cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Civilizations and Sea Level Change

Climate and sea level changes have been relatively stable for the last few centuries. The delicate balance between global and oceanic systems, however, may be altered due to the increased warming of the earth's average surface temperature. A few degrees increase could cause a 15-17 cm sea level rise by the year 2000, resulting in wide spread flooding of low lying areas. Recent studies indicate the global sea level is rising and extensive coastal flooding is anticipated. If these changes continue through the next century, we may be faced with a loss of our present culture. Oscillating sea levels since the late Pleistocene at times have left the floors of the continental margins and inland seas exposed, increasing the total earth's land surface by 8%. It was during these events that North America and island refugia including England, Indonesia, Japan and Australia were invaded and colonized by man. However, the swinging sea levels and shoreline displacements of as much as 120 m per year must have been very disruptive to the inhabitants of the coastal region and evidence of their cultures must have eroded away due to the relentless cycle of the coastal processes.
The dynamics of equatorially asymmetric thermohaline circulations

The three-dimensional dynamics of equatorially asymmetric thermohaline flow are investigated using an ocean general circulation model in a highly idealized configuration with no wind forcing and nearly fixed surface density. Small asymmetries in surface density lead to strongly asymmetric meridional overturning patterns, with deep water formed in the denser (northern) hemisphere filling the abyss. The poleward deep transport in the lighter hemisphere implies that the deep zonal-mean zonal pressure gradient reverses across the equator. Density along the eastern boundary and the zonally averaged density are nearly symmetric about the equator except at very high latitudes; the Southern Hemisphere western boundary thermocline, in contrast, is balanced by weaker upwelling and is hence broader than its northern counterpart. This pattern is explained through the spinup of the asymmetric circulation from a symmetric one, the timescale of which is set through advection by the mean deep western boundary current. For the strength of the interhemispheric transport, a lower bound of one-half the one-hemisphere overturning strength is derived theoretically for small finite forcing asymmetries, implying that the symmetric circulation is unlikely to be realized. Under asymmetric surface forcing, enhanced mixing in the denser hemisphere suppresses interhemispheric transport. Conversely, very strong cross-equatorial transport is caused by enhanced mixing in the lighter hemisphere. These results indicate that, once the surface densities determine that North Atlantic Deep Water is the dominant ventilating source, its export rate from the North Atlantic is controlled by mixing and upwelling in the rest of the World Ocean.
Coincidence Studies in the Decay of Tb 156 and Tb 154

${\mathrm{Tb}}^{156}$ (5.35 days) and ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{154}$ (7.5 hours and 21.5 hours) were produced by ($\ensuremath{\gamma}, 3n$) and ($\ensuremath{\gamma}, 5n$) reactions on stable ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{159}$. In addition, ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{156}$ was produced by a ($p, 2n$) reaction on stable ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{157}$. Gamma rays at 89\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1, 200\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2, 261\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5, 300\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10, 358\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5, 420\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5, 535\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3, 1050\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10, 1140\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10, 1210\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10, 1410\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10, 1630\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20, and 1830\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20 kev were associated with the 5.35-day activity, and 88\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1, 123\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3, 180\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5, 250\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3, 340\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10, 511\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10, 640\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15 and others greater than 1600 kev were associated with 21.5-hour and shorter activities. Levels of ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{156}$ are placed at 89(2+), 289(4+), 1140, 1500, and 2035 kev above the ground state. These follow electron capture in 5.35-day ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{156}$. The $K$-shell conversion coefficients of the 89- and 200-kev transitions are determined to be about 1.0 and 0.16, respectively.
A Race- and Gender-Specific Replication of Five Dimensions of Functional Limitation and Disability

Activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) data from the 1989 National Long-Term Care Survey (NLTCS) are used to replicate two domains of functional status with a total of five dimensions among them. LISREL analysis of the 14,415 Black and White older adults obtained from the 1989 NLTCS screen replicates three ADL disability dimensions (basic, household, and advanced) with few modifications, except among Black males. Similarly, analysis of the 4,297 Black and White disabled older adults replicates five functional status dimensions (3 ADL disability dimensions plus lower- and upper-body functional limitation dimensions) with few modifications, except among Black males. These results suggest that improved understanding of functional status will occur from studies that take into consideration the differences between functional limitation and ADL disability. The results also indicate that further research on the validity of functional reports among Black males is needed.
Glassy state versus fluxoid trapped in high temperature superconductors

Abstract The magnetization M(T,t) of high Tc superconducting BiCaSrCuO andBaErCuO was measured via the BTi SQUID susceptometer. To understand the glassy state and fluxoids trapped in superconductors, M(T,t), due to the trapped fluxoids, was measured as a function of T and time t, and it was found to decay with 1n(t). The rate, r = (dM/Mo)/(dt/t), was found to increase with T initially and found to have a maximum near 70K when a sample was cooled in 10G, and near 50K in 300G, respectively. In contrast, in BaLaCuO and SrLaCuO, r was reported to increase with T and H3 by which the existence of glassy state was suggested by Muller et al. The maximum decay rate appears where the magnetization changes rapidly. The observed decay rate can be understood in terms of fluxoid creeping idea of Anderson with a minor modification, i. e., introducing the effective volume V(T,H) occupied by the fluxoid bundles.
InP-based cylindrical microcavity light-emitting diodes

We have investigated the properties of InP-based microcavity light-emitting diodes (/spl lambda/=1.6 /spl mu/m). Our objective was mainly to study the effects of lateral confinement of optical modes, which was achieved by the wet oxidation of double In/sub 0.52/Al/sub 0.48/As layers. The smallest devices had a cavity radius of 0.5 /spl mu/m, which becomes comparable to /spl lambda//n, where n is the effective refractive index of the photon emitting heterostructure. Two types of devices were tested: the first without any mirrors in the vertical direction, and the second with a combination of MgF/ZnSe DBR (top) and silver (bottom) to produce a low Q/spl sim/35-45. The latter type of devices exhibited higher output power and narrower spectral linewidth; otherwise, the characteristics were very similar The output slope efficiency monotonically decreases with reduction of lateral cavity size up to /spl sim/2-/spl mu/m in diameter and then is enhanced again for smaller cavity sizes. The slope efficiency of the smallest device (aperture diameter 1 /spl mu/m) is almost equal to that measured for the largest devices. The maximum output power measured from the devices is 30 /spl mu/W. The far-field pattern of devices with aperture radii ranging from 1.5 to 20 /spl mu/m shows an angular width (FWHM) of 50/spl deg/. On the other hand, devices with smaller aperture (radius /spl sim/0.5 /spl mu/m) exhibit an angular width of 20/spl deg/. The measured small-signal modulation bandwidth increases from /spl sim/0.45 GHz for the larger devices to 0.8 GHz for the smallest devices. Our results indicate that microcavity effects can be observed with only lateral photon confinement, making device fabrication requirements less stringent compared to surface-emitting lasers.
Pollutant sources and flows in a municipal sewage system.

The flow of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd, Zn, Pb) and cyanide in the Kokomo, Indiana collection system and wastewater treatment plant is analyzed. The primary objective is to determine the relative contributions of domestic and non-domestic sources to the total pollutant load in the system, and to assess the levels of discharge control required for the disposal of municipal sludge by landfill or agricultural landspreading. Sampling was conducted at point source locations, in major sewer trunk-and feeder lines, and at the treatment plant. Production and waste treatment data are presented for point sources sampled for the purpose of characterizing metal and cyanide discharges as a function of these parameters. A heavy metal mass balance is attempted for the treatment plant. Metal removal factors are presented for various plant operations.
High-temperature pressure-shear plate impact experiments using pure tungsten carbide impactors

The pressure-shear plate impact experiment has been modified to test materials at high temperatures (up to 700°C). Together with the high strain rates characteristic of this experiment (106 s−1), the high-temperature capability allows the shearing resistance of materials to be measured under conditions unattainable with other testing equipment. The compressive and shear responses of pure tungsten carbide at different temperatures are presented, as well as the results of one test on OFHC copper at a temperature of 691°C and a shear strain rate of 1.4×106 s−1.
Automated drainage extraction in mapping the Monterey submarine drainage system, California margin

Drainage-extraction algorithms traditionally used for extracting river networks and watersheds from gridded land topography are applied to gridded multibeam bathymetry of the mid-California margin. The algorithms are used to automatically map two regional tributary networks of submarine canyons and deepsea channels draining Monterey Bay, the principal conduits of which are Acension and Monterey Canyons. The algorithms reliably map subaqueous drainage areas, but are prone to error in mapping the extent of submarine canyon and channel thalwegs due to operator subjectivity and algorithm limitations. A geomorphic comparison of the Acension and Monterey Canyon networks, with 12 river networks in the continental U.S., illustrates both the potential and weaknesses of using drainage extraction algorithms to analyze sediment pathways in gridded bathymetry.
Evaluation of soy-based surface active copolymers as surfactant ingredients in model shampoo formulations.

Synopsis Objective A new non-toxic soybean oil-based polymeric surfactant (SBPS) for personal-care products was developed and extensively characterized, including an evaluation of the polymeric surfactant performance in model shampoo formulations. Methods To experimentally assure applicability of the soy-based macromolecules in shampoos, either in combination with common anionic surfactants (in this study, sodium lauryl sulfate, SLS) or as a single surface-active ingredient, the testing of SBPS physicochemical properties, performance and visual assessment of SBPS-based model shampoos was carried out. Results The results obtained, including foaming and cleaning ability of model formulations, were compared to those with only SLS as a surfactant as well as to SLS-free shampoos. Overall, the results show that the presence of SBPS improves cleaning, foaming, and conditioning of model formulations. Conclusions SBPS-based formulations meet major requirements of multifunctional shampoos – mild detergency, foaming, good conditioning, and aesthetic appeal, which are comparable to commercially available shampoos. In addition, examination of SBPS/SLS mixtures in model shampoos showed that the presence of the SBPS enables the concentration of SLS to be significantly reduced without sacrificing shampoo performance. Resume Objectif Un nouvel agent tensioactif polymere non toxique a base d'huile de soja (SBPS) pour les produits de soins personnels a ete elabore et largement caracterise, y compris par une evaluation de la performance du tensioactif polymere dans des formulations modele de shampooing. Methodes Afin d'assurer experimentalement l'applicabilite des macromolecules a base de soja dans les shampooings, soit en combinaison avec des agents tensio-actifs anioniques courants (dans cette etude, le laurylsulfate de sodium, SLS) ou en tant que seul ingredient tensio-actif, les proprietes physicochimiques du SBPS, la performance et l'evaluation visuelle des shampooings modeles a base de SBPS ont ete testes. Resultats Les resultats obtenus, y compris la formation de mousse et la capacite de nettoyage des formulations modeles, ont ete compares a ceux avec seulement SLS comme agent tensio-actif ainsi que pour les shampooings sans SLS. Dans l'ensemble, les resultats montrent que la presence de SBPS ameliore le nettoyage, le conditionnement et le moussage des formulations modeles. Conclusion Les formulations a base de SBPS sont conformes aux principales exigences de shampooings multifonctions - detergence douce, moussant, un bon effet conditionneur, agreable esthetique - qui sont comparables a des shampooings disponibles dans le commerce. En outre, l'examen des melanges SBPS / SLS dans les shampooings modeles a montre que la presence du SBPS permet la concentration de SLS d'etre sensiblement reduite sans sacrifier les performances du shampooing.
Lock Coarsening

Atomic operations are a key primitive in parallel computing systems. The standard implementation mechanism for atomic operations uses mutual exclusion locks. In an object-based programming system, the natural granularity is to give each object its own lock. Each operation can then make its execution atomic by acquiring and releasing the lock for the object that it accesses. But this fine lock granularity may have high synchronization overhead because it maximizes the number of executed acquire and release constructs. To achieve good performance it may be necessary to reduce the overhead by coarsening the granularity at which the computation locks objects.In this article we describe a static analysis technique?lock coarsening?designed to automatically increase the lock granularity in object-based programs with atomic operations. We have implemented this technique in the context of a parallelizing compiler for irregular, object-based programs and used it to improve the generated parallel code. Experiments with two automatically parallelized applications show these algorithms to be effective in reducing the lock overhead to negligible levels. The results also show, however, that an overly aggressive lock coarsening algorithm may harm the overall parallel performance by serializing sections of the parallel computation. A successful compiler must therefore negotiate a trade-off between reducing lock overhead and increasing the serialization.
Intraskeletal variability in bone mass.

For methodological or other reasons, a variety of skeletal elements are analyzed and subsequently used as a basis for describing general bone loss and mass. However, bone loss and mass may not be uniform within and among skeletal elements of the same individual because of biomechanical factors. We test the hypothesis that a homogeneity in bone mass exists among skeletal elements of the same individual. Measures indicative of bone mass were calculated from the midshafts of six skeletal elements from the same individuals (N = 41). The extent of intraskeletal variability in bone mass (relative cortical area) was then examined for the entire sample, according to age, sex, and pathological status. The results of the analysis showed that all measures reflect a heterogeneity in bone mass (P ≤ 0.001). Specifically, differences were observed between the bones of the upper limb and those of the lower limb. Both sexes showed intraskeletal variability in bone mass, but the difference between the sexes is not significant (P = 0.509). When the sample is subdivided according to age, all groups show intraskeletal variability in bone mass, but the difference did not differ significantly among the groups (P = 0.217). However, significant differences in intraskeletal variability are observed between individuals below and above the age of 50. Pathological individuals show intraskeletal variability in bone mass, but the difference between the pathological and non-pathological groups is not significant (P = 0.095). These results indicate that the bone mass of any particular skeletal element is intricately tethered to its specific mechanical loading environment. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Association between body weight, physical activity and food choices among metropolitan transit workers

Associations between body weight, physical activity and dietary intake among a population of metropolitan transit workers are described. Data were collected during October through December, 2005, as part of the baseline measures for a worksite weight gain prevention intervention in four metro transit bus garages. All garage employees were invited to complete behavioral surveys that assessed food choices and physical activity, and weight and height were directly measured. Seventy-eight percent (N = 1092) of all employees participated. The prevalence of obesity (BMI >= 30 kg/m2) was 56%. Over half of the transit workers reported consuming fruit (55%) and vegetables (59%) ≥ 3/week. Reported fast food restaurant frequency was low (13% visited ≥ 3/week). Drivers reported high levels of physical activity (eg. walking 93 minutes/day). However, an objective measure of physical activity measured only 16 minutes moderate/vigorous per day. Compared to other drivers, obese drivers reported significantly less vigorous physical activity, more time sitting, and more time watching television. Healthy eating, physical activity and weight management were perceived to be difficult at the worksite, particularly among obese transit workers, and perceived social support for these behaviors was modest. However, most workers perceived weight management and increased physical activity to be personally important for their health. Although transit workers' self-report of fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity was high, perceived access to physical activity and healthful eating opportunities at the worksite was low. Obese workers were significantly less physically active and were more likely to report work environmental barriers to physical activity.
Vanadium oxide complexes in room-temperature chloroaluminate molten salts

The dissolution of vanadium(V) oxide (V2O5) in various ionic liquids has been studied to determine the complexes formed with respect to melt composition and V2O5 concentration. Vanadium oxide did not dissolve in either 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate or 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ionic liquids. V2O5 was found to dissolve at temperatures greater than 70 °C in 1-ethyl- and 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroaluminate ionic liquids. Analyses of vanadium-containing melts by 51V, 1H, and 13C NMR and infrared spectroscopy indicate the emergence of different species as a function of melt acidity. In basic and neutral melts, VO2Cl2- and a metavanadate species of the form [(VO3)n]n- are observed. The species VO2Cl2- is the prominent product in basic melts, but as the melt becomes neutral or as the concentration of V2O5 is increased, the concentration of the metavanadate species is found to increase. However, V2O5 has been found to react in acidic melts to form vol...
Intermale aggression of subordinate resident long-evans rats.

Dominant male rats were separated from their colonies and subordinate residents were tested for aggression after a two week period. Subordinate animals showed significant increases in body weight and aggressive behavior toward intruders. Replacement of the previously dominant male led to rank reversals in three of six colonies. To assess whether two weeks of separation from the dominant male was necessary for subordinate males to exhibit aggression towards conspecifics, another intruder test was given following an additional two weeks of social housing. At the conclusion of this test, the more aggressive resident was removed and a naive intruder was immediately introduced into the colony with the subordinate male resident and again at 1, 5, and 10 day intervals. Aggressive posturing by the subordinate resident increased immediately following the removal of the dominant male, and remained at a high level throughout the subsequent intruder tests. In contrast, biting was initially low but increased steadily throughout the period of separation. These findings demonstrated that social or situational changes within a colony can greatly influence the aggression of subordinate males.
Fusion, Compression, Diversion, and the Workings of Paradox: A Theory of Therapeutic/Systemic Change

This paper describes a geodynamic balance theory of family process. It attempts to synthesize temporal/spatial patterning, movement, interpersonal structure, and the family developmental process. The family system is portrayed in terms of the pattern of interpersonal orbits among its members and the interface between these and "external" systems such as friendship networks, neighborhoods, and therapists. It is proposed that therapeutic/systemic change can be induced through either of two interventional mechanisms: diversion (e.g., behavioral techniques, restructuring, differentiating) or compression (e.g., paradoxical technique, returning home, grief work). Such processes share a number of similarities with analogues from the physical sciences. These formulations may assist clinicians in determining the most appropriate operations and directions for treatment.
Usefulness of C-Reactive Protein as an Independent Predictor of Death in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

The usefulness of serum C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker, to predict mortality risk in patients who have ischemic cardiomyopathy was investigated. C-reactive protein was measured in 123 men who underwent cardiac catheterization and were noted to have left ventricular ejection fraction ≤45% and significant angiographic coronary artery disease. They were prospectively followed for 3 years. Higher levels of C-reactive protein were associated with increased mortality rate. This correlation was independent of other prognostic factors, such as age, ejection fraction, symptoms of severe congestive heart failure, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and use of β blockers.
Infinitely-repeated games with endogenous discounting

Abstract The standard repeated game setting is changed by allowing one player to decide the time interval between repetitions. The resulting folk theorem states that any individually rational stage-game strategy combination can be repeated in equilibrium, with no threshold discount factor requirement.
Sputtering of NbSi2 and CoSi2

Abstract Sputtering of niobium and cobalt disilicide films on oxidized Si substrates interposed with an amorphous Si layer has been studied by backscattering spectrometry (BS). Thin NbSi 2 (600 A) and CoSi 2 (370 A) films were sputtered by Xe ions at energies of 200 and 260 keV, respectively. The sputtering process was carried out either at room temperature (RT), or at elevated temperatures, placing the samples in the radiation enhanced diffusion regime. The sputtering yields of Si, S si , and that of the metals, S Nb or S Co , have been calculated from BS spectra. The measured ratios of the sputtering yields for both suicides, S si S Nb and S si S Co , imply that preferential sputtering of Si with respect to the stoichiometrical composition of these suicides had occurred. S si S Nb is found to be about 13 and showed little change with dose and temperature. S si S Co increased with both temperature or dose from about 4.3 for a dose of 5 × 10 16 cm 2 at RT to about 7.2 for 1 × 10 17 cm 2 at elevated temperature. These ratios are in contrast to that reported for CrSi 2 at high temperatures (i.e. S si S Cr = 65 ). Possible reasons are thought to be related to the high affinity of Si to oxygen contamination.
Teaching Business Ethics: The use of films and videota

Audio-visual material is extremely useful in the teaching of Business Ethics, yet no bibliography of the commercially available films and videotapes seems to be available. We have prepared a formal listing, complete with titles, descriptions, sources, prices and a brief evaluation, and have explained our selection and use of this material.
Genetic transformation of conifers and its application in forest biotechnology

Genetic modification of conifers through gene transfer technology is now an important field in forest biotechnology. Two basic methodologies, particle bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, have been used on conifers. The use of particle bombardment has produced stable transgenic plants in Picea abies, P. glauca, P. mariana, and Pinus radiata. Transgenic plants have been produced from Larix decidua, Picea abies, P. glauca, P. mariana, Pinus strobus, P. taeda, and P. radiata via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has advantages over particle bombardment such as a simpler integration pattern and a limited rearrangement in the introduced DNA. At present, genetic transformation of conifers has been directed toward improving growth rate, wood properties and quality, pest resistance, stress tolerance, and herbicide resistance, which will drive forestry to enter a new era of productivity and quality.
Nuclear quadrupole resonance data (I=1) from endor experiments

Abstract The experimental aspects and the theoretical background for an understanding of the ENDOR phenomenon are presented.The treatment is particularly developped towards obtaining quadrupolar parameters from data gathered by measurements on a single crystal. Special emphasis is given to the case in which I=1.The results of an ENDOR experiment,at room temperature, on the Deuterium in Potassium Hydrogen Malonate are reported.
Unemployment in Families: The Case of Housework.

Unemployment has consequences for individuals, but its impacts also reverberate through families. This paper examines how families adapt to unemployment in one area of life—time in housework. Using 74,881 observations from 10,390 couples in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we estimate fixed effects models and find that individuals spend between 3 and 7 hours more per week in housework when unemployed than when employed, with corresponding decreases of 1 to 2 hours per week in the housework hours of unemployed individuals' spouses. We are the first to show that unemployment is associated both with a reallocation of housework to the unemployed spouse and an increase in the family's total household production time. The results also provide evidence for gender differences in adjustments to the division of labor during unemployment, with wives' unemployment associated with an increase in housework hours that is double the increase for unemployed husbands.
Active brazing alloy paste as a totally metal thick film conductor material

A silver-based active (titanium-containing) brazing alloy, namely 63Ag-34.25Cu-1.75Ti-1.OSn, was found to serve as a totally metal (no glass) thick film conductor which exhibited lower electrical resistivity, much greater film/substrate adhesion, much lower porosity, similar solderability, and lower scratch resistance compared to the conventional silver-glass thick film. The brazing alloy film was formed by screen printing a paste containing the alloy particles and then firing at 880°C in vacuum.
J.-P. Brissot and the evolution of pamphlet literature in the early 1780s

Influences du rationalisme des Lumieres et de la critique sociale rousseauiste dans l'originalite de l'ecriture pamphletaire de J. J. Brissot
DNA polymerase activity in developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster

An assay procedure was developed that allowed the first reproducible measurement of DNA polymerase activity in all developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster. Evidence is presented that the same enzymatic species is present in extracts of embryos, pupae, and adults of both sexes and that this activity has many properties similar to vertebrate α-polymerases. Polymerase activity per individual is low in embryos and rises steadily through larval instars, reaches a peak in early pupae, declines through the late pupal period, and remains low in newly eclosed adults of both sexes. A dramatic increase is observed in adult females as mature oocytes are formed. This pattern of enzyme activity is completely coincident with changes in DNA levels during development, and suggests that the Drosophila enzyme, like vertebrate α-polymerases, functions in cellular DNA replication. Two mutagen-sensitive mutants, deficient in both replication on undamaged templates and postreplication repair, were found to have normal levels of this α-polymerase activity. Our results suggest that a single enzymatic species of α-polymerase holoenzyme exists in Drosophila and is common to all developmental stages of this organism.
Information distinguishability with application to analysis of failure data

Abstract In maximum entropy (ME) modeling, the information discrepancy between two distributions is measured in terms of their entropy difference. In discrimination information statistics the information discrepancy between two distributions is measured in terms of the Kullback-Leibler function (i.e., relative entropy or cross-entropy). This article presents an equivalence between Kullback–Leibler functions and entropy differences involving an ME distribution. Based on this equivalence, the concept of information discrimination (ID) distinguishability is introduced as a unifying framework for the two methods of measuring information discrepancy between distributions. Applications of ID distinguishability as diagnostics for examining robustness of parametric procedures and sensitivity of nonparametric statistics across parametric families of distributions is proposed. The equivalence result facilitates estimation of Kullback-Leibler functions in terms of entropy estimates. Application of the ID distinguish...
Development of a MIOMBO woodland dynamics model in Zambezian Africa using Malawi as a case study

A patch model was developed to characterize the effects of climate on succession of miombo dry forests of Zambezian Africa using Malawi as a case study. The model, called MIOMBO, is based on the FORSKA Version 1 gap model of forest succession by Prentice and Leemans (1990). The FORSKA model was modified to include the effects of moisture and fire; and how these affect processes of establishment, survival, growth and development. The impacts that four different GCM scenarios for a CO2 doubling might have on dynamics of a number of miombo species were analyzed. Preliminary results show a gradual increase in the basal area of the more mesic species. This result is consistent with what might be expected with increased precipitation. Tree growth and development data with associated detailed climatic data are lacking and severely limit the ability to define quantitatively how species are influenced by given levels of environmental factors (such as climate and nutrient factors), and how they might respond to seasonal changes in climate variability.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ROLLING SCHEDULES IN PRODUCTION PLANNING

An experimental study was designed to investigate the efficiency of decisions obtained from optimizing a finite, multiperiod model and implementing (structure is parallel with “optimizing” above) those decisions on a rolling basis. The results of the study suggest that rolling schedules are quite efficient and also that they point to some important design issues in model-building for production planning.
The king's animals and the king's books: the illustrations for the Paris Academy's Histoire des animaux.

This essay explores the place of natural philosophy among the patronage projects of Louis XIV, focusing on the Memoires pour servir a l'histoire naturelle des animaux (or Histoire des animaux) of the 1670s, one of a number of works of natural philosophy to issue from Louis XIV's printing house. Questions particular to the Histoire des animaux include the interaction between text and image, the credibility and authority of images of exotic animals, and the relationship between comparative anatomy and natural history, and between human and animal anatomy. At the same time that the Histoire des animaux contributed to Jean-Baptiste Colbert's management of patronage and of Louis's image, it was a work of natural philosophy, representing the collaborative efforts of the new Paris Academy of Sciences. It examined natural history and comparative anatomy in new ways, and its illustrations broke new ground in their depiction of animals in a natural setting. However, the lavishly formatted books were presentation volumes and did not gain wide circulation until their republication in 1733. Sources consulted include Colbert's manuscript memoires on the royal printers and engravers.
The relationship between obesity and mortality in patients with heart failure.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The study aimed to evaluate the role of obesity in the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND Previous reports link obesity to the development of HF. However, the impact of obesity in patients with established HF has not been studied. METHODS We analyzed 1,203 patients with advanced HF followed in a comprehensive HF management program. The patients were subclassified into categories of body mass index (BMI) defined as: underweight BMI 31 (n = 179). This sample size allows the detection of small effects (0.02), with a power of 0.80 and an alpha level of 0.05 for comparing one-year survival between BMI groups. RESULTS The four BMI groups had similar profiles in terms of ejection fraction (mean 0.22), sodium, creatinine and smoking. The obese and overweight groups had significantly higher rates of hypertension and diabetes, as well as higher levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The four BMI groups had similar survival rates. Ejection fraction, HF etiology and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use predicted survival on univariate analysis (p CONCLUSIONS In a large cohort of patients with advanced HF of multiple etiologies, obesity is not associated with increased mortality and may confer a more favorable prognosis. Further studies need to delineate whether weight loss promotion in medically optimized patients with HF is a worthwhile therapeutic goal.
The impact of human resource valuation on management decisions: A laboratory experiment☆

Abstract This paper reports a laboratory experiment designed to determine whether human resource value numbers, which are the output of a proposed method of human resource valuation, influence a selected human resource management decision — the “allocation” (job assignment or staffing) decision. Human resource value numbers are hypothesized to influence decisions per se as well as the decision-maker's set, the criteria used in reaching decisions. The results indicate that nonmonetary human resource value numbers may influence decisions. However, it could not be established that monetary human resource value numbers make a difference in decisions. The results also indicate that human resource value measures, as well as the numbers per se, may influence the decision-maker's set and criteria used in decision-making.
Scholarly Productivity of United States Academic Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists: Influence of Fellowship Accreditation and Transesophageal Echocardiographic Credentials on h-Index and Other Citation Bibliometrics

Objective The h-index allows the evaluation of scholarly output in academics, but this bibliometric statistic has not been applied extensively to measure productivity in anesthesiology. The authors tested the hypothesis that the h-index is dependent on academic rank, American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation of the training program, and National Board of Echocardiography credentials in perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in United States academic cardiothoracic anesthesiologists. Design Observational. Setting Internet analysis. Participants United States academic cardiothoracic anesthesiologists. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Faculty members from 30 randomly selected fellowship programs with or without accreditation were identified using the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists web site. The status of each faculty member's credentials in perioperative TEE was defined using the “verify certification” function on the National Board of Echocardiography web site. Publications, citations, citations/publication, and the h-index for each faculty member were obtained using Scopus. Two hundred fifty-nine cardiothoracic anesthesiologists (204 men and 55 women) were identified (8 instructors [3%], 123 assistant professors [48%], 56 associate professors [22%], 63 professors [24%], and 9 chairpersons [3%]). The average cardiothoracic anesthesiologist had an h-index of 6 ± 7 with 28 ± 46 publications, 499 ± 988 total citations, and 13 ± 18 citations per publication. The h-index increased significantly (p Conclusions The results show that the h-index increases progressively with academic rank and is dependent on fellowship program accreditation status but not transesophageal echocardiographic credentials in United States academic cardiothoracic anesthesiologists.
Menstrual Cycle Variation in Spatial Ability: Relation to Salivary Cortisol Levels

This study examined whether menstrual cycle phase was associated with performance on the Primary Mental Abilities Test of Spatial Relations, a test of mental rotation, in undergraduate students (N = 82). As cortisol levels also vary across the menstrual cycle under conditions of stress and influence cognitive performance, saliva samples were obtained before and after the test session to examine whether cortisol levels were related to between- and within-group differences in spatial performance. Men scored higher on the spatial test than all the groups of women, although the difference between men and women in the menstrual phase was not significant. Women in the luteal phase scored lower than the menstrual, follicular, and oral contraceptive user groups of women. There were no sex or menstrual cycle differences in cortisol levels, and no association between cortisol levels and spatial performance. The poorer performance of women in the luteal phase was not related to differences in ratings of perceived stress, perceived success on the test, or mood. Although menstrual cycle phase accounted for a significant proportion of the variance (15%) in performance on the spatial test, this does not explain why men outperformed women regardless of the phase of the cycle. Thus, there are clearly several other variables, sociocultural and physiological, involved in mediating individual differences in spatial performance.
Transverse curves and chain curvature in the Heisenberg group

A chain is the intersection of a complex totally geodesic subspace in complex hyperbolic 2-space with the boundary. The boundary admits a canonical contact structure, and chains are distiguished curves transverse to this structure. The space of chains is analyzed both as a quotient of the contact bundle, and as a subset of ℂP2. The space of chains admits a canonical, indefinite Hermitian metric, and curves in the space of chains with null tangent vectors are shown to correspond to a path of chains tangent to a curve in the boundary transverse to the contact structure. A family of local differential chain curvature operators are introduced which exactly characterize when a transverse curve is a chain. In particular, operators that are invariant under the stabilizer of a point in the interior of complex hyperbolic space, or a point on the boundary, are developed in detail. Finally, these chain curvature operators are used to prove a generalization of Louiville's theorem: a sufficiently smooth mapping from the boundary of complex hyperbolic 2-space to itself which preserves chains must be the restriction of a global automorphism.
Promoter escape by RNA polymerase II. Formation of an escape-competent transcriptional intermediate is a prerequisite for exit of polymerase from the promoter.

Abstract Shortly after initiating promoter-specific transcription in vitro, mammalian RNA polymerase II becomes highly susceptible to arrest in a promoter-proximal region 9–13 base pairs downstream of the transcriptional start site (Dvir, A., Conaway, R. C., and Conaway, J. W. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 23352–23356). Arrest by polymerase in this region is suppressed by TFIIH in an ATP-dependent reaction (Dvir, A., Conaway, R. C., and Conaway, J. W. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 94, 9006–9010). In this report, we present evidence that, in addition to TFIIH and an ATP cofactor, efficient transcription by RNA polymerase II through this promoter-proximal region requires formation of an “escape-competent” transcriptional intermediate. Formation of this intermediate requires template DNA 40–50 base pairs downstream of the transcriptional start site. This requirement for downstream DNA is transient, since template DNA downstream of +40 is dispensable for assembly of the preinitiation complex, for initiation and synthesis of the first 10–12 phosphodiester bonds of nascent transcripts and for further extension of transcripts longer than ∼14 nucleotides. Thus, promoter escape requires that the RNA polymerase II transcription complex undergoes a critical structural transition, likely driven by interaction of one or more components of the transcriptional machinery with template DNA 40–50 base pairs downstream of the transcriptional start site.
The coupling of electron flow to ATP synthesis in pea chloroplasts stored in the presence of glycerol at −70°C

Abstract A method is described for preserving coupling activity in isolated chloroplasts stored in the frozen state for periods up to 16 weeks. Pea chloroplasts stored in a high osmolarity medium supplemented with 50% (v/v) glycerol and 10 mg/ml bovine serum albumin show high rates of photophosphorylation, good coupling efficiencies, photosynthetic control, and modulation of the high energy state by adenine nucleotides.
A note on the physical interpretation of Weyl gauging

A possible physical justification of the Weyl gauge procedure is proposed. It is argued that in the case of a general affine connection geodesic parameters have a nontrivial functional relation to metric interval. Since geodesic parameters can also define a notion of interval (via Schild's ladder), we appear to have an inconsistency at the very foundation of any theory which incorporates a nonmetric-compatible connection. This inconsistency can be removed by postulating the Weyl transformations as a valid symmetry of nature, at least at the appropriate energy scale. The method would appear to work even in theories containing shear, provided that it too acquires a mass as a result of (or prior to) the breaking of Weyl symmetry.
Relationships among verticillium wilt development, leaf water potential, phenology, and lint yield in cotton

Abstract Acala S,J,2 cotton plants were tagged and observed individually every week in the field through the entire growing season to identify the physiological time when foliar symptoms of verticillium wilt first appeared. The midday leaf water potentials (ψ1) of newly diseased plants were consistently lower than those of comparable healthy plants. Midday ψ1 of newly diseased plants ranged from −15·7 to −24·6 bars with an average of −19·4 bars, whereas those of healthy plants ranged from −11·2 to −19·3 bars with an average of −14·7 bars. Differences in midday ψ1 between healthy and newly diseased plants were greater prior to than after boll set. Leaf water potentials of cotton plants with disease symptoms that first appeared before boll set returned to normal about 3 weeks after the onset of foliar symptom development. However, when foliar symptoms first appeared after boll set, the midday ψ1 of diseased plants remained consistently lower than that of comparable healthy plants for the remainder of the growing season. Healthy plants continued to grow during the early stages of boll set (before the peak boll stage), whereas growth of diseased plants with foliar symptoms was greatly reduced or stopped. The results indicate that water stress was one of the main reasons for growth retardation and lint yield reduction of cotton plants which developed foliar symptoms of verticillium wilt during early stages of plant development.
Taking Stock of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime: Using Social Psychology to Understand Regime Effectiveness

Since the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) came into force almost 40 years ago, only four states have acquired nuclear weapons. What accounts for such near-universal compliance? This paper argues that social psychology can help us understand the puzzle of nuclear restraint in two ways. First, nuclear forbearance should be unpacked into three outcomes: persuasion (behavior resulting from genuine transformation of preferences), social conformity (behavior resulting from the desire to maximize social benefits and/or minimize social costs, without a change in underlying preferences), and identification (behavior resulting from the desire or habit of following the actions of an important other). Second, through social psychology, we can specify the mechanisms by which the norm of nonproliferation has influenced policymakers. Indeed, the case of Japan shows that both these contributions help us better understand nuclear decision-making and offer larger insights into regime compliance more generally.
Regression Model for Resilient Modulus of Subgrade Soils

Subgrade soil is an important part in both flexible and rigid pavement structures. AASHTO recommends the use of bulk stress and deviatoric stress models to characterize granular and cohesive soils, respectively. However, these models oversimplify the fundamental behavior of subgrade soils. Being proposed is the use of an octahedral stress-state model to characterize the resilient modulus of different soils. Eight different soils representing major soil types in Louisiana were selected to validate the model and to calibrate the model parameters. Additional analysis was then performed to develop correlations between the model parameters and other soil properties. Three types of correlation were produced: (a) model parameter with soil properties, (b) model parameters with California bearing ratio, and (c) model parameters with unconfined compressive strength. Statistical analysis indicated that the correlation between model parameter and soil properties yielded the best results.
Police response to domestic violence: multilevel factors of arrest decision

Purpose – Police factor in extra‐legal as well as legal context in their decision to arrest a suspect. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of extra‐legal factors at both situational and neighborhood levels.Design/methodology/approach – Using hierarchical generalized linear modeling, over 9,000 domestic violence cases across 421 census tracts in Houston, Texas were examined. Situational information was derived from police reports, and neighborhood factors were measured by population characteristics drawn from the US Census Bureau. The model also controls for spatial autocorrelation of arrest rates between census tracts in the estimation of officer's arrest decision.Findings – At the neighborhood level, concentrated disadvantage and immigration concentration had positive effect on the odds of arrest. At the situational level, the time of day, day of the week, premise type, and gender and racial relations between suspect and complainant, along with offense type and weapons use, had significant...