cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Network Theory Approach to Curriculum Design.

In this paper we hypothesize that education, especially at the scale of curriculum, should be treated as a complex system composed of different ideas and concepts which are inherently connected. Therefore, the task of a good teacher lies in elucidating these connections and helping students make their own connections. Such a pedagogy allows students to personalize learning and strive to be ‘creative’ and make meaning out of old ideas. The novel contribution of this work lies in the mathematical approach we undertake to verify our hypothesis. We take the example of a precalculus course curriculum to make our case. We treat textbooks as exemplars of a specific pedagogy and map several texts into networks of isolated (nodes) and interconnected concepts (edges) thereby permitting computations of metrics which have much relevance to the education theorists, teachers and all others involved in the field of education. We contend that network metrics such as average path length, clustering coefficient and degree distribution provide valuable insights to teachers and students about the kind of pedagogy which encourages good teaching and learning.
Nodulation genetics: the plant-bacterial interface.

The interaction of Rhizobium bacteria with legume nodules proceeds in a series of stages controlled by both bacteria and plant. The success of the interaction is dependent, at each of many stages, on compatibility between the plant and the bacterium: thus the bacterial symbionts are said to display host specificity. The past few years have seen increasing use of bacterial genetics to explore the mechanism and regulation of this symbiosis. As seen elsewhere in this volume, the plant genetics and molecular biology of this process is also being studied increasingly. In early stages of most symbioses, bacteria cause the deformation of growth in plant epidermal root hairs, and stimulate host cortical cells to divide (see 12 for review). These early steps are controlled by nodulation (nod) genes in the bacteria (12). The plant expresses uniquely several early nodulins (ENOD sequences) (Franssen, Bisseling, et al. and other papers, this volume) at early stages. During subsequent invasion, bacterial genes for a number of possibly interchangeable surface components are important (references 9 and 17 provide examples in one Rhizobium for equivalent action by more than one surface polysaccharide). Other bacterial functions are also needed for infection and release.
On training artificial neural networks to identify periodic functions

Training an artificial neural network (ANN) to represent some type of plant, system, or general algebraic function is relatively straightforward and many methods exist. However, most of these methods and ANN architectures do not take into account any a priori knowledge that is often known for the problem of interest. In this paper, a priori knowledge is utilized to encourage the output of the ANN to be a periodic function of the input. Methods are investigated and compared with the general gradient-based (backpropagation) algorithm. Results show improved convergence characteristics and, in some cases, the guarantee of output periodicity with respect to the input. Generalizations can be made to higher dimensional spaces, but these may or may not be reasonable in terms of computational time and effort. >
Grundlagen der Bündel-Nagelung

Das ursprungliche Prinzip der Bundel-Nagelung ist die stabile, formgerechte Marhraumschienung mit einer Vielzahl — einem Bundel — dunner elastischer Stahlnagel. Diese sollen einerseits eine Compacta-(Rohr-)nagelung durch moglichst feste Auffullung und andererseits eine multiple Spongiosanagelung mit moglichst sta-buisierungswirksamer Verteilung der Nagelspitzen bewirken. Dabei geschieht die Einfuhrung der Nagel in den Markraum immer ohne Eroffnung der Bruchstelle und meistens von der Seite her. Es werden in der Regel Nagel mit (vor-)gekrummter und gerader Spitze benutzt.
Expenditures for child health care

Costs for medical care, new financing schemes, and methods to curtail rising costs have become a paramount concern in many minds in recent years. Most of us, as physicians, find this emphasis somewhat disturbing, for we have operated on the assumption that anything we could do that might result in more good than harm for the individual patient should be done, no matter how marginal the gain in health. Now we must operate on a more fixed total health-care budget and use this for the greatest good. There are and will be unsettled ethical or philosophical issues as to how far we should push utilitarianism—the greatest good for the greatest number—for there are other human values of equal or higher importance.
Marketing of Health Care Within a Community:: A Quality-of-Life/Needs Assessment Model and Method

Abstract A community-based health-care assessment model and method are presented. The model and method are based on theoretical notion that community residents' satisfaction with individual health-care programs and services available within their community affect their satisfaction with the community health-care system. Examples of individual health-care services and programs include: drug abuse programs, cancer health services, children health services, diabetes services, elderly health programs, emergency health services, physical fitness programs, heart health programs, home health services, mental health services, in-patient hospital services, obstetrics services, out-patient services, physical rehabilitation services, and women's health programs. In turn, satisfaction with over-all community health care affects perceived quality of life (over-all life satisfaction) through satisfaction with the community at large and satisfaction with personal health. Data were collected in the Mid-Atlantic area of the United States through a mail survey. One-hundred and forty-seven community residents completed the survey. The results were supportive of the model and provided validational support to the assessment method. Managerial implications of the model and its application are also discussed.
Relation of C19 steroid sulfates in cord plasma to maternal urinary estriol

Abstract Estriol precursors were determined in the cord plasma of normal infants and in infants whose mothers had decreased gestational estriol. In affected infants dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate and 16α-hydroxydehydroisoandrosterone sulfate were markedly decreased. The role of fetal C 19 precursors in estriol biogenesis is discussed.
Vapour Pressure Modelling for Plastic Encapsulated Microelectronics Subjected to Lead‐Free Solder Reflow Profile

: A universal, practical vapour pressure modelling scheme for the plastic encapsulated microelectronics (PEMs) subjected to lead-free solder reflow profile and other high temperature conditions is presented. The proposed technique employs finite-element moisture diffusion and structural analysis to calculate the dynamic vapour pressure buildups at the interfacial delaminations in the PEMs. The modelling scheme uses a non-iterative approach, and it is capable of accurately and efficiently determining the dynamic vapour pressure information required for the reliability-related design and failure analysis of various kinds of PEMs. The modelling scheme has considerable value to the development of new materials, innovative structures, and effective protection methods for enhancing the performance and reliability of plastic packages.
Abstract P341: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Risk of Incident Cognitive Impairment

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of liver disease in the United States and is often considered the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Despite other types of liver disease being associated with cognitive dysfunction, little is known about the impact of NAFLD on cognition. Hypothesis: NAFLD is associated with incident cognitive impairment in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Methods: REGARDS recruited 30,239 black and white U.S. men and women to study regional and racial differences in stroke mortality. Among participants with normal baseline cognitive function, we identified 495 cases of incident cognitive impairment over 3.4 years, using 3 cognitive domain tests: list learning, list recall, and verbal fluency. Thresholds for impaired function were defined adjusting for age, race, sex, and education level. The Fatty Liver Index (FLI), a validated surrogate marker for NAFLD, was determined in cases and 587 controls, with FLI >60 considered a positive score. Excluding 36 participants with heavy alcohol consumption, logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of cognitive impairment for NAFLD and its components. The contribution of diabetes to this risk was estimated with bootstrapping. Results: NAFLD was associated with increased odds of cognitive impairment in both models (table). Of the components of FLI, only waist circumference was associated in the fully adjusted model (see table). Diabetes explained 28% of the increased odds for cognitive impairment with NAFLD by (95% CI: 7%, 58%). There were no differences in associations of NAFLD with cognitive impairment by race, sex, age or diabetes status (interaction p values all >0.10). Discussion: NAFLD, as determined by FLI, was associated with increased risk of incident cognitive impairment, independent of other risk factors. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind this association.
Use of heat to estimate streambed fluxes during extreme hydrologic events

[1] Using heat as a tracer, quantitative estimates of streambed fluxes and the critical stage for flow reversal were calculated for high-flow events that occurred on the Bogue Phalia (a tributary of the Mississippi River) following the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In June 2005, piezometers were installed in the Bogue Phalia upstream from the stream gage near Leland, Mississippi, to monitor temperature. Even with the hurricanes, precipitation in the Bogue Phalia Basin for the months of June to October 2005 was below normal, and consequently, streamflow was below the long-term average. Temperature profiles from the piezometers indicate that the Bogue Phalia was a gaining stream during most of this time, but relatively static streambed temperatures suggested long-term data was warranted for heat-based estimates of flux. However, the hurricanes caused a pair of sharp rises in stream stage over short periods of time, increasing the potential for rapid heat-based modeling and for identification of the critical stage for flow reversal into the streambed. Heat-based modeling fits of simulated-to-measured sediment temperatures show that once a critical stage was surpassed, flow direction reversed into the streambed. Results of this study demonstrate the ability to constrain estimates of streambed water flux and the critical stage of flow reversal, with little available groundwater head data, by using heat as a tracer during extreme stage events.
“Everything Flows”: The Poetics of Transformation

Plato famously dismissed art as thrice removed from reality, holding that mimesis is a copy of a copy, a distraction from the more serious affairs of truth. Two millennia have done little to remove this stigma of dissembling deceit leveled at art. Metamorphosis provides an alternative view of reality, and of the access of art to that reality, that I will consider in the remarks that follow. On the opposite view of things from Plato, Heralclitus, addressing the question of reality — of what and how things are — declared “IIαvτα Pηel ”, Everything Flows: the idea that reality is flow not form. On this view of elemental being, there are no discrete things, only a continuous process of transformations: the natural life of things is metamorphosis. Quite apart from philosophical conjectures, experience of flow is perceptual/literal — rivers flow, lava flows — and conceptual/figurative — time flows, ideas flow. Experience occurs at different theoretical and metaphorical levels: electrons flow, crowds flow. The idiom of everyday reality is that of discrete objects and forms, in which discourse about the world is measured in units of utility, the placement and use of objects as resources for the exercise of human interests. Artistic intuition and philosophical interest look through the convenience of the ordinary and equipmental, to the question of reality as such, to the world as it is, to things in themselves. Although science refines the process of function in terms of theoretical explanation, the language of mathematics and physics is divided in its view of the language of the universe. The standard view since Newton is that of the calculus, that regards motion as elemental — that between every motion is another motion. But there is a more recent and powerful view of science and mathematics, familiar in computers, photoelectric cells, as well as quantum theory — committed at a fundamental level to iteration — to a digital reality. In any event, the issue of reality seems an undecidable issue within science; moreover science itself is more under an agenda of empowerment than truth. The world of art, however, has no limitation to the instrumental utility of its images and discourse and is free to pursue perspectives on the truth of reality however it manifests itself in creative expression. Perspectives about the ultimate nature of reality are not the siguature domain of the arts, but there is merit to the idea that the fundamental metaphor of the arts is that of metamorphosis, that transformation is at the heart both of what art strives to express, and the process and discourse of that expression.
Who develops PTSD from motor vehicle accidents

Within 1 to 4 months of their motor vehicle accident (MVA), we assessed 158 MVA victims who sought medical attention as a result of the MVA. Using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS: Blake, Weathers, Nagy, Kaloupek, Klauminzer, Charney & Keane, 1990. National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Boston, MA)., we found that 62 (39%) met DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association, 1987. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press) criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Using variables from the victim's account of the accident and its sequelae, pre-MVA psychosocial functioning, demographic variables, pre-MVA psychopathology and degree of physical injury, we found that 70% of the subjects could be classified as PTSD or not with 4 variables: prior major depression, fear of dying in the MVA, extent of physical injury and whether litigation had been initiated. Using multiple regression to predict the continuous variable of total CAPS score, as a measure of post-traumatic stress symptoms, we found that 8 variables combined to predict 38.1% of variance (Multiple R = 0.617).
Aziridine-Mediated Ligation and Site-Specific Modification of Unprotected Peptides

A synthesis of aziridine-containing peptides via the Cu(II)-promoted coupling of unprotected peptide thioacids and N–H aziridine-2-carbonyl peptides is reported. The unique reactivity of the resulting N-acylated aziridine-2-carbonyl peptides facilitates their subsequent regioselective and stereoselective nucleophilic ring-opening to give unprotected peptides that are specifically modified at the ligation site. The aziridine-mediated peptide ligation concept is exemplified using H2O as the nucleophile, producing a Xaa–Thr linkage (where Xaa can be an epimerizable and hindered amino acid). The overall process is compatible with a variety of unprotected amino acid functionality, most notably the N-terminal and Lys side chain amines.
High figure of merit in nanostructured n-type KPbmSbTe m+2 thermoelectric materials

We demonstrate that the KPbmSbTe2+m system (PLAT-m for tellurium, antimony, lead potassium, m = 19−21) of materials exhibits high thermoelectric performance. Samples with compositions K1−xPbm+δSb1+γTem+2 were prepared using several combinations of x, δ, γ and m and their thermoelectric properties were investigated in the temperature range of 300 − 800 K. All K1−xPbm+δSb1+γTem+2 samples exhibited n-type conduction over the measured temperature range. Their lattice thermal conductivities were found to be significantly reduced when compared to PbTe and even AgPbmSbTem+2. For example, for K0.95Pb20Sb1.2Te22 a lattice thermal conductivity as low as 0.4 W/(m·K) was estimated at 650 K (based on a Lorenz number of 1.25 × 10−8 W·Ω/K2). High resolution transmission electron microscopy on several samples revealed a widely dispersed nanoscale particle with varying size and shape endotaxially embedded inside a PbTe-rich matrix which is believed to be responsible for the reduced lattice thermal conductivity of K1−xPbm+...
Stimuli-Responsive Azulene-Based Conjugated Oligomers with Polyaniline-like Properties

Novel azulene building blocks, prepared via the cycloaddition of thiophene-S,S-dioxides and fulvenes, allow for incorporation of the seven-membered ring of the azulene nucleus directly into the backbone of conjugated materials. This unique mode of incorporation gives remarkably stable, stimuli-responsive materials upon exposure to acid. This simple doping/dedoping strategy provides for effective optical band gap control and on/off fluorescence switching, reminiscent of polyaniline.
High-performance imaging subsystems and their integration in mobile devices

Within today's SoCs, functionality such as video, audio, graphics, and imaging is increasingly integrated through IP blocks, which are subsystems in their own right. Integration of IP blocks within SoCs always brought software integration aspects with it. However, since these subsystems increasingly consist of programmable processors, many more layers of firmware and software need to be integrated. In the imaging domain, this is particularly true. Imaging subsystems typically are highly heterogeneous, with high levels of parallelism. The construction of their firmware requires target-specific optimization, yet needs to take interoperability with sensor input systems and graphics/display subsystems into account. Hard real-time scheduling within the subsystem needs to cooperate with less stringent image analytics and SoC-level (OS) scheduling. In many of today's systems, the latter often only supports soft scheduling deadlines. At HW level, IP subsystems need to be integrated such that they can efficiently exchange both short-latency control signals and high-bandwidth data-plane blocks. Solutions exist, but need to be properly configured. However, at the SW level, currently no support exists that provides (i) efficient programmability, (ii) SW abstraction of all the different HW features of these blocks, and (iii) interoperability of these blocks. Starting points could be languages such as OpenCL and OpenCV, which do provide some abstractions, but are not yet sufficiently versatile.
Intermediate mass scales in the new SO(10) grand unification in the one-loop approximation

Chang, Mohapatra, and Parida have recently developed a new approach to SO(10) grand unification where D-parity breaking (at scale ${M}_{P}$) and SU(2${)}_{\mathrm{R}}$ breaking are decoupled. We have extended their one-loop analysis of the intermediate mass scales in the new SO(10) grand unification. We derive the general formulas for ${\mathrm{sin}}^{2}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\theta}}}_{\mathrm{W}}$(${\mathrm{M}}_{\mathrm{W}}$) and \ensuremath{\alpha}(${M}_{W}$)/${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}$(${M}_{W}$) for all breakings of SO(10) and examine the constraints these formulas place on the mass scales of the theory for the different chains. We identify only two (marginal) chains that lead to detectable values of the intermediate mass scales when ${M}_{P}$=${M}_{X}$, the grand unification scale.
An inventory model for deteriorating items with stock-dependent consumption rate and shortages under inflation and time discounting

This paper derives an inventory model for deteriorating items with stock-dependent consumption rate and shortages under inflation and time discounting over a finite planning horizon. We show that the total cost function is convex. With the convexity, a simple solution algorithm is presented to determine the optimal order quantity and the optimal interval of the total cost function. The results are discussed with a numerical example and particular cases of the model are discussed in brief. A sensitivity analysis of the optimal solution with respect to the parameters of the system is carried out.
Adsorption on mercury surfaces. II. Octadecane, octadecyl alcohol, octadecyl amine and stearic acid from solution in cyclohexane

Abstract A study was made of the adsorption of octadecane, octadecyl alcohol, octadecyl amine and octadecanoic (stearic) acid from cyclohexane solutions onto mercury surfaces. The amount absorbed was obtained by applying the Gibbs adsorption equation to the observed relationship between the equilibrium interfacial tension and the concentration. Interfacial tensions were measured as functions of time, solution concentration and temperature by the pendant drop technique. Tensions between mercruy and pure cyclohexane could be held constant for periods of several hours which made it possible to study adsorption by this method. The calculated results show that octadecane and octadecyl amine did not adsorb from cyclohexane solution onto mercury. Octadecyl alcohol and stearic acid did adsorb. The amount adsorbed increased with increasing solution concentration up to a maximum (limiting) value. Solution concentration required to obtain limiting adsorption was less for the acid than for the alcohol. The temperature coefficient of adsorption between 30 and 50°C was small. The adsorbed films behaved as gaseous monolayers at low surface pressures and as condensed monolayers at higher surface pressures. The limiting areas per molecule were very close to those normally associated with vertically oriented close packed monolayers at the air-water interface. Thermodynamic calculations indicated physical adsorption of these two polar solutes, and suggested significant structuring of the cyclohexane solvent by mercury.
President's address on working together☆

Abstract Not many years ago allergy was the neglected stepchild of the medical profession. To most physicians allergy merely indicated a few common but not vitally important diseases—hay fever, asthma, urticaria—and the allergist was regarded merely as a technician who did skin tests, the more extensive the better, which he assumed were a sort of diagnostic Rosetta stone. Unfortunately, this too frequently was warranted. Gradually but steadily the situation for allergy has improved. It is emerging from its adolescence, a period quite common to most new fields of science, because careful study on the part of many has brought new knowledge which evidences the basic soundness of its concepts. Today allergy stands at the threshold of real development, for the broader vision of many minds has served to extend its horizons and increase its applicability to the possible solution of many medical problems.
Early Intervention for the Biologically Handicapped Infant and Young Child: Is It of Value?

Early intervention or infant stimulation programs have been developed for those children who are at risk for not achieving normal developmental milestones because of environmental or biologic problems. The high-risk children who have organic deficits can be identified by in utero, neonatal, or postnatal difficulties that have been correlated with specific diagnostic categories such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and learning disabilities. Whether early recognition and initiation of stimulation for this group of infants enhance neurologic development is unproven. On the other hand, there is no doubt that families of these children, and especially their mothers, have a much greater degree of stress compared with that experienced by families from the same socioeconomic backgrounds and whose children do not have such problems. Because of this observation, the programs must offer not only motoric, cognitive, and language stimulation, but also supportive psychological services. The pediatrician should take a leadership role in helping families understand the purpose of infant stimulation programs in order to prevent disappointments when the infants involved with these programs make minimal gains. The pediatrician9s ongoing support to the family is necessary, not only during the first few years of the child9s life but even through the school-age years. It is also encumbent upon the pediatrician to develop a knowledge of programs available as well as a knowledge of the law as it pertains to the handicapped child.
Universal scaling in circle maps

Abstract We discuss scaling, renormalization, and universality for critical and subcritical circle maps. Using the structure of the rationals provided by the Farey tree, we construct a pair of renormalization group operators for circle maps with all values of the winding number. In this general formulation, the renormalization equations define a universal invariant set which determines all universal quantities for all cubic maps with all irrational winding numbers. As expected, the manifold of pure rotations defines the subcritical attracting set. We show that the invariant set governing the critical circle maps cannot be embedded in less than 3 dimensions. However, we are able to obtain a differentiable parametrization of the unstable manifold of the critical invariant set, which we believe is universal up to Lipschitz homeomorphisms; the derivative of this function describes the scaling structure of all small gaps in the devil's staircase for all critical maps. Our work can be viewed as providing numerical evidence for Lanford's conjectures on the strange set underlying renormalizations of critical circle maps.
Chemical Vapor deposition (CVD) TiN: a barrier metallization for submicron via and contact applications

A new technique for low temperature CVD TiN is introduced as a barrier/glue layer for sub 0.5 micron applications. Excellent conformity (> 70%) is achieved while maintaining good electrical performance and reliability. The films are shown to be polycrystalline TiN with no preferred grain orientation. In addition compositional analysis shows significant amounts of carbon in the film presumably between the grains. The electrical properties of the CVD film were evaluated at the via and contact level. The contact and via resistances of tungsten plugs using CVD TiN glue layers are shown to be comparable to plugs using sputtered TiN. The barrier performance of the film was also evaluated at the contact level. The superior junction leakage data indicate that the CVD TiN film should have wide application as a barrier metal for sub 0.5 mm applications.
Low resistance, unannealed ohmic contacts to n-type InAs0.66Sb0.34

Unannealed Ti/Pt/Au contacts to n-type InAs0.66Sb0.34 were fabricated and measured. Extremely low specific contact resistances down to 2.4×10−8 Ω cm2 were measured, commensurate with In0.53Ga0.47As, InAs, and In0.27Ga0.73Sb contact schemes with higher doping, which is due to the very high electron mobility in InAs0.66Sb0.34 and hypothesised pinning of the surface Fermi level within the conduction band.
Emerging Challenges Redux

I return to consider my hopes and visions for Theory & Psychology as expressed in the initial issue. Of special concern are issues of (a) moving beyond empiricism, (b) determining the place of critique, (c) relating theory to cultural practice, and (d) illuminating the historical and cultural context of theoretical intelligibility. While significant strides have been made in each domain, we also confront significant challenges for the future. Primary among these challenges, much theoretical and critical work remains committed to incipient foundationalism and remains too distant from contexts of action.
Characterization and reactivity of chromia nanoparticles prepared by urea forced hydrolysis

Chromia (Cr2O3) nanoparticles were prepared by urea forced hydrolysis in the presence of chromium (III) nitrate using NaCl as a precipitating agent. The size, distribution, and purity of the particles were evaluated. The necessity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surfactant to prevent aggregation was also investigated. In the presence of PVP, non-aggregated spherical-like nanoparticles (3 ± 1 nm) were formed, whereas in the absence of PVP, spherical-like weakly agglomerated nanoparticles (85 ± 16 nm) comprised of 10 nm nanoparticle subunits were produced, creating a large surface area. The as-formed hydrated Cr2O3 nanoparticles were amorphous, although they could be easily converted into crystalline form by heating to 400 °C for 1 h, with minimal particle aggregation and size reduction. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that preparation methods (surfactant and precipitating agent) influence surface reactivity of the nanoparticles to catechol.
Absorption enhancement of dextran sulfate after enteral administration in a dispersion

Dextran sulfate sodium, a polyanion with a relative molecular mass of approximately 8000, is poorly absorbed after oral or enteral administration of aqueous solutions. When given to rats without absorption enhancers, no drug was found in serum using an analytical method with a detection limit of 0.08 μg/ml. Delivery of the drug in a dispersion formulation containing 10 mM monoolein and 20 mM sodium taurocholate increased the absorption of dextran sulfate from the small intestine of rats. Drug was present in serum after administration of the formulation locally to the duodenum, jejunum and the ileum. The ileum was selected for further study. Data from 12 rats showed variability in the maximum drug concentration and the time at which it occurred. Negligible absorption enhancement occurred when the formulation was given orally by gavage. When intestinal contents were present, absorption was reduced. Direct administration of the formulation to the absorptive site produced significant blood levels of the drug. This indicates intestinal absorption enhancement of dextran sulfate can be achieved.
Why Some Parent Education Programs for Parents of Gifted Children Succeed and Others Do Not.

The effectiveness of parent education programs for parents of gifted children varies. There are many interactive variables that influence this effectiveness. The variables can be grouped into four categories: content relevancy, teaching techniques, teacher characteristics, and practical consideration. Parent education program planning should carefully address each of the variables to improve the program effectiveness. The article includes specific suggestions to improve the effectiveness of parent education programs for parents of gifted children.
Influence of finite width on notched laminate strength predictions

Abstract Notched strength of composite laminates is commonly predicted by first determining the stress distribution within the laminate and subsequent application of a stress fracture criterion. Common test specimen geometries typically require finite width stress distributions for correct data reduction and strength predictions. Numerical difficulties are encountered with this approach, however, because closed-form expressions for the stress distribution in orthotropic materials exist only for infinite width-to-hole diameter (w/D) geometries. In this paper, finite element stress analysis is presented for isotropic and orthotropic plates containing circular notches. Results are correlated with available analytical solutions. For geometries where w/D there is a substantial change in the normal stress distribution and related strength predictions. An approximate finite width stress distribution for orthotropic plates with circular notches is proposed and the influence of finite width on notched strength predictions is discussed.
Construct Validity of the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children:

Rotter's formulation of locus of control as the attribution of control over reinforcements to oneself (internal control) or to others (external control) is discussed in relation to the individual's...
Growth mode and leaf arrangement inCatha edulis (Kat)

Chewing fresh leaves and tender twigs ofCatha edulis, commonly known as kat, in order to experience their amphetamine-like stimulant action is on the increase in regions of traditional use—e.g., southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Djibouti), Ethiopia, Kenya, and Madagascar. Although the genus Catha was first delineated nearly 200 yr ago, botanical descriptions rarely mention that plants may bear alternate or opposite leaves and never include an explanation for the presence of shoots with opposite leaves and shoots with alternate leaves on the same plant. An obscure paper (1903) by the late Sir David Prain in a long defunct journal goes into considerable detail on the matter. Extensive excerpts from that paper are reprinted. The association of various market grades of kat with morphological origin and age is suggested. The extensive polymorphism of the kat plant is described. More work is needed to understand kat from morphological, chemical, and pharmacological perspectives.
Dynamic materials with formation of clots: optimal mass transport in one spatial dimension without takeover

The concept of dynamic materials (DM) was introduced in the earlier work [1, 2, 9] and developed there for the case of non-colliding characteristics. The present paper extends this concept toward the case when the characteristics collide. The extension is formulated for a linear continuity equation in 1D with a no takeover condition applied to the moving masses. This implies the formation of clots with the preservation of both mass and momentum, which makes the approach resemble the method of “sticky particles” known in pressureless gas dynamics. The extension introduces non-linearity into the transportation problem that was originally missing, thus placing it closer to a non-linear conservation law. c
High-risk human papillomavirus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV), a cause of oropharyngeal carcinoma, has also been implicated as an etiologic agent in nasopharyngeal carcinomas. Methods We performed p16 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and HPV on 45 carcinomas of the nasopharynx. Results Thirty-four (76%) carcinomas were EBV-positive/HPV-negative, 7 (16%) were EBV-negative/HPV-negative, and 4 (9%) were EBV-negative/HPV-positive. HPV was more likely to be detected in carcinomas from white patients than non-white patients (16% vs 0%; p = .03). Of the 3 patients with HPV-positive carcinomas and available staging information, all were found to have extension into the oropharynx. All HPV-positive carcinomas were p16 positive, but none of the HPV-negative carcinomas were p16 positive (p < .001). Conclusion HPV can be detected in a subset of carcinomas involving the nasopharynx, but many of these may represent extension from an oropharyngeal primary. P16 immunohistochemistry is a reliable marker for separating EBV-related and HPV-related carcinomas of Waldheyer's ring. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012.
Weight gain in twin gestations: Are the Institute of Medicine guidelines optimal for neonatal outcomes?

Weight gain in twin gestations: are the Institute of Medicine guidelines optimal for neonatal outcomes?
Development of tolerance to opiates and opioid peptides in organotypic cultures of mouse spinal cord

Abstract Following chronic exposure of organotypic explants of mouse spinal cord with attached dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to low levels of morphine (1 μM) for 2–3 days (at 35°C), the initial opiate-depressant effects on sensory-evoked dorsal-horn network responses disappeared and characteristic dorsal cord responses could then be evoked by DRG stimuli in the presence of morphine — even after acute increases in concentration (up to 100-fold). Similar tolerance developed after chronic exposure of cord-DRG explants to low concentrations (10 nM) of an enkephalin analog (Sandoz FK 33-824). The latter cultures showed cross-tolerance to met-enkephalin and opiates; dorsal cord responses could still be evoked even after acute exposure to high levels of morphine. Morphine-tolerant cultures also showed cross-tolerance to met-enkephalin and to the Sandoz opioid peptide (FK 33-824). The tolerant state did not develop if the cultures were incubated at lower temperature, ca. 20°C, during exposure to 1 μM morphine for as long as 7 days. The data indicate that a temperature-dependent metabolic change occurs in these neurons after chronic exposure to morphine at 35°C leading to a sustained decrease in sensitivity to opiate-depressant effects. Enhanced dorsal-horn responses in tolerant cultures suggested development of “dependence” as well as tolerance to opiates in these isolated cord-DRG tissues.
Comparison of the electrophoretic properties of triosephosphate isomerases of various tissues and species.

1. 1. Triosephosphate isomerase from a variety of human tissues exhibits three catalytically active components upon starch gel electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing. 2. 2. The three isoenzymes and relative distribution are identical in all tissues, and the multiplicity is not the result of tissue-specific variation. 3. 3. In general, vertebrates exhibit three major triosephosphate isomerase isoenzymes; invertebrates contain one, two or three forms; and microorganisms possess only a single electrophoretic form of the enzyme. 4. 4. The results suggest that the enzymatic multiplicity of triosephosphate isomerase is of genetic origin, and that gene duplication may have occurred in some primordial invertebrate.
Integrated Digital Control Scheme for Fully Integrated High Frequency DC-DC Power Converter

A digital control scheme for fully integrated high frequency DC-DC power converter is presented in this paper. A resonant converter current mode control algorithm uses a varactor-based control to obtain a regulated output voltage. Control algorithm is based on an accurate estimate of output voltage response and a state machine-based formulation. Employing a current-mode approach simplifies computation nicely, enabling an efficient and effective control algorithm. Typical response time for voltage regulation is 430 ns for a 500 MHz system. Eight-bit data conversion is used in this design. The control system is built on TSMC 0.25 mum mixed- signal process. Simulation results verified the design.
The size and shape of plots in sugar-beet experiments

SUMMARY Uniformity of root yield and plant density of sugar beet was assessed on four areas each of 250 small plots-two in each of the years 1969 and 1970. Plots from which 2–5-100 m2 of crop was harvested from the centre rows were constructed and their coefficients of variation calculated. Coefficient of variation decreased as harvested area increased, but little additional accuracy was achieved by harvesting more than 40 m2. Plots drilled-to-a-stand appeared no more variable in root yield or plant density than carefully hand-singled plots.
Investigation of the thermal and photochemical reactions of ozone with styrene in argon and krypton matrices

Abstract The matrix isolation technique, combined with infrared spectroscopy and twin jet codeposition, has been used to characterize intermediates formed during the ozonolysis of styrene. Absorptions assigned to early intermediates grew in after warming the matrix from 19 K to 68 K in the twin jet krypton matrix experiments. A number of these absorptions have been assigned to the primary ozonide, formaldehyde-O-oxide Criegee intermediate, and secondary ozonide of styrene, transient species not previously observed for this system. In contrast, the room temperature reaction of ozone with styrene led to the observation of “late,” stable products of this ozonolysis reaction. These product absorptions were observed after merged jet deposition, followed by cryogenic trapping in solid argon. Irradiation with λ ⩾ 220 nm of merged and twin jet argon matrices involving ozone led to O atom production and subsequent reaction with styrene. Identification of intermediates formed during the ozonolysis of styrene was further supported by 18O isotopic labeling experiments as well as theoretical density functional calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G++(d,2p) level.
Convective Rain Rates and their Evolution during Storms in a Semiarid Climate

The semiarid climate of the U.S. northern High Plains region has been studied with respect to rain rates and their evolution during summertime convective storms, using radar data from a total of 750 radar echo clusters. Analysis of this data suggests that the average rain rate R among storms is in a first approximation independent of the total rain volume, if the entire storm duration is considered in the averaging process. R primarily depends on the reflectivity threshold considered in calculating the area coverage integrated over the lifetime of the storm. R evolution during storms is analyzed by dividing each storm lifetime into 10 min, 1, 2, and 4 hours, as well as growing and decaying periods. The value of R remained independent of the total rain volume when the growing or decaying periods of storms were considered separately.
Genomic Structure and Expression of the Human Gene Encoding Cytochrome b561, an Integral Protein of the Chromaffin Granule Membrane

Cytochrome b561 is an electron transfer protein unique to neuroendocrine secretory vesicles. The Southern blot hybridization shows that it is a single copy gene highly conserved throughout phylogeny. The transcription unit spans approximately 11 kilobases, and heterologous transcription sites are located 404 bases 5' to the translation initiation codon. The sequence of the 5'-flanking region is GC-rich and lacks a typical TATA box at the usual position. However, it has a CAAT sequence at -132 and potential recognition sequences for several transcription factors including SP1, GR-PR-MMTV, AP4, gERE, JCV repeat, AP2, and NF-kappa B. Each of the five transmembrane segments are encoded by five consecutive exons. This corroborates the five-transmembrane model proposed for human, mouse, and Xenopus rather than six proposed for bovine. The cytochrome was found to be highly expressed in colon cancer cell lines, T cell lymphomas, and K-562 cell lines. However, in B-cell lymphomas such as Burkitt's and Daudi, the cytochrome b561 expression was completely shut down. The results in this report are the first to demonstrate the structural organization and regulatory sequences of the cytochrome b561 gene encoding an integral membrane protein of neuroendocrine storage vesicles of neurotransmitters and peptide hormones. Unexpected results on cytochrome b561 expression in cells of lymphocytic origin and its complex regulation in tumor cells provide new insights into cytochrome b561 gene regulation.
In vivo uptake of [14C]leucine by skeletal muscle ribosomes after injury in rats fed two levels of protein.

1. After 14 days on a diet containing 5 or 25% casein male rats received a fracture of the left femur. Four hours before they were killed the injured and control rats were injected with [1-14C]leucine; the incorporation of radioactivity into an isolated fraction of skeletal muscle ribosomes was studied 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 228 h after injury.2. The incorporation of [14C]leucine into the ribosome fraction in right thigh muscles dropped to 40% of control values 72 h after fracture in well-nourished rats and after 96 h with diets containing 5 or 25%, casein.3. The specific activity of the trichloroacetic acid-soluble fraction of muscle from injured rats was equal to or higher than that of the controls during the first 72 h but lower at 96 h.4. These results suggest that a reduced incorporation of amino acids by ribosomes from the right thigh muscle occurred on day 3 after fracture in the group receiving 25% casein but not in the group receiving 5% casein.5. Muscle RNA and DNA concentrations were not affected by the injury.6. The relationship between these findings and the loss of muscle N after injury is discussed.
Depositional Environment as an Indicator of Favorable Regional Sequestration Targets: Examples from the USGS CO2 Storage Resource Assessment☆

Abstract An analysis of the of sealing formations chosen as cap rocks in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) geologic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage resource assessment reveals certain depositional environments that produce suitable regional scale sequestration seals. The USGS methodology requires low permeability, regional, and homogenous seals of approximately 30 meters thickness for shales and 6 meters thickness for evaporites. Open-shelf marine slope and basin shales, as well as shallow water evaporitic deposits make up a majority of storage formation seals identified in the assessment that meet this criteria. Since adequate cap rock is the limiting component of the reservoir and seal couplet required to sequester CO 2 , these specific depositional environments are recommended as initial targets for regional-scale sequestration assessments and research.
Fluid Flow in the Vicinity of a Vibrating Ionic Polymer Metal Composites: Part 2—Numerical Study

Low power consumption and activation voltage combined with high flexibility and minimal weight make Ionic Polymer Metal Composites (IPMCs) well-suited for miniaturized underwater propulsion systems. In this series of papers, we comprehensively discuss the flow field induced by an IPMC strip vibrating in a quiescent aqueous environment by performing complementary physical experiments and numerical simulations. The experimental results are presented in this paper. Planar particle image velocimetry is used to measure the time-averaged flow field of a vibrating IPMC. The momentum transferred to the fluid is computed to estimate the mean thrust generated by the vibrating actuator. We find that the mean thrust increases with the Reynolds number, defined by the maximum tip speed and IPMC length, and is only marginally affected by the relative vibration amplitude. Detailed understanding of the flow environment induced by a vibrating IPMC can guide the optimization of IPMC-based propulsion systems for bio-mimetic robotic swimmers.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
A new testability guided abstraction to solving bit-vector formula

We present a new abstraction approach based on the concept of the under- and over-approximation to efficiently solve bit-vector formulae generated from software verification instances, which include intensive control structures. Our proposed approach applies two common testability metrics: controllability metric (CM) and observability metric (OM) for guiding the abstraction refinement procedure. We implement the under-approximation by enforcing constant constraints on a small set of single-bit variables that control the branch selection of some ITE nodes. Subsequently, each constructed under-approximate model includes only a subset of paths in the formula. We use CM and OM to build such models so that a counterexample can be obtained with little effort. If the under-approximate model is unsatisfiable, an over-approximate abstraction is obtained by refining along the paths included in the model. This is conducted by learning the relevant formula constraints using the UNSAT proof. So the verification can be conducted incrementally due to the path(s) based partition feature of our approach. We also use OM as a guide to heuristically and efficiently restore additional verification-relevant constraints during the iteration. The experimental results show a significant reduction of the solving time compared to state-of-the-art solvers for bit-vector arithmetic.