cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of mixed and gross slip fretting wear regimes in Ti6Al4V interfaces at room temperature

Abstract Fretting wear is a destructive phenomenon that can accelerate crack initiation in vibrating components, leading to premature catastrophic failures. Among the most important characteristics of fretting, is the transition from mixed fretting wear to gross slip. Research has shown that mixed fretting wear is the most detrimental to fatigue life. In this paper, a study was conducted that characterized the critical normal loads and displacements corresponding to the mixed fretting regime boundary in Ti6Al4V interfaces. Experimental testing shows that there is a linear relationship between critical load and displacement. Knowing the corresponding loads and displacements that induce mixed fretting conditions, will allow for the predetermination of wear regime in future tests. Tests conducted at or near the critical values of load and displacement exhibited extreme galling and evidence of cold welding. These tests also initially displayed mixed fretting wear; however, a cycle dependent transition to gross slip occurred in some tests.
Optimal measurement control strategies for natural resource systems

An explicit treatment of the uncertainty in the state of environmental quality of a natural resource system can provide a quantitative basis for information gathering decisions. This paper presents the formulation of a class of optimal measurement control problems in the context of natural resource systems. In particular, the design of optimal polluting level measurement control to be used for the optimal estimation or prediction of the state of a stochastic environment system is considered. Filtering theory, an extension of bayesian analysis to dynamic systems, is used to formulate a dynamic pollution level measurement optimization problem in which ‘the state of the plant’ is given by the elements of the variance-covariance matrix of pollution level estimates and the control is related to the determination of the locations of sampling sites and to finding the sequencing of measurements in time. The problem statement is in such a form so that the deterministic as well as the stochastic principle of Pontry...
Macrovascular surgery and the microsurgeon.

The improvement of success rates in microsurgery can be attributed as much to better technical skills, as to the more frequent selection of donor or recipient sites with consistent, larger-caliber vessels. Often, these vessels may be larger than major limb source vessels, and anastomoses using loupes can then be successful, even without requiring an operating microscope. Thus, distinguishing our capabilities from the domain of the general vascular surgeon, who traditionally deals only with the ravages of disease or trauma to such large vessels, has become blurred. For some free-tissue transfers, and especially limb replantations, perhaps it would be appropriate for the microsurgeon sometimes to enter the realm of the macrovascular surgeon for enhancement of the overall outcome. A review of our 202 free flaps and pediatric limb revascularizations has validated this opinion, as significant portions in 19 of these cases required unequivocal macrovascular surgery. These included vein-graft bypasses (9) of major segmental arterial defects of limbs (that incidentally improved collateral circulation, although intended primarily to simplify arterial inflow to a free flap simultaneously needed to cover a concomitant soft-tissue defect). Similarly, arterial grafts as part of a flow-through free flap (3) were used for immediate coverage and concurrent limb revascularization. Finally, two toddlers who sustained disruption of named leg vessels had microsurgical repair after referral from the vascular service; they believed we were better able to deal with such diminutive vasculature. These observations are not intended as evidence that vascular surgery may be better performed by the microsurgeon; rather, that the best results of microsurgery often will incorporate technical aspects usually considered as macrovascular surgery.
Is “Orbital Steering” a New Concept?

INTRAMOLECULAR reactions have, for many years, been used as models for the productive ES complex in enzymatic reactions1–3. Chemists have sought explanations for the rapid rates in certain intramolecular reactions hoping that, by understanding these factors, much could be gained towards the understanding of the efficiency of enzymatic catalysis.
6.14 Identification of monoclonal antibodies specific for the γ/δ TCR

Abstract Twelve monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) formed temporary cluster TC36. mAb CACTB6A was included as a standard antibody that reacted with the γ/δ T cell receptor (TCR). Eight of the mAbs, CACTB6A, CACT16A, CACT17A, CACTB12A, CACTB44A, CACT71A, CACT18A and CACT61A, immunoprecipitated a 47 kDa molecule indicating that they all recognize the γ/δ TCR. Flow cytometric studies separated these mAbs into three groups that distinguish three different γ/δ TCR. mAb BAQ72A, which fell within TC36, immunoprecipitated a 215 kDa molecule with a similar tissue and cellular distribution to BoWC1 mAb. mAbs CACT26A, CACT63A and CACT77A reacted similarly to each other by flow cytometry and immunohistology, but were distinct from the other mAbs in TC36. These three mAbs may recognize an activation molecule and form a distinct novel mAb cluster.
Future Fitness of Female Insect Pests in Temporally Stable and Unstable Habitats and Its Impact on Habitat Utility as Refuges for Insect Resistance Management

The long-term fitness of individuals is examined in complex and temporally dynamic ecosystems. We call this multigeneration fitness measure “future fitness”. Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous insect that feeds on many wild and cultivated hosts. While four generations of H. zea occur during the cropping season in the U.S. Mid Southern agroecosysem, the latter two generations were of most interest, as corn (which has been largely nontransgenic in the Mid-South) dominates the first two generations in the cropping system. In simulations of the evolution of resistance to Bt-transgenic crops, cotton refuge areas were found to be significantly more effective than similar soybean acreages at delaying the evolution of resistance. Cotton is a suitable host for H. zea during two late summer generations, while a soybean field is suitable for only one of these generations, therefore soybean fields of other maturity groups were simulated as being attractive during the alternative generation. A hypothetical soybean variety was tested in which a single field would be attractive over both generations and it was found to be significantly more effective at delaying resistance than simulated conventional soybean varieties. Finally, the placement of individuals emerging at the start of the 3rd (first without corn) generation was simulated in either refuge cotton, conventional soybean and the hypothetical long attractive soybean and the mean number of offspring produced was measured at the end of the season. Although females in conventional and long soybean crops had the same expected fecundity, because of differences in temporal stability of the two crops, the long soybean simulations had significantly more H. zea individuals at the end of the season than the conventional soybean simulations. These simulations demonstrate that the long-term fecundity associated with an individual is dependent not only on the fecundity of that individual in its current habitat, but also the temporal stability of habitats, the ecosystem at large and the likelihood that the individual's offspring will move into different habitats.
Determining Burmester Points from the Analysis of a Planar Platform

This paper presents a technique for determining the Burmester points of five finitely separated positions in a plane. A Burmester point is the location of the fixed pivot of an RR dyad that can reach each of the five positions. These Burmester points are obtained from a compatibility platform constructed from selected relative poles associated with the five specified displacements. We show that the relative position pole of two assembly configurations of this platform is a fixed pivot compatible with the five positions. An example originally presented by Sandor and Erdman is used to verify the calculations.
Full-Thickness Knee Articular Cartilage Defects in National Football League Combine Athletes Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Prevalence, Location, and Association With Previous Surgery

Purpose To better define the prevalence and location of full-thickness articular cartilage lesions in elite football players undergoing knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the National Football League (NFL) Invitational Combine and assess the association of these lesions with previous knee surgery. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all participants in the NFL Combine undergoing a knee MRI scan from 2005 to 2009. Each MRI scan was reviewed for evidence of articular cartilage disease. History of previous knee surgery including anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, meniscal procedures, and articular cartilage surgery was recorded for each athlete. Knees with a history of previous articular cartilage restoration surgery were excluded from the analysis. Results A total of 704 knee MRI scans were included in the analysis. Full-thickness articular cartilage lesions were associated with a history of any previous knee surgery ( P P P = .7). Full-thickness lesions were present in 27% of knees with a previous meniscectomy compared with 12% of knees without any previous meniscal surgery. Full-thickness lesions in the lateral compartment were associated with previous lateral meniscectomy ( P P = .01). Conclusions Full-thickness articular cartilage lesions of the knee were present in 17.3% of elite American football players at the NFL Combine undergoing MRI. The lateral compartment appears to be at greater risk for full-thickness cartilage loss. Previous knee surgery, particularly meniscectomy, is associated with these lesions. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Bandpass digital differentiator design using quadratic programming

A novel technique utilizing quadratic programming for the design of bandpass FIR (finite impulse response) digital differentiators of arbitrary order is presented. The new differentiators have linear phase and are maximally accurate at the center of the differentiation band. Their design is based on a minimization procedure for the integrated square error of the frequency response over designated approximation bands. The closed-form solution for the filter coefficients is obtained by the method of Lagrange multipliers. The inclusion of stopband in the design process is also discussed. This technique has been successfully used by the authors for the design of optimal low pass differentiators. The new differentiators are important for applications where the first-, second-, or higher-order derivative of a digital signal is required to be accurate at midrange frequencies. >
Management quandary. Adnexal masses in teenagers.

The patient is a 14-year-old girl with a history of left sided cramping for about 6 months. Her pain is intermittent and does not change with her periods. She uses Motrin which alleviates the pain. She has had regular cycles for 1 year with no complaints. She denies any change in bowel or bladder habits or change in weight or appetite. She has never been sexually active and never had a pelvic exam. Her past medical and surgical history is negative. Physical exam reveals a height of 55" and a weight of 117 pounds. Her general exam is normal. Her abdomen is soft mildly tender in the left lower quadrant and reveals no masses. A pelvic exam was deferred by patient request. An ultrasound was ordered and an 8 x 9 x 7 simple left adnexal mass diagnosed. (excerpt)
Personality Theory: A Case of Intellectual and Social Isolation?

Abstract The current state of personality theory is surveyed, based on a content analysis of 15 current textbooks in the field. A core set of theories considered to be central parts of personality theory is identified, along with areas that are commonly omitted, despite their apparent relevance. The latter include post-1960 developments in psychodynamic theory, biological approaches, and family and systems approaches as well as topics such as racial identity and cross-cultural differences in personality. Reasons for the neglect of these areas are discussed.
Perceptions of Appropriateness of Counselor Behavior: A Comparison of Counselors and Principals

A number of studies employing standardized personality measures show that school principals and counselors tend to differ in their personality structures. Does this difference lead to differing perceptions of what counselors should do in specific kinds of problem situations? The answer to this question was sought by factor analyzing the responses of groups of counselors and principals to a critical incident questionnaire. The indications are from this study that, for most situations, counselors and principals are in general agreement as to the approach the counselor should employ. Where differences do occur, they appear to be related to differential sources of anxiety with resultant increases in controlling, authoritarian approaches being advocated as a means to reduce anxiety, rather than being related to any variations in personality structure.
Editorial: Driving the future of engineering and medicine

The rapid growth of the biomedical engineering field presents researchers with both unique challenges and opportunities. At the same time, an increasing number of journals are in development by various publishers. A question that may arise is how we should distinguish TBME from the ever growing number of journals while maintaining the status of TBME as the leading platform for publications in biomedical engineering. It is argued that the mission of TBME should be to publish significant comprehensive research that integrates engineering with biomedicine. Topics shall include, but are not limited to, the following: biomedical signal processing, biomedical imaging and image processing, bioinstrumentation, biosensors, micro/ nanobiotechnology, bioinformatics and computational biology, biomedical modeling and computing, cardiovascular engineering, neural and rehabilitation engineering, cellular and tissue engineering and biomaterials, biomechanics, robotics, therapeutic and diagnostic systems, devices and technologies, clinical engineering, healthcare information systems and telemedicine, and emerging topics in biomedical engineering. Given this broad spectrum of topics within biomedical engineering, TBME should aim to be the journal to publish in the field of biomedical engineering. TBME should publish the highest quality scientific works that make significant advancements in conceptualization of the field of biomedical engineering. Incremental improvements in an existing research area should not be TBME's focus. To reach maximum impact, the presentations should be oriented at general readership in the biomedical engineering community.While mathematical proofs and formulas are essential for demonstrating theoretical concepts, only key equations central to the meaning of the work should be presented. Detailed derivation should be moved to the appendix or be submitted to more technically specialized journals.
Inducible secretion of large, biologically potent von Willebrand factor multimers

von Willebrand factor (vWf) secreted constitutively by human endothelial cells was compared to that released from Weibel-Palade bodies after stimulation. The majority of constitutively secreted molecules were dimeric and contained both pro-vWf and mature subunits. In contrast, the vWf released by the calcium ionophore A23187 or thrombin consisted of only very large multimers of mature subunits. The large multimers are known to be more active in in vitro platelet binding assays, and their absence in vivo results in a bleeding disorder. Endothelial cells therefore concentrate a special subclass of very large and biologically potent vWf multimers in Weibel-Palade bodies, presumably available for release in response to vascular injury.
Fixation and release of n‐15‐labeled ammonium during soil drying

Abstract Nitrogen applied to soils as ammonium fertilizers often is found as nonexchangeable, or fixed, ammonium soon after application. The importance of ammonium fixation under field conditions has not been well established, and studies to assess the importance of ammonium fixation are hampered by lack of information about the effects of air drying of soil samples on ammonium fixation. The work reported here examines the effects of air drying on fixation and release of 15N‐labeled ammonium in soil samples collected at 10, 45, and 90 days after labeled anhydrous ammonia was applied to two soils in an Iowa cornfield. Comparisons of field‐moist and air‐dried samples revealed that air drying induced fixation of ammonium in samples collected soon after fertilization and induced release of fixed ammonium in samples collected after exchangeable ammonium concentrations had been depleted by nitrification or other processes. The magnitude of the effects were proportional to the amount of fertilizer N present as f...
The effect of a twenty-four hour intertrial interval on the acquisition of spatial discrimination by hippocampally damaged rats.

Abstract Rats with either aspiration- or penicillin-induced (irritative) lesions of the hippocampus or overlying neocortex and normal rats were trained on a spatial discrimination in a T-maze after being tested for spontaneous alternation. Animals were given only one trial per day (24 hr ITI). Only the animals with aspiration lesions of the hippocampus were impaired in acquiring the spatial discrimination. Animals with either hippocampal or neocortical lesions alternated at reduced rates.
Modification of renal cortical subcellular membrane phospholipids induced by mercuric chloride

Modification of renal cortical subcellular membrane phospholipids induced by mercuric chloride. Administration of mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 , 6 mg/kg) to rabbits produced renal failure, with changes in serum creatinine from 1.01 ± 1 in controls to 6,46 ± 0.91 mg/dl 24hr after administration. Mitochondria isolated from HgCl 2 -treated rabbits exhibited alterations in acceptor control ratios, with reduction to 1.9 ± 0.2 from 3.9 ± 1.2 in controls. Ultrastructurally, the mitochondria showed swelling and loss of inner mitochondrial membranes. Total lipids from mitochondria of control and treated rabbits were obtained by modified Folch extraction and phospholipids analyzed by TLC. Brush border membranes and basolateral membranes were prepared from control and HgCl 2 -treated kidneys 2 and 24hr after HgCl 2 administration. At 24hr mitochondria showed a 36% fall in phosphatidylcholine (PC), a 36% fall in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and a 27% fall in cardiolipin. Brush border showed a decrease in phosphatidylserine (PS) of 29% and in PE of 40%. The basolateral membranes showed a reduction only in PE of 35%. At 2hr post HgCl 2 , early changes are confined to the BBM and consist of a reduction in PE in this membrane. This changes in membrane phospholipids may be important in the functional derangements that occur at the cellular level after HgCl 2 administration.
The energetics of aluminum solubility into MgSiO3 perovskite at lower mantle conditions

Experiments [T. Irifune (1994) Nature 370, 131–133; E. Ito et al. (1998) Geophys. Res. Lett. 25, 821–824; A. Kubo, M. Akaogi (2000) Phys. Earth Planet. Int. 121, 85–102] indicate that (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite, commonly believed to be the most abundant mineral in the Earth, is the preferred host phase of Al2O3 in the Earth’s lower mantle. Aiming to better understand the effects of Al2O3 on the thermoelastic properties of the lower mantle, we use atomistic models to examine the chemistry and elasticity of solid solutions within the MgSiO3(perovskite)–Al2O3(corundum)–MgO(periclase) mineral assemblage under conditions pertinent to the lower mantle: low Al cation concentrations, P=25–100 GPa, and T=1000–2000 K. We assess the relative stabilities of two likely substitution mechanisms of Al into MgSiO3 perovskite in terms of reactions involving MgSiO3, MgO, and Al2O3, in a manner similar to the 0 Kelvin calculations of Brodholt [J.P. Brodholt (2000) Nature 407, 620–622] and Yamamoto et al. [T. Yamamoto et al. (2003) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 206, 617–625]. We determine the equilibrium composition of the assemblage by examining the chemical potentials of the Al2O3 and MgO components in solid solution with MgSiO3, as functions of concentration. We find that charge coupled substitution dominates at lower mantle pressures and temperatures. Oxygen vacancy-forming substitution accounts for 3–4% of Al substitution at shallow lower mantle conditions, and less than 1% in the deep mantle. For these two pressure regimes, the corresponding adiabatic bulk moduli of aluminous perovskite are 2% and 1% lower than that of pure MgSiO3 perovskite.
A comparison of polarization image processing across different platforms

Division-of-focal-plane (DoFP) polarimeters for the visible spectrum hold the promise of being able to capture both the angle and degree of linear polarization in real-time and at high spatial resolution. These sensors are realized by monolithic integration of CCD imaging elements with metallic nanowire polarization filter arrays at the focal plane of the sensor. These sensors capture large amounts of raw polarization data and present unique computational challenges as they aim to provide polarimetric information at high spatial and temporal resolutions. The image processing pipeline in a typical DoFP polarimeter is: per-pixel calibration, interpolation of the four sub-sampled polarization pixels, Stokes parameter estimation, angle and degree of linear polarization estimation, and conversion from polarization domain to color space for display purposes. The entire image processing pipeline must operate at the same frame rate as the CCD polarization imaging sensor (40 frames per second) or higher in order to enable real-time extraction of the polarization properties from the imaged environment. To achieve the necessary frame rate, we have implemented and evaluated the image processing pipeline on three different platforms: general purpose CPU, graphics processing unit (GPU), and an embedded FPGA. The computational throughput, power consumption, precision and physical limitations of the implementations on each platform are described in detail and experimental data is provided.
Estimating the costs of hypothetical reactor accidents

Abstract Radioactive release from a reactor accident is considered the major risk in the operation of a reactor. The consequence of accident release includes various health effects and property damage. In order to evaluate the economic risk of reactor accidents to the society, the probability vs consequence curves in the Reactor Safety Study (U.S. NRC, 1975) were converted to risk vs consequence curves for the various health effects and property damage (Hsieh, 1978). This article will develop the methodology to convert the above risks to present-worth dollar values, so that the risks to society of various consequences of reactor accidents can be easily compared.
Association between tangential beam treatment parameters and cardiac abnormalities after definitive radiation treatment for left-sided breast cancer.

Purpose To examine the association between radiation treatment (RT) parameters, cardiac diagnostic test abnormalities, and clinical cardiovascular diagnoses among patients with left-sided breast cancer after breast conservation treatment with tangential beam RT. Methods and Materials The medical records of 416 patients treated between 1977 and 1995 with RT for primary left-sided breast cancer were reviewed for myocardial perfusion imaging and echocardiograms. Sixty-two patients (62/416, 15%) underwent these cardiac diagnostic tests for cardiovascular symptoms and were selected for further study. Central lung distance and maximum heart width and length in the treatment field were determined for each patient. Medical records were reviewed for cardiovascular diagnoses and evaluation of cardiac risk factors. Results At a median of 12 years post-RT the incidence of cardiac diagnostic test abnormalities among symptomatic left-sided irradiated women was significantly higher than the predicted incidence of cardiovascular disease in the patient population, 6/62 (9%) predicted vs. 24/62 (39%) observed, p = 0.001. As compared with patients with normal tests, patients with cardiac diagnostic test abnormalities had a larger median central lung distance (2.6 cm vs. 2.2 cm, p = 0.01). Similarly, patients with vs. without congestive heart failure had a larger median central lung distance (2.8 cm vs. 2.3 cm, p = 0.008). Conclusions Contemporary RT for early breast cancer may be associated with a small, but potentially avoidable, risk of cardiovascular morbidity that is associated with treatment technique.
Engineering of a multifunctional hemicellulase.

To engineer a multifunctional xylan-degrading enzyme, a chimera was created by fusing the xylanase domain of the Clostridiumthermocellum xylanase (xynZ) and a dual functional arabinofuranosidase/xylosidase (DeAFc; from a compost starter mixture) through a flexible peptide linker. The xylanase domain of xynZ possesses previously unreported endoglucanase activity. The chimera, possessing the activities of xylanase, endoglucanase, arabinofuranosidase and xylosidase, was expressed in E. coli and purified. The chimera closely resembled the parental enzymes in pH, temperature optima and kinetics, and was more active than the parental enzyme mixture in the hydrolysis of natural xylans and corn stover.
Assessment of geophysical surveys as a tool to estimate riverbed hydraulic conductivity

Summary The goal of this project was to investigate to what extent the vertical hydraulic conductivity ( K v ) of a riverbed could be estimated by geophysical methods capable of gathering stratigraphic information of large areas in a relatively short time. Riverbed K v was investigated at four sites along the Great Miami River. The sites represented a variety of riverbed sediment ranging from clay to cobbles. Estimates of riverbed K v were obtained using a variety of methods at multiple scales including conventional seepage meter, slug tests and modeling of heat and water flow between the river and aquifer. Estimated riverbed K v values were compared to stratigraphic information obtained from geophysical (resistivity, continuous seismic, electromagnetism) profiling to assess the usefulness of the geophysical data in predicting K v values. Seepage meters were used to estimate K v in the upper 0.3 m of the riverbed and yielded K v values ranging from 0.11 to 5.3 m/d. Slug tests at depths between 0.45 and 11.2 m yielded K v values ranging from 0.0284 to 9.46 m/d assuming an anisotropy ratio of 0.1. Modeling of groundwater flow and heat transport provided perhaps the best estimates of K v over a larger area and longer period of time. Model-derived estimates of K v agreed well with other methods and ranged from 0.015 to 14.9 m/d. K v values obtained from conventional seepage, slug tests and temperature modeling compared well qualitatively to the stratigraphy inferred from electrical resistivity surveys at three out of four study sites. Discrepancies associated with the fourth site could be due to the existence of a colmation layer, a layer of a coarse sediment matrix clogged with fine sediment. These findings suggest that geophysical methods cannot be used alone as a method to assess the appropriate ranges of riverbed K v . This might especially be true where municipal pumping contributes to riverbed clogging. To correlate the resistivity data with hydraulic conductivity, both geophysical and hydrogeological methods should be applied.
Approximate tolerance limits for Zipf–Mandelbrot distributions

Abstract Zipf–Mandelbrot distributions are commonly used to model natural phenomena where the frequency of an event’s occurrence is inversely proportional to its rank based on that frequency of occurrence. This discrete distribution typically exhibits a large number of rare events; however, it may be of interest to obtain reasonable limits that bound the majority of the number of different events. We propose the use of statistical tolerance limits as a way to quantify such a bound. The tolerance limits are constructed using Wald confidence limits for the Zipf–Mandelbrot parameters and are shown through a simulation study to have coverage probabilities near the nominal levels. We also calculate Zipf–Mandelbrot tolerance limits for two real datasets and discuss the associated computer code developed for the R programming language.
Annotating Uncertainty in Geospatial and Environmental Data

The Geography Markup Language (GML) -- the existing standard for encoding geospatial data -- has no mechanism for annotating such data with uncertainty. To address this issue while supporting the geospatial community's existing data and service standards, the authors extend GML to enable uncertainty markup. They demonstrate this extension's use with some common geospatial data types and Web services. The result is a robust capability to share error information while maintaining compatibility with existing geospatial data clients.
Recent Crustal Uplift in Yellowstone National Park

Comparison of precise leveling measurements made in 1923 with those made in 1975, 1976, and 1977 reveals that the 600,000-year-old Yellowstone caldera is being uplifted relative to its surroundings. Maximum relative uplift since 1923 is in excess of 700 millimeters—about 14 millimeters vertically per year. The most likely cause of this rapid and unusually large surface deformation is a recent influx of molten or partially molten materials to a location within the crust beneath Yellowstone National Park.
An Experimental Study of the Sublimation of Water Ice and the Release of Trapped Gases

The release of the more volatile component of the Ar/H2O, CO/H2O, and CO2/H2O mixtures presently studied during sublimation is found to occur in several discrete temperature regions; gas release correlates with IR spectrum changes of the solid ice. Relative peak intensities during warming are noted to depend on the initial gas/H2O ratio. The irradiation of CO- or CO2-containing ices respectively led to the release of CO2 and CO, as well as the initial species. The implications of these results for cometary behavior are discussed.
Neocortical seizure termination by focal cooling: temperature dependence and automated seizure detection.

Summary: Purpose: The therapy for focal neocortical epilepsy remains suboptimal. We have, therefore, worked to develop techniques to cool small regions of the neocortical surface for seizure mapping and, ultimately, for long-term suppression of focal seizures. Methods: We induced focal neocortical seizures in halothane-anesthetized rats by the microinjection of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) into the motor cortex. The dura over the injection site was cooled with a Peltier device, and the temperature at the interface between dura and Peltier was measured with a thermocouple. In some experiments, seizures were automatically detected by a computer program that activated the Peltier device. Results: Monopolar EEG indicated that our seizures were focal and suppressed when cooling was applied directly over the injection site. The threshold temperature required to observe any reduction in seizure duration was 24°C. The temperature gradient across the cooled neocortex was sharp, with the temperature increasing to 31°C at 4 mm below the Peltier, which was cooled to 20°C. Automatic seizure detection reduced the total seizure duration from 43.4 ± 33.6 s to 5.6 ± 5.3 s. Conclusions: Cooling terminates neocortical seizures when applied very close to the epileptogenic focus. The threshold for seizure termination (24°C) may be lower than the threshold for termination of normal cortical activity, suggesting that this technique will not dissociate the anticonvulsant effect of cooling from the disruption of normal behavior. However, when coupled with automatic seizure detection, focal cooling remains an attractive option for development as a treatment for focal epilepsy.
Teaching bioethics at (or near) the bedside.

Many teachers of bioethics often express concern, in their writings and otherwise, about the theoretical basis (or lack of it) of bioethics and the allied issue of relativism. The companion articles by Tong and Momeyer are in this vein and rightly address such issues within the context of a liberal arts education. This article addresses such issues in a different venue, i.e., bioethics teaching in the clinical sphere of health care institutions. It presumes to suggest that many of these theoretical concerns, as well as the threat of relativism, seldom arise in this sphere. Rather, a broad based, well accepted body of moral truth has been fashioned over the last quarter century and it is this that clinical bioethics regularly keys to and to which most moral dilemmas are referred for resolution. The various forms of this pedagogy, e.g., case consultations or institutional policy statements, are charted out in this regard, as well as the often tactical character of much of this teaching, i.e., not "what should we do?", but "how might we best do it?". The article then goes on to conclude with a reflection on the use and abuse of power in clinical bioethics teaching and consultation.
Adhesion and Ion-Exchange between Mica Surfaces

IF the adhesive forces between mica surfaces1 are due to ionic interactions as has been suggested2, interchange of ions between two mica surfaces brought into contact might be expected. If matching of ions and sites in the aluminosilicate lattice were complete, we should find a redistribution of the surface ions between the two faces, and if the ion-site forces were the same for any given ion with respect to both sheets, this new configuration should find half the ions from each sheet transferred to the other. Such an exchange has now been found to occur by observing the transfer of radioactive potassium-42 from a mica sheet on to which it had been exchanged from aqueous solution3 to another sheet initially inactive. When such an experiment was performed by simply pressing the two sheets of mica together on a flat surface, the amount of activity transferred was only 10 per cent of that initially present. This would suggest that the sheets were in contact over only 20 per cent of their area. This result is in line with the initial transfer values for stearic acid mono-layers between mica surfaces pressed together, as found by Rideal and Tadayon4. When the area of ntimate contact was observed by multiple-beam interference techniques, however, the amount of transfer was found to be nearly half the total exchangeable potassium in that area.
Person‐Environment Fit and Its Implications for Personality Development: A Longitudinal Study

Continuity and change in Person-Environment Fit (PE Fit) and its relation to personality development was studied in a 4-year longitudinal study of college students (N=305). PE Fit demonstrated moderate rank-order stability and small increases in mean-levels over time. Antecedents to PE Fit included gender (being male), high academic ability, low agreeableness, and low neuroticism. Outcomes associated with PE Fit included greater personality consistency and changes in personality in the direction of higher self-esteem and lower agreeableness and neuroticism. The implications of the findings for personality development are discussed.
The incremental validity of criteria B and C for diagnosis of Trichotillomania in children and adults

Abstract DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for Trichotillomania (TTM) specify that hair pulling (criterion A) be associated with tension prior to pulling (criterion B) and relief, pleasure, or gratification while pulling (criterion C). However, research suggests that the phenomena described by criteria B and C may not apply to all who engage in repetitive hair pulling. The current study explored the incremental validity of criteria B and C in children and adults. Participants from the Child and Adolescent Trichotillomania Impact Project (CA-TIP; n=238) and the Trichotillomania Impact Project (TIP; n=1659) were grouped according to diagnostic criteria endorsed: (1) absence of criteria B and C, (2) presence of criterion B or C (but not both), and (3) criteria B and C. Groups did not differ on measures of TTM severity; automatic pulling; depression; age of onset; and social, interpersonal, and academic functioning. Differences included lower focused pulling scores in group 1, higher anxiety scores in group 3 children, and greater pulling severity in group 3 adults. The results obtained suggest that criteria B and C add little differential information to the overall clinical picture of TTM. Intervention and research should give equal attention to all who present with hair pulling causing marked distress/impairment.
Insulated Target Instrumentation for the AGS Slow External Beam

Absolute measurements have been made of the charge transferred from thin, insulated, aluminum plate targets in vacuum by 25 GeV protons. The results are reported for various thicknesses, orientations and bias of the insulated targets. Beam flux measurements were made by means of the 12C(p, pn)11C monitor reaction using polyethylene foils. Applications of these targets to beam intensity and profile measurements at the AGS are discussed.
All-Optical Integrated Switch Utilizing Faraday Rotation

Achieving network transparency via the use of all-optical devices is vital for next generation DWDM networks to realize fundamental functions such as switching, routing and wavelength conversion. With the abundance of capacity created by the Internet boom of the '90s, emphasis is placed on both device performance and cost. A 1 × 1 integrated switch based on the polarization plane rotation of light in Bi-substituted iron garnets is reported here using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to achieve amplitude modulation by use of suitable material dimensions and field strengths. The working principle, design and fabrication of the switch are detailed.
A compromise on abortion

Since Roe v. Wade is standing in a climate of potential restrictions or a possible overturning the question of compromise must be thought of by even the most ardent pro-choice proponents. This article reviews the judgements in Roe v. Wade that are weakly supported and therefore vulnerable to change. Suggestions as to what compromises might be made and who will be harmed by them were then discussed. The weakest Roe v. Wade judgement regards the timing of the trimester system for delineating legal requirements for abortion. Since a compromise in timing would make it difficult to obtain late abortions women bearing severely deformed fetuses who usually have late abortions due to the tardiness of test results may be the most harmed by a compromise. A concession that would please both sides of the debate would be to lower the number of unwanted pregnancies by behaviorally motivating people to use birth control devices.
An Evaluation of Color Selections to Accommodate Map Users with Color-Vision Impairments

An experiment shows that maps can be designed to accommodate the approximately 4 percent of the population with red-green color-vision impairments. The experiment used seven pairs of maps with seven different color schemes to determine the effects of color selection on the map-reading ability of people with impaired or normal color vision. One rendition in each pair had colors that were potentially confusing to people with red-green impairments; the other had colors selected specifically to accommodate this group. On the set with potentially confusing colors, people with red-green impairments were less accurate and took longer to respond than those with normal color vision. They were just as accurate as those with normal color vision on the set with accommodating colors but continued to have longer reaction times. Logit analysis of accuracy confirmed the interaction between vision group (normal, impaired) and rendition of the map (confusing, accommodating) and indicated that performance differed from one ...
High-efficiency performance of microwave power 4H-SiC amplifiers

The high frequency performance of a 4H-SiC MESFET is examined using an advanced harmonic-balance device/circuit simulator combined with the two-dimensional device simulator PISCES-IIB. Very good agreement with experimental measurements is achieved. Circuit and device optimizations are discussed. An improved device structure with a maximum power added efficiency approaching the theoretical limit is predicted.
What Is Next for Policy Design and Social Construction Theory?1

The study of policy design has made great progress over the past decade in leading scholars to understand why the American political system produces certain kinds of designs rather than others, and the consequences that policy designs have for democracy. This article outlines the distinctive and important elements of policy design theory—the centrality of policy design, the attention to social constructions, the attention to policy consequences (or feed-forward effects), and the integration of normative and empirical research and theory. It then suggests how policy design theory can complement other policy theories in guiding research and evaluating the conditions of U.S. democracy, and how in its own right it can be further developed and used to guide important inquiry about public policy's politics and social impacts.
The formation mechanism of planar defects in compound semiconductors grown epitaxially on {100} silicon substrates

Films of three compound semiconductors with the zincblende structure grown epitaxially on {100} silicon substrates by chemical vapor deposition or metal-organic chemical vapor deposition were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The three systems have similar thermal mismatches but cover a wide range of lattice mismatch. From the comparison of the observed microstructures as well as from the investigation of early stages of film formation it is concluded that the lattice mismatch plays a minor role in the formation of stacking faults and twin boundaries. A formation mechanism is proposed for these defects which is based on deposition errors during the adsorption of atoms on {111} facets of film nuclei. The observed microstructural features are discussed in terms of this model.
OPERANT CONDITIONING OF A SMALL-SCALE MUSCLE RESPONSE1

Abstract Six naive male subjects were reinforced for responses in the 20-30 microvolt range, and two each for those in 10-20 and 30-40 microvolt ranges. Records were taken of 15 min of “settling down,” 15 min of initial operant level responding, 30 min of conditioning, and 45 min of extinction, 30 min with light present and 15 min without. The results were: (1) small-scale muscle potentials from the thenar eminence, in the 10-20, 20-30, and 30-40 microvolt ranges, were conditioned, using pointer movement as the reinforcement; (2) the response rate in adjacent ranges of greater and lesser amplitude also increased during such conditioning and decreased during the subsequent extinction; (3) during conditioning the frequency of response distribution shifted toward the reinforced range; (4) subjects were unaware of the reinforced response; (5) observing a noncontingent moving pointer increased the response rate in the 20-30 microvolt range, but did not lead to conditioning.
Double-diffused graded SiGe-base bipolar transistors

Self-aligned SiGe/Si bipolar transistors have been fabricated using a single-polysilicon, double-diffused process with the base in a graded SiGe layer to improve base transit time. To remain compatible with homojunction bipolar technology, undoped SiGe base and Si emitter layers were deposited by selective epitaxy at temperatures of 700-750/spl deg/C in a commercial epitaxial reactor. Maximum cutoff frequencies of 40 and 50 GHz were observed for devices with collector-emitter breakdown voltages (BV/sub CEO/) of 4.2 and 3.0 V, respectively. Preliminary results indicate that the addition of Ge to the base of these transistors did not degrade the long-term device reliability. >
Limiting performance of shock isolation systems by a modal approach

The problem of determining the limiting performance of vibrating systems under shock loading is solved by replacing portions of the system by control forces which can represent any design. For the class of problems treated here, the performance index and the constraints are linear combinations of system response variables such as displacements, velocities and accelerations. Furthermore, the equations of motion are linear, so that it is possible to formulate the optimization procedure as a linear programming problem. In expressing the performance index and the constraints as linear functions of the unknown control forces, a modal approach is used to simplify and improve previous treatments of this problem. In spite of these linearity requirements, the control forces are not required to be linear functions of the response variables.
Ontogenetic functional diversity: Size structure of a keystone predator drives functioning of a complex ecosystem

A central challenge in community ecology is to understand the connection between biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems. While traditional approaches have largely focused on species-level diversity, increasing evidence indicates that there exists substantial ecological diversity among individuals within species. By far, the largest source of this intraspecific diversity stems from variation among individuals in ontogenetic stage and size. Although such ontogenetic shifts are ubiquitous in natural communities, whether and how they scale up to influence the structure and functioning of complex ecosystems is largely unknown. Here we take an experimental approach to examine the consequences of ontogenetic niche shifts for the structure of communities and ecosystem processes. In particular we experimentally manipulated the stage structure in a keystone predator, larvae of the dragonfly Anax junius, in complex experimental pond communities to test whether changes in the population stage or size structure of a keystone species scale up to alter community structure and ecosystem processes, and how functional differences scale with relative differences in size among stages. We found that the functional role of A. junius was stage-specific. Altering what stages were present in a pond led to concurrent changes in community structure, primary producer biomass (periphyton and phytoplankton), and ultimately altered ecosystem processes (respiration and net primary productivity), indicating a strong, but stage-specific, trophic cascade. Interestingly, the stage-specific effects did not simply scale with size or biomass of the predator, but instead indicated clear ontogenetic niche shifts in ecological interactions. Thus, functional differences among stages within a keystone species scaled up to alter the functioning of entire ecosystems. Therefore, our results indicate that the classical approach of assuming an average functional role of a species can be misleading because functional roles are dynamic and will change with shifts in the stage structure of the species. In general this emphasizes the importance of accounting for functional diversity below the species level to predict how natural and anthropogenic changes alter the functioning of natural ecosystems.