cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aqueous processes recorded by martian meteorites : Analyzing martian water on earth

Martian meteorites have delivered to Earth water molecules and minerals produced by aqueous processes on Mars. The study of these samples, using powerful analytical instrumentation, provides a basis for understanding aqueous activity on Mars. Although most analyses are at the scale of microns, the conclusions reached have important implications for large-scale aqueous processes. Secondary minerals, such as clays, salts, and carbonates, are present at some level in all Martian meteorite subtypes and are especially important in the nakhlites and ALH84001. Light element stable isotope analyses show evidence for mixing between atmosphere and magmatic fluids into a crustal reservoir, and that this crustal water was not in equilibrium with the host rocks. The mineralogical and isotopic data present a fairly consistent picture of the aqueous history of Mars: low levels of aqueous alteration are generally present but extensive aqueous processes are probably limited in space and time.
Resonant entrainment of a confined pulsed jet

This paper reports the discovery of a new resonant entrainment phenomenon associated with a confined, pulsed jet flow. It was found that a confined jet, when pulsed at an organ-pipe resonant frequency of the confinement tube, experiences greatly enhanced entrainment and mixing near the exit end of the confinement tube compared to a steady confined jet. The mixing and entrainment rates for the resonantly pulsed confined jet approach, and in some cases slightly exceed, those for an unconfined pulsed jet. Both visual and quantitative evidence of this phenomenon is presented. The new effect should be of considerable interest in ejector and combustor design, both of which benefit from any enhancement in mixing between a primary and a secondary flow
Self-Assembly of PbTe Quantum Dots into Nanocrystal Superlattices and Glassy Films

Monodisperse lead telluride (PbTe) nanocrystals ranging from ∼4 to 10 nm in diameter are synthesized to provide quantum dot building blocks for the design of novel materials for electronic applications. Two complementary synthetic approaches are developed that enable either (1) isolation of small quantities of nanocrystals of many different sizes or (2) the production of up to 10 g of a single nanocrystal size. PbTe nanocrystals are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and optical absorption. Assembly of PbTe nanocrystals is directed to prepare nanocrystal solids that display either short-range (glassy solids) or long-range (superlattices) packing order by varying deposition conditions. Film order and average interparticle spacing are analyzed with grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). We perform the first optical and electronic studies of PbTe solids and demonstrate that chemical activ...
Normal nonmetrizable Moore space from continuum hypothesis or nonexistence of inner models with measurable cardinals.

Abstract Assuming the continuum hypothesis, a normal nonmetrizable Moore space is constructed. This answers a question raised by F. B. Jones in 1931, using an axiom well known at that time. For the construction, a consequence of the continuum hypothesis that also follows from the nonexistence of an inner model with a measurable cardinal is used. Hence, it is shown that to prove the consistency of the statement that all normal Moore spaces are metrizable one must assume the consistency of the statement that measurable cardinals exist.
The effects of a low-fat, low-calorie synthetic nutrient (metrecal) on gastric secretion and emptying in man

1. The average gastric “free”-acid concentration in 25 subjects was significantly reduced for 120 min. after ingestion of Metrecal.
Interlaboratory Study of ASTM F2731, Standard Test Method for Measuring the Transmitted and Stored Energy of Firefighter Protective Clothing Systems

This paper describes an interlaboratory study conducted using ASTM F2731, Standard Test Method for Measuring the Transmitted and Stored Energy of Firefighter Protective Clothing Systems. Five replications of six different composites representative of firefighting turnout gear materials were tested at six different laboratories equipped to conduct the test. Data collected were used to predict the time to second degree burn for each of the turnout composite test specimens. Statistical analysis showed good agreement between test sites. This interlaboratory study confirmed the repeatability and reliability of ASTM F2731, a test method used to measure an important property associated with the thermal protective performance of firefighter turnout materials.
Walking Pattern Filter for Dynamic Biped Robot With SMA Actuators

In this paper we present a walking pattern filter for Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuated biped robots. SMAs are known for their slow response. The actuation speed limitation can potentially lead to stability problems for biped robots. This filter adapts the human motion for a SMA biped in order to have a stable walking pattern. The Zero Moment Point (ZMP) is used as a main criterion of the filter to guarantee the stability of the motion. The SMA actuators are designed based on the dynamic and kinematics data of the motion. The response time of each SMA actuator is modeled in order to estimate the behavior of the actuator in realizing the given trajectory. After applying the delay times to the motion new trajectories are generated and checked by the ZMP criterion. The output of the filter can generate smooth trajectories for the SMA biped robots. The filter furthermore guarantees the stability while mimicking the human motion. The filter provides a practical way to create stable walking patterns using SMA actuators.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The state of water in acclimating vegetative buds from Malus and Amelanchier and its relationship to winter hardiness

The relationship between freezable water and cold hardiness during acclimation was studied using vegetative buds from several apple {Malus domestica Borkh) cultivars and from one saskaloonberrv' (Ametanchier atnifolia Nutt, cv. Smoky) cultivar. According to leakage data and visual assessments of cortical browning, vegetative buds of all cultivars were most tolerant to subfreezing temperatures in January. The hardy condition was also associated with maximum tolerance to desiccation. Qualitative features of freezing exotherms (number of peaks and temperature of the transition) were not correlated with the hardy condition in the tissues. However, the amount of unfrozen water, determined by quantifying the energy of the exotherms, increased with increasing hardiness. In buds that survived exposure to -4.5''C, freezing reduced the intracellular water content, but only to levels above the critical moisture content for desiccation damage. In buds that did not survive exposure to -45°C, freezing reduced the water content to levels equal to or less than the critical moisture content for desiccation damage. These observations suggest that the freezing of water in nonhardy tissue dried the tissue to moisture levels at which severe dehydration damage occurred. It appears that acchmaiion of vegetative apple buds involves at least two processes: (1 j an increase in tolerance to dehydration and (2) an increase in the level of unfreezable water.
Blood platelets and the inflammatory process.

There appears to be an encouraging body of evidence supporting a relationship between hemostasis and inflammation with the platelet being the main link between the two. These processes are both triggered by damage to blood vessels and a response which occurs within seconds of this damage is the adhesion of platelets to the injured tissue and to each other. During the hemostatic process inflammatory agents are released from platelets.
Mechanisms underlying intracisternal TRH-induced stimulation of gastric acid secretion in rats.

Abstract The neurohumoral pathways mediating intracisternal TRH-induced stimulation of gastric acid secretion were investigated. In urethane-anesthetized rats, with gastric and intrajugular cannulas, TRH or the analog [N- Val 2 ]- TRH (1 μg) injected intracisternally increased gastric acid output for 90 min. Serum gastrin levels were not elevated significantly. Under these conditions the TRH analog, unlike TRH, was devoid of thyrotropin-releasing activity as measured by serum TSH levels. In pylorus-ligated rats, gastrin values were not modified 2 h after peptide injection whereas gastric acid output was enhanced. TRH (0.1–1 μg) stimulated vagal efferent discharge, recorded from a multifiber preparation of the cervical vagus in urethaneanesthetized rats and the response was dose-dependent. The time course of vagal activation was well correlated with the time profile of gastric stimulation measured every 2 min. These results demonstrated that gastric acid secretory stimulation elicited by intracisternal TRH is not related to changes in circulating levels of gastrin or TSH but is mediated by the activation of efferent vagal pathways that stimulated parietal cell secretion.
Stereotaxic technique for transplantation of neural tissues in the brain of adult rats

A technique of neural transplantation in the brains of adult animals, using stereotaxic apparatus, is described. It facilitates transplantation of neural tissues of small volumes in precisely defined structures of the host brain, and yields a high percentage of successful transplantations.
Monte Carlo simulations of film growth

Abstract The growth of thin films represents an important topic in non-equilibrium phenomena, an area in which our understanding is still immature. Simple lattice models for film growth have been proposed in which both deposition and diffusion are included in different ways. We shall describe Monte Carlo and Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of diverse lattice models for film growth, including models for molecular beam epitaxy and the Edwards–Wilkinson model, and present characteristic results for the asymptotic surface roughening behavior. The difficulties in the interpretation of the data and dynamic finite size scaling analyzes will be described, and surprises will be highlighted.
Thermostable and alkalistable xylanases produced by the thermophilic bacterium Anoxybacillus flavithermus TWXYL3.

With the rising cost and finite supply of fossil energy, there is an increasing economic incentive for the development of clean, efficient, and renewable domestic energy. The activities of microorganisms offer the potential conversion of lignocellulosic materials into fermentable sugars, usable for downstream fermentation processes. Strain TWXYL3, a thermophilic facultative anaerobe, was discovered in the Alvord Basin hydrothermal system in Oregon, USA. Phylogenetic analysis of strain TWXYL3 showed it to be 99% similar to the 16S rRNA gene of Anoxybacillus flavithermus WL (FJ950739). A. flavithermus TWXYL3 was shown to secrete a large multisubunit thermostable xylanase complex into the growth medium. Xylanase induction was achieved by resuspending the isolate in a selective xylan-containing medium. Extracellular xylanase activity showed a temperature optimum of 65°C and retained thermostability up to 85°C. Extracellular xylanase activity showed a bimodal pH optimum, with maxima at pH 6 and pH 8. Electrophoretic analysis of the extracellular xylanase shows 5 distinct proteins with xylanase activity. Strain TWXYL3 is the first xylanolytic isolate obtained from the Alvord Basin hydrothermal system and represents a new model system for development of processes where lignocellulosics are converted to biofuel precursors.
Automating CPM-GOMS

CPM-GOMS is a modeling method that combines the task decomposition of a GOMS analysis with a model of human resource usage at the level of cognitive, perceptual, and motor operations. CPM-GOMS models have made accurate predictions about skilled user behavior in routine tasks, but developing such models is tedious and error-prone. We describe a process for automatically generating CPM-GOMS models from a hierarchical task decomposition expressed in a cognitive modeling tool called Apex. Resource scheduling in Apex automates the difficult task of interleaving the cognitive, perceptual, and motor resources underlying common task operators (e.g. mouse move-and-click). Apex's UI automatically generates PERT charts, which allow modelers to visualize a model's complex parallel behavior. Because interleaving and visualization is now automated, it is feasible to construct arbitrarily long sequences of behavior. To demonstrate the process, we present a model of automated teller interactions in Apex and discuss implications for user modeling
Gazi, Starkey, & Jedrezejewski, Radio Content in the Digital Age

(2011). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. 254 pages. Radio Content in the Digital Age is a collection of 15 academic papers describing the effects new technologies are having on the latest ...
A Comparison of IT Governance & Control Frameworks in Cloud Computing

Providing the appropriate level and type of IT governance and controls in a cloud computing environment is a new challenge facing many CIOs and their organizations. This paper provides a comparison of several of the existing control frameworks, including: CobiT, COSO, ITIL, ENIA, and ISO 27000. While there are many commonalities among these frameworks, the authors identify the key components of each model as they relate specifically to the cloud computing environment. Governance in the cloud requires defining policies and implementing an organizational structure with well-defined roles for the responsibility of information technology management, business processes, and applications. Best practice IT governance considerations proffered by Weill and Ross, ITGI, and others are then included into our cloud framework. Finally, the IT Cloud Governance Dial is presented in this paper, which identifies the necessary steps for implementing the appropriate IT governance for a cloud environment.
Pneumonic pasteurellosis associated with Pasteurella hemolytica serotype A6 in American bison (Bison bison).

10. Popp JA: 1990, Tumors of the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas. In: Tumors in domestic animals, ed. Moulton JE, 3rd ed., pp. 436–457. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 11. Short WF, Nedwich A, Levy HA, Howard JM: 1971, Biliary cystadenoma. Report of a case and review of the literature. Arch Surg 102:78–80. 12. Stebbins KE: 1989, Polycystic disease of the kidney and liver in an adult Persian cat. J Comp Pathol 100:327–330. 13. Terada T, Nakanuma Y, Ohta T, et al.: 1991, Mucin-histochemical and immunohistochemical profiles of epithelial cells of several types of hepatic cysts. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol 419:499–504.
Pattern generation and the control of nonlinear systems

Many important engineering systems accomplish their purpose using cyclic processes whose characteristics are under feedback control. Examples involving thermodynamic cycles and electromechanical energy conversion processes are particularly noteworthy. Likewise, cyclic processes are prevalent in nature and the idea of a pattern generator is widely used to rationalize mechanisms used for orchestrating movements such as those involved in locomotion and respiration. In this paper, we develop a linkage between the use of cyclic processes and the control of nonholonomic systems, emphasizing the problem of achieving stable regulation. The discussion brings to the fore characteristic phenomena that distinguish the regulation problem for such strongly nonlinear systems from the more commonly studied linear feedback regulators. Finally, we compare this approach to controlling nonholonomic systems to another approach based on the idea of an open-loop approximate inverse as discussed in the literature.
Regulatory Forum opinion piece: New testing paradigms for reproductive and developmental toxicity--the NTP modified one generation study and OECD 443.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has developed a new flexible study design, termed the modified one generation (MOG) reproduction study. The MOG study will encompass measurements of developmen...
Is Information Systems Spending Productive

When your department is named Information Systems and you see an article entitled "Is Information Systems Spending Productive?" you tend to sit up and take notice. Such an article appeared in The MIT Report of July/August 1993, summarizing a study by Erik Brynjolfsson, Professor of Management at the Sloan School, and graduate student Lorin Hitt. Their study dealt with the relationship between a company's spending on information systems and its productivity. In a recent interview, Brynjolfsson and Hitt elaborated on what they found.
A fully-bypassed 6-issue integer datapath and register file on an itanium microprocessor

The six-issue integer datapath of the second-generation Itanium microprocessor is described. Pulse techniques enable a high-speed, 20-ported, 128-entry, 65 bit register file with only 12 wordlines per register. A four-stage operand bypass network achieves a fully bypassed design with operands sourced from 34 locations with 16 destinations. To control this network, over 280 bypass comparators are utilized. Using half a clock for execution and half a clock for bypass, each result is available for the next instruction. Functional units are pre-enabled, reducing power consumption by 15% while eliminating a stage of result mixing and improving performance. The part is fabricated in a six-layer 0.18 /spl mu/m process and operates at 1.0 GHz at 1.5 V, consuming less than 130 W in about 420 mm/sup 2/.
Editorial: Will the Real Neutrophil Please Stand Up?

Discussion on exudate neutrophils as a more accurate model of the “working” functional in vivo neutrophil than their circulating progenitors.
Can gender be predicted from near-infrared face images?

Gender classification based on facial images has received increased attention in the computer vision literature. Previous work on this topic has focused on images acquired in the visible spectrum (VIS). We explore the possibility of predicting gender from face images acquired in the near-infrared spectrum (NIR). In this regard, we address the following two questions: (a) Can gender be predicted from NIR face images; and (b) Can a gender predictor learned using VIS images operate successfully on NIR images and vice-versa? Our experimental results suggest that NIR face images do have some discriminatory information pertaining to gender, although the degree of discrimination is noticeably lower than that of VIS images. Further, the use of an illumination normalization routine may be essential for facilitating cross-spectral gender prediction.
Shared decision-making: case study analysis to promote cross-programme dialogue between administrators and media coordinators

There is a general lack of cross-course and cross-programme dialogue in US colleges of education. Few, if any, opportunities are provided to engage graduate students in authentic dialogue about real school problems and issues. A grant-funded initiative has been launched at Appalachian State University to utilise case studies and web based communication tools to create authentic learning environments that support interaction between school administration and library science students to discuss real school problems and develop lasting solutions. This paper discusses a research study in which case study analysis was used to promote online cross-programme dialogue and assist students in developing their professional voice.
Gentamicin-Resistant Menadione And Hemin Auxotrophic Staphylococcus Aureus Persist Within Cultured Endothelial Cells

Staphylococcus aureus menadione and hemin auxotrophs, generated by in vitro gentamicin selection, demonstrated reduced hemolytic activity and enhanced intracellular survival within cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells relative to their hemolytic parent. Supplementation of the auxotrophs with exogenous menadione or hemin resulted in rapid growth, increased hemolytic activity, and reduced intracellular persistence to the level found for the hemolytic clinical parent. Aminoglycoside selection of staphylococcal menadione and hemin auxotrophs and subsequent persistence of these variants in the intracellular milieu may adapt S. aureus for evasion of host defenses and resistance to antimicrobial therapy.
The behavior of database concurrency control mechanisms under bursty arrivals

The robustness and sensitivity of four two-phase databases concurrency control mechanisms are studied under a dynamically changing workload due to the bursty arrival of transactions. The concurrency control mechanisms are studied under closely controlled conditions in which the only variable is the coefficient of variance of the arrival rate distribution. This paper shows that bursty traffic does impact the performance of the concurrency control mechanisms at both high and low loads, and that the degree of this impact is different for the different mechanisms investigated. We also show that the behavior of some CCMs change significantly under such environment.
A robust control design for an uncertain nonlinear robotic system

The nonlinear model-based manipulator control system is a good approach to manipulator control when parameters are known and the control computer is sufficient powerful. However, these parameters are inevitably in error, the unmodeled effects may be state-dependent, and the control may also not exactly compensate the nonlinear items. This paper offers a robust control design for an uncertain nonlinear robotic system. This designed robust control law provides the robust relative stability with the designed closed-loop system poles robustly locating in a vertical strip on the left-half complex plane in face of the parameter errors and state-dependent perturbations.
A Brief History of Anger

Stories, myths, and religious beliefs reveal the powerful role that anger has played in human affairs since the beginning of recorded history. The projections of anger into the supernatural by ancient and pre-literate societies trying to account for the terrifying vagaries of nature testify to their experience with, and appreciation of, the baleful influence of anger in the human sphere. It has served as an instrument of the moral order, as cast in religious narratives and works of art, literature, and drama, and as legitimized in social rules. Various philosophies of human nature, moral conduct, and the search for perfection in human behavior have struggled to determine the essentials of anger. It is fundamentally linked to our representations of personal and societal order and disorder.
An efficient ray tracing algorithm for modeling visual performance from corneal topography

The authors describe two ray-tracing algorithms for deriving an optical point-spread function (PSF) from corneal topography measurements: one a simple adaptation of the lensmaker's equations, the other a classical geometric refraction. The relative efficiency of the two algorithms is objectively evaluated in terms of actual computer time. The overall difference in the resulting PSFs is characterized by means several statistical measures, and subjective evidence of the accuracy of modeling visual effects is presented. >
Abh and AbrB Control of Bacillus subtilis Antimicrobial Gene Expression

The Bacillus subtilis abh gene encodes a protein whose N-terminal domain has 74% identity to the DNA-binding domain of the global regulatory protein AbrB. Strains with a mutation in abh showed alterations in the production of antimicrobial compounds directed against some other Bacillus species and gram-positive microbes. Relative to its wild-type parental strain, the abh mutant was found deficient, enhanced, or unaffected for the production of antimicrobial activity. Using lacZ fusions, we examined the effects of abh upon the expression of 10 promoters known to be regulated by AbrB, including five that transcribe well-characterized antimicrobial functions (SdpC, SkfA, TasA, sublancin, and subtilosin). For an otherwise wild-type background, the results show that Abh plays a negative regulatory role in the expression of four of the promoters, a positive role for the expression of three, and no apparent regulatory role in the expression of the other three promoters. Binding of AbrB and Abh to the promoter regions was examined using DNase I footprinting, and the results revealed significant differences. The transcription of abh is not autoregulated, but it is subject to a degree of AbrB-afforded negative regulation. The results indicate that Abh is part of the complex interconnected regulatory system that controls gene expression during the transition from active growth to stationary phase.
THE EFFECT OF ORDERED CHARACTERS ON PHYLOGENETIC RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract Morphological structures are likely to undergo more than a single change during the course of evolution. As a result, multistate characters are common in systematic studies and must be dealt with. Particularly interesting is the question of whether or not multistate characters should be treated as ordered (additive) or unordered (non-additive). In accepting a particular hypothesis of order, numerous others are necessarily rejected. We review some of the criteria often used to order character states and the underlying assumptions inherent in these criteria. The effects that ordered multistate characters can have on phylogenetic reconstruction are examined using 27 data sets. It has been suggested that hypotheses of character state order are more informative then hypotheses of unorder and may restrict the number of equally parsimonious trees as well as increase tree resolution. Our results indicate that ordered characters can produce more, equal or less equally parsimonious trees and can increase, decrease or have no effect on tree resolution. The effect on tree resolution can be a simple gain in resolution or a dramatic change in sister-taxa relationships. In cases where several outgroups are included in the data matrix, hypotheses of order can change character polarities by altering outgroup topology. Ordered characters result in a different topology from unordered characters only when the hierarchy of the cladogram disagrees with the investigator's a priori hypothesis of order. If the best criterion for assessing character evolution is congruence with other characters, the practice of ordering multistate characters is inappropriate.
Transforming legacy energy management system (EMS) modules into reusable components: a case study

A two-layer adaptive wrapping technique is proposed in this paper to migrate legacy energy management system (EMS) modules into reusable components, and therefore transforming the legacy system into a component-based system. Meanwhile, an XML-based database wrapping technique is proposed to provide a flexible data exchange solution. These techniques help not only maintaining the reliability but also increasing the reusability of the legacy EMS during the software evolution process.
Electron microscopic observations of hepatic and subcutaneous hemangiosarcomas induced in mice exposed to vinyl chloride monomer

Both subcutaneous and hepatic hemangiosarcomas were induced in mice exposed to vinyl chloride monomer, and for the first time, the ultrastructure of hemangiosarcomas related to vinyl chloride exposure has been described. The subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma developed in a mouse's ear 29 weeks after exposure to 10 ppm vinyl chloride for 4 weeks, and the hepatic hemangiosarcoma was found in a mouse's liver at necropsy 56 weeks after exposure to 600 ppm vinyl chloride for 4 weeks. Both tumors showed a localized, cystic nodular appearance with a dark red tone. Histologically, an angiomatous architecture, the presence of neoplastic mesenchymal cell aggregates, focal necrosis, and hemorrhagic foci were common. Ultrastructurally, two neoplastic cell types, a mesenchymal and a well-differentiated endothelial cell type, were identified in both tumors. In addition, in the hepatic tumor, a pericyte-like neoplastic cell was also present. The incidence of hemangiosarcoma was much lower than that of lung tumors (alveologenic tumor) in mice exposed to vinyl chloride at the same concentrations for the same duration. This study suggests that there is no basic difference in ultrastructure between the vinyl chloride-induced hemangiosarcomas and hemangiosarcomas not related to this chemical exposure.
Transcriptional profiling at whole population and single cell levels reveals somatosensory neuron molecular diversity

In the nervous system, a network of specialized neurons—known as the somatosensory system—carries information about sensations including touch, muscle position, temperature and pain. Distinct sets of somatosensory neurons are thought to carry information about the different types of sensations. In young animals, the precise switching on, or ‘expression’, of genes controls the formation of the network of neurons. However, it is not known exactly which genes are expressed in what types of neurons, where, or when. Here, Chiu et al. used a technique called flow cytometry using different fluorescent markers to isolate a group of cells called Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) neurons in mice. These neurons have long thread-like fibers that extend from the spinal cord to the skin, muscles and joints all over the body. These fibers carry sensory information to the spinal cord, where it can be relayed to the brain and processed. The experiments compared three distinct types of DRG neuron and found that they differed in their ability to send information to other cells. Chiu et al. analyzed the expression of all the genes in the three types of DRG neurons. Each type of neuron had distinct groups of genes that were being expressed. Also, several genes that are known to be important for sensation were expressed at different levels in the different types of cells. Next, large numbers of single cells were analyzed to find out the finer details about the three types of neuron. These findings made it possible to further divide the DRG neurons into six distinct subsets that matched previously known groups of somatosensory neurons, and also identified new ones. Chiu et al.'s findings reveal the complexity and diversity of the neurons involved in carrying information about sensations towards the brain. This is an important step in classifying the nervous system, and uncovers many genes previously not linked to sensation. The next challenges lie in understanding how the expression of these genes in each type of neuron relates to their unique roles.
The Effects of Rural Education on the Use of the Tropical Rain Forest by the Sumu Indians of Nicaragua: Possible Pathways, Qualitative Findings, and Policy Options

This article contains a discussion of the effects of rural education on indigenous people's use of the rain forest. Ordinary schooling should have direct and indirect effects on people's use of the forest. In the short run, education probably enhances conservation by increasing the political leverage of communities to defend their rights. In the long run, education should reduce dependence on the forest by increasing rural income through the adoption of better agricultural technologies and off-farm rural work and by reducing population pressure through migration and lower fertility. I test these ideas through a qualitative discussion of education among the Sumu Indians of the tropical rain forest of Nicaragua. In the conclusion I suggest that estimates of social rates of return to rural schooling may be too low because they leave out the positive environmental externalities of schooling. Several policies are discussed at the end of the article.
Responding to the Charge of Alchemy: Strategies for Evaluating the Reliability and Validity of Costing-Out Research

Reforming school finance systems to support performance standards entails estimating the cost of an adequate education. Cost of adequacy (COA) studies have been done in more than 30 states. Recently Eric Hanushek challenged the legitimacy of COA research, calling it alchemy and pseudoscience. The objectives of this study are to present reliability and validity criteria for evaluating the scientific merit of COA studies and to illustrate how they can be tested using cost function estimates for Kansas. Based on reliability and validity estimates for Kansas, Hanushek's blanket dismissal of all COA methods as unscientific seems unwarranted. However, he raised an important issue: Reliability and validity of COA estimates generally have not been demonstrated in published studies. To encourage more systematic evaluation of COA estimates, this research must move away from the advocacy environment to the realm of social science research, where methods can be tested and evaluated without pressure to produce only one answer. Funding of basic adequacy research should be by neutral parties, such as foundations or the federal government, not parties with a direct interest in the outcome.
Conjugal TOL transfer from Pseudomonas putida to Pseudomonas aeruginosa: effects of restriction proficiency, toxicant exposure, cell density ratios, and conjugation detection method on observed transfer efficiencies.

The effects of restriction proficiency and premating exposure to toxicants on conjugal transfer of the TOL plasmid between Pseudomonas spp. was investigated by examinations of filter matings. A Pseudomonas putida KT2442-derived strain carrying a gfp-tagged variant of the TOL plasmid was used as a donor, and both restriction-deficient (PAO1162N) and -proficient (PAO2002N) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were used as recipients. The in situ enumeration of conjugation events allowed us to obtain frequency estimates that were unbiased by transconjugant growth or plasmid retransfer. We observed a strong dependence of the plasmid transfer frequency on the initial donor-to-recipient ratio of surface matings, which invalidated the use of mass action-based plasmid transfer kinetic estimators. Careful control of the initial parental cell densities permitted evaluations of the true effects of restriction proficiency and toxicant exposure on TOL transfer. At standard donor-to-recipient ratios (10−3 for PAO1162N and 2 × 101 for PAO2002N) and total cell densities (105 cells/mm2 for PAO1162N and 106 cells/mm2 for PAO2002N), plasmid transfer frequencies without toxicant exposure were approximately 10−7 (events/mm2)−1 for PAO1162N and 10−11 (events/mm2)−1 for PAO2002N based on in situ observations of conjugation events. The enumeration of transconjugants via selective plating yielded transfer frequencies that were up to 1 order of magnitude lower. Premating exposure to sodium dodecyl sulfate (1 to 10 mM) significantly increased the transfer frequency for the restriction-proficient strain PAO2002N (P < 0.05) but not for the restriction-deficient strain PAO1162N. On the other hand, premating exposure to ethanol, toluene, or phenol had no positive effect on the plasmid transfer frequency. Clearly, restriction proficiency provides a strong barrier to interspecific transfer of the TOL plasmid, and this barrier was only marginally attenuated by recipient exposure to toxicants within the ranges examined.
Optimal control of large space structures via generalized inverse matrix

Independent modal space control (IMSC) is a control scheme that decouples the space structure into n controlled modes and second-order subsystems according to n controlled modes and controls each mode independently. It is well known that IMSC eliminates control and observation spillover caused when the conventional coupled modal control scheme is used. The independent control of each mode requires that the number of actuators be equal to the number of modeled modes, which is very high for a faithful modelling of large space structures. The authors propose a control scheme that allows one to use a reduced number of actuators to control all modeled modes suboptimally. In particular, the method of generalized inverse matrices is used to implement the actuators so that the eigenvalues of the closed-loop system are as closed as possible to those specified by the optimal IMSC. Computer simulation of the proposed control scheme on a simply supported beam is given. >
Carbon sequestration in California agriculture, 1980-2000.

To better understand agricultural carbon fluxes in California, USA, we estimated changes in soil carbon and woody material between 1980 and 2000 on 3.6 × 106 ha of farmland in California. Combining the CASA (Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach) model with data on harvest indices and yields, we calculated net primary production, woody production in orchard and vineyard crops, and soil carbon. Over the 21-yr period, two trends resulted in carbon sequestration. Yields increased an average of 20%, corresponding to greater plant biomass and more carbon returned to the soils. Also, orchards and vineyards increased in area from 0.7 × 106 ha to 1.0 × 106 ha, displacing field crops and sequestering woody carbon. Our model estimates that California's agriculture sequestered an average of 19 g C·m−2·yr−1. Sequestration was lowest in non-rice annual cropland, which sequestered 9 g C·m−2·yr−1 of soil carbon, and highest on land that switched from annual cropland to perennial cropland. Land that switched from annual crops ...
Evaluation development for a physical activity positive youth development program for girls

Girls on the Run (GOTR) is an after school program for girls in third through fifth grade which utilizes a physical activity based positive youth development curriculum that culminates with completing a 5K run. Unfortunately, there is little empirical data documenting GOTR participant changes that align with the curriculum and describe the evaluation process. Therefore, this study presents an evaluation of GOTR consisting of three main processes: curriculum content analysis and stakeholder focus groups (N=11) to identify key outcomes of the program; community-based participatory research to collaborate with program personnel to further identify important outcomes; and the design and pilot testing of an instrument (N=104) for assessing changes in the theoretically grounded outcomes over time. Findings demonstrated a positive collaborative process that led to important information to be used for an impact evaluation of Girls on the Run and for future evaluation development efforts for physical activity based positive youth development.
Asymptotic Optimality of Hierarchical Controls in Stochastic Manufacturing Systems: A Review

Most manufacturing systems are large and complex and operate in an uncertain environment. One approach to managing such systems is that of hierarchical decomposition. This paper reviews the research devoted to proving that a hierarchy based on the frequencies of occurrence of different types of events in the system results in decisions that are asymptotically optimal as the rates of some events become large compared to those of others. Manufacturing systems that are addressed include single machine systems, flowshops, and jobshops producing multiple products, incorporate random production capacity and demands, and involve such decisions as production rates, capacity expansion, and promotional campaigns. The paper concludes with a review of computational results and areas of applications.
The Forecasting Performance of Balanced Funds, 1965-1985

This study uses quarterly asset holdings information to examine the informational efficiency of forecasts of balanced mutual fund managers over the period 1965-1985. The main findings are that (1) their record in forecasting the sign and magnitude of the stock-bond relative return suggests the absence of private timing information; (2) success and failure in forecasting this relative return is randomly distributed over time; (3) the net-of-expenses returns for the average fund do not offer a marginal mean- variance improvement over a buy-and-hold investment in a matched benchmark. The evidence is consistent with the efficient markets conclusion of most earlier research using return data alone.
On Frictional Forces between the Finger and a Textured Surface during Active Touch

We investigated forces felt by a bare finger in sliding contact with a textured surface, and how they depend on properties of the surface and contact interaction. Prior research has shed light on haptic texture perception. Nevertheless, how texture-produced forces depend on the properties of a touched object or the way that it is touched is less clear. To address this, we designed an apparatus to accurately measure contact forces between a sliding finger and a textured surface. We fabricated textured surfaces, and measured spatial variations in forces produced as subjects explored the surfaces with a bare finger. We analyzed variations in these force signals, and their dependence on object geometry and contact parameters. We observed a number of phenomena, including transient stick-slip behavior, nonlinearities, phase variations, and large force fluctuations, in the form of aperiodic signal components that proved difficult to model for fine surfaces. Moreover, metrics such as total harmonic distortion and normalized variance decreased as the spatial scale of the stimuli increased. The results of this study suggest that surface geometry and contact parameters are insufficient to account for force production during such interactions. Moreover, the results shed light on perceptual challenges solved by the haptic system during active touch sensing of surface texture.
Evaluation of low temperature viscoelastic properties and fracture behavior of bio-asphalt mixtures

The overall national emphasis on sustainability in pavement construction has led to the promotion of recycled materials such as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and reclaimed asphalt shingles. In g...
Improvement of Calculation Method of Gas Accumulation Rate in Gas Reservoir——41 Large and Medium Gas Fields in China as Examples

In order to study gas accumulation capability and rate accurately,on the basis of previous research on the calculation method of gas accumulation rate and taking into account the gas diffusion amount after the formation of gas reservoir,the calculation method of gas accumulation rate in gas reservoir was improved.The authors selected 41 large and medium gas fields in China as examples and calculated their gas accumulation rates by use of calculation method of gas accumulation rate in gas reservoir before and after improvement.It was considered that gas accumulation rates of these gas fields calcula-ted respectively by original and improved methods are quite different.The improved is 1.01-3.05 times of the original,and 1.29 times on average.It shows that gas accumulation rates calculated by improved calculation method are much closer to the true values than original methods,and they reflect better the underground actual situation.
The Emergency Management of Patients with Ureteral Calculi and Fever

AbstractPatients presenting with ureteral calculi and fever were treated with antibiotics, fluids and careful monitoring. An emergency operation or ureteral manipulation was withheld until the patient became afebrile. In 14 patients so treated all became afebrile and 11 required no surgical intervention. It is suggested that carefully monitored resuscitation should precede instrumentation in patients with urinary stones and fever.
Discovery and biosynthesis of phosphonate and phosphinate natural products.

Abstract The P C bonds in phosphonate and phosphinate natural products endow them with a high level of stability and the ability to mimic phosphate esters and carboxylates. As such, they have a diverse range of enzyme targets that act on substrates containing such functionalities. Recent years have seen a renewed interest in discovery efforts focused on this class of compounds as well as in understanding their biosynthetic pathways. This chapter focuses on current knowledge of these biosynthetic pathways as well as tools for phosphonate discovery.
Quantitative changes of signs and symptoms associated with acute alcohol withdrawal: incidence, severity and circadian effects in experimental studies of alcoholics.

A quantitative phenomenological approach to the alcohol withdrawal syndrome in man offers major advantages to the investigator and clinician that are not provided by the current nosology of the withdrawal. These advantages have been discussed at length elsewhere (Gross et al., 1974). A clinical instrument was developed for the purpose of a quantitative phenomenological assessment of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome, the Total Severity Assessment of alcohol withdrawal (TSA). This instrument was based on a review of the literature, observations over thirteen years of approximately fifteen thousand patients in alcohol withdrawal, and extensive clinical trials, several of which have been reported (Gross et al., 1968, Gross et al., 1971a, Gross et al., 1971b, Gross et al., 1973, Gross et al., 1974). The TSA has been applied in experimental studies of intoxication and withdrawal in alcoholic volunteers. In an earlier communication, the prevalence of the signs and symptoms associated with acute alcohol withdrawal during experimental studies were reported (Gross and Lewis, 1973). This communication will examine the incidence and severity of the signs and symptoms during experimental studies of intoxication and withdrawal in an enlarged sample. Circadian effects on temperature changes will also be described.
Reading and writing poetically for well-being: language as a field of energy in practice

While recently revisiting three years of post-workshop feedback from participants in a Writing and Poetry for Well-being program that I offered through a major medical center for cancer survivors as post-treatment rehabilitation, I realized that a concept I had developed for language pedagogy in 2005, namely that “language is a field of energy,” might serve to explain why the workshop participants (several of them returning across time) regarded the workshops as significantly transformative. The concept, “language as a field of energy,” appears to offer explanatory power for the therapeutic benefits of incorporating poetry reading and writing. In the process of engaging with language imaginatively and playfully, participants in a series of workshops I provided for a cancer survivorship arts-based program, found avenues for understanding the role of language in shaping and reinforcing what and how we think and feel.