cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thulium fiber laser stone dusting using an automated, vibrating optical fiber

This preliminary study investigates an automated, vibrating fiber tip for dusting of kidney stones during Thulium fiber laser (TFL) lithotripsy. A (0.75-mm-diameter, 5-mm-length) magnetic bead was attached to the fiber jacket 2 cm from distal fiber tip, and a solenoid made of ferrite material was used to create a magnetic force on the bead, inducing fiber vibration. Calibration tests for fiber motion in both air and water were performed. Uric acid (UA) stones were ablated using 50-, 100-, and 150-μm-core fibers, and ablation crater characteristics (surface area, volume, depth, and major/minor axis) were measured using optical coherence tomography after delivery of 1500 TFL pulses at 1908 nm, 33 mJ, 500 μs, and 300 Hz. The resonant frequency was dependent on fiber diameter and rigidity, with a cutoff pivot point for optimum motion of 3 to 4 cm. Maximum fiber displacement was about 1 mm in water and 3.5 mm in air. For all fiber diameters tested, ablated surface area was two times greater with vibrating fiber. Similar ablation volume was removed with vibrating and fixed fibers, consistent with previous literature reporting similar ablation rates independent of fiber diameter, given a fixed energy per pulse. This preliminary study demonstrated functionality of an automated, vibrating fiber system for stone “dusting”, with two times larger surface area but equivalent ablation volumes as a fixed fiber. Continued development of this method is warranted, with emphasis on optimization of fiber parameters (especially displacement) and miniaturization of components for future integration into ureteroscopes.
Catalysis-dependent inactivation of human telomerase and its reactivation by intracellular telomerase-activating factors (iTAFs)

Human telomerase maintains genome stability by adding telomeric repeats to the ends of linear chromosomes. Although previous studies have revealed profound insights into telomerase functions, the low cellular abundance of functional telomerase and the difficulties in quantifying its activity leave its thermodynamic and kinetic properties only partially characterized. Employing a stable cell line overexpressing both the human telomerase RNA component and the N-terminally biotinylated human telomerase reverse transcriptase and using a newly developed method to count individual extension products, we demonstrate here that human telomerase holoenzymes contain fast- and slow-acting catalytic sites. Surprisingly, both active sites became inactive after two consecutive rounds of catalysis, named single-run catalysis. The fast active sites turned off ∼40-fold quicker than the slow ones and exhibited higher affinities to DNA substrates. In a dimeric enzyme, the two active sites work in tandem, with the faster site functioning before the slower one, and in the monomeric enzyme, the active sites also perform single-run catalysis. Interestingly, inactive enzymes could be reactivated by intracellular telomerase-activating factors (iTAFs) from multiple cell types. We conclude that the single-run catalysis and the iTAF-triggered reactivation serve as an unprecedented control circuit for dynamic regulation of telomerase. They endow native telomerase holoenzymes with the ability to match their total number of active sites to the number of telomeres they extend. We propose that the exquisite kinetic control of telomerase activity may play important roles in both cell division and cell aging.
{Robust sketching for multiple square-root LASSO problems}

Many learning tasks, such as cross-validation, parameter search, or leave-one-out analysis, involve multiple instances of similar problems, each instance sharing a large part of learning data with the others. We introduce a robust framework for solving multiple square-root LASSO problems, based on a sketch of the learning data that uses lowrank approximations. Our approach allows a dramatic reduction in computational eort, in eect reducing the number of observations from m (the number of observations to start with) to k (the number of singular values retained in the low-rank model), while not sacricing|someti mes even improving|the statistical performance. Theoretical analysis, as well as numerical experiments on both synthetic and real data, illustrate the eciency of the method in large scale applications.
Step-Level Occupant Detection across Different Structures through Footstep-Induced Floor Vibration Using Model Transfer

AbstractThis paper presents a floor-vibration-based step-level occupant-detection approach that enables detection across different structures through model transfer. Detecting the occupants through...
The Belt and Road Initiative and China’s Relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia: A Delicate Balancing Act

In this chapter, we would discuss China’s bilateral energy, trade, political, and security ties with, arguably, the two more important regional powers in the Middle East, namely, Iran and Saudi Arabia. In light of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), we would assess the current dynamics of China’s relations with these two countries. We would also briefly analyze China’s delicate balancing act between these two rivals that has enabled it to have cordial relations with both. We end by speculating on the future directions of China’s relations with these two countries and how it may impact the success of the BRI, the larger Chinese policy toward the region, and beyond.
Using conceptual change theory to help preservice teachers understand dyslexia

Recently, many states passed laws requiring pre- and in-service teachers to receive professional development in dyslexia awareness. Even though misconceptions regarding dyslexia are widespread, there is a paucity of research on how to effectively remove misconceptions and replace them with accurate knowledge. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a researcher-created refutation text grounded in conceptual change theory could produce significant conceptual change in preservice teacher knowledge of dyslexia when compared with a control text about dyslexia (Dyslexia Basics, International Dyslexia Association; IDA, 2018). A sample of preservice teachers (n = 97) was randomly assigned to either the Dyslexia Basics text (n = 48) or the refutation text (n = 49). A one-way repeated ANOVA was used to identify if growth rates from pretest to posttest were differential across conditions. Results suggest that while both texts affect conceptions, the refutation text outperformed the Dyslexia Basics text (n = 97), η2 = 0.33. Effects were maintained at a delayed posttest (n = 75), η2 = 0.175. Interaction effects suggested that the amount of reading coursework did not moderate conceptual change. Implications for facilitating conceptual change of dyslexia will be discussed.
What Do Instagram Likes Mean? How Social Media Relates to Consumer Equity and Its Drivers

This exploratory study examined how consumers’ enthusiasm for interacting with fashion brands on social media affects their purchase loyalty to those brands. Findings confirmed only the hypothesized relationship between brand equity and CLV, whereas value equity had a negative relationship between value equity and CLV. A total of 394 university students completed the questionnaire after interacting with the 12 selected images. Relationship equity was not found to be a significant predictor of CLV. Thus, brand equity could be the main driver for fashion brands on social media.
Deformation faulting in a metastable CoCrNiW complex concentrated alloy: a case of negative intrinsic stacking fault energy?

Abstract Microscopic crystalline defects are of fundamental importance in unraveling the plastic deformation response and thereby tailoring the macroscopic load-bearing performances of metallic alloys. Especially in the microstructural metastability engineering context of complex concentrated alloys (CCAs), while profuse interest has been focused on phase and twin boundaries as well as their interactions with glissile dislocations, stacking faults, as another essential planar defects, have remained comparatively less-explored and unutilized. In the present work, by investigating a metastable CoCrNiW CCA via the combination of in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and in-situ electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI), we show that stacking faults formation can also operate as the predominant deformation micro-mechanism, accommodating plastic strain while enabling macroscopic strain hardening. Through the examination of relative phase stability by thermodynamic modeling, we reveal that this sort of deformation faulting response is largely correlated with a negative intrinsic stacking fault energy. The corresponding physical revelation is explored in greater details regarding thermodynamics, structure, and mechanics, followed by in-situ experimental verification of the stacking fault activities.
Strategies for Testosterone Therapy in Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer in Clinical Practice: Introducing Modified Bipolar Androgen Therapy

Purpose: To investigate prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and clinical responses to a variety of treatment strategies involving testosterone therapy (TTh) in men with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa...
Semi-Martingales and Stochastic Integration

Predictable covariation, L2-martingale and semi-martingale integrals, quadratic variation and covariation, substitution rule, Doleans exponential, change of measure, BDG inequalities, martingale integral, purely discontinuous semi-martingales, semi-martingale and martingale decompositions, exponential super-martingales and inequalities, quasi-martingales, stochastic integrators.
Acting rapidly to deploy readily available methane mitigation measures by sector can immediately slow global warming

Methane mitigation is essential for addressing climate change, but the value of rapidly implementing available mitigation measures is not well understood. In this paper, we analyze the climate benefits of fast action to reduce methane emissions as compared to slower and delayed mitigation timelines. We find that the scale up and deployment of greatly underutilized but available mitigation measures will have significant near-term temperature benefits beyond that from slow or delayed action. Overall, strategies exist to cut global methane emissions from human activities in half within the next ten years and half of these strategies currently incur no net cost. Pursuing all mitigation measures now could slow the global-mean rate of near-term decadal warming by around 30%, avoid a quarter of a degree Centigrade of additional global-mean warming by midcentury, and set ourselves on a path to avoid more than half a degree Centigrade by end of century. On the other hand, slow implementation of these measures may result in an additional tenth of a degree of global-mean warming by midcentury and 5% faster warming rate (relative to fast action), and waiting to pursue these measures until midcentury may result in an additional two tenths of a degree Centigrade by midcentury and 15% faster warming rate (relative to fast action). Slow or delayed methane action is viewed by many as reasonable given that current and on-the-horizon climate policies heavily emphasize actions that benefit the climate in the long-term, such as decarbonization and reaching net-zero emissions, whereas methane emitted over the next couple of decades will play a limited role in long-term warming. However, given that fast methane action can considerably limit climate damages in the near-term, it is urgent to scale up efforts and take advantage of this achievable and affordable opportunity as we simultaneously reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Interconnectedness between online review valence, brand, and restaurant performance

Abstract As the influence of online reviews on customers is drastically increasing, their financial impact and factors on review attributes have been examined in hospitality literature. Online reviews have been highlighted as an important cue that drives firm performance, but little attention has been made to the dynamic interconnections of online reviews with other cues that are likely to be used simultaneously. This study therefore investigated the multifaced relationship between online reviews and brand in the restaurant context. Two-stage least squares analysis was applied to analyze the effect of these two cues on financial performance of 1,210 Iowa restaurants from 2010 to 2017. Our analysis showed that the financial impact of positive reviews decreased in the presence of brand and that customer engagement in online reviews was different depending on brand strength. Based on the findings, restaurant managers are advised to shift the focus of marketing strategies as brand strength grows.
Postoperative Outcomes in Diabetic Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Patients: A National Database Study.

Background Although the negative effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on operative outcomes in orthopaedic surgery is a well-studied topic in adults, little is known about the impact of this disease in children undergoing orthopaedic procedures. This study aims to describe the postoperative complications in pediatric orthopaedic surgery patients with DM. Methods Pediatric patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were retrospectively identified while selecting for elective orthopaedic surgery cases from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (ACS-NSQIP-Pediatric) database from 2012 to 2015. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to describe and assess outcomes when compared with nondiabetic patients undergoing similar procedures. Results Of the 17,647 patients identified, 105 (0.60%) had DM. Of those 105 patients, 68 had IDDM and 37 had NIDDM. The median age of DM patients was 13.8 years (11.9 to 15.5 y) and 37.1% of all DM patients were male. Comparing DM to non-DM patients, no significant differences were noted in the overall complications (1.4% vs. 1.9%, P>0.05) or reoperation rates (1.2% vs. 1.9%, P>0.05); however, DM patients did have a higher occurrence of unplanned readmissions (4.8% vs. 1.7%; P=0.037). Diabetic patients were statistically more likely to have an unplanned readmission with 30 days (adjusted odds ratio=3.34; 95% confidence interval=1.21-9.24, P=0.021). when comparing IDDM to NIDDM, there was no significant difference in outcomes. Comparing NIDDM to non-DM patients, there was an increased incidence of nerve injury (5.6% vs. 0.18%; P=0.023), readmission rate (11.1% vs. 1.8%; P=0.043), and reoperation rate (11.1% vs. 1%; P=0.013) in nonspinal procedures and an increased incidence of pulmonary embolism (10% vs. 0%; P=0.002) in spinal arthrodesis procedures. NIDDM predicted longer hospital stays (adjusted odds ratio=1.49; 95% confidence interval=1.04, 2.14; P=0.028) compared with nondiabetic patients in extremity deformity procedures. Conclusions The 30-day complication, reoperation, and readmission rates for NIDDM patients were higher than that of non-DM patients. Furthermore, NIDDM is a predictor of longer hospital stays while DM is a predictor of unplanned readmissions. No statistical differences were noted when comparing outcomes of NIDDM to IDDM patients. Level of evidence Level III.
A protocol for qualitative and quantitative measurement of endosomal processing using hot spot analysis.

Summary A detailed quantification of antigen processing by endosomal compartments provides important information on the pattern of protein fragmentation. Here, we describe a protocol that combines gradient purified endosomes, incubated with antigens, followed by hot spot analysis of MS/MS-sequenced peptides. The analysis identifies differences in endosomal antigen processing by dendritic cells under diverse experimental conditions. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Clement et al. (2021) .
Supporting parents: The effects of work-family policies on within-person productivity trends

Although multiple theories illustrate how policies affect work outcomes, theory and research do not fully explicate how work-family policies impact within-person job performance, especially after t...
Gradient-Enhanced Universal Kriging for Uncertainty Propagation

In this work, we investigate the issue of providing a statistical model for the response of a computer model–described nuclear engineering system, for use in uncertainty propagation. The motivation...
Stresses Pressure Pipelines and Protective Casing Pipes

Stress situation in buried gas transmission lines and petroleum products pipe lines and deflections of casing pipes, when installed under several postulated conditions which are believed to be typical of many actual conditions encountered in pipeline design and construction.
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease: An Update on Recent Developments

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) plays an important role in the evaluation of children and adults with congenital heart disease. It provides complementary information to echocardiography and cardiac catheterization, and has unique diagnostic capabilities. Accordingly, data from CMR are increasingly being incorporated into disease management algorithms. This article critically reviews recently published reports related to pediatric and congenital CMR with sections on new techniques, congenital heart disease lesions, and cardiomyopathy.
The enigma of myxofibrosarcoma of the extremity

BACKGROUND: The reported high rate of local recurrence (LR) in myxofibrosarcoma raises the question of whether this sarcoma histology should be considered radioresistant. In this study, the authors compared rates and patterns of LR of high-grade (HG) myxofibrosarcoma with rates and patterns of HG leiomyosarcoma, which was chosen because of the similarity in incidence and general treatment approach. METHODS: Two hundred two patients with primary, nonmetastatic extremity myxofibrosarcoma (n = 114) and leiomyosarcoma (n = 88) underwent limb-sparing surgery and were followed prospectively. All 202 patients had HG tumors, and 138 patients (68%) received adjuvant radiation therapy. RESULTS: The groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, and receipt of chemotherapy. Compared with leiomyosarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma presented more frequently with tumors >5 cm (P < .001), deep location (P = .036), and upper extremity site (P = .015). In addition, rates of positive/close margins (P < .001) and the receipt of radiation therapy (P < .001) were significantly higher in the myxofibrosarcoma group. The 5-year overall LR rate was not significantly different according to histology (14.6% for myxofibrosarcoma, 13.2% for leiomyosarcoma; P = .594). The only predictor of LR for the whole cohort of patients was positive/close margins (P = .01). Of 17 myxofibrosarcoma LRs, 8 (47%) occurred out of field, versus 1 of 12 (8%) leiomyosarcoma LRs (P = .04). Leiomyosarcoma more commonly recurred distantly (54.1% vs 24.3% at 5 years; P = .014). CONCLUSIONS: Despite more adverse clinical features, myxofibrosarcoma recurred distantly less often than leiomyosarcoma, whereas the LR rates were comparable between the 2 groups, suggesting that adjuvant radiation therapy is effective in myxofibrosarcoma. Myxofibrosarcoma LRs more commonly occurred out of field. Reduction in radiation field margins may not be advisable in patients with myxofibrosarcoma. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Cochlear Implants & the Mediated Classroom-Clinic: Communication Technologies and Co-operations Across Multiple Industries

Keywords deaf education, cochlear implant, technology, medicine, controversy Abstract This article considers the ways in which cochlear implantation, as a form of mediated communication, is altering deaf education classrooms and programs. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews, I use a case study of a "model program" to illustrate how one deaf education program integrates implant technology and the regimens of healthcare systems into day-to-day school life. Data show the constellation of multi-institutional co-operations in deaf educational programs that have occurred with the routinization of pediatric cochlear implants (CIs) and concurrent technological developments in assistive listening devices. In the analysis, I propose new questions that should be asked as this highly sophisticated iteration in the history of auditory training continues to grow.
PAF attenuates endothelium-dependent coronary arteriolar vasodilation.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been reported to play a role in neutrophil activation, microvascular permeability, and endothelial dysfunction in a variety of vascular preparations. Although a majority of the effects of PAF are thought to be mediated by the activation of neutrophils, it is unclear the extent to which the deleterious effects of PAF extend to coronary resistance vessels. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether PAF causes coronary arteriolar endothelial dysfunction in vivo and whether this dysfunction is independent of activated neutrophils. To test these hypotheses, we measured changes in coronary arteriolar diameter to endothelium-dependent and -independent dilators in vivo by measuring coronary microvascular diameters in a beating canine heart using intravital videomicroscopy following intracoronary infusion of PAF (20 ng.kg-1.min-1). Changes in coronary arteriolar diameter following incubation with PAF were also measured in isolated coronary arterioles. In vivo, incubation with PAF resulted in a significant attenuation of endothelium-dependent dilation to intracoronary acetylcholine (0.1 microgram.kg-1.min-1, 39 +/- 7 vs. 20 +/- 3% dilation) and serotonin (1 microgram.kg-1.min-1, 29 +/- 6 vs. 2 +/- 2% dilation). Papaverine-induced relaxation, however, was unchanged. Likewise, in vitro relaxation to serotonin (10 nM) was significantly reduced (38 +/- 4 vs. 3 +/- 5%) following treatment with PAF, whereas nitroprusside (10 nM)-induced relaxation was unchanged. Because PAF impaired endothelium-dependent arteriolar dilation both in vivo and in vitro, we conclude that the presence of activated neutrophils is not required for PAF-induced coronary microvascular dysfunction.
Selling Out Higher Education

The expansion of neo-liberal capitalism globally suggests an especially dangerous turn at the current historical moment, one that threatens both the substance of democracy as fundamental to the most basic freedom and civil liberties, and the very meaning of higher education. As the power of nation states and civil society to impose or make corporate power accountable is reduced, politics as an expression of democratic struggle is deflated and ethical responsibility appears irrelevant. As neo-liberal capitalism substitutes market relations for the rule of justice and law, it becomes more difficult for educators, students, and citizens to address pressing social and moral issues in systemic and political terms. This article addresses the fundamental shift in society regarding how we think about the relationship between corporate culture, higher education, and democracy. Specifically, it argues that one of the most important indications of such a change can be seen in the ways in which we are currently being asked to rethink the role of higher education. Underlying this analysis is the assumption that the struggle to reclaim higher education must be seen as part of a broader battle over the defense of public goods, and that at the heart of such a struggle is the need to challenge the ever-growing discourse and influence of neo-liberalism, corporate power, and corporate politics. The article concludes by offering some suggestions as to what educators can do to reassert the primacy of higher education as an essential sphere for expanding and deepening the processes of democracy and civil society.
A Physical Comparator for the Color Temperatures of Incandescent Lamps

An apparatus has been assembled and is presently being used to evaluate the color temperatures of incandescent tungsten lamps by physical comparison techniques. A red-to-violet ratio method of establishing the effective slope of the radiometric function is utilized. The apparatus uses a single 931-A photomultiplier to receive radiations from the “standard” and “unknown” lamps through red and violet filters sequentially. Resultant oscilloscope patterns are judged for equality. Accurate results can be obtained in a short period of time, thus permitting large quantities of lamps to be calibrated with a minimum of effort.
Effects of Early Neonatal Dexamethasone Treatment on Susceptibility to Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) and on the LPS-Induced Corticosterone Response in Adult Rats

Effects of Early Neonatal Dexamethasone Treatment on Susceptibility to Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) and on the LPS-Induced Corticosterone Response in Adult Rats
Prion strains under the magnifying glass

Prion 'strains', multiple conformations of the same misfolded protein, have captured great interest because of their role in transmission of mad cow disease to humans. Prion strains have also been observed in yeast, where self-propagating protein folds are responsible for inheritable traits. Recent findings reveal an exciting new insight into the structural basis of this phenomenon.
Iterative motion compensation approach for ultrasonic thermal imaging

As thermal imaging attempts to estimate very small tissue motion (on the order of tens of microns), it can be negatively influenced by signal decorrelation. Patient's breathing and cardiac cycle generate shifts in the RF signal patterns. Other sources of movement could be found outside the patient's body, like transducer slippage or small vibrations due to environment factors like electronic noise. Here, we build upon a robust displacement estimation method for ultrasound elastography and we investigate an iterative motion compensation algorithm, which can detect and remove non-heat induced tissue motion at every step of the ablation procedure. The validation experiments are performed on laboratory induced ablation lesions in ex-vivo tissue. The ultrasound probe is either held by the operator's hand or supported by a robotic arm. We demonstrate the ability to detect and remove non-heat induced tissue motion in both settings. We show that removing extraneous motion helps unmask the effects of heating. Our strain estimation curves closely mirror the temperature changes within the tissue. While previous results in the area of motion compensation were reported for experiments lasting less than 10 seconds, our algorithm was tested on experiments that lasted close to 20 minutes.
Combinatorial Heat Kernels and Index Theorems

Abstract In this paper we give a local heat kernel proof for the combinatorial Γ-index theorem and the Γ-Lefschetz theorem. We also use this method to prove the combinatorial version of Roe′s index theorem on open manifolds.
Variability in the Responses of Black-Billed Magpies To Natural Predators

Encounters between black-billed magpies (Pica pica) and a variety of natural predators were observed during 3 breeding seasons in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. How a magpie responded to a potential predator appeared to depend on (1) the type of predator and the threat it posed to magpie eggs, nestlings, fledglings, and adults; (2) the behavior of the predator; and (3) the reproductive stage of the magpie. Raptors were the most frequently encountered potential predators, with magpies reacting more strongly to falcons than to hawks. Reactions to crows and squirrels were most frequent and intense during laying and incubation, while raptors in flight and coyotes were responded to most vigorously during the second half of the nestling period and the first two weeks of fledgling. Perched raptors were almost always mobbed vigorously. Diving to within 2 m of a predator appeared to be effective in driving it away. The roles of chasing and alarm calling were less clear, but in addition to alerting mates and offspring to danger, such behavior would impede efficient hunting by the predator and so might contribute to its departure. Only one successful act of predation was observed, but the evidence suggested that owls, hawks and falcons were responsible for most fledgling and adult mortality. No clear cases of nest predation by crows or squirrels occurred, but some clutches of eggs and broods of young nestlings disappeared. Although mates usually mobbed predators together, males were slightly more active, possibly because males were larger and because females were often occupied in the nest with incubation and brooding. Observations of wild fledglings and hand-raised magpies suggest that magpies have an innate fear response to a variety of stimuli and that fledglings gradually learn what to continue fearing from parents, other magpies, and their own experiences. I suggest that although parental investment theory may be basically correct in predicting that young increase in value to their parent as they approach independence, a variety of other factors may affect anti-predator behavior, such as (1) the types of predators likely to be encountered and the relative danger they pose to different age classes; (2) the ability of the parents to successfully drive off a particular predator; (3) the ability of the parents to re-nest that year; (4) the likelihood that a pair will be able to fledge young the following year.
Study of SnxEu1.2−xMo6S8 under high pressure and high magnetic field

Abstract The critical fields, H c2 of Sn x Eu 1.2− x Mo 6 S 8 ( x = 0.0, 0.12, 0.24, and 0.48) have been measured as a function of pressure and temperature using pressures up to 18 kbar, temperatures from 1.5 K to T c (∼10 K) and magnetic fields up to 17 T. The samples with x = 0.0 and x = 0.12 exhibit an extremely anomalous dependence of H c2 on pressure above 13 kbar. belbelieve that a strongly pressure dependent exchange interaction producing a compensation field at the Mo sites is responsible for the unusual behavior in these samples. At a pressure of 14 kbar, where T c is a maximum, we observed a pronounced minimum in the resistance versus field occurring at fields between 10 and 15 T for temperatures below 4.2 K. We interpret this result as evidence for field-induced superconductivity.
Compressibility of M3C60 Fullerene Superconductors: Relation Between Tc and Lattice Parameter

X-ray diffraction and diamond anvil techniques were used to measure the isothermal compressibility of K 3 C 60 and Rb 3 C 60 , the superconducting, binary alkali-metal intercalation compounds of solid buckminsterfullerene. These results, combined with the pressure dependence of the superconducting onset temperature T c measured by other groups, establish a universal first-order relation between T c and the lattice parameter a over a broad range, between 13.9 and 14.5 angstroms. A small secondorder intercalate-specific effect was observed that appears to rule out the participation of intercalate-fullerene optic modes in the pairing interaction.
Stimulation by Ethylene of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis in Dark-grown Cucumber Cotyledons

Five-day-old etiolated cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. Alpha Green) cotyledons produced more chlorophyll over a 4-hour illumination period after a prolonged exposure (12 to 72 hours) in the dark to ethylene concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 mul/l. Intact seedlings and excised cotyledons responded in the same way to this treatment. This effect does not involve a shortening of the lag phase of chlorophyll accumulation. Exposure of cotyledons to ethylene during the illumination period did not produce the same stimulatory effect on chlorophyll synthesis and, under certain conditions, chlorophyll synthesis was slightly inhibited by exposure to ethylene in the light.
Solving Very Large Elliptic Problems on a Supercomputer with Solid State Disk

An experiment is described that demonstrates how secondary solid state storage devices extend effectively the capabilities of supercomputers to solve large computational problems. A linear system of size 45/sup 3/ resulting from the 27-point finite difference discretization of a three-dimensional elliptic operator is solved by a conjugate gradient algorithm on one processor of a Cray X-MP with attached 8M-word Solid State Disk (SSD). The main matrix was stored on the SSD. Although for the 8M-work SSD the problem is I/O bound, it is projected that the 32M-word SSD will support the computation at its full measured speed of 161 MFLOPS. It is concluded that the solution of a 90 x 90 x 90 27-point finite difference problem will require about 0.25 sec per iteration on the Cray X-MP, which will make three-dimensional problems of reasonable size feasible. 2 references, 2 tables.
Position Paper on Safe Shutdown Systems

Safe shutdown is the prime concern of salety criteria, but clear singular guidance on achieving it is not available. Many definitions and tne available documentation are listed. Current activities related to safe shutdown are reviewed. The paper concludes that the current activities assume saIe shutdown and that standards committees should review and comment on safe shutdown related publications ano prepare interpretations in the form of position papers.
Automated site-directed drug design: a method for the generation of general three-dimensional molecular graphs

A new algorithm for creating diverse, irregular and physically reasonable three-dimensional linear atomic chains is described. The linear chains of atoms, or molecular graphs, are generated by solving a series of trigonometric equations within geometric constraints for a given set of atom types. The nature and number of the chains that are produced can be controlled by changing the palette of atom types, so that a chemist user could generate template suggestions that are synthetically relevant to a drug design project. Testing has shown that the method is sufficiently robust to be used in a general context. The molecular graphs could serve as useful structural templates for joining up regions in an active site where a ligand might interact strongly with the receptor. This paper is concerned with the description and proof of the methodology. The approach will form part of a larger structural tool kit for helping chemists to design novel ligands for a specified site.
Non-Fermi-liquid behavior of impurity spins in the anisotropic Heisenberg chain

We consider a U(1)-invariant model consisting of the integrable anisotropic Heisenberg chain of arbitrary spin S embedding an impurity of spin S′. The impurity is assumed located on the mth link of the chain and interacting only with both neighboring sites. The coupling of the impurity to the lattice can be tuned by the impurity rapidity. The model is then integrable as a function of two continuous parameters (the anisotropy and the impurity rapidity) and two discrete variables (the spins S and S′). The thermodynamic Bethe ansatz equations are derived and used to analyze the small field and low temperature properties. Three situations have to be distinguished: (i) If S′ = S the impurity just corresponds to one more site in the chain. (ii) If S′ > S the impurity spin is only partially compensated at T = 0 and the entropy has an essential singularity at T = H = 0. (iii) If S′ < S the impurity is overcompensated, and again the entropy has an essential singularity at T = H = 0. The essential singularity gives rise to a quantum critical point and hence non-Fermi-liquid-like behavior as H and T tend to zero. While cases (i) and (iii) are analogous to the n-channel Kondo problem, case (ii) differs considerably as a consequence of critical behavior induced by the anisotropy.
A Clustering Method Based on Dynamic Self Organizing Trees for Post-Pareto Optimality Analysis

Multiple objective optimization involves the simultaneous optimization of several objective functions. Solving this type of problem involves two stages; the optimization stage and the post-Pareto analysis stage. The first stage focuses in obtaining a set of nondominated solutions while the second one involves the selection of one solution from the Pareto set. Most of the work found in the literature focuses in the first stage. However, the decision making stage is as important as obtaining the set of nondominated solutions. Selecting one solution over others, or reducing the number of alternatives to choose from is not a simple task since the Pareto-optimal set can potentially contain a very large number of solutions. This paper introduces the dynamic self organizing tree algorithm as a method to perform post-Pareto analysis. This algorithm offers two main advantages: there is no need to provide an initial number of clusters, and at each hierarchical level, the algorithm optimizes the number of clusters, and can reassign data from previous hierarchical levels in order to rearrange misclustered data. The proposed method is tested in a well-known multiple objective optimization problem in order to show the performance of the algorithm.
Percutaneous nephrostomy for palliation of metastatic ureteral obstruction.

Abstract Urinary diversion for palliation of metastatic ureteral obstruction has been associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially with open surgical nephrostomies. An evaluation of percutaneous nephrostomy drainage for the palliation of metastatic ureteral obstruction in 27 patients revealed an increase in survival with decreased morbidity, and a follow-up ranging from three to twenty-five months. The mean survival of all patients was 6.63 months (N = 19), with 8 patients still alive. The histology was the main determinant of length of survival, with prostate, rectal, and cervical cancer patients surviving the longest. The perioperative mortality was 11.1 per cent ( 3 27 ), and the postoperative complications consisted of hemorrhage requiring transfusion 29.6 per cent ( 8 27 ), gastrointestinal bleeding 3.7 per cent ( 1 27 ), and dislodged nephrostomy tubes 44.4 per cent ( 12 27 ). Percutaneous nephrostomy drainage is a less morbid procedure than open surgical procedures, and the main determinant of length of survival is the histology of the primary tumor in patients with metastatic ureteral obstruction.
Disruption of PDGF receptor trafficking by mutation of its PI-3 kinase binding sites

Human platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) expressed in human Hep G2 cells internalized and concentrated in a juxtanuclear region near the Golgi network within 10 minutes after the cells were treated with PDGF. A PDGFR mutant (F5) that lacks high-affinity binding sites for the Src homology 2 domain-containing proteins phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase), Ras guanosine triphosphatase activating protein, phospholipase C-gamma, and a phosphotyrosine phosphatase (Syp) remained at the cell periphery. Restoration of the PI-3 kinase binding sites on F5 completely restored the ability of the receptor to concentrate intracellularly. A PDGFR mutant lacking only PI-3 kinase binding sites failed to concentrate intracellularly. Thus, PI-3 kinase binding sites appear both necessary and sufficient for the normal endocytic trafficking of the activated PDGFR.
Kinetics and energetics of photochemical reactions using picosecond optical calorimetry

ABSTRACT The kinetics and energetics of photoinduced reactions may be determined using picosecond optical calorimetry (POC). The technique is a hybrid of thermal lensing and transient grating spectroscopies. The methods for acquisition of diffraction waveforms and their analysis are described herein. Application of POC in three chemical systems and a detailed examinationof the results from one system are also presented. 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years, numerous ultrafast spectroscopic methods have been developed which provide both kinetic and structural characterization of intermediates undergoing photoinduced chemical eac1 These techniques have increased the experimentalists' ability to determine the electronic and nuclear structure and state at various delays following excitation. Atthe same time, application of time-resolved versions of vibrational spectroscopies, such as infrared2 and ram&, to the studyof chemical reactions has dramatically increased the types of reacting systems which posess detectable chromophores. Inaddition to structural characterization, it is often desirable to measure energy release accompanying the formation and decayofreactive intermediates. Thermal lensing4 and photoacoustic5'6 techniques have been used for many years to obtain heats of
Spectral evidence for the interaction of riboflavin with aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract The association of aromatic hydrocarbons with riboflavin has been examined by changes in light absorption and fluorescence emission of flavin solutions. Aromatic hydrocarbons cause a decrease in flavin absorbance in the near-ultraviolet region and quench the flavin fluorescence. The quenching phenomenon is related to concentration of an aromatic hydrocarbon, and association constants for flavin-aromatic hydrocarbon complexes can be calculated. Associations involved appear to be of the general electron donor—acceptor complex, but other factors may be operating.
Climate control required a dam at the Strait of Gibraltar

If the Mediterranean Sea continues to increase in salinity, shifting climatic patterns throughout the world may cause high-latitude areas in Canada to glaciate within the next century. The Mediterranean is starved of freshwater by human activities: most of the annual flow of the Nile River is now used for irrigation and no longer enters the sea. The sea surface evaporation losses are also increasing as the surface warms due to rising CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. Consequently, the Mediterranean hydrologic deficit is steadily increasing. The deficit is the difference between the larger amount of water lost by evaporation and the smaller amount received from rainfall and river inputs. The difference is made up by a two-way exchange of water with the Atlantic at Gibraltar. Barring a significant change in regional atmospheric circulation, these two human modifications of the environment will cause the salinity of the Mediterranean to increase for some time as fossil fuels are consumed.
Possible cosmological origin of spontaneous symmetry breaking

POPULAR unified theories of weak and electromagnetic interactions1 are based on the notion of a spontaneously broken gauge symmetry. The hope has also been expressed by several authors that suitable generalisations of such theories may account for strong interactions as well. Here we propose that the spontaneous breakdown of gauge symmetries may have a cosmological origin. As a consequence we find that at some early stage of development of an expanding universe, a phase transition takes place. Before the phase transition, weak and electromagnetic interactions (and perhaps strong interactions too) are of comparable strengths. The presently observed differences in the strengths of the various interactions develop only after the phase transition takes place.
A Survey of Dairy Manure Management Practices in California

Written (n = 139) and oral (n = 45) surveys were conducted to identify practices for the collection, storage, and use of manure on California dairy farms in Tulare, Fresno, and Madera counties. The purpose of the survey was to develop benchmark data for development and implementation of research and educational programs to improve utilization of manure nutrients and to minimize adverse impacts to ground and surface waters. The 53.2% response rate represented 16.4% of the dairies in the three counties. Mean milking herd size ranged from 381 to 910 cows. Additional dry cows and replacement heifers were present. Producers used a combination of manure collection techniques (75.6%) or a single technique (24.4%). Data did not total 100% because multiple techniques were reported. Liquid wash or flush waters were stored in ponds on 95.9% of the dairies. Settling ponds or basins (39.1%) or mechanical solid separators (14.2%) were used to reduce the solid loading rate in storage ponds. Manure solids were collected by tractors (solid system) or from settling ponds or basins (liquid system). Few producers (4.1%) identified composting as a component of manure handling. Liquid manures were used for year-round irrigation (62.2%), spread as a slurry (9.5%), sold or transported off the farm (12.2%), or seasonally irrigated (62.2%). Solid manure was spread on farm land (78.4%), used for bedding (27.0%), sold off the farm (58.1%), removed from the farm (6.8%), or composted (5.4%). Sampling and nutrient analyses of soils and manure solids and liquids were seldom performed. Results from this survey indicate a need for the development of educational programs to improve the management of manure nutrients.
Fast-neutron sputtering of iron at various temperatures

Abstract The sputtering ratio for fast neutrons (average energy approximately 2 MeV) bombarding iron targets was determined at various temperatures. Over the temperature range of 200°C to 340°C, the ratio varied from 3 × 10 −3 to 8 × 10 −3 with no uniform variation with temperature. These values are one to two orders of magnitude higher than predicted by random sputtering models and yet an order of magnitude higher than predicted by an ordered model.
The time and energy expenditure of indigenous women horticulturalists in the northwest Amazon

The energy cost of subsistence activities and the daily time and energy budgets of Tatuyo women were assessed as part of a village energy flow study. The Tatuyo are swidden horticulturalists relying on bitter manioc (Manihot esculenta) as a staple crop. Except for the actual felling of new gardens, women are responsible for most of the horticultural work and food preparation. Time budgets were assessed using 24-hour activity diaries. Rates of energy expenditure in typical activities were measured by indirect calorimetry using a Max-Planck respirometer. Daily energy expenditure was calculated using these rates in conjunction with the activity diaries. Rates of energy expenditure in standard activities were moderate and broadly comparable to published values for other populations living in tropical environments. The mean daily energy expenditure was 2,133 kcal (8.9 MJ). This value is similar to that reported for other subsistence horticulturalists and close to the FAO recommendation for energy intake for moderately active individuals.
Parallelization in time of numerical simulations of fully-developed plasma turbulence using the parareal algorithm

It is shown that numerical simulations of fully-developed plasma turbulence can be successfully parallelized in time using the parareal algorithm. The result is far from trivial, and even unexpected, since the exponential divergence of Lagrangian trajectories as well as the extreme sensitivity to initial conditions characteristic of turbulence set these type of simulations apart from the much simpler systems to which the parareal algorithm has been applied to this day. It is also shown that the parallel gain obtainable with this method is very promising (close to an order of magnitude for the cases and implementations described), even when it scales with the number of processors quite differently to what is typical for spatial parallelization.