cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tape mechanics over a flat recording head under uniform pull-down pressure

The mechanics of the “tape” over a flat-head is investigated. It has been recently shown that a thin, flexible tape, traveling over a flat recording head under tension contacts the head over the central area of the head. This phenomenon is due to the self-acting, subambient foil bearing effect. In this paper, as a first order of approximation, a simplified system is analyzed; where a uniform subambient pressure p * is assumed to be acting on the tape, over the head region. Increasing subambient pressure values represent faster tape speeds. This approach enables an independent investigation of the tape mechanics alone, and provides a closed-form solution. The tape is modeled as a tensioned infinitely wide plate, traveling at steady state. This non-dimensional solution relates the tape displacements and the reaction forces to the problem parameters, i.e., the wrap angle, tape tension, bending rigidity, head-length and external pressure. Tape and head-wear at the corners of the head, and wear of the magnetically active regions located at the central part of the flat-head are critical issues to be considered in designing a flat-head/tape interface. The closed-form solution is particularly useful in obtaining estimates of the magnitudes of the reaction forces at the corners.
Are estrogens carcinogenic during development of the testes

Many chemicals in the environment mimic the female sex hormone, estrogen. Exposure to environmental estrogens during early fetal development was proposed by Sharpe & Skakkebaek as a potential risk factor for subsequent testicular disease, including neoplasia and poor semen quality. To understand the mechanisms of action of estrogenic chemicals during differentiation of the male genital tract, we have studied developmental exposure to the synthetic estrogen, diethylstilboestrol (DES). While DES is a much more potent estrogen than most environmental chemicals examined, several of these compounds share some of the same properties as DES, such as a relative lack of binding to serum estrogen carrying proteins. Prenatal exposure to DES is associated with poor semen quality, prostatic disease, cryptorchidism and testicular neoplasia in mice. A rare form of testicular cancer, rete testis carcinoma, was observed in five percent of male mice treated in utero with DES. We also demonstrated altered regulation of an estrogen responsive gene, lactotransferrin (LTF) in the seminal vesicles of treated mice, but not the controls. Likewise, LTF was irreversibly altered in the uteri of developmentally treated females; at the molecular level altered methylation of the gene appears to be involved, thus, providing a potential marker for hormonal effects during development. The induction of permanent or 'imprinted responses during the development of a relatively estrogen-free reproductive tract cell suggests that undifferentiated targets for estrogen action may be sites for subsequent growth and differentiation defects associated with neoplasia.
Improving ability measurement in surveys by following the principles of IRT: The Wordsum vocabulary test in the General Social Survey

Abstract Survey researchers often administer batteries of questions to measure respondents’ abilities, but these batteries are not always designed in keeping with the principles of optimal test construction. This paper illustrates one instance in which following these principles can improve a measurement tool used widely in the social and behavioral sciences: the GSS’s vocabulary test called “Wordsum”. This ten-item test is composed of very difficult items and very easy items, and item response theory (IRT) suggests that the omission of moderately difficult items is likely to have handicapped Wordsum’s effectiveness. Analyses of data from national samples of thousands of American adults show that after adding four moderately difficult items to create a 14-item battery, “Wordsumplus” (1) outperformed the original battery in terms of quality indicators suggested by classical test theory; (2) reduced the standard error of IRT ability estimates in the middle of the latent ability dimension; and (3) exhibited higher concurrent validity. These findings show how to improve Wordsum and suggest that analysts should use a score based on all 14 items instead of using the summary score provided by the GSS, which is based on only the original 10 items. These results also show more generally how surveys measuring abilities (and other constructs) can benefit from careful application of insights from the contemporary educational testing literature.
Fractal-Based Scaling and Scale-Invariant Dispersion of Peak Concentrations of Crop Protection Chemicals in Rivers

A new regulatory approach is needed to characterize peak pesticide concentrations in surface waters over a range of watershed scales. Methods now in common use rely upon idealized edge-of-field scenarios that ignore scaling effects. Although some watershed-scale regulatory models are available, their complexity generally prevents them from being used duringthe pesticide registration decision process, even though nearly all exposure to both humans and aquatic organisms can occur only at this scale. The theory of fractal geometry offers a simpler method for addressing this regulatory need. Mandelbrot described rivers as "space-filling curves" (Mandelbrot, B. B. The Fractal Geometry of Nature; Freeman: New York, 1983), a class of fractal objects implying two useful properties we exploit in this work. The first is a simple power-law relationship in which log-log plots of maximum daily concentrations as a function of watershed area tend to be linear with a negative slope. We demonstrate that the extrapolation of such plots down to smaller watersheds agrees with edge-of-field concentrations predicted using the Pesticide Root Zone Model, but only when the modeling results are properly adjusted for use intensity within the watershed. We also define a second useful property, "scale-invariant dispersion", in which concentrations are well described by a single analytical solution to the convective--dispersion equation, regardless of scale. Both of these findings make it possible to incorporate the effect of watershed scale directly into regulatory assessments.
Recent literature on government information

Abstract This column is designed as a current awareness source for professionals who work with government information. It appears in numbers 2 and 5 of each volume of Government Publications Review (GPR) and provides citations to literature of interest to documents librarians and researchers. This listing is prepared from a scan of more than 100 journals, Current Contents, and indexes such as Library Literature and PAIS. This column includes citations to recently released books, ERIC documents, es- says from collected works, and journal articles. Publications with an imprint date of 1983 are included unless previously noted in this column in an earlier issue of GPR. Book reviews and short news items are not included. Articles are listed once under their primary topic. Previous issues of Government Publications Review (Volume 4, Number 2; and Volume 7A, Number 6) have contained retrospective bibliographies of periodical literature in the field. Contributions to the column are welcome. James Gillispie of the Eisenhower Li- brary, Johns Hopkins University, assisted in the preparation of this column.
Norman Corwin's One World Flight: The Found Journal of Radio's Greatest Writer

This is the first of a two-part article that presents a distillation of a found manuscript—a travelogue—written by radio's foremost dramatist and writer of radio documentaries, Norman Corwin, recounting his experiences during a 4-month, round-the-globe, fact-finding mission stemming from his recognition as the first Wendell Willkie One World Award recipient. Corwin recorded interviews with the famous and not-so-famous regarding the prospects for a sustained peace in the aftermath of WWII. These became the corpus of a series of 13 half-hour documentaries broadcast by the CBS Radio Network in 1947 as well as the substance of his unpublished written account. 1
The polyphony of BACH2.

In this issue of Blood , Huang and colleagues examine the role of BACH2, a transcription factor known to be expressed highly in germinal center B cells.[1][1][⇓][2]-[3][3] B cells undergo very striking changes as they differentiate from stem cells to become the effector cells of humoral immunity
Genetic predictors of cervical dysplasia in African American HIV-infected women: ACTG DACS 268.

AbstractObjective: To examine genome-wide associations in HIV-infected women with a history of cervical dysplasia compared with HIV-infected women with no history of abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) tests. Design: Case-control study using data from women analyzed for the HIV Controllers Study and enrolled in HIV treatment-naive studies in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). Methods: Genotyping utilized Illumina HumanHap 650 Y or 1MDuo platforms. After quality control and principal component analysis, ~610,000 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested for association. Threshold for significance was P < 5 × 10–8 for genome-wide associations. Results: No significant genomic association was observed between women with low-grade dysplasia and controls. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis between women with high-grade dysplasia or invasive cervical cancer and normal controls identified significant SNPs. In the analyses limited to African American women, 11 SNPs were significantl...
Depression of centrum medianum complex response by rostral thalamic lesion

Abstract In cats, lesions impinging upon the rostral pole of nuclei reticularis and ventralis anterior of the thalamus and upon the adjacent internal capsule were found to depress sensory (somatic and visual) responses in the centrum medianum complex (CM). The depression of CM responses occurred concurrently with a depression of spontaneous cortical spindles and evoked recruiting potentials. This effect did not appear to depend upon the participation of the ascending reticular activating system: CM responses to optic tract stimulation could still be depressed after bilateral destruction of the mesencephalic tegmentum. Concomitantly with the reduction of CM responses to optic tract stimulation, the responses recorded from the lateral geniculate nucleus and visual cortex were enhanced. We conclude that mechanisms entirely situated above the level of the midbrain may exert a potent tonic influence on the responsiveness of thalamic cells. Alteration of this responsiveness seems to be related to the elimination of EEG spindle waves.
Isolation and identification of low molecular weight carboxylated carbons derived from the nitric acid treatment of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were purified by treatment with concentrated nitric acid and then subjected to Soxhlet extraction with tetrahydrofuran (THF). The THF extract of low molecular weight carboxylated carbons was derivatized with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane and the resulting methylated material was separated with column chromatography and thin layer chromatography and several fractions were identified by GC–MS and 1H NMR. The fractions were shown to include small benzopolycarboxylic acids and organic nitro compounds.
On line optical and Auger data acquisition

Abstract A software/hardware package has been developed for use with an 8K DEC PDP-8/L of /I minicomputer, providing real time acquisition and manipulation of optical reflectivity, Auger, and photoemission data. Optical data and Auger or photoemission data may be acquired simultaneously. Provisions have been included for the addition of a scanning rotating ellipsometer. Synchrotron radiation from an electron storage ring has been the primary optical source. Optical reflectivity is measured using single photon counting with a ratio technique that samples a portion of the incident light with one detector and the reflected light with a second detector. Differential Auger or photoemission data is acquired using a cylindrical mirror electron energy analyzer under computer control in a signal averaging mode of operation. Direct electron distribution curves may be displayed using a numerical integration routine. Software was written in assembly language to conserve available memory; however, a modular approach was used to allow easy additions and modifications to experiments. Data arrays may be manipulated and stored as single variables.
An application of interpretive structural modeling in the field of special education

Interpretive structural modeling techniques are applied to analysis of the learning disabled. A 13-element diagnostic paradigm serves as the system to be modeled. Modeling is based on the judgments of a special education teacher. A digraph portrayal, resulting from a series of model-exchange isomorphisms, is developed that shows the disability configuration for each of 16 children. Advantages and disadvantages of the technique are discussed, along with possible extensions involving more sophisticated techniques.
Riccati equation computation af supremal (F,G)-Invariant and reachability subspaces

We consider two Riccati equations, and associate with each Riccati equation three recursions for generating subspace sequences. It is shown that, with appropriate choice of parameters and initial conditions, several of these recursions generate suhspace sequences which are important in system theory. Particular examples are the supremal unobservable suhspace, the supremal teachability subspace, and the smallest reachable subspace obtained by output injection. The recursions may be implemented by solving the associated Riccati equations, and thus we are able to derive methods for computing the above-mentioned subspaces. In addition, we derive a feedback which makes a system maximally unobservable, and also present nonrecursive expressions for the supremal unobservable subspace and for the subspace of k -predictable directions.
Optical constants of ammonium sulfate in the infrared

The infrared spectral reflectance at near normal incidence has been measured for 3.2 M, 2.4 M, and 1.6 M solutions of ammonium sulfate, an aerosol abundant in the stratosphere and also present in the troposphere. Kramers-Kronig analysis was used to determine values of the refractive and absorption indices from the measured spectral reflectance. A synthetic spectrum of crystalline ammonium sulfate was obtained by extrapolation of the absorption index obtained for the solution to the absorber number densities of the NH4 and SO4 ions characteristic of the crystal.
Aerodynamics for Revolutionary Air Vehicles

Aeronautics research has seriously declined partly because of the perception that it is a mature science and only incremental improvements are possible. Recent aeronautics roadmapping activities at NASA Langley paint a different picture of the future. Breakthroughs are still felt to be possible if we expand the current design space of today's vehicles and optimize the airspace and vehicles as a system. The paper describes some of the challenges that the aircraft and airline industry face. These challenges include political, technical and environmental issues. Examples of the opportunities and technologies that could provide a different vision for the future are discussed.
Software environment for parallel computer vision

We present a three-part software environment tailored to the areas of computer vision and image processing (CVIP). The environment is designed to provide high performance and ease of use for CVIP researchers implementing algorithms and tasks on parallel systems. Cloner is a software reuse tool that helps a user design parallel algorithms by building on and modifying algorithms from the system library. It takes advantage of the fact that CVIP algorithms are often highly structured and that many algorithms have the same or similar structure. It is being designed as a menu-based, query-based system aimed at reducing the degree to which the user must be concerned with the details of parallel programming. Graph Matcher is a software tool to perform algorithm-to-architecture mapping for image processing algorithms. It consists of a library of known data-dependency structures and of mappings of these structures onto parallel architectures. For the regular graphs that characterize most image processing algorithms, the graph isomorphism used to identify a new algorithm graph as an instance of a library graph is performed in polynomial time. DISC (Dynamic Intelligent Scheduling and Control) is an operating system component that provides a rapid prototyping capability for execution of complex CVIP tasks on partitionable parallel systems. The scheduler addresses the problems of algorithms with execution times that depend on the image data and processing scenarios that vary dynamically based on the input image.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Renaming Capital Street: Competing Visions of the Past in Post‐Communist Warsaw

Efforts to create a memorial to a priest murdered for his activities in Solidarity targeted one of the oldest streets in the Warsaw neighborhood of Zoliborz for renaming. Tensions rose as the post-war generation strove to fix its heroes in Polish social memory while some older residents sought to retain a sense of continuity in a city largely destroyed during World War II. The controversy over the renaming of Capital Street reveals the diverse memories of those who lived through the war, the Polish People's Republic and the movement that brought about the demise of Communism. [Poland, Warsaw, memory, contested history, monuments]
High-performance optical analog link using external modulator

An experimental fiber-optic analog link with a noise figure of only 6-dB, a 104-dB intermodulation-free dynamic range (measured using a 10-Hz noise bandwidth), and an RF-to-RF gain of 11 dB at 50 MHz is discussed. The link includes no electronic amplification. It uses a very sensitive bandpass impedance-matched Ti:LiNbO/sub 3/ interferometric modulator and an input optical power of 55 mW at 1.32 mu m. >
Effects of GBR 12909, WIN 35,428 and indatraline on cocaine self-administration and cocaine seeking in rats

Rationale: It has been proposed that drugs that decrease cocaine self-administration or cocaine seeking by laboratory animals might be effective pharmacotherapies in the treatment of cocaine addiction. Previous studies have suggested that the dopamine uptake inhibitor, GBR 12909, might be such a candidate drug because it decreases cocaine self-administration. Other studies have shown that GBR 12909 elicits cocaine seeking, which might limit its utility as an anti-cocaine pharmacotherapy. Objectives: The present study sought to compare the potency of GBR 12909 in decreasing cocaine self-administration and in eliciting cocaine seeking. These findings were compared to effects produced by the cocaine analog, WIN 35,428 and the non-specific monoamine uptake inhibitor, indatraline. Methods: A within-session protocol was used to obtain the dose-effect relationship for cocaine self-administration in a single 5–6 h daily test session. Rats were pretreated with GBR 12909 (3.0–30.0 mg/kg), WIN 35,428 (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) or indatraline (0.03–1.00 mg/kg) 30 min prior to the test session. Results: GBR 12909 and WIN 35,428 decreased responding maintained by intermediate and high doses of cocaine but indatraline failed to alter the cocaine dose-effect curve. Other groups of rats demonstrated that pretreatment with all three drugs reinstated extinguished cocaine-taking behavior, although indatraline was less efficacious than either GBR 12909 or WIN 35,428. Cocaine-produced drug seeking was enhanced by pretreatment with the highest doses of GBR 12909 and WIN 35,428 but was unaffected by pretreatment with indatraline. A low dose of GBR 12909 that decreased cocaine self-administration failed to produce drug seeking but equal doses of WIN 35,428 were required to decrease cocaine self-administration and to elicit drug seeking. Conclusions: These data suggest a preferred profile of effects of GBR 12909 as an anti-cocaine pharmacotherapy. It is noted, however, that this drug might be expected to potentiate the ability of cocaine to elicit cocaine seeking following abstinence.
Linear notation for benzenoid aromatic hydrocarbons. Molecular similarity based on notation similarity

Two succinct linear notation systems to encode the structure of polybenzenoid aromatic hydrocarbons are exemplified. Both notation systems use a labeled dual inner graph to represent the hydrocarbon. A molecular similarity index ranging from unity (identical molecules) to zero (completely different molecules) is defined based on a comparison of the linear notations for a pair of compounds. The similarity index procedure is applied to a correlation of the carcinogenic properties of the benzenoid hydrocarbons.
β3-Integrin Mediates Smooth Muscle Cell Accumulation in Neointima After Carotid Ligation in Mice

Background— Pharmacological blockade of β3-integrins inhibits neointimal lesion formation in nonmouse animal models of arterial injury. In contrast, β3-integrin–deficient (β3−/−) mice are not protected from neointimal lesion formation after arterial injury. We investigated this discrepancy in β3−/− and wild-type (β3+/+) mice using different models of injury. Methods and Results— After disruption of the carotid with a transluminal probe, there was no significant difference in neointimal thickening between β3−/− and β3+/+ mice. However, after ligation of the carotid without medial disruption, there was reduced neointimal thickening in β3−/− mice compared with β3+/+ mice at intervals up to 3 months. Lesion reduction in β3−/− mice was associated with fewer intimal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) without a difference in SMC apoptosis or proliferation rate compared with β3+/+ mice, consistent with reduced SMC migration from the media into the intima of β3−/− mice. Moreover, combined eccentric medial disruption and l...
Immunological studies of acetylcholine receptors

Immunochemical techniques for the study of acetylcholine receptors are described. Immunization of rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, and goats with acetylcholine receptor protein purified from Electrophorus electric organ tissue results in muscular weakness and death due to impaired neuromuscular transmission. Serum from immunized animals contains high concentrations of antibodies directed at receptors from the electric organ and low concentrations of antibodies directed at receptors from skeletal muscle. The detailed similarities between the disease of receptor-immunized animals "experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis" (EAMG), and myasthenia gravis are compared. Reactions of antisera from animals with EAMG with receptor from Electrophorus and Torpedo are studied. Antireceptor antibodies in these antisera are directed predominantly and determinants other than the acetylcholine-binding site.
Colloid formation and metal transport through two mixing zones affected by acid mine drainage near Silverton, Colorado

Stream discharges and concentrations of dissolved and colloidal metals (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn), SO4, and dissolved silica were measured to identify chemical transformations and determine mass transports through two mixing zones in the Animas River that receive the inflows from Cement and Mineral Creeks. The creeks were the dominant sources of Al, Cu, Fe, and Pb, whereas the upstream Animas River supplied about half of the Zn. With the exception of Fe, which was present in dissolved and colloidal forms, the metals were dissolved in the acidic, high-SO4 waters of Cement Creek (pH 3.8). Mixing of Cement Creek with the Animas River increased pH to near-neutral values and transformed Al and some additional Fe into colloids which also contained Cu and Pb. Aluminium and Fe colloids had already formed in the mildly acidic conditions in Mineral Creek (pH 6.6) upstream of the confluence with the Animas River. Colloidal Fe continued to form downstream of both mixing zones. The Fe- and Al-rich colloids were important for transport of Cu, Pb, and Zn, which appeared to have sorbed to them. Partitioning of Zn between dissolved and colloidal phases was dependent on pH and colloid concentration. Mass balances showed conservative transports for Ca, Mg, Mn, SO4, and dissolved silica through the two mixing zones and small losses (<10%) of colloidal Al, Fe and Zn from the water column. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Candidal Arthritis After Complete Treatment of Systemic Candidiasis

Over the last few decades, the incidence of invasive candidal infections in neonatal intensive care units has increased dramatically. Various complications, such as arthritis, endocarditis, meningitis, and endophthalmitis, have been reviewed. We present the case of a premature infant with systemic candidemia. Arthritis was discovered 6 months after completion of amphotericin B therapy, and was successfully treated with oral fluconazole for 6 weeks. We conclude that long-term follow-up is particularly important in patients with treated candidemia. To prevent complications, prolonged treatment with high-dose amphotericin B is suggested for systemic fungal infection, and oral fluconazole is an effective alternative for candidal arthritis.
Retirees' Restaurant Wine Service Preferences

Wine sales enhance a restaurant's operation. Consumers decide to buy wine in a restaurant based upon various mediums of information including sommeliers, prior knowledge, and personal experience with wine. High labor costs have forced some restaurants to combine sommelier and server duties. This may not be the most effective way to market wine, especially to older Americans. Therefore, understanding the consumers' needs is a sound marketing strategy, with segmentation being a critical factor. An inductive pilot study was conducted in an upscale retirement community. Study results indicated that residents found their own personal knowledge useful when selecting wine in a restaurant despite low confidence levels in their wine knowledge. The study also indicated that they prefer a description of the wine over specific wine pairing suggestions.
Correlation of Netilmicin Disk Diffusion Susceptibility and Agar Dilution Susceptibility

Abstract The minimal inhibitory concentration of netilmicin determined by the agar dilution method was correlated with the disk diffusion zone of inhibition against 322 clinical isolates. Regression line analysis revealed good correlation, r = −0.90, and suggested that isolates with zone sizes ≤14 mm should be considered resistant.
A Modified Reliability Index Approach for Reliability-Based Design Optimization

RBDO problems have been intensively studied for many decades. Since Hasofer and Lind defined a measure of the second-moment reliability index, many RBDO methods utilizing the concept of reliability index have been introduced as the Reliability Index Approach (RIA). In the RIA, a reliability analysis problem is formulated to find the reliability index for each performance constraint and the solutions are used to evaluate the failure probability. However, the traditional RIA suffers from inefficiency and convergence problems. In this paper, we revisited the definition of the reliability index and revealed the convergence problem in the traditional RIA. Furthermore, a new definition of the reliability index is proposed to correct this problem and a modified Reliability Index Approach based on this definition is developed. Numerical examples using both the traditional RIA and the modified RIA are compared and discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Characterization of initiator dynamics in a rotating detonation combustor

Abstract The performance of a tangentially-injecting initiator tube of a rotating detonation combustor (RDC) is assessed for a range of initiator conditions. Two initiator fuels are evaluated for a range of RDC channel pressures, and channel widths to determine the effect on the blast wave generated by the initiator tube. Blast wave trajectories exhibit asymmetric bias in the initiator injection (forward) direction. The energy content is estimated by fitting the blast wave trajectory to a theoretical model for blast propagation. Maximum energy deposition is achieved for a rich H 2 –O 2 initiator mixture ( ϕ > 2), which provides twice the energy deposition of the highest performing C 2 H 4 –O 2 mixture. The highest recorded initiator energy deposition is an order of magnitude smaller than the critical value to directly initiate detonation in a stoichiometric H 2 –air mixture, precluding direct initiation for this configuration. RDC initiation behavior is assessed for a near-stoichiometric H 2 –air mixture using the highest-performing initiator tube setting, and verifies the absence of direct initiation. A complex, transitory period follows the subcritical initiation event and culminates in stable detonation rotation within several milliseconds.
THE BACTERIOLOGY OF BOVINE ABORTION, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ACQUIRED IMMUNITY.

In a large herd of dairy cattle and young stock the bacteriological examination of 109 cases of abortion which included a relatively thorough study of the fetus and a study of the membranes, or swabs from the uterus whenever obtainable, gave the following results. 62, or 57 per cent, were associated with Bacillus abortus . 26, or 23.8 per cent, were associated with spirilla. 2, or 1.8 per cent, were associated with Bacillus pyogenes . 19, or 17.4 per cent, were either sterile or else the digestive and respiratory tracts had been invaded during or after birth with miscellaneous bacteria. Bacillus abortus was absent according to cultures and animal tests. Such a relatively large proportion of cases of abortion without Bacillus abortus as the inciting agent is noteworthy. In general Bacillus abortus was associated with first pregnancies. Its presence diminished rapidly in frequency in later pregnancies. Assuming in a general way that purchased cows coming from small herds were free from any immunity and that their first pregnancy in the new herd is equivalent to that of a native heifer and may be counted as the first, we have Bacillus abortus associated with the first pregnancy in 42, with the second in 14, with the third in 5, and with the fourth in 1. Spirilla were distributed as follows: ( a ) in purchased cows, first pregnancy, 6; second pregnancy, 9; third pregnancy, 5; and fourth pregnancy, 3; ( b ) in native cows, first pregnancy, 0; third pregnancy, 1; sixth pregnancy, 1; and eighth pregnancy) 1. The relation of infection with spirilla to acquired immunity is not clear and more data from large herds are needed to define both etiological and immunological bearings of the spirilla. Thus far spirilla have not been encountered in native heifers of the herd giving birth the first time. A tentative explanation to be offered is that the young stock is kept segregated from the older and purchased cows until shortly before calving. The occasional discharge of a fetus among the young stock in pasture tends to keep up the disease due to Bacillus abortus . Later on association with older cows brings about infection with spirilla ( Vibrio fetus ) and more rarely with other possible agencies of fetal disease. On the other hand, abortions may occur among the pastured stock from time to time and remain unrecognized. Not until both groups of animals are subjected to the same daily scrutiny will it be possible to affirm that abortion associated with spirilla does or does not occur among young stock.
Screening anti-inflammatory compounds in injured spinal cord with microarrays: A comparison of bioinformatics analysis approaches

Inflammatory responses contribute to secondary tissue damage following spinal cord injury (SCI). A potent anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid, methylprednisolone (MP), is the only currently accepted therapy for acute SCI but its efficacy has been questioned. To search for additional anti-inflammatory compounds, we combined microarray analysis with an explanted spinal cord slice culture injury model. We compared gene expression profiles after treatment with MP, acetaminophen, indomethacin, NS398, and combined cytokine inhibitors (IL-1ra and soluble TNFR). Multiple gene filtering methods and statistical clustering analyses were applied to the multi-dimensional data set and results were compared. Our analysis showed a consistent and unique gene expression profile associated with NS398, the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, in which the overall effect of these upregulated genes could be interpreted as neuroprotective. In vivo testing demonstrated that NS398 reduced lesion volumes, unlike MP or acetaminophen, consistent with a predicted physiological effect in spinal cord. Combining explanted spinal cultures, microarrays, and flexible clustering algorithms allows us to accelerate selection of compounds for in vivo testing.
Affinity Labeling of Membrane Receptors Using Tissue-Penetrating Radiations

Photoaffinity labeling, a useful in vivo biochemical tool, is limited when applied in vivo because of the poor tissue penetration by ultraviolet (UV) photons. This study investigates affinity labeling using tissue-penetrating radiation to overcome the tissue attenuation and irreversibly label membrane receptor proteins. Using X-ray (115 kVp) at low doses (<50 cGy or Rad), specific and irreversible binding was found on striatal dopamine transporters with 3 photoaffinity ligands for dopamine transporters, to different extents. Upon X-ray exposure (115 kVp), RTI-38 and RTI-78 ligands showed irreversible and specific binding to the dopamine transporter similar to those seen with UV exposure under other conditions. Similarly, gamma rays at higher energy (662 keV) also affect irreversible binding of photoreactive ligands to peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (by PK14105) and to the dopamine (D2) membrane receptors (by azidoclebopride), respectively. This study reports that X-ray and gamma rays induced affinity labeling of membrane receptors in a manner similar to UV with photoreactive ligands of the dopamine transporter, D2 dopamine receptor (D2R), and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBDZR). It may provide specific noninvasive irreversible block or stimulation of a receptor using tissue-penetrating radiation targeting selected anatomic sites.
Precision of vertical position estimates from very long baseline interferometry

It is found that the precision of VLBI measurements of vertical crustal motions is limited by errors in the modeling of the propagation delay through the earth's neutral atmosphere, and by errors in finding the orientation of a fixed crust coordinate system in the VLBI reference frame. The repeatability of baseline length measurements study indicates a vertical position precision of about 8 cm, averaged over 13 sites and 4.5 years of data, while the repeatability of vertical position estimates for a Richmond, FL site is found to yield a precision of about 7 cm for 42 observations made over an 11-month period. An overall precision of 8 cm for a 24-hour VLBI observing session is obtained, and the effects of earth orientation parameter errors is contingent on the distances between the VLBI sites.
Analyze reuse distance for multithreaded sparse iterative solver

Finding the behavior of application programs has been studied by many researchers to improve the performance. Especially, reuse distance, number of distinct data element between two adjacent references to a data element, has been studied by many researchers since reuse distance is independent of hardware architecture configurations. However, with the advent of multicore architectures, predicting the behavior based on reuse distance becomes much more difficult. In this paper, we explore the reuse distance of a multithreaded sparse iterative solver on multicore architecture to predict the behavior. Experiment results show that we can use reuse distance of a multithreaded sparse iterative solver on multicore architectures to predict the behavior.
Multivariate assessment of differences between a neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy and robotic treadmill training in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injured rats

A study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of two different rehabilitation therapies on spinal cord injured (SCI) rats: neuromuscular electrical stimulation which is timed to robotic treadmill training (NMES+RTT) and RTT alone. Several electromyography (EMG) based variables were measured, but most did not change significantly after treatment, contrary to observations of overall qualitative stepping ability. However, when the variables are viewed in multi-dimensional space, there are visible differences between changes after NMES+RTT vs. those after RTT only. Principal component analysis (PCA) and k-means clustering were applied to the multivariate data. The data in principal component space was significantly separated, according to the Euclidean distance. PCA also provided a straightforward tool for selecting which combination of measures to compare. The measures which best separated out the differences between NMES+RTT and RTT were percentage of steps associated with bursts, burst-to-step latency, and the standard deviation of this latency, even though these measures did not always show the greatest statistical significance individually. Thus, the rehabilitative effects of NMES+RTT are not necessarily reflected in individual EMG measures, but rather in a combination of the measures representing a multi-dimensional space.
Social engagement with parents in 11-month-old siblings at high and low genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder:

Infant siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder are at heightened genetic risk to develop autism spectrum disorder. We observed high risk (n = 35) and low risk (n = 27) infants at 11 months during free play with a parent. Children were assessed for autism spectrum disorder in toddlerhood. High-risk infants with a later diagnosis (n = 10) were less socially engaged with their parents than were low-risk infants. Parent behavior during play did not vary by group. Within the high-risk group, ratings of social reciprocity at 11 months predicted Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule severity scores at follow-up, suggesting that systematic observations of parent-infant play may be a useful addition to early assessments of emerging autism spectrum disorder.
Operation Deep Sweep

Fifty scientists and a crew of 18 have embarked on a 64,000 km odyssey to explore the Pacific from pole to pole—the most ambitious program in the history of the marine geology branch of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Called Operation Deep Sweep, the 1-year cruise will search areas above the Arctic Circle, off of Alaska, to McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. The 63-m, 1,300-tonne research vessel Samuel P. Lee sailed from its home port of Redwood City, Calif., to San Francisco to begin the first leg of the lengthy journey. According to USGS officials and the cosponsoring Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the cruise will ultimately involve 150 scientists, some of them representing Germany, France, Australia, and New Zealand. David Howell, branch chief of Pacific Marine Geology for the USGS, said the voyage of the Lee was “the most far reaching and of the longest duration” ever attempted by his unit. He said the cruise would string together a large number of scientific experiments spanning the Pacific. Howell likened the voyage to the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803–1806 (which explored Louisiana and the western United States) because “we're going into unknown territory and into regions not studied except in the most cursory manner.”
Imputations and Explications: Representational Problems in Treatments of Prepositional Attitudes

The representation of propositional attitudes (beliefs, desires, etc.) and the analysis of natural-language, propositional-attitude reports presents difficult problems for cognitive science and artificial intelligence. In particular, various representational approaches to attitudes involve the incorrect “imputation,” to cognitive agents, of the use of artificial theoryladen notions. Interesting cases of this problem are shown to occur in several approaches to attitudes. The imputation problem is shown to arise from the way that representational approaches explicate properties and relationships, and in particular from the way they explicate propositional attitudes themselves. Another factor contributing to imputation is the compositional nature of typical semantic approaches to propositional-attitude reports. Some strategies for avoiding undesirable imputation are examined. One of the main conclusions is that the importance of imputations that arise in a representation scheme depends strongly on the use to which the scheme is put—on whether, for instance, the scheme is used as part of a formal, objective account of natural language, or is used rather as a representational tool within an agent.
The State of China’s Environmental Governance After the 17th Party Congress

To redress its deteriorating environment, Chinese leaders have elevated the environmental agenda in its political discourse, especially at the recent 17th Party Congress. In this article, I answer whether the changes and reforms enacted at the 17th Party Congress and codified in the National Eleventh Five-year Plan for Environmental Protection (PEP) address the flaws of the Chinese environmental governance regime. First I identify the critical shortcomings of China’s environmental governance. Then I examine the PEP, focusing on the reforms that correspond with each of these shortcomings. I find that the PEP reforms are insufficient in addressing the shortcomings of the Chinese environmental governance regime. However, in examining empirical evidence, I find that despite almost non-existent institutional reforms, China’s environmental performance has improved. Finally, in the conclusion, I summarize my findings, examine the implications of the paradoxical increase in environmental performance without corresponding governance reform, and suggest areas of future research.
Positivity Effects in Older Adults’ Perception of Facial Emotion: The Role of Future Time Perspective

Objectives. We examined age differences in the perception of emotion from facial expressions, testing the impact of future time perspective on positivity effects and emotion complexity. Methods. Perception of emotion was assessed in older (n = 111) and younger (n = 127) adults using facial expressions depicting clearly expressed and ambiguous emotions. A more open-ended judgment paradigm was used, and time perspective was experimentally manipulated. Results. Older adults perceived more positive affect in the expressions compared with younger adults. Ambiguity of the expression modulated these age differences, as older adults perceived more positive emotion in ambiguous expressions compared with younger adults. Emotion complexity emerged only in perception of negative expressions, with older adults seeing more mixed affect in the clear expressions than younger adults. Manipulation of future time perspective eliminated age differences in perception of positive affect. Discussion. Age differences in the perception of emotional expressions showed positivity effects, especially for ambiguous facial expressions. These effects were related to time perspective rather than to age per se. The understanding of the positivity effect in older adults needs to consider the proposed causal role of limited time perspective rather than assuming positivity effects in all older adults.
Preceramic Polymer Route to Amorphous and Crystalline Potassium Aluminosilicate Powders and Their Electrorheological Properties

The oxide one-pot synthesis (OOPS) process was used to synthesize a polymer precursor to potassium aluminosilicate, KAlSiO4 (KASp). A KAlSiO4 gel (KASg) also was produced via a solgel route using the same precursor. The two routes to KAlSiO4 were explored to compare the effects of the two processing methods on powder properties. The KASp and KASg powders both transformed on heating (.500°C) to amorphous, high-surface-area powders with narrow pore-size distributions (4–24 nm). These anhydrous, amorphous powders were intrinsic electrorheological (ER) materials. Both materials crystallized at } 1070°C, and thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, and X-ray diffractometry suggested that they were identical. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy proved that the KASp powders were homogeneous, whereas the KASg powders were heterogeneous and segregated. The KASg powders exhibited better ER properties that were associated with the segregated phases.
The Scattering Matrix: Normalized to Complex n-Port Load Networks

The scattering matrix is normalized to complex n-port loads, and some of the elementary properties of this generalized scattering matrix are discussed. The normalized scattering matrix is obtained in a straightforward manner from both the current-basis and voltage-basis scattering matrices. These matrices are presented from the intuitively attractive viewpoint of measures of the deviation of actual circuit behavior from optimal circuit behavior. The optimal matching condition employed is the specialization to the timeinvariant case of that obtained for complex, time-varying n-port networks excited by arbitrary waveforms.
Proteases and hemoglobin degradation.

This chapter reviews the current understanding of the reasons for hemoglobin degradation, the mechanism of hemoglobin breakdown, the proteases that contribute to this process, and the potential for new antimalarial therapies that block hemoglobin hydrolysis. A large body of work suggests that a principal source of amino acids for erythrocytic parasites is the hydrolysis of globin. De novo synthesis of amino acids appears to play only a small role in supplying parasite amino acids. In Plasmodium falciparum, ring-stage parasites pinocytose the hemoglobin-rich erythrocyte cytosol into small vesicles. Upon its delivery to the P. falciparum food vacuole, and perhaps during vesicular transit to this organelle, hemoglobin is subjected to an acidic pH. Proteases of multiple catalytic classes appear to contribute to hemoglobin degradation. Biochemical characterizations of food vacuole aspartic and cysteine proteases and metalloproteases have shown that these enzymes hydrolyze hemoglobin or globin in vitro, supporting roles in hemoglobin hydrolysis. Evidence for a role for cysteine proteases in hemoglobin hydrolysis came from the observation that cysteine protease inhibitors cause a dramatic morphological abnormality in P. falciparum trophozoites, whereby food vacuoles swell and fill with undegraded hemoglobin. The processing of hemoglobin peptides in the cytosol is probably performed, at least in part, by a neutral metalloaminopeptidase. Homologs of P. falciparum proteases have been identified in other plasmodial species. Considering the selection of drug resistance, a recent study showed that parasites resistant to vinyl sulfone cysteine protease inhibitors could be selected by incubation of cultured parasites with stepwise increases in concentrations of inhibitor.