cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GEMTM: a general model for energy and mass transfer of land surfaces and its application at the FIFE sites

A general energy and mass transport model (GEMTM) was developed to predict the dynamic interactions between land surfaces and the atmosphere. In contrast to other landsurface models, the present model successfully linked leaf-level processes, canopy microclimate, soil abiotic processes, plant growth and biomass production dynamics. The plant canopy was divided into shaded leaf and sunlit leaf sublayers in a canopy microclimate submodel. Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis of shaded and sunlit leaves were simulated separately. The leaf photosynthesis submodel distinguished C1 and C4 pathways. The multi-reflection of radiation within canopy and soil-surface system was considered in calculations of surface albedo and energy balance. A unique feature of the present model is that the interaction between soil-canopy and the atmosphere in energy transfer was implemented by coupling the energy balance of the canopy and soil surface with soil thermal dynamics. A second unique feature is that iterative determinations of plant water potential based upon plant water balance enabled the model to explicitly represent the interaction between the above-ground and the below-ground processes. A third unique feature is that explicit coupling between land-surface processes and plant growth dynamics enabled the model to simulate short-term as well as long-term (annual and seasonal) interactions between land surfaces and the atmosphere. Thus, the model has the capability to represent the dynamic and two-way interactions between land surfaces and the atmosphere. The model was validated using energy flux and biomass production data from two sites of the First ISLSCP Field Experiment (FIFE). The simulated sensible heat flux, latent heat flux, and soil-surface heat flux matched the measured data well. Simulated green leaf and live stem dry weights also agreed well with the field data. The model simulated realistically the diurnal and seasonal change of net CO2 flux, canopy resistance, plant water potential, canopy and soil-surface temperature. Live root dry weight and root-zone spatial distribution dynamics were also simulated. The general nature of this model framework enables its application to a wide range of problems in terrestrial ecology, climatology, agricultural meteorology and hydrology. It can readily be adapted to different vegetation types.
Plasma Treatment Effect on the Off Current Characteristics of a‐Si TFT

We have investigated the effect of plasma treatment after a back channel etching process of a-Si:H thin film transistors (TFTs). O2, N2 and He plasma treatments were done and compared. It was found that the He plasma treatment was the most effective method to decrease the off leakage current in the lower subthreshold region. The He plasma treatment affects the interface characteristics between the a-Si:H layer and the passivation layer, and obstructs the electron transport near the back channel interface.
VERB summer scorecard: findings from a multi-level community-based physical activity intervention for tweens.

The benefits of physical activity for adolescents are well established. Multi-level interventions may be especially effective in establishing and sustaining health-enhancing behaviors. This study explored the influences of a multi-level community intervention aimed at increasing physical activity among tweens (youth 9–13). Two Florida school districts far apart served as intervention and comparison sites in a quasi-experimental post-test design. Youth in grades 5 through 8 in the intervention community (n = 1,253) and comparison community (n = 866) completed an anonymous post-intervention survey. An intent-to-treat analysis did not show any statistically significant group differences for the physical activity outcomes examined. However, a subset analysis revealed that students who reported participating in the intervention were more likely to be physically active than youth in the comparison group, as well as youth in the intervention community who reported not participating. Participating in the intervention was significantly related to meeting recommendations for vigorous physical activity (OR = 2.08, P = 0.0259), being physically active on weekends (OR = 1.84, P = 0.0017), and reporting more days of trying a new game or sport (OR = 1.49, P = 0.046) after controlling for grade, gender, race/ethnicity, and SES. These findings support the efficacy of multi-level interventions to create effective health behavior change, especially when linkages among community, media, schools, and the home are present.
A simple method for determining the vertical growth rate of vertical motion at the top of earth's outer core

Abstract A simple new method is described for extracting, from magnetic observations taken at Earth's surface, the vertical growth rate of vertical motion, ∂u/∂r, at special isolated points on the top surface of Earth's liquid core. The technique utilizes only the radial component of the frozen-flux induction equation and it requires information only on the radial magnetic field, Br, its horizontal gradient, and its secular variations, ∂Br/∂t, at the core-mantle boundary.
Visualizing "greengold" clusters in the STEM.

Abstract “Greengold” is a large metallic cluster thought to contain 75 gold atoms in a compact 1.4-nm-diameter core surrounded by an organic shell. Scanning transmission electron microscope imaging shows uniform mass and size distributions with an apparent mass of 24 kDa, unaffected by radiation damage. The signal-to-noise ratio is adequate for visualization at low dose and in the presence of a relatively thick biological matrix. Under some conditions these clusters have a slight tendency to form linear chains and 2-D hexagonal arrays with a spacing of 2.6 nm. The parameters presented permit estimation of the feasibility of proposed labeling experiments.
Attention and apparent motion

—Two dissociations between short- and long-range motion in visual search are reported. Previous research has shown parallel processing for short-range motion and apparently serial processing for long-range motion. This finding has been replicated and it has also been found that search for short-range targets can be impaired both by using bicontrast stimuli, and by prior adaptation to the target direction of motion. Neither factor impaired search in long-range motion displays. Adaptation actually facilitated search with long-range displays, which is attributed to response-level effects. A feature-integration account of apparent motion is proposed. In this theory, short-range motion depends on specialized motion feature detectors operating in parallel across the display, but subject to selective adaptation, whereas attention is needed to link successive elements when they appear at greater separations, or across opposite contrasts.
Ballistic transport in narrow channels and films

We present a simple description of ballistic transport in systems with random rough walls. All characteristic parameters, including the mean free path and localization length, are expressed explicitly via the correlation function (correlation length R and amplitude l) of surface inhomogeneities. Scattering by surfaces inhomogeneities in channels with width L creates a new mesoscopic transport length of the order of (L2R/l2) f (R/λ). The function f has a minimum when the particle wavelength λ ~ R. The transport problem includes possible quantization of motion across the channel. The calculations are performed with the help of canonical coordinate transformation which reduces a transport problem with rough random walls to an exactly equivalent problem with ideal flat walls, but with random bulk distortion. Applications include transport in thin films, porous media, localization and slip effects, etc.
Patent ductus arteriosus complicating prolongedassisted ventilation in respiratory distress syndrome

Patent ductus arteriosus was found in 3 premature infants with severe respiratorydistress syndrome who were treated with prolonged positive pressure ventilation (16, 19, and 59 days, respectively) during the course of their disease. In one patient, surgical ligation of the ductus was followed by marked clinical improvement enabling cessation of assisted ventilation. One infant had spontaneous delayed closure of the ductus. The third infant died after 19 days of assisted ventilation, with a widely patent ductus arteriosus. All 3 infants had signs of the recently described syndrome of "bronchopulmonary dysplasia." Careful auscultation of the heart in infants with respiratory distress syndrome under prolonged positive pressure ventilation is essential in order to discover an associated patent ductus arteriosus with left-to-right shunt, which may aggravate symptoms attributed to "bronchopulmonary dysplasia."
DUAL FUNCTIONALITIES OF 4-AMINODIPHENYLAMINE IN ENZYMATIC ASSAY AND MEDIATED BIOSENSOR CONSTRUCTION

4-Aminodiphenylamine (N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, CAS 101-54-2) and its water-soluble HCl salt (CAS 2198-59-6) were demonstrated to be efficient mediators for glucose oxidase, lactate oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and lysine oxidase. Using cyclic voltammetry, single oxidative peak potentials were observed for scans ranging from 0 to 0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl. The half-wave potential for both preparations was 0.11 V vs Ag/AgCl at pH 7 and decreased 59 mV per unit pH increase. Peak current data were analyzed to estimate diffusivities of 0.8 x 10(-5) cm2/s for soluble 4-ADPA HCl, and 2.36 x 10(-5) cm2/s for 4-ADPA solubilized in 2.5 mM 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The overall second-order kinetic constants (k) for the reaction of reduced glucose oxidase with oxidized 4-ADPA HCl and 4-ADPA in cyclodextrin were estimated to be 1.8 x 10(5) and 1.7 x 10(-5) M-1 s-1, respectively, using cyclic voltammetry measurements at varied scan rates and enzyme concentrations. Both preparations proved to be suitable electron acceptors for horseradish peroxidase, as indicated by changes in absorbance spectra upon oxidation or reduction. The electrochemical and spectral behavior of the preparations were applied in conjunction with glucose oxidase to devise mediated amperometric and hydrogen peroxide-coupled spectrophotometric assays for glucose. The results of both assays compared favorably with the hexokinase reference method.
Glucocorticoids and hypothermic induction and survival in the rat

Glucocorticoids (GC are important for thermoregulatory responses to low environmental temperatures. Pretreatment of hamsters, which are capable of natural hibernation, with cortisone acetate has been demonstrated to improve carbohydrate homeostasis during hypothermia. The objectives of the current studies were to evaluate the effects of GC pretreatment of a nonhibernator, the rat. on (i) cooling time, (ii) carbohydrate homeostasis (in terms of liver and cardiac glycogen concentrations and plasma glucose concentration), and (iii) duration of survival in hypothermia. In addition, the effects of liver glycogen depletion on cooling times and survival were examined. Hypothermia was induced in rats by exposure to a helium:oxygen (80:20, Helox) atmosphere at 0 °C. Pretreatment of rats with triamcinolone acetonide (1.5 mg/kg/day, sc, 48, 24, and 1 hr prior to induction) significantly (P < 0.05) lengthened induction time, while fasting was associated with a significant decrement (25%). While liver and cardiac glycogen levels in control and GC-treated rats fell approximately 45% during cooling, this reduction occurred over a significantly greater period of time in treated rats and suggests a sparing of glycogen or increased capacity for its production in response to GC. Glycogen utilization was accompanied by a hyperglycemia in control, GC-treated, and fasted groups. Survival in hypothermia at a rectal temperature of 14–15 °C in GC-treated (9.5 ± 1.2 hr) and fasted (10.9 ± 0.9 hr) rats was not significantly different from control (10.5 ± 1.1 hr) values. These findings suggest that treatment with GC can increase the thermogenic capacity of the rat (as evidenced by an increased induction time) and promote carbohydrate homeostasis, but does not contribute to an enhancement of survival in the hypothermic nonhibernator.
Production of Neutropenia in Swiss Mice by Injection of Potassium Dicarboxy-benzanthracene

Summary and ConclusionsAfter the injection of the water-soluble potassium salt of dicarboxy-benzanthracene into Swiss mice there is a marked decrease in the number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, a slower, and moderate decrease in the number of monocytes, with but slight changes in the number of lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Recovery is complete 7 weeks after the last injection. Data on the blood of normal Swiss mice are given.
Effect of ultraviolet light on DNA replication in excision-deficient mammalian cells

Abstract DNA replication after exposure to 254-nm ultraviolet light was examined in wild-type (AA8) and excision-deficient (UV-5) Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. DNA replication was examined by measuring the incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine into acid-precipitable form and by DNA fiber autoradiography. Following exposure to UV both cell lines exhibited a fluence-dependent reduction in the rate of incorporation of thymidine. For exposures of 3.25 and 6.5 J/m 2 the response was quantitatively similar in both cell lines for the first hour or two following exposure, with thymidine incorporation dropping to less than 50% of the control rate within the first 1–2 h. For the AA8 cells the depression was only temporary with the rate of thymidine incorporation eventually recovering to control levels. UV-5 cells, on the other hand, never exhibited a recovery in the rate of thymidine incorporation, even at a fluence as low as 0.8 J/m 2 . DNA fiber-autoradiographic analysis revealed that for both AA8 and UV-5 lines there were about a 40% reduction in the rate of chain growth in the first 40 min after exposure to 6.5 J/m 2 . The rate of DNA chain elongation recovered to normal rates in less than 5 h in AA8 cells while little or no recovery in the rate of DNA chain elongation was observed for up to 5 h in the UV-5 cells. From these results it appears that the steps of excision repair that are missing in the UV-5 cells are required not only for excision repair, but also for the ability of cells to recover normal rates of DNA replication following exposure to UV.
Rapid Inhibition of Auxin-induced Elongation of Avena Coleoptile Segments by Cordycepin

The effects of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), an RNA synthesis inhibitor, on auxin-induced elongation in Avena coleoptile segments were studied with a position-sensing transducer. Cordycepin rapidly inhibited auxin-stimulated growth in the coleoptile segments whether added before, at the same time as, or after, the 2 mum auxin treatment. Midcourse additions of 100, 50, and 25 mug/ml cordycepin inhibited auxin-promoted elongation in an average of 18, 22, and 35 minutes, respectively. Additions of cordycepin before or at the same time as the auxin treatment partially inhibited the magnitude of the subsequent auxin-promoted growth but did not appreciably alter the latent period of the auxin response. It was concluded that if cordycepin is inhibiting the synthesis of RNA required for growth, the decay time for this RNA may be considerably shorter than that suggested in the literature from actinomycin D experiments. Preliminary kinetic evidence indicated that cordycepin does not inhibit auxin-induced elongation by acting as a respiratory inhibitor. Studies in mung bean shoot mitochondria demonstrated that cordycepin has no effect on respiration, respiratory control, or ADP/oxygen ratios.
Proposal for almost noise-free optical communication under conditions of high background

By making use of the fact that photons are created in pairs in the process of parametric downconversion and by detecting them in coincidence, we propose a scheme for communication by light that should make it possible to achieve high discrimination against background. Weak light beams that are greatly overshadowed by background light should therefore be usable for an optical channel.
Continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil combined with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide: Feasibility study

Previous studies have demonstrated continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil (Cl 5-FU) to be an active single-agent treatment for breast cancer without significant myelotoxicity. These qualities made Cl 5-FU an attractive agent for combination with other effective but myelosuppressive agents. In this study we attempted to determine the maximal doses of Cl 5-FU that could be added to a combination of agents known to be dose limited by myelotoxicity, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 day 2 and cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 days 3–12 of a 28-day cycle. Patients who received doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide alone developed significant myelotoxicity but did not develop stomatitis. The addition of 5–7 days of Cl 5-FU at 200–300 mg/m2 was associated more closely with increased stomatitis (P = .11) than with increased granulocytopenia (P = .57). The stomatitis observed for low doses of Cl 5-FU given with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide would not have been expected for these low doses of Cl 5-FU given as a single agent. We conclude that the addition of Cl 5-FU to myelotoxic doses of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide is not a promising therapeutic strategy for significantly increasing the effectiveness of this combination of agents. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Study of an energy efficient multi rate scheme for wireless sensor network MAC protocol

Real-time Digital Signal Processing (DSP) applications in wireless sensor network are often multi-rate in nature. These multi rate attributes provide additional significant opportunities in network design for achieving higher energy efficiency, besides traditional approaches of saving energy. In this paper, we propose a novel multi rate sensor network scheme to take advantage of power scaling for saving energy consumption. It can be easily synthesized into existing wireless sensor network MAC protocols, providing multi rate service for upper layer, and achieving communication energy efficiency. By monitoring a desirable BER threshold as the critical system parameter, the quality of received multi-rate data is assured. Based on this BER and the corresponding modulation scheme, the SNR at receiver end can be derived. The transmission power can be supplied optimally according to this SNR and the channel attenuation between sender and receiver. This dynamic power scaling scheme can lead to optimal energy efficiency since it demands that only a necessary amount of communication energy be consumed for multi-rate DSP applications. Our simulation shows that this multi data rate scheme with dynamic power scaling achieves energy saving significantly
Intramolecular Diffusion of the Amyloidgenic Protein HypF

The mechanism of amyloid fibril aggregation is as fundamental a process in protein dynamics as folding. Our goal of studying the N terminal domain of E.coli HypF (HypF-N) is to seek the intrinsic intramolecular properties of amyloidgenic proteins. We measured two mutants (W81F and W27F) using Trp-Cys contact quenching to explore the microsecond loop formation of two chain segments of HypF (27-65 and 65-81). Using Szabo, Schulten and Schulten theory and a worm-like chain model to determine an effective intramolecular diffusion coefficient, D, we observed different behaviors for these two segments. The short loop (C65-W81) collapsed into a very vicious and compact state under low denaturant conditions while the long loop (W27-C65) is relatively more diffusive. Finally chronological measurements in 3%-6% (v/v) TFE (trifluoroethanol) show that the long loop appears to become unstructured and highly diffusive before aggregating.
Collagen-based mechanical anisotropy of the tectorial membrane: implications for inter-row coupling of outer hair cell bundles.

BACKGROUND The tectorial membrane (TM) in the mammalian cochlea displays anisotropy, where mechanical or structural properties differ along varying directions. The anisotropy arises from the presence of collagen fibrils organized in fibers of approximately 1 microm diameter that run radially across the TM. Mechanical coupling between the TM and the sensory epithelia is required for normal hearing. However, the lack of a suitable technique to measure mechanical anisotropy at the microscale level has hindered understanding of the TM's precise role. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here we report values of the three elastic moduli that characterize the anisotropic mechanical properties of the TM. Our novel technique combined Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), modeling, and optical tracking of microspheres to determine the elastic moduli. We found that the TM's large mechanical anisotropy results in a marked transmission of deformations along the direction that maximizes sensory cell excitation, whereas in the perpendicular direction the transmission is greatly reduced. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Computational results, based on our values of elastic moduli, suggest that the TM facilitates the directional cooperativity of sensory cells in the cochlea, and that mechanical properties of the TM are tuned to guarantee that the magnitude of sound-induced tip-link stretching remains similar along the length of the cochlea. Furthermore, we anticipate our assay to be a starting point for other studies of biological tissues that require directional functionality.
Comparison of the Response of a Heterodyne Receiver to Video-Pulse and Impulse-Type Signals

This paper presents some of the limitations of available impulse generators and suggests a criterion to determine the useful frequency range for impulse generators based on the requirements in MIL-STD-461. This paper also discusses a technique that can be used to generate a transient response of a heterodyne receiver that closelv approximates the impulse response of the receiver. The technique uses a video pulse from a commercial pulse generator. The transient response of the receiver, measured at IF, will differ from the true impulse response in IF phase only. Available data indicates that this technique may be useful to generate impulse-like responses for RF amplifiers and broad-band amplifiers that operate at frequencies as high as 100 GHz.
Pip2-Channel Interaction as a Critical Element in Regulation of SK Channel Activity

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), a minor acidic phospholipid found in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, plays a major role in cellular signaling. While it is well documented that PIP2 can regulate the activity of many ion channels through direct interactions, the affinity of PIP2 is so high for some channel proteins that its physiological role as a modulator has been questioned. Here we demonstrate that PIP2 is an essential cofactor for activation of small-conductance K+ channels (SK2) by Ca2+-bound calmodulin (CaM), with the PIP2-binding site located at the interface of the CaM-SK2 complex near the CaM N-lobe. Because of the high sensitivity of PIP2 for the channel complex, global PIP2 hydrolysis produces only a small inhibitory effect on SK2 channel activity. Phosphorylation of CaM, when complexed with SK, at T79 by Casein Kinase 2 (CK2), mimicked by the T79D mutation in mammalian cells, is known to inhibit Ca2+-dependent activation of SK channels by an unknown mechanism of action. We show that the phosphomimetic T79D mutation can effectively reduce the PIP2 sensitivity of SK2 channel by 12-fold and confer susceptibility to inhibition by PIP2 hydrolysis. We propose the converged signaling of CaM phosphorylation and PIP2 hydrolysis as the underlying mechanism for inhibition of SK channels in neurons induced by neurotransmitters, which contributes to the regulation of synaptic plasticity and thus learning and memory. Additionally we observed that changes of protein conformation in close proximity to PIP2 binding site by a small molecule, NS309, can effectively enhance the interaction between the protein and PIP2, and potentiate channel activity. These results demonstrate the PIP2-channel interaction as a critical element in both physiological and pharmacological regulation of SK channel activity.
Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Alter Oxytocin Signaling and Receptor Density in Cultured Pregnant Human Myometrial Smooth Muscle Cells

Epidemiological studies and interventional clinical trials indicate that consumption of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) lengthen gestational duration. Although the mechanisms are not well understood, prostaglandins (PG) of the 2-series are known to play a role in the initiation and progress of labor. In animal studies, modest DHA provision has been shown to reduce placental and uterine PGE2 and PGF2α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression, and placental collagenase activity. However, modulation of PG biosynthesis may not account for all the effects of LC n-3 PUFAs in labor. We investigated one potential PG-independent mechanism of LC PUFA action using cultured pregnant human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Our goal was to characterize the effect of LC PUFA treatment on oxytocin signaling, a potent uterotonic hormone involved in labor. The addition of 10 µM–100 µM DHA or arachidonic acid (AA) to the culture media for 48 h resulted in dose dependent enrichment of these fatty acids in membrane lipid. DHA and AA significantly inhibited phosphatidylinositol turnover and [Ca2+]i mobilization with oxytocin stimulation compared to bovine serum albumin control and equimolar oleic acid. DHA and AA significantly reduced oxytocin receptor membrane concentration without altering binding affinity or rate of receptor internalization. These findings demonstrate a role for LC n-3 PUFAs in regulation of oxytocin signaling and provide new insight into additional mechanisms pertaining to reports of dietary fish and fish oil consumption prolonging gestation.
What to Do With a Patient Who Smokes

Despite the reality that smoking remains the most important preventable cause of death and disability, most clinicians underperform in helping smokers quit. Of the 46 million current smokers in the United States, 70% say they would like to quit, but only a small fraction are able to do so on their own because nicotine is so highly addictive. One third to one half of all smokers die prematurely. Reasons clinicians avoid helping smokers quit include time constraints, lack of expertise, lack of financial incentives, respect for a smoker’s privacy, fear that a negative message might lose customers, pessimism because most smokers are unable to quit, stigma, and clinicians being smokers. The gold standard for cessation treatment is the 5 As (ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange). Yet, only a minority of physicians know about these, and fewer put them to use. Acceptable shortcuts are asking, advising, and referring to a telephone “quit line” or an internal referral system. Successful treatment combines counseling with pharmacotherapy (nicotine replacement therapy with or without psychotropic medication such as bupropion). Nicotine replacement therapy comes in long-acting (patch) or short-acting (gum, lozenge, nasal spray, or inhaler) forms. Ways to counter clinicians’ pessimism about cessation include the knowledge that most smokers require multiple quit attempts before they succeed, that rigorous studies show long-term quit rates of 14% to 20%, with 1 report as high as 35%, that cessation rates for users of telephone quit lines and integrated health care systems are comparable with those of individual clinicians, and that no other clinical intervention can offer such a large potential benefit.
Tangible programming in the classroom with tern

This interactivity demonstrates Tern, a tangible programming language for middle school and late elementary school students. Tern consists of a collection of wooden blocks shaped like jigsaw puzzle pieces. Children connect these blocks to form physical computer programs, which may include action commands, loops, branches, and subroutines. With Tern we attempt to provide the ability for teachers to conduct engaging programming activities in their classrooms, even if there are only one or two computers available. In designing Tern, we focused on creating an inexpensive, durable, and practical system for classroom use.
A characterization of fuzzy subgroups

Abstract An ordinary subgroup of a group G is (1) a subset of G, (2) closed under the group operation. In a fuzzy subgroup it is precisely these two notions that lose their deterministic character. A fuzzy subgroup μ of a group (G,·) associates with each group element a number, the larger the number the more certainly that element belongs to the fuzzy subgroup. The closure property is captured by the inequality μ(x · y)⩾T(μ(x), μ(y)). In A. Rosenfeld's original definition, T was the function ‘minimum’. However, any t-norm T provides a meaningful generalization of the closure property. Two classes of fuzzy subgroups are investigated. The fuzzy subgroups in one class are subgroup generated, those in the other are function generated. Each fuzzy subgroup in these classes satisfies the above inequality with T given by T(a, b) = max(a + b −1, 0). While the two classes look different, each fuzzy subgroup in either is isomorphic to one in the other. It is shown that a fuzzy subgroup satisfies the above inequality with T = ‘minimum’ if and only if it is subgroup generated of a very special type. Finally, these notions are applied to some abstract pattern recognition problems.
Water Quality Retrieval from Landsat TM Imagery

Abstract In this paper, the utility of Landsat TM imagery for water quality studies in East Texas is investigated. Remote sensing has an important and effective role in water quality management. Remote sensing satellites measure the amount of solar radiation reflected by surface water and the reflectance of water depend upon the concentration and character of water quality parameters. Three water quality parameters namely the total suspended solids, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity are estimated in this study. In situ water quality parameter measurements from seven ground stations and the corresponding Landsat TM data were used to estimate the water quality parameters. Regression models are used to evaluate correlation between the water quality parameters and spectral reflectance values.
Experiments with Stentor coeruleus on the Nature of the Radiation‐Induced Delay in Fission in the Ciliates

SYNOPSIS. Irradiation of Stentor coeruleus with Xray doses of 150–300 kr inhibited growth in size and fission. The irradiation also led to the development of structural abnormalities, which appeared about a day after irradiation. The inhibition of growth and fission was independent of the oxygen concentration during irradiation, but the abnormalities were produced at lower doses in nitrogen than in air. Regeneration of parts removed by cutting occurred even at the highest doses at essentially normal rate even during the period when over-all growth was completely inhibited. The conclusion is drawn that delay in fission by radiation is a secondary consequence of inhibition of growth and not a consequence of blocks in the specific morphogenetic processes required for division.
Diet selection by goats in the sagebrush steppe of eastern Oregon

This study was designed to quantify plant selection by Angora goats on a sagebrush-bunchgrass rangeland and to provide information as to the potential for using goats to rehabilitate sagebrush rangelands in less than optimal condition. Goats were introduced to sagebrush-steppe rangeland at the Squaw Butte Experimental Range in eastern Oregon. Groups were maintained separately to avoid social learning across groups. Diets were ascertained using focal-animal bite-count observations during five consecutive seasons, summer of 1990 through summer 1991. Does and kids were primarily graminivorous; however, there was strong seasonality in species preference and a significant age difference in diets selected. Kids selected a more diverse diet and consumed significantly higher amounts of sagebrush and other woody plants during the initial observation season. Animal age influenced plant selection throughout the study until kids were 18 months old.
Maternal Attachment Buffers the Association Between Exposure to Violence and Youth Attitudes About Aggression

The present study examined the relative and cumulative predictive power of parent-child, interparental, and community aggression on youths' perceptions of the acceptability of aggression between peers and siblings. The potential for mother-child attachment to buffer the effects of violence on aggressive attitudes was tested, as well as the link between aggressive attitudes and aggressive behaviors. A diverse sample of 148 children (ages 9-14) completed measures of interparental, parent-child, and community aggression; a measure of mother-child attachment quality; and a measure of aggressive behaviors. Participants also rated the acceptability of aggressive interactions between two peers and two siblings in written vignettes. Mothers completed a measure of their child's aggressive behaviors. Youths' violence exposure was related to perceptions of aggression as more acceptable, with parent-child aggression having the only unique association. Maternal attachment buffered the relation between exposure to community violence and perceived acceptability of aggression, which predicted decreased aggression. When exposed to high levels of community violence, youths with more secure maternal attachment perceived aggression as less acceptable than youths with less secure attachment and, in turn, displayed fewer aggressive behaviors. Interventions that focus on strengthening the caregiver-child relationship in children exposed to violence may reduce aggressive behaviors by interrupting the development of aggressive attitudes.
Is the Dodo bird endangered in the 21st century? A meta-analysis of treatment comparison studies.

Abstract The Dodo bird hypothesis asserts that when bona fide treatments are compared they yield similar outcomes and this hypothesis is consistent with a common factors or contextual model of psychotherapy. Wampold et al. (1997) , the most recent comprehensive meta-analysis to test the Dodo bird hypothesis, yielded consistent evidence of treatment equivalence. However, some of Wampold et al.'s analytic strategies, such as using multiple effect sizes from the same study and prioritizing long-term follow-up, may have obscured treatment differences. The current meta-analysis updated Wampold et al. by analyzing studies published in the subsequent 16 years (k = 51). Separate effect sizes were calculated for primary outcomes versus secondary outcomes, at termination and follow-up. Contrary to the Dodo bird hypothesis, there was evidence of treatment differences for primary outcomes at termination. Furthermore, cognitive-behavioral treatments may be incrementally more effective than alternative treatments for primary outcomes. Consistent with the Dodo bird hypothesis, there was little evidence of treatment differences for the secondary outcomes at termination and follow-up. There are small, statistically significant differences between bona-fide treatments when the specific targets of those treatments are assessed, but not when secondary outcomes are assessed, providing mixed support for both specific factors and contextual models of psychotherapy.
The impedance of liquid (Ga-In)-electrode of eutectic composition in aqueous electrolyte solutions in the absence and in the presence of surface-active ions

Adsorption behavior of anions at liquid (Ga-In)-electrode at a temperature of 305 K is studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The above-listed methods allowed evaluating the adsorbability of different ions. Equivalent circuit describing the experimental data in the presence and in the absence of ions Br− and Cl− is a contour comprising a resistance connected in series to a capacitance whose value remains constant over the frequency range from ∼300 Hz to 10 kHz. Analysis of the experimental data obtained by the mixed electrolyte method with excess of surface-inactive ion Cl and constant ionic strength 0.1 M in electrolyte solutions acidified down to pH 3 gave the charge of specifically adsorbed ions Br− and Cl− (σ1) at the liquid (Ga-In)-electrode surface as 5.24 and 1.67 μC/cm2, respectively, at the adsorbate maximal concentration and zero-charge potential. These values are characteristic of very weak specific adsorption. The σ1 values found for the (Ga-In)-electrode were used in the calculations of different isotherms, aiming at the determination of adsorption parameters. The results of the study were compared with literature data obtained by different researchers for different metals in the presence of specifically adsorbing bromide and chloride ions.
Hot-Film Anemometer Velocity Measurements of Arterial Blood Flow in Horses

Blood velocity measurements were carried out using a constant-temperature hot-film anemometer system in both anesthetized and conscious horses. Catheter probes were used to measure velocity wave forms in conscious horses and L-shaped needle probes inserted by direct vessel puncture were used to measure the profiles in regions of the thoracic and abdominal aorta of anesthetized, open-chest horses. Both catheter and L-shaped probes were used for coronary velocity wave-form measurements. The flow conditions were characterized by peak Reynolds numbers of 200-10,000 and unsteadiness parameter of 2-30. These measurements indicate that in the thoracic aorta the flow at peak systole is largely inviscid with a thin-wall boundary layer; in the abdominal aorta the flow is more fully developed but skewed due to branching effects. Highly disturbed flows were observed in the thoracic aorta of both anesthetized and conscious horses, but not in the abdominal aortic region or in the coronary arteries. The results of this study indicate that the flow in the arterial system, although in many cases laminar and disturbance free, is extremely varied in character. It may be asymmetric and certainly is not representative of fully developed, Poiseuille flow.
Relationship Between Interfacial Water Layer Adhesion Loss of Silicon/Glass Fiber–Epoxy Systems: A Quantitative Study

Water at the polymer/substrate interface is often the major cause of adhesion loss in coatings, adhesives, and fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This study critically assesses the relationship between the interfacial water layer and the adhesion loss in epoxy/siliceous substrate systems. Both untreated and silane-treated Si substrates and untreated and silane-treated E-glass fibers were used. Thickness of the interfacial water layer was measured on epoxy/Si systems by Fourier transform infrared–multiple total internal reflection (FTIR-MTIR) spectroscopy. Adhesion loss of epoxy/Si systems and epoxy/E-glass fiber composites was measured by peel adhesion and short-beam shear tests, respectively. Little water accumulation at the epoxy/Si substrate interface was observed for silane-treated Si substrates, but about 10 monolayers of water accumulated at the interface between the epoxy and the untreated Si substrate following 100 h of exposure at 24 °C. More than 70% of the initial epoxy/untreated Si system pe...
Drug Offenses, Gender, Ethnicity, and Nationality Women in Prison in England and Wales

Although imprisonedwomen represent about6% of the total prison population in England and Wales, their numbers have been increasing rapidly during the past several years. Recently, statistics also show that ethnic minorities and foreign-born women are overrepresented in the prison system in Britain. Using the intersectional approach, this article uses official prison data between 1993 and August 2005 to analyze the relationship between ethnicity and nationality and the imprisonment ofwomen in England and Wales. The picture that is presented by the analysis is one in which foreign nationals of ethnic minority background, primarily Blacks, are overrepresented in prison in England and Wales.
Merck and Vioxx: An Examination of an Ethical Decision-Making Model

Marketing researchers have proposed various conceptual models of ethical decision-making to better clarify the steps in the decision-making process. However, lacking in the literature is comprehensive empirical validation of these models. This manuscript examines the ethical decision-making model proposed by␣Ferrell et al. [1989, Journal of Macromarketing 56(Fall), 55–64] in the context of a real-world marketing situation. This model is a comprehensive synthesis of previously developed models in the literature. The events surrounding the withdrawal from the market of the pain reliever Vioxx, manufactured by Merck & Co., are detailed. The analysis provides insights into the decision-making process faced by Merck executives and sheds light onto the real-world applicability of the conceptual model. Furthermore, this study demonstrates how potential modifications to existing models can be developed by their examination in the context of real world events. It is hoped that this analysis, along with future examinations, aids marketing researchers in developing a better understanding of the ethical decision-making process in a business context.
Improving the encoding of verbal reports by using MPAS: A computer-aided encoding system

The dramatically increased use of verbal report methodologies in psychological research has created a need for new tools to improve the efficiency and reliability of encoding these data. A computer-aided protocol encoding system called MPAS (Multiple Protocol Analysis System) presents individual protocol segments in a randomised order to one or more coders and then stores computer keyboard-entered codes for later output to an SPSS formatted data file. In the present paper, MPAS is described, and a brief example is provided of how MPAS can be used in a con-trolled laboratory study to rigorously analyze verbal protocol data.
ALD ruthenium oxide-carbon nanotube electrodes for supercapacitor applications

This work presents the first demonstration of atomic layer deposition (ALD) ruthenium oxide (RuO2) and its conformal coating onto vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests as supercapacitor electrodes. Specific accomplishments include: (1) successful demonstration of ALD RuO2 deposition, (2) uniform coating of RuO2 on a vertically aligned CNT forest, and (3) an ultra-high specific capacitance of 100 mF/cm2 from prototype electrodes with a scan rate of 100 mV/s. Advantages of the ALD method include precise control of the RuO2 layer thickness and composition without the use of CNT-binder molecules. In addition to high capacitance, preliminary results indicate that the ALD RuO2-CNTs have good stability over repeated cycling. Besides its use in supercapacitors, ALD-RuO2 has potential NEMS applications: in biosensors and pH sensing [1], as a strong oxidative material in multiple chemical processes [2], and in catalytic reactions for photocatalytic systems [3].
PURIFICATION AND ACTION PATTERN OF AN AMYLASE FROM BACILLUS POLYMYXA.

An amylase from Bacillus polymyxa was purified by ammonium sulfate and organic solvent precipitations. This amylase produces β-maltose as the predominant product when reacting with amylose, amylopectin, and glycogen. It catalyzes the degradation of maltooctaose to given maltose, maltotriose, and maltotetraose as the predominant early stage products. It also catalyzes the degradation of the Schardinger dextrins to given maltose and maltotriose as products. Bacillus polymyxa amylase resembles the α-amylases found in animals and bacteria by being able to bypass the α-1→6 linkages of amylopectin and glycogen and by not requiring a nonreducing end for action. It resembles the β-amylases of higher plants by producing β-maltose as the predominant product from α-1→4 glucosans. It does not resemble any of the previously described α or β-amylases in that it catalyzes the degradation of the Schardinger dextrins.
GREASE PERFORMANCE IN TAPERED ROLLER BEARINGS

To gain insight into the physical aspects of grease lubrication, nine greases with different oil viscosity and thickener combinations were tested in a tapered rolling element bearing under a light thrust load at speeds of 1800 and 3600 RPM. Bearings were run for thirty days or until a 150°C rib temperature was reached. Using SEM analysis, thickener samples were taken after testing from the rib/roller and raceway contacts for comparison with the thickener in new grease. A post test infrared technique was also used to evaluate grease thickness at the rib/roller contact and was compared with calculated film thickness. Bearing operating temperatures were then compared with grease base oil viscosity and thickener type.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The plasmid profile of Edwardsiellaictaluri

. The plasmid content of 18 isolates of Edwardsiella ictaluri found in channel catfish was analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Each isolate contained an identical set of plasmids. This set consisted of two prominent plasmids of 5.2 and 4.4 kilobase pairs, and three smaller and less apparent plasmids. One plasmid (the 5.2 kilobase plasmid) was radiolabelled and used to probe a blot of DNA from all isolates. All plasmids were hybridized but no chromosomal DNA was labelled. These plasmids must share some homologous regions. DNAs from other bacteria, including the related Edwardsiella tarda, were also probed and no hybridization was seen. It is suggested that a plasmid probe may be a sensitive, specific probe for detection of E. ictaluri in channel catfish
Hospitalization due to pneumonia among Innu, Inuit and non-Aboriginal communities, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Summary Objectives The objective of this study was to compare hospitalization rates due to pneumonia between Innu/Inuit communities in Labrador and non-Aboriginal communities on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada. Methods This is a comparative study using data on hospitalization due to pneumonia for the period from April 1, 1995 to March 31, 2001, for the Innu/Inuit communities in Labrador and a sample of non-Aboriginal communities on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. Data were obtained from the provincial hospital database. Hospitalization rates among the study groups were compared by age, gender, and type of pneumonia. Results The hospitalization rate due to pneumonia for the Innu/Inuit communities was 11.6 compared to 3.0 per 1000 population for non-Aboriginal communities ( p −4 ). Among the Innu/Inuit communities, infants had the highest rate of hospitalization due to pneumonia (93.4 per 1000 population), while the elderly (10.2 per 1000 population) were found to have the highest rate among the non-Aboriginal sample. Overall hospitalization rate for the Innu communities (16.9 per 1000 population) was higher than that for Inuit communities (8.4 per 1000 population) ( p −4 ). Conclusions Aboriginal communities, particularly the Innu communities, had higher rates of hospitalization due to pneumonia compared to the non-Aboriginal sample. Findings of this study will be used as a foundation for more specific studies in an effort to increase our understanding of pneumonia and associated risk factors.
Levels in 18O through the radiative capture of alpha particles by 14C

Abstract The reaction 14 C(α, γ) 18 O was studied for α-particle energies between E α = 0.50 and 3.00 MeV. Three previously reported resonances were observed, as well as a new resonance at E α = 2440 keV. Coincidence studies were made to determine the γ-ray decay schemes at each resonance. The spins and parities of eight excited states of energy greater than 3.92 MeV in 18 O were assigned or confirmed from double and triple angular correlation measurement. Also determined were multipole mixing ratios for resonance γ-rays. Of interest are the J π = 1 (−) and 5 − assignment for the 4.45 and 8.13 MeV states, respectively. An unsuccessful attempt was made to fit the J π = 5 − state into a predicted band of negative-parity states, the initial member of which was assumed to be the 4.45 MeV 1 (−) state.