cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rhizogenic Fe–C redox cycling: a hypothetical biogeochemical mechanism that drives crustal weathering in upland soils

Field-scale observations of two upland soils derived from contrasting granite and basalt bedrocks are presented to hypothesize that redox activity of rhizospheres exerts substantial effects on mineral dissolution and colloidal translocation in many upland soils. Rhizospheres are redox-active microsites and in the absence of O2, oxidation of rhizodeposits can be coupled by reduction of redox-active species such as Fe, a biogenic reduction that leads to Fe translocation and oxidation, accompanied by substantial proton flux. Not only do rhizogenic Fe–C redox cycles demonstrate a process by which the rhizosphere affects an environment well outside the near-root zone, but these redox processes are also hypothesized to be potent weathering systems, such that rhizogenic redox-reactions complement acid- and ligand-promoted reactions as major biogeochemical processes that control crustal weathering. The potential significance of Fe–C redox cycling is underscored by the deep and extensive rooting and mottling of upland subsoils across a wide range of plant communities, lithologies, and soil-moisture and temperature regimes.
Potential economic impacts of zero thresholds for unapproved GMOs: The EU case

As the pipeline of new biotech crops has continued to expand, regulatory approvals of such crops across different countries have become less synchronized. As a result, some biotech crops can be cultivated in one or more countries but may not be approved for use in others. Under such circumstances, small amounts of unapproved biotech crops can be found in the food/feed supplies of some countries and under zero threshold policies they must be withdrawn and can lead to market disruptions. In this paper we examine the potential economic implications of regulatory asynchronicity and zero threshold policies for unapproved GMOs using the EU as a case study. To measure the potential economic impacts from possible trade disruptions between the EU and its major suppliers of soybeans, we develop a spatial equilibrium model and examine alternative scenarios where bilateral trade flows are set to zero. From our analysis we find that when asynchronous approvals become a systemic problem leading to trade disruptions with multiple trading partners the impacts can be severe. For instance, we find that if the EU were to stop imports from its three main suppliers the US, Brazil and Argentina, it would pay roughly 220% more for soybeans, 211% more for soybean meal and 202% more for soy oil.
Byning the earth

The Corps Battle Simulation (CBS) simulates ground and air battles between modern military forces. It runs in real time, modeling the interactions of tens of thousands of units in support of U.S. Army training exercises, typically involving several sites at geographically separated locations around the world. Through Version 1.5.2, the CBS terrain database associated terrain characteristics with a regular grid of three-kilometer hexagons tiling an appropriate map projection of the playbox. The hexagons also served as bins for other location-dependent information to simplify the search for what's nearby. This paper presents a new way to describe locations: Bynary latitudes and longitudes define patches of various sizes that completely cover the globe. Large patches, not necessarily all the same size, can serve as bins. Medium-sized patches can be assumed to have uniform terrain characteristics throughout. (That assumption, however, has not been used in CBS Version 1.5.3.) Tiny patches are suitable descriptors of locations. Spherical coordinates (latitudes and longitudes) are used for fundamental specification of locations, so playboxes are not limited by the characteristics of a map projection. The natural data structure is a quadtree, which facilitates storing terrain (and other location-dependent) data in variable size bins. If desired, huge bins can be used for areas remote from the primary theater of operations and smaller bins can be used in battle zones.
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH AND THE LEGAL THREAT TO PRESUMPTIVE SENTENCING GUIDELINES

The general tone of articles by policy makers is satisfaction that presumptive sentencing, as practiced in the United States, although threatened, has not been greatly damaged by Blakely v. Washington and related cases. Sentencing research, because it usually does not consider how discretion operates before and after the sentencing stage, does not actually provide an empirical basis for such satisfaction. Illustrations from several jurisdictions show that the presumptive sentence guidelines may not have been as effective at reducing discretion and disparity as policy makers seem to believe. In addition, the policy choices embedded in the sentencing grid itself can contribute to disparity, and the grid can and should be analyzed to assess its role. Policy Implications: Although not definitive, these analyses suggest that policy makers need to be more cautious with any conclusion about the relative benefits of presumptive versus voluntary guidelines. Analyses of sentencing variation must vary with the institutional setting. In a presumptive sentencing state, more of the total sentencing variation is likely to be contained in the grid or exercised in the charge bargaining stage (or earlier) compared with a less-structured sentencing system, where appreciable variation may remain at the sentencing stage.
Effects of Coating and Diametric Load on Fiber Bragg Gratings as Cryogenic Temperature Sensors

Cryogenic temperature sensing was demonstrated using pressurized fiber Bragg gratings (PFBGs) with polymer coating of various thicknesses. The PFBG was obtained by applying a small diametric load to a regular fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The Bragg wavelengths of FBGs and PFBG were measured at temperatures from 295 K to 4.2 K. The temperature sensitivities of the FBGs were increased by the polymer coating. A physical model was developed to relate the Bragg wavelength shifts to the thermal expansion coefficients, Young's moduli, and thicknesses of the coating polymers. When a diametric load of no more than 15 N was applied to a FBG, a pressure-induced transition occurred at 200 K during the cooling cycle. The pressure induced transition yielded PFBG temperature sensitivities three times greater than conventional FBGs for temperatures ranging from 80 to 200 K, and ten times greater than conventional fibers for temperatures below 80 K. PFBGs were found to produce an increased Bragg wavelength shift of 2.2 nm compared to conventional FBGs over the temperature range of 4.2 to 300 K. This effect was independent of coating thickness and attributed to the change of the fiber thermo-optic coefficient.
Identification of ejaculate derived propylamine found in collagen sponge contraceptives.

Following up a previous suggestion that propylamine might be the cause of malodor developing after sexual intercourse in sexually active volunteers wearing a vaginal collagen sponge for contraception this study was undertaken to identify this compound in ejaculate. The 1st detection of propylamine was from gas specimens obtained from vials containing pieces of odoriferous collagen sponges; the compound was identified by gas chromatography. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed an m/e pattern peculiar to propylamine. The origin of the compound was investigated by incubating human ejaculate from male volunteers at 37 degrees centigrade for 7 days. Again propylamine was identified by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy as N-propylbenzoylamide. Propylamine was apparently formed enzymatically from spermine and spermidine; it is believed that this is the 1st time that this compound has been identified as forming from human tissue. It was concluded from the data that propylamine is a normal enzymatic metabolite of ejaculate since no propylamine was detected in fresh ejaculate. The significance of this finding was not apparent.
REACTION OF SILYLENES AND GERMYLENE WITH 1,3‐BUTADIENE

Abstract Sila-3-cyclopentenes were obtained from reaction of 1,3-butadiene with SiH 2 , ClSiH and CH 3 SiH generated from disilane pyrolyses. 1-Silylsila-3-cyclopentene and 1,2-disila-4-cyclohexene were obtained in near equal quantities from the reaction of 1,3-butadiene with Si 2 H 4 (H 3 SiSiH or H 2 SiSiH 2 ) generated from the pyrolysis of Si 3 H 6 . Competitive reactions of SiH 2 with 1,3-butadiene and Si 2 H 6 and of GeH 2 with 1,3-butadiene and digermane have demonstrated that while SiH 2 addition to 1,3-butadiene can compete favorably with insertion into Si 2 H 6 , GeH 2 addition to 1,3-butadiene cannot compete with insertion into Ge 2 H 6 .
Baryons, diquarks and strings☆

Abstract The relation E2 ∝ l between the energy and angular momentum of a rotating string is applied to determine the energetically favorable configurations of three quarks in the string picture of baryons. It turns out that on the leading trajectory we have a quark-diquark or linear-molecule type of structure for three quarks. A new baryon spectroscopy is developed and its phenomenological consequences are discussed.
Experimental analysis of the evolutionary potential of hybridization in leopard frogs (Anura: Ranidae)

Artificial crossing using Rana blairi and R. sphenocephala frogs produced conspecific, interspecific and F1 backcross hybrid genotypes. Although hybrid males used in the crosses were sterile, crosses using hybrid females produced viable larvae. The larval performance of resultant parental and hybrid genotypes was measured in experimental ponds at two densities. Density significantly affected survival, body mass at metamorphosis, larval period length and metamorphosis for all genotypes. Survival was the same among genotypes, but decreased with increasing density. Body mass at metamorphosis was the same among genotypes, but decreased with increasing density. Larval period increased with increasing density. Among genotypes, larvae from the conspecific R. sphenocephala cross had the shortest larval period while larvae from the conspecific R. blairi cross had the longest larval period. All hybrid genotypes had larval periods longer than R. sphenocephala, but shorter than R. blairi. The percentage of individuals metamorphosing was highest for R. sphenocephala ponds and lowest for R. blairi ponds across densities. Ponds with hybrid larvae produced a greater proportion of metamorphs than those with R. blairi larvae, but a smaller proportion than R. sphenocephala ponds. Equivalent or increased relative larval performance of hybrid genotypes under the conditions of our experiment suggests that hybrid genotypes may possess similar or higher fitnesses relative to their progenitors in some environments. Reduced fertility of adult hybrid males is a powerful selective force against natural hybridization. Nevertheless, because of the successful reproduction by female hybrids, natural hybridization has the potential to serve as a mechanism for the introgression of novel genetic variation that can benefit both R. blairi and R. sphenocephala in fluctuating and unpredictable larval environments. Experimental determination of the fitness of parental and hybrid genotypes is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the effects of hybridization on organismal evolution.
Culture of impure human islet fractions in the presence of alpha-1 antitrypsin prevents insulin cleavage and improves islet recovery.

Abstract Background Exocrine tissue is commonly cotransplanted with islets in autografting and allotransplantation of impure preparations. Proteases and insulin are released by acinar cells and islets, respectively, during pretransplantation culture and also systemically after transplantation. We hypothesized that released proteases could cleave insulin molecules and that addition of alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) to impure islet cultures would block this cleavage, improving islet recovery and function. Methods Trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase (TCE) activity and insulin levels were measured in culture supernates of pure (n = 5) and impure (n = 5) islet fractions, which were isolated from deceased donors. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to detect insulin after incubation with proteases. We assessed the effects of A1AT supplementation (0.5 mg/mL; n = 4] on TCE activity, insulin levels, culture recovery, and islet quality. The ultrastructure of islets exposed to TCE versus control medium was examined using electron microscopy (EM). Results Protease (TCE) activity in culture supernatants was indirectly proportional to the percentage purity of islets: pure, impure, or highly impure. Increasingly lower levels of insulin were detected in culture supernatants when higher protease activity levels were present. Insulin levels measured from supernatants of impure and highly impure islet preparations were 61 ± 23.7% and 34 ± 33% of that in pure preparations, respectively. Incubation with commercially available proteases (TCE) or exocrine acinar cell supernatant cleaved insulin molecules as assessed using SDS-PAGE. Addition of A1AT to impure islet preparations reduced protease activity and restored normal insulin levels as detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and SDS-PAGE of culture supernates. A1AT improved insulin levels to 98% ± 1.3% in impure and 78% ± 34.2% in highly impure fractions compared with pure islet fractions. A1AT supplementation improved postculture recovery of islets in impure preparations compared with nontreated controls (72% ± 9% vs 47% ± 15%). Islet viability as measured using membrane integrity assays was similar in both the control (98% ± 2%) and the A1AT-treated groups (99% ± 1%). EM results revealed a reduction or absence of secretory granules after exposure to proteases (TCE). Conclusion Culture of impure human islet fractions in the presence of A1AT prevented insulin cleavage and improved islet recovery. A1AT supplementation of islet culture media, therefore, may increase the proportion of human islet products that meet release criteria for transplantation.
Nationality, Cultural Distance, and Expatriate Status: Effects on the Managerial Network in a Multinational Enterprise

We study the role of three characteristics of international managers—nationality, cultural distance, and expatriate status, for their network ties. A network analysis of cross-subsidiary interactions among 457 managers in an MNE demonstrates that managers form strong expressive ties with peers with smaller cultural distance and from the same status group. However, managers form strong instrumental ties with peers who are different on these background characteristics. The implications for international management theory and practice are discussed.
Enhanced magnetic separation of pyrite from coal after microwave heating

The objective of this research was to improve the magnetic separation of coal and pyrite by enhancing the magnetic susceptibility of pyrite in run-of-mine coal through the use of selective dielectric heating. Separation of pyrite from coal would be facilitated by changing a portion of each pyrite particle to a more magnetic form. Studies included the measurement of the dielectric properties of different coal fractions at frequencies ranging from 1 MHz to 12 GHz. These values were then used to calculate the theoretical heating expected in these materials and their mixtures at 2.45 GHz. The experimental treatment showed general agreement between theoretical and experimental heating and that it is possible to heat pyrite in coal selectively. Data indicated an increase in the apparent magnetic susceptibility of dielectrically heated pyrite samples that was roughly proportional to the time and power of treatment. Magnetic separation tests were conducted on untreated and heated coal samples. Dielectric heating produced more magnetic material in the samples, increased the magnetic susceptibility and slightly improved magnetic separations.
Detection of ocular surface abnormalities in experimental vitamin A deficiency.

• Hypovitaminosis A is the major cause of childhood blindness in many developing countries. Unfortunately, serum vitamin A levels do not accurately reflect liver stores, and there is no good objective test for detecting early, physiologically important deficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine if we could detect ocular surface abnormalities in the eyes of vitamin A-deficient rabbits at early stages of xerophthalmia. Cellulose acetate filter strip impressions were taken serially from the bulbar conjunctiva of vitamin A-deficient rabbits every two weeks, beginning eight to 12 weeks before keratinization of the corneal or conjunctival epithelium was clinically apparent. The percentage of light microscopic fields containing goblet cells decreased, and the percentage of fields containing enlarged epithelial cells increased in a linear fashion, beginning at least four to six weeks before the clinical changes. The results indicate that this technique may be of potential usefulness as a screening tool for early xerophthalmia.
Molecular cloning and chromosomal localization of the human cyclin C (CCNC) and cyclin E (CCNE) genes: deletion of the CCNC gene in human tumors.

The human G1-phase cyclins are important regulators of cell cycle progression that interact with various cyclin-dependent kinases and facilitate entry into S-phase. We have confirmed the localization of the human cyclin C (CCNC) gene to chromosome 6q21 and of human cyclin E (CCNE to 19q12). The CCNC gene structure was also determined, and we have shown that it is deleted in a subset of acute lymphoblastic leukemias, including a patient sample containing a t(2;6)(p21;q15), with no apparent cytogenetic deletion. Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of the remaining CCNC allele from patients with a deletion of one allele established that there were no further mutations within the exons or the flanking intronic sequences. These results suggest either that haploinsufficiency of the cyclin C protein is sufficient to promote tumorigenesis or that the important tumor suppressor gene is linked to the CCNC locus. 48 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.
Pregnancy outcome after ultrasound diagnosis of fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix.

Objectives Fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein (FIUV) varix is a focal dilatation of the intra-abdominal portion of the umbilical vein, which has been reported to be associated with intrauterine death and other anomalies. Our aim was to examine our experience with this diagnosis at a single tertiary-care center and to correlate it with clinical outcome. Methods This was a retrospective case series study. Our ultrasound database was searched for all cases with a diagnosis of FIUV varix identified at our facility between 1997 and 2007. We reviewed all ultrasound examinations, maternal antenatal records, delivery records and newborns’ medical records. Results We identified 52 cases of FIUV among a population of approximately 68 000. Three cases of trisomy 21 were identified, all of which were accompanied by other anomalies. There was intrauterine death of one fetus with trisomy 21 at 35 weeks of gestation. We did not find an association between FIUV varix and other obstetric complications. Conclusions The outcome of pregnancies with FIUV varix is generally favorable. The finding of a FIUV varix should prompt the search for other anomalies, especially markers of aneuploidy. Copyright  2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crack growth as an interpretation of static fatigue

Abstract Static fatigue is due to water in the environment which accounts for substantial reductions in the strength of glass. Extensive experimental investigations have shown that static fatigue results from surface cracks that grow when glass is subjected to tensile loads. In this paper evidence for this conclusion is reviewed. First, the earlier studies of strength of glass are summarized. Then, supporting evidence for crack growth obtained from the newer discipline of fracture mechanics is given. Finally, the influence of ion exchange and chemical reactions at crack tips is discussed with regard to crack growth. The chemical composition of the crack-tip solution is shown to play an important role in controlling crack growth.
How Flaviviruses Activate and Suppress the Interferon Response

The flavivirus genus includes viruses with a remarkable ability to produce disease on a large scale. The expansion and increased endemicity of dengue and West Nile viruses in the Americas exemplifies their medical and epidemiological importance. The rapid detection of viral infection and induction of the innate antiviral response are crucial to determining the outcome of infection. The intracellular pathogen receptors RIG-I and MDA5 play a central role in detecting flavivirus infections and initiating a robust antiviral response. Yet, these viruses are still capable of producing acute illness in humans. It is now clear that flaviviruses utilize a variety of mechanisms to modulate the interferon response. The non-structural proteins of the various flaviviruses reduce expression of interferon dependent genes by blocking phosphorylation, enhancing degradation or down-regulating expression of major components of the JAK/STAT pathway. Recent studies indicate that interferon modulation is an important factor in the development of severe flaviviral illness. This suggests that an increased understanding of viral-host interactions will facilitate the development of novel therapeutics to treat these viral infections and improved biological models to study flavivirus pathogenesis.
INLAND SULFATE DEPOSITION IN NORTH AMERICA FROM MARINE EMISSIONS

Sulfate emissions from marine transport are an important part of the global sulfate emissions inventory. This study estimates long-term average sulfate deposition from marine transport in two general areas of the United States: the West Coast and the Great Lakes region. An analytical model of sulfate dispersion and reaction is used to predict combined wet and dry deposition rates. Emissions are roughly three times higher in the Great Lakes region than off the West Coast and result in substantially higher deposition rates from marine transport. In all locations studied, the contributions of marine transport to overall deposition rates were modest, in the range of 0.2 kg/ha-year to 2 kg/ha-year. Understanding the contribution from marine sources will help improve overall estimates of the sources of acid deposition and help focus regulatory attention on the most promising areas for reducing deposition rates in inland areas.
An open implementation analysis and design for lightweight threads

Open Implementation Analysis and Design (OIA/D) has been introduced as a design methodology for object-oriented software systems, and in particular for substrate software. In this paper we detail our experiences with using OIA/D to design and implement a common substrate component for parallel language runtime systems: a lightweight threads package. We show how existing thread packages employ a "black-box" design, hiding crucial design decisions that drastically reduce their ability to be re-used. We detail these design decisions (dilemmas) and show how an implementation based on OIA/D principles results in a thread package that is flexible, efficient, portable, and re-usable.
Site-specific photomodification of DNA by porphyrin-oligonucleotide conjugates synthesized via a solid phase H-phosphonate approach.

meso-Tris(4-pyridyl)[[(ˆ-hydroxyhexamethylene)carbamoyl]phenyl]porphyrin was converted to its H-phosphonate derivative and conjugated using solid phase synthesis with the 5′-hydroxyl group of deoxyribonucleotides d(TCTTCCCA) and d(T)12. These conjugates were transformed into their (Nmethylpyridiniumyl)porphyrin analogs in the reaction with methyl iodide. A 532 nm laser beam was utilized to photoactivate both types of the conjugates in the presence of the target 22-mer and 16-mer oligonucleotides. Photoactivation of porphyrin-oligonucleotide conjugates resulted in site-specific DNA modification characterized by a main reaction site size of5 bases.
Experimental limits on the existence of strongly interacting massive particles bound to gold nuclei

We report the results from an experimental search for strongly interacting massive particles bound to gold nuclei. A scan for heavy gold isotopes with masses ranging from 186.3 to $325.9 \mathrm{GeV}{/c}^{2}$ was performed on laboratory gold and gold from western Australia using PRIME Lab, the Purdue Accelerator Mass Spectrometer facility. The results provide significant new constraints on current models which predict the existence of such particles with abundance ratios in the range ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}\char21{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}.$
The effect of chlorine modification of silica-supported Ru on its CO hydrogenation properties

Abstract An investigation of CO hydrogenation on Cl-modified supported Ru catalysts has been carried out using both steady-state Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis of methanation. The steady-state reaction results illustrate how the presence of chlorine acts to decrease catalytic activity and to enhance the selectivity of methane formation even though it is present on the catalyst only during the initial stages of the reaction. The deactivation results for F-T as well as the isotopic transient results suggest that structural rearrangements induced by the presence of chlorine, rather than selective site blocking or electronic interactions, may be the primary mechanism of chlorine modification of the catalytic properties of supported ruthenium for CO hydrogenation. Isotopic transients indicated that the decrease in methanation activity with increasing initial Cl concentration was a function of a decrease in the number of reactive surface intermediates (or sites) and not of a change in site activity.
Development of liability syndromes for schizophrenia: where did they come from and where are they going?

Three decades after Paul Meehl proposed the term “schizotaxia” to describe a conceptual framework for understanding the liability to schizophrenia, Ming Tsuang et al. at Harvard University reformulated the concept as a clinical syndrome with provisional research criteria. The reformulated view relied heavily on more recent data showing that many non-psychotic, un-medicated biological relatives of individuals with schizophrenia showed difficulties in cognitive and other clinical functions that resembled those seen in their ill relatives. The reformulation raised questions about both whether and when liability could be assessed validly in the absence of psychosis, and about the extent to which symptoms of liability are reversible. Both questions bear on the larger issue of early intervention in schizophrenia. This article reviews the efforts of Tsuang et al. to conceptualize and validate schizotaxia as one such syndrome of liability. Towards this end, liability is considered first more generally as an outcome of interactive genetic and environmental factors. Liability is then considered in the context of endophenotypes as a concept that is both broader and is potentially more specific (and predictive) than many DSM or ICD diagnostic symptoms. Liability syndromes are then considered in the context of their proximity to illness, first by reviewing prodromal syndromes (which are more proximal), and then by considering schizotaxia, which, as it is currently formulated, is pre-prodromal and, therefore, less proximal. Finally, challenges to validation and future directions for research are considered. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reactive and Real Power Control for Computationally Effective Voltage and Thermal Management

This paper introduces a new efficient way of controlling or "managing" the active and reactive resources of the system on line in such a way as to maintain viable voltage and current "profiles", that is to keep all voltages within normal limits and all currents within their thermal limits. The disruption to system operation is minimized by using tools of control in priority order. The computational burden is minimized by restricting the computations to moderate size clusters within the large system. The clusters consist of sets of violations and control tools which are effective on these violations along with such nonviolated elements which are responsive to the controls within the cluster. A novel, simple and effective method for finding the clusters is introduced. Because of the limited size of the clusters the computation of the controls is inherently fast but in addition a fast and efficient algorithm is introduced. This overall approach can be operated as an "emergency control" or an ongoing dispatch. In the latter case it will routinely handle any emergencies of the type consisting of more or less widespread voltage and current problems within segments of the system. On the other end of the spectrum these techniques can be used effectively in establishing a restoration sequence or plan for a failed system (with or without blackout).
Synthesis and properties of the nanocomposite of zink oxide and poly(amic acid)

Abstract The composite comprised of zinc oxide quantum dots and poly(amic acid) (PAAc) was prepared and studied by X-rays diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, light scattering, UV absorbance and UV fluorescence. The UV absorbance of the ZnO/PAAc composite was found to be much larger than that of its components taken separately. The fluorescence of the ZnO/PAAc composite was found to be shifted to longer wavelengthes in comparison with pure ZnO. The presence of the dopant dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid was found to affect the observed fluorescence.
Water Dispersible Low Band Gap Conductive Polymer Based on Thieno[3,4-b]thiophene

Abstract Herein we describe the synthesis and properties of poly(thieno[3,4- b ]thiophene) (PT34bT), a new low band gap polymer that shows high optical transparency in oxidized conductive state. Thieno[3,4, b ]thiophene was polymerized in water using chemical oxidants in the presence of poly(styrenesulfonic acid). Since poly(styrenesulfonic acid) is water soluble and there are strong interactions between poly(styrenesulfonate) and the oxidized PT34bT, the resulting polymer system is rendered a colloidal dispersion. PT34bT-PSS has a band gap of ca. 1.08 eV (1150 nm) depending on oxidants used as determined by the onset of the π to π* from the Vis-NIR spectrum with a peak at an energy of 1.63 eV (760 nm). Diluted PT34bT-PSS dispersions are transmissive green in the oxidized form and become transmissive blue in reduced state. Electrical conductivities for these polymers are dependent on chemical oxidants used and are varied from 0.01 to 10 −4 S/cm.
Hand detection and tracking for virtual training environments

Advances in communication technologies, the Internet, and immersive media have provided excellent opportunities for research and development of virtual environments for educational purposes. Future classrooms and laboratories are most likely to utilize advanced distance learning platforms to cover large audiences. Nevertheless, communication delay, lack of intuitive user interface to the system, and the need for expensive equipment along with several other limitations can overshadow the usability of such environments.In this paper we focus on the use of web-cameras as an inexpensive and primary interface to the virtual world. Further, we investigate how hand detection techniques could be used to track the interactions and the movements of simulated objects in a training environment.Our goal is to create an educational environment that uses standard web-camera and computer vision techniques to allow the users to utilize their hands in order to interact with the simulated objects in cyberspace the same way we do with physical objects in our current laboratories.The system uses a web-based simulation for training and education. The environment and the objects need to respond to the user interactions similar or close to their real world counterparts.
Detecting faint echoes in stellar-flare light curves

Observational considerations are discussed for detecting echoes from flare-star photospheres and from stellar or planetary companions. Synthetic spectra are used to determine optimal conditions for the recovery of echoes in flare light curves. The most detectable echoes are expected to appear in broadband observations of the UV continuum. Short-lived flares are ideal for resolving echoes from the flare-star photosphere and may provide constraints for stellar-flare models. Strong outbursts may be used to detect stellar or planetary companions of a flare star. However, the possible planetary configurations that may be probed by this method are limited to Jupiter-size objects in tight orbits about the parent star.
Reducing correlation to improve coverage of delay faults in scan-path design

Simulation data are presented for eleven benchmark circuits to show how test pattern correlation in a scan-path design circuit adversely affects delay fault coverage, and to demonstrate that most undetected delay faults caused by correlation of test patterns are close to the outputs of latches. Topology-based latch correlation measures are introduced and used by a companion latch arrangement algorithm to guide the placement of latches in a scan-path design, with the objective of minimizing the effect of correlation and maximizing the coverage of delay faults. Simulation results with benchmark circuits indicate that the scan-path found by the algorithm clearly achieves better delay fault coverage than a scan-path having no deliberate arrangement. The data also indicates that the algorithm is most effective in covering delay faults that are located nearest the latch outputs of the circuit. The approach has an advantage over other arrangement schemes in that it is simple to implement and does not require significant computational time even for large circuits. >
Mineral metabolism and behavior: abnormalities of calcium homeostasis.

Abnormalities of calcium homeostasis are often associated with a variety of behavioral disorders such as severe neuroses and psychoses which are frequently accompanied by anxious, depressed and delusional behavior. In our clinical studies of these abnormalities it is evident that hypocalcemia can be corrected to normocalcemia by dietary calcium supplements and vitamin D therapy. This result implies that in those regions where there are small amounts of calcium in the diet and/or limited sunlight for vitamin D synthesis the possibility of hypocalcemia and associated behavioral disorders is high. Our studies have centered on the Eskimo as an excellent example of this phenomenon. We are asking two kinds of questions: What are the biological, psychological, and socio-cultural adaptations that take place in response to these abnormalities of calcium homeostasis; and what do these adaptations have to do with natural selection? In order to answer these questions in our investigation of calcium homeostasis, we are developing a general model capable of showing its modes of interaction among the biological, psychological, and sociocultural variables. This model will emphasize the limitations of biological adaptations in this case and demonstrate the significance of psychological and socio-cultural adaptations in shifting the course of natural selection.
Bioavailability of lead from contaminated sediment in northern bobwhites, Colinus virginianus.

Sediment from Killarney Lake, Idaho was added to the diet of captive northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) to determine absorption of Pb from contaminated sediment. The sediment, containing 4,500 μg g−1 Pb dry weight (d.w.), was added to ground poultry ration at 8% dry matter intake (DMI) for 21 days. Concentrations of Pb in blood, liver, and kidneys of each bobwhite were determined and compared to concentrations in untreated control bobwhites. Treated bobwhites showed no significant decline (P>0.05) in food intake or body mass over time. In 90% of treated bobwhites, blood Pb concentrations reached levels associated with clinical Pb poisoning (>0.8 μg g−1 wet weight, w.w.); and all treated bob-whites had elevated liver and kidney Pb concentrations. It was shown that tissue Pb accumulation can occur from ingestion of Pb-contaminated sediment.
Sugar uptake by intestinal basolateral membrane vesicles.

A high yield of membrane vesicles was prepared from the basolateral surface of rat intestinal cells using an N2 cavitation bomb and density gradient centrifugation. The membranes were enriched 10-fold and were free of significatn contamination by brush border membranes and mitochondria. The rate of D-E114C]glucose and L-E13H]glucose uptake into the vesicle was measured using a rapid filtration technique. D-Glucose equilibrated within the vesicles with a half-time 1/25th that for L-glucose. The stereospecific uptake exhibited saturation kinetics with a Km of approx. 44 mM and a V of approx. 110 nmol . mg-1 min-1 at 10 degrees C. The activation energy for the process was 14 kcal . mol-1 below 15 degrees C and it approached 3 kcal . mol-1 above 22 degrees C. Carrier-mediated uptake was eliminated in the presence of 1 mM HgCl2 and 0.5 mM phloretin. The rate of transport was unaffected by the absence or presence of sodium concentration gradients. Competition studies demonstrated that all sugars with the D-glucose pyranose ring chair conformation shared the transport system, and that, with the possible exception of the -OH group at carbon No. 1, there were no specific requirements for an equatorial -OH group at any position in the pyranose ring. In the case of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside its inability to share the D-glucose transport system may be due to steric hindrance posed by the -OCH3 group rather than by a specific requirement for a free hydroxyl group at the position in the ring. It is concluded that sugars are transported across the basolateral membrane of the intestinal epithelium by a facilitated diffusion system reminiscent of that in human red blood cells.
Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Right Pulmonary Artery Associated with Ventricular Septal Defect

A three-year-old girl with ventricular septal defect and reactive pulmonary hypertension died immediately after surgical closure of the ventricular septal defect. Necropsy revealed an associated anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right pulmonary artery. It is assumed that the pulmonary arterial pressure decreased from systemic levels upon closure of the ventricular septal defect. The fall in pressure, in turn, is considered to have been responsible for a fall in left coronary arterial perfusion pressure. In the absence of rich intercoronary anastomoses, myocardial ischemia and death resulted. The case seems to emphasize the point that classic features of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary arterial system may be absent if pulmonary hypertension for any reason is present.
Hippocampal long-term potentiation and spatial learning in the rat: effects of GABAB receptor blockade

Abstract This series of experiments assessed the role of GABA B receptors in the induction of long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus in vivo , and spatial learning and memory in three different tasks. In urethane-anaesthetized rats, the GABA B receptor antagonist CGP 46381 was injected intraperitoneally at a dose which effectively suppressed GABA B -mediated paired pulse disinhibition. Theta-burst stimulation reliably produced long-term potentiation in control rats. However, GABA B receptor blockade significantly suppressed the induction of long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus. To compare the results of the long-term potentiation experiments with behavior, we assessed the performance of rats on several spatial learning and memory tasks in the presence of CGP 46381. We found that the working memory performance of highly trained rats on the eight-arm radial maze was unaffected by CGP 46381. There was also no effect of GABA B receptor blockade on learning in the eight-arm maze using a five-trial repeated acquisition paradigm. However, when we tested spatial learning in naive rats using a mildly stressful water maze task, we found that CGP 46381 substantially impaired both the latency to find the platform and the pathlength travelled in the maze during acquisition. CGP 46381-treated rats took longer to learn the location of the escape platform and travelled a greater distance over the acquisition trials. These data demonstrate that GABA B receptor blockade results in a suppression of hippocampal long-term potentiation in vivo and impairs spatial learning in a task where stress may be a component of performance.
Ries impact crater, southern Germany - Search for meteoritic material

Twenty-three samples covering a wide range of shock metamorphism from the Ries impact crater in southern Germany were analyzed for siderophile and volatile elements in order to determine the chemical nature of the impacting meteorite. Slight enrichments in the siderophile elements Ir and Os above the indigenous level of 0.015 ppb were observed in only eight samples, including a shocked, metal-bearing amphibolite and two weakly shocked biotite gneisses, whereas those samples expected to contain meteoritic material (heavily shocked glasses) do not exhibit a perceptible siderophile enrichment. The Ir, Os and Ni enrichments of the metal bearing amphibolite are found to be compatible with chondritic ratios, while in the other enriched samples, Ir, Ni and Se relationships suggest an achondritic meteoritic origin. An aubritic projectile is concluded to be most compatible with the data.
The service overlay network design problem for interactive internet applications

Consider a private network of geographically dispersed computers with fast and high capacity connections, and an Internet application session, such as a massive multiplayer online game, with a server and a set of clients. We refer to the former as a service overlay network (SON), and assume that it could be connected to the Internet. The problem is to decide how to configure and utilize the SON in support of this application, such that the clients? speed of communication with the server is within given communication performance requirements.We provide an Integer Programming formulation of this problem, and prove that it is NP - Hard . In an attempt to solve the problem within strict computational time requirements of actual applications, we develop a solution framework based on partitioning and enumerating the solution space into smaller subproblems, one or more of which contains an optimal solution. In this framework, we develop and test an optimal seeking exact, and a fast polynomial time heuristic algorithm with success. The exact algorithm sets optimally solvable sizes of the subject problem, whereas the heuristic algorithm sets the size of solvable instances in a real application.
An illustrative computer program for instruction in the finite element method

Abstract A simple but efficient finite element computer program skeleton is presented for student use in introductory finite element courses. The program, although short enough to execute on a microcomputer has a number of features found in larger general purpose programs such as the use of compacted 1-dimensional array storage for all variables. This paper explains some of the programming techniques employed in its writing and can serve as the basis for lecture notes or notes for student distribution on efficient finite element method programming practices. Upon request, the author will make available a copy of the program and user guide.
Energy and charge transfer for Na+ ions scattered from a Ag(001) surface

Abstract We present energy- and charge-resolved measurements of low and hyperthermal energy Na+ ions scattered from a Ag(001) surface. With the primary ion beam oriented along the [110] crystal direction, distinct peaks in the energy distributions of the scattered beam flux that correspond to single or multiple collisions with target atoms are observed. A classical trajectory simulation reveals that these collisions can occur either at the surface or within the [110] channels, depending on incident beam energy. Within the simulation we probe the role of finite temperature and thermally displaced atoms on specific scattering events and show that contributions to the scattered distributions from single and double collisions dominate within the [110] channels. We also report velocity dependent measurements of the neutral/ion ratio of the scattered beam flux. A deviation between the data and simulated charge transfer results is observed for Na trajectories which penetrate the surface.
Evolution of remotely measured inner magnetospheric ion temperatures during a geomagnetic storm

[1] Previous studies have demonstrated that with the Medium Energy Neutral Atom instrument aboard the IMAGE spacecraft it is possible to remotely measure the ion temperature of the terrestrial magnetosphere during periods of strong geomagnetic activity. However, neutral atom imaging of the magnetosphere during quiet intervals is more difficult. In this work we show that by mapping neutral atom fluxes obtained over many days of observation to an equatorial plane fixed in geocentric solar magnetospheric coordinates, it is possible to construct neutral atom images of the quiet time magnetosphere. Enhanced neutral fluxes in the energy range of 1–70 keV/nucleon are observed in the quiet time premidnight region. A superposed-epoch analysis of multiple storm intervals also permits imaging of the ion temperature structure as a function of time through a geomagnetic storm. Using nearly 40 geomagnetic storms to produce average ion temperature maps as a function of storm phase, we find that there are significant differences between the spatial distribution of neutral fluxes and ion heating during the main phase of storms. Pronounced ion heating (up to 12 keV) is observed on the dayside during storm main phase from 5 to 8 Earth radii. During the early recovery phase, the ion temperature on the dayside drops to approximately 9 keV, and a colder region of approximately 6.5 keV persists near predawn. In the late recovery phase of the storm the ion temperature throughout the inner magnetosphere appears to relax to a nearly uniform 8 keV.
Intransitivity of Indifference, Strong Monotonicity, and the Endowment Effect

Abstract A model is developed which represents an agent′s imperfect access to his true preferences via a "sensation of preference" function. The resulting structure, which is mathematically related to stochastic preferences, implies commonly observed intransitivities of indifference while maintaining the property of strong monotonicity. Properties of the agent′s perceived preference relation and the implications for trading behavior are explored. Consistent with experimental and survey data, and unlike the classical model of preferences, trading behavior is shown to exhibit the endowment effect across a wide range of choice problems. Journal of Economic Literature classification number: D89.
Fatigue crack propagation in oil environments— II. A model for crack closure induced by viscous fluids

Abstract Several mechanisms have recently been identified for fatigue crack closure. The current work examines the concept of crack closure induced by the hydrodynamic wedging action of a viscous fluid within an advancing crack during cyclic loading. Unlike previous analyses, the model considers both the hydrodynamics of the pressure distribution within the crack and the kinetics of the penetration of the fluid into the crack. In addition, the results are presented in fracture mechanics terminology, and expressed as an effective (near tip) stress intensity range. Analyses involving both “full-” and “partial-penetration” of the viscous fluid inside the crack are utilized to rationalize the influence of viscosity on fatigue crack propagation in dehumidified oil environments, described in Part I of this paper. The roles of stress intensity range, crack size and frequency on the development of such fluid-induced crack closure are also examined.