cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rules for withdrawing money from tax deferred retirement plans and portfolio value implications

Explains the new US tax rules for calculating the required minimum distributions from employer‐sponsored qualified retirement plans, 403(b) plans and individual retirement accounts, pointing out that when the owner of a tax‐deferred retirement account dies the beneficiary of the fund becomes liable for tax. Gives numerical examples to illustrate the application of the rules.
CLEARANCE OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAS TYPE b (Hib) BACTEREMIA REQUIRES C3 FIXATION BUT NOT LYSIS IN THE NONIMMUNE HOST

CLEARANCE OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAS TYPE b (Hib) BACTEREMIA REQUIRES C3 FIXATION BUT NOT LYSIS IN THE NONIMMUNE HOST
Two-Nucleon Transfer Reactions Induced by Polarized Protons

The ($p,t$) and ($p$, $^{3}\mathrm{He}$) reactions on $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{15}\mathrm{N}$ targets have been studied using 43.8-MeV polarized protons. The observed cross sections and asymmetries for most states are well reproduced by distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations. However, of the five $L=2$ ($S=0$) transitions observed, two exhibit asymmetries which disagree markedly with the other three and with distorted-wave Born-approximation predictions. Thus asymmetries in two-nucleon-transfer reactions do not always appear to be simply characteristic of the transferred quantum numbers.
Reduction of paraquat toxicity by superoxide dismutase

Abstract The effect of intravenously administered superoxide dismutase on paraquat-treated rats kept either in air or an atmosphere of 90%–95% oxygen was investigated. Of those rats maintained in the oxygen-enriched atmosphere, 50% died within 30 hours whereas, 50 hours elapsed before 50% mortality was observed for the superoxide dismutase-treated rats. Those animals allowed to remain in air were more responsive to superoxide dismutase treatment. Of those animals for which paraquat was fatal, untreated rats showed 50% cumulative mortality within 35 hours after paraquat administration, whereas those rats treated with superoxide dismutase showed 50% mortality after 80 hours. Sections of lung tissue examined at low magnification indicated that the extensive alveolar and vascular damage caused by paraquat was ameliorated with the administration of superoxide dismutase. These findings may have particular relevance in the treatment of paraquat intoxication in humans.
Relative Humidity Controls Ammonia Loss from Urea Applied to Loblolly Pine

In the United States of America, approximately 600,000 ha of southern pine are fertilized with urea each year, with NH3 volatilization losses ranging from 50% depending on environmental conditions. Previous work showed that timing of rainfall after urea application plays a significant role in controlling NH3 loss, but the effect of other environmental variables is not well understood. We conducted ten 29-d studies under different environmental conditions during two years to identify important variables controlling NH3 loss from urea applied to loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) at 200 kg N ha-1. Ammonia loss was measured with dynamic chambers that adjusted the rate of air flow through the system based on wind speed at 1 cm above the soil surface. Regression analysis indicated that a variable related to initial water content of the forest floor and a variable related to relative humidity (RH) during the study explained 85 to 94% of the observed variability in NH3 loss. Relatively high initial water content followed by consistently high RH led to large NH3 losses. In contrast, low initial water contents resulted in slow rates of NH3 loss, which increased when elevated RH led to an increase in the water content ofmore » the forest floor. These results indicate that RH can play a significant role in NH3 loss by accelerating urea dissolution and by increasing or decreasing the water content of the forest floor, which in turn can affect the rate of urea hydrolysis.« less
Modeling of three-phase liquid/liquid equilibria

This paper describes a model developed from thermodynamic principles for correlating phase behavior of two-and three-phase systems. The model is based on the representation of excess Gibbs energy with the UNIQUAC equation. A set of computational algorithms is described for estimating the UNIQUAC model parameters from regression of the equilibrium phase data and for predicting phase behavior throughout the entire composition range. The model has been tested for ternary systems and a pseudoternary system. Agreement between the measured and predicted data was excellent for most systems studies. The model was able to match the ternary phase behavior of two- and three-liquid-phase systems that have not been previously simulated. For ternary systems, the estimated UNIQUAC parameters from correlation of the three-phase tie-triangle data describe the phase behavior in both two- and three-phase regions.
Qualitative and quantitative studies of Gc (vitamin D-binding protein) in normal subjects and patients with periodontal disease.

Qualitative and quantitative studies of Gc (Vitamin D-binding protein) were carried out with whole and parotid saliva from 13 patients with periodontal disease, and 19 control subjects. Using an ELISA technique, a low concentration of Gc was found in the parotid saliva of all subjects. The whole saliva of patients with periodontal disease contained concentrations of Gc which were significantly increased over those in either dentulous or edentulous control subjects (p 90% of Gc in saliva from these patients was complexed with G-actin.
On the Effect of Considering More Realistic Particle Shape and Mass Parameters in MMOD Risk Assessments

Abstract One of the primary mission risks tracked in the development of all spacecraft is that due to micro-meteoroids and orbital debris (MMOD). Both types of particles, especially those larger than 0.1 mm in diameter, contain sufficient kinetic energy due to their combined mass and velocities to cause serious damage to crew members and spacecraft. The process used to assess MMOD risk consists of three elements: environment, damage prediction, and damage tolerance. Orbital debris risk assessments for the Orion vehicle, as well as the Shuttle, Space Station and other satellites use ballistic limit equations (BLEs) that have been developed using high speed impact test data and results from numerical simulations that have used spherical projectiles. However, spheres are not expected to be a common shape for orbital debris; rather, orbital debris fragments might be better represented by other regular or irregular solids. In this paper we examine the general construction of NASA’s current orbital debris (OD) model, explore the potential variations in orbital debris mass and shape that are possible when using particle characteristic length to define particle size (instead of assuming spherical particles), and, considering specifically the Orion vehicle, perform an orbital debris risk sensitivity study taking into account variations in particle mass and shape as noted above. While the results of the work performed for this study are preliminary, they do show that continuing to use aluminum spheres in spacecraft risk assessments could result in an over -design of its MMOD protection systems. In such a case, the spacecraft could be heavier than needed, could cost more than needed, and could cost more to put into orbit than needed. The results obtained in this study also show the need to incorporate effects of mass and shape in mission risk assessment prior to first flight of any spacecraft as well as the need to continue to develop/refine BLEs so that they more accurately reflect the shape and material density variations inherent to the actual debris environment.
Cryptogenic invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess syndrome

Summary Background Klebsiella pneumoniae -associated liver abscesses have distinct clinical and epidemiologic features. Methods We report the unusual case of an American patient with a K. pneumoniae -associated liver abscess and septic spread to other organs. We additionally present a comprehensive review of K. pneumoniae -associated liver abscess syndromes in adults. Results We identified three distinct K. pneumoniae liver abscess syndromes: the polymicrobial liver abscess, the monomicrobial cryptogenic noninvasive liver abscess, and the monomicrobial cryptogenic invasive K. pneumoniae -associated liver abscess (CIKPLA) syndromes, with distinct clinical, epidemiologic and outcome features. CIKPLA syndrome typically affects diabetic patients, mainly in Southeast Asia, and is complicated by septic spread to other organs. Conclusions The community-acquired, monomicrobial, K. pneumoniae -associated liver abscess syndromes that typically occur in the USA are mainly noninvasive and affect Asian or Hispanic persons. However, this report provides an alert that CIKPLA syndrome can occur in North America, and physicians need to be aware of it.
Solvent-hindered intramolecular vibrational redistribution.

Ultrafast two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations of Mn2(CO)10 in a series of linear alcohols reveal that the rate of intramolecular vibrational redistribution among the terminal carbonyl stretches is dictated by the average number of hydrogen bonds formed between the solute and solvent. The presence of hydrogen bonds was found to hinder vibrational redistribution between eigenstates, while leaving the overall T1 relaxation rate unchanged.
Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the central visual pathway of the prenatal rat

Abstract Somatostatin (SRIF)-like immunoreactivity was localized in the central visual pathway of near-term prenatal rats using lightmicroscopic immunocytochemistry and a highly specific antibody to the peptide. SRIF was demonstrable in neuronal perikarya and fibers of the lateral geniculate nucleus, superior colliculus and visual cortex. At this stage the distribution of these elements had not attained the pattern seen in the adult. The presence of SRIF in the central visual pathway prior to maturation suggests a role for this peptide in the development of visual function.
Extending the compact disk format to high capacity for video applications

The error rate, jitter and servo performance of a standard CD ROM drive, modified to read a disk with 2 data layers were investigated. By proper amplification of the signals to compensate for the reduced reflectivity of the data layers and by modifying the control of the drive, reading of the individual data layers was accomplished with acceptable error rates. Extension of this approach to many layers is discussed.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Generalizations of the hidden Minkowski property

Abstract The linear complementarity problem whose defining feature is the extended n -step property is known to be solvable in polynomial time. This paper focuses on the investigation of the subclass of P 0 -matrices that possess this particular property. We present a necessary condition and a (separate) sufficient condition for membership in the class. It is shown that each of the conditions defines a set of matrices that properly contains the (transposed) hidden Minkowski set, thus generalizing previous work developed in Ref. [J.-S. Pang, R. Chandrasekaran, Linear complementarity problems solvable by a polynomially bounded pivoting algorithm, Math. Program. Study 25 (1985) 13–27] and in Ref. [W.D. Morris, Jr., J. Lawrence, Geometric properties of hidden Minkowski matrices, SIAM J. Matrix Anal. Appl. 10 (1989) 229–232]. To prove the necessity result we use a matrix-analytical approach instead of a geometric argument as in the previous case. To prove the sufficiency result we first establish two characterizations of singular irreducible K 0 -matrices.
Thermoplasticity of acetylated cotton yarn as influenced by degree of substitution, temperature, and other factors

The relative degree of thermoplasticity of acetylated cotton yarns has been determined by a technique developed for the purpose. The interfering contribution of hydrogen bonding could be eliminated by a wetting-out process. The yarns were acetylated to degrees of substitutions ranging from 0.77 to 2.93. Heat setting was applied either in vacuum or at atmospheric pressure in the presence of water vapor at temperatures in the range of 110–225°C. The thermoplasticity observed over a period of 30 days was permanent but readily removable by another application of heat setting. The effect of degree of substitution upon thermoplasticity could be represented by sigmoidal curves beginning at about DS = 1 and increasing rapidly and asymptotically to a maximum at about DS = 2.25. In vacuum or water vapor the maximum thermoplastic response occurred at 175°C., but the response was greater with water vapor. Under vacuum heating a very distinct minimum response occurs at 180°C., due to second-order transition effect. Upon heating in the presence of water vapor a distinct minimum response occurs at 200°C. with secondary minima at 150 and 120°C. Prior crystallization (by heating to 200–225°C.) greatly reduces thermoplasticity due to reduction of the amorphous component, but does not completely eliminate it.
Comparison of 1000-Hz Toneburst and Click Stimuli in Otoneurologic ABR

The present study compares the utility of click and 1000-Hz toneburst stimuli in otoneurologic auditory brainstem response testing in 45 patients with cochlear sensorineural hearing loss and in 13 ...
Critical-path candidates: scalable performance modeling for MPI workloads

Efficient and scalable performance modeling is essential to high-performance cluster computing. The critical path based performance analysis has been widely used as it provides valuable insights into the performance of parallel programs, but it is also expensive, inefficient, and inflexible due to its strong reliance on trace-driven simulation. This paper presents an innovative performance modeling framework based on a novel concept of critical-path candidates. The critical-path candidates refer to a group of paths that could potentially be the critical path. Using the instruction and communication counts as the metrics, the critical-path candidate captures the intrinsic computation and communication dependencies, and hence can be reused for exploring multiple design options. Using real-world MPI workloads, we show that the proposed framework achieves a modeling accuracy within 10% compared with the measured runtime for up to 16K MPI ranks. This framework provides an efficient and scalable platform for performance analysis as well as load imbalance analysis.
Initiation of Metal-Dusting Pits and a Method to Mitigate Metal-Dusting Corrosion

Initiation of metal dusting was studied by scanning-electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. A copper-indicator method was developed to identify locations that are easily attacked by metal dusting. The effect of surface scratches on metal dusting was investigated. Alloy 800 specimens from a hydrogen-reformer plant were analyzed. The alloy developed a nonprotective oxide scale in which the major phase was $$Fe_{1+x}Cr_{2-x}O_{4}$$ spinel with a high Fe content. The initiation of metal-dusting pits occurs when channels form through the oxide scale for the transfer of carbon. The channels can be blocked by short exposure of the metal-dusted alloy surface to an oxidizing environment. Metal-dusting corrosion could be mitigated by selection of alloys with long incubation time and by minimizing and/or slowing the pit-growth rate using an intermediate oxidation treatment at an appropriate temperature and in an appropriate environment for a relatively short time.
Economic and Disease Burden of Dengue in Southeast Asia

Background Dengue poses a substantial economic and disease burden in Southeast Asia (SEA). Quantifying this burden is critical to set policy priorities and disease-control strategies. Methods and Findings We estimated the economic and disease burden of dengue in 12 countries in SEA: Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East-Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. We obtained reported cases from multiple sources—surveillance data, World Health Organization (WHO), and published studies—and adjusted for underreporting using expansion factors from previous literature. We obtained unit costs per episode through a systematic literature review, and completed missing data using linear regressions. We excluded costs such as prevention and vector control, and long-term sequelae of dengue. Over the decade of 2001–2010, we obtained an annual average of 2.9 million (m) dengue episodes and 5,906 deaths. The annual economic burden (with 95% certainty levels) was US$950m (US$610m–US$1,384m) or about US$1.65 (US$1.06–US$2.41) per capita. The annual number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), based on the original 1994 definition, was 214,000 (120,000–299,000), which is equivalent to 372 (210–520) DALYs per million inhabitants. Conclusion Dengue poses a substantial economic and disease burden in SEA with a DALY burden per million inhabitants in the region. This burden is higher than that of 17 other conditions, including Japanese encephalitis, upper respiratory infections, and hepatitis B.
Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging Clinical - Pathologic Correlation

The application and relevance of intravascular ultrasound is reviewed. We studied 89 arterial segments with prototype intravascular ultrasound imaging systems. For data analysis we use pathology as the reference standard. Qualitative and quantitative comparative studies are presented to elucidate the ultrasonic characterization of arterial morphology and composition. The ability to measure quantitatively arterial lumen area, lumen diameter, wall thickness, plaque area as well as plaque composition make intravascular ultrasound unique.
Concurrent Flaw Populations in SiC

Concurrent surface and edge flaw populations were identified on fracture surfaces of as-machined specimens of sintered silicon carbide. The overall strength distribution and the individual concurrent distributions were estimated using Weibull statistics. Design implications of using a single flaw population and the difficulties associated with rigorously separating the concurrent distributions are discussed.
Proteome analysis of rhoptry-enriched fractions isolated from Plasmodium merozoites.

The rhoptries of Plasmodium species participate in merozoite invasion and modification of the host erythrocyte. However, only a few rhoptry proteins have been identified using conventional gene ide...
Irregularity and the period determinant for irregular singular connections on surfaces

In [6], we constructed a period pairing for flat irregular singular conncetions on surfaces. We now extend these constructions to a perfect period pairing between the irregularity complex of the connection and the complex of relative rapid decay chains. As a consequence, the period determinant of the connection decomposes as a product of a topological period determinant on the open surface and a determinant coming from the irregularity of the connection. Additionally, we deduce a method to compute the irregularity sheaf up to local isomorphism in topological terms (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Combined heat and power's potential to meet New York City's sustainability goals

Abstract Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has been proven as a mature technology that can benefit both building owners and utility operators. As the economic and environmental benefits of CHP in urban centers gain recognition, regulations and policies have evolved to encourage their deployment. However, the question remains whether these policies are sufficient in helping to achieve the larger sustainability goals, such as the New York City-specific goal of incorporating 800 MW of distributed generation. In this paper, the current regulatory and policy environment for CHP is discussed. Then, an engineering analysis estimating the potential for CHP in NYC at the individual building and microgrid scale, considered a city block, is performed. This analysis indicates that over 800 MW of individual building CHP systems would qualify for the current incentives but many systems would need to undergo more cumbersome air permitting processes reducing the viable capacity to 360 MW. In addition microgrid CHP systems with multiple owners could contribute to meeting the goal even after considering air permits; however, these systems may incorporate many residential customers. The regulatory framework for microgrids with multiple owners and especially residential customers is particularly uncertain therefore additional policies would be needed to facilitate their development.
Resolution of Nonmarital Adolescent Pregnancy and the Transition to Adulthood: Educational Attainment and Financial Well-being

This paper compares educational and financial outcomes in early adulthood for four groups of men and women: those who never experienced a nonmarital adolescent pregnancy, those who ended a nonmarital adolescent pregnancy by abortion, those who married or cohabited and became parents in response to an adolescent pregnancy, and those who became parents but did not marry or cohabit following an adolescent pregnancy. The analyses are based on self-reports of 6,074 young men and women who were first surveyed as seventh grade students in Houston, Texas in 1971 and surveyed again between 1980 and 1988. Educational and financial outcomes in adulthood vary significantly depending on the occurrence of a nonmarital adolescent pregnancy, the resolution of nonmarital adolescent pregnancy, and the age at which adolescent pregnancy occurs. Results are discussed in relation to public policies encouraging family formation and educational support and occupational training for teen parents.
Integrating resistance and tolerance for improved evaluation of sorghum lines against Fusarium stalk rot and charcoal rot

Stalk rots are major fungal diseases of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] worldwide and cause significant economic loss. Conventionally, the length of stem lesions, produced by Fusarium thapsinum (FT; Fusarium stalk rot) and Macrophomina phaseolina (MP; charcoal rot), are measured to assess the degree of plant resistance. Genotypes with shorter lesion length (LL) are more resistant and expected to exhibit improved yield compared to susceptible genotypes. However, recent reports reveal inconsistent correlations between yield and LL, demonstrating the inadequacy of LL to predict yield under disease pressure. In this study, a new resistance-tolerance index (Index RT ) was used to rank 36 advanced sorghum male sterility maintainers (B-lines). Index RT was formulated in such a way that a lower index value indicates increased disease resistance and reduced yield loss (i.e., greater tolerance) and vice-versa after infection. When ranked by LL, ARCH11035B, -11025B and -11011B were the best performing lines against Fusarium stalk rot, whereas the same lines ranked 1, 3, and 9, respectively, using Index RT . Similarly, ARCH11018B, -11010B and -11014B had the lowest LLs respectively against charcoal rot, whereas the same lines were ranked 1, 4, and 30, respectively, based upon Index RT . The LL- or Index RT -dependent ranking differences of certain lines such as FT-inoculated ARCH11011B and MP-inoculated ARCH11014B indicated the effectiveness of deploying Index RT for better evaluating sorghum lines against stalk rot diseases. There was no significant correlation between LL and Index RT , revealing the independence of the two ranking systems. It is anticipated that this novel stalk rot screening procedure could be deployed by sorghum breeders for improved selection of parental lines.
Induction of Neuregulin Signaling in Mouse Schwann Cells In Vivo Mimics Responses to Denervation

Neuregulins play crucial roles in early development of Schwann cells (SCs), but their roles in the activities of SCs during denervation and reinnervation of muscle are less clear. In the present study, the Tet-On system has been used in transgenic mice to enable inducible expression of a mutant, constitutively active neuregulin receptor (ErbB2) in SCs. This induction simulates neuregulin signaling to these cells. Reporter transgenes were used to show a tightly regulated, SC-selective expression in muscle. Induction leads to a number of changes in SCs at neuromuscular junctions that mimic the response to muscle denervation/reinnervation. These include process extension, soma migration, and proliferation. SCs also come to express nestin, a protein characteristic of their reaction to muscle denervation. This activation of SCs results in the sprouting of nerve terminals, and these sprouts follow the extensions of the SCs. However, these sprouts and their associated SCs disappear after the removal of the inducer. Last, induction of the active receptor is sufficient to rescue SCs in neonatal muscle from denervation-induced apoptosis. These findings show that the responses of SCs in muscle to denervation can be explained by induction of an autocrine/paracrine neuregulin signaling cascade suggested by previous molecular studies.
Phase behavior, photopolymerization, and morphology development in mixtures of eutectic nematic liquid crystal and photocurable monomer

Abstract Phase behavior and photopolymerization-induced morphology development in mixtures of eutectic nematic liquid crystals (LC) (designated E44) and photocurative monomers (designated NOA65) have been investigated by means of optical microscopy and light scattering. The observed phase diagram of the E44/NOA65 system prior to photopolymerization is of an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type overlapping with the nematic–isotropic transition of E44. It displayed isotropic liquid, isotropic liquid+isotropic liquid, isotropic liquid+nematic, and pure nematic coexistence regions that were verified experimentally. Using the phase diagram as a guide, photopolymerization-induced phase separation experiments were performed in the isotropic region in order to examine the morphology development in multicomponent LC (E44)-based system in comparison with that of a single component LC (K21)-based system. Of particular interest is that the emerging LC droplets turned out to be unevenly distributed in the E44/NOA65 system as opposed to the K21/NOA65 system where the droplet size was uniform. The non-uniform distribution of the droplets in the E44/NOA65 system may be attributed to compositional fractionation associated with different affinities of the constituent LC in E44 to the NOA65 networks.
Processes of magma/wet sediment interaction in a large-scale Jurassic andesitic peperite complex, northern Sierra Nevada, California

The Middle Jurassic Tuttle Lake Formation in the northern Sierra Nevada, California, comprises a thick volcaniclastic sequence deposited in a submarine island-arc setting and penetrated by numerous related hypabyssal intrusions. A composite andesite-diorite intrusive complex ≥4.5 km long and ≥1.5 km thick was emplaced while the host Tuttle Lake sediments were still wet and unconsolidated. Large parts of the intrusive complex consist of peperite formed where andesitic magma intruded and intermixed with tuff, lapilli-tuff and tuff-breccia. The southern half of the complex consists of augite-phyric andesite containing peperite in numerous small, isolated pockets and in more extensive, laterally continuous zones. The peperites comprise three main types recognized previously in other peperite studies. Fluidal peperite consists of small (≤30 cm), closely spaced, at least partly interconnected, globular to amoeboid andesite bodies enclosed by tuff. This peperite type developed during intrusion of magma into fine-grained wet sediment along unstable interfaces, and fluidization of the sediment facilitated development of complex intrusive geometries. Blocky peperite and mixed blocky and fluidal peperite formed where magma intruded coarser sediment and underwent variable degrees of brittle fragmentation by quenching and dynamic stressing of rigid margins, possibly aided by small steam explosions. The northern half of the intrusive complex consists predominantly of a different type of peperite, in which decimetre-scale plagioclase-phyric andesite clasts with ellipsoidal, elongate, or angular, polyhedral shapes are closely packed to widely dispersed within disrupted host sediment. Textural features suggest the andesite clasts were derived from conduits through which magma was flowing, and preserved remnants of the conduits are represented by elongate, sinuous bodies up to 30 m or more in length. Disruption and dispersal of the andesite clasts are inferred to have occurred at least partly by steam explosions that ripped apart a network of interconnected feeder conduits penetrating the host sediments. Closely packed peperite is present adjacent to mappable intrusions of coherent andesite, and along the margin of a large mass of coarse-grained diorite. These coherent intrusions are considered to be major feeders for this part of the complex. Examples of magma/wet sediment interaction similar in scale to the extensive peperites described here occur elsewhere in ancient island-arc strata in the northern Sierra Nevada. Based on these and other published examples, large-scale peperites probably are more common than generally realized and are likely to be important in settings where thick sediment sequences accumulate during active volcanism. Careful mapping in well-exposed terrains may be required to recognize large-scale peperite complexes of this type.
Development of a fluidic rudder

Wind tunnel tests were performed to examine the concept of aircraft controls without moving parts, and aircraft stabilization by means of scoop-fed slots. Results of wind tunnel tests, in the framework of a NASA program, to determine the force-control characteristics of a symmetrical airfoil with scoop-fed slots are discussed. Further tests showed that a fluidic amplifier could be built into the airfoil and operate with ram air. A fluidic rudder was then developed, consisting of cascaded fluidic amplifiers necessary to couple low-level fluidic sensors with slot flow control of the aerodynamic force on the vertical tail.
Advanced forward calorimetry for the SSC and TeVatron collider

Abstract We describe a project to develop fast, radiation hardened forward calorimetry for the SSC and TeVatron collider. Detector technologies discussed are based on gas and warm liquid media. In particular, we present the design of an ultrasensitive hybrid charge preamplifier for liquid technology capable of operating at 0.1–1 GHz. The actual detector bandwidth will depend on the choice of detector media used and the maximum allowable operating high voltage.
GOES x-ray sensor and its use in predicting solar-terrestrial disturbances

The X-Ray Sensor (XRS) on the Geostationary Orbiting Environmental Satellite (GOES) provides a standard referencefor essentially continuous monitoring solar activity and characterizing solar flares. Disk-integrated x-ray fluxes observed byXRS are used by forecasters and researchers around the world as a measure of the strength and duration of solar flares. Thepeak 0. 1-0.8 am x-ray flux during flares is used to distinguish between C, M, and X flares, flares that differ by an order ofmagnitude in the peak flux. Forecasters use this peak flux to predict the magnitude of proton events, and the x-ray duration isused to estimate whether coronal mass ejection may have occurred that could cause a geomagnetic disturbance if it hits theEarth. Recipients of the data use the peak flux and the duration of the flare to estimate the disturbances expected on radiocommunication systems. The magnitudes of XRS-observed flares are also used to determine when to issue alerts of changedionospheric conditions that can disrupt communications and GPS signals. XRS fluxes are also used to augment solar radioobservations to alert users of radio frequencies of times when the solar signal may interfere with their operations. The non-flaring x-ray flux, otherwise known as the x-ray background flux, is used as a proxy for the solar EUV emissions that are usedto predict the atmospheric density as satellite orbits; variations in the daily averaged solar x-ray flux are used to estimatechanges in the atmospheric drag on spacecraft orbits.Keywords: GOES, x-rays, solar physics, x-ray instruments, space weather, solar-terrestrial disturbances, flares
Adsorption of copper, nickel, and cobalt by oxide adsorbents from aqueous ammoniacal solutions

Experimental measurements of the uptake of Cu, Ni, and Co by oxides in aqueous ammoniacal solutions show that the adsorption behavior exhibits maxima and minima which depend on pH, ammonia concentration, metal cation, and the adsorbent. Electrophoretic studies on these systems indicate that oxide colloids may undergo as many as five charge reversals in aqueous ammoniacal solutions of hydrolyzable ammine complex-forming metal ions. For interpreting the behavior of these systems, a competitive adsorption model is presented that combines double-layer theory with properties of the adsorbent, the solvent medium, and the aqueous ionic species.
Nonunique sinusoidal Vandermonde bases

A simple constructive procedure is provided for producing unfavorable signal scenarios, that is, collections of fewer than M signals which cannot be resolved by any detection method. Given any pair of integers M and D, with D larger than M/2, and any set of D angles of arrival, it is shown how to produce two distinct signals scenarios for which the corresponding noise-free snapshot matrices are identical. The behavior of several contemporary detection algorithms is illustrated for scenarios whose signal covariance matrices lie in a neighborhood of an unfavorable signal covariance matrix. Detection performance degrades in rather large neighborhoods of these matrices, especially at low signal-to-noise ratios. >
The specificity of the response of preoptic-septal area neurons to estrogen: 17α-estradiol versus 17β-estradiol and the response of extrahypothalamic neurons

The purpose of this study was to determine the specificity of the response of medial preoptic-septal neurons (mPOA-S) to microelectrophoresed 17β-estradiol hemisuccinate (17βE2S). In vitro studies were conducted initially to determine the release of the labeled 17βE2S from multibarrel glass micropipettes. Subsequently, an isomer of 17βE2S, 17α-estradiol hemisuccinate (17αE2S), was synthesized and purified. Thirty-six mPOA-S neurons from normal cycling female rats were tested with both 17βE2S and 17αE2S. Twelve of these units responded with inhibition to 17βE2S, while none responded to 17αE2S. Furthermore, fifty extrahypothalamic (cortical, hippocampal, thalamic) neurons were tested with 17βE2S. The majority (N = 45) showed no response, three showed excitation and two inhibition to the microelectrophoresed steroid ester. These findings suggest that a specific receptor mechanism is responsible for the changes in mPOA-S unit activity, and that these effects may be important in the regulation of reproductive events.
Cinnamon extract and polyphenols affect the expression of tristetraprolin, insulin receptor, and glucose transporter 4 in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Cinnamon improves glucose and lipid profiles of people with type 2 diabetes. Water-soluble cinnamon extract (CE) and HPLC-purified cinnamon polyphenols (CP) with doubly linked procyanidin type-A polymers display insulin-like activity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cinnamon on the protein and mRNA levels of insulin receptor (IR), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and tristetraprolin (TTP/ZFP36) in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Immunoblotting showed that CP increased IRbeta levels and that both CE and CP increased GLUT4 and TTP levels in the adipocytes. Quantitative real-time PCR indicated that CE (100mug/ml) rapidly increased TTP mRNA levels by approximately 6-fold in the adipocytes. CE at higher concentrations decreased IRbeta protein and IR mRNA levels, and its effect on GLUT4 mRNA levels exhibited a biphasic pattern in the adipocytes. These results suggest that cinnamon exhibits the potential to increase the amount of proteins involved in insulin signaling, glucose transport, and anti-inflammatory/anti-angiogenesis response.
Report of a Mental Health Survey Among Chinese International Students at Yale University

Abstract Objective: To examine the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in Chinese international students, to identify factors that might be associated with these 2 symptom complexes, and to investigate their perception of mental health issues and counseling services. Participants: Chinese students (N = 130) at Yale University. Methods: Participants completed an anonymous online survey in fall 2009. Results: Forty-five percent reported symptoms of depression, and 29% reported symptoms of anxiety. A self-evaluation of poor current health, a poor relationship with one's advisor, and a low exercise regimen were associated with a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms. Twenty-seven percent of responders were not aware of the availability of mental health and counseling services on campus. Conclusions: This study suggests that efforts should be made to improve the relationship between students and their advisors and to enhance the awareness of and the accessibility to mental health and c...
The Appropriateness of Biracial Approaches to Measuring Fairness of Representation in A Multicultural World

Ours is an increasingly multicultural political world. In the United States today, the population growth rates of racial and language minorities are outpacing those of whites. While it is fairly common knowledge that there are a number of areas in which a single racial/ethnic minority group makes up over a majority of the population, it often goes unnoticed that in an ever-expanding number of places, two or more racial/ethnic groups have sizable, and rapidly growing, populations. The pace of this diversification is causing social scientists (and the courts) to reexamine old "theories" about the nature and mea-
On the theoretical implications of Cypriot Greek initial geminates

Cypriot Greek contrasts singleton and geminate consonants in word-initial position. These segments are of particular interest to phonologists since two divergent representational frameworks, moraic theory (Hayes 1989) and timing-based frameworks, including CV or X-slot theory (Clements and Keyser 1983, Levin 1985), account for the behavior of initial geminates in substantially different ways. The investigation of geminates in Cypriot Greek allows these differences to be explored. As will be demonstrated in a formal analysis of the facts, the patterning of geminates in Cypriot is best accounted for by assuming that the segments are dominated by abstract timing units such as X- or C-slots, rather than by a unit of prosodic weight such as the mora.
Training future surgical scientists: realities and recommendations.

Objective:To examine factors influencing surgical research and assess the current state of training future surgical scientists.Summary Background Data:The number of surgeons actively engaged in research seems to be decreasing. Training future surgical scientists to increase these numbers depends on
Residential segregation in American cities: A further response to Clark

Professor Clark's (1986) claim that discrimination plays little role in explaining segregation was challenged in my contrary review (1988). Clark (1988) has responded, and here I offer a rejoinder. I go further and suggest that the multiple factors related to segregation should be seen as interdependent components in a complex web of mutually causal interrelationships. Preliminary attempts to estimate such a model suggest that discrimination may play an even more important role than is conventionally believed.
On probabilistic properties of conditional medians and quantiles

Abstract Conditional medians and quantiles are frequently used in analyzing time series data with heavy tails for their robustness properties. Most of the available literature focusses on statistical estimation of conditional quantiles and large sample behavior of the proposed estimators, whereas probabilistic properties of the true conditional medians themselves have not been fully explored (Tomkins [1975. On conditional medians. Ann. Probab. 3, 375–379; 1978. Convergence properties of conditional medians. Canad. J. Statist. 6, 169–177]). It is well-known that not all properties of conditional expectations have analogues for conditional medians. In this short note, we study to what extent analogues of certain properties of conditional expectations hold for conditional medians and generalize some of these properties to any general conditional quantile.
Unambiguous assignment of intramolecular chemical cross-links in modified mammalian membrane proteins by Fourier transform-tandem mass spectrometry.

Fourier transform tandem mass spectrometry (FT-MS/MS) can be used to unambiguously assign intramolecular chemical cross-links to specific amino acid residues even when two or more possible cross-linking sites are adjacent in the cross-linked protein. Bovine rhodopsin (Rho) in its dark-adapted state was intramolecularly cross-linked with lysine−cysteine (K−C) or lysine−lysine (K−K) cross-linkers to obtain interatomic distance information. Large, multiply charged, cross-linked peptide ions containing adjacent lysines, corresponding to Rho50-86 (K66 or K67) cross-linked to Rho310-317 (C316) or Rho318-348 (K325 or K339), were fragmented by collision-induced dissociation (CID), infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD), and electron capture dissociation (ECD). Complementary sequence-specific information was obtained by combining cross-link assignments; however, only ECD revealed full palmitoylation of adjacent cysteines (C322 and C323) and cross-linking of K67 (and not K66) to C316, K325, and K339. ECD spectra...
Field methods for supporting groundwater chemical transport models

The growing realization that many of the challenging questions regarding contaminant transport in groundwater must be resolved by careful field experiments, led to the convening of this symposium, which was sponsored by AGU's Groundwater Committee. The half-day symposium was held during the recent spring AGU meeting and attracted around 150 individuals. The 13 papers presented included five invited talks. A list of authors and complete abstracts can be found in Eos (65, April 17, 1984, p. 206). Three papers discussed the results of controlled field tracer tests performed at the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratory and Borden landfill sites in Ontario, while three other papers covered tracer tests (one involving the use of heat as a tracer) at sites in Alabama and Illinois. One of the tests at the Chalk River site included the equivalent of 750,000 point measurements of iodine 131 during a natural gradient tracer test at distances as far as 40 m from the injection well. These papers demonstrated that dispersion in principle can be described by the classical advection-dispersion model provided that accurate three-dimensional velocity and permeability distributions are measured. When this is done, the resulting dispersivities are not scale dependent and are quite close to laboratory measurements. The papers also demonstrated that organic contanimants may be subject to chemical nonequilibrium processes during transport.
Electronic spectroscopy of organic acid dimers

Abstract The UV electronic spectroscopy of acetic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric acid, and their dimers is studied by measurements of the temperature and pressure dependence of their absorption spectra near 205 nm. The binding energy of each dimer is calculated using theoretical methods. The photo-absorption cross-sections for the monomer and dimer of each acid are calculated from 195–220 nm. The dimers are found to have a larger cross-section than the monomers and a peak absorbance that is shifted to higher energy. Theory and experiment are used to compare the strength of the hydrogen bonds in the ground and excited state of these dimers.
It's about Family: The Death of a Close Family Friend:

When an individual dies, the role of the family member(s) is clearly prescribed by society: support, presence, caring, and remembrance. Traditionally, the definition of “family” has broadened to create the “extended family” or “expanded family” with members defined by deep bonds, relationships, and friendships. Currently, close friends who become the extended/expanded family, can be as central as kin to family structure and stability. Therefore, when one member of an extended family dies, the death resonates throughout the entire system affecting not only the lives of the immediate family members, but those in the expanded circle of family relationships. This article describes the relationships in one extended family and discusses the struggles and counseling interventions used when one member of an extended family suddenly dies.
Thermal analysis of spider silk inspired di-block copolymers in the glass transition region by TMDSC

We used advanced thermal analysis methods to characterize a new family of A-B di-block copolymers based on the amino acid sequences of Nephila clavipes major ampulate dragline spider silk. Using temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry with a thermal cycling method and thermogravimetry, we captured the effect of bound water acting as a plasticizer for spider silk-like biopolymer films which had been cast from water solution and then dried. A low glass transition because of bound water removal was observed in the first heating cycle, after which, a shift of glass transition was observed in A-block film due to crystallization and annealing, and in BA film due to annealing. No shift of glass transition after bound water removal was observed in B-block film. The reversing heat capacities, Cp, for temperatures below and above the glass transition were measured and compared to the calculated values. The solid state heat capacity was modeled below Tg, based on the vibrational motions of the constituent poly(amino acid)s, heat capacities of which are known from the ATHAS Data Bank. Excellent agreement was found between the measured and calculated values of the heat capacity, showing that this model can serve as a standard method to predict the solid state Cp for other biologically inspired block-copolymers. We also calculated the liquid state heat capacities of the 100% amorphous biopolymer at Tg, and this predicted value can be use to determined the crystallinity of protein-based materials.
Dioxin Perturbs, in a Dose- and Time-Dependent Fashion, Steroid Secretion, and Induces Apoptosis of Human Luteinized Granulosa Cells*

Dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin; TCDD) is the most toxic congener of a large class of environmental pollutants. Several studies have shown that TCDD exposure reduced fecundity and ovulatory rate in rats and increased the incidence of endometriosis in monkeys. Recent work suggests that TCDD’s endocrine-disrupting effects are, at least in part, caused by a direct action at the ovary. Although the factors involved in TCDD-induced toxicity are still under investigation, several studies have shown that TCDD induces programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in various tissues and may act in a similar fashion in the ovary. In the present study, we set out to evaluate the in vitro effects of TCDD on steroid secretion, specifically estradiol-17β (E2) and progesterone, by human luteinized granulosa cells (LGC), and to further determine whether TCDD is capable of inducing apoptosis in this cell type. Human LGC were obtained from women participating in an in vitro fertilization program. Medium, with or without...