cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surviving Turbulence in Transatlantic Relations

political ties. Depending on one's professional occupation or ideological perspective, the answer can be "yes," "no," or "maybe." In Divided West: European Security and the Transatlantic Relationship, Tuomas Forsberg and Graeme Herd-two scholars with extensive knowledge of European integration and US-European relations-provide an incisive yet thought provoking analysis of recent developments. Europe and the United States, they argue, are engaged in neither a strategic realignment nor a divorce. Rather, recent disagreements represent a "constructive strategic dissonance" in which seeming instability, half-way policy approaches, and half-cocked military operations coexist with continuous, and strategically coherent, interest-based policies (pp. 2ff). Forsberg and Herd identify five different "Europes:" Core Europe (Germany and supportive continental states), Atlantic Europe (predominantly Britain, but also Denmark, the Netherlands, and Portugal), Non-Aligned Europe (Austria, Ireland, Finland, and Sweden), New Europe (the ten states that joined the European Union in 2004), and Periphery Europe (Russia, Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine). They then examine the objectives and policy preferences of each of these Europes within a changing transatlantic relationship. In their quest to "systematize and deepen our understanding of different explanations given to the crisis in transatlantic relations in the hope that 'nothing is as practical as a good theory"' (p. 17), Forsberg and Herd cite ample empirical evidence to present and explain the dominant schools of thought: realism, liberalism, and constructivism. The effort is admirable given that many academic texts tend to be overly theoretical and short on empirical evidence. It is also useful given that much policy writing falls short on holistic explanations and generalizable inferences. Chapter 2 can serve as a stand-alone introduction for any introductory international relations course. The chapter on "Atlanticist Europe" focuses on the historic "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States. Intriguingly, it shows that Tony Blair's personal friendships with Bill Clinton and George Bush and British support for the Iraq war have failed to halt Britain's diminishing clout in Washington. Britain is now said to be drawing the short end of the partnership stick, and, given a more assertive European Union, "the UK's role as Transatlantic broker will become more ambiguous and pivotal, and the risks of becoming a continual casualty in transatlantic traffic will only increase" (p. 51). Yet, Forsberg and Herd's gloomy assessment tends to overshadow many positive developments stemming from the establishment of the European
Distribution and Relationships of Sediments and Organisms, Mugu Lagoon, California: ABSTRACT

Prior to paleoecologic interpretation of fossils and their surrounding matrix, it is necessary to judge the adequacy of the geologic record to depict depositional site ecology. In a study of the ecology of Mugu Lagoon, several aspects of sediment and organism distribution are of interest. The aim of this work is to determine how well the Recent ecology of this area may be preserved in the record. The approach being used follows. The sediments found within this physiographic setting are being analyzed in detail for grain size, organic matter, and carbonate. The significance of their distribution and character is being determined in relation to distance from the tidal inlet, tide levels, subaqueous and intertidal marsh vegetation, and fauna. Sedimentary structures from different environments of deposition are being described, and the importance of biogenic structures judged. The flora of the lagoon is zoned by tidal level. Subtidal eelgrass serves as a refuge and feeding ground, and is being tested for an endemic fauna. Eelgrass and the salt marsh serve as an effective baffle system to trap fine-grained sediments; these are being studied for distinct structures and organism remains. The fauna of the lagoon is being sampled, using ¼-sq. m. quadrats in conjunction with special dredging apparatus. Living organisms and shell remains are sorted, tabulated, and compared. In this manner the relations of the faunal elements can be compared to environmental parameters of the lagoon and to each other. From preliminary results, the following points of paleoecologic interest can be made: Post-depositional changes resulting from diagenesis and lithification commonly can be discovered with micro- or macroscopic techniques. Penecontemporaneous changes, caused directly or indirectly by the work of many kinds of organisms, may be quantitatively more important. These latter changes commonly are more difficult to discover and assess. Although sediments and primary structures are functions of available material and energy, even moderate populations of animals can rework the sediments so that only biogenic structures are preserved, or the sediment can become apparently homogeneous. Living populations of animals with hard parts are well represented by shell remains from the same quadrat, but absolute numbers of living and dead representatives of the same species are quite variable. Fossil population from this kind of environment should be largely in place, with little post-depositional transportation. Rapid dissolution of shells can occur in some depositional environments. Examples illustrating these points are presented. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1091------------
Numerical solution of the two-dimensional Euler equations by second-order upwind difference schemes

Two time-level, five-point explicit and implicit upwind difference schemes based on the characteristic flux difference splitting concept have been developed for the two-dimensional Euler equations. The method is conservative, second-order accurate in time and space, and general coordinate systems are used to treat complex geometries. Nonlinear flux limiters are employed to yield oscillation free sharp shock profiles. Upstream interpolation is used to yield a class of higher-order upwind schemes which closely mimic the locally one-dimensional method of characteristics (with fixed time intervals) through operator splitting. Numerical results have been obtained for a plane shock reflection and for flow over a circular arc in a channel. Characteristics of upwind TVD schemes, as applied to two-dimensional flows with embedded shocks are discussed.
Predictor-corrector guidance algorithm for use in high-energy aerobraking system studies

A three-degree-of-freedom predictor-corrector guidance algorithm has been developed specifically for use in high-energy aerobraking performance evaluations. The present study reports on both the development and capabilities of this guidance algorithm to the design of manned Mars aero-braking vehicles. Atmospheric simulations are performed to demonstrate the applicability of this algorithm and to evaluate the effect of atmospheric uncertainties upon the mission requirements. The off-nominal conditions simulated result from atmospheric density and aerodynamic characteristic mispredictions. The guidance algorithm is also used to provide relief from the high deceleration levels typically encountered in a high-energy aerobraking mission profile. Through this analysis, bank-angle modulation is shown to be an effective means of providing deceleration relief. Furthermore, the capability of the guidance algorithm to manage off-nominal vehicle aerodynamic and atmospheric density variations is demonstrated.
Quantitative evaluation of Flat Panel detector scintillator effect on interventional device visualisation in x-ray fluoroscopy

In Flat Panel (FP) detectors, fluoroscopy image quality is greatly affected by a variety of design and fabrication parameters. Among those parameters, the thickness of scintillator layer is very important and can be readily changed in fabrication. A thick scintillator layer can improve x-ray photon conversion efficiency but also degrade modulation transfer function due to a larger spatial blurring. It is proposed to optimise the selection of scintillator layer thickness for a better visualisation of small interventional devices. We applied quantitative experimental techniques and simulated three detector models including a direct detector and two indirect detectors. Two interventional devices, stent and guidewire, were investigated. Human observer experiments and computational model studies were conducted. Both of them demonstrate that the detection depends on the detector scintillator thickness and the structure of interventional device. At low x-ray exposures, a thick scintillator outperforms a thin scintillator in detection performance. A simulated direct detector has the least blurring in the images and hence gives even better detection performance for the stent detection. The thick indirect detector gives contrast sensitivities equal to those from the direct detector in the studies of guidewire detection and stent deployment.
Corticosteroids in Brain Tissue

Total corticosteroid concentrations were determined in the plasma and brains of five species: mouse, rat, cat, monkey and man. Corticosteroid concentrations were measured also in the livers of mice, rats and monkeys. Competitive protein binding techniques were validated and used for the tissue corticosteroid assays. In each species the brain corticosteroid value was less than the total plasma corticosteroid level but greater than the presumed unbound fraction of plasma corticosteroids. A clear circadian variation of brain corticosteroid values was found in mice, together with a rapid elevation of the tissue levels in response to stress. Reduction of both plasma and tissue corticosteroid concentrations was observed after adrenalectomy and in response to dexamethasone treatment of mice. Between 24 and 48 h post morten, mouse brain corticosteroid values decreased greatly. In cat, monkey and human brains all regions examined contained approximately equal amounts of corticosteroids. In particular, brain areas which are not involved in pituitary-adrenocortical regulation contained large amounts of corticosteroids.
Oxidation Kinetics of CVD Silicon Carbide and Silicon Nitride

The long-term oxidation behavior of pure, monolithic CVD SiC and Si3N4 is studied, and the isothermal oxidation kinetics of these two materials are obtained for the case of 100 hrs at 1200-1500 C in flowing oxygen. Estimates are made of lifetimes at the various temperatures investigated. Parabolic rate constants for SiC are within an order of magnitude of shorter exposure time values reported in the literature. The resulting silica scales are in the form of cristobalite, with cracks visible after exposure. The oxidation protection afforded by silica for these materials is adequate for long service times under isothermal conditions in 1-atm dry oxygen.
The effect of reservoirs and fuel dilution on the dynamic behavior of a PEMFC

Abstract Data are presented to characterize the effects of reservoir size and hydrogen dilution on the dynamic behavior of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) subjected to rapid changes in the voltage when the flowrates are constant. The data consist of the responses of the current density during low fuel stoichiometries in an effort to expand an understanding of the previously observed overshoot/undershoot behavior. That is, recent studies of the dynamic behavior of a PEMFC have shown pseudo-second-order dynamics of the current response to a change in voltage [J. Power Sources (2004); J. Electrochem. Soc. (2004)]. The data reported here lend further evidence that under fuel starved conditions, rapid changes in the cell voltage between 0.7 and 0.5 V yield pressure differences sufficient to create a “vacuum” effect. This vacuum effect may cause fuel to be drawn from the manifold in a stack or cause ambient air to enter a laboratory scale cell. The vacuum effect explained in our previous work [J. Power Sources (2004)] is shown here to depend on diameter and volume of fuel reservoirs and on the concentration of hydrogen in the fuel.
Enabling context-sensitive information seeking

Information seeking is an important but often difficult task, especially when it involves large and complex data sets. We hypothesize that a context-sensitive interaction paradigm would greatly assist users in their information seeking. Such a paradigm would allow users to both express their requests and receive requested information in context. Driven by this hypothesis, we have taken rigorous steps to design, develop, and evaluate a full-fledged, context-sensitive information system. We started with a Wizard-of-OZ (WOZ) study to verify the effectiveness of our envi-sioned system. We then built a fully automated system based on the findings from our WOZ study. We targeted the development and integration of two sets of technologies: context-sensitive mul-timodal input interpretation and multimedia output generation. Finally, we formally evaluated the usability of our system in real world conditions. The results show that our system greatly improves the users' ability to perform practical information-seek-ing tasks. These results not only confirm our initial hypothesis, but they also indicate the practicality of our approaches.
Shape of a Cracking Whip

The crack of a whip is produced by a shock wave created by the supersonic motion of the tip of the whip in the air. A simple dynamical model for the propagation and acceleration of waves in the motion of whips is presented. The respective contributions of tension, tapering, and boundary conditions in the acceleration of an initial impulse are studied theoretically and numerically.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypogonadal mouse elaborate normal projections despite their biosynthetic deficiency.

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the mutant hypogonadal (hpg) mouse can establish axonal connections with their target despite their failure to synthesize and secrete the GnRH neuropeptide. Normal and hpg males received intraperitoneal injections of the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold. This tracer does not cross the blood-brain-barrier and hence is taken up only by neurons in the central nervous system whose axons terminate on fenestrated capillaries, such as the capillaries of the median eminence. The brains of the injected animals were processed for in situ hybridization to visualize GnRH transcribing cells. In 3 hpg males 64.1 ± 5.6% of GnRH transcribing cells contained Fluoro-Gold, while 55.8 ± 6.4% of the cells in 3 normal males had Fluoro-Gold. Thus, we have demonstrated that secretory-deficient GnRH neurons can establish axonal connections with their primary secretory target, the median eminence. We conclude that the capability of GnRH neurons to recognize and interact with their target is not dependent upon their neurosecretory function.
Third nerve paresis caused by vascular compression by the posterior communicating artery

Abstract Objective and importance: Third nerve paresis frequently occurs because of external compression by an internal carotid-posterior communicating artery aneurysm. We report 1 case of third nerve palsy because of direct vascular compression by the posterior communicating artery. Clinical presentation: A 69-year-old man presented to the hospital with the sudden onset of left third nerve palsy and a history of chronic headaches. A cerebral angiogram showed a cavernous aneurysm of the left internal carotid artery as well as a large dilatation of the left posterior communicating artery. Intervention: A left transylvian approach exposed an infundibulum of the left posterior communicating artery in contact with and creating an indentation on the third cranial nerve. The artery was dissected free of the nerve, and vascular decompression was achieved with complete resolution of the oculomotor nerve paresis. Conclusion: Third nerve palsy may in some cases result from direct vascular compression by the posterior communicating artery, particularly if associated with a broad infundibulum. Copyright © 2001 by National Stroke Association
Advances in Computer-Generated Imagery for Flight Simulation

The world of aviation flight simulation is an old one as computer graphics applications go. How did it progress to its current state, and where is it going next?
A method to accurately quantitate intensities of 32P-DNA bands when multiple bands appear in a single lane of a gel is used to study dNTP insertion opposite a benzo[a]pyrene-dG adduct by Sulfolobus DNA polymerases Dpo4 and Dbh

Quantitating relative (32)P-band intensity in gels is desired, e.g., to study primer-extension kinetics of DNA polymerases (DNAPs). Following imaging, multiple (32)P-bands are often present in lanes. Though individual bands appear by eye to be simple and well-resolved, scanning reveals they are actually skewed-Gaussian in shape and neighboring bands are overlapping, which complicates quantitation, because slower migrating bands often have considerable contributions from the trailing edges of faster migrating bands. A method is described to accurately quantitate adjacent (32)P-bands, which relies on having a standard: a simple skewed-Gaussian curve from an analogous pure, single-component band (e.g., primer alone). This single-component scan/curve is superimposed on its corresponding band in an experimentally determined scan/curve containing multiple bands (e.g., generated in a primer-extension reaction); intensity exceeding the single-component scan/curve is attributed to other components (e.g., insertion products). Relative areas/intensities are determined via pixel analysis, from which relative molarity of components is computed. Common software is used. Commonly used alternative methods (e.g., drawing boxes around bands) are shown to be less accurate. Our method was used to study kinetics of dNTP primer-extension opposite a benzo[a]pyrene-N(2)-dG-adduct with four DNAPs, including Sulfolobus solfataricus Dpo4 and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius Dbh. Vmax/Km is similar for correct dCTP insertion with Dpo4 and Dbh. Compared to Dpo4, Dbh misinsertion is slower for dATP (∼20-fold), dGTP (∼110-fold) and dTTP (∼6-fold), due to decreases in Vmax. These findings provide support that Dbh is in the same Y-Family DNAP class as eukaryotic DNAP κ and bacterial DNAP IV, which accurately bypass N(2)-dG adducts, as well as establish the scan-method described herein as an accurate method to quantitate relative intensity of overlapping bands in a single lane, whether generated from (32)P-signals or by other means (e.g., staining).
Effects of 23.4% sodium chloride solution in reducing intracranial pressure in patients with traumatic brain injury: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE Mannitol is the standard of care for patients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP), but multiple administrations of mannitol risk renal toxicity and fluid accumulation in the brain parenchyma with consequent worsening of cerebral edema. This preliminary study assessed the safety and efficacy of small-volume injections of 23.4% sodium chloride solution for the treatment of intracranial hypertension in patients with traumatic brain injury who became tolerant to mannitol. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 13 adult patients with traumatic brain injury who received mannitol and 23.4% sodium chloride independently for the treatment of intracranial hypertension at San Francisco General Hospital between January and October 2003. Charts were reviewed to determine ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure, mean arterial pressure, serum sodium values, and serum osmolarity before and after treatment with 23.4% sodium chloride and mannitol. Complications were noted. RESULTS The mean reductions in ICP after treatment were significant for both mannitol (P < 0.001) and hypertonic saline (P < 0.001); there were no significant differences between reductions in ICP when comparing the two agents (P = 0.174). The ICP reduction observed for hypertonic saline was durable, and its mean duration of effect (96 min) was significantly longer than that of mannitol treatment (59 min) (P = 0.016). No complications were associated with treatment with hypertonic saline. CONCLUSION This study suggests that 23.4% hypertonic saline is a safe and effective treatment for elevated ICP in patients after traumatic brain injury. These results warrant a rigorous evaluation of its efficacy as compared to mannitol in a prospective randomized controlled trial.
Dynamic radionuclide determination of regional left ventricular wall motion using a new digital imaging device

In 47 men with arteriographically defined coronary artery disease comparative studies of left ventricular ejection fraction and segmental wall motion were made with radionuclide data obtained from the image intensifier camera computer system and with contrast cineventriculography. The radionuclide data was digitized and the images corresponding to left ventricular end-diastole and end-systole were identified from the left ventricular time-activity curve. The left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic images were subtracted to form a silhouette difference image which described wall motion of the anterior and inferior left ventricular segments. The image intensifier camera allows manipulation of dynamically acquired radionuclide data because of the high count rate and consequently improved resolution of the left ventricular image.
Interpersonal Distance as Affected by Room Size, Status, and Sex

Summary The relation between room size and interpersonal distance as manifested in a seated conversation, as well as the effects of the sex and relative status of the speakers upon this distance, are examined. Subjects (n = 80) were asked to interact singly with one of 12 confederates in varying combinations of room size, status, and sex conditions. As predicted, the size of this interpersonal distance was inversely related to room size. A perceptual-behavioral threshold for room size was suggested, as it was also noted that the distance scores in the small room were distributed bimodally as opposed to the unimodal scores in the large room. Neither status nor sex was found to affect interpersonal distance consistently.
The Chlamydia trachomatis CT149 protein exhibits esterase activity in vitro and catalyzes cholesteryl ester hydrolysis when expressed in HeLa cells.

Chlamydia, like other intracellular bacteria, are auxotrophic for a variety of essential metabolites and obtain cholesterol and fatty acids from their eukaryotic host cell, however not many Chlamydia-specific enzymes have been identified that are involved in lipid metabolism. In silico analysis of one candidate Chlamydia trachomatis enzyme, annotated as a conserved putative hydrolase (CT149), identified two lipase/esterase GXSXG motifs, and a potential cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus (CRAC) sequence. His-tag purified recombinant CT149 exhibited ester hydrolysis activity in a nitrophenyl acetate-based cell-free assay system. When cholesteryl linoleate was used as substrate, ester hydrolysis occurred and production of cholesterol was detected by high performance liquid chromatography. Exogenous expression of transfected CT149 in HeLa cells resulted in a significant decrease of cytoplasmic cholesteryl esters within 48 h. These results demonstrate that CT149 has cholesterol esterase activity and is likely to contribute to the hydrolysis of eukaryotic cholesteryl esters during intracellular chlamydial growth.
An Overview of LNG Facility Siting and Licensing

The imported LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) is temporarily stored in large tanks at the “base-load” plants. Because of the large quantities of LNG involved and the potential hazards associated with an accidental spill, various federal, state, and local governmental agencies have adopted stringent safety regulations for siting, design, construction, and operation of these facilities. Obtaining numerous required licenses from these regulatory agencies is a lengthy and tedious process. Prior to the issuance of permits to construct and operate an LNG terminal, the project sponsors must demonstrate the need to import natural gas, financial ability to complete the project, the environmental impact of this project, and the risk level to which the public will be exposed by the project. The acceptance of a proposed LNG site by state and federal regulatory agencies is strongly influenced by the various risk levels associated with natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, winds, tornadoes, and tsunamis. During the lengthy certification proceedings, a project sponsor is required to develop on the record that the relevant hazards are investigated in depth and the proposed mitigation measures are clearly specified so that responsible decisions regarding siting and design criteria can be made by the appropriate regulatory agency. Prior to commencing the lengthy process of certification, the project sponsor must thoroughly investigate the geological and seismic conditions, as well as population density and other requirements set forth by various local, state, and federal governmental agencies. A slight oversight in meeting any of these requirements could result in extensive regulatory delays or even denial of a permit.
Sustained mismatching performance in pigeons with chronically maintained conditioned reinforcement

Pigeons were presented with free grain via a variable-interval tape if or after no pecking had occurred for 2 sec. Concurrently, mismatching-to-sample performance intermittently produced conditioned reinforcement in only one component of a two-component multiple schedule. Throughout a series of experimental manipulations, mismatching was differentially sustained in the conditioned-reinforcement component. Performances were relatively insensitive to changes in the frequency of free gain delivery over a wide range of frequencies. These results extend previous results to complex discrimination and suggest that the frequency of sustained responding is relatively independent of the frequency of free grain.
Separation and determination of iron-containing proteins via liquid chromatography-particle beam/hollow cathode-optical emission spectroscopy.

Presented here is a method for the quantitative determination of iron-containing metalloproteins. Four iron-containing metalloproteins (transferrin, myoglobin, hemoglobin, and cytochrome c) were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and determined through particle beam/hollow cathode−optical emission spectroscopy (PB/HC−OES) by the Fe (I) 371.9 nm optical emission. Parametric optimization of sample introduction, nebulization, and hollow cathode source conditions is performed for the suite of Fe-metalloproteins. Response curves for the Fe (I) emission were obtained under optimized conditions with detection limits for triplicate injections occurring on the nanogram level for iron (∼24 ng) with variability of <7% RSD over the concentration range of 0.1−100 μg/mL iron in the metalloproteins. Response curves for S (I) emission yielded similar analytical characteristics. Optical emission detection of the liquid chromatography separations of the iron-containing metalloproteins demonstrates t...
Effect of coagulation on a model planktonic food web

Abstract Observations have shown that aggregates (“marine snow”) are an important fraction of the organic matter vertical flux in the ocean. There has been a separation in biological models describing this flux, with coagulation models focused on phytoplankton blooms for which particle concentrations are high and grazing is low and neglectable and with plankton models focused on food web interactions neglecting coagulation dynamics. This separation has partly resulted from the difficulty in describing the interactions among the multiple particle sources using a coagulation model for a food web. New approaches for describing particle dynamics now make it possible to do so. The present study examines the effect of combining the food web model of Fasham et al. (1990. Journal of Marine Research 34, 591–639) with a coagulation dynamics model and applying the combined model to describe the annual cycle of an oligotrophic plankton system. As part of the model formulation, the coagulation kernels had to be altered to include both the case of fractal particles interacting and the case of smaller particles being faster settling. Results show that coagulation can have an important effect on particle flux even in the low particle concentration oligotrophic environment by increasing average particle settling speed and by increasing the ratio of maximum to minimum daily vertical flux over the course of a yearly cycle. As part of this, coagulation forms large, rapidly sinking particles. Grazing and the accompanying formation of fecal pellets can compete with coagulation for particles, but the fecal pellets can also participate in the formation of large aggregates. Among the variables that can influence export rates are phytoplankton size and concentration as well as depth of the surface mixed layer. The results provide evidence for the importance of coagulation processes in enhancing particle export even in central ocean regions.
Food-borne disease in hospitale: Prevention in a changing food service environment☆

The results of an investigation into an outbreak of food-borne disease at a hospital in Los Angeles County are reported. The outbreak occurred at a luncheon buffet for nonpatient visitors attending an event at the hospital, which was catered by the hospital. The food source and etiologic agent(s) responsible for the outbreak were not identified by our investigation. However, several issues relating to the changing character of hospital food provision and their implications for prevention of food-borne disease in hospitals were conspicuous. Two trends apparent in hospital food service are toward increased use of foodstuffs prepared by wholesale food manufacturers and more frequent invitation to community groups to meet within hospital facilities and use hospital catering services. We found that (1) hospital kitchens in Los Angeles County are undersurveyed with respect to frequency of sanitary inspections; (2) hospitals have no mechanism whereby to assess the sanitary inspection record of wholesale food manufacturers from whom they purchase foodstuffs; and (3) crossover of food items prepared for nonpatient hospital visitors, including catered foods, to the inpatient menu occurs. The potential risks for a food-borne disease outbreak among compromised inpatients resulting from these factors are discussed, and measures to reduce such risk are proposed.
Lady Luck? Women Political Consultants in U.S. Congressional Campaigns

Recent years have witnessed considerable growth in the political consulting profession (Panagopoulos 2006). In this article, the authors analyze female political consultants and their participation in the burgeoning political consulting industry. The authors assess the role women play as advisors in congressional campaigns. Specifically, they focus on how widely women and their consulting firms participate as professional advisors to candidates in federal elections and what factors help to determine whether female-partnered firms are hired by candidates.
Theoretical evaluation of range limitations in HIPERLAN receivers

The author identifies the characteristics of the European wireless LAN standard, HIPERLAN, which impact on its range. The noise performance required of each receiver class is then assessed. It is suggested that receiver sensitivity can be deliberately limited, reducing observed delay spread. This technique could allow unequalised HIPERLAN receivers to challenge directed infra-red in short range, low cost applications.
Religious Conversion: Classic and Contemporary Questions and Issues

This essay offers a review of Lewis Rambo and Charles Farhadian’s The Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion (2014) in light of Lewis Rambo’s previous work on religious conversion, especially his Understanding Religious Conversion (1993). Classic and contemporary questions and issues in conversion studies are noted. The Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion is also engaged from the perspective of the author’s own work, as well as several passages from the work of William James. This essay concludes by suggesting that The Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion will remain a foundation upon which the field of conversion studies can continue to build for decades to come.
Recent results of earthquake study in Southern California

This report covers results which are partly already published, partly in course of publication, and partly still in preparation. The first synthetic study of earthquakes in southern California was published in 1932 [see 1 of “References” at end of paper]. In recent years available data have been much improved, owing to the installation of Benioff seismometers with high magnification at most of the stations, the establishment of new stations, and better chronometer-timing (six time-signals from the Naval Observatory are automatically recorded each day). Much experience in the interpretation of local seismograms has been gained with the continued occurrence of more and larger local shocks. The labor of calculation has been reduced by preparing special tables which quickly yield distances to 0.1 km [2].
Quantum dot infrared photodetectors: Comparison of experiment and theory

We present data and calculations and examine the factors that determine the detectivities in self-assembled InAs and InGaAs based quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs). We investigate a class of devices that combine good wavelength selectivity with ``high detectivity.'' We study the factors that limit the temperature performance of quantum dot detectors. For this we develop a formalism to evaluate the optical absorption and the electron transport properties. We examine the performance limiting factors and compare theory with experimental data. We find that the notion of a phonon bottleneck does not apply to large-diameter lenslike quantum dots, which have many closely spaced energy levels. The observed strong decrease of responsivity with temperature is ultimately due to a rapid thermal cascade back into the ground states. High temperature performance is improved by engineering the excited state to be near the continuum. The good low temperature $(77\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K})$ performance in strongly bound QDIPs is shown to be due to the high gain and the low noise achievable in these micron size devices.
Grain growth and complex stress evolution during Volmer–Weber growth of polycrystalline thin films

Abstract Volmer–Weber growth of polycrystalline thin films involves poorly understood kinetic processes that occur far from equilibrium and lead to complex co-evolution of the surface, microstructure and intrinsic stress of the films. Here we present a comprehensive study consisting of in situ stress measurements, microstructure characterization and analytical modeling for various metallic films that grow by the Volmer–Weber mechanism. We find that, under conditions of intermediate atomic mobility, stress evolution after coalescence involves a turnaround from a compressive to a tensile stress state. The thickness at which the stress turnaround is observed increases as the substrate temperature increases or the deposition rate decreases. We show that this phenomenon is associated with two competing mechanisms: grain growth during deposition (at homologous temperatures as low as 0.17) and adatom attachment to surface sites at grain boundaries. Grain growth during film deposition not only causes a tensile component of the intrinsic stress, but also leads to changes in the magnitude of the compressive stresses, from being independent of, to scaling with, the inverse of the grain size. Analyses of these phenomena lead to insights into stress evolution under conditions of low and high atomic mobility, as well as intermediate mobility, and are general for stress evolution during Volmer–Weber growth of polycrystalline films.
Non-Newtonian thin films: Theory and experiment

The flow of thin films of Newtonian and non-Newtonian, Power law fluids down a vertical plate was studied in the laminar and wavy flow regimes. A theoretical development based on the existence of a steady, periodic solution to the equations describing film flow was used to predict the flow characteristics of the film. Double logarithmic plots of film thickness versus Reynolds number (ReP. L.) were linear, as predicted, up to a ReP. L. = 100. The ratio of surface to average velocity was found to be approximately independent of the Reynolds number at values predicted by a laminar velocity profile. The wavelength of stable waves was found to be independent of the Reynolds number for a given fluid. On a etudie, dans les regimes decoulements laminaires et ondules, lecoulement vers le bas dune plaque verticale de pellicules minces de fluides newtoniens ou non et obeissant a la loi de lenergie. On a employe, pour predire les caracteristiques decoulement des dites pellicules, une theorie nouvelle basee sur lexistence dune solution ferme et periodique des equations qui decrivent lecoulement des pellicules. Comme on lavait prevu, les diagrammes logarithmiques doubles montrant lepaisseur des pellicules versus le nombre de Reynolds (ReP. L.) se sont averes lineaires jusqu'a un nombre de Reynolds de 100. On a trouve que le rapport entre la surface et la velocite moyenne etait approximativement independent du nombre de Reynolds pour des valeurs prevues par un profil de velocite laminaire. On a constate que la longueur dondes stables etait independante du nombre de Reynolds pour un fluide donne.
Antibiotic Resistance, Not Shaken or Stirred

James Bond preferred vodka martinis shaken, not stirred, displaying impressive discriminatory power. Bacteria may be similarly discerning. Zhang et al. ( 1 ) abandoned the standard lab practice of growing bacteria in shaking homogeneous liquid cultures in favor of fabricated microenvironments and report, on page 1764 of this issue, that bacteria can tell the difference. They evolve antibiotic resistance far more rapidly in the structured environment. Evolution seems to work differently in the microenvironment, and perhaps more like evolution in the real world.
Clinical significance of plasma lipid levels

Epidemiologic studies have established that elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol values and decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Results from clinical trials indicate that reduction in LDL cholesterol decreases the incidence of and reduces the risk of CAD. The National Cholesterol Education Program recently developed guidelines for the evaluation of plasma cholesterol in adults. Initial classification is categorized and based on the following values: less than 200 mg/dl is "desirable" blood cholesterol; from 200 through 239 mg/dl is classified as "moderate-high" blood cholesterol; and greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl is "high" blood cholesterol. Decision-making regarding therapeutic intervention is influenced by the presence of other lipoprotein risk factors, such as reduced HDL cholesterol and elevated lipoprotein (a), and nonlipid factors, including age, sex, hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and family or patient history of CAD. Persons with borderline-high blood cholesterol and established CAD or 2 other risk factors as well as those with high blood cholesterol should undergo lipoprotein analysis. LDL cholesterol is the primary lipoprotein to consider when determining treatment goals. Patients with LDL cholesterol levels greater than 160 mg/dl without CAD or 2 other risk factors and those patients with LDL cholesterol greater than 130 mg/dl with CAD or 2 other risk factors are initially managed with dietary therapy. The goal of treatment of hyperlipidemia is to reduce LDL cholesterol to less than 160 mg/dl or to less than 130 mg/dl in patients with established CAD or with 2 other risk factors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
National estimates of the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in the United States*

Several methods of estimating prevalence of dementia are presented in this article. For both Brookmeyer and the Chicago Health and Aging project (CHAP), the estimates of prevalence are derived statistically, forward calculating from incidence and survival figures. The choice of incidence rates on which to build the estimates may be critical. Brookmeyer used incidence rates from several published studies, whereas the CHAP investigators applied the incidence rates observed in their own cohort. The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) and the East Boston Senior Health Project (EBSHP) were sample surveys designed to ascertain the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. ADAMS obtained direct estimates by relying on probability sampling nationwide. EBSHP relied on projection of localized prevalence estimates to the national population. The sampling techniques of ADAMS and EBSHP were rather similar, whereas their disease definitions were not. By contrast, EBSPH and CHAP have similar disease definitions internally, but use different calculation techniques, and yet arrive at similar prevalence estimates, which are considerably greater than those obtained by either Brookmeyer or ADAMS. Choice of disease definition may play the larger role in explaining differences in observed prevalence between these studies. 2011 The Alzheimer’s Association. All rights reserved.
Effect of Dexamethasone on Ciprofibrate-Induced Cell Proliferation and Peroxisome Proliferation

Peroxisome proliferators cause liver cell proliferation in addition to other pleiotropic effects such as peroxisome proliferation and induction of certain peroxisomal and cytosolic enzymes in liver. Since dexamethasone has been shown to inhibit mitogen-induced liver cell hyperplasia, we examined whether dexamethasone inhibits only cell proliferation without affecting peroxisome proliferation induced by peroxisome proliferators such as ciprofibrate. Livers of rats fed a diet containing ciprofibrate (0.025%) with or without added dexamethasone (0.5 mg or 1 mg/kg diet) for 1 week were evaluated for hepatocyte proliferation and peroxisome proliferation. Dexamethasone administration resulted in abrogation of ciprofibrate-induced cell proliferation as shown by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling and mitoses counts. The hepatocyte proliferative index measured after administration of a single dose of BrdU was 18.3 +/- 1.1 and 2.3 +/- 0.7% (p < 0.01) in ciprofibrate and ciprofibrate + dexamethasone treated rats, respectively. With multiple injections of BrdU (daily injections for 7 days) the proliferative index was 225 +/- 10 and 183 +/- 2% (p < 0.02), respectively, in these two groups. Interestingly, whereas the levels of peroxisome proliferator-induced Mr 80,000 polypeptide and catalase and peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme, and the corresponding mRNAs and peroxisome volume density were unaffected. These results show that dexamethasone selectively inhibits only cell proliferation without inhibiting the peroxisome proliferation caused by ciprofibrate. This model should be useful for examining the role of cell proliferation versus oxidative stress in peroxisome proliferator-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
Biomagnetic localization from transient quasi-static events

Sensory stimuli, such as auditory, visual, or somatosensory, evoke neural responses in very localized regions of the brain. A SQUID biomagnetometer can measure the very weak fields that are generated outside of the head by this response. A simple source and head model of current dipoles inside a conducting sphere is typically used to interpret these magnetic field measurements or magnetoencephalograms (MEGs). Locating dipole sources using data recorded from an array of biomagnetic sensors is distinguished from conventional array source localization techniques by the quasi-static transient nature of the data. The basic MEG model is reviewed, and then a localization example is given to show the need for partitioning the data to improve estimator performance. Time-eigenspectrum analysis is introduced as a means of partitioning and interpreting spatio-temporal biomagnetic data. Examples using both simulated and somatosensory data are presented. >
Osteomyelitis mimicking a primary bone tumor in a patient with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation and Osler-Weber-Rendu disease

Extremity pain is a common presenting symptom seen by the practitioner; the etiology may be related to problems in the bone, joint, soft tissues, or neurovascular bundle. The differential diagnosis is extensive for each, with a careful history and physical exam narrowing the list. Imaging begins with plain radiographs, reserving CT and MRI for further work-up. We report an unusual presentation of osteomyelitis mimicking a bone tumor in a patient with Osler-Weber-Rendu disease.
Association of sleep characteristics with atrial fibrillation: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background Population-based studies have linked measures of sleep disordered breathing to nocturnally occurring atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes. Whether measures of sleep disordered breathing and sleep quality are associated with prevalent AF has not been studied in an unselected population. We investigated the cross-sectional association with prevalent AF of objectively collected prespecified measures of overnight sleep breathing disturbances, sleep stage distributions, arousal and sleep duration. Methods AF prevalence, defined by diagnosis codes, study electrocardiography and sleep study were examined among Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants who underwent polysomnography in the MESA Sleep Study (n=2048). Measurements and main results Higher apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) was associated with increased odds of AF, although the significance was attenuated after full adjustment for covariates including prevalent cardiovascular disease (OR: 1.22 (0.99 to 1.49) per SD (17/h), p=0.06). Analyses of sleep architecture measures and AF revealed significantly lower odds of AF associated with longer duration of slow wave sleep (OR: 0.66 (0.5 to 0.89) per SD (34 min), p=0.01) which persisted after additionally adjusting for AHI (OR: 0.68 (0.51 to 0.92), p=0.01). Higher sleep efficiency was significantly associated with lower likelihood of AF but the significance was lost when adjusted for AHI. No significant association was present between sleep duration and AF. In a model including AHI and arousal index, the association between AHI and AF was strengthened (AHI: OR 1.49 (1.15 to 1.91) per SD, p=0.002) and a significant inverse association between arousal index and AF was observed (OR 0.65 (0.50 to 0.86) per SD (12/h), p=0.005). Conclusions In a study of a large multiethnic population, AF was associated with AHI severity, and was more common in individuals with poor sleep quality as measured by reduced slow wave sleep time, a finding that was independent of AHI.
Ethnicity and Contemporary American Culture A Meta-Analytic Investigation of Horizontal–Vertical Individualism–Collectivism

The United States is one of the most culturally diverse societies. Research has documented numerous differences in cultural orientations across U.S. ethnic/racial groups. But with continual intergroup interactions and increasing influxes of non–European Americans, it remains unclear to what extent these cultural differences persist in the long term. Via meta-analysis, we compared African, Asian, Latino, and European Americans on horizontal–vertical individualism–collectivism. There were no ethnic/racial differences in the mean scores of both variants of collectivism, although European Americans were higher in vertical individualism than African Americans and Latino Americans. Longitudinal analyses pointed to evidence of a convergence of cultural orientations, but analyses of the intercorrelations between the four dimensions of individualism–collectivism revealed noticeable group differences. The discussion elaborates on processes that may promote cultural convergence. Remarks are also made with regard to ...