cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A sensing system for weld process control

Abstract The development of a point infrared sensor was undertaken in an effort to reduce the size and cost of an infrared sensing system for welding process monitoring and control. Numerical modeling, sensor development and welding process control were integral phases in the course of this effort. A numerical model of the heat transfer during autogenous arc welding was used to estimate the net heat exchange between a weldment surface and a point infrared detector as a function of sensor position about the welding arc. The gas tungsten arc welding process was monitored with a point infrared sensor. Feedback control of the infrared exchange between the weldment and the point infrared sensor was accomplished by adjusting the welding current. Welding process control was demonstrated on both constant thickness plates and plates with a step change in thickness.
An autoclaved medium for routine cultivation of Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract A new medium consisting of autoclaved trypticase, liver fraction L, inorganic salts, and blood has been developed for the growth of T. cruzi. This medium also supports the growth of T. ranarum. It is suitable for routine cultivation of stock cultures of trypanosomes.
Ohmic Heating and Moderate Electric Field Processing

Ohmic heating has been revived in the 1980s and after a brief pause in the 1990s, has reemerged in a number of food processing applications. An offshoot, Moderate Electric Field (MEF) processing has emerged from the recognition that even relatively mild electric fields themselves have significant effects on food and other biological materials. A number of significant research areas have been identified in this connection. In addition, a discussion is provided on priorities for federal research funding, including the need for basic research balanced with industry relevance, availability of pilot facilities for development of new technologies, and potentially, a mechanism for helping inventions survive through the initial ``Valley of Death'' phase.
New hope in meeting the needs of education

Support from the American Fund for Dental Health will be in such areas as faculty, research, and scholarship and loan assistance to students.
HEPARIN SUPPRESSES SGK, AN EARLY RESPONSE GENE IN PROLIFERATING VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperplasia plays a central role in chronic and acute vascular pathology including arteriosclerosis and restenosis following vascular surgery. The glycosaminoglycans of the heparan sulfate class, including heparin, inhibit VSMC proliferation in animals and in culture. Heparin binds to high affinity sites on the cell surface, selectively modulates mitogenic signal transduction pathway(s), and rapidly alters transcription of several genes. To further explore the molecular mechanisms responsible for this growth inhibition, we have employed the differential display technique to identify heparin-regulated genes. Here we demonstrate that heparin inhibits the expression of the early response gene sgk (serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase). The expression of sgk is not inhibited by chondroitin sulfate, a nonantiproliferative glycosaminoglycan, suggesting that sgk suppression may play a functional role in the antiproliferative effect of heparin. This idea is strengthened by the finding that heparin does not inhibit sgk expression in VSMCs resistant to the antiproliferative effect of heparin or in vascular endothelial cells which are unresponsive to heparin. Expression of sgk mRNA diminishes with increasing concentrations of heparin. Finally, sgk expression is not suppressed by other growth inhibitors such as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and interferon-β (IFN-β), suggesting separate and distinct effects of these growth inhibitors on the mitogenic pathway. J. Cell. Physiol. 173:371–379, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Conversion of wood to liquid fuel

Abstract The liquefaction of poplar wood has been studied in a 1 liter batch rocking autoclave. Different processing conditions, including temperatures from 350 to 420 °C pressures in the range of 1500–5200 psig, and 30 min contact times at the reaction temperature have been used. The process is a net H 2 and CO 2 producer and a net CO consumer. An added Co(NO 3 ) 2 · 6H 2 O catalyst, while enhancing the hydrogenolysis of the organic material, lowered the CO consumption. Conversions as high as 90–99 wt.% MAF wood and oil yields of 49–75 wt.% MAF wood were achieved. The product oil, which was distilled under vacuum (0.50-0.33 mm Hg) at temperatures up to 152 °C, compares well with crude. Two promising conversion processes are proposed.
Certain very large cardinals are not created in small forcing extensions

Abstract The large cardinal axioms of the title assert, respectively, the existence of a nontrivial elementary embedding j : V λ → V λ , the existence of such a j which is moreover Σ n 1 , and the existence of such a j which extends to an elementary j : V λ + 1 → V λ + 1 . It is known that these axioms are preserved in passing from a ground model to a small forcing extension. In this paper the reverse directions of these preservations are proved. Also the following is shown (and used in the above proofs in place of using a standard fact): if V is a model of ZFC and V [ G ] is a P -generic forcing extension of V , then in V [ G ] , V is definable using the parameter V δ + 1 , where δ = P = + .
Two-dimensional gel analysis of the zein proteins in maize.

Abstract The level of complexity of the polypeptide components in the zein (ethanol soluble) fraction from maize kernels can be shown clearly by an analysis that combines the techniques of isoelectric focusing and SDS gel electrophoresis. This high resolution system gives unique and repeatable gel patterns of the zein fraction from 6 maize lines. The gel patterns of zein from normal lines are very complex with over 10 components resolved. The patterns from lines containing the o2 mutation are less complex, with a reduction in the number of components that can be resolved, especially within the 22 500 mol. wt class.
SELF-ESTEEM AND ALEXITHYMIA '

236 college students completed Coopersmith's Self-esteem Inventory and Taylor's 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale As predicted, the total scores on self-esteem and alexithymia were significantly negatively correlated −.42. Two factors of the subjects' orientations of alexithymia, difficulty recognizing and verbalizing feelings and difficulty describing feelings, explained 19% of the variance associated with self-esteem. These results suggest a negative association between difficulty in expressing emotions and college students' self-rated self-esteem.
Potential Use of In Vitro-Reared Catolaccus grandis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) for Biological Control of the Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The biological characteristics of the ectoparasitoid Catolaccus grandis (Burks) were evaluated after 1, 2, 5, and 10 generations of in vitro-rearing and compared with parasitoids reared on boll weevil, Anthonoms grandis grandis Boheman, larvae. Pupal weight of females was not significantly affected after 10 generations of in vitro-reared wasps. Fecundity of C. grandis was not significantly reduced after 5 generations of in vitro-rearing. However, the in vitro F10 showed a significant reduction in fecundity. Females reared on boll weevils had a higher pupal weight and fecundity than females reared in vitro, but in vitro-reared females exhibited significantly higher survival during the period of most intensive reproductive activity. The movement, searching capacity, and survival under field conditions of in vitro and in vivo-reared C. grandis were compared in Ricardo and Lyford, TX. Dispersal ability and searching capacity was not significantly different within a 30-m radius for parasitoid females reared by either method. However, a significantly higher proportion of stations with parasitism was recorded from in vivo-reared C. grandis. at a 60-m radius from the release point. Nevertheless, no significant difference in boll weevil mortality induced by parasitism was recorded between the 2 methods. This shows that the use of artificial diets is a promising method for mass propagating C. grandis.
Statistical analysis of heart rate and heart rate variability monitoring through the use of smart phone cameras

Video recordings of finger tips made using a smartphone camera contain a pulsatile component caused by the cardiac pulse equivalent to that present in a photoplethysmographic signal. By performing peak detection on the pulsatile signal it is possible to extract a continuous heart rate signal. We performed direct comparisons between 5-lead electrocardiogram based heart rate variability measurements and those obtained from an iPhone 4s and Motorola Droid derived pulsatile signal to determine the accuracy of heart rate variability measurements obtained from the smart phones. Monitoring was performed in the supine and tilt positions for independent iPhone 4s (2 min recordings, n=9) and Droid (5 min recordings, n=13) experiments, and the following heart rate and heart rate variability parameters were estimated: heart rate, low frequency power, high frequency power, ratio of low to high frequency power, standard deviation of the RR intervals, and root mean square of successive RR-differences. Results demonstrate that accurate heart rate variability parameters can be obtained from smart phone based measurements.
A Terawatt Nd:Glass Active Mirror System

The Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) of the University of Rochester has operated a single beam, 351 nm laser irradiation facility for several years.l This facility has been based on the Glass Development Laser (GDL); a Nd:phosphate glass laser system that is capable of generating more than 150 joules in 1 nsec pulses at 1054 nm.2 With an overall frequency tripling efficiency of greater than 50%, this facility has also been capable of generating more than 75 joules in 1 nsec at 351 nm. We now report on the upgraded GDL facility that consists of a frequency tripled, active-mirror boosted GDL laser system which produces in excess of 600 joules in 500 ps and 150 joules in 100 ps for a substantial increase in third harmonic radiation.
Relative and Absolute Errors in Sensor Network Localization

This paper considers the accuracy of sensor node location estimates from self-calibration in sensor networks. The location parameters are shown to have a natural decomposition into relative configuration and centroid transformation components based on the influence of measurements and prior information in the problem. A linear representation of the transformation parameter space, which includes rotations and translations, is shown to coincide with the nullspace of the unconstrained Fisher information matrix (FIM). To regularize the absolute localization problem, we consider constraints on the coordinate locations and the impact of these constraints on relative and absolute location error. A geometric interpretation of the constrained Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) is provided based on the principal angles between the measurement subspace and the constraint subspace. Examples illustrate the utility of this error decomposition.
DYNAMICS OF INCOMPRESSIBLE VECTOR FIELDS

Abstract In this note, we study the structural classification and structural stability of divergence-free vector fields on compact manifolds M ⊂ S2 (or M ⊂ P2, or M ⊂ K2) with or without boundary. The main motivation is to understand the topological and geometrical structure of the Lagrange dynamics of incompressible fluid flows.
Compositional dependence of the microscopic frictional properties of single crystal metal carbides

The frictional properties of TiC(100), Ti0.3V0.6C(100), and VC(100) surfaces in contact with a silicon nitride probe tip have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) under ambient pressures of dry nitrogen as well as environments of different relative humidities. Calibration of normal and lateral force has permitted the determination of the quantitative frictional properties of the three carbide samples on a nanometer length scale. In these studies, TiC(100) exhibits the lowest friction coefficient, ranging from ∼0.044 to ∼0.082 under the different environments. VC(100) and Ti0.3V0.6C(100) have similar friction coefficients (∼0.07) under dry nitrogen conditions, yet VC exhibits a larger friction coefficient (∼0.158) than Ti0.3V0.6C (∼0.129) under conditions of higher relative humidity (∼55%). Condensation of water vapor with increasing relative humidity results in an increase in the frictional response for all the three samples. The experimental results demonstrate that the frictional properties of the three carbide samples are correlated to their surface composition and surface free energy.
TRANSFORMATION OF NONPOLAR FILAMENTS OF THE BLUE‐GREEN ALGA GLOEOTRICHIA ECHINULATA U. WISC. 1052 INTO DOUBLE HELICES12

SUMMARY Normally straight filaments of Gloeotrichia echinulata U. Wisc. 1052 transform into double helices when a critical culture density has been attained. In inorganic Zehnder-Gorham's medium No. 11, the alga initially is morphologically uniform and forms single, lightly curved, polar filaments. When a stage of close proximity of the filaments is reached, excessively long filaments are observed that are nonpolar. Some of these nonpolar filaments form helices. Two independent single helices may entwine to form a double helix. Double helices also form when both ends of an excessively long filament meet and start entwining until a loop is left at about the original middle of the filament. In another manner of double-helix formation, a straight filament makes a hairpin bend at about its middle; then 2 helices form starting at the bend and they entwine into a double helix, leaving a loop at the location of the original bend. Under proper culture conditions, the structures of double helices show an amazing regularity. Once double-helix formation has started, some strong force brings the process to completion. In a mature culture, helices disintegrate into apparently healthy, short pieces of filaments or single cells, while the straight or slightly curved polar filaments still persist. Helical transformation of nonpolar filaments does not appear to be a sign of nutritional or other stress but rather appears to serve a specific purpose. One might speculate that a genetic exchange between opposite cells takes place.
Graft selection for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract The ideal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft substitute would have no morbidity associated with its procurement, be readily available for use, and be capable of strong fixation with sufficient inherent strength to withstand an accelerated postoperative rehabilitation program. In addition, the long-term results of ACL reconstruction using the graft substitute should be favorable. Unfortunately, such an ideal graft material does not currently exist. At present, available choices for ACL graft substitutes include autograft tissue, allograft tissue, and synthetic devices. This article presents the reader with a review of the factors involved in selecting a material to serve as a graft substitute for ACL reconstruction and explores the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of various graft tissues.
Determinants of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in African-American and Caucasian male veterans

Among 307 males seen in VA Medical Center, independent determinants (p < 0.01 for all) of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels included race, vitamin D supplements, BMI, dietary calcium intake and smoking, but not age. Negative association between 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) was similar for Caucasian and African-American men. In this prospective cohort study, we examined determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and the relationship between 25(OH)D and PTH levels and body mass index (BMI). Male veterans (n = 307) were recruited at a VA Medical Center. Serum levels of PTH and 25(OH)D were obtained. Surveys and chart reviews were completed. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as 25(OH)D <30 ng/ml. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed. Among 232 African-American (AA) men (mean ± SD), 25(OH)D level (21.4 ± 10.4 ng/ml) was lower and prevalence of insufficiency (80%) was higher than among 75 Caucasians (C; 28.5 ± 11.1 ng/ml and 53%, respectively, p < 0.01 for both). In multivariate regression analysis, independent determinants (p < 0.01 for all) of 25(OH)D levels included AA race, vitamin D supplements, BMI, dietary calcium intake, and smoking. Despite lower 25(OH)D levels in African-Americans, PTH levels were similar to those seen in Caucasians. There was a significant (p < 0.02) negative linear association between 25(OH)D and PTH in African-American (r 2 = 0.05) and Caucasian (r 2 = 0.08) men, and there was no difference between the slopes of the relationship. 25(OH)D levels are determined by modifiable risk factors such as vitamin D supplementation in both AA and C males. The negative association between 25(OH)D and PTH is similar between the two races.
Memory function for dressed particles

This paper is concerned with the calculation of the memory function and derivation of a kinetic equation for one-body phase space correlation functions. The theory uses a one-body additive projection operator and a division of the Liouville operator with an unperturbed part that describes dressed particles. Binary collisions are neglected, for the theory aims at describing the screening and backflow effects of a type contained in the plasma kinetic theory of Balescu and Lenard. We obtain an explicit kinetic equation which is an improvement of these theories for the plasma case, and involves the exact equilibrium pair and triplet distributions. The equation also describes systems with strong short-range forces and shows how the screening effects occur in this case as well. The unifying function is the direct correlation function. The theory is meant to provide understanding for a more complete theory of fluids where a proper account is given of close collisions.
A numerical simulation of the convective heat transfer in confined channel flow past square cylinders: comparison of inline and offset tandem pairs

Abstract A numerical investigation was conducted to analyze the unsteady flow-field and heat-transfer characteristics for a tandem pair of square cylinders in a laminar channel flow. The drag, lift, and heat transfer coefficients from the downstream heated cylinder due to inline and offset eddy-promoting cylinders were studied. The results show that the drag coefficient and cylinder Nusselt number decrease as the heated cylinder approaches the wall. The highest Strouhal number value is observed in the channel-centered, inline-eddy configuration. Complex periodic vortex shedding develops when the eddy promoter is offset from the primary cylinder.
Identifying obstructive sleep apnea in patients presenting for laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty.

The authors report on a series of 850 patients with snoring who were evaluated for laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP). Stepwise multivariate linear regression was employed to correlate patient symptoms and characteristics to the respiratory disturbance index (RDI). Body mass index, falling asleep while driving, snoring every night, and stopping breathing during sleep were found to correlate strongly with an increasing RDI (variance of 25%). Logistic multivariate linear regression analysis was used to predict the outcome of apnea (RDI>10). This model selected all of the above variables, as well as age, male sex, and the total number of symptoms, as being strong predictors of apnea. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to describe the ability of this model to predict apnea. The authors conclude that otolaryngologists play an important role in the evaluation of OSAS, especially when a snoring patient may undergo LAUP, and they present an algorithm for the evaluation of such a patient. The authors believe that the clinical assesment, including a thorough history and a complete physical examination, remains extremely important in this evaluation. At present, the authors strongly recommend referral for a PSG if there is any suspicion of OSAS.
A 106-Fold Enhancement in N2-Binding Affinity of an Fe2(μ-H)2 Core upon Reduction to a Mixed-Valence FeIIFeI State

Transient hydride ligands bridging two or more iron centers purportedly accumulate on the iron–molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) of nitrogenase, and their role in the reduction of N2 to NH3 is unknown. One role of these ligands may be to facilitate N2 coordination at an iron site of FeMoco. Herein, we consider this hypothesis and describe the preparation of a series of diiron complexes supported by two bridging hydride ligands. These compounds bind either one or two molecules of N2 depending on the redox state of the Fe2(μ-H)2 unit. An unusual example of a mixed-valent FeII(μ-H)2FeI is described that displays a 106-fold enhancement of N2 binding affinity over its oxidized congener, quantified by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Furthermore, these compounds show promise as functional models of nitrogenase as substantial amounts of NH3 are produced upon exposure to proton and electron equivalents. The Fe(μ-H)Fe(N2) sub-structure featured herein was previously unknown. This subunit may be relevant to...
Analysis of the magnetic field discontinuity at the potential field source surface and Schatten Current Sheet interface in the Wang–Sheeley–Arge model

[1] The Wang–Sheeley–Arge solar wind model makes use of coupled potential field source surface (PFSS) and Schatten Current Sheet (SCS) models to reconstruct the coronal magnetic field on the basis of the observed line-of-sight photospheric magnetic field and a 1D kinematic code to propagate the solar wind to 1 AU. The source surface serves as the outer boundary of the PFSS model and the inner boundary of the SCS model. Known discontinuities arise in the tangential components of the magnetic field across this surface owing to differences in the imposed boundary conditions (Wang et al., 1998). Here we introduce a more flexible coupling between the two models, which considerably reduces the discontinuous behavior of the magnetic field across the model interface surface, to investigate the effects and importance of these kinks on the accuracy of the model's solar wind speed predictions at 1 AU. A detailed analysis of select Carrington rotations shows that removing the kinks can lead to changes in connectivity, creating different source regions for the solar wind. These changes lead to significantly improved predictions of solar wind structures at 1 AU some of the time, but most of the time, the kinks do not affect the predicted solar wind speed. This improvement is born out statistically by increases in the prediction skill scores of both solar wind velocity (1.7%) and interplanetary magnetic field polarity (1.4%) at 1 AU.
Diurnal Variation in Regional Brain Glucose Metabolism in Depression

Background This study compared diurnal variation in mood and regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (rCMRglc) in depressed and healthy subjects. Methods Depressed and healthy subjects were investigated using [ 18 F]-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans during morning and evening wakefulness. All subjects completed subjective mood ratings at both times of day. Statistical parametric mapping was used to compare rCMRglc between the two groups across time of day. Results Depressed patients showed evening mood improvements compared with healthy subjects. Compared with healthy subjects, depressed patients showed smaller increases in rCMRglc during evening relative to morning wakefulness in lingual and fusiform cortices, midbrain reticular formation, and locus coeruleus and greater increases in rCMRglc in parietal and temporal cortices. Depressed patients had hypermetabolism in limbic-paralimbic regions and hypometabolism in frontal and parietal cortex at both times of day compared with healthy subjects. Conclusions Variation in rCMRglc differs across times of day in depressed and healthy subjects. In depressed patients, evening mood improvements were associated with increased metabolic activity in ventral limbic-paralimbic, parietal, temporal, and frontal regions and in the cerebellum. This increased metabolic pattern during evening wakefulness may reflect partial normalization of primary and compensatory neural systems involved in affect production and regulation.
In silico characterization of resonance energy transfer for disk-shaped membrane domains.

Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) has become an important tool to study the submicrometer distribution of proteins and lipids in membranes. Although resolving the two-dimensional distribution of fluorophores from FRET is generally underdetermined, a forward approach can be used to determine characteristic FRET “signatures” for interesting classes of microdomain organizations. As a first step toward this goal, we use a stochastic Monte Carlo approach to characterize FRET in the case of molecules randomly distributed within disk-shaped domains. We find that when donors and acceptors are confined within domains, FRET depends very generally on the density of acceptors within domains. An implication of this result is that two domain populations with the same acceptor density cannot be distinguished by this FRET approach even if the domains have different diameters or different numbers of molecules. In contrast, both the domain diameter and molecule number can be resolved by combining this approach with a segregation approach that measures FRET between donors confined in domains and acceptors localized outside domains. These findings delimit where the inverse problem is tractable for this class of distributions and reframe ways FRET can be used to characterize the structure of microdomains such as lipid rafts.
Distributing proprietary geographic data on the World Wide Web: UCLA GIS database and map server

Abstract The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) GIS Database and Map Server project is a cooperative effort of GIS-interested-parties on the UCLA campus, to deliver centrally-stored geographic data via the World Wide Web (WWW). Both geographic data and geo-referenced remotely sensed image data are served from this site. The main objective of this project is to serve gigabytes of data using limited online disk space, used to store the most-recently-requested data units, and a large tape robot for the offline storage of all the data in the central database. ArcView Internet Map Server (IMS) is employed as the interactive GIS mapping server and visual interface for downloading the data from the central database. The server design, database design and web client interface were developed to incorporate a visual interface, to distribute proprietary geo-data and to provide GIS capabilities.
Premature cortical granule loss does not prevent sperm penetration of mouse eggs

Abstract The role of cortical granules in the mouse egg's plasmalemma block to polyspermy was investigated by examining the effect of premature granule loss on egg fertility. Granule loss, quantitated by transmission electron microscopic examination, was induced in zona-free eggs by exposure to the divalent cation ionophore, A23187, or by mechanical removal of zonae. Egg exposure to ionophore led to the loss of approximately 50% of the egg's complement of granules in the absence of nuclear activation (parthenogenesis), while complete cortical granule loss accompanied the parthenogenetic activation seen in a limited population of mechanically stimulated eggs. Aged eggs underwent nuclear activation without a dramatic reduction in granule complements. The fertility of treated zona-free eggs was identical to that of controls, as measured by the percentage of eggs penetrated and by the mean number of sperm recovered per egg. Moreover, both ionophore-treated and aged eggs subsequently underwent a normal sperm-induced block response. Exposure of zona-intact eggs to ionophore was also without effect on egg fertility. These results indicate that cortical granules are not involved in the plasmalemma block to polyspermy in the mouse.
Another Parallel to the Maenadism of the Bacchae: Hasidism in Modern Jewry

E. R. Dodds, in his article “Maenadism in the Bacchae,” notes a number of parallels in other cults to the Dionysiac practices mentioned in Euripides' Bacchae. His list of parallels, while long, is by no means intended to be exhaustive; and it is proposed here to point out still another — the dancing and ecstasy characteristic of that unique movement in modern Jewry known as Hasidism.
Preparation and Testing of Latex Compounds

Abstract Films should be prepared in an atmosphere free from air currents at 60 to 75 per cent relative humidity and at a temperature of 21.2° to 29.2° C. (70° to 85° F.) during the first 8 hours of the drying period. These films should be suspended for complete drying for an additional 48 hours at 0 per cent humidity and 10° to 15.5° C. (50° to 60° F.) before curing. The water-cured films should be dried 3 hours in the open room followed by about 20 hours at 0 per cent humidity and 10° to 15.5° C. (50° to 60° F.) before the preparation of test pieces. The air cures are kept in a desiccator for about 24 hours at 0 per cent humidity and 10° to 15.5° C. (50° to 60° F.) before the preparation of test pieces. The die for preparing test pieces must have perfect cutting edges. Test pieces should be conditioned 48 hours at 0 per cent humidity and 21.1° C. (70° F.) before testing to obtain maximum tensile and modulus results. The effect of humidity on physical test will be greater on normal latex, Revertex, and s...
Dielectric Loss and Voltage Breakdown in Liquid Nitrogen and Hydrogen

Cryogenic liquids have unusual physical properties. At low-voltage stress the dielectric loss in the cryogenic liquid is so small that it can not be accurately measured. As the voltage stress is increased, the dissipation factor increases to the order of 0.002, which is higher than for many conventional dielectric liquids. Both the voltage and the time of application influence the dielectric loss. Voltage breakdown is relatively high in both liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen. When pressure is increased somewhat at constant temperature to eliminate boiling, the electric strength is increased significantly. When the pressure is increased still further, the electric strength of the cryogenic liquid shows little or no additional increase. Cryogenic liquids have potential use as dielectrics in cable and other types of electrical apparatus. Studies of their dielectric prop-properties may improve the basic understanding of dielectric performance also.
Crystal structure of chloroplast cytochrome freveals a novel cytochrome fold and unexpected heme ligation

Abstract Background Cytochrome f is the high potential electron acceptor of the chloroplast cytochrome b 6 f complex, and is the electron donor to plastocyanin. The 285-residue cytochrome f subunit is anchored in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast by a single membrane-spanning segment near the carboxyl terminus. A soluble redox- active 252-residue lumen-side polypeptide with native spectroscopic and redox properties, missing the membrane anchor and carboxyl terminus, was purified from turnip chloroplasts for structural studies. Results The crystal structure of cytochrome f , determined to 2.3 a resolution, has several unexpected features. The 252-residue polypeptide is organized into one large and one small domain. The larger heme-binding domain is strikingly different from known structures of other c -type cytochromes and has the same fold as the type III domain of the animal protein, fibronectin. Cytochrome f binds heme with an unprecedented axial heme iron ligand: the amino terminus of the polypeptide. Conclusions The first atomic structure of a subunit of either the cytochrome b 6 f complex or of the related cytochrome bc 1 complex has been obtained. The structure of cytochrome f allows prediction of the approximate docking site of plastocyanin and should allow systematic studies of the mechanism of intra- and inter-protein electron transfer between the cytochrome heme and plastocyanin copper, which are approximately isopotential. The unprecedented axial heme iron ligand also provides information on the sequence of events (i.e. cleavage of signal peptide and ligation of heme) associated with translocation of the cytochrome across the membrane and its subsequent folding.
Infant dietary experience and acceptance of solid foods.

Objective. To examine the effects of dietary experience and milk feeding regimen on acceptance of their first vegetable by 4-to 6-month-old infants. Design. Longitudinal study, of 26-days duration, observing infants aged 4 to 6 months at the start of the study. Random assignment to treatments, within-subject control. Setting. General community in a medium-sized mid-western town. Subjects. Thirty-six infants and their mothers. Subjects were solicited through birth records and advertisements in local newspapers. Interventions. Infants were randomly assigned to be fed one vegetable on 10 occasions, either salted or unsalted peas or green beans, for a 10-day period. Outcome measures. Infant intake of the vegetable consumed during the 10-day exposure period; intake of salted and unsalted versions: (1) before the 10-day exposure period, (2) immediately after the exposure period; and (3) after a 1-week period of delay. Intake of a control food was also measured before and after repeated consumption of the vegetable. Adult ratings of the infants9 videotaped responses during test feedings were also obtained before and after the exposure period. Results. After 10 opportunities to consume the vegetable, all infants significantly increased their intake (P Conclusions. Infants increase their acceptance (reflected both in changes in intake and in behavioral response) of a novel food after repeated dietary exposure to that food. Relative to formula-feeding, breast-feeding may facilitate the acceptance of solid foods.
Non-invasive evaluation of pulmonary glutathione in the exhaled breath condensate of otherwise healthy alcoholics

Summary Background Chronic alcoholism is associated with an elevated risk for pulmonary infection and a 3-fold chance for incidence and mortality of acute respiratory distress syndrome with critical injury. Limited sampling of the alveolar lining fluid has restricted clinical studies of the role of glutathione (GSH) redox balance in pulmonary function and diseased states. Non-invasive sampling in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) to monitor alveolar GSH would facilitate research in pulmonary oxidative stress. Methods EBC was collected from otherwise healthy subjects with and without a history of alcohol abuse. Reduced and oxidized EBC glutathione (GSH and GSSG, respectively), pH, and hydrogen peroxide were measured. Results GSH was statistically decreased in alcohol abusers only when normalized to protein (4.7 nmol/mg protein [0.75, 11.4] vs. 13.4 [7.8, 26.4], p=0.03). In contrast, GSSG was significantly elevated in the EBC from alcohol abusers when compared to controls, 5.62 [0.45, 8.94] vs. 0.50 nM [0.38, 0.80], p=0.03. Thus, a greater percentage was in the oxidized GSSG form when subjects abused alcohol (35.3% [11.8, 58.1] vs. 5.2 [3.6, 6.1], p Conclusions Proper sample preparation was essential to prevent GSH loss and artificial oxidation. The shift in redox potential or %GSSG, which were not affected by dilution, may serve as better markers of pulmonary oxidative stress. Furthermore, these data suggested that the oxidant stress observed in the lavage fluid of otherwise healthy alcoholics could be measured non-invasively in the EBC.
Feasibility of Enhancing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Using Microwave Radiation

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most versatile of the chromatographic techniques because it is applicable to a wide variety of analytes. Unfortunately, liquid mobile phases have relatively low diffusivities. A novel approach is presented for increasing the diffusivity of a liquid mobile phase. The method advocated in this study is the first process that has been described by which it is possible to increase the diffusivity of a liquid while having essentially no effect on other physical properties of the liquid, such as the temperature or solvating power. It is demonstrated that it is possible to sharpen peaks, in an HPLC separation, by the application of microwave radiation.
QUIC & DIRTY: A Quadratic Approximation Approach for Dirty Statistical Models

In this paper, we develop a family of algorithms for optimizing "superposition-structured" or "dirty" statistical estimators for high-dimensional problems involving the minimization of the sum of a smooth loss function with a hybrid reg-ularization. Most of the current approaches are first-order methods, including proximal gradient or Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM). We propose a new family of second-order methods where we approximate the loss function using quadratic approximation. The superposition structured regularizer then leads to a subproblem that can be efficiently solved by alternating minimization. We propose a general active subspace selection approach to speed up the solver by utilizing the low-dimensional structure given by the regularizers, and provide convergence guarantees for our algorithm. Empirically, we show that our approach is more than 10 times faster than state-of-the-art first-order approaches for the latent variable graphical model selection problems and multi-task learning problems when there is more than one regularizer. For these problems, our approach appears to be the first algorithm that can extend active subspace ideas to multiple regularizers.
Digital Divide: Impact on Hispanic-Owned Small Businesses

Information inequity creates a major gap between minority and non-minority businesses in the areas of business opportunities, communication, and information technologies. The purpose of this study is to survey the technological potential of Hispanic-owned small businesses (HSBs) to engage in e-commerce, specifically in e-procurement. The names of the HSBs were requested from the Office of Small Business Administration, which provided a national database of 9,800 businesses. A total of 1,200 businesses were randomly selected to receive the survey. Results indicate that small businesses have issues of concern regarding the process to access the Internet. HSBs find limitations in gaining access to e-commerce and its elements. Some limitations relate to financial constraints to buy computers; other limitations relate to Internet access methodology and ability to hire information technology personnel. Assisting HSBs to gain access to financial resources is crucial towards narrowing the digital divide and therefore reducing/eliminating its effects on the long-term survival of Hispanic small businesses. Government agencies and non-profit and private business organizations should develop financial and outreach opportunities to enhance participation of Hispanic­ owned small businesses.
Variations in trace metal concentrations in American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) collected from Galveston Bay, Texas

Nearly one thousand oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were collected at 15 sites on four sampling trips to Galveston Bay during 1992–1993. Iron, silver, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc were determined in the whole soft part of the individual oysters. Trace metal concentrations were found to vary among individuals within a site on a given trip, and spatially and temporally around the Galveston Bay estuarine system. Differences in metal concentrations from site to site were a factor of 5 or more for some metals, and similar differences were found from time to time at a given site. Zinc was found in anomalously high concentrations at several sites, mainly along the west side of Galveston Bay. Isolated high values of other metals were found scattered throughout the bay; however, only one site (GBSL, near Swan Lake in lower Galveston Bay) was found to have significantly higher than average concentrations for several metals (Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn). One obvious trend found in this study was that metal concentrations, except for As, were highest in the summer, followed by the fall, and lowest in the winter and spring. The temporal changes in metal concentrations in oysters cannot be explained by changes in body weight in different seasons, and are apparently caused by changes in environmental conditions (e.g., metal input, salinity) or biological activity (e.g., metabolism, depuration).
The power of DHT as a logical space

P2P DHT has fast become a rather "classical" research field. The currently popular mindsets are mostly routing-centric, or storage-centric. In this paper, we argue that it maybe more interesting to simply view DHT as a logical space that can dynamically size itself with potentially unlimited amount resources. This is in someway analogous to the virtual memory in any contemporary operating system. We believe that exploring such a perspective will bring about new insights as well as applications. We illustrate the power of this abstraction with a few examples, including self-scaling, self-healing fat tree, self-tune storage system, and a lightweight quorum-based distributed lock protocol which does not assume a constant number of members to start with. While their individual utilizations differ radically, all of them are united under this viewpoint.
A single-step automatic tuning algorithm for the delayed resonator vibration absorber

The delayed resonator (DR) is an active vibration control approach where a passive mass-spring-damper arrangement is converted into an undamped real-time tunable dynamic absorber using partial state feedback with time delay. In the presented work, robustness of the control strategy against fluctuations in the structural parameters of the controlled system is addressed. A single-step automatic tuning algorithm based on online parameter identification is developed as a means of increasing robustness against uncertainties and variations in the mechanical properties of the absorber arrangement. The tuning process is completed within the absorber section of the controlled system with no external information from the primary structure. Implementation of the algorithm is illustrated by a numerical example, and demonstrated experimentally on a clamped-clamped flexible beam.
Free-space propagation of irradiance fluctuations and the fourth-order coherence function

In studies of propagation through random media, an equation was developed that governs the propagation of the fourth-order coherence function. Here, we use this equation, without the scattering term, to investigate the propagation of the fourth-order coherence function in free space. Irradiance fluctuations are studied as a special case for infinite and finite beams. For a finite beam, the normalized on-axis irradiance fluctuations that result from a weak phase screen reach a maximum value before decaying to zero as the propagation distance becomes very large. In agreement with earlier results, the infinite beam is found to approach a constant value.
Proteus: Multiflow Diversity Routing for Wireless Networks with Cooperative Transmissions

In this paper, we consider the use of cooperative transmissions in multihop wireless networks to achieve Virtual Multiple Input Single Output (VMISO) links. Specifically, we investigate how the physical layer VMISO benefits translate into network level performance improvements. We show that the improvements are nontrivial (15 to 300 percent depending on the node density) but rely on two crucial algorithmic decisions: the number of cooperating transmitters for each link; and the cooperation strategy used by the transmitters. We explore the tradeoffs in making routing decisions using analytical models and derive the key routing considerations. Finally, we present Proteus, an adaptive diversity routing protocol that includes algorithmic solutions to the above two decision problems and leverages VMISO links in multihop wireless network to achieve performance improvements. We evaluate Proteus using NS2-based simulations with an enhanced physical layer model that accurately captures the effect of VMISO transmissions.
Congressional Careers, Committee Assignments, and Seniority Randomization in the US House of Representatives

Congressional Careers, Committee Assignments, and Seniority Randomization in the US House of Representatives
Estimating particle composition and size distribution from polarized water-leaving radiance

The sensitivity of the polarization of water-leaving radiance to the microphysical parameters of oceanic hydrosols, specifically to the real part of the bulk refractive index (nbulk) and to the hyperbolic slope of the Junge-type particle size distribution (PSD, ξ) is analyzed using in situ measurements of the underwater polarized light, in both Case I and Case II waters, and multiple scattering computations. Based on comparisons of experimental and simulated data, estimations of the real part of the refractive index and of the slope of the PSD are given. The study yielded results that generally agreed with expectations and that have accuracies comparable to previously published techniques. The analysis also demonstrates that the inclusion of polarization in addition to traditional radiance measurements can be expected to provide complementary information on the nature of particle populations in the ocean.
Herbicidal spectrum and activity of Myrothecium verrucaria

Abstract Myrothecium verrucaria, isolated from sicklepod, was investigated for bioherbicide potential against a wide range of economically important weed species from agronomic, pasture, and horticultural systems. A number of different weed species from a range of plant families were highly susceptible to sprays of crude preparations of the fungus. A small number of species, primarily monocots, were tolerant, showing no damage symptoms or insignificant effects on biomass. Symptoms developed very rapidly in susceptible hosts, suggesting the activity of toxins, several of which are known to be produced by Myrothecium spp. The activity of crude harvests of M. verrucaria was not diminished when they were filtered to remove fungal mycelium and spores. In contrast, washed conidia had relatively little impact on weed species. We conclude that the activity of M. verrucaria is primarily caused by the activity of metabolites produced by the fungus in culture and not due to infection by the fungus per se. Myrotheciu...
Evacuation and a geometric construction for Fibonacci tableaux

Tableaux have long been used to study combinatorial properties of permutations and multiset permutations. Discovered independently by Robinson and Schensted and generalized by Knuth, the Robinson-Schensted correspondence has provided a fundamental tool for relating permutations to tableaux. In 1963, Schutzenberger defined a process called evacuation on standard tableaux which gives a relationship between the pairs of tableaux (P,Q) resulting from the Schensted correspondence for a permutation and both the reverse and the complement of that permutation. Viennot gave a geometric construction for the Schensted correspondence and Fomin described a generalization of the correspondence whicb provides a bijection between permutations and pairs of chains in Young's lattice.In 1975, Stanley defined a Fibonacci lattice and in 1988 he introduced the idea of a differential poset. Roby gave an insertion algorithm, analogous to the Schensted correspondence, for mapping a permutation to a pair of Fibonacci tableaux. The main results of this paper are to give an evacuation algorithm for the Fibonacci tableaux that is analogous to the evacuation algorithm on Young tableaux and to describe a geometric construction for the Fibonacci tableaux that is similar to Viennot's geometric construction for Young tableaux.