cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Action‐angle variables in quantum mechanics

Conventional quantum mechanical treatments of many systems have worked with coordinates and momenta that are not canonically conjugate. In this work it is shown how the quantum expressions may be reformulated in terms of the canonical set of action‐angle variables, and specific examples of the harmonic oscillator, linear rotor, and triaxial rotor are presented. When expressed in these terms, the quantum mechanics take on a form which can be directly related to analogous results from classical mechanics. In addition, it becomes possible to express the Hamiltonian in the minimum number of coordinates. It is also shown that the common assumption of an exponential form for the overlap of canonical coordinate and momentum eigenstates is false for an asymmetric rotor. This has important implications for the quantization rules applicable to nonseparable systems.
Stent effects on duplex velocity estimates

Abstract Background Doppler-derived velocity criteria used to define the presence and severity of in-stent restenosis after percutaneous angioplasty and endoluminal stenting have been called into question. This study uses an in vitro flow model to examine Doppler-derived velocities after placement of balloon-expandable and self-expanding endoluminal stents (BES and SES). Methods An in vitro vascular circuit model consisting of a pulsatile pump, tubing, and a conduit was created. The pump was programmed to replicate the Doppler spectral waveform pattern of the renal and carotid arteries. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were estimated at five distinct conduit locations. Three replicate velocity measurements were made at each location. After initial velocity estimates, a BES or an SES was deployed within the conduit. Results Mean ± standard error PSV was 95.8 ± 2.6 cm/s, 97.0 ± 2.7 cm/s, and 101.4 ± 2.7 cm/s for unstented, BES and SES, respectively. PSV estimates were increased between unstented and stented conduits when SESs were present. The increase in mean systolic velocity of 6.4% observed with SES was statistically significant ( P Conclusion The presence of an SES was associated with a less than 7% change in estimated PSV. These results suggest that Doppler velocity estimates for renal and carotid arteries are not materially affected by either BES or SES.
Optical Rotation of Achiral Pentaerythritol

The optical rotatory power of achiral crystals of achiral pentaerythritol molecules was measured. The maximum rotations were found to be ±6°/mm. The quantum mechanically computed rotation of pentaerythritol molecules using linear response theory was 6 times larger although the experimental and theoretical tensors were similarly oriented to within 5°.
Comparison of Various Orthogonal Polynomials in hp-Version Time Finite Element Method

Four types of orthogonal polynomials-Legendre, Chebyshev, Hermite, and integrated Legendre-are evaluated as basis functions in the time finite element method to solve initial value problems governed by second-order differential equations. Condition numbers of the augmented stiffness matrix for the selected problems are estimated by increasing the number of polynomial terms in the expansion. Results for the CPU time using an IBM 3090-300E/VF computer and the estimated condition numbers, using IMSL subroutine DLFCRG, for each of four basis functions are presented. The augmented stiffness matrix for the case of integrated Legendre polynomials is found to have the best condition number behavior, and that for the Hermite polynomial the worst. The integrated Legendre polynomials require the most CPU time, whereas the Chebyshev polynomials require the least.
Disjunctive models of boolean category learning

Four connectionistic/neural models which are capable of learning arbitrary Boolean functions are presented. Three are provably convergent, but of differing generalization power. The fourth is not necessarily convergent, but its empirical behavior is quite good. The time and space characteristics of the four models are compared over a diverse range of functions and testing conditions. These include the ability to learn specific instances, to effectively generalize, and to deal with irrelevant or redundant information. Trade-offs between time and space are demonstrated by the various approaches.
ALCOHOL AND SEXUAL AGGRESSION IN A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF COLLEGE MEN

Alcohol use prior to sexual assault by both offenders and their victims may be associated with the severity of sexual aggression men commit against women. Little research has explored the pathways (e.g., social context, behavior) through which alcohol may affect outcomes of sexual attacks. The present study analyzed the role of alcohol in sexual assaults (N = 694) committed by men identified from a national sample (N = 2,972) of male college students completing a survey. Interactions of alcohol use with assault variables did not suggest any synergistic role of alcohol use in predicting sexual aggression severity. Path analysis showed, however, that offender propensity to abuse alcohol and victim preassault alcohol use were each both directly and indirectly related to sexual aggression severity, whereas offender preassault alcohol use was not directly related to sexual aggression severity. This study suggests that alcohol use plays both direct and indirect roles in the outcomes of sexual assaults. Rape and...
Synthesis of glucose 1-phosphate-U-14C and specifically labeled sucroses using sucrose phosphorylase

Abstract A simplified and improved method for the synthesis of G-1-P-14C and specifically labeled sucroses has been developed. Using a preparation of enzyme easily purified from Leuconostoc mesenteroides, high yeilds (61%–72%) of sucroses were obtained. The radiochemical purity was quite high. The specific conditions for bacterial growth, enzyme purification and sucrose synthesis (utilizing paper chromatographic techniques) are completely described.
A Study of Reusing Smartphones to Augment Elementary School Education

Society faces a severe environmental challenge posed by the rapid advance of technology scaling. The high cost in manufacturing energy, materials, and disposal is worrisome with the increasing number of smartphones. To mitigate the impact of future devices, the authors propose a design for reuse model in which obsolete devices will be reused for a class of applications that can be satisfied with older, less reliable technology. In particular, the authors find a good match between the reuse of smartphones and educational applications. The experiments indicate that the resource requirements of educational applications can be satisfied by repurposed smartphones. The key challenge is the design of software that can adapt to extreme heterogeneity of devices. To this end, the authors explore smartphone evolutions and characterize different types of heterogeneities among different generations of smartphones. The authors propose insights to aid establishing a sustainable model of designing mobile applications for phone reuse.
The Meaning of the Cyber Revolution: Perils to Theory and Statecraft

While decisionmakers warn about the cyber threat constantly, there is little systematic analysis of the issue from an international security studies perspective. Some scholars presume that the related technology's scientific complexity and methodological issues prohibit orderly investigation; only a minimum degree of technical acuity is needed, however, revealing the scope of maneuver in the cyber domain. Other skeptics argue that the cyber peril is overblown, contending that cyber weapons have no intrinsic capacity for violence and do not alter the nature or means of war. This view misses the essence of the danger and conceals its true significance: the new capability is expanding the range of possible harm and outcomes between the concepts of war and peace—with important implications for national and international security. The cyber domain, moreover, features enormous defense complications and dangers to strategic stability: offense dominance, attribution difficulties, technological volatility, poor st...
ATP-induced sucrose efflux from red-beet tonoplast vesicles.

Sucrose efflux from the vacuole of mobilizing red-beet (Beta vulgaris L.) hypocotyl cells was investigated using purified tonoplast vesicles. Tonoplast vesicle purity was assured by the immunoreactivity to antibodies raised against the vacuolar ATPase and by the strong inhibition exhibited by the H+-ATPase to bafilomycin-A and NO3−. Inhibition of the H+-ATPase by vanadate and azide was negligible. Sucrose was loaded into tonoplast vesicles by using the pH-jump method of energization. Addition of ATP to sucrose-loaded vesicles in the presence of bafilomycin-A resulted in efflux of a significant amount of sucrose. During ATP-induced sucrose efflux, bafilomycin-insensitive ATPase activity increased significantly with no increase in H+-translocating activity. The additional bafilomycin-A insensitive ATPase activity observed in sucrose-loaded vesicles was completely inhibited by vanadate as was the efflux of sucrose. Similar to vanadate, thapsigargin was also inhibitory to sucrose efflux and to the bafilomycin-A insensitive ATPase activity. The data indicate that vacuolar sucrose can be actively mobilized by a specific ATP-dependent efflux mechanism.
A two sample test of equality of coefficients of variation or relative errors

A likelihood ratio test of equality of coefficients of variation or relative errors for two samples of unequal size is presented. The asymptotic distribution is found and the distribution is tabled for small sizes via computer simulation. Kolmogrov-Smirnov confidence intervals are constructed on the percentiles included in the table. Power studies are also simulated and the results indicate that the test has good power for small coefficients of variation
Climate, interseasonal storage of soil water, and the annual water balance

Abstract The effects of annual totals and seasonal variations of precipitation and potential evaporation on the annual water balance are explored. It is assumed that the only other factor of significance to annual water balance is a simple process of water storage, and that the relevant storage capacity is the plant-available water-holding capacity of the soil. Under the assumption that precipitation and potential evaporation vary sinusoidally through the year, it is possible to derive an analytic solution of the storage problem, and this yields an expression for the fraction of precipitation that evaporates (and the fraction that runs off) as a function of three dimensionless numbers: the ratio of annual potential evaporation to annual precipitation (index of dryness); an index of the seasonality of the difference between precipitation and potential evaporation; and the ratio of plant-available water-holding capacity to annual precipitation. The solution is applied to the area of the United States east of 105°W, using published information on precipitation, potential evaporation, and plant-available water-holding capacity as inputs, and using an independent analysis of observed river runoff for model evaluation. The model generates an areal mean annual runoff of only 187 mm, which is about 30% less than the observed runoff (263 mm). The discrepancy is suggestive of the importance of runoff-generating mechanisms neglected in the model. These include intraseasonal variability (storminess) of precipitation, spatial variability of storage capacity, and finite infiltration capacity of land.
Thermal effects on response of cat touch corpuscle.

Abstract Rate-intensity functions were obtained in single-unit recordings from Pincus touch corpuscle in cat, at normal skin temperature and during brief warming and cooling. Temperature affected the majority of firing rates by amounts equivalent to the effect of a change of 2 db or more in mechanical stimulus amplitude, the percentage of units so affected increasing with increased area of the thermal contactor. Mechanoreceptors could serve as a source of both thermal and mechanical stimulus information if there were two or more populations of them differing in thermal sensitivity, but there was no evidence that the Pincus touch corpuscles are thus subdivided.
Several secure store and forward devices

Abstract : DoD system high enclaves are often isolated from systems at other security levels because the usual connectors (guards) are expensive to procure, integrate, accredit, and operate, and usually require a human in the middle to review the data flow, independent of direction. This isolation reduces the effectiveness of information systems. The secure store and forward devices described in this paper can be used to solve an important (yet tractable) half of the problem: moving data from LOW to HIGH without a human in the middle. These devices were expressly designed to be easy to accredit. Security critical function is both minimized and separated from non-security critical function to reduce the need for trusted components. A prototype implementation of one of these store and forward devices is described as well.
Myoadenylate Deaminase Deficiency. A Common Inherited Defect With Heterogeneous Clinical Presentation

Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency is a clinically heterogeneous metabolic disorder that is commonly diagnosed in a variety of neurologic settings. Although the molecular basis for this purine nucleotide catabolic derangement may typically be attributed to the inheritance of a single prevalent mutant allele, the clinical spectrum in the absence of other definable abnormalities can range from asymptomatic to mild exercise-induced myalgia. Moreover, myoadenylate deaminase deficiency is also found associated with other definable neuromuscular disorders. The myoadenylate deaminase deficiency in these latter cases may, in part, be precipitated by pathologic change or act synergistically in combination with another metabolic disease.
Freezing of polydisperse hard spheres

Freezing of polydisperse hard spheres is studied by Monte Carlo simulation and the results are interpreted with a cell model of the solid. The results supplement an earlier study of freezing of nearly monodisperse hard spheres and, within the assumption of a substitutionally disordered solid, a complete description of the freezing behavior is obtained. The density and polydispersity of the precipitate are characterized by a single curve, regardless of the composition of the fluid from which it is formed. Fractionation enables a fluid of arbitrary polydispersity to precipitate a solid of small polydispersity, dispeling the long-held notion of a fluid-phase ``critical'' polydispersity, beyond which it cannot form a solid. Nevertheless, a primary conclusion from the previous study is confirmed: a solid crystalline phase of polydispersity exceeding 5.7% of the average sphere diameter cannot be precipitated from a fluid phase.
Calculus of generalized hyperbolic tetrahedra

We calculate the Jacobian matrix of the dihedral angles of a generalized hyperbolic tetrahedron as functions of edge lengths and find the complete set of symmetries of this matrix.
Structure factor of a one-dimensional shouldered hard-sphere fluid☆

Abstract We present an exact description of how the structure factor of a one-dimensional shouldered hard-sphere systems depends on the shoulder height and width of the potential, and the number density. The applicability of these results to liquid-metal systems is discussed.
Hereditary neoplasia syndromes and the role of the surgeon

The complex and often variable clinical presentations of patients with hereditary neoplasia syndromes mandates a multidisciplinary approach to management. The involvement of surgeons in the assessment and management of these patients is essential, in that the majority of patients affected with hereditary neoplasms will, at some point, require resection of the target organs affected by specific gene mutations, with prophylactic or therapeutic intent, or both. As the pathogenesis of the known hereditary neoplasia syndromes becomes better understood at the molecular level, innovative targeted therapies will, inevitably, supplant or replace surgery as the primary treatment modality for these diseases. Until that time, however, surgeons will continue to play a prominent role in the care of patients with hereditary neoplasia syndromes. As is already occurring within many other clinical specialties, the incorporation of at least a basic understanding of the genetic mechanisms of disease transmission and expression are essential within the surgical specialties, as the two cases presented herein demonstrate. In this paper, we present two cases that illustrate many of the challenges inherent in the surgical management of patients with hereditary neoplasia syndromes: a patient with attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome, and a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, type 2–B.
Temporal and spatial variation in an index of biological integrity for the middle Wabash River, Indiana

Few studies have addressed within-year temporal variation of IBI scores. We compared index of biotic integrity (IBI) scores for two summer sampling events from a large river during 25 annual periods. The results indicated that IBI scores calculated from June samples were not significantly different from July samples. Spatial autocorrelation was present, such that sites that were closer together produced similar IBI scores and could not be considered independent. Temporal autocorrelation was present, but was not strong. Lower quality sites (low IBI score) did not have higher variation than higher quality sites. Our results show that a single sample of fishes by boat electrofisher during the summer in a large river such as the Wabash River can produce a repeatable estimate of IBI score. Thus, repeated or additional sampling within the summer season to improve the quality of the evaluation is not warranted.
Clinical Use of Oral Verapamil in Chronic and Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

We evaluated the effectiveness of oral verapamil therapy for control of ventricular rate in digitalized patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with three clinical problems: chronic AF with rapid rate at rest (four patients), chronic AF with accelerated rate during modest exercise (five patients), and rapid rates during paroxysmal AF (four patients). Patients in the first two categories were evaluated both by open-label dosage titration and by a randomized, double-blind, cross-over protocol. In chronic AF with rapid rate of rest, there was a significant reduction in resting heart rate (from 125 ± 7 to 87 ± 14, P ± 4, P 0.55). We conclude that verapamil is a safe and useful drug for control of ventricular rate in digitalized patients with chronic and paroxysmal AF.
PERCEPTIONS OF OLDER ADULTS: THE VOICES OF ELDERCARE EMPLOYEES

Eldercare employees (73 women, 15 men) at rural and urban facilities in Australia responded to two open-ended questions related to perceptions of older adults. On average, employees assisted 62 adults per week, working at the facility for 19 years. Participants identified the following characteristics of an “independent older adult:” someone who cares for self, independent living, self-sufficiency, financially independent, mobility, physical health, good mental health and mental abilities, optimistic, positive personal characteristics, goal orientation, independent decision making, and good interpersonal relations. Participants also indicated that when an older adult becomes dependent on others the adult is unable to self-care and has physical and mental health problems.
Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with a series of bi‐ and tricycloalkanes at 299 ± 2 K: Effects of ring strain

Relative rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with a series of bi- and tricyclic alkanes have been determined at 299 ± 2 K, using methyl nitrite photolysis in air as a source of OH radicals. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with cyclohexane of 7.57 × 10−12 cm3/molec·s, the rate constants obtained are (× 1012 cm3/molec·s): bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 5.53 ± 0.15; bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 14.8 ± 1.0; bicyclo[3.3.0]octane, 11.1 ± 0.6; cis-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, 17.3 ± 1.3; trans-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, 17.8 ± 1.3; cis-bicyclo[4.4.0]decane, 20.1 ± 1.4; trans-bicyclo[4.4.0]decane, 20.6 ± 1.2; tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane, 11.4 ± 0.4; and tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane, 23.2 ± 2.1. These data show that overall ring strain energies of ≲4–5 kcal mol−1 have no significant effect on the rate constants, but that larger ring strain results in the rate constants being decreased, relative to those expected for the strain-free molecules, by ratios which increase approximately exponentially with the overall ring strain.
From clear to complicated: Buying and selling accounting services post Sarbanes-Oxley

Abstract While much has been said and written about the effect of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), one consequence of the new regulation that has been largely neglected is the law's dramatic impact on how audits are bought and sold in the United States. Prior to SOX, the process was clear and simple: accounting firm partners would meet with the publicly held client company's C-level executives to complete the exchange. When SOX was passed, Congress took the buying decision out of the hands of the client company's executives and placed it in the hands of the company's external audit committee. As this inter-disciplinary research will explain, this change—and other similar changes emanating from the “independence” provisions in SOX—has forever complicated the client-auditor exchange. Based on the literature in business-to-business selling, this research proposes two models—one centered around the concept of a “buying center” and another around “selling team” theory—in an effort to advance thinking in this area, and help both client companies and accounting firms operate in this new environment.
Improving network lifetime using sensors with adjustable sensing ranges

This paper addresses the target coverage problem in wireless sensor networks with adjustable sensing range. Communication and sensing consume energy, therefore efficient power management can extend network lifetime. In this paper, we consider a large number of sensors with adjustable sensing range that are randomly deployed to monitor a number of targets. Since targets are redundantly covered by multiple sensors, to conserve energy resources, sensors can be organised in sets, activated successively. In this paper, we address the Adjustable Range Set Covers (AR-SC) problem that has as its objective finding a maximum number of set covers and the ranges associated with each sensor, such that each sensor set covers all the targets. A sensor can participate in multiple sensor sets, but the sum of the energy spent in each set is constrained by the initial energy resources. In this paper, we mathematically model solutions to this problem and design heuristics that efficiently compute the sets. Simulation results are presented to verify our approaches.
Estrogen Regulation of Ion Transporter Messenger RNA Levels in Mouse Efferent Ductules Are Mediated Differentially Through Estrogen Receptor (ER) α and ERβ

Earlier studies have shown that the efferent ductules (ED) of the male mouse are a target for estrogen. The loss of estrogen receptor (ER) function through either knockout technology (alpha ERKO mouse) or chemical interference (pure antagonist, ICI 182 780) results in a failure of a major function of the ED, the reabsorption of testicular fluids. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that estrogen controls fluid (water) reabsorption in the ED by modulating ion transporters important for passive water movement through a leaky epithelium such as the ED. Northern blot analysis was used to detect the mRNA levels for key ion transporters in the following experimental groups: 1) wild-type (WT) control for the 14-day experiment, 2) ER alpha knockout (alpha ERKO) control for the 14-day experiment, 3) WT treated with ICI 182 780 (ICI) for 14 days, 4) alpha ERKO treated with ICI for 14 days, 5) WT control for the 35-day experiment, and 6) WT treated with ICI for 35 days. Estrogen differentially modulated the mRNA levels of key ion transporters. ER alpha mediated carbonic anhydrase II mRNA abundance, and there was a decrease in Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3 mRNA levels in the alpha ERKO that appeared to be a cellular effect and not a direct estrogen effect. The loss of ER alpha control resulted in an increase in mRNA abundance for the catalytic subunit of Na(+)-K(+) ATPase alpha 1, whereas an increase in the mRNA abundance of the Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchanger and the chloride channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator was significantly ER beta mediated. Our results indicate for the first time that estrogen acting directly and indirectly through both ER alpha and ER beta probably modulates fluid reabsorption in the adult mouse ED by regulating the expression of ion transporters involved in the movement of Na(+) and Cl(-).
Regarding The Relationship Between Income And Wealth In Retirement

The relationship between wealth and income during the entire economic life course is discussed. It is hypothesized that one's desired per-period wealth at retirement, the hypothetical per-period wealth level which would induce retirement, is generally less than income while working, and greater than income while retired. Some evidence regarding this hypothesis is given using the 1992 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Adolescent Perceptions of Work and Home: Australia, Portugal, and the United States

High school students in Australia (n = 132), Portugal (n = 149), and the United States (n = 312) took the Salience Inventory, a measure of the relative importance of various life roles. A MANOVA analysis showed significant nation and sex effects. Australian students reported the highest work participation but the lowest work commitment. Portuguese students had the least work experience. Students in the United States reported the highest levels of commitment to home and had the lowest value expectations through work. Females in all three countries were more committed to work and to home than were males. Results were discussed in light of a changing economic and social environment.
Understanding the Reaction Mechanism of Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 with H2O on TiO2-Based Photocatalysts: A Review

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the research of photocatalytic reduction of CO2 with H2O, an innovative way to simultaneously reduce the level of CO2 emissions and produce renewable and sustainable fuels. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and modified TiO2 composites are the most widely used photocatalysts in this application; however, the reaction mechanism of CO2 photoreduction on TiO2 photocatalysts is still not very clear, and the reaction intermediates and product selectivity are not well understood. This review aims to summarize the recent advances in the exploration of reaction mechanism of CO2 photoreduction with H2O in correlation with the TiO2 photocatalyst characteristics. Discussions are provided in the following sections: (1) CO2 adsorption, activation and dissociation on TiO2 photocatalyst; (2) mechanism and approaches to enhance charge transfer from photocatalyst to reactants (i.e., CO2 and H2O); and (3) surface intermediates, reaction pathways, and product selectivity. In each section, the effects of material properties are discussed, including TiO2 crystal phases (e.g., anatase, rutile, brookite, or their mixtures), surface defects (e.g., oxygen vacancy and Ti^(3+)) and material modifications (e.g., incorporation of noble metal, metal oxide, and/or nonmetal species to TiO2). Finally, perspectives on future research directions and open issues to be addressed in CO2 photoreduction are outlined in this review paper.
New Delay-Dependent Stability Results for Neural Networks With Time-Varying Delay

This paper studies the problem of stability analysis for neural networks (NNs) with a time-varying delay. Unlike the previous works, the activation functions are assumed to be neither monotonic, nor differentiable, nor bounded. By defining a more general type of Lyapunov functionals, some new less conservative delay-dependent stability criteria are established in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Meanwhile, the computational complexity of the newly obtained stability conditions is reduced because less variables are involved. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and the benefits of the proposed method.
Analysis and Selection of Optimal Targets for a Planetary Defense Technology Demonstration Mission

of blending a hypervelocity kinetic impactor with a penetrated nuclear subsurface explosion. Possible asteroid candidates are found by determining optimal missions for several possible mission architectures for nearly 3400 potential asteroids. The optimization is performed using a genetic algorithm developed to solve complex mission design problems.
Near-Optimal Dynamic Lead-Time Quotation and Scheduling Under Convex-Concave Customer Delay Costs

We consider a make-to-order system where customers are dynamically quoted lead times (and prices). Customers are homogenous but have general (nonlinear) disutility for delay. Because the firm is a monopolist, the pricing problem is trivial and the dynamic problem reduces to one of lead-time quotation and order sequencing. We also consider the (static) problem of up-front capacity installation. We use a large-capacity asymptotic regime to make the problem tractable. We provide recommended policies for convex, concave, and convex-concave lead-time cost functions and prove that these policies are asymptotically optimal. The policies are both highly intuitive and readily implementable. Moreover, they provide delay guarantees for all served customers. They are tested numerically; we find that significant benefits can accrue by using the prescribed dynamic policies instead of first-come-first-served type policies.
Decomposition of polypropylene hydroperoxide by hindered amines

The hindered amine-induced decomposition of polypropylene hydroperoxide was studied in the solid state and in the presence of a liquid solvent and the polymer was compared with model hydroperoxides. The high reactivity of the macrohydroperoxides appears to be related to the adjacent, hydrogen-bonded hydroperoxide groups that occur in the polymer. The hindered amines are converted to nitroxides in the reaction via hydroxylamine intermediates. Amine-induced decomposition of polypropylene hydroperoxide is faster in the absence of a liquid solvent for the amine than in the presence of the solvent, probably because of the strong amine-hydroperoxide association that occurs in the solid state. The decomposition process in the solid state is sufficiently rapid for the reaction to contribute to the effectiveness of hindered amines in the light stabilization of polymers.
Laser ablation rates of inconel and alumina with femtosecond and nanosecond pulses

We report a comparative laser ablation rate study on inconel (nickel alloy) and alumina (aluminum oxide ceramic) using 180-fs and 8-ns pulses. The laser used for the study was a Ti:sapphire chirped-pulse amplification system. The laser wavelength was 800 nm, and the pulse repetition frequency was 1 kHz.
Legal implications of epilepsy.

Physicians who care for patients with epilepsy may function as agents or targets of social control. As agents, they may assist in the identification and control of epileptic drivers, may provide information that enables fair and appropriate job placements for epileptic persons, and give testimony that helps the legal system resolve issues relating to the liability of epileptic persons for harm attributed to seizures or interictal behavioral disturbances. As targets, they may be charged with negligent failure to diagnose, treat, or inform about epilepsy or its associated problems, with failure to exercise due care in protecting persons harmed by their patients, or with failure to preserve confidentiality of medical information. Although legislation and judicial decisions have defined some of the physician's legal duties with reasonable clarity, areas of uncertainty remain, particularly regarding the issue of violating medical confidentiality for the benefit of persons other than the patient. Language: en
Kinetic and radiative extinctions of spherical burner-stabilized diffusion flames

Extinction of steady, spherical diffusion flames stabilized by a spherical porous burner was investigated by activation energy asymptotics. An optically-thin radiation model was employed to study the effect of radiation on flame extinction. Four model flames with the same adiabatic flame temperature and fuel consumption rate but different stoichiometric mixture fraction and flow direction, namely the flames with fuel issuing into air, diluted fuel issuing into oxygen, air issuing into fuel, and oxygen issuing into diluted fuel, were adopted to understand the relative importance of residence time and radiation intensity. Results show that for a specified flow rate emerging from the burner, only the kinetic extinction limit at low Damkohler numbers (low residence times) exists. In the presence of radiative heat loss, extinction is promoted so that it occurs at a larger Damkohler number. By keeping the radiation intensity constant while varying the flow rate, both the kinetic and radiative extinction limits, representing the smallest and largest flow rates, between which steady burning is possible, are exhibited. For flames with low radiation intensity, extinction is primarily dominated by residence time such that the high-flow rate flames are easier to be extinguished. The opposite is found for flames suffering strong radiative heat loss. The kinetic extinction limit might occur at mass flow rates lower than what is needed to keep the flame outside of the burner and not observable. An extinction state on the radiative extinction branch can be either kinetic or radiative depending on the process.
Global weather prediction and high-end computing at NASA

The authors demonstrate the current capabilities of NASA's finite-volume General Circulation Model in high-resolution global weather prediction and discuss its development path in the foreseeable future. This model is a prototype of a future NASA Earth-modeling system intended to unify development activities across various disciplines within NASA's Earth Science Enterprise.
Influences on Decision Making Identified by Parents of Children Receiving Pediatric Palliative Care

Background: Parental decision making is a critical component in the provision of palliative and end-of-life care, yet factors that parents perceive as influencing this process, when they are making decisions for their children, have not been well characterized. Methods: As part of a mixed-methods cohort study, we interviewed 73 parents of 50 pediatric patients who were referred to the hospital's pediatric palliative care service. The semistructured interviews focused on “decision making for your child”; the interviews were recorded and transcribed. A random sample (n = 13) was first coded and analyzed for core themes, and these themes were then cross-validated with a second random sample (n = 3) of interviews. Results: Four dominant interrelated themes permeated parents’ discussions about the decisions they were making for their children and the process of decision making. First, Orientation and Direction (including the subthemes of Goals and Hopes, Spirituality and Meaning, and Purposeful Effort) connote...
Optimal kernels for nonstationary spectral estimation

Current theories of a time-varying spectrum of a nonstationary process all involve, either by definition or by difficulties in estimation, an assumption that the signal statistics vary slowly over time. This restrictive quasistationarity assumption limits the use of existing estimation techniques to a small class of nonstationary processes. We overcome this limitation by deriving a statistically optimal kernel, within Cohen's (1989) class of time-frequency representations (TFR's), for estimating the Wigner-Ville spectrum of a nonstationary process. We also solve the related problem of minimum mean-squared error estimation of an arbitrary bilinear TFR of a realization of a process from a correlated observation. Both optimal time-frequency invariant and time-frequency varying kernels are derived. It is shown that in the presence of any additive independent noise, optimal performance requires a nontrivial kernel and that optimal estimation may require smoothing filters that are very different from those based on a quasistationarity assumption. Examples confirm that the optimal estimators often yield tremendous improvements in performance over existing methods. In particular, the ability of the optimal kernel to suppress interference is quite remarkable, thus making the proposed framework potentially useful for interference suppression via time-frequency filtering. >
Silicon microstrip detectors in high luminosity application

The development of silicon microstrip detectors for high luminosity application at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is described. The technical choices are most severely restricted by the anticipated radiation damage. A radiation-tolerant choice for the silicon tracker of the LHC detector ATLAS are sandwiches of single-sided detectors with n-strips in n-type bulk.
Platelet Reactivity Characterized Prospectively A Determinant of Outcome 90 Days After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background — Platelet activation is pivotal in the pathogenesis of complications after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). We previously reported substantial interindividual variability in activation of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa in response to a low concentration of ADP. We assessed GP IIb/IIIa activation prospectively to determine whether this could differentiate patients at low risk from those at high risk for complications early and late after PCI. Methods and Results — A total of 112 patients undergoing PCI were studied. Platelet reactivity was determined with the use of flow cytometry. Patients were classified into high and low platelet reactivity groups on the basis of extent of activation of GP IIb/IIIa in response to 0.2 μmol/L ADP. The median value was used for differentiation. The incidence during 90-day follow-up interval of a composite end point (myocardial infarction, urgent revascularization, or repeat revascularization) was determined in each group. Follow up was completed in all 112 patients. The 2 groups were similar with respect to diverse clinical characteristics. Nevertheless, the incidence of the composite end point occurred in 26.8% of the high and 7.1% in the low platelet reactivity group ( P =0.01). The difference in the composite end point was most striking during the 30- to 90-day interval after PCI (16.7% versus 1.9%; P =0.02). Repeat revascularization was more frequent in those with increased platelet reactivity (17.9% versus with 3.6%, P =0.029). Conclusions — Prospective assessment of platelet GP IIb/IIIa activation permits stratification of patients into low- and high-risk groups with respect to adverse events after PCI. Received March 16, 2001; revision received April 10, 2001; accepted April 19, 2001.
Multi-sensory features for personnel detection at border crossings

Personnel detection at border crossings has become an important issue recently. To reduce the number of false alarms, it is important to discriminate between humans and four-legged animals. This paper proposes using enhanced summary autocorrelation patterns for feature extraction from seismic sensors, a multi-stage exemplar selection framework to learn acoustic classifier, and temporal patterns from ultrasonic sensors. We compare the results using decision fusion with Gaussian Mixture Model classifiers and feature fusion with Support Vector Machines. From experimental results, we show that our proposed methods improve the robustness of the system.
Electronic Structure and Phase Stability Properties of Ai-Li Alloys

Recently, the phase diagram of Al--Li alloys was calculated with the use of the Connolly-Williams method. In an effort to test the validity and to supplement the results of that study, equilibrium lattice constants and effective cluster interactions have been obtained using the generalized perturbation method within the first-principles multiple-scattering formalism of the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent-potential approximation. The implication of these effective interactions to the phase stability of these alloys is discussed. 15 refs., 4 figs.
Differences in Attitudes About HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Stimulant Versus Alcohol Using Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Alcohol and stimulant use are independently associated with increased HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM). We assessed differences in acceptability and perceived barriers to uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among stimulant and alcohol-using MSM in Boston. From September 2012–2013, a quantitative assessment was conducted with 254 MSM respondents who reported recent condomless sex in the context of concurrent stimulant (crack/cocaine and crystal methamphetamine; n = 132) or alcohol use (n = 122). Thirteen (5.1 %) reported previous PrEP use. In multivariable models, stimulant users were more likely to be concerned that substance use would affect PrEP adherence (aRR = 2.79, 95 % CI 1.63–4.77), and were less concerned about HIV stigma as a barrier to PrEP uptake (aRR = 0.52, 95 % CI 0.30–0.90) compared to alcohol users. Barriers to PrEP uptake and adherence differ by type of substance used. Different strategies may be required for PrEP implementation among MSM who use stimulants and alcohol.
The ring that does not bind: Topological class in infants’ working memory for objects

Abstract Infants and adults are highly sensitive to objects’ topology (geometrical invariance under stretching). Indeed, topological class information may form the essential core of object representations. We tested this hypothesis by studying 6-month-old infants, who can remember the existence of multiple objects but are limited to remembering the featural identity (e.g., shape or color) of only one object. In two experiments, after hiding two topologically distinct objects separately, we revealed one of the objects to have either changed topology, remained the same, or vanished completely. Bayes Factor analysis showed that infants remembered the topology of only one of the two hidden objects ( n = 24, Experiment 1), but failed to remember anything about the other object ( n = 36, Experiment 2). These results contrast with the case of shape and suggest a different, more nuanced role for topological class in infants’ object representation.
Multiparameter immunohistochemical analysis of the cell cycle proteins cyclin D1, Ki-67, p21WAF1, p27KIP1, and p53 in mantle cell lymphoma.

Abstract Background.—Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is characterized by overexpression of cyclin D1, a G1 cyclin that participates in the control of cell cycle progression at the G1 to S phase transition. In addition to cyclin D1, other cell cycle regulatory molecules may be involved in the proliferation and progression of MCL. Mutation of p53, deletion of p16INK4a, and loss of p21WAF1 expression have been reported in some cases of blastoid MCL. Objective.—We sought to examine levels of expression of these proteins in typical and blastoid MCL and to determine whether differences were present between these subtypes of lymphomas. Design.—A retrospective series of typical and blastoid MCLs was evaluated for expression of the cell cycle–related proteins cyclin D1, p21WAF1, p27KIP1, Ki-67, and p53, as well as mitotic index. Paraffin-embedded archival tissues from 24 MCL specimens (17 typical, 7 blastoid) were immunostained with antibodies to p21WAF1, p27KIP1, p53, Ki-67, and cyclin D1. The percentage of positive c...
Adaptive controller for a needle free jet-injector system

A nonlinear, sliding mode adaptive controller was created for a needle-free jet injection system. The controller was based on a simplified lumped-sum parameter model of the jet-injection mechanics. The adaptive control scheme was compared to a currently-used Feed-forward+PID controller in both ejection of water into air, and injection of dye into ex-vivo porcine tissue. The adaptive controller was more successful in trajectory tracking and was more robust to the biological variations caused by a tissue load.
A Study of County Child Poverty Rates in Puerto Rico: Does Space Matter?

Previous literature on childhood poverty in Puerto Rico is sparse. This is surprising since Puerto Rico exhibits very high poverty rates as compared to the rest of the United States. In this paper, we apply a structural perspective and consider how economic characteristics, household structure and migration patterns influence child poverty rates in Puerto Rico. Data for this paper come from the 2006–2010 Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) summary files. We apply methods of exploratory spatial data analysis and spatial regression models to understand how municipio (county equivalents) level child poverty rates are influenced by these factors. A spatial modeling methodology was deemed appropriate since significant spatial structure is found for the child poverty rate and residuals from the Ordinary Least Squares model. Household composition, as measured by the percent of female headed households and the percent of grandparents caring for their own grandchildren consistently showed positive associations with child poverty. In terms of the economic sector variables, the proportion of the workforce in agriculture and proportion without a high school education showed significant positive effects on child poverty. With respect to migration, we find little to no impact, but we do find that child poverty is concentrated outside of the region adjacent to the capital of San Juan.
Membrane fusion-competent virus-like proteoliposomes and proteinaceous supported bilayers made directly from cell plasma membranes.

Virus-like particles are useful materials for studying virus–host interactions in a safe manner. However, the standard production of pseudovirus based on the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) backbone is an intricate procedure that requires trained laboratory personnel. In this work, a new strategy for creating virus-like proteoliposomes (VLPLs) and virus-like supported bilayers (VLSBs) is presented. This strategy uses a cell blebbing technique to induce the formation of nanoscale vesicles from the plasma membrane of BHK cells expressing the hemagglutinin (HA) fusion protein of influenza X-31. These vesicles and supported bilayers contain HA and are used to carry out single particle membrane fusion events, monitored using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The results of these studies show that the VLPLs and VLSBs contain HA proteins that are fully competent to carry out membrane fusion, including the formation of a fusion pore and the release of fluorophores loaded into vesicles. This new ...
A Mathematical Model of the Mouse Ventricular Myocyte Contraction

Mathematical models of cardiac function at the cellular level include three major components, such as electrical activity, Ca2+ dynamics, and cellular shortening. We developed a model for mouse ventricular myocyte contraction which is based on our previously published comprehensive models of action potential and Ca2+ handling mechanisms. The model was verified with extensive experimental data on mouse myocyte contraction at room temperature. In the model, we implemented variable sarcomere length and indirect modulation of the tropomyosin transition rates by Ca2+ and troponin. The resulting model described well steady-state force-calcium relationships, dependence of the contraction force on the sarcomere length, time course of the contraction force and myocyte shortening, frequency dependence of the contraction force and cellular contraction, and experimentally measured derivatives of the myocyte length variation. We emphasized the importance of the inclusion of variable sarcomere length into a model for ventricular myocyte contraction. Differences in contraction force and cell shortening for epicardial and endocardial ventricular myocytes were investigated. Model applicability for the experimental studies and model limitations were discussed.