cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Distinct Association: Inclusion of Other in the Self and Self-Disclosure

The current study examined the relationship between inclusion of other in the self (a theoretically distinct conceptualization of relationship closeness) and self-disclosure. These constructs were also examined in association with relationship outcomes of satisfaction and commitment. Analysis of the data indicated that inclusion of other in the self and self-disclosure in a relationship were each significantly positively correlated with both relationship satisfaction and commitment. However, there was no significant correlation between inclusion of other in the self and self-disclosure. Further analysis of the data revealed that self-disclosure moderated the relationship between inclusion of other in the self and relationship commitment. Implications for understanding inclusion of other in the self as a distinct theoretical perspective of relationship closeness are discussed.
Occurrence of negative epsilon in seismic hazard analysis deaggregation, and its impact on target spectra computation

SUMMARY This paper investigates circumstances behind the occurrence of negative e (the normalized difference between the spectral acceleration of a recorded ground motion and the median response predicted by a ground motion prediction equation) in probabilistic seismic hazard deaggregation. Negative e values are of engineering interest because of their impact on the conditional mean spectrum (CMS), which is a proposed alternative to the uniform hazard spectrum (UHS) as a target spectrum for ground motion selection. In the case where target e values from deaggregation are positive, the CMS calculation produces relatively lower response spectra than the UHS. Positive target e values occur almost universally in active seismic regions at long return periods of engineering interest, but the possibility of negative target e values is important because in the case of negative target e, some relationships between the CMS and UHS would reverse. This paper describes the calculation of target e, performs parametric studies to determine when negative e values occur in deaggregation, and investigates the potential impact on target spectrum calculation and ground motion selection. The case studies indicate that special seismicity models and certain ground motion prediction equations have the most significant effect on e values and a combination of these characteristics in Eastern North America creates the most likely situation for negative target e to occur. CMS results are nonintuitive when the target e is negative, but it is not clear that this is a common practical concern because negative target e occurs only in well-constrained areas. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Malate dehydrogenase. XI. Absence of tryptophan in porcine heart mitochondrial enzyme.

Native and guanidine hydrochloride-denatured pig heart mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase have fluorescence and phosphorescence emission spectra resembling tyrosine but not that of tryptophan. Furthermore, amino acid analysis of acid and alkaline hydrolysates of the pure enzyme, designed to detect 0.15 tryptophan residues or more per subunit, failed to show detectable quantities. It is confirmed that the enzyme lacks tryptophan and this amino acid can have no function in the catalytic mechanism.
Cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of cognitive impairment in persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its relation to the severity of CKD. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University-affiliated ambulatory nephrology and dialysis practices. Participants: Eighty subjects with CKD Stages III and IV not requiring dialysis (CKD) and 80 subjects with CKD Stage V on hemodialysis (end-stage renal disease (ESRD)) with a mean age±standard deviation of 62.5±14.3. Measurements: Three standardized cognitive tests, the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), Trailmaking Test B (Trails B), and California Verbal Learning Trial (CVLT). Glomerular filtration rate was estimated in subjects with CKD using the six-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Results: There was a graded relation between cognitive function and severity of CKD. Mean scores on the 3MS, Trails B, and CVLT immediate and delayed recall were significantly worse for subjects with ESRD than for subjects with CKD or published norms (P<.001 for all comparisons). Scores on the Trails B (P<.001) and CVLT immediate (P=.01) and delayed (P<.001) recall were significantly worse for subjects with CKD not requiring dialysis than for published norms. In addition, the fraction of subjects with impairment on the 3MS and Trails B increased with decreasing kidney function. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment is associated with the severity of kidney disease. Further studies are needed to determine the reasons for cognitive impairment in subjects with CKD and ESRD.
Optical Fiber Gyroscope

Abstract With the development of low loss single mode optical fiber waveguides, it is possible to construct a gyroscope using optical fibers. The configuration is a multi-turn Sagnac interferometer. Light from an external source is split and injected into the fiber ends, travels in clockwise and counterclockwise directions and is recombined to form interference fringes. When the coil is rotated, a phase shift is produced between the two beams causing a fringe shift ΔZ. This fringe shift is proportional to the rotation rate Ω and is given by the equation ΔZ = 4 Ω → ⋅ A → / λc , where A is the total effective area enclosed, i.e., N times the area enclosed by a single turn of the fiber where N is the number of turns. Several models using discrete components have been constructed in our laboratory using up to 1.5 kilometers of single mode optical fiber. In measurements made to date, sufficient accuracy to detect earth rotation has not been made available. The difficulty is with the phase shift measurement which requires accurate measurement of a fringe shift of 10−4 fringes. We are investigating different forms of Sagnac interferometers to improve the accuracy. Integrated optics and modulation techniques might allow us to reach the range needed for navigation. Problems of noise peculiar to optical fibers are described.
First Results from SOHO.

SOHO, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA to study the Sun, from its deep core to the outer corona, and the solar wind. Three helioseismology instruments are providing unique data for the study of the structure and dynamics of the solar interior, from the very deep core to the outermost layers of the convection zone. A set of five complementary remote sensing instruments, consisting of EUV, UV and visible light imagers, spectrographs and coronagraphs, give us our first comprehensive view of the outer solar atmosphere and corona, leading to a better understanding of the enigmatic coronal heating and solar wind acceleration processes. Finally, three experiments complement the remote sensing observations by making in- situ measurements of the composition and energy of the solar wind and charged energetic particles, and another instrument maps the neutral hydrogen in the heliosphere and its dynamic change by the solar wind. This paper reports some of the first results from the SOHO mission.
Vectorial beam-propagation method for integrated optics

A finite-difference beam-propagation method is derived directly from the vectorial Maxwell equations. The new approach allows the analysis of coupling between various components of the electric-field vector for optical beams propagating in dielectric waveguides as well as corresponding changes in the beam-polarisation state.
End-of-Life Care and Barriers for Female Inmates

The number of female inmates is growing, and their average age is increasing. As a result, end-of-life care is situated in a highly restrictive environment with a focus on security rather than comfort. We describe the need for and potential barriers to humane care and provide care strategies that can be useful in a complex organizational system. Frontline workers such as nurses who understand the balance between care and control must promote change in the women's prison system.
The Effect of Confinement on the Structure and Dynamic Response of Lean-Premixed, Swirl-Stabilized Flames

The effect of flame-wall interaction on the forced response of a lean-premixed, swirl-stabilized flame is experimentally investigated by examining flames in a series of three combustors, each with a different diameter and therefore a different degree of lateral confinement. The confinement ratios tested are 0.5, 0.37 and 0.29 when calculated using the diameter of the nozzle relative to the combustor diameter. Using both flame images and measured flame transfer functions, the effect of confinement is investigated and generalized across a broad range of operating conditions. The major effect of confinement is shown to be a change in flame structure in both the forced and unforced cases. This effect is captured using the parameter Lf,CoHR/Dcomb, which describes the changing degree of flame-wall interaction in each combustor size. The measured flame transfer function data, as a function of confinement, is then generalized by Strouhal number. Data from the two larger combustors is collapsed by multiplying the Strouhal number by the confinement ratio to account for the flow expansion ratio and change in convective velocity within the combustor. Trends at the transfer function extrema are also assessed by examining them in the context of confinement and by using flame images. A change in the fluctuating structure of the flame is also seen to result from an increase in confinement.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Hardware implementation for fast convolution with a PN code using field programmable gate array

In a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, receivers spend a long time acquiring the signals. This is mostly due to the use of expensive FFT-based convolvers in the acquisition process. The paper shows a substitute algorithm for calculating the convolution that requires less computation time. The algorithm uses a Walsh transform instead of FFTs. The FFT-based algorithm requires 2 FFTs and one IFFT in addition to complex multiplications and additions. On the other hand, in the Walsh-based method the Walsh transform is required once and there is no multiplication. Therefore, using the Walsh-based algorithm can cut the processing time to about 5 percent of the required time. The additional steps in this algorithm are the permutation of the input samples and the output results. The design uses a field programmable gate array (FPGA) to apply a parallel processing concept. The paper discusses the algorithm and the implementation issues. A case study of a large code was carried out. The whole system has been implemented and showed high performance that speeds up the process to 2500 times the speed of a microprocessor based design.
The Climatology and Prediction of the Chicago Lake Breeze

Abstract As part of an extensive mesoscale study of the Chicago lake breeze, ten summer months of data (1966–68) were used to compile a climatology of this phenomena and devise a simple forecasting technique. The lake breeze was found to occur at the Chicago shoreline on 36% of all days (out of a sample of 307). The time of onset ranged from before 0600 to 1&30 LST, with 0800–0900 LST being most frequent. The lake breeze front, defined as a narrow (1–2 km) band of convergence separating airflows with overland and overwater trajectories, was found to push inland anywhere from 1 block to over 40 km. Experience verified that light gradient winds, strong insolation, and land air temperatures warmer than the lake water surface were the favorable conditions for formation. However, in an attempt to arrive at more objective forecasting scheme, the work of Biggs and Graves was extended to Lake Michigan. A dimensionless number, σ = V2g/(CpΔT),is defined where Vg, is the geostrophic wind speed from the 1200 GMT surf...
An ontology-driven rote extractor for pattern disambiguation

In this paper, we describe an ontology-driven pattern disambiguation process for Rote Extractors. Our approach can generate lexical patterns for a particular relation from unrestricted text. Then patterns can be used to recognize concepts, which have the same relation in other text. We test our experiments with/without the ontology. The results show that our approach can dramatically improve the performance of existing pattern-based Rote Extractors.
Writing With Power, Sharing Their Immigrant Stories: Adult ESOL Students Find Their Voices Through Writing

After noting the disconnect between students' passionate oral stories and their lifeless writing, an adult education instructor made specific instructional and curriculum changes in an ESOL reading and writing course. All changes served the purpose of teaching the element of voice in second language writing. The instructor used the issue of immigration to teach the course because it was a relevant and shared experience of all the students. All of the reading material was about the immigrant experience, which became a catalyst for students' writing about their own experiences. Students wrote to share with others what it is like to be an immigrant and the unique challenges they encounter. The class compiled their essays, short stories, and poetry to make a book that speaks to the issue of immigration. The relevant theme proved to be effective in motivating students to infuse voice into their writing and exciting them about reading and writing in English. Through writing with voice, they took control to define themselves as immigrants in the United States and became empowered to share their stories to effect positive change.
Molecular cloning, characterization, and regulation of the human mitochondrial serine hydroxymethyltransferase gene

The human mitochondrial serine hydroxymethyltransferase (mSHMT) gene was isolated, sequenced, and characterized. The 4.5-kilobase gene contains 10 introns and 11 exons, with all splice junctions conforming to the GT/AG rule. The 5¹ promoter region contains consensus motifs for several regulatory proteins including PEA-3, Sp-1, AP-2, and a CCCTCCC motif common to many genes expressed in liver. Consensus TATA or CAAT sequence motifs are not present, and primer extension and 5¹-rapid amplification of cDNA ends studies suggest that transcription initiation occurs at multiple sites. The mitochondrial leader sequence region of the deduced mRNA contains two potential ATG start sites, which are encoded by separate exons. The intervening 891-base pair intron contains consensus promoter elements suggesting that mSHMT may be transcribed from alternate promoters. 5¹-Rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis demonstrated that the first ATG is transcribed in human MCF-7 cells. However, transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells deficient in mSHMT activity with the human mSHMT gene lacking exon 1 overcame the cell's glycine auxotrophy and restored intracellular glycine concentrations to that observed in wild-type cells, showing that exon 1 is not essential for mSHMT localization or activity and that translation initiation from the second ATG is sufficient for mSHMT import into the mitochondria. Mitochondrial SHMT mRNA levels in MCF-7 cells did not vary during the cell cycle and were not affected by the absence of glycine, serine, folate, thymidylate, or purines from the media.
Muscle discrimination ability at three muscle sites in three headache groups.

The present study examined the ability of three headache groups (migraine, mixed migraine/tension, and tension) to accurately discriminate subjective levels of muscle tension at the forearm flexor, frontalis, and trapezius muscle sites. Discrimination ability was assessed at pre- and posttreatment using a psychophysical method of magnitude production. Results show that the ability to discriminate muscle tension levels at pretreatment varied across the headache groups, with migraineurs being the most accurate (r=.854), followed by the mixed headache group (r=.785), and finally the tension headache group (r=.732). Discrimination ability significantly increased at the posttreatment assessment. A multiple regression analysis showed that pretreatment performance on the muscle discrimination task significantly predicted outcome (r=.75) from relaxation and biofeedback training for migraine patients but not for the mixed or tension headache groups.
Detection of explosives using heated microcantilever sensors

The objective of this study is to develop a portable micro-sensor platform for real-time detection of energetic materials (e.g., explosives) over a wide range of vapor pressures. The bending response of an electrically heated microcantilever thermal bi-morph array is used for specific detection of combustible substances using their calorimetric properties. Chemical reactions on the surface induce stress on a micro-cantilever which affects the bending and is measured in real-time using an optical apparatus. The threshold value of actuation current is found to provide a unique signature for identifying equilibrium concentration of iso-propyl alcohol, acetone and gasoline vapors at room temperature. The threshold current is found to scale with the vapor pressure of the volatile species and the ignition temperature. This shows that the sensors can be used for specific detection of different types of combustible materials. The sensor array can be used to detect, identify and monitor volatile combustible species in real time (response time in milliseconds) with the capability for redundancy checks and the ability to eliminate false positive/ false-negative results. The sensor is capable of remote monitoring on a continuous basis for indoor and outdoor applications - which protects the operator of the sensor instrument from explosive effects. The sensor design permits detection at a nominal distance away from the source without coming in contact with the contaminated surface. The sensor capability can be enhanced by specifically coating the micro-cantilever surfaces (e.g. using Dip Pen Nanolithography techniques) and can be integrated into a portable detection platform or instrument.
Animal model estimation of genetic parameters and response to selection for litter size and weight, growth, and backfat in closed seedstock populations of large white and Landrace swine.

Records from 2,495 litters and 14,605 Landrace and Large White pigs from two farms, but established from the same base population and run as replicated selection lines, were analyzed. Selection within herd was on estimated breeding values weighted by economic values. Animal models and REML procedures were used to estimate genetic, phenotypic, and environmental parameters for the number of pigs born alive (NBA), litter weight at 21 d (LW), average daily gain form approximately 30 to 104 kg (ADG), and backfat thickness adjusted to 104 kg (BF). Random animal genetic effects (o), permanent (NBA and LW) or litter (ADG and BF) environmental effects, maternal genetic effects (m), and the covariance between o and m were sequentially added to the model. Estimates of total heritability calculated from all data (ht2 = sigma o2 + 1/2 sigma m2 + 3/2 sigma om) ranged from .01 to .14 for NBA, from .18 to .22 for LW, from .23 to .34 for ADG, and from .40 to .50 for BF. Maternal genetic variance was from 2.4 to 3.8% of phenotypic variance in NBA, from 1.2 to 3.6% in LW, from .5 to 1.5% in ADG, and from 1.9 to 3.4% in BF. The correlation between o and m was -.07 for NBA, -.25 for LW, -.34 for ADG, and -.26 for BF. Permanent environmental effects explained from 16 to 17% of total phenotypic variation for NBA and from 1.6 to 5.3% for LW. Approximately 7% of the variation in ADG and 5% in BF was due to litter environmental effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Review of Stephen G. Post, ed. Altruism and Health: Perspectives from Empirical Research. 1

Stephen Post is Professor of Bioethics at Case Western University in Cleveland, OH, and President of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love located at that same institution. Altruism and Heal...
Induced seismicity from fracking and carbon storage is focus of study and hearing

Hydraulic fracturing to recover shale gas does not pose a high risk for inducing felt seismic events, as the method is currently implemented, according to a 15 June report by the U.S. National Research Council (NRC). However, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has the potential to induce larger seismic events because of the large net volume of injected fluids involved in that process, according to the report. Scientists testifying at a 19 June hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources said they largely agreed with the report's findings. Neither the report nor the hearing focused on potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, which is commonly known as fracking.
Using Language Sample Databases

Purpose Over the past 50 years, language sample analysis (LSA) has evolved from a powerful research tool that is used to document children’s linguistic development into a powerful clinical tool tha...
Geometric optimization of internal combustion engine induction systems for minimum noise transmission

Abstract The intake system of a modern internal combustion engine is a complex combination of ducts, volume expansions and contractions, orifices, junctions, and terminations. Plane wave theory analytical simulations have proven useful in predicting the noise transmission properties of such systems. To illustrate the applicability of optimum design techniques to problems of this type, a plane wave approach is applied, within a constrained mutli-parameter optimization routine, to the induction system of a typical four-cylinder engine. The dimensions of the system are optimized to minimize the low frequency noise transmission. Significant noise reductions, relative to the present stock engine design, are predicted analytically, and are verified experimentally.
Phenytoin Prodrugs VI: In Vivo Evaluation of a Phosphate Ester Prodrug of Phenytoin after Parenteral Administration to Rats

Tissue damage caused by subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of three phenytoin prodrugs to rats was assessed. Since two of the prodrugs caused significant irritation, only 3-(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-di-phenylhydantoin disodium phosphate ester might be useful as a nonirritant phenytoin prodrug suitable for parenteral administration. To confirm the release of phenytoin from this prodrug, phenytoin availability after intramuscular and intravenous administrations of the phosphate prodrug was evaluated in rats and compared with sodium phenytoin. The prodrug quantitatively released phenytoin after intravenous administration, and phenytoin levels from intramuscular administration of the prodrug were far superior to those generated from similarly administered sodium phenytoin. Based on this and earlier studies, it was concluded that this prodrug should be further assessed as a parenteral form of phenytoin.
Managing an oil bonanza An analysis of alternative mexican export policies

Abstract Recent exploration in Mexico has turned up oilfields nearly as large as those in the Middle East. Thus, proper management of its oil bonanza has become a burning economic and political issue. Increased oil production and revenues today must be traded off against the resulting reductions in oil production and revenues in the future. The present study employs the ETA-MACRO energy-economy model of Manne to quantify those tradeoffs. Given existing uncertainties about the extent of the Mexican resource base and the future of the world oil price, there appears to be no strong economic incentive for Mexico to increase its level of oil exports from its current level of slightly over one million bbl/day to beyond about 3 million bbl/day during the 1980s.
NEDD8 links cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase function to the p97 pathway

The AAA+ ATPase p97 and its UBA-UBX cofactors are thought to extract ubiquitinated proteins from membranes or protein complexes as a prelude to their degradation. However, for many cofactors ubiquitinated targets have not yet been identified, leaving their biological function unclear. Previous analysis has linked the p97 pathway to cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRLs); here we demonstrate that the human p97 cofactor UBXD7 mediates the p97-CRL interaction through its conserved ubiquitin-interacting motif (UIM). UBXD7 and its yeast ortholog, Ubx5, associate only with the active, NEDD8- or Rub1-modified form of cullins. Disruption of the Ubx5 UIM results in a loss of CRL binding and consequently impedes degradation of a Cul3 substrate. These results uncover an unexpected and conserved role for NEDD8 in linking CRL ubiquitin ligase function to the p97 pathway.
Aerogel composites using chemical vapor infiltration

A new method to produce novel composite materials based on the use of aerogels as a starting material is described. Using chemical vapor infiltration, a variety of solid materials were thermally deposited into the open pore structure of aerogel. The resulting materials possess new and unusual properties including photoluminescence, magnetism and altered optical properties. An important characteristic of this preparation process is the very small size of the deposits that gives rise to new behaviors. Silicon deposits exhibit photoluminescence, indicating quantum confinement. Two or more phases may be deposited simultaneously and one or both chemically or thermally reacted to produce new structures.
The protective role of glutathione in chlorothalonil-induced stoxicity to channel catfish

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to examine the nature of the protective role of glutathione (GSH) in liver and gills of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) exposed to chlorothalonil (2,4,5,6 tetrachloroiso-phthalonitrile). In an initial experiment, the acute toxicity of chlorothalonil was enhanced three-fold after channel catfish were depleted of liver and gill GSH by l -buthionine S.R-sulfoximine (BSO. 1000 mg/kg i.p.) and diethyl maleate (DEM, 0.6 ml/kg i.p.), indicating that GSH plays a critical role in mitigating acute chlorothalonil toxicity in this species. In a subsequent experiment, sublethal exposure to chlorothalonil elicited significant increases (p 0.05). These results indicate that the mechanism of GSH induction in liver and gills of catfish exposed to chlorothalonil involves increased cysteine uptake and also increased GCS activity. The results of this study support the hypothesis that simultaneous exposure to multiple environmental chemicals that utilize or deplete tissue GSH may predis pose fish to acute toxicity.
Goat weight gains, forage selectivity and forage quality dynamics in three cultivated warm season pastures in north-central Texas

Cultivated warm-season pastures are needed to compliment range-based goat production in south central USA. Boer×Spanish does averaging 25 kg were evaluated to determine average daily gain (ADG) and selectivity for six legumes, redroot pigweed, and crabgrass grown in full-sun grass-only, full-sun mixed, and pecan grove shaded mixed paddocks during two warm seasons. Goats in the mixed pasture obtained the highest (100 g per day) and the grass-only pasture goats the lowest ADG (27 g per day) during the low rainfall year (year×pasture interaction P=0.05). The animals in both the shaded mixed and grass-only paddocks had greater ADG whereas mixed pasture animals were unchanged the second, higher rainfall year, indicating that there was competition for moisture between the herbaceous forages and the pecan trees when rainfall was low and that crabgrass monocultures require more soil moisture to maintain animal gains. Grass percentage composition increased over time for all treatments in both years. Legume percentage composition decreased over time for both mixed pasture treatments in both years, indicating goat selection for this component. Forbs tended to survive longer in mixed pasture than in the shaded mixed pasture while the grass component tended to increase in both paddocks with time. Herbage analyses indicated that crude protein (CP) tended to decrease over time while acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin increased, at least partially due to animal selection.
Brainstem projections to the rat cuneate nucleus

Neurons in the pontomedullary tegmentum have been proposed as a final common pathway subserving descending inhibition in the dorsal column nuclei. To investigate the anatomical substrate for these descending effects, brainstem projections to the cuneate nucleus of rats were studied with injections of lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase. In rats with iontophoretic tracer injections in this nucleus, many labeled neurons were detected near the injection site, especially ventral and caudal to it. Intrinsic reciprocal projections were observed after injections in caudal, middle, or rostral levels of the cuneate nucleus. Neurons were labeled in the red nucleus, in agreement with previous anatomical studies, and also in the trigeminal, vestibular, and cochlear nuclei. An ipsilateral dorsomedial group of neurons was labeled in the upper cervical segments and scattered neurons were also labeled bilaterally near the central canal. Sparse retrograde labeling in the tegmentum was focused in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and caudal raphe. Consistent with the retrograde experiments, anterograde labeling after pressure injections of lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase in the pontomedullary tegmentum was very sparse within the dorsal column nuclei; labeling was dense, however, in the region immediately ventral to these nuclei. These results confirm previous work indicating that the activity of cuneate neurons is modulated by brainstem sensory nuclei. However, it appears that direct projections to the cuneate nucleus from pontine and rostral medullary regions are sparser than previously suggested. The last link of a polysynaptic descending inhibitory pathway may include GABAergic neurons immediately adjacent to the dorsal column nuclei and/or intrinsic to these nuclei.
Increased ranging depth in optical frequency domain imaging by frequency encoding

A technique for increasing the ranging depth in optical frequency domain imaging utilizing frequency encoding is presented. Ranging depth is enhanced by using two interferometer reference arms with different path lengths and independent modulation frequencies (25 and 50 MHz). With this configuration, the sensitivity decreases by 6 dB over a depth range of 7 mm, approximately a threefold improvement over the conventional optical frequency domain imaging technique. We demonstrate that the reference arm frequency separation, tuning speed, center wavelength, and instantaneous coherence length determine the signal-to-cross-talk ratio.
Measurement of the polarization parameter in small angle proton-proton elastic scattering at 6 GeV/c

Abstract The polarization parameter in pp elastic scattering was measured at 6 GeV/ c with fine t resolution for 0.02 t 2 using a polarized proton beam with Effective Mass Spectrometer at the Zero Gradient Synchrotron. The polarization rises like √− t in the interval 0.02 t 2 , No statistical significant structure was found in this region of momentum transfer.
T cell recognition of myelin proteolipid protein and myelin proteolipid protein peptides in the peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis and control subjects

Myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) is a prime candidate autoantigen for multiple sclerosis. In order to define potential immunodominant epitopes, T cell lines (TCL) from the peripheral blood of HLA-DR 15(2) MS patients were established which responded to the intact molecule of PLP. These TCL were then tested in individual proliferation assays with a variety of PLP peptides spanning most of the PLP molecule. Multiple peptides were recognized by TCL from the MS population, with more than one peptide often recognized by lines from the same individual. Three immunodominant peptides were identified which were recognized by the majority of MS patients. Estimated frequency analyses were then performed on the peripheral blood of HLA-DR15(2)-positive MS and control subjects using TCL initiated by the three immunodominant peptides, 40-60, 95-117, and 185-206. TCL from HLA-DR15 MS subjects recognized peptide 95-117 significantly more often than TCL from control subjects.
Kinetics of the diffusion of small molecules across polymer monolayers

Abstract A new method for following the diffusion kinetics of small molecules into polymers and liquids involves measurement of the time dependence of the angular light-scattering intensity exhibited by a monodisperse colloid during swelling by the diffusant. The colloidal particles may be comprised of glassy or rubbery polymer or of a liquid. The experiments are conducted at constant external diffusant activity. Characteristically, after the first few minutes the diffusion rate becomes dependent upon the “surface barrier,” i.e., the concentration gradient at the interface. When polymers are adsorbed at the interface the diffusion is retarded to an extent which apparently depends upon the chain conformations and the magnitude of polymer-diffusant interactions. Furthermore, slow changes in the kinetics over a period of several days are observed which are also attributable to conformational changes. Confirmation of these results was obtained by measurement of sedimentation velocities during ultracentrifugation of the corresponding polymer-coated latex particles at various times over a period of 7 days.
Late failures after laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

OBJECTIVES We present the results of our series of 65 consecutive laparoscopic pyeloplasties, which include some unexpected late failures. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative course of 65 consecutive patients who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty from August 1996 through July 2005 at our institution. RESULTS Of the obstructions, 47 and 18 were primary and secondary, respectively. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty was successfully performed on 64 patients. Of the patients, 42 (65%) had crossing vessel(s) found intraoperatively. We performed dismembered pyeloplasty for 50 (77%), Y-V plasty for 12 (18%) and Fengerplasty for 3 patients (5%). Mean laparoscopic operative time was 218 minutes, not including a mean of 40 minutes for stent placement and repositioning. The median hospital stay was 2 days. All 9 major complications (14%) pertained to urinary leakage/ureteral obstruction. Of the 60 patients with follow-up, 7 (12%) failed within 1 year of surgery. An additional 3 patients who appeared cured at initial follow-up presented with late recurrences, at 2, 2.5, and 6 years postoperatively. The overall success rate at 1 year was 88%, with a long-term success rate of 83%, and was not related to type of obstruction or repair, or urinary leakage/ureteral obstruction. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to findings in other series, 30% of our failures occurred 2 or more years after pyeloplasty. All failures, however, were symptomatic, such that radiographic follow-up after 1 year in patients with symptoms preoperatively may not be necessary.
Complex fractal dimension of the bronchial tree.

The architecture of the mammalian lung has been shown to be correctly described using a fractal model with a complex dimension, related to a Cantor set with random errors, for four different species. Here we provide an interpretation of that model that has implications for biological evolution. We argue that fractals are more error tolerant than other structures and therefore have an evolutionary advantage.
Effects of swim training on body weight, carbohydrate metabolism,lipid and lipoprotein profile

The beneficial effects of regular exercise are primarily based on data using land-based exercise. Currently, no data exist that demonstrate the efficacy of swimming exercise for the treatment of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors, despite the fact that swimming is a widely recommended exercise mode. Eighteen previously sedentary obese individuals were divided into a swim-training group and a non-exercising control group. The training group swam at 60% of maximal heart rate reserve for 45 min per day for 3 days per week for 10 weeks, whereas the control group remained sedentary. The swim-training programme produced significant cardiovascular training effects, as evidenced by reductions (P < 0.05) in resting and submaximal heart rate values in the training group. Significant reductions (P < 0.05) were also observed in the rating of perceived exertion and blood lactate concentrations during fixed submaximal exercise on an arm cycle ergometer. Caloric and macronutrient intake estimated from the dietary records stayed constant before and after training. Body mass, body fat percentage (36 +/- 2% vs. 35 +/- 2%) and body mass index, as well as regional adiposity, showed no statistically significant changes. Neither the training nor the control groups experienced significant changes in fasting serum glucose and insulin concentrations and glucose-insulin ratio during the study. Total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)- and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol did not change significantly in either group. It was concluded that swim training of the duration, frequency and intensity used in the present study failed to elicit favourable modifications in these traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Austenitic Stainless Steels and Alloys With Improved High-Temperature Performance for Advanced Microturbine Recuperators

Compact recuperators/heat-exchangers increase the efficiency of both microturbines and smaller industrial gas turbines. Most recuperators today are made from 347 stainless steel and operate well below 700°C. Larger engine sizes, higher exhaust temperatures and alternate fuels all demand recuperator materials with greater performance (creep strength, corrosion resistance) and reliability than 347 steel, especially for temperatures of 700–750°C. The Department of Energy (DOE) sponsors programs at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to produce and evaluate cost-effective high-temperature recuperator alloys. This paper summarizes the latest high-temperature creep and corrosion data for a commercial 347 steel with modified processing for better creep resistanc, and for advanced commercial alloys with significantly better creep and corrosion resistance, including alloys NF709, HR120. Similar data are also provided on small lab heats of several new ORNL modified stainless steels.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
What's new in general surgery: Gastrointestinal conditions.

What's New in Surgery evolves from the contributions of leaders in each of the fields of surgery. In every instance the author has been designated by the appropriate Council from the American College of Surgeons'Advisory Councils for the Surgical Specialties This feature is now presented in issues of the Journal throughout the year.
Moose: a multi-tasking operating system of hypercubes

The MOOSE project was begun at Caltech in Summer 1986. Its goal is to produce a powerful, flexible multi-tasking operating system suitable for research into load-balancing and decomposition of irregular and dynamic problems. Sec. 2 of this report describes the features of the MOOSE system in some detail. In Sec. 3 we discuss where we expect developments in MOOSE to take place, and in Sec. 4 we review some of the lessons learned from the MOOSE project.
Mixed Group Discovery: Incorporating Group Linkage with Alternatively Consistent Social Network Analysis

In image clustering, digital images can be represented with a large number of visual features corresponding to a high dimensional data space. Traditional clustering algorithms have difficulty in processing image dataset because of the curse of dimensionality. Moreover, similarity between images is measured by the values of partial features. To discover clusters existing in different subspace is known as the projective clustering problem. In this paper, we propose a novel projective clustering algorithm that utilizes dense area detection in variable bin width histograms to form the description of potential cluster candidates. Those candidates with sufficient number of data objects are treated as description of clusters. Relative entropy is used as a density threshold in order to iteratively detect dense areas in each histogram. The construction of variable bin width histogram is automatic. Compared with fixed bin width histogram used in previous projective clustering algorithms, such as EPCH (an Efficient Projective Clustering technique by Histogram construction), variable bin width histogram keeps a nice tradeoff between accurately approximating the underlying distribution and clustering efficiency. Fewer input parameters are required in our proposed algorithm, and the only input parameter required is more robust to variations of other factors such as bin width and is more interpretable to general users. Experiments on an image segmentation dataset show that our algorithm has a better clustering quality than EPCH according to V-Measure.
Mice transgenic for copper/zinc superoxide dismutase exhibit increased markers of biogenic amine function.

: Mice that are transgenic for and overexpress human copper/zinc superoxide dismutase were used to investigate the role of this enzyme in the pathophysiology of Down's syndrome (DS; trisomy 21). Previous studies have indicated that overexpression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase leads to deficits in peripheral markers of neurochemical function, which are consistent with the hypothesis that this enzyme plays a role in the pathophysiology of DS. We have measured concentrations of amino acids and biogenic amines (catecholamines, serotonin, and their metabolites), uptake of biogenic amines into crude synaptosomes, and activities of synthetic enzymes in both control mice and mice transgenic for human copper/zinc superoxide dismutase that overexpress it by two- to fivefold above control values. We find that these transgenic mice exhibit higher concentrations of the biogenic amines in specific brain regions, with little or no change in amino acid concentration. Furthermore, tyrosine hydroxylase activity is increased in the striatum of the transgenics, whereas glutamic acid decarboxylase and choline acetyltransferase activities are unchanged in all but one brain region. These findings indicate that over-expression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, by itself, is not sufficient to cause the synaptic neurochemical deficits reported in DS.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy affects staging of colorectal liver metastasis--a comparison of PET, CT and intraoperative ultrasound.

Purpose Surgery for colorectal liver metastasis facilitates long-term survival, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves resectability but may also alter staging accuracy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the efficacy of positron emission tomography (PET), PET–computed tomography (CT), CT and intraoperative ultrasound (IUS) in the detection of liver metastasis.
An estimate of the ionic composition of the fluid secreted into the posterior chamber, inferred from a study of aqueous humor dynamics.

A study has been made of the rate of accumulation of Na24, Cl36 and HC14O3 in the posterior and anterior chambers of the rabbit eye. From the data obtained, the diffusion constant between plasma and posterior chamber and the concentration of these ions in the fluid secreted by the ciliary process has been calculated. The mathematical method employed is believed to give rise to more realistic values for the loss of the test substances to the lens and vitreous than used heretofore since it obviates the necessity for assuming that the fluids in these structures are well stirred. An analog computer was used to facilitate the computations.
An Exploratory Study of Pubertal Maturation Timing and Self-Esteem among Gay and Bisexual Male Youths.

Eighty-three gay and bisexual male youths (17-23 years old) completed questionnaires and a structured interview. Pubertal maturation was associated with self-reported age of first orgasm and ho mosexual activity and frequency of orgasms during junior high school. Unrelated were age of first same-sex attractions, sexual orientation, age of first heterosexual activity, frequency of orgasms dur ing high school, number of lifetime male and female sex partners, reactions to puberty, and self esteem. Early and on-time maturers rarely varied from each other on the assessed domains. Youths did not differ in self-esteem level from heterosexual male youths. Gay and bisexual male youths share with heterosexual male youths a similar developmental trajectory in regard to pubertal maturation and self-esteem
Very early parameter setting and the unique checking constraint: A new explanation of the optional infinitive stage

This paper argues that the traditional view of experience-dependent properties (learned properties) of language as developing late and non-experience-dependent properties as developing early is in fact often wrong. Parameters are set correctly very early (Very Early Parameter-Setting) and properties of inflectional items are also learned very early. On the other hand, some universal properties of language emerge later, presumably under a genetically-driven maturational program. The Optional Infinitive(OI) Stage (Wexler, 1990, 1992, 1994) of grammatical development is explained by the AGR/TNS Omission Model (ATOM) of Schutze and Wexler, (1996). This paper derives this model via a new proposal for a developmental constraint: the Unique Checking Constraint (UCC), which prevents a D-feature on DP from checking more than one D-feature on functional categories, thus forcing either AGR or TNS to be omitted. The Minimalist framework of Chomsky 1995 is assumed — in particular the assumption that a D-feature and not a case feature is the driving force for the Extended Projection Principle. With AGR and TNS both having a D-feature, UCC predicts that finite sentences will not converge. The model also predicts that subjects of OI's will raise to a higher functional projection, even when case is not assigned by INFL, thus solving a traditional problem in the theory of OI's. With natural assumptions on the nature of null-subject languages, the Null-Subjection/Optional Infinitive Correlation of Wexler (1996) is derived from the UCC — that OI's exist in early child language if and only if the adult grammar is not an INFL-licensed null-subject language. Thus the UCC is seen as a fundamental explanatory force for a range of phenomena in early child grammar. Moreover the child data provide strong evidence for the claim that a D-feature motivates the raising of the subject in UG, thus unifying child and adult grammar and demonstrating the usefulness of the investigation of child grammar in the study of UG.
Error analysis for tidal coefficients with application to HF radar surface-current measurements

Abstract Simulated HF radar data from a Coastal Dynamics Applications Radar (CODAR) system is used to predict errors in the mathematically recovered Fourier tidal coefficients. The model consists of a Fourier series with prominent components of 12-, 24-, and 25.8-hr plus white Gaussian noise taken at hourly intervals. This model demonstrated recovery of the 12-hr component with only data for 1 day and all three components recovery with data for 4 days, with