of carbon nanotubes have previously been achieved through interaction with a conjugated polymer. In particular, microscopy and Raman spectroscopy indicate a selective interaction between single-walled carbon nanotubes and a conjugated polymer. Until now, there has been no extensive theoretical investigation into the interaction between polymer and carbon nanotubes. An atomistic molecular dynamics computer simulation in conjunction with experimental evidence is used to elucidate the nature of the interaction. Computational time was reduced by representing carbon nanotubes as a force field. Our calculations indicate an extremely strong noncovalent binding energy. Furthermore, the correlation between the chirality of the nanotubes and mapping of the polymer onto the lattice is discussed.
Cold War Pop Culture and the Image of U.S. Foreign Policy: The Perspective of the Original Star Trek Series

Star Trek has been a major American cultural phenomenon. In the 1960s, when the original series was in production, the producers, directors, and writers attempted to use it as a forum to comment on a number of political issues. They intentionally designed some episodes to critique U.S. foreign policy in the belief that the United States should seek to foster democracy and refrain from using force that would undermine the country's positive role in international affairs.In part, then, Star Trek was a running effort to reshape the foreign policies of the United States.
Detection of glycosaminoglycans as a copper (II) complex in capillary electrophoresis

Glycosaminoglycans including heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate and hyaluronic acid were analyzed by reversed polarity capillary electrophoresis. Detection was achieved at 240 nm based on the formation of a copper (II) complex in copper sulfate solution at low pH. Glycosaminoglycans having a high ratio of iduronic acid to glucuronic acid, as well as ones having lower molecular weight, gave the highest detection sensitivity using this method. Detection of the copper (II)-heparin complex is extremely sensitive, permitting the analysis of as little as 10(-9) g. This method was also successfully applied to the analysis of heparin oligosaccharides that lacked a chromophore prepared from heparin using controlled, low pH nitrous acid depolymerization.
Polarization-controlled multistage switch based on polarization-selective computer-generated holograms

We describe a polarization-controlled free-space optical multistage interconnection network based on polarization-selective computer-generated holograms: optical elements that are capable of imposing arbitrary, independent phase functions on horizontally and vertically polarized monochromatic light. We investigate the design of a novel nonblocking space-division photonic switch architecture. The multistage-switch architecture uses a fan-out stage, a single stage of 2 × 2 switching elements, and a fan-in stage. The architecture is compatible with several control strategies that use 1 × 2 and 2 × 2 polarization-controlled switches to route the input light beams. One application of the switch is in a passive optical network in which data is optically transmitted through the switch with a time-of-flight delay but without optical-to-electrical conversions at each stage. We have built and characterized a proof-of-principle 4 × 4 free-space switching network using three cascaded stages of arrayed birefringent computer-generated holographic elements. Data modulated at 20 MHz/channel were transmitted through the network to demonstrate transparent operation.
Parametric Study and Multi-Criteria Optimization in Laser Cladding by a High Power Direct Diode Laser

In laser cladding, the performance of the deposited layers subjected to severe working conditions (e.g., wear and high temperature conditions) depends on the mechanical properties, the metallurgical bond to the substrate, and the percentage of dilution. The clad geometry and mechanical characteristics of the deposited layer are influenced greatly by the type of laser used as a heat source and process parameters used. Nowadays, the quality of fabricated coating by laser cladding and the efficiency of this process has improved thanks to the development of high-power diode lasers, with power up to 10 kW. In this study, the laser cladding by a high power direct diode laser (HPDDL) as a new heat source in laser cladding was investigated in detail. The high alloy tool steel material (AISI H13) as feedstock was deposited on mild steel (ASTM A36) by a HPDDL up to 8kW laser and with new design lateral feeding nozzle. The influences of the main process parameters (laser power, powder flow rate, and scanning speed) on the clad-bead geometry (specifically layer height and depth of the heat affected zone), and clad microhardness were studied. Multiple regression analysis was used to develop the analytical models for desired output properties according to input process parameters. The Analysis of Variance was applied to check the accuracy of the developed models. The response surface methodology (RSM) and desirability function were used for multi-criteria optimization of the cladding process. In order to investigate the effect of process parameters on the molten pool evolution, in-situ monitoring was utilized. Finally, the validation results for optimized process conditions show the predicted results were in a good agreement with measured values. The multi-criteria optimization makes it possible to acquire an efficient process for a combination of clad geometrical and mechanical characteristics control.
The feminist porn book: the politics of producing pleasure

The Feminist Porn Book offers a comprehensive update of contemporary sex-positive feminist approaches to pornography and the feminist pornography genre in particular, and is simultaneously reflexiv...
Chemical stability of titanium diboride reinforcement in nickel aluminide matrices

Chemical stability of TiB2 reinforcement in NiAl (45 at percent Al) and Ni3Al (24 at percent Al) matrices has been theoretically and experimentally investigated. Calculations were made using thermodynamic properties of the systems to predict behavior at temperatures between 1173 and 1573 K. Experimental investigation of hot-press consolidated TiB2 particulate/prealloyed matrix powder blends were conducted using energy dispersive X-ray analysis, XRD, AES, and TEM. The theoretical and experimental analyses suggest that TiB2 is chemically stable in both matrices up to 1573 K; however, TiB2 was found to be less active in NiAl than in Ni3Al due to lower nickel activity in NiAl.
Cyclic nucleotide levels of the photosensitive irises of Bufo marinus and Lophius

The sphincter pupillae muscle of several species contracts autonomously after light directly strikes the iris. The response is initiated by isomerization of rhodopsin in the sarcolemma. Light-induced release of CA2+ from internal stores is one step in the transduction process. The levels of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were measured after irises were stimulated by light. Stimulation by light does not produce measurable or consistent changes in the levels of either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP within the photosensitive irises of at least two species, Bufo marinus and Lophius.
Using the Networked Fire Chief for Ego-Depletion Research: Measuring Dynamic Decision-Making Effort and Performance

This study replicated ego-depletion predictions from the self-control literature in a computer simulation task that requires ongoing decision-making in relation to constantly changing environmental information: the Network Fire Chief (NFC). Ego-depletion led to decreased self-regulatory effort, but not performance, on the NFC task. These effects were also buffered by task enjoyment so that individuals who enjoyed the dynamic decision-making task did not experience ego-depletion effects. These findings confirm that past ego-depletion effects on decision-making are not limited to static or isolated decision-making tasks and can be extended to dynamic, naturalistic decision-making processes more common to naturalistic settings. Furthermore, the NFC simulation provides a methodological mechanism for independently measuring effort and performance when studying ego-depletion.
Compact plasma accelerator device

A compact plasma accelerator concept based on plasma production at a magnetic cusp was designed and fabricated. Plume and discharge characteristics of the device were documented using a Faraday probe and a retarding potential analyzer. The discharge current variations with increasing discharge voltage were nonlinear with the discharge current increasing rapidly with voltage. The device demonstrated the capability of generating ion beamlets (∼80 eV) with downstream peak current densities comparable to that of higher power ion thruster devices (7 mA/cm2). In general, the device appeared to operate best at very low flow rates. High propellant utilization fractions (ionization fractions) were measured below 1 SCCM of Xe flow (88% at 0.48 SCCM). Floating potential measurements made downstream of the device were used to estimate the downstream electric field. These measurements, which were used to qualitatively assess beam neutralization, indicated beam neutralization does occur downstream of the device. Based ...
N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) modified cellulose acetate ultrafiltration membranes

Abstract A potentially low fouling membrane was developed by attaching a stimuli-responsive polymer layer on the surface, which offered the potential to collapse or expand the polymer layer with change in temperature. The phase change arose from the existence of a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) such that the polymer precipitated from solution as the temperature was increased. This capability was exploited to control adsorption/desorption on a cellulose acetate membrane. A temperature decrease caused the layer to expand into a rough hydrophilic state while a temperature increase caused a collapse into a smooth hydrophobic state. By cycling the temperature of the modified membrane above and below the LCST, a dynamic surface was created with the potential to reduced fouling.I n this study, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) was used as the temperature-responsive polymer; it has an LCST of 32 °C, and was grafted to a cellulose acetate ultrafiltration membrane surface using cerium ammonium nitrate as an initiator. While surface activation was observed at the nano-scale level, no improvements in fouling control were observed during operation.
Expanding the notion of links

Research in the humanities, particularly in text-oriented fields such as Classics and Religious Studies, poses particular challenges to hypertext and hypermedia systems. The complex set of primary and secondary documents form an intricate, highly interconnected network, for the representation of which hypertext is ideal. The variety and quantity of links which are needed pose challenges especially for data structures and for display and navigation tools. The specific needs arise in other contexts as well, particularly those with very large or complicated document collections.
Signs and symptoms in common colds.

The patterns of disease caused by five common viruses which infect the respiratory tract are described. The viruses were strains of rhinovirus types 2, 9, and 14, a strain of coronavirus type 229E and of respiratory syncytial virus. Volunteers were given nasal drops containing a low infectious dose of one of the viruses, quarantined from 2 days before to 5 days after inoculation, and examined daily by a clinician using a standard checklist of respiratory signs and symptoms. Only subjects who developed clinical illness accompanied by viral shedding and/or specific antibody production were analysed [n = 116]. The results confirm indication from earlier studies that the main difference between colds induced by different viruses is in duration of the incubation period. Patterns of symptom development were not substantially different with different viruses. Analyses of signs and symptoms in different categories, e.g. nasal symptoms v. coughing, justify treatment with different drugs either successively or simultaneously.
Primary and Secondary Control in East Asia: Comments on Oerter et al. (1996):

Oerter, Oerter, Agostiani, Kim and Wibowo (1996) present an intriguing framework for studying concepts of human nature, and they offer thought-provoking applications of that framework to culture and to the primary-secondary control model. Their evidence that primary control is more characteristic of American subjects than those in Japan, Korea and Indonesia harmonizes well with our view (see Weisz, Rothbaum, & Blackburn, 1984a, 1984b). The work raises important issues for the assessment of control orientation. In addressing these issues, we (a) argue for methodological consistency across comparison cultures; (b) stress the need to know both an individual's actions and goals for accurate assessment of primary and secondary control; (c) note the need to assess steps or sequences in the pursuit of control; (d) discuss control as it relates to religion, and to individualism-collectivism; and (e) note the potential relevance of primary and secondary control to all stage levels in the Oerter et al. model. Study...
Boys with high body masses have an increased risk of developing asthma: findings from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY)

To determine the relation between body mass index and the development of asthma in children. Prospective study of 4393 asthma-free children followed for up to 14 years. Children of participants in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Analysis was limited to children who were followed from birth and were asthma-free during the first 24 months of life. The outcome was the development of asthma during follow-up (incident asthma). Body mass index (BMI) was our main predictor of interest. Survival analyses, using time to development of asthma as the main endpoint, were stratified by sex and controlled for race/ethnicity, poverty status, and prenatal maternal smoking. Asthma developed in 218 (5.0 %) children during the follow-up period. The relation between BMI and incident asthma varied by sex. A BMI ⩾85th percentile at age 2–3 years was a risk factor for subsequent asthma development in boys (hazard ratio (HR) 1.6 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1, 2.4) but not girls (HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5, 1.4). Similarly, boys with BMIs always ⩾85th percentile were at increased risk for subsequent asthma development (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4, 4.4) but not girls (HR 1.5, 95% CI 0.7, 2.9). Boys with high body masses may be at an increased risk for developing asthma.
Phase Equilibria in the Alkali Fluoride-Uranium Tetrafluoride Fused Salt Systems: II, The Systems KF-UF4 and RbF-UF4

Mixtures of alkali fluorides with uranium tetra-fluoride are of potential importance in molten-salt reactors and in the reprocessing of nuclear fuels. In this paper detailed phase diagrams are presented for the binary systems KF-UF4 and RbF-UF4. Data for the determination of phase boundaries were obtained in large part by quenching after equilibration. Thermal analysis and visual observation were used as supplementary methods. Phase identifications were made by X-ray powder diffraction and by optical microscopy. In the system KF-UF4 four compounds have been identified. Two of these, 3KF.UF4 and 7KF.6UF4, melt congruently at 957°C. and at 789°C., respectively. The compound 2KF UF4 melts incongruently to 3KF.UF4 and liquid at 755° C., and the compound KF.2UF4 melts incongruently to UF4 and liquid at 765° C. There are three eutectic points in the system: 15.0 mole % UF4, 735° C.; 38.5 mole % UF4, 740° C.; and 54.5 mole % UF4, 735° C. The compound 2KF.UF4 decomposes during cooling to 3KF.UF4 and 7KF 6UF4 at 608° C. Two other compounds, KF 3UF4 and KF.6UF4, have been described by another investigator. One of these, KF 3UF4, was not obtained at all in the present investigation. The other, KF.6UF4, was not obtained under equilibrium conditions and was found only in KF-UF4 mixtures that had been exposed to the atmosphere while molten. Seven solid compounds are present in the system RbF-UF4. All of these melt incongruently with the exception of 3RbF.UF4 and RbF-UF4, which melt at 995° C. and at 735° C., respectively. The incongruently melting compounds and their melting points, peritectic compositions, and melting products are: 2RbF UF4, 818°C., 38 mole % UF4, 3RbF -UF4+ liquid; 7RbF.6UF4, 693° C., 44 mole % UF4, RbF.UF4+ liquid; 2RbF.3UF4, 722° C., 56.5 mole % UF4, RbF.3UF4+ liquid; RbF. -3UF4, 73O°C., 57 mole % UF4, RbF.6UF4+ liquid; and RbF.6UF4, 832°C., 70.5 mole % UF4, UF4+ liquid. The three eutectic temperatures and compositions in the system are: 10.0 mole % UF4, 710°C.; 43.5 mole % UF4, 675°C.; and 55.0 mole % UF4, 714°C.
Food Insecurity in Western US States: Increasing Collaboration between State Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations

This analysis examines how and why many nonprofits and state agencies fighting domestic hunger have increasingly collaborated in unexpected ways. Interviews with nonprofit and state agency leaders ...
Onlay Patch Repair of Tracheobronchial Rupture

Two cases are reported of tracheobronchial repair in which a posteriorly based intercostal muscle flap was incorporated into the membranous portion of the airway to increase the diameter of the reconstruction or to relieve tension in the suture lines. This technique permits repair of a small left main bronchus without compromise to the lumen and tension-free repair of the membranous trachea.
The Use of Polyethylene as an Indicator in Determination of Metabolizable Energy of Diets for Japanese Quail

Abstract Polyethylene can be used as an inert indicator in the determination of metabolizable energy. Methods are described for its quantitative determination. Metabolizable energy of diets containing glucose, fructose and sucrose was higher in one-week old quail than six-week old quail.
Insulin Resistance in Aging Is Related to Abdominal Obesity

Studies have shown that insulin resistance increases with age, independent of changes in total adiposity. However, there is growing evidence that the development of insulin resistance may be more closely related to abdominal adiposity. To evaluate the independent effects of aging and regional and total adiposity on insulin resistance, we performed hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps on 17 young (21-33 yr) and 67 older (60-72 yr) men and women. We assessed FFM and total and regional adiposity by hydrodensitometry and anthropometry. Insulin-stimulated GDRs at a plasma insulin concentration of approximately 450 pM averaged 45.6 +/- 3.3 mumol.kg FFM-1 x min-1 (mean +/- SE) in the young subjects, 45.6 +/- 10.0 mumol.kg FFM-1 x min-1 in 24 older subjects who were insulin sensitive, and 23.9 +/- 11.7 mumol.kg FFM-1 x min-1 in 43 older subjects who were insulin resistant. Few significant differences were apparent in skin-fold and circumference measurements between young and insulin-sensitive older subjects, but measurements at most central body sites were significantly larger in the insulin-resistant older subjects. Waist girth accounted for > 40% of the variance in insulin action, whereas age explained only 10-20% of the total variance and < 2% of the variance when the effects of waist circumference were statistically controlled. These results suggest that insulin resistance is more closely associated with abdominal adiposity than with age.
The preparation of Cyanide-11C for use in the synthesis of organic radiopharmaceuticals II

Abstract Three methods are described for the preparation of carbon-11 containing cyanide. Two methods involve direct recoil synthesis, 11 C + N 2 + H 2 → H 11 CN and 11 C + NaCN → Na 11 CN, and a third method involves a recoil plus chemical synthesis, 11 CO 2 + K + NH 3 → K 11 CN. The methods are compared for their usefulness in the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals containing carbon-11.
MR-Based, Patient-Specific Computational Simulation to Recapitulate Scar-Related Ventricular Tachycardia

In scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT), a part of heterogeneous zone (HZ), a highly complex mixture of scar and normal-appearing tissue, may be the region of slow conduction that serves as the substrate for reentry. Currently, we use invasive catheter mapping to “search and destroy” this slowly conducting tissue. Our aim is to investigate the role of the MRI-defined HZ as the VT ablation target by utilizing MRI-based computational simulations. In 13 patients with scar-related VT (age 65±9 years, EF 42±16%) referred for VT ablation, pre-ablation MRI with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was performed. Scar and HZ were defined by LGE and were integrated into computational simulation. The scar was modeled as an insulator, and HZ as the slowly conducting tissue. Myofiber orientation was estimated from the ventricular geometry. Simulation results were validated against electrophysiology study, mapping, and actual 12-lead ECG data. Simulated surface 12-lead ECG of the induced simulated VT matched well with the actual surface ECG of clinical VT. Ablation lesions were simulated by creating areas of insulation. In all cases, the successful ablation sites coincided with the optimal ablation targets predicted by simulation. We conclude that, using pre-ablation MRI, scar-related VT can be reproduced in computer simulation and successful ablation sites can be accurately determined.
Laura R. Peck on "Failure of intervention or failure of evaluation: a meta-evaluation of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign Evaluation".

Quibbles about methods do nothing to advance public policy. What we—as researchers, policy-makers, and the public—want to know is what impact a policy or program had so that we can know whether it ...
Interaction of the Inward Rectifier Potassium Channel Kir 2.2 with Phosphatidylserine

Inward-rectifier K+ (Kir) channels are ion channels that transport potassium into the cell. They are essential to maintain the resting membrane potential and to regulate the action potential duration in excitable cells [1]. As a consequence, Kir mutations result in several diseases, such as periodic paralysis or cardiac arrhythmia [1, 2].The activity of Kir channels is regulated by phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2), a negatively charged phospholipid that has been recognized as one of the major regulators of membrane excitability [2]. Moreover, it has been suggested that Kir activation is not only regulated by PIP2, but it has a secondary, non-specific requirement for other anionic phospholipids [3].Here we have investigated the interaction of phosphatidylserine (PS) with Kir 2.2 by means of all-atom molecular dynamics (MD). Simulations have been performed on both the apo and PIP2-bound states of the channel [4], embedded in a POPS membrane in the presence of KCl. These trajectories reveal the key protein residues interacting with POPS, complementing previous docking [3] and coarse-grain [5] studies. Furthermore, they suggest that the Kir 2.2-POPS interactions drive the cytoplasmic domain closer to the membrane and help to pre-assemble the PIP2 binding site. In other words, our simulations provide a molecular picture of the sensitized state proposed by Nichols and coworkers to explain the synergistic effect of anionic phospholipids [3].[1] Physiol. Rev. 90:291-366 (2010).[2] Pflugers Arch. 460:321-341 (2010).[3] (a) Biophys. J. 100:620-628 (2011). (b) J. Biol. Chem. 288:16726-16737 (2013). (c) Biophys. J., 104:433a (2013).[4] (a) Science, 326:1668-1674 (2009). (b) Nature (Letter), 477:495-499 (2011)[5] Biochemistry, 52:279-281 (2013).