cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Fusion and Parameter Optimization of Multiple Classifier Systems

We propose a fusion architecture that combines a set of classifier decisions over a time window to isolate dynamically evolving faults in gas turbine engines. The dynamic fusion problem is formulated as a maximum a posteriori decision problem of inferring the fault sequence based on uncertain outcomes of multiple classifiers over time. The resulting problem is solved via a primal-dual optimization framework. The fusion process involves three steps: the first step transforms the multi-class problem into dichotomies using error correcting output codes (ECOC) and thus solving the concomitant binary classification problems; the second step fuses the outcomes of multiple binary classifiers over time using a sliding window dynamic fusion method that exploits temporal data correlations over time. The window size provides a trade-off between diagnostic errors and decision delays. The third step optimizes the fusion parameters using a genetic algorithm. The probability of detection and false alarm probability of each classifier are the fusion parameters; these probabilities are jointly optimized as part of the fusion architecture instead of optimizing the parameters of each classifier separately. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated by computing the diagnostic performance metrics on a twin-spool commercial jet engine data.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
A study of 3H-L-flucose-containing glycoproteins of the crude synaptosomal fraction obtained from rat brain regions at various ages.

The frontal cortex showed a marked elevation of incorporation of H-L-fucose into glycoproteins of the crude synaptosomal fraction at 9 days of age. The effect was observed at both 8 and 24 hr after intraperitoneal administration of radioactive fucose. The elevation was absent in the 1, 5, 16, and 25-day-old frontal cortices. It was also absent in the hippocampus and cerebellum at all ages studied. Fucose-labeled glycoproteins of high molecular weight in the crude synaptosomal fraction, as separated by polyacrylamide gels, were preferentially labeled in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum at all ages studied. In general, these glycoproteins became less prominent in the oldest animals studied (25 days). However, the relative amount of these glycoproteins varied with age of the animal, time between administration of isotope and sacrifice, and with the brain areas studied.
Linguistic constitution: The accomplishment of meaningfulness and the private language dispute

The "private language argument" has simmered in Anglo-American philosoph? ical discussion since Wittgenstein's (1967) deliberations on the possibility of such a language in the Philosophical Investigations.1 Perhaps as a side-effect of the considerable research directed towards problems of the life-world, and per? haps also as a consequence of something of a linguistic turn in the work of many contemporary phenomenologists, the private language issue has now spilled over into phenomenological philosophy.2 My purpose here is not to defend Husserl against the charge of speaking a private (and thus meaningless, or at least philo? sophically irrelevant) language. That has been done, with admirable clarity and thoroughness, by Harry Reeder (1979) and Peter Hutcheson (1981). What I do want to do here is connect this contemporary line of criticism to certain perennial doubts about phenomenological philosophy in general and the phenomenological orientation in sociological and psychological research in par? ticular.3 Briefly stated: these doubts concern the extent to which the results of phenomenologically oriented research are limited?in their relevance or validity?to the researcher. The suspicion here seems to be prompted by the re? flexive character of the phenomenological method: how can a procedure which begins in reflection upon my own experience ever escape from the limitations of that sphere? To what extent, and how, can this method yield "public," rather than "private," data? My suggestion is that this line of criticism has its founda? tion in a basic (and difficult to avoid) misunderstanding of the sphere of investi? gation proper to phenomenological inquiry. The comparatively recent interest in 'For an overview of the issue, see Saunders and Henze (1967, pp. 3-23). The two senses of
Hemoglobin-oxygen-carbon monoxide equilibria with the MWC model.

Abstract Fractional saturation equations for the Monod, Wyman and Changeux model are derived for the case of two distinct ligands bonding to a host molecule with four ligand sites and two conformational states. A variety of useful graphical studies can be derived from these equations when applied to normal human hemoglobin with O 2 and CO as ligands. For example, the oxygen transport capability of hemoglobin can be assessed at different environmental CO levels and the concentrations of various liganded species can be displayed as a function of fractional saturation with oxygen. In addition, the CO pressure in the tissue, p CO tissue , can be calculated as a function of the tissue oxygen pressure, p O 2 tissue , at different environmental levels of CO. In an environment of a given CO concentration, p CO tissue decreases with p O 2 tissue until a minimum is reached. Further decrease in p O 2 tissue results in a fairly steep rise in p CO tissue .
The Calculation of Discrepancy Scores in the Context of Biased Self-Perceptions of Acceptance

Children's biased self-perceptions of social acceptance have been linked to increased aggressive and depressive symptoms. The examination of biased self-perceptions as a risk factor for negative socio-emotional outcomes is an important line of research but inconsistency exists within the field regarding which method of difference score calculation (i.e., difference or residual scores) is used to quantify the degree to which a person holds biased self-perceptions. This study compared the methods on three issues: 1) the extent to which the methods agree about which participants hold biased self-perceptions; 2) the strength of the estimated relationship between biased-self perceptions of social acceptance and socio-emotional outcomes (i.e., aggression and depressive symptoms); 3) the strength of those same estimated relationships while controlling for a potentially confounding variable (actual social acceptance). Data from a previously published study (David and Kistner Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology: An Official Publication of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 28(4), 327–337, 2000) of 871 third through fifth grade students who completed measures of their depressive symptoms as well as their own, and their peers', social acceptance and aggression, was used in the present study. Results showed the difference and residual methods demonstrated moderate agreement regarding bias classification. The difference method correlated more strongly with aggression than did the residual method. Conversely, the residual method correlated more strongly with depressive symptoms than did the difference method. Once actual social acceptance was added to the difference score prediction model the methods became equivalent in their associations with both outcomes. Implications regarding the importance of statistically controlling for the actual social acceptance component of the bias score are discussed.
Phoenix mars mission—The thermal evolved gas analyzer

The Phoenix spacecraft that was launched to Mars in August 2007 landed safely on the Martian northern arctic region on May 25, 2008. It carried six experiments to study the history of water on the planet and search for organic molecules in the icy subsurface Martian soil. The spacecraft is a lander with an arm and scoop designed to dig a trench though the top soil to reach an expected ice layer near the surface. One of the instruments on board is the thermal evolved gas analyzer (TEGA), which consists of two components, a set of eight very small ovens that will heat samples of the ice soil mixtures from the trench to release imbedded gases and mineral decomposition products, and a mass spectrometer that serves as the analysis tool for the evolved gases, and also for measurements of the composition and isotopic ratios of the gases that comprise the atmosphere of Mars. The mass spectrometer is a miniature magnetic sector instrument controlled by microprocessor-driven power supplies. One feature is the gas enrichment cell that will increase the partial pressures of the noble gases in an atmosphere sample by removing all the active gases, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen, to improve the accuracy of their isotopic ratio measurements.
Organ-identifying properties of alkaline phosphatases from canine tissues.

Abstract Organ-specific alkaline phosphatase isozymes from liver, bone, kidney and intestinal mucosa of dogs were identified by polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis in combination with l -phenylalanine inhibition, and heat (56°), and 6 M urea inactivation tests. The isozymes are separable by electrophoretic migration pattern except for overlapping bands of renal and intestinal alkaline phosphatase. The intestinal isozyme is, however, distinctly separable from the others by its low sensitivity to heat and urea inactivations and its high susceptibility to l -phenylalanine inhibition. Liver and bone isozymes were shown to be separable both by electrophoresis and by different susceptibilities to heat inactivation. Kidney alkaline phosphatase was distinct from liver and bone enzymes electrophoretically and it differed from the liver isozyme in susceptibility to heat inactivation.
Apparent wavefront aberration of a Gaussian source in a Hartmann wavefront sensor with focus error

We examined the effect of a Gaussian pupil-plane irradiance profile on the wave-front aberration reported by a Hartmann wave-front sensor with focus error when observing a collimated point source. It was found that even when a planar wave-front is incident upon the Hartmann sensor pupil, centroid deflections are registered in the detector plane due only to the non-uniformity of the Gaussian irradiance profile. As a result, the reconstructed wave-front may contain large focus and spherical aberration terms. The magnitude of the apparent aberrations depends upon the amount of focus error and the width of the Gaussian profile. Results are presented for a model system, indicating aberration terms in excess of (lambda) /3 or equivalent Strehl ratio less than 0.5 for certain configurations.
Mechanical and spatial determinants of Paranthropus facial form.

It is well documented in the anthropological literature that the distinctive morphology of the “robust” hominid facial skeleton reflects its dietary specialization. Rak (1983) has provided the most comprehensive evaluation of Paranthropus facial morphology and this important study concluded that bone strain generated during mastication was responsible for the scaling of measures of facial height and breadth. The present study evaluated Rak's analysis by examining the relationship between bizygomatic breadth and facial height in an ontogenetic series of Pan and Gorilla crania. Results of this analysis indicate that facial height and breadth dimensions were not mechanically scaled in the “robust” australopithecines. Structural analysis of African ape facial maturation was also used to examine alternative spatial methods of malar elongation in Paranthropus. It is concluded that the increased height of the malar region in these specimens is not related to either vertical expansion of the posterior facial skeleton or to expansion of the temporal fossa. Malar elongation is, however, consistent with a derived pattern of facial growth in crania possessing a thickened hard palate. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Calculation of transmitter concentration in individual PC12 cell vesicles with electrochemical data and a distribution of vesicle size obtained by electron microscopy

Abstract A mathematical model is described to accurately calculate vesicle size and neurotransmitter concentration distributions from electrochemical data. This model uses parameters from electrochemical exocytosis data obtained from PC12 cells in culture to calculate a size distribution that is then correlated to the size of vesicles obtained by electron microscopy. The relative standard deviation of the size distribution calculated from electrochemical data is 25% which matches the relative standard deviation of the vesicle size distribution measured by electron microscopy. The distribution calculated from electrochemical data is normalized to the vesicle size distribution of PC12 cell vesicles obtained from electron microscopy. Calculation of a vesicular catecholamine concentration histogram from the normalized size data and electrochemical parameters is then possible for individual exocytosis events. The average vesicular catecholamine concentration for PC12 cells as calculated by this method is 148±7 mM. More importantly, there is a distribution of concentration rather than a constant value. Additionally, the model permits evaluation of the concentration of transmitter in each individual vesicle and vesicle size for each vesicle from electrochemical data when the overall vesicle size distribution is known.
A Framework for Exploiting Local Information to Enhance Density Estimation of Data Streams

The Probability Density Function (PDF) is the fundamental data model for a variety of stream mining algorithms. Existing works apply the standard nonparametric Kernel Density Estimator (KDE) to approximate the PDF of data streams. As a result, the stream-based KDEs cannot accurately capture complex local density features. In this article, we propose the use of Local Region (LRs) to model local density information in univariate data streams. In-depth theoretical analyses are presented to justify the effectiveness of the LR-based KDE. Based on the analyses, we develop the General Local rEgion AlgorithM (GLEAM) to enhance the estimation quality of structurally complex univariate distributions for existing stream-based KDEs. A set of algorithmic optimizations is designed to improve the query throughput of GLEAM and to achieve its linear order computation. Additionally, a comprehensive suite of experiments was conducted to test the effectiveness and efficiency of GLEAM.
Tridentatols D-H, nematocyst metabolites and precursors of the activated chemical defense in the marine hydroid Tridentata marginata (Kirchenpauer 1864)

The marine hydroid Tridentata marginata (Kirchenpauer 1864) produces tridentatols A-C (1-3), of which 1 is a potent deterrent to fish predation. This paper reports the structures of five additional secondary metabolites, tridentatols D-H (4-8), that have been isolated from this hydroid. When hydroid tissue is crushed, as attacking predators would do, tridentatols E-H (5-8), which do not deter fish feeding, are rapidly converted to tridentatols A-D (1-4), thereby repelling potential predators. Additionally, the tridentatols were isolated from this hydroid's nematocysts (i.e., stinging organelles), representing the first report of a nonprotein venom produced by cnidarian nematocysts. The structures of 4-8 were determined by interpretation of their spectral data.
Modeling, design and thermal performance of a BIPV/T system thermally coupled with a ventilated concrete slab in a low energy solar house: Part 2, ventilated concrete slab

Abstract This paper is the second of two papers that describe the modeling and design of a building-integrated photovoltaic–thermal (BIPV/T) system thermally coupled with a ventilated concrete slab (VCS) adopted in a prefabricated, two-storey detached, low energy solar house and their performance assessment based on monitored data. The VCS concept is based on an integrated thermal–structural design with active storage of solar thermal energy while serving as a structural component – the basement floor slab (∼33 m2). This paper describes the numerical modeling, design, and thermal performance assessment of the VCS. The thermal performance of the VCS during the commissioning of the unoccupied house is presented. Analysis of the monitored data shows that the VCS can store 9–12 kWh of heat from the total thermal energy collected by the BIPV/T system, on a typical clear sunny day with an outdoor temperature of about 0 °C. It can also accumulate thermal energy during a series of clear sunny days without overheating the slab surface or the living space. This research shows that coupling the VCS with the BIPV/T system is a viable method to enhance the utilization of collected solar thermal energy. A method is presented for creating a simplified three-dimensional, control volume finite difference, explicit thermal model of the VCS. The model is created and validated using monitored data. The modeling method is suitable for detailed parametric study of the thermal behavior of the VCS without excessive computational effort.
Design and development of thermoplastic composite roof door for mass transit bus

Abstract Light weight composites possess high specific strength and modulus and have been widely used in various applications such as transportation, marine, and aerospace. Replacing metallic components with reinforced composites in mass transit helps to lower weight and therefore increase fuel efficiency and decrease maintenance cost without compromising performance. In this work, an air conditioning cover roof door on a mass transit bus was designed, analyzed, and manufactured for a ‘form-fit-function’ replacement of an aluminum component. Novel design using thermoplastic composites materials and thermoforming processing technology were demonstrated to form the part. Innovative composite materials namely thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) as the outer skin and a ribbed lofted glass mat thermoplastic (GMT) inner liner to provide structural stiffness and strength were used. Weight savings of 39% and reduction of free-standing deflection of 42% were realized using the composite approach compared to the metallic counterpart.
Different effects of subchronic doses of 17-β estradiol in two ethologically based models of anxiety utilizing female rats

Estrogen may have differing effects on 'anxiety' responses under different conditions. The current study tested the effects of estrogen on anxiety-like behavior when administered for 6-7 days in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. Two animal paradigms were utilized; the elevated plus maze (EPM), measuring changes in innate fear of exploration of open spaces; and the social interaction test (SIT), measuring the exploration of a novel, same gender partner. In the EPM, estradiol-treated OVX females both entered and spent more time in the open arms than control OVX females, indicating an anxiolytic-like action of estradiol. In contrast, estradiol treated OVX females interacted less with the partner animal in the SIT compared with controls suggesting anxiogenic-like effects. The possible anxiogenic effect of estradiol in the SIT is supported by two findings: (1) the effect is reversed by the anxiolytic drug alprazolam and (2) estrogen did not affect locomotion and therefore, the reduced social interaction is not due to reduced activity. Acute administration of progesterone (5 mg/kg), which has anxiolytic properties, did not reverse estradiol-induced social interaction deficits, suggesting that lack of progesterone did not account for estradiol's anxiogenic effects. These results, while seemingly contradictory when interpreted within a unified concept of anxiety, may well reflect the ethological roles of reproductive hormones and their effects on different types of exploratory anxiety.
Oxygen Signal Transduction

Although manifestations of O 2 adaptation have long been examined, only now are biochemical mechanisms of O 2 regulation beginning to be understood. This article comments on the current state of knowledge about proteins that function as direct sensors of molecular oxygen and makes predictions about as yet undiscovered sensors.
A New Programmatic Basis for Shell Pigment Patterns in the Bivalve Mollusc Lioconcha castrensis (L.)

This paper proposes that cell division assembles divaricate patterns from alternate states expressed by pigmentation zones in the belt of mantle epithelium which deposits the growing margin of the shell. This model of development derives from two fundamental features of patterns in Lioconcha castrensis (Linne). Its patterns are lineages of standard brown triangular units that double repeatedly and diverge in opposite directions from a common origin over the white surface of the valves. Doubling of pigment, not dilution or subdivision, accounts for patterns, since the width and intensity of the units do not decline, even after long lineages. Hence, cell division is proposed. The second feature concerns the finding that triangular units consist of specific combinations of radial and divergent lines that branch from previous diagonal lines. These lines evidently are deposited by pigmentation zones which assume certain states governing whether they are pigmented and radial or divergent. Eight states are possible, each one a particular combination of three binary cellular properties deduced to be: (1) ability to deposit pigment, (2) ability to move along the margin of the valve, and (3) the direction of movement. Thus, the patterns are divaricate because alternate mobile pigment states double and segregate in the mantle epithelium, possibly through cell division.
Constraint-based model synthesis

We present a method for procedurally modeling general complex 3D shapes. Our approach is targeted towards applications in digital entertainment and gaming and can automatically generate complex models of buildings, man-made structures, or urban datasets in a few minutes based on user-defined inputs. The algorithm attempts to generate results that resemble a user-defined input model and that satisfy various dimensional, geometric, and algebraic constraints. These constraints are used to capture the intent of the user and generate shapes that look more natural. We also describe efficient techniques to handle complex shapes and demonstrate their performance on many different types of models.
A code-independent technique for computational verification of fluid mechanics and heat transfer problems

The goal of this paper is to present a versatile framework for solution verification of PDE’s. We first generalize the Richardson Extrapolation technique to an optimized extrapolation solution procedure that constructs the best consistent solution from a set of two or three coarse grid solution in the discrete norm of choice. This technique generalizes the Least Square Extrapolation method introduced by one of the author and W. Shyy. We second establish the conditioning number of the problem in a reduced space that approximates the main feature of the numerical solution thanks to a sensitivity analysis. Overall our method produces an a posteriori error estimation in this reduced space of approximation. The key feature of our method is that our construction does not require an internal knowledge of the software neither the source code that produces the solution to be verified. It can be applied in principle as a postprocessing procedure to off the shelf commercial code. We demonstrate the robustness of our method with two steady problems that are separately an incompressible back step flow test case and a heat transfer problem for a battery. Our error estimate might be ultimately verified with a near by manufactured solution. While our procedure is systematic and requires numerous computation of residuals, one can take advantage of distributed computing to get quickly the error estimate.
Examining chemical structure at the interface between a polymer binder and a pharmaceutical crystal with neutron reflectometry

Abstract The mechanical properties of many composites are determined in part by the chemical structure and bonding at the interface between constituents in the microstructure. The study of these interfaces in molecular crystal – polymer composites is difficult using traditional techniques such as electron microscopy or X-ray scattering because of weak or detrimental interactions between the probe and materials. Here, the interface between acetaminophen and a poly(ester urethane) copolymer is analyzed using ellipsometry, infrared spectroscopy, and neutron reflectometry. These materials were chosen for their relevance to pharmaceutical tablets and plastic-bonded explosives. The acetaminophen was shown to dissolve into the polymer coating and creates an interphase region between the two materials; this mixing is almost certainly produced by typical formulation conditions, and likely affects mechanical response of the composite. Additionally, reflectometry shows that plasticizing the polymer alters this interphase region. These techniques can be applied to similar composites to reveal the relation between formulation conditions, constituent interface microstructure characteristics, and bulk mechanical response.
Direct Freeform Fabrication of Seeded Hydrogels in Arbitrary Geometries

Abstract A major challenge in tissue engineering is the generation of cell-seeded implants with structures that mimic native tissue, both in anatomic geometries and intratissue cell distributions. ...
Experimental Comparison Of Computer Generated Holograms

Computer generated holograms (CGHs) are an important tool in the realization of optical processing systems. One of the reasons why CGHs are receiving attention is that there are high resolution recording devices available. High quality CGHs can be made and can now be utilized in optical data processing systems and algorithms. Many different CGH coding schemes exist, and much research is being done to compare and find their characteristics. This report presents a laboratory comparison of eight different types of CGHs. The method of making the CGHs and the recorder used are discussed. The experimental results are then compared with the non-experimental results derived previously.
Single grain analysis of the Late Silurian spore Cymbosporites echinatus from the Welsh Borderland

Abstract The ultrastructure of the Late Silurian patinate spore Cymbosporites echinatus has been studied using single grain analysis, which allows individual specimens to be examined with light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In combination with serial sectioning this allows an extraordinarily thorough assessment of the ultrastructural variability to be made. C. echinatus has an unusual two-part spore wall; the thin inner exospore surrounds the entire spore, and the considerably thicker outer exospore, or patina, only covers the distal and equatorial walls of each trilete spore and tetrad. The patinate ultrastructure of C . echinatus is unlike any extinct or extant trilete spore yet examined, though it is most similar to early Paleozoic dyads and monads such as Dyadospora murusdensa and Laevolancis divellomedia . The occasional presence of lamellae in the inner exospore and the inner part of the distal patina suggest some variability in the timing of tetrad separation. This is not surprising given the dispersal of identical spores both singly and as tetrads.
Correlated Responses in Body Weight and Egg Production Traits in Chickens Selected for Social Dominance

Abstract Selection was effective in establishing distinct high and low social aggressiveness strains of White Leghorns (WL) studied by Guhl et al. (1960) and of WL and Rhode Island Reds (RIR) as reported by Craig et al. (1965). The highly aggressive strain of Guhl et al. (1960) was heavier (adult) than controls. Preliminary comparisons of body and egg weights, age at first egg and part-year rate of egg production are presented here for strains selected by Craig et al. (1965). The heterogeneous Cornell Control WL and NC-47 RIR randombred populations were sampled as foundation stocks for the selection experiment in 1959. Additional samples were supplied annually from the NC-47 Laboratory for use as unselected controls. Chicks of all strains were hatched concurrently each year and strains within breeds were intermingled during rearing. Pullets were similarly intermingled in laying houses at Kansas State University (KSU). Birds were housed at moderate density, i.e. . . .
Venomous Animals and Their Venoms. Vol. 1, Venomous Vertebrates. Wolfgang Bücheri, Eleanor E. Buckley, and Venancio Deulofeu, Eds. Academic Press, New York, 1968. xxiv + 707 pp., illus. $24

The price of volume 1 of Venomous Animals and Their Venoms, reviewed 31 May, Page 984, was given incorrectly. The price of the volume is $34 singly and $28.50 by subscription to the three-volume work.
A Biogeochemical and Genetic Survey of Acetylene Fermentation by Environmental Samples and Bacterial Isolates

Anoxic samples (sediment and groundwater) from 13 chemically diverse field sites were assayed for their ability to consume acetylene (C2H2). Over incubation periods ranging from ∼ 10 to 80 days, selected samples from 7 of the 13 tested sites displayed significant C2H2 removal. No significant formation of ethylene was noted in these incubations; therefore, C2H2 consumption could be attributed to acetylene hydratase (AH) rather than nitrogenase activity. This putative AH (PAH) activity was observed in only 21% of the total of assayed samples, while amplification of AH genes from extracted DNA using degenerate primers derived from Pelobacter acetylenicus occurred in even fewer (9.8%) samples. Acetylene-fermenting bacteria were isolated as a pure culture from the sediments of a tidal mudflat in San Francisco Bay (SFB93) and as an enrichment culture from freshwater Searsville Lake (SV7). Comparison of 16S rDNA clone libraries revealed that SFB93 was closely related to P. carbolinicus, while SV7 consisted of se...
The Major Changers: Continuity or Discontinuity in the Career Decision Process?.

Abstract College students changing their declared major were asked to specify what job or career they were “headed for” in both their old major and in their new major choice. Consistent with vocational development theory, a significant number was able to be more specific about probable career choice within the newly chosen major than within previous major choice. Seemingly contrary to theory, however, the proportion of students able to be specific in job choices declined significantly across the college class years. This downward trend held for the degree of specificity in probable job choice in both the previous and the newly selected major. The results are interpreted as a paradoxical example of both continuity and discontinuity in the development of career choice among college students. The general implications for vocational theory and for career guidance during the college years are stated.
Extracting Boolean isosurfaces from tetrahedral meshes

Surfaces separating the inside from the outside of most solid objects of interest are piecewise smooth: they can be decomposed into smooth surface patches meeting along smooth boundary curves called creases. Normal vectors are discontinuous across creases, and creases join at their ends forming corners. Rather than identifying sharp features in an isosurface with additional Hermite data or detecting large changes in surface normals (see [Ju et al. 2002] and references within), we consider the Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) representation of surfaces as boundaries of regularized Boolean combinations of half spaces. But here each half space is defined by one piecewise linear implicit function inequality. The Boolean Isosurface Algorithm for tetrahedral meshes (TBIso) outlined in this sketch extends the classical isosurface algorithms for tetrahedral grids from smooth implicit surfaces to volumetric sampled CSG surfaces in such a way that the feature lines are identified and extracted as poly-line networks. These feature lines and corners can be preserved during subsequent smoothing and simplification.
Marketing science in a changing environment

The Journal of Marketing Research (JMR) is about to have a birthday, and it is a significant one-the big XXX, an event popular culture treats as a symbol of the transition from youth to maturity. Clearly, the body of work contained in JMR's 30 volumes is cause for professional celebration. Bass (1993, p. 2) has provided us with an insightful characterization of the essential features of how research in marketing has evolved over the past three decades:
Left ventricular mass change during treatment and outcome in patients with essential hypertension

Abstract Background It is uncertain whether reduction of left ventricular (LV) mass during antihypertensive treatment predicts reduces cardiovascular complications of hypertension. Methods A total of 172 prospectively identified patients with essential hypertension without complications of hypertension at baseline and follow-up echocardiograms 5.5 ± 3.0 years apart, were followed an additional 4.8 ± 2.9 years. Antihypertensive treatment was determined by primary physicians. Results After the second echocardiograms, cardiovascular events occurred in 24 patients (14%). Fewer of the 91 patients with unchanged or decreased LV mass experienced cardiovascular events than of the 81 patients whose LV mass increased during follow-up (8.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.9%–13.7%] v 19.8% [95% CI 12.6%–27.0%]; P = .04) despite greater baseline LV mass in the former group (118 g/m 2 [95% CI 111–125] v 95 g/m 2 [95% CI 88–102]; P v high (28.6% [95% CI 17.1%–40.1%]; P = .004) rates of subsequent morbid events. In multivariate analyses, only LV mass index at follow-up consistently predicted adverse outcomes. Conclusions The LV mass reduction during antihypertensive treatment is associated with reduced rate of complications of essential hypertension. Our data further suggest that development or regression of LV hypertrophy during antihypertensive treatment may be more closely linked to prognosis than are changes in clinic blood pressure.
Saline-soluble proteins of isolated thymus nuclei.

The saline extract of isolated thymus nuclei was found to contain a number f proteins in addition to the ribonucleoprotein. Ultracentrifugal studies of the whole saline extract and these proteins showed that pH or salting-out with ammonium sulfate affected aggregation of some of the protein species. A tentative fractionation of these proteins was also attempted. Some of the characteristics of the nuclear saline extract fractions was discussed.
C3H8 and C3H4 in Titan's atmosphere

Four bands of propane C3H8 and two of methyl acetylene C3H4 have been identified in the Voyager IR spectrum of Titan. Stratospheric abundances of 2 x 10 to the -5 for C3H8 and 3 x 10 to the -8 for C3H4 have been determined for the mid-latitude region. A feature at 1,154/cm, previously assigned solely to CH3D, is now identified at least in part due to C3H8.
Linear Functional Electromagnetic Constitutive Relations and Plane Waves in a Hemihedral Isotropic Material

In any Lorentz frame of referencex(x i , t), where x i (i = 1, 2, 3) are rectangular Cartesian spatial coordinates and t is the time.
Individual, social environmental, and physical environmental influences on physical activity among black and white Adults: A Structural Equation Analysis

Background: Social ecological models suggest that conditions in the social and physical environment, in addition to individual factors, play important roles in health behavior change. Using structural equation modeling, this study tested a theoretically and empirically based explanatory model of physical activity to examine theorized direct and indirect effects of individual (e.g., motivation and self-efficacy), social environmental (e.g., social support), and physical environmental factors (e.g.), neighborhood quality and availability of facilities).Method: A community-based sample of adults (N = 910) was recruited from 2 public health centers (67% female, 43% African American, 43% < $20,000/year, M age = 33 years) and completed a self-administered survey assessing their current physical activity level, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for physical activity, perceived social support, self-efficacy, and perceptions of the physical environment.Results: Results indicated that (a) perceptions of the physical environment had direct effects on physical activity, (b) both the social and physical environments had indirect effects on physical activity through motivation and self-efficacy, and (c) social support influenced physical activity indirectly through intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. For all forms of activity, self-efficacy was the strongest direct correlate of physical activity, and evidence of a positive dose-response relation emerged between self-efficacy and intensity of physical activity. Conclusions: Findings from this research highlight the interactive role of individual and environmental influences on physical activity.
Lung and liver cell-mediated mutagenesis systems: specificities in the activation of chemical carcinogens

A liver and lung cell-mediated-V79 cell mutagenesis system using intact cells as metabolic activation systems was employed to study the relative ability of cells from these organs to activate chemical carcinogens. Primary cultures of liver and lung cells from male Sprague Dawley rats were used to metabolically activate the chemicals and the mutation of Chinese hamster V79 cells to ouabain resistance used to detect mutagenic intermediates. 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 3-methylcholanthrene, were more active in the lung system than in the liver cell system. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) was inactive in the liver cell-mediated system but mutagenic to V79 cells in the lung cell-mediated system. Dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) was inactive in the presence of liver cells. Aflatoxin B1 was mutagenic in the liver cell-mediated system, but only weakly mutagenic in the lung cell-mediated system. Because the mutagenicities of DMN and B[a]P were organ-specific, the metabolism of these carcinogens in the two primary cell systems was investigated. DMN was metabolized by liver but not by lung cells, possibly accounting for its lack of mutagenicity in the lung cell system. B[a]P was extensively metabolized by both cell types, but quantitative differences were observed when the metabolic products were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography. Comparing total organic and water soluble metabolites, lung cells produced similar amounts of 7,8- and 9,10-diols but little 4,5-diol, while liver cells produced equivalent total amounts of the three diols. Lung cells produced twice the amount of B[a]P glucuronide conjugates as liver cells, while liver cells produced twice the amount of B[a]P sulfate conjugates as lung. The data suggest that intact cells from various organs can be used as metabolic activating systems in vitro assays and that studies into organ specificity can be investigated by this approach.
Early Treatment of Obese (ob/ob) Mice with Triiodothyronine Increases Oxygen Consumption and Temperature and Decreases Body Fat Content:

An early abnormality in the ob/ob mouse is a low circulating level of the thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (T3). The possibility was explored that early T3 treatment of ob/ob mice will increase oxidative metabolism and lower body fat content. Doses of T3, ranging from 0.0 to 25.0 micrograms/100 g body wt were injected, ip, into ob/ob and non-ob/ob mice daily from 3 weeks until 6 weeks of age. Food intake was equalized across all groups to that consumed by non-ob/ob saline-treated group. At 6 weeks of age, body weight, serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4), T3, insulin and glucose, oxygen consumption, colonic temperature, and body composition were analyzed. T3 treatment decreased body weight, increased body oxygen consumption, increased colonic temperature, and decreased body fat without a significant change in body protein in ob/ob mice. T3 treatment also increased serum T3, and decreased serum T4, insulin, and glucose concentrations in ob/ob mice. Because total body protein did not change as a result of T3 treatment, the increased oxidative metabolism due to T3 treatment was probably via the change of metabolic activity of the total lean body mass or the specific metabolically active tissues in the ob/ob mice, such as brown adipose tissue, liver, or muscle.
Possible structural homologies among 30S ribosomal proteins

Abstract A comparison of the amino acid compositions of 30S ribosomal proteins was made using data already published. Similar comparisons were made for a variety of different cytochrome C's as well as for a group of thirty-five functionally unrelated proteins. On the basis of these comparisons it is concluded that some of the 30S ribosomal proteins are likely to possess considerable similarities in amino acid sequence.
Rational Equilibrium Asset-Pricing Bubbles in Continuous Trading Models

We study rational equilibrium asset-pricing bubbles in an economic environment in which agents are allowed to trade continuously, including as special cases some models from financial economics. For positive net supply assets, we present new necessary and sufficient conditions for the absence of bubbles in complete and incomplete markets equilibria with several types of borrowing constraints. For zero net supply assets, including financial derivatives with finite maturities, we show that bubbles can generally exist and have properties different from their discrete-time, infinite-horizon counterparts. We introduce a probabilistic approach to studying bubbles, generalizing analogs of existing results in the discrete-time bubbles literature. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D50, G12, G13.
Costimulation of naive human CD4 T cells through intercellular adhesion molecule-1 promotes differentiation to a memory phenotype that is not strictly the result of multiple rounds of cell division.

Summary The process by which naive T cells become activated, differentiate into effector cells and ultimately generate long-lived memory cells is dependent upon a number of factors, including the costimulatory signals received by the T cell. To best understand the multiple events involved, it is important to understand the potential contributions by individual signalling proteins using both in vitro and in vivo studies. Here, the potential for costimulation through intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54), resident on the surface of naive human T cells, to influence differentiation was investigated. Costimulation of naive T cells through ICAM-1 resulted in expansive cell division, high interleukin-2 production, and protection from apoptosis. Prolonged culture led to outgrowth of a subpopulation of cells with a highly differentiated CD45RA– CD11ahi CD27– phenotype. In this respect, costimulation through ICAM-1 was similar to costimulation through CD28 and different from costimulation through leucocyte function-associated antigen-1. The CD45RA– CD11ahi CD27– cells responded to suboptimal stimulation through the T-cell receptor alone with a more robust proliferative response compared with naive cells from the same subject. These cells also secreted higher levels of T helper type 1 cytokines in response to lower levels of stimulation than their naive counterparts. The surface phenotype and more sensitive response characteristics suggest the creation of a memory T-cell subpopulation as a result of costimulation through ICAM-1. Finally, generation of this memory population was the result of specific costimulatory signals, and not merely because of a high number of cell divisions. These data reveal a new role for resident ICAM-1 to influence the differentiation of naive T cells.
Fixation strength of unicortical versus bicortical C1–C2 transarticular screws

Abstract Background context The internal carotid artery and hypoglossal nerve lie over the anterior aspect of the lateral mass of the atlas and are at risk from bicortical C1–C2 transarticular screws. This has led to the recommendation for unicortical screws if the neurovascular structures are in close proximity to the proposed exit point. No data are available on strength of unicortical versus bicortical C1–C2 transarticular screws. Purpose To compare the biomechanical pullout strength of unicortical versus bicortical C1–C2 transarticular screws in a cadaveric model. Study design Biomechanical study. Methods Fifteen cervical spine specimens underwent axial pullout testing. A unicortical C1–C2 transarticular screw was placed on one side with a contralateral bicortical screw. Data were analyzed to reveal any significant differences in strength. Results Mean pullout strength for the bicortical C1–C2 transarticular screws was 1,048.8 (±360.1) N versus 939.2 (±360.6) for unicortical screws (p=.22). There was no significant difference in the pullout strength of unicortical and bicortical screws. Conclusions In cases with satisfactory bone quality, it appears reasonable to use unicortical screws to avoid the risk of neurovascular injury from penetrating the anterior cortex of C1.
Complete heart block during cardiac catheterization in a normal individual

A 44-year-old white male who developed third-degree heart block during cardiac catheterization is presented. Right heart catheterization precipitated bifascicular block, right bundle branch block with left posterior hemiblock, and resulted in third-degree heart block during the left heart procedure. It is recommended that multiple electrocardiographic lead monitoring be considered during cardiac catheterization in order to recognize more easily high-risk conduction disturbances, ie a bifascicular block pattern with frontal plane axis shifts.
High-diffraction-efficiency pseudorandom encoding.

Pseudorandom encoding (PRE) is a statistics-based procedure in which a pure-phase spatial light modulator (SLM) can yield, on the average, the prescribed diffraction pattern specified by the user. We seek to combine PRE with the optimization of an aperture-based target function. The target function is a fully complex input transmittance, unrealizable by a phase-only SLM, that generates a prescribed light intensity. The optimization is done to increase the diffraction efficiency of the overall process. We compare three optimization methods—Monte Carlo simulation, a genetic algorithm, and a gradient search—for maximizing the diffraction efficiency of a spot-array generator. Calculated solutions are then encoded by PRE, and the resulting diffraction patterns are computer simulated. Details on the complexity of each procedure are furnished, as well as comparisons on the quality, such as uniformity of the output spot array.
Issues and Methods for Transdisciplinary Planning of Combined Wildlife and Pedestrian Highway Crossings

Highways are increasingly understood as barriers to wildlife and pedestrian movement and as significant causes of landscape fragmentation—especially in suburban and periurban areas. FHWA's Transportation, Community, and System Preservation (TCSP) Program encourages innovative solutions to reduce the impact of highways on the communities they link and traverse. This paper is based on research and public participation as part of an FHWA-TCSP sponsored feasibility study for a combined wildlife and pedestrian crossing to mitigate highway impacts on wildlife and recreation, and on the communities of Concord and Lincoln, Massachusetts. The interdisciplinary study team included representatives from landscape architecture, urban planning, wildlife biology, civil engineering, and landscape history. The study included diverse public participation and collaboration throughout the project. The paper defines significant planning issues likely to pertain to similar projects and offers a transdisciplinary method for con...