cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tailoring the electrochromic properties of devices via polymer blends, copolymers, laminates and patterns

The ability to tune colour constitutes an important goal in the design of electrochromic devices. The majority of single electrochromic materials, whether inorganic or organic have a very narrow spectral colour change, however. Complex colours such as browns and tans that mimic natural vegetation and soils are not inherent to these materials. We have explored several strategies to achieve these colours including the use of copolymers that contain two distinct moieties, blends of polymers that have different colour changes, laminating two different polymers on the working electrode, and using fine patterns of two different materials to confuse the eye. We have constructed solid state electrochromic devices using ITO/Mylar substrates, a solid polymer electrolyte, a V2O5 counterelectrode and working electrodes that were made via one of the four methods outlined above. The colour changes of these devices were measured using spectrocolourimetry conforming to the CIE standard. The colour changes observed were similar to those of natural vegetation and soils.
Questions for a Millennium: Religion and Science from the Perspective of a Scientist

This essay addresses a series of eight questions about what religion can do for science. It explores the secular role of religion in contemporary science and the need for greater synthesis between science and religion. It concludes that, for survival in the twenty-first century, religion cannot exist without acknowledging and using the enormous information pool of science, and science can no longer shun or ignore religion. Humankind will always need the large, synthetic explanations that religion provides ofwhy we are here and what we ought to do and believe. The world needs to mark this new millennium with a sense of respect, cooperation, and even synthesis between science and religion.
Manipulating morphology and orientation in thermally responsive block copolymer thin films

We demonstrate the use of combined thermal annealing and solvent vapor annealing (SVA) to tune the morphology of thermally responsive block copolymer (BCP) thin films. The BCP, poly(styrene-b-tert-butyl acrylate) (PS-b-PtBA), undergoes a chemical deprotection to poly(styrene-b-acrylic anhydride) (PS-b-PAH) above a temperature threshold, giving rise to a structural and morphological transition. Our experiments systematically examine different thermal annealing and SVA protocols with two solvents (tetrahydrofuran and acetone) and map the resulting morphologies. Assessments of these processing protocols were accelerated using temperature gradients. Our results demonstrate that the final nanoscale morphologies after SVA are determined by the changes in the relative solvent/polymer interactions and surface tensions of the polymer blocks that accompany deprotection. Because of these driving forces, certain processing combinations led to irreversible morphological states, whereas others present opportunities for further manipulation. Accordingly, our study reveals that the morphology of this thermally sensitive BCP can be altered through judicious choice of annealing protocol. The protocols that combine equal numbers of SVA and thermal annealing (TA) steps are not necessarily equivalent, and the order of the SVA relative to TA is a deciding factor in the final morphology. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Selective precombustion desulphurization of Ohio coals using supercritical fluids

Abstract Desulphurization of coal involves the removal of both the inorganic and organic forms of sulphur. Several physical and a few chemical methods are available for the removal of inorganic sulphur. Removal of organic sulphur requires the use of chemical cleaning methods. This paper presents the results of a sulphur removal technique that employs supercritical fluids. The results obtained from the use of methanol-water mixtures as solvents are examined. The solvent composition in this desulphurization technique can be tailored to selectively reject sulphur without significantly reducing the calorific value of the treated coal. The sulphur-containing organic species in the liquid product from the desulphurization experiments have been characterized using wet chemical methods and g.c.-m.s. analysis.
On the solution of the equations arising from collocation with cubic $B$-splines

An iterative technique for solving the equations arising from collocation with cubic B-splines in solving second-order nonlinear boundary-value problems is defined and shown to converge.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in systemic sclerosis: the case for imatinib.

Introduction: Fibrosis, the hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc), commonly affects internal organs, such as the lungs and heart, and contributes to morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of fi brosis remains incompletely understood, and the goal of reversal, or even slowing progression, remains elusive. A pivotal mediator of fi brosis is the multifunctional cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and there is substantial evidence implicating it, along with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and endothelin-1, in pathogenesis. Accordingly, targeting the intracellular pathways activated by TGF-β and other profi brotic mediators is a desirable treatment strategy for fi brosis. The use of small molecule kinase inhibitors for the treatment of autoimmune diseases has generated a great deal of interest recently, but is frequently limited by toxicity. In contrast to inhibitors of ubiquitous protein kinases such as p38, imatinib mesylate (Gleevec; Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), which selectively blocks the activity of the c-Abl tyrosine kinase, and to a lesser degree the PDGF receptor and c-kit, has a relatively favorable long-term safety profi le in a large number of patients treated for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). It is currently being investigated for the treatment of SSc. Activating mutations of c-Abl (the Philadelphia chromosome) underlie the pathogenesis of CML. Daniels et al. [1] recently showed that the enzymatic activity of c-Abl can be induced by TGF-β treatment of normal fi broblasts, and c-Abl was involved as an intracellular mediator for some of the biological effects of TGF-β [1]. These unexpected fi ndings fi rmly implicate this tyrosine kinase in TGF-β signal transduction. Subsequent studies have further delineated the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of c-Abl in the fi brotic response, establishing that the transcription factor Egr-1 is a direct substrate of c-Abl [2]. The prevailing paradigm for fi brogenic TGF-β signaling thus must accommodate Smad-independent c-Abl–Egr-1 pathways in addition to canonical Smad signaling. Based on these fi ndings, a series of preclinical studies explored the effect of blocking c-Abl–mediated TGF-β signaling with imatinib. These studies indicated that in cultured normal skin and lung fi broblasts, imatinib effectively blocked TGF-β–induced stimulation of collagen synthesis, a key event in the fi brotic response, and partially reversed the abnormal phenotype of SSc fi broblasts. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that imatinib treatment prevented the development of skin, lung, liver, and kidney fi brosis in various rodent models. These observations provide the impetus for introducing imatinib in the treatment of SSc. This article by Sabnani et al. is one of the fi rst clinical reports of imatinib to be published. It describes a small, open-label pilot study of imatinib used in combination with cyclophosphamide for the treatment of SSc.
Biological control of seed rot and preemergence damping-off of chickpea with fluorescent pseudomonads

Abstract Seven strains of fluorescent pseudomonads were studied for their ability to suppress seed rot and preemergence damping-off of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ) caused by Pythium ultimum in two naturally-infested soils in Eastern Washington. Seed treatment with two Pseudomonas fluorescens strains, Q29z-80 and M8z-80, increased emergence and yields of chickpeas as compared to nontreated controls in some but not all field trials at Central Ferry and Pullman, Wash., in 3 yr of tests. In some trials, these seed treatments were equivalent to captan, metalaxyl or Penicillium oxalicum treatments. However, emergence and yields for the metalaxyl treatment were statistically equal or superior to all other treatments in all but one field trial.
Fracture response of polyimide and polysulfone under hydrostatic pressure

Fracture response of polyimide and polysulfone in tension under superimposed hydrostatic pressures up to 100,000 psi is presented. The influence of hydrostatic pressure and the pressure medium on the specific surface energy γ is determined by utilizing the Griffith theory of brittle fracture. For polyimide as well as for polysulfone, γ is found to increase with increasing pressure. Furthermore, for polysulfone at any given pressure level, the value of γ is found to be lower in heptane medium than in kerosene. Heptane is known to be a stress-cracking agent for polysulfone. Fracture surface of the tested tensile specimens is examined by using a scanning electron microscope. The observed fracture features are correlated with the macroscopic deformation behavior and also with the effects of the pressure medium used. In polyimide, the region of crack initiation narrows down from a very broad region at atmospheric pressure to almost a point source along the outer periphery of the specimen at 100,000 psi. In addition, polyimide undergoes a transition in the nature of fracture response between 80,000 to 100,000 psi, and this is clearly indicated in the scanning electron micrographs. In polysulfone, the crack propagation appears to be faster when heptane is used as the pressure medium than when kerosene is used. The penetration of the medium into the specimens can be observed on the micrographs. Several scanning electron micrographs of the fracture surface suggest the possibility of a significant temperature rise in the specimen during fracture. This increase in the specimen temperature is roughly estimated from the stored elastic energy released upon fracture.
The relationship between thromboxane and cytosolic calcium modifiers in rat platelets.

Abstract Platelet activity is controlled, in part, by cytosolic free ionized calcium concentration ([Ca ++ ] i ). Regulation of platelet thromboxane (TXB 2 ) synthesis may be by regulation of [Ca ++ ] i . Dietary linoleate is a regulator of TXB 2 synthesis, therefore, it may act by influencing [Ca ++ ] i . Aspirin is a regulator of TXB 2 synthesis by inhibition of cyclooxygenase; ouabain and nifedipine are regulators of [Ca ++ ] i . This study was conducted to determine whether these affectors of TXB 2 synthesis and [Ca ++ ] i cause associated responses. Male nonobese Zucker rats were fed diets supplying 30% of energy (en%) as fat. Dietary fat was a mixture of corn oil and beef tallow to provide 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, or 7.5 en% linoleic acid, with cholesterol added to provide equal cholesterol in all diets. Rats were fed for 30 days with 6 rats/diet. Isolated rat platelets were assayed for FA composition; the percentage of linoleic acid in platelet FA rose linearly with increasing dietary linoleate (r = 0.76, P ++ ] i and TXB 2 synthesis were measured in the presence or absence of extracellular calcium and aspirin, ouabain, or nifedipine. Aspirin caused reductions in both parameters; nifedipine blocked [Ca ++ ] i , but did not affect TXB 2 ; ouabain increased both. Changes induced by those modifiers of TXB 2 and platelet [Ca ++ ] i caused changes that were in the same direction for both. CaCl 2 caused an increase in both and the [Ca ++ ] i was correlated with the square root of the TXB 2 ; without CaCl 2 the two were negatively correlated; aspirin, ouabain, and nifedipine treatments resulted in no significant correlations. The results suggest that there is a common modifier of [Ca ++ ] i and TXB 2 synthesis.
DSC Model for Soil and Interface Including Liquefaction and Prediction of Centrifuge Test

Realistic predictions of dynamic soil–structure interaction problems require appropriate constitutive models for the characterization of soils and interfaces. This paper presents a unified model based on the disturbed state concept (DSC). The parameters for the models for the Nevada sand, and sand–metal interface are obtained based on available triaxial test data on the sand and interfaces. The predicted stress–strain–pore water pressure behavior for the sand using the DSC model is compared with the test data. In addition, a finite element procedure with the DSC model, based on the generalized Biot’s theory, is used to predict the measured responses for a pile (aluminum) sand foundation problem obtained by using the centrifuge test. The predictions compared very well with measured pore water pressures. The DSC model is used to identify microstructural instability leading to liquefaction. A procedure is proposed to apply the proposed method for analysis and design for dynamic response and liquefaction.
Small bowel surgery for the gynecologist specializing in benign disease.

Introduction Adhesions are fibrous bands of scar tissue that are often a result of surgery. Adhesions of the bowel are a common finding during gynecologic procedures, and their presence can lead to injury.
Kaersutite megacrysts and associated crystal inclusions from the Cima volcanic field, San Bernardino County, California

Amphibole megacrysts from alkalic basalts in the Cima volcanic field are exclusively kaersutite. The refined cell parameters for a kaersutite with 0.73 Ti atoms per formula are: a=9.810(1)A, b=18.055(2)A, c=5.316(1)A and beta=105.04(2)°. For 14 kaersutite megacrysts, the range of Ti per formula unit is 0.50 to 0.74 (average 0.65) and the Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio ranges from 0.29 to 0.40. For one sample, a colorimetric technique gives Fe2O3/FeO as 0.28(3), possibly lower than any reported for kaersutite from alkalic basalts. Calculated Fe2O3/FeO ratios for the other kaersutites average 0.24. Silicon averages 5.89 atoms/formula and Al 2.40 atoms/formula. Zoning is not apparent in these megacrysts. Plagioclases are the most common inclusions in kaersutite megacrysts with compositions from An29 to An52 (average An41). One small contact plagioclase crystal is An64. Plagioclase inclusions more calcic than An45 are compositionally similar to those we analyzed from gabbroic xenoliths in the Cima volcanic field. Plagioclase inclusions less calcic than An45 are similar to plagioclase megacrysts from lava and tephra from the Cima volcanic field. Pyrrhotite, with less than 2% Ni, is the only sulfide inclusion. Other inclusions are augite (average Wo46En41Fs13), olivine (Fo73 and Fo74) and magnetite (Fe1.80Al0.45Ti0.37Mg0.30Cr0.07O4). Two of the augite inclusions have compositions similar to Al-augite xenoliths and one has exsolved orthopyroxene and a host composition like that of green-pyroxene xenoliths. Some inclusions represent crystals which could have been incorporated within the kaersutite from gabbroic or pyroxenitic wall rock, indicating a spatial and possibly a genetic relationship. It is possible that some of these megacrysts may have crystallized from derivative mobile fluids rich in iron, titanium and alkalis in open systems similar to those found in pegmatite dikes.
A lifestyle-based scenario for US buildings: implications for energy use

Can lifestyle-based scenarios provide insight into the nature of energy use in our future buildings? Participants in a design charrette brainstormed ideas about the future of US homes and workplaces. The teams started from several descriptions of daily lifestyles, and developed specific building characteristics as the place settings for these narratives. In addition to characterizing the physical environment, the teams also identified the forces that would be influential in making these changes. Further reflection was made on the possible unintended consequences of these changes. The energy implications of these changes were characterized with respect to magnitude and direction. While acknowledging the speculative nature of the exercise, the rationale was to broaden the discussion on future energy use by looking at future scenarios in the context of everyday life.
Elevated sleep quality and orexin receptor mRNA in obesity-resistant rats

To determine if resistance to weight gain is associated with alterations in sleep–wake states and orexin receptor gene expression. Three-month-old obesity-susceptible Sprague–Dawley (SD) and obesity-resistant (OR) rats were fed standard rodent chow. Sleep–wake cycle was measured by radiotelemetry and orexin receptor profiles in sleep–wake regulatory areas of the brain were quantified by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. Adult male obesity-susceptible SD and selectively bred OR rats. Body weight, food intake, energy efficiency, percent time spent in active wake (AW), quiet wake (QW), slow-wave sleep (SWS), rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, number and mean duration of sleep–wake episodes, number of stage transitions, SWS sleep delta power and orexin receptor mRNA levels were measured. OR rats weighed significantly less and had lower energy efficiency than SD rats. Food intake was not different between SD and OR rats. Time spent in QW was similar between groups, and therefore AW and QW were combined and are referred to as ‘wakefulness’. OR rats spent significantly more time in wakefulness and less time in SWS compared with SD rats during the 24-h recording period. Relative to SD rats, OR rats had significantly fewer sleep–wake episodes and the duration of the episodes were prolonged, indicating less fragmented sleep. Furthermore, OR rats had fewer transitions between sleep stages, which indicates that OR rats were behaviorally more stable and had more consolidated sleep than obesity-susceptible SD rats. OR rats showed lower delta power during SWS, indicating a lower sleep drive. Our results showed greater orexin receptor gene expression in sleep regulatory brain areas in OR rats. These results show that prolonged wakefulness, better sleep quality, lower sleep drive and greater orexin signaling may confer protection against obesity.
Tritium Analysis of Burn-Derived Water from Natural and Petroleum-Derived Products

A practical means of using tritium to authenticate a natural versus a synthetic (petroleum-derived) origin of food and flavoring extracts has been demonstrated. Extracts derived from natural botanicals reflect a tritium content incorporated during the plant's growth stages, while petroleum-derived products, because of the relatively short half-life of tritium, have no measurable tritium content. Natural and petroleum-derived samples of the common flavorant benzaldehyde were combusted by Parr bomb and enriched in tritium using an alkaline electrolysis technique. Tritium activities were measured using an ultra-low-level liquid scintillation counter, with the results demonstrating a clear difference in the tritium content of natural and petroleum-derived benzaldehyde samples and a good agreement between the natural sample and the steady-state concentration of tritium reported for the northern hemisphere. Keywords: Tritium; tritium enrichment; alkaline electrolysis; natural product authentication; botanical e...
Initial characterization of heat-induced excess nuclear proteins in HeLa cells.

Exposure of mammalian cells to hyperthermia is known to cause protein aggregation in the nucleus. The presence of such aggregates has been detected as the relative increase in the protein mass that is associated with nuclei isolated from heated cells. We have characterized these excess nuclear proteins from the nuclei of heated HeLa cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The abundance of cytoskeletal elements which co-purify with the nuclei did not increase with exposure to hyperthermia, indicating that these proteins are not part of the excess nuclear proteins. In contrast, several specific polypeptides become newly bound or increase in abundance in nuclei isolated from heated cells. Members of the hsp 70 family were identified as a major component of the excess nuclear proteins. Among the other excess nuclear proteins we identified ten that had apparent molecular weights of 130, 95, 75, 58, 53, 48, 46, 37, 28, and 26 kilodaltons. Since hsp 70 is mainly cytoplasmic in non-heated cells, its association with nuclei in heated cells indicates that one mechanism accounting for the heat-induced excess nuclear proteins is the movement of cytoplasmic proteins to the nucleus. We also obtained evidence that increased binding of nuclear proteins is another mechanism for this effect. No overall increase or decrease in the phosphorylation of nuclear proteins was found to be associated with such altered binding or movement from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Developmental Processes in Schizophrenic Disorders: Longitudinal Studies of Vulnerability and Stress

The Developmental Processes in Schizophrenic Disorders project is a longitudinal study of schizophrenic patients who have recently had a first episode of psychosis. The project focuses on discriminating characteristics of schizophrenic patients that are "stable vulnerability indicators," "mediating vulnerability factors," and "episode indicators" by comparing normal subjects to schizophrenic patients assessed in clinically remitted and psychotic states. A parallel project goal is to identify predictors of relapse, social and work impairment, and illness course among potential psychobiological vulnerability factors and environmental potentiating factors. Hypothesized vulnerability factors and potential environmental stressors are examined first under standardized maintenance antipsychotic medication conditions for at least 1 year. Patients showing stable remission of psychosis after 1 year of maintenance antipsychotic medication are invited to enter drug crossover and withdrawal protocols to determine the need for continuous antipsychotic medication. Vulnerability and stress factors are again assessed. A summary of results to date is presented. Deficits in early components of processing visual arrays and in sustained discrimination of successive ambiguous perceptual inputs are relatively stable across psychotic and clinically remitted states in the schizophrenic patients. Performance on a vigilance task demanding active, working memory also remains abnormal during clinical remission but covaries significantly with psychotic state and is a candidate for a mediating vulnerability factor. Autonomic activation level does not appear to be an enduring vulnerability factor, but it predicts the extent of short-term symptomatic recovery and may mediate the impact of stressors. Under conditions of standardized, injectable antipsychotic medication, independent stressful life events and highly critical attitudes toward the patient in the social environment predict relapse risk. Prospective data suggest that signs and symptoms prodromal to psychotic relapse may be present in about 60 percent of patients.
Selection of optimum training sets for use in pattern recognition analysis of chemical data

Abstract An algorithm is described for the automated selection of optimum training sets for use in pattern recognition studies. A direct calculation is implemented that ensures the data space is sampled equitably in the construction of the training sets. Through this approach, the variety of data in the training set can be maximized while keeping the number of patterns to a specified minimum. A large volume of passive Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) remote sensing data is used to show the utility of the technique. The algorithm is used to select numerous training sets of various sizes. These training sets are used to develop linear discriminants for pattern recognition. The performance of the discriminants developed from each training set is subsequently evaluated based on their ability to classify a large set of patterns not included in the training procedure. The results are also compared with the performance of discriminants developed using numerous randomly selected training sets. The training sets selected with the new algorithm produce pattern recognition results which are markedly superior to those produced by the randomly selected training sets.
Using patterns in microfiche as photomasks in 10-mu m-scale microfabrication

Microfiche has been used as the photomask in 1:1 contact photolithography to generate structures of photoresist with features as small as 10 μm. Optical reduction of images that were printed by a high-resolution image setter on transparent polymer sheets generated patterns in microfiche. The photoresist patterns generated using microfiche as the photomask are useful in the fabrication of elastomeric stamps/molds/membranes for soft lithography. Four test structures fabricated using microfiche as photomask and soft lithography are used to evaluate the utility and resolution of this technique.
Characterization of water-soluble glucuronide and sulphate conjugates of aflatoxin B1. 1. Urinary excretion in monkey, rat and mouse

Water-soluble aflatoxin conjugates prepared from urine samples from rats, mice and rhesus monkeys dosed with [14C]aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) ip or iv were hydrolysed by enzymes (beta-glucuronidase and sulphatase), acid or a combination of both treatments. Different amounts of AFB1 and its metabolites were found in hydrolysates from different sources, indicating the presence of glucuronide, sulphate and possibly mercapturate conjugates of aflatoxins. In addition to aflatoxins M1, P1, Q1 and B2a, AFB1 was frequently identified in the products released from the hydrolysates. These water-soluble aflatoxin conjugates were not mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium TA98 in the presence of rat-liver S-9 mix. However, chloroform extracts of the hydrolysates from beta-glucuronidase and sulphatase treatment showed mutagenic activity in these bacteria in the presence of S-9 mix. Although very low levels of AFB1 radioactivity were detected in the hydrolysates, the potent mutagenic activity of AFB1 contributed to the high numbers of revertant colonies. AFP1 was detected in urine samples from monkeys that were pretreated with phenobarbital before an iv dose of AFB1. No mutagenic activity was detected in the enzymatic hydrolysate of the sample from these monkeys. The results thus indicate that AFB1 can form glucuronide and/or sulphate conjugate(s) directly and be excreted in the urine.
Lumped Element Modeling of Piezoelectric Cantilever Beams for Vibrational Energy Reclamation

In this paper, an accurate physical model of a piezoelectric cantilever beam that is suitable for multi domain simulations of the transducer for energy harvesting is presented. In a composite piezoelectric cantilever beam with a proof mass that is subjected to a base acceleration, a strain is developed in the structure that produces a voltage due to the piezoelectric effect. Subsequently, the piezoelectric composite is connected to an energy reclamation circuit that uses a flyback converter topology, to maximize power transfer via an impedance match with the structure. Hence, an accurate model of the device is required to characterize its overall electromechanical behavior, to theoretically predict the power generation, and to optimize the device and power converter circuit. The Lumped Element Model (LEM) thus developed was validated within 10% experimentally on meso-scale piezoelectric cantilever composite beams.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Effects of MRTI sampling characteristics on estimation of HIFU SAR and tissue thermal diffusivity.

While the non-invasive and three-dimensional nature of magnetic-resonance temperature imaging (MRTI) makes it a valuable tool for high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatments, random and systematic errors in MRTI measurements may propagate into temperature-based parameter estimates used for pretreatment planning. This study assesses the MRTI effects of zero-mean Gaussian noise (SD = 0.0–2.0 °C), temporal sampling (tacq = 1.0–8.0 s), and spatial averaging (Res = 0.5–2.0 mm isotropic) on HIFU temperature measurements and temperature-based estimates of the amplitude and full width half maximum (FWHM) of the HIFU specific absorption rate and of tissue thermal diffusivity. The ultrasound beam used in simulations and ex vivo pork loin experiments has lateral and axial FWHM dimensions of 1.4 mm and 7.9 mm respectively. For spatial averaging simulations, beams with lateral FWHM varying from 1.2–2.2 mm are also assessed. Under noisy conditions, parameter estimates are improved by fitting to data from larger voxel regions. Varying the temporal sampling results in minimal changes in measured temperatures (<2% change) and parameter estimates (<5% change). For the HIFU beams studied, a spatial resolution of 1 × 1 × 3 mm3 or smaller is required to keep errors in temperature and all estimated parameters less than 10%. By quantifying the errors associated with these sampling characteristics, this work provides researchers with appropriate MRTI conditions for obtaining estimates of parameters essential to pretreatment modeling of HIFU thermal therapies.
Methods for detection of enzymatic activity after electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel in Drosophila species.

OUR laboratory is investigating several proteins within the genus Drosophila. In conjunction with this work, we have developed techniques for detecting enzymatic activity following electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. Several other methods for demonstrating specific enzyme activity in Drosophila have been reported1–3; these were applied after starch-gel electrophoresis.
Salmon-farming impacts on wild salmon

Concerns have been raised about the impact of farmed fish on wild fish through a range of mechanisms including disease and the impact of fish that escape from farms (1). Although Alaska has banned salmon farming and Washington has developed only a very small industry, British Columbia, with an extensive network of protected inlets, has developed a very large salmon-farming industry, now considerably bigger in terms of tons produced than the wild salmon production there. The salmon- farming industry is a significant and growing part of the local economy with the potential to grow to the scale that has occurred in Norway and Chile. In this issue of PNAS, Krkosek et al. (2) present data to show that migrating juvenile salmon are infected by sea lice as they pass salmon farms and that such sea lice infestations cause significant mortality. Their article provides support for those who oppose net-pen aquaculture of salmon within the range of wild salmon, and the results will undoubtedly intensify the debate on the impact of salmon farms on wild fish.
Economic impacts from shifting cropland use from food to fuel

Abstract Without the availability of idle cropland, biomass energy crops will have to compete with other crops and pasture land use. In this paper, we investigate: (a) the economic feasibility of using cropland, traditionally used for pasture, hay and other commodity crops, for production of biomass crops to be used as an energy source for electric utilities; (b) the impact of biomass crop production on crop and livestock prices, farm income, and the cost of food to consumers. We find a $1–4 billion demand for biomass crops may result in a 2–12% impact on farm sector prices. This impact warrants further exploration into estimating the opportunity cost for biomass crop production when idle cropland is not available.
TOWARDS THE DESIGN OF A DECOUPLED, TWO-DIMENSIONAL, VISION-BASED µN FORCE SENSOR FOR MICROROBOTICS

In this paper, we present three designs for a decoupled, two-dimensional, vision-based µN force sensor for microrobotic applications. There are currently no reliable, off-the-shelf, commercially-available force sensors to measure forces at this scale, that can be easily integrated into standard microrobotic test-beds. In our previous work, we presented a design consisting of a planar, elastic mechanism with known force-deflection characteristics. It was inspired by the designs of pre-existing MEMS suspension mechanisms. A CCD camera is used to track the deformation of the mechanism as it is used to manipulate objects in a micro/meso-scale robotic manipulation test-bed. By observing the displacements of select points in the mechanism, the manipulation forces can be estimated. Here, a building block approach for conceptual synthesis of compliant mechanisms methodology is used to design for decoupled displacements for the tracking points when the tip is subjected to forces in the XY-plane. By designing mechanisms with circular compliance and stiffness ellipses along with zero magnitude compliance and stiffness vectors, we are able to achieve our design requirements. Validation of this approach with macro-scale prototypes and recommendations for scaling the designs down for microrobotic applications are offered along with a sensitivity analysis of the final designs yielding insights for microfabricating such designs.
Investigating the Removal of Body Piercings

Although body piercing procurement continues to increase, 13% to 18% of them are removed. Reasons for piercing removal in college students were examined with three groups: (a) those who kept all their piercings, (b) those who removed some, or (c) those who removed all of their body piercings. Of the sample, 41% were still pierced; 50% in their lifetime. Their major purpose for the body piercing was “helped them feel unique.” Females obtained more (in high school) and then removed more, usually as upperclassmen. Males and females reported themselves as risk takers at procedure time and currently; however, only 10% cited deviancy as a reason for the body piercing(s). Only removal elements of “I just got tired of it” and “I just decided to remove it” were present, especially with the Some Removed Group. Further examination of body piercing building personal distinctiveness and self-identity to promote their need of uniqueness is suggested.
Insight into a Conserved Lifestyle: Protein-Carbohydrate Adhesion Strategies of Vector-Borne Pathogens

The incidence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, African sleeping sickness, and tick-borne fevers is increasing. Given that current global control efforts have met with limited success, the need to develop novel interventions has become all the more vital. Successful discovery of such interventions is contingent on improving our understanding of how the pathogen interacts with its vertebrate host and also with its invertebrate vector. In this review we examine a premise developed more than 20 years ago (94) that emphasized the role of protein-carbohydrate interactions in microbial pathogenesis, and we present it in the context of vector-pathogen dynamics. Glycans are “essential macromolecules for numerous cellular processes, such as signaling, structural-support, cell-cell interaction, cell-matrix adhesion, growth, protection and trafficking” (94). Their ubiquitous yet tissue-specific occurrence as cell surface glycoconjugates has, over evolutionary time, been exploited by several pathogenic microorganisms as receptors for attachment and invasion (95). While evidence for microbial adherence to mammalian glycolipids and glycoproteins continues to grow (for reviews see references 17, 18, 58, 95, and 115), only recently has evidence for a “protein-carbohydrate recognition strategy” for vector host-pathogen interactions emerged. This review focuses on the most recent advances that describe adherence mechanisms of three different classes of pathogens—bacteria, viruses, and protozoan parasites—to their obligate arthropod vectors. We also discuss how the protein-carbohydrate recognition strategies in both vector and mammalian life stages are apparently conserved and how this conservation could lead to the development of novel strategies for intervention.
A 0.4-V UWB baseband processor

A 0.4-V UWB digital baseband processor has been fabricated in a standard-VT 90-nm CMOS technology. The base-band processor operates at an ultra-low supply voltage to reduce energy consumption and utilizes a highly parallelized architecture to meet throughput constraints. While ultra-low voltage operation is usually limited to low energy, low performance applications, this work examines how it can be applied to low energy, high performance applications. Measured results for a 20-pJ/bit 100-Mbps UWB baseband processor are presented. Architectural techniques and design methodologies for reducing additional complexity due to parallelism are discussed.
A kernel function method for computing steady and oscillatory supersonic aerodynamics with interference.

The method presented uses a collocation technique with the nonplanar kernel function to solve supersonic lifting surface problems with and without interference. A set of pressure functions are developed based on conical flow theory solutions which account for discontinuities in the supersonic pressure distributions. These functions permit faster solution convergence than is possible with conventional supersonic pressure functions. An improper integral of a 3/2 power singularity along the Mach hyperbola of the nonplanar supersonic kernel function is described and treated. The method is compared with other theories and experiment for a variety of cases.
Normalization of articulatory data through Procrustes transformations and analysis-by-synthesis

We describe and compare three methods that can be used to normalize articulatory data across speakers. The methods seek to explain systematic anatomical differences between a source and target speaker without modifying the articulatory velocities of the source speaker. The first method is the classical Procrustes transform, which allows for a global translation, rotation, and scaling of articulator positions. We present an extension to the Procrustes transform that allows independent translations of each articulator. The additional parameters provide a 35% increase in articulatory similarity between pairs of speakers when compared to classical Procrustes. The proposed extension is finally coupled with a data-driven articulatory synthesizer in an analysis-bysynthesis loop to select model parameters that best explain the predicted acoustic (rather than articulatory) differences. This normalization method is able to increase acoustic similarity between source and the target speaker by 34%. However, it also reduces articulatory similarity by 22%, which suggest that improvements in acoustic similarity do not necessarily require an increase in articulatory similarity.
Collaborative learning techniques and their extensions to virtual classrooms

A wide variety of classroom techniques are being advocated to increase learning: active learning, collaboration, integration of assessment and feedback, and the use of concrete physical manipulatives. Through the construction of learning modules, the authors have transformed these techniques into practical classroom tools. Learning modules often include relevant physical examples (classroom desktop experiments or demonstrations or schematics), PowerPoint presentations and, often, concept questions. Students study the physical artifacts, with the instructor guiding the class through the PowerPoint presentations so as to deliberately focus student attention on relevant aspects of these artifacts. There is clearly an increased interest in devising effective learning environments when students are distributed geographically. This paper addresses some of the challenges and opportunities for the extending our in-class collaborative learning techniques. While there are technical challenges to realizing this vision, there are also opportunities to develop environments, which are, in some respects, superior to the in-class environment.
Reinforcement-induced within-trial resetting of an internal clock

Rats were trained on a modified peak-interval timing procedure in which three response levers were individually associated with different criterion durations (10, 30 and 90 s) following the onset of a tone stimulus. Delivery of response‐dependent reinforcement for each duration was independent of both the responding and the delivery of reinforcement for the other durations, such that the tone stimulus stayed on during food delivery, and no change in the primed reinforcement times occurred. We report here that the delivery of reinforcement at an earlier criterion duration produces a rightward shift in the temporal response functions for later durations by the amount of time that has already elapsed in the trial. This reset in temporal accumulation produces large discrepancies between the programmed and expected (peak) times of reinforcement and suggests that rats are unable to make conditional reinforcement-based discriminations of interval duration. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
INTIMATE JUSTICE: CONFRONTING ISSUES OF ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, AND FREEDOM IN TREATMENT FOR ABUSE AND VIOLENCE

Intimate justice theory is a set of nine interrelated concepts that describe the ethical dimensions of equality, fairness, and care in ongoing partnerships. Understanding ethical dimensions involves examining internalized beliefs and behavior in terms of their motivation and impact on the partner, particularly as they empower, disempower, or abuse power. The concepts of intimate justice theory are applied to confront disempowerment and abuses of power, to challenge internalized beliefs about how one should treat one's partner, to explore how internalized beliefs were developed through experiences in the family of origin, and to develop an awareness of the linkages between intimate partner abuse and social injustice. This article demonstrates how therapists can utilize three of the concepts --accountability, respect, and freedom--to structure the opening phase of treatment for abuse and violence. The primary focus of the opening phase is on establishing accountability for change in the abusive man and protecting the safety of the injured partner. This involves challenging the abuser's sense of entitlement and working to rethink what respect is and restoring freedom to his partner. The discussion incorporates the findings of an exploratory, qualitative study that investigated the experiences of 30 abusive men and their partners who were clients in a university-based counseling clinic. The article elaborates six interventions that can be utilized in clinical settings to structure treatment with abusive men.
Televised Sports and Ritual: Fan Experiences

Examination of idiosyncratic sports rituals engaged in by viewers of televised sports revealed complex patterns of negotiation and participation in the televised events. In addition to being well-recognized tools for defining group membership, personal rituals revealed the creation of multistranded connections between fans and teams or players, despite separation by an electronic wall. Personal rituals revealed a balancing of the need for suspense with a need for reassurance, and extended to superstitions and part-play/part-serious efforts to influence game outcome. Exploration of private sports-viewer rituals illuminates the ways individuals alter their experiences of televised sports in order to gain social and cultural empowerment.
War, memory, and the public mediation of affect: The National World War II Memorial and American imperialism:

Contemporary America is deeply engaged in `memorial mania', a national obsession with issues of memory and history and an urgent, excessive desire to secure those issues with various forms of public commemoration. War memorials are especially flourishing, seen locally in small towns and larger cities, and nationally in the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC in 2004; indeed, memorials to World War II's `greatest generation' are especially popular. This article considers how and why contemporary American publics are emotionally persuaded by these new fronts of war memory, and by dominant tropes of militarism, imperialism and masculine authority. Central to this discussion are the ways in which public feelings of gratitude mobilize contemporary American war memory. What does it mean to say `thank you' to the greatest generation today? Why is such gratitude being so urgently expressed today, some 60 years after World War II ended?
Making the Collaboration Engineering Investment Decision

A well designed collaborative intervention (CI) can significantly improve group efficiency and effectiveness for many group processes. Appropriate guidelines are needed to help determine whether to invest in the design and implementation of a CI. This paper examines project and task criteria that are conducive to the successful development and implementation of CIs. Conducive project characteristics include the following: 1) clearly defined outcomes, 2) important but inefficient processes that are repeated multiple times, 3) projects that have appropriate task types, 4) projects whose participants have aligned goals, and 5) projects that have champions and adequate budgets. Although many tasks can benefit significantly from CIs, tasks with the following characteristics are especially well suited for CIs: they involve at least some synchronous work with a high degree of participant interaction; they require the processing of substantial information, especially when multiple collaborative patterns are required; and, they involve many participants.
Enteric Fever in a 6-Year-Old Traveler Caused by Salmonella enterica Serotypes Typhi and Paratyphi A: Laboratory Detection Strategies and Treatment Options

We report the first pediatric case of enteric fever caused by Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhi and Paratyphi A. Mixed infections are infrequently reported, potentially because detection of two different Salmonella serotypes in blood cultures is technically challenging. We suggest laboratory strategies to aid in the recognition of mixed infections.
Agranulocytosis secondary to propylthiouracil.

A 36-year-old Caucasian female presented with sore throat, malaise and fever for 5 days. She was febrile and physical examination was remarkable for moderate pharyngeal erythema and mild tonsil hypertrophy. A complete blood count (CBC) showed a white blood cell (WBC) count of 810/µl [87% lymphocytes, 8% variant lymphocytes, 5% monocytes and an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of zero], hemoglobin (Hgb) of 9.8 gm/dl, and a platelet count of 124 000/µl. A comprehensive metabolic panel, rapid strep screen, urine analysis and chest X-ray were unremarkable. She was admitted and empirically started on ceftriaxone and levofloxacin. The patient had no known drug allergies and a family history was significant for Graves’ disease (mother and three maternal aunts), and Factor V Leiden deficiency (father and sister). A review of the recent past medical history revealed an emergent cesarean section 4 weeks ago at 32 weeks of gestation secondary to abruptio placentae. Post-operatively the patient developed a pulmonary embolus followed by respiratory distress, tachycardia and thyrotoxicosis. During that hospitalization a CBC was unremarkable, TSH 0.005 ulU/ml, T4 16 ng/dl and T3 31.2 pg/dl, consistent …
Piloting a New Model of Crisis Counseling: Specialized Crisis Counseling Services in Mississippi After Hurricane Katrina

During January–April 2007, Project Recovery, a federally funded crisis counseling program implemented by Mississippi’s Department of Mental Health, piloted a new model of Specialized Crisis Counseling Services (SCCS) on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In this team-based approach, a masters-level counselor trained in a variety of intervention techniques and a resource coordinator worked together with persons whose needs were relatively intense. Compared to regular program (RCCS) participants over the same interval (n = 29,522), SCCS participants (n = 281) were more likely to be female, middle-aged, and at greater risk for severe distress. In a participant survey conducted in both programs over the same week, SCCS participants reported significantly greater benefit than did RCCS participants. A subset of 129 SCCS participants provided pre- and post-participation assessments and showed large improvements in disaster-related distress.