cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of grain boundary carbide density and strain rate on the stress corrosion cracking behavior of cold rolled Alloy 690

Abstract The effects of grain boundary carbide density and strain rate on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) initiation susceptibility of cold rolled 690 were evaluated in 360 °C hydrogenated water using slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) tests. The improvement in SCC resistance of a thermally treated microstructure over that of a solution annealed microstructure indicates that grain boundary carbides have a mitigating effect in cold rolled Alloy 690. The effect of grain boundary carbides is dependent on the cold rolling orientation of sample. Slower strain rate aggravates SCC initiation by enhancing the environmental component of SCC.
The genomic organization and functional analysis of the promoter for the human angiotensin II type 1 receptor.

Abstract We have cloned and characterized several human angiotensin II type 1 receptor (hAT1R) cDNAs by utilizing the 5′-RACE procedure. Sequence analysis demonstrated that human AT1 receptors are encoded by at least four distinct mRNA transcripts sharing an identical open reading frame, but differing in their organization of 5′-untranslated sequences. Therefore, even though multiple alternatively spliced forms of hAT1R mRNA are transcribed, they are all translated into identical receptors since the entire open reading frame of this receptor is harbored on a single exon. None of these exons coding for 5′-untranslated sequence is expressed in a tissue specific manner. By comparing the 5′-RACE cDNA clones with our hAT1R genomic clones, the organization of the hAT1R gene was determined. The human AT1 gene is comprised of at least four exons and spans at least 60 kb. Several putative promoter regions were characterized by utilizing primer extension and luciferase reporter gene constructs transfected into human adrenal cells. These results indicate that we have cloned a functional promoter for the hAT1R gene. Furthermore, this promoter harbors an adrenal specific response element.
A Resiliency Profile of Hurricane Katrina Adolescents: A Psychosocial Study of Disaster

Information about the psychological status of children following a natural disaster is rare. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to create a psychosocial profile of relocated Hurricane ...
Binding of optically pure (--)-[3H]nicotine to rat brain membranes.

Abstract With the recent availability of (−)-[3H]nicotine of high specific activity, binding studies were performed on rat brain membranes in the presence of a variety of nicotine analogues and cholinergic drugs. Both a higher affinity (Kd = 2 × 10−10 M) and a lower affinity (2 × 10−9 M) site were observed; the stereoselectivity of both sites being similar. A good correlation was observed between IC50-values and psychotropic potency of a series of N′-alkyl substituted nicotine analogues.
Endogenous RGS proteins modulate SA and AV nodal functions in isolated heart: implications for sick sinus syndrome and AV block

G protein-coupled receptors play a pivotal role in regulating cardiac automaticity. Their function is controlled by regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins acting as GTPase-activating prote...
USING SMOOTHING SPLINE ANOVA TO EXAMINE THE RELATION OF RISK FACTORS TO THE INCIDENCE AND PROGRESSION OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Smoothing spline ANOVA (ANalysis Of VAriance) methods provide a flexible alternative to the standard parametric GLIM (generalized linear models) methods for analysing the relationship of predictor variables to outcomes with data from large epidemiologic studies. These methods allow the visualization of relationships not readily fit by simple GLIM models, and provide for the ability to visualize interactions between the variables. At the same time, they reduce to GLIM models if the data suggest that the added flexibility is unwarranted. Using this method, we investigate risk factors for incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy in a group of patients with older onset diabetes from the Wisconsin Epidemiological Study of Diabetic Retinopathy. We carry out four analyses to illustrate various properties of this class of methods. Some of the results confirm previous findings with use of standard methods, while others allow the visualization of more complex relationships not evident from the application of parametric methods.
Do you see what I see? Affect and visual information processing

Individuals in sad moods process information in a less global and more local manner than do those in happier moods. This experiment investigates whether processing speed is associated with these mood effects, whether task ambiguity moderates these mood effects, and whether making feelings appear irrelevant to the task can eliminate these mood effects. Participants in happy, sad, and neutral moods were lead to experience their feelings as being either relevant or irrelevant to a global/local processing task. As predicted, sad moods decreased global processing relative to happier moods when feelings seemed relevant to the task and when the criteria for responding were ambiguous, but not when feelings seemed irrelevant or when the criteria were unambiguous. Consistent with the idea that mood guides processing, increases in affect intensity were associated with faster reaction times. Overall, the results suggest that mood and processing effects share some core similarities with mood and judgement effects.
Role of instructional theory in authoring effective and efficient learning technologies

Abstract This paper summarizes major issues in instructional theory and helps convey a better understanding of the advantages such theory offers for building intelligent instructional systems. Technology alone will not be sufficient for cost-effective development. Deeper understanding of the instructional process also will be essential. Taxonomic theory will not be sufficient for these purposes, however, nor will designer intuition. Good instructional theory must strive for comprehensiveness, internal consistency, parsimony and precision, and it must be operational. In this context, important advances have been made in instructional theory which hold considerable promise for the future. Building on core technology and the structural learning theory, a research program is proposed which will enable efficient development of effective learning systems for industries and schools.
Characterization and quantification of engineered nanoparticles in food by epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis and electron microscopy

Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have increasingly been used in various areas including agriculture and food packaging, which may potentially cause contamination in food products. In this study, a combination of analytical techniques was used to detect, characterize, and quantify engineered NPs (cerium (IV) oxide (CeO2), silica (SiO2) NPs, and their mixture) in food matrices. A series of concentrations of CeO2, SiO2, and their mixtures from 0 to 0.75 wt% were mixed in soybean powders. The presence of engineered NPs was investigated using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The average size of CeO2 and SiO2 was 28.5 and 30.5 nm in diameter, respectively. CeO2 NPs were irregular octahedral and cubic in shape, while SiO2 NPs were spherical. The concentration of NPs in soybean powders was analyzed by epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis (EINAA). Calibration curves were plotted for quantification of NPs in soybean powders (R 2 = 0.996 and 0.994 for CeO2, SiO2 NPs in soybean powders, respectively; R 2 = 0.995 and 0.997 for CeO2 and SiO2 NP in a mixture in soybean powders, respectively). The study of the detection limit (DL) demonstrates that at 99 % confidence interval, EINAA can detect both NPs at 0.1 wt% in soybean powders. Satisfactory recoveries were obtained for samples with a concentration at and higher than the DL (86.2–104.7 % for CeO2 NPs and 85.7–95.2 % for SiO2 NPs; 87.5–101.3 and 85.6–93.5 % for CeO2 and SiO2 NPs in a mixture in soybean powders, respectively).
Late paleozoic glaciation

Summary Late Paleozoic glaciation has been reported from India and Pakistan, Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica, Madagascar, Falkland Islands, Mexico, and Massachusetts, United States. Glacial origin of sediments in Mexico and Massachusetts is doubtful. Areas glaciated have present latitudes from 34°N (Pakistan) to 85°S (Antarctica). Evidences of glaciation reported include tillites, striated pavements, faceted cobbles, varves, erratic blocks in marine and lacustrine sediments, coarse conglomerates, presumably glacio-fluvial, and deformational structures assigned to overriding glacial ice. Some “glacial” deposits described years ago need restudy to be sure that mud flow, landslide, volcanic breccia, turbidite, and other non-glacial deposits may not have been misidentified as glacial. Age assignments in terms of North American and European columns are difficult because of the scarcity of common floras and faunas between the glaciated Gondwana areas and northern lands. They commonly range from Middle Carboniferous to Middle or Late Permian. It is unlikely that glacial maxima in all areas were contemporaneous. Most earlier descriptions refer to a small number of glacial stages (1–5), but more detailed recent studies in Australia suggest as many as 51 glacial episodes. It has been suggested that sea-level fluctuations resulting from growth and waning of Late Paleozoic glaciers may have been a cause of Late Paleozoic cyclic sedimentation in the northern hemisphere. Directions of ice movement derived from striae and boulder trains show great diversity, some suggesting local centers of dispersal on existing lands and others glacial advance from present marine areas. The wide latitudinal range of glaciation, and recent paleomagnetic data from late Paleozoic rocks have suggested that the glaciated areas were commonly at higher latitudes than at present, and that continents now widely separated were closer together. Quartzites from South Africa have been reported in the tillites of Brazil. Nearly every polar shift and continental drift proposal to explain glacial distribution has been unlike all others. In the present paper facts pertaining to glaciation are presented as objectively as possible, without adopting any particular causal hypothesis.
The dynamics of time-varying threshold learning

A mathematical theory of the dynamics of a class of trainable signal detectors is described. Among the constructs yielded by the theory are learning curves and variance curves. A learning curve is a curve of correct-decision probability versus training length. A variance curve is a curve of the variance of correct-decision probability versus training length. The class of trainable signal detectors to which the theory is applicable consists of all those in which the training procedure (a) raises the threshold in response to a false alarm, lowers the threshold in response to a false rest, and keeps the threshold unchanged in response to a correct decision, and (b) adjusts the size of the threshold increment by an amount that depends only on the trial number, and such that the threshold can eventually reach any real number. The “learning shape theorem” is derived. By this theorem the learning curves of all members of the above class of trainable detectors are either monotonic or single peaked. The theory is based on an approximation of the difference equation of the Markov chain of the threshold's motion by a differential equation. The theory provides an over-all view of the trade-offs between performance (the learning curves) and performance variability (the variance curves) as functions of the training length of time-varying training procedures. Several illustrative numerical examples are given.
Influence of dissipation on the population and decay of compound nuclei

Abstract The importance of nuclear dissipative effects in the formation and decay of compound nuclei is investigated with the γ-ray decay of the giant dipole resonance built on highly excited states. These studies show evidence for long formation times (∼ 10−20s) in heavy, almost symmetric systems. Enhanced γ-ray emission is observed in the decay of fissile nuclei because of the dynamical hindrance of fission. This effect allows the study of hot nuclei prior to fission and it also influences the spin distribution leading to evaporation residues.
Two-dimensional laser servoing for precision motion control of an ODV robotic license plate recognition system

As an outgrowth of series of projects focused on mobility of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), an omni-directional (ODV), multi-robot, autonomous mobile parking security system has been developed. The system has two types of robots: the low-profile Omni-Directional Inspection System (ODIS), which can be used for under-vehicle inspections, and the mid-sized T4 robot, which serves as a ``marsupial mothership'' for the ODIS vehicles and performs coarse resolution inspection. A key task for the T4 robot is license plate recognition (LPR). For a successful LPR task without compromising the recognition rate, the robot must be able to identify the bumper locations of vehicles in the parking area and then precisely position the LPR camera relative to the bumper. This paper describes a 2D-laser scanner based approach to bumper identification and laser servoing for the T4 robot. The system uses a gimbal-mounted scanning laser. As the T4 robot travels down a row of parking stalls, data is collected from the laser every 100ms. For each parking stall in the range of the laser during the scan, the data is matched to a ``bumper box'' corresponding to where a car bumper is expected, resulting in a point cloud of data corresponding to a vehicle bumper for each stall. Next, recursive line-fitting algorithms are used to determine a line for the data in each stall's ``bumper box.'' The fitting technique uses Hough based transforms, which are robust against segmentation problems and fast enough for real-time line fitting. Once a bumper line is fitted with an acceptable confidence, the bumper location is passed to the T4 motion controller, which moves to position the LPR camera properly relative to the bumper. The paper includes examples and results that show the effectiveness of the technique, including its ability to work in real-time.
Interaction of Photoperiod and Vernalization Determines Flowering Time of Brachypodium distachyon

Timing of flowering is key to the reproductive success of many plants. In temperate climates, flowering is often coordinated with seasonal environmental cues such as temperature and photoperiod. Vernalization is an example of temperature influencing the timing of flowering and is defined as the process by which a prolonged exposure to the cold of winter results in competence to flower during the following spring. In cereals, three genes (VERNALIZATION1 [VRN1], VRN2, and FLOWERING LOCUS T [FT]) have been identified that influence the vernalization requirement and are thought to form a regulatory loop to control the timing of flowering. Here, we characterize natural variation in the vernalization and photoperiod responses in Brachypodium distachyon, a small temperate grass related to wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Brachypodium spp. accessions display a wide range of flowering responses to different photoperiods and lengths of vernalization. In addition, we characterize the expression patterns of the closest homologs of VRN1, VRN2 (VRN2-like [BdVRN2L]), and FT before, during, and after cold exposure as well as in different photoperiods. FT messenger RNA levels generally correlate with flowering time among accessions grown in different photoperiods, and FT is more highly expressed in vernalized plants after cold. VRN1 is induced by cold in leaves and remains high following vernalization. Plants overexpressing VRN1 or FT flower rapidly in the absence of vernalization, and plants overexpressing VRN1 exhibit lower BdVRN2L levels. Interestingly, BdVRN2L is induced during cold, which is a difference in the behavior of BdVRN2L compared with wheat VRN2 during cold.
Vertex corrections in infrared absorption in superconducting and normal metals

Abstract We have calculated the frequency dependent electromagnetic absorption in both the superconducting and normal states for a model of a strong-coupling superconductor. We have done this in the absence of vertex corrections and also with the inclusion of vertex corrections in a certain approximation. We find that in the range of phonon energies the vertex correction is quite small for the normal state. The same is true for the superconducting state except near the gap. This correction tends to bring the theory into closer agreement with experiments on the absorption in Pb.
Vibration control of plates featuring periodic arrays of hybrid shunted piezoelectric patches

Periodic arrays of hybrid shunted piezoelectric actuators are used to suppress vibrations in an aluminum plate. Commonly, piezoelectric shunted networks are used for individual mode control, through tuned, resonant RLC circuits, and for broad-band vibration attenuation, through negative impedance converters (NIC). Periodically placed resonant shunts allow broadband reduction resulting from the attenuation of propagating waves in frequency bands which are defined by the spatial periodicity of the array and by the shunting parameters considered on the circuit. Such attenuation typically occurs at high frequencies, while NICs are effective in reducing the vibration amplitudes of the first modes of the structure. The combination of an array resonant shunts and NICs on a two-dimensional (2D) panel allows combining the advantages of the two concepts, which provide broadband attenuation in the high frequency regimes and the reduction of the amplitudes of the low frequency modes. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the proposed approach, and frequency response measurements on a cantilever aluminum plate demonstrate that an attenuation region of about 1000Hz is achieved with a maximum 8 dB vibration reduction.
Persistence of heparin-dependent antiplatelet antibody

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is an immune-mediated response that has been associated with bleeding and thromboembolic complications. We test all cardiac surgery patients who experience thrombocytopenia, resistance to heparin, or have complications of increased bleeding or thrombosis with platelet aggregation assay for heparin-dependent antiplatelet antibody (HAAb). Due to the morbidity and mortality associated with reexposure to heparin in this population, we wished to investigate the length of time patients remain positive for HAAb postoperatively. Over a 10-year period (1982–1992), 97 patients tested positive for HAAb following open heart surgery. Of 66 survivors, 43 were available for follow-up and were contacted for repeat HAAb testing. Patients were retested from 1 to 126 months (median 17) postoperatively. Eleven of 43 patients (26%) remained positive for HAAb from 3 months to 12.5 years after initial diagnosis. Conversion from a positive to negative HAAb as early as 4 weeks was also observed. We conclude that the time to conversion to a negative HAAb test is highly variable. All patients who test positive for HAAb should have repeat HAAb testing before reexposure to heparin regardless of the time interval.
Light scattering by aggregates of large colloidal particles

Information theory and the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye and anomalous diffraction approximations are used to obtain criteria for choosing an aggregate model. They suggest a simple one with appropriate gross features. The hollow sphere of equal mass and total volume is chosen, actually a slightly heterogeneous population of hollow spheres. The average sphere volume is that of the aggregate; the volume and refractive index of the coat are those of the particles; the volume and refractive index of the sphere core are those of the spaces between the particles. The effects of aggregation on transmitted and scattered light were measured with two transmittance photometers and a 90° scattering photometer. Observed effects of aggregation are qualitatively accounted for with this method of predicting aggregate scattering. The method is also used to survey predicted effects of aggregation of blood platelets on suspension transmittance.
“Entre Dos Mundos” (Between Two Worlds): Bicultural Skills Training with Latino Immigrant Families

This paper focuses on the acculturation model of second-culture-acquisition for Latino immigrants. Two theoretical frameworks, assimilation and alternation theories, are compared within the acculturation model. Empirical research findings suggest that assimilation is a risk factor for increases in negative health behaviors and mental health problems. Conversely, biculturalism appears to be an emerging protective factor that buffers assimilation stress, enhances socio-cognitive functioning, and increases academic achievement. A review of bicultural skills training interventions shows these programs are effective in decreasing the risk for problematic behavior. Finally, a refined model of bicultural skills training for Latino immigrant families is proposed based on the acculturation research literature and extensive interviews with Latino families in North Carolina.
AN ORIENTATION COURSE AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE RETENTION

Orientation and retention programs are common in institutions of higher education. The potential association between orientation programs and student retention, particularly within the community college sector, has long been neglected. This study presents an institutional view of a potential associative relationship between an orientation course and student retention measures. A chi-square analysis revealed a significant association among orientation program, student completion of degree, student retention, and student enrollment and persistence.
On distributions whose component ratios are Cauchy

Abstract This article considers a class of multivariate (dependent) variables that includes those that are obtained as scale mixtures of elliptically symmetric distributions. We provide a simple, intuitive proof that the ratio of two such variables has a general Cauchy distribution. This result extends the results of DeSilva concerning properties of a certain class of dependent multivariate symmetric stable distributions.
Ion/molecule association reactions. A study of the temperature dependence of the reactions CO+ + CO + M → (CO)2+ + M for M = CO, Ne, and He, and NO+ + 2 NO → (NO)2+ + NO. Experiment and theory

Abstract The temperature dependence of the third-order kinetics of the association reactions CO + + CO + M → (CO) 2 + + M and NO + + 2 NO → (NO) 2 + + NO have been investigated as well as the equilibrium NO + + 2 NO ⇌ (NO) 2 + + NO using a low-energy drift technique. Thermal reaction rate coefficients were obtained over the temperature range of 80–530 K, using Ne, He, and CO as buffer gases for the CO system. The experimental data reported here are compared with literature data as well as with the predictions of phase-space theory calculations. Good agreement was found for the pure CO system between the present results, previous experiments, and theoretical calculations. Less good agreement was found when He was used as the buffer gas. In particular, the smaller temperature dependence of the association rate coefficient found experimentally in this case was not reproduced in the calculated results. The available experimental temperature range for the NO system was 200–530 K. Above 450 K, equilibrium is reached. Below 450 K, the temperature dependence of the termolecular rate constant was determined. Results in the NO system indicate the need to include explicitly the back dissociation reaction in the kinetic analysis. An exact treatment of this effect has been developed and details of this correction are discussed.
A 5mW 250MS/s 12-bit synthesized digital to analog converter

Design automation of analog circuits is becoming inevitable as CMOS technology scales, mainly because the extensive amount of design rule checks cannot be easily handled by manual analog design approaches. This paper presents a low-power 12-bit, 250MS/s digital-to-analog converter (DAC) completely implemented using standard digital design flows and automatic place and route (APR). This is a current-steering DAC, and because the layout of current cells and standard digital cells are APRed together, the resulting custom design effort and time, power, and area are all minimized. Three different calibration algorithms are implemented in order to compensate for the systematic mismatch caused by APR, as well as the inter-die and intra-die variations. The DAC is fabricated in a 65nm CMOS technology, and achieves an SFDR >50dBc at up to a 100MHz input frequency while consuming only 5mW. With minimal (re-) design effort, this DAC achieves a performance that is comparable to that of conventional designs.
Developmental intervention and leisure education: a life span perspective.

Abstract This paper offers a framework for using leisure developmentally over the life span. By considering the developmental tasks that confront individuals of a given cultural/historical context, educational interventions can be designed for utilizing leisure in ways that are personally and socially adaptive. Contemporary western developmental issues, such as establishing independence in adolescence, connecting with others in early adulthood and after retirement and adjusting to negative life events, create challenges and opportunities for applied social scientists, leisure service providers and educators. The differences in leisure education for a school child and a person approaching retirement, this paper will argue, should be shaped by the developmental tasks of the period and the social context in which those tasks are defined. Traditional life span models such as those of Erikson, Havighurst and Levinson still have heuristic value, but must be considered in relation to the more current development...
FAILURE OF GAMMA KNIFE RADIOSURGERY FOR MESIAL TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY: REPORT OF FIVE CASES

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the efficacy of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in controlling mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. METHODS: From August 1999 to January 2001, five patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis underwent GKRS amygdalohippocampectomy. All of the patients underwent standatd epilepsy preoperative evaluation at the comprehensive epilepsy center of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. A marginal dose of 20 Gy to the 50% isodose line was delivered to the mesial temporal structures in all patients. Postoperative follow-up included serial neurological examinations, neuroimaging studies, and neuropsychological evaluations. RESULTS: None of the patients were seizure-free after GKRS. Two patients died, 1 month and 1 year after the procedure, as a result of complications related to recurrent seizures. At 1 year, T2-Weighted magnetic resonance imaging changes were noted in all three patients, which suggeted radiational changes. None of the three surviving patients had any seizure reduction, so 18, 20, and 22 months after GKRS, they underwent temporal lobectomy, which resulted in complete seizure control in all patients. CONCLUSION: GKRs at the 20-Gy dose level did not lead to seizure control in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampal sclerosis.
Comparative effects of critical point and air-drying on the morphology of the rigid mucilaginous coating (lorica) of Trachelomonas (Euglenophyceae)

Abstract In the past, with light microscopy, species of the genus Trachelomonas have been classified according to the shape and ornamentation of the lorica. In the present work a comparison has been made between the morphology of the lorica of various species of Trachelomonas as seen by scanning electron microscopy following the use of air-drying as compared with the critical point method in order to evaluate the use of these two procedures for taxonomic purposes. With critical point drying, but not with air-dying, the lorica in all species was seen to consist basically of cylindrical strands and globules of mucilage about 0·08 μm in diameter; in T. volvocine the lorica consisted of two distinct layers. In air-dried preparations the strands and globules aggregated and became indistinct; individual strands, which in critical point dried preparations were sometimes connected to spines or collars, were destroyed and the punctae were reduced in size. However, since the more general features of the loricas were similar in both air-dried and critically point dried preparations, air-drying is adequate for most taxonomic purposes.
3D packaging technique on liquid crystal polymer (LCP) for miniature wireless biomedical sensor

This paper presents a novel 3D packaging technique for a miniature wireless biomedical sensor. The end goal of this sensor is for implantation into the eye of a mouse, therefore size is extremely limited. The application makes the packaging of the sensor and control of IC a difficult challenge. The thickness of the unit must be less than 300 microns total. It is demonstrated in this paper that the thickness requirement can be met using novel epoxy interconnects and that micro-vias can be implemented in the package to distribute signals vertically to limit the eventual area of the device. First, the layer-to-layer interconnection between silicon and liquid crystal polymer (LCP) layers is demonstrated using a magnetically aligned Z-axis anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA). The total thickness of the IC and the packaging layer is less than 150 microns. The resistance through Z-axis ACA represented 1.15 Ω on average for 75 micron pads. Second, 3D transitions through LCP via holes of 20 µm are demonstrated, which are suitable to distribute signals through the small form factor unit. In this paper, we demonstrate transition from an antenna layer through the LCP to a layer above where a rectifier resides. RF power received by a loop antenna on the bottom LCP layer is transferred to the rectifier on the top layer and generates 5 volts of DC voltage. These miniature 3D packaging techniques could make it possible to integrate all components in the small area (500 µm × 500 µm) to implement an implanted wireless biomedical micro-sensor.
The asymptotic behavior of solutions of a system of reaction-diffusion equations which models the Belousov-Zhabotinskii chemical reaction

Abstract We investigate the boundary value problem ∂u ∂t = ∂ 2 u ∂x 2 + u(1 − u − rv) , ∂v ∂t = ∂ 2 v ∂x 2 − buv , u (−∞, t ) = v (∞, t ) = 0, u (∞, t ) = 1, and v (−∞, t ) = γ ∀ t > 0 where r > 0, b > 0, γ > 0 and x ϵ R . This system has been proposed by Murray as a model for the propagation of wave fronts of chemical activity in the Belousov-Zhabotinskii chemical reaction. Here u and v are proportional to the concentrations of bromous acid and bromide ion, respectively. We determine the global stability of the constant solution ( u , v ) ≡ (1,0). Furthermore we introduce a moving coordinate and for each fixed x ϵ R we investigate the asymptotic behavior of u ( x + ct , t ) and v ( x + ct , t ) as t → ∞ for both large and small values of the wave speed c ⩾ 0.
Electrical resistivity of liquid gold-silicon alloys☆

Abstract The electrical resistivity of liquid Au1−xSix alloys was measured in the gold-rich concentration range, 0.16 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.40, as a function of temperature and composition. In this region the temperature coefficients of the resistivity is negative. The resistivities and temperature coefficients are compared with recent data on amorphous sputtered films; for x ⩽ 0.31 the resistivities of the films are in agreement with those of the liquids within the accuracy of the measurements. The results can be interpreted in terms of the Ziman theory.
Greening your computing technology, the near and far perspectives

"Green" computing has become a popular and trendy topic. Many companies are exploring methods and policies to use green technologies. Most policies merely scratch the surface, however, of greening computing technology, often seen as a necessary energy evil. At Colorado State University, we have gone beyond the surface polish and explored some practical solutions to energy efficiency, consumption reduction, and environmental stewardship. Sensitive to the current economic climate, we will discuss how going green can have a significant positive impact on your budget as well. We will present a cafeteria-style plan that campus IT administrators can use to reduce energy use and to reduce or more efficiently use consumables. Projects range from server room (re)design and rethinking computing infrastructure, to energy-wise purchasing decisions and software performance controls. Thin client technology, facility planning, vendor collaboration, client base buy-in, virtualization, energy audits, and using software to balance performance and efficiency will all be on the menu. Wait until you hear how we incorporate the power of the bicycle into computing technology support!
Functional improvement in severe head injury after readmission for rehabilitation

Early rehabilitation has been shown to minimize complications and optimize functional outcomes in head-injured patients. Although cognitive, behavioural and vocational issues continue for years after injury, many investigators maintain that physical improvement is limited after 6 months. At 12 months after injury, expectations for physical improvement are generally limited. In addition, although repeated inpatient admissions for rehabilitation are common, gains in self-care and mobility skills during readmissions for rehabilitation have not been specifically investigated. In this retrospective study the records of 49 severely head-injured patients were evaluated. All were readmitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility more than 12 months after injury. Barthel Index scores were obtained to evaluate physical function. Although previous studies would predict few improvements, in this study 53% (26 patients) showed improvement, and the difference between readmission and discharge Barthel scores was statis...
Capturing the Complexity of Moral Development and Education

This article discusses challenges educators face when attempting to sequence moral education. Two factors are identified as primary sources hindering efforts to engage in effective moral education: (a) the premature application of research findings from developmental psychology to classroom practices and (b) the underestimation of the complexity of interactions between development in students' social and moral understandings and their applications in social contexts. Research is reviewed demonstrating that morality develops alongside concepts about societal conventions and zones of personal discretion and privacy. Results of an ongoing study are presented pointing toward a U-shaped pattern in moral development in which frequency of moral choices is higher among younger children and older adolescents than among early adolescents. Research examining contextual moral decision making is discussed in relation to efforts to sequence moral education.
Screening tests for normal-pressure hydrocephalus: sensitivity, specificity, and cost.

Object. Many tests have been proposed to help choose candidates for shunt insertion in cases of suspected normalpressure hydrocephalus (NPH). It is unclear what sensitivity and specificity a prospective test must have to improve outcomes, compared with the results of automatic shunt insertion. Methods. The authors adapted the decision analysis model used in a companion article to allow for application of a screening test. Using the reported sensitivities and specificities of several such tests, they evaluated the effects such tests would have on the expected outcome of an average 65-year-old patient with moderate dementia. They also evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a theoretical screening test with superior sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions. Although external lumbar drainage comes quite close, none of the screening tests reported to date have sufficient sensitivity and specificity to improve expected outcome in an average candidate, compared with the results of automatic shunt placement in cases of suspected NPH. In addition, even a theoretically improved test would need to be considerably less expensive than prolonged lumbar drainage to be cost-effective in clinical practice. ®
Methodology for using a universal primer to label amplified DNA segments for molecular analysis.

Detection of human DNA polymorphisms using high throughput methods often relies on generating a labeled DNA fragment which is generated by PCR using sequence-specific primers with an end labeled tag to detect a variant. The disadvantage of the synthesis of an end-labeled, sequence-specific primer to assay each DNA variant lies in the costs and time consume. In this report, we have demonstrated a methodology that can generate labeled DNA fragments using a labeled universal primer instead of requiring sequence-specific primers for each DNA variant.
Flash-echo gray-scale imaging in the subtraction mode for assessing perfusion of small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using flash-echo imaging (FEI) in the subtraction mode to assess the vascularity of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) that had been unsatisfactorily assessed with power Doppler sonography. Methods Between May 2000 and April 2001, we prospectively assessed nodular small HCCs using FEI in the subtraction mode after power Doppler sonography resulted in unsatisfactory images. After microbubble contrast was injected, we used the FEI technique to assess tumor perfusion in the arterial, portal, and delayed phases. Results Our study population comprised 14 patients (10 men and 4 women) whose ages ranged from 31 to 79 years (mean, 61 ± 13.7 years) and whose tumors ranged in size from 0.8 to 3 cm (mean, 1.8 ± 0.5 cm). Power Doppler sonography was unable to assess tumor vascularity in 6 cases because of interference by heart pulsation, and it failed to detect a color signal in the other 8 cases. All tumors were enhanced with FEI. In the arterial phase, 7 of the 14 tumors (50%) showed hyperperfusion relative to liver parenchyma enhancement, 5 of 14 (36%) showed isoperfusion, and 2 of 14 (14%) showed hypoperfusion. In the portal phase, 3 of the 14 tumors (21%) showed isoperfusion, and the other 11 (79%) showed hypoperfusion. In the delayed phase, all 14 tumors showed hypoperfusion. Conclusions Despite heart pulsation and slow vascular flow, FEI in the subtraction mode was sensitive and effective in assessing the perfusion of small HCCs. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 31:451–456, 2003
Solvatochromism of Nile Red in Nonpolar Solvents

The absorbance and fluorescence spectra of Nile Red (NR) were examined in a series of nonpolar solvents comprising linear alkanes and a range of poly alpha olefins (PAO). These solvents span a 1000-fold range in viscosity and possess very similar dielectric constants and refractive index properties. A high-energy double peak with vibronic structure is observed in both fluorescence and absorbance spectra, possibly indicating that a locally excited (LE) state is accessed in these solvents. In addition, a red shift in peak position is observed with increasing refractive index; however, it is unaccompanied by any changes in Stokes shift. This shift is attributed to changes in the high-frequency polarizability of the solvent, which is a function of the refractive index. Finally, an increase in quantum yield with viscosity is also observed.
Spanish in the professions and in the community in the US

Over the past two decades, Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP) and Community Service Learning (CSL) in the United States (US) have gained traction in post-secondary institutions. Abbott and Lear (2010) established that CSL provides excellent opportunities for students to meet the National Foreign Language Standards. After establishing a brief historical overview of programs and research in the fields of Spanish LSP and CSL, this paper provides an overview of core issues facing the field, i.e., the need to (1) focus LSP on a new specific purpose (foundational training in professionalism) (i.e., those linguistic abilities, behaviors, skills, and manners that are vital to all professions in the target culture), (2) thread this training in professionalism throughout the curriculum (from basic language, to majors, to graduate students), (3) build interdisciplinarity among faculty through professional development, especially in the field of CSL, and (4) provide professional research training to second languag...
Long-Lived Worms and Aging

Several investigators have generated long-lived nematode worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) in the past decade by mutation of genes in the organism in order to study the genetics of aging and longevity. Dozens of longevity assurance genes (LAG) that dramatically increase the longevity of this organism have been identified. All long-lived mutants of C. elegans are also resistant to environmental stress, such as high temperature, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ultraviolet irradiation. Double mutations of some LAGs further extended life span up to 400%, providing more insight into cellular mechanisms that put limits on the life span of organisms. With the availability of the LAG mutants and the combined DNA microarray and RNAi technology, the understanding of actual biochemical processes that determine life span is within reach: the downstream signal transduction pathway may regulate life span by up-regulating pro-longevity genes such as those that encode antioxidant enzymes and/or stress-response proteins, and down-regulating specific life-shortening genes. Furthermore, longevity could be modified through chemical manipulation. Results from these studies further support the free radical theory of aging, suggest that the molecular mechanism of aging process may be shared in all organisms, and provide insight for therapeutic intervention in age-related diseases.
Indirect inference in structural econometric models.

This paper considers parametric inference in a wide range of structural econometric models. It illustrates how the indirect inference principle can be used in the inference of these models. Specifically, we show that an ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation can be used as an auxiliary model, which leads to a method that is similar in spirit to a two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimator. Monte Carlo studies and an empirical analysis of timber sale auctions held in Oregon illustrate the usefulness and feasibility of our approach.
Epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the United States: improved survival of Chinese patients within the keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma histology

Background: This study examined potential survival differences among nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients from various ethnicities in the United States. Patients and methods: A total of 2436 newly diagnosed NPC patients from 1992 to 2002 were analyzed from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Five-year survival rate estimates and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated. Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) were used to identify independent prognostic factors for survival. Results: By multivariate analyses, early age of diagnosis, localized stage at presentation (versus distant, HR = 0.35; P < 0.0001), radiation therapy (versus none; HR = 0.48; P < 0.0001), undifferentiated non-keratinizing carcinoma (versus keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma; HR = 0.67; P < 0.0001), and Chinese ethnicity (versus Caucasian; HR = 0.78; P = 0.0010) were associated with improved survival. Within keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma histology, the survival advantage of Chinese patients remained even after adjustment for other prognostic factors. Conclusions: The significant survival advantage of Chinese NPC patients within the keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma histology contributed largely to Chinese ethnicity being an independent and favorable prognostic factor for survival in NPC.
Epidemiological Survey of 6 Years' Federal Health Service Experience of Pyloric Stenosis: Case Report of Presentation in a 26-month Male

Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (CHPS) is primarily a surgical process of the neonate and infant. Diagnosis and treatment of CHPS in a 26-month-old male prompted an inquiry of the military health service database for age of onset, sex, and birth position data. Data were analyzed on 604 cases found in a 71-month time period. The incidence for first-born males was .43 percent, for other than first-born males .34 percent, and for females .091 percent, the peak age being 3 weeks and 1 month old. Children diagnosed at age 6 months and older, as well as adults, were identified. Utilization of the Federal Health Care System data base allowed the study of a large number of patients with a broad spectrum of social, racial, and geographic backgrounds. We feel the study of this data provides a unique understanding of the epidemiology of this entity (CHPS).
The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus-8) in Kaposi's sarcoma, malignant lymphoma, and other diseases

Background: Two novel nonhuman DNA fragments were discovered in an AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesion using representational difference analysis. Design: These sequences belong to a previously unidentified gamma-2-herpesvirus exhibiting homology with Herpesvirus saimiri and Epstein-Barr virus. This virus was named Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and provisionally designated human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). Results: KSHV is detectable in more than 90% of classical-Mediterranean, iatrogenic, endemic-African, and AIDS-epidemic KS lesions. In situ PCR studies have demonstrated KSHV in the spindle cells and endothelial cells of KS lesions. KSHV appears to be a transmissible B-lymphotropic herpesvirus. It is detectable in circulating B cells in some HIV-infected patients, and this finding appears to predict the future development of KS among these individuals. KSHV has been identified in a rare and distinct subset of malignant lymphoma referred to as body cavity-based lymphoma but not in other lymphoid neoplasms. KSHV is absent from most other HIV- and non-HIV-associated lymphadenopathies. Conclusions: Further studies should lead to a better under- standing of the role of KSHV in the pathogenesis of these disorders and may eventually show that KSHV represents the long sought-after etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma.