cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distractibility, Intensity of Reaction, and Non-Nutritive Sucking

Sammary.-Parents of 184 children were asked to rate their children on distractibility, intensity of reaction, feeding, teething, and non-nutritive sucking habits. Non-distractible children were significantly more likely to be long-term non-nutritive suckers. Ratings of distractibility and intensity of reactions were significantly related. No sex differences appeared on any of the variables. Non-nutritive sucking of the thumb, fingers, or a pacifier has been reported as common among normal children. One suggestion put forward to explain nonnutritive sucking has been that a basic need for oral stimulation is satisfied in this way when insufficient sucking time accompanies feeding. Yarrow ( 1954) found a significant relationship between thumbsucking and feeding time during the first 6 mo. of life, the children with the shortest feeding times showing the most severe and prolonged thumbsucking. Non-nutritive sucking may also provide the child with a means of escaping an overload of stimulation. Children involved in sucking appear dreamy and far away and display reduced eye movement. Possibly, difficulty in handling intense environmental stimulation, or an exaggerated response to mild stimulation, might increase a child's tendency toward non-nutritive sucking. Thomas, Chess, and Birch ( 1968) have suggested that children differ on a series of biologically determined temperamental characteristics. Two of these, intensity of reaction and distractibility, could be related to a tendency toward non-nutritive sucking. A child whose reactions to normal environmental stimulation were unusually intense might need to suck as a means of respite from the excitement of everyday life, while a child of mild reactiveness would have no trouble tolerating normal stimulation and would be less likely to suck. Similarly, a distractible child might have its attention attracted away from discomfort by normal environmental events, while a child of low distractibility might need a special mechanism such as sucking in order to shift attention. The present study investigated relationships between sucking behavior, distractibility, and incensity. METHOD
A neuropsychological profile of Down syndrome: Cognitive skills and brain morphology

In children and young adults with Down syndrome, there exists a profile of neuropsychological strengths and weaknesses. Verbal short-term memory skills are diminished relative to subjects with mental retardation resulting from other etiologies. On the other hand, visual-motor skills are comparatively well preserved. This profile distinguishes the population having Down syndrome from other impaired populations, although it may be confounded by dementia in later adult years. Down syndrome also results in a characteristic profile of brain morphology. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown that the frontal and temporal regions of the brain are proportionally diminished in Down syndrome, but that the volumes of the subcortical nuclei are similar to those in control subjects. This profile of brain morphology appears to correspond to both the neuropathologic data on Down syndrome and to the profile of cognitive skills in individuals who have this syndrome. Impairment of fundamental cognitive processes such as phonologic short-term memory is likely to have implications with regard to higher-order psychological and academic processes. Effective educational intervention must take such impairments into account during the development of individualized educational plans. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Home Production Activity Model

The basic theoretical framework for a home production activity model is developed here. This model provides a unified context in which to view production activities, especially within the home. A rationale for the widely held concept of utility is explained, thereby integrating social, psychological, and economic theory in a single theoretical construct. Such an inter disciplinary approach facilitates the understanding and explanation of the processes by which the family carries out its diverse functions. Production activities are examined in an input-output model and are differentiated accord ing to a classification of household, market, or home production. Output is defined in such a manner as to specifically expand the recently developed characteristic approach to consumer decision- making. This process allows us to view a broad range of family activities and place them on a continuum extending from production to consumption. Such a perspective pro vides a framework for analyzing home management and family development decisions of re source allocation with respect to human capital, material capital, time, consumption, and production.
Integrating Agents into Human Teams

Software agents represent a radical departure from earlier monolithic approaches to artificial intelligence by introducing intelligence in small packages in many different places. For each instance of potential aiding there are two questions: 1- can a software agent perform the task? and 2- can the agent's assistance contribute to team performance? Our research addresses these two issues by demonstrating the feasibility of sophisticated agent assistance in scenario-based technology demonstrations and investigating the contribution of agent assistance to human team performance using simplified, controllable laboratory experiments.
Deep Ecology and Outdoor Recreation—Incompatible?

Abstract Outdoor recreation contributes to the quality of human life, yet the quality of nonhuman life must also be kept omnipresent.
Thermal penicillinase derepression and temperature dependence of penicillinase production inducible and constitutive strains of Bacillus cereus

Abstract The basal level of penicillinase production in strain 569 reaches a maximum at 42 °. The induction ratio (induced/basal) reaches a maximum (42.6) at approximately 30 ° and falls to approximately 1.4 at 42 °. Culturing Bacillus cereus 569 (inducible) at 42 ° and lowering the temperature leads to an increase in penicillinase production (thermal derepression) equal to the level induced by cephalothin (CT). As reported earlier, induction in strain 569 at 42 ° does not occur when the cells are treated with a penicillin, here the analogue CT, at 42 °; however, treatment with CT at 37 ° followed by incubation at 42 ° gave the induced response. Constitutive mutants 569/H and 5/B showed a twofold change in the level of penicillinase upon going from 20 ° to 46 °, with specific activity increasing steadily to 46 °. A model is presented to explain these and other related data in the B. cereus penicillinase system.
Chronic inflammation and pain in a tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) (p55/p75-/-) dual deficient murine model

Many aspects of tissue damage after acute or chronic inflammatory reactions can be attributed directly to the concomitant biosynthesis and release of inducible early proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). Conversely, systemic inflammation is impacted by the consequences of tissue damage. Dysregulated TNFα contributes to numerous pathophysiologic conditions including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and arthritis. Inflammatory stimuli trigger proteolytic cleavage and shedding of extracellular domains of TNFα receptors giving rise to 2 soluble fragments (p55 soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) and p75 sTNFR2) that block the additional binding, activity, and synthesis of TNFα. We hypothesized that absence of sTNFR inhibitory feedback control would result in accumulated high levels of TNFα and other inflammatory factors promoting the cardinal signs of chronic inflammation and pain. The current study reports a translational murine model of chronic arthritis precipitated by 2 consecutive inflammatory insults. The "double hit" procedures provoke a chronic inflammatory response and pain-related behaviors in mice that are dually deficient in p55 (TNFR1) and p75 (TNFR2). The inflammation- and pain-related behaviors are transient in similarly treated wild-type (WT) mice. The complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) method was used initially to induce knee joint inflammation, tactile mechanical and heat hypersensitivity, and gait disturbance. After these transient effects of the insult were resolved, a recrudescence persisting at least through 23 weeks was promoted by gastrointestinal (GI) insult with dilute intracolonic mustard oil (MO) only in the mutant mice and was reversed by a P2X7 antagonist. A serum proteome profiling analysis revealed high levels of serum inflammatory factors TNFα, regulated upon activation normally T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 [CXCL9 (MIG)], chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 [CXCL10 (IP-10)], and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 [CCL2 (MCP-1)]. These data suggest that impaired signaling of TNFα as a result of the deficit of the 2 protective soluble p55 and p75 sTNFR inhibitory factors plays a pivotal role in the reactivation of the immune response to GI insult that can produce recrudescence of inflammatory injury and a chronic pain state through promotion of high levels of serum inflammatory factors.
On extracting the infinite-dimensional unitary representations ofSU2,2 in a free-particle basis. — II

The infinite-dimensional unitary irreducible representations ofSU2,2, which includes the Poincare group properly, are sought in a basis in which the free-particle quantum numbers momentum, spin, and helicity are sharp. None of the standard representation formalisms apply, such as the Wigner-Mackey semidirect product theory or the Weyl-Cartan theory for semisimple groups, so a general method based on Schur’s lemma is used. This paper discusses new insights into the problem of synthesizing the Poincare group and internal symmetries gained by working out this specific problem. These are, very briefly: 1) the explanation of continuous mass spectra within supermultiplets; 2) new sources and possibilities for internal quantum numbers; 3) the existence of massiveSU2,2-invariant fields in spite of the general belief to the contrary (SU2,2=C ≡ conformal group of space-time); 4) the convenience of space-time-dependent similarity transformations to change to familiar bases of irreducible states.
Exploring the accessible conformations of N-terminal acetylated α-synuclein

Alpha synuclein (αsyn) fibrils are found in the Lewy Bodies of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aggregation of the αsyn monomer to soluble oligomers and insoluble fibril aggregates is believed to be one of the causes of PD. Recently, the view of the native state of αsyn as a monomeric ensemble was challenged by a report suggesting that αsyn exists in its native state as a helical tetramer. This review reports on our current understanding of αsyn within the context of these recent developments and describes the work performed by a number of groups to address the monomer/tetramer debate. A number of in depth studies have subsequently shown that both non-acetylated and acetylated αsyn purified under mild conditions are primarily monomer. A description of the accessible states of acetylated αsyn monomer and the ability of αsyn to self-associate is explored.
Above- and Belowground Productivity and Soil Carbon Dynamics of Pasture Mixtures

Increasing plant species diversity could enhance forage yield, resistance to weed invasion, and soil C accumulation in grazed pastures. Threeforagemixtures(2,3,or11species)wereestablishedonafarmin eastern Pennsylvania and grazed by dairy heifers or managed under a three-cuthaysystemfrom1999to2002.Netcanopyphotosynthesiswas measured from early April to early October 2000 to 2002. Root distribution to a depth of 60 cm was measured in mid-September each year, and soil C and N concentrations to a 15-cm depth were determined in May 1999 and September 2002. The 11-species mixture yielded43%moreforagedrymatterthanthe two-speciesmixture.This difference was mainly due to the inclusion of a few highly productive forage species in the 11-species mixture. Canopy photosynthesis did not differ among mixtures in the spring, but in the summer was 50% greater in the 3- and 11-species mixtures than the two-species mixture. The 11-species mixture also had 30 to 62% greater root biomass than the other two mixtures and a greater proportion of roots in deeper soil layers. Soil C either remained unchanged or decreased, depending on species composition, with the greatest decrease occurring in the 11species mixture. No relationship existed between changes in soil C concentration and either canopy photosynthesis or above- and belowground productivity. Deeper rooting could reduce drought stress by increasing access to deep soil moisture. Selecting forage mixtures to include specific desirable traits, such as greater rooting depth, could result in improved pasture performance.
Nonheme iron absorption, apparent iron absorption and hemoglobin regeneration efficiency in anemic and normal rats fed with dietary heme and nonheme iron at various levels

Abstract The absorbability of four levels (20, 35, 75, and 150 ppm) of iron from dietary heme and nonheme sources was studied in normal and iron deficient rats. Beef liver was the heme iron source and a plant mixture (soy flour, wheat bran, potato flour, spinach and parsley, all at 20% wt/wt, dry matter basis) was the nonheme source. 59 Fe was used to compare the availability of dietary nonheme iron to reference diets supplemented with ferrous sulfate. Hemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE) and apparent iron absorption were consistently higher in anemic rats and were inversely related to iron intake. No more than two-thirds of iron from all the iron sources was absorbed. 59 Fe was high in the blood of anemic rats and continued to increase over the 12h study period for all iron sources and at all iron levels. Absorption of nonheme iron was similar to that of HRE. There was a high correlation (r=0.98) between percentage 59 Fe absorption and apparent iron absorption. There was a very low correlation (r=0.03) in anemic rats between 59 Fe activity in blood (2h after dosing) vs. percentage retention of 59 Fe. Heme iron absorption was higher in anemic rats than in normal rats. We conclude that with an experimental methodology comparable to human studies, iron absorption of rats will be similar to that in humans.
A slightly modified Prüfer transformation useful for calculating Sturm-Liouville eigenvalues

Examples are given of calculations made using the Pruefer transformation into which a positive constant has been inserted. (AIP)
Quantifying the Price and Demand of Subassemblies in the End of Life Strategy of Product Resynthesis

In the United States alone, millions of tons of waste are generated every year, highlighting the urgency for innovative solutions for waste management. Traditional strategies of reducing the amount of End-of-Life (EOL) products include reuse, recycle, remanufacture and disposal. Recently, resynthesis has been proposed in the design community as an alternate approach that aims to combine assemblies/subassemblies of EOL products from multiple domains to create a ‘new’ product, distinct from its parent products. The original work on resynthesis assumes that there is an equal demand for ‘resynthesized products’ based on the available supply of EOL components that the resynthesized products are composed of. Furthermore, the price was assumed to be equal to the price of similar products on the market. However, such an assumption may underestimate or overestimate the value of resynthesized products, which in turn impacts the demand of these products. Recent research has shown that customer reviews express customers’ true opinion and value for specific products or product features. The authors of this paper propose a data mining methodology to quantify the price and demand for resynthesized products by mining user-generated reviews of products publicly available on the internet. A case study involving a resynthesized electronic mouse and white board eraser is presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed methodology.© 2014 ASME
APPLICATION OF A SIMPLE SELF-INSTRUCTION PROCEDURE ON ADULTS' EXERCISE AND STUDYING: TWO CASE REPORTS

Summary.-In the present research, a simple self-instruction strategy, involving subvocal reading of an index card, was evaluated for two college women concerned about exercise and studying. In both instances experimental demand phase(s) preceded implementation of the treatment to ensure that changes in the dependent measures were attributable to'the major intervention. Results indicated that increases in both targa behaviors were related functionally to the implementation of self-instrueion. Several aspects of self-instructions and the present research were discussed. Although Skinner (1953) and Rachlin (1978) argued that human behavior is a function of environmental events, Vygotsky ( 1962) and Luria ( 1961) posited that motor responses are at least governed partially by subvocal language commands. Luria ( 1961 ) , in fact, detailed a theoretical model purporting to explain the development and controlling function of covert language. According to this view, children's motor responses are initially controlled by adult commands Later, these behaviors are guided by the child's own overt language, and finally by self-subvocal commands. Hypothesizing that some problem behaviors result from (a) failure to internalize language commands, Meichenbaum and his associates (Meichenbaum, 1972; Meichenbaum & Cameron, 1973; Meichenbaum & Goodmann, 1969) undertook series of investigations designed to assess the therapeutic value of teaching clients to utilize a covert self-instructional process. Their results indicated that impulsive children, hospitalized schizophrenic patients, and neurotic clients could utilize covert self-verbalizations, leading to gains on performance task measures (Meichenbaum & Goodmann, 1969) and decreases in "bizarre" behaviors (Meichenbaum & Cameron, 1973) and anxiety (Meichenbaurn, 1972), respectively. In these studies and others concerned with reducing children's hyperactivity (Bornstein & Quevillon, 1976; Friedling & O'Leary, 1979), writing deficits (Robin, Armel, & O'Leary, 1975), and noncompliant behaviors (Snyder & White, 1979) a combined modeling and overt to covert verbal training program was used to teach self-instruction. Typically, such training requires repeated practice ranging from two (Bornstein & Quevillon,
The 1909 North Carolina Drainage Act and Agricultural Drainage Effects in Eastern North Carolina

Abstract Over the last two centuries, agricultural drainage in eastern North Carolina has transformed extensive wetlands to productive croplands. At the start of the drainage movement in the early 1900s, approximately 200,000 hectares (one half million acres) of drained agricultural lands existed in North Carolina. The 1909 North Carolina Drainage Act allowed for more extensive drainage projects. Drainage districts provided effective drainage outlets for farms and reduced flooding for the district. The districts dramatically increased the extent of drained lands during the 20th century. Currently, it is estimated that over 2 million hectares (five million acres) of drained agricultural lands exist in North Carolina, with the majority in the Coastal Plain. Agricultural drainage has contributed to huge gains in agricultural productivity in the region. However, this drainage has contributed to regional stream water quality impairment, altered stream hydrology, and wetland conversion. Over the last three deca...
LPS and cytokines regulate extra hepatic mRNA levels of apolipoproteins during the acute phase response in Syrian hamsters

Altered hepatic expression of apolipoproteins occurs during the acute phase response. Here we examined whether the acute phase response alters extra hepatic expression of apolipoproteins. Syrian hamsters were injected with endotoxin (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1, or the combination of TNF + IL-1 and mRNAs for serum amyloid A (apoSAA), apolipoprotein (apo) J, apo E. apo A-I, and apo D, were analyzed. LPS increased mRNA levels for apoSAA in all tissues examined. LPS and TNF + IL-1 increased mRNA levels for apo J in kidney, heart, stomach, intestine, and muscle. Individually, TNF and IL-1 were less potent than the combination of the two cytokines. LPS decreased mRNA levels for apo E in all tissues, except for mid and distal intestine. TNF and IL-1 were less effective than LPS. LPS, TNF + IL-1 and TNF decreased mRNA levels for apo A-I in duodenum. mRNA for apo D decreased in heart, were unchanged in brain and increased in muscle, following LPS. The widespread extra hepatic regulation of the apolipoproteins during the acute phase response may be important for the alterations in lipid metabolism that occur during infection and inflammation as well as the immune response.
Fate of Phytic Acid in Producing Soy Protein Ingredients

Phytic acid (myo-inositol hexaphosphate) is present in soybeans and soy protein products at 1–2% dry matter. Phytate causes poor absorption of essential electrolytes and minerals, and binds to proteins and co-precipitates with isoelectric soy protein isolates. We determined how phytic acid partitioned during different procedures to prepare soy protein ingredients. Procedure and soybean variety significantly affected phytic acid content and recovery. High-sucrose/low-stachyose (HS/LS) soybeans contained significantly (P < 0.05) less phytate than did a typical variety of commodity soybeans (IA2020). In addition, phytate was more readily extracted from the commodity soybeans than from HS/LS soybeans. Among all procedures studied, ethanol-washed soy protein concentrate had the highest phytate contents and yields in the protein products for both soybean varieties (~80 mg/g and 99%, respectively). When protein extraction was carried out at room temperature the protein products had significantly lower phytate yields (60–78%) than when extraction was at 60 °C (80–99%). The protein products obtained from normal soybeans had significantly higher phytate contents than the same products made from HS/LS soybeans. When fractionating soy proteins, the glycinin-rich fraction contained significantly less phytate than the β-conglycinin fraction except for the fractionation procedure performed at room temperature instead of 4 °C.
Coaxially stacked RNA helices in the catalytic center of the Tetrahymena ribozyme

Coaxial stacking of helical elements is a determinant of three-dimensional structure in RNA. In the catalytic center of the Tetrahymena group I intron, helices P4 and P6 are part of a tertiary structural domain that folds independently of the remainder of the intron. When P4 and P6 were fused with a phosphodiester linkage, the resulting RNA retained the detailed tertiary interactions characteristic of the native P4-P6 domain and even required lower magnesium ion concentrations for folding. These results indicate that P4 and P6 are coaxial in the P4-P6 domain and, therefore, in the native ribozyme. Helix fusion could provide a general method for identifying pairs of coaxially stacked helices in biological RNA molecules.
Sharply-defined optical filters and dispersionless delay lines based on loop-coupled resonators and "negative" coupling

Coupled-optical-microcavity geometries incorporating non-adjacent-cavity coupling and "negative" ("inductive") coupling are proposed. These enable new compact, quasi-elliptic microring filters, and can circumvent Kramers-Kronig causality constraints to support square- amplitude and linear-phase response over >80% of the passband.
Nuclear DNA Content of 26 Orchid (Orchidaceae) Genera with Emphasis onDendrobium

Abstract 2C DNA content values for 70 orchid species from 26 genera, including 37 Dendrobium species from eight taxonomic sections, were analysed using flow cytometry. The resulting nuclear DNA content values for species other than Dendrobium ranged from 1.91 pg 2C −1 to 15.19 pg 2C −1 nuclei for Cadetia taylori and Vanilla phaeantha , respectively. Dendrobium nuclear DNA content values ranged from 1.53 pg 2C −1 to 4.23 pg 2C −1 nuclei for D. cruentum and D. spectabile , respectively. DNA content measurements varied greatly within Dendrobium sections Latouria and Spatulata. Nuclear DNA content values for the six species analysed within Latouria ranged from 1.88 pg 2C −1 nuclei for D. macrophyllum to 4.23 pg 2C −1 nuclei for D. spectabile . Nuclear DNA content values for the 16 species analysed within Spatulata ranged from 1.69 pg 2C −1 nuclei for D. discolor to 4.05 pg 2C −1 nuclei for D. samoense . The least variation in DNA content was found within the section Phalaenanthe, with nuclear DNA content values of 1.79 pg 2C −1 , 1.86 pg 2C −1 and 1.98 pg 2C −1 for D. bigibbum , D. affine and D. phalaenopsis , respectively.
WEEKDAY-ONLY POLLING AND PARTISAN SUPPORT LEVELS: EVIDENCE FROM NEW ZEALAND

Summary Some scholars have argued that opinion polls conducted only on weekday evenings are likely to be biased in favour of right-wing parties, but there is no scholarly consensus on this. This paper presents evidence from New Zealand suggesting that weekday-only polling consistently increases the reported support levels for right-wing parties. Polls conducted only on weekdays in New Zealand give estimated support levels for the major right-leaning party approximately five percentage points higher than do concurrent polls that survey voters both on weekdays and during the weekend. Results for left-leaning parties are also broadly consistent with this effect.
The effect of cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline on intracellular degradation of newly synthesized collagen by freshly isolated chick tendon fibroblasts.

Freshly isolated embryonic chick tendon cells were incubated for 6 hrs in suspension culture in the presence of the proline analogue, cis-4-hydroxyproline to cause the cells to synthesize collagen which was incapable of becoming triple helical. The cells were evaluated for the percentage of total protein synthesis devoted to collagen and for the percentage of newly synthesized collagen which was rapidly degraded. Collagen production in the presence of cis-4-hydroxyproline was reduced from 25% to 7% of total protein synthesis. Under normal conditions the cells degraded 8% of their newly synthesized collagen but when the cells were incubated in the presence of cis-4-hydroxyproline, 25% of their total collagen synthesized was degraded to dialyzable peptides. The enhanced degradation of nonhelical, analogue containing collagen was inhibited by inhibitors of lysosome function. These observations provide support for the concept that fibroblasts are able to recognize and degrade a portion of their newly synthesi...
T-Taxol and the Electron Crystallographic Density in β-Tubulin

T-Taxol has been proposed as the bioactive conformation on β-tubulin and subsequently utilized in the design of a series of highly active bridged taxane analogues. A modified T-form with a reversed C-13 side chain orientation has recently been proposed as an equally plausible bioactive shape. A comparison of the two spatial alternatives within the tubulin binding site electron crystallographic density suggests strongly that T-Taxol is the bioactive conformation.
A model-based design framework to achieve end-to-end QoS management

A significant challenge in constructing distributed real-time embedded systems for highly dynamic environments lies in assuring the Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements. The dynamism inherent in the environment renders it impossible for static provisioning of the QoS requirements, thereby making it necessary to consider adaptive techniques. Feedback adaptation traditionally is the prerogative of control engineers, while, the DRE system must be designed by domain engineers. In this paper we propose the use of model-based techniques to raise the abstraction of control theoretic techniques and make them available to domain engineers. The paper presents, a graphical modeling environment, that we call Dynamic QoS Modeling Environment (DQME), that facilitates the design of QoS adaptive applications for DRE systems. DQME facilitates capture of the QoS adaptation as well as the functional aspects of the DRE system. A case study has been presented that demonstrates the use of DQME.
The flip side of immune surveillance: immune dependency.

Summary: The growths of many and perhaps all tumors may be stimulated rather than inhibited by a quantitatively low level of immunity. The reason tumors have antigens may be that tumors do not develop in vivo in the absence of at least a minimal immune reaction; in this sense, cancer may be considered an autoimmune disease. This review, based largely on the work of our own laboratory, outlines the data showing that the titration of anti-tumor immunity exhibits the phenomenon of hormesis, i.e. the dose–response curve is non-linear such that low levels of immunity are generally stimulatory but larger quantities of the same immune reactants may inhibit tumor growth. Evidence is also reviewed that suggests that the immune response may vary qualitatively and quantitatively during progression, such that there seems to be, during oncogenesis, a very low level of immune reaction that aids initial tumor growth, followed by a larger reaction that may cause remission of early neoplasms, followed, if the neoplasm survives, by a relative immunologic tolerance to the tumor that may be dependent, at least in part, on suppressor cells. This knowledge may help to explain some clinical observations concerning the relationships among tumor types and the organ distribution of metastases.
Bayes risk-weighted vector quantization

Lossy compression and classification algorithms both attempt to reduce a large collection of possible observations into a few representative categories so as to preserve essential information. A framework for combining classification and compression into one or two quantizers is described along with some examples and related to other quantizer-based classification schemes.
Low-Level Segmentation of Aerial Images with Fuzzy Clustering

A low-level segmentation methodology based upon fuzzy clustering principles is developed. The approach utilizes region growing concepts and a pyramid data structure for the hierarchical analysis of aerial images. It is assumed that measurement vectors corresponding to perceptually homogeneous regions cluster together in the measurement space. The fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm is used in the formulation. Utilization of the fuzzy partitioning allows one to derive a correspondence between the cluster membership function values and (the proportions of) the classes constituting a region. Thus cluster membership values can be used to split mixture regions into smaller regions at a higher resolution level. The feasibility of the methodology is evaluated using a three-channel Landsat image. The results show that the FCM clustering can be used in the single-level segmentation; and that cluster membership function values derived using this algorithm can be utilized effectively as indicators of region homogeneity.
Large‐scale patterns of eolian sediment transport on Venus: Predictions for Magellan

The atmosphere of Venus is likely to exert a major influence on the surface. Arecibo and Venera 15/16 observations of the population of impact craters with bright halos give direct evidence of surface modification, on the scale of centimeters, to smooth the surface on time scales of 50 - 250 my. Both chemical and mechanical modifications probably occur. Diurnal winds in the planetary boundary layer can transport particles. Using boundary layer theory, including the effects of topography, surface stresses and resulting transport and deposition of sand-size particles are calculated. Regional slopes are sites of largest surface stresses. Sand will be generally transported downhill, although there is a preferential net transport from east to west, in the same direction as the atmospheric superrotation. It is predicted here that streaks may be seen in the Magellan radar images which will indicate directions of net eolian transport on the surface of Venus.
PIPECURONIUM AND PANCURONIUM: COMPARISON OF PHARMACOKINETICS AND DURATION OF ACTION

The pharmacokinetics of pipecuronium 0.07 mg kg−1 and pancuronium 0.1 mg kg−1 were compared in 39 ASA class I or II patients. Plasma concentrations of these agents were measured for 6 h following administration, using a sensitive and specific capillary gas chromatographic assay. Concentration v. time data were analysed by non-linear regression and fitted to a two- or three-compartment model as appropriate. Neuro-muscular blockade was assessed by measuring the mechanical evoked response of the adductor pollicis muscle to train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve. Pipecuronium had a larger steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) (309 (SD 103) ml kg−1) and greater plasma clearance (Cl) (2.4 (0.6) ml kg−1 min−1) than pancuronium (199 (54) ml kg−1 and 1.5 (0.4) ml kg−1 min−1, respectively). The volumes of the central compartment, distribution and elimination half-lives and mean residence times were similar for both agents and within the range expected for drugs of this type. The durations of action (injection to 25% recovery of twitch tension) of pipecuronium and pancuronium were similar: 98.0 (36.1) min and 117.2 (35.8) min, respectively. We conclude that the time courses of neuromuscular blockade following pipecuronium and pancuronium are similar, despite the differences in Vss and Cl.
Gorlin syndrome (naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome): prenatal detection in a fetus with macrocephaly and ventriculomegaly

The Gorlin (naevoid basal cell carcinoma) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder consisting principally of naevoid basal cell carcinomas, odontogenic keratocysts, skeletal abnormalities, and intracranial calcification. We report the prenatal detection of the Gorlin syndrome by ultrasonography in a fetus with macrocephaly and mild ventriculomegaly.
Measurement of the G-value for 1.5 keV X-rays.

SummaryAlthough there are several theoretical predictions of the dependence of the G-value on X-ray energy, measurements have not been made below ≈ 7 keV. Using a ferrous sulfate solution modified by the addition of benzoic acid, we have measured the relative G-values for Alk characteristic X-rays (1·5 keV), 238Pu α-particles (3·7 MeV), 60Co (1·17 MeV) and 137Cs (0·66 MeV) γ-rays. This modified ferrous sulfate solution gave a 4-fold increase in sensitivity relative to the conventional solution, making measurements with the Alk X-rays feasible. The relative ferrous-to-ferric conversions as a function of dose were similar for the two γ-ray energies, yielding G-values of 1·62 and 1·59 µmol J−1 for the 60Co and 137Cs radiations, respectively. The α-particle G-value was 0·52 µmol J−1, or 31 per cent of that for the 60Co γ-rays, in good agreement with previous measurements. The Alk X-rays had a G-value of 0·92 µmol J−1 or 57 per cent of that of the 60Co radiation. This G-value for the 1·5 keV X-rays is within 2...
Reexamining the Value Relevance of E-Commerce Initiatives

This study reexamines the value relevance of e-commerce announcements using an event study methodology. Event studies have become an increasingly popular technique for information systems research by giving researchers a tool to measure the notoriously elusive value of information technology. We find evidence that the traditional event study methodology may not provide an accurate measure of abnormal returns during periods of high market volatility, and propose an alternative methodology. The alternative methodology does not use an estimation period, and takes into account extreme or unusual market movements in the period in which the e-commerce announcement was made. Using the alternative methodology, we find evidence of positive abnormal returns for e-commerce announcements made in the fourth quarter of 1998, but no abnormal returns to e-commerce announcements made in the fourth quarter of 2000. We also find significant differences in value depending on the type of e-commerce initiative. In 2000, e-commerce initiatives with a digital product were valued significantly more than e-commerce initiatives with a tangible product, while in 1998 no such difference existed. In 1998, business-to-business e-commerce initiatives, e-commerce initiatives with a tangible product, and e-commerce initiatives by pure-play Internet firms were valued more than similar initiatives in 2000. The study makes a significant contribution for understanding the value of e-commerce initiatives in highly volatile markets and demonstrates how market values of e-commerce changed from 1998 to 2000. Furthermore, this study shows the importance of carefully considering both the time frame examined and the methodology used when assessing the value relevance of e-commerce initiatives as to avoid inflating the magnitude of any observed effects.
Image residue approach for masked targets detection and estimation

We propose a new approach to the detection of masked targets and the estimation of target parameters with significant computational savings over standard approaches to this problem based on the CLEAN algorithm. In particular, our approach implements the CLEAN process efficiently because only a few select samples are used instead of using all samples from the matched filter output. For situations in which the signal amplitude and phase need to be estimated, we propose a modified data model for the algorithm so that these parameters and the image residues can be estimated simultaneously. We also provide a detection algorithm having a quantitative way for selecting detection samples and residue samples such that the detection performance is optimized.
Federated simulations for systems of systems integration

Systems of systems integration is a difficult engineering challenge that places a particular burden on the engineers who must develop simulation models to support that integration. Developing a large scale stand-alone model to support systems integration is a time-consuming process that is often not possible. An alternative approach is to leverage existing models in a federation. This type of work requires a specialized set of engineering skills. The United States Military Academy Department of Systems Engineering SysHub research program is better defining these skills and applying them to different problem domains. This paper highlights how capabilities for information exchange, environmental representation, entity representation, model development, and data collection support the federation development process.
Design of the AGS Booster beam position monitor electronics

The operational requirements of the AGS (Alternating Gradient Synchrotron) Booster beam position monitor system necessitate the use of electronics with wide dynamic range and broad instantaneous bandwidth. Bunch synchronization is provided by a remote timing sequencer coupled to the local ring electronics via digital fiber-optic links. The sequencer and local ring circuitry work together to provide single turn trajectory or average orbit and intensity information, integrated over 1 to 255 bunches. Test capabilities are included for the purpose of enhancing BPM system accuracy. The authors describe the design of the Booster beam position monitor electronics and present performance details of the front-end processing, acquisition, and timing circuitry. >
Efficient Parallel Algorithm for Robot Inverse Dynamics Computation

It is shown that the time lower bound of computing the inverse dynamics of an n-link robot manipulator parallelly using p processors is O(k1 [n/p] + k2 [log<2 p]), where k1 and k2 are constants. A novel parallel algorithm for computing the inverse dynamics using the Newton-Euler equations of motion was developed to be implemented on a single-instruction-stream multiple-data-stream computer with p processors to achieve the time lower bound. When p = n, the proposed parallel algorithm achieves the Minsky's time lower bound O([log2 n]), whidc is the conjecture of parallel evaluation. The proposed p-fold parallel algorithm can be best described as consisting of p-parallel blocks with pipelined elements within each parallel block The results from the computations in the p blocks form a new homogeneous linear recurrence of size p, which can be computed using the recursive doubling algorithm. A modified inverse perfect shuffle interconnection scheme was suggested to interconnect the p processors. Furthermore, the proposed parallel algorithm is susceptible to a systolic pipelined architecture, requiring three floating-point operations per complete set of joint torques.
Detection of All Eight Serotypes of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus by Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) has been associated with bluetongue-like disease in cattle. Although U.S. EHDV strains have not been experimentally proven to cause disease in cattle, there is serologic evidence of infection. Differentiation of Bluetongue virus (BTV) and EHDV is necessary because diagnosis of infection caused by these viruses is often confused. The previously developed nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR) test for indigenous EHDV disease is sensitive and specific, but it is prone to contamination problems. Additionally, the EHDV nRT-PCR only detects 7 of the 8 serotypes. To develop an improved diagnostic test, sequence analysis was performed on 2 conserved target genes; one is highly expressed in infected mammalian cells, whereas the other is highly expressed in infected insect cells. This information was used to develop a rapid EHDV real-time PCR that detects all 8 EHDV serotypes. The EHDV assay did not cross-react with BTV strains and performed similarly to the nRT-PCR tests with archived clinical samples. In addition, it is superior to the nRT-PCR, not only because it is a closed system with fewer cross-contamination problems, but also because it detects all 8 serotypes and is less labor and time intensive.
Passive (self-powered) fiber optic sensors

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is developing a new group of fiber-optic sensors for characterizing physical aspects such as ambient temperature. These sensors exploit the inherent property of thermographic materials that the lifetime and/or intensity of the emitted fluorescence decreases with increasing temperature. Unlike current fluorescent temperature sensors that use a light source for excitation, these sensors are totally passive (self-powered) and use either an embedded or external radiation source. A proof-of-principle temperature sensor was developed based on this concept, using a well-known thermographic material, magnesium fluorogermanate. Experimental results showed that the radiation-induced fluorescence resulted in an intensity change but no significant decay rate change with increasing temperature. >
Established and novel tools to investigate biocatalyst stability

We report on novel developments regarding the influence of temperature and salt on protein biocatalysts. The influence of temperature on the activation, unfolding, and deactivation of enzymes can now be described quantitatively with simple, analytical models. We demonstrate that enzyme deactivation phenomena can be determined via T-ramping and observation of instantaneous rates. We calculate the total turnover number analytically on the basis of the deactivation mechanism. We also report on the latest efforts to quantify the influence of salts on protein biocatalyst stability. While effects cannot yet be rationalized completely, we nevertheless found novel correlations between protein unfolding and deactivation and ion hydration.
Enabling Renewable Energy—and the Future Grid—with Advanced Electricity Storage

Environmental concerns about using fossil fuels, and their resource constraints along with energy security concerns, have spurred great interest in generating electrical energy from renewable sources. The variable and stochastic nature of renewable sources, however, makes solar and wind power difficult to manage, especially at high levels of penetration. Electrical energy storage (EES) is necessary to effectively use intermittent renewable energy, enable its delivery, and improve the reliability, stability, and efficiency of the electrical grid. While EES has gained wide attention for hybrid and electrical vehicle needs, public awareness and understanding of the critical challenges in energy storage for renewable integration and the future grid is relatively lacking. This paper examines the benefits and challenges of EES, in particular electrochemical storage or battery technologies, and discusses the fundamental principles, economics, and feasibility of the storage technologies.
Changes in microbial biomass and community composition, and soil carbon and nitrogen pools after incorporation of rye into three California agricultural soils

Abstract The effects of long-term agricultural management on active soil organic matter (SOM) and short-term microbial C and N dynamics were investigated. Short-term changes in chemical and biological variables after incorporating fresh rye shoots were measured in intact soil cylinders from three contrasting agricultural systems. Two of the soils were from organic or conventional 4-yr rotations which had been in place for 6 yr as part of the University of California at Davis Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) project and the third was from a double-cropped, intensive vegetable production system in the Salinas Valley of California. Microbial biomass (MB) and respiration, numbers of organisms in several trophic groups, soil inorganic N, dissolved organic C and recoverable rye were measured before and during the 6 weeks following rye incorporation. Active soil organic matter, expressed as the ratios of microbial biomass C or N to total soil C or N, respectively, appeared to be related to long-term management. These ratios increased in proportion to increased organic inputs and reduced tillage or periods of fallow. In all soils, MBC increased and decreased rapidly following rye incorporation, but MBN was fairly constant. Significant differences among the soils in MBC and MBN were maintained over the 6 week experiment. Following rye incorporation, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) active counts of bacteria and bacterial-feeding nematodes increased rapidly, whereas changes in FDA active fungal hyphal lengths and fungal-feeding nematodes were less pronounced. The rates of rye decomposition, respiration and net N mineralization were highest the first week after incorporation, coincident with increases in MBC and numbers of active bacteria in all three soils. There were significant differences among soils in numbers of organisms in the trophic groups on some sample dates, but changes in soil respiration and inorganic N and the rate of rye decomposition remained similar in all three soils. The SAFS organic soil had a somewhat lower ratio of bacterial to fungal biomass and lower ratio of respiration to MBC throughout the experiment than the SAFS conventional soil. Despite long-term differences in agricultural management and differences in active SOM contents among the three soils, the rates of rye decomposition and C and N mineralization were similar. Rye incorporation produced a short-term burst of microbial growth and activity of similar magnitude in all three soils although the initial MB contents in the three soils were different. Variations among the soils in FDA active counts of fungi and numbers of bacterial- and fungal-feeding nematodes indicated that microbial community composition was more responsive to rye incorporation than were changes in soil C and N pools.