cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple cracking in functionally graded ceramic/metal coatings

Abstract Functionally graded coatings such as thermal barrier coatings on advanced metals and alloys can sustain multiple cracking upon thermal and mechanical loading. A special feature pertaining to the fracture behavior of coating is the coating gradation which can be characterized by the local volume fraction of metal. To guide the design of coating gradation so that cracking damage can be minimized, a fracture mechanics study is made of the crack driving force for multiple cracks in functionally graded ceramic/metal coatings. The metal substrate and the ceramic/metal coating are taken as linear elastic, with the elastic properties of the coating varying through the film thickness. Systematic finite element calculations are made for the energy release rate of the cracks in the coating as determined by the coating gradation, crack length, and the crack density; both mechanical and thermal loads are considered. It is found that compared with the pure ceramic coating, gradation of the coating can significantly reduce the crack driving force. It is also found that under mechanical loading the effect of different gradations on the crack driving force is relatively small. However, under thermal loading the influence of coating gradation can be significant. The implications of the results for the material design of functionally graded coatings are discussed.
Hearing level equalized otoacoustic emissions acquired by swept-tones: Intensity characteristics

Otoacoustic emissions (OAE), which are acoustic responses produced by the cochlea, can be recorded with a microphone in the ear canal to give diagnostic information regarding cochlear functioning. Recently, the researchers developed a novel stimulus for the acquisition of OAE using a hearing-level equalized (HL eq ) swept-tone signal. The objective of this study was to observe OAE characteristics at a multitude of intensities to track the changes in temporal and spectral morphology. An increase in high-frequency emissions was found as stimulation intensity decreased. Furthermore, it was found that hearing level equalized swept-tone OAEs (HL eq sTEAOE) can be acquired at very low intensities, which is not typical under current acquisition modalities. This may result in clinical improvements by providing a fast and cheap method for contributing to the detection of auditory thresholds.
Creating Composite Age Groups to Smooth Percentile Rank Distributions of Small Samples

Individually administered tests are often normed on small samples, a process that may result in irregularities within and across various age or grade distributions. Test users often smooth distributions guided by Thurstone assumptions (normality and linearity) to result in norms that adhere to assumptions made about how the data should look. Test users, however, may come across particular tests or sets of data in which the Thurstone assumptions are untenable. When users expect deviations from normality within age or grade, an alternate method is desirable. The authors present a relatively simple procedure that allows the user to treat observed raw scores as ordinal data with differently shaped sample distributions across age levels. Each age-level group is used twice to create new moving composite group distributions that replace (i.e., smooth) the original groups to reduce irregularities due to the small sample sizes. The authors present the results of a simulation study of the method, demonstrating that...
Abu Ghraib: imprisonment and the war on terror:

The exposure of torture and sadistic treatment of prisoners in US-run prisons in Iraq and elsewhere in the ‘theatre’ of the war on terror has shed light on the nature of military imprisonment today. However, the actions and policies of military prison guards reflect accepted civilian prison norms. Excessive force, civil disability and the loss of internationally guaranteed rights, and indefinite detention are central means by which the wars on both terror and crime (civilian mass imprisonment) are executed. These practices, amounting to a condition of permanent imprisonment, are being pioneered by the US in its super-maximum civilian prisons. Permanent war and permanent imprisonment are not exceptional but increasingly the routine means by which the racial state organises the abandonment of surplus and potentially rebellious populations and attempts to quarantine the effects of global poverty.
Till Debt do us Part: A Model of Divorce and Personal Bankruptcy

The number of personal bankruptcies has increased dramatically since 1990, and a growing number of filers are divorced. While previous research shows that divorce significantly increases the probability of bankruptcy, these studies assume divorce is exogenous. This study uses the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to investigate the relationship between divorce and bankruptcy. Single-equation probit results show that divorce significantly increases the probability of bankruptcy and bankruptcy significantly increases the probability of divorce. However, after controlling for endogeneity, the effect of divorce on bankruptcy and the effect of bankruptcy on divorce both fall by a significant amount and are statistically insignificant. The findings suggest that future research needs to more carefully model the role that financial distress plays within a marriage.
Preadipocytes Stimulate Ductal Morphogenesis and Functional Differentiation of Human Mammary Epithelial Cells on 3D Silk Scaffolds

Epithelial–mesenchymal interactions play an important role in regulating normal tissue development as well as tumor development for the mammary gland, but much is yet to uncover to reach a full understanding of their complexity. To address this issue, the establishment of relevant, surrogate, three-dimensional (3D) human tissue culture models is essential. In the present study, a novel 3D coculture system was developed to study the interactions between human mammary epithelial cells (MCF10A) and adipocytes, a prominent stromal cell type in native breast tissue. The MCF10A cells were cultured within a mixture of Matrigel™ and collagen in 3D porous silk scaffolds with or without predifferentiated human adipose–derived stem cells (hASCs). The presence of hASCs inhibited MCF10A cell proliferation, induced both alveolar and ductal morphogenesis, and enhanced their functional differentiation as evidenced by histology and functional analysis. The alveolar structures formed by cocultures exhibited proper, immatur...
Nephrocalcinosis in chronic glomerulonephritis: Report of the youngest patient

Diffuse cortical calcification is an unusual form of nephrocalcinosis most often seen in chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). The authors report the youngest patient with nephrocalcinosis of CGN, a 13-year-old boy, and briefly review the radiologic and pathologic features of this entity.
Preparation of Isomerically Pure Stannyl Ferrocenes

Abstract A synthesis of isomerically pure stannyl-ferrocenes is described which utilizes a free radical reaction between bis-ferrocenyl mercury and hexa-organo-di-stannanes. The yields of tri-organo-stannylferrocenes so obtained are generally superior to those obtained through the use of lithium derivatives of ferrocenes as intermediates. Further, the isomeric separation of mono-substituted compounds from the 1,1′-di-substituted compounds, which is always a prevalent complication in lithiation procedures, is eliminated.
Note on Geometric Graphs

A geometric graph is a graph drawn in the plane so that the vertices are represented by points in general position and the edges are represented by straight line segments connecting the corresponding points. We show that a geometric graph of n vertices with no k+1 pairwise disjoint edges has at most 29k2n edges.
The old theory of economic policy and the new institutionalism

Abstract In economics, recent emphasis on institutions suggests new policy dimensions for the traditional theory of economic policy which originated with Tinbergen and others at the time of the Keynesian revolution. The paper presents elements of the traditional view—instruments, targets, and policy models—and then considers new aspects of policy, especially policy for structural change. The discussion emphasizes the implications for institutional design of incomplete knowledge, and endogenous politics. Both public and private actors rely on incomplete policy models, and the models themselves can become (intermediate) targets of policy.
Shared Brain Areas But Not Functional Connections Controlling Movement Timing and Order

Virtually every aspect of the enormous repertoire of human behaviors is embedded in a sequential context, but brain mechanisms underlying the adjustment of two fundamental dimensions defining a motor sequence (order of a series of movements and intervals separating them) as a function of a given goal are poorly understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we demonstrate that, at the neuronal level, these tasks can only be distinguished by differences in functional interactions between associative areas of common activation, which included bilateral subcortico-parieto-frontal regions, and two subcortical structures. Activity in these shared associative areas was preferentially coupled with that in right putamen during manipulation of timing and with that in right posterior cerebellum during manipulation of serial order. This finding is important because it provides evidence for an efficient organization of the brain during cognitive control of motor sequences and supports a recently proposed principle according to which the role of brain regions involved in different behavioral tasks without differential alterations in their measured activity depends on changes in their interactions with other connected areas as a function of the tasks.
Radioactive labeling of α-bungarotoxin with tritium

$alpha$-[$sup 3$H] bungarotoxin (Bgt) was prepared by catalytic reduction of $sup 125$I-labeled $alpha$-Bgt with tritium. Specific activities of 10 to 15 Ci/mmol were attained. The radioactive label was found in tyrosine. Tritiated $alpha$-Bgt appears to bind specifically to the cholinergic receptor of diaphragm and to a similar component of cerebral cortex. This specificity and the high specific radioactivity attained provide a useful tool for the study of acetylcholine receptor in brain and other tissues with low receptor concentration. (auth)
RNA Polymerase Signals UvrAB Landing Sites

Transcription when coupled to nucleotide excision repair specifies the location in active genes where preferential DNA repair is to take place. During DNA damage-induced recruitment of RNA polymerase (RNAP), there is a physical association of the beta subunit of Escherichia coli RNAP and the UvrA component of the repair apparatus (G. C. Lin and L. Grossman, submitted for publication). This molecular affinity is reflected in the ability of the RNAP to increase, in a promoter-dependent manner, DNA supercoiling by the UvrAB complex. In the presence of the RNAP, the UvrAB complex is able to bind to promoter regions and to translocate in a 5' to 3' direction along the non-transcribed strand. As a consequence of this helicase-catalyzed translocation, preferential incision of DNA damaged sites occurs downstream on the transcribed strand. Because of the helicase directionality, the initial binding of the UvrAB complex to the transcribed strand would inevitably lead to its collision with the RNAP. These results imply that the RNAP-induced DNA structure in the vicinity of the transcription start site signals a landing or entry site for the UvrAB complex on DNA.
The Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIG TM )

The Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIGtrade) is a new project initiated by the National Cancer Institute to create a computational network connecting scientists and institutions to enable the sharing of data and the use of common analytical tools. The emergence of genomics and proteomics high-throughput technologies are creating a paradigm shift in biomedical research from small independent labs to large teams of researchers exploring entire genomes and proteomes and how they relate to disease. caBIGtrade is developing new software and modifying existing software within Clinical Trials Management Systems, Tissue Banks and Pathology Tools and Integrated Cancer Research tools to manage the huge volume of data being generated and to facilitate collaboration across the broad spectrum of cancer research
Delays and safety in airline maintenance

Abstract Airline maintenance operations affect the potential for flight delays and can also affect flight safety if signals of technical problems are missed or misinterpreted. In this paper, we use a probabilistic risk analysis model, represented by an influence diagram, to quantify the effect of an airline's maintenance policy on delays, cancellations and in-flight safety. The model represents the leading edge (LE) sub-system of a commercial passenger jet and consists of three tiers: (1) a set of management decision variables (e.g. the level of qualification of maintenance personnel); (2) a ground model linking policy decisions and flight delays; and (3) an in-flight model, linking policy decisions, maintenance quality and flight safety. To illustrate this model, we use data adapted (for confidentiality reasons) from a study of an existing airline. Clearly, the LE devices of an airplane are not among the most safety-critical and the risk of an accident due to poor maintenance is extremely small, but non-zero. The same model can be used for other, more critical parts of the aircraft to support maintenance policy decisions in which the trade-off between delays and safety may be more pronounced.
Data Processing of IGS Station in China and Analysis of Crustal Movement of Eurasian Plate

By using all 103 days GPS data of IGS in china, from year 2000 to 2005, the baseline is solved with GSMIT software. With One day's baseline solution as the input data, based on the mathematical floating model of station, the floating velocity of station is solved and the crustal movement is gotten; then, according to Euler theorem of plate movement, the Euler vectors of Chinese mainland is obtained; furthermore, the floating velocity of the station area in Eurasian plate is acquired. The results show that, in ITRF2000 framework, the station floating velocity is similar with what announced by IGS and so does the Euler vector, which shows that the continental shelf of China has an accelerated tendency to eastward movement.
A Solid State Device for Measuring Sensitivity to Thermal Pain

Abstract A simple and inexpensive circuit for use in conducting the tail-flick test is described. The use of digital integrated circuits coupled to a thyristor phase control circuit holds the number of parts needed to minimum. Methods for the use of the device and statistical analysis of the data are also discussed.
The Stereochemistry of Hydration of Acrylyl-CoA Catalyzed by Lactyl-CoA Dehydratase

Abstract The stereochemistry of the hydration of acrylyl-CoA to D-lactyl-CoA catalyzed by lactyl-CoA dehydratase from Clostridium propionicum was established in order to further characterize the mechanism of this reaction. (E)-[3-2H1]acrylyl-CoA was converted to [3-1H,2H,3H]lactyl-CoA in [3H]H2O. Lactyl-CoA was then converted to [α-1H,2H,3H]acetate, which was predominantly of the R configuration; syn addition of H2O occurs. The maintenance of a high degree of stereochemistry is inconsistent with the radical mechanism which we proposed. An alternate mechanism is suggested.
Terrain data base generation for autonomous land vehicle navigation

Abstract The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Computing Program is a large, multi-year effort focused on developing the next generation of computers and machine intelligence. Within this program the Autonomous Land Vehicle (ALV) Project calls for the development and demostration of increasingly sophisticated autonomous land navigation capabilities. As part of this effort, the U.S. Army Engineer Topographic Laboratories (USAETL) has the task of producing a high-resolution, high-accuracy, experimental digital terrain data base of a 12-km 2 test site. This data base will be used in conjunction with inertial navigation and computer vision systems for autonomous traversal by the vehicle. The data base consist of six overlays including landforms, soils, surface drainage, land cover, roads, and a high-density digital elevation model (DEM). ALV application of the terrain data base include route planning and a-priori information for machine vision. Data compilation was performed on the Computer-Assisted Photo Interpretation Research (CAPIR) system at USAETL. CAPIR is an ongoing research effort which addresses the issues of digital terrain data extraction, storage, and exploitation. This paper willaddress data requirements and systems for building terrain dta bases in support of experimental autonomous land vehicle navigation.
Pretty Good Yield and exploited fishes

Abstract While much of traditional fisheries theory has concentrated on maximum or optimum yield, the reality of fisheries management is that biomass yield is only one of the several indicators of fisheries performance, and desired outcomes generally only need to provide something near the maximum possible yield. A range of policies are explored to find those that produce “Pretty Good Yield” defined as sustainable yield at least 80% of the maximum sustainable yield. Such yields are generally obtained over a broad range of stock sizes (20–50% of unfished stock abundance), and this range is not sensitive to the population's basic life history parameters such as natural mortality rate, somatic growth rate, or age at maturity. The most important biological parameter determining this range is the intensity of recruitment compensation. Meta-analysis shows compensation is usually strong and there is reasonably little yield lost at what are now widely accepted definitions of overfishing or risk for most stocks. Similarly, maintaining stocks at 50% of unfished stock abundance for ecological or economic reasons results in little expected loss of yield.
Prosocial Involvement and Antisocial Peer Affiliations as Predictors of Behavior Problems in Urban Adolescents: Main Effects and Moderating Effects.

This study examined the relationships between prosocial involvement (PI), antisocial peer affiliations (APA), and the degree of their overlapping or independent prediction of behavior problems in urban adolescents. Two dimensions of behavior were assessed at ages 9–11 and at ages 13–15: disruptive, aggressive conduct and number of delinquent behaviors in the past year. Participants were 167 urban boys and girls with multiple early childhood risk factors. APA predicted higher rating of aggressive conduct and more delinquent behaviors at ages 13–15 beyond the effects of earlier behavior problems. PI predicted lower rates of delinquent behavior but not aggressive conduct. A portion of the influence of PI on delinquent behavior was independent and a portion overlapping with APA. High PI moderated the positive relationship between APA and delinquent behavior, consistent with a protective effect. Interventions that promote PI are unlikely to substantially reduce associations with antisocial peers but may prove beneficial for youths with many antisocial friends by reducing contagion effects that promote delinquency. Other implications for prevention efforts are also considered. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 417–434, 2007.
A study of comparing the use of augmented reality and physical models in chemistry education

Augmented reality (AR) is an emerging technology, which renders three-dimensional (3-D) virtual objects and allows people to interact with virtual and real objects at the same time. The purpose of this study is to investigate how students interact with AR and physical models and evaluate their perceptions regarding these two representations in learning about amino acids. The results show that some students liked to manipulate AR by rotating the markers to see different orientations of the virtual objects. However, some students preferred to interact with physical models in order to get a feeling of physical contact. Their interactions with AR demonstrated that they tended to treat AR as real objects. Based on the findings, some AR design issues are elicited and the possibility to use AR in the chemistry classroom is discussed.
New drugs for rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1 percent of the U.S. population and can cause irreversible joint deformities and functional impairment. Although the cause of this autoimmune disease remains obscure, greater understanding of its underlying mechanisms has facilitated the development of new drugs and revolutionized treatment.
Preserving leaves for tannin and phenolic glycoside analyses: A comparison of methods using three willow taxa.

Members of the Salicaceae often produce phenolic glycosides and condensed tannins. There is much debate on the best method for the preservation of leaf material prior to chemical analysis. Published results indicate freeze-drying, a method commonly used for tannin analysis, may be inappropriate for phenolic glycosides, unless done in a manner to prevent thawing during the drying process. Another commonly employed method, air-drying, is appropriate for phenolic glycosides but inappropriate for condensed tannins. I present evidence using willow leaves that demonstrates that: (1) leaves freeze-dried in external flasks without temperature control contain lower concentrations of phenolic glycosides (salicortin and 2′-cinnamoylsalicortin), (2) air-dried leaves have reduced concentrations of condensed tannins, while (3) vacuum-dried fresh leaves have high concentrations of both phenolic glycosides and condensed tannins. Freeze-drying caused salicortin and 2′-cinnamoyl salicortin concentrations to drop by 20 mg/g and 4 mg/g, respectively. Salicin, a product of salicortin and 2′-cinnamoyl salicortin degradation, is absent in vacuum-dried leaves, present in air-dried leaves and very high in freeze-dried leaves. Thus, the presence of salicin in this system is an artifact of the preservation technique. Condensed tannin concentrations dropped nearly 20 mg/g when leaves were air-dried. Thus, vacuum-drying fresh leaves allows researchers to quantify phenolic glycosides and condensed tannins from the same leaf material.
Effects of tobacco smoking and age on the keratinization of palatal mucosa: A cytologic study

Cytologic smears of palatal mucosa were evaluated for degree of keratinization in 217 healthy men ranging in age from 30 to 74 years. Two slides were prepared for each participant, and each slide was read by two different pathologists. Three separate high-power fields were examined on each slide, and the percentage of orange-brown cells, either without nuclei or with pyknotic or fragmented nuclei, was recorded. A mean value was obtained for each participant. Each participant had an extensive medical and dental work-up as part of the Veterans Administration Longitudinal Study of Oral Health in Healthy Veterans. Nonsmokers and smokers were divided into five age groups. Smokers at all ages presented a greater degree of palatal keratinization than nonsmokers, but age differences in keratinization were not statistically significant.
Promoting democracy in the Arab world: The challenge of joint action

(2004). Promoting democracy in the Arab world: The challenge of joint action. The International Spectator: Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 75-88.
Another Student Reflects: Sarah’s Story of Nursing Artistry

This short response to research performed on the art of nursing was written by an undergraduate nursing student at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. In it, the author uses personal experience, an original research article, "Sarah's Story," and an accompanying poem, "Sarah's Insight," to explore her own interpretation of the art of nursing. The art of nursing was learned firsthand by the author following surgery, and it encompasses "the enthusiasm of a nurse to care for patients." Similarly, the interviewee, Sarah, learned that nursing is not merely a paycheck. The poem includes words like "surprised," "amazed," and "grateful" to explain Sarah's response. The author concludes that one nurse can inspire others to practice the art of nursing and become successful nurses.
Purification and characterization of peridinin-chlorophyll a -proteins from the marine dinoflagellates Glenodinium sp. and Gonyaulax polyedra

A peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein complex (PCP) was obtained in large quantity from the marine dinoflagellates, Glenodinium sp. and Gonyaulax polyedra. The chromoproteins have similar molecular weights, 35,500 for Glenodinium sp. and 34,500 for G. polyedra. The proteins from the PCP complex of Glenodinium sp. dissociated from the chromophore on treatment with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at room temperature. The protein component was a single subunit with a molecular weight of 15,500. Proteins from the PCP complex of G. polyedra were composed of a single polypeptide with a molecular weight of about 32,000. Two peridinin-chlorophyll a-proteins from Glenodinium sp. accounted for 70% of the PCP complex and had isoelectric points of 7.4 and 7.3. The PCP complex from G. polyedra was dominated by a single chromoprotein with an isoelectric point of 7.2 Chromophore analysis indicated the presence of only peridinin and chlorophyll a in a molar ratio approaching 4:1. Other pigments characteristically found in dinoflagellates were absent. Fluorescence excitation spectra of purified PCP indicated an efficient energy transfer from peridinin to chlorophyll a, an observation that lends support to the reported role of peridinin as an accessory pigment in photosynthetic oxygen evolution. In several other brown colored dinoflagellates examined, PCP representtd less than 20% of the total peridinin. However, no PCP could be isolated from cultures of Amphidinium carterae (PY-1). This study provides further evidence that PCP is a normal component of most peridinin-containing dinoflagellates, and functions as a light-harvesting component of the dinoflagellate chloroplast. No fucoxanthin-containing analog of PCP was detected in the chrysophyte, Cricosphera carterae and the dinoflagellate Glenodinium foliaceum.
Profile of the Black Individual in Vocational Literature.

Abstract Presently, research on the vocational development of Black individuals-both adolescents and adults-constitutes a disparate body of knowledge. This article examines the “state of the art” in this field, gathers together some of the diverse research strands symbolizing it, and presents, on the basis of the research reviewed, a profile of the Black individual in vocational literature. It is suggested that the unification of reference group theory with vocational theories may potentially prove helpful in closing many of the gaps that currently exist concerning the psychology of the Black individual's vocational development.
In vivo manipulation of oxygen—hemoglobin affinity

The potential effect of a shift to the right in the position of the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve was first suggested in 1967 [l, 51. Increased red cell organic phosphates, especially 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG), decrease the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen, thereby increasing the Pso. The physiologic importance of a DPG-related shift to the right was pointed out by Oski et al., who showed an increased exercise tolerance and a better hemodynamic response to exercise in a patient with increased 2,3-DPG levels secondary to a red cell pyruvate kinase deficiency [8]. Valeri et al. have demonstrated a superior hemodynamic response in anemic baboons transfused with blood rich in 2,3-DPG [14]. The combination of inosine, pyruvate, and bisodium phosphate increases 2,3-DPG and Pso to supranormal levels both in vitro [lo] and in viva [13]. This occurs because the red cells of humans and rhesus monkeys possess a purine nucleoside phosphorylase which cleaves inosine to hypoxanthine and ribose l-phosphate [9]. Ribose l-phosphate so formed is then metabolized via the hexose monophosphate shunt to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, a three-carbon precursor of 2,3-DPG (see Fig. 1).
Thermal enhancement of DNA strand breakage in mammalian cells treated with bleomycin.

Abstract Chinese hamster ovary cells were treated with various doses of Bleomycin (BLM) for 1 hr at 37° or 43°C and the effects of these treatments in terms of cell killing and DNA strand breakage were determined. The technique of alkaline elution was utilized for the sensitive detection of the DNA strand breaks thus allowing the use of doses of BLM which also permit the measurement of cell survival. The results of these experiments showed that both the cytotoxic effects and DNA strand breakage were enhanced when the treatments were conducted at 43°C compared to 37°C. However, when the data were plotted as the degree of strand breakage vs the fraction of cells surviving, it appeared that the strand breaks produced under hypertbermic conditions were more effective for cell killing. While most of the breaks were rapidly repaired following treatment at 37°C, the rate of red was reduced and the amount of residual unrepalred breaks was greater when the drug treatment was at 43°C. Thus, it would appear that the repair of BLM induced DNA strand breaks is important for cell survival.
Deriving design guidelines for diagnosable computer systems

Diagnosable computer systems are designed to detect and isolate the faults that occur during system operation. A number of techniques are available to the system designer of diagnosable systems. This paper examines a number of these techniques and derives a set of design guidelines incorporating them.
Model-based MR parameter mapping with sparsity constraints: parameter estimation and performance bounds.

Magnetic resonance parameter mapping (e.g., T 1 mapping, T 2 mapping, T 2 * mapping) is a valuable tool for tissue characterization. However, its practical utility has been limited due to long data acquisition time. This paper addresses this problem with a new model-based parameter mapping method. The proposed method utilizes a formulation that integrates the explicit signal model with sparsity constraints on the model parameters, enabling direct estimation of the parameters of interest from highly undersampled, noisy k-space data. An efficient greedy-pursuit algorithm is described to solve the resulting constrained parameter estimation problem. Estimation-theoretic bounds are also derived to analyze the benefits of incorporating sparsity constraints and benchmark the performance of the proposed method. The theoretical properties and empirical performance of the proposed method are illustrated in a T 2 mapping application example using computer simulations.
Olfactory Neophobia and Seizure Susceptibility Phenotypes in an Animal Model of Epilepsy Are Normalized by Impairment of Brain Corticotropin Releasing Factor

Summary: Purpose: The present study explored the causal relationship between stressor exposure/stress neuropeptide activation and avoidant exploratory phenotype/enhanced seizure susceptibility in an animal model of epilepsy. Methods: The olfactory detection and investigation phenotype of seizure susceptible El (epilepsy) strain and nonsusceptible ddY control mice was first evaluated in untreated mice. In a second series of experiments, the olfactory exploration phenotype, food intake/body weight regulation, circadian locomotor activity, and seizure susceptibility were assessed over a 14-day period following central administration of the neurotoxin saporin alone or a conjugate of the stress neuropeptide, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), and saporin (CRF-SAP) which impairs CRF system function following central administration. Results: In support of the main experimental hypothesis, administration of CRF-SAP in El mice reduced handling-induced seizure susceptibility by 75% for up to 2 weeks following treatment. Similarly, El mice were slow to detect a cache of buried food pellets relative to ddY controls and this exploratory deficit was reversed 3 days following administration of CRF-SAP. Efficacy of CRF-SAP treatment was confirmed using CRF immunohistochemistry, which revealed suppression of brain CRF content in El mice treated with CRF-SAP relative to El controls. Other functional and persistent effects of CRF-SAP included increased locomotor activity and hyperphagia. Conclusions: Taken together, these results support strongly the possibility that activated brain stress neuropeptide systems are necessary for the expression of motivational and neurological perturbations in seizure susceptible El mice.
Design of the Jefferson Lab IR Upgrade FEL optical cavity

Abstract Jefferson Lab is in the process of upgrading the Free-Electron Laser Facility to provide higher output power as well as broader wavelength and timing flexibility. As part of the upgrade, a new optical cavity is being constructed. Using a near-concentric configuration, it will provide high average power (∼10 kW) output using one of three sets of dielectrically coated mirrors. A fourth mirror set will provide broadband tuning throughout the mid-IR, but at a lower average power of ∼1 kW. The new optical cavity offers unique features such as in vacuo active stabilization of the mirror orientation and deformable high-reflector mirrors. The status of the construction of the optical cavity and a review of its capabilities will be presented.
STRATEGIC GOALS, PERCEIVED UNCERTAINTY, AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN VOLATILE ENVIRONMENTS

An untested proposition in the normative strategic management literature is that strategists should make decisions based on accurate assessments of their external environments. Empirical organization theory literature holds the assumption that high levels of perceived uncertainty are detrimental to performance. Both literatures assume goal consensus to be important to effectiveness. This study investigated the relationship between top management perceptions of uncertainty, corporate Goal structures, and industry volatility in explaining economic performance in 20 firms. Findings suggested that attempts to avoid true environmental uncertainty and to seek high levels of goal congruence may be dysfunctional.
Actual Crop Evapotranspiration and Alfalfa- and Grass-Reference Crop Coefficients of Maize under Full and Limited Irrigation and Rainfed Conditions

AbstractThe evapotranspiration crop coefficients (Kc) that are used to estimate actual evapotranspiration (ETa) using a two-step approach (i.e., Kc×reference ET) for limited irrigated and rainfed m...
Contaminant Vapor Adsorption at the Gas-Water Interface in Soils

There is evidence to suggest that the gas−water interface serves as an important retention domain for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in vadose-zone soil. Moreover, vapor adsorption at the gas−wa...
A Procedure for Generating Contour Lines From a B-Spline Surface

A two-step contouring algorithm?almost twice as fast as traditional algorithms for equal-accuracy contour lines?is useful for CAD/CAM applications.
Ground state and low-lying excitations in the Heisenberg XXZ chain of arbitrary spin S

Abstract The ground state energy and spin wave modes are obtained for an anisotropic Heisenberg chain of arbitrary spin. The spin wave excitation has a gap for the Ising-like anisotropy, while for the XY -like case there is no gap.
Legionnaires' disease in the postoperative patient

Abstract In the period from May 1977 through July 1980, there were 197 cases of confirmed Legionnaires' disease at the Veteran's Administration Wadsworth Medical Center; 54 cases (27%) occurred within the postoperative period. Ninety-two percent of these surgical patients had one or more significant underlying chronic illnesses, and 26% were receiving immunosuppressive therapy at the time of onset of Legionnaires' disease. Clinical presentation of Legionnaires' disease was characterized by high fevers (≥102°F in 58% at time of presentation) with pulse-temperature discrepancy, and a paucity of upper respiratory symptoms. Immunosuppressive therapy and the presence of malignancy appear to have a significant influence on both the acquisition and incubation period of Legionnaires' disease at our hospital; this influence was augmented by general anesthesia and surgery in the surgical group. Legionnaires' disease should be suspected in immunosuppressed patients who develop nosocomial postoperative pneumonias, especially if there is a poor response to conventional antibiotic therapy.
MinK Potassium Channels Are Heteromultimeric Complexes

MinK is a transmembrane protein of 130 amino acids found in the kidney, heart, and vestibular system of mammals. Its expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes induces a voltage-dependent potassium current similar to that seen in vivo. Indirect evidence has fueled speculation that function requires association of MinK and another protein endogenous to oocytes and native tissues. In this report, we show that direct covalent modification of an oocyte membrane protein alters properties of the MinK ion conduction pore; modified channels exhibit decreased potassium conduction and increased permeability to sodium and cesium. The modifying reagents, two membrane-impermeant, sulfhydryl-specific methanethiosulfonate derivatives, react only from the extracellular solution at rates that are determined by the conformational state of the channel. These findings indicate that MinK is intimately associated with an oocyte protein whose exposure to the external solution changes during channel gating and which acts with MinK to establish ion conduction pore function.
Transmission electron microscopy of biliary mixed lipid micelles.

Abstract One potential artifact problem in election microscopy of micellar systems is that structural changes and aggregation could be induced by high vacuum dehydration in sample preparation prior to viewing and photomicrography. This could account for an earlier report on “macroassemblies” of biliary lipid, a finding which has been discrepant with the predominance of other evidence on the size, configuration and behavior of biliary micelles. In the present work, this possibility was explored and no evidence for such macroassemblies demonstrated when freeze-drying sample preparation was used; whereas, with conventional technique, the “macroassemblies” were again observed. It is concluded that freeze-drying or freeze-etching sample preparation is required to avoid this form of artifact in electron microscopy of micellar systems. The present findings are compatible with a spherical-equivalent or oblate ellipsoid configuration for biliary mixed micelles.
The role of AGG interruptions in the transcription of FMR1 premutation alleles.

Fragile X associated disorders are caused by a premutation allele in the fragile X mental retardation 1 gene (FMR1) and are hypothesized to result from the toxic effect of elevated levels of expanded FMR1 transcripts. Increased levels of FMR1 mRNA have indeed been reported in premutation carriers; however the mechanism by which expanded alleles lead to elevated levels of FMR1 mRNA in premutation carriers is unknown. Within the CGG repeat tract AGG interruptions are found, generally 1–3 present in normal/intermediate alleles (6–54 CGG repeats) and usually 0–1 in premutation alleles (55–200 CGG repeats). They are present at specific locations, generally occurring after 9 or 10 uninterrupted CGG repeats [(CGG)9AGG(CGG)9AGG(CGG)n]. We evaluated both the number of AGG interruptions and the resulting length of the uninterrupted 3′ CGG repeat pure tract in premutation alleles derived from two large cohorts of male and female carriers to determine whether the presence of AGG interruptions or the length of a pure stretch of CGG repeats influence the levels of FMR1 mRNA in blood. Our findings indicate that neither the number of AGG interruptions, nor their position along the CGG tract have a significant affect on mRNA levels in premutation carriers. We also, as expected based on previous findings, observed a highly significant correlation between CGG repeat number (as both total length and length of pure CGG stretch) and FMR1 mRNA expression levels, in both males and females. Importantly, we did not observe any significant difference in FMR1 mRNA levels in premutation carriers based on age.
The decomposition of peroxomonosulfate induced by manganese(II) in acid solution

Abstract The rate law for the manganese(II)-induced decomposition of peroxomonosulfate ion, HOOSO 3 − , is with rate constants k Mn = (5.1±0.3)×10 −3 and (9.7±0.2)×10 −3 M − 1 2 s −1 at 50 °C in H 2 SO 4 and HClO 4 media, respectively. The rate constant is sensitive to the nature and concentration of the anion. The values of Δ H ‡ and Δ S ‡ are 31±2 kJ mol −1 and −194±5 J mol −1 K −1 , respectively, in 1 M H 2 SO 4 . The presence of manganese(III) as an intermediate and as a minor product is confirmed. Peroxodisulfate, a minor product presumably from chain termination, has been used to estimate the chain length. On the basis of all the data, a mechanism quite different from most metal-induced peroxomonosulfate decompositions is postulated and some consequences and complications are elaborated.
From complex conflicts to stable cooperation: Cases in environment and security

Conflict is a dynamic and complex form of human interaction, often emerging from incompatible actions, values, and goals and consuming a considerable amount of resources. Conflicts are an expression of and a contribution to system instability and may lead to chaotic escalation between adversaries, causing a breakdown of social and natural systems. To resolve conflicts, the actors can adjust their actions toward cooperatively stabilizing their interaction and form stable coalitions. To study the dynamics of conflict and the evolution of cooperation, we introduce an integrated framework for modeling the interaction of multiple actors who pursue objectives by allocating their resources to various action paths. In repeated learning cycles, actors can adjust their actions and resources to those of other actors, thus shifting from conflict to cooperation. Within our general framework, it is possible to study the complexity and instability of multiactor constellations and the transition to cooperation for specific examples in a wide range of fields, including military security of missile defense systems and environmental conflicts in fishery management, energy, and climate change. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2007
Is a good deal always fair? Examining the concepts of transaction value and price fairness

Abstract Previous research has shown that if consumers are aware that they are paying more than another customer for a similar transaction, then they may perceive the price to be unfair. A concept closely related to fairness is transaction value, defined as consumers’ perceptions of the psychological satisfaction or pleasure from taking advantage of a price deal. In this research, we conceptualize that although consumers’ perceptions of price fairness and transaction value share many similarities, nevertheless there are also important differences. Using three studies, we empirically examine these differences. We show that although a “bad deal” is typically perceived to be an unfair price, a “good deal” is not necessarily perceived to be the fairest price.
TH-C-I-611-05: Quantification of Coronary Artery Calcium Using Real Time Dual Energy Subtraction Based On a Flat Panel Detector

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of a real time dual‐energy subtraction technique with dynamic filtration based on a flat panel detector for quantifying coronary arterial calcium.Method and Materials: In this dual‐energy subtraction technique, the beam energy and filtration were switched at 30 Hz between 60 kVp and 120 kVp + 0.8 mm additional silver filtration. The calcium contrast and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) were measured using a Lucide step phantom and a 3 mm thick bone equivalent material. The performance of the dynamic filtration technique was compared with a static filtration technique (4 mm Al + 0.2 mm Cu for both beams). Arterial vessel phantoms with calcium aerial densities in the range of 30–140 mg/cm2 and a total calcium mass of 8–92 mg were imaged over a Lucite step phantom. The low and high energy images were corrected for scatter before subtraction. The total calcium mass was measured using a densitometry technique. The entrance exposure was measured and effective dose was estimated. Results: The dynamic filtration technique produced 60% higher calcium CNR and required 25% higher x‐ray tube loading as compared to the static filtration technique. A calcium aerial density of approximately 30 mg/cm2 was detectable. The known (K) and measured (M) calcium mass were related by M=0.97K+0.028 (R=1.0). The calciummeasurement precision was 4 mg, determined from 10 repeated dual energy images. The entrance exposure and effective dose were 7 mR and 5.2 μSv for each dual energy image, respectively. Conclusion: Dual‐energy subtraction can be a potentially useful technique for the quantification of coronary arterial calcium and provide a noninvasive technique for diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Electrically-Steerable Parasitic Array Radiator (ESPAR) antenna design for arrays with two and three parasitically-coupled elements

Two- and three-element microstrip patch ESPAR arrays are presented, operating at 2.5 GHz and 1 GHz, respectively. Both ESPAR structures are driven using a single element which is coupled to the parasitic antennas. Mutual coupling between the driven and parasitic elements replaces the traditional feed system and eliminates phase shifters. Tunable varactors are utilized to control the beam scanning. Both arrays are simulated with a full-wave solver, while the three-element array is fabricated and measured. Impedance match at the operating frequency is consistently maintained, as the resonance is controlled by tunable reactive loading. Phase shifter elimination results in inexpensive fabrication, allowing widespread use in point-to-point communication systems such as automobile receivers for satellite and GPS.
r-Adaptation in finite element modelling of elastic solids

Abstract The numerical simulation based on finite element modelling pertinent to static and transient analysis of elastic solids utilizing grid adaptation technique is presented. The grid adaptation is based on the equidistribution principle associated with the boundary value problem in differential equations. The error measure is evaluated as a weight function based on the convex combination with approximate weighting of variations in the solution variables. The redistribution of points is accomplished utilizing adaptive distribution mesh applying algebraic and elliptic methods. Computational examples are presented to demonstrate the success of the adaptive method.
The Re‐Creation Of Gender In A Male Workplace

This paper draws on participant observation in a male-dominated blue-collar job to understand how the concepts of masculinity and femininity are re-created through coworker interactions on the shopfloor and the effect of this on women. Men typecast women in these jobs as either feminine or unfeminine and treated them differently, but in both cases, women's presence was useful for defining–and in the case of sex-role appropriate women–enforcing masculinity. Such treatment isolated women from the on-going work culture and constrained them to certain behaviors.
Using UML Sequence Diagrams and State Machines for Test Input Generation

We present a novel testing approach that combines information from UML sequence models and state machine models. We use sequence models to extract message paths that play a role in critical usage scenarios of a system. We use state machines to generate multiple execution paths from a message path by analyzing the effect of the messages on state transitions of the system. By covering these execution paths, we generate more effective test cases than the approaches that only cover message paths. The approach also reduces the number of state transitions to be tested by selecting only those that are fired in critical scenarios.