cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical Measurements on Magnetite Single Crystals

Optical transmission and reflectance were measured on natural magnetite single crystals in the spectral range $0.15l~h\ensuremath{\nu}l~0.75$ eV. These measurements below and above the semiconductor-to-metal transition temperature ${T}_{\mathrm{v}}$ have shown that, unlike for the vanadium oxides, there is no collapse of the optical gap at the transition. The present results and the existing data on the transport properties of magnetite indicate that different bands contribute to the electric conduction above and below ${T}_{\mathrm{v}}$.
Cognitive Differentiation, Automaticity, and Interruptions of Automatized Behaviors

The construct of field dependence-independence was explored with respect to individual efficacy in forming automatized sequences. Thirty-six female subjects developed and used such sequences. They experienced either severe, mild, or no interruption of the sequences at various points during 60 trials (such that each trial was a repetition of the sequence). Attention deployment to task-relevant and task-relevant material during these interruptions was assessed using recognition confidence measures. Results indicated that the distinction between task-relevant and task-relevant items was important to both field-dependent and field-independent subjects: Field-dependent subjects incorporated more task-relevant material as an attentional focus and monitored both kinds of material more closely when the sequence was not interrupted. The opposite was true for field independent subjects, who were also faster in forming the sequence.
True 3D volumetric patterning of photostructurable glass using UV laser irradiation and variable exposure processing: fabrication of meso-scale devices

Meso-scale devices that contain micro-scale features have been fabricated in a photosensitive glass ceramic material using a novel combination of direct-write pulsed UV laser irradiation and variable exposure processing. This merged nonthermal, direct-write laser processing technique involves the precise variation of the laser irradiance during material patterning. The controlled variation of the laser exposure dose is used to selectively alter the chemical etch rate of the processed regions in the glass ceramic. Consequently, variegated and proximal high and low aspect ratio structures can be fabricated on a common substrate. The microstructures can be created in a single, simultaneous chemical batch etch without the need for a complex masking sequence or ablation. For example, adjacent microstructures with aspect ratios of 2:1 and 20:1 have been laser patterned via variable exposure processing and concurrently fabricated on a shared glass wafer following a single chemical etch step. Our current variable exposure technique enables the conversion of CAD patterns and corresponding laser irradiance information into realized microfabricated structures in glass or ceramic form that retain feature sizes within 10% of the desired dimensions. We have applied this technique to fabricate various structures that may be useful in far-infrared (IR) or terahertz (THz) devices that require high aspect ratio features.
Tuning the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of polypyridyl bridged mixed-metal trimetallic ruthenium(II), iridium(III) complexes: a spectroelectrochemical study

Abstract A series of polypyridyl bridged trimetallic complexes of the type {[(bpy) 2 Ru(BL)] 2 IrCl 2 } 5+ (where BL = 2,3-bis-2′-pyridylpyrazine (dpp), 2,3-bis-2′-pyridylquinoxaline (dpq) or 2,3-bis-2′-pyridylbenzoquinoxaline (dpb); bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been prepared and their synthesis, characterization and spectroelectrochemical analysis are reported within. These complexes are of interest in that they contain two visible light absorbing centers covalently coupled to a known catalytically active central metal site. The trimetallic complexes show absorbances throughout the visible region of the spectrum and exhibit many electrochemical processes within the acetonitrile solvent window. All the systems studied possess a ruthenium based oxidative process as well as four bridging ligand based reductions, followed by iridium and bipyridine based reductive processes. The relative energy of the ruthenium based dπ highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) remains constant for this series of trimetallic complexes. The energy of the lowest lying bridging ligand based π* orbital, the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), however, shifts to more positive potentials when dpq or dpb are substituted for dpp. This gives rise to a lowest energy absorption, Ru(dπ) → BL(π*) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition, which can be tuned to lower energy as a function of bridging ligand from dpp to dpq to dpb. Through the synthetic variation of bridging ligand orbital energy and the use of spectroelectrochemical studies, it has been possible to elucidate the nature of the complex spectroscopy and electrochemistry of these supramolecular complexes. The dpp and dpq bridged systems emit in fluid solution at room temperature and their emission energies and lifetimes have been determined.
Numerical Solution of the Three-Dimensional Navier-Stokes Equations in Integro-Differential Form: Flow About a Finite Body,

Abstract : A new method of numerical solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations is applied to time-dependent flow about a rectangular slab at an angle of attack. With this formulation the solition is obtained in the entire unbounded flow field, but with actual computation required only in regions of significant vorticity. This allows considerable reduction in computer storage, since only points in regions of signficant vorticity need be stored at any particular time. The computational field thus expands in time. (Modified author abstract)
Method of rapid (100 000 K s−1) controlled cooling and heating of thin samples

Abstract A method of rapid controlled cooling and heating of thin samples is developed. The apparatus comprises of a thin-film resistor embedded in a membrane and a sample placed on it, a narrow gap between the membrane and a heat sink, and a control circuit. The resistor acts both as a heater and as a temperature sensor to reduce time constant of the control circuit. The gap between the membrane and the heat sink is filled with gas (e.g., N2 or He) acting as cooling medium with low thermal inertia. The control circuit applies given rate of temperature changes and measures the power, released on the heater, to determine sample thermal properties such as heat capacity, exothermal/endothermal heat flow, etc. The method allows realizing fast (100 000 K s−1) controlled (e.g., linear) cooling and heating rates regardless of thermal events in a sample, and fast (∼10 μs) switching between ramps and isotherms. Beside calorimetry, the method can be used in a variety of applications, requiring rapid controlled temperature changes of a sample, and in studying of fast thermal processes.
A randomized controlled trial of colchicine plus ursodiol versus methotrexate plus ursodiol in primary biliary cirrhosis: Ten-year results

Primary biliary cirrhosis frequently progresses despite treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), the only approved therapy. Previous studies suggested that colchicine and methotrexate may improve biochemical tests of liver function, symptoms, and liver histology. The aim of the present study was to determine if the addition of colchicine or methotrexate to UDCA would improve survival free of liver transplantation. Eighty-five patients with histologically confirmed primary biliary cirrhosis whose serum alkaline phosphatase levels were at least twice the normal level and who were not yet candidates for liver transplantation were randomly assigned to receive colchicine or methotrexate in a double-blind study. UDCA was administered to all patients after 2 years. The primary end point was survival free of liver transplantation. Patients were followed up for a total of up to 10 years or until treatment failure. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Transplant-free survival was similar in both groups: 0.57 for colchicine plus UDCA and 0.44 for methotrexate plus UDCA, results that are similar to those predicted by the Mayo prognostic model. Significant improvement in liver biochemical tests and liver histology was observed in a subset of patients in both treatment groups who remained in the study for all 10 years. In conclusion, neither colchcine plus UDCA nor methotrexate plus UDCA improved survival beyond that predicted by the Mayo prognostic model. However, clinical, histologic, and biochemical improvement observed among those who remained in the study for 10 years suggests a possible benefit of these drugs in a subset of patients.
On the estimation of multinomial logit models from relative frequency data

Abstract Standard estimators for the binomial logit model and for the multinomial logit model allow for an error arising from the use of relative frequencies instead of the true probabilities as the dependent variable. Recently Amemiya and Nold (1975) have considered the effect of the presence of an additional specification error in the binomial logit model and have proposed a modified logit estimation scheme to take the additional error variance into account. This paper extends their idea to the multinomial logit model and proposes an estimator that is consistent and asymptotically more efficient than the standard multinomial logit estimator. The paper presents a comparison of the results of applying the new estimator and existing estimators to a logit model for the choice of automobile ownership in the United States.
Written Argumentation for Real Audiences: Suggestions for Teacher Research and Classroom Practice

Of the various concerns in the teaching of second language writing, issues regarding audience, or readers' expectations, have been the least explored. This article reviews the audience literature in composition studies, focusing on the topic of real audiences as central to understanding how writers produce successful texts in authentic contexts. It discusses the efforts of one teacher/researcher to explore the interaction of audience awareness, writers' purposes, and argumentation in the process of grant-proposal writing undertaken by two bilingual researchers. Finally, it suggests ways in which teachers can give students experiences writing authentic argumentative texts addressed to real audiences.
Purified kinesin promotes vesicle motility and induces active sliding between microtubules in vitro

We examined the ability of kinesin to support the movement of adrenal medullary chromaffin granules on microtubules in a defined in vitro system. We found that kinesin and ATP are all that is required to support efficient (33% vesicle motility) and rapid (0.4-0.6 micron/s) translocation of secretory granule membranes on microtubules in the presence of a low-salt motility buffer. Kinesin also induced the formation of microtubule asters in this buffer, with the plus ends of microtubules located at the center of each aster. This observation indicates that kinesin is capable of promoting active sliding between microtubules toward their respective plus ends, a movement analogous to that of anaphase b in the mitotic spindle. The fact that vesicle translocation, microtubule sliding, and microtubule-dependent kinesin ATPase activities are all enhanced in low-salt buffer establishes a functional parallel between this translocator and other motility ATPases, myosin, and dynein.
Dislocation dynamics: Scars on a colloidal crystal ball

Colloidal crystals assembled on the surface of a spherical water droplet contain 'scars', a macroscopic equivalent of conventional grain boundaries. Direct observation of these grain-boundary scars provides a new way of studying dislocation dynamics
Impact of the 80-hour work week on mortality and morbidity in trauma patients: an analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank.

Introduction The implementation of the 80-h work week restrictions implemented by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in July 2003 were intended, in part, to improve patient outcomes by reducing fatigue-related resident errors. Although concerns were raised regarding the possibility for increased error due to decreased continuity of patient care, recent studies have shown no significant change in mortality or complication rates since the onset of these new restrictions. This study is the first to examine the effects of the 80-h work week on mortality in trauma patients on a national level. Methods Data were obtained from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) version 6.2 from 1994 to 2005. Data were then divided into two groups: “pre-80-h work week” (2001–2002) and “post-80-h work week” (2004–2005). Because the ACGME's guidelines were implemented mid-year in 2003, and because the NTDB classifies admission date only by year, all patients admitted during 2003 were excluded from the analysis. Information regarding patient demographics and hospital type (teaching versus nonteaching) was collected. Our primary outcome measure was mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and length of hospitalization. Results The overall mortality rate decreased from 4.64% in the pre-80-h work week to 4.46% in the post-80-h work week (P Discussion Despite the great deal of controversy surrounding the 80-h work week, few papers exist that specifically examine patient mortality within the field of trauma surgery. This large retrospective analysis demonstrates slightly decreased mortality and morbidity among trauma patients in university hospitals nationwide after implementation of the 80-h work week, even when controlling for possible confounders. Although these differences are not likely to be clinically important, the data are statistically very significant. Therefore, we conclude that the 80-h work week has not resulted in any significant deterioration in patient outcomes in this particular population.
A Catalytic/Sorption Hybrid Process for Landfill Gas Cleanup

Landfill gas (LFG) consists primarily of methane and carbon dioxide and a few percent of O2, N2, and H2O. It also contains numerous other organic compounds, many containing halogens and sulfur. Such compounds besides being potentially toxic to human, animal, and plant life, in addition present challenges to the further processing of LFG. For example, halogen- and sulfur-containing compounds in LFG severely impact the life of reforming catalysts used to produce H2, to be utilized in a fuel cell for the production of electric energy. For such processing, it is important to reduce the concentration of such compounds from the level of tens to hundreds of parts per million, typically found in LFG, down to the single-digit parts per million and, most preferably, parts per billion level. Effective processes to accomplish this are not currently available. This paper describes the development of such a process, which is well-suited to fuel-cell applications of LFG. The process combines catalytic hydroprocessing, u...
Unsupervised morphological granulometric texture segmentation of digital mammograms

Segmentation via morphological granulometric features is based on fitting structuring elements into image topography from below and above. Each structuring element captures a specific texture content. This paper applies granulometric segmentation to digitized mammograms in an unsupervised framework. Granulometries based on a number of flat and nonflat structuring elements are computed, local size distributions are tabulated at each pixel, granulometric-moment features are derived from these size distributions to produce a feature vector at each pixel, the Karhunen–Loeve transform is applied for feature reduction, and Voronoi-based clustering is performed on the reduced Karhunen–Loeve feature set. Various algorithmic choices are considered, including window size and shape, number of clusters, and type of structuring elements. The algorithm is applied using only granulometric texture features, using gray-scale intensity along with the texture features, and on a compressed mammogram. Segmentation results are clinically evaluated to determine the algorithm structure that best accords to an expert radiologist’s view of a set of mammograms.
Applications for atomic force microscopy of DNA.

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) of DNA in propanol, dry helium, and aqueous buffer each have specific applications. Resolution is best in propanol, which precipitates and immobilizes the DNA and provides a fluid imaging environment where adhesive forces are minimized. Resolution on exceptional images of DNA appears to be approximately 2 nm, sufficient to see helix turns in detail, but the smallest substructures typically seen on DNA in propanol are approximately 6–10 nm in size. Tapping AFM in dry helium provides a convenient way of imaging such things as conformations of DNA molecules and positions of proteins on DNA. Images of single-stranded DNA and RecA-DNA complexes are presented. In aqueous buffer DNA molecules as small as 300 bp have been imaged even when in motion. Images are presented of the changes in shape and position of circular plasmid DNA molecules.
Tbx4 is not required for hindlimb identity or post-bud hindlimb outgrowth

Tbx4 is a crucial gene in the initiation of hindlimb development and has been reported as a determinant of hindlimb identity and a presumptive direct regulator of Fgf10 in the limb. Using a conditional allele of Tbx4, we have ablated Tbx4 function before and after limb initiation. Ablation of Tbx4 before expression in the hindlimb field confirms its requirement for limb bud outgrowth. However, ablation of Tbx4 shortly after onset of expression in the hindlimb field, during limb bud formation, alters neither limb outgrowth nor expression of Fgf10. Instead, post-limb-initiation loss of Tbx4 results in reduction of limb core tissue and hypoplasia of proximal skeletal elements. Loss of Tbx4 during later limb outgrowth produces no limb defects, revealing a brief developmental requirement for Tbx4 function. Despite evidence from ectopic expression studies, our work establishes that loss of Tbx4 has no effect on hindlimb identity as assessed by morphology or molecular markers.
Adsorption of protein-coated lipid droplets to mixed biopolymer hydrogel surfaces: role of biopolymer diffusion.

The adsorption of charged particles to hydrogel surfaces is important in a number of natural and industrial processes. In this study, the adsorption of cationic lipid droplets to the surfaces of anionic hydrogels was examined. An oil-in-water emulsion containing cationic β-lactoglobulin-coated lipid droplets was prepared (d32 = 0.24 μm, ζ = +74 mV, pH 3.0). An anionic hydrogel containing 0.1 wt % beet pectin and 1.5 wt % agar (pH 3.0) was prepared. Emulsions containing different lipid droplet concentrations (0.3−5 wt %) were brought into contact with the hydrogel surfaces for different times (0−24 h). The adsorption of lipid droplets to the hydrogel surfaces could not be explained by a typical adsorption isotherm. We found that the electrical charge on the nonadsorbed lipid droplets became less positive or even became negative in the presence of the hydrogel and that extensive droplet aggregation occurred, which was attributed to the ability of pectin molecules to diffuse through the hydrogels and interac...
Suppressing the effect of disorders using time-reversal symmetry breaking in magneto-optical photonic crystals: An illustration with a four-port circulator §

In integrated optical systems, nonreciprocal elements are indispensable devices that eliminate multi-path reflection between components. To miniaturizing these devices down to a single-wavelength scale, we study nonreciprocal effects in point defects of magneto-optical photonic crystals. The nonreciprocal effect splits degenerate mode pairs and its strength is maximized by spatially matching the magnetic domain pattern with a modal cross product. The resultant eigenmodes are a pair of counter-rotating states that lack time-reversal symmetry. Based upon these eigenmodes, we propose a micro-cavity four-port circulator constructed by coupling a magneto-optical cavity with two waveguides, where each rotating state supports light tunneling along a different direction. In the presence of strong magneto-optical couplings, due to time-reversal symmetry breaking, the performance of the isolator is fundamentally protected from the effect of small structural fluctuations. Numerical calculations demonstrate a four-port circulator with a 26 dB isolation and a roughness tolerance on the order of 0.1a, where a is the lattice constant of the crystal.
Stability of solitons on vortex filaments

Abstract A vortex filament is a filament on which fluid vorticity is concentrated. This concept is particularly important in superfluidity and turbulence. This Letter focuses on the vortex filament equation (VFE), which is a model for the motion of a vortex filament in an incompressible and inviscid fluid. The VFE soliton solutions are considered and their spectral stability is proven by developing a straightforward method to solve the corresponding eigenvalue problem. A similar analysis is performed on the planar vortex filament equation. We discuss the applicability of the methods introduced in this Letter to other physically relevant curve equations and other types of solutions.
Antenatal supplementation with folic acid + iron + zinc improves linear growth and reduces peripheral adiposity in school-age children in rural Nepal

Background: We previously reported that a randomized controlled trial of antenatal micronutrient supplements in rural Nepal decreased the risk of low birth weight by ≈15%. Objective: The objective was to examine the effects of micronutrient supplementation on growth and body composition in children of supplemented mothers through school age. Design: Mothers received 1 of 5 micronutrient supplements daily: folic acid, folic acid + iron, folic acid + iron + zinc, multiple micronutrients, or a control. All of the supplements contained vitamin A. Children born during this trial were revisited at age 6–8 y to measure height, weight, midupper arm circumference, waist circumference, and triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses. Arm fat and muscle area were estimated by using standard formulas, and height-for-age, weight-for-age, and body mass index–for-age z scores were calculated by using the World Health Organization growth standard. Results: Of the 3771 surviving children, 3324 were revisited and consented to anthropometric measurements. Maternal supplementation with folic acid + iron + zinc resulted in an increase in mean height (0.64 cm; 95% CI: 0.04, 1.25) and a reduction in mean triceps skinfold thickness (−0.25 mm; 95% CI: −0.44, −0.06), subscapular skinfold thickness (−0.20 mm; 95% CI: −0.33, −0.06), and arm fat area (−0.18 cm2; −0.34, −0.01). No significant differences were found between groups in mean weight or body mass index–for-age z scores, waist circumference, or arm muscle area. Other micronutrient combinations including a multiple micronutrient formulation failed to show a growth benefit. Conclusion: Antenatal supplementation with zinc may benefit child growth, particularly in areas where a deficiency of this nutrient is common.
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration with anti-Yo antibody in a patient with HER2/neu overexpressing breast cancer: A case report with a current literature review

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome, occurring in <1% of breast cancers. We describe a 32-year-old female presenting with ataxia subsequently diagnosed with poorly differentiated breast cancer. She was serum anti-Yo antibody positive, with estrogen/progesterone receptor negative and HER2/neu receptor positive breast cancer. Neurological symptoms progressed despite modified radical mastectomy, supraclavicular lymphadenectomy, intravenous immunoglobulin, corticosteroids, transtuzumab, and combination chemotherapy. We performed a literature search, which found a possible association between anti-Yo positive PCD and HER2/neu-expressing breast cancer.
Factors Associated with Fourth Grade Health Education Scores on the Maine Educational Assessment

: Data collected in 1994 on the health section of the fourth grade Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) were analyzed in this study. Correlational studies and analyses of variance tested significance of community, school, and teacher variables. A multiple regression analysis with a path model determined significant factors associated with achievement in health. The most salient finding was that students' overall ability — represented by achievement in the other MEA content areas — related strongly to achievement in health. Community socioeconomic status emerged as another significant influence on health scores. Type of health education program did not make a difference in scores, but any method of delivering health education, in contrast to no health education, affected health scores significantly. Up to 30 minutes of instruction per week yielded the highest mean scores. The teachers' rating of the health program emerged as a pivotal variable. (J Sch Health.
Risk factors for nosocomial urinary tract-related bacteremia: a case-control study

Background Risk factors for bacteremia in patients with hospital-acquired bacteriuria are largely unknown. Given the morbidity and costs associated with nosocomial bacteremia, determining risk factors could enhance the safety of hospitalized patients. Methods We conducted a case-control study within the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System. A patient hospitalized between 1984 and 1999 from whom a urine culture and a blood culture grew the same organism ≥48 hours after admission was considered a case. Control patients were those with significant bacteriuria detected ≥48 hours after admission who did not have a positive blood culture. We used logistic regression to determine independent risk factors for bacteremia. Results There were 95 cases and 142 controls. Independent, statistically significant predictors of bacteremia included immunosuppressant therapy within 14 days of bacteriuria (odds ratio [OR], 8.13); history of malignancy (OR, 1.94); male sex (OR, 1.88); cigarette use in the past 5 years (OR, 1.26); number of hospital days before bacteriuria (OR, 1.03); and antibiotic use within 3 days of bacteriuria (OR, 0.76). Corticosteroid use within 7 days of bacteriuria predicted bacteremia in patients Conclusion Delineating risk factors for nosocomial urinary tract-related bacteremia can help target appropriate preventive practices at the highest risk patients.
Felbamate reduces hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in vivo.

Abstract The neuroprotective effects of felbamate were tested in a model of incomplete cerebral ischemia and hypoxia in 7-day-old rat pups. Felbamate pretreatment (300 mg/kg) reduced the surface of infarcted cortex following bilateral carotid ligation, by 42–49% compared to saline and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) controls, respectively. The number of necrotic neurons in the d dentate gyrus was reduced by 77% over both DMSO controls and saline controls. These results suggest that felbamate deserves further evaluation for its therapeutic potential in hypoxia-ischemia.
The unfinished self: Willa Cather's O Pioneers! and the psychic cost of a woman's success

(1986). The unfinished self: Willa Cather's O Pioneers! and the psychic cost of a woman's success. Women's Studies: Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 149-165.
A note on periodicity in some octal games

The nim-sequences of the octal games ·127, ·16, ·376, and ·56 are periodic. The results are obtained using Berlekamp's method of sparse spaces and common cosets. We also extend the range of known values for the nim-sequences of fifty-four other octal games.
Comparing alternative cellulosic biomass biorefining systems: Centralized versus distributed processing systems

Abstract This study explores how two different cellulosic ethanol production system configurations (distributed versus centralized processing) affect some aspects of the economic and environmental performance of cellulosic ethanol, measured as minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) and various environmental impact categories. The eco-efficiency indicator, which simultaneously accounts for economic and environmental features, is also calculated. The centralized configuration offers better economic performance for small-scale biorefineries, while the distributed configuration is economically superior for large-scale biorefineries. The MESP of the centralized configuration declines with increased biorefinery size up to a point and then rises due to the cost of trucking biomass to the biorefinery. In contrast, the MESP in the distributed configuration continuously declines with increasing biorefinery size due to the lower costs of railroad transportation and the greater economies of scale achieved at much larger biorefinery sizes, including biorefineries that reach the size of an average oil refinery—about 30,000 tons per day of feedstock. The centralized system yields lower environmental impacts for most impact categories than does the distributed system regardless of the biorefinery size. Eco-efficiency analysis shows that the centralized configuration is more sustainable for small-scale biorefineries, while the distributed configuration with railroad transport is more sustainable for large-scale biorefineries. Compared with gasoline from petroleum, cellulosic ethanol fuel offers sustainability advantages for the following environmental impact categories: fossil energy consumption, global warming, human health impacts by particulate matter, ozone layer depletion, ecotoxicity, human health cancer, and human health non-cancer, depending somewhat on the biorefinery sizes and the system configurations.
Epigenetic regulation of translation reveals hidden genetic variation to produce complex traits

Phenotypic plasticity and the exposure of hidden genetic variation both affect the survival and evolution of new traits, but their contributing molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. A single factor, the yeast prion [PSI(+)], may exert a profound effect on both. [PSI(+)] is a conserved, protein-based genetic element that is formed by a change in the conformation and function of the translation termination factor Sup35p, and is transmitted from mother to progeny. Curing cells of [PSI(+)] alters their survival in different growth conditions and produces a spectrum of phenotypes in different genetic backgrounds. Here we show, by examining three plausible explanations for this phenotypic diversity, that all traits tested involved [PSI(+)]-mediated read-through of nonsense codons. Notably, the phenotypes analysed were genetically complex, and genetic re-assortment frequently converted [PSI(+)]-dependent phenotypes to stable traits that persisted in the absence of [PSI(+)]. Thus, [PSI(+)] provides a temporary survival advantage under diverse conditions, increasing the likelihood that new traits will become fixed by subsequent genetic change. As an epigenetic mechanism that globally affects the relationship between genotype and phenotype, [PSI(+)] expands the conceptual framework for phenotypic plasticity, provides a one-step mechanism for the acquisition of complex traits and affords a route to the genetic assimilation of initially transient epigenetic traits.
Risk stratification of lung transplant candidates: implications for organ allocation.

In this issue, Tsuang and colleagues identify a new variable that independently predicts survival after lung transplantation: an increase in the lung allocation score 30 days before transplantation...
Effect of Insulin on Fatty Acid Synthesis in Vivo and in Vitro in Pancreatectomized Rats

Fatty acid synthesis in vivo was examined in liver, adipose tissue and carcass of “totally” pancreatectomized and normal rats by measuring the incorporation of tritium from 3H2O into fatty acids. Synthesis was greatly depressed in both fasted pancreatectomized and fasted normal rats. Tube-feeding stimulated fatty acid synthesis in liver, adipose tissue and carcass of normal but not in untreated diabetic rats. Insulin, injected subcutaneously, stimulated within 30 min fatty acid synthesis in the liver, adipose tissue and carcass of pancreatectomized rats deprived of insulin for 17 hr. The effect of insulin (12 U) on fatty acid synthesis lasted for about 2 hr in adipose tissue and 4 hr in liver and carcass. Withholding insulin and food for 48 hr decreased but did not abolish the effect of injected insulin on fatty acid synthesis in pancreatectomized rats. In vitro studies of fatty acid synthesis in the liver (with glucose-U- 14C, fructose-U-14C and acetate-1-14C) and in adipose tissue (with glucose-U-14C) c...
Endogenous burst capability in a neuron of the gastric mill pattern generator of the spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus

The gastric system of the lobster stomatogastric ganglion has previously been thought to include no neurons capable of endogenous bursting. We describe conditions under which one of the motorneurons, the CP cell, can burst endogenously in a free-running manner in the absence of other phasic network activity. Isolated preparations of the foregut nervous system were used, and the CP bursting was either spontaneous or was activated by continuous stimulation of an input nerve. Three criteria were applied to establish the endogenous nature of such burst generation in CP: absence of phasic input, reset of the bursting pattern by pulses of current in a characteristic phase-dependent manner, and modulation of burst rate by sustained injected current. (1) The firing of other cells which are known to be related synaptically to CP was monitored in nerve records. These other cells were either silent or fired only tonically. Cross-correlograms showed that CP bursting was not ascribable to phasic activity in these other network cells. (2) A depolarizing current pulse of sufficient strength injected intracellularly between bursts triggered a burst prematurely and reset the subsequent rhythm. A hyperpolarizing pulse during a burst terminated it and reset the subsequent rhythm. Reset behavior was similar to that described for other endogenous bursters. (3) Application of a positive-going ramp current initially caused an increase in burst rate, as described for other endogenous bursters. However, further depolarization caused a slower burst rate due to lengthening of the individual bursts, although mean firing frequency continued to increase throughout the range tested. Such free-running endogenous repetitive bursting appeared to result from the CP's ability to produce slow regenerative depolarizations ("plateau potentials"). When bursting was present, so was the plateau property, as determined by I-V analysis and by the ability of brief current pulses to trigger and terminate bursts. The previous inability to observe endogenous bursting in preparations with central input removed may be due to the usual absence of the plateau property in such preparations. CP bursting during normal gastric mill rhythms, while underlain by plateau potentials, is strongly controlled by network interactions. CP appears not to be well placed in the network to be considered a source of normal gastric rhythmicity. Nevertheless, endogenous bursting in CP may explain some of the partial gastric rhythms seen in behavioral studies, and illustrates one way that cellular properties might contribute to rhythmic behaviors.
Creating Learning Outcomes for a TESOL Teacher Preparation Program.

This article shares the results of a multisemester effort to create learning outcomes and related assessment measures for a graduate-level teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) teacher preparation program. It starts by explaining what learning outcomes are, why they are important, and how to create them. It then describes the authors' experience, in terms of the processes involved as well as the actual learning outcomes produced. Insights from this explanation and case study will benefit other TESOL teacher educators who face similar tasks.
Public Spending on Education and the Incentives for Student Achievement

We build a model where homogeneous workers can accumulate human capital by investing in education. Schools combine public resources and individual effort to generate productive skills. If skills are imperfectly compensated, then in equilibrium students may under-invest in effort. We examine the effect on human capital accumulation of three basic education finance policies. Increased tuition subsidies may not be beneficial because they increase enrolment but they may lower the incentives for student achievement, hence the skill level. Policies directed at enhancing the productivity of education or making degrees more informative are more successful at improving educational outcomes.
Focal vascular headaches with focal arterial disease. An ultrasonographic analysis.

The relationship between migraine and premature stroke and heart disease has been firmly established in the literature. The probable mechanism relates to release of vasoactive agents locally that produce intimal changes and if chronic may lead to permanent changes to the artery. We have attempted to identify individuals at risk for premature stroke utilizing the highly accurate B-mode real time carotid ultrasonogram. Sixteen patients demonstrated varying degrees of focal dilatation or plaque disease and 44% had abnormal Doppler flow stud ies. Since many of these patients were asymptomatic during the examination it is suggested that vascular changes may be more persistent than were previously suspected. These plaques, in the setting of increased platelet aggregability may be responsible for the augmented risk of stroke. Precise identification of these individuals can be easily accomplished with B-mode real time scanning (High resolution), and will allow for safe followup if specific dietary or drug interve...
Lymantria dispar herbivory induces rapid changes in carbon transport and partitioning in Populus nigra

We tested for rapid changes in photosynthate transport and partitioning in response to Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) (gypsy moth) herbivory in Populus nigra L. (Salicaceae). Transport and partitioning of [ 11 C]-photosynthate from young mature leaves were measured in vivo before and 18 h after leaf chewing by gypsy moth larvae, which were caged on three older leaves. Following herbivory, there was an increase in export speed of recently fixed carbon from younger mature leaves. The increased export speed was due to a quicker transit time of 11 C through the leaf, rather than a change in transport speed through the phloem. Additionally, basipetal partitioning of [ 11 C]photosynthate was increased following herbivory. Neither of these changes was observed in control plants. This enhancement of export occurs even though herbivores are well known to induce increases in carbon allocation to secondary metabolites within leaves. Our results demonstrate that the use of non-destructive imaging of 11 C tracer is a powerful tool for examining plant responses to herbivory. Although the mechanisms underlying the rapid increase in carbon flux to stems and roots remain to be elucidated, our results raise the possibility of a coordinated whole plant response to herbivory. Thus, even when the herbivore specializes on only one plant tissue type, a whole plant approach may be key to understanding how plants respond to herbivory.
V-GPS(SLAM): vision-based inertial system for mobile robots

We present a novel vision-based approach to simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). We discuss it in the context of estimating the 6 DoF pose of a mobile robot from the perception of a monocular camera using a minimum set of three natural landmarks. In contrast to our previously presented V-GPS system, which navigates based on a set of known landmarks, the current approach allows to estimate the required information about the landmarks on-the-fly during the exploration of an unknown environment The method is applicable to indoor and outdoor environments. The calculation is done from the image position of a set of natural landmarks that are tracked in a continuous video stream at frame-rate. An automatic hand-off process allows an update of the set to compensate for occlusions and decreasing reconstruction accuracies with the distance to an imaged landmark. A generic sensor model allows a system configuration with a variety of physical sensors including: monocular perspective cameras, omni-directional cameras and laser range finders.
Fiber Strength After Grain Growth in Nextel™ 610 Alumina Fiber

Nextel™ 610 alumina fiber tows were heat-treated at 1100°C–1500°C for 1 to 100 h in air. Tensile strengths and Weibull moduli were measured for 30 filaments after each heat-treatment. 3-D grain size and orientation distributions were described using oblate ellipsoids. The number of grains in a 1 inch gauge length and grains with the largest major and minor ellipsoid-axes were determined from these distributions. The grain with the largest KEFF for mixed-mode fracture was also determined, using the maximum energy release rate criteria from grain-size and orientation distributions. Grain-size dependence of tensile strength and Weibull modulus was evaluated. Strength had no obvious dependence on grain size for fibers with average major-axes smaller than 0.25 μm. For fibers with larger grains, grain-size dependence may involve flaws originating from clumps of grains, rather than a single grain. Possible relationships between strength and grain-size and other causes of strength degradation after heat-treatment are discussed.
Components of self-rated health among adults: analysis of multiple data sources.

Four data sources were used to examine competing interpretations of self-rated health measures: whether they are best classified as summary indicators of both physical and psychological health status, or merely as surrogate measures of physical health. Multiple regression analysis revealed that, within each data source, measures of physical health and depression were each independently associated with general health status ratings after six socio-demographic indicators (sex, race, age, education, income, and residence) were held constant. These results were confirmed using both cross-sectional and longitudinal models, and using several different indicators of physical health. They suggest that researchers should be cautious in interpreting global health ratings, as they contain significant information regarding the psychological, as well as physical, health status of respondents.
System-level specification of instruction sets

System-level design requires some sort of specification for a system at the level of abstraction of the system. When the system (or sub-system) is a processor, the appropriate level of abstraction is the instruction set. However, there are no good approaches for describing processors at this level. Nevertheless, this type of specification has a number of benefits: it is more concise (and thus less error-prone) than more general alternatives; it can be re-used in later re-implementations; and it provides support for software codesign through compiler-generators (which rely on higher-level abstractions than other techniques provide). Therefore, we have developed a methodology and an embodying language for specifying processors at the instruction set level. >
VARIABLE THRUST SOLID PROPULSION CONTROL USING LABVIEW

A generic variable thrust solid propulsion control program is being developed to enable broad testing of propellants, materials, and control algorithms to support current Army controllable thrust needs. This paper encompasses basic control theory, test hardware, control development in Labview © , simulation development in VisSim © , and Cold Air Testing verification prior to a live propellant demonstration. This control program is unique compared to other current methods of solid propulsion control by the fact that it was developed using commercially available, off the shelf software to perform the simulation, data acquisition, and actuator control.
The Yugoslav-Russian Dispute and its Implications

The Royal Institute of International Affairs has made available almost all of that correspondence between the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the U. S. S. R. which culminated in the open break between Tito and Moscow and between the Yugoslav Communist Party and the sister parties associated in the Communist Information Bureau. The letters are most revealing. Not only do they give us a picture of the dispute, much clearer than we could glean from previous accusations and counter-accusations; their tone and material also provide a valuable insight into the workings of international communism. Here we have an instance of a “live” dispute within the highest circles of international communism rather than a case of resurrected quarrels from the past. There is no doubt as to the authenticity of the documents concerned. For once we have in our grasp material of first class importance and relevance.
LPI, full-duplex voice communication using adaptive rate delta modulation

This paper proposes a novel modulation concept for robust, low-probability-of-intercept (LPI), full-duplex, wireless, digital voice communication system. The adaptive rate delta modulation (AR-DM) uses a tri-level threshold to produce delta-modulated pulses only when the magnitude change exceeds a predetermined threshold. This technique significantly reduces the average pulse rate required and lowers the noise generated by delta modulation under zero input conditions. The receiver is reduced to a simple pulse detector and a counter to recreate the original signal. This system does not require headers, packets or other synchronizing schemes. The reduced pulse rate and input-dependent nature of the adaptive rate implementation allows multiple users to use the same channel concurrently for full-duplex voice communication. The pauses and amplitude variations of natural conversation provide gaps in pulse transmission through which other user pulses can be received with acceptable loss due to pulse collisions. Simultaneous reception from multiple transmitters gives a result resembling natural group conversation. AR-DM can be combined with spread-spectrum techniques and/or transmission in the millimeter wave (MMW) 60 GHz oxygen absorption band to provide reliable LPI communication for forward operating platoons or other small groups. A reliable and compact communication system can be deployed to each soldier. This paper presents the essentials of AR-DM and characterizes a voice communication system using spread spectrum and/or 60 GHz transmission band for LPI.
THE EFFECTS OF SODIUM BEOMIDE AND OTHER HALOID SALTS UPON THE WEIGHT AND STRUCTURE OF THE THYROID GLAND IN THE ALBINO RAT

Investigations on the relations of the halogens to the morphology of the thyroid gland have gradually extended. The work of Marine and Kimball (1917) had apparently led to good understanding of the effects of iodine until more recent work by Loeb (1920) cast doubt upon the validity of some of their conclusions. The relation of the chlorides or calcium to the weight and structure of the thyroid gland, speculated upon by Rupin (1908), has never been completely established. Goldemberg (1921) reported changes in the microscopic picture of the thyroid gland as a result of feeding fluorides to experimental animals, but Chaneles (1929) was unable to confirm this finding. It is only within recent years that any studies revealing structural changes caused by the action of bromides on the thyroid gland have been attempted. It is important to note that most of the workers in this field have confined their activity to an evaluation of the effect of a single one of the alogens. There has been no attempt to correlate t...