cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validity of Ascendance Measurements in Group Interaction

One of the personality characteristics which may be assumed to influence group behavior is the tendency for members to play ascendant or submissive roles. It might be supposed that the greater the tendency toward ascendance, the more likely a member would be to engage in leadership acts, with the extent to which he actually serves as a leader being determined by the degree to which ascendance tendencies are present in other members of the group. In order to rest hypotheses about the postulated relationship of ascendance to member behavior and group position, it is important to know whether valid measures of ascendance can be readily obtained. There are several personality inventories which purport to measure ascendance or dominance and their reliabilities are in general fairly satisfactory. Data on the validity of these scales, however, is relatively meager. Accordingly, one aim of a study of the effects of varying combinations of ascendant and submissive group members was to check the validity of the 30-item ascendance scale of the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey (1). The Survey was administered to approximately 350 introductory psychology students. Male Ss who received scores above 20 and below 12 were then used to form four $-person groups of each of the following types: 4 submissive Ss, 4 ascendant Ss, 1 submissive and 3 ascendant Ss, and 1 ascendant and 3 submissive Ss. When the groups met, one member of each was asked to serve as the leader in order to facilitate the carrying out of two group tasks. A member was picked at random from the first two types of groups, while the one submissive S and the one ascendant S were picked from the third and fourth types, respectively. Two hidden 0s independently recorded group behavior and also classified each S as to whether they felt his behavior was ascendant or submissive. 0s were never told the composition of a group, nor were they present when a member was designated to serve as the leader. The inter-observer reliability for a random sample of groups was .86. For the purpose of reporting the validity of the ascendance scale, only the analysis of appointed-follower activity will be given here since being designated the leader appeared to reduce activity differences between ascendant and submissive Ss. Analyses of variance showed submissive followers to be significantly less active than ascendant followers, regardless of the type of leader (P = 8.84,~ = < .02). Ascendant followers asked significantly more questions of each other, gave more opinions and suggestions, and acted upon and rejected more suggestions than did submissive followers. 0s' agreement and disagreement with scale classification of ascendance-submission were 69% and 31%, respectively, a significant departure from chance expectancies (2 = 6.75, p= <.01). REFERENCE 1. GUILFORD, J. P., & ZIMMERMAN, W. S. The Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey. Beverly Hills, Calif.: Sheridan Supply Co., 1949.
Ionic basis for the regulation of spontaneous excitation in detrusor smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig urinary bladder

The regulatory mechanisms of spontaneous excitation in detrusor smooth muscles of the guinea-pig urinary bladder were investigated using intracellular microelectrode and muscle tension recording techniques. Detrusor smooth muscle cells exhibited nifedipine-sensitive spontaneous action potentials. Their frequency was highly sensitive to membrane polarization and was reduced by lowering the temperature. Lowering the temperature also reduced the frequency of spontaneous contractions and increased their amplitude. Charybdotoxin (50 nM) and iberiotoxin (0.1 μM) increased the amplitude and duration of action potentials, and abolished after hyperpolarizations (AHPs). Both agents also increased the amplitude and duration of spontaneous contractions, and reduced their frequency. Apamin (0.1 μM) did not change the shape of action potentials but often converted individual action potentials into bursts. It also increased the amplitude and duration of spontaneous contractions, and reduced their frequency. 4-aminopyrideine (4-AP, 1 mM) increased the frequency of action potentials without affecting their shape, and increased the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous contractions. Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, 10 μM) and ryanodine (50 μM) increased the amplitude of action potentials, and suppressed AHPs. Both agents also increased the amplitude and duration of spontaneous contractions, and reduced their frequency. 1,2-(Bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N′, N′-tetraacetic acid tetrakis (acetoxymethyl ester) (50 μM) dramatically increased the amplitude and duration of the action potential, and abolished AHPs. Spontaneous action potentials in detrusor smooth muscles cells result from the opening of L-type Ca2+ channels, and their frequency is regulated by voltage-dependent mechanisms and by some metabolic process. Both the activation of large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels and Ca2+-mediated inactivation of the Ca2+ channels are involved in the repolarizing phase of action potentials. The Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels triggers calcium-induced calcium release via ryanodine receptors and activates BK channels to generate AHPs. Both small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels and voltage-sensitive K+ channels may contribute to the resting membrane potential and regulate the frequency of action potentials. The regulatory mechanisms of action potentials are closely related to the regulation of spontaneous contractions. British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 140, 159–169. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705320
Efficient numerical solution of constrained multibody dynamics systems

Abstract A numerical algorithm for conducting coupled system dynamical simulation is presented. The interconnected system, comprising numerous modules, is treated as a constrained multibody dynamics system. Of particular focus is the efficient solution of coupled system simulation without sacrificing the independence of the separate dynamical modules. The proposed algorithm, Maggi’s equations with perturbed iteration (MEPI) emanates from numerical methods for differential-algebraic equations. Separate treatment of the constraint equations from the resolution of subsystem dynamical responses marks MEPI’s main characteristic.
An Information-Based Approach to the Change-Point Problem of the Noncentral Skew t Distribution with Applications to Stock Market Data

The change-point problem for the noncentral skew t distribution is studied in this article. An approach based on Schwartz information criterion (SIC) is used to detect the changes of the parameters of this distribution. Simulations are conducted to illustrate the performance of the proposed procedure. The method is successfully applied to the stock returns of several Latin American countries.
Variability in millimeter wave scattering properties of dendritic ice crystals

Abstract A detailed electromagnetic scattering model for ice crystals is necessary for calculating radar reflectivity from cloud resolving model output in any radar simulator. The radar reflectivity depends on the backscattering cross sections and size distributions of particles in the radar resolution volume. The backscattering cross section depends on the size, mass and distribution of mass within the crystal. Most of the available electromagnetic scattering data for ice hydrometeors rely on simple ice crystal types and a single mass–dimensional relationship for a given type. However, a literature survey reveals that the mass–dimensional relationships for dendrites cover a relatively broad region in the mass–dimensional plane. This variability of mass and mass distribution of dendritic ice crystals cause significant variability in their backscattering cross sections, more than 10 dB for all sizes (0.5–5 mm maximum dimension) and exceeding 20 dB for the larger ones at X-, Ka-, and W-band frequencies. Realistic particle size distributions are used to calculate radar reflectivity and ice water content ( IWC ) for three mass–dimensional relationships. The uncertainty in the IWC for a given reflectivity spans an order of magnitude in value at all three frequencies because of variations in the unknown mass–dimensional relationship and particle size distribution. The sensitivity to the particle size distribution is reduced through the use of dual frequency reflectivity ratios, e.g., Ka- and W-band frequencies, together with the reflectivity at one of the frequencies for estimating IWC .
Molecular-dynamics simulation of amorphous germanium.

We have developed a set of two-body and three-body potentials for modeling the structure of solid phases of germanium. The potential is of the same functional form as that of Stillinger and Weber for silicon, but it has different values of the parameters. The potential gives an excellent structural representation of amorphous solid Ge as well as crystalline Ge and gives good results for several thermodynamic properties of the crystalline phase and the phonon dispersion relations of the crystal.
Sandplay Therapy: Research and Practice

Grace L. Hong (Author), Katherine Bradway (Foreword), Chi Hui Jung (Foreword), Barbara Weller (Foreword), New York, Routledge, 2010, 224 pp., 60 figures, $36.95 (soft cover), ISBN: 978-0-415-57052-...
A comparison of IR stereo vision and LIDAR for use in fire environments

This paper presents the development of a far infrared stereo vision system for room mapping in low visibility firefighting scenarios. In this paper, the calibration and rectification of the cameras are presented, along with a discussion of the correspondence matching algorithm selected. Finally, the results from tests of the system in high visibility, clear conditions and low visibility smoke conditions are presented and compared to the ranging capability of LIDAR in the same environments.
On the interpretation of voltage noise in small cells.

Abstract Noise analysis is a powerful technique for studying membrane conductance mechanisms, but it can be applied straightforwardly only to current noise recorded under voltage clamp. Many small cells, however, such as some sensory receptors and interneurons, are not suited for voltage clamping. In such cases it is of great interest to be able to interpret recordings of voltage noise. Voltage noise must be corrected for the effects of: (1) changes in membrane potential, (2) the cells' input impedance, and (3) noise contributed by conductances other then the one of interest. This paper describes in detail the factors — including in particular voltage-dependent K + -conductances — that affect voltage-noise recordings, and describes how these factors may be measured and corrected for in practice. A novel method allows membrane impedance to be measured at the same time as voltage noise. An example is given, showing how this approach may be applied to voltage noise from an insect photoreceptor.
Alteration of Dentin-Enamel Mechanical Properties Due to Dental Whitening Treatments

The mechanical properties of dentin and enamel affect the reliability and wear properties of a tooth. This study investigated the influence of clinical dental treatments and procedures, such as whitening treatments or etching prior to restorative procedures. Both autoclaved and non-autoclaved teeth were studied in order to allow for both comparison with published values and improved clinical relevance. Nanoindentation analysis with the Oliver-Pharr model provided elastic modulus and hardness across the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ). Large increases were observed in the elastic modulus of enamel in teeth that had been autoclaved (52.0 GPa versus 113.4 GPa), while smaller increases were observed in the dentin (17.9 GPa versus 27.9 GPa). Likewise, there was an increase in the hardness of enamel (2.0 GPa versus 4.3 GPa) and dentin (0.5 GPa versus 0.7 GPa) with autoclaving. These changes suggested that the range of elastic modulus and hardness values previously reported in the literature may be partially due to the sterilization procedures. Treatment of the exterior of non-autoclaved teeth with Crest Whitestrips, Opalescence or UltraEtch caused changes in the mechanical properties of both the enamel and dentin. Those treated with Crest Whitestrips showed a reduction in the elastic modulus of enamel (55.3 GPa to 32.7 GPa) and increase in the elastic modulus of dentin (17.2 GPa to 24.3 GPa). Opalescence treatments did not significantly affect the enamel properties, but did result in a decrease in the modulus of dentin (18.5 GPa to 15.1 GPa). Additionally, as expected, UltraEtch treatment decreased the modulus and hardness of enamel (48.7 GPa to 38.0 GPa and 1.9 GPa to 1.5 GPa, respectively) and dentin (21.4 GPa to 15.0 GPa and 1.9 GPa to 1.5 GPa, respectively). Changes in the mechanical properties were linked to altered protein concentration within the tooth, as evidenced by fluorescence microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Exposures at 3 and 4 Atmospheres Absolute Pressure for Experimental Gas Gangrene: Succinate Protection Against Oxygen Toxicity

Abstract The concurrent effect of succinate administration to protect against oxygen toxicity and of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) exposures to treat model gas gangrene in mice was tested to determine whether succinate would interfere with the therapeutic efficacy of HBO. HBO (seven 90-min exposures) at 3 atmospheres absolute pressure (ATA) had been shown to reduce significantly the mortality of mice injected with Clostridium perfringens suspended in 10 μg of Adrenalin. When succinate was tested with this system, mortality of HBO-exposed infected animals was again significantly reduced (79% control mortality versus 17% HBO-exposed mortality), indicating that succinate does not interfere with the action of HBO. Exposures to 4 ATA of O2 were evaluated in the same model clostridial infection with succinate used to prevent oxygen toxicity. Five 30-min exposures at 4 ATA reduced the mortality of infected animals (62% control versus 6% HBO-exposed mortality). Intraperitoneal succinate injections (10 mmoles/kg) were given 20 to 25 min prior to four of the seven 3-ATA exposures and before three of the five 4-ATA exposures. The intermittent succinate injections gave significant protection against the development of oxygen toxicity in infected and noninfected mice at both O2 pressures. These studies support the potential clinical use of succinate or other oxygen-protective agents (i) to shorten HBO exposure times by using higher pressures to deliver the necessary O2 dose, (ii) to increase the O2 dose for difficult clinical situations by using maximal exposures at 4 ATA or more prolonged exposures at 2 to 3 ATA, and (iii) to continue HBO exposures in patients who require treatment but develop symptoms of oxygen toxicity.
Negative Feedback Enhances Robustness in the Yeast Polarity Establishment Circuit

Many cells undergo symmetry-breaking polarization toward a randomly oriented “front” in the absence of spatial cues. In budding yeast, such polarization involves a positive feedback loop that enables amplification of stochastically arising clusters of polarity factors. Previous mathematical modeling suggested that, if more than one cluster were amplified, the clusters would compete for limiting resources and the largest would “win,” explaining why yeast cells always make one and only one bud. Here, using imaging with improved spatiotemporal resolution, we show the transient coexistence of multiple clusters during polarity establishment, as predicted by the model. Unexpectedly, we also find that initial polarity factor clustering is oscillatory, revealing the presence of a negative feedback loop that disperses the factors. Mathematical modeling predicts that negative feedback would confer robustness to the polarity circuit and make the kinetics of competition between polarity factor clusters relatively insensitive to polarity factor concentration. These predictions are confirmed experimentally.
Validation of a global reanalysis model in representing synoptic–scale eddies using scatterometer data: A case study

[1] A synoptic-scale cyclonic eddy was captured in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) global reanalysis surface winds in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in October 1996. The eddy was formed in the Bay of Bengal in the middle of October 1996. It migrated across southern India, entered the Arabian Sea, and moved along the west coast of India before it turned and propagated across the Arabian Sea toward the Somali coast. The eddy eventually dissipated near Socotra in early November. The performance of the model winds is validated using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scatterometer (NSCAT) data along swath measurements. The model is able to resolve the eddy. The results compare well with observations in circulation intensity but differ in eddy center locations and, therefore, in westward propagation speeds in the late stage of the eddy life cycle.
Who should be screened for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis? Experience from the Western New York Stroke Screening Program.

OBJECTIVE Identification of significant asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) is important because of the stroke-risk reduction observed with carotid endarterectomy. The authors developed and validated a simple scoring system based on routinely available information to identify persons at high risk for ACAS using data collected during a community health screening program at various sites in western New York. A total of 1331 unselected volunteers without previous stroke, transient ischemic attack, or carotid artery surgery were evaluated by personal interview and duplex ultrasound. The main outcome measure was carotid artery stenosis > 60% by duplex ultrasound. In the derivation set (n = 887), 4 variables were significantly associated with ACAS > 60%: age > 65 years (odds ratio [OR] = 4.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.6-6.7), current smoking (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2-3.5), coronary artery disease (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.5-3.9), and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2-2.9). Three risk groups (low, intermediate, and high) were defined on the basis of total risk score assigned on the basis of the strength of association. The scheme effectively stratified the validation set (n = 444); the likelihood ratio and posttest probability for ACAS in the high-risk group were 3.0 and 35%, respectively, and in the intermediate and low-risk groups were 1.4 and 20% and 0.4 and 7%, respectively. Routinely available information can be used to identify persons in the community at high risk for ACAS. Doppler ultrasound screening in this subgroup may prove to be cost-effective and have an effect on stroke-free survival.
Metabolism of Narasin in Chickens and Japanese Quail

Abstract Thirty mature chicken hens and 60 mature Japanese quail hens were used to compare pathways of narasin excretion. Carbon-14-labeled narasin was injected into chickens (.7 μCi) and quail (.113 μCi) via cardiac puncture. Blood, sampled at varying times thereafter, and eggs and excreta collected daily for 28 days, were analyzed for 14 C. Groups of six chickens and 12 quail were killed prior to [14 C]narasin injection and on Days 1, 7, 14, and 28 postinfection to obtain tissue samples for 14 C analysis. Blood rapidly cleared the label in both species. Less than 1% of the dose of [14 C]narasin remained in blood plasma after3 h postinjection in both chickens and quail. Label excretion peaked on Day 1 in both species, and most of the 14 C was cleared via the excreta (76.7 and 93.6% of the dose for quail and chickens, respectively). Label appeared in the excreta more rapidly and cleared more quickly in quail than in chickens. After 24 h, 68 and 49% of the dose of [14 C] narasin appeared in the excreta of quail and chickens, respectively. More label was recovered in the eggs of quail (4.18% of the dose) than in the eggs of chickens (1.32% of the dose). Liver, heart, fat, and ovarian tissues contained traces of radioactivity 1 day postinjection in both species. Muscle and kidney did not contain detectable amounts of label. By Day 7, all tissue had cleared 14 C beyond detectable limits. The results indicate that chickens and quail metabolize [14 C]narasin via similar pathways and that excretion in quail may be more rapid than in chickens.
Disfacilitation and long-lasting inhibition of neostriatal neurons in the rat

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials evoked in rat neostriatal spiny projections neurons were followed by a long (100–300 ms) period of membrane hyperpolarization, followed in turn by a late depolarization. Concomitant with these changes in membrane potential were inhibition and subsequent excitation of spontaneous firing and excitatory activity evoked from substantia nigra and cerebral peduncle, but not from cortical stimulating sites. Thalamic-evoked excitatory activity was sometimes sensitive and sometimes insensitive to this inhibition, which has previously been believed to result from intrinsic inhibitory synaptic activity among neostriatal neurons. In intracellular recordings from neostriatal neurons in urethane anesthetized rats this longlasting inhibitory response (1) exhibited alterations with intracellularly applied steady currents comparable to those of the EPSP, (2) failed to respond to intracellular injection of chloride ions, (3) was associated with either a decrease or no detectable change in the input conductance of the neurons, and (4) was abolished after lesions that interrupted polysynaptic pathways to neostriatum through intracortical and intrathalamic synaptic circuits. These findings indicate that the long lasting inhibitory portion of the responses of neostriatal neurons arises from a phasic inhibition of tonically active corticostriatal and thalamostriatal neurons and a concurrent decrease in the excitability of polysynaptic pathways converging on neostriatal neurons.
Sudden Cardiac Death After Heart Transplantation

Pioneering surgical innovation and medical immunosuppressive therapy in the 1970s and 1980s greatly enhanced survival for patients after cardiac transplantation. The first cardiac transplant surgery was performed in 1967 by the South African surgeon Dr Christiaan Barnard, and the patient survived for only 18 days. Later surgical innovations include the now classic biatrial technique, introduced by Drs Lower and Shumway, and the bicaval technique, which was first introduced in 1989. Medical and surgical advancements have now extended median survival beyond 10 years, creating steady growth in the number of cardiac recipients despite a leveling off in the number of actual transplant surgeries performed annually. Despite improved survival, bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias occur in up to 40% and 66% of cardiac transplant recipients, respectively. Sudden death estimates over 5 years range between 9.7% and 58%, with reported outcomes varying widely among centers. Electrophysiologists are increasingly called on to treat arrhythmias and provide risk stratification for sudden cardiac death in this population.
The Census of the 1855 Leaves of Grass: A Preliminary Report

Offers the results to date for the census of copies of the first edition of Leaves of Grass, reporting that 158 copies have so far been located; goes on to suggest how the census results change our understanding of the first edition, and offers a "printer's examination" of the 1855 Leaves, emphasizing the enormous number of variations in the copies. Raw census data updated on 12/1/2016.
Breaking bidder collusion in large-scale spectrum auctions

Dynamic spectrum auction is an effective solution to provide spectrum on-demand to many small wireless networks. As the number of participants grows, bidder collusion becomes a serious threat. In this paper, we study bidder collusion in large-scale spectrum auctions, investigating its impact on auction outcomes. We found that the nature of the complex interference constraints among bidders provides a fertile breeding ground for colluders, causing significant damage in auction efficiency and revenue. In particular, collusion group of small size plays a dominant role since it is easy to form and hard to be detected.We propose Athena, a new collusion-resistant auction framework for large-scale dynamic spectrum auction. Athena implements a soft collusion resistance, allowing the auctioneer to exploit the tradeoff between the level of collusion resistance and the cost of achieving such level of resistance. Unlike existing solutions, Athena enables spectrum reuse across bidders, achieves soft collusion resistance against any form of collusive bidding strategy, maintains provable revenue guarantee, and does so with polynomial-time complexity. To provide a comprehensive evaluation, we first analytically prove Athena's collusion resistance and revenue guarantee (under any bids), and then experimentally verify our analytical conclusions using empirical bid distributions.
Ethnic Differences in Older Americans: Awareness, Knowledge, and Beliefs About Hypertension

Background Hypertension is often uncontrolled and contributes to health disparities, especially among individuals ≥50 years old. Ethnic differences in awareness, knowledge, and beliefs about hypertension may contribute to these disparities, but information is limited. Methods To address this gap, data from a national telephone survey on 1503 Americans 50 years and older were used to assess ethnic differences in awareness, knowledge, and beliefs about hypertension and the relationship of the responses to self-reported blood pressure (BP) control. Results Overall there were no ethnic differences in knowledge and beliefs about hypertension; however, there were differences in responses to specific questions. African Americans were more knowledgeable about the definition of hypertension and were more aware that hypertension can cause kidney failure than Hispanics and whites (64.2% v 54.8% and 46.3%, P v 23.3%, P Conclusions Ethnic differences in specific dimensions of knowledge and beliefs about hypertension exist and account for some of the disparities in BP control. Culturally appropriate educational programs that address these deficiencies may reduce disparities.
Elastic Differential Scattering of He + Ions by He in the 20-600-eV Range

Absolute elastic differential scattering cross sections for ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ on He have been measured at relative energies of 20 to 600 eV over an angular range of 1-36\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The ions are extracted from an electron-bombardment source, formed into a ribbon beam by a pair of slits, and scattered in a gas cell containing He. The scattered beam is energy-analyzed and then detected by an electron multiplier. The relative data are normalized to absolute cross sections obtained at small angles using a Faraday cage in place of the multiplier. The effect of geometry, target-particle motion, and inelastic scattering on the angular resolution of the elastic cross sections is discussed. Three distinct interference phenomena are observed: (1) a series of smooth sinusoidal oscillations resulting from interference between the waves scattered from the gerade and ungerade potentials of the molecular ion, (2) rainbow scattering, (3) secondary oscillations at large angles due to nuclear interchange.
Immunoglobulin-derived drugs

Immunoglobulins may provide a novel source of drugs for the treatment and suppression of allergic reactions and other immunologically-mediated diseases.
Presence and population dynamics of Erwinia carotovora in irrigation water in south central Colorado

The presence of Erwinia carotovora in surface and underground (well) water was studied using filter concentration and anaerobic enrichment techniques. The organism was found in water samples collected at sites in mountainous (over 80 km from potato-producing regions), transitional (upland) and arable regions every month in 1982 and 1983. Filter concentration and anaerobic enrichment of 3-10 1 of water yielded E. carotovora from 82.8% of the water samples collected from streams, canals and lakes. The organism was detected by direct enrichment of 50 ml water samples in 56.3% of surface water samples collected. Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora was the predominant subspecies isolated. Of 1029 strains, 999 (97.1%) were identified as E. carotovora subsp. carotovora and 30 (2.9%) as E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica. Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica was found primarily in water samples collected in arable regions during spring months. Erwinia chrysanthemi was never isolated. Quantitative bacteriological methods were used in 1982 and 1983 to monitor populations of E. carotovora in two streams in south central Colorado. These ranged from undetectable levels to 8.5 cfu/ml of water in Rio Grande River and Saguache Creek. Maximum populations were usually reached by August or September in both streams in both years. Erwinia carotovora was isolated from well water samples collected in the San Luis Valley, but only 15.6 and 15.4% of the samples yielded the organism during 1982 and 1983, respectively. Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica was found only once, and E. carotovora subsp. carotovora was the predominant subspecies detected. Filter concentration of 3.4-10.0 1 of water plus anaerobic enrichment of the samples was usually necessary to detect E. carotovora in well water.
Generation and manipulation of nanostructures by pulsed-laser ablation

Laser-induced surface structuring of silicon was studied using fluences close to the metering threshold and He gas background atmosphere. The effects of an initial surface microstructured region and of light polarization on the evolution of the surface topography were investigated. The microstructured surface topology consisted of an array of microholes surround by microcones of 2-3 micrometers tip-diameter and over 20 micrometers high. Pulsed laser irradiation of laser- microstructured silicon induces the formation of nanostructures. Nanocolumns having a diameter of 100 to 200 nm and reaching a height of up to 3 micrometers upon cumulative laser pulses grow on top of every microcone. The mechanisms of nanocolumn origin and growth are analyzed. Periodic undulations approximately 10 nm-high are formed when flat silicon substrates are irradiated with polarized laser light. These periodic structures have a wavelength that is a function of the light wavelength and the angle of incidence of the laser beam. At a slightly higher laser fluence, approximately 30 nm-diameter nanoparticles form on the surface of laser irradiated flat silicon specimens. Linear arrays of silicon nanoparticles with fairly uniform size that extend up to a millimeter are formed if the irradiation is performed using polarized light or the irradiated area contains a microstructured region. These nanostructures are analyzed within the frame of the theory of laser induced surface periodic structures.
Transport equations for elastic and other waves in random media

Abstract We derive and analyze transport equations for the energy density of waves of any kind in a random medium. The equations take account of nonuniformities of the background medium, scattering by random inhomogeneities, polarization effects, coupling of different types of waves, etc. We also show that diffusive behavior occurs on long time and distance scales and we determine the diffusion coefficients. The results are specialized to acoustic, electromagnetic, and elastic waves. The analysis is based on the governing equations of motion and uses the Wigner distribution.
DEVELOPMENT AND STORAGE STABILITY OF DRUM‐DRIED GUAVA‐ AND PAPAYA‐TARO FLAKES

Procedures were developed to prepare drum-dried guava-taro and papaya-taro flakes. Moisture content, ascorbic acid, consistency, alcohol soluble color, and taste acceptance were analyzed. The samples were stored at various temperatures and time intervals to test their stability. Ascorbic acid content of the guava-taro and papaya-taro flakes was unstable when stored at 22° C or higher after 12 weeks. Consistency of the reconstituted flakes with added sugar was stable. The color of the papaya-taro flakes was stable upon storage at 38°C for 24 wks. However, the color of the guava-taro flakes was unstable when stored at 38°C. Taste of the guava-taro and papaya-taro flakes was acceptable upon storage at 38° C for 24 wk.
Novel cutaneous effects of combination chemotherapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors: a report of two cases

Summary The discovery that some melanoma tumours harbour mutations in the BRAF gene (e.g. V600E) and the subsequent development of specific BRAF inhibitors have greatly improved the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Resistance of tumour cells to BRAF inhibitors is reduced by the addition of an MEK inhibitor; both BRAF and MEK inhibitors have been reported to produce a variety of dermatological toxic effects. Benign naevi often harbour BRAF mutations but few reports exist that document the response of naevus cells to BRAF inhibition. We report sarcoidal-type granulomatous inflammation in two patients with metastatic melanoma undergoing treatment with combination BRAF and MEK inhibitor therapy. This inflammation manifested in one patient as a nonspecific papular eruption; in the other, in association with clinical regression of multiple benign-appearing naevi during the course of therapy. The significance of sarcoidal-type inflammation occurring during treatment of metastatic melanoma with a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors is unclear. Its association with the clinical regression of benign-appearing naevi suggests a possible exaggerated inflammatory response to degenerating naevus cells in these lesions.
Polyacetylene and Relativistic Field Theory Models

Connections between continuum, mean-field, adiabatic Peierls-Froehlich theory in the half-filled band limit and known field theory results are discussed. Particular attention is given to the phi/sup 4/ model and to the solvable N = 2 Gross-Neveu model. The latter is equivalent to the Peierls system at a static, semi-classical level. Based on this equivalence we note the prediction of both kink and polaron solitons in models of trans-(CH)/sub x/. Polarons in cis-(CH)/sub x/ are compared with those in the trans isomer. Optical absorption from polarons is described, and general experimental consequences of polarons in (CH)/sub x/ and other conjugated polymers is discussed.
Effects of Added Fe°, Fe3O4, and Fe2O3 on Sorption of Cephalosporin Antibiotic in Quartz-Rich Sands

AbstractBatch experiments were performed to evaluate sorption of zwitterionic and anionic cephapirin (CHP° and CHP–, respectively), a cephalosporin antibiotic, in two quartz-rich sands spiked with iron (0.5–5% by weight). Sand A was approximately 65% quartz and 29% feldspar, with a grain diameter of 0.11 mm. Sand B was approximately 97% quartz and approximately 2% feldspar with a grain diameter of 0.39 mm. Bulk CHP sorption was evaluated relative to four added iron phases, namely, Fe° [zero-valent iron (ZVI)], Fe3O4 (magnetite), and two forms of Fe2O3 (dull and specular hematite). Iron-particle sizes matched the respective sands to which they were added. Experiments were performed at two temperatures (21 and 39°C) and the results were compared with CHP sorption in unspiked sands. Maximum sorption occurred in Sand B and was approximately 225 mg/kg of spiked sand for initial aqueous CHP concentrations of 5–50 ppm, at 39°C and pH 5. Addition of ZVI caused the largest increase in CHP sorption with distributi...
Hydrocarbon components in carbonaceous meteorites

Currently, the presence of free n-alkanes and isoprenoid alkanes in carbonaceous meteorites is usually explained either by microbial contamination during the period between the meteorite fall and collection or by contamination from the environment of analytical laboratories and museums. The goal of this research was to repeat analysis of hydrocarbon components in meteorites and to investigate possible meteorite contamination routes discussed in the literature. Experimental analysis of free organic constituents in five carbonaceous meteorites by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and gas chromatographic (GC) methods confirmed the presence of extractable aliphatic components, n-alkanes in the C15H32–C27H56 range and isoprenoid alkanes (phytane, pristane, and norpristane), in some of these meteorites. The contents of these compounds vary depending on the source. Insoluble organic components of two meteorites (meteorite kerogens) were isolated, and their composition was analyzed by IR and cracking/GC methods. Comparison with the data on several terrestrial contamination sources proposed in the literature shows that the presence of free saturated hydrocarbons in meteorites and the composition of the meteorite kerogen could not be explained either by microbial contamination or by contamination from the laboratory environment. The types of the hydrocarbons in meteorites resemble those typical of ancient terrestrial deposits of organic-rich sediments, except for the absence of lighter hydrocarbons, which apparently slowly evaporated in space, and multi-ring naphthenic compounds of the biologic origin, steranes, terpanes, etc. The prevailing current explanation for the presence of free linear saturated hydrocarbons in carbonaceous meteorites, apart from contamination, is the abiotic route from hydrogen and carbon monoxide. However, the data on the structure of meteorite kerogens require a search for different routes that initially produce complex polymeric structures containing n-alkyl and isoprenoid chains which are attached, via polar links (esters, salts, etc.), to a cross-linked polymer matrix. Later, the polymer slowly decomposes with the liberation of free aliphatic hydrocarbons.
The Intellectual Roots of Guerrero's Cold War Rebellion

In order to understand the roots of rebellion in Cold War Mexico, scholars have analyzed the relative weight of poverty, injustice, and the excessive violence the state employed to maintain power and repress a discontented populace. This article looks to the writings that helped explain these conditions to Lucio Cabanas, who led a rebellion in the southwest state of Guerrero. Cabanas's movement reflected the progressive intellectual literature of Latin America: Uruguayan Enrique Rodo's anti-imperialism, Peruvians Jose Carlos Mariategui's and Victor Raul Haya de la Torre's socialism, and Mexican Ricardo Flores Magon's anarcho-syndicalism. It examines how Cabanas applied and misapplied their works as he sought to understand conditions in Guerrero and to organize and lead its campesinos into rebellion. The article argues that Cabanas's failure to effectively adapt earlier analyses to Cold War Guerrero contributed to his failure to overthrow the state government and led to the collapse of his armed movement.
Reaction rate imaging

It has long been recognized that common experimental observables such as species concentrations are not generally reliable markers of flame front topology, heat release rate, or reaction rate. We show that with proper selection of excitation transitions, the planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) signals of two spatially correlated species can be used to determine a bimolecular reaction rate in flames. This measurement technique provides a spatial marker of a species-specific bimolecular reaction region as well as a measure of the relative forward rate of that reaction. Our primary focus is the CO+OH reaction due to its significance in H−C−O mechanisms and the feasibility of simultaneous OH and CO PLIF imaging. The reaction rate diagnostic was applied to methane/air-based Bunsen flames and an acoustically forced vortex-flame interaction. Measured reaction rate, CO LIF, and OH LIF profiles extracted from the Bunsen flame images agreed reasonably well with theoretical estimates, and the measured reaction rate was observed to intensify near the flame tip. Measurements in a vortex-flame system indicated entrainment of CO directly into the vortex core, but only minor reaction rates occurred in the core due to low oxidizer (OH) concentration. On the primary flame surface, the forward reaction rate initially increased threefold due to enhanced reactive scalar mixing resulting from the applied strain field. The vortex passage caused the base of the CO+OH reaction surface to detach and lift similar to OH, with the base of the CO surface detaching later in time. For the majority of cases considered, the topologies of the reaction rate fields were distinctly different than those of the individual reactive scalars, suggesting that insight into CO oxidation by OH can be improved by the use of rate imaging diagnostics.
2,2'-commo-Bis[2-ruthena-nido-1-(η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)ruthenahexaborane(12)]: An Unusual Ruthenaborane Related to Ruthenocene and Exhibiting a Linear Triruthenium Fragment.

An isomer of a sandwich complex, compound 1 has been prepared from nido-[1,2-{Cp*Ru}2B3H9] and structurally characterized. Owing to the connection of the two dimetallahexaborane cages, the three metals form a linear array. The environment of the unique central Ru atom is different from that normally found in metallaboranes. The isolation of 1 suggests the accessibility of variants of multidecker sandwich complexes with linear chains of metal atoms.
Mitigating hydrodynamic mix at the gas-ice interface with a combination of magnetic, ablative, and viscous stabilization

Mix reduction is an important ingredient in yield performance in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). In an ignition-grade target design, shell adiabat shaping can mitigate hydrodynamic mix at the outer ablator surface via a high adiabat like that in the high-foot design, but the high Atwood number at the gas-ice interface associated with a low-adiabat ice, which is desirable for achieving high convergence ratio for a given laser system, still provides a robust drive for hydrodynamic instability during the deceleration phase of the implosion. The results presented here show that combined magnetic, viscous, and ablative stabilization can complement each other for adequate mix mitigation at the gas-ice interface in a range of magnetic-field strengths that are experimentally accessible.
Synthesis of deuterated 3‐methylcyclohexanones

The efficient, regiospecific preparation of the series of deuterated 3-methylcyclohexanones is described.
Hybrid Steering Logic for Single-Gimbal Control Moment Gyroscopes

The development of a hybrid steering logic that maintains attitude tracking precision while avoiding hyperbolic internal singularities or escaping elliptic singularities inherent to single-gimbal control moment gyroscopes is discussed. The hybrid steering logic enables null motion and limits torque error when approaching a hyperbolic internal singularity, or it adds torque error and limits null motion when approaching an elliptic internal or external singularity. The hybrid-steering-logic algorithm accomplishes these tasks through the definitions of novel singularity metrics that transition continuously from local-gradient to pseudoinverse methods when moving from hyperbolic to elliptic singularities. Analysis and simulations are presented to demonstrate the performance of the hybrid steering logic as compared with the two legacy methods. The development and results are applied to a four-single-gimbal-control-moment-gyroscope pyramid arrangement with a skew angle of θ = 54.74 deg.
A Game-Theoretic Approach to Finding Market Equilibria for Automotive Design Under Environmental Regulation

Recent research has extended prior efforts to integrate firm-level objectives into engineering design optimization models by further enlarging the scope to investigate the effects of regulation on the design decisions of profit-seeking firms in competition. In particular, one study examined the effects of environmental policy on vehicle design decisions by integrating quantitative models of engineering performance, market demand, production cost and regulatory penalties in a joint optimization framework using game theory to model the effects of competition on design and pricing. Model complexity and the solution methods used to solve for market equilibria in prior research have led to a limitation where the prior approach is too computationally intensive to allow extensive parametric studies on the effects of policy changes on design. To address this issue, we present an alternative game-theoretic approach utilizing necessary and sufficient conditions with Nash conditions to find market equilibria in an oligopoly of automakers, and we use this approach to examine the resulting optimal design responses under various regulation scenarios.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Cx23, a connexin with only four extracellular-loop cysteines, forms functional gap junction channels and hemichannels

Gap junction channels may be comprised of either connexin or pannexin proteins (innexins and pannexins). Membrane topologies of both families are similar, but sequence similarity is lacking. Recently, connexin-like sequences have been identified in mammalian and zebrafish genomes that have only four conserved cysteines in the extracellular domains (Cx23), a feature of the pannexins. Phylogenetic analyses of the non-canonical “C4” connexins reveal that these sequences are indeed connexins. Functional assays reveal that the Cx23 gap junctions are capable of sharing neurobiotin, and further, that Cx23 connexins form hemichannels in vitro.
Chiral symmetry breaking and chiral polarization: Tests for finite temperature and many flavors

Abstract It was recently conjectured that, in SU ( 3 ) gauge theories with fundamental quarks, valence spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking is equivalent to condensation of local dynamical chirality and appearance of chiral polarization scale Λ ch . Here we consider more general association involving the low-energy layer of chirally polarized modes which, in addition to its width ( Λ ch ), is also characterized by volume density of participating modes (Ω) and the volume density of total chirality ( Ω ch ). Few possible forms of the correspondence are discussed, paying particular attention to singular cases where Ω emerges as the most versatile characteristic. The notion of finite-volume “order parameter”, capturing the nature of these connections, is proposed. We study the effects of temperature (in N f = 0 QCD) and light quarks (in N f = 12 ), both in the regime of possible symmetry restoration, and find agreement with these ideas. In N f = 0 QCD, results from several volumes indicate that, at the lattice cutoff studied, the deconfinement temperature T c is strictly smaller than the overlap–valence chiral transition temperature T ch in real Polyakov line vacuum. Somewhat similar intermediate phase (in quark mass) is also seen in N f = 12 . It is suggested that deconfinement in N f = 0 is related to indefinite convexity of absolute X-distributions.
Oxygen-induced changes to selectivity-determining steps in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction

The state of the electrocatalyst surface—including the oxidation state of the catalyst and the presence of spectator species—is investigated on Cu surfaces with density functional theory in order to understand predicted ramifications on the selectivity and efficiency of CO2 reduction. We examined the presence of oxygen-based species, including the fully oxidized Cu2O surface, the partially oxidized Cu(110)–(2 × 1)O surface, and the presence of OH spectators. The relative oxygen binding strength among these surfaces can help to explain the experimentally observed selectivity change between CH4 and CH3OH on these electrodes; this suggests that the oxygen-binding strength may be a key parameter which predicts the thermodynamically preferred selectivity for pathways proceeding through a methoxy (CH3O) intermediate. This study shows the importance of the local surface environment in the product selectivity of electrocatalysis, and suggests a simple descriptor that can aid in the design of improved electrocatalytic materials.