cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The ballistic performance of confined Al2O3 ceramic tiles

Summary The penetration of aluminum oxide tiles inserted into a 4340-steel block that also serves as a “semi-infinite” steel substrate is investigated for two length-to-diameter projectiles at a nominal impact velocity of 1.5 km/s. The experimental observable is the depth of penetration of the projectile into the backup steel. These data are compared with the total penetration into semi-infinite steel. The data are analysed and displayed as normalized depth of penetration as a function of areal density and tile thickness. Data from Woolsey et al. ( Fifth Annual TACOM Armor Coordinating Conference , Monterey, CA, 1989) are in good agreement with data from this study, and are used to extend the range of tile thicknesses. A methodology, assuming quasi-steady-state penetration, provides an estimate of the penetration resistance R 1 of the ceramic tile; R 1 is then used to estimate the erosion rate and length of projectile eroded as it penetrates the ceramic. A second approach that does not rely as heavily on the assumption of steady-state penetration is also developed and applied to the data to estimate the length of projectile eroded. It is found that the various measures of ceramic performance, for a well-confined target, are relatively constant as tile thickness is varied.
Response variability of frontal eye field neurons modulates with sensory input and saccade preparation but not visual search salience

Discharge rate modulation of frontal eye field (FEF) neurons has been identified with a representation of visual search salience (physical conspicuity and behavioral relevance) and saccade preparation. We tested whether salience or saccade preparation are evident in the trial-to-trial variability of discharge rate. We quantified response variability via the Fano factor in FEF neurons recorded in monkeys performing efficient and inefficient visual search tasks. Response variability declined following stimulus presentation in most neurons, but despite clear discharge rate modulation, variability did not change with target salience. Instead, we found that response variability was modulated by stimulus luminance and the number of items in the visual field independently of attentional demands. Response variability declined to a minimum before saccade initiation, and presaccadic response variability was directionally tuned. In addition, response variability was correlated with the response time of memory-guided saccades. These results indicate that the trial-by-trial response variability of FEF neurons reflects saccade preparation and the strength of sensory input, but not visual search salience or attentional allocation.
Proficiency and Patient Acceptance of Ophthalmic Medical Assistants

We assessed the accuracy of ten ophthalmic technologist trainees (OTs) in commonly performed tasks of the ophthalmic examination. Results were derived from 224 patient examinations; 160 patients were examined both by OTs and ophthalmology residents, and an additional 64 were examined both by OTs, residents, and a faculty ophthalmologist. In measurement tasks, there was no significant difference in the results produced by the three types of providers. In identifying abnormalities of the globe and adnexae, and in history-taking, OT performance was nearly as accurate as that of the residents, when compared to the findings of the faculty ophthalmologist. In diagnosis and disposition, OT performance fell below the physician standard, especially in difficult cases. Patient acceptance of both formally trained and on-the-job trained ophthalmic medical assistants was very high. These results suggest that assistants with training comparable to that of the participants in this study may perform a large proportion of the routine ophthalmic examination without sacrificing quality or satisfaction with care.
Pneumatic anti-shock garment: State of the art 1988

The responses of hypovolemic patients would be expected to be similar to experimental animals that were hypovolemic. Normovolemic patients would be expected to respond as do the normovolemic experimental animals. Hypovolemic patients do not necessarily respond the same as do normovolemic patients or volunteers. The amount of external pressure applied by the device is directly proportional to the amount of tissue pressure increase. Tissue pressure is transmitted to the vessel as reduction transmural pressure, or in change in the size of the vessels and subsequent increase in SVR. Patient response to external pressure varies with the amount of device pressure. The optimal pressure of the PASG is in the range of 60 to 80 torr. Although exceeding this value does not appear to be necessary, it is not harmful in the short term (less than 90 minutes). Using less pressure reduces the SVR and, therefore, the blood pressure response. Keeping the external pressure at approximately 40 torr appears to be ideal for hemorrhage control. Of the more than 300 articles that have appeared in the recent literature addressing the PASG, at least 190 have discussed specific scientific experiments in the animal laboratory, in the human laboratory, or in the clinical environment, in which results gathered addressed how, why, or if the PASG worked. These studies demonstrate that the PASG does, in fact, improve blood pressure, control hemorrhage, improve carotid and upper body blood flow, improve the ability of the prehospital provider to start IV lines, and improve survival (particularly short-term) with few hospital and even fewer prehospital complications. The device produces its blood pressure response by improving preload, increasing SVR, and mobilizing some blood (500 to 1,000 mL) to the upper body compartment above the device. These responses are most probably produced by decreasing the radius of the vessels compressed by the device, decreasing the compartment volume, and differentially affecting the blood flow without and within the device. Hemorrhage is controlled by increasing the external pressure on the vessel by the transmitted increased tissue pressure, reducing the vascular lumen, and reducing the area of the laceration. Short-term survival is improved by decreasing intra-abdominal hemorrhage and improving perfusion (maintaining better oxygenation in the heart-brain-lung circulation.) Long-term survival is improved because the device controls hemorrhage, maintains blood pressure, and allows delivery of the severely injured patient to the trauma center and within the hospital while awaiting an OR, as in the case of a leaking aortic aneurysm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
THE MECHANISM OF THE VOMITING INDUCED BY ANTIMONY AND POTASSIUM TARTRATE (TARTAR EMETIC)

1. It has been shown that tartar emetic acts on the stomach to induce emesis after its oral administration, that only traces are present in the vomitus following its intravenous injection (Kleimann and Simonowitsch), and that it does not induce emesis when it is applied directly to the vomiting center (Thumas). 2. In the present study, which was made with cats except when otherwise specifically stated, the intravenous injection of tartar emetic caused emesis (typical vomiting movements) after the removal of the entire gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the anus. 3. Cutting the vagi inhibits emesis after the intravenous injection of any dose of tartar emetic, though nausea may be induced. 4. Cutting the vagi and simultaneously extirpating the stellate ganglia inhibits both nausea and vomiting after the intravenous injection of tartar emetic. 5. Extirpation of the celiac ganglion and simultaneous cutting of the vagi just below the level of the diaphragm does not prevent emesis following the intravenous injection of tartar emetic. 6. Cutting the vagi prevents vomiting after the introduction of large doses of tartar emetic into the stomach, but massive doses may still cause emesis. Vagotomy probably has less influence on the emetic action of a moderately large dose of tartar emetic introduced into a loop of the duodenum. 7. Atropine has very nearly the same effect on the emetic action of tartar emetic as cutting the vagi, but much larger doses are necessary to abolish the effect of the introduction of tartar emetic into the stomach in moderate amounts than that of equal amounts injected intravenously. 8. The facts just stated point to the heart as the seat of reflex vomiting following the intravenous injection of tartar emetic. 9. The intravenous injection of tartar emetic induces afferent emetic impulses which pass from the heart to the vomiting center mainly by way of the vagus, to a much less extent by way of the sympathetic nerve and the stellate ganglia. 10. The introduction of tartar emetic into the stomach induces afferent emetic impulses which pass upward mainly by way of the vagus, to a much less extent by way of the sympathetic nerve. 11. The introduction of tartar emetic into the duodenum induces afferent emetic impulses which pass upward partly by way of the sympathetic nerve, partly by way of the vagus. 12. It seems probable that the path taken by afferent emetic impulses induced in the gastrointestinal tract by tartar emetic depends on the innervation of the organ concerned, and not on any selective action of the poison on the afferent nerve.
Nocturnal EEG-GSR profiles: the influence of presleep states.

The number of nocturnal galvanic skin responses-(GSRs) varied widely between the electroencephalograph (EEG) stages of sleep as well as from night to night and from person to person. As others have found, non-specific GSRs occurred much more frequently during stage IV than other EEG stages, and were rare in stage REM. However, night-to-night variation and individual differences were related to the presleep state of the person. In general, electrodermal activity increased in all EEG stages as daytime stress increased, being especially great on nights preceding important school examinations. The nocturnal EEG profile was also related to the presleep state, the percentage of stage IV decreasing as daytime stress increased. The percentage of stage REM showed no systematic relation to stress. The occurrence of GSR “storms” during slow-wave sleep is consistent with the notion of release of cortical or other inhibitory influences during this state, but another mechanism is needed to explain the fact that presleep stress increases the frequency of GSRs in all stages of sleep, while simultaneously decreasing the percentage of slow-wave sleep.
Histochemical distribution of acetylcholinesterase and simple esterases in the brain of squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).

The distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and simple esterases (SE) has been investigated in 15 μ thick fresh frozen sections of the squirrel monkey brain. Simple esterases are cellular enzymes, found in locations similar to those of acid phosphatase (AC), although not as abundantly. The neuropil in most of the nuclei of the brain shows stronger SE activity compared to the AChE reaction. The AChE activity is strong in nucleus caudatus and putamen, and appreciable quantities of this enzyme are found in nucleus fasciculus diagonalis band of Broca, habenular complex, nucleus interpeduncularis, cranial nerve nuclei, gray layers of colliculus superior, griseum pontis, nuclei olivaris inferior, cuneatus, gracilis, etc. The nucleus interpeduncularis has proved very interesting histochemically because it is rich in AChE and SE, as well as acid phosphatase, monoamine oxidase and lactic dehydrogenase. In the area postrema, the neurons give stronger SE activity than the parenchymal cells, while the AChE activity in both types of cells is similar. The molecular layer of cerebellum is stronger in AChE compared to SE, whereas the Purkinje cells and granule cells are strong in SE and show only negligible AChE activity. The lining cells of the choroid plexus, in addition to the ependymal cells, demonstrate a negligible to mild AChE reaction in comparison to moderately strong simple esterase activity. The significance of these observations has been discussed.
Simulation and skills training in mitral valve surgery

Objective Limited exposure and visualization and technical complexity have affected resident training in mitral valve surgery. We propose simulation-based learning to improve skill acquisition in mitral valve surgery. Methods After reviewing instructional video recordings of mitral annuloplasty in porcine and plastic models, 11 residents (6 integrated and 5 traditional) performed porcine model mitral annuloplasty. Video-recorded performance was reviewed by attending surgeon providing audio formative feedback superimposed on video recordings; recordings were returned to residents for review. After 3-week practice with plastic model, residents repeated porcine model mitral annuloplasty. Performance assessments initially (prefeedback) and at 3 weeks (postfeedback) were based on review of video recordings on 5-point rating scale ( 5, good; 3, average; 1, poor) of 11 components. Ratings were averaged for composite score. Results Time to completion improved from mean 31 ± 9 minutes to 25 ± 6 minutes after 3-week practice ( P = .03). At 3 weeks, improvement in technical components was achieved by all residents, with prefeedback scores varying from 2.4 ± 0.6 for needle angles to 3.0 ± 0.5 for depth of bites and postfeedback scores of 3.1 ± 0.8 for tissue handling to 3.6 ± 0.8 for suture management and tension ( P ≤ .001). Interrater reliability was greater than 0.8. In this sample, composite scores of first-year integrated and traditional residents were lower than those of senior level residents; comparatively, third-year integrated residents demonstrated good technical proficiency. Conclusions Simulation-based learning with formative feedback results in overall improved performance of simulated mitral annuloplasty. In complex surgical procedures, simulation may provide necessary early graduated training and practice. Importantly, a "passing" grade can be established for proficiency-based advancement.
Does a myelomeningocele sac compared to no sac result in decreased postnatal leg function following maternal fetal surgery for spina bifida aperta

Objective: A fetus with large sac S1 myelomeningocele (MMC) but bilateral talipes prompted the question, ‘Does the presence or size of an MMC sac affect postnatal leg function?’ &lt
A parallel adaptive grid algorithm for computational shock hydrodynamics

Abstract Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) algorithms that dynamically match the local resolution of the computational grid to the numerical solution being sought have emerged as powerful tools for solving problems that contain disparate physical scales. In particular several workers have demonstrated the effectiveness of employing an adaptive, hierarchical block-structured grid system for time-accurate simulations of complex shock wave phenomena. Here we present an overview of one such block-structured AMR algorithm. Our formulation has progressed far beyond the development stage to become a reliable numerical tool for performing detailed investigations of complex flows. While our refinement machinery is not tied to a specific application and is intended for general use, in this paper we adopt detonation phenomena as a theme so as to provide a sense of purpose.
The actuation of a biomimetic poly(vinyl alcohol)poly(acrylic acid) gel.

Active polymer gels expand and contract in response to certain environmental stimuli, such as the application of an electric field or a change in the pH level of the surroundings. This ability to achieve large, reversible deformations with no external mechanical loading has generated much interest in the use of these gels as biomimetic actuators and ‘artificial muscles’. In previous work, a thermodynamically consistent finite–elastic constitutive model has been developed to describe the mechanical and actuation behaviours of active polymer gels. The mechanical properties were characterized by a free–energy function, and the model uses an evolving internal variable to describe the actuation state. In this work, an evolution law for the internal variable is determined from free actuation experiments on a poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(acrylic acid) (PVA–PAA) gel. The complete finite–elastic/evolution law constitutive model is then used to predict the response of the PVA–PAA gel to isotonic and isometric loading and actuation. The model is shown to give relatively good agreement with experimental results.
Recent Case Law Regarding Functional Behavioral Assessments: Implications for Practice

While functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) are currently federally mandated requirements, public schools have not been provided clear federal guidance concerning what constitutes an acceptable FBA through Individuals With Disabilities Education Act or related regulations. The purpose of this article is to examine recent rulings regarding FBAs and the implications these cases hold for students with disabilities and FBAs.
Circulation of the World War II / Holocaust analogy in the 1999 Kosovo intervention: Articulating a vocabulary for international conflict

This essay offers an analysis of the circulation of World War II and Holocaust analogies in discourses about American military involvement in Kosovo. The essay argues that the World War II/Holocaust analogy provided the public with a new vocabulary for understanding the situation in Kosovo. The essay uses Bill Clinton’s speeches about Kosovo during the first week of American intervention as a representative anecdote for discussing the analogy and its rhetorical force. The essay then probes the circulation of the analogy in other governmental, media, and public opinion outlets. By comparing Kosovo 1999 to Europe 1945, the analogy offers descriptive and prescriptive reasons for American involvement that encourage public approval of military intervention. The essay offers conclusions and implications of this analysis for the understanding of the relationships among rhetoric, public opinion, and international conflict.
Accelerated chromatographic analysis of amino acids in physiological fluids containing glutamine and asparagine

Abstract The chromatographic separation of glutamine and asparagine without interference from other amino acids and related compounds, in addition to the separation of these amino acids, has been achieved on a 55.0 × 0.9 cm resin column of Beckman Custom Research Resin. Types PA-28 and AA-15 are applicable to this procedure. A lithium citrate buffer system is used, at flow rates of 70 ml/hr at a single temperature of 37°C throughout the analysis. A faster analysis time than previously reported for the analysis of the acidic and neutral amino acids commonly found in physiological fluids has been achieved without sacrifice of resolution. The analysis time for these amino acids is 270 min.
Interactions among chloramphenicol, phenytoin, and phenobarbital in a pediatric patient.

O N E of the important factors determining serum concentration of chloramphenicol is the rate of hepatic metabolism to inactive metabolites by the microsomal enzyme glucuronyl transferase. 1 Since both phenytoin and phenobarbital can induce hepatic microsomal enzymes, their use may increase the rate of chloramphenicol metabolism. 2 Because these drugs may be used with chloramphenicol in treating pediatric infections of the central nervous system, it is important to know how these drugs interact. We report a child with hydrocephalus who was treated with chloramphenicol for a ventriculojugular infection. Concomitant with the sequential addition of phenytoin and phenobarbital, there was a significantly lowered chloramphenicol serum concentration and an increased total body clearance of chloramphenicol relative to values reported in pediatric patients.
Introduction: Fiction and Leadership

(2006). Introduction: Fiction and Leadership. Public Integrity: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 201-206.
Salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli and dental caries experiences in a US adolescent population

– Dental caries exams and saliva samples were obtained from 541 adolescents, aged 10–15, initially and after 17 months as part of a 3-yr longitudinal study investigating the relationships of dietary intakes, specific microorganisms in saliva, and the prevalence and incidence of dental caries. The mean DMFS score detected in these subjects initially was 4.61, and they developed an average of 1.38 new DMFS during the first 17-month period. Initially S. mutans and lactobacilli were detected in 64% and 56% of these subjects, respectively. Subjects with low levels of S. mutans and lactobacilli had significantly lower initial DMFS scores and developed significantly fewer new DMFS than subjects with high counts. The predictive values of a positive result for S. mutans or lactobacilli assays were low (31% and 39%), but those for a negative result were high (81% and 84%).
An Operational Semantics Framework Supporting the Incremental Construction of Derivation Trees

We describe the current state of the design and implementation of Dops, a framework for Deterministic OPerational Semantics that will support the incremental construction of derivation trees, starting from term/input pairs. This process of derivation tree expansion may terminate with either a complete derivation tree, explaining why a term/input pair evaluates to a particular output, or with a blocked incomplete derivation tree, explaining why a term/input pair fails to evaluate to an output; or the process may go on forever, yielding, in the limit, an infinite incomplete derivation tree, explaining why a term/input pair fails to evaluate to an output.The Dops metalanguage is a typed lambda calculus in which all expressions converge. Semantic rules are specified by lambda terms involving resumptions, which are used by a rule to consume the outputs of sub-evaluations and then resume the rule's work. A rule's type describes the number and kinds of sub-evaluations that the rule can initiate, and indicates whether the rule can block. The semantics of Dops is defined in an object language-independent manner as a small-step semantics on concrete derivation trees: trees involving resumptions. These concrete derivation trees can then be abstracted into ordinary derivation trees by forgetting the resumptions.
Fronts in Large Marine Ecosystems

Abstract Oceanic fronts shape marine ecosystems; therefore front mapping and characterization are among the most important aspects of physical oceanography. Here we report on the first global remote sensing survey of fronts in the Large Marine Ecosystems (LME). This survey is based on a unique frontal data archive assembled at the University of Rhode Island. Thermal fronts were automatically derived with the edge detection algorithm of Cayula and Cornillon, 1992 , Cayula and Cornillon, 1995 , Cayula and Cornillon, 1996 from 12 years of twice-daily, global, 9-km resolution satellite sea surface temperature (SST) fields to produce synoptic (nearly instantaneous) frontal maps, and to compute the long-term mean frequency of occurrence of SST fronts and their gradients. These synoptic and long-term maps were used to identify major quasi-stationary fronts and to derive provisional frontal distribution maps for all LMEs. Since SST fronts are typically collocated with fronts in other water properties such as salinity, density and chlorophyll, digital frontal paths from SST frontal maps can be used in studies of physical–biological correlations at fronts. Frontal patterns in several exemplary LMEs are described and compared, including those for: the East and West Bering Sea LMEs, Sea of Okhotsk LME, East China Sea LME, Yellow Sea LME, North Sea LME, East and West Greenland Shelf LMEs, Newfoundland–Labrador Shelf LME, Northeast and Southeast US Continental Shelf LMEs, Gulf of Mexico LME, and Patagonian Shelf LME. Seasonal evolution of frontal patterns in major upwelling zones reveals an order-of-magnitude growth of frontal scales from summer to winter. A classification of LMEs with regard to the origin and physics of their respective dominant fronts is presented. The proposed classification lends itself to comparative studies of frontal ecosystems.
On the common scale parameter of several pareto populations in censored samples

The problem of estimation of an unknown common scale parameter of several Pareto distributions with unknown and possibly unequal shape parameters in censored samples is considered. A new class of estimators which includes both the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and the uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) is proposed and examined under a squared error loss.
Inventing the neutrino

A short history of the neutrino is presented honoring the pioneers from Wolfgang Pauli to Raymond Davis.
The absorption spectrum of RbD. Vibrational numbering of the A1Σ state of RbH

Abstract RbD has been observed in absorption from 5200–5400 A. Of the several bands observed in this region, two have been analyzed in detail. The RbD spectrum correlates with the RbH spectrum only if the vibrational numbering of the A1Σ state of RbH is increased by 3. Revised molecular constants for RbH are given.
Dean Acheson, the cold war, and the limits of politics

Abstract Dean Acheson's political theory of the cold war was grounded on an appreciation of the complementary role of prudence and principles in foreign policy. Always aware of the inclination toward moralism in American politics, Acheson attempted to forge a strategy that could meet the Soviet challenge without descending into a crusade against Communism. In this context, an examination of the decision to build the hydrogen bomb and the strategy document known as NSC 68 reveals the limits of American foreign policy in the era of an “armed truce.”
CP-Violating charge asymmetry in the decay KL0 → πμν

Abstract The K μ 3 0 charge asymmetry has been measured to be (6.0 ± 1.4) × 10 −3 . The error contains a major systematic contribution. Large corrections were made in order to exclude neutron-induced background events and to correct for the range difference between μ + and μ − .
The Impact of Determinism on Learning Atari 2600 Games

Atari 2600 games are deterministic given a fixed policy leading to a fixed sequence of actions. This article investigates three methods for adding randomness: random initialization, epsilon-greedy action selection, and epislon-repeat action selection. These methods are evaluated by how well they are able to derail a memorizing agent without hurting the performance of a randomized agent. Results indicate that epsilon-repeat action selection best fits the desired criteria and lower values of epsilon than previously used are sufficient to derail the memorizing agent.
Adrenocortical Cell Function in the Hypophysectomized Domestic Fowl: Effects of Growth Hormone and 3,5,3′- Triiodothyronine Replacement

The control of adrenocortical function in the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) was investigated using adrenocortical cells isolated from hypophysectomized (hypox) and intact cockerels and from hypox cockerels injected with T3, purified chicken GH (cGH), and T3 plus cGH. Corticosterone in plasma and cell incubations was measured by RIA. Cellular responses to varying concentrations of steroidogenic agents were fitted and statistically analyzed by computer. Hypophysectomy reduced the basal plasma corticosterone (B) concentration to 53% of the value in intact birds and eliminated a stress response. Although hypophysectomy reduced adrenal weight by 20%, it did not change relative adrenal weight (milligrams per 100 g BW). However, replacement with cGH increased relative adrenal weight by 24%, whereas replacement with T3 or T3 plus cGH reduced relative adrenal weight by 16%. In the absence of steroidogenic agents, there were no detectable differences in B production by adrenocortical cells isolated from various experimental groups. However, with a maximal steroidogenic concentration of ACTH, B production by isolated adrenocortical cells from hypox birds was 61% of that by cells from intact birds. The ED50 of ACTH for cells from hypox cockerels was 2.7 times greater than that of cells from intact cockerels, thus indicating a loss of cell sensitivity to ACTH after hypophysectomy (the greater the ED50, the lesser the cell sensitivity). Although cGH replacement increased maximal B production (Bmax) induced by ACTH to 329% that by cells from hypox cockerels, it increased the ACTH ED50 3.6 times, thus decreasing cell sensitivity more than hypophysectomy alone. In contrast to cGH, T3 replacement maintained the cell sensitivity to ACTH at the level of cells from intact birds, but lowered Bmax to 54% that of cells from hypox cockerels. The combination of cGH and T3 administered to hypox cockerels both maintained cell sensitivity to ACTH and raised the Bmax to 358% that of cells from hypox animals. These treatments also affected 8-bromo-cAMP-induced Bmax and pregnenolone-supported Bmax, but did not significantly alter the ED50 of these agents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Variabilidad espacio-temporal de las comunidades de las plantas acuáticas en un humedal de los Llanos de Venezuela

A fin de describir la variabilidad espacio temporal de las comunidades de plantas acuaticas en un humedal de los Llanos de Venezuela, se estudiaron su riqueza y abundancia, en 14 habitat, durante un ciclo anual. En los transectos de estudio se identifico un total de 69 especies. Segun el analisis de diversidad con interaccion de Alatalo y Alatalo el aspecto temporal, es decir el regimen anual de lluvia-sequia y la consecuente variacion del nivel del agua, es el factor que ejerce mayor influencia sobre la riqueza de especies, en relacion al aspecto espacial, o tipo de habitat. Segun el indice geometrico de las distancias euclideas, se concluye igualmente que la variacion en la abundancia de especies se debe mas a las fluctuaciones hidrometricas (estacionalidad) que al habitat considerado.
A knowledge-based approach to identification and adaptation in dynamical systems control

Artificial intelligence techniques are applied to the problems of model form and parameter identification of large-scale dynamic systems. The object-oriented knowledge representation is discussed in the context of causal modeling and qualitative reasoning. Structured sets of rules are used for implementing qualitative component simulations, for catching qualitative discrepancies and quantitative bound violations, and for making reconfiguration and control decisions that affect the physical system. These decisions are executed by backward-chaining through a knowledge base of control action tasks. This approach was implemented for two examples: a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer and a two-phase thermal testbed. Results of tests with both of these systems demonstrate that the software replicates some or most of the functionality of a human operator, thereby reducing the need for a human-in-the-loop in the lower levels of control of these complex systems. >
The effect of thermo-mechanical treatment on the pitting corrosion of reinforcing carbon steel bars

Steel reinforcing rods with varying amounts of cold work and carbon concentrations (0.06 to 0.45% C) exposed in soil embankments has shown various degrees of pitting corrosion. To understand this pitting process, laboratory investigations on residual stresses, microstructures and potentiodynamic cyclic polarization were undertaken. Analysis of residual stresses in the steels indicated low value of compressive stresses in hot rolled steels and high value of tensile stresses in the cold worked counterparts. Hot rolled steels displayed a slightly better pitting corrosion resistance than cold worked samples which is consistent with the above internal stress pattern. No definite correlation was obtained between the percentage of carbon in the steels and pitting susceptibility. An attempt has been made to define the role of the complex steel-soil system for pitting corrosion behavior. Einflus der thermomechanischen Behandlung auf die Lochkorrosion von Bewehrungen aus Kohlenstoffstahl Bewehrungsstahlstangen mit unterschiedlich starker Kaltverformung und Kohlenstoffkonzentrationen zwischen 0,06 und 0,45% zeigten in Boden Lochkorrosion unterschiedlichen Ausmases. Um dieses Lochkorrosionsverhalten zu klaren, wurden Laboratoriumsuntersuchungen unter Berucksichtigung von Eigenspannungen und Mikrogefuge unter potentiodynamischer zyklischer Polarisation durchgefuhrt. Die Analyse der Eigenspannungen in den Stahlen zeigte, das warmgewalztes Material niedrige Druckeigenspannungen, die kaltgewalzten Gegenproben hingegen hohe Zugeigenspannungen aufwiesen. Die warmgewalzten Stahle waren gegen Lochkorrosion geringfugig besser bestandig als die kaltgewalzten, was den erwahnten Spannungszustanden entspricht. Zwischen dem Kohlenstoffgehalt der Stahle und der Anfalligkeit gegen Lochkorrosion wurde hingegen keine eindeutige Beziehung gefunden. Versuchsweise wurde auch eine Hypothese fur die Rolle des Stahl/Boden-Systems bei der Lochkorrosion aufgestellt.
Carbon transit through degradation networks

The decay of organic matter in natural ecosystems is controlled by a network of biologically, physically, and chemically driven processes. Decomposing organic matter is often described as a continuum that transforms and degrades over a wide range of rates, but it is difficult to quantify this heterogeneity in models. Most models of carbon degradation consider a network of only a few organic matter states that transform homogeneously at a single rate. These models may fail to capture the range of residence times of carbon in the soil organic matter continuum. Here we assume that organic matter is distributed among a continuous network of states that transform with stochastic, heterogeneous kinetics. We pose and solve an inverse problem in order to identify the rates of carbon exiting the underlying degradation network (exit rates) and apply this approach to plant matter decay throughout North America. This approach provides estimates of carbon retention in the network without knowing the details of underlying state transformations. We find that the exit rates are approximately lognormal, suggesting that carbon flow through a complex degradation network can be described with just a few parameters. These results indicate that the serial and feedback processes in natural degradation networks can be well approximated by a continuum of parallel decay rates.
Attitudes of the physician membership of the society for adolescent medicine toward medical abortions for adolescents.

Objective. To document the practices and attitudes of the US physician members of the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) regarding adolescent abortion and contraception, as well as physician willingness to prescribe medical abortion if approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Design. Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Participants. The entire physician membership of SAM ( N = 1001) was surveyed. A total of 713 physicians responded, with 668 usable surveys yielding an adjusted response rate of 70%. Results. Of the respondents, 81% were trained as pediatricians; 58% had additional adolescent medicine training. Ninety-six percent prescribed contraception for their patients. Sixty-one percent of respondents identified abortion as an option for pregnant adolescents in all circumstances, whereas 4% believed abortion should never be an option. Eighty-nine percent referred their patients for abortions; 90% were aware of medications to induce abortions medically. If these medications (methotrexate and misoprostol, RU-486) were FDA-approved, 42% would prescribe them for their patients; 34% were unsure. Fifty-four percent believed if medical abortions were routinely available, they should be available from primary care physicians. Physicians were significantly more likely to consider prescribing medical abortions if the physician were female, offered postcoital contraception, performed Norplant insertions, referred adolescents for abortions, or performed postabortion medical checkups. Physicians were no more likely to consider prescribing medical abortions according to physician age, specialty training, or date of residency training. Religious affiliation per se was not associated with likelihood of prescribing medical abortions, but Catholic physicians were significantly less likely to consider prescribing medical abortions. Conclusions. Virtually all SAM physician respondents (96%) reported that abortion for pregnant adolescents should be available under some circumstances. Forty-two percent would prescribe medical abortion if the medications were FDA-approved, suggesting that medical abortion would potentially be available to adolescents from a larger group of physicians than is currently available.
Electronic computations of light scattering functions for heterodisperse systems of isotropic spheres

Fortran programs were developed to compute light scattering functions for heterodisperse systems that can be described by a biparametric, uni-modal, exponential distribution function. The programs had to include the evaluation of the Mie functions for angular scattering for any arbitrary values of the size parameter α. This involves the calculation of the Riccati-Bessel functions and Legendre polynomials. Several methods of numerical integration of the expressions containing the products of the Mie functions and the distribution function were investigated. Gaussian quadrature could yield the results of integration with better precision, but its use required a considerable amount of machine time, and thus it was adopted only for part of the results obtained. The simpler Simpson's rule allowed one to store the Mie functions needed in the integration and, as some of our studies have shown, its results come close (within the limits of experimental error of light scattering methods) to those obtained by the Gaussian method. The computer has also been used for fitting the experimentally obtained light scattering data with the theoretical ones.
Microdermabrasion with and without aluminum oxide crystal abrasion: a comparative molecular analysis of dermal remodeling.

Background Microdermabrasion is a popular method of superficial skin resurfacing with effects on dermal remodeling. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of the two components of microdermabrasion, negative pressure and abrasion, in stimulating expression of key genes involved in dermal remodeling. Methods Ten subjects were treated with a microdermabrasion machine using focal crystal abrasion and negative pressure or negative pressure alone for 3 seconds. Serial biochemical analyses were performed. Reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were used to evaluate changes in transcription factor activator protein-1, primary cytokines (interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor-α), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9). Results Significant increases in gene expression of the c-Jun component of activator protein-1, interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 were found with crystal abrasion combined with negative pressure. Negative pressure alone resulted in increased gene expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 but of a quantitatively reduced magnitude when compared with negative pressure with crystal abrasion. Limitations It is unclear that molecular changes seen with these treatments can result in clinical effect. Conclusion The abrasive component of microdermabrasion is necessary for stimulating expression of key genes involved in dermal remodeling.
Cohesion, Adhesion, and the Durability of Stabilized Materials

Stabilization projects have been implemented in various parts of the world to improve the strength and bearing capacity of foundations and to control the permeability, shrink–swell potential, and related characteristics of soil materials. A primary stabilization method is using amendments that have textural, mineralogical, and chemical characteristics that are capable of generating the required changes in physicochemical characteristics of soils when they are mixed. Stabilization agents that are currently available for soil improvement include portland cement, bituminous cement, fly ash, slags, lime, lignins, calcium salts, and polymers. The composite materials formed through soil stabilization vary in degree of cementation from free particles to monoliths in which soil and other introduced particles are bound. Whatever the degree of cementation attained, pores within particles intragranular pores and pores among particles intergranular pores cannot be completely eliminated from stabilized materials. Invariably, solid–solid, solid–liquid, solid–air, liquid–air, and triple interfaces exist in stabilized materials. These interfaces are the primary locations of physicochemical and biological processes that have significant implications on the initial strength and durability of stabilized materials. Across solid–solid interfaces, particles may be of the same or different materials, the statistics of which depend on the mix proportions of the host material often, a multicomponent soil and the stabilization agent, if it is initially in solid form. Usually, the agent is applied in the liquid form, but regardless, subsequent precipitation of new solid phases derived from substances in the agent as well as in the host material, can still create new solid– solid interfaces. Obviously, the prominence of interfaces involving liquids and air depends on the porosity and permeability of the stabilized material and pore fluid chemistry. Interfaces are weak links in materials, because they provide greater opportunities than intact portions of materials for stress concentrations through a variety of mechanochemical processes. These mechanisms and processes are briefly discussed herein, with respect to the durability of chemically stabilized geomaterials. The surficial environment typically, 0–10 m deep in which field stabilization projects are usually performed is subjected to cyclical stresses and reversals of environmental conditions over hours, days, and months. Within the bounds of the microclimate of the region of concern, daily and seasonal reversals in ground temperature, as well as moisture conditions, occur. As a result of contaminant emissions from industrial and civil facilities and con-
A methodology for programmable logic migration to ASICs including automatic scan chain insertion and ATPG

Describes a methodology to migrate field programmable logic (FPL) to a gate array or standard cell ASIC with automated schematic translation, functional verification, static timing analysis, and test program generation. The input to the migration flow is the FPL netlist. The translation software replaces existing flip-flops with equivalent scan flip-flops and connects a scan chain. Automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) software then produces high fault coverage test patterns. Timing reports and workstation schematics of the ASIC are available post migration for timing verification and device simulation before manufacturing. This methodology reduces the execution time for FPL migration from man-months to man-days. >
Adolescent moral judgment and perceptions of family interaction

Oakland Growth Study (Jones, 1939) subjects and 98 adolescent offspring, ages 10 to 18 years, responded to Kohlberg Moral Judgment Interviews (Colby et al., 1987) and reported their perceptions of family interaction during 2 waves of longitudinal follow-up at the Institute of Human Development, University of California, Berkeley. Relationships between adolescent moral judgment and parent and adolescent perceptions of family structure, decision making, value orientation, moral transmission, and interpersonal relationships were assessed, with age, sex, IQ, and parent moral judgment controlled. Adolescent moral judgment was most consistently related to reports of positive intrafamilial relationships and cognitive stimulation of moral reasoning. Sex differences in relationships between family interaction and moral judgment were also found.
Performance of Connectionist Learning Algorithms on 2-D SIMD Processor Arrays

The mapping of the back-propagation and mean field theory learning algorithms onto a generic 2-D SIMD computer is described. This architecture proves to be very adequate for these applications since efficiencies close to the optimum can be attained. Expressions to find the learning rates are given and then particularized to the DAP array procesor.
Saturated Rayleigh Taylor instability of an oscillating Couette film flow

The nonlinear stability of a two-fluid system consisting of a viscous film bounded above by a heavier and thicker layer, between two horizontal plates, with one of the plates oscillating horizontally about a fixed position, is investigated. An evolution equation governing the thickness of the viscous film is derived. Numerical simulations of this equation on extended spatial intervals demonstrate nonlinear small-amplitude saturation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in certain parametric regimes
Drift compression experiments on MBE-4 and related emittance growth phenomena

A series of experiments was conducted on the MBE-4 heavy ion accelerator in which a velocity tilt was placed on the beam in the first accelerating section beyond the injector, followed by drift compression over the remaining 11 m. Depending upon the magnitude of the velocity tilt and the accompanying mismatch in the focusing lattice, emittance growth was observed, manifested by 'butterfly' shapes in x-x' phase space. A discussion is presented of various analytical limits on ion beam compression, and these are related to these experiments and also to a driver for a heavy ion fusion reactor. Also presented are numerical simulations which are used to investigate various aspects of compression and consequent emittance growth. >
Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA for the beta 2 subunit isoform of Na+,K(+)-ATPase from human retina.

Using as probe the entire human liver cDNA clone coding for the beta 2 subunit isoform of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase, which lacks the initiation codon ATG, and the entire 5'-untranslated region (Martin-Vasallo, P., Dackowski, W., Emanuel, J.R. and Levenson, R. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 4613-4618), we isolated a larger clone from a directional human adult retina cDNA library (Swaroop, A. and Xu, J. (1993) Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 64, 292-294). This clone, pNH beta 2, shows 100% homology with the nucleotide sequence of the human liver cDNA clone and also contains additional 407 nucleotides in the 5'-untranslated region, the initiation codon and a poly(A) tail. Northern blot hybridization analysis reveals that the human mRNA (3.6 kb) is approx. 300 nucleotides larger than the major transcript size expressed in rat (3.3 kb). The larger human size mRNA for the human beta 2 Na+,K(+)-ATPase indicates species differences in gene processing.