cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The quantum nondemolition derby

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle demands that a very precise measurement of a particle's position x not only will increase the uncertainty in a measurement of its momentum p , but also affects any additional measurement of x because the high momentum uncertainty affects the spreading of the particle's wave function. However, it is possible to avoid this problem by cleverly choosing what to measure. A measurement variable can be constructed so that the inevitable increases in uncertainties in other quantities will have no influence on the outcome of its repeated measurement. Such “quantum nondemolition” (QND) measurements can be used to detect the turning on of an arbitrarily small force. A specific QND method, referred to as back-action evading (BAE), was conceived in the context of detecting gravitational waves by their effect on large test masses or on the freely suspended mirrors of interferometers ( 1 – 3 ). This technically demanding method was originally based on optomechanical systems, and on page 1262 of this issue, Suh et al. ( 4 ) now report an implementation of BAE using microwaves in a superconducting resonator circuit with a movable capacitor plate.
Influence of Adjuvants on Efficacy of Imazapic and 2,4-DB

Abstract Adjuvants can have a major influence on efficacy of postemergence herbicides. Imazapic and 2,4-DB are applied postemergence in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to control a variety of weeds. Determining how adjuvants influence efficacy of these herbicides could lead to more efficient weed management. Field experiments were conducted during 1997 and 1998 to determine the influence of nonionic surfactant, crop oil concentrate, organosilicone surfactant, and a blend of organosilicone surfactant and methylated seed oil on efficacy of imazapic and 2,4-DB. No-adjuvant and nontreated controls were also included. Adjuvants did not increase redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) or common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) control by imazapic. Only minor differences in control of eclipta (Eclipta prostrata L.), entireleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula Gray), and pitted morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa L.) by imazapic were noted among adjuvants. Sicklepod [Senna obtusifolia (L.) Erwin a...
When to monitor fingerstick blood glucose

(2005). When to monitor fingerstick blood glucose? Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 118, No. 5, pp. 30-30.
Photoinduced Surface Relief Grating on Amorphous Poly(4-phenylazophenol) Films

Large-amplitude surface relief gratings on enzymatically synthesized poly(4-phenylazophenol) dye films were holographically induced without postprocessing steps. Recording of the gratings is strongly dependent on the polarization of the writing beams. The phase shift of the topographic grating with respect to the interference pattern was inferred by analyzing a Gaussian laser beam induced surface deformation on the dye film. The mechanism for the surface deformation and grating formation are explained in the framework of the optical field gradient force model.
Organizational Imperatives and Ideological Change: The Case of Black Power

Two theories of ideological change predominate in popular and social science literatures. The first takes the interests of social groups as decisive, the second understands ideologies as expressions of societal values or cultures. Neither allows much scope for existing political elites, who exercise considerable influence over political discourse. The utility of incorporating organizational needs of political elites into explanations of ideological innovation is demonstrated in a case-study analysis of the rise of Black Power in the late sixties. The point is buttressed by comparing black leaders to British trade unionists at the close of World War I.
Spatial distribution of light emission from CdSe in acoustoelectric current unstable mode

Abstract Recombination radiation in acoustoelectric current unstable region in CdSe is reported here. The emission is confined to two peaks centered at 1.75 eV and 1.44 eV at 77°K. The 1.75 eV emission moves across the sample in the same way the “high field domain” does.
Force and contact location shading methods for use within two-and three-dimensional polygonal environments

Current state-of-the-art haptic interfaces only provide kinesthetic (force) feedback, yet studies have shown that providing tactile feedback in concert with kinesthetic information can dramatically improve a person's ability to dexterously interact with and explore virtual environments. In this research, tactile feedback was provided by a device, called a contact location display (CLD), which is capable of rendering the center of contact to a user. The chief goal of the present work was to develop algorithms that allow the CLD to be used with polygonal geometric models, and to do this without the resulting contact location feedback being overwhelmed by the perception of polygonal edges and vertices. Two haptic shading algorithms were developed to address this issue and successfully extend the use of the CLD to 2D and 3D polygonal environments. Two experiments were run to evaluate these haptic shading algorithms. The first measured perception thresholds for rendering faceted objects as smooth objects. It was found that the addition of contact location feedback significantly increased user sensitivity to edges and that the use of shading algorithms was able to significantly reduce the number of polygons needed for objects to feel smooth. The second experiment explored the CLD device's ability to facilitate exploration and shape recognition within a 3D environment. While this study provided a validation of our 3D algorithm, as people were able to identify the rendered objects with reasonable accuracy, this study underscored the need for improvements in the CLD device design in order to be effectively used in general 3D environments.
Status of and operating experience with the University of Washington superconducting booster linac

Abstract The University of Washington superconducting linac uses lead-plated copper quarter-wave resonators for acceleration. These accept a wide range of particle velocities. There are 24 accelerating resonators with β = 0.1 and 12 resonators with β = 0.2, as well as a bunching resonator with β = 0.1 and a rebuncher/debuncher with β = 0.2. These β values are higher than those of other similar machines, reflecting our emphasis on lighter ions. We are able to accelerate ions with masses ranging from 1 through above 60. The linas has been in operation since September 1987. During the early part of this period of operation various systems were completed and debugged, and during the remaining part of the period we have been running fairly routinely while gaining experience and skill in operation. Following a brief description of the accelerator, the operating experience, techniques, and automatic control features will be described in detail.
LOW-TEMPERATURE SYNTHESIS OF MICAS UNDER CONVENTIONAL- AND MICROWAVE-HYDROTHERMAL CONDITIONS

Several micas containing different octahedral and interlayer cations were synthesized at different temperatures under conventional- and microwave-hydrothermal conditions and these phases were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A Zn K-mica with Zn in the octahedral sheets and K in the interlayers was synthesized in the temperature range 150–200°C and a novel Zn Rb-mica with Zn in the octahedral sheets and Rb in the interlayers was synthesized at 200°C. The synthesis of either Mg, Co or Ni K-micas, however, was found to be difficult or impossible at these low temperatures. Solid-state 29Si MAS-NMR revealed that the Al in the tetrahedral sites is disordered with several nearest-neighbor Si environments. In general, microwave-assisted hydrothermal conditions led to better crystallization of the Zn K-micas compared with the conventional method.
Heat of isomerization of peroxynitrite to nitrate and kinetics of isomerization of peroxynitrous acid to nitric acid

Abstract The reaction between hydrogen peroxide and nitrous acid at 0° results in high yields of the rapidly formed intermediate peroxynitrous acid which isomerizes to nitric acid at a slower rate. By stopping the reaction with the addition of base at various times and measuring the total heat evolved in a calorimeter it was possible to determine the rate constant for isomerization to be 0·099 sec −1 at 1°. The heat of isomerization of the peroxynitrite ion to the nitrite ion was deduced to be −38·8 ± 2 kcal/mole in dilute aqueous solution at 1°.
Kinetic description of the transition from a one-phase to a two-phase growth regime in Al/Pd lateral diffusion couples

The kinetics of the solid‐state reaction between Al and Pd is studied in the geometry of a lateral Al‐Pd diffusion couple in the temperature range between 250 and 430 °C. The first reaction phase is the crystalline Al3Pd2(δ) phase. After the growth of Al3Pd2 reaches a critical length, the quasicrystalline decagonal Al3Pd(γ’) phase starts to grow in between the Al and the Al3Pd2 phases, and the Al3Pd2 and Al3Pd phase continue to grow simultaneously. We have fitted this simultaneous growth with a recently proposed model of kinetic suppression on the basis of interfacial reaction barriers. Excellent agreement between the data and the model is found. From the analysis the effective interface growth constant for the Al3Pd is extracted as a function of temperature.
Effect of infrared heat on localized poliomyelitis and neuritis

Summary 1.Infrared heat was given to three poliomyelitis patients with ostensible complete paralysis of the facial muscles and they could be moved voluntarily for a little while after its application. 2.When it was given to six individuals with peripheral neuropathy,there was no such movement of these muscles immediately after the treatment was completed.
Assessment of Body Mass Index and Association with Adolescent Preventive Care in U.S. Outpatient Settings

Using data from the latest National Ambulatory Care Surveys, this study finds that the importance of assessment of overweight and obesity and preventive counseling in adolescents is underappreciated in outpatient practices throughout the United States. The room for improvement remains considerable, and interventions to promote quality preventive care are needed for all adolescents.
Pretreatment Serum VEGF Is Associated with Clinical Response and Overall Survival in Advanced Melanoma Patients Treated with Ipilimumab

Ipilimumab, an antibody that blocks CTL antigen 4 (CTLA-4), improves overall survival (OS) for patients with metastatic melanoma. Given its role in angiogenesis and immune evasion, serum VEGF levels were evaluated for association with clinical benefit in ipilimumab-treated patients. Sera were collected from 176 patients treated at 3 (n = 98) or 10 mg/kg (n = 68). The VEGF levels before treatment and at induction completion (week 12) were analyzed using the Meso Scale Discovery kit. The association of the levels of VEGF with clinical responses and OS were assessed using the Fisher exact and Kaplan-Meier log-rank tests. VEGF as a continuous variable was associated with OS (P = 0.002). Using 43 pg/mL as the cutoff pretreatment VEGF value defined by maximally selected log-rank statistics, pretreatment VEGF values correlated with clinical benefit at week 24 (P = 0.019; 159 patients evaluable). Pretreatment VEGF ≥ 43 pg/mL was associated with decreased OS (median OS 6.6 vs. 12.9 months, P = 0.006; 7.4 vs. 14.3 months, P = 0.037 for 3 mg/kg; and 6.2 vs. 10.9 months, P = 0.048 for 10 mg/kg). There was no correlation between VEGF changes and clinical outcome. Serum VEGF may be a predictive biomarker for ipilimumab treatment and is worthy of prospective investigation with various forms of immunologic checkpoint blockade.
Mechanism of hyperfragment formation in K− capture☆

Abstract In an attempt to understand the mechanism of hyperfragment production, a sample of 63 parent stars of hyperfragment production has been studied. These were selected to have a fast pion or proton accompanying the HF emission. The pion charges and energy distributions as well as the proton spectrum are used to establish the HF production process. Hyperfragments are emitted preferentially opposite to the direction of emission of associated pions or fast proton. The energy spectrum of the negative pions emitted from the K−-capture stars in association with hyperfragments can be separated into two groups, the one of lower energy being larger. On the other hand, the fact that all the π+ mesons have energies typical of the lower-energy group confirms the assumption that the π+ must originate in association with Σ− hyperons. We thus deduce that a majority (71 %) of the Λ's originate in Σ-conversion processes. We evaluate the frequency of π0 emission in association with hyperfragment production. The reactions for the production of Λ's by K− absorption on one or two nucleons are discussed. Attempts to separate K− captures in C, N, or O from those in Ag or Br are almost completely successful. We estimate that less than 20 % of the multinucleon absorption occurred in heavy elements.
Dual-lumen natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES): a new method for performing a safe anastomosis

Bowel anastomosis is one of the most challenging and difficult tasks to perform during natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The difficulty is mainly due to the technical limitations of the endoscopic instruments available. Currently, endoscopic clips, T-bar sutures, or cumbersome suturing devices are used. A dual-lumen NOTES approach can facilitate bowel resection in a pig model by allowing the use of laparoscopic staplers through the rectum. Acute studies were performed on four 40-kg pig models. The dual-lumen NOTES approach was used to perform small bowel resection and anastomosis. An endoscope was passed into the stomach and pushed through the stomach wall into the peritoneal cavity (first lumen), and a 12-mm trocar was placed through the anterior rectal wall, allowing access to the peritoneum (second lumen). Handling of the bowel, resection, and anastomosis were performed using endoscopic instruments through the gastric lumen and laparoscopic instruments through the rectal lumen. The resected small bowel then was removed through the rectum. Small bowel resection and anastomosis was successfully completed in all four animals using the dual-lumen NOTES approach. The laparoscopic stapler was used one more time to close the gastrotomy through the rectal port. At autopsy, intact suture lines were noted at the bowel anastomosis and at the stomach, with no evidence of leak from either site. Performing a sutured anastomosis in NOTES is complex and time consuming. The use of stapling devices designed for laparoscopic procedures greatly facilitates gastrointestinal tract operations in NOTES. Using both the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract as entry sites for NOTES eliminates some of the current technical limitations of these procedures.
Gender Differences in Receptivity to Sexual Offers

According to cultural stereotypes, men are more eager for sex than are women; women are more likely to set limits on such activity. In this paper, we review the work of theorists who have argued in favor of this proposition and review the interview and correlational data which support this contention. Finally, we report two experimental tests of ihis hypothesis. In these experiments, conducted in 1978 and 1982, male and female confederates of average attractiveness approached potential partners with one of three requests: "Would you go out tonight?" "Will you come over to my apartment?" or "Would you go to bed with me?" The great majority of men were willing to have a sexual liaison with the women who approached them. Women were not. Not one woman agreed to a sexual liaison. Many possible reasons for this marked gender difference were discussed. These studies were run in 1978 and 1982. It has since become important to track how the threat of AIDS is affecting men and women's willingness to date, come to a...
Optimization of Piezoelectric Uniflex Microactuators

Microactuators provide controlled motion and force for applications ranging from RF switches to rate gyros. Large amplitude response in piezoelectric actuators requires amplification of their small strain. This paper studies the performance of a uniflex actuator in terms of its displacement and blocking force compared to uniflex and flextensional actuators. A uniflex microactuator combines the strain amplification mechanisms of a unimorph and flexural motion to produce large displacement and blocking force. Analytical models for displacement and blocking force for all the three actuators are used in optimization, to study their relative performance. The uniflex actuator outperforms both unimorph and flextensional actuators in displacement, but, the unimorph actuator generates more blocking force. The uniflex actuator can therefore be used in applications that demand higher displacement and lower blocking force compared to a unimorph actuator.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
An Upper Bound for the Extended Kloosterman Sums over Galois Rings

An upper bound for the extended Kloosterman sum over Galois rings is derived. This bound is then used to construct new sequence families with low correlation properties and alphabet size a power of a prime.
Towards a calculus of development analysis

Abstract In this study we begin with an analysis of the general (in)effectiveness of past and current development plans in less developed countries (LDCs). The typical development planner is found to presume that net improvements in per capita satisfaction necessarily follow from technological progress. The ineffectiveness of development plans can invariably be traced to the failure of planners to completely specify the terms of the development trade-off, particularly the social (and spiritual) costs of technological progress. It is argued that real societal development can be achieved only through “enrichment strategies.” In an enrichment strategy for LDCs, rather than displace existing social benefits with material benefits, for instance, we seek to enrich the social with the material. This study is devoted to the formulation of such a strategy.
Digital Microfluidics for Automated Hanging Drop Cell Spheroid Culture

Cell spheroids are multicellular aggregates, grown in vitro, that mimic the three-dimensional morphology of physiological tissues. Although there are numerous benefits to using spheroids in cell-based assays, the adoption of spheroids in routine biomedical research has been limited, in part, by the tedious workflow associated with spheroid formation and analysis. Here we describe a digital microfluidic platform that has been developed to automate liquid-handling protocols for the formation, maintenance, and analysis of multicellular spheroids in hanging drop culture. We show that droplets of liquid can be added to and extracted from through-holes, or "wells," and fabricated in the bottom plate of a digital microfluidic device, enabling the formation and assaying of hanging drops. Using this digital microfluidic platform, spheroids of mouse mesenchymal stem cells were formed and maintained in situ for 72 h, exhibiting good viability (>90%) and size uniformity (% coefficient of variation <10% intraexperiment, <20% interexperiment). A proof-of-principle drug screen was performed on human colorectal adenocarcinoma spheroids to demonstrate the ability to recapitulate physiologically relevant phenomena such as insulin-induced drug resistance. With automatable and flexible liquid handling, and a wide range of in situ sample preparation and analysis capabilities, the digital microfluidic platform provides a viable tool for automating cell spheroid culture and analysis.
Synthesis and reactivity of bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid-derived cyclopropanes.

Photochemical oxa-di-π-methane rearrangement of bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid scaffolds affords multifunctional, donor–acceptor cyclopropanes. A related photochemical reaction of an iminium ether substrate uncovered an unprecedented aza-di-π-methane rearrangement of a β,γ-unsaturated iminium. Donor–acceptor cyclopropanes have been evaluated as substrates for reactions generating several new chemotypes.
Mitogenesis of rainbow trout peripheral blood lymphocytes requires homologous plasma for optimal responsiveness

An improved method for obtaining optimal mitogenic responses in peripheral blood lymphocytes has been devised by utilizing autologous or homologous rainbow trout plasma. The use of 10% plasma in culture results in up to a 60-fold increase in the proliferative potential of the peripheral blood lymphocyte response to lipopolysaccharide when compared to the more routinely used fetal bovine serum. Furthermore, it has been observed that lymphocytes which were unresponsive to in vitro mitogenic challenge when cultured in fetal bovine serum, responded well when cultured in the presence of trout plasma. Also in contrast to previous mitogen studies where maximal stimulation was reported to occur on Day 4–5 of culture, the stimulatory effects of lipopolysaccharide were greatest on Day 10 when plasma was employed. Together these data suggest that former conditions of lymphocyte cell culture, employing only fetal bovine serum, not only fail to provide the optimal conditions for cell growth, but in many cases the essential conditions. However, these requirements are met by supplementation with trout plasma, which seems to contain heat-stable factors responsible for the enhanced mitogenic responsiveness.
THE TELECOURSE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A TRADITIONAL IN‐CLASS ACCOUNTING COURSE

There are many challenges involved with starting a new college, and with starting a new accounting program within a new college. One challenge to Collin County Community College District was, and still is, that of making the classes accessible to the citizens of Collin County, which has an area of 836 square miles and an estimated 1987 population of 230,000. With this challenge in mind, the Collin County Community College District faculty, following the lead of the Dallas County Community College District (its friendly, helpful neighbor to the South), decided to offer the option of tele‐courses, or self‐paced courses, to students in certain, experimental subject areas. Accounting was one of those subject areas. The accounting faculty decided to offer a self‐paced telecourse to its Financial Accounting I classes beginning in the Fall of 1986. This would be an alternative to the traditional in‐class accounting courses of the same name that were also being offered. The purpose of this paper is to share the r...
“Anti-Smoking Data Are Exaggerated” Versus “The Data Are Clear and Indisputable”: Examining Letters to the Editor About Tobacco

Media advocacy plays a unique role in tobacco control policy development. Letters to the editor in particular are an interesting form of media advocacy because they reflect community sentiment regarding the policy agenda and provide insight into the public debate. The authors used ethnographic context analysis to examine the techniques used by writers of 262 tobacco-related letters to the editor published in 61 newspapers across Missouri over a 2-year period when tobacco tax and smoke-free indoor air initiatives were occurring across the state. The authors found that pro-tobacco control letter writers often used didactic strategies, citing numbers and reports, to convey information and presented their training or experience as a health professional (e.g., M.D., Ph.D.) to add legitimacy to their arguments. Anti-tobacco control letter writers, in contrast, used narrative strategies to support their stance, claimed authority as a smoker or small business owner to legitimize their claims by relating to the audience, and used collectivity to capture the attention of policymakers. These results present the importance of strategic media advocacy in tobacco control. Tobacco control advocates should increase their use of narrative strategies and collectivity in order to better connect with the public and policymakers.
Effects of nutrient supply and below-ground herbivory by Diaprepes abbreviatus L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on citrus growth and mineral content

Three-year-old citrus trees were grown in the greenhouse to study the effects of fertilizer concentration and root herbivory on plant growth and mineral concentration. In separate experiments, sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) and Swingle citrumelo (C. paradisi Macf. x Poncirus trifoliate L.) plants were treated with a complete fertilizer diluted to provide 25, 100, 200, or 400 ppm N and grown for 7 weeks with or without Diaprepes abbreviatus L. larvae. Increased fertilizer concentration increased the shoot mass and the shoot:root ratio of both sour orange and Swingle citrumelo. Root herbivory also increased the shoot:root ratio by depressing root growth more than shoot growth. Effects of root herbivory on growth were consistent across the four levels of fertilizer concentration, indicating that tolerance is not a function of nutrient status. For both rootstocks, concentrations of nitrogen in roots and leaves increased with fertilizer concentration, and C:N ratios decreased. In sour orange, root herbivory most strongly affected the concentration of carbon in roots, whereas in Swingle citrumelo, root herbivory most strongly affected leaf nitrogen. In general, herbivory reduced mineral concentrations of roots but the strength, and sometimes the direction, of herbivore effects varied significantly among fertilizer treatments. This research indicates that application of excess, balanced fertilizer is unlikely to offset growth reductions due to root herbivory by D. abbreviatus, and suggests that supplementation of specific nutrients may be of value.
Applications of synchroscan and dual-sweep streak camera techniques to free-electron laser experiments

The results of several types of time-resolved experiments on rf-linac driven free-electron lasers (FELs) using streak-camera techniques are presented. In the past these techniques generally traded off time resolution, time span, and timing jitter to address either submicropulse or submacropulse effects. More recently, we have taken advantage of synchroscan streak cameras that were phase-locked to the reference 108.3 MHz rf signal combined with an orthogonal slow ramp deflection. One can then obtain submicropulse, submacropulse, and phase information during a single 100-microsecond(s) long macropulse. Samples of results include electron beam bunch lengths, cavity length tuning, phase slew/jitter, drive- laser phase stability, and visible FEL output temporal effects. Several of these demonstrations are the first of their kind on a FEL system (to our knowledge).
Thermodynamics of adsorption of diatomic molecules on transition metal surfaces

Abstract The state of adsorption of diatomic molecules has been analysed thermodynamically. It has been shown that molecular and dissociative adsorption are competing processes and the state of adsorption depends on pressure and temperature. Molecular adsorption is preferred at low temperature and high pressure, and dissociative adsorption is preferred at high temperature and low pressure. The analysis has been applied to the adsorption of CO, NO and N 2 on transition metal surfaces. The heat of dissociative adsorption has been estimated from the heats of formation of transition metal carbides, nitrides and oxides. This analysis was able to predict previous correlations relating dissociative adsorption with position in the periodic table. It was clearly shown that dissociative adsorption was a thermodynamic phenomena. The effect of surface structure on dissociation was discussed and it was shown that defects can cause dissociation by forming stronger metal-carbon, metal-nitrogen, or metal-oxygen bonds at the defect.
Fear, Loathing, Dermatology, and Telemedicine

Change is not necessarily progress. Few physicians—and still fewer specialists— would characterize the wrenching changes occurring in health care over the past decade as progress. When is the last time you heard about a change in the provision of health care that gave providers more time, made practice more profitable, reduced paperwork, or made your life generally easier? Still thinking? So am I. Bad news of one sort or another has come in an unbroken stream for years now, or at least it seems that way. Payments to providers are continually reduced. Managed care has steadily reduced specialists' access to patients. The paperwork associated with referrals, billing, and laboratories continues to mount for most of us.
McPOWER: a Monte Carlo approach to power estimation

Ezcessive power dissipation in integrated circuits causes overheating and can lead to soft errors and/or permanent damage. The severity of the problem increases in proportion to the level of integration, so that power estimation tools are badly needed for present-day technology. fiaditional simulation-based approaches simulate the circuit using test/functional input p attern sets. This is ezpensive and does not guarantee a meaningful power value. Other recent approaches have used probabilistic techniques in order to cover 4 large set of inputs patterns. However, t hey trade-off accuracy for speed in ways that are not always acceptable. In this paper, we investigate an alternative technique that combines the accuracy of simulation- based techniques with the speed of the probabilistic techniques. The resulting method is statistical in nature; it consists of applying randomly-generated input patterns to the circuit and monitoring, with a simulator, the resulting power value. This is continued until a value of power is obtained with a desired accuracy, at a specified confidence level. We present the algorithm and ezperimental results, and discuss the superiority of this new approach.
Principles of Drug Biodisposition in the Neonate

Rational pharmacotherapy is dependent upon an understanding of the clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the drugs employed. Although the available data on drug biodisposition and action in the neonate have increased considerably in the last few years, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic interactions for many drugs remain poorly understood.
Optimal MSE signal reconstruction in oversampled A/D conversion using convexity

Signal reconstruction in oversampled analog-to-digital conversion is classically performed by a lowpass filtering of the quantized signal. This leads to a mean squared error (MSE) inversely proportional to R/sup 2n+1/, where R is the oversampling rate and n is the order of the converter. It is shown that this reconstruction does not necessarily lead to a signal which gives the same digital sequence as that of the original input signal. It is shown that, if this were the case, one would obtain an MSE inversely proportional to R/sup 2n+2/ instead. A way to achieve such an estimate with the same bandwidth and same digital conversion is proposed. This made it possible to perform numerical experiments which confirm the R/sup 2n+2/ behavior of the MSE. >
Utilization of Photoconductive Gain in A-Si:H Devices for Radiation Detection

The photoconductive gain mechanism in a-Si:H was investigated in connection with applications to radiation detection. Various device types such as p-i-n, n-i-n and n-i-p-i-n structures were fabricated and tested. Photoconductive gain was measured in two time scales: one for short pulses of visible light (<1 {mu}sec) which simulates the transit of an energetic charged particle, and the other for rather long pulses of light (1 msec) which simulates x-ray exposure in medical imaging. We used two definitions of photoconductive gain: current gain and charge gain which is an integration of the current gain. We found typical charge gains of 3 {approximately} 9 for short pulses and a few hundred for long pulses at a dark current level of 10 mA/cm{sup 2}. Various gain results are discussed in terms of the device structure, applied bias and dark current.
A Mechanics of Materials/Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Core Shear Failure in Foam Core Composite Sandwich Beams:

An elementary laminated beam theory and linear elastic fracture mechanics have been used to analyze initial core shear failure and corresponding initial crack sizes in foam core sandwich beams. The...
2‐Iodocyclohexen‐2‐One

[33948-36-6] C6H7IO (MW 222.02) InChI = 1S/C6H7IO/c7-5-3-1-2-4-6(5)8/h3H,1-2,4H2 InChIKey = IPFSJCDRYRZTJU-UHFFFAOYSA-N (highly reactive and versatile intermediate for the generation of α-substituted enones, especially important in transition metal-mediated couplings) Physical Data: mp 46–47 °C. Solubility: MeOH, EtOH, and DMSO. Form Supplied in: usually prepared by iodination of cyclohexenone. Light orange-yellow to colorless crystals. Purification: crude material can be recrystallized from petroleum ether or mixtures of diethyl ether and pentane (2:1). Can alternatively be purified using column chromatography on silica gel and 10% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: starting material for most reactions is 2-cyclohexenone, which is a highly toxic and combustible liquid. Contact with the skin, eyes, by ingestion, or inhalation may cause dermatitis, respiratory tract irritation, or gastric disturbances.
Herbivore Effect on Stature, Fruiting, and Leaf Dynamics of a Native Crucifer

The impact of a native, leaf-feeding chrysomelid beetle (Phaedon sp. nr. oviformis) on bittercress (Cardamine cordifolia: Cruciferae), was evaluated in an exclusion experiment. Multivariate statistical analysis showed a significant increase in plant performance in the rotenone exclusion com- pared to performance in the paired control treatment. Plant response to the reduction of herbivory was a complicated, interrelated syndrome of changes. When insects were excluded, the amount of missing leaf area decreased significantly (3.6-fold; 3.2-0.9 cm2 per plant), and the total leaf area increased 5.7-fold (12.9-73.4 cm2 per plant). Plant height (5.7-20.3 cm) and fruit production (0.1- 3.9 siliques per plant) also increased significantly when the number of insects was reduced. Furthermore, the 570% expansion in leaf area due to the exclusion of insects involved significant increases both in the initiation of new leaves and in the survival of mature leaves. Nevertheless, insect herbivory at a level well below complete defoliation (25% of the leaf area) changed leaf demography (both phenology and dynamics) and reduced plant performance by decreasing the plant stature, leaf area, and fruit production of this native forb. Thus, further experimental assessment is necessary before general- izations can be made regarding the effects of herbivory on plant dynamics.
An Exploration of Sampling Phenomena Using the Iphone

The Apple iPhone is a powerful mobile platform. One company has introduced software that turns the iPhone into a digital signal processing toolbox for audio. However, like all real-time applications, this software suffers from several problems of reduced accuracy due to limitations of sampling and time-bandwidth product problems. We develop acoustic test data and programs to study and analyze these problems and how they affect the output of SignalScope, an applications developed by Faber Acoustical for the iPhone.
Full lactation response on restricted vs. ad libitum roughage diets with liberal concentrate feeding.

Abstract The effect of replacing one-half of the expected roughage consumption with equivalent TDN from concentrates was determined in full lactations with 20 pairs of high producing cows. Control cows (Group I) were fed alfalfa hay and corn silage ad libitum plus concentrates at an average ratio to FCM of 1:2.4. Paired cows restricted on roughage (Group II) were allowed roughage at the rate of 3.0 kg hay and 7.5 kg silage per 500 kg body weight plus 3.8 kg concentrates, in addition to the concentrate allowance for FCM at 1:2.4. In 294-day lactations Group I averaged 6,349 kg FCM and Group II, 6,137 kg, a nonsignificant difference (P > .10). Fat tests averaged 4.01 (I) and 3.89% (II), with the difference between groups from the 12th to the 22nd wk statistically significant (P
Reversible switching of 3D microenvironments in extracellular matrices and effects on collagen fibers and cell morphology

The local three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment of a cell is known to affect it during various processes such as tissue morphogenesis, wound healing and cancer progression.[1, 2] However, the structural properties of the 3D microenvironment's extracellular matrix (ECM) does not usually change after the initial properties are set.[3–5] This abstract summarizes a method to dynamically and reversibly modify 3D ECM structure that alters its properties such as solute transport rate, cell spreading and mobility.[6]
Algorithms for scheduling imprecise computations

The imprecise computation technique, which prevents timing faults and achieves graceful degradation by giving the user an approximate result of acceptable quality whenever the system cannot produce the exact result in time, is considered. Different approaches for scheduling imprecise computations in hard real-time environments are discussed. Workload models that quantify the tradeoff between result quality and computation time are reviewed. Scheduling algorithms that exploit this tradeoff are described. These include algorithms for scheduling to minimize total error, scheduling periodic jobs, and scheduling parallelizable tasks. A queuing-theoretical formulation of the imprecise scheduling problem is presented. >
Visual sensitivity and age-related eye diseases. The Beaver Dam Eye Study

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between visual sensitivity and age-related ocular disorders.Design: Prevalence survey of age-related eye diseases. Setting: Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.Participants: A total community sample of persons 43–84 at the time of the census (1987–1988) was invited to participate (n = 5,926).Main Outcome Measure: Visual sensitivity was measured by a perimeter. Sensitivities were evaluated with regard to age, sex and age-related eye diseases.Results: Sensitivity was inversely associated with age and was lower in women in each age stratum. Central cataract, cataract surgery, and late age-related maculopathy were significantly related to decreased sensitivity in multivariate analyses.Conclusions: Visual sensitivity, an indication of the ability of the eye to detect a light stimulus, was diminished in those with central cataract, cataract surgery, and late age-related maculopathy. This may be related to diminished vision in environmental conditions of low illumination. Since visual ...
A search for EGF‐elicited degradation products of the EGF receptor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces the degradation of EGF receptors in both human foreskin fibroblasts and A-431 cells. Similar degradation products of 125I-EGF covalently linked to its receptor appeared at the same times in both A-431 cells and fibroblasts when the cells were exposed to a concentration of 10 ng/ml EGF. Although the products between the two cell types differed in molecular weight, this was at least partly caused by an actual difference in the receptor proteins from the two cell types (as shown by partial proteolysis) rather than from different pathways of receptor degradation. However, when EGF receptors were biosynthetically labeled, no receptor degradation products could be observed, even when the receptor was labeled with radioactive mannose or phosphate, molecules which would predominantly label the outside or inside face of the receptor, respectively. At 20 degrees C, degradation of the receptor slowed and a 150,000-dalton degradation product was observed. This degradation product has previously been observed in cell homogenates produced in the presence of calcium, mediated by calpain. Thus, calpain may play a role in the intracellular degradation of the EGF receptor.
mRNA surveillance: the perfect persist

In eukaryotes, an elaborate set of mechanisms has evolved to ensure that the multistep process of gene expression is accurately executed and adapted to cellular needs. The mRNA surveillance pathway works in this context by assessing the quality of mRNAs to ensure that they are suitable for translation. mRNA surveillance facilitates the detection and destruction of mRNAs that contain premature termination codons by a process called nonsense-mediated decay. Moreover, recent studies have shown that a distinct mRNA surveillance process, called nonstop decay, is responsible for depleting mRNAs that lack in-frame termination codons. mRNA surveillance thereby prevents the synthesis of truncated and otherwise aberrant proteins, which can have dominant-negative and other deleterious effects.
Who Was Polyphemus Expecting at Odyssey 9.513-14?

Who was Polyphemus expecting at Odyssey 9.513-14?ἀλλ’ αἰeί τινα φῶτα μέγαν καὶ καλὸν ἐδέγμηνἐνθάδ’ ἐλeύσeσθαι, μeγάλην ἐπιeιμένον ἀλκήν·Thus Polyphemus explains why he failed to connect Odysseus’ arrival with a long-known prophecy. In treating these lines, scholars typically limit themselves to contrasting them with the relative smallness of Odysseus (e.g., Clay, The Wrath of Athena, 1983: 121). Charles Segal sees in these lines an indication of how the Cyclops’ “brutishness and ignorance” prevent his understanding the prophecy in any but “his own terms, that is, brute force and conquest” (Singers, Heroes, and Gods in the Odyssey, 1994: 211). In this paper I shall argue that Polyphemus has been expecting a visitor who not only resembles the Cyclops himself – an idea hinted at by Segal – but also is described in heroic terms. Furthermore, Polyphemus has a specific kind of hero in mind: one resembling Telamonian Ajax as depicted in the Iliad. Finally, I shall argue that these lines are part of a larger scheme whereby Polyphemus is presented as an adversary in the mode of Ajax.Polyphemus’ use of adjectives ὀλίγος and ἄκικυς to describe Odysseus (9.515) and his repeated excuse that Odysseus “bested [him] with wine” (9.454, 516) show that the Cyclops was expecting a closer match in size and method. More striking is the fact that Odysseus, upon seeing Polyphemus’ cave for the first time, intuits that “a man clothed in great might will come” (ἄνδρ’ ἐπeλeύσeσθαι, μeγάλην ἐπιeιμένον ἀλκήν, 9.214). Both Odysseus and Polyphemus expect to meet the same, as-yet unseen man; one of them will be disappointed.Polyphemus expects the arrival of a hero, as shown by his diction (μέγαν καὶ καλὸν, 513; ἀλκήν, 514), which is well in line with descriptions of heroic men elsewhere in Homer, as when the disguised Athena compliments and exhorts Telemachus in Odyssey 1: μάλα γὰρ σ’ ὁρόω καλόν τe μέγαν τe – ἄλκιμος ἔσσ’ (1.301-2). Furthermore, Polyphemus’ use of the distinctive phrase ἐπιeιμένον ἀλκήν (9.514) brings with it very specific associations from the Iliad, where it is used exclusively to describe the two Ajaxes working in tandem (Αἴαντeς θοῦριν ἐπιeιμένοι ἀλκήν at 7.164, 8.262, 18.157).Several other parallels between Polyphemus and Telamonian Ajax present themselves. Both are noted for their bulk and are routinely described as πeλώριος (cf. Kirk, 1985, comm. on Il. 3.226-7 for tradition of Ajax’ size). Both are described in identical terms when throwing rocks (Il. 7.269 = Od. 9.538). If Castellani is correct in including the Ajaxes within a “Poseidonian” party over and against an “Athena” party in the Iliad (Classical Bulletin 81.2 [2005] 113-15), this lines up well with the two gods’ conflict through their proxies, Polyphemus and Odysseus, in the Odyssey. These and other parallels suggest that the Cyclops of Odyssey 9 is presented as an adversary in the mold of Ajax.
Isolation, Characterization, and Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Ferrets.

Abstract Introduction The ferret canine tooth has been introduced as a suitable model for studying dental pulp regeneration. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize ferret dental pulp stem cells (fDPSCs) and their differentiation potential. Methods Dental pulp stem cells were isolated from freshly extracted ferret canine teeth. The cells were examined for the expression of stem cell markers STRO-1, CD90, CD105, and CD146. The osteo/odontogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of fDPSCs was evaluated. Osteogenic and odontogenic marker genes were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on days 1, 4, and 8 after osteo/odontogenic induction of fDPSCs including dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), dentin matrix protein-1, osteopontin, and alkaline phosphatase. Human dental pulp cells were used as the control. The results were analyzed using 3-way analysis of variance. Results fDPSCs were positive for STRO1, CD90, and CD105 and negative for CD146 markers with immunohistochemistry. fDPSCs showed strong osteogenic and weak adipogenic potential. The overall expression of DSPP was not significantly different between fDPSCs and human dental pulp cells. The expression of DSPP in osteo/odontogenic media was significantly higher in fDPSCs on day 4 ( P P = .0005). Conclusions fDPSCs were positive for several markers of dental pulp stem cells resembling human DPSCs and appeared to show a stronger potential to differentiate to osteoblastic rather than odontoblastic lineage.
An integrated analysis of Swahili augmentative-diminuitives

Incongruities in the distribution of Swahili augmentative diminutives have either been neglected or misinterpreted in the Swahili literature. The present paper will first remedy this situation by describing in considerable detail the structural and semantic facts pertaining to the augmentative diminutive prefixal system. It will then offer a generative analysis of the facts, focusing on a specific problem for semantic interpretation which is a consequence of extensive homophony between noun class and augmentative-diminutive prefixes. Due to the dominance of the former over the latter, paradigmatic gaps occur disrupting the regularity which otherwise holds between the syntactic and semantic components. The solution which is adopted appeals to a split in the traditional notion of noun class between the lexicon and the syntax, and resolves the discrepancy in the form to meaning relation by means of an interpretive rule.