cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater

Use of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based synthetic fertilizers shows an increasing trend, but this has led to large-scale influx of reactive nitrogen in the environment, with serious implications on human health and the environment. On the other hand, phosphorus, a non-renewable resource, faces a serious risk of depletion. Therefore, recovery and reuse of nitrogen and phosphorus is highly desirable. For nitrogen recovery, an ion exchange/adsorption-based process provides concentrated streams of reactive nitrogen. Bioelectrochemical systems efficiently and effectively recover nitrogen as NH3 (g) or (NH4)2SO4. Air stripping of ammonia from anaerobic digestate has been reported to recover 70–92 % of nitrogen. Membrane separation provides recovery in the order of 99–100 % with no secondary pollutant in the permeate.With regard to phosphorus (P) removal, physical filtration and membrane processes have the potential to reduce suspended P to trace amounts but provide minimal dissolved P removal. Chemical precipitation can remove 80–99 % P in wastewater streams and recover it in the form of fertilizer (struvite). Acid hydrolysis can convert recovered P into usable phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers. Physical-chemical adsorption and ion exchange media can reduce P to trace or non-detect concentrations, with minimal waste production and high reusability. Biological assimilation through constructed wetlands removes both N (83–87 %) and P (70–85 %) from wastewaters, with recovery in the form of fish/animal feeds and biofuel. The paper discusses methods and important results on recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater.
Electronic Nose Evaluation of the Effects of Canopy Side on Cabernet franc (Vitis vinifera L.) Grape and Wine Volatiles

The effect of grapevine canopy side (north versus south and east versus west) on grape and wine volatiles of Cabernet franc was evaluated during two growing seasons using two electronic nose systems based on conducting polymers and surface acoustic waves. Data from three sampling dates per season from both electronic noses were compared with physicochemistry and wine aroma sensory evaluations. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses generally indicated grape physicochemistry indices could not differentiate consistently (p > 0.05) between canopy sides across growing seasons and sampling dates. Both electronic nose (ENose) systems provided complete discrimination of canopy sides for grapes and wine using canonical discriminant analysis. On average, the surface acoustic wave-based ENose explained 80% for the conducting polymer-based ENose. Wine aroma sensory evaluation differentiated canopy sides in three of four evaluations.
Chemical stability of inviscid melt-spun (IMS) fibers of calcia-alumina in aqueous media

Abstract Vitreous fibers of CaO Al 2 O 3 (46.5/53.5 wt.%) prepared by inviscid melt spinning (IMS) are shown to be susceptible to attack and eventual dissolution by water. The attack proceeds with the formation of a hydrate coating, which thickens with time at the expense of the underlying oxide fiber. With exposure to saturated lime water a limited initial attack takes place, which then comes to a halt. A coating is formed that is thin, continuous and fine grained. The coating, composed chiefly of Ca(OH)2 and a much smaller proportion of aluminum, appears to offer protection in the more corrosive aqueous environments. The strong basic nature and favorable mechanical properties of these fibers make them especially of interest in the concrete industry, where the similarly strong basic nature of the Portland cement matrix suggests a degree of compatibility.
Synthesis of substituted pyridazino[4,5‐c]pyridazines

Several pyridazino[4,5-c]pyridazines substituted in the 5- and 8-positions with hydroxyl, mercapto and amino groups and in the 3-position with a methyl group or a hydrogen atom have been prepared. In the course of this work five previously unreported pyridazine derivatives have also been synthesized.
A linear condition determining local or global existence for nonlinear problems

Given a nonlinear autonomous system of ordinary or partial differential equations that has at least local existence and uniqueness, we offer a linear condition which is necessary and sufficient for existence to be global. This paper is largely concerned with numerically testing this condition. For larger systems, principals of computations are clear but actual implementation poses considerable challenges. We give examples for smaller systems and discuss challenges related to larger systems. This work is the second part of a program, the first part being [Neuberger J.W., How to distinguish local semigroups from global semigroups, Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. (in press), available at http://arxiv.org/abs/1109.2184]. Future work points to a distant goal for problems as in [Fefferman C.L., Existence and Smoothness of the Navier-Stokes Equation, In: The Millennium Prize Problems, Clay Mathematics Institute, Cambridge/American Mathematical Society, Providence, 2006, 57–67].
Microbial Evolution: Enforcing Cooperation by Partial Kin Selection

How do bacterial cells mediate effective cooperation? A new paper suggests two routes: converting the uninitiated to their cause by lateral gene transfer, and enforcing cooperative behavior by killing revertants.
Size Matters: Examining the Link between Small Manufacturing, Socioeconomic Deprivation, and Crime Rates in Nonmetropolitan Communities

Previous research explaining macrolevel crime patterns has generally been limited in focus to urban communities. Further, the bulk of this research has narrowly investigated links between socioecon...
The role of reinforcement in the sexual behavior of the female rat.

In order to clarify the role of reinforcement in the sexual behavior of female rats, females were trained to traverse a runway to achieve contact with incentive males. Females learned to run faster to sexually active males that achieved intromission than to passive males (p<0.05). However, both types of incentive males produced significant learning (p< 0.001). The type of estrus, either natural or hormone-induced, did not affect learning measures. The results were interpreted as requiring that an explanatory model of the female's sexual behavior contain a variable accounting for reinforcement specific to sexual contact as well as for the more general social reinforcement and the well established aversive consequences of mating.
The protein fluorescence and structural toolkit: Database and programs for the analysis of protein fluorescence and structural data

Protein fluorescence is a powerful tool for studying protein structure and dynamics if we have a means to interpret the spectral data in terms of protein structural properties. Our previous research successfully provided this support through the development of individual software modules implementing the algorithms for fluorescence and structural analyses. Now we have integrated the developed software modules, introduced a new program for the assignment of tryptophan residues to spectral-structural classes, and created a web-based toolkit PFAST: protein fluorescence and structural toolkit: http://pfast.phys.uri.edu/. PFAST contains three modules: (1) FCAT is a fluorescence-correlation analysis tool, which decomposes protein fluorescence spectra to reveal the spectral components of individual tryptophan residues or groups of tryptophan residues located close to each other, and assigns spectral components to one of five previously established spectral-structural classes. (2) SCAT is a structural-correlation analysis tool for the calculation of the structural parameters of the environment of tryptophan residues from the atomic structures of the proteins from the Protein Data Bank (PDB), and for the assignment of tryptophan residues to one of five spectral-structural classes. (3) The last module is a PFAST database that contains protein fluorescence and structural data obtained from results of the FCAT and SCAT analyses.
Selective Chemical Extractants To Predict Bioavailability of Soil-Aged Organic Chemicals

A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of devising a chemical assay to predict the bioavailability of organic compounds that become sequestered in soil. The recovery of atrazine and phenanthrene freshly added to soil varied appreciably among individual solvents, but the quantity extracted by each solvent declined as the test compounds persisted in soil. The percentage recovered by some extractants approximated either the percentage uptake by earthworms or bacterial degradation. Recovery by one extractant predicted bioavailability to both organisms. The data suggest that it is feasible to predict bioavailability of persistent organic compounds in soil by chemical procedures.
Position Estimation for Projectiles Using Low-cost Sensors and Flight Dynamics

AbstractNavigation of gun-launched precision munitions using affordable technologies is investigated. Estimation algorithms were developed to blend flight dynamic models with measurements from inertial sensors. The launch and flight characteristics of the unique, gun-launched environment were exploited both in the state estimator and for novel heuristic parameter identification. Using the heuristic parameter, the inertial navigation system was calibrated without a global positioning system (GPS), and its performance was compared with a similar calibration performed with a GPS. The experimental results from guided mortar flights indicate that the algorithm with only inertial sensor measurements yields position errors of less than 40 m over a 30-s flight. Trade studies were conducted in simulation to assess algorithm performance over a wider range of conditions such as variation in the flight dynamic model parameters. These results demonstrate that position errors are less than tens of meters for flight tim...
Two-stage residual inclusion estimation: Addressing endogeneity in health econometric modeling

The paper focuses on two estimation methods that have been widely used to address endogeneity in empirical research in health economics and health services research-two-stage predictor substitution (2SPS) and two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI). 2SPS is the rote extension (to nonlinear models) of the popular linear two-stage least squares estimator. The 2SRI estimator is similar except that in the second-stage regression, the endogenous variables are not replaced by first-stage predictors. Instead, first-stage residuals are included as additional regressors. In a generic parametric framework, we show that 2SRI is consistent and 2SPS is not. Results from a simulation study and an illustrative example also recommend against 2SPS and favor 2SRI. Our findings are important given that there are many prominent examples of the application of inconsistent 2SPS in the recent literature. This study can be used as a guide by future researchers in health economics who are confronted with endogeneity in their empirical work.
Thermal decomposition of 2-(4-nitrophenyl)- and 2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)malonic acids and derivatives

Abstract The thermal decomposition of 2-(4-nitrophenyl)- and 2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)malonic acids, the corresponding diethyl esters, and the respective sodium carboxylates has been examined using thermogravimetry. Thermal decomposition of the carboxylic acids occurs by sequential loss of two moles of carbon dioxide per mole of acid followed by volatilization of the nitroaromatic formed. The corresponding diethyl esters undergo rapid decomposition at temperatures approaching 200°C to afford in addition to volatile products (carbon dioxide) significant amounts of nonvolatile residue.
Surface-immobilized antibody-antigen binding studies by single molecule fluorescence imaging

In this work we report Single Molecule (SM) microscopy studies of binding events between individual surface immobilized antibodies and fluorescent antigens using Total Internal Reflection (TIR) microscopy. Specific binding events of single biotin-conjugated 1quantum dots to anti-biotin antibodies, immobilized on an amine-coated cover glass using a heterobifunctional photo-reactive cross-linker were observed. The methodology of calculating the binding affinity (dissociation constant) from the time series of 2-D images is described.
Comparative studies on the oxidation and reduction of drug substrates in human placental versus rat hepatic microsomes

Abstract Human placental microsomes prepared by conventional methods were compared with analogous preparations from adult, male rat livers with respect to biochemical components and systems which could affect rates of mixed-function oxidation and reduction of drugs and steroids in vitro . Each of the electron transport components required for the mixed-function oxidation of drugs in hepatic systems was present in lower concentrations in placental than hepatic microsomes. In contrast to hepatic microsomes, placental microsomes which exhibited unusually high aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities did not contain increased concentrations of the electron transport components. Evidence was provided to indicate that rapid degradation of initial electron donors (reduced pyridine nucleotides) was not responsible for the observance of low or negligible drug metabolic activities observed in incubations with placental micro-somes. Cytochromes P-450 and b 5 and their corresponding reductases were shown to be present in human placental preparations. NADPH and NADH-dependent cytochrome c reductase activities in placental microsomes were somewhat lower but comparable to those determined in hepatic preparations. However, cytochromes b 5 and P-450 and contaminating hemoglobin and methemoglobin accounted for less than 56 per cent of the total heme present in placental microsomes. Rapid degradation of placental cytochrome P-450 was observed at 37° in the presence of sodium hydrosulfite, but conversion to cytochrome P-420 was minimal after incubation for 1 hr in the presence of NADPH at the same temperature. It was con- sidered probable that the low rates of drug biotransformation observed would be explicable in terms of high substrate specificities of the placental enzymic components.
A DNA-dependent DNA Polymerase and a DNA Endonuclease in Virions of Rous Sarcoma Virus

The virion contains a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase which replicates duplex DNA and an endonuclease which attacks it. A ligase system may also be present.
The Neurodevelopment of Empathy in Humans

Empathy, which implies a shared interpersonal experience, is implicated in many aspects of social cognition, notably prosocial behavior, morality and the regulation of aggression. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the current knowledge in developmental and affective neuroscience with an emphasis on the perception of pain in others. It will be argued that human empathy involves several components: affective arousal, emotion understanding and emotion regulation, each with different developmental trajectories. These components are implemented by a complex network of distributed, often recursively connected, interacting neural regions including the superior temporal sulcus, insula, medial and orbitofrontal cortices, amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex, as well as autonomic and neuroendocrine processes implicated in social behaviors and emotional states. Decomposing the construct of empathy into subcomponents that operate in conjunction in the healthy brain and examining their developmental trajectory provides added value to our current approaches to understanding human development. It can also benefit our understanding of both typical and atypical development.
Behavior of the chromosome core in mitosis and meiosis

A simple method has been described for the visualization of chromosome cores with light microscopy in conventional chromosome preparations. The technique is relatively simple, highly reproducible and can be used effectively on fresh and aged slides. The following observations have been made: (1) a core existed in mitotic chromosomes in all the materials employed, confirming the findings of Howell and Hsu (1979). (2) The microchromosomes of the chicken and double minutes of a human carcinoma cell line also exhibited the core structure. (3) The core structure of meiotic chromosomes appear weak, disorganized, and disintegrating.
The 6-Min Walk Test Is It an Effective Method for Evaluating Heart Failure Therapies?

The 6-min walk (6MW) is a self-paced test for measuring functional capacity. Lower 6MW distances have been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure. The purpose of this article is to describe the history of the 6MW test and to evaluate its reliability, validity, and predictive value as well as the responsiveness of the test to therapies. In the literature we reviewed, reliability was affected by several factors including learning effects and protocol deviations. The 6MW distance was moderately correlated with peak oxygen consumption derived from cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing. In some studies the 6MW distance was predictive of hospitalization and mortality. In pharmacological and cardiac resynchronization trials the 6MW distance did not consistently detect clinical improvements. Despite limitations, the 6MW test is a viable alternative to stress testing for objectively evaluating functional capacity in some settings. We provide recommendations for using the 6MW test in futu...
A study on multiresolution lossless video coding using inter/intra frame adaptive prediction

Lossless video coding is required in the fields of archiving and editing digital cinema or digital broadcasting contents. This paper combines a discrete wavelet transform and adaptive inter/intra-frame prediction in the wavelet transform domain to create multiresolution lossless video coding. The multiresolution structure offered by the wavelet transform facilitates interchange among several video source formats such as Super High Definition (SHD) images, HDTV, SDTV, and mobile applications. Adaptive inter/intra-frame prediction is an extension of JPEG-LS, a state-of-the-art lossless still image compression standard. Based on the image statistics of the wavelet transform domains in successive frames, inter/intra frame adaptive prediction is applied to the appropriate wavelet transform domain. This adaptation offers superior compression performance. This is achieved with low computational cost and no increase in additional information. Experiments on digital cinema test sequences confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
A THEORETICAL REVISIT ON 2-NORBORNYL CATION

The 2-norbornyl cation is an old topic in physical-organic chemistry. Whether in classical or non-classical form (partial bridged form) it has been one of the focus of discussion. Currently the experimental data and theoretical calculations favorably support the idea that 2-norbornyl cation is not in the classical form in the stable-ion condition. In this paper, first, we will show that a 3-center-2-electron π-complex is formed by the collapse of 2-norbornyl cation. Further, using different theoretical methods (B3LYP, MP2) with different basis sets (6-31+G, 6-31G(d,p), 6-311G(d,p), 6-311G(2d,p)), we find that there is a trend for the 3-center-2-electron π-complex to approach the Cs symmetry, and this π-complex oscillates within the numerical limits of the perfect Cs symmetrical configuration. The stabilization energies of the π-complex are 13.87 Kcal/mol and 19.47 Kcal/mol by B3LYP/6-31+G and MP2/6-31+G, respectively. Second, our calculations also show that the transition state between 2-norbornyl cation ...
Computing with dynamic attractors in neural networks.

Abstract In this paper we report on some new architectures for neural computation, motivated in part by biological considerations. One of our goals is to demonstrate that it is just as easy for a neural net to compute with arbitrary attractors — oscillatory or chaotic — as with the more usual asymptotically stable fixed points. The advantages (if any) of such architectures are currently being investigated; but it seems reasonable that the much richer dynamics of recurrent networks, so obvious in recordings of brain activity, must be useful for something. On the other hand, the constraints of computing with biological wet-ware may make chaotic dynamics unavoidable in complex nervous systems. We hypothesize also that the as yet unrivaled capabilities of the human brain derive from an ability to integrate both analog intuitive pattern recognition operations, and digital symbolic logical operations at the ground level of its hardware. To investigate these possibilities, we have constructed a parallel distributed processing architecture inspired by the structure and dynamics of cerebral cortex. The construction assumes that cortex is a set of coupled associative memories with dynamic attractors. It is guided also by a particular concept of the physical structure required of macroscopic computational systems in general for reliable computation in the presence of noise. Our challenge is to accomplish real tasks that brains can do, using ordinary differential equations, in networks that are as faithful as possible to the known anatomy and dynamics of cortex.
Evidenced-Based Treatment for Older Adults

Abstract Over the past several decades, the number of older adults has grown at an unprecedented rate. As the number of older adults continues to increase with the aging of the baby boom generation, it is essential that social workers have knowledge of effective strategies for promoting quality of life and treating later-life mental health disorders among older adults and their family members. In order to promote such knowledge, this article reviews the outcomes research literature related to individual and group treatments for older adults and their familial caregivers. Empirically based research studies published between 1985 and the present were examined for this review. Results indicate an emerging evidence base of efficacious psychosocial interventions for older individuals and their families. Most consistent support was found for treatments employing cognitive-behavioral, problem-solving, and reminiscence therapies. Many gaps do exist in the literature, however, and replication studies are needed. I...
Treatment of male genital exhibitionism

Abstract The male genital exhibitionist comprises about 30% of sex offenders and is characterized by a high incidence of recidivism. Therapies, for want of controlled studies, have been numerous, varying from psychoanalysis to pharmacotherapy. Recently, however, group psychotherapy and behavior modification are being increasingly applied with success in the treatment of exhibitionism.
The effect of tangential bearing acceleration on the lubrication of a finite-width slider

Abstract The effect of tangential bearing acceleration on the pressure and load-carrying capacity of a slider of finite width is analyzed theoretically on the basis of simplified Navier-Stokes equations which include the local acceleration of the lubricant. The inertia of the lubricant is shown to cause a time lag before the pressure begins to increase at an appreciable rate. The width of the slider influences neither the duration of this time lag nor the rate at which steady or quasi-steady conditions are established.
Absorption and depletion effects on degenerate four-wave mixing in homogeneously broadened absorbers

The coupled equations satisfied by the pump, probe, and signal waves in a four-wave interaction in a two-level saturable absorber are derived, taking into account the effects of absorption and depletion. Numerical solutions of these equations are presented in two limits; one in which the probe-wave amplitude is small compared with that of the pump waves and another in which the probe- and pump-wave amplitudes are comparable. The results indicate that absorption effects are important when the wave amplitudes are less than the saturation amplitude of the absorption process. The importance of the depletion effects depends on the type of four-wave interaction. The most significant effects occur when the undepleted theory predicts probe-wave reflectivities exceeding unity.
Monitoring eating habits using a piezoelectric sensor-based necklace

Maintaining appropriate levels of food intake and developing regularity in eating habits is crucial to weight loss and the preservation of a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, awareness of eating habits is an important step towards portion control and weight loss. In this paper, we introduce a novel food-intake monitoring system based around a wearable wireless-enabled necklace.The proposed necklace includes an embedded piezoelectric sensor, small Arduino-compatible microcontroller, Bluetooth LE transceiver, and Lithium-Polymer battery. Motion in the throat is captured and transmitted to a mobile application for processing and user guidance. Results from data collected from 30 subjects indicate that it is possible to detect solid and liquid foods, with an F-measure of 0.837 and 0.864, respectively, using a naive Bayes classifier. Furthermore, identification of extraneous motions such as head turns and walking are shown to significantly reduce the false positive rate of swallow detection. HighlightsPiezoelectric sensors in the lower trachea are viable for detection of food intake.Accelerometers for activity recognition can reduce the false positive rate of detected swallows.Classification can be performed between several food types using Bayes classifiers.
Fluorescence near a phase-conjugating mirror: Amplification of quantum noise

We consider the spontaneous emission by an atom near a phase-conjugating mirror (PCM). The effect of the PCM on the decay rate may be understood equivalently in terms of vacuum-field modes reflected and conjugated by the PCM, or in terms of vacuum modes transmitted and amplified without conjugation by the PCM.
P3a Amplitude Predicts Successful Treatment Program Completion in Substance-Dependent Individuals

This study examined P3a amplitude as a direct predictor of treatment success for substance dependence. Participants were 35 adults (27 men, 8 women) undergoing treatment for substance dependence at an urban residential treatment facility between October 2005 and July 2007. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria were used to confirm substance dependence. P3a amplitude was significantly smaller for those who dropped out of treatment. Discriminant function analysis confirmed that P3a amplitude was a robust predictor of treatment completion, more sensitive than other measures including substance abuse severity. Implications for the interpretation of P3a amplitude as an index of executive function are discussed.
Lattice parameters and superconductivity of the compounds U6Mn, U6Fe, U6Co and U6Ni and alloys between them☆

Abstract Lattice parameter measurements were made on the tetragonal compounds U 6 Mn, U 6 Fe, U 6 Co, and U 6 Ni and alloys between them. Parameter a was found to have a minimum at U 6 Fe while c decreased steadily from U 6 Mn to Uin6Ni. There appears to be a correlation between a and the superconducting transition temperature.
Anisotropic magnetic behavior in Dy/Y films and superlattices

By neutron diffraction we show that superlattices of Dy and Y grown by molecular-beam epitaxy along the hcp {ital b} axis exhibit little magnetic coupling between successive Dy layers, even for Y spacers as thin as 9 atomic planes (26 A). Previous studies of Dy/Y superlattices grown along the hcp {ital c} axis established that long-range three-dimensional helimagnetic ordering takes place even through Y spacer layers as thick as 120 A. This highly anisotropic coupling behavior is shown to have its origin in nearly-two-dimensional nesting features of the Y and Dy Fermi surfaces. Nesting along the {ital c} axis gives rise to sharp peaks along {bold c} in the wave-vector-dependent magnetic susceptibility, and causes the exchange coupling to exhibit long-range oscillations in real space. The lack of nesting features along the {ital b} axis leaves a rapid exponential decay of the exchange interaction with spin separation. From magnetic measurements by superconducting-quantum-interference-device magnetometry on {ital b}-axis superlattices and films, we deduce that the first-order ferromagnetic transition of Dy is suppressed, and that the critical field required to produce the ferromagnetic alignment is much higher than the {ital c}-axis counterpart. This difference arises from anisotropy of the energy balance of the system.more » The magnetic coherence in {ital b}-axis superlattices and films is anisotropic and exhibits an unusual temperature dependence.« less
Unexpected reactions of simple iron alkyls with a thiosulfinate ester capable of serving as a disulfur monoxide source

Abstract Attempts to use 4,5-diphenyl-3,6-dihydro-1,2-dithiin-1-oxide as a disulfur monoxide (S 2 O) source for S 2 O insertion into the metal carbon bond of CpMe n Fe(CO) 2 R ( n = 0, 5; R  Me, Et) yielded unexpected iron thioester complexes, CpMe n Fe(CO) 2 SC(O)R. The characterization and independent syntheses of these thioester complexes are reported as well as the results of experiments designed to yield some information about the mechanism of formation of these thioester complexes.
Insulin increases central apolipoprotein E levels as revealed by an improved technique for collection of cerebrospinal fluid from rats

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) provides an invaluable analytical window to the central nervous system (CNS) because it reflects the dynamically changing complement of CNS constituents. We describe an improved method for sampling CSF in rats that is easy to perform. It has a 96% success rate of CSF collection and consistently yields large volumes (150–200 μl) of CSF. The blood contamination rate is also low (6%) as determined by both visual inspection and the lack of molecular detection of apolipoprotein B, a plasma-derived protein, which is absent in the CNS. This improved method of CSF sampling can have broad applicability in physiological and pharmacological evaluation for diverse CNS targets. We used this technique to provide proof of principle by examining the effect of intraperitoneal insulin on the level of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in the CSF. Insulin (0.5 and 1 U/kg) led to a significant increase of insulin in both plasma and CSF at 2 h after intraperitoneal administration and decreased blood glucose for at least 2 h. ApoE concentrations in CSF, but not in plasma, were also significantly increased, and its time-course was inversely correlated with the alterations in blood glucose over 2 h. These results provide a pharmacological validation of the novel CSF sampling and validation procedure for sampling rat CSF.
Initial growth of Bi films on a Si(111) substrate: Two phases of √3 × √3 low-energy-electron-diffraction pattern and their geometric structures

The ordering of Bi on a Si(111)-7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7 surface was studied as a function of overlayer coverage and deposition conditions using low-energy-electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy. We observed a one-third-monolayer and a saturated one-monolayer phase. Both phases displayed identical \ensuremath{\surd}3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} \ensuremath{\surd}3- R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} LEED symmetries. LEED intensity data were used to differentiate between the two phases and to determine a quantitative atomic geometry via a thorough dynamical LEED analysis.
Fatigue crack propagation in a cobalt base aligned eutectic

Fatigue crack propagation rates were determined for directionally solidified Co-10Ni-10Cr-14Ta-1.0C (CoTaC) at room temperature in laboratory air. Single edge crack specimens, 0.25 cm thick, tested in tension-tension at a stress ratio of less than 0.1 produced a relationship between crack growth rates,da/dN, and stress intensity range,AK, as follows:da/dN = 8 × HF △K(m and MN/m).
Communications between vertebro-basilar and carotid arterial circulations in the gerbil.

Abstract The cerebrovascular anatomy of the gerbil was evaluated to assess the existence and significance of arterial communications at the base of the brain. Postmortem intra-aortic dye injection in ten gerbils demonstrated communications between both anterior cerebral arteries and between the basilar and posterior cerebral arteries. Vessels of the carotid circulation filled with dye even when both common carotid arteries were occluded. Intravenous injection of carbon black in vivo produced cerebral staining in six of ten gerbils that were previously subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, thereby demonstrating that such occlusion does not invariably produce complete cerebral ischemia. Variability in ischemia, possibly related to differences in the number and size of these communicating vessels, may influence the outcome and interpretation of experiments utilizing carotid occlusion in the gerbil.
Three-dimensional analysis of laser induced plasmas in single and double pulse configuration

Abstract In this work we studied the morphology of plasmas induced by single and double laser pulses, with the purpose to improve the understanding of the formation and evolution of the plume in the two cases and the reasons of the increase of sensitivity and detection limits in the double pulse configuration. Single and double pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy experiments were carried out on a brass sample in air. Spectrally, temporally and spatially resolved measurements have been performed on the plume and a deconvolution algorithm has been applied on the line-of-sight integrated spectra in order to separate the spectral information coming from different regions of the plasma. While in single pulse configuration only the major elements in the matrix were observed, in double pulse case also the minor elements emission lines were measurable. The values of line emission intensity, plasma temperature and electron density have been evaluated at different positions in the plume in both the configurations. Appreciable differences in plume dimensions (three times wider in double pulse configuration), and electron density values (two times higher in single pulse case), have been found while the maximum temperature in the plasma core was similar in the two configurations. Beside the spectroscopic measurements, we used the shadowgraphic technique to observe the evolution of the plume in single and double pulse configuration. In double pulse configuration, the expansion of the plume induced by the second pulse is sensibly faster than the one induced by the first pulse and, in double pulse case, the plume tends to fill the region encompassed by the shock wave formed by the first pulse; on the other hand no shock wave produced by the second pulse was visible. The results obtained by the two different approaches were compared and an explanation of the physical processes occurring is proposed.
Enthalpies of combustion of glycylglycine and dl-alanyl-dl-alanine

The energies of combustion of crystalline glycylglycine and dl -alanyl- dl -alanine were determined using oxygen bomb calorimetry. The molar enthalpies of combastion ΔcH°m at T = 298.15 K were calculated from the experimental results for glycylglycine and dl -alanyl- dl -alanine in the crystalline state and were found to be −(1969.67 ± 1.26) kJ · mol−1 and −(3267.47 ± 1.84) kJ · mol−1, respectively. For both combustion reactions, the enthalpies are based upon the amount of CO2 produced. The corresponding molar enthalpies of formation ΔfH°m for glycylglycine and dl -alanyl- dl -alanine are −(747.68 ± 1.29) kJ · mol−1 and −(807.32 ± 1.87) kJ · mol−1, respectively. Values were also derived for the contribution to ΔfH°m of the glycine {−CH2NHCO−} and dl -alanine {−CH(CH3)NHCO−} repeating units for peptides in the crystalline state at T = 298.15 K.
Dynamics of intermediate-length alkane films absorbed on graphite

The dynamics of flexible chain molecules near a solid interface is of fundamental interest in polymer science. This paper makes a preliminary report on a quasielastic neutron scattering study of the dynamics of monolayer films of C{sub 24}H{sub 66} adsorbed on graphite. Quasielastic scattering was observed at temperatures as low as {approximately}180 K, well below the monolayer melting temperature of 340 K. Preliminary analysis of the data indicates that at 230 K the entire molecule executes a rolling motion about its long axis while the terminal methyl groups exhibit relatively rapid reorientation.
Concentration dependence of the viscoelastic properties of polystyrene-tricresyl phosphate solutions

Based on creep and creep-recovery measurements, the viscoelastic functions [J(t), Jr(t), J′(ω), J″(ω), G′(ω), G″(ω), and L(lnτ)] are presented for solutions of a narrow molecular-weight-distribution polystyrene in tri-m-tolyl phosphate in the concentration range of 1% to 100% polymer. For concentrations of 25% polymer and above, two maxima are exhibited by the retardation spectrum, L(lnτ). In the neighborhood of each of the maxima the retardation spectra of the more concentrated solutions can be superimposed by translations along both the logL and logτ axes. Reflecting the increasing width of the rubbery plateau with increasing polymer concentration, the dependence of the concentration time-scale shift factors is greater for the terminal region of response. The response of the solvent is seen at the lower concentrations and it is a less sensitive function of the concentration than that of the polystyrene. This behavior is associated with the previously reported observation of two glass-transition temperatures in the middle concentration range. For the higher concentrations, both the steady-state and rubbery-plateau compliances are inversely proportional to the square of the concentration.
Review of ToP Teaching Strategies: Links to Students' Scientific Inquiry Skills Development

A major function of instruction in psychology is to convey complex phenomena in a manner accessible to students. Instructors using well-designed teaching activities can help to make complex material accessible. We content analyzed teaching activities reported in the first 33 years of Teaching of Psychology. We identified 15 general teaching strategies in 681 teaching activity articles and coded strategies' potential impact on student development of scientific inquiry skills. We found that ToP authors have consistently used learner-centered strategies and have significantly increased their use of active evaluation strategies. We discuss implications of instructor use of the most frequently encountered strategies.
Acetylcholinesterase and catecholamine distribution in the locus ceruleus of the rat

Abstract In an attempt to characterize more extensively the distribution and morphologies of acetylcholinesterase- (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) and norepinephrine-containing neurons in the rat locus ceruleus, we histochemically examined the two neurochemicals either separately or on the same tissue section. Some animals were pretreated with bis(l-methylethyl)phosphorofluoridate, an irreversible cholinesterase inhibitor, in order to reduce background AChE staining and, consequently, to enhance visualization of neurons containing the cholinergic degradative enzyme. Neuronal somata containing AChE were round, oval, fusiform, or pyramidal. On the basis of cell body size, three different populations of cerulear neurons were discerned: small (maximum soma extent: 10–20 μm), medium (maximum soma extent: 20–30 μm), and large (maximum soma extent: > 30 μm). The proportion of large dimension cells increased, whereas the percentage of small neurons decreased, from rostral to caudal levels of locus ceruleus. The proportion of medium-sized cells was roughly constant at all levels of the nucleus. The morphologies and distribution of norepinephrinecontaining neurons appeared identical to those of AChE cells. In tissue sections stained both for AChE and catecholamines, it was found that all cerulear neurons containing norepinephrine also appeared to possess AChE. The significance of AChE's association with norepinephrine somata and proximal processes in locus ceruleus is unknown, but one possibility is that the cholinergic degradative enzyme inactivates acetylcholine released from cholinergic afferents, the origin of which are currently unknown.
Modulation of host immune responses by clinically relevant human DNA and RNA viruses

Numerous mechanisms allow viruses to evade host immune surveillance, and new evasion strategies continue to be identified. In addition to interference with antigen processing and presentation, direct viral modulation of host immune responses can also be achieved by altering the host cytokine milieu and the development of immunoregulatory cells. A better understanding of these viral evasion strategies will help to define critical host defense mechanisms and will lead to novel immune-based therapeutic strategies in the future.
Modified telescope alignment procedure for improving the beam quality of the CHARA Telescopes

We present the procedure used to optically align the CHARA telescopes. We show that the beam quality, delivered by the CHARA telescopes E1, E2 and W2, is significantly better now than in 2008. RMS wavefront error is about 200 nm. The astigmatism observed in W1 is more likely due to a combination of a mechanical problem in the mounting and misalignment. We present wavefront quality results from four telescopes. Further beam quality improvements can be expected when the second part of the alignment procedure (tuning) will be carried out later this year.
Stimulus selection as a function of stimulus duration and letter color in paired-associate learning

A PA list comprised of non-overlapping consonant trigram stimuli with numerals as responses was presented to six groups of Ss. For a given group, the stimulus duration was either 1 or 3 sec. and the letters in either the initial, medial, or final position of the trigrams were red. When the list had been learned to criterion, the individual letters were presented and the Ss were required to respond with the appropriate number. Stimulus duration affected the rate of PA learning, while red letter position influenced performance on the transfer test.
The ecological importance of distinguishing between living and dead diatoms in estuarine sediments

An analysis of diatoms in estuarine sediment samples has revealed that: (1) the percentage of dead diatoms can be large, (2) ratios of living to dead diatoms vary between sediment habitats, and (3) measurements of “live” species richness and diversity are lower than measurements which include live and dead members of the assemblage. Also, the reliability of the dioxane and dioxane-xylene preparation methods for observing the live component of sediment diatom communities has been demonstrated. We suggest that the understanding of environmental factors which influence or control species distribution and abundance should be improved if the occurrence of living taxa only is considered.
Hydrodynamic Response of Northeastern Gulf of Mexico to Hurricanes

The northeastern Gulf of Mexico in the USA is extremely susceptible to the impacts of tropical cyclones because of its unique geometric and topographic features. Focusing on Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Katrina (2005), this paper has addressed four scientific questions on this area’s response to hurricanes: (1) How does the shallow, abandoned Mississippi delta contribute to the storm surge? (2) What was the controlling factor that caused the record-high storm surge of Hurricane Katrina? (3) Why are the responses of an estuary to Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina so different from the corresponding surges on the open coast? (4) How would the storm surge differ if Hurricane Katrina had taken a different course? Guided by field observations of winds, waves, water levels, and currents, two state-of-the-art numerical models for storm surges and wind waves have been coupled to hindcast the relevant hydrodynamic conditions, including storm surges, surface waves, and depth-averaged currents. Fairly good agreement between the modeled and measured surge hydrographs was found. The quantitative numerical simulations and simple qualitative analysis have revealed that the record-high storm surge of Hurricane Katrina was caused by the interaction of the surge with the extremely shallow, ancient deltaic lobe of Mississippi River. A hypothetical scenario formed by shifting the path of Hurricane Katrina to the observed path of Hurricane Frederic (1979) resulted in a much smaller surge than that observed in coastal Mississippi and Louisiana. However, this scenario did still result in a high surge near the head of Mobile Bay. One of the important lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina is that the Saffir–Simpson scale should be systematically revised to reflect the topographic and geometric features of a complex, heterogeneous coast, including the possible surge amplification in an estuary or a submerged river delta.
Overcoming resistance to formal instructional development processes

The instructional development (id) process sometimes is perceived as being too time-intensive and as delaying instructional materials development. Course writers holding these perceptions may resist following a formalid process or give only cursory attention to early stages in the process. Such a situation can create conflict between course writers and instructional designers responsible for implementing a particularid model. This article describes a way instructional designers can overcome some of the resistance to following theid process.
A decision-theoretic approach to planning, perception, and control

The application of Bayesian decision theory as a framework for designing high-level robotic control systems is discussed. The approach to building planning and control systems integrates sensor fusion, prediction, and sequential decision making. The system explicitly uses the value of sensor information as well as the value of actions that facilitate further sensing. A stochastic decision model and a model for mobile-target localization used in the control system are described. A control system implemented to drive a small mobile robot equipped with eight sonar transducers with a maximum range of six meters and a visual processing system capable of identifying moving targets in its visual field and reporting their motion relative to the robot is also discussed. >
A General Purpose Laboratory for Evaluating Livestock Ventilation Systems

A facility developed at Iowa State University was designed to test and provide research for full-scale livestock housing ventilation systems. A test chamber representing a 24-ft (7.3 m) section of a 42-ft-wide (12.8 m) swine finishing or nursery barn can be outfitted with a complete ventilation system. Operating characteristics of the ventilation system are monitored. These characteristics include ventilation rate, airspeed, and temperature in the animal-occupied zone, air jet profiles generated by the inlets, energy consumption of the ventilation system, and response characteristics of the control system. The chamber contains no animals. Sensible heat production is simulated with cone resistance heaters. Equipment in production barns such as feeders, waterers, gates, and flooring are included. The test chamber is also equipped with a pit area for conducting pit-ventilation studies. The test chamber, housed within the Air Dispersion Laboratory, is currently in use to investigate pit-ventilation effectiveness, heater control logic, ventilation system performance from manufactured systems, and to verify current recommendations of ventilation performance standards for livestock ventilation systems (Proposed ASAE Standard X567).
Intersubband optical properties of GaAs/InGaAs nanopore superlattices

GaAs/InGaAs nanopore superlattices in the triangular cell configuration are numerically analyzed. Subband gaps can be observed in the conduction band ranging from less than 1 meV up to 20 meV. Optical absorption due to intersubband transitions is also studied, and strong absorption peaks covering the entire terahertz and far-infrared ranges are observed at various operation temperatures.