cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of collimating grids for an x-ray solar telescope using LIGA methods

We are fabricating sub-collimating X-ray grids that are to be used in an orbiting solar X-ray telescope. The telescope optics consist of twelve rotating pairs of high aspect ratio grids. The pitch for the grids ranges from 34 μm to 317 μm. The grid thickness-to-grid-slit ratio must be approximately 50:1, resulting in grid thicknesses of 1 to 10 millimeters. We are implementing a design in which a 34 μm pitch, free-standing PMMA grid is fabricated with 20 μm wide slits through a 800 μm thickness. After exposure and developing, metal is electrodeposited into the slits in the PMMA grid and the PMMA is left in place to hold the individual metal pieces. For optimum imaging performance, the root-mean-square pitch of the two grids of each pair must match to within 1 part in 10000 and simultaneous exposures of stacked sheets of PMMA have insured that this requirement is met.
Physical Gelation of Gelatin Studied with Rheo-Optics

A rheo-optical device outfitted with a Peltier temperature control for rapid temperature changes has been constructed that allows simultaneous measurement of the optical rotation of light and the controlled-stress rheology. Optical rotation provides a direct in situ assessment of the extent of triple helix reversion in a gelatin solution undergoing physical gelation in the rheometer. Thermal gelation of gelatin was monitored over a wide range of concentrations and temperatures. Assuming dynamic scaling theory applies, viscosity data below the gel point were used to evaluate the gel point and determine the value of the viscosity exponent. Above the gel point, creep-recovery experiments are used to measure the shear modulus and determine the dynamic scaling elastic modulus exponent. During thermal gelation, the time-dependent optical rotation shows an initial rapid growth region where new helices are formed, followed by a slower growth region involving helix lengthening. For cases where the gel point occurs...
The influence of steric constraints on carbon-13 NMR aromatic substituent effects

Abstract The effect of aromatic substituents in sterically hindered environments on 13C NMR chemical shifts of the aromatic carbons was evaluated. The resulting 13C NMR group effects were then used in other hindered systems to successfully predict chemical shifts.
Mutagenesis of apobec-1, the catalytic subunit of the mammalian apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, reveals distinct domains that mediate cytosine nucleoside deaminase, RNA binding, and RNA editing activity.

Apolipoprotein (apo) B48 is synthesized by mammalian small intestine as a result of post-transcriptional RNA editing. This process is mediated by an enzyme complex containing a catalytic subunit, apobec-1, which is homologous to other cytidine deaminases, particularly in a domain (H/C)-(A/V)-E-(X)24-30-P-C-(X)2-C which coordinates zinc. apobec-1, expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein, demonstrates both apoB RNA editing and cytidine deaminase activity. His61, Cys93, and Cys96, the putative zinc-coordinating residues, were mutated to Arg, Ser, and Ser, respectively, with loss of RNA editing activity and either great reduction or abolition of cytidine deaminase activity. Mutation of the catalytically active Glu63 residue to Gln and Pro92 to Leu abolished both cytidine deaminase and RNA editing activity. The conservative His61 → Cys mutation, which should coordinate zinc, retained both editing and cytidine deaminase activity. Thus, zinc binding is required for both apoB RNA editing and cytidine deaminase activity. Mutation of the first four leucines within the heptad repeat of the leucine-rich region (LRR) of apobec-1 resulted in reduced RNA editing but preservation of wild-type cytidine deaminase activity. GST/APOBEC-1 was also demonstrated to cross-link to apoB RNA. Mutation of His61 → Arg abolished RNA binding, while the Glu63 → Gln and Cys96 → Ser mutant proteins showed wild-type levels of RNA binding. The remaining mutants had reduced levels of activity. Overexpression of wild-type apobec-1 in McA 7777 cells resulted in a 5-6-fold increase in editing of endogenous apoB. Transfection of the His61 → Cys, LRR, and Cys93 → Ser mutants increased endogenous editing 2-3-fold, while Glu63 → Gln and His61 → Arg mutants acted as dominant negatives, reducing endogenous editing. These data suggest that apobec-1 has distinct functional domains which modulate activity in the context of the apoB mRNA editing enzyme.
Irreversibility Approach for Sustainability Analysis of a Netshape Manufacturing System

The approach advocated in this work implements energy/exergy analysis and indirectly an irreversibility evaluation to a continuous manufacturing process involving discrete netshape production of compact heat exchangers through a complex controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) process. To the best knowledge of the authors, this investigation constitutes the first effort in merging a thorough study of materials processing phenomena and an exergy/irreversibility approach for sustainability analysis in manufacturing. The system under consideration involves fifteen cells of a continuous ramp-up heating, melting, reactive flow, isothermal dwell, and rapid quench solidification processing sequence during a controlled atmosphere brazing of aluminum compact heat exchangers. Detailed mass, energy, and exergy balances were performed. The irreversibility sources were identified and the quality of energy utilization at different processing steps determined.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Ligand binding and denaturation titration of free and matrix-bound triosephosphate isomerases.

Abstract Guanidine hydrochloride titration of crystalline human and rabbit triosephosphate isomerases caused a concomitant loss of catalytic activity and dissociation of the dimeric enzymes. The most basic human isozyme (AA) was found to be more labile than the BB or AB dimers and may account for the low levels of the AA component in vivo. The substrates, as well as α-glycerolphosphate and 2-phosphoglycollate, protected the enzyme from inactivation by guanidine hydrochloride with the latter ligand being the most effective. Dissociation constants and the stoichiometry of binding of these ligands as assessed from the differential rates of guanidine-induced inactivation in the presence of the ligands were in good agreement with Ki and Km values determined from steady-state kinetics. Covalent binding of the isomerase directly to an agarose matrix markedly increased the stability of the enzyme and drastically modified its ligand-binding properties. On the other hand, when the enzyme was coupled to the matrix via an acetamidoethyl spacer, it closely resembled the free enzyme with respect to stability and ligand binding.
Multiple instance feature learning for landmine detection in ground-penetrating radar data

Multiple instance learning (MIL) is a technique used for identifying a target pattern within sets of data. In MIL, a learner is presented with sets of samples; whereas in standard techniques, a learner is presented with individual samples. The MI scenario is encountered given the nature of landmine detection in GPR data, and therefore landmine detection results should benefit from the use of multiple instance techniques. Previously, a random set framework for multiple instance learning (RSF-MIL) was proposed which utilizes random sets and fuzzy measures to model the MIL problem. An improved version C-RSF-MIL was recently developed showing a increase in learning and classification performance. This new approach is used to learn and characterize features of landmines within GPR imagery for the purposes of classification. Experimental results show the benefits of using C-RSF-MIL for landmine detection in GPR imagery.
Nurses' perceptions of conflict as constructive or destructive

Aims The aim of this study was to examine nurses' perceptions of constructive and destructive conflicts and their management among nurses. Background Conflict among nurses is common and has been associated with lack of collaboration, lack of communication and disruptive behaviour, with the potential to have negative impact teamwork. However, unlike the broader social science literature, positive views of conflict are scarce in the nursing literature. Given the various functions of conflict and the high stakes of ineffective conflict management in nursing, it is necessary to examine how nurses understand both sides of conflict: constructive and destructive. Design A qualitative descriptive design. Methods Data were collected from 34 full time nurses as part of a conflict skills training course offered over 6 months beginning in October 2009. Each participant was asked to write a weekly journal about conflicts in his/her work place. Result Data yielded 163 entries (82 classified as constructive and 81 as destructive). Results showed that quality patient care and cooperative communication contributed to the perception that conflict is constructive in nature. The central underlying themes in nurses' perceptions of destructive conflict were time constraints, role conflict and power differences that are not managed through communication. Conclusion This article helps to identify nursing perceptions of constructive and destructive conflict and to understand complexities nurses face during their interactions with other nurses, physicians and patients. The insight that constructive views are related to constructive processes provides an excellent opportunity for an educational intervention, so that we can educate nurses to analyse problems and learn how to manage conflict with effective collaborative processes.
Functional MRI and Its Applications to the Clinical Neurosciences

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an emerging methodology for studying regional brain function in vivo at relatively high spatial and temporal resolution. Because MRI methods are comparatively inexpensive and entirely noninvasive, fMRI has rapidly become one of the most popular approaches for brain mapping in cognitive and systems neuroscience. There has also been great interest in using fMRI to assist in clinical diagnosis and management, with promising demonstrations of feasibility in a number of applications. Both resting and task-specific regional brain activity can be measured, primarily utilizing alterations in regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) as a surrogate marker for neural function. This article reviews the biophysical and physiological bases of fMRI and its applications to the clinical neurosciences, with particular attention to potential challenges of fMRI under pathophysiological conditions. Carefully controlled prospective evaluation of clinical fMRI in its various potential applications will be required for fMRI to be validated as a clinically useful tool. Because the technology for fMRI is widely available, its impact could be substantial.
Endovascular stent-graft management of thoracic aortic diseases

The traditional standard therapy for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is open operative repair with graft replacement of the diseased aortic segment. Despite important advances in surgical techniques, anesthetic management, and post-operative care over the last 30 years, the mortality and morbidity of surgery remains considerable, especially in patients at high risk for thoracotomy because of coexisting severe cardiopulmonary abnormalities or other medical diseases. The advent of endovascular stent-graft technology provides an alternative to open surgery for selected patients with TAA. The initial experience suggests that stent-graft therapy potentially may reduce the operative risk, hospital stay and procedural expenses of TAA repair. These potential benefits are especially attractive for patients at high risk for open TAA repair. Current results of endovascular TAA therapy document operative mortalities of between 0 and 4%, aneurysm thrombosis in 90 and 100% of cases, and paraplegia as a complication in 0 and 1.6% of patients. The early success of stent-graft repair of TAA has fostered the application of these devices for the management of a wide variety of thoracic aortic pathologies, including acute and chronic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating ulcer, traumatic injuries, and other diseases. The results of prospective controlled trials that compare the outcomes of stent-graft therapy with those of surgical treatment in patients with specific types of aortic disease are anxiously awaited before recommendations regarding the general use of these new devices can be made with confidence.
Results and Perspectives of RHIC experiments

We discuss Results and Perspectives of RHIC experiments beginning from an overview of the physics and experimental tools at RHIC and then introducing the highlights of the experimental results to date: (i) collective ﬂow, (ii) hard probes and (iii) other supporting evidence for the creation of a strongly coupled quark-guon plasma. We give an outlook to further, new physics results to be expected from RHIC experiments.
Music and Affective Phenomena A 20-Year Content and Bibliometric Analysis of Research in Three Eminent Journals

The purpose of this study was to establish trends in the study of music and affective phenomena through a content and bibliometric analysis of three eminent music research journals, the Journal of ...
The Composite Endpoint Protocol (CEP): scalable endpoints for terabit flows

We introduce the Composite Endpoint Protocol (CEP), which efficiently composes a set of transmission elements to support high speed flows which exceed the capabilities of a single computer. CEP's unique capabilities include: (1) allowing multiple processes (a composite endpoint) to take part in a single logical connection, (2) providing a simple, flexible interface to describe data layouts and composite endpoint communication to user programs, (3) providing efficient transfer scheduling which coordinates heterogeneous nodes to achieve good composite performance, and (4) a scalable architecture which supports large numbers of participants in a composite endpoint. We describe the design of CEP, an initial implementation, and an empirical evaluation exhibiting the above capabilities. We have achieved speeds over 32 Gbps using commodity cluster hardware with linear scalability performance 7x naive approaches, and low overhead.
Pressure and temperature dependences of the ionic conductivity of CsCl

Measurements of the pressure and temperature dependences of the ionic conductivity of CsCl combined with earlier diffusion and/or ionic conductivity measurements at atmospheric pressure have allowed determination of energies and volume relaxations associated with the formation and motion of Schottky defects in this crystal. An important result is that the lattice relaxation associated with vacancy formation is large and outward, the formation volume for Schottky pairs being 1.8-2.0 times the molar volume. The association energy of ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{+}$ vacancies and divalent cation impurities is estimated to be 0.36 eV.
A TYPE-SPECIFIC PROTEIN FROM PNEUMOCOCCUS

The isolation and characterization of a type-specific M protein from pneumococcus are described. This protein is similar chemically in all respects studied to the M proteins of group A streptococci. No immunological crossreactions have been observed, however, between M proteins of the two species. Strains of capsular type I pneumococcus have been encountered which contain different M proteins. The same is true for capsular type II pneumococcus. It is apparent, therefore, that the capsular polysaccharides and M proteins can vary independently of each other.
Periodicity of the γ-ray transient event of 5 March 1979

An unusual gamma-ray burst event was observed on 5 March 1979 by nine different spacecraft. The position of the event has been accurately determined as r.a. = 5 h 25.95 min, dec = -66 deg 07.1 arcmin (epoch 1950.0), coincident with the location of the supernova remnant N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The burst was of very high intensity, and if isotropic and located at the distance (approximately 55 kpc) of N49 had a peak luminosity of greater than 10 to the 44th erg/sec. Even more interesting is the obvious 8-s periodicity of the event, following the initial very intense outburst. The time history and power spectrum of this event as determined from Pioneer Venus Orbiter data is here reported.
Changing concepts in the treatment of sustained atrial fibrillation.

Reasons are stated for the prevailing controversial attitudes toward the use of quinidine in atrial fibrillation. The benefits of establishing normal sinus rhythm are cited. Present-day methods for the administration of quinidine are described and precautionary measures to safeguard the patient from serious toxic reactions to the drug are emphasized. Under the circumstances outlined, few patients need be denied the advantage of conversion to normal sinus rhythm.
High-resolution nitrogen and argon adsorption on ZSM-5 zeolites: effects of cation exchange and SiAl ratio

Abstract ZSM-5 zeolites with Si Al ratios of 23, 72 and >400 were synthesized in the laboratory as Na+ and cation (H+, Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+)-exchanged forms and were examined by nitrogen and argon porosimetry. Na-ZSM-5 of any Si Al ratio and high-alumina ZSM-5 ( Si Al =23 ) zeolites of any exchanged cation display single transition adsorption isotherms (type I isotherm) for both nitrogen and argon. However, other cation-exchanged ZSM-5 zeolites of lower alumina contents display step-like isotherms, i.e. two transitions in adsorption, and the second transition occurs between a relative pressure ( P P o ) of 0.15 and 0.2 for nitrogen and between 1·10−3 and 2·10−3 for argon. Calculated micropore size distributions based on argon adsorption show that the Na+ form or high-alumina ZSM-5 samples have a single pore of 0.55 nm as expected, while the other ZSM-5 samples which have a second transition of adsorption display the excepted pore size of 0.55 nm but also an apparent larger pore at 0.77 nm, a non-physical result. The calculated pore size of 0.55 nm for all the ZSM-5 represents its true micropore structure. Variations in the Si Al ratio and exchanged cations have no effect on this calculated value.
Third ventricular enlargement on CT scans in schizophrenia: Association with cerebellar atrophy

The width, length, and ventricle-to-brain area ratio (VBR) of the third ventricle were measured in 55 consecutive young male schizophrenic patients and 27 matched control subjects. No differences in third ventricular dimensions were found between the two groups. However, schizophrenic patients with cerebellar atrophy had a significantly greater mean third ventricular length. Correlations of third ventricular VBR with lateral ventricular VBR, but not with sulcal widening, were found. The possible existence of a subset of schizophrenic patients defined by cerebellar atrophy and third ventricular enlargement is discussed.
Estimating the Propagation and Extent of Cascading Line Outages From Utility Data With a Branching Process

Large blackouts typically involve the cascading outage of transmission lines. We estimate from observed utility data how much transmission line outages propagate, and obtain parameters of a probabilistic branching process model of the cascading. The branching process model is then used to predict the distribution of total number of outages for a given number of initial outages. We study how the total number of lines outaged depends on the propagation as the cascade proceeds. The analysis gives a new way to quantify the effect of cascading failure from standard utility line outage data.
X-RAY STUDIES OF SI/GE/SI(001) EPITAXIAL GROWTH WITH TE AS A SURFACTANT

X-ray standing waves (XSW) and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXD) were used to investigate the crystallinity of ultrathin Ge films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on Si(001) with and without Te as a surfactant. The Ge layer thickness ranged from 1 to 10 ML. The results clearly indicate that Ge films grown with Te have a higher degree of crystallinity compared to those grown without Te. For example, GIXD shows that 9 ML Ge grown on Si(001) with Te is strained in plane; while the same film grown without Te is relaxed. The (004), (022), and (008) XSW results are used to determine the registry of the Ge atoms with respect to the Si lattice. This is compared with macroscopic continuum elasticity theory predictions for Ge/Si(001).
The Relationship of Birth Weight With Longitudinal Changes in Body Composition in Adult Women

Most research on birth weight and adult health status has reported adult measures at a single time point. This study examined the relationship of self-reported birth weight to longitudinal changes in adult body composition in 587 women of the Michigan Bone Health and Metabolism Study, followed from 1992 to 2007 and aged 24–50 years at baseline. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the association between three birth weight categories and women’s 15-year changes in adult weight, height, BMI, waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and fat, lean, and skeletal muscle mass. Body composition measures increased in all women over the 15-year study period. At their adult baseline, high birth weight women weighed 13% more and had waist circumference and lean mass measures that were 5.51 cm and 3.91 kg larger, respectively, than normal birth weight women. No differences were observed in adult body composition between low and normal birth weight women and rates of change in the adult measures did not vary across the birth weight groups. Women heavier at birth continued to be heavier through adulthood, corroborating previous reports based on single measures of adult body composition. Research to address whether higher adult body composition in high birth weight women increases the longitudinal risk for obesity-related chronic diseases is needed.
Two Computer Programs for the Statistical Evaluation of a Weighted Linear Composite

The two computer programs described herein are designed to provide statistics for a weighted linear composite of k component predictor variables. One version of the program (WLCB) is set up for batch processing; the second version (WLCI) is designed to be used in an interactive or demand processing mode on a computer terminal. Although the input/output formats are different for the two versions, both compute the following statistics for a weighted linear composite: (1) mean, (2) variance, (3) standard deviation, and, (4) validity coefficient.
Metrical phonology in speech production

Abstract The theory of metrical phonology has been devised in an attempt to capture a variety of aspects of rhythmic patterns in speech. To date, however, very few of the theory's claims have been tested empirically. In this study, assertions made by E. O. Selkirk (1984 , Phonology and Syntax: The Relation between Sound and Structure , Cambridge, MA: MIT Press) and by B. Hayes (1984 , Linguistic Inquiry , Vol. 15, pp. 33–74) are tested in five experiments of English speech production. In each experiment, a different group of speakers produced short phrases or sentences containing key words which may undergo stress retraction, depending on the stress pattern of the following word. The stress patterns of the key words were assessed by perceptual evaluation and by acoustical analysis of fundamental frequency and segmental duration. The tests uniformly fail to provide support for claims about stress clashing and retraction in English, whereas other results are in accord with previous acoustical studies.
Patient-reported use of collaborative goal setting and glycemic control among patients with diabetes.

Abstract Objective Little is known about how patient–clinician communication leads to better outcomes. Among patients with diabetes, we describe patient-reported use of collaborative goal setting and evaluate whether perceived competency and physician trust mediate the association between collaborative goal setting and glycemic control. Methods Data from a patient survey administered in 2008 to a cohort of insured patients aged 18+ years with diabetes who initiated oral mono-therapy between 2000 and 2005 were joined with pharmaceutical claims data for the prior 12 months and laboratory data for the prior and subsequent 12 months ( N =1065). A structural equation model (SEM) was used to test mediation models controlling for baseline HbA1c. Results The hypothesized mediation model was supported. Patient-reported use of more collaborative goal setting was associated with greater perceived self-management competency and increased level of trust in the physician ( p p Conclusions Findings indicate that engaging patients in collaborative goal setting during clinical encounters has potential to foster a trusting patient–clinician relationship as well as enhance patient perceived competence, thereby improving clinical control. Practice implications Fostering collaborative goal setting may yield payoffs in improved clinical outcomes among patients with diabetes.
The Love/Hate Checklist: A Preliminary Report

The Love/Hate Checklist of 45 “loving” and 45 “hateful” adverbs reliably assessed such actions by parents as perceived by their adult children. The scores on the checklist regarding both parents' loving actions were also significantly correlated with 20 college students' self-concepts but not with their ratings of their parents. Explanations are offered to account for these findings.
Observation of conduction-electron density oscillations at the surface of platinum particles

Anomalously large $^{195}\mathrm{Pt}$ NMR linewidths have been observed in platinum particles with diameters ranging from 33 \AA{} to 200 \AA{}. Spin-echo measurements revealed the presence of nuclear spin-exchange diffusion in large magnetic field gradients attributable to the large indirect exchange interaction in platinum. These data indicate that there are electron spin-density oscillations near the platinum surface consistent with a simple model ascribing free-electron behavior to the $s$-like conduction electrons.
Nd:glass slab laser for x-ray lithography

A Nd:Glass laser has been used to generate laser produced plasmas (LLP). The plasma emission in the keV range useful for X-ray lithography has been measured. Lithography with sub-micron linewidths has been demonstrated with a thin absorbing mask. The Nd:Glass slab laser is operated in a Q-switched one-dimensional unstable resonator. The resulting beam quality is a few times diffraction limited and is focused to an area less than the lO cm2 in our vacuum chamber. We have operated at 5 J up to 4 Hz repetition rate without any degradation of the laser output. Injection mode locking of the Nd:Glass laser with 0.7 ns pulses increases the intensity of the Q-switched laser output by about a factor of 10 and allows us to achieve a total integrated pulse length of less than 10 ns. Optical damage limits the laser intensity. The damage threshold for injection mode locked pulses focused into a Nd:Glass slab outside the laser cavity is about 20 J/cm2. However, we have observed another damage mechanism at lower intensities in Nd:Glass slabs in use in the laser head. Brown discoloration occurs in filaments along the laser beam path and we believe solarization with the help of self-focusing and the ultra- violet flashlamp radiation may be occuring. We are still investigating this phenomenon but at present it is limiting the laser output to only 2 J per pulse. The focused laser intensity is 2.1013 W/cm2 on a solid copper target in our vacuum chamber. The plasma emission in the keV X-ray range has been measured through a variety of thin film X-ray filters with a Hamamatsu micro-channel plate detector. Using the published values for the detector quantum efficiency, the micro-channel plate gain, and the filter's transmission spectra, we estimate that the conversion efficiency in the plasma from laser radiation to soft X-rays of energy greater than 0.5 keV is around 2%. We have performed single-level demonstration exposures of PNMA resist through a 10 im thick aluminised Kapton debris shield and a 4 im thick Boron Nitride X-ray mask supplied by Piero Pianetta the the Stanford Synchroton Research Laboratory. The 1.0 pm linewidth gold absorber patterns on the mask are accurately reproduced in the resist. The PMMA resist exposure rate at a 5 cm working distance from the plasma has been measured as 0.2 micron per lO J of total laser energy so we obtain a single layer exposure in about 30 minutes. The potential for improvement is enormous. The X-ray signal measured through the mask increases exponentially with the laser energy on target so increasing the focused intensity will reduce exposure rates dramatically. Available improvements in higher average power lasers and sensitised resists both offer an order of magnitude improvement over this system . These results indicate excellent potential for commercial LPP X-ray lithography.
Unpacking the Connection Between Terror and Islam

Are countries with large Muslim populations more likely to experience or produce transnational terrorist attacks than countries with fewer Muslims? And if there is a difference, is it attributable to the influence of Islam, or to the economic, social, and political conditions that are common in predominantly Muslim countries? Analyzing all transnational terrorist attacks between 1973 and 2002, this study uses decomposition analysis to identify the relative contributions of the observable and behavioral characteristics of a state on the amount of terrorism that it experiences and produces. The results suggest that Muslim states do not systematically produce more terrorism than non-Muslim states once state repression, human rights abuses, and discrimination against minorities are taken into account.
Avoiding Accidental Data Loss

Does your organization have systematic procedures to remove sensitive data from obsolete equipment, or do you use a somewhat ad hoc process for the cleanup and disposal of old gear? Careless disposal of data storage hardware has led to costly and embarrassing incidents for organizations that discovered too late that their control over media sanitization was inadequate. The guidelines presented here will help organizations review their sanitization procedures and develop a more sound process if needed.
Reliability of inexpensive charcoal and alpha-track radon monitors

A comparison between single short-term radon measurements and annual radon measurements in basements shows that significant uncertainties should be associated with the short-term measurements. Activated charcoal radon monitors which measure radon over a 3 to 7 day interval yield measurements that should carry a ± 90% uncertainty in terms of estimating annual radon concentration. Alpha-track radon monitors which measure radon over a 3 month interval should carry a ± 30% uncertainty. Decisions about home purchases, home remediation and the development of risk characterizations may often be incorrect if currently popular but unrealistically low estimates of uncertainty are applied to short-term radon measurements. Optimal results are obtained from year-long alpha-track measurements.
A new method for simulating fermions

Abstract We apply a stochastic adaptation of the microcanonical simulation method to the numerical simulation of a non-relativistic fermionic system, the spinless Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model of polyacetylene. Various measurements expose much of the well-known physics associated with the transition to a dimerized phase and we conclude that this technique should be capable of simulating two- and three-dimensional lattice fermionic systems of interest in condensed matter physics.
Psychoanalysis, man, and value

Psychology does not seek to correlate independent happenings, but to discern in the manifold of a unique life, or of a unique culture, the pervasive sense or meaning which the life or culture expresses. The method is appropriate to the subject: a human being is not a string of lawfully connected events but an embodied meaning, an incarnated value. Psychology is therefore less like physics than it is like the critical interpretation of a work of art. It is psychoanalytical. Some of the traditional objections to psychoanalytic theory disappear in the light of this conception. Others vanish when it is realized that the analytic situation, being personal encounter as well as interpretative analysis, to some extent creates the being it analyzes.
Local Critical Perturbations of Unimodal Maps

We introduce a new complete metric in the space $${\mathcal {V}_2}$$ of unimodal C 2-maps of the interval, with two maps close if they are close in the C 2-metric and differ only on a small interval containing their critical points. We identify all structurally stable maps in the sense of this metric. They are maps for which either (1) the trajectory of the critical point is attracted to a topologically attracting (at least from one side) periodic orbit, but never falls into this orbit, or (2) the critical point is mapped by some iterate to the interior of an interval consisting entirely of periodic points of the same (minimal) period. We verify the generalized Fatou conjecture for $${\mathcal {V}_2}$$ and show that structurally stable maps form an open dense subset of $${\mathcal {V}_2}$$ .
Comparative effects of human platelet growth factor on the growth and morphology of human fetal and adult diploid fibroblasts.

Abstract Human platelet growth factor (HPGF) caused marked growth and morphological responses in two lines of fetal and two lines of adult human diploid skin fibroblasts. Dose-response studies demonstrated differences between these two cell types. Adult cells required ten times more HPGF than fetal cells for optimal growth. In the presence of HPGF both cell lines decreased three- to four-fold in size, and their morphology in stationary culture changed to an extremely long, thin fibroblastic shape; reduction in size was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in total protein and fatty acid-containing lipid. These decreases were directly related to the concentration of HPGF in the growth medium. The results suggest that human cells in different stages of cellular development have different requirements for growth-promoting agents (HPGF) and that the use of HPGF on human diploid fibroblasts provides an excellent model system to study growth-associated changes in intermediary metabolism.
Music Cognition and Perceptual Facilitation: A Connectionist Framework

The mind internalizes persistent structural regularities in music and recruits these internalized representations to facilitate subsequent perception. Facilitation underlies the generation of musical expectations and implications and the influence of a musical context on consonance and memory. Facilitation is demonstrated in experiments showing priming of chords: chords that are harmonically closely related to a preceding context are processed more quickly than chords that are harmonically distant from the context. A tonal context enhances intonational sensitivity for related chords and heightens their consonance. Facilitation occurs even when related chords don9t share component tones with the context, and even when overlapping harmonics are eliminated. These results point to the indirect activation of representational units at a cognitive level. In a parallel study conducted in India, tones considered to play an important role in a rag but absent from the experimental rendition of that rag were facilitated in the same way. In a connectionist framework, facilitation is a consequence of activation spreading through a network of representational units whose pattern of connectivity encodes musical relationships. In a proposed connectionist model of harmony, each event in a musical sequence activates tone units, and activation spreads via connecting links to parent chord units and then to parent key units. Activation reverberates bidirectionally until the network settles into a state of equilibrium. The initial stages of the activation process constitute the bottom-up influence of the sounded tones, while the later, reverberatory stages constitute the top-down influence of learned, schematic structures internalized at the cognitive level. Computer simulations of the model show the same pattern of data as human subjects in experiments on relatedness judgments of chords and memory for chord sequences.
K(+)-evoked Müller cell depolarization generates b-wave of electroretinogram in toad retina

We tested the hypothesis that a light-evoked increase in [K+]o produces a depolarization of the Muller cell membrane, which in turn generates the electroretinogram b-wave current. Using Bufo marinus isolated retinas and K(+)-selective microelectrodes, we recorded two distinct light-evoked increases in extracellular K+ concentration: one in the inner plexiform layer and the other near the outer plexiform layer; the "distal" K+ increase was found over only 10-microns depth and had a maximum amplitude of 0.3 mM. We also recorded the electroretinogram and the light-evoked responses of rods and Muller cells. After correction for the response time of the K(+)-selective microelectrode, the waveforms of all three of these responses were almost exactly as predicted by an earlier computer simulation of the K+/Muller cell hypothesis of the b-wave by Newman and Odette [Newman, E.A. & Odette, L.L. (1984) J. Neurophysiol. 51, 164-182]. The distal K+ increase and the b-wave varied in a similar manner as a function of stimulus irradiance. Superfusion with 0.2 mM Ba2+ attenuated both the Muller cell depolarization and the b-wave by approximately 65% but had no significant effect upon the distal K+ increase. Because Ba2+ reduces K+ conductance of Muller cells, these results are very strong support of the K+/Muller cell hypothesis of the origin of the electroretinogram b-wave; the light-evoked increase in extracellular potassium concentration still is present during superfusion with Ba2+, but the K(+)-evoked Muller cell depolarization and the b-wave are decreased in amplitude because Muller cell K+ conductance is reduced.
How to write a patent

In my last column, I showed how to write patent claims in a very broad manner. This time, Ill talk about writing the rest of the patent.
“60 × 60”: From architectural design to artistic intervention in the context of urban environmental change

Abstract 60 × 60 is an artistic project in the city of Geneva asking for the participation of the residents of an urban and popular housing complex. From the first initiatives, as photography exhibitions of doormats inside the estate, to the organization of a citizen movement protesting against densification and gentrification of the area, this article shows how artistic intervention and research in the public sphere can make the residents realize that they all share something and that they therefore can take direct action on their environment.
Looking through the constructivist lens: The art of creating nursing work groups

Almost every facet of nursing requires some aspect of group work, and at some point in their career most nurse managers will organize or appoint a work group to carry out selected nursing activities. Group work can be challenging for members when work expectations are not clear. However, group outcomes can also be disappointing for the manager who appoints a group, if the group is unable to make decisions and accomplish the specified task or becomes enmeshed in tangential matters. Social constructivism, a recent addition to the family and group literature, provides a different perspective for understanding and facilitating group work. This article provides an overview of group work as seen through the lens of social constructivist thought. The intent of this article is to critique the linear paradigm that some managers use for appointing work groups, committees, and task forces, and to discuss constructivist-based approaches as more effective ways of promoting positive consensus, cohesion, and cooperation among nursing work groups.
Specificity of response of intestinal ion transport systems to a pair of natural peptide hormone analogs: Somatostatin and urotensin II

Abstract Specificity of two intestinal ion transport systems toward the natural peptide hormone analogs somatostatin and urotensin II has been demonstrated by electrophysiological and radiotracer studies in vitro. Somatostatin inhibits active Cl secretion across the theophylline-treated rat colon but urotensin II, a dodecapeptide somatostatin analog from the teleost caudal neurosecretory system, is without effect. Conversely, urotensin II stimulates active Na and Cl absorption across the posterior intestine of the 5% seawater-adapted gody, Gillichthys mirabilis, but somatostatin is ineffective. From these and others' studies, it appears that in both systems, increased net absorption results from increased mucosal-to-serosal unidirectional ion fluxes. Based on structure-activity relationships in these and other system, it is speculated that the difference in amino acid residues at position 4 (somatostatin—Lys, urotensin II—Ala) may contribute to the observed specificity.
Dielectric constants of coal-water slurries at 750 MHz

Abstract Measurements of the real portion of the dielectric constant of coal-water slurries at 750MHz are reported. Slurries of 40–65wt% of either Illinois No. 6, Utah bituminous or Texas lignite coals over the temperature range 11–71 °C were studied. The dielectric constant was independent of coal type and particle size within experimental error. The measured values of dielectric constants agreed with those predicted by the Looyenga equation: ϵ′ = [ϵ′ 1 3 2 + φ(ϵ′ 1 3 1 −ϵ′ 1 3 2 )] 3 where: ϵ′ , the mean value of the dielectric constant; ϵ′1, the dielectric constant (3.8) of the dry coal; ϵ′2, the dielectric constant of water; φ, the volume fraction of coal.
Comments about "European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic girdle pain".

This publication was developed within the frame work of Cost Action B113 ‘‘low back pain: guidelines for its management’’ issued by the European Commission, Research Directorate-general, Department of Policy, Coordination and Strategy. The method is an evidence based systematic review where studies were accepted according to a review system. If no studies were accepted or found, the recommendations are based on expert consensus opinion from the authors. A total of 155 of 202 studies were accepted for this review and 23 clinically related recommendations are given. It is commendable to undertake such review; it is time consuming, difficult and important and of course various professional and non-professional groups will critique it. However, this kind of review leads to more research, debates and usually reforms and advances clinical care both diagnostics and treatments. The authors have made a musculoskeletal definition of pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and functional definition of joint stability. The definition of musculoskeletal PGP is good and should be used. However, the definition of functional stability of joint is less useful. The authors propose optimal stability and non-optimal stability with no indication of what that means for the pelvic girdle. The definition is very general and does little to enhance clinical diagnostics of care or treatment, with such an effort done it would have enhanced the review with a more specific definition.
Transfer of 45Ca and 36Cl at the blood-nerve barrier of the sciatic nerve in rats fed low or high calcium diets.

Unidirectional fluxes of 45Ca, 36Cl, and of [3H]mannitol from blood into the sciatic nerve and cerebral cortex were determined from 5- and 15-min uptakes of these tracers after an intravenous (i.v.) bolus injection in awake rats. Rats were fed diets for 8 wk, that had either a low (0.01% wt/wt), normal (0.67%), or high (3%) Ca content. Plasma [Ca] was 32% less and 11% more in rats fed low (LOCA) and high Ca diets (HICA), respectively, than in rats fed a normal Ca diet (CONT). The mean permeability-surface area product (PA) of 45Ca at the blood-nerve barrier was about eightfold higher than at the blood-brain barrier in the same animals and did not differ significantly between groups (greater than 0.05). Mean PA ratios of 45Ca/36Cl for the blood-nerve and blood-brain barriers in CONT rats, 0.52 +/- 0.04 and 0.40 +/- 0.02, respectively, were not significantly different from corresponding ratios in LOCA and HICA groups, and corresponded to the aqueous limiting diffusion ratio (0.45). Our results show no evidence for concentration-dependent transport of Ca over a plasma [Ca] range of 0.8-1.4 mmol/liter at the blood-nerve barrier of the rat peripheral nerve, and suggest that Ca and Cl exchange slowly between nerve and blood via paracellular pathways.
Use of a novel thermal operant behavioral assay for characterization of orofacial pain sensitivity

Orofacial pain has been well-characterized clinically, but evaluation of orofacial pain in animals has not kept pace. The objective of this study was to describe behavioral responses to facial thermal stimulation and inflammation with/without an analgesic using a novel operant paradigm. Animals were trained to voluntarily place their face against a stimulus thermode (37.7-57.2 degrees C) providing access to positive reinforcement. These contingencies present a conflict between positive reward and tolerance for nociceptive stimulation. Inflammation was induced and morphine was provided as an analgesic in a subset of animals. Six outcome measures were determined: reward intake, reward licking contacts, stimulus facial contacts, facial contact duration, ratio of reward/stimulus contacts, and ratio of facial contact duration/event. Animals displayed aversive behaviors to the higher temperatures, denoted by a significant decrease in reward intake, total facial contact duration, and reward licking events. The number of facial contacts increased with increasing temperature, replacing long drinking bouts with more frequent short drinks, as reflected by a low ratio of facial contact duration/event. The number of reward licking/facial contact events was significantly decreased as the thermal stimulus intensity increased, providing another pain index derived from this operant method. These outcomes were significantly affected in the direction of increased nociception following inflammation, and these indices of hyperalgesia were reversed with morphine administration. These data reflect an orofacial pain behavior profile that was based on an animal's responses in an operant escape paradigm. This technique allows evaluation of nociceptive processing and modulation throughout the neuraxis.
Supersymmetric sum rules for electromagnetic multipoles

We derive model-independent, nonperturbative supersymmetric sum rules for the magnetic and electric multipole moments of any theory with N=1 supersymmetry. We find that in any irreducible N=1 supermultiplet the diagonal matrix elements of the {ital l}-multipole moments are completely fixed in terms of their off-diagonal matrix elements and the diagonal (l{minus}1)-multipole moments. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Calcium oxalate crystal adherence in the rat bladder: restoration of anti-adherence after acid treatment.

ABSTRACTPurpose: A role for the mucous lining of the urinary tract to prevent crystal adherence as well as the ability of glycosaminoglycans and other substances to restore anti-adherence after removal of the mucous lining was studied in the rat bladder.Materials and Methods: Following catheterization of the rat bladder a dilute solution of acid was introduced, which has been shown to remove the mucous lining. Sialic acid, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparin, pentosan polysulfate and urine were introduced into the bladder in an attempt to restore the anti-adherence properties removed by acid treatment. Radioactive calcium oxalate crystals were introduced into the bladder, followed by saline washes, and the crystals remaining were used as a measure of crystal adherence. Controls were mucous intact and acid treated bladders.Results: Hyaluronic acid, chondroitin-6-sulfate and chondroitin-4-sulfate did not influence adherence. Dermatan sulfate, heparin and pentosan polysulfate rest...