cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF ELEVATED GUIDEWAY CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES ON VEHICLE RIDE QUALITY

In this paper the ride quality of a vehicle traversing an elevated guideway is related directly to guideway construction tolerances and design parameters. Moreover, the construction tolerances are modeled in terms familiar to a guideway contractor. The tolerance modeled for an elevated, two-span semicontinuous, concrete guideway are: surface finish, camber deviations, pier survey errors, and pier settlement. The major design parameters relating to live-load deflection, stiffness (material and cross- section), and pier spacing are included. A general technique is presented for relating these tolerances to vehicle ride quality by means of a digital computer simulation. Various ride quality criteria are considered, including rms acceleration, acceleration spectral density, acceleration frequency decomposition, and a deterministic state boundary. Numerical results are presented for a particular vehicle-guideway configuration and as such are valid only for the system considered. It is shown that for this system, equivalent ride quality can be maintained while adjusting the various construction tolerances. This trade-off capability allows the contractor to choose the least costly combination of tolerance parameters.
Phase fractionation at South Eugene Island Block 330

Persistent gas flux can dissolve, remobilize and alter reservoired or migrating oil through a process of phase fractionation. Moving gas, when flowing through an oil, can dissolve large fractions of that oil. The composition of the oil dissolved in the gas is dependent on the pressure-temperature conditions of the oil and the fluid flow history of the basin. The composition of the residual oil can be interpreted to yield both the depth at which the oil fractionated and the volume of gas required to fractionate the oil. South Eugene Island Block 330 in the U.S. Gulf Coast is a hydrocarbon province that has recently experienced large gas fluxes. Some of the oils in the region show signs of progressive fractionation and remobilization by gas transport. For example, the oils are more aromatic and less paraffinitic than unfractionated oils of similar maturity from the same area. The altered oils are also depleted of light n-alkanes. We have developed a computer-based model of oil alteration based on a fluid phase equilibria algorithm to simulate progressive fractionation of oil by gas. Application of the model to the South Eugene Island Block 330 area shows that several of the oils in the area have compositions that are compatible with alteration caused by equilibrating with approximately 12 to 14 mol of gas per mol of oil (2 to 2.7 g of gas per g of EI oil). The oils appear to have fractionated at approximately the depths of their present reservoirs. The model has great potential to examine hydrocarbon fluids for evidence of past migration and mixing.
On the determination of starting points for parametric surface intersections

Two numerical algorithms for computing starting points on the curve of intersection between two parametric surfaces are presented. The problem of determining intersection curves between two surfaces is analytically formulated by parametrizing inequality constraints into equality constraints and augmenting the constraint function. The first method uses an iterative optimization formulation and an iterative conjugate gradient algorithm to minimize a function comprising the vector of coordinates and a weighted constraint term. The second method uses the Moore-Penrose pseudo inverse of the constraint function to determine a starting point. Numerical examples are presented to validate both methods. Both methods require an initial point on one of the surfaces. Numerical examples illustrating the validity of the presented methods are discussed. The local versus the global views of the intersection problem in terms of iterative and recursive subdivision methods are addressed. Difficulties in determining more than one point are also illustrated using examples. The two algorithms are compared by studying their computational complexity. The Moore-Penrose inverse method has showed superior efficiency in the computational complexity, number of iterations needed, and time for conversion to a starting point. It is also shown that the Moore-Penrose inverse converges to a starting point in cases where the iterative optimization method does not.
Development of the detector response function approach in the least-squares analysis of X-ray fluorescence spectra

Abstract A procedure to obtain a semiempirical model for the elemental X-ray intensity pulse-height distribution libraries necessary in the library least-squares analysis of X-ray intensities for energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectra is outlined. This is accomplished by first obtaining the response function of the Si(Li) detector for incidnet photons in the energy range of interest. Subsequently, this response function is used to generate the desired elemental library standards for use in the least-squares analysis of spectra, or it can be used directly within a least-squares computer program, thus eliminating the large amount of computer storage required for these standards. The primary advantages of this approach are increased accuracy and the elimination of the large amount of experimental effort required in the preparation of the pure elemental standards necessary for obtaining the elemental X-ray intensity pulse-height distribution libraries.
A spectrophotometric study of the napthazarin and β-hydronaphthazarin chelates of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, thorium and neodymium

Abstract A spectrophotometric study of the titanium-, zirconium-, hafnium-, and thorium-naphthazarin systems in absolute ethanol using the method of continuous variations, indicates compositions with metal to ligand ratios between 1:1 and 1:2. Formation constants are calculated for these systems on the assumption that there is an equilibrium between 1:1 and 1:2 species absorbing at the same wavelength. The formation constants for both the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes are in the order: Th > Zr > Hf > Ti. A similar study of the same metals with β-hydronaphthazarin shows that titanium, zirconium, and thorium form complexes with the same composition as the naphthazarin complexes, but that hafnium forms only a 1:1 complex. The formation constants of the 1:1 complexes are in the order: Ti > Th > Zr > Hf; while those of the 1:2 complexes are: Th > Ti > Zr. The complexes formed by both ligands with the tripositive rare earth ion, neodymium, are of the same type as the Group IV complexes, and formation constants have been calculated.
Intermittency and solitons in the driven dissipative nonlinear Schroedinger equation

The cubic nonlinear Schroedinger equation, in the presence of driving and Landau damping, is studied numerically. As the pump intensity is increased, the system exhibits a transition from intermittency to a two-torus to chaos. The laminar phase of the intermittency is also a two-torus motion which corresponds in physical space to two identical solitons of amplitude determined by a power-balance equation.
The CO Fundamental Vibration-Rotation Lines in the Solar Spectrum. II. Non-LTE Transfer Modeling in Static and Dynamic Atmospheres

We present a numerical method for solving radiative transfer in molecular vibration-rotation bands that allows for departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) while accurately including a large number of lines. The method is applied to the formation of the CO fundamental vibration-rotation bands in several plane-parallel hydrostatic models and in a sequence of 20 snapshots from a radiation-hydrodynamics simulation of chromospheric dynamics. Calculations for the hydrostatic models performed with different values of the collisional coupling between different vibrational states confirm earlier results in the literature showing that the CO lines have LTE source functions in the solar atmosphere, so emergent CO intensities reflect actual temperatures therein. Only if the canonical collisional strengths are too large by more than 2 orders of magnitude would it be possible to explain the low temperatures derived from CO line core intensities at the solar limb by scattering in an atmosphere with much higher temperatures, consistent with the values derived from UV line and continuum and Ca II resonance line diagnostics. An interesting feature in the wavelength structure of the CO vibration-rotation bands is pointed out, in which pairs of lines can be found in different bands but of similar strength and wavelength. In principle such pairs provide a diagnostic for departures from LTE in the CO lines. CO line core intensity variations computed from the sequence of dynamical snapshots, which represent a typical episode in the chromospheric dynamics simulation, have an amplitude that is 2.5 times higher than observed. It is shown that this large amplitude is due in part to the up and down shift of the CO line formation region during the evolution of the atmosphere and is related to the assumption of instantaneous chemical equilibrium that was assumed to calculate CO concentrations. This suggests that the CO concentration is not in equilibrium, may be lower than would be expected on the basis of chemical equilibrium at the time-averaged mean temperature of the atmosphere, and may have reduced variations compared to instantaneous chemical equilibrium values at the local temperatures.
The road to efficiency? Re-examining the impact of the primary care physician workforce on health care utilization rates

Research suggests that primary care physicians may help to control health care costs by encouraging more efficient service use. However, most studies do not account for data aggregation effects that can significantly affect the direction and magnitude of findings. To re-examine the association between the proportion of primary care physicians and health care utilization rates in an area, and investigate the potential impact of aggregating data to different geographic levels on these observed associations, we estimate four distinct cross-sectional multivariate regression models to predict health care utilization at the county level and the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) level using data from 2007. Our study focuses on health care utilization in the United States using inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, emergency room visits, and total (both inpatient and outpatient) surgeries as dependent variables in separate regressions. The key independent variable is the proportion of primary care physicians in the area. Several community-level control variables are also included. We find that a higher proportion of primary care physicians in the area's physician supply is associated with a decreased number of inpatient admissions at the MSA level, but not the county level, and a decreased number of emergency room visits at the county level, but not the MSA level. Outpatient visits and total surgeries are not associated with the proportion of primary care physicians. From our findings we are able to conclude that there is some evidence that a higher concentration of primary care physicians is associated with a decrease in health care utilization, but these findings depend on the level of aggregation. Investigators should be aware of the implications of aggregating data and acknowledge any resultant limitations.
Edge localization in images by symmetrical wavelet transforms

The performance of a wavelet-based edge detector is characterized by a set of digital filters that implement the wavelet transform. In this paper we clarify the issue whether an implementation filter can be made symmetric or antisymmetric with respect to the origin while still maintaining the desired spatial localization. It is shown that, by analyzing the asymptotical convergence of the filter coefficients, these two conditions are not compatible if the filter possesses an antisymmetry. However, when the filter is symmetric with respect to the origin, the optimal spatial localization can be obtained.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
126 Comparison of coronary MR and CT angiography in detection of coronary stenosis with coronary calcification

Introduction Coronary CT angiography (CTA) with 64-slice CT has become a routine clinical test for patients with suspected coronary artery disease. However, the interpretation of CTA images is still limited by moderate and severe coronary artery calcification. Coronary MR angiography (MRA), on the other hand, does not suffer from beam hardening artifact by high density calcification and can potentially visualize the lumen of calcified coronary arteries.
MMW detection by superconducting films-applications of high temperature superconducting films

Superconductors exhibit two basic modes of radiation detection —a thermal or bolometer mode and a rectification mode which depends on a nonlinear voltage-current characteristic. The SIS detector has been shown to have a quantum limited current responsivity of e/hf. By analogy, weak link detectors may have a quantum limited voltage responsivity of about 2eR/hf. Granular films behave like arrays of weak links.
Endovascular treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

Objective To establish the safety and efficacy of endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Methods Between May 2004 and February 2006, patients with thoracoabdominal aneurysms considered high risk for conventional surgery were enrolled in a prospective trial to evaluate a novel endovascular grafting system. Devices were custom designed for each patient using high-resolution computed tomography. Patient data included mortality, morbidity, procedural details, and surrogate end points for endovascular repair. These were collected at hospital discharge and at 1, 6, and 12 months. Results Seventy-three patients underwent endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms for type I, II, or III (n = 28), or for type IV (n = 45) thoracoabdominal aneurysms. Mean aneurysm size was 7.1 cm (range 4.5–11.3 cm). General anesthesia was used in 47% of patients and regional anesthesia in 53%. There were no conversions to open surgery nor ruptures post-treatment. Technical success was achieved in 93% of patients (68/73). Thirty-day mortality was 5.5% (4/73). Major perioperative complications occurred in 11 (14%) patients and included paraplegia (2.7%, 2/73), new onset of dialysis (1.4%, 1/73), prolonged ventilator support (6.8%, 5/73), myocardial infarction (5.5%, 4/73), and minor hemorrhagic stroke (1.4%; 1/72). A majority of patients had no complications. Mean length of stay was 8.6 days. At follow-up, 6 deaths had occurred. There were no instances of stent migration nor aneurysmal growth. Conclusions Endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms involving the visceral segment in nonsurgical candidates is feasible. Known complications of repair are not eliminated, but morbidity and mortality appeared low relative to the high-risk population studied. Further refinement of device design, delivery technique, and patient selection is ongoing. Assessment of durability will require longer follow-up.
Associations between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged adults: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study

Objective Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an obesity-related condition associated with cardiovascular mortality. Yet, whether or not NAFLD is independently related to atherosclerosis is unclear. In a population-based cross-sectional sample of middle-aged adults free from liver or heart disease, we tested the hypothesis that NAFLD is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis (coronary artery (CAC) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC)) independent of obesity.
Modulation of ATP levels alters the mode of hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death in primary cortical cultures: effects of putative neuroprotective agents

Oxidative injury is believed to be a major factor in the pathogenesis of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, the mode of cell death in oxidant-stressed cells can vary. The present study was conducted to evaluate the use of a primary neuronal cell-based bioassay in which different modes of oxidant-induced cell death could be studied and in which putative neuroprotective agents could be screened. Addition of 50 microM H(2)O(2) to primary cortical neuronal cultures for 1 h under normal ATP conditions resulted in approximately 40% cell death, almost exclusively of an apoptotic nature. In this condition, cell death was effectively blocked by GM1 ganglioside, the semi-synthetic ganglioside derivative LIGA20, the dopamine receptor agonist pramipexole (PPX) and the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK but not by the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB). Pretreatment of cells with 0.01 microM oligomycin for 45 min prior to addition of 50 microM H(2)O(2) caused significant ATP depletion and approximately the same amount of cell death as H(2)O(2) alone. However, under these conditions, cell death was primarily non-apoptotic in nature and GM1, LIGA20 and Z-VAD-FMK had no protective effects. In contrast, AB and PPX effectively blocked cell death. These results suggest that cellular ATP plays a critical role in determining the mode of cell death in primary neurons and that these types of in vitro models may provide a useful system for screening putative neuroprotective agents.
Understanding seasonality in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh births exhibit an extreme seasonality with twice as many births in the winter months as in the summer months. In most developed countries seasonal variation above and/or below the average level is on the order of 5-15% in developing countries 10-30% while in Bangladesh it is 50%. A number of studies have tried to determine the causes of this differential and tentatively implicated absences of husbands the proportion of women menstruating lactational amenorrhea and mean levels of hematocrit and albumin (nutritional status). Nevertheless these studies have been unable to explain a large part of the seasonal variation in fecundability. Therefore other biological parameters were modeled considering 5 conditional probabilities of conception in a given month: 1) ovulation during a cycle 2) insemination during the fertile period 3) fertilization of the ovum 4) implantation of the conceptus and 5) survival of the embryo. Temperature effects could also cause variations as heat had a deleterious effect on spermatogenesis in animals and produced a marked embryo loss. Another element that is known to affect reproduction in animals is light. Seasonal change in nutritional status could be another factor in developing countries where the food supply is unstable. The ovulatory cycles are reduced in women with poor nutritional status. Laboratory tests can detect fertilization implantation and part of insemination thus these parameters could be studied across seasons in Bangladesh. A cluster sample from villages close to the Matlab field station would suffice including only women age 20-29 during 2 seasons or over the entire year. The biological parameters could be measured at the laboratory facilities of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh.
Novel 3'-ribonuclease and 3'-phosphatase activities of the bacterial non-homologous end-joining protein, DNA ligase D.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa DNA ligase D (PaeLigD) exemplifies a family of bacterial DNA end-joining proteins that consist of a ligase domain fused to a polymerase domain and a putative nuclease module. The LigD polymerase preferentially adds single ribonucleotides at blunt DNA ends and, as we show here, is also capable of adding up to 4 ribonucleotides to a DNA primer-template. We report that PaeLigD has an intrinsic ability to resect the short tract of 3′-ribonucleotides of a primer-template substrate to the point at which the primer strand has a single 3′-ribonucleotide remaining. The failure to digest beyond this point reflects a requirement for a 2′-OH group on the penultimate nucleoside of the primer strand. Replacing the 2′-OH by a 2′-F, 2′-NH2, 2′-OCH3, or 2′-H abolishes the resection reaction. The ribonucleotide resection activity resides within a 187-amino acid N-terminal nuclease domain and is the result of at least two component steps: (i) the 3′-terminal nucleoside is first removed to yield a primer strand with a ribonucleoside 3′-PO4 terminus, and (ii) the 3′-PO4 is hydrolyzed to a 3′-OH. The 3′-ribonuclease and 3′-phosphatase activities are both dependent on a divalent cation, specifically manganese. PaeLigD preferentially remodels the 3′-ends of a duplex primer-template substrate rather than a single strand of identical composition, and it prefers DNA primer strands containing a short 3′-ribonucleotide tract to an all-RNA primer. The nuclease domain of PaeLigD and its bacterial homologs has no apparent structural or mechanistic similarity to previously characterized nucleases. Thus, we surmise that it exemplifies a novel phosphoesterase family, defined in part by conserved residues Asp-50, Arg-52, and His-84, which are essential for the 3′-ribonuclease and 3′-phosphatase reactions.
Isolation and chemical characterization of gas-vacuole membranes from Microcystis aeruginosa Kuetz. emend. Elenkin.

A method involving penicillin treatment was developed to osmotically lyse the cells of the blue-green alga,Microcystis aeruginosa Kuetz. emend. Elenkin, and release the pressure-sensitive gas vacuoles intact. The gas vacuoles were purified by liquid-polymer partitioning or by macromolecular sieving and centrifugation. The degree of purification of the gas vacuoles was followed by observation in the electron microscope and by the use of C14-labeled vacuolated and nonvacuolated strains ofM. aeruginosa. The gas-vacuole membrane is composed of only protein consisting of 10% basic, 18% acidic and 52% non-polar amino acids.
Three-dimensional modeling of aluminized composite solid propellant combustion

We report 3-dimensional simulations of aluminized propellant combustion, accounting for heat conduction in the solid, combustion in the gas-phase, and coupling of these via the irregularly moving propellant surface, one that can not be defined by a single-valued height function. The simulations are used to examine the dynamics of aluminum particles in the near-neighborhood of the surface after detachment, and to provide an estimate of the time to ignition of the particles, and their speed and height above the surface at ignition. In addition we examine the temperature history of the particles during their rise to the surface, determine whether they melt or not, and in this way test Cohen’s well-known melting criterion. And we discuss a simple model which provides insights into how aluminum particles floating on a binder melt layer would migrate because of surface tension effects, and calculate an average migration distance that is consistent with previous agglomeration studies.
Profiling Healthy Eating Consumers: A Psychographic Approach to Social Marketing

This paper explores the profile of healthy and unhealthy eating consumers in terms of attitudinal variables and personality traits. Data from 3,462 respondents to the 1997 DDB Needham Life Style Study were analyzed. The results show the healthy eaters to be environmentally conscious, socially conservative, and financially healthy. They are usually high self-monitors, and innovative. On the other hand, unhealthy eaters are typically insensitive to their environment and health. They are also low self-monitors and hold liberal attitudes toward sexual issues. Practical and social implications are discussed for social marketers regarding target segmentation and message design.
Rapid identification of bacterially contaminated platelets using reagent strips: glucose and pH analysis as markers of bacterial metabolism

Background One in every 1000 units of platelets is bacterially contaminated, which puts patients at risk for transfusion-associated sepsis and death. However, there is currently no screening test in place to detect contaminated units. The use of commercially available multiple-reagent urine dipsticks for this purpose was evaluated. Study design and methods Platelet concentrates were inoculated with either sterile saline or suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Serratia marcescens to a final concentration of 50 colony-forming units (CFU) per mL. The platelets were analyzed daily by the use of multiple-reagent strips, quantitative culture, and glucometry. Results B cereus grew rapidly, reaching 10(7) CFU per mL 1 day after inoculation, while S. epidermidis grew slowly, achieving similar concentration 4 to 6 days after inoculation. Two of 10 dipstick reagents, glucose and pH, proved useful in detecting bacteria. Both were lower in bacterially contaminated units than in controls. Glucose data obtained from automated analyzers validated the dipstick data. All organisms were detected at concentrations > or = 10(7) CFU per mL, and S. aureus and K. pneumoniae were detected in the range of 10(3) to 10(5) CFU per mL. Conclusion The multiple-reagent test used had a sensitivity and specificity of 95 percent (> or = 10(7) CFU/mL) and 98 to 100 percent, respectively. These data indicate that urine dipsticks can be used to rapidly and inexpensively detect bacterial contamination in platelet concentrates, which potentially will reduce morbidity and mortality at minimal cost.
Competitive Costs of Disclosure by Biotech IPOs

This study empirically examines the impact of various competitive cost proxies on the extent of product-related information disclosed by biotech initial public offerings (IPOs) in their prospectuses. The choice of biotech companies, which operate in a fiercely competitive environment, crystalizes the importance of competitive disclosure costs. The focus on product-related information is aimed at a disclosure set for which potential competitive harm is a priori substantial. Our empirical analyses establish three disclosure determinants: the stage of product development, availability of patent protection, and venture capital backing. Additionally, we find the relative size of ownership retained by pre-IPO owners to be negatively related to the extent of disclosure, as predicted by signaling models. We also document the expected inverse relation between the extent of information conveyed by the biotech IPOs and widely used measures of information asymmetry: the bid-ask spread and quoted depth, as well as stock return volatility.
The critical supersaturations predicted by nucleation theory

A general set of equations is derived for calculating the supersaturation required to obtain a given rate of nucleation. This set is general enough to encompass all the present theories, the classical theory, the Lothe-Pound theory, the Reiss-Katz-Cohen theory, a recent theory by H. Reiss, and any other theory which includes a size-dependent correction to the classical theory. Comparison of these predictions is made for various substances.
The hyperon composition of neutron stars

Abstract Neutron stars are studied in the framework of relativistic interacting field theory of nucleons, hyperons, and mesons. A large component of strange baryons is found, and in the interior the neutron population is minor.
Multipolar neurons in the spiral ganglion of the rat.

Light- and electronmicroscopical studies of the rat spiral ganglion demonstrate that small neurons which are filamentous, thinly encapsulated and contain sparse rough endoplasmic reticulum are consistently present at all ages from weanling to sexually mature. These cells are further characterized by eccentricity of the nucleus, and by the presence of dense-cored vesicles (1200-1400 A in diameter) scattered in the vicinity of the Golgi complex, in the cytoplasm, or in the cell processes. These neurons comprise about 74% of the ganglion cells and correspond to the unmyelinated neurons described for other species. By use of serial sections, the cells have been determined to be multipolar. Ultrastructurally, they resemble known parasympathetic neurons. Thus, it is suggested that the small, unmyelinated spiral ganglion cells are autonomic (parasympathetic) neurons.
A Hypotonic Infant With Complete Deficiencies of Acid Maltase and Debrancher Enzyme

Infantile acid maltase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease that invariably leads to death in the first 2 years of life. Debrancher deficiency, also an autosomal recessive disease, however, carries a slowly progressive course. We report a hypotonic infant with a typical clinical course of infantile acid maltase deficiency in whom biochemical investigation revealed complete deficiencies of both acid maltase and debrancher enzyme. (J Child Neurol 1994;9:90-91).
Tomography of dental composites

The intent of this study was to quantify the fracture surface area of dental composites subjected to different aging media. Dental composites, a combination of a resin and glass filler particles, were examined using a high resolution microtomography system developed at beamline 2-BM of the Advanced Photon Source (APS). The composite specimens were 2 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height subjected to a compression load. The initial data set of images was taken with no load, then the load was incrementally increased, a new scan taken, repeatedly, until failure occurred. The images obtained from the tomography scans were reconstructed and analyzed to provide a 3D representation of the crack. This reconstruction involved determining the total solid area, the total area which includes the crack interfaces, and then just the total crack interface area. A ratio was then determined between the control and the loaded specimen. The specimens were aged in various media for 3 months. Preliminary 3D analysis corresponded to previous studies with respect to the aging media and load, i.e., higher loads and aging in ethanol resulted in weaker materials and in this case increased crack areas and compression of the material. When sufficient samples are processed (at present N=6) this 3D analysis will allow statistical comparison of crack area. Supported by NIDCR grant DE07979. Use of the APS was supported by the U.S. DOE, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. W-31-109-ENG-38.
A Long Search for Glut4 Activation

Insulin stimulates glucose transport in its target cells by translocation of the glucose transporter isoform 4 (Glut4) from an intracellular storage pool to the plasma membrane. A large body of evidence indicates that activity of Glut4 at the plasma membrane may vary. Recent findings suggest that p38 MAPK may be involved in regulation of the intrinsic activity of the transporter.
Scale values derived from the method of choices

In many a psychometric problem, particularly in practical problems, the only data conveniently obtainable are the first choices given to certain stimuli among a list of stimuli that are available for selection. By assuming that such choices represent real comparative judgments, we may apply Thurstone's law of comparative judgments, extract experimental proportions from the numbers of first choices, and compute psychological scale values for the stimuli. Two procedures are proposed for estimating such proportions and examples of their applications are given. A procedure for allocating a meaningful zero point on the scale by the use of absolute judgments is explained and demonstrated. Suggestions are added for overcoming certain weaknesses and limitations of the method of choices.
Characterization of the three dimensional properties of poled PZT 65/35 in the absence of losses

In this paper we characterize the isothermal three dimensional properties of a poled ferroelectric ceramic PZT 65/35 in the absence of losses. The resulting constitutive relations, in the absence of mechanical dissipation, domain switching, dipole dynamics and phase transformation, are the standard ones which appear in the literature. The characterization of the constitutive relations requires the determination of five elastic constants, three piezoelectric constants and two dielectric constants. We dientify the experimental measurements which are sufficient to determine these constants and describe the data reduction procedures. Our results differ relatively and absolutely from those given in the literature.
Marginal costs of undiscovered natural gas resources in the United States with possible application to world oil and gas resources

The Mineral Resources Institute of the Colorado School of Mines is completing a project sponsored jointly by the Gas Research Institute and the Electric Power Research Institute to assess the cost of development of natural gas resources in the United States. The project has as its objective the development of a method and subsequent calculation of costs which might be anticipated in the discovery and development of the undiscovered natural gas resources of the nation. Costs are expressed in constant dollars and are intended to provide a measure of the relative costs which would be encountered in various, regions and at various depths. The project work was supported by the development of a model for calculation of full marginal costs of resource discovery and development by Operational Economics, Inc. This paper summarizes the data sources, methodology, and results of the analyses performed, as well as some interpretations of those results. Additionally, the paper includes some possible applications of the procedures and the models to the estimation of the costs of development of the oil resources of the United States and of the oil and gas resources of the world.
On evaluating cycling and movement of conventional generators for balancing services with large solar penetration

The increasing uncertainty caused by a higher penetration level of renewable energy points to the need for sufficient balancing services to ensure secure operation. It is thus necessary to quantify these services accurately and evaluate the cycling and movement of conventional generators that provide load following and regulation services for optimal planning and scheduling of multiple resources. This paper first introduces a systematic approach to calculating load following and regulation requirements with a large amount of solar integration. Then, two methods to quantitatively determine the cycling of conventional generators are proposed: (1) mileage and number of directional changes in balancing service, and (2) ramp statistics (or half-cycle) analysis. The proposed methods are tested on the Nevada (NV) Energy power system model. Simulation results demonstrate a significant impact of increased solar capacity on balancing service and cycling of conventional generators. Busy hours are identified for different study scenarios with various solar penetration levels. This study provides a basis for evaluating the wear and tear of conventional generators in the solar integration process in the Nevada power system.
Bioconcentration of nonylphenol in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Abstract Bioconcentration of p-nonylphenol (NP) by fathead minnows was determined under laboratory conditions. Fish were exposed continuously for 42 days to 0.33, 0.93 and 2.36 μg NP/l in a flow-through system. NP was Soxhlet extracted from whole fish homogenates with dichloromethane (DCM). The resulting extract was concentrated and bulk lipids removed by gel permeation and silica-gel chromatography. Compounds were identified and quantified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Mass spectrometry was used for verification of peak assignments. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) ranged from 245 to 380.
Pressure dependence of the direct energy gap in germanium

Abstract The pressure dependence of the energy gap corresponding to allowed optical transitions in germanium has been measured at room temperature and pressures up to 7000 kg/cm 2 . This direct energy gap is found to increase at a rate of 1.3 ± 0.1 × 10 −5 eV cm 2 / kg , in agreement with previous approximate determinations and with the pressure coefficient of the same energy gap in group 3–5 compounds.
ON THE OPTIMALITY OF AN INDEX RULE IN MULTICHANNEL ALLOCATION FOR SINGLE-HOP MOBILE NETWORKS WITH MULTIPLE SERVICE CLASSES

We model a single-hop mobile network under centralized control with N service classes as a system of N weighted cost parallel queues with M (1 ≤ M < N) servers, arrivals, varying binary connectivity, and Bernoulli service success at each queue. We consider scheduling problems in this system and, under various assumptions on arrivals and connectivity, derive conditions sufficient, but not necessary, to guarantee the optimality of an index policy.
Simultaneous Determination and Confirmation of Sodium N-Methyldithiocarbamate (Metham SodiumR) and Methyl Isothiocyanate in Water by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection

Abstract A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure was developed for determination and confirmation of sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate and methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) present in water. Both analytes are separated on a strong anion exchange column (25 cm × 4.6 mm × 5 μm) with a mobile phase of (45+55, V/V) methanol/buffered water (pH 6.9) containing 10mM hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and are measured by UV using 242 and 284 nm wavelengths. Diode array spectra were acquired for confirmation. Analyte recoveries were 108% and 114%, respectively when both compounds were present in raw surface water. Linear calibration plots from 5 μg/L to 250 mg/L for MITC and 5 mg/L to 250 mg/L for Metham SodiumR with correlation coefficients of >0.99, were obtained. Precision data and analyte UV/VIS spectra for confirmation are shown for both compounds. The detection limit is 2 μg/L for MITC and 2 mg/L for Metham SodiumR
Organic gas emissions from a stoichiometric direct injection spark ignition engine operating on ethanol/gasoline blends:

AbstractThe organic gas emissions from a stoichiometric direct injection spark ignition engine operating on ethanol/gasoline blends have been assessed under warmed-up and cold idle conditions. The speciated emissions show that the total organic gas emissions (in ppm C1) decrease with increase in ethanol content. The mole fraction of ethanol in the exhaust is proportional to the volume fraction of ethanol in the fuel: a 10 per cent increase in the latter would yield a 5.5 per cent increase in the former. The ethanol–acetaldehyde ratio (by mol) in the exhaust is 6. These results hold for both the warmed-up and the cold idle conditions, with the exception of E85 at cold idle because of the difficulty in fuel evaporation. The dependence of the organic gas emissions on injection timing may be divided into three regimes. With early injection, the fuel bounce from the piston results in high emissions. With injection in mid-stroke, the emissions are low and not sensitive to the fuel pressure. With injection close...
The history of child protection in the African American community: Implications for current child welfare policies

Abstract This paper presents primary historical research describing the informal practices that emerged in the African American communities to protect and care for African American children. These culturally embedded practices are analyzed in the light of the legal principles and assumptions of the formal, public child welfare system that evolved at the turn of the 20th century and served largely White children. A shadow system of child welfare has been in place in African American communities since the end of the 19th century. Its vitality was a response to the exclusion of African American children from the public child welfare system. Based on this history, implications for changes in current child welfare policies to better serve the needs of African American families are discussed.
Nonlinear optical studies on transition metal complexes of o-aminobenzenethiol

Abstract The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, χ (3) xxxx , of solutions of Co(III) and Ni(II) complexes of o -aminobenzenethiol, o -NH 2 C 6 H 4 SH, were measured by degenerate four-wave mixing at 0.164 μm. In solution, the deprotonation of Ni( o -NH 2 C 6 H 4 S) 2 was found to occur in the presence of air and was accelerated by mild warming, yielding Ni( o -NHC 6 H 4 S) 2 . This complex has a large 〈λ xxxx 〉 = 2 × 10 −31 esu with an estimated χ (3) xxxx on the order of 2 × 10 −9 esu. A low-energy dd transition has been measured at 1.1 μm for the nickel complex and may be responsible for its enhanced third-order optical nonlinearity.
An Electronically Despun Switched Antenna

Abstract Historically, two types of antennas, mechanical and electronic, have been proposed to satisfy the need to provide despun conical-beam radiation patterns from spin-stabilized spacecraft. The mechanically despun antenna involves a spinning radiator or reflector that results in high performance and offers the promise of high reliability with small penalties in weight and prime power. It uses moving parts and therefore has less appeal than completely electronic systems. The electronically despun antenna removes this constraint, since no moving parts are involved. This design usually uses variable phase shifters to control the phase of the incident power to a circular array of elements such that a conical beam is despun. This method results in good performance, but the phase shifters and other control equipment are heavy, consume relatively large amounts of power, and require many components. The electronically despun switched antenna offers a useful alternative to these more conventional systems. The switched system preserves the advantage of having no moving parts and results in a reliable, simple, lightweight control system with small power consumption. It is believed that these advantages offset the slightly lower performance that is inherent in the technique. The conceptual design and significant tradeoffs involved in the development of an eight-element 4-GHz antenna have been confirmed by selected laboratory experiments.
Photoinduced polymerization of solid C70 films

Abstract We report experimental evidence for the photopolymerization of C70 films under irradiation with visible or UV light. The tendency of C70 to dimerize is also confirmed by molecular dynamics calculations which find that the lowest energy dimer configuration contains a four-membered ring between monomers, similar to that calculated for the C60 dimer or ‘bucky dumbell’. However, the cross section for this phototransformation is found to be considerably smaller than observed for C60, and this is attributed to a reduction in the number of reactive double bonds from 30 in C60 to only 5 in each polar cap of a C70 molecule.
Calcineurin serves in the circadian output pathway to regulate the daily rhythm of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels in the retina

The L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (L-VGCCs) in avian retinal cone photoreceptors are under circadian control, in which the protein expression of the α1 subunits and the current density are greater at night than during the day. Both Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Ras-phosphatidylionositol 3 kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) signaling pathways are part of the circadian output that regulate the L-VGCC rhythm, while cAMP-dependent signaling is further upstream of Ras to regulate the circadian outputs in photoreceptors. However, there are missing links between cAMP-dependent signaling and Ras in the circadian output regulation of L-VGCCs. In this study, we report that calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent serine (ser)/threonine (thr) phosphatase, participates in the circadian output pathway to regulate L-VGCCs through modulating both Ras-MAPK and Ras-PI3K-AKT signaling. The activity of calcineurin, but not its protein expression, was under circadian regulation. Application of a calcineurin inhibitor, FK-506 or cyclosporine A, reduced the L-VGCC current density at night with a corresponding decrease in L-VGCCα1D protein expression, but the circadian rhythm of L-VGCCα1D mRNA levels were not affected. Inhibition of calcineurin further reduced the phosphorylation of ERK and AKT (at thr 308) and inhibited the activation of Ras, but inhibitors of MAPK or PI3K signaling did not affect the circadian rhythm of calcineurin activity. However, inhibition of adenylate cyclase significantly dampened the circadian rhythm of calcineurin activity. These results suggest that calcineurin is upstream of MAPK and PI3K-AKT but downstream of cAMP in the circadian regulation of L-VGCCs.
Neural crest specification: tissues, signals, and transcription factors

The neural crest is a transient population of multipotent and migratory cells unique to vertebrate embryos. Initially derived from the borders of the neural plate, these cells undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition to leave the central nervous system, migrate extensively in the periphery, and differentiate into numerous diverse derivatives. These include but are not limited to craniofacial cartilage, pigment cells, and peripheral neurons and glia. Attractive for their similarities to stem cells and metastatic cancer cells, neural crest cells are a popular model system for studying cell/tissue interactions and signaling factors that influence cell fate decisions and lineage transitions. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms required for neural crest formation in various vertebrate species, focusing on the importance of signaling factors from adjacent tissues and conserved gene regulatory interactions, which are required for induction and specification of the ectodermal tissue that will become neural crest.
Polynomial shift-invariant operators for texture segmentation

Marking boundaries in an image between regions that are differently textured depends on computing descriptions of the regions that show them to be differently textured. Many texture description functions have been introduced in the literature; however, the texture description problem has never been treated in full generality. The author proposed shift-invariant vector-valued piecewise continuous functions of bounded support on images as a general class of texture description functions, and consider approximating functions in this class with polynomials. He proves a theorem that relates the degree of such a polynomial description function to the statistical properties of textured regions it can discriminate, and discusses some implications of the theorem. >
Promoting Causal Agency: The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction

Teachers seeking to promote the self-determination of their students must enable them to become self-regulated problem-solvers. This article introduces a model of teaching, The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction, incorporating principles of self-determination, which enables teachers to teach students to become causal agents in their own lives. This model was field-tested with students with disabilities. Students receiving instruction from teachers using the model attained educationally relevant goals, showed enhanced self-determination, and communicated their satisfaction with the process. Teachers implementing the model likewise indicated their satisfaction with the process and suggested that they would continue to use the model after the completion of the field test.
Statistical Evaluation of the Clade “Rhabdoweisiaceae”

Abstract Two previously published molecular analyses of the Dicranaceae and related families that supported as a taxonomic entity the clade “Rhabdoweisiaceae” as a segregate of the Dicranaceae s.lat. were subjected to a nine-step statistical analysis. The first study did not well support the Rhabdoweisiaceae but, in combination with the second, reliable support was obtained demonstrating that Rhabdoweisiaceae are both monophyletic and not merely a basal branch of the Dicranaceae. Although such molecular conclusions may guide taxonomy, there is no satisfactory morphological definition of the Rhabdoweisiaceae, and that uncertainty may lead to a paraphyletic classification of the Dicranaceae to include Rhabdoweisiaceae as simply one or more basal lineages.