cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microchannel-plate detectors for space-based astronomy

The advantages of photon-counting detectors such as the Ranicon over other detectors in space-based astronomy in the area of time-resolved imaging and spectroscopy are discussed. Details of a system to record the positions and absolute arrival times of individual photons are described, with emphasis on the time-tag module and detector electronics and data collection system. The use of a GPS system for accurate absolute timing when synchronizing observations from different observatories is suggested.
Nanofiber for cardiovascular tissue engineering

Introduction: Organ/tissue replacement therapy is inherently difficult for application in the tissue engineering field due to immune rejection that limits the long-term efficacy of implanted devices. As the application of tissue engineering in the biomedical field has steadily expanded, stem cells have emerged as a viable option to promote the immune acceptance of implantable devices and to expedite alleviation of the pathological conditions. With various novel scaffolds being introduced, nanofibers which have a three-dimensional architecture can be considered as an efficient carrier for stem cells. Areas covered: This article reviews the novel tissue engineering processes involved with nanofiber and stem cells. Topics such as the fabrication of nanofiber via electrospinning techniques, the interaction between nanofiber scaffold and specific cell and advanced techniques to enhance the stability of stem cells are delineated in detail. In addition, cardiovascular applications of nanofiber scaffolds loaded w...
Mercury contamination in three species of anuran amphibians from the Cache Creek watershed, California, USA

Fish and wildlife may bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) to levels that adversely affect reproduction, growth, and survival. Sources of Hg within the Cache Creek Watershed in northern California have been identified, and concentrations of Hg in invertebrates and fish have been documented. However, bioaccumulation of Hg by amphibians has not been evaluated. In this study, adult and juvenile American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii), adult Northern Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla), and larval bullfrogs were collected and analyzed for total Hg. One or more species of amphibians from 40% of the 35 sites had mean Hg concentrations greater than the US Environmental Protection Agency’s tissue residue criterion for fish (0.3 μg/g). Of the bullfrog tissues analyzed, the liver had the highest concentrations of both total Hg and methyl mercury. Total Hg in carcasses of bullfrogs was highly correlated with total Hg in leg muscle, the tissue most often consumed by humans.
Arthroscopically assisted reduction and fixation of an adult Tillaux fracture of the ankle

We describe the first report of arthroscopically-assisted reduction and fixation of an adult Tillaux fracture. Anatomic reduction of the fracture was possible with arthroscopic visualization. Adjunctive use of the arthroscope for accurate reduction of intraarticular fractures, which has been successful in the management of distal radius and tibial plateau fractures, can also be used for adult Tillaux fractures of the ankle.
High-strain-rate pressure-shear recovery: a new experimental technique

A new experimental technique is presented that allows for the recovery of a sample that has been subjected to a single well-characterized high-rate shear loading and a single well-characterized longitudinal pulse within a pressure-shear plate impact configuration. Pressure-shear plate impact experiments are traditionally used to investigate the behavior of materials under conditions of very high rate (105–106 s−1) simple shearing under high hydrostatic pressures. The new technique—known as High-Strain-Rate Pressure-Shear Recovery or HSRPSR—is valuable for the investigation of microstructural influences on the plastic flow of materials under these conditions. Several successful experiments have been performed at strain rates of 105 s−1 using the HSRPSR technique. The recovered specimens are compared with specimens obtained after deformation within conventional pressure-shear plate impact experiments. As an example of the utility of this recovery technique, the paper presents the microstructural characterization of specimens of α-titanium after deformation at strain rates of 105 s−1 and under superimposed hydrostatic pressures of several GPa.
On a problem about face polynomials

Abstract It is proved that an R-automorphism of polynomial ring R[x1,…,xn] is completely determined by its face polynomials, where R is a reduced commutative ring and n≥2. An example is given which shows that the condition R being reduced cannot be weakened.
261Rf; new isotope of element 104☆

Abstract We have discovered a 65 s, α-particle emitting isotope of element 104, rutherfordium, by bombarding 248Cm with 18O ions. The identification of the isotope as 261Rf is based on milking the 26 s daughter, 257No.
Mirex incorporation in the environment: Toxicity in two soil macroarthropods and effects on soil community respiration

The KD (knockdown dosage) and LD (lethal dosage) values of mirex were determined for the land isopod Armadillidium vulgare and the soil millipede Oxidus gracilis by feeding with a diet containing different concentrations of technical mirex powder. KD50 and LD50 values for A. vulgare at 10 days exposure were 11.6 ppm and 35.2 ppm, respectively; and for O. gracilis, 5.4 ppm and 198.7 ppm, respectively. The isopod A. vulgare was less susceptible to mirex poisoning as symptomized by knockdown behavior but was killed sooner than the millipede O. gracilis. Poisoned animals showed increased O2 uptake after two to three days of feeding on mirex diet presumably due to increased muscular activity as induced by elevated oxidative metabolism. Technical mirex showed a significant effect on soil community respiration at 100 ppm concentration after 24 h but no change was observed at the higher concentrations of 500 and 1000 ppm. The addition of mirex as fire ant baits at the rate of 1:100, 1 : 1000, and I :10 000 bait to soil ratio also did not affect soil community respiration, but 02 uptake was nevertheless elevated due to the microbial population (bacteria and fungi) that immediately invaded the bait material.
BLUE LIGHT RESPONSES IN NITRATE REDUCTASE MUTANTS OF NEUROSPORA CRASSA

— The role of nitrate reductase in the blue light responses of photosuppression and phase shifting of circadian conidiation was studied in Neurospora crassa. The photoresponses, as assayed in three nitrate reductase mutants (nit-1,nit–2 and nit-3), showed no significant differences as compared to the responses in a strain which could utilize nitrate. In addition, the responses occur on a medium which (i) represses nitrate reductase activity due to the presence of ammonium ion and arginine or (ii) results in the production of an inactive enzyme due to the presence of tungsten. Nitrate reductase appears to be of no or secondary importance as a photoreceptor in the responses studied.
Structure and meaning in The Dream of the Rood

(1968). Structure and meaning in The Dream of the Rood. English Studies: Vol. 49, No. 1-6, pp. 385-401.
Multivariable frequency-response curve fitting with application to control-relevant parameter estimation

Abstract A weighted least-squares method for curve fitting multivariable, discrete-time transfer-function models from a known plant frequency response is presented. The algorithm supports the use of iterative, pre/post matrix-valued weighting functions, which commonly arise in control-relevant parameter estimation problems. A challenging case study involving an ill-conditioned , 40-tray high-purity binary distillation column model is presented. The closed-loop responses from the control-relevant model are superior to those obtained from unweighted multivariable estimation methods and one element-at-a-time estimation, in spite of the fact that these latter models display a closer ‘open-loop’ fit.
Electron-helium free-free scattering in the presence of a laser field

We report measurements of the scattering of electrons by helium atoms in the presence of 1.17 eV photons from a Nd:YAG laser. The incident energy of the electrons was in the range 50 – 350 eV and the polarization of the laser was arranged to be parallel to the scattered electrons. Energy-shifted peaks corresponding both to one- and two-photon emission were observed. Calculations using the Kroll-Watson approximation are perfectly consistent with the data.
Immaturity and Enhanced Renal Clearances of Native Proteins

Renal clearances of 3 plasma proteins were studied in the mature and immature human neonate and adut to test the hypothesis that capillary permeability may be directly related to immaturity in the human, as it is in the sheep [J. Physiol. 201: 567, 1969] and dog [Amer.J. Physiol. 213: 441, 1967]. Urine was collected for 18-24 h, filtered, dialzyed and concentrated by lyophilization. Protein concentrations were measured in the serum and concentrated urine by the technique of radial immunodiffusion with specific antisera. Eighty to 90% of the 3 proteins studied were recovered from pooled human serum diluted to the approximate protein concentration of urine and subjected to the same procedureds. Clearances (mean±SD) × 10−2 in ml/kg body wt/24 h and the number of subjects studies (in parentheses) follow: Thus, there was 1.5- to 7-fold greater clearance for full-term infants than for adults and 5- to 7-fold greater clearance for premature than for full-term infants. Protein clearances did not correlate with molecular weights. The data suggest that the immature as compared to the mature human has greater glomerular capillary permeability, greater tubular excretion or decreased tubular reabsorption either singly or in combination.
A characterization of the principal PM-10 species in Claremont (summer) and Long Beach (fall) during SCAQS

Abstract As part of the Southern California Air Quality Study (SCAQS), General Motors Research Laboratories made comprehensive air quality measurements during the summer of 1987 in Claremont, CA, and during the fall of 1987 in Long Beach, CA. These locations are typically in the areas of highest pollution for the respective seasons. Claremont's air quality during the summer was characterized by high concentrations of photochemically produced pollutants including ozone (O3), nitric acid (HNO3), particulate nitrate (NO3−) and particulate organic carbon (OC). The highest concentrations of these species were experienced during the daytime sampling period (0600–1800 h) and were associated with transport from the western part of the basin. Long Beach's air quality during the fall was characterized by frequent periods of air stagnation that resulted in high concentrations of primary pollutants including PM-10, OC and elemental carbon (EC) as well as particulate NO3−. Night-time levels of most constituents exceeded daytime levels due to poorer night-time dispersion conditions. At Claremont, OC and NO3− compounds account for 52% of the PM-10 while at Long Beach they account for 67% of the PM-10. On the average, there appears to be sufficient particulate ammonium (NH4+) to completely neutralize the nitrate and acidic sulfates. Significant artifact OC was detected and corrected for at both sites. At Claremont the artifact accounted for 21% of the uncorrected OC mass and 13% at Long Beach. Because of NO3− and NH4+ losses on Teflon filters, the measured PM-10 and fine particulate mass (FPM) had to be corrected. This correction amounted to increasing the average measured FPM and PM-10 by 17 and 12%, respectively, at Claremont, and 8 and 6%, respectively, at Long Beach.
Range-energy relation of hot electrons in gold

Abstract The range L(E) of hot electrons is defined in respect to a set of specific experimental measurements. Monochromatic light of frequency ν is incident upon a surface of thin gold film of thickness W. It is found both experimentally and theoretically that the number of electrons that escape over a fixed barrier at the opposite surface per absorbed photon is proportional to exp[−W/L(E)]. The range L(E) as a function of the electron energy E measured from the Fermi level is determined by photoexcitation vacuum-collection experiments in a high-vacuum phototube and by photoexcitation internal-collection measurements across the Schottky barriers of AuGaP and AuSi devices. To correlate the electron-phonon (lp) and electron-electron mean free path (le) with the experimental range L, an analytical expression of the form L = ( l e l p 3 ) 1 2 is obtained for the case of scattering with weak absorption; and L = le for the case of ballistic transport. A range measurement performed at liquid nitrogen temperature confirms that L is a combined mean free path of le and lp, and the calculated le for the above two cases agrees with the computer result based on the Monte Carlo method. The range decreases from 700 A for electrons with energy 1 eV above the Fermi level to 200 A for 2 eV, and gradually lessens to about 70 A for 5 eV. On the other hand, le decreases from about 3000 to 100 A in the same energy region. This extremely strong dependence of le on initial energy agrees qualitatively with theoretical calculations based on the self-energy approach and the screened potential formulation.
Night-time evapotranspiration vs. daytime and 24h evapotranspiration

Abstract The continuous measurement of night-time ETa,n (sunset to sunrise), daytime ETa,d (sunrise to sunset) and 24h ETa,24h alfalfa evapotranspiration was carred out, using the Bowen ratio-energy balance method, in a closed mountainous semi-arid irrigated valley in northern Utah. The results indicate that ET a,n ET a ,24 h was 2.93 mm 173.87 mm , or about 1.7%, during a complete growing cycle of alfalfa in August and September 1991. The results also show that this ratio could be very high (about 14%) when the night-time wind speed is high.
Chemotherapy and low-dose radiotherapy in the treatment of HIV-infected patients with carcinoma of the anal canal.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and tolerance of a standardized protocol of chemotherapy and low-dose radiotherapy in the treatment of anal cancer in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Methods and Materials: Between 1987 and 1995, eight HIV-positive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, four of whom had acquired immunodeticiency syndrome (AIDS), received therapy at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. All patients were treated using a combined modality approach consisting of lowdose radiotherapy (30 Gy in 15 fractions delivered 5 days/week), and chemotherapy [Xl00 mg/m* of Nluorouracil (5-FU) delivered on days l-4 and 29-32 as a continuous infusion over 96 h, and 10 mg/m’ of mltomycin C delivered as a bolus injection on day 11. Patients have been followed from 4 to 81 months (mean 41, median 38). Results: AU eight patients completed the therapy with minor variations to the protocol, and all have attained a clinical complete response. Four patients are alive and free of disease, and four died as a result of complications of AIDS, but remained free of anal carcinoma. There were no mortalities from the protocol and the morbidity was acceptable. Only one patient each was noted to have Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Grade 4 hematologic and gastrointestinal acute toxicity, and no Grade 4 skin toxicity was noted. Conclusion: This combined therapy is effective for HIV-infected patients and appears to be tolerable with acceptable toxicities. It is best applied to patients who are HIV positive, or who have AIDS without concurrent major opportunistic infections. This approach is reasonable and affords patients a reasonably good chance at sphincter preservation by avoiding abdominoperineal resection. The optimal therapy for HIV-positive patients with advanced AIDS remains less well defined. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Inc. Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Anal canal, HIV.
Can students reengineer

A recent paper by David Lechner stated that for many long-lived systems, it is more efficient to reengineer portions of systems than to continually repair them. That paper made an implicit assumption about the ability of software engineers to determine precisely which software should be reengineered. We report the results of a study that addresses the readiness of graduates, who will soon be beginning software engineers, to make such an assessment, based on comprehension of reusable vs. reengineered software. We address this comprehension in the context of software engineering education.
Offering Incentives for New Development: The Role of City Social Status, Politics, and Local Growth Experiences

The propensity of municipal governments to offer incentives for new development is empirically examined, drawing upon both the literature on local economic development policy and studies of local r...
Reactivity of the Bifunctional Ambiphilic Molecule 8-(dimesitylboryl)quinoline: Hydrolysis and Coordination to CuI, AgI and PdII

The ambiphilic molecule 8-(dimesitylboryl)quinoline (1) was synthesized by treatment of 8-bromoquinoline or 8-iodoquinoline with n-BuLi followed by dimesitylboronfluoride. Hydrolysis of 1 is unusually rapid compared to bulky triorganoboranes with the sequential loss of mesitylene and formation of mesityl(quinolin-8-yl)borinic acid (2) and 8-quinoline boronic acid dimer (3). Cooperativity within the bifunctional ambiphilic site leads to water activation and protodeboronation of the B–C(Mes) bonds. Blocking of the ambiphilic site of 1 by methylation of the quinoline nitrogen atom leads to an air-stable N-methyl-quinolinium salt. Coordination complexes were formed by reaction of 1 with CuCl, Ag(OTf), and PdCl2(PhCN)2 with coordination of the quinolinyl nitrogen to the metal ion. The CuI and AgI centers are stabilized by η3-BCipsoCortho π-interaction. The isolated PdII complex is a product of cyclometalation, resulting from elimination of HCl upon deprotonation of the ortho-methyl group of nearby mesityl. The bonding in 7 could be understood as a 16-electron Pd complex that features an anionic η3-Cipso-Cortho-Cbenzyl allylic ligand fragment plus a Pd→B bond, or an η4-BCipso-Cortho-Cbenzyl boratabutadiene anion fragment.
International portfolio selection and efficiency analysis

In the risk-return tradeoff, the traditional mean-variance analysis has been widely used for studies of international portfolio efficiency and diversification. Without prior knowledge about either the parametric structure of assets' return distributions or the form of investors' preference functions, the variance may no longer serve as a suitable risk proxy. This article examines international portfolio efficiency and diversification effects through mean-variance and various distribution-free (or less restrictive) risk-return measures. We show empirically that the mean-variance model is appropriate for large or well-diversified portfolios, but may provide biased results for single assets and less diversified portfolios. While stochastic dominance stands as theoretically the most appropriate method of international portfolio selection and efficiency analysis, the lack of optimal search algorithms reduces its practical usefulness. Very little gain is obtained by using the Gini-mean-difference risk measure as compared to the semivariance measure. The semivariance measure is a powerful and convenient discriminator of risky prospects, while stochastic dominance can serve as a benchmark to justify portfolio efficiency.
Effects of chaetognath predation and nutrient enrichment on enclosed estuarine copepod communities

The effects of predation by the chaetognath Sagitta hispida and nutrient enrichment on estuarine copepod community structure were studied by experimental manipulations in large enclosures. Chaetognath abundance and nutrient addition rates were manipulated in a factorial design. Predation by chaetognaths resulted in a significant decline in the relative abundance of Acartia tonsa and an increase in the relative abundance of Oithona colcarva. However, these effects were evident only at chaetognath densities far higher than observed in natural populations. Nutrient enrichment resulted in a decline in relative abundance of Paracalanus crassirostris, and, in the absence of chaetognath predation, an apparent increase in the relative abundance of A. tonsa. The effects of chaetognath predation were independent of enrichment level, apparently because of the absence of effects of enrichment on total copepod and chaetognath densities.
Health policies and procedures for medical students at US medical schools: a progress report.

Summary. This paper presents the current status of school health policy at US medical schools and discusses implications for medical students with respect to physical health and occupational risks. The authors discuss the responsibility of schools to ensure that students are healthy and fit, both for their own benefit and to provide models of good health maintenance for their future patients. Schools have an obligation to monitor public safety issues, particularly in cases of chemical impairment, student mistreatment, and infection control procedures.
By-Pass Blending Station: An Innovative Secondary In-Building Pump System for District Heating and Cooling Systems

An innovative secondary in-building pump system called the By-pass Blending Station (BBS) has been developed to reduce building pump energy consumption and maintain the desired return water temperatures in district heating and cooling systems. This method applies where district systems provide sufficient pump head for in-building water circulation. The BBS moves only the returned by-pass flow. Therefore, it uses less pump energy than the ASHRAE recommended method, which moves the entire building water flow by using in-building pump. The pump in the BBS is smaller than that of the ASHRAE recommended in-building secondary pump system. The BBS can be used in both constant and variable flow secondary systems. This paper compares the ASHRAE recommended secondary in-building pump with BBS systems using chilled water systems. The BBS only applies to cases where the primary distribution systems provide sufficient pump head for in-building circulation, which are typically found in commercial district cooling and heating systems.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
A vacuum benthos sampler suitable for diverse habitats

The vacuum benthos sampler consists of a vacuum chamber equipped with a collecting net connected to the intake of a 12 volt pump, a battery, and a standpipe. Contents of the standpipe are vacuumed while substrate is removed and washed with the exhaust hose. The vacuum chamber is designed for rapid changing of nets during replicate sampling. This sampler is equally efficient in flowing and standing water. It was more effective than a modified Hess sampler for collecting a large variety of benthos from flowing (ca 0.25–0.75 m/s) riffles. Required operation time is variable, but 93% of invertebrates caught in 10 min were captured in the first 5 min during our tests, and there was a 94% mean recovery of released organisms during 10 min of subsequent operation. Advantages over previous suction samplers include interception of organisms before they pass through a pump, return of outlet water to the standpipe, capability of sampling in shallow (20–30 mm) water, and that it can be carried and operated by one person.
Matrix Metalloproteinases in Renal Development

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes with metal ion-dependent activity that degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins. MMPs play a vital role in various biological processes, such as embryogenesis, tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, and wound healing, and in certain disease processes, for example, metastasis of cancer cells. Following their activation, MMPs are believed to modulate both cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, which in turn regulate cellular differentiation, migration, proliferation, and cell survival. Being involved in pericellular proteolysis, they maintain a gradient of ECM proteins by balancing ECM synthesis and degradation. Such a balance is critical for various mammalian developmental processes during embryonic life and also for the homeostasis of various organs and reparative processes in later life. During the past two decades the role of MMPs in the morphogenesis of various organs, including that of the metanephros, has been investigated extensively. Mammalian nephrogenesis comprises a series of intricate events characterized by a sustained remodeling and turnover of ECM, suggesting a potential role of MMPs in renal development. Conceivably, reciprocal inductive epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that take place at the very commencement of nephrogenesis are modulated by a number of ECM proteins. Their expression, especially at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface, are critical for metanephric development, and such a strategic expression is likely to be modified by a number of different macromolecules that exhibit spatiotemporal and stage-specific expression. Among them the most suitable candidate that could exert such a control would be MMPs. This review addresses the current status of our understanding of the functions and the role of MMPs in renal development.
Scared selfish: a culture of fear’s values in the age of terrorism

In the Age of Terrorism fear becomes a constant companion. This is particularly true in a society already beset by a culture of fear. We explore some cognitive effects of fear induced by victimization to explain America’s reaction to the events of 9/11. Using reliable measures of value orientations we find that exposure to violence produces a shift in value orientations toward values that are more self-enhancing. America’s seemingly fractured state may be explained in part by this effect.
Inorganic-organic framework structures; M(II) ethylenediphosphonates (M = Co, Ni, Mn) and a Mn(II) ethylenediphosphonato-phenanthroline.

The reaction of nickel, cobalt, and manganese with 1,2-ethylenediphosphonic acid or 1,2-ethylenediphosphonic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline under hydrothermal conditions resulted in the pillared laye...
Sleep in the Elderly: Normal Variations and Common Sleep Disorders

The most common complaints of older adults concern their difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, which results in insufficient sleep and an increased risk of falls, difficulty with concentration and memory, and overall decreased quality of life. Difficulties sleeping are not, however, an inevitable part of aging. Rather, the sleep complaints are often comorbid with medical and psychiatric illness, associated with the medications used to treat those illnesses, or the result of circadian rhythm changes or other sleep disorders. Health care professionals specializing in geriatrics need to learn to recognize the different causes of sleep disturbances in this population and to initiate appropriate treatment. Nonpharmacological treatment techniques are discussed; pharmacological treatments are discussed in a companion article.
Heat therapy in the treatment of prostatitis

There is a dearth of literature on heat therapy and prostatitis. The therapies used different energy sources, including interstitial heat and microwaves, and were delivered both transrectally and transurethrally. Most data precede our present system of nomenclature and therefore are difficult to compare, even with the literature of their day. Validated instruments were rarely used to determine efficacy, and most outcome measures were subjective. We will need well-designed prospective clinical trials using objective outcome measures and validated symptom indexes. Until then the use of heat therapy for prostatitis should be considered experimental.
The role of apoptosis in LDL transport through cultured endothelial cell monolayers

We have previously shown that leaky junctions associated with dying or dividing cells are the dominant pathway for low density lipoprotein (LDL) transport under convective conditions, accounting for more than 90% of the transport [Cancel LM, Fitting A, Tarbell JM. In vitro study of LDL transport under pressurized (convective) conditions. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2007;293:H126-32]. To explore the role of apoptosis in the leaky junction pathway, TNFalpha and cycloheximide (TNFalpha/CHX) were used to induce an elevated rate of apoptosis in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) monolayers and the convective fluxes of LDL and water were measured. Treatment with TNFalpha/CHX induced a 18.3-fold increase in apoptosis and a 4.4-fold increase in LDL permeability. Increases in apoptosis and permeability were attenuated by treatment with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. Water flux increased by 2.7-fold after treatment with TNFalpha/CHX, and this increase was not attenuated by treatment with Z-VAD-FMK. Immunostaining of the tight junction protein ZO-1 showed that TNFalpha/CHX treatment disrupts the tight junction in addition to inducing apoptosis. This disruption is present even when Z-VAD-FMK is used to inhibit apoptosis, and likely accounts for the increase in water flux. We found a strong correlation between the rate of apoptosis and the permeability of BAEC monolayers to LDL. These results demonstrate the potential of manipulating endothelial monolayer permeability by altering the rate of apoptosis pharmacollogicaly. This has implications for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Scheme for Secure Communication via Information Hiding Based on Key Exchange and Decomposition Protocols

This paper considers a decomposition framework as a mechanism for information hiding for secure communication via open network channels. Two varieties of this framework are provided: one is based on Gaussian arithmetic with complex modulus and another on an elliptic curve modular equation. The proposed algorithm is illustrated in a numerical example.
Experimental investigation of bendable heat pipes using sintered copper felt wick

The feasibility of using sintered copper felt wicks for developing bendable heat pipes was demonstrated by fabricating two copper-water heat pipes. This work highlights a study of the effect bending has on the performance of these heat pipes from their nominal straight geometry. Flexible and pre-bent heat pipes have been studied and successfully demonstrated in the past. Bendable heat pipes, which are fabricated as straight heat pipes, which can be bent as needed for the application, are a unique class of heat pipes developed during this study. The effect of bending on temperature drop, performance and performance limits was investigated and is reported here. The heat pipes used for testing were made using oxygen free copper for the container and water as the working fluid. The wick was made from sintered copper felt and provided the post fabrication bendability feature of these heat pipes. It was found that the performance of the heat pipe in terms of copper equivalence decreased with increasing bending angles. However it was noted that the heat transfer capacity was not adversely affected.
Reduction factor for the ground resistance of the foot in substation yards

Limited thickness of the surface layer of gravel in a substation yard decreases the ground resistance of the foot from its value for the infinite thickness of the surface layer, by reduction factor C. The foot is usually represented by an equivalent circular plate of radius 8 cm. This paper presents method and equations to accurately determine the reduction factor for the circular plate. The equations are valid for any depth of the upper layer. The data is presented in the form of graphs. A simple empirical equation for determining the value of C is also presented. >
Qualitative and quantitative immunoglobulin production by specific bacteria in chronic tonsillar disease.

Tonsillar tissue lymphocyte (TTL) function as measured by immunoglobulin production was as sessed in vitro in 60 tonsils, 51 diseased and 9 normal controls. The diseased specimens were from children (aged 3 to 10 years) clinically classified as having recurrent tonsillitis (RT), idiopathic tonsillar hyperplasia (ITH), or recurrent tonsillitis with hyperplasia (RT/H). TTLs were challenged with intact, heat-inactivated bacteria found in the core of diseased tonsils-Streptococcus pyogenes (SP) and Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) as rvell as the dominant bacterium (DB) grown from that particular tonsillar core. The phytomitogen, leukoagglutinin (LA), was used as a nonspecibc activator. Qualitative immunoglobulin production was assessed for the immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) classes. Immunoglobulinspecibc production was quantibed at the basal level, and at 2, 4, and 6 days following stimulation. Stimulation with HIB produced the greatest amount of IgG and IgM in TTLs from control tonsils. The DB was a relatively weak stimulator of normal (control) TTLs, yet produced relatively brisk IgG responses in the RT and ITM categories. It did, however, yield only marginal IgM secretion in these groups. IgA was consistently produced after stimulation in diseased TTLs, yet was not elicited from normal TTLs. The aforementioned findings suggest a differential qualitative and quantitative immunoglobulin response for healthy, recurrently infected, and hyperplastic tonsils. Lymphocyte hypofunction along with structural changes associated with hyperplasia may be central to the etiology of chronic tonsillar disease. The tonsillar immunologic response in disease and health is discussed
Interrelationships of cardiac output, blood pressure, and peripheral resistance during normal respiration in normotensive and hypertensive individuals.

The effects of normal respiration upon the heart, blood pressure, and peripheral circulation were studied in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Changes of right and left ventricular output were measured by the ballistocardiogram and the pressure-pulse method of Remington, peripheral blood flow by plethysmographs. The central and peripheral changes were interrelated and evidence is presented that the latter are chiefly due to the effects of intrathoracic pressure upon cardiac filling.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) Expression for the Antimicrobial Peptides β-Defensin-1 and β-Defensin-2 in the Male Rat Reproductive Tract: β-Defensin-1 mRNA in Initial Segment and Caput Epididymidis Is Regulated by Androgens and Not Bacterial Lipopolysaccharides

Mechanisms of antimicrobial protection in male reproductive organs are poorly understood. Defensins are antimicrobial peptides produced by many epithelial tissues. The goals of the present study were 1) to test the hypothesis that adult rat male reproductive organs express mRNA for rat β-defensin (RBD)-1 and RBD-2, 2) to examine if defensin mRNA expression in the testis and epididymis is induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and 3) to investigate the effects of androgens on defensin mRNA expression in the epididymis. Total RNA from reproductive organs was analyzed by relative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. RBD-1 mRNA was detected in the testis. All segments of epididymis expressed equal levels of RBD-1 mRNA with higher expression than in the testis, whereas accessory sex glands showed expression equal to that in the testis. Expression of RBD-2 mRNA was primarily restricted to the penis. Effects of inflammation on defensin mRNA expression were examined in rats administered a unilateral injection of LPS from Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Escherichia coli. Expression of RBD-1 mRNA in the testis and epididymis was unaffected by LPS. To test the hypothesis that circulating androgens regulate RBD-1 mRNA expression in the epididymis, rats were subjected to bilateral orchiectomy (orch) or to orch plus a 3.5-cm implant containing testosterone. Expression of RBD-1 mRNA in the initial segment and caput was unchanged following 1-day orch but showed androgen-sensitive expression after 5 and 15 days. Expression of RBD-1 mRNA in corpus and cauda was not affected by orch. Results of this study suggest that RBD-1 may play an antimicrobial role in the testis and epididymis.
The effects of expatriate demographic characteristics on adjustment: A social identity approach

As demand increases for expatriates to manage far-flung operations in a global economy, scholars and practitioners are focusing their attention on the factors that contribute to expatriate success. One such factor is the support that expatriates receive from host country nationals (HCNs) with whom they work. Researchers interested in understanding expatriate success have not closely examined the phenomenon from an HCN perspective, however. At the same time, although we have gained a significant understanding of the roles of psychological, organizational, and contextual variables in the international assignment, there is still much to be understood about how expatriates' demographic characteristics affect their experiences in international assignments. Current findings regarding the effects of demographic characteristics often are inconsistent, highlighting the need for more complex theorizing. This article reviews recent research on the effects of expatriate demographic characteristics and proposes a social identity approach to understanding how these characteristics affect HCN support for the expatriate. It also seeks to develop a theory that addresses discrepancies in extant empirical findings, provides propositions to guide future research in the study of expatriates, and discusses implications for both researchers and practitioners. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Towards morally sensitive action selection for autonomous social robots

Autonomous social robots embedded in human societies have to be sensitive to human social interactions and thus to moral norms and principles guiding these interactions. Actions that violate norms can lead to the violator being blamed. Robots thus need to be able to anticipate possible norm violations and attempt to prevent them while they execute actions. If norm violations cannot be prevented (e.g., in a moral dilemma situation in which every action leads to a norm violation), then the robot needs to be able to justify the action to address any potential blame. In this paper, we present a first attempt at an action execution system for social robots that can (a) detect (some) norm violations, (b) consult an ethical reasoner for guidance on what to do in moral dilemma situations, and (c) it can keep track of execution traces and any resulting states that might have violated norms in order to produce justifications.
Sexual Abuse of Vulnerable Young and Old Women A Comparative Analysis of Circumstances and Outcomes

Aggregated data from 125 substantiated Adult Protective Services cases of sexually abused women were collected during a 5-year period. Women older than 59 years represented 63% of the cases. Regardless of age, the most common types of abuse involved sexualized kissing and fondling and unwelcome sexual interest in the women’s body. Most identified perpetrators were older males. Family members were most likely to abuse women living in the community, whereas women living in facilities usually experienced abuse by another resident. Perpetrators were prosecuted and convicted in six cases. About 12% of the women continued to be at risk of further sexual abuse.
Baselines for Evaluating Explanations of Coalition Behavior in Congress

Students of Congress sometimes interpret congressional history in terms of the rise and fall of coalitions among the parties and factions. What standard should be used to judge explanations of why these coalitions form when they do and why they win? We argue that for an explanation to be judged an advance in knowledge it should account for events better than a model based purely on chance. In this paper we determine how often various coalitions can be expected to occur by chance on House and Senate roll calls and, when each coalition occurs, how often it should be expected to win. We then compare actual coalition occurrence and win rates to these expected rates in the House and Senate from 1921 through 1978. The differences between the actual and expected rates set a standard which substantive theories of coalition behavior should be required to outperform.
SYMPTOMS AND PROCESS IN THE MULTIDISCIPLINED COMMUNITY

Is there a crisis in human resources? The Literature says yes; our behavior says no. At the interdisciplinary, interagency, interdepartmental level of organization, we follow primitive territorial principles that rob us of the utilization of knowledge of behavior.
Phase variation of HpuAB and HmbR, two distinct haemoglobin receptors of Neisseria meningitidis DNM2.

Summary We have previously described HpuAB, a two-component receptor that mediates binding to haemoglobin (Hb), haemoglobin‐haptoglobin (Hb-Hp) and apo-haptoglobin (Hp). In this communication, we constructed non-polar mutations in the hpuA and hpuB loci to examine the individual roles of HpuA and HpuB. Our results indicate that both HpuA and HpuB are required for the acquisition of Fe from Hb and Hb-Hp. We isolated Hb utilization-positive (Hba) variants of our Hb utilization-negative (Hbˇ) hpu mutants at a frequency of 10 ˇ3 and demonstrated that the Hba phenotype resulted from the expression of a second Hb receptor, HmbR. Expression of HmbR in DNM2 was found to be controlled by translational frameshifting involving a polyguanine (G) tract located within the hmbR locus. The hpuA locus also contains a poly(G) tract, which suggested that meningococci could phase vary each Hb receptor independently by slip-strand mispairing in the poly(G) tracts found in hpuA and hmbR. Thus,
Unwanted and wanted exposure to online pornography in a national sample of youth Internet users.

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to assess the extent of unwanted and wanted exposure to online pornography among youth Internet users and associated risk factors. METHODS. A telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of 1500 youth Internet users aged 10 to 17 years was conducted between March and June 2005. RESULTS. Forty-two percent of youth Internet users had been exposed to online pornography in the past year. Of those, 66% reported only unwanted exposure. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to compare youth with unwanted exposure only or any wanted exposure with those with no exposure. Unwanted exposure was related to only 1 Internet activity, namely, using file-sharing programs to download images. Filtering and blocking software reduced the risk of unwanted exposure, as did attending an Internet safety presentation by law enforcement personnel. Unwanted exposure rates were higher for teens, youth who reported being harassed or sexually solicited online or interpersonally victimized offline, and youth who scored in the borderline or clinically significant range on the Child Behavior Checklist subscale for depression. Wanted exposure rates were higher for teens, boys, and youth who used file-sharing programs to download images, talked online to unknown persons about sex, used the Internet at friends’ homes, or scored in the borderline or clinically significant range on the Child Behavior Checklist subscale for rule-breaking. Depression also could be a risk factor for some youth. Youth who used filtering and blocking software had lower odds of wanted exposure. CONCLUSIONS. More research concerning the potential impact of Internet pornography on youth is warranted, given the high rate of exposure, the fact that much exposure is unwanted, and the fact that youth with certain vulnerabilities, such as depression, interpersonal victimization, and delinquent tendencies, have more exposure.
Secondary cytoreduction in the management of recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma

Abstract Objectives To identify effective treatment options for patients with recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS). Methods Patients with uterine LMS treated between 1976 and 1999 were identified. Charts were retrospectively reviewed and relevant clinical and pathologic data extracted. Survival curves were generated using the methods of Kaplan and Meier. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional model. Results Chart review identified 128 patients with recurrent uterine LMS. The median time to recurrence was 1.3 years. The median disease-specific survival from the time of first recurrence was 1.8 years. Multivariate analysis demonstrated secondary cytoreductive surgery, prolonged time to recurrence and localized recurrence were significantly and independently associated with improved disease-specific survival from time of first recurrence. Neither chemotherapy nor radiation therapy was associated with improvement in outcome in patients with recurrent uterine LMS. Conclusions These data suggest that secondary cytoreductive surgery is associated with prolonged survival in a select group of patients with recurrent uterine LMS. Patients presenting after a prolonged progression-free interval with an isolated site of recurrence amenable to complete resection are the best candidates for attempted surgical resection. These findings require confirmation from a larger and preferably prospectively gathered database.
Magnetic domains and coercivity in polytwinned ferromagnets

Transmission electron microscopy techniques are used to characterize the development of the polytwinned microstructures during Al Ll0 ordering in FePd and FePt alloys. Also, Lorentz microscopy methods are used to image the magnetic domain structures which are associated with these magnetically modulated twin assemblies. A modified APB pinning model including thermally activated wall motion is formulated to account for the levels of coercivity and the temperature dependence of the coercivity in polytwinned ferromagnets. Mittels Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie wird die Entwicklung der vielfachverzwillingten Mikrostruktur wahrend der Al Ll0-Umordnung in FePd- und FePt-Legierungen charakterisiert. Lorentz-Mikroskopie wird benutzt, um die magnetische Bereichstruktur, die mit diesen magnetisch modulierten Zwillingsanordungen verknupft ist, abzubilden. Ein modifiziertes APB-Pinning-Modell, das thermisch aktivierte Wandbewegung einschliest, wird formuliert, um Grose und Temperaturabhangigkeit der Koerzivitat in vielfachverzwillingten Ferromagneten zu berucksichtigen.
Improving problem solving with subgoal labels in expository text and worked examples

Abstract In highly procedural problem solving, procedures are typically taught with context-independent expository text that conceptually describes a procedure and context-dependent worked examples that concretely demonstrate a procedure. Subgoal labels have been used in worked examples to improve problem solving performance. The effect of subgoal labels in expository text, however, has not been explored. The present study examined the efficacy of subgoal labeled expository text and worked examples for programming education. The results show that learners who received subgoal labels in both the text and example are able to solve novel problems better than those who did not. In addition, subgoal labels in the text appear to have a different, rather than an additive, effect on learners compared to subgoal labels in the example. Specifically, subgoal labels in the text appear to help the learner articulate the procedure, and subgoal labels in the example appear to help the learner apply the procedure.
A House Divided? Examining Persistence for On-Campus STEM and Non-STEM Students:

Improving student persistence, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, continues to be at the forefront of national educational policy discussions. Living in ...