cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic States and Phase Diagrams for Bulk-Incoherent, Bulk-Coherent, and Epitaxially-Coherent Semiconductor Alloys: Application to Cubic (Ga,In)N

The morphology and microstructure of ${A}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{B}_{x}C$ semiconductor alloys depend on the type of thermodynamic states established during growth. We distinguish three main cases: (i) bulk-incoherent structures occur when the alloy grows without being coherent with an underlying substrate and when each of the possible alloy species---phase separated $AC$ and $BC$ constituents, random ${A}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{B}_{x}C$ alloy, or ordered ${(AC)}_{n}/{(BC)}_{m}$ structures---maintain their own lattice structures and lattice constants, giving up mutual coherence. Bulk incoherence is common in thick films with sufficient dislocations. For cubic (Ga,In)N, bulk-incoherent structures are found to have a positive excess enthalpy $\ensuremath{\Delta}{H}_{\text{bulk}}^{\text{incoh}}g0$ and, thus, to phase separate. (ii) Bulk-coherent structures occur when the alloy grows without being coherent with a substrate, but each of the possible species internal to the alloy film is forced to be coherent with the film matrix. Thus, the constituents $AC$-rich and $BC$-rich solid solution phases share the same lattice structure at their interface, leading to internal strain that destabilizes the $AC+BC$ separated constituents. This can expose the intermediate ${(AC)}_{n}/{(BC)}_{m}$ ordered phases as stable structures with respect to the strained constituents, i.e., $\ensuremath{\Delta}{H}_{\text{bulk}}^{\text{coh}}l0$. Bulk coherence is applicable to growth when the development of dislocations is inhibited, e.g., small size precipitates in the alloy matrix. For cubic (Ga,In)N alloy, we find that the coherent ground state phases are three ordered superlattice structures: ${(\text{InN})}_{2}/{(\text{GaN})}_{2}$ $(=\text{chacolpyrite})$, ${(\text{InN})}_{3}/{(\text{GaN})}_{1}$, and ${(\text{InN})}_{4}/{(\text{GaN})}_{1}$, along (201) [and its cubic symmetry equivalent, i.e., (102), (210), etc.] crystal direction. (iii) Epitaxially coherent structures occur when the alloy is made coherent with an underlying substrate, e.g., in thin film pseudomorphic growth. Depending on the substrate, the formation enthalpy $\ensuremath{\Delta}{H}^{\text{epi}}l0$. For cubic (Ga,In)N grown on GaN (001) substrate, we find that the stablest epitaxial phases are chalcopyrite and the ${(\text{InN})}_{4}/{(\text{GaN})}_{1}$ superlattice along the (210) crystal direction. Here, we calculate, from first principles, the formation enthalpies of cubic zinc blende (Ga,In)N alloy under the three forms of thermodynamic states indicated above to establish a cluster expansion, from which we calculate the finite-temperature phase diagrams. This illustrates how the thermodynamic constraints during growth can radically alter the alloy phase behavior and its microstructures.
Orbital effects in actinide systems

Actinide magnetism presents a number of important challenges; in particular, the proximity of 5f band to the Fermi energy gives rise to strong interaction with both d and s like conduction electrons, and the extended nature of the 5f electrons means that they can interact with electron orbitals from neighboring atoms. Theory has recently addressed these problems. Often neglected, however, is the overwhelming evidence for large orbital contributions to the magnetic properties of actinides. Some experimental evidence for these effects are presented briefly in this paper. They point, clearly incorrectly, to a very localized picture for the 5f electrons. This dichotomy only enhances the nature of the challenge.
Space-Based Detection of Wetlands' Surface Water Level Changes from L-Band SAR Interferometry

Abstract Interferometric processing of JERS-1 L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data acquired over south Florida during 1993–1996 reveals detectable surface changes in the Everglades wetlands. Although our study is limited to south Florida it has implication for other large-scale wetlands, because south Florida wetlands have diverse vegetation types and both managed and natural flow environments. Our analysis reveals that interferometric coherence level is sensitive to wetland vegetation type and to the interferogram time span. Interferograms with time spans less than six months maintain phase observations for all wetland types, allowing characterization of water level changes in different wetland environments. The most noticeable changes occur between the managed and the natural flow wetlands. In the managed wetlands, fringes are organized, follow patterns related to some of the managed water control structures and have high fringe-rate. In the natural flow areas, fringes are irregular and have a low fringe-rate. The high fringe rate in managed areas reflects dynamic water topography caused by high flow rate due to gate operation. Although this organized fringe pattern is not characteristic of most large-scale wetlands, the high level of water level change enables accurate estimation of the wetland InSAR technique, which lies in the range of 5–10 cm. The irregular and low rate fringe pattern in the natural flow area reflects uninterrupted flow that diffuses water efficiently and evenly. Most of the interferograms in the natural flow area show an elongated fringe located along the transitional zone between salt- and fresh-water wetlands, reflecting water level changes due to ocean tides.
Eating Disorders and Maladaptive Dietary/Insulin Management among Youths with Childhood-Onset Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the prevalence of DSM-III eating disorder and the conjoint symptoms of maladaptive dietary/ insulin management (irrespective of eating disorder) and their psychiatric and biomedical correlates among youths with childhood-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Method Forty-four girls and 35 boys, 8 to 13 years old at IDDM onset, were repeatedly interviewed during an interval of up to 14 years (mean = 9 years) to ascertain psychiatric disorders and behaviors related to diabetes care. Metabolic control and IDDM-related hospitalizations also were monitored. Results By the mean age of approximately 21 years, 3.8% of the sample had DSM-III eating disorders and 11.4% had “eating problems,” defined as the conjoint symptoms of severe dietary indiscretion and repeated insulin omission (irrespective of eating disorders). Youths with “eating problems” were nine times more likely to have had a psychiatric disorder than the rest of the patients, and they had a significantly higher rate of pervasive noncompliance with medical treatment. No between-group differences were found in metabolic control and rates of multiple hospitalizations. Conclusions The diabetes-specific symptom-pair of serious dietary indiscretion and repeated insulin omission appears to identify youths who have had other problems as well. The association of eating problems with psychiatric disorders (other than eating disorders) suggests that a subgroup of diabetic youths have various difficulties in coping with the medical illness and require close monitoring and psychosocial intervention.
Hydroxyl group orientation affects hydrolysis rates of methyl α-septanosides

Hydrolysis rates for three related methyl α-septanosides were obtained. The septanosides were synthesized via mCPBA epoxidation and methanolysis of d-mannose, d-galactose, and d-glucose-based oxepines. The rate of hydrolysis correlates with the orientation of hydroxyl groups on the septanose ring in a manner analogous to pyranosides.
Necrotising enterocolitis hospitalisations among neonates in the United States

The objective of this study was to estimate the rate and describe the epidemiology of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) among neonates (infants <1 month of age) hospitalised in the United States. Hospital discharge records for neonates with an NEC diagnosis and an in-hospital death or routine discharge were selected for analysis from the 2000 Kids' Inpatient Database. An estimated 4463 (SE = 219) hospitalisations associated with NEC occurred among neonates in the United States during the year 2000, resulting in a hospitalisation rate of 109.9 [95% CI 97.2, 122.6] per 100 000 livebirths. The rate of NEC hospitalisations was highest among non-Hispanic Black neonates. The median hospital length of stay was 49 days. The in-hospital fatality rate was 15.2% (SE = 1.0%). Neonates who underwent a surgical procedure during hospitalisation were more likely to have a longer length of stay and to die than were those who did not have surgical intervention. Low-birthweight (LBW) neonates with NEC were more likely than LBW neonates hospitalised with other diagnoses to be very LBW (VLBW), non-Hispanic Black and male. In addition, compared with LBW neonates hospitalised with other diagnoses, LBW neonates with NEC had higher hospital charges and longer lengths of stay, and were more likely to die during hospitalisation. This study provides the first national estimate of the rate of hospitalisation for NEC among neonates in the United States. During 2000, there was one NEC hospitalisation per 1000 livebirths, with approximately 1 in 7 NEC hospitalisations ending in death. NEC accounts for substantial morbidity; thus, the development of prevention strategies and effective therapies continues to be an important issue.
A new combining rule for mixture equations of state: higher order composition dependencies reduce to quadratic composition dependence

Abstract A combining rule is presented that reduces third and higher order virial coefficient-type mixing rules to quadratic. The underlying assumption is that we can determine the contribution of a molecule to the interaction of an aggregate of molecules that includes it by considering how it interacts separately with each of the molecules in the aggregate. The combining rule defines multibody interaction parameters as a linear function of its forming molecules' pure characterization parameters. The coefficient multiplying each pure characterization parameter is calculated from the contribution of the factors that characterize the interaction of the pairs of molecules that involve the molecule whose contribution to the multibody interaction we want to determine. The new combining rule can be particularly useful in virial type EOSs, but not exclusively, because the composition-dependence of the virial coefficients has the same order as the virial coefficient itself, and use of the combining rule introduced reduces all composition dependencies to quadratic. Use of this combining rule eliminates the need to obtain interaction coefficients for triplets, quadruplets, etc.
A Retrospective Review of the Management of Dupuytren’s Nodules

Purpose To evaluate the progression of Depuytren's nodules with more than 6 years of follow-up study. Methods Fifty-nine patients who presented initially with Dupuytren's nodules returned for physical examination at an average follow-up period of 8.7 years (range, 6–15 y). Patients were questioned regarding family history of Dupuytren's disease, family ethnicity, alcohol consumption, smoking, liver disease, seizures, diabetes, and signs of systemic disease such as knuckle pads and plantar nodules. Physical examination evaluated disease state, loss of extension of the finger joints, and disease location. Results Thirty of the 59 patients with previously diagnosed isolated nodules developed a cord. Twenty-two percent of patients presented with bilateral disease and another 26% developed bilateral disease. Of those patients whose disease progressed 43% had European heritage, 37% had disease onset before the age of 50 years, 30% had bilateral disease, 23% had a family history of Dupuytren's disease, and 13% had plantar nodules. Five patients lost extension averaging 60° at the metacarpophalangeal joint and 40° at the proximal interphalangeal joint. Three of these 5 had surgical excision because they had a flexion contracture of the metacarpophalangeal or proximal interphalangeal joints averaging 60° and 43°, respectively. Another 7 patients did not meet standard criteria but had surgery for persistent pain associated with grasping objects (without contracture). All surgically treated patients had at least 1 risk factor and 7 patients had more than 1 risk factor. In 7 patients the Dupuytren's nodule had resolved at the time of follow-up evaluation. Conclusions The progression of the nodular form of Dupuytren's disease to cord-like disease is common but not inevitable. This evaluation of Dupuytren's nodules has shown that at an average of 8.7 years after diagnosis 5 patients met standard surgical criteria of metacarpophalangeal contracture of greater than 30° or any proximal interphalangeal contracture. Age of onset (before 50 years) is correlated most closely with disease progression, and the disease regressed in 7 patients (12%).
Heuristic rules embedded genetic algorithm to solve in-core fuel management optimization problem

Because of the large number of possible combinations for the fuel assembly loading in the core, the design of the loading pattern (LP) is a complex optimization problem. It requires finding an optimal fuel arrangement in order to achieve maximum cycle length while satisfying the safety constraints. The objective of this study is to develop a loading pattern optimization code. Generally in-core fuel management codes are written for specific cores and limited fuel inventory. One of the goals of this study is to develop a loading pattern optimization code, which is applicable for all types of Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) core structures with unlimited number of fuel assembly types in the inventory. To reach this goal an innovative genetic algorithm is developed with modifying the classical representation of the genotype. To obtain the best result in a shorter time not only the representation is changed but also the algorithm is changed to use in-core fuel management heuristics rules. The improved GA code was tested demonstrating the advantages of the introduced enhancements. The core physics code used in this research is Moby-Dick, which was developed to analyze the VVER reactors by SKODA Inc.
Optical mapping of transmural activation induced by electrical shocks in isolated left ventricular wall wedge preparations.

Introduction: It is believed that electrical shocks interrupt fibrillation by directly stimulating the bulk of ventricular myocardium in excitable states, but how shocks activate intramural tissue layers is not known. In this study, Vm responses and transmural activation patterns induced by shocks during diastole were measured in isolated coronary perfused preparations of porcine left ventricle. Methods and Results: Rectangular shocks (duration = 10 ms; field strength, E = 1–44 V/cm) were applied across preparations (thickness = 14.9 ± 2.5 mm, n = 9) via large mesh electrodes during diastole or action potential (AP) plateau. Vm responses at the transmural surface were measured using optical mapping technique (resolution = 1.2 mm). Depending on shock strength, three types of Vm responses were observed. (1) Weak shocks (E ∼ 1–4 V/cm) applied in diastole induced APs with simple monophasic upstrokes. The latency and time of transmural activation (TTA) rapidly decreased with increasing shock strength. Earliest activation occurred predominantly at the cathodal side of preparations in the areas that exhibited maximal ΔVm during AP plateau. (2) Intermediate shocks (E ∼ 4–23 V/cm) induced monophasic and biphasic upstrokes that were paralleled with predominantly negative plateau ΔVm. Activation was initiated at multiple transmural sites and rapidly spread across the myocardial wall (TTA = 0.6 ± 0.2 ms). (3) Very strong shocks (E ∼ 23–44 V/cm) could cause triphasic upstrokes, likely reflecting occurrence of membrane electroporation, and delayed activation (TTA = 6.7 ± 3.8 ms) at sites of largest negative plateau ΔVm. Conclusion: Shocks applied during diastole cause direct and rapid (within 1 ms) activation of ventricular bulk over a wide range of shock strengths, supporting the excitatory hypothesis of defibrillation. Very strong shocks can cause multiphasic Vm responses and delayed activation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 1215-1222, November 2003)
SU‐FF‐T‐03: Accurate Surface Dose Determination for Electronic Brachytherapy Applicators

Purpose: To describe the use of experimental and numerical methods for the accurate determination of dose distributions along surface boundaries of applicators used to deliver electronic brachytherapy.Method and Materials: Numerical models for several sizes of an electronic brachytherapy breast balloon applicator and a vaginal applicator were generated and dose distributions calculated using a general purpose multi particle transport code (FLUKA). The numerical data were compared to experimental measurements obtained with a parallel plate extrapolation ionization chamber and with dose distributions generated by a commercial treatment planning system Results: Close agreement between the numerical model and measured doses were found. Comparison with doses computed using the treatment planning system showed good agreement at a prescription depth of 1.0 cm. Dose deviations as great as 150%, however, were observed at the surface‐tissue interface of the applicators. Conclusions: Using both experimental and numerical methods to determine dose distributions for electronic brachytherapy applicators offers a verifiable, comprehensive procedure in the determination of accurate surfacedoses. It has been demonstrated that treatment planning systems based on AAPM TG‐43 guidelines, as currently configured do not estimate surfacedoses accurately when attenuating material is interposed between an electronic brachytherapy x‐ray source and irradiated tissue.
Deamination of tris(ethylenediamine)cadmium(II) chloride

Abstract The deamination of [Cd(en) 3 ]Cl 2 has been studied using TG. Untreated [Cd(en) 3 ]Cl 2 decomposes in four steps involving the loss of 1/2, 3/2, 1/2, and 1/2 molecules of ethylenediamine, respectively. Decomposition of [Cd(en) 3 ]Cl 2 that has been treated with CH 3 OH, with or without NH 4 Cl added, decomposes in three steps involving the loss of 2, 1/2, and 1/2 molecules of ethylenediamine, respectively. Kinetic parameters have been determined for all these reactions. Activation energies show that NH 4 C1 is not effective as a catalyst for the deamination of [Cd(en) 3 ]Cl 2 .
Subcellular localization of the heat-stable glucocerebrosidase activator substance in Gaucher spleen.

Abstract The spleen in Gaucher's disease contains relatively large quantities of a heat-stable activator of the glucocerebrosidase of normal human tissues (Ho, M. W., and O'Brien, J. S. (1971) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 68 , 2810–2813) that has been shown to be an 11,000 molecular weight acidic glycoprotein (Peters, S. P., et al. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252 , 563–573). In an effort to determine the subcellular location of the activator, a mannitol-sucrose homogenate of fresh, unfrozen spleen obtained from a 26-year-old patient with adult, nonneuropathic (Type 1) form of Gaucher's disease was subjected to subcellular fractionation. The tissue used in these experiments exhibited a β-glucocerebrosidase deficiency (11% of control tissue characteristic of Gaucher's disease. Mitochondrial and lysosomal fractions obtained by centrifugation of the spleen homogenate at 6900 and and 20,000 g , respectively, contained greater than 80% of the recovered acid phosphatase and heat-stable glucocerebrosidase activator activities. In addition, 60% of the residual glucocerebrosidase activity was recovered in the mitochondrial and lysosomal fractions. The lysosomal and mitochondrial fractions were subjected to equilibrium sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Analysis of the sucrose gradient of the crude mitochondrial fraction demonstrated the mitochondrial marker enzyme (cytochrome oxidase) banding with a specific gravity of 1.19 g/ml, whereas the heat-stable activating factor banded in an acid phosphatase-rich fraction having a specific gravity of 1.12 g/ml. Sucrose gradient analysis of the crude lysosomal fraction obtained from differential centrifugation indicated the activating factor banding with a specific gravity of 1.12 g/ml. Coincident with the activating factor was glucocerebrosidase and acid phosphatase activity. Electron microscopic examination of fractions from each of the sucrose density gradients demonstrated that the glucocerebrosidase activating factor was located in the same acid phosphatase-rich fractions that contained the characteristic Gaucher deposits. Furthermore, when Gaucher deposits were isolated and purified independently by a sucrose gradient procedure, they were found to contain high concentrations of the heat-stable glucocerebrosidase activator. The specific activity of the glucocerebrosidase activating factor was approximately 15-fold greater in the extensively purified Gaucher deposits than in the crude extract of Gaucher spleen from which the deposits were isolated. These observations indicate that the heat-stable activator is associated with the storage deposits contained in lysosomes of the Gaucher cell.
Alzheimer's Disease Drugs: An Application of the Hormetic Dose-Response Model

This article provides an evaluation of the dose-response features of drugs that are intended to improve memory, some of which have been used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A common feature of these drugs is that they act via an inverted U-shaped dose response, consistent with the hormetic dose response model. This article assesses historical foundations that lead to the development of AD drugs, their dose-response features and how the quantitative features of such dose responses affected drug discovery and development, and the successes and possible failures of such agents in preclinical and clinical settings. This story begins about 150 years ago with the discovery of an active agent in the Calabar bean plant called physostigmine, its unfolding medical applications, and its implications for dose-response relationships, memory enhancement, and improved drug discovery activities. The article also demonstrates the occurrence of U-shaped dose responses for memory with numerous endogenous agonists including neurosteroids, various peptides (e.g., vasopressin, CCK-8, neuropeptide Y), and other agents (e.g., epinephrine, antagonists for platelet activity factor and nicotinic receptors), supporting the generalizability of the hormetic biphasic dose response. Finally, the significance of the U-shaped dose response is critical for successful clinical application, since it defines the therapeutic window.
On the orientation of mammographic structure.

Purpose: Burgess et al. have shown that the power-spectral density of mammographic breast tissue P(f) follows a power-law, P(f) = c/fβ.1 Due to the complexity of the breast anatomy, breast phantoms often make use of power-law backgrounds to approximate the irregular texture of breast images. However, the current methodology of estimating power-law coefficients assumes that the breast structure is isotropic. The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate that breast anatomic structure is not isotropic, but in fact has a preferred orientation. Further, we present a formalism to estimate power-law coefficients β and c while accounting for tissue orientation in mammographic regions-of-interests (ROIs). We then show the effect of structure orientation on β and c, as well as on the appearance of simulated power-law backgrounds. Methods: When breast tissue exhibits a preferred orientation, the radial symmetry in the associated power spectrum is broken. The new symmetry was fit by an ellipsoidal model. Ellipse tilt angle and axis ratio were accounted for in the power-law fit. Results: On average, breast structure was found to point toward the nipple: the average orientation in MLO views was 22.5 °, while it was 5 ° for CC views, and the mean orientation for left breasts was negative while it was positive for right breasts. For both power-law magnitude and exponent, the mean difference was statistically significant ( = −0.096, =−0.192). Conclusions: A formalism for quantification of breast structure and structure orientation is provided. The difference in power-law coefficient estimates when accounting for orientation was found to be statistically significant. Examples of statistically defined backgrounds indicate that breast structure is mimicked more closely when structure orientation is accounted for.
Equation of state of polymer melts: Numerical results for athermal freely jointed chain fluids

Our microscopic RISM integral equation theory for the virial equation of state of polymer liquids developed in the preceding paper is numerically implemented for athermal melts composed of freely‐jointed chains interacting via hard core site–site potentials. A modified ideal description of the single chain intramolecular correlations is employed which rigorously enforces the nonoverlapping core condition and leads to significant local coil expansion. Comparison of the theoretically computed virial pressure for tangent diatomics and short chains with available Monte Carlo simulation results over a wide range of packing fractions suggests the theory is quite accurate. Significant inconsistencies between the pressure computed via the virial and compressibility routes are found and discussed in light of the known limitations of the RISM method and the importance of self‐consistency corrections for flexible chain molecule liquids. A detailed numerical study of the density and degree of polymerization dependenc...
Sir Ludwig Guttmann Lecture: trends in spinal cord injury rehabilitation outcomes from model systems in the United States: 1973-2006.

Consecutive case series with 5-year follow-up. To evaluate the spinal cord injury (SCI) model systems program in the United States by documenting improvements in treatment outcomes over time. SCI model systems throughout the United States. Initial data were collected on 24 332 patients injured between 1973 and 2006. Follow-up data were collected on 9225 of these patients 5 years post-injury. All data were grouped by calendar year. Descriptive statistics included means and percentages. Multiple linear or logistic regression was used to assess outcome trends after adjusting for demographics and injury severity. Acute care and rehabilitation lengths of stay declined dramatically over time (P<0.01). Mean functional independence measure motor score at discharge and gain during rehabilitation decreased, whereas gain per day increased (P<0.01). The probability of neurologic improvement from admission to discharge increased. Odds of medical complications decreased during in-patient treatment, but increased post-discharge (P<0.05). Rehospitalizations declined over time (P<0.01). Community integration improved. First year mortality rates improved, but longer term mortality rates showed no improvement since 1982. Steady improvements have occurred for many treatment outcomes. Newer and more effective methods of prevention and treatment need to be developed to target those outcomes that have not improved and remain suboptimal. This research was supported by grant number H133A011201 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, United States Department of Education, Washington, DC.
Synthesis and properties of a new class of fluorine-containing dilithium salts for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract A facile synthetic route for the development of a new class of dilithium salts is described. Because of the presence of two lithium ions per molecule, these salts require lower concentrations than commonly used salts to achieve comparable ionic conductivities at ambient temperatures. An ionic conductivity of 3.55 × 10 − 3 S/cm at 30 °C was obtained using 0.5 M salt solution in 1:1 wt/wt ethylene carbonate:dimethyl carbonate. The salts exhibit excellent thermal stabilities to at least 350 °C and are electrochemically stable below 4.2 V versus lithium metal. The best salt was tested with a polymer electrolyte system. Incorporation of a polyethylene glycol-based borate ester plasticizer improved the ionic conductivity of the solid polymer electrolyte film up to 1.36 × 10 − 5 S/cm at 30 °C, which is 10 times higher than that of un-plasticized electrolyte films.
The Argonne plasma engineering experiment (APEX) tokamak

Abstract The Argonne plasma engineering experiment (APEX) tokamak was designed to provide hot plasmas for reactor-relevant experiments with rf heating (current drive) and plasma wall experiments, principally in situ low- Z wall coating and maintenance. The device, sized to produce energetic plasmas at minimum cost, is small ( R =51 cm, r =15 cm) but capable of high currents (100 kA) and long pulse durations (100 ms). A design using an iron central core with no return legs, pure tension tapewound toroidal field coils, digital radial position control, and UHV vacuum was used. Diagnostics include monochrometers, X-ray detectors, and a microwave interferometer and radiometer for density and temperature measurements. Stable 100 ms shots were produced with electron temperatures in the range 500–1000 eV. Initial results included studies of thermal desorption and recoating of wall materials.
The flux rope nature of coronal mass ejections

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are ejections of magnetized plasma from the solar corona. They are the most spectacular examples of explosive energy release on the Sun. Their magnetic structure is of particular importance because it determines their effects on the terrestrial magnetosphere. Here, I present recent observational evidence for the existence of magnetic flux ropes within CMEs. The observations detect the formation of the flux rope in the low corona, reveal its sometimes extremely fast evolution and follow it into interplanetary space. The results validate many of the expectations of the CME initiation theories. We can now construct a coherent picture of the eruption of helical fields from the solar corona but some of the details remain obscure.
Anaphylactic reaction from topical penicillin: Report of a case

Abstract 1.1. A case of severe immediate allergic reaction following the antral instillation of penicillin has been presented. 2.2. Two other similar cases noted in the literature have been reviewed. 3.3. The use of the term "anaphylactic" and some of the related aspects of penicillin sensitivity have been discussed. 4.4. More careful attention should be paid to the patient's pre-existing sensitivities in the use of penicillin.
Initial characterization of a prototype multi-crystal cylindrical SPECT system

A prototype SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) system was constructed to demonstrate the performances of a novel multislice design for high-resolution imaging. The system consists of a stationary cylindrical detector composed of multiple bars of NaI(Tl) scintillator and a rotating collimator. The collimator consists of an assembly of multiholed modules arranged with a four quadrant symmetry. The collimator modules are individually focused for discrete sampling in the transverse plane but parallel-collimated for continuous sampling in the axial direction. Fan beam sampling for each detector bar in the transverse plane is accomplished after a 360 degrees rotation of the collimator. An array of photomultiplier tubes coupled to the outside of the detector cylinder identifies the bar and the axial position along the bar for each detected event. The current performance of this prototype system was evaluated. The useful imaging volume has a circular cross section (20-cm diameter) with a 5-cm axial field-of-view. The average local energy resolution is 11.5% and the system sensitivity is 800 cps/ mu Ci/cm/sup 3//cm. The spatial resolution in the reconstructed plane is 8 mm FWHM (full width at half maximum). The tomographic images of resolution and anthropomorphic phantoms demonstrate high image quality. >
Hellenism and the Sentences-Commentary of Giles of Viterbo, 1469–1532

Giles of Viterbo (1469–1532), cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church during the High Renaissance, was not merely a scholar influenced by the humanism and renewed Platonism of his day but a phil-Hellene according to various associations of Hellenism ranging from literary to political, ancient to modern. He embraced Hellenism in its many senses despite his belonging to the generation born after the fall of Constantinople. This is significant, for although Giles's interest in ancient Greek language and letters is generally acknowledged, insufficient scholarly attention has been paid to Giles's inclusive interest in Byzantine Hellenism and Orthodox Christian doctrine.
Many Faces of Openness in Adoption: Perspectives of Adopted Adolescents and Their Parents

Parents and adolescents (mean age, 15.7 years) from 177 adoptive families participating in the second wave of the Minnesota/Texas Adoption Research Project were interviewed about their post-adoption contact arrangements. The sample included families with no contact, stopped contact, contact without meetings, and contact with face-to-face meetings between the adolescent and birth mother. Openness arrangements were dynamic, and different openness arrangements were associated with different experiences and feelings. Adoptive families with contact reported having higher levels of satisfaction about their openness arrangements, experiencing more positive feelings about the birth mother, and possessing more factual and personal knowledge about the birth mother than did families without contact. Adolescents and adoptive mothers in the contact with meetings group reported the greatest satisfaction with their openness arrangements; those with no contact or stopped contact reported the least satisfaction with their arrangements. Participants having no contact were more likely to want the intensity of contact to increase in the future rather than stay the same. Many participants already having contact wanted it to increase in the future. Fewer than 1 percent of all participants wanted to see the intensity of contact decrease.
Multi-step synthesis of nanoparticles performed on millisecond time scale in a microfluidic droplet-based system

This paper reports a plug-based, microfluidic method for performing multi-step chemical reactions with millisecond time-control. It builds upon a previously reported method where aqueous reagents were injected into a flow of immiscible fluid (fluorocarbons) (H. Song et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2003, 42, 768). The aqueous reagents formed plugs – droplets surrounded and transported by the immiscible fluid. Winding channels rapidly mixed the reagents in droplets. This paper shows that further stages of the reaction could be initiated by flowing additional reagent streams directly into the droplets of initial reaction mixture. The conditions necessary for an aqueous stream to merge with aqueous droplets were characterized. The Capillary number could be used to predict the behavior of the two-phase flow at the merging junction. By transporting solid reaction products in droplets, the products were kept from aggregating on the walls of the microchannels. To demonstrate the utility of this microfluidic method it was used to synthesize colloidal CdS and CdS/CdSe core-shell nanoparticles.
Long-term survival in patients with refractory angina

Aims An increasing number of patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) are not candidates for traditional revascularization and experience angina in spite of excellent medical therapy. Despite limited data regarding the natural history and predictors of adverse outcome, these patients have been considered at high risk for early mortality. Methods and results The OPtions In Myocardial Ischemic Syndrome Therapy (OPTIMIST) program at the Minneapolis Heart Institute offers traditional and investigational therapies for patients with refractory angina. A prospective clinical database includes detailed baseline and yearly follow-up information. Death status and cause were determined using the Social Security Death Index, clinical data, and death certificates. Time to death was analysed using survival analysis methods. For 1200 patients, the mean age was 63.5 years (77.5% male) with 72.4% having prior coronary artery bypass grafting, 74.4% prior percutaneous coronary intervention, 72.6% prior myocardial infarction, 78.3% 3-vessel CAD, 23.0% moderate-to-severe left-ventricular (LV) dysfunction, and 32.6% congestive heart failure (CHF). Overall, 241 patients died (20.1%: 71.8% cardiovascular) during a median follow-up 5.1 years (range 0–16, 14.7% over 9). By Kaplan–Meier analysis, mortality was 3.9% (95% CI 2.8–5.0) at 1 year and 28.4% (95% CI 24.9–32.0) at 9 years. Multivariate predictors of all-cause mortality were baseline age, diabetes, angina class, chronic kidney disease, LV dysfunction, and CHF. Conclusion Long-term mortality in patients with refractory angina is lower than previously reported. Therapeutic options for this distinct and growing group of patients should focus on angina relief and improved quality of life.
Histidine and Aromatic Permeases of Salmonella typhimurim

Mutants defective either in the histidine permease (hisP) or in the aromatic permease (aroP) were isolated in Salmonella typhimurium and were characterized. The hisP locus had a 49% linkage to purF by phage transduction. The aroP locus was close to proA. Merozygotes diploid for the hisP gene were constructed by episomal transfer, and hisP+ was dominant over hisP. The properties of merozygotes are described and discussed. A method for the selection of revertants of hisP mutants was devised. By this method, one of the hisP mutants was characterized as an amber mutant. The specificity of the aromatic permease was investigated by using as substrates analogues of the aromatic amino acids and of histidine. Some properties of the active transport of histidine and of the aromatic amino acids in Salmonella typhimurium have been previously presented (1, 12). Preliminary results demonstrated that amino acids are incorporated into lipidic compounds, and the possible role of these compounds in transport has been discussed (2). This paper describes further studies on the genetics and properties of active transport mutants.
Lysophospholipid receptors LPA1-3 are not required for the inhibitory effects of LPA on mouse retinal growth cones.

One of the major requirements in the development of the visual system is axonal guidance of retinal ganglion cells toward correct targets in the brain. A novel class of extracel- lular lipid signaling molecules, lysophospholipids, may serve as potential axon guidance cues. They signal through cognate G protein-coupled receptors, at least some of which are expressed in the visual system. Here we show that in the mouse visual system, a lysophospholipid known as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is inhibitory to retinal neurites in vitro when delivered extra- cellularly, causing growth cone collapse and neurite retraction. This inhibitory effect of LPA is both active in the nanomolar range and specific compared to the related lysophospholipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Knockout mice lacking three of the five known LPA receptors, LPA 1-3 , continue to display retinal growth cone collapse and neurite retraction in response to LPA, demonstrating that these three receptors are not required for these inhibitory effects and indicating the existence of one or more functional LPA receptors expressed on mouse retinal neurites that can mediate neurite retraction.
The pathology of placenta accreta, a worldwide epidemic

The incidence of placenta accreta, defined as the abnormal adherence of the placenta to the uterine wall, has been increasing alarmingly in the developed as well as the developing world. There is considerable maternal morbidity and mortality related to the condition. The pathophysiology focuses on the balance between decidualisation on the one hand and trophoblast invasion on the other. Pathological diagnosis relies on the finding of placental villi in direct apposition to myometrium, either in hysterectomy specimens or in placental basal plates.
Eric Bentley: On Hero Worship and Degradation

Over the past half-century, Bentley has done just about everything in the theatre as a critic, theorist, performer, playwright, and translator. In this wide-ranging interview, he offers opinions on Broadway, nontraditional casting, gays, Brecht—and lots of other topics.
Microseism and ocean wave studies on Guam

Simultaneous operation of ocean wave gages and seismographs on the island of Guam from July, 1952, to February 1953, provided data for studying the correlation between waves and microseisms. The use of a wave gage on the east and another on the west side of the island made it possible to record waves incident from opposite directions and thus to determine whether an area of wave interference existed in the water areas around the island. The results of these data can be summarized as follows: (1) large microseisms were recorded when higher than normal waves of about the same period were incident on the east and the west; (2) wave activity well above normal on only one side of the island was not accompanied by any marked increase in microseisms; (3) where higher than normal waves were incident on both sides of the island but where the wave periods had a ratio of 0.75 or less, little increased microseismic activity resulted; (4) when both high waves and microseisms existed, the period of the microseisms was close to one-half that of the wave periods; and (5) an intense typhoon 800 mi distant produced no microseisms. From these observations one may conclude that strong support is given to Longuet-Higgins' theory of microseismic generation by interfering wave trains. Interfering waves generated by two independent areas of wind gave rise to particularly high microseismic activity. The attenuation of microseismic transmission over ocean areas appeared to be high.
A Laboratory-Based Course in Real-Time Digital Signal Processing Implementation

A four credit-hour laboratory course in real-time digital signal processing (DSP) implementation is described. This course has been developed and taught at Utah State University for over 12 years, incorporating feedback from students and extensive classroom experience. The educational goal of the course is to teach seniors/first year graduate students how to select, implement, and evaluate DSP systems for real-time signal processing. A major component of the class is a series of seven laboratories in which the student must perform realtime processing on hardware based on modern digital signal processors and FPGAs. Student feedback has indicated that the course has been very successful in helping them become effective in real-time DSP-related jobs.
Description of Schuhistes n. gen (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae), a New Plant Bug Genus Found on Endemic Lycium spp. (Solanaceae) from South Africa

Abstract Schuhistes, a new genus of Leucophoropterini (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae) is described from South Africa to accommodate two new species, Schuhistes lyciae and Schuhistes lekkersingia. Diagnoses, digital habitus images, illustrations of male and female genitalic structures, and detailed locality data are provided. Host data, scanning micrographs of diagnostic morphological structures – the head, vestiture, scent-gland evaporatory area, gonopore, and pretarsus - are included for both species.
Capturing the vital vascular fingerprint with optical coherence tomography

Using fingerprints as a method to identify an individual has been accepted in forensics since the nineteenth century, and the fingerprint has become one of the most widely used biometric characteristics. Most of the modern fingerprint recognition systems are based on the print pattern of the finger surface and are not robust against spoof attaching. We demonstrate a novel vital vascular fingerprint system using Doppler optical coherence tomography that provides highly sensitive and reliable personal identification. Because the system is based on blood flow, which only exists in a livng person, the technique is robust against spoof attaching.
Rapid WiMAX network deployment for emergency services

In this paper, we developed an integrated system named “WiMAX Mobile Command System”. In signal coverage, upload and download rate, mobility and bandwidth efficiency, WiMAX is better than traditional wireless network. So we built a versatile system which can be rapidly deployed WiMAX network at disaster scene or other emergency events. Then, the rescuer or police could through this system execute the mission and let the commanding officer control the situations and information from this scene. It is equipped with the WiMAX Pico Base Station (B.S.) [1], Access Service Network Gateway (ASN/GW), IPBX (Private branch exchange) and both front-end device and back-end management system on a vehicle. This paper describes the whole system's design, function and field trail demo. We believe that it would help a lot on emergency services or in public security events.
Characterization of thin-film amorphous semiconductors using spectroscopic ellipsometry

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) has been used to routinely characterize amorphous silicon nitride and diamond thin films. Since SE measurements do not yield quantities of interest directly, the SE data must first be fit to a model to obtain useful parameters such as film thickness and optical functions. Recently, we have developed the Tauc-Lorentz (TL) model for the optical functions of amorphous materials [Appl. Phys. Lett. 69, 371373, 2137 (1996).], which has been very useful in interpreting these SE results. A 4parameter model is usually sufficient to describe the optical functions of the thin film to the accuracy of the ellipsometer. One of these parameters, the band gap Eg, correlates with other mechanical and chemical properties of the film, such as the silicon-to-nitrogen ratio in silicon nitride films, and to the sp 3 -bonded carbon fraction and the hardness of
Phase II Study of Low Dose and High Dose Conjugated Estrogen for Androgen Independent Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Although estrogens have known antitumor activity in androgen independent prostate cancer, the best studied agent, diethylstilbestrol, is no longer commercially available in the United States. We tested 2 doses of the conjugated estrogen Premarin® in patients with androgen independent prostate cancer to determine the efficacy and safety of this widely available medication.Materials and Methods: A total of 45 patients with progressive androgen independent prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive Premarin 1.25 mg once (17) or 3 times (28) daily. Warfarin 1 mg daily was administered to all patients to minimize risk of thromboembolism. Low dose prophylactic breast irradiation was administered to most patients.Results: Of the patients receiving high dose Premarin 25% achieved a 50% or greater reduction in prostate specific antigen. No patients treated with low dose Premarin reached a 50% reduction in prostate specific antigen. After 3 months of treatment, 11 patients (39.3%) on the high dose a...
A relational analysis of children's friendship

Child-child and child-adult relations are not simply different: They may be the sources of two types of social understanding, each serving a distinct developmental function.
Timing of Parturition of Three Long-tailed Shrews (Sorex spp.) in the Southern Appalachians

Abstract Timing of parturition has been proposed as a factor allowing coexistence of sympatric shrews. We examined the timing of parturition for three species of sympatric long-tailed shrews (Sorex) in the southern Appalachians. We found a marked similarity in patterns of parturition among these species, with significant correlations between S. fumeus and both S. cinereus (r = 0.86, P = 0.0004) and S. hoyi (r = 0.72, P = 0.0080). However, parturition dates for S. cinereus and S. hoyi were not significantly correlated (r = 0.43, P = 0.1588), with the average parturition date significantly earlier for S. hoyi. We suggest that patterns of breeding among Sorex spp. in the southern Appalachians are highly similar, although early breeding may help S. hoyi avoid competition with S. cinereus.