cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bicomponent PLA Nanofiber Nonwovens as Highly Efficient Filtration Media for Particulate Pollutants and Pathogens

Herein, a novel form of bicomponent nanofiber membrane containing stereo-complex polylactic acid (SC-PLA) was successfully produced by the side-by-side electrospinning of Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and Poly (D-lactic acid) (PDLA). We demonstrate that through these environmentally sustainable materials, highly efficient nanofiber assemblies for filtration can be constructed at very low basis weight. The physical and morphological structure, crystalline structure, hydrophobicity, porous structure, and filtration performance of the fibrous membranes were thoroughly characterized. It was shown that the fabricated polylactic acid (PLA) side-by-side fiber membrane had the advantages of excellent hydrophobicity, small average pore size, high porosity, high filtration efficiency, low pressure drop as well as superior air permeability. At the very low basis weight of 1.1 g/m2, the filtration efficiency and pressure drop of the prepared side-by-side membrane reached 96.2% and 30 Pa, respectively. Overall, this biomass-based, biodegradable filtration material has the potential to replace the fossil fuel-based polypropylene commercial meltblown materials for the design and development in filtration, separation, biomedical, personal protection and other fields.
Urban Informality: The Production and Regulation of Space

Urban informality is a polyvalent concept with roots in the debates of the 1970s about capitalism, informal work, and marginality. Most recently, urban informality has come to signify either an apocalyptic vision of a global epidemic of slums or a utopian vision of entrepreneurial poverty and improvised urbanism. Eschewing such conceptualizations, in this article, I present urban informality as a mode of the production and regulation of space. Urban informality is thus a heuristic device for understanding the territorial practices of state power and the processes of capital accumulation.
Bifurcation and Chaos in Chua’s Circuit Family

This paper surveys a wide variety of bifurcation and chaotic phenomena that can be observed from the normal form equation associated with a simple family of electronic circuits as described in Wu [1]. The equation consists of 3 ordinary differential equations whose only nonlinearity is a piecewise-linear function of onevariable. A great deal of experimental, numerical, and analytical results concerning this equation has been published [2–23] the highlights of which will be surveyed. In the context of the theme of this workshop, it is interesting to point out that in addition to some new numerical techniques applicable only to piecewise-linear equations, the continuation methoddeveloped in [24–25] has played an important role in deriving the many 2-parameter bifurcation diagrams.
Craniopharyngioma: The Role of Radiation

Although surgical resection is considered to be the primary first treatment when a patient presents with a craniopharyngioma, only 35% of such tumors present in locations that permit the possibility of complete resection. Radiotherapy was been used in the treatment of craniopharyngiomas for over 50 years. Although old techniques used opposed lateral portals directed to the sella turcica, modern radiotherapeutic techniques via the use of ct-based treatment planning and MRI fusion have permitted tighter treatment volumes which allow for better tumor control while limiting complications. Intracavitary radiotherapy with radio-isotopes and stereotactic radiosurgery may have a role in the treatment of recurrent cystic and solid recurrences respectively.
IP Rights and Technological Platforms

This paper is about intellectual property rights (IPRs) and platform technologies. After a brief introduction explaining some basics of networks, standards and platforms, I turn to three policy issues. The first is the role of IP in what might be termed platform policies, the decisions by courts and regulators concerning whether and how to promote multi-party access to important digital platforms such as media player hardware, cell phones, PCs, and the like. I argue that for the most part there is no need for IP law to directly promote interoperability, since market competition among competing platform technology owners will usually protect consumers quite well. Voluntary interoperability at various levels is the norm, an arrangement facilitated by the fact that property rights can and often are waived for strategic reasons. The apparent potential of IP law, and individual IP rights, to restrict access and harm consumers must therefore be seen in the context of competitive battles in which IP owners very selectively enforce their rights. Where coerced access through IP rules does prove necessary, it should be promoted sparingly and strictly ex post, only after rights have issued and their deployment and enforcement are shown to create anticompetitive effects. Second, I discuss optimal policy with respect to platform-content combinations, e.g., the question of whether to regulate or prohibit exclusive content licensing for a single platform, for example, the Apple iTunes/iPod system. Again I argue that competition, together with the divergent interests of content and platform owners, will usually protect consumers without the need for excessive regulation of platform-content deals. Finally, I consider ways to better accommodate traditional IP doctrines and policies to the need for flexibility and openness in platform battles, in particular, the need for a robust set of rules that permit an IP owner to credibly commit to open access to IPRs with a binding full or partial dedication of IP rights to members of the public or specific sub-groups. The idea is to more fully institutionalize the right of an IP owner to implement an “owned but open” platform strategy. I characterize this new sort of binding commitment to openness as “the right to include” – by analogy with the traditional notion of property as involving at its core a “right to exclude.”
Activation of the alternative pathway of complement is a feature of pre-term parturition but not of spontaneous labor at term.

Citation Vaisbuch E, Romero R, Erez O, Mazaki-Tovi S, Kusanovic JP, Soto E, Dong Z, Chaiworapongsa T, Kim SK, Ogge G, Pacora P, Yeo L, Hassan SS. Activation of the alternative pathway of complement is a feature of pre-term parturition but not of spontaneous labor at term. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 318–330 Problem Plasma concentrations of fragment Bb (FBb) are a marker for activation of the alternative pathway of the complement system. High concentrations of FBb in maternal blood, as early as the first trimester, are associated with subsequent spontaneous pre-term delivery <34 weeks of gestation. The aim of this study was to determine whether spontaneous pre-term labor (PTL) with intact membranes, intra-amniotic infection/inflammation (IAI) or labor at term are associated with alterations in circulating maternal FBb concentrations. Method of study This cross-sectional study included women in the following groups: (i) non-pregnant (n = 40); (ii) normal pregnancy (gestational age range 20–36, 6/7 weeks, n = 63); (iii) women at term not in labor (n = 70); (iv) women at term in spontaneous labor (n = 59); (v) patients with an episode of PTL who delivered at term (n = 62); (vi) PTL without IAI who delivered pre-term (n = 30); and (vii) PTL with IAI who delivered pre-term (n = 67). Maternal plasma FBb concentrations were determined by ELISA. Results (i) Among patients with PTL, those who had a pre-term delivery either with IAI (1.21 μg/mL, IQR 0.77–2.16) or without IAI (1.13 μg/mL, IQR 0.92–2.08) had a higher median maternal plasma FBb concentration than those who delivered at term (0.86 μg/mL, IQR 0.64–1.57; P = 0.007 and P = 0.026, respectively); (ii) there was no difference in the median plasma FBb concentration between patients with and without IAI who delivered pre-term (P = 0.9); (iii) in contrast, spontaneous labor at term was not associated with a significant change in the maternal plasma FBb concentration (P = 0.8); (iv) maternal plasma concentration of FBb did not differ significantly between normal pregnant women and the non-pregnant controls (P = 0.8) and were not correlated with advancing gestational age (r = −0.28, P = 0.8). Conclusion (i) Pre-term parturition is associated with activation of the alternative complement pathway in maternal circulation; (ii) such activation is not detectable in spontaneous labor at term; (iii) IAI does not explain the activation of the alternative pathway of complement in PTL. Collectively, these observations suggest that pre-term and term labors have fundamental differences in the regulation of innate immunity.
Robust Kinetic Convex Hulls in 3D

Kinetic data structures provide a framework for computing combinatorial properties of continuously moving objects. Although kinetic data structures for many problems have been proposed, some difficulties remain in devising and implementing them, especially robustly. One set of difficulties stems from the required update mechanisms used for processing certificate failures--devising efficient update mechanisms can be difficult, especially for sophisticated problems such as those in 3D. Another set of difficulties arises due to the strong assumption in the framework that the update mechanism is invoked with a single event. This assumption requires ordering the events precisely, which is generally expensive. This assumption also makes it difficult to deal with simultaneous events that arise due to degeneracies or due to intrinsic properties of the kinetized algorithms. In this paper, we apply advances on self-adjusting computation to provide a robust motion simulation technique that combines kinetic event-based scheduling and the classic idea of fixed-time sampling. The idea is to divide time into a lattice of fixed-size intervals, and process events at the resolution of an interval. We apply the approach to the problem of kinetic maintenance of convex hulls in 3D, a problem that has been open since 90s. We evaluate the effectiveness of the proposal experimentally. Using the approach, we are able to run simulations consisting of tens of thousands of points robustly and efficiently.
Vision conditions among first-graders of different racial/ethnic groups a year after vision screening by school nurses in Southern California

Background : Refractive error, if uncorrected, may decrease children’s academic achievement. Pediatric amblyopia, if untreated, may lead to visual impairment. The aims were to determine the prevalence of vision conditions and untreated vision conditions during the first-grade, a year after mandated vision screening by nurses. Methods : Ophthalmologists at the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic (MEC) examined 2,286 first-graders located in Southern California. Myopia and hyperopia were defined as at least -0.75 dioptre (D) and +1.25Ds in each principal meridian, respectively. Astigmatism was at least a 1-D difference between the two meridians. Untreated hyperopia was defined as habitual visual acuity worse than 20/30 and the lack of eyeglasses for clinically meaningful refractive error, i.e. at least +3Ds in each principal meridian. Amblyopia was defined using a standard definition. Results : In adjusted analysis, Asian/Pacific Islander children were more likely to have myopia compared to non-Hispanic White children. Forty-five out of 57 (78.9%) children with clinically meaningful hyperopia lacked eyeglasses. The rates of untreated hyperopia were higher in Latino/African American children and in children attending Title I schools ( i.e. schools disproportionately affected by poverty) compared to non-Hispanic white and children attending a non-Title I school, respectively. Seventeen of the 2,286 children (0.74%) had amblyopia. Fourteen of the 17 children with amblyopia (82.4%) were not receiving treatment for the condition at the time of the eye exam. Conclusions : Since most children with vision conditions lack eyeglasses or treatment in the first-grade, interventions are needed to assist the school nurses in providing follow-up eye care to children.
"To Conquer Myself": The New Strenuosity and the Emergence of "Thru-hiking" on the Appalachian Trail in the 1970s

In the early 1970s hundreds of hikers began to traverse all 2,000-plus miles of the Appalachian Trail in a single effort. Spanning from Maine to Georgia, today over 14,000 have trekked across the entirety of the famed “wilderness footpath.” A particular mentality, characterized by perceptions of asocial self-discovery gained though physical activity and “wilderness” recreation led to the initial 1970s “thru-hiker” surge. This sense of autonomous self-discovery, however, was connected to a certain social and cultural context. Indeed, it could be argued that thru-hikers embraced a certain brand of individualism that should be read as a manifestation of a privileged social position as much as the achievement of personal authenticity.
Regulation of heat shock proteins in the apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella during hot summer days and overwintering diapause

Developing larvae of the apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella are frequently exposed to summertime apple temperatures that exceed 40 °C and, during their overwintering diapause, pupae are exposed to sub-zero soil temperatures for prolonged periods. To investigate the potential involvement of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in response to these environmental extremes, the genes encoding Hsp70 and Hsp90 in R. pomonella are cloned and expression monitored during larval feeding within the apple and during overwintering pupal diapause. Larvae reared in the laboratory at constant temperatures of 25, 28 or 35 °C express Hsp90 but very little Hsp70. Larvae do not survive rearing at 40 °C. The temperature cycles to which larvae were exposed inside apples in the field, ranging 16–46.9 °C over a 24-h period, elicit strong Hsp70 and Hsp90 expression, which begins at mid-day and reaches a peak in late afternoon, coinciding with peak air and apple temperatures. Heat shock proteins are also expressed strongly by pupae during their overwintering diapause. Hsp70 is not expressed in nondiapausing pupae but is highly expressed throughout diapause. Hsp90 is constitutively expressed in both diapausing and nondiapausing pupae. Rhagoletis pomonella thus strongly expresses its Hsps during pupal diapause, presumably as a protection against low temperature injury, and during larval development to cope with natural temperature cycles prevailing in late summer.
The larynx for neurologists.

BACKGROUND The larynx is an amazingly versatile musculocartilaginous organ with complex sensory and motor responsibilities which allow functional coordination of the upper aerodigestive tract. REVIEW SUMMARY Phylogeny, anatomy, and function of the larynx are reviewed. The major laryngeal responsibilities are phonation, deglutition, control of respiration, and airway protection. Although phonation is the least important laryngeal function for survival, it is possibly the most "human" function, and special attention is paid to the mechanism of the human voice. Parkinson's hypophonia, vocal fold paralysis, and spasmodic dysphonia cases are presented to illustrate specific examples of neurologic dysfunction. CONCLUSION Understanding laryngeal function will promote earlier diagnosis of neurologic deficits and facilitate accurate evaluation and treatment of laryngeal dysfunction.
On symmetric incidence matrices of projective planes

We investigate the incidence matrix of a finite plane of ordern which admits a (C, L)-transitivityG. The elation groupG affords a generalized Hadamard matrixH=(h ij ) of ordern and an incidence matrix for the plane is completely determined by the matrixR(H)=(R(h ij )), whereR(g) denotes the regular permutation matrix forg∈G. We prove that in the caseR(H) is symmetric thatG is an elementary abelian 2-group or elseG is a nonabelian group andn is a square. Results are obtained in the abelian case linking the roots of the incidence matrixR(H) to the roots of the complex matrix χ(H), χ a nontrivial character ofG.
The Mut UL5-I682R Marek's Disease Virus with a Single Nucleotide Mutation Within the Helicase-Primase Subunit Gene not only Reduces Virulence but also Provides Partial Vaccinal Protection Against Marek's Disease

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is an oncogenic herpesvirus that afflicts chickens with the disease known as Marek's disease (MD). This virus induces tumors, nerve lesions, immunosuppression, and death of affected birds. Vaccines are the primary control method for MD but, due to the periodic evolution of field strains, it is necessary to explore the development of new MD vaccines. MD vaccines are often attenuated MDV strains generated through serial passage in vitro. We previously used experimental evolution of MDV to provide a better understanding of the genetic basis of attenuation. During complete genome sequencing of evolved MDV populations, we identified a point mutation within the UL5 helicase-primase gene and created a UL5 recombinant virus that significantly reduced disease incidence by 89%-100%. To determine if experimental evolution also identifies mutations that provide protective qualities as potential vaccine candidates, we tested the UL5 recombinant virus as a vaccine and compared its protection to commercial herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) and bivalent (HVT + SB-1) vaccines. Both commercial vaccines resulted in higher protection against MD than did the UL5 recombinant virus, although the UL5 virus did provide protection against developing MD in 46%-70% of birds challenged. This indicates that a mutation within the UL5 helicase-primase gene not only reduces virulence but also confers protection against challenge with virulent MDV, providing support that not only can experimental evolution identify candidate mutations involved in attenuation but can also identify potential candidates for use in vaccine development.
The Prize collecting traveling salesman problem

The following is a valid model for an important class of scheduling and routing problems. A salesman who travels between pairs of cities at a cost depending only on the pair, gets a prize in every city that he vitis and pays a penalty to every city that he fails to visit, wishes to minimize his travel costs and net penalties, while visiting enough cities to collect a prescribed amount of prize money. We call this problem the Prize Collecting Traveling Salesman Problem (PCTSP). This paper discusses structural properties of the PCTS polytope, the convex hull of solutions to the PCTSP. In particular, it identifies several families of facet defining inequalities for this polytope. Some of these inequalities are related to facets of the ordinary TS polytope, others to facets of the knapsack polytope. They can be used in algorithms for the PCTSP either as cutting planes or as ingredients of a Lagrangean optimand.
Origin of primary cosmic radiation and its antiproton component.

Primary cosmic ray origin and acceleration and antiproton energy spectrum, using Fokker-Planck diffusion equation
Strategies for integrating lead time and customer-order decisions

Make-to-order manufacturers are facing unprecedented challenges to fill their customer orders quickly and to reduce their operating costs. In this paper, we first describe and discuss order taking and lead time quoting practice in a real world make-to-order manufacturing system. We then develop a model for this practical problem to study the conflicting objectives of delivering customized orders quickly and maximizing expected profit. The primary goal of this paper is to develop a general model for studying the trade-offs and the interrelationships among the following manufacturing performance measures: manufacturing flow times, quoted lead time reliability (earliness and tardiness), throughput (or demand) rates, inventory levels, resource utilization, and expected profits. These and other related managerial issues are explored. Our structural results yield insights into basic choices between filling customer orders quickly and maximizing expected profit.
Characterization of chemically and virally transformed variants of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells.

Oncogenic derivatives of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were isolated in the nude mouse, and nononcogenic anchorage-independent transformants were isolated in vitro following chemical mutagenesis in vitro. These transformed cell lines as well as a Moloney sarcoma virus (MSV) transformed line were characterized with respect to their serum and anchorage requirements, growth rates, final saturation densities, and sensitivities to contact inhibition. None of these in vitro growth characteristics were found to correlate with tumorigenicity in nude mice. One tumongenic clone, MDCK-T1, was characterized with respect to serum-free growth requirements, cAMP production, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. These cells exhibited a significant reduction in the PGE1 requirement for growth, they produced higher levels of cAMP, and they expressed a reduced level of ODC activity relative to the parental MDCK cells. These findings may reflect changes in growth control mechanisms which accompany kidney epithelial cell tumori-genesis and suggest that the study of transformed lines derived in this manner could lead to the identification of in vitro properties which are associated with malignancy.
Predicting STEM Degree Outcomes Based on Eighth Grade Data and Standard Test Scores

Background Early identification of students who are potential candidates for achieving a degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) major would enable educators to offer programs designed to better enhance student interests and capabilities in those areas. Purpose (Hypothesis) This study uses an integrated model leveraging the strengths of multiple statistical techniques to analyze the educational process from pre-high school through college and predict which students will achieve a STEM education. Design/Method The probability of earning a STEM degree is modeled using variables available as of the eighth grade as well as standardized test scores from high school. These include demographic, attitudinal, experiential, and academic performance measures derived from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) dataset. The integrated model combines logistic regression, survival analysis, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis to predict whether an individual is likely to obtain a STEM degree. Results Predicted results of the integrated model were compared to actual outcomes and those of a separate logistic regression model. The modeling process identified a set of significant predictive variables and achieved very good predictive accuracy. The integrated model and logistic regression model performed with comparable precision. Conclusions The modeling process was adept at identifying STEM students and a large pool of other degree students that might have been capable of pursuing a STEM degree. The results suggest that it is quite feasible to identify good STEM candidates for a pro-STEM intervention to engage their interest in STEM and support stronger quantitative skill development.
Clinical outcomes of gamma knife radiosurgery in the salvage treatment of patients with recurrent high-grade glioma.

Background Previously published randomized evidence did not report a survival advantage for patients diagnosed with grade IV glioma who were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery followed by external beam radiation therapy and chemotherapy when compared to patients treated with external beam radiation therapy and chemotherapy alone. In recent years, gamma knife radiosurgery has become increasingly popular as a salvage treatment modality for patients diagnosed with recurrent high-grade glioma. The purpose of this article is to review the efficacy of gamma knife radiosurgery for patients who suffer from this malignancy. Methods Retrospective, prospective, and randomized clinical studies published between the years 2000 and 2012 analyzing gamma knife radiosurgery for patients with high-grade glioma were reviewed. Results After assessing patient age, Karnofsky performance status, tumor histology, and extent of resection, gamma knife radiosurgery is a viable, minimally invasive treatment option for patients diagnosed with recurrent high-grade glioma. The available prospective and retrospective evidence suggests that gamma knife radiosurgery provides patients with a high local tumor control rate and a median survival after tumor recurrence ranging from 13 to 26 months. Gamma knife radiosurgery followed by chemotherapy for recurrent high-grade glioma may provide select patients with increased levels of survival. However, further investigation into this matter is needed due to the limited number of published reports. Additional clinical research is also needed to analyze the efficacy and radiation-related toxicities of fractionated gamma knife radiosurgery due to its potential to limit treatment-associated morbidity. Conclusions Gamma knife radiosurgery is a safe and effective treatment option for select patients diagnosed with recurrent high-grade glioma. Although treatment outcomes have improved, further evidence in the form of phase III randomized trials is needed to assess the durability of treating patients in specific clinical situations.
Soft X-ray Imaging System for Measurement of Noncircular Tokamak Plasmas

A soft X-ray camera and image processing system has been constructed to provide measurements of the internal shape of high temperature tokamak plasmas. The camera consists of a metallic-foil-filtered pinhole aperture and a microchannel plate image intensifier/convertor which produces a visible image for detection by a CCD TV camera. A wide-angle tangential view of the toroidal plasma allows a single compact camera to view the entire plasma cross section. With Be filters 12 to 100 m thick, the signal from the microchannel plate is produced mostly by nickel L-line emissions which originate in the hot plasma core. The measured toroidal image is numerically inverted to produce a cross-sectional soft X-ray image of the plasma. Since the internal magnetic flux surfaces are usually isothermal and the nickel emissivity depends strongly on the local electron temperature, the X-ray emission contours reflect the shape of the magnetic surfaces in the plasma interior. Initial results from the PBX tokamak experiment show clear differences in internal plasma shapes for circular and bean-shaped discharges.
Long-distance Travel by women : Results from the 1995 American Travel Survey

Research on women's mobility has focused mostly on local travel, partly as a result of data availability. Women's long-distance travel, defined as trips over 161 km (100 mi) one way, is examined, with data from the 1995 American Travel Survey (ATS). Conducted for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by the Bureau of the Census, the ATS collected information on the origin, destination, volume, and characteristics of long-distance travel from 80,000 households in the United States. Data are presented on women's long-distance travel disaggregated by, among other things, trip purpose, trip mode, age, race/ethnicity, and household type. Where possible and appropriate, ATS data are compared with data from 1977, the last time such a survey was conducted. The data show women made fewer long-distance trips than men in 1995 and the disparity between the sexes is virtually unchanged since 1977. About 80 percent of the difference in trip making results from men taking more than twice the number of business trips a...
Comparing Auditory vs Visual Stimuli in the Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon:

An experiment is reported comparing the effectiveness of auditory and visual stimuli in eliciting the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon. 30 participants were asked to name the titles of 27 television shows. Half of the participants were given segments of the theme song for each show (auditory cue), and half were shown the cast photographs for each show (visual cue). Participants were asked to report whenever they experienced the tip-of-the-tongue state. There were no significant differences between the auditory and visual stimuli in terms of the incidence rate for the tip-of-the-tongue state, the amount of partial information that participants provided in their responses, or the frequency of interlopers (alternative responses that persistently come to mind). These findings suggest that the characteristics of the tip-of-the-tongue state are determined more by the nature of the response set than by the type of stimuli used as cues. The results are inconsistent with inferential theories of the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, such as the cue familiarity hypothesis and, instead, tend to support direct-access hypotheses.
Content-adaptive parallax barriers for automultiscopic 3D display

We optimize the performance of automultiscopic barrier-based displays, constructed by stacking a pair of LCD panels. To date, such displays have conventionally employed heuristically-determined parallax barriers, containing a fixed array of slits or pinholes, to provide view-dependent imagery. While recent methods adapt barriers to one or more viewers, we show that both layers can be adapted to the multi-view content as well. The resulting content-adaptive parallax barriers increase display brightness and frame rate. We prove that any 4D light field created by dual-stacked LCDs is the tensor product of two 2D mask functions. Thus, a pair of 1D masks only achieves a rank-1 approximation of a 2D light field. We demonstrate higher-rank approximations using temporal multiplexing.
Mexican-American and Anglo-American mothers' beliefs and values about child rearing, education, and language impairment.

This study investigated the cross-cultural and intracultural diversity of mothers’ beliefs and values regarding child rearing, education, and the causes of language impairment. Thirty Mexican-Ameri...
Noise studies of HFETs on low temperature grown GaAs buffers and of MESFETs with low temperature grown GaAs passivation

Abstract We report measurements of the low-frequency noise of HFETs built on low temperature grown (LTG) GaAs buffer and superlattice buffer layers. A distinct generation-recombination noise source with activation energy of 0.70 eV was observed in devices built on the LTG GaAs buffer. In addition, both structures exhibited a trap whose activation energy depended on the gate-to-source voltage. This dependence is believed to be due to interactions between electrons in the channel and traps in the AlGaAs supply layer. We also report measurements of the low-frequency noise and phase noise of MESFETs with an LTG GaAs passivation layer and of conventional MESFETs without the passivation. We found the phase noise of the LTG GaAs MESFETs to be significantly lower at small offset frequencies and to have a weaker frequency dependence. A similar reduction in the low-frequency noise was observed. This supports the idea that the LTG GaAs passivation reduces the number of traps with large activation energies.
Cyclic elastic-plastic analyses of cracks at defects

Identification des parametres caracteristiques pouvant decrire le comportement de fatigue de fissures amorcees aux endroits de defauts dans un champ de deformation et contrainte cyclique. On utilise des methodes d'analyse elastoplastique par elements finis
Tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA-containing neurons in the medial amygdaloid nucleus and the reticular nucleus of the thalamus in the Syrian hamster

To confirm previous immunocytochemical findings in colchicine-treated Syrian hamsters, in situ hybridization was used to investigate the distribution of TH mRNA-containing cells in the medial amygdaloid nucleus (Me) and the thalamic reticular nucleus (Rt) of untreated hamsters. TH mRNA-producing neurons were observed in anterior and posterior Me and throughout Rt, similar to the distribution of TH-immunostained cells in these areas of animals receiving colchicine. These data confirm that TH is normally produced in amygdaloid and thalamic cell groups which lie outside the classical catecholamine systems.
Generation of tunable picosecond MHz repetition rate mid-IR pulses by optical parametric amplification of white-light continuum in GaSe

The output of the high-repetition-rate all-solid-state picosecond oscillator is used for direct pumping of optical parametric amplifier seeded with the white-light continuum generated in optical fiber to generate tunable mid-IR radiation.
Quantum walk search factors in the regime of weak measurement

Our previous work brought some interesting results of the discrete Quantum Walks in the regime of Weak Measurement (QWWM or QWWV). Using the knowledge of such results of QWWM, we are now exploring the search algorithms and investigating the factors associated with such walk. The study of such factors like dimensionality, connectivity of the dataset and the strength of disorder or percolation are already studied by others in the context of general quantum walks. It is our interest to show the similarities and/or differences of such factors of general quantum walks with QWWV. The subject of decoherence in quantum walks is another challenging research topic at present. We are also exploring the topic of decoherence in QWWM or QWWV.
Forebrain circumventricular organs mediate captopril-enhanced ethanol intake in rats

Abstract Chronic peripheral treatments with low doses of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, enhance daily intakes of dilute ethanol solutions in rats as they do the intakes of water and saline solutions. Placing captopril into the drinking water or infusing it SC increases daily intake of 6% (v/v) ethanol from 30–100% over 4–12 days of treatment. The present study examined the effects of electrolytic lesions either of the subfornical organ (SFO) or of the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT), on captopril-enhanced ethanol intake. Captopril was infused in minipumps at 5 mg/day for 14 days. The intake of 6% (v/v) ethanol was abolished by SFO lesions and was temporarily reduced by OVLT lesions. The SFO, in particular, is essential for the expression of enhanced ethanol intake during low-dose peripheral captopril administration. Local angiotensin II synthesis and receptor activation at the SFO appear to be the mechanism of the enhanced ethanol drinking during captopril.
Perinatal outcome and long-term follow-up associated with modern management of diabetic nephropathy

Objective: To determine outcomes in pregnancies complicated by class F diabetes mellitus cared for at a single center, and to assess renal function in these women. Methods: A retrospective review (1988–1994) of all pregnant women with class F diabetes was performed, as well as an evaluation of current renal function. Results: Forty-six pregnancies in 45 women reached a mean (± standard deviation) gestational age of 35.8 ± 2.3 weeks, with a mean birth weight of 2623 ± 818 g. No deliveries occurred before 30 weeks and 39 (84%) were at least 34 weeks. Perinatal survival was 100%. Women with initial serum creatinine exceeding 1.5 mg/dL or more than 3 g/24 hours proteinuria had an increased risk of early delivery, lower birth weight, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery. Twenty-four individuals (53%) developed preeclampsia and seven met criteria for severe preeclampsia. By the third trimester, 26 women (58%) had greater than a 1 g/24 hour increase in proteinuria and 16 (36%) demonstrated more than a 15% fall in creatinine clearance. Follow-up was obtained in 34 subjects with a mean duration of 2.8 years. Individuals with initial creatinine clearance greater than 90 mL/minute and less than 1 g of protein per 24 hours had less loss of renal function at follow-up, as measured by creatinine clearance. At follow-up, mean protein excretion had decreased 1.9 g/24 hours from third-trimester values, but eight women (24%) maintained protein excretion exceeding 3 g/24 hours. Conclusion: Modern management of class F patients can result in good perinatal outcomes. Renal function studies early in pregnancy can be used to define the risk of perinatal morbidity and long-term progression of renal disease.
Filament displacement and refraction losses in a stripe-geometry AIGaAs d.h. laser

The far-field, near-field and waist-intensity distributions are investigated in the nonlinear flux-current regime (kink) of a stripe-geometry d.h. laser at each of its two facets. The results are interpreted as a displacement of a deformable light guide or filament within the laser stripe, which acts as an additional built-in antiguide. Asymmetries in the far-field side-lobe intensities indicate enhanced refraction losses of the displaced filament towards that antiguide boundary towards which the near field moves and the far-field main lobe turns.
8.0‐Tesla human MR system: Temperature changes associated with radiofrequency‐induced heating of a head phantom

Purpose To investigate if the heat induced in biological tissues by typical radio frequency (RF) energy associated with an 8.0-Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) system causes excessive temperature changes. Materials and Methods Fluoroptic thermometry was used to measure temperatures in multiple positions in a head phantom made of ground turkey breast. A series of experiments were conducted with measurements obtained at RF power levels ranging from a specific absorption rate (SAR) of up to 4.0 W/kg for 10 minutes. Results The highest temperature increases were up to 0.7°C. An inhomogeneous heating pattern was observed. In general, the deep regions within the phantom registered higher temperature increases compared to the peripheral sites. Conclusion The expectation of an inhomogeneous RF distribution in ultra high field systems (> 4 T) was confirmed. At a frequency of 340 MHz and in-tissue RF wave length of about 10 cm, the RF inhomogeneity was measured to create higher temperatures in deeper regions of a human head phantom compared to peripheral tissues. Our results agree with the computational electromagnetic calculations for such frequencies. Importantly, these experiments indicated that there were no regions of heating that exceeded the current FDA guidelines. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;17:220–226. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Importance of Utility Balance in Efficient Choice Designs

Choice designs traditionally have been built under the assumption that all coefficients are zero. The authors show that if there are reasonable nonzero priors for expected coefficients, then these ...
Results of radiotherapy for thyroid ophthalmopathy.

Abstract Between October, 1978 and August, 1986, 35 patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy were treated with radiotherapy. Twenty-eight patients had treatment with corticosteroids prior to radiotherapy and either progressed on steroids or relapsed during tapering. Seven patients with contraindications to steroids were treated primarily with radiotherapy. After radiotherapy, 25 patients (71%) did not require any further steroids or orbital decompression and ten (29%) failed. Patients who required steroids or decompression for active disease after radiotherapy were considered treatment failures. A total of 14 (40%) patients required eye muscle or lid surgery for correction of stable soft tissue defects after radiotherapy, more commonly in patients treated with radiotherapy after steroids or decompression than those irradiated primarily; the median time between radiotherapy and surgery was 8 months (range 1–48). Various factors were examined for prognostic significance in predicting radiotherapy failure. Review of the interval between onset of eye disease and radiotherapy demonstrated that six of ten (60%) failures versus only five of 25 (20%) successful treatments received radiotherapy within 6 months of onset of eye disease. No relation between outcome and sex, age or hyperthyroid versus euthyroid Graves' disease was apparent. Radiotherapy has been used for patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy who failed steroids, decompression, or had steroid contraindications. Morbidity of radiotherapy was minimal and most patients were spared the morbidity of continued steroid therapy.
Raman spectra of iron-containing glassy carbons

Abstract Iron-containing glassy carbons were prepared from carbonization of the copolymers of furfuryl alcohol with one of the ferrocene derivatives. Their structural changes with heat treatment were studied with X-ray diffraction and laser Raman spectroscopy. Addition of iron to glassy carbons decreases both the half band width and intensity of a defect-induced Raman band at 1360 cm −1 at temperatures as low as 700°C and accelerates carbonization and graphitization of carbon precursors.
Strategic Independence and Perfect Bayesian Equilibria

Abstract This paper evaluates different refinements of subgame perfection, which rely on different restrictions on players' assessments, using a simple and intuitive independence property for conditional probability systems on the space of strategy profiles. This independence property is necessary for full consistency of assessments, and it is equivalent to full consistency in games with observable deviators. Furthermore, while every conditional system on the strategies satisfying the independence property corresponds to a generally reasonable extended assessment as defined by Fudenberg and Tirole [ J. Econ. Theory 53 (1991), 236–260], such extended assessments may violate independence, full consistency, and invariance with respect to interchanging of essentially simultaneous moves. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number: C72.
ERP adoption in Chinese small enterprise: an exploratory case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine a Chinese small enterprise's failed attempt to adopt enterprise resource planning (ERP) and to identify the critical success factors for these type of projects.Design/methodology/approach – Information was collected through multiple site visits and semi‐structured interviews with key staff of the ERP project, as well as examination of relevant company documentations.Findings – The study identified nine critical success factors and discussed how these factors affected ERP adoption in a small farming feed manufacturing company.Originality/value – Considering very few ERP project failures are recorded in the literature and the majority of existing ERP research in China was in the context of large state‐owned or foreign‐invested companies, this paper represents an early effort to explore the reasons why ERP adoption failed in the case study company. It provides valuable lessons to Chinese small enterprises on some of the common pitfalls they may encounter when...
Aggregated LDL and lipid dispersions induce lysosomal cholesteryl ester accumulation in macrophage foam cells

Macrophage foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions accumulate substantial cholesterol stores within large, swollen lysosomes. Previous studies with mildly oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL)-treated THP-1 macrophages suggest an initial buildup of free cholesterol (FC), followed by an inhibition of lysosomal cholesteryl ester (CE) hydrolysis and a subsequent lysosomal accumulation of unhydrolyzed lipoprotein CE. We examined whether other potential sources of cholesterol found within atherosclerotic lesions could also induce similar lysosomal accumulation. Biochemical analysis combined with microscopic analysis showed that treatment of THP-1 macrophages with aggregated low density lipoprotein (AggLDL) or CE-rich lipid dispersions (DISP) produced a similar lysosomal accumulation of both FC and CE. Cotreatment with an ACAT inhibitor, CP113,818, confirmed that the CE accumulation was primarily the result of the inhibition of lysosomal CE hydrolysis. The rate of unhydrolyzed CE buildup was more rapid with DISP than with AggLDL. However, with both treatments, FC appeared to accumulate in lysosomes before the inhibition in hydrolysis and CE accumulation, a sequence shared with mildly OxLDL. Thus, lysosomal accumulation of FC and CE can be attributable to more general mechanisms than just the inhibition of hydrolysis by oxidized lipids.
REGIONAL NEWBORN CARE AND THE AMERICAN INDIAN NEONATE

In 1971 we reported (SPR) a reduction in neonatal mortality in Arizona associated with the establishment of a statewide system for newborn transport and intensive care. From its inception the program included State supplemental funding of catastrophic illness and transport costs for American Indian newborns delivered in or transported to State-designated newborn intensive care centers. The cumulative Indian neonatal mortality rate for the Phoenix Indian Service Area for the 3 years preceding establishment of this program (1964-66) was 18.9 deaths/1000 live births. During the first 3 years of the program (1968-70) cumulative Indian neonatal mortality rate fell to 10.3 deaths/1000, and during the next 3 years (1971-73) to 9.0 deaths/1000. These data suggest that previously high mortality rates among American Indian newborns have been reduced by active inclusion into the general regional newborn transport and intensive care program.
In vitro synthesis of ribonucleic acid in reticulocytes

WE have been studying the concurrent synthesis in vitro in rabbit reticulocytes of haem, globin and the non-haemoglobin proteins. Using methylene-labelled (14C) glycine the degree of ribonucleic acid synthesis also could be measured. The technique devised may be useful to others faced with the problem of measuring the radioactivity of very small amounts of substances in very dilute solution. It has enabled us to observe the synthesis of five nucleotide components of ribonucleic acid, beginning with 8 ml. of reticulocytes.
COMMENTS ON RELATIVISTIC SUPERMULTIPLET THEORIES

It is proved that no well-behaved group of unitary operators on physical Hilbert space can have irreducible representations containing all spin states of the particles involved. It is shown that the recently proposed $U(12)$ symmetry evades this theorem by acting on the "generalized $M$ function," rather than on the physical Hilbert space. Some other possible evasions are also discussed.
PARALLEL OBJECT REPRESENTATION AND RECOGNITION

A parallel method for 3-dimensional (3d) object recognition is introduced, using the concept of coordinated graph, layered graph representation, and parallel matching techniques, and significantly reduces the time required for dealing with 3-dimensional image analysis problems. Their fundamental parallel properties and concept of finite representations are investigated and several interested examples including curved and disconnected images are illustrated. In addition to its importance in theoretical parallel study, it can also be applied to 3-d parallel object recognition, image processing and computer vision.
Dermatologic aspects of thyroid disease

Thyroid disorders commonly have dermatologic manifestations. The purpose of the present chapter is to review and emphasize potential clinical dermatologic findings that can occur with Graves' disease, hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer. In autoimmune diseases such as Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis the skin manifestations may be related to either thyroid hormone levels themselves or to the associated T and/or B cell abnormalities. Thyroid cancer may be associated with various syndromes that could have significant skin manifestations.
Dependence of Corrosion Fatigue Crack Initiation Mechanisms on the Corrosion Behavior of Two Stainless Chromium Steels

Abstract Corrosion fatigue experiments have been carried out in a 0.5N and 4N sodium chloride solution with pH of 6.5 at 80 C. The solution has been air saturated. Two different chromium steels wer...
The social skin

This is a reprint of Terence S. Turner, 1980. “The Social Skin.” In Not work alone: A cross-cultural view of activities superfluous to survival , edited by Jeremy Cherfas and Roger Lewin, 112–140. London: Temple Smith.