cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adhesion enhancement induced by MeV ion beams

Abstract Enhancement in adhesion of thin Au films on vitreous SiO 2 and GaAs substrates was induced by a 35 C1 ion beam at energies between 6.5 and 21.0 MeV and doses from 10 12 ions/cm 2 to 10 15 ions/cm 2 . The enhanced adhesion was studied by using the “Scotch Tape” and the “Scratch” tests. For Au on SiO 2 it was found that the film passes the “Scotch Tape” test in two different dose ranges; one at low dose centered around 10 13 ions/cm 2 and almost independent of ion beam energy, the other at higher dose and more strongly dependent on beam energy. In the case of Au film on GaAs, in order to study the role of the electronic properties on the enhancement in adhesion, wafers with four different dopants (Cr, Si, Te, and Zn) were used and very different adhesion modifications were found depending on the dopant.
Radiolysis of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) and the role of ethanol and radioactive concentration.

Abstract Radiolysis is the process by which radioactively labeled compounds degrade. Many positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals produced with high radioactive concentrations and specific activities exhibit low radiochemical purity because of radiolysis. Little data exist that describe the radiolytic decomposition of 2-[ 18 F]fluoro-2-deoxy- d -glucose ([ 18 F]FDG). The objective of our study was to profile the degradation of [ 18 F]FDG at various radioactive concentrations by measuring radiochemical purity at different time intervals and to study the effects of ethanol, a well-known reductant stabilizer of [ 18 F]FDG preparations.
Resource management in a distributed internetwork environment

The resource management system is designed to support location-transparent access to resources and to improve performance in a distributed internetwork environment. In this environment, access to one of several machines that have a given resource is determined by the effective bandwidth and reliability of internetwork communications, the ability to interact with the machines offering the resources, and the load on those machines. Using these criteria, the resources management system enables applications to determine and obtain access to the “best” copy of a resource. Should the resource become unavailable from one machine, the resource management system can dynamically direct the applications to another machine known to offer the same resource. This paper discusses some of the problems that motivated the design, an implementation for a UNIX workstation environment, and future directions for the resource management system.
Explicit Computation of Orthonormal Symmetrized Harmonics with Application to the Identity Representation of the Icosahedral Group

A novel method to explicitly compute orthonormal symmetrized harmonics is presented and the method is applied to the identity representation of the icosahedral group. Spherical viruses have icosahedral symmetry and the motivating application is the parametric representation of spherical viruses for use in inverse problems based on x-ray scattering data and cryoelectron microscopy images. The symmetrized harmonics are computed in the form of linear combinations of spherical harmonics of one order and therefore have simple rotational properties which is valuable in the electron microscopy application. The method is based on equating the expansions of a symmetrized delta function in spherical and in symmetrized harmonics from which bilinear equations for the weights in the linear combinations can be derived. The explicit character of the calculation is reflected in the fact that both explicit expressions and an efficient recursive algorithm are derived for computing the weights in the linear combinations.
Audit tool for external beam radiation therapy departments.

Abstract Purpose Development of a self-contained audit tool for external beam radiation therapy to assess compliance with the major recommendations from professional organizations and generally accepted standards of practice. Intensity modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and volumetric modulated arc therapy were included in this review. Methods and Materials A physics quality working group developed a department vision, distinguished and summarized key references, and condensed important elements of good documentation practices. The results were then compiled in a checklist format and used to perform audits at 3 sites. Results The final audit tool contains 65 items spanning a wide range of external beam radiation therapy practices. Several of the audit items address issues not commonly identified by other authoritative sources. A total of 48 process improvements were identified at the 3 sites audited. Conclusions The enclosed self-inspection list may be useful to a site as an annual review tool, as an aid in preparation for the American College of Radiology-American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology practice accreditation, or as a catalyst for general quality improvement. Sites can quickly identify opportunities for improvement by concentrating on high importance items and commonly identified areas of noncompliance.
Analytical theory of pion single and double charge exchange in resonance region. I. Geometrical limit

We derive analytical formulas for angular distributions $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ of pion single and double charge exchange to analog states. The result is based on the eikonal approximation and assumes that the interactions are invariant under isospin rotations. The theory reproduces semiquantitatively the results of exact coupled channel, lowest order optical model calculations and explicates the dependence of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ on the structure of the nuclear target. The $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ for single charge exchange is proportional to the square of the ratio of the valence neutron density $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\rho}(R)$ to the total density $\ensuremath{\rho}(\overline{R})$. The theory predicts $\overline{R}$ as a function of energy and mass number $A$; for pion kinetic energy ${T}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}\ensuremath{\simeq}180$ MeV, $\ensuremath{\rho}(\overline{R})\ensuremath{\simeq}0.1\ensuremath{-}0.2$ of central density. The $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ for double charge exchange is proportional to ${[\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\rho}(\overline{R})}{\ensuremath{\rho}(\overline{R})}]}^{4}$. The strong dependence of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ on $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}$ suggests that the single and double charge exchange reactions may develop into a sensitive probe of the neutron halo. The dependence of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ on the diffuseness of $\ensuremath{\rho}$ and $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\rho}$ is also evaluated. Assuming that the neutron and proton densities are proportional, the relative $A$ dependence of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ for single and double charge exchange is calculated. The result is in qualitative agreement with recent measurements for single charge exchange and predicts that a similar set of measurements for double charge exchange may be feasible. Realistic densities are used to calculate the magnitude of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$. Large enhancements are found in this case, but $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ falls below the preliminary data by as much as a factor of 4. Difficulties in reproducing the observed angular distribution of the $^{18}\mathrm{O}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})^{18}\mathrm{Ne}$ reaction are similar to those of other theories. The extent of discrepancy suggests the occurrence of strong modifications of the pion-nucleon interaction in the nuclear medium.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Pion single and double charge exchange; analytical formulas for angular distributions.
A multitaper Generalized Spectrum technique for detection of periodic structures in tissue: Comparison with conventional methods

Quantifying features related to acoustic scatterer periodicity can provide useful information to monitor tissue structural changes, but their detection is hindered by apparent coherence from random scatterers. This work compares the use a multitaper Generalized Spectrum (mtGS) to single-taper and time-average approaches (stGS and taGS, respectively) and to the Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) for detecting periodicity in backscattered echo signals when reducing the size of the parameter estimation region. A phantom with diffuse scatterers and an array of 0.1mm-diameter nylon fibers 0.4mm apart was scanned with a Siemens S2000 system using a linear array transducer. Radiofrequency (RF) echo signals from the fiber plane were obtained and Generalized Spectrum (GS) estimates were made either by stGS, taGS or mtGS with Discrete Prolate Spheroidal Sequences. Spectral components corresponding to periodic structures were identified by peaks in the GS Collapsed Average. SSA was implemented by obtaining eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the autocovariance matrix of signal segments. The periodic components of envelope signals were reconstructed using pairs of eigenvectors with similar eigenvalues. The frequency of the periodic component was estimated from the maximum value of its power spectrum. Histograms of frequency components detected by each method were constructed. The conspicuity of the 1.9MHz peak (corresponding to the fiber spacing) was measured as the size of the parameter estimation region was reduced axially and laterally from 20 to 2 correlation lengths. The mtGS improves detection of the relevant frequency components (1.9MHz and its harmonic) compared to stGS, taGSm and SSA by increasing their conspicuity over spurious components. This method also provided the minimum parameter estimation region size (8 pulse lengths axially, 6 uncorrelated scanlines laterally) viable for detection of periodic features.
Phase behavior predictions for polymer blends containing reversibly associating endgroups

A mean field model is developed to predict how polymer–polymer miscibility changes if polymers are functionalized with noncovalent, reversibly binding endgroups. The free-energy model is based on the Flory–Huggins mixing theory and has been modified using Painter's association model to account for equilibrium self-association of endgroups. Model input parameters include the length of polymer chains, a temperature-dependent interaction parameter, and a temperature-dependent equilibrium constant for each type of associating endgroup. The analysis is applied to 12 possible blend combinations involving self-complementary interactions and seven combinations involving hetero-complementary [i.e. donor–acceptor (DA)] interactions. Combinations involve both monofunctional and telechelic associating chains. Predicted phase diagrams illustrate how self-complementary interactions can stabilize two-phase regions and how DA interactions can stabilize single phase regions. The model is a useful tool in understanding the delicate balance between the combinatorial entropy of mixing polymer chains, the repulsive interactions between dissimilar polymers, and the additional enthalpic and entropic changes due to end-group association of chain ends. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3285–3299, 2007
The flow regimes and the pressure-flow relationship in the canine urethra.

Classical fluid dynamics predicts that the pressure difference Deltap between any two points along a fully developed, viscous flow stream is linearly proportional to the flow rate Q (the Poiseuille relation). However, the passive urethral resistance relationship (PURR) widely used in modern urodynamics describes the pressure difference Deltap between two points along the urethra as linearly proportional to the flow rate squared (Q(2)). It is our hypothesis that this functional dependence may have its origins in the developing flow field within the urethra. That is, rather than being fully developed hydrodynamically, urethral flow is more likely representative of flow within the entry length of a rigid conduit. In our study, we used a canine model of the lower urinary tract to investigate the possibility of entrance effects. Although the most rigorous model of urethral fluid mechanics would include the elastic properties of the urethra into its configuration, the solutions from such a model would be unnecessarily complex and not readily lend themselves to the analysis of clinical data. Therefore, we chose to model the canine urethra at each instant in time as a rigid tube, and characterized its instantaneous flow using viscous flow theory for a rigid tube. All urodynamic analyses were performed on a surgically exposed urinary tract. Solid state pressure transducers were used to measure the intravesical and distal urethral pressures, whereas an ultrasonic flowmeter was used to obtain a simultaneous measure of the urinary flow rate. Detrusor contractions were induced using bilateral electrical stimulation of the pelvic nerves. Varying degrees of outlet obstruction were created using an inflatable sphincter cuff secured around the bladder outlet. The experimental data were evaluated using the well-known laminar entry length model of Atkinson and Goldstein. The peak Reynolds numbers under nonobstructed R(p)(e non-obs) and obstructed R(p)(e obs) outlet conditions ranged between 500 < R(p)(e non-obs) < 1,500 and 300 < R(p)(e obs) < 1,700, respectively. Under non-obstructed outlet conditions, the urethral diameters D and total lengths l(T) ranged between 1.5 mm < D < 2.5 mm and 75 mm < l(T) < 95 mm, respectively, whereas the peak entrance lengths L(p)(e non-obs) ranged between 55 mm < L(p)(e non-obs) < 215 mm. These data suggest that flow in the canine urethra under both non-obstructed and obstructed outlet conditions is typically laminar. The data further support the hypothesis that non-obstructed flows are predominantly entry length in nature. Entry length flows are fluid dynamically described by a quadratic pressure-flow relationship, thus suggesting a physiological basis for Schafer's quadratic pressure-flow relationship, and therefore, for the PURR. Neurourol. Urodynam. 18:521-541, 1999.
Long-term study of intraocular pressure changes in patients with human immunodeficiency virus treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Purpose To characterize a longitudinal relationship between highly active antiretroviral therapy immune recovery as defined by an increase in CD4 cell counts and any associated changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) in both patients with and patients without a history of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and to determine if human immunodeficiency (HIV)-induced reduction in IOP is reversible. Design Retrospective analysis of patient data collected from 1997 through 2004. Participants Cohort of patients from one eye center, including patients from the Longitudinal Study of Ocular Complications of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Methods Linear regression analyses were conducted within the CMV and non-CMV groups to determine the change in IOP per 100-unit change in CD4 count. Average changes in IOP per change in CD4 count were compared between the CMV and the non-CMV groups using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Linear regression analyses were conducted within the CMV and non-CMV groups to determine the linear relationship between the 12-month change in IOP per 12-month 100-unit change in CD4 count. Main Outcome Measure Intraocular pressure in relation to changes in CD4 cell counts. Results Compared with the non-CMV group, the median IOP change per change in CD4 count was not statistically different from the CMV group (0.9 vs. 1.7 mmHg/100 CD4 cells, respectively; P = 0.20). Analysis of the linear relationship between the 12-month change in IOP and the 12-month change in CD4 count within both the CMV and non-CMV groups showed a strong linear relationship: 67% of the variability in a 12-month IOP change for the CMV group ( P P Conclusions Reduction in T-lymphocyte count in HIV infection is accompanied by a decrease in IOP in both CMV-infected and non–CMV-infected eyes, and immune recovery is associated with an increase in IOP.
Plasma luminescence feedback control system for precise ultrashort pulse laser tissue ablation

Plasma luminescence spectroscopy was used for precise ablation of bone tissue without damaging nearby soft tissue using ultrashort pulse laser (USPL). Strong contrast of the luminescence spectra between bone marrow and spinal cord provided the real time feedback control so that only bone tissue can be selectively ablated while preserving the spinal cord.
Binding of nitrate to renal brush border membranes studied with 14N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

Abstract Renal brush border membranes contain several anion exchangers that may play a role in electrolyte transport and pH regulation. To help characterize the types of exchangers present and the binding properties of these membranes, the binding of nitrate (NO3−) to highly purified rabbit kidney brush border membrane vesicles was studied. The method is based on the binding induced quadrupole relaxation of the 14N-NMR signal of nitrate [1,2]. Brush border membrane vesicles caused a relaxation of the 14N-NMR nitrate signal which could be characterized by relatively high affinity sites, KD = 6.7 ± 1.5 mM, as well as nonspecific interactions with the membranes, KD > 150 mM. The anion transport inhibitor 4,4′-dinitrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate (DNDS) inhibited 51 ± 6% (n = 4) of the relaxation due to the high affinity binding sites. The DNDS inhibition could be characterized by a Ki of 10–80 μM. Both bicarbonate and formate (HCO2−) were found to partially inhibit the high affinity induced relaxation, with maximal inhibition of 37 ± 8% (n = 3) and 30 ± 2% (n = 3), respectively. The inhibitory effects of saturating concentrations of bicarbonate and formate were non-additive, suggesting the existence of a stilbene sensitive exchanger that can bind nitrate, as well as both bicarbonate and formate. This study indicates the usefulness of this new method for further investigation of anion exchangers on these and other membranes.
Second-order necessary conditions in constrained semismooth optimization

First- and second-order conditions are given which must necessarily be satisfied by local minimizers for certain finite-dimensional nonsmooth nonlinear programming problems. The problems considered are of standard form, having a finite number of equality and inequality constraints. The principal result does not require a constraint qualification, but does require that the functions be semismooth at the minimizer. The necessary conditions are stated in terms of the generalized gradients of nonsmooth analysis and certain second-order directional derivatives.
Meditation Practice and Research

This article provides an introduction and overview of meditation practice, theory, and research. The models of human nature and consciousness from the meditative traditions are compared with traditional Western psychological models, and the former are suggested to encompass a wider range of states of consciousness and psychological well-being. The various models and mechanisms, psychological and physiological, Eastern and Western, that have been advanced to account for the effects of meditation are reviewed. Meditation practice is discussed both as a self-regulation strategy for specific psychotherapeutic and psychophysiological aims and as a discipline for deep self-exploration and transformation. When used for intensive self-exploration, meditation is best viewed as one component of a process demanding and producing a thoroughgoing transformation of all aspects of life and thought. The progression of experiences, insights, and states of consciousness that tend to emerge with intensive insight meditation...
Activation and inactivation steps in the visual transduction pathway

Recent genetic, biochemical and electrophysiological evidence has provided insights into the molecular identity of the substance responsible for bleaching desensitization in vision. Studies examining the molecular defects that cause delayed dark adaptation suggest that the desensitizing substance is recognized by rhodopsin kinase and/or arrestin and, therefore, is probably a complex comprising all-trans-retinal and opsin.
Effect of Carbon Particle Size on Electrochemical Performance of EDLC

The effect of particle size on the electrochemical performance of electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) has been studied using carbon derived from silicon carbide powders with 20 nm to 20 μm grains at temperatures from 800 to 1200°C. For the same synthesis temperature, similar pore texture and microstructure of carbide-derived carbons produced from different powders have been observed. Nanoparticles exhibited a slight porosity modification with a larger pore volume (1.8 cc/g) and surface area (1300 m 2 /g) as compared to micrometer particles (0.4 cc/g and 1100 m 2 /g). Capacitances as high as 135 F/g associated with a small resistance and time constant have been reached for nano- and sub-micrometer particles synthesized at low temperatures and tested in a tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile solution. This result suggests that small particles facilitate the migration of the ions inside the porous electrodes, allowing them to reach the whole pore volume due to a shorter transport distance within the particle.
Improving the Efficiency of Stirling Engines for Use in Solar Distributed Electricity, Heating, and Cooling

Limiting solar power is the inability to cost effectively store energy. The most cost effective means to store solar energy is thermally in the ground, which can then be used for direct conversion to electricity. However, doing so is limited by a historically poor thermal efficiency of such engines. A novel Stirling engine is posed which more closely mimics a Carnot heat engine. It does this through the use of a new passive thermal ‘switch’ which permits heat flow into the expansion chamber of the Stirling engine only when the temperature of the chamber is above a desired value. Ideally heat would be added only at the end of the compression stroke and the beginning of the expansion stroke. Central to this thermal switch is the use of a vanadium dioxide (VO2) low mass heat exchanger internal to the expansion chamber. This low mass heat exchanger allows the film material to track and react to the temperature changes within the expansion chamber, permitting it to transfer heat only when needed. An adiabatic model of this enhanced solar Stirling engine is developed. Results indicate that the thermal efficiency can be nearly doubled, delivering a second law efficiency of over 0.6. Further, a year round overall efficiency accounting for losses in the Stirling engine and solar thermal collectors of 7% appears to be feasible when this engine is integrated with ground solar storage, providing the necessary power to meet loads in a low energy residence. Such results demonstrate promise for future application of this technology.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Managing and Analyzing Your Collection: A Practical Guide for Small Libraries and School Media Centers

All librarians know about struggling for funding, and that convincing administrators of the library’s needs is a challenge. This volume presents what the authors call a “cookbook” approach, an easy...
POTENTIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY

A model for estimating net photosynthesis is presented, based on the relationship between gross photosynthesis and solar radiation and daylength derived by Monteith, and the relationship between respiration and temperature derived by Thomas and Hill. The model has been applied to 386 stations, and world maps of potential photosynthesis for three different periods have been constructed. For the four-month summer period the highest potential photosynthesis is found along west coasts in high latitudes near sixty degrees latitude. For both the eight-month period and the annual mean, the Mediterranean type of climate has the highest growth potential. Potential photosynthetic rates for various climatic types and for latitudinal zones have been sum- marized. Actual crop yields of rice, cotton, and sugar cane of leading producing coun- tries have been correlated with the computed potential photosynthesis. The correlations are highly significant. The implications of the study of potential photosynthesis in the strategy of land-use planning, particularly in the so-called underdeveloped countries, are discussed.
Antifeedant Effects of Common Herbs on the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Aqueous suspensions produced by grinding leaf tissue of tansy, sage, basil, catnip, dill, and rue in water deterred feeding of adult and larval Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), when tested on eggplant leaf disks in laboratory choice tests. Tansy showed the most potent antifeedant effect. Adult beetles refused to feed on leaf disks dipped in a 10% (2 g in 20 ml) suspension of tansy tissue, even after 22 h in either a choice or no-choice situation. Beetles kept for 22 h on leaf disks treated with a 1% (0.2 g in 20 ml) tansy suspension subsequently rejected the treatment to the same extent as naive beetles. Tansy treatments caused substantial mortality to beetle larvae that fed on them from egg hatching. These effects could have been caused by starvation or physiological toxicity. Tansy and other herbs show potential for use in integrated pest management programs aimed at the Colorado potato beetle.
A Practitioner’s Guide to Prescribing Diazepam for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

We developed this diazepam guideline using drug prescribing ­information and reviewing the available literature on relevant neuropsychiatric disorders in populations without intellectual disabilities because of the dearth of available literature on the population with intellectual disabilities. This guideline includes indications; contraindications; assessments prior to and during treatment; dosing with particular focus on dosing modifications required by drug–drug interactions, personal characteristics, or genetic variants; and adverse drug reactions. The procedures contained in this guideline may not fully account for all of the possible risks of treatment in this population because of the limited studies available; thus, there will be a need to periodically update this guideline as new information becomes available. Nevertheless, we believe that this guideline provides a useful resource for clinicians who treat epilepsy, anxiety, or catatonia in adult individuals with ­intellectual disabilities. A diazepam drug utilization review that summarizes this guideline is described.
Chemical surface treatment of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene for improved adhesion to methacrylate resins

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has high yield strength and modulus, but is nonpolar and chemically inert. For it to be used as an effective reinforcing agent for composites, methods to make the UHMWPE wettable or capable of reaction with the matrix are critical. In the current work, Spectra 900™ (UHMWPE) fibers were surface modified by swelling in p-xylene with: (1) methylmethacrylate (MMA) monomer; (2) PMMA; (3) camphorquinone (CQ); (4) 3-methacryloxypropyltrichlorosilane (Cl-MPS); (5) trimethoxysilyl modified polyethylene, N-(triethoxysilylpropyl)-dansylamide (fluorescent silane), or octadecyltrimethoxy silane (OMS), followed by hydrolysis and reaction with Cl-MPS; and (6) by coating with SiO2 films followed by reaction with MPS. These modifiers were used to improve wettability and provide sites for chemical interactions with the resin matrix. Beads of resin [60/40 BisGMA-TEGMA (bis-phenol A bis-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylate and tri(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate)] were light-cured around the treated fibers and the improvement in adhesion was tested by microbond shear strength (τ) tests. The improvements were comparable to those reported by acid etching and plasma treatments. The OMS, fluorescent silane, and SiO2/Cl-MPS treatments yielded the best results, that is fourfold increases in τ compared with untreated fibers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1564–1572, 2005
United, Yet Divided: An Analysis of Bishops Martin John Spalding and John Baptist Purcell during the Civil War Era

The paper explores the views of American Catholic bishops during the Civil War period. As a whole, the Catholic Church proclaimed peace and public neutrality during the war. Yet despite urging of the Vatican for clergy to remain uninvolved in American politics, many bishops and other clergymen developed specific Union or Confederate sympathies, thereby creating divisions within the American Catholic Church. Such an example of divergent sympathies can be found through a comparison of Bishop Martin John Spalding of Louisville, Kentucky, and Archbishop John Baptist Purcell of Cincinnati, Ohio. The bishops' letters, journals, and diocesan publications illustrate the rift within the American Catholic Church of the time period. The case studies of Spalding and Purcell serve as clear examples of opposing sympathies. Spalding's conservative, Southern roots evolved into a pro-slavery, anti-Lincoln view, while Purcell's immigrant, urban background inspired him to promote an abolitionist, pro-Union agenda.
One-turn map investigation on space-charge modulation of betatron tune by synchrotron oscillation

The modulation of the betatron tune by the space-charge force as a result of synchrotron oscillation is studied. A one-turn-map model is devised and is applied to the various designs of the International Linear Collider damping ring.
Constraint reality: Linguistic expressions of restrictivity and emotive stances. A discourse-pragmatic study of utterance-final lāh in Shishan (Hainan Island, China)

Abstract Based on natural conversational data, the current study analyzes utterance-final pragmatic particle lāh in Shishan, a dialect of Lingao of the Tai-Kadai language family. The research proposes that lāh signals an interactively built, relational notion of restrictivity. Specifically, lāh signals to the addressee that the state-of-affairs described in the utterance is restricted such that “nothing else” is possible due to a pre-existing, external constraint. The core meaning of relational “nothing else” gives rise to such pragmatic extensions as marking suggestions necessitated by external circumstances, assertion of “obviousness,” negative politeness strategies, and various emotive stances toward the situation in focus and/or toward the addressee. The range of functions of lāh parallel a number of Southeast Asian languages’ pragmatic particles (e.g., Cantonese lo , Mandarin me , Singapore English lor ), particularly surrounding the function of marking the propositional content as “obvious.” The overlap corroborates a recurrent theme in the expanding research on pragmatic particles, specifically, pragmatic particles’ encoding the speaker's subjectivity toward the content being communicated. Equally important is that their use is prompted by, and in turn, responds to, perceived sharedness/divergence in the speaker's and addressee's subjective understandings of the world, an embodiment of the “intersubjective” nature of language.
NBOMe Designer Drug Exposures Reported to Texas Poison Centers

Use of 2-methoxybenzyl analogues of 2C-X phenethylamines (NBOMe) is increasing in the United States. Twenty-five NBOMe exposures reported to Texas poison centers during 2012–2013 were identified; 76% involved 25I-NBOMe, 12% involved 25C-NBOMe, and 12% involved an unknown NBOMe. Eighty-eight percent of the patients were men; mean age was 17 years (range, 14–25 years). The exposure route was 72% from ingestion alone, 12% from inhalation alone, 4% from ingestion and inhalation, and 12% from an unknown route. The most common clinical effects were tachycardia (52%), agitation (48%), hallucinations (32%), hypertension (32%), confusion (24%), and mydriasis (20%). Two patients died.
Les modèles de réacteurs proposés par AREVA

La renaissance du nucleaire est une realite. Areva, qui a marque le debut de cette nouvelle periode de l’histoire de l’industrie avec la centrale EPRTM de Olkiluoto 3, s’est donne les moyens de rester leader sur ce marche, en developpant d’une part ses capacites industrielles et humaines, et d’autre part en proposant une gamme de solutions pour repondre aux besoins.
Synthesis of differential conditioning and double alley data: Performance to S+ as a function of intertrial interval and antedating reward events

In each of the two studies, one group of rats received differential reward conditioning in a black-white discrimination apparatus, while a second group received the S+ reward in both discriminanda. Contrast effects to the S+ stimulus varied with antedating reward events and the intertriai interval.
Catabolite regulation in a diauxic strain and a nondiauxic strain of Streptococcus bovis

Streptococcus bovis JB1 utilized glucose preferentially to lactose and grew diauxically, but S. bovis 581AXY2 grew nondiauxically and used glucose preferentially only when the glucose concentration was very high (greater than 5mm). As little as 0.1mm glucose completely inhibited the lactose transport of JB1. The lactose transport system of 581AXY2 was at least tenfold less sensitive to glucose, and 1 mM glucose caused only a 50% inhibition of lactose transport. Both strains had phosphotransferase systems (PTSs) for glucose and lactose. The glucose PTSs were constitutive, but little lactose PTS activity was detected unless lactose was the energy source for growth. JB1 had approximately threefold more glucose PTS activity than 581AXY2 (1600 versus 600 nmol glucose (mg protein)-1 (min)-1. The glucose PTS of JB1 showed normal Michaelis Menten kinetics, and the affinity constant (Ks) was 0.12mm. The glucose PTS of 581AXY2 was atypical, and the plot of velocity versus velocity/substrate was biphasic. The low capacity system had a Ks of 0.20mm, but the Ks of the high capacity system was greater than 6mm. On the basis of these results, diauxic growth is dependent on the affinity of glucose enzyme II and the velocity of glucose transport.
Cell Geometry and Material Property Effects on Membrane and Flow Response

TO OPTIMIZE micro aerial vehicle (MAV) designs for size and speed regimes characteristic of small birds and insects, a growing subset of low-Reynolds-number research groups practice biomimetics to take advantage of nature-optimized designs proven effective within the MAV flight regime [1]. One common feature of many natural flyers is wing flexibility. Engineering models that mimic low-Reynolds-number fliers with fixed-wing flexibility have demonstrated improved aerodynamics compared with conventional rigid airfoils. This improvement is attributed to a combination of passive static and dynamic deformations of the flexible-membrane wings supported by semirigid, fixed-wing frames. Static deformation, of bothmembrane and frame, can advantageously affect airfoil camber and tip washout through inflation and alteration of aerodynamic and geometric twist [2–4]. Dynamic membrane deformations can improvemomentum transfer between the leeside free shear layer and recirculation region of models with rigid leading and trailing edges and a membrane attached in between, thereby, decreasing the extent of flow separation and corresponding wake size, as well as advantageously affecting the aerodynamic forces [5,6]. Similar vibrations also exist for membrane wings with an unattached trailing edge. Hubner and Hicks [7] showed aerodynamic efficiency improvement by scalloping the trailing edge and developed scaling trends with respect to cell geometry. Johnston et al. [8] demonstrated via high-speed imagery that membrane prestrain increased flutter onset velocity while reducing the magnitude of the postflutter limit cycle oscillations. A free trailing-edge wing structure typically includes a flat or cambered frame of moderate or low aspect ratio that is significantly less compliant than the attached membrane. The membrane is attached along the leading edge of the frame and along battens (or ribs) extending from the leading edge. In this Note, it is documented that the initial flutter onset frequency of zero-applied-pretension membranes originates from small-amplitude membrane vibrations at the natural frequency of the membrane. Although applied pretensioning will affect the frequency, cell geometry and material properties are shown to play an important role as well. Spectral data from the membrane and the leeside shear layer via simultaneously sampled hot-wire anemometry and laser vibrometry are presented and discussed in this Note.
Factors Influencing DNR Decision-Making in a Surgical ICU

Background End-of-life decisions in the surgical ICU can be complicated by the unique characteristics of perioperative illness and the focus on life-extending interventions. We sought to determine whether illness severity correlated with the presence of DNR order in critically ill surgical patients. Study design All surgical ICU patients who were given a DNR order from May 1, 1991 to May 31, 1998 were identified. Demographic data for all patients were collected prospectively. Patients who died without a DNR order were compared with patients with DNR orders. Variables in the analysis included date of DNR order, age, ICU, and hospital lengths of stay, APACHE II and III scores and maximum multiple organ dysfunction scores, past medical history, and mortality. ANOVA, multivariate ANOVA, and chi-square statistical tests were used to analyze the data, with p ≤ 0.05 used to reject the null hypothesis. Results Mortality for DNR patients was 84.7%. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was ubiquitous in this group of patients. There were no differences between DNR and no-DNR groups on the basis of age or APACHE III score or multiple organ dysfunction score. ICU lengths of stay were substantially higher in the patients made DNR, 1.8 ± 0.1 versus 1.0 ± 0.1, p=0.0001, and 16.9 ± 0.2 versus 12.1 ± 1.2, p=0.011, respectively. Multivariate ANOVA revealed that only past medical history predicted a DNR order. Conclusions Although acuity of illness and organ dysfunction consistently predicted mortality in critically ill patient populations, only elements of the past medical history were positively associated with a DNR order in critically ill surgical patients. Additional prospective studies need to be performed to determine the relative influences of physiologic, demographic, and sociologic factors on the creation of DNR orders in critically ill surgical patients.
Peri-implant fracture of the distal tibia after intra-medullary nailing of a tibial fracture: a report of two cases

Fracture of the tibia in the area of a pre-existing implant is not common. We report two cases of a fracture of the distal tibia at the distal interlocking screw site. We are not aware of any similar reports in the literature.
Concurrency Control for Replicated Data in Distributed Real-Time Systems

The design and implementation of time-critical schedulers for distributed replicated database systems must satisfy two major requirements: transactions must be able to meet the timing constraints associated with them, and mutual and internal consistency of replicated data must be preserved. In this paper, we present a replication control algorithm, which integrates real-time scheduling and replication control. The algorithm adopts a majority consensus scheme for replication control and attempts to balance the criticality of real-time transactions with the conflict resolution policies of that scheme. The algorithm employs epsilon-serializability (ESR), a correctness criterion which is less stringent than conventional one-copy-serializability, to guarantee the robustness of the scheme. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated and compared with a real-time token-based algorithm. The algorithm is extended to use the notion of quorum consensus, and the effects of read quorum on the performance is investigated.
Expression of p63 and 14-3-3σ in normal and hyperdifferentiated mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract

Abstract Objective: Our goal was to analyze p63 and 14-3-3σ expression in normal and hyperdifferentiated head and neck mucosa. Study Design: Compare the in vivo expression of p63 and 14-3-3σ by immunohistochemistry in normal mucosa and oral lichen planus, a benign mucosal lesion marked by hyperdifferentiation and apoptosis. Results and Conclusion: p63 is underexpressed and 14-3-3σ is overexpressed in lichen planus on immunohistochemical analysis. Significance: The findings support the hypothesis that p63 plays an antidifferentiation role, whereas 14-3-3σ plays a prodifferentiation role in the upper aerodigestive tract epithelium. Lichen planus is a valuable model for the study of p63, 14-3-3σ, and mucosal differentiation. p63 and 14-3-3σ may be molecular markers for oral lichen planus. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;126:598-601.)
TactileFace: a system for enabling access to face photos by visually-impaired people

Face photos/Portraits play an important role in people's social and emotional life. Unfortunately, this type of media is inaccessible to people with visual impairment. We propose a novel, prototypical system that was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of bridging this accessibility gap through automatic and realtime conversion of face images into their tactile counterparts. Unlike conventional and existing tactile conversion efforts, which are largely done by human specialists, the proposed system serves to provide an intelligent interface between blind computer users and this important type of media, human face images.
Puppet Theatre: Form and Ideology in Bamana Performances:

The Bamana living in the Segu region in central Mali carve a range of masks and puppets for specific performance contexts. These sculptures are related to and must be interpreted in light of the community's definition of the event for which they were created. This study examines a category of sculptures which are produced for youth puppet theatre. It compares these sculptures to a second category of masks which are produced for men's initiation associations and relates both categories to the definition of their respective performance events. It then analyzes the social identity of the actors in youth theatre and the ideology which organizes the import of the puppet theatre in these communities.
The Universality of Management

In a study of 72 social fraternities, the author found that there was a significant positive relationship between the degree to which these organizations used selected managerial practices and the ...
Latest results from the seismic category I structures program

Abstract With the use of scale and different size models, the Seismic Category I Structures Program has demonstrated consistent results for measured values of stiffness at working loads. Furthermore, the values are well below the theoretical stiffnesses calculated from an uncracked strength-of-materials approach. The scale-model structures, which are also models of each other, have demonstrated scalability between models. The current effort is to demonstrate that the use of microconcrete and other modeling effects does not introduce significant distortions that could drastically change conclusions regarding prototype behavior for these very stiff, shear-dominated structures.
D‐Tryptophan‐6‐LH‐RH‐at Low Doses in the Treatment of Male Subfertility

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of D-TRP-6-LH-RH in patients with idiopathic normogonadotropic oligoasthenozoospermia (I.N.O.). The LH and FSH response to LH-RH before and during treatment was also studied. Seven patients (age 27 to 32 years) with long standing infertility were incorporated. All of them were considered to have I.N.O. on the basis of at least three spermatograms and absence of evidence of other diseases. All patients were treated wtih D-TRP-6-LH-RH (2 microgram i.m. every two days) during 90 days. Control spermatograms were performed at monthly intervals during and after treatment. The responses of LH and FSH to 50 microgram i.v. LH-RH were studied before and after 90 days of treatment. Five of the patients achieved a normalization of the concentration of spermatozoa per ml and of the percentage of forwardly progressive spermatozoa. None of the patients showed inhibition of the response to LH and FSH to LH-RH during treatment. These results differ from others in which larger doses of D-TRP-6-LH-RH determined an inhibition of the pituitary response to LH-RH and an impairment of the spermogram.
EFFECT OF INHALED CHROMIUM ON PULMONARY A1AT

A major health hazard to coal miners is development of emphysema following long-term exposure to coal dust. One mechanism underlying development of emphysema is the oxidation of critical methionine (Met) residues in antiproteolytic factor, alpha1-antitrypsin (A1AT) resulting in a protease-antiprotease imbalance in the lung. Several studies have documented an association between the incidence and severity of emphysema among miners and their exposure to crystalline silica (i.e., SiO(2)). However, what remains unclear is the role of other co-inhaled nonemphysematogenic nonoxidant inorganic constituent in disease pathogenesis. We hypothesize that in miners, inhaled trivalent chromium (Cr(3+), the only form of Cr in coal) may potentially affect lung A1AT activity in situ via Cr complexing with Met residues, and thereby exacerbate any SiO(2)-induced imbalance. To ascertain if Cr(3+) could, in fact, affect A1AT activity, in vitro studies were done to assess elastase inhibitory activity following A1AT incubation with soluble Cr(3+). In addition, to determine if Cr(3+) found in the lungs as detoxification products of inhaled hexavalent Cr (Cr(6+)) could affect A1AT in situ, lavages from the lungs of chromate-exposed rats were also analyzed for elastase inhibitory activity The in vitro results indicate that Cr(3+) ions clearly inhibited A1AT function, with an IC50 of 1.1 mM being estimated under the experimental conditions used. The in vivo results indicate that long-term inhalation (12 wk or longer) of chromate-bearing atmospheres also gave rise to significant (i.e., 50-70%) inhibition of the antielastase activity of A1AT. Together, these results clearly suggest that the Cr(3+) present in coal dusts could potentially act to inhibit A1AT activity in the lungs of miners and thereby promote the emphysematogenicity of SiO(2) or of other emphysematogens present as coconstituents in these dusts.
Induction of cystine transport in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells by sodium arsenite.

Abstract Sodium arsenite is one of a number of agents reported to induce a 30–34 kDa ‘stress’ protein in cells. Other agents which induce this stress protein, including diethyl maleate (DEM) and H2O2, have also been reported to be inducers of cystine transport in fibroblasts, macrophages, endothelial cells and other cell types. We have determined that micromolar levels of sodium arsenite increase cystine transport in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAEC), resulting in increases in intracellular glutathione (GSH). The increase in cystine transport appears to be due to stimulation of the synthesis of a protein analogous to the xc− transport system, a sodium-independent system specific for cystine and glutamate. We have determined that this stimulation is maximal between 8–16 h after addition of sodium arsenite and is inhibited by exogenous GSH. Others have reported that synthesis of the 30–34 kDa stress protein is maximal between 2–4 h and returns to baseline by 6–10 h. We conclude that cystine transport may be considered a ‘secondary’ stress response and is likely to be modulated by sulfhydryl-reactive agents.