cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From physics to function: an empirical study of research and development performance in the semiconductor industry

We present the results of an empirical study of research and development in the semiconductor industry. The study aimed to understand the drivers of innovation performance in an environment characterized by close links to science and a combination of technical novelty and manufacturing complexity. The data reveal substantial differences in research and development (R&D) performance, and R&D performance improvement, between firms. Analysis of our field observations suggests that these differences are associated with the use of experimentation and experience in guiding technology choices, matching options provided by scientific developments with the complex requirements of evolving production environments. We describe the technology choice process in some detail, and examine its nature in both U.S. and Japanese industrial settings.
His Bundle Electrogram in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Thirty-seven patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by atripventricular or bundle branch block, or a combingtioh of both, had His bundle electrogram studies performed during their stay in the coronary care unit. The acute mortality of the 14 patients with a complicating bundle branch block was 50%. Pump failure was the main cause of death. Three patients in this group had a prolonged H-V interval and one patient had a split bundle of His. The presence or absence of a prolonged H-V interval did not affect mortality in this group of patients. The acute mortality of the 16 patients with an inferior wall myocardial infarction was 6% The H-V interval was normal in all but one of these patients. The atrioventricular block was caused by a proximal block in all cases. The acute mortality of the seven patients with an anterior wall myocardial infarction was 29%. The H-V interval was prolonged in two of seven patients. Pump failure was the acute cause of the deaths. The presence or absence of a prolonged H-V interval did not affect mortality in this group of patients.
Convective mixing and the fine structure of mantle heterogeneity

A simple theoretical model is presented for the statistical distribution of small-scale, passive heterogeneity in a convecting mantle. The important new variables used to characterize the anomaly field are the autocorrelation function R and its Fourier transform, the energy spectrum E. The anomaly variance, the sample variance (i.e., the anomaly variance as filtered by the sampling process) and the mixing time scale are expressed in terms of E. Equations governing the time evolution of R and E are derived, starting with the transport-diffusion equation. The energy spectrum equation is solved for deformation models with homogeneous normal and shear strain components. The predictions from these models are compared with results of numerical experiments on mixing of slab-shaped heterogeneities by Benard convection. Both the numerical experiments and the theory indicate that compositional heterogeneity subjected to convective flow becomes drawn into thin sheets oriented subparallel to the transport direction. Re-mixing of subducted slabs produces a laminated mantle. The energy spectrum of the laminate is highly anisotropic. Where the transport direction is predominantly horizontal, the energy at high wave numbers is in the vertical; the low wave number energy is in the horizontal plane. The shape of the energy spectrum contains information on mean mantle strain rates, age of the anomalies, and solid state diffusion rates.
Localization of insulin-like immunoreactivity in the neurons from primary cultures of rat brain

Brains from 1-day-old rats were dissociated with trypsin and the cells were maintained in culture for 3–4 weeks. These primary cultures contained insulin-like immunoreactivity in the limited populations of neurons. Typically, the fluorescent staining pattern observed in the soma was homogeneous and varicosity-like structures were observed on the neurites of the majority of insulin-like immunoreactive neurons. Serum deprivation of brain cell cultures did not reduce immunoreactivity, whereas cycloheximide caused approx. 80% decrease in the number of insulinlike immunoreactive neurons. Incubation of these cultures with [3H]valine resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity into immunoprecipitable insulin. These results suggest that insulin-like immunoreactivity present in the Central Nervous System (CNS) neurons may be synthesized by brain cell cultures.
Conversion by corynephages and its role in the natural history of diphtheria

The conversion of non-toxinogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae to toxinogeny has been reviewed. The biology of converting phage and the relationship of converting phages to nonconverting phages are summarized. The significance of these findings to the natural history and evolution of diphtheria is assessed.
Modeling the characteristics of an inductively coupled plasma antenna for use in a micro-propulsion system

An ion thruster for small satellites is under development. The thruster uses an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) generated by a flat spiral antenna for the ion source. The antenna is fabricated using the Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) materials system. The antenna has been modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics® simulation software. The antenna operating frequency range (600 MHz to 1 GHz) in LTCC (e r =7.8) results in a wavelength on the same order of magnitude as the total length of conductor in the antenna. An analysis of the antenna's behavior is presented.
Measurements of CH3D line strengths, foreign pressure-broadening, and pressure-shift coefficients at near-IR region using continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Abstract Three DFB near-IR lasers were used to measure the line strengths of CH 3 D ro-vibrational transitions (2ν 4 ) in the wavenumber regions of 6017.5–6031.5 cm −1 and 6046.5–6070.0 cm −1 using continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (cw-CRDS). In the wavenumber interval of 6017.5–6031.5 cm −1 , the strongest peak is located at 6024.697 cm −1 with a line strength of 1.24 × 10 −25 cm/molecule of CH 4 , assuming a CH 3 D natural abundance of 0.0616%. In the 6046.5–6060.0 cm −1 interval, the strongest peak is located at 6055.178 cm −1 with a line strength of 9.31 × 10 −26 cm/molecule. In the 6060.5–6070.0 cm −1 interval, the strongest peak is located at 6066.538 cm −1 with line strength of 2.27 × 10 −25 cm/molecule. We measured foreign gas pressure-broadening and pressure-shift coefficients of CH 3 D absorption lines. The N 2 , O 2 and CO 2 pressure-broadening coefficients of CH 3 D are 0.064(1), 0.060(1) and 0.061(5) cm −1 /atm, respectively, at the wavenumber of 6017.941 cm −1 and 0.051(1), 0.052(1) and 0.046(2) cm −1 /atm, respectively, at the wavenumber of 6064.286 cm −1 . The N 2 and O 2 pressure-broadening coefficients of CH 3 D are 0.065(2) and 0.060(1) cm −1 /atm, respectively, at the wavenumber of 6066.538 cm −1 . The N 2 , O 2 and CO 2 pressure-shift coefficients of CH 3 D at the wavenumber of 6032.443 cm −1 are −0.012(1), −0.012(1) and −0.013(1) cm −1 /atm, respectively.
Timing of herbicide application and potato hilling

Weed management involving the time of hilling and various herbicide applications was compared. The best weed management program consisted of EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylcarbamothioate) at 3.3 kg ai ha-1 preplant incorporated, followed by metribuzin [4-amino-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] at 0.6 kg ai ha-1 applied delayed pree-mergence, or delayed preemergence applications of metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl) acetamide] plus linuron [N’-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-methylurea] (2.2 + 1.1 kg ai ha-1) or metolachlor plus metribuzin (2.2 + 0.6 kg ai ha-1) regardless of the time of hilling. Alternatively, postemergence applications of sethoxydim [2-[1-(ethoxyimino) butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one] plus metribuzin plus crop oil concentrate at 0.2 plus 0.6 kg ai ha-1 plus 1.2 L ha-1 provided excellent season-long weed control regardless of the time of hilling. However, potato yield was reduced in 1 of 2 years by this treatment. Preemergence herbicides applied immediately after planting followed by an early hilling at ground cracking did not provide season-long weed control. The cultivar Atlantic was a better competitor with weeds than Russet Burbank in 1 of 2 years.
Multiple Forms of Representation in Long-Term Projects: The Garden Project

(2000). Multiple Forms of Representation in Long-Term Projects: The Garden Project. Childhood Education: Vol. 77, No. 1, pp. 18-26.
On the Heat Transfer to Ice Spheres and the Freezing of Spongy Hail

Abstract The rate of heat transfer during melting of solid ice spheres and freezing of spongy ice spheres has been measured over a range of experimental conditions. The results agree quite well with other published heat transfer data, and show that heat transfer to a melting hailstone, whose surface is covered by a film of water, is described by the same expression as that for a freezing hailstone with a dry surface. Using the measured heat transfer rates in a numerical model of the freezing of spongy hailstones in an updraft, it is shown that there is probably time for smaller spongy hailstones to freeze before reaching the ground, but that freezing of spongy hailstones 3 cm in diameter or larger is improbable. This finding, in conjunction with field measurements of liquid water contents of natural hailstones, casts doubt upon hailstorm models which imply growth of large spongy hailstones in an “accumulation zone” of high supercooled liquid water content aloft.
My Library at Virginia Commonwealth University: Third Year Evaluation

My Library is a personalization tool that allows the library user to consolidate frequently used library resources and services. Since 1998, My Library has been available as a web page to users of the Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries. An evaluation of My Library use at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was completed and published in 2000. This article reports on a follow up study that took place between March 2000 and December 2001. The article also discusses the value of My Library as a teaching tool at VCU.
Macroscopic response of magnetostrictive materials to applied magnetic fields and loads

We show on a sample application how to compute magnetization and magnetostriction curves for magnetostrictive materials by appraising the behavior of the underlying microstructures. We take into account the kinematical constraints on the accommodation of elastic effects, and we highlight the role of material symmetry in the selection of energetically optimal microstructures.
Beyond the Basics: Evaluating Model-Based Precipitation Forecasts Using Traditional, Spatial, and Object-Based Methods

AbstractWhile traditional verification methods are commonly used to assess numerical model quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) using a grid-to-grid approach, they generally offer little diagnostic information or reasoning behind the computed statistic. On the other hand, advanced spatial verification techniques, such as neighborhood and object-based methods, can provide more meaningful insight into differences between forecast and observed features in terms of skill with spatial scale, coverage area, displacement, orientation, and intensity. To demonstrate the utility of applying advanced verification techniques to mid- and coarse-resolution models, the Developmental Testbed Center (DTC) applied several traditional metrics and spatial verification techniques to QPFs provided by the Global Forecast System (GFS) and operational North American Mesoscale Model (NAM). Along with frequency bias and Gilbert skill score (GSS) adjusted for bias, both the fractions skill score (FSS) and Method for Object-Ba...
Evolution of Contact Point: a case study of a help desk and its users

This paper describes the evolution of a concept, Contact Point, the research process through which it evolved, and the work context and practices which drove its evolution. Contact Point is a web-based application that helps a business manage its relationships with its customers. It can also be used within a business as a means for managing the relationship between parts of the business. In this paper we describe a study of the applicability of Contact Point to the technical services organization and field personnel of a medical device manufacturer. We found that there were opportunities to potentially reduce call volume through Contact Point. We discovered, however, that the technical service representatives sometimes filled roles other than providing information in their telephone conversations with field personnel. These functions included reassuring callers that the callers' answers to questions were correct, providing a rationale for information, and redirecting calls to other departments. The ability to share a document and collaborate in real time was viewed as very valuable. We also discovered that the field personnel need information from a variety of other people in order to do their jobs. These observations were used to enhance the next iteration of Contact Point and to develop strategies for the introduction of Contact Point to users.
The Retaining Ligaments of the Cheek

The zygomatic ligaments (McGregor's patch) anchor the skin of the cheek to the inferior border of the zygoma just posterior to the origin of the zygomaticus minor muscle. The mandibular ligaments tether the overlying skin to the anterior mandible. Both these ligaments are obstacles to surgical maneuvers intended to advance the overlying skin. They also restrain the facial skin against gravitational changes, and they delineate the anterior border of the "jowl" area. The platysma-auricular ligament is a thin fascial sheet that extends from the posterosuperior border of the platysma and that is intimately attached to the periauricular skin; it serves as a surgical guide to the posterosuperior border of the platysma. The anterior platysma-cutaneous ligaments are variable fascial condensations that anchor the SMAS and platysma to the dermis. They can cause anatomic disorientation with dissection of false planes into the dermis. These four ligaments are useful as anatomic landmarks during facial dissections. The tethering effects of the zygomatic and mandibular ligaments must be interrupted if a maximum upward movement of the facial skin is desired.
U.S. Hardwood Sawmill Log Procurement Practices

U.S. hardwood sawmill log procurement practices are evolving because of the recent economic recession, market and supply chain shifts, and changing landowner objectives, among other factors. The objective of this study was to characterize the log procurement practices of hardwood sawmills and to characterize the role that log brokers play in supplying the sawmill industry with raw material. To meet this objective, a mail survey on hardwood log procurement practices in the U.S. hardwood sawmill industry was conducted. Survey respondents highlighted several factors that had major effects on their businesses, including “Increasing fuel and trucking cost,” “High logging cost,” “Unpredictable log supply,” “Log shortages,” “Logger shortages,” and “Low log quality,” among others. Results showed that large sawmills tend to rely more on gatewood from loggers and stumpage harvested by company contract loggers than do small- and medium-sized sawmills. This study failed to find an increase in the role of log brokers as an intermediary between landowners and hardwood sawmills during the last decade. Moreover, sawmills indicated only a limited demand for log broker services, with log delivery and the procurement of specialty logs identified as being the most highly demanded broker services.
Influence of oxygen availability on physiology, verocytotoxin expression and adherence of Escherichia coli O157

A strain of Escherichia coli serotype O157 was grown in steady state chemostat culture under aerobic, oxygen-limited and anaerobic conditions. The growth and metabolic efficiency of oxygen-limited and anaerobic cultures was impaired, with biomass yield and the molar growth yield for glucose, Yglucose, reduced markedly in comparison with aerobic cultures. Steady state cells were typically short rods 2–3 μm long, and were encapsulated by a layer of extracellular material. The majority of cells were non-flagellated and fimbriae were not observed. Chemostat-grown cells were significantly more adhesive for HEp-2 monolayers than cells grown in aerobic batch culture. Furthermore, oxygen-limited and anaerobic cultures were significantly more adhesive for Hep-2 cells when compared with cells grown in aerobic chemostat culture, possibly reflecting increased pathogenicity associated with the induction of novel adhesins. Type 1 pili were not responsible for increased adherence. Verocytotoxins, VT1 and VT2, were expressed constitutively and were not influenced by oxygen availability. This study demonstrates that E. coli O157 is a versatile micro-organism, which responds to environmental conditions likely to be encountered during infection by inducing a phenotype which is more adhesive for human epithelial cells.
Interplay of tumor vascular oxygenation and pO 2 in tumors using NIRS and needle electrode

The effective measurement of dynamic changes of blood and tissue oxygenation of tumors could be valuable for optimizing tumor treatment plans. For this study, a near- infrared spectroscopy system and pO2 needle electrode were used to measure simultaneously changes in total hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]total), oxygenated hemoglobin concentration ([HbO2[) and local oxygen tension (pO2) in the vascular bed of prostate tumors implanted in rats in response to respiratory challenge. The inhaled gas was alternated between air and carbogen (95% oxygen, 5% CO2). Significant changes in tumor vascular oxygenation were observed with an apparent threshold for variation in [HbO2]/[HbO2]max. For comparison, a phantom study was undertaken with 1% intralipid solution and blood. The slope of [HbO2]/[HbO2[max vs. pO2 in the phantom was ten times larger than in the tumor indicating that tumor cells are relatively resistant to oxygenation. This study demonstrates that the NIR technology can provide an efficient, real-time, non-invasive approach to monitoring tumor physiology and is compatible with additional techniques.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Quality-of-Life Differences and Urban and Regional Outcomes: A Review

Quality of life depends on the assortment of amenities that individuals and businesses value. Differences in the amount and mix of those amenities should affect the geographic “sorting out” of households and businesses, as well as welfare. Policy makers recognize the trend toward widening intrametropolitan disparities among and within communities and have either discussed or proposed several measures that can help address the problem. However, the differences in quality of life that are developing among communities reflect macro changes in the economy that policy may not, and perhaps should not, attempt to affect. As long as information is widely available and workers are reasonably mobile, the economy will adjust to differences in quality of life that develop. Policy can at least help facilitate that equilibration, and perhaps it can compensate those in the economy who suffer major dislocations in the process.
High pressure, quasi-isentropic compression experiments on the Omega laser

Abstract The high energy density of pulsed lasers can be used to generate shockless loading in solids to high pressures and compressions but low temperatures. [J. Edwards, K.T. Lorenz, B.A. Remington, S. Pollaine, J. Colvin, D. Braun, B.F. Lasinski, D. Reisman, J.M. McNaney, J.A. Greenough, R.Wallace, H. Louis, D. Kalantar, Laser-driven plasma loader for shockless compression and acceleration of samples in the solid state, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92 (2004) 075002.] We have used the Omega laser to extend the capabilities of this technique to multi-Mbar pressures and compressions approaching a factor of 2 in aluminum foils. The energy from a 3.7 ns laser pulse is used to drive a strong shock through a 200 μm polystyrene disc. The disc material unloads from a high-pressure state and expands across a 300 μm vacuum gap where it stagnates against the sample to produce a smooth, monotonically increasing load with rise times from a few to ∼20 ns. Ramped compression waves having peak pressures of 14–200 GPa (0.14–2.0 Mbar) and peak compressions ρ / ρ 0 of 1.1–2.0 were generated in the aluminum samples using laser pulse energies of 400 J to 2 kJ. Wave profiles from a series of successively thicker targets loaded to 120 GPa show the evolution of the high-pressure compression wave within the sample. The initial loading in the sample is shockless, and develops into a shock at a depth of 20–25 μm. We compare these wave profiles with hydrodynamic simulations from which we extract material temperatures and plastic strain rates behind the compression wave. Limitations and future prospects for this new shockless loading technique are discussed.
Distribution of lignin in normal and compression wood of Pinus taeda L.

The distribution of lignin in normal and compression wood of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) has been studied by the technique of lignin skeletonizing. Hydrolysis of the wood carbohydrates with hydrofluoric acid left normal wood tracheids with a uniform distribution of lignin in the S1 and S2 cell wall layers. However, the S3 region of both earlywood and latewood tracheids consistently retained a dense network of unhydrolyzable material throughout, perhaps lignin.
Hardwiring CABG Pre-Operative Antibiotic Administration

ISSUE: Antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent the development of surgical site infection (SSI) is widely accepted as one of the cornerstones of quality surgical care. While this recommendation was first advocated in the 1960s, many health care facilities continue to struggle with the timing, selection, and/or discontinuation of antimicrobials. PROJECT: Our 400-bed not-for-profit community medical center recognized an opportunity to incorporate evidence-based practice changes with the objective of decreasing the rate of SSI in the CABG population. After a literature review of interdisciplinary best practices, a multidisciplinary CABG Process Improvement Team was formed in April 2004. While current practices in the management of open heart surgery patients were examined by the team, improvement efforts were focused on four areas: pre-operative skin preparation, antimicrobial prophylaxis (appropriate selection, timing and discontinuation), blood glucose control and wound care management. Change initiatives were proposed and education was completed on the evidence-based practice changes selected. The area which realized the greatest improvement was antimicrobial prophylaxis. This initiative focused on improving timing, selection and discontinuation of antimicrobials and followed current published guidelines for cardiac procedures. These guidelines include administering appropriate antibiotics within 60 minutes of surgical incision time (or within 120 minutes when vancomycin is administered due to B-lactam allergy), and discontinuing antibiotics within 48 hours post-procedure. The processes that were instituted which made this initiative a success included documentation of the antibiotic/dose/time on the greaseboards in the ORs; addition of a stamp at the top of the Anesthesia Record to provide a specific location for documentation; initial weekly review of documentation by management which led to additional documentation on the time-out record by both anesthesia and nursing; assigning oversight and monitoring of the project to one manager; and the Anesthesia Department taking responsibility for administering the antibiotics. RESULTS: Pre-initiative, the mean compliance rate for administration of prophylactic antibiotics within the appropriate time frame was 72% (range 47-94%). The Anesthesia Department and the CVOR have been successful in hardwiring this initiative for the subsequent 18 months since the initiative was introduced, and the mean compliance rate has increased to 99% (range 95-100%), which is a statistically significant improvement (p LESSONS LEARNED: A change initiative must be implemented by the people who will own the change - the front-line staff. Securing a champion in the targeted area will allow for daily oversight and validation of the importance of an evidence-based initiative.
Sediment addition enhances transpiration and growth of Spartina alterniflora in deteriorating Louisiana Gulf Coast salt marshes

Transpiration, leaf conductance, net photosynthesis, leaf growth, above-ground biomass and regeneration of new culms were studied in a rapidly subsiding Spartina alterniflora Lois. salt marsh following the addition at 47 and 94 Kg m−2 of new sediment. Plant growth was enhanced in response to sediment addition as was evident by a significant increase in leaf area, above-ground biomass production and regeneration of new culms (p ≤ 0.05). Leaf conductance and transpiration rates were significantly greater in sediment treated plants than in control plants (p ≤ 0.05). Enhanced production of culms per unit area of marsh resulted in increased leaf area which allowed a greater capacity for net photosynthesis and contributed to increases in above-ground biomass of sediment treated plots.
Prospectus for a Cooperative Extension System in Education

This article reviews lessons learned from the agricultural extension model that may be applicable to the proposed cooperative extension service in education. The agricultural extension model is a user-oriented system linking knowledge producers through state extension specialists and county extension agents with farm people and other knowledge users. In education, the adopters of innovations may be organczations such as schools as well as individuals such as teachers and administrators; the impacts of the educational innovations are less clear-cut than in agriculture; and educational innovations come from practitioners, as well as from the educational research and development system.
Endoscopic injection sclerosis in bleeding gastric varices

Ninety-two consecutive, nonrandomized patients with bleeding varices were prospectively studied using sclerotherapy to control and prevent rebleeding. During this study, nine patients with gastric variceal bleeding were identified. A gastric variceal subset is defined and represents a 10% incidence in this series. All patients presented with indexed gastric bleeding varices that subsequently accounted for 34 bleeding sessions. The units of blood per rebleeding episode, hospital days, cost, and outcome were markedly different from the esophageal variceal groups. Initial management of indexed bleeding episodes by sclerotherapy and Sengstaken-Blakemore tubes were comparable; however, the number of rebleeding episodes was much higher. There was poor control of rebleeding with an associated higher rebleeding mortality and complications secondary to repeated sclerotherapy and Sengstaken-Blakemore tube use. In 37% of the patients, rebleeding was the direct result of gastric ulcerations at the endoscopic injection sclerotherapy site. The survival curve of this group was much lower than esophageal variceal bleeders. Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy in patients with bleeding gastric varices offers only temporary control of bleeding, and the high incidence of severe early rebleeding requires consideration of alternative methods for management or modified sclerotherapy techniques.
FDG PET of Infection and Inflammation

Nuclear medicine plays an important role in the evaluation of infection and inflammation. Fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a readily available radiotracer that offers rapid, exquisitely sensitive high-resolution tomography. In patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, FDG positron emission tomography (PET) accurately helps localize foci of infection and is particularly useful for differentiating central nervous system lymphoma from toxoplasmosis. FDG PET can also help localize the source of fever of undetermined origin (FUO), thereby guiding additional testing. In the musculoskeletal system, FDG PET accurately helps diagnose spinal osteomyelitis, and in inflammatory conditions such as sarcoidosis and vasculitis, it appears to be useful for defining the extent of disease and monitoring response to treatment. FDG PET may be of limited usefulness in postoperative patients and in patients with a failed joint prosthesis or a tumor. Nevertheless, this relatively new imaging technique promises to be helpful in the diagnosis of infection and inflammation. FDG PET will likely assume increasing importance in assessing FUO, spinal osteomyelitis, vasculitis, and sarcoidosis and may even become the radionuclide imaging procedure of choice in the evaluation of some or all of these pathologic conditions.
Intermolecular interactions and geometry of non-rigid molecules in weak crystalline complexes: Vibrational spectra of 4,4′-dinitrobiphenyl complexes with biphenyl, biphenyl derivatives and p-terphenyl

Abstract Raman spectroscopy is used to study the complexes of 4,4′-dinitrobiphenyl with biphenyl, 4-hydroxybiphenyl, 4-bromobiphenyl and p -terphenyl, which crystallize in a highly unusual geometry. Their phonon spectra at 125 K and 18 K are compared and the effect of isotopic substitution of biphenyl on the phonon spectra of its complex is examined. Internal vibrations of the components in the crystalline complex are compared with those observed in the pure crystals of the components. The results from both phonon and intramolecular vibration studies show that these complexes form in fixed stoichiometries, are governed by geometrical factors, and are stabilized primarily by van der Waals interaction, although other kinds of interactions may provide additional stabilization. The 4,4′-dinitrobiphenyl molecule as well as biphenyl and p -terphenyl are centrosymmetric and remain so when the complexes are cooled from room temperature to 18 K. For biphenyl complex, this conclusion is supported by the observed IR spectra which show mutual exclusion between IR-active and Raman active vibrations. Crystal splitting is observed on the 410 cm −1 vibration of 4,4′-dinitrobiphenyl. This splitting is attributed to the presence of more than one 4,4′-dinitrobiphenyl molecules in the complex unit.
Interobserver consistency of digital rectal examination in clinical staging of localized prostatic carcinoma

Abstract A prospective study was undertaken to determine the reproducibility of clinical staging based on digital rectal examination (DRE) in prostate carcinoma. We evaluated 48 consecutive patients diagnosed with localized prostatic cancer. Four urologists performed DRE and sorted the patients according to the 1992 American Joint Committee on Cancer Classification for prostate cancer. Both the percentage observed total agreement among each couple of two different observers and the interobserver variability (Kappa index) were analyzed. The percentage observed total agreement among observers in distinguishing five clinical subcategories (T1c, T2a, T2b, T2c, and T3a) ranged between 38–60% (mean 49%) and the Kappa index showed interobserver agreement was poor (overall Kappa = 0.3 1). All four examiners agreed in assigning the same subcategory in only 21 % of cases, and 90% of them were T I. If only categories are distinguished (T I, T2, or T3), the percentage observed total agreement rises to 60–71% (mean 66%) and the interexaminer agreement improves to good (overall Kappa = 0.4 1). Accurate pathologic staging was obtained in every patient and the percentage observed agreement between every examiner and the pathologist was calculated, excluding cases interpreted as T I c. Regarding subcategories, clinicopathologic agreement ranges between 17–46%. If only categories T2 and9T3 are distinguished, agreement rises to 57–69%. In summary, the ability to reproduce clinical staging based on DRE among multiple examiners is disappointingly low and understandably correlates poorly with pathologic stage.
SHARPLY TUNED COCHLEAR NERVE ENSEMBLE PERIODICITY RESPONSES TO SONIC AND ULTRASONIC FREQUENCIES

Vertebrates are able to perceive the pitch of a series of harmonics, even when the fundamental frequency has been removed from the acoustic stimulus. Neural periodicity responses corresponding to the "missing fundamental" frequency of sonic stimuli have been observed in the auditory system of several animal species, including our own. This paper examines periodic cochlear neural responses of the gerbil. Periodicity responses to both sonic and ultrasonic stimuli originate within the cochlea of this animal. Acoustic stimuli, consisting of 2-12 successive harmonic frequencies, were used to generate an ensemble cochlear nerve periodicity response that was recorded from the round window of the cochlea. This response had a frequency equal to that of the missing fundamental, and not to those of the harmonic stimuli. Forward masking of the stimuli used to produce the periodicity response was used to generate sharp tuning curves, with tip frequencies corresponding to the harmonics and not to the periodicities. The sharpness of these functions increased as the frequencies of the harmonics increased, up to at least 38 kHz. This property could be related to reception of ultrasonic vocalizations utilized by many rodent species.
Open Access and Liberal Education: A Look at Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

In the post-Soviet era, libraries in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia have faced increasing budgetary challenges. In response to socioeconomic restructuring and the introduction of private enterprise, libraries have been forced to seek alternatives to commercial publishing and licensing models. In this article the authors will assess the status of the open access movement and of Internet filtering controls in the countries of the South Caucasus. They will also argue that developing open models for scholarly communication is crucial to the strengthening of liberal education and civic participation in these aspiring democracies. Libraries, in their role as providers of and advocates for shared information, have a vital role to play in this mission.
Is It Essential to Use Anhydrous Acetonitrile in the Manufacture of Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

It is demonstrated that acetonitrile containing up to at least 200 ppm water can be used as the wash solvent and to prepare the capping and sulfur transfer reagent solutions used in large-scale solid-phase phosphorothioate oligonucleotide synthesis, thus replacing most of the expensive anhydrous acetonitrile previously used. No compromise in yield or product quality is observed, compared to a control synthesis performed using anhydrous acetonitrile throughout.
Service-Learning Is for Everybody.

A variety of strategies can help service-learning faculty reach out to include more people with disabilities as providers of service.
Synthesis and fate of RNA in neurons from mice given β,β-iminodipropionitrile

Abstract It is not known if motor hyperactivity is paralleled by changes in RNA metabolism of neurons. In order to evaluate this problem we injected [ 3 H]-uridine into mice and prepared autoradiographs of the spinal ganglions at different intervals. By statistical analysis of grain counts we found that, in normal animals 1 h after injection of the precursor, most of the grains were localized over the nucleus, whereas 24 h later they had migrated into the cytoplasm. When mice had been rendered hyperactive by β,β-iminodipropionitrile, there was increased labeling of nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA after 1 h and decreased labeling after 24 h. The implication of this experiment is that the state of hyperactivity is associated with increased synthesis and disappearance of RNA from the neuronal cell bodies.
Towards Risk as a Tradeable Parameter in Complex System Design Trades

Complex system conceptual design trade studies traditionally consider risk after a conceptual design has been created. Further, one person is often tasked with collecting risk information and managing it from each subsystem. This paper proposes a method to explicitly consider and trade risk on the same level as other important system-level variables during the creation of conceptual designs in trade studies. The proposed risk trading method advocates putting each subsystem engineer in control of risk for each subsystem. A risk vector is proposed that organizes many different risk metrics for communication between subsystems. A method of coupling risk models to dynamic subsystem models is presented. Several risk visualization techniques are discussed. An example is presented based upon a simplified spacecraft model. The risk trading method discussed offers an approach to more thoroughly consider risk during the creation of conceptual designs in trade studies.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Calculation of Ice Velocities in the Jakobshavn Isbrae Area Using Airborne Laser Altimetry

Abstract The ability to measure velocities of fast-moving glaciers is essential to the understanding and interpretation of their dynamics and related processes. This is especially important in the Jakobshavn drainage basin of the Greenland ice sheet, where a significant portion of the ice sheet mass loss occurs and the iceberg calving rate is high. In this article, we present a method for using airborne laser altimetry data to determine surface velocities in portions of the Jakobshavn drainage basin that have distinct elevation features. By examining correlations between repeat elevation surveys, the motion of these features, the most distinct of which are crevasses, is tracked. Results show that for areas with a standard deviation in elevation in excess of 1 m, displacement of features can be tracked to a precision of 1–2 m, and the corresponding velocities can be retrieved. The maximum velocity of the Jakobshavn Isbrae, at its calving front, is found to be nearly 7 km yr −1 . Ice stream boundaries and flow patterns can also be observed in the derived velocity data.
Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) does not confer a resistance advantage on mice against low-dose aerosol infection with virulent type A Francisella tularensis.

Abstract Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is a gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 is considered to be critical for inducing host innate immunity against many gram-negative bacteria including many respiratory pathogens. To determine the role of TLR4 in host defense against airborne F. tularensis infection, TLR4-defective C3H/HeJ (TLR4d) or wild-type C3H/HeOuJ (WT) mice were challenged by low-dose aerosol with type A F. tularensis, and the course of the infection and host responses were compared at day 2 and 4 post-inoculation (dpi). At dpi 2, bacterial burdens in the lungs were similar between TLR4d and WT mice, but TLR4d mice surprisingly harbored approximately 10-fold fewer bacteria in their spleens and livers. However, the bacterial burdens at dpi 4, the mortality and median time to irreversible moribundity were indistinguishable between the two mouse strains. In addition, the inflammatory responses to the infection, as reflected by the cytokine levels and leukocyte influx in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histopathological analysis, were similar between both mouse strains. Additionally, as with C3H mice, we found no difference in either the median time to death or the survival rate between TLR4-deleted C57BL/10ScNJ mice and WT C57BL/10 mice. Combined, these data suggest that TLR4 does not contribute to resistance of mice to airborne type A F. tularensis infection.
The nitrogen fixation genes.

Genetic analysis of nitrogen fixation in free-living bacteria is being used to elucidate processes which in the plant root depend on a complex symbiotic relationship. Increased understanding of the nitrogen fixation mechanism will eventually help to increase the world resources of protein.
Microheterogeneity in PPO/PS blends

Proton spin magnetization relaxation in the rotating frame is a simple exponential for poly(2,6-dimethylphenyleneether) (PPO) (23K)/polystyrene (PS) (9K) blends of various compositions; these blends are truly homogeneous at the spin-diffusion distance scale of a few nanometers. Blends of PPO with high molecular weight PS exhibit nonexponential decays for the PS component but exponential decays for the PPO component, indicating compositional fluctuation for PS. In some blends, the relaxations are nonexponential for both components. Three factors have been identified to promote microheterogeneity of nanometer dimensions: high polymer molecular weight, increase of temperature, and preparation of blend using solvent that induces crystallization of PPO such as toluene.
Wealth, Natural Capital, and Sustainable Development: Contrasting Examples from Botswana and Namibia

Theoretical work has demonstrated that sustainable development requires non-declining per capita wealth, where wealth is defined to include produced, natural, human and social capital. Several studies have attempted to measure total national wealth or changes in wealth, but have been seriously hampered by a lack of data, especially for natural and human capital. To address this problem, the UN and other international statistical agencies developed a standardized framework for environmental accounts, the System of integrated Environmental and Economic Accounts (SEEA). Using the newly available asset accounts for natural capital, national wealth accounts are constructed and used to assess the contrasting development paths of Botswana and Namibia. Botswana, with an explicit policy of reinvestment of resource rents, has roughly tripled per capita wealth and national income over the past two decades. Namibia, with no explicit policy to use natural capita to build wealth, has seen per capita wealth and income decline.
Task Matters: Influence of Different Cognitive Tasks on Cognitive-Motor Interference During Dual-Task Walking in Chronic Stroke Survivors

AbstractBackground: The impact of unilateral brain damage, such as that caused by stroke, on the interaction between higher cognitive functions and walking remains uncertain. We compared cognitive-motor interference (CMI) during dual-task (DT) walking between chronic stroke survivors and young adults performing explicitly different cognitive tasks. Methods: Ten community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors and 10 young adults performed 3 cognitive tasks – visuomotor reaction time (VMRT), serial subtraction (SS), and Stroop test (STR) – while sitting and walking. Gait velocity was recorded using an electronic walkway. Cognitive variables included reaction time and number of correct responses. Motor and cognitive costs were computed. Results: DT walking led to significant declines in motor and cognitive performance. Significant main effect of task (P < .01) and group (P < .01) was observed for motor cost. The stroke group showed highest motor cost for SS task, whereas the young group showed highest motor cost...
Effect of Clopidogrel added to aspirin before percutaneous coronary intervention on the risk associated with C-reactive protein

positive ST2 responses because of the design of our study. Only a few studies have addressed the diagnostic or prognostic value of ischemic ST2 occurring solely during recovery after exercise. Nearly all have used coronary angiography as the “gold standard,” and 1 had evaluation of myocardial perfusion by nongated planar Tl-201 scintigraphy. In the present study, Tc99m sestamibi was used, yielding high-quality gated SPECT images permitting quantitative assessment of perfusion, regional function, and measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction. Gianrossi et al indicated that the sensitivity of the exercise electrocardiogram for CAD detection is lower when performed in conjunction with Tl-201 scintigraphy, because ST monitoring during recovery is sacrificed for expediency in Tl-201 imaging. With perfusion imaging studies using Tc-99m, image acquisition commences approximately 30 minutes after exercise, so that the imaging protocol does not interfere with recovery ST-segment monitoring.
Irrigation water quality options for corn on saline, organic soils

Corn production on the organic soils of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California was affected by the salinity of the irrigation water and the adequacy of salt leaching. Full production was achieved on soils that were saline the previous year, provided the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water (ECi) applied by sprinkling was less than about 2 dS/m and leaching was adequate from either winter rainfall or irrigation to reduce soil salinity (ECMSW) below the salt tolerance threshold for corn (3.7 dS/m). For subirrigation, an ECi up to 1.5 dS/m did not decrease yield if leaching had reduced ECMSW below the threshold. If leaching was not adequate, even nonsaline water did not permit full production. In agreement with previous results obtained in a greenhouse, surface irrigation with water of an electrical conductivity of up to 6 dS/m after mid-season (end of July) did not reduce yield below that of treatments where the salinity of the irrigation water was not increased at mid-season. Results also reconfirm the salt tolerance relationship established in the previous three years of the field trial. The earlier conclusion that the irrigation method (sprinkler or subirrigation) does not influence the salt tolerance relationship was also confirmed.
Threats to the Scientific Integrity of Clinical Trials

THE ROLE of clinical trials is to answer important questions related to human health. The emergence of randomized clinical trials as an alternative to guidelines established by empiricism and tradition has been important in the development of many modern treatments. The best clinical trials, by asking important therapeutic questions, may challenge conventional therapeutic paradigms. Challenges to conventional paradigms are by their very nature controversial. Perhaps because of the cultural and psychological significance of the breast and our society's attitude toward cancer, breast cancer trials in particular tend to evoke emotionally charged controversy. Randomized clinical trials in breast cancer detection and treatment have advanced our understanding of breast cancer biology and have made major contributions toward treatments that provide equal or better survival with less deformity. The first randomized breast cancer trials began nearly 50 years ago. The lessons learned about methods of conducting the breast cancer trials have
Improved united-atom force field for 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

We have developed a united atom (UA) nonpolarizable force field for 1-alkyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([Cnmim][Cl], n = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8), a potential solvent for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. The charges were assigned by fitting the electrostatic potential surface (ESP) of the ion pair dimers. The Lennard-Jones parameters of the hydrogen atoms on the imidazolium ring were adjusted to agree with the ab initio optimized geometries of isolated ion pairs. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for a wide range of temperatures to validate the force field. Substantial improvements were found in both the dynamical properties and the fluid structures, as compared to those predicted using our previously developed UA force field (UA2006) (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2006, 8, 1096). Liquid densities were found to lie within 2% experimental data. The simulated heats of vaporization decreased about 30% relative to that predicted using the UA2006 force field. The site−site radial distribution f...