cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FINE SEDIMENT INFILTRATION DYNAMICS IN A GRAVEL‐BED RIVER FOLLOWING A SEDIMENT PULSE

Pulses of fine sediment in gravel-bedded rivers can cause extensive fine sediment infiltration (FSI) into void spaces in coarse bed material, potentially altering river morphodynamics and aquatic ecosystems. Previous work suggests a conceptual model of FSI whereby FSI occurs to a limited depth as a function of the relative grain size of bed sediment compared with infiltrating sediment and is influenced by fine sediment supply and local flow dynamics. Our study applies this conceptual model to a complex reach of a wandering, medium-sized, gravel-bed river to investigate the spatial and temporal controls on FSI. To constrain the timing of FSI, we use the release of contaminated sediment from an upstream dam removal and complementary field methods (bulk sampling, freeze cores and infiltration bags) to capture sediment across varied depositional settings. Our results indicate that, even in a morphologically complex reach, fine-sediment content in the bed does not vary significantly among deposition settings or vertically below the bed surface. We also found that the most contaminated fine sediments released into our study river by a dam removal are not present within the bed material and that substrate has likely been reworked over the period between the release of contaminated sediment and sampling. Our observations also suggest that seals of fine sediment causing void pore space at depth, which have previously been associated with FSI, are not evident in our field area. This suggests that in natural systems, high sediment supply and mobile beds may limit seal formation and persistence. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing a shared language for discussing networked learning systems

New network-based learning systems are coming into use that offer the possibility of integrating curriculum experiences and student information systems as well as changing the metaphor of the Internet from library to workspace. We will call these integrated and process oriented systems Networked Learning Systems (NLS). A NLS is tentatively defined as a program or set of programs designed to operate over a network and support users as they undertake tasks or participate in processes related to learning. CSCL is one type, albeit an important one, of process that can be enabled by NLS. This interactive event is intended to help participants build a shared language to facilitate discussions related to NLS. Through participation in a series of online and face-to-face activities, participants will build knowledge of many networked learning systems currently available, identify important dimensions of these systems, understand what aspects of those dimensions are important and why, and develop an understanding of how the work they are doing relates to the field of NLS. Participants in this session will undertake the online activities within the Shadow netWorkspace™ (SNS) (http://sns.internetschools.org), a NLS being developed by the Center for Technology Innovation in Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Human G(olf) alpha: complementary deoxyribonucleic acid structure and expression in pancreatic islets and other tissues outside the olfactory neuroepithelium and central nervous system

G(olf) alpha is a G-protein originally believed to mediate signal transduction exclusively within the olfactory neuroepithelium and subsequently found to be a major stimulatory G-protein in the basal ganglia. Here we present evidence that G(olf) alpha is expressed in several other tissues. The human isoform of G(olf) alpha was isolated from two human insulinoma cDNA libraries. Comparison of the human sequence with rat G(olf) alpha shows 91% nucleotide identity (within the coding region) and 99% identity at the amino acid level. Northern and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that G(olf) alpha is expressed in all human insulinomas examined thus far as well as in normal pancreatic islets. G(olf) alpha mRNA was also detected in testis, retina, brain, and liver. Western blot analysis of various mouse tissues demonstrated that the level of G(olf) alpha protein in islets is lower than that in the olfactory neuroepithelium and other parts of the brain; its expression in retina, lu...
Identification and partial characterization of plasma membrane polypeptides of Trypanosoma brucei.

Abstract A plasma membrane-enriched vesicle fraction has been prepared from Trypanosoma brucei by sonication and differential centrifugation on sucrose gradients. This fraction is enriched 5-fold in the plasma membrane marker enzymes adenyl cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) and ouabain-inhibitable, ( Na + + K + )-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.3). It is also enriched up to 14-fold in iodinated surface proteins, and up to 4-fold in [3H]mannose-labeled glycoproteins, of which the major variable surface coat glycoprotein is the main constituent. Proteins of the plasma membrane fraction and other subcellular fractions have been identified by electrophoretic analysis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient slab gels. Several high molecular weight surface glycopeptides have been selectively investigated and partially characterized by a combination of metabolic labeling with [3H]mannose, lactoperoxidase-catalyzed surface iodination, and affinity chromatography on Con A-Sepharose. In addition to the major variable surface coat glycoprotein (estimated M r = 58 000 ), there are several minor surface glycopeptides ( M r = 76 000, 86 000 and 92 000–100 000 ) which are apparent extrinsic membrane components, and two surface glycopeptides ( M r = 42 000 and 130 000 ) which are intrinsic membrane components.
Mandatory security in object-oriented database systems

A multilevel secure object-oriented data model (using the ORION data model) is proposed for which mandatory security issues in the context of a database system is discussed. In particular the following issues are dealt with: (1) the security policy for the system, (2) handling polyinstantiation, and (3) handling the inference problem.A set of security properties that has been established in this paper is more complete than those that have been proposed previously. Finally we describe how certain security constraints are handled by our model.
Exercise environment, self-efficacy, and affective responses to acute exercise in older adults.

Abstract Increasing evidence suggests that regular physical activity can have considerable psychological, as well as physical, benefits in the elderly. Although factors such as exercise dosage may be implicated in exercise-induced affect responses, it has also been suggested that social and psychological factors might influence this relationship. This study examined the roles played by exercise environment (group versus alone) and self-efficacy in affective change in 80 older adults (M age = 66 yrs) over the course of three acute exercise bouts. Using latent growth curve methodology and statistically controlling for duration and intensity of exercise, we were able to demonstrate that social (group) environments resulted in statistically significant improvements in feeling state responses when contrasted with a condition in which the participants exercised alone. In addition, increases in self-efficacy were associated with more positive and less negative feeling states. Environmental factors that might inf...
Countertransference enactments and some issues related to external factors in the analyst's life

Beyond the inevitability of countertransference feelings is the question of countertransference enactments. From a two‐person, participant‐observer or observing‐participant perspective, enactments are inevitable. The analyst becomes influenced by the patient (and influences the patient as well) and enmeshed in the patient's internalized interpersonal configurations. Analysis works not by avoiding such action but by analyzing from within the interactional system. Analysts who are different from one another become engaged in different ways, since the person of the analyst is a significant variable. This article, using case examples, explores two analyst‐related variables, age and family configuration, to expand the examination of countertransference enactments and some effects on the analytic process.
Where is the noise in sdt pain assessment

Many applications of sensory decision theory (SDT) to pain research have used discrimination as a measure of pain or sensory sensitivity. This belief is based on the classical SDT assumption that discrimination and criterion represent separation of sensory and decision processes. This assumed separation stems from a model where all noise or variability is part of the sensory transduction mechanism. We present an alternative formulation that allows for decision variability as well as variability in sensory transduction. This formulation documented by computer simulation shows that decision variability and sensory variability are indistinguishable and that any measure of discriminability is degraded by both. Thus discriminability is influenced by both sensory and non-sensory factors. There is no way of knowing if a drug-induced change in discriminability represents an analgesic effect or a change of the observer's ability to make consistent judgments.
Factor analysis of verbal and nonverbal clinical memory tests.

Abstract This study represents an attempt to evaluate the construct validity of various verbal and nonverbal clinical memory tests. Marker variables for verbal, visual-perceptual-motor and attention-concentration abilities were employed in order to demonstrate the relative independence of these abilities from the memory measures. Subjects were 119 individuals (aged 16–74) from a combined sample of brain damaged and non-neurologic medical controls. Principal components analyses with orthogonal varimax rotations produced four factors in both Immediate and Delayed analyses: nonverbal memory and visual-perceptual-motor skills, verbal learning and memory, general verbal abilities, and attention-concentration. The inclusion of additional nonverbal memory measures helped to create a modality specific nonverbal factor but did not produce a pure nonverbal memory factor. The Wechsler Memory Quotient had modest loadings on three of the four factors.
Development of New Nephrons in Adult Kidneys Following Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity

Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity results in necrosis of proximal tubular epithelial cells. In mammals, the injured nephron can be repaired by migration and division of surviving cells. We examined...
LUTEOTROPIC PROPERTIES OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE AND NATURE OF OXYTOCIN INDUCED LUTEAL INHIBITION IN CATTLE

Abstract Fifty-three Holstein heifers were used to study the effects of oxytocin administered alone and in combination with various gonadotropins on the weights and progesterone contents of corpora lutea. Pituitary gonadotropin levels were compared in untreated and oxytocin-treated heifers at three stages of the estrous cycle. Oxytocin injections on Days 2 through 6 significantly reduced the weights and total progesterone contents but not the progesterone concentrations of glands removed on Day 7. The concurrent administration of either purified bovine luteinizing hormone (LH) or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) significantly increased these parameters from the oxytocin treatment levels to normal or supra-normal values. Neither purified bovine prolactin nor urea-incubated HCG overcame the inhibitory effects of oxytocin. Neither oxytocin treatment on Days 2 and 3 nor oxytocin together with HCG significantly altered luteal function when the glands were taken on Day 4. It was concluded that LH is the luteotropic hormone and that the cow requires at least two periods of luteotropic stimulation for normal corpus luteum development: one at ovulation and another after Day 4 of the cycle. Oxytocin depleted total pituitary gonadotropin levels by about half during estrus or on Day 7, but did not alter levels at Day 4. Heifers’ pituitary gonadotropin levels and the total progesterone in their corpora lutea were negatively correlated in control (−0.75 on Days 4 and 7 pooled) and positively correlated in oxytocin- (0.78 on Days 4 and 7 pooled) treated groups (P
Crystal structure of gene locus At3g16990 from Arabidopsis thaliana.

The Center for Eukaryotic StructuralGenomicsisdedicatedtodeterminingthestructuresofnovelproteins from eukaryotic organisms. Open reading framesare scored using thirteen different categories (i.e. new foldprediction, solubility prediction, small percentage of lowcomplexity sequence, etc.) and then ranked to indicate theirsuitabilityforstudybynuclearmagneticresonance(NMR)orX-raycrystallography.GenelocusAt3g16990from
A Model for Determining the High Fluence X-Ray Response of a Wire in a Gapless Multi-Conductor Cable

A model for calculating high fluence SGEMP current drivers for individual wires within a gapless multiconductor cable is presented. The model accounts for prompt radiation induced conductivity in the enhanced dose regions. A 7-wire cable is considered by way of example, and the importance of both radiation induced conductivity effects and bulk current contributions as a function of fluence are discussed.
Massive Intrathecal Overdose: Check the Label Twice!

First developed for the treatment of childhood leukemia, intrathecal chemotherapy has been used with increasing frequency to treat many cancers of adulthood in which spread to the meninges occurs. Intrathecal administration provides an effective means of achieving therapeutic concentrations of selected anticancer agents in cerebrospinal fluid, because this route bypasses the blood–brain barrier, which normally restricts the Central-nervous-system penetration of most systemically administered drugs.1 Intrathecal chemotherapy is almost always administered by the intralumbar route. After intrathecal injection of a drug, the intitial volume of distribution is relatively small (approximately 140 ml for cerebrospinal fluid vs. approximately 5000 ml for blood); . . .
Ultrastructure of the Human Atrioventricular Node

Ultrastructure of the A-V node was studied in two human hearts. Fine details of intranodal cellular organization were then resynthesized on the basis of light microscopic examinations of over 250 human hearts. There are four different types of cells and no anatomic syncytium in the human A-V node: (1) a simple rounded cell identical to P cells of the sinus node, (2) a slender transitional cell which is by far the most numerous type in the A-V node, (3) Purkinie cells, and (4) ordinary working myocardium; both of the latter are almost exclusively at the nodal margins. The possible significance of these ultrastructural features relative to certain functions of the A-V node, such as pacemaking and delay of conduction, is discussed.
American Identity and Attitudes Toward Official‐English Policies

This article analyzes the relationship between each of three conceptions of American identity-liberalism, civic republicanism, and ethnoculturalism-and support for declaring English the official language and printing election ballots only in English. Focus group discussions showed that these conceptions provide a common means of discourse for talking about language conflicts and ethnic change, and that the civic republican conception of American identity is a particularly important factor in the opinion formation process. Although all three conceptions help people to decide whether they think English should be the official language, they are not consistently associated with support for or opposition to restrictive language policies. How individuals interpret these images of The ethnic makeup of the U.S. population has undergone dramatic changes over the past 40 years. From the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s, levels of immigration rose steadily, as did the proportion of immigrants arriving from Latin American and Asian countries. The federal government estimates that the foreign-born now constitute about 10% of the population, up from 5% in 1970 (Schmidley, 2001). Several public policy issues have gained prominence in response to these demographic changes, including bilingual education, immigration laws, border enforcement, official-English laws, and the provision of public services to immigrants. All levels of government have been faced with the challenge of developing appropriate policies to help immigrants adapt and become full members of the community. Policies that deal with language have become both common and contentious, and debates about how to respond to the presence of limited-Englishspeaking residents and citizens have become an important feature of American
Evaluation of the fracture toughness properties of polytetrafluoroethylene

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (Dupont Tradename Teflon) is a common polymer with many structural applications including sheet, gaskets, bearing pads, piston rings and diaphragms. The interest here developed because this polymer is being considered as the major component of a newly proposed `reactive' material with a possible application as a projectile to replace common inertial projectiles. Little mechanical property data is available on this material since it is commonly used only as a coating material with the dominant properties being its low friction coefficient and high application temperature. Previous work (Joyce, 2003) on commercially available sheet PTFE material has demonstrated the applicability of the normalization method of ASTM E1820 (1999), the elastic-plastic fracture toughness standard to develop fracture toughness properties of this material over a range of test temperatures and loading rates. Additional work on the aluminum filled `reactive' derivative of the basic PTFE polymer (Joyce and Joyce, 2004) has also recently been completed. In this work, standard ASTM E1820 fracture toughness specimens machined from sintered pucks of PTFE were tested at four test temperatures and at a range of test rates to determine the J Ic and J resistance curve characteristics of the PTFE material. The major results are that while crack extension is difficult at standard laboratory loading rates at ambient (21 °C) temperature or above, for temperatures slightly below ambient or for elevated loading rates, a rapid degradation of fracture resistance occurs and cracking occurs in a ductile or even nearly brittle manner.
Monthly maps of mean daily insolation for the United States

Abstract Traditional problems in the preparation of climatic maps of insolation involve the quality and scarcity of data. There is little the climatologist can do to improve data quality, but, in some cases, he can take steps to increase the quantity of usable data. In some parts of the world insolation is measured regularly at a few locations as part of a widespread and systematic climatic data-collection program. Several investigators have shown that analysis of data from the few available insolation stations in such areas will reveal empirical relationships between insolation and climatic elements measured at many other locations, and that the resulting relationships can be used successfully to estimate insolation for places lacking data and to fill gaps in the records of insolation stations. The application of this technique to the United States in the subject of this paper. Between 1950 and 1962, 59 stations in the contiguous United States maintained records of insolation suitable for climatic analysis. The relationships between insolation and more widely available variables—percent of possible sunshine, cloud cover, presence or absence of snow on the ground, and station elevation—are established through simple and multiple regression analysis, and tested for use in estimating insolation for 113 stations where insolation is not measured. The regression relationships are also tested and applied to filling in missing data in the records of the insolation stations. The final product consists of 12 monthly maps of the United States showing mean daily insolation.
Flexible dielectric waveguides with powder cores

Flexible dielectric waveguides have been demonstrated at 10 GHz and 94 GHz using thin-wall polymer tubing filled with low-loss, high-dielectric-constant powders. Absorptive losses of the order of 10 dB/m were measured at 94 GHz. with nickel-aluminium titanate and barium tetratitanate powder in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lightweight electrical tubing. Bending losses at 94 GHz were negligible for curvature radii greater than 4 cm. M.H. Kuhn's (1974) theory of three-region cylindrical dielectric waveguide was used to calculate dispersion curves for the lower-order modes for several combinations of dimensions and dielectric constants. Good agreement was obtained between experimental and theoretical values of guide wavelength. A scheme is proposed for classifying hybrid modes of three-region guides based on the ratio mod E/sub z//H/sub z/ mod . For two-region guides, this reduces to E. Snitzer's (1961) familiar scheme. >
Retinofugal pathways in two marsupials.

Autoradiographic and anterograde degeneration tracing methods were used to study and compare the organization of retinofugal pathways in two marsupial opossums, Didelphis virginiana and Marmosa mitis. Seven identical retinal targets were demonstrated for each opossum. These include: (1) the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, (2) the dorsal and (3) ventral lateral geniculate nuclei, (4) the lateral posterior nucleus, (5) the pretectal complex, (6) the superior colliculus and (7) the accessory optic nuclei. While the pattern of retinal input to six of the seven targets was quite similar in the two species, the organization of the retinogeniculate pathways exhibited striking differences. In particular, our autoradiographs reveal no separation of ocular inputs within the lateral geniculate nucleus of Didelphis, i.e. the ipsilateral input is overlapped completely by the more extensive contralateral projection. In contrast, there is considerable separation, as well as overlap, of the occular inputs within the lateral geniculate nucleus of Marmosa. Our autoradiographs reveal several distinct bands of label within each geniculate nucleus, and upon superimposing the nuclei, ipsilateral and contralateral to the placement it is apparent that two of the bands overlap, while five do not (three ipsi, two contra).
‘Split personalities’ for scientific databases: targeting database middleware and interfaces to specific audiences

Scientific researchers are anxious to discover new insights into the relationships and interactions among the exceedingly diverse components of our physical, biological and ecological environment. To do this, individual scientists must be able to synthesize conclusions from data drawn from disciplines outside their domains of expertise. While key datasets have already been brought online, they are housed in diverse agencies, using different database software on a variety of platforms. This paper explores the problems in providing middleware and interface support for these autonomous research databases (ARD''s). The development of interfaces to ARD''s is complicated by the fact that potential end-users range from highly specialized research scientists to the general public. To adequately support such diverse users, the interface must assume different "personalities." We describe how interfaces can be targeted to three categories of end-users: domain specialists, non-domain specialists, and students. By automating the activities that are most frustrating, time-consuming, or error-prone, target-specific interfaces can significantly improve database usability. There is also heterogeneity among the people who must develop ARD interfaces. We target three different classes of implementers - database-technology familiar, database-content familiar, and database unfamiliar. By developing different middleware personalities that respond to the specific skills and interests of the audience, we have been able to keep our software simple and usable without sacrificing flexibility.
Tracking small targets in wide area motion imagery data

Object tracking in aerial imagery is of immense interest to the wide area surveillance community. In this paper, we propose a method to track very small targets such as pedestrians in AFRL Columbus Large Image Format (CLIF) Wide Area Motion Imagery (WAMI) data. Extremely small target sizes, combined with low frame rates and significant view changes, make tracking a very challenging task in WAMI data. Two problems should be tackled for object tracking frame registration and feature extraction. We employ SURF for frame registration. Although there are several feature extraction methods that work reasonably well when the scene is of high resolution, most methods fail when the resolution is very low. In our approach, we represent the target as a collection of intensity histograms and use a robust statistical distance to distinguish between the target and the background. We divide the object into m ×n regions and compute the normalized intensity histogram in each region to build a histogram matrix. The features can be compared using the histogram comparison techniques. For tracking, we use a combination of a bearing-only Kalman filter and the proposed feature extraction technique. The problem of template drift is solved by further localizing the target with a blob detection algorithm. The new template is taken as the detected blob. We show the robustness of the algorithm by giving a comparison of feature extraction part of our method with other feature extraction methods like SURF, SIFT and HoG and tracking part with mean-shift tracking.
Extending atomistic simulation timescale in solid/liquid systems: Crystal growth from solution by a parallel-replica dynamics and continuum hybrid method

Deposition of solid material from solution is ubiquitous in nature. However, due to the inherent complexity of such systems, this process is comparatively much less understood than deposition from a gas or vacuum. Further, the accurate atomistic modeling of such systems is computationally expensive, therefore leaving many intriguing long-timescale phenomena out of reach. We present an atomistic/continuum hybrid method for extending the simulation timescales of dynamics at solid/liquid interfaces. We demonstrate the method by simulating the deposition of Ag on Ag (001) from solution with a significant speedup over standard MD. The results reveal specific features of diffusive deposition dynamics, such as a dramatic increase in the roughness of the film.
PauA: a novel plasminogen activator from Streptococcus uberis

Chromosomal DNA from two geographically distinct isolates of Streptococcus uberis was used to clone the plasminogen activator in an active form in Escherichia coli. The cloned fragments from each strain contained four potential open reading frames (ORFs). That for the plasminogen activator encoded a protein of 286 amino acids (33.4 kDa) which is cleaved between residues 25 and 26 during secretion by S. uberis. The amino acid sequence of the mature protein showed only weak homology (23.5-28%) to streptokinase. The plasminogen activator gene, pauA, in S. uberis was located between two ORFs with high homology to the DNA mismatch repair genes, hexA and hexB, and not on a DNA fragment between the genes encoding an ATP binding cassette transporter protein (abc) and a protein involved in the formation and degradation of guanosine polyphosphates (rel) as is the case for streptokinase in other streptococci.
Metachromasy of peripheral nerve collagen on polyacrylamide gels stained with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250.

Abstract Endoneurial collagen stains metachromatically with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 (C.I. 42660) when peripheral nerve proteins are solubilized with urea and SDS and then subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The metachromasy is reproducible under different fixing and staining conditions, but was exhibited only by Coomassie blue R-250 of the four triphenylmethane dyes tested. A method is presented for measurement of the degree of metachromasy on SDS gels and the detection of collagen in homogenates of whole tissue.
Copper in Microbial Pathogenesis: Meddling with the Metal

Transition metals such as iron, zinc, copper, and manganese are essential for the growth and development of organisms ranging from bacteria to mammals. Numerous studies have focused on the impact of iron availability during bacterial and fungal infections, and increasing evidence suggests that copper is also involved in microbial pathogenesis. Not only is copper an essential cofactor for specific microbial enzymes, but several recent studies also strongly suggest that copper is used to restrict pathogen growth in vivo. Here, we review evidence that animals use copper as an antimicrobial weapon and that, in turn, microbes have developed mechanisms to counteract the toxic effects of copper.
Formation of protoplasts from Gliocladium virens

Abstract 1. 1. Protoplasts were generated from 72-hr-old mycelium of Gliocladium virens, NRRL 1828 by using a lytic preparation produced by Spicaria violacea grown on a synthetic medium containing salts and 1% suspension of cell wall material from G. virens as the sole carbon source. 2. 2. Mannitol (0.6 M) was an excellent osmotic stabilizer and protoplasts could be stored 1–2 weeks at 4°C. 3. 3. The lytic enzymes from S. violacea were fractionated by ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. 4. 4. The major protein in the extracellular material appears to be an amylase and suggests that the cell wall of G. virens contains a significant amount of α(1 → 4) bonds. 5. 5. Chitinase also appears to be present and both enzymes are required for protoplast formation.
Standardization of cadmium-109 sources for γ-ray emission rate

Abstract The standardization of 109 Cd sources for 88-keV γ-ray emission rate has been performed using a NaI(Tl) well crystal which gives a nearly 4π geometry. Since the low-energy portion of the 88-keV γ-ray spectrum is obscured by 22-keV X-ray pulses, the total counting rate cannot be found by merely summing the counting rates for all the channels in the distribution. A method, in which the spectrum is broken down into eight components, is used to determine the number of degraded 88-keV γ-ray pulses. The calibration is performed by summing the counting rates of the various components below an arbitrarily chosen energy of 39 keV, and adding them to the total counting rate above 39 keV. The process in which photoelectrons escape into the aluminum liner of the well is found to be responsible for most of the degraded 88-keV γ-ray pulses which fall below 39 keV. The estimated systematic error in the measurement is ±0·9 per cent. Using 57 Co sources which have been accurately calibrated by coincidence counting, the 2-in. × 2-in. NaI(Tl) well crystal is shown to have a γ-ray detection efficiency of 100 per cent with an uncertainty of ±0·2 per cent (after corrections have been made for well-wall γ-ray absorption and excape out of the well). The total abundance for the 122- and 136-keV 57 Fe photons emitted per decay from 57 Co has been measured to be 0·963 ± 0·003.
BEM calculation of strain energy density and relative strain energy in QWR nanostructures

Abstract In this paper, we propose a bimaterial boundary element method (BEM) for the calculation of the strain energy density and the relative strain energy in quantum wire (QWR) nanostructures. We first derive the bimaterial Green's functions in terms of the Stroh formalism. We then discretize the boundary of the problem with constant elements for which the involved Green's function kernels can be exactly integrated. Our bimaterial BEM program is finally applied to calculate the strain energy density and relative strain energy in free-standing/embedded InAs QWR on/in GaAs substrate. For a square InAs (1 1 1) QWR, it is found that the magnitude of the relative strain energy increases with increasing depth of the QWR with respect to the surface of the GaAs (1 1 1) substrate. For an isosceles triangle of InAs (1 1 1) QWR free-standing on the surface of the GaAs (1 1 1) substrate, we found that the magnitude of the relative strain energy increases with increasing base angle of the triangle QWR. Strain energy density inside the InAs QWR is also plotted to show its strong dependence on the QWR shape. These results could be useful to the control of the QWR shape and size in epitaxial growth
Heat-sterilizable capsule spin motors

Sterilized solid propellant motors applicability to planetary landing capsule spin stabilization
The relationship between isoprene emission, CO2 assimilation and water use efficiency across a range of poplar genotypes

Poplars (Populus sp.) are among the strongest isoprene (Iso)-emitting plants. Ten poplar genotypes belonging to four different species were grown under the same environmental conditions in a common garden experiment, to study the influence of the genetic variability on Iso emission and on the relationship between Iso and photosynthesis. Photosynthesis ranged from 13 to 20 µmol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1) , whereas Iso emission ranged from 18.2 to 45.2 nmol m(-2) s(-1) . There was no clear association between Iso emission and photosynthesis. In most genotypes, photosynthetic capacity developed earlier than Iso emission capacity. The emission of Iso was inversely correlated with the intercellular CO(2) concentration (C(i) ) and positively correlated with instantaneous water use efficiency. It is speculated that, by regulating C(i) , stomatal opening also indirectly controls Iso emission in poplars. A positive linear correlation between the fraction of recently assimilated carbon emitted as Iso and Iso emission rate was found. The slope of this relationship indicated that each nanomole of Iso emitted requires a fixed fraction of photosynthetic carbon regardless of the intra- and interspecific variability in the Populus genus, and of leaf ontogeny. A comparison with data from recent studies showed that the slope of this relationship increases in drought-stressed leaves. However, this might be explained by an increasing contribution of carbon sources for Iso biosynthesis from stored photosynthates. If this is true, then the amount of carbon directly shunted from photosynthesis into Iso is constant in all poplars and is not influenced by abiotic stresses.
Orally transmitted Brugia pahangi in jirds (Meriones unguiculatus).

Abstract Each of 15 anaesthetized jirds ( Meriones unguiculatus ) became infected after oral instillation of 100 infective larvae of Brugia pahangi dissected from Aedes aegypti . 10 of these animals developed peripheral microfilaraemia, 3 of the remaining 5 had microfilariae in their heart-blood at necropsy, and all 15 harboured adult worms. Orally induced infections were generally comparable to conventional subcutaneous infections. In the former, however, over 90% of adult worms localized in the heart-lungs whereas in the latter many of the worms were found elsewhere in addition to the heart-lungs. With rare exceptions, worms failed to mature when infective larvae were instilled directly into the stomachs of jirds or when heavily infected mosquitoes were eaten by jirds. These observations and other evidence suggest that the stomach is not along the path taken by those larvae that succeed in establishing themselves when introduced by mouth. This appears to be the first account of oral transmission involving any filarial parasite nominally transmitted by a haematophagous arthropod. Our findings lend support to Manson's century-old hypothesis concerning oral transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti , and suggest the possibility that cryptic infection by mouth may represent a component of the epidemiology of filariasis and tropical pulmonary eosinophilia.
Building the town in the country : official understandings of fire, logging and biodiversity in Oaxaca, Mexico, 1926-2004

Cet article retrace l'histoire institutionnelle de la sylviculture et de la protection de l'environnement au Mexique, en decrivant l'evolution des conceptions des feus et de la production forestiere. La sylviculture industrielle a perdu sa legitimite aupres des publics urbains, alors que la protection de l'environnement et de la biodiversite a acquis de plus en plus une certaine autorite morale ainsi qu'un poids financier. Les defenseurs de l'environnement a Oaxaca percoivent la foret comme un lieu dedie a la protection de la biodiversite et a l'ecotourisme. Les representations que les ecologistes ont de la sylviculture et des feux agro-pastoraux recoivent un soutien important aupres du public urbain, et pourraient affaiblir la base economique du mouvement pour la sylviculture de la communaute de Mexico. Paradoxalement, ces conceptions de la nature suppriment le savoir ecologique des protecteurs de l'environnement et des populations rurales.
Assembly and Tests of SQ02, a Nb $_{3}$ Sn Racetrack Quadrupole Magnet for LARP

The US LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP) is developing accelerator magnets for a possible LHC luminosity upgrade. As part of the LARP supporting R&D, a subscale racetrack quadrupole magnet (SQ) has been developed in order to provide a cost effective tool for technology development studies. The first magnet (SQO1), reported earlier, was tested as a proof-of-principle model that applied for the first time LBNL shell-based loading structure to racetrack coils in a quadrupole configuration. The new loading structure, pre-loaded with water-pressurized bladders and keys, provided predictable and controllable pre-stress to four subscale racetrack coils, both in the end region and across the straight section. A second magnet (SQO2) has been recently completed, with the goal of assessing the conductor performance and the influence of the coil axial support on training. SQO2 implements four new coils wound around aluminum bronze islands and instrumented with voltage taps and spot heaters, in order to monitor quench locations and propagation velocities. This paper reports the SQO2 test results, including magnet quench performance with respect to short sample expectations, training history, and quench locations.
Consideration of Genetic Contributions to the Risk for Spasmodic Dysphonia

Spasmodic dysphonia, a form of the neurologic condition known as dystonia, results from involuntary spasms of the larynx, producing interruptions of speech and changes in voice quality. The pathogenesis of spasmodic dysphonia is not well understood. However, several genetic mutations have been identified that cause different forms of dystonia. In some individuals, these genetic mutations result in spasmodic dysphonia, either with no other signs of dystonia or as part of a broader dystonia phenotype. Thus, research in the growing field of dystonia genetics may help to inform our understanding of the pathogenesis of spasmodic dysphonia.
The Role of Timing in Speech Perception and Speech Production Processes and its Effects on Language Impaired Individuals

Phoneme recognition strongly depends on the intrinsic duration of speech segments, phoneme spectral change?s durations, and the relative timing of two overlapping events. Excerpts of fluent speech are not very well perceived below a given duration threshold, and ?phonemic clauses? are signalled either by a speech pause, or the lengthening of the final word or syllable in the clause. If a sentence should be perceived as temporally fluent, changes made in the duration of one segment should be compensated by durational changes of adjacent segments. These data lead to the conclusion that temporal aspects have a primary role in vocal communication and their perception is basic for a correct exchange of information and a correct identification of the phonetic and phonologic characteristics of the vocal message. In the light of these considerations, the role that the perception of temporal phenomena plays in learning or reading language is investigated considering two theories proposed to explain reading and specific language impairments. The first theory assumes that poor readers are affected by general auditory deficits in temporal processing, whereas the second assumes that the above impairments arose from specific deficits in learning speech. Experimental data in favour of the first or the second theory are discussed, and at the light of the reported results, new experimental paradigms are suggested.
Endogenously expressed epithelial sodium channel is present in lipid rafts in A6 cells.

Abstract The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) present in the kidney collecting duct, distal colon, and the lung is responsible for salt reabsorption and whole body volume regulation. It is composed of three homologous subunits, α, β, and γ, and mutations to these subunits can lead to the salt wasting disease pseudohypoaldosteronism type I, associated with decreased channel density at the plasma membrane or to the hypertensive disorder, Liddle's syndrome, in which channel residency time at the plasma membrane is enhanced. Regulation of ENaC trafficking and turnover is therefore critical to sodium homeostasis. In this study we examined whether ENaC is present in the cholesterol-enriched microdomains commonly called lipid rafts, in the endogenously expressing A6 cell line. We demonstrate that a fraction of α, β, and γ ENaC is present in detergent-insoluble membranes, that subunits exist in membranes that float on discontinuous sucrose density gradients, and that methyl-β-cyclodextrin treatment causes a redistribution of ENaC subunits to higher density membranes. Furthermore, chronic aldosterone stimulation results in a shift in the membrane density of all three subunits. Biotinylation of apical membrane proteins revealed that ENaC is present in lipid rafts on the plasma membrane. In conclusion, these results show that ENaC is present in lipid rafts both intracellularly and on the cell surface. Raft association may be important for trafficking and/or function of the channel.
HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE INTERESTS: PUZZLES AT THE PERIPHERY OF THE PROPERTY PARADIGM*

The question of ownership—property rights—is important in addressing many issues of public policy. But the attempt to subsume all questions of rights under what I describe as “the property paradigm” exerts a distorting influence on debates about a variety of complex moral issues. More specifically, I argue that the application of the property paradigm deformed discussion of the nature and basis of parental rights. The claim that parental rights are not best understood as property rights is now widely acknowledged. However, while the property paradigm exerts only vestigial influence on contemporary discussions of parental rights, it still exerts a significant distorting effect on discussions of reproductive rights. I argue that focusing on the question of the ownership of gametes, in particular of sperm, tends to warp the moral dialog concerning reproductive rights. Those sensitive moral debates are better framed in terms of individuals' legitimate interests than in terms of property.
Interactions Between Incentive Instruments: Contracts and Quality in Processing Tomatoes

Contracting and other forms of vertical coordination are important parts of the supply chains for many agricultural products. Often the buyer cares about multiple product attributes affected by a grower’s actions. Using data that are insulated from common methodological problems, we test whether or not price incentives for two processing tomato quality attributes exhibit complementarity in improving delivered quality. Price incentives for the two attributes are substitutes for the provision of one and complements for the other. This finding has consequences for the profit-maximizing choice of incentive instruments for processors, and contributes to the literature regarding tests for complementarities.
Cloning in Canada? Don't hold your breath.

Health Minister Allan Rock has unveiled legislation that would prohibit the cloning of humans in Canada, but some think it will be outdated before it becomes law in 2003. And others question whether criminal law is even the right way to approach the issue. “This area is moving so quickly that
Dynamic response of converse magnetoelectric effect in a PMN-PT-based multiferroic heterostructure

A multiferroic heterostructure, consisting of a 25 μm thick Metglas® ribbon affixed to a lead magnesium niobate–lead titanate (PMN-PT) crystal, was systemically studied to investigate the time response of converse magnetoelectric coupling under the application of electric fields at low frequencies (0.05<f<10 Hz). This multiferroic heterostructure exhibits a considerably strong converse magnetoelectric effect, CME=−80%, where CME=[M(E)−M(0)]/M(0), and a converse ME coupling constant, A=22.5 Oe-cm/kV, at frequencies below 1 Hz and near saturation electric polarization. A switching time (t s), representing the response time of the CME coupling, is measured to be 0.6 seconds for this heterostructure under the application of instantaneous electric fields. The switching time results in significant influences on the magnetoelectric effect especially at frequencies higher than 2 Hz. The dynamic response of CME coupling is predominantly determined by ferroelectric relaxation within the PMN-PT crystal, as opposed to the magnetic relaxation of the Metglas® ribbon. A model was used to describe the dynamic behavior of CME coupling in disordered systems such as PMN-PT.
Optical Engineering Aspects of Laser Surgical Instrumentation

At the Laser Laboratory of the Medical Center of the University of Cincinnati for more than 11 years detailed studies have been done with laser surgery in animals and in clinical investigative studies in a large series of patients. It is evident that the optical engineering phase of current laser surgical instrumentation requires considerably more research and development. Reliable high-output lasers, preferably CW, Md-YAG, CO2 are argon are required. Optical engineering requirements include flexibility and efficiency of beam transmission through small, sterilizable precise operating probes capable of incision, coagulation or fulguration. Probes must be adaptable for use with operating microscopes and for laser surgery in body cavities.
Quasi-minimum-BER linear combiner equalizers

It is well known that the minimum mean square error (MMSE) and minimum peak distortion (MPD) criteria do not minimize bit error rate (MinBER), and for some channels they can have a large degradation compared to the MinBER solution. Based on the strengths and weaknesses of the MMSE and MPD criteria, we have defined two new solutions, which we call minimum noise limited peak distortion (MNLPD) and min-/spl alpha/. The first solution is based on MPD but avoids the problem of noise enhancement. The second solution finds the optimal of a family of equalizers derived from the MMSE and MPD criteria. We have shown by numerical calculation that by using the MNLPD or the min-/spl alpha/ criteria we can achieve almost MinBER performance. The proposed methods have a larger complexity, but can be solved using well known techniques since they can be described as simple convex optimization problems.
Contour analysis using time-varying autoregressive model

Contour modeling by a time-varying autoregressive (TVAR) model is considered. A least squares estimator of the TVAR model parameters is presented, and the maximum likelihood approach for determining the model order is also presented. In the experiment, curvature extrema points of synthesized contours are detected from the time frequency distribution estimated with TVAR model. In the classification experiment with contours of various planar shapes, about 97% of samples are correctly classified.