cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen as a working atmosphere for manufacturing permanent magnets based on rare-earth metals

The phase compositions and magnetic properties of permanents magnets of the systems Sm – Co and Nd – Fe – B are analyzed. Features of the hydrogenation–disproportionation–desorption– recombination (HDDR) process in the Nd 2 Fe 14 B intermetallic are considered. Using the Dd – Fe – B system as an example, we assess stages of manufacture of commercial permanent magnets and show the prospect of using hydrogen as a working atmosphere for the manufacture of magnetic powder. It is established that the HDDR of Dd – Fe – B alloys leads to their homogenization, grain refinement to a grain size of 0.2 to 0.5 μm, and an increase in the volume content of the main ferromagnetic phase Dd 2 Fe 14 B. By optimizing such a treatment, we managed to increase the magnetic energy (by 10%) and the lift force (by 25 – 27%) of Dd – Fe – B commercial permanent magnets. In modern materials science, a new trend in chemicothermal treatment of metals that consists of using hydrogen as a working atmosphere is being intensively developed. Developed hydrogen technologies are based on the regularities of its effect on the phase transformations, specifically, atomic ordering and hydride formation, in metals [1 – 3]. Earlier, magnetic materials were treated in a hydrogen atmosphere to clear them from impurities by annealing at high temperatures (1100 – 1300°C) [4]. However, in the manufacture of permanent magnets based on rare-earth metals (REMs), the possibility of using hydrogen both during their milling (hydride embrittlement) and for the change of the phase–structural state arose. Optimizing conditions for such a treatment, one can increase the operating characteristics of magnets (the coercive force Hc and residual induction Br ) and decrease the consumption of energy in their manufacture. Rare-earth magnets based on samarium were first obtained in the early 1970s. Alloys of the samarium–cobalt (Sm – Co) system have high saturation magnetization, coercive force, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance. However, due to the high cost, their use in industry is limited to a range of elevated temperatures (150 – 500°C). At present, magnets based on the Nd – Fe – B system are most extensively used. Of all known ferromagnets they exhibit the highest value of the energy product ( BH ) max (to 50 MG ⋅ Oe), which is five times higher than those of the best Alnico type magnets (Al – Ni – Co) [4]. Moreover, the determining advantage of these magnets over other materials is the relatively low cost calculated per unit magnetic energy (Table 1).
Pre- and postsynaptic inhibition of identified giant interneurons in the cricket (Acheta domesticus)

1. The neuronal pathways responsible for the cerecl-mediated inhibition of three cricket giant sensory interneurons were investigated. 2. Two interneurons which had not previously been studied in detail were found to be influenced markedly by inhibitory inputs. Sensory interneuron 10-3 (SI 10-3) received excitatory synaptic input from longitudinally vibrating sound receptive hairs (L-hairs) on the cercus contralateral, and transversely vibrating hairs (T-hairs) on the cercus ispilateral to its axon. It was inhibited by contralateral T-hairs and ipsilateral L-hairs (Figs. 3 and 4). This pattern of receptor inputs imparts directional sensitivity upon SI 10-3. The inhibitory inputs increased the intensity range over which this directionality was observed (Figs. 4 and 5). SI 10-2 was also directionally selective and received similar cerecl inputs. The relative strength of inhibition, however, was much stronger. SI 10-2 was therefore primarily inhibited by sound (Fig. 6). 3. The long latency of inhibition suggested that the pathway from cerecl receptors to the sensory interneurons was polysynaptic. The inhibitory potential could be reversed by injection of hyperpolarizing current (Fig. 7). Furthermore, the inhibitory pathway was capable of blocking action potentials produced by injection of current into the sensory interneurons (Fig. 8). The inhibition was therefore due, at least in part, to synapses impinging directly upon the sensory interneurons. 4. The lateral giant interneuron (L.G.I.), also received cerecl inputs capable of producing an inhibitory postsynaptic conductance increase (Fig. 10). In addition, the cerecl receptor-to-giant interneuron pathway was inhibited presynaptically. The excitatory synaptic inputs from cerecl receptors to the L.G.I. were “protected” against decrement by prior activation of the inhibitory pathway (Figs. 12 and 13). 5. Intracellular recordings from cerecl afferent axons revealed a primary afferent depolarization (P.A.D.), in response to activation of the cerecl receptors responsible for inhibition (Fig. 14). The latency of the P.A.D. suggested that the pathway involved was indirect. Action potentials occurring in the afferent axon during the P.A.D. had a reduced base-to-peak amplitude (Fig. 14).
A monte carlo evaluation of interactive multidimensional scaling

Interactive Scaling with Individual Subjects (ISIS) developed by Young & Cliff [1972], is a method involving interaction between subject and computer in real time to determine which judgments made by the subject are critical to the definition of a dimensional structure. The procedure is based on the mathematical fact that it is possible to define a space ofR dimensions in terms of only the interpoint distances between all stimuli being scaled and a subset of (R+1) of these stimuli. For errorless judgments, any subset of (R + 1) stimuli is appropriate. However, fallible data require that the subset consist of stimuli that are maximally dissimilar, and the ISIS procedure is designed to obtain such an optimum subset (a “basis”).
The homologous pairing domain of RecA also mediates the allosteric regulation of DNA binding and ATP hydrolysis: a remarkable concentration of functional residues.

Abstract Switching between the active (ATP and DNA bound) and inactive conformations of the homologous recombination RecA protein is regulated by ATP hydrolysis. First, we use the homologous pairing domain of RecA derived from its mobile loop L2 to show that the interaction of this random coil peptide with the γ-phosphate of ATP results in a peptide β-conformation similar to that previously shown to be induced by DNA binding. Next, we show that in the whole RecA protein two residues in this L2 domain, Gln194 and Arg196, are catalytic amino acid residues for ATP hydrolysis and functionally resemble the corresponding residues engaged in GTP hydrolysis by two distinct classes of G proteins. Finally, we show that the role of DNA and high salt in the stimulation of the ATPase of RecA is to stabilize this highly mobile region involved in hydrolysis. This is a role similar to that described for RGSs in the activation of the GTPase of heterotrimeric G proteins. Therefore, (i) a prototypical DNA-dependent ATPase and ATP-stimulated DNA-binding protein, RecA, and eukaryotic signaling proteins share common stereochemical regulatory mechanisms; and (ii) in a remarkable example of parsimony, loop L2 is a molecular switch that controls both ATP promoted DNA binding and pairing reactions and DNA stimulated ATP hydrolysis.
Effect of prostaglandin inhibition on the prolactin, renin, and aldosterone responses to dopamine antagonism

The possible interactions between the prostaglandin and dopamine systems in the control of prolactin, renin and aldosterone secretion were studied in seven normal subjects. The responses to the dopamine antagonist, metoclopramide (10 mg. i.v.) were studied before and after prostaglandin inhibition with indomethacin (50 mg every 8 hr for 3 doses) while the subjects were in balance on a low sodium (<10 meq/day) diet. Urinary prostaglandin E excretion was reduced 61% (p < 0.05) with indomethacin administration. Plasma renin activity (active and inactive) was not significantly affected by indomethacin treatment. However, the renin activity following metoclopramide tended to rise before, and fall after, indomethacin. Plasma aldosterone increased rapidly after metoclopramide, peaking at ten to fifteen minutes (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the control and indomethacin days. Prolactin increased following metoclopramide, peaking at fifteen to thirty minutes (p < 0.01). The prolactin response was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased by indomethacin at four of six time points and the area beneath the response curve was significantly (p < 0.05) blunted (3048 ± 132 versus 3882 ± 146 ng. min/ml). The results suggest that a cyclooxygenase product may modulate the prolactin response to dopamine antagonism. Although the renin response to metoclopramide was altered by indomethacin, the aldosterone response to dopamine antagonism is not mediated by cyclooxygenase products or the renin-angiotensin system.
Adsorption and Diffusion of 4d and 5d Transition Metal Adatoms on Graphene/Ru(0001) and the Implications for Cluster Nucleation

To explore the possibility of using the graphene moire superstructure formed on Ru(0001) (g/Ru(0001)) as a template to self-assemble super-lattices of metal nanoparticles as model catalysts, it is desirable to know the minimum-energy adsorption sites, adsorption energies, and diffusion properties of small metal species on this surface. Toward that end, density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the adsorption and diffusion of 18 4d (Y–Ag) and 5d (La–Au) transition metal adatoms on g/Ru(0001), using small surface models representing different regions of the g/Ru(0001) surface. For each adatom, adsorption is the strongest in the fcc region and the weakest in the mound region of the moire. Diffusion within the fcc region is facile for most adatoms, but an additional barrier is imposed by the corrugation of the graphene moire for traversing between neighboring fcc regions. Overall, the earlier 4d and 5d metal adatoms have stronger adsorption energies and higher diffusion barriers on g/Ru(0001) than the later ones. The results are then interpreted to provide a better understanding of the conditions necessary to achieve dense super-lattices of monodisperse metal clusters on g/Ru(0001).
Hemodynamic Modulation of Endocardial Thromboresistance

Background— Patients with heart failure are at increased risk for thromboembolic events, including stroke. Historically attributed to blood stasis, little is known about the adverse effects of elevated chamber filling pressure on endocardial function, which could predispose to intracardiac thrombus formation. Methods and Results— We investigated changes in the expression of thrombomodulin, a key component of the anticoagulant protein C pathway, in rats subjected to acute atrial pressure overload caused by aortic banding. Acute elevation of left atrial filling pressure, without an associated decline in ventricular systolic function, caused a 70% inhibition of atrial endocardial thrombomodulin expression and resulted in increased local thrombin generation. Targeted restoration of atrial thrombomodulin expression with adenovirus-mediated gene transfer successfully reduced thrombin generation to baseline levels. In vitro co-culture studies revealed that thrombomodulin downregulation is caused by the paracrine...
AFM/FTIR: A New Technique for Materials Characterization

A new type of infrared spectroscopy for obtaining the molecular composition of the surfaces of materials at ultra-high spatial resolution has been developed by combining atomic force microscopy (AF...
COMMERCIAL BANK BEHAVIOR AND THE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY: AN ECONOMETRIC STUDY*

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Economics and Social Science, 1963.
Width guidelines for rectangular objects with penetrable and impenetrable borders

Generally, selection times quicken when objects are placed against a display's edge. Experiment 1 investigated whether or not this continues to be true if the width of those objects, i.e. rectangular scrollbars, was manipulated. The results indicated that increasing width affected selection times for objects with penetrable borders, but not for those with impenetrable borders. A follow-up experiment examined whether or not selection times vary when participants selected very thin and wider scrollbars, each with impenetrable borders. The results indicated that width manipulations did not influence selection time, thus designers could use very thin objects with impenetrable borders without slowing selection time.
Agenda Setting in Civic Development: Effects of Curricula and Issue Importance on Youth Voter Turnout

This study examines the role of agenda setting in affecting voter turnout using panel data of adolescents in Arizona, Florida, and Colorado from 2002 and 2004. Specifically, a model is developed probing the multiple influences of interactive civic instruction, media attention, and discussion on the following sequence of outcomes: perceived issue importance, opinion strength, political ideology, and finally voter turnout. The results suggest that agenda setting serves as a critical intrinsic process in political socialization contributing to the crystallization of political predispositions, which lead to electoral participation. The implications of the findings are discussed.
First experimental demonstration of IP-client-to-IP-client video streaming application over an all-optical label-switching network with edge routers

We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, successful transmission and switching of video streaming traffic from an IP-client to an IP-client over an optical label-switching network testbed.
The carrot and the stick.

t t t g t e m t i p c It is truly an honor to be standing before you today. Being president of this august organization is certainly the pinnacle of my career. I was drawn to the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) because it was comprised of very intelligent, pragmatic problem-solvers. I have always enjoyed the easy communication between the members who are not reluctant to share their ideas with each other as evidenced by the completely unfiltered APDS list-serve. I believe that the APDS has now risen to the level of the American Board of Surgery (ABS), the Residency Review Committee (RRC), the American College of Surgeons, and the American Surgical Association on matters pertaining to surgical education. Members of this organization have also gone on to become members of the ABS and the RRC. At the outset let me say that nobody is more indebted than me to the world of surgery for prolonging and improving my quality of life. I underwent an atrial septal defect repair at age 15 and a Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation at age 44. This experience with heart surgery at an early age was most likely what piqued my interest in a surgical career. The most important mentor in my life is my father—a pathologist and cancer researcher—who was most responsible for my interest in medicine. From him I acquired a work ethic and the importance of having passion for one’s career choice. I once sent him a Father’s Day card with the inscription: “You didn’t tell me how to live. You lived and let me watch you do it. Thanks for setting such a great example for me.” My most important mentor in surgery was Dr. Brownell Wheeler, my chairman at the University of Massachusetts. Brownie accepted me into his program as a foreign medical graduate and then supported my every move thereafter, including a vascular fellowship and my appointment as program director (PD) in Orlando. I suspect it was Dr. Wheeler’s influence that helped steer me in the direction of surgical education. He remarked at our chief graduation that his reward was watching all of us develop into fine young surgeons. He has been a lifelong mentor and a superb role model. When I became presidentelect of APDS in 2010 it gave me great pleasure to inscribe a copy of Dr. Berry’s book on the APDS history and send it to Brownie in thanks for his support throughout my career: “To Brownie Wheeler, my friend and mentor. Thank you for giving me the
Emotional Regime of the Shishuo Xinyu

Through compiling all anecdotes that reference emotional expressions from Liu Yiqing’s Shishuo xinyu, I will reveal the principles of an emotional regime (i.e. the rules and rituals of proper emotional expression). This ranking of different emotional expressions within an evaluative hierarchy is best explained in the balancing of two principles: emotional detachment and naturalness. Emotional detachment was the highest ideal, but when this was not possible, the regime required the expression of natural emotions, that is, emotions stirred by natural objects and limited to natural levels. Because the understanding of emotions is gender specific, the paper concludes with an examination of how this emotional regime applied to women.
The role of echocardiography in transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects

Closure of so-called "secundum" atrial septal defects with a device inserted on a catheter necessitates precise delineation of their morphology. Echocardiography is the diagnostic method of choice to demonstrate this morphology, and to differentiate such defects located within the oval fossa from the other variants producing an interatrial communication. Precordial echocardiography usually allows selection of cases likely to be suitable for closure in this fashion. This selection is based on the localisation and the size of the deficiency in the oval fossa, the length of the interatrial septum, and the adequacy of the infolded rims surrounding the defect. Suitability for closure is reevaluated by transesophageal echocardiography: either as a separate investigation or at the start of the interventional catheterisation. This investigation requires a multiplane transesophageal echocardiographic probe, since only oblique planes will demonstrate the entrance of the systemic and pulmonary veins and their relationship to the defect. Transesophageal echocardiography sen es as an important monitoring tool during the interventional procedure. As such, it is a necessary adjunct to fluoroscopy. The stretched diameter of the defect measured with a balloon is the main determinant of the choice of the type and size of the device. This diameter can be measured fluoroscopically, as well as on echo. Colorflow mapping serves to rule out residual shunting during the occlusion of the defect with the balloon. During deployment of the device, constant echocardiographic visualisation of the device and its position relative to the atrial septum facilitates proper placement. Such constant visualisation can only be provided by repeated quick acquisitions of multiple planes. Once the device is released, the investigator should continue to record the position of the device, and assess the potential for residual shunting. Most of the devices show some subtle change in position during the first 20 minutes after implantation.
The Effects of Presentation Modality Upon Learning in a Comprehension Task Using Oral, Manual, and Dual Modes Stimulus Cues

Interest in how and why the use of nonspeech symbols such as manual signs facilities the communication development of language-handicapped individuals has been growing. One question of interest is ...
Repeatability of the composition of titanium oxide films produced by evaporation of Ti 2 O 3

Congruent vaporization is a process that yields constant vapor species. Ti(2)O(3) was continuously electron-beam evaporated to produce titanium oxide thin films. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry was employed to study the evolution of the composition of these films. It seems that congruent vaporization can be established in a coating plant. TiO(2) films produced by conventional reactive deposition tend to contain mixtures of titanium oxides. Increasing the transmission of TiO(2) films becomes an issue of increasing the TiO(2) component in the films by adequate reactive evaporation.
Synergistic metabolic toxicity screening using microsome/DNA electrochemiluminescent arrays and nanoreactors

Platforms based on thin enzyme/DNA films were used in two-tier screening of chemicals for reactive metabolites capable of producing toxicity. Microsomes were used for the first time as sources of cytochrome (cyt) P450 enzymes in these devices. Initial rapid screening involved electrochemiluminescent (ECL) arrays featuring spots containing ruthenium poly(vinylpyridine), DNA, and rat liver microsomes or bicistronically expressed human cyt P450 2E1 (h2E1). Cyt P450 enzymes were activated via the NADPH/reductase cycle. When bioactivation of substrates in the films gives reactive metabolites, they are trapped by covalent attachment to DNA bases. The rate of increase in ECL with enzyme reaction time reflects relative DNA damage rates. “Toxic hits” uncovered by the array were studied in structural detail by using enzyme/DNA films on silica nanospheres as “nanoreactors” to provide nucleobase adducts from reactive metabolites. The utility of this synergistic approach was demonstrated by estimating relative DNA dam...
Immunologic targets in psoriasis.

In this issue of the Journal, two reports present data on the efficacy of two new biologic drugs for psoriasis. One of these drugs, etanercept, has been used extensively in rheumatology and targets the pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The other, efalizumab, targets CD11a, or αL, one chain of αL β2 integrin, also known as leukocyte-function–associated antigen 1 (LFA-1); LFA-1 is important in the process by which T cells cross blood-vessel walls, enter tissue, and are subsequently activated by antigen. Increasingly, molecules that were once the exclusive domain of immunologic scientists have entered mainstream . . .
A help facility for X window system applications

Xhelp is an interactive help facility for X-based applications, providing a friendly, consistent help interface across a variety of applications. Xhelp may be invoked as a standalone utility for tutorials or general system information. Its programmatic interface also reduces the coding effort required to integrate the help facility for automatic invocation by application software.
How enduring were the inequalities among European immigrant groups in the United States

A long-standing and unresolved issue in the study of racial and ethnic groups concerns the persistence of initial inequalities among groups. Recently it has surfaced again in the study of U.S. immigrant groups, in George Borjas’s (1994) claim that the human capital differences among early-twentieth-century immigrant groups are reflected in the relative socioeconomic achievements of their third generations. Reexamining this claim, we find that Borjas’s analysis hinges on a series of problematic decisions, such as his inclusion of non-European groups as well as his failure to take ethnically mixed ancestry into account and to compensate for the weak correspondence in eastern Europe between ethnic ancestry and the national frontiers of the early 1900s. We replicate a portion of his analysis, correcting for these problems. Our results reveal no correspondence between the literacy of the first generation and the educational attainment of the third among European groups. Borjas’s analysis seems to go farthest astray in including non-Europeans, especially Mexicans, because of the more systematic legal and social liabilities suffered by these groups.
Biostereometrics in Ophthalmology: Topographic Analysis of the Optic Disc Cup in Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease characterized by increased ocular pressure with optic nerve atrophy and loss of visual field, or side vision, which eventually leads to blindness. The optic disc becomes more cupped with increasing progress of the disease. We have devised a system for the use of the Donaldson simultaneous stereophotographic fundus camera to obtain optimal reproducibility and sensitivity of measurements from optic disc stereophotographs. Stereomodel deformations caused by eye-to-camera optical variables (photographic magnification, working distance, relative orientation between the camera optical axis and the optic disc, and position of the optic disc image in the film frame) were evaluated. We developed an analytical correction method for stereomodel deformations and evaluated the impact on measurement of optic disc cupping. We have evaluated the reproducibility of new techniques for measurement of cup parameters such as volume, depth, and area of the cup relative to the disc area; slope of the cup floor, wall, and rim; and cup shape using volume profiles in which contour areas were plotted of the cup depth from the top to the bottom.
Some unintended consequences of rigorous research.

The proper use of rigorous research designs in experimental or field settings tends to place subjects vis-a-vis the researcher and research assistants vis-a-vis the senior investigator in situations that are similar to those that organizations create for lower level employees. By drawing on organizationa l theory, predictions of S reactions such as dependency upon the researcher, overt and covert withdrawal, aggression toward the researcher, and eventual banding together by Ss to protect their interests are derived and illustrated. Rigorousness is to a researcher what efficiency is to an executive: an ideal state that is always aspired to, never reached, and continually revered. Much literature exists regarding the best ways to approach both rigorousness and efficiency. In the case of efficiency, executives have traditionally assumed that when organizations are not efficient it is usually because the members have not been adhering to an efficient organizational strategy. One of the contributions of organizational behaviorists has been to study how executives and employees actually behave (not limit themselves to how they say they behave). One major result of these studies has been to show that a good deal of in. efficiency may occur precisely when and because the members are following closely the most accepted strategies for efficiency. Recently a new literature has been, and continues to be, developed by scholars studying the research situation (Friedman, 1967; Rosenthal, 1966). They too have not limited themselves to what researchers say they do in conducting research. They have studied research in terms of how it is actually carried out. As a result, they have reported dysfunctions and opened up important new questions. An exploration of this literature from the viewpoint of an organizational theorist suggests that his field may be able to make a modest contribution in terms of a theoretical framework to organize the existing findings and suggest other possible conclusions that
Gas absorption accompanied by a two-step chemical reaction

Abstract Film and penetration theory solutions are presented for gas absorption accompanied by a two-step chemical reaction involving a transient intermediate species. For the case of equal diffusivities, the two theories agree with each other within 6 per cent. When the intermediate species is relatively long-lived, φ, the factor by which the chemical reaction enhances the absorption rate, goes through a maximum as liquid phase contact time increases, and φ approaches its ultimate asymptote from above. This unique behaviour is not found in gas absorption accompanied by a single chemical reaction, but aspects of this interesting behaviour have been observed in published experimental data for the carbon dioxide-monoethanolamine system and for the chlorine-ferrous chloride system.
Fibrinolysis of Pulmonary Emboli — Steer Closer to Scylla

According to Homer, Odysseus was forced to choose whether to steer his ship closer to Scylla, a six-headed sea monster, or Charybdis, a ship-swallowing whirlpool. Odysseus steered closer to Scylla, risking the loss of a few sailors, rather than risking an entire ship and crew. Much like Odysseus, the physician treating a patient with acute pulmonary embolism occasionally must navigate treacherous waters. The risk of fatal thromboembolism stands on one side, and the risk of fatal bleeding lies just opposite. Unlike Odysseus, the physician has empirical evidence to guide decisions, but tragic outcomes occur sometimes, no matter how carefully the . . .
Single Port Access (SPA™) laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: initial report of 30 cases

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair has been demonstrated to be an acceptable and successful technique. Aside from similar, albeit fewer, complications compared to open hernia repair, the laparoscopic technique has the additional complication of port site hernia to its follow-up criteria. Our initial experience with reduced port surgery in hernias was described as a two-port one-stitch repair technique in 2002. We initially applied our Single Port Access (SPA™) technique to ventral hernia repairs and reported it at the American Hernia Society meeting in 2008. Now we present the first 30 cases, some with 6–24-month follow-up. The charts of 30 patients undergoing surgery for primary and recurrent ventral hernias employing the SPA technique were reviewed. The SPA technique was applied through a 1.0–1.6-cm incision remote from and lateral to the hernia location in the abdominal wall. Polypropylene-based coated mesh and non-fascial fixation were used in all cases. All procedures were completed via the SPA technique. Operative time, length of stay, and estimated blood loss were acceptable. The size of mesh placed ranged from 81 to 500 cm2. Postoperative seromas were observed and all resolved spontaneously. There have been no wound infections or port site hernias during the 6–24-month follow-up period. There have been no recurrent hernias at the primary site. We have successfully demonstrated the applicability of Single Port Access surgery for ventral hernia repair. In our initial series we performed this procedure on smaller hernias but have now begun applying it to larger repairs.
Broadband waveguide polarizers based on the anisotropic optical constants of nanocomposite films

Thin metal-dielectric nanocomposite films (30 mm thick) deposited on ion-exchanged glass waveguides form high extinction polarizers. The polarizing properties are due to the absorption bands of the surface plasmon modes in the nonspherical, nanometer-size silver particles which are embedded in a glass host. The absorption bands of the surface plasmon modes are strongly dependent on the shape and orientation of the nonspherical particles. We demonstrate wavelength tuning and broadening of the polarization band in the silver nanocomposite film by altering the particle shape distribution. We have fabricated waveguide polarizers with extinction ratios 1/spl times/10/sup -4//mm over the wavelength range of 800-1100 nm. An unusual feature of the polarizer is that it passes the TM polarization. The optical constants of the nanocomposite film were calculated by Maxwell-Garnett theory. The nanocomposite films have a large birefringence (/spl sim/0.5) and highly anisotropic extinction coefficients.
Dominating connectivity and reliability of heterogeneous sensor networks

Consider a placement of heterogeneous, wireless sensors that can vary the transmission range by increasing or decreasing power. The problem of determining an optimal assignment of transmission radii, so that the resulting network is strongly-connected and more generally k-connected has been studied in the literature. In traditional k-connectedness, the network is able resist the failure of up to k - 1 nodes anywhere in the network, and still remain strongly-connected. In this paper we introduce a much stronger k-connectedness property, which we show can be implemented efficiently, and without great increase in the radii of transmission needed to simply achieve connectedness. We say that a network is dominating k-connected if, for any simultaneous failure of nodes throughout the network, with at most k - 1 nodes failures occurring in the out-neighborhood any surviving (up) node, the set U of up nodes forms a dominating set and induces a strongly-connected subdigraph. In this paper, we give a simple characterization of the networks that are dominating k-connected and design an associated efficient algorithm for determining the dominating connectivity, i.e., the maximum k such that the network is dominating k-connected. We also present an efficient algorithm for computing an assignment of transmission radii that results in a dominating k-connected network which minimizes the maximum radius. Furthermore, we show that the maximum radius in this assignment is no more than a multiplicative factor of k greater than the percolation radius /spl rho//sub perc/, i.e., the minimum that the maximum transmission radius can be so that the network remains connected. We show through empirical testing that this multiplicative factor can, in practice, be considerably less than k and only slightly greater than that required to achieve traditional k-connectedness. Finally, we show that for sensors placed on the lattice points of a two-dimensional square, we can achieve dominating k-connectedness with a multiplicative factor of at most /spl radic/2[/spl radic/k + .5] greater than /spl rho//sub perc/.
Capacitive frequency tuning of ALN micromechanical resonators

Frequency tuning of aluminum nitride (AlN) micromechanical resonators has been demonstrated by reactance manipulation via termination with variable capacitors. Shunting one electrode with a variable capacitor in a 13 MHz fourth overtone length-extensional mode resonator effected resonator stiffening to yield a ∼600 ppm frequency shift. Tunability could be further increased by dedicating two electrodes for tuning doubling the frequency tuning range to ∼1500 ppm. A tunable bandwidth balun filter has been constructed by parallel coupling of independently tunable resonators demonstrating almost three-fold increase in the bandwidth from 12 kHz to 33 kHz. Also a voltage-controlled frequency tuning printed circuit board (PCB) was implemented.
ESCAPE: database for integrating high-content published data collected from human and mouse embryonic stem cells

High content studies that profile mouse and human embryonic stem cells (m/hESCs) using various genome-wide technologies such as transcriptomics and proteomics are constantly being published. However, efforts to integrate such data to obtain a global view of the molecular circuitry in m/hESCs are lagging behind. Here, we present an m/hESC-centered database called Embryonic Stem Cell Atlas from Pluripotency Evidence integrating data from many recent diverse high-throughput studies including chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing, genome-wide inhibitory RNA screens, gene expression microarrays or RNA-seq after knockdown (KD) or overexpression of critical factors, immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry proteomics and phosphoproteomics. The database provides web-based interactive search and visualization tools that can be used to build subnetworks and to identify known and novel regulatory interactions across various regulatory layers. The web-interface also includes tools to predict the effects of combinatorial KDs by additive effects controlled by sliders, or through simulation software implemented in MATLAB. Overall, the Embryonic Stem Cell Atlas from Pluripotency Evidence database is a comprehensive resource for the stem cell systems biology community. Database URL: http://www.maayanlab.net/ESCAPE
Unemployment and Health: Issues in a Primary Care Nursing Practice

A group of clinical nurse specialists in primary care examined unemployment through the frameworks of stress/coping and relative deprivation theories. The moderating effect of social support was also considered. The impact of unemployment on health was elicited from unemployed clients and records kept by the nurses providing care. Nursing diagnoses were found to fall into three major categories: subsistence problems, increased psychosocial stress, and lack of necessary health care. Nursing interventions included exploration and constructive mobilization of emotional responses and assistance with problem solving, including support of existing strengths and identification of alternative behaviors and resources. The need for advocacy on behalf of clients emerged as a continuing concern.
Potential Edaphic and Aquatic Predators of a Nonindigenous Asian Earthworm (Amynthas agrestis) in the Eastern United States

Abstract We examined the suitability of an invasive Asian earthworm, Amynthas agrestis (Asian Crazy Worm or Alabama Jumper), as a prey item for a variety of native and naturalized North American predators. We conducted no-choice feeding trials with three edaphic predators—the nonindigenous Bipalium adventitium (Wandering Broadhead Planarian), Scolopocryptops sexspinosus (Eastern Red Centipede), and Desmognathus monticola (Seal Salamander)—and two aquatic predators, Nephelopsis obscura (Ribbon Leech) and Oronectes rusticus (Rusty Crayfish). During feeding trials, Am. agrestis exhibited a variety of novel defensive strategies, including apparent distastefulness, autotomization of posterior body segments, secretion of a yellow fluid, and thrashing. Planarians, leeches, and salamanders were more likely to capture lumbricid earthworm prey than Am. agrestis prey. Rusty Crayfish showed limited differences in capture rates among the earthworm species, while Eastern Red Centipedes were equally adept at capturing a...
Small Ne of the Isolated and Unmanaged Horse Population on Sable Island

For small, isolated populations 2 common conservation concerns relate to genetic threats: inbreeding and negative consequences associated with loss of genetic diversity due to drift. Mitigating these threats often involves conservation actions that can be controversial, such as translocations or captive breeding programs. Although such actions have been successful in some situations, in others they have had undesirable outcomes. Here, we estimated the effective population size (N e ) of the Sable Island horses to assess the risk to this population of these genetic threats. We found surprising consistency of N e estimates across the 5 different methods used, with a mean of 48 effective individuals. This estimate falls below the 50 criterion of the "50/500 rule," below which inbreeding depression is a concern for population viability. However, simulations and knowledge of population history indicate that this population is still in its early stages of approaching equilibrium between mutation, drift, and genetic diversity; and no negative consequences have been identified that could be associated with inbreeding depression. Therefore, we do not recommend taking management action (such as translocations) at this stage. Rather, we propose continued monitoring of genetic diversity and fitness over time so that trends and any substantial changes can be detected. This represents one of the few unmanaged horse populations in the world, and therefore these data will not only alert us to serious concerns regarding their conservation status, but will also provide a wealth of information about how natural processes drive patterns of reproduction, mortality, and population growth over time.
Structural Characterization of a Conserved, Calcium-Dependent Periplasmic Protease from Legionella pneumophila

The bacterial dinucleotide second messenger c-di-GMP has emerged as a central molecule in regulating bacterial behavior, including motility and biofilm formation. Proteins for the synthesis and degradation of c-di-GMP and effectors for its signal transmission are widely used in the bacterial domain. Previous work established the GGDEF-EAL domain-containing receptor LapD as a central switch in Pseudomonas fluorescens cell adhesion. LapD senses c-di-GMP inside the cytosol and relays this signal to the outside by the differential recruitment of the periplasmic protease LapG. Here we identify the core components of an orthologous system in Legionella pneumophila. Despite only moderate sequence conservation at the protein level, key features concerning the regulation of LapG are retained. The output domain of the LapD-like receptor from L. pneumophila, CdgS9, binds the LapG ortholog involving a strictly conserved surface tryptophan residue. While the endogenous substrate for L. pneumophila LapG is unknown, the enzyme processed the corresponding P. fluorescens substrate, indicating a common catalytic mechanism and substrate recognition. Crystal structures of L. pneumophila LapG provide the first atomic models of bacterial proteases of the DUF920 family and reveal a conserved calcium-binding site important for LapG function.
Risk stratification for the detection of preclinical coronary artery disease.

The cost of lost human value and dollars spent ($90 billion annually) due to coronary disease in our society is of great concern and is reason for increased efforts to prevent coronary artery disease and its consequences.1 The reduction in mortality, acute coronary event rate, and need for coronary revascularization attributable to lipid lowering with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in the recent primary coronary prevention trials has therefore been encouraging.2 3 These studies have prompted many physicians and informed adults to be more aggressive with coronary risk detection and intervention. However, despite the success of these trials, only a minority of persons at risk with elevated cholesterol levels are treated effectively. This has led to an increased emphasis on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel II (ATP II) guidelines4 and direct advertising to the public by the pharmaceutical industry. Every adult American has been urged to know their cholesterol level. These efforts are certainly laudable and have met with at least some success. However, the increased attention and enthusiasm for risk factor modification to prevent myocardial infarctions (MI), stroke, and death have been tempered by the realization that the costs of primary prevention may be beyond what society is willing to spend. Health insurers, employers, and governments throughout the western world understand the potential value of coronary prevention but are concerned that the costs will greatly increase total healthcare expenditures and are difficult to justify compared with other societal needs. It is therefore not surprising that there are increasing efforts to risk-stratify asymptomatic individuals and thereby select those individuals at highest risk for whom treatment would be most cost-effective. One early approach to risk stratification was exercise testing, first with the ECG and more recently with radionuclides and echocardiography. These tools, although useful in the evaluation …
The Moral Environment in an Inner-City Boys' High School.

Abstract In this article, I characterize the moral environment in an inner-city high school that serves 300 African American boys. My focus is on how everyday patterns of interaction, and unusual, often dramatic events, combine to shape the school's ethos. The analysis discloses how daily conduct inside classrooms funds the larger environment of the institution. It spotlights the ways in which the school's adults strive to fashion a climate in which students can flourish morally and spiritually. In the face of numerous challenges and obstacles, many of which I touch upon, the people in the school succeed in making education something more than mere preparation for the future. Rather, their efforts render schooling into a formative experience in its own right.
Apparent digestibility of nutrients and energy in extruded diets from cultivars of barley and wheat selected for nutritional quality in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

A digestibility trial was conducted to elucidate potential differences in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) lines and varieties as a first step in defining their potential for use in aquafeeds. A diverse group of six barley lines having six combinations of selected attributes, normal versus low phytic acid, normal versus waxy, and hulled versus hull-less, were chosen for evaluation along with a waxy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soft white wheat. The experimental diets were manufactured by cooking extrusion and consisted of a 70% reference diet that was formulated to contain a minimal level of phosphorus and 30% test ingredient. Phosphorus availability ranged from 17 to 78% and was influenced by starch type in wheat. Apparent protein digestibility ranged from 53 to 125% and differences were observed between wheat varieties based on starch type. Apparent energy digestibility ranged from 32 to 63%, with waxy barley varieties having higher energy digestibility coefficients than normal starch varieties. Waxy starch varieties had higher starch digestibility in both barley and wheat because of the greater digestibility of amylopectin than amylose. In summary, the higher energy digestibility of waxy barley lines suggests that these varieties warrant further attention as feed ingredients for rainbow trout.
Fuzzy min-max classification with neural networks

A feedforward neural network classifier that uses min-max vector pairs to define classes is described. This two-layer neural network utilizes a supervised learning rule to build a set of classes. Each node in the output layer of the network represents a class. During recall each class node produces an output value that represents the degree to which the input pattern fits within the represented classes. This fuzzy neural network is ideally suited to applications that have very little data available to define classes. The author provides a brief overview of fuzzy sets and fuzzy pattern classification, a description of fuzzy min-max classification and its neural network implementation, and an example of the classification operation. >
Economic Integration and Migration: Austria, the Slovak Republic and the EU

The 12th Migration Dialogue seminar was held April 29-May 1, 2004 in Vienna and Bratislava. Its focus was migration in the heart of Europe, especially the impacts of EU enlargement, recent changes in Austrian im migration and integration policy, and migration issues in the Slovak Repub lic. Migration Dialogue seminars provide an opportunity for European and American opinion leaders to learn about migration issues in concrete set tings. There is a 6-to-l difference in per capita income between Austria and the Slovak Republic, but relatively little labor migration.1 After May 1, 2004, borders between these formerly distant neighbors became more per meable, as Slovaks now are able to travel to Austria without passports, but they cannot work unless their employers obtain work permits on their behalf. There was discussion of three major issues:
Locally adaptive dimensionality reduction for indexing large time series databases

Similarity search in large time series databases has attracted much research interest recently. It is a difficult problem because of the typically high dimensionality of the data.. The most promising solutions involve performing dimensionality reduction on the data, then indexing the reduced data with a multidimensional index structure. Many dimensionality reduction techniques have been proposed, including Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), the Discrete Fourier transform (DFT), and the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). In this work we introduce a new dimensionality reduction technique which we call Adaptive Piecewise Constant Approximation (APCA). While previous techniques (e.g., SVD, DFT and DWT) choose a common representation for all the items in the database that minimizes the global reconstruction error, APCA approximates each time series by a set of constant value segments of varying lengths such that their individual reconstruction errors are minimal. We show how APCA can be indexed using a multidimensional index structure. We propose two distance measures in the indexed space that exploit the high fidelity of APCA for fast searching: a lower bounding Euclidean distance approximation, and a non-lower bounding, but very tight Euclidean distance approximation and show how they can support fast exact searching, and even faster approximate searching on the same index structure. We theoretically and empirically compare APCA to all the other techniques and demonstrate its superiority.