cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increasing ionic conductivity within thermoplastics via commercial additives results in a dramatic decrease in fiber diameter from melt electrospinning.

Polyethylene melt conductivity was increased by adding a commercial anti-static agent, which resulted in a 20× decrease in electrospun fiber diameter and formation of a significant fraction of sub-micron diameter fibers. Two polyethylene formulations and varying additive concentrations were utilized to span the parameter space of conductivity and viscosity. The key role of conductivity in determining the jet radius (which sets the upper limit on the fiber size) is discussed in the context of fluid mechanics theory and previous simulations. Parameters which affect the conversion of the liquid jet to a solid fiber and the pertinent theory are outlined. An “unconfined” experimental configuration is utilized to both avoid potential needle clogging and enable direct observation of important characteristic length scales related to the interaction of the fluid and the applied electric field. In this approach, the fluid spontaneously forms an array of cone perturbations which act as stationary “nozzles” through which the mobile fluid flows to form the jet. The experimental data and theory considerations allow for a holistic discussion of the interaction between flow rate, viscosity, conductivity, and the resultant jet and fiber size. Information about the fluid viscosity and conductivity gained by observing the electrospinning process is highlighted. Schemes for theoretically predicting the cone-jet density, cone size, and flow rate are compared to experimental results.
Chapter 14 Methods to Determine mRNA Half‐Life in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Much of our understanding of eukaryotic mRNA decay has come from studies in budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The facile nature of genetic and biochemical manipulations in yeast has allowed detailed investigations into the mRNA decay pathway and the identification of critical factors required for each step. Discussed herein are standard protocols for measuring mRNA half-lives in yeast. It should be noted, however, that variations of these assays are possible. In addition, a few a priori considerations are addressed.
Abraham Lincoln as a Man of Ideas

Abraham Lincoln was a skilled politician, an inspirational leader, and a man of humor and pathos. What many may not realize is how much he was also a man of ideas. Despite the most meager of formal educations, Lincoln’s tremendous intellectual curiosity drove him into the circle of Enlightenment philosophy and democratic political ideology. And from these, Lincoln developed a set of political convictions that guided him throughout his life and his presidency. Abraham Lincoln as a Man of Ideas, a compilation of ten essays from Lincoln scholar, Allen C. Guelzo, uncovers the hidden sources of Lincoln’s ideas and examines the beliefs that directed his career and brought an end to slavery and the Civil War. These essays reveal Lincoln to be a man of impressive intellectual probity and depth as well as a man of great contradictions. He was an apostle of freedom who did not believe in human free will; a champion of the Constitution who had to step outside of it in order to save it; a man of many acquaintances and admirers, but few friends; a man who opposed slavery but also opposed the abolition of it; a man of prudence who took more political risks than any other president. Guelzo explores the many faces of Lincoln’s ideas, and especially the influence of the Founding Fathers and the great European champions of democracy. And he links the 16th president’s struggles with the issues of race, emancipation, religion, and civil liberties to the challenges these issues continue to offer to Americans today. Lincoln played many roles in his life—lawyer, politician, president—but in each he was driven by a core of values, convictions, and beliefs about economics, society, and democracy. Abraham Lincoln as a Man of Ideas is a broad and exciting survey of the ideas that made Lincoln great, just as we celebrate the bicentennial his birth. From the publisher
Quaker Constitutionalism and the Political Thought of John Dickinson: “The Worthy Against the Licentious”: The Critical Period in Pennsylvania

If the progress toward the Revolution in Pennsylvania was untidy, the realization of it was decidedly ugly. This chapter examines the extremely troubled period between the Revolution and the Constitutional Convention in order to shed light on John Dickinson's hopes for the new state and nation and his fears as national problems were magnified in Pennsylvania. Earlier arguments both in this study and elsewhere maintain that party lines were drawn based on religion and that theology has a significant “explanatory potential” that needs to be elucidated. We have already seen that, since the campaign for royal government in 1764, three Quaker-informed factions existed in Pennsylvania. Influenced by the conflict with Britain, two of them were gradually moving away from traditional Quaker theologico-politics – one toward individualistic, democratic, and armed radicalism; the other toward a withdrawn, passive stance, based on a new, narrower interpretation of the peace testimony. These factions were now set against one another with resistance to the British the apparent point of conflict. The radical group, in its beginnings hostile to Presbyterians in the campaign for royal government, now united with them, ostensibly to further the American cause. The withdrawing group of Quakers retreated from civic engagement and adopted a neutrality that was historically uncharacteristic of their Society when rights were threatened.
Capitalisation rates for commercial real estate investment decisions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a basic model of commercial real estate valuation in which the capitalization rate is the critical variable, and to present empirical results for a study of office building capitalization rates. Design/methodology/approach – The model is derived from standard economic and financial theories. The empirical study uses data from the sale of office buildings in 37 downtown markets for 2012. The empirical results are related to concepts of asset market efficiency. Findings – The empirical results show that capitalization rates depend on features of the office buildings, vacancy rate, and recent change in the office building market as captured by the vacancy rate. In other words, investors are using variables implied by standard economic and financial theory and basic economic data from the recent past to determine the capitalization rate. Practical implications – The empirical results show how investors determine capitalization rates for office buildings, so potential investors can gauge the state of a property market. Originality/value – The paper shows that changes in capitalization rates are predictable; investors use past data to adjust their capitalization rates. Furthermore, if an investor does not agree that current trends will continue, then the investment decision should be determined accordingly. For example, if an investor thinks that the future will not be as robust as the recent past, then other investors will bid more than the investor thinks is reasonable. However, if the investor sees a future that is brighter than the recent past, it is time to buy.
Land‐Cover Classification and Change Detection

Various multispectral data sets and tools are available for mapping land cover and land-cover change for inputs to hydrologic applications. The best choice is often a function of the specific application. New sensors offer increased capability in mapping spatial detail and temporal variation of land-cover categories. Algorithms have advanced in robustness and include distribution-free methods that are superior to traditional approaches in terms of modeling the multispectral distributions of reference data. Advanced subpixel methods of mapping land cover offer greater thematic coherency and the possibility of using consecutive land-cover characterizations to map change. The success of deriving a meaningful result, such as deriving a relationship between aquatic biotic indices and land-cover change, relies on a high-quality land-cover reference map. By choosing the most appropriate data sources, constructing a defensible land-cover definition set, and employing robust algorithms, analysts allow for the meaningful incorporation of land-cover map information into hydrological studies. Keywords: multispectral remote sensing; land cover; mapping; classification; mixture modeling; change detection
Ionic conductances underlying the activity of interneurons that control heartbeat in the medicinal leech

Electrical properties of interneurons that control heartbeat in the leech (HN cells) were studied using intracellular recording and stimulation in isolated ganglia bathed by salines of various ionic compositions. Substitution of Na+ ions in the bath by Tris stopped the spontaneous firing of HN cells and led to their gradual hyperpolarization by 15-20 mV. In the absence of Na+, HN neurons produced long-lasting regenerative plateau potentials with thresholds near -55 mV and peaks near -30 mV that were accompanied by an increase in membrane conductance. Elevation of Ca2+ concentration enhanced plateaus, as did replacement of Ca2+ by Ba2+. Plateaus were formed when Sr2+ replaced Ca2+, but were blocked by addition of Mg2+ or Co2+ to the bath, Co2+ being effective at lower concentrations than Mg2+. Hyperpolarization of HN neurons with injected currents revealed a time-dependent change in membrane potential, whereby initial maximum hyperpolarization was followed by a "sag" in potential towards more depolarized values. The sag showed dual voltage dependence, being diminished when HN neurons were hyperpolarized or depolarized outside the normal range of oscillation. The sag was found to depend on the presence of Na+ ions and to be blocked by Cs+ but not by Ba2+. This time-dependent change in membrane potential counters hyperpolarizations of HN neuron membrane potential and may contribute to the escape of these neurons from synaptic inhibition.
Bioactive conformations of two seminal delta opioid receptor penta-peptides inferred from free-energy profiles.

Delta-opioid (DOP) receptors are members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) sub-family of opioid receptors, and are evolutionarily related, with homology exceeding 70%, to cognate mu-opioid (MOP), kappa-opioid (KOP), and nociceptin opioid (NOP) receptors. DOP receptors are considered attractive drug targets for pain management because agonists at these receptors are reported to exhibit strong antinociceptive activity with relatively few side effects. Among the most potent analgesics targeting the DOP receptor are the linear and cyclic enkephalin analogs known as DADLE (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-D-Leu) and DPDPE (Tyr-D-Pen-Gly-Phe-D-Pen), respectively. Several computational and experimental studies have been carried out over the years to characterize the conformational profile of these penta-peptides with the ultimate goal of designing potent peptidomimetic agonists for the DOP receptor. The computational studies published to date, however, have investigated only a limited range of timescales and used over-simplified representations of the solvent environment. We provide here a thorough exploration of the conformational space of DADLE and DPDPE in an explicit solvent, using microsecond-scale molecular dynamics and bias-exchange metadynamics simulations. Free-energy profiles derived from these simulations point to a small number of DADLE and DPDPE conformational minima in solution, which are separated by relatively small energy barriers. Candidate bioactive forms of these peptides are selected from identified common spatial arrangements of key pharmacophoric points within all sampled conformations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 21–27, 2014.
The death of Bassiouni: a case of complex identity in the Sudan

Contested national identity has been an important issue for much of Sudan's modern history, and was a key factor in the conflict between north and south since independence in 1956. The “Islamisation” of Sudanese government and society, beginning under Ja'far Numayri in 1983 and continuing after the military coup of 1989, led to new levels of widespread violence and ultimately the secession of the South in 2011. Meanwhile, Sudanese people everywhere have continued to debate what it means to be “Sudanese”. History reveals a number of ways in which Sudan's diverse peoples have been accommodated and assimilated in periods of both stability and instability. This study examines Sudan's minority Jewish community in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and one important family in particular, to reveal how being “Sudanese” has sometimes crossed, or muddied, a variety of ethnic, religious and cultural boundaries.
Polymer-supported phosphorus-containing ligands for selective metal ion complexation

Abstract Groundwater contamination in the United States is a serious problem with an estimated three million sites requiring remediation [1], Heightened environmental awareness, depletion of high grade ore reserves, and stricter legislation has generated a strong interest in efficient hydrometallurgical processes [2]. Two methods for the separation and recovery of metal ions from aqueous solutions are solvent extraction with soluble complexants and ion exchange with crosslinked polymer beads. While a wide variety of ligands has been developed for both techniques, this review will focus on phosphorus-based ion exchange resins due to their versatility, wide range of applicability, and environmental compatibility.
Management of preterm premature rupture of membranes: Assessing amniotic fluid in the vagina for phosphatidylglycerol☆

Abstract This prospective study evaluates the clinical practicality of assessing free amniotic fluid in instances of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) before term. The presence of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) provided evidence of fetal pulmonary maturity. Daily aspirations of vaginally pooled amniotic fluid were performed on 55 consecutive patients with preterm PROM and met with a success rate of 80% (79 of 99 attempts). Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) occurred in none of 28 neonates in whom PG was present prior to delivery, and in four of 19 in whom PG was absent. Evidence of surfactant maturation at the time of initial sampling was noticed in 24% of fetuses at 28 to 34 weeks' gestation. Those who initially lacked PG showed an acceleration of its appearance in the amniotic fluid with time, and almost all required a minimum of 48 to 72 hours. Sampling free amniotic fluid for PG is a reliable, noninvasive procedure which can be usefully applied to the management of preterm PROM.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of rod-like CuO/TiO2 for high-efficiency photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract CuO-deposited TiO2 rod composites were prepared through a microwave-assisted green method for high efficiency hydrogen evolution. The porous CuO/TiO2 rods with crystallinity and high specific surface (249.1 m2/g) area were obtained as-synthesized without calcination. Hydrogen yields were proved to be significantly improved with appropriate amount of CuO deposited onto TiO2 rods. The improved photocatalytic performance was attributed to the synergistic effects of high surface area, specific energy band structure, and enhanced light harvesting at the interface of CuO and porous TiO2 rods.
A binary decision tree based real-time emotion detection system

This paper presents a real-time emotion detection system capable of identifying seven affective states: agreeing, concentrating, disagreeing, interested, thinking, unsure, and angry from a near infrared video stream. A Viola Jones face detector is trained to locate the face within the frame. The Active Appearance Model is then used to place 23 landmark points around key areas of the eyes, brows, and mouth. A prioritized binary decision tree then detects, based on the actions of these key points, if on of the seven emotional states occurs as frames pass. The completed system runs accurately and seamlessly on an Intel Pentium IV, 2.8 GHz processor with 512 MB of memory, achieving a real-time frame rate of 36 frames per second.
The expression of trkB and p75 and the role of BDNF in the developing neuromuscular system of the chick embryo

The neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, prevents motoneuron cell death during the normal development of the chick embryo. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a ligand for the low-affinity NGF receptor, p75, and for the high-affinity neurotrophin receptor, trkB. If motoneurons respond directly to brain-derived neurotrophic factor then they must possess at least one, and possibly both, of these receptors during the period of naturally occurring cell death. Histological sections from the lumbar region of chick embryos were probed for the presence of trkB and p75 mRNA using digoxigenin-labeled anti-sense RNA probes. p75 mRNA was present in spinal cord motoneurons at stages of development that correlate with motoneuron cell death. Immunohistochemical localization also revealed that p75 protein was present in motoneurons, primarily along the ventral roots and developing intramuscular nerves. In contrast trkB mRNA was not present in chick motoneurons until after the process of cell death was underway. The timing of trkB expression suggested that some motoneurons, i.e., those that die prior to the onset of trkB expression, may be insensitive to brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This was confirmed by comparing the number of surviving motoneurons following different in vivo treatment paradigms. The evidence indicates that motoneurons undergo a temporal shift in sensitivity to brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
A fast algorithm for linear estimation of three-dimensional homogeneous anisotropic random fields

This paper presents an algorithm for estimating a three-dimensional homogeneous random field from noisy observations inside a sphere of finite radius. It thus constitutes an alternative to solving a multi-dimensional Wiener-Hopf equation. The algorithm is fast in that it exploits the structure of the integral equation kernel to reduce the computation required to construct the optimal filter. It is thus an extension of similar fast algorithms that have been obtained for the one-dimensional and isotropic random field estimation problems. The problem of estimating an isotropic field at the center of a sphere of observations is treated as a special case.
Spouses and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adulthood

Depressive symptoms may co-occur within couples and follow similar trajectories, but relatively little is known about this process in old age. This study thus examined the association between some spousal characteristics (spouse's depressive symptoms, age difference between spouses) and the trajectory of depressive symptoms in older adults. Participants ≥65 years old were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 12,010; Mean age = 70.60 and 69.16 for target husbands and wives, respectively). Depressive symptoms were measured with a short form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Hierarchical Linear Modeling was used to model up to 9 assessments of depressive symptoms of target spouses (Mean number of CESD assessments per target spouse = 3, range 1–9). Depressive symptoms between spouses were correlated; convergence over time was modest. For both husbands and wives, having a younger spouse was associated with more depressive symptoms at age 65. These results suggest that there is concordance between spouses' depressive symptoms and that the age difference between spouses contribute to depressive symptoms as couples enter old age. The association between spouses' depressive symptoms is nearly as strong as the effect of each decade increase in age.
Temperature-induced seizure and frequency-dependent neuromuscular block in a ts mutant of Drosophila.

SINGLE-GENE conditional mutants of Drosophila melanogaster which affect both development and the physiology of the adult present a valuable opportunity for studying the effects of a specific biological lesion on both individual physiological processes, and on whole animal biology encompassing the growth and development of the organism. Temperature-sensitive mutations at the shibire locus of D. melanogaster produce both developmental and neurophysiological defects during various periods of the animal's life cycle, and thus illustrates how a single gene product can participate in both synaptic transmission in the adult as well as in the process of differentiation during development. The importance of analysing such a mutant lies in the hope of revealing a biological mechanism common to both adult physiology and the developmental process. Such a revelation might contribute insights into both processes. The work presented here is an analysis of the adult physiological phenotype of the shibire mutant.
Cysteines in the Shaker K+ channel are not essential for channel activity or zinc modulation.

We investigated whether the cysteine residues in Shaker potassium (K+) channels are essential for activation and inactivation gating or for modulation of activation gating by external zinc (Zn2+). Mutants of the Shaker K+ channel were prepared in which all seven cysteine residues were replaced (C-less). These changes were made in both wild-type Shaker H4 channels and in a deletion mutant (delta 6–46) lacking N-type ("fast") inactivation. Replacement of all cysteines left most functional properties of the K+ currents unaltered. The most noticeable difference between the C-less and wild-type currents was the faster C-type inactivation of the C-less channel which could be attributed largely to the mutation of Cys462. This is consistent with the effects of previously reported mutations of nearby residues in the S6 region. There were also small changes in the activation gating of C-less currents. Modulation by external Zn2+ of the voltage dependence and rate of activation gating is preserved in the C-less channels, indicating that none of the cysteines in the Shaker K+ channel plays an important role in Zn2+ modulation.
Trait Verbal Aggressiveness and Argumentativeness: Relations with Parenting Style.

Research on trait verbal aggressiveness and verbal argumentativeness was extended by examining these constructs in relationship to patterns of self‐reported parental behavior. Subjects were parents of school‐age children (grades Kindergarten to 6). As expected, persons scoring positively on argumentativeness and negatively on aggressiveness reported behaviors consistent with the Authoritative parenting style. Negative argumentativeness and positive aggressiveness was associated with the Authoritarian prototype.
Seasonal Recession of Martian South Polar Cap: 1992 HST Observations

The seasonal recession of the south polar cap of Mars has been studied using the Wide Field Planetary Camera images from Hubble Space Telescope obtained during the summer of 1992 when the angular size of Mars was between 5 and 6 arc sec. The observations cover the interesting period betweenLS= 259 and 284, when the recession is rapid and the asymmetry in the cap is large. These will be the only HST observations of this season during the 1990s because of the solar elongation constraint on telescope pointing. The well known “Mountains of Mitchel” outlier, which has been observed by Viking and by many ground based observers nearLS= 260, is clearly present in the first set of Hubble images. The latitude of the cap edge, the displacement of the center of the cap from the geographical pole, and the albedo of the polar deposits determined from these images are consistent with observations of these quantities by Viking in 1977; the data are not compatible with a recession as advanced as that deduced from the 1956 telescopic observations.
Application of the additivity theorem in fourier transform NMR. III. Resolution enhancement in the boron-11 spectrum of pentaborane-9

Abstract The complex beat-modulated boron-11 free induction decay of pentaborane-9 is used as a test of the beat spectrum (BS) method for resolution enhancement in a spin system which contains several coupling constants and multiple chemical shifts. The published resolution-enhanced spectra of pentaborane-9 obtained by Schaeffer and co-workers using the exponentiation/apodization method (J. Amer. Chem. Soc.95, 2496 (1973)) are taken as a standard for comparison. The BS method produces resolution-enhanced spectra equal to those of the standard, and also yields separately the individual coupling constants of the spin system. Broadening is noted in the inner lines of the base boron multiplet in both the standard and the BS resolution-enhanced spectra. The BS result for the base boron-11 spectrum of 98 % B-11 pentaborane-9 shows the same features, eliminating B-10 isotope effects as the cause.
Raman Microprobe Characterization of Residual Carbonaceous Material Associated with Urban Airborne Particulates

Analyses of individual urban airborne particulates were conducted in the Raman microprobe. In addition to the spectral features characteristic of the particle, two features at ~1350 and ~1600 cm−1 have been observed. The appearance of these bands is found to vary a function of the laser irradiance. By modeling experiments, it is demonstrated that these two bands can be explained by the presence of carbon in a form analogous to polycrystalline graphite. In air particulates the source of the carbon can be either
The allogeneic effect: increased affinity of serum antibody produced during a secondary response.

We have used the “allogeneic effect” as a model system for investigating the effects of augmented thymus-derived lymphocyte function on secondary antibody responses of primed inbred guinea pigs. A transient graft-versus-host reaction was induced by infusing nonimmune strain 13 lymphoid cells into strain 2 guinea pigs which had been primed with dinitrophenylated (DNP) ovalbumin. Six days later the recipients were challenged with the priming antigen intradermally. Four days after boosting with antigen, sera from these “allogeneic” guinea pigs had significantly higher affinity for e-DNP-L-lysine than sera from “control” guinea pigs which were primed, but had not received allogeneic lymphoid cells. Spleen cells taken from “allogeneic” guinea pigs three to five days after boosting were shown to have both higher numbers of plaque-forming cells and a predominance of high avidity antibody-producing cells in comparison to spleen cells from “control” guinea pigs. Thus, increased donor thymus-derived lymphocyte function brought about by the transient graft-versus-host reaction causes an enlargement of the host antibody-producing cell pool and preferentially expands the subpopulation of cells producing high affinity antibody. The effects of this preferential expansion are reflected in the sera of “allogeneic” guinea pigs as higher affinity antibody in comparison to serum antibody of “control” guinea pigs.
Squatters, land sales and intensification in Marirangwe purchase area, colonial Zimbabwe, 1931-65

This article considers the different ways that Marirangwe purchase area farmers understood and used their farmland, resources and opportunities. In the pioneer period from 1931 to the 1940s, Marirangwe farmers favored extensive use of their land and its resources. However, as labor and capital opportunities changed, land became for some an expendable commodity. By the 1950s, the farmers' ability to generate capital through land sales paralleled the arrival of squatters in the area. With the help of these squatters and revenue from land sales, Marirangwe farmers prospered. This development, however, did not signal a change from the extensive farming habits of the pioneer period but rather a brief, and generally prosperous, period of specialization.
Effects of diet on apoprotein E levels and on the apoprotein E subspecies in human plasma lipoproteins.

Type III hyperlipoproteinemia is characterized by a marked deficiency of the apoprotein E (ApoE)-3 subspecies of ApoE in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). To assess whether the relative proportions in ApoE (and hence the ApoE- 3 deficiency in type III) are constant in the faceof dietary alterations, we studied seven type III subjects, five subjects with primary endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (type IV), and six normal controls before and after they ate a high carbohydrate diet. In addition, three type III subjects and two normal controls were studied before and 4 hafter the ingestion of 150 g of a corn oil emulsion. Lipids were measured chemically on lipoprotein fractions isolated by ultracentrifugation and heparin-MnCl2 precipitation. ApoE levels in plasma and VLDL were measured by a RIA described in this communication, and the ApoE subspecies were quantified by isoelectric focusing. After 7 days of the carbohydrate diet, fasting triglyceride levelsin VLDL [density (d) < 1.006] rose ∼90% over basal l...
Dynamic pinning model of electrical dissipation in the superconducting surface sheath

The dynamic pinning model of Yamafuji and Irie is adapted to the problem of electrical dissipation in the superconductive surface sheath. The free energy of the surface flux-spot lattice and its shear modulus—quantities required by the model—are calculated. The dc current-voltage characteristics of thick, Pb-In alloy films are analyzed in terms of an excess currentI p due to pinning. The observed dependence ofI p upon magnetic field is in good accord with the predictions of the model; the variations with temperature and alloy composition are made plausible as well.
Effect of Gingivitis on Azithromycin Concentrations in Gingival Crevicular Fluid

Background: Macrolide antibiotics yield high concentrations in inflamed tissue, suggesting that their levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) could be increased at gingivitis sites. However, the increased volume of GCF associated with gingivitis could potentially dilute macrolides. To determine whether these assumptions are correct, the bioavailability of systemically administered azithromycin was compared in GCF from healthy and gingivitis sites.Methods: Experimental gingivitis was induced in one maxillary posterior sextant in nine healthy individuals. Contralateral healthy sextants served as controls. Participants ingested 500 mg azithromycin, followed by a 250-mg dose 24 hours later. Four hours after the second dose, plaque was removed from experimental sites. GCF was collected from eight surfaces in both the experimental and control sextants and pooled separately. GCF samples were subsequently collected on days 2, 3, 8, and 15, and azithromycin content was determined by agar diffusion bioassay.Resul...
Interactive simulation of solid rigid bodies

The article describes the implementation of an interactive system for simulating rigid bodies with contact and friction. The system can simulate moderately complex mechanical systems at interactive rates (20-30 Hz on low end Silicon Graphics workstations). New objects and user specified constraints can be added into the simulation environment on the fly. The system uses analytical methods to compute contact forces, as opposed to the penalty methods common in other interactive systems. Currently, the system's weakest feature is that it can fail to detect high speed collisions. Objects that move at high speeds (relative to the step size of the simulation) are subject to a form of aliasing and may tunnel through other objects without causing a collision. Other simplifications of the system involve approximating collision times and locations by interpolation methods, and periodic error correction adjustments of geometric tolerances. It is difficult to try to quantify the error incurred by a given approximation or tradeoff. Some of the design choices will likely curtail the system's use for highly predictive applications. However, they do not seriously affect simulating the basic dynamics of a mechanism like a feeder. In general, the system performs with sufficient accuracy and realism to be considered a viable interactive simulation environment. >
Looks like lung cancer acts like colon cancer.

Introduction Patients who present with metastatic cancer often pose diagnostic challenges as to the origin of their cancer despite exhaustive efforts to locate an anatomic primary site. In patients with CUP clinicians rely on their familiarity with the initial relapse patterns of known primary cancers as a guide to locating the primary site. In the following case the pathologic evaluation failed to confirm the clinical impression which suggested lung as a primary site. GEP provided additional insight as to the cell of origin. The GEP results were unexpected and completely changed the treatment strategy and outcome.
Multiscale Pedotransfer Functions for Soil Water Retention

Parametric soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity functions are often used for predicting soil hydrologic behavior using hydrologic, hydroclimatic, and contaminant transport models. The prediction accuracy of any such model is critically dependent on the quality of the input parameters. Limited availability of (detailed) soil hydraulic data for large-scale hydroclimatic models (with grids ranging from several kilometers to several hundred kilometers) is a major challenge. To address this need, pedotransfer functions (PTFs) have been used to estimate the required soil hydraulic parameters from other available or easily measurable soil properties. While most previous studies derive and adopt these parameters at matching spatial scales (1:1) of input and output data, we have developed a methodology to derive soil water retention functions at the point or local scale using the PTFs trained with coarser scale input data. This study was a novel application of an artificial neural network (ANN)-based PTF scheme across two spatial support scales within the Rio Grande basin in New Mexico. The ANN was trained using soil texture and bulk density data from the SSURGO database (scale 1:24,000) and then used for predicting soil water contents at different pressure heads with point-scale data (1:1) inputs. The resulting outputs were corrected for bias before constructing the soil water characteristic curve using the van Genuchten equation. A hierarchical approach with training data derived from multiple clustered subwatersheds (with varying spatial extent) was used to study the effect of the increase in spatial extent. The results show good agreement between the soil water retention curves constructed from the ANN-based PTFs and field observations at the local scale near Las Cruces, NM. The robustness of the multiscale PTF methodology was further tested with a separate data set from the Little Washita watershed region in Oklahoma. Overall, ANN coupled with bias correction was found to be a suitable approach for deriving soil hydraulic parameters at a finer scale from soil physical properties at coarser scales and across different spatial extents. The approach could potentially be used for downscaling soil hydraulic properties.
Implantation and intermediate-term follow-up of stents in congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUNDBalloon-expandable stents (Johnson and Johnson Interventional Systems) have been in use for congenital heart disease since late 1989. They have made possible treatment in previously untreatable branch pulmonary artery stenoses and systemic venous stenosis. The purpose of this report is to detail the results and intermediate-term follow-up of stents used for treatment of congenital heart disease.METHODS AND RESULTSEighty-five patients underwent placement of 121 stents in Houston and Boston. Fifty-eight patients had stents put in pulmonary arteries, nine had stents in conduits or outflow tracts, and 21 had stents in venous stenoses or narrowed Fontan anastomoses. (Three patients had stents in two locations.) These stent procedures resulted in gradient reduction from 55.2 +/- 33.3 to 14.2 +/- 13.5 mm Hg in pulmonary arteries, from 41.4 +/- 26.0 to 20.7 +/- 17.0 mm Hg in conduits or outflow tracts, and from 9.8 +/- 6.9 to 2.4 +/- 3.1 mm Hg in venous stenoses or Fontan anastomoses. Diameter of narrow...
Similar and opposite effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and insulin on glucose metabolism in adipose tissue.

Abstract The effects of N6-2′-O-dibutyryl cyclic AMP on glucose metabolism and lipolysis in fragments of rat epididymal adipose tissue were studied. Measurements were made of glucose uptake, conversion of glucose carbon to CO2 and tissue fatty acids and glyceride-glycerol, lactate production, and glycerol release. Low concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.1–0.5 mM) increased all parameters of glucose metabolism and inhibited glycerol release in tissue from both normally fed and fasted rats. Higher concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (3–5 mM) diminished glucose utilization and greatly accelerated lipolysis. Insulin, 50 μunits/ml, accelerated glucose metabolism in the presence of either low or high concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP though the effect of insulin was greatly reduced by 3 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Tissue exposed to concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP which inhibited glucose metabolism (5 mM), then rinsed and reincubated without dibutyryl cyclic AMP, displayed increased glucose utilization. The results of these experiments emphasize the need for caution in interpretation of the effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on adipose tissue metabolism and the need for further research to elucidate the role of cyclic AMP in the regulation of glucose metabolism.
Technological Other/Quasi Other: Reflection on Lived Experience

This reflection focuses on lived experience with the Technological Other (Quasi-Other) while pursuing creative video and film activities. In the last decade work in the video and film industries has been transformed through digital manipulation and enhancement brought about by increasingly sophisticated computer technologies. The rules of the craft have not changed but the relationship the artist/editor experiences with these new digital tools has brought about increasingly interesting existential experiences in the creative process. How might this new way of being with technology change the craft and the crafter? Through a phenomenological understanding of Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Don Ihde, and their contributions to the human-technology conversation, this essay moves to reveal the lived experiences of artists/editors who use computers to create by means of film and digital video formats. Exploring notions of lived space, lived body, lived time, and lived relation through the computer interface allows for digging deeper into inhabiting technology and experiencing the Technological Other.
DNA-Based Methodologies for Rapid Detection, Quantification, and Species- or Strain-Level Identification of Respiratory Pathogens (Mycobacteria and Pseudomonads) in Metalworking Fluids

Mycobacteria and pseudomonads occurring in modern metalworking fluids (MWF) have been implicated in occupational health hazards as causal agents for hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and other respiratory illnesses in machine workers exposed to these fluids and their aerosols. Unlike the conventional cultural and biochemical methods, which are often slow and ambiguous and detect only culturable cells, DNA-based methods offer a time-saving alternative for reliable detection and identification of both culturable and nonculturable bacteria in MWF and for selective quantification of individual genera of pathogens of interest in these fluids. This is the first report on DNA-based direct detection of mycobacteria and pseudomonads in MWF without culturing. Genus-specific PCR approach was successfully applied for screening of field MWF samples originating from different industrial users for detection of mycobacteria or pseudomonads including both culturable and nonculturable cells. PCR in combination with amplicon DNA sequencing led to the identification of Mycobacterium chelonae, Pseudomonas nitroreducens, and an undefined Pseudomonas species from these fluids. Genome fingerprinting by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) on Mycobacterium isolates further showed that the isolates represented three strains of M. chelonae although the possibility of one of the strains being clonal with M. immunogenum cannot be excluded. In parallel efforts, a quantitative competitive PCR method developed based on the Pseudomonas-specific PCR was applied to quantify total P. fluorescens cells in contaminated metalworking fluid and MWF aerosol without culturing. The DNA-based protocols developed in this study will allow rapid screening of field MWF samples for the presence of both culturable and nonculturable cells and thus facilitate effective fluid management and timely exposure assessment.
Holographic-grating-based optical-controlled true-time-delay devices

The holographic-grating based wavelength-controlled true-time-delay devices are presented in the paper. The optical true-time-delay can be continuously controlled by continuously tuning the wavelength of a single laser within the devices. The dispersion ability of the devices is greatly enhanced by increasing the diffraction angles of the holographic gratings. The fabricated true-time-delay devices work within 1550nm region. The loss performance of the devices were calculated and measured. The wavelength-controlled true-time-delay was also characterized both theoretically and experimentally.
Nonlinear Shear Stress and Thermal Effects in Fully Flooded Elastohydrodynamic Line Contacts

A nonlinear viscoelastic model for lubricant behavior under elastohydrodynamic conditions is derived which incorporates temperature changes in the contact. The formalism is written primarily in terms of convolution integrals. Calculations of temperature distributions in the contact and the variation of traction coefficient with shear rate are in qualitative agreement with experiment.
Power Transition, Challenge and the (Re)Emergence of China

We use power transition theory and leadership long cycle theory's challenger model to investigate ongoing deep structural changes that may affect fundamentally the prospects for twenty-first century Sino-American conflict. We specifically evaluate which of these structural theories most accurately maps the power transition process. Whereas both theories offer important insights, the challenger model's focus on qualitative dimensions of structural change are more important to understanding the dynamics of a potential Sino-American power transition.
Chaotic Motions of a Parametrically Excited Pendulum With Non-Exponentially Small Parameters

The paper mathematically proves that a pendulum with oscillatory forcing makes chaotic motions for certain parameters. The method is more intuitive than using the Poincare’ map. It provides more information about when the chaos occurs.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Geragogy: Instructional programs for elders

This essay proposes geragogy as a useful and specific concept of instruction for elders by (1) demonstrating that elders are often a unique population with specialized learning needs, (2) concluding that these unique needs justify different teaching methods, and (3) operationalizing these conclusions into curricular goals and objectives for programs in communication serving elders.
Estimated global ocean wind power potential from QuikSCAT observations, accounting for turbine characteristics and siting

For the first time, global ocean usable wind power is evaluated for modern offshore turbine characteristics including hub height, usable portion of the wind speed distribution, and siting depth. Mean wind power increases by 30%, 69%, and 73% within the tropics and Northern and Southern Hemisphere extratropics, respectively, between hub heights of 10 m and 100 m. A turbine with a cut-out speed of 25 m s−1 (30 m s−1) within the Northern Hemisphere storm track harvests between 55% (82%) and 85% (>98%) of available power. Within this region, a 2–3 m s−1 change in cut-out speed can result in a 5–7% change in usable power. Eighty meter wind power accumulates at a rate of 20–45 MW km2 m−2 per meter depth increase from the shore to the shelf break. Beyond the shelf break, wind power accumulates at a slower rate (<12 MW km2 m−2 m−1). The combined impact of all three characteristics on available wind power is assessed for three technology tiers: existing, planned, and future innovations. Usable percent of 80 m available global ocean wind power ranges from 0.40% for existing to 2.73% for future envisioned turbine specifications. Offshore wind power production is estimated using three offshore wind turbine power curves, three ocean depth limits and two siting densities. Global offshore wind power is as much as 39 TW (54% of onshore) and is maximized for the smallest and least powerful of the three turbine specifications evaluated.
Conservation and Distribution of Genetic Variation in a Polytypic Species, the Cutthroat Trout

The cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki)presents a series of unusual and difficult problems in conservation biology. As many as 16 subspecies have been recognized in the recent literature. The genetic distance between subspecies based upon 46 enzyme loci ranges from that usually seen between congeneric species to virtual genetic identity. Subspecies from the western portion of the range of the cutthroat trout are genetically more similar to rainbow trout (Salmo gaird- neri) than they are to the other subspecies of cutthroat trout. In addition, much of the genetic variation within the west- slope cutthroat trout (S. c. lewisi) results from alleles found in only one or two local populations, but they often occur at high frequencies in those populations. Thus, preserving the genetic variation in westslope cutthroat trout entails pre- serving as many local populations as possible. Captive populations of cutthroat trout present a series of opportunities and genetic problems. A number of manage- ment agencies are using captive populations to supplement and reestablish naturalpopulations. Basic geneticprinciples must be understood andfollowed in establishing and main- taining captive populations. We describe examples of unsuc- cessful and successful efforts by management agencies to develop captive populations. The greatest danger to the conservation of the cutthroat trout is introgressive hybridization among subspecies and with rainbow trout Several factors make salmonid fishes especially susceptible to problems associated with introgres- sive hybridization. We conclude that biochemical analysis provides a more reliable and informative means of detecting interbreeding than morphological characters. Interbreeding between westslope and Yellowstone cutthroat trout and non- Resumen: La trucha (Salmo clarki) presenta una serie de problemas inusuales y dificiles en la biologi'a para la con- servacion. Hasta 16 subespecies han sido reconocidas en la literatura reciente. La distancia gene'tica entre subespecies,
Development of the MIT tabletop soft x-ray laser (Invited Paper)

We have been developing a small-scale EUV laser facility at MIT with which we hope to observe gain in nickel-like molybdenum at 191 angstroms. The physics involved in the formation of laser gain is examined through the use of simple models, and optimum operating temperatures and electron densities are determined. The upper state population is determined primarily through a balance between direct collisional excitation to and from the upper laser state; the lower state population follows primarily from a balance between indirect excitation and radiative decay. Models describing these balances are used to estimate optimum conditions and the resulting population inversions.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.