cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Listeners' perceptions of speech and language disorders.

Abstract Using semantic differential scales with nine trait pairs, 445 adults rated five audio-taped speech samples, one depicting an individual without a disorder and four portraying communication disorders. Statistical analyses indicated that the no disorder sample was rated higher with respect to the trait of employability than were the articulation, voice, and language disorder conditions; and higher in self-esteem than the fluency, voice, and language disorders. In addition, there were differences among the disorders. Most notably, the language disordered condition was rated significantly lower in decisiveness and reliability and higher in stress level than all other conditions. Within-subject analyses indicated that the variables of age, gender, exposure to individuals with communication disorders, and urban versus rural residency did not affect ratings. These results support previous research indicating the existence of negative stereotypes toward individuals with communication disorders. In addition, they reveal differences in how various disorders were perceived. Learning outcomes: Participants will be able to: (1) identify the different methods investigators have used to examine perceptions toward individuals with communicative disorder, (2) recognize that there are differences in how the various communicative disorders are perceived, and (3) discuss the need for public education in order to dispel stereotypes associated with communicative disorders.
The timing of the last deglaciation in Cordillera Oriental, northern Peru, based on glacial geology and lake sedimentology

The degree of soil development on moraines and radiocarbon ages indicate that the Cordillera Oriental, a part of the eastern Andes in northern Peru (7°30′-7°55′S; 77°20′-77°35′W), was last glaciated during the last glacial maximum (marine isotope stage 2). This glaciation was the most extensive late Quaternary glaciation in the area. Radiocarbondated sedimentological changes in six sediment cores from three lakes and one bog reveal that the last deglaciation is marked by a two-stepped transition from rhythmically laminated inorganic sediment to massive, organic-rich sediment. The first step of this transition commenced before 12.1 ± 0.2 ka (± 1 σ) and probably by ca. 13.5 ka. Glaciers covered less than 50% of their last glacial maximum area by 12.1 ± 0.6 ka, and cirques west of the main divide were probably ice-free by this time. A return to rhythmically laminated inorganic sediment in the lakes and the bog occurred between 12.1 ± 0.6 and 10.3 ± 0.4 ka. This may reflect an episode of increased stream discharge and glacier expansion during which glaciers reoccupied cirques above ∼3,800 m. This glacier expansion adds to widespread evidence of a late-glacial readvance in the tropical Andes. All cirques have been ice-free since between 10.3 ± 0.4 and 9.7 ± 0.5 ka.
Water characteristic curves and water status indicator

This paper attempts to introduce specific analytical meanings for the frequently used terms “water stress” (Falkenmark 1992, Vorosmarty et al. 2000, 2005) and “water strain” (Haddadin 2007) by drawing an analogy from the science of engineering mechanics. It introduces “water characteristic curves” and a “water modulus” that defines the status of indigenous water of a given country. Compared to other tools that have been introduced to reflect the “water footprint” of a country (Hoekstra and Chapagain 2008), the water modulus is different in approach and meaning and is more reflective of the adequacy of indigenous water resources of countries.
Just deserts or icing on the cake? Addressing the social determinants of health.

Preda and Voigt (2015) raise the provocative question, “Why should we care about the social determinants of health?” Despite a careful, stepwise analysis of the implications and obligations arising...
Thermal conductivity and sound velocity measurements of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited a-SiC:H thin films

Abstract We report ultrafast optical measurements of the thermal conductivity and longitudinal sound velocity for a-SiC:H thin films deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Porous and non-porous films with mass densities ranging from 1.0–2.5 g/cm3 were obtained by intentionally varying the PECVD process conditions. The longitudinal sound velocities for these materials as determined by picosecond ultrasonics ranged from 2370 m/s to 10460 m/s, and the Young's modulus determined from the sound velocity measurements ranged from 5–200 GPa. Time domain thermoreflectance measurements determined the thermal conductivity to range from 0.0009 W/cmK to 0.042 W/cmK.
On the abiotic formation of amino acids. I: HCN as a precursor of amino acids detected in extracts of lunar samples. ― II: Formation of HCN and amino acids from simulated mixtures of gases released from lunar samples

Two studies on the abiotic formation of amino acids are presented. The first study demonstrates the role of hydrogen cyanide as a precursor of amino acids detected in extracts of lunar samples. The formation of several amino acids, including glycine, alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid, under conditions similar to those used for the analysis of lunar samples is demonstrated. The second study investigates the formation of hydrogen cyanide as well as amino acids from lunar-sample gas mixtures under electrical discharge conditions. These results extend the possibility of synthesis of amino acids to planetary bodies with primordial atmospheres less reducing than a mixture of methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water.
Probing the electronic structure of mono-nitrogen doped aluminum clusters using anion photoelectron spectroscopy

We report a photoelectron spectroscopic investigation of mono-nitrogen doped aluminum cluster anions AlnN- (n = 2-22). Well-resolved spectra were obtained at three photon energies (355, 266, and 193 nm), revealing the structural and electronic evolution as the number of aluminum atoms increases in the doped clusters. For small AlnN (n < 9) clusters, the Al atoms may be viewed to be monovalent, similar to pure aluminum clusters. Even-odd alternation of the electron affinities was observed for AlnN clusters, suggesting that neutral clusters with odd n are closed shell and those with even n are open shell. The most interesting observation is the similarity between the spectra of AlnN- and Al(n-1)- for n>12. This observation suggests that these clusters can be described as (AlN)Al(n-1)-, i.e., an AlN unit weakly interacting with Al(n-1)- clusters. The electronic and atomic structural implications of this observation are discussed.
Critique and comment. Catastrophe analysis of the simon‐homans model

In a paper published earlier in this journal, Fararo (1978) distinguished between two approaches to the application of catastrophe theory, termed catastrophe analysis (of an existing dynamic model) and catastrophe model-building as such. Many examples of the latter type have been published; but of the former, no examples have appeared in social science. This note analyzes a classic contribution to mathematical social science, the Simon (1957) formalization of a sociological theory, to provide a nontrivial example and commentary on the first type of application.
Detection in multiple disparate systems using multi-channel coherence analysis

This paper presents a coherence-based detection method for multiple disparate sensing systems using the multi-channel coherence analysis (MCA) framework. MCA provides an optimal coordinate system for multi-channel detection problems as it finds sets of one-dimensional mapping vectors that maximize the sum of the cross-correlations among all pair-wise combinations of channels. The standard detector for Gaussian random vectors is then cast into the MCA framework by developing the log-likelihood ratio and J-divergence measure. The proposed detection method is then tested on a data set consisting of sets of four side-scan sonar images coregistered over the same region on the seafloor and the results are compared with those of a multi-channel generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) detector.
Wireless interrogation of antenna sensors for strain monitoring

This paper presents a wireless interrogation system using impedance switching and amplitude modulation to detect the resonant frequency shift of antenna sensors under external load. The wireless antenna sensor, constructed by a few microwave components, is able to detect small strain changes without requiring any local power source. First, the principle of operation of the unpowered wireless interrogation system is discussed, followed by the characterization of the effect of applied strains on the resonant frequency of the antenna sensor. The shifts of the resonant frequency under different loads were correlated to the strains experienced by the antenna sensor. The experimental results agreed well with the analytical prediction.
Refined numerical solution of the transonic flow past a wedge

A numerical procedure combining the ideas of solving a modified difference equation and of adaptive mesh refinement is introduced. The numerical solution on a fixed grid is improved by using better approximations of the truncation error computed from local subdomain grid refinements. This technique is used to obtain refined solutions of steady, inviscid, transonic flow past a wedge. The effects of truncation error on the pressure distribution, wave drag, sonic line, and shock position are investigated. By comparing the pressure drag on the wedge and wave drag due to the shocks, a supersonic-to-supersonic shock originating from the wedge shoulder is confirmed.
A variational approach to the ground state of the two-dimensional electron gas

Abstract In this work we calculate a variational upper bound for the ground-state energy of the two-dimensional electron gas. The calculation sheds light on the validity of approximate calculations and indicates that the “deformable jellium” model of an ideal two-dimensional electron gas may exhibit a CDW instability for rs greater than about 2. The original feature of the calculation is that some correlation effects are included in the variational bound by means of a “geminal” expansion of the many-body wave function.
Application of high resolution land use and land cover data for atmospheric modeling in the Houston-Galveston metropolitan area, Part I: Meteorological simulation results

In the companion paper, we showed that MM5 simulation using a satellite-derived high resolution Texas Forest Service (TFS) land use and land cover (LULC) data set (M2), compared to the MM5 results with the default USGS-LULC (M1), improved representation of the complicated features of the atmospheric planetary boundary layer (PBL) in the Houston ship channel (HSC) area, where large industrial emission sources are concentrated. In the present paper, the study is extended to investigate these effects on air quality simulations. Two emission inputs, namely E1 and E2, are prepared with the M1 and M2 meteorology data, respectively, to reflect the differences in the point source plume rise estimates while keeping the biogenic and mobile emissions the same. Air quality simulations were performed with CMAQ using the M1E1 and M2E2 inputs. The simulation results demonstrate the importance of utilizing high resolution LULC data. In the default LULC data, the HSC area was classified as grass land cover, and MM5 predicted confined mixing, resulting in over-prediction of ozone (O3) precursors, such as NOx (NO plus NO2), and highly reactive volatile organic compounds (HRVOC) species, including ethylene and propylene, over the HSC area. In the TFS data, the area was classified as the impervious “urban” land use and MM5 predicted enhanced mixing of the precursor species, leading to better agreements with measurements. The high resolution LULC also resolves the location of water body near the HSC more accurately, predicting shallower PBL heights than the default LULC during daytime. With favorable wind conditions, the O3 precursors were transported from the HSC emission source towards the area, trapping the pollutants in a confined shallow mixing layer that occasionally led to a rapid photochemical production of O3. The above comparison includes the changes in both meteorological and plume-rise emissions inputs. We performed two additional CMAQ simulations using the same meteorological result (M2) but with different emission point sources E1 and E2 to determine the importance of emission changes on the air quality simulations. The sensitivity tests with the different plume-rise emission inputs due to two different meteorological inputs show little impact on the air quality simulations in this case.
Productive local properties of function spaces

Abstract We characterize the spaces X for which the space C p ( X ) of real valued continuous functions with the topology of pointwise convergence has local properties related to the preservation of countable tightness or the Frechet property in products. In particular, we use the methods developed to construct an uncountable subset W of the real line such that the product of C p ( W ) with any strongly Frechet space is Frechet. The example resolves an open question.
Asthma and the environment

The incidence of asthma has increased over the last 20 years; it has been termed a worldwide epidemic. The factors that have contributed to this asthma epidemic need to be clearly defined in order to devise appropriate prevention or intervention strategies. The current issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America focuses on asthma and the environment. The goal of this issue is to examine critical environmental pressures leading to the striking increase in asthma incidence. The influence of geography, socioeconomic status, age, gender, occupation, immune status, and genetics on asthma incidence are presented. The diversity of the topics presented underscores our growing understanding that asthma may be better defined as a syndrome rather than a distinct disease. The first three articles focus on the clinical impact of the onset of asthma in early life. The first article addresses asthma as an international worldwide epidemic. Environmental influence is defined in relationship to the following categories: western countries versus developing nations, European versus western Europe, and rural versus urban influences. The second article recognizes that factors leading to the initiation and maintenance of the asthmatic inflammatory response begin in early life, or perhaps even in utero. The review covers recent advances in innate and adaptive immunity, with regard to the fetal immune system and its interaction with the maternal environment. Next, an examination of inner-city asthma focuses on a high-risk population of children. Worldwide, under certain conditions, infections may confer protection against asthma. In contrast, this review presents a compelling description of US inner-city children who have higher asthma prevalence and severity despite repeated infections. This
An investigation of aldehyde fuchsin staining of unoxidized insulin

Aldehyde fuchsin is a standard stain for the secretion granules of pancreatic B cells. The participation of either insulin or proinsulin in aldehyde fuchsin staining is in dispute. There is some evidence that permanganate oxidized insulin is stained by aldehyde fuchsin. Aldehyde fuchsin staining of unoxidized insulin has not been investigated adequately despite excellent staining results with tissue sections. Unoxidized insulin and proinsulin suspended by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels were fixed with Bouin's fluid and placed in aldehyde fuchsin for one hour. Because the unoxidized proteins were not stained by aldehyde fuchsin, it was concluded that neither insulin or proinsulin are responsible for the intense aldehyde fuchsin staining of unoxidized pancreatic B cell granules in tissue sections. A series of controlled experiments was undertaken to test the effects of fixatives, oxidation and destaining procedures on aldehyde fuchsin staining of insulin, proinsulin and other proteins immobilized in polyacrylamide gels. It was demonstrated that only oxidized proteins were stained by aldehyde fuchsin and that cystine content of the proteins had no apparent relation to aldehyde fuchsin staining. It was concluded that neither insulin nor proinsulin is likely to be responsible for the intense aldehyde fuchsin staining of unoxidized pancreatic B cell granules in tissue sections.
LIGO S6 detector characterization studies

LIGO recently commenced its sixth science run (S6) simultaneously with Virgo starting its second science run (VSR2). Because of differing interferometer configurations with respect to S5, much effort has been invested understanding new sources of noise in the LIGO S6 interferometers. The LIGO Scientific Collaboration's detector characterization working group is actively investigating the origin of noise in the LIGO interferometers and determining the periods of good, bad or questionable data quality. We describe the instrumental issues found to affect the data quality in S6 and the vetoes developed for burst and inspiral searches. The methods used to search for and identify periodic noise lines are also presented. A summary of other noise search efforts in S6 is also given.
Offshoring of Information-based Services: Structural Breaks in Industry Life Cycles

The emergence of widespread offshoring of information-based services is arguably one of the more transformative business phenomena of the last ten years. A growing body of research has examined the...
IL-12 primed CD8+ T-cells possess enhanced persistence and anti-tumor efficacy because of greater IL-7 responsiveness

Ex vivo IL-12 priming of tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cells enhances their persistence and subsequent anti-tumor efficacy upon adoptive cell transfer (ACT) into lymphodepleted mice. Since IL-7 and IL-15 are considered critical for the persistence of adoptively transferred T-cells, we investigated the responsiveness of IL-12 primed CD8+ T-cells to these homeostatic cytokines to help elucidate the mechanisms behind their superior anti-tumor abilities. Using pmel-1 T-cell receptor transgenic mice, we found that pmel CD8+ T cells activated in the presence of IL-12 (pmelIL-12) showed much greater expansion in an irradiated (6 Gy) host compared to cells activated without IL-12 (pmelsham). This expansion was dependent on host IL-7, but not IL-15. Compared to pmelsham, pmelIL-12 demonstrated greatly enhanced in vitro IL-7 responsiveness, as measured by proliferation and phosphorylation of signaling molecules STAT5, S6 and AKT. These striking differences were not seen with IL-15. Despite not playing a major role in pmelIL-12 effector phase expansion, IL-15 was critical for maximum anti-tumor efficacy of pmelIL12, as irradiated mice devoid of IL-15, like mice receiving IL-7 neutralizing antibody (clone M25), showed reduced survival compared to irradiated mice receiving pmelIL-12 only. This decreased tumor control likely occurred because IL-15 was needed for long-term persistence of pmelIL-12. Together, these findings suggest that IL-12 priming of CD8 + T-cells augments the efficacy of ACT protocols in part by conferring an enhanced ability to respond to IL-7, thereby enabling transferred cells to persist in the IL-7 rich post-lymphodepletion environment.
Polarity, the Long Cycle, and Global Power Warfare

The basic assumptions associated with two approaches to analyzing the relationship between the distribution of capabilities and war, namely Waltz's analysis of systemic stability and Modelski's long cycle of global leadership, are examined and contrasted. The systemic stability model concludes that bipolarity is less likely to be associated with destabilizing warfare than is multipolarity. The long cycle model agrees that multipolarity is the least stable arrangement but it depicts unipolarity as the most stable and least conflictual phase in the system's cyclical concentration/deconcentration process. These arguments are tested empirically by first operationalizing polarity and warfare between global powers for 490 years (1494-1983) and then determining how much warfare is associated with each type of polarity. Aggregating across the entire period, global warfare has been least likely in years of unipolarity and near unipolarity, slightly more prevalent in bipolar years, and much more probable in multipo...
Modified Langer-Zittartz method for the electrostatic excluded-volume problem.

A modified manifestly self-consistent Langer-Zittartz method is applied to the nonperturbative treatment of the electrostatic excluded-volume effects in the polyelectrolyte chain. The method is tested for the case of the ordinary excluded-volume problem for which it produces the standard Flory result, (〈${R}^{2}$〉${)}^{1/2}$\ensuremath{\propto}${N}^{3/5}$. When it is applied to the polyelectrolyte chain, for the totally unscreened case, it also gives the Flory result (〈${R}^{2}$〉${)}^{1/2}$\ensuremath{\propto}N, which is confirmed by recent Monte Carlo simulations performed by Baumgaaumlrtner. Complications associated with effects of partial screening are considered as well. Explanations for the failure of the conventional renormalization-group methods for the polyelectrolyte chain are presented on the basis of comparisons between the polyelectrolyte problem and mathematically similar problems in solid-state physics.
30B. An Integrative Systems-biology Approach to Autoimmune Disease: Leaving the Era of Reaction and Entering the New Proactive Era of Prediction

Focus Area: Integrative Approaches to Care Autoimmune disease is growing at epidemic proportions, and standard interventions are based on symptom control and immune suppression. This presentation with review a proactive integrative systems biology approach to disease prediction, prevention, and treatment, including various evidence-based modalities. Presentation elements will include an exploration of the role of the GI microbiota, food immune reactions, stealth infections and molecular mimicry in autoimmune disease pathogenesis and how these may serve as leverage points for clinical interventions. The hygiene hypothesis and changes in early environmental antigen exposue also will be explored. New opportunities for proactive screening for at-risk subjects for autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and others using emerging predictive antibody testing also will be reviewed and discussed. Integration of CAM providers with rheumatologists and other primary specialist also will be addressed.
Optimal Trading with Stochastic Liquidity and Volatility

We consider the problem of mean-variance optimal agency execution strategies, when the market li- quidity and volatility vary randomly in time. Under specific assumptions for the stochastic processes satisfied by these parameters, we construct a Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation for the optimal cost and strategy. We solve this equation numerically and illustrate optimal strategies for varying risk aversion. These strategies adapt optimally to the instantaneous variations of market quality.
Managing Local Anesthesia Problems in the Endodontic Patient

The discomfort sometimes associated with endodontic therapy can be avoided by practicing these guidelines to achieve anesthesia.
Feline Urolithiasis : Etiology and Pathophysiology

A variety of different types of uroliths occur in cats, of which calcium oxalate and magnesium ammonium phosphate are the most common. Treatment and prevention are most likely to be successful if associated risk factors are identified and eliminated or controlled.
Geometrical influence of ABn monomer structure on the thermal properties of linear-hyperbranched ether–ketone copolymers prepared via an AB+ABn route

Abstract A series of poly(ether ketone) copolymers were prepared by nucleophilic aromatic polymerization reactions of 4-fluoro-4′-hydroxybenzophenone, 2, in the presence of varying percentages of ABn monomers based on a triarylphosphine oxide platform, 1a (2F), 1b (4F), and 1c (6F), where A=OH and B=F. As expected, the crystallinity of the samples decreased with an increasing ABn content. However, the tetrahedral geometry of the phosphine oxide-based ABn monomers proved to be much more efficient at lowering the melt temperature of the copolymers than was the corresponding ketone-based ABn monomer, 3,5-bis(4-fluorophenylbenzoyl)phenol, 4, that possesses a structure more similar to that of 2. Polymerization of 2 in the presence of as little as 5 mol% of bis-(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phosphine oxide, 1c (6F), afforded a completely amorphous polymer with a glass transition temperature of 168 °C that was soluble in hot NMP and DMSO. The copolymers also exhibited excellent thermoxidative stability with a number of samples displaying 5% weight loss temperatures, in air, well in excess of 500 °C.
NMR relaxation study of water protons in Syrian hamster fetal cells at 300 MHz

TheT1 andT2 relaxation times of water protons in two cell types in culture derived from Syrian hamster fetuses (normal primary or secondary fetal cells vs BP6T tumor cells derived from the normal cells transformed by carcinogens) were measured at 7.05 Tesla magnetic field (proton frequency =300 MHz). TheT1/T2 ratios and the correlation time, τc, calculated from theT1/T2 ratio of cellular water protons, are significantly different in these two fibroblastic cell types of the same biological origin and with similar morphologies and growth rates in culture.
Sanmao, the Vagrant : Homeless Children of Yesterday and Today

The intensifying globalization has made street survival more brutal and miserable for homeless children, especially in Third World countries. Sanmao, the Vagrant is a wordless picture book which tells of the adventures of a boy named Sanmao in streets of Shanghai during WWII. The essay analyzes how the artist’s ingenious visual narrative authentically anticipates the omnipresent impact of globalization on innocent children. Sanmao’s survival totally relies on his resilience and proactivity. He falls prey to unbridled exploitation and coercive and abusive treatment. Originally a comic intended for adults, the book is the artist’s furious protest against the indifferent attitude of the adult world.
Electromagnetically assisted sheet metal stamping

Abstract A new approach, electromagnetically assisted sheet metal stamping, has been developed to alter strain distribution and improve formability in sheet metal stamping. In this study, this new approach was applied to form a non-symmetric panel from Al 6111-T4. The results show that this new approach greatly increased the draw depth of the formed panel, compared with conventional stamping. A detailed analysis of strain distribution, stretching and draw-in shows that both a more homogeneous strain distribution and enhanced draw-in contribute to producing deeper pans in a single press operation. This work demonstrates the feasibility of electromagnetically assisted sheet metal stamping, which offers a much improved ability to make complex components in a single press stroke as compared to conventional stamping.
Does Child Labor Reduce Youth Crime

SUMMARY This paper explores the nexus between youth-employment, youth-crime, and socialization in the context of the child labor debate in economics. The analysis draws upon both economics and sociology and suggests that neglect of the socializing benefits of youth (and perhaps child) employment in the economics literature is a potentially important lacuna. The sociology literature contains evidence that youth-labor reduces criminal propensity. If this effect extends to the youth who are the subject of the economics child-labor literature, potentially large private and external benefits of some-types of child-labor have been ignored. After presenting evidence of the linkage between youth-socialization, youth-employment, and youth-crime we consider possible implications for child-labor policies.
Quasiracemic Synthesis: Concepts and Implementation with a Fluorous Tagging Strategy to Make Both Enantiomers of Pyridovericin and Mappicine

The concept of quasiracemic synthesis is introduced and illustrated with syntheses of both enantiomers of pyridovericin (whose absolute configuration is assigned as R) and mappicine. Like racemic synthesis, quasiracemic synthesis provides both enantiomers in a single synthetic sequence; however, separation tagging is used to ensure that quasiracemic mixtures can be analyzed, separated, and identified on demand. Fluorous tags of differing chain lengths are used to tag two enantiomeric starting materials. The resulting quasienantiomers are mixed to make a quasiracemate, which is then treated like a true racemate in successive steps of the synthesis. Fluorous chromatography is used to separate, or demix, the final quasiracemate into its two components, which are then detagged to provide (true) enantiomeric products. Quasiracemic synthesis is portrayed as the first and simplest of a series of mixture synthesis techniques based on separation tagging, and the prospects for using other types of separation tags are briefly evaluated.
GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTEREMIA DOES NOT INCREASE ALBUMIN OR BILIRUBIN CONTENT IN BRAINS OF ADULT RATS

Top of pageAbstract The risk of bilirubin-related brain injury may be increased by perinatal or neonatal infection. To determine whether Gram-negative bacteremia acutely increases transfer of bilirubin and albumin from blood to brain, 6 adult rats were injected with 106 E. coli to produce positive blood cultures, and then infused while awake with bilirubin (BR) and 125I albumin (ALB) via indwelling catheters for 180 minutes. 3 of 6 rats with positive blood cultures had lethargy or temperature instability during the experiment. At 180 mins, the animals were sacrificed for brain BR and ALB concentrations. Compared to 5 controls, there were no differences in serum or brain BR and ALB in the bacteremic rats, as shown in the table: In the adult rat, bacteremia does not cause acute changes in permeability of the blood-brain barrier to bilirubin or albumin. If sepsis does increase the risk of bilirubin injury to the central nervous system, systemic metabolic or circulatory changes due to sepsis or acute effects of endotoxin, rather than acute bacterial effects on the blood brain barrier, may be more likely reasons for this association.
SU‐E‐T‐161: Small Field Surface Doses for 6X and 10X Photon Beams ‐ FFF versus FF

Purpose: To measure and compare small field surface doses for Flattening filter free (FFF) and flattened (FF) photon beams. Methods: Measurements were performed for photon beams of two nominal energies (6 and 10 MV) of a Varian Linac (TrueBeamSTX). TrueBeam delivers 6 MV and 10 MV photon beams with both ‐ a flattening filter in place (FF) or using an open port where a thin foil is used instead of a flattening filter (FFF). We refer to the four photon beams investigated to as 6XFF, 6XFFF, 10XFF, and 10XFFF. All measurements were performed in IBA Blue Water Phantom (IBA‐Dosimetry) and a SFD diode (IBA, thickness of measuring volume 60 &#61549;m) was employed to measuresurface doses. Surface doses were expressed relative to the dose at dose maximum for the respective energy. Field sizes were varied from 1×1 cm2 to 10×10 cm2. Results: Measurements in the 1×1 cm2 to 10×10 cm2 field size range resulted in higher surface doses for FFF beams compared to FF beams. Percentage surface dose increases for FFF beams compared to FF beams were — for a 1× 1 cm2 increases were 36% and 60% for 6X and 10X beams respectively compared to corresponding 31.5 and 50.0% increases for a 5×5 cm2 field size. Overall, surface doses relative to dmax ranged from 0.37 – 0.44 and 0.21 – 0.28 for field sizes of 1×1 cm2 to 10×10 cm2 for the 6XFF and 10XFF beams respectively. The corresponding range of values for the 6XFFF and 10XFFF beams were 0.50 – 0.54 and 0.34 – 0.37 respectively. Conclusions: FFF beam change the dosimetric characteristics of photon beams by softening the energy spectra compared to beam hardened FF beams, thus changing surface doses. Our study evaluates the magnitude of these changes for small field sizes. The results confirm literature observations.
Transfection of Schistosoma mansoni by electroporation and the description of a new promoter sequence for transgene expression.

Abstract We sought to investigate the efficacy of electroporation for the introduction of plasmid-based DNA constructs into Schistosoma mansoni, and expanded our study to examine parameters governing transgene expression, including requirements of a 5′ and 3′ flanking sequence, as well as parasite developmental effects on transgene expression. We used luciferase as a reporter gene for this application. Our data show that electroporation allows the transfection of immature schistosomes, and defines 5′ promoter sequence from the schistosome actin gene (SmAct1.1), coupled promiscuously with various 3′ terminator sequences, as a powerful promoter of transgene expression in growing, but not early non-growing, schistosomula. The methodology described herein will facilitate ectopic expression of genes of interest in schistosomes.
Explosive Removal of Concrete From Reinforced Walls

During the past several years, the US Army has focused considerable attention toward developing improved methods for breaching walls in the urban combat environment. A major thrust area is centered on finding improved methods to breach the toughest wall type that Army units are likely to face: a double (steel) reinforced concrete (RC) wall. One impediment to this effort is that the relationship between the contact explosive charge configuration and the quantity of concrete removed has not been thoroughly understood. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center has conducted a research effort to better define the effectiveness of various explosive charge configurations in breaching RC walls. This paper presents a discussion of results from this research.© 2007 ASME
Structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 5b

The capsular polysaccharide of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 5b (strain L20) was found to be a high molecular mass polymer composed of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-glucose, and 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (KDO). Methylation analysis, partial hydrolysis and a combination of homonuclear and 1H-detected heteronuclear shift-correlated nuclear magnetic resonance experiments showed the polysaccharide to be a branched polymer of a trisaccharide repeating unit, having the structure: [formula; see text]
Electron injection at dye-sensitized semiconductor electrodes.

▪ Abstract Electron injection at dye-sensitized semiconductors is reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on theoretical and photoelectrochemical studies of dye-sensitized planar and single-crystal electrodes. The accepted mechanism of electron injection, which was derived from these classical studies, is introduced. Selected photoelectrochemical studies of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline semiconductors are reviewed; emphasis is given to factors that influence the efficiencies of electron injection and charge recombination. The development of quasi-solid-state nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells is also discussed. Recent time-resolved spectroscopic studies of electron injection and charge recombination are reviewed. These studies have led to a better understanding of electron injection mechanisms, and have revealed the limitations of the classical models.
Comparative studies on the occurrence of the carnosine-anserine fraction in skeletal muscle and heart

Abstract 1. 1. No detectable amounts of the carnosine-anserine fraction were found to be present in the heart ventricles of several species of vertebrates. The procedure used would have permitted the detection of 5 mg. of this fraction per 100 g. of fresh tissue. 2. 2. Neither the tail muscle nor the heart of the lobster contained measurable amounts of the carnosine-anserine fraction.
The color revolutions

In Mitchell's book, the so-called successful Colored or Electoral Revolutions in the post-Soviet states of (Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan) and the failed ones (Belarus and Azerbaijan) get anothe...
Antimicrobial cationic dyes: part 2-Thermal and hydrolytic stability

The thermal stability of antimicrobial cationic dyes was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis, and their hydrolytic stability was investigated by exposing the dyes in water under different pH conditions and analyzing hydrolyzed products by using electron absorption spectra and NMR analysis. These cationic antimicrobial dyes were stable below 190 °C, but higher temperature led to a two-step thermal decomposition. Both the mono-substituted and the bi-substituted dyes showed higher stability in acidic solutions than in basic conditions, and the highest stability was observed at pH 3. These unexpected results were believed to be related to the unique surfactant features and the positively charged hydrophilic components in the dyes. The structure effects on the stability of the dyes were discussed in detail.
Design Case Studies: a practical approach for teaching machine design

Design Case Studies is one of the new courses that has been developed through the National Science Foundation Coalition, SYNTHESIS, to initiate systemic reform of undergraduate engineering education. The course is designed to update and enhance the design content of the current mechanical engineering curriculum at Tuskegee University. These extensive case studies cover all aspects of the life cycle of selected engineered products in which exemplary design practices have been followed. They provide useful examples of design synthesis, interplay between technical and societal factors, industrial practice, multiple engineering disciplines and business considerations. Moreover, they provide a variety of design experiences, illustrate examples of good and bad engineering, and offer an opportunity to raise questions and discuss solutions. Study issues in reliability, maintenance, marketing, and design for easy assembly and manufacturing are highlighted. Since cases are about real engineering activities, students can compare their judgement and decisions with those made by the professionals and explore the differences and the reasons. The Design Case Studies course has been taught at Tuskegee University as a design elective course since Fall 1993. This paper addresses the course development, implementation current syllabus, and assessment.
Comparison of false positive rates for screening breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in high risk women performed on stacked versus alternating schedules.

Purpose Breast MRI added to mammography increases screening sensitivity for high-risk women but false-positive (FP) rates are higher and the optimal screening schedule for coordination with mammography is unclear. We compare rates of FP MRI when studies were performed on two different schedules.
Arterial Baroreflex Control of Cardiac Vagal Outflow in Older Individuals Can Be Enhanced by Aerobic Exercise Training

Maintained cardiac vagal function is critical to cardiovascular health in human aging. Aerobic exercise training has been considered an attractive intervention to increase cardiovagal baroreflex function; however, the data are equivocal. Moreover, if regular exercise does reverse the age-related decline in cardiovagal baroreflex function, it is unknown how this might be achieved. Therefore, we assessed the effects of a 6-month aerobic training program on baroreflex gain and its mechanical and neural components in older individuals (5 women and 7 men, aged 55 to 71 years). We assessed baroreflex function using pharmacological pressure changes (bolus nitroprusside followed by bolus phenylephrine) and estimated the integrated gain (ΔR-R interval/Δ systolic blood pressure) and mechanical (Δ diameter/Δ pressure) and neural (ΔR-R interval/Δ diameter) components via measurements of carotid artery diameter in previously sedentary older individuals before and after 6 months of aerobic training. There was a significant 26% increase in baroreflex gain that was directly related to the amount of exercise performed and that was derived mainly from an increase in the neural component of the arterial baroreflex ( P
Sediment chronology in San Francisco Bay, California, defined by 210Pb, 234Th, 137Cs, and 239,240Pu

Abstract Sediment chronologies based on radioisotope depth profiles were developed at two sites in the San Francisco Bay estuary to provide a framework for interpreting historical trends in organic compound and metal contaminant inputs. At Richardson Bay near the estuary mouth, sediments are highly mixed by biological and/or physical processes. Excess 234 Th penetration ranged from 2 to more than 10 cm at eight coring sites, yielding surface sediment mixing coefficients ranging from 12 to 170 cm2/year. At the site chosen for contaminant analyses, excess 210 Pb activity was essentially constant over the upper 25 cm of the core with an exponential decrease below to the supported activity between 70 and 90 cm. Both 137 Cs and 239,240 Pu penetrated to 57-cm depth and have broad subsurface maxima between 33 and 41 cm. The best fit of the excess 210 Pb profile to a steady state sediment accumulation and mixing model yielded an accumulation rate of 0.825 g/cm2/year (0.89 cm/year at sediment surface), surface mixing coefficient of 71 cm2/year, and 33-cm mixed zone with a half-Gaussian depth dependence parameter of 9 cm. Simulations of 137 Cs and 239,240 Pu profiles using these parameters successfully predicted the maximum depth of penetration and the depth of maximum 137 Cs and 239,240 Pu activity. Profiles of successive 1-year hypothetical contaminant pulses were generated using this parameter set to determine the age distribution of sediments at any depth horizon. Because of mixing, sediment particles with a wide range of deposition dates occur at each depth. A sediment chronology was derived from this age distribution to assign the minimum age of deposition and a date of maximum deposition to a depth horizon. The minimum age of sediments in a given horizon is used to estimate the date of first appearance of a contaminant from its maximum depth of penetration. The date of maximum deposition is used to estimate the peak year of input for a contaminant from the depth interval with the highest concentration of that contaminant. Because of the extensive mixing, sediment-bound constituents are rapidly diluted with older material after deposition. In addition, contaminants persist in the mixed zone for many years after deposition. More than 75 years are required to bury 90% of a deposited contaminant below the mixed zone. Reconstructing contaminant inputs is limited to changes occurring on a 20-year time scale. In contrast, mixing is much lower relative to accumulation at a site in San Pablo Bay. Instead, periods of rapid deposition and/or erosion occurred as indicated by frequent sand-silt laminae in the X-radiograph. 137 Cs , 239,240 Pu , and excess 210 Pb activity all penetrated to about 120 cm. The distinct maxima in the fallout radionuclides at 105–110 cm yielded overall linear sedimentation rates of 3.9 to 4.1 cm/year, which are comparable to a rate of 4.5±1.5 cm/year derived from the excess 210 Pb profile.
A river runs through it: how autophagy, senescence, and phagocytosis could be linked to phospholipase D by Wnt signaling.

Neutrophils and macrophages are professional phagocytic cells, extremely efficient at the process of engulfing and killing bacteria. Autophagy is a similar process, by which phagosomes recycle internal cell structures during nutrient shortages. Some pathogens are able to subvert the autophagy process, funneling nutrients for their own use and for the host's detriment. Additionally, a failure to mount an efficient autophagy is a deviation on the cell's part from normal cellular function into cell senescence and cessation of the cell cycle. In spite of these reasons, the mechanism of autophagy and senescence in leukocytes has been under studied. We advance here the concept of a common thread underlying both autophagy and senescence, which implicates PLD. Such a PLD-based autophagy mechanism would involve two positive inputs: the generation of PA to help the initiation of the autophagosome and a protein–protein interaction between PLD and PKC that leads to enhanced PA. One negative input is also involved in this process: down-regulation of PLD gene expression by mTOR. Additionally, a dual positive/negative input plays a role in PLD-mediated autophagy, β-catenin increase of autophagy through PLD up-regulation, and a subsequent feedback termination by Dvl degradation in case of excessive autophagy. An abnormal PLD-mTOR-PKC-β-catenin/Wnt network function could lead to faulty autophagy and a means for opportunistic pathogens to survive inside of the cell.
Efficient Computing of Relational Algebraic Primitives in a Database Machine Architecture

Algorithms are described and analyzed for the efficient evaluation of the primitive operators of a relational algebra on a database machine architecture. The architecture contains a RAM divided up into partitions, each partition having a separate server. Tuples from the first operand relation are stored in linked lists in the partitioned RAM via bit and pointer arrays based on hashed column values. Each tuple in the second operand relation is either deposited in the corresponding partition server queue based on the hashed value, or it is ignored. Cross-referencing involved in the operations is removed without performing a sorting operation, which significantly reduces the time complexity. A procedure is also presented for computing the optimal number of partition servers for different applications.
Metabotropic receptors in excitotoxicity: (S)-4-carboxy-3-hydroxyphenylglycine ((S)-4C3HPG) protects against rat striatal quinolinic acid lesions

Striatal quinolinate lesions mimic many of the neuropathological characteristics of Huntington's disease. This excitotoxicity is mediated by combined activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Using recently developed phenylglycine derivatives, (S)-4-carboxy-3-hydroxyphenylglycine ((S)-4C3HPG) and (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine ((+)-MCPG), we investigated the role of the different sub-classes of mGluRs in the in vivo excitotoxic process. (S)-4C3HPG (500 and 1000 nmol), co-injected with quinolinic acid, significantly reduced lesion volumes by 52 and 89%, respectively, whereas the same doses of (+)-MCPG had no effect on lesion size. The differential actions of these two drugs at Group 1 and Group 2 metabotropic receptors may explain their differential effects. These observations confirm the important role of mGluRs in excitotoxicity and identify them as promising targets for intervention.
Selective measurement of organic vapors using SAW sensors with reactive or sorptive coatings: steric, electronic, and solubility factors

Models for predicting vapor/coating sorption based on the physical and chemical properties of the coatings and vapors have been investigated in an effort to establish selection criteria for sorptive SAW sensor array coatings for organic vapors. Sensor response data for two coatings exposed to over 30 organic vapors have been used to examine four predictive models. These preliminary results show that semiquantitative prediction of SAW sensor responses is possible. In an alternative approach, SAW sensor coatings containing reactive trapping agents have been used to selectively detect various olefin vapors. Advantage is taken of the ability of certain olefins to replace ethylene in reagents of the general formula PtCl/sub 2/(ethylene)(substituted-pyridine). Subtle differences in the steric properties of the olefin vapors, and the steric and electronic properties of the pyridine ligand in the trapping reagent lead to significant changes in sensor response. >