cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural Evolution of Hexadecanethiol Monolayers on Gold during Assembly: Substrate and Concentration Dependence of Monolayer Structure and Crystallinity

The structures of hexadecanethiol (HDT) self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on gold assembled for up to 11 days from ethanolic HDT solutions are reported. Gold|HDT films were periodically removed from 0.001, 0.1, 1, or 10 mM HDT solution and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared external reflection spectroscopy (FTIR-ERS). FTIR-ERS data provide evidence for an ongoing increase in SAM crystallinity and, in some cases, a decrease in average chain tilt angle with respect to the surface normal during this long assembly time. SAM crystallinity, judged by line shape and position, increased more rapidly for more concentrated HDT solutions but appears to converge on the same final value independent of HDT concentration in the range of 10-6 to 10-2 M. Computer-optimized fits to the ensemble of C−H stretching bands between 2800 and 3000 cm-1 made on ∼50 different SAMs which were prepared under a wide range of conditions return surprisingly consistent average tilt and twist angles. For Au on Cr-primed glass the absolut...
Quantum Fisher information and the qudit depolarization channel

The quantum Fisher information is derived for the task of identifying the qudit depolarizing channel with any dimension. The identification scheme in which a pure state channel input is entangled with an ancilla system is shown to dominate other schemes for all qudit depolarizing channels of any dimension and any depolarizing rate. This extends known results for the qubit depolarizing channel. This dominance, though, is not robust; if the ancilla system itself undergoes any degree of depolarization, no matter how small, entanglement with the ancilla is no longer necessarily optimal. The quantum score operator for the qudit depolarizing channel has a special "quasi-classical" form, readily yielding these various results.
Theoretical Response of Laser Aerosol Spectrometers and Data Inversion by Stochastic Reconstruction

Laser optical particle spectrometers have been used to obtain real-time particle counts and infer mass information over a substantial portion of the PM2.5 mass range by means of dynamic aerosol calibrations. The theoretical response of such instruments is quite calculable, as many authors have demonstrated, but the total response still has some problem areas. This article addresses the theoretical response, comparing the calculations to the instrument calibration and other experimental data. Other instrument characteristics, particularly the particle path through the instrument, affect the total response. When the whole instrument is considered, theoretical predictions of response with changes of index of refraction can be made with some confidence. The calculated response of such spectrometers is nonmonotonic with particle size for most indices of refraction, making inversion of the acquired data difficult. A data inversion algorithm has been devised to incorporate all the response effects and overcome t...
Excitation spectrum and electromagnetic properties of the electron-exciton bound states in molecular crystals☆

Abstract A self-consistent approach is used to study the excitation spectrum due to the coherent electron-exciton pairing for a two-level system of a molecular crystal. It is shown that the interaction between an excited electron and a Frenkel exciton, which are located at adjacent lattice sites in the crystal, leads to the formation of a bound state provided that certain conditions are satisfied. The excitation spectrum is found to be of the superconductivity type and the electron-exciton quasiparticle moves through the crystal with definite energy and wavevector. The gap function due to the electron-exciton pairing is calculated at zero temperature and an expression for the ground-state energy is derived. Then the electromagnetic properties of the electron-exciton bound states are discussed. An expression for the dielectric function is obtained describing the interaction between the transverse photons and the two charged quasiparticles which arise from the electron-exciton pairing. In the presence of electron-exciton pairing, the paramagnetic current consists of two terms arising from the two frequency modes, which in the long-wavelength limit cancel each other to the order of Δ/EνO, where Δ is the gap function due to the electron-exciton pairing and EνO is the energy difference between the excited and ground state. Thus for Δ ⪡ EνO the diamagnetic current in the long-wavelength limit is the same as in London's theory indicating the existence of the Meissner effect. In the absence of pairing the diamagnetic current vanishes.
Quantification of thermal anomalies in sediments around salt structures

Abstract The temperature distribution through time in the subsurface has an important impact on the generation of hydrocarbons. It is therefore of interest to model the spatial variation of the temperature through time and the causes of the variation. The thermal conductivity of salt is a factor of two to three times higher than that of typical sediments. Salt structures often display large vertical relief and so provide paths of low thermal resistance for the conduction of heat from depth to the surface. Thus heat tends to be focused through an uprising salt structure at the expense of surrounding basal sediments. The focused heat re-enters the sediments near the apex of the salt structure, so that sediments around the salt apex arc warmer than the sediments at the same depth far from the salt structure, while sediments close to the salt, and in the secondary rim synclines, are cooler than sediments far from the salt at the same depth. A novel quantitative procedure enables modeling of the combined self-consistent evolution of salt and sediments. The impact of the salt on the temperature distribution through time can then be calculated. The relative effects of the height and width of the salt structures in producing significant anomalies arc demonstrated through different examples. The vertical extension of the oil window near the salt promotes earlier onset of maturation in sediments near the salt apex and delays conversion of trapped oil to gas in the deeper sediments when compared to the regional picture. Knowledge of the spatial temperature history can then be incorporated with that of the modeled structural evolution of migration pathways and trap development, thus providing an integrated picture of the dynamic evolution of salt and sediments. The examples presented illustrate the importance of modeling the thermal history in order to reduce the exploration risk near salt structures.
Constructing a conceptual framework of patient-reported outcomes for metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Abstract Objective A conceptual framework for patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is a structured representation of outcome concepts and issues. Our aim was to develop a conceptual framework of PROs for hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) to support measurement clarity. Methods Relevant outcome issues were identified from review of recent clinical trials. This provided content for an interview with 15 metastatic HRPC patients and a survey of 10 practitioners. All participants were asked about the relevance and importance of 26 outcomes and were allowed to nominate new outcomes. Practitioners were also asked to determine which outcomes endorsed by patients were attributable to the disease (symptoms) versus treatment (side effects). Analyses of archived clinical trial data were used to verify and augment the interview and survey results. Results Patients endorsed 11 concerns as relevant and important to HRPC including general pain, bone pain, urinary problems, fatigue, appetite loss, constipation, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, diarrhea, PSA anxiety, and changes in self image. Practitioner judgments helped classify each concern into one of four categories, disease symptom, treatment side effect, both symptom and side effect, or psychological concern. Additionally, patients endorsed (and practitioners confirmed) the relevance and importance of several general domains of quality of life. Analyses of archived data confirmed the importance of these issues and suggested two additional concerns. Conclusion Findings were used to propose a conceptual framework of PROs for metastatic HRPC. Such frameworks can be used to help specify targets for assessment in clinical studies such as treatment trials.
Prospects for energy cooperation in the Caspian Sea

Abstract Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991, the Caspian Sea region has been seen as a potential major oil and natural gas reservoir. For more than a decade, the five nations that share the Caspian—Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan—have sought to develop the basin's hydrocarbon resources. This paper provides an assessment of these resources and examines two major hurdles: lack of consensus on the legal status of the Caspian and disagreement of the most cost effective pipeline routes. It argues that oil and natural gas from the Caspian is certain to contribute to global energy security. However, the Caspian Sea should not be seen as a replacement to the Persian Gulf.
Pediatric Vaccines on the Horizon

Vaccines have saved the lives of millions of children and continue to be essential interventions to control infectious diseases among people of all ages. The list of recommended vaccines for children has expanded in recent years; however, many viral, bacterial and parasitic infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Improved vaccines to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis infections in children will soon be available. Recent scientific advances are being applied to design new childhood vaccines affording enhanced efficacy, safety and tolerability. Financial barriers and other obstacles to adequate vaccine access need to be eliminated to assure coverage for all children and adolescents.
The effect of the combination of lithium and haloperidol on brain intermediary metabolism in vivo

The effect of the chronic administration of the combination of lithium and haloperidol has been studied in rat brain in vivo. Lithium was administered in food in amounts sufficient to maintain serum lithium levels of 1.0±0.1 mEq/l; haloperidol (1.5 mg/kg) was given i.p. once daily. Control animals pair-fed with the lithium/haloperidol group received either lithium alone, haloperidol alone, or neither drug. Fifteen days after the beginning of the experiments the brains were instantaneously frozen with a rapid brain-freezing device and multiple metabolites were measured in the perchloric acid extract of the tissue. Intermediates examined included selected metabolites of the glycolytic pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, N-acetylaspartate and cofactors such as ATP, CoA, and acetyl-CoA. Estimates of the effects of the treatments on cytoplasmic and mitochondrial redox states were also made. The results showed only minor effects of any of the treatments on any of the parameters studied and little or nothing to distinguish the combination of lithium and haloperidol from either treatment alone.
HTLV-1 transactivator induces interleukin-2 receptor expression through an NF-κB-like factor

Like other viruses that infect primate cells, the human T lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I) stimulates production of some host cell proteins. In particular, HTLV-I infected T cells synthesize interleukin-2 receptor alpha (IL-2R alpha) chain, which is probably induced through the mediation of the tat-I gene product of the virus. Activated T cells contain a trascription factor called NF-kappa B, which stimulates the expression of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) by binding to an 11-base-pair enhancer sequence called kappa B. We have now found evidence that a similar transcription factor is involved in the induction of IL-2R alpha expression by tat-I. We have identified a sequence upstream of IL-2R alpha which is the same as the kappa B site at 9 of 11 base pairs, competes for binding to the kappa B sequence, and serves as a tat-I responsive element when multiple copies are inserted upstream of a heterologous promoter. The tat-I product also induces kappa B and the IL-2R alpha kappa B binding activity in transfected Jurkat T lymphoid leukaemia cells. Both HTLV-I and HIV-1 thus interact with NF-kappa B-like transcription factors which might normally regulate expression of a growth factor receptor gene.
Molecular dynamics, smoothed-particle applied mechanics, and irreversibility

Abstract We explore the relationship of Monaghan's version of “smoothed-particle hydrodynamics,” here called “smoothed-particle applied mechanics,” to nonequilibrium molecular dynamics. We first use smoothed particles to model the simplest possible linear transport problems, as well as a liquid-drop problem. We then consider both gas-phase and dense-fluid versions of Rayleigh-Benard convection, all in two space dimensions. We also discuss the possibility of combining the microscopic and macroscopic techniques in a hybrid scheme well-suited to the massively-parallel modelling of large-scale nonequilibrium flows.
Purchase Lot Sizing Research for MRP Systems

The purchasing function is growing in importance in today's industrial economy. In many purchasing situations there are a number of conflicting considerations that influence the final purchasing decision. The professional purchasing person must make profitable buying decisions under these circumstances. The single item purchase lot sizing literature in the past has served as the foundation for developing and studying the requirements planning based models and techniques. The purchasing manager's methods for making quantity (lot size) decisions are examined. Significant literature on the subject is classified and a taxonomy provided. Variations within the purchase lot sizing literature are discussed. Purchase lot sizing literature has important limitations by focusing exclusively on lot sizing as the relevant criterion for making economic order size decisions. A logical extension would be to include, the economic performance of alternative lot size procedures in a capacitated Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) environment. Another extension should consider the economics of jointly ordering from one vendor.
The facial nerve in congenital middle ear malformations

The two most common anomalies of the facial nerve encountered in patients with a congenital malformation of the middle ear are displacement of the nerve and lack of a bony cover, two conditions that place the nerve at risk of being injured by the unwary surgeon. Malformations of the stapes are often found in association with facial nerve anomalies and may range from underdevelopment to complete absence. A congenital absence of the oval window is not uncommon. The position of the facial nerve in relation to the location and maturation of the ossicles will determine the method of ossicular chain repair. Creation of a new oval window by drilling may require the surgeon to purposely displace the facial nerve to ensure a more direct alignment of the prosthesis with the vestibule. Any part of the incus or malleus may be contoured by drilling to accommodate the loop end of the wire-piston prosthesis. An aberrant course of the facial nerve was found in 13/54 (24%) ears having a congenital malformation of the middle ear. All 54 ears had a patent external ear canal and an identifiable tympanic membrane. Patients with atresia or stenosis of the external ear canal were specifically excluded from this study.
Reduced Absorption of Light at High Laser Power Densities

IN experiments with pulsed lasers, methylene blue has been used frequently as a dye to absorb the energy1. In conjunction with heating experiments we measured the laser energy (giant ruby pulse) transmitted through a methylene blue solution and noticed a higher transmission than is derivable from ordinary spectrophotometric data2.
Reversible Displacement of Polyagostic Interactions in 16e [Mn(CO)(R(2)PC(2)H(4)PR(2))(2)](+) by H(2), N(2), and SO(2). Binding and Activation of eta(2)-H(2) trans to CO Is Nearly Invariant to Changes in Charge and cis Ligands.

Electrophilic 16e [Mn(CO)(R(2)PC(2)H(4)PR(2))(2)](+) complexes (R = Et, Ph) are synthesized by metathesis of MnBr(CO)(R(2)PC(2)H(4)PR(2))(2) with Na or Li salts of low-coordinating boron or gallium anions (e.g., [B{C(6)H(3)(3,5-CF(3))(2)}(4)](-) or [Ga(C(6)F(5))(4)] (-)). They contain weak polyagostic interactions that are reversibly displaced by H(2), N(2), and SO(2) (which is a surprisingly weak ligand here). The agostic and H(2) complexes, as well as the gallium anions including the new species [{Ga(C(6)F(5))(3)}(2)(m-Cl)](-), have been characterized by NMR, IR, and X-ray crystallography. The agostic Mn-H distances (e.g., 2.9 A) are much longer than those found for the single agostic interactions in Mo(CO)(diphosphine)(2) and [Mn(CO)(3)(PCy(3))(2)](+). The H-H and also the Mn-H distances have been determined in the H(2) complex by T(1) measurements for both the H(2) and HD isotopomers. IR data and C-O and M-C bond lengths are used to gauge the pi-acceptor strengths of ligands trans to the CO. The agostic C-H bonds are the weakest ligands and also the weakest acceptors, but the H(2) ligand is an excellent acceptor as strong as N(2) and ethylene. The variation of nu(CO) on increasing the basicity of the cis-phosphine (dppe versus depe) in trans-M(CO)(diphosphine)(2)(L) is less than expected and far less than that on increasing the charge on the complex (M = Mn(+) versus Mo). The H-H bond lengths (0.87-0.90 A) and J(HD) NMR couplings (32-34 Hz) in [Mn(CO)(R(2)PC(2)H(4)PR(2))(2)(H(2))](+) and other cationic H(2) complexes with trans-CO are strikingly similar to their neutral analogues and nearly invariant. Activation of H-H in the more electrophilic cationic systems occurs primarily via increased sigma donation from H(2) as compared to the more electron-rich neutral analogues where back-bonding dominates. The nature of the ligand trans to H(2) (the strong acceptor CO here) controls the H-H distance more so than all of the cis ligands combined, especially for cationic complexes.
Ecophysiological adaptation in a diploid-tetraploid complex of treefrogs (Hylidae)

Abstract 1. 1. Sympatric populations of the cryptic treefrog species Hyla chrysoscelis (diploid) and Hyla versicolor (tetraploid) did not differ in body mass, water content or mean dehydration tolerance, but a population of H. versicolor from a higher rainfall locality was significantly less tolerant to desiccation. 2. 2. There was no water content-mediated relationship between body mass and dehydration tolerance in either species, indicating that body size, percentage of body water and dehydration tolerance can vary independently of one another in different populations, as in other hylid frogs. 3. 3. The diploid and tetraploid are capable of converging ecophysiologically when they occupy the same habitat.
Asset Allocation and Asset Location Decisions Revisited

The author applies a mean-variance optimization approach to examine the asset allocation and location decisions made by individuals. The experiment is limited to two assets—stocks and bonds—which are alternatively held through pension or through taxable accounts. They aim to determine the best combination of asset allocation and asset location, effectively asking the question: “to the degree possible should stocks or bonds be located in the tax-sheltered pension account?” The author considers three types of investors: a trader (who realizes all capital gains within a year), an active investor (who realizes all gains each year but pays preferential tax rates), and a passive investor. He finds that, for traders, there is always more than one optimal portfolio, and there is no optimal asset location: Identical portfolio risk and portfolio return can be obtained with different combinations of asset allocation and asset location. For active and passive investors, the optimal portfolio locates, to the degree possible, stocks in taxable accounts. The analysis offers several investment implications. For example, when someone makes the asset-location decision first, the conditional optimal asset mix calls for a relatively large exposure to the asset held in taxable accounts; thus the optimal stock weight is larger when stocks are held in taxable accounts than when they are held in pensions.
Neurophysiological alterations due to diesel exhaust exposure during the neonatal life of the rat

Abstract This study was designed to assess the effects of diesel exhaust on the development of the nervous system in rats as measured by somatosensory and visual evoked potentials (SEPs and VEPs, respectively). SEPs, elicited by 1 mamp, 0.5 msec pulses delivered to the tibial nerve at the tibale, were recorded from the skull overlying the somatosensory projection area on days 28, 35, 42, and 49 postconception (pc). Analysis of the data for day 35 pc double pulse SEPs revealed significantly longer latencies for all peaks of the SEP in pups exposed to diesel exhaust. There were also differences indicating that the electrophysiological recoverability of the nervous system had been compromised in the diesel exhaust exposed group. On day 35 pc, the latencies of all VEP peaks occurring before 300 msec were greater in the exposed group. The differences, however, reached statistical significance only for the P2 peak of the response to the first of the paired stimuli. These data support the hypothesis that diesel exhaust influences the development of the nervous system.
Linear-scaling three-dimensional fragment method for large-scale electronic structure calculations

We present a novel linear scaling ab initio total energyelectronic structure calculation method, which is simple to implement,easily to parallelize, and produces essentially thesame results as thedirect ab initio method, while it could be thousands of times faster.Using this method, we have studied the dipole moments of CdSe quantumdots, and found both significant bulk and surface contributions. The bulkdipole contribution cannot simply be estimated from the bulk spontaneouspolarization value by a proportional volume factor. Instead it has ageometry dependent screening effect. The dipole moment also produces astrong internal electric field which induces a strong electron holeseparation.
Proportional hazards estimate of the conditional survival function

Summary. We introduce a new estimator of the conditional survival function given some subset of the covariate values under a proportional hazards regression. The new estimate does not require estimating the base-line cumulative hazard function. An estimate of the variance is given and is easy to compute, involving only those quantities that are routinely calculated in a Cox model analysis. The asymptotic normality of the new estimate is shown by using a central limit theorem for Kaplan-Meier integrals. We indicate the straightforward extension of the estimation procedure under models with multiplicative relative risks, including non-proportional hazards, and to stratified and frailty models. The estimator is applied to a gastric cancer study where it is of interest to predict patients' survival based only on measurements obtained before surgery, the time at which the most important prognostic variable, stage, becomes known.
The Devil Within: Possession and Exorcism in the Christian West. By Brian P. Levack. (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2013. Pp. xii, 346. $35.00.)

This book is an extremely ambitious study, but its scope is, in fact, more narrow than its title might suggest. Though it contains full chapters on both Christian Antiquity and the Age of Reason, t...
Advances in data representation for hard/soft information fusion

Information fusion is becoming increasingly human-centric. While past systems typically relegated humans to the role of analyzing a finished fusion product, current systems are exploring the role of humans as integral elements in a modular and extensible distributed framework where many tasks can be accomplished by either human or machine performers. For example, "participatory sensing" campaigns give humans the role of "soft sensors" by uploading their direct observations or as "soft sensor platforms" by using mobile devices to record human-annotated, GPS-encoded high quality photographs, video, or audio. Additionally, the role of "human-in-the-loop", in which individuals or teams using advanced human computer interface (HCI) tools such as stereoscopic 3D visualization, haptic interfaces, or aural "sonification" interfaces can help to effectively engage the innate human capability to perform pattern matching, anomaly identification, and semantic-based contextual reasoning to interpret an evolving situation. The Pennsylvania State University is participating in a Multi-disciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program funded by the U.S. Army Research Office to investigate fusion of hard and soft data in counterinsurgency (COIN) situations. In addition to the importance of this research for Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), many of the same challenges and techniques apply to health and medical informatics, crisis management, crowd-sourced "citizen science", and monitoring environmental concerns. One of the key challenges that we have encountered is the development of data formats, protocols, and methodologies to establish an information architecture and framework for the effective capture, representation, transmission, and storage of the vastly heterogeneous data and accompanying metadata -- including capabilities and characteristics of human observers, uncertainty of human observations, "soft" contextual data, and information pedigree. This paper describes our findings and offers insights into the role of data representation in hard/soft fusion.
Integration of cardiac and respiratory motion into MRI roadmaps fused with x-ray

Purpose: Volumetric roadmaps overlaid on live x-ray fluoroscopy may be used to enhance image guidance during interventional procedures. These roadmaps are often static and do not reflect cardiac or respiratory motion. In this work, the authors present a method for integrating cardiac and respiratory motion into magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived roadmaps to fuse with live x-ray fluoroscopy images, and this method was tested in large animals. Methods: Real-time MR images were used to capture cardiac and respiratory motion. Nonrigid registration was used to calculate motion fields to deform a reference end-expiration, end-diastolic image to different cardiac and respiratory phases. These motion fields were fit to separate affine motion models for the aorta and proximal right coronary artery. Under x-ray fluoroscopy, an image-based navigator and ECG signal were used as inputs to deform the roadmap for live overlay. The in vivo accuracy of motion correction was measured in four swine as the ventilator tidal volume was varied. Results: Motion correction reduced the root-mean-square error between the roadmaps and manually drawn centerlines, even under high tidal volume conditions. For the aorta, the error was reduced from 2.4 ± 1.5 mm to 2.2 ± 1.5 mm (p < 0.05). For the proximal right coronary artery, the error was reduced from 8.8 ± 16.2 mm to 4.3 ± 5.2 mm (p < 0.001). Using real-time MRI and an affine motion model it is feasible to incorporate physiological cardiac and respiratory motion into MRI-derived roadmaps to provide enhanced image guidance for interventional procedures. Conclusions: A method has been presented for creating dynamic 3D roadmaps that incorporate cardiac and respiratory motion. These roadmaps can be overlaid on live X-ray fluoroscopy to enhance image guidance for cardiac interventions.
Isothermal Annealing below 60°K of Deuteron Irradiated Noble Metals

Foils of 99.999% pure copper, 99.999% pure silver, and a copper alloy containing 3.78 atomic percent nickel were irradiated near liquid helium temperature with 10.7-Mev deuterons. Annealing up to 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K was performed in a series of isothermal steps. During each anneal the decrease of the radiation-induced resistivity increment with time was observed. Resistivity distribution curves, obtained by assuming that recovery processes with a continuum of activation energies are present, show several small peaks followed by a large peak. The maxima occur at 0.048, 0.080, 0.091, and 0.113 ev in copper and at 0.045, 0.058, and 0.079 ev in silver. The frequency factors for both metals were found to lie between 7.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{10}$ and 3.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{12}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Alloying served to broaden the energy distribution of the recovery processes. Changes in the Debye characteristic temperature of -(15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and -(10\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K were also observed in copper and silver, respectively. Annealing of these changes was about 80% complete at 50\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The dominant mechanism in the low-temperature recovery is believed to be the annihilation of Frenkel pairs, with the interstitials as the mobile defects. A trapping model is proposed to explain why all the resistivity increment does not anneal out once interstitials begin to move.
Size distribution analysis of polymer latex systems via combination of light scattering and ultracentrifugation techniques

Abstract A technique combining zonal ultracentrifugation and angular light scattering has been developed for size distribution analysis of multimodal, polydisperse, and chemically mixed polymer latex systems. Using a density gradient within a preparative ultracentrifuge, colloidal size particles are distributed in the rotor according to size and density. Rate and equilibrium zonal centrifugation principles are utilized to obtain fractions of single chemical species of narrow size distribution. Precise size distribution parameters are then obtained for these fractions using angular light scattering patterns. The technique also permits the calibration of the rotor and the determination of the number of particles as a function of particle diameter for a given system regardless of the real nature of the size distribution. Eighteen latex samples including three different chemical species ranging in modal diameter from 160 to 1056 nm are used to illustrate analyses on a variety of distributions prepared by mixing a number of these latex samples.
A fast solution method for three‐dimensional many‐particle problems of linear elasticity

A boundary element method for solving three-dimensional linear elasticity problems that involve a large number of particles embedded in a binder is introduced. The proposed method relies on an iterative solution strategy in which matrix—vector multiplication is performed with the fast multipole method. As a result the method is capable of solving problems with N unknowns using only O(N) memory and O(N) operations. Results are given for problems with hundreds of particles in which N"O(105). ( 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of the Mermin entropy principle to the “apparatus” density functional theory

An “apparatus” operator approach is presented for the extension of the density functional theory of Hohenberg, Kohn, and Mermin. Using the Mermin entropy principle, a one-to-one correspondence is established between the density matrix for the system and the electron charge density for a finite-temperature system in the presence of an apparatus. In the zero-temperature limit in the absence of an apparatus, the Hohenberg–Kohn theory is recovered. The central aspect of this new density functional theory is that the principle of maximum entropy is applied to the system plus its surroundings under the additional constraint that the electron charge density is given. The system is treated as a subsystem of a composite system and is not necessarily in the equilibrium state as in the Mermin theory. As an example, it is shown how, in principle, excited states are encompassed by the theory.
Increased sensitivity to oxidative stress in a creosote-adapted population of mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)

Abstract With increasing frequency, aquatic organisms inhabit regions where biochemical adaptations to contaminants are essential for survival. The resultant selection for individuals better adapted to a polluted environment may result in a population better able to survive certain stressors, but less fit in terms of other stressors. Research with F 1 offspring of the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus collected from a highly creosote-contaminated site on the Elizabeth River has explored the nature of the resistance demonstrated by this population, as well as some of the costs associated with it. F 1 larvae and juveniles from the Elizabeth River were more able to survive exposure to contaminated sediments from the Elizabeth River, either in the presence or absence of UV light, than were F 1 offspring of control site (York River) Fundulus . On the other hand, the Elizabeth River F 1 population was more susceptible to phototoxicity as mediated by pure anthracene or fluoranthene, indicating a possible cost of adaptation. Furthermore, preliminary studies suggest that Elizabeth River Fundulus are more sensitive to another source of oxidative stress, H 2 O 2 . Ongoing studies are exploring the biochemical and genetic bases of these differences.
Extended model free approach to analyze correlation functions of multidomain proteins in the presence of motional coupling.

Interdomain motion in proteins plays an important role in biomolecular interaction. Its presence also complicates interpretation of many spectroscopy measurements. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) ...
Infantile Myofibromatosis: A Nontraumatic Cause of Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy

Most injuries to the neonatal brachial plexus occur acutely at birth, and are iatrogenic in origin. However, when weakness is accompanied by atrophy, nontraumatic etiologies should be considered. The differential diagnosis of chronic congenital brachial plexopathy includes cervical bone malformations, humeral osteomyelitis, varicella, and compression from various types of infantile tumors. An illustrative male infant delivered at 37 weeks of gestation with wasted musculature of the left upper arm, ipsilateral Horner's syndrome, and a hemidiaphragm is presented. On further examination, this patient manifested an underlying cervical tumor compressing the brachial plexus. Diagnostic steps leading to the pathologic identification of a solitary cervical myofibroma included physical examination, electromyography, radiographic imaging, and open biopsy. This report emphasizes the importance of differentiating acute from chronic congenital plexus palsy and of recognizing the possibility that infection or neoplasm may underlie the latter.
High uniformity magnetic coil for search of neutron electric dipole moment

We present in this article a prototype magnetic coil that has been developed for a new search for the electric dipole moment of the neutron at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The gradients of the magnetic field generated by the coil have been optimized to reduce known systematic effects and to yield long polarization lifetimes of the trapped particles sampling the highly uniform magnetic field. Measurements of the field uniformity of this prototype magnetic coil are also presented.
Excessive, optimal, and insufficient fundraising among the Nonprofit Times 100

Using a six-factor model of donations, we estimate the effect on net donations; i.e., donations less fundraising expenditures, of a one percent marginal increase in fundraising expenditures, for each sample nonprofit organization (NPO) from the Nonprofit Times 100 from 2000 to 2002. No prior study of U.S. NPOs estimates the effect of fundraising expense on net donations. We then use these estimates and what we argue is the correct benchmark, the ratio of fundraising expense to donations, to provide evidence, for each NPO, on whether the NPO's level of fundraising is ‘excessive,’ ‘optimal,’ or ‘insufficient,’ relative to the level that maximizes net donations. All prior studies using log-log models use what we suggest is an incorrect benchmark for evaluating NPO fundraising behavior. The estimated effect of a 1% increase in fundraising on net donations varies widely across NPOs in our sample—from an increase in net donations of 0.18% of gross donations to a decrease of 0.66% of gross donations. Of the 76 Nonprofit Times 100 NPOs with usable data in 2002, we estimate that 24 engaged in ‘excessive’ fundraising, 18 engaged in ‘insufficient’ fundraising, and 34 did not engage in ‘excessive’ or ‘insufficient’ fundraising; i.e., we could not reject the null hypothesis of ‘optimal’ levels of fundraising. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
School Counselors' Self-Perceived Asian American Counseling Competence

Two hundred and three school counselors were surveyed online concerning their perceived competence when counseling Asian American students. Although the counselors had limited interactions with the population, they reported a self-assured overall competency. Specifically, they felt competent about the awareness domain, somewhat competent about the skills domain, yet unsure about the knowledge domain. Recruiting counselors with Asian backgrounds and continuously providing preservice training and professional development concerning Asian American counseling are recommended.
The Drosophila RNA‐binding protein Lark is required for the organization of the actin cytoskeleton and Hu‐li tai shao localization during oogenesis

Elimination of maternal expression of the Drosophila RNA-binding protein Lark results in female sterility. Here we show that this is due to a requirement during oogenesis. Developing oocytes from lark1 germline clones (GLCs) are often smaller than normal due to defects in nurse cell cytoplasmic “dumping.” Late-stage egg chambers from lark1 GLCs contain low levels of cortical and ring canal associated actin and completely lack nurse cell cytoplasmic F-actin bundles, suggesting the “dumping” phenotype is due to a defect in the actin cytoskeleton. Localization of Hu-li tai shao (Hts) protein, a component of ring canals, is also disrupted in these mutants. In addition to the dumpless phenotype, we observed a buildup of late-stage egg chambers, a phenotype that correlates with the decrease in egg-laying observed in the mutants. We postulate that this phenotype is due to defects in the cytoskeletal integrity of eggs since retained and oviposited eggs are fragile and often deflated. These mutant phenotypes are likely due to disruption of an RNA-binding function of Lark as similar phenotypes were observed in flies carrying specific RNA-binding domain mutations. We propose that Lark functions during oogenesis as an RNA-binding protein, regulating mRNAs required for nurse cell transport or apoptosis. genesis 40:90–100, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Protein substrates for cGMP-dependent protein phosphorylation in cilia of wild type and atalanta mutants of Paramecium.

In the ciliated protozoan Paramecium, swimming direction is regulated by voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the ciliary membrane. In response to depolarizing stimuli, intraciliary Ca2+ rises, triggering reversal of the ciliary power stroke and backward swimming. One class of Ca2+ -unresponsive behavioral mutants of Paramecium, atalanta mutants, cannot swim backward even though they have functional Ca2+ channels in their ciliary membrane. Several atalanta mutants were characterized with regard to several Ca2+ -dependent activities, but no significant difference between wild type and the mutants was detected. However, one allelic group, atalanta A (initially characterized by Hinrichsen and Kung [1984: Genet. Res. Camb. 43:11–20]), showed a helical swimming path of opposite handedness from that of wild-type cells when detergent-permeabilized cells (“models”) were reactivated with MgATP. When cGMP-dependent protein kinase purified from wild-type cells was added to atalanta A models, the handedness of the swimming path was reversed. Cyclic GMP stimulated in vitro phosphorylation of several proteins in isolated cilia, and the pattern of phosphoproteins was very similar for wild type and atalanta mutants, with one exception: a protein of 59 kDa was phosphorylated much less in the mutant ata A. When ciliary proteins were separated by gel electrophoresis and then phosphorylated “on blot” by purified cGMP-dependent protein kinase, phosphoprotein patterns were similar in wild type and ata mutants except that a 48 kDa protein (p48) from ata A3 was more heavily phosphorylated. This difference in p48 phosphorylation was also observed with cGMP-dependent protein kinase purified from ata A3 mutant cells. Ciliary p48 may be part of the mechanism that regulates the orientation of the ciliary power stroke. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Demonstration of new planar capacitor (PCAP) vehicles to evaluate dielectrics and metal barrier thin films

Planar capacitors can quickly test material properties of metals and dielectrics for interconnects. A sidewall capacitor device is used to evaluate metal thin-film barriers. Etch stop planar capacitors in turn can test multi-layer etch stops, exposing differences between leaky and good etch stop films. Fillable planar capacitors are also fabricated and results presented for that class of fill materials.
Isolation and characterization of a human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein containing a high content of O-linked oligosaccharides.

Several disulfide linked glycoprotein complexes were extracted from human cytomegalovirus with a non-ionic detergent and separated by anion exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). One complex had a molecular weight of 93,000 and was classified as gCII-93. Another complex had a molecular weight greater than 200,000 and was classified as gCII-200. Both complexes immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody (9E10). A third set of complexes (classified as gC-I) immunoprecipitated with another monoclonal antibody (41C2). Isolated complexes were reduced, alkylated, and individual glycoproteins separated by gel-filtration HPLC. Glycoproteins with molecular weights of 50–52,000 from gCII-93 and gCII-200 appeared to be the same glycoprotein since they could be immunoprecipitated by 9E10 and had identical peptide maps. The amino sugar content of these glycoproteins was compared to that of higher molecular weight glycoproteins obtained from gCII-200 and to a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 93,000 (gp93 (I)) from gCI. Glycoproteins with molecular weights of 50–52,000 from gCII-93 and gCII-200 contained similar amounts of galactosamine (GalN), glucosamine (GlcN) and sialic acid. However, they contained 2–3 times more GalN than any other glycoprotein from gCII-200 and 10 times more GalN than was detected in gp93 (I). All glycoproteins from gCII-93 or gCII-200 also contained more sialic acid when compared to gp93 (I). GalN in these glycoproteins was present in O-linked oligosaccharides. This was demonstrated by release of low molecular weight oligosaccharides from high molecular weight glycopeptides by mild base hydrolysis and the conversion of GalN to galactosaminitol. Thus, gp 52(II) appears to have a unique phenotype marked by a high amount of O-linked oligosaccharides.
A critique of social indicators analysis and key informants surveys as needs assessment methods

This paper reports data from a pilot study designed to determine the practicality and utility of two differing needs assessment methodologies: social indicators analysis and key informants surveys. The authors found social indicators analysis successfully identified differential areas of need within the SMSA which served as the research site. They suggest it is a practical and valid means for assessing human service needs at a general level. The key informants survey was judged to be less useful. Informants generally were unable to identify the extent of differing types of needs or their geographic distribution. It is suggested additional research utilizing differing designs must be completed before meaningful conclusions can be reached about the utility of the key informants survey as a needs assessment method.
Angular instrument response for photoelectron diffraction using focused, plane-polarized synchrotron beams

Abstract The non-diffractive instrument response function for photoelectron diffraction is summarized for various data collection modes and experimental geometries. Plane-polarization and small focused spots from synchrotron X-ray sources produce very different angular response functions compared to those using standard laboratory flood sources and should be considered in optimizing the experimental design. In the case of sample-scanned photoelectron diffraction, use of a polar rotation axis of the sample in the horizontal plane of the synchrotron beam and the photoelectron detector is shown to have several advantages over the more standard vertical polar axis.
p21 Both Attenuates and Drives Senescence and Aging in BubR1 Progeroid Mice

BubR1 insufficiency occurs with natural aging and induces progeroid phenotypes in both mice and children with mosaic variegated aneuploidy syndrome. In response to BubR1 insufficiency, skeletal muscle, fat, and lens tissue engage p19(Arf) to attenuate senescence and age-related deterioration. Here, we address how p19(Arf) exerts this caretaker role using BubR1 progeroid mice lacking p53 or its transcriptional target p21. We show that p53 delays functional decline of skeletal muscle and fat in a p21-dependent fashion by inhibiting p16(Ink4a)-mediated senescence of progenitor cells. Strikingly, p53 also attenuates the formation of cataractous lenses, but here its antiaging effect is p21 independent, as we found p21 to promote senescence of lens epithelial cells and cataract formation. Together, these results demonstrate that p53 counteracts tissue destruction in response to BubR1 insufficiency through diverse mechanisms and uncover a causal link between senescence of the progenitor cell compartment and age-related dysfunction.
Wash Bottle Laboratory Exercises: Iodide-Catalyzed H2O2 Decomposition Reaction Kinetics Using the Initial Rate Approach

A wash bottle water displacement scheme is used to determine the kinetics of the iodide-catalyzed H2O2 decomposition reaction. The reagents (total volume 5.00 mL) are added to a test tube that is placed in a wash bottle containing water. The mass of the water displaced in ∼60 s is measured. The reaction is first order in H2O2 and first order in I−. The average rate constant reported by students is 0.0112 ± 0.0002 M−1 s−1 (N = 17) at ∼20 °C.
Images of Enchantment: Visual and Performing Arts of the Middle East

This book brings a new approach to the study of the arts of the Middle East. By dealing in one volume with dance, music, painting, and cinema, as experienced and practiced not only within the Middle East but also abroad, Images of Enchantment breaks down the artificial distinctions -- of form, geography, 'high' and 'low' art, performer and artist -- that are so often used to delineate the subjects and processes of Middle Eastern artistic culture. The eighteen essays in this book cover themes as diverse as Bedouin dance, the music of Arab Americans, cinema in Egypt and Iran, Hollywood representations of the Middle East, and contemporary Sudanese painting. The contributions come from scholars and critics and from the artists themselves. Together, they present a wide-ranging and holistic view of the arts in their social, political, anthropological, and gender contexts.