cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurements of Plasma Energy Density and Conductivity from 3 to 120 kbar

Plasma energy density, conductivity, and temperature were measured at various pressures ranging from 3 to 120 kbar. The experimental work was conducted in two parts; plasmas with pressures to 15 kbar were formed by capacitor discharges in water, and plasmas with higher pressures were formed by detonating 10 g of PETN in the water adjacent to the electrical discharge path. At 9.4 kbar and 35 000°K, the energy density was 15 J/mm3. An equation of state based upon the Debye shielding theory, without accounting for the distortion of electron quantum states, predicts an energy density of only 3.3 J/mm3. An approximate calculation is presented which accounts for these distortions, and furnishes an estimate of particle densities from measured energy densities. A peak energy density of 75 J/mm3 was obtained at 117 kbar and 1029 atoms/m3. At 10 kbar and 35 000°K, the conductivity was 3×105 (Ω m)−1 and increased with pressure. At 110 kbar and 10 000°K, the conductivity was 2.5×105 (Ω m)−1 and also was an increasing function of pressure.
Amino acid transport by choroid plexus in vitro.

— Choroid plexus from mongrel cats was incubated from 1 to 120 min in artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing α-amino[1-14C]isobutyric acid. The uptake of α-amino [1-14C]isobutyric acid occurred against a concentration gradient, was saturable, dependent on metabolic energy, and inhibited by natural amino acids. These results indicate that a transport mechanism is present in choroid plexus which could serve to regulate amino acid concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of animals.
Telomerase and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common manifestation of telomere-mediated disorders. Germline mutations in the essential telomerase genes, hTERT and hTR, are the causal genetic defect in up to one-sixth of pulmonary fibrosis families. The presence of telomerase mutations in this subset is significant for clinical decisions as affected individuals can develop extra-pulmonary complications related to telomere shortening such as bone marrow failure and cryptogenic liver cirrhosis. There is also evidence that IPF is an ancestral manifestation of autosomal dominant telomere syndromes where, with successive generations, the disease evolves from pulmonary fibrosis into a bone marrow failure-predominant disorder, defining a unique form of genetic anticipation. Here I review the significance of telomere defects for understanding the genetics, disease patterns and pathophysiology of IPF. The importance of this diagnosis for patient care decisions will also be discussed.
Strange Bedfellows: Symbols of Religion and Sexuality on MTV

This study used content analysis to examine the use of religious and sexual imagery in rock music videos to determine how frequently such images were used and how frequently they were combined with...
Surface derivatization of ketones and primary amines on thin-layer chromatographic plates for detection by secondary ion mass spectrometry

Abstract Exposure of the surface of a thin-layer chromatogram to vapors emitted from a solution containing a derivatization reagent results in the conversion of carbonyl-containing (e.g., steroids) or primary amine-containing molecules (e.g., small peptides) on the chromatogram into ionic derivatives suitable for sputtering in secondary ion mass spectrometry. No reduction in the chromatographic resolution is observed because liquid matrices or reagents are never applied directly to the surface.
Using an oxide nanoarchitecture to make or break a proton wire.

We report that long-range proton diffusion (>0.3 mm) is generated in monolithic ultraporous manganese oxide nanoarchitectures upon exposure to gas-phase water. The sol−gel-derived ambigel nanoarchitectures, with bicontinuous networks of covalently bonded nanoscale solid and through-connected mesopores, exhibit conductometric sensitivity to humidity as established by impedance spectroscopy. The spectra contain a Warburg feature from which the concentration and diffusion length of the protonic charge carriers are determined. Water adsorbs conformally onto the architecture's continuous solid network in equilibrium with atmospheric humidity to create a continuous water sheath that acts as a 3-D proton wire. As a result, monolithic manganese oxide ambigels exhibit an equilibrium conductometric response to humidity that is 14 times greater than that of previous reports for electrolytic manganese oxide. A packed bed of 1−10-μm ambigel particulates in physical contact with one another, each with the same nanoscal...
New hash functions and their use in authentication and set equality

Abstract In this paper we exhibit several new classes of hash functions with certain desirable properties, and introduce two novel applications for hashing which make use of these functions. One class contains a small number of functions, yet is almost universal2. If the functions hash n-bit long names into m-bit indices, then specifying a member of the class requires only O((m + log2log2(n)) · log2(n)) bits as compared to O(n) bits for earlier techniques. For long names, this is about a factor of m larger than the lower bound of m + log2n − log2m bits. An application of this class is a provably secure authentication technique for sending messages over insecure lines. A second class of functions satisfies a much stronger property than universal2. We present the application of testing sets for equality. The authentication technique allows the receiver to be certain that a message is genuine. An “enemy”—even one with infinite computer resources—cannot forge or modify a message without detection. The set equality technique allows operations including “add member to set,” “delete member from set” and “test two sets for equality” to be performed in expected constant time and with less than a specified probability of error.
Image dewarping and region of interest detection for processing of Moiré images

Projected grid interferometry is a low cost displacement measurement technique that can be applied to a wide range of applications. There has been a revived interest in this technique in recent years due to developments in computer hardware and image processing algorithms which are providing faster and more accurate measurement methods. In this paper, an image dewarping technique based on a fast centroid search algorithm, and a unique region of interest (ROI) detection algorithm which uses features inherent to projected grid images, are presented. These two algorithms are shown to provide good results with computation times less than 1 s each. These algorithms are demonstrated by using data acquired from a cantilever plate and from an airfoil in a large wind tunnel.
Temporal and spatial patterns in vegetation and atmospheric properties from AVIRIS

Abstract Little research has focused on the use o f intaging spectrometry for change detection. In this paper, we apply Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data to the monitoring of seasonal changes in atinospheric water vapor, liquid water, and surface cover in the vicinity of the Jasper Ridge, CA, for three dates in 1992. Apparent surface reflectance was retrieved and water vapor and liquid water mapped by using a radiativetransfer-based inversion that accounts for spatially variable atmospheres. Spectral mixture analysis (SMA) was used to model reflectance data as mixtures of green vegetation (GV), nonphotosynthetic vegetation (NPV), .soil, and shade. Temporal and spatial patterns in endineinber fractions and liquid water were compared to the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The reflectance retrieval algorithm was tested by using a temporally invariant target. Atmospheric analysis showed a strongly negative linear relation between water vapor and elevation with significant seasonal variation in water vapor. Comparison of AVIRIS estimates of specific humidity to ground-based measures showed good correspondence for all three dates. Analysis of .surface properties showed that GV, NDVI, and liquid water varied in. response to green vegetation and were highly correlated. However, whereas the NDVI peaked between 0.7 and 0.85 in forests, liquid water continued to vary by as much as a factor of two. Seasonal patterns included senescence in herbaceous and nonconiferous vegetation, potential leaf growth in cortiferous forests, and a general increase in shadows. This resulted in seasonal declines in NDVI, GV, and liquid water for non forested vegetation and increases in NPV. Nonconiferous forests showed similar declines in liquid water rend GV and increases in shade and NPV, but they showed an. increase in NDVI. In coniferouns forests, liquid water and NDVI increased seasonally, matching an interpretation of continued growth, but GV decreased owing to increased .shade. The combination of retrieved surface reflectance, atmospheric modeling, and mapping of liquid water demonstrates the utility of imaging spectrometry for change detection. SMA with the use of reference endmembers is an c effective method for monitoring surficial changes. Temporal patterns in NDVI that contradict trends of GV and liquid water in nonconiferous forests raise additional questions about the NDVI. Liquid water may be more appropriate for analysis of high-leaf-area, shadowed forests because it overcomes the problem of saturation with NDVI.
Differential modulation of hippocampal chemical-induced injury response by ebselen, pentoxifylline, and TNFα-, IL-1α-, and IL-6-neutralizing antibodies†

The proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been associated with various models of hippocampal damage. To examine their role in initiation of an acute hippocampal injury response, 21-day-old male CD-1 mice received an acute intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of trimethyltin hydroxide (TMT; 2.0 mg/kg) to produce necrosis of dentate granule neurons, astrocyte, and microglia reactivity. Tremors and intermittent seizures were evident at 24 hr. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), anti-apoptotic TNFalpha-inducible early response gene (A-20), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, TNFalpha, IL-1alpha, IL-6, and caspase 3 mRNA levels were significantly elevated. Pretreatment with the antioxidant, ebselen, decreased ICAM-1, A-20, and TNFbeta elevations. Pentoxifylline blocked elevations in A-20 and decreased elevations in GFAP mRNA levels. Neither prevented histopathology or behavioral effects. Intracisternal injection of TNFalpha-neutralizing antibody significantly inhibited both behavioral effects and histopathology. RNase protection assays showed that TMT-induced elevations in mRNA levels for ICAM-1, A-20, GFAP, MIP-1alpha, IL-1alpha, TNFalpha, TNFbeta, and caspase 3 were blocked by anti-TNFalpha. These data demonstrate a significant role for TNFalpha in an acute neuro-injury in the absence of contribution from infiltrating cells. The cerebellum shows limited if any damage after TMT; however, in combination with the i.c.v. injection, elevations were seen in GFAP and in EB-22, a murine acute-phase response gene homologous to the alpha (1)-antichymotrypsin gene. Elevations were similar for artificial cerebral spinal fluid and anti-IL-1alpha, and significantly increased with anti-TNFalpha, anti-IL-6, or the combination of antibodies. Responses seen in the cerebellum suggest synergistic interactions between the baseline state of the cell and manipulations in the cytokine environment. Data suggests a role for TNFalpha in the pathogenesis of hippocampal injury induced by TMT.
Evaluation of Aluminum-Sprayed Coatings for Corrosion Protection of Offshore Structures

Selection of an optimal corrosion protection method for offshore structural high-strength steel was necessary to avoid potential fatigue and hydrogen embrittlement problems. A study to evaluate the corrosion protection provided by sacrificial anodes and flame-sprayed aluminum coatings was undertaken. Reliability, availability, and influence on fracture and fatigue properties were the main factors considered in the study. The results illustrated that a properly applied flame-sprayed aluminum (FSA) coating represents the most viable scheme for providing long-life corrosion protection and improved corrosion fatigue and cracking resistance.
Amplitude variations on the ExAO testbed: Part II

Micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS) deformable mirrors (DMs) are under study at the Laboratory for Adaptive Optics for inclusion in possible future adaptive optics systems, including open loop or extreme adaptive optics (ExAO) systems. MEMS DMs have several advantages in these areas because of low (to zero) hysterisis and high actuator counts. In this paper, we present work in the area of high-contrast adaptive optics systems, such as those needed to image extrasolar planets. These are known to require excellent wavefront control and diffraction suppression. On the ExAO testbed we have already demonstrated wavefront control of better than 1 nm rms within controllable spatial frequencies, however, corresponding contrast measurements are limited by amplitude variations, including variations introduced by the MEMS. Results from experimental measurements and wave optic simulations on the ExAO testbed will be presented. In particular the effect of small scale MEMS structures on amplitude variations and ultimately high-contrast far field measurements will be examined. Experimental results include interferometer measurements of phase and amplitude using the phase shifting diffraction interferometer, direct imaging of the pupil, and far-field imaging.
Are all conversational implicatures cancellable

Ramsey. 1927. Truth and probability. In Philosophical Papers, ed. D. H. Mellor. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Seidenfeld, T, M. Schervish and J. Kadane. 1990. When fair betting odds are not degrees of belief. PSA (proceedings of the Philosophy of Science Association) 1: 517-24. Skyrms, B. 1987. Coherence. In Scientific Inquiry in Philosophical Perspective, ed. N. Rescher. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press. Talbott, W 1991. Two principles of Bayesian epistemology. Philosophical Studies 62: 135-50.
Numerical studies of supersonic turbulent boundary-layer flows with tangential slot injection

Abstract An implicit finite-difference method has been developed for the solution of the compressible boundary-layer equations. This method is applied to tangential slot injection into supersonic turbulent boundary-layer flows. In addition, the effects induced by the interaction between the boundary-layer displacement thickness and the external pressure field are considered. Three different eddy viscosity models have been used to specify the turbulent momentum exchange. One model depends on the species concentration profile, and the species conservation equation has been included in the system of governing partial differential equations. For air injected into air, the freestream and injected gases are treated as separate species which have common fluid properties. Calculations were made and results were compared with experimental data at freestream Mach numbers of 2.4 and 6.0 and with results of another finite-difference method. Good agreement was obtained for the reduction of wall skin friction with slot injection. Comparison with available experimental Mach number and pitot pressure profiles gave reasonable agreement in most cases. Calculations with the effects of pressure interaction included showed these effects to be smaller than effects of changing eddy viscosity models.
The effects of alprazolam on conditioned place preferences produced by intravenous heroin

Case studies reveal that opiate addicts often self-medicate with benzodiazepine (BDZ) tranquilizers prior to taking their opiate. Our laboratory has previously utilized the conditioned place preference paradigm to confirm that BDZs can augment the affective response to heroin in laboratory animals. The combination of alprazolam and varying doses of intravenous heroin resulted in a leftward shift of the heroin dose-response curve. The present experiment was devised to extend the previous findings by examining the ability of varying alprazolam doses (0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg ip) to potentiate the reward of a single challenge dose of heroin (0.025 mg/kg iv). The results demonstrate that a nonrewarding dose of alprazolam (0.125 mg/kg) and intravenous heroin can interact to produce reliable place preferences. The data thereby support prior work from our laboratory regarding the synergistic actions of BDZs and opiates.
Food shoppers' nutrition attitudes and relationship to dietary and lifestyle practices

The study compared dietary and lifestyle practices of 5689 adults in the US Department of Agriculture's Diet and Health Knowledge Survey conducted in 1994 to 1996. The adults were grouped based on their attitudes toward the importance of nutrition when buying food. A high percentage of women (69.8%) than men (55.2%) reported that nutrition was very important to them when buying food. Household income and educational status did not affect their nutrition attitude. After controlling for age, sex, and other socioeconomic and demographic variables, adults who considered nutrition very important had a lower energy intake and consumed more nutritious foods such as fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, and fluid milk than their counterparts. They read food labels and adopted several dietary fat reduction strategies. The adults who did not consider nutrition very important were 21% more likely to watch television for more than 2 hours a day, 38% more likely to be a smoker, and 32% less likely to exercise. In conclusion, the adults who placed importance on nutrition were also likely to practice a healthful lifestyle. Health interventions should include a nutrition component emphasizing the importance of good nutrition.
Some remarks about the coagulation of aerosol particles by Brownian motion

Abstract The development of the theory for collision and coagulation of aerosols in Brownian motion is reviewed. Theoretical conclusions resulting from the application of continuum theory are compared with calculations based on the kinetic theory of gases. These two approaches lead to different results which are applicable only to charged dilute aerosol clouds, in a limited range of the ratio of the mean free path of the suspending medium λ to the particle radius R . The present theories suggest that ( a ) the rate of coagulation of aerosols reaches a maximum between the ratio λ / R = 5 and 10, ( b ) charging of particles should have an increasing effect on coagulation rates as the ratio of the average charge per particle to the particle radius increases. There is a substantial region of aerosol behavior for which the present theory and experimental work are incomplete, particularly in accounting for the effects of charged particles. It is likely that a completion of the theory for coagulation of aerosols must await new developments in the physics of ionized dense gases.
Frequency‐selective surface based bandpass filters in the near‐infrared region

A spatial bandpass filter resonant at 1.5 m and based on a frequency-selective surface (FSS) was analyzed and fabricated. It consists of circular apertures arranged in a hexagonal lattice and was modeled using a hybrid finite-element/boundary-integral method, which
Finite mixture partial least squares for segmentation and behavioral characterization of auction bidders

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how to empirically segment, without a priori knowledge, online auction bidders using experimental data and finite mixture models. The proposed method utilizes a finite mixture partial least squares (FIMIX-PLS) approach to examine bidder behaviors and personality characteristics, evaluate bidder differences, and then segment the bidders. The empirical experiment is conducted for two different auction mechanisms - English and Vickrey. Results from both auction mechanisms indicate that FIMIX-PLS is capable of profiling and segmenting the bidders based on their individual characteristics. The post hoc analysis confirms the segmentation scheme and the capability of FIMIX-PLS in segmenting bidders into statistically identifiable homogeneous groups without a priori information of group characteristics. Such advantage is practical for online businesses dealing with increasing amount of data about their customers on a real time basis.
Accounting for nonlinear utility functions in composite measures of productivity and performance

Abstract Composite measures of productivity and performance combine different indicators of work activities into a single index. The term nonlinearities refers to the phenomenon that the relationship between the scores on an indicator of productivity and the value of that level of the indicator to the organization is not always linear. For example, more is not always better. This research evaluated whether accounting for such nonlinear relationships in productivity measures adds new information to the composite measures. Data from five organizations showed that the correlations between a composite measure which includes nonlinear relationships and one which does not were very high, but treatment effect sizes and decisions resulting from the two measurement systems were substantially different. It was concluded that inclusion of nonlinearities added important information to composite measures of productivity and that accounting for nonlinearities should result in more valid composites. Applications of this issue for other topics such as performance appraisal and promotions were discussed.
Further studies on the activation of microsomal (Na+ + k+)-atpase by a leukocytic product.

Abstract Previous studies showed that microsomal (Na + + K + )-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) is activated by a proteinaeous material released by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Investigations on the mode of action of the activator have been conducted by the isolation of 32 P-labeled phosphoenzyme intermediates formed in the reaction of ATP and (Na + + K + )-ATPase, which has been postulated to occur through the formation and hydrolysis of acyl phosphate intermediates. The activator caused a concentration-dependent decrease in the recovery of phosphoenzyme intermediates that was not quantitatively altered by the Na + or K + concentration of the reaction mixture or by the presence of 1 mM ouabain. A decline in phosphoenzyme intermediate recovery was promoted by the addition of the activator to performed phosphoenzyme intermediates but not by activator that had been pretreated with protease or phenol. In addition, the activator caused a concentration-dependent stimulation of the p -nitrophenyl phosphatase and acetyl phosphatase activities of microsomal (Na + + K + )-ATPase. It was proposed that the activator stimulates the dephosphorylation step of the (Na + + K + )-ATPase reaction sequence.
Wireless, low-cost, FPGA-based miniature gamma ray spectrometer

Abstract A compact, low-cost, wireless gamma-ray spectrometer is a tool sought by a number of different organizations in the field of radiation detection. Such a device has applications in emergency response, battlefield assessment, and personal dosimetry. A prototype device fitting this description has been constructed in the Advanced Radiation Instrumentation Laboratory at Oregon State University. The prototype uses a CsI(Tl) scintillator coupled to a solid-state photomultiplier and a 40 MHz, 12-bit, FPGA-based digital pulse processor to measure gamma radiation, and is able to be accessed wirelessly by mobile phone. The prototype device consumes roughly 420 mW, weighs about 28 g (not including battery), and measures 2.54×3.81 cm 2 . The prototype device is able to achieve 5.9% FWHM energy resolution at 662 keV.
The role of Ommaya reservoir and endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the management of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity

Objective The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate a series of consecutive patients affected by post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus in prematurity, treated with an implant of an Ommaya reservoir followed by ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt and/or endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these treatment options in the management of the condition.
XY-to-Ising crossover and quadrupling of the butterfly spectrum.

The XY-to-Ising crossover is studied in an anisotropic quantum XY spin chain where a modulating transverse magnetic field introduces a competing periodicity in the system. In the fermion representation, the model describes the perturbed Harper model, exhibiting a critical phase in addition to the extended and the localized phases. The XY-to-Ising crossover results in quadrupling of the butterfly spectrum, which lacks the full symmetry of the Harper butterfly spectrum. However, for infinitesimal field, the Ising butterfly spectrum asymptotically approaches the Harper butterfly spectrum. A duality transformation provides some insight into the various phases of the butterfly spectrum.
The Association Between Total Prostate Specific Antigen Concentration and Prostate Specific Antigen Velocity

Purpose: It has been previously demonstrated that a prostate specific antigen velocity greater than 2 ng/ml per year is associated with reduced cancer specific survival following radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation. However, men with different initial prostate specific antigen levels may be more or less likely to reach this prostate specific antigen velocity threshold. Because prostate specific antigen and prostate specific antigen velocity contain much of the same predictive information, our objective was to further examine the relationship between them.Materials and Methods: From a large prostate cancer screening study, serial prostate specific antigen measurements were available for 13,276 men, including 1,851 with a negative digital rectal examination who underwent biopsy and 894 who were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prostate specific antigen velocity was calculated using simple linear regression of the prostate specific antigen values from the year before diagnosis. ANOVA and the Krus...
The Challenge of Financing and Delivering Personal Assistant Services

Over the past several years, a multitude of factors have converged to make the financing and delivery of personal assistant services (PAS) two of the most critical issues in American disability policy making. This article chronicles the development of assistive services and examines some of the more noteworthy strategies designed to improve PAS policy making. The argument is made that PAS should be a mandatory benefit provided through Medicaid. This approach, although imperfect, holds the greatest potential for improving the PAS delivery system. Incorporating PAS as a Medicaid benefit offers advantages over the current system, including the opportunity for ongoing need and satisfaction assessment among program beneficiaries, the development of a platform for strengthening the personal assistant workforce, and the ability to generate evidenced-based recommendations for improved service outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Physical-resource requirements and the power of quantum computation

The primary resource for quantum computation is the Hilbert-space dimension. Whereas Hilbert space itself is an abstract construction, the number of dimensions available to a system is a physical quantity that requires physical resources. Avoiding a demand for an exponential amount of these resources places a fundamental constraint on the systems that are suitable for scalable quantum computation. To be scalable, the number of degrees of freedom in the computer must grow nearly linearly with the number of qubits in an equivalent qubit-based quantum computer. These considerations rule out quantum computers based on a single particle, a single atom, or a single molecule consisting of a fixed number of atoms or on classical waves manipulated using the transformations of linear optics.
Effect of self-etchant pH on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets

Introduction: Self-etching primers (SEPs) have been used successfully during bonding to reduce technique sensitivity while minimizing the etching of enamel. Although serving the same purpose, SEPs differ in acidity and aggressiveness. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the pH of SEPs affects the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets. Methods: Forty-five molars were cleaned, mounted, and randomly divided into 3 groups with different SEPs: in group 1 (control), 15 orthodontic brackets were bonded to the teeth with Transbond Plus (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) with a pH of about 1.0; in group 2, 15 brackets were bonded with Adper Prompt L-Pop (3M ESPE, St Paul, Minn) with a pH of 0.9 to 1.0; in group 3, 15 brackets were bonded with Clearfil S3 Bond (Kuraray America, New York, NY), with a pH of 2.7. All teeth were bonded with Transbond XT paste (3M Unitek). The teeth were debonded within half an hour after initial bonding by using a universal testing machine. The residual adhesive on each tooth was evaluated. ANOVA was used to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of the 3 groups, and the chi-square test was used to compare the adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores for the 3 groups. Results: ANOVA indicated significant differences between the groups. The Duncan multiple range test indicated that Clearfil S3 Bond produced a significantly stronger mean SBS (6.5 ± 1.9 MPa) than the Transbond Plus system (mean, 4.2 ± 1.9 MPa). No significant differences were seen between the SBS of the brackets bonded with Adper (mean, 5.9 ± 3.4 MPa) and the other 2 groups. The comparisons of the ARI scores between the 3 groups indicated that bracket failure mode was not significantly different. Conclusions: The SEP with the highest pH (least acidic), Clearfil S3 Bond, bonded brackets successfully and with the strongest SBS; this suggests that the pH of the SEP is not the primary determinant of the SBS. The clinician should be aware that some SEPs can leave the enamel surface healthier after debonding.
Manual wheelchair-related mobility characteristics of older adults in nursing homes.

Aim. Manual wheelchairs are commonly prescribed for older adults in nursing homes (NH). The extent of their utilisation being unknown may result in the prescription of standard wheelchairs. The purpose of this study was to quantify manual wheelchair use by nursing home residents.Methods. Seventy-two independent wheelchair users were recruited from four NH (two VA-affiliated and two private). A customised wheelchair data logger was attached to each participant's wheelchair for 1 month. Data were reduced and compared separately for VA- affiliated and private facilities by types of propulsion pattern (arms versus legs and the combination of arms and legs) using MANOVA.Results. Participants from the VA-affiliated facilities who used their arms were covering more distance (1451 m versus 806 m), with greater endurance (73 m versus 60 m) as compared to participants who used combination of arms and legs. However, no difference was observed between velocity of wheelchair propulsion between groups (0.48 m/s versus ...
Phylogenetic reconstruction of the felidae using 16S rRNA and NADH-5 mitochondrial genes

The Felidae family represents a challenge for molecular phylogenetic reconstruction because it consists of 38 living species that evolved from a relatively recent common ancestor (10-15 million years ago). We have determined mitochondrial DNA sequences from two genes that evolve at relatively rapid evolutionary rates, 16S rRNA (379 bp) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (NADH-5, 318 bp), from multiple individuals of 35 species. Based on separate and combined gene analyses using minimum evolution, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood phylogenetic methods, we recognized eight significant clusters or species clades that likely reflect separate monophyletic evolutionary radiations in the history of this family. The clusters include (1) ocelot lineage, (2) domestic cat lineage, (3) Panthera genus, (4) puma group, (5) Lynx genus, (6) Asian leopard cat group, (7) caracal group, and (8) bay cat group. The results confirm and extend previously hypothesized associations in most cases, but in others, e.g., the bay cat group, suggest novel phylogenetic relationships. The results are compared and evaluated with molecular, cytogenetic, and morphological data to derive a phylogenetic synthesis of field evolutionary history.
Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization

Until a little more than a decade ago, controlled/living radical polymerization (CRP) would have been an oxymoron. Full control over all aspects of radical polymerization was deemed well-nigh impossible because radical termination reactions occur at diffusion-controlled rates. However, there are now several procedures for controlling radical polymerization, and corporations are introducing products based on CRP into numerous high-value markets. This review briefly summarizes the evolution of CRP, describes some of the materials that can now be prepared, and highlights some of the commercialization efforts currently underway.
Estimating the Duration of Jihadi Terror Plots in the United States

The number of ongoing terror plots increases with the duration of time from plot initiation until plot execution or interdiction (whichever comes first), yet no estimate of the probability distribution governing terror plot duration has appeared in the open literature. To remedy this gap, jihadi terror plots in the United States were identified from terrorism-related indictments that occurred between 11 September 2001 and 30 June 2011 in addition to successful attacks. From a review of indictments, affidavits, and other publicly available information, it was possible to identify lower and upper bounds for the initiation date of the plot in question as well as the ending date corresponding to either the arrest of the suspect(s) eventually convicted or an attempted/actual act of terror. These observations enable estimation of the duration distribution of jihadi terror plots in the United States accounting for the censoring and truncation effects inherent with these data (technical details appear in the Appe...
An algebraic grid generation technique for time‐varying two‐dimensional spatial domains

An efficient and versatile algebraic grid generation technique is presented for generating grid points in irregularly shaped and time-varying spatial domains. The method presented is based on the ‘two-boundary technique’ of Smith. The usefulness and the feasibility of the grid generation technique were demonstrated by (1) generating grid points inside one of the combustion chambers of a motored two-dimensional rotary engine and (2) obtaining numerical solutions for the flow field inside one of those combustion chambers.
An improved procedure for the preparation of p-cyanobenzoic acids.

Abstract A practical laboratory method has been developed for the preparation of p ‐Cyanobenzoic acid. This product, which melts sharply at 220°, leaves no residue on treatment with thionyl chloride in contrast to that obtained by the usual methods in the literature.
Ericksen's bar and modeling of the smectic a-nematic phase transition

We consider free energy functionals to model equilibrium smectic A liquid crystal configurations in the neighborhood of the nematic phase transition. We begin with the functional proposed by de Gennes based on the Ginzburg--Landau model for superconductivity and consider its covariant formulations. Exploring qualitative analogies with the nonlinear elastic bar of Ericksen, we motivate a revision of the liquid crystal energy so as to include a nonconvex constraint. We study boundary-value problems corresponding to Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions for smectic A liquid crystals confined between two parallel plates. We show that the nonconvex term of the free energy density causes the presence in the solutions of nematic defects known to occur near the phase transition from smectic A to nematic. The latter are reminiscent of the dislocations occurring in higher dimensional configurations. We also determine parameter values that give rise to nucleation of nematic defects for boundary conditions consis...
Calculations for ledge energies on the diamond (111) surface

Abstract Optimum energies and structures were estimated for single step ledges formed on the (111) surface of diamond. Calculations were carried out employing a recently developed model potential function for carbon species. Four different ledge combinations along the close packed direction were investigated and variations in excess ledge energies were reported as a function of ledge-ledge separation. In general, interactions between ledges were found to be operational up to separations corresponding to 4 surface lattice spacings. The excess energy for the ledge in the [ 2 11] outward normal direction with an upper dangling atom, is the highest among the other ledge structures included in this work. Calculations carried out in this study indicate that relaxed stuctures of ledges formed on the diamond (111) surface are different from the corresponding ledge structures on the Si(111) surface.
A long-lasting wireless stimulator for small mammals.

The chronic effects of electrical stimulation in unrestrained awake rodents are best studied with a wireless neural stimulator that can operate unsupervised for several weeks or more. A robust, inexpensive, easily built, cranially implantable stimulator was developed to explore the restorative effects of brainstem stimulation after neurotrauma. Its connectorless electrodes directly protrude from a cuboid epoxy capsule containing all circuitry and power sources. This physical arrangement prevents fluid leaks or wire breakage and also simplifies and speeds implantation. Constant-current pulses of high compliance (34 volts) are delivered from a step-up voltage regulator under microprocessor control. A slowly pulsed magnetic field controls activation state and stimulation parameters. Program status is signaled to a remote reader by interval-modulated infrared pulses. Capsule size is limited by the two batteries. Silver oxide batteries rated at 8 milliamp-hours were used routinely in 8 mm wide, 15 mm long and 4 mm high capsules. Devices of smaller contact area (5 by 12 mm) but taller (6 mm) were created for mice. Microstimulation of the rat’s raphe nuclei with intermittent 5-minute (50% duty cycle) trains of 30 µA, 1 ms pulses at 8 or 24 Hz frequency during 12 daylight hours lasted 21.1 days ±0.8 (mean ± standard error, Kaplan-Meir censored estimate, n=128). Extended lifetimes (>6 weeks, no failures, n=16) were achieved with larger batteries (44 milliamp-hours) in longer (18 mm), taller (6 mm) capsules. The circuit and electrode design are versatile; simple modifications allowed durable constant-voltage stimulation of the rat’s sciatic nerve through a cylindrical cathode from a subcutaneous pelvic capsule. Devices with these general features can address in small mammals many of the biological and technical questions arising neurosurgically with prolonged peripheral or deep brain stimulation.
The hemodynamic effects of ventricular pacing with and without atrioventricular synchrony in patients with normal and diminished left ventricular function

Abstract The relative hemodynamic effects of heart rate, inotropic state, and atrioventricular (AV) synchrony during ventricular pacing were evaluated in 10 patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (0.66 ± 0.07, mean S.D.) and in eight patients with a diminished LVEF (0.34 ± 0.18). Hemodynamics were measured at AV intervals of 130, 0, and −130 msec during ventricular pacing at a baseline rate that was 10 pulses/min greater than the resting heart rate, at 130 pulses/min alone, and at 130 pulses/min during continuous intravenous infusion of dobutamine. During baseline ventricular pacing and during ventricular pacing at 130 pulses/min with and without dobutamine, both groups of patients had a significant decrease in cardiac index, stroke volume index, and stroke work index when the AV pacing interval was decreased from 130 to 0 msec. The observed decrease in these three hemodynamic variables was similar when patients with diminished LVEF were compared to patients with normal LVEF. No further significant decrease in cardiac index, stroke volume index, and stroke work index occurred in either group when the AV interval was changed from 0 to −130 msec during baseline ventricular pacing or during ventricular pacing at 130 with and without dobutamine. Beneficial hemodynamic effects occur during ventricular pacing when AV synchrony is maintained at resting heart rates and during increases in heart rate and inotropic state in patients with normal and diminished LVEF.
Green Infrastructure Design for Stormwater Runoff and Water Quality: Empirical Evidence from Large Watershed-Scale Community Developments

Green infrastructure (GI) design is advocated as a new paradigm for stormwater management, whereas current knowledge of GI design is mostly based on isolated design strategies used at small-scale sites. This study presents empirical findings from two watershed-scale community projects (89.4 km 2 and 55.7 km 2 ) in suburban Houston, Texas. The GI development integrates a suite of on-site, infiltration-based stormwater management designs, and an adjacent community development follows conventional drainage design. Parcel data were used to estimate the site impervious cover area. Observed streamflow and water quality data (i.e., NO3-N, NH3-N, and TP) were correlated with the site imperviousness. Results show that, as of 2009, the impervious cover percentage in the GI site (32.3%) is more than twice that of the conventional site (13.7%). However, the GI site's precipitation-streamflow ratio maintains a steady, low range, whereas this ratio fluctuates substantially in the conventional site, suggesting a "flashy" stream condition. Furthermore, in the conventional site, annual nutrient loadings are significantly correlated with its impervious cover percentage (p < 0.01), whereas in the GI site there is little correlation. The study concludes that integrated GI design can be effective in stormwater runoff reduction and water quality enhancement at watershed-scale community development.
Inhibition of Dihydropteroate Synthetase from Escherichia coli by Sulfones and Sulfonamides

Abstract The inhibitory action of various diphenylsulfones and sulfonamides on dihydropteroate synthetase partially purified from Escherichia coli was examined. 4,4′-Diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS; I50 = 2 × 10−5 M) and the monosubstituted derivatives 4-amino-4′-formamidodiphenylsulfone (I50 = 5.8 × 10−5 M) and 4-amino-4′-acetamidodiphenylsulfone (I50 = 5.2 × 10−5 M) were effective inhibitors of dihydropteroate synthetase activity. Disubstitution of the arylamine groups of DDS (4,4′-diformamidodiphenylsulfone and 4,4′-diacetamidodiphenylsulfone) resulted in complete loss of inhibitory activity. Both DDS (KI = 5.9 × 10−6 M) and sulfadiazine (KI = 2.5 × 10−6 M) were found to be competitive inhibitors of dihydropteroate synthetase. These findings are discussed in regard to the Bell and Roblin theory of structure-activity relationships for p-aminobenzoic acid antagonists.
A voxel-based morphometry comparison of regional gray matter between fragile X syndrome and autism

The phenotypic association between fragile X syndrome (FXS) and autism is well established, but no studies have directly compared whole-brain anatomy between the two disorders. We performed voxel-based morphometry analyses of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans on 10 individuals with FXS, 10 individuals with autism, and 10 healthy comparison subjects to identify volumetric changes in each disorder. Regional gray matter volumes within frontal, parietal, temporal, and cingulate gyri, as well as in the caudate nuclei and cerebellum, were larger in the FXS group relative to the autism group. In addition, volume increases in FXS were observed in frontal gyri and caudate nuclei compared to controls. The autism group exhibited volume increases in frontal and temporal gyri relative to the FXS group, and no volume increases relative to controls. Volumetric deficits relative to controls were observed in regions of the cerebellum for both groups, with additional deficits in parietal and temporal gyri for the FXS group. Our caudate nuclei and frontal gyri results may implicate dysfunction of frontostriatal circuitry in FXS. Cerebellar deficits suggest atypical development of the cerebellum contributing to the phenotype of both disorders, but further imply that unique cerebellar regions contribute to the phenotype of each disorder.
High frequency high current point of load modules with integrated planar inductors

Planar inductors made by mixed laminates of commercially available low-fire Ni-Cu-Zn ferrite tapes and metal-flake composites developed by NEC-TOKIN have been used for the high density integration of point-of-load (POL) modules. The incremental permeability and core loss density were characterized on the toroidal samples under high dc bias. Measurement results demonstrate that both materials are suitable for applications in high frequency high current POL converters. In order to realize a high power density POL module, a multilayer ferrite inductor laminated with alternating layers of ESL 40010 and ESL 40012 in a 1:1 ratio has been fabricated and integrated with the active layer using modified low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) processing. Meanwhile, the standard printed circuit board (PCB) processing has been adopted for the POL integration with a PCB embedded inductor using metal-flake composite materials. These developed 3-dimensional (3-D) integration approaches can be used to reduce the footprint and increase the power density for the high frequency high current POL converter. It is demonstrated that the power efficiency of POL modules with integrated planar inductors can achieve above 87% at operating frequency of 2 MHz and output current of 15 A. Additionally, no obvious efficiency degradation was observed on the integrated POL modules after certain numbers of thermal cycling from -40 °C to +150 °C.
Characterization of Intermediary Redox States of the Water Oxidation Catalyst, [Ru(bpy)2(OH2)]2O4+

Higher oxidation states of the μ-oxo bridged ruthenium “blue dimer” ([Ru(bpy)2(OH2)]2O4+) have been characterized by redox titration measurements, resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy, EPR spectrometry, and pulse radiolysis. The cumulative results indicate that the progression of accessible oxidation states in acidic media is {3,3} → {3,4} → {4,4} → {5,5}, but changes to {3,3} → {3,4} → {4,5} → {5,5} above pH 2. Although the reaction 2{4,5} + 2H2O → 2{3,4} + O2 is thermodynamically favorable, no O2 was detected during the decay of {4,5} to {3,4}. One-electron oxidation of {3,4} by radiolytically generated sulfate and carbonate radicals allowed determination of the {4,4} optical spectrum in neutral and alkaline media, where it exists only as a short-lived transient species. This spectrum was identical to that previously reported for {4,4} in acidic media; this observation and comparative RR spectra suggest that its molecular formula is [Ru(bpy)2(OH)]2O4+, that is, both Ru atoms contain a coordinated hydroxo l...