cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of corn height to improve the relationship between active optical sensor readings and yield estimates

Early in-season loss of N continues to be a problem in corn (Zea mays L.). One method to improve N use efficiency is fertilizing based on in-season crop foliage sensors. The objective of this study was to evaluate two ground-based, active-optical (GBAO) sensors and explore the use of corn height with sensor readings for improving relationships with corn yield. Two GBAO sensors (GreenSeeker® (GS), Trimble, Sunnydale, CA, USA; and Holland Crop Circle (CC) ACS 470 Sensor®, Holland Scientific, Lincoln, NE, USA) were used within 30 established corn N-rate trials in North Dakota at the V6 and V12 growth stages in 2011 and 2012. Corn height was recorded manually at the date of sensor data collection. At the V6 growth stage, the GS relationship to yield and the INSEY (in-season estimate of yield) value was improved when the sensor reading was multiplied times corn height. At the V12 stage, using the GS, the INSEY relationship with yield was also generally increased when height was considered. The CC-based red/near-infrared INSEY relationship with yield was similar to the GS INSEY. The CC-based red edge/near infrared INSEY relationship was increased with height only at the first sensor date, but not with the second. The second CC-based sensor–INSEY relationship with yield was maximized using sensor reading only. Segregating the 30 site data set into sites with high clay surface textures and sites with medium texture improved all INSEY relationships compared to pooling all sites. Relationships between INSEY and corn yield at no-till sites were significant at the V12 stage in the wetter 2011 growing season, but not at the V6 stage either year, nor at the V12 stage in the very dry 2012 season. In the high clay and medium textured soils at the V6 stage, corn height improved the relationship between INSEY and yield often enough to suggest that incorporating corn height into an algorithm for yield prediction would strengthen yield prediction, and thus improve N rate decisions.
Finding Your “Spanish Voice” Through Popular Media: Improving Students’ Confidence and Fluency

This article shares an innovative course design that incorporates cultural connections and comparisons, interpersonal communication, and a relaxing classroom environment to facilitate learning and language development. By using authentic texts as the medium for learning, it provides a case example of an upper-division curriculum that focused on cognitive skills, elicited conversational dialogues, exposed and promoted the use of different registers, and tapped students’ existing schema around stimulating topics to foster engagement, reflection and enthusiasm. We advance that a curriculum that focuses on the affective domain over discrete academic or grammatical objectives can develop students’ sense of linguistic creativity and language ownership, thus improving their confidence and level of competency in the target language.
The ‘Now What’ Problem for error theory

Error theorists hold that, although our first-order moral thought and discourse commits us to the existence of moral truths, there are no such truths. Holding this position in metaethics puts the error theorist in an uncomfortable position regarding first-order morality. When it comes to our pre-theoretic moral commitments, what should the error theorist think? What should she say? What should she do? I call this the ‘Now What’ Problem for error theory. This paper suggests a framework for evaluating different approaches to the ‘Now What’ Problem, and goes on to evaluate the three most common responses to this problem. All three are found to have noteworthy problems. Finally, I present my own solution, and argue that it presents the most appealing solution to the ‘Now What’ Problem.
Luria memory words test and Wechsler memory scale: Comparison of utility in discriminating neurologically impaired from controls

Memory deficits are among the most common initial complaints of patients who are suffering from neurological disorders. The present study compared the relative clinical utility of the Wechsler Memory Scale and the Luria Memory Words Test in differentiating brain-damaged (N = 60) from non-brain-damaged patients (N = 60). Separate stepwise regression analyses selected five variables from each test that accounted for the greatest between-group variance. Separate discriminant functions then were computed that used the WMS and the Luria Words variables selected through the regression analyses. The WMS correctly classified 72% of the subjects, whereas the Luria Words correctly classified 76% of the subjects. A final discriminant function was computed that used all 10 variables and resulted in a classification accuracy of 86%, with 6% false positives and 6% false negatives. Results are discussed relative to the use of each instrument in both a general psychological assessment situation and when specific memory functioning is in question.
The Effects of Race on Procedural Justice: The Case of the Uniform Code of Military Justice

Building on a relatively recent tradition in studies of the civilian criminal justice system, the present research examined the potential racial bias in time-related variables inherent in the administration of courts-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The sample consisted of a database of all adjudicated charges in the U.S. Army of aggravated assault, drug-related, and sex-related crimes between 1986 and 1992. The results of the analyses of two main and three explanatory hypotheses indicated that, with regard to non-sex-related offenses, blacks spent longer going from initial charges to final disposition, were older than whites, and had been in the service longer. The relationship was reversed for sex-related crimes. The presence or absence of a negotiated plea bargain was found to have negligible effects on duration in the system. No consistent correlation was found between intellectual ability and time spent in the system. These results were interpreted in terms of an interaction...
Low Temperature Inactivation in Milk of Heat-Resistant Proteases from Psychrotrophic Bacteria

Abstract Development of bitter flavor or gelation in ultra-high temperature sterilized milk may be the result of bacterial proteases which survive the heat treatment. The heat-resistance of these proteases appear to preclude their destruction by heat during processing. These proteases, however, can be inactivated at pasteurization temperatures apparentl by some mechanism other than or in addition to heat. The parameters for this low temperature inactivation of these proteases were investigated. Activity of buffer solutions of bacterial proteases was reduced by more than 90% during 10 min at 55 C. Inactivation of protease in raw or sterile milk was slower and less complete but approached 70% during 60 min at 55 C. Effectiveness of the low temperature inactivation treatment appeared to be independent of protease concentration. The treatment did not alter the flavor or casein composition of raw or ultra-high temperature sterilized milk containing protease much greater than would be expected to occur normally in milk.
Wave propagation in multi-wire strands by wavelet-based laser ultrasound

Methods based on guided ultrasonic waves are gaining increasing attention for the non-destructive inspection and condition monitoring of multi-wire strands used in civil structures such as prestressing tendons and cable stays. In this paper we examine the wave propagation problem in seven-wire strands at the level of the individual wires comprising the strand. Through a broad-band, laser ultrasonic setup and a time—frequency wavelet transform processing, longitudinal and flexural waves are characterized in terms of dispersive velocity and frequency-dependent attenuation. These vibrating frequencies propagating with minimal losses are identified as they are suitable for long-range inspection of the strands. In addition, the wave transmission spectra are found to be sensitive to the load level, suggesting the potential for continuous load monitoring in the field.
Evidence of forward discount determinants and volatility behavior

This paper studies the components of the forward discount dynamics in Germany from 1972 to 1996. By using two different frequencies in the analysis, we find that an ARCH structure fits the monthly data well, while an EGARCH structure gives a better description of daily forward discount volatility. Results also suggest that foreign central bank reserves and portfolio investment are significant in the determination of the forward discount trend over the whole period. The causality, however, varies over time. Sign size, and persistence effects on the volatility of the forward discount are all significant, and thus, provide important information to both policy makers and operators in the market. There is also evidence that the volatility of the forward discount dropped after the Plaza Accord.
Practical aspects of atomic resolution imaging and analysis in STEM

Abstract In the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), the spatial resolution of experimental images and spectra is determined by the size and stability of the electron probe. Atomic resolution, of 0.2 nm and under, is possible if all experimental parameters influencing probe formation are carefully optimized. Here, the formation and alignment of the STEM probe using electron Ronchigrams is described. Practical examples of probe formation, Z-contrast imaging and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) are demonstrated on a Schottky field emission, JEOL JEM-2010F microscope. Single crystal Si 〈1 1 0〉 images were used for resolution testing and showed that probe sizes of under 0.14 nm are obtainable. A 36.5° Σ5 tilt grain boundary in nominally iron doped SrTiO 3 was imaged incoherently and analyzed with EELS, using this probe.
Strength and ductility of RC slabs strengthened with hybrid high-performance composite retrofit system

This study presents the details and assessment of the effectiveness of an innovative retrofit methodology aims at improving both the strength and ductility of existing reinforced concrete (RC) floor slabs and bridge decks. The innovative retrofit system comprises of a polymeric hybrid composite system made of high performance concrete (HPC) and a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) unidirectional laminates. The proposed retrofit system is designed to avoid the difficulty and restricted accessibility associated with applying conventional steel and fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) composite systems to the underside of existing floor slabs or bridge decks for positive moment capacity enhancement. The proposed system is applied only to the top of the slabs or decks resulting in a shorter application time and minimizing service disturbance of the lower floor or traffic interruption under the bridge overpass. The flexural enhancing mechanisms of the proposed system to the RC floor or bridge deck sections at both the positive and the negative moment zones are discussed. Three full-scale one-way slabs having two continuous spans were tested. The results showed that the proposed system can be easily installed and that the ultimate flexural capacity and ductility of retrofitted RC slabs can significantly increase.
Interaction of nucleic acid bases and Watson–Crick base pairs with fullerene: Computational study

Abstract A first-principle investigation using the recently developed M05-2X density functional and the 6-311++G(d, p) basis set was performed to understand the nature of interaction between C60 and nucleic acid bases and the Watson–Crick base pairs. It was found that C60 forms stacking complexes with nucleic acid bases and base pairs. It was revealed that the strength of interaction of nucleic acid bases with C60 follows the order: G > C > A > T > U, while the GC base pair forms stronger complex than the AT base pair with C60.
Reduction in below-ground biomass estimates from freezing of soil cores

Study was designed to quantify the effects of freezing soil cores prior to washing on estimates of below-ground biomass. Cores were extracted from nearly pure stands of 3 native grasses growing in a southern USA mixed-grass prairie. Estimates of crown + rhizome biomass in the top 10-cm of the soil profile did not differ as a function of pre-washing treatment (frozenvs unfrozen). However, estimates of root biomass were 26% less from frozen (434 g m−2) than unfrozen samples (585 g m−2).
Effects of thermal residual stresses and fiber packing on deformation of metal-matrix composites

Abstract The combined effects of thermal residual stresses anmd fiber spatial distribution on the deformation of a 6061 aluminum alloy containing a fixed concentration unidirectional boron fibers have been analyzed using detailed finite element models. The geometrical structure includes perfectly periodic, uniformly spaced fiber arrangements in square and hexagonal cells, as well as different cells in which either 30 or 60 fibers are randomly placed in the ductile matrix. The model involves an elastic-plastic matrix, elastic fibers, and mechanically bonded interfaces. The results indicate that both fiber packing and thermal residual stresses can have a significant effect on the stress-strain characteristics of the composite. The thermal residual stresses cause pronounced matrix yielding which also influences the apparent overall stiffness of the composite during the initial stages of subsequent far-field loading along the axial and transverse direction. Furthermore, the thermal residual stresses apparently elevate the flow stress of the composite during transverse tension. Such effects can be traced back to the level of constraint imposed on the matrix by local fiber spacing. The implications of the present results to the processing of the composites are also briefly addressed.
Conductance of epithelial tissues with particular reference to the frog's cornea and gastric mucosa.

Abstract This paper presents an overview of the problem of measuring the conductance of biological tissues by an analysis of the transient voltage response to step currents of constant magnitude. In general, the voltage response of tissues is characterized by a small step change in voltage followed by an exponential like rise. In the case of the gastric mucosa the voltage appears to level off after about 20 msec but this is only apparent; it actually continues to increase for about 100 sec. In the case of the frog cornea the voltage response levels off in about 1 sec. The response of the cornea with the endothelium removed is essentially similar to that of the intact cornea. The response of the cornea with the epithelium removed leaving the endothelium plus stroma behaves like an ohmic resistor with the usual sweep speeds in the msec range. The response of the above tissues are analyzed in light of the problem of determining the resistance of biological tissues.
Land trusts in the USA

Abstract In the USA 857 private local and regional conservation groups known as land trusts have protected some 2 million acres of ecologically or scenically important land from incompatible development using voluntary compensating techniques such as conservation easements. Land trust members often see their actions as an alternative to government regulatory planning. This article looks at the history organization and activities of land trusts and analyses the assets and liabilities of a voluntary approach. Grassroots land trusts are viewed as a highly successful statement of vernacular land policy warranting far greater use by land use planners and development strategists throughout the world.
Dual surface acoustic wave-based active mixing in a microfluidic channel

Abstract Many applications need fast and efficient mixing of the sample and reagent with high throughput in a microfluidic channel. Due to low Reynolds number, mixing based on molecular diffusion plays an important role in a microfluidic channel. However, the diffusion based mixing process is very slow and the efficiency is low. The development of a highly efficient mixing technique is essential for lab-on-a-chip and micro-total-analysis systems. In this paper, we introduce a highly efficient active mixing technique using dual acoustic streaming field induced by surface acoustic waves in a microfluidic channel. The rapid and high efficiency active mixing of a fluorescent dye solution and deionized water in a microfluidic channel was demonstrated with single acoustic excitation by one interdigitated transducer (IDT) as well as dual excitation by two IDTs. The mixing efficiencies were investigated as a function of applied voltage and flow rates. Our results indicate that with the same operation parameters, the mixing efficiency with dual-IDT design increased to 96.7% from 69.8% achievable with the traditional single-IDT design. The effect of aperture length of the IDT on mixing efficiency was also investigated.
Reactions of thrombresistant multilayered thin films on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) surfaces : A spectroscopic study

These studies focus on the formation of multilayered thromboresistant thin films containing poly-(ethylenimine) (PEI), dextran sulfate (DS), and heparin (HP), deposited on poly(vinyl chloride) surfaces. Dipping and spin-coating are employed to deposit multilayers, and using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, the effects of pH, concentration of surface reacting species, and cross-linking conditions on the formation of multilayered structures are investigated. Quantitative ATR FT-IR analysis reveals that, when thin films are deposited by dipping, HP is immobilized to form covalent -CH 2 NH- linkages between PEI-NH 2 , and terminal HP-CHO groups. However, when spin-coating is utilized as an application method, HP takes a parallel orientation, and ionic complexes between PEI-NH 3 + (OH - ) and HP-SO 3 - (H 3 O + ) are formed. Quantitative analysis indicates that the surface concentration of individual layers is significantly lower for spin-coated layers.
Choice and the relative immediacy of reinforcement

The relative immediacy of reinforcement in concurrent-chain schedules was varied while the relative reduction in the overall average time to reinforcement associated with terminal-link entry was held constant. For each of four pigeons, choice did not vary with relative immediacy of reinforcement. Subsequently, choice by the same subjects was shown to be sensitive to relative reduction in average time to reinforcement.
Comparison of time series tasseled cap wetness and the normalized difference moisture index in detecting forest disturbances

Abstract Vegetation indices and transformations have been used extensively in forest change detection studies. In this study, we processed multitemporal normalized difference moisture index (NDMI) and tasseled cap wetness (TCW) data sets and compared their statistical relationships and relative efficiencies in detecting forest disturbances associated with forest type and harvest intensity at five, two and one year Landsat acquisition intervals. The NDMI and TCW were highly correlated (>0.95 r2) for all five image dates. There was no significant difference between TCW and NDMI for detecting forest disturbance. Using either a NDMI or TCW image differencing method, when Landsat image acquisitions were 5 years apart, clear cuts could be detected with nearly equal accuracy compared to images collected 2 years apart. Partial cuts had much higher commission and omission errors compared to clear cut. Both methods had 7–8% higher commission and 12–22% higher omission error to detect hardwood disturbance when it occurred in the first year of the 2-year interval (as compared to 1-year interval). Softwood and hardwood change detection errors were slightly higher at 2-year Landsat acquisition intervals compared to 1-year interval. For images acquired 1 and 2 years apart, NDMI forest disturbance commission and omission errors were slightly lower than TCW. The NDMI can be calculated using any sensor that has near-infrared and shortwave bands and is at least as accurate as TCW for detecting forest type and intensity disturbance in biomes similar to the Maine forest, particularly when Landsat images are acquired less than 2 years apart. Where partial cutting is the most dominant harvesting system as is currently the case in northern Maine, we recommend images collected every year to minimize (particularly omission) errors. However, where clear cuts or nearly complete canopy removal occurs, Landsat intervals of up to 5 years may be nearly as accurate in detecting forest change as 1 or 2 year intervals.
A Problem, A Game, And Problem Solving

If you are familiar with Johnny Carson's "Carnac," you might recognize the session title as an "answer," the question for which might be: "Name something an engineer gets and two possible means of dealing with it." When I selected the session title, I thought perhaps this would be a humorous and clever way to draw your attention to this session. While it does not still seem to be all that humorous to me, I maintain hope that it will be viewed as clever and that it will draw your attention to this session.
Internationalizing the campus: What do you need to know?

For those who are in the beginning stages of creating study abroad programs, a road map for navigating the process of developing those programs can be a useful tool.
An Application of Microprogramming to Nuclear Physics Data Acquisition

The data acquisition system for the Princeton Cyclotron has been improved by implementing critical processes in Data General microcode. The count rate improvement for the affected sort modes is over 200%.
The absorption of electrolytes in large plant cells

The facts and principles here set forth are the results of investigations of large cells which offer special advantages for such studies. How far they are applicable to other cases remains to be seen. This brief outline indicates progress in dealing with some very interesting variables. It also gives a hint of the host of problems awaiting solution.
Spinocerebellar ataxia: Patient and health professional perspectives on whether and how patents affect access to clinical genetic testing

Genetic testing for spinocerebellar ataxia is used in diagnosis of rare movement disorders. Such testing generally does not affect treatment, but confirmation of mutations in a known gene can confirm diagnosis and end an often years-long quest for the cause of distressing and disabling symptoms. Through interviews and a web forum hosted by the National Ataxia Foundation, patients and health professionals related their experiences with the effect of patents on access to genetic testing for spinocerebellar ataxia. In the United States, Athena Diagnostics holds either a patent or an exclusive license to a patent in the case of six spinocerebellar ataxia variants (spinocerebellar ataxia 1-3 and 6-8) and two other hereditary ataxias (Friedreich's Ataxia and Early Onset Ataxia). Athena has enforced its exclusive rights to spinocerebellar ataxia-related patents by sending notification letters to multiple laboratories offering genetic testing for inherited neurological conditions, including spinocerebellar ataxia. Roughly half of web forum respondents had decided not to get genetic tests. Price, coverage and reimbursement by insurers and health plans, and fear of genetic discrimination were the main reasons cited for deciding not to get tested. Price was cited as an access concern by the physicians, and as sole US provider, coverage and reimbursement depend on having payment agreements between Athena and payers. In cases in which payers do not reimburse, the patient is responsible for payment, although some patients can apply to the voluntary Athena Access and Patient Protection Plan offered by the company.
Kinetic characterization of the soluble butane monooxygenase from Thauera butanivorans, formerly 'Pseudomonas butanovora'.

Soluble butane monooxygenase (sBMO), a three-component di-iron monooxygenase complex expressed by the C2–C9 alkane-utilizing bacterium Thauera butanivorans, was kinetically characterized by measuring substrate specificities for C1–C5 alkanes and product inhibition profiles. sBMO has high sequence homology with soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) and shares a similar substrate range, including gaseous and liquid alkanes, aromatics, alkenes and halogenated xenobiotics. Results indicated that butane was the preferred substrate (defined by k cat : K m ratios). Relative rates of oxidation for C1–C5 alkanes differed minimally, implying that substrate specificity is heavily influenced by differences in substrate K m values. The low micromolar K m for linear C2–C5 alkanes and the millimolar K m for methane demonstrate that sBMO is two to three orders of magnitude more specific for physiologically relevant substrates of T. butanivorans. Methanol, the product of methane oxidation and also a substrate itself, was found to have similar K m and k cat values to those of methane. This inability to kinetically discriminate between the C1 alkane and C1 alcohol is observed as a steady-state concentration of methanol during the two-step oxidation of methane to formaldehyde by sBMO. Unlike methanol, alcohols with chain length C2–C5 do not compete effectively with their respective alkane substrates. Results from product inhibition experiments suggest that the geometry of the active site is optimized for linear molecules four to five carbons in length and is influenced by the regulatory protein component B (butane monooxygenase regulatory component; BMOB). The data suggest that alkane oxidation by sBMO is highly specialized for the turnover of C3–C5 alkanes and the release of their respective alcohol products. Additionally, sBMO is particularly efficient at preventing methane oxidation during growth on linear alkanes ≥C2, despite its high sequence homology with sMMO. These results represent, to the best of our knowledge, the first kinetic in vitro characterization of the closest known homologue of sMMO.
Self-constructive high-rate system energy modeling for battery-powered mobile systems

System energy models are important for energy optimization and management in mobile systems. However, existing system energy models are built in a lab setting with the help from a second computer. Not only are they labor-intensive; but also they do not adequately account for the great diversity in the hardware and usage of mobile systems. Moreover, existing system energy models are intended for energy estimation for time intervals of one second or longer; they do not provide the required rate for fine-grain use such as per-application energy accounting.In this work, we study a self-modeling paradigm in which a mobile system automatically generates its energy model without any external assistance. Our solution, Sesame, leverages the possibility of self power measurement through the smart battery interface and employs a suite of novel techniques to achieve accuracy and rate much higher than that of the smart battery interface.We report the implementation and evaluation of Sesame on a laptop and a smartphone. The experiment results show that Sesame is able to generate system energy models of 95% accuracy at one estimation per second and of 88% accuracy at one estimation per 10ms, without any external assistance. Two five-day field studies with four laptop and four smartphone users further demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency, and non-invasiveness of Sesame.
The Continuation of Perpetrator Behaviors that Influence Perceptions of Sexual Harassment

This study was designed to investigate sexual harassment perceptions based on continuation of unwanted sexual attention following victim resistance. Participants were 504 undergraduates who responded to statements regarding a sexual harassment scenario, in which the perpetrator continued or discontinued attention, which varied in severity according to nonphysical, physical, or restraint contact. Results showed that continued attention and any type of physical contact strengthened harassment perceptions, although men’s perceptions were weaker unless restraint was present. No sex differences were observed in the restraint condition. Women had stronger perceptions than men did in the physical condition, but showed a non-significant trend toward stronger perceptions in the nonphysical condition. Findings suggest that continuation following resistance may clarify for observers that harassment is occurring. Conceptualizations of harassment severity are suggested.
Characterization of sodium starch glycolate prepared using reactive extrusion and its comparisons with a commercial brand VIVASTAR®P

Abstract Reactive extrusion is a popular technique for chemical modification of starches. In this study, the physical, chemical and morphological properties of sodium starch glycolate, prepared using reactive extrusion (SSG), were compared with those of VIVASTAR ® P. As measured by sieve analysis, VIVASTAR ® P had a larger weight fraction in the particle size range of 0–38 μm compared to SSG. The sodium assays of VIVASTAR ® P and its particle size fractions (0–38 μm and 38–75 μm) were found to be significantly lower than those of SSG and its particle size fractions (0–38 μm, 38–75 μm and 75–106 μm). The NaCl content, pH, settling volume, bulk density, tap density and Carr index for VIVASTAR ® P and SSG were measured. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated substantial loss of crystallinity of starch in both VIVASTAR ® P and SSG. The water uptakes of the 0–38 μm and 38–75 μm fractions of VIVASTAR ® P, measured at 20 and 180 s, were significantly higher than those for the 0–38 μm and 38–75 μm fractions of SSG. However, no differences were found between the water uptakes of both the VIVASTAR ® P fractions and the 75–106 μm fraction of SSG at 20 s. However, the water uptake of the SSG 75–106 μm fraction leveled off as time progressed. When, 0.1 N HCl was used, at an interval of 20 s, the SSG 75–106 μm and 38–75 μm fractions had significantly higher liquid uptake than VIVASTAR ® P and its 0–38 μm fraction. However, no significant differences were found between the liquid uptakes of the SSG 75–106 μm and 38–75 μm fractions and the VIVASTAR ® P 38–75 μm fraction. After a time interval of 180 s, the liquid uptakes of the SSG 75–106 μm and 38–75 μm fractions were significantly lower than those for VIVASTAR ® P and its 0–38 μm fraction. The liquid uptake of the VIVASTAR ® P 38–75 μm fraction was higher than that of the SSG 38–75 μm fraction but not significantly different from the SSG 75–106 μm fraction. The microstructure of VIVASTAR ® P revealed the presence of spherical and ovoid shaped particles with smooth surfaces. This was in contrast with the irregular shaped particles of SSG with jagged surfaces.
Conflicts and Directions in Proxemic Research

Although research in the field of proxemics is relatively recent, enough research has been done to give rise to some conflicts or potential conflicts in proxemic findings. This paper deals with such sources of conflicts as laboratory observation vs. observation of proxemic behavior in a “naturalistic” setting, and the use of dyads as units of observation vs. larger interactive units. Attention is also given to proxemic behavior as a form of non-verbal communication and expresses the author's views concerning the direction of future research in proxemics.
Random Ti Concentration Fluctuations In Ti:Linb0 3 Waveguides

The optical crosstalk observed in Ti:LiNb03 directional coupler switches can be accounted for by non-uniformities in the concentration profile of the Ti-diffused waveguides. I report on the results of recent measurements and calculations to identify the source of these Ti concentration fluctuations.© (1987) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Nutritional Value and Microbial Content of Dried Face Fly Pupae (Musca autumnalis (De Geer)) When Fed to Chicks

Abstract The face fly (Musca autumnalis (De Geer)) has several advantages over the house fly (Musca domestica L.) as a means of salvaging the nutrients in manure for use by domestic animals. Dried face fly pupae contained 51.7% crude protein, 11.3% crude fat, 28.9% ash, 8.1% nitrogen free extract, and 4.3 kcal/g energy. The amino acid content was typical of animal proteins with a large amount of methionine. Dried pupae were excellent sources of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and several trace elements. The microbiological burden of the dried pupae prepared as described was well within the tolerances for human food. Feeding dried pupae as a direct substitution for soybean oil meal in chick rations for the first 4 weeks of growth produced no observable effects other than a slight decrease in feed efficiency due to the lower caloric density of the diets containing dried pupae as compared with those containing soybean oil meal. It was concluded that dried face fly pupae could be used to salvage nutrients in manure and could be used as a feed extender and protein source.
Being Yoruba in Nineteenth-Century Rio de Janeiro

Through the experiences of two West Africans shipped to Bahia as slaves, probably in the 1840s, then sold south to Rio de Janeiro where they met, became lovers, bought their freedom, married, and divorced, I comment on an ongoing debate over the refashioning or transfer of African ethnic identities in American slave societies. The sources in this Brazilian case suggest that previous identities were not suddenly erased, but rather, new layers of understanding and ways of responding were added. Whatever the dynamic of cultural formation, it was memory that crucially bridged the distance between the past they carried with them and the present into which they were thrust; and so it becomes illuminating to reconstruct the plausibly remembered African pasts on which this couple drew to make sense of an unfamiliar Brazilian present.
Some diterpenes from the sea pen stylatula SP.

Abstract The sea pen Stylatula sp. from the Gulf of California contained one major and several minor metabolites. The structure of stylatulide (2), the major metabolite, has been reported previously. In this paper, the structural elucidations of four minor metabolites, 17-epi-stylatulide (13), the lactone 14, the primary alcohol 15 and related methyl ester 17 are described. We have described several reactions of stylatulide (2) and its derivatives which illustrate the complexity of reactions on these compounds.
A linear programming approach to reconstructing subcellular structures from confocal images for automated generation of representative 3D cellular models.

Abstract This paper presents a novel computer vision algorithm to analyze 3D stacks of confocal images of fluorescently stained single cells. The goal of the algorithm is to create representative in silico model structures that can be imported into finite element analysis software for mechanical characterization. Segmentation of cell and nucleus boundaries is accomplished via standard thresholding methods. Using novel linear programming methods, a representative actin stress fiber network is generated by computing a linear superposition of fibers having minimum discrepancy compared with an experimental 3D confocal image. Qualitative validation is performed through analysis of seven 3D confocal image stacks of adherent vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) grown in 2D culture. The presented method is able to automatically generate 3D geometries of the cell’s boundary, nucleus, and representative F-actin network based on standard cell microscopy data. These geometries can be used for direct importation and implementation in structural finite element models for analysis of the mechanics of a single cell to potentially speed discoveries in the fields of regenerative medicine, mechanobiology, and drug discovery.
Activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

Previous studies have shown that interaction of GnRH with its serpentine, G protein-coupled receptor results in activation of the extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (ERK) and the Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) pathways in pituitary gonadotropes. In the present study, we examined GnRH-stimulated activation of an additional member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) superfamily, p38 MAPK. GnRH treatment of αT3–1 cells resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of several intracellular proteins. Separation of phosphorylated proteins by ion exchange chromatography suggested that GnRH receptor stimulation can activate the p38 MAPK pathway. Immunoprecipitation studies using a phospho-tyrosine antibody resulted in increased amounts of immunoprecipitable p38 MAPK from αT3–1 cells treated with GnRH. Immunoblot analysis of whole cell lysates using a phospho-specific antibody directed against dual phosphorylated p38 kinase revealed that GnRH-induced phosphorylation of p38 kinase was dose and tim...
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE RESERVOIR AND FLAGELLA IN PHACUS PLEURONECTES (EUGLENOPHYCEAE)1

SUMMARY The ultrastructure of the reservoir region of Phacus pleuronectes is described. Thin sections, ruthenium red staining, and shadow-cast preparations elucidate relationships and structural details of the flagella and flagellar hairs or mastigonemes. A heretofore undescribed structure in Phacus, the multitubular structure (MTS), with associated fibrillar projections, is reported. The MTS is located in the cytoplasm at the distal region of the reservoir near the contractile vacuole. A coordinated function of the MTS and adjacent fibrillar projections is suggested. The occurrence of mastigonemes along the entire length of the emergent flagellum is suggested, in contrast to earlier reports of their presence only on that portion of the flagellum distal to the cytostome. The present investigation postulates also that the mastigonemes are bipartite, the thicker fibrous bases becoming modified distally into the classically described, mastigonemes.
Performance Evaluation of Direct Heuristic Dynamic Programming using Control-Theoretic Measures

Approximate dynamic programming (ADP) has been widely studied from several important perspectives: algorithm development, learning efficiency measured by success or failure statistics, convergence rate, and learning error bounds. Given that many learning benchmarks used in ADP or reinforcement learning studies are control problems, it is important and necessary to examine the learning controllers from a control-theoretic perspective. This paper makes use of direct heuristic dynamic programming (direct HDP) and three typical benchmark examples to introduce a unique analytical framework that can be applied to other learning control paradigms and other complex control problems. The sensitivity analysis and the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) design are used in the paper for two purposes: to quantify direct HDP performances and to provide guidance toward designing better learning controllers. The use of LQR however does not limit the direct HDP to be a learning controller that addresses nonlinear dynamic system control issues. Toward this end, applications of the direct HDP for nonlinear control problems beyond sensitivity analysis and the confines of LQR have been developed and compared whenever appropriate to an LQR design.
Intimate homicide: Victim‐offender relationship in female‐perpetrated homicide

Principles of exchange theory are utilized to suggest conditions under which women involved in different types of intimate relationships may be likely to commit homicide against their male partners. A total of 1154 cases where the homicide offender was female are analyzed to suggest a link between relationship type and homicide. Age and race are found to have significant effects on the likelihood of homicide perpetrated by females.
Positive expiratory pressure device acceptance by hospitalized children with sickle cell disease is comparable to incentive spirometry.

BACKGROUND: The pulmonary complication in sickle cell disease known as acute chest syndrome (ACS) has potential for high morbidity and mortality. A randomized trial demonstrated that incentive spirometry (IS) reduces the rate of ACS, leading to a role for respiratory therapy in hospital management of sickle cell pain. However, use of IS can be limited by chest wall pain, or by difficulty with the coordinated inspiration in a young child. Intermittent positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy may be easier for a child’s coordination and more comfortable than IS for a child with chest wall pain. PURPOSE: To compare PEP therapy with conventional IS for children hospitalized for sickle cell pain with respect to patient satisfaction, length of hospital stay, and progression to ACS. METHODS: This pilot study enrolled 20 children upon hospitalization for sickle cell pain in the thorax, randomly assigning them to either PEP (n 11) or IS (n 9) therapy, administered by a therapist hourly while awake. RESULTS: The randomization assigned an older distribution to PEP than IS (12.3 vs 8.8 y). Patient satisfaction was high for both respiratory care devices, and there was no difference between the PEP and IS groups (4.5 vs 4.4, p 0.81). Length of hospital stay was similar (5 vs 4.3 d, p 0.56). No children in either group progressed to ACS. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results show no difference in the primary outcomes in the 2 groups. Intermittent PEP therapy warrants further study as an alternative to IS for sickle cell
Anisotropic responses to motion toward and away from the eye

When a rigid object moves toward the eye, it is usually perceived as being rigid. However, in the case of motion away from the eye, the motion and structure of the object are perceived nonveridically, with the percept tending to reflect the nonrigid transformations that are present in the retinal image. This difference in response to motion to and from the observer was quantified in an experiment using wire-frame computer-generated boxes which moved toward and away from the eye. Two theoretical systems are developed by which uniform three-dimensional velocity can be recovered from an expansion pattern of nonuniform velocity vectors. It is proposed that the human visual system uses two similar systems for processing motion in depth. The mechanism used for motion away from the eye produces perceptual errors because it is not suited to objects with a depth component.
A comparison of alternatives to enhance the utilization of transmission lines

Abstract While the growing environmental concerns and other economic and regulatory factors make it very difficult for utilities to build new transmission lines, the need for new transmission facilities is compounded by the trend to deregulate the electric power industry. The need to build new lines may be lessened if existing transmission lines can be more effectively utilized. The objective of this paper is to provide a comparison of various alternatives that can enhance the utilization of transmission lines. The major constraints that limit real power transfer are identified and various ways to overcome one or more of these constraints constitute the various alternatives to improve the power and energy transfer capabilities of transmission lines. An evaluation framework has been developed to provide a quantitative comparison of various alternatives. The results demonstrate that utilization of transmission lines can be significantly enhanced by several alternatives. The best alternative in each performance category and the best alternative from the viewpoint of overall performance are presented.
Microstructural evolution of ZrO2–HfO2 nanolaminate structures grown by atomic layer deposition

Zirconia–hafnia (ZrO2–HfO2) nanolaminate structures were grown using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique with different stacking sequences and layer thickness layer thicknesses. The microstructural evolution and surface roughness were compared with those of single-layer ZrO2 or HfO2 films using transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Thin single-layer ALD-ZrO2 films were polycrystalline and composed of the tetragonal ZrO2 phase as-deposited, whereas thicker (>14 nm) films were composed mainly of the monoclinic phase. HfO2 films were amorphous as-deposited and crystallized into primarily monoclinic during subsequent anneals at temperatures over 500 °C. All the nanolaminate structures having individual layer thicknesses greater than approximately 2 nm were crystalline (mixture of tetragonal and monoclinic phases) independent of layer sequence and also exhibited a layer-to-layer epitaxy relationship within each grain. However, the identity of the starting layer determined the final grain size and surface roughness of the nanolaminates. A qualitative model for the observed microstructure evolution of the laminate films is proposed.
The let-7 MicroRNA Family Members mir -48, mir -84, and mir-241 Function Together to Regulate Developmental Timing in Caenorhabditis elegans

The microRNA let-7 is a critical regulator of developmental timing events at the larval-to-adult transition in C. elegans. Recently, microRNAs with sequence similarity to let-7 have been identified. We find that doubly mutant animals lacking the let-7 family microRNA genes mir-48 and mir-84 exhibit retarded molting behavior and retarded adult gene expression in the hypodermis. Triply mutant animals lacking mir-48, mir-84, and mir-241 exhibit repetition of L2-stage events in addition to retarded adult-stage events. mir-48, mir-84, and mir-241 function together to control the L2-to-L3 transition, likely by base pairing to complementary sites in the hbl-1 3' UTR and downregulating hbl-1 activity. Genetic analysis indicates that mir-48, mir-84, and mir-241 specify the timing of the L2-to-L3 transition in parallel to the heterochronic genes lin-28 and lin-46. These results indicate that let-7 family microRNAs function in combination to affect both early and late developmental timing decisions.
Sex differences in left ventricular geometry in aortic stenosis: impact on outcome.

Objective: This study of surgical aortic stenosis characterized sex differences in left ventricular (LV) geometry and outcome. Materials and methods: We examined 92 women and 82 men who underwent echocardiography before valve replacement for aortic stenosis. Results: Women had a smaller cavity size (LV end-diastolic diameter 48.2 6 7 mm in women vs 53.6 6 7.6 mm in men; p 5 0.0001) and higher ejection fraction (59% in women vs 54% in men; p 5 0.02). LV mass was greater in men than women (300.4 6 88 g in men vs 250.6 6 85.8g in women; p 5 0.0055) but when corrected for body surface area, the difference was not significant. The prevalence of LV hypertrophy was similar in both sexes (51% in women vs 49% in men; p 5 0.62). The 5-year survival was 82% in women and 79% in men (p 5 0.9). Conclusion: Several descriptors of LV geometry differed between men and women. These differences were largely eliminated after normalizing for body surface area. No differences in surgical mortality or long-term outcome were noted. (CHEST 2000; 117:1094 ‐1099)
In-hospital mortality of HIV-infected cryptococcal meningitis patients with C. gattii and C. neoformans infection in Gaborone, Botswana

The clinical presentations and outcomes of cryptococcal meningitis (CM) may be associated with the cryptococcal species causing the infections. To evaluate clinical differences between CM caused by C. neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, we examined outcomes in HIV-infected adults with CM admitted to Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. Among HIV-infected adults with CM, we found that 29 of 96 (30%) patients were infected with C. gattii, but species type was not associated with in-hospital mortality [mortality for C. gattii: 5 of 29 (17%) vs C. neoformans: 13 of 67 (19%); OR = 0.87 (95% CI 0.28 to 2.70)]. The proportion of C. gattii infection among this HIV-infected cohort in Botswana is the highest reported to date, but we found no difference between C. gattii and C. neoformans in clinical presentation or in-hospital mortality.