cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Highly Regular Domain Motion in the Dynamic Intermediate State of Superconducting Tin

Using the Sharvin point-contact technique, the regularity of domain motion in the dynamic intermediate state of superconducting tin has been investigated as a function of temperature, applied magnetic field, and transport current. We have found that, when the magnetic field is increased so as to lie in a range closer to the critical field than has been previously investigated systematically, an extremely drastic increase in the regularity of the motion occurs, independent of temperature and sample condition. It is suggested that this drastic increase represents the onset of motion of a modified Landau domain structure, freed from the perturbing influence of the ends of the sample. A new phenomenon of "domain healing" is reported in the highly regular regime.
5 Beyond Intrinsic Value: Undermining the Justification of Ecoterrorism

Both Aldo Leopold's "land ethic" and Arne Naess's "deep ecology" have been criticized as providing intellectual justifications for both a misanthropic ecofascism and a policy of ecoterrorism for environmental activists. This chapter argues that each of these two approaches to providing a ground or framework for an environmental ethics is subject to the charges of ecofascism or ecoterrorism only to the extent that each is committed to the notion of "intrinsic value" as a nonnegotiable moral absolute or, as Kant puts it, "a value beyond all price." This chapter begins by describing shared value experience between humans and animals and then points the way to an alternative and pragmatic concept of value that can better guide environmental thinking on matters of law, policy, and activism. This concept of value emerges from an experiential and epistemic understanding of the inherent rationality of value experience. A description of value experience reveals that the lived significance of value experience exhibits a meaningful and referential structure in which anticipations of future experience are either satisfied or frustrated in future experience. This meaningful structure of value experience, in which value experiences point to their own confirmation or disconfirmation, constitutes a self-correcting tendency or a prima facie rationality inherent in value experience. The result is a pragmatic conception of value that takes all value intuition and attribution to be intrinsically revisable in light of future experience. As such, value experience is always subject to negotiation, dialogue, and the weight of future experience. This conception of value undercuts the intellectual, psychological, and moral justification for ecofascism or ecoterrorism.
Errors introduced by a quarter-wave plate in photoelastic multimode optical fiber sensors.

The errors that are introduced by a quarter-wave plate are theoretically evaluated for photoelastic multimode fiber sensors with different configurations. The results indicate that, for the orthogonal and parallel fiber sensors, the error is proportional to the change in the differential retardation of the quarter-wave plate, whereas the error is proportional to the square of the change for the π/4 fiber sensor.
Prenatal cocaine alters dopamine transporter binding in postnatal day 10 rat striatum

The effect of in utero cocaine exposure on the postnatal binding of the radiolabeled dopamine (DA) uptake inhibitor [3H]GBR 12935 to the DA uptake complex was examined in male rats. One set of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats was given subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of cocaine (40 mg/kg) or 0.9% saline from gestational day (GD) 8–21. Another set of animals received bilateral s.c. Silastic implants, each containing 60 mg cocaine base dissolved in polyethylene glycol (PEG) or PEG only, from GD 18-21. The density of[3H]GBR 12935 binding to the DA transporter in striatum and mesencephalon was assessed by quantitative autoradiography on postnatal day (PND) 1, 10, 30, and 60. Both treatment methods resulted in a decrease of [3H]GBR 12935 binding in dorsal lateral striatum of cocaine-exposed offspring on PND 10. There were no significant differences in [3H]GBR 12935 binding between offspring of cocaine and vehicle-treated dams at any other time points examined. Thus, prenatal cocaine exposure by either daily injection from GD 8–21 or continuous infusion from GD 18–21 resulted in a transient decrease in DA transporter binding in the dorsal lateral striatum that was apparent on PND 10. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intraspecific variation influences natural settlement of eastern oysters

As populations decline, their intraspecific diversity also diminishes. Population decline may be exacerbated if a decrease in intraspecific diversity also reduces important ecological functions that maintain population numbers. Oyster reefs are severely overharvested, declining by ~85 % worldwide. We tested how increasing within-species diversity of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) using transplants would affect recruitment of oyster larvae, a key function necessary to maintain future populations. If harvesting reduces population numbers, within-species diversity, and connectivity, then oysters may lose the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions as well as incur lower levels of recruitment that may hasten their decline. Results from laboratory and field studies indicated that oyster larvae use chemical cues from adult oysters and not from associated fouling communities to select settlement sites. To test how increasing within-species diversity of oysters affected recruitment, we collected oysters from three distinct bay systems in Texas, USA, and compared natural settlement in treatments where all oysters were from a single bay to a mixture of all three bays. Significantly greater recruitment occurred in mixed treatments in 2010, 2011, and 2012 even though oyster recruitment varied by order of magnitude during this time. The net biodiversity effect was positive in all 3 years, indicating that increased recruitment in mixed treatments can be greater than the additive effect of the single bay treatments. Losing intraspecific diversity may reduce recruitment and lead to further declines in oyster populations, illustrating the need for understanding how intraspecific diversity influences ecological functions.
Does Student Affairs Have an Enduring Mission

Student affairs is a relatively new profession and has changed in significant ways in response to new developments in higher education, innovations in practice, new conceptual paradigms, and changi...
Immunoquantitation of human placental alkaline phosphatase using radial immunodiffusion

Abstract A simple procedure is described for immunoquantitation of human placental alkaline phosphatase by radial immunodiffusion. Agarose gels in petri dishes were overlayed with diluted antiserum, and, after equilibration of the antibody with the gel, the overlay was poured off and the gel was used for quantitation of enzyme protein using a specific stain to amplify visualization. The method has a variation of 0–8.5% for triplicate determinations on a single plate, with a mean of 2.6%. Variations between plates were 0–13%, with a mean of 4.2%. By including Triton X-100 detergent in the overlay solution, it was possible to quantitate the amount of enzyme in membrane preparations from placentae and cancer fluids: A 1000-fold range of antiserum and enzyme dilutions was tested; over this range, only a 2–3 × deviation from the expected ring size was found. As little as 5 ng of enzyme protein could be measured by this technique.
Thirty‐fifth Annual Meeting of Society for Neuroscience Washington, D.C., USA November 12–16, 2005.

Keywords: ALS; Alzheimer's disease; Anticonvulsants; Antidepressants; Cannabinoids; Drug addiction; Huntington's disease, Neuroprotective drugs; Parkinson's disease
Amino acid sequence requirements of peptides that inhibit polyglutamine-protein aggregation and cell death.

Proteins with expanded polyglutamine domains cause eight inherited neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington's disease. In a previous paper, we identified peptides that inhibit polyglutamine protein aggregation and cell death and now describe the amino acid sequence requirements necessary for these activities. The original 11 amino acid polyglutamine (Q) Binding Peptide 1(QBP1; SNWKWWPGIFD) can be shortened to 8 amino acids (WKWWPGIF) without loss of ability to inhibit polyglutamine aggregation. Three determinants are responsible for inhibition: a tryptophan-rich motif (WKWW), a spacer amino acid and the tripeptide GIF. GIF can be replaced by a repeat of the tryptophan-rich motif, but the spacer remains necessary. We also demonstrate concordance between peptide activity in the in vitro assay and a cellular assay of polyglutamine aggregation and cell death. Polyglutamine binding peptides targeted for intracellular delivery by fusion to TAT retain the ability to inhibit polyglutamine aggregation and cell death in transfected COS 7 cells.
Evaluation of a modified contingency management intervention for consistent attendance in therapeutic workplace participants.

Abstract In a therapeutic workplace business, drug abuse patients are hired as data entry operators and paid to perform data entry work contingent upon documented drug abstinence. Reliable attendance has been difficult to maintain despite the opportunity for operators to earn a living wage, 6 h per day, 5 days per week. A within-subject reversal design experiment evaluated a contingency management intervention that allowed for flexibility regarding when operators could arrive to work, yet maintained a contingency for reliable workplace attendance. Results from a within-subject reversal design experiment demonstrated the contingency management intervention to be effective in increasing the frequency of completed work shifts in four of five operators. Repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests of grouped data showed that the contingency management intervention significantly ( P
Leakage Current of Pt/PbTiO3/PbZr0.3Ti0.7O3/PbTiO3/Pt Integrated Capacitors Etched in Non-Crystalline Phase

The leakage current of Pt/PbTiO3/PbZr0.3Ti0.7O3/PbTiO3/Pt integrated capacitor etched in non-crystalline phase was studied at the temperature range from room temperature to 80°C. The metal/ferroelectric/metal capacitor structures have a bulk-limited conduction mechanism. In the high electric field, the conduction mechanism is controlled by SCLC with deep traps, while hopping conduction appears to dominate in the middle field region. In the low electric fields, the leakage is controlled by the Ohmic contact.
Type 3 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor and capacitative calcium entry.

It is well established that depletion of intracellular stores of calcium can activate calcium influx across the plasma membrane, a process known as ‘capacitative calcium entry’. Recent research and reviews have focussed on homologs of the Drosophila mutant, trp, as candidates for the channels underlying this phenomenon. However, there is recent evidence that the type 3 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate {(1,4,5)IP3} receptor can also function as a capacitative calcium entry channel, specifically: (i) in some cell types, the properties of Ca2+ store depletion-activated currents and channels resemble those of an (1,4,5)IP3 receptor; (ii) in these same cell types, (1,4,5)IP3 directly activates channels in the plasma membrane (including in one study, the same channels activated by depletion of Ca2+ stores); and (iii) expression of the type 3 receptor in Xenopus oocytes resulted in the association of this receptor with the plasma membrane, and facilitation of Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane. The type 3 receptor may represent one type of capacitative calcium entry channel expressed in some cell types and, in other cell types, channels with markedly different properties (i.e. trp) may carry out this function. Furthermore, as there is little, if any, homology between the IP3 and trp protein families, this may represent an example of convergent evolution of function.
FAMINE AND WILD PIGS: GENDER STRUGGLES AND THE OUTBREAK OF THE MAJIMAJI WAR IN UZARAMO (TANZANIA)

Late in 1907 a missionary from Kisserawe in German East Africa complained of a spate of ngoma ritual dances among the Zaramo people. In particular he singled out an ngoma conducted by women to ameliorate a drought that was threatening that year's maize crop. As the women danced around a well, dressed as men and brandishing muskets, they appealed for rain from ‘their god’. Several aspects of this ngoma make it remarkable. It occurred following the Majimaji uprising in German East Africa, which the Germans put down with such violence as to make war as a tactic of resistance unpopular if not untenable. The ngoma was attended by Christian and non-Christian African women alike, suggesting a purpose whose expediency cut across competing belief systems. Finally, although cross-dressing was an aspect of certain Zaramo rituals, the symbolic appropriation of men's social roles by dress and wielding of weapons made this ngoma anomalous and suggests that the participants were consciously and purposefully reshaping gender roles at this time. The timing and symbolism of the ngoma make it clear that it was a reaction to the threat of famine, which had become a recurrent aspect of Zaramo life by 1907 and a symptom of ongoing rural social change ushered in by colonial rule. The larger question is whether changing perceptions of gender roles intersected with the Majimaji war (1905–7), and whether Majimaji had an underlying meaning for rural Tanzanian societies that has escaped the attention of historians. If so, it suggests that the prevailing conception of Majimaji needs to be questioned and re-examined.
The Myth of Reverse Compositionality

In the context of debates about what form a theory of meaning should take, it is sometimes claimed that one cannot understand an intersective modifier-head construction (e.g., ‘pet fish’) without understanding its lexical parts. Neo-Russellians like Fodor and Lepore contend that non-denotationalist theories of meaning, such as prototype theory and theory theory, cannot explain why this is so, because they cannot provide for the ‘reverse compositional’ character of meaning. I argue that reverse compositionality is a red herring in these debates. I begin by setting out some positive arguments for reverse compositionality and showing that they fail. Then I show that the principle of reverse compositionality has two big strikes against it. First, it is incompatible with all theories of meaning on the market, including the denotationalism favored by neo-Russellians. Second, it explains nothing that is not already explained by its venerable predecessor, the principle of (forward) compositionality.
Rhodium (1) catalyst supported on polyethylene hollow fibers: Preparation and hydrogenation studies

In recent years polymers have been utilized as binding sites for transition metal catalysts (e.g. crosslinked polystyrene beads). However, general problems exist with the above system. The rate of reaction depends on the presence of solvents that adequately swell the polystyrene bead in order to allow access to the catalyst sites. Differences in polarity and reactant size can inhibit diffusion into the bead. Recently a new system has been developed where the catalyst is bound to polyethylene single crystal surfaces, this has solved the above problems. However, polyethylene single crystals are small and plate-like causing a new problem, when trying to filter the separate product the crystals cause clogging of the filtering system and limit the reactions to batch process. This paper describes the use of fine microporous polyethylene hollow fibers as the supporting polymer. This gives the advantages of the single crystal support, plus allows for the use of a fixed-bed flow reaction system.
French national elections: Political economic forecasts

Abstract French national election outcomes (presidential and National Assembly contests, 1958–1988) can be predicted rather accurately by a straightforward political economy model. The model, based on readily available, pre-election measures of economic and governmental performance, would appear to hold promise as a forecasting instrument.
Sector of West Antarctic Ice Sheet in “Irreversible Retreat”

A large sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet “has gone into a state of irreversible retreat,” according to glaciologist Eric Rignot, lead author of the paper “Widespread rapid grounding line retreat of Pine Island, Thwaites, Smith, and Kohler Glaciers in West Antarctica from 1992 to 2011,” which has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL).
Thermal analysis and design of a multi-layered rigidity tunable composite

Abstract Elastomer-based composites embedded with thermally-responsive material (TRM) and a liquid-phase Joule heater are capable of reversibly changing their elastic rigidity by up to four orders of magnitude. At room temperature, the TRM layer is rigid and prevents the surrounding elastomer from elastically bending or stretching. When activated, the embedded Joule heater softens or melts the TRM, which leads to a dramatic reduction in the elastic rigidity of the composite. In this manuscript, we examine the activation of these composites by performing analytical, numerical, and experimental studies of the temperature distribution, thermal history, and phase transition. We consider both low melting point (LMP) metal alloys (e.g. Field’s metal) and shape memory polymer (SMP). An analytical solution using the Galerkin Based Integral (GBI) method is derived for the cases where no phase change is involved, while a numerical scheme using the Latent Heat Accumulation (LHA) method is utilized to probe scenarios where phase change has a central role in the elastic rigidity change. The analytical and numerical studies predict a temperature history that is in good agreement with experimental measurements obtained with an IR thermometer. Analysis of the internal temperature distribution leads to scaling laws for determining the required activation time and allowable input power rate for composites containing either LMP alloys or SMP. These scaling laws could potentially be used to inform the design of rigidity tunable composites (RTC) used in assistive wearable technologies and biologically-inspired soft-matter robotics.
Magnetic Susceptibility Trends in Oxo-Bridged, Dinuclear Chromium(III) Complexes. Crystal Structure of [(tmpa)Cr(m-O)(m-CO(3))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(2).2H(2)O.

The synthesis and physical characterization of oxo-bridged [Cr(2)(tmpa)(2)(m-O)(X)](n)()(+) complexes (tmpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) containing a variety of complementary ligands (X = CO(3)(2)(-), PhPO(4)(2)(-), HS(-)) are described, with the objective of understanding factors underlying variations in the antiferromagnetic coupling constant J. We also present the crystal structure of [(tmpa)Cr(m-O)(m-CO(3))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(2).2H(2)O, for comparison with previous findings on [(tmpa)Cr(m-O)(m-CH(3)CO(2))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(3). The carbonate-bridged complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 11.286(10) A, b = 18.12(2) A, c = 20.592(12) A, beta = 95.99(5) degrees, and V = 4190 A(3) and Z = 4. Asymmetric tmpa ligation pertains, with apical N atoms situated trans to bridging oxo and acido O atoms. Key structural parameters include Cr-O(b) bond lengths of 1.818(6) and 1.838(6) A, Cr-OCO(2) distances of 1.924(7) and 1.934(7) A, and a bridging bond angle of 128.3(3) degrees. Several attempts to prepare oxo, amido-bridged dimers were unsuccessful, but the nearlinear [Cr(tmpa)(N(CN)(2))](2)O(ClO(4))(2).3H(2)O complex was isolated from the reaction of dicyanamide ion with [Cr(tmpa)(OH)](2)(4+). In contrast to the behavior of analogous diiron(III) complexes, antiferromagnetic coupling constants of [Cr(2)(tmpa)(2)(m-O)(X)](n)()(+) dinuclear species are highly responsive to the X group. Considering the complexes with X = CO(3)(2)(-), PhPO(4)(2)(-), HS(-), SO(4)(2)(-), and RCO(2)(-) (10 R substituents), we find a reasonably linear, empirical relationship between J and oxo bridge basicity, as measured by pK(a) (Cr(OH)Cr) values in aqueous solution. While there is no theoretical basis for such a correlation between solid-state and solution-phase properties, this relationship demonstrates that CrOCr pi-bonding contributes significantly to antiferromagnetic exchange. Thus, J tends to become less negative with increasing m-O(2)(-) basicity, showing that greater availability of a bridging oxo group lone pair toward the proton, with decreasing CrOCr pi-interaction, reduces the singlet-triplet gap.
NECK-MUSCLE TENSION AND THE POSTURAL IMAGE*

The ‘ postural images ’ of comfort, of correctness, and of height were studied in seven male subjects aged 10 to 21. The image was recorded photographically and electromyographically as the immediate response to a specific verbal stimulus. The response was quantified by measuring the angular relation of head to trunk and the change in electric potential of the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles. Both sitting and standing postures were recorded. In addition, the effect on posture of effort (lifting), anticipation of movement, forced respiration, and standing on tip-toe was studied. The data were treated statistically.
The asymptotics of the gap in the Mathieu equation

We provide a simple proof that the kth gap, Δ_k, for the Mathieu operator −d^2dx^2 + 2κcos(2x) is Δ_k = 8(κ4)^k[(k − 1)!]^(−2)(1 + o(k^(−2))), a result obtained (up to the value of an integral) by Harrell. The key observation is that what is involved is tunneling in momentum space.
Electron capture into excited states of helium by helium-ion impact on helium

Cross sections for electron capture into each excited state of He up to 4 $sup 1$,$sup 3$D by He$sup +$ impact on He in the energy range 100--10 000 keV have been calculated by means of the first Born approximation (Bates's version). A Gaussian technique previously developed for evaluating two-center integrals occurring in the Born amplitude has been used. One-parameter, variational wave functions are derived for each excited state of helium up to 4 $sup 1$,$sup 3$D. Some of the excited $sup 1$S cross sections are found to be affected by almost a factor of 2 by the choice of 1 $sup 1$S helium wave function and orthogonality of the excited state $sup 1$S functions to this function. The observed departure of the ratio of triplet to singlet cross sections from the statistical weight of three is related partly to the interference between a one-electron process of capture into an excited state of helium and a two-electron process of capture into the ground state with the original He$sup +$ electron excited, and is related partly to the difference between the variational singlet and triplet excited one-electron wave functions. At energies of about 100 keV, agreement with available experimental results ismore » generally good; however, for the 3 $sup 1$P, 4 $sup 1$P, and 4 $sup 1$D states, the disagreement exceeds the estimated experimental uncertainty.« less
Use of perbenzoic acid in analysis of unsaturated compounds. II. Determination of external double bonds in synthetic rubbers

A procedure is given for the determination of the external double bonds in synthetic rubbers. The method is based on the difference in the rates of reaction of perbenzoic acid with internal and with external double bonds. The principles of the interpretation of the analytical data are discussed. Calibration curves for use in the analysis of butadiene and isoprene polymers are given. The procedure is also applicable to the analysis of a mixture of two compounds, one of which contains an external double bond and the other an internal double bond. Data are given for the analysis of mixtures of oleic acid and undecylenic acid.
A generalized uncertainty propagation criterion from benchmark studies of microstructured material systems

Abstract Recognizing that modern materials contain multiple phases with inherent random microstructure and in situ constituent material properties that are oft uncharacterizable with exactness, this research uses benchmark computational studies to unveil scenarios where uncertainties significantly affect macroscopic behavior. The benchmark studies, which serve as numerical experiments capturing the main features of a wide class of problems in solid mechanics, suggest a generalized uncertainty propagation criterion Δ whose assessment may be used to understand whether uncertainties may non-negligibly propagate to apparent system properties. The new Δ -criterion combines four features of a microstructured material system: the microstructure size (micro), material property correlation length (micro), structure size (macro), and global length scale of loading (macro). We compare the Δ -criterion with the familiar one from classical homogenization that relates a statistical volume element size to the size of the microstructure it contains. This work is motivated by the knowledge paucity of uncertainty’s place in multiscale analysis and the great computational expense, either in runtime or implementation, of uncertainty propagation methods. The uncertainties considered are material property uncertainty of the separate phases comprising each problem’s microstructure and the statistical description of the microstructure itself. The problems involve quasi-static elasto-plasticity, wave propagation in viscoelastic composite, and pattern transition in periodic voided elastomer. Besides the criterion, observed physical behavior for the benchmark problems is also presented in the context of input uncertainty. A close examination of the boundary condition effect on uncertainty propagation suggests that localization increases the characteristic microstructure length, which we represent with a simple deformation-dependent microstructure evolution function and that increases uncertainty in apparent system properties. This work provides a systematic framework for modelers to understand when they may reliably waive the consideration of uncertainty for their application or when their application mandates it.
An Assessment of the Role of Early Parental Loss in the Adoption of Atheism or Irreligion

Early parental loss or trauma has been proposed by some as a significant factor in the adoption of atheist, non-theist, or irreligious worldviews. Relevant empirical data, however, have been limited, impressionistic, methodologically questionable, or limited to historically prominent figures. Survey data from the GSS and a study of affirmatively non-theistic and irreligious secular group affiliates in the U.S. do not provide evidence of disproportionately high rates of early parental loss among individuals who describe themselves as “atheist(ic)” or “anti-religious,” reject belief in God, or express strong anger about religion. Loss of a parent or other loved may play a role in turns toward, as well as away from, God and religion for some. There is also evidence of comparatively high rates of parental loss in the lives of historically prominent figures, both religious and non-religious. Present results, however, do not support the hypothesis that early loss is a disproportionately frequent experience in the lives of (“ordinary”) atheistic or irreligious people.
The role of Bisphenol A in shaping the brain, epigenome and behavior

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a xenoestrogen that was first synthesized in 1891. Its estrogenic properties were discovered in 1930, and shortly after that chemists identified its usefulness in the production of epoxy resins. Since the 1950s BPA has been used as a synthetic monomer in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastic, polystyrene resins, and dental sealants. Roughly 6.5 billion pounds of BPA are produced each year and it is the major estrogenic compound that leaches into nearby water and food supplies (vom Saal et al., 2007). BPA has been detected in 95% of human urine samples, which indicates that environmental exposure is widespread (Calafat et al., 2005). Moreover, BPA affects reproductive tissues and the brain. Thus many studies have focused on the effects of BPA during embryonic development. The most recent FDA update (Administration January 2010) points to "some concern about the potential effects of Bisphenol A on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children." In light of this concern, we present an updated review of BPA's action on the brain and behavior. We begin with a discussion of BPA's role as both an endocrine active compound and an agent that alters DNA methylation. Next, we review publications that have reported effects of BPA on brain and behavior. We end with our interpretation of these data and suggestions for future research directions.
Global and comparative protein profiles of the pronotum of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis

The southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann) kills all pines within its range and is among the most important forest pest species in the US. Using a specialized mycangium surrounded by gland cells in the pronotum, adult females culture, transport, and inoculate two fungi into beetle galleries during oviposition. These fungal symbionts, to varying degrees, exclude antagonistic fungi and provide nutrients to larvae. However, the mechanisms (e.g. secreted antibiotic chemicals or nutrients, proteins or pathways) by which this relationship is maintained are not known. Here we present the first global and differential proteome profile of the southern pine beetle pronotum. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis, tandem mass spectrometry, and database searches revealed that the majority of pronotal proteins were related to energy-yielding metabolism, contractile apparati, cell structure, and defence. The identified proteins provide important insights into the molecular and biochemical processes of, and candidates for functional genomics to understand mycangia and pronotum functions in, the southern pine beetle.
Structures and responses of ferroelectric liquid crystals in the surface-stabilized geometry

We present experimental and theoretical studies of the structures and transitions of the molecular orientation field of a smectic C* liquid crystal in the surface-stabilized geometry. The experimental results show that structures having from two to six stable orientation configurations are possible. The optical properties of these states, electric-field-induced sequences of transitions between them, and defects which appear in them are analyzed to infer the states' structure. These studies show that in the surface-stabilized geometry: (1) the smectic layers can be tilted relative to the bounding plates; (2) the boundary conditions can stabilize molecular orientations tilted relative to the bounding plates. Evidence is also presented for the coupling of smectic layer deformation and the director field.The theoretical results show that the simplest models of the interactions of a ferroelectric liquid crystal with bounding surfaces and applied electric fields explain a variety of phenomena. First, a simple, ...
Diurnal modulation of semidiurnal internal tides in Luzon Strait

A three-dimensional model is applied to the South China Sea to study the generation of internal tides in the Luzon Strait, a mixed diurnal dominant barotropic tidal environment. The computed internal tidal flux is in good agreement with limited observations and with estimates from the barotropic tidal inversion. The diurnal internal tides are simple harmonic oscillations. The semidiurnal internal tides, on the other hand, are highly nonlinear with striking daily amplitude variations. Comparison with an analytical mixed internal tide–lee wave model shows that the diurnal modulation is caused by interaction of barotropic diurnal tidal currents with the linear internal waves. The highly nonlinear semidiurnal internal tides likely is responsible for the observed diurnally modulated nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea. The semidiurnal internal tides also appears to be the major source for the enormous vertical mixing in the Luzon Strait.
Optimized binary, phase-only, diffractive optical element with subwavelength features for 1.55 μm

We report the use of rigorous coupled-wave diffraction analysis in conjunction with the simulated annealing optimization method for performing optimal design of binary-level surface-relief diffractive elements with subwavelength, submicrometer features that exhibit quasi-linear-phase transmittance. An element designed for operation at 1.55 μm has been fabricated and is characterized.
Partitioning with two lines in the plane

Abstract An O ( n ) algorithm is presented for the problem of partitioning a set of n points in the plane into four equal parts by means of two straight lines.
NUR who? An orphan transcription factor holds promise for monomaniacs

The generation of Ly6C− patrolling monocytes requires the transcription factor NR4A1 (Nur77). This finding provides insight into the development and function of these blood-resident cells.
Response functions for multicomponent plasmas. II. Velocity-average approximation and dynamical mean-field theory for strong coupling.

We establish the multispecies generalization of the velocity-average formalism for the calculation of plasma response functions at arbitrary values of the coupling. We use a set of pseudopotentials rather than the bare Coulomb potential to represent the interaction between the particles in order to describe quantum effects due to the formation of bound states, diffraction, inner-shell-electron exchange, etc. The result is a self-consistent integral equation for the partial response functions
Cyclical Ovarian Function Resistant to Treatment with an Analogue of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone in McCune–Albright Syndrome

THE McCune–Albright syndrome was originally described in the 1930s as the triad of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, cafe-au-lait pigmentation, and precocious puberty.1 , 2 The mechanism of the precoc...
A crown model for simulating long-term stand and gap dynamics in northern hardwood forests

Abstract Evaluation of ecosystem management alternatives in forests will require new or revised models capable of simulating the development of multi-aged stands managed on long rotations and with unconventional stand structures. In this paper we describe the development and testing of an individual tree, crown-based model (CANOPY) designed to simulate canopy gap dynamics and stand structural changes in mature and old-growth northern hardwood forests dominated by Acer saccharum. The model was calibrated with data from 63 plots in managed and unmanaged stands, with sample trees ranging in age from 17–311 years. For A. saccharum, R2 values ranged from 0.76 to 0.81 for prediction of basal area increment, 0.45–0.50 for crown radial increment, and 0.63–0.79 for height increment. Equations using field-measured crown size and crown competition variables provided only slightly better predictions than conventional mensurational variables such as DBH and plot stocking level. Use of the model for long-term (250 year) projections of cumulative DBH and crown radius provided a good match to largely independent size-age trends in the data base, but total height appeared to be moderately overestimated for trees >100 years old. Both the field data and simulations suggest that basal area increment of individual trees does not decline with age in these species but actually increases up to the observed maximum of 300 years, which is consistent with nearly linear diameter-age trends often reported for shade-tolerant species. Lateral crown growth of trees with exposed crown margins, however, showed curvilinear decreasing trends with age. These findings suggest that the common assumption of constant radial closure of canopy gaps by border trees could potentially overestimate rates of gap closure and underestimate the probability of successful gap capture by saplings in multi-aged stands.
Performance of Edge-Loaded Cold-Formed Steel Built-Up Box Beams

The flexural performance of box beams under eccentric edge loading is discussed in this paper. Physical tests show that the combined effects of edge loading and the connection of the two primary box beam components (toe-to-toe joists), by top and bottom track members, may reduce the overall strength of the box beam. In the test results reported here, the mode of failure was predominantly beam instability due to twisting. In some cases, this instability was accompanied by elastic local buckling. Ignoring any composite action between the connected components of the box beam, the combined flexural strength of the primary beam components (joist members) was computed and compared with the measured capacity. This comparison showed that, based on the measured yield strengths, edge loading has a tendency to reduce beam capacity. These limited test results suggest that additional work should be undertaken to evaluate similar edge loading conditions that are commonly found in cold-formed steel framed structures.
PROPERTIES OF A NEW STATE OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN IN DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLUTION

—Dilute aqueous hematoporphyrin undergoes a transformation after standing at room temperature leading to a shift of the Soret peak from 395 nm to 405 nm, disappearance of visible bands I (610 nm) and IV (503 nm), a shift of the first emission band from 615 nm to 580 nm, and fluorescence polarization at room temperature. The transformation was accelerated by heating and was faster for more dilute solutions. It did not take place in ethanol, 99:1 glycerol-water, or in small egg lecithin liposomes. It was rapid in SDS micelles and did not occur in CTAB and Triton X-100 micelles. Low concentrations of divalent zinc and copper increased the rate of transformation, but the product was not the corresponding metal ion ligand. The transformation was fast with uroporphyrin I and fast but incomplete with hematoporphyrin derivative. The methyl esters of hematoporphyrin IX and uroporphyrin I did not transform. The tentative identification of the transformed product is a tightly-bound linear micelle, oriented such that the central hydrogens of the free base monomer units are anti-parallel.
On some friends of the sociable numbers

Let s(n) denote the sum of the proper divisors of n. Set s0(n) = n, and for k > 0, put sk(n) := s(sk-1(n)) if sk-1(n) > 0. Thus, perfect numbers are those n with s(n) = n and amicable numbers are those n with s(n) ≠ n but s2(n) = n. We prove that for each fixed k ≥ 1, the set of n which divide sk(n) has density zero, and similarly for the set of n for which sk(n) divides n. These results generalize the theorem of Erdős that for each fixed k, the set of n for which sk(n) = n has density zero.
Properties of GaN grown on sapphire substrates

Epitaxial growth of GaN on sapphire substrates using an open-tube growth furnace has been carried out to study the effects of substrate orientation and transfer gas upon the properties of the layers. It has been found that for the (0001) substrates, surface appearance was virtually independent of carrier gas and of doping levels. For the (1 ¯102) substrates surface faceting was greatly reduced when He was used as a transfer gas as opposed to H2. Faceting was also reduced when the GaN was doped with Zn and the best surfaces for the (1 ¯102) substrates were obtained in a Zn-doped run using He as the transfer gas. The best sample in terms of electrical properties for the (1¯102) substrate had a mobility greater than 400 cm2 V−1 sec−1 and a carrier concentration of about 2 × 1017 cm−3. This sample was undoped and used He as the transfer gas. The best (0001) sample was also grown undoped with He as the transfer gas and had a mobility of 300cm2V−1 sec−1 and a carrier concentration of 1 × 1018 cm−3.
Safety and feasibility of long-term intravenous sodium nitrite infusion in healthy volunteers.

Background Infusion of sodium nitrite could provide sustained therapeutic concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) for the treatment of a variety of vascular disorders. The study was developed to determine the safety and feasibility of prolonged sodium nitrite infusion. Methodology Healthy volunteers, aged 21 to 60 years old, were candidates for the study performed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH; protocol 05-N-0075) between July 2007 and August 2008. All subjects provided written consent to participate. Twelve subjects (5 males, 7 females; mean age, 38.8±9.2 years (range, 21–56 years)) were intravenously infused with increasing doses of sodium nitrite for 48 hours (starting dose at 4.2 µg/kg/hr; maximal dose of 533.8 µg/kg/hr). Clinical, physiologic and laboratory data before, during and after infusion were analyzed. Findings The maximal tolerated dose for intravenous infusion of sodium nitrite was 267 µg/kg/hr. Dose limiting toxicity occurred at 446 µg/kg/hr. Toxicity included a transient asymptomatic decrease of mean arterial blood pressure (more than 15 mmHg) and/or an asymptomatic increase of methemoglobin level above 5%. Nitrite, nitrate, S-nitrosothiols concentrations in plasma and whole blood increased in all subjects and returned to preinfusion baseline values within 12 hours after cessation of the infusion. The mean half-life of nitrite estimated at maximal tolerated dose was 45.3 minutes for plasma and 51.4 minutes for whole blood. Conclusion Sodium nitrite can be safely infused intravenously at defined concentrations for prolonged intervals. These results should be valuable for developing studies to investigate new NO treatment paradigms for a variety of clinical disorders, including cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage, and ischemia of the heart, liver, kidney and brain, as well as organ transplants, blood-brain barrier modulation and pulmonary hypertension. Clinical Trial Registration Information http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00103025
Immunopathogenesis of acute AIDS virus infection.

The pathogenesis of chronic HIV infection has long been envisioned as a slow process of immune degradation ultimately leading to overt immune deficiency and AIDS. However, recent studies suggest that the massive viral replication of acute infection initiates the pathogenic process, significantly degrading the immune system and setting up a sequence of events that years later leads to final decompensation and AIDS. The central player of the disease process appears to be the CD4+ effector memory T cell population that resides in the extra-lymphoid immune effector sites of the body (e.g. gut, lung and genital tract), and has a crucial role in maintaining immune competence at the tissue–external environment interface. HIV and its monkey counterpart SIV specifically target these CCR5-expressing T cells, significantly depleting them in acute infection and, in AIDS-susceptible species (humans, Asian macaques), initiating and maintaining a state of hyperactivation that undermines their regeneration. With time, uncontrolled viral replication leads to loss of these cells in tissue below a crucial threshold, resulting in increased susceptibility to opportunistic infection.
Pharmacological intervention in invertebrate aging

Prompted by successful genetic interventions in aging we now consider the utility of pharmacological interventions. A few clear cases of lifespan extension resulting from exposure to compounds suggest that aging can be slowed and that the pharmacology of lifespan extension is a feasible area for research. Compounds that slow aging may prompt the rational design of therapeutics against age-related diseases. Here we evaluate invertebrate models for drug discovery in aging and outline how the field may develop from these simple first steps.
Feature: The 419 scam: information warfare on the spam front and a proposal for local filtering

The infamous '419' advance fee fraud scam is a major source of spam which takes its victims for hundreds of millions of dollars yearly. Email headers confirm that much of this traffic currently comes out of Lagos and Amsterdam. 419ers also create phony bank websites. Ad hoc information warfare has begun in which anti-scammers hijack these websites as well as scammers' email accounts. Spam legislation will not stop these particular emails. Filtering outgoing mail, as close as practical to the source, could suppress that portion of the fraud carried out by email, at least in the short term.
A submicron MOSFET parameter extraction technique

A technique is introduced for measuring electron and hole mobilities as a function of temperature and normal field in inverted silicon surfaces. We also introduce a new definition of threshold voltage which allows the method to measure mobility independent of channel dimensions and resistance in series with the channel. The results are used to extract the resistance in series with the channel, the effective channel dimensions, and the intrinsic MOSFET transconductance. The technique is demonstrated on MOSFETs with channel lengths ranging from 0.25 µm to 20 µm.
Improving silica fume cement by using silane

Silica fume cement was improved by using silane, which was introduced by either coating silica fume particles with silane or using silane as an admixture. Both methods of silane introduction similarly enhanced the workability, tensile strength and compressive strength, but the latter method resulted in lower compressive ductility, lower damping capacity, more drying shrinkage, lower air void content, higher density, higher specific heat and greater thermal conductivity, mainly due to the network of covalent coupling among the silica fume particles.
Eye-Safe Solid-State Lasers For LIDAR Applications

Several solid-state lasers that operate in the eye-safe region of the spectrum could be employed in LIDAR applications. Although laser radar systems based on CO2 laser technology have successfully been employed in wind velocity LIDAR systems, several advantages would accrue if a shorter wavelength laser could be employed. Characteristics that normally improve as the wavelength decreases include: range resolution, velocity error, scattered signal strength, detector detectivity, and optics size. Disadvantage of operation at shorter wavelengths result primarily from the higher quantum-limited noise and increased susceptibility to atmospheric turbulence. However, if the wavelength becomes too short, eye safety problems may result, especially if coherent detection is required. Fortunately several solid-state lasers operate in the nominal eye-safe region, wavelengths longer than 1.5 μm. Solid-state lasers have the additional advantages of compact size and reliability. With the advent of diode pumping, these devices would also have the benefit of extremely long lifetime.
Past and projected rural land conversion in the US at state, regional, and national levels

The developed land area of the US increased by 14.2 million hectares between 1982 and 2003. Along with a projected US population increase to more than 360 million individuals by 2030 is an expected continuation of expanding rural land development. Related to population growth, rural land development and the associated loss of rural open space are expected to have a number of social, economic, and ecological implications. To gain greater insight into land development patterns, we used US Census Bureau and National Resources Inventory data to quantify per-housing-unit rates of land development during recent decades and to model future land development to 2030 for states and regions in the US. Based on these data, 0.50 ha of additional land were developed for each additional housing unit in the US. The numbers of hectares of newly developed land per additional housing unit were greatest in the South Central and Great Plains regions and least in the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain regions of the country. Combining population projections and trends in people per housing unit with development indices, we projected that developed area in the US will increase by 22 million hectares between 2003 and 2030, with the greatest absolute increases projected to occur in the Southeast and South Central regions of the US. We used sensitivity analysis to examine the impacts of changes in population migration patterns and per housing unit development patterns on increases in projected developed area.