cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Managing Moral Risk: The Case of Contract

The concept of moral luck describes how the moral character of our actions seems to depend on factors outside our control. Implications of moral luck have been extensively explored in criminal law and tort law, but there is no literature on moral luck in contract law. I show that contract is an especially illuminating domain for the study of moral luck because it highlights that moral luck is not just a dark cloud over morality and the law to bemoan or ignore. We anticipate moral luck, i.e., we manage our moral risk, when we take into account the possibility that our actions might result in serious harm to others for which we would be morally responsible, and adjust our conduct accordingly. Moral risk is present in contract both at the stage of contract formation and, later, when we must decide whether to breach or whether to accommodate a request for modification. We negotiate these risks both through collective background institutions that limit the harms we can inflict on others and through the rules of contract law itself, which align our material and moral interests.
High Angular Resolution Studies of Binaries at Georgia State University

CHARA, the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy at Georgia State University has conducted over 8,000 speckle-astrometric measurements of multiple stars. To complement the primary program of astrometric analysis, several other projects have been initiated to provide differential photometry, quadrant identification, spectroscopic orbital information, and “pure spectra” of binary components. The emphasis has been on real-time analysis of information, which has yielded two new algorithms: the “Fork” and “Directed Vector Autocorrelation” methods. A feasibility study has been completed for construction of a large array optical interferometer: if funded, construction could begin by late 1990.
Synthetic Resins and Plastics

Plastic (adj.) is defined by Webster [1] as “capable of being molded or modeled (e.g., clay) … capable of being deformed continu-ously and permanently in any direction with-out rupture.” Plastic (n.) is a plastic substance, specifically, any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments.
Low-distortion continuous-time R-MOSFET-C filters

The R-MOSFET-C or R-MOSFET-R structure, which uses a set of passive resistors and current-steering MOS transistors as a variable resistance element, is proposed to implement low-distortion filter or multiplier in CMOS technology. This proposed technique relies on the linearity of passive resistors and the tunability of current-steering MOS transistors in triode. Placing the nonlinear elements inside feedback loops further reduces distortion in the filter implementation. The experimental results of a self-tuned 22 kHz fifth-order Bessel filter confirm the predicted theoretical performance, displaying negligible control voltage feedthrough and -90 dB total harmonic distortion (THD) with a 2 kHz, 4 V/sub p-p/ fully-differential signal, in a 5-V system. >
Time to divest from tobacco-funded research

A few months ago, the 2 of us were surprised to receive a thoughtful letter in response to a recent article in Cancer with adisclosure of ongoing support from tobacco companies. The author hailed from a mainstream academic institution andthe arguments in the letter were critical and sound, but espoused a view held by the tobacco companies. This led us toexamineourpolicyonpublicationsfromphysiciansandscientistswhoseworkisfundedbytobaccocompanies.Asofthisdate, Cancer has not had a policy for editorially rejecting scientific work or correspondence directly funded by tobaccocompanies or their subsidiaries. That changes as of this issue, when we will no longer consider any work that is fundeddirectly or indirectly from tobacco companies or their subsidiaries. This should be distinguished from organizations thatsponsor research from funds won by the states and the federal government of the United States (and indeed from othercountries) as part of tobacco settlements. The settlements were intended to begin the process of making (partial) amendsfor the devastating effects that tobacco products have unleashed on human health across the globe, and therefore areintendedtopromoteresearchandcaretowardalleviatingthesufferingofaffectedindividuals.This year alone, more than 5 million people will die of tobacco-related diseases globally,
The Spawning Habits of the Chub, Mylocheilus Caurinus–A Forage Fish of Some Value

(1935). The Spawning Habits of the Chub, Mylocheilus Caurinus–A Forage Fish of Some Value. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society: Vol. 65, No. 1, pp. 143-147.
Public Health Measures and Mortality in U.S. Cities in the Late Nineteenth Century

In this paper we examine the decline in mortality rates by cause of death in U.S. cities during the last decade of the. 19th century. Causes of death are grouped according to their probable relationship to specific public health measures. The reduction which occurred in the death rates from some diseases, e.g., typhoid and diarrheal diseases, can probably be attributed in part to the provision of sewers and waterworks. Large declines also occurred in the death rates from tuberculosis and diphtheria, but the relationship between the declines in these diseases and public health practices designed to combat them is more ambiguous. We therefore conclude that public health measures had some impact on the decline in mortality, but that these measures do not provide a complete explanation of the mortality decline.
Induction of Bladder Sphincter Dyssynergia By κ-2 Opioid Receptor Agonists in the Female Rat

ABSTRACTPurpose: The nonselective κ opioid receptor agonist ethylketocyclazocine suppresses external urethral sphincter (EUS) reflexes in cats. We examined the role of spinal κ-opioid receptor subt...
Theory of phonon dynamics near a charge-density-wave instability

A dynamical Landau theory is proposed to describe the coupled motion of phonons and charge-density waves (CDW) near the CDW instability in transition-metal dichalcogenides. The dynamic structure factor is shown to exhibit a Kohn anomaly and a diverging central mode.
Case report: A 55-year-old woman with chest pain upon arrival to the emergency department

Purpose The case of a woman with progressive substernal chest pain is described. Summary A 55-year-old woman arrived at the emergency department (ED) with a complaint of progressive substernal chest pain. Her medical history included hypertension and dyslipidemia. Upon arrival to the ED, the patient was free of chest pain. A chest x-ray was essentially unremarkable, and nonspecific inferolateral electrical changes were observed on the initial electrocardiogram (ECG). Initial laboratory test results were unremarkable, with the exception of the cardiac troponin level (0.23 μg/L). However, the patient complained of recurrent chest pain, and an immediate repeat ECG showed fairly significant new ST-segment depression. The patient was diagnosed with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS). She received 600 mg of clopidogrel, along with i.v nitroglycerin, and subsequently underwent cardiac catheterization. Orthogonal views of the left coronary system clearly showed a high-grade lesion in the middle of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed on the mid-LAD lesion using bivalirudin for procedural anticoagulation, and a 3.0 x 18 mm drug-eluting stent was implanted in the mid-LAD vessel. Brisk blood flow to the distal territory was observed at the conclusion of the case. The patient remained asymptomatic after PCI and was discharged on day 3 on several medications. Conclusion Discussion of a patient with non-ST elevation ACS illustrates some of the clinical issues surrounding PCI and stent implantation, including selection and use of antiplatelet therapy.
On the interpretation of the modified samuelson rule for public goods in static models with heterogeneity

Abstract Pigou argued that use of distorting taxation would increase the social cost of a public good due to the excess burden created by a distorting tax system. Samuelson's rule governing a pure public good must then be modified. A second-best rule has appeared in the literature when heterogeneity exists and an interpretation for the various effects captured by the additional terms appearing in the rule has been given. We present a counterexample to the standard interpretation and provide an alternative derivation and interpretation which allows us to make a more precise distinction among the effects mentioned in the literature.
All-sky monitors for X-ray astronomy

The rationale for a semipermanent all-sky X-ray monitor and a variety of options for its implementation are discussed. It is concluded that the Space Station offers an excellent opportunity for hosting such a monitor, and that a set of pinhole cameras can be configured to provide an effective and economical monitor system. A baseline of six independent pinhole modules, each of which requires approximately 1 cu ft, 30 pounds, 2 W and 100 bits per second, can provide full sky coverage with scientifically interesting sensitivities. No other resources or special accommodation (such as detailed alignment registration, time-tagging, or on-orbit servicing) would be required. The baseline system can locate bright sources to a few arcmin and can simultaneously measure each of the several hundred sources in the sky brighter than a few thousandths the intensity of the Crab nebula every day for decades.
Children's Attractiveness, Gender, and Race Biases: A Comparison of Their Strength and Generality

Although research suggests that facial attractiveness biases significantly affect social development and interactions, these biases are understudied in the developmental literature and are overlooked when designing interventions relative to gender and race. The authors, therefore, compared how much bias 3- to 11-year-olds (N = 102) displayed in the three domains. They also examined whether bias and flexibility (understanding that different social groups can possess similar attributes) were related across domains. Children's attractiveness biases, particularly for girl targets, were as strong as or stronger than gender or race biases. Flexibility, but not bias, was related across domains. Developmental scientists and policy makers should increase efforts toward understanding development of attractiveness biases and determine which methods of teaching flexibility are most successful at reducing bias across domains.
A Review of Medical Imaging Informatics

This review of medical imaging informatics is a survey of current developments in an exciting field. The focus is on informatics issues rather than traditional data processing and information systems, such as picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) and image processing and analysis systems. In this review, we address imaging informatics issues within the requirements of an informatics system defined by the American Medical Informatics Association. With these requirements as a framework, we review, in four sections: (1) Methods to present imaging and associated data without causing an overload, including image study summarization, content-based medical image retrieval, and natural language processing of text data. (2) Data modeling techniques to represent clinical data with focus on an image data model, including general-purpose time-based multimedia data models, health-care-specific data models, knowledge models, and problem-centric data models. (3) Methods to integrate medical data information from heterogeneous clinical data sources. Advances in centralized databases and mediated architectures are reviewed along with a discussion on our efforts at data integration based on peer-to-peer networking and shared file systems. (4) Visualization schemas to present imaging and clinical data: the large volume of medical data presents a daunting challenge for an efficient visualization paradigm. In this section we review current multimedia visualization methods including temporal modeling, problem-specific data organization, including our problem-centric, context and user-specific visualization interface.
Multiple path integrals

Soit (X t ,P) un processus de Markov dans un espace mesurable (E, #7B-B) et #7B-Bsoit #7B-B(R) la σ-algebre de Borel sur la ligne reelle R. On definit des integrales multiples de parcours par la formule (ω, T)=∫αρ(t 1 , X td 1 1 (ω);...;t k , X td k k (ω))dt 1 ...dt k , α∈A(R k )
Optical Variability of Radio-Luminous PG Quasars

We observed the 10 quasars with the highest core radio luminosity in the Palomar-Green Bright Quasar Survey to look for both short- (i.e., intra- and interday) and long- (i.e., months to years) term optical variability. In most models, the central quasi-stellar object (QSO) radio source is thought to have high apparent radio luminosity because a jet of relativistic material is beamed close to our line of sight. We expect more variability in the radio luminous sample than in a sample of radio-quiet QSOs if a shock in a beamed jet is the cause of variability; seven of 10 quasars showed short-term variability, and all 10 quasars have long-term variability. Comparison with other samples indicates our radio-loud QSOs are more likely to have short-term variations than radio-quiet QSOs. This result supports the model of QSO variability being dominated by shock waves in the relativistic plasma jet.
Reverse-transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification as a rapid screening/monitoring tool for Salmonella enterica detection in liquid whole eggs.

: Reverse-transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is a novel molecular detection method that is specific, fast, and simple. It is based on reverse transcription followed by DNA amplification using the Bst DNA polymerase large fragment requiring one temperature and a simple waterbath, without the need for any expensive equipment. Detection is by turbidity or agarose gel electrophoresis. Our objective was to apply this LAMP-based technology to rapidly and sensitively detect Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in liquid whole eggs (LWEs) within 1 d. LWE were inoculated with S. Enteritidis and stomached in tetrathionate broth (TTB), and spread-plated on Xylose lysine tergitol 4 agar either immediately or after 6, 12, or 16-h enrichment. RNA was extracted from 5-mL TTB and the RT-LAMP assay was carried out using invA primers. After 16 and 12-h enrichment, improved Salmonella detection up to 100 to 101 and104 CFU/25 mL LWE, respectively was obtained. Without enrichment, Salmonella could be detected at 107 CFU/25 mL; however, after 6-h enrichment a 1-log improvement to 106 CFU/25 mL was obtained. This RT-LAMP assay appears to be suitable as a potential screening/monitoring tool for Salmonella enterica from LWE products in routine settings with results obtainable within 24-h, which is significantly faster than traditional cultural assays.
Differential Geometry of Submanifolds of Warped Product Manifolds I × f Sm−1(k)

We provide a general study of submanifolds in Rm(k, f) := I × f S, which is the warped product of an open interval I and a Riemannian manifold S of constant sectional curvature k. Fundamental properties of submanifolds in Rm(k, f) are obtained. Several classification theorems on parallel, curvature-invariant and totally umbilical submanifolds in Rm(k, f) are proved. Moreover, hypersurfaces of constant curvature in Rm(k, f) are also classified.
Survey of fibroblast growth factor expression during chick organogenesis

Members of the extensive fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family play many key roles during embryonic development. In later development, during the course of organogenesis, these factors have been shown to direct distinct cellular pathways within the context of a particular organ system. To gain more insight into the processes that these factors may be controlling, we conducted a survey of the expression of known FGF family members in chick embryos at stages 18-25. We show the expression patterns of fgf-2, -3, -4, -8, -10, -12, -13, -14, and -18 in the head, trunk, limbs, heart, and tail of the embryo.
Severe Asthma: An Expanding and Mounting Clinical Challenge

Although all patients with asthma have variable airflow obstruction, airway inflammation, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, some have disease that is severe in many aspects: persistent airflow obstruction, ongoing symptoms, increased frequency of exacerbations, and, most importantly, a diminished response to medications. A number of definitions have emerged to characterize the clinical features of severe asthma, but a central feature of this phenotype is the need for high doses of medications, especially corticosteroids, in attempts to achieve disease control. The prevalence of severe asthma is also undergoing reevaluation from the usual estimate of 10% to larger numbers on the basis of medication needs and the lack of disease control achieved. At present, the underlying mechanisms of severe asthma are not established but likely reflect a heterogeneous pattern, rather than a single unifying process. Guideline-directed treatment for severe asthma has limits with usual approaches centered on high doses of inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting β-agonists, and trials with omalizumab, the monoclonal antibody to IgE. With the development of approaches to recognize asthma phenotypes with distinct pathogenesis and hence unique therapeutic targets, it is hoped that a personalized strategy in treatment directed toward disease-specific features will improve outcomes for this high-risk, severely affected population of patients.
Associative detachment of rubidium hydroxide

We performed calculations of the optimized structure, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and dissociation energies of RbOH and its anion, and investigate the interactions between Rb and OH${}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ leading to possible associative detachment pathways. The electron affinity of RbOH was computed to be 0.2890 eV, with a bond energy of Rb+OH${}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ half that of Rb+OH. To determine other possible charge loss pathways, the Rb+OH and Rb+OH${}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ dissociation curves were computed using coupled-cluster methods along all possible collisional angles. An adiabatic curve crossing between the neutral and charged molecule was found at the inner wall of the molecular potential curve for linear geometries. Associative detachment rates were estimated using the Langevin ion capture cross section for hydroxide. We find for $v\ensuremath{\ge}2$ an associative detachment rate of $g2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ cm${}^{3}$s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, while for $v=0$ and 1 no appreciable rate exists. This strong dependence on vibrational level suggests the ability to control the associative detachment rate directly.
Characterization of lava-flow degradation in the Pisgah and Cima volcanic fields, California, using Landsat Thematic Mapper and AIRSAR data

Digital Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) observations, multi-frequency polarimetric AIRSAR radar data, microtopographic profiles derived from helicopter-borne photography, and field measurements were analyzed over the Pisgah and Cima volcanic fields, and Lavic Lake playa, Mojave Desert, California. Surface radiance factors were extracted from TM data using radiative transfer procedures to model the atmosphere and surface simultaneously. AIRSAR data were calibrated to backscatter specific cross sections using corner reflectors deployed at a number of locations. Analyses focused on the use of key field sites to understand compositional and textural controls on TM band-5 (1.55 to 1.75 μm) radiance factors and C- (5.6 cm), L- (24 cm), and P- (68 cm) band specific cross sections. For the Pisgah and Lavic Lake sites, the TM data are explained using a linear mixing model of basalt and fine-grained sediment (clay to sand-sized grains of clay minerals, quartz, feldspar, carbonate, and lithic fragments) radiance factors, with the addition of shadows for the rough a9a flow. On the other hand, AIRSAR data are shown to be primarily controlled by surface roughness, as there is a strong correlation between specific cross section and surface height standard deviation. For the elongate flows at the Cima volcanic field, which exhibit a mix of pahoehoe and a9a properties, we find a positive linear relationship between TM band-5 radiance factors and flow ages for the 3 m.y. age range represented. Specific cross sections remain constant until about 0.14 Ma and then decrease with age up to about 0.56 Ma. On the other hand, data for the two older flows (0.70 and 0.85 Ma) show increasing specific cross sections with increasing age. We interpret the increase in TM band-5 radiance factors (from 0.05 to 0.25) with increasing flow age and the decrease in specific cross sections (8 dB change at 35° incidence angle for L band) for flows up to 0.56 Ma in age as due to smoothing by mass wasting and infill by fine-grained aeolian deposits. The increased specific cross sections for older flows are interpreted to be a consequence of surface roughness generated by fluvial dissection.
Thick attractors of step skew products

A diffeomorphism is said to have a thick attractor provided that its Milnor attractor has positive but not full Lebesgue measure. We prove that there exists an open set in the space of boundary preserving step skew products with a fiber [0,1], such that any map in this set has a thick attractor.
CAI in college-level nutrition education: a feasibility study

Abstract We developed a college-level computer-assisted instruction (CAI) lesson on vegetarianism and compared its effectiveness with the lecture/discussion method. Our independent CAI lesson consists of tutorial and drill-and-practice routines and a simple diet planning simulation. We collected pretest and posttest data on knowledge of and interest in vegetarianism from 44 students in an introductory foods and nutrition class. We randomly assigned three sections to receive either the CAI lesson, a comparable discussion lesson, or a lesson on another topic. There were no significant differences among these three groups either in pre- or posttest knowledge scores, or in interest in vegetarianism. CAI students' responses to learning by computer were positive. We discuss the potential savings in instructor and classroom time that may make CAI use advantageous as a substitute or supplement to classroom teaching.
An Ecological Approach to Understanding Adult Obesity Prevalence in the United States: A County-level Analysis using Geographically Weighted Regression

This study examines ecological influences on adult obesity prevalence in the coterminous United States. Several secondary data sources are used in this study to construct a rich dataset of county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental variables. This study uses a spatially explicit approach by using traditional regression methods (i.e., ordinary least squared regression (OLS)), along with geographic weighted regression (GWR) to explore non-stationarity in the relationships between obesity and selected covariates. OLS results reveal that there is a positive relationship between adult obesity and poverty, black residents, Native American residents, and adult physical inactivity at the county level. There is a negative relationship between the percentage of residents who are rural, Hispanic, and college educated. Furthermore, GWR results confirm that place matters and the relationship between ecological influences and obesity prevalence varies substantially across place. GWR provides an empirical basis to design interventions that effectively target obesity at a more local level.
Transplantation of X-linked Severe Combined Immunodeficient Dogs With CD34+ Bone Marrow Cells

Abstract X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) is the most common form of human SCID and is caused by mutations in the common gamma chain (gammac), a shared component of the interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21 receptors. BMT for human X-SCID results in engraftment of donor T-cells and reconstitution of normal T-cell function but engraftment of few, if any, donor B-cells and poor reconstitution of humoral immune function. Canine X-SCID is also caused by mutations in the yc and has an immunological phenotype identical to that of human X-SCID. We have previously reported that transplantation of nonconditioned X-SCID dogs with unfractionated histocompatible bone marrow results in engraftment of both donor B- and T-cells and reconstitution of normal T-cell and humoral immune function. In this study, we assessed the ability of purified canine CD34+ bone marrow cells to reconstitute lymphoid populations after histocompatible BMT in 6 nonablated X-SCID dogs. All dogs showed engraftment of donor T-cells, with T-cell regeneration occurring through a thymic-dependent pathway, and had reconstituted normal T-cell function. In contrast to our previous studies, only 3 dogs had engraftment of donor B-cells and reconstituted normal antigen-specific B-cell function post-BMT. The variable donor B-cell engraftment and reconstitution of normal humoral immune function observed in this study are similar to the outcomes observed in the majority of human X-SCID patients following BMT. This study demonstrates that canine CD34+ cells contain progenitors capable of immune reconstitution and is the first study to document the ability of CD34+ bone marrow cells to reconstitute normal B- and T-cell function in a nonablated large-animal model of BMT. This study also demonstrates that the quality of immune reconstitution following CD34+ BMT may be dosage dependent Thus canine X-SCID provides a large-animal preclinical model that can be used not only to determine the optimal conditions for both donor B- and T-cell engraftment following CD34 BMT, but also to develop and evaluate strategies for gene therapy protocols that target CD34 cells. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2002;8(4):188-97.
Dirichlet problems on graphs with ends

Abstract In classical potential theory, one can solve the Dirichlet problem on unbounded domains such as the upper half plane. These domains have two types of boundary points; the usual finite boundary points and another point at infinity. W. Woess has solved a discrete version of the Dirichlet problem on the ends of graphs analogous to having multiple points at infinity and no finite boundary. Whereas C. Kiselman has solved a similar version of the Dirichlet problem on graphs analogous to bounded domains. In this work, we combine the two ideas to solve a version of the Dirichlet problem on graphs with finitely many ends and boundary points of the Kiselman type.
Specific and nonspecific transfer: Effects of nonreward, delay of reward, and punishment sequences on persistence

Two experiments were conducted to test the effects of training with different aversive events on rats’ subsequent persistence of responding. In Experiment 1, it was found that training with the same aversive event (nonreward) as that encountered during extinction (specific transfer) resulted in higher resistance to extinction than did training with different combinations of non-reward, punishment, and delay (nonspecific transfer). Experiment 2 indicated that these effects are controlled primarily by sequential variables and that persistence effects generated by the same or different aversive events as those encountered during extinction summate. A theoretical framework emphasizing the role of generalization decrement and sequential variables was invoked to account for these results.
Mass measurements of short-lived nuclides with ion traps

Abstract Penning-trap mass spectrometry has reached a state that allows its application to very short-lived isotopes available from various sources of radioactive beams. Mass values with outstanding accuracy are achieved even far from stability. This paper illustrate the state of the art by discussing the status of the ISOLTRAP experiment at ISOLDE/CERN. In addition an overview of new ion-trap projects for nuclear mass determination will be given.
Female monogamy and its control in houseflies

Abstract Most normally mated female houseflies (Musca domestica L.) are monogamous, and none will mate more than a few times. Interrupted matings, matings with castrate males, and implants showed that loss of sexual receptivity by females after mating was caused primarily by the male seminal fluid, not mechanical stimulation or sperm. The active components of the seminal fluid come mostly from the ejaculatory duct though the testes may contribute a part. Since loss of female receptivity could be induced by implants of ejaculatory ducts and could occur in females whose spermathecae were removed, the seminal fluid may produce its effect on some other part of the body than the female reproductive system. Interrupted matings demonstrated a quantitative effect of the seminal fluid on the initial loss of female receptivity and its eventual return in some females. Receptivity, once lost, returned in only a few normally mated females if they were not allowed to oviposit. However, more than one quarter of a group of females regained receptivity after they had oviposited for 20 consecutive days. This recovery was thought to be the result of oviposition, as such, rather than sperm depletion.
Isolation of cDNA clones coding for spinach nitrite reductase: complete sequence and nitrate induction.

The main nitrogen source for most higher plants is soil nitrate. Prior to its incorporation into amino acids, plants reduce nitrate to ammonia in two enzymatic steps. Nitrate is reduced by nitrate reductase to nitrite, which is further reduced to ammonia by nitrite reductase. In this paper, the complete primary sequence of the precursor protein for spinach nitrite reductase has been deduced from cloned cDNAs. The cDNA clones were isolated from a nitrate-induced cDNA library in two ways: through the use of oligonucleotide probes based on partial amino acid sequences of nitrite reductase and through the use of antibodies raised against purified nitrite reductase. The precursor protein for nitrite reductase is 594 amino acids long and has a 32 amino acid extension at the N-terminal end of the mature protein. These 32 amino acids most likely serve as a transit peptide involved in directing this nuclearencoded protein into the chloroplast. The cDNA hybridizes to a 2.3 kb RNA whose steady-state level is markedly increased upon induction with nitrate.
Effect of particle distribution on initial cracks forming from notch tips of composites with hard particles embedded in a soft matrix

This paper studied the size of a so-called initial crack occurring at a notch tip caused by strain concentration in a particulate composite. The composite had hard and strong particles embedded in a soft and weak matrix material. Therefore, the crack formed in the matrix material but not in particles. This study discusses a computational model and a criterion to predict lengths of initial cracks. The predicted results agree well with average values obtained from the experiments. However, the experimental data showed scattering. In order to understand such scattered data, the effect of particle distribution on the initial crack size was studied numerically. The study showed that a variation in particle volume fraction did not affect the crack length as long as the specimen had a uniform particle distribution. However, a local variation of particle distribution in a specimen had a significant effect on the initial crack length confirming the scattered data. The size of the localized zone was about 2 mm or less which was the smallest size of the specimen to represent the smeared homogeneous properties of the composite material.
Effect of particle size on the shock sensitivity of porous HE

Abstract Literature data show that in most gap tests, coarse porous high explosives (HE) seem more shock sensitive than fine whereas in most wedge tests, the reverse is true. It is proposed that gap tests measure threshold for ignition, and that the reversal occurs because the time to ignition is shorter and the time of buildup of chemical reaction is longer for the coarse than the fine material. In other words, for any pair of fine and coarse HE in any specific experiment, there is a pressure (Pγ) at and above which ignition for the fine and coarse is simultaneous. At and above this pressure, the finer material appears more sensitive than the coarse.
Precipitation and cavity formation in austenitic stainless steels during irradiation

Microstructural evolution in austenitic stainless steels subjected to displacement damage at high temperature is strongly influenced by the interactions between helium atoms and second phase particles. Cavity nucleation occurs by the trapping of helium at partially coherent particle-matrix interfaces. The recent precipitate point defect collector theory describes the more rapid growth of precipitate-attached cavities compared to matrix cavities where the precipitate-matrix interface collects point defects to augment the normal point deflect flux to the cavitry. Data are presented which support these ideas. It is shown that during nickel ion irradiation of a titanium-modified stainless steel at 675/sup 0/C the rate of injection of helium has a strong effect on the total swelling and also on the nature and distribution of precipitate phases.
Self-assembled DNA–cationic-lipid complexes: Two-dimensional smectic ordering, correlations, and interactions

We report a synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) study of the mutilayered, self-assembled structure (complex) that is formed by mixing DNA with cationic liposomes. In these complexes the DNA is confined between charged lipid bilayers and orders as a two-dimensional (2D) smectic liquid crystal. The power-law bilayer-bilayer correlations of the 3D multilayer smectic liquid crystal, which are coupled to the 2D lattice of DNA chains, are found to deviate significantly from those described by the standard Caill\'e model of smectic-$A$ phases. To model the DNA ordering, the 2D smectic correlation function and the corresponding structure factor are derived from the smectic Hamiltonian in harmonic approximation. The resulting line shape is then fitted to the DNA correlation peak. It is found that for samples of higher $d,$ short-range correlations between the DNA in adjacent sheets have to be assumed to explain the data. From the least-square fitting, the 2D DNA interchain compressibility modulus $B$ is extracted as a function of $d$ and discussed in view of different possible microscopic interactions responsible for the ordering.
Sharp asymptotics of large deviations in ℝ d

Given a sequence {X1}i=1,2,3,... of i.i.d. random variables taking values in ℝ d ,d≥2, letS n =Σ =1 X t=1. For Λ a Borel set in ℝ d having smooth boundary, witha=infx∈ΛI(x) the minimal value of the large deviation rate functionI(x) over Λ, we find, under suitable hypotheses, asymptotic results asn→∞, of the form $$P(S_n \in n\Gamma ) = n^\gamma e^{ - na} (d_0 + o(1))$$ where the constant γ depends sensitively on the geometry of Λ and the dimensiond, and takes values −∞<γ≤(d−2/2). For fixeda=infx∈ΛI(x), we construct examples having any specific γ in this range.
Temperature Impact on the Long-Term Stability of a Portable Laser Spectroscopic CO2 Sensor

The influence of ambient temperature on the stability of a low-power laser spectroscopic CO2 sensor was investigated. Several methods, such as WMS over-modulation and environmental temperature control, were devised for mitigating this influence.
Hard and soft processes in hadrodynamics

Abstract We consider the consequences of a parton-parton interaction which is long range in rapidity and capable of transferring large momentum. The results of our analysis for hadron-hadron inclusive processes are presented.
Green Scheduling for Energy-Efficient Operation of Multiple Chiller Plants

In large building systems, such as a university campus, the air-conditioning systems are commonly served by chiller plants, which contribute a large fraction of the total electricity consumption of the campuses. The power consumption of a chiller is highly affected by its Coefficient of Performance (COP), which is optimal when the chiller is operated at or near full load. For a chiller plant, its overall COP can be optimized by utilizing a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) and switching its operation between COP-optimal charging and discharging modes. However, uncoordinated mode switchings of chiller plants may cause temporally-correlated high electricity demand when multiple plants are charging their TES concurrently. In this paper, a GS approach, proposed in our previous work, is used to schedule the chiller plants to reduce their peak aggregate power demand while ensuring safe operation of the TES. We present a scheduling algorithm based on backward reach set computation of the TES dynamics. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated in a numerical simulation in Mat lab to be effective for reducing the peak power demand and the overall electricity cost.
Entrainment at Cloud Tops and the Droplet Spectra

Abstract The processes involved when dry air is entrained into a cumulus cloud are discussed. The water droplet size spectra are totally changed by this process, as compared to condensation growth in undiluted cloud. Cloud-top entrainment of dry air is stressed and the difficulties encountered in applying simple past procedures for “homogeneous” and “inhomogeneous mixing” are illustrated. The dynamical constraints on modeling condensation growth are examined. It is concluded that entity type entrainment mixing (ETEM) is the most satisfactory explanation of observed cloud droplet spectra.
Spermatogenesis: its regulation by testosterone and FSH.

It has been clear for decades that testosterone is a necessary prerequisite for the maintenance of established spermatogenesis in the adult testes, and for the restoration of spermatogenesis in testes induced experimentally to become azoospermic. In contrast, the possible involvement of FSH in regulating spermatogenesis in the adult mammal, though also studied extensively, continues to be debated in the literature. The mechanisms by which testosterone and FSH regulate spermatogenesis remain uncertain as well. This review focuses on our current understanding of the involvement of testosterone and of FSH in the maintenance and restoration of spermatogenesis in the adult testes, and discusses the emerging concept that testosterone and FSH serve as cell survival factors.
Psychiatric disorders in pregnancy

This review, although not exhaustive, provides information on the potential impact of psychiatric illness on obstetric outcome. There is clear evidence that psychiatric illness poses a risk to pregnancy outcome. There productive safety data on many of the available treatments fail to demonstrate a clear risk from treatment. The medications with clear teratogenic, neonatal, and developmental risks are, not surprisingly, those used to treat some of the most severe and debilitating psychiatric illnesses. Even the amount of information available is inadequate without some straightforward clinical guidelines. A model of risk for illness and treatments of illnesses during pregnancy developed by the authors' group reminds clinicians that nonexposure does not exist. Rather, the decision is which type of exposure is in the best interest of the patient and family-exposure to illness or exposure to treatment. Regardless of the choice, clinicians are encouraged to think in terms of reducing the total number of exposures; that is, if choosing to treat, patients should be kept well by adjusting and monitoring medications-partial treatment simply provides exposure to illness and treatment. Guidelines to accomplish the goal of minimizing exposures include: 1. Treating women of reproductive capacity from the first visit as if they are pregnant: choosing treatments with reproductive safety information (eg, new and improved = no data) and providing supplemental folic acid for all women (800 microg), with higher doses for those treated with anticonvulsants (3 to 4 mg).2. For women who conceive while taking a medication, and if it was efficacious for them, then the majority of decisions for medication selection should be considered already made for pregnancy and lactation (eg, do not switch medications once pregnant or for breastfeeding, as that simply exposes the baby to a second medication and the data previously discussed do not apply). 3. Because the serum concentration of most medications decreases during pregnancy, establishing criteria a priori for increasing the maternal daily dose; as a general rule, sleep patterns are good markers of psychiatric illnesses. 4. Always preferring monotherapy to two medications. 5. Obtaining up-to-date information at www.emorywomensprogram.org (a website with links to many support groups, reproductive safety registries) or other women's health websites. These basic guidelines can help decrease the number of exposures and aid in conducting clinical care with at least some reproductive safety data.
Alleviation of water stress in beans by exogenous glycine betaine

Abstract The effect of exogenously applied glycine betaine on the ability of bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris) plants to withstand water stress was investigated. Water stress induced endogenous accumulation of glycine betaine in the leaves, resulting in an increase of ∼26% over the level in well-watered plants. Plants treated with exogenous glycine betaine (10 mM) maintained better water status during water stress treatment than the untreated plants. During water stress treatment, glycine betaine-treated plants showed a slower decrease in leaf water potential, thus developing wilting symptoms much later than the untreated plants. In addition, glycine betaine-treated plants showed better ability to recover from wilting than the untreated plants. Water stress adversely affected the photosynthetic activity of plants as indicated by a reduction in the leaf CO 2 absorption rate, the ratio of variable to minimal chlorophyll fluorescence ( F v / F o ), and the overall growth. Glycine betaine treatment fully overcame the adverse effects on CO 2 absorption and chlorophyll fluorescence during water stress. However, little or no effect of glycine betaine on shoot biomass and pod yield was observed in water stressed plants.
Location of κ-casein in milk micelles

Abstract An attempt was made to determine the whereabouts of κ-casein in the milk casein system by locating antibodies to κ-casein through electron microscopy. No evidence could be found for the occurrence of a κ-casein stabilizing “coat” on casein micelles using either purified antibody or ferritin conjugated antibody. κ-Casein was identified at “bridging points” that interconnect clumps of micelles. Repeated centrifugation and resuspension of casein micelles in fresh solvent removes a κ-casein fraction (serum κ-casein) and this treatment progressively retards rennin clotting of natural milk. This removal of serum κ-casein did not disturb the integrity of milk micelle particles. Similar rennin clotting experiments, using varying weight ratio of purified α s1 - and κ-casein in the presence of Ca2+, showed that α s1 -casein retarded rennin clotting of simulated casein micelles. These observations have led to the proposal of a new model for casein interaction that is compatible with known micelle characteristics. This model places the large κ-casein aggregate in two different locations in the milk system: (1) 30% is in the free serum phase associated with small amounts of α s1 - and β-casein. This rennin-accessible κ-casein is responsible for clot formation and (2) the remaining portion of the κ-casein acts as a nucleating agent for the Ca2+-sensitive caseins. Calcium phosphate salt linkages would give the natural micelle the observed stability required for maintaining structure during heating, concentration and dilution.
An Introduction to the New Health Literacy Column

With increasing evidence that increased health literacy can improve health outcomes, the Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet is introducing a new column dedicated to the promotion of health literacy. The editors are inviting input from librarians and health care professionals with innovative and creative health literacy programs.
Using Nanowires To Extract Excitons from a Nanocrystal Solid

Synthetic methods yielding highly uniform colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals with controlled shapes and sizes are now available for many materials. These methods have enabled geometrical control ...
Performance Theory of Diagonal Conducting Wall MHD Accelerators

The theoretical performance of diagonal conducting wall crossed field accelerators is examined on the basis of an infinite segmentation assumption using a cross-plane averaged generalized Ohm's law for a partially ionized gas, including ion slip. The desired accelerator performance relationships are derived from the cross-plane averaged Ohm's law by imposing appropriate configuration and loading constraints. A current dependent effective voltage drop model is also incorporated to account for cold-wall boundary layer effects including gasdynamic variations, discharge constriction, and electrode falls. Definition of dimensionless electric fields and current densities lead to the construction of graphical performance diagrams, which further illuminate the rudimentary behavior of crossed field accelerator operation.
Use of an alternative method for monitoring total nitrogen concentrations in Florida lakes

We studied a recently described method for the determination of total nitrogen in natural waters involving sample oxidation with persulfate and subsequent determination of nitrate-nitrogen with second derivative spectroscopy and compared it to the USEPA approved method involving the sum of nitrate-nitrogen and Kjeldahl-nitrogen as measured with an automated analyzer. The overall objective was to determine if the two methods gave the same estimates of total nitrogen and if the detection limits, precision and accuracy of the new method were as good as those of the USEPA method. The new method was used to make measurements on replicated blanks, standards and lake water samples covering a range of concentrations. We also collaborated with certified laboratories to make comparative measurements on 5 standards and 21 lake water samples that were run by us with the new method and by them with the USEPA method. The new method had an instrument detection limit of 0.07 mg 1−1, and the standard deviation of 20 sets of lake water samples averaged 0.03 mg 1−1. The new method gave concentrations equivalent to those found with the USEPA method, was more sensitive, and had a higher degree of precision. We concluded that the new method is suitable as a substitute for the USEPA method. We also found that the addition of acid to lake water samples stored under refrigeration was not necessary to preserve them for later determinations of nitrate-nitrogen and total nitrogen and that freezing was an effective means of sample preservation for 90 days.
Winds at the 75-110 km level at college, ALaska

Abstract Neutral atmospheric winds at College, Alaska have been derived from radar measurements of the drift of meteor trails. The wind values in the height interval of 75–110 km were obtained for the period from December 1966 to August 1968. It was found that the semi-diurnal variation at College does not display a well defined tidal pattern that is observed at mid-latitudes. The diurnal variation is usually the largest periodic component, but its maximum amplitude is usually less than 30 m/sec. Both the zonal and meridional prevailing wind velocities frequently exceed 20 m/sec and these components exhibit seasonal trends that are similar to lower latitude observations. The height variations in the wind were generally greater in the summer than in the winter and spring, but the ±6 km height resolution of the measurements prevented a detailed examination of vertical wind shear. During the winter of 1967–1968, a reversal of the apparent normal winter flow occurred during the time of a major stratospheric warming. There is evidence indicating that a southward flow occurs on the nightside of the auroral zone during times of auroral substorms.