cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Architecture of Ethics

Ethics is one of the most important and least understood aspects of design practice. In his latest book, Thomas Fisher shows how ethics are inherent to the making of architecture – and how architecture offers an unusual and useful way of looking at ethics. The Architecture of Ethics helps students in architecture and other design disciplines to understand the major approaches to ethics and to apply them to the daily challenges they face in their work. The book covers each of the four dominant approaches to ethics: virtue ethics, social contract ethics, duty ethics, and utilitarian ethics. Each chapter examines the dilemmas designers face from the perspective of one of these categories. Written in an accessible, jargon-free style, the text also features 100 illustrations to help integrate these concepts into the design process and to support visual understanding. Ethics is now a required part of accredited architecture programs, making this book essential reading for all students in architecture and design.
A Comparison between BEAM and BEM Conditioning Regimens for Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Relapsed Lymphoma: A Retrospective Analysis

High dose chemotherapy (HDT) followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) is an effective treatment for relapsed/refractory (R/R) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Historically, carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) has been shown to improve progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with relatively low toxicity. However, high doses of carmustine and etoposide with melphalan (BEM) has also demonstrated efficacy as a more intensive regimen tolerated in younger patients. We performed a single institution retrospective study to compare outcomes of lymphoma patients treated with either BEAM or BEM and auto-HSCT. We identified 65 patients treated at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center for R/R NHL or HL with HDT and auto-HCT between 2013 and 2018. 14 patients were excluded from statistical analysis due to insufficient data. The primary outcome was 1-year OS and the secondary outcomes were 100-day mortality and 1-year relapse rate (RR). BEAM consisted of carmustine 150 mg/m2, etoposide 200 mg/m2, cytarabine 200 mg/m2, and melphalan 140 mg/m2, while BEM was carmustine 12 mg/kg, etoposide 60 mg/kg, and melphalan 140 mg/m2. The T-test and Fisher's exact test were used to describe groups with continuous and categorical outcomes respectively. A p-value of 22 BEM patients and 29 BEAM patients were included for statistical analysis. Baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1. There was an insignificant trend towards increased 1-year OS (100% vs. 93.10%; p = 0.4996) but a higher 1-year RR (35.29% vs. 33.33%; p = 0.77) in BEM than BEAM. No difference in 100-day mortality was observed between BEAM and BEM. Notable differences in demographics between BEAM and BEM patients were in age and diagnosis. Compared to BEAM, BEM was utilized more in younger patients (mean age at transplant 41.7 vs. 58.6 years old; p BEAM and BEM HDT resulted in similar outcomes with no difference in 100-day mortality and minor differences in 1-year OS and 1-year RR. However, significant differences in age and diagnoses of patients treated with these regimens challenge more direct and applicable comparisons. Further analyses including tighter-matched patient cohorts, prior induction/salvage therapy and treatment-related toxicities would better differentiate these two regimens to provide additional clinical utility. Despite the wider usage of BEAM for auto-HSCT in patients with R/R lymphomas, BEM appears to be an efficacious alternative, and, therefore, warrants further consideration for future studies.
The ModelCamera

The ModelCamera is a system for inside-looking-out modeling of static, room-size indoor scenes. The ModelCamera implements an interactive modeling pipeline based on real-time dense color and sparse depth. The operator scans the scene with a device that acquires a video stream augmented with 49 depth samples per frame. The system registers the frames using the depth and color data, and integrates them into an evolving model that is displayed continually. The operator selects views by checking the display for missing or undersampled surfaces and aiming the camera at them. A model is built from thousands of frames.
Regioselective photoreactions within a series of mixed co-crystals containing isosteric dihalogenated resorcinols with 4-stilbazole.

The formation and photoreactivity of a series of mixed co-crystals containing 4-stilbazole along with both 4,6-dichlororesorcinol and 4,6-dibromoresorcinol at various ratios is reported. In all cases, the quantitative [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction yields an identical head-to-tail photoproduct, namely rctt-1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,4-bis(phenyl)cyclobutane. The selectivity in the cycloaddition reaction occurred due to a shorter distance observed between two carbon–carbon double bonds that were found between and not within the hydrogen-bonded assemblies.
An Initial Evaluation of a Concurrent Operant Analysis Framework to Identify Reinforcers for Work Completion.

Although functional analysis is a powerful tool for testing the function of challenging behavior, it is not always feasible or appropriate to include as a component of functional behavior assessmen...
Taxonomy, ecology, and distribution of the genus Rhododendron (Ericaceae) in South Carolina

Data from field trips and a survey of herbarium specimens was used to determine relative abundance of the ten known species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) in each county of South Carolina. All counties were documented to contain at least one species. The western-most mountainous and upper piedmont counties of Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Greenville were found to have the greatest richness and the greatest number of documented populations. Of the four counties with only one documented species, three are in the piedmont and one in the coastal plain. Species found in the greatest number of counties were Rhododendron canescens. R. viscosum, and R. periclymenoides. Meanwhile species known from the fewest number of counties were R. calendulaceum. R. flammeum. R. maximum, and R. arborescens. Taxonomic keys were generated for species identification, the first key for spring and early summer flowering material, and the second for summer and fall vegetative or fruiting material.
The Fire of Labouring Genius in John Clare’s DAWNINGS OF GENIUS

One of John Clare’s earliest poems “Dawnings of Genius” (1820) addresses the apparently dissimilar topics of esthetic experience and class. In contrast to existing critical accounts that infer clas...
The endoscopic endonasal approach for sinonasal and nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To determine factors affecting outcomes for patients with sinonasal and nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SNACC) treated using the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) with preservation of key structures followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). METHOD Retrospective case series of 30 patients treated at the University of Pittsburgh between 2000 and 2014. Hospital records were reviewed for clinical and pathologic data. Outcome measures included overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates. RESULTS The majority of patients had T4a and T4b disease (23.3%, and 63.3%). Microscopically positive margins were present in 21 patients (63.6%). Positive margins were present in nine patients (30.0%). The mean and median follow-up were 3.97 and 3.29 years. Five-year OS, DFS, LRFS, and DMFS were 62.66%, 58.45%, 87.54%, and 65.26%. High-/intermediate-grade tumors had worse DFS (P = .023), and LRFS (P = .026) (HR = 4.837, 95% CI, 1.181-19.812). No factors were associated with significantly worse DMFS. No patient suffered CSF leak, optic nerve, or internal carotid injury. The mean and median length of hospital stay was 4.1 days and 2.0 days (range: 0-32 days). CONCLUSION Organ-preserving EEA with adjuvant RT for low-grade SNACC offers 5-year survival similar to that reported by other studies, which include radical, open skull base surgery. Patients with high-grade disease do poorly and may benefit from novel treatment strategies. For low-grade disease, organ-preserving EEA with RT may be the best option, offering a balance of survival, quality of life, and decreased morbidity for patients with this difficult-to-cure disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 130:1414-1421, 2020.
When the Patient Says No to Transplant: A Life Well Lived and Well Ended.

Abstract: Background There is a paucity of literature on the clinician–patient dynamics when a patient declines referral to transplantation despite the team’s recommendation. Methods This case report describes a young woman with cystic fibrosis (CF) who declined referral to lung transplantation and relevant literature review. Findings Although initially the CF team struggled with the patient’s decision, the embedded psychiatrist was consulted and a multidisciplinary team meeting between patient, her family, and the medical team enabled the team to fully appreciate the patient’s viewpoint and to embrace and support her goals towards the end of life. The case also describes a modified dignity therapy conducted with this patient. Finally, the case describes the patient’s last phase of life with a dignified dying experience. Conclusions This report documents the first published case of modified dignity therapy work in people with CF. In addition, it provides an illustrative example of the team working with a patient declining life-prolonging transplantation and providing the patient with a dignified experience of last stages of life according to her goals and values.
A Neonate With a Perineal Lesion.

A full-term female newborn is noted to have a perineal lesion a few hours after birth. ### Prenatal and Birth Histories ### Presentation (Day 0) On initial physical examination of the infant at 3 hours after birth, a wet erythematous sulcus was noted in the perineum extending from the posterior fourchette to the anterior edge of the anus (Fig 1). Bilateral preauricular ear tags were noted and the remainder of the physical examination was normal. Pediatric surgery was consulted because of a concern for a perineal tear. Figure 1. Neonate with perineal lesion. ### Vital Signs ### Physical Examination (Day 0)
2019 Jack Kenney Award for Outstanding Service

On April 30, 2010, Jack Kenney retired from the ASM Journals Department after 25 years of service. He served as the production editor for the Journal of Bacteriology (JB) for the last 13 of those years. I worked with Jack for almost 10 years. He was an especially gifted production editor; he solved
A Partisan and Polarized Issue in the United States

Climate change has become a politically polarized issue within the past 30 years, as interest groups and certain political leaders sought to dispute the growing scientific consensus about its causes and impacts. This chapter synthesizes a large body of survey, experimental and methodological literature that places the empirical study of South Florida in context. Past survey research has shown conclusively that party identification and ideology are the strongest predictors of climate change beliefs of Americans. Other predictors that are less consistent include demographic characteristics, cultural worldviews and personal experience. Survey and laboratory research has been directed at understanding the processes involved in accepting or denying messages about climate change. Among the findings are that strategically framed messages can shift opinion, that a belief in scientific consensus about climate change may increase acceptance of its reality, that prior beliefs, group identities and cultural worldviews moderate the acceptance of climate change information through motivated reasoning, and that best practices involve describing climate change as a personal risk, using social group norms to convince skeptics, and emphasizing social consensus on the issue. Prior research suggests that a message about environmental risk that is local and specific will be relatively more effective, particularly when the immediate threat is already visible.
Growing Apart: How Smart Devices Impact the Proximity of Users to Their Smartphones

The widespread adoption of feature phones and smartphones has previously led researchers to test the assumption that users always have their phones ready at hand. We believe the current ubiquity of other smart devices has changed this. Using a mixed methods approach inspired by past work in this area, we reevaluate the physical proximity relationship between individuals and their smartphone, as well as the role of other smart devices in users’ lives. We find that, on average, participants have their phone within arm's reach 51% of the time, similar to the findings of the prior work. However, if smartphones are not within arm's reach, they are now much further away because of the use of wearables and other devices. We also show how social, personal, and external factors result in users relying on other devices for functions (e.g., information seeking, checking the weather, setting timers and alarms, and playing music) once performed by their smartphones.
Probing the 14-3-3 Isoform-Specificity Profile of Protein–Protein Interactions Stabilized by Fusicoccin A

Fusicoccin A (FC) is a fungal phytotoxin that stabilizes protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between 14-3-3 adapter proteins and their phosphoprotein interaction partners. Recently, FC has emerged as an important chemical probe of human 14-3-3 PPIs involved in cancer and neurobiology. These previous studies have established the structural requirements for FC-induced stabilization of 14-3-3·client phosphoprotein complexes; however, the effect of 14-3-3 isoforms on FC activity remains underexplored. This is a relevant question for the continued development of FC variants because there are seven isoforms of 14-3-3 in humans. Despite their sequence and structural similarities, a growing body of experimental evidence supports both tissue-specific expression of 14-3-3 isoforms and isoform-specific functions in vivo. Herein, we interrogate the isoform-specificity profile of FC in vitro using recombinant 14-3-3 isoforms and a library of fluorescein-labeled hexaphosphopeptides mimicking the C-terminal recognition domains of client proteins that are characterized targets of FC in vivo. Our results reveal modest isoform preferences for individual client phospholigands and demonstrate that FC differentially stabilizes PPIs involving 14-3-3σ. Together, these data support the feasibility of developing FC variants with enhanced isoform selectivity.
Significance of Leu and Ser in the βDELSEED-loop of Escherichia coli ATP synthase.

Abstract The current study investigated the significance of βLeu-382 and βSer-383 residues in the highly conserved βDELSEED-loop of Escherichia coli ATP synthase. E. coli wild type and mutant enzymes were inhibited by the honeybee venom peptide melittin, which is a known ATP synthase inhibitor. The wild type enzyme was fully inhibited by melittin. Melittin-induced inhibitory profiles of single mutants βL382A/R/Q/D/E and βS383A/R/Q/D/E followed the pattern of wild-type enzymes with 7% to 30% residual activity. Double mutants βL382A/βS383A, βL382E/βS383E, and βL382R/βS383R retained 30%, 80%, and 78% residual activity, respectively. Variable loss of oxidative phosphorylation was observed in mutant enzymes, which was also reflected in the comparative growth of wild type and mutant E. coli strains. Double mutant enzymes βL382E/βS383E and βL382R/βS383R showed significant resistance to the melittin-induced inhibition. Wild type and mutant E. coli strains showed variable loss of growth in the presence of melittin. Indicial growth loss of E. coli strains and inhibition of isolated ATP synthase suggested that βLeu-382 and βSer-383 are vital for the function of enzyme. Individual loss of βLeu-382 and βSer-383 does not affect the melittin-induced inhibition. However, loss of both βLeu-382 and βSer-383 obstructs the inhibition suggesting loss of peptide binding at the βDELSEED-loop of ATP synthase.
Cigarette Use and Adolescent Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to track conventional cigarette smoking behaviors and associated correlates in adolescents with severe obesity who did or did not undergo metabolic and bariatric surgery to 4 years after surgery/baseline. METHODS Utilizing a prospective controlled design, surgical (n = 153; mean BMI = 52) and nonsurgical (n = 70; mean BMI = 47) groups that completed assessments before surgery/at baseline and at Years 2 and 4 post surgery (Year 4: n = 117 surgical [mean BMI = 38]; n = 56 nonsurgical [mean BMI = 48]) were compared. Separate logistic regression models tested correlates of Year 4 current smoking. RESULTS More than half of participants (surgical: 55%; nonsurgical: 60%) had ever smoked a cigarette, with current smoking increasing with time. Groups did not differ in Year 4 current smoking (surgical: 23%; nonsurgical: 33%), with ≈ 50% meeting criteria for "heavy" smoking (≥ half pack/day) and ≈ 40% smoking their first cigarette before ninth grade. Factors associated with higher odds of Year 4 current smoking included dysregulation (P < 0.001), internalizing symptoms (P = 0.01), alcohol use (P = 0.04), caregiver smoking (P < 0.001), friend smoking (P = 0.001), and perceiving low harm (P = 0.02), plus greater percent weight loss (P = 0.03) in the surgical group. CONCLUSIONS Smoking is a clinical health challenge for adolescents and young adults with severe obesity, including those who have undergone metabolic and bariatric surgery. Upstream identification, monitoring, and intervention to prevent smoking uptake and escalation in youth with obesity across settings should be prioritized.
Determinants of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Does location matter?

Introduction Bladder cancer care has been increasingly concentrated in high-volume metropolitan medical centers (i.e., "regionalization" of care). We aimed to assess the potential role of geographic factors, including facility region and distance to treatment center, as determinants of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) delivery in patients with non-metastatic urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) using nationally-representative data from the United States. Methods We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients with cT2-cT4a, N0, M0 urothelial MIBC who underwent radical cystectomy from 2006-2015. Patients who received radiation therapy, single-agent chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, or systemic therapies other than multiagent chemotherapy were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of receiving NAC. Results A total of 5,986 patients met the criteria for inclusion, of whom 1,788 (29.9%) received NAC and 4,108 received RC alone. Younger age, increased Charlson-Deyo score, increased cT stage, increased annual income, increased distance from cancer treatment center, treatment at an Academic Research Program or Integrated Network Cancer Program, and a later year of diagnosis were independently predictive of NAC receipt. Older age, Medicare insurance, and treatment in the East South Central or West South Central regions were independently associated with decreased odds for NAC receipt. Conclusions Distance to treatment center and United States geographic region were found to affect the likelihood of NAC receipt independently of other established predictors of success in this quality-of-care metric. Access to transportation and related resources merits consideration as additional pertinent social determinants of health in bladder cancer care.
Type 2 inflammation reduces ACE2 protein in bronchial and nasal epithelial cells

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with several chronic lung-based comorbidities that have been shown to increase severity and mortality, with the notable exception of asthma. Our group has published that bronchial epithelial cells from atopic normal and asthmatic patients and treated with Interleukin-13 (IL-13), a type 2 cytokine, suppressed gene expression of angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a key receptor for SARS-CoV-2 (Kimura H, et al. 2020). To further complement our studies, we examined ACE2 gene expression from individuals with severe asthma, and also assessed ACE2 protein levels from all groups. Because ACE2 is expressed in nasal epithelium, we also examined the effects of IL-13 on ACE2 expression in nasal epithelial cells. Objective: To determine if ACE2 gene and protein expression in upper and lower airways is modulated by IL-13. Methods: Non-atopic and atopic non-asthmatic normal, nonsevere and severe asthmatic participants were recruited and underwent bronchoscopy and nasal brushings to obtain primary bronchial and nasal epithelial cells. Epithelial cells were cultured at ALI for 2 weeks. Cells were treated with IL-13 (10 ng/ml) for 48 hours for gene expression and at 10, 50 and 100 ng/ml for 72 hours to determine protein expression from cell lysates by ELISA. Results: In bronchial epithelial cells, gene expression of ACE2 decreased following IL-13 treatment compared to untreated control: mean reduction: 0.52 ± 0.12 (p<.001) in atopic normal cells, 0.67 ± 0.14 (p=0.038) in non-severe asthma cells, and 0.66 ± 0.03 (p<.001) in severe asthma cells. There was no significant difference in the reduction in ACE2 gene expression between these three groups following IL-13 treatment. In nasal epithelial cells, the mean reduction in ACE2 gene expression was 0.42 ± 0.08 (p<.001) in atopic normal cells and 0.48 ± 0.01 (p<.001) in non-severe asthma cells) compared to untreated control. IL-13 significantly decreased ACE2 protein levels in bronchial epithelial cells in a dose dependent and similar manner in all groups compared to untreated control (p=0.011 in non-atopic normal, p=0.023 in atopic normal, p=0.016 in non-severe asthma, and p=0.011 in severe asthma, respectively, by Jonckheere-Terpstra test). IL-13 also reduced ACE2 protein expression in atopic normal and non-severe asthma group (p=0.033 and 0.003, respectively) in nasal epithelial cells. Conclusion: IL-13 attenuates ACE2 gene expression and protein production in both nasal and bronchial epithelial cells regardless of asthma and atopic status. These observations suggest that type 2 cytokines may confer protection in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Do naloxone access laws affect perceived risk of heroin use? Evidence from national US data.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Whether expanded access to naloxone reduces perceptions of risk about opioid use has been subject to debate. Our aim was to assess how implementation of naloxone access laws shapes perceived risk of heroin use. DESIGN Using data from the restricted-access National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Prescription Drug Abuse Policy System and the US Census, we applied two-way fixed-effects models to determine whether naloxone access laws decreased perceived risk of any heroin use or regular heroin use. We used Bayes factors (BFs) to confirm evidence for null findings. SETTING United States. PARTICIPANTS A total of 884 800 respondents aged 12 and older from 2004 to 2016. MEASUREMENTS A binary indicator of whether a state implemented naloxone access laws was regressed on respondent-perceived risk of (1) any heroin use and (2) regular heroin use. Ratings of perceived risk were assessed on a scale of 1 (none) to 4 (great risk). FINDINGS In all instances, the BFs support evidence for the null hypothesis. Across models with three distinct specifications of naloxone access laws, we found no evidence of decreased risk perceptions, as confirmed by BFs ranging from 0.009 to 0.057. Across models of specific vulnerable subgroups, such as people who use opioids (BFs = 0.039-0.225) or young people (BFs = 0.009-0.158), we found no evidence of decreased risk perceptions. Across diverse subpopulations by gender (BFs = 0.011-0.083), socio-economic status (BFs = 0.015-0.168) or race/ethnicity (BFs = 0.016-0.094), we found no evidence of decreased risk perceptions. CONCLUSIONS There appears to be no empirical evidence that implementation of naloxone access laws has adversely affected perceptions of risk of heroin in the broader US population or within vulnerable subgroups or diverse subpopulations.
THE IMPACT OF ADOLESCENT NICOTINE EXPOSURE ON DRUG DEPENDENCE IN ADULTHOOD

THE IMPACT OF ADOLESCENT NICOTINE EXPOSURE ON DRUG DEPENDENCE IN ADULTHOOD By Mai alajaji, B.Pharm. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Major Director: M. Imad Damaj, Ph.D Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology Nicotine is one of the first and most commonly abused drugs in adolescence. According to The Center for Disease Control, every day more than 6000 adolescents try their first cigarette and over 3000 of them become daily smokers. Smoking among adolescents is a strong predictor of future drug abuse and dependence in adulthood. A number of studies has suggests that adolescents pre-exposed to nicotine may suffer permanent disruption of the brain’s reward systems through changes in dopamine receptor function. We hypothesize that nicotine exposure during adolescence causes long lasting neurobiological alterations that increase the likelihood of cocaine use in adulthood. Furthermore, it activates a neurobiological mechanism that is shared by many drugs of abuse, which will increase susceptibility to their rewarding effects. The work in this thesis contributes to the further understanding of this critical developmental period. Conditioned-place-preference, acute locomotor and locomotor sensitization pardigms were used to examine changes in cocaine sensitivity in adulthood. Testing was performed on adult ICR mice that were
Kinetics of Hydrogen Consumption by Rumen Fluid, Anaerobic Digestor Sludge, and Sediment

Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters for H(2) consumption by three methanogenic habitats were determined from progress curve and initial velocity experiments. The influences of mass transfer resistance, endogenous H(2) production, and growth on apparent parameter estimates were also investigated. Kinetic parameters could not be determined for undiluted rumen fluid and some digestor sludge from gas-phase measurements of H(2), since mass transfer of H(2) across the gas-liquid interface was rate limiting. However, accurate values were obtained once the samples were diluted. H(2) consumption by digestor sludge with a long retention time and by hypereutrophic lake sediment was not phase transfer limited. The K(m) values for H(2) uptake by these habitats were similar, with means of 5.8, 6.0, and 7.1 muM for rumen fluid, digestor sludge, and sediment, respectively. V(max) estimates suggested a ratio of activity of approximately 100 (rumen fluid):10 (sludge):1 (sediment); their ranges were as follows: rumen fluid, 14 to 28 mM h; Holt sludge, 0.7 to 4.3 mM h; and Wintergreen sediment, 0.13 to 0.49 mM h. The principles of phase transfer limitation, studied here for H(2), are the same for all gaseous substrates and products. The limitations and errors associated with gas phase determination of kinetic parameters were evaluated with a mathematical model that combined mass transport and Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Three criteria are described which can be used to evaluate the possibility that a phase transfer limitation exists. If it does not exist, (i) substrate consumption curves are Michaelis-Menten and not first order, (ii) the K(m) is independent of initial substrate concentration, and (iii) the K(m) is independent of biomass (V(max)) and remains constant with dilution of sample. Errors in the Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters are caused by endogenously produced H(2), but they were <15% for rumen fluid and 10% for lake sediment and digestor sludge. Increases in V(max) during the course of progress curve experiments were not great enough to produce systematic deviations from Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
Ion Beam Characterization of Multi-Layer Dielectric Reflectors

Energetic ion beams were used to characterize multilayer dielectric reflectors. Alpha-particle beams with beam spot sizes between 10 microns and a few millimeters were scattered from reflectors consisting of 32-layer SiO/sub 2//HfO/sub 2/ and 38-layer MgF/sub 2//ThF/sub 4/. The RBS spectra reveal the nature of the laser damage processes by providing information on diffusion, mixing, and loss of material in the coatings. The particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) technique gave complimentary results on low-concentration impurities in the coatings.
Induction of Cycloheximide-Resistant Mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with N-Methyl-N′-Nitro-N-Nitrosoguanidine and ICR-170

N-Methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) induces cycloheximide-resistant mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but few, if any, resistant mutants are induced by the acridine mustard ICR-170. Cycloheximide sensitivity in yeast is associated with the ribosome, and treatment with the antibiotic at concentrations of 2 μg/ml results in complete inhibition of protein synthesis. Missense mutations induced by MNNG probably lead to the loss of cycloheximide binding sites on the ribosome, resulting in resistance to the antibiotic without altering the activity of the organelle in protein synthesis. ICR-170, however, induced primarily frameshift mutations that would alter ribosome structural integrity, resulting in cell death rather than resistance. ICR-170 and MNNG are both mutagenic in a system in which base-pair substitution and frameshift mutations can be detected. These results indicate that cycloheximide resistance in S. cerevisiae, like streptomycin and spectinomycin resistance in Escherichia coli, can be induced by base-pair substitution mutagens but not by frameshift mutagens such as ICR-170.
Rings, Modules and Homomorphisms

The subject of our study is ring theory. In this chapter we introduce the fundamental tools of this study. Section 1 reviews the basic facts about rings, subrings, ideals, and ring homomorphisms. It also introduces some of the notation and the examples that will be needed later.
Building a pragmatic methodology for KR tool research and development

Reviewing the evidence of CG-tool research and development in conference papers, we find little attention devoted to the issues and institution of scientific methodology, and only vague awareness of how that deficiency impairs progress. To focus attention and improve awareness, we briefly de-lineate the evolution of C.S. Peirce's theory of inquiry toward Eduard Hovy's general methodology for research, tracing from Peirce's early pragmatism to his "conditional idealism." We claim that methodological theory suggests a prag-matic method for KR research and tool advancement, in the form of an open-ended game somewhat like a child's game of building blocks, in which the forms of the "blocks" would be propositional rather than physical, with conditional propositions establishing the "dimensions," in place of the physical dimensions of blocks. The constraints would be logical and evidential (factual) rather than geometrical and gravitational (forceful). We challenge the entire Conceptual Structures community to help build a truly pragmatic methodology.
Toward a persistent object base

To better understand the needs of future programming environments, two current technologies that support persistant data in programming environments are considered: file systems and data base systems. This paper presents a set of weaknesses present in these current technologies. These weaknesses can be viewed as a checklist of issues to be considered when evaluating or designing programming environments.
Electronics manufacturing at North Carolina A&T State University

The Center for Electronics Manufacturing was created at North Carolina AT development of the database; the setting up of the Electronics Manufacturing Center; and development of thick-film ceramic hybrids.
Analysis of near field tip patterns including object interaction using finite-difference time-domain calculations

Abstract Numerical simulation of the field patterns in the vicinity of a typical probe tip of a near field scanning optical microscope is performed using the finite-difference time-domain technique. Maps of electric field vectors and Poynting vectors are given for a two-dimensional 120 × 160 cell model of the tip for p-polarized incident illumination with initially no object nearby. A metal stripe object is then placed near the tip and perturbations of the field patterns are displayed, in particular those caused by the induction of surface charge density in the metal object. The metal stripe is scanned across the tip plane at three separation distances and the radiated power, determined by a sum of Poynting vectors across a rear plane, is plotted as a function of lateral position of the object. An interesting edge enhancement effect is seen for the close metal object, but not for a dielectric object.
Pupil movements to light and accommodative stimulation: a comparative study.

Isolation and definition of specific response components in pupil reflexes through comparison of the dynamic features of light-induced and accommodation-induced pupil movements. A quantitative analysis of the behavior of the complex nonlinear pupil responses reveals the presence of two independent nonlinear characteristics: a range-dependent gain and a direction dependence or movement asymmetry. These nonlinear properties are attributed to motor processes because they are observable in pupil responses to both light and accommodation stimuli. The possible mechanisms and consequences of these pupil response characteristics are quantitatively defined and discussed.
Numerical Simulation of Electromagnetically Driven Flow in the Weld Pool During Arc Welding

The electromagnetic force results from the interaction between the current flow and the induced magnetic field in the weldment. Comprehensive three-dimensional calculations of current flow and induced magnetic field are needed for accurate determination of the electromagnetic force. In the literature, several simplifying analytical expressions for the electromagnetic force have been suggested and widely used without any critical evaluation of their intrinsic merit, since accurate numerical calculations were difficult in the past because of lack of fast computers. With the advances in computational hardware and software, it is now possible to do relatively complex calculations that were much more difficult to perform just a few decades ago. The objective of the present investigation is to propose a mathematical model to numerically solve the electromagnetic force field in the wildment and determine the effect of commonly used simplifications on the accuracy of the calculated electromagnetic force field and weld pool temperature and velocity fields. A numerical model has been developed to accurately calculate the current density and magnetic flux fields and the resulting electromagnetic force field in three dimensions in the entire weldment. The computed electromagnetic force field was used in a 3-D heat transfer and fluid flow model to calculate the temperature and velocity distributions in the weld pool. The fusion zone geometry was experimentally measured for different current, voltage and arc power distribution. The agreements between the calculated and experimental FZ geometries indicate that the proposed numerical model gives accurate electromagnetic force distribution inside the workpiece.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation of the Perfluorocarbon-Filled Lung: Preliminary Results in an Animal Model of Acute Lung Injury ♦ 177

High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation of the Perfluorocarbon-Filled Lung: Preliminary Results in an Animal Model of Acute Lung Injury ♦ 177
Influence of landfill shape and orientation on groundwater monitoring efficiency

This study examined the effect of landfill shape and orientation on the potential detection efficiency of groundwater monitoring networks. Three common landfill shapes were arranged at various orientations relative to groundwater flow. The procedure yielded 13 different source configurations. A five‐well monitoring network was designed for each source configuration. All wells were located the same distance (measured parallel to groundwater flow) from the downgradient edge of a landfill, and there was an equal spacing (measured perpendicular to groundwater flow) between wells in a network. A simulation model was used to compute the detection efficiency of each monitoring network. There were substantial differences in detection efficiency among the various source configurations, ranging from 65.6% to 99.8%. The most important factor governing monitoring efficiency was the cross‐gradient width of a landfill. Of secondary importance was the length of a landfill's downgradient boundary. Lower values for those ...
TH‐D‐201C‐02: Rapid T1 Mapping of Myocardium and Left Ventricle Blood for Small Animals Using Saturation Recovery Look‐Locker Method

Purpose: Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI) has been increasingly used to delineate cardiac patho‐physiological conditions such as tumor and infarction. The time course of contrast agent in tissue and blood is required for quantitative analysis. However the sampling of contrast agent dynamics is challenging for small animalmodels because of the fast heart beat and blood circulation. Current study aims to develop and validate a rapid T1 mapping method for simultaneous quantification of myocardium and blood contrast agent concentrations in small animal DCE‐MRI studies. Method and Materials: An ECG‐triggered saturation recovery Look‐Locker (SRLL) method was developed for T1 estimation by sampling the initial portion of the longitudinal magnetization recovery curve. Monte‐Carlo simulations were conducted for error analysis and parameter optimization. Validation was performed on both phantom and mouse heart in vivo (n=7). SRLL and keyhole sampling scheme was also jointly applied in a manganese enhanced MRI experiment to show its practical utility. Results: Simulations showed that SRLL can provide accurate T1 estimation despite of heart rate fluctuation and field inhomogeneity. This was validated in both phantom and in vivo mouse heart by a strong agreement between T1 measured by SRLL and by the standard inversion recovery Look‐Locker method. The myocardium and blood T1 values were also consistent with the literature. No significant changes in SRLL measured T1 were found by the application of keyhole method. In the manganese enhanced MRI experiment T1 continuously decreased during MnCl2 injection and remained unchanged during the 15 min post infusion period. Conclusion: Our results indicate that SRLL can provide a robust measurement of myocardium and blood T1 in mice at high spatial (195×390 μm2) and temporal (3 min) resolutions. The application of keyhole can further reduce the imaging time to less than 2 min.
Observational Study of the Tropical Upper Tropospheric Motion Field during the Northern Hemisphere Summer.

Abstract Conventional and commerical aircraft wind observations over the global tropics have been used to prepare daily charts of the field of motion at the 200-mb level for June, July and August 1967. Computations describe the climatology of the field of motion (streamlies and isotachs) and the divergence and vorticity distributions. A number of dynamical computations are made utilizing these data. These include 1) A comparison of the strength of the rotational part of the wind with the total wind. 2) A description of the strength and geometry of the Hadley and Walker circulations. 3) An analysis of the ultralong waves (zonal wavenumbers 1 and 2). The waves, which are quasi-stationary, are shown to carry a large proportion of the total variance of the motion field and to have a very pronounced southwest to northeast tilt. The amplitude and motion of transient ultralong waves, wavenumbers 1 and 2, are studied on polar diagrams. It is shown that these waves are intermittent and rapidly moving. 4) An analys...
CSI: An Energy-Aware Cover-Sense-Inform Framework for k-Covered Wireless Sensor Networks

It is well known that sensor duty-cycling is an important mechanism that helps densely deployed wireless sensor networks (WSNs) save energy. On the other hand, geographic forwarding is an efficient scheme for WSNs as it requires maintaining only local topology information to forward data to their destination. Most of geographic forwarding protocols assume that all sensors are always on (or active) during forwarding. However, such an assumption is unrealistic for real-world applications where sensors are switched on or off (or inactive). In this paper, we describe our cover-sense-inform (CSI) framework for k-covered WSNs, where each point in a sensor field is covered by at least k active sensors. In CSI, k-coverage, sensor scheduling, and data forwarding are jointly considered. Based on our previous work on connected k-coverage [3], we propose the first design of geographic forwarding protocols for duty-cycled k-covered WSNs with and without data aggregation. Then, we evaluate the performance of our joint k-coverage and geographic forwarding protocols and compare them to CCP [37], a k-Coverage Configuration Protocol, with a geographic forwarding protocol on top of it, such as BVGF [36], which we have slightly updated in such a way that it considers energy for a fair comparison. Simulation results show that our joint protocols outperform CCP+BVGF.
Ultrathin, hydrogen-selective silica membranes deposited on alumina-graded structures prepared from size-controlled boehmite sols

Abstract A novel membrane is described consisting of an ultrathin 20–30 nm permselective layer of silica deposited on an intermediate multilayer γ-alumina substrate with a graded structure. The alumina substrate is formed on top of a macroporous alumina support by sequentially dipping and calcining a series of dilute solutions containing boehmite (AlOOH) sols of different particle sizes. The size of the sol particles is tuned by precisely controlling synthesis parameters including acid type, acid concentration and hydrolysis time. The topmost silica layer is deposited on top of the intermediate alumina layer by chemical vapor deposition of a silica precursor, tetraethylorthosilicate, in an inert atmosphere. Cross-sectional images of the membranes obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the intermediate alumina layers are formed from particles of progressively smaller size so as to form a smooth interface between the rough support and the topmost amorphous silica layer. The resulting silica-on-alumina composite membrane had high permeance of 5.0 × 10 −7 mol m −2 s −1 Pa −1 and good selectivities for hydrogen over CH 4 , CO and CO 2 of over 1500 at 873 K.
Opportunities for HIV combination prevention to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities

Despite advances in HIV prevention and care, African Americans and Latino Americans remain at much higher risk of acquiring HIV, are more likely to be unaware of their HIV-positive status, are less likely to be linked to and retained in care, and are less likely to have suppressed viral load than are Whites. The first National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) has reducing these disparities as one of its three goals by encouraging the implementation of combination high-impact HIV intervention strategies. Federal agencies have expanded their collaborations in order to decrease HIV-related disparities through better implementation of data-driven decision making; integration and consolidation of the continuum of HIV care; and the reorganization of relationships among public health agencies, researchers, community-based organizations, and HIV advocates. Combination prevention, the integration of evidence-based and impactful behavioral, biomedical, and structural intervention strategies to reduce HIV incidence, provides the tools to address the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately, health disparities exist at every step along the HIV testing-to-care continuum. This provides an opportunity and a challenge to everyone involved in HIV prevention and care to understand and address health disparities as an integral part of ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. To further reduce health disparities, successful implementation of NHAS and combination prevention strategies will require multidisciplinary teams, including psychologists with diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences, to successfully engage groups at highest risk for HIV and those already infected with HIV. In order to utilize the comprehensive care continuum, psychologists and behavioral scientists have a role to play in reconceptualizing the continuum of care, conducting research to address health disparities, and creating community mobilization strategies.
Rolling the Dice with State Initiatives: Interest Group Involvement in Ballot Campaigns. By Robert M. Alexander. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2001. 144p. $17.95 paper

Political science is slowly catching up with the initiative process. Direct citizen decision making on laws has long been a feature of many American states, particularly those in the West. Although there has been a steady increase in the number of ballot measures that have qualified since the 1960s, including measures like California's Proposition 13 that ushered in the “tax revolt” of the early Reagan era, use of initiatives in the states reached a new peak in the 1990s. In that decade, there were nearly four hundred initiatives on state ballots—far more than during any other decade.
Industry structure with sequential technology choice

Abstract Noncooperative entry deterrence arises in a market where firms enter sequentially and irreversibly choose a technology. In the case of delegated entry deterrence, the earliest firms enter with a normal technology, and pass on entry deterrence responsibilities to subsequent entrants. In the case of partial entry deterrence, the earlliest firms choose an inferior technology that allows some, but not full, entry of later firms with a normal technology. In both cases, entry is deterred in that the equilibrium number of firms is smaller than would prevail if all firms were to choose a normal technology.
Polyaniline co-doped with camphor sulfonic and hydrochloric acids by chemical oxidation in aqueous solution

A co-doped polyaniline was prepared from aniline camphorsulfonate (ANICSA) and aniline hydrochloride (ANIHCl), which was soluble in common organic solvents, such as m-cresol. Without any additional doping, it possessed a higher conductivity (2 S/cm) than those prepared from ANICSA or ANIHCl alone (0.4 S/cm). In other words, a synergistic effect arose through the chemical oxidative polymerization of a mixture of ANICSA and ANIHCl. The mole ratio of (CSA + HCl)/aniline was 1; if additional HCl was introduced, the conductivity reached a value as high as 7.9 S/cm. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 80–85, 2001
The epimeric 9-oxobicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-3-carboxylic acids: hydrogen-bonding patterns of the endo acid and the lactol of the exo acid.

The two delta-keto carboxylic acids of the title, both C(10)H(14)O(3), are epimeric at the site of carboxyl attachment. The endo (3alpha) epimer, (I), has its keto-acid ring in a boat conformation, with the tilt of the carboxyl group creating conformational chirality. The molecules form hydrogen bonds by centrosymmetric pairing of carboxyl groups across the corners of the chosen cell [O...O = 2.671 (2) A and O-H...O = 179 (2) degrees ]. Two close intermolecular C-H...O contacts exist for the ketone. The exo (3beta) epimer exists in the closed ring-chain tautomeric form as the lactol, 8-hydroxy-9-oxatricyclo[5.3.1.0(3,8)]undecan-10-one, (II). The molecules have conformational chirality, and the hydrogen-bonding scheme involves intermolecular hydroxyl-to-carbonyl chains of molecules screw-related in b [O...O = 2.741 (2) A and O-H...O = 177 (2) degrees ].