cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal Factors Associated with Smoking and Inappropriate WeightGain During Pregnancy

This study was designed to identify maternal characteristics associated with smoking during pregnancy and in- appropriate gestational weight gain. Data were collected retrospectively from records of 252 women enrolled in the Sioux- land WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program in Sioux City, Iowa. Twenty-three percent of women reported smok- ing during pregnancy. Forty-four percent of women gained more weight than recommended during pregnancy and 21 per- cent gained less than recommended. Maternal demographic characteristics were tested as predictors of inappropriate gestational weight gain and smoking us- ing logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios indicated that smoking was predicted by lower income, being unmar- ried, white (non-Hispanic) ethnicity, and living with another smoker. Excess pregnancy weight gain was predicted by white ethnicity, primigravid status, and being overweight (but not obese) before pregnancy. Risk of smoking and excess weight gain was highest among women with multiple identified risk factors. Smoking and excess gestational weight gain are both common in this low-income population but have different patterns of demographic risk.
Mills at Maryland.

L'A. s'efforce de retracer la personnalite, le parcours, la carriere du professeur C. Wright Mills et de presenter ses souvenirs concernant la presence de ce dernier a la tete du departement de sociologie de l'Universite du Maryland de 1941 a 1945, departement ou l'A. travailla en sa collaboration. Il s'efforce de retracer son parcours intellectuel, sa formation universitaire et ses liens avec le marxisme. Il evoque les travaux qu'il conduisit dans cette universite, notamment sur la mobilite sociale, le contenus des cours qu'il y donna. Il presente la carriere de Mills apres son depart de l'universite du Maryland
Counting conjugacy classes in symmetric spaces over Fq

Abstract In this paper we verify a prediction of the Langlands-Lusztig program in the special case of the algebra of double cosets ( K(F q )β GL n (F q ) K(F q ) ), where K is the fixed point subgroup of an involution on GLn (see Conjecture 3.6 and Example 7 of [G]). We calculate the dimension of the algebra by computing the number of K(Fq)-conjugacy classes in the space GL n (F q )) K(F q ) . We compare this dimension with the size of the set parametrizing representations of the double coset algebra, defined in terms of perverse sheaves on the flag variety. These numbers turn out to be the same.
Polypyrrole Bridge as a Support for Alamethicin-Reconstituted Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes

Conducting polymer actuators and sensors utilize electrochemical reactions and associated ion transport at the polymer-electrolyte interface for their engineering function. Similarly, a bioderived active material utilizes ion transport through a protein and across a bilayer lipid membrane for sensing and actuation functions. Inspired by the similarity in ion transport process in a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) and conducting polymers, we propose to build an integrated ionic device in which the ion transport through the protein in the bilayer lipid membrane regulates the electrolytic and mechanical properties of the conducting polymer. This article demonstrates the fabrication and characterization of a DPhPC planar BLM reconstituted with alamethicin and supported on a polypyrrole bridge measuring 100 μm × 500 μm and formed across micro-fabricated gold pads. The assembly is supported on silicon dioxide coated wafers and packaged into an electronic-ionic package for electrochemical characterization. The various ionic components in the integrated ionic device are characterized using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and chronoamperometry (CA) measurements. The results from our experimental studies demonstrate the procedure to fabricate a rugged electro active polymer supported BLM that will serve as a platform for chemical, bioelectrical sensing and VOC detection.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Creating and selling embryos for “donation”: ethical challenges

The commercial creation and sale of embryos has begun, which poses a series of ethical questions that have received little scholarly attention. Some of the concerns that arise are similar to those posed by the sale of gametes, while other issues differ markedly. Questions emerge, first, regarding the rights of the unborn children and their ability to know their biological parents. Companies that create human embryos de novo may wish to keep gamete providers anonymous. Many of these offspring thus will never learn that their parents are not their biologic parents. Yet, such disclosures, regarding not only one but both of these biologic parents, may be important for these individuals; and a lack of this knowledge may impede their physical and psychological health. Second, questions surface regarding the fees that providers should charge for embryos and whether these amounts should vary based on the traits of 1 or both of the gamete donors. Some prospective parents may seek specific traits in a baby (eg, height or eye/hair coloring), which prompts the creation of embryos from 2 gamete donors who possess these characteristics. Third, ownership of embryos created without an advanced directive by patients poses dilemmas (eg, disposition of any remaining embryos). Fourth, guidelines do not yet exist to limit the number of embryos sold from each pair of gamete donors. Hence, unbeknownst to each other, full siblings could potentially meet, get married, and procreate. This discussion has several critical implications for future practice and professional education and policy. Patients with diseases associated with genetic tests may well ask obstetricians, gynecologists, and other physicians about these techniques and practices. Clinicians can refer such patients to assisted reproductive technology specialists; however, familiarity with the basic aspects of the issues and complexities involved could aid these providers and their patients Several of these issues can be addressed relatively easily through guidelines from professional associations (eg, limiting the number of embryos sold from each pair of gamete donors). Because creation and sales of embryos will likely spread, consideration of appropriate responses is critical to establish standards of care to help the future offspring, and ensure ongoing public trust.
Identifying, recruiting, and assessing social networks at high risk for HIV/AIDS: methodology, practice, and a case study in St Petersburg, Russia.

Population segments at highest risk for HIV are often hidden, marginalized, and hard to reach by conventional prevention programmes. This pattern is especially true in Central and Eastern Europe, where major HIV epidemics have recently appeared, where population members do not perceive themselves as belonging to a community, and where there is little precedence for strong community-based organization service programmes. In these circumstances, naturally existing intact social networks still can be targeted by prevention programmes. HIV prevention interventions undertaken with at-risk social networks can establish new group norms, reduce the risk behaviour of network members, and can reach ‘hidden’ members of a population known personally to leaders of the social networks. This article illustrates a methodology and a practical description for: (1) accessing high-risk social networks in a community population; (2) identifying and enumerating the membership of the social networks; (3) identifying the social ...
Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in the Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Lesions

Abstract The use of hypothermic circulatory arrest has been established in the treatment of aortic arch lesions. We recently used this method of arrest in the treatment of 10 consecutive patients with thoracic aortic lesions. Seven of these patients had dissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta with extension into the aortic arch. One patient had a mycotic aneurysm of the arch, and 2 patients had arteriosclerotic aneurysms of the ascending aorta and entire aortic arch. All patients were supported and cooled with cardiopulmonary bypass. Circulatory arrest was maintained for periods of 21 to 63 minutes. All 10 patients survived the operative procedure. Nine patients remained intact neurologically. Renal function returned to baseline in all patients. Average blood replacement was 2.9 units. All patients have experienced an excellent surgical result. The average follow-up is 21.1 months. The technique facilitates a surgical approach to these lesions and appears to be the safest form of vital-organ preservation.
Towards a Comprehensive Test of Qualitative Reasoning Skill in Design

A battery of tests for assessing the cognitive skills needed for the conceptual design is being developed. Divergent thinking and visual thinking tests were fully developed and validated previously. This paper focuses on the development of a test on qualitative reasoning skill.Indicators of qualitative reasoning are identified and categorized as: deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, analogical reasoning, abductive reasoning, and intuitive physics; the derivation of each is based on both cognitive science and empirical studies of design. The paper also considers the metrics for measuring skill levels in different individuals and candidate test items and grading rubric for each skill.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Synchronization opponent systems: Attractor basin transient statistics as a population code for object representation

Abstract A network of recurrent logistic units with local, orientation-sensitive coupling is used to study the transformation of spatial forms in a computational framework called synchronization opponent cooperative action networks. Evolutionary search finds dynamics for which curves, rank-ordered by a generating parameter, are transformed to produce a similarity space with dimensions defined by partitions of the phase space. The network also recognizes objects by normalizing several views of 3-D objects to a characteristic distribution. A spatio-temporal population code where both active and quiet units convey information is proposed, with the phase space interpreted as ensemble average frequency of coupled populations.
Shaky Ground for Lysosome-Dependent Membrane Repair

Richard Steinhardt comments on the Perspective by Andrews entitled "Membrane Resealing: Synaptotagmin VII Keeps Running the Show."
A downstream CA repeat sequence increases translation from leadered and unleadered mRNA in Escherichia coli.

When placed downstream of the start codon, multimers of the dinucleotide CA stimulated translation from lacZ, gusA and neo mRNAs in the presence or absence of an untranslated leader sequence. Enhanced expression in the absence of a leader and Shine–Dalgarno sequence indicated that stimulation by CA multimers was independent of translation signals contained within the untranslated leader. Multimers of CA stimulated a significantly higher level of lacZ expression than multimers of individual C or A nucleotides. Translation levels increased as the number of CA repeats increased; fewer multimers were required for enhanced expression from leadered mRNA than from mRNA that was deleted for its leader sequence. Addition of downstream CA multimers increased the ribosome binding strength of mRNA in vitro and the amount of full-length mRNA in vivo, suggesting that the enhanced expression resulted from translation of a more abundant functional message containing a stronger ribosome binding site. The presence of downstream CA-rich sequences, occurring naturally in several Escherichia coli genes, might contribute to translation of other mRNAs. Addition of CA multimers might represent a general mechanism for increasing expression from genes of interest.
Threshold concentration for the existence of ferromagnetism in dilute alloys

Abstract Previous calculations by B rout for a magnetically dilute system give a value of x 0 Z = 1 for the suppression of ferromagnetism, where x 0 is the concentration below which ferromagnetism does not exist and Z is the number of nearest neighbors. Only nearest neighbor exchange forces are assumed to exist. This value was obtained using the first term in the cluster expansion of 1/ N 〈log Z > 〈 R > 〉 C . In the present paper, we shall find a more exact expression for x 0 Z by evaluating the higher order terms in the cluster expansion. We find that x 0 Z≅ 4 3 for simple, body-centered and face-centered cubic lattices.
Deformation Behavior of a Roll-Cast Layered-Silicate/Lamellar Triblock Copolymer Nanocomposite

We have produced layered-silicate−lamellar triblock copolymer nanocomposites possessing a uniaxial texture. Solution blending of the layered-silicate suspension with a block copolymer solution and subsequent roll-casting or static casting and annealing resulted in a partially immiscible and intercalated structure with only a low degree of exfoliation. Isotropic polygranular nanocomposite samples prepared by static solution casting exhibit increase in modulus, higher yield stresses, earlier onset of strain hardening, increased strain hardening rate, and higher residual strains upon unloading with increasing layered-silicate content. In-situ and ex-situ deformation studies were performed along various directions on roll-cast nanocomposite samples to elucidate the effects of anisotropic particles upon deformation of the globally textured nanocomposite system. Deformation parallel to the roll-cast direction shows an earlier onset of strain hardening with modest increases in the modulus for particle-loaded fil...
Application of hot stage micro-FT-i.r. to the study of organic functional group changes during pyrolysis

Abstract A modified Leitz hot stage fitted to a Spectra-Tech microscope and interfaced with a Nicolet 20-SXC Fourier transform infrared (FT-i.r.) analyser was used to collect infrared (i.r.) spectra from a series of heat treated coal or kerogen samples. Hot stage modifications included installation of an i.r. transparent ZnSe cover disc and routing of a microthermocouple to the interior of a 50 μl platinum sample pan. Spectra were collected in the reflected light mode prior to and then during or after heat treatment. This provided a means to monitor organic functional group changes or depletion resulting from heat treatment. Obstacles encountered and their solutions are discussed.
Disappearance of crystals in Schnyder's crystalline corneal dystrophy after epithelial erosion.

Purpose A 40-year-old woman with Schnyder's crystalline corneal dystrophy had two episodes of epithelial erosion. Methods We reviewed the patient's medical record and photographic file. Results In the areas underlying the epithelial erosion, the crystalline opacities disappeared. The crystals recurred in the subsequent five years but were not as dense. Conclusions Crystals in the subepithelial or Bowman's layer may lead to epithelial destabilization and corneal epithelial erosion. Disappearance of the crystalline opacities may occur after disruption of the epithelium.
DETECTING ROLE EQUIVALENCE

Hummell and Sodeur (1987) propose a practical solution to detecting role equivalence in social network data. The solution is very fast, equally applicable to symmetric and asymmetric relations, involves no iterative computing, and is now readily available as one of the equivalence options in STRUCTURE. Unfortunately, their paper is only available in German in a book published for their colleagues in Germany. The purpose of this brief note is to give their extremely useful idea wider exposure.
Fluorescence: absorbance ratios-a molecular-weight tracer of dissolved organic matter1

Naturally occurring dissolved humic materials were fractionated according to molecular weight by dialysis and gel permeation chromatography. Components of higher molecular weight (>3500) absorbed strongly at 250 nm but fluoresced weakly, while humic fractions of lower molecular weight fluoresced intensely per unit absorbance. With appropriate precautions, fluorescence: absorbance ratios may be useful in delineating seasonal and depth distribution patterns of dissolved humic materials of low and high molecular weight.
Computing intersection numbers of Chern classes

Let [email protected]?P^r be a smooth variety of dimension n and let c"0,...,c"n be the Chern classes of Z. We present an algorithm to compute the degree of any monomial in {c"0,...,c"n}. The method is based on intersection theory and may be implemented as a numeric or as a symbolic algorithm.
Supervisor Development Across the Professional Lifespan

ABSTRACT Most of the literature on the development of supervisors has emphasized that of novice supervisors. This paper focuses on experienced supervisors and highlights the need for further study of the development of mature supervisors throughout their careers. Based on four previous models of supervisor development, which are briefly presented, an Integrated Model of Supervisor Lifespan Development is offered and specifies a baseline level and definition of an “experienced supervisor” A set of 10 supervisor development strands is presented as potential developmental issues through all levels of experience. Factors that are likely to influence the professional lifespan development of supervisors are discussed.
Unsaturated cyclic ureas as new non-toxic biodegradable transdermal penetration enhancers. II. Evaluation study

Abstract Thirteen new transdermal penetration enhancers were evaluated with respect to the absorption of indomethacin using shed snake skin of Elaphe obsoleta as a model of the stratum corneum and using Azone as the standard enhancer for comparison. Indomethacin was incorporated into a petrolatum ointment together with the appropriate enhancer. Three of these compounds, (A1), (A2), and (A3), show penetration enhancement at least equal to or better than Azone. Using hairless mouse skin as the model skin, (A1) shows enhancement 3 times better than Azone. Hairless mouse skin is more permeable than snake skin by indomethacin. The low toxicity of the enhancers was demonstrated by the survival of mice which were given s.c. a total of 14 g/kg of (A2). The biodegradability of the enhancers was illustrated by the hydrolysis of (A3) with porcine esterase in isotonic phosphate buffer pH 7.2 at 32° C with a t 1 2 = 7.28 min . A release study of indomethacin for a series of ointments consisting of a variable concentration of indomethacin indicates that the saturated concentration of indomethacin in petrolatum base in the presence of 5% of (A1) is about 0.6% of indomethacin. The release rate of (A1) from an ointment made of 1% of indomethacin, 5% (A1), and 94% petrolatum base was 4.34 μ g/min 1 2 / cm 2 . Electron micrograph study on shed snake skin treated with (A1) demonstrated that (Al) interacted with the skin, making a marked morphological change in the skin.
Biosystems Analysis: The Relationship between Direct Velocity Feedback Control and the Monosynaptic Pathway of the Central Nervous System

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the potential of biosystems analysis for engineering applications and review a control methodology which is analogous to a form of control in biological systems known as the muscle stretch reflex. The function of the muscle stretch reflex in the central nervous systems is analogous to direct velocity feedback control in electromechanical systems. If active materials such as piezoelectric ceramics or polymers are incorporated as sen soriactuators in the piezostructure design, the general architecture of the biological system can be captured as well in a physiological sense. The stretch reflex in biological systems effectively adds "damping" to motor control commands, while direct velocity feedback control serves to add damp ing to electromechanical structures upon commanding some response or in the attenuation of a structural response due to some external disturbance. The work presented in this study motivates further analysis of the central nervous system from a...
Supersaturation and hydride formation in the dilute phase of Pd–H

Abstract Annealed Pd exhibits supersaturation of the dilute phase before the hydride phase forms and this is characterized here by measurements of both ∣Δ H H ∣ and p H 2 . Pd, which has a high dislocation density, however, does not exhibit supersaturation, and its ∣Δ H H ∣ values are a continuous function of H/Pd, in contrast to annealed Pd where there is a discontinuity at the phase boundary.
Illuminating the invisible voices in mental health policymaking

In public mental health policymaking, the inclusion of numerous stakeholders across lay and professional communities is expected. How the voices of these stakeholders meld to create a single unifying accounting of their actions and recommendations for policy is often unexpected. Unexpected in that, while all voices are important and participation often mandated, what is incorporated into the formal accounting of the policymaking process often does not reflect the elements of services that work most successfully for persons with mental illnesses and their family members. In this paper, I show how existing agendae of members of public policy task forces recontextualize the stories of persons with mental illnesses and their family members to reify societal expectations of these stories. I offer suggestions on how these stories should be incorporated into task force reports to further the development of appropriate policy and services that meet the needs and expectations of persons with mental illnesses and their family members.
SU‐FF‐T‐263: Evaluation of a PAGAT Gel for Use in An Anthropomorphic Phantom

Purpose: To evaluate the use of PAGAT, a normoxic polymergel formulation, in the Radiological Physics Center's (RPC) Head and Neck Phantom. Methods and Materials: Conventional and IMRT treatment plans were developed for the RPC's head and neck phantom, which contained simulated planning target volumes and an organ at risk. A PAGAT dosimeter was placed in the phantom and the conventional treatment plan was delivered. A different PAGAT dosimeter was used to measure the IMRT treatment. An additional group of PAGAT dosimeters were irradiated to doses between 1 and 5 Gy through parallel‐opposed beams to develop a calibration curve. The dosimeters were imaged using an OCT‐OPUS™ laser CT scanner 24 hours after irradiation. Profile, isodose, and gamma index comparisons were performed between the treatment plan and the distribution measured with PAGAT. Results: Good agreement was observed between the conventional treatment plan and the gel distribution with the exception of one target region where the dose was most fractionated. The gel overestimated the dose in this region. The gel used to measure the IMRT treatment overestimated the dose by 35%. Relative comparisons of the IMRT treatment showed agreement consistent with that seen in the conventional treatment plan. Conclusions: The over‐response of the gel is attributed to the fractionation dependence of the gel, which was investigated. Calibrationgels should be irradiated with a fractionation scheme similar to the experimental gels, particularly for IMRT treatments, so that absolute dose comparisons can be performed. The investigation was supported in part by PHS grant CA 10953 awarded by the NCI, DHHS.
Diffraction-Limited GaAs Laser with External Resonator.

GaAs injection laser operated with external optical resonator for diffraction-limited radiation, considering peak power and quantum efficiency
DIFFERENTIATION OF FOOD SPOILAGE BACTERIA ON THE BASIS OF THEIR ABILITY TO UTILIZE DIFFERENT PROTEINS

Methods designed to evaluate qualitatively the proteolytic potential of spoilage bacteria must be sufficiently sensitive to differentiate among the broad spectrum of bacterial proteases. By using four unfractionated proteins (egg albumen, gelatin, casein, and water soluble proteins of beef muscle) and three casein fractions (αs-, β-, and κ-), the proteolytic activity of 122 bacterial isolates from chicken were studied. Three distinctive groups of proteolytic bacteria were found. One group completely hydrolyzed all of the test proteins (elaborated proteases with low substrate specificity). Another group, which elaborated proteases with high substrate specificity, selectively hydrolyzed one or more, but not all of the test proteins and fractions of casein and/or the water soluble sarcoplasmic proteins. The third group demonstrated an inability to hydrolyze test proteins to obtain nutrients for growth. However, the latter group did grow when cultured in the presence of an added protease. Further, it was observed that a significant number of isolates unable to hydrolyze one protein, hydrolyzed other test proteins, thus, indicating the need in an assay method of being able to detect these differences. Comparisons between undenatured and denatured proteins, as test substrates, revealed no significant difference between protease preference by spoilage isolates for either type of protein. However, the use of undenatured protein substrates seemed to be a more logical approach to simulate actual conditions in the food industry. The use of a single protein substrate to evaluate proteolytic activity, as current methods employ, increases the possibility of making an incorrect appraisal of the true proteolytic capacity of a microorganism.
Quantitative molecular networking to profile marine cyanobacterial metabolomes

Untargeted liquid chromatography-MS (LC-MS) is used to rapidly profile crude natural product (NP) extracts; however, the quantity of data produced can become difficult to manage. Molecular networking based on MS/MS data visualizes these complex data sets to aid their initial interpretation. Here, we developed an additional visualization step for the molecular networking workflow to provide relative and absolute quantitation of a specific compound in an extract. The new visualization also facilitates combination of several metabolomes into one network, and so was applied to an MS/MS data set from 20 crude extracts of cultured marine cyanobacteria. The resultant network illustrates the high chemical diversity present among marine cyanobacteria. It is also a powerful tool for locating producers of specific metabolites. In order to dereplicate and identify culture-based sources of known compounds, we added MS/MS data from 60 pure NPs and NP analogs to the 20-strain network. This dereplicated six metabolites directly and offered structural information on up to 30 more. Most notably, our visualization technique allowed us to identify and quantitatively compare several producers of the bioactive and biosynthetically intriguing lipopeptide malyngamide C. Our most prolific producer, a Panamanian strain of Okeania hirsuta (PAB10FEB10-01), was found to produce at least 0.024 mg of malyngamide C per mg biomass (2.4%, w/dw) and is now undergoing genome sequencing to access the corresponding biosynthetic machinery.
Immunomodulatory agents in the laboratory and clinic

This paper reviews naturally occurring and synthetic compounds that either enhance immune defences or lower both natural and acquired immunity. Immunomodulatory agents used both for laboratory study and clinically for the management of immunologically based diseases are considered
Responses of a parasitic protozoan to osmotic stress

Leishmania major and L. donovani are parasitic protozoa that cause serious disease throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. They respond rapidly to osmotic stress. A sudden increase in osmolality causes a change in cell shape and an inhibition of the rates of oxidation of alanine, proline, and several other nutrients. A sudden decrease in osmolality also causes a change in shape (swelling) and extrusion of alanine and several other amino acids and of Na and Cl. The rate of release of amino acids in response to acute hypo-osmolality is closely fit by a two exponential equation under a variety of conditions, such as the presence of activators or inhibitors of certain protein kinases and protein phospahatases and of arachidonic acid. These results are consistent with evidence suggesting the presence of two pools of alanine in Leishmania.
The serum glucose response to glucagon suppression with somatostatin, insulin or antiglucagon serum in depancreatized rats.

Total immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) and immunoreactive glucagon of A cell origin (IRGa) were measured in the serum of normal, sham-operated and depancreatized rats, after the administration of three glucagon antagonists: insulin (5–200 mU/rat/h), somatostatin (SRIF; 100 μg/kg/h) and antiglucagon serum (AGS, enough to bind three times the calculated total amount of circulating IRG). Since no differences were noted between the responses of normal and sham-operated animals, the values were pooled and used as controls. Pancreatectomy caused a significant increase in serum glucose, IRGa and total IRG and a significant decrease in serum insulin. AGS and SRIF significantly decreased serum glucose in control, but not in depancreatized rats, even though SRIF caused a significant decrease of IRGa in all animals. SRIF significantly decreased plasma insulin in control rats, but did not modify total IRG secretion in either group. In control rats the minimum effective hypoglycaemic dose of insulin (5 mU/rat/h) may have decreased serum IRGa, but not total IRG. At higher doses (20 mU/rat/h) insulin stimulated glucagon secretion. In depancreatized animals, higher doses of insulin (200 mU/rat/h) were needed to lower serum glucose. On the other hand, a dose of 100 μU/rat/h was sufficient to lower the serum IRG. We conclude that although hyperglucagonaemia may contribute to the hyperglycaemia of the untreated depancreatized rats, the excessive secretion of glucagon is secondary to insulin insufficiency and that, at least in this animal model, the hypoglycaemic action of insulin is only minimally dependent upon its ability to suppress glucagon secretion.
High temperature piezoelectric ceramics based on (1 − x)[BiScO3 + Bi(Ni1/2Ti1/2)O3] − xPbTiO3

Abstract High temperature ferroelectrics are an important aspect of piezoelectric material research for many energy related applications. Some of the desired properties are high Curie temperature, large remanent polarization, and large piezoelectric coefficients. Polycrystalline perovskite ceramics of the composition (1 − x )[BiScO 3 + Bi(Ni 1/2 Ti 1/2 )O 3 ] − x PbTiO 3 (BS-BNiT-PT), were synthesized using standard solid state processing. Room temperature X-ray diffraction revealed a perovskite phase with an observed transition from tetragonal to pseudo-cubic symmetry over the compositional range x = 0.50–0.60. Compositions rich in PbTiO 3 showed strong tetragonal distortions with characteristic first-order phase transitions. As the PbTiO 3 content decreased dielectric measurements revealed large permittivities (er′ ~ 16,000) with relaxor characteristics up to 400 °C. Ferroelectric hysteresis measurements revealed remanent polarizations as high as 31 μC/cm 2 at x = 0.52 with relatively low coercive fields of 25 kV/cm. The piezoelectric coefficients, mechanical quality, and planar coupling factors of the x = 0.54 composition were 376 pC/N, 13.4, and 0.148, respectively.
Carotid artery stenting in a vascular surgery practice

Abstract Purpose: We tested the clinical applicability, technical results, and morbidity of carotid angioplasty-stenting (CAS) in the treatment of severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in patients deemed to be high-risk candidates for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Method: After an initial series (1994-1997) of 52 interventions, we adopted the use of a transfemoral access technique and self-expanding stents in late 1997. From Dec 1, 1997, to Mar 31, 2001, 135 CAS procedures were performed on 132 patients with more than 70% (symptomatic) or more than 80% (asymptomatic) stenoses of the ICA. Sixty percent of the patients had no symptoms, and 40% of patients had symptoms. The interventional technique was standardized with the use of a 7F long interventional sheath, balloon pre-dilatation of the stenotic lesion, placement of a self-expanding stent (Wallstent in 12 patients and a SMART stent in 120 patients), and post-balloon dilatation when necessary. Brain protection devices were not used. Patients were given clopidogrel and aspirin before and after the procedure and heparin during the intervention. Results: All procedures except two were completed as planned, with access failure in three patients (2.2%). Residual in-stent stenosis of less than 20% was detected in 14 of 132 stented vessels (11%) and accepted as a satisfactory angiographic outcome. Neurologic complications included one patient with a single-episode transient ischemic attack (TIA; motor-sensory deficit of the hand) occurring 2 hours after CAS. One patient sustained a major stroke after thrombosis of the stented ICA, which occurred 3 days after the CAS procedure and 24 hours after open-heart surgery. A third patient sustained a minor stroke that began intraprocedurally after post-balloon dilatation of the stent, and a fourth patient had another minor stroke with transient aphasia (beginning during the procedure and resolving after 4 hours) and monoparesis of the hand, which resolved after 1 week. All stented vessels remained patent during the follow-up period (range, 2-41 months; mean, 16 ± 9 months), with four instances of hemodynamically significant in-stent restenosis. Re-intervention with balloon angioplasty was undertaken successfully at 4 months in one patient with restenosis. The periprocedural mortality rate was 0. Conclusion: Carotid stenting can be performed with acceptable safety on carefully selected patients by using meticulous, standardized interventional techniques. It may offer a possibly superior therapeutic alternative for non-CEA candidates. Evolving technological improvements and brain protection devices are likely to enhance its role in the treatment of carotid artery disease in the future. Surgical endarterectomy remains the standard of care for most patients at the present time. (J Vasc Surg 2002;35:430-4.)
A versatile metal-organic framework for carbon dioxide capture and cooperative catalysis.

A multi-functional MOF PCN-124 was constructed from Cu paddlewheel motifs and a judiciously designed novel ligand bearing carboxylate, pyridine, and amide groups. PCN-124 exhibits selective adsorption of CO2 over CH4 and excellent catalytic activity in a tandem one-pot deacetalization–Knoevenagel condensation reaction as a cooperative catalyst.
Designing CMOS Circuits for Switch-Level Testability

Conventional testing techniques often fail to be effective for CMOS combinational circuits, since most of their switch-level faults cannot be detected by stuck-at-fault testing. The alternative is to design for testability. The design techniques presented here for fully testable CMOS combinational circuits use a three-pattern test scheme to detect both stuck-open and stuck-on switch-level faults. The circuit is implemented with specially designed gates that have no undetectable stuck-on faults. An inverting buffer is inserted between logic gates, and two FETs are added to each logic gate to make it testable for stuck-on faults.
Integrating Art Therapy Methodology in Brief Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults

ABSTRACT Decades of drug addiction research and clinical work have underscored the need for multifaceted and comprehensive treatment responses in order to sufficiently address the varied needs of individuals struggling with addiction. One valuable treatment component that can be incorporated into traditional treatment protocols to expand the comprehensive nature of treatment response is art therapy. A conceptual framework is presented, detailing the integrative opportunities and benefits of including an art therapy component to short-term hospital-based inpatient substance abuse treatment programs. A creative arts component can be particularly beneficial for brief inpatient programs, where the client population is diverse, in crisis, and at high-risk for relapse; and where clinicians need to obtain comprehensive client information from multiple sources in a short amount of time. Art therapy methodology can provide a mechanism for collecting such collateral information for assessment purposes, can be emplo...
Reflectance magnetic circular dichroism studies at the Γ-point in InMnAs semiconductor films

Abstract Magneto-optical activity of InMnAs ferromagnetic semiconductor was measured at the fundamental gap (Γ-point) at room temperature. Reflectance magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) in the polar mode was measured in the mid-infrared from 0.12 to 0.6 eV to determine s,p–d exchange interactions at the zone center (Γ-point). Well-resolved reflectance magnetic circular dichroism spectra in the mid-infrared were measured at 298 K, giving direct evidence for the existence of s,p–d exchange in InMnAs at room temperature. The observed spectrum is attributed to the (Γ8v→Γ6c) transition at the fundamental bandgap in InMnAs. MCD was found to increase with increasing Mn concentration. The signal is strongest in the heavily Mn-doped sample, where a clear enhancement of the response is seen near the band edge (∼0.34 eV). MCD increases with applied magnetic field and eventually saturates at high fields. The temperature dependence of MCD follows closely the magnetization of the films.
Effects of intermittent nebulization of NONOate, DPTA/NO, on group B Streptococcus-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn piglets.

Background: A single dose of NONOate attenuates pulmonary hypertension (PH) induced by group B Streptococcus (GBS) infusion and this is accompanied by a decrease
Altered thymic structure and mitogen responsiveness in postnatally zinc-deprived mice.

Abstract The influence of postnatal zinc deprivation on the development of thymic strucutre and splenic mitogen responsiveness was investigated by feeding dams of suckling mice, during the first four weeks post-partum diets containing various levels of zinc (9.0 p.p.m. zinc, or marginal deficiency; 5.0 p.p.m. zinc, or moderate deficiency; 2.5 p.p.m. zinc, or severe deficiency; 100 p.p.m. zinc, fed either ad libitum , or isocaloric with the level of inanition observed in moderately deprived mice). Mice deprived of zinc manifested a dramatic retardation of splenic, and most notably, thymic growth and development, far in excess of the degree of stunting observed in the whole animal. Indeed, severely deprived animals possessed only a thymic rudiment. Moderately and severely deprived offspring demonstrated marked depression of splenic responsiveness to the mitogens, Con A, PHA-P, Pokeweed and E. coli lipopolysaccharide. Nonetheless, while response to the mitogens Pokeweed and lipopolysaccharide was depressed, response to the T-cell mitogens Con A and PHA-P was most severely altered. Pups deprived of zinc had only 5–10% of the stimulation index to Con A and PHA-P of ad libitum -fed and food-restricted control animals. The near total elimination of response to mitogens of thymus-derived lymphocytes correlated with the severely hypoplastic thymuses seen in zinc deprived progeny.
An X-autosome fusion chromosome of Caenorhabditis elegans

The translocation mnT12(IV;X) is a fusion of holocentric chromosomes IV and X, the breakpoints occurring near the left end of IV and the right end of X. Animals homozygous for mnT12 are viable and fertile; they contain five pairs of chromosomes rather than the normal set of six pairs. The mnT12 chromosome is larger than all wild-type chromosomes and thus identifies linkage groups IV and X cytologically. Hermaphrodites heterozygous for mnT12 show high frequency meiotic nondisjunction both between mnT12 and the X chromosome, which results in a high incidence of male self progeny (27% compared to the wild-type incidence of 0.2%), and between mnT12 and chromosome IV, which results in a high incidence of self progeny essentially trisomic for chromosome IV (karyotype IV/mnT12/mnT12). The viability of chromosome IV trisomics has been confirmed by constructing animals trisomic for only normal copies of chromosome IV; these animals are morphologically wild type. Meiotic chromosome disjunction in mnT12 homozygotes appears to be normal, although the frequency of recombination between markers that are normally X-linked is significantly reduced. Males of genotype IV/mnT12/0 are fertile. They can be thought of as having a neo-X(mnT12) neo-Y(normal IV) karyotype since it is possible to maintain a male-hermaphrodite stock of C. elegans consisting of such males and hermaphrodites carrying two neo-X chromosomes and no neo-Y; the organism is thus converted from an XO:XX type of sex determination to an XX:XX system.
Preparation and characterization of neutral and oxidized polypyrrole films

Abstract Oxidized and neutral films of polypyrrole have been prepared electrochemically in the absence of oxygen and water. The neutral films are insulating and can be readily oxidized by chemical oxidizing agents to give films of greater conductivity than can be achieved by electrochemical oxidation. Optical spectroscopy provides evidence for the similarity of the polymeric carbonium ion produced by both types of oxidation. NMR studies are consistent with the α,α’ bonding in these polymers; they also show the expected downfield shifts relative to the neutral polymer on both chemical and electrochemical oxidation. ESR studies of both the electrochemically oxidized and the neutral polymer suggest the presence of highly mobile spins.
Induction of passive monovalent cation-exchange activity in heart mitochondria by depletion of endogenous divalent cations.

Abstract Depletion of mitochondrial divalent cations by addition of the ionophore A23187 results in a marked increase in passive 42 K + K + exchange activity. The exchange is activated by increasing pH and temperature and inhibited by added divalent cations. The reaction is independent of the amount of A23187 present, but depends on the concentration of external K + ( K m = 25 mm ). Intramitochondrial 42 K + in cation-depleted mitochondria exchanges passively with external Na + and Li + , but not with choline + . The evidence suggests that removal of mitochondrial divalent cations by A23187 activates the endogenous K + H + exchange component of the mitochondrion and that the activated exchanger promotes cation/cation exchange in the absence of a metabolic pH gradient.
Ceramic Engine Components Under Commercial Production

In the field of diesel engine components, ceramic glow plugs assisting quick start up of chamber diesel engines had been developed in September, 1981 and ceramic swirl chambers followed in commercialization in April, 1983. These ceramic components are currently under commercial production and are installed on passenger cars on the merket.Silicon nitride (Si3N4) is the material of these components, and a lot of mass-production technique has firmly established in order to achieve competitive price and high durability in comparison with the conventional metal components.Because of its excellent heating characteristics, ceramic glow plugs have eliminated the “waiting time” before the start-up of diesel engines. As the result, drivers can enjoy quick starting of engines as they can do with gasoline fueled vehicles. Ceramic swirl chambers could drastically reduce idling noise of diesel engines and remarkably improved starting performance in the cold climate operation.Copyright © 1984 by ASME
BETHE STOPPING-POWER FORMULA FOR STRUCTURED PROJECTILES

It is known that the energy loss in ion-atom collisions is dominated by elastic scattering of one collision partner and excitation or ionization of the second. This is true for both structured and structureless projectiles. Here, I show that this fact leads to a relatively simple extension of the Bethe stopping-power formula for structureless projectiles to structured projectiles. The formula replaces the Bethe mean excitation energy with two other mean energies which reflect the elastic scattering factor of the otherwise structureless projectile. The expression is symmetrical in the center-of-mass system. The formula is in excellent agreement with numerical calculations, when the numerical calculations are asymptotic. To obtain the extended Bethe stopping formula, it is necessary to evaluate integrals over energy and momentum transfer involving generalized oscillator strengths, properly treating the energy-dependent lower limit in the momentum transfer integral. I do this by a constructive procedure using two cutoffs (instead of the traditional one) in momentum transfer. Peek had earlier developed a procedure to address the question of whether the Bethe mean excitation energy calculated with optical oscillator strengths is the same as the Bethe mean excitation energy appearing in the stopping power formula. I show that the result of themore » constructive procedure agrees with the result of Peek in the asymptotic limit, and I develop a criterion to determine the asymptotic limit. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}« less
Structure and siderophore activity of ferric schizokinen

Schizokinen, a citrate-containing dihydroxamate, is a siderophore produced by Bacillus megaterium and Anabaena sp. The involvement of the citrate α-hydroxycarboxylate moiety in iron chelation was investigated by comparing the iron binding behavior of schizokinen with that of acetylschizokinen, a derivative in which the citrate hydroxyl group was modified by acetylation. Ferric schizokinen was found to exhibit an absorption spectrum (λmax = 460 nm) characteristic of a dihydroxamate below pH 2.5, with an isosbestic shift to a citrate dihydroxamate spectrum (λmax = 395 nm) above pH 4. Ferric acetylschizokinen also had a dihydroxamate absorption spectrum (λmax = 465 nm) at low pH. However, its spectral shift (λmax = 420 nm) and intensity above pH 4 were more typical of a ferric trihydroxamate. The molecular weight and electrophoretic mobility of ferric acetylschizokinen are consistent with a dimeric Fe2 (acetylschizokinen)3 structure, whereas ferric schizokinen appears to exist as a monomeric 1:1 complex Despite the differences in molecular weight and α-hydroxycarboxylate coordination, both complexes are effective in promoting iron uptake in Anabaena.
A FEW EXAMPLES OF PLASMA HORIZONSfn1

The concept of the plasma horizon, defined as the boundary of the region in which an infinitely thin plasma can be supported against Coulomb attraction by a magnetic field, shows that the argument of selective accretion does not rule out the existence of charged black holes embedded in a conducting plasma. A detailed account of the covariant definition of plasma horizon is given and some examples of plasma horizons are presented. 7 references. (BJG)
Wavelet feature extraction of HRR radar profiles using generalized Gaussian distributions for automatic target recognition

We propose a WAVELET-based signal classification technique using Generalized Gaussian Distributions for obtaining the smallest set of wavelet bases required to discriminate a set of High Range Resolution (HRR) target class signals. The HRR target recognition approach utilizes a best-bases algorithm that relies on wavelets and local discriminants for feature extraction and for minimizing the dimension of the original target signal. The feature vectors are wavelet bases that capture unique information on each set of target class signals; we examined six target classes in this study. To reduce the feature space and to obtain the most salient features for classification, we used a wavelet-based feature extraction method that relies on generalized Gaussians and Principle Component Analysis techniques. The method involved accurately models the marginal distributions of the wavelet coefficients using a generalized Gaussian density (GGD). Principle Component Analysis was used to obtain the best set of super-wavelet coefficients/features comprising each target class.