cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constraints on Neutrino Mass and Light Degrees of Freedom in Extended Cosmological Parameter Spaces

From a combination of probes including the cosmic microwave background (WMAP7+SPT), Hubble constant (HST), baryon acoustic oscillations (SDSS+2dFGRS), and supernova distances (Union2), we have explored the extent to which the constraints on the effective number of neutrinos and sum of neutrino masses are affected by our ignorance of other cosmological parameters, including the curvature of the universe, running of the spectral index, primordial helium abundance, evolving late-time dark energy, and early dark energy. In a combined analysis of the effective number of neutrinos and sum of neutrino masses, we find mild (2.2σ) preference for additional light degrees of freedom. However, the effective number of neutrinos is consistent with the canonical expectation of 3 massive neutrinos and no extra relativistic species to within 1σ when allowing for evolving dark energy and relaxing the strong inflation prior on the curvature and running. The agreement improves with the possibility of an early dark energy component, itself constrained to be less than 5% of the critical density (95% CL) in our expanded parameter space. In extensions of the standard cosmological model, the derived amplitude of linear matter fluctuations σ8 is found to closely agree with low-redshift cluster abundance measurements. The sum of neutrino masses is robust to assumptions of the effective number of neutrinos, late-time dark energy, curvature, and running at the level of 1.2 eV (95% CL). The upper bound degrades to 2.0 eV (95% CL) when further including the early dark energy density and primordial helium abundance as additional free parameters. Even in extended cosmological parameter spaces, Planck alone could determine the possible existence of extra relativistic species at 4σ confidence and constrain the sum of neutrino masses to 0.2 eV (68% CL).
Allocation and acknowledgment in young bilingual children's conversations

The purpose of this research was to describe one aspect of the communicative competence of 4-year-old Spanish/English bilingual children: the strategies they used in both languages for allocating turns and acknowledging them in peer conversations within a bilingual classroom context. Ethnographic techniques including participant observation, interviewing, and videotaping were used to collect languaguesed data. Allocating episodes were identified and described, frequencies calculated, and patterns interpreted in context. Within the episodes, three patterns of allocating and five patterns of acknowledging were identified. The children tended to use Spanish more often for the pattern that consisted of sets of allocators in one turn, while they used English more often for the pattern that consisted of sequences of allocators in a series of consecutive turns. Despite this difference, rates of acknowledgment were high and were almost the same in both languages. In this bilingual context, then, the children used different allocating strategies integrated with their two languages to communicate successfully.
The Self-Image in the Draw-a-Person Test and Self-Portrait Drawings

(1963). The Self-Image in the Draw-a-Person Test and Self-Portrait Drawings. Journal of Projective Techniques and Personality Assessment: Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 288-291.
Activity of amorphous V-AlPO4 and Co-AlPO4 in the selective synthesis of N-monoalkylated aniline via alkylation of aniline with methanol or dimethyl carbonate

The vapour phase catalytic alkylation of aniline with methanol or dimethyl carbonate (DMC) on amorphous AlPO4 and M-AlPO4 (M = Cu, Ni, Fe, Co and V) has been studied. V-AlPO4 and Co-AlPO4 showed high selectivity towards N-monomethylation of aniline. Further studies on the alkylation reactions have been carried out using AlPO4 and M-AlPO4 (M = V and Co) as catalysts at different temperatures and molar ratio of aniline to methanol or DMC. V-AlPO4 is found to show 100% selectivity for N-monomethylation of aniline, irrespective of the temperature or the molar ratio of the reactants. On the other hand, Co-AlPO4 shows 100% selectivity for N-monomethylated product only when the aniline-to-methanol (or DMC) molar ratio is 2∶1. Aniline conversion towards N-methylaniline(NMA) was found to be 39%. DMC has been found to be a better methylating agent than methanol with respect to the percentage conversion of aniline to N-methylaniline.
The role of executive function and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the expression of neuroticism and conscientiousness

The current study examined how specific neurological systems contribute to the expression of multiple personality dimensions. We used individuals with traumatic brain injuries to examine the contribution of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)—a region important for executive function and attention—to the expression of neuroticism and conscientiousness factors and facets. Results from Voxel-Based Lesion-Symptom Mapping analyses revealed that focal damage to the left DLPFC (Brodmann’s area 9) was associated with high neuroticism and low conscientious factor and facet scores (anxiety and self-discipline, respectively). Compared with lesioned and normal controls, veterans with damage in left DLPFC also reported higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness facet scores, slower reaction times on the California Computerized Assessment Package assessment, and lower scores on the Delis–Kaplan executive function battery. Findings suggest that while neuroticism and conscientiousness remain psychometrically ...
Fault-Tolerant Matrix Operations On Multiple Processor Systems Using Weighted Checksums

Hardware for performing matrix operations at high speeds is in great demand in signal and image processing and in many real-time and scientific applications. VLSI technology has made it possible to perform fast large-scale vector and matrix computations by using multiple copies of low-cost processors. Since any functional error in a high performance system may seriously jeopardize the operation of the system and its data integrity, some level of fault-tolerance must be obtained to ensure that the results of long computations are valid. A low-cost checksum scheme had been proposed to obtain fault-tolerant matrix operations on multiple processor systems. However, this scheme can only correct errors in matrix multiplication; it can detect, but not correct errors in matrix-vector multiplication, LU-decomposition, and matrix inversion. In order to solve these problems with the checksum scheme, a very general matrix encoding scheme is proposed in this paper to achieve fault-tolerant matrix operations with multiple processor systems. Since many signal and image processing algorithms involving a "multiply-and-accumulate" type of expression can be transformed into matrix-vector multiplication operations and executed in a linear array, this scheme is extremely useful for cost-effective and fault-tolerant signal and image processing.
Two-step interfacial barrier mechanism for the transport of micelle-solubilized solute across an oil-water interface.

Abstract Experiments on the transport of cholesterol, desmosterol and hydroxycholesterol from aqueous sodium taurocholate-lecithin and aqueous sodium cholate-lecithin micelle systems into hexadecane have been carried out as a function of lecithin to bile salt concentration ratios. These data strongly support the previously proposed hypothesis that the kinetics of transport of cholesterol, desmosterol and hydroxycholesterol is (1) interfacially controlled and (2) involves a two-step process in which there is first a collision of the solute-micelle complex with the oil-water interface and this is followed by the release of the solute from the micelle in a largely polar environment at the interface. The experimental evidence for this mechanism is that (1) effective interfacial barrier permeability coefficients for sterol transport has been found to be independent of bile salt-lecithin concentrations, when the ratio of lecithin to the bile salt was kept constant, and (2) when the lecithin-bile salt ratio was increased, keeping the bile salt concentration constant, it was found that the interfacial barrier permeability coefficients for the sterols decreased.
United Church of Christ “National Listening Campaign on Christian Faith Formation and Education”

Like other ministry areas, Christian Faith Formation and Education in the United Church of Christ has changed over the course of the denomination’s 55-year history. In its present form, faith formation is carried out among different settings across the life of the church including local congregations, associations, conferences, and institutions of higher and theological education. To assess the nature and scope of some of these changes, a large-scale survey was conducted (entitled the ‘‘UCC National Listening Campaign on Christian Faith Formation and Education’’) and was distributed across various settings of the denomination. The survey collected both quantitative and qualitative information about the current status of Christian faith formation and education and was conducted for a period of ten weeks with a total of 1,130 individuals responding to the survey. The online survey contained several demographically self-identifying components, so that similarities and differences across groups were determined. In addition, congregational demographics were collected and included: (a) church size (scaled by average worship attendance), (b) specific church designations (Open and Affirming, Accessible to All, Just Peace, Whole Earth, Multiracial/Multicultural), (c) and geographical location. Results indicated that worship and sermons were the most formational churchrelated experiences for individuals (73.7 % and 62.3 %, respectively), far above service/mission opportunities (38.5 %), choir/hymn singing (38.1 %), and Bible and other studies (36.7 %). How to connect faith with everyday life and how to be an agent of transformation in the world were the two most important faith learning desires of respondents (57.9 % and 54.4 %, respectively). The majority of respondents (80.1 %) indicated that group-based activities (discussions, retreats, small groups), in which a sense of community and meaning is
"Rompiendo el Silencio": Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Peer-Mediated Learning at Improving Language Outcomes for ELLs.

This article reports the results of a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of peer-mediated learning for English language learners. Peer-mediated learning is presented as one pedagogical tool with promise for interrupting a legacy of structural and instructional silencing of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Oral language (n = 13) and written language (n = 28) outcomes were analyzed, and main effects analyses indicate that peer mediation is highly effective at promoting both oral (g = .578, p = .000) and written language (g = .486, p = .000). A number of moderator analyses were conducted, and study-quality variables were the most important moderators across outcome types. Importantly, qualitative analysis of moderator variables provides tentative evidence that peer-mediation was more effective the more that students' L1 was used for instruction, and ELLs performed better in unsegregated environments where they had both language support services and access to native-English-speaking peers.
Estimates of ice thickness in the Conamara Chaos Region of Europa

Europa, the second Galilean moon outward from Jupiter, is similar in size to Earth's moon but has an outer water-ice layer on the order of 100 km thick. Images acquired by the Galileo spacecraft reveal domical features and iceberg-like blocks in some areas that suggest the ice was regionally thin at the time the features formed. This paper applies buoyancy and flexural models to some of the features to estimate ice thickness. Assuming that the ice blocks were floating in a liquid sublayer, the buoyancy model suggests an ice layer 0.2–3.0 km thick. Also, the flexural models suggest that only the upper 0.1–0.5 km of that ice layer responded elastically to stresses, acting as an elastic lithosphere.
Indirect processes in single-neutron transfer reactions on rare-earth deformed nuclei

Abstract High-resolution data on the 171 Yb(d,p) 172 Yb reaction at E d = 11.2 MeV are presented and compared with similar data on the inverse 172 Yb(p,d) 171 Yb reaction. Coupled-channel calculations reproduce the ground-band angular distribution much better than the DWBA results do.
Use of 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for Rapid Confirmatory Identification of Brucella Isolates

Members of the genus Brucella are categorized as biothreat agents and pose a hazard for both humans and animals. Current identification methods rely on biochemical tests that may require up to 7 days for results. We sequenced the 16S rRNA genes of 65 Brucella strains along with 17 related strains likely to present a differential diagnostic challenge. All Brucella 16S rRNA gene sequences were determined to be identical and were clearly different from the 17 related strains, suggesting that 16S rRNA gene sequencing is a reliable tool for rapid genus-level identification of Brucella spp. and their differentiation from closely related organisms.
Retropharyngeal pseudomeningocele after atlanto-occipital dislocation: Report of two cases

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We report two cases of retropharyngeal pseudomeningocele after atlanto-occipital dislocation. This is rare, with only one other reported case in the literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We report two patients who presented after blunt cervical and head trauma. Plain films revealed that each patient had atlanto-occipital dislocation. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging revealed the delayed development of retropharyngeal pseudomeningocele. Concomitant hydrocephalus was noted in both patients. INTERVENTION: The surviving patient showed marked neurological improvement and resolution of his pseudomeningocele after ventriculoperitoneal shunting. CONCLUSION: For patients with closed head injuries who develop posttraumatic pseudomeningocele, we recommend cranial computed tomography to assess for the presence of hydrocephalus. In patients with atlanto-occipital dislocation, delayed neurological deterioration warrants magnetic resonance imaging of the craniocervical junction to rule out posttraumatic pseudomeningocele.
Effect of Phosphate Treatment on Carcass-Weight Changes and Organoleptic Quality of Cut-Up Chicken

Abstract WEIGHT loss from eviscerated chicken carcasses due to dehydration is a common problem in the commercial processing industry. The changes in carcass weight during processing and holding of whole carcasses have been investigated by many workers including Bigbee and Dawson (1961), Fromm and Monroe (1958), Kotula et al. (1960a, b), Thomson et al. (1961), and Tarver et al. (1956). Cut-up birds, held in a fresh state, lose more moisture than whole carcasses. Jordan and Saunders (1958) reported a 1.9 percent loss and a 0.6 percent loss when broilers were cut up in commercial plants and retail stores, respectively. Heitz (1958) estimated that shrinkage amounted to slightly more than 6 percent under commercial conditions. Mountney and Winter (1961a) cutup carcasses one day after processing and stored them at 33° and 40°F, for 4, 8, and 12 days. Those carcasses which had been cut into 7 or 14 pieces lost more weight …
Subcellular Distribution of Patched and Smoothened in the Cerebellar Neurons

The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway carries out a wide range of biological functions such as patterning of the embryonic neural tube and expansion of cerebellar granule cell precursors. We previously have found that the Shh signaling receptors, Patched1 (Ptch1) and Smoothened (Smo), are expressed in hippocampal neurons of developing and adult rats, suggesting the continued presence of Shh signaling in postmitotic, differentiated neurons. Here, we report that Ptch1 and Smo are present in the processes and growth cones of immature neurons in the developing cerebellum, and that, in the mature cerebellum, Ptch1 and Smo are expressed by several types of neurons including Purkinje cells, granule cells, and interneurons. Within these neurons, Ptch1 and Smo are predominantly localized in the postsynaptic side of the synapses, a distribution pattern similar to that found in hippocampal neurons. Our findings provide morphological evidence that Shh signaling events are not confined to neuronal precursors and are likely to have ongoing roles within the postmitotic neurons of the developing and adult cerebellum.
Reversal Shift Behavior and Verbalization in Two Age Groups of Hearing and Deaf Children.

Abstract Four groups each containing 24 children (hearing or deaf, 7 or 12 years of age) were given the Kendler “optional choice” reversal-nonreversal shift task to determine the relationship between language ability and performance in this task. Following completion of the task, Ss were asked to verbalize the concept. The results indicate no difference between hearing children and their deaf counterparts in either speed of learning the first or second concept, or in the proportion of “reversers”, but there was a significant difference between the two ages for all these measures. For the hearing children, verbal reports were not significantly related to task performance. Further analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between verbal report and speed of shifting to the second concept as well as between type of shift and speed of shifting.
Why Are Some Individuals Not Racially Biased? Susceptibility to Affective Conditioning Predicts Nonprejudice Toward Blacks

Two studies investigated the psychological underpinnings of racial nonbias, defined as extremely low or null bias on measures of implicit and explicit racial attitudes. In Study 1, racially nonbiased Whites showed differential susceptibility to affective conditioning compared with subjects with greater bias. A significant two-way interaction emerged, indicating that nonbiased individuals were significantly less likely than other individuals to acquire negative affective associations to neutral stimuli in a classical conditioning paradigm, but were more likely than other individuals to acquire positive affective associations to neutral stimuli. This pattern of findings was replicated in Study 2, in which the identification of nonbiased Whites was facilitated by their nomination by an African American acquaintance. Implications for bias formation and prejudice reduction are discussed.
GIS Based Marine Platinum Exploration, Goodnews Bay Region, Southwest Alaska

Goodnews Bay, southwest Alaska, is known for platinum (Pt) reserve that extends offshore in the Bering Sea. To assess the nearshore placer potential we first collated marine Pt concentrations available since 1960 in a geographic information system (GIS) database. Subsequently, in 2005, we collected 23 pipe dredge sediment samples and 26 vibracores from unexplored sites and analyzed them for Pt. This sampling was supplemented by magnetic (Sea Spy) and seismic (side scan, geoacoustic and datasonic bubble pulser) surveys. Integrating results of geospatial analysis of Pt concentrations with geophysical analysis using GIS techniques led to delineate four locations encouraging for further Pt exploration. Of these, two locations fall close to paleochannels and drowned ultramafic source, while the other two coincide with high energy environments in the Goodnews Bay and close to the Carter Bay.
The weighted∗-core-nilpotent decomposition

Abstract The interaction between an involution (.)∗ and the core-nilpotent decomposition of a square matrix is investigated and used to derive a weighted ∗-core-nilpotent decomposition. This generalizes a decomposition by Gabriel and may be used to induce a newtype of pseudoinverse, which includes the Gabriel inverse as a special case.
Messenger ribonucleoprotein particles in developing sea urchin embryos.

Abstract Messenger RNA entering polysomes during early development of the sea urchin embryo consists of both oogenetic and newly transcribed sequences. Newly transcribed mRNA enters polysomes rapidly while oogenetic mRNA enters polysomes from a pool of stable, nontranslatable messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) derived from the unfertilized egg. Protein content may relate to differences in the regulation of newly transcribed and oogenetic mRNAs. Oogenetic poly(A) + mRNA was found to be present in both polysomal and subpolysomal fractions of cleavage stage and early blastula stage embryos. This mRNA was found to be present in subpolysomal mRNPs with a density of 1.45 g/cm 3 in Cs 2 SO 4 . Poly(A) + mRNPs released from polysomes of embryos cultured in the presence of actinomycin D sedimented in a broad peak centered at 55 S and contained RNA of 21 S. The density of these particles was sensitive to the method of release; puromycin-released mRNPs had a density of 1.45 g/cm 3 , while EDTA caused a shift in density to 1.55 g/cm 3 , indicating a partial loss of protein. The results with newly synthesized mRNAs contrast sharply. Newly transcribed mRNA in subpolysomal mRNPs had a density of 1.55–1.66 g/cm 3 , a density approaching that of deproteinized RNA. Messenger RNA released from polysomes either by EDTA or puromycin was examined to determine the possible existence of polysomal mRNPs. When [ 3 H]uridine-labeled mRNA was released from late cleavage stage embryo polysomes by either technique, and centrifuged on sucrose gradients, two broad peaks were found. One peak centered at 30 S contained 21 S mRNA while the other at 15 S contained 9 S histone mRNA. When these fractions were fixed with formaldehyde, they banded on Cs 2 SO 4 gradients at a density of 1.60–1.66 g/cm 3 , very similar to that of pure RNA. We conclude that the newly transcribed mRNA may be present in stable mRNPs containing up to 10% protein in either subpolysomal or polysomal fractions. These mRNPs are clearly distinguishable from the protein-rich mRNPs containing oogenetic mRNAs.
Stable versus unstable orientations of sex chromosomes in two grasshopper species.

The structural basis of orientation stability was investigated. The stable unipolar orientation of the Melanoplus sanguinipes X-chromosome univalent is unique in that it is stable without tension created by forces towards opposite poles; tension is thought to be the principle component in stabilizing kinetochore orientations to a pole. Stable orientation of the X chromosome in Melanoplus sanguinipes was compared with unstable X orientation in Melanoplus differentialis. Ten cells (five of each species) were studied, firstly in living cultures where chromosome behavior was followed, then by serial-section electron microscopy where the structural basis for chromosome behavior was examined. Microtubules other than kinetochore microtubules were observed impinging on the X chromosomes. One end of these microtubules was buried in chromatin, while the other ran towards a pole. The X chromosomes of M. sanguinipes had more of these microtubules than did M. differentialis X chromosomes. It is suggested that M. sanguinipes X chromosomes are less condensed than M. differentialis X chromosomes and so allow more microtubules to penetrate the chromosome. The extra microtubules impinging on the M. sanguinipes X chromosome probably prevent reorientation by inhibiting the turning of the chromosome towards the opposite pole, i.e., more force is needed to turn a kinetochore towards the opposite pole than can be generated and attempts at reorientation fail. This may be analogous to the effect that tension has on the orientation stability of bivalents.
The making of intermediate composition magma in a bimodal suite: Duck Butte Eruptive Center, Oregon, USA

Abstract The 10.4-Ma Duck Butte Eruptive Center (DBEC) of southeastern Oregon is anomalous within the High Lava Plains bimodal basalt/high-silica rhyolite province in that it produced mainly intermediate composition lavas. At Duck Butte, eruptions successively tapped a compositionally zoned system that became less silicic and volumetrically smaller in time. The first eruptions produced rhyodacite lava with andesite inclusions, followed by dacite lava with basaltic andesite inclusions, and finally andesite and basaltic andesite lavas. High-silica rhyolite domes, more typical of the province, erupted before and after Duck Butte, immediately to the east and west, respectively. Evidence from mingling and mixing textures and mixing calculations indicate that successive eruptions at Duck Butte represent mixing of residual magma in the system. Eruption rate outpaced the rate of silicic magma production. The mixing end-members are rhyodacite, which was produced by small degrees of crustal melting, and basaltic andesite. The mixing-dominated history at Duck Butte is in contrast to high-silica rhyolite at nearby Indian Creek Butte (ICB), which was derived by crystal fractionation from rhyodacitic crustal melt. We attribute the petrogenetic process that produced intermediate composition magma to disruption of the Duck Butte magma system by faulting, which caused high eruption rates and stirring of the magma. Magmatism at Duck Butte was related to faulting as indicated by both the alignment of rhyodacite vents parallel to a major regional basin–range fault and by faults that cut through early flows, whereas later flows drape the escarpment and are also offset by the fault. In contrast, tectonic quiescence at neighboring centers allowed for protracted differentiation of crustal melt to produce high-silica rhyolite. The material inputs to both the bimodal and dominantly intermediate centers are the same, but the contrast in tectonic influence and eruption rate strongly affects the erupted compositions.
Genome-wide association with delayed puberty in swine.

Summary An improvement in the proportion of gilts entering the herd that farrow a litter would increase overall herd performance and profitability. A significant proportion (10–30%) of gilts that enter the herd never farrow a litter; reproductive reasons account for approximately a third of gilt removals, with anestrous and failure to conceive the most common reasons for culling. Tools to select gilts for reproductive longevity through genomics or alternative phenotypes would be of great benefit to the producer. Ninety-one gilts that failed to display behavioral estrus by 240 days (cases) and 127 pubertal littermates (controls) were genotyped with the Illumina Porcine SNP60 Beadchip. One hundred and seventy-four SNPs with the most significant associations were genotyped in an additional 86 cases and 103 controls. Twelve of these associations were significant in the final analysis. The most significant (P < 1.5 × 10−14) region associated with failure to attain puberty was on chromosome 4 surrounding the NHLH2 gene. Delayed pubertal development and age at first estrus have been associated with NHLH2 in mice. Because attainment of puberty is a complex trait, identifying genes that affect pubertal age would greatly contribute to our knowledge of reproductive development as well as overall fertility.
The internal crisis of corrections: Professionalization and the work environment

Criminal justice policymakers and managers have viewed professionalization as a favored solution to the current crisis in correctional systems across the country. Utilizing case study data drawn from a state correctional system located in the western United States, we find that upgrading line correctional staff was a strategy used by top administrators to improve the image of their agency and maintain the autonomy of their prison system in the face of a threatened take-over by the federal court. However, in mandating the professionalization of their personnel, these managers failed to confront deeper organizational problems. Instead, they argued that an educated staff was the cure for acknowledged operational problems—including corruption and inhumane treatment. The failure to combine staff upgrading with more comprehensive organizational reforms merely heightened the frustrations within the workforce of the state's correctional institutions. In essence, these professionalization strategies represent a pr...
Structure of the F + center in magnesium oxide

Electron-nuclear double resonance has been used to determine nuclear hyperfine interactions for $^{25}\mathrm{Mg}$ nuclei near an ${F}^{+}$ center in MgO. Isotropic, anisotropic, and quadrupole couplings have been measured for nuclei in the third and fifth shells surrounding the vacancy, including nonaxial terms for the low-symmetry fifth-shell site. The quadrupole terms are sensitive to contributions from lattice relaxations around the defect, and a rigid-ion model is used to extract these relaxations. We find an outward motion of 6% of the near-neighbor separation for the first ionic shell, and smaller outward motions for shells three, four, and five. The net volume of formation for the defect is approximately 4 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole. The values are shown to be relatively insensitive to the limitations of the model. A relatively large isotropic interaction with fifth-shell nuclei can be quantitatively explained by including indirect overlaps via the second-neighbor oxygens. Analysis of the anisotropic dipolar terms gives direct confirmation of these large second-neighbor overlaps, and suggests some 20% of the total charge is localized in oxygen ${p}_{\ensuremath{\sigma}}$ lobes outside the second-neighbor shell.
Effect of the Niagara River Chippawa Grass Island Pool on Water Levels of Lakes Erie, St. Clair, and Michigan-Huron

Abstract Because of renewed riparian interest stemming from the high Lake Erie water levels of the mid-1980s and mid-1990s, and the need for a concise summary of previous studies, a review and a new assessment of the impact of the Niagara River's Chippawa Grass Island Pool on Lake Erie water levels was undertaken. Numerous field and modeling studies dating from 1953 through 1988 provide different assessments of the impacts. The impacts reported by the studies range from “no measureable effect” to a 2 to 5 cm Lake Erie water level decrease. The different results are due to different methods and data, and the fact that the impacts are not directly measureable. A new Great Lakes routing model that more accurately reflects the upper Niagara River hydraulics by explicitly considering the management directive of the Chippawa Grass Island Pool is used to estimate the impacts of deviating from the present directive. The long-term impact of a 0.30 m increase or decrease from the current directive's long-term mean pool level on Lakes Erie, St. Clair, and Michigan-Huron levels is 5 cm, 4 cm, and 2 cm and −4 cm, −3 cm, and −2 cm, respectively. The lakes are minimally responsive to short-term changes in pool levels, with 50% of the Lake Erie impact achieved at about 6 months, and full impact achieved at about 2 years. The minimal lake response, the time lag to full impact, and the local problems resulting from directive deviations, make this a less favorable emergency response measure during periods of extreme lake levels than other alternatives.
Statistical Behavior of Finite Isolated Superfluids

Attempts have been made to find an analog of the BCS theory of electronic superconductivity in nuclear systems. The inability of a finite isolated nucleus at fixed excitation energy to show the energy fluctuations inherent in a system characterized by temperature is shown to lead to differences between the statistical behavior based on a fixedtempreature and a fixed-energy system. (D.C.W.)
CD34+ CD38− and CD34+ HLA-DR− cells in BM stem cell grafts correlate with short-term engraftment but have no influence on long-term hematopoietic reconstitution after autologous transplantation

Background Prior studies have demonstrated that relatively immature hematopoietic stem cells, including CD34+ CD38− and CD34+ HLA-DR− subsets, correlate with short-term hematopoietic reconstruction (SHR) after transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these immature CD34+ subsets also correlate with long-term hematopoietic reconstitution (LHR) in recipients of ABMT.Methods We examined stem cell grafts from 58 patients with B-cell lymphoma or CLL who underwent ABMT after myeloablative conditioning. We determined whether total mononuclear cell dose (MNC), colony-forming unit–granulocyte-monocyte (CFU-GM), CD34+ cell dose and CD34+ cell subsets (CD34+ CD38− and CD34+ HLA-DR−) were associated with SHR and/or LHR. Time to neutrophil engraftment (TNE) and time to platelet engraftment (TPE) were used to measure SHR, while platelet counts at day 100 and 1 year post-ABMT were used as indicators for LHR.Results and discussion CD34+ cell dose and CD34+ cell subsets were significantly associat...
Upper Messinian conglomerates in Calabria, southern Italy: Response to orogenic wedge adjustment following Mediterranean sea-level changes

Widespread uppermost Miocene conglomerate and sandstone along the Apenninic-Maghrebian orogenic belt in the central Mediterranean region cannot be explained as a result of the Messinian base-level falls. Along the Ionian coast of Calabria, southern Italy, these rocks were deposited in marine fan deltas and rest in angular unconformity or disconformity upon the internal part of the Calabrian accretionary wedge. We propose that the upper Messinian deposits were produced by internal shortening of the Calabrian accretionary wedge as it compensated for the decrease in upper surface slope caused by flexural rebound as the ∼3.4-km-thick Ionian water mass evaporated. Latest Miocene-Pliocene marine inundation reloaded the basin, restored the wedge to a critical state, and caused the rear part of the wedge again to become tectonically stable. This isostatically driven mechanism could explain widespread latest Messinian thrust faults and coarse siliciclastic deposits along much of the Apenninic-Maghrebian orogen.
Structural investigation of the ammonium intercalates of titanium and niobium disulfides

Abstract The ammonium intercalates (NH+4)y'TiSy'−2, y'=0.21 and 0.23, and (NH+4)0.19NbS0.19−2 have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, vapor pressure measurements and evolved gas analysis. These compounds have six-layer stage-II structures with rhombohedral, or nearly rhombohedral, symmetry. A comparison of calculated and observed X-ray powder diffraction intensities for ( NH + 4 ) 0.21 TiS 0.21− 2 (a=3.1416 and c=42.73 A ) shows good agreement with trigonal prismatic NH+4 coordination in the van der Waals gap. X-ray powder diffraction also suggests the presence of substantial local-layer disorder for many of these compounds, which is probably associated with the low temperatures required for synthesis.
Tricuspid valve perforation by a permanent pacing lead in a patient with cardiac amyloidosis: case report and brief literature review.

Tricuspid valve injury is a rare complication of transvenous pacemaker placement, We report such an injury in an elderly patient with cardiac amyloidosis. Because serious complications may result from such an injury, tricuspid valve perforation should be considered, along with the more common causes of new murmurs, in patients with pacemakers.
Role of Xanthine Oxidase in the Development of Spontaneously Oxidized Flavor in Milk

Summary The role of xanthine oxidase in the development of spontaneously oxidized flavor was considered. The study included: (1) the relationship of xanthine oxidase activity to the development of off-flavor, (2) a multiple-enzyme system versus a single enzyme in the development of the off-flavor, and (3) the effect of inhibitors upon the development of spontaneously oxidized flavor. Results of the study indicated that: (1) The occurrence of a spontaneously oxidized flavor in milk was dependent upon a high level of xanthine oxidase activity, (2) a single enzyme (xanthine oxidase) was involved, and (3) inhibitors of xanthine oxidase were effective in preventing flavor development. A brief discussion of the peroxidatic action of xanthine oxidase was included.
Exposure-response relationship of bronchial mucociliary clearance in rabbits following acute inhalations of sulfuric acid mist.

Abstract Eight rabbits underwent 1 h oral inhalations of submicrometer sulfuric acid mist at concentrations ranging from approx. 100–1084 μ/m 3 , followed by measurement of the mucociliary clearance of a tracer aerosol from the bronchial tree. These data, plus those from a previous study, were used to construct an exposure concentration-response relationship for alterations in clearance produced by H 2 SO 4 . The response pattern is characterized by transient acceleration of clearance at low concentration exposures, and retardation at higher concentrations. In addition, comparison of these results with those from a similar study using human volunteers supports use of the rabbit as an appropriate model for studying mucociliary clearance alterations produced by inhaled irritants.
A sequential two-step mechanism for the production of the mature p17:p12 form of caspase-3 in vitro

The apoptotic cysteine protease, caspase-3, is expressed in cells as an inactive 32-kDa precursor from which 17 kDa (p17) and 12 kDa (p12) subunits of the mature caspase-3 are proteolytically generated during apoptosis. Two amino acid sequences, ESMD downward arrowS (amino acids 25-29) and IETD downward arrowS (amino acids 172-176), in the precursor have been defined as the cleavage sites for the production of the p17 and p12 subunits. Using a cell-free assay system, we demonstrate that the caspase-3 precursor appears to be cleaved first at the IETD downward arrowS site, producing the p12 subunit and a 20-kDa (p20) peptide. Subsequently, the p20 is cleaved at the ESMD downward arrowS site, generating the mature p17 subunit. The cleavage at the IETD downward arrowS site required a protease activity that was selectively inhibited by the peptide, Ac-IETD-CHO (acetyl-IETD-aldehyde), and other protease inhibitors, such as the cowpox viral serine protease inhibitor, CrmA, and N-alpha-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone. The protease that catalyzed the cleavage at the ESMD/S site was selectively inhibited by another peptide, Ac-ESMD-CHO (acetyl-ESMD-aldehyde). More interestingly, the caspase-3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO, but not the caspase-1 inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-CHO, also selectively inhibited the protease activity that cleaves at the ESMD downward arrowS site. This indicated that the cleavage at the ESMD downward arrowS site was either autocatalytic or that it required a caspase-3-like activity. In summary, we demonstrate that production of the p17:p12 form of caspase-3 is a sequential two-step process and appears to require two distinct enzymatic activities.
Generation of 3D hydrocarbon thin films via organic molecular cluster collisions

Thin film growth through the consecutive impact of energetic ethyne molecular clusters with a non-rigid, hydrogen-terminated diamond (111) surface in vacuum has been studied using molecular dynamics simulations. A second-generation version of the reactive empirical bond-order potential for hydrocarbons developed by Brenner, that has been modified to include long-range van der Waals interactions, is used in the simulations. The velocities considered are in the hyperthermal region and are comparable with those that can trigger shock-induced chemistry in energetic materials. The resulting film structure is predicted to be significantly different from diamond, graphite, or diamond-like amorphous-carbon thin films. The evolving film morphology is discussed in detail and the results compared with single cluster impacts involving a comparable number of molecules.
Quantification of Uncertainity in Fire-Weather Forecasts: Some Results of Operational and Experimental Forecasting Programs

Abstract Fire-weather forecasts (FWFs) prepared by National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters on an operational basis are traditionally expressed in categorical terms. However, to make rational and optimal use of such forecasts, fire managers need quantitative information concerning the uncertainty inherent in the forecasts. This paper reports the results of two studies related to the quantification of uncertainty in operational and experimental FWFs. Evaluation of samples of operational categorical FWFs reveals that these forecasts contain considerable uncertainty. The forecasts also exhibit modest but consistent biases which suggest that the forecasters are influenced by the impacts of the relevant events on fire behavior. These results underscore the need for probabilistic FWFs. The results of a probabilistic fire-weather forecasting experiment indicate that NWS forecasters are able to make quite reliable and reasonably precise credible interval temperature forecasts. However, the experimental relative...
Use of remote sensing for evapotranspiration monitoring over land surfaces

Abstract Monitoring evapotranspiration (ET) at large scales is important for assessing climate and anthropogenic effects on natural and agricultural ecosystems. This paper describes techniques used in evaluating ET with remote sensing, which is the only technology that can efficiently and economically provide regional and global coverage. Some of the empirical/statistical techniques have been used operationally with satellite data for computing daily ET at regional scales. The more complex numerical simulation models require detailed input parameters that may limit their application to regions containing a large database of soils and vegetation properties. Current efforts are being directed towards simplifying the parameter requirements of these models. Essentially all energy balance models rely on an estimate of the available energy (net radiation less soil heat flux). Net radiation is not easily determined from space, although progress is being made. Simplified approaches for estimating soil heat flux a...
CONTRACTING FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES: THEORY AND EVIDENCE FROM U.S. CITIES*: GOVERNMENT SERVICES CONTRACTS: EVIDENCE OF U.S. CITIES

Local governments can provide services with their own employees or by contracting with private or public sector providers. We develop a model of this "make-or-buy" choice that highlights the trade-off between productive efficiency and the costs of contract administration. We construct a dataset of service provision choices by U.S. cities and identify a range of service and city characteristics as significant determinants of contracting decisions. Our analysis suggests an important role for economic efficiency concerns, as well as politics, in contracting for government services.
Fashioning victims: Dr. Henry Jones and the plight of Irish Protestants, 1642

This article explores Dr. Henry Jones's work in conveying first-hand testimony on the Irish rising to English audiences in 1642. It compares Jones's Remonstrance of Diverse Remarkable Passages Concerning the Church and Kingdom of Ireland with the archival materials from which he drew his information. In order to persuade the English parliament and the English people to support charitable projects for Ireland's poor, Jones needed to portray the victims of the rising in a positive light. The resulting image of deserving war victims was broadly sympathetic but in fact reflected a distorted view of the experiences of those despoiled in the rebellion.
The use of an adjoint method for optimization of blowing in a convergent-divergent nozzle

This paper describes an adjoint optimization method. It is used to determine the blowing distribution in the diverging section of a convergent-divergent nozzle that gives a desired pressure distribution in the nozzle. The study is motivated by a noise reduction concept described by Morris et al. [11,12] in which distributed blowing in the nozzle divergent section is used to repro duce the effect of the corrugated seals developed by Seiner et al. [15, 14]. Both approaches reduce broadband shock-associated noise by allowing the nozzle to operate closer to an on-design condition. In addition, streamwise vortices are produced that break up the large scale structures in the jet and reduce mixing noise in the peak noise radiation direction. The design of the distributed blowing involves many parameters: both in the injector geometry and operating conditions. This design problem is ideally suited to the adjoint optimization method. The present paper provides a framework for this design process. The paper develop...
An approach to automatic language identification based on language-dependent phone recognition

An approach to language identification (LID) based on language-dependent phone recognition is presented. A variety of features and their combinations extracted by language-dependent recognizers were evaluated based on the same database. Two novel information sources for LID were introduced: (1) forward and backward bigram based language models, and (2) context-dependent duration models. An LID system using hidden Markov models and neural network was developed. The system was trained and evaluated using the OGLTS database. For a six-language task, the system performance (correct rate) for 45-second long utterances and 10-second long utterances reached 91-96% and 81-08% respectively. The experiments demonstrated the importance of detailed modeling and the method by which these information sources are combined.
Kininostatin, an Angiogenic Inhibitor, Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis of Human Endothelial Cells

We recently reported that domain 5 (D5) of high-molecular-weight kininogen inhibited critical steps required for angiogenesis. Thus, it was named kininostatin. To understand its mechanism of action, we further investigated the effects of D5 on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced endothelial cell proliferation and cell viability. We report here that D5-inhibited cell proliferation of human endothelial cells stimulated by bFGF was associated with a significant reduction of cyclin D1 expression, which is a critical component required for the transition from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. However, inhibition of cell proliferation by D5 was not due to an inhibition of extracellular signal–regulated protein kinase activity. Endothelial cells underwent apoptosis when cultured in a serum-free medium, which was prevented by bFGF. D5 reversed the protective effect of bFGF by 80%. Cells treated with D5 in the presence of bFGF showed typical morphological features of apoptosis, which was further confirmed by 2 additional assays: Hoechst 33258 cell staining and DNA fragmentation analysis. We conclude that the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis together represent a major contribution to the antiangiogenic activity of D5.
MMR and autism: moving from controversy toward consensus.

As controversy swirls around the putative association between the measles–mumps–rubella vaccine and autism, the methods of scientific investigation, established more than 150 years ago, bear remembering. In this article, we will discuss the origins of this hypothesis, evidence in support of and at variance with this theory and future investigations that may help to resolve this debate.