cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fission-track ages and correlation of middle and lower pleistocene sequences from Nebraska and New Zealand

Abstract Fission-track dates of glass shards from volcanic ash in two rhyolitic pumice beds that are separated by 975 m of Castlecliffian (middle Pleistocene) marine sediments from south-western North Island, New Zealand, indicate that the Castlecliffian Stage began about 1•19 ± 0•14 m.y. ago and ended slightly less than 0•39 ± 0•01 m.y. ago. Correlation of the New Zealand marine sequence with the glacial sequence of eastern Nebraska by fission-track dates indicates that the Nukumaruan/Castlecliffian boundary (early middle Pleistocene) is equivalent to the Nebraskan Aftonian/Kansan boundary at about 1•2 m.y. The Castlecliffian Stage appears to have a time span equivalent to the entire Kansan and Yarmouthian Stages and probably part of the Illinoian Stage of eastern Nebraska. The beginning of the New Zealand Nukumaruan Stage may coincide with the beginning of the Nebraskan Stage, dated at about 2•0 m.y., and these two stages may be of similar duration. The two New Zealand dates show that 975 m of Castlecli...
Harmonic Vibrational Frequencies: Scaling Factors for HF, B3LYP, and MP2 Methods in Combination with Correlation Consistent Basis Sets

A least-squares approach has been used to determine multiplicative scaling factors for harmonic vibrational frequencies to facilitate comparison with experimentally observed frequencies. The harmonic frequencies were calculated using several of the most popular quantum chemical methods (HF, MP2, and B3LYP) and the correlation consistent family of basis sets (cc-pVxZ and aug-cc-pVxZ, where x = D(2), T(3), or Q(4)). Calculations were performed on 41 organic molecules for which fundamental frequencies are well established. When the derived scaling factors are applied, the percentage of calculated frequencies that deviate less than 3% from the experimental frequencies is 93−97% for B3LYP and 88−92% for MP2 when quadruple-ζ level basis sets are used. Similarly, scaling factors were determined for computing the vibrational components of the thermal contributions to enthalpy and entropy. An additional set of molecules was used in calculating scaling factors for the zero-point vibrational energy.
Thermocapillary, buoyancy and shear-driven flow within thin annular fluid collars

Abstract A leading order solution for thermocapillary, buoyancy, and shear-driven flow within a thin, fixed-length, annular fluid collar is determined. The solution is based on the assumption that C e 3 = O(1) , where C is the capillary number and e is the collar aspect ratio. In contrast to earlier models of flow within bridges, boundary layer matching near the end regions is not required since end walls are absent. The leading order velocity field is self-similar in the radial direction with the size of the similarity profiles determined by an unspecified surface heat flux distribution, an unspecified surface shear distribution, and by the unknown capillary surface shape. Conditions leading to thermocapillary, buoyant, or shear driven single and multi-cellular flow are identified. The capillary surface shape is determined using a minimization technique, with the object function defined as the difference between known and iteratively calculated collar volumes. The surface and flow solutions are illustrated using an exponentially decaying surface heat flux and a constant external shear.
Computing and using reputations for internet ratings

Ratings for products and services are increasingly important on the Internet, as they allow users to harvest the wisdom of the community in making decisions. However, the difficulty with ratings is that little is known about the people providing them. Interpreting ratings well requires that the reputations of raters be factored into the scores computed for rated objects, even though these reputations are not explicitly available. Taking advantage of the insight that reputation can be computed implicitly from ratings, this paper addresses the reputation problem for raters and its application to evaluating rated objects. We develop a general method to automatically compute reputations for raters based on the ratings they and others give to objects, and incorporate these reputations to generate value-added information about rated objects. We evaluate our mechanisms by performing experiments on data from major rating sites, and show that they have the desired properties of a good reputation system. In the process, we analyze some key characteristics of different types of Internet ratings. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation into automatically computing raters'reputations and applying these reputations to better evaluate rated objects.
Instructional significance for teaching history: A preliminary framework

Abstract This study explores preservice and practicing teachers’ conceptions of historical significance generally and for the history classroom. Using think-aloud interviews and card-sorting data, we engaged in qualitative analysis of how four preservice and five practicing teachers answered two questions related to determining significance: what events are most significant in world history and what events are most important for students to learn? Results showed that (a) participants answered the two questions differently, and (b) both practicing and preservice teachers added considerations when responding to the question about what events are most important for students to learn. Through these analyses, we developed the term instructional significance to describe an aspect of pedagogical content knowledge that serves as a lens through which teachers view the content they teach, and think about that content in preparing to teach students. We use these findings and research on student and teacher conceptions of historical significance to propose a preliminary framework for instructional significance for teaching history. We conclude by suggesting the utility of the framework to history classrooms and to future research.
Concurrent endoscopic sinus surgery and rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND Concerns over increased surgical risk and associated complications have been reported regarding concurrent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and rhinoplasty procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the overall safety of these concurrent procedures in our experience. METHODS A chart review was performed on 48 consecutive patients undergoing concurrent ESS and rhinoplasty between January 1998 and January 2005 with a mean follow-up of 12 months. The extent of surgical procedures, revisions required, and postoperative complications were documented. RESULTS Thirty-one (65%) women and 17 (35%) men ranging in age from 16 to 56 years with a mean age of 37 years were included in this study. Forty-five patients (93.7%) underwent a primary rhinoplasty procedure, whereas the other three (6.3%) underwent a revision rhinoplasty. Four patients required minor rhinoplasty revision procedures for a rhinoplasty revision rate of 4/48 or 8.3%. Complications noted in three separate cases included partial nasal obstruction, pain near osteotomy site, and localized infection for a complication rate of 3/48 or 6.3%. CONCLUSION In this study, rhinoplasty revisions did not appear to be related to the fact that ESS was performed at the same time as rhinoplasty. In addition, the only complication possibly attributed to a combined approach was a postoperative infection that developed in an insulin-dependent diabetic patient who underwent a rhinoplasty for functional reasons. Consequently, we recommend screening patients with poor wound healing factors in addition to those with acute exacerbations of chronic rhinosinusitis or severe chronic rhinosinusitis before performing concurrent ESS and rhinoplasty. In our experience, complications noted during concurrent ESS and rhinoplasty were minor, indicating the overall safe nature of this combined procedure when performed in appropriate patients.
Activation of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Modulates Microglial Reactivity and Neurotoxicity by Inhibiting NADPH Oxidase

Microglial-related factors have been implicated in the signaling cascades that contribute to neuronal cell death in various neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, strategies that reduce microglial activation and associated neurotoxicity may have therapeutic benefit. Group II and III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are expressed in microglia and can modulate microglial activity in primary cell cultures. We demonstrate that the group I receptor member mGluR5 is highly expressed in primary microglial cultures and the BV2 microglial cell line. Activation of mGluR5 using the selective agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG) significantly attenuates microglial activation in response to lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ, as indicated by a reduction in the expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase, production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α, and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species. In addition, microglial-induced neurotoxicity is also markedly reduced by CHPG treatment. The anti-inflammatory effects of CHPG are mediated by the mGluR5 receptor, because either a selective mGluR5 antagonist or small interference RNA knockdown attenuated the actions of this drug. CHPG blocked the lipopolysaccharide-induced increase in expression and enzymatic activity of NADPH oxidase. Moreover, the protective effects of CHPG were significantly reduced when the NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox or gp91phox were knocked down by small interference RNA. These data suggest that mGluR5 represents a novel target for modulating microglial-dependent neuroinflammation, and may have therapeutic relevance for neurological disorders that exhibit microglial-mediated neurodegeneration.
What Do We Know About Patient–Clinician Interactions with Interpreters?

Communicating across language barriers is a challenge for clinicians all across the United States. The American Community Survey estimated that about 20 % of the adult US population speaks a language other than English at home, with almost half of these speaking English less than very well.1 Spanish and Chinese are the most common preferred languages of limited English proficient (LEP) adults, but hundreds of additional languages are in use throughout the U.S.
Engines of Enterprise: An Economic History of New England

Acknowledgments Introduction Peter Temin The Birth of New England in the Atlantic Economy: From Its Beginning to 1770 Margaret Ellen Newell The Invention of American Capitalism: The Economy of New England in the Federal Period Winifred Barr Rothenberg The Industrialization of New England, 1830-1880 Peter Temin The Challenges of Economic Maturity: New England, 1880-1940 Joshua L. Rosenbloom The Transition from a Mill-Based to a Knowledge-Based Economy: New England, 1940-2000 Lynn Elaine Browne and Steven Sass Reflections on the Origins, Development, and Future of the New England Economy Slavery and Population Growth in Colonial New England Bernard Bailyn New England Industry and the Federal Government Merritt Roe Smith The Future of New England Paul Krugman Notes Contributors Index
Relativistic electron production during driven magnetic reconnection

[1] Two- and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are used to determine the mechanism for producing relativistic electrons during externally driven magnetic reconnection in a plasma sheet configuration that models the near-Earth growth phase magnetotail. The dominant process is found to be of the inverse Landau-damping type in which those electrons with velocity component v x ≈ 0 at the X line are accelerated across the tail by the inductive reconnection electric field E y . This process produces a power-law energy spectrum for the electrons with a slope of ∼5-6, in agreement with recent observations.
Moment-tensor solutions estimated using optimal filter theory: global seismicity, 1993

Abstract Moment-tensor solutions, estimated using optimal filter theory, are listed for 130 moderate-to-large size earthquakes occurring during 1993.
The effect of iodide on serum thyroid hormone levels in normal persons, in hyperthyroid patients, and in hypothyroid patients on thyroxine replacement.

OBJECTIVE To clarify the duration and the extent of the antithyroid effect of lodides In hyperthyroldlsm, and to Investigate whether Iodides have an additional perlpheral effect on the metabollsm of thyrold hormones, as has been reported for some organic IodIne compounds. DESIGN The effect on the perIpheral thyroId hormone levels of 150 mg of potassIum Iodide dally (equIvalent to 114 mg of IodIde) foro 3–7 weeks was compared In 21 hyperthyroId patients and 12 healthy controls. A possible effect of IodIde on the perIpheral metabollsm of thyroId hormones was Investigated by assessing the serum levels of thyroid hormone In 12 hypothyroid patients on thyroxine replacement for 2 weeks. PATIENTS There were 21 thyrotoxic patients, 12 healthy hospital controls, and 12 patients with complete or near-complete hypothyroldlsm, on thyroxine replacement. MEASUREMENTS The following were measured before and at weekly intervals after Iodide administration: (1) pulse rate, (2) serum T4, (3) serum T3, (4) serum TSH, (5) serum thyroxlne-binding capacity (TBC), (6) serum rT3, (7) serum thyroxine-binding globulln (TBG), (8) the free-T4 Index, calculated as T4/TBC. RESULTS In the hyperthyroid patients serum T4, T3 and rT3 decreased, whereas serum thyroxlne-binding globulin and thyroxine binding capacity Increased. Serum T3, however, did not become completely normal In all cases. After 21 days, serum T4 and T3 started Increasing again in some cases, but other patients remained outhyrold even after 6 weeks. In the normal controls there was a small but significant and consistent decrease In serum T4, T3 and rT3 and an Increase In serum TSH. Finally, In the T4-treated hypothyroid patients there was no consistent change, except for an Increase of serum T4 at 1 and 14 days and a decrease of serum TSH the first day. CONCLUSION Iodides in hyperthyroldlsm have a variable and unpredictable Intensity and duration of antlthyrold effect. Their antithyroid effect Is smaller In normal controls. They have no Important effect on the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones.
The Impact of `Three Strikes and You're Out'

Over the past few years, over 24 states and Congress have passed legislation under the slogan of `three strikes and you're out'. As part of the general political thrust to mandate increasingly toug...
DNA breaks in rifampin-treated Salmonella typhimurium LT2 after exposure to nutritionally complex media.

WE have reported the phenomenon of “minimal medium recovery” of heated Salmonella typhimurium LT2 (ref. 1) and how this phenomenon could be explained in terms of DNA damage caused by sequential exposure to heat and nutritionally complex medium2. We now show that treatment of S. typhimurium with rifampin also results in decreased viability on rich relative to minimal medium and that the DNA from these rifampin-treated bacteria exhibits breaks after exposure to a rich or complex medium.
A terahertz imaging receiver in 0.13μm SiGe BiCMOS technology

This paper presents an integrated THz imaging receiver in bulk 0.13μm SiGe technology. The receiver, based on direct power detection, achieves a peak responsivity of 2.6MV/W and 700kV/W and a NEP of 8.7pW/√Hz and 32.4 pW/√Hz at 0.25 THz and 0.3 THz, respectively. No external silicon lens or postprocessing, such as substrate thinning, was employed for improving antenna gain, efficiency and reducing power loss in substrate modes. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the lowest reported NEP in silicon at THz frequencies, without the use of expensive post-processing or external silicon lens.
Biomaterial biotechnology using self‐assembled lipid microstructures

Lipids are a class of molecules which self-assemble into a variety of phase-dependent morphologies. We have employed self-assembled lipid microstructures in the development of a number of biomedical material applications. The blood substitute, liposome encapsulated hemoglobin, is being investigated for the in vivo delivery of hemoglobil without many of the inherent tmxicities associated the delivery of free hemoglobin. This investigation is currently focused on demonstrations of efficacy in stressed animal models and on the safety of adminstering this material in models of sepsis. The synthetic modification of phospholipids to include photopolymerizable moieties such as diacetylenes has resulted in the spontaneous self-assembly of a hollow micpocylinder which we are investigating fop the controlled release of growth factors in soft tissue regeneration. Self-assembled mmnolayeps are also being explored for the ability to surface modify biomaterials for improved cell adhesion. Photolithographic techniques have been combined with monolayep deposition to facbriaate coplanar pattern of cell adhesion ald inhibiting moieties. This results in the ability to spatially control the adhesion of cells to biomaterial surface. These cell patterns can form the basis for understanding two-and theree-dimensional cellular events on the biomaterial surface and for the fabrication of improved cell-based biocompatible surfaae. The spmntaneous self-assembly of lipids to form structures of biotechnological interest presents a unique opportunity to exploit this class of molecules for biomaterial applications.
Spatial structure of solar radiation in Wisconsin

Insolation at the earth's surface varies in time and space. Applications that require daily insolation values at specific locations, e.g. irrigation scheduling on coarse textured soils, require pyranometer networks denser than those typically deployed to date. We used satellite derived measurements of daily insolation to investigate effects of network density on errors of prediction when only sparse data are available. The satellite data provided spatial resolution much higher than that obtained with typical pyranometer networks. Insolation was estimated from the satellite imagery on a grid of 567 locations, separated by about 20 km; 44 days during the growing season were studied. Subsets of the complete daily datasets were extracted to serve as hypothetical sparse pyranometer networks and used as input for kriging. One simulated network had about 270 km of separation between measurements and the other about 100 km. On individual days, all locations in the complete dataset were estimated by kriging, using the variogram from that day, and variograms from other days that represented the range of spatial structures observed. Variograms of insolation on individual days during the growing season were essentially linear, but differed 350-fold in their values at one-half maximum data point spatial separation. Using the variogram from the day with the greatest variation, errors less than 4.6 MJ m−2 day−1 can be expected for 80% of the area within the measurement grid on 90% of the days, given a 270 km spacing between pyranometers. Absolute errors of estimation were typically halved by increasing network density four-fold.
Comprehensive access to periodicals: a database solution

Providing access to periodicals holdings simply and efficiently has, historically, presented problems at Old Dominion University’s (ODU) Perry Library for a number of reasons. The availability of a large number of online journal titles from aggregators and the need to support remote access to these resources led to the Perry Library’s developing a comprehensive online periodicals database of print and online titles. This online system uses the Perl computer language and the MySQL relational database system.
Jr. Naming Etiquette

This article discusses the etiquette ‘rules’ governing the name suffixes, Jr. and Roman numerals II, III, and so on. One of the main issues considered is how those suffixes change upon the death of a parent or relative. Other issues consider punctuation and formatting.
Familial clustering of muscular and cardiac involvement in myotonic dystrophy type 1

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is associated with both skeletal and cardiac muscle involvement. The aim of the present study was to determine whether familial clustering is observed in the severity of muscle involvement in DM1. We evaluated 51 sibling groups constituting 112 patients with genetically-verified DM1. The siblings were similar to each other in age, cytosine-thymine-guanine (CTG) repeat length, age at disease onset, muscular impairment rating score, and electrocardiographic markers of cardiac conduction disease. After adjusting for the similarities between siblings in age and CTG repeat length, the siblings remained similar to each other in measures of both skeletal and cardiac muscle involvement. These results suggest that factors other than CTG repeat length play a role in the severity and progression of the degenerative skeletal and cardiac muscle disease in DM1.
Individuals and Information Overload in Organizations: Is More Necessarily Better?

Hypotheses were postulated that perceived information overload would be associated with higher satisfaction and lower performance of decision makers than would perceived information underload. The ...
Geographic clustering of research universities in specialized fields using Microsoft Academic Search

Search is no doubt the most common activities on the Web. One of the most frequent search activities people in the educational and academic communities do is to search for research topics and papers and their author/affiliation information. For example, undergraduate students searching for graduate schools and master-level students searching for institutions for doctoral studies may go online to find universities that are conducting research in a highly specific field of their interest. A common way of doing this is to search journals and conferences for pertinent articles, and then accumulating the affiliations of the authors. In this paper, we present an interactive web-based academic search interface for discovering geographic clusters of academic institutions given a specific field by the user. The underlying system interacts with Microsoft Academic Search API and Google Places API, as well as Weka for clustering analysis. The system can be easily extended to accommodate other types of queries.
Female hunger state affects mate choice of a sexually selected trait in a wolf spider

Female feeding history can greatly affect mating behaviour and sexual selection, especially in species that exhibit sexual cannibalism. We examined the role of feeding history and condition on female preference for sexually selected traits (body size, leg tufts) in the brush-legged wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata, with controlled rearing of spiders on fixed diet treatments (long-term starvation; short-term starvation; satiation) and video playback of modified courting male stimuli (larger/smaller body size, larger/smaller leg tufts). We conducted trials at 6 days postadulthood, when females are highly selective, and again at 20 days, when females are increasingly receptive. Our results suggest that condition significantly affects female growth, development and sexual selection for male traits. Food-limited females took longer to develop, required additional instars and ultimately developed into smaller adults. Short-term starvation during adulthood reduced mass and negatively affected condition. Feeding history also influenced female receptivity and aggression levels, which varied with male body and tuft sizes. On day 6 postadulthood, females that experienced long-term starvation were receptive to large males, regardless of tuft size, and indifferent to small males with large tufts, but aggressive towards small males with small tufts. However, females that experienced short-term starvation were generally more receptive to all male types on day 20. Satiated females were more receptive to large males with large tufts and less receptive to other male types on day 6; on day 20 these same females showed a preference for larger male tuft size, regardless of body size. Short-term starved females were more aggressive towards small-tufted males on both days 6 and 20. Our results suggest that the effects of female hunger on mate choice may strengthen selection for exaggerated male secondary characteristics.
New employee orientation programs.

Abstract The conceptual domain of new employee orientation programs is defined. Following this, orientation programs are distinguished from socialization, psychological contracts, training, and realistic job previews (RJPs). Three somewhat diverse areas of academic research are used to develop a framework for the design and study of new employee orientation programs: (a) stress theory/coping methods, (b) attitude theory/change methods, (c) RJP theory/methods. The framework for designing new employee orientation is called “ROPES,” an acronym for Realistic Orientation Programs for new Employee Stress. Five field experiments that best represent ROPES are reviewed. Future research on newcomer orientation should be guided by a clear definition of the conceptual domain, borrow liberally from related areas of inquiry, be conducted in field settings, and use experimental designs.
Measuring Natural Selection on Proportional Traits: Comparisons of Three Types of Selection Estimates for Resistance and Susceptibility to Herbivore Damage

To compare the strength of natural selection on different traits and in different species, evolutionary biologists typically estimate selection differentials and gradients in standardized units. Measuring selection differentials and gradients in standard deviation units or mean-standardized units facilitates such comparisons by converting estimates with potentially varied units to a common scale. In this note, I compare the performance of variance- and mean-standardized selection differentials and gradients for a unique and biologically important class of traits: proportional traits, that can only vary between zero and one, and their complements (1 minus the trait) using simple algebra and analysis of data from a field-study using morning glories. There is a systematic, mathematical relationship between unstandardized and variance-standardized selection gradients for proportional traits and their complements, but such a general relationship is lacking for mean-standardized gradients, potentially leading investigators to mistakenly conclude that a proportional change in a trait would have little effect on fitness. Despite this potential limitation, mean-standardized selection differentials and gradients represent a useful tool for studying natural selection on proportional traits, because by definition they measure how proportional changes in the mean of a trait lead to proportional changes in relative fitness.
Detection of melting by X-ray imaging at high pressure

The occurrence of partial melting at elevated pressure and temperature is documented in real time through measurement of volume strain induced by a fixed temperature change. Here we present the methodology for measuring volume strains to one part in 10−4 for mm3 sized samples in situ as a function of time during a step in temperature. By calibrating the system for sample thermal expansion at temperatures lower than the solidus, the onset of melting can be detected when the melting volume increase is of comparable size to the thermal expansion induced volume change. We illustrate this technique with a peridotite sample at 1.5 GPa during partial melting. The Re capsule is imaged with a CCD camera at 20 frames/s. Temperature steps of 100 K induce volume strains that triple with melting. The analysis relies on image comparison for strain determination and the thermal inertia of the sample is clearly seen in the time history of the volume strain. Coupled with a thermodynamic model of the melting, we infer that we identify melting with 2 vol.% melting.
The effect of oxygen adsorption on CuNi alloys during irradiation studied by SIMS, SIPS and ISS

Abstract A series of CuNi alloys have been sputtered by Ar+ and also He+ ion beams. SIMS, SIPS and ISS measurements were made from these alloys under ultra high vacuum, as well as in different oxygen ambients, to study the effect of oxygen on these techniques and to obtain information on the adsorption process. During oxygen adsorption, the secondary ion and photon yields for both elements are enhanced to an extent which depends upon the Ni concentration of the alloy. The results suggest that the nickel concentration modifies the surface oxygen coverage as the oxygen primarily adsorbs to the Ni atoms. This modification of oxygen bonding to the surface would be expected to strongly influence depth profiles of metal-metal interfaces measured by SIMS and SIPS.
Computer control of microprocessor-based instruments by keypad emulation.

Abstract A keypad emulation method for controlling microprocessor-based instruments by laboratory microcomputers is presented. It is applicable to instruments that use “polled” keypad arrays; the instrument can be controlled by the laboratory computer or operated independently by manual keypad entry. To illustrate the approach, a microprocessor-based HPLC solvent-delivery system was controlled by a laboratory microcomputer which synchronized and sequenced the entire HPLC experiment, including solvent delivery, valve control for column switching and back-flushing, data-acquisition, and dataprocessing.
Towards Assessing NARCCAP Regional Climate Model Credibility for the North American Monsoon: Current Climate Simulations*

AbstractThe authors examine 17 dynamically downscaled simulations produced as part of the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) for their skill in reproducing the North American monsoon system. The focus is on precipitation and the drivers behind the precipitation biases seen in the simulations of the current climate. Thus, a process-based approach to the question of model fidelity is taken in order to help assess confidence in this suite of simulations.The results show that the regional climate models (RCMs) forced with a reanalysis product and atmosphere-only global climate model (AGCM) time-slice simulations perform reasonably well over the core Mexican and southwest United States regions. Some of the dynamically downscaled simulations do, however, have strong dry biases in Arizona that are related to their inability to develop credible monsoon flow structure over the Gulf of California. When forced with different atmosphere–ocean coupled global climate models (AOGCMs) for...
Reconstructing, recognizing, and reproducing object figures: a fixed order.

Summary In this study it is hypothesized that there are three distinct levels of representation and that these levels are hierarchical. The hypothesis was tested by having 100 six-year old boys and girls represent one of the most basic Bender-Gestalt figures. It was demonstrated that a representation of this figure through object reconstruction is prerequisite to recognizing the object figure from a collection of figures which in turn is prerequisite to representing the object figure using a pencil-and-paper reproduction.
Modeling and simulation of autonomous robot search teams

This paper describes the simulation of described autonomous robots for search and rescue operations. The simulation system is utilized to perform experiments with various control strategies for the robot and team organizations, evaluating the comparative performance of the strategies and organizations. The objective of the robot team is, once deployed in an environment (floor-plan) with multiple rooms, to cover as many rooms as possible. The simulated robots are capable of navigating through the environment, and can communicate using simple messages. The simulator maintains the world, provides each robot with sensory information, and carries out the actions of the robots. The simulator keeps track of the rooms visited by robots and the elapsed time, in order to evaluate the performance of the robot teams. The robot teams are composed of homogenous robots, i.e., identical control strategies are used to generate the behavior of each robot in the team. The ability to deploy autonomous robots, as opposed to humans, in hazardous search and rescue missions could provide immeasurable benefits.
Low Cycle Fatigue in RF Microwave Module Housings

Hermetic housings are required for the vast majority of electronics used in RF microwave electronics to protect the gallium arsenide and silicon devices from the environment. A common housing style includes a metal ring frame that is brazed onto a metal or ceramic base. The housing is populated with electronic devices and circuits and then hermetically sealed with a thin metal lid. For high volume manufacturing, lids are often attached by a resistance weld using a seam seal process. The interior hermitic volume is sealed at or near one atmosphere internal pressure. Since the housing may be subjected to a substantial number of pressure cycles that can yield the lid material, a low cycle fatigue evaluation is required to establish the long-term reliability of the hermetic housing. Kovar is a common lid and housing material because of a good coefficient of thermal expansion match with glass, ceramic and other materials used in RF circuitry. Unfortunately only high cycle fatigue data is available for kovar. A method is proposed to generate an estimate of high cycle end of the low cycle fatigue response from the high cycle fatigue data. The proposed method is verified by comparing a predicted fatigue life with experimental results from hermetic housings subjected to pressure cycling.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
True density of microcrystalline cellulose

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) exhibits unusual tableting properties, sometimes, inconsistent with its high plasticity. It is found that some of the unusual tableting properties of MCC can be explained in part by the use of inaccurate true density during tableting data analysis. MCC true density as a function of water content is determined using a published method that can determine true density of water containing solids. Results suggest that literature MCC true densities tend to be overestimated as a result of limitations in helium pycnometry.
Rapid isolation of genomic DNA from animal tissues

A simple technique for the isolation of very high molecular weight genomic DNA from animal tissues and cells is described. The method involves rapid isolation of nuclei and their embedding in agarose beads followed by extraction of lipids and proteins with SDS. The protocol does not require proteolytic digestion and the whole procedure can be completed in 1 day. The isolated DNA is digestible by restriction enzymes and free of ligase inhibitors.
The effectiveness of two educational programs in changing the performance of oral hygiene by elementary school children.

Doctor Podshadley and Miss Schweikle have to conclude: “Sorry folks, but your single annual lecture and demonstration of toothbrushing for children in the third and fourth grades is not effective in changing their performance, regardless of their choice of two technics.”
The Low Temperature Synthesis of Vanadium Selenides Using Superlattice Reactants

Abstract Traditional exploration of phase diagrams is dominated by the annealing of reaction products formed from high temperature reactions. In this paper we present an alternative approach, based on the low temperature crystallization of amorphous reaction intermediates, which is ideally suited for the study of incongruently melting compounds. Within the vanadium selenium phase diagram we demonstrate the ability to prepare the incongruently melting compounds V 2 Se 9 and V 5 Se 4 using the average composition of the amorphous reaction intermediate to control phase nucleation. We also present evidence for a new, kinetically stable vanadium selenide near the composition V 0.8 Se which disproportionates into a mixture of VSe 2- x and V 5 Se 4 upon annealing at 500°C. The compounds V 5 Se 8 and V 3 Se 4 were not observed to nucleate from any of the amorphous intermediates, regardless of their overall composition.
A cognitive model of spatial path-planning

Planning a path to a destination, given a number of options and obstacles, is a common task. We suggest a two-component cognitive model that combines retrieval of knowledge about the environment with search guided by visual perception. In the first component, subsymbolic information, acquired during navigation, aids in the retrieval of declarative information representing possible paths to take. In the second component, visual information directs the search, which in turn creates knowledge for the first component. The model is implemented using the ACT-R cognitive architecture and makes realistic assumptions about memory access and shifts in visual attention. We present simulation results for memory-based high-level navigation in grid and tree structures, and visual navigation in mazes, varying relevant cognitive (retrieval noise and visual finsts) and environmental (maze and path size) parameters. The visual component is evaluated with data from a multi-robot control experiment, where subjects planned paths for robots to explore a building. We describe a method to compare trajectories without referring to aligned points in the itinerary. The evaluation shows that the model provides a good fit, but also that planning strategies may vary with task loads.
Comparison of problem-solving performance in six-week-old wolves and dogs

Abstract A theoretical model proposed by the first author ( Frank 1980 ) hypothesizes that timber wolves (Canis lupus) should perform better than dogs (C. familiaris) on problem-solving tasks requiring ‘insight’, such as the detour test devised by Kohler (1927) and adapted by Scott & Fuller (1965) for use with 6-week-old domestic dog pups. Three barrier problems (short barrier, long barrier, and U-barrier) were administered to four 6-week-old Eastern wolf (C. l. lycaon) pups. Post hoc comparisons with results obtained by Scott & Fuller confirm the hypothesis.
Redistricting, Responsiveness, and Issue Attention

We explored the extent to which legislators respond to redistricting-induced demographic shifts in their constituencies. Our analyses focused on the behavior of members of the House of Representatives who served in the terms preceding and following the redistricting that took place in the early 2000s (namely, the 107th and 108th Congresses). We investigated how demographic shifts relate to the content of legislators' subsequent agendas (the legislation that members introduce and cosponsor) and the nature of members' voting patterns (their interest group voting scores). Our results indicate that responsiveness is widespread, but important variation exists in the patterns for agenda activities and roll-call voting.
A model of personality should be a cognitive architecture itself

Abstract This paper describes how personality may be explained by a generic, comprehensive computational cognitive architecture. We show that a cognitive architecture by itself can serve as a generic model of personality, without any significant addition or modification. A cognitive architecture can capture the fundamental invariance within an individual in terms of behavioral inclinations as well as the inevitable variability of behaviors. Various tests and simulations have been conducted within the cognitive architecture that show that such a model is reasonably stable, is relatively flexible (in terms of person–situation interactions), captures some major personality traits (e.g., the Five-Factor Model), and accounts for a variety of empirical data. The work shows the feasibility and usefulness of integrating personality modeling with generic computational cognitive modeling (i.e., cognitive architectures).
Angular dependence of the in-plane energy gap of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 by tunneling spectroscopy

A technique for tunneling into the a-b plane of the layered cuprate superconductors is described and applied to study the in-plane gap anisotropy of the high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superconductor ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8}$. The results show unambiguously that the in-plane energy gap is highly anisotropic with a gap minimum along the Cu-${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ bond direction. Using these results, we present an angular mapping of the in-plane gap anisotropy and compare our results to those from other experiments. Effects of the gap anisotropy on the tunneling spectra will also be discussed. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
On the accuracy of empirical likelihood confidence intervals for M-Functionals

In this article, we consider the coverage accuracy of the empirical likelihood confidence interval for a class of M-functionals. It is shown that the coverage error in the chi-squared approximation to the distribution of the empirical likelihood ratio statistic is of order O(n −1), where n is the sample size. We further show that this coverage error can be reduced to the order O(n −2) by using the Bartlett correction. To implement the Bartlett correction in practice, the empirical Bartlett correction is given. A small simulation study is presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the Bartlett correction for the case of a Huber's functional.
A system for intelligent teleoperation research

The Automation Technology Branch of NASA Langley Research Center is developing a research capability in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly as applicable in teleoperator/robotics development for remote space operations. As a testbed for experimentation in these areas, a system concept has been developed and is being implemented. This system, termed DAISIE (Distributed Artificially Intelligent System for Interacting with the Environment), interfaces the key processes of perception, reasoning, and manipulation by linking hardware sensors and manipulators to a modular artificial intelligence (AI) software system in a hierarchical control structure. Verification experiments have been performed: one experiment used a blocksworld database and planner embedded in the DAISIE system to intelligently manipulate a simple physical environment; the other experiment implemented a joint-space collision avoidance algorithm. Continued system development is planned.
A New Kinetic Equation for Intercalation Electrodes

The kinetic equation used to predict the current being passed in an intercalation electrode depends on the overpotential and the composition of the intercalating species. The overpotential depends on the difference between the potential in the solid phase and in the solution phase, both of which depend on the composition of the intercalation species in the solid and solution phases, respectively. Furthermore, the overpotential depends on the local open circuit potential (OCP) of the intercalation electrode. Consequently, the kinetic equation and the OCP equation are coupled and must be written accordingly; that is, they must be written in a consistent way. In this work, a new kinetic equation, which is derived along with a thermodynamic (OCP) equation from the same reaction rate expression, is presented for intercalation electrodes. The thermodynamic equation is used to fit the OCP data of carbon (MCMB-2528) and LiCoO 2 electrodes. Comparison of the predictions from the new kinetic equation and the traditional Butler-Volmer equation used in the literature indicates that the new kinetic equation better describes the kinetic current-potential relationship for intercalation electrodes.
A General Strategy for Adhesion Enhancement in Polymeric Composites by Formation of Nanostructured Particle Surfaces

In this work we present a general methodology to enhance the interfacial adhesion in polymeric composites by creating nanoscale morphologies on the surfaces of particles. The surface morphology, wh...
ECHINOSTOME METACERCARIAE CYST ELIMINATION IN RANA CLAMITANS (GREEN FROG) TADPOLES IS AGE-DEPENDENT

Abstract Host response to parasite exposure is an important determinant of the outcome of host–parasite interactions. Factors such as host body condition and age can strongly influence host response to parasites and infection. This study followed Echinostoma revolutum infection levels in larval green frogs (Rana clamitans) exposed at 2 different ages. Tadpoles at early developmental stages are more susceptible to the adverse effects of echinostomes. Green frog tadpoles approximately 2 wk apart in age and of the same developmental stage can exhibit dramatically different responses to echinostome infection, with the younger tadpoles having high rates of mortality and the older tadpoles experiencing no mortality. The goal of the present study was to begin to explore the mechanism underlying the striking age-dependent response of tadpoles to echinostomes. I conducted 2 controlled infection laboratory experiments in which tadpoles were preserved at 6 time points ranging from 4 hr to 1 wk post-infection (PI). T...
Inflammatory Mediators in the Immunobiology of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Inflammation is important in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Polymorphonuclear cells and macrophages and proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines denote early inflammation in clinical scenarios such as in utero inflammation with chorioamnionitis or initial lung injury associated with respiratory distress syndrome or ventilator-induced lung injury. The persistence and non-resolution of lung inflammation contributes greatly to BPD, including altering the lung’s ability to repair, contributing to fibrosis, and inhibiting secondary septation, alveolarization, and normal vascular development. Further understanding of the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of BPD, in particular, during the chronic inflammatory period, offers us the opportunity to develop inflammation-related prevention and treatment strategies of this disease that has long-standing consequences for very premature infants.
Radiometric studies of mycobacterium tuberculosis

An in vitro assay system that included automated radiometric quantification of 14CO2 released as a result of oxidation of 14C- substrates was applied for studying the metabolic activity of M. tuberculosis under various experimental conditions. These experiments included the study of a) mtabolic pathways, b) detection times for various inoculum sizes, c) effect of filtration on reproducibility of results, d) influence of stress environment e) minimal inhibitory concentrations for isoniazid, streptomycin, ethambutol and rifampin, and f) generation times of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. These organisms were found to metabolize 14C-for-mate, (U-14C) acetate, (U-14C) glycerol, (1-14C) palmitic acid, 1-14C) lauric acid, (U-14C) L-malic acid, (U-14C) D-glucose, and (U-14C) D-glucose, but not (1-14C) L-glucose, (U-14C) glycine, or (U-14C) pyruvate to 14CO2. By using either 14C-for-mate, (1-14C) palmitic acid, or (1-14C) lauric acid, 107 organisms/vial could be detected within 24 48 hours and as few as 10 organisms/vial within 16-20 days. Reproducible results could be obtained without filtering the bacterial suspension, provided that the organisms were grown in liquid 7H9 medium with 0.05% polysorbate 80 and homogenized prior to the study. Drugs that block protein synthesis were found to have lower minimal inhibitory concentrations with the radiometric method when compared to the conventional agar dilution method. The mean generation time obtained for M. bovis and different strains of M. tuberculosis with various substrates was 9 ± 1 hours.
Relationships of Heat Treatment, Solids-Not-Fat, and Calcium Chloride to the Curd Tension of Skimmilk

Summary The effect of high-heat treatments in reducing the curd tension of milk has been further demonstrated. It has also been shown that the curd tension of milk heated as high as 165° F. for 30min. could be restored, i.e., raised to approximately 54g. (an average value for milk containing 9% solids-not-fat and heated at 143° F. for 30min.) by the addition of solids-not-fat and calcium chloride. Calcium chloride concentrations as high as 0.08% gave no detectable off-flavor to the heated skimmilk.