cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Achievement of a New High-Confinement, Collisionless FRC State in TCS-Upgrade

Reducing impurity radiation and overall recycling in the Translation, Confinement, and Sustainment Upgrade (TCSU) device enabled the plasma to enter into a new, collisionless regime with temperatures well over 200 eV, substantially exceeding the radiation barrier. This new field reversed configuration (FRC) state exhibits the following key features: (1) dramatic improvement in current drive efficiency with ζ (ratio of average electron rotation frequency to RMF frequency) approaching 100%; (2) up to 3-fold increase in global energy confinement time; and (3) significant reduction in transport rates, accompanied by a striking transition from a Bohm-like transport to a Lower Hybrid Drift (LHD)-like transport that scales better than gyro-Bohm and as such is very favorable for next step FRC development.
Light-Mediated Inhibition of Protein Synthesis

Summary The regulation of protein synthesis is vital for a host of cell biological processes, but investigating roles for protein synthesis have been hindered by the inability to selectively interfere with it. To inhibit protein synthesis with spatial and temporal control, we have developed a photo-releasable anisomycin compound, N -([6-bromo-7-hydroxycoumarin-4-yl]methyloxycarbonyl)anisomycin (Bhc-Aniso), that can be removed through exposure to UV light. The area of protein synthesis inhibition can be restricted to a small light-exposed region or, potentially, the volume of two-photon excitation if a pulsed IR laser is the light source. We have tested the compound's effectiveness with an in vitro protein-translation system, CHO cells, HEK293 cells, and neurons. The photo-released anisomycin can inhibit protein synthesis in a spatially restricted manner, which will enable the specific inhibition of protein synthesis in subsets of cells with temporal and spatial precision.
The impact of high‐stakes accountability policies on Native American learners: evidence from research

This article examines research on the impacts of high‐stakes accountability policies in the USA – in particular, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 – on Native American learners. NCLB's goals are laudable: close the achievement gap by making schools accountable for learning among all student groups, and by ensuring that all students are taught by highly qualified teachers. In practice, the policy has proven to be one of the most problematic education reforms in US history, prompting schools labeled “underperforming” to teach to the test, remove low‐performing students from the testing pool, curtail “low‐stakes” subjects, and artificially manipulate test scores and drop‐out rates. This article begins with a demographic, cultural, linguistic, and educational profile of Native American communities and an explanation of tribal sovereignty. The next sections provide an orientation to NCLB and an examination of empirical research on its impacts on Native American and other minoritized students. The fin...
High‐Affinity Choline Uptake in the Hippocampus: Its Relationship to the Physiological State Produced by Administration of Barbiturates and Other Treatments

Choline uptake in hippocampal synaptosomes was not inhibited by pentobarbital administration when rats were decapitated immediately upon loss of the righting reflex (3-4 min) even though it was inhibited at later times post-injection, when the rats were still unable to right themselves. Choline uptake was increased when the animals were decapitated at convulsion after an injection of picrotoxin, high doses of bicuculline, or one of the convulsant barbiturates. However, another convulsant barbiturate, as well as strychnine and lower doses of bicuculline, did not increase choline uptake even though the animals also convulsed. Thus loss of righting reflex or convulsion is not directly correlated with changes in choline uptake. At 7 min after injection, levels of pentobarbital in the hippocampus (and other brain regions) were correlated with the degree of inhibition of choline uptake up to about 50% inhibition; however, greater inhibition could not be achieved with much higher brain levels of the drug. Although hippocampal uptake was partially inhibited at 1 h after septal lesions, 3 h after the lesion the inhibition was no longer apparent. Inhibition was almost complete 10-12 days after the lesion. These results suggest that other factors in addition to impulse flow influence choline uptake.
CEP-Subgroups of Free Burnside Groups of Large Odd Exponents

Abstract For sufficiently large odd exponent n we construct a CEP-subgroup isomorphic to a free Burnside group B(∞, n) with infinite number of generators in the free Burnside group B(2, n) on two generators. This implies that B(2, n) is SQ-universal inside the Burnside variety.
Confronting Ghosts of the Christ-Haunted South: Teaching Theology through Teaching Story

. Southern fiction writer Flannery O’Connor once characterized the South as Christ-haunted, and having taught in the South for eight years now, I have come to appreciate O’Connor's evaluation. Most of the students I encounter understand one predominant way to practice Christian faith: assent to propositional theology. Most of them either accept this view uncritically or reject Christian thought completely, seeing it as stifling. My goal is to introduce the diversity of Christian thought in a non-threatening way. Knowing story's potential to draw people into community as well as to transform consciousness, I believe story offers a less threatening way to invite students to explore diversity. This paper describes a course titled “Christian Thought and Contemporary Short Fiction,” a course I developed to try to introduce students to a variety of ways to understand Christian thought and practice Christian faith. The paper describes development and facilitation of the course, including student responses to the course content and evaluation of the course.
Maintaining motivation and regulating emotion: measuring individual differences in academic volitional strategies

Abstract This study examined self-regulatory strategies used by students to maintain motivation on academic goal tasks. Of particular interest were strategies for managing potentially disruptive emotional states. The Academic Volitional Strategy Inventory (AVSI) was developed to investigate this aspect of student self-regulatory behavior. Three separate student samples ( n = 378; n = 463; n = 246) from a large southwestern university contributed to the refinement of the AVSI, and supported theoretical arguments for the existence of volitional self-regulatory action by students in maintaining academic task motivation. Factor analyses performed on items for each administration of the AVSI revealed a three-factor structure as providing a conceptually clear division of items. Item groupings consisted of strategies reflecting (1) self-efficacy enhancement, (2) stress reduction, and (3) negative-based incentives. Reliability estimates revealed strong internal consistency and stability. Further analyses currently in progress to support the validity of the scale are also discussed. However, the preliminary results presented in this paper suggest that the AVSI is a promising research instrument, and one that captures an aspect of self-regulatory action not adequately examined by existing instruments.
Topographical distribution of phosphorylation sites of phosvitins by mass spectrometry.

Abstract Phosvitin, derived from the vitellogenin II gene protein, is a highly phosphorylated protein found in egg yolk. A second hypothetical protein has been predicted based on the vitellogenin I gene, but has not been defined at the protein level. Mass spectrometric analysis was used to identify the phosphopeptide sequences and the precise sites of phosphorylation of two phosvitins, phosvitin 1 and phosvitin 2 derived from vitellogenins I and II, respectively. Samples of native phosvitin were subjected to tryptic digestion followed by mass spectrometric analysis: (i) native phosvitin peptides, (ii) after treatment with NaOH, and (iii) after chemical derivatization of P-Ser/P-Thr residues by dithiothreitol under base-catalyzed conditions. A combination of these approaches led to the identification of 68 and 35 phosphopeptides with 89 (81 P-Ser and 8 P-Thr residues) and 62 (57 P-Ser and 5 P-Thr residues) phosphorylation sites of phosvitin 1 and phosvitin 2, respectively. These data for the first time documented on a large scale the major states and sites of phosphorylation of phosvitins with a total of 151 phosphorylation sites. Importantly, the present work also provided the first direct de novo protein amino-acid sequence data for phosvitin 1 protein and evidence for the full expression of vitellogenin I gene. Biological significance We have for the first time generated a large number of phosphopeptides (~ 100) and identified 151 phosphorylation sites of phosvitin 1 and phosvitin 2, respectively. Importantly, this study also led to the discovery of a novel phosvitin 1 and provided the first direct de novo protein amino-acid sequence data for the full expression of vitellogenin I gene. There is considerable interest in naturally occurring phosphopeptides/phosphoproteins and their application in biomedical fields and in the food industry because of their molecular characteristics and non-toxic nature, hence, our work opens new avenues to pursue such endeavors. In addition, the results provide important fundamental biologic information relevant to evolutionary developments of vertebrate animals beginning with the earliest fish, reptiles, birds and more contemporary mammals. For instance, the abundance of phosvitins with a unique degree of phosphorylation in the egg yolk of fish, reptiles, and birds suggests potential biological functions of phosvitins which are critical to the development of embryos of these distant vertebrates.
Interstitial-cell tumor of the testis: report of two cases.

ABSTRACT Two cases of interstitial-cell tumor of the testis with gynecomastia in adults are reported. In Case 1 a metastatic lesion developed in the area of the pedicle of the left kidney. Urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion increased to exceedingly high levels. Urinary estrogens were markedly increased whereas pituitary gonadotropins were undetectable at 6.6 mouse units. 17-Hydroxysteroids remained normal until four months prior to death. Hypertension developed about fifteen months prior to death, which occurred five years after removal of the original tumor and three years after the first evidence of intra-abdominal metastatic disease. Case 2 was operated on successfully and the patient is in apparent good health ten years after surgery. INTERSTITIAL-CELL tumors of the testis are relatively rare. They comprised only 1.2 per cent of Dixon and Moore's (1) series of 990 testicular tumors. Generally these tumors are benign. However, in a recent survey of the literature, Dalgaard and Hesselberg (2) tabulated ov...
Neck level-specific nodal metastases in oropharyngeal cancer: is there a role for selective neck dissection after definitive radiation therapy?

Purpose. To determine the extent of the required neck dissection for patients with persistent lymphadenopathy after definitive radiation therapy for oropharyngeal cancer. If feasible, a conservative approach using selective neck dissection would likely minimize the extent of neck fibrosis and other adverse sequelae. Methods. Analysis of pretreatment and posttreatment radiologic scans and pathology reports of 76 patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma (35 tonsil; 41 base of tongue), who had radiologic evidence of persistent nodal disease for level-specific involvement. Patients were treated with twice-daily fractionations of external-beam radiation therapy (median dose, 76.8 Gy to the primary tumor) and planned neck dissection (levels I–V) for bulky nodes (N2–3) or salvage neck dissection for N1 disease. Results. The distribution of clinical nodal disease by neck level on the basis of pretreatment and posttreatment radiologic scans indicated levels II and III to be most commonly involved. The false-negative rate for the restaging radiologic scans for each neck level was as follows: level I, 0%; level II, 8%; level III, 6%; level IV, 5%; and level V, 1.5%. Of the eight hemi-necks found to contain positive pathologic nodes in a neck level judged to be negative on the basis of restaging scans, five of the patients subsequently had disease recurrence in the primary site. Patients who had evidence of residual neck disease had a significantly lower rate of locoregional control (77% vs 100%, p = .0005). Conclusions. The extent of neck dissection for patients with nodal disease associated with oropharyngeal cancer treated with radiation therapy should include levels II–IV. It is reasonable to spare levels I and V in patients without radiologic and clinical evidence of positive nodes in levels I and V. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head and Neck 25: 000–000, 2003
Bullous skin lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract Bullous lesions are an unusual finding in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A number of other bullous disorders can coexist with SLE; therefore it is often uncertain whether the bullous eruption represents a manifestation of SLE. Here we present a case of bullous lupus erythematosus (BL) in which the skin lesions preceded other clinical manifestations of SLE. Using a review of 27 other cases of BL in the literature. the differential diagnosis, clinical and histopathologic presentation, and treatment of BL is discussed. Based on this review a set of criteria for the diagnosis of BL is proposed.
Methods for modeling multimode waveguides with abrupt changes in propagation axis

Characterization and performance estimates for polymer, step-index, multi-mode, channel waveguides requires simulation of light propagation in models requiring large numbers of spatial samples using the method of finite-difference time-domain methods (FDTD). As noted in [1], full 3-D solutions for multi-mode waveguides with a cross-section of tens of microns are nontrivial. In many instances, designers are forced to use a ray-tracing model to characterize the channel. However, ray-tracing is not intended to characterize spectral and modal properties. Approximation of Helmholtz equation for slowly varying field in the propagation plane, termed beam propagation methods (BPM), has proved efficient for modeling optical waveguides [2–4]; however, these are primarily intended for modeling waveguides with slowly varying axes of propagation.
The neurobiology of the tuberous sclerosis complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem disorder that affects numerous organ systems. Brain lesions that form during development, known as tubers, are highly associated with epilepsy, cognitive disability, and autism. Following the identification of two genes and their encoded proteins, TSC1 (hamartin) and TSC2 (tuberin), responsible for TSC, identification of several downstream protein cascades that might be affected in TSC have been discovered. Of primary importance is the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway that controls cell growth and protein synthesis. The mechanisms governing brain lesion growth have not been fully identified but likely altered regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin cascade by hamartin and tuberin during development leads to aberrant cell growth. Secondary effects of TSC gene mutations might disrupt normal neuronal migration and cerebral cortical lamination. Numerous studies have identified changes in gene and protein expression in animal models of TSC and in human TSC brain specimens that contribute to altered brain cytoarchitecture. This review will provide an overview of the neurobiological aspects of TSC.
Swinging for the fences: persistent and efficient liver-directed gene therapy for hemophilia A

As clinical gene therapy approaches its 15th year without any obvious “home run” successes, some have questioned whether such a simple concept as replacing a single gene defect with a single gene could possibly have been fundamentally flawed. While that question will only be answered after the
Isogeometric analysis of shear bands

Numerical modeling of shear bands present several challenges, primarily due to strain softening, strong nonlinear multiphysics coupling, and steep solution gradients with fine solution features. In general it is not known a priori where a shear band will form or propagate, thus adaptive refinement is sometimes necessary to increase the resolution near the band. In this work we explore the use of isogeometric analysis for shear band problems by constructing and testing several combinations of NURBS elements for a mixed finite element shear band formulation. Owing to the higher order continuity of the NURBS basis, fine solution features such as shear bands can be resolved accurately and efficiently without adaptive refinement. The results are compared to a mixed element formulation with linear functions for displacement and temperature and Pian---Sumihara shape functions for stress. We find that an element based on high order NURBS functions for displacement, temperature and stress, combined with gauss point sampling of the plastic strain leads to attractive results in terms of rate of convergence, accuracy and cpu time. This element is implemented with a $$\overline{\hbox {B}}$$ B ¯ -bar strain projection method and is shown to be nearly locking free.
Monotonizing linear programs with up to two nonzeroes per column

Linear programming problems with up to two nonzeroes per column in the constraint matrix are shown equivalent to generalized network flow problem. The transformation is applied for solving the maximum cut problem, the b-matching problem in strongly polynomial time and for approximation algorithms for certain integer versions of the problem.
Incidence of Spontaneous Abortion among Normal Women and Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Women Whose Pregnancies Were Identified within 21 Days of Conception

Abstract Whether pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of spontaneous abortion is controversial. To address this question, we enrolled 386 women with insulin-dependent diabetes and 432 women without diabetes before or within 21 days after conception and followed both groups prospectively. Sixty-two diabetic women (16.1 percent) and 70 control women (16.2 percent) had pregnancy losses (odds ratio, 0.99; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.67 to 1.46). After adjustment for known risk factors for spontaneous abortion, the rate was still not significantly higher in the diabetic group (odds ratio, 0.91; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.59 to 1.40). Nonetheless, among the diabetic women, most of whom had good metabolic control, those who had spontaneous abortions had higher fasting and postprandial glucose levels in the first trimester than those whose pregnancies continued to delivery (P = 0.01 for fasting glucose levels and P = 0.005 for postprandial levels). In the sma...
Stress softening experiments in silica-filled polydimethylsiloxane provide insight into a mechanism for the Mullins effect

Under repeated tensile strain, many particle-filled polymers such as silica-filled polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), exhibit a reduction in stress after the initial extension, the so-called Mullins effect, and the mechanism(s) responsible for this is considered to be a major unsolved mystery of polymer physics. We report here the first observation of the absence of this effect in cross linked, silica-filled PDMS when the second strain axis is perpendicular to the initial strain axis. This result poses a challenge for existing theories. We propose a mechanism to account for the Mullins effect that is consistent with our experimental observations.
Interactions of a cationic antimicrobial (ε-polylysine) with an anionic biopolymer (pectin): an isothermal titration calorimetry, microelectrophoresis, and turbidity study

e-Polylysine (e-PL) is a food-grade cationic antimicrobial that is highly effective against a range of food pathogens and spoilage organisms. In compositionally complex environments, like those found in most foods and beverages, the antimicrobial activity of cationic e-PL is likely to be impacted by its interactions with anionic components. The purpose of this study was to characterize the interactions between cationic e-polylysine and an anionic biopolymer (high methoxyl pectin, HMP) using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), microelectrophoresis (ME), and turbidity measurements. ITC and ME measurements indicated that e-PL bound to pectin, while turbidity measurements indicated that the complexes formed could be either soluble or insoluble depending on solution composition. Ionic strength and pH were also shown to affect the interactions significantly, highlighting their electrostatic origin. This study demonstrates that e-PL can form either soluble or insoluble complexes with anionic biopolymers depending on the composition of the system. Our study provides basic knowledge that will facilitate the more rational application of e-PL in complex food systems.
One-dimensional photonic crystal cavities in single-crystal diamond

Abstract The realization of efficient optical interfaces for nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond is an important problem in quantum science with potential applications in quantum communications and quantum information processing. We describe and demonstrate two techniques for fabricating one-dimensional photonic crystal cavities in single-crystal diamond, using (1) a combination of reactive ion etching and focused ion beam milling and (2) transferred silicon hard mask lithography with reactive ion etching. We use two kinds of one-dimensional photonic crystal cavity designs and discuss their optical performances. We find that transferred silicon mask lithography results in better optical properties than focused ion beam patterning techniques. The silicon masks also exhibit high oxygen plasma etching selectivity in excess of 36:1 (diamond:silicon). We use these masks to produce a variety of diamond photonic devices.
Interaction of a partially fluorinated heptadecanoic acid with diacyl phosphatidylcholines of varying chain length

The interaction of 11-(perfluorohexyl)-undecanoic acid, a partially fluorinated carboxylic acid, with five phosphatidylcholines (PCs) of chain length varying from C14 to C18 was investigated in monolayers at the air-waterinterface and in fully hydrated bilayers. For the monolayer studies, the compression isotherms of mixtures of the acid with the respective PC were recorded at various compositions on hydrochloric acid (pH = 1.9, 32 ′ 2 °C) as a subphase. The mixing behavior was assessed by analyzing the concentration dependence of the average molecular area at constant film pressure (area/mole fraction or A-X diagram) and, where applicable, the concentration dependence of the breakpoint of the phase transition from the liquid-expanded to the liquid-condensed state. All five binary mixtures showed a negative deviation from ideality at low surface pressures (5 mN/m). At higher surface pressures, a negative deviation was observed for the even-numbered-chain PCs, whereas the odd-numbered-chain PCs showed nearly ideal behavior (≥10 mN). The phase transition of the odd-numbered-chain PCs as well as the C16 PC (D16PC) was concentration dependent. The collapse pressures are in general concentration dependent over the entire concentration range with D17PC and D18PC being an exception. Mixtures of these two long-chain phospholipids display a concentration-independent collapse pressure at mid-to-high concentrations of the respective phospholipids. These observations suggest (partial) miscibility of the components at the air-water interface. For the bilayer studies, differential scanning calorimetry thermograms of fully hydrated acid-PC mixtures of varying mole fraction (X P C ranging from 1 to 0.6) were recorded and the influence of the acid on the pre- and main transition of the PC was analyzed. At no mole fraction was a peak corresponding to excess acid (melting point = 62.5 °C) observed, suggesting that the acid is incorporated into the lipid bilayer, that is, not phase separated from the phospholipid. Similar to perhydrocarbon acids, the fluorinated acid eliminates the pretransition of all five PCs. However, in contrast to perhydrocarbon acid-PC mixtures, the temperature of the main phase transition hardly increases in the presence of the fluorinated acid although some peak broadening can be observed. The general differences in the phase behavior are attributed to a less favorable packing of the hydrophobic tails in the mono- and bilayer. The biological implications of the observed phase behavior of the fluorocarbon acid-PC mixtures are currently unknown, but immiscibilities in both mono- and bilayers suggest the presence of domains with high acid concentrations which may (adversely) impact the function of biological mono- and bilayers.
The Tradeoffs between Regulation and Litigation: Evidence from Insurance Class Actions

Law and economics scholars generally view regulation and litigation as substitutes in the task of deterring potentially harmful conduct. Existing normative models suggest that the desirable mix of regulation and litigation will depend on a number of variables, but all largely agree that, on the margin, optimality requires that as public regulation increases, private litigation should decline and vice versa. To investigate whether this condition holds, we examine the factors that affect plaintiffs attorneys’ decisions about where and when to file class actions using a unique dataset covering the class action experience of 130 insurance companies during the period 1992 to 2002. We find no evidence to support the proposition that public regulation and private litigation function as substitute channels to deter harmful behavior. In fact, we find some evidence that litigation and regulation tend to piggy-back on each other at least in the insurance industry. More important in the attorneys’ filing decisions is whether or not cases regarding the same general allegation and cases filed in the same state have been successful in the past.
Spectral characteristics of ozone-treated conifers

Abstract The reflectance spectra of three conifer species, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine and ponderosa pine, show clear changes in response to simulated ambient ozone (O3) exposures in open top chambers after one growing season. Ponderosa pine seedlings had slight symptoms of needle mottle-chlorosis associated with O3 injury and showed the greatest magnitude of spectral changes; lodgepole pine exhibited an intermediate spectral response following trends similar to those in ponderosa pine; Douglas fir showed no spectral or visible response to the O3 exposures. These results suggest that despite species-specific responses to O3 exposure, the pattern of spectral changes is similar. Reflectance patterns change across the visible and infrared spectrum, however, the greatest changes occurred in the region of chlorophyll absorbance (600–725 nm) and are indicative of chlorosis. Scheffe values are significant (P 0.90) for treatment differences in ponderosa pine at all wavebands in the 475–740 nm region. Reflectance spectroscopy provides a mechanism for rapid quantitative non-destructive estimation of environmental stress and may be linked to carbon balance or other ecosystem models. Simulation models of spectral mixtures typical of many environmental conditions indicate that early stages of O3-induced injury to the ecosystem could be identified with a high spectral and spectral resolution satellite scanner, such as the proposed Eos imaging spectrometer, HIRIS.
Management of airway in patients with laryngeal tumors.

Abstract Study Objective To describe our systematic approach to securing the airway in patients with laryngeal tumors, developed over a 10-year period. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting University-affiliated veterans administration medical center. Patients Eight hundred one patients presenting for laryngeal tumor surgery in a 10-year period, 285 of whom underwent tracheostomy (25 with local anesthesia and 260 with general anesthesia). Interventions Preoperative examination, including history, physical examination, computed axial tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging, and ear, nose, and throat surgeons' evaluation via indirect laryngoscopy or fiberoptic bronchoscopy were performed before the anesthesiologist's interventions. Local (topical) anesthesia and mild sedation were used for laryngeal evaluation with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Tumor grade was then established, which determined how the airway would be secured: general anesthesia induction, receive topical anesthesia for awake, direct laryngoscopy, and tracheal intubation, or undergo tracheostomy with local anesthesia. Measurements and Main Results When the airway was secured, surgeons performed the biopsy, (any) tumor debulking, laser excision, or tracheostomy to establish both the airway and the diagnosis. Pulmonary function, including flow-volume loops and blood gas analysis were also useful in evaluating the degree of obstruction and gas exchange. In the event of respiratory distress, tracheostomy was performed after tracheal intubation or with local anesthesia, followed by direct laryngoscopy and biopsy. Depending on the diagnosis, further surgery and radiation treatment were planned next. Conclusions With these guidelines, we have reduced the frequency of emergencies because of a lost airway, bleeding, or dislodging of tumor.
Temperature dependence of dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PLZT-PZN ceramic tapes

Abstract Ferroelectric compounds of (Pb0.95La0.05) [(Zr0.52Ti0.48)0.9(Zn2/3Nb1/3)0.1]1−x/4O3, PLZT-PZN, were prepared using tape casting. After sintered at 1250–1350 °C, both dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PLZT-PZN ceramic tapes were studied at a temperature range from 20 to 230 °C. It was observed that the addition of PZN not only decreased the sintering temperature but also increased the dielectric constant. When the samples were sintered at a higher temperature of 1350 °C, the Cure point was shifted to a lower temperature probably related to composition fluctuation. It was found that the anti-resonant frequencies (fp) decreased with increasing temperature but the trend was reverse for resonant frequency (fs) that is related to the increased domain activities at higher test temperatures. The electromechanical coupling factor (Kp) was found to decrease but mechanical quality factor (Qm) to increase with increasing test temperature. The variation in both values of Kp and Qm with temperature can be elucidated using equivalent circuit evaluation and attributed to the compressed frequency difference (Δf) and increased resonance resistance (R1) value based on the analysis of equivalent piezoelectric parameter evaluation.
Cortical “stress tests” in schizophrenia: Regional cerebral blood flow studies

A total of 261 regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) studies were carried out on 34 medication-free patients with chronic schizophrenia and 50 normal subjects. rCBF, an indicator of local cortical metabolism and activity, was measured during the resting state and also during four cognitive activation tasks or "cortical stress tests." The latter included the Wisconsin Card Sort (WCS), a test of prefrontal lobe function; a simple numbers matching task, and two versions of a visual Continuous Performance Task (CPT). Multivariate comparisons of the two subject groups were performed for each of the five testing conditions, and discriminant function analyses for each condition were carried out to define mathematical models that differentiated normal subjects from medication-free patients. The best such model was determined and was then applied to another group of patients who had diagnoses other than schizophrenia or for whom the diagnosis was unclear. This group included two patients with clinical "frontal lobe syndrome" and radiological evidence of frontal lobe damage. The most robust differences between the groups were seen in frontal rCBF during the WCS. In the discriminant function analysis, rCBF during the WCS was the best discriminator between the two groups, retrospectively classifying 85% of the subjects correctly. rCBF during the resting state and one of the CPTs correctly classified subjects at a rate only marginally better than chance. When the model derived from WCS rCBF was applied to a second group of patients, the two patients with known frontal lobe disease were classified as "schizophrenic" with 100% certainty. Three other patients with psychotic illnesses were also assigned to this group with greater than 80% certainty, whereas a patient with character disorder (rule-out affective disorder) was classified as "normal" with a high level of confidence. These data suggest (1) that schizophrenia is characterized by a deficit in prefrontal function that is revealed when regionally specific demand exceeds the physiological capacity, and (2) that functional brain imaging studies, such as rCBF, can best identify brain abnormalities during "cortical stress tests."
Wind-tunnel modeling of hill and vegetation influence on wind power availability

Abstract Forested hills and ridges pose a number of significant technical and environmental issues for siting wind turbines. The change in the wind profile across the top of the hill due to the presence or absence of trees and differences in roughness characteristics must be understood in order to develop accurate energy estimates. A three phase research program was undertaken to examine wind flow over tree covered hills and ridges. The first phase of this work was a review of the known effects on wind flow due to individual trees, forest stands, and forest clearings. The second phase of the work involved wind tunnel measurements of hill-top wind speed profiles as a function of surface roughness, hill shape, and hill slope. The third phase examined the behavior of wind floor over a scale model of a proposed wind energy site in the United States, New England region.
Effect of adsorption to elemental iron on the transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine in solution.

The effect of adsorption to elemental iron on the reductive transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (royal demolition explosive (RDX)) in aqueous solution was studied with scrap iron and high-purity iron. In batch experiments with the same total iron surface area and a mixing rate of 100 rpm, TNT and RDX were removed from the solution within 30 min. With high-purity iron, adsorbed TNT was reduced to 2,4,6-triaminotoluene (TAT) rapidly, with little accumulation of intermediates at the surface. With scrap iron, the extent of adsorption of TNT and its daughter products was more significant and reduction of these adsorbed molecules to TAT was slower. Distribution of the intermediates indicated that the reaction with scrap iron occurred primarily through reduction of the ortho nitro group. Kinetic analysis suggests that mass transfer or adsorption of TNT controlled the overall rate of TNT reduction to TAT with pure iron, whereas with scrap iron, the rate of TAT formation was probably limited by other processes. Compared to TNT, transformation of adsorbed RDX was more rapid and less affected by iron type. The RDX was reduced to an unidentified, water-soluble intermediate and NH 4 + , which accounted for approximately 50% of the RDX nitrogen. No total organic carbon reduction was observed before and after RDX transformation with scrap iron.
The behaviour of rough rice in sorption

Abstract Sorption experiments were carried out on thin-layer rough rice at 526°, 540°, 550°, 560°, and 568°R, over a relative humidity range of 5–90%. An empirical model was developed to predict the desorption isotherm and values for the four environmental dependent coefficients were determined. The “cavity” or “ink-bottle” concept for the occurrence of the hysteresis in rough rice was investigated by determining the effects of temperature, relative humidity of air and previous moisture history on the hysteresis differential. Further support for the “cavity” theory has been given by scanning of the hysteresis loop at 526° and 568°R.
Alternative behavioral approaches to the treatment of homosexuality.

Radical changes in attitudes toward homosexuality in American society are integrated into a new perspective for the therapist confronted by a client who engages in homosexual behavior. The traditional mandatory attempt to eradicate homosexual behavior has been expanded into three options, any one of which may be pursued by the therapist at the client's request: (1) modification of homosexual in favor of heterosexual behavior, (2) enhancement of homosexual behavior, and (3) ignoring of homosexual behavior if it is functionally unrelated to the presenting symptoms. Therapists' negative attitudes toward clients who engage in homosexual behavior are such as to abrogate expanded options and may result in therapeutic efforts at modification of homosexual behavior in defiance of the client's expressed wishes. Contrary to current professional belief, careful analysis and the use of appropriate techniques such as systematic desensitization, orgasmic reconditioning, and training in heterosocial skills generally obviate the necessity for aversive procedures in those instances where homosexual behavior is to be modified in favor of heterosexual behavior. Three case histories are presented illustrating the use of each of the expanded options described above.
Emission enhancement of a carbazole-based fluorophore on a quantum dot surface

A novel carbazole-based fluorophore 5-(carbazol-9-yl)-5′-mercapto-2,2′-bithiophene (CBTSH) was synthesized. CBTSH exhibited emission enhancement when attached to the surface of CdSe quantum dots (QDs). The emission quantum yield of CBTSH attached to CdSe is almost 5 times larger than that of CBTSH alone. The emission enhancement of CBTSH on the CdSe surface is due to the restriction on the rotational and vibrational motions of the carbazolylbithienyl unit as a result of QD aggregation.
Characteristics of challenging behaviours in adults with autistic disorder, PDD-NOS, and intellectual disability

Background Challenging behaviours are frequently a problem for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). A better understanding of which individuals display whic...
Phase equilibria and thermodynamics of the Pu-O system: 1400 K to 1610 K

Abstract Phase equilibria and thermodynamics of the Pu-O system have been investigated in the temperature range 1400 K to 1610 K via equilibrium (CO) pressures over oxide-graphite mixtures. The nominal phases 〈PuO 2−x〉 fcc , 〈PuO 1.65 〉 bcc , and 〈PuO 1.5 〉 hex were observed and found to exhibit significant homogeneity ranges, with 〈PuO 1.65 〉 bcc becoming unstable at 1400 and 〈PuO 2× 〉 fcc exhibiting a eutectoid at T with a composition of approximately 〈PuO 1.605 〉 fcc . Free energies of formation for 〈PuO 1.65 〉 bcc and 〈PuO 1.5 〉 hex were derived.
Phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity in callus cultures of Pinus elliotii

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity increased 8- to 12-fold in pine (Pinus elliotii Engelm.) callus tissue within 2 days after subculturing on fresh medium. Factors such as increasing the sucrose content of the media, imposing additional tissue in jury or subculturing more frequently did not cause additional stimulation of PAL activity. The rapid increase in PAL activity appeared to be due to enzyme activation, since cycloheximide did not appreciably reduce the stimulation of PAL activity. The subsequent loss of increased PAL activity with age was reduced by cycloheximide and a cool growth environment.
Electronic problem list documentation of chronic kidney disease and quality of care.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly common and under-recognized in primary care clinics, leading to low rates of stage-appropriate monitoring and treatment. Our objective was to determine whether electronic problem list documentation of CKD is associated with monitoring and treatment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study of patients with stage 3 or 4 CKD, defined as two past estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) 15-60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 separated by 90 days and collected between 2007-2008. We examined the association of problem list documentation with: 1) serum eGFR monitoring test, 2) urine protein or albumin monitoring test, 3) an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ACE/ARB) prescription, 4) mean systolic blood pressure (BP), and 5) BP control. Results: Out of 3,149 patients with stage 3 or 4 CKD, only 16% of patients had CKD documented on the problem list. After adjustment for eGFR, gender, and race/ethnicity and after clustering by physician, problem list documentation of CKD was associated with serum eGFR testing (97% with problem list documentation vs. 94% without problem list documentation, p = 0.02) and urine protein testing (47% with problem list documentation vs. 40% without problem list documentation, p = 0.04). After adjustment, problem list documentation was not associated with ACE/ARB prescription, mean systolic BP, or BP control. Conclusions: Documentation of CKD on the electronic problem list is rare. Patients with CKD documentation have better stage-appropriate monitoring of the disease, but do not have higher rates of blood pressure treatment or better blood pressure control. Interventions aimed at increasing documentation of CKD on the problem list may improve stage-appropriate monitoring, but may not improve clinical outcomes.
Importance of the C‐terminal α‐helical structure for glucagon's biological activity

The synthetic glucagon analogues [Glu21]glucagon, 2, and [Lys17,18,Glu21]glucagon, 3, were designed using Chou-Fasman calculations for the purpose of enhancing the probability for the formation of a C-terminal amphipathic alpha-helical conformation. Circular dichroism indicates increased alpha-helical content for these analogues in solution relative to glucagon. Analogues 2 and 3 also exhibit a 3-fold and 5-fold increase in receptor binding potency, respectively. The adenylate cyclase stimulating potencies of 2 and 3 relative to glucagon are 2.1 and 7 times greater, respectively. Attempts were made at further alpha-helical enhancement by further substitutions in the 10-13 region of glucagon, as represented by the glucagon analogues [Phe13,Lys17,18 Glu21]glucagon, 4, and [Phe10,13,Lys17,18,Glu21]glucagon, 5. These latter substitutions resulted in lowered receptor binding and adenylate cyclase potencies for 4 and 5 relative to 3 despite increased alpha-helical content in solution as observed by circular dichroism spectroscopy.
A seminar course on contemporary pharmacy issues.

Objectives. To implement and evaluate an innovative approach to a pharmacy seminar course intended to develop students' presentation skills and encourage them to think critically about contemporary...
IS THE INTEGRAL TEST WRONG? A RESEARCH ADVENTURE IN CALCULUS

ABSTRACT This is a mathematical “yarn” about the experiences of the authors, the former a teacher and the latter a student, in resolving a paradox which arose in a summer-school course in second-semester calculus. The paradox involved the use of the integral and comparison tests on a particular infinite series.
Noninvasive detection and localization of vulnerable plaque and arterial thrombosis with computed tomography angiography/positron emission tomography.

Background— It has been shown that plaque uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose is proportional to macrophage density. We tested the hypothesis that arterial thrombosis occurs in areas with high fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and that computed tomography angiography (CTA) can detect thrombi in vessels. Methods and Results— Twenty New Zealand White rabbits were studied before and after atherosclerosis induction through de-endothelialization and a high-cholesterol diet; 14 were then thrombus triggered. CTA/positron emission tomography scans were performed before cholesterol diet, at the middle diet feeding, at the end of diet feeding, and after triggering. Serum inflammatory markers were measured. Maximal standardized uptake value was measured over the thoracic and upper and lower abdominal aortas and correlated with thrombosis and macrophage density on sections from the same sites. Aortic diameters averaged 2.84±1.16 mm. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CTA for detecting thrombi were 92%, 89%, and 90%, resp...
Use Of A Quartz Crystal Microbalance Rate Monitor To Examine Photoproduct Effects On Resist Dissolution

A new general method for measuring dissolution kinetics of thin films has been developed. This technique employs a quartz crystal microbalance to measure the mass of the dissolving thin film. The method allows the measurement of very rapid dissolution rates, and can also be used to study the dissolution kinetics of thick or opaque films. The technique has several advantages over alternative in situ methods based on optical interferometry or capacitance. This instrument has been used to examine the effects of photoproducts on the dissolution kinetics of positive photoresist. The influence of photolytically generated carboxylic acid, and the nitrogen byproduct entrapped in the film, have been independently assessed by comparing the solubility of films of novolac resin, and films of resin plus carboxylic acid photoproduct, with that of exposed photoresist. Our results indicate that the acid does not significantly influence the solubility of the resin, and that entrapped gaseous photoproducts exert a rate-enhancing effect.
Proposal for a 19.9-nm laser in lithium pumped by a noncoherent x-ray pulse

We demonstrate theoretically the feasibility of 19.9-nm lasing on the Li+ 1s2p1P → 1s2 transition in Li vapor pumped by a short, noncoherent soft-x-ray pulse with the narrow-band spectrum centered at the [1s(3s3p) 3P] 2P° resonance of neutral Li (≃71 eV). Broadband pumping of 1s22p-excited Li atoms is also briefly discussed.
Stochastic Spatial Excitation Induced by a Distributed Contact on Homogenous Gaussian Random Fields

The contact between vehicle tire and pavement surface random field is typically modeled as a point contact in the literature of vehicle-pavement interaction. In reality, tire-pavement interface can be considerably larger than a point contact, particularly when a tire is not very stiff and pavements are relatively soft. This paper developed a methodological framework that approximately aggregates one- and two-dimensional random fields within the contact area by taking local, weighted spatial average to account for the distributed contact. Statistical properties such as power spectral density, autocorrelation function and variance of the induced spatial excitation are related to the counterparts of the original random field. It was found that the distributed contact acts like a low-pass filter whose bandwidth is governed by the contact interface and the weight function.
Pressure effects on the photocycloaddition of 2-adamantanone with fumaronitrile

Abstract The photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition of 2-adamantanone (AD) with trans -dicyanoethylene ( t -DCE) was studied in acetonitrile as a function of pressure, and the activation volumes for both singlet and triplet reactions were determined. The competing reactions between excited singlet and triplet states of AD were found to be pressure dependent. At high pressure, the intersystem crossing rate, k st , from singlet to triplet increased, and as a result the singlet lifetime of AD was shortened and the triplet reaction which leads to cis—trans isomerization of the starting olefin became favored as pressure was increased. The Stern—Volmer slopes were found to correlate linearly with solvent viscosity; however, the triplet reaction ( k q t / k t ) correlated linearly only with the solvent dielectric constant.