cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feline matrix‐crystalline urethral plugs: A unifying hypothesis of causes

The hypothesis is advanced that various combinations of aetiologically different events may lead to three different, but common, clinical manifestations of feline lower urinary tract disease. One manifestation, characterised by nonobstructive haematuria, dysuria, pollakiuria, and increased production of proteinaceous and cellular inflammatory reactions occurs as a consequence of urinary tract infections with viruses and occasionally other infectious agents. A second manifestation is that of classical urolithiasis, which occurs in response to oversaturation of urine with different types of calculogenic substances. Naturally occurring feline uroliths containing magnesium ammonium phosphate, calcium oxalate, ammonium urate, calcium phosphate, cystine and xanthine have been observed. A third manifestation, resulting from the concomitant occurrence of urinary tract infections and various types of urine crystals, is characterised by formation of matrix-crystalline plugs that may obstruct the urethra, especially of male cats. Preliminary data suggest that urethral plug matrix contains Tamm-Horsfall mucoprotein, similar to that observed involved in the formation of renal tubular casts.
Chemie und Biochemie der Pflanzenstoffe, XXXI. Synthesen von Flavylium‐Verbindungen aus Derivaten des 1.3‐Diphenyl‐propans

Die Struktur von 1-[2-Hydroxy-phenyl]-3-phenyl-propen-(1)-ol-(2)-on-(3)-oxonium-(3)-chlorid (1) wird durch das IR-Spektrum bewiesen. Die Darstellung einiger Flavyliumsalze (2–6) und Flavene (7, 8) wird beschrieben. Chemistry and Biochemistry of Plant Constituents XXXI. – Syntheses of Flavylium Compounds from Derivatives of 1,3-Diphenylpropane The structure of 1-[2-hydroxyphenyl]-3-phenyl-1-propene-2-ol-3-one-3-oxonium chloride is proved by its IR-spectrum. Syntheses of some flavylium salts (2–6) and flavenes (7, 8) are described.
Collaborative practice, regulation, and market forces: a changing health care agenda.

C ollaborative practice issues inform and shape every dimension of health care delivery. By and large, the dynamics and tensions of collaborative practice are by-products of the U.S. regulatory system, which relies on professionally dominated practice boards to define entry standards and on politically dominated state legislatures to determine scopes of practice. The United States allocated 5% of the gross domestic product to health care in 1960; by 1994 it had grown to 14%. Even during this period in which the health care system was expanding, this system created competition and conflict between professional groups for control or dominance over practice domains. We can anticipate that as the health care system rationalizes itself to meet new performance criteria of lower costs and higher quality, within an environment oversupplied with physicians, nurses, nursemidwives, hospital beds, and insurance plans, there will be even more tension among the professions to define and control scopes of practice. Any effort to understand the public policy agenda of promoting collaborative practice must accommodate this reality. The policy agenda for promoting collaborative practice has two essential elements: traditional public polices for regulating and educating the professions and newly emerging market forces that are redefining many of the characteristics of health professional work. To understand the prospects for collaborative practice we must address both. The regulatory process affecting education and professional practice offers three levers for promoting collaborative practice. The first and relatively most available is the process of changing the scope of practice of a regulated profession. Enlarged domains of practice can create opportunities for expanded, overlapping, and collaborative practice. Public policy motivations for such action might be better access, cost reductions, or improved quality. While appearing simple and straightforward, such adjustments have been historically difficult to achieve as the expansion of one professional scope of practice usually has meant an encroachment on another. There is little, if any, evidence that the movement to managed systems of care is doing anything but heighten the insecurity felt by professionals over perceived threats to exclusive scopes of practice. :D 1997 by The Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health Published by Elsevier Science Inc 1049-3867/97/$17.00 PII SlO49-3867(97)00049-Z
Shortest enclosing walks and cycles in embedded graphs

Abstract We consider the problem of finding a shortest closed walk (SEW) or cycle (SEC) surrounding a given obstacle O in the plane and chosen from a nonnegatively weighted graph G with a fixed (not necessarily planar) embedding in the plane. We show that SEW is polynomial if O is connected and NP-hard otherwise, that SEC is polynomial when O is a topological ball and NP-hard if O is a general connected region, and that both SEW and SEC are polynomial for general O when G has a plane layout.
Some Notes on the Origin of Ethos

This article offers some documentation on the manner in which Ethos came into being and became the official journal of the Society for Psychological Anthropology, based on the author's recollections.
A Simulation Framework for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Chronic Disease Management Interventions

The treatment and management of chronic diseases currently comprise a major fraction of the United States' healthcare expenditures. These expenses are projected to increase as the US population ages. Utilization of the ambulatory healthcare system stemming from chronic conditions has been seen as contributory factor in the rising expenditures. Efforts to better manage chronic conditions ought to result in better health outcomes and, by extension, savings through lower utilization of ambulatory services. The longer-term financial consequences of such interventions, however, are more uncertain. This study offers a System Dynamics simulation framework that identifies and models the critical relationships associated with health outcomes and longer-term financial consequences. This framework is demonstrated through a comparison between groups with a similar generic chronic condition, but one group is subjected to a management intervention and the other group is not. The framework provides constructive insights into how the initial intervention cost estimates, the resulting savings, and the health status may change depending on uncertainties, feedback effects, and cost structures.
An "Evolved" Devotional Book from Late-Eighteenth-Century Mexico

A well-used devotional book with two names inscribed and the print of a miraculous image of Christ crucified pasted in next to the first page of text is examined for clues to religious life in Mexico City in the late-eighteenth century. The discussion features a counterpoint between “external” baroque spiritual practices and reforms meant to fix attention on the discipline of private, “internal” exercises and atonement for sins that continues to be a source of scholarly debate.
Rapid, painless unilateral vision loss in a 37-year-old healthy woman

A 37-year-old woman experienced painless, progressive vision loss to no light perception in the left eye over the course of 3 days. The right eye was unaffected. On examination, the only other abnormal finding was a +4 left afferent pupillary defect. She was initially diagnosed with retrobulbar optic neuritis and admitted for treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone. Neuro-imaging revealed a large right anterior cerebral artery aneurysm that crossed the midline to compress the left optic nerve. The aneurysm was treated with coil embolization, which was technically successful but which did not lead to significant improvement in vision.
Interaction of Cardiotonic Thiadiazinone Derivatives with Cardiac Troponin C

The cardiotonic effects of thiadiazinone derivative EMD 57033 are mediated by direct actions on myofilaments (Lues, I., Beier, N., Jonas, R., Klockow, M., and Haeusler, G. J. (1993) Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 21, 883-892). Cardiac troponin C has been postulated to be a potential target of the drug (White, J., Lee, J. A., Shah, N., and Orchard, C. H.(1993) Circ. Res. 73, 61-70). This study tested whether EMD 57033 interacts directly with recombinant human cardiac TnC (hcTnC). EMD 57033 caused concentration-dependent quenching of tyrosine (Tyr) fluorescence of hcTnC in the presence of Ca2+ (100 μM) and little change of the fluorescence in the presence of Mg2+ (2 mM). Kd for the drug-hcTnC interaction in the presence of Ca2+, determined by Tyr fluorescence titrations, was approximately 40 μM. The binding of EMD 57033 was stereo-selective: the optical isomer of EMD 57033 bound hcTnC much more weakly. The Ca2+ dependence and stereo-selectivity of EMD 57033 binding were substantiated by a dialysis-based direct binding assay. EMD 57033 was found to interfere with Ca2+-dependent binding of hydrophobic probe 1,1′-bi-(4-anilino)naphthalene-5,5′-disulfonate (bis-ANS) to hcTnC. The relationships between [Ca2+] and Tyr fluorescence of hcTnC and between [Ca2+] and bis-ANS fluorescence in the presence of hcTnC were substantially altered by EMD 57033 in the range of [Ca2+] where Ca2+/Mg2+ sites of hcTnC were titrated by Ca2+. EMD 57033 was found to bind as tightly to 2 Ca2+·hcTnC as to 3 Ca2+·hcTnC. These observations were interpreted as indicating that a EMD 57033-binding site is induced by Ca2+ binding, but not Mg2+ binding, to the Ca2+/Mg2+ sites of hcTnC. The drug-binding site most likely resides in the carboxyl domain of hcTnC.
Temperature dependence of optical constants of MoS 2 for pyrooptical devices

The temperature sensitivity of the reflectance of MoS2 under small temperature modulations has been investigated. It is feasible to detect temperature changes of 10−2°C by monitoring the reflectance, and thus MoS2 is a potential candidate material for the pyrooptical sensors.
Naked DNA encoding INF-γ enhances tubulin induced hearing loss in guinea pigs

Abstract The purpose of this study is to delineate the immune injury mechanisms that involved in the autoimmune inner ear disease by introducing plasmid DNA encoding of TH1 cytokines (INF-γ) into the inner ear. β-Tubulin is a microtubular protein which we found as an important autoantigenic in Meniere's Disease as well as other autoimmune hearing loss. Hearing loss was induced in mice and guinea pigs when they are immunized with the tubulin molecules. Autoimmune hearing loss could be the results of TH1 cytokine responses from autoimmune injury. To test the hypothesis, guinea pigs were immunized with 200mg of tubulin in CFA and boosted once more. Two weeks later, we introduced 100ug (5ul) of naked DNA encoding INF-γ was injected into the left side inner ear through round window. Same volume of 0.1M PBS was injected into right side as control. ABR was recorded before and after the injection. 15 weeks after the injection, the animals were sacrificed and temporal bones were examined with H-E and INF-γ immunocytochemical staining. The ears injected with the plasmid DNA- INF-γ had an enhanced hearing loss (30 dB), and degeneration of the spiral ganglion was found in these ears. However, the injection of the naked DNA encoding INF-γ did not change the expression of the INF-γ in the inner ears. These results suggest that autoimmune hearing loss could be the result of TH1 responses to inner ear autoantigens.
Accumulation of circulating endogenous and exogenous immunoglobulins by hypothalamic magnocellular neurons.

Abstract Rat monoclonal antibodies, used in immunocytochemistry of normal rat brain, result in a granular reaction product within neurons innervating areas lacking a blood-brain barrier. Immunocytochemical characterization shows that the staining is independent of the primary antibody and exclusively dependent on the presence of anti-rat immunoglobulin. This granular could be selectively eliminated by pre-adsorption of the anti-rat immunoglobulin with purified rat immunoglobulin or disruption of microtubule retrograde transport systems by intraventricular injection of colchicine. A dependence on retrograde transport and complete independence from local synthesis was further substantiated by the rapid uptake and accumulation of intravenously administered rabbit or rat [125I]immunoglobulins by the supraoptic-neurohypophysical system. Immunoelectron microscopu was used to identify the endogenous rat immunoglobulin within lysosome-like organelles in the cytoplasm of magnocellular neuroendocrine cells. The uptake and incorporation of plasma macromolecules into the lysosomal system of magnocellular and other neurons projecting to regions with a week blood-brain barrier may represent a novel mode of blood-central nervous system interactions.
A comparison of the median time to failure with temperature-ramp resistance analysis to characterize electromigration to determine electromigration kinetic parameters

Abstract Temperature-ramp resistance analysis to characterize electromigration (TRACE) can yield electromigration damage (EMD) kinetic parameters in times as short as a day. Until now, there has been no systematic comparison of kinetic parameters determined by TRACE and median time to failure (MTF). In this work, two groups of Al-4%Cu conductors were tested by both techniques. The average activation energy for EMD was determined by the TRACE technique to be 0.69 eV. This value is in excellent agreement with the value obtained from life testing. The t 50 calculated from TRACE is shorter than the measured MTF value by a factor of approximately ten.
A review of current construct measurement in entrepreneurship

Construct measurement practices lay at the foundation of empirical research. They are central considerations for entrepreneurship researchers and for consumers of entrepreneurship-related research findings. Yet, little is known about the extent to which entrepreneurship researchers currently take into account these considerations. In this study, we assess the current state of measurement practices in entrepreneurship by content analyzing recent empirical research published in several leading journals. Our findings indicate that, in general, extant research relies far too heavily on measures that do not allow for the assessment of reliability. We offer important implications and provide ways to help surmount these challenges.
A simplified method for tissue engineering skeletal muscle organoids in vitro

Tissue-engineered three dimensional skeletal muscle organ-like structures have been formed in vitro from primary myoblasts by several different techniques. This report describes a simplified method for generating large numbers of muscle organoids from either primary embryonic avian or neonatal rodent myoblasts, which avoids the requirements for stretching and other mechanical stimulation.
Kinetics and visualization of soot oxidation using transmission electron microscopy

Visualization of the oxidation of individual soot particles using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed and quantitative oxidation rates were determined. Soot particles were sampled from an ethylene diffusion flame burner and collected on a TEM grid. Individual particles were then tracked by creating maps of TEM images at different magnifications, and images were compared before and after the oxidation process in a separate furnace at low temperatures (< 800 K). Mono-area soot particles were sampled on TEM grids using a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and a low-pressure impactor. It was found that the mobility equivalent diameter determined by the DMA is equivalent to the projected area equivalent diameter determined by the TEM for particles below 150 nm. Groups of mono-area particles were visualized before and after the oxidation process and oxidation rates were determined from the change in projected area equivalent diameter by image-processing a series of TEM images. For these low temperatures (< 800 K), an activation energy of 148 kJ/mol was found for the oxidation of soot particles. The overall oxidation rate was found to be significantly higher than in prior studies, and some possible reasons for the discrepancy discussed.  2003 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Combustion Institute.
Electron microscopic study of an avian reovirus that causes arthritis.

An unidentified virus responsible for an arthritic condition in chickens (24, 25) was studied by electron microscopy. It was characterized in chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) lesions of embryonating chicken eggs and in tissue culture as to (a) particle size; (b) structure; (c) mode of replication in the cell; and (d) nucleic acid type. The mature virion is an icosahedral particle approximately 75 nm in diameter. The inner core is 45 nm, the outer coat 15 nm, and the virion has no envelope. Virus forms as crystals in the cytoplasm in association with a mass of fibrils 50–80 A in diameter. Gel diffusion tests of an avian reovirus, the Crawley agent, against the unidentified virus show the viruses to have similar antigenicities. The form and behavior of the avian arthritis virus suggest it to be a reovirus.
Acceleration of amphibian embryonic melanophore development by melanophore-stimulating hormone, N6,O2-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and theophylline.

Abstract Stage 14 (Gallien and Durocher, 1957) Pleurodeles waltlii embryos were treated with α- or β-melanophore-stimulating hormone (MSH), ACTH, dbc-AMP, c-AMP plus theophylline, theophylline, 5′-AMP, or 2′,3′-AMP. The development of melanophores was accelerated (appearing two stages earlier than in control embryos) by α- or β-MSH, ACTH, dbc-AMP, c-AMP plus theophylline, or theophylline alone. By the time embryos developed to stage 28, the control and treated embryos were indistinguishable in the number, distribution, and general morphology of their melanophores, suggesting these agents do not induce melanophore formation or mitosis. Cyclic AMP alone, 5′-AMP or 2′,3′-AMP were ineffective. Accelerated cytodifferentiation apparently requires preinduction by the invaginating chordo-mesoderm during stages 13 and 14 as presumptive neural plate explants cultured before chordo-mesoderm induction (stage 8) failed to produce melanophores with or without α-MSH or dbc-AMP. Explants from stage 14 embryos treated with α-MSH or dbc-AMP developed the same number of melanophores at the approximate time that treated whole embryos developed melanophores. Whole embryo experiments involving the faster developing embryos of Xenopus laevis were similar to those described for P. waltlii.
Resting energy expenditure in young vegetarian and nonvegetarian wome

Abstract Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) and the thermic effect of a liquid meal test (TEM) were measured by indirect calorimetry in vegetarian and nonvegetarian women of similar fitness and body composition, in attempt to gain a better understanding of why vegetarians are at less risk for obesity compared to nonvegetarians. After establishment of baseline RMR, subjects were given a liquid meal and postprandial metabolic measurements were continued for an additional 180 minutes. There were no differences in either RMR or TEM between vegetarians and nonvegetarians. The lower body weight and level of adiposity frequently seen in vetetarian women compared to nonvegetarians does not appear to be explained by differences in metabolic rate at rest or by variations in postprandial thermogenesis.
A New Hydrodynamic Liquid Cooling Method for Edge-Cooled, Flat Conductor Magnet Coils and for Liquid-Cooled Ferrite RF Resonator Discs

A method of efficiently cooling tape-wound, edge-cooled magnet coils, or ferrite discs results from the action of an inwardly-directed spiral free vortex flow pattern of the coolant. Many of the unfavorable hydraulic losses and heat-transfer limitations inherent in conventional internally-cooled magnet coils can be eliminated or minimized. The designer can independently control fluid velocities, turbulence, heat-transfer rate, fluid flow rate, bulk temperature rise, and coil space factor within wide limits by the use of hydrodynamic techniques. Hydraulic pumping energy can be minimized, conductor temperature rise can be reduced, and in many cases, the electrical current density in the conductors can be raised by the use of external vortex coolant flow. The radial increase of fluid velocity toward the center matches the need for improved cooling of the inner portions of RF ferrite discs resulting from the increased heating at the inner rim. This reduces the hazard of thermal fracture in the brittle ferrite due to differential heating.
Purification of mouse schwann cells using neurite-induced proliferation in serum-free monolayer culture

We have recently reported that neonatal mouse dorsal root ganglionic Schwann cells will (i) survive and assume characteristic morphologies in a serum-free, fully defined cultured medium (N1 medium), (ii) proliferate extensively in the same N1 medium if neurons are also present and maintained by nerve growth factor, and (iii) display a strong proliferative response to serum even in the absence of neuronal elements, while also undergoing marked changes in their morphology and their associative behavior toward neurites. In this report, we present a detailed procedure, based upon these earlier observations, which yields purified cultures of either neurons plus associated Schwann cells or Schwann cells in the absence of neurons. The procedure utilizes the neuritic mitogen for selective expansion of Schwann cell numbers in serum-free primary cultures, and a secondary culture step involving neuronal removal and additional Schwann cell expansion using the serum mitogen. The procedure requires 9 days for the generation of 3-4 X 10(6) Schwann cells from 12 newborn mice (with a Schwann cell to neuron ration of 10) and an additional 6-7 days for the generation of a neuron-free secondary population of 40 X 10(6) Schwann cells with less than 3% contamination by identifiable ganglionic fibroblasts.
Two Microcomputer-Controller Applications at SLAC

The SLAC Accelerator Control and Monitoring System as originally implemented was a manual (non-computer) control system with provisions to add computers at a later date. Since operation began in 1966, additions have included a PDP9 with a PDP8/e ''front end'' in the accelerator control room, and most recently, eight PDP8/f's in the two mile Klystron Gallery which are linked to the 8/e front end. A data link was added between the PDP9 and an SDS 925 in the Main Control Room. Touch panel interfaces were provided so that the Accelerator and Beam Switchyard could be controlled and monitored from one console.
My six encounters with Victor Marek--a personal account

This note gives a brief personal account of my early interactions with Victor Marek. These interactions are important to me as they clearly had significant influence on my career but, more to the point here, they shed light on Victor and how he does science.
SU‐EE‐A2‐05: Tissue Ablation by Medium Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Breast Cancer Treatment: Preliminary Study

Purpose: Focused ultrasonicradiation is known for its ability to induce thermal effects for therapy deep in tissue without surgical intervention. To design a medium intensity focused ultrasound (MIFU) system with distributed ultrasound transducers for breast cancer therapy, physical properties of the acoustic field must be fully characterized. Method and Materials: Custom made ultrasound transducers and driving system were calibrated with 1MHz sine wave input (1mW power). Calibrated gain of RF amplifier was utilized for ultrasound power control. Numerical simulation of the ultrasoundradiation field was carried out with Rayleigh‐Sommerfold integral. The mathematical model for simulation was verified by measuring the acoustic output with a hydrophone. Heat distribution model was established based on the simulated ultrasound field. The heating experiment was implemented under different control strategies (duty cycle, pulse repetition) with tissue‐mimicking phantoms (12W each transducer) and animal tissue phantoms (20W each transducer).Results: The output power for MIFU can be controlled accurately with calibration of ultrasound driving system. The focal length of the transducer was found to be 6.9cm with resonance frequency 1MHz. At −6dB focal zone, the beam width was 0.3cm and the focal zone depth was about 3cm. The mathematical model of the ultrasound field was quite comparable with the measured results. In the simulation of ultrasound fields generated by two orthogonal transducers, the area of −6dB focal zone was 6mm×6mm. The mathematical model of thermal field distribution was verified with heating experiment. The temperature of the target point rose up to 65°C from ambient temperature within 3 minutes of sonication. Significant lesion was visible in the tissue ablation experiment. Conclusion: From the mathematical model and experimental results, it appears that MIFU can potentially be used for soft tissue ablation such as treating breast cancer with better skin sparing. Acknowledgement: Supported by NCI‐R33‐CA107860.
The relationship between blood potassium, blood lactate, and electromyography signals related to fatigue in a progressive cycling exercise test.

Abstract Local muscle fatigue may be related to potassium efflux from the muscle cell and/or lactate accumulation within the muscle. Local fatigue causes a decrease in median frequency (MPF) of the electromyogram's power spectrum during isometric contractions but its relationship to changes in potassium and lactate during dynamic exercise is equivocal. Thus, this investigation evaluated relationships between changes in the MPF from the vastus lateralis and blood levels of lactate and potassium during an incremental cycling test and recovery. Trained cyclists ( n =8) completed a discontinuous, graded cycle test to exhaustion under normal and glycogen-reduced conditions. The glycogen reduced condition promoted an environment of lower lactate production while permitting a consistent potassium response. Blood samples and maximal isometric EMG data were collected at the end of each stage and during recovery. Maximal lactate levels were ∼60% lower in the glycogen reduced condition; potassium was similar between trials. MPF did not change significantly at volitional fatigue. Further, MPF was not significantly related to lactate ( p >0.27) or potassium ( p >0.16) in either condition. Though both lactate and potassium have been implicated as factors relating to local muscle fatigue, neither is significantly related to changes in MPF during or after progressive exercise on a cycle ergometer.
The Potential of Vegetation in Reducing Summer Cooling Loads in Residential Buildings

Abstract The potential of trees and other vegetation to reduce building cooling loads has been recorded in a number of studies but the meso- and microclimate changes producing such savings are not well understood. This paper describes a preliminary attempt to model the effects of landscaping on temperature, humidity, windspeed and solar gain in urban climates using information from existing agricultural and meteorological studies, with particular attention placed on quantifying the effects of plant evapotranspiration. The climate model is then used in conjunction with the DOE-2.1C building simulation program to calculate the net reductions in air-conditioning requirements due to trees and other vegetation. Preliminary results show that an additional 25% increase in the urban tree cover can save 40% of the annual cooling energy use of an average house in Sacramento, and 25% in Phoenix and Lake Charles. If this additional tree cover is located to optimize summer shading, the savings are further increased to...
Identifying pathways of biological invasion: can commercial moss harbor potential stowaways?

Wild-harvested ‘‘moss’’, typically a mixture of mosses and liverworts (Peck 2006), is gathered from the forests of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and Appalachians and distributed within the continent and to at least 44 international destinations (Muir et al. 2006) with no processing beyond air-drying (ca. 15% moisture content) and packaging in sealed plastic bags. Some companies also distribute ‘‘fresh’’ moss, which usually contains portions of the O horizon (organic matter or humus) and sometimes of the A horizon (i.e., actual soil) and is not allowed to air dry. Previous work examining commercially harvestable PNW moss mats has identified over 200 morphotaxa of associated macroinvertebrates, with any given moss mat bearing a dozen taxa and hundreds of individuals (Peck and Moldenke unpublished data). We conjecture that some of these taxa become trapped within the plastic retail bag, confined to a closed ecosystem that may have no inputs for weeks to months, until they are released at the final retail destination. Because many invertebrates are tolerant of environmental extremes, responding through cryptobiosis (Polgar and Darvas 1995) or anhydrobiosis (Watanabe 2006), we hypothesized that at least some invertebrates inhabiting commercially harvested and processed moss are likely to survive and be capable of emerging after the moss has reached the final consumer. Furthermore, we anticipated that many more individuals and taxa would be capable of surviving in minimally processed ‘‘fresh’’ moss.
Vacancy models for concentrated binary alloys —II long-range ordered alloys

Abstract Four models (Smeared-Displacement, Simple-Displacement, Modified Vacancy-Energy and Vacancy-Energy Models) for estimating the effects of long-range ordering on the equilibrium concentration of vacancies in binary alloys are described. The models differ first with respect to the details with which vacancy environments are inspected and secondly with reference to methods of estimating vacancy energies. Whereas the Smeared-Displacement, Simple-Displacement and Modified Vacancy-Energy Models approximate the energy to form a vacancy with the change in bond energy when a vacancy is produced by displacing an atom from the bulk of the crystal to the surface, the more detailed and more accurate Vacancy-Energy Model assumes that the free energy to form a vacancy depends principally on the atoms with which it is coordinated. All four models suggest that, in general, the concentration of vacancies differ on the different types of lattice sites when the alloy is ordered.
Modeling of nonlinear piezoelectric behavior

A finite element model for the nonlinear behavior of piezoelectric material is developed. Important issues in modeling the nonlinear behavior of piezoelectric material at micro-scale is discussed and methods to solve such issues are proposed. A procedure is developed to obtain RVE from the simplified microstructure of the material. The RVE is obtained based on a statistical parameter, which is a measure of the degree of heterogeneity at a point. The material properties at the micro-scale are obtained from the macro-scale properties by rule of mixture approach. A finite element iterative solution procedure is then used to model the material behavior by averaging the local response over the entire RVE. Nonlinear behavior of the material is due to the domain switching phenomenon and is simulated based on internal energy density based switching criterion. A numerical example is given for PZT-4 material and the results agree qualitatively with the experimental results.
Smoked Cocaine Self-Administration is Decreased by Modafinil

Modafinil has been reported to reduce cocaine use in a clinical sample of infrequent users (2 days/week), but the effects of modafinil on cocaine self-administration in the laboratory have not been studied. The present study investigated the effects of modafinil maintenance on cocaine self-administration by frequent users (4 days/week) under controlled laboratory conditions. During this 48-day double-blind, crossover design study, the effects of modafinil maintenance (0, 200, and 400 mg/day) on response to smoked cocaine (0, 12, 25, and 50 mg) were examined in nontreatment-seeking cocaine-dependent individuals (n=8). Cocaine significantly increased self-administration, subjective-effect ratings, and cardiovascular measures; modafinil at both doses (200 and 400 mg/day) markedly attenuated these effects. These findings agree with data from previous human laboratory and clinical investigations of modafinil as a potential cocaine abuse treatment medication. Thus, our data support the potential of modafinil as a pharmacotherapy for cocaine dependence.
Comparison and Application of Metrics That Define the Components Modularity in Complex Products

As the content and variety of technology increases in automobiles, the complexity of the system increases as well. Decomposing systems into modules is one of the ways to manage and reduce system complexity. This paper surveys and compares a number of state-of-art components modularity metrics, using 8 sample test systems. The metrics include Whitney Index (WI), Change Cost (CC), Singular value Modularity Index (SMI), Visibility-Dependency (VD) plot, and social network centrality measures (degree, distance, bridging). The investigation reveals that WI and CC form a good pair of metrics that can be used to assess component modularity of a system. The social network centrality metrics are useful in identifying areas of architecture improvements for a system. These metrics were further applied to two actual vehicle embedded software systems. The first system is going through an architecture transformation. The metrics from the old system revealed the need for the improvements. The second system was recently architected, and the metrics values showed the quality of the architecture as well as areas for further improvements.Copyright © 2008 by General Motors
Robust pattern recognition for measurement of three dimensional weld pool surface in GTAW

Ability to observe and measure weld pool surfaces in real-time is the foundation for next generation intelligent welding that partially mimics welders' sensory capability, i.e., acquiring weld status information from the observation of weld pool. To image and measure the mirror-like weld pool surface under the strong arc radiation, a structured light laser pattern, dot matrix, has been projected onto the weld pool surface and its specular reflection is intercepted and imaged by an imaging plane placed with a distance from the arc. The reflection pattern, deformed by the specular liquid weld pool, contains three-dimensional (3D) geometry information of the weld pool. In this paper, a robust recognition procedure has been proposed to identify the reflection pattern in real-time. In particular, an adaptive thresholding algorithm is proposed to distinguish the laser dots in the reflection pattern. Then a reflection pattern recognition algorithm is proposed to determine the row and column number for each reflected laser dot such that reflection pattern can be matched with the projection pattern. The identified reflection pattern can be used to reconstruct the 3D weld pool surface. Experiments with different welding conditions have been conducted to verify the real-time performance of the proposed procedure, including the effectiveness, robustness and time complexity. It has been found that the procedure is capable of identifying the reflection pattern from a captured image in less than 19 ms. The real-time performance meets the most widely used arc welding process for precise welding-gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) that typically requires to be controlled a few times per second.
Penalty finite element approximations of the stationary power-law Stokes problem

Finite element approximations of the stationary power-law Stokes problem using penalty formulation are considered. A priori error estimates under appropriate smoothness assumptions on the solutions are established without assuming a discrete version of the BB condition. Numerical solutions are presented by implementing a nonlinear conjugate gradient method.
An Interactionist Perspective on Social Knowing

An alternative view of the relationship between perceptual and inferential processes is proposed. It is argued that the distinction bet teen perceptual processes as low-level" and inference processes as "high-level" mental operations may be inaccurate. The proposition that these two systems may he independent, interacting, and equally, capable of providing high-level and low-level judgments is put forward and discussed in light of, findings on the perception of action.
Cross-cultural efficacy of American low-impact programs: a comparison between Garhwal guide beliefs on environmental behavior and American outdoor travel norms.

Abstract In America, recreationists on public lands are expected to follow behavioral norms codified through low-impact programs. Such programs have been exported to countries all over the world with little or no critical thought about their efficacy in other cultural contexts. The present study examined the normative assumptions of the Leave No Trace program in the context of adventure tourism guides in the Garhwal Himalaya of India to determine the efficacy of implementing such programs in a different cultural context. We identified what salient beliefs prompt whitewater rafting and trekking guides' intention to perform pro-environmental behavior. We then compared the results with the belief system used for the basis of Leave No Trace. Results revealed that an American appeal to personal responsibility in Garhwal may not succeed for a variety of reasons. This study helps lay a foundation for much needed research on pro-environmental behavior and improved resource management techniques in the Indian Himalaya.
Mass spectrometric identification of pEGFYSQRYamide : A crustacean peptide hormone possessing a vertebrate neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like carboxy-terminus

In invertebrates, peptides possessing the carboxy (C)-terminal motif -RXRFamide have been proposed as the homologs of vertebrate neuropeptide Y (NPY). Using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, in combination with sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation and chemical and enzymatic reactions, we have identified the peptide pEGFYSQRYamide from the neuroendocrine pericardial organ (PO) of the crab Pugettia producta. This peptide is likely the same as that previously reported, but misidentified, as PAFYSQRYamide in several earlier reports (e.g. [Li, L., Kelley, W.P., Billimoria, C.P., Christie, A.E., Pulver, S.R., Sweedler, J.V., Marder, E. 2003. Mass spectrometric investigation of the neuropeptide complement and release in the pericardial organs of the crab, Cancer borealis. J. Neurochem. 87, 642-656; Fu, Q., Kutz, K.K., Schmidt, J.J., Hsu, Y.W., Messinger, D.I., Cain, S.D., de la Iglesia, H.O., Christie, A.E., Li, L. 2005. Hormone complement of the Cancer productus sinus gland and pericardial organ: an anatomical and mass spectrometric investigation. J. Comp. Neurol. 493, 607-626.]). The -QRYamide motif contained in pEGFYSQRYamide is identical to that present in many vertebrate members of the NPY superfamily. Mass spectrometric analysis conducted on the POs of several other decapods showed that pEGFYSQRYamide is present in three other brachyurans (Cancer borealis, Cancer irroratus and Cancer productus) as well as in one species from another decapod infraorder (Lithodes maja, an anomuran). Thus, our findings show that at least some invertebrates possess NPY-like peptides in addition to those exhibiting an -RXRFamide C-terminus, and raise the question as to whether the invertebrate -QRYamides are functionally and/or evolutionarily related to the NPY superfamily.
Modulation of radiation damage by cytokines

Cytokines, hormone-like proteins that are produced by stimulated cells and tissues, serve as intercellular messengers. The production of an expanding number of recombinant cytokines in pharmacological quantities has permitted an assessment of the benefit they may provide in preserving and restoring functions of tissues compromised by irradiation. Included here are studies indicating that the cytokines interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, stem cell factor and interleukin 12 protect mice from radiation lethality when given prior to irradiation, and even in untreated mice these cytokines serve in innate defenses against external stimuli. In contrast, transforming growth factor beta, interleukin 6 and interferon, given before irradiation, sensitize the mice to radiation lethality. Myeloprotection against ionizing radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs by interleukin 1 depends on the regimen of treatment and may be related to the temporary patterns of induced cytokines and to the resulting changes in the cycling status of the progenitor cells. Interleukin 12, through induction and interaction with additional cytokines, has contrasting effects on different tissues, i.e., protecting the bone marrow but sensitizing the gut. Insights gained from such studies into the cellular mechanisms of regulation of radiation-induced damage by cytokines are discussed. Whether a "trade-off" of protection of some tissues and sensitization of other tissues applies to cytokine therapy in humans is unknown.
Assessing cultural competency skills in gastroenterology fellowship training.

CONCLUSION: OSCEs can be used to assess deficiencies in culturally-competent care at the fellowship level. OSCEs also afford fellowships the opportunity to inform future training curricula.
Block Copolymers for Organic Optoelectronics

While polymers hold significant potential as low cost, mechanically flexible, lightweight large area photovoltaics and light emitting devices (OLEDs), their performance relies crucially on understanding and controlling the morphology on the nanometer scale. The ca. 10 nm length scale of exciton diffusion sets the patterning length scale necessary to affect charge separation and overall efficiency in photovoltaics. Moreover, the imbalance of electron and hole mobilities in most organic materials necessitates the use of multiple components in many device architectures. These requirements for 10 nm length scale patterning in large area, solution processed devices suggest that block copolymer strategies previously employed for more classical, insulating polymer systems may be very useful in organic electronics. This Perspective seeks to describe both the synthesis and self-assembly of block copolymers for organic optoelectronics. Device characterization of these inherently complex active layers remains a sign...
Native tobacco mosaic virus protein of molecular weight 18,000.

X-RAY diffraction data on tobacco mosaic virus have been interpreted in terms of protein repeat units with a molecular weight of about 18,000 arranged in a helix1. Amino-acid analyses and end-group titrations2 yield a similar minimal value but do not answer the question whether the ultimate molecular weight is 18,000 or some integral multiple of it. Thus far, the smallest native protein particles obtained by degradation of tobacco mosaic virus3–5 have shown molecular weights of about 100,000. We have now been able to dissociate tobacco mosaic virus protein into undenatured particles with a sedimentation coefficient consistent with a molecular weight of 18,000.
Further contributions to the mathematical biophysics of visual aesthetics

In previous papers cases were considered in which a visual pattern consists of a relatively small number of relatively strongly excited elements. Those cases are of interest in the theory of visual perception and aesthetic rating of artificial man made patterns. By an extension of the theory so as to take into account the finite thresholds of the inhibiting fibers a theory of aesthetic ratings of pattern consisting of a very large number of elements is outlined. This type of theory is applicable to natural patterns, such as landscapes.
Cantorian distance, statistical mechanics and universal behaviour of multi-dimensional triadic sets

We give different descriptions of an abstract n dimensional dynamical system. First, we use a Sierpinski space setting and subsequently we use a statistical cellular space setting. The results of the analysis elucidates certain universal behaviour which was observed in a wide category of cellular automata. The results further show that in four dimensions the phase space dynamics is Peano-like and resembles an Anosov diffeomorphism of a compact manifold which is dense and quasi ergodic. The fractal average distance dimension in this case is d"D^(^4^) = 4.00631 @? 4, and we conjecture that fully developed turbulence is related to d"D^(^5^) = 6.36297. The corresponding Shannon information entropy of the second analysis are S"S^(^4^) = 3.68 and S"S^(^5^) = 6.12. In the case of more-than-seven-dimensional phase space, both descriptions lead to almost identical numerical results. Possible implications of these theoretical results to physical spatio-temporal chaos are discussed.
Wet chemical etching studies of Zr and Hf-silicate gate dielectrics

The etching properties of alternate gate dielectric candidates Hf and Zr silicate in hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions are presented. As-deposited Hf silicate films were found to be more difficult to etch when compared with as-deposited Zr silicate films. After annealing, both Hf and Zr silicate are harder to etch than as-deposited films. Annealed Zr silicate films were the most difficult to remove in either concentrated, or diluted HF solutions. Film densification, along with crystallization of the silicate films near the Si interface are thought to be responsible for the etch rate change in these silicate systems. Alternate processes to remove remnant metal from the silicon surface after gate dielectric removal are also discussed. After annealing and dielectric film removal, remnant Zr and Hf concentrations near the Si surface of ∼1019/cm3 and ∼1016/cm3, respectively, were observed.
The relationship between self-report and lab task conceptualizations of impulsivity

Abstract Research has yet to examine the overlap among the different aspects of impulsivity that has been suggested by self-report and behavioral lab task measures. The aim of the current study is to conduct the first comprehensive empirical study including all previously identified aspects of impulsive action in order to examine the construct overlap of both lab task and self-report conceptualizations of impulsivity. Participants were 77 undergraduate students (54 female) in an introductory psychology course. Results suggest that self-report and behavioral lab tasks are assessing discrete aspects of impulsivity. The current study provides estimates of effect sizes and can inform future research hypotheses concerning the overlap between self-report and lab task impulsivity domains.
CSULA Campus Energy Assessment Project

As concerns over the rapid depletion of our natural resources, air quality, and the environment continue to grow, so do the technologies being developed to address those issues. Thus it’s essential that government agencies and educational institutions alike become leaders in the promotion of “green” technologies and “green” design as they are becoming more than ever before concrete solutions to our environmental concerns. This report describes the project undertaken by a multi-disciplinary group of Engineering and Technology students at California State University, Los Angeles. This project looked into a sustainable approach to reduce the overall campus energy use and its environmental impact. Over the course of the project, a detailed investigation of the campus energy demand was conducted and solutions to improve the aging campus energy infrastructure were drafted. Some of thee short term solutions included Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) that focused on the operation and management of our energy with respect to lighting, air conditioning, and building envelope. Some mid-range solutions included the increase in capacity of the TES and an overall design of a hydrogen generation station was developed for future consideration.Copyright © 2008 by ASME