cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photon mass attenuation and energy-absorption coefficients

Mass attenuation coefficients μ/ϱ and mass energy-absorption coefficients μ cn/ϱ are tabulated in units of m 2 kg −1 for photon energies 1 keV to 20 MeV for 40 elements ranging from hydrogen (Z= 1) to uranium (Z= 92). In addition, μ/ϱ and μ cn /ϱ values are tabulated over this same energy range for 45 mixtures and compounds of dosimetric interest, computed from the above data using fractions-by-weight of the constituent elements. Source data for these tables are primarily theoretical. The atomic photoeffect cross sections, with minor empirical modifications, are from the 1973 computations of Scofield. The incoherent (bound-electron Compton) and coherent scattering cross sections, also pair and triplet production cross sections, are from recently published (1975, 1979, 1980) compilations developed at NBS in collaboration with researchers from various laboratories including Kaman Sciences, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institute (Mainz) and the University of Trondheim. Information is provided for estimating photonuclear contributions above 5 MeV. Differences for NSRDS-NBS 29 (1969) and Storm-Israel (1970) are of the order of 1% or less over most of the element-energy range, but in some cases are as much as 5%.
Social Epistemology Meets the Invisible Hand: Kitcher on the Advancement of Science

Philip Kitcher's new book is very ambitious in scope, more ambitious, certainly, than any of his previous books. Unlike Kitcher's Abusing Science: The Case against Creationism (1982), this is not a book that focusses on just one single issue in contemporary science or educational policy; nor is it, like his The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge (1983) and Vaulting Ambition: Sociobiology and the Quest for Human Nature (1985), a book that emphasizes just one relatively narrow philosophical topic. The Advancement of Science presents a complete, and quite general, position within the philosophy of natural science. Its purpose is much closer to Popper's The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1959) or even to Nagel's The Structure of Science (1961) than it is to any of Kitcher's earlier books. Kitcher starts off with an explicit epistemology, moves to a “goal” for science based on that epistemology, and then uses this epistemic goal as the target for the various methodological and social or institutional strategies that he offers.
Autoradiographic distribution of nicotine receptors in rat brain

The autoradiographic visualisation of 90%-specific tritiated nicotine binding to slide-mounted sections of rat brain is reported. Tritiated nicotine bound with high affinity (nanomolar Kd) and was selectively displaced by nicotinic agonists (e.g. L-nicotine approximately ACh greater than D-nicotine). The strikingly discrete distribution pattern obtained deviates from that of alpha-bungarotoxin, and suggests several possible roles for nicotinic transmission in the brain.
Behavioral Changes Across the Menstrual Cycle in Isosexual Groups of Bonnet Macaques (Macaca radiata)

Behavioral changes were systematically recorded across menstrual cycles over a six-month period in two laboratory-housed isosexual triads ofMacaca radiata (bonnet macaque). The purpose of this study was to determine whether females of this species demonstrate premenstrual behavioral changes as reported for humans, or heightened levels of aggression during the first half of their cycle as reported in some species of Old World monkeys. A total of 34 menstrual cycles were divided into five segments including two follicular, one periovulatory, and two luteal phases. The mean frequencies of behaviors were analyzed according to phase, rank, and time since triad formation, for a total of 34 menstrual cycles.
COSMOLOGY CONFRONTS THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND

Observational tests during the next decade may determine if the evolution of the Universe can be understood from fundamental physical principles, or if special initial conditions, coincidences, and new, untestable physical laws must be invoked. The inflationary model of the Universe is an important example of a predictive cosmological theory based on physical principles. In this article, we discuss the distinctive fingerprint that inflation leaves on the cosmic microwave background anisotropy. We then suggest a series of five milestone experimental tests of the microwave background which could determine the validity of the inflationary hypothesis within the next decade.
Determination of in situ KN by the chloroform fumigation-incubation method and mineralization of biomass N under anaerobic conditions

A silt loam soil from Pakistan was incubated at 30°C with increasing levels (67, 133, 200, 267 and 333 μg N g−1 soil) of15N-labelled (NH4)2SO4 and glucose (C/N ratio of 30 for all additions). At a stage when all of the applied15N was immobilized (transformed into microbial biomass), moist soil samples were subjected to the chloroform fumigation-incubation method (CFIM) for determination of KN and microbial biomass. Mineralization of biomass derived from the applied15N and the native soil N was studied under anaerobic conditions.
The Spectrum of Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease in HIV Patients

The incidence of HIV is on the rise. With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, the average life expectancy of HIV patients has increased by several decades, but the increasing life expectancy has shifted the spectrum of HIV-associated morbidity and mortality away from opportunistic infections and toward chronic medical conditions. In fact, coronary artery disease has become the leading cause of mortality in patients with HIV. The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis in patients with HIV is very complex, including direct endothelial damage from viremia, a heightened overall state of inflammation from immune activation, higher prevalence and contribution from traditional atherosclerotic risk factors, and direct effects from antiretroviral therapy itself. This review focuses on the patterns, predictors, and pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease in patients with HIV. In addition, the risks and benefits of evidence-based highly active antiretroviral therapy are critically evaluated.
Steady and Unsteady Heat Transfer in a Transonic Film Cooled Turbine Cascade

This paper reports on an investigation of the heat transfer on the suction side of a transonic film cooled turbine rotor blade in a linear cascade. Heat transfer coefficient and film effectiveness are first determined for steady conditions. The unsteady effects of a passing shock on the heat transfer are then investigated. The film cooling pattern used is a showerhead design with three rows on the suction side, one row at the stagnation point and two rows on the pressure side. The experiments were performed at engine representative temperature and pressure ratios using air as coolant. Heat transfer measurements are obtained using a Heat Flux Microsensor, and surface temperature is monitored with a surface thermocouple. Static pressure is monitored with a Kulite pressure transducer. The shock emerging from the trailing edge of the NGV and impinging on the rotor blades is modeled by passing a shock wave along the leading edges of the cascade blades. The steady-state heat transfer coefficient is 8% higher with film cooling than without film cooling. Shock heating of the freestream flow is determined to be the major contribution to the unsteady variation of heat flux, leading to an increase of about 30°C to 35°C in recovery temperature and adiabatic wall temperature.Copyright © 1999 by ASME
An Explanation for the Paradoxical Induction and Suppression of an Acute Phase Response by Ethanol

Abstract Binge ethanol (EtOH) consumption suppresses inflammatory responses and resistance to infection, but paradoxically it is associated with increased levels of acute phase proteins (which are indicators of inflammation) and an increased risk of inflammation-mediated pathologies such as cardiovascular disease and cirrhosis of the liver. The latter effect may be mediated by increased translocation of bacteria leading to activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). In this study, the dose–response and time course of the effects of EtOH alone or EtOH in conjunction with a TLR4 agonist (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) were evaluated in mice. EtOH alone at a dosage of 6 g/kg induced an acute phase response (as indicated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serum amyloid A and serum amyloid P) that was maximal 24 h after dosing. Lower dosages of EtOH did not have this effect but did suppress the acute phase response to LPS and the production of interleukin-6 up to 3 h after dosing. EtOH at 6 g/kg did not induce an acute phase response in C3H/HeJ (TLR4 mutant) mice, indicating that this response is mediated through TLR4. These results provide a resolution for the apparently paradoxical pro- and anti-inflammatory actions of EtOH with regard to acute phase responses.
DRL Performance and Water Availability: Enhancement or Interference?

8 female albino rats were divided into 2 groups that were exposed to a DRL 18-sec. schedule. One group had water available for the first 30 days while the second did not. Ss with water available initially showed more reinforced bar presses but by the end of the second week rats with no water available demonstrated superior performance. After the initial 30 days the conditions of availability of water were reversed. The animals with water available consistently received fewer reinforcements for the remaining 28 days of the experiment. Also, they consumed far less water than did the group which had water available during the initial 30 days. The results are discussed in terms of schedule-induced polydipsia.
Model-integrated on-line problem-solving in chemical engineering

Abstract Complex chemical plants need various custom monitoring, control, simulation and diagnostic software codes that necessitate the integration of models into the problem-solving process. This paper describes a system and its practical applications that support this process. The work described here is based on the Multigraph Architecture: a generic framework for building model-based systems. The paper discusses the modeling paradigm and techniques used, how the applications are generated, and some practical, existing applications.
Simultaneous selection and estimation of the best treatment with respect to a control in a general linear model

Abstract The problem of selecting the largest treatment parameter, provided it is better than a control, and simultaneously estimating the selected treatment parameter in a general linear model is considered in the decision theoretic Bayes approach. Both cases, where the error variance is known or unknown, are included. Bayes decision rules are derived for noninformative and for normal priors. Bayes rules for noninformative priors are derived under a general loss function for designs that satisfy the BTIB condition of Bechhofer and Tamhane (Technometrics 23 (1981) 45). For unbalanced designs, a linear loss function is adopted and it is demonstrated, via simulations, that the simultaneous estimation of the selected treatment effect plays an important role in correcting an undesirable effect for the selection problem.
TH‐E‐M100J‐07: Changes in Standardized Uptake Value of Brain Tissues in Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients Treated with Chemoradiotherapy

Purpose: Survivors of pediatric braintumors who received radiation and chemotherapy may develop late effects involving neurologic, endocrine, and cognitive function. Objective measures demonstrating normal tissue effects may allow for early intervention. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of using 18F‐flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET to monitor changes in glucose metabolism of normal braintissues in children with braintumorstreated with combined modality therapy. Methods: Nine children with brainstem glioma (BSG) treated with 55.8Gy and concurrent chemotherapy were evaluated with pre‐ and post‐irradiation (2–3 months) FDG CT‐PET (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). CT‐PET data were registered with T1‐weighted MR images. Volumes of interest were contoured from which standardized uptake values (SUV) were calculated using commercially available software (HERMES Medical Solutions, Stockholm). For comparison, nine children with Hodgkin's diseases (HD) were analyzed. The HD patients had no evidence of CNS involvement at the time of their evaluation and served as a control group with normal brain metabolism. Results: The cerebellar SUV of BSG patients showed a statistically significant increase comparing mean values pre‐ and post‐therapy (3.2±1.0 vs. 5.9±1.3, p=0.0005). No difference was observed comparing pre‐ and post‐therapy values in patients with HD (6.1±1.6 vs. 5.8±1.2). For BSG patients, the SUV of basal ganglia, medial temporal lobe, and frontal/occipital cortex showed a similar increase as those observed for the cerebellum despite differences in radiationdoses.Conclusion: Children with BSG demonstrate a reduction in cerebral and cerebellar glucose uptake. The low SUV of these braintumor patients prior to treatment may be due to decreased glucose metabolism resulting from the regional effects of tumor, increased intracranial pressure with diminished blood flow or corticosteroids taken before and during therapy. Better understanding of this phenomenon will be required in order to incorporate FDG‐PET into the assessment of radiation effects on the brain.
Bipolar disorder during adolescence and young adulthood in a community sample.

Objectives To compare the incidence and prevalence of bipolar disorder (BD) between adolescence and young adulthood; to explore the stability and consequences of adolescent BD in young adulthood; to determine the rate of switching from major depressive disorder (MDD) to BD; and to evaluate the significance of subsyndromal BD (SUB). Methods A large, randomly selected community sample (n = 1,507) received diagnostic assessments twice during adolescence, and a stratified subset (n = 893) was assessed again at 24 years of age. In addition, direct interviews were conducted with all available first-degree relatives. Five mutually exclusive groups, based on diagnoses in adolescence, were compared: BD (n = 17), SUB (n = 48), MDD (n = 275), disruptive behavior disorder (n = 49), and no-disorder (ND) controls (n = 307). Results Lifetime prevalence of BD was approximately 1% during adolescence and 2%, during young adulthood. Lifetime prevalence for SUB was approximately 5%. Less than 1%, of adolescents with MDD 'switched' to BD by age 24. Adolescents with BD had an elevated incidence of BD from 19 to 23 years, while adolescents with SUB exhibited elevated rates of MDD and anxiety disorders in young adulthood. BD and SUB groups both had elevated rates of antisocial symptoms and borderline personality symptoms. Compared to the ND group, adolescents with BD and SUB both showed significant impairment in psychosocial functioning and had higher mental-health treatment utilization at age 24 years of age. The relatives of adolescents with BD and SUB had elevated rates of MDD and anxiety disorders. The relatives of SUB probands had elevated BD, while the relatives of BD had elevated rates of SUB and borderline symptoms. Conclusions Adolescent BD showed significant continuity across developmental periods and was associated with adverse outcomes during young adulthood. Adolescent SUB was also associated with adverse outcomes in young adulthood, but was not associated with an increased incidence of BD. Due to high rates of comorbidity with other disorders, definitive conclusions regarding the specific clinical significance of SUB must await studies with larger numbers of 'pure' SUB cases.
Interval-based simulation to model input uncertainty in stochastic Lanchester models

Interval-based simulation (IBS) has been proposed to model input uncertainty in discrete-event simulation. The foundation of this new simulation paradigm is imprecise probability, which models systems under both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. The statistical distribution parameters in IBS are represented by intervals instead of precise real numbers. This paper discusses how the IBS approach can be applied to stochastic Lanchester models that are used in combat simulation to better account for input parameter uncertainty. The advantages of this approach are explored in comparison with second-order Monte Carlo simulation. Using IBS, an improved estimate of the probability of a team winning a battle is calculated by taking advantage of the interval structure. By resampling from intervals to determine event times, we can separate the effect of parameter uncertainty from random number generator uncertainty to estimate the probability that one team will win for given stream of random numbers used in a single replication. Additionally, we show how our method can be used to improve the reliability of stochastic Lanchester results by accounting for different skill levels within each team, and show how the interval structure can be used to highlight the disproportionate effect of the first few encounters in the battle.
Thyroid I131 metabolism in the absence of the pituitary: the hypophysectomized rat treated with thyrotropic hormone.

Hypophysectomized rats that had been treated with thyrotropic hormone (TSH) for varying periods were injected with 5 µg. of iodide labeled with I131. Treatment with TSH readily reversed the abnormal distribution of I131 (low thyroxine I131, high monoiodotyrosine-I131, which occurs in the thyroids of hypophysectomized rats. Thyroids removed from hypophysectomized rats that had received injections of TSH showed greater ability to concentrate iodide in vitro than did thyroids removed from saline injected hypophysectomized rats. The mechanism of action of TSH on the thyroid is discussed. Evidence is presented which indicates that the effects of TSH on both the thyroid iodide pump and on thyroid cellular growth are independent of any effect on iodine discharge. It is suggested that the various steps of thyroid iodine metabolism are affected by TSH independently. The effects of TSH on iodine metabolism are probably secondary to its effect on some basic cellular process in the thyroid.
High levels of four heavy metals on the iron status of plants

Abstract Bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivar Improved Teadergreen) were grown for three weeks in a simulated calcareous soil (Yolo loam + 2% CaCO3) with Co, Ni, Zn, and Cu applied as sulfates at the rate of 1000 ppm metal on the dry soil basis. Iron at 5 ppm as FeEDDHA (ethylenediamine di(o‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid)) was applied to half the plants to test its ability to overcome any of the apparent Fe deficiency induced by heavy metals. Cobalt and Ni were the most toxic of the four metals; Cu was next with only mild effects due to Zn. Copper decreased Fe concentration in shoots while Ni increased it. Nickel decreased Mn in shoots; Zn and Co increased Mn in shoots. The FeEDDHA overcame none of these toxic effects of heavy metals even though the symptoms were similar to those of Fe deficiency. Nickel decreased the total quantity of cations in leaves.
Binding of 3H-β-endorphin in rat brain

Abstract The binding of 3H-β-endorphin to rat brain homogenates, reported by several other laboratories, has suggested unique selective β-endorphin binding sites. We now present additional evidence supporting the concept of distinct β-endorphin binding (epsilon) sites in rat brain. In competitive displacement studies, 3H-β-endorphin was inhibited far better by unlabeled β-endorphin than a variety of opiates and enkephalins. Conversely, β-endorphin inhibited the binding of a series of 3H-labeled ligands, including dihydromorphine, ethylketocyclazocine, SKF 10,047, naloxone and D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin, far less potently than their corresponding unlabeled drug. Other differences were also found. Compared to 3H-dihydromorphine and 3H-D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin in binding, 3H-β-endorphin binding was far less sensitive to the reagent N-ethylmaleimide and more sensitive to the proteolytic enzyme trypsin. The regional distribution for 3H-β-endorphin binding was also distinct from other 3H-ligands tested. This evidence supports the concept of a distinct binding site for β-endorphin which does not correspond to the previously defined opioid binding sites.
Identifying Antecedents of the Strategic Game Frame A Longitudinal Analysis

Although election news framing is a burgeoning area of research, empirical studies of what factors influence frame building remain rare, especially in non-Western countries. This study investigates the use of the strategic game frame and the relationship between that frame and system-level and organizational-level factors. The analysis focuses on the coverage of campaign news in six elite Bulgarian newspapers between 1990 and 2009. Results show that the type of electoral system, number of parties in government, and newspaper specialization are significant predictors of game frame use. The results are discussed in relation to framing research in Western Europe and the United States.
A high performance liquid radiochromatographic assay for the simultaneous analysis of iloprost and misoprostol

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method utilizing ultraviolet absorbance coupled with radioisotove detection was developed for the precise and simultaneous determination of iloprost and misoprostol. This assay allows complete resolution of iloprost diastereoisomers and has a total run time of approximately twenty minutes. Samples were prepared for chromatographic analysis by extracting a mixture of tritiated drugs from rat plasma with acetonitrile. The resulting solutions were chromatographed on a reversed phase Zorbax Rx-C8 column using 0.02M potassium phosphate (pH 3.0), acetonitrile, and methanol (46:30:24, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.7 mL/min. 2-Naphthoic acid was employed as an internal standard. The correlation coefficient for varying concentrations of tritiated iloprost (12.7 Ci/mmol specific activity) from 2.18 ng/mL to 21.8 ng/mL was 0.995, and the correlation coefficient for concentrations of tritiated misoprostol (50 Ci/mmol specific activity) from 0.617 ng/mL to 6.17 ng/mL was 0.993. The high selectivity and sensitivity of this assay make it useful for the simultaneous quantitation of iloprost and misoprostol.
Alpha blocking during visual after-images.

Abstract 1. 1. Three subjects observed visual after-images while simultaneous recordingts were made of the occipital EEG. 2. 2. According to instructions, the subjects either observed the after-images attentively, ignored the after-images or searched for traces of after-images when none were present. 3. 3. Alpha blocking was greatest under the condition of attentive viewing of after-images, at a medium level under conditions of searching in the absence of after-images, and least when the after-images were ignored. 4. 4. The effect of after-images and attention together was greater than the sum of the two factors separately, indicating a positive interaction between after-images and attention in blocking alpha rhythms.
Finite element free surface seepage analysis without mesh iteration

SUMMARY An effective solution procedure for the finite element analysis of free surface seepage problems is presented. The solution algorithm employs a non-linear permeability description of the material and avoids iteration with the finite element mesh. The results and experiences obtained in the analyses of some problems are presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the technique. The phenomena of fluid flow or seepage through porous media is observed in various disciplines of engineering.''2 It appears therefore natural that, as soon as the generality of the finite element method of analysis was recognized, emphasis was directed to develop the finite element method also for analysis of seepage problems in order to obtain a more genera1 analysis tooL3 Apart from being able to consider in an effective manner complex geometries and material properties, emphasis on the development of the finite element analysis pro- cedures is also important because of the potential of the technique for analysis of coupled stress and fluid flow problems.4s5 The current practice using the finite element method in the analysis of free surface fluid flow through porous media is to assume a free surface, discretize the domain below the free surface using finite elements, solve for the flow conditions in the finite element model, and check whether the free surface boundary conditions are satisfied with sufficient accuracy. If the flow conditions at the free surface are not satisfied to a specified tolerance, the free surface is adjusted and the problem is resolved until the free surface flow conditions are met. Depending on the problems considered, some 10 to 30 iterations may be necessary in steady-state analysis, and in transient analysis an iteration is carried out in the time steps of the time response calculation. In the iteration for the free surface, each iteration step represents a new problem, and a new finite element mesh could be established in each step. However, to keep the analysis effort to a minimum, usually the same basic finite element mesh is employed, but the geometric locations of the nodal points (possibly only near the free surface) are adjusted. The disadvantages of this scheme are that the elements can become very distorted, thus introducing severe errors in the analysis, and that a relatively large computational effort is required. These disadvantages are particularly pronounced in three-dimensional analysis. If non-linear stress and flow conditions * Associate Professor. t Research Assistant.
Cryptkeeper: Improving security with encrypted RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) was recently shown to be vulnerable to physical attacks exposing the totality of memory, including user data and encryption keys. We present Cryptkeeper, a novel software-encrypted virtual memory manager that mitigates data exposure when used with a secure key-hiding mechanism. Cryptkeeper significantly reduces the amount of cleartext data in memory by dividing RAM into a smaller, cleartext working set and a larger, encrypted area. This extends the standard memory model and provides encrypted swap as a side effect. Despite a 9x slowdown in pathological cases, target applications such as Firefox are only 9% slower with our Linux-based prototype. We also identify several optimizations which can significantly improve performance. Cryptkeeper enables the expression of new security policies for memory, and demonstrates that modern personal computers can perform heavy-duty work on behalf of operating systems with surprisingly low overhead.
Bipotential Primitive-Definitive Hematopoietic Progenitors in the Vertebrate Embryo

Two regions of the vertebrate embryo, the blood islands and the dorsal lateral plate (DLP), participate in early hematopoietic development. In Xenopus, primitive erythrocytes are derived solely from the ventral blood islands (VBI), while definitive hematopoietic cells such as lymphocytes are derived from both VBI and DLP. We have utilized a transplantation technique to demonstrate in vivo that all hematopoietic cells (embryonic, fetal, or adult) originate from ventral mesoderm. Reciprocal grafts between VBI and DLP demonstrated that both regions are bipotential with respect to primitive and definitive hematopoiesis. Commitment of the VBI to primitive erythropoiesis and restriction of the DLP to definitive hematopoiesis occurs during neurula stages. Thus, hematopoietic development involves the induction of the blood program on the ventral axis of the embryo followed by environmentally regulated specification to the primitive or definitive lineages.
Questions regarding the aortic measurements of Mitchell et al.

To the Editor: Mitchell et al1 conclude that reduced proximal aortic diameters, in addition to wall stiffness, account for the increase in pulse pressure associated with systolic hypertension. This observation is surprising in view of the strong relations of aging to both systolic hypertension and progressive aortic dilatation. In their study, aortic diameter …
Human versus biometric detection of texture similarity in left and right irises

The iris codes for the left and right iris of a person have previously been reported to be uncorrelated. We replicate this result using images from 327 persons from the iris image dataset used in the Iris Challenge Evaluations. The same images are then used in an experiment in which subjects view a left and a right iris image, and judge whether they are correctly paired by similarity of iris texture. Subjects are able to distinguish between iris images belonging to the same person versus belonging to different persons with over 86% accuracy overall, and over 93% accuracy when they judge their decision as confident. Thus, there clearly is a similarity in the texture pattern of the left and right iris of the same person that can reliably be detected by novice observers with a brief viewing time. This is the first research that we are aware of that investigates the abilities of human observers in judging similarity or dissimilarity of iris texture.
Winter Precipitation Patterns in Arctic Alaska Determined from a Blowing-Snow Model and Snow-Depth Observations

Abstract A blowing-snow model (SnowTran-3D) was combined with field measurements of end-of-winter snow depth and density to simulate solid (winter) precipitation, snow transport, and sublimation distributions over a 20 000-km2 arctic Alaska domain. The domain included rolling uplands and a flat coastal plain. Simulations were produced for the winters of 1994/95, 1995/96, and 1996/97. The model, which accounts for spatial and temporal variations in blowing-snow sublimation, as well as saltation and turbulent-suspended transport, was driven with interpolated fields of observed temperature, humidity, and wind speed and direction. Model outputs include local (a few hundreds of meters) to regional (several tens of kilometers) distributions of winter snow-water-equivalent depths and blowing-snow sublimation losses, from which the regional winter precipitation distributions are computed. At regional scales, the end-of-winter snow depth is largely equal to the difference between winter precipitation and moisture ...
Pairing instabilities in quasi-two-dimensional Fermi gases

We study nonequilibrium dynamics of ultracold two-component Fermi gases in low-dimensional geometries after the interactions are quenched from a weakly interacting to a strongly interacting regime. We develop a T-matrix formalism that takes into account the interplay between Pauli blocking and tight confinement in low-dimensional geometries. We employ our formalism to study the formation of molecules in quasi-two-dimensional Fermi gases near Feshbach resonance and show that the rate at which molecules form depends strongly on the transverse confinement. Furthermore, Pauli blocking gives rise to a sizable correction to the binding energy of molecules.
Fabrication and characterization of micromachined high-frequency tonpilz transducers derived by PZT thick films

Miniaturized tonpilz transducers are potentially useful for ultrasonic imaging in the 10 to 100 MHz frequency range due to their higher efficiency and output capabilities. In this work, 4 to 10-/spl mu/m thick piezoelectric thin films were used as the active element in the construction of miniaturized tonpilz structures. The tonpilz stack consisted of silver/lead zirconate titanate (PZT)/lanthanum nickelate (LaNiO/sub 3/)/silicon on insulator (SOI) substrates. First, conductive LaNiO/sub 3/ thin films, approximately 300 nm in thickness, were grown on SOI substrates by a metalorganic decomposition (MOD) method. The room temperature resistivity of the LaNiO/sub 3/ was 6.5 /spl times/ 10/sup -6/ /spl Omega//spl middot/m. Randomly oriented PZT (52/48) films up to 7-/spl mu/m thick were then deposited using a sol-gel process on the LaNiO/sub 3/-coated SOI substrates. The PZT films with LaNiO/sub 3/ bottom electrodes showed good dielectric and ferroelectric properties. The relative dielectric permittivity (at 1 kHz) was about 1030. The remanent polarization of PZT films was larger than 26 /spl mu/C/cm/sup 2/. The effective transverse piezoelectric e/sub 31,f/ coefficient of PZT thick films was about -6.5 C/m/sup 2/ when poled at -75 kV/cm for 15 minutes at room temperature. Enhanced piezoelectric properties were obtained on poling the PZT films at higher temperatures. A silver layer about 40-/spl mu/m thick was prepared by silver powder dispersed in epoxy and deposited onto the PZT film to form the tail mass of the tonpilz structure. The top layers of this wafer were subsequently diced with a saw, and the structure was bonded to a second wafer. The original silicon carrier wafer was polished and etched using a Xenon difluoride (XeF/sub 2/) etching system. The resulting structures showed good piezoelectric activity. This process flow should enable integration of the piezoelectric elements with drive/receive electronics.
Effects of temperature, photoperiod, and light intensity on the calling rhythm in Arctiid moths

Mean times of onset for calling in Haploa clymene (Brown), Spilosoma virginica (Fabricius), Pareuchaetes insulata (Walker), Cycnia tenera (Hubner), and Euchaetes egle (Drury) advance to earlier times in the photoperiod at lower temperatures. Temperature has no apparent effect on the calling period in Pyrrharctia isabella (J. E. Smith), Spilosoma congrua Walker, and Apantesis nais (Drury). The relationship between the temperatures experienced by each of these species as adults and the response of their calling rhythms to temperature is discussed. Lights-on can elicit calling behaviour in C. tenera, although it is not an absolute requirement because calling eventually begins when lights-on is delayed 4 h and calling also begins prior to lights-on at lower temperatures. Calling periods lengthen in C. tenera and S. congrua when the scotophase is prolonged and in S. congrua after the onset of a lower photophase light intensity (40 lux), suggesting that a higher photophase light intensity (450 lux) inhibits calling and thus causes its termination. Resume Effets de la temperature, de la photoperiode et de l'intensite lumineuse sur le rythme d'appel des Arctiidae Aux faibles temperatures le moment moyen de declenchement de l'appel apparait plus tot au cours de la photoperiode chez Haploa clymene Brown, Spilosoma virginica Fab., Pareuchaetes insulata Walk., Cycnia tenera Hubn. et Euchaetes egle Drury. La temperature n'a apparemment pas d'effet sur le moment ou l'appel debute chez Pyrrharctica isabella J.E. Smith, S. congrua Walk. et Apantesis nais Drury. L'analyse porte sur les relations entre les temperatures subies par les adultes de ces especes et leurs reactions d'appel aux differentes temperatures. L'apparition de la lumiere peut induire le comportement d'appel chez C. tenera, bien que ce ne soit pas indispensable puisqu'il peut eventuellement commencer a des temperatures plus basses avant l'illumination quand celle-ci est retardee de 4 heures. Les periodes d'appel sont prolongees avec la scotophase chez C. tenera et S. congrua, et meme apres l'apparition d'une photophase a faible intensite lumineuse (40 lux), l'appel de S. congrua se poursuit, ce qui suggere que les photophases a intensite lumineuse plus elevee (450 lux) inhibent l'appel et ainsi en provoquent la fin.
Load Tap Changing with Vacuum Interrupters

A comparison between the four common types of conventional load tap changing (Itc) mechanisms for use on power transformers and the introduction of a new mechanism using vacuum interrupters for the arcing function is presented. Design parameters for the present and new equipment are discussed along with an understanding of some new problems associated with operating speeds, interrupter life, and voltage transients. The advantages for both the manufacturer and the user of load tap changing, using vacuum interrupters, are identified. These include increased life, smaller size, fewer inspections and servicings, and fewer equipment types.
Failure Mechanisms of Shielded Power Cable Related to High Ground Shield Resistance and/or Insulation of Neutral Wires from the Ground Shield

A number of conditions can cause separation of the neutral wires from the semiconducting ground shield or cause a large increase in the resistivity of the wound shield. Such conditions can lead to (i) the ground shield becoming effectively floating or (ii) the ground shield acting as a dielectric rather than a conductor. In either case, this can lead to partial discharge under normal operating voltage and/or lightning surge-induced flashover between the neutral wires and ground shield, conditions that can cause cable failure. The theoretical context of these conditions is examined, after which a concrete example, which has resulted in field failures, is provided.
Silicon horn transducer based ultrasonically enhanced nerve firing

In this paper we report on enhanced excitation rates from the abdominal nerve cord of the large red crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) upon exposure to ∼ 100 kHz ultrasound. We have observed firing rates increases of as much as 10.65% that are linear with the ultrasonic pressure ranging from 8900 to 120,000 Pa. We used a silicon-horn transducer that allows the delivery of high intensity ultrasound over an area that is approximately the size of the nerve. Probe tip temperature increases of 1 – 2 degrees Celsius were measured in saline corresponding to the range of ultrasonic intensities used. The increase in firing rate is also accompanied by an increase in the slopes and amplitude of each individual action potential in the nerve cord. We form initial hypothesis based on the data that suggest mechanisms of ultrasonic effect on triggering nerves.
Verb Comprehension Deficits in Probable Alzheimer's Disease

Studies of lexical comprehension in probable Alzheimer's disease (pAD) have focused almost exclusively on nouns. In the following preliminary study, we examined whether lexical comprehension for verbs is also impaired in 25 pAD patients. The semantic meaning of motion verbs, cognition verbs, and perception verbs was assessed with a triadic comparison task. Structural meaning associated with these verbs was evaluated by asking the patients to judge the coherence of sentence frames that accept these verbs naturally or awkwardly. We found that pAD patients are significantly impaired at identifying semantic relations among verbs. pAD patients also encountered significantly more difficulty judging the coherence of sentences than control subjects. Correlation and regression analyses demonstrated that semantic characteristics of verbs are projected from the verb's sentence frames in control subjects, but there was minimal evidence for such a structural-semantic relationship in pAD. We consider several possible explanations for our preliminary observations of an impairment that has consequences for processing both semantic and structural aspects of verb meaning.
Effect of raloxifene on serum triglycerides in postmenopausal women: influence of predisposing factors for hypertriglyceridemia.

Abstract Background: Estrogen increases serum triglyceride (TG) levels and induces hypertriglyceridemia in susceptible women. The effect of raloxifene (RLX), a selective estrogen-receptor modulator, on serum TG has not been studied in detail. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of RLX on serum TG levels in postmenopausal women with and without osteoporosis, including those with predisposing factors for hypertriglyceridemia. Methods: Fasting serum TG levels were assessed over 36 months in 2738 osteoporotic postmenopausal women (mean age, 67 years) assigned to placebo or RLX (60 or 120 mg/d) in an osteoporosis treatment trial and over 24 months in 1318 postmenopausal women without osteoporosis (mean age, 54 years) assigned to placebo or RLX (60 or 150 mg/d) in 3 osteoporosis prevention trials. Results: In the osteoporosis treatment trial, the median serum TG concentration decreased in all groups, but significantly more in the placebo group (placebo, −3.4%; RLX 60 mg/d, −1.4%; RLX 120 mg/d, −1.3%; P = 0.002). In the osteoporosis prevention trials, the percentage change in median serum TG concentration was not significantly different among treatments ( P = 0.22). Among women with varying degrees of hypertriglyceridemia at baseline (>2.82, >3.39, and >4.51 mmol/L), the median serum TG level at the end of the study decreased from baseline in all groups, with no significant differences among treatments ( P ≥ 0.13). The effect of RLX on serum TG level was not influenced by age, smoking status, use of alcohol, or presence of diabetes ( P ≥ 0.10 for all interactions). Among women in the highest tertile of body mass index (>26.4 kg/m 2 ), RLX increased serum TG levels significantly compared with placebo (placebo, −3%; RLX 60 mg/d, 6%; RLX 120 mg/d, 4%; P Conclusions: RLX did not increase serum TG in postmenopausal women overall or among women with elevated TG levels or evidence of diabetes at baseline. TG levels increased slightly but statistically significantly in women in the upper tertile of body mass index who were treated with RLX.
Differential Effects of Non-Nicotine Tobacco Constituent Compounds on Nicotine Self-Administration in Rats

Tobacco smoking has been shown to be quite addictive in people. However, nicotine itself is a weak reinforcer compared to other commonly abused drugs, leading speculation that other factors contribute to the high prevalence of tobacco addiction in the human population. In addition to nicotine, there are over 5000 chemical compounds that have been identified in tobacco smoke, and more work is needed to ascertain their potential contributions to tobacco's highly addictive properties, or as potential candidates for smoking cessation treatment. In this study, we examined seven non-nicotine tobacco constituent compounds (anabasine, anatabine, nornicotine, myosmine, harmane, norharmane, and tyramine) for their effects on nicotine self-administration behavior in rats. Young adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed to self-administer nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/50 μl infusion) under a fixed ratio-1 schedule of reinforcement. Each self-administration session lasted 45 min. Doses of each tobacco constituent compound were administered subcutaneously 10 min prior to the start of each session in a repeated measures, counterbalanced order two times. Anabasine displayed a biphasic dose-effect function. Pretreatment with 0.02 mg/kg anabasine resulted in a 25% increase in nicotine self-administration, while 2.0mg/kg of anabasine reduced nicotine infusions per session by over 50%. Pretreatment with 2.0mg/kg anatabine also significantly reduced nicotine self-administration by nearly half. These results suggest that some non-nicotine tobacco constituents may enhance or reduce nicotine's reinforcing properties. Also, depending upon the appropriate dose, some of these compounds may also serve as potential smoking cessation agents.
A mechanical analysis of force distribution between redundant, multiple degree-of-freedom actuators in the human: Implications for the central nervous system

This paper is a mechanical analysis of the apparent redundancy of muscles in the human body. Because differentiation of motor commands appears to occur at the motor unit level, the analysis examines possible distributions of motor unit activation levels for a given motor task. The transformation from these motor commands to movement is defined mathematically. Each motor unit, regardless of how many joints it crosses, produces a single action, a vector describing multi-joint motor tasks including control of position and/or force. These individual actions, even for apparently antagonistic muscles, are summed to produce overall movement. Because there are many possible combinations of motor unit actions which produce a desired net action, it is hypothesized that the central nervous system uses some consistent criteria for selecting favored combinations. Modeling these criteria with optimization cost functions, it is shown that the potential cost for producing movement decreases with increasing numbers of actuators, distributed in a variety of configurations. This approach is compatible with self-organizing topographic feature maps, which demonstrate how the central nervous system may perform the described transformations.
Measurement of temperament and character in mood disorders: a model of fundamental states as personality types

Abstract Background: Personality assessment may allow reliable measurement of risk of mood disorders. Methods: A group of adults (804) representative of the general population were assessed by questionnaire. Personality types were measured by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Results: Specific TCI configurations define personality types that can be described as hyperthymic, cyclothymic, irritable, and depressive. Each type had a unique profile of emotions, suicide attempts, and hospitalization. Conclusions: TCI traits are associated with mood disorders. Limitations: Different ways of measuring Kraepelinean subtypes may disagree. Whether differences in personality cause psychopathology, or vice versa, remains uncertain. Clinical relevance: Personality profiles help in assessing suicidality and planning treatment.
Budgeted Optimization with Concurrent Stochastic-Duration Experiments

Budgeted optimization involves optimizing an unknown function that is costly to evaluate by requesting a limited number of function evaluations at intelligently selected inputs. Typical problem formulations assume that experiments are selected one at a time with a limited total number of experiments, which fail to capture important aspects of many real-world problems. This paper defines a novel problem formulation with the following important extensions: 1) allowing for concurrent experiments; 2) allowing for stochastic experiment durations; and 3) placing constraints on both the total number of experiments and the total experimental time. We develop both offline and online algorithms for selecting concurrent experiments in this new setting and provide experimental results on a number of optimization benchmarks. The results show that our algorithms produce highly effective schedules compared to natural baselines.
The Utility of Nuclear ITS, a LEAFY Homolog Intron, and Chloroplast atpB-rbcL Spacer Region Data in Phylogenetic Analyses and Species Delimitation in Isoëtes

Abstract Despite its ancient origins, its worldwide distribution, and adaptation to diverse habitats, Isoetes has a highly conserved morphology. This feature has made it difficult to resolve species and species relationships using morphological characters. In this paper, we report the utility of nucleotide sequences from the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, chloroplast atpB/rbcL intergenic spacer region, and second intron of a LEAFY (LFY) homolog for identifying species relationships, delimiting basic diploid species, and determining hybrid origins. Variation in the ITS regions and atpB/rbcL spacer is most useful at the family level in Isoetes and the LFY second intron is appropriate at the species and population level. The tree resulting from an analysis of the combined nuclear ITS and chloroplast atpB/rbcL spacer contains three major well supported clades (bootstrap ≥ 99%): an Old-World/California clade (I. abyssinica, I. longissima, I. velata, I. nuttallii, and I. orcuttii), an Asian/...