cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Upper-Air Synoptic Climatology of the Western United States

Abstract An automated, year-round synoptic climatology is developed for the western United States from rawinsonde observations from 1979 to 1988. The classification uses thermal, moisture, and flow parameters to characterize seasonal and interannual synoptic-scale variations in hydrodynamic and thermodynamic conditions. Based on twice daily observations for a network of 21 stations from the Pacific coast to the Rockies, a synoptic climatology is developed using air temperature, dewpoint temperature, geopotential height, and the east-west and north-south components of the wind vector at 800-, 700-, 500-, and 250-mb constant pressure surfaces. The 798 variable by 3620 day matrix is reduced to six orthogonal principal components, and the resulting component scores are grouped using a two-stage clustering technique. The 13 synoptic situations represent days experiencing homogeneous weather conditions. These synoptic situations exhibit marked seasonality and interannual variability and depict features observed...
An investigation of the edge-sliding mode in fracture mechanics

A boundary collocation procedure has been applied to the Williams stress function to determine the elastic stress distribution for the crack tip region of a finite, edge-cracked plate subjected to mode II loading at the crack tips. The asymmetric specimen selected was particularly suitable for the determination of plane strain fracture toughness for mode II loading. Numerical solutions for stress intensity factors for the edge-sliding mode obtained by the boundary collocation method were in close agreement with values obtained from photoelastic experiments. Fracture tests of several compact shear specimens of 2024-T4 aluminum were conducted in order to experimentally investigate the behavior of the edge-sliding mode. In each case a brittle shear failure was observed and mode II fracture toughness values were obtained. The average value for K-IIc obtained from two tests was 39.5 ksi radical (in). No K-Ic data for 2024-T4 were available for comparison purposes; however, K-Ic values for a similar alloy, 2024-T351, have been reported as 34 ksi radical (in) which is only about 15 per cent below the corresponding K-IIc value.
Zone I flexor digitorum profundus repair: an ex vivo biomechanical analysis of tendon to bone repair in cadavera.

Purpose Biomechanical studies of standard flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon to bone repairs show ultimate strengths greater than the applied loads of early motion rehabilitation protocols. Strain data, however, indicate the potential for significant repair site gapping under these physiologic loads. Gaps in excess of 3 mm have been shown to prevent the time accrual of strength in midsubstance tendon repairs and may prevent the restoration of the normal architecture of the tendon-bone interface. Improving the time-zero tensile properties of FDP insertion site repairs may help obviate these issues and improve clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ex vivo biomechanical properties of 2 new repair techniques in comparison with the standard FDP tendon to distal phalanx cortical surface repair. Methods Thirty human cadaver FDP tendons were released from their insertion sites by sharp dissection and repaired to bone using 1 of 3 repair techniques. Load to failure testing was performed with a servohydraulic materials-testing system (model 8500R; Instron, Canton, MA) analyzing ultimate force, strain at 20 N, rigidity, force to 2-mm gap formation, and displacement at failure. Results The results of the failure tests indicate that repairs performed with the addition of a peripheral suture had a greater ultimate force, had increased resistance to gap formation, and had increased rigidity and decreased strain at 20 N compared with the tunnel-only and volar cortical surface to the distal phalanx repairs. Although there were no statistically significant differences in ultimate force or rigidity between the tunnel-only and volar cortical surface repairs, the tunnel-only repairs showed lower strain values and increased values for resistance to 2-mm gap formation when compared with the volar cortical surface repairs. There were no differences among any of the repair groups with regard to the magnitude of tendon displacement from the repair site at failure. Conclusions The addition of a peripheral suture to the FDP tendon to bone tunnel repair construct improves the time-zero tensile properties as evidenced by statistically significant increases in ultimate force, rigidity, and resistance to gap formations of 2 mm. In comparison with a volar cortical surface repair, the bone tunnel-only repairs were effective at decreasing the amount of repair site strain during applied loads of 20 N. If these improved time-zero tensile properties persist during the early stages of healing, they may help decrease the incidence of repair-site gap formation associated with the forces of early motion rehabilitation protocols.
Deformation and fracture around cylindrical openings in rock—II. Initiation, growth and interaction of fractures

Elastic and inelastic deformation, fracture and failure around underground openings were investigated through experiments on thick-walled hollow cylinders of Berea sandstone and Indiana limestone, incorporating plane strain loading, the application of different stress paths, transference of the external pressure to infinity, and "freezing" of the fracture geometry under stress through metal saturation. This second of two parts investigates fracture development and failure progression on both an experimental and theoretical level. Failure is oriented and occurs on the two opposite sides of the hole with the highest ratio of tangential stress to tangential strength (determined by rock strength anisotropy). The size of the failed zones may be influenced not only by the final stress state but also by stress path, strain rate and test boundary conditions. Microscopic observation reveals that the fundamental fracture mechanism is the growth of small, opening-mode, splitting cracks oriented parallel to the tangential stress, starting very close to the hole wall and occurring deeper in the rock with increasing stress. Numerical models confirm that splitting cracks preferentially grow close to the surface of a stressed hole. These models also predict a size effect on strength. Around unsupported holes these cracks coalesce to form macroscopic splitting fractures subparallel to the hole wall, and also form en echelon patterns that meet the wall. These two types of features combine to define the new surface of a spalled piece, which moves radially into the hole. Slabs of fairly uniform thickness progressively detach from the surrounding rock, resulting in a triangular failure zone with a pointed tip. Significant dilation occurs in the failing material. With 5-10 MPa support pressure in the hole, the rock is greatly strengthened and stabilized. Macroscopic splitting fractures, and therefore detached spalled pieces, do not form. With high enough stress, microcrack interaction eventually results in the formation of what appear to be bands of shear localization, but the rock still maintains significant cohesion. (Author/TRRL)
On Stochastic Subgradient Mirror-Descent Algorithm with Weighted Averaging

This paper considers stochastic subgradient mirror-descent method for solving constrained convex minimization problems. In particular, a stochastic subgradient mirror-descent method with weighted iterate-averaging is investigated and its per-iterate convergence rate is analyzed. The novel part of the approach is in the choice of weights that are used to construct the averages. Through the use of these weighted averages, we show that the known optimal rates can be obtained with simpler algorithms than those currently existing in the literature. Specifically, by suitably choosing the stepsize values, one can obtain the rate of the order $1/k$ for strongly convex functions, and the rate $1/\sqrt{k}$ for general convex functions (not necessarily differentiable). Furthermore, for the latter case, it is shown that a stochastic subgradient mirror-descent with iterate averaging converges (along a subsequence) to an optimal solution, almost surely, even with the stepsize of the form $1/\sqrt{1+k}$, which was not p...
Customer relationship management in retailing: A content analysis of retail trade journals

Abstract The purpose of this research was to increase knowledge and understanding of how retailers use business intelligence and data mining tools to implement customer relationship management (CRM) in retailing. Specific objectives were to (1) identify organization and infrastructure requirements for CRM effectiveness, (2) identify CRM objectives and goals of retail companies, (3) identify data mining tools utilized by retailers to perform CRM functions, and (4) identify CRM strategies used by retail companies. A keyword search within business databases using CRM and CRM identified publications with CRM content. Content analysis was used on articles ( N =149) drawn from Stores, Chain Store Age, Harvard Business Review, and Retail Forward over a 5 year period (2000–2005). Selected articles were stored as text files in QDA Miner, a computerized qualitative analysis tool. Key organization/infrastructure needs emerged focusing on data structure, organizational systems, technology structure, and data accessibility. Retailers goals/objectives and strategies focused on marketing, customer service, understanding customers through data analysis and increasing acquisition and retention through customer loyalty programs. Data mining tools identified supported marketing and customer analysis efforts. Findings provide insight into the challenges retailers face as they implement a more customer-centric business strategy.
Observational study on teaching artifacts created using tablet PC

Teaching typically involves communication of knowledge in multiple modalities. The ubiquity of pen-enabled technologies in teaching has made the accurate capture of user ink data possible, alongside technologies to recognize voice data. When annotating on a white board or other presentation surface, teachers often have a specific style of structuring contents taught in a lecture. The availability of sketch data and voice data can enable researchers to analyze trends followed by teachers in writing and annotating notes. Using ethnographic methods, we have observed the structure that teachers use while presenting lectures on mathematics. We have observed the practices followed by teachers in writing and speaking the lecture content, and have derived models that would help computer scientists identify the structure of the content. This observational study motivates the idea that we can use speech and color change events to distinguish between strokes meant for drawing versus those meant for attention marks.
Pinealectomy in ground squirrels: effect on behavioral and physiological responses to heat stress

Richardson's ground squirrels, 1 year after pinealectomy, showed altered behavioral and physiological responses to heat stress when compared to an intact group. Pinealectomized squirrels bar-pressed more often for a cool temperature reward in a hot environment. when deprived of behavioral control of the hot environment, pinealectomized squirrels increased their oxygen consumption, had a higher body temperature, and displayed signs of greater thermal stress, including death, as compared to intact animals. When the intact group was pinealectomized and the experiments were repeated, the difference in behavioral and physiological responses to heat stress were not as great as with the 1 year pinealectomized group. A speculative explanation of the pineal gland's influence on central and peripheral control of evaporative water loss and peripheral blood circulation are offered. The pineal gland may exert a subtle influence on heat transfer mechanisms and adaptations to thermal stress.
Improved Sequence Network Model of Wind Turbine Generators for Short-Circuit Studies

Protective relay settings for wind turbine generators often depend on short-circuit calculations performed using sequence network circuits in rms-based protection software. Traditional assumptions made in deriving the sequence network representation of induction machines result in some error in short-circuit calculations, which could potentially cause incorrect relay settings. A more accurate sequence network model of induction machines is derived in this paper to aid in short-circuit calculations in induction-generator-based wind plants. A rigorous mathematical approach to defining the stator short-circuit current equations under general faults is described and validated with transient simulations. The sequence network model of the induction machine is derived from the closed-form mathematical solutions. An example short-circuit calculation is performed on a simple network in this paper, and found to have a marked improvement in accuracy from traditional sequence network calculation methods for unbalanced faults. Resonant effects of power factor correction capacitors are also described.
Proteose Peptones and Physical Factors Affect Foaming Properties of Whey Protein Isolate

Effects of peptides and nonprotein components of whey on whey protein isolate (WPI) were studied using a differential pressure method. Decay of WPI foam followed biphasic first-order kinetics, but was affected by solution conditions. WPI foam stability exhibited two pH optima (5.0 and 8.5). Addition of 0.02–0.15M NaCl progressively decreased foaming capacity and foam stability. Addition of 0.01–0.2% proteose-peptones caused a sharp decrease in foam stability, but did not affect WPI foaming capacity. Foam stability was increased by addition of up to 20% lactose. Removal of proteose-peptones should greatly improve foaming properties of whey proteins.
How does subsurface characterization affect simulations of hyporheic exchange

We investigated the role of increasingly well-constrained geologic structures in the subsurface (i.e., subsurface architecture) in predicting streambed flux and hyporheic residence time distribution (RTD) for a headwater stream. Five subsurface realizations with increasingly resolved lithological boundaries were simulated in which model geometries were based on increasing information about flow and transport using soil and geologic maps, surface observations, probing to depth to refusal, seismic refraction, electrical resistivity (ER) imaging of subsurface architecture, and time-lapse ER imaging during a solute tracer study. Particle tracking was used to generate RTDs for each model run. We demonstrate how improved characterization of complex lithological boundaries and calibration of porosity and hydraulic conductivity affect model prediction of hyporheic flow and transport. Models using hydraulic conductivity calibrated using transient ER data yield estimates of streambed flux that are three orders of magnitude larger than uncalibrated models using estimated values for hydraulic conductivity based on values published for nearby hillslopes (10(-4) vs. 10(-7) m(2)/s, respectively). Median residence times for uncalibrated and calibrated models are 10(3) and 10(0) h, respectively. Increasingly well-resolved subsurface architectures yield wider hyporheic RTDs, indicative of more complex hyporheic flowpath networks and potentially important to biogeochemical cycling. The use of ER imaging to monitor solute tracers informs subsurface structure not apparent from other techniques, and helps to define transport properties of the subsurface (i.e., hydraulic conductivity). Results of this study demonstrate the value of geophysical measurements to more realistically simulate flow and transport along hyporheic flowpaths.
Habitat Affects Survival of Translocated Bay Scallops, Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say 1822), in Lower Chesapeake Bay

Bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) populations existed in Chesapeake Bay until 1933, when they declined dramatically due to a loss of seagrass habitat. Since then, there have been no documented populations within the Bay. However, some anecdotal observations of live bay scallops within the lower Bay suggest that restoration of the bay scallop is feasible. We therefore tested whether translocated adults of the southern bay scallop, Argopecten irradians concentricus, could survive during the reproductive season in vegetated and unvegetated habitats of the Lynnhaven River sub-estuary of lower Chesapeake Bay in the absence of predation. Manipulative field experiments evaluated survival of translocated, caged adult scallops in eelgrass Zostera marina, macroalgae Gracilaria spp., oyster shell, and rubble plots at three locations. After a 3-week experimental period, scallop survival was high in vegetated habitats, ranging from 98% in their preferred habitat, Z. marina, to 90% in Gracilaria spp. Survival in Z. marina was significantly higher than that in rubble (76%) and oyster shell (78%). These findings indicate that reproductive individuals can survive in vegetated habitats of lower Chesapeake Bay when protected from predators and that establishment of bay scallop populations within Chesapeake Bay may be viable.
Pressure and temperature dependences of the electronic conductivity of boron carbides

The effects of combined hydrostatic pressure (0--25 kbar) and temperature (300--600 K) on the electronic conductivities of the high-temperature semiconductors B/sub 4/C and B/sub 9/C were investigated. The conductivities of both materials decrease with pressure. In particular, both the preexponential factor and the activation energy of the conductivities increase with pressure. These results are in semiquantitative agreement with predictions of a model which ascribes electronic transport in these materials to the hopping of small bipolarons between the B/sub 11/C icosahedra of the boron carbides.
Modeling Uncertainty for Planar Meso-Scale Manipulation and Assembly

While robotic assembly at the centimeter and meter length scale is well understood and is routine in the manufacturing industry, robotic grasping and manipulation for meso-scale assembly at the millimeter and sub-millimeter length scales are much more difficult. This paper explores an possible way to manipulate and assemble planar parts using a micro-manipulator with a single probe capable of pushing parts on a planar surface with visual feedback. Specifically, we describe a study of the uncertainty associated with planar surface friction with a goal of developing a model of manipulation primitives that can be used for assembly. We describe a series of experiments and data analysis algorithms that allow us to identify the main system parameters for quasi-static operation, including the friction coefficient and the force distribution, while characterizing the uncertainty associated with these parameters. This allows us to bound the range of motions resulting from the uncertainty, which is necessary to design robust open-loop meso-scale manipulation and assembly motion plans.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Checking for Proportional n's in Factorial ANOVA's.

If the cell frequencies (i.e., the n's) in a factorial ANOVA are not equal to one another, the researcher must determine whether or not the condition of proportionality is satisfied. Although the authors of several texts demonstrate how to test for proportionality, their discussions (a) give the impression that every cell must be tested and (b) are restricted to the case of a simple two-factor ANOVA. The present authors point out that only some of the cells need to be tested, and two rules are provided which will allow the researcher to determine how many and which cells should be tested. More importantly, the authors demonstrate how to test for proportionality in a three-way ANOVA, with comments offered concerning how the test can be generalized to higher-order factorial designs.
The EM Algorithm—an Old Folk‐song Sung to a Fast New Tune

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the presentation of the paper by Dempster, Laird and Rubin which popularized the EM algorithm, we investigate, after a brief historical account, strategies that aim to make the EM algorithm converge faster while maintaining its simplicity and stability (e.g. automatic monotone convergence in likelihood). First we introduce the idea of a ‘working parameter’ to facilitate the search for efficient data augmentation schemes and thus fast EM implementations. Second, summarizing various recent extensions of the EM algorithm, we formulate a general alternating expectation–conditional maximization algorithm AECM that couples flexible data augmentation schemes with model reduction schemes to achieve efficient computations. We illustrate these methods using multivariate t-models with known or unknown degrees of freedom and Poisson models for image reconstruction. We show, through both empirical and theoretical evidence, the potential for a dramatic reduction in computational time with little increase in human effort. We also discuss the intrinsic connection between EM-type algorithms and the Gibbs sampler, and the possibility of using the techniques presented here to speed up the latter. The main conclusion of the paper is that, with the help of statistical considerations, it is possible to construct algorithms that are simple, stable and fast.
Signification et action

Dans la tradition logique de la philosophie analytique, comprendre la signification d'un enonce, c'est comprendre ses conditions de verite. Dans la tradition du langage naturel, la signification est liee a l'usage du langage. Depuis Grice, elle est liee aux attitudes et aux actions des interlocuteurs. Selon Austin, Searle et Vanderveken, signifier c'est utiliser des mots avec l'intention d'accomplir des actes illocutoires. Pareils actes ont des conditions de felicite plutot que des conditions de verite. Selon nous, signifier c'est essentiellement tenter d'accomplir des actes illocutoires. Et comme toute tentative est une action intentionnelle plutot qu'une attitude, signifier c'est agir intentionnellement.
Preparation of liposomes of defined size distribution by extrusion through polycarbonate membranes

Liposomes of defined size and homogeneity have been prepared by sequential extrusion of the usual multilamellar vesicles through polycarbonate membranes. The process is easy, reproducible, produces no detectable degradation of the phospholipids, and can double the encapsulation efficiency of the liposome preparation. Multilamellar vesicles extruded by this technique are shown by both negative stain and freeze-fracture electron microscopy to have mean diameters approaching the pore diameter of the polycarbonate membrane through which they were extruded. When sequentially extruded down through a 0.2 micron membrane, the resulting vesicles exhibit a very homogeneous size distribution with a mean diameter of 0.27 micron while maintaining an acceptable level of encapsulation of the aqueous phase.
Lump Dynamics in the ℂ P 1 Model on the Torus

The topology and geometry of the moduli space, M 2, of degree 2 static solutions of the ℂP 1 model on a torus (spacetime T 2×ℝ) are studied. It is proved that M 2 is homeomorphic to the left coset space G/G 0, where G is a certain eight-dimensional noncompact Lie group and G 0 is a discrete subgroup of order 4. Low energy two-lump dynamics is approximated by geodesic motion on M 2 with respect to a metric g defined by the restriction to M 2 of the kinetic energy functional of the model. This lump dynamics decouples into a trivial “centre of mass” motion and nontrivial relative motion on a reduced moduli space. It is proved that (M 2,g) is geodesically incomplete and has only finite diameter. A low dimensional geodesic submanifold is identified and a full description of its geodesics obtained.
Dissipating the quantum measurement problem

The integration of recent work on decoherence into a so-called “modal” interpretation offers a promising new approach to the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. In this paper I explain and develop this approach in the context of the interactive interpretation presented in Healey (1989). I begin by questioning a number of assumptions which are standardly made in setting up the measurement problem, and I conclude that no satisfactory solution can afford to ignore the influence of the environment. Further, I argue that there are good reasons to believe that on a “modal” interpretation environmental interactions rapidly ensure that a quantummechanically describable apparatus indeed records a definite result following a measurement interaction.
Sawtooth-like graphene nanoribbon

Motivated by recent successful synthesize of segmented graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with junctions, we explore electronic properties of a novel form of GNR with sawtooth-like structure using the density-functional theory method. It is found that the unique edge structures of the sawtooth-like GNR induce richer band-gap features than the straight GNR counterpart with either armchair or zigzag edges. The effect of external electric field on the electronic properties of the sawtooth-like GNR is also studied. The theoretical results may be useful for designing GNR-based fi eld-effect transistors.
Dye-sensitized TiO2 thin-film solar cell research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Abstract The idea of dye-sensitization of inorganic materials has been around for a long time, and a vast amount of literature exists on this subject. The first studies of photoelectrochemical effects in dye-sensitized TiO2 for solar energy conversion were carried out by Deb et al. (Unpublished Report on Project SECSC (Solar Energy Convertion and Storage cell) Optel Corporation, Princeton, NJ, 1975–76), in the mid-1970s. A breakthrough occurred in recent years when Graetzel (Nature 414 (2001) 338) reported a photoelectrochemical solar cell in which a thin film based on nanoparticles of TiO2 was sensitized by a more efficient and stable dye system based on Ru(11)-complexes. Some of the key research issues that are currently being addressed at NREL include: device fabrication and characterization, role of structural properties of TiO2, electron transfer processes, novel ideas on dye-sensitization and light harvesting, and applications in optoelectronic devices. The current status and future direction of research and technology development are discussed.
The amygdala directly innervates adrenergic (C1) neurons in the ventrolateral medulla in the rat

The innervation of adrenergic (C1) neurons in the ventrolateral medulla by the central amygdaloid nucleus (Ce) was investigated using immunohistochemical detection of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) combined with anterograde tracing through Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) transport and lesion-induced axonal degeneration. Injections of PHA-L into the medial Ce labelled axons in close proximity to PNMT-immunoreactive dendrites and somata in the ventrolateral medulla. The PNMT-immunoreactive neurons within the rostral part of the nucleus reticularis rostroventrolateralis were preferentially innervated by the amygdaloid terminals. Degenerating terminals formed synaptic contacts on PNMT-immunoreactive cells of the ventrolateral medulla in animals with lesions of the Ce. The synaptic contacts were mainly found on dendrites and were usually of the symmetrical type. The present findings provide evidence that cells within the amygdala directly innervate presumed adrenergic cells in the ventrolateral medulla. This pathway may be part of the anatomical substrates that are activated during amygdaloid-mediated sympathetic activity.
Termination of typical wave-function multifractal spectra at the Anderson metal-insulator transition: Field theory description using the functional renormalization group

We revisit the problem of wave-function statistics at the Anderson metal-insulator transition (MIT) of noninteracting electrons in $dg2$ spatial dimensions. At the transition, the complex spatial structure of the critical wave functions is reflected in the nonlinear behavior of the multifractal spectrum of generalized inverse participation ratios (IPRs). Beyond the crossover from narrow to broad IPR statistics, which always occurs for sufficiently large moments of the wave-function amplitude, the spectrum obtained from a typical wave function associated with a particular disorder realization differs markedly from that obtained from the disorder-averaged IPRs. This phenomenon is known as the termination of the multifractal spectrum. We provide a field theoretical derivation for the termination of the typical multifractal spectrum by combining the nonlinear sigma model framework, conventionally used to access the MIT in $d=2+ϵ$ dimensions, with a functional renormalization-group (FRG) technique. The FRG method deployed here was originally pioneered to study the properties of the two-dimensional (2D) random-phase $XY$ model [D. Carpentier and P. Le Doussal, Nucl. Phys. B 588, 565 (2000)]. The same method was used to demonstrate the termination of the multifractal spectrum in the very special problem of 2D Dirac fermions subject to a random Abelian vector potential. Our result shows that the typical multifractal wave-function spectrum and its termination can be obtained at a generic Anderson localization transition in $dg2$, within the standard field theoretical framework of the nonlinear sigma model, when combined with the FRG.
The potential of antioxidant enzymes as pharmacological agents in vivo.

1. Oxygen radicals have been associated with a number of unrelated pathological processes including ageing, radiation sickness, inflammation, oxygen toxicity, reoxygenation of ischaemic tissues, etc. The partial reduction of oxygen to superoxide anion (O2−) and H2O2 leads to the formation of more deleterious species such as hydroxyl radical (OH-) starting a chain reaction ultimately causing lipid peroxidation and cell death.2. To prevent the increased steady-state concentration of oxygen radicals many researchers have designed potential treatments including the i.v. injection of antioxidant enzymes or enzyme derivatives with longer half-life in circulation (i.e. enzymes encapsulated in liposomes or covalently modified).3. Tissue distribution and half-life in circulation depend upon the type of enzyme being used as well as whether the enzyme is or is not in its native form.4. This review comments on some of the scenarios where these enzymes have been utilized, and discusses relevant problems of stability o...
Developmental Differences in Children′s Gender Schemata about Others: A Meta-analytic Review

Abstract Inconsistencies that have been reported in past research on developmental changes in gender schemata actually may be a consequence of differences in the way these schemata have been conceptualized and measured. Meta-analysis was used to evaluate this interpretation of past work. On forced choice measures, in which children must select one sex or the other for each item (e.g., "Who is the strong one?"), "correct" matches to societal stereotypes increased with age. Increases were not, however, related to the type of question used (e.g., "Who is ...?" versus "Who can ...?"). Girls made more stereotype matches than boys, although the magnitude of the effect was small. In contrast, on nonforced choice measures, type of question did affect results. Children showed increases in nonstereotyped responses with age, but especially when asked "Who should . . ." or "Who can . . ." , and when elementary-school-aged (as well as preschool-aged) children were included. Girls gave significantly more nonstereotyped responses than boys, especially among older samples and when the domain was traits. Both the age and the sex effects in nonstereotyped responses were larger in more recent studies. IQ and television viewing were significantly related to forced choice scores, whereas television viewing, maternal employment, and memory for gender-stereotyped material were all significantly related to non-forced choice scores. Implications for the distinction between knowledge of stereotypes and attitudes toward stereotypes are discussed.
Automatic Tracking of Blind Sealant Paths in Friction Stir Lap Joining

An automatic joint-tracking technique that employs an extremum-seeking controller is evaluated as a method for automatically tracking sealant paths that have been applied in dissimilar friction stir lap joints of 2024 and 7075 aluminum alloys. Sealants are commonly used to prevent the ingress of corrosion at the faying surfaces of lap joints, and in this study, an attempt is made to exploit sealant presence to reduce necessary robotic path planning procedures. Controller parameters are tuned, and baseline tracking performance is established with milled channels, which are used to replicate the force signature of sealant, and the tracking technique is then evaluated with Pelseal® 2077 sealant applied in a prescribed fashion in both cured and uncured states. Mechanical testing is conducted to determine the implications for weld strength when welding parameters are selected primarily for successful tracking. Results are promising and demonstrate a new level of interaction between sealants and robotic control...
Vocal Communication in Raccoons (Procyon Lotor)

The study describes structure, ontogeny and contexts of raccoon (Procyon lotor) vocalizations and investigates whether structure and motivation interplay in the way predicted by general motivation-structural rules (MORTON, 1977, 1982). Observations during a full reproductive cycle in a mixed group of captive raccoons indicate that they use an elaborate vocal repertoire including 13 calls (Table 1). Two calls are tonal (whistle, squeal), three noisy (snort, bark, growl); four have a mixed structure (cry, screech, gecker, grunt) and four have pulsed syllables (chitter 1, chitter 2, churr, purr). Though some calls grade into one another, the repertoire is largely discrete. Three calls are present at birth and form the nestling repertoire. The adult repertoire gradually develops through the time of weaning (Fig. 2). Several calls are characteristic for the sexual and parental phase. Most calls are associated with one or a few contexts (Table 2). Four calls are utilized by animals while distressed and have an attracting effect on others. Four calls express hostile motivation and repel other animals. Five calls are used by animals approaching another or having body contact; they serve in promoting or maintaining contact. Calls used in similar contexts show remarkable structural similarities. Distress calls are tonal or mixed, hostile calls noisy in accordance with motivation-structural rules. Contact calls deviate in being noisy and low in basic frequency. Possible reasons are discussed. A comparison of the vocalizations in other carnivores reveals that the structure-motivational pattern found in raccoons is a wide-spread phenomenon in carnivores.
Applying the FRAD Conceptual Model to an Authority File for Manuscripts: Analysis of a Local Implementation

To date, the library literature has overflowed with articles on the theory and application of the FRBR conceptual model, but little has been written about its counterpart for authorities: the Functional Requirements for Authority Data conceptual model (FRAD). Discussions of the theory of FRAD have been written by Glenn Patton and members of the FRANAR Working Group, but nothing has been documented yet about its application to real authority files. The following article addresses this gap in the literature by analyzing the FRAD conceptual model, examining its applicability to an authority file for manuscripts, and proposing a way to implement and display this entity-relationship model in a local authority file. The usefulness of this FRAD-based authority file in cataloging manuscripts is evaluated and presented.
A new multimarker test for family-based association studies.

We propose a new multimarker test for family-based studies in candidate genes. We use simulations under different genetic models to assess the performance of competing testing strategies, characterized in this study as combinations of the following important factors: genes, statistical tests, tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) methods, number of tag SNPs and family designs. An ANOVA model is employed to provide descriptive summaries of the effects on power of the above-mentioned factors. We find that tag SNP methods, gene characteristics and family designs have minimal impact on the best testing strategy. The familywise error rate (FWER) controlling multiple comparison procedure and the new multimarker test offer the highest power followed by the asymptotic global haplotype test.Both the FWER and the multimarker test are invariant to family designs and gain power as we increase the number of tag SNPs. However, the performance of the global haplotype test is slightly degraded when analyzing larger numbers of tag SNPs. Within the framework of our study, the best strategy for family-based studies in candidate genes that emerged from our analysis is to use the FWER or the multimarker test and select 6–10 tag SNPs using any of the tag SNP methods considered. We confirm the conclusions of our study with an application to Alzheimer's disease data. Genet. Epidemiol. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Physician specialty, quality and cost of inpatient care.

Abstract With recent pressures to contain health care costs, questions have arisen as to the effect of such controls on the quality of care available. This study uses Payne's Physician Performance Index (PPI) as a process measure of the quality of patient care to compare different physician specialties for selected conditions. We have added hospital charges as a measure of the cost generated by physicians for these conditions. Routine hospital utilization data were extracted from a 6 month patient file for three cardiovascular conditions and two urological conditions. It was hypothesized that specialists provide higher quality care and use fewer hospital services than primary care physicians treating patients with the same diagnosis. The analysis compares length of stay, total ancillary charges, and quality of care provided. Quality of care among the physicians studied showed no significant differences. However, when charges generated were compared, it was found that urologists patients who had urinary tract infections were discharged sooner than those of internists and family practitioners. Patients of cardiologists, also, had generally shorter lengths of stay than patients of family practitioners and internists when congestive heart disease, transient ischemic attack and recent stroke were studied. In this hospital, the quality of care for the conditions selected was similar between primary care physicians and subspecialists, when judged by the PPI. However, the subspecialists generated lower hospital charges because of fewer hospital bed days for their patients.
Modeling discrete-event dynamical systems for chemical process control—a survey of several new techniques

Abstract A large class of process control activities are concerned with discrete-event dynamical systems, that is, dynamical systems characterized by the starting and ending of discrete processing activities. A major difficulty in developing analytical results for such systems is the lack of appropriate modeling techniques. Three recently developed classes of techniques are examined in this study. These are temporal logic and its derivatives, Petri nets and Minimax algebra. Each of these techniques appears to have merit for particular applications in chemical process control. A novel algorithm for simulation of discrete-event systems based on timed Petri nets is described in this study. The applications include control of databases, a temporal Prolog for process analysis, analysis of a multipurpose batch plant using Minimax algebra and discrete-event simulation and analysis using Petri nets.
The Effect of the Mandatory Use of Face Masks on Facial Lacerations and Head and Neck Injuries in Ice Hockey A Prospective Study

A 4-year prospective review of lost-time injuries and facial lacerations was performed for a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, intercollegiate ice hockey team. The total injury exposure time consisted of 798.5 practice hours and 163 games. There were 16 facial lacerations, with an incidence of 14.9 per 1000 player-game hours and 0.1 per 1000 player-practice hours; both incidences were found to be less than in previous comparable studies where the use of face masks was not mandatory. In addition, there were eight lost-time head and neck injuries that accounted for 6.3% of all lost-time injuries. We found that the mandatory use of face masks in intercollegiate ice hockey results in a reduction in facial lacerations and no increase in overall head and neck injuries.
Matter enhanced oscillations of accelerator neutrinos

Abstract New ranges of neutrino oscillation parameters can be probed by sending accelerator produced neutrinos to large neutrino detectors thousands of kilometers away. Since the neutrino propagation is through the earth, νμ-νe and ν μ - ν e oscillations can be quite different from vacuum oscillations. For the accelerator and detector parameters of one such experiment previously suggested, the presence of background matter enhances neutrino mixing for mass differences in the range 0.5×10−2 eV2
An analysis of prey selection by Mesocyclops edax

The results of four laboratory experiments suggest that Mesocyclops edax selectively preyed upon Bosmina longirostris, given Daphnia parvula and Diaptomus pallidus as alternative prey. These results support an earlier hypothesis (DeCosta & Janicki, 1978) that M. edax may act as an important determinant of the crustacean plankton community structure in an acid lake devoid of planktivorous fishes.
Configurational characteristics of ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymers

Abstract Rotational isomeric state theory has been used to calculate mean-square unperturbed dimensions 〈 r 2 〉 and dipole moments 〈 μ 2 〉 of ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymers as a function of chemical composition, chemical sequence distribution, and stereochemical composition of the vinyl chloride sequences. As was previously found for several other copolymeric chains, 〈 μ 2 〉 is much more sensitive to chemical composition and chemical sequence distribution than is 〈 r 2 〉 0 . The present calculations also indicate that both 〈 r 2 〉 0 and 〈 μ 2 〉 are most strongly dependent on chemical sequence distribution for ethylene-vinyl chloride chains having vinyl chloride sequences which are significantly syndiotactic in structure. In the case of ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymers in which the chemical sequences are relatively short and the vinyl chloride sequences are significantly isotactic, both 〈 r 2 〉 0 and 〈 μ 2 〉 depend on chemical composition in an unexpectedly complex manner; under the cited conditions both of these statistical properties display a maximum and minimum in their variation with chemical composition.
Diagrams increase the recall of nondepicted text when understanding is also increased

Multimedia presentations typically produce better memory and understanding than do single-medium presentations. Little research, however, has considered the effect of multimedia on memory for nonmultimedia information within a large multimedia presentation (e.g., nondepicted text in a large text with diagrams). To this end, the present two experiments compared memory for target text information that was either depicted in diagrams or not. Participants (n 5 180) studied either a text-only version of a text about lightning or a textwith-diagrams version in which half the target information was depicted in diagrams. Memory was tested with both free recall and cued recall questions. Overall, diagrams did not affect memory for the entire text; diagrams increased memory only for the information they depicted. Diagrams exerted a generalized effect on free recall only when diagrams increased the overall understanding of the text (i.e., when the participants studied the materials twice before the test).
Char Studies: Flame Retarded Polycarbonate/PET Blend

Bromine and phosphorus were shown to be synergistic in flame retarding a polycarbonate/PET blend as measured by oxygen index. This synergy is enhanced when both elements are present in the same molecule. Cone calorimeter data confirm these observations. Chars were formed by py rolysis in the TGA apparatus, by burning at high oxygen concentration in the oxygen index apparatus and by forced combustion in the cone calorimeter. Chars formed from the polymer blend containing the brominated phosphate gave 40-50% more char by weight than when bromine, phosphorus or blends of the two were used. Analyses of the chars showed no bromine and considerable phosphorus. TGA and DSC studies suggest that the polycarbonate and the PET undergo transesterification during pyrolysis above 400°C and the brominated phosphate acts as a transesterification inhibitor or stabilizer. SEM of the chars showed a considerable difference. When the brominated phosphate was used the char had a fine porous structure and thick solid skin. The ...
Increasing prevalence of overweight among US low-income preschool children: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pediatric nutrition surveillance, 1983 to 1995.

Objective. To determine whether the prevalence of overweight in preschool children has in- creased among the US low-income population. Design. Analysis using weight-for-height percentiles of surveillance data adjusted for age, sex, and race or ethnicity. Setting. Data from 18 states and the District of Columbia were examined. a Subjects. Low-income children <5 years of age who were included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System. Results. The prevalence of overweight increased from 18.6% in 1983 to 21.6% in 1995 based on the 85th percentile cutoff point for weight-for-height, and from 8.5% to 10.2% for the same period based on the 95th percentile cutoff point. Analyses by single age, sex, and race or ethnic group (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic) all showed increases in the preva- lence of overweight, although changes are greatest for older preschool children. Conclusion. Overweight is an increasing public health problem among preschool children in the US low-income population. Additional research is needed to explore the cause of the trend observed and to find effective strategies for overweight prevention beginning in the preschool years. Pediatrics 1998;101(1). URL: http://www.pediatrics. org/cgi/content/full/101/1/e12; overweight, obesity, preva- lence, preschool children, weight-for-height.
Amorphous water soluble derivatives of cyclodextrins: From test tube to patient

Abstract Amorphous water soluble derivatives of cyclodextrins retain the ability of their parent compounds to form inclusion complexes, while the toxicity is decreased. The inclusion complexes of these derivatives dissolve in water as an amorphous phase, i.e., well and with ease. Thus, these compounds are well suited as excipients. Furthermore, soluble cyclodextrin derivatives can be used, after parenteral application, in the redistribution of lipophiles within the organism.
Alleged Stimulation of Moulds by Paraffin in Heavy Water

IN a letter to NATURE of July 21, Dr. R. Klar suggests that the increased growth of moulds in 0.5 per cent heavy water observed by Meyer1 and by Larson2 was produced by an unsuspected paraffin impurity. A brief consideration of the facts, however, will show that such an explanation is untenable. Organic matter of paraffin nature influences the growth of certain moulds and bacteria (Penicillium, Actinomyces, tuberculosis bacteria) solely by serving as a source of carbon (Rahn3, Buttner4, Haag5, Tausson6, Hopkins and Chibnall7) and consequently a trace of paraffin would be without effect in the experiments of Meyer and Larson in which an abundance of more suitable carbon sources is present. Haag5 writes: “Bacterien wachsen auf den Paraffinstuckcken nicht, wenn andere Kohlenstoff-quellen (Glyzerin, Zucker) vorhanden sind”. In Meyer's tests sucrose was added as a carbon source and in Larson's experiments the moulds were growing in the tissue of the flatworms. It is inconceivable that a trace of paraffin could account for the sixteen-fold increase in dry weight of Aspergillus reported by Meyer.